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THE 


OF 


[The  Elleauiere  woodcuts  are  to  be  put  opposite  the  beginnings 
of  the  Talcs  (not  Prologues)  they  respectively  belong  to,  as  shown 
by  the  italic  notices  there  of  the  paintings  in  the  MS.  A  set  of 
the  cuts  colotird  is  now  issued,  Oct.  1880,  besides  the  plain  tet  sent 
out  in  1868-1871.] 


THE 


EDITED   B? 

FREDERICK  J.  FIIRNIYALT, 
\ 


LONDON: 

PUBLISHT  FOR  THE  CHAUCER  SOCIETY 
BY  N.  TEUBNEE  &  CO.,  57  &  59,  LUDGATE  HILL. 


18G8-1879. 


1 1 


Series, 


CLAY    AND   TAYLOR,    THE    CHAUCER  PRESS,    BUNGAY. 


DEDICATED 


0f 


BY    WHOSE    KIND    LKAVE 


THIS   ELLESMERE    MS    IS    PRINTED. 


Chriitmas,  1868. 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  ELLESMERE  MS, 


Six-Text 


Group  Pages 

A.  §  1.  GENERAL   PROLOGUE  l         1 

2.  Knight's  Tale  (of  Palamon,  Arcite, 
and  fair  Emelye)  (Ft.  2,  p.  40 ; 
Pt.  3,  p.  54;  Pt.  4,  p.  71)  ...  26 

3       KNIGHT-MILLER  LINK 89 

4.  Miller's  Tale  (of  Nicholas,  Absolon, 

&  the  Oxford-Carpenter's  Wife)      92 

5.  MILLER-REEVE  LINK       ...         ...    Ill 

6.  Reeve's  Tale  (of  the  Trumpington 

Miller  and  Cambridge  Clerks)       113 

7.  EEEVE-COOK  LINK          ...          ...    125 

8.  Cook's  Tale  (of  the  London  Victual- 

ler's Apprentice)  (unfinisht)2        127 


B.  §  1.      MAN  OF  LAW'S  HEAD-LINK       ...     129 

2.  Man  of  Law's  (Proem  and)  Tale  (of 
Constance  and  her  boy)  (Pt.  2, 
p.  142;  Pt.  3,  p.  157)  ...  132 

Latin  Side-Notes  to  the  Man  of 

Law's  Tale      .'.    133 

[For  B.  §  3,  MAN-OF-LAW-SHIPMAN- 
LlNK,  see  Appendix  2,  p.  27*  ;  for 
B.  §  4-14,  seep.  391-523  El. ;  $for 
B.  §  15,  see  Appx  3,  p.  28*.  For 
Group  C,  see  p.  361-390  El.] 


Ellesmere 
Pages 


26 

89 

92 
111 

113 

125 

127 


129 


132 


133 


D.  §  1.  Wife  of  Bath's  Preamble  (of  her  5 

Husbands,  &c.)  334 

2.  Wife  of  Bath's  Tale  (of  what  Women 

most  desire)     ...          ...          ...    359 

3.  WIFE-FRIAR  LINK  ,    371 


167 

192 
204 


1  It  has  not  the  Friar  lines  252  b.  c.  of  the  Hengwrt  MS. 

2  For  Appendix  to  Group  A,  the  spurious  Tale  of  Gamelyn,  see 
Appendix  1,  after  p.  681. 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

Six-Text  Ellesmere 
<lronp  Pages         Pagei 

4.  Friar's  Tale  (of  the  Sum'ner's  car- 

ry ing-off  to  Hell)         372      205 

5.  FRIAR-SUM'NER  LINK     383      216 

6.  Sum'ner's  Tale  (of  the  Friar  being 

trickt) 385  |  218 


E.  §  1.      CLERK'S  HEAD-LINK        403 

2.  Clerk's  Tale  (of  Grisilde)  (Pt.  2,  p. 

409  S-T;   Pt.  3,  p.  417  S-T; 
Pt.  4,  p.  422  S-T;  Pt.  5,  p.  428 
S-T;  Pt.  6,  p.  433  S-T;  Chau- 
cer's Envoy,  p.  440  S-T.)       ...    405 
Latin  Side-Note*  to  the  Clerk's  Tale    402 
Appendix  to  E,  §  2  :  ?  Original, 
but  rejected  End  Link  to  GlerKs 
Tale 477 

3.  CLERK-MERCHANT  LINK  ...    442 

4.  Merchant's  Tale  (of  January  and 

May) 443 

5.  MERCHANT'S  END-LINK  ..  .    476 


F.  §  1.      SQUIRE'S  HEAD-LINK      478 

2.  Squire's  Tale  (of  the  Magic  Horse, 

&c,  and  the  Falcon)  (unfinisht) 
(Pt.  2,  p.  488  S-T ;  p.  322  El.)     479 

3.  SQUIRE-FRANKLIN  LINK  ...    498 
Latin  Side-Notes  to  the  Franklin's 

Tale 499 

4.  Franklin's  (Proem  and)  Tale1  (of 

Dorigen,  Arviragus,  and  Auri- 
liua) 500 


C.  §  1.  Doctor's  Tale  (of  Virginia)  ...    303 

2.  DOCTOR-PARDONER  LINK  ...    312 

3.  Pardoner's  Preamble  (of  his  Preach- 

ing and  Tricks)  ...         ...    314 

4.  Pardoner's  Tale  (of  the  three  Riot- 

ers)       318 

1  Lines  1455-6,  H93-8  of  the  Franklin's  Tale  are  not  found  in 
any  other  MS.  of  the  Canterbury  Tales  yet  examind  by  or  for  me. 


235 


237 
275 

275* 
276 


277 
310 

312 

313 
332 

334 

335 

361 
370 

372 
376 


. 


CONTENTS. 


Six-Text 
Group  Pages 

B.  §  4.  Shipman's  Tale  (of  the  Monk  and 

the  Merchant's  Wife)  ...    168 

5.  SHIPMAN-PRIORESS  LINK  ...    181 

6.  Prioress's  Tale  (of  the  little  mur- 

derd  boy)         182 

7.  PRIORESS-THOPAS  LINK  ...         ...    190 

8.  Chaucer's  Tale  of  Sir  Thopas  (un- 

finisht)  191 

9.  THOPAS-MELIBB  LINK 199 

10.  Chaucer's  Tale  of  Melibe  (prose : 

englisht  from  French)  ...    201 

11.  MELIBE-MONK  LINK      ...         ...    253 

12.  Monk's  Tale1  (of  folk  fallen  from 

high  estate)      256 

13.  MONK — NUN'S-PRIEST  LINK      ...    281 

14.  Nun's  Priest's  Tale  (of  the  Cock 

and  Fox)         283 

\For  B,  §  15,  the  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  END- 
LINK,  see  Appendix  3,  p,  28*,  after 
p.  681  El.] 


G.  §  1.  Second  Nun's  (Proem  and)  Tale  (of 

St.  Cecile)        527 

2.  SECOND- NUN  —  CANON'S -YEOMAN 

LINK    ...         ...         ...         ...    547 

3.  Canon's  -  Yeoman's    Preamble    (of 

Alchemy)         ...         ...         ...    552 

4 .  Canon's- Yeoman's  Tale  (the  rascally 

Alchemist  Canon)       ...         ...    560 


H.  §  1.      MANCIPLE'S  HEAD-LINK  ...    576 

2.  Manciple's  Tale  (of  the  Crow)     ...    580 


Ellesmere 
Pages 

391 
404 


405 
413 

414 
422 

424 

476 


506 


524 


544 


549 


557 


572 
576 


1  The  four  'modern  instances' — 1.  Peter  (the  Cruel)  of  Spain, 
2.  Peter  of  Cyprus,  3.  Barnabo  Visconti  of  Milan,  and  4.  Ugolino, 
Count  of  Pisa — are  wrongly  put  at  the  end  of  the  Tale,  p.  600 — 
503  El.,  instead  of  after  Zenobia,  1.  3564,  p.  491  El.  ;  p.  268  S-T. 


CONTENTS. 


(irmip 
I-    §    1. 


BLANK-PARSON  LINK      

Contents  of  tJie  Parson's  Tale  . . . 
Parson's  Tale  (a  prose  Treatise  on 
Penitence  :  Pt.  I,  Contrition,  p. 
593-612  S-T.,  p.  588-608  EL; 
Pt.  II,  Confession  (with  the  Seven 
Deadly  Sins),  p.  612-678  S-T, 
p.  608-674  El. ;  Pt.  Ill,  Satis- 
faction, p.  679-683  S-T,  p.  675- 
697  El. ;  Leave-taking,  p.  684 
S-T,  p.  680  El.)  


Six-Text 
Pages 

589 

592 


593 


Kllesmcre 
Pages 

584 
587 


589 


1.  To  Group  A.     The  Spurious  Tale  of  Ga- 

melyn,  from  MS.  Reg.  18  C.  ii.  Brit. 
Mus.t l*-26* 

2.  Group  B,  §  3.    The  genuine  Man-of-Law- 

Skipman  Link,  from   Arch.    Selden, 

B  14,  Bodl.  Libr 167 

3.  Group   B,   §    15.      The   genuine    Nuris- 

Priesfs  End-Link,  from  MS.  Dd.  4. 

24,  Camb.  Univ.  Libr 301 

4.  Drawings  of  6  Tellers  of  Tales  —  the 

Cook,  Reeve,  Wife  of  Bath,  Pardoner, 
Monk,  and  Manciple — and  of  6  Alle- 
gorical Figures  in  the  Parson's  Tale — 
Wrath  and  Mercy,  Gluttony  and  Ab- 
stinence, Lechery  and  Chastity — from 
MS.  Gg.  4.  27,  University  Library, 
Cambridge 


l*-26* 


27" 


28J 


29* 


t  The  Reader  is  askt  to  star  (*)  the  page-numbers  1-26. 


CORRECTIONS  FOR  THE  SIX-TEXT  AND   SEPARATE   PRINTS 

OF  THE 

ELLESMERE   MS. 

BY  PROF.  DR.  EWALD  FLTTGEL. 


By  the  kindness  of  Lord  Ellesmere  and  his  Librarian,  Mr.  Strachan 
Holme,  Prof.  Fliigel  was  able  last  May  to  collate  with  the  MS.  the  whole 
of  Dr.  Furnivall's  print  of  it  for  the  Chaucer  Society,  and  has  sent  the 
following  list  of  Corrections,  for  which  we  are  all  greatly  indebted 
to  him.— F.  J.  F. 

June  4,  1907. 

Here  hygynneth  &c.]  no  heading 
in  the  Ellesmere  MS. 

A.  92,  for  in  read  is 

360,  for  such  read  swich 

408,  /or  fron  read  ifro 

550,  for  nas  read  was 

612,  for  yet  read  and  yet 

749,  for  And  read  He 

(812  wolde) 

859,  heading:  Scithice  . . .  prelia 

865,  for  That  read  What 
1252,  for  Of  read  On 
1347,  for  NOw  read  YOw 
1431,  his]  omit. 
1454,  for  soor  read  soor  and 
1739,  for  Therfore    read   Wher- 

fore 

2058,  for  to  read  til 
2488,  /or  But  read  And 
2493,  the]  omit. 
2509,  for  foyte  read  foote 
2920,  for  And  read  Ne 
3862,  for  in  read  is  in 
4163,  for  snorteth  read  fnorteth 

B.  644,  for  or  read  for 

790,  for  snoreth  read  fnorteth 

D.  157,  for  whil  that  read  whil 
253,  for  if  that  read  if 


660,  for  awe  read  lawe 
1322,  for  was  read  nas 

E.  569,  /or  And  read  But 
1582,  for  And  read  As 
1804,  for  tyne  read  tyme 

F.  234,  for  pROspectiues  read  pER- 

spectiues 

C.     86,  for  wolde  read  wole 
1222,  for  it  read  it  is 
1683,  for  the  read  this 
2041,  /or  sette  read  fette 
2444,  for  ban  read  ne  ban 
2912,  for  or  read  or  of 
4339,  tale]  omit. 

G.  91,  for  favour  read  sauour' 
772,  for  Of  read  And  of 

1122,  for  In  the  read  In 
1470,  /or  Man  read  Men 
H..  10,  /or  As  read  That 
240,  /or  they  read  that 
328,  /or  men  read  man 
I.        3,  for  ne  nas  read  nas 
170,  for  noot  read  moot 
335,  bynymeth 
474,  for  coMmendacion  read  COM- 

mendacion  eek 
786,  for  have  read  ban 
923,  for  no  men  read  mo  men 


GROUP    A.    FRAGMENT   I. 

§  1.  GENEKAL  PKOLOGUE. 
ELLESMERE  MS. 


Here  bygynneth  the  Book  of  the  tales  of  Caunterbury. 

fHan  that  Aprille  with  hise  shoures  soote      [leaf  5] 
The  droghte  of  March  /  hath  perced  to  the  roote 
And  bathed  euery  veyne  /  in  swich  licour 
Of  which  veriu  /  engendred  is  the  flour  4 

Whan  Zephirus  eek  /  m't/i  his  swete  breetfi. 
Inspired  hath  /  in  euery  holt1  and  heetfi.    / 
The  tendre  croppes  /  and  the  yonge  sonne 
Hath  in  the  Earn  /  his  half  [e]  cours  yronne    f  .i.  sol  in  Arieto 
And  smale  foweles  /  maken  melodye 
That  slepen  al  the  nyght  /  with  open  eye 
So  priketh  hem  nature  in  hir  corages 
Thanne  longen  folk  /  to  goon  on  pilgrimages  12 

And  Palmeres  /  for  to  seken  straunge  strondes 
To  feme  halwes  /  kowthe  in  sondry  londes 
And  specially  /  from  euery  shires  ende 
Of  Engelond?  /  to  Caunturbury  they  wende  16 

The  hooly  blisful  martir  for  to  seke 
That  hem.  hath  holpen  /  whan  Jjat  they  were  seeke 
TMfil  that  /  in  that  seson  on  a  day 

•^  In  Southwerk  /  at  the  Tabard  as  I  lay  20 

Eedy  /  to  wenden  on  my  pilgrymage 
To  Caunterbury  /  with  ful  deuout  corage 
At  nyght  /  were  come  /  in  to  that  hostelrye 
Wei  nyne  and  twenty  in  a  compaignye  24 

Of  sondry  folk  /  by  aventure  y-falle 
In  felaweshipe  /  and  pilgn'mes  were  they  alle 
That  toward  Caunterbury  wolden  ryde 

1  ELLESMEBE    1 


2    GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

The  chambres  and  the  stables  weren  wyde  28 

And  wel  we  weren  esed  atte  beste 

And  shortly  /  whan  the  sonne  was  to  reste 

So  hadde  I  spoken  /  with  hem  everychon) 

That  I  was  /  of  Mr  felaweshipe  anon  32 

And  made  forward  /  erly  for  to  ryse 

To  take  oure  wey  /  ther  as  I  yow  deuyse 

"Dut  nathelees  /  whil  I  haue  tyme  and  space 

••*'  Er  that*  I  ferther  /  in  this  tale  pace  36 

Me  thynketh  it  acordaunt  to  reson 

To  telle  yow  /  al  the  condition 

Of  ech  of  hem  /  so  as  it  semed  me 

And  whiche  they  were  /  and  of  what  degree  40 

And  eek1  in  what  array  /  that  they  were  Inne 

And  at  a  knygfit  /  than  wol  I  first  bigynne 

A   knygfet  ther  was  /  and  that  a  worthy  man         if  Knygfet1 
•**•  That  fro  the  tyme  /  that  he  first  bigan  44 

To  riden  out  /  he  loued  chiualrie 
Trouthe  and  honour  /  fredom  and  curteisie 
fful  worthy  was  he  /  in  his  lordes  werre 
And  therto  /  hadde  he  riden  /  no  man  ferre  48 

As  wel  in  cristendom  /  as  in  Hethenesse  [leaf  5,  back] 

And  euere  /  honoured  for  his  worthynesse  » 

IT  At  Alisaundre  he  was  /  whan  it  was  wonne 
fful  ofte  tyme  /  he  hadde  the  bord  bigonne  52 

Abouen  alle  nacions  in  Pruce 
In  Lettow  /  hadde  he  reysed  and  in  Ruce 
No  cristen  man  so  ofte  of  his  degree 
In  Gernade  /  at  the  seege  eek  hadde  he  be  .56 

Of  Algezir  /.  and  riden  in  Belmarye 

At  Lyeys  was  he  /  and  at  Satalye 

Whan  they  were  wonne  /  and  in  the  grete  See 

At  many  a  noble  Armee  /  hadde  he  be  60 

At  mortal  batailles  /  hadde  he  been  fiftene 

And  foughten  for  oure  feith  at  Tramyssene 

In  lystcs  thries  /  and  ay  slayn  his  foo 

ELT/ESMERE    2 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.     3 


This  like  worthy  knygfi.fr  hadde  been  also 
Sonityme  /  with  the  lord  of  Palatye 
Agayn  /  another  hethen  in  Turkye 
And  eueremoore  /  he  hadde  a  souereyn  prys 
And  though  pat  he  were  worthy  he  was  wys 
And  of  his  port  /  as  meeke  as  is  a  mayde 
He  neuere  yet  /  no  vileynye  ne  sayde 
In  al  his  lyf  /  vn  to  no  maner  wight1 
He  was  a  verray  parfit  gentil  knygfit 
^f  But  for  to  tellen  yow  /  of  his  array 
His  hors  weren  goode  /  but  he  was  nat  gay 
Of  ffustian  /  he  wered  a  gypon) 
Al  bismotered  with  his  habergeon) 
ffor  he  was  late  /  ycome  from  his  viage 
And  wente  /  for  to  doon  his  pilgrymage 
TTTith  hym  ther  was  his  sone  a  yong1  Squier 
'  '    A  louyere  /  and  a  lusty  Bacheler 
"With  lokkes  crulle  /  as  they  were  leyd  in  presse 
Of  twenty  yeer  of  Age  /  he  was  I  gesse 
Of  his  stature  /  he  was  of  euene  lengthe" 
And  wonderly  delyuere  /  and  of  greet  strengthe 
And  he  hadde  been  soratyme  in  chyuachie 
In  fflaundres  /  in  Artoys  and  Pycardie 
And  born  hym  weel  /  as  of  so  litel  space 
In  hope  /  to  stonden  in  his  lady  grace 
Embrouded  was  he  /  as  it  were  a  meede 
Al  ful  of  fressfie  floures  /  whyte  and  reede 
Syngynge  he  was  /  or  floytynge  al  the  day 
He  was  as  fressfi.  /  as  in  the  Monthe  of  May 
Short  was  his  gowne  /  wit/i  sleues  longe  and  wyde 
Wei  koude  he  sitte  on  hors  and  faire  ryde 
He  koude  songes  make  /  and  wel  endite 
luste  and  eek  daunce  /  and  weel  purtreye  and  write 
So  hoote  he  louede  /  that  by  nyghtertale 
He  slepte  namoore  than  dooth  a  nygfityngale 
Curteis  he  was  /  lowely  /  and  seruysable 

ELLESMEBE   3 


64 


68 


72 


76 


U  Squier 

80 


88 


92 


96 

Deaf  6] 


4     GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  carf  /  biforn  his  fader  at  the  tahle  100 

A    Yeman  hadde  he  /  and  seniantz  namo  f  Teman 

•*•*•  At  that  tyme  /  for  hym  liste  ride  soo 
And  he  was  clad  /  in  cote  and  hood  of  grene 
A  sheef  of  pec  ok  arwes  /  bright  and  kene  104 

Vnder  his  belt1  he  bar  ful  thriftily 
"Wei  koude  he  /  dresse  his  takel  yemanly 
Hise  arwes  drouped  noght1  with  fetheres  lowe 
And  in  his  hand  /  he  baar  a  myghty  bowe  108 

A  not  heed  hadde  he  /  with  a  broun  visage 
Of  woodecraft  /  wel  koude  he  al  the  vsage 
Yp  on  his  arm  /  he  baar  a  gay  bracer 

And  by  his  syde  /  a  swerd  /  and  a  bokeler/  112 

And  on  that  oother  syde  /  a  gay  daggere 
Harneised  wel  /  and  sharpe  as  point  of  spere 
A  Cristophere  on  his  brest1  of  siluer  sheene 
An  horn  he  bar  /  the  bawdryk  was  of  grene  116 

A  fforster  was  he  /  soothly  as  I  gesse 

was  also  /  A  Nonne  a  PRIORESSE  f  Prioresse 

That  of  hir  smylyng  /  was  fill  symple  and  coy 
Hire  gretteste  ooth  /  was  but  by  seint  Loy  120 

And  she  was  cleped  /  madame  Eglentyne 
fful  weel  she  soong1  the  seruice  dyuyne, 
Entuned  in  hir  nose  /  ful  semeely 

And  frenssh  /  she  spak  /  ful  faire  and  fetisly  124 

After  the  scole  of  Stratford?  atte  Bowe 
ffor  frenssh"  of  Parys  /  was  to  hire  vnknowe 
At  mete  /  wel  ytaugfrt1  was  she  with  alle 
She  leet  no  morsel  /  from  hir  lippes  falle  128 

Ne  wette  hir  fyngres  /  in  hir  sauce  depe 
Wel  koude  she  carie  a  morsel  /  and  wel  kepe 
That  no  drope  /  ne  fille  vp  on  hire  brist 
In  curteisie  was  set  ful  muchel  hir  list/  132 

Hire  ouer  lippe  /  wyped  she  so  clene 
That  in  hir  coppe  /  ther  was  no  ferthyng  sene 
Of  grece  /  whan  she  dronken  hadde  hir  draughte 
'ELLESMERE  4 


A 


GROUP  A,  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.     5 


fful  semely  /  after  hir  mete  she  raughte 
And  sikerly  /  she  was  of  greet  desport1 
And  ful  plesaunt  /  and  aniya"ble  of  port* 
And  peyned  hire  to  countrefete  cheere 
Of  Court1  and  to  been  estatlich  of  nianere 
And  to  ben  holden  digne  of  reuerence 
But  for  to  speken  of  hire  conscience 
She  was  so  charitable  and  so  pitous 
She  wolde  wepe  /  if  that  she  saugh  a  Mous 
Kaught  in  a  trappe  /  if  it  were  deed  or  bledde 
Of  smale  houndes  /  hadde  she  J>at  she  fedde 
With  rosted  nessh"  /  or  Milk  /  and  wastel  breed 
But  soore  wepte  she  /  if  any  of  hem  were  deed 
Or  if  men  snaoot  it  /  with  a  yerde  smerte 
And  al  was  conscience  and  tendre  herte 
fful  semyly  /  hir  wympul  pynched  was 
Hire  nose  tretys  /  hir  eyen  greye  as  glas 
Hir  mouth  ful  smal  /  and  ther  to  softe  and  reed 
But  sikerly  /  she  hadde  a  fair  forheed? 
It  was  almoost1  .  a  spanne  brood  I  trowe 
ffor  hardily  /  she  was  nat  vndergrowe 
fful  fetys  was  hir  cloke  /  as  I  was  war 
Of  smal  coral  /  aboute  hire  Arm  she  bar 
A  peire  of  bedes  /  gauded  al  with  grene 
And  ther  on  /  heng1  a  brooch  of  gold  ful  sheene 
On  which  /  ther  was  first  write  a  crowned  .A. 
And  after  /  Amor  vincit  omnia. 
Another  !N~onne  /  with  hire  hadde  she 
That  was  hire  Chapeleyne  and  preestes  thre 
A    Monk  ther  was  /  a  fair  for  the  maistrie 
•**•  An  outridere  /  that  louede  venerie 
A  manly  man  /  to  been  an  Abbot  able 
fful  many  a  deyntee  hors  /  hadde  he  in  stable 
And  whan  he  rood  /  men  myghte  his  brydel  heere 
Gynglen  /  in  a  whistlynge  wynd  als  cleere 
And  eek1  as  loude  /  as  dooth  fe  Chapel  belle 

ELLESMERE    5 


136 


140 


144 

[leaf  6,  back] 


148 


152 


160 


T  Nonne  &  dij. 
preestes. 

164 

f  Monk/ 


168 


6     GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmerc  MS. 

Ther  as  this  lord  /  was  kepere  of  the  Celle  172 

The  reule  of  seint  Maure  /  or  of  seint  Beneit  / 

By  cause  that  it  was  old  /  and  som  del  streit  / 

This  ilke  Monk  /  leet  olde  thynges  pace 

And  heeld  /  after  the  newe  world  the  space  176 

He  yaf  nat  of  that  text  a  pulled  hen 

That  seith  /  that  hunters  beth  nat  hooly  men 

!N"e  that  a  Monk  /  whan  he  is  recchelees 

Is  likned  /  til  a  fissfe  /  fat  is  waterlees  180 

This  is  to  seyn  /  a  Monk  out  of  his  Cloystre 

But  thilke  text  /  heeld  he  nat  worth  an  Oystre 

And  I  seyde  /  his  opinion)  was  good 

What  sholde  he  studie  /  and  make  hym  seluen  wood    184 

Vpon  a  book  /  in  Cloystre  alwey  to  poure 

Or  swynken  with  his  handes,  and  laboure 

As  Austyn  bit  /  how  shal  the  world  be  serued 

Lat  Austyn  /  haue  his  owene  swynk  /  to  him  reserued  188 

Therfore  /  he  was  a  prikasour  aright1 

Grehoundes  he  hadde  /  as  swift1  as  fowel  in  flight1 

Of  pnkyng1  and  of  huntyng1  for  the  hare 

Was  al  his  lust1,  for  no  cost  wolde  he  spare  192 

I  seigh  his  sleues  /  ypurfiled  at  the  hond  Deaf  73 

With  grys  /  and  that  the  fyneste  of  a  lond 

And  for  to  festne  his  hood  vnder  his  chyn 

He  hadde  of  gold  /  ywroght  /  a  f ul  curious  pyn  196 

A  loue  knotte  /  in  the  gretter  ende  ther  was 

His  heed  was  balled  /  fat  shoon  as  any  glas 

And  eek  his  face  /  as  it  hadde  been  enoynt/ 

He  was  a  lord  ful  fat  /  and  in  good  poynf  200 

Hise  eyen  stepe  /  and  rollynge  in  his  heed 

That  stemed  /  as  a  forneys  of  a  leed 

His  bootes  souple  /  his  hors  in  greet  estaaf 

Now  certeinly  /  he  was  a  fair  prelaat1  204 

He  was  nat  pale  /  as  a  forpyned  goosf 

A  fat  swan  loued  he  best  of  any  roost1 

His  palfrey  /  was  as  broun  as  is  a  berye 

ELLESMEBE    6 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.     7 

A    ffrere  ther  was  /  a  wantowne  and  a  merye,  IT  ffrere 

**•  A  lymytour  /  a  ful  solempne  man  209 

In  alle  the  ordres  foure  /  is  noon  fat  kan 
So  muchel  of  daliaunce  /  and  fair  langage 
He  hadde  maad  /  ful  many  a  mariage  212 

Of  yonge  wowmen  /  at  his  owene  cost4 
Vn  to  his  ordre  /  he  was  a  noble  post* 
And  wel  biloued  /  and  famulier  was  he 
With  frankeleyns  /  oner  al  in  his  contree  216 

And  [eek]  with  worthy  wommen  of  the  toun 
ffor  he  hadde  power  of  corifessioun 
As  seyde  hym  self  /  moore  than  a  Curaf 
ffor  of  his  ordre  /  he  was  licenciafr  220 

fful  swetely  /  herde  he  confession 
And  plesaunt1  was  his  absolucion 
He  was  an  esy  man  /  to  yeue  penaunce 
Ther  as  he  wiste  /  to  haue  a  good  pitaunce  224 

ffor  vnto  a  poure  ordre  /  for  to  yiue 
Is  signe  /  J?«t  a  man  is  wel  yshryue 
ffor  if  he  yaf  /  he  dorste  make  avaunt1 
He  wiste  /  that  a  man  was  repentaunf  228 

ifor  many  a  man  /  so  harde  is  of  his  herte 
He  may  nat  wepe  /  al  thogh  hym  soore  smerte 
Therfore  in  stede  of  wepynge  and  preyeres 
Men  moote  yeue  siluer  /  to  the  poure  freres  232 

His  typet1  was  ay  farsed  ful  of  knyues 
And  pynnes  /  for  to  yeuen  yonge  wyues 
And  certeinly  /  he  hadde  a  murye  note 
Wel  koude  he  synge  /  and  pleyen  on  a  rote  236 

Of  yeddynges  /  he  baar  outrely  the  pris 
His  nekke  /  whit1  was  /  as  the  flour  delys 
Ther  to  /  he  strong1  was  as  a  Champion) 
He  knew  the  Tauernes  wel  in  al  the  toun  240 

And  euerich  Hostiler  /  and  Tappestere  £ieaf7,back] 

Bet  than  a  lazar  /  or  a  beggestere 
ffor  vn  to  swich  a  worthy  man  as  he 

ELLESMERE   7 


8     GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Acorded  nat  /  as  by  his  facultee  244 

To  haue  with  sike  lazars  Aqueyntance 

It  is  nat  honeste  /  it  may  nat  avance 

ffor  to  deelen  /  with  no  swich  poraille 

But  al  \tiih  riche  /  and  selleres  of  vitaille  248 

And  ouer  al  /  ther  as  profit  sholde  arise 

Curteis  he  was  /  and  lowely  of  seruyse 

Ther  nas  no  man  /  nowher  so  vertuous 

He  was  /  the  beste  beggere  in  his  hous  252 

[ 

no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

ffor  thogh"  a  wydwe  /  hadde  nogfit  a  sho 
So  plesaunt  /  was  his  In  przncipio 
Yet  wolde  he  haue  /  a  ferthyng1  er  he  wente 
His  purchas  /  was  wel  bettre  than  his  rente  256 

And  rage  he  koude  /  as  it  were  right  a  whelpe 
In  loue  dayes  /  ther  koude  he  muchel  helpe 
ffor  there  he  was  nat  lyk  a  Cloystrer 

With  a  thredbare  'cope  /  as  is  a  poure  scoler  260 

But  he  was  lyk  /  a  maister  /  or  a  pope 
Of  double  worstede  /  was  his  semycope 
That  rounded  as  a  belle  /  out  of  the  presse 
Somwhat  he  lipsed  /  for  his  wantownesse  264 

To  make  his  englissh  /  sweete  vp  on  his  tonge 
And  in  his  harpyng1 .  whan  fat  he  hadde  songe 
Hise  eyen  twynkled  in  his  heed  aryghf 
As  doon  the  sterres  /  in  the  frosty  nygfitt  268 

This  worthy  lymytour  /  was  cleped  Huberd? 
A   Marchant  was  ther  with  a  forked  berd*  T  Marchant 

•**•  In  Motlee  and  hye  on  horse  he  sat1 
Vp  on  his  heed  a  fflaundryssh"  Beuere  hat  /  272 

His  bootes  clasped  /  faire  and  fetisly 
Hise  rescns  he  spak  /  ful  solempnely 
Sownynge  alway  thencrees  of  his  wynnyng1 
He  wolde  the  see  were  kept1  for  any  thing1  276 

Bitwixe  Middelburgh  and  Orewelle 

ELLESMEKE   8 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmerc  MS.     9 

Wei  koude  he  in  eschaunge  sheeldes  selle 

This  worthy  man  /  ful  wel  his  wit  bisette 

Ther  wiste  no  wignfr  fat  he  was  in  dette  280 

So  estatly  /  was  he  of  his  gouernaunce 

With  his  bargaynes  /  and  with  his  cheuyssaunce 

GOT  sothe  /  he  was  a  worthy  man  with  alle 

But  sooth  to  seyn  /  I  noot  how  men  hym  calle  284 

A    Clerk  ther  was  /  of  Oxenford?  also         f  Clerk  of  Oxenford', 
•*•*•  That  vn  to  logyk*  /  hadde  longe  ygo 
And  leene  was  his  hors  as  is  a  rake 

And  he  nas  nat  right  fat,  I  vndertake  288 

But  looked  holwe  /  and  ther  to  sobrely  peafs] 

fful  thredbare  /  was, his  ouereste  courtepy 
ffor  he  hadde  geten  hym  yet  no  benefice 
~NQ  was  so  worldly  /  for  to  haue  office  292 

ffor  hym  was  leuere  /  haue  at  his  beddes  heed 
Twenty  bookes  /  clad  in  blak1  or  reed 
Of  Aristotle  /  and  his  Philosophic 

Than  robes  riche  /  or  fithele  /  or  gay  sautrie  296 

But  al  be  /  that  he  was  a  Philosophre 
Yet  hadde  he  /  but  litel  gold  in  cofre 
But  al  fat  he  myghte  /  of  his  freendes  hente 
On  bookes  /  and  his  lernynge  he  it  spente  300 

And  bisily  /  gan  for  the  soules  preye 
Of  hem  /  J>at  yaf  hym  wher  w/t/i  to  scoleye 
Of  studie  took  he  moost  cure  and  moost  heede 
Noght  o  word  /  spak  he  moore  than  was  neede  304 

And  that  was  seyd  /  in  forme  and  reuerence 
And  short*  and  quyk1  and  ful  of  hy  sentence 
Sownynge  in  moral  verfcu  /  was  his  speche 
And  gladly  wolde  he  lerne  and  gladly  teche  308 

A    Sergeant  of  the  La  we  /  war  and  wys        IT  Sergeant  of  lawe 
•**•  That  often  hadde  been  at  the  Parvys 
Ther  Was  also  /  ful  riche  of  excellence 
Discreet  he  was  /  and  of  greet  reuerence  312 

He  semed  swich  /  hise  wordes  weren  so  wise 

ELLESMERE    9 


10  GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Justice  he  was  /  ful  often  in  Assise, 
By  patente  /  and  by  pleyn  commissioiw 
ffor  his  science  /  and  for  his  heigh"  renou/i  31 C 

Of  fees  and  robes  /  hadde  he  many  oon 
So  greet  a  purchasour  /  was  nowher  noon 
Al  was  fee  symple  to  hym  in  effect1 

His  purchasyng  /  myghte  nat  been  infect1  320 

Nowher  /  so  bisy  a  man  as  he  ther  nas 
And  yet  he  semed  /  bisier  than  he  was 
In  tennes  hadde  he  caas  and  doomes  alle 
That  from  the  tyme  /  of  kyng  william  were  yfallc          324 
Ther-to  /  he  koude  endite  and  make  a  thyng1 
Ther  koude  no  wigfrf  /  pynchen  at  his  writyng1 
And  euery  statutt  /  koude  he-  pleyn  by  rote 
He  rood  but  hoomly  /  in  a  medlee  cote  328 

Girt  with  a  ceint  of  silk  /  wiih  barres  smale 
Of  his  array  telle  I  no  lenger  tale. 

A   ffrankeleyn  /  was  in  his  compaignye  .f  ffrankeieyn 

•*"*-  Whit  was  his  heed  /  as  is  a  dayesye  332 

Of  his  complexion  /  he  was  sangwyn 
Wei  loued  he  by  the  morwe  a  sope  in  wyn 
To  lyuen  in  delif  was  euere  his  wone 
For  he  was  /  Epicurus  owene  sone  336 

That  heeld.opinion  that  pleyn  delit  [leafs.backi 

Was  verray  felicitee  parfit1 
An  housholdere  /  and  that  a  greet  was  he 
Seintf  Julian  was  he  in  his  contree  340 

His  breed  /  his  Ale  /  was  alweys  after  oon 
A  bettre  envyned  man  /  was  neuere  noon 
With  oute  bake  mete  /  was  neuere  his  hous 
Of  fissh"  and  flessh"  /  and  that  so  plenteuous  344 

It  snewed  in  his  hous  /  of  mete  and  drynke 
Of  alle  deyntees  /  that  men  koude  thynke 
After'  the  sondry  sesons  /  of  the  yeer 
So  chaunged  he  /  his  mete  and  his  soper  348 

fful  many  a  fat  partrich"  /  hadde  he  in  Muwe 

ELLESMERE    10 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.  11 

And  many  a  Breem  /  and  many  a  luce  in  Stuwe 

"Wo  was  his  Cook1  /  but  if  his  sauce  were 

Poynaunt  /  and  sharpe  /  and  redy  al  his  geere  352 

His  table  dormant1  in  his  halle  alway 

Stood  redy  couered  /  al  the  longe  day 

At  sessions  ther  was  he  lord  and  sire 

fful  ofte  tyme  /  he  was  knyght  of  the  shire  356 

An  Anlaas  /  and  a  gipser  al  of  silk1 

Heeng  at  his  girdel  /  whit  as  niorne  Milk  / 

A  shirreue  hadde  he  been  and  Countour 

"Was  nowher  /  such  a  worthy  Vauasour        s  w  K  L  360 

AN  haberdassSere  and  a  Carpenter  1  Haberdasshew 

^f  Carpenter 
A  Webbe  /  a  Dyere  /  and  a  Tapycer         f  Webbe 

^J  1  Dyere 

And  they  were  clothed  alle  in  o  lyueree          1  Tapicer 
Of  a  solempne  /  and  a  greet  fraternitee  364 

fful  fresstl  and  newe  /  hir  geere  apiked  was 
Hir  knyues  /  were  chaped  noght  with  bras 
But  al  with  siluer  /  wroght  ful  clene  and  weel 
Hire  girdles  and  hir  pouches  euerydeel  368 

Wei  semed  ech  of  hem  /  a  fair  burgeys 
To  sitten  in  a  yeldehalle  /  on  a  deys 
Euerich"  /  for  the  wisdom  fat  he  kan 
"Was  shaply  /  for  to  been  an  Alderman  372 

ffor  catel  hadde  they  ynogh  and  rente 
And  eek  hir  wyues  wolde  if  wel  assente 
And  elles  certeyn  /  were  they  to  blame 
It  is  ful  fair  /  to  been  ycleped  ma  Dame  376 

And  goon  to  vigilies  /  al  bifore 
And  haue  a  Mantel  roialliche  ybore 

A    Cook  they  hadde  with  hem  for  the  nones  T  Cook. 

•*"*-  To  boille  the  chiknes  with  the  Marybones  380 

And  poudre  Marchanf  tart1  and  galyngale 
Wel  koude  he  knowe  /  a  draughte  of  London  ale 
He  koude  rooste  and  sethe  /  and  boille  and  frye 
Maken  Mortreux  /  and  wel  bake  a  pye  384 

But  greet  harm  was  it  /  as  it  thoughte  me  [loaf  »j 

ELLESMEIIE    11 


12  GROUP  A.  §  L  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

That  on  his  shyne  /  a  mormal  hadde  he 

ffor  blankmanger  /  that  made  he  with  the  beste 

Shipman  was  ther  /  wonynge  fer  by  weste        f  Shipman 
ffor  augfit  I  woot  /  he  was  of  Dertemouthe  389 

He  rood  vp  on  a  Eouncy  /  as  he  kouthe  «• 

In  a  gowne  of  faldyng*  to  the  knee 

A  daggers  /  hangynge  on  a  laas  hadde  he  392 

Aboute  his  nekke  /  vnder  his  Arm  adoun 

The  hoote  somer  /  hadde  maad  his  hewe  al  broun 

And  certeinly  /  he  was  a  good  felawe 

fful  many  a  draughte  of  wyn  /  had  he  [y-]drawe  396 

ffro  Burdeuxward?  /  whil  that  the  Chapman  sleepe 

Of  nyce  conscience  /  took  he  no  keepe 

If  pat  he  faugfif  and  hadde  the  hyer  hond? 

By  water  /  he  sente  hem  hoom  to  euery  lond  400 

But  of  his  craft  /  to  rekene  wel  his  tydes 

His  stremes  /  and  his  daungers  hym  bisides 

His  herberwe  /  and  his  moone  /  his  lodemenage 

Ther  nas  noon  swidh  /  from  Hulle  to  Cartage  404 

Hardy  he  was  and  wys  /  to  vndertake 

With  many  a  tempest  /  hadde  his  berd  been  shake 

He  knew  alle  the  hauenes  /  as  they  were 

ffrof  Gootlond?  to  the  Cape  of  ffynystere  408 

And  euery  cryke  /  in  Britaigne  and  in  Spayne 

His  Barge  /  ycleped  was  the  Maudelayne 

h  vs  ther  was  a  Doctour  of  Phisik      f  Doctour  of  Phisik/. 
In  al  this  world  /  ne  was  ther  noon  hym  lik  412 

To  speke  of  phisik  /  and  of  Surgerye 

ifor  he  was  grounded  in  Astronomye 

He  kepte  his  pacient1  a  ful  greet  deel 

In  houres  /  by  his  magyk  natureel  416 

Wel  koude  he  fortunen  the  Ascendent 

Of  hise  ymages  /  for  his  pacienf 

He  knew  the  cause  /  of  euerich  maladye 

Were  it  of  hoof  or  cold  /  or  moyste  /  or  drye  420 

And  where  they  engendred  /  and  of  what  humour 

ELLESMEKE    12 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.   13 

He  was  a  verray  parfit  praktisour 
The  cause  yknowe  /  and  of  his  harm  the  roote 
Anon  he  yaf  /  the  sike  man  his  boote  424 

flul  redy  hadde  he  /  hise  Apothecaries 
To  sende  him  drogges  and  his  letuaries 
fibr  ech  of  hem  /  made  oother  for  to  wynne 
Hir  frendshipe  /  nas  nat  newe  to  bigynne  428 

Wei  knew  he  /  the  olde  Esculapius 
And  Deyscorides  /  and  eek  Bisus 
Olde  ypocras  /  Haly  /  and  Galyen 

Serapion)  Razis  /  and  Auycen  432 

Auerrois  /  Damascien  /  and  Constantyn  [leaf  9,  back] 

Bernard  /  and  Gatesden  /  and  Gilbertyn 
Of  his  diete  /  mesurable  was  he 

ifor  it  was  /  of  no  superfluitee  436 

But  of  greet  norissyng  /  and  digestible 
His  studie  /  was  but  litel  on  the  Bible 
In  sangwyn  and  in  pers  /  he  clad  was  al 
Lyned  with  Taffata  /  and  with  Sendal  440 

And  yet  he  was  /  but  esy  of  dispence 
He  kepte  /  that  he  wan  in  pestilence 
flbr  gold  in  Phisik  /  is  a  cordial 

Therfore  he  louede  gold  in  special  444 

A    good  wif  was  ther  of  biside  Bathe  J  Batehge°°de  W  °f 

•^  But  she  was  som  del  deef  and  J)«t  was  scathe 
Of  clooth  makyng*  she  hadde  swich  an  haunt1 
She  passed  hem  of  ypres  and  of  Gaunf  448 

In  al  the  parisshe  /  wif  ne  was  ther  noon 
That  to  the  offrynge  /  bifore  hire  sholde  goon 
And  if  ther  dide  /  certeyn  so  wrooth  was  she 
That  she  was  /  out  of  alle  charitee  452 

Hir  couerchiefs  /  ful  fyne  weren  of  ground? 
I  dorste  swere  /  they  weyeden  ten  pound? 
That  on  a  sonday  /  weren  vpon  hir  heed! 
Hir  hosen  weren  /  of  fyn  scarlet  reed?  456 

fful  streite  yteyd  /  and  shoes  ful  moyste  and  newe 

ELLESMETIB    13 


14  GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Boold  was  hir  face  /  and  fair  and  reed  of  hewe 
She  was  a  worthy  womman  al  hir  lyue 
Housbondes  at  chirche  dore  /she  hadde.  fyue  4GO 

"Withouten  oother  compaignye  in  youthe 
But  ther  of/  nedeth  nat  to  speke as  nowthe 
And  thries  /  hadde  she  been  at  Jerusalem 
She  hadde  passed  /  many  a  straunge  strem  464 

At  Rome  she  hadde  been  and  at  Boloigne 
In  Galice  at  Seint  lame  /  and  at  Coloigne 
She  koude  muchel  /  of  wandrynge  by  the  weye 
Gat  tothed  was  she  /  soothly  for  to  seye  468 

Vp  on  an  Amblere  /  esily  she  sat 
Ywympled  wel  /  and  on  hir  heed  an  hat* 
As  brood  /  as  is  a  bokeler  /  or  a  targe 
A  foot  mantel  /  aboute  hir  hipes  large  472 

And  on  hire  feet1  a  paire  of  spores  sharpe 
In  felaweshipe  /  wel  koude  she  laugh  e  and  carpe 
Of  remedies  of  loue  /  she  knew  per  chaunce 
For  she  koude  of  that  Art1  the  olde  daunce  476 

A    good  man  was  ther  of  Eeligioun 

**•  And  was  /  a  poure  Person  of  a  toun       f  Pci-son  of  a  toun. 
But  riche  he  was  /  of  hooly  thogftt  and  werk/ 
He  was  also  /  a  lerned  man  a  clerk1  480 

That  cristes  gospel  /  trewely  wolde  preche  [leaf  10] 

Hise  parissfrens  /  deuoutly  wolde  he  teche 
Benygne  he  was  /  and  wonder  diligent 
And  in  Aduersitee  ful  pacienfr  484 

And  swich  /  he  was  [y-]preued  ofte  sithes 
fful  looth  were  hym  /  to  cursen  for  hise  tithes 
But  rather  wolde  he  yeuen  out  of  doute 
Vn  to  his  poure  parisshens  aboute  488 

Of  his  offryng*  and  eek  of  his  substaunce 
He  koude  /  in  litel  thyng*  haue  suffisaunce 
"Wyd  was  his  parissfce  /  and  houses  fer  a  sender 
But  ho  ne  lafte  nat1  for  reyn  ne  thonder  492 

In  siknesse  nor  in  meschief  /  to  visite 

ELLESMEBE    14 


CROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.  15 

The  ferreste  in  his  parisshe  muche  and  lite 

Vp  on  his  feet1  and  in  his  hand  a  staf 

This  noble  ensample.to  h^s  sheepe  he  yaf  496 

That  firste  he  wroghte  /  and  afterward  that  he  taughte 

Out  of  the  gospel  /  he  tho  wordes  caughte 

And  this  figure  /  he  added  eek  ther  to 

That  if  gold  ruste  /  what  shal  Iren  doo  500 

For  if  a  preest  be  foul  /  on  whom  we  truste 

No  wonder  is  /  a  lewed  man  to  ruste 

And  shame  it  is  /  if  [that]  a  prest  take  keepe 

A  shiten  shepherde  /  and  a  clene  sheepe  504 

Wei  oghte  a  preest  /  ensample  for  to  yeue 

By  his  clennesse  /  how  pat  his  sheepe  sholde  lyue 

He  sette  nat  his  benefice  to  hyre 

And  leet  his  sheepe  /  encombred  in  the  Myre  508 

And  ran  to  London  /  vn  to  seint  Poules 

To  seken  hym  a  chauntrie  for  soules 

Or  with  a  bretherhed  /  to  been  withholde 

But  dwelleth  at  hoom  and  kepeth  wel  his  folde  512 

So  that  the  wolf  /  ne  made  it  nat  myscarie 

He  was  a  shepherde  /  and  noght  a  Mercenarie 

And  though  he  hooly  were  /  and  vertuous 

He  was  nat1  to  synful  man  despitous  516 

Ne  of  his  speche  /  dauugerous  ne  digne 

But  in  his  techyng1  discreet  and  benygne 

To  drawen  folk  to  heuene  by  fairnesse 

By  good  ensample  /  this  was  his  bisynesse  520 

But  it  were  any  persone  obstinat1 

What  so  he  were  /  of  heigh  or  lough  estat 

Hym  wolde  he  snybben  sharply  for  the  nonys 

A  bettre  preest1  I  trowe  /  pat  nowher  noon  ys  524 

He  waiteth  /  after  no  pompe  and  reuerence 

Ne  maked  him  a  spiced  conscience 

But  cristes  loore  /  and  hise  Apostles  twelue 

He  taughte  /  but  first1  he  folwed  it  hym  selue  528 

With  hym  ther  was  a  Plowman  was  his  brother ' 

ELLESMERE    15 


16   GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

That  hadde  ylad  of  dong1  ful  many  a  fotlier 

A  trewe  swynkere  /  and  a  good  was  he 

Lyuynge  in  pees  /  and  parfit  charitee  532 

God  loued  he  best  /  with  al  his  hoole  herte 

At  alle  tymes  /  thogh  he  gamed  or  smerte 

And  thanne  his  neighebore  /  right  as  hym  selue 

He  wolde  thresshe  /  and  ther  to  dyke  and  delue  536 

For  cristes  sake  /  for  euery  poure  wight 

Wit^outen  hire  /  if  it  lay  in  his  myght 

Hise  tithes  /  payde  he  ful  faire  and  wel 

Bothe  of  his  propre  swynk1  and  his  catel  540 

In  a  Tabard  he  rood  /  vpon  a  Mere 

fPher  was  also  /  a  Rene  and  a  Millere  t  Miller*. 

•*•  A  Somnour  /  and  a  Pardoner  also 

A  Maunciple  /  and  my  self  ther  were  namo  544 

IT  The  Millere  was  a  stout  carl  for  the  nones 

Ful  byg  he  was  /  of  brawn  /  and  eek  of  bones 

That  proued  wel  /  for  ouer  al  ther  he  cam 

At  wrastlynge  /  he  wolde  haue  alwey  the  Earn  548 

He  was  short  sholdred  /  brood  /  a  thikke  knarre 

W 
Ther  »as  no  dore  /  J>at  he  ne  wolde  heue  of  harre 

Or  breke  it  /  at  a  rennyng*  with  his  heed 

His  berd  /  as  any  sowe  /  or  fox  was  reed  552 

And  ther  to  brood  /  as  though  it  were  a  spade 

Vp  on  the  cope  /  right  of  his  nose  he  hade 

A  werte  /  and  ther  on  stood  a  toft  of  herys 

Eeed  /  as  the  brustles  /  of  a  sowes  erys  555 

Hise  nosethirles  /  blake  were  and  wyde 

A  swerd  and  a  bokeler  /  bar  he  by  his  syde 

His  mouth  as  greet  was  /  as  a  greet  forneys 

He  was  a  langlere  and  a  goliardeys  560 

And  that  was  nioost1  /  of  synne  and  harlotries 

Wel  koude  he  stelen  corn  /  and  tollen  thries 

And  yet  he  hadde  /  a  thombe  of  gold  pardee 

A  whit  cote  /  and  a  blew  hood  wered  he  564 

A  baggepipe  /  wel  koude  he  blowe  and  sowne 

ELLESMERE    16 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmei'e  MS.  17 

And  ther  with  al  /  he  broghte  vs  out  of  towne 

Agentil  Maunciple  /  was  ther  of  a  temple         t  Mauncipie. 
Of  which  Achatours  /  myghte  take  exemple  568 

fFor  to  be  wise  /  in  byynge  of  vitaille 
ffor  wheither  that  he  payde  /  or  took  by  taille 
Algate  /  he  wayted  so  /  in  his  Achaatf 
That  he  was  ay  biforn  /  and  in  good  staat1  572 

Now  is  nat  that  of  god  a  ful  fair  grace 
That  swich  a  lewed  mannes  wit  shal  pace 
The  wisdom  /  of  an  heepe  of  lerned  men 
Of  maistres  hadde  he  /  mo  than  thries  ten  576 

That  weren  of  lawe  /  expert1  and  curious  [leaf  11] 

Of  whiche  /  ]>er  weren  a  duszeyne  in  that  hous 
Worthy  to  been  stywardes  /  of  rente  and  lond* 
Of  any  lord  /  that  is  in  Engelond?  580 

To  maken  hym  lyue  /  by  his  propre  good 
In  honour  dettelees  /  but  if  he  were  wood 
Or  lyue  as  scarsly  /  as  hym  list1  desire 
And  able  /  for  to  helpen  al  a  shire  584 

In  any  caas  /  Jjat  myghte  falle  or  happe 
And  yet  this  manciple  /  sette  hir  aller  cappe 
rFhe  Eeue  was  /  a  sclendre  colerik  man  f  Eeue. 

•*•    His  berd  was  shaue  /  as  ny  as  euer  he  kan  588 

His  heer  was  by  his  erys  /  ful  round  yshorn 
His  tope  was  doked  /  lyk  a  preest  biforn 
fFul  longe  were  his  legges  /  and  ful  lene 
ylyk  a  staf  /  ther  was  no  calf  ysene  592 

Wei  koude  he  kepe  a  gerner  /  and  a  bynne 
Ther  was  noon  Auditour  /  koude  of  him  wynne 
Wei  wiste  he  /  by  the  droghte  /  and  by  the  reyn 
The  yeldynge  /  of  his  seed  /  and  of  his  greyn  596 

His  lordes  sheepe  /  his  neefr  his  dayerye 
His  swyn  /  his  hors  /  his  stoor  /  and  his  pultrye 
Was  hoolly  /  in  this  Reues  gouernyng  / 
And  by  his  couenant*  yaf  the  rekenyng*  600 

Syn  that  his  lord  /  was  twenty  yeer  of  age 

2  ELLESMEKE    17 


604 
were  adrad  of  hyW  as  o  ^  ^ e  ^^ 

608 
He  ko°udel)ettre  than  Hs  lord  pure 

612 


SSSSSBSS^- 

H,- ...<p-"™*"'?r 

sS?rS3sLto      '" 

A  1^-ntr  surcote  oi  pel"  /  vi' 


I  telle 

620 


A 


That  hadde  /  a  fyr  reed  .neruu  *          ^^ 


That  hym  myg^te  helpen  /  of  the  w 
^oroftheknohbes/sittyngeonh 

Wellouedhegarleek/oynons/a 

And  for  to  drynken  strong  wyn  /  reed  as         ^^       ^ 

Thanne  .olde  he  8peke  j^^J^^ 


18 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.    19 

Than  wolde  he  speke  no  word  but  latyn 
A  fewe  termes  hadde  he  /  two  or  thre 
That  he  had  lerned  /  out  of  som  decree  640 

No  wonder  is  /  he  herde  it  al  the  day 
And  eek  ye  knowen  wel  /  how  fat  a  lay 
Kan  clepen  watte  /  as  wel  as  kan  the  pope 
But  who  so  koude  in  oother  thyngi  hym  grope  644 

Thanne  hadde  he  spent*  al  his  Philosophic 
Ay  questio  quid  iuris  /  wolde  he  crie 
He  was  /  a  gentil  harlot1  and  a  kynde 
A  bettre  felawe  /  sholde  men  noght  fynde  648 

He  wolde  suffre  /  for  a  quart  of  wyn 
A  good  felawe  /  to  haue  his  concubyn 
A  twelf  monthe  /  and  excuse  hym  atte  fulle 
And  pn'uely  /  a  fynch  eek  koude  he  pulle  652 

And  if  he  foond  owher  /  a  good  felawe 
He  wolde  techen  him  /  to  have  noon  Awe 
In  swich  caas  /  of  the  Ercedekenes  curs 
But*  if  a  mannes  soule  /  were  in  his  purs  656 

ffor  in  his  purs  /  he  sholde  ypunysshed  be 
Purs  /  is  the  Ercedekenes  helle  seyde  he 
But  wel  I  woot  /  he  lyed  rigfit  in  dede 
Of  cursyng1  oghte  eeh  gilty  man  [to]  drede  660 

ffor  curs  wol  slee  /  rigfit  as  assoillyng1  sauith 
And  also  /  war  him  of  a  Significauit/ 
In  daunger  hadde  he  /  at  his  owene  gise 
The  yonge  girles  /  of  the  diocise  664 

And  knew  hir  conseil  /  and  was  ai  Mr  reed 
A  gerland!  /  hadde  he  set  vp  on  his  heed 
As  greet  /  as  it  were  for  an  Ale  stake 
A  bokeleer  /  hadde  he  maad  him  of  a  Cake  668 

Tinth  hym  ther  was  /  a  gentil  Pardoner  f  Pardoner. 

*  *  Of  Rounciuale  /  his  freend  and  his  compeer 
That  streight  was  comen  /  fro  the  cowt  of  Eome. 
fful  loude  he  soong'  com  hider  loue  to  me  672 

This  Somonowr  /  bar  to  hym  a  stif  burdoun  near  12] 

ELLESMERE    19 


20  GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Was  neuere  trompe  /  of  half  so  greet  a  soun 

This  Pardoner  hadde  heer  /  as  yelow  as  wex 

But  smothe  it  heeng1  as  dooth  a  strike  of  flex  676 

By  ounces  /  henge  hise  lokkes  fat  he  hadde 

And  ther  with  /  he  hise  shuldres  ouerspradde 

But  thynne  it  lay  /  by  colpons  oon  and  oon 

But  hood  for  lolitee  /  wered  he  noon  680 

For  it  was  trussed  /  vp  in  his  walef 

Hym  thoughte  /  he  rood  /  al  of  the  newe  let1 

Discheuelee  saue  his  cappe  /  he  rood  al  bare 

Swiche  glarynge  eyen  hadde  he  as  an  hare  684 

A  vernycle  hadde  he  sowed  /  vp  on  his  cappe 

His  waletf  [lay]  biforn  hym  /  in  his  lappe 

Bret  ful  of  pardon  /  comen  from  Eorne  al  hoot/ 

A  voys  he  hadde  /  as  smal  as  hath  a  goot/  688 

No  berd  hadde  he  /  ne  neuere  sholde  haue 

As  smothe  it  was  /  as  it  were  late  shaue 

I  trowe  /  he  were  a  geldyng  or  a  mare 

But  of  his  craft1  fro  Berwyk*  in  to  "Ware  692 

Ne  was  ther  /  swich  another  Pardoner 

ffor  in  his  male  /  he  hadde  a  pilwe  beer 

Which  J?ot  he  seyde  /  was  oure  lady  veyl 

He  seyde  he  hadde  /  a  gobett  of  the  seyl  696 

That  seint  Peter  hadde  /  whan  ]>at  he  wente 

Vp  on  the  see  /  til  Ihesu  crist  hym  hente 

He  hadde  a  croys  of  laton  /  ful  of  stones 

And  in  a  glas  /  he  hadde  pigges  bones  700 

But  with  thise  relikes  /  whan  J>at  he  fond? 

A  poure  person)  /  dwellynge  vp  on  land* 

Vp  on  a  day  /  he  gat  hym  moore  moneye 

Than  J>at  the  person  gat  /  in  Monthes  tweye  704 

And  thus  /  with  feyned  flaterye  and  lapes 

He  made  the  person)  and  the  peple  his  Apes 

But  trewely  /  to  tellen  atte  laste 

He  was  in  chirche  a  noble  ecclesiaste  708 

Wei  koude  he  rede  /  a  lesson  or  a  storie 

ELLESMERE    20 


!      GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.   21 

But  alderbest  /  he  song  an  Offertorie 

ffor  wel  he  wiste  /  whan  Jjat  song  was  songe 

He  moste  preche  /  and  wel  affile  his  tonge  712 

To  wynne  siluer  /  as  he  ful  wel  koude 

Therefore  he  song  /  the  murierly  and  loude 

"YFOw  haue  I  toold  you  shortly  in  a  clause 

*'  The  staaf  tharray  /  the  nombre  and  eek  the  cause  716 

Why  ]?at  assembled  was  this  corapaignye 

In  Southwerk  /  at*  this  gentil  hostelrye  {*  MS.  as] 

That  highte  the  Tabard  /  faste  by  the  belle 

But  now  is  tyme  /  to  yow  for  to  telle  720 

How  that  we  baren  vs  that  ilke  nygh"  t  Deaf  12,  back] 

Whan  we  were  /  in  that  hostelrie  alygfrt 

And  after  wol  I  telle  /  of  our  viage 

And  al  the  remenaunt  of  oure  pilgrimage  724 

But  first1 1  pray  yow  /  of  youre  curteisye 

That  ye  narette  it  nat  my  vileynye 

Thogh"  J?at  I  pleynly  speke  in  this  mateere 

To  telle  yow  /  hir  wordes  and  hir  cheere  728 

Ne  thogh  I  speke  hir  wordes  proprely 

ffor  this  ye  knowen  /  al  so  wel  as  I 

Who  so  shal  telle  a  tale  /  after  a  man 

He  moote  reherce  /  as  ny  as  euere  he  kan  732 

Euerich  a  word  /  if  it  be  in  his  charge 

Al  speke  he  /  neuer  so  rudeliche  or  large 

Or  ellis  /  he  moot  telle  his  tale  vntrewe 

Or  feyne  thyng1 .  or  fynde  wordes  newe  736 

He  may  nat  spare  /  al  thogh  he  were  his  brother 

He  moot  as  wel  /  seye  o  word  as  another 

Crist*  spak  hym  self  /  ful  brode  in  hooly  writ1 

And  wel  ye  woott  no  vileynye  is  it  740 

Eek  Plato  seith  /  who  so  kan  hym  rede 

The  wordes  /  moote  be  cosyn  to  the  dede 

Also  I  prey  yow  /  to  foryeue  it  me 

Al  haue  I  nat  set  folk  in  hir  degree  744 

Heere  in  this  tale  /  as  J?at  they  sholde  stonde 

ELLESMERE    21 


22  GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  EUcsmere  MS. 

My  wit  is  short*  ye  may  wel  vnderstonde 

^f  Greet  chiere  made  oure  hoost  vs  euerichon 

And  to  the  soper  /  sette  he  vs  anon  748 

And  serried  vs  /  with  vitaille  at  the  beste 

Strong  was  the  wyn  /  and  wel  to  drynke  vs  leste 

A  semely  man  /  oure  hoost  was  with  alle 

ffor  to  been  /  a  Marchal  in  an  halle  752 

A  large  man  he  was  /  with  even  stepe 

A  fairer  Burgeys  /  was  ther  noon  in  Chepe 

Boold  of  his  speche  /  and  wys  and  well  ytaughf 

And  of  manhod  /  hym  lakked[e]  right  naught1  756 

Eek  therto  /  he  was  right  a  myrie  man 

And  after  soper  /  pleyen  he  bigan 

And  spak  of  myrthe  /  amonges  othere  thynges 

Whan  that  we  /  hadde  maad  our  rekenynges  760 

And  seyde  thus  /  now  lordynges  trewely 

Ye  been  to  me  /  right  welcome  hertely 

ffor  by  my  trouthe  /  if  that  I  shal  nat  lye 

I  saugh  nat  this  yeer  /  so  myrie  a  cowpaignye  764 

Atones  in  this  herberwe  as  is  now 

ffayn  wolde  I  doon  yow  myrthe  /  wiste  I  how 

And  of  a  myrthe  /  I  am  right  now  bythogfif 

To  doon  yow  ese  /  and  it  shal  coste  noght1  768 

If  Ye  goon  to  Caunterbury  /  god  yow  speede  fleaf  is] 

The  blisful  martir  /  quite  yow  youre  meede 

And  wel  I  woot  /  as  ye  goon  by  the  weye 

Ye  shapen  yow  /  to  talen  and  to  pleye  772 

ffor  trewely  /  conforf  ne  myrthe  is  noon 

To  ride  by  the  weye  doumb  as  the  stoon 

And  therfore  /  wol  I  maken  yow  disport* 

As  I  seyde  erst1  and  doon  yow  som  confortf  776 

And  if  yow  liketh  alle  /  by  oon  assent1 

ffor  to  stonden  /  at  my  luggement1 

And  for  to  werken  /  as  I  shal  yow  seye 

To  morwe  /  whan  ye  riden  by  the  weye  780 

Now  by  my  fader  soule  that  is  deetf 

ELLESMERE    22 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellcsmere  MS.    23 

But  if  ye  be  myrie  /  I  wol  yeue  yo\v  myn  heed? 

^f  Hoold  vp  youre  hond?  wit^outen  moore  speche 

Oure  conseil  /  was  nat  longe  for  to  seche  784 

Vs  thoughte  /  it  was  noght  worth  /  to  make  it  wys 

And  graunted  hym  /  wit  outen  moore  auys 

And  bad  him  seye  his  vcirdit1  as  hym  leste 

^[  Lordynges  quod  he  /  now  herkneth  for  the  beste        788 

But  taak  it  nought  /  I  prey  yow  in  desdeyn 

This  is  the  poynfr  to  speken  short  and  pleyn 

That  ech  of  yow  /  to  shorte  with  oure  weye 

In  this  viage  /  shal  telle  tales  tweye  792 

To  Caunterburyward  /  I  rnene  it  so 

And  homward  /  he  shal  tellen  bthere  two 

Of  auentures  /  that  whilom  han  bifalle 

And  which  of  yow  /  that  bereth  hym  best  of  alle  796 

That  is  to  seyn  /  that  telleth  in  this  caas 

Tales  of  best  sentence  /  and  moost  solaas 

Shal  haue  a  soper  /  at  oure  aller  cost* 

Heere  in  this  place  /  sittynge  by  this  post"  800 

Whan  that  we  come  agayn  fro  Caunterbury 

And  for  to  make  yow  /  the  moore  mury 

I  wol  my  self  /  goodly  with  yow  ryde 

Eight  at  myn  owene  cost1  and  be  youre  gyde  804 

And  who  so  wole  /  my  luggement  withseye 

Shal  paye  /  al  that  we  spenden  by  the  weye 

And  if  ye  vouche  sauf  /  that  it  be  so 

Tel  me  anon  /  with  outen  wordes  mo  808 

And  I  wol  erly  /  shape  me  therfore 

IT  This  thyng  was  graunted  and  oure  othes  swore 

With  ful  glad  herte  /  and  preyden  hym  also 

That  he  would-  vouche  sauf  /  for  to  do  so  812 

And  that  he  /  wolde  been  oure  gouernour 

And  of  our  tales  /  luge  and  Reportour 

And  sette  a  soper  /  at  a  certeyn  pris 

And  we  /  wol  reuled  been  at  his  deuys  816 

Tf  In  heigh  and  lough  /  and  thus  by  oon  assent1  [leaf  is,  back] 

ELLESMEEE    23 


24   GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellcsmere  MS. 

We  been  acorded  /  to  his  luggementf 

And  ther  vp  on  /  the  wyn  was  fet  anon 

"We  dronken  /  and  to  reste  wente  echon  820 

"With  outen  /  any  longer  taryynge 

Amorwe  /  whan  J>at  day  /  gan  for  to  sprynge 

Vp  roos  oure  hoost1  and  was  oure  aller  cok* 

And  gadrede  vs  togidre  /  alle  in  a  flok1  824 

And  forth  we  riden  /  a  litel  moore  than  paas 

Vn  to  the  wateryng1  of  Seint  Thomas 

And  there  oure  hoost1  bigan  his  hors  areste 

And  seyde  lordynges  /  herkneth  if  yow  leste  828 

IT  Ye  woot  youre  foreward  /  and  [I]  it  yow  recorde 

If  euen  song  /  and  morwe  song  accorde 

Lat  se  now  /  who  shal  telle  the  firste  tale 

As  euere  mote  I  drynke  /  wyn  or  ale  832 

Who  so  be  /  rebel  to  my  luggemenf 

Shal  paye  /  for  alvfat  by  the  wey  is  spent1 

Now  drawetfi  cut1  er  Jjat  we  ferrer  twynne 

He  /  which  fat  hath  the  shorteste  shal  bigynne  836 

Sire  knygfit  quod  he  /  my  mayster  and  my  lord! 

Now  draweth  cut  /  for  that  is  myn  accord 

Cometh  neer  quod  he  /  my  lady  Prioresse 

And  ye  sire  clerk  /  lat  be  your  shamefastnesse  840 

N"e  studieth  nogfit  /  ley  hond  to  euery  man 

Anon  to  drawen  /  euery  wight  bigan 

And  shortly  /  for  to  tellen  as  it  was 

Were  it  by  auenture  /  or  sort1  or  cas  844 

The  sothe  is  this  /  the  cut  61  to  the  knyghf 

Of  which  /  ful  blithe  and  glad  was  every  wyght 

And  telle  he  moste  his  tale  /  as  was  reson 

By  foreward  /  and  by  composition  848 

As  ye  han  herd  /  what  nedeth  wordes  mo 

An  whan  this  goode  man  /  saugh  fat  it  was  so 

As  he  /  that  wys  was  and  obedient1 

To  kepe  his  foreward  /  by  his  free  assent1  852 

He  seyde  /  syn  I  shal  bigynne  the  game 

ELLESMEKE   24 


GROUP  A.  §  1.  GENERAL  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS.   25 

Whaf  welcome  be  the  cut  /  a  goddes  name 

Now  lat  us  ryde  /  and  herkneth  what  I  seye 

And  -with  that  word  /  we  ryden  forth  our'e  weye  856 

And  he  bigan  /  with  right  a  myrie  cheere 

His  tale  anon  /  and  seyde  in  this  manere 


ELLESMERE   25 


26  GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 


I 


amqwe  domos  patrias  Sithice  post  aspera 
gentis  preiia  laurigero  &c. 

If  Heere  bigynneth  the  knyghtes  tale 


fHilom  /  as  olde  stories  /  tellen  vs        Sgl"^'  uS 
Ther  was  a  duc<  J?at  highte  Theseus    margin'] 
Of  Atthenes  /  he  was  lord  and  gouernour       861 
And  in  his  tyme  swich  a  Conquerour, 
That  gretter  /  was  ther  noon  vnder  the  Sonne 
fful  many  a  riche  contree  hadde  he  wonne     864 
That  with  his  wysdom  /  and  his  chiualrie 
He  conquered  /  al  the  regne  of  ffemenye 
That  whilom  /  was  ycleped  Scithia 

And  wedded [e]  the  queene  ypolita  868 

And  broghte  hire  hoom  -with  hym  in  his  contree 
With  muchel  glorie  /  and  greet  solempnytee 
And  eek*  hir  faire  suster  Emelye 

And  thus  /  with  ,victorie  and  with  melodye  872 

Lete  I  this  noble  due  /  to  Atthenes  ryde 
And  al  his  hoost1  in  Armes  hym  bisyde 
IF  And  ce?-tes  /  if  it  nere  /  to  long  to  heere 
T  wolde  yow  haue  toold  /  fully  the  manere  876 

How  wonnen  was  the  regne  of  ffemenye 
By  Theseus  /  and  by  his  chiualrye 
And  of  the  grete  bataille  for  the  nones 
Bitwixen  Atthenes  and  Amazones  880 

And  how  asseged  was  ypolita 
The  faire  hardy  queene  of  Scithia 
And  of  the  feste  /  fat  was  at  hir  weddynge 
And  of  the  tempest  /  at  hir  hoom  comynge  884 

But  al  that  thyng1 1  moot  as  now  forbere 
I  haue  god  woot  /  a  large  feeld  to  ere 
And  wayke  been  /  the  Oxen  in  my  Plough 
The  remenant  of  the  tale  /  is  long  ynougfi  888 

I  wol  nat  letten  eefr  noon  of  this  route 

ELLESMERE   26 


GROUP  A.     §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.  27 

Lat  euery  felawe  /  telle  his  tale  aboute 
And  lat  se  now  /  who  shal  the  soper  wynne 
And  ther  I  lefte  /  I  wol  ayeyn  bigynne  892 

is  due  /  of  whom  I  make  mencioun  7  Narratw 

Whan  he  was  come  /  almoost  vn  to  the  toun 
In  al  his  wele  /  and  in  his  mooste  pride 
He  was  war  /  as  he  caste  his  eye  aside  896 

Where  that  ther  kneled  in  the  weye 
A  compaignye  of  ladyes  /  tweye  and  tweye 
Ech  after  oother  /  clad  in  clothes  blake  Deaf  u,  back] 

But  swich  a  cry  /  and  swich  a  wo  they  make  900 

That  in  this  world  /  nys  creature  lyuynge 
That  herde  /  swich  another  waymentynge 
And  of  this  cry  /  they  nolde  neuere  stenten 
Til  they  /  the  reynes  of  his  hrydel  henten  904 

IT  What  folk  been  ye  /  that  at  myn  horn  comynge 
Perturben  so  my  feste  /  with  criynge 
Quod  Theseus  /  haue  ye  so  greet  enuye 
Of  myn  honour  /  fat  thus  compleyne  and  crye  908 

Or  who  hath  yow  /  mysboden  or  oifended 
And  telleth  me  /  if  it  may  been  amended 
And  why  /  J?at  ye  been  /  clothed  thus  in  blak1 
1T  The  eldeste  lady  of  hem  alle  spak  912 

Whan  she  hadde  swowned  /  w^t7i  a  deedly  cheere 
That  it  was  routhe  /  for  to  seen  and  heere 
And  seyde  lord  /  to  whom  ffortune  hath  yeuen 
Victorie  /  and  as  a  Conqueror  to  lyuen  916 

Nat  greueth  vs  /  youre  glorie  and  youre  honour 
But  we  /  biseken  mercy  and  socour 
Haue  mercy  on  oure  wo  /  and  oure  distresse 
Som  drope  of  pitee  /  thurgh  thy  gentillesse  920 

Vp  on  vs  wrecched  wommen  /  lat  thou  falle 
ffor  certes  lord  /  ther  is  noon  of  vs  alle 
That  she  ne  hath  been  /  a  duchesse  /  or  a  queene 
Now  be  we  caytyues  /  as  it  is  wel  seene  924 

Thanked  be  ffortune  /  and  hire  false  wheel 

ELLESMERE   27 


28  OUOUP  A.     §  2.     KNIGHT'S  TALE.     Ellesmere  MS. 

That  noon  estat1  assureth  to  be  weel 

And  certes  lord  /  to  abyden  youre  presence 

Heere  in  the  temple  /  of  the  goddesse  clemence  928 

We  han  ben  waitynge  /  al  this  fourtenygfitf 

Now  help  vs  lord  /  sith  it  is  in  thy  myghf 

IT  I  wrecche  /  which  Jjat  wepe  and  crie  thus 

"Was  whilom  wyf  /  to  kyng  Cappaneus  932 

That  starf  at  Thebes  /  cursed  be  that  day 

And  alle  we  that  been  in  this  array 

And  maken  /  al  this  lamentaciouw 

We  losten  /  alle  oure  housbondes  at  that  toun  936 

Whil  that  the  seege  /  ther  aboute  lay 

And  yet  now  the  olde  Creon  weylaway 

That  lord  is  now  /  of  Thebes  the  Citee 

ffulfild  of  Ire  /  and  of  Iniquitee  940 

He  for  despit1  and  for  his  tirannye 

To  do  the  dede  bodyes  vileynye 

Of  alle  oure  lordes  /  whiche  that  been  slawe 

He  hath  alle  the  bodyes  /  on  an  heepe  ydrawe  944 

And  wol  nat  suffiren  hem  /  by  noon  assent* 

Neither  to  been  yburyed  nor  ybrentt 

But  maketh  houndes  /  ete  hem  in  despit1  [leaf  is] 

And  with  that  word  /  with  outen  moore  respit1  948 

They  fillen  gruf  /  and  criden  pitously 

Haue  on  vs  wrecched  wommen  som  mercy 

And  lat  oure  sorwe  /  synken  in  thyn  herte 

11  This  gentil  duc<  doun  from  his  courser  sterte  952 

With  herte  pitous  /  whan  he  herde  hem  speke 

Hym  thoughte  /  j?at  his  herte  wolde  breke 

Whan  he  saugh"  hem  /  so  pitous  and  so  maatt 

That  whilom  weren  /  of  so  greet  estaaf  956 

And  in  his  Armes  /  he  hem  alle  vp  hente 

And  hem  conforteth  /  in  ful  good  entente 

And  swoor  his  ooth  /  as  he  was  trewe  knygfif 

He  wolde  doon  /  so  ferforthly  his  myghf  960 

Vp  on  the  tiraunt  Creon  /  hem  to  wreke 

ELLESMERE    28 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.  29 

That  all  the  peple  of  Grece  /  sholde  speke 

How  Creon  /  was  of  Theseus  yserued 

As  he  fat  hadde  /  his  deeth  ful  wel  deserued  964 

And  right  anoon  /  vriih  outen  moore  abood 

His  Baner  he  desplayeth"  and  forth  rood 

To  Thebesward!  /  and  al  his  hoost  biside 

No  neer  Atthenes  /  wolde  he  go  ne  ride  968 

!N"e  take  his  ese  /  fully  half  a  day 

But  onward  on  his  wey  /  that  nyght  he  lay 

And  sente  anon  /  ypolita  the  queene 

And  Emelye  /  hir  yonge  suster  sheene  972 

Vn  to  the  toun  of  Atthenes  to  dwelle 

And  forth  he  rit1  ther  is  namoore  to  telle 

rede  statue  of  Mars  /  vfith  spere  and  targe 
So  shyneth  /  in  his  white  baner  large  976 

That  alle  the  feeldes  /  glyteren  vp  and  doun 
And  by  his  Baner  /  born  is  his  penoun 
Of  gold  ful  riche  /  in  which  ther  was  ybete 
The  Mynotaur  /  which  fat  he  slough"  in  Crete  980 

IT  Thus  rit  this  dutf  thus  rif  this  Conquerour 
And  in  his  hoosf  of  Chiualrie  the  flour 
Til  fat  he  cam  to  Thebes  and  alighte 
ffaire  in  a  feeld  /  ther  as  he  thoughte  fighte  984 

But  shortly  /  for  to  speken  of  this  thyng1 
With  Creon  /  which  fat  was  of  Thebes  kyng1 
He  faught  /  and  slough  hym  manly  as  a  knyght1 
In  pleyn  bataille  /  and  putte  the  folk  to  flyght1  988 

And  by  assaut1  he  wan  the  Citee  after 
And  rente  adoun  /  bothe  watt  and  sparre  and  rafter 
And  to  the  ladyes  /he  restored  agayn 
The  bones  /  of  hir  housbondes  that  weren  slayn  992 

To  doon  obsequies  /  as  was  tho  the  gyse 
But  it  were  al  to  longe  /  for  to  deuyse 
The  grete  clamour  /  and  the  waymentynge  [leaf  i&,  back] 

That  the  ladyes  made  /  at  the  brennynge  996 

Of  the  bodies  /  and  the  grete  honour 

ELLESMERE    29 


30  GROUP  A.     §  2.     KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

That  Theseus  /  the  noble  Uonquerour 

Dooth  to  the  ladyes  /  whan  they  from  hym  wente 

But  shortly  for  to  telle  /  is  myn  entente  1000 

IT  Whan  fat  this  worthy  due*  this  Theseus 

Hath  Creon  slayn  /  and  wonne  Thebes  thus 

Stille  in  that  feeld  /  he  took  al  nygfit  his  reste 

And  dide  with  al  the  con  tree  /  as  hym  leste  1004 

IT  To  ransake  in  the  taas  /  of  the  bodyes  dede 

Hem  for  to  strepe  /  of  harneys  and  of  wede 

The  pilours  /  diden  bisynesse  and  cure 

After  the  bataille  and  disconfiture  1008 

And  so  bifel  /  jjat  in  the  taas  they  founde 

Thurgh"  girt1  with  many  a  greuous  blody  wounde 

Two  yonge  knyg&tes  /  liggynge  by  and  by 

Bothe  in  oon  Armes  /  wrogSt  ful  richely  1012 

Of  whiche  two  /  Arcita  bighte  that  oon 

And  that  oother  knygfit  /  highte  Palamon 

Nat  fully  quyke  /  ne  fully  dede  they  were 

But  by  here  Cote'Armures  /  and  by  Mr  gere  1016 

The  heraudes  /  knewe  hem  best  in  special 

As  they  fat  weren  /  of  the  blood  roial 

Of  Thebes  /  and  of  sustren  two  yborn 

Out  of  the  taas  /  the  pilours  han  hem  torn  1020 

And  han  hem  caried  /  softe  vn  to  the  tente 

Of  Theseus  /  and  ful  soone  he  hem  sente 

To  Atthenes  /  to  dwellen  in  prison 

Perpetuelly  /  he  nolde  no  raunson  1024 

And  whan  this  worthy  due1  hath  thus  ydon 

He  took  his  boost1  and  hoom  he  rood  anon 

With  laurer  crowned  /  as  a  Conquerour 

And  ther  he  lyueth  /  in  ioye  and  in  honour  1028 

Terme  of  [his]  lyue  /  what  nedeth  wordes  mo 

And  in  a  tour  /  in  angwissh"  and  in  wo 

This  Palamon  /  and  his  felawe  Arcite 

ffor  eueremoore  /  ther  may  no  gold  hem  quite  1032 

IT  This  passeth  /  yeer  by  yeer  /  and  day  by  day 

ELLESMERE    30 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.     Ellesmere  MS.  31 

Till  it  fil  ones  /  in  a  morwe  of  May 

That  Emelye  /pat  fairer  was  to  sene 

Than  is  the  lylie  /  vpon  his  stalke  grene  1036 

And  fressher  than  the  May  /  irith  floures  newe 

ffor  wi't/i  the  Rose  colour  stroof  hire  hewe 

I  noof  which  was  the  fyner  of  Tiem  two 

Er  it  were  day  /  as  was  hir  wone  to  do  1040 

She  was  arisen  /  and  al  redy  digfitf 

ffor  May  wole  haue  /  no  slogardrie  a  nygfitf 

The  seson  /  priketh  /  euery  gentil  herte  Deaf  ie] 

And  maketh  hym  /  out  of  his  slepe  to  sterte  1044 

And  seith  arys  /  and  do  thyn  obseruance 

This  maked  Emelye  /  haue  remembrance 

To  doon  honour  to  May  /  and  for  to  ryse 

Yclothed  was  she  /  fressfi.  for  to  deuyse  1048 

Hir  yelow  heer  /  was  broyded  in  a  tresse 

Bihynde  hir  bak  /  a  yerde  long  I  gesse 

And  in  the  gardyn  /  at  the  sonne  vp  riste 

She  walketh  vp  and  doun  /  and  as  hire  liste  1052 

She  gadereth  floures  party  /  white  and  rede 

To  make  a  subtil  gerland?  for  hire  hede 

And  as  an  Aungel  /  heuenysshly  she  soong1 

The  grete  tour  /  pat  was  so  thikke  and  stroong1  1056 

Which  of  the  Castel  /  was  the  chief  dongeon 

Ther  as  the  knygfites  /  weren  in  prison 

Of  whiche  I  tolde  yow  /  and  tellen  shal 

Was  euene  ioynant1  to  the  gardyn  wal  1060 

Ther  as  this  Emelye  /  hadde  hir  pleyynge 

Bright  was  the  sowne  /  and  cleer  that  morwenynge 

And  this  Palamon  /  this  woful  prisoner 

As  was  his  wone  /  bi  leue  of  his  gayler  1064 

Was  risen  /  and  romed  /  in  a  chambre  an  heigh" 

In  which  /  he  al  the  noble  Citee  seigfr 

And  eek  the  gardyn  /  ful  of  braunches  grene 

Ther  as  this  fresshe  Emelye  the  sheene  1068 

Was  in  hire  walk1  and  romed  vp  and  doun 

ELLESMERE    31 


32  GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

This  sorweful  prisoner  /  this  Palamouw 

Goth  in  the  chambre  /  romynge  to  and  fro 

And  to  hym  self  /  compleynynge  of  his  wo  1072 

That  he  was  horn  /  ful  ofte  he  seyde  alias 

And  so  hifel  /  hy  auenture  or  cas 

That  thurgh  a  wyndow  /  thikke  of  many  a  bane 

Of  Iren  /  greet  and  square  as  any  sparre  1076 

He  cast  his  eye  /  vpon  Emelya 

And  ther  with  al  he  hleynte  and  cride  .A. 

As  though  he  stongen  were  vn  to  the  herte 

And  with  that  cry  /  Arcite  anon  vp  sterte  1080 

And  seyde  cosyn  myn  /  what  eyleth  thee 

That  art  so  pale  /  and  deedly  on  to  see 

Why  cridestow  /  who  hath  thee  doon  offence 

if  or  goddes  love  /  taak  al  in  pacience  1084 

Oure  prison  /  for  it  may  noon  oother  be 

Fortune  /  hath  yeuen  vs  this  Aduersitee 

Som  wikke  aspect  /  or  disposition 

Of  Saturne  /  by  sum  constellation  1088 

Hath  yeuen  vs  this  /  al  though  we  hadde  it  sworn 

So  stood  the  heuene  /  whan  fat  we  were  born 

We  moste  endure  /  this  is  the  short  and  playn      Deaf  ie,  back 

IT  This  Palamon  answerde  /  and  seyde  agayn  1092 

Cosyn  for  sothe  /  of  this  opinion 

Thow  hast  a  veyn  ymaginacioii 

This  prison  caused  me  nat  for  to  crye 

But  I  was  hurt1  right  now  thurgh  out  myn  eye  1096 

In  to  myn  herte  /  that  wol  my  bane  be 

The  fairnesse  /  of  that  lady  fat  I  see 

Yond  in  the  gardyn  /  romen  to  and  fro 

Is  cause  /  of  al  my  criyng1  and  my  wo  1100 

I  noof  wher  she  be  /  woraman  or  goddesse 

But  Venus  is  it  /  soothly  as  I  gesse 

And  ther  with  al  /  on  knees  doun  he  fil 

And  seyde  Yenus  /  if  it  be  thy  wil  1 104 

Yow  in  this  gardyn  /  thus  to  transfigure 

ELLESMERE    32 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    33 

Bifore  me  /  sorweful  wrecche  creature 

Out  of  this  prison  /  helpe  ]>at  we  may  scapen 

And  if  so  be  /  my  destynee  be  shapen  1108 

By  eterne  word  /  to  dyen  in  prison 

Of  oure  lynage  /  haue  som  compassion 

That  is  so  lowe  ybrogfrf  by  tirannye 

And  with  that  word  /  Arcite  gan  espye  1112 

Wher  as  this  lady  /  romed  to  and  fro 

And  wM  that  sigfcte  /  hir  beautee  hurte  hym  so 

That  if  that  Palamon  /  [was]  wounded  sore 

Arcite  is  hurt1  as  moche  as  he  /  or  moore  1116 

And  -wiih  a  sig&  /  he  seyde  pitously 

The  fresshe  beautee  /  sleeth  me  sodeynly 

Of  hire  /  that  rometh  /  in  the  yonder  place 

And  but  I  haue  /  hir  mercy  and  hir  grace  1120 

That  I  may  seen  hire  /  atte  leeste  weye 

I  nam  but  deed  /  ther  is  namoore  to  seye 

1T  This  Palamon  /  whan  he  tho  wordes  herde 

Dispitously  /  he  looked  and  answerde  1124 

Wheither  seistow  this  /  in  ernesfr  or  in  pley  ? 

IT  !Nay  quod  Arcite  /  in  ernest  by  my  fey 

God  helpe  me  so  /  me  list  ful  yuele  pleyo 

IT  This  Palamon  /  gan  knytte  his  browes  tweye  1128 

It  nere  quod  he  to  thee  /  no  greet  honour 

ifor  to  be  fals  /  ne  for  to  be  traitour 

To  me  /  fat  am  thy  cosyn  and  thy  brother 

Ysworn  ful  depe  /  and  ech  of  vs  til  oother  1132 

That  neuere  for  to  dyen  in  the  peyne 

Til  J>at  deeth  /  departe  shal  vs  tweyne 

Neither  of  vs  /  in  loue  to  hyndre  oother 

N"e  in  noon  oother  cas  /  my  leeue  brother  11 36 

But  pat  thou  sholdest1  trewely  forthren  me 

In  euery  cas  /  as  I  shal  forthren  thee 

This  was  thyn  ooth  /  and  myn  also  certeyn  pear  17] 

I  woot  right  wel  /  thou  darst  it  nat  withseyn  1140 

Thus  artow  of  my  conseil  out  of  doute 

3  ELLESMERE    33 


3i   GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

And  now  /  thow  woldesf  falsly  been  aboute 

To  loue  my  lady  /  whom  I  lone  and  serue 

And  euere  shal  /  til  fat  myn  herte  sterue  1144 

Nay  certes  false  Arcite  /  thow  shalt  nat  so 

I  loued  hire  first  /  and  tolde  thee  my  wo 

As  to  my  conseil  /  and  to  my  brother  sworn 

To  forthre  me  /  as  I  hane  toold  biforn  1148 

ffor  which  /  thou  art  ybounden  as  a  knygfct* 

To  helpen  me  /  if  it  lay  in  thy  myglit 

Or  elles  artow  fals  /  I  dar  wel  seyn 

IT-  This  Arcite  /  ful  proudly  spak  ageyn  1152 

Thow  shalt  quod  he  /  be  rather  fals  than  I 

And  thou  art  fals  /  I  telle  thee  outrely 

ffor  paramour*  I  loued  hire  first  er  thow 

What  wiltow  seyn  /  thou  wistest  nat  yet  now  1156 

Wheither  she  be  /  a  womman  or  goddesse 

Thyn  is  /  affection  of  hoolynesse 

And  myn  is  loue  /  as  to  a  creature 

ffor  which  /  I  tolde  thee  myn  auenture  1160 

As  to  my  cosyn  /  and  my  brother  sworn 

I  pose  /  that  thow  louedest  hire  biforn 

"Wostow  nat  wel  /  the  olde  clerkes  sawe 

That  /  who  shal  yeue  a  louere  any  lawe  IT  Quis  legem  det  amantibu*. 

Loue  is  a  gretter  lawe  /  by  my  pan 

Than  may  be  yeue  /  of  any  erthely  man 

And  therfore  /  positif  lawe  and  s  wich  decree 

Is  broken  al  day  for  loue  in  ech  degree  1168 

A  man  moot  nedes  loue  /  maugree  his  heed 

He  may  nat  flee  if  thogh  he  sholde  be  deed 

Al  be  she  mayde  /  or  wydwe  /  or  elles-  wyf 

And  eelc1  it  is  nat  likly  al  thy  lyf  1172 

To  stonden  in  hir  grace  /  namoore  shal  I 

ffor  wel  thou  woost1  thy  seluen  verraily 

That  thou  and  I  /  be  dampned  to  prison) 

Perpetuelly  /  vs  gayneth  no  raunson  1176 

We  stryuen  /  as  elide  /  the  houndes  for  the  boon 

ELLESMERE    34 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    35 

They  foughte  al  day  /  aud  yet  hir  part  was  noon 

Ther  cam  a  kyte  /  whil  they  weren  so  wrothe 

And  baar  awey  the  "boon  /  "bitwise  hem  bothe  1180 

And  therfore  /  at  the  kynges  court  my  brother 

Ech  man  for  hym  self  /  ther  is  noon  oother 

Loue  if  thee  list1  for  I  loue  and  ay  shal 

And  soothly  /  leeue  brother  this  is  al  1184 

Heere  in  this  prison  /  moote  we  endure 

And  euerich  of  vs  /  take  his  auenture 

r\  Eeet  was  the  strif  /  and  long  /  bitwix  hem  tweye    [if  17,  back] 

^   If  that  I  hadde  /  leyser  for  to  seye  1188 

But  to  theffect  /  it  happed  on  a  day 

To  telle  it  yow  /  as  shortly  as  I  may 

A  worthy  dutf  that  highte  Perotheus 

That  felawe  was  /  to  due  Theseus  1192 

Syn  thilke  day  /  that  they  were  children  lite 

Was  come  to  Atthenes  /  his  felawe  to  visite 

And  for  to  pleye  /  as  he  was  won[t]  to  do 

ffor  in  this  world  /  he  loued  no  man  so  1196 

And  he  loued  hym  /  als  tendrely  agayn 

So  wel  they  louede  /  as  olde  bookes  sayn 

That1  whan  fat  oon  was  deed  /  soothly  to  telle 

His  felawe  wente  /  and  soughte  hym  doun  in  helle      1200 

But  of  that  storie  /  list  me  nat  to  write 

Due  Perotheus  /  loued  wel  Arcifce 

And  hadde  hym  knowe  at  Thebes  yeer  by  yere     . 

And  finally  /  at  requeste  and  preyere  1204 

Of  Perotheus  /  with  outen  any  raunsofi 

Due  Theseus  /  hym  leet  out  of  prison 

ffrely  to  goon  /  wher  fat  hym  liste  oner  al 

In  swich  a  gyse  /  as  I  you  tellen  shal  1208 

IT  This  was  the  forward  /  pleynly  for  tendite 

Bitwixen  Theseus  /  and  hym  Arcite 

That  if  so  were  /  J?at  Arcite  were  yfounde 

Euere  in  his  lif  /  by  day  /  or  nyglit  or  stounde  1212 

In  any  contree  /  of  this  Theseus 

ELLESMERE    35 


3G    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

And  he  were  caught1  it  was  acorded  thus 

That  with  a  swerd  /  he  sholde  lese  his  heed 

Ther  nas  /  noon  oother  remedie  ne  reed  1216 

But  taketh  his  leue  /  and  homward  he  him  spcdde 

Lat  hym  be  war  /  his  nekke  lith  to  wedde 

IT  How  greet  a  sorwe  /  suffreth  now  Arcite 

The  deeth  he  feeleth  /  thurgh  his  herte  smyte  1220 

He  wepeth  /  wayleth  /  crieth  pitously 

To  sleen  hym  self  /  he  waiteth  pn'uely 

He  seyde  alias  /  that  day  fat  he  was  born 

Now  is  my  prison  /  worse  than  biforn  1224 

Now  is  me  shape  /  eternally  to  dwelle 

Nat  in  my  purgatorie  /  but  in  helle 

Alias  /  fat  euere  knew  I  Perotheus 

ffor  elles  /  hadde  I.  dwelled  with  Theseus  1228 

Yfetered  in  his  prison  eueremo 

Thanne  hadde  I  been  in  blisse  and  nat  in  wo 

Oonly  /  the  sighte  of  hire  /  whom  fat  I  seme 

Though  fat  I  neuere  /  hir  grace  may  deserue  1232 

Wolde  han  suffised  /  right  ynough  for  me 

0  deere  cosyn  /  Palamon  quod  he 

Thyn  is  the  victorie  /  of  this  auenture  [leaf  isj 

fful  blisfully  in  prison  maistow  dure  1 230 

In  prison)  ?  certes  nay  /  but  in  Paradys 

"Wei  hath  ffortune  /  y-turned  thee  the  dys 

That  hast  the  sigfite  of  hire  /  and  I  thabsence 

ffor  possible  is  /  syn  thou  hast  hire  presence  1240 

And  art  a  knygfif  a  worthy  and  an  able 

That  som  cas  /  syn  ffortune  is  chaungeable 

Thow  maist  to  thy  desir  /  som  tyme  atteyne 

But  I  /  fat  am  exiled  and  bareyiie  1244 

Of  alle  grace  /  and  in  so  greet  dispeir 

That  ther  nys  erthe  /  water  /  fir  /  ne  eir 

Ne  creature  /  fat  of  hem  maked  is 

That  may  me  heele  /  or  doon  confort  in  this  1 248 

"Wei  oughtc  I  stcrue  /  in  wanhope  and  distresse 

ELLESMERE    36 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    37 

fiarwel  /  my  lif  /  my  lust1  and  my  gladnesse 

^F  Alias  /  why  pleynen  folk1  so  in  cowmune 

Of  puruieaunce  of  god  /  or  of  ffortune  1252 

That  yeueth  hem  ful  ofte  /  in  many  a  gyse 

Wei  bettre  /  than  they  kan  hem  self  deuyse 

Som  man  desireth  /  for  to  han  richesse 

That  cause  is  of  his  moerdre  /  or  greet  siknesse  1256 

And  som  man  wolde  /  out  of  his  prison  fayn 

That  in  his  hous  /  is  of  his  meynee  slayn 

Infinite  harnies  /  been  in  this  mateere 

"We  witen  naf  what  [thing]  we  prey  en  heere  1260 

"We  faren  /  as  he  that  dronke  is  as  a  Hous 

A  dronke  man  woot  wel  /  Jjat  he  hath  an  hous 

But  he  noott  which  the  rigfite  wey  is  thider 

And  to  a  dronke  man  /  the  wey  is  slider  1264 

And  certes  /  in  this  world  so  faren  we 

"We  seken  faste  /  after  felicitee 

But  we  goon  wrong*  ful  often  trewely 

Thus  may  we  seyn  alle  /  and  namely  I  1268 

That  wende  /  and  hadde  a  greet  opinion) 

That  if  I  mygtite  /  escapen  from  prison 

Thanne  hadde  I  been  in  ioye  /  and  pe?-fit  heele 

That  now  /  I  am  exiled  fro  my  wele  1272 

Syn  fat  I  may  nat1  seen  you  Emelye 

I  nam  but  deed  /  ther  nys  no  remedye 

1T  Yp  on  that  oother  syde  /  Palamon 

Whan  ]?at  he  wiste  /  Arcite  was  agon  1276 

Swich  sorwe  he  maketh  /  fat  the  grete  tour 

Resouned  /  of  his  youlyng1  and  clamour 

The  pure  fettres  /  on  his  shynes  grete 

Weren  /  of  his  bittre  salte  teeres  wete  1280 

Alias  quod  he  /  Arcita  cosyn  myn 

Of  al  oure  strif  /  god  woot  the  fruyt  is  thyn 

Thow  walkest  now  in  Thebes  at  thy  large  [leaf  is,  back 

And  of  my  wo  /  thow  yeuest  litel  charge  1284 

Thou  mayst  /  syn  thou  hast  wysdom  and  manhede 

ELLESMERE    37 


38   cuour  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

Assemblen  /  alle  the  folk  /  of  oure  kynrede 

And  make  a  werre  /  so  sharps  on  this  Citee 

That  by  som  auenture  /  or  som  tretee  1288 

Thow  mayst  hane  hire  to  lady  and  to  wyf* 

ffor  whom  /  fat  I  moste  nedes  lese  my  lyf1 

ffor  /  as  by  wey  of  possibilitee 

Sith  thou  art  at  thy  large  /  of  prison  free  1292 

And  art  a  lord  /  greet  is  thyn  auauntage 

Moore  than  is  myn  /  fat  sterue  here  in  a  cage 

ffor  I  moot  wepe  /  and  wayle  whil  I  lyue 

With  al  the  wo  /  fat  prison  may  me  yeue  1296 

And  eek  with  peyne  /  fat  loue  me  yeueth  also 

That  doubleth  /  al  my  torment  /  and  my  wo 

Ther  with  /  the  fyr  of  Jalousie  vp  sterte 

With  Inne  his  bresfr  and  hente  him  by  the  herte         1300 

So  woodly  /  that  he  lyk  was  to  biholde 

The  Boxtree  /  or  the  Asshen  dede  and  colde 

^f  Thanne  seyde  he  /  o  crueel  gooddes  fat  gouerne 

This  world  /  with  byndyng*  of  youre  word  eteme         1304 

And  writen  in  the  table  of  Atthamaunf 

Youre  parlemenf  and  youre  eterne  graunt 

What  is  mankynde  /  moore  vn  to  you  holde 

Than  is  the  sheepe  /  fat  rouketh  in  the  folde  1308 

ffor  slayn  is  man  /  right  as  another  beest1 

And  dwelleth  eek  /  in  prison  and  arreest1 

And  hath  siknesse  /  and  greet  aduersitee 

And  ofte  tymes  /  gilt[e]lees  pardee  1312 

IT  What  gouernance  /  is  in  this  prescience 

That  gilt[e]lees  /  tormenteth  Innocence 

And  yet  encresseth  this  /  al  my  penaunce 

That  man  is  bounden  /  to  his  observawnce  1316 

ffor  goddes  sake  /  to  letten  of  his  wille 

Ther  as  a  beest  /  may  al  his  lust  fulfille 

And  whan  a  beest  is  deed  /  he  hath  no  peyne 

But  after  his  deeth  /man  moot  wepe  and  pleyne         1320 

Though  in  this  world  /  he  haue  care  and  wo 

ELLESMERE    38 


A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    39 

With  outen  doute  /  it  may  stonden  so 

The  answere  of  this  /  lete  I  to  dyuynys 

But  well  I  woof  fat  in  this  world  greet  pyne  ys          1324 

Alias  /  I  se  a  serpent1  or  a  theef  / 

That  many  a  trewe  man  /  hath  doon  mescheef1 

Goon  at  his  large  /  and  where  hym  list1  may  turne 

But  I  moot  been  in  prison  /  thurgh"  Saturne  1328 

And  eek  thurgfi.  Jmno  /  lalous  and  eek  wood 

That  hath  destroyed  /  wel  ny  al  the  blood 

Of  Thebes  /  with  hise  waste  walles  wyde  Ueaf  19] 

And  venus  /  sleeth  me  on  that  oother  syde  1332 

ffor  Jalousie  /  and  fere  of  hym  Arcite 

^T  Now  wol  I  stynte  of  Palamon  a  lite 

And  lete  hym  /  in  his  prison  stille  dwelle 

And  of  Arcita  /  forth  I  wol  yow  telle  1336 

H  The  sonne  passeth  /  and  the  nyghtes  longe 

Encressen  double  wise  /  the  peynes  stronge 

Bothe  /  of  the  louere  /  and  the  prisoner 

I  noot1  which  hath  the  wofuller  mester  1340 

ffor  shortly  for  to  seyn  /  this  Palamon 

Perpetuelly  /  is  dampned  to  prison 

In  cheynes  and  in  fettres  /  to  been  deed 

And  Arcite  /  is  exiled  vpon  his  heed  1344 

ffor  euere  mo  /  as  out  of  that  contree 

Ne  neuere  mo  /  he  shal  his  lady  see 

"VTOw  loueres  /  axe  I  now  this  question 

-*-*   Who  hath  the  worse  /  Arcite  /  or  Palamon  •?          1348 

That  oon  may  seen  his  lady  /  day  by  day 

But  in  prison  /  he  moot  dwelle  alway 

That  oother  /  wher  hym  list1  may  ride  or  go 

But  seen  his  lady  /  shal  he  neuere  mo  1352 

Now  demeth  as  yow  list1  ye  that  kan 

ffor  I  wol  telle  fortfi  /  as  I  bigan. 

1T  Explicit  prima  Pars. 

ELLESMERE   39 


40    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 
If  Sequitur  pars  secunda  fa 


ff! 


lan  that  Arcite  /  to  Thebes  comen  was 
fful  ofte  a  day  /  he  swelte  and  seyde  alias      1356 
ffor  seen  his  lady  /  shal  he  neuere  mo 
And  shortly  /  to  concluden  al  his  wo 
So  muche  sorwe  /  hadde  neuere  creature 
That  is  /  or  shal  /  wliil  fat  the  world  may  dure  1360 

His  slepe  /  his  mete  /  his  drynke  /  is  hym  biraff 
That  lene  he  wexeth  /  and  drye  as  is  a  shaft1 
Hise  eyen  holwe  /  and  grisly  to  biholde 
His  he  we  falow  /  and  pale  as  Assfeen  colde  1364 

And  solitarie  he  was  /  and  euere  allone 
And  waillynge  al  the  nyghtt  makynge  his  mone 
And  if  he  herde  /  song1  or  Instrument1 
Thanne  wolde  he  wepe  /  he  mygRte  nat  be  stent1          1368 
So  feble  eek  were  hise  spiritz  and  so  lowe 
And  chaunged  so  /  that  no  man  koude  knowe 
His  speche  nor  his  voys  /  though  men  it  herde 
And  in  his  geere  /  for  al  the  world  he  ferde  1372 

Nat  oonly  /  lik  the  loueris  maladye  Deaf  19,  back] 

Of  Hereos  /  but  rather  lyk  Manye  ^  Mania 

Engendred  /  of  humour  malencolik1 

Biforn  his  owene  Celle  fantastik1  1376 

And  shortly  /  turned  was  al  vp  so  doun 
Bothe  habit  /  and  eek  disposicioun 
Of  hym  this  woful  louere  daun  Areite 
1T  What  sholde  I  /  al  day  of  his  wo  endite  1380 

Whan  he  endured  hadde  /  a  yeer  or  two 
This  crueel  torment1  and  this  peyne  and  woo 
At  Thebes  in  his  contree  /  as  I  seyde 
Vp  on  a  nyght  /  in  sleepe  as  he  hym  leyde  1384 

Hym  thotighte  /  how  that*  the  wynged  god  Mercuric 
Biforn  hym  stood  /  and  bad  hym  to  be  murie 
His  slepy  yerde  /  in  hond  he  bar  vprignte 
An  hat  he  werede  /  vp  hise  heris  brigfcte  1388 

ELLESMEUE   40 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    41 

Arrayed  -was  this  god  /  as  I  took  keepe 

As  he  was  /  whan  J?at  Argus  took  his  sleepe 

And  seyde  hyra  thus  /  to  Atthenes  shaltou  wende 

Ther  is  thee  shapen  /  of  thy  wo  an  ende  1392 

And  with  that  word  /  Arcite  wook1  and  sterte 

Now  trewely  /  hou  soore  ]>at  me  smerte 

Quod  he  /  to  Atthenes  /  right  now  wol  I  fare 

Ne  for  the  drede  of  deeth  /  shal  I  nat  spare  1396 

To  se  my  lady  /  that  I  loue  and  serue 

In  hire-  presence  /  I  recche  nat  to  sterue 

IT  And  wiih  that  word  /  he  caughte  a  greet  Mirour 

And  saugh"  /  fat  chaunged  was  al  his  colour  1400 

And  saugh"  his  visage  /  al  in  another  kynde 

And  right  anon  /  it  ran  hym  in  his  mynde 

That  sith  his  face  /  was  so  disfigured 

Of  malady e  /  the  which  he  hadde  endured  1404 

He  myghte  wel  /  if  J?at  he  bar  hym  lowe 

Lyue  in  Atthenes  /  eueremoore  vnknowe 

And  seen  his  lady  /  wel  ny  day  by  day 

And  right  anon  /  he  chaunged  his  array  1408 

And  cladde  hym  /  as  a  poure  laborer 

And  al  allone  /  sane  oonly  a  Squier 

That  knew  his  przuetee  /  and  al  his  cas 

Which  was  disgised  /  pourely  as  he  was  1412 

To  Atthenes  /  is  he  goon  the  nexte  way 

And  to  the  court1  he  wente  vp  on  a  day 

And  at  the  gate  /  he  profreth  his  seruyse 

To  drugge  and  drawe  /  what  so  men  wol  deuyse          1416 

And  shortly  /  of  this  matere  for  to  seyn 

He  fil  in  office  /  with  a  Chamberleyn 

The  which  ]?rtt  dwellynge  was  with  Emelye 

ffor  he  was  wys  /  and  koude  soone  espye  1420 

Of  euery  seruant  which  that  serueth  here  [leaf  20] 

Wel  koude  he  /  hewen  wode  /  and  water  bere 

ffor  he  was  yong  /  and  myghty  for  the  nones 

And  ther  to  /  he  was  long  /  and  big1  of  bones  1424 

ELLESMERE   41 


42    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

To  doon  /  that  any  wigfit  /  kan  hym  deuyse 

A  yeer  or  two  /  he  was  in  this  seruyse 

Page  of  the  chambre  /  of  Emelye  the  brigfite 

And  Philostrate  /  he  seyde  fat  he  higfite  1428 

But  half  /  so  wel  /  biloued  a  man  as  he 

Ne  was  ther  neuere  in  Court1  of  his  degree 

He  was  so  gentil  of  his  condiciouw 

That  thurghout  al  the  Court1  was  his  renouw  1432 

They  seyden  /  that  it  were  a  charitee 

That  Theseus  /  wolde  enhauncen  his  degree 

And  putten  hym  /  in  worshipful  seruyse 

Ther  as  he  myghte  /  his  vertu  excercise  1436 

And  thus  /  with  Inne  a  while  /  his  name  is  spronge 

Bothe  of  hise  dedes  /  and  his  goode  tonge 

That  Theseus  /  hath  taken  hym  so  neer 

That  of  his  chambre  /  he  made  hym  a  Squier  1440 

And  gaf  him  gold  /  to  mayntene  his  degree 

And  eek1  men  broghte  hym  /  out  of  his  contree 

ffrom  yeer  to  yeer  /  ful  pryuely  his  rente 

But  honestly  /  and  slyly  he  it  spente  1444 

That  no  man  wondred  /  how  Jjat  he  it  hadde 

And  thre  yeer  in  this  wise  /  his  lif  he  ladde 

And  bar  hym  so  /  in  pees  /  and  eek  in  werre 

Ther  was  no  man  /  Jjat  Theseus  hath  derre  1448 

And  in  this  blisse  /  lete  I  now  Arcite 

And  speke  I  wole  /  of  Palamon  a  lite 

TN  derknesse  and  horrible  /  and  strong  prison 

-*-  Thise  seuen  yeer  /  hath  seten  Palamon  1452 

fforpyned  /  what  for  wo  /  and  for  distresse 

Who  feeleth  /  double  soor  heuynesse 

But  Palamon  /  that  loue  destreyneth  so 

That  wood  out  of  his  wit1  he  goth  for  wo  1456 

And  eek  ther  to  /  he  is  a  prisoner 

Perpetuelly  /  noght  oonly  /  for  a  yer 

II  Who  koude  ryme  in  englyssh"  proprely 

His  martirdom  /  for  sothe  it  am  nat  1 .  1460 

ELLESMERE   42 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    43 

Therfore  I  passe  /  as  lightly  as  I  may 

IT  It  fel  /  that  in  the  seuenthe  yer  in  May 

The  thridde  nygntf  as  olde  "bookes  seyn 

That  al  this  storie  /  tellen  moore  pleyn  1464 

"Were  it1  by  auenture  or  /  destynee 

As  whan  a  thyng  is  shapen  /  it  shal  be 

That  soone  after  the  mydnygnt1  Palamoo) 

By  helpyng1  of  a  freend  /  brak  his  prison  1468 

IT  And  fleeth  the  Citee  /  faste  as  he  may  go          peafao.back] 

fibr  he  hade  yeue  /  his  gayler  drynke  so 

Of  a  Clarree  maad  /  of  a  certeyn  wyn 

Of  Nercotikes  /  and  Opie  of  Thebes  fyn    t  Opium  Thebaicum. 

That  al  that  nygfrf  thogh"  fat  men  wolde  him  shake 

The  gayler  sleepe  /  he  myghte  nat  awake 

IT  And  thus  he  fleeth  /  as  faste  as  euere  he  may 

The  nyght  was  short1  and  faste  by  the  day  1476 

That  nodes  cost1  he  moot  hym  seluen  hyde 

And  til  a  groue  /  faste  ther  bisyde 

With  dredeful  foot1  thanne  stalketh  Palamon 

ffor  shortly  /  this  was  his  opinion)  1480 

That  in  that  grone  /  he  wolde  hym  hyde  al  day 

And  in  the  nyght  /  thanne  wolde  he  take  his  way 

To  Thebes  ward  /  his  freendes  for  to  preye 

On  Theseus  /  to  helpe  him  to  werreye  1484 

And  shortly  /  outher  he  wolde  lese  his  lif 

Or  wynnen  Emelye  /  vn  to  his  wyf 

This  is  theffectf  and  his  entente  pleyn  • 

IT  Now  wol  I  turne  /  to  Arcite  ageyn  1488 

That  litel  wiste  /  how  ny  fat  was  his  care 

Til  fat  ffortune  /  had  broght  him  in  the  snare 

e  bisy  larke  /  messager  of  day 

Salueth  in  hir  song  /  the  morwe  gray  1492 

And  firy  Phebus  /  riseth  vp  so  brighte 
That  al  the  Orient1  laugheth  of  the  lighte 
And  w^t/i  hise  stremes  /  dryeth  in  the  greues 
The  siluer  dropes  /  haiigynge  on  the  leues  1496 

ELLESMERE   43 


44    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

And  Arcita  /  that  is  in  the  court  Eoial 

With  Theseus  /  his  Squier  principal 

Is  risen  /  and  looketh  on  the  myrie  day 

And  for  to  doon  /  his  obseruaunce  to  May  1500 

Remembrynge  /  on  the  poynt  of  his  desir 

He  on  a  Courser  /  startlynge  as  the  fir 

Is  riden  in  to  the  feeldes  /  hym  to  pleye 

Out  of  the  Court1  were  it  a  myle  or  tweye  1504 

And  to  the  groue  /  of  which  ]>at  I  yow  tolde 

By  auenture  /  his  wey  /  he  gan  to  holde 

To  makcn  hym  /  a  gerland  /  of  the  greues 

"Were  it  of  wodebynde  /  or  hawethorn  leues  1508 

And  loude  he  song1  ayeyn  the  sonne  shene 

May  /  -with  alle  thy  floures  and  thy  grene 

Wei  come  be  thou  /  faire  fresshe  May 

In  hope  /  fat  I  som  grene  gete  may  1512 

And  from  his  courser  /  with  a  lusty  herte 

In  to  a  groue  /  ful  hastily  he  sterte 

And  in  a  path  /  he  rometh  vp  and  doun 

Ther  as  by  auenture  /  this  Palamon)  1516 

Was  in  a  bussfi  /  that  no  man  mygfite  hym  se  Ueaf  21] 

ffor  soore  aferd  of  his  deeth  /  thanne  was  he 

No  thyng1  ne  knew  he  /  that  it  was  Arcite 

God  woof  he  wolde  haue  trowed  it  ful  lite  1520 

But  sooth  is  seyd  /  go  sithen  many  yeres 

That  feeld  hath  eyen  /  and  the  wode  hath  eres 

It  is  ful  fair  /  a  man  to  bere  hym  euene  ' 

ffor  al  day  /  meeteth  men  at  vnset  steuene  1524 

fful  litel  woot  Arcite  of  his  felawe 

That  was  so  ny  /  to  herknen  al  his  sawe 

ffor  in  the  bussfi  /  he  sitteth  now  ful  stille 

1T  Whan  fat  Arcite  /  hadde  romed  al  his  fille  1528 

And  songen  al  the  roundel  lustily 

In  to  a  studie  /  he  fil  al  sodeynly 

As  doon  thise  loueres  /  in  hir  qiieynte  geres 

Now  in  the  crope  /  now  doun  in  the  breres  1532 

ELLESMERE   44 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    45 

Now  vp  /  now  doun  /  as  boketf  in  a  welle 

Eight  as  the  friday  /  soothly  for  to  telle 

Now  it  shyneth  /  now  it  reyneth  faste 

Eight  so  /  kan  geery  Venus  ouer  caste  1536 

The  hertes  of  hir  folk  /  right  as  hir  day 

Is  gereful  /  right  so  chaungeth  she  array 

Selde  is  the  friday  /  al  the  wowke  ylike 

IT  Whan  fat  Arcite  had  songe  /  he  gan  to  sike  1540 

And  sette  hym  doun  /  with  outen  any  moore 

Alias  quod  he  /  that  day  fat  I  was  bore 

How  longe  luno  /  thurgh  thy  crueltee 

"Wbltow  werreyen  Thebes  the  Citee  1544 

Alias  /  ybroght  is  to  confusion 

The  blood  roial  /  of  Cadme  and  Amphion  f  Cadmus 

Of  Cadnms  /  which  pat  was  the  firste  man 

That  Thebes  bulte  /  or  first  the  toun  bigan  1548 

And  of  the  Citee  /  first  was  crouiied  kyng1 

Of  his  lynage  am  I  /  and  his  of  spryng  / 

By  verray  ligne  /  as  of  the  stok  roial 

And  now  I  am  /  so  caytyf  /  and  so  thral  1552 

That  he  /  that  is  my  mortal  enemy 

I  seme  hym  /  as  his  squier  pourely 

And  yet  /  dooth  luno  me  /  wel  moore  shame 

ffor  I  dar  noghf  biknowe  myn  owene  name  1556 

But  ther  as  I  /  was  wont1  to  highte  Arcite 

Now  highte  I  Philostrate  /  noght  worth  a  myte 

Alias  thou  felle  Mars  /  alias  luno 

Thus  hath  youre  Ire  /  oure  kynrede  al  fordo  1560 

Saue  oonly  me  /  and  wrecched  Palamon 

That  Theseus  /  martireth  in  prison 

And  ouer  al  this  /  to  sleen  me  outrely 

Loue  hath  /  his  firy  dart1  so  brennyngly  1564 

Ystiked  /  thurgh"  my  trewe  careful  herte  [leaf  21,  back] 

That  shapen  was  my  deeth  /  erst  than  my  sherte 

Ye  sleen  me  /  with  youre  eyen  Emelye 

Ye  been  the  cause  /  wherfore  fat  I  dye  1568 

ELLESMERE    45 


46    onour  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    EUesmere  MS. 

Of  al  the  remenantf  of  myn  oother  care 

Ne  sette  I  nat1  the  montance  of  a  tare 

So  fat  I  koude  /  doon  aught1  to  youre  plesauwce 

And  with  that  word  /  he  fil  doun  in  a  traunce'  1572 

A  longe  tyme  /  and  after  he  vp  sterte 

IT  This  Palamon  /  fat  thoughte  fat  thurgh  his  herte 

He  felte  a  coold  swerd  /  sodeynliche  glyde 

ffor  Ire  he  quook  /  no  lenger  wolde  he  byde  1576 

And  whan  j?at  he  /  had  herd  Arcites  tale 

As  he  were  wood  /  -with  face  /  deed  and  pale 

He  stirte  hym  vp  /  out  of  the  huskes  thikke 

And  seide  Arcite  /  false  traytour  wikke  1580 

Now  artow  hent1  that  louest  my  lady  so 

ffor  whom  fat  I  haue  /  al  this  peyne  and  wo 

And  art  my  blood  /  and  to  my  eonseil  sworn 

As  I  ful  ofte  /  haue  seyd  thee  heer  biforn  1584 

And  hast  byiaped  heere  /  dutf  Theseus 

And  falsly  /  chaungcd  hast  /  thy  name  thus 

I  wol  be  deed  /  dr  elles  thou  shalt  dye 

Thou  shalt  nat  /  loue  my  lady  Emelye  1588 

But  I  wol  loue  hire  oonly  /  and  namo 

ffor  I  am  Palamon  /  thy  mortal  foo 

And  though  fat  I  no  wepene  haite  in  this  place 

But  out  of  prison  /  am  astert  by  grace  1592 

I  drede  nogh~t  /  fat  outher  thow  shalt  dye 

Or  thow  ne  shalt  nat1  louen  Emelye 

Chees  which  thou  wolf  or  thou  shalt  nat  asterte 

IT  This  Arcite  /  with  ful  despitous  herte  1596 

Whan  he  hym  knew  /  and  hadde  his  tale  herd* 

As  fiers  as  leon)  /  pulled  out  his  swerd' 

And  seyde  thus  /  by  god  fat  sit  aboue 

Nere  it  /  fat  thou  art1  sik1  and  wood  for  loue  1600 

And  eek1  fat  thow  no  wepne  hast1  in  this  place 

Thou  sholdest  neuere  /  out  of  this  groue  pace 

That  thou  ne  sholdest1  dyen  of  myn  hone? 

ffor  I  defye  /  the  seurete  and  the  bond1  1604 

ELLESMERE    46 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    47 

Which  that  thou  seisfr  fat  I  haue  maad  to  thee 

What  verray  fool  /  thynk1  wel  /  fat  loue  is  fee 

And  I  wol  loue  hire  /  mawgree  al  thy  mygSLt 

But  for  as  muche  /  thou  art  a  worthy  knyghfr  1608 

And  wilnestf  to  darreyne  hire  by  bataille 

Haue  heer  my  trouthe  /  tomorwe  I  wol  nat  faile 

With  oute  wityng1  of  any  oother  wight 

That  heere  /  I  wol  he  found  en  as  a  knyght1  1612 

And  hryngen  harneys  /  right  ynough"  for  thee  [leaf  22] 

And  chese  the  heste  /  and  leue  the  Avorste  for  me 

And  mete  and  drynke  /  this  nyght  wol  I  hrynge 

Ynough  for  thee  /  and  clothes  for  thy  beddynge  1616 

And  if  so  be  /  that  thou  my  lady  wynne 

And  sle  me  in  this  wode  /  ther  I  am  Inne 

Thow  mayst  wel  haue  thy  lady  /  as  for  me 

IT  This  Palamon  answerde  /  I  graunte  it  thee  1620 

And  thus  they  been  departed  /  til  amorwe 

Whan  ech  of  hem  /  had  leyd  his  feith  to  borwe 

f\  Cupide  /  out  of  alle  charitee 

^  0  regne  /  fat  wolt  no  felawe  haue  ~with  thee          1624 

fful  sooth  is  seyd  /  fat  loue  ne  lordshipe 

Wol  noght1  hir  thankes  /  haue  no  felaweshipe 

Wel  fynden  that1  Arcite  and  Palamon) 

Arcite  is  riden  anon  /  vn  to  the  toun  1628 

And  on  the  morwe  /  er  it  were  dayes  light1 

fful  pn'uely  /  two  harneys  hath  he  dight 

Bothe  suffisaunt1  and  mete  to  darreyne 

The  bataille  in  the  feeld?  /  bitwix  hem  tweyne  1632 

And  on  his  hors  /  allone  as  he  was  born 

He  carieth  /  al  the  harneys  /  hym  biforn 

And  in  the  groue  /  at  tyme  and  place  yset1 

This  Arcite  /  and  this  Palamon  ben  met1  1636 

To  chaungen  /  gan  the  colour  in  hir  face 

Eight  as  the  nunters  /  in  the  regne  of  Trace 

That  stondeth  at  the  gappe  with  a  spere 

Whan  hunted  is  /  the  leon)  and  the  here  1640 

ELLESMERE   47 


48    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Eliesmere  MS. 

And  hereth  hym  /  come  russhyng1  in  the  greues 

And  breketh  /  bothe  bowes  /  and  the  leues 

And  thynketh  /  heere  cometh  my  mortal  enemy 

With  oute  faile  /  he  moot  be  deed  /  or  I,  1644 

ffor  outher  / 1  moot  sleen  hym  at  the  gappe 

Or  he  moot  sleen  me  /  if  fat  me  myshappe 

So  ferden  they  /  in  chaungyng1  of  hir  hewe 

As  fer  /  as  euerich  of  hem  oother  knewe  1648 

IT  Ther  nas  no  good  day  ne  no  saluyng1 

But  straight1  with  outen  word  /  or  rehersyng* 

Euerich  of  hem  /  heelpe  for  to  armen  oother 

As  freenly  /  as  he  were  his  owene  brother  1652 

And  after  thaf  with  sharpe  speres  stronge 

They  foynen  ech  at  oother  wonder  longe 

Thou  myghtest  wene  /  that  this  Palamon) 

In  his  fightyng1  were  [as]  a  wood  leon)  1656 

And  as  a  crueel  Tigre  was  Arcite 

As  wilde  bores  /  gonne  they  to  smyte 

That  frothen  whit  as  foom  /  for  Ire  wood 

Yp  to  the  Anclee  /  foghte  they  in  hir  blood  1660 

IT  And  in  this  wise  /  I  lete  hem  fightyng  dwelle  [leaf  22,  back] 

And  forth  I  wole  /  of  Theseus  yow  telle 

rFhe  destinee  /  Ministre  general 

•*•  That  executeth  /  in  the  world  oner  al  1664 

The  purueiaunce  /  that  god  hath  seyn  biforn 

So  strong  it  is  /  fat  though  the  world  had  sworn 

The  contrarie  of  a  thyng1  by  ye  or  nay 

Yet  somtyme  /  it  shal  fallen  on  a  day  1668 

That  falleth  nat  eft  with  Inne  a  thousand  yeere 

ffor  certeinly  /  cure  appetites  heere 

Be  if  of  werre  /  or  pees  /  or  hate  /  or  loue 

Al  is  this  reuled  /  by  the  sighte  aboue  1672 

1T  This  mene  I  now  /  by  myghty  Theseus 

That  for  to  hunten  /  is  so  desirus 

And  namely  /  at  the  grete  hert  in  May 

That  in  his  bed  /  ther  daweth  hym  no  day  1676 

ELLESMERE   48 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    49 

That  he  nys  clad  /  and  redy  for  to  ryde 

With  hunte  and  horn  /  and  houndes  hym  bisyde 

fibr  in  his  huntyng1 .  hath  he  swich  delit 

That  it  is  /  al  his  ioye  and  appetit  1680 

To  been  hym  self  /  the  grete  hertes  bane 

ffor  after  Mars  /  he  serueth  now  dyane 

IT  Cleer  was  the  day  /  as  I  haue  toold  er  this 

And  Theseus  /  with  alle  ioye  and  blis  1 684 

With  his  ypolita  /  the  faire  queene 

And  Emelye  /  clothed  al  in  grene 

On  huntyng  be  they  riden  roially 

And  to  the  groue  /  that  stood  ful  faste  by  1688 

In  which  ther  was  an  hertf  as  men  hym  tolde 

Due  Theseus  /  the  streighte  wey  hath  holde 

And  to  the  launde  /  he  rideth  hym  ful  right/ 

ffor  thider  was  the  hert1  wont  haue  his  flight  1692 

And  ouer  a  brook  /  and  so  forth  in  his  weye 

This  due" .  wol  han  a  cours  at  hym  or  tweye 

With  houndes  /  swiche  as  hym  list  comaunde 

IT  And  whan  this  due1  was  come  vn  to  the  launde        1696 

Vnder  the  sonne  he  looketh  /  and  anon 

He  was  war  /  of  Arcite  and  Palamon) 

That  foughten  breme  /  as  it  were  bores  two 

The  brighte  swerdes  /  wenten  to  and  fro  1700 

So  hidously  /  that  vrith  the  leeste  strook1 

It  semed  /  as  it  wolde  fille  an  ook1 

But  what  they  were  /  no  thyng1  he  ne  woof 

This  due1  his  courser  /  \fii7i  his  spores  smootf  1 704 

And  at  a  stert1  he  was  bitwix  hem  two 

And  pulled  out  a  swerd  /  and  cride  hoo 

Namoore  /  vp  on  peyne  of  lesynge  of  youre  heed 

By  mygSty  Mars  /  he  shal  anon  be  deed  1708 

That  smyteth  any  strook1 .  that  I  may  seen  [leaf  as] 

But  telleth  me  /  what  mystiers  men  ye  been 

That  been  so  hardy  /  for  to  lighten  heere 

With  outen  luge  /  or  oother  Ofncere  1712 

4  ELLESMERE    49 


50    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

As  it  were  /  in  a  lystes  roially 

IT  This  Palamon  /  answerde  hastily 

And  seyde  /  sire  /  what  nedeth  wordes  mo 

We  haue  /  the  deeth  /  disserued  bothe  two  1716 

Two  woful  wrecches  been  we  /  two  caytyuea 

That  been  encombred  /  of  oure  owene  lyues 

And  as  thou  art1  a  rightful  lord  and  luge 

!N"e  yeue  vs  /  neither  mercy  ne  refuge  1720 

But  sle  me  first*  for  seinte  charitee 

But  sle  my  felawe  eek1  as  wel  as  me 

Or  sle  hym  first1 .  for  though  thow  knowest  it  lite 

This  is  thy  mortal  foo  /  this  is  Arcite  1724 

That  fro  thy  lond  /  is  banyssfred  on  his  heed 

ffor  which  /  he  hath  deserued  to  be  deed 

ffor  this  is  he  /  fat  cam  vn  to  thy  gate 

And  seyde  /  Jjat  he  higfrte  Philostrate  1728 

Thus  hath  he  iaped  thee  /  ful  many  a  yer 

And  thou  hast1  maked  hym  thy  chief  Squier 

And  this  is  he  /  that  loueth  Enielye 

fibr  sith  the  day  is  come  /  )>at  I  shal  dye  1732 

I  make  pleynly  /  my  confession 

That  I  am  /  thilke  woful  Palamon) 

That  hath  /  thy  prison  broken  wikkedly 

I  am  thy  mortal  foo  /  and  it  am  I  1736 

That  loueth  so  hoote  /  Emelye  the  brighte 

That  I  wol  dye  /  present  in  hir  sighte 

Therfore  I  axe  deeth  /  and  my  luwise 

But  sle  my  felawe  /  in  the  same  wise  1740 

ffor  bothe  /  han  we  deserued  to  be  slayn 

1T  This  worthy  due1  answerde  anon  agayn 

And  seyde  /  this  is  a  short  conclusion 

Youre  owene  mouth  /  by  youre  confession  1744 

Hath  dampned  yow  /  and  I  wol  it  recorde 

It  nedeth  nogfit  /  to  pyne  yow  wiiJi  the  corde 

Ye  shal  be  deed  /  by  myghty  Mars  the  rede 

IT  The  queene  anon  /  for  verray  wowmanhede  1748 

ELLESMERE    50 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    51 

Gan  for  to  wepe  /  and  so  dide  Emelye 

And  alle  the  ladyes  /  in  the  compaignye 

Greet  pitee  was  if  as  it  thoughte  hem  alle 

That  euere  /  swich  a  chaunce  sholde  falle  1752 

ffor  gentil  men  they  were  /  of  greet  estaatt 

And  no  thyng"  but  for  loue  was  this  debaatf 

And  saugfr  hir  blody  woundes  /  wyde  and  soore 

And  alle  crieden  /  bothe  lasse  and  moore  1756 

Haue  mercj  Lord  /  vp  on  vs  wommen  alle  r'eaf  23,  back] 

And  on  hir  bare  knees  /  adoun  they  falle 

And  wolde  haue  kist  his  feet1  ther  as  he  stood 

Til  at  the  laste  /  aslaked  was  his  mood  1760 

ffor  pitee  /  renneth  soone  in  gentil  herte 

And  though  /  he  first1  for  Ire  quook  and  sterte 

He  hath  considered  /  shortly  in  a  clause 

The  trespas  of  hem  bothe  /  and  eek  the  cause  1764 

And  al  though"  fat  his  Ire  /  hir  gilt  accused 

Yet  in  his  resofl  /  he  hem  bothe  excused 

And  thus  /  he  thoghte  wel  fat  euery  man 

Wol  helpe  hym  self  in  loue  /  if  that  he  kan  1768 

And  eek"  deliuere  hym  self  /  out  of  prison 

And  eek1  his  herte  hadde  compassion 

Of  wo?7imen  /  for  they  wepen  euere  in  oon 

And  /  in  his  gentil  herte  /  he  thoughte  anon  1772 

And  softe  vn  to  hym  self  /  he  seyde  fy  / 

Vp  on  a  lord  /  that  wol  haue  no  mercy  T  Nofote  domni. 

But  been  a  leori)  /  bothe  in  word  and  dede 

To  hem  /  fat  been  in  repentance  and  drede  1776 

As  wel  /  as  to  a  proud  despitous  man 

That  wol  maynteyne  /  that  he  first  bigan 

That  lord  /  hath  litel  of  discrecion 

That  in  swich  cas  /  kan  no  diuision  1780 

But  weyeth  /  pride  and  humblesse  after  oon 

And  shortly  /  whan  his  Ire  /  is  thus  agoon 

He  gan  to  looken  vp  /  with  eyen  lighte 

And  spak  thise  same  wordes  /  al  on  highte  1 784 

ELLESMERE    51 


52    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  The  god  of  loue  /  A  benedicite 

How  myghty  /  and  how  greet  a  lord  is  he 

Ayeyns  his  myghtf  ther  gayneth  none  obstacles 

He  may  be  cleped  a  god  /  for  hise  myracles  1788 

ffor  he  kan  maken  /  at  his  owene  gyse 

Of  euerich  herte  /  as  Jjat  hym  list  diuyse 

Lo  heere  this  Arcite  /  and  this  Palamon) 

That  quitly  weren  /  out  of  my  prison  1792 

And  mygfite  /  han  lyued  in  Thebes  roially 

And  witen  /  I  am  hir  mortal  enemy 

And  ]?at  hir  deth  /  lith  in  my  mygfit  also 

And  yet  hath  loue  /  maugree  hir  eyen  two  1796 

[Y-]Brog6t  hem  hyder  /  bothe  for  to  dye 

Now  looketh  /  is  nat  that1  an  heigh  folye 

IT  Who  may  [nat]  been  a  fole  /  but  if  he  loue 

Bihoold  /  for  goddes  sake  ]>at  sit  aboue  1800 

Se  how  they  blede  /  be  they  nogfit  wel  arrayed 

Thus  hath  hir  lord  /  the  god  of  loue  ypayed 

Hir  wages  /  arid  hir  fees  /  for  hir  seruyse 

And  yet  they  wenen  /  for  to  been  ful  wyse  1804 

That  semen  loue  /  for  aught  that  may  bifalle  [leaf  24] 

But  this  is  yet1  the  beste  game  of  alle 

That  she  /  for  whom  they  han  this  lolitee 

Kan  hem  ther  fore  /  as  muche  thank  /  as  me  1 808 

She  woof  namoore  /  of  al  this  hoote  fare 

By  god  /  than  woot  a  Cokkow  of  an  hare 

But  all  moot  ben  assayed  /  hoot  and  coold? 

A  man  moot  ben  a  fool  /  or  yong1  or  oold?  1812 

I  woot  it  by  my  self  /  ful  yore  agon 

ffor  in  my  tyme  /  a  seruant  was  I  oon 

And  therfore  /  syn  I  knowe  of  loues  peyne 

And  woot  hou  soore  /  it  kan  a  man  distreyne  1816 

As  he  /  fat  hath  /  ben  caught  ofte  in  his  laas 

I  yow  foryeue  /  al  hoolly  this  trespaas 

At  requeste  of  the  queene  /  J?at  kneleth  heere 

And  eek  of  Emelye  /  my  suster  deere  1820 

ELtESMKKE    52 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    53 

And  ye  shul  bothe  /  anon  vn  to  me  swere 

That  neuere  mo  /  ye  shal  my  contree  dere 

!Re  make  werre  vp  on  me  nyght  ne  day 

But  been  my  freendes  /  in  al  that  ye  may  1824 

I  yow  foryeue  /  this  trespas  euery  deel 

And  they  him  sworen  /  his  axyng*  faire  and  weel 

And  hym  of  lordshipe  /  and  of  mercy  preyde 

And  he  hem  graunteth  grace  /  and  thus  he  seyde         1828 

speke  /  of  roial  lynage  and  richesse 
Though  fat  she  were  a  queene  or  a  pn'ncesse 
Ech  of  you  bothe  /  is  worthy  doutelees 
To  wedden  whan  tyme  is  doutelees  1832 

I  speke  /  as  for  my  suster  Emelye 
ffor  whom  ye  haue  /  this  strif  and  lalousye 
Ye  woot  your  self1  she  may  nat  wedden  two- 
Atones  /  though  ye  fighten  eueremo  1836 
That  oon  of  you  /  al  be  hym  looth  or  lief/ 
He  moot[e]  pipen  /  in  an  yuy  leef 
This  is  to  seyn  /  she  may  nat  now  han  bothe      . 
Al  be  ye  neuer  so  lalouse  /  ne  so  wrothe  1840 
And  for  thy  /  I  yow  putte  in  this  degree 
That  ech  of  yow  /  shal  haue  his  destynee 
As  hym  is  shape  /  and  herkneth  in  what  wyse 
Lo  heere  your  ende  /  of  that  I  shal  deuyse                    1844 
TlTy  wyl  is  this  /  for  plat  conclusion 
ITJ.  ^th  outen  /  any  repplicaciofi 
If  that  you  liketh  /  take  it1  for  the  beste 
That  euerich  of  you  /  shal  goon  where  hym  leste          1848 
ffrely  /  with  outen  raunson  /  or  daunger 
And  this  day  fifty  wykes  /  fer  ne  ner 
Euerich  of  you  /  shal  brynge  an  hundred  knyghtes 
Armed  for  lystes  /  vp  at  alle  rigntes                              1852 
IF  Al  redy  /  to  darreyne  hire  by  bataille                [leaf  24,  tack] 
And  this  bihote  I  yow  /  with  outen  faille 
Vp  on  my  trouthe  /  and  as  I  am  a  knygfif 
That  wheither  of  yow  bothe  fat  hath  mygnf               1856 

ELLESMEKE    53 


54   GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    EUesmere  MS. 

This  is  to  seyn  /  that  wheither  he  or  thow 

May  with  his  hundred  /  as  I  spak  of  now 

Sleen  his  contrarie  /  or  out  of  lystes  dryue 

Thanne  shal  I  yeue  /  Emelya  to  wyue  1860 

To  whom  pat  ffortune  /  yeueth  so  fair  a  grace 

Tho  lystes  /  shal  I  maken  in  this  place 

And  god  so  wisly  /  on  my  soule  rewe 

As  I  shal  euene  luge  been  and  trewe  1864 

Ye  shul  noon  oother  ende  /  with  me  maken 

That  oon  of  yow  /  ne  shal  be  deed  or  taken 

And  if  yow  thynketh  /  this  is  weel  ysayd 

Seyeth  youre  auys  /  and  holdeth  you  apayd  1868 

This  is  youre  ende  /  and  youre  conclusion 

1"  "Who  looketh  lightly  now  /  but  Palamoii 

Who  spryngeth  vp  for  ioye  /  but  Arcite 

Who  kouthe  telle  /  or  who  koiithe  endite  1872 

The  ioye  /  pat  is  maked  in  the  place 

Whan  Theseus  J  hath  doon  so  fair  a  grace 

But  doun  on  knees  /  wente  every  maner  wight* 

And  thonken  hym  /  with  al  hir  herte  and  myghf        1876 

And  namely  the  Thebans  often  sithe 

And  thus  with  good  hope  /  and  with  herte  blithe 

They  taken  hir  leue  /  and  homward  gonne  they  ride 

To  Thebes  /  with  hise  olde  walles  wyde  1880 

IT  Explicit  secunda  pars 

1T  Sequitwr  pars  tercia 

1"  trowe  /  men  wolde  deme  it  necligence 

•*-  If  I  foryete  /  to  tellen  the  dispence 

Of  Theseus  /  that  gooth  so  bisily 

To  maken  vp  /  the  lystes  roially  1884 

That  swich  a  noble  Theatre  /  as  it  was 

I  dar  wel  seyn  /  in  this  world  ther  nas 

The  circuit  /  a  myle  was  aboute 

Walled  of  stoon  /  and  dyched  al  with  oute  1888 

Round  was  the  shape  /  in  manere  of  compaas 

EI.LE8METIE   54 


r     GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    55 

fful  of  degrees  /  the  heighte  of  sixty  pas 

That  whan  a  man  /  was  set  /  on  o  degree 

He  lette  nafr  his  felawe  for  to  see  1892 

H  Estward  /  ther  stood  a  gate  of  Marbul  whit/ 

Westward  right  swich  another  in  the  opposif 

1T  And  shortly  to  concluden  /  swich"  a  place  [leaf  25] 

"Was  noon  in  erthe  /  as  in  so  litel  space  1896 

ffor  in  the  lond  /  ther  was  no  crafty  man 

That  geometrie  or  Ars  Metrik  kan 

~Ne  portreitowr  /  ne  keruere  of  ymages 

That  Theseus  /  ne  yaf  [him]  mete  and  wages  1900 

The  Theatre  /  for  to  maken  and  deuyse 

And  for  to  doon  /  his  ryte  and  sacrifise 

He  Estward  /  hath  vp  on  the  gate  aboue 

In  worships  of  Venus  goddesse  of  loue  1904 

Doon  make  an  Auter  /  and  an  Oratorie 

And  on  the  westward  /  in  memorie 

Of  Mars  /  he  maked  hath  right  swich  another 

That  coste  largely  /  of  gold  a  fother  1908 

And  Northward'  /  in  a  Touret  /  on  the  wal 

Of  Alabastre  whit1  and  reed  coral 

An  Oratorie  /  riche  for  to  see 

In  worships  of  Dyane  of  Chastitee  1912 

Hath  Theseus  doon  wroghfr  in  noble  wyse 

1T  But  yet1  hadde  I  foryeten  to  deuyse 

The  noble  keruyng1  and  the  portreitures 

The  shape  /  the  contenaunce  and  the  figures  1916 

That  weren  /  in  tliise  Oratories  thre 

^1  ffirst1  in  the  temple  of  Venus  /  maystow  se 

"Wroght  on  the  wal  /  ful  pitous  to  biholde 

The  broken  slepes  /  and  the  sikes  colde  1920 

The  sacred  teeris  /  and  the  waymentynge 

The  firy  strokes  /  and  the  desirynge 

That  loues  seruauntz  /  in  this  lyf  enduren 

The  othes  /  that  her  couenantz  assuren  1924 

Plesaunce  and  hope  /  desir  foolhardynesse 

ELLESMERE    55 


56    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

Beautee  and  youthe  /  bauderie  richesse 

Charmes  and  force  /  lesynges  flaterye 

Despense  /  bisynesse  and  lalousye  1928 

That  wered  of  yelewe  gooldes  a  gerlancl? 

And  a  Cokkow  /  sittynge  on  hir  hand? 

ffestes  /  Instrumentz  /  caroles  daunces 

Lust  and  array  /  and  alle  the  circumstauwces  1932 

Of  loue  /  whiche  fat  I  rekned  haue  /  and  rekne  shal 

By  ordre  /  \veren  peynted  on  the  wal 

And  mo  /  than  I  kan  make  of  mencion 

ffor  soothly  /  al  the  mount  of  Citheron  1936 

Ther  Venus  /  hath  hir  principal  dwellynge 

Was  shewed  on  the  wal  /  in  portreyynge 

With  al  the  gardyn  /  and  the  lustynesse 

Nat  was  foryeten  /  the  Porter  ydelnesse  1940 

Ne  Narcisus  the  faire  /  of  yore  agon 

And  yet1  the  folye  /  of  kyng*  Salamon) 

IT  And  eek1  the  grete  strengthe  of  Ercules  [leaf  25,  back] 

Thenchauntementz  of  Medea  and  Circes  1944 

Ne  of  Turnus  /  vfith  the  hardy  fiers  corage 

The  riche  Cresus  /  kaytyf  /  in  seruage 

Thus  may  ye  seen  /  Jjat  wysdom  ne  richesse 

Beautee  ne  sleigfite  /  strengthe  hardynesse  1948 

Ne  may  with  Venus  /  holde  champartie 

ffor  as  hir  list*  the  world  than  may  she  gye 

Lo  alle  thise  folk1  so  caught  were  in  hir  las 

Til  they  for  wo  /  ful  ofte  seyde  alias  1952 

Sumseth  heere  /  ensamples  oon  or  two 

And  though  /  I  koude  rekene  a  thousand  mo 

fPhe  statue  of  Venus  /  glorious  for  to  se 

-•-   Was  naked  /  fletynge  in  the  large  see  1956 

And  fro  the  nauele  doun  /  al  couered  was 

With  wawes  grene  /  and  brighte  as  any  glas 

A  Citole  /  in  hir  right  hand  /  hadde  she 

And  on  hir  heed  /  ful  semely  for  to  se  1960 

A  Eose  gerland  fressh  /  and  wel  smellynge 

ELLESMERE   56 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    57 

Aboue  hir  heed  /  hir  dowues  flikerynge 

Biforn  hire  /  stood  hir  sone  Cupido 

Vp  on  his  shuldres  /  wynges  hadde  he  two  1964 

And  blynd  he  was  /  as  it  was  often  seene 

A  bowe  he  bar  /  and  Arwes  brighte  and  kene 

1T  Why  sholde  I  noght  /  as  wel  eek  telle  yow  al 

The  portreiture  /  that  was  vp  on  the  wal  1968 

Wit/i  Inne  the  temple  /  of  myghty  Mars  the  rede 

Al  peynted  was  the  wal  /  in  lengthe  and'brede 

Lyk  to  the  estres  /  of  the  grisly  place 

That  highte  the  grete  temple  of  Mars  in  Trace  1972 

In  thilke  colde  /  frosty  Region 

Ther  as  Mars  /  hath  his  souereyn  mansion 

11  ffirst  on  the  wal  /  was  peynted  a  forest1 

In  which  ther  dwelleth  /  neither  man  ne  best*  1976 

With  knotty  knarry  /  bareyne  trees  olde 

Of  stubbes  sharpe  /  and  hidouse  to  biholde 

In  which  ther  ran  /  a  rumbel  and  a  swough" 

As  though  a  storm  /  sholde  bresten  euery  bough          1980 

And  dounward  from  an  hille  /  vnder  a  bente 

Ther  stood  the  temple  of  Mars  Armypotente 

Wroght  al  of  burned  steel  /  of  which  the  entree 

Was  long1  and  streit1  and  gastly  for  to  see  1984 

.1.  impetus 

And  ther  out  came  a  rage  /  and  suche  a  veze 

That  it  made  /  al  the  gate  for  to  rese 

The  Northren  lyghfr  in  at  the  dores  shoon 

ffor  wyndowe  /  on  the  wal  ne  was  ther  noon  1988 

Thurgh  which  men  myghten  /  any  light  discerne 

The  dore  was  al  /  of  Adamant  eterne 

Yclenched  /  ouerthwart1  and  endelong1  Deaf  20: 

With  Iren  tough  /  and  for  to  make  it  strong1  1992 

Euery  pyler  the  temple  to  sustene 

Was  tonne  greet1  of  Iren  bright  and  shene 

IT  Ther  saugh  I  first1  the  dirke  ymaginyng1 

Of  felonye  /  and  the  compassyng1  1996 

The  crueel  Ire  /  reed  as  any  gleede 

ELLESMEBE    57 


58    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    EUesmere  MS. 

The  pykepurs  /  and  the  pale  drede 

The  smylere  /  with  the  knyfe  vnder  the  cloke 

The  shepne  /  brennynge  /  with  the  blake  smoke          2000 

The  treson  /  of  the  mordrynge  in  the  bedde 

The  open  werre  /  with  woundes  al  bibledde 

Contek1  with  blody  knyf*  and  sharpe  manace 

Al  ful  of  chirkyng1 .  was  that  sory  place  2004 

If  The  sleere  of  hym  self  /  yet  saugh  I  ther 

His  herte  blood  /  hath  bathed  al  his  heer 

The  nayl  ydryuen  /  in  the  shode  a  nyght 

The  colde  deeth  /  with  mouth  gapyng1  vp  right  2008 

Amyddes  of  the  temple  /  sat  meschaunce 

With  disconforf  and  sory  contenaunce 

IT  Yet  saugh  I  woodnesse  /  laughynge  in  his  rage 

Armed  compleinf  out  hees  /  and  fiers  outrage  2012 

The  careyne  in  the  busk1  with  throte  ycorue 

A  thousand  slayn  /  and  nat  oon  of  qualm  ystorue 

The  tiraunf  with  the  pray  by  force  yraff 

The  toun  destroyed  /  ther  was  no  thy[ng  laft ']  [iin  a  later  hand] 

1T  Yet  saugh  I  brent1  the  shippes  hoppesteres 

The  hunte  strangled  /  with  the  wilde  beres 

The  sowe  /  freten  the  child  right  in  the  Cradel 

The  Cook  yscalded  /  for  al  his  longe  ladel  2020 

1F  Noght  was  foryeten  /  by  the  Infortune  of  Marte 

The  Cartere  /  ouer  ryden  with  his  Carte 

Vnder  the  wheel  /  ful  lowe  /  he  lay  adoun 

11"  Ther  were  also  /  of  Martes  diuisioun  2024 

The  laborer  /  and  the  Bocher  and  the  Smyth" 

That  forgeth  sharpe  swerdes  on  his  Styth 

IT  And  al  aboue  /  depeynted  in  a  tour 

Saugh"  I  Conquest*  sittynge  in  greet  honour  2028 

With  the  sharpe  swerd  /  ouer  his  heed 

Hangynge  /  by  a  soutil  twynes  threed 

IT  Depeynted  was  /  the  slaughtre  of  lulius 

Of  grete  Nero  /  and  of  Antonius  2032 

Al  be  fat  thilke  tyme  /  they  were  vnborn 

ELLESMERE    5» 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    59 

Yet  was  Mr  deth  /  depeynted  ther  biforn 

By  manasynge  of  Mars  /  right  by  figure 

So  was  it  shewed  in  that  portreiture  2036 

As  is  depeynted  /  in  the  Certres  aboue 

Who  shal  be  slayn  /  or  elles  deed  for  loue 

Suffiseth  oon  ensample  in  stories  olde  [leaf  26,  back] 

I  may  nat  rekene  hem  alle  though  I  wolde  2040 

e  Statue  of  Mars  /  vp  vn  a  Carte  stood 
Armed  /  and  looked  grym  as  he  were  wood 

And  ouer  his  heed  /  ther  shynen  two  figures 

Of  sterres  /  that  been  cleped  in  scriptures  2044 

That  oon  Puella  /  that  oother  Rubeus 

This  god  of  Armes  /  was  arrayed  thus 

A  wolf  ther  stood  /  biforn  hym  at  his  feet 

With  eyen  rede  /  and  of  a  man  he  eet  2048 

With  soutil  pencel  /  was  depeynted  this  storie 

In  redoutynge  /  of  Mars  and  of  his  glorie 

"VTOw  /  to  the  temple  /  of  Dyane  the  chaste 

•*-'   As  shortly  as  I  kan  I  wol  me  haste  2052 

To  telle  yow  /  al  the  descripsioun 

Depeynted  been  the  walles  vp  and  doun 

Of  huntyng  /  and  of  shamefast  chastitee 

1T  Ther  saugh  I  /  how  woful  Calistopee  2056 

Whan  fat  Diane  /  agreued  was  with  here 

Was  turned  /  from  a  woraman  to  a  Bere 

And  after  was  she  maad  the  loode  sterre  II  Vrsa  maior 

Thus  was  it  peynted  /  I  kan  sey  yow  no  ferre  2060 

Hir  sone  is  eek  a  sterre  as  men  may  see 

II  Ther  saugh  I  Dane  /  yturned  til  a  tree 
I  mene  nat1  the  goddesse  Diane 

But  Penneus  doughter  /  which  fat  highte  Dane  2064 

IF  Ther  saugh  I  Attheon  /  an  hert  ymaked 

ffor  vengeance  /  fat  he  saugh"  Diane  al  naked 

I  saugh  /  how  pat  hise  houndes  /  haue  hym  caught1 

And  freeten  hym  /  for  fat  they  knewe  hym  naught*    2068 

IT  Yet  peynted  /  [was]  a  litel  forther  moor 

ELLESMERE   59 


60    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

How  Atthalante  /  hunted  the  wilde  boor 
And  Meleagree  /  and  many  another  mo 
ffor  which  Dyane  /  wroghte  hym  care  and  wo  2072 

IT  Ther  saugh  I  /  many  another  wonder  storie 
The  whiche  /  me  list  naf  drawen  to  memorie 
IT  This  goddesse  on  an  hert1  ful  wel  hye  sect* 
With  smale  houndes  /  al  aboute  hir  feet1  2076 

And  vndernethe  hir  feet1  she  hadde  a  moone 
Wexynge  it  was  /  and  sholde  wanye  soone 
In  gaude  grene  /  hir  statue  clothed  was 
With  bowe  in  honde  /  and  Arwes  in  a  cas  2080 

Hir  eyen  caste  she  /  ful  lowe  adoun 
Ther  Pluto  /  hath  his  derke  regioun 
IT  A  womman  trauaillynge  /  was  hire  biforn 
But  for  hir  child  /  so  longe  was  vnborn  2084 

fful  pitously  /  Lucyna  /  gan  she  calle 
And  seyde  helpe  /  for  thou  maysf  best  of  alle 
Wel  koude  he  peynten  liny  /  that  it  wroghte  [leaf  27] 

With  many  a  floryn  /  he  the  hewes  boghte  2088 

"VTOw  been  the  lystes  maad  /  and  Theseus 
•*•'   That  at  his  grete  cost  /  arrayed  thus 
The  temples  /  and  the  Theatre  euery  deel 
Whan  it  was  doon  /  hym  lyked  wonder  weel  2092 

But  stynte  I  wole  /  of  Theseus  a  lite 
And  speke  of  Palamon  /  and  of  Arcite 
1T  The  day  approcheth  /  of  hir  retowmynge 
That  euerich  /  sholde  an  hundred  knyghtes  brynge      2096 
The  bataille  to  darreyne  /  as  I  yow  tolde 
And  til  Atthenes  /  hir  couenantz  for  to  holde 
Hath  euerich  of  hem  /  brognf  an  hundred  knygttes 
Wel  armed  for  the  werre  /  at  alle  rightes  2100 

And  sikerly  /  ther  trowed  many  a  man 
That  neuere  sithen  /  that  the  world  bigan 
As  for  to  speke  /  of  knyghthod  of  hir  hone? 
As  fer  /  as  god  hath  maked  see  or  lond  2104 

of  so  fewe  /  so  noble  a  compaignye 

ELLESMERE   60 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    61 

ffor  euery  wight1  that  louede  chiualrye 

And  wolde  his  thankes  /  han  a  passant  name 

Hath  preyd  /  J?at  he  myghte  been  of  that  game  2108 

And  wel  was  hym  /  that  ther  to  chosen  was 

ffor  if  ther  fille  tomorwe  swich  a  caas 

Te  knowen  wel  /  ]>at  euery  lusty  knygfifr 

That  loueth  paramours  /  and  hath  his  myght1  2112 

Were  it  in  Engelond  /  or  elles  where 

They  wolde  hir  thankes  /  wilnen  to  be  there 

To  fighte  for  a  lady  /  benedicitee 

It  were  a  lusty  sighte  /  for  to  see  2116 

IT  And  right  so  /  ferden  they  -with  Palamon) 

"With  hym  /  ther  wenten  knyghtes  many  on 

Som  wol  ben  armed  in  an  haubergeon) 

And  in  bristplate  /  and  in  a  light  gypon)  2120 

And  sorame  woln  haue  /  a  paire  plates  large 

And  sorame  woln  haue  /  a  Pruce  sheeld  /  or  a  targe 

Somme  woln  ben  armed  /  on  hir  legges  weel 

And  haue  an  Ax  /  and  so?wme  a  Mace  of  steel  2124 

Ther  is  no  newe  gyse  /  that  it  nas  old 

Armed  were  they  /  as  I  haue  yow  told 

Everych  /  after  his  opinion 

Ther  maistow  seen  /  comynge  -with  Palamon  2128 

Lygurge  hym  self1  the  grete  kyng  of  Trace 

Blak  was  his  berd  /  and  manly  was  his  face 

The  cercles  /  of  hise  eyen  in  his  heed 

They  gloweden  /  bitwyxen  yelow  and  reed  2132 

And  lik  a  grifphon  /  looked  he  aboute 

"With  kempe  heeris  /  on  hise  browes  stoute 

Hise  lymes  grete  /  hise  brawnes  harde  and  stronge  [leaf  27,  back] 

Hise  shuldres  brode  /  hise  armes  rounde  and  longe      2136 

And  as  the  gyse  was  in  his  contree 

fful  hye  /  vpon  a  Chaar  of  gold  /  stood  [he1]    [<  in  a  later  handj 

With  foure  white  boles  in  the  trays 

In  stede  of  Cote  Armure  /  ouer  his  harnays  2140 

With  nayles  yelewe  /  and  brighte  as  any  gold1 

ELLESMERK    61 


62    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

He  hadde  a  Beres  skyn  /  colblak  /  for  ol<J 

His  longe  heer  /  was  kembd  /  bihynde  his  bak 

As  any  Rauenes  fe there  /  it  shoon  for  blak1  2144 

A  wrethe  of  gold  arm  greet  /  of  huge  wighte 

Vpon  his  heed  /  set  ful  of  stones  brighte 

Of  fyne  Rubyes  /  and  of  dyamauntz 

Aboute  his  Chaar  /  thcr  wenten  white  Alauntz  2148 

Twenty  and  mo  /  as  grete  as  any  steer 

To  hunten  at  the  leon)  or l  /  the  deer  ['  MS.  or  /  or] 

And  folwed  hym  /  -with  mosel  faste  ybounde 

Colored  of  gold  /  and  towrettes  fyled  rounde  2152 

An  hundred  lordes  /  hadde  he  in  his  route 

Armed  ful  wel  /  "wiih  hertes  stierne  and  stoute 

lITith  Arcite  /  in  stories  as  men  fynde 

The  grete  Emetreus  /  the  kyng  of  Inde  2166 

Yp  on  a  steede  bay  /  trapped  in  steel 
Couered  in  clooth  of  gold  /  dyapred  weel 
Cam  ridynge  /  lyk1  the  god  of  Armes  Mars 
His  Cote  Armure  /  was  of  clooth  of  Tars  2160 

Couched  with  perles  /  white  and  rounde  and  grete 
His  sadel  /  was  of  brend  gold  newe  ybete 
A  Mantel  [was]  /  vp  on  his  shulder  hangynge 
Brat  ful  of  Rubyes  rede  /  as  fyr  sparklynge  2164 

His  crispe  heer  /  lyk  rynges  was  yronne 
And  that  was  yelow  /  and  glytered  as  the  sonne 
His  nose  was  heigh"  /  hise  eyen  bright  citryn) 
Hise  lippes  rounde  /  his  colour  was  sangwyn  2168 

A  fewe  frakenes  /  in  his  face  yspreynd? 
Bitwixen  yelow  /  and  somdel  blak  ymeyncf 
And  as  a  leon)  /  he  his  lookyng1  caste 
Of  fyue  and  twenty  yeer  /  his  age  I  caste  2172 

His  berd  was  wel  bigonne  for  to  sprynge 
His  voys  /  was  as  a  trompe  thondrynge 
Vp  on  his  heed  /  he  wered  of  laurer  grene 
A  gerland?  /  fressh  /  and  lusty  for  to  sene  2176 

Vp  on  his  hand  /  he  bar  for  his  deduyf 

ELLESMERE    62 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    63 

An  Egle  tame  /  as  any  lilye  whyf 

An  hundred  lordes  /  hadde  he  with  hym  there 

Al  armed  saue  hir  heddes  /  in  al  hir  gere  2180 

fful  richely  /  in  alle  maner  thynges 

ffor  trusteth  wel  /  fat  dukes  /  Erles  kynges 

Were  gadered  /  in  this  noble  compaignye  [leaf  28] 

ffor  loue  /  and  for  encrees  of  chiualrye  2184 

Aboute  this  kyng*  ther  ran  on  euery  part1 

fful  many  a  tame  leon)  /  and  leopard8 

And  in  this  wise  /  thise  lordes  alle  and  some 

Been  on  the  Sonday  to  the  Citee  come  2188 

Aboute  pryme  /  and  in  the  toun  alight 

1T  This  Theseus  /  this  due1  this  worthy  knyght 

Whan  he  had  broght  hem  /  in  to  his  Citee 

And  Inned  hem  /  euerich  in  his  degree  2192 

He  festeth  hem  /  and  dooth  so  greet  labour 

To  esen  hem  /  and  doon  hem  al  honour 

That  yet  men  weneth  /  J?at  no  maner  wit 

Of  noon  estaatt  ne  koude  amenden  it  2196 

IT  The  Mynstralcye  /  the  seruice  /  at  the  feeste 

The  grete  yiftes  /  to  the  meeste  and  leeste 

The  riche  array  /  of  Theseus  paleys 

He  who  sat1  first  ne  last  vp  on  the  deys  2200 

What  ladyes  fairest  been  /  or  best  daunsynge 

Or  which  of  hem  /  kan  dauncen  best  and  synge 

Ne  who  moost  felyngly  speketh  of  loue 

What  haukes  /  sitten  on  the  perche  aboue  2204 

What  houndes  /  liggen  in  the  floor  adoun 

Of  al  this  /  make  I  now  no  mencioun 

But  al  theffecfr  that  thynketh  me  the  beste 

Now  cometh  the  point*  and  herkneth  if  yow  leste         2208 

HRhe  sonday  nygfit1  er  day  bigan  to  sprynge 

-*•  Whan  Palamon  /  the  larke  herde  synge 

Al  though  it  nere  nat  day  /  by  houres  two 

Tet  song  the  larke  /  and  Palamon  also  2212 

With  hooly  herte  /  and  with  an  heigh"  corage 

ELLESMERE   63 


64    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

He  roos  /  to  wenden  on  Ms  pilgrymage 

Vn  to  the  blisful  Citherea  benigne 

1  mene  Venus  /  honorable  and  digne  2216 

And  in  hir  houre  /  he  walketh  forth  a  paas 

Vn  to  the  lystes  /  ther  hire  temple  was 

And  doun  he  kneleth  /  with  ful  humble  cheer 

And  herte  soor  /  and  seyde  in  this  manere  2220 

"T^aireste  of  faire  /  o  lady  myn  Venus  of  Paiamonf  e 

-•- 


Doughter  to  loue  /  and  spouse  of  Vulcanus 
Thow  gladere  /  of  the  Mount*  of  Citheron 
flfor  thilke  loue  /  thow  haddest  to  Adoon  2224 

Haue  pitee  /  of  my  bittre  teeris  smerte 
And  taak  myn  humble  preyere  at  thyn  herte 
Alias  /  I  ne  haue  /  no  langage  to  telle 
Theffectes  /  ne  the  tormentz  of  myn  helle  2228 

Myn  herte  /  may  myne  harmes  nat  biwreye 
I  am  so  confus  /  that  I  kan  noght  seye 
But  mercy  lady  bright1  that  knowest  weele  Deaf  28,  back] 

My  thought1  and  seest1  what  harmes  Jjat  I  feele  2232 

Considere  al  this  /  and  rewe  yp  on  my  soore 
As  wisly  /  as  I  shal  for  eueremoore 
Emforth  my  mygfift  thy  trewe  seruant  be 
And  holden  werre  /  alwey  with  chastitee  2236 

That  make  I  myn  auow  /  so  ye  me  helpe 
I  kepe  noght  of  Armes  for  to  yelpe 
Ne  I  ne  axe  nat1  tomorwe  to  haue  victorie 
Ne  renoure  in  this  cas  /  ne  veyne  glorie  2240 

Of  pris  of  Armes  /  blowen  vp  and  doun 
But  I  wolde  haue  /  fully  possessioun 
Of  Emelye  /  and  dye  in  thy  serayse 

flynd  thow  the  manere  /  hou  and  in  what  wyse  2244 

I  recche  nat  /  but  it  may  bettre  be 
To  haue  victorie  of  hem  /  or  they  of  me 
So  that  I  haue  /  my  lady  in  myne  Armes 
ffor  though  so  be  /  that  Mars  is  god  of  Armes  2248 

Youre  vertu  is  so  greet1  in  heuene  aboue 

ELLESMERE    64 


GROUP  A.    §  2-    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    65 

That  if  yow  list1 1  shal  wel  haue  my  loue 

IT  Thy  temple  wol  I  worships  eueremo 

And  on  thyn  Auter  /  where  I  ride  or  go  2252 

I  wol  doon  sacrifice  /  and  fires  beete 

And  if  ye  wol  nat  so  /  my  lady  sweete 

Thanne  preye  I  thee  /  tomorwe  /  with  a  spere 

That  Arcita  /  me  thurgfr  the  herte  bere  2256 

Thawne  rekke  I  nogh"t  /  whan  I  haue  lost  my  lyf1 

Though"  that  Arcita  /  wynne  hire  to  his  wyf* 

This  is  theffecf  and  ende  of  my  preyere 

Yif  me  my  loue  /  thow  blisful  lady  deere  2260 

1[  Whan  the  orison  /  was  doon  of  Palamon) 

His  sacrifice  he  dide  /  and  that  anon 

fiul  pitously  /  with  alle  circumstance 

Al  telle  I  nogh"t  as  now  /  his  obsemance  2264 

But  atte  laste  /  the  statue  of  Venus  shook  / 

And  made  a  signe  /  wher  by  pat  he  took1 

That  his  preyere  /  accepted  was  that  day 

ffor  thogh  the  signe  /  shewed  a  delay  2268 

Yet  wiste  he  wel  /  J?at  graunted  was  his  boone 

And  with  glad  herte  /  he  wente  hym  hoom  ful  soone 

e  thridde  houre  in-equal  that  Palamon 

Bigan  /  to  Yenus  temple  for  to  gon  2272 

Vp  roos  the  sonne  /  and  vp  roos  Emelye 
And  to  the  temple  of  Dyane  gan  hye 
Hir  maydens  /  pat  she  thider  with  hire  ladde 
fful  redily  /  with  hem  the  fyr  they  ladde  2276 

Thencens  /  the  clothes  /  and  the  remenant  al 
That  to  the  sacrifice  /  longen  shal 

The  homes  fulle  of  Meeth  /  as  was  the  gyse  [leaf  29] 

Ther  lakked  nogBf  to  doon  hir  sacrifise  2280 

1T  Smokynge  the  temple  /  ful  of  clothes  faire 
This  Emelye  /  with  herte  debonaire 
Hir  body  wessh"  /  with  water  of  a  welle 
But  hou  she  dide  hir  ryte  /  I  dar  nat  telle  2284 

But  it  be  /  any  thing1  in  general 

5  ELLESMERE    65 


66    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

And  yet1  it  were  a  game  /  to  heeren  al 

To  hym  fat  meneth  wel  /  it  were  no  charge 

But  it  is  good  /  a  man  been  at  his  large  2288 

IT  Hir  brighte  heer  was  kempct  vntressed  al 

A  coroune  /  of  a  grene  ook  /  cerial 

Vp  on  hir  heed  was  set1  ful  fair  and  meete 

Two  fyres  /  on  the  auter  /  gan  she  beete  2292 

And  dide  hir  thynges  /  as  men  may  biholde 

In  Stace  of  Thebes  /  and  thise  bookes  olde 

Whan  kyndled  was  the  fyr  /  vriih  pitous  cheere 

Vn  to  Dyane  /  she  spak1  as  ye  may  heere  2296 

r\  chaste  goddesse  /  of  the  wodes  grene 

^  To  whom  bothe  heuene  and  erthe  and  see  is  sene 

Queene  of  the  regne  of  Pluto  derk  /  and  lowe  £yape  go 

Goddesse  of  maydens  /  that  myn  herte  hast  knowe      2300 

fful  many  a  yeer  /  and  woost  what  I  desire 

As  keepe  me  /  fro  thy  vengeance  and  thyn  Ire 

That  Attheon  /  aboughte  cruelly 

Chaste  goddesse./  wel  wostow  fat  I  2304 

Desire  /  to  ben  a  mayden  al  my  lyf1 

!NTe  neuere  wol  I  be  no  loue  ne  wyf1 

I  am  thow  woost1  yet  of  thy  compaignye 

A  mayde  /  and  loue  huntynge  and  venerye  2308 

And  for  to  walken  /  in  the  wodes  wilde 

And  noght  to  ben  a  wyf  /  and  be  wz't7i  childe 

Noght  wol  I  knowe  /  the  compaignye  of  man 

Now  helpe  me  lady  /  sith  ye  may  and  kan  2312 

ffor  tho  thre  formes  /  fat  thou  hast  in  thee 

And  Palamon  /  that  hath  swich  loue  to  me 

And  eek  Arcite  /  that  loueth  me  so  soore 

This  grace  I  preye  thee  with  oute  moore  2316 

And  sende  loue  and  pees  /  bitwixe  hem  two 

And  fro  me  /  turne  awey  hir  hertes  so 

That  al  hire  hoote  loue  /  and  hir  desir 

And  al  hir  bisy  torment1  and  hir  fir  2320 

Be  queynt1  or  turned  /  in  another  place 

ELLESMERE    66 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    67 

And  if  so  be  /  thou  wolt  do  me  no  grace 
And  if  my  destynee  /  be  shapen  so 

That  I  shal  nedes  haue  oon  of  hem  two  2324 

As  sende  me  hym  /  fat  moost  desireth  me 
Bihoold  goddesse  /  of  clene  chastitee 

The  bittre  teeris  /  that  on  my  chekes  falle  [leaf  29,  back] 

Syn  thou  art  mayde  /  and  kepere  of  vs  alle  2328 

My  maydenhede  thou  kepe  and  wel  conserue 
And  whil  I  lyue  /  a  mayde  I  wol  thee  serue 
*|f  The  fires  brenne  /  vp  on  the  Auter  cleere 
Whil  Emelye  /  was  thus  in  hir  prey  ere  2332 

But  sodeynly  /  she  saugh  a  sigfite  queynte 
ffor  right  anon  /  oon  of  the  fyres  queynte 
And  quyked  agayn  /  and  after  that  anon 
That  oother  fyr  was  queyntf  and  al  agon  2336 

And  as  it  queynte  /  it  made  a  whistlynge 
As  doon  thise  wete  brondes  in  hir  brennynge 
And  at  the  brondes  ende  /out  ran  anon 
As  it  were  /  blody  dropes  many  oon  2340 

ffor  which  /  so  soore  agast  was  Emelye 
That  she  was  wel  ny  mad  and  gan  to  crye 
ffor  she  ne  wiste  /  what  it  signyfied 

But  oonly  for  the  feere  /  thus  hath  she  cried  2344 

And  weepe  /  that  it  was  pitee  for  to  heere 
And  ther  with  al  /  Dyane  gan  appeere 
With  bo  We  in  honde  /  right  as  an'hunteresse 
And  seyde  doghter  /  stynt  thyn  heuynesse  2348 

A  mong  the  goddes  hye  /  it  is  affermed  ^  The  amwere 

/I  of  D.vane 

•**•  And  by  eterne  word  /  writen  and  confermed  ^  to  Emelye- 

Thou  shalt  ben  wedded  vn  to  oon  of  tho 

That  han  for  thee  /  so  muchel  care  and  wo  2352 

But  vn  to  which  of  hem  /  I  may  nat  telle 

ffarwel  /  for  I  ne  may  no  lenger  dwelle 

The  fires  /  whiche  that  on  myn  Auter  brenne 

Shulle  thee  declare  /  er  that  thou  go  henne  2356 

Thyn  auenture  of  loue  /  as  in  this  cas 

ELLESMERE    67 


68    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

And  vfitJi  that  word  /  the  Anves  in  the  Caas 

Of  the  goddesse  /  clateren  faste  and  rynge 

And  forth  she  wente  /  and  made  a  vanyssnynge          2360 

ifor  which  /  this  Emelye  /  astoned  was 

And  seyde  /  what  amounteth  this  Alias 

I  putte  me  /  in  thy  pn>teccion 

Dyane  /  and  in  thy  disposiciofi  2364 

And  hoom  she  goth  anon  the  nexte  weyc 

This  is  theffecf  ther  is  namoore  to  seye 

rPhe  nexte  houre  of  Mars  folwynge  this 

•*-  Arcite  /  vn  to  the  temple  walked  is  2368 

Of  fierse  Mars  /  to  doon  his  sacrifise 

With  alle  the  rytes  /  of  his  payen  wyse 

With  pitous  herte  /  and  heigh  deuocion 

Eight  thus  to  Mars  /  he  seyde  his  orison  2372 

Ostronge  god  /  that  in  the  regnes  colde          \rdte°risoii  °f 
Of  Trace  /  honoured  art1  and  lord  yholde    f0&2SJSg°d 
IT  And  hast  in  euery  regne  /  and  euery  lond*  [leaf  so] 

Of  armes  /  al  the  brydel  in  thyn  hond*  2376 

And  hem  fortunes^  as  thee  lyst  deuyse 
Accepte  of  me  /  my  pitous  sacrifise 
If  so  be  that  my  youthe  may  deserue 
And  fat  my  myghf  be  worthy  for  to  serue  2380 

Thy  godhede  /  fat  I  may  been  oon  of  thyne 
Thanne  preye  I  thee  /  to  rewe  vp  on  my  pyne 
ffor  thilke  peyne  /  and  thilke  hoote  fir 
In  which  /  thou  whilom  brendest  for  desir  2384 

Whan  fat  thow  vsedest  the  beautee 
Of  faire  yonge  /  fressfie  Yenus  free 
And  haddest  hire  /  in  armes  at  thy  wille 
Al  though  thee  ones  /  on  a  tyme  mysfille  2388 

Whan  Vulcanus  /  hadde  caught  thee  in  his  las 
And  foond  thee  liggynge  /  by  his  Avyf  alias 
ffor  thilke  sorwe  /  that  was  in  thyn  herte 
Haue  routhe  as  wel  /  vp  on  my  peynes  smerte  2392 

I  am  yong1  and  vnkonnynge  as  thow  woosf 

ELLESMERE    68 


GROUP  A.    §  £    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    69 

And  as  I  trowe  /  with  loue  offended  moost1 

That  euere  was  /  any  lyues  creature 

ffor  she  /  fat-  dooth  me  /  al  this  wo  endure  2396 

Ne  reccheth  neuere  /  wher  I  synke  or  fleete 

And  wel  I  woof  er  she  me  mercy  heete 

I  moot  -with  strengthe  /  wynne  hire  in  the  place 

And  wel  I  woof  wit7iouten  helpe  or  grace  2400 

Of  thee  /  ne  may  my  strengthe  noght  auaille 

Thanne  helpe  me  lord  /  tomorwe  in  my  bataille 

For  thilke  fyr  /  that  whilom  brente  thee 

As  wel  /  as  thilke  fyr  /  now  hrenneth  me  2404 

And  do  /  that  I  tomorwe  haue  victorie 

Myn  be  the  trauaille  /  and  thyn  be  the  glorie 

Thy  souereyn  temple  /  wol  I  moost  honouren 

Of  any  place  /  and  alwey  moost  labouren  2408 

In  thy  plesance  /  and  in  thy  craftes  stronge 

And  in  thy  temple  /  I  wol  my  baner  honge 

And  alle  the  Armes  of  my  compaignye 

And  euere  mo  /  vn  to  that  day  I  dye  2412 

Eterne  fir  /  I  wol  biforn  thee  fynde 

And  eek1  to  this  auow  /  I  wol  me  bynde 

My  beerd  /  myn  heer  /  that  hongeth  long  adoun 

That  neuere  yet  /  ne  felte  offensioun  2416 

Of  rasour  /  nor  of  shere  /  I  wol  thee  yeue 

And  ben  thy  trewe  seruant*  whil  I  lyue 

Now  lord  haue  routhe  vp  on  my  sorwes  soore 

Yif  me  the  victorie  /  I  aske  thee  namoore  2420 

riRhe  preyere  stynt1  of  Arcita  the  stronge 

-•-  The  rynges  /  on  the  temple  dore  that  honge 

And  eek1  the  dores  /  clatereden  ful  faste  Deaf  30,  back] 

Of  which  Arcita  /  som  what  hym  agaste  2424 

The  fyres  brenden  /  vp  on  the  Auter  brigfete 

That  it  gan  /  al  the  temple  for  to  lighte 

And  sweete  smel  /  the  ground  anon  vp  yaf 

And  Arcita  /  anon  his  hand  vp  haf1  2428 

And  moore  encens  /  in  to  the  fyr  he  caste 

ELLESMERE    69 


70   GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

With  othere  rytes  mo  /  and  atte  last 

The  Statue  of  Mars  /  bigan  his  hauberk  rynge 

And  with  that  soun  /  he  herde  a  nmrmurynge  2432 

fful  lowe  and  dym  /  and  seyde  thus  /  Victorie 

ffor  which  /  he  yaf  to  Mars  /  honour  and  glorie 

And  thus  with  ioye  /  and  hope  wel  to  fare 

Arcite  anon  /  vn  to  his  In  is  fare  2436 

As  fayn  as  fowel  /  is  of  the  brighte  sonne 

^[  And  right  anon  /  swich  strif  /  ther  is  bigonne 

For  thilke  grauntyng1  in  the  heuene  aboue 

Bitwise  Venus  /  the  goddesse  of  love  2440 

And  Mars  /  the  stierne  god  Armypotente 

That  luppiter  /  was  bisy  it  to  stente 

Til  that  the  pale  /  Saturnus  the  colde 

That  knew  so  manye  /  of  auentures  olde  2444 

ffoond  /  in  his  olde  experience  and  art* 

That  he  ful  soone  /  hath  plesed  euery  part1 

As  sooth  is  seyd  /  elde  hath  greet  auantage 

In  elde  /  is  bothe  wysdom  and  vsage  2448 

Men  may  the  olde  at  renne  /  and  noght  at  rede 

Saturne  anon  /  to  stynten  strif  and  drede 

Al  be  if  that  it  is  /  agayn  his  kynde 

Of  al  this  strif  /  he  gan  remedie  fynde  2452 

^[  My  deere  doghter  Venus  /  quod  Saturne 

My  cours  /  that  hath  so  wyde  for  to  turne 

Hath  moore  power  /  than  woot  any  man 

Myn  is  the  drench yng1  in  the  see  so  wan  2456 

Myn  is  the  prison  /  in  the  derke  cote 

Myn  is  the  stranglyng1  and  hangyng1  by  the  throte 

The  nmrmure  and  the  cherles  rebellyng1 

The  groynynge  /  and  the  pryuee  empoysonyng'  2460 

I  do  vengeance  /  and  pleyn  correction 

Whil[es]  I  dwelle  /  in  signe  of  the  leon 

Myn  is  the  ruyne  /  of  the  hye  halles 

The  fallynge  /  of  the  toures  /  and  of  the  walles  2464 

Vp  on  the  Mynour  /  or  the  Carpenter 

ELLESMERE    70 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    71 

I  slow  Sampson  /  shakynge  the  piler 

And  myne  be  /  the  maladyes  colde 

The  derke  tresons  /  and  the  castes  olde  2468 

My  lookyng1  is  the  fader  of  pestilence 

Now  weepe  nainoore  /  I  shal  doon  diligence 

That  Palamon  /  that  is  thyn  owene  knyght1  [leaf  si] 

Shal  haue  his  lady  /  as  thou  hast  him  night1  2472 

Though"  Mars  shal  helpe  his  knyghfr  yet  nathelees 

Bitwixe  yow  /  ther  moot  be  som  tyme  pees 

Al  be  ye  noght1  of  o  cornpleccion 

That  causeth  al  day  swich  diusion  2476 

I  am  thyn  Aiel  /  redy  at  thy  wille 

Weepe  now  namoore  /  I  wol  thy  lust  fulfille 

^[  Now  wol  I  stynten  /  of  the  goddes  above 

Of  Mars  /  and  of  Venus  goddesse  of  love  2480 

And  telle  yow  /  as  pleynly  as  I  kan 

The  grete  effect*  for  which  that  I  bygan 

1T  Explicit1  tercia  pars 

IT  Sequitur  pars  quarta 

Reet  was  the  feeste  /  in  Atthenes  that  day 

And  eek  /  the  lusty  seson  of  that  May  2484 

Made  euery  wight  /  to  been  in  such  plesawnce 
That  al  that  Monday  /  lusten  they  and  daunce 
And  spenten  if  in  Venus  heigh  seruyse 
But  by  the  cause  /  that  they  sholde  ryse  2488 

Eerly  /  for  to  seen  the  grete  fight 
Vn  to  hir  reste  /  wenten  they  at  nyghfr 
And  on  the  morwe  /  whan  J>at  day  gan  sprynge 
Of  hors  and  harneys  /  noyse  and  claterynge  2492 

Ther  was  in  the  hostelryes  al  aboute 
And  to  the  paleys  /  rood  ther  many  a  route 
Of  lordes  /  vp  on  steedes  and  palfreys 
Ther  may  stow  seen  diuisynge  of  harneys  2496 

So  vnkouth  and  so  riche  /  and  wroght  so  weel 
Of  goldsmythrye  /  of  browdynge  /  and  of  steel 

ELLESJIEBE    71 


72    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

The  sheeldes  brighte  /  testeres  /  and  trappures 
Gold  he  wen  helmes  /  hauberkes  /  Cote  Annures  2500 

Lordes  in  paramentz  /  on  hir  courseres 
Knyghtes  of  retenue  /  and  eek  Squieres 
Nailynge  the  speres  /  and  helmes  bokelynge 
Giggynge  of  sheeldes  /  with  layneres  lacynge  2504 

There  as  nede  is  /  they  weren  no  thyng  ydel 
The  fomy  steedes  /  on  the  golden  brydel 
Gnawynge  /  and  faste  the  Armurers  also 
With  fyle  and  hamer  prikynge  to  and  fro  2508 

Yemen  on  foyte  /  and  communes  many  oon 
With  shorte  staues  /  thikke  as  they  may  goon 
Pypes  /  trompes  /  Nakerers  /  Clariounes 
That  in  the  bataille  /  blowen  blody  sounes  2512 

The  paleys  /  ful  of  peples  vp  and  doun  [leaf  31,  back] 

Heere  thre  /  ther  ten  /  holdynge  hir  question 
Dyuynynge  /  of  thise  Thebane  knyghtes  two 
Somme  seyden  thus  /  somme  seyde  it  shal  be  so  2516 

Sorame  helden  with  hym  /  vfitli  the  blake  berd? 
Somme  with  the  balled  /  somme  with  the  thikke  herd! 
Somme  seyde  /  he  looked  grymme  /  and  he  wolde  figfite 
He  hath  a  sparth  /  of  twenty  pound  of  wigfite  2520 

Thus  was  the  halle  /  ful  of  diuynynge 
Longe  after  /  that  the  sonne  gan  to  sprynge 
e  grete  Theseus  /  that  of  his  sleepe  awaked 
With  Mynstralcie  /  and  noyse  fat  was  maked        2524 
Heeld  yet  the  chambre  /  of  his  Paleys  riche 
Til  that1  the  Thebane  knyghtes  /  bothe  yliche 
Honured  /  were  /  in  to  the  paleys  fef 
Dutf  Theseus  /  was  at  a  wyndow  set1  2528 

Arrayed  /  right  as  he  were  a  god  in  Trone 
The  peple  /  preesseth  thiderward  ful  soone 
Hym  for  to  seen  /  and  doon  heigh  reuerence 
And  eek  to  herkne  /  his  heste  and  his  sentence  2532 

^f  An  heraud  on  a  Scaffold  made  an  Oo 
Til  al  the  noyse  of  peple  was  ydo 

ELLESMERE    72 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    73 

And  whan  lie  saugh"  /  the  noyse  of  peple  al  stille 

Tho  shewed  he  /  the  myghty  dukes  wille  2536 

^[  The  lord  /  hath  of  his  heih  discrecion 

Considered  /  that  it  were  destruccion 

To  gentil  hlood  /  to  fighten  in  the  gyse 

Of  mortal  bataille  /  now  in  this  emprise  2540 

Wherfore  /  to  shapen  /  fat  they  shal  nat  dye 

He  wolde  /  his  firste  purpos  modifye 

^[  No  man  ther  fore  vp  peyne  of  los  of  lyf1 

No  maner  shot*  polax  ne  short[e]  knyf1  2544 

In  to  the  lystes  sende  /  ne  thider  brynge 

Ne  short  swerd  for  to  stoke  /  with  poynt  bitynge 

No  man  ne  drawe  /  ne  here  by  his  syde 

Ne  no  man  shal  /  vn  to  his  felawe  ryde  2548 

But  o  cours  /  with  a  sharpe  ygrounde  spere 

ffoyne  if  hyro.  list  on  foote  /  hym  self  to  were 

And  he  /  that  is  at  meschief1  shal  be  take 

And  nognt  slayn  /  but  be  broghf  vn  to  the  stake         2552 

That  shal  ben  ordeyned  /  on  either  syde 

But  thider  he  shal  by  force  /  and  there  abyde 

^f  And  if  so  be  /  the  l  chieftayn  be  take  p  chi-ef-j 

On  outher  syde  /  or  elles  sleen  his  make  2556 

No  longer'  shal  the  turneiynge  laste 

God  spede  you  /  gooth  forth  /  and  ley  on  faste 

WitJi  long  swerd1  /  and  with  Maces  /  fighteth  youre  fille 

Gooth  now  youre  wey  /  this  is  the  lordes  will  2560 

fPhe  voys  of  peple  /  touched  the  heuene  [leaf  32] 

-^   So  loude  cride  they  /  with  murie  steuene 

God  saue  swich  a  lord  /  that  is  so  good 

He  wilneth  no  destruccion  of  blood  2564 

Vp  goon  the  trompes  /  and  the  melodye 

And  to  the  lystes  /  rit  the  conipaignye 

By  ordinance  /  thurgh  out  the  Citee  large 

Hanged  with  clooth  of  gold  and  nat  with  sarge  2568 

Tf  fful  lik  a  lord  /  tliis  noble  due  gan  ryde 

Thise  two  Thebans  /  vp  on  either  side 

ELLESMERE    73 


74    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

And  after  rood  /  the  queene  and  Emelye 

And  after  that1  another  compaignye  2572 

Of  oon  and  oother  /  after  hir  degre 

And  thus  they  passen  /  thurgh  out  the  Citee 

And  to  the  lystes  /  come  they  by  tyme 

It  nas  not  of  the  day  /  yet  fully  pryme  2576 

Whan  set  was  Theseus  /  ful  riche  and  hye 

Ypolita  the  queene  and  Emelye 

And  othere  ladys  /  in  degrees  aboute 

Vn  to  the  seettes  preesseth  al  the  route  2580 

.1.  s»b  Marte 

And  westward  /  thurgh  the  gates  vnder  Marte 

Arcite  /  and  eek  the  hondred  of  his  parte 

With  baner  reed  /  is  entred  right  anon 

^[  And  in  that  selue  moment  Palamon)  2584 

Is  vnder  Venus  /  Estward  in  the  place 

With  Baner  whyt  /  and  hardy  chiere  and  face 

In  al  the  world  /  to  seken  vp  and  doun 

So  euene  /  with  outen  variacioun  2588 

Ther  nere  /  swiche  compaignyes  tweye 

ffor  ther  was  noon  so  wys  fat  koude  seye 

That  any  hadde  /  of  oother  auauntage 

Of  worthynesse  /  ne  of  estaat  ne  age  2592 

So  euene  were  [they]  chosen  /  for  to  gesse 

And  in  two  renges  /  faire  they  hem  dresse 

^[  Whan  ]>at  hir  names  /  rad  were  euerichon 

That  in  hir  nombre  /  gyle  were  ther  noon      .-  2596 

Tho  were  the  gates  shef  and  cried  was  loude 

Do  now  youre  deuoir  /  yonge  knyghtes  proude 

^[  The  heraudes  /  lefte  hir  prikyng  vp  and  doun 

Now  ryngen  trompes  loude  and  clarioun  2600 

Ther  is  namoore  to  seyn  /  but  west  and  Est 

In  goon  the  speres  /  ful  sadly  in  arrest1 

In  gooth  the  sharpe  spore  /  in  to  the  syde 

Ther  seen  men  /  who  kan  luste  and  who  kan  ryde      2604 

Ther  shyueren  shaftes  /  vp  on  sheeldes  thikke 

He  feeleth  /  thurgh  the  herte  spoon  the  prikke 

ELLESMERE   74 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    75 

Vp  spryngen  speres  /  twenty  foot  on  higfite 

Out  gooth  the  swerdes  /  as  the  siluer  brighte  2608 

The  helmes  they  tohewen  /  and  toshrede  [leaf  32, back] 

Out  brest  the  blood  /  with  stierne  stremes  rede 

With  myghty  maces  /  the  bones  they  tobreste 

He  thurgh  the  thikkeste  /  of  the  throng  gan  threste    2612 

Ther  semblen  steedes  stronge  /  and  doun  gooth  al 

He  rolleth  vnder  foot*  as  dooth  a  bal 

He  foyneth  on  his  feet1  with  his  tronchon) 

And  he  hym  hurtleth  /  with  his  hors  adoun  2616 

He  thurgh  the  body  is  hurt1  and  sithen  ytake 

Maugree  his  heed  /  and  broght  vn  to  the  stake 

As  forward  was  right  ther  he  moste  abyde 

Another  lad  is  /  on  that  oother  syde  2620 

^[  And  som  tyme  /  dooth  hem  Theseus  to  reste 

Hem  to  fresshen  /  and  drynken  if  hem  leste 

fful  ofte  a  day  /  han  thise  Thebanes  two 

Togydre  ymef  and  wroght  his  felawe  wo  2624 

Vnhorsed  hath  /  ech  oother  of  hem  tweye 

Ther  nas  no  Tygre  in  the  vale  of  Galgopheye 

Whan  fat  hir  whelpe  is  stole  /  whan  it  is  lite 

So  crueel  on  the  hunte  /  as  is  Arcite  2628 

ffor  lelous  herte  /  vpon  this  Palamon) 

Ne  in  Belmarye  /  ther  nys  so  fel  leon) 

That  hunted  is  /  or  for  his  hunger  wood 

Ne  of  his  praye  /  desireth  so  the  blood  2632 

As  Palamon)  /  to  sleen  his  foo  Arcite 

The  lelous  strokes  /  on  hir  helmes  byte 

Out  renneth  blood  /  on  bothe  hir  sydes  rede 

^f  Som  tyme  an  ende  /  ther  is  of  euery  dede  2636 

ffor  er  the  sonne  /  vn  to  the  reste  wente 

The  stronge  kyng1  Emetreus  /  gan  hente 

This  Palamon  /  as  he  faught  with  Arcite 

And  made  his  swerd  /  depe  in  his  flessfi  to  byte          2640 

And  by  the  force  of  twenty  /  is  he  take 

Vnyolden  /  and  ydrawe  vnto  the  stake 

ELLESMERE   75 


76    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

And  in  the  rescus  /  of  this  Palamon) 

The  stronge  kyng1  lygurge  /  is  born  adoun  2644 

And  kyng*  Emetreus  /  for  al  his  strengthe 

Is  born  out  of  his  sadel  /  a  swerdes  lengthe 

So  hitte  him  Palamon)  er  he  were  take 

But  al  for  noghf  /  he  was  broght1  to  the  stake  2648 

His  hardy  herte  /  myghte  hym  helpe  naught1 

He  moste  abyde  /  whan  that  he  was  caught1 

By  force  /  and  eek  by  composiciori 

Tf  Who  sorweth  now  /  but  woful  Palamon)  2652 

That  moot  namoore  /  goon  agayn  to  fighte 

And  whan  jjat  Theseus  /  hadde  seyn  this  sighte 

Vn  to  the  folk  /fat  foghten  thus  echon 

He  cryde  /  hoo  namoore  /  for  it  is  doon  2656 

Tf  I  wol  be  trewe  luge  /  and  no  partie  [leafss] 

Arcite  of  Thebes  /  shal  haue  Emelie 

That  by  his  fortune  /  hath  hire  faire  ywonne 

Anon  /  ther  is  a  noyse  of  peple  bigonne  2660 

ffor  loye  of  this  /  so  loude  and  heighe  with  alle 

It  semed  /  that  the  lystes  sholde  falle 

"YlThat  kan  now  faire  venus  doon  aboue 

What  seith  she  now  /  what  dooth  this  queene  of  loue 
But  wepeth  so  /  for  wantynge  of  hir  wille 
Til  that  hir  teeres  /  in  the  lystes  fille 
She  seyde  /  I  am  ashamed  doutelees 

^f  Saturnus  seyde  /  doghter  hoold  thy  pees  2668 

Mars  hath  his  wille  /  his  knyghtf  hath  al  his  boone 
And  by  myn  heed  /  thow  shalt  been  esed  soone 

e  trompes  /  with  the  loude  Mynstralcie 

The  heraudes  /  that  ful  loude  yolle  and  crie  2672 

Been  in  hire  wele  /  for  loye  of  Daun  Arcite 
But  herkneth  me  /  and  stynteth  now  a  lite 
Which  a  myracle  /  ther  bifel  anon 

If  This  fierse  Arcite  /  hath  of  his  helm  ydon  2676 

And  on  a  Courser  /  for  to  shewe  his  face 
He  priketh  endelong1  the  large  place 

ELLESMERE   76 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    EUesmere  MS.    77 

Lokynge  vpward  vp  on  Emelye 

And  she  agayn  /  hym  caste  a  freendlich  eye  2680 

I  • 

no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

And  was  al  his  [in]  chiere  /  as  in  his  herte 

^[  Out  of  the  ground  /  a  furie  Infernal  sterte  2684 

ffrom  Pluto  sent1  at  requeste  of  Saturne 

ffor  which  his  hors  /  for  fore  gan  to  turne 

And  leepe  aside  /  and  foundred  as  he  leepe 

And  er  that  Arcite  /  may  taken  keepe  2688 

He  pignte  hym  /  on  the  pomel  of  his  heed    if  Noto  peric«lwm. 

That  in  the  place  he  lay  /  as  he  were  deed 

His  bresf  tobrosten  /  with  his  sadel  bowe 

As  blak  he  lay  /  as  any  cole  or  crowe  2692 

So  was  the  blood  /  yronnen  in  his  face 

Anon  he  was  /  yborn  out  of  the  place 

With  herte  soor  /  to  Theseus  paleys 

Tho  was  he  koruen  /  out  of  his  harneys  2696 

And  in  a  bed  ybrought  /  ful  faire  and  blyve 

ffor  he  was  yet*  in  memorie  /  and  alyue 

And  alwey  /  criynge  after  Emelye 

Tf  Due  Theseus  /  with  al  his  compaignye  2700 

Is  comen  hoom  /  to  Atthenes  his  Citee 

With  alle  blisse  /  and  greet  solempnitee 

Al  be  if  that  this  Auenture  was  falle 

He  nolde  noghf  disconforten  hem  alle  2704 

Men  seyde  eek*  that  Arcite  shal  nat  dye 

He  shal  been  heeled  /  of  his  maladye 

^[  And  of  another/  thyng1  /  they  weren  as  fayn     [leaf  ss,  back] 

That  of  hem  alle  /  was  ther  noon  yslayn  2708 

Al  were  they  soore  yhurf  and  namely  oon 

That  with  a  spere  /  was  thirled  his  brest  boon 

To  othere  woundes  /  and  to  broken  armes 

Somme  hadden  salues  /  and  sowme  hadden  charmes    2712 

ffermacies  of  herbes  /  and  eek  saue 

They  dronken  /  for  they  wolde  hir  lymes  haue 

ELLESMERE   77 


78    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  which  this  noble  due1  as  he  wel  kan 

Conforteth  /  and  honoureth  euery  man  2716 

And  made  reuel  /  al  the  longe  nyght1 

Vn  to  the  straunge  lordes  /  as  was  right1 

"Ne  ther  was  holden  /  no  disconfitynge 

But  as  a  lustes  /  or  a  tourneiynge  2720 

ffor  soothly  /  ther  was  no  disconfiture 

ffor  fallyng  /  nys  nat  but  an  Auenture 

~Ne  to  be  lad  by  force  /  vn  to  the  stake 

Vnyolden  /  and  with  twenty  knygfrtes  take  2724 

0  persone  allone  with  outen  mo 

And  haryed  forth  /  by  Ann[e]  /  foot1  and  too 

And  eke  his  steede  /  dryuen  forth  with  staues 

With  footmen  /  bothe  yemen  and  eek  knaues  2728 

It  nas  aretted  hym  no  vileynye 

Ther  may  no  man  /  clepen  it  cowardye 

^f  ffor  which  anon  /  due  Theseus  leet  crye 

To  stynten  /  alle  rancour  and  enuye  2732 

The  gree  /  as  wel  of  o  syde  as  of  oother 

And  eyther  syde  ylik1  as  ootheres  brother 

And  yaf  hem  yiftes  /  after  hir  degree 

And  fully  /  heeld  a  feeste  /  dayes  three  2736 

And  conuoyed  /  the  kynges  worthily 

Out  of  his  toun  /  a  lournee  largely 

And  hoom  wente  euery  man  the  righte  way 

Ther  was  namoore  /  but  fare  wel  /  haue  good  day        2740 

Of  this  bataille  /  I  wol  namoore  endite 

But  speke  of  Palamon)  and  of  Arcyte 

welleth  the  brest  of  arcite  /  and  the  soore 

Encreesseth  at  his  herte  /  moore  and  moore  2744 

The  clothered  blood  /  for  any  lechecraftt 
Corrupteth  /  and  is  in  his  bouk  ylaft1 
That  neither  veyne  blood  /  ne  ventusynge 
N"e  drynke  of  herbes  /  may  ben  his  helpynge  2748 

The  vertu  expulsif  /  or  Animal 
ffro  thilke  vertu  /  cleped  natural 

ELLESMEKE    78 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    79 

Ne  may  the  venym  /  voyden  ne  expelle 

The  pipes  of  his  longes  /  gonne  to  swelle  2752 

And  euery  lacerte  /  in  his  brest  adoun 

Is  shent1  with  venym  and  corrupcion 

Hym  gayneth  neither  for  to  gete  his  lif1  Deaf  34] 

Vomyt  vpward  /  ne  dounward  laxatif*  2756 

Al  is  tobrosten  /  thilke  Kegioun 

Nature  hath  now  /  no  dominacioun 

And  certeinly  /  ther  Nature  wol  nat  wirche 

Ifare  wel  Phisik1  go  ber  the  man  to  chirche  2760 

This  al  and  som  /  that  Arcita  moot  dye 

ffor  which  /  he  sendeth  /  after  Emelye 

And  Palamon  /  that  was  his  cosyn  deere 

Thanne  seyde  he  thus  /  as  ye  shal  after  heere  2764 

^  Naught  may  /  the  woful  spirit  in  myn  herte 

Declare  o  point1  of  alle  my  sorwes  smerte 

To  yow  my  lady  /  that  I  loue  moost1 

But  I  biquethe  /  the  seruyce  of  my  goostt  2768 

To  yow  /  abouen  euery  creature 

Syn  fat  my  lyf  /  [it]  may  no  lenger  dure 

Alias  the  wo  /  alias  the  peynes  stronge 

That  I  for  yow  haue  suffred  /  and  so  longe  2772 

Alias  the  deeth  /  alias  myn  Emelye 

Alias  /  departynge  of  our  compaignye 

Alias  myn  hertes  queene  /  alias  my  wyf< 

Myn  hertes  lady  /  endere  of  my  lyf/  2776 

What  is  this  world  /  what  asketh  men  to  haue 

Now  with  his  loue  /  now  in  his  colde  graue 

Allone  /  with  outen  any  compaignye 

ffare  wel  /  my  swete  foo  /  myn  Emelye  2780 

And  softe  taak  me  /  in  youre  Armes  tweye 

ffor  loue  of  god  /  and  herkneth  what  I  seye 

T  haue  heer  /  with  my  cosyn  Palamon 

•*•  Had  strif  and  rancour/  many  a  day  agon  2784 

ffor  loue  of  yow  /  and  for  my  lalousye 

And  luppiter  /  so  wys  my  soule  gye 

ELLESMERE   79 


80    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

To  speken  /  of  a  seruant  proprely 

With  alle  circumstances  trewely  2788 

That  is  to  seyn  /  trouthe  /  honowr  knygBthede 

Wysdom  /  humblesse  /  estaaf  and  heigh  kynrede 

ffredom  /  and  al  that  longeth  to  that  Art1 

So  luppiter  /  haue  of  my  soule  part1  2792 

As  in  this  world  /  riglit  now  ne  knowe  I  noil 

So  worthy  to  ben  loued  as  Palamon 

That  serueth  yow  /  and  wol  doon  al  his  lyf 

And  if  that  euere  /  ye  shul  ben  a  wyf  2796 

fforyet  nat  Palamon  /  the  gentil  man 

And  vfiih  that  word  /  his  speche  faille  gan 

And  from  his  herte  /  vp  to  his  brest  was  come 

The  coold  of  deeth  /  that  hadde  hym  ouercome  2800 

And  yet  moore  oner  /  for  in  hise  Armes  two 

The  vital  strengthe  is  lost  /  and  al  ago 

Oonly  /  the  intellect*  with  outen  moore  [leaf  34,  back] 

That  dwelled  in  his  herte  /  syk  and  score  2804 

Gan  faillen  /  when  the  herte  felte  deeth 

Dusked  hise  eyen  two  /  and  failled  breeth 

But  on  his  lady  yet1  caste  he  his  eye 

His  laste  word  /  was  mercy  Emelye  2808 

His  spirit  chaunged  hous  /  and  wente  ther 

As  I  cam  neuere  /  I  kan  nat  tellen  wher 

Therfore  I  stynte  /  I  nam  no  diuinistre 

Of  soules  /  fynde  I  nat  in  this  Eegistre  2812 

Ne  me  ne  list1  thilke  opinions  to  telle 

Of  hem  /  though  fat  they  writen  wher  they  dwelle 

Arcite  is  coold  /  ther  Mars  his  soule  gye 

Now  wol  I  speken  forth  of  Einelye  2816 

Qhrighte  Emelye  /  and  howleth  Palamon 

U  And  Theseus  /  his  suster  took  anon 

Swownynge  /  and  baar  hire  fro  the  corps  away 

What  helpeth  if  to  tarien  forth  the  day  2820 

To  tellen  how  she  weepe  /  bothe  eue  and  morwe 

ffor  in  swich  cas  /  wommen  haue  swich  sorwe 

ELLESMERE    80 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    81 

"Whan  fat  hir  housbond?  /  is  from  hem  ago 

That  for  the  moore  part1  they  sorwen  so  2824 

Or  ellis  /  fallen  in  swich  maladye 

That  at  the  laste  /  certeinly  they  dye 

•fi"  Infinite  /  been  the  sorwes  and  the  teeres 

Of  olde  folk  /  and  eek  of  tendre  yeeres  2828 

In  al  the  toun  /  for  deeth  of  this  The"ban 

ffor  hym  ther  wepeth  /  bothe  child  and  man 

So  greet  a  wepyng1  was  ther  noon  certayn 

Whan  Ector  was  ybrognt  /  al  fressfi.  yslayn  2832 

To  Troye  /  alias  the  pitee  J>at  was  ther 

Cracchynge  of  chekes  /  rentynge  eek  of  heer 

Why  woldestow  be  deed  /  thise  wommen  crye 

And  haddest  gold  ynougfi  /  and  Emelye  2836 

^[  No  man  /  myghte  gladen  Theseus 

Sauynge  /  his  olde  fader  Egeus 

That  knew  /  this  worldes  transniutacion 

As  he  hadde  /  seyn  it  /  vp  and  doun  2840 

loye  after  wo  /  and  wo  after  gladnesse 

And  shewed  /  hem  ensamples  and  liknesse 

T)  ighf  as  ther  /  dyed  neuere  man  quod  he        f  Argumonttim 

-^  That  he  ne  lyuede  in  erthe  /  in  som  degree  2844 

Eight  so  /  ther  lyuede  nener  man  he  seyde 

In  al  this  world  /  fat  som  tyme  he  ne  deyde 

This  world  /  nys  but  a  thurghfare  ful  of  wo 

And  we  been  pilgrymes  /  passynge  to  and  fro  2848 

Deeth  is  an  ende  /  of  euery  worldes  soore 

And  ouer  al  this  /  yet  seyde  he  muchel  moore 

To  this  effect1  ful  wisely  /  to  enhorte  [leaf  353 

The  peple  /  that  they  sholde  hem  reconforte  2852 

T\uc  Theseus  /  with  al  his  bisy  cure 

-^  Cast  now  /  wher  that  the  sepulture 

Of  goode  Arcite  /  may  best  ymaked  be 

And  eek1  moost  honurable  in  his  degree  2856 

And  at  the  laste  /  he  took  conclusion 

That  ther  as  first1  Arcite  and  Palamon 

6  ELLESMERE    81 


82   GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

Hadden  for  loue  /  the  bataille  hem  bitwene 

That1  in  that  selue  groue  /  swoote  and  grene  2860 

Ther  as  he  hadde  /  hise  amorouse  desires 

His  compleynte  /  and  for  loue  hise  hoote  fires 

He  wolde  make  a  fyr  /  in  which  the  office 

ffuneral  /  he  myghte  al  accomplice  2864 

And  leet  comande  anon  /  to  hakke  and  hewe 

The  okes  olde  /  and  leye  "hem  on  a  rewe 

In  colpons  /  wel  arrayed  for  to  brenne 

Hise  Officers  /  with  swifte  feet  they  renne  2868 

And  ryden  anon  /  at  his  comandementf 

And  after  /  this  /  Theseus  hath  ysentf 

After  a  beere  /  and  it  al  ouer  spradde 

With  clooth  of  gold  /  the  richeste  /  fat  he  hadde        2872 

And  of  the  same  suyte  /  he  cladde  Arcite 

Vp  on  his  hondes  /  hadde  he  gloues  white 

Eek  on  his  heed  /  a  coroune  of  laurer  grene 

And  in  his  hond  /  a  swerd  ful  bright  and  kene  2876 

He  leyde  liym  bare  the  visage  /  on  the  beere 

Ther- with  he  weepe  /  that  pitee  was  to  heere 

And  for  the  peple  /  sholde  seen  hym  alle 

Whan  it  was  day  /  he  broghte  hym  to  the  halle  2880 

That  roreth  /  of  the  criyng1  and  the  soun 

IF  Tho  cam  this  woful  Theban  Palamon) 

With  flotery  berd  /  and  rugged  asshy  heeres 

In  clothes  blake  /  ydropped  al  with  teeres      .  -  2884 

And  passynge  othere  /  of  wepynge  Emelye 

The  rewefulleste  /  of  al  the  compaignye 

[And]  In  as  niuche  /  as  the  seruyce  sholde  be 

The  moore  noble  /  and  riche  in  his  degree  2888 

Due  Theseus  /  leet  forth  thre  steedes  brynge 

That  trapped  were  in  steel  al  gliterynge 

And  couered  with  the  armes  of  daun  Arcite 

Vp  on  thise  steedes  /  grete  and  white  2892 

Ther  sitten  folk1  of  whiche  oon  baar  his  sheeld! 

Another  his  spere  /  in  his  hondes  heeld* 

ELLESMEKE    82 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    83 

The  thrid.de  baar  -with  hym  /  his  bowe  Turkeys 

Of  brend  gold  /  was  the  caas  /  and  eek  the  harneys     2896 

And  riden  forth  a  paas  /  with  sorweful  cheere 

Toward  the  groue  /  as  ye  shul  after  heere 

The  nobleste  of  tne  grekes  /  that  ther  were  [Kafss,  tack] 

Vp  on  hir  shuldres  /  caryeden  the  beere  2900 

"With  slak  paas  /  and  eyen  rede  and  wete 

Thurgh  out  the  Citee  /  by  the  maister  strete 

That  sprad  was  al  with  blak1  /  and  wonder  hye 

Eight  of  the  same  /  is  the  strete  ywrye  2904 

Vp  on  the  right  hond  /  wente  olde  Egeus 

And  on  that  oother  syde  /  due1  Theseus 

"With  vessel  in  hir  hand  /  of  gold  fed  fyn 

Al  ful  of  hony  /  Milk1  and  blood  and  wyn  2908 

Eek  Palamon  /  with  ful  greet  compaignye 

And  after  that  /  cam  woful  Einelye 

With  fyr  in  honde  /  as  was  that  tyme  the  gyse 

To  do  the  office  /  of  funeral  seruyse  2912 

TTeigh  labour '  and  ful  greet  apparaillynge 

•*-•-  Was  at  the  seruice  /  and  the  fyr  makynge 

That  with  his  grene  tope  /  the  heuen  [raughte] 

And  twenty  fadme  of  brede  /  the  armes  straughte        2916 

This  is  to  seyn  /  the  bowes  weren  so  brode 

Of  stree  first1  ther  was  leyd  ful  many  a  lode 

But  how  the  fyr  /  was  maked  vp  on  highte 

And  eek1  the  names  /  that  the  trees  highte  2920 

As  ook1  /  firre  /  birch"  /  Aspe  /  Alder  /  holm  /  popeler 

"Wylugh  /  Elm  /  plane  /  Assh"  /  box  /  chasteyn  /  lynde  /  laurer 

Mapul  /  thorn  /  bech  /  hasel  /  Ew  /  whippeltre 

How  they  weren  fild?  /  shal  nat  be  toold  for  me  2924 

NQ  hou  the  goddes  ronnen  vp  and  doun 

Disherited  /  of  hire  habitacioun 

In  whiche  they  woneden  /  in  reste  and  pees 

Nymphus  /  ffawnes  /  and  Amadrides  2928 

Ne  hou  the  beestes  /  and  the  briddes  alle 

ffledden  for  fere  /  whan  the  wode  was  falle 

ELLESMERE   83 


84    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

Ne  how  the  ground  /  agast  was  of  the  light1 

That  was  nat  wont1  to  seen  the  sonne  bright1  2932 

Ne  how  the  fyr  /  was  couched  first  with  stree 

And  thanne  with  drye  stokkes  /  clouen  a  thre 

And  thanne  with  grene  wode  and  spicerye 

And  thanne  with  clooth  of  gold  /  and  with  perrye      2936 

And  gerlandes  /  hangynge  /  with  ful  many  a  flour 

The  Mirre  /  thencens  /  with  al  so  greet  odour 

Ne  how  Arcite  /  lay  among  al  this 

NQ  what  richesse  /  ahoute  his  body  is  2940 

NQ  how  that  Emelye  /  as  was  the  gyse 

Putte  in  the  fyr  /  of  funeral  seruyse 

Ne  how  she  swowned  /  whan  men  made  fyr 

Ne  what  she  spak1  ne  what  was  hir  desire  2944 

Ne  what  leweles  /  men  in  the  fyre  caste 

Whan  pat  the  fyr  was  greet1  and  brente  faste 

IT  Ne  how  somme  caste  hir  sheeld  /and  so/Time  hir  spere    [if  se] 

And  of  hire  vestimentz  /  whiche  pat  they  were  2948 

And  coppes  full  ,of  wyn  /  and  Milk1  and  blood 

In  to  the  fyr  /  that  brente  /  as  it  were  wood 

Ne  how  the  grekes  /  with  an  huge  route 

Tries  riden  /  al  the  place  aboute  2952 

Vp  on  the  left1  hand  /  with  a  loud  shoutynge 

And  thries  /  with  hir  speres  claterynge 

And  thries  /  how  the  ladyes  gonne  ciye 

And  how  /  pat  lad  was  homward  Emelye  2956 

Ne  how  Arcite  /  is  brent  to  asshen  colde 

Ne  /  how  that  lych  wake  /  was  yholde 

Al  thilke  nyght  /  ne  how  the  grekes  pleye 

The  wake  pleyes  /  ne  kepe  I  nat  to  seye  2960 

Who  wrastleth  best  naked  /  with  oille  enoynt1 

Ne  who  that  baar  hym  best*  in  no  disioynf 

IF  I  wol  nat  tellen  eek1  how  that  they  goon 

Hoom  til  Atthenes  /  whan  the  pley  is  doon  2964 

But  shortly  to  the  poinf  thanne  wol  I  wende 

And  maken  /  of  my  longe  tale  an  ende 

ELLESMERE    84 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    85 

By  processe  /  and  by  lengths  of  certeyn  yeres 
Al  styntyd  is  /  the  moornynge  and  the  teres          2968 
Of  grekes  /  by  oon  general  assent 
Thanne  seraed  me  /  ther  was  a  parlementt 
At  Atthenes  /  vpon  certein  poyntz  and  caas 
Among1  the  whiche  poyntz  /  yspoken  was  2972 

To  haue  with  certein  contrees  alliance 
And  have  fully  of  Thebans  obeissance 
ffor  which  /  this  noble  Theseus  anon 
Leet  senden  /  after  gentil  Palamon  2976 

Vnwist1  of  hym  /  what  was  the  cause  and  why 
But1  in  hise  blake  clothes  /  sorwefully 
He  cam  /  at  his  comandemenf  in  hye 
Tho  sente  /  Theseus  for  Emelye  2980 

Whan  they  were  set1  and  hust  was  al  the  place 
And  Thesens  /  abiden  hadde  a  space 
Er  any  word  /  cam  fram  his  wise  bresf 
Hise  eyen  sette  he  /  ther  as  was  his  lest1  2984 

And  with  a  sad  visage  /  he  siked  stille 
And  after  that1  right  thus  he  seyde  his  wille 
rFhe  firste  moeuere  of  the  cause  aboue 
-*•  Whan  he  first  made  /  the  faire  cheyne  of  loue        2988 
Greet  was  theffect1  and  heigh  was  his  entente 
Wei  wiste  he  why  /  and  what  ther  of  he  mente 
ffor  with  that  faire  cheyne  of  loue  he  bond? 
The  fyr  /  the  eyr  /  the  water  and  the  lond*  2992 

In  certeyn  boundes  /  that  they  may  nat  flee 
That  same  prince  /  and  that  same  moeuere  quod  he 
Hath  stablissed  /  in  this  wrecched  world  adoun    aeafse,  back] 
Certeyne  dayes  /  and  duracioun  2996 

To  al  /  that  is  engendrid  in  this  place 
Ouer  the  which  [e]  day  /  they  may  nat  pace 
Al  mowe  they  yet1  tho  dayes  wel  abregge 
Ther  nedeth  noghtf  noon  Auctoritee  allegge  3000 

ffor  it  is  preeued  /  by  experience 
But  that  me  list1  declaren  my  sentence 

ELLESMERE   85 


86    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

Thanne  may  men  /  by  this  ordre  wel  disceme 

That  thilke  moeuere  /  stable  is  and  eterne  3004 

Wel  may  men  knowe  /  but  it  be  a  fool 

That  euery  part1  dirryueth  from  his  hool 

ffor  nature  /  hath  taken  his  bigynnyng1 

Of  no  partie  /  or  of  cantel  of  a  thyng1  3008 

But  of  a  thyng1  that  parfit  is  and  stable 

Descendynge  so  /  til  it  be  corrumpable 

And  therfore  /  of  his  wise  purueiaunce 

He  hath  /  so  wel  bisef  his  ordinaunce  3012 

That  speces  of  thynges  /  and  progressions 

Shullen  enduren  /  by  successions 

And  nat  eterne  /  with  outen  any  lye 

This  maystow  vnderstonde  /  and  seen  it  eye  3016 

Loo  the  ook  /  fat  hath  so  long1  a  norisshynge     T  Exempiuw 
ffrom  tyme  /  fat  it  first1  bigynneth  sprynge 
And  hath  so  long  a  lif  /  as  we  may  see 
Yet  at  the  laste  /  wasted  is  the  tree  3020 

1F  Considereth  eek1  how  that  the  harde  stoon        f  Exempiu»» 
Vnder  oure  feet1  on  which  we  trede  and  goon 
Yit  wasteth  if  as  it  lyth  by  the  weye 
The  brode  Eyuer  /  somtyme  wexeth  dreye  3024 

The  grete  toures  /  se  we  wane  and  wende 
Thanne  may  ye  se  /  J?at  al  this  thyng*  hath  ende 
IT  Of  man  and  womman  /  seen  we  wel  also 
That  nedeth  /  in  oon  of  thise  termes  two  3028 

This  is  to  seyn  /  in  youthe  /  or  elles  age 
He  moot  be  deed  /  the  kyng1  as  shal  a  page 
Som  in  his  bed  /  som  in  the  depe  see 
Som  in  the  large  feeld  /  as  men  may  se  3032 

Ther  helpeth  nogfrf  al  goth  that  ilke  weye 
Thanne  may  I  seyn '  /  al  this  thyng1  moot  deye  ['  se-yn] 

IT  What  maketh  this  /  but  luppiter  the  kyng1 
That  is  prince  /  and  cause  of  alle  thyng1  .       3036 

Conuertynge  al  /  vn  to  his  propre  welle 
ffrom  which  it  is  dirryued  /  sooth  to  telle 

ELLESMERE    86 


GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.    87 

And  here  agayns  /  no  creature  on  lyue 

Of  no  degree  /  auailleth  for  to  stryue  3040 

^f  Thanne  is  it  wysdom  /  as  it  thynketh  me 

To  maken  vertu  of  necessitee 

IF  And  take  it  weel  /  that  we  may  nat  eschue  peafST] 

And  namely  /  that  to  vs  alle  is  due  3044 

And  who  so  gruccheth  ought1  he  dooth  folye 

And  rebel  is  /  to  hym  that  al  may  gye 

And  certeinly  /  a  man  hath  moost  honour 

To  dyen  /  in  his  excellence  and  flour  3048 

Whan  he  is  siker  /  of  his  goode  name 

Thanne  hath  he  doon  /  his  freend  ne  hym  no  shame 

And  gladder  /  oghte  his  freend  been  of  his  deeth 

Whan  with  honour  /  vp  yolden  is  his  breeth  3052 

Than  whan  his  name  /  apalled  is  for  age 

ffor  al  forgeten  /  is  his  vassellage 

Thanne  is  it  best1  as  for  a  worthy  fame 

To  dyen  /  whan  fat  he  is  best  of  name  3056 

1T  The  contrarie  of  al  this  /  is  wilfulnesse 

Why  grucchen  we  /  why  haue  we  heuynesse 

That  goode  Arcite  /  of  Chiualrie  flour 

Departed  is  /  with  duetee  and  honour  3060 

Out  of  this  foule  prison  of  this  lyf 

Why  grucchen  heere  /  his  cosyn  and  his  wyf 

Of  his  wel  fare  /  that  loued  hem  so  weel 

Kan  he  hem  thank  ?  nay  god  woot  neuer  a  deel  3064 

That  bothe  his  soule  /  and  eek  hem  self  offende 

And  yet  they  mowe  /  hir  lustes  nat  amende 

TTThat  may  I  concluden  /  of  this  longe  serye 

'    But  after  wo  /  I  rede  vs  to  be  merye  3068 

And  thanken  luppiter  /  of  al  his  grace 
And  er  that  we  /  departen  from  this  place 
I  rede  [that]  we  make  /  of  sorwes  two 
0  parfit  ioye  /  lastynge  eueremo  3072 

And  looketh  now  /  wher  moost  sorwe  is  her  Inne 
Ther  wol  we  first1  amenden  and  bigynne 

ELLESMEKE    87 


88    GROUP  A.    §  2.    KNIGHT'S  TALE.    EUesmere  MS. 

Suster  quod  lie  /  this  is  my  fulle  assent1 
With  all  thavys  /  heere  of  my  parlementf  3076 

That  gentil  Palamon  /  thyn  owene  knyght 
That  serueth  yow  /  -with  wille  /  herte  /  and  mygfet 
And  euere  hath  doon  /  syn  pat  ye  first  hym  knewe 
That  ye  shul  of  your  grace  /  vp  on  hym  re  we  3080 

And  taken  hym  /  for  housbonde  and  for  lord! 
Leue  *  me  youre  hond  /  for  this  is  oure  accord!         ['  or  Lene] 
Lat  se  now  /  of  youre  wommanly  pitee 
He  is  a  kynges  brother  sone  pardee  3084 

And  though  he  were  /  a  poure  bachelor 
Syn  he  hath  serued  yow  /  so  many  a  yeer 
And  had  for  yow  /  so  greet  Aduersitee 
It  moste  been  considered  /  leeueth  me  3088 

ffor  gentil  mercy  /  oghte  to  passen  right1 
IT  Thanne  seydo  he  thus  /  to  Palamon  ful  right1 
I  trowe  /  ther  nedeth  litel  sermonyng*  Deaf  37,  back] 

To  make  yow  /  assente  to  this  thyng*  3092 

Com  neer  /  and  taak  youre  lady  by  the  hond! 
Bitwixen  hem  /  was  maad  anon  the  bond4 
That  highte  inatrimoigne  /  or  manage 
By  al  the  conseil  /  and  the  Baronage  3096 

1F  And  thus  /  with  alle  blisse  and  melodye 
Hath  Palamon  /  ywedded  Emelye 
And  god  /  fat  al  this  wyde  world  hath  wrogRt* 
Sende  hym  his  loue  /  that  it  deere  aboghf  3100 

ffor  now  is  Palamon  /  in  alle  wele 
Lyuynge  in  blisse  /  in  richesse  and  in  heele 
And  Emelye  /  hym  loueth  so  tendrely 
And  he  hire  /  serueth  so  gentilly  3104 

That  neuere  /  was  ther  no  word  hem  bitwene 
Of  Jalousie  /  or  any  oother  tene 
Thus  endeth  Palamon  and  Emelye 
And  God  saue  /  al  this  faire  compaignye  Amen          3108 

If  Heere  is  ended  the  knyghtes  tale  fa 

ELI/ESMEKE    88 


GROUP  A.    §  3.   MILLER'S  PROLOGUE.   Ellesmere  MS.    89 


Heere  folwen  the  wordes  /  bitwene  the  hoost1 
and  the  Millere  fa 


ff! 


lan  that  the  knyghtf  had  thus  his  tale  ytoold 
In  al  the  route  /  ne  was  ther  yong  ne  oold 
That  he  ne  seyde  /  it  was  a  noble  storie 
And  worthy  /  for  to  drawen  to  memorie         31 12 

And  namely  the  gentils  euerichon 

Oure  hoost  lough  /  and  swoor  so  moot  I  gon 

This  gooth  aright  /  vnbokeled  is  the  Male 

Lat  se  now  /  who  shal  telle  another  tale  3116 

ffor  trewely  /  the  game  is  wel  bigonne 

Now  telleth  on  sire  Monk  /  if  that  ye  konne 

Sumwhat1  to  quite  with  the  knyghtes  tale 

The  Millere  /  that  for-dronken  was  al  pale  3120 

So  that  vnnethe  /  vp  on  his  hors  he  sat1 

He  nolde  aualen  /  neither  hood  ne  hat1 

Ne  abyde  no  man  /  for  his  curteisie 

But  in  Pilates  voys  /  he  gan  to  crie  3124 

And  swoor  by  Armes  /  and  by  blood  /  and  bones 

I  kan  a  noble  tale  for  the  nones 

With  which  /  I  wol  now  quite  /  the  knyghtes  tale 

Oure  hoost  saugh  /  that  he  was  dronke  of  ale  3128 

And  seyde  /  abyd  Eobyn  my  leeue  brother 

Som  bettre  man  /  shal  telle  vs  first  another 

Abyde  /  and  lat  vs  werken  thriftily  Deaf  88] 

1T  By  goddes  soule  quod  he  /  that  wol  nat  I  3132 

ffor  I  wol  speke  /  or  elles  go  my  wey 

Oure  hoost  answerde  /  tel  on  a  deuele  wey 

Thou  art  a  fool  /  thy  wit  is  ouercome 

IT  Now  herkneth  quod  the  Millere  alle  and  some          3136 

But  first*  I  make  a  protestacioun 

That  I  am  dronke  /  I  knowe  it  by  my  soun 

And  therfore  /  if  that  I  mysspeke  or  seye 

Wyte  it1  the  Ale  of  Southwerk  I  [you]  preye  3140 

7  ELLESMERE    89 


90  GROUP  A.   §  3.   MILLER'S  PROLOGUE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  I  wol  telle  /  a  legende  and  a  lyf 

Bothe  of  a  Carpenter  /  and  of  his  wyf 

How  that  a  clerk  /  hath  set  the  wrightes  cappe 

IT  The  Eeue  answerde  /  and  seyde  stynt  thy  clappe     3144 

Lat  be  /  thy  lewed  dronken  harlotrye 

It  is  a  synne  /  and  eek  a  greet  folye 

To  apeyren  any  man  /  or  hym  defame 

And  eek1  to  bryngen  wyues  in  swich  fame  3148 

Thou  mayst  ynogfi  /  of  othere  thynges  seyn 

IT  This  dronke  Millere  /  spak  ful  soone  ageyn 

And  seyde  /  leue  brother  Osewold? 

Who  hath  no  wyf  /  he  is  no  Cokewold!  3152 

But  I  sey  nat  therfore  /  that  thou  art  oon 

Ther  been  ful  goode  wyues  many  oon 

And  euere  /  a  thousand  goode  /  ayeyns  oon  badde 

That  knowestow  wel  thy  self  /  but  if  thou  madde        3156 

Why  artow  angry  /  with  my  tale  now 

I  haue  a  wyf  pardee  /  as  wel  as  thow 

Yet  nolde  I  /  for  the  oxen  in  my  plogfi 

Take  vp  on  me  /  moore  than  ynogfi.  3160 

As  demen  of  my  self  /  that  I  were  oon 

I  wol  bileue  wel  /  that  I  am  noon 

An  housbonde  /  shal  nat  been  Inquisityf 

Of  goddes  pryuetee  /  nor  of  his  wyf  3164 

So  he  may  fynde  goddes  foyson)  there 

Of  the  remenanf  nedeth  nat  enquere 

IT  What  sholde  I  moore  seyn  /  but  this  Millere 

He  nolde  his  wordes  /  for  no  man  forbere  3168 

But  tolde  his  cherles  tale  in  his  manere 

Mathynketh  /  that  I  shal  reherce  it  heere 

And  ther-fore  euery  gentil  wight  I  preye 

ffor  goddes  loue  /  demeth  nat  that  I  seye  3172 

Of  yuel  entente  /  but  that  I  moot  reherce 

Hir  tales  alle  /  be  they  bettre  or  werse 

Or  elles  /  falsen  som  of  my  mateere 

And  therfore  /  who  so  list  it  nat  yheere  3176 

ELLESMEBE    90 


GRO[jp  A.   §  3.   MILLER'S  PROLOGUE.   Ellesmere  MS.   91 

Turne  ouer  the  leef  /  and  chese  another  tale 

ffor  he  shal  fynde  ynowe  /  grete  and  smale 

Of  storial  thyng1  that  toucheth  gentillesse  Deaf  ss,  back] 

And  eek  moralitee  /  and  hoolynesse  3180 

Blameth  nat  me  /  if  that  ye  chese  amys 

The  Millers  /  is  a  cherl  /  ye  knowe  wel  this 

So  was  the  Eeue  /  and  othere  manye  mo 

And  harlotrie  //  they  tolden  hothe  two  3184 

Auyseth  yow  /  putteth  me  out  of  "blame 

And  eek*  men  shal  nat  maken  ernest  of  game 

[Slight  break  in  the  MS.] 


ELLESMERE   91 


92    GROUP  A.   §  4.  MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


1T  Heere  bigynneth  the  Millere  his  tale. 

rHilom  /  ther  was  dwellynge  at  Oxenforcfc 
A  riche  gnof  /  that  gestes  heeld  to  bord  3188 

And  of  his  craft1  he  was  a  Carpenter 
With  hym  /  ther  was  dwellynge  a  poure  scoler 

Hadde  lerned  Art1  but  al  his  fantasye          [painting  of  the  MUier\ 

Was  turned  /  for  to  lerne  Astrologye  3192 

And  koude  /  a  certeyn  of  conclusions 

To  demen  /  by  Interrogacions 

If  Jjat  men  asked  hym  /  in  certein  houres 

Whan  Jjat  men  sholde  haue  droghte  or  elles  shoures    3196 

Or  if  men  asked  hym  /  what  sholde  bifalle 

Of  euery  thyng  /  I  may  nat  rekene  hem  alle 

1T  This  clerk1  was  cleped  /  hende  Nicholas 

Of  deerne  loue  he  koude  and  of  solas  3200 

And  ther-to  /  he  was  sleigh  /  and  ful  pn'uee 

And  lyk  a  mayden  /  meke  for  to  see 

A  chambre  hadde  he  in  that  hostelrye 

Allone  /  with-outen  any  compaignye  3204 

fful  fetisly  ydighf  with  herbes  swoote 

And  he  hym  self  /  as  sweete  as  is  the  roote 

Of  lycorys  /  or  any  Cetewale 

His  Almageste  /  and  bookes  grete  and  smale  3208 

His  Astrelabie  /  longynge  for  his  Art/ 

His  Augrym  stones  /  layen  faire  a  part/ 

On  shelues  /  couched  at  his  beddes  heed 

His  presse  ycovered  /  with  a  faldyng  reed  3212 

And  all  aboue  /  ther  lay  a  gay  Sautrie 

On  which  /  he  made  a  nyghtes  melodie 

So  swetely  /  that  al  the  chambre  rong1 

And  Angelas  ad  virginem  /  he  song1  3216 

And  after  that1  he  song1  the  kynges  noote 

fful  often  /  blessed  was  his  myrie  throte 

ELLESMERE    92 


GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALK   Ellesmere  MS.     93 

And  thus  /  this  sweete  clerk1  his  tyme  spente 

After  his  freendes  fyndyng1  and  his  rente  3220 

1T  This  Carpenter  /  hadde  wedded  newe  a  wyf 

Which  that  he  louede  /  moore  than  his  lyf  / 

Of  xviij.  yeer  /  she  was  of  Age 

lalous  he  was  /  and  heeld  hire  narwe  in  cage 

ffor  she  was  yong  and  wylde  /  and  he  was  old? 

And  demed  hym  self1  been  lik  /  a  Cokewold! 

He  knew  nat  Catoura  /  for  his  wit  was  rude 

That  "bad  /  man  sholde  wedde  his  simylitude  3228 

Men  sholde  wedden  after  hire  estaat 

ffor  youthe  and  elde  /  is  often  at  dehaat 

But  sith  that  he  /  was  fallen  in  the  snare 

He  moste  endure  /  as  oother  folk  his  care  3232 

IT  ffair  was  this  yonge  wyf  /  and  ther  with  al 

As  any  wezele  /  hir  body  /  gent  and  smal 

A  ceynt  she  werede  /  ybarred  al  of  silk 

A  barmclooth  [eek]  /  as  whit  as  morne  Milk  3236 

Vp  on  hir  lendes  /  ful  of  many  a  goore 

Whit  was  hir  smok  /  and  broyden  al  bifoore 

And  eek  bihynde  /  on  hir  coler  aboute 

Of  colblak  silk  /  wit^-Inne  and  eek  w?'t/i-oute  3240 

The  tapes  /  of  hir  white  voluper 

Were  of  the  same  suyte  of  hir  coler 

Hir  filet*  brood  of  silk1  and  set  ful  hye 

And  sikerly  /  she  hadde  a  likerous  eye  3244 

fful  smale  ypulled  /  were  hire  browes  two 

And  tho  were  bent  /  and  blake  as  any  sloo 

She  was  /  ful  moore  blisful  on  to  see 

Than  is  /  the  newe  /  pereionette  tree  3248 

And  softer  /  than  the  wolle  is  of  a  wether 

And  by  hir  girdel  /  heeng  a  purs  of  lether 

Tasseled  with  grene  /  and  perled  vriih  latoun 

In  al  this  world  /  to  seken  vp  and  doun  3252 

There  nas  no  man  so  wys  /  fat  koude  thenche 

So  gay  a  popelote  /  or  swich  a  wenche 

ELLESMERE    93 


94    GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

fful  brighter  /  was  the  shynyng*  of  hir  hewe 

Than  in  the  tour  /  the  noble  yforged  newe  3256 

11  But  of  hir  song  /  it  was  /  as  loude  and  yerne 

As  any  swalwe  /  sittynge  on  a  berne 

Ther  to  /  she  koude  skippe  /  and  make  game 

As  any  kyde  /  or  calf  /  folwynge  his  dame  3260 

Hir  mouth  was  sweete  /  as  bragotf  or  the  Meeth 

Or  hoord  of  Apples  /  leyd  in  hey  or  heeth 

Wynsynge  she  was  /  as  is  a  ioly  colt* 

Long  as  a  Mast1  and  vprighte  as  a  bolt  3264 

A  brooch  sche  baar  /  vp  on  hir  loue  coler 

As  brood  /  as  is  the  boos  of  a  bokeler 

Hir  shoes  were  laced  /  on  hir  legges  hye 

She  was  a  prymerole  /  a  piggesnye  3268 

fibr  any  lord  /  to  leggen  in  his  bedde 

Or  yet1  for  any  good  yeman  to  wedde 

NOw  sire  /  and  eft  sire  /  so  bifel  the  cas  peaf89,back] 

That  on  a  day  /  this  hende  Nicholas  3272 

ml  with  this  yonge  wyf  /  to  rage  and  pleye 
Whil  that  hir  housbonde  was  at  Oseneye 
As  clerkes  /  ben  ful  subtile  /  and  ful  queynte 
And  priuely  /  he  caughte  hire  by  the  queynte  3276 

And  seyde  ywis  /  but  if  ich  haue  my  wille 
ffor  deerne  loue  of  thee  /  lemman  I  spille 
And  heeld  hire  harde  /  by  the  haunche  bones 
And  seyde  /  lemman  loue  me  al  atones  3280 

Or  I  wol  dyen  /  also  god  me  saue 
And  she  sproong  /  as  a  colt  doth  in  the  traue 
And  with  hir  heed  /  sche  wryed  faste  awey 
And  seyde  /  I  wol  nat  kisse  thee  /  by  my  fey  3284 

Why  lat  be  quod  ich  /  lat  be  Mcholas 
Or  I  wol  crie  /  out  /  harrow  /  and  alias 
Do  wey  youre  handes  /  for  your  curteisye 
1T  This  ^Nicholas  /  gan  mercy  for  to  crye  3288 

And  spak  so  faire  /  and  profred  hire  so  faste 
That  she  hir  loue  /  hym  graunted  atte  laste 

ELLESMERE   94 


GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.     95 

And  swoor  hir  ooth  /  by  seint  Thomas  of  Kentt 

That  she  wol  been  /  at  his  comandementt  3292 

Whan  fat  she  may  /  hir  leyser  wel  espie 

Myn  housbonde  /  is  so  ful  of  Jalousie 

That  but  ye  wayte  wel  /  and  been  pmiee 

I  woot  right  wel  /  I  nam  but  deed  quod  she  3296 

Ye  moste  been  ful  deerne  /  as  in  this  cas 

IT  Nay  ther  of  /  care  thee  noght1  quod  Nicholas 

A  clerk1  hadde  litherly  /  biset  his  whyle 

But  if  he  koude  /  a  Carpenter  bigyle  3300 

And  thus  they  been  /  accorded  and  ysworn 

To  wayte  a  tyme  /  as  I  haue  told  biforn 

IT  Whan  Mcholas  /  had  doon  thus  euerideel 

And  thakked  hire  /  aboute  the  lendes  weel  3304 

He  kist  hire  sweete  /  and  taketh  his  sawtrie 

And  pleyeth  faste  /  and  maketh  melodie 

rphanne  fil  it  thus  /  fat  to  the  paryssh  chirche 

-*•   Cristes  /  owene  werkes  /  for  to  wirche  3308 

This  goode  wyf  /  went  on  an  haliday 

Hir  forheed  shoon  /  as  bright  as  any  day 

So  was  it  wasshen  /  whan  she  leet  hir  werk 

1T  Now  was  ther  of  that  chirche  a  parissh  clerk  3312 

The  which  /  that  was  ycleped  Absolon 

Crul  was  his  heer  /  and  as  the  gold  it  shoon 

And  strouted  as  a  ffanne  /  large  and  brode 

fful  streight  and  euene  /  lay  his  ioly  shode  3316 

His  rode  was  reed  /  hise  eyen  greye  as  goos 

With  Powles  wyndow  /  coruen  on  his  shoos 

In  hoses  rede  /  he  wente  fetisly  Oaf  40] 

Yclad  he  was  /  ful  smal  and  proprely  3320 

Al  in  a  kirtel  /  of  a  lygfrt  waget1 

iful  faire  and  thikke  /  been  the  poyntes  set1 

And  ther  vp  on  /  he  hadde  a  gay  surplys 

As  whit  as  is  /  the  blosme  vp  on  the  rys  3324 

A  myrie  child  he  was  /  so  god  me  saue 

Wel  koude  he  laten  blood  /  and  clippe  and  shaue 

ELLESMEKK    95 


96    GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  maken  a  chartre  of  lond  /  or  Acquitaunce 

In  twenty  manere  /  koude  he  trippe  and  daunce  3328 

After  the  scole  /  of  Oxenford[e]  tho 

And  with  his  legges  /  casten  to  and  fro 

And  pleyen  songes  /  on  a  small  Kubible 

Ther  to  /  he  song  som  tyme  /  a  loud  quynyble  3332 

And  as  wel  /  koude  he  pleye  /  on  his  giterne 

In  al  the  toun  /  nas  Brewhous  ne  Tauerne 

That  he  ne  visited  /  with  his  solas 

Ther  any  gaylard  Tappestere  was  3336 

But  sooth  to  seyn  /  he  was  somdel  squaymous 

Of  fartyng  /  and  of  speche  daungerous 

IT  This  Absolon  /  J>at  iolif  was  and  gay 

Gooth  with  a  Sencer  /  on  the  haliday  3340 

Sensynge  the  wyues  /  of  the  parissfie  faste 

And  many  a  louely  look  /  on  hem  he  caste 

And  namely  /  on  this  Carpenteris  wyf 

To  loke  on  hire  /  hym  thoughte  a  myrie  lyf  3344 

She  was  so  propre  /  and  sweete  and  likerous 

I  dar  wel  seyn  /  if  she  hadde  been  a  Mous 

And  he  a  Cat  /  he  wold  hire  hente  anon 

IT  This  parissh"  clerk  /  this  ioly  Absolon  3348 

Hath  in  his  herte  /  swich  a  loue  longynge 

That  of  no  wyf  /  took  he  noon  oflrynge 

ffor  curteisie  /  he  seyde  he  wolde  noon 

The  Moone  /  whan  it  was  nyght  /  ful  brighte  shoon    3352 

And  Absolon  /  his  gyterne  hath  ytake 

ffor  paramours  /  he  thoghte  for  to  wake 

And  forth  he  gooth  /  iolif  and  amorous 

Til  he  cam  /  to  the  Carpenteres  hous  3356 

A  litel  /  after  Cokkes  hadde  ycrowe 

And  dressed  hym  vp  /  by  a  shotwyndowe 

That  was  /  vp  on  the  Carpenteris  wal 

He  syngeth  in  his  voys  /  gentil  and  smal  3360 

Now  deere  lady  /  if  thy  wille  be 

I  pray  yow  /  that  ye  wole  thynke  on  me 

ELLESMERE    96 


GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.     97 

fful  wel  acordaunfr  to  his  gyternynge 

This  Carpenter  awook  /  and  herde  synge  3364 

And  spak  vn  to  his  wyf  /  and  seyde  anon 

What  Alison  /  herestow  nat  Absolon 

That  chaunteth  thus  /  vnder  oure  boures  wal        [leaf  40,  back] 

And  she  answerde  hir  housbonde  /  ther  with  al  3368 

Yis  God  woot  lohn  /  I  heere  it  euery  del 

^[  This  passeth  forth  /  what  wol  ye  bet  than  weel 

ffro  day  to  day  /  to  day  /  this  ioly  Absolon 

So  woweth  hire  /  that  hym  is  wo  bigon  3372 

He  waketh  /  al  the  nygSt  /  and  al  the  day 

He  kembeth  hise  lokkes  brode  /  and  made  hym  gay 

He  woweth  hire  /  by  meenes  /  and  brocage 

And  swoor  /  he  wolde  been  hir  owene  page  3376 

He  syngeth  brokkynge  /  as  a  nyghtyngale 

He  sente  hire  pymenf  Meeth  and  spiced  Ale 

And  wafres  /  pipyng  /  hoot  /  out  of  the  gleede 

And  for  she  was  of  toune  /  he  profreth  meede  3380 

ffor  som  folk1  wol  ben  wonnen  for  richesse 

And  sorame for  strokes/  and  somme  for  gentillesse  J.yJ*|  ^restis' 

1T  Somtyme  /  to  shewe  his  lightnesse  and  maistrye 

He  pleyeth  Herodes  vp  on  a  Scaffold  hye  3384 

But  what  auailleth  hym  /  as  in  this  cas 

She  loueth  so  /  this  hende  Nicholas 

That  Absolon  /  may  blowe  the  bukkes  horn 

He  ne  hadde  /  for  his  labour  but  a  scorn  3388 

And  thus  /  she  maketh  Absolon  hire  Ape 

And  al  his  ernesfr  turneth  til  a  lape 

fful  sooth  is  this  prouerbe  /  it  is  no  lye 

Men  seyn  right  thus  /  alwey  the  nye  slye  3392 

Maketh  /  the  ferre  leeue  to  be  lootfi 

ffor  though  that  Absolon  /  be  wood  or  wrootfi 

By  cause  /  that  he  fer  was  from  hire  sigfcte 

This  nye  Nicholas  /  stood  in  his  lighte  3395 

"YTOw  bere  thee  wel  /  thou  hende  Nicholas 

-^   ffor  Absolon  /  may  waille  and  synge  alias 

ELLESMERE   97, 


98     GROUP  A.   §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  so  bifel  it  on  a  Saterday 

This  Carpenter  /  was  goon  til  Osenay  3400 

And  hende  Nicholas  and  Alisoura 

Acorded  been  /  to  this  conclusiouw 

That  Mcholas  /  shal  shapen  hym  a  wyle 

This  sely  lalous  housbonde  to  bigyle  3404 

And  if  so  be  /  the  game  wente  aright1 

She  sholde  slepen  /  in  his  arm  al  nyght1 

ffor  this  was  /  his  desir  /  and  hire  also 

And  right  anon  /  with-outen  wordes  mo  3408 

This  Nicholas  /  no  lenger  wolde  tarie 

But  dooth  ful  softe  /  vn  to  his  chambre  carie 

Bothe  mete  and  drynke  /  for  a  day  or  tweye 

And  to  hire  housbonde  /  bad  hire  for  to  seye  3412 

If  that  he  axed  /  after  Mcholas 

She  sholde  seye  /  she  nyste  where  he  was 

Of  al  that  day  /  she  saugh"  hym  nat  with  eye  [leaf  si] 

She  trowed  /  that  he  was  in  malady e  3416 

ffor  /  for  no  cry  /  hir  mayde  koude  hym  calle 

He  nolde  answere  /  for  thyng  that  myghte  falle 

1T  This  passeth  forth  /  al  thilke  Saterday 

That  Nicholas  /  stille  in  his  chambre  lay  3420 

And  eef  and  sleepe  /  or  dide  what  hym  leste 

Til  Sonday  /  that  the  sonne  gooth  to  reste 

IT  This  sely  Carpenter  /  hath  greet  memeyle 

Of  Mcholas  /  or  what  thyng  myghte  hym  eyle  3424 

And  seyde  /  I  am  adrad  by  Seint  Thomas 

It  stondeth  nat  aright  with  Mcholas 

God  shilde  /  that  he  deyde  sodeynly 

This  world  /  is  now  ful  tikel  sikerly  3428 

I  saugh  to  day  /  a  cors  yborn  to  chirche 

That  now  /  on  monday  last  /  I  saugh  hym  wirche 

1T  Go  vp  quod  he  /  vn  to  his  knaue  anoon 

Clepe  at  his  dore  /  or  knokke  with  a  stoon  3432 

Looke  how  it  is  /  and  tel  me  boldely 

IT  This  knaue  /  gooth  him  vp  ful  sturdily 

ELLESMERE    98 


GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.     99 

And  a*,  the  chambre  dore  /  whil  that  he  stood 

He  cride  and  knokked  /  as  that  he  were  wood  3436 

What  how  /  what  do  ye  maister  Nicbolay 

How  may  ye  slepen  /  al  the  longe  day 

IT  But  al  for  noghf  he  herde  nat  a  word 

An  hole  he  foond  /  ful  lowe  vp  on  a  bord  3440 

Ther  as  the  Cat1  was  wont  In  for  to  crepe 

And  at  that  hole  /  he  looked  In  ful  depe 

And  at  the  laste  /  he  hadde  of  hym  a  sighte 

This  Mcholas  /  sat  capyng  euere  vp-righ"te  3444 

As  he  had  kiked  /  on  the  newe  moone 

Adoun  he  gooth  /  and  tolde  his  maister  soone 

In  what  array  /  he  saugh  that  ilke  man 

^f  This  Carpenter  /  to  blessen  hym  bigan  3448 

And  seyde  /  help  vs  seinte  ffrydeswyde 

A  man  woot  litel  /  what  hym  shal  bityde 

This  man  is  falle  /  with  his  Astromye 

In  som  woodnesse  /  or  in  som  Agonye  3452 

I  thoghte  ay  wel  /  how  that  it  sholde  be 

Men  sholde  nat  knowe  /  of  goddes  pryuetee 

Ye  /  blessed  be  alwey  a  lewed  man 

That  noght1  but  oonly  his  bileue  kan  3456 

So  ferde  another  clerk1  with  Astromye 

He  walked  in  the  feeldes  /  for  to  prye 

Vp  on  the  sterres  /  what  ther  sholde  bifalle 

Til  he  was  /  in  a  Marleput  yfalle  3460 

He  saugh  nat  that  /  but  yet  by  seint  [Thomas1]    t1  later  rum® 

Me  reweth  soore  /  of  hende  Nicholas 

He  shal  be  rated  /  of  his  studiyng1  peaf «,  back] 

If  that  I  may  /  by  Ihmis  heuene  kyng1  3464 

1T  Get  me  a  staf  /  that  I  may  vnderspore 

Whil  J?at  thou  Eobyn  /  heuest  of  the  dore 

He  shal  /  out  of  his  studiyng1  as  I  gesse 

And  to  the  chambre  dore  /  he  gan  hym  dresse  3468 

His  knaue  /  was  a  strong  carl  /  for  the  noones 

And  by  the  haspe  /  he  haaf  it  of  atones 

ELLESMERE    99 


100   GROUP  A.    §  4.    MILLER'S  TALK    Ellesmere  MS. 

In  to  the  floor  /  the  dore  fil  anon 

This  Nicholas  /  sat  ay  as  stille  as  stoon  3472 

And  euere  caped  vpward  in  to  the  Eir 

This  Carpenter  /  wende  he  were  in  despeir 

And  hente  hym  /  by  the  sholdres  myghtily 

And  shook  hym  harde  /  and  cride  spitously  3476 

What  Nicholay  /  what  how  /  what  looke  adoun 

Awake  /  and  thenk  on  Cristes  passioun 

I  crouche  thee  /  from  Elues  /  and  fro  wightes 

Ther-witA  the  nyghtspel  /  seyde  he  anonrightes  3480 

On  foure  halu.es  /  of  the  hous  aboute 

And  on  the  thressfifold  /  of  the  dore  with-oute 

Ihesu  Crist1  and  seint  Benedigfit 

Blesse  this  hous  /  from  euery  wikked  wight1  3484 

ffor  nyghtes  uerye  /  the  white  pater  noster 

Where  wentestow  /  seint  Petres  soster 

IT  And  atte  laste  /  this  hende  Nicholas 

Gan  for  to  sike  score  /  and  seyde  alias  3488 

Shal  al  this  world  /  be  lost  eftsoones  now  ? 

IT  This  Carpenter  /  answerde  /  what  seystow  ? 

What  thynk  on  god  /  as  we  doon  /  men  J>at  swynke 

1T  This  Nicholas  answerde  /  fecche  me  drynke  3492 

And  after  /  wol  I  speke  in  pryuetee 

Of  certeyn  thyng*  that  toucheth  me  and  thee 

I  wol  telle  if  noon  oother  man  certeyn 

IT  This  Carpenter  /  goth  doun  /  and  comth  ageyn        3496 

And  broghte  /  of  myghty  Ale  a  large  quart 

And  whan  fat  ech  of  hem  /  had  dronke  his  part1 

This  Nicholas  /  his  dore  faste  shette 

And  doun  the  Carpenter  /  by  hym  he  sette  3500 

IT  He  seyde  John  myn  hoost1  lief  and  deere 

Thou  shalt1  vp  on  thy  trouthe  swere  me  heere 

That  to  no  wigh"f  thou  shalt  this  conseil  wreye 

ffor  it  is  /  cristes  conseil  that  I  seye  3504 

And  if  thou  telle  man  /  thou  art  forlore 

ffor  this  vengauwce  /  thou  shalt  han  therfore 

ELLESMERE    100 


GROUP  A.   §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    101 

That  if  thou  wreye  me  /  thou  shalt  be  wood 

Nay  Crist  forbede  it1  for  his  hooly  blood  3508 

Quod  tho  this  sely  man  /  I  nam  no  labbe 

Ne  though  I  seye  /  I  am  nat  lief  to  gabbe 

Sey  what  thou  wolt  /  I  shal  it  neuere  telle  eieaf  42] 

To  child  ne  wyf  /  by  hym  that  harwed  helle  3512 

"VTOw  lohn  quod  Nicholas  /  I  wol  nat  lye 

•^ '   I  have  yfounde  /  in  myn  Astrologye 

As  I  haue  looked  /  in  the  moone  bright1 

That  now  a  monday  next1  at  quarter  nyghf  3516 

Shal  falle  a  reyn  /  and  that  so  wilde  and  wood 

That  half  so  greet1  was  neuere  Noees  flood 

This  world  he  seyde  /  in  lasse  than  an  hour 

Shal  al  be  dreynt  /  so  hidous  is  the  shour  3520 

Thus  schal  mankynde  drenche  /  and  lese  hir  lyf1 

IT  This  Carpenter  answerde  /  alias  my  wyf 

And  shal  she  drenche  /  alias  myn  Alisoun 

ifor  sorwe  of  this  /  he  fil  almoost  adoun  3524 

And  seyde  /  is  ther  no  remedie  in  this  ca3 

IT  Why  yis  for  gode  /  quod  hende  Nicholas 

If  thou  wolt  werken  /  aftir  loore  and  reed 

Thou  mayst  nat  werken  /  after  thyn  owene  heed          3528 

fibr  thus  seith  Salomon)  /  that  was  ful  trewe 

Werk  al  by  conseil  /  and  thou  shalt  nat  rewe 

And  if  thou  werken  wolt1  by  good  conseil 

I  vndertake  /  with-outen  Mast1  and  seyl  3532 

Yet  shal  I  sauen  /  hire  /  and  thee  /  and  me 

Hastow  nat  herd  /  hou  saued  was  Noe  ? 

Whan  fat  oure  lord  /  hadde  warned  hym  biforn 

That  al  the  world  /  with  water  sholde  be  lorn  3536 

IT  Yis  quod  this  Carpenter  /  ful  yoore  ago 

1T  Hastou  nat  herd  /  quod  Nicholas  also 

The  sorwe  of  Noe  /  with  his  felaweshipe 

Er  fat  he  myghte  /  brynge  his  wyf  to  shipe  3540 

Hym  hadde  be  leuere  /  I  dar  wel  vndertake 

At  thilke  tyme  /  than  alle  hise  wetheres  blake 

ELLKSMERE    101 


102  GROUP  A.   §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  she  hadde  had  a  shipe  /  hir  self  all  one 

And  ther-fore  /  woostou  what  is  best  to  doone  3544 

This  asketh  haste  /  and  of  an  hastif  thyng" 

Men  may  nat  preche  /  or  maken  tariyng< 

IT  Anon  go  gete  vs  faste  in  to  this  In 

A  knedyng1  trogh  /  or  ellis  a  kymelyn  3548 

ffor  ech  of  vs  /  "but  loke  fat  they  be  large 

In  whiche  /  we  mowe  swymme  as  in  a  barge 

And  han  ther-Inne  /  vitaille  suffisant1 

But  for  a  day  /  fy  on  the  remenanf  3552 

The  water  shal  aslake  /  and  goon  away 

Aboute  pryme  /  vp  on  the  nexte  day 

But  Eobyn  /  may  nat  wite  of  this  /  thy  knaue 

Ne  eek1  thy  mayde  Gille  I  may  nat  saue  3556 

Axe  nat  why  /.  for  though  thou  aske  me 

I  wol  nat  tellen  goddes  pryuetee 

Suffiseth  thee  /  but  if  thy  wittes  madde  [leaf  42,  back] 

To  han  as  greet  a  grace  /  as  Noe  hadde  3560 

Thy  wyf  shal  I  wel  sauen  /  out  of  doute 

Go  now  thy  wey  /  and  speed  thee  heer  aboute 

IT  But  whan  thou  hasf  for  hire  and  thee  and  me 

Ygeten  vs  /  thise  knedyng  tubbes  thre  3564 

Thanne  shaltow  hange  hem  /  in  the  roof  ful  hye 

That  no  man  /  of  oure  purueiaunce  spye 

And  whan  thou  thus  hast  doon  /  as  I  haue  seyd 

And  hast  oure  vitaille  /  faire  in  hem  yleyd  3568 

And  eek  an  Ax  /  to  smyte  the  corde  atwo 

Whan  fat  the  water  comth  /  that  we  may  go 

And  broke  an  hole  /  an  heigh"  vp  on  the  gable 

Vnto  the  gardynward  /  ouer  the  stable  3572 

That  we  may  frely  /  passen  forth  oure  way 

Whan  fat  the  grete  shour  /  is  goon  away 

Thanne  shal  I  swymme  /  as  myrie  I  vndertake 

As  dooth  the  white  doke  /  after  hire  drake  3576 

Thanne  wol  I  clepe  /  how  Alison)  /  how  lohn 

Be  myrie  /  for  the  flood  wol  passe  anon 

ELLESMERE    102 


GROUP  A.   §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.    103 

And  thou  wolt  seyn  /  hayl  maister  Mcholay 

Good  morwe  /  I  se  thee  wel  /  for  it  is  day  3580 

And  thanne  /  shul  we  be  /  lordes  al  oure  lyf/ 

Of  al  the  world  /  as  Noe  and  Ms  wyf/ 

IF  But  of  o  thyng1 1  warne  thee  ful  rigntt 

Be  wel  auysed  /  on  that  ilke  nygntt  3584 

That  we  ben  entred  /  in  to  shippes  bord 

That  noon  of  vs  /  ne  speke  nat  a  word 

Ne  clepe  /  ne  crie  /  but  been  in  his  preyere 

ffor  it  is  /  goddes  owene  heeste  deere  3588 

1T  Thy  wyf  and  thou  /  moote  hange  fer  atwynne 

ffor  that1  bitwise  yow  /  shal  be  no  synne 

Na  moore  in  lookyng  /  than  ther  shal  in  deede 

This  ordinance  is  seyd  /  so  god  thee  speede  3592 

Tomorwe  at  nyghtt  whan  folk  ben  alle  aslepe 

In  to  our  knedyng  tubbes  /  wol  we  crepe 

And  sitten  there  /  abidyng  goddes  grace 

Go  now  thy  wey  /  I  haue  no  lenger  space  3596 

To  make  of  this  /  no  lenger  sermonyng1 

Men  seyn  thus  /  sende  the  wise  /  and  sey  no  thyng* 

Thou  art  so  wys  it  needeth  thee  nat  to  preche 

Go  saue  oure  lyf  /  and  that  I  the  biseche  3600 

IT  This  sely  Carpenter  /  goth  forth  his  wey 

fful  ofte  /  he  seith  alias  and  weylawey 

And  to  his  wyf  /  he  tolde  his  pryueetee 

And  she  was  war  /  and  knew  it  bet  than  he  3604 

What  al  this  queynte  cast1  was  for  to  seye 

But  nathelees  /  she  ferde  as  she  wolde  deye 

And  seyde  alias  /  go  forth  thy  wey  anon  [leaf  43] 

Help  vs  to  scape  /  or  we  been  lost  echon  3608 

I  am  thy  trewe  /  verray  wedded  wyf 

Go  deere  spouse  /  and  help  to  saue  oure  lyf 

TO/  which  a  greet  thyng  /  is  AiFeccion  1T  Auctor 

-*-^  Men  may  dyen  /  of  ymaginacion  3612 

So  depe  /  may  impression  be  take 

This  sely  Carpenter  /  bigynneth  quake 

ELLESMERE    103 


104  GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Hym  thynketh  verraily  /  that  he  may  see 

Noees  flood  /  come  walwynge  as  the  see  3616 

To  drenchen  Alisoun  /  his  hony  deere 

He  wepeth  /  weyleth  /  maketh  sory  cheere 

He  siketh  /  -with  ful  many  a  sory  swogh" 

He  gooth  /  and  geteth  hym  a  knedyng  trogh"  3620 

And  after  that  /  a  tubbe  and  a  kymelyn 

And  pryuely  /he  sente  hem  to  his  In 

And  heng'hem  /  in  the  roof  in  pryuetee 

His  owene  hand  made  laddres  thre  3624 

To  clymben  /  by  the  ronges  and  the  stalkes 

In  to  the  tubbes  /  hangynge  in  the  balkes 

And  hem  vitailleth  /  bothe  trogh  and  tubbe 

"Wiih  breed  and  chese  /  and  good  Ale  in  a  lubbe         3628 

Suffisynge  right  ynogh  /  as  for  a  day 

But  er  that  he  /  hadde  maad  al  this  array 

He  sente  his  knaue  /  and  eek  his  wenche  also 

Vp  on  his  nede  /  to  london  for  to  go  3632 

And  on  the  Monday  /  whan  it  drow  to  nygfitf 

He  shette  his  dore  /  with-oute  candel  lyghf 

And  dresseth  alle  thyng1  as  it  shal  be 

And  shortly  /  vp  they  clomben  alle  thre  3636 

They  sitten  stille  /  wel  a  furlong  way 

IT  Now  Pater  noster  /  clom  seyde  Mcholay 

And  clom  quod  lofin  /  and  clom  seyde  Alisouw 

This  Carpenter  /  seyde  his  deuocioun  3640 

And  stille  he  sit  /  and  biddeth  his  preyere 

Awaitynge  on  the  reyn  /  if  he  it  heere 

1T  The  dede  sleepe  /  for  wery  bisynesse 

ffil  on  this  Carpenter  /  right  as  I  gesse  3644 

Aboute  corfew  tyme  /  or  litel  moore 

ffor  trauaille  of  his  goost1  he  groneth  score 

And  eft  he  routeth  /  for  his  heed  myslay 

Doun  of  the  laddre  /  stalketh  Nicholay  3648 

And  Alisoun  /  ful  softe  adoun  she  spedde 

With-outen  wordes  mo  /  they  goon  to  bedde 

ELLESMEKE    104 


GROUP  A.   §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   105 

Ther  as  the  Carpenter  /  is  wont  to  lye 

Ther  was  the  reuel  /  and  the  melodye  3652 

And  thus  [lith]  Alison  /  and  Nicholas 

In  bisynesse  /  of  myrthe  and  of  solas 

Til  that  the  belle  of  laudes  gan  to  rynge  [leaf  *s,  back] 

And  freres  in  the  Chauncel  gonne  synge  3656 

rjlhis  parissh"  clerk  /  this  Amorous  Absolon 

-*•  That  is  for  loue  alwey  so  wo  bigon 

"Vp  on  the  Monday  /  was  at  Oseneye 

With  a  compaignye  /  hym  to  disporte  and  pleye          3660 

And  axed  vp  on  cas  a  Cloistrer 

iful  prtuely  /  after  lofefi  the  Carpenter 

And  he  drough  hym  a  part1  out  of  the  chirche 

And  seyde  I  noof  I  saugh  hym  heere  nat  wirche         3664 

Syn  Saterday  /  I  trow  that  he  be  went1 

ffor  tymber  /  ther  our  Abbot  hath  hym  sent1 

ffor  he  is  wont1  for  tymber  for  to  go 

And  dwellen  at  the  grange  /  a  day  or  two  3668 

Or  elles  /  he  is  at  his  hous  certeyn 

Where  that  he  be  /  I  kan  nat  soothly  seyii 

IT  This  Absolon  /  ful  ioly  was  and  light 

And  thoghte  /  now  is  tyme  wake  al  nyght  3672 

ffor  sikirly  I  saugh  him  nat  stirynge 

Aboute  his  dore  /  syn  day  bigan  to  sprynge 

IT  So  moot  I  thryue  /  I  shal  at  cokkes  crowe 

fful  pryuely  /  knokke  at  his  wyndowe  3676 

That  stant  ful  lowe  /  vp  on  his  boures  wal 

To  Alison  /  now  wol  I  tellen  al 

My  loue  longynge  /  for  yet  I  shal  nat  mysse 

That  at  the  leste  wey  /  I  shal  hire  kisse  3680 

Som  maner  confort1  shal  I  haue  parfay 

My  mouth  hath  icched  al  this  longe  day 

That  is  a  signe  of  kissyng*  atte  leste 

Al  nyghtf  me  mette  eek  /  I  was  at  a  feeste  3684 

Therfore  I  wol  goon  slepe  /  an  houre  or  tweye 

And  al  the  nyghf  thanne  wol  I  wake  and  pleye 

8  ELLESMERE    105 


106  GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

TTThan  that  the  firste  cok1  hath  crowe  anon 

Vp  risf  this  ioly  louere  Absolon  3688 

And  hym  arraieth  /  gay  at  poynt  deuys 
But  first*  he  cheweth  greyn  of  lycorys 
To  smellen  sweete  /  er  he  hadde  kembd  his  heer 
Vnder  his  tonge  /  a  trewe  loue  he  beer  3692 

ffor  ther-by  /  wende  he  to  ben  gracious 
He  rometh  /  to  the  Carpenteres  hous 
And  stille  he  stanf  vnder  the  shot  wyndowe 
Vn  to  his  brist  it  raughte  /  it  was  so  lowe  3696 

And  softe  he  knokketh  /  with  a  semy  soun 
What  do  ye  hony  comb  /  sweete  Alisoun 
My  faire  bryd  /  my  sweete  cynamome 
Awaketh  lemman  myn  /  and  speketh  to  me  3700 

"Wei  litel  thynken  ye  /  vp  on  my  wo 
That  for  youre  loue  /  I  swete  ther  I  go 
No  wonder  is  /  thogh  that  I  swelte  and  swete  [leaf  44] 

I  moorne  /  as  dooth  a  lamb  after  the  tete  3704 

Ywis  lemman  /  I  haue  swich  loue  longynge 
That  lik  a  turtel  trewe  /  is  my  moornynge 
I  may  nat  ete  /  na  moore  than  a  mayde 
IT  Go  fro  the  wyndow  /  lakke  fool  she  sayde  3708 

As  help  me  god  /  it  wol  nat  be  com  pa  me 
I  loue  another  /  and  elles  I  were  to  blame 
Wei  bet  than  thee  /  by  Ihesu  Absolon 
Go  forth  thy  wey  /  or  I  wol  caste  a  ston  371 2 

And  lat  me  slepe  /  a  twenty  deuel  wey 
IT  Alias  quod  Absolon  /  and  weylawey 
That  trewe  loue  /  was  euere  so  yuel  biset 
Thanne  kys  me  /  syn  it  may  be  no  bet  3716 

ffor  Ihesus  loue  /  and  for  the  loue  of  me 
1T  Wiltow  thanne  /  go  thy  wey  quod  she  f 
1T  Ye  certes  lemman  /  quod  this  Absolon 
1T  Thanne  make  thee  redy  quod  she  I  come  anon         3720 
And  vn  to  Nicholas  /  she  seyde  stille 
Now  hust1  and  thou  shalt  laughen  al  thy  fille 
H  This  Absolon  /  doun  sette  hym  on  his  knees 

ELLESMKRE    106 


GROUP  A.   §  4.   MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.  107 

And  seyde  /  I  am  lord  at  alle  degrees  3724 

ffor  after  this  /  I  hope  ther  cometh  moore 

Lemman  thy  grace  /  and  sweete  bryd  thyu  oore 

IT  The  wyndow  /  she  vndoth  /  and  that  in  haste 

Haue  do  quod  she  /  com  of  and  speed  the  faste  3728 

Lest  that  oure  Neighebores  /  thee  espie 

IT  This  Absolon  /  gan  wype  his  mouth  ful  drie 

Dirk  was  the  nygfttf  as  pich  /  or  as  the  cole 

And  at  the  wyndow  /  out  she  pitte  hir  hole  3732 

And  Absolon  /  hym  fil  no  bet  ne  wers 

But  witJi  his  mouth  /  he  kiste  hir  naked  ers 

fful  sauourly  /  er  he  was  war  of  this 

IF  Abak  he  stirte  /  and  thoughte  it  was  amys  3736 

ffor  wel  he  wiste  /  a  womman  hath  no  berd 

He  felte  a  thyng  al  rough  /  and  long  yherd 

And  seyde  /  fy  alias  what  haue  I  do 

1T  Tehee  quod  she  /  and  clapte  the  wyndow  to  3740 

And  Absolon  /  gooth  forth  a  sory  pas 

IF  A  berd  a  berd  /  quod  hende  Nicholas 

By  goddes  corpus  /  this  goth  faire  and  weel 

1T  This  sely  Absolon  /  herde  eueiy  deel  3744 

And  on  his  lippe  /  he  gan  for  Anger  byte 

And  to  hym  self  /  he  seyde  1  shal  thee  quyte 

IT  Who  rubbeth  now  /  who  froteth  now  his  lippes 

With  dust"  with  sond  /  with  straw  /-with  clooth  /  with  chippes 

But  Absolon  /  that  seith  ful  ofte  alias  3749 

My  soule  /  bitake  I  vn  to  Sathanas 

But  me  were  leuere  /  than  al  this  toun  quod  he    [leaf  **,  back] 

Of  this  despif  awroken  for  to  be  3752 

Alias  quod  he  /  alias  I  ne  hadde  ybleynt 

His  hoote  loue  /  was  coold  and  al  yqueynt1 

ffor  fro  that  tyme  /  that  he  hadde  kiste  hir  ers 

Of  paramours  /  he  sette  nat  a  kers  3756 

ffor  he  was  /  heeled  of  his  maladie 

fful  ofte  /  paramours  he  gan  deffie 

And  weepe  /  as  dooth  a  child  that  is  ybete 

A  softe  paas  /  he  wente  ouer  the  strete  3760 

ELLESMERE  107 


108  GROUP  A.    §  4.  MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Vn  til  a  smyth  /  men  cleped  daun  Gerueys 

That  in  his  forge  /  smythed  plough  harneys 

He  sharpeth  shaar  /  and  kultour  bisily 

This  Absolon  /  knokketh  al  esily  3764 

And  seyde  /  vndo  Gerueys  /  and  that  anon 

IT  What  who  artow  ?  1  am  heere  Absolon 

What  Absolon  /  for  Cristes  swete  tree 

Why  rise  ye  so  rathe  /  ey  benedicitee  3768 

What  eyleth  yow  /  som  gay  gerl  god  it  woof 

Hath  broght  yow  thus  /  vp  on  the  viritoott 

By  seinte  note  /  ye  woot  wel  what  I  mene 

1F  This  Absolon  /  ne  roghte  nat  a  bene  3772 

Of  al  his  pley  /  no  word  agayn  he  yaf 

He  hadde  /  moore  tow  /  on  his  distaf 

Than  Gerueys  knew  /  and  seyde  freend  so  deere 

That  hoote  kultour  /  in  the  chymenee  heere  3776 

As  lene  it  me  /  I  haue  ther-with  to  doone 

And  I  wol  /  brynge  it  thee  /  agayn  ful  soone 

IF  Gerueys  answerde  /  certes  were  it  gold 

Or  in  a  poke  /  nobles  alle  vntoLJ  3780 

Thou  sholdest  have  /  as  I  am  trewe  smyth" 

Ey  cristes  foo  /  what  wol  ye  do  ther-with"  ? 

IT  Ther  of  quod  Absolon  /  be  as  be  may 

I  shal  wel  telle  it  thee  /  to  morwe  day  3784 

And  caughte  the  kultour  /  by  the  colde  stele 

fful  softe  /  out  at  the  dore  he  gan  to  stele 

And  wente  /  vn  to  the  Carpenteris  wal 

He  cogheth  first  /  and  knokketh  ther  with  al  3788 

Vp  on  the  wyndowe  /  right  as  he  dide  er 

IT  This  Alison  answerde  /  Who  is  ther  ? 

That  knokketh  so  /  I  warante  it  a  theef 

If  Why  nay  quod  he  /  god  woot  my  sweete  leef  3792 

I  am  thyn  Absolon  /  my  deerelyng1 

Of  gold  quod  he  /  I  haue  thee  broght  a  ryng1 

My  mooder  yaf  it  me  /  so  god  me  saue 

fful  fyn  it  is  /  and  ther-to  wel  ygraue  3796 

ELLESMEKE    108 


GROUP  A.   §  4.  MILLER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   109 

This  wol  I  yeue  thee  /  if  thou  me  kisse 

IF  This  Nicholas  /  was  risen  for  to  pisse 

And  thoughte  /  he  wolde  amenden  al  the  lape  [leaf  45] 

He  sholde  kisse  his  [ers]  er  that  he  scape  3800 

And  vp  the  wyndowe  /  dide  he  hastily 

And  out  his  ers  /  he  putteth  pryuely 

Oner  the  buttok  /  to  the  haunche  bon 

And  ther  with  /  spak  this  clerk1  this  Absolon  3804 

Spek  sweete  bryd  /  I  noot  nat  where  thou  art* 

1T  This  Nicholas  /  anon  leet  fle  a  fart/ 

As  greet*  as  it  had  been  a  thonder  dent 

That  with  the  strode*  he  was  almoost  yblent  3808 

And  he  was  redy  /  with  his  Iren  hoot1 

And  Nicholas  /  amydde  ers  he  smoott 

IF  Of  gooth  the  skyn  /  an  hande  brede  aboute 

The  hoote  kultour  /  brende  so  his  toute  3812 

And  for  the  smerf  he  wende  for  to  dye 

As  he  were  wood  /  for  wo  he  gan  to  crye 

Help  /  water  /  water  /  help  for  goddes  herte 

IT  This  Carpenter  /  out  of  his  slomber  sterte  3816 

And  herde  oon.  crien  water  /  as  he  were  wood 

And  thoughte  /  Alias  /  now  comth  Nowelis  flood 

He  sit  hym  vp  /  with-outen  wordes  mo 

And  with  his  Ax  /  he  smoot  the  corde  atwo  3820 

And  doun  gooth  al  /  he  foond  neither  to  selle 

Ne  breed  ne  Ale  /  til  he  cam  to  the  Celle 

Vp  on  the  floor  /  and  ther  aswowne  he  lay 

1T  Vp  stirte  hire  /  Alison  and  Nicholay  3824 

And  criden  /  out*  and  harrow  in  the  strete 

The  neighebores  /  bothe  smale  and  grete 

In  ronnen  /  for  to  gauren  on  this  man 

That  yet  aswowne  he  lay  /  bothe  pale  and  wan  3828 

ffor  with  the  fal  /  he  brosten  hadde  his  Arm 

But  stonde  he  moste  /  vn  to  his  owene  harm 

ffor  whan  he  spak  /  he  was  anon  bore  doun 

With  hende  Nicholas  /  and  Alisoun  3832 

ELLESMERE    109 


110  GROUP  A.    §  4.   MILLER'S  TALK   Ellesmere  MS. 

They  tolden  euery  man  /  that  he  was  wood 

He  was  agast  so  /  of  Nowelis  flood 

Thurgh  fantasie  /  that  of  his  vanytee 

He  hadde  yboght  hym  /  knedyng  tubbes  thre  3836 

And  hadde  hem  hanged  /  in  the  roue  aboue 

And  fat  he  preyde  hem  /  for  goddes  loue 

To  sitten  in  the  roof  /  par  compaignye 

IT  The  folk  gan  laughen  /  at  his  fantasye  3840 

In  to  the  roof  /  they  kiken  and  they  cape 

And  turned  al  his  harm  /  vn  to  a  lape 

ffor  /  what  so  /  fat  this  Carpenter  answerde 

It  was  for  noghtf  no  man  his  reson  herde  3844 

With  othes  grete  /  he  was  so  sworn  adoun 

That  he  was  holde  wood  in  al  the  toun 

ffor  euery  clerk  /  anonright  /  heeld  with  oother    [leaf  45,  back] 

They  seyde  /  the  man  was  wood  /  my  leeue  broother  3848 

And  euery  wigfit  /  gan  laughen  of  this  stryf/ 

Thus  /  swyued  was  /  this  Carpenteris  wyf/ 

ffor  al  his  kepyng*  and  his  lalousye 

And  Absolon  /  hath  kistt  hir  nether  eye  3852 

And  Nicholas  /  is  scalded  in  the  towte 

This  tale  is  doon  /  and  god  saue  al  the  rowte 

1T  Heere  endeth  the  Millere  his  tale 
[Slight  break  in  the  MS.] 


•ELLESMERE   110 


GROUP  A.    §  5.   REEVE'S  PROLOGUE.   Ellesmere  MS.    Ill 


IT  The  prologe  /  of  the  Reues  tale 

rHAN  folk  hadde  laughen  /  at  this  nyce  cas 
Of  Absolon  /  and  hende  Nicholas  3856 

Diuerse  folk  /  diuersely  they  seyde 
But*  for  the  moore  part1  they  loughe  and  pleyde 

"Ne  at  this  tale  /  I  saugh  no  man  hym  greue 

But  it  were  oonly  /  OsewoU  the  Eeue  3860 

By-cause  /  he  was  /  of  Carpenteris  craft1 

A  litel  Ire  /  in  his  herte  ylaftf 

He  gan  to  grucche  /  and  hlamed  it  a  lite 

IT  So  theek  /  quod  he  /  ful  wel  koude  I  yow  quite       3864 

With  bleryng4  of  a  proud  Milleres  eye 

If  that  me  liste  /  speke  of  ribaudye 

But  ik  am  oold  /  me  list  no  pley  for  Age 

Gras  tyme  is  doon  /  my  fodder  is  now  forage  3868 

This  white  tope  /  writeth  myne  olde  yeris 

Myn  herte  is  mowled  also  as  myne  heris 

But  if  I  fare  /  as  dooth  an  Openers 

IT  That  ilke  fruyt  /  is  euer  leng  the  wers  3872 

Til  it  be  roten  /  in  Mullok1  or  in  stree 

We  olde  men  /  I  drede  so  fare  we 

Til  we  be  roten  /  kan  we  nat  be  rype 

We  hoppen  ay  /  whil  that  the  world  wol  pype  3876 

ffor  in  oure  wyl  /  ther  stiketh  euere  a  nayl 

To  haue  an  hoor  heed  /  and  a  grene  tayl 

As  hath  a  leek  /  for  thogh  oure  myght  be  goon 

Oure  wyl  /  desireth  folie  euere  in  oon  3880 

ffor  whan  we  may  nat  doon  /  than  wol  we  speke 

Yet  in  oure  Asshen  olde  /  is  fyr  yreke 

IT  ffoure  gleedes  han  we  /  whiche  I  shal  deuyse 

Avauntyng*  liyng*  Anger  /  Coueitise  3884 

Thise  foure  sparkles  /  longen  vn  to  eelde 

Oure  olde  lemes  /  mowe  wel  been  vnweelde 

ELLESMERE    111 


112   GROUP  A.    §  5.    REEVE'S  PROLOGUE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

But  wyl  ne  shal  nat  faillen  /  that  is  sooth"  [leaf  46] 

And  yet*  ik  haue  alwey  a  Coltes  tooth"  3888 

As  many  a  yeer  /  as  it  is  passed  henne 

Syn  that  my  tappe  of  lif  /  bigan  to  renne 

ffor  sikerly  /  whan  I  was  bore  /  anon 

Deeth  drough"  the  tappe  of  lyf  /  and  leetf  it  gon  3892 

And  euer  sithe  /  hath  so  the  tappe  yronne 

Til  that  almoost*  al  empty  is  the  tonne 

The  streem  of  lyf  /  now  droppeth  on  the  chymbe 

The  sely  tonge  /  may  wel  rynge  and  chymbe  3896 

Of  wrecchednesse  /  that  passed  is  ful  yoore 

With  olde  folk1  saue  dotage  is  namoore 

TTThan  that  oure  boost  /  hadde  herd  this  sermonyng? 

He  gan  to  speke  /  as  lordly  as  a  kyng*  3900 

He  seide  /  what  amounteth  al  this  wit1 
What*  shul  we  speke  alday  of  hooly  writ1 
The  deuel  /  made  a  Reue  for  to  preche 
And  of  a  Soutere  /  Shipman  or  a  leche  3904 

Sey  forth  thy  tale-  /  and  tarie  nat  the  tyme 
Lo  Depeforc?  /  and  it  is  half  wey  pryme 
Lo  Grenewych"  /  ther  many  a  shrewe  is  Inne 
It  were  al  tyme  /  thy  tale  to  bigynne  3908 

"VTOw  sires  /  quod  this  Osewold  the  Reue 
•*•*    I  pray  yow  alle  /  that  ye  nat  yow  greue 
Thogh  I  answere  /  and  somdeel  sette  his  howue 
ffor  leueful  is  /  with  force  5  force  of  showue   f  vim  vi  repellere 
IT  This  dronke  Millere  hath  ytoold  vs  heer  3913 

How  that1  bigyled  was  a  Carpenteer 
Perauenture  in  scorn  /  for  I  am  oon 
And  by  youre  leue  /  I  shal  him  quite  anoon  3916 

Right  in  his  cherles  termes  wol  I  speke 
I  pray  to  god  /  his  nekke  mote  breke 
He  kan  wel  /  in  myn  eye  seen  a  stalke 
But  in  his  owene  /  he  kan  nat  seen  a  balke  3920 


ELLESMERE    112 


GROUP  A.   §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    113 


5f  Heere  bigynnetli  the  Eeues  tale 

AT  Trumpyngton  /  nat  fer  fro  Cantebrigge 
Ther  gooth  a  brook  /  and  ouer  that  a  brigge 
Vp  on  the  which[e]  brook  /  ther  stant  a  Melle 
And  this  is  verray  sooth  /  fat  I  yow  telle 
A  Millere  /  was  ther  dwellynge  many  a  day  3925 

As  eny  pecok1  he  was  proud  and  gay 
Pipen  he  koude  and  fissfie  /  and  nettes  beete 
And  turne  coppes  /  and  wel  wrastle  and  sheete  3928 

And  by  his  belt1  he  baar  a  long  panade 
And  of  a  swerd  /  ful  trenchant  was  the  blade 
A  ioly  poppere  /  baar  he  in  his  pouche  peaf  *6,  back] 

Ther  was  no  man  /  for  peril  /  dorste  hym  touche          3932 
A  Sheffeld  thwitel  /  baar  he  in  his  hose 
Round  was  his  face  /  and  camuse  was  his  nose 
As  piled  as  an  Ape  /  was  his  skulle 

He  was  a  Market1  betere  atte  fulle  3936 

Ther  dorste  no  wight  /  hand  vp  on  hym  legge 
That  he  ne  swoor  /  he  sholde  anon  abegge 
A  theef  he  was  /  of  corn  and  eek  of  Mele 
And  that  a  sly  /  and  vsaunt  for  to  stele  3940 

His  name  was  hoote  /  deynous  Symkyn 
A  wyf  he  hadde  /  yeomen  of  noble  kyn 
The  person  of  the  toun  /  hir  fader  was 
With  hire  he  yaf  /  ful  many  a  panne  of  bras  3944 

ffor  that  Symkyn  /  sholde  in  his  blood  allye 
She  was  yfostred  in  a  Nonnerye 
ffor  Symkyn  /  wolde  no  wyf  /  as  he  sayde 
But  if  she  were  /  wel  ynorissed  and  a  mayde  3948 

To  sauen  his  estaat  of  yomanrye 
And  she  was  proud  /  and  peerf  as  is  a  pye 
A  ful  fair  sighte  /  was  it  vp  on  hem  two 
On  haly  dayes  /  biforn  hire  wolde  he  go  3952 

EJ'LESMERE    113 


114    GROUP  A.    §  6.    REEVE'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

With  liis  typet  /  [yjbounde  about  his  beed 

And  sbe  cam  after  /  in  a  gyte  of  reed 

And  Symkyn  /  hadde  hosen  of  the  same 

Ther  dorste  no  wigfet  /  clepen  hire  but  dame  3956 

Was  noon  so  hardy  J  that  wente  by  the  weye 

That  with  hire  /  dorste  rage  /  or  ones  pleye 

But  if  /  he  wolde  be  slayn  of  Symkyn 

With  panade  /  or  with  knyf  /  or  boidekyn  3960 

ffor  lalous  folk  /  ben  perilous  eueremo 

Algate  /  they  wolde  hire  wyues  wenden  sp 

And  eek  /  for  she  was  somdel  smoterlicft 

She  was  as  digne  /  as  water  in  a  diet"  3964 

As  ful  of  hoker  /  and  of  bismare 

Hir  thoughte  /  fat  a  lady  sholde  hire  spare 

What  for  hire  kynrede  /  and  hir  nortelrie 

That  she  hadde  lerned  in  the  Nonnerie  3968 

IF  A  doghter  hadde  they  bitwixe  hem  two 

Of  twenty  yeer  /  with-outen  any  mo 

Sauynge  a  child  /  fat  was  of  half  yeer  age 

In  Cradel  it  lay  /'  and  was  a  propre  page  3972 

This  wenche  thikke  /  and  wel  ygrowen  was 

With  kamuse  nose  /  and  eyen  greye  as  glas 

Buttokes  brode  /  and  brestes  rounde  and  hye 

But  rigfit  fair  was  hire  heer  /  I  wol  nat  lye  3976 

IT  This  person  of  the  toun  /  for  she  was  feir 

In  purpos  was  /  to  maken  hire  his  heir 

Bothe  of  his  catel  /  and  his  Mesuage  lieaf  47] 

And  straunge  /  he  made  it  of  hir  mariage  3980 

His  purpos  was  /  for  to  bistowe  hire  hye 

In  to  som  worthy  blood  of  Auncetrye 

ffor  hooly  chirches  good  /  moot  been  despended 

On  hooly  chirches  blood  /  that  is  descended  3984 

Therfore  /  he  wolde  his  hooly  blood  honoure 
Though  /  that1  he  hooly  chirche  sholde  devoure 
et  sokene  /  hath  this  Millere  /  out  of  doute 
With  whete  and  Malt1  of  al  the  land  aboute          3988 

ELLESMEBE    114 


GROUP  A.    §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    115 

And  nameliche  /  ther  was  a  greet  Collegge 

Men  clepen  the  Soler  halle  at  Cantebregge 

Ther  was  hir  whete  /  and  eek  hir  malt  ygrounde 

And  on  a  day  /  it  happed  in  a  stounde  3992 

Sik  lay  the  Maunciple  /  on  a  maladye 

Men  wenden  wisly  /  that  he  sholde  dye 

ffor  which  /  this  Millere  /  stal  hothe  mele  and  corn 

An  hundred  tyme  /  moore  than  biforn  3996 

ffor  ther  biforn  /  he  stal  but  curteisly 

But  now  /  he  was  a  theef  outrageously 

ffor  which  /  the  wardeyn  chidde  and  made  fare 

But  ther  of  /  sette  the  Millere  nat  a  tare  4000 

He  craketh  boost  /  and  swoor  it  was  nat  so 

H  Thanne  were  ther  /  yonge  poure  clerkes  two 

That  dwelten  in  this  halle  /  of  which  I  seye 

Testif  they  were  /  and  lusty  for  to  pleye  4004 

And  oonly  /  for  hire  myrthe  and  reuerye 

Vp  on  the  wardeyn  /  bisily  they  crye 

To  yeue  hem  leue  /  but  a  litel  stounde 

To  goon  to  Mille  /  and  seen  hir  corn  ygrounde  4008 

And  hardily  /  they  dorste  leye  hir  nekke 

The  Millere  shold  nat  stele  hem  /  half  a  pekke 

Of  corn  by  sleighte  /  ne  by  force  hem  reue 

And  at  the  laste  /  the  wardeyn  yaf  hem  leue  4012 

lohn  highte  that  oon  /  and  Aleyn  heet  that  oother 

Of  o  toun  were  they  born  /  that  highte  Strother 

ffer  in  the  North  /  I  kan  nat  telle  where 

1T  This  Aleyn  /  maketh  redy  al  his  gere  4016 

And  on  an  hors  /  the  sals'  he  caste  anon 

fforth  goth  Aleyn  the  clerk  /  and  also  lofin 

With  good  swerd?  /  and  bokeler  by  hir  side 

lofin  knew  the  wey  /  hem  neded  no  gyde  4020 

And  at  the  Mille  /  the  sak  adoun  he  laytfi 

Aleyn  spak  first  /  al  hayl  Symondf  yfayth 

Hou  fares  thy  faire  doghter  /  and  thy  wyf1 

IT  Aleyn  welcome  quod  Symkyn  /  by  my  lyf1  4024 

ELLESMERE    115 


116    GROUP  A.   §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  lofen  also  /  how  now  /  what  do  ye  heer 

IT  Symond!  quod  lofin  /  by  god  nede  has  na  peer 

Hym  boes  serue  hym  seine  /  that  has  na  swayn    [leaf  47.  back] 

Or  elles  /  he  is  a  fool  /  as  clerkes  sayn  4028 

Oure  Manciple  /  I  hope  /  he  wil  be  deed 

Swa  werkes  ay  /  the  wanges  in  his  heed 

And  forthy  /  is  I  come  /  and  eek  Alayn 

To  grynde  oure  corn  /  and  carie  it  ham  agayn  4032 

I  pray  yow  /  spede  vs  heythen  that  ye  may 

IT  It  shal  be  doon  /  quod  Symkyn  by  my  fay 

What  wol  ye  doon  /  whil  that  it  is  in  hande 

IT  By  God  /  right  by  the  hopur  wil  I  stands  4036 

Quod  loBfi  /  and  se  /  how  that  the  corn  gas  In 

Yet  saugh"  I  neuere  /  by  my  fader  kyn 

How  that  the  hopur  /  wagges  til  and  fra 

IT  Aleyn  answerde  /  lofin  wiltow  swa  4040 

Thanne  wil  I  be  bynethe  /  by  my  croun 

And  se  /  how  fat  the  Mele  falles  doun 

In  to  the  trough"  /  that  sal  be  my  disport1 

ffor  lofrn  yfaitfi  /  I  may  been  of  youre  sort1  4044 

I  is  /  as  ille  a  Millere  /  as  are  ye 

IT  This  Millere  /  smyled  of  hir  nycetee 

And  thoghte  /  al  this  nys  doon  /  but  for  a  wyle 

They  wene  /  fat  no  man  may  hem  bigile  4048 

But  by  my  thrift  /  yet  shal  I  blere  hir  eye 

ffor  al  the  sleighte  /  in  hir  Philosophye 

The  moore  queynte  crekes  /  that  they  make 

The  moore  wol  I  stele  /  whan  I  take  4052 

In  stide  of  flour  /  yet  wol  I  yeue  hem  bren 

The  gretteste  clerkes  /  been  noght  wisest  men 

As  whilom  to  the  wolf  /  thus  spak  the  Mare 

Of  al  hir  Art1  [ne]  counte  I  noghf  a  tare  4056 

H  Out  at  the  dore  /  he  gooth  ful  pryuely 

Whan  fat  he  saugh"  /  his  tyme  softely 

He  looketh  vp  and  doun  /  til  he  hath  founde 

The  clerkes  hors  /  ther  as  it  stood  ybounde  4060 

ELLESMERE    116 


GROUP  A.   §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    117 

Bihynde  the  Mille  /  vnder  a  lefsel 

And  to  the  hors  /  he  goth  hym  faire  and  wel 

He  strepeth  of  the  brydel  /  right  anon 

And  whan  the  hors  was  laus  /  he  gynneth  gon  4064 

Toward  the  fen  /  ther  wilde  Mares  renne 

fforth  with  wehee  /  thurgh  thikke  and  thnrgh  thenne 

if  This  Millere  gooth  agayn  /  no  word  he  seyde 

But  dooth  his  note  /  and  with  the  clerkes  pleyde         4068 

Til  that  hir  corn  /  was  faire  and  weel  ygromide 

And  whan  the  Mele  /  is  sakked  and  ybounde 

This  lohn  goth  out1  and  fynt  his  hors  away 

And  gan  to  crie  /  harrow  and  weylaway  4072 

Oure  hors  is  lorn  /  Alayn  for  goddes  banes 

Stepe  on  thy  feet1  com  out  man  al  atanes 

Alias  /  our  wardeyn  /  has  his  palfrey  lorn  fieafis] 

This  Aleyn  al  forgatt  /  bothe  Mele  and  corn  4076 

Al  was  out  of  his  mynde  /  his  housbondrie 

"What  whilk1  way  is  he  geen  /  he  gan  to  crie 

IT  The  wyf  cam  lepynge  Inward  with  a  ren 

She.  seyde  alias  /  youre  hors  goth  to  the  fen  4080 

With  wilde  mares  /  as  faste  as  he  may  go 

Vnthank  come  on  his  hand  /  that  boond  hym  so 

And  he  J?at  bettre  /  sholde  han  knyt  the  reyne 

IT  Alias  quod  Aleyn  /  for  cristes  peyne  4084 

Lay  doun  thy  swerd  /  and  I  wil  myn  alswa 

I  is  ful  wight  god  waaf  as  is  a  raa 

By  god[des]  herte  /  he  sal  nat  scape  vs  bathe 

Why  nadstow  pitf  the  Capul  in  the  lathe  4088 

Ilhayl  /  by  god  Aleyn  /  thou  is  a  fonne 

IT  This  sely  clerkes  /  han  ful  faste  yronne 

To-ward  the  fen  /  bothe  Aleyn  and  eek  lofin 

f  And  whan  the  Millere  /  saugh"  fat  they  were  gon     4092 

He  half  a  bussfiel  /  of  hir  flour  hath  take 

And  bad  his  wyf  /  go  knede  it  in  [a]  cake 

He  seyde  /  I  trowe  the  clerkes  were  aferd? 

Yet  kan  a  Millere  /  make  a  clerkes  bertf  4096 

ELLESMERE    117 


118   GROUP  A.    §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  al  his  Art1  now  lat  hem  goon  hir  weye 

Lo  wher  they  goon  /  ye  lat  the  children  pleye 

They  gete  hym  nat  so  lightly  /  by  my  croun 

Tf  Thise  sely  clerkes  /  rennen  vp  and  doun  4100 

Vftth  keepe  /  keepe  /  stand  /  stand1  /  lossa  warderere 

Ga  whistle  thou  /  and  I  shal  kepe  hym  heere 

But1  shortly  /  til  that  it  was  verray  nyght1 

They  koude  nat  /  though  they  do  al  hir  myghf  4104 

Hir  capul  cacche  /  he  ran  alwey  so  faste 

Til  in  a  dych  /  they  caughte  hym  atte  laste 

"117  ery  and  weet1  as  beest  is  in  the  reyn 

Comth  sely  lohn  /  and  with  him  comth  Aleyn    4108 
Alias  quod  lohn  /  the  day  that  I  was  born 
Now  are  we  dryue  /  til  hethyng1  and  til  scorn 
Oure  corn  is  stoln  /  me  wil  vs  fooles  calle 
Bathe  the  wardeyn  /  and  oure  felawes  alle  4112 

And  namely  /  the  Millere  weylaway 
Tf  Thus  pleyneth  lohn  /  as  he  gooth  by  the  way 
Toward  the  Mille  /  and  bayard  in  his  hond 
The  Millere  /  sittynge  /  by  the  fyr  he  fond  4116 

ffor  it  was  nyght1  and  forther  myghte  they  nogftt1 
But  for  the  lone  of  god  /  they  hym  bisoghf 
Of  herberwe  and  of  ese  /  as  for  hir  peny 
Tf  The  Millere  seyde  agayn  /  if  ther  be  eny  4120 

S«ich  as  it  is  /  yet  shal  ye  haue  youre  part/ 
Myn  hous  is  streif  but  ye  han  lerned  Art1 
Ye  konne  by  Arguments  /  make  a  place  Deaf  «8,  back] 

A  myle  brood  /  of  twenty  foot  of  space  4124 

Lat  se  now  /  if  this  place  may  suffi.se 
Or  make  it  rowm  with  speche  /  as  in  youre  gise 
VTOw  Symond  /  seyde  lohn  /  by  seint  Cutberd 
•*•'   Ay  is  thou  myrie  /  and  this  is  faire  answerd          4128 
I  haue  herd  seyd  /  man  sal  taa  /  of  twa  thynges 
Slyk  as  he  fyndes  /  or  taa  slyk  as  he  brynges 
But  specially  /  I  pray  thee  hoost  deere 
Get  vs  som  mete  and  drynke  /  and  make  vs  cheere      4132 

ELLESMEUE    118 


GROUP  A.   §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS.    119 

And  we  wil  payen  /  trewely  atte  fulle 

With  empty  hand  /  men  may  none  haukes  tulle 

Loo  heere  our  siluer  /  redy  for  to  spende 

IT  This  Millere  /  in  to  toun  his  doghter  sende  4136 

flbr  Ale  and  breed  /  and  rested  hem  a  goos 

And  boond  hire  hors  /  it  sholde  nat  goon  loos 

And  in  his  owene  chambre  /  hem  made  a  bed 

With  sheetes  and  with  chalons  /  faire  yspred  4140 

Noghtf  from  his  owene  bed  /  ten  foot  /  or  twelue 

His  doghter  hadde  a  bed  /  al  by  hir  selue 

Right  in  the  same  chambre  /  by  and  by 

It  myghte  be  no  bet*  and  cause  why  f  4144 

Ther  was  no  rommer  herberwe  in  the  place 

They  soupen  /  and  they  speke  hem  to  solace 

And  drynke  euere  /  strong  ale  atte  beste 

Aboute  mydnyghtf  wente  they  to  reste  4148 

IF  Wei  hath  this  Millere  vernysshed  his  heed 

fful  pale  he  was  for-dronken  /  and  nat  reed 

He  yexeth  /  and  he  speketh  /  thurgh  the  nose 

As  he  were  /  on  the  quakke  /  or  on  the  pose  4152 

To  bedde  he  goth  /  and  with  hym  goth  his  wyf 

As  any  lay  /  she  light  was  and  lolyf 

So  was  hir  ioly  whistle  wel  y-wet 

The  Cradel  /  at  hir  beddes  feet  is  set  4156 

To  rokken  /  and  to  yeue  the  child  to  sowke 

And  whan  }>at  dronken  /  al  was  in  the  crowke 

To  bedde  /  went  the  doghter  right  anon 

To  bedde  wente  Aleyn  /  and  also  lofin  4160 

Ther  nas  na  moore  /  hem  neded  no  dwale 

This  Millere  /  hath  so  wisely  bibbed  Ale 

That  as  an  hors  /  he  snorteth  in  his  sleepe 

Ne  of  his  tayl  bihynde  /  he  took  no  keepe  4164 

His  wyf  bar  him  a  burdon  a  ful  strong* 

Men  myghte  hir  rowtyng  heere  two  furlong1 

The  wenche  rowteth  eek  /  par  compaignye 

1T  Aleyn  the  clerk  /  that  herd  this  melodye  4168 

ELLESMEBE    119 


120    GROUP  A.   §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

He  poked  lofin  /  and  seyde  slepestow 

Herdtow  euere  slyk  /  a  sang  er  now 

Lo  whilk  a  cowplyng*  is  ymel  hem  alle  [leaf  49] 

A  wilde  fyr  /  vp  on  thair  bodyes  falle  4172 

Wha  herkned  euere  /  slyk  a  ferly  thyng1 

Ye  they  sal  haue  /  the  flour  of  il  endyng1 

This  lange  nygfit  /  ther  tydes  me  na  reste 

But  yet  nafors  /  al  sal  be  for  the  beste  4176 

ifor  lofcn  seyde  he  /  als  euere  moot  I  thryue 

If  J>at  I  may  /  yon  wenche  wil  I  swyue 

Som  esement1  has  la  we  yshapen  vs 

ffor  lohn  /  ther  is  a  la  we  /  that  says  thus  4180 

That  gif  a  man  /  in  a  point1  be  ygreued 

That  in  another  /  he  sal  be  releued 

Oure  corn  is  stoln  /  shortly  is  ne  nay 

And  we  han  had  /  an  il  fit  al  this  day  4184 

And  syn  I  sal  haue  neen  amendemenf 

Agayn  my  los  /  I  wil  haue  esement1 

By  God  sale  /  it  sal  neen  other  bee 

IT  This  lo&n  answerde  /  Alayn  auyse  thee  4188 

The  Millere  /  is  a  perilous  man  he  seyde 

And  gif  that  he  /  out  of  his  sleepe  abreyde 

He  myghte  doon  vs  /  bathe  a  vileynye 

Tf  Aleyn  answerde  /  I  count  hym  nat  a  flye  4192 

And  vp  he  rist  /  and  by  the  wenche  he  crepte 

This  wenche  lay  vprighte  /  and  faste  slepte 

Til  he  so  ny  was  /  er  she  mygfete  espie 

That  it  had  been  /  to  late  for  to  crie  4196 

And  shortly  for  to  seyn  /  they  were  aton 

!Now  pley  Aleyn  /  for  I  wol  speke  of  lo&n 

rThis  lofen  lith  stille  /  a  furlong  wey  or  two 

-*•  And  to  hym  self  /  he  maketh  routhe  and  wo  4200 

Alias  quod  he  /  this  is  a  wikked  lape 

Now  may  I  seyn  /  that  I  is  but  an  Ape 

Yet  has  my  felawe  /  som  what  for  his  harm 

He  has  /  the  Milleris  doghter  /  in  his  Arm  4204 

ELLESMERE    120 


GROUP  A.    §  6.   BEEVE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    121 

He  auntred  hym  /  and  has  his  nedes  sped 

And  I  lye  /  as  a  draf  sek  /  in  my  bed 

And  when  this  Tape  is  tald  another  day 

I  sal  been  halde  a  daf  a  cokenay  4208 

I  wil  arise  /  and  auntre  it  by  my  fayth" 

Vnhardy  is  vnseely  /  thus  men  sayth 

And  vp  he  roos  /  and  softely  he  wente 

Vn  to  the  cradel  /  and  in  his  hand  it  hente  4212 

And  baar  it  softe  /  vn  to  the  beddes  feet1 

If  Soone  after  this  /  the  wyf  hir  rowtyng  leett 

And  gan  awake  /  and  wente  hire  out  to  pisse 

And  cam  agayn  /  and  gan  hir  cradel  mysse  4216 

And  groped  heer  and  ther  /  but  she  foond  noon 

Alias  quod  she  /  I  hadde  almoost  mysgoon 

I  hadde  almoost  goon  /  to  the  clerkes  bed  [leaf  49,  back] 

Ey  benedicite  /  thanne  hadde  I  foule  y-sped  4220 

And  forth  she  gootb  /  til  she  the  Cradel  fond1 

She  gropeth  /  alwey  forther  with  hir  bond! 

And  foond  the  bed  /  and  thoghte  noght  but  good 

By  cause  /  that  the  Cradel  by  it  stood  4224 

And  nyste  wher  she  was  /  for  it  was  derk1 

But  faire  and  wel  /  she  creepe  In  to  the  clerk 

And  lith  ful  stille  /  and  wolde  ban  caught  a  sleeps 

With-Inne  a  while  /  this  lonn  the  clerk  vp  leepe         4228 

And  on  this  goode  wyf  /  he  leith  on  score 

So  myrie  a  fit1  hadde  she  nat  ful  yoore 

He  priketh  harde  and  score  /  as  he  were  mad 

This  ioly  lyf  /  ban  thise  two  clerkes  lad  4232 

Til  that*  the  thridde  cok1  /  bigan  to  svnge 

/  O  v       O 

IF  Aleyn  wax  wery  /  in  the  dawenynge 

ffor  he  had  swonken  /  al  the  longe  nygttf 

And  seyde  /  fare  weel  Malyne  sweete  wight*  4236 

The  day  is  come  /  I  may  no  lenger  byde 

But  eueremo  /  wher  so  I  go  /  or  ryde 

I  is  thyn  awen  clerk1  swa  haue  I  seel 

H  Now  deere  lemman  quod  she  /  go  fareweel  4240 

ELLESMERE    121 


122    GROUP  A.    §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

But  er  thow  go  /  o  thyng1 1  wol  thee  telle 
Wlian  that  thou  wendesf  homward  by  the  Melle 
Rigfit  at  the  entree  /  of  the  dore  bihynde 
Thou  shalt  a  Cake  /  of  half  a  bussfiel  fynde  4244 

That  was  ymaked  /  of  thyn  owene  mele 
Which  that  I  heelpe  /  my  fader  for  to  stele 
And  goode  lemman  /  god  thee  saue  and  kepe 
And  with  that  word  /  almoost  she  gan  to  wepe  4248 

A  leyn  vp  rist  /  and  thoughte  /  er  fat  it  dawe 
•*"*•  I  wol  go  crepen  In  /  by  my  felawe 
And  fond  the  Cradel  /  with  his  hand  anon 
By  God  thoughte  he  /  al  wrang  I  haue  mysgon  4252 

Myn  heed  is  toty  /  of  my  swynk  to  nygfit 
That  niaketh  me  /  that  I  go  nat  aright 
I  woot  wel  by  the  Cradel  /  I  have  mysgo 
Heere  lith  the  Millere  /  and  his  wyf  also  4256 

And  forth  he  goth  /  a  twenty  deuel  way 
Vn  to  the  bed  /  ther  as  the  Millere  lay 
He  wende  have  cropen  /  by  his  felawe  lohn 
And  by  the  Millere  In  he  creepe  anon  4260 

And  caughte  hym  by  the  nekke  /  and  softe  he  spak1 
He  seyde  /  thou  lofrn  /  thou  swynesheed  awak 
ffor  cristes  saule  /  and  heer  a  noble  game 
ffor  by  that  lord  /  that  called  is  seint  lame  4264 

As  I  haue  thries  /  in  this  shorte  nygfrt/ 
Swyued  the  Milleres  doghter  bolt  vprightt 
Whil  thow  hast1  as  a  Coward  been  agast  [leaf  so] 

If  Ye  false  harlot1  quod  the  Millere  hastf  ?  4268 

A  false  traitour  /  false  clerk  /  quod  he 
Thow  shalt  be  deed  /  by  goddes  dignitee 
Who  dorste  be  so  boold  /  to  disparage 
My  doghter  /  that  is  come  /  of  swich  lynage  4272 

And  by  the  throte  bolle  /  he  caughte  Alayn 
And  he  hente  hym  /  despitously  agayn 
And  on  the  nose  /  he  smootf  hym  with  his  fest1 
Doun  ran  the  blody  streem  /  vp  on  his  bresfr  4276 

ELLESMERE    122 


GROUP  A.    §  6.   REEVE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    123 

And  in  the  floor  /  with  nose  and  mouth  to-broke 

They  walwe  /  as  doon  two  pigges  in  a  poke 

And  vp  they  goon  /  and  doun  agayn  anon 

Til  that  the  Millere  /  sporned  at  a  stoon  4280 

And  doun  he  fil  /  bakward  vp  on  his  wyf  / 

That  wiste  no  thyng  /  of  this  nyce  stryf  / 

ffor  she  was  falle  aslepe  a  lite  wight 

With  lohn  the  clerk  /  that  waked  hadde  al  nygfit       4284 

And  with  the  fal  /  out  of  hir  sleepe  she  breyde 

Help  hooly  croys  of  Bromholm  /she  seyde 

In  manus  tuas  /  lord  to  thee  I  calle 

Awak  Symond?  /  the  feend  is  on  vs  falle  4288 

Myn  herte  is  broken  /  help  I  nam  but  deed 

Ther  lyth  oon  /  vp  on  my  wombe  /  and  on  myn  heed 

Helpe  Symkyn  /  for  the  false  clerkes  tighte 

IT  This  lohn  stirte  vp  /  as  soone  as  euer  he  mygtte     4292 

And  graspeth  by  the  walles  to  and  fro 

To  fynde  a  staf  /  and  she  stirte  vp  also 

And  knewe  the  Estres  /  bet  than  dide  this  lohn 

And  by  the  wal  /  a  staf  she  foond  anon  4296 

And  saugh  /  a  litel  shymeryng  of  a  light1 

ffor  at  an  hole  /  In  shoon  the  moone  bright* 

And  by  that  light1  she  saugh  hem  bothe  two 

But  sikerly  /  she  nyste  /  who  was  who  4300 

But  as  she  saugfi.  /  a  whit  thyng  in  hir  eye 

And  whan  she  gan  /  the  white  thyng  espye 

She  wende  the  clerk1  hadde  wered  a  volupeer 

And  with  the  staf  /  she  drough  ay  neer  and  neer         4304 

And  wende  han  hit1  this  Aleyn  at  the  fulle 

And  smoot  the  Millere  /  on  the  pyled  skulle 

And  doun  he  gooth  /  and  cride  harrow  I  dye 

Thise  clerkes  beete  hym  weel  /  and  lete  hym  lye          4308 

And  greythen  hem  /  and  tooke  hir  hors  anon 

And  eek  hire  mele  /  and  on  hir  wey  they  gon 

And  at  the  Mille  /  yet  they  tooke  hir  cake 

Of  half  a  busshel  flour  /  ful  wel  ybake  4312 

ELLESMERE   123 


124   GROUP  A.   §  6.  REEVE'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

rphus  is  the  proude  Millere  wel  ybete 

•*•  And  hath  ylost  /  the  gryndynge  of  the  whete 

And  payed  for  the  soper  euerideel  Deaf  so,  back] 

Of  Aleyn  and  of  lofin  /  fat  bette  hym  weel  4316 

His  wyf  is  swyued  /  and  his  doghter  als 

Lo  swich  it  is  /  a  Millere  to  be  fals 

And  therfore  this  prouerbe  /  is  seyd  ful  sooth 

Hym  thar  nat  wene  wel  /  that  yuele  dooth  4320 

A  gylour  /  shal  hym  self  bigyled  be 

And  god  /  pat  sitteth  heighe  in  Trinitee 

Saue  al  this  compaignye  /  grete  and  smale 

Thus  have  I  quyf  the  Millere  in  my  tale  4324 

1T  Heere  is  ended  the  Reues  tale 

[Slight  'break  in  the  MSJ] 


ELLGSMKRF 


GROUP  A.   §  7.   COOK'S  PROLOGUE,  Ellesmere  MS.   125 


1T  The  prologe  of  the  Cokes  Tale 

The  Cook  of  London  /  whil  that  the  Eeue  spak 
ffor  ioye  him.  thotighte  /  he  clawed  him  on  the  bak1 
Ha .  ha .  quod  he  /  for  cristes  passion) 
This  Millere  /  hadde  a  sharps  conclusion)        4328 
Vpon  his  argument  /  of  herbergage 
Wei  seyde  Salomxm  /  in  his  langage 
Ne  brynge  nat  every  man  in-to  thyn  hous 
ffor  herberwynge  by  nyghte  is  perilous  4332 

Wei  oghte  a  man  /  auysed  for  to  be 
Whom  that  he  broghte  /  in-to  his  pryueteo 
I  pray  to  god  /  so  yeue  me  sorwe  and  care 
If  euere  sitthe  /  I  higfite  Hogge  of  Ware  4336 

Herde  I  a  Millere  /  bettre  yset  a  werk 
He  hadde  a  Tape  of  malice  in  the  derk 

hie 

But  god  forbede  /  that  we  stynte  heere 

audire 

And  therfore  /  if  ye  vouche-sauf  to  heere  4340 

A  tale  of  me  /  that  am  a  poure  man 

I  wol  yow  telle  /  as  wel  as  euere  I  kan 

A  litel  iape  /  that  fil  in  oure  Citee 

1T  Oure  hoost  answerde  /  and  seide  I  graunte  it  thee    4344 

Now  telle  on  Roger  /  looke  that  it  be  good 

ffor  many  a  pastee  /  hastow  laten  blood 

And  many  a  lakke  of  Douere  hastow  soold 

That  hath  been  /  twies  hoof  and  twies  coold  4348 

Of  many  a  pilgrym  /  hastow  cristes  curs 

ffor  of  thy  percely  /  yet  they  fare  the  wors 

That  they  han  eten  /  with  thy  stubbel  goos 

ffor  in  thy  shoppe  /  is  many  a  flye  loos  4352 

Now  telle  on  /  gentil  Eoger  by  thy  name 

But  yet1 1  pray  thee  /  be  nat  wroth  for  game 

A  man  may  seye  ful  sooth  /  in  game  and  pley  [leaf  si] 

IT  Thou  seist  ful  sooth  /  quod  Eoger  by  my  fey  4356 

ELLESMERE    126 


126  GROUP  A.   §  7.   COOK'S  PROLOGUE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

But  sooth,  pley  quoad  pley  /  as  the  flemyng  seith 

And  ther-fore  /  Herry  Bailly  /  by  thy  feith 

Be  thou  na[t]  wrooth  /  er  we  departen  heer 

Though  that  my  tale  /  be  of  an  Hostileer  4360 

But  nathelees  /  I  wol  nat  telle  it  yifr 

But  er  we  parte  /  ywis  thou  shalt  be  quit/ 

And  ther  with  al  /  he  lougfi  and  made  cheere 

And  seyde  his  tale  /  as  ye  shul  after  heere  4364 

[Slight  break  in  the  MS.] 


KLLB8HKRR    126 


GROUP  A.   §  8.  COOK'S  TALE.  EUesmere  MS.     127 


IT  Heere  bigynneth  the  Cookes  tale 

APrentys  whilom  dwelled  /  in  cure  Citee 
And  of  a  craft1  of  vitailliers  was  hee 
Gaillard  he  was  /  as  Goldfynch  in  the  shawe 
Broun  as  a  berye  /  a  propre  short  fel[a]we  4368 

With  lokkes  blake  /  ykempd  ful  fetisly 
Dauncen  he  koude  /  so  wel  and  iolily  [.painting  of  the  Coo*] 

That  he  was  cleped  Perkyn  Reuelour 
He  was  /  as  ful  of  loue  and  paramour  4372 

As  is  the  hyve  /  ful  of  hony  sweete 
"Wel  was  the  wenche  /  with  hym  myghte  meete 
At  euery  bridale  /  wolde  he  synge  and  hoppe 
He  loved  befr  the  Tauerne  than  the  shoppe  4376 

IF  flfor  /  whan  ther  /  any  ridyng  was  in  Chepe 
Out  of  the  shoppe  /  thider  wolde  he  lepe 
Til  that  he  hadde  /  al  the  sighte  yseyn 
And  daunced  wel  /  he  wolde  nat  come  ayeyn  4380 

And  gadered  hym  /  a  meynee  of  his  sorfr 
To  hoppe  and  synge  /  and  maken  swich  disport* 
And  ther  /  they  setten  steuene  for  to  meete 
To  pleyen  /  at  the  dys  in  swich  a  streete  4384 

ffor  in  the  toun  /  nas  ther  no  prentys 
That  fairer  koude  caste  /  a  paire  of  dys 
Than  Perkyn  koude  /  and  ther-to  he  was  free 
Of  his  dispense  /  in  place  of  pryuetee  4388 

That  fond  his  maister  wel  in  his  chaffare 
ffor  often  tyme  /  he  foond  his  box  ful  bare 
ffor  sikerly  /  a  prentys  Reuelour 

That  haunteth  dys  /  Riot1  or  paramour  4392 

His  maister  /  shal  it  in  his  shoppe  abye 
Al  haue  he  /  no  part1  of  the  Mynstralcye 
if  or  thefte  and  Riot1,  they  been  conuertible 
Al  konne  he  pleye  on  gyterne  /  or  Eibible  4396 

ELLESMERE    127 


128    GROUP  A.    §  8.   COOK'S  TALE.   Elleemere  MS, 

Reuel  and  trouthe  /  as  in  a  lowe  degree  [leaf  si,  back] 

They  been  ful  wrothe  al  day  /  as  men  may  see 

IT  This  ioly  prentys  /  with  his  maister  bood 

Til  he  were  ny  /  out  of  his  prentishood  4400 

Al  were  he  snybbed  /  bothe  erly  and  late 

And  somtyme  /  lad  with  reuel  to  Newegate 

But  atte  laste  /  his  maister  hym  bithoghte 

"Vp  on  a  day  /  whan  he  his  papir  soghte  4404 

Of  a  prouerbe  /  that  seith  this  same  word 

Wei  bet  is  roten  Appul  /  out  of  hoord 

Than  fat  /  it  rotie  al  the  remenauref 

IT  So  fareth  it1  by  a  riotous  seruauwf  4408 

It  is  wel  lasse  harm  /  to  lete  hym  pace 

Than  he  shende  /  alle  the  seruantz  in  the  place 

Therfore  /  his  maister  /  yaf  hym  Acquitance 

And  bad  hym  go  /  wz't/i  sorwe  and  vrith  meschance     4412 

And  thus  this  ioly  prentys  /  hadde  his  leue 

Now  lat  hym  riote  al  the  nyght  /  or  leue 

And  for  ther  is  no  theef  /  with-oute  a  lowke 

That  helpeth  hym  /  to  wasten  and  to  sowke  4416 

Of  that  he  brybe  kan  /  or  borwe  may 

Anon  he  sente  his  bed  /  and  his  array 

Vn  to  a  compier  /  of  his  owene  [sort1]  t>  later  hand] 

That  louede  dys  /  and  Eeuel  and  disport1  4420 

And  hadde  a  wyf  /  that  heeld  for  contenance 

A  shoppe  /  and  swyued  for  hir  sustenance 

[22  lines  $  1  leaf  of  the  MS  blank.] 


ELLESMERE    128 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.    GAMELYN.    Royal  MS  18  C  U. 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A. 


[THE  SPURIOUS  TALE  OF  GAMELYN.] 


[Spurious 

]3ut  here  of  I  wil  passe  as  now  [leaf  56,  back,  foot] 

And  of  jong  Gamelyne  I  wil  telle  ^ow  2 

[Tale.] 

rM  Vile  tale  of  $ong  Gamelyn  [leaf  573 

\  ithen  and  listenyth  and  herkenyth  a  right  1 

And  30  shul  here  of  a  doughti  knyght 

Sire  lohn  of  Bondys  was  his  name 

,  •       He  coude  of  norture  and  of  mochel  game  4 

Thre  sones  the  knyght  had  and  with  his  body  hem  wan 
The  eldest  was  a  moche  schrew  and  sone  he  bi-gan 
His  bretheren  loued  wel  here  fader  and  of  him  were  a-gast 
The  eldest  disserued  his  fader  curs  and  h  had  hit  at  last   8 
The  gode  knyght  his  fader  lyued  so  ^ore 
That  deth  was  comyn  him  to  and  handlid  him  ful  sore 
The  good  knyght  cared  sore  sike  per  he  lay 
How  his  children  shuld  lyuen  after  his  day  1  2 

He  had  ben  wide  where  but  non  husbonde  he  was 
Al  the  londe  that  he  hadde  hit  was  purchas 
ffayn  he  wold  it  were  dressed  among  hem  alle 
That  eche  of  hem  hadd  his  part  as  it  myght  falle  1  6 

Tho  sente  he  in  to  contre  after  ,wyse  knyghtes 
To  helpen  delen  his  londes  and  dressen  hem  to  rightes 
He  sent  hem  word  by  lettres  Jjai  shuld  hye  blyue 
3if  thei  wold  speke  with  him  while  he  was  on  lyue         20 
ROYAL  18  c  ii.    1 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELTN.     Boyal  MS  18  C  U. 

Tho  f  e  knyghtes  lierden  syke  fat  he  lay 

Had  f  ei  no  rest  nether  nyght  no  day 

Til  f  ei  come  to  him  f  er  he  lay  stille 

On  his  deef  bed  to  a-bide  goddes  wille  24 

Then  seide  f  e  good  knyght  sike  f  er  he  lay 

Lordes  I  $ow  warne  for  soth  with-oute  nay 

I  may  no  lenger  lyuen  here  in  this  stonde 

ffor  thorugh  goddes  wille  deth  drawes  me  to  grounde       28 

Ther  nas  none  of  hem  alle  fat  herd  hem  a  right 

That  thei  hadden  reuthe  of  fat  ilke  knyght 

And  seiden  sire  for  goddes  loue  ne  dismay  }ow  nought 

God  may  done  bote  of  bale  fat  is  now  I-wroght  32 

Thau  spake  f  e  gode  knyght  sike  f  er  he  lay 

Bot  of  bale  god  may  send  I  wot  it  is  no  nay 

But  I  byseke  3ow  knyghtes  for  the  loue  of  me 

Goth  and  dresseth  my  londes  among  my  sones  thre          36 

And  for  the  loue  of  god  de-lith  not  hem  amys 

And  for^etef  not  Gamelyn  my  jong  sone  fat  is 

Takif  hide  to  that  one  as  wel  as  to  that  other 

Seeld  ^e  seen  any  heier  helpen  his  brother  40 

Tho  leten  f ei  the  knyght  lyen  fat  was  not  in  hele  Deaf  57,  back] 

And  wenten  in  to  conseil  his  londis  for  to  dele 

ffor  to  delem  hem  alle  to  oon  that  was  her  f  oght 

And  for  Gamelyn  was  Congest  he  shuld  haue  noght          44 

Alle  the  lond  fat  ther  was  f  ei  dalten  it  in  two 

And  leten  Gamelyn  f  e  jong  with-outen  lond  go 

And  eche  of  hem  seido  to  of  er  ful  lowde 

His  brefrin  might  $eue  him  lond  when  he  good  cowde    48 

When  thei  hadde  deled  the  lond  at  her  wille 

Thei  comen  to  f  e  knyght  f  er  he  lay  stille 

And  told  him  a-noon  how  thei  had  wroght 

And  the  knyght  ther  he  lay  liMd  it  right  noght  52 

Than  saide  the  knyght  by  seynt  martyn 

ffor  al  fat  je  haue  don  jet  is  f  e  lond  myn 

ffor  goddes  loue  Neighboures  stondith  alle  stil 

And  I  wil  delen  my  lond  right  after  my  wil  56 

KOYAL  18  0  ii.    2 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.   GAMELYN.   Royal  MS  18  C  0. 

lohn  my  eldest  sone  shal  haue  plowes  fyue 
That  was  my  fadres  heritage  while  he  was  on  lyue 
And  my  myddlest  sone  fyue  plowes  of  lond 
That  I  halpe  for  to  gete  wit  my  right  hond  60 

And  alle  myn  ofer  purchas  of  londes  and  ledes 
J3at  I  be-quethe  Gamelyn  and  alle  my  gode  stedes 
And  I  be-seke  ^ow  good  men  fat  law  con  of  lond 
ffor  Gamelyns  loue  fat  my  quest  stond  64 

Thus  dalt  f  e  knyght  his  lond  by  his  day 
Eight  on  his  deeth  bed  sike  f  er  he  lay 
And  sone  afterward  he  lei  stoon  stille 
And  died  whan  tyme  come  as  it  was  cristes  wille  68 

A-none  as  he  was  dede  and  vnder  gras  grave 
Sone  J?e  elder  brother  giled  the  ^ong  knave 
He  toke  in  to  his  honde  his  lond  and  his  lede 
And  Gamelyn  him  selue  to  clothen  and  to  fede  72 

He  clothed  him  and  fedde  hym  yuel  and  eke  wrothe 
And  lete  his  londes  for-fare  and  his  houses  bothe 
His  parkes  and  his  wodes  and  dide  no  thing  welle 
And  sithen  he  it  a-bowght  on  his  owne  felle  76 

So  long  was  Gamelyn  in  his  brothres  halle 
ffor  f  e  strongest  of  good  wille  f  ei  douteden  him  alle 
Ther  was  none  ther-in  nof  er  ^ong  ne  old 
That  wold  wrath  Gamelyn  were  he  neuer  so  bold  80 

Gamelyn  stood  on  a  day  in  his  brotheris  ^erd 
And  bi-gan  with  his  hand  to  hondel  his  berd 
He  fought  on  his  landes  fat  lay  vnsawe  fieaf  s«] 

And  his  faire  okes  fat  doune  were  I-drawe  84 

His  parkes  were  broken  and  his  dere  reved 
Of  alle  his  good  stedes  noon  was  him  by-leued 
His  howses  were  vnhiled  and  ful  yuel  dight 
Thoo  f  ou}t  Gamelyn  it  went  not  a-right  88 

Afterward  came  his  brother  walking  there 
And  seide  to  gamelyn  is  cure  mete  }are 
Tho  wrathed  him  Gamelyn  and  swore  by  goddes  booke 
Thow  shalt  go  bake  thi  self*  I  wil  not  be  thi  cooke  92 

ROYAL  18  c  ii.  3 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.  GAMELYN.  Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

Row  broker  Gamelyn  how  answerist  ]>ow  now 

Thou  spakest  neiier  suche  a  word  as  J?ow  dost  now 

By  my  feith  seide  Gamelyn  now  me  thinkith  nede 

Of  alle  J>e  harmes  fat  I  haue  I  toke  neuer  }et  hede          96 

My  parkes  ben  broken  and  my  dere  by-reved 

Of  myn  armes  and  my  stedes  noght  is  me  byleued 

Al  fat  my  fader  me  bi-quaj)  al  goth  to  shame 

And  fer-fore  haue  J>ou  goddes  curs  brother  by  thyn  name  1 00 

Than  spake  his  brother  J?at  rape  was  of  rees 

Stand  stille  gadling  and  hold  J>i  pees 

)3ou  shalt  be  fayn  to  haue  j?i  mete  and  J?i  wede 

What  spekest  J?ou  gadling  of  lond  or  of  lede  104 

J?an  seide  Gamelyn  J?e  child  Jjat  ^yng 

Cristes  curs  mote  he  haue  )>at  clepith  me  gadling 

I  am  no  worse  gadlyng  ne  no  worse  wight 

But  borne  of  a  lady  and  geten  of  a  knyght  108 

N"e  dorst  he  note  to  Gamelin  neuer  a  fote  go 

But  clepid  to  him  his  men  cmdf.seide  to  hem  tho 

Goth  and  betith'this  boy  and  reueth  him  his  witte 

And  lete  him  lerne  an  other  to  answere  me  bette  112 

Then  saide  jse  child  $ong  Gamelyn 

Cristes  curs  mote  fou  haue  brother  art  f ou  myn 

And  }if  I  shal  algate  be  beten  a-noon 

Cristes  curs  mote  J?ou  haue  but  J>0u  be  that  oon  1 1 Q 

And  anon  his  brother  in  J>at  grete  hete 

Made  his  men  to  fette  stafies  Gamelyn  to  bete 

When  euery  of  hem  hadd  a  staff  I-nomen 

Gamelyn  was  war  J>oo  he  seigh  hem  comen  120 

Tho  Gamelyn  sighe  hem  comen  he  loked  ouer  aft 

And  was  warre  of  a  pestel  stood  vnder  ]je  walle 

Gamelyn  was  light  and  fider  con  he  lepe 

And  droff1  alle  his  brothers  men  right  sone  on  hepe    [if  58,  bk] 

And  lokid  as  a  wild  lyon .  and  laide  on  gode  wone 

Tho  his  brother  sei  J>at  he  by-gan  to  gone 

He  fley  vp  in  to  a  loft  and  shete  )>e  dore  faste 

This  Gamelyn  with  his  pestel  mad  hem  al  a-gast  128 

KOYAL  18  C  ii.    4 


' 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.    Eoyal  MS  18  C  U. 

Some  for  gamelyns  loue  and  some  for  eye 
Alle  thei  drowhen  hem  to  halues  f  oo  he  gan  to  pleye 
"What  now  seide  Gamelyn  euel  mote  30  thee 
Wil  30  bi-gynne  contik  and  so  sone  flee  132 

Gamelyn  soght  his  brof er  winder  he  was  flow 
And  sauhe  where  he  lokid  oute  at  a  wyndowe 
Brother  said  Gamelyn  come  a  litel  nere 
And  I  wil  teche  the  a  play  at  the  bokelere  136 

His  brother  hym  answerid  and  seid  by  seint  Richere 
"While  fat  pestel  is  in  thi  hond  I  wil  come  no  nere 
Brother  I  wil  make  thi  pees  I  swere  by  cristes  ore 
Cast  a-way  fe  pestel  and  wrathe  the  nomore  140 

I  moste  nede  saide  Gamelyn  wrath  me  at  ones 
if  or  fou  wold  make  fi  men  to  breke  my  bones 
Ne  hadde  I  hadde  mayn  and  might  in  myn  armes 
To  haue  hem  fro  me  thei  wold  haue  do  me  harmes          144 
Gamelyn  saide  his  brother  be  fou  not  wrothe 
ffor  to  seen  the  haue  harme  me  were  right  lothe 
I  ne  did  it  noght  brof er  but  for  a  fondyng 
ffor  to  loken  or  fou  art  strong  and  art  so  ^yng  148 

Come  a-doune  then  to  me  and  graunt  me  my  bone 
Of  a  thing  I  wil  the  axe  and  we  shul  saught  sone 
Down  fan  come  his  broker  that  fykel  was  and  felle 
And  was  swith  sore  a-ferd  of  J>e  pesteii  152 

He  saide  brother  Gamelyn  axe  me  f  i  bone 
And  loke  fou  me  blame  but  I  it  graunt  sone 
Than  saide  Gamelyn  brother  I  was 

And  we  shul  be  at  one  fou  most  grauwt  me  this  156 

Alle  fat  my  fadir  me  by-quaf  while  fat  he  was  on  lyue 
Thou  most  do  me  it  haue  }if  we  shul  not  stryve 
J?at  shat  fou  haue  Gamelyn  I  swere  by  cristes  ore 
Alt  fat  f i  fader  f e  bi-quath  f ough  fou  woldest  haue  more 
Thi  lond  that  lith  leie  wel  it  shal  be  sowe 
And  thyn  houses  reised  vp  fat  ben  leide  ful  lowe 
Thus  saide  the  knyght  to  Gamelyn  with  mouth 
And  fought  on  falsenes  as  he  wel  couthe  164 

KOYAL  18  c  ii.  5 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

The  knyght  fought  on  treson  and  Gamelyn  on  none  deaf  59] 

And  went  and  kissed  his  brother  and  when  pei  were  at  one 

Alas  $ong  Gamelyn  no  thing  he  ne  wiste 

With  suche  false  treson  his  brother  him  kyste  168 

Lynthenyth  and  lysteneth  and  holdith  ^oure  tong 

And  je  shul  here  talkyng  of  Gamelyn  the  }ong 

Ther  was  ther  be  siden  cried  a  wrastelynge 

And  ther  fore  ther  was  sett  a  Earn  and  a  Rynge  172 

And  Gamelyn  was  in  wille  to  wende  perto 

ffor  to  preuen  his  might  what  he  coude  do 

Brother  seide  Gamelyn  be  seint  Bichere 

Thou  most  lene  me  to  nyght  a  litel  cursere  176 

That  is  fressh"  to  pe  spores  on  for  to  ride 

I  most  on  an  Erand  a  litel  here  be  side 

Be  god  saide  his  brother  of  stedes  in  my  stalle 

Go  and  chese  the  pe  best  spare  non  of  hem  alle  180 

Of  stedes  and  of  cursers  that  stoden  hem  be  side 

And  telle  me  good  brother  whider  pou  wilt  ride 

Here  be  side  brother  is  cried  a  wrastlynge 

And  per  fore  shal  be  sette  a  ram  and  a  rynge  184 

Moche  worship  it  were  brother  to  vs  alle 

Might  I  Jje  ram  and  pe  rynge  bryngen  home  to  pi's  halle 

A  stede  per  was  sadeled  smertly  and  skete 

Gamelyn  dide  a  paire  of  spores  faste  on  his  fete  188 

He  sette  his  fote  in  Jje  stirop  the  stede  he  by-strod 

And  toward  pe  wrastlynge  the  yong  child  rood 

Tho  Gamelyn  pe  yonge  was  riden  oute  at  gate 

The  fals  knyght  his  brother  loked  yit  after  pate  192 

And  bi-sought  ihesu  crist  that  is  heuen  kynge 

He  mighte  breke  his  nekke  in  that  wrastlinge 

As  sone  as  Gamelyn  come  ther  the  place  was 

He  light  doun  of  his  stede  and  stode  on  the  gras  196 

And  ther  he  herde  a  frankelen  weylaway  synge 

And  bi-gan  bitterly  his  handes  for  to  wrynge 

Gode  man  seide  Gamelyn  whi  makest  pon  pis  fare 

Is  ther  no  man  that  may  jow  helpen  out  of  care  200 

ROYAL  18  C  ii.    6 


"}-*• 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.    Eoyal  MS  18  C  U. 

Alias  seide  f  is  frankeleyn  that  euer  was  I  bore 

ffor  twei  stalworth  sones  I  wene  that  I  haue  lore 

A  Champion  is  in  f  e  place  fat  hath  wroght  me  sorowe 

fibr  he  hath  slayn  my  two  sones  but  ^if  god  hem  borwe 

I  wol  jeue  ten  pound<  by  ihmi  crist  and  more  205 

"With  fe  nones  fat  I  fond  a  man  to  handle  hym  sore  flf  59,bkj 

Gode  man  seide  Gamelyn  wilt  fou  wel  done 

Hold  myn  hors  while  my  man  drawith  of  my  shone       208 

And  helpe  my  man  to  kepe  my  clothes  and  my  stede 

And  I  wil  in  to  f  e  place  gone  to  loke  }if  I  may  spede 

By  god  seide  f  e  frankeleyn  it  shal  be  done 

I  wil  my  self  be  thi  man  to  draw  of  thi  shone  212 

And  wende  fou  in  to  place  ihesu  criste  the  spede 

And  drede  not  of  thi  clothes  ne  of  }>i  gode  stede 

Barfoot  and  vngirt  Gamely  In  came 

Alle  fat  were  in  f  e  place  hede  of  him  J>ei  name  216 

How  he  durste  auntre  him  to  done  his  myght 

Jjat  was  so  doughti  a  champion  in  wrastling  and  in  fight 

Yp  sterte  fe  Champion  rapely  a-none 

Toward  }ong  Gamelyn  he  by-gan  to  gone  220 

And  seide  who  is  f  i  fader  and  who  is  f  i  sire 

fibr  sothe  f ou  art  a  grete  fool  fat  fou  come  here 

Gamelyn  answerid  f  e  Champion  tho 

Thou  knew  wel  my  fader  while  he  couthe  go  224 

Whiles  he  was  on  lyue  by  seint  Martyn 

Sire  lehan  of  Boundis  was  his  name  and  I  gamelyn 

ffelaw  seide  f  e  Champion  so  mote  I  thyue 

I  knew  wel  fi  fader  whiles  he  was  on  lyue  228 

And  thi  self  gemelyn  I  wil  fat  f  ou  it  here 

While  f  ou  were  a  ^ong  boy  a  moche  schrew  f  ou  were 

Than  seide  Gamelyn  and  swore  by  cristes  ore 

Now  I  am  older  wax  fou  shalt  fynde  me  a  more  232 

By  god  seide  f  e  Champion)  wel  come  mote  fou  be 

Come  fou  ones  in  my  hond  fou  shalt  neuer  the 

It  was  wel  with-Inne  the  nyght  and  the  mone  shone 

When  Gamelyn  and  the  Champion  to-gedre  gon  gone    236 

ROYAL  18  C  ii.    7 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Eoyal  MS  18  C  U. 

The  Champion  cast  tomes  to  gamelyn  fat  was  prest 

And  gamelyn  stode  and  bade  him  done  his  best 

Than  seide  Gamelyn  to  J>e  Champion 

Thou  art  fast  aboute  to  bryng  me  a-doure  240 

Now  I  haue  proued  mony  tornes  of  thyne 

Thou  most  he  seide  proue  on  or  two  of  myne 

Gamelyn  to  f  e  Champion  $ede  smertely  a-none 

Of  alle  the  tornes  fat  he  couthe  he  shewid  him  but  one 

And  kest  him  on  the  lift  side  fat  f  e  ribbes  he  brake     245 

And  Jjerto  his  one  arme  fat  ^af  a  grete  crak1 

Than  seide  gamelyn  smertly  a-none  Peafeo] 

Shal  it  be  hold  for  a  cast  or  elles  for  none  248 

By  god  seide  f  e  Champion  whef  er  it  be 

He  fat  cometh  ones  in  thi  honde  shal  he  neuer  the 

jjan  seide  f  e  frankeleyn  fat  hadd  his  sones  there 

Blessed  be  f ou  Gamelyn  fat  euer  f  ou  bore  were  252 

The  frankeleyn  seide  to  f  e  Champion  on  hym  stood  hym  no 

This  is  ^ong  Gamelyn  fat  taght  f  e  this  pleie  [eye 

A~3en  vnswared  f e  Champion  fat  liked  no  f  ing  wel 

He  is  altther  maister  and  his  pleie  is  right  felle  256 

Sithen  I  wrastelet  first  it  is  gone  3ore 

But  I  was  neuer  in  my  lif<  handeled  so  sore 

Gamelyn  stode  in  f  e  place  anon  with-out  serke 

And  seid  }if  fer  ben  mo  lete  hem  come  to  werke  260 

The  Champion  fat  payned  hym  to  wirke  sore 

Hit  semyth  bi  his  continance  fat  he  wil  no  more 

Gamelyn  in  f  e  place  stood  stille  as  stoon 

fibr  to  a-byde  wrastlinge  but  fer  come  none  264 

Ther  was  noon  with  gamelyn  fat  wold  wrastle  more 

ifor  he  handlid  f  e  Champion  so  wonderly  sore 

Two  gentil  men  ^emed  f  e  place 

Come  to  Gamelyn  god  ^yue  him  gode  grace  268 

And  seide  to  him  do  on  thi  hosen  and  f  i  shone 

ffor  sothe  at  f  is  tyme  f  is  faire  is  done 

And  fan  seide  Gamelyn  so  mote  I  wel  fare 

I  haue  not  }et  haluendel  sold  my  ware  272 

ROYAL  18  C  ii.    8 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.   GAMELYN.   Royal  MS  18  C  ii. 

Tho  seide  the  Champion  so  "brok  I  my  swere 

He  is  a  fool  fat  ther-of  bieth  fou  sellest  it  so  dere 

Thoo  seide  the  ffrankeleyn  fat  was  in  moche  care 

ffelaw  he  seid  whi  lakkest  fou  J>is  ware  276 

By  seynt  lame  in  Galys  fat  mony  man  hath  soght 

$it  is  it  to  good  chepe  that  fou  hast  "bought 

Tho  fat  wardeyns  were  of  fat  wrastlinge 

Come  and  hrought  Gamelyn  f  e  Eamme  and  f  e  rynge    280 


........     no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

And  went  with  moche  ioye  home  in  f  e  mornynge          284 

His  brother  seie  wher  he  came  with  f  e  grete  route 

And  bade  shit  f  e  gate  and  hold  hym  with-oute 

The  porter  of  his  lord  was  sore  a-gaste 

And  sterte  anon  to  f  e  gate  and  lokkid  it  faste  288 

Now  lithef  and  listenythe  bof  e  }ong  and  old 

And  36  shul  here  gamyn  of  Gamelyn  f  e  bold 

Gamelyn  come  ther-to  for  to  haue  comyn  In         P«af  eo,  back] 

Than  was  it  shet  fast  with  a  pyn  292 

Than  seide  Gamelyn  Porter  vndo  f  e  $ate 

ffor  gode  mannys  sore  stonde  f  er  ate 

Than  answerid  f  e  porter  and  sware  by  goddes  berd 

Thou  ne  shalt  Gamelyn  come  in  to  fis  ^erde  296 

Thou  lixt  seid  Gamelyn  so  broke  I  my  chyne 

He  smote  the  wiket  with  his  foote  and  brake  away  the  pyne 

The  porter  sey  tho  it  might  ne  better  be 

He  sette  foote  on  erthe  and  by  gan  to  flee  300 

By  my  fai  seide  gamelyn  fat  trauaile  is  lore 

ffor  I  am  on  foote  as  light  as  fou  haddest  it  swore 

Gamelyn  ouer  toke  f  e  porter  and  his  tene  wrake 

And  girt  him  in  the  nekke  fat  f  e  boon  to-brake  304 

And  toke  him  by  fat  on  arme  and  threw  him  in  a  welle 

Vijc.  fadame  it  was  depe  as  I  haue  herd  telle 

Whan  Gamelyn  f  e  jong  f  us  had  plaied  his  plaie 

Alle  fat  in  fe  jerde  were  drowen  hem  a-waye  308 

10  ROYAL  18  C  ii.    9 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

J)ei  dreden  him  ful  sore  for  werke  fat  he  wroghte 
And  for  J>e  faire  companye  J?at  he  Jjider  broghte 
Gamelyn  jede  to  J>e  jate  and  lete  it  vp  wide 
He  lete  In  alle  J>at  gon  wold  or  ride  312 

And  seide  30  be  welcome  with-out  any  greue 
ffbr  we  wil  be  maisters  here  and  axe  no  man  leue 
Jesterday  I  left  seide  $ong  Gamelyn 

In  my  brother  seler  fyue  tonn  wyne  316 

I  wil  not  J>is  companye  parten  on  twyne 
And  je  wil  don  after  me  while  sope  is  J>er-Ine 
And  ^if  my  brother  grucche  or  make  foule  chere 
Other  for  spence  of  mete  and  drynk1  pat  we  spend  here 
I  am  oure  Catour  and  bere  oure  Alther  purse  321 

He  shal  haue  for  his  grucching  seint  marie  curse 
My  broper  is  a  nygon  I  swere  by  cristes  ore 
And  we  wil  spende  largely  J?at  he  hath  spared  $ore        324 
And  who  fat  make  grucching  Jjat  we  here  dwelle 
He  shal  to  ]>e  porter  in  to  )>e  draw  welle 
Vij.  dayes  and  vij  nyght  Gamelyn  held  his  fest 
With  moche  solace  was  there  and  none  chest  328 

In  a  litel  torret  his  brother  ley  steke 
And  sey  hem  wast  his  gode  and  dorst  not  speke 
Erly  in  a  mornyng  on  the  viij.  day 

The  gestes  come  to  Gamelyn  and  wold  gon  her1  way      332 
Lordes  seide  Gamelyn  wil  30  so  hye  peafei] 

Aft  J?e  wyn  is  not  }et  dronke  so  browke  I  myn  eie 
Gamelyn  in  his  hert  was  ful  woo 

When  his  gestes  toke  her  leue  fro  him  forto  go  336 

He  wold  J>e  had  dwelled  lenger  and  J>ei  saide  nay 
But  by-taught  gamelyn  god  and  goode  day 
Thus  made  Gamelyn  his  fest  and  broght  it  wel  to  end 
And  after  his  gestes  toke  leue  to  wende 
Lithef  and  listenyth  and  holdith  ^oure  tong 
And  ^e  shul  here  Gamen  of  Gamelyn  J?e  }ong 
Herkenyth  lordinges  and  listenej)  a  right 
When  alle  gestes  were  gon  how  Gamelyn  was  dight      344 
ROYAL  18  c  ii.  10 


I-*- 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

Alle  the  while  fat  Gamelyn  held  his  mangerie 

His  brother  fought  on  Mm  be  wreke  with  his  trecherie 

Tho  Gamelyns  gestes  were  riden  and  goone 

Garnelyn  stode  anone  allone  frend  hadde  he  none  348 

Tho  after  felle  sone  with-In  a  litul  stonde 

Gamelyn  was  taken  and  ful  hard  I.-bonde 

fforth  come  the  false  knyght  out  of  f  e  solere 

To  gamelyn  his  brother  he  jede  ful  nere  352 

And  saide  to  gamelyn  who  made  the  so  bolde 

ffor  to  stroien  my  store  of  my  housholde 

Brother  seide  Gamelyn  wrath  the  right  noght 

ffor  it  is  mony  day  gone  sith  it  was  boght  356 

ffor  brother  J>ou  hast  hade  by  seint  Eichere 

Of  xv.  plowes  of  lond  f  is  sixtene  $ere 

And  of  alle  Jje  bestes  f  ou  hast  forf  bredde 

Jjat  my  fader  me  by-quaf  on  his  dej)  bedde  360 

Of  alle  f  is  sixtene  jere  I  jeue  the  fe  prowe 

ffor  the  mete  and  the  drinke  J»at  we  haue  spewded  now 

Than  saide  f  e  false  knyght  euyl  mote  he  the 

Herken  brother  Gamelyn  what  I  wil  $eue  the  364 

ffor  of  my  body  brother  heire  geten  haue  I  none 

I  wil  make  J)e  myn  eyer  I  swere  by  seint  lohan 

Pewfay  seide  gamelyn  and  it  so  be 

And  f  ou  Jjinkest  as  Jm  seist  god  ^eld  it  the  368 

No  thing  wist  Gamelyn  of  his  brother  gile 

Ther  fore  he  him  by-giled  in  a  litul  while 

Gamelyn  seid  he  oo  j)ing  I  the  telle 

Tho  jjou  threw  my  porter  in  the  draw  welle  372 

I  swore  in  fat  wrath  and  in  fat  grete  moote 

That  f  ou  shuldest  be  bonde  both  hond  and  foote  [leaf  ei,  back] 

c 

-•»•-... 376 

no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

ffor  to  holden  myn  a-vow  as  I  the  by-hoote 
Brother  seide  Gamelyn  as  mote  I  the 
Jjou  shalt  not  be  for-swore  for  f  e  loue  of  me  380 

ROYAL  is  c  ii.    11 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  11. 

Tho  maden  thei  Gamelyn  to  sitte  myght  not  stonde 
Til  fei  hadd  him  bone?  bo)>e  foote  and  honde 
The  fals  knyght  his  "brother  of  Gamelyn  was  a-gast 
And  sent  after  feteres  to  feteren  him  fast  384 

His  brother  made  lesinges  on  him  J>ere  he  stode 
And  told  hem  fat  comen  In  fat  Gamelyn  was  wood 
Gamelyn  stood  to  a  post  bonden  in  f  e  halle 
Tho  Jjat  comen  In  loked  on  him  alle  388 

Euere  stode  gamelyn  euen  vp  right 
But  mete  ne  drinke  had  he  none  nof  er  day  ne  nyght 
Than  saide  gamelyn  brother  by  myn  hals 
Now  I  haue  aspied  f  ou  art  a  parti  fals  392 

Hadde  I  wiste  f  e  treson  fat  f  ou  hast  I-fond 
I  wolde  haue  3eue  strokes  or  I  had  be  bond 
Gamelyn  stode  bond  stille  as  any  stone 
Two  daies  and  two  nyghtes  mete  hadde  he  none  396 

Than  saide  gamelyn  fat  stod  I. -bond  strong 
Adam  spenser  me  f  inkef  I  fast  to  long 
Adam  spencer  now  I  beseche  the 

ffor  the  moche  loue  my  fader  loued  the  400 

3if  f  ou  may  come  to  the  keys  lose  me  out  of  bond 
And  I  wil  parte  with  the  of  my  fre  lonct 
J3en  saide  adam  fat  was  f  e  spencer 

I  haue  serued  thi  brother  f  is  xvj.  3ere  404 

3if  I  lete  the  gon  out  of  his  beure 
He  wold  say  after-ward  I  were  a  traitour 
Adam  seide  Gamelyn  so  browke  I  myn  hals 
Thou  shal  fynd  my  brother  atte  J>e  last  fals  408 

Ther-fore  brother  Adam  lose  me  out  of  bondes 
And  I.  wil  parte  with  ]>e  of  my  fre  landes 
Vp  suche  forward  seid  Adam  I-wis 

I  wil  do  ferto  alle  fat  in  me  is  412 

Adam  seide  Gamelyn  as  mote  I  the 
I  wil  holde  J>e  couenaunt  and  f  ou  wil  me 
A-none  as  Adame  lord  to  bed  was  gone 
Adam  toke  Jje  keys  and  lete  gamelyn  out  a-none  416 

KOYAL  18  c  ii.   12 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

He  vnlokked  gamelyn  both  hondes  and  feete 
In  hope  of  auauncement  fat  he  him  by-hete  [leaf  62: 

Than  saide  Gamelyn  Ranked  be  goddes  sonde 
'Now  I  am  lose  bo  the  fote  and  honde  420 

Hadde  I  now  eten  and  dronken  aright 
Ther  is  none  in  this  hous  shuld  bynde  me  fa's  nyght 
Adam  toke  Gamelyn  as  stille  as  any  stone 
And  lad  him  into  spence  raply  a-none  424 

And  sette  him  to  soper  right  in  a  pn'ue  stede 
He  bade  him  do  gladly  and  Adam  so  dede 
Anon  as  Gamelyn  hadde  eten  wel  and  fyne 
And  f  erto  I-dronken  wel  of  f  e  red  wyne  428 

Adam  seid  Gamelyn  what  is  now  j>i  rede 
Or  I  go  to  my  brother  and  gird  of  his  hede 
Gamelyn  seide  Adam  it  shal  not  be  so 
I  con  teche  f  e  a  rede  fat  is  worth  f  e  two  432 

I  wote  wel  for  sothe  fat  is  no  nay 
We  shul  haue  a  mangerie  right  on  sonday 
Abbotes  and  prioures  mony  here  shal  be 
And  ofer  men  of  holy  chirche  as  I  telle  [f  e]  436 

Jjou  shalt  stond  vp  by  the  post  as  fou  were  hond  fast 
And  I  schal  leue  hem  vn-loke  fat  away  fou  may  hem  cast 
Whan  fat  f ei  haue  eten  and  wasshen  her  hondes 
)jow  shalt  beseke  hem  alle  to  bring  f  e  out  of  bondes     440 
And  jif  f  ei  wil  borow  the  fat  were  gode  game 
Jjan  were  f  u  out  of  prison  and  I  oute  of  blame 
And  yf  eche  of  hem  say  to  vs  nay  And  if  eche 

I  shal  do  an  other  I  swere  bi  f  is  day  444 

Thow  shalt  haue  a  gode  staf  and  I  wil  haue  anof  er 
And  cristes  curs  haue  fat  oon  fat  failef  fat  ofer 
3e  for  god  seide  Gamelyn  I  sei  it  for  me 
If  I  faile  on  my  syde  yuel  mote  I  the  448 

3if  we  shul  algate  assoile  hem  of  her  synne 
Warne  me  brother  Adam  whan  we  schul  by-gynn 
Gamelyn  said  Adam  by  seint  charite 

I  wil  warne  the  by-forne  whan  it  shal  be  452 

ROYAL  18  c  ii.    13 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

Whan  I  wynke  on  the  loke  for  to  gone 

And  cast  away  f  i  fletres  and  come  to  me  anone 

Adam  saide  Gamelyn  blessid  be  thi  bones 

Jjat  is  a  good  conseil  jeuen  for  fe  nones  456 

3if  fei  werne  me  to  bring  out  of  bondes 

I  wil  sette  good  strokes  right  on  her  lendes 

Tho  fe  sonday  was  comen  and  folke  to  J>e  feste    [leaf  62,  back] 

ffaire  fei  were  wel-comed  both  lest  and  meste  460 

And  euere  as  jjei  at  halle  dore  come  Inne 

Thei  cast  here  ey^e  on  }ong  Gamelyne 

The  fals  knyght  his  brof  er  ful  of  trechery 

Alle  J?e  gestes  fat  fere  were  at  f  e  mangery  464 

Of  Gamelyn  his  brother  he  told  hem  with  mouthe 

Alle  J?e  harme  and  f  e  shame  fat  he  telle  couthe 

Tho  fei  were  I-serued  of  messes  two  or  thre 

Than  seide  Gamelyn  how  serue  30  me  468 

It  is  noght  wel  serued  by  god  fat  aft  made 

J5at  I  sitte  fasting  and  of  er  men  make  glade 

The  fals  knyght  his  brother  f  er  as  he  stode 

Tolde  alle  gestes  fat  Gamelyn  was  woode  472 

And  Gamelyn  stode  stille  and  answarid  noght 

But  Adams  wordes  he  held  in  his  thoght 

Tho  Gamelyn  gan  speke  deolfulli  with  alle 

To  f  e  grete  lordes  fat  saten  in  f  e  halle  476 

Lordes  he  seide  for  cristes  passion 

Helpe  to  bring  Gamelyn  out  of  pr/son 

Than  saide  an  Abbot  sorow  on  his  cheke 

He  shal  haue  cristes  curs  and  seint  maries  eke  480 

jjat  f  e  out  of  pryson  beggef  or  borwe 


iJut  euer  worti^^i111  wgl  f  &t  doth  the  moche  sorwe 

After  fat  AbbotN]?an  spake  anof  er 

I  wold  f  yn  heed  w?re  of  f  oghe  f  ou  were  my  brof  er      484 


Alle  fat  f  e  borwe  fou)  mote 
Thus  fei  saide  alle  fat  \Trere  in  tne 
Than  saide  a  Priour  euel  ^ote  he  preue 
It  is  grete  sorw  and  care  boyC  f011  art  on 

ROYAL  18  V  "'     14 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

Ow  seidGamelyn  so  browke  I  my  bone 
Now  I  haue  spied  pat  frendes  liaue  I  none 
Cursed  mote  he  worth  both  flesshe  and  blood 
Jjat  euer  do]?  pn'our  or  Abbot  any  good  492 

Adam  pe  spencer  toke  vp  pe  clothe 
And  loked  on  Gamelyn  and  say  pat  he  was  wrothe 
Adam  on  the  pantrie  litul  he  poght 

But  two  gode  staues  to  halle  dore  he  broght  496 

Adam  loked  on  Gamelyn  and  he  was  war  anone 
And  cast  away  the  fetres  and  bi-gan  to  gone 
Tho  he  cam  to  Adam  he  toke  pe  on  staf* 
And  by-gan  to  worche  and  good  strokes  $&$        [leaf  es]  500 
Gamelyn  come  in  to  pe  halle  and  the  spencer  bothe 
And  lokid  hem  a-boute  as  pei  hadde  ben  wrothe 
Gamelyn  spreynyp  holi  water  with  an  Oken  spire 
That  some  that  stod  vp  right  fel  in  J>e  tire  504 

Jjer  was  no  lewed  man  pat  in  pe  halle  stoode 
That  wold  do  Gamelyn  any  thing  but  goode 
But  stoden  by  siden  and  lete  hem  bothe  wirche 
ffor  pei  hadde  ne  reweth  of  men  of  holy  chirche  508 

Abbot  or  priour  Monk1  or  chanown 
That  Gamelyn  ouertoke  anone  pei  ^eden  down 
Ther  was  none  of  alle  fat  with  his  staf  mette 
Jjat  he  made  hem  ouer  throw  and  quite  hem  his  dette    512 
Gamelyn  said  Adam  for  seint  charite 
Pay  gode  lyueray  for  J»e  loue  of  me 
And  I  wil  kepe  pe  dore  so  euer  here  I  masse 
Er  pai  ben  assoiled  per  shal  none  passe  516 

Doute  the  noght  seide  Gamelyn  while  we  ben  in  fere 
Kepe  wel  pe  dore  and  I  wil  wirche  here 
Bi-stere  J»e  gode  Adam  and  let  per  non  fle 
And  we  shul  telle  largeli  how  mony  }>at  per  be  520 

Gamelyn  saide  Adam  do  hem  but  goode 
Thei  ben  men  of  holi  chirche  draw  of  hem  no  blood 
Saue  wel  J>e  crowne  and  do  hem  no  harmes 
But  breke  bothe  her  legges  and  si  then  her  armes  524 

ROYAL  18  c  ii.    is 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.    GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

Thus  Gamelyn  and  Adam  wroght  right  fast 

And  plaide  with  the  monkes  and  made  hem  agast 

Thider  J)ei  come  riding  loly  with  swaynes 

And  home  a^eyn  pei  were  lad  in  cartes  and  waynes      528 

Tho  pei  hadden  alle  I-doo  fen  seide  a  gray  frere 

Alas  sire  Abbot  what  did  we  now  here 

Tho  pat  we  comen  hider  it  was  a  cold  reede 

Vs  hadde  ben  better  at  home  with  water  and  with  brede  532 

While  Gamelyn  made  ordres  of  monkes  and  frere 

Euer  stode  his  brother  and  made  foul  chere 

Gamelyn  vp  with  his  staff  pat  he  wel  knew 

And  girt  him  in  J>e  nek1  fat  he  ouer  threw  536 

A  litil  a-boue  pe  gyrdel  pe  rigge  bon  to-brast 

And  sette  him  in  pe  fetres  per  he  sat  arst 

Sitte  per  brother  seide  Gamelyn 

ffor  to  colen  pi  body  as  I  did  myn.  540 

As  sucche  as  pei  hadden  wroken  hem  on  her  foon  [leaf  03,  back] 

Thei  askid  water  and  wasshen  a-none 

What  some  for  hero  loue  and  sorame  for  her  awe 

Alle  J>e  seruauntes  seruet  hem  of  the  beste  lawe  544 

The  sherreue  was  penne  but  fyue  myle 

And  alle  was  told  him  in  a  litil  while 

How  gamelyn  and  Adam  haden  don  a  sory  res 

Bounden  and  wounden  men  a-jens  the  kynges  pees        548 

Tho  by-gan  sone  strif  for  to  wake 

And  the  sherrif  aboute  Gamelyn  forto  take 

"N"ow  lithep  and  listenep  so  god  ^eue  $ow  good  fyne 

And  ^e  shul  here  gode  game  of  $ong  Gamelyn  552 

ffoure  and  twenti  }ong  men  pat  helden  hem  ful  bold 

Come  to  pe  shirreue  and  seide  pat  pei  wolde 

Gamelyn  and  Adam  fette  by  here  fay 

The  shirreue  ^eue  hem  leue  soth  for  to  say  556 

Thei  hyeden  fast  wold  pei  not  lynne 

Til  pei  come  to  pe  gate  per  Gamelyn  was  Inne 

Thei  knokkeden  on  pe  gate  pe  porter  was  nyghe 

And  loked  out  at  an  hole  as  man  that  was  slighe  560 

KOYAL  18  C  ii.     16 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  11. 

The  porter  hadde  be-hold  hem  a  litil  while 
He  loued  wel  Gamelyn  and  was  drad  of  gile 
And  let  fe  wyket  stond  ful  stille 

And  asked  hem  with  oute  what  was  here  wille  564 

ffor  alle  J?e  grete  companye  fan  spake  but  one 
Vndo  jje  gate  porter  and  lete  vs  in  gone 
Than  saide  Jje  porter  so  brouke  I  my  chyn 
3e  shul  saye  joure  erant  er  ^e  come  Ine  568 

Say  to  Gamelyn  and  Adam  ^if  Jjeire  wil  be 
"We  wil  speke  with  hem  two  wordes  or  thre 
ffelaw  saide  ]>e  porter  stande  J?er  stille 
And  I  wend  to  Gamelyn  to  wyte  his  wille  572 

In  went  J?e  porter  to  gamelyn  a-none 
And  saide  sire  I  warne  $ow  here  be  comen  $oure  foon 
The  shirreues  men  ben  atte  fe  gate 

ffor  to  take  ^ow  both  shul  30  not  scape  576 

Porter  seid  Gamelyn  so  mote  I  wel  the 
I  wil  allowe  fe  j>i  wordes  when  I  my  tyme  see 
Go  a-geyn  to  fe  gate  and  dwelle  with  hem  a  while 
And  J>ou  shalt  se  right  sone  porter  a  gile  580 

Adam  seide  Gamelyn  loke  j?e  to  gone 
We  haue  foo  men  atte  gate  and  frendes  neuer  one       [leaf  64] 
Hit  ben  fe  Shirreues  men  fat  hider  ben  comen 
Thei  be  swore  to-geder  J>at  we  shal  be  nome  584 

Gamelyn  said  Adam  hye  the  right  blyue 
And  if  I  faile  the  fis  day  euel  mote  I  thryue 
And  we  shul  so  wel-come  J>e  Shirreues  men 
That  some  of  hem  shal  make  her  beddes  in  fe  fen         588 
At  a  posterne  gate  Gamelyn  out  went 
And  a  good  Cartstaf*  in  his  hond  hent 
Adam  hente  sone  an  otber  grete  staf1 
ffor  to  helpen  Gamelyn  and  good  strokes  ^af1  592 

Adam  fel  tweyne  and  Gamelyn  fel  thre 
The  other  sette  feete  on  erth  and  by-gan  to  flee 
What  saide  Adam  so  euer  here  I  masse 
I  haue  right  good  wyn  drynke  or  ^e  passe  596 

ROYAL  18  c  ii.  17 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     OAMELYN.     Boyal  MS  18  C  U. 

Nay  by  god  seide  f  ei  f  i  drinke  is  not  goode 

It  -wold  make  mannes  brayn  to  lien  in  his  hoode 

Gamelyn  stood  stille  and  lokid  him  a-boute 

And  saide  f  e  shirreue  cometh  with  a  grete  route  600 

Adam  seide  Gamelyn  \vhat  ben  now  f  i  redes 

Here  cometh  f  e  sherreue  and  wil  haue  cure  hedes 

Adam  seide  to  Gamelyn  myn  rede  is  now  f  is 

A-bide  we  no  longer  lest  we  fare  amys  604 

I  rede  fat  we  to  wood  gone  or  fat  we  be  fonde 

Better  is  f  er  louse  fan  in  towne  be  bounde 

Adam  toke  bi  the  bond  ^ong  gamelyn 

And  euery  of  hem  drank1  a  draght  of  wyn  608 

And  after  token  her  cours  and  wenten  her  way 

Tho  fond  f  e  sherreue  nyst  but  none  eye 

The  sherreue  light  downe  and  wente  in  to  halle 

And  fond  fe  lord  fetred  fast  with  alle  612 

The  shirreue  vnfetered  him  right  sone  anone 

And  sent  after  a  leche  to  hele  his  rigge  bone 

Late  we  now  f  e  fals  knyght  lie  in  his  care 

And  take  we  of  Gamelyn  and  loke  how  he  fare  616 

Gamelyn  in  to  f  e  wood  stalkid  stille 

And  Adam  spencer  liked  right  ille 

Adam  swore  to  Gamelyn  by  seint  Richere 

Now  I  see  it  is  mery  to  be  a  spencer  620 

That  leuer  me  were  keys  to  bere 

Than  walken  in  f  is  wild  woode  my  clothes  to  tere 

Adam  seide  Gamelyn  dismay  f  e  right  noght         [leaf  M,  tack] 

Mony  good  mannys  child  in  care  is  broght  624 

As  thei  stod  talkyng  bothen  in  ffere 

Adam  herd  talking  of  men  and  nyghe  him  fought  f ei  were 

Tho  Gamelyn  vnder  wood  lokid  a-right 

Seuen  score  of  $ong  men  he  se  wel  I-dight  628 

Alle  sate  at  f  e  mete  compas  aboute 

Adam  seide  Gamelyn  now  haue  I  no  doute 

After  bale  cometh  bote  f  orgh  goddes  might 

Me  thinke  of  mete  and  drinke  y  haue  a  sight  632 

ROYAL  18  C  ii.    18 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.   GAMELYN.   Royal  MS  18  G  it 

Adam  loke  tho  vnder  wode  bough 
And  tho  he  say  mete  and  he  was  glad  I-nougfi 
ffor  he  hoped  to  god  to  haue  his  dele 
And  he  was  sore  alonged  after  a  gode  mele  636 

As  he  saide  fat  word  j>e  maister  outlawe 
Sawgh  Adam  and  Gamelyn  vnder  wode  shawe 
$onge  men  saide  f  e  maister  hi  f  e  gode  rode 
I  am  war  of  gestes  god  send  vs  gode  640 

Yonde  hen  two  yonge  men  wel  I-dight 
And  parauenture  ther  hen  more  who  so  loked  aright 
Ariseth  vp  yong  men  and  fette  hem  to  me 
It  is  good  Jjat  we  witten  what  men  thei  he  644 

Vp  f  er  sterten  seuene  fro  f  e  dyner 
And  metten  wif  gamely^  and  Adam  spencer 
Whan  thei  were  nighe  hem  fan  seide  fat  one 
Yeldeth  vp  $onge  men  ^oure  howes  and  ^oure  flone        648 
Than  saide  Gamelyn  that  ^onge  was  of  elde 
Moche  sorowe  mote  fei  haue  fat  to  }ow  hem  ^elde 
I  course  none  other  hut  right  my  selue 
Thei  30  fette  to  3ow  fyue  fan  he  36  twelue  652 

))o  f  ei  herde  by  his  word  that  might  was  in  his  arme 
Ther  was  none  of  hem  fat  wolde  don  hem  harme 
But  seide  to  Gamelyn  myldely  and  stille 
Come  a-fore  oure  maistre  and  sai  to  him  f  i  wille  656 

3onge  men  saide  Gamelyn  hi  joure  lewte 
What  man  is  3our  maister  that  30  with  be 
Alle  f  e  answerde  with-oute  lesinge 

Oure  maister  is  crowned  of  outlawes  kynge  660 

Adam  seide  Gamelyn  go  we  in  cristes  name 
He  may  neither  mete  ne  drinke  werne  vs  for  shame 
3if  fat  he  be  hende  and  come  of  gentil  blood 
He  wil  3eue  vs  mete  and  drinke  and  do  vs  some  good  [if  65] 
Be  seint  lame  saide  Adam  what  harme  fat  I  gete          665 
I  wil  auenture  me  fat  I  hadde  mete 
Gamelyn  and  Adam  went  forth  in  fere 
And  fei  grette  f  e  maister  that  fei  fonde  fere  668 

KOYAL  18  c  ii.    19 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     QAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

Than  saide  J>e  maister  kynge  of  owtlawes 
What  seke  30  ^onge  men  vnder  wode  shawes 
Gamelyn  answerde  J>e  kynge  with  his  crowne 
He  moste  nedes  walke  in  felde  |>at  may  not  walke  in  towne 
Sire  we  walke  not  here  none  harne  to  do  673 

But  jif  we  mete  a  dere  to  shete  ]>erto 
As  men  that  ben  hungry  and  mow  no  mete  fynde 
And  ben  hard  be-stad  vnder  wode  lynde  676 

Of  Gamelyn  wordes  J>e  maister  hadde  rewthe 
And  seide  30  shal  haue  y-nowe  haue  god  my  treuthe 
He  bad  hem  sitte  down  for  to  take  reste 
And  bad  hem  ete  and  drinke  and  J>at  of  J>e  beste  680 

As  J?ei  eten  and  dronken  wel  and  fyne 
Than  saide  on  to  an  other  this  is  gamelyn 
Tho  was  ]?e  maister  outlawe  in  to  conseil  nome 
And  tolde  how  it  was  gamelyn  that  thider  was  come     684 
Anone  as  he  herde  how  it  was  be-falle 
He  made  him  maister  vndir  him  ouer  hem  alle 
With-in  J)e  thridde  wike  him  come  tydynge 
To  ]>e  maister  outlawe  that  was  here  kynge  688 

That  he  shulde  come  home  his  pees  was  made 
And  of  fat  gode  tydinge  he  was  ful  gladde 
Tho  saide  he  to  his  ^onge  men  soth  forto  telle 
Me  ben  comen  tydinges  I  may  no  lenger  dwelle  692 

Tho  was  Gamelyn  anone  with-oute  tarienge 
Made  maister  outlawe  and  crowned  her  kynge 
Tho  was  Gamelyn  crowned  kynge  of  outlawes 
And  walkid  a  while  vnder  wode  shawes  696 

The  fals  knyght  his  brofer  was  shereue  and  sire 
And  lete  his  brother  endite  for  hate  and  for  hire 
Tho  were  his  bonde  men  sory  and  no  thinge  glad 
When  Gamelyn  her  lorde  wolfes  hede  was  cried  and  made 
And  sent  oute  of  his  men  where  J>ei  might  him  fynde  701 
ffor  to  go  seke  Gamelyn  vnder  wode  lynde 
To  telle  him  tydinge  the  wynde  was  went 
And  alle  his  good  reued  and  alle  his  men  shentf  704 

KOYAL  18  c  ii.   20 


O.V* 

APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  11. 

"Whan  feihadden  him  founden  on  knees  J>ei  hem  setten  W  65,  bk] 

And  a-douw  with  her  node  and  here  lorde  gretten 

Sire  wrathe  jowe  noght  for  j?e  gode  rode 

ffor  we  han  brought  '}ow  tydynge  but  J>ei  be  not  goode  708 

Now  is  J>i  brother  sherreue  and  hajj  J?e  baillie 

And  hath  endited  ]>e  and  wolfes  hede  doth  J>e  crie 

Alias  seide  Gamelyn  fat  euer  I  was  so  slak 

That  I  ne  hadde  broke  his  nekke  J>o  I  his  rigge  brak     712 

Goth  greteth  wel  myn  housbondes  and  wife 

I  wil  be  at  the  next  shire  haue  god  my  lyfe 

Gamelyn  came  redy  to  J?e  next  shire 

And  ther  was  his  brother  both  lorde  and  sire  716 

Gamelyn  boldeliche  came  in  to  J?e  mote  halle 

And  putte  adouw  his  hood  amonge  J>e  lordes  alle 

God  saue  3ow  lordinges  J>at  here  be 

But  broke  bak1  sherreue  euel  mote  thu  the  720 

Whi  hast  thou  do  me  fat  shame  and  velonye 

ffor  to  lete  endite  me  and  wolfeshede  do  me  crie 

Tho  thought  the  fals  knyght  for  to  ben  a-wreke 

And  lete  Gamelyn  most  he  no  thinge  speke  724 

Might  fer  be  no  grace  but  Gamelyn  at  J?e  laste 

"Was  caste  in  prison  and  fetered  faste 

Gamelyn  hath  a  brother  that  hight  sire  Ote 

As  gode  a  knyght  and  hende  as  might  gon  on  foote       728 

Anone  jede  a  messagere  to  that  gode  knyght 

And  tolde  him  al  to-gidre  how  Gamelyn  was  dight 

[ no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

He  was  right  sory  was  he  no  J>ing  light  732 

And  lete  sadle  a  stede  and  Jje  way  he  name 
And  to  his  twei  breferne  right  sone  he  came 
Sire  saide  sir  Ote  to  the  sherreue  tho 
"We  ben  but  thre  bretheren  shul  we  neuer  be  mo  736 

And  )>ou  hast  prisoned  J?e  beste  of  vs  alle 
Suche  a  nother  brother  euel  mote  him  be-falle 
Sire  ote  saide  ]>e  fals  knyght  lat  be  ]n  cours 
By  god  for  thi  wordes  he  shal  fare  the  wors  740 

ROYAL  18  c  ii.   21 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  11. 

To  f  e  kynges  pn'sone  he  is  I-nome 

And  ther  he  shal  a-bide  til  f  e  Justice  come 

Parde  saide  sir  Ote  better  it  shal  be 

I  bid  hym  to  mainprys  fat  f  ou  graunte  me  744 

Til  Jje  next  sitting  of  deliueraunce 

And  late  fan  Gamelyn  stond  to  his  chawnce 

Brother  in  suche  a  forward  I  take  him  to  the  [leaf  66] 

And  by  j>i  fadres  soule  fat  f  e  bygat  and  me  748 

But  he  be  redy  whan  J>e  Justice  sitte 

Thou  shalt  bere  j>e  lugement  for  al  J>i  grete  witte 

I  graunt  wel  saide  sir  Ote  fat  it  so  be 

Late  delyuer  hym  anone  and  take  him  to  me  752 

Tho  was  Gamelin  delyuered  to  sir  Ote  his  brother 

And  fat  nyght  dwelled  f e  oon  with  f e  tother 

On  the  morwen  saide  Gamelyn  to  sir  Ote  f  e  hynde 

Brother  he  saide  I  mote  for  soth  fro  $ow  wynde  756 

To  loke  how  my  $onge  men  leden  her  lif* 

Whether  f ei  lyuen  in  Toy  or  elles  in  strif* 

By  god  seide  sir  Ote  fat  is  a  cold  rede 

Now  I  see  fat  alle  f  e  Carke  schal  falle  on  my  hede        760 

ffor  whan  f  e  Justice  sitte  and  f  ou  be  not  1-fonde 

I  shal  anone  be  take  and  in  f  i  stede  I-bonde 

Brother  saide  Gamelyn  dismaie  f  e  nyght 

if  or  by  seint  lame  in  Galys  fat  mony  man  hath  sought  764 

3if  fat  god  almyghti  hold  me  my  lif1  and  my  witte 

I  wil  be  redy  whan  f  e  Justice  sitte 

Than  saide  sir  Ote  to  Gamelyn  god  shild  f  e  fro  shame 

Come  when  f  ou  seest  tyme  and  bryng  vs  out  of  blame  768 

Lithef  and  listenef  and  hold  $ow  stille 

And  30  schul  here  how  Gamelyn  hadde  his  wille 

Gamelyn  went  vnder  wood  Rys 

And  fond  ther  playng  }ong  men  of  prys  772 

Tho  was  ^ong  Gamelyn  right  glad  I-noghe 

When  he  fonde  his  men  vnder  woode  boghe 

Gamelyn  and  his  men  talkeden  in  fere 

And  fei  had  gode  game  her  maister  to  here  776 

ROYAL  18  C  ii.     22 


APPENDIX  TO  GBOUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  11. 

His  men  told  him  of  auentures  fat  f  ei  had  fonde 

And  Gamelyn  hem  told  hem  a-^en  how  he  was  fast  bonde 

While  Gamelyn  was  outlaw  hade  he  no  cors 

)?er  was  no  man  fat  for  him  ferd  f  e  wors  780 

But  Abbotes  and  Priours  monk1  and  Chanon) 

On  hem  left  he  noght  when  he  might  hem  nome 

While  Gamelyn  and  his  men  made  myrthes  Ryve 

The  fals  knyght  his  brother  euel  mote  he  pn'ue  784 

ifor  he  was  fast  aboute  bothe  day  and  other 

ffor  to  hire  f  e  queste  to  hangen  his  brother 

Gamelyn  stood  on  a  day  and  be-beld 

The  wodes  and  f  e  shawes  and  j)e  wild  feld  [leaf  66,  back]  788 

He  f  oght  on  his  brother  how  he  him  by-hette 

That  he  wolde  be  redy  whan  )>e  Justice  sette 

He  f  oght  welle  he  wold  with-oute  delay 

Come  a-fore  fe  Justice  to  kepen  his  day  792 

And  seide  to  his  ^ong  men  dightef  $ow  jare 

ffor  whan  )>e  Justice  sitte  we  most  be  J>ere 

ffor  I  am  vnder  borow  til  fat  I  come 

And  my  brother  for  me  to  pryson  shal  be  nome  796 

Be  seint  lame  said  his  jong  men  and  f  ou  rede  f  erto 

Ordeigne  how  it  shal  be  and  it  shal  be  do 

While  Gamelyn  was  comyng  f  er  f  e  Justice  satte 

The  fals  knyght  his  broker  formate  he  not  fate  800 

To  hire  f  e  men  on  his  quest  to  hangen  his  brother 

Thoghe  f  ei  hadde  not  f  e  oon  f  ei  wolde  haue  f  e  tother 

Tho  come  Gamelyn  fro  vnder  f  e  wode  Eys 

And  broght  with  him  ^ong  men  of  prys  804 

I  see  wel  seide  Gamelyn  f  e  Justice  is  sette 

Goo  a-forn  Adam  and  loke  how  it  spette 

Adam  went  in  to  f  e  halle  and  loked  aft  a-boute 

He  say  f  er  stonde  lordes  grete  and  stoute  808 

And  sir  Ote  his  brother  fetered  ful  faste 

Tho  wente  Adam  oute  of  halle  as  he  were  a-gast 

Adam  seide  to  Gamelyn  and  to  his  felawes  alle 

Sire  Ote  stant  fetered  in  fe  mote  halle  812 

BOYAL  18  C  li.     23 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 


.........      no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

3if  god  $if  vs  grace  wel  for  to  doo 

He  schal  it  a-bigge  fat  it  broght  fertoo  816 

Than  saide  Adam  fat  lokkes  hade  hore 
Cristes  curs  mote  he  haue  fat  him  bond  so  sore 
And  jjou  wilt  Gamelyn  do  after  my  rede 
Ther  is  none  in  f  e  halle  schal  bere  away  his  hede          820 
Adam  seide  Gamelyn  we  wil  not  do  soo 
We  wil  sle  f  e  giltif1  and  late  f  e  tother  goo 
I  wil  in  to  f  e  halle  and  with  f  e  Justice  speke 
On  hem  fat  ben  giltif*  I  wil  ben  a-wreke  824 

Lete  none  scape  at  f  e  dore  take  ^ong  men  ^eme 
ffor  I  wil  be  Justice  f  is  day  domes  to  deme 
God  spede  me  J>is  day  at  my  new  werke 
Adam  come  with  me  for  f  ou  shalt  be  my  clerk1  828 

TTia  men  answerden  him  and  bade  him  don  his  best 
And  ^if  f  ou  to  vs  haue  nede  f  ou  shalt  fynde  vs  prest 
We  wille  stond  with  J>e  while  fat  we  may  dure  [leaf  67  1 

And  bute  we  wirken  manly  pay  vs  none  hure  832 

Jong  men  saide  Gamelyn  so  mote  I  wel  the 
As  trusti  a  mayster  ^e  shal  fynde  me 
Right  fere  f  e  Justice  satte  in  f  e  halle 
In  went  Gamelyn  amonges  hem  alle  836 

Gamelyn  lete  vnfetere  his  brother  out  of  bond 
Then  seide  sir  Ote  his  brother  fat  was  hende 
Thou  haddest  Almost  Gamelyn  dwellet  to  long 
ffor  f  e  quest  is  oute  on  me  fat  I  shuld  hong  840 

Brother  seide  Gamelyn  so  god  ^eue  me  good  rest 
Jjis  day  f  e  shul  ben  honged  fat  ben  on  f  e  quest 
And  the  Justice  bothe  fat  is  f  e  luge  man 
And  the  Shirreue  bothe  f  orgh  him  it  by-gan  844 

Than  saide  Gamelyn  to  f  e  Justice 
Now  is  f  i  power  done  f  ou  moste  nedes  rise 
Thou  hast  ^euen  domes  fat  ben  yuel  dight 
1  wille  sitteu  in  thi  sete  and  dressen  hem  aright  848 

UOYAL  18  c  ii.   24 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     GAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  U. 

The  Justice  sate  stille  and  rose  not  a-none 

And  Gamelyn  cleued  his  cliike  l>one 

Gamelyn  toke  him  in  his  armes  and  nomore  spake 

But  thrw  him  ouer  fe  barre  and  his  arme  brake  852 

Dorst  none  to  Gamelyn  say  but  goode 

ffor  ferd  of  J>e  company  fat  with-oute  stoode 

Gamely  sette  him  down  in  f  e  Justice  sete 

And  sir  Ote  hi  a  brother  by  him  and  Adam  at  his  fete    856 

Whan  Gamelyn  was  sette  in  Jje  Justice  sete 

Herken  of  a  bourd  fat  Gamelyn  dide 

He  lete  feter  f  e  Justice  and  his  fals  brother 

And  lete  hem  come  to  Jje  barre  fat  on  with  fat  other     860 

Tho  Gamelyn  hadde  f  us  y-done  hade  no  rest 

Til  he  hadde  enquered  who  was  on  f  e  quest 

ffor  to  demen  his  brother  sir  Ote  for  to  hong 

Er  he  wiste  whiche  f  ei  were  him  f  oght  ful  long  864 

But  as  sone  as  Gamelyn  wiste  where  f  ai  were 

He  dide  hem  euerychon  feter  in  fere 

And  bringen  hem  to  f  e  barre  and  setten  hem  in  rew 

Bi  my  feith  said  f  e  Justice  f  e  shirreue  is  a  shrew  868 

Than  seide  Gamelyn  to  f  e  Justice 

Thow  hast  ^eue  domes  of  the  worst  assise 

And  the  xij.  sisoures  fat  weren  on  f  e  quest 

Thei  shul  ben  honged  f  is  day  so  haue  I  gode.rest  [leaf  67,  back] 

Than  saide  fe  shirreue  to  }ong  Gamelyn  873 

Lord  .1.  cry  the  mercy  brother  art  f  ou  myn 

Ther-fore  saide  Gamelyn  haue  f  ou  cristes  curs 

ffor  and  fow  were  maister  }it  shuld  I  haue  wors  876 

ffor  to  make  short  tale  and  noght  to  long 

He  ordeyned  hym  a  quest  of  his  men  so  strong 

The  Justice  and  f  e  shirreue  both  honged  hye 

To  weyuen  with  fe  ropes  and  f  e  wynd  drye  880 

And  the  xij  sisours  sorow  haue  fat  rewe 

Alle  f  ei  were  hanged  fast  by  f  e  nekke 

Thus  endid  f  e  fals  knyght  with  his  trecherie 

J?at  euer  had  lad  his  lif1  in  falsenes  and  folie  884 

KOYAL  18  C  ii.   25 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  A.     QAMELYN.     Royal  MS  18  C  0. 

He  was  honged  by  J>e  nekke  and  not  by  pe  purs 

Jjat  was  fe  mede  fat  lie  hadde  for  his  faders  curse 

Sire  Otes  was  eldest  and  Gamelyn  was  jong 

Wenten  to  her  frendes  and  passeden  to  fe  kyng  888 

Thei  maden  pees  with  the  kyng  of  )>e  best  sise 

The  kyng  loued  wel  sir  Ote  and  made  him  Justice 

And  after  Jje  kyng  made  Gamelyn  in  Est  and  in  Weste 

Chief  Justice  of  his  fre  foreste  892 

Alle  his  wight  jong  men  jje  kyng  for-jaf  her  gilt 

And  sithen  in  gode  Office  J?e  kyng  hath  alle  them  pilt 

Thus  wanne  Gamelyn  his  lond  and  his  lede 

And  wreke  him  on  his  enemys  and  quite  hem  her  mede    896 

And  sire  Ote  his  brother  made  him  his  heier 

And  sithen  wedden  Gamelyn  a  wif1  gode  and  faier 

Thei  lyueden  to-gedre  while  fat  crist  wolde 

And  sithen  was  Gamelyn  grauen  vnder  molde  900 

And  so  shal  we  alle  may  J>er  no  man  fle 

God  bring  vs  to  J>e  loye  J?at  euer  shal  be 


KOYAL  18  c  n".  26 


[NOTICE — Inasmuch  as,  after  the  Man  of  Law's  Tale, 
the  order  of  the  Tales  in  the  Ellesmere  MS  differs  from  the 
right  order  of  the  Tales  in  which  the  Six-Text  is  to  be 
arranged,  the  further  issue  of  the  separate  Ellesmere  Parts 
is  suspended  till  all  the  Tales  before  the  SMpman's  in  the 
Ellesmere  MS  have  been  issued  in  the  Six-Text.  Then 
the  proper  pagings  of  the  separate  Ellesmere  sheets  can  be 
ascertained,  and  a  large  Part  will  be  issued,  bringing  the 
separate  issue  abreast  of  the  Six-Text.  See  the  following 
scheme : — 


Six- Text 

ISHIPMAN 
Prioress 
Tlwpas 
Melibeus 
Monk 
Nun's  Priest 

n  (  Doctor 
Group    C  <  „     , 

( Pardoner 

(  Wife  of  Bath 
Group  D  <  Friar 

(  Summoner 


Second  Nun 
Canon's  Yeoman 


««* p !  %& 

Group  G  ] 

Group  H     Manciple 
Group    I     Parson 

1  January,  1871. 


Ellesmere  MS. 

(  Wife  of  Bath 
Group  D  <  Friar 

(  Summoner 

_,  (  Clerk 
Group  E     Merchant 


Squire 
Franklin 

Doctor 
Pardoner 


ISHIPMAN 
Prioress 
Tlwpas 
Melibeus 
Monk 
Nun's  Priest 

.ry  -,  (  Second  Nun 

Group  Or  <   .-.         ,    ,r 

(  Canons  Yeoman 

Group  H     Manciple 
Group    I     Parson     ] 


GROUP  B,  (*•  FRAGMENT  ID 

§  1.     MAN  OF  LAW'S  HEAD-LINK. 
ELLESMERE  MS. 


[leaf  53] 

H  The  wordes  of  the  Hoost*  to  the  compaignye 

Ovre  hoost  saugh  wel  /  that  the  brighte  sonne 
The  ark1  of  his  artificial  day  hath  ronne 
The  ferthe  part*  and  half  an  houre  and  moore 
And  though  /  he  were  natf  depe  ystert  in  loore     4 
He  wiste  /  it  was  the  eighte  and  twentithe  day 
Of  Aprifl  /  that  is  messager  to  May 
And  saugh  wel  /  that  the  shadwe  of  euery  tree 
Was  as  in  lengthe  /  the  same  quantitee  8 

That  was  the  hody  erect1  that  caused  it 
And  ther  fore  /  hy  the  shadwe  /  he  took  his  wit 
That  Phehus  /  which  jjat  shoon  /  so  clere  and  brighte 
Degrees  /  was  fyue  and  fourty  clombe  on  higftte  12 

And  for  that  day  /  as  in  that  latitude 
It  was  ten  at  the  clokke  /  he  gan  conclude 
And  sodeynly  /  he  plighte  his  hors  aboute 
If  Lordynges  quod  he  /  I  warne  yow  al  this  route  16 

The  fourthe  party  of  this  day  is  gon 
Now  for  the  loue  of  god  /  and  of  Seint  lofin 
Leseth  no  tyme  /  as  ferforth  as  ye  may 
Lordynges  /  the  tyme  wasteth  nyght  and  day  20 

And  steleth  from  vs  /  what  pryuely  slepynge 
And  what  thurgh  necligence  /  in  oure  wakynge 
As  dooth  the  streem  /  that  turneth  neuere  agayn 
Descendynge  fro  the  montaigne  in  to  playn  24 

IT  Wel  kan  Senetf  and  many  a  philosophre 
Biwaillen  tyme  /  moore  than  gold  in  cofre 
ffor  losse  of  catel  /  may  recouered  be 
But  losse  of  tyme  /  shendeth  vs  quod  he  28 

12  ELLESMERE    129 


130  GROUP  B.  §  1.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  HEAD-LINK.  Ellesmeie  MS. 

It  wol  nat  come  agayn '/  with  outen  drede 

Namoore  /  than  \vole  Malkynes  maydenhede 

Whan  she  hath  lost  if  in  hir  wantownesse 

Lat  us  nat*  mowlen  thus  in  ydelnesse  32 

1F  Sire  man  of  lawe  quod  he  /  so  haue  ye  blis 

Telle  vs  a  tale  anon  /  as  forward  is 

Ye  been  submytted  /  thurgh  youre  free  assent1 

To  stonden  in  this  cas  /  at  my  luggemenf  36 

Acquiteth  yow  now  /  of  youre  biheeste 

Thanne  haue  ye  do  youre  deuoir  atte  leeste 

^f  Hoost  quod  he  /  depardieux  ich  assente 

To  breke  forward  /  is  nat  myn  entente  40 

Biheste  is  dette  /  and  I  wole  holde  fayn 

Al  my  biheste  /  I  kan  no  bettre  sayn 

ifor  swich  lawe  /  as  a  man  yeueth  another  wiguf  [leaf  53,  back] 

He  sholde  hym  seluen  /  vsen  it  by  right  44 

Thus  wole  oure  text1  but  nathelees  certeyn 

I  kan  right  now  /  no  thrifty  tale  seyn 

That  Chaucer  /  thogh  he  kan  but  lewedly 

On  metres  /  and  on  rymyng  craftily  48 

Hath  seyd  hem  /  in  swich  englissh  /  as  he  kan 

Of  olde  tyme  /  as  knoweth  many  a  man 

And  if  he  haue  noght  seyd  hem  leue  brother 

In  o  book  /  he  hath  seyd  hem  in  another  52 

ffor  he  hath  toold  /  of  loueris  vp  and  doun  / 

Mo  than  Guide  /  made  of  mencioun 

In  hise  epistles  /  that  been  ful  olde 

What  sholde  I  telle  hem  /  syn  they  ben  tolde  56 

^1"  In  youthe  /  he  made  /  of  Ceys  and  Alcione 

And  sitthe  /  hath  he  spoken  of  euerichone 

Thise  noble  wyues  /  and  thise  loueris  eke 

Who  so  that  wole  /  his  large  volume  seke  60 

Cleped  /  the  seintes  legende  of  Cupide 

Ther  may  he  seen  /  the  large  woundes  wyde 

Of  Lucresse  /  and  of  Babilan  Tesbee 

The  swerd  of  Dido  /  for  the  false  Enee  64 

ELLESMERE    130 


GROUP  B.  §  1.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  HEAD-LINK.  Ellcsmere  MS.  131 

The  tree  of  Phillis  /  for  hire  Demophon 

The  pleinte  of  Diane  /  and  of  Hermyon) 

Of  Adriane  /  and  of  Isiphilee 

The  bareyne  yle  /  stondynge  in  the  see  68 

The  dreynte  Leandre  /  for  his  Erro 

The  teeris  of  Eleyne  /  and  thfl  wo 

Of  Brixseyde  /  and  the  Ladomya 

The  cruel  tee  /of  the  queene  Medea  72 

Thy  litel  children  /  hangynge  by  the  hals 

ffor  thy  lason  /  that  was  in  loue  so  fals 

0  Ypermystra  /  Penolopee  /  Alceste 

Youre  wifhede  /  he  comendeth  with  the  beste  76 

IF  But  certeinly  no  word  ne  writeth  he 

Of  thilke  wikke  ensample  of  Canacee 

That  loued  /  hir  owene  brother  synfully 

Of  swiche  cursed  stories  /  I  sey  fy  80 

Or  ellis  /  of  Tyro  Appollonius 

How  that  the  cursed  kyng  /  Antiochus 

Birafte  his  doghter  /  of  hir  maydenhede 

That  is  /  so  horrible  a  tale  for  to  rede  84 

"Whan  he  hir  threw  /  vp  on  the  pauement1 

And  therfore  he  /  of  ful  auysementt 

Isolde  neuere  write  /  in  none  of  his  sermons 

Of  swiche  /  vnkynde  abhomynacions  88 

~Ne  I  wol  noon  reherce  /  if  that  I  may 

IT  But  of  my  tale  /  how  shall  I  doon  this  day 

Me  were  looth  /  be  likned  doutelees  [leaf  54] 

To  Muses  /  that  men  clepo  Pierides  92 

Methamorphosios  /  woot  what  I  mene 

But  nathelees  /  I  recche  noght  a  bene 

Though  I  come  after  hym  /  with  hawebake 

1  speke  in  prose  /  and  lat  him  rymes  make  96 
And  with  that  word  /  he  with  a  sobre  cheere- 

Bigan  his  tale  /  as  ye  shal  after  heere  J  <  98 


ELLESMERE    131 


132  GROUP  B.  §2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  PROL.  EUesmere  MS. 


If  The  prologe  of  the  mannes  tale  of  lawe 

0  hateful  harm  /  condicion  of  pouerte  99 

"With  thurstf  with  coold/  with  hunger  so  confoundid 
To  asken  help  /  thee  shameth  in  thyn  herte 
If  thou  noon  aske  /  so  soore  artow  ywoundid   102 
That  verray  nede  /  vnwrappeth  al  thy  wounde  hid 
Maugree  thyn  heed  /  thou  most  for  Indigence 
Or  stele  /  or  begge  /  or  borwe  thy  despence  105 

Thow  blamest  crisf  and  seist  ful  bitteuy 

He  mysdeparteth  /  richesse  temporal 

Thy  neighebore  /  thou  wytest  synfully 

And  seist1  thou  hast  to  lite  /  and  he  hath  al  109 

Parfay  seistow  /  somtyme  he  rekene  shal 

Whan  that  his  tayl  /  shal  brennen  in  the  gleede 

ffor  he  noght  helpeth  /  needfulle  /  in  hir  neede  112 

^[  Herke  /  what  is  the  sentence  of  the  wise 

Bet  is  to  dyen  /  than  haue  Indigence 

Thy  selue  neighebor  /  wol  thee  despise 

If  thou  be  poure  /  farwel  thy  reuerence  116 

Yet1  of  the  wise  man  /  take  this  sentence 

Alle  dayes  of  poure  men  been  wikke 

Be  war  therfore  /  er  thou  come  to  that  prikke  119 

If  thou  be  poure  /  thy  brother  hateth  thee 

And  alle  thy  freendes  /  fleen  from  thee  alias 

O  riche  marchauntz  /  ful  of  wele  been  yee 

O  noble  /  o  prudent  folk  /  as  in  this  cas  123 

Youre  bagges  /^een  nat  fild  with  ambes  as 

But  with  sys  c$;  J£  /  that  renneth  for  youre  chaunce 

At  Cristemasse  /  myrie  may  ye  daunce  126 

ELLESMERE    132 


GROUP  B.  §2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  PROL.  Ellesmere  MS.  133 

Ye  seken  lond  and  see  /  for  yowre  wynnynges     [leaf  &*,  back] 

As  wise  folk1  ye  knowen  all  thestaafr 

Of  regnes  /  ye  been  fadres  of  tidynges 

And  tales  /  bothe  of  pees  /  and  of  debaafr  130 

I  were  right  now  /  of  tales  desolaaf 

Here  that  a  Marchanft  goon  is  many  a  yeere 

Me  taughte  a  tale  /  which  that  ye  shal  heere  1 33 


As  there  is  no  room  in  this  print  for  the  Latin  notes  in  tlie 
margin  of  the  MS,  they  are  put  here,  with  the  numbers  of  the  lines 
to  which  they  refer. 

1.  161.  Europa  est  tercia  pars  muwdi. 

1.  197.  ^f  Ceptra  Phorenei  fratrum  fratrum  discordia  Thebe 
^f  fflammaw  Phetontis  Deucalionis  Aque  ^f  In  stellis  Priami  / 
species  Audacia  Turni  ^f  Sensus  Vlixeus  Herculeus  que  vigor. 
[MS,  leaf  55.] 

1.  295.  ^f  Vnde  Ptholomew*.  libro  i°.  capWwZo.  8°.  ^f  Primi  mo- 
tus  celi  duo  sunt  quorum  vnws  est  qui  mouet  totu??t  semper  ab 
Oriente  in  Occidentew  /  vno  modo  super  orbes  &c.  /  Item  al[i]ter 
vero  moius  est  qui  mouet  orbem  stellarww.  currenciuwz.  contra  mo- 
tum  primum  /  videlicet  /  ab  Occidents  in  Orientewi  super  alios  duos 
polos,  &c.  [MS,  leaf  56,  back.] 

1.  309.  ^f  Onmes  concordati  sunt  /  qwtfd  eleccwmes  sint  debiles 
nisi  in  diuitibus  /  habent  enim  isti  licet  debiMtent?w  eorum  elec- 
ciones  radicewi  .i.  natiuitates  eowm  qi<e  coreforta[n]t  owiwem  plane- 
tam  debilem  in  itinere  &c.  [MS,  leaf  56,  back.] 

1.  421.  If  No£a  de  inopinato  dolore  ^f  Semper  muwdane  leticie 
tristicia  repentina  succedit  /  Muredana  igitur  felicitas  rtmltis  ama- 
ritudimb?/s  est  respersa  /  extrema  gaudii  luct?w  occupat.  Audi  ergo 
salubre  consiliuw  /  In  die  bonorwwz,  ne  imtnemor  sis  malortw/t. 
[MS,  leaf  58.] 

1.  771.  ^f  Quid  twrpius  ebrioso  /  cui  fetor  in  ore  tremor  in  cor- 
pore  /  qui  pmnit  stulta  /  prodit  occulta  /  cui?/s  mens  alienat?w  / 
facies  trausformatwr  /  nulluw  enim.  latet  secretuTTi.  vbi  regnat 
ebrietas.  [MS,  leaf  62.] 

1.  925.  ^f  0  extrema  libidinis  twrpitudo  que  non  soluw  mentem 
effeminat  /  set  eciam  corpws  eneruat  /  semper  sequntwr  dolor  & 
penitentia  post  ^.cetera.  [MS,  leaf  64.] 

1.  1132.  ^f  A  mane  vsq?<e  ad  vesperam  mutabit?<r  temp?/.«  / 
tenent  tympanum  &  gaudent  /  ad  sonuw  organi  kcetera.  [MS, 
leaf  66,  back.] 

1.  1135.  ^f  Q?/is  vnq?/am  vnicawi  diem,  totam  duxit  /  in  sua 
dileccio»e  iocuwdaw  que?n.  in  aliqua  parte  diei  reatus  coresciencie  / 
vel  impet?/«  Ire  vel  motws  cowcupiscencie  non  twrbauerit  /  que?w 
liuor  Inuidie  /  vel  Ardor  Auaricie  /  vel  tumor  superbie  non  vex- 
auerit  /  quern  aliqua  iactura  vel  offensa  /  vel  passio  non  cowt- 
mouerit  kcetera.  [MS,  leaf  66,  back.] 

ELLESMERE    133 


134  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OK  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 


Heere  begynneth  the  man  of  lawe  his  tale 


IN  Surrye  whilom  dwelte  a  compaignye  ^ft 
Of  chapmen  riche  /  and  therto  sadde  and  trewe 
That  wyde  where  /  senten  hir  spicerye 
Clothes  of  gold  /  and  satyns  riche  of  hewe  137 

Hir  chaffare  /  was  so  thrifty  and  so  newe 
That  eueiy  wignt  /  hath  deyntee  to  chafiare 
"With  hem  /  and  eek  /  to  sellen  hem  hire  ware  140 

Now  fil  if  that  the  maistres  /  of  that  sort* 

Han  shapen  hem  /  to  Eome  for  to  wende 

Were  it  for  chapmanhode  /  or  for  disport 

Noon  oother  message  /  wolde  they  thider  sende  144 

But  comen  hem  self  to  Rome  /  this  is  the  ende 

And  in  swich  place  /  as  thoughte  hem  auantage 

ffor  hire  entente  /  they  take  hir  herbergage  147 

IT  Soiourned  han  thise  Marchantz  /  in  that  toun 

A  certein  tyme  /  as  fil  to  hire  plesance 

And  so  bifel  /  that  thexcellent  renoun 

Of  the  Emperours  doghter  /  Dame  Custance  151 

Reported  was  /  with  euery  circumstance 

Vn  to  thise  Surryen  Marchantz  /  in  swich  a  wyse 

ffro  day  to  day  /  as  I  shal  yow  deuyse  154 

IT  This  was  the  commune  voys  of  every  man 

Oure  Emperour  of  Rome  /  god  hym  see 

A  doghter  hath  /  that  syu  the  world  bigan 

To  rekene  as  wel  /  hir  goodnesse  as  beautee  158 

Nas  neuere  /  swich  another  as  is  shee 

I  prey  to  god  /  in  honour  hire  susteene 

And  wolde  she  were  /  of  all  Europe  the  queene      [J£%T'' 

ELLESMERE    134 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  135 

In  hire  /  is  heigh  beautee  /  with  oute  pride  [leaf  55] 

Yowthe  /  with  oute  grenehede  /  or  folye 

To  alle  hire  werkes  /  vertu  is  hir  gyde 

Humblesse  /  hath  slayn  in  hire  al  tirannye  165 

She  is  Mirour  /  of  alle  curteisye 

Hir  herte  /  is  verray  chambre  of  hoolynesse 

Hir  hand  /  Ministre  of  fredam  for  almesse  168 

And  al  this  voys  was  sooth  /  as  god  is  trewe 
But  now  to  purpos  /  lat  vs  turne  agayn 
Thise  Marchantz  /  han  doon  fraught  /  hir  shippes  newe 
•  And  whan  they  han  /  this  blisful  mayden  sayn  172 

Hoom  to  Surrye  /  been  they  went  ful  fayn 
And  doon  hir  nedes  /  as  they  han  doon  yoore 
And  lyuen  in  wele  /  I  kan  sey  yow  namoore  175 

^[  Now  fil  it1  that  thise  Marchantz  /  stode  in  grace 

Of  hym  /  that  was  the  Sowdan  of  Surrye 

ffor  whan  they  cam  /  from  any  strange  place 

He  wolde  /  of  his  benigne  curteisye  179 

Make  hem  good  chiere  /  and  bisily  espye 

Tidynges  /  of  sondry  regnes  for  to  leere 

The  wondres  /  that  they  myghte  seen  or  heere  182 

Amonges  othere  thynges  specially 

Thise  Marchantz  /  han  hym  toold  /  of  dame  distance 

.1.  ccriose 

So  greet  noblesse  /  in  ernest  ceriously 

That  this  Sowdan  /  hath  caught1  so  greet  plesance  186 

To  han  hir  figure  /  in  his  remembrance 

That  all  his  lust1  and  al  his  bisy  cure 

Was  for  to  loue  hire  /  while  his  lyf  may  dure  189 

Parauenture  /  in  thilke  large  book/ 

Which  J)at  men  clipe  the  heuene  /  ywriten  was 

With  sterres  /  whan  that  he  his  birthe  took/ 

That  he  for  loue  /  sholde  han  his  deeth  alias  193 

ELLESMEUE    135 


136  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

For  in.  the  sterres  /  clerer  than  is  glas 

Is  writen  god  woof  who  so  koude  it  rede 

The  deeth  of  euery  man  /  withouten  drede  196 

In  sterres  many  a  wynter  /  ther  biforn  [Latin  Note,  p.  iss.i 

Was  writen  the  deeth  /  of  Ector  /  Achilles 

Of  Pompei  lulius  /  er  they  were  born 

The  strif  of  Thebes  /  and  of  Ercules  200 

Of  Sampson  /  Turnus  /  and  of  Socrates 

The  deeth  /  but  mennes  wittes  ben  so  dulle 

That  no  wight1  kan  wel  rede  it  atte  fulle  203 

IT  This  Sowdan  /  for  his  pn'uee  conseil  sente        Deaf  55,  back] 

And  shortly  /  of  this  matiere  for  to  pace 

He  hath  to  hem  /  declared  his  entente 

And  seyde  hem  certein  /  but  he  mygllte  haue  grace       207 

To  han  Custance  /  with-Inne  a  litel  space 

He  nas  but  deed  /  and  charged  hem  in  hye 

To  shapen  for  his  lyf  /  som  remedy e  210 

1T  Diuerse  men  /  diuerse  thynges  seyden 

They  argumenten  /  casten  vp  and  doun 

Many  a  subtil  resouw  /  forth  they  ley  den 

They  speken  of  /  Magyk*  and  Abusion  214 

But  finally  /  as  in  conclusion 

They  kan  nat  seen  /  in  that  noon  auantag 

Ne  in  noon  oother  wey  saue  mariage  217 

Thanne  sawe  they  ther-Inne  swich  dimcultee 

By  wey  of  reson  /  for  to  speke  al  playn 

By  cause  /  that  ther  was  swich  diuersitee 

Bitwene  hir  bothe  lawes  /  that  they  sayn  221 

They  trowe  /  fat  no  cristene  prince  wolde  fayn 

Wedden  his  child  /  vnder  oure  lawes  sweete 

That  vs  were  taught*  by  Mahoun  oure  prophete  224 

ELLESMERE    136 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.   137 

IT  And  he  answerde  /  rather  than  I  lese 

distance./  I  wol  be  cristned  doutelees 

I  moot  been  hires  /  I  may  noon  oother  chese 

I  prey  yow  /  hoold  youre  argumentz  in  pees  228 

Saueth  my  lyf  /  and  beth  noght  recchelees 

To  geten  hire  /  that  hath  my  lyf  in  cure 

For  in  this  wo  /  I  may  nat  longe  endure  231 

1T  What  nedeth  /  gretter  dilatacion 

I  seye  /  by  tretys  /  and  Embassadrie 

And  by  /  the  popes  mediacion 

And  al  the  chirche  /  and  al  the  chiualrie  235 

That  in  destruccion  of  Maumettrie 

And  in  encrees  /  of  cristes  lawe  deere 

They  been  acorded  /  so  as  ye  shal  heere  238 

How  that  the  sowdan  /  and  his  Baronage 

And  alle  hise  liges  /  sholde  ycristned  be 

And  he  shal  han  /  Custance  /  in  mariage 

And  certein  gold  [  I  noot  what  quantitee  242 

And  heer  to  founden  /  sufficient  suretee 

This  same  accord  /  was  sworn  on  eyther  syde 

Now  faire  Custance  /  almygfrty  god  thee  gyde  245 

IT  Now  wolde  som  men  /  waiten  as  I  gesse  [leaf  56] 

That  I  sholde  tellen  /  al  the  pwnieiance 

That  themperour  /  of  his  grete  noblesse 

Hath  shapen  /  for  his  doghter  dame  Custance  249 

Wei  may  men  knowen  /  ]>at  so  groet  ordinance 

May  no  man  tellen  /  in  a  litel  clause 

As  was  arrayed  /  for  so  heigh  a  cause  252 

Bisshopes  been  shapen  /  with  hire  for  to  wende 

Lordes  /  ladies  /  knyghtes  of  renoun 

And  oother  folk  ynogh  /  this  is  thende 

And  notified  is  /  thurgh"  out  the  toun  256 

ELLESMERE    137 


138  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmerc  MS. 

That  euery  wight  /  with  greet  deuocioun 
Sholde  preyen  crisfr  that  he  this  mariage 
Keceyue  in  gree  /  and  spede  this  viage  259 

IF  The  day  is  comen  /  of  hir  departynge 

I  seye  /  the  woful  day  fatal  is  come 

That  ther  may  be  /  no  longer  tariynge 

But  forthwaid  they  hem  dressen  /  alle  and  some  263 

distance  /  pat  was  with  sorwe  al  ouercome 

fful  pale  arisf  and  dresseth  hire  to  wende 

ffor  wel  she  seeth  /  ther  is  noon  oother  ende  266 

Alias  /  what  wonder  is  if  thogh  she  wepte 

That  shal  be  sent  /  to  strange  nacion 

ifro  freendes  fat  so  tendrely  hire  kepte 

And  to  be  bounden  /  vnder  subieccion  270 

Of  oon  /  she  knoweth  nat  his  condicion 

Housbondes  been  alle  goode  /  and  han  ben  yoore 

That  knowen  wyues  /  I  dar  say  yow  na  moore  273 

IT  ffader  she  seyde  /  thy  wrecched  child  Custance 

Thy  yonge  dognter  /  fostred  vp  so  softe 

And  ye  my  mooder  /  my  souerayn  plesance 

Ouer  alle  thyng1  out  taken  crist  on  lofte  277 

Custance  youre  child  /  hire  recomandeth  ofte 

Vn  to  your  grace  /  for  I  shal  to  Surrye 

Ne  shal  I  neuere  /  seen  yow  moore  with  eye  280 

Alias  /  vn  to  the  Barbre  nacion 

I  moste  goon  /  syn  that  it  is  youre  wille 

But  crisf  that  starf  /  for  our  sauacion 

So  yeue  me  grace  /  hise  heestes  to  fnlfille  284 

I  wrecche  womman  /  no  fors  /  though  I  spille 

Wommen  are  born  /  to  thraldom  and  penance 

And  to  been  /  vnder  mannes  gouernance  287 

ELLESMERE    13« 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  139 

^[  I  trowe  at  Troye  /  whan  Pirrus  brak  /  the  wal  [leaf  se,  back] 

Or  Ilion  /  brende  Thebes  the  Citee 

Nat  Eome  /  for  the  harm  thurgh  Hanybal 

That  Romayns  /  hath  venquysshed  tymes  thre  291 

Nas  herd  /  swich  tendre  wepyng1  for  pitee 

As  in  the  chambre  was  for  hire  departynge 

But  forth  she  moot1  wher  so  she  wepe  or  synge  294 

^[  0  firste  moeuyng  /  crueel  firmament1  [Latin  note,  p.  133.] 

"With  thy  diurnal  sweigh"  /  that  crowdest  ay 

And  hurlest  al  /  from  Est  til  Occident1 

That  naturelly  /  wolde  holde  another  way  298 

Thy  crowdyng  /  set  the  heuene  in  swich  array 

At  the  bigynnyng1  of  this  fiers  viage 

That  crueel  Mars  /  hath  slayn  this  manage  301 

Infortunat  Ascendent1  tortuous 

Of  which  /  the  lord  is  helplees  falle  alias 

Out  of  his  Angle  /  in  to  the  derkeste  hous 

O  Mars  /  o  Atazir  /  as  in  this  cas  305 

0  fieble  Moone  /  vnhappy  been  thy  paas 

Thou  knyttest  thee  /  ther  thou  art  nat  receyued 

Ther  thou  were  weel  /  fro  thennes  artow  weyued  308 

Imprudent  Emp^'our  /  of  Eome  alias  [Latin  note,  p.  iss.] 

"Was  ther  /  no  philosophre  /  in  al  thy  toun 

Is  no  tyme  bet  than  oother  /  in  swich  cas 

Of  viage  /  is  ther  noon  eleccion  312 

Namely  /  to  folk  /  of  heigh  condicion 

Noght  whan  a  roote  /  is  of  a  burthe  yknowe 

Alias  /  we  been  /  to  lewed  or  to  slowe  315 

T  To  ship  is  come  /  this  woful  faire  mayde 

Solempnely  /  with  euery  circumstance 

Now  Ihesu.  cristf  be  with  yow  alle  she  sayde 

Ther  nys  namoore  /  but  farewel  /  faire  Custance  319 

ELLESMERE    139 


140  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

She  peyneth  hire  /  to  make  good  contenance 
And  forth  / 1  lete  hire  saille  /  in  this  manere 
And  tume  I  wole  /  agayn  to  my  matere  322 

IT  The  mooder  /  of  the  Sowdan  /  welle  of  vices 

Espied  hath  /  hir  sones  pleyn  entente 

How  he  wol  lete  /  hise  olde  sacrifices 

And  right  anon  /  she  for  hir  conseil  sente  326 

And  they  been  come  /  to  knowe  what  she  mente 

And  whan  assembled  was  /  this  folk1  in  feere 

She  sette  hire  doun  /  and  seyde  as  ye  shal  heere  329 

IT  Lordes  /  she  seyde  /  ye  knowen  euerichon  p«rf  57] 

How  that  my  sone  /  in  point  is  for  to  lete 

The  hooly  lawes  /  of  oure  Alkaron 

Yeuen  by  goddes  message  Makomete  333 

But  oon  auow  /  to  grete  god  I  heete 

The  lyf  shal  rather  /  out  of  my  body  sterte 

Than  Makometes  lawe  /  out  of  myn  herte  336 

What  sholde  vs  tyden  /  of  this  newe  lawe 

But  thraldom  to  our  bodies  and  penance 

And  afterward  /  in  helle  to  be  drawe 

ffor  we  reneyed  /  Mahoun  oure  creance  340 

But  lordes  /  wol  ye  maken  assurance 

As  I  shal  seyn  /  assentynge  to  my  loore 

And  I  shal  make  vs  sauf  for  eueremoore  343 

5[  They  sworen  /  and  assenten  euery  man 

To  lyue  with  hire  and  dye  /  and  by  hire  stonde 

And  euerich  /  in  the  beste  wise  he  kan 

To  strengthen  hire  /  shal  alle  hise  frendes  fonde  347 

And  she  hath  /  this  emprise  ytake  on  honde 

Which  ye  shal  heien  /  that  I  shal  deuyse 

And  to  hem  alle  /  she  spak  right  in  this  wyse  350 

ELLESMERE    140 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  141 

IF  We  shul  first1  feyne  vs  /  cristendom  to  take 

Coold  water  /  shal  nat  greue  vs  but  a  lite 

And  I  shal  /  swiclie  a  feeste  and  reuel  make 

That  as  I  trowe  /  I  shal  the  Sowdan  quite  354 

fibr  thogh  his  wyf  /  be  cristned  neuer  so  white 

She  shal  haue  nede  /  to  wasshe  awey  the  rede 

Thogh"  she  /  a  font  ful  water  /  with  hire  lede  357 

OSowdanesse  /  roote  of  Iniquitee  T  Auctor 

Virago  /  thou  Semyrame  the  secounde 
O  serpent  /  vnder  femynynytee 

Lik  to  the  serpent1  depe  in  helle  ybounde  361 

0  feyned  woraman  /  al  that  may  confounde 
Vertu  and  Innocence  /  thurgh"  thy  malice 
Is  bred  in  thee  /  as  nesf  of  euery  vice  3G4 

O  Sathan  enuious  /  syn  thilke  day 

That  thou  were  chaced  from  oure  heritage 

Wei  knowestow  /  to  wommen  the  olde  way 

Thou  madest  Eua  /  brynge  vs  in  seruage  3G8 

Thou  wolt  fordoon  /  this  cristen  mariage 

Thyn  Instrument1  so  weylawey  the  while 

Makestow  of  wommen  /  whan  thou  wolt  bigile  371 

/ 
^[  This  Sowdanesse  /  whom  I  thus  blame  and  warye   p^w,  bk] 

Leet  pmiely  /  hire  conseil  goon  hire  way 

What  sholde  I  in  this  tale  lenger  tarye 

She  rydeth  to  the  Sowdan  /  on  a  day  /      375 

And  seyde  hym  /  that  she  wolde  reneye  hir  lay   / 

And  cristendom  /  of  preestes  handes  fonge 

Repentynge  hire  /  she  hethen  was  so  longe  378 

Bisechynge  hym  /  to  doon  hire  that  honour 

That  she  moste  han  /  the  cristen  folk  to  feeste 

To  plesen  hem  I  wol  do  my  labour 

The  Sowdan  seith  /  I  wol  doon  at  youre  heeste  382 

ELLESMERE    141 


142  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  knelynge  /  thanketh  hire  of  that  requests 

So  glad  he  was  /  he  nyste  what1  to  seye 

She  kiste  hir  sone  /  and  hoome  she  gooth  hir  weye        385 

If  Explicit  pn'ma  pars 

If  Sequitwr  pars  secunda  fa 

Arryued  been  /  this  cristen  folk  to  londe 
In  Surrye  /  with  a  greet  solempne  route 
And  hastifliche  /  this  Sowdan  sente  his  sonde 
ffirst  to  his  mooder  /  and  all  the  regne  aboute  389 

And  seyde  /  his  wyf  was  comen  oute  of  doute 
And  preyde  hire  /  for  to  ryde  agayn  the  queeue 
The  honour  of  his  regne  /  to  susteene  392 

Greet  was  the  prees  /  and  riche  was  tharray 

Of  Surryens  and  Romayns  met  yfeere 

The  mooder  of  the  Sowdan  /  riche  and  gay 

Recyneth  hire  /  with  also  glad  a  cheere  396 

As  any  mooder  /  myghte  hir  doghter  deere 

to  the  nexte  Citee  /  ther  bisyde 
softe  paas  /  solempnely  they  ryde  399 

h"t  trowe  I  /  the  triumphe  of  lulius 
Of  wnich  /  that  Lucan  maketh  swich  a  boost1 
"Was  rolaller  /  or  moore  curius 

Than  •vras  thassemblee  /  of  this  blisful  hoostf  403 

But  this  scorpiotw  /  this  wikked  goost 
The  Sowdafcesse  /  for  all  hire  flaterynge 
Caste  vnder  this  /  ful  mortally  to  stynge  406 

IT  The  Sowdan  comth  hyin  self  soone  after  this  O<rf  58] 

So  roially  /  that  wonder  is  to  telle 

And  welcometh  hire  /  with  alle  ioye  and  blis 

And  thus  /  in  murthe  and  ioye  I  lete  hew  dwelle  410 

ELLESMERE    142 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellcsmere  MS.  143 

The  fruyt  of  this  matiere  /  is  that  I  telle 

"Whan  tyme  cam  /  men  thoughte  it  for  the  beste 

The  reuel  stynte  /  and  men  goon  to  hir  reste  413 

^f  The  tyme  cam  /  this  olde  Sowdanesse 

Ordeyned  hath  this  feeste  /  of  which  I  tolde 

And  to  the  feeste  /  cristen  folk  hem  dresse 

In  general  /  ye  bothe  yonge  and  olde  417 

Heere  may  men  /  feeste  /  and  roialtee  bihold 

And  deyntees  mo  /  than  I  kan  yow  deuyse 

But  all  to  deere  /  they  boghte  it  er  they  ryse  420 


Osodeyn  wo  /  that  euere  art  successour     [.Latin  note,  p.  133.] 
To  worldly  blisse  /  spreynd  with  bittemesse 
The  ende  of  the  ioye  /  of  oure  worldly  labour 
Wo  occupieth  /  the  fyn  of  oure  gladnesse  424 

Herke  this  conseil  /  for  thy  sikernesse 
Vp  on  thy  glade  day  /  haue  in  thy  mynde 
The  vnwar  wo  /  or  harm  fat  comth  bihynde  427 

ffor  soothly  /  for  to  tellen  /  at  o  word 

The  sowdan  /  and  the  cristen  everichone 

Been'  al  tohewe  /  and  stiked  at  the  bord 

But  it  were  oonly  /  dame  Custance  allone  431 

This  olde  Sowdanesse  /  cursed  krone 

Hath  with  hir  freendes  /  doon  this  cursed  dede 

ffor  she  hir  self  /  wolde  all  the  contree  lede  434 

Ne  was  Surryen  noon  /  that  was  conuerted 

That  of  the  conseil  /  of  the  Sowdan  woof 

That  he  nas  al  tohewe  /  er  he  asterted 

And  Custance  /  han  they  take  anon  foot  hoof  438 

And  in  a  ship  /  all  steerelees  god  woof 

They  han  hir  sef  and  biddeth  hire  lerne  saillo 

Out  of  Surrye  /  agaynward  to  Ytaille  441 

13  ELLESMEKE    143 


144  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS 

A  certein  tresor  /  that  she  with  hire  ladde 

And  sooth  to  seyn  /  vitaille  greet  plentee 

They  han  hire  yeuen  /  and  clothes  eek  she  hadde 

And  forth  she  sailleth  /  in  the  salte  see  445 

0  my  distance  /  ful  of  benignytee 

O  Emperours  yonge  doghter  deere 

He  that  is  lord  of  ffortune  be  thy  steere  448 

She  blesseth  hire  /  and  with  ful  pitous  voys         [leaf  58,  back] 

Vn  to  the  croys  of  Crist*  thus  seyde  she 

0  cleere  /  o  woful  Auter  /  hooly  croys 

Eeed  of  the  lambes  blood  /  ful  of  pi  tee  452 

That  wessfie  the  world  /  fro  the  olde  Iniquitee 

Me  fro  the  feend  /  and  fro  his  clawes  kepe 

That  day  /  that  I  shal  drenchen  in  the  depe  455 

Victorious  tree  /  protection  of  trewe 

That  oonly  /  worthy  were  for  to  bere 

The  kyng  of  heuene  /  with  his  woundes  newe 

The  white  lamb  /  fat  hurt  was  with  the  spere  459 

fflemere  of  feendes  /  out  of  hym  and  here 

On  which  /  thy  lymes  /  feithfully  extenden 

Me  helpe  /  and  yif  me  mygnt  /  my  lyf  tamenden          462 

^f  Yeres  and  dayes  /  fleteth  this  creature 

Thurghout  the  See  of  Grece  /  vn  to  the  Strayte 

Of  Marrok1.  as  it  was  hire  Auenture 

On  many  a  sory  meel  /  now  may  she  bayte  466 

After  hir  d&eth  /  ful  often  may  she  wayte 

Er  that  the  wilde  wawes  /  wol  hire  dryue 

Vn  to  the  place  /  ther  she  shal  arryue  469 

Men  myghten  asken  /  why  she  was  nat1  slayn 
Eek  at  the  feeste  /who  myghte  hir  body  saue 
And  I  answere  /  to  that  demande  agayn 
Who  saued  danyel  /  in  the  horrible  Caue  473 

ELLESMKKE    144 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.   145 

Ther  euery  wight  saue  he  /  maister  and  knaue 

Was  with  the  leon)  frete  /  er  he  asterte 

No  wight*  but  god  /  that  he  bar  in  his  herte  476 

God  liste  to  shewe  /  his  wonderful  myracle 

In  hire  /  for  we  sholde  seen  /  his  myghty  werkis 

Crist'  Avhich  that  is  /  to  euery  harm  triacle 

By  certeine  meenes  ofte  /  as  knowen  clerkis  480 

Dooth  thyng1  for  certein  ende  /  that  ful  derk  is 

To  mannes  wit/,  that  for  oure  ignorance 

Ne  konne  noght  knowe  /  his  prudent  pwmeiance  483 

1F  Now  sith  she  was  nat  /  at  the  feeste  yslawe 

Who  kepte  hire  /  fro  the  drenchyng  /  in  the  see? 

Who  kepte  lonas  /  in  the  fisshes  mawe 

Til  he  /  was  spouted  vp  at  Nynyuee?  487 

Wei  may  men  knowe  /  it  was  no  wight  but  he 

That  kepte  peple  Ebrayk1  from  hir  drenchynge 

With  drye  feet1  thurgh  out  the  see  passynge  490 

^f  Who  bad  the  foure  spirites  of  tempest  peaf  59] 

That  power  han  /  tanoyen  lond  and  see 

Bothe  North  and  South  /  and  also  west1  and  Est1 

Anoyeth  neither  /  see  /  ne  land  ne  tree  494 

Soothly  /  the  Comandour  of  that  was  he 

That  fro  the  tempest  /  ay  this  womman  kepte 

As  wel  /  when  she  wook1  as  whan  she  slepte  497 

^[  Where  myghte  this  womman  /  mete  and  drynke  haue  ? 

Thre  yeer  and  moore  /  how  lasteth  hire  vitaille  ? 

Who  fedde  /  the  Egypcien  Marie  in  the  Caue  ? 

Or  in  desert?    no  wight  but  crist  /  sanz  faille  501 

ffyue  thousand  folk1  /  it  was  as  greet  memaille 

With  loues  fyue  /  and  fisshes  two  to  feede 

God  sente  his  foyson  /  at  hir  grete  neede  504 

ELLESMERE    145 


146  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

IF  She  dryueth  forth  /  in  to  oure  Occian 

Thurgh  out  oure  wilde  see  /  til  atte  laste 

Vnder  an  hoold  /  that  nempnen  I  ne  kan 

ffer  in  Northhumberlond1  /  the  wawe  hire  caste  508 

And  in  the  sond  /  hir  ship  /  stiked  so  faste 

That  thennes  wolde  it  noght1  of  al  a  tyde 

The  wyl  of  cristf.  was  fat  she  sholde  abyde  511 

^[  The  Constable  of  the  Castel  /  doun  is  fare 

To  seen  his  wrak1  and  al  the  ship  he  soglite 

And  foond '/  this  wery  womman  ful  of  care 

He  foond  also  /  the  tresor  fat  she  broghte  515 

In  hir  langage  /  mercy  she  bisoghte 

The  lyf  /  out  of  hire  body  for  to  twynne 

Hire  to  deliuere  /  of  wo  /  that  she  was  Inne  518 

A  maner  latyn  corrupt  /  was  hir  speche 

But  algates  /  ther  by  was  she  vnderstonde 

The  Constable  /  whan  hym  lystf  no  lenger  seche 

This  woful  womman  /  broghte  he  to  the  londe  522 

She  kneleth  doun  /  and  thanketh  goddes  sonde 

But  what  she  was  /  she  wolde  no  man  seye 

ffor  foul  ne  fair  /  thogh"  fat  she  sholde  deye  525 

She  seyde  /  she  was  /  so  mazed  in  the  see 

That  she  forgat  hir  mynde  /  by  hir  trouthe 

The  Constable  /  hath  of  hire  so  greet  pitee 

And  eke  his  wyf  /  that  they  wepen  for  routhe  529 

She  was  so  diligent1  with  outen  slouthe 

To  serue  and  plese  /  euerich  in  that  place 

That  alle  hir  louen  /  that  looken  in  hir  face  532 

^[  This  Constable  /  and  dame  Hermengyld1  his  wyf/  pf  so,  bk] 

Were  payens  /  and  that  contree  euery  where 

But  Hermengyld  /  loued  hire  right  as  hir  lyf 

And  Custance  /  hath  so  longe  soiourned  there  536 

ELLESMERE    146 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  147 

In  orisons  /  with  many  a  bitter  teere 

Til  Ihesu  /  hath  conuerted  /  thurgh  his  grace 

Dame  Hermengylcfc  /  Constablesse  of  that  place  539 

In  al  that  lond  /  no  cristen  dorste  route 

Alle  cristen  folk  /  been  fled  fro  that  contree 

Thurgh"  Payens  /  that  conquereden  al  aboute 

The  plages  of  the  North  by  land  and  see  543 

To  Walys  /  fledde  the  Cristyanytee 

Of  olde  Britons  /  dwellynge  in  this  lie 

Ther  was  hir  refut1  for  the  meene  while  546 

But  yet  nere  cristene  Britons  so  exiled 

That  ther  nere  sorame  /  that  in  hir  pri'uetee 

Honoured  crist1  and  hethen  folk  bigiled 

And  ny  the  Castel  /  swiche  ther  dwelten  three  550 

That  oon  of  hem  was  blynd  /  and  myghte  nat  see' 

But  it  were  /  with  thilke  eyen  of  his  mynde 

With  whiche  men  seen  /  whan  fat  they  ben  blynde       553 

Bright  was  the  sonne  /  as  in  that  someres  day 
ffor  which  the  Constable  /  and  his  wyf  also 
And  Custance  /  han  ytake  the  righte  way 
Toward  the  see  /  a  furlong  wey  or  two  557 

To  pleyen  /  and  to  romen  to  romen1  to  and  fro     [1  so] 
And  in  hir  walk1  this  blynde  man  they  mette 
Croked  and  oold  /  with  eyen  faste  yshette  560 

In  name  of  Crist1  cride  this  olde  Briton 

Dame  Hermengyld!  /  yif  me  /  my  sighte  agayn 

This  lady  /  weex  affrayed  of  the  soun 

Lest  that  hir  housbonde  /  shortly  for  to  sayn  564 

Wolde  hire  /  for  Ihesu  crimes  loue  han  slayn 

Til  Custance  made  hire  boold  /  and  bad  hire  wirche 

The  wyl  of  Crist1  as  doghter  of  his  chirche  567 

ELLESMERE    147 


148  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAWS  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

If  The  Constable  /  weex  abasshed  of  that  sight* 

And  seyde  /  what  amounteth  all  this  fare 

distance  answerde  /  sire  /  it  is  cristes  niygfit1 

That  helpeth  folk1  /  out  of  the  feendes  snare  571 

And  so  ferforth  /  she  gan  oure  lay  declare 

That  she  the  Constable  /  er  that  it  were  eue 

Conuerteth  /  and  on  Crist1  maketh  hym  bileue  574 

This  Constable  /  was  no  thyng  lord  of  this  place        [leaf  eo] 

Of  which  I  speke  /  ther  he  Custance  fond? 

But  kepte  it  strongly  many  wyntres  space 

Vnder  Alia  /  kyng1  of  al  Northhumbrelond?  578 

That  was  ful  wys  /  and  worthy  of  his  hond? 

Agayn  the  Scottes  /  as  men  may  wel  heere 

But  turne  I  wole  /  agayn  to  my  mateere  581 

^]  Sathan  /  that  euere  vs  waiteth  to  bigile 

Saugh"  of  Custance  /  al  hire  perfecciouw 

And  caste  anon  /  how  he  myghte  quite  hir  while 

And  made  a  yong1  knyght  /  J>at  dwelte  in  that  toun       585 

Loue  hire  so  hoote  of  foul  affeccioun 

That  vemiily  /  hym  thoughte  he  sholde  spille 

But  he  of  hire  myghte  ones  haue  his  wille  588 

He  woweth  hire  /  but  it  auailleth  noght/ 

She  wolde  do  no  synne  /  by  no  weye 

And  for  despit1  he  compassed  in  his  thoght1 

To  maken  hire  /  on  shameful  deeth  to  deye  592 

He  wayteth  /  whan  the  Constable  was  aweye 

And  pryuely  /  vp  on  a  nyght1  he  crepte 

In  Hermengyldes  chambre  /  whil  she  slepte  595 

^[  Wery  /  for- waked  /  in  hire  orisons 

Slepeth  Custance  /  and  Hermeugyld*  also 

This  knyght  thurgh  Sathans  temptacioiis 

All  softely  /  is  to  the  bed  ygo  599 

ELLESMERE    148 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.   149 

And  kitte  the  throte  /  of  Hermengyld?  atwo 

And  leyde  the  blody  knyf  /  by  dame  distance 

And  wente  his  wey  /  ther  god  yeue  hym  meschance       602 

^[  Soone  after  /  cometh  this  Constable  hoom  agayn 

And  eek  Alia  /  ]?at  kyng  was  of  that  lond 

And  saugh  his  wyf  /  despitously  yslayn 

ffor  which  ful  ofte  he  weep  /  and  wroong  his  hond         606 

And  in  the  bed  /  the  blody  knyf  he  fond 

By  Dame  Custance  /  alias  what  mygfrte  she  seye 

For  verray  wo  /  hir  wit1  was  al  aweye  609 

^[  To  kyng  Alia  /  was  tocld  al  this  meschance 

And  eek  the  tyme  /  and  where  /  and  in  what  wise 

That  in  a  ship  /  was  founden  dame  Custance 

As  heerbiforn  /  that  ye  han  herd  deuyse  613 

The  kynges  herte  /  of  pitee  gan  agryse 

Whan  he  saugh  /  so  benigne  a  creature 

fialle  in  disese  /  and  in  mysauenture  616 

ffor  as  the  lomb  /  toward  his  deeth  is  broghf       pear  eo,  back] 

So  stant  this  Innocent1  bifore  the  kyng1 

This  false  knyght1  fat  hath  this  tresofi  wroghf 

Berth  hire  on  hond  /  fat  she  hath  doon  thys  thyng1      620 

But  nathelees  /  ther  was  greet  moornyng1 

Among  the  peple  /  and  seyn  /  they  kan  nat  gesse 

That  she  had  doon  /  so  greet  a  wikkednesse  623 

ffor  they  /  han  seyn  hire  euere  so  vertuous 

And  louynge  Hermengykl?  /  right  as  hir  lyf/ 

Of  this  baar  Avitnesse  /  euerich  in  that  hous 

Saue  he  /  J>«t  Hermengyld*  /  slow  with  his  knyf/  627 

This  gentil  kyng  /  hath  caught  a  greet  motyf 

Of  this  witnesse  /  and  thoghte  he  wolde  enquere 

Depper  in  this  /  a  trouthe  for  to  lere  630 

ELLESMERE    149 


150  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Tf  Alias  distance  /  thou  hast  no  champion 

Ne  fighte  kanstow  noght1  so  weylaway 

But  he  /  that  starf  for  our  redempcion 

And  boond  Sathan  /  and  yet  lith  ther  he  lay  634 

So  be  /  thy  stronge  champion  this  day 

ffor  but  if  crisf  open  myracle  kithe 

"WYtAouten  gilt1  thou  shalt  be  slayn  as  s  withe  637 

She  sit  hire  doun  on  knees  /  and  thus  she  sayde 

Immortal  god  /  that  sauedest  Susanne 

ffro  fals  blame  /  and  thou  merciful  mayde 

Mary  I  meene  /  doghter  to  Seint  Anne  641 

Bifore  whos  child  /  Angeles  synge  Osanne 

If  I  be  giltlees  /  of  this  felonye 

My  socour  be  /  or  ellis  shal  I  dye  644 

Haue  ye  nat  seyn  /  som  tyme  a  pale  face 
Among1  a  prees  /  of  hym  fat  hath  be  lad 
Toward  his  deeth  /  wher  as  hym  gat  no  grace 
And  swich  a  colour  /  in  his  face  hath  had  648 

Men  mygnte  knowe  /  his  face  that  was  bistad 
Amonges  alle  the  faces  /  in  that  route 
So  stant  Custance  /  and  looketh  hire  aboute  651 

OQueenes  /  lyuynge  in  prosperitee 
Duchesses  /  and  ladyes  euerichone 
Haueth  som  routhe  /  on  hire  Aduersitee 
An  Emperours  doghter  /  stant  allone  655 

She  hath  no  wight1  /  to  whom  to  make  hir  mone 
0  blood  roial  /  that  stondest  in  this  drede 
ffer  been  thy  freendes  /  at  thy  grete  nede  658 

This  Alia  kyng1  hath  swich  compassioura  peaf  ei] 

Ap  gentil  herte  /  is  fulfild  of  pitee 
That  from  hise  eyen  /  ran  the  water  doun 
Now  hastily  /  do  fecche  a  book1  quod  he  662 

ELLESMERE    150 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmcre  MS.  151 

And  if  this  knyght1  wol  sweren  how  fat  she 

This  womman  slow  /  yet  wol  we  vs  auyse 

Whom  Jjat  we  wole  /  that  shal  been  our  lustise  665 


A  Briton  book  /  written  with  Euawngiles 

Was  fef  and  on  this  book1  he  swoor  anoon 

She  gilty  was  /  and  in  the  meene  whiles 

An  hand  hym  smoofr  vpon  the  nekke  boon  669 

That  doun  he  fil  /  atones  as  a  stoon 

And  bothe  hise  eyen  /  broste  out  of  his  face 

In  signte  /  of  euery  body  in  that  place  672 

^[  A  voys  was  herd  /  in  general  Audience 

And  seyde  tBou  hast1  desclaundred  giltlees 

The  doghter  of  hooly  chirche  /  in  heigh  presence 

Thus  hastou  doon  /  and  yet  holde  I  my  pees  676 

Of  this  meruaille  /  agast  was  al  the  prees 

As  mazed  folk1  they  stoden  euerichone 

ffor  drede  of  wreche  /  saue  Custance  allone  679 

^[  Greet  was  the  drede  /  and  eek  the  repentance 

Of  hem  /  that  hadden  wronge  suspecion 

Vpon  /  this  sely  Innocent  Custance 

And  for  this  miracle  in  conclusion  683 

And  by  Custances  mediacion 

The  kyng1  and  many  another  in  that  place 

Conuerted  was  /  thanked  be  cristes  grace  686 

^[  This  false  knyght  was  slayn  for  his  vntrouthe 

By  luggement  of  Alia  hastifly 

And  yet  Custance  /  hadde  of  his  deeth  greet  routhe 

And  after  this  Iftesus  of  his  mercy  690 

Made  Alia  wedden  ful  solempnely 

This  hooly  mayden  /  that  is  so  bright  and  sheene 

And  thus  hath  crisf  ymaad  Custance  a  queene  693 

ELLESMERE    151 


152  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmerc  MS. 

But  who  -was  woful  /  if  I  shal  nat  lye 

Of  this  weddyng1  but  DonegilcJ  and  na  mo 

The  kynges  mooder  /  ful  of  tirannye 

Hir  thoughte  /  hir  cursed  herte  brast  atwo  697 

She  wolde  nogfit  hir  sone  had  do  so 

Hir  thoughte  a  despit1  that  he  sholde  take 

So  strange  a  creature  vn  to  his  make  700 

^f  Me  list  nat  of  the  chaf  /  or  of  the  stree  pear  ei,  back] 

Maken  so  long  a  tale  /  as  of  the  corn 

"What  sholde  I  tellen  /  of  the  roialtee 

At  manages  /  or  which  cours  goth  biforn  704 

Who  bloweth  in  the  trumpe  /  or  in  an  horn 

The  fruytt  of  euery  tale  /  is  for  to  seye 

They  ete  /  and  drynke  /  and  daunce  /  and  synge  and  pleye 

They  goon  to  bedde  /  as  it  was  skile  and  right1 

ffor  thogh  fat  wyues  /  be  ful  hooly  thynges 

They  moste  take  /  in  pacience  at  nyghfr 

Swiche  manege  necessaries  /  as  been  plesynges  711 

To  folk  /  ]?at  han  ywedded  hem  with  rynges 

And  leye  a  lite  /  hir  hoolynesse  aside 

As  for  the  tyme  /  it  may  no  bet  bitide  714 

On  hire  he  gat1  a  man l  childe  anon  ['  altered  from  knaue.] 

And  to  a  bisshop  /  and  his  Constable  eke 

He  took  his  wyf  to  kepe  /  whan  he  is  gon 

To  Scotlondward  /  his  foomen  for  to  seke  718 

Now  faire  distance  /  that  is  so  hu?nble  and  meke 

So  longe  is  goon  with  childe  /  til  that1  stille 

She  halt  hire  chambre  /  abidyng1  cristes  wille  721 

The  tyme  is  come  /  a  man1  child  she  beer 

Mauricius  at  the  fontstoon  /  they  hym  calle 

This  Constable  /  dooth  forth  come  a  Messageer 

And  wroot  vn  to  his  kyng1  that  cleped  was  Alle  725 

ELLESMEKE    152 


GROUP  B.   §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  153 

How  that  this  blisful  tidyng*  is  bifalle 

And  othere  tidynges  /  spedeful  for  to  seye 

He  taketh  the  lettre  /  and  forth  he  gooth  his  weye         728 

^[  This  Messager  /  to  doon  his  auantage 

Vn  to  the  kynges  mooder  rideth  swithe 

And  salueth  hire  ful  faire  in  his  langage 

Madame  quod  he  /  ye  may  be  glad  and  blithe  732 

And  thanketh  god  /  an  hundred  thousand  sithe 

My  lady  queene  /  hath  child  with  outen  doute 

To  ioye  and  blisse  /  to  al  this  regne  aboute  735 

Lo  heere  the  lettres  /  seled  of  this  thyng1 

That  I  moot  bere  /  with  al  the  haste  I  may 

If  ye  wol  aught1  vn  to  youre  sone  the  kyng/ 

I  am  youre  seruanf  bothe  nygfit  and  day  739 

Donegild  answerde  /  as  now  at  this  tyme  nay 

But  heere  al  nygSt  /  I  wol  thou  take  thy  reste 

To-morwe  /  wol  I  seye  thee  /  what  me  leste  742 

^[  This  Messager  /  drank  sadly  ale  and  wyn  [leaf  62] 

And  stolen  were  hise  lettres  pryuely 

Out  of  his  box  /  whil  he  sleep  as  a  swyn 

And  countrefeted  was  ful  subtilly  746 

Another  lettre  /  wroghf  ful  synfully 

Vn  to  the  kyng  direct1  of  this  mateere 

ffro  his  Constable  /  as  ye  shal  after  heere  749 

The  lettre  spak1  the  queene  deliuered  wos 

Of  so  horrible  a  feendly  creature 

That  in  the  Castel  /  noon  so  hardy  was 

That  any  while  /  dorste  ther  endure  .     753 

The  mooder  was  an  Elf  by  auenture 

Yeomen  /  by  charmes  /  or  by  sorcerie 

And  euerich  /  hateth  hir  com^ignye  756 

ELLESMERE    153 


154  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellcsmere  MS. 

^[  "Wo  was  this  kyng1  whan  he  this  lettre  had  sayn 

But  to  no  wightf  he  tolde  his  sorwes  soore 

But  of  his  owene  hand  /  he  wroot  agayn 

"Wei  come  the  sonde  of  crist1  for  eueremoore  760 

To  me  /  that  am  now  lerned  in  his  loore 

Lord  /  wel  come  be  thy  lust1  and  thy  plesance 

My  lust1 1  putte  al  in  thyn  ordinance  763 

Kepeth  this  child  /  al  he  it  foul  or  feir 

And  eek  my  wyf  /  vn  to  myn  hoom  comynge 

Crist  whan  hym  list*  may  sende  me  an  heir 

Moore  agreable  than  this  /  to  my  likynge  767 

This  lettre  he  seleth  pryuely  wepynge 

Which  to  the  Messager  /  was  take  soone 

And  forth  he  gooth  /  ther  is  na  moore  to  doone  770 

O  Messager  /  fulfild  of  dronkenesse  \Latin  note,  p.  issj 

Strong  is  thy  breeth  /  thy  lymes  faltren  ay 
And  thou  biwreyest  /  alle  secreenesse 
Thy  mynde  is  lorn  /  thou  ianglest  as  a  lay  774 

Thy  face  is  turned  /  in  a  newe  array 
Ther  dronkenesse  /  regneth  in  any  route 
Ther  is  no  conseil  hyd  /with  outen  doute  777 

ODonegild  /  I  ne  haue  noon  englissh"  digne 
A7n  to  thy  malice  /  and  thy  tirannye 
And  therfore  /  to  the  feend  I  thee  resigne 
Lat  hym  enditen  /  of  thy  traitorie  781 

ffy  mannysfe  fy  /  o  nay  by  god  I  lye 
ffy  feendlych  spirit1  for  I  dar  wel  telle 
Thogh  thou  heere  walke  /  thy  spirit  is  in  helle  784 

![  This  Messager  /  comth  fro  the  kyng  agayn  [leaf  62,  back] 

And  at  the  kynges  moodres  l  court  he  lighte *  ['-'  corrected.-] 
And  she  was  /  of  this  Messager  ful  fayn 

And  plesed  hym  /  in  al  tha*Anuer  she  myghte  788 

SiE    154 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  155 

He  drank1  /  and  wel  his  girdel  vnderpigfrte 

He  slepeth  /  and  he  snoreth  in  his  gyse 

All  nyghf  til  the  sonne  gan  aryse  791 


Eft1  were  hise  lettres  stolen  euerychon 

And  countrefeted  lettres  /  in  this  wyse 

The  king 1  comandeth  /  his  Constable  anon  p  king  later] 

Vp  peyne  of  hangyng1  and  on  heigh  luyse  795 

That  he  ne  sholde  /  suffren  in  no  wyse 

distance  /  in  with  his  Keawme  for  tabyde 

Thre  dayes  /  and  o  quarter  of  a  tyde  798 

But  in  the  same  ship  /  as  he  hire  fond 

Hire  and  hir  yonge  sone  /  and  al  hir  geere 

He  sholde  putte  /  and  croude  hire  fro  the  lond* 

And  chargen  hire  /  she  neuer  eft1  coome  theere  802 

0  my  Custance  /  wel  may  thy  goost  haue  feere 

And  slepynge  in  thy  dreem  /  been  in  penance 

Whan  Donegild!  /  cast  al  this  ordinance  805 

If  This  Messager  /  on  morwe  /  whan  he  wook1 

Vn  to  the  Castel  /  halt  the  nexte  way 

And  to  the  Constable  /  he  the  lettre  took* 

And  whan  fat  he  /  this  pitous  lettre  say  809 

fFul  ofte  he  seyde  /  Alias  and  weylaway 

Lord  crist  quod  he  /  how  may  this  world  endure 

So  ful  of  synne  /  is  many  a  creature  812 

^[  0  myghty  god  /  if  that  it  be  thy  wille 

Sith  thou  art  rightful  luge  /  how  may  it  be 

That  thou  wolt  suffren  /  Innocentz  to  spille 

And  wikked  folk  /  regnen  in  prosperitee  816 

O  goode  Custance  /  Alias  so  wo  is  me 

That  I  moot  be  thy  tormentour-  or  deye 

On  shames  deeth  /  ther  is  noon  oother  weye  819 

ELLESMERE    165 


156  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

^[  Wepen  bothe  yonge  and  olde  /  in  al  that  place 

"Whan  Jjat  the  kyng1  this  cursed  lettre  sente 

And  distance  /  with  a  deedly  pale  face 

The  ferthe  day  /  toward  the  ship  she  wente  823 

But  nathelees  /  she  taketh  in  good  entente 

The  wyl  of  Crist1  and  knelynge  on  the  Stronde 

She  seyde  lord  /  ay  wel  come  be  thy  sonde  826 

He  that  me  kepte  /  fro  the  false  blame  peaf  63] 

While  I  was  /  on  the  lond  amonges  yow 

He  kan  me  kepe  /  from  harm  /  and  eek  fro  shame 

In  salte  see  /  al  thogh  I  se  noght  how  830 

As  strong  as  euere  he  was  /  he  is  yet  now 

In  hym  triste  I  /  and  in  his  mooder  deere 

That  is  to  me  /  my  seyl  /  and  eek  my  steere  833 

Hir  litel  child  /  lay  wepyng1  in  hir  arm 

And  knelynge  /  pitously  /  to  hym  she  seyde 

Pees  litel  sone  /  I  wol  do  thee  noon  harm 

WitA  that  hir  couerchief  /  oner  hir  heed  she  breyde       837 

And  ouer  hise  litel  eyen  /  she  it  leyde 

And  in  hir  Arm  /  she  lulleth  it  ful  faste 

And  in  to  heuene  /  hire  eyen  vp  she  caste  840 

^[  Mooder  quod  she  /  and  mayde  bright  Marie 

Sooth  is  /  that  thurgh  wommanes  eggement1 

Man  kynde  was  lorn  /  and  damned  ay  to  dye 

ffor  which  thy  child  /  was  on  a  croys  yrent  844 

Thy  blisful  eyen  /  sawe  al  his  torment1 

Thanne  is  ther  /  no  comparison  bitwene 

Thy  wo  /  and  any  wo  /  man  may  sustene  847 

Thow  sawe  tliy  child  yslayn  bifore  thyne  eyen 

And  yet  now  /  Jyueth  my  child  parfay 

Now  lady  bright  /'  to  whom  alle  woful  cryen 

Thow  glorie  of  wommanhede  /  thow  faire  may  851 

ELI.ESMERE    156 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  157 

Tho\v  hauen  of  refut"  brighte  sterre  of  day 
Eewe  on  my  child  /  that  of  thy  gentillesse 
Uuesf  on  euery  reweful  in  distresse  854 

If  0  litel  child  /  alias  what  is  thy  gilt1 

That  neuere  wroghtest  synne  /  as  yet  pardee 

Why  wil  thyn  harde  fader  /  han  thee  spilt1 

0  mercy  deere  Constable  quod  she  858 

As  lat  my  litel  child  /  dwelle  heer  with  thee 

And  if  thou  darst  natf  sauen  hym  for  blame 

Yet  kys  hym  ones  /  in  his  fadres  name  861 

Ther  with  /  she  looked  /  bakward  to  the  londe 

And  seyde  /  fare  wel  housbonde  routhelees 

And  vp  she  rist  /  and  walketh  doun  the  stronde 

Toward  the  Ship  /  hir  folweth  al  the  prees  865 

And  euere  she  preyeth  hire  child  /  to  holde  his  pees 

And  taketh  hir  leue  /  and  with  an  hooly  entente 

She  blissed  hire  /  and  in  to  ship  she  wente  868 

Vitailled  was  the  ship  /  it  is  no  drede  Deaf  63,  back] 

Habundantly  /  for  hire  fill  longe  space 

And  othere  necessaries  /  that  sholde  nede 

She  hadde  ynogh  /  heryed  be  goddes  grace  872 

ffor  wynd  and  weder  /  almyghty  god  pwrchace 

And  brynge  hire  hoom  /  I  kan  no  bettre  seye 

But  in  the  see  /  she  dryueth  forth  hir  weye  875 

^f  Explicit  secunda  pars 

If  Sequitur  pars  tersia 

4    lla  the  kyng  /  comth  hoom  soone  after  this 
\     Vn  to  his  Castel  /  of  the  which  I  tolde 
J.JL  And  asketh  /  where  his  wyf  /  and  his  child  is 
The  Constable  /  gan  aboute  his  herte  colde  879 

ELLESMERE    157 


158  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmerc  MS 

And  pleynly  /  al  the  manere  he  hymtolde 

As  ye  han  herd  /  I  kan  telle  it  no  bettre 

And  sheweth  the  kyng1  his  seel  and  his  lettre  882 


And  seyde  /  lord  /  as  ye  comanded  me 

Vp  peyne  of  deeth  /  so  haue  I  doon  ceftein 

This  Messager  /  tormented  was  til  he 

Moste  biknowe  /  and  tellen  plat  and  pleyn  886 

ffro  nyght  to  nygfet  /  in  what  place  he  had  leyn 

And  thus  by  wit  /  and  sobtil  enquerynge 

Ymagined  was  /  by  whom  this  harm  gan  sprynge          889 

\  The  hand  was  knowe  /  that  the  lettre  wroot1 

And  all  the  venym  /  of  this  cursed  dede 

But  in  what  wise  /  certeinly  I  noot1 

Theffect  is  this  /  fat  Alia  out  of  drede  893 

His  mooder  slow  /  that  may  men  pleynly  rede 

ffor  fat  she  traitoure  was  to  hire  ligeance 

Thus  endeth  olde  Donegild!  with  meschance  896 

The  sorwe  that  this  Alia  /  nygftt  and  day 
Maketh  for  his  wyf  /  and  for  his  child  also 
Ther  is  no  tonge  /  that  it  telle  may 

But  now  wol  I  /  vn  to  Custance  go  900 

That  fleteth  in  the  see  /  in  peyne  and  wo 
ffyue  yeer  and  moore  /  as  liked  cristes  sonde 
Er  that  hir  ship  /  approched  vn  to  the  londe  903 

^[  Vnder  an  hethen  Castel  /  atte  laste  Deaf  64] 

Of  which  the  name  /  in  my  text  noght  I  fynde 

Custance  /  and  eek  hir  child  /  the  see  vp  caste 

Almyghty  god  /  that  saued  al  mankynde  907 

Haue  on  Custance  /  and  on  hir  child  som  mynde 

That  fallen  is  /  in  hethen  hand  eft  soone 

In  point  to  spille  /  as  I  shal  telle  yow  soone  910 

ELLESMERE    158 


GROUP  B.    §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.   159 

^  Doun  fro  the  Castel  /  comth  ther  many  a  wiglit 

To  gauren  on  this  ship  /  and  on  Custance 

But  shortly  /  from  the  Castel  /  on  a  nyght 

The  lordes  sty  ward?  /  god  yeue  him  meschance  914 

A  theef  /  that  hadde  reneyed  oure  creance 

Came  in  to  the  ship  allone  /  and  seyde  he  sholde 

Hir  lemman  be  /  wher  so  she  wolde  or  nolde  917 

^f  Wo  was  this  wrecched  womman  tho  bigon 

Hir  child  cride  /  and  she  cride  pitously 

But  blisful  Marie  /  heelp  hire  right  anon 

ffor  with  hir  struglyng1  wel  and  myghtily  921 

The  theef  fil  ouer  bord  /  al  sodeynly 

And  in  the  see  /  he  dreynte  for  vengeance 

And  thus  hath  Crist'  vnwemmed  kept  Custance  924 

Ofoule  lust  of  luxurie  /  lo  thyn  ende  Anctor. 

!N"at  oonly  /  that  thou  feyntest  mawnes  mynde  ^t[^te> 
But  verraily  /  thou  wolt  his  body  shende 
Thende  of  thy  werk1  or  of  thy  lustes  blynde  928 

Is  compleynyng*  hou  many  oon  may  men  fynde 
That  noght  for  werk  som  tyme  /  but  for  thentente 
To  doon  this  synne  /  been  outher  slayn  or  shente  931 

How  may  this  wayke  womman  /  han  this  strengthe 

Hire  to  defende  /  agayn  this  renegat1 

0  Golias  /  vnmesurable  of  lengthe 

Hou  myghte  Dauid  /  make  thee  so  maatf  935 

So  yong1  and  of  Annure  so  desolaat 

Hou  dorste  he  looke  /  vp  on  thy  dredful  face 

"Wel  may  men  seen  /  it  nas  but  goddes  grace  938 

Who  yaf  ludith  /  corage  or  hardynesse 

To  sleen  hym  Oloferne  /  in  his  tente 

And  to  deliueren  /  out  of  wrecchednesse 

The  peple  of  god  /  I  seye  for  this  entente  942 

14  ELLESMERE   159 


160  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS 

That  right  as  god  /  spirit  of  vigour  sente 

To  hem  /  and  saued  hem  /  out  of  meschance 

So  sente  he  myghtt  and  vigour  to  Custance  945 

^[  fforth  gooth  hir  ship  /thurgh  out  the  narvve  mouth  [if  64.  bk] 

Of  lubaltare  and  Septe  dryuynge  alway 

Som  tyme  West1  and  sorn  tyme  North"  and  South" 

And  som  tyme  esfr  ful  many  a  wery  day  949 

Til  cristes  mooder  /  blessed  be  she  ay 

Hath  shapen  /  thurgh  hir  endelees  goodnesse 

To  make  an  ende  /  of  al  hir  heuynesse  952 

Now  lat  vs  stynte  /  of  Custance  but  a  throwe 
And  speke  we  /  of  the  Romayn  Empe?-our 
That  out  of  Surrye  /  hath  by  lettres  knowe 
The  slaughtre  of  cristen  folk  /  and  dishonour  956 

Boon  to  his  doghter  /  by  a  fals  traytour 
I  mene  /  the  cursed  wikked  Sowdanesse 
That  at  the  feeste  /  leet  sleen  both  moore  and  lesse  959 

ffor  which  this  Emperour  /  hath  sent  anon 

His  senatour  /  with  roial  ordinance 

And  othere  lordes  /  god  woot  many  oon 

On  Surryens  /  to  taken  heigh  vengeance  963 

They  brennen  /  sleen  /  and  brynge  hem  to  meschance 

Ful  many  a  day  /  but  shortly  /  this  is  thende 

Homward  to  Rome  /  they  shapen  hem  to  wende  966 

^[  This  senatour  /  repaireth  with  victorie 

To  Rome  ward!  saillynge  ful  Roially 

And  mette  the  ship  dryuynge  /  as  seith  the  storie 

In  which  Custance  /  sit  ful  pitously  970 

!N~o  thyng  knew  he  /  what  she  was  /  ne  why  ? 

She  was  in  swich  array  /  ne  she  nyl  seye/ 

Of  hire  estanf  thogh  she  sholde  deye  973 

ELLESMERB    160 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  161 

He  bryngeth  hire  to  Rome  /  and  to  his  wyf/ 

He  yaf  hire  /  and  hir  yonge  sone  also 

And  with  the  senatour  /  she  ladde  hir  lyf1 

Thus  kan  oure  lady  /  bryngen  out  of  wo  977 

Woful  Custance  /  and  many  another  mo 

And  longe  tyme  /  dwelled  she  in  that  place 

In  hooly  werkes  euere  /  as  was  hir  grace  980 

The  senatours  wyf  /  hir  Aunte  was 

But  for  all  that1  she  knew  hire  neuer  the  moore 

I  wol  no  lenger  /  tarien  in  this  cas 

But  to  kyng  Alia  /  which  I  spake  of  yoore  984 

That  wepeth  for  his  wyf  /  and  siketh  soore 

I  wol  retourne  /  and  lete  I  wol  Custance 

Vnder  /  the  Senatours  gouernance  987 

Kyng  Alia  /  which  that  hadde  his  niooder  slayn  [leaf  cs] 
Vp  on  a  day  fil  in  swich  repentance 
That  if  I  /  shortly  /  tellen  shal  and  playn 
To  Rome  he  comth  /  to  receyuen  his  penance  991 

And  putte  bym  /  in  the  popes  ordinance 
In  heigh  and  logR  /  and  Ihes\\  crist  bisoghte 
fforyeue  /  hise  wikked  werkes  fat  he  wroghte  994 

^[  The  fame  anon  /  thurgh  out  the  toun  is  born 

How  Alia  kyng  /  shal  comen  on  pilgrymage 

By  herbergeours  /  that  wenten  hym  biforn 

ffor  which  /  the  Senatour  /  as  was  vsage  998 

Rood  hym  agayns  /  and  many  of  his  lynage 

As  wel  to  shewen  /  his  heighe  magnificence 

As  to  doon  /  any  kyng  a  reuerence  1001 

IT  Greet  cheere  /  dooth  this  noble  Senatour 

To  kyng  Alia  /  and  he  to  hym  also 

Euerich  of  hem  /  dooth  oother  greet  honour 

And  so  bifel  /  that  in  with  a  day  or  two  1005 

ELLESMERE    161 


162  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

This  Senatour  /  is  to  kyng  Alia  go 

To  feste  /  and  shortly  /  if  I  shal  nat  lye 

distances  sone  /  wente  in  his  compaignye  1008 


11  Som  men  wolde  seyn  /  at  requeste  of  Custance 

This  Senatour  /  hath  lad  this  child  to  feeste 

I  may  nat  tellen  /  euery  circumstance 

Be  as  be  may  /  ther  was  he  at  the  leeste  1012 

But  sooth  is  this  /  that  at  his  moodres  heeste 

Biforn  Alia  /  durynge  the  metes  space 

The  child  stood  /  lookynge  in  the  kynges  face  1015 

1F  This  Alia  kyng<  hath  of  this  child  greet  wonder 

And  to  the  senatour  /he  seyde  anon 

Whos  is  that  faire  child  /  that  stondeth  yonder  ? 

I  noot  quod  he  /  by  god  /  and  by  seint  lotLn  1019 

A  mooder  he  hath  /  but  fader  hath  he  noon 

That  I  of  woof  but  shortly  /  in  a  stounde 

He  tolde  Alia  /  how  that*  this  child  was  founde  1022 

But  god  woof  quod  this  senatour  also 

So  vertuous  a  lyuere  in  my  lyf 

Ne  saugh  I  neuere  as  she  /  ne  herde  of  mo 

Of  worldly  wommen  /  mayde  ne  of  wyf1  1026 

I  dar  wel  seyn  /  hir  hadde  leuere  a  knyf1 

Thurgh  out  hir  brest1  than  ben  a  womman  wikke 

There  is  no  man  /  koude  brynge  hire  to  that  prikke    1029 

IF  Now  was  this  child1  /  as  lyke  vn  to  Custance   [leaf  65,  back] 

As  possible  is  /  a  creature  to  be 

This  Alia  /  hath  the  face  in  remembrance 

Of  dame  Custance  /  and  ther  on  mused  he  1033 

If  that  the  childes  mooder  /  were  aught  she 

That  is  his  wyf  /  and  pryuely  he  sighte 

And  spedde  hym  fro  the  table  /  that  he  mygnte  1036 

ELLESMERE    162 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  163 

Pa/fay  thoghte  he  /  fantome  is  iu  myn  heed 

I  oghte  deme  /  of  skilful  luggement1 

That  in  the  salte  see  /  my  wyf  is  deed 

And  afterward  /  he  made  his  Argument  1040 

What  woot  I  /  if  that  Crist  haue  hyder  ysenf 

My  wyf  by  see  /  as  wel  as  he  hire  sente 

To  my  contree  /  fro  thennes  that  she  wente 


And  after  Noon  /  hoom  with  the  Senatour 

Goth  Alia  /  for  to  seen  this  wonder  chaunce 

This  Senatour  /  dooth  Alia  greet  honour 

And  hastifly  /  he  sente  after  Custaunce  1047 

But  trusteth  weel  /  hire  liste  nat  to  daunce 

"Whan  jjat  she  wiste  /  wherfore  was  that  sonde 

Vnnethe  /  vp  on  hir  feet1  she  myghte  stonde  1050 

11  Whan  Alia  saugn  his  wyf1  faire  he  hire  grette 

And  weep  /  that  it  was  routhe  for  to  see 

ffor  at  the  firste  look1  he  on  hire  sette 

He  knew  wel  verraily  /  that  it  was  she  1054 

And  she  for  sorwe  /  as  doumb  stant  as  a  tree 

So  was  hir  herte  shefr  in  hir  distresse 

Whan  she  remembred  /  his  vnkyndenesse  1057 

Twyes  she  swowned  /  in  his  owene  sighte 

He  weep  /  and  hym  excuseth  pitously 

Now  god  quod  he  /  and  hise  halwes  brighte 

So  wisly  on  my  soule  /  as  haue  mercy  1061 

That  of  youre  harm  /  as  giltlees  am  I 

As  is  Maurice  my  sone  /  so  lyk  youre  face 

Elles  the  feend  /  me  fecche  out  of  this  place  1064 


IT  Long  was  the  sobbyng1/  and  the  bitter  peyne 
Er  that  /  hir  woful  hertes  myghte  cesse 
Greet  was  the  pitee  /  for  to  heere  hem  pleyne 
Thurgh"  whiche  pleintes  /  gan  hir  wo  encresse 

ELLESMERE    103 


164  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

I  pray  yow  alle  /  my  labour  to  relesse 

I  may  nat  telle  hir  wo  /  vn  til  to  morwe 

I  am  so  wery  /  for  to  speke  of  sorwe  1071 


But  finally  /  whan  that  the  sothe  is  wist  l>af  66] 

That  Alia  giltlees  /  was  of  hir  wo 

I  trowe  /  an  hundred  tymes  /  been  they  kistt 

And  swich  a  blisse  /  is  ther  bitwix  hem  two  1075 

That  saue  the  ioye  /  that  lasteth  eueremo 

Ther  is  noon  lyk  /  that  any  creature 

Hath  seyn  or  /  shal  /  whil  fat  the  world  may  dure      1078 

Tho  preyde  she  hir  housbonde  mekely 

In  relief  /  of  hir  longe  pitous  pyne 

That  he  wolde  preye  /  hir  fader  specially 

That  of  his  magestee  /  he  wolde  enclyne  1082 

To  vouche  sauf  /  som  day  with  hym  to  dyne 

She  preyde  hym  eek  /  he  wolde  by  no  weye 

Vn  to  hir  fader  /  no  word  of  hire  seye  1085 

IT  Som  men  wold  seyn  /  how  fat  the  child  Maurice 

Dooth  this  Message  /  vn  to  this  Empe?*our 

But  as  I  gesse  /  Alia  was  nat  so  nyce 

To  hym  that  was  /  of  so  souereyn  honowr  1089 

As  he  that  is  /  of  cristen  folk  the  flour 

Sente  any  child  /  but  it  is  bet  to  deeme 

He  wente  hym  self  /  and  so  it  may  wel  seeme  1092 

IT  This  Emperour  /  hath  graunted  gentilly 

To  come  to  dyner  /  as  he  hym  bisoughte 

And  wel  rede  I  /  he  looked  bisily 

Vp  on  this  child  /  and  on  his  doghter  thoghte  1096 

AHa  goth  to  his  In  /  and  as  him  ogfrte 

Arrayed  for  this  feste  /  in  euery  wise 

As  ferforth  /  as  his  konnyng1  may  suffise  1099 

ELLESMERE    164 


GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OP  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.   165 

H  The  morwe  cam  /  and  Alia  gan  hym  dresse 

And  eek  his  wyf  /  this  Emperour  to  nieete 

And  forth  they  ryde  /  in  ioye  and  in  gladnesse 

And  whan  she  saugh  /  hir  fader  in  the  strete  1103 

She  lighte  doun  /  and  falleth  hym  to  feete 

ffader  quod  she  /  youre  yonge  child  distance 

Is  now  ful  clene  /  out  of  youre  remembrance  1106 

I  am  youre  doghter  /  Custance  quod  she 

That  whilom  /  ye  ban  sent  /  vn  to  Surrye 

It  am  I  fader  /  that  in  the  salte  see 

Was  put  allone  /  and  dampned  for  to  dye  1110 

Now  goode  fader  /  mercy  I  yow  crye 

Sende  me  namoore  /  vn  to  noon  hethenesse 

But  thonketh  my  lord  heere  /  of  his  kyndenesse          1113 

IT  Who  kan  /  the  pitous  ioye  /  tellen  al  [leaf  ee,  back] 

Bitwixe  hem  thre  /  syn  they  been  thus  ymette 

But  of  my  tale  /  make  an  ende  I  shal 

The  day  goth  faste  /  I  wol  no  longer  lette  1117 

This  glade  folk  /  to  dyner  they  hem  sette 

In  ioye  and  blisse  /  at  mete  I  lete  hem  dwelle 

A  thousand  foold  /  wel  moore  than  I  kan  telle  1120 

1T  This  child  Maurice  /  was  sithen  Emperour 

Maad  by  the  pope  /  and  lyued  cristenly 

To  cristes  chirche  /  he  dide  greet1  honour 

But  I  lete  all  his  storie  passen  by  1124 

Of  Custance  /  is  my  tale  specially 

In  the  olde  Eomane  geestes  /may  men  fynde 

Maurices  lyf  /  I  bere  it  noght  in.  mynde  1127 

IT  This  kyng  Alia  /  whan  he  his  tyme  say 

With  his  Custance  /  his  hooly  wyf  so  sweete 

To  Engelond!  /  been  they  come  the  righte  way 

Wher  as  they  lyue  /  in  ioye  and  in  quiete  1131 

ELLESMERE    165 


1G6  GROUP  B.  §  2.  MAN  OF  LAW'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

But  litel  while  it  lasteth  /  I  yow  heete  [Latin  note,  p.  133.] 

loye  of  this,  world  /  for  tyme  wol  nat  abyde 

ifro  day  to  nygfit  /  it  changeth  as  the  tyde  1134 

Who  lyued  euere  /  in  swich  delit  o  day  \Latm  note,  p.  iss.] 

That  hym  ne  moeued  /  outher  conscience 

Or  Ire  /  or  talent1  or  som  kynnes  affray 

Emiye  /  or  pride  /  or  passion  /  or  offence  1 1 38 

I  ne  seye  but  for  this  ende  this  sentence 

That  litel  while  in  ioye  /  or  in  plesance 

Lasteth  the  blisse  of  Alia  with  Custance  1141 

ffor  deeth  /  that  taketh  /  of  heigh"  and  logh  /  his  rente 

Whan  passed  was  a  yeer  /  euene  as  I  gesse 

Out  of  this  world  /  this  kyng  Alia  he  hente 

For  whom  /  Custance  /  hath  ful  greet  heuynesse          1145 

Now  lat  vs  praye  to  god  /  his  soule  blesse 

And  dame  Custance  /  finally  to  seye 

Toward  the  toun  of  Some  /  goth  hir  weye  1148 

IT  To  Eome  is  come  /  this  hooly  creature 

And  fyndeth  hire  freendes  /  hoole  and  sounde 

Now  is  she  scaped  /  al  hire  auenture 

And  whan  fat  she  /  hir  fader  hath  yfounde  1152 

Doun  on  hir  knees  /  falleth  she  to  grounde 

Wepynge  for  tendrenesse  /  in  herte  blithe 

She  heryeth  god  /  an  hundred  thousand  sithe  1155 

*IT  In  vertu  /  and  hooly  almus  dede  [leaf  67] 

They  lyuen  alle  /  and  neuere  a  sender  wende 

Till  deeth  departed  hem  /  this  lyf  they  lede 

And  fareth  now  weel ./  my  tale  is  at  an  ende  1159 

Now  Ihesu  Crist'  that  of  his  myght  may  sende 

Ioye  after  wo  /  goue?*ne  vs  in  his  grace 

And  kepe  vs  alle  /  that  been  in  this  place  Amen 

f  Heere  endeth  the  tale  /  of  the  man  of  Lawe  r 
[The  Wife  of  Bath's  Prologue  follows  in  the  MS.] 

ELLESMERE    166 


GKOUP  D,    FEAGMENT  V. 

§  1.     WIFE  OF  BATH'S  PEEAMBLE. 
ELLESMERE  MS. 


Ion  leaf  67} 

1  The  Prologe  /  of  the  Wyues  tale  of  Bathe  fa 

Experience  /  though  noon  Auctoritee 
Were  in  this  world  /  were  right  ynogh  to  me 
To  speke  of  wo  /  that  is  in  manage 
ffor  lordynges  /  sith  I  .xij.  yeer  was  of  Age         4 
Ythonked  be  god  /  that  is  eterne  on  lyue 
Housbondes  at  chirche  dore  I  haue  had  fyue 
ffor  I  so  ofte  /  haue  ywedded  bee 

And  alle  /  were  worthy  men  in  hir  degree  8 

But  me  was  toold  certeyn  /  nat  longe  agoon  is 
That  sith  that  Crist1  ne  wente  neuere  but  onis 

To  weddyng*  in  the  Cane  of  Galilee  H  in  Cana  Galilee 

By  the  same  /  ensample  /  thoughte  me  1 2 

That  I  ne  sholde  /  wedded  be  but  ones  IT  Qui  eni™  semei 

iuit  ad  nupcias  / 

Herkne  eek  /  which  a  sharpe  word  for  the  nones  doeuit  semei  esse 

Beside  a  welle  /  Ihesus  god  and  man 

Spak  /  in  repreeue  of  the  Samaritan  16 

Thou  hast  yhad  /  fyue  housbondes  quod  he 

And  that  man  /  the  which  J>at  hath  now  thee 

Is  noght  thyn  housbonde  /  thus  seyde  he  certeyn 

"What  that  he  mente  ther  by  /  I  kan  nat  seyn  20 

But  Jjat  I  axe  /  why  that  the  hfthe  man 

Was  noon  housbonde  to  the  Samaritan 

How  manye  /  myghte  she  haue  in  mariage  f  Non  est  vxoram 

•Wit.       J      T  numeniK 

Yet  nerde  I  neuere  tellen  in  myn  age  24  diffimtiwt 

15  ELLESMERE    167    (6-T.  334) 


335   SIX-TEXT 

1  68   GROUP  D.   §  1.  WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

quia  secunditm      Vpon  this  nombre  diffiniciown 

Pauluui  /  Qui 

hoicut  vxores  sic  Men  may  deuyne  /  and  glosen  vp  and  doun 

sint  tanqicam  non 

habentes  But  wel  I  woof  expres  with-oute  lye 


f  Crescite*  Q0(J  ^  V8   /  for  to  wexe  an(J  multiplye  28 

multiplicamini 

That  gentil  text1  kan  I  [wel]  vnderstonde 

Eek  wel  I  woof  he  seyde  myn  housbonde 

Sholde  lete  fader  and  mooder  /  and  take  me 

But  of  no  nombre  /  mencion)  made  he  32 

Of  bigamye  /  or  of  Octogamye  Deaf  67,  back] 

Why  sholde  men  /  speke  of  it  vileynye 

widi 

U  Lo  heere  /  the  wise  kyng*  dann  Salomon 
I  trowe  /  he  hadde  wyues  /  mo  than  oon  36 

As  wolde  god  /  it  were  leueful  vn-to  me 
To  be  refressfied  /  half  so  ofte  as  he 
Which  yifte  of  God  /  hadde  he  /  for  alle  hise  wyuys 
No  man  hath  swich  /  Jjat  in  this  world  alyue  is  40 

God  woot  /  this  noble  kyng1  as  to  my  wit 
The  firste  nygfrt1  had  many  a  myrie  fit 
With  ech  of  hem  /  so  wel  was  hym  on  lyue 
Yblessed  be  god  /  that  I  haue  wedded  fyue  44 

Welcome  the  sixte  /  whan  that  euere  he  shal 
f  si  autem  non      ffor  sothe  /  I  wol  nat  kepe  me  chaast  in  al 
nubam/1  Whan  myn  housbonde  /  is  fro  the  world  ygon 

Som  cristen  man  /  shal  wedde  me  anon  48 

t  Qaodsidormie-  ffor  thanne  /  thapostle  seith  /  I  am  free 

ritvireiM*lib^rata 

est/cui  vult  nubat    To  Wedde  a  goddeS  half1  where  Ht  llketh1  me    ['—  '  on  an  era»ure\ 

in  Dowino 

t  si  accep«is       He  seith  /  to  be  wedded  /  is  no  synne 

vxorem  non  _  iit/iiii  KO 

peccasti  /  et  si       Bet  is  /  to  be  wedded  /  than  to  brynne 

nupserit  virgo         „_,  -1-1,1  ;  ,1        inn  -i 

non  peocauit/  set  What  rekketh  me  /  thogh  folk  seye  vileynye 

vonTi'nta0  "  Of  shrewed  lameth  /  and  of  bigamye 

t  wieuus  est  I  woot  wel  /  Abraham  /  was  an  hooly  man 

fu^meqth7ivrl  And  lacob  eeb  /as  ferforth  as  I  kan  56 

*™'™*  And  ech  of  hem     liadde  '"™68  mo  than  two 


BanguinariuS&      ^nol  many  another  man  Also 

hnmicida  est  &c. 

t  Abraham          Whanne  saugh  ye  euere  /  in  [any]  manere  Age 

tripamus 

•f  laeob  quatri-     That  hye  god  /  defended  mariage  60 

gaums 

ELLESMERE    168    (6-T.  33o) 


336    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.    169 

By  expres  word  / 1  pray  you  telleth  me 
Or  where  /  comanded  lie  virginitee 

I  woot  as  wel  as  ye  /  it  is  no  drede 

Whan  thapostel  /  speketh  of  maydenhede  64 

He  seyde  /  that  precept1  ther-of  hadde  he  noon. 

Men  may  conseille  /  a  womman  to  been  oon 

But  conseillyng1  is  nat  comandementt 

He  putte  it1  in  oure  owene  luggemenf  68 

ffor  hadde  god  /  comanded  maydenhede 

Thanne  hadde  he  dampned  weddyng*  with  the  dede 

And  certein  /  if  ther  were  /  no  seed  y-sowe 

Virginitee  /  wher-of  thanne  sholde  it  growe  72 

Poul  /  ne  dorste  nat  /  comanden  atte  leeste  IT  Pauiu«  n  de 

virginibifs  / 

A  thyng1  of  which  his  maister  yaf  noon  heeste  preceptum  no» 

hafieo/  consiliiim 

The  dart  is  set  vp  /  of  virginitee  autem  do  Cetera. 

Cacche  who  so  may  /  who  renneth  best  lat  see  76  cm-sum  'tenet  in 

»r    i ,     ,      .   •  i    /  •  iii  f  -*-j_  manu  virgiuitutis 

II  But  this  word  /  is  nat  taken  oi  euery  wignt  bmumm  q/a 
But  ther  /  as  god  lusf  gyue  it  of  his  myghf  JJJ  J^ 
I  woot  wel  /  the  Apostel  was  a  mayde 

But  nathelees  /  thogh  /  that  he  wroot  and  sayde  80 

He  wolde  /  Jjat  euery  wight  /  were  swich  as  he  peafcs]  ifvoio  autem 

omwes  homines 

Al  nys  /  but  conseil  to  virginitee  esse  sicut  me 

And  for  to  been  a  wyf  /  he  yaf  me  leue 

Of  Indulgence  /  so  it  is  no  repreue  84 

To  wedde  me  /  if  my  make  dye 

With  outen  /  excepcion)  of  Bigamye 

Al  were  it  good  /  no  womman  for  to  touche  f  Bonum  est 

ho»}(«i  /  mulieren* 

He  mente  /  as  in  his  bed  /  or  in  his  couche  88  now  tangere 

ffor  peril  is  /  bothe  fyr  and  tow  tassemble 

Ye  knowe  /  what  this  ensample  may  resemble 

This  is  al  and  som  /  that  virginitee 

Moore  profiteth  /  than  weddyng  /  in  freletee  92 

ffreeltee  clepe  I  /  but  if  that  he  and  she 

Wolde  lede  /  al  hir  lyf  in  chastitee 

IT  I  graunte  it  wel  /  I  h^ue  noon  envie 

Thogh  maydenhede  preferre  Bigamye  96 

ELLESMERE    169    (6-T.  33P) 


337   SIX-TEXT 

1 70   GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Hem  liketh  to  be  clene  /  body  and  goostf 
Of  myn  estaaf  I  nyl  nat  make  no  boost* 
ffor  wel  ye  knowe  /  a  lord  in  his  houshold? 
He  nath  nat  euery  vessel  /  al  of  gold!  ]  00 

Somme  been  of  tree  /  and  doon  hir  lord  seruyse 
God  clepeth  folk  to  hym  /  in  sondry  wyse 
f  \nnsquiaque     And  euerich  hath  of  god  a  propre  yifte 

proprm/n  liaict 

donu»»  ex  deo:      Som  this  som  that1  as  hym  liketh  shifte  104 

alius  quidem  sic/ 

aiiiw  iiutem  sic/      II  Virginitee  /  is  greet  perfeccion) 
t  Qui  oantant       And  continence  eek1  with  dexiocion) 

sequentwc  A£IIU»I 

xiiiij°'  Miiiia        But  crist/  that  of  pe?-feccion)  is  welle 

Bad  nat  euery  wight  /  sholde  go  selle  108 

All  that  he  hadde  /  and  gyue  it  to  the  poore 

.1.  ltepp«« 

And  in  swich  wise  /  folwe  hym  and  his  foore 

He  spak  to  hem  /  that  wolde  lyue  parfitly 

And  lordynges  by  youre  leue  /  that  am  nat  I  112 

I  wol  bistowe  /  the  flour  of  myn  age 

In  the  Actes  and  in  fruyt  of  manage 

IT  Telle  me  also  /  to  what  conclusion) 

Were  membres  ymaad  /  of  generacion)  116 

And  for  what  profit1  was  a  wigh~t  ywroghf 

Trusteth  right  wel  /  they  were  nat  maad  for  nogh~t 

Glose  who  so  wole  /  and  seye  bothe  vp  and  doun 

That  they  were  maad  /  for  purgacioun  1 20 

Of  vryne  bothe  /  and  thynges  smale 

And  eek  to  knowe  /  a  femele  from  a  male 

And  for  noon  oother  cause  /  sey  ye  no  ? 

The  experience  /  woot  wel  it  is  nogh~t  so  124 

So  that  the  clerkes  /  be  nat  vfiih  me  wrothe 

I  sey  yis  /  that  they  beth  maked  for  bothe 

This  is  to  seye  /  for  office  and  for  ese 

Of  engendrure  /  ther  we  nat  god  displese  128 

Why  sholde  men  elles  /  in  hir  bookes  sette          [leaf  es,  baoio 

That  a  man  shal  yelde  /  to  his  wyf  hire  dette 

Now  wher  with  /  sholde  he  make  his  paiement1 

If  he  ne  vsed  /  his  sely  Instrument  132 

ELLESMERE    170   (6-T.  337) 


338   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  1.  WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.   171 

Thanne  were  they  maad  /  vp-on  a  creature 

To  purge  vryne  /  and  for  engendrure 

H  But  I  seye  nogfcf  )>«t  euery  wight  is  holde 

That  hath  swich  barneys  /  as  I  of  tolde  136 

To  goon  and  vsen  hem  in  engendrure 

They  shul  nat  take  /  of  chastitee  no  cure 

Crist  was  a  inayde  /  and  shapen  as  a  man 

And  many  a  seinf  sith  the  world  bigan  140 

Yet  lyued  they  euere  /  in  perfit  chastitee 

I  nyl  nat  enuye  /  no  virginitee 

Lat  hem  be  breed  /  of  pured  whete  seed 

And  lat  vs  wyues  /  hoten  barly  breed  1 44 

And  yet1  with  barly  breed  /  Mark  telle  kan 

Oure  lord  /  refresshed  many  a  man 

In  swich  estaaf  as  god  hath  cleped  vs  <[  Ka  vo<-iu-;o»e 

<iua  vooatiestia  & 

i  wol  perseuere  /  I  nam  nat  precius  148  cetera 

In  wyfhode  I  wol  vse  myn  Instrument/ 

As  frely  /  as  my  makere  hath  it  sent* 

If  I  be  daungerous  /  god  yeue  me  sorwe 

Myn  housbonde  shal  it  haue  /  bothe  eue  and  morwe     152 

Whan  j>at  hym  list1  com  forth  and  paye  his  dette 

An  housbonde  I  wol  haue  /  I  nyl  nat  lette 

Which  shal  be  /  bothe  my  dettour  /  and  my  thral  f  Qui  vxorem 

ATI  I  v    *_ri_i     •'     v  _iLV     i  i-f?    hotel  &  debitor 

And  haue.  /  his  tribulacion)  with  al  loo  <iicitur.&  essein 

•\T  T--XJ        fc    /       I_-IJ.I_J.T  i.-  ft  prepucioA  serial? 

Vp-on  his  nessn  /  whil  that  I  am  his  wyf/  ;,xo;,-s  &  q>ti 

I  haue  the  power  /  durynge  al  my  lyf  ™  ™  l^L 

Vp-on  his  propre  body  /  and  noght  he 

Eight  thus  /  the  Apostel  /  tolde  it  vn-to  me  1 60  f  Et  it«n»» 

j,,  ,  ,          ,          ,   „  ,  semus  vxoris  es  / 

And  bad  oure  housbondes  /  for  to  loue  vs  weel  noli  Propt«-  iio« 

Ai    .-i  •  ,  Ti      .1  T      T  hoAere  tristieiam 

Al  this  sentence  /  me  liketh  euery  deel  f  itemsinvcepc/-!* 

Yp  stirte  the  Pardoner  /  and  that  anon  peccasti  tribuia- 

Now  dame  quod  he  /  by  god  and  by  seint  lohn  1G4  ^hSSL 
Ye  been  a  noble  prechour  in  this  cas  imiusmoai  & 

cetera 

I  was  aboute  /  to  wedde  a  wyf  alias  T  item  vir 

_  .  corporis  sui  non 

\Vhat  sholde  I  bye  it1  on  my  nessn  so  deere  ha&etpot 

Yet  hadde  1  leuere  /  wedde  no  wyf  to  yeere  168 

ELLESMERE    171    (6-T.  338) 


339    SIX-TEXT 

172    GBOUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

^  Abyde  quod  she  /  my  tale  is  nat  bigonne 

vxoret  \e  recundOB 

Nay  I  thou  shalt  drynken  of  another  tonne 

Er  that  I  go  /  shal  sauoure  wors  than  Ale 

And  whan  J?at  I  /  haue  toold  forth  my  tale  172 

Of  tribulacion)  /  that  is  in  mariage 

Of  which  /  I  am  expert*  in  al  myn  age 

This  to  seyn  /  my  self*  haue  been  the  whippe 

Than  may  stow  chese  /  wheither  thou  wolt  sippe  176 

Of  that  tonne  /  that  I  shal  abroche  [leaf  eo] 

Be  war  of  it/  er  thou  to  ny  approche 

ffor  I  shal  tell  ensamples  /  mo  than  ten 

Who  so  /  J?at  wol  nat  be  war  /  by  othere  men  180 

By  hym  /  shul  othere  men  corrected  be 

The  same  wordes  /  writeth  Protholomee 

Rede  it  in  his  Almageste  /  and  take  it  there 

IT  Dame  /  I  wolde  praye  /  if  youre  wyl  it  were  184 

Seyde  this  Pardoner  /  as  ye  bigaii 

Telle  forth  youre  tale  /  spareth  for  no  man 

And  teche  vs  yongc  men  /  of  youre  praktike 

IF  Gladly  sires  /  sith  it  may  yow  like  188 

But  yet  I  praye  /  to  al  this  compaignye 

If  that  I  speke  /  after  my  fantasye 

As  taketh  not  agrief  /  that  I  seye 

ffor  myn  entente  /  is  but  for  to  pleye  192 


«I  Bihooidhow      HVTOw  s^re  /  now  w°l  I  teUe  forth  my  tale 

this  goode  wyf/  \ 

smied  hir  .iij.       -1-  i    As  euere  /  moote  1  drynken  wyn  or  Ale 
wiiicheweregoode  I  shal  seye  sooth  /  of  tho  housbondes  fat  I  hadde 

As  thre  of  hem  were  goode  /  and  two  were  badde          196 
The  thre  men  /  were  goode  /  and  riche  /  and  olde 
Vnnethe  /  myghte  they  /  the  statut  holde 
t  lerephancias      In  which  /  that  they  were  /  bounden  vn-to  me 

H\\<*\iie 

Atheniencinm  /     Ye  woot  wel  /  what  I  meene  of  this  pardee  200 

cicute  sorbiwone    As  help  me  god  /  I  laughe  whan  I  thynke 

How  pitously  /  anyghfr  I  made  hem  swynke 

And  by  my  fey  /  I  tolde  of  it  no  stoor 

They  had  me  yeuen  hir  gold/  and  hir  tresoor  204 

ELLESMERE    172    (6-T.  339) 


340   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.    173 

Me  neded  nat  /  do  lenger  diligence 

To  wynne  hir  loue  /  or  doon  hem  reueraice 

They  loued  me  so  wel  /  by  god  aboue 

That  I  ne  tolde  /  no  deyntee  of  hir  loue  208 

A  wys  workman  /  wol  sette  hire  euere  in  oon 

To  gete  hire  loue  /  ther  as  she  hath  noon 

But  sith  I  hadde  hem  /  hoolly  in  myn  hond? 

And  sith  /  they  hadde  /  me  yeuen  all  hir  lond!  212 

What  sholde  I  taken  heede  /  hem  for  to  plese 

But  it  were  /  for  my  profit1  and  myn  ese 

I  sette  hem  so  a  werk  /  by  my  fey 

That  many  a  nygfifr  they  songen  weilawey  216 

The  bacon)  /  was  nat  fefr  for  hem  I  trowe 

That  som  men  ban  /  in  Essexe  at  Dunmowe 

I  gouerned  hem  /  so  wel  after  my  lawe 

That  ech  of  hem  /  was  ful  blisful  and  fawe  220 

To  brynge  me  /  gaye  thynges  /  fro  the  ffayre 

They  were  ful  glad  /  whan  I  spak  to  hem  faire 

ffor  god  it  woot  /  I  chidde  hem  spitously 

IT  Now  herkneth  /  hou  I  baar  me  proprely  224 

Ye  wise  wyues  /  that  kan  vnderstonde  [leaf  69,  back] 

IT  Thus  shul  ye  speke  /  and  beren  hem  on  honde 

ffor  half  so  boldely  /  kan  ther  no  man 

Swere  and  lye  /  as  kan  a  wowman  228 

I  sey  nat  this  /  by  wyues  fat  been  wyse 

But  if  it  be  /  whan  they  hem  mysauyse 

A  wys  wyf  /  if  that  she  kan  hir  good 

Shal  bere  hym  on  hond  /  the  Cow  is  wood  232 

And  take  witnesse  /  of  hir  owene  mayde 

Of  hir  assent1  but  herkneth  how  I  sayde 

IF  Sire  olde  kaynard?  /  is  this  thyn  array 

Why  is  /  my  neighebores  wyf  so  gay  236 

She  is  honoured  /  ouer  al  ther  she  gooth 

I  sitte  at  hoom  /  I  haue  no  thrifty  clooth 

What  dostow  /  at  my  neighebores  hous 

I"  ^n  <•"•>  f*iv  I  artow  so  amorous  240 

ELLESMERE   173    (6-T.  340) 


341    SIX-TEXT 

174   GROUP  D.   §  1.  WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

What  rowne  ye  with  oure  mayde  benedicite 

Sire  olde  lecchour  /  lat  tliy  lapes  be 

And  if  I  haue  /  a  gossib  or  a  freend 

With-outen  gilt1  thou  chidest  as  a  feend  244 

If  that  I  walke  /  or  pleye  vn-to  his  hous 

Thou  comest  hoom  /  as  dronken  as  a  Mous 

And  prechest  on  thy  bench  /  with  yuel  preef 

Thou  seist  to  me  /  it  is  a  greet  meschief  248 

To  wedde  a  poure  wowman  for  costage 

And  if  she  be  riche  /  and  of  heigh"  parage 

Thanne  seistow  /  it  is  a  tormentrie 

To  soflren.  hire  pride  /  and  hire  malencolie  252 

And  if  that  she  be  fair  /  thou  vevray  knaue 

Thou  seystf  that  euery  holour  wol  hire  haue 

She  may  no  while  /  in  chastitee  abyde 

That  is  assailled  /  vp-on  ech  a  syde  256 

1T  Thou  seysf  that  som  folk  /  desiren  vs  /  for  richesse 

So?mne  for  oure  shape  /  so?nme  for  oure  fairnesse 

And  som  /  for  she  kan  synge  and  daunce 

And  som  for  gentillesse  /  and  som  for  daliaunce  260 

Som  for  hir  handes  /  and  hir  Armes  smale 

Thus  goth  al  to  the  deuel  /  by  thy  tale 

Thou  seyst1  men  may  nat  kepe  a  Castel  Aval 

It  may  so  longe  /  assailled  been  ouer  al  264 

1T  And  if  that1  she  be  foul  /  thou  seist  that  she 

Coueiteth  euery  man  /  that  she  may  se 

ffor  asx  a  spaynel  /  she  wol  on  hym  lepe 

Til  J>at  she  fynde  /  som  man  hire  to  chepe  268 

!N"e  noon  s\P  grey  goos  gooth  in  the  lake 

As  seistow  \  wol  been  with-oute  make 

And  seyst1  itVs  an  hard  thyng1  for  to  welde 

A  thyng<  bat  nvo  man  wole  his  thankes  helde  272 

Thus  seistow  lo\rel  /  whan  thow  goostf  to  bedde  [leaf  70] 

And  fat  no  wysVman  /  nedeth  for  to  wedde 

Ne  no  man  /  that\  entendeth  vn-to  heuene 

With  wilde  thondef  r  dyntl  an(l  nrJ  leuene  276 

ELIJ   'iSMEUE    174    (6-T.  31l) 


342    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.    175 

Moote  /  thy  welked  nekke  be  to-broke 

1F  Thow  seysf  that  droppyng  houses  /  and  eek  smoke 

And  chidyng*  wyues  /  maken  men  to  flee 

Out  of  hir  owene  houses  /  a  benedicitee  280 

What  eyleth  /  swich  an  old  man  for  to  chide 

IT  Thow  seysf  fat  we  wyues  /  wol  oure  vices  hide 

Til  we  be  fast*  and  thanne  we  wol  hem  shewe 

Wei  may  that  be  /  a  prouerbe  of  a  shrewe  284 

IT  Thou  seistf  fat  Oxen  /  Asses  /  hors  /  and  houndes 

They  been  assayd  /  at  diuerse  stoundes 

Bacyns  /  lauours  /  er  that  men  hem  bye 

Spoones  and  stooles  /  and  al  swich  housbondrye  288 

And  so  been  /  pottes  clothes  /  and  array 

But  folk1  of  wyues  /  maken  noon  assay 

Til  they  be  wedded  /  olde  dotard  shrewe 

Thanne  seistow  /  we  wol  oure  vices  shewe  292 

IT  Thou  seisfr  also  /  that  it  displeseth  me 

But  if  that  thou  /  welt  preyse  my  beautee 

And  but  thou  poure  alwey  /  vp-on  my  face 

And  clepe  me  faire  dame  in  euery  place  296 

And  but  thou  make  a  feeste  /  on  thilke  day 

That  I  was  born  /  and  make  me  fressh"  and  gay 

And  but  thou  do  /  to  my  norice  honour 

And  to  my  chambrere  /  with-Inne  my  hour  300 

And  to  my  fadres  folk  /  and  hise  allyes 

Thus  seistow  /  olde  barel  ful  of  lyes 

11  And  yetf  of  oure  Apprentice  /  laiiekyn  f  Et  procurator 

,..,,.  IIP  on  ,4    calamistratus  & 

tfor  his  crispe  heer  /  shynynge  as  gold  so  fyn  304  Cetera 

And  for  he  squiereth  me  /  bothe  vp  and  doun 

Yet  hastow  caught1  a  fals  suspecioun 

I  wol  hym  noght  /  thogh  thou  were  deed  tomorwe 

IT  But  tel  me  /  why  hydestow  with  sorwe  308 

The  keyes  of  my  cheste  /  awey  fro  me 

It  is  my  good  /  as  wel  as  thyn  pardee 

What  wenestow  /  to  make  an  ydiotf  of  oure  dame 

Now  by  that  lord  /  that  called  is  seint  lame  312 

ELLESMEUE    175    (6-T.  342) 


343    SIX-TEXT 

176    GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Thou  shalt  nat  bothe  /  thogh  thou  were  wood 
Be  maister  /  of  my  body  /  and  of  my  good 
That  oon  thou  shalt  forgo  /  maugree  thyne  eyen 
What  nedeth  thee  /  of  me  /  to  enquere  or  spyen  316 

I  trowe  /  thou  woldest1  loke  me  in  thy  chiste 
Thou  sholdest  seye  /  wyf  go  wher  thee  liste 
Taak  youre  disport*  I  wol  leue  no  talys 
I  knowe  yow  /  for  a  trewe  wyf  dame  Alys  320 

"We  loue  no  man  /  that  taketh  kepe  /  or  charge    Deaf  70,  back] 
Wher  that  we  goon  /  we  wol  ben  at  our  large 
IF  Of  alle  men  /  blessed  moot  he  be 

The  wise  Astrologien  /  Daun  Protholome  324 

That  seith  this  prouerbe  /  in  his  Almageste 
Of  alle  men  /  his  wysdom  is  the  hyeste 
t  intra  omnes      That  rekketh  neucre  7  who  hath  the  world  in  honde 

alcior  existit/ 

q«i  iion  cunt  in     By  this  prouerbe  /  thou  shalt  vnderstonde  328 

ciiiwx  manu  sit 

mundiM  Haue  thou  ynogh  /  what  thar  thee  recche  or  care 

How  myrily  /  that  othere  folkes  fare 
ffor  certeyn  /  olde  dotard  by  youre  leue 
Ye  shul  haue  queynte  /  right  ynogh"  at  eue  332 

He  is  to  greet  a  nygard  /  that  wolde  werne 
A  man  /  to  lighte  his  candle  at  his  lanteme 
He  shal  haue  /  neuer  the  lasse  light  pardee 
Haue  thou  ynogh  /  thee  thar  nat  pleyne  thee  336 

IT  Thou  seyst  also  /  fat  if  we  make  vs  gay 
With  clothyng1  and  with  precious  array 
That*  it  is  peril  of  oure  chastitee 
And  yet  with  sorwe  /  thou  most  enforce  thee  340 

t  Sim/mo-  &        And  seye  thise  wordes  /  in  the  Apostles  name 

mulieres  in 

iiawtuomato       In  habit  maad  /  with  chastitee  and  shame 

cu>»  verecuitdia  & 

capitate  oment     Ye  wommen  /  shul  apparaille  yow  quod  he 

se  /  non  in  tortis 

crinibj«  aut  auro    And  noghf  in  tressed  heer  /  and  gay  perree  344 

aut  margaritis  .         .  •<  v         i  j    /  i    . i  •   i 

siuevestepr^ciosa  As  perles  /  ne  with  gold  /  ne  clothes  nche 
Pauius  After  thy  texf  ne  after  thy  Eubriche 

I  wol  nat  wirche  /  as  muchel  as  a  gnat1 

IT  Thou  seydest  this  /  that  I  was  lyk1  a  Cat1  348 

ELLESMERE    176   (6-T.  343) 


344   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  1.  WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.    177 

ffor  who  so  wolde  /  senge  a  Cattes  skyn 

Thanne  wolde  the  Cat1  wel  dwellen  in  his  In 

And  if  the  Cattes  skyn  /  be  slyk  and  gay 

She  wol  nat  dwelle  in  house  /  half  a  day  352 

But  forth  she  wole  /  er  any  day  be  dawed 

To  shewe  hir  skyn  /  and  goon  a  Caterwawed 

This  is  to  seye  /  if  I  be  gay  sire  shrewe 

I  wol  renne  out  /  my  borel  for  to  shewe  356 
1T  Sire  olde  fool  /  what  eyleth  thee  to  spyen 

Thogh  thou  preye  Argus  /  we't/i  hise  hundred  eyen 

To  be  my  wardecors  /  as  he  kan  best/ 

In  feith  /  he  shal  nat  kepe  me  but  lest1  360 

Yet  koude  I  make  his  berd  /  so  moot  I  thee 

1T  Thou  seydest  eek  /  that  ther  been  thynges  thre  f  eciam  odiosa 

vxor  si  hafeeat 

The  whiche  thynges  /  troublen  al  this  erthe  viru>»bonu/«  & 

And  J>at  no  wight  /  may  endure  the  ferthe  364  ce 

O  leeue  sire  shrewe  /  lAesu  /  shorte  thy  lyf  / 

Yet  prechestow  /  and  seyst  and  hateful  wyf1 

Yrekened  is  /  for  oon  of  thise  meschances 

Been  ther  none  othere  resemblances  368 

That  ye  may  likne  /  youre  parables  to  [leaf  71] 

But  if/  a  sely  wyf  /  be  oon  of  tho 

II  Thou  liknest1  wommenes  loue  to  helle  f  Amor  niiiw 

inferno  &  aretiti 

To  bareyne  lond  /  ther  water  may  nat  dwelle  372  terre  &  im-emUo 

comparata  ||  Vnde 

Tl  Thou  liknest  it  also  /  to  wilde  fyr  iiiua  &  cetera 

The  moore  it  brenneth  /  the  moore  it  hath  desir  amor  muiiens  & 

rn  ji  ,      ,    i_  IT  terra  que  non 

To  consumen  euery  thyng1  jjat  brent  wole  be  saciatar  aqua  & 

Thou  seyst1 .  right  as  wormes  shendeth  a  tree  376  jjjjjl"? 

Eight  so  a  wyf/  destroyeth  hire  housbond  *  sicat  'n  lign?  . 

vermis  ita  penlet 

This  knowe  they  /  that  been  to  wyues  bonde  virum  suum  vxor 

^[  Nemo  rneliH* 

LOrdynges  /  right  thus  /  as  ye  haue  vnderstonde  scire  P°test  /  iuid 

-  sit  vxor  vel 

Baar  I  stifly  /  myne  olde  housbondes  on  honde     380  muiier  /  nisi  iiie 

qoi  passus  est/ 

That  thus  they  seyden  /  in  hir  dronkenesse 

And  al  was  fals  /  but  that  I  took  witnesse 

On  lanekyn  /  and  on  my  !N"ece  also 

O  lord  /  the  peyne  I  elide  hem  /  and  the  AVO  384 

ELLKSMERK    177    (6-T.  241) 


345    SIX-TEXT 

178    GROUP  D.   §1.  WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

fful  giltlees  /  by  goddes  sweete  pyne 

ffor  as  an  hors  /  I  koude  byte  and  whyne 

I  koude  pleyne  /  thogh"  I  were  in  the  gilt* 

Or  elles  /  often  tyme  /  hadde  I  been  spilt1  388 

Who  so  comth  first  to  Mille  /  first  grynt 

I  pleyned  first  /  so  was  oure  werre  y-styntf 

They  were  ful  glad  /  to  excusen  hem  blyue 

Of  thyng  /  of  which  they  neuere  agilte  hir  lyue  392 

IT  Of  wenches  /  wolde  I  beren  hym  on  honde 

Whan  that  for  syk1  vnnethes  myghte  he  stonde 

Yet  tikled  it  his  herte  /  for  that  he 

Wende  /  fat  I  hadde  of  hym  so  greet  chiertee  396 

I  swoor  /  fat  al  my  walkynge  out  by  nyghte 

Was  /  for  tespye  wenches  fat  he  dighte 

Vnder  that  colour  /  hadde  I  many  a  myrthe 

ffor  al  swich  thyng1  was  yeuen  vs  in  oure  byrthe  400 

Deceite  /  wepyng1  spynnyng1  god  hath  yeue 

To  wommen  kyndely  /  whil  that  they  may  lyue 

And  thus  /  of  o  thyng1 1  auaunte  me 

Atte  ende  /  I  hadde  the  bettre  in  ech  degree  404 

By  sleighte  /  or  force  /  or  by  som  maner  thyng1 

As  by  continueel  murmure  or  grucchyng4 

Namely  /  abedde  /  hadden  they  meschaunce 

Ther  wolde  I  chide  /  and  do  hem  no  plesaunce  408 

I  wolde  /  no  lenger  in  the  bed  abyde 

If  that  I  felte  his  Arm  ouer  my  syde 

Til  he  /  had  maad  /  his  raunson)  vn-to  me 

Thanne  wolde  I  suffre  hym  /  do  his  nycetee  412 

And  ther-fore  /  euery  man  /  this  tale  I  telle 

Wynne  who  so  may  /  for  al  is  for  to  selle 

With  empty  hand  /  men  may  none  haukes  lure 

ffor  wynnyng1  wolde  I  al  his  lust  endure  416 

And  make  me  /  a  feyned  appetit/  [leaf  71,  back] 

And  yet1  in  bacon)  /  hadde  I  neuere  delif 

That  made  me  /  that  eue?'e  I  wolde  hem  chide 

ffor  thogh  the  pope  /  hadde  seten  hern  biside  4l)0 

ELLESMEKE    178    Ui-T.  3-l.\) 


346    SIA-TKXT 

GROUP  D.    §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.    Ellesmere  MS.    179 

I  wokle  nut  spare  hem  /  at  hir  owene  bon? 

flbr  by  my  trouthe  /  I  quitte  hem  word  for  word? 

As  helpe  me  /  verray  god  omnipotent1 

Though  I  right  now  /  sholde  make  my  testament1          424 

I  ne  owe  hem  nat  a  word  /  frtt  it  nys  quit 

I  broghte  it  so  aboute  by  my  wit/ 

That  they  moste  yeue  it  vp  /  as  for  the  beste 

Or  elles  /  hadde  we  neuere  been  in  rest  428 

ffor  thogh  he  looked  /  as  a  wood  leon) 

Yet  sholde  he  faille  /  of  his  conclusion) 

H  Thanne  Avolde  I  seye  /  goode  lief1  taak  keepe 

How  mekely  /  looketh  Wilkyn  oure  sheepe  432 

Com  neer  my  spouse  /  lat  me  ba  thy  cheke 

Ye  sholde  been  /  al  pacient  and  meke 

And  han  /  a  sweete  spiced  conscience 

Sith  ye  so  preche  /  of  lobes  pacience  436 

Suffreth  alwey  /  syn  ye  so  wel  kan  preche 

And  but  ye  do  /  certein  we  shal  yow  teche 

That  it  is  fair  /  to  haue  a  wyf  in  pees 

Oon  of  vs  two  /  moste  bowen  doutelees  440 

And  sith  a  man  /  is  moore  resonable 

Than  womman  is  /  ye  moste  been  suffrable 

"What  eyleth  yow  /  to  grucche  thus  and  grone 

Is  if  for  ye  wolde  haue  my  queynte  allone  444 

Wy  taak  it  al  /  lo  haue  it  euery  deel 

Peter  I  shrewe  yow  /  but  ye  loue  it  weel 

ffor  if  I  wolde  /  selle  my  bele  chose 

I  koude  walke  /  as  fressh"  as  is  a  rose  448 

But  I  wol  kepe  /  it1  for  youre  owene  tooth 

Ye  be  to  blame  /  by  god  /  I  sey  yo\v  sooth 

5T  Swiche  manere  wordes  hadde  we  on  honde 

wol  I  speken  /  of  my  fourthe  housbonde  452 

y  fourthe  housbonde  /  was  a  reuelour  f  ot  the  con- 

O-l  •      •     4  /  V      1,     1  l  dicione  of  the 

lliis  is  to  seyn  /  he  hadde  a  p^/'uniour  fourthe  hous- 

»       1   T  i   />   i      /•  bonrte  of  this 

And  I  was  yong<  and  ful  of  ragerye  goode  wvf/  Am, 

Stibourne  and  strong1  and  ioly  as  a  pye  45  1   J"^ 

ELLESMERE    179    (6-T.  346) 


M 


347    SIX-TEXT 

180    GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS 

Wei  koude  I  daunce  /  to  an  harpe  smale 
And  synge  ywis  /  as  any  nyghtyngale 
f  vaieri;**.  u&ro.  Whan  I  had  dronke  /  a  draughte  of  sweete  wyn 

6«    capitulo  S°  || 

Meteiiius  vxorem  Metellius  /  the  foule  cherl  the  swyn  460 

siiiini  /  eo  quod 

vinunt  Mbisset/      That  with  a  staf  /  birafte  his  wyf  hire  lyf1 

/  ffor  she  drank  wyn  /  thogh  I  hadde  been  his  wyf/ 

He  sholde  natf  han  daunted  me  fro  drynke 
And  after  wyn  /  on  Venus  moste  I  thynke  464 

ffor  al  so  siker  /  as  cold  engendreth  hayl  [leaf  72] 

A  likerous  mouth  /  moste  han  a  likerous  tayl 
In  wommen  vinolent  /  is  no  defence 

This  knowen  lecchours  by  experience  468 

IF  But  lord  crist  /  whan  that  it  remembreth  me 
Vp-on  my  yowthe  /  and  on  my  lolitee 
It  tikleth  me  /  aboute  myn  herte  roote 
Vn-to  this  day  /  it  dooth  myn  herte  boote  472 

That  I  haue  had  my  world  /  as  in  my  tyme 
But  Age  alias  /  that  al  wole  enuenyme 
Hath  me  biraft  /  my  beautee  /  and  my  pith 
Lat  go  fare  wel  /  the  deuel  go  therwith  476 

The  flour  is  goon  /  ther  is  namoore  to  telle 
The  bren  as  I  best  kan  /  now  moste  I  selle 
But  yet1  to  be  right  myrie  /  wol  I  fonde 
Now  wol  I  tellen  /  of  my  fourthe  housboiide  480 

1F  I  seye  /  I  hadde  in  herte  greet  despit 
That  he  /  of  any  oother  had  delif 
But  he  was  quit1  by  god  /  and  by  seint  loce 
I  made  hym  /  of  the  same  wode  a  croce  484 

Nat  of  my  body  /  in  no  foul  manere 
But  ceriein.  /  I  made  folk  swich  cheere 
That  in  his  owene  grece  /  I  made  hym  frye 
ffor  Angre  /  and  for  verray  lalousye  488 

By  god  /  in  erthe  I  was  his  purgatorie 
ffor  which  I  hope  /  his  soule  be  in  glorie 
ffor  god  it  woof  he  sat  ful  ofte  and  song  / 
Whan  J>at  his  shoo  /  ful  bitterly  hym  wrong1  492 

ELLESMERE    180   (6-T.  347) 


348    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.    §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.   181 

Ther  was  no  wighf  saue  god  and  he  jjat  wiste 
In  many  wise  /  how  score  I  hym  twiste 
He  deyde  /  whan  I  cam  fro  Jerusalem 
And  lith  ygraue  /  vnder  the  roode  heera 
Al  is  his  tombe  /  noght  so  curyus 
As  was  the  sepulcre  /  of  hym  Daryus 
Which  that  Appelles  /  wrogftte  subtilly 
It  nys  but  wast*  to  burye  hym  preciously 
Lat  hym  fare  wel  /  god  yeue  his  soule  reste 
He  is  now  /  in  his  graue  /  and  in  his  cheste 

NOw  /  of  my  fifthe  housbonde  wol  I  telle 
God  lete  his  soule  /  neue?-e  come  in  helle 
And  yet  was  he  to  me  /  the  mooste  shrewe 
That  feele  I  /  on  my  ribbes  al  by  rewe 
And  euere  shal  /  vn-to  myn  endyng  day 
But  in  oure  bed  /  he  was  /  ful  fressh"  and  gay 
And  ther-with-al  /  so  wel  koude  he  me  glose 
Whan  that1  he  wolde  han  my  bele  chose 
That  thogh  /  he  hadde  me  bet1  on  euery  bon 
He  koude  wynne  /  agayn  my  loue  anon 
I  trowe  I  loued  hym  best1  for  that  he 
Was  of  his  loue  /  daungerous  to  me 
We  wommen  han  /  if  that  I  shal  nat  lye 
In  this  matere  /  a  queynte  fantasye 
Wayte  what  thyng1  we  may  nat  lightly  haue 
Ther  after  /  wol  we  crie  /  al  day  and  craue 
fforbede  vs  thyng1  and  that  desiren  we 
Preesse  on  vs  faste  /  and  thanne  wol  we  fle 
With  daunger  /  oute  we  al  oure  chaffare 
Greet  prees  at  Market1  maketh  deere  ware 
And  to  greet  cheepe  /  is  holde  at  litel  prys 
This  knoweth  /  euery  wowman  that  is  wys 
1F  My  fifthe  housbonde  /  god  his  soule  blesse 
Which  J?at  I  took  for  loue  /  and  no  richesse 
He  som  tyme  /  was  a  clerk  of  Oxenford? 
And  hadde  left  scole  /  and  wente  at  horn  to  bord? 

ELLESMERE    181    (6-T.  348) 


496 


IT  Appelles  /  fecit 
m'trabile  opus  in 
500    tuinulo  Darij  / 
vnde  in  Alex- 
andre .  libra .  6° 


1  Of  the  fifthe 
housbonde  of 
504    this  wyf/.  and 
hou  she  bar  lure 
ayens  hym 


508 


512 

[leaf  72,  back] 


516 


520 


524 


528 


349    SIX-TEXT 

182   GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

With  my  gossib  /  dwellynge  in  cure  toun 

God  haue  hir  soule  /  Mr  name  was  Alisoun 

She  knew  myn  herte  /  and  eek  my  pn'uetee 

Bet  than  oure  parisshe  preest1  as  moot  I  thee  532 

To  hire  /  biwreyed  I  /  my  conseil  al 

ffor  hadde  myn  housbonde  /  pissed  on  a  wal 

Or  doon  a  thyng1  fat  sholde  han  cost  his  lyf  / 

To  hire  /  and  to  another  worthy  wyf  /  536 

And  to  my  Nece  /  which  J?at  I  loued  weel 

I  wolde  han  toold  /  his  conseil  euery  deel 

And  so  I  dide  /  ful  often  god  it  woof 

That  made  his  face  /  ful  often  reed  and  hoof  540 

ffor  verray  shame  /  and  blamed  hym  self*  i'or  he  s' 

Had  toold  to  me  /  so  greet  a  pryuetee 

IF  And  so  bifel  /  that  ones  in  a  lente 

So  often  tymes  /  I  to  my  gossyb  wente  544 

ffor  euere  yetf  I  loued  to  be  gay 

And  for  to  walke  /  in  March  /  Aueritt  and  May 

ffro  hous  to  hous  /  to  heere  sondry  talys 

That  lankyn  Clerk1  and  my  gossyb  dame  Alys  548 

And  I  my  self  /  in-to  the  feeldes  wente 

Myn  housbonde  /  was  at  London  al  the  lente 

I  hadde  /  the  bettre  leyser  for  to  pleye 

And  for  to  se  /  and  eek1  for  to  be  seye  552 

Of  lusty  folk1  what  wiste  I  /  wher  my  grace 

Was  shapen  for  to  be  /  or  in  what  place 

Therfore  /  I  made  my  visitacions 

To  vigilies  /  and  to  processions  556 

To  prechyng1  eek*  and  to  thise  pilg/v'mages 

To  pleyes  of  myracles  /  and  to  manages 

And  wered  vpon  /  my  gaye  scarlet  gytes 

Thise  wormes  /  ne  thise  Motthes  /  ne  thise  mytes          560 

Vpon  my  peril  /  frete  hem  neuer  a  deel  oafvsj 

And  wostow  why  ?    for  they  were  vsed  weel 

NOw  wol  I  tellen  forth  /  what  happed  me 
I  seye  /  that  in  the  feeldes  walked  we  564 

ELLESMERE    182    (6-T.  349) 


350    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.    §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.    Ellesmere  MS.    183 

Till  trewely  /  we  hadde  svvich  daliance 

This  clerk  and  I  /  that  of  my  pwrueiance 

I  spak  to  hym  /  and  seyde  hym  /  how  fat  he  8 

If  I  were  wydwe  /  sholde  wedde  me  568 

fibr  ce?-teinly  /  I  sey  for  no  bobance 

Yet  was  I  neuere  /  with-outen  p?/rueiance 

Of  mariage  /  nof  othere  thynges  eek1 

I  holde  a  Mouses  herte  /  nat  worth  a  leek/  572 

That  hath  but  oon  hole  /  for  to  sterte  to 

And  if  fat  faille  /  thanne  is  al  ydo 

1T  I  bar  hym  on  honde  /  he  hadde  enchanted  me 

My  dame  taughte  me  that  soutiltee  576 

And  eek  I  seyde  /  I  mette  of  hym  al  nyght 

He  wolde  han  slayn  me  /  as  I  lay  vp  right 

And  al  my  bed  /  was  ful  of  verray  blood 

But  yet  I  hope  /  that  he  shal  do  me  good  580 

ffor  blood  /  bitokeneth  gold  /  as  me  was  taught1 

And  al  was  fals  /  I  dremed  of  it  right  naught1 

But  I  folwed  ay  /  my  dammes  loore 

As  wel  of  this  /  as  of  othere  thynges  moore  584 

IT  But  now  sire  /  lat  me  se  /  what  I  shal  seyn 

A  /  ha  /  by  god  /  I  haue  my  tale  ageyn 

IT  Whan  fat  my  fourthe  housbonde  /  was  on  beere 

I  weepe  algate  /  and  made  sory  cheere  588 

As  wyues  mooten  /  for  it  is  vsage 

And  with  my  couerchief  /  couered  my  visage 

But  for  fat  I  /  was  purueyed  of  a  make 

I  wepte  but  smal  /  and  that  I  vndertake  592 

5T  To  chirche  /  was  myn  housbonde  /  born  a  morwe 

With  neighebores  /  that  for  hym  maden  sorwe 

And  lankyn  oure  Clerk  /  was  oon  of  tho 

As  help  me  god  /  whan  fat  I  saugh  hym  go  596 

After  the  beere  /  me  thoughte  he  hadde  a  paire  s 

Of  legges  /  and  of  feet  /  so  clene  and  faire 

That  al  myn  herte  /  I  yaf  vn-to  his  hoold 

He  was  I  trowe  /  a  twenty  wynter  oold  600 

16  ELLESMERE    183    (6-T.  350) 


351    SIX-TEXT 

184    GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  T  was  fourty  /  if  I  shal  seye  sooth 
But  yet  I  hadde  alwey  /  a  coltes  tooth 
Gat  tothed  I  was  /  and  that  bicam  me  weel 
I  hadde  the  prente  /  of  seint  Venus  seel  GO  4 

As  help  me  god  /  I  was  a  lusty  oon 
And  faire  and  riche  /  and  yong1  and  wel  bigon 
And  trewely  /  as  inyne  housbondes  tolde  me 
I  hadde  the  beste  Quonyain  myghte  be  608 

ffor  certes  /  I  am  al  Venerien  [leaf  7:1,  back] 

In  feelynge  /  and  myn  herte  is  Marcien 
f  Man«or  Venus  me  yaf  my  lust1  my  likerousnesse 

ArBphiirisoii'.lQ. 

T  cu«q<te  in        And  Mars  yaf  me  /  my  sturdy  hardynesse  612 

fu<?rint  iwCortune    Myn  Ascendent  was  Taur  and  Mars  ther-Inne 

turpem  notam  in        .  ,.          ,     ,,          •  , 

facie  paciet«r  u  in  Alias  /  alias  /  fat  euere  lone  was  synne 


ay  /  myn  Inclinacion 
Sard±L  %  ™*u  I  of  my  constellacion  61  G 

Venn-is  /  Marte     -phat  made  me  /  I  koude  noght  withdrawe 

existente  in  eis  / 

veieeontrarioerit  My  chambre  of  Venus  /  from  a  good  felawe 

mulier  inpudica  || 

idem  erit/  si         Yet  haue  I  /  Martes  Mark  vp-on  my  face 

nu&uerit 

capri.-ornum  in      And  also  /  in  another  pn'uee  place 

ascendente  || 

He[c]  Hermes  in    nor  god  so  wys  /  be  my  sauacion 

li&rofiducie  Am-      T          ,          ,  ,  ,  ,.  .    _ 

phoriso  24»          I  ne  loued  neuere  /  by  no  discrecion 
But  euere  /  folwed  myn  appetit 

Al  were  he  /  short1  or  long1  or  blak  /  or  whit  624 

I  took  no  kepe  /  so  that  he  liked  me 
How  poore  he  was  /  ne  eek/  of  what  degree 
1T  What  sholde  I  seye  /  but  at  the  Monthes  ende 
This  ioly  clerk/  lankyn  J?at  was  so  hende  628 

Hath  wedded  me  /  with  greet  solempnytee 
And  to  hym  yaf  I  /  al  the  lond  and  fee 
That  euere  /  was  me  yeuen  ther-bifoore 
But  afterward  /  repented  me  ful  soore  632 

He  nolde  suffre  /  nothyng  of  my  list1 
By  god  /  he  smoot  me  ones  on  the  lysf 
ffor  J?at  I  rente  /  out  of  his  book1  a  leef  / 
That  of  the  strook  /  myn  ere  wax  al  deef  /  63G 

ELLESMERE    184   (6-T.  351) 


352    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.    185 

Stibourne  I  was  /  as  is  a  Leonesse 

And  of  my  tonge  /  a  verray  langleresse 

And  walke  I  wolde  /  as  I  had  doon  biforn 

ffrom  hous  to  hous  /  al-though  he  had  it  sworn  640 

ffor  which  /  he  often  tymes  wplde  preche 

And  me  /  of  olde  Eomayn  geestes  teche 

How  he  symplicius  Gallus  /  lefte  his  wyf*  f  vaieriw.  iisro 

And  hire  forsok  /  for  terme  of  al  his  lyf1  644 

Noght1  but  for  open-heueded  /  he  hir  say 

Lokynge  out  at  his  dore  /  vpon  a  day 

IT  Another  Romayn  /  tolde  he  me  by  name 

That  for  his  wyf  /  was  at  a  someres  game  648 

Wtt/i-outen  his  wityng1  he  forsook  hire  eke 

And  thanne  wolde  he  /  vp-on  his  Bible  seke 

That  ilke  prouerbe  /  of  Ecclesiaste 

Where  he  comandeth  /  and  forbedeth  faste  652 

Man  shal  nat  suffre  his  wyf  go  roule  aboute 

Thanne  wolde  he  seye  right/  thus  /  wi'M-outen  doute 

IT  Who  so  /  that  buyldeth  his  hous  /  al  of  salwes  fNo<o. 

And  priketh  his  blynde  hors  /  ouer  the  falwes  656 

IT  And  suifrethhis  wyf/  to  go  seken  halwes  [leaf  74]  ^  Ne  des  muiierf 

T  .LI/.LI  i  i     /  n  i  neunam  vamam 

Is  worthy  /  to  been  hanged  /  on  the  galwes  prodeundi 

But  al  for  nognf  I  sette  noght  an  hawe  j£S«!  ™* 

Of  his  prouerbes  /  nof  his  olde  awe  660 

Ne  I  wolde  naf  of  hym  corrected  be 

I  hate  hym  /  that  my  vices  telleth  me 

And  so  doo  mo  /  god  woot  of  vs  /  than  I 

This  made  hym  /  with  me  wood  al  outrely  664: 

I  nolde  noght  /  forbere  hym  in  no  cas 

IT  JSTow  wol  I  seye  yow  sooth  /  by  seint  Thomas 

Why  J>at  I  rente  /  out  of  his  book  a  leef 

ffor  which  /  he  smoot  me  so  /  Jjat  I  was  deef  668 

IF  He  hadde  a  book  /  J?at  gladly  nygfrt  and  day 

ffor  his  desport1  he  wolde  rede  alway 

He  cleped  it1  Valerie  /  and  Theofraste 

At  which  book/  he  lough  alwey  ful  faste  672 

ELLESMERE    185    (6-T.  352) 


353    SIX-TEXT 

186    GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

1T  And  eek/  ther  was  som  tyme  /  a  clerk  at  Kome 

A  Cardinal  /  that  highte  Seint  lerome 

That  made  a  book1  agayn  louinian 

In  which  book1  eek1  ther  was  Tertulan  676 

Crisippus  /  Trotula  /  and  Helowys 

That  was  Abbesse  /  nat  fer  fro  Parys 

And  eek1  the  Parables  of  Salomon 

Guides  Art1  and  bookes  many  on  680 

And  alle  thise  /  were  bounden  /  in  o  volume 

And  euery  nygfit  and  day  /  was  his  custume 

Whan  he  hadde  leyser  /  and  vacacion 

ffrom  oother  /  worldly  /  occupacion  684 

To  reden  on  this  book  /  of  wikked  wyues 

He  knew  of  hem  /  mo  legendes  and  lyues 

Than  been  /  of  goode  wyues  in  the  Bible  . 

ffor  trusteth  wel  /  it  is  an  impossible  688 

That  any  clerk1  wol  speke  good  of  wyues 

But  if  it  be  /  of  hooly  seintes  lyues 

He  noon  oother  woraman  /  neuer  the  mo 
«;  Quis  pinxit       Who  peynted  the  leon)  /  tel  me  who?  692 

By  god  /  if  wommen  /  hadde  writen  stories 

As  clerkes  han  /  with-Inne  hire  oratories 

They  wolde  han  writen  /  of  men  moore  wikkednesse 

Than  all  the  mark/  of  Adam  may  redresse  696 

The  children  /  of  Mercuric  and  Venus 

Been  in  hir  wirkyng1  ful  contrarius 

Mercurie  /  loueth  wysdam  and  science 

And  Venus  /  loueth  ryot1  and  dispence  700 

And  for  hire  diuerse  disposicion 
t  vterqw*  Ech  falleth  /  in  otheres  exaltacion 

cadit  vbi  alia  . 

exaitatur  And  thus  god  WOOF  Mercurie  is  desolat1 

In  Pisces  /  wher  Venus  is  exaltat1  704 

.i   In  Virgins 

tin  libroMansor  And  Venus  falleth  /  ther  Mercurie  is  reysed          [>«<"<  4,  back] 
\n\uscHjuggue       Therfore  no  womman  /  of  no  clerk  is  preysed 

f\anfta.Titm  .  4  .  ||     m,          ii.-i  i  i  i     /          i  1,1 

Exaitacio  iiio  in     •*•"«  clerk*  whan  lie  is  oold  /  and  may  noght  do 


ELLESMERE    186    (6-T.  353) 


354:    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.  187 
Thanne  sit  he  douu  /  and  writ  in  his  dotage  patu«f  ab  aiio 

coHtrarium  & 

That  wcwmien  /  kan  nat  kepe  hir  manage  cetera  ;  veiut 

-•-^  /       T-      Till      ii  Merair/«»  in 

|_lut  now  to  purpos  /  why  I  tolde  thee  virgine  q«e  est 

!•    m     j.  T  -L    j.          /  .f  1.1  3  n  I  o    easus  venerU  ||. 

JLJ  That  I  was  beten  /  ior  a  book  pardee  712  \\ter.sciiicet. 
Vp-on  a  nyghfr  lankyn  Jj«t  was  oure  sire 


Eedde  on  his  book  /  as  he  sat  by  the  fire  Scie««am  & 

pln/osopAiam  ||. 

Of  Eua  first1  that  for  hir  wikkednesse  Mter  vero  cant<« 

&  alacritates  & 

Was  al  raankyiule  /  broght  to  wrecchedncsse  716  q«icq«irfest 

sapiferum  covpori 

ffor  which  crisfr  hym  self/  was  slayn 

That  boghte  vs  /  with  his  herte  blood  agayn 

Lo  heere  expres  /  of  womman  may  ye  fynde 

That  womman  /  was  the  los  /  of  al  mankynde  720 

1T  Tho  redde  he  me  /  how  Sampson  loste  hise  heres 

Slepynge  /  his  lemman  /  kitte  it  with  hir  sheres 

Thurgh  which  tresori)  /  loste  he  bothe  hise  eyen 

IT  Tho  redde  he  me  /  if  that  I  shal  nat  lyen  724 

Of  Hercules  /  and  of  his  Dianyre 

That  caused  hym  /  to  sette  hymself  afyre 

II  JSTo  thyng1  forgat  he  /  the  sorwe  and  wo 

That  Socrates  /  hadde  with  hise  wyues  two  728 

How  Xantippa  /  caste  pisse  vp-on  his  heed 

This  sely  man  /  sat  stille  as  he  were  deed 

He  wiped  his  heed  /  namoore  dorste  he  seyn 

But1  er  }>at  thonder  stynte  /  comth  a  reyn  732 

IT  Of  Phasifpha  /  that  was  the  queene  of  Crete  f  Q«''«J  referam 

Phasifphen  / 

ffor  shrewednesse  /  hym  thoughte  the  tale  swetc  ciitermistram  & 

„  .  ,  .     .  .  ,        ,  Eriphilew!  /. 

fly  speke  namoore  /  it  is  a  grisly  thyng1  quarim  vrimSL 

Of  hire  /  horrible  lust-  and  hir  likyng-  736  £$.'?£* 

IT  Of  Clitermystra  /  for  hire  lecherye  «  dicit"'< 


That  falsly  /  made  hire  housbonde  for  to  dye  con«ibitu«  .  Alia 

J   I  J  o 


virnm 


He  redde  it/  with  ful  good  deuocion  suum  ol)  amorem 

Adult<>»-ij.||Tercia 


U  He  tolde  me  eek1  for  what  occasion  740 

Amphiorax  & 

Amphiorax  /  at  Thebes  loste  his  lyf*  saiuti  viri 

monile  Aureum 

Myn  housbonde  /  hadde  a  legende  of  his  wyf  /  pertuHssc  &c  n 

Hec  Metellius 

H  Eriphilem  /  that  for  an  Ouche  of  gold  Mamo  seeundu 

Hath  prmely  /  vn-to  the  grekes  told  744 

ELLKSMERK    187    (fi-T.  354) 


355    SIX-TEXT 

188    GROUP  D.    §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

Wher  that  hir  housbonde  /  liidde  hym  in  a  place 

ffor  which  /  he  hadde  at  Thebes  sory  grace 

^[  Of  Lyma  tolde  he  me  /  and  of  Lucye 

They  bothe  /  made  hir  housbondes  for  to  dye  748 

That  oon  for  loue  /  that  oother  was  for  hate 

Lyma  hir  housbonde  /  vp-on  an  euen  late 

Empoysoned  hath  /  for  J>at  she  was  his  fo 

Lucia  likerous  /  loued  hire  housbonde  so  752 

That  for  he  sholde  /  alwey  vp-on  hire  thynke  [leaf  -sj 

She  yaf  hym  /  swich  a  manere  loue  drynke 

That  he  was  deed  /  er  it  were  by  the  morwe 

And  thus  algates  /  housbondes  han  sorw  756 

IT  Thanne  tolde  he  me  /  how  J?at  oon  Latumyus 

Compleyned  /  vn-to  his  felawe  Arrius 

That  in  his  gardyn  /  growed  swich  a  tree 

On  which  he  seyde  /  how  that  hise  wyues  thre  760 

Hanged  hem  self*  for  herte  despitus 

1T  0  leeue  brother  /  quod  this  Arrius 

Yif  me  a  plante  /  of  thilke  blissed  tree 

And  in  my  gardyn  /  planted  it  shal  bee  764 

If  Of  latter  date  of  wyues  /  hath  he  red 

That  somme  /  han  slayn  hir  housbondes  in  hir  bed 

And  lete  hir  lecchour  /  dighte  hire  al  the  nyght1 

Whan  that  the  corps  /  lay  in  the  floor  vp  rigntt  768 

•fl"  And  sowme  /  han  dryue  nayles  /  in  hir  brayn 

"Whil  J>at  they  slepte  /  and  thus  they  han  hem  slayn 

IT  Sorame  han  hem  yeue  /  poysouw  in  hire  drynke 

He  spak  moore  harm  /  than  herte  may  bithynke  772 

And  ther-with-al  /  he  knew  of  mo  prouerbes 

Than  in  this  world  /  ther  growen  gras  or  herbes 

Bet  is  quod  he  /  thyn  habitacioim 

Be  with  a  leouw  /  or  a  foul  dragouw  776 

Than  with  a  womman  /  vsynge  for  to  chyde 

Bet  is  quod  he  /  hye  in  the  roof  abyde 

Than  wiih  an  angry  wyf  /  doun  in  the  hous 

They  been  so  wikked  and  contrarious  780 

KLLESMERE    188    (6-T.  355) 


356    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIPE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS.   189 

They  haten  /  that  hir  housbondes  /  loueth  ay 

He  seyde  /  a  womman  cast  hir  shame  away 

Whan  she  cast  of  hir  smok1  and  forther  mo 

A  fair  womman  /  but  she  be  chaast  also  784 

Is  lyk  a  gold  ryng1  in  a  sowes  nose  f  cireuius 

,IT,  ,,     ,  ,  ,  ,,  aureus  in  naribtt* 

Who  wolde  leeue  /  or  who  wolde  suppose  suis  Muiior 

formosa  &  fatua 

ihe  wo  /  that  in  myn  herte  was  and  pyne  a.  impudica 

^F  And  whan  I  saugfi  /  he  wolde  neuere  fyne  788 

To  reden  on  this  cursed  book  al  nyght* 

Al  sodeynly  /  thre  leues  haue  I  plyghtf 

Out  of  his  book*  right  as  he  radde  /  and  eke , 

I  with  my  fest"  so  took  hym  on  the  cheke  792 

That  in  oure  fyr  /  he  fil  bakward  adoun 

And  he  vp  stirte  /  as  dooth  a  wood  leoun 

And  with  his  fest1  he  smoot  me  on  the  heed 

That  in  the  floor  /  I  lay  /  as  I  were  deed  796 

And  whan  he  saugh  /  how  stille  J?at  I  lay 

He  was  agasf  and  wolde  han  fled  his  way 

Til  atte  laste  /  out  of  my  swogh  I  breyde 

O  hastow  slayn  me  /  false  theef  I  seyde  800 

And  for  my  land  /  thus  hastow  mordred  me         [leaf  75,  back] 

Er  I  be  deed  /  yet  wol  I  kisse  thee 

H  And  neer  he  cam  /  and  kneled  faire  adoun 

And  seyde  /  deere  suster  Alisoun  804 

As  help  me  god  /  I  shal  thee  neuere  smyte 

That  I  haue  doon  /  it  is  thy  self  to  wyte 

fforyeue  it  me  /  and  that  I  thee  biseke 

And  yet  eft  soones  /  I  hitte  hym  on  the  cheke  808 

And  seyde  theef/  thus  muchel  am  I  wreke 

Now  wol  I  dye  /  I  may  no  lenger  speke 

But  atte  laste  /  with  muchel  care  and  wo 

We  fille  acorded  /  by  vs  seluen  two  812 

He  yaf  me  /  al  the  bridel  in  myn  hondf 

To  han  the  gouernance  /  of  hous  and  lond! 

And  of  his  tonge  /  and  his  hond  also 

And  made  hym  brenne  his  book1  anon  right  tho  816 

ELLESMERE    189   (6-T.  356) 


357    SIX-TEXT 

190   GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  whan  that  I  /  hadde  geten  vn-to  me 

By  maistrie  /  al  the  soueraynetee 

And  that  he  seyde  /  myn  owene  trewe  wyf/ 

Do  as  thee  lust1  to  terme  of  al  thy  lyf1  820 

Keepe  thyn  honour  /  and  keepe  eek  myn  estaat/ 

After  that  day  /  we  hadden  neuer  debaafr 

God  helpe  me  so  /  I  was  to  hym  as  kynde 

As  any  wyf1  from  Denmark  vn-to  Ynde  824 

And  also  trewe  /  and  so  was  he  to  me 

I  prey  to  god  /  that  sit  in  magestee 

So  blesse  his  soule  /  for  his  mercy  deere 

Now  wol  I  seye  my  tale  /  if  ye  wol  heere  828 

IF  Biholde  the  wordes  bitwene  the  Somonowr  /  and  the 
ffrere  fo 

The  frere  lough"  /  whan  he  hadde  herd  al  this 
Now  dame  quod  he  /  so  haue  I  ioye  or  blis 
This  is  /  a  long  preamble  of  a  tale 
And  whan  the  Somonour  /  herde  the  frere  gale 
H  Lo  quod  the  Somonour  /  goddes  Armes  two 
A  frere  /  wol  entremette  him  euere-mo 
Lo  goode  men  /  a  flye  and  eek  a  frere 
Wol  falle  /  in  euery  dyssfr  and  mateere  836 

What  spekestow  /  of  preambulacioun 
What  amble  /  or  trotte  /  or  pees  /  or  go  sit  doun 
Thou  lettest  oure  disport1  in  this  manere 
IT  Ye  woltow  so  /  sire  Somonour  quod  the  frere  840 

Now  by  my  feith  /  I  shal  er  that  I  go 
Telle  of  a  Somonowr  /  swich  a  tale  or  two 
That  alle  the  folk/  shal  laugh  en  in  this  place 
1T  Now  elles  frere  /  I  bishrewe  thy  face  844 

Quod  this  SomonoMr  and  I  bishrewe  me  [leaf  70] 

But  if  I  telle  tales  /  two  or  thre 
Of  freres  /  er  I  come  to  Sidyngborne 
That  I  shal  make  /  thyn  herte  for  to  morne  848 

ELLESMERE    190   (6-T.  367) 


358   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  1.   WIFE'S  PREAMBLE.    Ellesmere  MS.    191 

ffor  wel  I  woot1  thy  pacience  is  gon 

IF  Oure  hoost  cride  pees  /  and  that  anon 

And  seyde  /  lat  the  wommau  telle  hire  tale 

Ye  fare  as  folk  /  that  dronken  were  of  Ale  852 

Do  dame  /  telle  forth  youre  tale  /  and  that  is  best1 

1T  Al  redy  sire  quod  she  /  right  as  yow  lest1 

If  I  haue  licence  /  of  this  worthy  frere 

1F  Yis  dame  quod  he  /  tel  forth  /  and  I  wol  lieere          856 

Tf  Heere  endeth  the  Wyf  of  Bathe  hir  Prologe  / 


ELLESMERE    191    (6-T.  358) 


3-59    SIX-TEXT 

192      GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIPE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


And  bigynneth  hir  tale  [°« ie«fi6} 

IN  tholde  dayes  /  of  Kyng  Arthour 
Of  which  that  Britons  /  speken  greet  honour 
All  was  this  land  /  fulfild  of  ffairye 
The  Elf  queen e  /  with  hir  ioly  compaignye          860 
Daunced  ful  ofte  /  in  many  a  grene  mede      ^StM^utTt^ 
This  was  the  olde  opinion  as  I  rede 
I  speke  /  of  manye  hundred  yeres  ago 
But  now  kan  no  man  /  se  none  Elues  mo  864 

ffor  now  the  grete  charitee  /  and  prayeres 
Of  lymytours  /  and  othere  hooly  freres 
That  serchen  /  euery  lond  /  and  euery  streeiu 
As  thikke  /  as  motes  /  in  the  sonne  "beem  868 

Blessynge  halles  /  chambres  /  kichenes  /  bourns 
Citees  /  Burghes  /  Castels  /  hye  Toures 
Thropes  /  Bernes  /  Shipnes  /  dayeryes 
This  maketh  /  that  ther  been  no  ffairyes  872 

ffor  ther  as  wont1  to  walk  en  was  an  Elf1 
Ther  walketh  now  /  the  lymytour  hym  self 
In  vndermeles  /  and  in  morwenynges 
And  seyth  his  matyns  /  and  his  hooly  thyngt-s  876 

As  he  gooth  /  in  his  lymytacioun 
"Wo?jmien  /  may  go  saufly  vp  and  doun 
In  euery  bussh"  /  or  vnder  euery  tree 
Ther  is  /  noon  oother  Incubus  /  but  he  880 

And  he  /  ne  wol  doon  hem  /  but  dishonour 
1T  And  so  bifel  /  that  this  kyng1  Arthour 
Hadde  in  hous  /  a  lusty  Bacheler 
That  on  a  day  /  cam  ridynge  fro  Ryuer  881 

ELLESMERE    192    (6-T.  359) 


360   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS.      193 

And  happed  that  allone  /  as  he  was  born 

He  saugh  a  mayde  /  walkynge  hym  biforn 

Of  which  mayde  /  anon  rnaugree  hir  heed  Deaf  70,  back] 

By  verray  force  /  birafte  hire  maydenhed  888 

ffor  which  oppression  /  was  swich  clamour 

And  swich  pursute  /  vn-to  the  kyng  Arthour 

That  dampned  was  this  knygfit  for  to  be  deed 

By  cours  of  lawe  /  and  sholde  han  lost  his  heed  892 

Parauenture  /  swich  was  the  statut  tho 

But  that  the  queene  /  and  othere  ladyes  mo 

So  longe  preyden  /  the  kyng  of  grace 

Til  he  /  his  lyf  /  hym  graunted  in  the  place  896 

And  yaf  hym  to  the  queene  /  al  at  hir  wille 

To  chese  /  wheither/  she  wolde  hym  sane  or  spille 

H  The  queene  /  thanketh  the  kyng1  with  al  hir  myglif 

And  after  this  /  thus  spak  she  to  the  knyghtf  900 

Whan  fat  she  saugh  hir  tyme  vp-on  a  day 

Thou  standest  yet  quod  she  /  in  swich  array 

That  of  thy  lyf  /  yet  hastow  no  suretee 

I  grante  thee  lyf  /  if  thou  kanst  tellen  me  904 

What  thyng  is  it1  that  wommen  nioost  desiren 

Be  war  /  and  keepe  thy  nekke  boon  from  Iren 

And  if  thou  /  kanst  nat  tellen  it  anon 

Yet  shal  I  yeue  thee  leue  /  for  to  gon  908 

A  twelf-month  and  a  day  /  to  seche  and  leere 

An  answere  suffisant  in  this  mateere 

And  suretee  wol  I  han  /  er  f>«t  thou  pace 

Thy  body  /  for  to  yelden  in  this  place  912 

WO  was  this  knyghfr  and  sorwefully  he  siketh 
But  he  may  nat  do  /  al  as  hyni  liketh 
And  at  the  laste  /  he  chees  hym  for  to  wende 
And  come  agayn  /  right  at  the  yercs  ende  916 

With  swich  answere  /  as  god  wolde  hym  pwmeye 
And  taketh  his  leue  /  and  weruleth  fertli  his  weye 
IF  He  seketh  /  exiery  hous  /  and  eueiy  place 
Where  as  he  hopeth  /  for  to  fynde  grace  920 

ELLESMEUE    19?   (6-T. ,  360) 


3G1    SIX-TEXT 

194      GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

To  lerne  /  what  thyng1  wommen  louen  moost 

But  he  ne  koude  /  arryuen  in  no  coosf 

Wher  as  he  mygBte  fynde  /  in  this  mateere 

Two  creatures  /  accordynge  in  feere  924 

IT  Somme  seyde  /  wommen  /  louen  best  richesse 

Somme  seyde  honour  /  somine  seyde  lolynesse 

Somme  riche  array  /  somme  seyden  lust  abedd 

And  ofte  tyme  /  to  be  wydwe  and  wedde  928 

IT  Somme  seyde  /  J>at  oure  hertes  /  been  moost  esed 

Whan  that  we  been  /  yflatered  and  yplesed 

H  He  gooth  ful  ny  the  sothe  /  I  wol  nat  lye 

A  man  /  shal  wynne  vs  best1  with  flaterye  932 

And  with  attendance  /  and  with  bisynesse 

Been  we  ylymed  /  bothe  moore  and  lesse 

IT  And  somme  seyn  /  that  we  louen  best1  [leaf  77] 

ffor  to  be  free  /  and  do  rigM  as  vs  lest1  93G 

And  that  no  man  /  repreue  vs  of  oure  vice 

But  seye  fat  we  be  wise  /  and  no  thyng  nyce 

ifor  trewely  /  ther  is  noon  of  vs  alle 

If  any  wight  /  wol  clawe  vs  on  the  galle  940 

That  we  nel  kike  /  for  he  seith  vs  sooth 

Assay  /  and  he  shal  fynde  it  J>at  so  dooth 

ffor  be  we  /  neuer  so  vicious  with-Inne 

We  wol  been  holden  wise  /  and  clene  of  synne  944 

IT  And  somme  seyn  /  that  greet  delit  han  we 

ffor  to  been  holden  stable  /  and  eke  secree 

And  in  o  purpos  /  stedefastly  to  dwelle 

And  nat  biwreye  thyng1  that  men  vs  telle  948 

But  that  tale  /  is  nat  worth  a  rake  stele 

Pardee  we  wommen  /  konne  no  thyng1  hele 

Witnesse  on  Myda  /  wol  ye  heere  the  tale 

IT  Ouyde  /  amonges  othere  thynges  smale  952 

Seyde  /  Myda  hadde  vnder  his  longe  heres 

Growynge  vp-on  his  heed  Atwo  Asses  eres 

The  which  vice  he  hydde  /  as  lie  best  myghte 

fful  subtilly  /  from  every  maftnes  sight  e  956 

ELL.ESMERE    1B4   (0-T.  36l) 


362    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.    §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.      195 

That  saue  his  wyf  /  ther  wiste  of  it  namo 

He  loued  hire  moosf  and  triste  hire  also 

He  preyde  hire  /  that  to  no  creature 

She  sholde  tellen  /  of  his  disfigure  960 

IT  She  swoor  him  nay  /  for  al  this  world  to  wynne 

She  nolde  do  /  that  vileynye  or  synne 

To  make  hir  housbonde  /  han  so  foul  a  name 

She  nolde  nat  telle  if  for  hir  owene  shame  964 

But  nathelees  /  hir  thoughte  pat  she  dyde 

That  she  so  longe  /  sholde  a  conseil  hyde 

Hir  thoughte  /  it  swal  so  soore  /  aboute  hir  herte 

That  nedely  /  som  word  hire  moste  asterte  968 

And  sith  she  dorste  /  telle  it  to  no  man 

Doun  to  a  Mareys  /  faste  by  she  ran 

Til  she  came  there  /  her  herte  was  a  fyre 

And  as  a  Bitore  /  bombleth  in  the  Myre  972 

She  leyde  hir  mouth  /  vn-to  the  water  doiin 

Biwreye  me  nat1  thou  water  vriih  thy  soun 

Quod  she  /  to  thee  I  telle  it  and  namo 

Myn  housbonde  /  hath  longe  Asses  erys  two  976 

Now  is  myn  herte  all  hool  /  now  is  it  oute 

I  myghte  no  lenger  /  kepe  if  out  of  doute 

Heere  may  ye  se  /  thogh"  we  a  tyme  abyde 

Yet  out  it  moot1  we  kan  no'  conseil  hyde  980 

The  remenant  of  the  tale  /  if  ye  wol  heere 

Redeth  Ouyde  /  and  ther  ye  may  it  leere 

THis  knyghf  /  of  which  /  my  tale  is  specially  [leaf  77,  back] 
Whan  that  he  saugh"  /  he  mygfite  nat  come  therby 
This  is  to  seye  /  what  wommen  loue  moosf  985 

"With-Inne  his  bresf  ful  sorweful  was  the  goosf  - 
But  hoom  he  gooth  /  he  myghte  nat  soiowme 
The  day  was  come  /  fat  homward  moste  he  ioume        988 
And  in  his  wey  /  it  happed  hym  to  ryde 
In  al  this  care  /  vnder  a  fforest  syde 
Wher  as  he  saugh  /  vp-on  a  daunce  go 
Of  ladyes  /  foure  and  twenty  /  and  yet  mo  992 

ELLESMERE    195    (6-T.  362) 


363    SIX-TEXT 

196      GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

Toward  the  which  daunce  /  he  drow  ful  yerne 

In  hope  /  that  som  wysdorn  /  sholde  he  lerne 

But  certeiuly  /  er  he  came  fully  there 

Vanysshed  was  this  daunce  /  he  nyste  where  996 

No  creature  saugh"  he  /  that  bar  lyf 

Saue  on  the  grene  /  he  saugh"  sittynge  a  wyf 

A  fouler  wight*  ther  may  no  man  deuyse 

Agayn  the  knyghf  this  olde  wyf  gan  ryse  1000 

And  seyde  sire  knygfrf  /  heer  forth  ne  lith  no  wey 

Tel  me  /  what  that  ye  seken  /  by  youre  fey 

P«rauenture  /  it  may  the  bettre  be 

Thise  olde  folk1  kan  muchel  thyng1  quod  she  1004 

^F  My  leeue  mooder/  quod  this  knyght  certeyn 

I  nam  but  deed  /  but  if  that  I  kan  seyn 
What  thyng  it  is  /  that  wo?/zmen  moost  desire 

Koude  ye  me  wisse  /  I  wolde  wel  quite  youre  hire       1008 

IT  Plight  me  thy  trouthe  /  heere  in  myn  hand  quod  she 

The  nexte  thyng1  that  I  requere  thee 

Thou  shalt  it  do  /  if  it  lye  in  thy  myghfc 

And  I  wol  telle  it  yow  /  er  it  be  nyglif  1012 

IT  Haue  heer  my  trouthe  /  quod  the  knyght  I  grante 

II  Thanne  quod  she  /  I  dar  me  wel  auante 
Thy  lyf  is  sauf  /  for  I  wol  stonde  therby 

Vp-on  my  lyf/  the  queene  wol  seye  as  I  1016 

Lat  se  /  which  is  the  proudeste  of  hem  alle 

That  wereth  on  /  a  couerchief/  or  a  calle 

That  dar  seye  nay  /  of  that  I  shal  thee  teche 

T  at  vs  go  forth  /  with-outen  lenger  speche  1020 

Tho  rowred  she  /  a  pistel  in  his  ere 

And  bad  Hym  to  be  glad  /  and  haue  no  fere 

IT  Whan  they  be  comen  to  the  court  /  this  knyghtf 

Seyde  /  he  had  holde  his  day'/  as  he  hadde  hight1       1024 

And  redy  was  his  answere  /  as  he  sayde 

iful  many  a  noble  wyf  /  and  many  a  mayde 

And  many  a  wydwe  /  for  J>«t  they  been  wise 

The  queene  hir-seif*  sittynge  as  lustise  1028 

ELLESMERE    196    (6-T.  363) 


3G4    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.      197 

Assembled  been  /  his  answere  for  to  heere 

And  afterward?  /  this  knyghf  was  bode  appeere 

II  To  euery  wight  /  comanded  was  silence  [leaf  rs] 

And  that  the  knyght  /  sholde  telle  in  Audience  1032 

What  thyng*  that  worldly  wowmen  louen  best1 

This  knyght1  ne  stood  nat  stille  /  as  doth  a  best 

But  to  his  questioun  /  anon  answerde 

With  manly  voys  /  that  al  the  court  it  herde  1036 

U  My  lige  lady  /  generally  /  quod  he 

Wommen  desiren  haue  souereynetee 

As  wel  /  ouer  hir  housbond'  as  hir  loue 

And  for  to  been  /  in  maistrie  hym  aboue  1040 

This  is  youre  mooste  desir  /  thogh  ye  me  kille 

Dooth  as  yow  list*  I  am  at  youre  wille 

^F  In  al  the  court*  ue  was  ther  wyf  ne  mayde 

Ne  wydwe  /  that  contraried  that  he  sayde  1044 

But  seyden  /  he  was  worthy  han  his  lyf 

IT  And  with  that  word  /  vp  stirte  the  olde  wyf 

Which  that  the  knyght1  /  saugh  sittynge  in  the  grene 

Mercy  quod  she  my  souereyn  lady  queene  1048 

Er  that  youre  court  departe  /  do  me  right1 

I  taughte  this  answere  /  vn-to  the  knyght* 

ffor  which  /  he  plighte  me  his  trouthe  there 

The  iirste  thyng1 1  wolde  hym  requere  1052 

He  wolde  it  do  /  if  it  lay  in  his  myght 

Bifore  the  court  /  thanne  preye  I  thee  sir  knyght1 

Quod  she  /  that  thou  me  take  vn-to  thy  wyf/ 

ffor  wel  thou  woostf  that  I  haue  kept  thy  lyf*  1056 

If  I  sey  fals  /  sey  nay  vp-on  thy  fey 

IT  This  knyght  answerde  /  alias  and  weylawey 

I  woot  right  wel  /  that  swich  was  my  biheste 

ffor  godcles  loue  /  as  chees  a  newe  requeste  1060 

Taak  al  my  good  /  and  lat  my  body  go 

IT  Nay  thanne  quod  she  /  I  shrewe  vs  bothe  two 

ffor  thogh  that  I  be  foul  /  oold  and  poore 

I  nolde  for  al  the  metal  /  ne  for  oore  1064 

ELLESMEKE    197    (6-T.  364) 


365    SIX-TEXT 

198     GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  vnder  erthe  is  graue  /  or  lith  aboue 

But  if  thy  wyf  I  were  /  and  eek  thy  loue 

IT  My  loue  quod  he  ?  nay  my  dampnacion 

Alias  /  that  any  of  my  nacion  1068 

Sholde  euere  so  foule  /  disparaged  be 

But  al  for  nogfif  thende  is  this  /  that  he 

Constreyned  was  /  he  nedes  moste  hire  wedde 

And  taketh  his  olde  wyf/  and  gooth  to  bedde  1072 

IT  Now  wolden  som  men  /  seye  parauenture 

That  for  my  necligence  /  I  do  no  cure 

To  tellen  yow  /  the  ioye  /  and  al  tharray 

That  at  the  feeste  was  /  that  ilke  day  1076 

To  which  thyng<  shortly  answere  I  shal 

I  seye  /  ther  nas  no  ioye  /  ne  feeste  at  al  • 

Ther  nas  but  heuynesse  /  and  muche  sorwe          [leaf  78,  tack] 

ffor  pn'uely  /  he  wedded  hire  on  a  morwe  1080 

And  al  day  after  /  hidde  hym  as  an  Owle 

So  wo  Avas  hym  /  his  wyf  looked  so  foule 

IT  Greet  was  the  wo  /  the  knygfct  hadde  in  his  thogfif 

Whan  he  was  with  his  wyf  abedde  ybroght/  1084 

He  walweth  /  and  he  turneth  to  and  fro 

His  olde  wyf  /  lay  smylynge  eueremo 

A.nd  seyde  /  o  deere  housbonde  benedicitee 

flareth  euery  knygfrt  /  thus  -with  his  wyf  /  as  ye?        1088 

Is  this  the  la  we  /  of  kyng1  Arthures  hous  ? 

Is  euery  knygh"t  of  his  so  dangerous  ? 

I  am  youre  owene  loue  /  and  youre  wyf/ 

I  am  she  /  which  fat  saued  hath  youre  lyf/  1092 

And  ceries  /  yet  ne  dide  I  yow  neuere  vnrigfit/ 

Why  fare  ye  thus  with  me  /  this  firste  nygh"  t/  ? 

Ye  faren  lyk  a  man  /  had  lost  his  wit1 

What  is  my  gilt1?  for  goddes  loue  tel  it  1096 

And  it  shQl  been  amended  /  if  I  may 

^T  Amended  quod  this  knygfif?  alias  /  nay  /  nay  / 

It  wol  nat  been  amended  neuere  mo 

Thou  art  so  loothly  /  and  so  oold  also  1100 

ELLESMERE    198    (6-T.  36o) 


366    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.      199 

And  ther-to  comen  /  of  so  lough"  a  kynde 

That  litel  wonder  is  /  thogh  I  walwe  and  wynde 

So  wolde  god  /  myn  herte  wolde  breste 

1T  Is  this  quod  she  /  the  cause  of  youre  vnrestef          1104 

1T  Ye  certeinly  quod  he  /  no  wonder  is 

1T  Now  sire  quod  she  /  I  koude  amende  al  this 

If  that  me  liste  /  er  it  were  dayes  thre 

So  wel  ye  myghte  /  bere  yow  vn-to  me  1108 

Bvt  for  ye  speken  /  of  swich  gentillesse       f  De  genm>sitate 
As  is  descended  /  out  of  old  richesse 
That  therfore  /  sholden  ye  be  gentil  men 
Swich  arrogance  /  is  nat  worth  an  hen  1112 

Looke  /  who  that  is  /  moost  ve?-tuous  alway 
Pryuee  and  apertt  and  moost  entendeth  ay 
To  do  /  the  gentil  dedes  that  he  kan 
Taak  hym  /  for  the  grettest  l  gentil  man1       E1-1  later}  1116 
Crist  wole  /"we  clayme  of  hym  oure  gentillesse 
N~at  of  oure  eldres  /  for  hire  old  richesse 
ffor  thogh  they  yeue  vs  /  al  hir  heritage 
ffor  which  we  clayme  /  to  been  of  heigh  parage  1120 

Yet  may  they  nat  biquethe  /  for  no  thyng1 
To  noon  of  vs  /  hir  vertuous  lyuyng1 
That  made  hem  /  gentil  men  ycalled  be 
And  bad  vs  /  folwen  hem  in  swich  degree  1124 

1T  Wel  kan  /  the  wise  Poete  of  fflorence 
That  highte  Dant1  speken  in  this  sentence 
IT  Lo  /  in  swich  maner  rym  /  is  Dantes  tale  [leaf  79] 

fful  selde  vp  riseth  /  by  his  branches  smale  1128 

Prowesse  of  man  /  for  god  of  his  goodnesse 
Wole  /  that  of  hym  /  we  clayme  oure  gentillesse 
ffor  of  oure  eldres  /  may  we  no  thyng  clayme 
But  temporel  thyng1  fat  man  may  hurte  and  mayme    1132 
IT  Eek  euery  wight1  woot  this  as  wel  as  I 
If  gentillesse  /  were  planted  natureelly 
Vn-to  a  certeyn  lynage  /  doun  the  lyne 
Pryuee  nor  aperf  thanne  wolde  they  neue?-e  lyne         1136 

17  ELLESMERE    199    (6-T.  3P>6) 


367    SIX-TEXT 

200      GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

To  dooii  of  gentillesse  /the  faire  office 

They  myghte  do  /  no  vileynye  or  vice 

IT  Taak  fyr  /  and  her  if  in  the  derkeste  hous 

Bitwix  this  /  and  the  mount*  of  Kaukasous  1140 

And  lat  men  /  shette  the  dores  and  go  thenne 

Yet  wole  the  fyr  /  as  faire  lye  and  brenne 

As  twenty  thousand  men  /  niyghte  it  biholde 

His  office  natureel  /  ay  wol  it  holde  1144 

Vp  peril  of  my  lyf  /  til  that  it  dye 

^T  Heere  may  ye  se  wel  /  how  pat  genterye  f  exempium 

Is  nat  annexed  to  possession 

Sith  folk  /  ne  doon  hir  operacion  1148 

Alwey  as  dooth  the  fyr  /  lo  in  his  kynde 

ffor  god  it  woot1  men  may  wel  often  fynde 

A  lordes  sone  /  do  shame  and  vileynye 

And  he  J>ftt  wole  /  han  pris  of  his  gentry e  1152 

ffor  he  was  born  /  of  a  gentil  hous 

And  hadde  hise  eldres  /  noble  and  ve?-tuous 

And  nel  hym  seluen  /  do  no  gentil  dedis 

Ne  folwen  his  gentil  Auncestre  pat  deed  is       .  1156 

He  nys  nat  gentil  /  be  he  due1  or  Erl 

ffor  vileyns  synful  dedes  /  make  a  cherl 

ffor  gentillesse  /  nys  but  renomee 

Of  thyne  auncestres  /  for  hire  heigfi.  bountee  1160 

Which  is  a  strange  thyng1  to  thy  persone 

Thy  gentillesse  /  conieth  fro  god  allone 

Thanne  comth  /  oure  verray  gentillesse  of  grace 

It  was  no  thyng  /  biquethe  vs  with  oure  place  1164 

^T  Thenketh  hou  noble  /  as  seith  Valerius 

Was  thilke  /  Tullius  Hostillius 

That  01  ;t  of  poue?ie  /  roos  to  heigh"  noblesse 

Eeed  senek  /  and  redeth  eek  Boece  1168 

Ther  shul  ye  seen  expres  /  J>at  no  drede  is 

That  he  is  gentil  /  that  dooth  gentil  dedis 

And  therfore  leeue  housbonde  /  I  thus  conclude 

Al  were  it  /  that  myne  Auncestres  weren  rude  1172 

ELLESMEKE    200   (6-T.  36?) 


368    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.      201 

Yet  may  the  hye  god  /  and  so  hope  .1. 

Grante  me  grace  /  to  lyuen  vertuously 

Thanne  am  I  gentil  /  whan  that  I  bigynne  [leaf  79,  back] 

To  lyuen  vertuously  /  and  weyue  synne  1176 

ANd  ther  as  ye  /  of  pouerte  me  repreeue 
The  hye  god  /  on  whom  f  <zt  we  bileeue 
In  wilful  pouerte  /  chees  to  lyue  his  lyf1 
And  certes  /  euery  man  /  niayden  or  wyf/  1180 

May  vnderstonde  /  that  Ihesus  heuene  kyng1 
Ne  wolde  nat  chesen  vicious  lyuyng* 
Glad  pouerte  /  is  an  honeste  thyng  certeyn 
This  wole  Senetf  and  othere  clerkes  seyn  1184 

Who  so  fat  halt  hym  payd  of  his  pouerte 
I  holde  hym  riche  /  al  hadde  he  nat  a  sherte 
He  fat  coueiteth  /  is  a  pouere  wight1 

ffor  he  wolde  han  /  that  is  nat  in  his  myghf  1188 

But  he  fat  noght  hath  /  ne  coueiteth  haue 
Is  riche  /  al-though  ye  holde  hym  but  a  knaue 
1T  Verray  pouerte  /  it  syngeth  proprely 
luuenal  /  seith  of  pouerte  rnyrily  1192 

The  poure  man  /  whan  he  goth  by  the  weye 
Bifore  the  theues  /  he  may  synge  and  pleye 
Pouerte  is  hateful  good  /  and  as  I  gesse 
A  ful  greet  bryngere  /  out  of  bisynesse  1196 

A  greet  amendere  eek  of  sapience 
To  hym  /  that  taketh  it  in  pacience 
Pouerte  is  this  /  al-though  it  seme  alenge 
Possession  /that  no  wight*  wol  chalenge  1200 

Pouerte  ful  ofte  /  whan  a  man  is  lowe 
Maketh  his  god  /  and  eek  hym  self  to  knowe 
Pouerte  /  a  spectacle  is  /  as  thynketh  me 
Thurgh"  which  he  may  /  hise  verray  freendes  see  1204 

And  therfore  sire  /  syn  fat  I  noght  yow  greue 
Of  my  pouerte  /  namoore  ye  me  repreue 

NOw  sire  /  of  elde  /  ye  repreue  me 
And  certes  sire  /  thogh  noon  Auctoritee  1208 

ELLESMERE    201    (6-T.  368) 


De  paupei'tnte 


T  Seneca  in 

epistola 

H  Honesta  res  eat 

leta  paupertas 


If  Pauper  eft  qui 
eget/  eo  quod  non 
haftet/  seel  q» 
no»  hofiet  nee 
appetit  haiere 
ille  dines  est/  de 
quo  inteltigitur 
id/  Apocalypai* 
.30  dicis  quia 
diues  sum 


If  Cantabit  vacuns 
coram  latrone 
viator  /  et  noctc 
ad  lumen  trepi- 
dabit  Arundtnw 
vntbram 

f  •!"*  Philosoplius 
If  Paupertas  est 
odibile  bonum  / 
sanitatis  mate)4  / 
curarujn  remocio  / 
sapience  repa'-a- 
trix  /  possessio 
sine  calumpnia 


If  Vnde  &  Crates 
ille  Thebanus  || 
If  Proiecto  in 
mari  non  perno 
auri  pondere  || 
Abite  inquit 
pessime  male 
cupiditates  /  ego 
vos  mergam  /  ne 
ip«e  merger  a 
vobis 
\  De  senectute 


369    SIX-TEXT 

202      GROUP  D.    §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Were  in  no  book  /  ye  gentils  of  honour 

Seyn  /  J>at  men  sholde  /  an  oold  wight  doon  fauowr 

And  clepe  hym  fader  /  for  youre  gentillesse 

And  Auctours  /  shal  I  fynden  as  I  gesse  1212 

NOw  ther  ye  seye  /  jjat  I  am  foul  and  old1  f  De  turpitudine 
Than  drede  you  noght  /  to  been  a  Coke  wold? 
ffor  filthe  and  eelde  /  al  so  moot  I  thee 
Been  grete  wardeyns  /  vp-on  chastitee  1216 

But  nathelees  /  syn  I  knowe  youre  delif 
I  shal  fulfille  /  youre  worldly  appetitt 
IT  Chese  now  quod  she  /  oon  of  thise  thyiiges  tweye 
To  han  me  foul  and  old?  /  til  that  I  deye  1220 

And  be  to  yow  /  a  trewe  humble  wyf* 
And  neuere  yow  displese  /  in  al  my  lyf* 
Or  elles  /  ye  wol  han  me  yong  and  fair  [leaf  so] 

And  take  youre  auenture  /  of  the  repair  1224 

That  shal  be  to  youre  hous  /  by  cause  of  me 
Or  in  som  oother  place  /  may  wel  be 
^ow  chese  your  seluen  /  Avheither  fat  yow  liketh 
IT  This  knyght  auyseth  hym  and  sore  siketh  1228 

But  atte  laste  /  he  seyde  in  this  manere 
My  lady  and  my  loue  /  and  wyf  so  deere 
I  put  me  /  in  youre  wise  goiiernance 

Cheseth  youre  self/  which  may  be  moost  plesance       1232 
And  moost  honour  /  to  yow  and  me  also 

I  do  no  fors  /  the  wheither/  of  the  two 
ffor  as  yow  liketh  /  it  suffiseth  me 

IT  Thanne  haue  I  gete  of  yow  /  maistrie  quod  she         1236 
Syn  I  may  chese  /  and  gouerne  as  me  lest* 
^T  Ye  certes  wyf  quod  he  /  I  holde  it  best* 

II  Kys  me  quod  she  /  we  be  no  lenger  wrothe 

ffor  by  my  trouthe  /  I  wol  be  to  yow  bothe  1240 

This  is  to  seyu  /  ye  bothe  fair  and  good 

I  prey  to  god  /  J>«t  I  moote  steruen  wood 

But  I  to  yow  /  be  al  so  good  and  trewe 

As  euere  was  wyf/  syn  fat  the  world  was  newe  1244 

ELLESMERE    202    (6-T.  369) 


370    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  2.   WIFE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.      203 

And  but  I  be  tomorn  /  as  fair  to  seene 

As  any  lady  /  Emperice  or  queene 

That  is  bitwixe  the  Estf  and  eke  the  West 

Dooth  with  my  lyf  /  and  deth  /  right1  as  yow  lest4       1248 

Cast  vp  the  curtyn  /  looke  how  that  it  is 

1T  And  whan  the  knyghf  saugh  ve?-raily  al  this 

That  she  so  fair  was  /  and  so  yong  ther-to 

ffor  ioye  /  he  hente  hire  /  in  hise  armes  two  1252 

His  herte  bathed  /  in  a  bath  of  blisse 

A  thousand  tyme  arewe  /  he  gan  hire  kisse 

And  she  obeyed  hym  in  euery  thyng1 

That  myghte  doon  hym  plesance  or  likyng1  1256 

IT  And  thus  they  lyue  /  vn-to  hir  lyues  ende 

In  parfit  ioye  /  and  Ihesu  crist  vs  sende 

Housbondes  meeke  /  yonge  /  fressh"  a  bedde 

And  grace  /  touerbyde  hem  fat  we  wedde  1260 

And  eek  /  I  pray  Ihesu  shorte  hir  lyues 

That  nat  wol  be  gouerned  by  hir  wyues 

And  olde  and  angry  ny gardes  of  dispence 

God  sende  hem  soone  /  verray  pestilence  1264 


Heere  endeth  /  the  Wyues  tale  of1  Bathe 


ELLESMERE   203   (6-T.  370) 


371    SIX-TEXT 

204   GROUP  D.   §  3.   WIFE-FRIAK  LINK.   Ellesmere  MS. 

1f  The  prologe  of  the  freres  tale  ^  [leaf  so,  back] 

THis  worthy  lymytour  /  this  noble  frere 
He  made  alwey  /  a  maner  loufyng  chiere 
Vpon  the  Somonowr  /  but  for  honestee 
No  vileyns  word  /  as  yet  to  hym  spak  he  1268 

But  atte  laste  /  he  seyde  vn-to  the  wyf 
Dame  quod  he  /  god  yeue  yow  right  good  lyf 
Ye  han  heer  touched  /  al  so  moot  I  thee 
In  scole  matere  /  greet  difficultee  1272 

Ye  han  seyd  muche  thyng1  right  wel  I  seye 
But  dame  /  heere  as  we  ryde  by  the  weye 
Ys  nedeth  nat1.  to  speken  but  of  game 
And  lete  /  auctoritees  /  on  goddes  name  1276 

To  prechyng1  and  to  scole  of  clergye 
And  if  it  lyke  /  to  this  compaignye 
1  wol  yow  /  of  a  somonowr  telle  a  game 
Pardee  /  ye  may  wel  knoAve  by  the  name  1280 

That  of  a  Somonowr  /  may  no  good  be  sayd* 

I  praye  /  J?at  noon  of  you  /  be  yuele  apayd? 
A  Somonowr  /  is  a  rennere  vp  and  doun 

With  mandementz  /  for  fornicacioun  1284 

And  is  y-bef  at  euery  townes  ende 

IT  Oure  hoost  tho  spak  /  a  sire  ye  sholde  be  hende 

And  curteys  /  as  a  man  of  youre  estaaf 

In  compaignye  /  we  wol  haue  no  debaaf  •     1288 

Telleth  youre  tale  /  and  lat  the  Somonowr  be 

II  Nay  quod  the  Somonowr  /  lat  hym  seye  to  me 
What  so  hym  list1  whan  it  comth  to  my  lot1 

By  god  /  I  shal  hym  quiten  euery  grof  1292 

I  shal  hym  tellen  /  which  a  greet  honour 

It  is  /  to  be  a  flaterynge  lymytour 

And  of  many  another  manere  cry  me 

Which  nedeth  nat1  rehercen  for  this  tyme  1296 

And  his  office  /  I  shal  hym  telle  ywis 

^F  Oure  hoost  answerde  /  pees  namoore  of  this 

And  after  this  /  he  seyde  vn-to  the  frere 

Tel  forth  youre  tale  /  leeue  maister  deere  1300 

ELLESMERE    204   (6-T.  37l) 


372   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.     205 


Heere  bigynneth  the  ffreres  tale 


Hilom  ther  was  dwellynge  /  in  my  contree 

An  Erchedekene  /  a  man  of  heigh  degree 

That  boldely  /  dide  execuciouw 

In  punysshynge  /  of  fornicacioun  1304 

Of  wicchecraft1  and  eek  of  bawderye  pearsi] 

Of  diffamacioura  /  and  Auowtrye 
Of  chirche  Reues  /  and  of  testamentz 
Of  contmctes  /  and  eek1  of  lakke  of  sacramentz  1 308 

Of  vsure  /  and  of  Symonye  also 
But  certes  /  lecchours  dide  he  grettest  wo 
They  sholde  syngen  /  if  \>at  they  were  henfr 
And  smale  tytheres  /  weren  foule  yshent1  1312 

If  any  persone  /  wolde  vp-on  hem  pleyne 
Ther  myghte  asterte  hym  /  no  pecunyal  peyne 
ffor  smale  tithes  /  and  smal  offrynge 

He  made  the  peple  /  pitously  to  synge  1316 

ffor  er  the  bisshope  /  caughte  hym  with  his  hook1 
They  were  in  the  Erchedeknes  book/ 
And  thanne  /  hadde  he  /  thurgh  his  lurisdiccion 
Power  /  to  doon  on  hem  correccion  1320 

He  hadde  a  Somonow  /  redy  to  his  hond? 
A  slyer  boye  /  was  noon  in  Engelond? 
ffor  subtilly  /  he  hadde  his  espiaille 

That  taughte  hym  /  wher  hym  myghte  auaille  1324 

He  koude  spare  of  lecchours  /  oon  or  two 
To  techen  hym  /  to  foure  and  twenty  mo 
ffor  thogh  this  somonowr  /  wood  was'as  an  hare 
To  telle  his  harlotry e  /  I  wol  nat  spare  1328 

ELLESMERE    205    (6-T.  372) 


373    SIX-TEXT 

206     GROUP  D.   §  4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  we  been  /  out  of  his  correccion 

They  han  of  vs  no  lurisdiccioil 

!Ne  neuere  shullen  /  terme  of  hir  lyues 

IT  Peter  /  so  been  /  woramen  of  the  styves  1332 

Quod  the  Somonowr  /  yput  out  of  my  cure 

11  Pees  with  myschance  /  and  \fith  mysauenture 

Thus  seyde  cure  hoost1  and  lat  hym  telle  his  tale 

Now  telleth  forth  /  thogh  Jjat  the  somonowr  gale         1336 

Ne  spareth  nat  /  myn  owene  maister  deere 

1T  This  false  theef1  this  Somonowr  quod  the  frere 

Hadde  alwey  /  bawdes  redy  to  his  hondf 

As  any  hauk1  to  lure  in  Engelond?  1340 

That  tolde  hym  /  al  the  secree  J?at  they  knewe 

ffor  hire  acqueyntance  /  was  nat  come  of  newe 

They  weren  /  hise  approwours  pn'uely 

He  took  hym  self  /  a  greet  profit  therby  1344 

His  maister  knew  nat  /  alwey  /  what  he  wan 

With-outen  mandement  /  a  lewed  man 

He  koude  somne  /  on  peyne  of  Cristes  curs 

And  they  were  glade  /  for  to  fille  his  purs  1348 

And  make  hym  /  grete  feestes  atte  nale 

And  right  as  ludas  /  hadde  purses  smale 

And  was  a  theef1  right1  swich  a  theef  was  he 

His  maister/  hadde  /  but  half  his  duetee  1352 

He  was  /  if  I  shal  yeuen  hym  his  laude  peaf  si,  back] 

A  theef  /  and  eek  /  a  Somnour  /  and  a  baude 

He  hadde  eek  wenches  /  at  his  retenue 

That  wheither  /  J>at  sir  Robert  or  sir  Huwe  1356 

Or  lakke  /  or  Rauf  /  or  who  so  J>at  it  were 

That  lay  by  hem  /  they  tolde  it  in  his  ere 

1T  Thus  was  the  wenche  and  he  /  of  oon  assent1 

And  he  wolde  focche  /  a  feyiied  mandement1  1360 

And  somne  hem  to  the  Chapitre  bothe  two 

And  pile  the  man  /  and  lete  the  wenche  go 

11  Thanne  wclde  he  seye  /  freend  I  shal  for  thy  sake 

Do  striken  hire  /  out  of  oure  lettres  blake  1364 

ELLESMEKE   206   (6-T.  373) 


374   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.     207 

Thee  tliar  namoore  /  as  in  this  cas  trauaille 

I  am  thy  freend  /  ther  I  thee  may  auaille 

Certeyn  /  he  knew  of  bribryes  mo 

Than  possible  is  /  to  telle  in  yeres  two  1368 

ffor  in  this  world  /  nys  dogge  for  the  bowe 

That  kan  an  hurt  deer  /  from  an  hool  knowe 

Bet  /  than  this  Somnour  /  knew  a  sly  lecchour 

Or  an  Auowtier  /  or  a  paramour  1372 

And  for  that  was  /  the  fruyf  of  al  his  rente 

Therfore  on  if  he  sette  al  his  entente 

IT  And  so  bifel  /  that  ones  on  a  day 

This  SomnoMr  /  euere  waityng1  on  his  pray  1376 

ffor  to  somne  an  old  wydwe  a  Eibibe 

ffeynynge  a  cause  /  for  he  wolde  brybe 

Happed  /  that  he  saugh  bifore  hym  ryde 

A  gay  yeman  /  vnder  a  fforest  syde  1380 

A  bowe  he  bar  /  and  Arwes  brighte  and  kene 

He  hadde  vp-on  /  a  courtepy  of  grene 

An  hat  vp-on  his  heed  /  with  frenges  blake 

IT  Sire  quod  this  Somnowr  /  hayl  and  wel  atake  1384 

Wei  come  quod  he  /  and  euery  good  felawe 

"VVher  rydestow  /  vnder  this  grene  wode  shawe  ? 

Seyde  this  yeman  /  wiltow  fer  to  day  ? 

IT  This  Somnowr  hym  answerde  /  and  seyde  nay          1388 

Heere  faste  by  quod  he  /  is  myn  entente 

To  ryden  /  for  to  reysen  vp  a  rente 

That  longeth  /  to  my  lordes  duetee 

IT  Artow  thanne  a  bailly?  Ye  quod  he  /  1392 

He  dorste  natf  for  verray  filthe  and  shame 

Seye  J?at  he  was  a  somonowr  /  for  the  name 

IT  Depa>'dieux  quod  this  yeman  /  deere  broother 

Thou  art  a  bailly  /  and  I  am  another  1396 

I  am  vnknowen  /  as  in  this  contree 

Of  thyn  aqueyntance  /  I  wolde  praye  thee 

And  eek  of  bretherhede  /  if  fat  yow  leste 

I  haue  gold  /  and  siluer  in  my  cheste  1400 

ELLESMERE    207    («-T.  374) 


375    SIX-TEXT 

208     GROUP  D.   §  4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

If  that  thee  happe  /  to  comen  in  oure  shire 

Al  shal  be  thyn  /  right  as  thou  wolt  desire 

11  Grantmercy  quod  this  Somonowr  /  by  my  feith 

Euerych  in  ootheres  hand  /  his  trouthe  leith  1404 

ffor  to  be  sworn  bretheren  /  til  they  deye 

In  daliance  /  they  ryden  forth  hir  weye 

IF  This  Somouowr  /  that  was  as  ful  of  langles 

As  ful  of  venym  been  thise  waryangles  1 408 

And  euere  enqueryng1  vp-on  euery  thyng1 

Brother  quod  he  /  where  is  now  youre  dwellyng1 

Another  day  /  if  fat  I  sholde  yow  seche 

This  yeman  hym  answerde  /  in  softe  speche  1412 

IT  Brother  quod  he  /  fer  in  the  North  contree 

Where  as  I  hope  /  som  tyme  I  shal  thee  see 

Er  we  departe  /  I  shal  thee  so  wel  wisse 

That  of  myn  hous  /  ne  shaltow  neuere  mysse  1416 

IT  Now  brother  quod  this  Somonow/'  /  I  yow  preye 

Teche  me  /  whil  fat  we  ryden  by  the  weye 

Syn  fat  ye  been  /  a  baillif  as  am  I 

Som  subtiltee  /  and  tel  me  feithfully  1420 

In  myn  office  /  how  I  may  moost  wynne 

And  spareth  natt  for  conscience  ne  synne 

But  as  my  brother  /  tel  me  /  how  do  ye 

IT  Now  by  my  trouthe  /  brother  deere  seyde  he  1424 

As  I  shal  tellen  thee  /  a  feithful  tale 

My  wages  /  been  ful  streite  and  ful  smale 

My  lord  is  hard  to  me  /  and  daungerous 

And  myn  office  /  is  ful  laborous  1428 

And  therfore  /  by  extorcions  I  lyue 

ffor  sothe  /  I  take  all  that*  men  wol  me  yeue 

Algate  /  by  sleyghte  /  or  by  violence 

ffro  yeer  to  yeer  /  I  wynne  al  my  dispence  1 432 

I  kan  no  bettre  teUe  /  feithfully 

1T  Now  certes  quod  this  Somonowr  /  so  fare  I 

I  spare  nat  to  taken  /  god  it  woof 

But  if  it  be  /  to  heuy  or  to  hoot1  1436 

ELLESMERE   208    (6-T.  37o) 


376    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.     209 

What  I  may  gete  /  in  conseil  pn'uely 

No  maner  conscience  /  of  that  haue  I 

Nere  myn  extorciouw  /  I  myghte  nat  lyuei 

Nor  of  swiche  lapes  /  wol  I  nat  be  shryuen  1440 

Stomak  /  ne  conscience  /  ne  knowe  I  noon 

I  shrewe  thise  shrifte-fadres  euerychoon 

Wei  be  we  met1  by  god  /  and  by  seint  lame 

But  leeue  brother  /  tel  me  thanne  thy  name  1444 

Quod  this  somono?/r  /  in  this  meene  while 

This  yeman  /  gan  a  litel  for  to  smyle 

1F  Brother  quod  he  /  wiltow  /  fat  I  thee  telle 

I  am  a  feend  /  my  dwellyng1  is  in  helle  1448 
And  heere  I  ryde  /  aboute  my  pwrchasyng1           [leaf  82,  back] 
To  wite  /  wher  men  wolde  me  yeuen  any  thyng1 

My  purchas  /  is  theffecf  of  al  my  rente 

Looke  /  how  thou  rydest1  for  the  same  entente  1452 

To  wynne  good  /  thou  rekkest  neuere  how 

Right  so  fare  I  /  for  ryde  I  wolde  right  now 

Vn-to  the  worldes  ende  /  for  a  preye 

II  A  quod  this  Somonowr  /  benedicite  what  sey  ye?     1456 
I  wende  /  ye  were  a  yeman  trewely 

Ye  han  a  mannes  shape  /  as  wel  as  I 

Han  ye  figure  thanne  determinat1 

In  helle  /  ther  ye  been  in  youre  estafr?  1460 

IF  Nay  certeinly  quod  he  /  ther  haue  we  noon 

But  whan  vs  liketh  /  we  kan  take  vs  oon 

Or  elles  make  yow  seme  /  we  been  shape 

Som  tyme  /  lyk  a  man  or  lyk  an  Ape  1464 

Or  lyk  an  Angel  /  kan  I  ryde  or  go 

It  is  no  wonder  thyng1  thogh  it  be  so 

A  lowsy  logelour  /  kan  deceyue  thee 

And  pardee  /  yet  kan  I  moore  craft  than  he  1468 

IF  Why  quod  the  Somonour  /  ryde  ye  thanne  or  goon 

In  sondry  shape  /  and  nat  alwey  in  oon? 

IF  ffor  we  quod  he  /  wol  vs  swiche  formes  make 

As  moost  able  is  /  oure  preyes  for  to  take  1472 

ELLESMERE    209    (6-T.  376) 


377    SIX-TEXT 

210     GROUP  D.   §  4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

1T  What  maketh  yow  /  to  han  al  this  labour 

IT  fful  many  a  cause  /  leeue  sire  Somonour 

Seyde  this  feend  /  but  alle  thyng  hath  tyme 

The  day  is  short1  and  it  is  passed  pryme  1476 

And  yet1  ne  wan  I  no-thyng*  in  this  day 

I  wol  entende  /  to  wynnen  if  I  may 

And  nat  entende  /  hir  wittes  to  declare 

ffor  brother  myn  /  thy  wit  is  al  to  bare  1 480 

To  vnderstonde  /  al-thogh  I  tolde  hem  thee 

But  for  thou  axest1  why  labouren  we 

ffor  som  tyme  /  we  been  goddes  Instrumentz 

And  meenes  /  to  doon  hise  comandementz  1 484 

Whan  that  hym  list1  vp-on  his  creatures 

In  diuers  artt  and  in  diuerse  figures 

With-outen  hym  /  we  haue  no  mygn't  certayn 

If  that  hym  list*  to  stonden  ther  agayn  1 488 

And  som  tyme  /  at  oure  prayere  /  han  we  leue 

Oonly  the  body  /  and  nat  the  soule  greue 

Witnesse  on  lob  /  whom  that  we  diden  wo 

And  som  tyme  /  han  we  myght1  of  bothe  two  1492 

This  is  to  seyn  /  of  soule  and  body  eke 

And  somtyme  /  be  we  suffred  for  to  seke 

Vp-on  a  man  /  and  doon  his  soule  vnreste 

And  nat  his  soule  /  and  al  is  for  the  beste  1496 

Whan  he  withstandeth  oure  temptaciouw  [leafss] 

It  is  /  cause  /  of  his  sauaciouw 

A 1  be  it1  that  it  was  nat  oure  entente 

He  sholde  be  sauf1  but  pat  we  wolde  hym  hente          1500 

And  som  tyme  /  be  we  seruant  vn-to  man 

As  to  the  Bisstope  /  Seint  Dunstan 

And  to  the  Apostles  /  semant  eek  was  .1. 

IT  Yet  tel  me  /  quod  the  Somonowr  feithfully  1504 

Make  ye  yow  newe  bodies  /  thus  alway 

Of  Elementz  ?  the  feend  answerde  nay  / 

Som  tyme  we  feyne  /  and  som  tyme  we  aryse 

With  dede  bodyes  /  in  ful  sondry  wyse  1508 

ELLESMERE    210    (6-T.  37") 


378    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §4.  FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.     211 

And  speke  as  reliably  /  and  faire  and  wel 

As  to  the  Phitonissa  /  dide  Samuel 

And  yet  wol  som  men  seye  /  it  was  nat  he 

I  do  no  fors  /  of  youre  dyuynytee  1512 

But  o  thyng  warne  I  thee  /  I  wol  nat  lape 

Thou  wolt  algates  /  wite  how  we  been  shape 

Thou  shalt  herafterwardes  /  my  brother  deere 

Come  there  /  thee  nedeth  nat1  of  me  to  leere  1516 

ifor  thou  shalt1  by  thyn  owene  experience 

Konne  in  a  chayer  /  rede  of  this  sentence 

Bet  than  Virgile  /  while  he  was  on  lyue 

Or  Dant  also  /  now  lat  vs  ryde  blyue  1520 

ffor  I  wole  /  holde  compaignye  with  thee 

Til  it  be  so  /  that  thou  forsake  me 

IF  Nay  quod  this  Somonour/  that  shal  nat  bityde 

I  am  a  yeman  /  knoweii  is  ful  wyde  1524 

My  trouthe  wol  I  holde  /  as  in  this  cas 

ffor  though  thou  were  /  the  deuel  Sathanas 

My  trouthe  wol  I  holde  /  to  my  brother 

As  I  am  sworn  /  and  ech  of  vs  til  oother  1528 

ifor  to  be  trewe  brother  /  in  this  cas 

And  bothe  we  goon  /  abouten  oure  pwrchas 

Taak  thou  thy  partf  what  fat  men  wol  thee  yeue 

And  I  shal  myn  /  thus  may  we  bothe  lyue  1532 

And  if  J>at  any  of  vs  /  haue  moore  than  oother 

Lat  hym  be  trewe  /  and  parte  it  with  his  brother 

IT  I  graunte  quod  the  deuel  /  by  my  fey 

And  with  that  word  /  they  ryden  forth  liir  wey  1536 

And  right  at  the  entry ng1  of  the  townes  ende 

To  which  this  Somonour  /  shoope  hym  for  to  wende 

They  saugfi  a  Cart1  that  charged  was  with  hey 

Which  J?«t  a  Cartere  /  droof  forth  in  his  wey  1540 

Deepe  was  the  wey  /  for  which  the  Carte  stood 

The  Cartere  smoot1  and  cryde  /  as  he  were  wood 

Hayt  Brok  /  hayt  Scot1  what  spare  ye.  for  the  stones 

The  feend  quod  he  /  yow  fecche  body  and  bones         1544 

ELLESMERE    211    (6-T.  378) 


379    SIX-TEXT 

212     GROUP  D.    §  4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


As  ferforthly  /  as  euere  were  ye  foled 

So  muche  wo  /  as  I  haue  with  yow  tholed 

The  deuel  haue  al  /  bothe  hors  and  Cart1  and  hey 

IT  This  SomonoMr  seyde  /  heere  shal  we  haue  a  pley   1548 

Arid  neer  the  feend  he  drougfi  /  as  nogftt  ne  were 

fful  pn'uely  /  and  rowned  in  his  ere 

Herkne  my  brother  /  herkne  by  thy  feith 

Herestow  nat1  how  fat  the  Cartere  seith  1552 

Hent  it  anon  /  for  he  hath  yeue  it  thee 

Bothe  hey  and  Carf  and  eek  hise  caples  thre 

IT  Nay  quod  the  deuel  /  god  woot  neuer  a  deel 

It  is  nat  his  entente  /  trust  thou  me  weel  1556 

Axe  hym  thy  self1  if  thou  nat  trowest  me 

Or  elles  stynt  a  while  /  and  thou  shalt  see 

1T  This  Cartere  /  taketh  his  hors  on  the  croupe 

And  they  bigonne  drawen  and  to  stoupe  1560 

Heyt  now  quod  he  /  ther  Ihesu  crist  yow  blesse 

And  al  his  handwerk1  bo  the  moore  and  lesse 

That  was  wel  twighf  myn  owene  lyard  boy 

I  pray  to  god  saue  thee  /  and  seint  loy  1564 

Now  is  my  Cart1  out  of  the  slow  pardee 

IT  Lo  brother  quod  the  feend  /  what  tolde  I  thee 

Heere  may  ye  se  /  myn  owene  deere  brother 

The  carl  spak  oon  /  but  he  thoghte  another  1568 

Lat  vs  go  forth  /  abouten  oure  viage 

Heere  /  wynne  I  no  thyng1  vp-on  cariage 

^[  Whan  that  they  coomen  /  som-what  out  of  towne 

This  SomonoMr  /  to  his  brother  gan  to  rowne  1572 

Brother  quod  he  /  heere  woneth  an  old  rebekke 

That  hadde  almoost1  as  lief1  to  lese  hire  nekke 

As  for  to  yeue  /  a  peny  of  hir  good 

I  wole  han  .xij.  pens  /  though  pat  she  be  wood  1576 

Or  I  wol  sompne  hire  /  vii-to  oure  office 

And  yet  god  woot1  of  hire  knowe  I  no  vice 

But  for  thou  kanst  nat1  as  in  this  contree 

Wynne  thy  cost1  taak1  heer  ensample  of  me  1580 

ELLESMERE    212    (6-T.  379) 


380    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.     213 

IT  This  Somonowr  /  clappeth  at  the  wydwes  gate 
Com  out  quod  he  /  thou  olde  virytrate 

I  trowe  thou  hast1  som  frere  /  or  preest  wit#  thee 

H  Who  clappeth  seyde  this  wyf*  benedicitee  1584 

God  saue  you  sire  /  what  is  youre  sweete  wille  ? 

^j"  I  haue  quod  he  /  of  somonce  a  bille 

Yp-on  peyne  of  cursyng1  looke  ]pat  thou  be 

Tomorn  /  bifore  the  Erchedeknes  knee  1588 

Tanswere  to  the  court1  of  certeyn  thynges 

II  Now  lord  quod  she  /  crist  Ihesu  kyng  of  kynges 
So  wisly  helpe  me  /  as  I  ne  may 

I  haue  been  syk  /  and  that  ful  many  a  day  1592 

I  may  nat  go  so  fer  quod  she  ne  ryde  [leaf  84] 

But  I  be  deed  /  so  priketh  it  in  my  syde 

May  I  nat  axe  a  libel  /  sire  Somonour 

And  answere  there  /  by  my  p/'ocutour  1596 

To  swich  thyng1  as  men  wole  opposen  me  ? 

IT  Yis  quod  this  Somonowr  /  pay  anon  lat  se 

Twelf  pens  to  me  /  and  I  wol  thee  acquite 

I  shal  no  profit1  han  ther-by  /  but  lite  1600 

My  maister  hath  the  profit1  and  nat  I 

Com  of  /  and  lat  me  ryden  hastily 

Yif  me  .xij.  pens  /  I  may  no  lenger  tarye 

IT  Twelf  pens  quod  she  /§  now  lady  Seinte  Marie        1604 

So  wisly  help  me  god  /  out  of  care  and  synne 

This  wyde  world  /  thogh"  ]?at  I  sholde  wynne 

Ne  haue  I  nat  .xij.  pens  wM-Inne  myn  hoold? 

Ye  knowen  wel  /  that  I  am  poure  and  oold?  1608 

Kithe  youre  Almesse  /  on  me  poure  wrecche 

H  Nay  thanne  quod  lie  /  the  foule  feend  me  fecche 

If  I  thexcuse  /  though  thou  shul  be  spilt1 

1T  Alias  quod  she  /  god  woof 1  haue  no  gilt1  1612 

IT  Pay  me  quod  he  /  or  by  the  sweete  seinte  Anne 

As  I  /  wol  bere  awey  thy  newe  panne 

ifor  dette  /  which  that  thou  owest  me  of  old! 

Whan  Jwt  thou  madestt  thyn  housbonde  cokewolc?       1616 

ELLESMERE    213    (6-T.  380) 


381    SIX-TEXT 

214     GROUP  D.   §4.   FRIAR'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

I  payde  at  hoom  /  for  thy  correccioiw 

IT  Thou  lixt  quod  she  /  by  my  sauaciown 

Ke  was  I  neuere  er  now  /  wydwe  ne  wyf1 

Somoned  vn-to  youre  court1  in  al  my  lyf  1620 

Ne  neuere  I  nas  /  but  of  my  body  trewe 

Vn-to  the  deuel  /  blak1  and  rough"  of  hewe 

Yeue  I  thy  body  /  and  my  panne  also 

IT  And  whan  the  deuel  /  herde  hire  cm-sen  so  1624 

Vp-on  hir  knees  /  he  seyde  in  this  manere 

Now  Mabely  /  myn  owene  moder  deere 

Is  this  youre  wyl  /  in  ernest  fat  ye  seye  ? 

1T  The  deuel  quod  she  /  so  fecche  hym  er  he  deye        1628 

And  panne  and  al  /  but  he  wol  hym  repente 

IT  Nay  olde  Stot1  that  is  nat  myn  entente 

Quod  this  Somono?^  /  for  to  repente  me 

ffor  any  thyng<  that  I  haue  had  of  thee  1632 

I  wolde  I  hadde  thy  smok  and  euery  clooth" 

II  Now  brother  quod  the  deuel  /  be  nat  wrooth" 
Thy  body  and  this  panne  /  been  myne  by  right1 

Thou  shalt  with  me  to  helle  /  yet  to-nyghtf  1636 

AVhere  /  thou  shalt  knowen  /  of  oure  pmietee 

Moore  /  than  a  maister  of  dyuynytee 

And  vfith  that  word  /  this  foule  feend  hym  hente 

Body  and  soule  /  he  with  the  deuel  wente  1640 

Where  as  that  Somonowrs  /  han  hir  heritage         [leaf s-t,  back] 

And  god  /  fat  made  /  after  his  ymage 

Mankynde  /  saue  and  gyde  vs  alle  and  some 

And  leue  thise  Somonot«-s  /  goode  men  bicome  1644 

LOrdynges  /  I  koude  han  toold  yow  qiiod  this  frere 
Hadde  I  had  leyser  /  for  this  Somnour  heere 
After  the  text1  of  Crist/  Poul  /  and  John 
And  of  oure  othere  doctours  many  oon  1648 

Swiche  peynes  /  that  youre  herte  myghte  agryse 
Al  be  it  so  /  no  tonge  may  it  deuyse 
Thogh"  fat  I  myghte  /  a  thousand  wynter  telle 
The  peynes  /  of  thilke  cursed  hous  of  helle  1652 

ELLESMKRE    214    (6-T.  38l) 


382    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  4.  FRIAR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.     215 

But  for  to  kepe  vs  /  fro  that  cursed  place 

"Waketh  /  and  preyeth  Ihcsu  for  his  grace 

So  kepe  vs  /  fro  the  temptour  Sathanas 

Herketh  this  word  /  beth  war/  as  in  this  cas  1656 

The  leou??-  sit1  in  his  awayt  alway 

To  sle  the  Innocent/  if  that  he  may 

Disposeth  ay  /  youre  hertes  to  withstonde 

The  feend?  /  pat  yow  wolde  make  /  thral  and  bonde     1660 

He  may  nat  tempte  yow  /  ouer  youre  mygfif 

ffor  crist  wol  be  /  youre  champion  and  knyght1 

And  prayeth  /  J>at  thise  Somonours  hem  repente 

Of  hir  mysdedes  /  er  fat  the  feend  hem  hente  s  1664 


•jf  Heere  endeth  the  ffreres  tale 


18  ELLESMERE    215    (6-T.  382) 


383   SIX-TEXT 

216  GROUP  D.  §  5.  FRIAR-SUMMONER  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 


51  The  prologe  /  of  the  Somonoitrs  tale  ^  t°"  Ieaf8i>  backi 

THis  Somonowr  /  in  his  Styropes  hye  stood? 
Vp-on  this  frere  /  his  herte  was  so  wood? 
That  lyk  an  Aspen  leef  /  he  quook  for  Ire 
IT  Lordynges  quod  he  /  but  o  thyng  I  desire  1G6S 

I  yow  biseke  /  that  of  youre  curteisye 
Syn  ye  han  herd  /  this  false  frere  lye 
As  suffereth  me  /  I  may  my  tale  telle 
This  frere  bosteth  /  that  he  knoweth  helle  1672 

And  god  it  woot1  that  it  is  litel  wonder 
ffreres  and  feendes  /  been  but  lyte  a-sonder 
ffor  pardee  /  ye  han  offce  tyme  herd  telle 
How  that  a  frere  /  vanysshed  was  to  helle  1676 

In  spirit  ones  /  by  a  visioun 
And  as  an  Angel  /  ladde  hym  vp  and  doun 
To  shewen  hym  /  the  peynes  fat  ther  were 
In  al  the  place  /  saugh  he  nat  a  frere  1680 

Of  oother/  folk1  /  he  saugh  ynowe  in  wo  Deaf  ss] 

Vn-to  this  Angel  /  spak  the  frere  tho 
IT  Now  sire  quod  he  /  han  freres  swich  a  grace 
That  noon  of  hem  /  shal  come  to  this  place?  1684 

H  Yis  quod  this  Angel  /  many  a  Millioun 
And  vn-to  Sathanas  /  he  ladde  hym  doun 
And  now  hath  Sathanas  /  seith  he  a  tayl 
Brodder/  than  of  a  Carry k/  is  the  sayl  1688 

Hold  vp  thy  tayl  /  thou  Sathanas  quod  he 
Shewe  forth  thyn  ers  /  and  lat  the  frere  se 
Where  is  the  nest  of  freres  /  in  this  place 
And  er/  jjat  half  a  furlong  wey  of  space  1692 

ELLESMERE    216    (6-T.  383) 


384    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.  §  5.  FRIAR-SUMMONER  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS.  217 

Right  so  as  bees  /  out  swarmen  from  an  hyue 

Out  of  the  deueles  ers  /  ther  gonne  dryue 

Twenty  thousand  freres  /  in  a  route 

And  thurgh-out  helle  /  swarmeden  aboute  1696 

And  comen  agayn  /  as  faste  as  they  may  gon 

And  in  his  ers  /  they  crepten  euerychon 

He  clapte  his  tayl  agayn  /  and  lay  ful  stille 

This  frere  /  whan  he  hadde  looke  al  his  fille  1 700 

Vpon  the  tormentz  /  of  this  sory  place 

His  spirit1  god  restored  of  his  grace 

Vn-to  his  body  agayn  /  and  he  awook* 

But  natheles  /  for  fere  yet  he  quook1  1704 

So  was  the  deueles  ers  /  ay  in  his  mynde 

That  is  his  heritage  /  of  verray  kynde 

God  saue  yow  alle  /  saue  this  cursed  frere 

My  prologe  /  wol  I  ende  /  in  this  manere  1708 


ELLESMEKE    217   (6-T.  384) 


385    SIX-TEXT 

218    GROUP  D.   §  6.  SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


^1  Heere  bigynneth  the  Somoncmr  his  tale  fo 

[on  fea/85] 

LOrdynges  /  ther  is  in  yorkshire  /  as  I  gesse 
A  merssh  contree  /  called  Holdernesse ^mon^-f""1 
In  which  /  ther  wente  a  lymytour  aboute 
To  preche  /  and  eek  to  begge  /  it  is  no  doute  1712 
And  so  bifel  /  that  on  a  day  /  this  frere 
Hadde  preched  at  a  chirche  in  his  manere 
And  specially  /  abouen  euery  thyng/ 
Excited  he  the  peple  /  in  his  prechyng1  1716 

To  trentals  /  and  to  yeue  for  goddes  sake 
Wher-with  /  men  myghte  hooly  houses  make 
Ther  as  diuine  seruyce  is  honoured 

Nat  ther  as  it  is  wasted  and  deuoured  1720 

Ne  ther  it  nedeth  nat/  for  to  be  yeue 
As  to  possessioners  /  that  mowen  lyue 
Thanked  be  god  /  in  wele  and  habundaunce         [leaf  ss.  back] 
Trentals  seyde  he  /  deliueren  fro  penaunce  1724 

Hir  freendes  soules  /  as  wel  olde  as  yonge 
Ye  /  whan  fat  they  been  hastily  ysonge 
Nat  for  to  holde  a  preest  loly  and  gay 
He  syngeth  nat1  but  o  masse  in  a  day  1728 

Deliuereth  out  quod  he  /  anon  the  soules 
fful  hard  it  is  /  •wiih  flesshhook1  or  w^tA  oules 
To  been  yclawed  /  or  to  brenne  or  bake 
Now  spede  yow  hastily  /  for  cristes  sake  1732 

And  whan  this  frere  /  had  seyd  al  his  entente 
With  /  qui  cnm  patre  /  forth  his  wey  he  wente 
IT  Whan  folk  in  chirche  /  had  yeue  him  /  what  hem  lest 
He  went  his  wey  /  no  lenger  wolde  he  reste  1736 

ELLESMERE    218    (6-T.  385) 


386  SIX-TEXI 

GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    219 

With  scrippe  and  tipped  staf/  ytukked  hye 

In  euery  hous  /  he  gan  to  poure  and  prye 

And  beggeth  mele  /  and  chese  /  or  elles  corn 

His  felawe  hadde  a  staf  /  tipped  with  horn  1740 

A  peyre  of  tables  /  al  of  yuory 

And  a  poyntel  /  polysshed  fetisly 

And  wroote  the  names  /  alwey  as  he  stood 

Of  alle  folk/  that  yaf  hyni  any  good  1744 

Asaunces  /  that  he  wolde  for  hem  prey 

Yif  hym  a  busshel  whete  /  Malt1  or  Eeye 

A  goddes  kechyl  /  or  a  trype  of  chese 

Or  elles  what  yow  lystt  we  may  nat  cheese  1748 

A  goddes  halfpeny  /  or  a  masse  peny 

Or  yif  vs  of  youre  brawn  /  if  ye  haue  eny 

A  dagon)  of  youre  blanket1  leeue  dame 

Oure  suster  deere  /  lo  heere  I  write  youre  name  1752 

Bacon)  or  beef/  or  swich  thyng1  as  ye  fynde 

U  A  sturdy  harlot/  wente  ay  hem  bihynde 

That  was  hir  hostes  man  /  and  bar  a  sak* 

And  what  men  yaf  hem  /  leyde  it  on  h^s  bat  1756 

And  whan  pat  he  /  was  out  at  dore  anon 

He  planed  awey  /  the  names  euerichon 

That  he  biforn  /  had  writen  in  his  tables 

He  semed  hem  /  with  nyfles  and  with  fables  1700 

IF  Nay  ther  thou  lixfr  thou  SomonoMr  quod  the  frere 

IT  Pees  quod  cure  Hoostt  for  cn'stes  mooder  deer6 

Tel  forth  thy  tale  /  and  spare  it  nat  at  al       /' 

U  So  thryue  I  quod  this  Somonozo-  /  so  I  shal  1764 

1T  So  longe  he  wente  hous  by  hous  /  til  he! 

Cam  til  an  hous  /  ther  he  was  wont  to  be/ 

Refressfted  moore  /  than  in  an  hundred  placia 

I 
Syk  lay  the  goode  man  /  whos  the  place  is  1708 

Bedrede  vp-on  a  couche  lowe  he  lay  ' 

Deus  hie/  quod  he  /  o  Thomas  freend  good  day 

Seyde  this  frere  /  curteisly  and  softe  [leaf  so] 

Thomas  quod  he  /  god  yelde  yow  /  ful  ofte  1772 

I'LLESMEKE    219    (6-T.  386) 


387    SIX-TEXT 

220   GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Haue  I  /  vp-on  this  bench  /  faren  ful  weel 

Heere  haue  I  eten  /  many  a  myrie  meel 

And  fro  the  bench  /  he  droof  awey  the  cat 

And  leyde  adoun  /  his  potente  and  his  hat1  1776 

And  eek  his  scrippe  /  and  sette  hym  softe  adoun 

His  felawe  /  was  go  walked  in-to  toun 

fforth  with  his  knaue  /  in-to  that  hostelrye 

Where  as  he  shoope  hym  /  thilke  nyght  to  lye  1780 

11  0  deere  maister  /  quod  this  sike  man 

How  han  ye  fare  /  sith  fat  March  bigan  s 

I  saugh  yow  noght/  this  fourtnyghfr  or  moore 

God  woot  quod  he  /  laboured  I  haue  ful  soore  1784 

And  specially  /  for  thy  sauacion) 

Haue  I  seyd  /  many  a  precious  orison) 

And  for  oure  othere  freendes  /  god  hem  blesse 

I  haue  to  day  /  been  at  youre  chirche  at  messe  /          1788 

And  seyd  a  sermon)  /  after  my  symple  wit* 

Nat  al  after/  the  text1  of  hooly  writ/ 

ifor  it  is  hard  to  yow  /  as  I  suppose 

And  therfore  /  wol  f  teche  yow  al  the  glose  1792 

Glosynge  /  is  a  glorious  thyng  certeyn 

ffor  lettre  sleeth  /  so  as  thise  clerkes  seyn  J[  ^^  oceidit 

There  haue  I  taught  hem  to  be  charitable 

And  spende  hir  good  /  ther  it  is  resonable  1796 

And  there  I  saugfi  oure  dame  /  a  where  is  she  ? 

IT  Yond  in  the  yer<J  /  I  trowe  fat  she  be 

Seyde  this  man  /  and  she  wol  come  anon 

IF  Ey  maister  /  wel  come  be  ye  /  by  seint  Ioh"n  1800 

Seyde  this  wyf  /  how  fare  ye  hertely  ? 

T  The  frere  ariseth  vp  ful  curteisly 

And  hire  embraceth  in  his  Armes  narwe 

And  kiste  hire  sweete  /  and  chirteth  as  a  sparwe         1804 

With  his  lyppes  /.  dame  quod  he  right  weel s 

As  he  /  that  is  youre  seruant  euery  deel 

Thanked  be  god  /  fat  yow  yaf  soule  and  lyf1 

Yet  saugh  I  nat  this  day  /  so  fair  a  wyf1  1808 

ELLESMERE   220   (6-T.  387) 


388    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.  22  J 

In  al  the  chirche  /  god  so  sane  me 

IF  Ye  /  god  amende  defautes  /  sire  quod  she 

Algates  /  wel  come  be  ye  /  by  my  fey 

Graunt  mercy  dame  /  this  haue  I  founde  alwey  1812 

But  of  youre  grete  goodnesse  /  by  youre  leue 

I  wolde  prey  yow  /  J>at  ye  nat  yow  greue 

I  wole  with  Thomas  speke  a  litel  throwe 

Thise  curatz  /  been  ful  necligent  and  slowe  1816 

To  grope  tendrely  a  conscience 

In  shriftf  in  prechyng1  is  my  diligence 

And  studie  /  in  Petres  wordes  /  and  in  Poules     Deaf  sc,  back] 

I  walke  /  and  fissile  cristen  mennes  soules  1820 

To  yelden  Ihesu  crist  /  his  propre  rente 

To  sprede  his  word  /  is  set  al  myn  entente 

1T  Now  by  youre  leue  /  o  deere  sire  quod  she 

Chideth  him  weel  /  for  seinte  Trinitee  1824 

He  is  as  angry  /  as  a  pissemyre 

Though  fat  he  haue  /  al  that  he  kan  desire 

Though"  I  him  wrye  a-nyght/  and  make  hym  warm 

And  on  hym  leye  my  leg1  outher  myn  Ann  1828 

He  groneth  lyk  oure  boor  /  lith  in  oure  sty 

Oother  desporfr  rygh~t  noon  of  hym  haue  I 

I  may  nat  plese  hym  /  in  no  maner  cas 

IT  0  Thomas  /  le  vous  dy  /  Thomas  /  Thomas  1832 

This  maketh  the  feend  /  this  moste  ben  amended 

Ire  is  a  thyng1  that  hye  god  defended 

And  ther-of/  wol  I  speke  a  word  or  two 

IT  Now  maister  quod  the  wyf1  er  J>at  I  go  1836 

What  wol  ye  dyne  /?  I  wol  go  ther-aboute 

IT  Now  dame  quod  he  /  le  vous  dy  sanz  doute 

Haue  I  nat  of  a  capon)  /  but  the  lyuere 

And  of  youre  softe  breed  /  nat  but  a  shyuere  1840 

And  after  that1  a  rested  pigges  heed 

But  that  I  nolde  /  no  beest  for  me  were  deed 

Thanne  hadde  I  with  yow  ^omly  suffisauwce 

I  am  a  man  /  of  litel  susteii,,  jnce  1844 

ELLESMERE    221    (6-T.  388) 


389    SIX-TEXT 

222    GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

My  spirit1  hath  his  fostryng1  in  the  Bible 

The  hody  is  ay  /  so  redy  and  penyble 

To  wake  /  that  my  stomak  is  destroyed 

I  prey  yow  dame  /  ye  be  nat  anoyed  1848 

Though  I  so  freendly  /  yow  my  conseil  shewe 

By  god  /  I  wolde  nat  telle  it1  but  a  fewe 

IT  Now  sire  quod  she  /  but  o  word  er  I  go 

My  child  is  deed  /  with-Inne  thise  wykes  two  1852 

Soone  after  /  ]>at  ye  wente  out  of  this  toun 

IT  His  deeth  /  saugh  I  by  reuelacioun 

Seith  this  frere  /  at  hoom  in  oure  dortour 

I  dar  wel  seyn  /  that  er  fat  half  an  hour  1856 

After  his  deeth  /  I  saugh"  hym  born  to  blisse 

In  myn  Avision)  /  so  god  me  wisse 

So  dide  our  Sexteyn  /  and  oure  fiermerer 

That  han  been  trewe  freres  /  fifty  yeer  I860 

They  may  now  /  god  be  thanked  of  his  loone 

Maken  hir  lubilee  /  and  walke  allone 

And  vp  I  roos  /  and  al  oure  Couent  eke 

With  many  a  teare  /  triklyng1  on  my  cheke  1864 

Withouten  noyse  /  or  claterynge  of  belles 

Te  deum  was  oure  song1  and  no  thyng  elles 

Saue  /  that  to  crist1 1  seyde  an  orison)  [leaf  87] 

Thankynge  hym  /  of  his  reuelacion)  1868 

ifor  sire  and  dame  /  trusteth  me  right  weel 

Oure  orisons  /  been  wel  moore  effectueel 

And  moore  we  seen  /  of  cristes  secree  thynges 

Than  burel  folk/  al  though"  they  weren  kynges  1872 

We  lyue  in  pouerte  /  and  in  abstinence 

And  bureH  folk  /  in  richesse  and  despence 

Of  mete  and  drynke  /  and  in  hir  foul  delif 

We  han  this  worldes  lust1  al  in  despit/  1876 

Lazar  and  diues  /  lyueden  diuersly 

And  diuerse  gerdon)  /  hadden  they  ther-by 

Who  so  wol  preye  /  he  moot  faste  and  be  clene 

,    -  ,  .  Melius  est  animain 

And  iatte  Ins  soule  /  and  make  his  body  lene  saginare  qwum 

corpus 
ELLESMEKE   222   (6-T.  389) 


390   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  6.  SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    223 


We  fare  as  seith  thapostle  /  clooth  and  foode  3,™^*,^ 

Suffisen  vs  /  though  they  be  nat  ful  goode       sumzw  &  cetera 

The  clennesse  and  the  fastynge  of  vs  freres 

Maketh  /  J>at  crist  accepteth  oure  preyeres  1884 

11  Lo  Moyses  /  fourty  dayes  /  and  fourty  nyghtt  J  ^l^^au 

ifasted  /  er  fat  the  heighe  god  of  mygfit1 

Spak  with  hym  /  in  the  mount  of  Synay 

With  empty  wombe  /  fastynge  many  a  day  1888 

Eeceyued  he  the  lawe  /  that  was  writen 

With  goddes  fynger  /  and  Elye  wel  ye  witen 

In  mount  Oreb  /  er  he  hadde  any  speche 

With  hye  god  /  that  is  oure  lyues  leche  1892 

He  fasted  longe  /  and  was  in  contemplazmce 

1T  Aaron  /  that  hadde  the  temple  in  goue/$na?mce 

And  eek/  that  othere  preestes  euerichon) 

In-to  the  temple  /  whan  they  sholde  gon  1896 

To  preye  for  the  peple  /  and  do  seruyse 

They  nolden  drynken  /  in  no  maner  wyse 

No  drynke  /  which  fat  myghte  hem  dronke  make 

But  there  /  in  abstinence  preye  and  wake  1900 

Lest  that  they  deyden  /  taak  heede  what  I  seye 

But  they  be  sobre  /  that  for  the  peple  preye 

War  that  /•  I  seye  namoore  /  for  if  suffiseth 

Oure  lord  Ihesu  /  as  hooly  writ  deuyseth  1904 

Yaf  vs  ensample  /  of  fastynge  and  preyeres 

Therfore  /  we  mendynantz  /  we  sely  freres 

Been  wedded  /  to  pouerte  and  continence 

To  charite  /  humblesse  /  and  abstinence  1908 

To  pe?-secucion  /  for  rightwisnesse 

To  wepynge  /  Misericorde  and  clennesse 

And  therfore  may  ye  se  /  fat  oure  preyeres 

I  speke  of  vs  /  we  mendynantz  we  freres  1912 

Been  to  the  hye  god  /  moore  acceptable 

Than  youres  /  with  youre  feestes  at  the  table 

ifro  Paradys  first1  if  I  shal  nat  lye  [leaf  87,  back] 

Was  man  out  chaced  /  for  his  glotonye  1916 

ELLESMERE   223   (6-T.  390) 


391    SIX-TEXT 

224   GROUP  D.   §  6.  SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  chaast  was  man  /  in  Paradys  certeyn 

IT  But  herkne  Thomas  /  what  I  shal  seyn 

I  ne  haue  no  text  of  it/  as  I  suppose 

But  I  shal  fynde  it/  in  a  maner  glose  1920 

That  specially  /  oure  sweete  lord  Ihesus 

Spak  this  by  freres  /  whan  he  seyde  thus 

1F  Blessed  be  they  /  that  pouere  in  spirit  been 

And  so  forth  /  al  the  gospel  /  may  ye  seen  1924 

Wher  it  be  likker  /  oure  professions 

Or  hirs  /  that  swymmen  in  possessions 

fly  on  hire  pompe  /  and  hire  glotonye 

And  for  hir  lewednesse  /  I  hem  diffye  1928 

IT  Me  thynketh  /  they  been  lyk  lovinyan 

fiat  as  a  whale  /  and  walkynge  as  a  swan 

Al  vinolentt  as  Botel  in  the  spence 

Hir  prey  ere  /  is  of  ful  greet  reuerence  1932 

Whan  they  for  soules  /  seye  the  psalm)  of  Dauit/ 

Lo  /  but  they  seye  /  cor  meum  eructauit/ 

Who  folweth  /  cristes  gospel  /  and  his  foore  8 

But  we  pat  humble  been  /  and  chaasfr  and  poore         1936 

Werkeris  of  goddes  word  /  not  Auditours 

Therfore  /  right1  as  an  hank*  vp  at  a  sours 

Vp  springeth  in-to  their  /  right  so  prayeres 

Of  charitable  /  and  chaste  bisy  freres  1940 

Maken  hir  sours  /  to  goddes  eres  two 

Thomas  Thomas  /  so  moote  I  ryde  or  go 

And  by  that  lord  /  fat  clepid  is  seint  Yue 

Nere  thou  oure  brother  /  sholdestou  nat  thryue  1944 

In  our  Chapitre  /  praye  we  day  and  nyght1 

To  crist/  fat  he  thee  sende  /  heele  and  myghf 

Thy  body  /  for  to  weelden  hastily 

IT  God  woof  quod  he  /  no  thyng  ther-of  feele  I  1948 

As  help  me  cristt  as  in  a  fewe  yeres 

I  han  spent  /  vp-on  diuerse  manere  freres 

fful  many  a  pound!  /  yet  fare  I  neuer  the  bef 

Certeyn  my  good  /  I  haue  almoost  biset1  1952 

ELLESMERE   224   (6-T.  39l) 


392   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   225 

ffarwel  my  gold  /  for  it  is  al  ago 

IF  The  frere  answerde  /  o  Thomas  dostow  so  ? 

What  nedeth  yow  /  diuerse  freres  seche 

"What  nedeth  hym  /  pat  hath  a  parfit  leche  1956 

To  sechen  /  othere  leches  in  the  toun  ? 

Youre  inconstance  /  is  youre  confusioun 

Holde  ye  thanne  me  /  or  elles  oure  Couent1 

To  praye  for  yow  /  been  insufficient1?  1960 

Thomas  that  Tape  /  nys  natt  worth  a  myte 

Youre  maladye  /  is  for  we  han  to  lyte 

A  yif  that  Couent/  half  a  quarter  otes  [leaf  ss] 

A  yif  that  Couent/  .xxiiij.  grotes  1964 

A  yif  that  frere  a  peny  /  and  lat  hym  go 

Nay  nay  Thomas  /  it  may  no  thyng  be  so 

What  is  a  ferthyng'  worth  /  parted  in  twelue 

Lo  ech  thyngi  that  is  oned  /  in  it  selue  2?*$*g^/fctt^ 

Is  moore  strong1  than  whan  it  is  toscatered 

Thomas  /  of  me  /  thou  shalt  nat  been  yflatered 

Thou  woldest  han  oure  labour  al  for  noght1 

The  hye  god  /  that  al  this  world  hath  wrogfrfr  1972 

Seith  that  the  werkman  /  worthy  is  his  hyre  S^cfdeTce^m3""8' 

Thomas  /  noght1  of  youre  tresor  I  desire 

As  for  my  self1  but  that  al  oure  Couent1 

To  preye  for  yow  /  is  ay  so  diligent1  1976 

And  for  to  buylden  /  cristes  owene  chirche 

Thomas  /  if  ye  wol  lernen  for  to  wirche 

Of  buyldynge  vp  of  chirches  /  may  ye  fynde 

If  it  be  good  /  in  Thomas  lyf  of  Inde  1980 

Ye  lye  heere  /  ful  of  Anger  of  Ire 

With  which  /  the  deuel  set  youre  herte  afyre 

And  chiden  heere  /  the  sely  Innocent1 

Youre  wyf/  that  is  so  meke  and  pacient1  1984 

And  therfore  Thomas  /  trowe  me  if  thee  leste 

Ne  stryue  nat  with  thy  wyf/  as  for  thy  beste 

And  ber  this  word  awey  /  now  by  thy  feith 

Touchynge  this  thyng1  lo  what  the  wise  seith  1988 

ELLESMERE    225    (<3-T.  392) 


393    SIX-TEXT 

226    GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  With-Iune  thyn  hous  ne  be  thou  no  leown  J^tS/^rtiw 

To  thy  subgitz  /  do  noon  oppression  gSSSilSw^S.  °"~ 

Ne  make  thyne  aqueyntances  /  nat  for  to  flee 

And  Thomas  /  yet  eft^soones  I  charge  thee  1992 

Be  war  from  hire  /  fat  in  thy  bosom  slepeth 

Be  war/  fro  the  serpent/  that  so  slily  crepetn" 

Vnder  the  gras  /  and  styngeth  subtilly 

Be  war  my  sone  /  and  herkne  paciently  1996 

That  twenty  thousand  men  /  han  lost  hir  lyues 

ffor  stryuyng1  with  hir  lemmans  and  hir  wyues 

Now  sith  ye  han  /  so  hooly  meke  a  wyf 

What  nedeth  yow  Thomas  /  to  maken  stryf1  2000 

Ther  nys  ywys  /  no  serpent  so  cruel 

What  man  tret1  on  his  tayl  /  ne  half  so  fel 

As  womman  is  /  whan  she  hath  caught  an  Ire 

Vengeance  is  thanne  /  al  that  they  desire  2004 

Ire  is  a  synne  /  oon  of  the  grete  of  seuene 

Abhomynable  /  vn-to  the  god  of  heuene 

And  to  hym  self/  it  is  destruccion) 

This  euery  lewed  viker  or  person)  2008 

Kan  seye  /  how  Ire  engendreth  homycide 

Ire  is  in  sooth  /  executour  of  pryde 

I  koude  of  Ire  seye  /  so  muche  sorwe  [leaf  ss,  back] 

My  tale  /  sholde  laste  /  til  tomorwe  2012 

And  therfore  /  preye  I  god  /  bothe  day  and  nyghtt 

An  Irous  man  /  god  sende  hym  litel  myght1 

It  is  greet  harm  /  and  eek  greet  pitee 

To  sette  an  Irous  man  /  in  heigh"  degree  2016 

WHilom  /  ther  was  an  Irous  potestat/    ^£%£$&  pote8' 
As  seith  Senek1  that  durynge  his  estaat1 
Vp-on  a  day  /  out  ryden  knyghtes  two 
And  as  ffortune  /  wolde  that  it  were  so  2020 

That  oon  of  hem  cam  hoom/  that  oother  nogh"f 
Anon  the  knygfrf  bifore  the  luge  is  broght 
That  seyde  thus  /  thou  hast  thy  felawe  slayn 
flfor  which  /  I  deme  thee  to  the  deeth  certayn  2024 

ELLESMERE   226    (6-T.  393) 


394    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   227 

And  to  another  knyght1  comanded  he 

Go  lede  hym  to  the  deeth  /  I  charge  thee 

And  happed  /  as  they  wente  by  the  weye 

Toward  the  place  /  ther  he  sholde  deye  2028 

The  knyght  cam  /  which  men  wenden  had  be  deed 

Thanne  thoughts  they  /  it  was  the  beste  reed 

To  lede  hem  bothe  /  to  the  luge  agayn 

They  seiden  lord  /  the  knyght  ne  hath  nat  slayn         2032 

His  felawe  /  heere  he  standeth  hool  alyue 

Ye  shul  be  deed  quod  he  /  so  moot  I  thryue 

That  is  to  seyn  /  bothe  oon  /  and  two  /  and  thre 

And  to  the  firste  knyght1  right  thus  spak  he  2036 

I  dampned  thee  /  thou  most*  algate  be  deed 
And  thou  also  /  most  nedes  lese  thyn  heed 
ffor  thou  art  cause  /  why  thy  felawe  deyth 

And  to  the  thridde  knyght1  right  thus  he  seith  2040 

Thou  hast  nat  doon  /  that  I  comanded  thee 
And  thus  /  he  dide  doon  sleen  hem  alle  thre 

Irous  Cambises  /  was  eek1  dronkelewe 
And  ay  delited  hym  /  to  been  a  shrewe  2044 

And  so  bifel  /  a  lord  of  his  meynee 
That  loued  vertuous  moralitee 
Seyde  on  a  day  /  bitwene  hem  two  right  thus 
IF  A  lord  is  lost1  if  he  be  vicius  2048 

And  dronkenesse  /  is  eek/  a  foul  record1 
Of  any  man  /  and  namely  in  a  lord* 
Ther  is  ful  many  an  eye  and  many  an  ere 
Awaityng  on  a  lord  /  and  he  noot  where  2052 

ffor  goddes  loue  /  drynk1  moore  attemprely 
Wyn  maketh  man  /  to  lesen  wrecchedly 
His  mynde  /  and  hise  lymes  euerichon) 

II  The  reuers  shaltou  se  /  quod  he  anon)  2056 
And  preeue  it*  by  thyn  owene  experience 

That  wyn  /  ne  dooth  to  folk1  no  swich  offence 

Ther  is  no  wyn  /  bireueth  me  my  myght1  Oaf89] 

Of  hand  ne  foot/  ne  of  myne  eyen  sight1  2060- 

ELLESMERE    227    (6-T.  394) 


395    SIX-TEXT 

228   GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONEH'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  for  despit/  he  drank1  ful  muchel  moore 

An  hondred  part/  than  he  hadde  bifoore 

And  right  anon  /  this  Irous  cursed  wrecche 

Leet/  this  knyghtes  sone  /  bifore  hym  fecche  2064 

Comandynge  hym  /  he  sholde  bifore  hym  stonde 

And  sodeynly  /  he  took  his  bowe  in  honde 

And  vp  the  streng1  he  pulled  to  his  ere 

And  with  an  arwe  /  he  slow  the  child  right  there        2068 

Now  /  wheither  haue  I  /  a  siker  hand  or  noon 

Quod  he  /  is  al  my  myght1  and  mynde  agon 

Hath  wyn  bireff  me  myne  eyen  sight1 

IT  What  sholde  I  telle  /  thanswere  of  the  knyghf       2072 

His  sone  was  slayn  /  ther  is  namoore  to  seye 

Beth  war  therfore  /  with  lordes  how  ye  pleye 

Syngeth  Placebo  /  and  I  shal  if  I  kan 

But  if  it  be  /  vn-to  a  poure  man  2076 

To  a  poure  man  /  men  sholde  hise  vices  telle 

But  nat  to  a  lord  /  thogh  he  sholde  go  to  helle 

LO  Irous  Cirus  /  thilke  Percien 
How  he  destroyed  /  the  ryuer  of  Gysen  2080 

ffor  that  an  hors  of  his  was  dreynt  ther-Inne 
Whan  J>at  he  wente  /  Babiloigne  to  wynne 
He  made  /  that  the  Ryuer  /  was  so  smal 
That  woramen  /  myghte  wade  it  ouer  al  2084 

Lo  what  seyde  he  /  that  so  wel  teche  kan 
Ne  be  no  felawe  to  an  Irous  man 
Ne  with  no  wood  man  /  walke  by  the  weye 
Lest  thee  repente  /  ther  is  namoore  to  seye  2088 

NOw  Thomas  leeue  brother  /  lef  thyn  Ire 
Thou  shalt  me  fynde  /  as  lust/  as  is  a  squyre 
Hoold  nat  the  deueles  knyf1  ay  at  thyn  herte 
Thyn  angre  dooth  thee  /  al  to  soore  smerte  2092 

But  shewe  to  me  /  al  thy  confession 
IT  Nay  quod  the  sike  man  /  by  Seint  Symon) 
I  haue  be  shryuen  this  day  /  at  my  curat1 
I  haue  hym  toold  hoolly  al  myn  estatt  2096 

ELLESMERE    228    (6-T.  395) 


396    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONEK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   229 

Nedeth  namoore  /  to  speken  of  it  seith  he 

But  if  me  list/  of  myn  humylitee 

H  Yif1  me  thanne  of  thy  gold  /  to  make  oure  cloystre 

Quod  he  /  for  many  a  Muscle  /  and  many  an  oystre     2100 

Whan  othere  men  /  han  ben  ful  wel  at  eyse 

Hath  been  oure  foode  /  our  cloystre  for  to  reyse 

And  yet  god  woof  vnnethe  the  fundement1 

Parfourned  is  /  ne  of  our  pauement1  2104 

Nys  nat  a  tyl  yet/  with-Inne  oure  wones 

By  god  /  we  owen  fourty  pound  for  stones 

IT  'Now  help  Thomas  /  for  hym  that  harwed  helle  [leaf  89,  back} 

if  or  elles  /  moste  we  oure  bookes  selle  2108 

And  if  ye  lakke  /  oure  predicacion 

Thanne  goth  the  world  /  al  to  destruccion 

ffor  who  so  wolde  /  vs  fro  this  world  bireue 

So  god  me  saue  /  Thomas  by  youre  leue  2112 

He  wolde  bireue  /  out  of  this  world  the  sonne 

ffor  who  kan  teche  /  and  werchen  as  we  konne 

And  that  is  naf  of  litel  tyme  quod  he 

But  syn  Ennok  was  /  or  Elise  2116 

Han  freres  been  /  that  fynde  I  of  record1 

In  charitee  /  ythanked  be  oure  lore? 

Now  Thomas  /  helpe  for  seinte  charitee 

And  doun  anon  /  he  sette  hym  on  his  knee  2120 

THis  sike  man  /  wax  wel  ny  wood  for  Ire 
He  wolde  /  fat  the  frere  /  had  been  on  fire 
With  his  false  dissymulacion 

Swich  thyng1  as  is  in  my  possession  2124 

Quod  he  /  that  may  I  yeuen  /  and  noon  oother 
Ye  sey  me  thus  /  that  I  am  youre  brother 
IT  Ye  certes  quod  the  frere  /  trusteth  weel 
I  took  oure  dame  /  oure  letfae  and  oure  seel  2128 

IT  Now  wel  quod  he  /  and  som  what1  shal  I  yeue 
Vn-to  youre  hooly  Couent1  whil  I  lyue 
And  in  thyn  hand  /  thou  shalt  it  haue  anon 
On  this  condicion)  /  and  oother  noon  2132 

ELLESMERE    229    (6-T.  396^ 


397    SIX-TEXT 

230   GROUP  D.   §  6.  SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  thou  departe  it  so  /  my  leeue  brother 

That  euery  frere  /  haue  also  muche  as  oother 

This  shaltou  swere  /  on  thy  profession 

With-outen  fraude  /  or  cauillacion  2136 

IT  I  swere  it  quod  this  frere  /  by  my  feith 

And  ther-with-al  /  his  hand  in  his  he  leith 

Lo  heer  my  feith  /  in  me  shal  be  no  lak1 

If  Now  thanne  put  In  thyn  hand  doun  by  my  bak1      2140 

Seyde  this  man  /  and  grope  wel  bihynde 

Bynethe  my  buttok1  ther  shaltow  fynde 

A  thyng*  that  I  haue  hyd  in  pryuetee 

IT  A  thoghte  this  frere  /  this  shal  go  "with  me  2144 

And  doun  his  hand  /  he  launcheth  to  the  clifte 

In  hope  /  for  to  fynde  there  a  yifte 

And  whan  this  sike  man  /  felte  this  frere 

Aboute  his  tuwel  /  grope  there  and  heere  2148 

Amydde  his  hand  /  he  leet  the  frere  a  fart1 

Ther  nys  no  capul  /  drawynge  in  a  Cart1 

That  myghte  haue  lete  a  fart1  of  swich  a  soun 

IT  The  frere  vp  stirte  /  as  dooth  a  wood  leoun  2152 

A  fals  cherl  quod  he  /  for  goddes  bones 

This  hastow  for  despitt  doon  for  the  nones 

Thou  shalt  abye  this  fart*  if  that  I  may  [leaf  90] 

IT  His  meynee  /  whiche  that  herden  this  affray  2156 

Cam  lepynge  In  /  and  chaced  out  the  frere 

And  forth  he  gooth  /  with  a  ful  Angry  cheere 

And  fette  his  felawe  /  ther  as  lay  his  stoor 

He  looked  /  as  it  were  a  wilde  boor  2160 

He  grynte  with  his  teeth  /  so  was  he  wrooth 

A  sturdy  paas  /  doun  to  the  lordes  court  he  gooth 

"Wher  as  woned  a  man  /  of  greet  honour 

To  whom  /  that  he  was  alwey  confessour  2164 

This  worthy  man  /  was  lord  of  that  village 

This  frere  cam  /  as  he  were  in  a  rage 

Where  as  this  lord  /  sat  etyng1  at  his  bore? 

Vnnothes  /  myghte  the  frere  /  speke  a  word!  2168 

ELLESMERE   230   (6-T.  397) 


398    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    231 

Til  atte  laste  /  he  seyde  /  god  yow  see 

1T  This  lord  bigan  to  looke  /  and  seide  benedicitee 

"What  frere  lofrn  /  what  maner  world  is  this  ? 

I  trowe  /  soin  maner  thyng1  ther  is  amys  2172 
Ye  looken  /  as  the  wode  /  were  ful  of  theuys 

Sit  doun  anon  /  and  tel  me  what  youre  grief  is 

And  it  shal  been  amended  /  if  that  I  may 

IF  I  haue  quod  he  /  had  a  despit  this  Day  2176 

God  yelde  yow  /  adoun  in  youre  village 

That  in  this  world  /  is  noon  so  poure  a  page 

That  he  nolde  haue  abhomynacioura 

Of  that  I  haue  receyued  in  youre  toun  2180 

And  yet  greueth  me  /  no  thyng  so  soore 

As  that  this  olde  cherl  /  with  lokkes  hoore 

Blasphemed  hath  /  oure  hooly  Couent  eke 

IT  Now  maister  quod  this  lord  /I  yow  biseke  2184 

II  No  maister  quod  he  /  but  seruitour 
Thogh"  I  haue  had  in  scole  swich  honour 
God  liketh  nat1  that  Raby  men  vs  calle 

Neither  in  Market1  ne  in  youre  large  halle  2188 

1F  No  fors  quod  he  /  but  tel  me  al  youre  grief* 

IT  Sire  quod  he  /  an  odious  meschief/ 

This  day  bityd  is  /  to  myii  ordre  and  me 

And  so  per  consequens  /  in  ech  degree  2192 

Of  hooly  chirche  /  god  amende  it  soone 

IF  Sire  quod  the  lord  /  ye  woot  what  is  to  doone 

Distempre  yow  nogfit  /  ye  be  my  Confessour 

Ye  been  the  salt  of  the  erthe  /  and  the  savour  2196 

ffor  goddes  loue  /  youre  pacience  ye  holde 

Tel  me  youre  grief/  and  he  anon  hym  tolde 

As  ye  han  herd  biforn  /  ye  woot  wel  what1 

IF  The  lady  of  the  hous  /  al  stille  sat/  2200 

Til  she  had  herd  /  what  the  frere  sayde 

Ey  goddes  mooder  quod  she  /  blisful  mayde 

Is  ther  oght  elles  /  telle  me  feithfully  [leaf  90,  back] 

IF  Madame  quod  he  /  how  thynke  ye  her-by  ?  2204 

19  ELLESMEUE    231    (6-T.  3 


399    SIX-TEXT 

232    GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

1F  How  that  me  thynketh  quod  she  ?  so  god  me  speede 

I  seye  /  a  cherle  hath  doon  /  a  cherles  dede 

What  shold  I  seye  /  god  lat  hym  neuere  thee 

His  sike  heed  /  is  ful  of  vanytee  2208 

I  holde  hym  /  in  a  manere  frenesye 

IF  Madame  quod  he  /  by  god  I  shal  nat  lye 

But  I  on  hym  /  oother  weyes  be  wreke 

I  shal  disclaundre  hym  /  oner  al  ther  I  speke  2212 
This  false  blasphemoetr  /  that  charged  me 

To  parte  /  that  wol  nat  departed  be 
To  euery  man  yliche  /  with  meschaunce 

II  The  lord  sat  stille  /  as  he  were  in  a  traunce  2216 
And  in  his  herte  /  he  rolled  vp  and  doun 

How  hadde  the  cherl  /  this  ymaginacioun  8 

To  shewe  swich  a  probleme  /  to  the  frere 

Neuere  ersf  er  now  /  herd  I  of  swich  mateere  2220 

I  trowe  /  the  deuel  /  putte  it  in  his  mynde 

In  Ars  Metrik1  shal  ther  no  man  fynde 

Biforn  this  day  /  of  swich  a  question) 

Certes  /  it  was  a  shrewed  conclusion)  2224 

That  euery  man  /  sholde  haue  yliche  his  part1 

As  of  the  soun  /  or  savour/  of  a  fart1 

0  vile  proude  cherl  /  I  shrewe  his  face 

Lo  sires  quod  the  lord  /  with  harde  grace  2228 

Who  herd  euere  of  swich  a  thyng*  er  now 

To  euery  man  ylike  /  tel  me  how  ? 

It  is  an  inpossible  /  it  may  nat  be 

Ey  nyce  cherl  /  god  lete  thee  neuere  thee  2232 

The  rumblynge  of  a  fart/  and  euery  soun 

Nis  but  of  Eir  reuerberacioun 

And  euere  it  wasteth  /  litel  and  litel  awey 

Ther  is  no  man  /  kan  demen  by  my  fey  2236 

If  that  it  were  departed  equally 

What  lo  my  cherl  /  lo  yet  how  shrewedly 

Vn-to  my  confessour  /  to  day  he  spak* 

1  holde  hym  certeyn  /  a  demonyak1  2240 

ELLESMERE   232   (6-T.  399) 


400    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONEB'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   233 

Now  ete  youre  mete  /  and  lat  the  cherl  go  pleye 
Lat  hym  go  honge  hymself  a  deuel  weye 

^f  The  wordes  of  the  lordes  Squier  and  his  keruere  / 
for  departynge  of  the  fart1  on  twelue  fo 

NOW  stood  the  lordes  Squier  at  the  bord? 
That  karf1  his  mete  /  and  herde  word?  by  word?  2244 
Of  alle  thynges  /  which  e  that  I  haue  sayd 
My  lord  quod  he  /  beth  nat  yuele  apayd? 
IT  I  koude  telle  for  a  gowne  clooth"  [leaf  91] 

To  yow  sire  frere  /  so  ye  be  nat  wrooth"  2248 

How  that  this  fart1  euene  delt  shal  be 
Among  youre  Couent1  if  it  lyked  me 
IT  Tel  quod  the  lord  /  and  thou  shalt  haue  anon 
A  gowne  clooth  /  by  god  /  and  by  Seint  lohn  2252 

H  My  lord  quod  he  /  whan  jjat  the  weder  is  fair 
With-outen  wynd1  /  or  perturbynge  of  Air 
Lat  brynge  a  Cartwheel  in-to  this  halle 
But  looke  /  that  it  haue  his  spokes  alle  2256 

Twelue  spokes  /  hath  a  Cartwheel  comunly 
And  bryng  me  thanne  .xij.  freres  woot  ye  why  ? 
For  twelue  is  a  Couent/  as  I  gesse 

The  Confessour  heere  /  for  his  worthy nesse  2260 

Shal  parfourne  vp  /  the  nombre  of  his  Couent1 
Thanne  shal  they  knele  doun  /  by  oon  assent1 
And  to  euery  spokes  ende  /  in  this  manere 
iful  sadly  /  leye  his  nose  shal  a  frere  2264 

Youre  noble  Confessour  /  there  god  hym  saue 
Shal  holde  his  nose  /  vprignt  /  vnder  the  Kaue 
Thanne  shal  this  cherl  /  wi't/i  bely  stif  and  toght 
As  any  Tabour  /  been  hyder  ybrogRf  2268 

And  sette  hym  on  the  wheel  /  right  of  this  Cart1 
Ypon  the  Naue  /  and  make  hym  lete  a  fart1 
And  ye  shul  seen  /  vp  peril  of  my  lyf/ 
By  preeue  /  which  that  is  demonstratif1  2272 

ELLESMERE    233    (6-T.  400) 


401    SIX-TEXT 

234   GROUP  D.   §  6.   SUMMONER'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  equally  /  the  soun  of  it  wol  wende 

And  eke  the  stynk1  vn-to  the  spokes  ende 

Saue  J?at  this  worthy  man  youre  Confessour 

By  cause  /  he  is  a  man  of  greet  honour  2276 

Shal  haue  the  firste  fruytf  /  as  reson  is 

As  yetf  the  noble  vsage  /  of  freres  is 

The  worthy  men  of  hem  /  shul  first  be  serued 

And  certeinly  /  he  hath  it  weel  disserued  2280 

He  hath  to  day  taught*  vs  so  muche  good 

With  prechyng1  in  the  pulpif  ther  he  stood 

That  I  may  vouche  sauf  /  I  sey  for  me 

He  hadde  the  firste  smel  /  of  fartes  three  2284 

And  so  wolde  /  al  the  Couenf  hardily 

He  bereth  hym  /  so  faire  and  hoolily 

1T  The  lord  /  the  lady  /  and  alle  men  saue  the  frere 

Seyde  /  J?at  lankyn  spak/  in  this  matere  2288 

As  wel  as  Euclude  /  or  Protholomee 

Touchynge  this  cherl  /  they  seyde  subtiltee 

And  heigh  wit1  made  hym  speke  /  as  he  spak/ 

He  nys  no  fool  /  ne  no  demonyak1  2292 

And  lankyn  /  hath  ywonne  a  newe  gowne 

My  tale  is  doon  /  we  been  almoost  at  towne 

*fi  Heere  endeth  the  Somonours  tale  fo 


ELLESMERE    234   (6-T.  401) 


GKOUP  E.    FEAGMENT  VL 

§  1.    THE  CLERK'S  HEAD-LINK. 
ELLESMERE  MS. 


5T  Heere  folweth  the  Prologe  of  the  clerkes  tale  of 
Oxenford?  fe  D«r  91,  bade] 

Sire  clerk  /  of  Oxenford?  /  cure  Hoost  sayde 
ye  ryde  as  coy  /  and  stille  /  as  dooth  a  mayde 
were  newe  spoused  /  sittynge  at  the  bord 
This  day  /  ne  herde  I  /  of  youre  tonge  a  word       4 
I  trowe  ye  studie  /  ahoute  som  Sophyme 
But  Salomon  seith  /  euery  thyng  hath  tyme       IT  pausacio 

IT  ffor  goddes  sake  /  as  beth  of  bettre  cheere 

It  is  no  tyme  /  for  to  studien  heere  8 

Telle  vs  som  myrie  tale  /  by  youre  fey 

ffor  what  man  /  that  is  entred  in  a  pley 

He  nedes  moot1  vnto  the  pley  assente 

But  precheth  natf  as  freres  doon  in  lente  12 

To  make  vs  /  for  oure  olde  synnes  wepe 

Ne  that  thy  tale  /  make  vs  nat  to  slepe  IT  pausacio 

IT  Telle  vs  /  som  murie  thyng/  of  auentures 

Youre  termes  /  youre  colours  /  and  youre  figures  1 6 

Keepe  hem  in  stoor  /  til  so  be  that  ye  endite 

Heigh  style  /  as  whan  pat  men  to  kynges  write 

Speketh  so  pleyn  /  at  this  tyme  we  yow  preye  1 9 

That  we  may  vnderstonde  what  ye  seyo  IF  pausacio 

IT  This  worthy  clerk1  benignely  answerde 

Hoost  quod  he  /  I  am  vnder  youre  yerde 

Ye  han  of  vs  /  as  now  the  gouernance 

And  therfore  /  wol  I  do  yow  obeisance  24 

20  ELLESMERE   235   (6-T.  403) 


404:    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  1.   CLERK'S  HEAD-LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

As  fer/  as  reson  axetli  hardily 

I  wol  yow  telle  a  tale  /  which  that  1 9 

Lerned  at  Pad  we  /  of  a  worthy  clerk1 

As  preued  /  by  his  wordes  and  his  werk1  28 

He  is  now  deed  /  and  nayled  in  his  cheste 

I  prey  to  god  /  so  yeue  his  soule  reste  IF  pausacio 

IF  ffraunceys  Peftjrak1  the  lauriat  poete 

Highte  this  clerk1  whos  Rethorik1  sweete  32 

Enlumyned  al  Ytaille  of  poetrie 

As  Lynyan  dide  /  of  Philosophie 

Or  lawe  /  or  oother  Art  porticuler1 

But  deeth  /  fat  wol  nat  dwellen  heer  36 

But  as  it  were  /  a  twynklyng*  of  an  eye 

Hem  bothe  hath  slayn  /  and  alle  shul  we  dye     IF  pausacio 

IF  But  forth  to  tellen  /  of  this  worthy  man  [leaf  92] 

That  taughte  me  this  tale  /  as  I  bigan      iLatin  note,  p.  40-2]    40 

I  seye  /  that  first1-  with  heigh"  stile  he  enditeth 

Er  he  /  the  body  of  his  tale  writeth 

A  prohemye  /  in  the  which  discryueth  he 

Pemond?  /  and  of  Saluces  the  contree  44 

And  speketh  of  Apennyn  /  the  hilles  hye 

That  been  the  boundes  /  of  westlumbardye         IF  pausacio 

IF  And  of  Mount  Vesulus  /  in  special 

"Where  as  the  poo  /  out  of  a  welle  smal  48 

Taketh  his  firste  spryngyng1  and  his  sours 

That  Estward  /  ay  encresseth  in  his  cours 

To  Emeleward!  /  to  fferrare  and  Yenyse 

The  which  a  long1  thyng1  were  to  deuyse  52 

And  trewely  /  as  to  my  luggement1 

Me  thynketh  it1  a  thyng1  impertinent1 

Saue  that  he  wole  /  conuoyen  his  mateere 

But  this  his  tale  /  which  that  ye  may  heere        1F  pausacio 

ELLESMERE    236   (6-T.  404) 


405    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


{For  the  Latin  aide-notes  to  the  Clerk's  Tale  see  pp.  274-5  at  the  end  of  the  Tale.] 

IT  Heere  bigynneth  the  tale  of  the  Clerk/  of 

[on  leaf  9-2} 


THer  is  /  at  the  West  syde  of  Ytaille    [z<z«»  note,  p.  1023 
Doun  at  the  roote  /  of  Vesulus  the  colde 
A  lusty  play  ne  /  hahundant  of  vitaille  t  grata  piamcies 
Where  many  a  tour  and  toun  /  thou  mayst  biholde 
That  founded  were  /  ia  tyme  /  of  fadres  olde 
And  many  another  /  delitable  sighte 

And  Saluces  this  noble  contree  highte  63 

5* 

A  Markys  /  whilom  lord  was  of  that  lond?  64  | 

As  were  /  hise  worthy  eldres  hym  bifore  g 

And  obeisant1  and  redy  to  his  bond?' 

Were  alle  hise  liges  /  bothe  lasse  and  moore  67  g 

Thus  in  delit  he  lyueth  /  and  hath  doon  yoore  s 

^ 

Biloued  and  drad  /  thurgh  favour  of  ffortune  §• 

Bothe  of  hise  lordes  /  and  of  his  commune  70  5 

J 

Therwith  he  was  /  to  speke  as  of  lynage  71 

The  gentilleste  yborn  of  lumbardye< 

A  fair  persone  and  strong1  and  yong  of  age 

And  ful  [of]  honoz^r/  and  of  curteisye  74 

Discreet  ynogh  /  his  contree  for  to  gye 

Saue  that  in  somme  thynges  /  fat  he  was  to  blame 

And  Walter/  was  this  yonge  lordes  name  77 


I  blame  hym  thus  /  that  he  considereth  noght 

In  tyme  comynge  /  what  hym  mygfite  bityde 

But  in  his  lust  present"  was  al  his  thoght1 

As  for  to  hauke  and  hunte  /  on  every  syde  81 

Wei  ny  /  alle  othere  cures  /  leet  he  slyde 

And  eek1  he  nolde  /  and  that  was  worst  of  alle 

Wedde  no  wyf  /  for  noght  J?at  may  bifalle  84 

ELLESMERE   237    (6-T.  405) 


406    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2,   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Oonly  that  point1  his  peple  bar  so  soore  85 

That  flokmeele  on  a  day  /  they  to  hym  wente       t  Cato-uatim 

And  oon  of  hem  /  that  wisest  was  of  loore 

Or  elles  /  that  the  lord  /  best  wolde  assente  88 

That  he  sholde  telle  hym  /  what  his  peple  mente 

Or  elles  /  koude  he  shewe  wel  swich  mateere 

He  to  the  Markys  /  seyde  as  ye  shul  heere  91 


IT  0  noble  Markys  /  youre  humanitee 

Asseureth  vs  /  to  yeue  vs  hardinesse 

As  ofte  /  as  tyme  is  of  necessitee 

That  we  io  yow  /  mo  we  telle  oure  heuynesse  95 

Accepteth  lord  /  now  for  youre  gentillesse 

That  we  with  pitous  herte  /  vn-to  yow  pleyne 

And  lat  youre  eres  /  nat  my  voys  desdeyne  98 

Al  haue  I  noght  to  doone  /  in  this  mateere  99 

Moore  than  another  man  /  hath  in  this  place 

Yet  for  as  muche  /•  as  ye  my  lord  so  deere 

Han  alwey  /  shewed  me  /  fauour  and  grace  102 

I  dar  the  bettre  /  aske  of  yow  a  space 

Of  Audience  /  to  shewen  oure  requeste 

And  ye  my  lord  /  to  doon  right1  as  yow  leste  105 

ffor  certes  lord  /  so  wel  vs  liketh  yow  106 

And  al  youre  werk/  and  euere  han  doon  /  fat  we  s 

Ne  koude  nat  vs  self*  deuysen  how  * 

We  mygfete  lyuen  /  in  moore  felicitee  109 

Saue  o  thyng  lord  /  if  youre  wille  be 

That  for  to  been  a  wedded  man  yow  leste 

Thanne  were  youre  peple  /  in  souereyn  hertes  reste       112 

Boweth  youre  nekke  /  vnder  that  blisful  yok  /  113 

Of  soueraynetee  /  noght  of  seruyse 

"Which  \>at  men  clepeth  /  spousaille  or  wedlok1 

And  thenketh  lord  /  among  youre  thoghtes"  wyse  116 

ELLESMERE    238    (6-T.  4.0ft) 


407    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

How  fat  cure  dayes  passe  /  in  sondry  wyse 

ffor  thogfc  we  slepe  /  or  wake  /  or  rome  /  or  ryde 

Ay  fleeth  the  tyme  /  it  nyl  no  man  abyde  119 

And  thogh"  youre  grene  youthe  /  floure  as  yif  [leaf  93] 

In  crepeth  age  alwey  /  as  stille  as  stoon 

And  deeth  manaceth  /  euery  age  and  sniyt1 

In  ech  estaatt  for  ther  escapeth"  noon  123 

And  al  so  certein  /  as  we  knowe  echoon 

That  we  shul  deye  /  as  vncerteyn  /  we  alle  9 

Been  of  that  day  /  whan  deeth  shal  on  vs  falle  126 

Accepteth  thanne  of  vs  /  the  trewe  entente  127 

That  neuere  yet1  refuseden  thyn  heeste 

And  we  wol  lord  /  if  that  ye  wole  assente 

Chese  yow  a  wyf/  in  short  tyme  atte  leeste  130 

Born  of  the  gentilleste  /  and  of  the  nieeste 

Of  al  this  land*  /  so  that  it  ogRte  seme 

Honour  to  god  and  yow  /  as  we  kan  deeme  133 

Deliuere  vs  /  out  of  al  this  bisy  drede  134 

And  taak  a  wyf*  for  hye  goddes  sake 

ffor  if  it  so  bifelle  /  as  god  f orbed  e 

That  thurgh"  youre  deeth  /  youre  lyne  sholde  slake        137 

And  that  a  straunge  Successour  sholde  take 

Youre  heritage  /  o  wo  were  vs  alyue 

"Wherfore  /  we  pray  you  hastily  to  wyue  140 

IT  Hir  meeke  preyere  /  and  hir  pitous  cheere  141 

Made  the  Markys  herte  /  han  pitee 

Ye  wol  quod  he  /  myn  owene  peple  deere 

To  that  I  neuere  erst  thoughte  /  streyne  me  144 

I  me  reioysed  /  of  my  liberte 

That  seelde  tyme  /  is  founde  in  mariage 

Ther  I  was  free  /  I  moot  been  in  seruage  147 

ELLESMERE    239    (6-T.  407) 


408   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

But  nathelees  /  I  se  youre  trewe  entente  148, 

And  truste  vpon  youre  wit  /  and  haue  doon  ay 

Wherfore  /  of  my  free  wyl  /  I  wole  assente 

To  wedde  me  /  as  soone  as  euere  I  may  151 

But  ther  as  ye  /  han  profied  me  this  day 

To  chese  me  a  wyf  /  I  yow  relesse 

That  choys  /  and  prey  of  that  profre  cesse  154 

ffor  god  it  woof  that  children  ofte  been  155 

Vnlyk  hir  worthy  eldres  hem  bifore 

Bouwtee  comth  al  of  god  /  nat  of  the  streen 

Of  which  /  they  been  engendred  and  ybore  158 

I  truste  in  goddes  bontee  /  and  therfore  s 

My  mariage  /  and  myn  estaat  and  reste 

I  hym  bitake  /  he  may  doon  as  hym  leste  161 

Lat  me  allone  /  in  chesynge  of  my  wyf1  peafss,  back] 

That  charge  /  vp  on  my  bak/  I  wole  endure 

But  I  yow  preye  /  and  charge  vp  on  youre  lyf1 

What  wyf  that  I  take  /  ye  me  assure  165 

To  worshipe  hire  /  whil  that  hir  lyf  may  clure 

In  word  and  werky  bothe  heere  and  euerywheere 

As  she  /  an  Emperoures  doghter  weere  168 

And  forthermoore  /  this  shal  ye  swere  /  that  ye  9          169 

Agayn  my  choys  /  shul  neither  grucche  ne  stryue 

ffor  sith  /  I  shal  /  forgoon  my  libertee 

At  youre  requeste  /  as  euere  moot  I  thryue  172 

Ther  as  myn  herte  is  set1  ther  wol  I  wyue 

And  but  ye  wole  assente  in  this  mane  re 

I  prey  yow  /  speketh  namoore  of  this  matere  1 75 

U  With  hertely  wyl  /  they  sworen  and  assenten  1 76 

To  al  this  thyng*  ther  seyde  no  wight  nay 

Bisekynge  hym  of  grace  /  er  that  they  wenten 

That  he  /  wolde  graunten  hem  a  certein  day  1 79 

ELLESMERE    240   (6-T. 


409    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Of  his  spousaille  /  as  soone  /  as  euere  he  may 

flbr  yet  alwey  /  the  peple  som  what  dredde 

Lest  J>at  this  Markys  /  no  wyf1  wolde  wedde  182 

IT  He  graunted  hem  a  day  /  swich  as  hym  leste  183 

On  which  /  he  wolde  be  wedded  sikerly 

And  seyde  /  he  dide  al  this  at  hir  requeste 

And  they  /  with  humble  entente  /  buxomly  186 

Knelynge  vp  on  hir  knees  ful  reuerently 

Hym  thonken  alle  /  and  thus  they  lian  an  ende 

Of  hire  entente  /  and  hoom  agayn  they  wende  189 

IT  And  heer  vp  on  /  he  to  hise  officeres  190 

Comaundeth  /  for  the  feste  to  purveye 

And  to  hise  p?'i'uee  knyghtes  and  squieres 

Swich  charge  yaf  /  as  hym  liste  on  hem  leye  t  193 

And  they  /  to  his  comandement  obeye 

And  ech  of  hem  /  dooth  al  his  diligence 

To  doon  /  vn-to  the  feeste  reuerence  196 

^[  Explicit/  prima  pars  fo 

^[  Incipit/  secunda  pars  fa  Deaf  <u] 

t  fer  /  fro  tbilke  paleys  honurable   [Latin  note,  p.  402] 
Ther  as  this  Markys  /  shoope  his  mariage 
There  stood  a  throope  /  of  site  delitable 

In  which  /  that  poure  folk/  of  that  village  200 

Haddeii  hir  beestes  /  and  hir  herbergage 

And  of  hire  labour  /  tooke  hir  sustenance 

After  that  the  erthe  /  yaf  hem  h abundance  203 

Amonges  thise  poure  folk/  ther  dwelte  a  man  204 

Which  fat  was  holden  /  pourest  of  hem  alle 

But  hye  god  /  som  tyme  senden  kan 

His  grace  /  in  to  a  litel  oxes  stalle  207 

lanicula  /men  of  that  throope  hym  calle 

A  doghter  hadde  he  /  fair  ynogli  to  sighte 

And  Grisildis  /  this  yonge  mayden  higlite  210 

ELLESMERE    241    (6-T.  409) 


410    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

But  for  to  speke  /  of  vertuous  bourctee  211 

Thanne  was  she  /  oon  the  faireste  vnder  sonne 

ffor  poureliche  /  yfostred  vp  was  she 

~No  likerous  lust1  /was  thurgh"  hire  herte  yronne  214 

Wei  ofter  /  of  the  welle  /  than  of  the  tonne 

She  drank/  and  for  she  wolde  vertu  plese 

She  knew  wel  labour/  but  noon  ydel  ese  217 

But  thogh  this  mayde  /  tendre  were  of  age     .  218 

Yet*  in  the  brest1  of  hire  virginitee 

Ther  was  enclosed  /  rype  and  sad  corage 

And  in  greet  reuerence  /  and  charitee  221 

Hir  olde  poure  fader/  fostred  shee 

A  fewe  sheepe  /  spynnynge  on  feeld  she  kepte 

She  wolde  noghtf  been  ydel  til  she  slepte  224 

And  whan  she  homward  cam  /  she  wolde  brynge  225 

Wortes  /  or  othere  herbes  /  tymes  ofte 

The  whiche  she  shredde  /  and  seeth  for  hir  lyuynge 

And  made  hir  bed  /  ful  harde  and  no  thyng  softe          228 

And  ay  she  kepte  /  hir  fadres  lyf  on  lofte 

With  euerich  obeisaunce  and  diligence 

That  child  may  doon  /  to  fadres  reuerence  231 

IT  Vp  on  Grisilde  /  this  poure  creature  232 

fful  ofte  sithe  /  this  Markys  caste  his  eye 

As  he  /  on  huntyng  rood  parauenture 

And  whan  fat  it  fil  /  J?at  he  myghte  hire  espye  235 

He  noght/  with  wantowne  lookyng  of  folye 

Hise  eyen  caste  on  hire  /  but  in  sad  wyse 

Vp  on  hir  chiere  /  he  gan  hym  ofte  auyse  238 

Commendynge  in  his  herte  /  hir  wommanhede     [leaf  94,  back] 

And  eek  hir  vertu  /  passynge  any  wight1 

Of  so  yong  age  /  as  wel  in  chiere  as  dede 

ffor  thogh  the  peple  /  hadde  no  greet1  insight*  242 

ELLESMERE    242    (6-T.  410) 


411    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

In  vertu  /  he  considered  ful  right/ 

Hir  bourctee  /  and  disposed  that  he  wolde 

"Wedde  hire  oonly  /  if  euere  he  wedde  sholde  245 

1T  The  day  of  weddyng  cam  /  but  no  wight  kan  246 

Telle  /  what  womman  /  that  it  sholde  be 

ffor  which  menieille  /  wondred  many  a  man 

And  seyden  /  Avhan  that  they  were  in  pn'uetee  249 

Wol  nat  oure  lord  /  yet  leue  his  vanytee  ? 

Wol  he  nat  wedde  /  alias  alias  the  while  ? 

Why  wole  he  thus  /  hym  self  and  vs  bigile  ?  252 

IT  But  nathelees  /  this  Markys  hath  doon  make  253 

Of  gemmes  /  set  in  gold  and  in  Asure 

Brooches  and  rynges  /  for  Grisildis  sake 

And  of  hir  clothyng^  took  he  the  mesure  256 

By  a  mayde  /  lyk1  to  hire  stature 

And  eek*  of  othere  aornementes  alle 

That  vn-to  swich  a  weddyng1  sholde  falle 

The  time  of  vndren  /  of  the  same  day 

Approcheth  /  that  this  weddyng1  sholde  be 

And  al  the  paleys  /  put  was  in  array 

Bothe  halle  and  chambres  /  ech  in  his  degree  263 

Houses  of  office  /  stuffed  with  plentee 

Ther  maystow  seen  /  of  deynteuous  vitaille 

That  may  be  founde  /  as  fer  as  last  y taille 

This  roial  Markys  /  richely  arrayed 

Lordes  and  ladyes  /  in  his  compaignye 

The  whiche  /  that  to  the  feeste  weren  yprayed 

And  of  his  retenue  /  the  bachelrye  270 

With  many  a  soun  /  of  sondry  melody e 

Vn-to  the  village  /  of  the  which  I  tolde 

In  this  array  /  the  righte  wey  han  holde  273 

ELLESMEKE    243    (6-T.  41l) 


412    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.  §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  Grisilde  of  this  /  god  woot  ful  Innocent1  274 

That  for  hire  /  shapen  was  al  this  array 

To  fecchen  water  at  a  welle  is  went1 

And  comth  hoom  /  as  soone  as  euer  she  may  277 

ffor  wel  she  hadde  herd  seyd  /  that  thilke  day 

The  Markys  sholde  wedde  /  and  if  she  myghte 

She  wolde  fayn  /  han  seyn  /  som  of  that  sigfite  280 

She  thoghte  /  I  wole  /  with  othere  maydens  stonde    [leaf  95] 

mi      ,    i  f  i  /  •  -i  -i  [Latin  note,  p.  402] 

That  been  my  felawes  /  in  oure  dore  and  se 

The  Markysesse  /  and  therfore  wol  I  fonde 

To  doon  at  hoom  /  as  soone  as  it  may  be  284 

The  labour  /  which  that  longeth  vn-to  me 

And  thanne  I  may  /  at  leyser  hire  biholde 

If  she  this  wey  /  vn-to  the  Castel  holde  287 

And  as  she  wolde  /  oner  hir  thressh~fold  gon  288 

The  Markys  cam  /  and  gan  hire  for  to  calle 

And  she  set  doun  /  hir  water  pot  anon 

Biside  the  thresshfoldf/  in  an  Oxes  stalle  291 

And  doun  vp-on  hir  knes  she  gan  to  falle 

And  -with  sad  contenance  /  kneleth  stille 

Til  she  had  herd  /  what  was  the  lordes  will  294 

IF  This  thogh~tful  Markys  /  spak  vn-to  this  niayde         295 

™  i        i       i       /         j  j      •       ,i  •  [Latin  note,  p.  402] 

fful  sobrely  /  and  seyde  in  this  manere 

"Where  is  youre  fader  /  o  Grisildis  he  sayde 

And  she  with  reuerence  /  in  humble  cheere  298 

Answerde .  lord  /  he  is  al  redy  heere 

And  In  she  gooth  /  with  outen  lenger  lette 

And  to  the  Markys  /  she  hir  fader  fette  301 

He  by  the  hand  /  thanne  took  this  olde  man  302 

And  seyde  thus  /  whan  he  hym  hadde  asyde 

lanicula  /  I  neither  may  ne  kan 

Lenger  /  the  plesance  of  myn  herte  hyde  305 

ELLESMERE   244   (6-T.  412) 


413    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

If  that  thou  vouche  sauf1  what  so  bityde 
Thy  doghter  wol  I  take  /  er  fat  I  wende 
As  for  my  wyf1  vn-to  hir  lyues  ende  308 

Thou  louest  me  /  I  woot  it  wel  certeyn  309 

And  art  my  feithful  /  lige  man  ybore 

And  all  that/  liketh  me  /  I  dar  wel  seyn. 

It  liketh  thee  /  and  specially  therfore  312 

Tel  me  that  poynt  /  that  I  haue  seyd  bifore 

If  that  thou  woltf  vn-to  that  pzrrpos  drawe 

To  take  me  /  as  for  thy  sone  in  la  we  315 

1F  This  sodeyn  cas  /  this  man  astonyed  so  316 

That  reed  he  wax  abaysf  and  al  quakyng1 

He  stood  /  vnnethes  seyde  he  wordes  mo 

But  oonly  thus  /  lord  quod  he  /  my  willy  nge  9  319 

Is  as  ye  wole  /  ne  ayeyns  /  youre  likynge  s 

I  wol  no  thyng1  ye  be  my  lord  so  deere 

Right  as  yow  lust*  goue?-neth  this  mateere  322 


IT  Yet  wol  I  /  quod  this  Markys  softely  peaf 

That  in  thy  chambre  /  I.  and  thou  /  and  she 

Haue  a  collacion  /  and  wostow  why  ? 

ffor  I  wol  axe  /  if  it  hire  wille  be  326 

To  be  my  wyf  /  and  reule  hire  after  me 

And  al  this  shal  be  doon  /  in  thy  presence 

I  wol  noghf  speke  /  out  of  thyn  Audience  329 

IT  And  in  the  chambre  /  whil  they  were  aboute  330 

Hir  tretys  /  which  as  ye  shal  after  heere 

The  peple  cam  /  vn-to  the  hous  with  oute 

And  woudred  hem  /  in  how  honeste  manere  333 

And  tentifly  /  she  kepte  hir  fader  deere 

But  outrely  /  Grisildis  wondre  myghte 

ffor  neuere  erst*  ne  saugh"  she  swich  a  sighte  336 

ELLESMERE   245   (6-T.  413) 


414    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

"No  wonder  is  /  thogh  she  were  astoned  [Latin  note,  p.  402]  337 

To  seen  so  greet  a  gest1  coine  in  that  place 

She  neuere  was  /  to  swiche  gestes  woned 

ffor  which  /  she  looked  /  with  ful  pale  face  340 

But  shortly  /  forth  this  tale  for  to  chace 

Thise  arn  the  wordes  /  J>at  the  Markys  sayde 

To  this  benigne  /  verray  feithful  mayde  343 

1T  Grisilde  he  seyde  /  ye  shal  wel  vnderstonde  344 

T,   ,.,     ,,     ,  ,.    ,  ,    ,  [Latin  note,  p.  402] 

It  hketh  to  youre  fader  and  to  me 

That  I  yow  /  wedde  /  and  eek  it  may  so  stonde 

As  I  suppose  /  ye  wol  that  it  so  be  347 

But  thise  demandes  /  axe  I  first  quod  he 

That  sith  it  shal  be  doon  /  in  hastif  wyse 

"Wol  ye  assente  /  or  elles  yow  auyse  350 

I  seye  this  /  be  ye  redy  with  good  herte  351 

To  al  my  lust*  and  that  I  frely  may 

As  me  best  thynketh  /  do  yow  laughe  or  smerte 

And  neuere  ye  to  grucche  if  nyght  ne  day  354 

And  eek1  whan  I  sey  ye  /  ne  sey  nat  nay 

Neither  by  word  /  ne  frownyng1  contenance 

Swere  this  /  and  heere  I  swere  yow  alliance  357 

IT  Wondrynge  vp  on  this  word  /  quakynge  for  drede     358 

ou  j     i      j    /         J-  j  -A-U  [Latin  note,  p.  402] 

She  seyde  lord  /  vndigne  and  vnworthy  s 

Am  I  /  to  thilke  honour/  \>at  ye  me  beede 

But  as  ye  wole  youre  self*  right  so  wol  .1.  361 

And  heere  I  swere  /  that  neuere  willyngly 

In  werk  ne  thoghfr  I  nyl  yow  disobeye  [Latin  note,  p.  402] 

ffor  to  be  deed  /  though  me  were  looth  to  deye  364 

IT  This  is  ynogfi.  /  Grisilde  myn  quod  he         Deaf  96]        365 

And  forth  he  gooth  /  with  a  ful  sobre  cheere 

Out  at  the  dore  /  and  after  that  cam  she 

And  to  the  peple  /  he  seyde  in  this  manere  368 

ELLESMERE   246   (6-T.  414) 


415    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

This  is  my  wyf  quod  he  /  fat  standeth  heere 

Honoureth  hire  /  and  loueth  hire  I  preye 

Who  so  me  loueth  /  ther  is  namoore  to  seye  371 

And  for  that  no  thyng1  of  hir  olde  geere  [Latin  note,  p.  402]  372 

She  sholde  brynge  in  to  his  hous  /  he  bad  s 

That  wommen  /  sholde  dispoillen  hire  right  theere 

Of  which  thise  ladyes  /  were  nat  right  glad  375 

To  handle  hir  clothes  /  wher  Inne  she  was  clad 

But  nathelees  /  this  mayde  bright  of  hewe 

ffro  foot  to  heed  /  they  clothed  han  al  ne we  378 

Hir  heris  han  they  kembd  /  that  lay  vntressed  379 

fful  rudely  /  and  with  hir  fyngres  smale 

A  corone  on  hire  heed  /  they  han  ydressed 

And  sette  hire  /  ful  of  Nowches  grete  and  smale  382 

Of  hire  array  /  what  sholde  I  make  a  tale 

Vnnethe  the  peple  hire  knew  /  for  hire  fairnesse 

Whan  she  translated  was  in  swich  richesse  385 

IT  This  Markys  /  hath  hire  spoused  with  a  ryng1  386 

Broght  for  the  same  cause  /  and  thanne  hire  sette 

Vp  on  an  hors  snow  whit1  and  wel  amblyng* 

And  to  his  paleys  /  er  he  lenger  lette  389 

With  ioyful  peple  fat  hire  ladde  and  mette 

Conuoyed  hire  /  and  thus  the  day  they  spende 

In  reuel  /  til  the  sonne  gan  descende  392 

And  shortly  /  forth  this  tale  for  to  chace  393 

I  seye  /  that  to  this  newe  Markysesse 

God  hath  swich  favour  /  sent  hire  of  his  grace 

That  it  ne  semed  natf  by  liklynesse  396 

That  she  was  /  born  and  fed  in  rudenesse 

As  in  a  cote  /  or  in  an  Oxe  Stalle 

But  norissed  /  in  an  Emperoures  halle  399 

ELLESMERE   247   (6-T.  415) 


416    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

1T  To  euery  wight/  she  woxen  is  so  deere  [Latin  note,  p.  402]  400 

And  worshipful  /  J>at  folk  ther  she  was  bore 

And  from  hire  birthe  /  knewe  hire  yeer  by  yeere 

Vnnethe  trowed  they  /  but  dorste  ban  swore  403 

That  she  to  lanicle  /  of  which  I  spak  bifore 

She  doghter  were  /  for  as  by  coniecture 

Hem  thoughte  /  she  was  another  creature  406 

ffor  though"  that  euere  vertuous  was  she      [leaf  96,  backi     407 

She  was  encressed  /  in  swich  excellence 

Of  thewes  goode  /  ysetf  in  heigh  bountee 

And  so  discreet1  and  fair  of  eloquence  410 

So  benigne  /  and  so  digne  of  reuerence 

And  koude  so  /  the  peples  herte  embrace 

That  ech  hire  louede  /  that  looked  on  hir  face  413 

IT  Noght  oonly  of  Saluces  in  the  toun  414 

Publiced  was  /  the  beautee  of  hir  name 

But  eek  biside  /  in-  many  a  regioun 

If  oon  seide  wel  /  another  seyde  the  same  417 

So  spradde  /  of  hire  heighe  bouwtee  the  name 

That  men  and  wommen  /  as  wel  yonge  as  olde 

Goon  to  Saluce  /  vpon  hire  to  bihold  420 

Thus  "Walter  lowely  ?  nay  /  but  roially  [.Latin  note,  p.  «2j  421 

Wedded  /  with  fortunat  honestetee 

In  goddes  pees  /  lyueth  ful  esily 

At  hoom  /  and  outward  /  grace  ynogh  had  he  424 

And  for  he  saugh  /  that  vnder  heigh  degree    [Latin  note,  p.  402] 

"Was  vertu  hid  /  the  peple  hym  heelde 

A  prudent  man  /  and  that  is  seyn  ful  seelde  427 

IT  Nat  oonly  this  Grisildis  /  thurgh  hir  wit1    [Latin  note,  p.  402] 

Koude  al  the  feet1  of  wyfly  humblenesse 

But  eek1  whan  that  the  cas  required  if 

The  commune  profit1  koude  she  redresse  431 

ELLESMERE   248    (6-T.  416} 


417    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Ther  nas  discord  /  rancour  /  ne  heuynesse 
In  al  that  land  /  that  she  ne  koude  apese 
And  wisely  /  brynge  hem.  alle  in  reste  and  ese  434 

Though  that  hire  housbonde  absent  were/  anon  s  435 

[Latin  note,  p.  402] 

If  gentil  men  /  or  othere  01  hire  contree 

Were  wrothe  /  she  wolde  bryngen  hem.  aton 

So  wise  /  and  rype  wordes  hadde  she  438 

And  luggementz  of  so  greet  equitee 

That  she  from  heuene  /  sent  was  as  men  wende 

Peple  to  saue  /  and  euery  wrong  tamende  441 

1T  Nat  longe  tyme  /  after/  that  this  Grisild?  442 

"Was  wedded  /  she  a  doghter  hath  ybore 

Al  had  hire  leuere  /  haue  born  a  man  child? 

Glad  was  this  Markys  /  and  the  folk*  therfore  445 

ffor  though  a  mayde  child  /  coome  al  bifore 

She  may  /  vn-to  a  man  child  atteyne 

By  liklihede  /  syn  she  nys  nat  bareyne  448 

^[  Explicit*  secunda  pars  fo 

IT  Incipif  tercia  pars  ^  [leaf  97] 

THer  fil  /  as  it  bifalleth  tymes  mo  s  {Latin  note,  p.  402]  449 
Whan  fat  this  child  /  had  souked  but  a  throwe 
This  Markys  /  in  his  herte  longe th  so 
To  tempte  his  wyf1  hir  sadnesse  for  to  knowe  452 

That  he  ne  myghte  /  out  of  his  herte  throwe 
This  merueillous  desir/  his  wyf  tassaye 
Nedelees  god  woot/  he  thoghte  /  hire  for  taffraye  455 

He  hadde  assayed  hire  /  ynogh"  bifore  456 

And  foond  hire  euere  good  /  what  neded  it 

Hire  for  to  tempte  /  and  alwey  /  moore  and  moore 

Though"  som  men  preise  it1  for  a  subtil  wit/  459 

But  as  for  me  /  I  seye  that  yuele  it  sit 

To  assaye  a  wyf1  whan  Jj«t  it  is  no  nede 

And  putten  hire  /  in  angwyssh"  and  in  drede  462 

ELLESMERE    249    (6-T.  417) 


418    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.  CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  which  /  this  Markys  /  wroghte  in  this  manere         463 

He  cam  allone  /  a  nyght  /  ther  as  she  lay 

With  stierne  face  /  and  vriih  ful  trouble  cheere 

And  seyde  thus  /  Grisilde  quod  he  that  day  466 

That  I  yow  took/  out  of  youre  pouere  array 

And  putte  yow  /  in  estaat  of  heigh  noblesse 

Ye  haue  /  nat  that*  forgeten  as  I  gesse  469 

I  seye  Grisilde  /  this  present  dignitee  470 

In  which  that  I  haue  put  yow  /.  as  I  trowe  8 

Maketh  yow  nat1  foryetful  for  to  be 

That  I  yow  took/  in  poure  estaat  ful  lowe  473 

ffor  any  wele  /  ye  moot  youre  seluen  knowe 

Taak  heede  /  of  euery  word  /  that  y  yow  seye 

Ther  is  no  wight1  that  hereth  it  but  we  tweye  476 

Ye  woot  youre  self  wel  /  how  J>at  ye  cam  heere  477 

In  to  this  hous  /  it  is  nat  longe  ago 

And  though  to  me ./  fat  ye  be  lief  and  deere 

Vn-to  my  gentils  /  ye  be  no  thyng  so  480 

They  seyn  /  to  hem  /  it  is  greet  shame  and  wo 

ffor  to  be  subgetz  /  and  to  been  in  seruage 

To  thee  /  that  born  art/  of  a  smal  village  483 

And  namely  /  sith  thy  doghter  was  ybore  484 

Thise  wordes  /  han  they  spoken  doutelees 

But  I  desire  /  as  I  haue  doon  bifore 

To  lyue  my  lyf  vrith  hem  /  in  reste  and  pees  487 

I  may  nat  in  this  caas  /  be  recchelees 

I  moot  doon  w/t/t  thy  doghter/  for  the  beste 

Kat  as  I  wolde  /  but  as  my  peple  leste  490 

And  yet  god  woof  this  is  ful  looth  to  me  Deaf  97,  back] 

But  nathelees  /  with  oute  youre  wityng1 

I  wol  nat  doon  /  but  this  wol  I  quod  he 

That  ye  to  me  assente  /  as  in  this  thyng1  494 

ELLESMERE    250   (6-T.  418) 


419    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.  CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Shewe  now  youre  pacience  /  in  youre  werkyng1 
That  ye  me  highte  /  and  swore  in  youre  village 
That  day  /  that  maked  was  oure  mariage  497 

IT  Whan  she  had  herd  al  this  /  she  noght  ameued         498 

Neither  in  word  /  or  chiere  or  countenance    ^tu&cefera  l  ne° 

ffor  as  it  semed  /  she  was  nat  agreued 

She  seyde  lord  /  al  lyth  in  youre  plesance  501 

My  child  and  I  /  with  hertely  obeisance 

Been  youres  al  /  and  ye  mowe  saue  and  spille 

Youre  owene  thyng1  werketh  after  youre  wille  504 

Ther  may  no  thyng  /  god  so  my  soule  saue  505 

Liken  to  yow  /  that  may  displese  me 

Ne  I  ne  desire  /no  thyng1  for  to  haue 

Ne  drede  for  to  leese  /  saue  oonly  thee  /.  vel  yee  508 

This  wyl  is  in  myn  herte  /  and  ay  shal  be 

No  lengthe  of  tyme  /  or  deeth  may  this  deface 

Ne  chaunge  my  corage  /  to  another  place  511 

IT  Glad  was  this  Markys  /  of  hire  answeryng1  512 

But  yet  he  feyned  /  as  he  were  nat  so 

Al  drery  was  his  cheere  /  and  his  lookyng1 

Whan  fat  he  sholde  /  out/  of  the  chambre  go  515 

Soone  after  this  /  a  furlong  wey  or  two 

He.prmely  /  hath  toold  al  his  entente 

Vn-to  a  man  /  and  to  his  wyf  hym  sente  518 

A  maner  sergeant1  was  this  pn'uee  man  519 

The  which  fat  feithful  offce  /  he  founden  hadde 

In  thynges  grete  /  and  eek  swich  folk  wel  kan 

Doon  execucion  on  thynges  badde  522 

The  lord  knew  wel  /  that  he  hym  loued  and  dradde 

And  whan  this  sergeant1  wiste  the  lordes  wille 

In  to  the  chambre  /  he  stalked  hym  ful  stille  525 

21  ELLESMERE   251    (0-T.  419) 


420   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

11  Madame  he  seydc  /  yo  moote  foryeue  it  me  526 

Though  I  do  thyng1  to  which  I  am  constreyned 

Ye  been  so  wys  /  that  ful  wel  knowe  yo 

That  lordes  heestes  /  mowe  nat  been  yfeyned  529 

They  mowe  wel  been  /  biwailled  and  compleyned 

13ut  men  moote  nede  /  vn-to  hire  lust  obeye 

And  so  wol  I  /  ther  is  namoore  to  seye  532 

This  child1  /  I  am  comanded  for  to  take  [leaf  98]       533 

And  spak  namoore  /  but  out  the  child  he  hente 

Pespitously  /  and  gan  a  cheere  make 

As  though  he  wolde  /  han  slayn  it  er  he  wente  53G 

Grisildis  /  moot  al  suffren  and  consente 

And  as  a  lamb  /  she  sitteth  meke  and  stille 

And  leet1  this  crueel  sergeant  doon  his  wille  539 

IT  Suspecious  /  was  the  diflfame  of  this  man  T  T<*ta  viri  fama 

-  .      -  .  ,  .  ...  1  suspecta  facie 

Suspect1  his  lace  /  suspect*  his  word  also       ^  SUspecta  hora 
Suspect1  the  tyme  /  in  which  he  this  bigan  f  suspecta  eratorujio 
Alias  hir  doghter/  that  she  loued  so  543 

She  wende  /  he  wolde  han  slawen  it  right  tho 
But  nathelees  /  she  neither  weepe  ne  syked  . 
Omsentyngo  hire  /  to  that  the  Markys  lyked  546 

But  atte  laste  /  to  speken  she  bigan  547 

And  mekely  /  she  to  the  sergeant  preyde 

So  as  he  was  /  a  worthy  gentil  man 

That  she  moste  kisse  hire  child  /  er  fat  it  deydc  550 

And  in  hir  barm  /  this  litel  child  she  leyde 

With  ful  sad  face  /  and  gan  the  child  to  kisse 

And  lulled  if  and  after  gan  it  blisse  553 

And  thus  she  seyde  /  in  hire  benigne  voys  554 

ffare  wecl  my  child  /  I  shal  thee  neuere  see 

But  sith  /  I  thee  /  haue  marked  wz't/i  the  croys 

Of  thilke  fader/  blessed  inoote  he  be  557 

ELLESMERE   232   (6-T.  420) 


421    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  for  vs  deyde  /  vp  on  a  croys  of  tree 

Thy  soule  litel  child  /  I  hym  bitake 

ffor  this  nygfit1  shaltow  dyen  for  my  sake  5  CO 

IT  I  trowe  /  that  to  a  norice  in  this  cas  561 

It  had  been  hard  /  this  reuthe  for  to  se 

Wei  myghte  a  mooder  /  thanne  han  cryd  alias 

But  nathelees  /  so  sad  and  stidefast  was  she  564 

That  she  endured  /  al  aduersitee 

And  to  the  sergeant1  mekely  she  sayde 

Haue  heer  agayn  /  youre  litel  yonge  mayde  567 

Gooth  now  quod  she  /  and  dooth  my  lordes  heeste        568 

And  o  thyng/  wol  I  prey  yow  of  youre  grace 

That  but  my  lord  /  forbad  yow  atte  leesto 

Burieth  this  litel  body  /  in  som  place  571 

That  beestes  ne  no  briddes  /  it  to-race 

But  he  no  word  /  wol  to  that  pwrpos  seye 

But  took  the  child  /  and  wente  vpon  his  weye  574 

IT  This  sergeant1  cam  vn-to  his  lord  ageyn  [leaf  93,  back] 

And  of  Grisildis  wordes  /  and  hire  cheere 

He  tolde  hym  point1  for  point1  in  short  and  pleyn 

And  hym  presenteth  /  with  his  doghter  deere  578 

Somwhat  this  lord  /  hath  routhe  in  his  manere 

But  nathelees  /  his  pwrpos  heeld  he  stille 

As  lordes  doon  /  whan  they  wol  han  hir  wille  581 

And  bad  his  sergeant1  that  he  pryuely  582 

Sholde  this  child  /  softe  wynde  and  wrappe 

With  alle  circumstances  /  tendrely 

And  carie  it  in  a  cofre  /  or  in  a  lappe  585 

But  vp-on  peyne  /  his  heed  of  for  to  swappe 

That  no  man  sholde  knowe  /  of  his  entente 

vnde 

Ne  whenne  /  ne  whider  that  he  wente  ,'  588 

ELLESMERE   253   (6-T.  42l) 


422    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

But  at  Boloigne  /  to  his  suster  deere  589 

That  thilke  tyme  /  of  Pavik  was  Countesse 

He  sholde  it  take  /  and  shewe  hire  this  mateere 

Bisekynge  hire  /  to  doon  hire  bisynesso  592 

This  child  to  fostre  /  in  alle  gentillesse 

And  whos  child  that  it  was  /  he  bad  hym  hyde 

ffrom  euery  wight/  for  oght  fat  may  bityde  595 

IT  The  sergeant  gooth  /  and  hath  fulfild  this  thyng1       596 

But  to  this  Markys  /  now  retourne  we 

ffor  now  gooth  he  /  ful  faste  ymaginyng* 

If  by  his  wyues  cheere  /  he  myghte  se  599 

Or  by  hire  word  aperceyue  /  that  she  s 

Were  chaunged  /  but  he  neuere  hire  koude  fynde 

But  euere  in  oon  /  ylike  sad  and  kynde  602 

As  glad  /  as  humble  /  as  bisy  in  seruyse  tLati»note,  p.  402]  603 

And  eek1  in  loue  /  as  she  was  wont  to  be 

Was  she  to  hym  /  in  euery  manor  wyse 

Ne  of  hir  doghter/  noght  a  word  spak  she  606 

Noon  accident1  for  noon  aduersitee 

Was  seyn  in  hire  /  ne  neuere  hir  doghter  name  • 

Ne  nempned  she  /  in  ernest  /  nor  in  game  609 

If  Explicit  tercia  pars  fa 
Sequitwr  pars  quarta  ^ 

IN  this  estaat/  ther  passed  been  foure  yeer  [.Latin 
Er  she  with  childe  was  /  but  as  god  wolde 
A  man  child  she  bar  /  by  this  Walter 
fful  gracious  /  and  fair  for  to  biholde  613 

And  whan  that  folk1  it  to  his  fader  tolde 
Nat  oonly  he  /  but  al  his  contree  merye 
Was  for  this  child  /  and  god  they  thanke  and  herye     616 

Whan  it  was  two  yeer  old*  /  and  fro  the  brestf  617 

Departed  of  his  norice  /  on  a  day  • 
This  Markys  /  caughte  yet  another  lesfr 

ELLESMEUE   251    (6-T.  422) 


423    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

To  tempte  his  wyf  /  yet  ofter  if  he  may  G20 

0  nedelees  /  was  she  tempted  in  assay 
But  wedded  men  /  ne  knowe  no  mesure 

Whan  fat  they  fynde  /  a  pacient  creature  623 

f  Wyf  quod  this  Markys  /  ye  han  herd  er  this      [^fil0"f e> 

My  peple  /  sikly  berth  oure  mariage 

And  namely  /  sith  my  sone  yborn  is 

Now  is  it  worse  /  than  euere  in  al  oure  age  G27 

The  mwrmure  sleeth  myn  herte  and  my  corage 

ffor  to  myne  eres  /  comth  the  voys  so  smerte 

That  it  wel  ny  /  destroyed  hath  myn  herto  630 

11  Now  sey  they  thus  /  whan  Walter  is  agon  631 

Thanne  shal  /  the  blood  of  lanicle  succede 

And  been  oure  lord  /  for  oother  haue  we  noon 

Swiche  wordes  /  seith  my  peple  out  of  drede  634 

Wel  oughte  I  /  of  swich  murmwr  taken  heede 

ffor  certeinly  /  I  drede  swich  sentence 

Though"  they  nat  pleyn  /  speke  in  myn  Audience  637 

1  wolde  lyue  in  pees  /  if  that  I  myghte  638 
Wherfore  /  I  am  disposed  outrely 

As  I  his  suster/  serued  by  nyghte 

Eight  so  thenke  I  /  to  serue  hyrn  pryuely  641 

This  warne  I  yow  /  J>at  ye  nat  sodeynly 

Out  of  youre  self1  for  no  wo  sholde  outreye 

Beth  pacient1  and  ther  of  I  yow  preye  644 

IT  I  haue  quod  she  seyd  thus  /  and  euere  shal  645 

I  wol  no  thyng1  ne  nyl  no  thyng  certayn 

But  as  yow  list1  naught  greueth  me  at  al 

Though  ]>at  my  doughter/  and  my  sone  be  slayn  648 

At  youre  comandement1  this  is  to  sayn 

I  haue  noght  had  no  part*  of  children  tweyne 

But  first  siknessc  /  and  after  wo  and  peyne  651 

ELLESMERE    255    (6-T.  423) 


424   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.  CLERK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Ye  been  oure  lord  /  dooth  with  youre  owene  thyng1   [if  99,  MO 

Eight  as  yow  list1  axeth  no  reed  at  me 

ffor  as  I  lefte  at  hoom  /  al  my  clothyng1 

Whan  I  first  cam  to  yow/8  right  so  quod  she  655 

Lefte  I  my  wyl  /  and  al  my  libertee 

And  took  youre  clothyng*  wherfore  I  yow  prcye 

Dooth  youre  plesance  /  I  wol  youre  lust  obeye  G58 

And  certes  /  if  I  hadde  prescience  659 

Youre  wyl  to  knowe  /  er  ye  youre  lust  me  tolde 

I  wolde  it  doon  /  with  outen  necligence 

But  now  I  woot  youre  lust1  and  what  ye  wolde  662 

Al  youre  plesance  /  ferme  and  stable  I  holde 

ffor  wiste  I  /  that  my  deeth  /  wolde  do  yow  ese     ffijS  note' 

Eight  gladly  /  wolde  I  dyen  yow  to  plese  665 

Deth  may  noght1  make  no  comparisons  666 

Vn-to  youre  loue  /  and  whan  this  Markys  say 

The  Constance  of  his  wyf  /  he  caste  adoun 

Hise  eyen  two  /  and  wondreth  pat  she  may  669 

In  pacience  /  suffre  al  this  array 

And  forth  he  goth  /  with  drery  contenance 

But  to  bis  herte  /  it  was  ful  greet  plesance  672 

IF  This  fgly  sergeant/  in  the  same  wyse  673 

That  he  hire  doghter  caughte  /  right  so  he 

Or  worse  /  if  men  worse  kan  deuyse 

Hath  hent  hire  sone  /  fat  ful  was  of  beautec  676 

And  euere  in  oon  /  so  pacient  was  she 

That  she  no  chiere  maade  /  of  heuynesse 

But  kiste  hir  sone  /  and  after  gan  it  blesse  679 

Saue  this  /  she  preyde  hym  /  that  if  he  mygftte  680 

Hir  litel  sone  /  he  wolde  in  erthe  graue 

His  tendre  lymes  /  delicaat  to  sighte 

ffro  foweles  and  fro  beestes  for  to  saue  683 

ELLESMERE    256   (6-T.  424) 


4:25    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  E.    §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

But  she  noon  answere  /  of  hym  myghte  haue 

Ho  wente  his  wey  /  as  hym  no  thyng  ne  rogftte 

But  to  Boloigne  /  he  tendrely  it  broghte  686 

This  Markys  /  wondred  euere  lenger  the  moore  G87 

Vp  on  hir  pacience  /  and  if  that  he 

NQ  hadde  soothly  /  knowen  ther  bifoore 

That  parfitly  /  hir  children  loued  she  690 

He  wolde  haue  wend  /  fat  of  som  subtiltee 

And  of  malice  /  or  for  crueel  corage 

That  she  hadde  suffred  this  vriih  sad  visage  693 

But  wel  he  knew  /  that  next  hym  self  certayn  [leaf  ion] 

She  loued  hir  children  best  in  euery  wyse 

But  now  of  wommen  /  wolde  I  axen  fayn 

If  thise  assay es  /  myghte  nat  suffise  097 

What  koude  a  sturdy  housbonde  moore  deuyse 

To  preeue  hire  wyfhod  /  or  hir  stedefastnesse 

And  he  continuynge  euere  in  sturdinesse  700 

But  ther  been  folk/  of  swich  condicion)'  701 

That  whan  they  haue  /  a  certein  pwrpos  take 

They  kan  nat  stynte  of  hire  entencion) 

But  right1  as  they  were  bounden  to  that  stake  704 

They  wol  nat1  of  that  firste  purpos  slake 

Right  so  this  Markys  /  fulliche  hath  purposed 

To  tempte  his  wyf/  as  he  was  first  disposed  707 

He  waiteth  /  if  by  word  /  or  contenance  708 

That  she  to  hym  /  was  changed  of  corage 

But  neuere  /  koude  he  fynde  variance 

She  was  ay  oon  /  in  herte  and  in  visage  711 

And  ay  the  forther  /  fat  she  was  in  age 

The  moore  trewe  /  if  fat  it  were  possible 

She  was  to  hym  in  loue  /  and  moore  penyble  714 

ELLESMERE   257   (6-T.  425) 


426    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

ffor  which  it  semed  thus  /  fat  of  hem  two  715 

Ther  nas  but  o  wyl  /  for  as  waiter  leste 

The  same  lust1  was  hire  plesance  also 

And  god  be  thanked  /  al  fil  for  the  beste  '718 

She  shewed  wel  /  for  no  worldly  vnreste 

A  wyf1  as  of  hir  self1  no  thing1  ne  sholde 

"VVille  in  effect1  but  as  hir  housbonde  wolde  721 

IT  The  sclaundre  of  "Walter  /  ofte  and  wyde  spradde      722 

_,  „  ,  ,  ,  ,  .,  ,      ..,  [Latin  note,  p.  402] 

That  of  a  crueel  herte  /  he  wikkedly 

ffor  he  a  poure  womman  wedded  hadde. 

Hath  mordred  /  bothe  his  children  pn'uely  725 

Swich  niMrmure  /  was  among  hem  comunly 

'No  wonder  is  /  for  to  the  peples  ere 

Ther  cam  no  word  /  but  fat  they  mordred  were  728 

ffor  which  /  where  as  his  peple  ther  bifore  729 

Hadde  loiied  hym  wel  /  the  sclaundre  of  his  diffame 

Made  hem  /  that  they  hym  hated  therfore 

To  been  a  mordrere-  is  an  hateful  name  732 

But  nathelees  /  for  ernesf  ne  for  game 

He  of  his  crueel  purpos  nolde  stente 

To  tempte  his  wyf/  was  set  al  his  entente  735 

IT  Whan  that  his  doghter  .xij.  yeer  was  of  age    [leaf  ioo,back] 

He  to  the  court  of  Rome  in  subtil  wyse 

Enformed  of  his  wyl  /  sente  his  message 

Comaundynge  hem  /  swiche  bulles  to  deuyse  739 

As  to  his  crueel  purpos  may  suifyse 

How  J?at  the  pope  /  as  for  his  peples  reste 

Bad  hym  to  wedde  /  another  if  hym  leste  742 

I  seye  /  he  bad  they  sholde  countrefete  743 

The  popes  bulles  /  makynge  mention) 

That  he  hath  leue  /  his  -firste  wyf  to  lete 

As  by  the  popes  dispensation)  746 

ELLESMERE    258    (6-T.  426) 


427  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

To  stynte  rancour  and  dissencion) 

Bitwixe  his  peple  and  hym  /  thus  scyde  the  bulle 

The  which  /  they  han  publiced  atte  fulle  749 

1F  The  rude  peple  /  as  it  no  wonder  is  750 

Wenden  ful  wel  /  that  it  hadde  be  right  so 

But  whan  thise  tidynges  cam  to  Grisildis 

I  deeme  /  that  hire  herte  was  ful  wo  753 

But  she  /  ylike  sad  for  eueremo 

Disposed  was  /  this  humble  creature 

The  aduersitee  of  ffortune  al  tendure  756 

Abidynge  euere  /  his  lust  and  his  plesanco  757 

To  whom  Jjat  she  was  yeuen  /  herte  and  al 

As  to  hire  verray  worldly  suffisance 

But  shortly  /  if  this  storie  I  tellen  shal  760 

This  Markys  /  writen  hath  in  special 

A  lettre  /  in  which  he  sheweth  his  entente 

And  secreely  he  to  Boloigne  it  sente  763 

To  the  Erl  of  Pavyk/  which  fat  hadde  tho  764 

Wedded  his  suster/  preyde  he  specially 

To  bryngen  hoom  agayn  hise  children  two 

In  honurable  estaaf  al  openly  767 

But  o  thyng1  he  hym  preyde  outrely 

That  he  to  no  wigfrfr  though  men  wolde  enquere 

Sholde  nat  telle  /  whos  children  fat  they  were  770 

But  seye  /  tho  mayden  /  sholde  ywedded  be  771 

Vn-to  the  Markys  /  of  Saluce  anon 

And  as  this  Erl  was  preyd  /  so  dide  he 

ffor  at  day  set1  he  on  his  wey  is  goon  774 

Toward  Saluce  /  and  lordes  many  oon 

In  riche  array  this  mayden  for  to  gyde 

Hir  yonge  brother/  ridynge  hire  bisyde  777 

ELLESMERE    259    (6-T.  427) 


428   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E,   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

1F  Arrayed  was  toward  hir  mariage  [leaf  101] 

This  fresshe  mayde  /  ful  of  ge/nmcs  clcere 

Hir  brother  /  which  fat  .vij.  yeer  was  of  age 

Arrayed  eek  /  ful  fressh"  in  his  manere  781 

And  thus  in  greet  noblesse  /  and  WitA  glad  chccre 

Toward  Saluces  /  shapynge  hir  iourney 

ffro  day  to  day  /  they  ryden  in  hir  wey  784 

T[  Explicit1  quarta  pars  fa 
TT  Sequitur  pars  quinta  fa 

Among  al  this  /  after  his  wikke  vsage  785 

This  Markys  yef  his  wyf  to  tempte  mooro 
To  the  outtreste  preeue  /  of  hir  corage 
ffully  /  to  han  experience  and  loore  788 

If  that  she  were  /  as  stidefastt  as  bifoore 
He  on  a  day  /  in  open  audience 
fful  boistously  haj)  seyd  hire  this  sentence  791 

IF  Certes  Grisilde  /  I  hadde  ynogft  plesance  792 

To  han  yow  to  my  wyf  /for  youre  goodnesse 

As  for  youre  trouthe  /  and  for  youre  obeisance 

Noght  for  youre  lynage  /  ne  for  youre  richesso  795 

But  now  knowe  I  /  in  verray  soothfastnesse 

That  in  greet  lordshipe  /  if  I  wcl  auyse 

Ther  is  greet  seruitute  /  in  sondry  wyse  798 

I  may  nat-doon  /  as  euery  Plowman  may  799 

My  peple  /  me  coustreyneth  for  to  take 

Another  wyf/  and  crien  day  by  day 

And  eek  the  pope  /  rancour  for  to  slake  802 

Consenteth  if  that  dar  I  vndertake 

And  treweliche  /  thus  muche  I  wol  yow  seye 

My  newe  wyf1  is  comynge  by  the  weye  805 

Be  strong  of  herte  /  and  voyde  anon  hir  place  806 

And  thilke  dowere  /  that  ye  broghten  me 
Taak  it  agayn  /  I  graunte  it  of  my  grace 

ELLESMERE   260   (6-T.  428) 


429    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Ketourneth  /  to  youre  fadres  hous  quod  he  809 

No  man  /  may  alwey  han  prosperitee 

With  euene  herte  /  I  rede  yow  tendui-e 

This  strook1  of  ffortune  /  or  of  auenture  812 

IF  And  she  answerde  agayn  in  pacience  "    Deal  101,  back]    813 

My  lord  quod  she  /  I  woof  and  wiste  alway 

How  fat  /  bitwixen  youre  magnificence 

And  my  pouerte  /  no  wight  kan  ne  may  816 

Maken  comparison)  /  it  is  no  nay 

I  ne  heeld  me  neuere  digne  in  no  manere 

To  be  youre  wyf  /  no  f  ne  youre  Chambrere  819 

And  in  this  hous  /  ther  ye  me  lady  maade  820 

The  heighe  god  /  take  I  for  my  wituesse 

And  also  wysly  /  he  my  soule  glaade 

I  neuere  /  heeld  me  lady  /  ne  maistresse  823 

But  humble  seruanf  to  youre  worthynesse 

And  euere  shal  /  whil  fat  my  lyf  may  dure 

Abouen  /  euery  worldly  creature  826 

That  ye  so  longe  /  of  youre  benignitee  827 

Han  holden  me  /  in  honour  and  nobleye 

Where  as  I  was  /  noght  worthy  bee 

That  thonke  I  god  /  and  yow  /.  to  whom  I  preye          830 

fforyelde  it  yow  /  ther  is  namoore  to  seye 

Vn-to  my  fader/  gladly  wol  I  wende 

And  with  hym  dwelle  /  vn-to  my  lyues  ende  833 

Ther  I  was  fostred  /  of  a  child  ful  smal  834 

Til  I  be  deed  /  my  lyf  ther  wol  I  lede 

A  wydwe  clene  /  in  body  /  herte  and  al 

ffor  sith  I  yaf/  to  yow  my  maydenhedo  837 

And  am  youre  trewe  wyf/  it  is  no  drede 

God  shilde  /  swich  a  lordes  wyf  to  take 

Another  man  /  to  housbonde  /  or  to  make  840 

ELLESMERE   261    (6-T.  429) 


430   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.  CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  of  youre  newe  wyf  /  god  of  hie  grace  841 

So  graunte  yow  wele  and  prosperitee 

ffor  I  wol  gladly  /  yelden  hire  my  place 

In  which  that  I  was  blisful  wont  to  bee  844 

ffor  sith  it  liketh  yow  /  my  lord  quod  shoe 

That  whilom  weren  /  al  myn  hertes  reste 

That  I  shal  goon  /  I  wol  goon  whan  yow  leste  847 

But  ther  as  ye  me  profre  /  swich  dowaire  848 

As  I  first  brognte  /  it  is  wel  in  my  myndo 

It  were  my  wrecched  clothes  no  thyng  faire 

The  whiche  to  me  /  were  hard  now  for  to  fynde  851 

0  goode  god  /  how  gentil  and  how  kynde 

Ye  semed  /  by  youre  speche  /  and  youre  visage 

The  day  /  that  maked  was  oure  mariage  854 

But  sooth  is  seyd  /  algate  I  fynde  it  trewe      [leaf  1021       855 

ffor  in  effect1  it  preeued  is  on  me 

Loue  is  noght1  oold  /  as  whan  fat  it  is  newe 

But  certes  lord  /  for  noon  aduersitee  858 

To  dyen  in  the  cas  /  it  shal  nat  bee 

That  euere  /  in  word  or  werk  /  I  shal  repente 

That  I  yow  yaf  myn  herte  in  hool  entente  8G1 

My  lord  ye  woot/  that  in  my  fadres  place  862 

Ye  dide  me  streepe  /  out  of  my  poure  weede 

And  richely  /  me  cladden  of  youre  grace 

To  yow  broghte  I  noght  elles  /  out  of  drede .  8C5 

But  feith  and  nakednesse  /  and  maydenhede 

And  heere  agayn  /  my  clothyng  I  restoore 

And  eek  /  my  weddyng  ryng/  for  eueremore  8G8 

The  remenant  of  youre  lueles  redy  be  8G9 

In  with  youre  chambre  /  dar  I  saufly  sayn 
Naked  /  out  of  my  fadres  hous  quod  she 

1  cam  /  and  naked  moot  I  turne  agayn  872 

ELLESMERE    262    (6-T.  430) 


431    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.    §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Al  youre  plesance  /  wol  I  folwen  fayn 

But  yet  I  hope  /  it  "be  nat  youre  entente 

Tliat  I  smoklees  /  out  of  youre  paleys  wente  875 

Ye  koude  nat  doon  /  so  dishoneste  a  tliyng/  876 

That  thilke  wombe  /  in  which  youre  children  leye 

Sholde  biforn  the  peple  /  in  my  walkyng/ 

Be  seyn  al  bare  /  wherfore  I  yow  preye  879 

Lat  me  /  nat  lyk  a  worm  /  go  by  the  weye 

Eemembre  yow  /  myn  owene  lord  so  deere 

I  was  youre  wyf  /  though  I  vnworthy  weere  882 

Wherfore  /  in  gerdon)  of  my  maydenhede  883 

Which  fat  I  broghte  /  and  noght  agayn  I  bere 

As  voucheth  sauf  /  to  yeue  me  /  to  my  meede 

But  swich  a  smok1  as  I  was  wont  to  were  886 

That  I  ther-wft/i  may  wrye  the  wombe  of  hero 

That  was  youre  wyf  /  and  heer  take  I  my  leeue 

Of  yow  myn  owene  lord  /  lest  I  yow  greue  889 

IT  The  smok  quod  he  /  that  thou  hast  on  thy  bak          890 

Lat  it  be  stille  /  and  bere  it  forth  with  thee 

But  wel  vnnethes  /  thilke  word  he  spak1 

But  wente  his  wey  /  for  routhe  and  for  pitoe  893 

Biforn  the  folk/  hir  seluen  strepeth  she 

And  in  hir  smok/  -with  heed  /  and  foot  /  al  bare 

Toward  hir  fader  hous  /  forth  is  she  fare  896 

II  The  folk1  hire  folwe  /  wepynge  in  hir  weye       Deaf  102,  back] 
And  ffortune  ay  they  cursen  /  as  they  goon 

But  she  fro  wepyng1  kepte  hire  eyen  dreye 

ISTe  in  this  tyme  /  word  ne  spak  she  noon  900 

Hir  fader  /  that  this  tidynge  herde  anoon 

Curscth  the  day  /  and  tyme  that  nature 

Shoope  hym  /  to  been  a  lyues  creature  903 

ELLESMEK.E   203    (0-T.  43l) 


432    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  out  of  doute  /  this  olde  poure  man  904 

"Was  euere  /  in  suspect1  of  hir  manage 

ffor  euere  he  domed  /  sith  that  it  bigan 

That  whan  the  lord  /  fulfild  hadde  his  corage  907 

Hym  wolde  thynke  /  it  were  a  disparage 

To  his  estaat  /  so  lowe  for  taligfite 

And  voyden  hire  /  as  soone  as  euer  he  myghte  .910 

Agayns  his  doghter  /  hastiliche  goth  he  911 

ffor  he  by  noyse  of  folk  /  knew  hire  comynge 

And  with  hire  olde  coote  /  as  it  myghte  be 

He  couered  hire  /  ful  sorwefully  wepynge  914 

But  on  hire  body  /  mygfite  he  it  nat  brynge 

ffor  rude  was  the  clooth  /  and  she  moore  of  age 

By  dayes  fele  /  than  at  hire  mariage  917 

1F  Thus  with  hire  fader  /  for  a  certeyn  space  918 

Dwelleth  this  flour/  of  wyfly  pacience 

That  neither/  by  hire  wordes  /  ne  hire  face 

Biforn  the  folk  /  ne  eek  in  hire  absence  921 

Ne  shewed  she  /  that  hire  was  doon  offence 

Ne  of  hire  heighe  estaat1.  no  remembrance 

Ne  hadde  she  /  as  by  hire  contenance  924 

No  wonder  is  /  for  in  hire  grete  estaat1  925 

Hire  goost  was  euere  /  in  pleyn  humylitce 

No  tendre  mouth  /  noon  herte  delicaat 

No  pompe  /  no  semblant  of  roialtee  928 

Butt  ful  of  pacient  benyngnytee 

Discreet1  and  pridelees  /  ay  honurable 

And  to  hire  housbonde  /  euere  meke  and  stable  931 

IF  Men  speke  of  lob  /  and  moost  for  his  humblesse       932 

As  clerkes  whan  hem  list1  konne  wel  endito 

Namely  of  men  /  but  as  in  soothfastnesse 

Though  clerkes  /  preise  wowmen  but  a  lite  935 

ELLESMERE    264   (6-T.  432) 


433    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Ther  kan  no  man  /  in  humblesse  hym  acquitc 

As  wo?wman  kan  /  no  been  half  so  trewe 

As  wommen  been  /  but  it  be  falle  of  newe  938 

[PART  VI.] 

1F  ffro  Boloigne  /  is  this  Erl  of  Pavyk"  come     [leaf  103]     939 

Of  which  the  fame  vp  sprang1  to  moore  and  lesse 

And  in  the  peples  eres  /  alle  and  some 

"Was  kouth  eek  /  that  a  newe  Markysesse  942 

He  with  hym  broghte  /  in  swich  pompe  and  richcsso 

That  neuere  was  ther  seyn  /  with  mannes  eye 

So  noble  array  /  in  al  Westlumbardye  945 

IT  The  Markys  /  which  that  shoope  and  knew  al  this    9  46 

Er  that  this  Erl  was  come  /  sente  his  message 

ffor  thilke  /  sely  poure  Grisildis 

And  she  with  humble  herte  /  and  glad  visage  949 

2STat  with  no  swollen  thoght1  in  hire  corage 

Cam  at  his  heste  /  and  on  hire  knees  hire  sette 

And  reuerently  /  and  wisely  she  hym  grette  952 

^F  Grisilde  quod  he  /  my  wyl  is  outrely  953 

This  mayden  /  that  shal  wedded  been  to  me 

Receiued  be  /  to  morwe  as  roially 

As  it  possible  is  /  in  myn  hous  to  be  95 G 

And  eek  /  that  euery  wight  in  his  degree 

Haue  his  estaat1  in  sittyng1  and  seruyse 

And  heigh  plesaiice  /  as  I  kan  best  dcuyse  959 

II I  haue  no  wommen  /  suflSsant  certayn  9GO 

The  chambres  /  for  tarraye  in  ordinance 

After  my  lust1  and  therfore  wolde  I  fayn 

That  thyn  were  /  al  swich  manere  gouernafice  963 

Thou  knowest  eek1  of  old  al  my  plesaiice 

Thogh  thyn  array  be  badde  and  yuel  biseye 

Do  thou  thy  deuoir/  at  the  leeste  weye  966 

ELLESMERE   205   (6-T.  433) 


434   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.  CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  Nat  oonly  lord  /  that  .1.  am  glad  quod  she  967 

To  doon  youre  lust1  but  .1.  desire  also 

Yow  for  to  serue  /  and  plese  in  my  degree 

With  outen  feyntyng1  and  shal  euef-emo  970 

He  neuere  /  for  no  wele  /  ne  no  wo 

Ne  shal  the  goosfr  wzt7ilnne  myn  herte  stente 

To  loue  yow  best1  with  al  my  trewe  entente  973 

And  with  that  word  /  she  gan  the  hous  to  dighte          974 

And  tables  for  to  sette  /  and  beddes  make 

And  peyned  hire  /  to  doon  al  that  she  mygh~te 

Preyynge  the  chambreres  /  for  goddes  sake  977 

To  hasten  hem  /  and  faste  swepe  and  shake 

And  she  /  the  mooste  seruysable  of  alle 

Hath  euery  chambre  arrayed  /  and  his  halle  980 

IT  Abouten  vndren  /  gan  this  Erl  alighte    [leaf  103,  back]    981 

That  with  him  broghte  /  thise  noble  children  tweye 

ffor  which  the  peple  /  ran  to  seen  the  sighte 

Of  hire  array  /  so  richely  biseye  984 

And  thanne  at  erst1  amonges  hem  they  seye 

That  "Walter  was  no  fool  /  thogh"  J>at  hym  leste 

To  chaunge  his  wyf/  for  it  was  for  the  beste  987 

ffor  she  is  fairer  /  as  they  deemen  alle  988 

Than  is  Grisilde  /  and  moore  tendre  of  age 

And  fairer  fruyf  bitwene  hem  sholde  falle 

And  moore  plesant1.  for  hire  heigh"  lynage  991 

Hir  brother  eek/  so  faire  was  of  visage 

That  hem  to  seen  /  the  peple  hath  caught  plesance 

Commendynge  now  /  the  Markys  gouernance  994 

0  Stormy  peple  /  vnsad  /  and  euere  vntrewe    IT  Auctor 
Ay  vndiscreet1  and  chaungynge  as  a  vane 
Delitynge  euere  /  in  rumbul  that  is  newe 
ffor  lyk  the  moone  /  ay  wexe  ye  and  wane  998 

ELLESMEUE   260   (0-T.  434) 


435    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Ay  ful  of  clappyng1  deere  ynogh  a  lane 

Youre  doom  is  fals  /  youre  Constance  yuele  preeueth 

A  ful  greet  fool  /  is  he  /  J?at  on  yow  leeueth  1001 

Thus  seyden  sadde  folk/  in  that  Citee  1002 

Whan  that  the  peple  /  gazed  vp  and  doun 

ffor  they  were  glad  /  right  for  the  noueltee 

To  han  /  a  newe  lady  of  hir  toun  1005 

Namoore  of  this  /  make  I  now  mencioun 

But  to  Grisilde  agayn  /  wol  I  me  dresse 

And  telle  /  hir  Constance  /  and  hir  bisynesse  1008 

IT  fful  hisy  was  Grisilde  /  in  euery  thyng  1009 

•  That  to  the  feeste  /  was  apertinentt 
Right  noghfr  was  she  abayst1  of  hire  clothyng1 
Thogh"  it  were  rude  /  and  somdeel  eek  to-rent1  1012 

But  witJi,  glad  cheere  /  to  the  yate  is  she  went1 
With  oother  folk1  to  greete  the  Markysesse 
And  after  that1  dooth  forth  hire  bisynesse  1015 

With  so  glad  chiere  /  hise  gestes  she  receyueth  1016 

And  so  konnyngly  /  euerich  in  his  degree 

That  no  defaute  /  no  man  aperceyueth 

But  ay  they  wondren  /  what  she  myghte  bee          -     1019 

That  in  so  poure  array  was  for  to  see 

And  koude  /  swich  honour  and  reuerence 

And  worthily  /  they  preisen  hire  prudence  1022 

In  al  this  meene  while  /  she  ne  stente          Deaf  1043.      1023 

This  mayde  /  and  eek  hir  brother  to  commende 

With  al  hir  herte  /  in  ful  benyngne  entente 

So  wel  /  J>.at  no  man  koude  hir  pris  amende  1026 

But  atte  laste  /  whan  fat  thise  lordes  wende 

To  sitten  doun  to  mete  /  he  gan  to  calle 

Grisilde  /  as  she  was  bisy  in  his  halle  1029 

22  ELLESMEEE   267   (6-T.  435) 


436    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.  CLERK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

1T  Grisildc  quod  he  /  as  it  were  in  his  pley  1030 

How  liketh  thee  my  wyf/  and  hire  beautee  ? 

Right  wel  quod  she  my  lord  /  for  in  good  fey 

A  fairer/  saugh"  I  neuere  noon  than  she  1033 

I  prey  to  god  /  yeue  hire  prosperitee 

And  so  hope  I  /  that  he  wol  to  yow  sende 

Plesance  ynogh"  /  vn-to  youre  lyues  ende  1036 

0  thyng  biseke  I  yow /and  warne  also  [.Latin  note,  p.  102]  1037 
That  ye  ne  prikke  /  with  no  tonnentynge 

This  tendre  mayden  /  as  ye  han  doon  mo 

ffor  she  is  fostred  /  in  hire  norissynge  1040 

Moore  tendrely  /  and  to  my  supposyngo 

She  koude  nat/  aduersitee  endure 

As  koude  /  a  poure  fostred  creature  1043 

IT  And  whan  this  "Walter  /  saugh"  hire  pacience  1044 

Hir  glad  chiere  /  and  no  malice  at  al 

And  he  so  ofte  /  had  doon  to  hire  [offence] 

And  she  ay  sad  /  and  constant  as  a  wal  1047 

J.  ubiqw 

Continuynge  euere  /  hire  Innocence  oueral 
This  sturdy  Markys  /  gan  his  herte  dresse 
To  rcwen  /  vp  on  hire  wyfly  stedfastnesse  1050 

IT  This  is  ynogh"  /  Grisilde  myn  quod  he  1051 

Be  now  namoore  agast1  ne  yuele  apayed 

1  haue  thy  feith  /  and  thy  benyngnytee 

As  wel  /  as  euere  womman  was  assayed  1054 

In  greet  estaatt,  and  poureliche  arrayed 

How  knowe  I  goode  wyf  /  thy  stedfastnesse 

And  hire  in  armes  took  /  and  gan  hire  kesse  1057 

^1  And  she  for  wonder/  took  of  it  no  keepe  1058 

She  herde  nat  /  what  thyng1  he  to  hire  seyde 

She  ferde  /  as  she  had  stert  outt  of  a  sleepe 

Til  she  /  out  of  hire  mazednesse  abreyde  10G1 

ELLESMERE   268   (6-T.  436) 


437   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Grisilde  quod  he  /  by  god  that  for  vs  deyde 

Thou  art  my  wyf/  noon  oother  I  haue 

NQ  neuere  hadde  /  as  god  my  soule  saue  1064 

IT  This  is  thy  dogfiter  /  which  thou  hast  supposed  [ifioi.bk] 

To  be  my  wyf  /  that  oother  feithfully 

Shal  be  myn  heir  /  as  I  haue  ay  supposed 

Thou  bare  hym  /  in  thy  body  trewely  1068 

At  Boloigne  /  haue  I  kept  hem  prniely 

Taak  hem  agayn  /  for  now  maystow  nat  seye 

That  thou  hast  lorn  /  noon  of  thy  children  tweye        1071 

And  folk  /  that  ootherweys  /  han  seyd  of  me  1072 

I  warne  hem  wel  /  fat  I  haue  doon  this  deede 

ffor  no  malice  /  ne  for  no  crueltee 

But  for  tassaye  /  in  thee  thy  wommanheede  1075 

And  nat1  to  sleen  my  children  /  god  forbeede 

But  for  to  kepe  hem  /  pryuely  and  stille 

Til  I  thy  purpos  knewe  /  and  al  thy  wille  1078 

H  Whan  she  this  herde  /  aswowne  doun  she  falleth    1079 

ffor  pitous  loye  /  and  after  hire  swownynge 

She  bothe  hire  yonge  children  /  vn-to  hire  calleth 

And  in  hire  Armes  /  pitously  wepynge  1082 

Embraceth  hem  /  and  tendrely  kissynge 

fful  lyk  a  mooder/  with  hire  salte  teeres 

She  bathed  /  bothe  hire  visage  and  hire  heeres  1085 

IT  0  which  a  pitous  thyng1  it  was  to  se  1086 

Hir  swownyng1.  and  hire  humble  voys  to  heere 
Grauntmercy  lord  /  that  thanke  I  yow  quod  she 
That  ye  han  saued  me  my  children  deere  1089 

E"ow  rekke  I  neuere  /  to  been  deed  right  heere 
Sith  I  stonde  in  youre  loue  /  and  in  youre  grace- 
No  fors  of  deeth  /  ne  whan  my  spirit  pace  1092 

ELLESMERE   269    (6-T.  437) 


438   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.  CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

H  0  tendre  /  o  deere  /  o  yonge  children  myne  1093 

Youre  woful  mooder  /  wende  stedfastly 

That  crueel  houndes  /  or  som  foul  vermyno 

Hadde  eten  yow  /  but  god  of  has  mercy  1096 

And  youre  benyngne  fader  /  tendrely 

Hath  doon  yow  kept1  and  in  that  same  stounde 

Al  sodeynly  /  she  swapte  adoun  to  grounde  1099 

And  in  hire  swough"  /  so  sadly  holdeth  she  1100 

Hire  children  two  /  whan  she  gan  hem  tembraco 

That  with  greet  sleighte  /  and  greet  difficultee 

The  children  /  from  hire  arm  they  gonne  arace  1103 

0  many  a  teere  /  on  many  a  .pitous  face 

£)oun  ran  /  of  hem  J?at  stooden  hire  bisyde 

Vnnethe  abouten  hire  /  myghte  they  abyde  1106 

IT  "Walter  hire  gladeth  /  and  hire  sorwe  slaketh"          [leaf  105] 

She  riseth  vp  abaysed  /  from  hire  trance 

And  euery  wight  /  hire  ioye  and  feeste  maketh" 

Til  she  /  hath  caught  agayn  hire  contenance  1110 

"Walter  hire  dooth  /  so  feithfully  plesance 

That  it  was  deyntee  /  for  to  seen  the  cheere 

P-itwixe  hem  two  /  now  they  been  met  yfeere  1113 

IF  Thise  ladyes  /  whan  that  they  hir  tyme  say  1114 

Han  taken  hire  /  and  in  to  chambre  gon 

And  strepen  hire  /  out  of  hire  rude  array 

And  in  a  clooth  of  gold  /  fat  brighte  shoon  1117 

With  a  coroune  /  of  many  a  riche  stoon 

Vp  on  hire  heed  /  they- in  to  halle  hire  broglite 

And  ther  she  was  /  honured  as  hire  oghte  1120 

Thus  hath  this  pitous  day  a  blisful  ende  1121 

ffor  euery  man  and  womrnan  dooth  his  myglit* 

This  day  /  in  murthe  and  reuel  to  dispende 

Til  on  the  welkne  /  shoon  the  sterres  lyghf  1124 

ELLESMERE    270    (6-T.  438) 


439    SIX-TEXT 

QIIOUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

fibr  moore  solempne  /  in  euery  manncs  sygftt1 

Tliis  festo  was  /  and  gretter  of  costago 

Than  was  /  the  reuel  /  of  hire  manage  1127 

1F  fful  many  a  yeer  /  in  heigh  prospmtee  1128 

Lyuen  thise  two  /  in  concord  and  in  reste 

And  richely  /  his  doghter  maryed  he 

Vn-to  a  lord  /  oon  of  the  worthieste  1131 

Of  al  Ytaille  /  and  thanne  in  pees  and  resto 

His  wyues  fader/  in  his  court  he  kepeth" 

Til  that1  the  soule  /  out  of  his  body  crepeth"  1134 


His  sone  /  succedeth  in  his  heritage 

In  reste  and  pees  /  after  his  fader  day 

And  fortunat1  was  eek/  in  mariage 

Al  putte  he  nat  his  wyf/  in  greet  assay  1138 

This  world  is  nat  so  strong1  it  is  no  nay 

As  it  hath  been  /  of  olde  tymes  yoore 

And  herkneth  /  what  this  Auctour  seith  thcrfoore       1141 

IT  This  storie  is  seyd  /  nat  for  that  wyues  sholde    ^L^'^fe' 

ffolwen  Grisilde  /  as  in  humylitee 

ffor  it  were  inportable  /  though  they  woldo     v- 

But  for  that  euery  wight1  in  his  degree  1145 

Sholde  be  constant1  in  aduersitee 

As  was  Grisilde  /  therfore  petrak1  writeth 

This  storie  /  which  with  heigh  stile  he  enditeth  1148 

ffor  sith  a  womman  /  was  so  pacienf  peaf  loiv,  back] 

Vn-to  a  mortal  man  /  wel  moore  vs  ogh~te 

Receyuen  al  in  gree  /  that  god  vs  sent1 

ffor  greet  sidle  is  /  he  preeue  that  ho  wroglito  1.1.52 

But  he  /  ne  tempteth  no  man  /  that  he  boglitc 

As  seith  seint  lame  /  if  ye  his  pistol  rede 

He  preeue th  folk  al  day  /  it  is  no  drede  1 155 

ELLESMERE    271    (6-T.  439) 


44:0   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  suffreth  vs  /  as  for  cure  excercise  1156 

With  sharpe  scourges  /  of  Aduersitee 

fful  ofte  /  to  be  bete  in  sondry  wise 

Nat  for  to  know  oure  wyl  /  for  certes  he9  1 159 

Er  we  were  born  /  knew  oure  freletee 

And  for  oure  beste  /  is  al  his  gouernance 

Lat  vs  thanne  lyuey  in  vertuous  suffrance  1 162 

U  But  o  word  lordynges  /  herkneth  er  I  go  1 163 

It  were  ful  hard  /  to  fynde  now  a  dayes 

In  al  a  toun  /  Grisildis  /  thre  or  two 

ffor  if  Jjat  they  were  put1  to  swiche  assay es  1 166 

The  gold  of  hem  /  hath  now  so  badde  alaycs 

With  bras  /  fat  thogh"  the  coyne  be  fair  at  eye 

It  wolde  rather  /  breste  atwo  than  plye  1169 

ffor  which  heere  /  for  the  wyues  loue  of  Bathe  1 170 

Whos  lyf1  and  al  hire  secte  god  mayntene 

In  heigh  maistrie  /  and  elles  were  it  scathe  , 

I  wol  with  lusty  herte  /  fressfc  and  grene  1173 

Seyn  yow  a  song1  to  glade  yow  I  wene 

And  lat  vs  stynte  /  of  ernestful  matere 

Herkneth  my  song1  that  seith  in  this  manere  1176 


IT  Lenuoy  de  Chaucer  ^ 

risilde  is  deed  /  and  eek  hire  pacience 
And  bothe  atones  /  buryed  in  Ytaillc 
ffor  which  I  crie  /  in  open  audience  1179 

No  wedded  man  /  so  hardy  be  tassaille 

His  wyues  pacience  /  in  hope  to  fynde 

Grisildis  /  for  in  certein  he  shal  faille  1182 

ELLESMERE   272   (6-T.  440) 


441    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  2.   CLERK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

0  noble  wyues  /  ful  /  of  heigh"  prudence 

Lat  noon  humylitee  /  youre  tonge  naill 

No  lat  no  clerk/  haue  cause  or  diligence  1185 

To  write  of  yow  /  a  storie  of  swich  meruaille 

As  of  Grisildis  /  pacient  and  kynde 

Lest  Chichiuache  /  yow  swelwe  in  hire  entraille          1188 

ffolweth  Ekko  /  that  holdeth  no  silence  l>af  ice] 

But  eue?-e  answereth  /  at  the  countretaille 

Beth  nat  bidaffed  for  youre  Innocence  1.191 

But  sharply  /  taak  on  yow  the  goumiaille 

Emprenteth  wel  this  lesson  in  youre  mynde 

ffor  commune  profit1  sith  it  may  auaille  *  1194 

Ye  Archiwyues  /  stondeth  at  defense 

Syn  ye  be  strong1  as  is  a  greet  Camaille 

]STe  suffreth  nat/  fat  men  yow  doon  offense  1197 

And  sklendre  wyues  /  fieble  as  in  bataille 

Beth  egre  /  as  is  a  Tygre  yond  in  Ynde 

Ay  clappeth  as  a  Mille  /  I  yow  consaille  1200 

Ne  dreed  hem  nat1  doth  hem  no  reuerence 

ffor  though"  thyn  housbonde  /  armed  be  in  maille 

The  arwes  /  of  thy  crabbed  eloquence  1203 

Shal  perce  his  brest/  and  eek1  his  Auentaille 

In  lalousie  /  I  rede  eek1  thou  hym  bynde 

And  thou  shalt  make  hym  couche  as  doth  a  quaille     1206 

If  thou  be  fair/  ther  folk  been  in  presence 

Shewe  thou  thy  visage  /  and  thyn  apparaille 

If  thou  be  foul  /  be  fre  of  thy  dispence  1209 

To  gete  thee  freendes  /  ay  do  thy  trauaille 

Be  ay  of  chiere  /  as  light  as  leef  on  lynde 

And  lat  hym  care  and  wepe  /  and  wryng  and  waille    1212 


ELLESMERE   273    (6-T.  44l) 


402   SIX-TEXT 

SIDE-NOTES   TO    THE   CLERK'S   TALE.     EllCSmere    MS. 


SIDE-NOTES  TO  CLEEK'S  TALE,  ELLESMERE  MS. 

(From  Petrarch's  Latin  original :  see  the  Society's  Originals  and 
Analogizes  of  Chaucer's  Canterbury  Tales.) 

[As  there  is  no  room  in  this  print  for  the  Latin  notes  in  the 
margin  of  the  MS,  they  are  put  here,  mith  the  numbers  of  the  lines 
(and  page*  of  the  Six-Text)  to  which  they  refer.'] 

p.  404, 1,  40.  ^f  Est  ad  ytalie  latws  occiduuwi  Vesulus  ex  ap- 
penini  lugis  mons  altissimws  qui  vertice  nebula  superans  liquido 
sese  ingerit  etheri  Mons  suapte  /  nobilis  natura  padi  ortu  nobilis- 
sinuw  qui  latere  fonte  lapsus  exiguo  Orientem  contra  solem  fertur 
Stcetera  [MS,  leaf  92.] 

p.  405,  1.  57.  ^f  Inter  cetera  ad  radicem  Vesuli  terra  salucianm 
view  &  Castellts.  [MS,  leaf  92.] 

p.  409, 1.  197.  |f  ffuit  haut  procul  a  palacio  kcetera.  [MS, 
leaf  94.] 

p.  412, 1.  281.  ^  Vt  expeditis  curls  alijs  ad  videnduw  domini 
Bui  sponsam  cum  puellis  comitib?/«  propararet/  [MS,  leaf  95.] 

p.  412,  1.  295.  ^f  qj/wm  Walterus  cogitabundus  cedens  eawtque 
cowpellans  nowiwe.  [MS,  leaf  95.] 

p.  414,  1.  337.  ^f  Et  insolito  tanti  hospitis  aduentu  stupidawt 
Inuenit.  [MS,  leaf  95,  back.] 

p.  414,  1.  344.  ^f  Et  patri  tuo  placet  inquid  &  miAi  vt  vxor 
mea  sis  /  et  credo  idipswm  tibi  placeat/  sed  hoJeo  ex  te  querere  & 
cetera.  [MS,  leaf  95,  back.] 

p.  414, 1.  356.  ^f  sine  vlla  frontis  aut  v<?rbi  inpugnacione. 
[MS,  leaf  95,  back.] 

p.  414,  1.  358.  ^f  Nil  ego  vnqw«m  sciens  neduw  faciam  set 
eciawi  cogitabo  quod  contra  animum  tuum  sit/  nee  tu  aliquid 
facies  /  et  si  me  mori  iusseris  quod  moleste  feram  kcetera.  [MS, 
leaf  95,  back.] 

p.  415,  1.  372.  ^f  dehinc/  ne  quid  reliq?aarMm  fortune  vctms 
nouaw  inferat  in  domuw  /  nudari  earn  iusserit/  [MS,  leaf  9G.] 

p.  416,  1.  400.  ^f  Atq?/e  apud  onmes  supra  fidewi  cara  &  vene- 
rabilis  foc^a  eet/  vix  qwod  hijs  ipsis  q?*i  illi?«  originewt  noue/-ant 
persuader!  posset  lanicwle  natawi  esse  tantw*  vite  /  tantws  mor?/»i 
decor  ea  verbor?<»i  grauitas  atq?<e  dulcedo  quib?/s  omwi?/»t  a/ii/wos 
nexu  sibi  magni  amoris  astriuxerat  /  [MS,  leaf  96.] 

p.  416, 1.  421.  ^f  sic  Walterw*  humili  quidem  /  set/  insigni  ao 
prwspero  matrimonio  honestatis  su?/tma  dei  in  pace  &  cetera. 
[MS,  leaf  96,  back.] 

ELLESMEIIE   27-4   (6-T.  402) 


402    SIX-TEXT 
SIDE-NOTES   TO   THE   CLERK'S  TALE.      EllCSDiere    MS. 

p.  416, 1.  425.  ^[  quo&que  eximiaw  virtutewi  tanta  sub  inopia 
latitantewt  taw  perapicaciter  deprendisset/  vulgo  prudentissimwa 
habebatur.  [MS,  leaf  96,  back.] 

p.  416,  1.  428.  ^f  Neq?/e  vero  solers  sponsa  muliebria  tantvm  ac 
domestica  /  scd  vbi  res  posceret  publica  eciaw  subibat  officia. 
[MS,  leaf  96,  back.] 

p.  417,  1.  435.  ^[  Viro  absente  /  lites  patrie  /  nobilium  dis- 
cordias  dirimens  atqwe  componens  tarn  grcmibns  resporesis  tanta  qiie 
raaturitate,  &  ludicij  eq?/itate  vt  onmes  ad  salutewi  publicam 
demissa  celo  feminam  predicarent/  [MS,  leaf  97,  back.] 

p.  417,  1.  449.  ^f  Cepmt  vt  fit  interdim  waltenm  cwn  iara 
ablactata  esset  infawtula  mirabilis  quedam  quam  laudabilts  cupi- 
ditas  satis  experta?w  care  fide»i  cowiugis  exp<??'iendi  alcius  &  it^-um 
aique  iternm.  retemptandi.  [MS,  leaf  97.] 

p.  422,  1.  603.  ^[  par  alacritas  atque  sedalitas  solitmn,  obs[e]- 
quium  /  ide»«  amor  nulla  filie  mencio.  [MS,  leaf  98,  back.] 

p.  422,  1.  610.  ^[  transiuerant  hoc  in  statu  a/mi  iiijor-  dim  ecco 
grauida  kcetera.  [MS,  leaf  99.] 

p.  423,  1.  624.  ^f  Bt  olim  audisti  populim  meuwt  egre  nostru??i 
ferre  connubium  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  99.] 

p,  424,  1.  664.  ^[  ffac  sen[ten]ciam  tibi  placere  qwod  moriar 
volens  moriar.  [MS,  leaf  99,  back.] 

p.  426,  1.  722.  ^f  ceperit  sensim  de  Waltero  decolor  fama  cre- 
b[r]escere.  [MS,  leaf  100.] 

p.  436,  1.  1037.  ^[  Vnum  bona  fide  prajor  ac  moneo  ne  hanc/ 
ill  is  aculeis  agites  quibus  alteram  agitasti  /  namqwe  &  iunior  & 
delicacius  nutrita  est/  pati  quantu?/*  ego  vt  reor  non  valeret/ 
[MS,  leaf  104.] 

p.  439,  1.  1142.  ^[  Hanc  historiam  stilo  nuwc  alto  retexere 
visu?»  fuit/  non  turn  ideo  vt  matronas  nostri  temporis,  ad  imitan- 
da?;i  huius  vxoris  paoienciaw  /  que  iwimitabilis  videtwr  /  qua?w  vt 
legentes  ad  imitandam  saltern  fe??ti7te  co«stancia?»  excitarent/. 
Vt  que  hec  viro  suo  pwstitit/  boc  prestare  d[e]o  nostro  audeat/  qui- 
libet/  vt  lacobus  ait  apostolus  /  Intemptator  sit/  malonm  &  ipsa 
newinem  teraptat/  p?vbat  tamen  &  sepe  nos  multis  ac  grauib?/s 
flagellis  exerceri  sinit/  non  vt  animuwt  nostrum  sciat/  queni  sciuit/ 
anteqwam  crearemwr  Sicetera.  [MS,  leaf  105.] 


ELLESMERE   275   (6-T.  402) 


477   SIX-TEXT 

?  ORIGINAL  CLERK'S  END-LINK.    Ellesmere  MS. 


APPENDIX  TO  GROUP  E,  §  2. 


[?  Original,  but  rejected,  End-Linlc  to  the  Clerk's  Tale, 
perhaps  following  I.  1162,  with  which  the  paraphrase  of 
Petrarch's  Latin  ends,  or  I.  1169.] 

TT  Bihoold  the  nrarye  wordes  of  the  Hoost*  ^ 

THis  worthy  clerk1  whan  ended  was  his  tale 
Oure  hoost  seyde  /  and  swoor  by  goddes  bones 
Me  were  leuere  /  than  a  barel  ale 

My  wyf  at  hoom  /  had  herd  this  legende  ones  4 

This  is  a  gentil  tale  /  for  the  nones 
As  to  my  pwrpos  /  wiste  ye  my  wille 
But  thyng1  fat  wol  nat  be  /  lat  it  be  stille  fa  7 

T[  Heere  endeth  the  tale  /  of  the  Cleric1  of  Oxenford! 


ELLESMERE  275*  <6-T.  477) 


442   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.  §  3.  CLERK-MERCHANT-LINK.  Ellesmerc  MS. 


Tf  The  prologe  of  the  Marchantes  tale  ^      Deaf  100,  back] 

Wepyng1  and  waylyng1  care  and  oother  sorwe 
I  knowe  ynogfi.  /  on  euen  and  a  morwe 
Quod  the  Marchanf  and  so  doon  othere  mo 
That  wedded  been  /  I  trowe  that  it  be  so  1216 

ffor  wel  I  woof  it  fareth  so  with  me 
I  have  a  wyf/  the  worste  that  may  be 
ffor  thogh  the  feend  /  to  hire  ycoupled  were 
She  wolde  hym  ouermacche  /  I  dar  wel  swero   •  1220 

What  sholde  I  yow  reherce  in  special 
Hir  hye  malice  /  she  is  a  shrewe  at  al 
Thei  is  a  long1  and  large  difference 

Bitwix  Grisildis  grete  pacience  1224 

And  of  my  wyf/  the  passyng1  crueltee 
Were  I  vnbounden  /  al  so  moot  I  thee 
I  wolde  neuere  eff  comen  in  the  snare 
We  wedded  men  /  lyue  in  sorwe  and  care  1228 

Assaye  who  so  wole  /  and  he  shal  fynde 
I  seye  sooth  /  by  seint  Thomas  of  ynde 
As  for  the  moore  part1 1  sey  nat  alle 

God  shilde  /  that  it  sholde  so  bifalle  1232 

^T  A  good  sire  hoost  /  I  haue  y  wedded  bee 
Thise  Monthes  two  /  and  moore  nat  pardee 
And  yet  I  trowe  /  he  that  al  his  lyue 
Wyflees  hath  been  /  though"  fat  men  wolde  him  ryne  1236 
Vn-to  the  herte  /  ne  koude  in  no  manere 
Tellen  so  muchel  /  sorwe  /  as  I  now  heere  ? 
Koude  tellen  /  of  my  wyues  cursednesse 
1F  Now  quod  our  hoost1 .  Marchant  so  god  yow  blesse  1240 
Syn  ye  so  muchel  /  knowen  of  that  Art* 
fful  hertely  /  I  pray  yow  telle  vs  part1 
IT  Gladly  quod  he  /  but  of  myn  owene  score 
ffor  soory  herte  /  I  telle  may  namoore  1244 

ELLESMERE   276   (6-T.  442) 


443  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


c1         ^f  Heere  bigynnetk  the  Marchantes  tale  fa 

a  -    ,    .   •,. 

M 

^  ~"W — w — T^Hilom  ther  was  dwellynge  in  Lumbardye 
~     %   /»   /      A  worthy  knyghtt  ]>at  born  was  of  Pavyo 
jf      M/  •/        In  which  he  lyued  /  in  greet  prosperitee 
f     f         And  sixty  yeer  /  a  wyflees  man  was  hee 
~~And  folwed  ay  his  bodily  delyf 

On  woramen  /  ther  as  was  his  appetyt1 

As  doon  thise  fooles  /  that  been  seculeer  peafioT] 

And  whan  that  he  /  was  passed  sixty  yeer  1252 

Were  if  for  hoolynesse  /  or  for  dotage 

I  kan  nat  seye  /  but  swich  a  greet  corage 
Hadde  this  knyghtf  to  been  a  wedded  man 

That  day  and  nyght/  he  dooth  al  that  he  kan  1256 

Tespien  /  where  he  mygnte  wedded  be 

Preyinge  oure  lord  /  to  granten  him  }at  he  s 

Migfite  ones  knowe  /  of  thilke  blisful  lyf 

That  is  bitwixe  /  an  housbonde  /  and  his  wyf  /  12 GO 

And  for  to  lyue  /  vnder  that  hooly  boond? 

With  which  fat  first1  god  /  man  and  wowiman  bond' 

Noon  oother  lyf  seyde  he  /  is  worth  a  beno 

ffor  wedlok/  is  so  esy  /  and  so  clene  12G4 

That  in  this  world  /  it  is  a  Paradys 

Thus  seyde  this  olde  knyght  /  fat  was  so  wys 

II  And  certeinly  /  as  sooth"  /  as  god  is  kyng1 . 

To  take  a  wyf1  it  is  a  glorious  thyng1  1 2G8 

And  namely  /  whan  a  man  /  is  oold  and  hoor 

Thanne  is  a  wyf*  the  fruyf  of  his  tresor 

Thanne  sholde  he  take  /  a  yong  wyf  and  a  feir 

On  which  /  he  myghte  /  engendren  hym  an  heir         1272 

ELLESMERE   277    (6-T-  443) 


444   SIX-TEXT  » 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  lede  his  lyf1  in  ioye  and  in  solas 

Where  as  thise  bacheleris  /  synge  alias 

Whan  that  they  fynden  /  any  aduersitee 

In  loue  /  which  nys  /  but  childyssh"  vanytee  1276 

And  trewely  /  it  sit  wel  to  be  so 

That  bacheleris  /  haue  often  peyne  and  wo 

On  brotel  ground*  they  buylde  /  and  brotelnesse 

They  fynde  /  whan  they  wene  sikernesse  1280 

They  lyue  /  but  as  a  bryd  /  or  as  a  beesf 

In  libertee  /  and  vnder  noon  arreesf 

Ther  as  a  wedded  man  /  in  his  estaatt 

Lyueth  a  lyf1  blisful  and  ordinaat1  1284 

Vnder  this  yok1  of  mariage  ybounde 

Wel  may  his  herte  /  in  ioye  and  blisse  habounde 

ffor  who  kan  be  /  so  buxom  as  a  wyf1 

Who  is  so  trewe  /  and  eek  so  ententyf1  1288 

To  kepe  hym  syk1  and  hool  /  as  is  his  make 

ffor  wele  or  wo  /  she  wole  hym  nat  forsake 

She  nys  nat  wery  /  hym  to  loue  and  serue 

Thogh"  fat  he  lye  bedrede  /  til  he  sterue  1292 

And  yet1  somme  clerkes  seyn  /  it  nys  nat  so 

Of  whiche  /  he  Theofraste  is  oon  of  tho 

What  force  /  though"  Theofraste  liste  lye 

Ne  take  no  wyf  quod  he  /  for  housbondrye  1296 

As  for  to  spare  /  in  houshold?  thy  dispence 

A  trewe  seruant1  dooth  moore  diligence 

Thy  good  to  kepe  /  than  thyn  owene  wyf1  [leaf  107,  back] 

ffor  she  wol  clayme  /  half  part  al  hir  lyf1  1 300 

And  if  thou  be  syk1  so  god  me  saue 

Thy  ve?Tay  freendes  /  or  a  trewe  knaue 

Wol  kepe  thee  bet1  than  she  J)at  waiteth  ay 

After  thy  good  /  and  hath  doon  many  a  day  1304 

And  if  thou  take  a  wyf  /  vn-to  thyn  hoold? 

fful  lig&tly  /  maystow  been  a  Cokewold? 

This  sentence  /  and  an  hundred  thynges  worse 

Writeth  this  man  /  ther  god  his  bones  corse  1308 

ELLESMERE    278   (6-T.  444) 


4:45    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.  §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.  Ellesmerc  MS. 

But  take  no  kepe  /  of  al  swicfi.  vanytee' 

Deffie  Theofraste  /  and  herke  me 

IT  A  wyf/  is  goddes  yifte  verraily  [£««»  note,  p.  477] 

Alle  otherere  manere  yiftes  hardily  1312 

As  londes  /  rentes  /  pasture  /  or  commune 

Or  moebles  /  alle  been  yiftes  of  {fortune  //  dona  fortune 

That  passen  /  as  a  shadwe  vpon  a  wal 

But  dredelees  /  if  pleynly  speke  I  shal  1316 

A  wyf  wol  laste  /  and  in  thyn  hous  endure 

Wei  lenger  than  thee  list/  parauenture 

IF  Mariage  is  /  a  ful  greet  sacrament1 

He  /  which  fat  hath  no  wyf  /  I  holde  hym  shent1       1320 

He  lyueth  helplees  /  and  al  desolafr 

I  speke  of  folk1  in  seculer  estaaf 

And  herke  why  /  I  sey  nat  this  for  noght 

That  womman  is  /  for  mannes  helpe  ywrogfrf  1324 

The  hye  god  /  whan  he  hadde  Adam  maked 

And  saugh  him  al  allone  /  bely  naked 

God  of  his  grete  goodnesse  /  seyde  than          iLatin  note,  p.  477] 

Lat  vs  now  make  an  helpe  vn-to  this  man  1328 

Lyk  to  hyrn  self1  and  thanne  he  made  hi?n  Eue 

Heere  may  ye  se  /  and  heer-by  may  ye  preue 

That  wyf  is  mannes  helpe  /  and  his  conforf 

His  Paradys  terrestre  /  and  his  disport1  1332 

So  buxom  /  and  so  vertuous  is  she 

They  moste  nedes  /  lyue  in  vnitee 

0  flessfi  they  been  /  and  o  flessfi  as  I  gesse 

Hath  but  oon  herte  /  in  wele  and  in  distresse  1336 

^T  A  wyf  /y  a  Seinte  marie  benedicite 

How  myghte  a  man  /  han  any  aduersitee 

That  hath  a  wyf/  certes  I  kan  nat  seye 

The  blisse  /  which  fat  is  bitwixe  hem  tweye  1340 

Ther  may  no  tonge  telle  /  or  herte  thynke 

If  he  bo  poure  /  she  helpeth  hym  to  swynke 

She  kepeth  his  good  /  and  wasteth  neuer  a  deel 

Al  that  hire  housbonde  lust1  hire  liketh  weel  1344 

ELLESMEIIE   279   (6-T.  446) 


446    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

She  seith  not  ones  nay  /  whan  he  seith  ye 

Do  this  seith  he  /  al  redy  sire  seith  she 

0  blisful  ordre  of  wedlok  precious  [leaf  ios] 

Thou  art  so  murye  /  and  eek  so  vertuous  1348 

And  so  commended  /  and  appreued  eek1 

That  euery  man  /  pat  halt  hym  worth  a  leek1  / 

Yp  on  his  bare  knees  /  oughte  al  his  lyf  / 

Thanken  his  god  /  pat  hym  hath  sent  a  wyf  /  1352 

Or  elles  preye  to  god  /  hym  for  to  sende 

A  wyf  /  to  laste  /  vn  to  his  lyues  ende 

ffor  thanne  his  lyf  /  is  set  in  sikernesse 

He  may  naf  be  deceyued  as  I  gesse  1356 

So  pat  he  werke  /  after  his  wyues  reede 


1360 
.......     no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

1f  Lo  how  pat  Jacob  /  as  thise  clerkes  rede     [.Latin  note,  p.  477] 

By  good  conseil  /  of  his  mooder  Rebekke 

Boond  the  kydes  skyn  /  aboute  his  nekke  1364 

Thurgh"  which  /  his  fadres  benysoii)  he  wan 

IT  Lo  ludith  /  as  the  storie  eek  telle  kan         [Latin  note,  p.  477] 

By  wys  conseil  /  she  goddes  peple  kepte 

And  slow  hym  Olofernus  /  whil  he  slepte  1368 

IT  Lo  Abigayl  /  by  good  conseil  /  how  she       [Latin  note,  p.  4773 

Saued  hir  housbonde  Nabal  /  whan  pat  he  s 

Sholde  han  be  slayn  /  and  looke  Ester  also     [Latin  note,  p.  477] 

By  good  conseil  /  delyuered  out  of  wo  1372 

The  peple  of  god  /  and  made  hym  Mardochee 

Of  Assuere  /  enhaunced  for  to  be 

IT  Ther  nys  no  thyng/  in  gree  supe/iatyf1         [Latin  note,  p.  477] 

As  seith  Senek1  aboue  an  humble  wyP  1376 

1T  Suffre  thy  wyues  tonge  /  as  Caton  bit          [Latin  note,  p.  477] 

She  shal  eomande  /  and  thou  shalt  sufiren  it 

And  yef  she  wole  obeye  of  curteisye 

A  wyf1  is  kepere  /  of  thyn  housbondrye  [Latin  note,  p.  477] 

ELLESMEKE   280   (6-T.  446) 


447   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

"Wei  may  the  sike  man  /  biwaille  and  wepe 

Ther  as  ther  nys  no  wyf  /  the  hous  to  kepe 

I  warne  thee  /  if  wisely  /  thou  wolt  wirche     lLatin  note,  p.  477] 

Loue  wel  thy  wyf1  as  crist  loued  his  chirche  1384 

If  thou  louest  thy  self1  thou  louest  thy  wyf/   LLatin  note,  p.  477] 

!N"o  man  hateth  his  flessfi  /  but  in  his  lyf/8 

He  fostreth  if  and  therfore  bidde  I  thee 

Cherisse  thy  wyf  /  or  thou  shalt  neuere  thee  1 388 

Housbonde  and  wyf1  what  so  men  iape  or  pleye 

Of  worldly  folk  /  holden  the  siker  weye 

They  been  so  knyf  ther  may  noon  harm  bityde 

And  namely  /  vp  on  the  wyues  syde  1392 

ffor  which  this  lanuarie  /  of  whom  I  tolde 

Considered  hath  /  inwith  hise  dayes  olde    ..... 

The  lusty  lyf  /  the  vertuous  quyete 

That  is  in  mariage  hony  sweete     .     ,     .          .-     ;     ,1396. 

And  for  hise  freendes  /  on  a  day  he  sente 

To  tellen  hem  theffect1  of  his  entente 

With  face  sad  /  his  tale  he  hath  hem  toold    [leaf  IDS,  bk] 
He  seyde  freendes  /  I  am  hoor  and  oold         1 400 
And  ahnoost  god  woof  on  my  pittes  brynke 
Vp  on  the  soule  /  somwhat  moste  I  thynke 
I  haue  my  body  /  folily  despended 

Blessed  be  god  /  that  it  shal  been  amended  1404 

ffor  I  wol  be  /  certeyn  a  wedded  man 
And  that  anoon  /  in  al  the  haste  I  kan 
Vn  to  som  niayde  /  fair  /  and  tendre  of  age 
I  prey  yow  /  shapeth  for  my  mariage  1408 

Al  sodeynly  /  for  I  wol  nat  abyde 
And  1  wol  fonde  /  tespien  on  my  syde 
To  whom  /  I  may  be  wedded  hastily 
But  for  as  muche  /  as  ye  been  mo  than  I  1412 

Ye  shullen  rather  /  swich  a  thyng  espyen 
Than  I  /  and  where  me  best  were  to  allyen 
IT  But  o  thyng1  warne  I  yow  /  my  freendes  deere 
I  wol  noon  oold  wyf  han  /  in  no  manere  1416 

ELLESMERE   281   (6-T.  447) 


448   SIX-TEXT 

E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS, 


She  shal  nat  passe  twenty  yeer  certayn 

Gold  fissh"  and  yong*  flessh"  /  wolde  I  haue  fayn 

Bet  is  quod  he  /  a  pyk  than  a  pykerel 

And  bet  than  olde  boef1  is  the  tendre  veel  1420 

I  wol  no  wowman  /  thritty  yeer  of  age 

It  is  but  benestraw  /  and  greet  forage 

And  eek/  thise  olde  wydwes  /  god  it  woof 

They  konne  /  so  muchel  craft1  on  Wades  boot1  1424 

So  muchel  broken  harm  /  whan  fat  hem  leste 

That  with  hem  /  sholde  I  neuere  lyue  in  reste 

ffor  sondry  scoles  /  maken  sotile  clcrkis 

"Wowman  of  manye  scoles  /  half  a  clerk1  is  1428 

But  certeynly  /  a  yong1  thyng1  may  men  gye 

Eight  as  men  may  /  warm  wex  with  handes  plye 

Wherfore  /  I  sey  yow  pleynly  /  in  a  clause 

I  wol  noon  oold  wyf  han  /  for  this  cause  1432 

ffor  if  so  were  /  fat  I  hadde  swich  myschancc 

That  I  in  hire  /  ne  koude  han  no  plesance 

Thanne  sholde  I  lede  my  lyf  in  Auoutrye 

And  straight1  vn-to  the  deuel  /  whan  I  dye  1  436 

Ne  children  /  sholde  I  none  vp  on  hire  geten 

Yet  were  me  leuere  /  fat  houndes  had  me  eten 

Than  fat  myn  heritage  sholde  falle 

In  straunge  hand  /  and  this  I  telle  yow  alle  1440 

I  dote  nafr  I  woot  the  cause  why  ?  ' 

Men  sholde  wedde  /  and  forthermoore  woot  I 

Ther  speketh  /  many  a  man  of  mariage 

That  woot  namoore  of  it1  than  woot  my  page  1444: 

ffor  whiche  causes  /  man  sholde  take  a  wyf  / 

Siththe  /  he  may  nat  lyuen  chaast  his  lyf  / 

Take  hym  a  wyf1  with"  greet  deuocion  pcaf  109] 

By  cause  /  of  leueful  procreacion  1448 

Of  children  /  to  thonour  of  god  aboue 

And  nat  oonly  /  for  paramour  or  loue 

And  for  they  sholde  /  leccherye  eschue 

And  yelde  hir  dettes  /  whan  fat  they  ben  due  1452 

23  ELLESMEKE    282   (6-T.  448) 


449    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Or  for  that  ech  of  hem  /  sholde  helpen  oother 

In  meschief  /  as  a  suster  shal  tho  brother 

And  lyue  in  chastitee  /  ful  holily 

But  sires  by  youre  leue  /  that  am  nat  I  1456 

ffor  god  be  thanked  /  I  dar  make  auauwtf 

I  feele  my  lymes  /  stark/  and  suffisaunf 

To  do  /  al  that  a  man  bilongeth  to 

1  woot  my  seluen  best1  what  I  may  do  1460 

Though"  I  be  hoor  /  I  fare  as  dooth  a  tree 

That  blosmeth  /  er  fat  fruyt  ywoxen  bee 

And  blosmy  tree  /  nys  neither  drye  ne  deed 

I  feele  me  /  nowhere  hoor  /  but  on  myn  heed  1464 

Myn  herte  /  and  alle  my  lymes  been  as  grene 

As  laurer  /  thurgh"  the  yeer  /  is  for  to  sene 

And  syn  fat  ye  /  han  herd  al  myn  entente 

I  prey  yow  /  to  my  wyl  /  ye  wole  assente  1468 

Diuerse  men  /  diuersely  hym  tolde 
Of  mariage  /  manye  ensamples  olde 
Somme  blamed  it  /  sowme  preysed  it  certeyn 
But  atte  laste  /  shortly  for  to  seyn  1472 

As  al  day  /  falleth  altercacion 
Bitwixen  freendes  in  disputison 
Ther  fil  a  stryf  /  bitwixe  hise  bretheren  two 
Of  whiche  /  that  oon  was  cleped  Placebo  1476 

lustinus  soothly  /  called  was  that  oother 
IT  Placebo  seyde  /  o  lanuarie  brother  H  Placebo 

fful  litel  nede  /  hadde  ye  my  lord  so  deere 
Conseil  to  axe  /  of  any  that  is  heere  1480 

But  fat  ye  been  /  so  ful  of  sapience 
That  yow  ne  liketh  /  for  youre  heighe  prudence 
To  weyuen  /  fro  the  word  of  Salomon 
This  word  seyde  he  /  vn  to  vs  euerychon  1484 

Wirfc  alle  thyng1  by  conseil  /  thus  seyde  he 
And  thanne  /  shaltow  nat  repente  thee 
But  though"  fat  Salomon  /  spak  swich  a  word? 
Myn  owene  deere  brother  /  and  my  lord  1488 

ELLESMERE  283   (6-T.  449) 


450   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

So  wysly  /  god  my  soule  brynge  at  reste 

I  holde  /  youre  owene  conseil  is  the  beste 

ffor  brother  myn  /  of  me  taak  this  motyf* 

I  haue  now  been  /  a  Court  man  al  my  lyf1  1492 

And  god  it  woof  though  I  vnworthy  be 

I  haue  stonden  /  in  ful  greet  degree 

Abouten  lordes  /  of  ful  heigh"  estaat  Deaf  109,  back] 

Yet  hadde  I  neuere  /  vriih  noon  of  hem  debaat  149G 

I  neuere  hem  contraried  trewely 

I  woot  wel  /  that  my  lord  kan  moore  than  I 

What  that  he  seith  /  I  holde  it  ferme  and  stable 

I  seye  the  same  /  or  elles  thyng  semblable  1500 

A  ful  greet  fool  /  is  any  conseillozw 

That  serueth  any  lord  /  of  heigh  honour 

That  dar  presume  /  or  elles  thenken  it 

That  his  conseil  /  sholde  passe  his  lordes  wit  1504 

Nay  /  lordes  been  no  fooles  by  my  fay 

Ye  han  youre  seluen  /  seyd  heer  to  day 

So  heigh  sentence  /  so  holily  and  weel 

That  I  consente  /  and  conferme  euerydeel  1508 

Youre  wordes  alle  /  and  youre  opiniouw 

By  god  /  ther  nys  no  man  /  in  al  this  toun 

Nyn  Ytaille  /  that  koude  bet  han  sayd 

Crist  halt  hym  /  of  this  conseil  ful  wel  apayd  1512 

And  trewely  /  it  is  an  heigh"  corage 

Of  any  man  /  that  stapen  is  in  age 

To  take  a  yong  wyf1  by  my  fader  kyn 

Youre  herte  hangeth  /  on  a  ioly  pyn  1516 

Dooth  now  in  this  matiere  /  right  as  yow  leste 

ffor  finally  /  I  holde  it  for  the  beste 

Iustinus  /  pat  ay  stille  sat  and  herde  IT  lustinus 

Right  in  this  wise  /  he  to  Placebo  answerde          1520 
Now  brother  myn  /  be  pacient  I  preye 
Syn  ye  han  seyd  /  and  herkneth  what  I  seye 
1T  Senek1  among  hise  othere  wordes  wyse 
Seith  /  pat  a  man  oghte  hym  right  wel  auyse  1524 

ELLESMERE   284   (6-T.  450) 


451    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

To  whom  /  he  yeueth  his  lond  /  or  his  catcl 

And  syn  I  oghte  /  auyse  me  right  wel 

To  whom  I  yeue  my  good  /  awey  fro  me 

Wel  muchel  moore  /  I  oghte  auysed  be  1528 

To  whom  I  yeue  my  body  /  for  alwey 

I  warne  yow  wel  /  it  is  no  childes  pley 

To  take  a  wyf1  with-outen  auysemenfr 

Men  moste  enquere  /  this  is  myn  assent1  1532 

Wher  she  be  wys  /  or  sobre  /  or  dronkelewe 

Or  proud  /  or  elles  ootherweys  a  shrewe 

A  chidestere  /  or  wastour  of  thy  good 

Or  riche  /  or  poore  /  or  elles  mannyssh"  wood  1536 

Al  be  it  so  /  that  no  man  fynden  shal 

Noon  in  this  world  /  that  trotteth  hool  in  al 

Ne  man  ne  beest/  which  as  men  koude  deuyse 

But  nathelees  /  it  oghte  ynough  suffise  1540 

"With  any  wyf/  if  so  were  that  she  hadde 

Mo  goode  thewes  /  than  hire  vices  badde 

And  al  this  /  axeth  leyser  /  for  tenquere  [leaf  no] 

ffor  god  it  woot1 1  haue  wept  many  a  teere  1544 

fful  pryuely  /  syn  I  haue  had  a  wyf 

Preyse  who  so  wole  /  a  wedded  marines  lyf1 

Certein  I  fynde  in  it1  but  cost  and  care 

And  obseruances  /  of  alle  blisses  bare  1548 

And  yet  god  woof  my  neighebores  aboute 

And  namely  /  of  wommen  many  a  route 

Seyn  pat  I  hauo  /  the  mooste  stedefast  wyf1 

And  eek/  the  mekeste  oon  /  that  bereth  lyf1  1552 

But  I  woot  best1  where  wryngeth  me  my  sho 

Ye  mowe  for  me  /  right  as  yow  liketh  do 

x\uyscth  yow  /  ye  been  a  man  of  age 

HoAV  that  ye  entren  /  in  to  mariage  1556 

And  namely  /  with  a  yong  wyf/  and  a  fair 

By  hym  fat  made  water  /  erthe  /  and  air 

The  yongeste  man  /  ]?at  is  in  al  this  route 

Is  bisy  yiiough  /  to  bryngen  it  aboute  1560 

ELLESMERE   285   (6-T.  45l) 


452    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

To  han  his  wyf  allone  /  trusteth  me 

Ye  shul  nat  plesen  hire  /  fully  yeres  thre 

This  is  to  seyn  /  to  doon  hire  ful  plesance 

A  wyf  axeth  /  ful  many  an  obseruailce  1564 

I  prey  yow  /  ]>at  ye  be  nat  yuele  apayd! 

If  Wei  quod  this  lanuarie  /  and  has  tow  ysaycl? 

Straw  for  thy  Senek  /  and  for  thy  prouerbes 

I  counte  nat*  a  panyer  ful  of  herbes  1568 

Of  scole  ternies  //  wyser  men  than  thow 

As  thou  hast  herd  /  assenteden  right  now 

To  my  purpos  /  Placebo  J  what  sey  ye  ? 

1T  I  seye  /  it  is  a  cursed  man  quod  he  1572 

That  letteth  matrimoigne  sikerly 

And  with  that  word  /  they  rysen  sodeynly 

And  been  assented  /  fully  fat  he  sholde 

Be  wedded  /  whanne  hym  list  and  where  ho  wolde     1576 

Heigh  fantasye  /  and  curious  bisynesse 
ffro  day  to  day  /  gan  in  the  soule  impresse 
Of  lanuarie  /  aboute  his  mariage 

Many  fair  shape  /  and  many  a  fair  visage  ,1580 

Ther  passeth  thurgh  his  herte  /  nyght  by  nyghfr 
And  who  so  tooke  a  Mirour/  polisshed  bryghf 
And  sette  if  in  a  commune  Market  place 
Thanne  sholde  he  se  /  ful  many  a  figure  pace  1584 

By  his  Mirour  /  and  in  the  same  wyse 
Gan  lanuarie  /  inwith  his  thoght  deuyse 
Of  maydens  /  whiche  fat  dwellen  hym  bisydo 
He  wiste  nat  /  wher  fat  he  myghte  abyde  1588 

ffor  if  fat  oon  /  haue  beaute  /  in  hir  face 
Another  stant  so  /  in  the  peples  grace 
ffor  hire  sadnesse  /  and  hire  benyngnytee  Deaf  no,  back] 

That  of  the  peple  /  grettest  voys  hath  she  1592 

And  somme  were  riche  /  and  hadden  badde  name 
But  nathelees  /  bitwixe  ernest1  and  game 
He  atte  laste  /  apoynted  hym  on  oon 
And  leet  alle  othere  /  from  his  herte  goon  159G 

ELLESMERE   286   (0-T.  452) 


453   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.  §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  chees  hire  /  of  his  owene  auctoritee 

ffor  loue  is  blynd  al  day  /  and  may  nat  see 

And  whan  that  he  was  /  in  his  bed  ybrogfif 

He  pwrtreyed  /  in  his  herte  and  in  his  thogftf  1600 

Hir  fresshe  beautee  /  and  hir  age  tendre 

Hir  myddel  smal  /  hire  armes  longe  and  sklendre 

Hir  wise  gouernance  /  hir  gentillesse 

Hir  wommanly  berynge  /  and  hire  sadnesse  1 604 

And  whan  that  he  /  on  hire  was  condescended 

Hyni  thougnte  /  his  choys  myghte  nat  ben  amended 

ffor  whan  fat  he  hym  self  /  concluded  hadde 

Hym  though" te  /  ech  oother  mannes  wit  so  badde        1C  08 

That  inpossible  /  it  were  to  repplye 

Agayn  his  choys  /  this  was  his  fantasye 

Hiso  freendes  sente  he  to  /  at  his  instance 

And  preyed  hem  /  to  doon  hym  that  plesance  1612 

That  hastily  /  they  wolderi  to  hym  come 

He  wolde  abregge  hir  labour  alle  and  some 

Nedeth  namoore  /'for  hym  to  go  ne  ryde 

He  was  apoynted  /  ther  he  wolde  abydo  1616 

IT  Placebo  cam  /  and  eek  hise  freendes  soone 

And  alderfirst1  he  bad  hem  alle  a  boone 

That  noon  of  hem  /  none  Argumentes  make 

Agayn  the  purpos  /  which  fat  he  hath  take  1620 

Which  purpos  /  was  plesant1  to  god  seyde  he 

And  verray  ground  /  of  his  prosperitee 

IT  He  seyde  /  ther  was  a  mayden  in  the  toun 

Which  fat  of  beautee  /  hadde  greet  renoun  1624 

Al  were  it  so  /  she  were  /  of  smal  degree 

Suffiseth  hym  /  hir  yowthe  /  and  hir  beautee 

Which  mayde  he  seyde  /  he  wolde  han  to  his  wyf1 

To  lede  in  ese  /  and  hoolynesse  his  lyf*  1628 

And  thanked  god  /  fat  he  mygfite  han  hire  al 

That  no  wigfit  /  his  blisse  parten  shal 

And  preyde  hem  /  to  laboure  in  this  nede 

And  shapen  /  fat  he  faille  nat  to  spede  1632 

ELLESMEUE    287   (0-T.  453) 


454   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  thanne  lie  seyde  /  his  spirit  was  at  ese 

Thanne  is  quod  he  /  no  thyng1  may  me  displese 

Saue  o  thyng*  priketh  in  my  conscience 

The  which  I  wol  reherce  /  in  youre  presence  1636 

11  I  haue  quod  he  /  herd  seyd  ful  yoore  ago 

Ther  may  no  man  /  han  parfite  blisses  two 

This  is  to  seye  /  in  erthe  and  eek*  in  heuene 

ffor  though  he  kepe  hym  /  fro  the  synnes  seueno 

And  eek/  from  euery  branche  of  thilke  tree 

Yet  is  ther/  so  parfit  felicitee 

And  so  greet  ese  /  and  lust  in  mariage 

That  euere  I  am  agast/  now  in  myn  age 

That  I  shal  lede  now  /  so  myrie  a  lyf1 

So  delicat1  with-outen  wo  and  stryf1 

That  I  shal  haue  /  myn  heuene  in  erthe  heere 

ffor  sith  fat  verray  heuene  /  is  bog&t  so  deere  1648 

With  tribulacion)  /  and  greet  penance  ' 

How  sholde  I  thanne  /  fat  lyue  in  swich"  plesance 

As  alle  wedded  men  /  doon  vriih  hire  wyuys 

Come  to  the  blisse  /  ther  crist  eterne  on  lyue  ys  •         1652 

This  is  my  drede  /  and  ye  my  bretheren  tweye 

Assoilleth  me  /  this  question)  I  preye 

Iustinus  /  which  fat  hated  his  folye  IT  lustinus 

'  Answerde  anon  /  right  in  his  iaperye  1656 

And  for  he  wolde  /  his  longe  tale  abregge 
He  wolde  /  noon  auctoritee  allegge 
But  seyde  sire  /  so  ther  be  noon  obstacle 
Oother  than  this  /  god  of  his  hygh"  myracle  1660 

And  of  his  hygh"  mercy  /  may  so  for  yow  wircho 
That  er  ye  haue  youre  right1  of  hooly  chirche 
Ye  may  repente  /  of  wedded  mannes  lyf1 
In  which  ye  seyn  /  ther  is  no  wo  ne  stryf1  1664 

And  elles  god  forbede  /  but  he  sente 
A  wedded  man  /  hym  grace  to  repente 
Wei  ofte  /  rather  than  a  sengle  man 
And  therfore  sire  /  the  beste  reed  I  kan  1668 

ELLESMERE   288   (6-T.  454) 


455    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Dispeire  yow  nogftf  but  haue  in  youre  memorie 

Paraunter  /  she  may  be  youre  purgatorie 

She  may  be  goddes  meene  /  and  goddes  whippe 

Thanne  shal  youre  soule  /  vp  to  heuene  skippe  1C 72 

Swifter/  than  dooth  an  Arwe  /  out  of  the  bowe 

I  hope  to  god  /  her-after  shul  ye  knowe 

That  ther  nys  /  no  so  greet  felicitee 

In  mariage  /  ne  neuere  mo  shal  bee  1G76 

That  yow  shal  lotte  /  of  youre  sauacion> 

So  that  ye  vse  /  as  sidle  is  and  reson. 

The  lustes  of  youre  wyf  attemprely 

And  fat  ye  plese  hire  nat  to  amorously  1G80 

And  fat  ye  kepe  yow  eek/  from  oother  synne 

My  tale  is  doon  /  for  my  wit  is  thynne 

Beth  nat  agastt  her-of  /  my  brother  deere 

Btrfc  lat  vs  wadcn  /  out  of  this  mateere  1684 

The  wyf  of  Bathe  /  if  ye  han  vnderstonde 

Of  mariage  /  which  ye  haue  on  honde 

Declared  hath  ful  wel  /  in  litel  space  peafin.bhckj 

ifareth  now  wel  /  god  haue  yow  in  his  g?-ace  1638 

And  with  this  word  /  this  lustyn  and  his  brother 

Han  take  hir  leue  /  and  ech  of  hem  of  oother 

flbr  whan  they  saughe  that1  it  moste  be 

They  wroghten  so  /  by  sly  and  wys  tretee  1692 

That  she  this  mayden  /  which  fat  Mayus  liiglito 

As  hastily  /  as  euere  that  she  myghte 

Shal  wedded  be  /  vn-to  this  lanuarie 

I  trowe  it  were  to  longe  yow  to  tarie  1696 

If  I  yow  tolde  /  of  euery  scrit  and  bond! 

By  which  /  fat  she  was  feffed  in  his  lond? 

Or  for  to  herknen  /  of  hir  riche  array 

But  finally  /  yeomen  is  the  day  1 700 

That  to  the  chirche  /  bothe  be  they  wenf  •' 

ffor  to  receyue  the  hooly  sacrement1 

fforth  comth  the  preestt  with  stole  aboute  his  nekke 

And  bad  hire  be  lyk1  to  Sarra  and  Eebekke  1704 

ELLESMBEE   289   (6-T.  455) 


456    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

In  wysdom  and  in  trouthe  of  manage 

And  seyde  hir  orisons  /  as  is  vsage 

And  croucheth  hem  /  and  bad  god  sholde  hem  blesse 

And  made  al  siker  ynogfi  /  with  hoolynesso  1708 

II  Thus  been  they  wedded  /  with  solempnitee 

And  at  the  feeste  /  sitteth  he  and  she 

With  othere  worthy  folk1  vp  on  the  deys 

Al  ful  of  ioye  and  blisse  is  the  paleys  1712 

And  ful  of  Instrumentz  /  and  of  vitaille 

The  moste  deynteuous  /  of  all  Ytaille 

Biforn  hem  /  stooden  Instrumentz  of  swich  soun 

That  Orpheus  /  ne  of  Thebes  Amphiouw  1716 

E"e  maden  neuere  /  swich  a  melodye 

II  At  euery  cours  /  thanne  cam  loud  Mynstralcyo 

That  neuere  tromped  loab  /  for  to  heere 

Nor  he  Theodomas  /  yet  half  so  cleere  1720 

At  Thebes  /  whan  the  Citee  was  in  douto 

Bacus  /  the  wyn  hem  skynketh  al  aboute 

And  Venus  /  laugheth  vp-on  euery  wight1 

ffor  lanuarie  /  was  bicome  Mr  knyghtf  1724 

And  wolde  bothe  /  assayen  his  corago 

Jn  libertee  /  and  eek  in  mariage 
And  wi't/i  hire  fyrbrond?  /  in  hire  hand  aboute 
Daunceth  /  biforn  the  bryde  and  al  the  route  1728 

And  certeinly  /  I  dar  right  wel  seyn  this 
Ymeneus  /  that  god  of  weddyug  is 
Saugfi.  neuere  his  lyf1  so  myrie  a  wedded  man 
Hoold  thou  thy  pees  /  thou  poete  Marcian  1732 

That  writest  vs  /  that  ilke  weddyng*  murio 
Of  hire  Philologie  /  and  hym  Mercuric 
And  of  the  songes  /  that  the  Muses  songe  [leaf  112] 

To  smal  is  bothe  thy  penne  /  and  eek  thy  tonge          1736 
ffor  to  descryuen  /  of  this  mariage 
Whan  tendre  youthe  /  hath  wedded  stoupyng  age 
Ther  is  swich  myrthe  /  fat  it  may  nat  be  writen 
Assayeth  it  youre  self  /  thanne  may  ye  witen  1740 

ELLESMERE   290    (0-T.  456) 


457    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

If  that  I  lye  or  noon  /  in  this  matiere 

*T  Mayus  that  sit  /  with  so  benyngne  a  chiere 

Hire  to  biholde  /  it  semed  fairye 

Queene  Ester  /  looked  neuere  'with  swich  an  eye         1744 

On  Assuer  /  so  meke  a  look  hath  she 

I  may  yow  nat  deuyse  /  al  hir  beautee 

But  thus  muche  of  hire  beautee  telle  I  may 

That  she  was  lyk/  the  brighte  inorwe  of  May  1748 

ffulfild  /  of  alle  beautee  and  plesance 

IT  This  lanuarie  /  is  rauysshed  in  a  trance 

At  euery  tyme  /  he  looked  on  hir  face 

But  in  his  herte  /  he  gan  hire  to  manace  1752 

That  he  that  nyght1  in  Armes  wolde  hire  streyne 

Harder  /  than  euere  Parys  dide  Eleyne 

But  nathelees  /  yet  hadde  he  greet  pitee 

That  thilke  nyghfr  offenden  hire  moste  he  1756 

And  thoughte  alias  /  o  tendre  creature 

Now  wolde  god  /  ye  myghte  wel  endure 

Al  my  corage  /  it  is  so  sharpe  and  keeno 

I  am  agast1  ye  shul  it  nat  susteene  17GO 

But  god  forbede  /  J>ot  I  dide  al  my  myghtf 

Now  wolde  god  /  fat  it  were  woxen  nygfrfr 

And  that  the  nyglit1  wolde  lasten  eueremo 

I  wolde  /  that  al  this  peple  were  ago  1764 

And  finally  /  he  dooth  al  his  labour 

As  he  best  rnygfrte  /  sauynge  his  honour 

To  haste  hem  fro  the  mete  /  in  subtil  wyse 

1T  The  tyme  cam  /  that  reson  was  to  ryse  1768 

And  after  that1  men  daunce  and  drynken  fasto 

And  spices  /  al  aboute  the  hous  they  caste 

And  ful  of  ioye  and  blisse  is  euery  man 

All  but  a  Squyer  /  higtte  Damyan  1772 

Which  carf  biforn  the  knygfrf  ful  many  a  day 

He  was  so  rauysshed  /  on  his  lady  May 

That  for  the  veriay  peyne  /  he  was  ny  wood 

Almoost  he  swelte  /  and  swowned  ther  he  stood  1776 

ELLESMEBE    291    (6-T.  457) 


458   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

So  score  /  hath  Venus  hurt  hym  with  hire  brond? 

As  pat  she  bar  if  daunsynge  in  hire  hond? 

And  to  his  bed  /  he  wente  hym  hastily 

Namoore  of  hym  /  at  this  tyme  speke  [I]  1780 

But  there  I  lete  hym  wepe  ynogh"  and  pleyne 

Til  fressRe  May  /  wol  rewen  on  his  peyne 

O  perilous  fyr  /  that  in  the  bedstraw  bredeth 
0  famulier  foo  /  that  his  seruyce  bedeth  1784 

0  seruant  traytour  /  false  hoomly  hewe 
Lyk  to  the  naddre  /  in  bosom  sly  vntrewe 
God  shilde  vs  alle  /  from  youre  aqueyntance 
O  lanuarie  /  dronken  in  plesance  1788 

In  mariage  /  se  how  thy  Damyan 
Thyn  owene  squier  /  and  thy  born  man 
Entendeth  /  for  to  do  thee  vileynye     ,. 
God  graunte  thee  /  thyn  hoomly  fo  tespye  1792 

ffor  in  this  world  /  nys  worse  pestilence 
Than  hoomly  foo  /  al  day  in  thy  presence 
IT  Parfourned  hath  the  sonne  /  his  Ark1  diurne 
No  lenger  /  may  the  body  of  hym  soiurne  1796 

On  thorisonte  /  as  in  that  latitude 
Hight  vfitJi  his  Mantel  fat  is  derk1  and  rude 
Gan  ouersprede  the  Hemysperie  aboute 
ffor  which"  /  departed  is  /  this  lusty  route  1800 

ffro  lanuarie  /  with  thank  on  euery  syde 
Hoom  to  hir  hous  /  lustily  they  ryde 
Where  as  they  doon  hir  thynges  /  as  hem  leste 
And  whan  they  sye  hir  tyne  /  goon  to  reste  1804 

Soone  after  that1  this  hastif  lanuarie 
Wolde  go  to  bedde  /  he  wolde  no  lenger  tarye 
He  drynketh  Ypocras  /  Clarree  and  Vernage 
Of  spices  hoote  /  tencreessen  his  corage  1808 

And  many  a  letuarie  /  hath  he  ful  fyn 
Swiche  as  the  Monk"  daun  Constantyn 
Hath  writen  /  in  his  book  de  coitu 
To  eten  hem  alle  /  he  nas  no  thyng  eschu  1812 

ELLESMERE   292    (6-T.  458) 


459    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  to  hise  pn'uee  freendes  /  thus  seyde  ho 

ffor  goddes  loue  /  as  soone  as  it  may  be 

Lat  voyden  al  this  hous  /  in  curteys  wyse 

And  they  han  doon  /  right  as  ho  wol  deuyse  181 G 

Men  drynken  /  and  the  trauers  drawe  anon 

The  bryde  /  was  brogfrt  a  bedde  /  as  stille  as  stoon 

And  whan  the  bed  /  was  with  the  preest  yblessed 

Out  of  the  chambre  /  hath  euery  wight  hym  dressed     1820 

And  lanuarie  /  hath  faste  in  Armes  take 

His  fresshe  May  /  his  Paradys  his  make 

He  lulleth  hire  /  he  kisseth  hire  ful  ofte 

"With  tbilke  brustles  /  of  his  berd  vnsofte  1824 

Lyk  to  the  skyn  of  houndfyssh  /  sharpe  as  brero 

ffor  he  was  shaue  al  newe  /  in  his  manere 

He  rubbeth  hire  /  aboute  hir  tendre  face 

And  seyde  thus  /  alias  I  moot  trespace  1828 

To  yow  my  spouse  /  and  yovv  greetly  offende 

Er  tyme  come  /  fat  I  wil  doun  descende 

But  nathelees  /  considereth  this  quod  he  [lean  is] 

Ther  nys  no  workman  /  what  so  euere  ho  be  1832 

That  may  bothe  /  werke  wel  and  hastily 

This  wol  be  doon  at  leyser  parfitly 

It  is  no  fors  /  how  longe  fat  we  pleye 

In  trewe  wcdlok  /  wedded  be  we  tweye  1836 

And  blessed  be  the  yok/  fat  wo  been  Inne 

ffor  in  [oure]  Actes  /  AVO  mowe  do  no  synne 

A  man  /  may  do  no  synne  with  his  wyf 

No  hurte  hym.  seluen  /  with  his  owene  knyf1  1810 

ffor  wo  han  leue  /  to  pleye  vs  by  the  lawo 

Thus  laboureth  he  /  til  fat  the  day  gan  dawe 

And  thanne  he  taketh  a  sope  /  in  fyne  clarree 

And  vpright  in  his  bed  /  thanne  sitteth  he  1844 

And  after  that1  he  sang  ful  loude  and  clecre 

And  kiste  his  wyf  /  and  made  wantowne  checre 

He  was  al  coltissfi  /  ful  of  ragerye 

Aud  ful  of  largon  /  as  a  flekked  pye  1848 

ELLESMERE    293    (C-T.  459) 


460   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.    §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

The  slakke  skyn  /  aboute  his  nekke  shake th~ 

Wh.il  fa't  lie  sang  /  so  chaunteth  he  and  craketR 

But  god  woof  what  fat  May  thoughte  in  liir  herte 

Whan  she  hym  saugh"  /  vp  sittynge  in  his  sherte          1852 

In  his  nyght  cappe  /  and  with  his  nekke  lene 

She  preyseth  nat  his  pleyyng1  Avorth  a  bene 

Thanne  seide  he  thus  /  rny  reste  wol  I  take 

Now  day  is  come  /  I  may  no  lenger  wake  1856 

And  doun  he  leyde  his  heed  /  and  sleepe  til  pryme 

And  afterward  /  whan  fat  he  saugh  his  tyme 

Vp  ryseth  lanuarie  /  but  fresshe  May 

Heeld  hire  chambre  /  vn-to  the  fourthe  day  1860 

As  vsage  is  /  of  wyues  /  for  the  beste 

ffor  euery  labour/  som  tyme  moot  han  reste 

Or  elles  /  longe  may  he  nat  endure 

This  is  to  seyn  /  no  lyues  creature  1864 

Be  it  of  fyssh"  /  or  bryd  /  or  beesfr  or  man 

Now  wol  I  speke  /  of  woful  Damyan 

That  langwissheth"  for  loue  /  as  ye  shul  heere 

Therfore  /  I  speke  to  hym  in  this  manere 

IT  I  seye  /  o  sely  Damyan  alias 

Andswere  to  my  demaunde  /  as  in  this  cas 

How  shaltow  /  to  thy  lady  fresshe  May 

Telle  thy  wo  /  she  wole  alwey  seye  nay  1872 

Eek  if  thou  speke  /  she  wol  thy  wo  biwreye 

God  be  thyn  helpe  /  I  kan  no  bettre  seye 

*ft  This  sike  Damyan  /  in  Yenus  fyr 

So  brenneth  /  that  he  dyeth  for  desyr  1876 

ffor  which  /  he  putte  his  lyf  in  auenture 

No  lenger  myghte  he  /  in  this  wise  endure 

But  pn'uely  /  a  penner  gan  he  borwe  Deaf  113,  back] 

And  in  a  lettre  /  wroot  he  al  his  sorwe  1880 

In  manere  of  a  compleynt1  or  a  lay 

Yn-to  his  faire  /  fresshe  lady  May 

And  in  a  purs  of  sylk/  heng  on  his  sherte 

He  hath  it  put1  and  leyde  it  at  his  herte  1884 

ELLE3MERE   294   (6-T.  460) 


461    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

The  moone  /  that  at  Noon  was  thilke  day 
That  lanuarie  /  hath  wedded  fresshe  May 
In  two  of  Tawr  /  was  in  to  Cancre  glyden 
So  longe  hath  Mayus  /  in  hir  chambre  byden  1888 

As  custume  is  /  vn-to  thise  nobles  alle 
A  bryde  /  shal  nat  eten  in  the  hallo 
Til  dayes  foure  /  or  .iij.  dayes  atte  leeste 
Ypassed  been  /  thanne  lat  hire  go  to  feeste  1892 

The  fourthe  day  compleet1  fro  Noon  to  Noon 
Whan  fat/  the  heighe  masse  was  ydoon 
In  halle  /  sit  this  lanuarie  and  May 

As  fressh"  /  as  is  the  brigfrte  someres  day  1896 

And  so  bifel  /  how  that  this  goode  man 
Kemembred  hym  /  vpon  this  Damyan 
And  seyde  /  Seynte  Marie  /  how  may  this  be 
That  Damyan  /  entendeth  nat  to  me  1900 

Is  he  ay  syk1  /  or  how  may  this  bityde 
Hise  squieres  /  whiche  that  stooden  ther  bisyde 
Excused  hym  /  by  cause  of  his  siknesse 
Which  letted  hym  /  to  doon  his  bisynesse  1904 

Noon  oother  cause  /  myghte  make  hym  tarye 
U  That  me  forthynketh  /  quod  this  lanuarie 
He  is  a  gentil  squier  /  by  my  trouthe 
If  that  he  deyde  /  it  were  harm  and  routhe  1908 

He  is  as  wys  /  discreet/  and  as  secree 
As  any  man  /  I  woot  of  his  degree 
And  ther-to  manly  /  and  eek  seruysable 
And  for  to  been  a  thrifty  man  right  able  1912 

But  after  mete  /  as  soone  as  euere  I  may 
I  wol  my  self  visite  hym  and  eek  May 
To  doon  hym  /  al  the  confort  that  I  kan 
And  for  that  word  /  hym  blessed  euery  man  1916 

That  of  his  bountee  /  and  his  gentillesse 
He  wolde  so  conforten  in  siknesse 
His  squier  /  for  it  was  a  gentil  dede 
Dame  quod  this  lanuarie  /  taak  good  hede  1920 

ELLESMERE   295   (6-T.  46l) 


4G2   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

At  after  Noon  /  ye  with  youre  wowwnen  alle 

Whan  ye  han  been  in  chambre  /  out  of  this  halle 

That  alle  ye  /  go  se  this  Damyan 

Dooth  hym  disport/  he  is  a  gentil  man  1924 

And  telleth  hym  /  that  I  wol  hym  visite 

Haue  I  no  thyng1  but  rested  me  a  lite 

And  spede  yow  faste  /  for  I  wole  abyde  [ieafii4] 

Til  that  ye  slepe  /  faste  by  my  syde  1928 

And  vrith  that  word  /  he  gan  to  hym  to  calle 

A  Squier  /  that  was  Marchal  of  his  halle 

And  tolde  hym  certeyn  thynges  /  what  he  wolde 

IT  This  fresshe  May  /  hath  straight  hir  wey  yholde       1932 

"With  alle  hir  wommen  /  vn-to  Damyan 

Doun  by  his  beddes  syde  /  sit  she  than 

Confortynge  hym  /  as  goodly  as  she  may 

This  Damyan  /  whan  that  his  tyme  he  say  1936 

In  secree  wise  /  his  purs  and  eek  his  bille 

In  which  fat  he  /  ywriten  hadde  his  wille 

Hath  put  in  to  hire  hand  /  with-outen  mooro 

Saue  fat  he  siketh  /  wonder  depe  and  score  1940 

And  softely  to  hire  /  right  thus  seyde  he 

Mercy  /  and  that  ye  nat  discouere  me 

ffor  I  am  deed  /  if  that  this  thyng/  be  kyd 

This  purs  hath  she  /  in  with  hir  bosom  hyd  1944 

And  wente  hire  wey  /  ye  gete  namoore  of  me 

But  vn-to  lanuarie  /  yeomen  is  she 

That  on  his  beddes  syde  /  sit  ful  softe 

He  taketh  hire  /  and  kisseth  hire  ful  ofte  1948 

And  leyde  hym  doun  to  slepe  /  and  that  anon 

She  feyned  hire  /  as  that  she  moste  gon 

Ther  as  ye  woof  pat  euery  wight  moot  neede 

And  whan  she  of  this  bille  /  hath  taken  hcede  1952 

She  rente  it/  al  to  cloutes  atte  laste 

And  in  the  pryuee  /  softely  it  caste 

Who  studieth  now  /  but  faire  fressho  May 
Adoun  /  by  olde  lanuarie  she  lay  1956 

ELLESMERE   296   (6-T.  462) 


463   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  sleepe  /  til  fat  the  cougfre  /  hath  hym  awaked 

Anon  he  preyde  hire  /  strepen  hire  al  naked 

He  wolde  of  hire  he  seyde  /  han  som  plesance 

And  seyde  /  hir  clothes  /  dide  hym  encombraucc          19 GO 

And  she  oheyeth  /  be  hire  lief  or  looth" 

But  lest  ye  precious  folk  /  be  with  me  wrooth 

How  that  he  wroghte  /  I  dar  nat  to  yow  telle 

Or  wheither  /  fat  hire  thoughte  it  Paradys  or  helle     19G4 

But  heere  I  lete  hem  /  werken  in  hir  wyse 

Til  euensong  rong1  and  fat  they  moste  aryse 

Were  it  by  destynee  /  or  by  auenture 

"Were  it  by  Influence  /  or  by  nature  19G8 

Or  constellacion)  /  that  in  swich  estaat1 

The  heuene  /  stood  that  tyme  fortunaaf 

Was  for  to  putte  a  bille  /  of  Venus  werkes 

if  or  alle  thyng  hath  tyme  /  as  seyn  thise  clerkes  1972 

To  any  womman  /  for  to  gete  hire  loue 

I  kan  nat  seye  /  but  grete  god  aboue 

That  knoweth  /  that  noon  Act1  is  causelees          cu?af  nt,  back] 

He  deme  of  al  /  for  I  wole  holde  my  pees  197G 

But  sooth  is  this  /  how  that  this  fresshe  May 

Hath  take  /  swich  impression)  that  day 

ffor  pitee  /  of  this  sike  Damyan 

That  from  hire  herte  /  she  ne  dryue  kan  1980 

The  remembrance  /  for  to  doon  hym  ese 

Certeyn  thoghte  she  /  whom  fat  this  thyng  displese 

I  rekke  noght  /  for  heere  I  hym  assure 

To  loue  hym  best*  of  any  creature  1984 

Though"  he  namoore  hadde  than  his  sherte 
Lo  pitee  /  renneth  soone  in  gentil  herte 

II  Heere  may  ye  se  /  how  excellent  franchise 

In  wommen  is  /  whan  they  hem  narwe  auyse  1988 

Som  tyrant  is  /  as  ther  be  many  oon 

That  hath  an  herte  /  as  hard  /  as  any  stoon 

Which  wolde  /  han  lat  hym  storuen  in  the  place 

Wei  rather  /  than  han  graunted  hym  hire  grace  1992 

ELLESMERE   297   (6-T.  463) 


464   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  hem  reioysen  /  in  hire  crueel  pryde 

And  rekke  nafr  to  been  an  homycide 

1T  This  gentil  May  /  fulfilled  of  pitee 

Bight  of  hire  hand  /  a  lettre  made  she  1996 

In  which  she  grauiiteth  hym  hire  verray  grace 

Ther  lakketh  noght/  oonly  /  but  day  and  place 

Wher  fat  she  myghte  /  vn-to  his  lust  suffise 

ffor  it  shal  be  /  right  as  he  wole  deuyse  2000 

And  whan  she  saugh  hir  tyme  vp  on  a  day 

To  visite  this  Damyan  /  gooth  May 

And  sotilly  this  let  foe  j  doun  she  threste 

Vnder  his  pilwe  /  rede  it  if  hym  leste  2004 

She  taketh  hym  by  the  hand  /  and  harde  hym  twiste 

So  secrely  /  that  no  wight  of  it  wiste 

And  bad  hym  been  al  hool  /  and  forth  he  wente 

To  lanuarie  /  whan  fat  he  for  hym  sente  2008 

Yp  riseth  Damyan  /  the  nexte  morwe 
Al  passed  was  /  his  siknesse  and  his  sorwe 
He  kembeth  hym  /  he  preyneth  hym  and  pyketh 
He  dooth  /  al  that  his  lady  lust  and  lyketh  2012 

And  eek  to  lanuarie  /  he  gooth  as  lowe 
As  euere  dide  /  a  dogge  for  the  bowe 
He  is  so  plesant/  vn-to  etiery  man 

ffor  craft  is  al  /  who  so  that  do  it  kan  2016 

That  euery  wight/  is  fayn  to  speke  hym  good 
And  fully  /  in  his  lady  grace  he  stood 
Thus  lete  I  Damyan  /  aboute  his  nede 
And  in  my  tale  /  forth  I  wol  procede  2020 

1F  So?nme  clerkes  /  holden  that  felicitee 
Stant  in  delit/  and  therfore  certeyn  hes 
This  noble  lanuarie  /  with  al  his  myght1  [leaf  us] 

In  honeste  wyse  /  as  longeth  to  a  knyght1  2024 

Shoope  hym  to  lyue  /  ful  deliciously 
His  housynge  /  his  array  /  as  honestly 
To  his  degree  /  was  maked  as  a  kynges 
Amonges  othere  /  of  bise  honeste  thynges  2028 

24  ELLESMERE   298   (6-T.  464) 


465    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

He  made  a  gardyn  /  walled  al  Avith  stoon 

So  fair  a  gardyn  /  \voot  I  nowher  noon 

ffor  out  of  doute  /  I  verraily  suppose 

That  he  /  )>at  wroot  the  romance  of  the  Rose  2032 

Ne  koude  of  it/  the  beautee  wel  deuyse 

Ne  Priapus  /  ne  mygnte  nat  suffise 

Though  he  be  god  of  gardyns  /  for  to  telle 

The  beautee  of  the  gardyn  /  and  the  welle  2036 

That  stood  vnder  a  laurer  /  alwey  grene 

fful  ofte  tyme  /  he  Pluto  and  his  queene 

Proserpina  /  and  al  hire  fairye 

Disporten  hem  /  and  maken  melodye  2040 

Aboute  that  welle  /  and  daunced  as  men  tolde 

IF  This  noble  knyght1  this  lanuarie  the  olde 

Swich  deyntee  hath  /  in  it  to  walke  and  pleye 

That  he  wol  no  wight  suffren  bere  the  keye  2044 

Saue  he  hym  self/  for  of  the  smale  wyketf 

He  baar  alwey  /  of  siluer  a  Clyketf 

With  which  /  whan  J?at  hym  leste  he  it  vnshette 

And  whan  he  wolde  /  paye  his  wyf  hir  dette  2048 

In  Somer  seson)  /  thider  wolde  he  go 

And  May  Ms  wyf/  and  no  wight  but  they  two 

And  thynges  /  whiche  fat  were  nat  doon  a  bedde 

He  in  the  gardyn  /  parfourned  hem  and  spedde  2052 

And  in  this  wyse  /  many  a  murye  day 

Lyued  this  lanuarie  /  and  fressfie  May 

But  worldly  loye  /  may  nat  alwey  dure 

To  lanuarie  /  ne  to  no  creature  2056 

Osodeyn  hape  /  o  thou  fortune  Instable     1T  Auctor  ^ 
Lyk  to  the  Scorpion  /  so  deceyuable 
That  flaterest  *wik7i  thyn  heed  /  whan  thou  wolt  synge 
Thy  tayl  is  deeth  /  thurgh  thyn  enuenymynge  2060 

0  brotil  loye  /  o  sweete  venym  queynte 
0  Monstre  /  that  so  subtilly  kanst  peynte 
Thy  yiftes  /  vnder  he  we  of  stidefastnesse 
That  thou  deceyuest1  bothe  moore  and  lesse  2064 

ELLESMERE   299    (6-T.  465) 


466    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Why  hastow  lanuarie  /  thus  deceyued 

That  haddest  hym  /  for  thy  ful  freend  receyued 

And  now  thou  hast*  biraffr  hym  bothe  hise  eyen 

ffor  sorwe  of  which  /  desire th  he  to  dyen  2068 

IT  Alias  /  this  noble  lanuarie  free 

Amydde  his  lustf  and  his  prosperitee 

Is  woxen  blynd  /  and  that  al  sodeynly  Deaf  us,  back] 

He  wepeth  and  he  wayleth  pitously  2072 

And  ther  with  al  /  the  fyr  of  Jalousie 

Lest  pat  his  wyf/  sholde  falle  in  swich  folye 

So  brente  his  herte  /  that  he  wolde  fayn 

That  som  man  /  bothe  hym  and  hire  had  slayn  2076 

tibr  neither  after  his  deeth  /  nor  in  his  lyf* 

Ne  wolde  he  /  fat  she  were  loue  ne  wyf1 

But  euere  lyue  as  wydwe  in  clothes  blake 

Soul  as  the  turtle  /  fat  lost  hath  hire  make  2080 

But  atte  laste  /  after  a  Monthe  or  tweye 

His  sorwe  gan  asAvage  /  sooth  to  seye 

ffor  whan  he  wiste  /  it  may  noon  oother  be 

He  paciently  /  took1  his  Aduersitee  2084 

Saue  out  of  doute  /  he  may  nat  forgoon 

That  he  nas  lalous  /  eueremoore  in  oon 

"Which  lalousye  /  it  was  so  outrageous 

That  neither  in  halle  /  nyn  noon  oother  hous  2088 

Nyn  noon  oother  place  /  neuerthemo 

He  nolde  suffre  hire  /  for  to  ryde  or  go 

But  if  fat  he  /  had  hond  on  hire  alway 

ffor  which  ful  ofte  /  wepeth  fressfre  May  2092 

That  loueth  Damyan  /  so  benyngnely 

That  she  moot1  outher  dyen  sodeynly 

Or  elles  /  she  moot  han  hym  as  hir  leste 

She  wayteth  /  whan  hir  herte  wolde  breste  2096 

II  Vp  on  that  oother  syde  Damyan 

Bicomen  is  /  the  sorwefulleste  man 

That  euere  was  /  for  neither  nygnt  ne  day 

Ne  niyghte  he  speke  a  word  to  fresshe  May  2100 

ELLESMERE   300   (6-T.  466> 


467    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

As  to  his  pirrpos  /  of  no  swich  mateere 

But  if  that  lanuarie  /  moste  it  heere 

That  hadde  an  hand  /  vp  on  hire  eueremo 

But  nathelees  /  by  writyng  to  and  fro  2104 

And  pn'uee  signes  /  wiste  he  what  she  mente 

And  she  knew  eek  /  the  fyn  of  his  entente 

O  lanuarie  /  what  mygfrte  it  thee  auaille         IT  Auctor 
Thogh  thou  myghtest  se  /  as  fer  as  shippes  saille 
ffor  as  good  is  /  blynd  deceyued  be  2109 

As  to  be  deceyued  /  whan  a  man  may  se 
IF  Lo  Argus  /  which  fat  hadde  /  an  hondred  eyen 
ffor  al  J?at  euere  /  he  koude  poure  or  pryen  2112 

Yet  was  he  blent/  and  god  woot  so  been  mo 
That  wenen  wisly  /  that  it  be  nat  so 
Passe  ouer  is  an  ese  /  I  sey  namoore 

IT  This  fresshe  May  /  pat  I  spak1  of  so  yoore  2116 

In  warm  wex  /  hath  emprented  the  clyket1 
That  lanuarie  bar  /  of  the  smale  wykef 
By  which"  /  in  to  his  gardyn  ofte  he  wente  Oeame] 

And  Damyan  /  that  knew  al  hire  entente  2120 

The  cliket1  countrefeted  pryuely 
Ther  nys  namoore  to  seye  /  but  hastily 
Som  wonder  /  by  this  clyket  shal  bityde 
"Which  ye  shul  heeren  /  if  ye  wale  abyde  2124 

IT  0  noble  Ouyde  /  ful  sooth  seystou  god  woof  1T  Auctor  fo 
What  sleighte  is  it/  thogh  it  be  long  and  hoof 
That  he  nyl  fynde  it  out  /  in  som  manere 
By  Piramus  /  and  Tesbee  /  may  men  leere  2128 

Thogh"  they  were  kept1  ful  longe  streite  oueral 
They  been  accorded  /  rownynge  thurgh"  a  wal 
Ther  no  wight  /  koude  han  founde  out  swich  a  sleighte 
H  But  now  to  purpos  /  er  fat  dayes  eighte  2132 

"Were  passed  /  er  the  Monthe  of  luyl  bifille 
That  lanuarie  /  hath  caught  so  greet  a  wille 
Thurgh  eggyng  of  his  wyf1  hym  for  to  pleye 
In  his  gardyn  /  and  no  wigfit  but  they  tweye  2136 

ELLESMERE  soi  (e-T.  467) 


468    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E    §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  in  a  morwe  /  vn-to  this  May  seith  he 

Kys  vp  my  wyf/  my  loue  /  my  lady  free 

The  turtle  voys  is  herd  /  my  dowue  sweete 

The  wynter  is  goon  /  with  his1  reynes  weete     ^.^lat^handi 

Com  forth  now  /  with  thyne  eyen  columbyn  2141 

How  fairer  been  thy  brestes  /  than  is  wyn    ' 

The  gardyn  /  is  enclosed  al  aboute 

Com  forth  my  white  spouse  /  out  of  doute  2144 

Thou  hast  me  wounded  /  in  myn  herte  /  o  wyf1 

No  spot  of  thee  /  ne  knew  I  al  my  lyf 

Come  forth  /  and  lat  vs  taken  som  disport1 

I  chees  thee  /  for  my  wyf1  and  my  conforf  2148 

H  Swiche  olde  lewed  wordes  vsed  he 

On  Damyan  /  a  signe  made  she 

That  he  sholde  go  biforn  /  with  his  clikett 

This  Damyan  thanne  /  hath  opened  the  wykefl  2152 

And  In  he  stirte  /  and  that  in  swich  manere 

That  no  wight  myghte  it  se  /  neither  yheere 

And  stille  he  sit/  vnder  a  bussh"  anon 

1T  This  lanuarie  /  as  blynd  as  is  a  stoon  2156 

"With  Mayus  in  his  hand  /  and  no  wight  mo 

In  to  his  fresshe  gardyn  is  ago 

And  clapte  to  /  the  wyket  sodeynly 

H  Now  wyf  quod  he  /  heere  nys  but  tho.u  and  I          2160 

That  art  the  creature  /  that  I  best  loue 

ffor  by  that  lord  /  fat  sit  in  heuene  aboue 

Leuere  ich  hadde  /  to  dyen  on  a  knyf1 

Than  thee  offende  /  trewe  deere  wyf1  2164 

ffor  goddes  sake  /  thenk1  how  I  thee  chees 

Noghtf  for  no  coueitise  doutelees 

But  oonly  /  for  the  loue  /  I  had  to  thee  peafne.back] 

And  though  j?at  I  be  oold  /  and  may  nat  see  2168 

Beth  to  me  trewe  /  and  I  shal  telle  yow  why  & 

Thre  thynges  /  certes  /  shal  ye  wynne  ther  by 

ffirst  loue  of  Crist/  and  to  youre  self  honour 

And  al  myn  heritage  /  toun  and  tour  2172 

ELLESMERE   302   (6-T.  468) 


469    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

I  yeue  it  yow  /  makoth  chartres  as  yow  leste 

This  shal  be  doon  tomonve  er  sonne  reste 

So  wisly  /  god  my  soule  brynge  in  blisse 

I  prey  yow  first/  in  couenat  ye  me  kisse  2176 

And  though"  Jjat  I  be  lalous  wyte  me  noght1 

Ye  been  so  depe  /  enprented  in  my  thoght* 

That  whan  I  considere  youre  beautee 

And  ther  with  al  /  the  vnlikly  elde  of  me  2180 

I  may  nat  certes  /  though  I  sholde  dye 

flbrbere  /  to  been  out  of  youre  compaignye 

ffor  verray  loue  /  this  is  with  outen  doute 

Now  kys  me  wyf/  and  lat  vs  rome  aboute  2184 

IT  This  fresshe  May  /  whan  she  thise  wordes  herde 

Benyngnely  /  to  lanuarie  answerde 

But  first1  and  forward?  /  she  bigan  to  wepe 

I  haue  quod  she  /  a  soule  for  to  kepe  2188 

As  wel  as  ye  /  and  also  myn  honour 

And  of  my  wyf  hod  /  thilke  tendre  flour 

Which  ]>at  I  haue  /  assured  in  youre  hond? 

Whan  J>at  the  preesf  to  yow  my  body  bond!  2192 

Wherfore  /  I  wole  answere  /  in  this  manere 

By  the  leue  of  yow  /  my  lord  so  deere 

I  prey  to  god  /  )>at  neuere  dawe  the  day 

That  I  ne  sterue  /  as  foule  as  wowman  may  2196 

If  euere  I  do  /  vn  to  my  kyn  that  shame 

Or  elles  /  I  empeyre  so  my  name 

That  I  be  fals  /  and  if  I  do  that  lakke 

Do  strepe  me  /  and  put  me  in  a  sakke  2200 

And  in  the  nexte  ryuer  /  do  me  drenche 

I  am  a  gentil  womnian  and  no  wenche 

Why  speke  ye  thus  /  y  but  men  been  enere  vntrewe 

And  wo?ranen  /  haue  repreue  of  yow  ay  newe  2204 

Ye  han  noon  oother  contenance  I  leeue 

But  speke  to  vs  /  of  vntrust1  and  repreeue  « 

IF  And  with  that  word  /  she  saugh"  wher  Damyan 

Sat  in  the  bussfe  /  and  coughen  she  bigan  2208 

ELLESMERE   303   (6-T.  469) 


470    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  with  hir  fynger  /  signes  made  she 

That  Damyan  /  sholde  clymbe  vp  on  a  tree 

That  charged  was  with  fruytt  and  vp  he  wente 

ffor  verraily  /  he  knew  al  hire  entente  2212 

And  euery  signe  /  J>at  she  kcmde  make 

Wei  bet  than  lanuarie  /  hir  owene  make 

ffor  in  a  lettre  /  she  hadde  toold  hym  al  peafii?] 

Of  this  matere  /  how  he  werchen  shal  2216 

And  thus  I  lete  hym  sitte  /  vp  on  the  pyrie 

And  lanuarie  and  May  romynge  myrie 

Bright1  was  the  day  /  and  blew  the  firmament1 
Phebus  hath  of  gold  /  hise  stremes  doun  ysenfr    2220 
To  gladen  euery  flour  with  his  warmnesse 
He  was  that  tyme  /  in  Geminis  as  I  gesse 
But  litel  /  fro  his  declynacion)  s 

Of  Cancer  /  louis  exaltacion)  2224 

And  so  bifel  /  that  brighte  morwe  tyde 
That  in  that  gardyn  /  in  the  ferther  syde 
Pluto  /  that1  is  kyng  of  ffairye 

And  many  a  lady  /  in  his  compaignye  2228 

ffolwynge  his  wyf  /  the  queene  Proserpyne 
Ech  after  oother  /  right  as  a  lyne 
Whil  j>at  she  gadered  /  floures  in  the  mede 
In  Claudyan  /  ye  may  the  stories  rede  2232 

And  in  his  grisely  Carte  /  he  hire  sette 
This  kyng  of  ffairye  /  thanne  adoun  hym  sette 
Vp  on  a  bench  of  turues  /  fressh  and  grene 
And  right  anon  /  thus  seyde  he  to  his  queene  2236 

IT  My  wyf  quod  he  /  ther  may  no  wight  seye  nay 
Thexperience  /  so  preueth  euery  day 
The  tresons  /  whiche  J>at  wommen  doon  to  man 
Ten  hondred  thousand  /  tellen  I  kan  2240 

Notable  /  of  youre  vntrouthe  and  brotilnesse 
0  Salomon  /  wys  /  and  richest  of  richesse 
ffulfild  of  sapience  /  and  of  worldly  glorie 
fful  worthy  been  thy  wordes  to  memorie  2244 

ELLESMEKE   304   (6-T.  470) 


471    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  £.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

To  euery  wightf  fat  wit  and  reson  kan 

Thus  preiseth  lie  yetf  the  bouwtee  of  man 

H  Amonges  a  thousand  men  /  yet  foond  I  oon 

But  of  wommen  alle  /  foond  I  noon  2248 

U  Thus  seith  the  kyng1  fat  knoweth  youre  wikkednesse 

And  Ihesus  filius  Syrak*  as  I  gesse 

Ne  speketh  of  yow  /  but  seelde  reuerence 

A  wylde  fyr  /  and  corrupt  pestilence  2252 

So  falle  vp  on  youre  bodyes  yet  to  nygftt 

Ne  se  ye  nat1  this  honurable  knygntf 

By  cause  alias  /  that  he  is  blynd  and  ol(J 

His  owene  man  /  shal  make  hym  Cokewolc?  2256 

Lo  heere  he  sit1  the  lechour  in  the  tree 

Now  wol  I  graunten  /  of  my  magestee 

Yn-to  this  olde  blynde  worthy  knyght 

That  he  shal  haue  ayeyn  hise  eyen  syght1  2260 

Whan  fat  his  wyf/  Avoid  doon  hym  vileynye 

Thanne  shal  he  knowen  /  al  hire  harlotrye 

Bothe  in  repreue  of  hire  /  and  othere  mo  [leaf  117,  back] 

1T  Ye  shal  quod  Proserpyne  /  wol  ye  so  ?  2264 

Now  by  my  moodres  sires  soule  I  swere 

That  I  shal  yeuen  hire  suffisant  answere 

And  alle  wommen  after  /  for  hir  sake 

That  though  they  be  /  in  any  gilt  ytake  2268 

"With  face  boold  /  they  shulle  hem  self  excuse 

And  bere  hem  doun  /  that  wolden  hem  accuse 

ffor  lakke  of  answere  /  noon  of  hem  shal  dyen 

Al  hadde  man  seyn  a  thyng*  vritJi  bothe  hise  eyen       2272 

Yit  shul  we  wo?nmen  /  visage  it  hardily 

And  wepe  /  and  swere  /  and  visage  it  subtilly 

So  fat  ye  men  /  shul  been  /  as  lewed  as  gees 

What  rekketh  me  /  of  youre  Auctoritees  2276 

1T I  woot  wel  /  that  this  lew  /  this  Salomon 

ffoond  of  vs  wo?nmen  /  fooles  many  oon 

But  though  fat  he  ne  foond  /  no  good  womman 

Yet  hath  ther  founde  /  many  another  man  2280 

ELLESMEEE    305    (6-T.  47l) 


472    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Wo??wnen  ful  trewe  /  ful  goode  /  and  vertuous 

Witnesse  on  hem  /  fat  dwelle  in  Cristes  hous 

With  martirdom  /  they  preued  hire  Constance 

The  Romayn  geestes  /  eek*  maken  remembrance  2284 

Of  many  a  verray  /  trewe  wyf  also 

But  sire  ne  be  nat  wrooth  /  al  be  it  so 

Though"  fat  he  seyde  /  he  foond  no  good  womman 

I  prey  yow  /  take  the  sentence  of  the  man  2288 

He  mente  thus  /  that  in  souereyn  bontee 

Nis  noor  /  but  god  J>at  sit  in  Trinitee 

IT  Ey  for  verray  god  /  that  nys  but  oon 

"What  make  ye  /  so  muche  of  Salomon  2292 

What  though  he  made  a  temple  goddes  hous 

What1  though"  he  were  /  riche  and  glorious 

So  made  he  eek  /  a  temple  of  false  goddis 

How  myghte  he  do  a  thyng1  fat  moore  forbode  is        2296 

Pardee  /  as  faire  /  as  ye  his  name  emplastre 

He  was  a  lecchour  /  and  an  ydolastre 

And  in  his  elde  /  he  verray  god  forsook1 

And  if  god  ne  hadde  /  as  seith  the  book1  2300 

Yspared  for  his  fadres  sake  /  he  sholde 

Haue  lost  his  regne  /  rather  than  he  wolde 

I  sette  right  noghf  of  al  the  vileynye 

That  ye  of  wo?ranen  write  /  a  Boterflye  2304 

I  am  a  womman  /  nedes  moot  I  speke 

Or  elles  swelle  /til  myn  herte  breke 

ffor  sithen  he  seyde  /  that  we  been  iangleress- 

As  euere  hool  /  I  moote  brouke  my  tresses  2308 

I  shal  nat  spare  /  for  no  curteisye 

To  speke  hym  harm  /  fat  wolde  vs  vileynye 

Dame  quod  this  Pluto  /  be  no  lenger  wrootfi        peafiis] 
I  yeue  it  vp  /  but  sith  1  swoor  myn  ooth  2312 

That  I  wolde  /  graunten  hym  his  sighte  ageyn 
My  word  shal  stonde  /  I  warne  yow  certeyn 
I  am  a  kyng1  it  sit  me  noght  to  lye 
IT  And  I  quod  she  /  a  Queene  of  ffairye  2316 

ELLESMERE   306   (6-T.  472) 


473    SIX-TEXT 

QUOUP  £.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Hir  answere  shal  she  haue  I  vndertake 

Lat  vs  namoore  wordes  heer-of  make 

ffor  sothe  /  I  wol  no  lenger/  yow  contrarie 

1T  Now  lat  vs  /  turne  agayn  to  lanuarie  2320 

That  in  the  gardyn  /  with  his  faire  May 

Syngeth  ful  murier  /  than  the  Papeiay 

Yow  loue  I  best*  and  shal  and  oother  noon 

So  longe  /  aboute  the  Aleyes.is  he  goon  2324 

Til  he  was  come  /  agayns  thilke  pyrie 

Where  as  this  Damyan  /  sitteth  ful  myrie 

Anheigh  /  among1  the  fresshe  leues  grene 

1F  This  fressRe  May  /  that  is  so  bright  and  sheene       2328 

Gan  for  to  syke  /  and  seyde  /  alias  my  syde 

Now  sire  quod  she  /  for  aught  J>at  may  bityde 

I  moste  han  /  of  the  peres  that  I  see 

Or  I  moot  dye  /  so  soore  longeth  me  2332 

To  eten  /  of  the  smale  peres  grene 

Help  for  hir  loue  /  fat  is  of  heuene  queene 

I  telle  yow  wel  /  a'wowmian  in  my  plit1 

May  han  to  fruytf  so  greet  an  Appetif  2336 

That  she  may  dyen  /  but  she  of  it  haue 

IT  Alias  quod  he  /  J?at  I  ne  had  heer  a  knaue 

That  koude  clymbe  /  alias  alias  quod  he 

That  I  am  blynd!  /  ye  sire  no  fors  quod  she  2340 

IF  But  wolde  ye  vouche  sauf1  for  goddes  sake 

The  pyrie  /  inwith  youre  armes  for  to  take 

ffor  wel  I  woot/  that  ye  mystruste  me 

Thanne  sholde  I  clymbe  /  wel  ynogfi.  quod  she  2344 

So  I  my  foot1  myghte  sette  vpon  youre  bak/ 

1T  Certes  quod  he  /  ther-on  shal  be  no  lak1 

Mighte  I  yow  helpen  /  wzt/i  myn  herte  blood 

He  stoupeth  doun  /  and  on  his  bak  she  stood  2348 

And  caughte  hire  by  a  twiste  /  and  vp  she  gootR 

Ladyes  /  I  prey  yow  /  Jjat  ye  be  nat  wrooth" 

I  kan  nat  glose  /  I  am  a  rude  man 

And  sodeynly  /  anon  this  Damyan  2352 

ELLESMERE   307   (6-T.  473) 


474    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.   MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Gan  pullen  vp  the  smok  /  and  In  he  throng1 

IT  And  whan  J?at  Pluto  /  saugh  this  grete  wrong1 

To  lanuarie  /  he  gaf  agayn  his  sighte 

And  made  hym  se  /  as  wel  as  euere  he  myghte  2356 

And  whan  pat  he  /  hadde  caught*  his  sighte  agayn 

Ne  was  ther  neuere  /  man  of  thyng1  so  fayn 

But  on  his  wyf/  his  thoght  was  eueremo  Deafiis,  backi 

Vp  to  the  tree  /  he  caste  hise  eyen  two  2360 

And  saugh  ]>at  Damyan  /  his  wyf  had  dressed 

In  swich  manere  /  it  may  nat  been  expressed 

But  if  I  wolde  /  speke  vncurteisly 

And  vp  he  yaf  /  a  roryng*  and  a  cry  2364 

As  dooth  the  mooder  /  whan  the  child  shal  dye 

Out  helpe  /  alias  /  harrow  he  gan  to  crye 

0  stronge  lady  stoore  /  what  dostow  ? 

IT  And  she  answerde  /  sire  what  eyleth  yow?  2368 

Haue  pacience  /  and  reson  in  youre  mynde 

1  haue  yow  holpe  /  on  bothe  youre  eyen  blynde 
Vp  peril  of  my  soule  /  I  shal  nat  lyen 

As  me  was  taught  /  to  heele  with  youre  eyen  2372 

"Was  no  thyng  bet1  to  make  yow  to  see 

Than  strugle  with  a  man  /  vp  on  a  tree 

God  woofr  I  dide  it  /  in  ful  good  entente 

IT  Strugle  quod  he  £  ye  algate  In  it  wente  2376 

God  yeue  yow  bothe  /  on  shames  deth  to  dyen 

He  swyued  thee  /  I  saugh  it .  with  myne  eyen 

And  elles  /  be  I  hanged  by  the  hals 

1T  Thanne  is  quod  she  /  my  medicyne  fals  2380 

ffor  certeinly  /  if  that  ye  myghte  se 

Ye  wolde  nat  seyn  /  thise  wordes  vn  to  me 

Ye  han  som  glymsyng1  and  no  parfit  sighte 

1F  I  se  quod  he  /  as  wel  as  enere  I  myghte  2384 

Thonked  be  god  /  with  bothe  myne  eyen  two 

And  by  my  trouthe.  /me  thoughte  he  dide  thee  so 

If  Ye  maze  /  maze  /  goode  sire  quod  she 

This  thank  haue  I  /  for  I  haue  maad  yow  see  2388 

ELLESMERE    308    (6-T.  474) 


475   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.   §  4.  MERCHANT'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Alias  quod  she  /  that  euere  I  was  so  kynde 

IT  Now  dame  quod  he  /  lat  al  passe  out  of  mynde 

Com  doun  my  lief1  and  if  I  haue  myssayd! 

God  helpe  me  so  /  as  I  am  yuele  apayd!  2392 

But  by  my  fader  soule  /  I  wende  han  seyn 

How  that  this  Damyan  /  hadde  by  thee  leyn 

And  fat  thy  smok1  hadde  leyn  vp  on  his  brestt 

IT  Ye  sire  quod  she  /  ye  may  wene  as  yow  lest1  2396 

But  sire  /  a  man  /  fat  waketh  out  of  his  sleepe 

He  may  nat  sodeynly  /  wel  taken  keepe 

Vp  on  a  thyng1  ne  seen  it  parfitly 

Til  fat  he  be  /  adawed  verraily  2400 

II  Eight  so  a  man  /  fat  longe  hath  blynd  ybe 

Ne  may  nat  sodeynly  /  so  wel  yse 

ffirstf  whan  his  sighte  /  is  newe  come  ageyn 

As  he  fat  hath  /  a  day  or  two  yseyn  2404 

Til  that  youre  sighte  /  ysatled  be  a  while 

Ther  may  /  ful  many  a  sighte  yow  bigile 

Beth"  war  I  prey  yow  /  for  by  heuene  kyng1  [leaf  119] 

fiul  many  a  man  /  weneth  to  seen  a  thyng*  2408 

And  it  is  /  al  another  /  than  it  semeth 

He  fat  mysconceyueth  /  he  mysdemetfi 

And  with  that  word  /  she  leepe  doun  fro  the  tree 

IT  This  lanuarie  /  who  is  glad  but  he  2412 

He  kisseth  hire  /  and  clippeth  hire  ful  ofte 

And  on  hire  wombe  /  he  stroketh  hire  ful  softe 

And  to  his  palays  /  hoom  he  hath  hire  lad 

Now  goode  men  /  I  pray  yow  be  glad  2416 

Thus  endeth  heere  /  my  tale  of  lanuarie 

God  blesse  vs  /  and  his  mooder  Seinte  Marie  2418 

T[  Heere  is  ended  /  the  Marchantes  tale  of  lanuarie  ^ 


ELLESMERE   309    (6-T.  475) 


476    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  E.  §  5.  MERCHANT'S  END-LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 


TT  The  Prologe  of  the  Squieres  tale  fa 

Ey  goddes  mercy  /  seyde  oure  Hoost  tho 
Now  swich  a  wyf/  I  pray  god  kepe  me  fro         2420 
Lo  whiche  sleightes  /  and  subtiltees 
In  wommen  been  /  for  ay  as  bisy  as  bees 
Been  they  /  vs  sely  men  for  to  deceyue 
And  from  a  sooth  /  euere  wol  they  weyue  2424 

By  this  Marchauntes  tale  /  it  preueth  weel 
But  doutelees  /  as  trewe  as  any  steel 
I  haue  a  wyf/  though  fat  she  poure  be 
But  of  hir  tonge  /  a  labbyng1  shrewe  is  she  2428 

And  yet  she  hath  /  an  heepe  of  vices  mo 
Ther-of  no  fors  /  lat  alle  swiche  thynges  go 
But  wyte  ye  what1  in  conseil  be  it  seyd? 
Me  reweth  soore  /  I  am  vn-to  hire  teyd?  2432 

ffor  and  I  sholde  /  rekenen  euery  vice 
"Which  fat  she  hath  /  ywis  I  were  to  nyce 
And  cause  why  /  it  sholde  reported  be 
And  toold  to  hire  /  of  sowme  of  this  meynee  2436 

Of  whom  /  it  nedeth  nat1  for  to  declare 
Syn  woramen  /  konnen  outen  swich  chaffare 
And  eek  my  wit1  suffiseth  nat  ther  to 
To  tellen  al  /  wherfore  my  tale  is  do  2440 

[No  break  in  the  MS.] 


ELLESMERE   310   (6-T.  476) 


477    SIX-TEXT 

SIDE-NOTES  TO  THE  MERCHANT'S  TALE.     Ellesmeie  MS. 


SIDE-NOTES  TO  THE  MEECHANT'S  TALE. 


[As  there  is  no  room  in  this  print  for  the  Latin  notes  in  tin 
margin  of  the  MS,  they  are  put  here,  ivith  the  numbers  of  tlie  lines 
(and  pages  of  the  Six-Text)  to  which  they  rcfer.~\ 

p.  445, 1.  1311.  ^[  Vxor  est  diligenda  qiiia  donuwi  dei  est  ||  Ihesvs 
filius  sirac/  domws  &  diuicie  dantwr  a  parentib?/*  /  a  domino  autew 
pwprie  vxor  bona  vel  prudens.  [MS,  leaf  107,  back.] 

p.  445,  1.  1327.  ^f  ffaciamzfs  ei  adiutoriuwt  &  extracta  costa  de 
corpore  Ade  fecit  Euawi  &  dixit  /  propier  hecj  relinquet  homo  pa- 
trem  &  matrewi  &  adherebit  kcetera  et  erunt  duo  in  came  vna. 
[MS,  leaf  107,  back.] 

p.  446,  1.  1362.  lacob  ||  per  consiliuw  mafris  sue  Eebecce  ^ce- 
tera. [MS,  leaf  108.] 

p.  446,  1.  1366.  ludith  /  de  manib?<*  Oloferni  &  cetera.  [MS, 
leaf  108.] 

p.  446, 1.  1369.  Abigayl  /  per  suim  boniura  cowsiliuwi  viru?«  suu;» 
Nabal  ab  ira  dauid  liberauit.  [MS,  leaf  108.] 

p.  446, 1. 1371.  Ester  &  cetera  ludeos  per  bonum  consiliuw  simul 
cum  Mardocheo  in  regno  Assueri.  [MS,  leaf  108.] 

p.  446,  1.  1375.  ^f  Seneca  /  sicut  nichil  est  benigna  coraiuge/  ita 
nichil  crudelius  est  infesta  muliere.  [MS,  leaf  108.] 

p.  446,  1.  1377.  ^[  Cato  /  vxoris  linguam  si  frugi  est/  ferre  me- 
mento. [MS,  leaf  108.] 

p.  446, 1.  1380.  ^[  Bona  mulier  fidelis  custos  est/  &  bona  domus. 
[MS,  leaf  108.] 

p.  447, 1. 1383.  ^f  Apostolus  Paulas  ad  Ephesianos  /  diligite  vx^res 
\estra.s  sicut  christus  dilexit  eccle«iam  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  108.] 

p.  447,  1.  1385.  ^f  AposMus.  Tta  viri  debent  diligere  vxores 
suas  vt  corpora  sua  /  quia  qui  suaw  vxorem  diligit/  seipswm  diligit/ 
nemo  vnquam  carnew  sua/w  odio  haiuit/  set  nutrit  &  fouet  eawt  /. 
et  postea  /  vnusq?«sq?<e  suam  vxorem  sicut  ip*Mm  diligat.  [MS, 
leaf  108.] 


ELLESMERE    311    (6-T.  477) 


478    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  1.   SQUIRE'S  HEAD-LINK.   Ellesmere  MS. 


GEOUP  F,    FEAQMENT  VII, 

§  1.     THE  SQUIEE'S  HEAD-LINK. 
ELLESMERE  MS. 


IT  Squier  come  neer  /  if  it  youre  wille  be  ion  leaf  1193 

And  sey  somwhat  of  loue  /  for  certes  ye  s 

Konnen  ther  on  /  as  muche  as  any  man 

IT  Nay  sire  quod  he  /  but  I  wol  seye  as  I  kan  4 

With  hertly  wyl  /  for  I  wol  nat  rebelle 

Agayn  youre  lust1  s  a  tale  wol  I  telle 

Haue  me  excused  /  if  I  speke  amys  [leaf  119,  back] 

My  wyl  is  good  /  and  lo  my  tale  is  this  8 


1LLESMERE   312   (6-T.  478) 


479    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS 


Heere  bigynneth  /  the  Squieres  tale  ^ 

[on  leaf  119,  buck] 

T  Sarray  /  in  the  land  of  Tartarye 
Ther  dwelte  a  kyng1  that  werreyed  Eussye 
Thurgh  which  ther  dyde  /  many  a  doughty  man 
This  nohle  kyng1  was  cleped  Camhynskan1 

Turi.  •   -L    •      i  •     j  /  Cl  MS  more  like  Cam- 

.«  Which  in  his  tyme  /  was  of  so  greet  renown  byuskana«MroM?Aj 

•-'  That  ther  was  /  no  wher  in  no  Regiown 
So  excellent  a  lord  /  in  alle  thyng1 

Hym  lakked  noght1  that  longeth  to  a  kyng1  16 

And  of  the  secte  /  of  which  J>at  he  was  born 
He  kepte  his  lay  /  to  which  )>at  he  was  sworn 
And  ther  to  /  he  was  hardy  /  wys  and  riche 
And  pitous  and  lust*  alwey  yliche  20 

Sooth  of  his  word  /  benigne  and  honwable 
Of  his  corage  /  as  any  Centre  stable  t  centrum  circuu 

Yong1  fressh  /  strong1  and  in  Armes  desirous 
As  any  Bacheler  /  of  al  his  hous  24 

A  fair  persons  he  was  /  and  fortunat1 
And  kepte  alwey  /  so  wel  roial  estaf 
That  ther  was  nowher  /  swich  another  man 
1T  This  noble  kyng1  this  Tartre  Cambynskan  28 

Hadde  two  sones  /  on  Elpheta  his  wyf 
Of  whiche  /  the  eldeste  highte  Algarsyf1 
That  oother  sone  /  was  cleped  Carnbalo 
A  doghter  hadde  /  this  worthy  kyng  also  32 

That  yongest1  was  /  and  highte  Canacee 
But  for  to  telle  yow  /  al  hir  beautee 
It  lyth  nat  in  my  tonge  /  nyn  my  konnyng1 
I  dar  nat1  vndertake  /  st>  heigh  a  thyng*  36 

ELLESMERE    313    (6-T.  479) 


480   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.   SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Myn  englissfi.  eek1  is  insufficient* 

I  moste  been  /  a  Eethor  excellent1 

That  koude  hise  colours  /  longynge  for  that  Art1 

If  he  /  sholde  hire  discryuen  euery  part1  40 

I  am  noon  swich  /  I  moot  speke  as  I  kan 

II  And  so  bifel  /  that  whan  this  Cambynskan 
Hath  twenty  wynter  /  born  his  diademe 

As  he  was  wont1  fro  yeer  to  yeer  I  dome  44 

He  leett  the  feeste  /  of  his  Natiuitee 

Doon  cryen  /  thurgh"  Sarray  his  Citee 

The  last  Idus  of  March"  /  after  the  yeer 

Phebus  the  sonne  /  ful  ioly  was  and  cleer  48 

ffor  he  was  /  neigh"  his  exaltation 

In  Martes  face  /  and  in  his  mansion 

In  Aries  /  the  colerik/  hoote  signe  [kafiso] 

fful  lusty  was  /  the  weder  and  benigne  52 

ffor  which  the  foweles  /  agayn  the  sonne  shecne 

What  for  the  seson  /  and  the  yonge  grene 

fful  loude  /  songen  hire  affections 

Hem  semed  /  han  geten  hem  protecciofis  56 

Agayn  the  swerd  of  wynter/  keene  and  coold? 

1T  This  Cambynskan  /  of  which  I  haue  yow  tooLJ 

In  roial  vestiment1  sit  on  his  deys 

With  diademe  /  ful  heighe  in  his  paleys  60 

And  halt  his  feeste  so  solempne  /  and  so  ryche 

That  in  this  world  /  was  ther  noon  it  lyche 

Of  which  /  if  I  shal  tellen  al  tharray 

Thanne  wolde  if  occupie  a  someres  day  64 

And  eek/  it  nedeth  nat1  for  to  deuyse 

At  euery  cours  /  the  ordre  of  hire  seruyse 

I  wol  nat  tellen  /  of  Mr  strange  sewes 

Ne  of  hir  swannes  /.nor  of  hire  heronsewcs  68 

Eek/  in  that  lond  /  as  tellen  knyghtes  olde 

Ther  is  som  mete  /  fat  is  ful  deynte  holde 

That  in  this  lond  /  men  recche  of  it  but  smal 

Ther  nys  no  man  /  that  may  reporten  al  72 

25  ELLESMERE   314   (6-T.  480) 


481    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  I  wol  nat  taryen  yow  /  for  it  is  prymo 

And  for  it  is  no  fruytt  but  los  of  tyme 

Vn  to  my  firste  /  I  wole  haue  my  recoups 

IT  And  so  bifel  /  that  after  the  thridde  cours  76 

Whil  fat  this  kyng1  sit  thus  in  his  nobleye 

Herknynge  hise  Mynstrals  /  hir  thynges  pleyo 

Biforn  hyni  at  the  bord  /  deliciously 

In  at  the  halle  dore  /  al  sodeynly  80 

Ther  cam  a  knyghtf  vp  on  a  steede  of  bras 

And  in  his  hand  /  a  brood  Mirour  of  glas 

Vpon  his  thombe  /he  hadde  of  gold  a  ryng  / 

And  by  his  syde  /  a  naked  swerd  hangyng1  84 

And  vp  he  rideth  /  to  the  heighe  bord? 

In  al  the  halle  /  ne  was  ther  'spoken  a  word? 

ffor  memeille  of  this  knyghf  hym  to  biholde 

fful  bisily  /  ther  wayten  yonge  and  olde  88 

1T  This  strange  knyghtf  that  cam  thus  sodeynly 

Al  armed  /  saue  his  heed  /  ful  richely 

Saleweth  kyng*  'and  queene  /  and  lordes  alle 

By  ordre  /  as  they  seten  in  the  halle  92 

With  so  heigh"  reuerence  /  and  obeisance 

As  wel  in  speche  /  as  in  contenance 

That  Gawayn  /  with  his  olde  curteisye 

Though  he  were  /  comen  ayeyn  out  of  ffairye  96 

Ne  koude  hym  nat  amende  with  a  word? 

And  after  this  /  biforn  the  heigfie  bord? 

He  with  a  manly  voys  /  seith  his  message  [leaf  120,  back] 

After  the  forme  /  vsed  in  his  langage  100 

With  outen  vice  /  of  silable  /  or  of  lettre 

And  for  his  tale  /  sholde  seme  the  bettre 

Accordant  to  hise  wordes  /  was  his  cheere 

As  techeth  art  of  speche  /  hem  fat  it  leero  104 

Al  be  /  that  I  kan  nat  sowne  his  stile 

Ne  kan  nat  clymben  /  ouer  so  heigh"  a  style 

Yet  seye  I  this  /  as  to  commune  entente 

Thus  muche  amounteth  /  al  fat  euere  he  mente  108 

ELLESMERE   316    (6-T.  48l) 


482   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

If  it  so  be  /  fat  I  haue  it  in  mynde 

IF  He  seyde  /  the  kyng  of  Arabe  and  of  Inde 

My  lige  lord  /  on  this  solempne  day 

Saleweth  yow  /  as  he  best  kan  and  may  112 

And  sendeth  yow  /  in  honour  of  youre  feeste 

By  me  /  that  am  al  redy  at  youre  heeste 

This  steede  of  bras  /  that  esily  and  weel      3ji*SEr*II/oftlia 

•  v  foUAJUC  UI  U*tU* 

Kan  in  the  space  /  of  o  day  natureel  116 

This  is  to  seyn  /  in  foure  and  twenty  houres 

Wher  so  yow  lystt  in  droghte  or  elles  shoures 

Beren  youre  body  /  in  to  euery  place 

To  which  youre  herte  /  wilneth  for  to  pace  1 20 

"With  outen  wem  of  yow  /  thurgh"  foul  or  fair 

Or  if  yow  lyst1  to  fleen  /  as  hye  in  the  Air 

As  dooth  an  Egle  /  whan  fat  hym  list  to  soore 

This  same  steede  /  shal  bere  yow  euere  moore  124 

"With  outen  harm  /  til  ye  be  ther  yow  leste 

Though"  that  ye  slepen  /  on  his  bak  or  reste 

And  turne  ayeyn  /  with  writhyng'  of  a  pyn 

He  fat  it  wroghte  /  koude  ful  many  a  gyn  128 

He  wayted  /  many  a  constellacion) 

Er  he  /  had  doon  /  this  operacion) 

And  knew  ful  many  a  seel  /  and  many  a  bone} 

IT  This  mirrour  eek  /  bat  I  haue  in  myn  hone?     \.°/ulS«v'irtu 

•  of  the  Mirjrtr 

Hath  swich  a  mygfit/  fat  men  may  in  it  see 

Whan  ther  shal  fallen  /  any  Aduersitee 

Vn  to  youre  regne  /  or  to  youre  self  also 

And  openly  /  who  is  youre  freend  or  foo  1 3G 

IT  And  ouer  al  this  /  if  any  lady  bright* 

Hath  set  hire  herte  /  in  any  maner  wight1 

If  he  be  fals  /  she  shal  his  treson  see 

His  newe  loue  /  and  al  his  subtiltee  110 

So  openly  /  fat  ther  shal  no  thyng  hyde 

Wherfore  /  ageyn  this  lusty  someres  tyde 

This  Mirour/  and  this  ryng1  fat  ye  may  see 

He  hath  sent1  vn  to  my  lady  Canacee  144 

ELLESMERE   316   fG-T.  482) 


483   SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  F.  §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

hie 

Youre  excellente  doghter/  that  is  heere 

•udir 

IT  The  verin  of  the  ryng<  if  ye  wol  heere  S2.*5»g^ 

Is  this  /  that  if  hire  lust1  it  for  to  were  [leaf  1213 

Vp  on  hir  thombe  /  or  in  hir  purs  it  here  1 48 

Ther  is  no  fowel  /  fat  fleeth  vnder  the  heuene 

That  she  /  ne  shal  /  wel  vnderstonde  his  steuene 

And  knowe  his  menyng1  openly  and  pleyn 

And  answere  hym  /  in  his  langage  ageyn  152 

And  euery  gras  /  that  groweth  vp  on  roote 

She  shal  eek  knowe  /  and  whom  it  wol  do  boote 

Al  be  hise  woundes  /  neuer  so  depe  and  wyde 

If  This  naked  swerct  /  fat  hangeth  by  my  syde   J^sS" 

Swich  vertu  hath  /  fat  what  man  so  ye  smyte 

Thurgh"  out  his  Aimure  /  it  wole  hym  kerue  and  byte 

Were  it  as  thikke  /  as  is  a  branched  ook1 

And  what  man  /  that  is  wounded  vfiih  a  strook1  160 

Shal  neuer  be  hool  /  til  fat  yow  list  of  grace 

To  stroke  hym  'with  the  plat1  in  that  place 

Ther  he  is  hurt1  /  this  is  as  muche  to  seyn 

Ye  moote  /  with  the  plat  swerd  ageyu  1C4 

Strike  hym  in  the  wounde  /  and  it  wol  close 

This  is  a  ve?Tay  sooth  /  with  outen  glose 

It  failleth  natt  whils  it  is  in  youre  hoold! 

IT  And  whan  this  knyghf  hath  thus  his  tale  toold!         168 

lie  rideth  out  of  halle  /  and  doun  he  lighto 

His  steede  /  which  fat  shoon  /  as  sonne  brighte 

Stant  in  the  court1  stille  as  any  stoon 

This  knygfit1  is  to  his  chambre  lad  anoon  172 

And  is  vnarmed  /  and  vn  to  mete  yset1 

IT  The  presentes  /  been  /  ful  roially  yfef 

This  is  to  seyn  /  the  swerd  and  the  Mirour 

And  born  anon  /  in  to  the  heigfie  Tour  176 

With  certeine  officers  /  ordeyned  therfore 

And  vn  to  Canacee  /  this  ryng1  was  bore 

Solempnely  /  ther  she  sit/  at  the  table 

But  sikerly  /  with  outen  any  fable  180 

ELLESMEKE   317   (6-T.  483) 


484:   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.   SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

The  hors  of  bras  /  fat  may  nat  be  remewed! 

It  stantt  as  it  were  /  to  the  ground  yglewed? 

Ther  may  no  man  /  out  of  the  place  it  dryue 

ffor  noon  engyn  /  of  wyndas  ne  polyue  184 

And  cause  why8/  for  they  kan  nat  the  craft* 

And  therfore  /  in  the  place  /  they  han  it1  laft1 

Til  fat  the  knyghf  hath  taught  hem  the  manere 

To  voyden  hym  /  as  ye  shal  after  heere  188 

Greet  was  the  prees  /  fat  swarmeth  to  and  fro 
To  gauren  on  this  hors  /  that  stondeth  so 
ffor  it  so  heigh  was  /  and  so  brood  and  long1 
So  wel  proporcioned  /  for  to  been  strong1  192 

Right1  as  it  were  /  a  steede  of  Lumbardye 
Ther- with  so  horsly  /  and  so  quyk  of  eye 
As  it  a  gentil  Poilleys  Courser  were  fieaf  121,  back] 

ffor  certes  /  fro  his  tayl  /  vn  to  his  ere  196 

Nature  ne  Art1  ne  koude  hym  nat  amende 
In  no  degree  /  as  al  the  peple  wende 
But  eueremoore  /  hir  mooste  wonder  was 
How  fat  it  koude  go  /  and  was  of  bras  200 

It  was  a  ffairye  /  as  al  the  peple  semed 
Diuerse  folk  /  diuersely  they  denied 
As  many  heddes  /  as  manye  wittes  ther  been 
They  murinwreden  /  as  dooth  a  swarm  of  Been  204 

And  maden  skiles  /  after  hir  fantasies 
Eehersynge  /  of  thise  olde  poetries 

And  seyde  /  that  it  was  lyk  the  Pegasee         f  .i.  equs  Pcgaseua 
The  hors  /  fat  hadde  wynges  for  to  flee  208 

Or  elles  /  it  was  the  Grekes  hors  Synon) 
That  broghte  Troie  to  destruccion) 
As  men  /  in  thise  olde  geestes  rede 

11  Myn  herte  quod  oon  /  is  eueremoore  in  drede  212 

I  trowe  /  som  men  of  Armes  been  ther  Inne 
That  shapen  hem  /  this  Citee  for  to  wynne 
It  were  right  good  /  fat  al  swich  thyng  were  knowe 
^1  Another  rowned  /  to  his  felawo  lowe  216 

ELLESMEBE    318   (6-T.  484) 


485    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  seyde  he  lyeth  /  it  is  rather  lyk1 

An  apparence  /  ymaad  by  som  Magyk1 

As  logelours  pleyen  /  at  thise  feestes  grete 

Of  sondry  doutes  /  thus  they  langle  and  trete  220 

As  lowed  peple  /  demeth  comunly 

Of  thynges  /  fat.  been  maad  /  moore  subtilly 

Than  they  kan  /  in  hir  lewednesse  cowprehende 

They  demen  gladly  /  to  the  badder  ende  224 

1T  And  sottime  of  hem  /  wondred  on  the  Mirour 

That  born  was  vp  /  in  to  the  hye  tour  . 

Hou  men  myghte  in  it  /  swiche  thynges  se 

*ir  Another  answerde  /  and  seyde  it  myghte  wel  be        228 

Naturally  /  by  composicions 

Of  Anglis  /  and  of  slye  reflexions 

And  seyden  /  fat  in  Rome  was  swich  oon 

They  speken  /  of  Alocen  and  Vitulon)  232 

And  Aristotle  /  that  writen  in  hir  lyues 

Of  queynte  Mirours  /  and  of  prospectiues 

As  knowen  they  /  that  han  hir  bookes  herd! 

IT  And  oother  folk1  han  wondred  on  the  swercF  236 

That  wolde  percen  /  thurgh"  out  euery  thyng1 

And  fille  in  speche  /  of  Thelophus  the  kyng1 

'And  of  Achilles  /  with  his  queynte  spere 

ffor  he  koude  with  if  bo  the  heele  and  dere  240 

Right1  in  swich  wise  /  as  men  may  with  the  swore? 

Of  which  right  now  /  ye  han  youre  seluen  herd! 

They  speken  /  of  sondry  hardyng*  of  metal  [ieafi22] 

And  speke  of  medicynes  /  ther  with  -al  244 

And  how  and  whanne  /  it  sholde  yharded  be 

Which  is  vnknowe  /  algates  vnto  me 

II  Tho  speeke  they  /  of  Canacees  ryng1 

And  seyden  alle  /  fat  swich  a  wonder  thyng1  248 

Of  craft1  of  rynges  /  herde  they  neuere  noon 

Saue  Jiat  he  Moyses  /  and  kyng1  Salomon) 

Iladde  a  name  of  konnyng1  in  swich  Art1 

Thus  seyn  the  peple  /  and  drawen  hem  aparf  252 

ELLESMEKE   319   (6-T.  485) 


486   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

1F  But  nathelees  /  sorame  seiden  fat  it  was 

"Wonder/  to  maken  /  of  fern  Asshen  glas 

And  yet  nys  glas  /  nat  lyk1  Asshen  of  fern 

But  for  they  lian  /  knowen  it  so  fern  256 

Tlierfore  /  cesseth  /  hir  langlyng1  and  hir  wonder 

^F  As  soore  wondren  somme  /  on  cause  of  tlionder 

On  ebbe  /  on  flood  /  on  gossomer  /  and  on  myst1 

And  on  alle  thyng1  til  fat  the  cause  is  wystt  269 

Thus  langle  they  /  and  demen  and  deuyse 

Til  fat  the  kyng1  gan  fro  the  bord  aryse 

Phebxis  /  hath  laftf  the  Angle  meridional 
And  yet  ascendynge  /  was  the  beest  roial  264 

The  gentil  leon)  /  with  his  Aldrian  [aiairan  ?«<«•] 

Whan  fat  this  Tartre  kyng1  Cambynskan) 
Roos  fro  his  bord  /  ther  that  he  sat  ful  hye 
Toforn  hym  gooth  /  the  loude  Mynstralcye  268 

Til  he  cam  /  to  his  chambre  of  parementz 
Ther  as  they  sownen  /  diuerse  Instrumentz 
That  it  is  /  lyk  an  heuene  for  to  heere 
JSTow  dauncen  /  lusty  Venus  children  deere  272 

ffor  in  the  fyssS  /  hir  lady  sat  ful  hye 
And  looketh  on  hem  /  with  a  freendly  eye 
IT  This  noble  kyng1  is  set  vp  in  his  Trone 
This  strange  knyght1  is  fet  to  hym  ful  soone  276 

And  on  the  daunce  /  he  gooth  with  Canacee 
Heere  is  the  reuel  /  and  the  lolitee 
That  is  nat  able  /  a  dul  man  to  deuyse 
He  moste  han  knowen  /  loue  and  his  seruyse  280 

And  been  a  feestlych  man  /  as  fressfr  as  May 
That  sholde  yow  /  deuysen  swich  array 
IT  Who  koude  telle  yow  /  the  forme  of  daunces 
So  vnkouthe  /  and  so  fresshe  contenaunces  284 

Swich  subtil  lookyng1  and  dissymulynges 
ffor  drede  /  of  lalouse  mennes  aperceyuyngcs  ? 
No  man  but  launcelef  and  he  is  deed 
Therfore  I  passe  /  of  al  this  lustiheed?  288 

ELLESMERE   320   (6-T.  486) 


487   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.  §2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

I  sey  namoore  /  but  in  this  lolynesse 

I  lete  hem  /  til  men  to  the  soper  dressc 

IT  The  Sty-ward?  bit1  Spices  for  to  hye  peaf  122,  back] 

And  eek  the  wyn  /  in  al  this  melodyo  292 

The  vssfiers  /  and  the  squiers  been  ygoon 

The  spices  and  the  wyn  is  come  anoon 

They  ete  and  drynke  /  and  whan  this  hadde  an  ende 

Vn  to  the  temple  /  as  reson  was  they  wende  296 

1T  The  seruice  doon  /  they  soupen  al  by  day 

What  nedeth  me  /  rehercen  hire  array 

Ech  man  woot  wel  /  fat  a  kynges  feeste 

Hath  plentee  /  to  the  rnooste  and  to  the  leeste  300 

And  deyntees  /  mo  /  than  been  in  my  knowyng1 

At  after  soper/  gooth  this  noble  kyng1 

To  seen  this  hors  of  bras  /  wiih  al  the  route 

Of  lordes  /  and  of  ladyes  hym  aboute  304 

II  Swich  wondryng*  was  ther  on  this  hors  of  bras 
That  syn  the  grete  sege  /  of  Troie  was 

Ther  as  men  wondreden  /  on  an  hors  also 

Xe  was  ther  swich  a  wondryng1  as  was  tho  308 

But  fynally  /  the  kyng1  axeth  this  knyghf 

The  vertu  of  this  Courser  /  and  the  myght1 

And  preyde  hym  /  to  telle  his  gouernaunce 

IT  This  hors  anoon  /  bigan  to  trippe  and  dauwce  312 

Whan  that  this  knygfif  leyde  hand  vp  on  his  rcyne 

And  seyde  sire  /  ther  is  namoore  to  seyne 

But  whan  yow  list1  to  ryden  any  where 

Ye  mooten  trille  a  pyn  /  stant  in  his  ere  316 

Which  I  shal  yow  telle  /  bitwix  vs  two 

Ye  moote  nempne  hym  /  to  what  place  also 

Or  to  what  contree  /  fat  yow  list  to  ryde 

And  whan  ye  come  /  ther  as  yow  list  abyde  320 

Bidde  hym  descende  /  and  trille  another  pyn 

ffor  ther  lith  /  theffect1  of  al  the  gyn 

And  he  wol  doun  descende  /  and  doon  youro  wille 

And  in  that  place  /  he  wol  stonde  stille  324 

ELLESMERE    321    (6-T.  487) 


488   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.   SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

* 

Though"  al  the  world  /  the  contrarie  hadde  yswore 

He  shal  nat  thennes  /  been  ydrawo  nor  ybore 

Or  if  yow  list1  bidde  hym  thennes  goon 

Trille  this  pyn  /  and  he  wol  vanysshe  anoon  328 

Out  of  the  sighte  /  of  euery  maner  wight1 

And  come  agayn  /  be  it  day  or  nyghfr 

"Whan  pat  yow  list*  to  clepen  hym  ageyn 

In  swich  a  gyse  /  as  I  shal  to  yow  seyn  332 

Bitwixe  yow  and  me  /  and  that  ful  soone 

Kide  whan  yow  list*  ther  is  namoore  to  doone 

IT  Enformed  /  whan  the  kyng  was/  of  that  knyghtt 

And  hath  conceyued  /  in  his  wit  aright1  336 

The  manere  /  and  the  forme  /  of  al  this  thyng1 

Thus  glad  and  blithe  /  this  noble  kyng1 

Eepeireth  to  his  reuel  /  as  biforn  pcafm] 

11  The  brydel  /  is  /  vn  to  the  tour  yborn  340 

And  kept  among  hise  lueles  /  leeue  and  deere 

The  hors  vanysshed  I  noot/  in  what  manere 

Out  of  hir  sighte  /  ye  gete  namoore  of  me 

But  thus  I  lete  /  in  lust1  and  lolitee  344 

This  Cambynskan  /  hise  lordes  festeiynge 

Til  wel  ny  /  the  day  bigan  to  sprynge 

If  Explicit  prima  pars  fo 

Tf  Sequitz/r  pars  sectmda  ^j 

The  JSTorice  of  digestiowi  /  the  sleepe 
Gan  on  hem  wynke  /  and  bad  hem  taken  keepe 
That  muchel  drynke  /  and  labour  wolde  han  reste 
And  with  a  galpyng1  mouth  /  hem  alle  he  kesto 
And  seyde  /  it  was  tyme  to  lye  adoun 
ffor  blood  /  was  in  his  domynaciouw  352 

Cherisseth  blood  /  natures  freend  quod  he 
They  thanken  hym  galpynge  /  by  two  /  by  thre 
And  euery  wight  /  gan  drawe  hym  to  his  rebte 
As  sleepe  hem  bad  /  they  tooke  it  for  the  bcste  356 

ELLESMERE   322    (6-T.  488) 


489   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  Hire  dremes  /  shul  nat  been  ytoold  for  me 

fful  were  hire  heddes  /  of  fumositee 

That  causeth  dreem  /  of  which  ther  nys  no  charge 

They  slepen  /  til  that  it  was  pryme  large  3  GO 

The  mooste  part1  but  it  were  Canacee 

She  was  ful  mesurable  /  as  wommen  be 

ffor  of  hir  fader  /  hadde  she  take  leue 

To  goon  to  reste  /  soone  after  it  was  eue  3G4 

Hir  liste  nat1  appalled  for  to  be 

Ne  on  the  morwe  /  vnfeestlich  for  to  se' 

And  slepte  hire  firste  sleepe  /  and  thanne  awook/ 

ffor  swich  a  ioye  /  she  in  hir  herte  took  3G8 

Bothe  of  hir  queynte  ryng1  and  hire  Mirour 

That  twenty  tyme  /  she  changed  hir  colour 

And  in  hire  sleepe  /  right  for  impression 

Of  hire  Mirour/  she  hadde  A  vision  372 

Wherfore  /  er  fat  the  sonne  gan  vp  glyde 

She  cleped  /  on  hir  Maistresse  /  hire  bisyde 

And  seyde  /  that  hire  liste  for  to  ryse  » 

IT  Thise  olde  wo?/imen  /  fat  been  gladly  wyse  37 G 

As  hire  Maistresse  /  answerde  hire  anon 

And  seyde  madame  /  whider  wil  ye  goon 

Thus  erly  /  for  the  folk/  been  alle  on  reste 

II  I  wol  quod  she  arise  /  for  me  leste  380 

No  lenger  for  to  slepe  /  and  walke  aboute  Deaf  123,  bad] 

IT  Hire  Maistresse  /  clepeth  wommen  /  a  greet  route 

And  vp  they  rysen  /  wel  an  ten  /  or  twelue 

Vp  riseth  /  fresshe  Canacee  /  hir  selue  384 

As  rody  and  bright  /  as  dooth  the  yonge  sonno 

That  in  the  Rain  /  is  foure  degrees  vp  ronne 

Noon  hyer  was  he  /  whan  she  redy  was 

And  forth  she  walketh  /  esily  a  pas  388 

Arrayed  /  after  the  lusty  seson)  soote 

Lightly  for  to  pleye  /  and  walke  on  foote 

.Nat  but  wit/t  fyue  or  sixe  /  of  hir  meynee 

And  in  a  trench  /  forth  in  the  park1  gooth  she  392 

ELLESMERE   323   (6-T.  489) 


490  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.   SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

H  The  vapour  /  which  fat  fro  the  erthe  glood 

Made  the  sonne  /  to  seme  rody  and  "brood 

But  nathelees  /  it  was  so  fair  a  sighte 

That  it  made  /  alle  hire  hertes  for  to  lighte  396 

What  for  the  seson)  /  and  the  morwenynge 

And  for  the  foweles  /  that  she  herde  synge 

ffor  right  anon  /  she  wiste  what  they  inente 

Eight  by  hir  song1  and  knew  al  hire  entente  400 

^1  The  knotte  /  why  fat  euery  tale  is  toold? 

If  it  be  taried  /  til  that  lust  be  coold? 

Of  hem  fat  han  /  it  after  herkned  yoore 

The  sauour  passe th  /  euer  lenger  the  moore  404 

ffor  fulsomnesse  /  of  his  prolixitee 

And  by  the  same  reson  /  thynketh  me 

I  sholde  /  to  the  knotte  /  condescende 

And  maken  of  hir  walkyng1  soone  an  ende  408 

Amydde  a  tree  /  fordryed  /  as  whit  as  chalk1 
As  Canacee  /  was  pleyyng1  in  hir  walk1 
Ther  satf  a  ffaucon)  /  oner  hire  heed  ful  hye 
That  with  a  pitous  voys  /  so  gan  to  crye  412 

That  all  the  wode  /  resouned  of  hire  cry 
Ybeten  hath  she  hir  self  /  so  pitously 
With  bothe  hir  wynges  /  til  the  rede  blood 
Ran  endelong  the  tree  /  ther  she  stood  416 

And  euere  in  oon  /  she  cryde  alwey  and  shrighte 
And  with  hir  beek  /  hir  seluen  so  she  prighte 
That  ther  nys  Tygre  /  ne  noon  so  crueel  beest1 
That  dwelleth  /  outher  in  wode  or  in  fforesf  420 

That  nolde  han  wept1  if  fat  she  wepe  koude 
ffor  sorwe  of  hire  /  she  shrighte  alwey  so  loudo 
Ifor  ther  nas  neuere  man  /  yet  on  lyue 
If  fat  I  koudo  /  a  ffaucon)  wel  discryue  424 

That  herde  of  swich  another  of  fairnesse 
As  wel  of  plumage  /  as  of  gentillesse 
Of  shape  /  and  al  that  myghte  yrekened  be 
A  ffaucon)  peregryn)  /  thanne  semed  she  428 

ELLESMEUS   324   (6-T.  490) 


491    SIX-TEXT 

GUOUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Of  fremde  Land!  /  and  eueremoore  as  she  stood*          [leaf  12*] 

She  swowneth  now  and  now  /  for  lakke  of  blood1 

Til  wel  neigh"  /  is  she  fallen  fro  the  tree 

IT  This  faire  kynges  doghter  Canacee  432 

That  on  hir  fynger/  baar  the  queynte  ryng1 

Thurgh"  which  /  she  vnderstood  wel  eue;y  thyng1 

That  any  fowel  /  may  in  his  leden  seyn 

And  koude  answeren  hym  /  in  his  ledene  agcyn  43G 

Hath  vnderstonde  /  what  this  ffaucon)  seyde 

And  wel  neigh  /  for  the  routhe  /  almoost  she  deyde 

And  to  the  tree  /  she  gooth  ful  hastily 

And  on  this  ffaukon)  /  looketh  pitously  440 

And  heeld  hir  lappe  abroodf  /  for  wel  she  wiste 

The  ffaukon  /  moste  fallen  fro  the  twiste 

Whan  fat  it  swowned  next1  for  lakke  of  blood1 

A  longe  while  /  to  way  ten  hire  she  stood!  444 

Til  atte  laste  /  she  spak1  in  this  manere 

Vn  to  the  hank1  as  ye  shal  after  heere 

1T  What  is  the  cause  /  if  it  be  for  to  telle  « 

That  ye  be  /  in  this  furial  pyne  of  helle  4  !8 

Quod  Canacee  /  vn  to  the  hauk/  aboue 

Is  this  for  sorwe  of  deeth  /  or  los  of  loue 

ffor  as  I  trowe  /  thise  been  causes  two 

That  causeth  moost1  a  gentil  herte  wo  452 

Of  oother  harm  /  it  nedeth  nat  to  speke 

ffoi  ye  youre  self  /  vpon  your  self  yow  wreke 

Which  proueth  wel  /  that  outher  loue  or  drede 

Moot  been  encheson  /  of  youre  cruel  dede  456 

Syn  )>at  I  see  /  noon  oother  wigfit  yow  chace 

ffor  loue  of  god  /  as  dootli  youre  seluen  grace 

Or  what  may  been  youre  hslpe  /  fcr  West1  nor  Est1 

~Ne  saugh"  I  neuere  er  now  /  no  bryd  ne  beest1  4 GO 

That  ferde  with  hym  self  /  so  pitously 

Ye  sle  me  with  youre  sorwe  verraily 

I  haue  of  yow  /  so  greet  passioura 

ffor  goddes  loue  /  com  fro  the  tree  adoun  4G4 

ELLESMEKE    325    (6-T.  49l) 


492   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F,   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  as  I  am  /  a  kynges  doghter  trewe 

If  fat  I  verraily  /  the  cause  knewe 

Of  youre  disese  /  if  it  lay  in  my  myght1 

I  wolde  amenden  it1  er  J?at  it  were  nyght1  4G8 

As  wisly  helpe  me  /  the  grete  god  of  kynde 

And  herbes  /  shal  I  right  ynowe  yfynde 

To  heele  with  /  youre  hurtes  hastily 

IF  Tho  shrighte  this  ffaucon)  /  moore  yet  pitously  472 

Than  euer  she  dide  /  and  fil  to  grounde  anon 

And  lith  aswowne  deed  /  and  lyk  a  stoou 

Til  Canacee  /  hath  in  hire  lappe  hire  take 

Vn  to  the  tyme  /  she  gan  of  swough"  awake  476 

IF  And  after  that  she  of  hir  swough"  gan  breyde    [leaf  121,  back] 

Eight  in  hir  haukes  ledene  /  thus  she  seyde 

That  pitee  /  renneth  soone  in  gentil  herte 

ffeelynge  his  similitude  /  in  peynes  smerte  480 

Is  preued  al  day  /  as  men  may  see 

As  wel  by  werk1  as  by  Auctoritee 

ffor  gentil  herte  /  kitheth  gentillesse 

I  se  wel  /  ye  han  of  my  distresse  484 

Compassion)  /  my  faire  Canacee 

Of  ve?Tay  wommanly  benignytee 

That  nature  /  in  youre  principles  hath  ysett 

But  for  noon  hope  /  for  to  fare  the  bet1  488 

But  for  obeye  /  vn  to  youre  herte  free 

And  for  to  maken  othere  /  be  war  by  me 

As  by  the  whelpe  /  chasted  is  the  Icon) 

Eight  for  that  cause  /  and  for  that  conclusion)  492 

Whil  J>at  I  haue  /  a  leyser  and  a  space 

Myn  harm  /  I  wol  confessen  er  I  pace 

IT  And  euere  /  whil  fat  oon  hir  sorwe  tolde 

That  oother  weepe  /  as  she  to  water  wolde  496 

Til  that  the  fTaucoa)  /  bad  hire  to  be  stille 

And  wit/i  a  syk1  /  right  thus  she  seyde  hir  wille 

IF  That  I  was  bred  /  alias  that  harde  day 

And  fostred  in  a  Eoche  /  of  Marbul  gray  500 

ELLESMERE    326   (6-T.  492) 


493   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

So  tendrely  /  that  no  thyng  eyled  me 

I  nyste  naf  what  was  Aduersitee 

Til  I  koude  flee  ful  hye  /  vnder  the  sky 

Tho  dwelte  /  a  Tercelef  me  faste  by  504 

That  semed  welle  /  of  alle  gentillesse 

Al  were  he  ful  of  treson)  /  and  falsnesse 

It  was  so  wrapped  /  vnder  humble  cheere 

And  vnder  he  we  of  trouthe  /  in  swich  manere  508 

Vnder  plesance  /  and  vnder  bisy  peyne 

That  I  ne  koude  han  wend?  /  he  koude  feyne 

So  depe  in  greyn  /  he  dyed  his  colours 

Eight  as  a  serpent*  hit  hym  vnder  floures  512 

Til  he  may  seen  /  his  tyme  /  for  to  byte 

Eight  so  this  god  of  loue  /  this  ypocryte 

Dooth  so  hise  cerymonyes  and  obeisances 

And  kepeth  in  semblanf  alle  hise  obseruanccs  516 

That  sowneth  /  in  to  gentillesse  of  loue 

As  in  a  tourube  /  is  al  the  faire  aboue 

And  vnder  is  the  corps  /  swich  as  ye  woof 

Swich  was  the  ypocrite  /  bothe  coold  and  hoof  %  520 

And  in  this  wise  /  he  serued  his  entente 

That  saue  the  feend  /  noon  wiste  what  he  mente 

Til  he  so  longe  /  hadde  Avopen  and  compleyned1 

And  many  a  yeer  /  his  sendee  to  me  feyned!  524 

Til  that  myn  herte  /  to  pitous  and  to  nyce  [leaf  125] 

Al  Innocenf  of  his  corouned  malice 

ffor-ferd  of  his  deeth  /  as  thoughte  me 

Vpon  hise  othes  /  and  his  seuretee  528 

Graunted  hym  loue  /  vp  on  this  condiciozm 

That  eueremoore  /  myn  honour  and  renown 

Were  saued  /  bothe  pn'uee  and  aperf 

This  is  to  seyn  /  that  after  his  deserf  532 

I  yaf  hym  al  myn  herte  /  and  my  thoghf 

God  woot  and  he  /  fat  ootherwise  noghf 

And  took  his  herte  /  in  chaunge  for  myn  for  ay 

But  sooth  is  seyd  /  goon  sithen  many  a  day  536 

ELLESMERE   327   (6-T,  493) 


494   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F,   §  2.   SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

A  trewe  wight  and  a  theef1  tlienken  nat  oon 

And  whan  he  saugfi  /  the  thyng  so  fer  ygoon 

That  I  hadde  graunted  hym  /  fully  my  loue 

In  swich  a  gyse  /  as  I  haue  seyd  aboue  5 10 

And  yeuen  hyin  /  my  trewe  herte  as  free 

As  he  swoor  /  he  yaf  his  herte  to  me 

Anon  this  Tigre  /  ful  of  doublenesse 

ffil  on  hise  knees  /  with  so  deuout  humblesse  544 

With  so  .heigh  reuerence  /  and  as  by  his  cheere 

So  lyk1  a  gontil  louere  /  of  manere 

So  rauysshed  /  as  it  semed  for  the  loye 

That  neuere  Troilws  /  ne  Parys  of  Troye  548 

lason)  certes  /  ne  noon  oother  man 

Syn  Lameth  was  /  fat  alderfirst  bigan 

To  louen  two  /  as  writen  folk  biforn 

Ne  neuere  /  syn  the  firste  man  was  born  552 

•Ne  koude  man  /  by  twenty  thousand  part1 

Countrefete  /  the  Sophymes  of  his  Art1 

Ne  were  worthy  /  vnbokelen  his  galoche 

Ther  doublenesse  /  or  feynyng1  sholde  approche  556 

Ne  so  koude  thanke  a  wight  /  as  he  dide  me 

His  manere  /  was  an  heuene  for  to  see 

Til  any  wowman  /  were  she  neuer  so  wys 

So  peynted  he  /  and  kenibde  at  point  deuys  5GO 

As  wel  hise  wordes  /  as  his  contenance 

And  I  loued  hym  /  for  his  obeisance 

And  for  the  trouthe  /  I  denied  in  his  herte 

That  if  so  were  /  that  any  thyng  hym  smerte  564 

Al  were  it  neuer  so  lite  /  and  I  it  wiste 

Me  thoughte  /  I  felte  deeth  myn  herte  twiste 

And  shortly  /  so  ferforth  /  this  thyng  is  went* 

That  my  wyl  /  was  his  willes  Instrument1  568 

This  is  to  seyn  /  my  wyl  obeyed  his  wyl 

In  alle  thyng1  as  fer  as  reson)  fil 

Kepynge  the  boundes  /  of  my  worships  euere 

Ne  neuere  hadde  I  thyng1  so  lief  ne  leuere  572 

ELLESMERE    328    (6-T.  4,94) 


495   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.  §  2.   SQUIRE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

As  hym  god  woof  ne  neuere  shal  namo  Deaf  125,  back] 

This  lasteth  lenger/  than  a  yeer  or  two 

That  I  supposed  of  hym  /  noght  hut  good 

But  finally  /  thus  atte  laste  it  stood  57G 

That  ffortune  wolde  /  fat  he  moste  twynne 

Out  of  that  place  /  which  fat  I  was  Inne 

"VVher  me  was  wo  /  that  is  no  question 

I  kan  nat1  make  of  it  discripsion  580 

ffor  o  thyng  dare  I  tellen  boldely 

I  knowe  /  what  is  the  peyne  of  deeth  ther  by 

Swich  harme  I  felte  /  for  I  ne  myghte  bileue 

So  on  a  day  /  of  me  he  took  his  leue  584 

So  sorwefully  eek1  that  I  wende  ve/raily 

That  he  had  felt1  as  mnche  harm  as  I 

"Whan  pat  I  herde  hym  speke  /  and  saugh  his  hcwe 

But  nathelees  /  I  thoughte  /  he  was  so  trewe  588 

And  eek1  fat  he  /  repaire  sholde  ageyn 

With  Inne  a  litel  while  /  sooth  to  seyn 

And  reson  wolde  eek1  that  he  moste  go 

ffor  his  honour  /  as  ofte  it  happeth  so  592 

That  I  made  vertu  /  of  necessitee 

And  took  it  wel  /  syn  fat  it  moste  be 

As  I  best  myghte  /  I  hidde  fro  hyrn  my  sorwe 

And  took  hym  by  the  hond  /  seint  John  to  borwe         59G 

And  seyde  hym  thus  /  lo  I  am  youres  al 

Beth  swich  /  as  I  to  yow  /  haue  been  and  shal  . 

What  he  answerde  /  it  nedeth  noght  reherce 

Who  kan  sey  bet  than  he  /  who  kan  do  werse  GOO 

Whan  he  hath  al  seyd  /  thanne  hath  he  doon 

Therfore  bihoueth  hire  /  a  ful  long  spoon 

That  shal  etc  with  a  feend?  /  thus  herde  I  seye 

So  atte  laste  /  he  moste  forth  his  weye  G04 

And  forth  he  fleeth  /  til  he  cam  ther  hym  leste 

Whan  it  cam  /  hym  to  p?^rpos  /  for  to  reste 

I  trowe  /  he  hadde  /  thilke  text  in  myndo 

That  alle  thyng1  repeirynge  to  his  kynde  G08 

ELLESMERE   329   (6-T.  495) 


496    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 


Gladeth  hym  self1  thus  seyn  men  as  I  gesse  JaS?  8UO  8ingala 

Men  louen  of  propre  kynde  newefangelnesse 

As  briddes  doon  /  that  men  in  cages  fede 

ffor  though  thou  nyght  and  day  /  take  of  hem  hede      612 

And  strawe  hir  Cage  /  faire  and  softe  as  silk1 

And  yeue  hem  sugre  /  hony  /  breed  and  Milk1 

Yet  right  anon  /  as  that  his  dore  is  vppe 

He  \tiih  his  feet1  wol  spume  adoun  his  cuppe  616 

And  to  the  wode  he  wole  and  wormes  ete 

So  newefangel  /  been  they  of  hire  mete 

And  louen  nouelrie  /  of  propre  kynde 

No  gentillesse  of  blood  /  may  hem  bynde  620 

II  So  ferde  this  Tercelet1  alias  the  day  [leaf  120] 

Though  he  were  gentil  born  /  fressh"  and  gay 

And  goodlich  for  to  seen  /  humble  and  free 

He  saugh  vp  on  a  tyme  a  kyte  flee  624 

And  sodeynly  /  he  ioued  this  kyte  so 

That  al  his  loue  /  is  clene  fro  me  ago 

And  hath  his  trouthe  /  falsed  in  this  wyse 

Thus  hath  the  kyte  /  my  loue  in  hire  seruyse  628 

And  I  am  lorn  /  with  outen  remedie 

And  with  that  word?  /  this  ffaucon)  gan  to  crie 

And  swowned  eft/  in  Canacees  barm 

IT  Greet  was  the  sorwe  /  for  the  haukes  harm  632 

That  Canacee  /  and  alle  hir  wommen  made 

They  nyste  /  hou  they  myghte  the  ffaucon)  glade 

But  Canacee  /  horn  bereth  hire  in  hir  lappe 

And  softely  /  in  piastres  gan  hire  wrappe  636 

Ther  as  she  /  with  hire  beek  hadde  hurt  hir  selue 

Now  kan  nat  Canacee  /  but  herbes  delue 

Out  of  the  ground  /  and  make  saues  newe 

Of  herbes  preciouse  /  and  fyne  of  hewe  640 

To  heelen  with  this  [hauk]  /  fro  day  to  nyghf 

She  dooth  hire  bisynesse  /  and  hire  fulle  myghtt 

And  by  hire  beddes  heed  /  she  made  a  Mewe 

And  couered  it1  with  veluettes  blewe  644 

36  ELLESMEEE   330   (6-T.  496) 


497    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F,  §  2.  SQUIRE'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS, 

In  signe  of  trouthe  /  that  is  in  wommen  sene 

And  al  with  oute  the  Mewe  /  is  peynted  grene 

In  which  ther  were  ypeynted  /  alle  thise  false  fowles1 

As  beth  thise  tidyues  /  tercelettes  and  Owles  648 

Right  for  despif  were  peynted  hem  bisyde 

And  pyes  on  hem  /  for  to  crie  and  chyde 

IT  Thus  lete  I  Canacee  /  Mr  hank  kepyng1 

I  wol  namoore  as  now  /  speke  of  hir  ryng1  652 

Til  it  come  eft  to  purpos  for  to  seyn 

How  that  this  ffaucon)  /  gat  hire  loue  ageyn 

Repentant1  as  the  storie  telleth  vs 

By  mediacion)  of  Cambalus  656 

The  kynges  sone  /  of  which  I  yow  tolde 

But  hennes  forth  /  I  wol  my  proces  holde 

To  speken  of  auentures  /  and  of  batailles 

That  neuere  yet1  was  herd  /  so  grete  meruailles  660 

IT  ffirst  wol  I  telle  yow  /  of  Cambynskan 

That  in  his  tyme  /  many  a  Citee  wan 

And  after  wol  I  speke  of  Algarsif1 

How  that  he  wan  Theodora  to  his  wif  664 

ffor  whom  ful  ofte  /  in  greet  peril  he  was 

Ne  hadde  he  be  holpen  /  by  the  steede  of  bras 

And  after  /  wol  I  speke  of  Cambalo 

.That  faught  in  lystes  /  \fith  the  bretheren  two  668 

For  Canacee  /  er  that  he  myghte  hire  Wynne       [leaf  120,  back] 

An  ther  I  lefte  /  I  wol  ayeyn  bigynne 

If  Explicit  secunda  pars  ^ 
If  Incipit  pars  tercia  fa 


A 


ppollo  whirleth  vp  /  his  Chaar  so  hye 
Til  that1  the  god  /  Mercurius  hous  the  slye       672 

\Rest  of  the  page  blank] 


ELLESMERE  331    (6-T.  497) 


498   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.  §  3.  SQUIRE-FRANKLIN  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 


^[  Heere  folwen  the  wordes  of  the  ffrankclyn  [icari27 
to  the  Squier  ^  and  the  wordes  of  the  hoost1  to  the 
ffrankelyn  fa 

-N  feith  Squier  /  thow  hast  thee  wcl  yquitf 
And  gentilly  /  I  preise  wel  thy  wit* 
Quod  the  ffrankeleyn  /  considerynge  thy  yow  the 
So  feelyngly  thou  spekest1  sire  I  allowethe  676 

As  to  my  doom  /  ther  is  noon  that  is  heere 

Of  eloquence  /  that  shal  he  thy  peere 

If  that  thou  lyue  /  god  yeue  thee  good  chaunce 

And  in  vertu  /  sende  thee  continuaunce  680 

ffor  of  thy  speche  /  I  haue  greet  deyntee 

I  haue  a  sone  /  and  hy  the  Trinitee 

I  hadde  leuere  /  than  twenty  pound  worth  lone? 

Though  it  right  now  /  were  fallen  in  rnyn  hondf  G81 

He  were  a  man  /  of  swich  discreciofi 

As  that  ye  been  /  fy  on  possession 

But  if  a  man  /  he  vertuous  with  al 

I  haue  my  sone  snyhhed  /  and  yet  shal  688 

ffor  he  to  vertu  /  listneth  nat  entende 

But  for  to  pleye  at  dees  /  and  to  despende 

And  lese  al  that  he  hath  /  is  his  vsage 

And  he  hath  leuere  /  talken  with  a  page  692 

Than  to  comune  /  with  any  gentil  wight1 

There  he  myghte  lerne  gentillesse  aright/ 

1T  Straw  for  youre  gentillesse  /  quod  our  hoosf 

What  ffrankeleyn  /  pardee  sire  wel  thou  woosfr  696 

That  ech  of  yow  /  moot  tellen  atte  leste 

A  tale  or  two  /  or  hreken  his  biheste 

IT  That  knowe  I  wel  sire  /  quod  the  ffrankeleyn 

I  prey  yow  /  haueth  me  nat  in  desdeyn  700 

ELLESMEIIE    332-333   (6-T.  498) 


499    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.  §  3.  SQUIRE-FRANKLIN  LINK.  Ellesm8re  MS. 

Thougfi  to  this  man  I  speke  l  a  word l  or  two     L1— '  f»  marai*] 

1T  Telle  on  thy  tale  /  with  outen  wordes  mo 

IT  Gladly  sire  hoostt  quod  he  /  I  wole  obeye 

Vn  to  your  wyl  /  now  herkneth  what  I  seye  701 

I  wol  yow  nat  contrarien  in  no  wyse 

As  fer  /  as  that  my  wittes  /  wol  suflfyse 

I  prey  to  god  /  that  it  may  plesen  yow 

Thanne  woot  I  wel  /  that  it  is  good  ynow  708 

If  Explicit-  ,£) 


[As  there  ig  no  room  in  this  print  for  the  Latin  notes  in  the 
margin  of  the  MS,  they  are  put  here,  with  the  numbers  of  the  lines 
(and pages  of  the  Six-Text)  to  n-hich  they  refer.] 

p.  519,  1.  1387.  ^f  Aristoclides  Orcomeni  tiranmw  adamauit  vir- 
ginero  stymphalidem  que  cum  patre  occiso  ad  templuw  diane  & 
cetera.  [MS,  leaf  134,  back.] 

p.  519,  1.  1399.  ^f  Nam  hasdrubalis  vxor  capta  &  incensa  vrbe 
cum  se  cemeret  a  Romania  capienda  &  cetera.  [MS,  If  134,  bk.] 

p.  519,  1.  1405.  ^f  prime  ponam  lucreciam  /  que  violate  pudicie 
nolens  superuivere  maculam  corporia  cruore  deleuit/  [MS,  leaf 
134,  back.] 

p.  519,  1.  1409.  ^  Quis  valet  silencio  preterire  vij.  Milesiaa  vir- 
gines  que  Gallonm  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  134,  back.] 

p.  519, 1.  1414.  ^f  Senapho  in  Ciri  maioris  scribit/  infancia  oc- 
ciso Habradate  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  134,  back.] 

p.  520,  1.  1426.  ^f  Democionis  Ariopagitanm  principle  virgo 
filia  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  520,  1.  1431.  ^[  Nichanor  victis  Thebis  vnius  capti««  Virginia 
Buperattt*  est.  [MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  520,  1.  1434.  ^[  Narrant  scriptores  Grecie  &  aliam  Thebanam 
virginem  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  520,  1.  1437.  ^f  Quid  loquar  Nicerati  coniugem  pie  iwpaciewa 
iniurie  viri  mortem  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  520,  1.  1442.  Alcesten  fabule  feitmt  pro  marito  Adameto 
sponte  defunctam  /  et  Penolopes  pudicia  Omeri  carme»  est  [?]. 
[MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  520,  1.  1445.  ^f  Lacedomia  quoqw«  poetarwm  ore  cantatwr  oc- 
ciso apud  Troiam  Protheselao  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  520, 1. 1451.  Arthemesia  quoque  vxor  Mauseoli  insignia  pudicija 
fuisse  prohibetf/r  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  521, 1. 1453.  Teuta  /  Illiconm  Regina  &  cetera.  [MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  521, 1. 1455.  ^[  Memorandum  strato  regulus.  ^f  Vidi  &  omwea 
pene  Barbares  capitulo  ,xxvj°.  primi.  ^f  Item  Cornelia  &  cetera. 
*§  Imitentwr  g°  nupte  Theanam  /  Cleobiliam  /  Gorgim '/  Thymodiaw  / 
Claudias  atqwe  Cornelias  /  in  fine  libri  primi.  [MS,  leaf  135.] 

p.  521, 1. 1465.  ^  Singulas  has  bistorias  &  plures  hanc  materia?» 
concernentes  recitat  beatus  leronirm/s  contra  Iouinianu?/j.  in  p?-imo 
sup  libro  capitulo  .39°.  [MS,  leaf  135.]  ['  or  Gorgun"; 

ELLESMERE   334   ((5-T.  499) 


500   SIX-TEXT 

Gitoup  F.   §  4.  FRANKLIN'S  TALE.  EUesmere  MS. 


[THE  PROEM.] 

fl[  The  Prologe  /  of  the  ffrankeleyns  tale  fa   cieafm.bk] 

*Hise  olde  gentil  Britons  /  in  hir  dayes 

Of  diuerse  auentures  /  maden  layes 
M       Eymeyed  /  in  hir  firste  Briton  tonge 
Whiche  layes  /  with  hir  Instrumentz  they  songe  712 

Or  elles  redden  hem  /  for  hir  plesance 
And  oon  of  hem  /  haue  I  in  remembrance 
"Which  I  shal  seyn  /  with  good  wyl  as  I  k  an 
IT  But  sires  /  by  cause  I  am  a  burel  man  716 

At  my  bigynnyng1  first*  I  yow  biseche 
llaue  me  excused  /  of  my  rude  speche 
I  lerned  neuere  Eethorik  certeyn 

Thyng  fat  I  speke  /  it  moot  be  bare  and  pleyn  720 

I  sleepe  neuere  /  on  the  Mount  of  Pernaso   ^"'Jaimr'roui'! 
Ne  lerned  /  Marcus  Tullius  Scithero  •  b^p"1" parnaso'me 

^   ,  ,  T  .  ,  ,       ,      memini  sompniasse. 

Colours  ne  knowe  I  none  with  outen  drede 

But  swiche  colours  /  as  growen  in  the  Mede  724 

Or  elles  swiche  /  as  men  dye  or  peynte 

Colours  of  Rethoryk/  been  to  queynte 

My  spirit1  feeleth  noghf  of  swich  mateere 

But  if  yow  list1  my  tale  shul  ye  heere  728 


Heere  bigynneth  /  the  ffrankeleyns  tale  / 

Armorik/  that  called  is  Britayne 
Ther  was  a  knyght  /  fat  loued  and  dide  his  payne 
To  serue  a  lady  /  in  his  beste  wise 
And  many  a  labour  /  many  a  greet  emprise          732 

ELLESMERE   335    (6-T.  600) 


501    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.  §  4.  FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

He  for  his  lady  wrogfrte  /  er  she  were  wonne 

ffor  she  was  /  oon  the  fairesto  vnder  sonne 

And  eek  therto  /  comen  of  so  heigh"  kynrede 

That  wel  vnnethes  /  dorste  this  knyght  for  drode          736 

Telle  hire  his  wo  /  his  peyne  /  and  his  distresse 

But  atte  laste  /  she  for  his  worthynesse 

And  namely  /  for  his  meke  obeysance 

Hath  swich  a  pitee  caught1  of  his  penance  740 

That  pryuely  /  she  fil  of  his  accord! 

To  take  hym  /  for  hir  housbonde  and  hir  lord1 

Of  swich  lordshipe  /  as  men  han  ouer  hir  wyues 

And  for  to  lode  /  the  moore  in  blisse  hir  lyues  744 

Of  his  free  wyl  /  he  swoor  hire  as  a  knygfif 

That  neuere  in  al  his  lyf1  he  day  ne  nygfit1 

!N"e  sholde  vp  on  hym  /  take  no  maistrie 

Agayn  hir  wyl  /  ne  kithe  hire  Jalousie  748 

But  hire  obeye  /  and  folwe  hir  wyl  in  al  pcafi28] 

As  any  louere  /  to  his  lady  shal 

Saue  /  that  the  name  of  soueraynetee 

That  wolde  he  haue  /  for  shame  of  his  degree  752 

IT  She  thanked  hym  /  and  with  ful  greet  humblesse 

She  seyde  sire  /  sith  of  youre  gentillesse 

Ye  profre  me  /  to  haue  so  large  a  reyne 

No  wolde  neuere  god  /  bitwixe  vs  tweyne  75 G 

As  in  my  gilt1  were  outher  werre  or  stryf/ 

Sire  /  I  wol  be  /  youre  humble  trewe  wyf1 

Haue  heer  my  trouthe  /  til  fat  myn  herte  breste 

Thus  been  they  /  bothe  in  quiete  and  in  rcste  7GO 

IT  ffor  o  thyng  sires  /  saufly  dar  I  seye 

That  freendes  /  euerych  oother  moot  obeye 

If  they  wol  longe  /  holden  compaignye 

Loue  /  wol  nat  been  constreyned  by  maistrye  7G4 

Whan  maistrie  comth  /  the  god  of  loue  anon 

Beteth  hise  wynges  /  and  farewel  he  is  gon 

Loue  is  a  thyng1  as  any  Spirit  free 

Wowmen  of  kyndo  /  desiren  libertee  7G8 

ELLESMERE   336   (6-T.  60l) 


502   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  nat/  to  been  constreyned  as  a  thral 

And  so  doon  men  /  if  I  sooth  seyen  shal 

Looke  /  who  ]>at  is  moost  pacient  in  loue 

He  is  /  at  his  auantate  al  aboue  772 

Pacience  /  is  an  heigh  vertu  certeyn 

ffor  it  venquysseth  /  as  thise  clerkes  seyn 

Thynges  /  fat  rigour  /  sholde  neuere  atteyne 

ffor  euery  word  /  men  may  nat/  chide  or  pleyne  776 

Lorneth  to  suffre  /  or  elles  so  moot  I  goon 

Ye  shul  it  lerne  /  wher  so  ye  wole  or  noon 

ffor  in  this  world  certein  /  ther  no  wight  is 

That  he  ne  dooth  or  seith  /  som  tyme  amys  780 

Ire  /  siknesse  /  or  constellation 

"VVyn  /  wo  /  or  chaungynge  of  complexion 

Causeth  ful  ofte  /  to  doon  amys  or  speken 

On  euery  wrong1  a  man  may  nat  be  wreken  784 

After  the  tyme  /  moste  be  temperance 

To  eue;y  wight1  J>at  kan  on  gouernance 

And  therfore  /  hath  this  wise  worthy  knyghtf 

To  lyue  in  ese  /  suffrance  hire  bihight1  788 

And  she  to  hym  /  ful  wisly  gan  to  swere 

That  neuere  /  sholde  ther  be  defaute  in  here 

IT  Heere  may  men  seen  /  an  humble  wys  accord* 

Thus  hath  she  take  /  hir  seruant1  and  hir  lord?  792 

Seruant  in  love  /  and  lord  in  mariage 

Thanne  was  he  /  bothe  in  lordshipe  and  seruage 

Seruage  ?  nay  /  but  in  lordshipe  aboue 

Sith  he  hath  /  bothe  his  lady  and  his  loue  796 

His  lady  certes  /  and  "his  wyf  also  [leaf  128,  back} 

The  which  /  pat  lawe  of  loue  acordeth  to 

And  whan  he  was  /  in  this  prosperitee 

Hoom  with  his  wyf  /  he  gooth  to  his  contree  800 

Nat  fer  fro  Pedmark/  ther  his  dwellyng  was 

"Where  as  he  lyueth  /  in  blisso  and  in  solas 

1T  Who  koude  telle  /  but  he  hadde  wedded  be 

The  ioye  /  the  ese  /  and  the  prosperitee  804 

ELLESMERE   337   (6-T.  602) 


503   SIX-TEXT 

SROUP  F.  §  4.  FRANKLIN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

That  is  /  bitwise  an  housbonde  '/  and  his  wyf 

A  yeer  aud  moore  /  lasted  this  blisful  lyf 

Til  fat  the  knygfif  of  which  I  speke  of  thus 

That  of  kayrrud  /  was  cleped  Arueragus  808 

Shoope  hym  to  goon  /  and  dwelle  a  yeer  or  tweyne 

In  Engelond!  /  that  cleped  was  eek  Briteyne   • 

To  seke  in  Armes  /  worships  and  honour 

ffor  al  his  lustt  he  sette  in  swich  labour  812 

And  dwelled  there  two  yeer  /  the  book1  seith  thus 

II  Now  wol  I  stynten  /  of  this  Arueragus 

And  speken  I  wole  /  of  Dorigene  his  wyf1 

That  loueth  hire  housbonde  /  as  hire  hertes  lyf1  816 

ffor  his  Absence  /  wepeth  she  and  siketh 

As  doon  thise  noble  wyues  /  whan  hem  liketh 

She  moorneth  /  waketh  /  wayleth  /  fasteth  /  pleynolh 

Desir  of  his  presence  /  hire  so  distreyneth  820 

That  al  this  wyde  world  /  she  sette  at  nogfifr 

Hire  freendes  /  whiche  fat  knewe  Mr  heuy  thoghtt 

Conforten  hire  /  in  al  fat  euer  they  may 

They  prechen  hire  /  they  telle  hire  nygfrt  and  day        824 

That  causelees  /  she  sleeth  hir  self 'alias 

And  euery  conforf  possible  in  this  cas 

They  doon  to  hire  /  with  all  hire  bisynesse 

Al  /  for  to  make  hire  /  leue  hire  heuynesse  828 

IT  By  proces  /  as  ye  knowen  euerichoon 

Men  may  so  longe  /  grauen  in  a  stoon 

Til  som  figure  /  ther  Inne  emprented  be 

So  longe  ban  they  conforted  hire  /  til  she  832 

Receyued  hath  /  by  hope  and  by  reson 

'The  emprentyng1  of  hire  consolacion 

Thurgh  which  /  hir  grete  sorwe  gan  aswage 

She  may  nat  alwey  /  duren  in  swich  rage  836 

1T  And  eek  Arueragus  /  in  al  this  care 

Hath  sent  hire  lettres  hoom  /  of  his  welfare 

And  fat  he  wol  come  hastily  agayn 

Or  elles  hadde  this  sorwe  /  hir  herte  slayn  840 

ELLESMERE   338   (6-T.  503) 


504    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.  F.RANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

H  Hire  freendes  sawe  /  hir  sorwe  gan  to  slake 

And  preyde  hire  on  knees  /  for  goddes  sake 

To  come  /  and  romen  hire  in  compaignye 

Awey  to  dryue  /  hire  derke  fantasy e  844 

And  finally  /  she  graunted  that  requeste  peaf  129] 

ffor  wel  she  saugh"  /  that  it  was  for  the  beste 

IT  Now  stood  hire  Castel  /  faste  by  the  See 

And  often  /  with  hire  freendes  walketh  shee  848 

Hire  to  disporte  /  vp  on  the  bank  an  heigh 

Where  /  as  she  /  many  a  shipe  and  barge  seign" 

Seillynge  hir  cours  /  where  as  hem  liste  go 

But  thanne  was  that1  a  parcel  of  hire  wo  852 

ffor  to  hir  self1  ful  ofte  alias  seith  she 

Is  ther  no  shipe  /  of  so  manye  as  I  se 

Wol  bryngen  horn  my  lord  /  thanne  were  myn  herte 

Al  warisshed  /  of  hise  bittre  peynes  smerte  85$ 

1F  Another  tyme  /  ther  wolde  she  sitte  and  thynke 

And  caste  hir  eyen  /  dounward!  fro  the  brynke 

But  whan  she  saugh"  /  the  grisly  Eokkes  blake 

ffor  verray  feere  /  so  wolde  hir  herte  quake  860 

That  on  hire  feet1  she  mygBte  hire  nogfit  sustene 

Thanne  wolde  she  /  sitte  adoun  vpon  the  grene 

And  pitously  /  in  to  the  see  biholde 

And  seyn  right  thus  /  vrith  sorweful  sikes  colde  864 

^F  Eterne  god  /  that  thurgfi  thy  pwrueiaunce 

Ledest  the  world  /  by  certein  gouemauwce 

In  ydel  as  men  seyn  /  ye  no  thyng*  make 

But  lord  /  thise  grisly  /  feendly  Eokkes  blake  868 

That  semen  rather  /  a  foul  confusion) 

Of  werk1  than  any  fair  creacion) 

Of  swich  a  parfif  wys  god  and  a  stable 

Why  ban  ye  wroght1  this  werk  vnresonable  872 

ffor  by  this  werk  /  South  /  North  /  ne  West1  ne  Eesf 

Ther  nys  yfostred!  /  man  /  ne  bryd*  ne  beestt 

It  dooth  no  good  to  niy  wit1  but  anoyeth 

'.Se.ye  nat  lord!  /  how  mankynde  it  destroyed  876 

ELLESMEKE   339    (6-T.  604) 


505    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.  FRANKLIN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

An  hundred  thousand  bodyes  of  mankynde' 

Han  Eokkes  slayn  /  al  "be  they  nat  in  mynde 

Which  mankynde  /  is  so  fair  part1  of  thy  world 

That  thou  it  madesf  lyk  to  thyn  owene  merk1  880 

1T  Thanne  seined  if  ye  hadde  a  greet  chiertee 

Toward  mankynde  /  but  how  thanne  may  it  bee 

That  ye  swiche  meenes  make  /  it  to  destroy  en 

Whiche  meenes  do  no  good  /  but  enerc  anoyen  881 

I  woot  wel  /  clerkes  wol  seyn  as  hem  leste 

By  Argumentz  /  that  al  is  for  the  beste 

Though"  I  kan  /  the  causes  nat  yknowe 

But  thilke  god  /  that  made  wynd  to  blowe  888 

As  kepe  my  lord*  /  this  my  conclusion) 

To  clerkes  lete  I  /  al  this  disputison)* 

But  wolde  god  /  that  alle  thise  Eokkes  blake 

"Were  sonken  in  to  helle  for  his  sake  892 

Thise  Eokkes  /  sleen  myn  herte  for  the  feere      Deaf  129,  back] 

Thus  wolde  she  seyn  /  with  many  a  pitous  teere 

IT  Hire  freendes  sawe  /  that  it  was  no  disport* 

To  roinen  by  the  see  /  but  disconfortt  -896 

And  shopen  for  to  pleyen  /  somwher  elles 

They  leden  hire  /  by  Eyueres  and  by  welles 

And  eek/  in  othere  places  delitables ' 

They  dauncen  /  and  they  pleyen  /  at  ches  and  tables    900 

^T  So  on  a  day  /  right  in  the  morwe  tyde 

Vn  to  a  gardyn  /  that  was  ther  bisyde 

In  which  /  that  they  hadde  maad  hir  ordinance 

Of  vitaille  /  and  of  oother  purueiance  904 

They  goon  and  pleye  hem  /  al  the  longe  day 

And  this  was  /  in  the  sixte  morwe  of  May 

Which  May  hadde  peynted  /  w^t/t  his  softe  shoures 

This  gardyn  /  ful  of  leues  and  of  floures  908 

And  craft  of  mannes  hand  so  curiously 

Arrayed  hadde  /  this  gardyn  trewely 

That  neuere  /  was  ther  gardyn  of  swich  prya 

But  if  it  were  /  the  verray  Paradys  912 

ELLESMERE   310   (6-T.  505) 


506    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

The  odour  of  floures  /  and  the  fressfie  sigfrte 

"Wolde  han  maked  /  any  herte  liglite 

That  euere  was  born  /  but  if  to  greet  siknesse 

Or  to  greet  sorwe  /  helde  it  in  distresse  016 

So  ful  it  was  /  of-beautee  with  plesance 

At  after  dyner  /  gbnne  they  to  daunce 

And  synge  also  /  saue  Dorigen  allone 

"Which  made  alwey  /  hir  compleint  and  hir  moone        920 

ffor  she  ne  saugh"  hym  /  on  the  daunce  go 

That  was  hir  housbonde  /and  hir  loue  also 

But  nathelees  /  she  moste  a  tyme  abyde 

And  with  good  hope  /  lete  hir  sorwe  sly  do  924 

IT  Vp  on  this  daunce  /  amonges  othere  men 

Daunced  a  squier  /  biforn  Dorigen 

That  fressRer  was  /  and  lolyer  of  array 

As  to  my  doom  /  than  is  the  Monthe  of  May  928 

lie  syngeth  /  daunceth  /  passynge  any  man 

That  is  //  or  was  /  sith  J?at  the  world  bigan 

Ther-wtt/i  he  was  /  if  men  sholde  hym  discryue 

Oon  /  of  the  beste  farynge  man  on  lyue  932 

Yong/  strong1  right  vertuous  /  and  riche  and  wys 

And  wel  biloued  /  and  holden  in  greet  prys 

And  shortly  /  if  the  sothe  I  tellen  shal 

Vnwityng1  of  this  Dorigen  at  al  936 

This  lusty  Squier  /  seruant  to  Venus 

"Which  that  ycleped  was  Aurelius 

Hadde  loued  hire  /  best  of  any  creature 

Two  yeer  and  moore  /  as  was  his  auenture 

But  neuere  /  dorste  he  tellen  hire  his  greuance 

"With  outen  coppe  /  he  drank  al  his  penance 

He  was  despeyred  /  no  thyng  dorste  he  seye 

Saue  in  his  songes  /  somwhat  wolde  he  wreye  914 

His  wo  /  as  in  a  general  compleynyng1 

He  seyde  he  louede  /  and  was  biloued  no  thyng1 

Of  swich  matere  /  made  he  manye  layes 

Songes  /'  compleintes  /  roundels  /  virelayes  948 

ELLESMERE    311    (6-T.  606) 


607   SIX  TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

How  that/  he  dorste  nat/  his  sorwe  telle 

But  langwissfieth"  /  as  a  furye  dooth  in  helle 

And  dye  he  moste  he  seyde  /  as  dide  Ekko   f  Methamorposios  a, 

ffor  Narcisus  /  that  dorste  nat  telle  hir  wo  952 

In  oother  manere  /  than  ye  heere  me  seye 

Ne  dorste  he  nat1.  to  hire  his  wo  biwreye 

Saue  that  parauenture  /  som  tyme  at  daunces 

Ther  yong  folk/  kepen  hir  obseruaunces  956 

It  may  wel  be  /  he  looked  on  hir  face 

In  swich  a  wise  /  as  man  fat  asketh  grace 

But  no  thyng1  wiste  she  /  of  his  entente 

Nathelees  /  it  happed  er  they  thennes  wente  960 

By  cause  /  that  he  was  hire  Neighebour 

And  was  a  man  /  of  worships  and  honour 

And  hadde  yknowen  hym  /  of  tyme  yoore 

They  fille  in  speche  /  and  forthe  moore  and  rnoore        964 

Vn  to  this  purpos  /  drougfi  Aurelius 

And  whan  he  saugfi  his  tyme  /  he  seyde  thus 

IT  Madame  quod  he  /  by  god  fat  this  world  made 

So  that  I  wiste  /  it  myghte  youre  herte  glade  968 

I  wolde  that  day  /  that  youre  Arueragus 

Wente  ouer  the  see  /  that  I  Aurelius 

Hadde  went1  ther  nenere  I  sholde  haue  come  agayn 

ffor  wel  I  woot*  my  seruyce  is  in  vayn  972 

My  gerdon)  is  /  but  brestyng  of  myn  herte 

Madame  /  reweth  vpon  my  peynes  smerte 

ffor  with  a  word1  /  ye  may  me  sleen  or  saue 

Heere  at  youre  feet/  god  wolde  fat  I  were  graue  976 

I  ne  haue  as  now  /  no  leyser  moore  to  seye 

Haue  mercy  sweete  /  or  ye  wol  do  me  deye 

If  She  gan  to  looke  /  vp  on  Aurelius 

Is  this  youre  wyl  quod  she  /  and  sey  ye  thus  ?  980 

Neuere  ersf  quod  she  /  ne  wiste  I  what  ye  mente 

But  now  Aurelie  /  I  knowe  youre  entente 

By  thilke  god  /  that  yaf  me  soule  and  lyf 

Ne  shal  I  neuere  /  been  vntrewe  wyf  984 

ELLESMERE   342   (6-T.  507) 


508   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

In  word  ne  werk/  as  fer  as  I  haue  \vit/ 

I  wol  been  his  /  to  whom  fat  I  am  knyt1 

Taak  this  for  fynal  answers  /  as  of  me 

But  after  that1  in  pley  thus  seyde  she  988 

IT  Aurelie  quod  she  /  by  heigfre  god  aboue  [leaf  iso,  back] 

Yet  wolde  I  graunte  yow  /  to  been  youre  loue 

Syn  I  yow  se  /  so  pitously  complayne 

Looke  what  day  /  that  endelong  Britayne  992 

Ye  remoeue  alle  the  Eokkes  /  stoon  by  stoou 

That  they  ne  lette  /  shipe  ne  boot  to  goon 

I  seye  /  whan  ye  han  maad  /  the  coost  so  clene 

Of  Eokkes  /  that  ther  nys  no  stoon  ysene  996 

Thanne  wol  I  /  loue  yow  best  of  any  man 

Haue  heer  my  trouthe  /  in  al  fat  euere  I  kan, 

IT  Is  ther  noon  oother  grace  /  in  yow  quod  he  ? 

IT  No  I  by  that  lord  quod  she  that  maked  me  1000 

ffor  wel  I  woof  fat  it  shal  neuer  bityde 

Lat  swiche  folies  /  out  of  youre  herte  slyde 

What  deyntee  sholde  a  man  /  han  in  his  lyf 

ffor  to  go  loue  /  another  marines  wyf  1004 

That  hath  hir  body  /  whan  so  fat  hym  liketh 

IT  Aurelius  /  ful  ofte  soore  siketh 

Wo  was  Aurelie  /  whan  fat  he  this  herde 

And  with  a  sorweful  herte  /  he  thus  answerde  1008 

1T  Madame  quod  he  /  this  were  an  inpossible 

Thanne  moot  I  dye  /  of  sodeyn  deth  horrible 

And  with  that  word  /  he  turned  hym  anon 

Tho  coome  /  hir  othere  freendes  many  oon  1012 

And  in  the  Aleyes  /  romeden  vp  and  doun 

And  no  thyng  wiste  /  of  this  conclusioun 

But  sodeynly  /  bigonne  reuel  newe 

Til  that1  the  brighte  sonne  /  loste  his  hewe  1016 

ffor  Thorisonte  /  hath  reft1  the  sonne  his  lyghf 

This  is  as  muche  to  seye  /  as  it  was  nygfttt 

And  hoom  they  goon  /  in  ioye  and  in  solas 

Saue  oonly  /  wrecche  Aurelius  alias  1020 

ELLESMERE   343   (6-T.  508) 


509    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.  §  4.  FRANKLIN'S  TALK  Ellesmere  MS. 

He  to  his  hous  is  goon  /  with  sorwcful  herto 

He  seeth  /  he  may  nat1  fro  his  deeth  asterte 

Hym  seined  /  that  he  felte  his  herte  colde 

Vp  to  the  heuene  /hise  handes  he  gan  holdo  1024 

And  on  hise  knowes  bare  /  he  sette  hym  doun 

And  in  his  rauyng1  seyde  his  orisoun 

ffor  verray  wo  /  out  of  his  wit  he  breyde 

He  nyste  what  he  spak1  but  thus  he  seyde  1028 

With  pitous  herte  /  his  pleynt  hath  he  bigonno 

Vn  to  the  goddes  /  and  first1  vn  to  the  sonno 

IT  He  seyde  Appollo  /  god  and  gouernour   Ju^7ffi ^fdea 

Of  euery  plaunte  /  herbe  /  tree  and  flour    aild  u 

That  yeuesfr  after  thy  declinaciori^ 

To  ech  of  hem  /  his  tyrne  and  his  seson 

As  thyn  herberwe  /  chaungeth  lowe  or  heighe 

Lord  Phebus  /  cast  thy  merciable  eigfie       poafisi]         1036 

On  wrecche  Aurelie  /  which"  am  but  lorn 

Lo  lord  /  my  lady  hath  my  deeth  y-sworn 

With  oute  gilt1  but  thy  benignytee 

Vpon  my  dedly  herte  /  haue  som  pitee  1040 

ffor  wel  I  woot  /  lord  Phebus  /  if  yow  lesf 

Ye  may  me  helpen  /  saue  my  lady  best1 

Now  voucheth  sauf  /  fat  I  may  yow  deuyse 

How  fat  I  may  been  holpen  /  and  in  what  wyse         1044 

U  Youre  blisful  suster  /  Lucina  the  sheene 

That  of  the  see  /  is  chief  goddesse  and  queene 

Though"  Neptunus  /  haue  deitee  in  the  See 

Yet  Emperisse  /  abouen  hym  is  she  1048 

Ye  knowen  wel  lord  /  that  right  as  hir  desir 

Is  to  be  quyked  /  and  lightned  of  youre  fir 

ffor  which  /  she  folweth  yow  /  ful  bisily 

Jlight/  so  /  the  see  desireth  naturelly  1052 

To  folwen  hire  /  as  she  that  is  goddesse 

Bothe  in  the  see  /  and  Eyueres  moore  and  lessc 

Wherfore  lord  Pliebus  /  this  is  my  requeste 

Do  this  miracle  /  or  do  myn  herte  breste  1056 

ELLESMERE   344   (6-T.  609) 


510    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FBANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  now  next1  at  this  opposiciou) 

"Which  in  the  signe  /  shal  be  of  the  leon) 

As  preieth  hire  /  so  greet  a  flood  to  brynge 

That  fyue  fadme  at  the  leeste  it  ouersprynge  1060 

The  hyeste  Eokke  /  in  Armorik/  Briteyne 

And  lat  this  flood  /  endure  yeres  tweyne 

Thanne  certes  /  to  my  lady  may  I  seye 

Holdeth  youre  heste  /  the  Eokkes  been  aweye  1064 

IT  Lord  Phebus  /  dooth  this  miracle  for  me 

Preye  hire  /  she  go  no  faster  cours  than  ye 

I  seye  /  preyeth  your  suster  /  that  she  go 

No  faster  cours  than  ye  /  thise  yeres  two  1068 

Thanne  shal  she  been  /  euene  atte  fulle  alway 

And  spryng  flood  /  laste  bothe  nyght1  and  day 

And  but  she  vouche  sauf  /  in  swich  manere 

To  graunte  me  /  my  souereyn  lady  deere  1072 

Prey  hire  /  to  synken  euery  Bole1  adoun 

In  to  /  hir  owene  dirke  Regioun 

Vnder  the  ground  /  ther  Pluto  dwelleth  Inne 

Or  neuere  nio  /  shal  I  my  lady  wynne  1076 

Thy  Temple  in  Delphos  /  wol  I  barefoot  seke 

Lord  Phebus  /  se  the  teeris  on  my  cheke 

And  of  my  peyne  /  haue  som  compassioun 

And  with  that  word  /  in  swowne  he  fil  adoun  1080 

And  longe  tynie  /  he  lay  forth  in  a  traunoe 

IT  His  brother/  which  fat  knew  of  his  penatmce 

Vp  caughte  hym  /  and  to  bedde  he  hath  hym  brogfrt1 

Dispeyred  /  in  this  torment*  and  this  thoghf  1084 

Lete  I  /  this  woful  creature  lye  Deaf  131,  back] 

Chese  he  for  me  /  wheither  he  wol  lyue  or  dye 

Arueragus  /  with  heele  and  greet  honour 
As  he  /  \>at  was  /  of  chiualrie  the  flour  1088 

Is  comen  hoom  /  and  othere  worthy  men 
O  blisful  /  artow  now  /  thou  Dorigen 
That  hasfr  thy  lusty  housbonde  in  thyne  Amies 
The  fresshe  knygfrf  the  worthy  man  of  Amies  1092 

ELLESMEKE    345    (6-T.  510) 


511    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F,   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  loueth  thee  /  as  his  owene  hertes  lyf* 

No  thyng1  list  hym  /  to  been  ymaginatyf' 

If  any  wight  had  spoke  /  whil  he  was  oute 

To  hire  of  loue  /  he  hadde  of  it  no  doute  1096 

He  nogfit  entendeth  /  to  no  swich"  mateere 

But  daunceth  /  lusteth  /  maketh  hire  good  cheere 

And  thus  /  in  ioye  and  blisse  /  I  lets  hem  dwelle 

And  of  the  sike  Aurelius  /  I  wol  yow  telle  1100 

IN  langour/  and  in  torment  furyus 
Two  yeer  and  moore  /  lay  wrecche  Aurelyus 
Er  any  foot1 .  he  mygfite  on  erthe  gon 
Ne  confort  in  this  tyme  /  hadde  he  noon  1104 

Saue  of  his  brother  /  which  J>at  was  a  clerk1 
He  knew  of  al  this  wo  /  and  al  this  werk1 
ifor  to  noon  oother  creature  certeyn 

Of  this  matere  /  he  dorste  no  word  seyn  1108 

Vnder  his  bresf  he  baar  it  moore  secree 
Than  euere  dide  Pamphilus  for  Galathee      1^^^^ 
His  brest  was  hool  /  with  oute  for  to  seno  fSSSESfltZZ* 
But  in  his  herte  /  ay  was  the  Arwe  kene  1112 

And  wel  ye  knowe  /  that  of  a  Sursanure 
In  Surgerye  /  is  perilous  the  cure 
But  men  mygfite  touche  the  Arwe  /  or  come  therby 
His  brother  /  weepe  /  and  way  led  pryuely  1116 

Til  atte  laste  /  hym  fil  in  remembrance 
That  whiles  he  was  /  at  Orliens  in  ffrance 
As  yonge  clerkes  /  that  been  lykerous » 
To  reden  Artes  /  that  been  curious  1 120 

Seken  /  in  euery  halke  /  and  euery  herne 
Particuler  sciences  /  for  to  lerne 
He  hym  remembred  /  that  vpon  a  day 
At  Orliens  in  studie  /  a  book  he  say  1124 

Of  Magyk/  natureel  /  which  his  felawe 
That  was  that  tyme  /  a  Bacheler  of  la  we 
Al  were  he  ther  /  to  lerne  another  craft* 
Hadde  pnuely  /  vpon  his  desk  ylaftf  1128 

ELLESMERE   346   (6-T.  61l) 


512    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

"Which.  Look*  spak  muchel  /  of  the  operacions 
Touchynge  /  the  eighte  and  twenty  mansions 
That  longen  to  the  moone  /  and  swich  folye 
As  in  oure  dayes  /  is  nat  worth  a  flye  1132 

ffor  hooly  chirches  feitfi  /  in  oure  bileue  Deaf  1323 

ISTe  suifreth  noon  illusion  vs  to  greue 
And  whan  this  book  /  was  in  his  remembraunce 
Anon  for  ioye  /  his  herte  gan  to  daunce  1136 

And  to  hym  self*  he  seyde  pryuely 
My  brother/  shal  be  warisshed  hastily 
ffor  I  am  siker  /  pat  ther  be  sciences 

By  wh[i]c[h]e  /  men  make  diuerse  apparences  1140 

Swiche  /  as  thise  subtile  tregetours  pleye 
ffor  ofte  at  feestes  /  haue  I  wel  herd  seye 
That  tregetours  /  with  Inne  an  halle  large 
Haue  maad  come  In  /  a  water  and  a  barge  1144 

And  in  the  halle  /  rowen  vp  and  doun 
Somtyme  /  hath  semed  come  a  grym  leoun 
And  somtyme  floures  sprynge  /  as  in  a  Mede 
Somtyme  a  Vyne  /  and  grapes  white  and  rede  1148 

Somtyme  a  Castel  /  al  of  lym  and  stoon 
And  whan  hym  lyked  /  voyded  it  aiioon 
Thus  semed  it  to  eue?y  mannes  sigh~te 
1T  Now  thanne  conclude  I  thus  /  J?at  if  I  myghte         1152 
At  (Miens  /  som  oold  felawe  yfynde 
That  hadde  /  this  moones  mansions  in  mynde 
Or  oother  Magyk1  natureel  aboue 

He  sholde  wel  make  /  my  brother  han  his  loue  1156 

ffor  with  an  apparence  /  a  cleric1  may  make 
To  mannes  sighte  /  J>at  alle  the  Eokkes  blake 
Of  Britaigne  /  weren  yvoyded  euerichon 
And  shippes  /  by  the  brynke  comen  and  gon  1160 

And  in  swich  forme  /  enduren  a  wowke  or  two 
Thanne  were  my  brother  //  warisshed  of  his  wo 
Thanne  moste  she  nedes  /  holden  hire  biheste 
Or  elles  /  he  shal  shame  hire  atte  leeste  1.164 

2?  ELLESMERE   347   (6-T.  512) 


513   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  What  sholde  I  make  /  a  lenger  tale  of  this 

Vn  to  his  brotheres  bed  /  he  comen  is 

And  swich  conforf  he  yaf  hym  for  to  gon 

To  Orliens  /  that  he  vp  stirte  anon  1168 

And  on  his  wey  /  forthward  thanne  is  he  fare 

In  hope  /  for  to  been  lissed  of  his  care 

IT  Whan  they  were  come  /  alruoostf  to  that  Citee 

But  if  it  were  /  a  two  furlong*  or  thre  1172 

A  yong  clerk1  romynge  by  hym  self  they  mette 

Which  Jjat  in  latyn  /  thriftily  hem  grette 

And  after  that1  he  seyde  a  wonder  thyng1 

I  knowe  quod  he  /  the  cause  of  youre  corny ng1  1176 
And  er  they  ferther  /  any  foote  wente 

He  tolde  hem  /  al  that  was  in  hire  entente 

IT  This  Briton  clerk1  hym  asked  of  felawes 

The  whiche  Jjat  he  had  knowe  /  in  olde  dawes  1180 

And  he  answerde  hym  /  that  they  dede  were      [leaf  132,  tack] 

ffor  which  /he  weep  ful  ofte  many  a  teere 

1T  Doun  of  his  hors  /  Aurelius  ligfite  anon 

And  with  this  Magicien  /  forth  is  he  gon  1184 

Hoom  to  his  hous  /  and  maden  hem  wel  at  ese 

Hem  lakked  no  vitaille  /  fat  myghte  hem  plese 

So  wel  arrayed  hous  /  as  ther  was  oon 

Aurelius  in  his  lyf  /  saugh"  neuere  noon  1188 

^[  He  shewed  hym  /  er  he  wente  to  Sopeer 

fforestes  /  Parkes  /  ful  of  wilde  deer 

Ther  saugh"  he  hertes  /  with  hir  homes  hye 

The  gretteste  /  that  euere  were  seyn  vfith  eye  1192 

He  saugh  of  hem  /  an  hondred  slayn  with  houndes 

And  somnie  with  Arwes  blede  /  of  bittre  woundes 

IT  He  saugh  /  whan  voyded  were  thise  wilde  deer 

Thise  ffauconers  /  vpon  a  fair  Eyuer  1196 

That  w-it/i  hir  haukes  /  han  the  heron)  slayn 

II  Tho  saugh  he  knyghtes  /  iustyng1  in  a  playn 
And  after  this  /  he  dide  hym  swich  plesaunco 

That  he  hym  shewed  /  his  lady  on  a  daunce  1200 

ELLESMERE   348   (6-T.  613)  V* 


514    SIX-TEXT 

GROW  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

On  which  hym  self  /  he  daunced  /  as  hym  thoughte 

And  whan  this  Maister  /  fat  this  Magyk  wroughte 

Saugh  it  was  tyme  /  he  clapte  hise  handes  two 

And  farewel  /  al  cure  reuel  was  ago  1204 

And  yet  remoeued  they  neuere  /  out  of  the  hous 

"VVhil  they  saugh".  /  al  this  sighte  merueillous 

But  in  his  studie  /  ther  as  hise  bookes  be 

They  seten  stille  /  and  no  wight*  but  they  thre  1208 

11  To  hym  /  this  Maister  called  his  Squier 

And  seyde  hym  thus  /  is  redy  oure  soper 

Almoost1  an  houre  it  is  I  vndertake 

Sith  I  yow  bad  /  oure  soper  for  to  make  1212 

Whan  that  thise  worthy  men  /  wenten  with  me 

In  to  my  studie  /  ther  as  my  bookes  be 

IF  Sire  quod  this  Squier  /  whan  it  liketh  yow 

It  is  al  redy  /  though  ye  wol  right  now  1216 

Go  we  thanne  soupe  quod  he  /  as  for  the  beste 

This  amorous  folk/  som  tyme  moote  han  hir  reste 

IF  At  after  soper  /  fille  they  in  tretee 

What  somme  /  sholde  this  Maistres  gerdon)  be  1220 

To  remoeuen  /  alle  the  Rokkes  of  Britayne 

And  eek  from  Gerounde  /  to  the  mouth  of  Sayne 

*1F  He  made  it  straunge  /  and  swoor  /  so  god  hym  saue 

Lasse  than  a  thousand?  pound?  /  he  wolde  nat  haue       1224 

Ne  gladly  /  for  that  so?»me  he  wolde  nat  goon 

1F  Atirelius  /  with  blisful  herte  anoon 

Answerde  thus  /  fy  on  a  thousand  pound1 

This  wyde  world?  /  which  that  men  seye  is  round?         1228 

IF  I  wolde  it  yeue  /  if  I  Avere  lord  of  if  [leaf  iss] 

This  bargayn  is  ful  dryue  /  for  we  been  knyfr 

Ye  shal  be  payed  /  trewely  by  my  trouthe 

But  looketh  now  /  for  no  necligence  or  slouthe  1232 

Ye  tarie  vs  heere  /  no  lenger  than  to  morwe 

H  Nay  quod  this  clerk*  haue  heer  my  feith  to  borwe 

IT  To  bedde  is  goon  Aurelius  /  whan  hym  leste 

And  wel  ny  /  al  that  nyght  he  hadde  his  reste  1236 

ELLESMERE    349    (6-T.  614) 


515    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

What  for  his  labour  /  and  his  hope  of  blisse 

His  woful  herte  /  of  penaunce  hadde  a  lisse 

IT  Vpon  the  morwe  /  whan  fat  it  was  day 

To  Britaigne  /  tooke  they  the  righte  way  1240 

Aurelius  /  and  this  Magicien  bisyde 

And  been  descended  /  ther  they  wolde  abyde 

And  this  was  /  as  thise  bookes  me  remembre 

The  colde  /  frosty  sesori)  of  Decembre  ?.244 

Phebus  wax  old  /  and  hewed  lyk  laton) 
That  in  his  hoote  declynacion) 
Shoon  as  the  burned  gold  /  with  stremes  brighte 
But  now  in  Capricorn  /  adoun  he  lighte  1248 

"Where  as  he  shoon  ful  pale  /  I  dar  wel  seyn 
The  bittre  frostes  /  with  the  sleet  and  reyn 
Destroyed  hath  the  grene  /  in  euery  yerd 
lanus  sit  by  the  fyr  /  with  double  berd!     H  lanus  biceps  ^ 
And  drynketh  /  of  his  bugle  horn  the  wyn 
Biforn  hym  /  stant  brawen  /  of  the  tusked  swyn 
And  Nowel  /  crieth  euery  lusty  man 
II  Aurelius  /  in  al  that  euere  he  kan  1256 

Booth  to  his  Maister  /  chiere  and  reuerence 
And  preyeth  hym  /  to  doon  his  diligence 
To  bryngen  hym  /  out  of  his  peynes  smerte 
Or  with  a  swerdf  /.fat  he  wolde  slitte  his  herte  1260 

11  This  subtil  clerk1  swich  routhe  had  of  this  man 
That  nygfit  and  day  /  he  spedde  hym  fat  he  kan 
To  wayten  a  tyme  /  of  his  conclusion 
This  is  to  eeye  /  to  maken  illusion  1264 

By  swich  a  apparence  or  logelrye 
I  ne  kan  no  termes  /  of  Astrologye 
That  she  and  euery  wight*  sholde  wene  and  seye 
That  of  Britaigne  /  the  Rokkes  were  aweye  1268 

Or  ellis  /  they  were  sonken  vnder  grounde 
So  atte  laste  /  he  hath  his  tyme  yfounde 
To  maken  hise  Tapes  /  and  his  wrecchednesse 
Of  swich  /  a  supersticious  cursednesse  1272 

ELLESMERE   350   (6-T.  515) 


516    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.    §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Hise  tables  tolletanes  /  forth  he  brought 

fful  wel  corrected  /  ne  ther  lakked  nought 

Neither  his  collect1  ne  hise  expans  yeeris 

Ne  hise  rootes  /  ne  hise  othere  geeris  1276 

As  been  his  centris  /  and  hise  Argumentz  Deaf  133,  back] 

And  hise  proporcioneles  conuenientz 

ffoi  hise  equacions  /  in  euery  thyng1 

And  by  his  .8.  speere  in  his  wirkyng1  1280 

He  knew  ful  wel  /  how  fer  Alnath  was  shoue    j^r^li"*'' 

ffro  the  heed  /  of  thilke  fixe  Aries  aboue 

That  in  the  .9.  speere  considered  is  f  in  nona  spera  a 

fful  subtilly  /  he  hadde  kalkuled  al  this  1284 

IT  Whan  he  hadde  founde  /  his  firste  mansion 

He  knew  the  remenanfr  by  proporcion 

And  knew  the  arisyng1  of  his  moone  weel 

And  in  whos  face  /  and  tenne  and  euerydeel  1288 

And  knew  ful  weel  /  the  moones  mansion 

Acordaunfr  to  his  operacion 

And  kneAV  also  /  hise  othere  obsemailces 

ffor  swiche  illusions  /  and  swiche  meschances  1292 

As  hethen  folk  /  vseden  in  thilke  dayes 

ffor  which  /  no  lenger  maked  he  delayes 

But  thurgh  his  magik  /  for  a  wyke  or  tweye 

It  semed  /  that  alle  the  Rokkes  were  aw  eye  1296 

IF  Aurelius  /  which  fat  yet  despeired  is 

Wher  he  shal  han  his  loue  /  or  fare  amys 

Awaiteth  nyght  and  day  /  on  this  myracle 

And  whan  he  knew  /  fat  ther  was  noon  obstacle         1300 

That  voyded  were  /  thise  Rokkes  euerychon 

Doun  /  to  hise  Maistres  feet*  he  fil  anon 

And  seyde  /  I  woful  wrecche  Aurelius 

Thanke  yow  lord  /  and  lady  myn  Yenus  1394 

That  me  han  holpen  /  fro  my  cares  colde 

And  to  the  temple  /  his  wey  forth  hath  he  holde 

Where  as  he  knew  /  he  sholde  his  lady  see 

And  whan  he  saugh  his  tyme  /  anon  right  hee  1303 

ELLESMEUE    351    (6-T.  516) 


517    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

With  dredful  herte  /  and  with  ful  hvunble  cheere 
Salewed  hath  /  his  souereyn  lady  deere 

My  righte  lady  /  quod  this  woful  man 
Whom  I  moost  drede  and  loue  as  I  best  kan    1312 
And  lothest  were  /  of  al  this  world  displese 
Nere  it1  fat  I  for  yow  /  haue  swich  disese 
Tli  at  I  moste  dyen  heere  /  at  youre  foot  anon 
Noght  wolde  I  telle  /  how  me  is  wo  bigon  1316 

But  certes  /  outher  moste  I  dye  or  pleyne 
Ye  sle  me  giltlees  /  for  verray  peyne 
But  of  my  deeth  /  thogh"  fat  ye  haue  no  routhe 
Auyseth  yow  /  er  fat  ye  breke  youre  trouthe  1320 

Repenteth  yow  /  for  thilke  god  aboue 
Er  ye  me  sleen  /  by  cause  fat  I  yow  loue 
ffor  madarae  /  wel  ye  woof  what  ye  han  higfrf 
Nat  J>at  I  chalange  /  any  thyng  of  right*  1324 

Of  yow  my  soue?-eyn  lady  /  but  youre  grace  peaf  134] 

But  in  a  gardyn  yond  /  at  swich  a  place 
Ye  woot  right  wel  /  what  ye  bihighten  me 
And  in  niyn  hand!  /  youre  trouthe  plighten  ye  1328 

To  loue  me  best1  god  woot  ye  seyde  so 
Al  be  /  fat  I  vnworthy  be  therto 
Madame  I  speke  it  /  for  the  honour  of  yow 
Moore  than  to  saue  /  myn  hertes  lyf  right  now  1332 

I  haue  do  so  /  as  ye  comanded  me 
And  if  ye  vouche  sauf  /  ye  may  go  see 
Booth  as  yow  list*  haue  youre  biheste  in  mynde 
ffor  quyk1  or  deed  /  right  there  ye  shal  me  fynde         1336 
In  yow  lith  al  /  to  do  me  lyue  or  deye 
But  wel  I  woot1  the  Eokkes  been  aweye 
U  He  taketh  his  leue  /  and  she  astonied  stood 
In  al  hir  face  /  nas  a  drope  of  blood?  1340 

She  wende  neuere  /  han  come  in  swich  a  trappe 
Alias  quod  she  /  fat  euere  this  sholde  happe 
ffor  wende  I  neuere  /  by  possibilitee 
That  swich  a  Monstre  /  or  merueille  myghte  be  1344 

ELLESMERE    352    (6-T.  617) 


518    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

It  is  /  agayus  the  proces  of  nature 

And  hooni  she  goth  /  a  sorweful  creature 

ffor  venray  feere  /  vnnethe  may  she  go 

She  wepeth  /  wailleth  /  al  a  day  or  two  1348 

And  swowneth  /  that  it  routhe  was  to  see 

But  why  it  was  /  to  no  wight  tolde  shee 

ffor  out  of  towne  /  was  goon  Arueragus 

But  to  hir  self/  she  spak1  and  seyde  thus  1352 

With  face  pale  /  and  with  ful  sorweful  cheere 

In  hire  compleynf  as  ye  shal  after  heere  &*£~$SSfl^ 

IT  Alias  quod  she  /  on  thee  ffortune  I  pleyne 

That  vnwar./  wrapped  hast  me  in  thy  cheyne  1356 

ffor  which  tescape  /  woot  I  no  scour 

Saue  oonly  /  deeth  or  dishonour 

Oon  of  thise  two  /  bihoueth  me  to  chese 

But  nathelees  /  yet  haue  I  leuere  to  lese  1360 

My  lif/  than  of  my  body  haue  a  shame 

Or  knowe  my  seluen  fals  /  or  lese  my  name 

And  with  my  deth  /  I  may  be  quyt1  ywis 

Hath  ther  nat/  many  a  noble  wyf  er  this        [Latin  note,  f.  525.] 

And  many  a  mayde  /  yslayn  hir  self  alias 

Rather  /  than  vrith  hir  body  doon  trespas 

IT  Yis  ce>-tes  /  lo  thise  stories  beren  witnesse 

Whan  .xxx.  tirauntz  /  ful  of  cursednesse  1368 

Hadde  slayn  Phidon)  /  in  Atthenes  at  feste 

They  comanded  /  hise  doghtres  for  tareste 

And  bryngen  hem  /  biforn  hem  in  despitf 

Al  naked  /  to  fulfille  hir  foul  delif  1372 

And  in  hir  fadres  blood  /  they  made  hem  daunce    [insi,  bit] 

Vpon  the  pauemenfr  god  yeue  hem  myschaunce 

ffor  which"  /  thise  woful  maydens  ful  of  drede 

Rather  /  than  they  wolde  lese  hir  maydenhede  1376 

They  pmiely  /  been  stirt/  in  to  a  welle 

And  dreynte  hem  seluen  /  as  the  bookes  telle 

They  of  Mecene  /  leete  enauere  and  seke  f  Cu"!  -so*-  ™- 
gines  lacedomorum 
Of  Lacedomye  /  fifty  maydens  eke 

ELLESMERE   353   (6-T.  618) 


519    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.  FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

On  whiche  /  they  wolden  doon  hir  leclierye 

But  was  ther  noon  of  al  that  compaignye 

That  she  nas  slayn  /  and  \vith  a  good  entente 

Chees  /  rather  for  to  dye  than  assente  1384 

To  been  oppressed  /  of  hir  maydenhede 

Why  sholde  I  thanne  /  to  dye  been  in  drede 

Lo  eek  /  the  tiraunt  Aristoclides  {Latin  note,  p.  499] 

That  loued  a  mayden  /  heet  Stymphalides  1388 

Whan  that  hir  fader  /  slayn  was  on  a  nyght1 
Vn  to  Dianes  temple  /  goth  she  right1 
And  hente  the  ymage  /  in  hir  handes  two 
firo  which  ymage  /  wolde  she  neuere  go  1392 

No  wight  /  ne  myghte  hir  handes  of  it  arace 
Til  she  was  slayn  /  right  in  the  selue  place 
IT  Now  sith  ]>at  maydens  /  hadden  swich  despifr 
To  been  defouled  /  with  mannes  foul  delit1  1396 

Wei  oghte  a  wyf  /  rather  hir  seluen  slee 
Than  be  defouled ,/  as  it  thynketh  me 

What  shal  I  seyn  /  of  Hasdrubales  wyf  [.Latin  note,  p.  4991 
That  at  Cartage  /  birafte  hir  self  hir  lyf          1400 
ffor  whan  she  saugh  /  that  Ttomayns  wan  the  toun 
She  took  hir  children  alle  /  and  skipte  adoun 
In  to  the  fyr  /  ancl  chees  rather  to  dye 
Than  any  Romayu  /  dide  hire  vileynye  1404 

Hath  nat  Lucresse  /  yslayn  hir  self  alias  {Latin  note,  p.  499] 
At  Rome  /  whan  she  oppressed  was 
Of  Tarquyn  /  for  hire  thoughte  it  was  a  shame 
To  lyuen  /  whan  she  had  lost  hir  name  1408 

The  seuene  maydens  /  of  Melesie  also         {Latin  note,  p.  499] 
Han  slayn  hem  self  /  for  drede  and  wo 
Rather  than  folk  of  Gawle  /  hem  sholde  oppresse 
Mo  than  a  thousand  stories  /  as  I  gesse  1412 

Koude  I  now  telle  /  as  touchynge  this  mateere 
"VW7  han  habradate  was  slayn  /  his  wyf  so  deere  £ L^  note> 

T  f      Hirseluen  slow  /  and  leet  hir  blood  to  glyde 
In  habradates  woundes  depe  and  wyde  1416 

ELLESMERE   354   (6-T.  519) 


520   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  seyde  my  body  /  at  the  leeste  way 

Tlier  shal  no  wight  /  defoulen  if  I  may 

IT  What  sholde  I  /  mo  ensamples  heer  of  sayn 

Sith  that  so  manye  /  han  hem  seluen  slayn  1420 

Wei  rather  /  than  they  wolde  defouled  be  [leaf  1.35] 

I  wol  conclude  /  that  it  is  bet  for  me 

To  sleen  my  self  /  than  been  defouled  thus 

I  wol  be  trewe  /  vn  to  Araeragus  1424 

Or  rather/  sleen  my  self  in  sorn  manere 

As  dide  /  Demociones  doghter  deere  {Latin  note,  p.  499] 

By  cause  /  pai  she  wolde  nat  defouled  be 
OCedasus  /  it  is  ful  greet  pitee  t QUOO« und.nde wnt 

To  reden  /  how  thy  doghtren  deyde  alias 
That  slowe  hem  self  /  for  swich  manere  cas 

As  greet  a  pitee  was  it/  or  wel  moore         {Latin  note,  p.  499] 
The  Theban  may  den  /  that  for  Nichanore          1432 
Hir  seluen  slow  /  right  for  swich  manere  wo 

Another  Theban  mayden  /  dide  right  so     {.Latin  note,  p.  499] 
ffor  oon  of  Macidonye  /  hadde  hire  oppressed 
She  with  hire  deeth  /  hir  maydenhede  redressed  1436 

What  shal  I  seye  of  Nicerates  wyf  {.Latin  note,  p.  499] 

That  for  swich  cas  /  birafte  hir  self  hir  lyf  / 
How  trewe  eek-  was  /  to  Alcebiades-    *  $£§^£S? 
His  loue  /  rather  for  to  dyen  chees  1440 

Than  for  to  suffre  /  his  body  vnburyed  be 
Jjo  which  a  wyf  /  was  Alceste  quod  she         {Latin  note,  p.  499] 

What  seith  Omer  /  of  goode  Penalopee 
Al  Grece  /  knoweth  of  hire  chastitee  1444 

Pardee  /  of  Lacedomya  /  is  writen  thus      {.Latin  note,  p.  499] 
That  whan  at  Troie  /  was  slayn  Prothesela?/s 
No  longer/  wolde  she  lyue  /  after  his  day 

The  same  /  of  noble  Porcia  telle  I  may       t  .Porcia  sine  Pruto 
/  *  vmere  non  jxrtuit 

With  oute  Brutus  /  koude  she  nat  lyue 

To  whom  she  hadde  /  al  hool  hir  herte  yeue 

The  parfit  wyfhod  of  Arthemesie  {.Latin  note,  p.  499] 

Honured  is  /  thurgh  al  the  Baibarie  1452 

ELLESMEHE   355    (6-T.  520 


521    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

OTeuta  queene  /  thy  wyfly  chastitee         [Latin  note,  p.  499] 
To  alle  wyues  /  may  a  Mirour  bee 

The  same  thyng<  /  I  seye  of  Bilyea  [Latin  note,  p.  499] 

Of  Eodogone  /  and  eek  Valeria  1456 

1T  Thus  pleyne  Dorigene  /  a  day  or  tweye 
Purposynge  euere  /  that  she  wolde  deye 
11  But  nathelees  /  vpon  the  thridde  nygfitt 
Hoom  cam  Arueragus  /  this  worthy  knygfrf  1460 

And  asked  hire  /  why  that  she  weepe  so  score 
And  she  gan  wepen  /  euer  lenger  the  moore 
1T  Alias  quod  she  /  that  euere  I  was  born 
Thus  haue  I  seyd  quod  she  /  thus  haue  I  sworn          1464 
And  toold  liym.  al  /  as  ye  han  herd  bifore       [Latin  note,  p.  499] 
It  nedeth  naf  reherce  it  yow  namoore 
IF  This  housbonde  /  with  glad  chiere  in  freendly  wyse 
Answerde  and  seyde  /  as  I  shal  yow  deuyse  1468 

Is  ther  ogfrt  elles  Dorigen  /  but  this  ?  [leaf  iss,  back] 

IT  Nay  nay  quod  she  /  god  helpe  me  so  as  wys 
This  is  to  muche  /  and  it  were  goddes  wille 
H  Ye  wyf  quod  he  /  lat  slepen  that  is  stille  1472 

It  may  be  wel  /  parauenture  yet  to  day 
Ye  shul  youre  trouthe  /  holden  by  my  fay 
ffor  god  so  wisly  /  haue  mercy  vp  on  me 
I  hadde  wel  leuere  /  ystiked  for  to  be  1476 

ifor  verray  loue  /  which  that  I  to  yow  haue 
But  if  ye  sholde  /  youre  trouthe  kepe  and  saue 
Trouthe  /  is  the  hyeste  thyng1  J>at  man  may  kepe 
But  wit/2  that  word  /  he  brast  anon  to  wepe  1480 

And  seyde  /  I  yow  forbede  /  vp  peyne  deeth 
That  neuere  /  whil  thee  lasteth  /  lyf  ne  breeth 
To  no  wight1  telle  thou  of  this  auenture 
As  I  may  best1  I  wol  my  wo  endure  1484 

Ne  make  /  no  contenance  of  heuynesse 
That  folk/  of  yow  /  may  demen  harm  or  gesse 
IT  And  forth  /  lie  cleped  /  a  squier  and  a  mayde 
Gooth  forth  anon  /  with  Dorigen  he  sayde  1 488 

ELLESMERE    356    (6-T.  521) 


522    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  bryngeth  hire  /  to  swich  a  place  anon 

They  take  hir  leue  /  and  on  hir  wey  they  gon 

But  they  ne  wiste  /  why  she  thider  wente 

He  nolde  /  no  wight1  tellen  his  entente  1492 

1F  Parauenture  /  an  heepe  of  yow  ywis 

Wol  holden  hym  /  a  lewed  man  in  this 

That  he  wol  putte  /  his  wyf  in  lupartie 

Herkneth  the  tale  /  er  ye  vp  on  hire  crie  1496 

She  may  haue  bettre  ffortune  /  than  yow  semeth 

And  whan  fat  ye  han  herd  the  tale  /  demeth 

This  squier  /  which  pat  highte  Aurelius 
On  Dorigen  /  that  was  so  amorus  1500 

Of  auenture  /  happed  hire  to  meete 
Amydde  the  toun  /  right  in  the  quykkest  strete 
As  she  was  bown  /  to  goon  the  wey  forth  right* 
Toward  the  gardyn  /  ther  as  she  had  higftf  1504 

And  he  was  /  to  the  gardynward  also 
ffor  wel  he  spyed  /  whan  she  wolde  go 
Out  of  hir  hous  /  to  any  maner  place 
But  thus  they  mette  /  of  auenture  or  grace  1508 

And  he  saleweth  hire  /  with  glad  entente 
And  asked  of  hire  /  whiderward  she  wente 
^[  And  she  answerde  /  half  as  she  were  mad? 
Vn  to  the  gardyn  /  as  myn  housbonde  bad?  1512 

My  trouthe  for  to  holde  /  alias  /  alias 
^T  Aurelius  /  gan  wondren  on  this  cas 
And  in  his  herte  /  hadde  greet  compassion 
Of  hire  /  and  of  hire  lamentacion  1516 

1T  And  of  Arueragus  the  worthy  knyght1  [leaf  iw] 

That  bad  hire  holden  /  al  fat  she  had  higRf 
So  looth  hym  was  /  his  wyf  sholde  breke  hir  trouthe 
And  in  his  herte  /  he  caughte  of  this  greet  routhe       1520 
Considerynge  /  the  beste  on  euery  syde 
That  fro  his  lust1  yet  were  hym  leuere  abyde 
Than  doon  /  so  heigh  a  cherlyssh  wrecchednesse 
Agayns  franchise  /  and  alle  gentillesse  1524 

ELLESMERE   357    (6-T.  622) 


523    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.  FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  which"  /  in  fewe  wordes  seyde  he  thus 

IT  Madame  /  seyeth  to  youre  lord  Arueragus 

That  sith  I  se  his  grete  gcntillesse 

To  yow  /  and  eek  I  se  wel  youre  distresse  1528 

That  \\irn  were  leuere  han  shame  /  and  J?at  were  routhe 

Than  ye  to  me  /  sholde  breke  thus  youre  trouthe 

I  haue  Avel  leuere  /  euere  to  suffre  wo 

Than  I  departe  /  the  loue  bitwix  yow  two  1532 

I  yow  relesse  rnadame  /  in  to  youre  hond? 

Quytt  euery  '  s?«*emenf  and  euery  bond?  C1  or  sirement  ] 

That  ye  han  rnaad  to  me  /  as  heer  biforn 

Sith  thilke  tyme  /  which  jjat  ye  were  bom  1536 

My  trouthe  I  plighte  /  I  shal  yow  neuer  repreue 

Of  no  biheste  /  and  heere  I  take  my  leue 

As  of  the  treweste  /  and  the  beste  wyf/ 

That  euere  yet1 1  knew  in  al  my  lyf/  1540 

But  euery  wyf/  be  war  of  hire  biheeste 

On  Dorigene  /  remembreth  /  atte  leeste 

Thus  kan  a  Squier/  doon  a  gentil  dede 

As  wel  as  kan  a  knyght  with  outen  drede  1544 

IT  She  thonketh  hym  /  vp  on  hir  knees  al  bare 

And  hoom  /  vn  to  hir  housbonde  is  she  fare 

And  tolde  hym  al  /  as  ye  han  herd  me  sayd? 

And  be  ye  siker  /  he  was  so  weel  apayd?  1548 

That  it  were  inpossible  /  me  to  wryte 

What  sholde  I  longer  /  of  this  cas  endyte 

IT  Arueragus  /  and  Dorigene  his  wyf 

In  souereyn  blisse  /  leden  forth  hir  lyf '  1552 

Neuere  eft1  ne  was  ther  Angre  hem  bitwene 

He  cherisseth  hire  /  as  though  she  were  a  queene 

And  she  was  to  hym  /  trewe  for  eueremoore 

Of  thise  folk  /  ye  gete  of  me  namoore  1556 

Aurelius  /  that  his  cost1  hath  al  forlorn 
Curseth  the  tyme  /  J?at  euere  he  was  born 
Alias  quod  he  /  alias  that  I  bihighte 
Of  pured  gold  /  a  thousand  pound  of  wighte  1560 

ELLESMERE    358    (6-T.  623) 


524    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §  4.   FKANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Vn  to  this  Philosophre  /  how  shal  I  do 

I  se  namoore  /  but  that  I  am  fordo 

Myn  heritage  /  moot  I  nedes  selle 

And  been  a  beggere  /  heere  may  I  nat  dwelle  1564 

And  shamen  /  al  my  kynrede  in  this  place          Deaf  ise,  back] 

But  I  of  hym  /  may  gete  bettre  grace 

But  nathelees  /  I  wole  of  hyin  assay e 

At  certeyn  dayes  /  yeer  by  yeef  to  paye  1568 

And  thanke  hym  /  of  his  grete  curteisye 

My  trouthe  wol  I  kepe  /  I  wol  nat  lye 

IT  With  herte  soor  /  he  gooth  vn  to  his  cofre 

And  broghte  gold  /  vn  to  this  Philosophre  1572 

The  value  /  of  fyue  hundred  pound  I  gesse 

And  hym  bisecheth  of  his  gentillesse 

To  graunte  hym  dayes  of  the  remenauwt1 

And  seyde  maister  /  I  dar  wel  make  auau?zf  1576 

I  failled"  neuere  /  of  my  trouthe  as  yif 
ffor  sikerly  /  my  dette  shal  be  quyt1 
Towardes  yow  /  how  euere  that  I  fare 

To  goon  a  begged  /  in  my  kirtle  bare  1580 

But  wolde  ye  vouche  sauf/  vp  on  seuretee 

Two  yeer  or  thre  /  for  to  respiten  me 

Thanne  were  I  wel  /  for  elles  moot  I  selle 

Myn  heritage  /  ther  is  namoore  to  telle  1584 

This  Philosophre  /  sobrely  answerde 
And  seyde  thus  /  whan  he  thise  wordes  herde 
Haue  I  nat1  holden  couenant  vn  to  thee  ? 
1T  Yes  certes  /  wel  and  trewely  quod  he  1588 

IT  Hastow  nat  had  /thy  lady  /  as  thee  liketh  ? 

II  No  no  quod  he  /  and  sorwefully  he  siketh 
1T  What  was  the  cause  /  tel  me  if  thou  kan  ? 

11  Aurelius  /  his  tale  anon  bigan  1592 

And  tolde  hym  al  /  as  ye  han  herd  bifoore 

It  nedeth  nat/  to  yow  reherce  it  moore 

II  He  seide  /  Arueragus  of  gentillesse 

Hadde  leuere  dye  /  in  sorwe  /  and  iu  distresse  1596 

ELLESMERE    359    (6-T.  624) 


525    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  F.   §,  4.   FRANKLIN'S  TALE.   Ellesxnere  MS. 

Than  fat  his  Avyf  /  were  of  hir  trouthe  fals 

The  sorwe  of  Dorigen  /  he  tolde  hym  als 

How  looth  hire  was  /  to  been  a  wikked  wyf1 

And  fat  she  leuere  had  lost1  that  day  hir  lyf1  1600 

And  fat  hir  trouthe  /  she  swoor  thurgh  Innocence 

She  neuere  erst1  hadde  herd  speke  of  Apparence 

That  made  me  han  of  hire  so  greet  pitee 

And  right  as  frely  /  as  he  sente  hire  me  1604 

As  frely  /  sente  I  hire  to  hym  ageyn 

This  al  and  som  /  ther  is  namoore  to  seyn 

If  This  Philosophre  answerde  /  leeue  brother 

Euerich  of  yow  /  dide  gentilly  til  oother  1608 

Thou  art  a  Squier  /  and  he  is  a  knyght1 

But  god  forbede  /  for  his  blisful  myght1 

But  if  a  clerk  /  koude  doon  a  gentil  dede 

As  wel  as  any  of  yow  /  it  is  no  drede  1612 

IF  Sire  /  I  releesse  thee  /thy  thousand!  pound1  [leaf  137] 

As  thou  right  now,  /  were  cropen  out  of  the  ground? 

~Ne  neuere  er  now  /  ne  haddest  knowen  me 

ffor  sire  /  I  wol  nat  taken  a  peny  of  thee  1616 

flbr  al  my  craft*  ne  noght1  for  my  trauaille 

Thou  hast1  ypayed  wel  /  for  my  vitaille 

It  is  ynogh"  /  and  farewel  haue  good  day 

And  took  his  hors  /  and  forth  he  goth  his  way  1620 

Lordynges  /  this  question)  thanne  wolde  I  aske  now 
Which  was  the  mooste  fre  as  thynketh  yow 
Now  telleth  me  /  er  that  ye  ferther  wende 
I  kan  namoore  /  my  tale  is  at  an  ende  1624 

51  Heere  is  ended  the  ffrankeleyns  tale 

[Note  to  1.  1364,  see  I.  13G8,  p.  518.] 

^[  30?  Atheniensiu?»  tirawni  cum  Phidonem  necassent/  in  COM- 
uiuio  lilias  eiws  virgmes  ad  se  venire  iusseruwt  &  scortomw  more 
nudari  /  ac  super  pauimenta  patris  sang?/ine  cruentatas  inpudicis 
gestibus  ludere  ||  que  paulisper  dissimulate  dolore  cum  timulentos 
cowuiuas  cernerent  quasi  ad  requisita  nature  egredientes  inuicem 
se  complexe  precipitauerunt  in  puteum  vt  virginitatem  morte  ser- 
uarewt/  [MS,  leaf  133.] 

ELLESMERE   360   (6-T.  525) 


GKOUP  C.    FEAGMENT  IV. 

§  1.     THE  DOCTOK'S  TALE. 
ELLESMERE  MS. 


IT  Heere  folweth  /  the  Phisiciens  tale  [o»/«?ri«7j 

Ther  was  /  as  telleth  Titus  Liuius 
A  knygfitf  that  was  called  Virginias 
ffulfild  /  of  honour  /  and  of  worth ynesse 
And  strong  of  freendes  /  and  of  greet  richesse     4 
IT  This  knyghf  a  doghter  hadde  by  his  wyf  /      K&l] 
No  children  hadde  he  mo  in  al  his  lyf1 
ffair  was  this  mayde  /  in  excellent  beautee 
Abouen  euery  wigfit1  that  man  may  see  8 

ffor  Nature  /  hath  with  souereyn  diligence 
Yformed  hire  /  in  so  greet  excellence 
As  though  she  wolde  seyn  /  lo  I  Nature 
Thus  kan  I  forme  /  and  peynte  a  creature  12 

Whan  that  me  list1  who  kan  me  countrefete 
Pigmalion  noght  /  though  he  ay  forge  and  bete  Swpho^of etha" 
Or  graue  /  or  peynte  /  for  I  dar  wel  seyn 
Apelles  Zanzis  /  sholde  werche  in  veyn  Sit  opu^in^u'mufo 

Outher  to  graue  /  or  peynte  /  or  forge  /  or  bete  ^in  i™omi^Iede 

T  „    ,  ,    ,  _  Zanze  in  \\bro  Tulij . 

If  they  presumed  /  me  to  countrefete 

ffor  he  that  is  the  formere  p?'i'ncipal 

Hath  maked  me  /  his  vicaire  general  20 

To  forme  and  peynten  erthely  creaturis 

Right  as  me  list1  and  ech  thyng1  in  my  cure  is 

Vnder  the  Moone  /  ]>at  may  wane  and  waxe 

And  for  my  werk*  right  no  thyng  wol  I  axe  24 

ELLESMERE  361    (6-T.  303) 


304    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.   §  1.  DOCTOR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

My  lord  and  I  /  been  ful  of  oon  accord! 

I  made  hire  /  to  the  worships  of  my  lord* 

So  do  I  /  alle  myne  othere  creatures 

What  colour  that  they  han  /  or  what  figures  28 

Thus  semeth  me  /  that  Nature  wolde  seye  [leaf  137,  back] 

1T  This  mayde  of  Age  .xij.  yeer  was  and  tweye 

In  which  fat  Nature  /  hadde  swich  delif 

ffor  right1  as  she  kan  peynte  a  lilie  whit1  32 

And  reed  a  Hose  /  right  wi't/i  swich  peynture 

She  peynted  hath  this  noble  creature 

Er  she  were  born  /  vp-on  hir  lymes  fre 

Where  as  by  right  /  swiche  colours  sholde  be  36 

And  Phebus  dyed  hath  /  hire  treses  grete 

Lyk  to  the  stremes  /  of  his  burned  heete 

And  if  J)«t  excellent*  was  hire  beautee 

A  thousand?  foolcf  /  moore  vertuous  was  she  40 

In  hire  /  ne  lakked  no  condicion 

That  is  to  preyse  /  as  by  discrecion 

As  wel  in  goostf  as  body  /  chast  was  she 

ffor  which  /  she  floured  in  virginitee  44 

With  alle  humylitee  /  and  Abstinence 

With  alle  attemperaunce  and  pacience 

With  mesure  eek  /  of  beryng1  and  array 

Discreet  she  was  /  in  answeryng  alway  48 

Though"  she  were  wise  Pallas  dar  I  seyn 

Hir  facound?  eek  /  ful  wommanly  a  pleyn 

No  countrefeted  termes  /  hadde  she 

To  seme  wys  /  but  after  hir  degree  52 

She  spak/  and  alle  hire  wordes  moore  and  lesse 

Sownynge  in  vertu  /  and  in  gentillesse 

Shamefast  she  was  /  [in]  maydens  shamefastnesse 

Constant  in  herte  /  and  euere  in  bisynesse  56 

To  dryue  hire  /  out  of  ydel  slogardye 

Bacus  hadde  of  hire  mouth  /  right  no  maistrie 

ffor  wyn  and  youthe  /  dooth  Venus  encresse 

As  man  in  fyr  /  wol  wasten  oille  or  greesse  60 

ELLESMEEE  362    (tt-T.  304) 


305    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.   §  1.   DOCTOR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  of  hir  owene  vertu  /  vnconstreyned 

She  hath  ful  ofte  tyme  syk  hire  feyned 

ffor  that  she  wolde  fleen  the  compaignye 

"Where  likly  was  /  to  treten  of  folye  64 

As  is  at  feestes  /  reuels  /  and  at  daunces 

That  been  /  occasions  of  daliaunces 

Swich  thyng  /  maken  children  for  to  he 

To  soone  rype  and  boold  /  as  men  may  se  68 

Which  is  ful  perilous  /  and  hath  been  yoore 

ffor  al  to  soone  /  may  they  lerne  loore 

Of  booldnesse  /  whan  she  woxen  is  a  wyf* 

IT  And  ye  maistresses  /  in  youre  oldc  lyf1  72 

That  lordes  doghtres  /  han  in  gouernance 

N"e  taketh  of  my  wordes  no  displesance 

Thenketh  /  that  ye  been  set  in  gouernynges 

Of  lordes  doghtres  /  oonly  for  two  thynges  76 

Outher  /  for  ye  han  kept1  youre  honestee  [leaf  iss] 

Or  elles  /  ye  han  falle  in  freletee 

And  knowen  wel  ynough"  the  olde  daunce 

And  han  forsaken  /  fully  swich  meschaunce  80 

ffor  eueremo  /  therfore  for  Cristes  sake 

To  teche  hem  vertu  /  looke  J>«t  ye  ne  slake 

IT  A  theef  of  venyson  /  that  hath  forlaft1 

His  likerousnesse  /  and  al  his  olde  craft1  84 

Kan  kepe  a  fforesf  best  of  any  man 

Now  kepeth  wel  /  for  if  ye  wolde  ye  kan 

Looke  wel  /  J)«t  ye  /  vn-to  no  vice  assente 

Lest  ye  be  dampned  /  for  youre  wikke  entente  88 

ffor  who  so  dooth  /  a  traitour  is  certeyn 

And  taketh  kepe  /  of  that  J?at  I  shal  seyn 

Of  alle  tresons  /  souereyn  pestilence  Nota 

Is  /  whan  a  wight1  bitrayseth  Innocence  92 

IT  Ye  fadres  and  ye  moodres  /  eek  also 

Though  ye  han  children  /  be  it  oon  or  two 

Youre  is  the  charge  /  of  al  hir  surueiance 

"VYhil  fat  they  been  /  vnder  youre  gouemance  96 

28  ELLESMERE   363    (6-T.  305) 


306    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  C.   §  1.  DOCTOR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Beth  war  /  if  by  ensample  /  of  youre  lyuynge 

Or  by  youre  necligence  /  in  chastisynge 

That  they  perisse  /  for  I  dar  wel  seye 

If  J?at  they  doon  /  ye  shul  it  deere  abeye  1  00 

Vnder  a  shepherde  /  softe  and  necligent 

The  wolf  /  hath  many  a  sheepe  and  lamb  to-rent* 


........     no  gap  in  the  MS.]  104 

This  mayde  /  of  which  I  wol  this  tale  expresse 
So  kepte  hir  self1  hir  neded  no  maistresse 
if  or  in  hir  lyuyng1  may  dens  myghten  rede 
As  in  a  book/  euery  good  word  or  dede  108 

That  longeth  to  a  mayden  vertuous 
She  was  so  prudent1  and  so  bouwteuous 
ffor  which  /  the  fame  /  out  sprong  on  euery  syde 
Bothe  of  hir  beautee  and  hir  bou?jtee  wyde  112 

That  thurgh  that  land  /  they  preised  hire  echone 
That  loued  vertu  J  saue  Enuye  allone 
That  sory  is  /  of  oother  mennes  wele      ^  Augustinus 
And  glad  is  of  his  sorwe  /  and  his  vnheele  116 

The  doctour  /  maketh  this  descripciourc 
This  mayde  vp-on  a  day  /  wente  in  the  toun 
Toward  a  temple  /  with  hire  mooder  deere 
As  is  /  of  yonge  maydens  the  manere  120 

IT  Now  was  ther  thanne  /  a  Justice  in  that  toun 
That  gouemour  was  /  of  that  Regioun 
And  so  bifel  /  this  luge  /  hise  eyen  caste 
Vp-on  this  mayde  /  auysynge  hym  ful  faste  124 

As  she  cam  forby  /  ther  as  this  luge  stood1 
Anon  /  his  herte  chaunged  and  his  mood? 
So  was  he  caught1  with  beautee  of  this  mayde     Peaf  iss,  back] 
And  to  hym  self  /  ful  pryuely  he  sayde  128 

This  mayde  /  shal  be  myn  /  for  any  man 
IT  Anon  the  feend  /  in-to  his  herte  ran 
And  taughte  hym  sodeynly  /  Jjat  he  by  slyghte 
The  mayden  /  to  his  purpos  wynne  myghte  132 

ELLESMERE    304   (6-T.  306) 


307    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  C.   §  1.   DOCTOR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  certes  by  no  force  /  ne  by  no  meede 

Hym  thougfite  /  he  was  natf  able  for  to  speede 

ffor  she  was  strong1  of  freendes  /  and  eek  she 

Conformed  was  /  in  swich  souerayn  bountee  1 36 

That  wel  he  wiste  /  he  myghte  hire  neuere  wynne 

As  for  to  inaken  hire  /  with  hir  body  synne 

ffor  which  /  by  greet  deliberaciown 

He  sente  after  a  cherl  /  was  in  the  toun  140 

Which  fat  he  knew  /  for  subtil  and  for  boold? 

This  luge  /  vn-to  this  cherl  /  his  tale  hath  tooldf 

In  secree  wise  /  and  made  hym  to  ensure 

He  sholde  telle  it1  to  no  creature  144 

And  if  he  dide  /  he  sholde  lese  his  heed1 

Whan  fat  assented  was  /  this  cursed  reed? 

Glad  was  this  luge  /  and  maked  him  greet  cheere 

And  yaf  hym  yiftes  /  preciouse  and  deere  148 

1T  Whan  shapen  was  /  al  hire  conspiracie 

ffro  point  to  point*  how  fat  his  lecherie 

Paf'fourned  sholde  been  ful  sub  till  y 

As  ye  /  shul  heere  it  after  openly  152 

Hoom  gooth  the  cherl  /  fat  higftte  Claudius 

This  false  Inge  /  that  highte  Apius 

So  was  his  name  /  for  this  is  no  fable 

But  knowen  /  for  historial  thyng  notable  156 

The  sentence  of  it1  sooth  is  out  of  doute 

This  false  luge  /  gooth  now  faste  aboute 

To  hasten  his  delit1  al  that  he  may 

And  so  bifel  /  soone  after  on  a  day  160 

This  false  luge  /  as  telleth  vs  the  storie 

As  he  was  wont1  sat  in  his  Consistorie 

And  yaf  his  doomes  /  vp-on  sondry  cas 

This  false  cherl  /  cam  forth  /  a  ful  greet  pas  164 

And  seyde  lord  /  if  fat  it  be  youre  wille 

As  dooth  me  right/  vp-on  this  pitous  bille 

In  which  I  pleyne  /  vp-ou  Virginius 

And  if  fat  he  wol  seyn  /  it  is  nat  thus  1G8 

ELLESMERE   365    (6-T.  307) 


308    SIX-TEXT 

.  GROUP  C.   §  1.   DOCTOR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

I  wol  it  precue  /  and  fynde  good  witnesse 

That  sooth  is  /  that  my  bille  wol  expresse 

IF  The  luge  answerde  /  of  this  in  his  absence 

I  may  nat  yeue  /  diffyny[tyjue  sentence  172 

*udire 

Lat  do  hym  calle  /  and  I  wol  gladly  heere 

Thou  shalt  haue  al  right1  and  no  wrong  heere 

Tf  Vii'ginius  /  cam  to  wite  the  luges  wille  peaf  ISP] 

And  right  anon  /  was  rad  this  cursed  bille  176 

The  sentence  of  it  /  was  as  ye  shul  heere 

IF  To  yow  my  lord!  /  sire  Apius  so  deere 

Sheweth  youre  poure  seruant  Claudius 

How  that  a  knyght  /  called  Virginias  ISO 

Agayns  the  lawe  /  agayn  al  equitee 

Holdeth  expres  /  agayn  the  Avyl  of  me 

My  seruant1.  which  jjat  is  my  thral  by  right1 

Which  fro  myn  hous  /  was  stole  vp-on  a  nyghfr  184 

Whil  J>at  she  was  ful  yong1  this  wol  I  preeue 

By  Avitnesse  lord  /  so  jjrtt  it  nat  yow  greeue 

She  nys  his  doghter  nat1  what  so  he  seye 

Wherfore  /  to  yow  /  my  lord  the  luge  I  preye  188 

yeld  me  my  thral  /  if  J>at  it  be  youre  wille 

Lo  /  this  was  /  al  the  sentence  of  his  bille 

51  Virginius  /  gan  vp-on  the  cherl  biholde 

But  hastily  /  er  he  his  tale  tolde  192 

And  wolde  haue  preeued  it*  as  sholde  a  knyght1 

And  eek1  by  witnessyng*  of  many  a  wight1 

That  it  was  fals  /  that  seyde  his  Aduersarie 

This  cursed  luge  /  wolde  no  thyng  tarie  19G 

Ne  heere  a  word  moore  of  Virginius 

But  yaf  his  luggement1  and  seyde  thus 

IF  I  deeme  anon  /  this  cherl  his  se;-uant  haue 

Thou  shalt  no  lenger  /  in  thyn  hous  hir  saue  200 

Go  bryng  hire  forth  /  and  put  hire  in  oure  warde 

The  cherl  shal  haue  his  thral  /  this  I  awarde 

IF  And  whan  this  worthy  knyght1  Virginius 

Thurgh  sentence  /  of  this  Justice  Apius  204 

ELLESMERE   366    (6-T.  £08) 


309    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.   §  1.   DOCTOR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  IIS. 

Moste  by  force  /  his  deere  doghter  yeuen 

Vn-to  the  luge  /in  lecherie  to  lyuen 

He  gooth  hym  hoom  /  and  sette  him  in  his  halle 

And  leet  anon  /  his  deere  doghter  calle  208 

And  with  a  face  deed  /  as  asshen  colde 

Vpon  hir  humble  face  /  he  gan  biholde 

With  fadres  pitee  /  stikynge  thurgh  his  herte 

Al  wolde  he  /  from  his  purpos  nat  conuerte  212 

Doghter  quod  he  /  Virginia  /  by  thy  name 
Ther  been  two  weyes  /  outlier  deeth  or  shame 
That  thou  most  /  suifre  /  alias  fat  I  was  bore 
ffor  neuere  /  thou  deseruedestf  wherfore  216 

To  dyen  /  with  a  swerd  /  or  with  a  knyf* 
O  deere  doghter/  endere  of  my  lyf 
Which  I  haue  fostred  vp  /  with  swich  plesance 
That  thou  were  neuere  /  out  of  my  remembrance  220 

0  doghter  /  which  fat  art  my  laste  wo 
And  in  my  lyf1  my  laste  ioye  also 

O  gemme  o  Chastitee  in  pacience  [leaf  139,  back] 

Take  thou  thy  deeth  /  for  this  is  my  sentence  224 

ffor  loue  and  nat  for  hate  /  thou  most  be  deed? 
My  pitous  hand  /  moot  smyten  of  tbyn  heed? 
Alias  /  that  euere  Apius  the  say 

Thus  hath  he  falsly  /  lugged  the  to  day  228 

And  tolde  hire  al  the  cas  /  as  ye  bifore 
Han  herd?  /  nat  nedeth  for  to  telle  it  rnoore 
IF  0  mercy  deere  fader  /  quod  this  mayde 
And  w/t7i  that  word  /  she  both  hir  Armes  layde  232 

About  his  nekke  /  as  she  was  wont  to  do 
The  teeris  /  bruste  out  of  hir  eyen  two 
And  seyde  /  goode  fader  shal  I  dye 

Is  ther  no  grace  /  is  ther  no  remedye  236 

IF  No  certes  /  deere  doghter  myn  quod  he 
1F  Thanne  yif  me  leyser  /  fader  myn  quod  she 
My  deeth  for  to  compleyne  /  a  litel  space 
ffor  pardee  Tcpte  yaf  his  doghter  grace  f  iudicumcapj«o.xj.°  240 

ELLi:SMEUE    367    (6-T.  309) 


310    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.   §  1.   DOCTOR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


fibr  to  compleyne  /  er  lie  hir  slow  alias 

And  god  it  woof  no  thyng  was  hir  trespas 

But  for  she  ran  /  hir  fader  for  to  see 

To  welcome  hym  /  with  greet  solempnitee  244 

And  with  that  word  /  she  fil  aswowne  anon 

And  after/  whan  hir  swownyng1  is  agon 

She  riseth  vp  /  and  to  hir  fader  sayde 

Blissed  be  god  /  that  I  shal  dye  a  mayde  248 

Yif  me  my  deeth  /  er  that  I  haue  a  shame 

Dooth  wz'tA  youre  child?  /  youre  wyl  a  goddes  name 

1[  And  with  that  word  /  she  preyed  hym  ful  ofte 

That  with  his  sword*  /  he  wolde  smyte  softe  253 

And  -with  that  word  /  aswowne  doun  she  fil 

Hir  fader  /  \riih  ful  sorweful  herte  and  wil 

Hir  heed  of  smoof  and  by  the  tope  it  hente 

And  to  the  luge  /  he  gan  it  to  presente  256 

As  he  sat  yet"  in  doom  in  Consistorie 

And  whan  the  luge  it  saugh"  /  as  seith  the  storie 

He  bad  to  take  hym  /  and  anhange  hym  faste 

But  right  anon  /  a  thousand!  peple  in  thraste  2 GO 

To  saue  the  knyghf  for  routhe  and  for  pitee 

ffor  knowen  was  /  the  false  Iniquitee 

The  peple  anon  /  hath  suspect1  of  this  thyng1 

By  manere  /  of  the  cherles  chalaugyng1  264 

That  it  was  /  by  the  assent  of  Apius 

They  wisten  wel  /  that  he  was  lecherus 

ffor  which  /  vn-to  this  Apius  they  gon 

And  caste  hym  in  a  p?-i'soii  right  anon  268 

Ther  as  he  slow  hym  self1  and  Claudius 

That  seruant  was  /  vn-to  this  Apius 

And  demed  /  for  to  hange  vpon  a  tree  [leaf  HO] 

But  that  Virginius  /  of  his  pitee  272 

So  preyde  for  hym  /  that  he  was  exiled 

And  elles  certes  /  he  had  been  bigyled? 

The  remenant  were  anhanged  moore  and  lesse 

That  were  consentant1  of  this  cursednesse  276 

ELLESMERE    368   (6-T.  310) 


311    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.   §  1.   DOCTOR'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Heere  men  may  seen  /  how  synne  hath  his  merite 
Beth  war  /  for  no  man  woof  whom  god  wol  smyte 
In  no  degree  /  ne  in  which  manere  wyse 
The  worm  of  conscience  /  may  agryse  280 

Of  wikked  lyf1  though  it  so  pryuee  be 
That  no  man  /  woot  ther-of1  but  god  and  he 
ffor  be  he  lewed  man  /  or  ellis  lered? 

lie  noot  how  soone  /  fat  he  shal  been  afered?  284 

Therfore  I  rede  yow  /  this  conseil  take 
fforsaketh  synne  /  er  synne  yow  forsake 


Heere  endeth  /  the  Phisiciens  tale 


r 


ELLESMERE    369  (6-T.  3il) 


312    SIX-TEXT 

onouP  C.   §  2.   DOCTOR-PARDONEK  LINK.   Ellesmere  MS. 


U  The  wordes  of  the  Hoosf  to  the  Phisicien  and 
the  Pardoner  fo 

Ovre  Hoost  gan  to  swere  /  as  lie  were  wood? 
Harrow  quod  he  /  "by  nayles  and  by  blood!        288 
This  was  a  fals  cherl  and  a  fals  lustise 
As  shameful  deeth  /  as  herte  may  deuyse 
Come  to  thise  false  luges  /  and  hire  Aduocatz 
Algate  /  this  sely  mayde  /  is  slayn  alias  292 

Alias  /  to  deere  houghte  she  beautee 
Wherfore  I  seye  /  al  day  /  as  men  may  see 
That  yiftes  of  ffortune  and  of  Nature 
Been  cause  of  deeth  /  to  many  a  creature  296 


........     no  gap  in  the  MSJ\ 

Of  bothe  yiftes  /  that  I  speke  of  now 

Men  han  ful  ofte  /  moore  for  harm  than  prow  300 

*H  But  trewely  /  myn  owene  maister  deere 

This  is  /  a  pitous  tale  for  to  heere 

But  nathelees  /  passe  ouer  /  is  no  fors 

I  pray  to  god  /  so  saue  thy  gentil  cors  304 

And  eek/  thyne  vrynals  /  and  thy  lurdones 

Thyn  ypocras  /  and  eek  thy  Galiones 

And  euery  boyste  /  ful  of  thy  letuarie 

God  blesse  hem  /  and  oure  lady  Seint  Marie  308 

So  moot  I  theen  /  thou  art  a  propre  man 

And  lyk  a  prelaf  by  Seint  Eonyan 

Seyde  I  nat  wel  /  I  kan  nat  speke  in  tome 

But  wel  I  woofr  thou  doost  myn  herte  to  erme  312 

That  I  almoost/  haue  caught1  a  Cardynacle          peafio,  back] 

By  corpus  bones  /  but  I  haue  triacle 

Or  elles  a  draughte  /  of  moyste  and  corny  Ale 

Or  but  I  heere  anon  /  a  myrie  tale  316 

ELLESMERE    370   (6-T.  312) 


313    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  2.  DOCTOR-PARDONER  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Myn  herte  is  lost1  for  pitee  of  this  mayde 

Thou  beel  ainy  /  thou  Pardoner  he  sayde 

Telle  vs  som  myrthe  /  or  Tapes  right  anon 

IT  It  shal  be  doon  quod  he  /  by  Seint  Eonyon)  320 

But  first  quod  he  /  heere  at  this  Ale  stake 

I  wol  bothe  drynke  /  and  eten  of  a  Cake 

IT  And  right  anon  /  the  gentils  gonne  to  crye 

Nay  /  lat  hym  telle  vs  of  no  ribaudye  324 

Telle  TS  som  moral  thyng1  fat  we  may  leere 

Som  wit1  and  thanne  wol  we  gladly  heere 

IT  I  graunte  ywis  quod  he  /  but  I  moot  thynko 

Vp-on  som  honeste  thyng*  while  J>at  I  drynke  328 


ELLESMERE    371  (6-T.  S13) 


314    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  3.  PARDONER'S  PREAMBLE.  Ellesxnere  MS. 


[on  leaf  HO,  back] 

If  Heere  folweth  the  Prologe  of  the  Pardoners  tale 
H"  Radix  malorura  est1  Cupiditas  Ad  Thimotheum  .6? 

LOrdynges  quod  he  /  in  chirches  /  whan  I  preche 
Fpeyne  me  /  to  han  an  hauteyn  speche 
And  rynge  it  out1  as  round  as  gooth  a  belle 
ffor  I  kan  /  al  by  rote  that  I  telle  332 

My  theme  is  alwey  oon  /and  euere  was 
Radix  maloriim  est  Cupiditas 

First  I  pronounce  /  whennes  J>«t  I  come 
And  thanne  my  bulles  /  shewe  I  alle  and  some    336 
Oure  lige  lordes  seel  /  on  my  patente 
That  shewe  I  first*  my  body  to  warente 
That  no  man  be  so  boold  /  ne  preest  ne  clerk1 
Me  to  destourbe  /  of  Cristes  hooly  werk1  340 

And  after  that*  thanne  telle  I  fortli  my  tales 
1  Bulles  of  popes  *  and  of  Cardynales  U~out™f'eL'jts]M 

Of  Patriarkes  /  and  bishoppes  I  shewe 
And  in  latyn  /  I  speke  a  wordes  fewe  344 

To  saffron  with  my  predicacion 
And  for  to  stire  hem  /  to  deuocion 
Thanne  shewe  I  forth  /  my  longe  cmtal  stones 
Ycrammed  ful  of  clout es  and  of  bones    •  348 

Relikes  been  they  /  as  wenen  they  echoon 
Thanne  haue  [I]  in  laton  a  sholder  boon 
Which  that  was  /  of  an  hooly  lewes  sheepfi 
Goode  men  I  seye  /  taak*  of  my  wordes  keepe  352 

If  that  this  boon  /  be  wasshe  in  any  welle  peat  in] 

If  Cow  /  or  Calf1  or  Sheepe  /  or  Oxe  swelle 
That  any  worm  hath  etc  /  or  worm  ystonge 
Taak  water  of  that  welle  /  and  wassh  his  tonge  356 

ELLESMERE   372   (6-T.  314) 


315    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  3.  PARDONER'S  PREAMBLE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  it  is  hool  anon  /  and  forthermoor 

Of  pokkes  /  and  of  scabbe  /  and  euery  soor 

Shal  euery  sheepe  be  hool  /  fat  of  this  welle 

Drynketh  a  draugnte  /  taak  kepe  eek  what  I  telle         360 

IF  If  that  the  goode  man  /  that  the  beestes  oweth 

Wol  euery  wyke  /  er  that  the  Cok  hym  croweth 

ffastynge  drinke  /  of 'this  welle  a  draughte 

As  thilke  hooly  lew  /  oure  eldres  taugnte  364 

Hise  beestes  and  his  stoor  shal  multiplie 

IF  And  sire  /  also  /  it  heeleth  lalousie 

ffor  though  a  man  /  be  falle  in  lalous  rage 

Lat  maken  /  with  this  water  his  potage  368 

And  neuere  shal  he  moore  /  his  wyf  mystriste 

Though  he  the  soothe  /  of  hir  defaute  wiste 

Al  had  she  /  taken  preestes  /  two  or  thre 

^F  Heere  is  a  Miteyn  eek/  that  ye  may  se  372 

He  fat  his  hand  wol  putte  in  this  Mitayn 

He  shal  haue  /  multipliyng1  of  his  grayn 

"VVhan  he  hath  so  wen  /  be  it  whete  or  Otes 

So  fat  he  offre  /  pens  /  or  elles  grotes  376 

IF  Goode  men  and  wo??zmen  /  o  thyng  warne  I  yow 

If  any  wight  /  be  in  this  chirche  now 

That  hath  doon  synne  horrible  fat  he  « 

Dar  nat  for  shame  /  of  it  yshryuen  be  380 

Or  any  womman  /-  be  she  yong  or  old? 

That  hath  ymaked  /  hir  housbonde  CokewolcR 

Swich  folk1  shal  haue  no  power  ne  no  grace 

To  offren  /  to  my  relikes  in  this  place  384 

And  who  so  fyndeth  hym  /  out  of  swich  fame 

They  wol  come  vp  /  and  offre  on  goddes  name 

And  I  assoille  hem  /  by  the  Auctoritee 

Which  that  by  bulle  /  ygraunted  was  to  me  388 

1F  By  this  gaude  /  haue  I  wonne  /  yeer  by  yeer 

An  hundred  mark1  sith  I  was  Pardoner 

I  stonde  lyk  a  clerk*  in  my  pulpet1 

And  whan  the  lewed  peple  /  is  doun  ysefr  392 

ELl.ESMERE   373    (6-T.  31o) 


316    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  C.  §  3.  PARDONER'S  PREAMBLE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

I  preche  so  /  as  ye  han  herd  bifoore 

And  telle  /  an  hundred  false  lapes  moore 

Thanne  peyne  I  me  /  to  strecche  forth  the  nekke 

And  Est  and  West1  vp-on  the  peple  I  bekke  396 

As  dooth  a  dowue  /  sittynge  /  on  a  herne 

Myne  handes  and  my  tonge  goon  so  yerne 

That  it  is  ioye  /  to  se  my  bisynesse 

Of  Auarice  /  and  of  swich  cursednesse  400 

Is  al  my  prechyng1  for  to  make  hem  free  [leaf  HI,  back] 

To  yeuen  Mr  pens  /  and  namely  vn-to  me 

ffor  myn  entente  /  is  nat  but  for  to  wynne 

And  no  thyng1  for  correccion  of  synne  404 

I  rekke  neuere  /  whan  they  been  beryed! 

Though"  jjat  Mr  soules  /  goon  a  blakeberyed 

ffor  certes  /  many  a  predicacion 

Comth  ofte  tyme  /  of  yuel  entencion  408 

Som  for  plesance  of  folk/  and  flaterye 

To  been  auaunced  /  by  ypocrisye 

And  som  for  veyne  glorie  /  and  soni  for  hate 

ffor  whan  /  I  dar  noon  oother  weyes  debate  412 

Thanne  wol  I  stynge  hym  /  vfiih  my  tonge  smerte 

In  p?'echyng  /  so  that  he  shal  nat  asterte 

To  been  defamed  falsly  /  if  that  he  9 

Hath  trespased  /  to  my  bretheren  /  or  to  me  416 

ffor  though  I  telle  noght  /  his  propre  name 

Men  shal  wel  knowe  /  that  it  is  the  same 

By  signes  /  and  by  othere  circumstances 

Thus  quyte  I  folk1  that  doon  vs  displesances  420 

Thus  spitte  I  out  my  venym  /  vnder  hewe 

Of  hoolynesse  /  to  semen  hooly  and  trewe 

^T  But  shortly  myn  entente  I  wol  deuyse 

I  preche  of  no  thyng1  but  for  coueityse  424 

Therfore  /  my  theme  is  yet1  and  euere  was 

Radix  malorum  est  Cupiditas 

Thus  kan  I  preche  /  agayn  that  same  vice 

Which  fat  I  vse  /  and  that  is  Auarice  428 

ELLESMERE   374   (6-T.  316) 


317    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  3.  PARDONER'S  PREAMBLE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

But  though  my  self/  be  gilty  in  that  synne 

Yet  kan  I  jnaken  /  .oother  folk1  to  twynne 

ffrom  Auarioe  /  and'  soore  to  repente 

But  that  is  nat/  my  principal  entente  432 

I  preche  no  thyng1  but  for  coueitise 

Of  this  mateere  /  it  ogfrte  ynogh"  suffise 

IT  Thanne  telle  I  hem  /  ensamples  many  oon 

Of  olde  stories  /  longe  tyme  agoon  436 

ffor  lewed  peple  /  louen  tales  olde 

Swiche  thynges  /  kan  they  \vel  reporte  and  holde 

What  trowe  ye  /  the  whiles  I  may  preche 

And  wynne  /  gold  and  siluer  /  for  I  teche  440 

That  I  wol  lyue  in  pouerte  wilfully 

Nay  nay  /  I  thoghte  it  neuere  trewely 

ffor  I  wol  preche  /  and  begge  in  sondry  landes 

I  wol  nat1  do  no  labour/  with  niyne  handes  444 

Ne  make  baskettes  /  and  lyue  therby 

By  cause  /  I  wol  nat  beggen  ydelly 

I  wol  noon  /  of  the  Apostles  countrefete 

I  wol  haue  moneie  /  wolle  chese  and  whete  448 

Al  were  it  yeuen  /  of  the  poue?-este  page  [>af  1*2] 

Or  of  the  poue?-este  wydwe  /  in  a  village 

Al  sholde  hir  children  sterue  /  for  famyne 

Nay  /  I  wol  drynke  /  licour  of  the  vyne  452 

And  haue  a  ioly  wenche  /  in  euery  toun 

But  herkneth  lordynges  in  conclusioun 

IT  Youre  likyug  is  /  that  I  shal  telle  a  tale 

Now  /  haue  I  dronke  a  draughte  of  corny  ale  4  50 

By  god  /  I  hope  /  I  shal  yow  telle  a  thyng1 

That  shal  by  resoii)  /  been  at  youre  likyng1 

ffor  though"  my  self1  be  a  ful  vicious  man 

A  moral  tale  /  yet  I  yow  telle  kan  400 

Which  I  am  wont  to  preche  /  for  to  wynne 

Now  hoold  youre  pees  /  my  tale  I  wol  bigynne 


ELLESMEUE    375  (6-T.  317) 


318    SIX-TEXf 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 


H  Heere  bigynnetft  the  Pardoners  tale  r5) 

[on  leaf  142] 

IN  fflaundres  whilom  was  a  compaignye 
Of  yonge  folk/  that  haunteden  folye  464 

As  Eiot1  hasard!  /  stywes  /  and  Tauernes 
Where  /  as  /  with  harpes  /  lutes  and  Gytemes 
They  daunce  /  and  pleyen  at  dees  /  bothe  day  and  nyglif 
And  eten  also  /  and  drynken  ouer  hir  myght/  468 

Thurgh  which  /  they  doon  the  deuel  sacrifice      ^S^f* 
With-Inne  that  deueles  temple  in  cursed  wise 
By  superfluytee  abhomynable 

Hir  othes  /  been  so  grete  and  so  dampnable  472 

That  it  is  grisly  /  for  to  heere  hem  swere 
Oure  blissed  lordes  body  /  they  to-tere 
Hem  thoughte  /  J»at  lewes  /  rente  hym  noght  ynongh" 
And  ech  of  hem  /  at  otheres  synne  lough  476 

And  right  anon  /  thanne  coinen  Tombesteres 
ffetys  and  smale  /  and  yonge  ffrutesteres 
Syngeres  with  harpes  /  Baudes  /  wafereres 
Whiche  been  /  the  verray  deueles  Officeres  480 

To  kyndle  and  blowe  /  the  fyr  of  lecherye 
That  is  annexed  vn-to  glotonye 
The  hooly  writ/  take  I  to  my  witnesse 
That  luxurie  /  is  in  wyn  and  dronkenesse  484 

Lo  how  J?at  dronken  Looth  vnkyndely  l^uo'tt/'iuxurLx'1"0  ' 
Lay  by  hise  doghtres  two  vnwityngly 
So  dronke  he  was  /  he  nyste  what  he  wroglite 
IT  Herodes  /  who  so  /  wel  the  stories  soghte  488 


no  spurious  lines  in  this  MS.] 
ELLESMEBE    376  (6-T.  318) 


319    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Whan  lie  of  wyn  /  was  repleef  at  his  feeste  489 

Eight1  at  his  owene  table  /  he  yaf  his  heeste 

To  sleen  the  Baptist  lohn  /  ful  giltelees 

1f  Senetf  seith  a  good  word  doutelees  ^Seneca  492 

He  seith  /  he  kan  no  difference  fynde  [leaf  142,  back] 

Bitwix  a  man  /  that  is  out  of  his  mynde 

And  a  man  /  which  that  is  dronkelewe 

But  that  woodnesse  /  fallen  in  a  shrewe  496 

Perseuereth  lenger/  than  dooth  dronkenesse 

O  glotonye  /  ful  of  cursednesse 

0  cause  first*  of  oure  confusion 

0  original  /  of  oure  dampnacion  500 

Til  Crist/  hadde  boght  vs  /  with  his  blood  agayn 

Lo  /  how  deere  /  shortly  for  to  sayn  . 

Aboght  was  /  thilke  cursed  vileynye 

Corrupt1  was  al  this  world*  for  glotonye  504 

^T  Adam  oure  fader  /  and  his  wyf  also 

ffro  Paradys  /  to  labour  and  to  wo 

Were  dryuen  for  that  vice  /  it  is  no  drede  507 

ffor  whil  fat  Adam  fasted  /  as  I  rede        V'r^—  fr£ 

He  was  in  Paradys  /  and  whan  fat  he»  ^^£S*S§ 

-n    ,       ,,  ,1        „         ,  ,  j    „,       -,,  statim  duxit  vxorcin 

Eet  of  the  fruyt/  deffended  on  the  tree 

Anon  he  was  out  cast1  to  wo  and  peyne 

0  glotonye  /  on  thee  wel  oghte  vs  pleyne  512 

0  wiste  a  man  /  how  manye  maladyes 

ffolwen  of  excesse  /  and  of  glotonyes 

He  wolde  been  /  the  moore  mesurable 

Of  his  diete  /  sittynge  at  his  table  -  5 1 6 

Alias  /  the  shorte  throte  /  the  tendre  mouth" 

Maketh  fat  Esf  and  West1  and  North"  and  South" 

In  Erthe  /  in  Eir  /  in  water/  man  to  swyiike 

To  gete  a  gloton  /  deyntee  mete  and  drynke  520 

Of  this  matiere  /  o  Paul  wel  kanstow  trete 

Mete  vn-to  wombe  /  and  wombe  eek1  vn-to  mete  Jvefite/escis* 

Shal  god  destroyen  bothe  /  as  Paulus  seith     frSSSS&ST 

Alias  /  a  foul  thyng  is  it/  by  my  feith"  524 

ELLESMERE    377    (6-T,  319) 


320    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

To  seye  this  word  /  and  fouler  is  the  dede 

Whan  man  so  drynketh  /  of  the  white  and  rede 

That  of  his  throte  /  he  maketh  his  pryuee 

Thurgh"  thilke  cursed  superfluitee  528 

1T  The  Apostel  wepyng1  seith  ful  pitously          l^Jo1"?6"868 

Ther  walken  manye  /  of  whiche  yow  toold  haue  I 

I  seye  it  now  wepyng*  with  pitous  voys 

Ther  been  enemy s  of  Cristes  croys  532 

Of  whiche  the  ende  is  deeth  /  wombe  is  hir  god 

0  wombe  /  o.  bely  /  o.  stynkyng  Cod? 

{fulfilled  of  donge  /  and  of  corrupcioun 

At  either  ende  of  thee  /  foul  is  the  soun  536 

How  greet  labour/  and  cost1  is  thee  to  fynde 

Thise  Cookes  /  how  they  stampe  /  and  streyne  and  grynde 

And  turnen  substaunce  in-to  Accident1 

To  fulfillen  /  al  thy  likerous  talent1  540 

Out  of  the  harde  bones  knokke  they  [leaf  MS] 

The  mary  /  for  they  caste  noght  a-wey 

That  may  go  thurgfi  the  golefr  softe  and  swoote 

Of  spicerie  /  of  leef"  /  and  bark1  and  roote  544 

Shal  been  his  sauce  ymaked  by  delif 

To  make  hym  yet1  a  newer  appetitt 

But  certes  /  he  that  haunteth  swiche  delices  JJM?™  a^TOv\"  ed£ 

Is  deed  /  whil  fat  he  lyueth  in  tho  vices  '    548 

IT  A  lecherous  thyng*  is  wyn  and  dronkenesse  J-m]^uf°^  c™ 

»•_*•_»  j      #  i,    j  tumeliosa  ebrietas 

Is  ful  of  stryuyng1  and  of  wrecchednesse 

0  dronke  man  /  disfigured  is  thy  face 

Sour  is  thy  breeth"  /  foul  artow  to  embrace  552 

And  thurgh"  thy  dronke  nose  /  semeth  the  soun 

As  though  thou  seydest1  ay  Sampsou?*  Sampsouw. 

And  yet  god  woot1  Sampsou^  drank  neuere  no  wyn 

Thou  fallest/  as  it  were  a  styked  swyn  556 

Thy  tonge  is  lost/  and  al  thyn  honeste  cure 

ffor  dronkenesse  /  is  verray  sepulture 

Of  maimes  witt  and  his  discrecion 

In  whom  J>«t  drynke  hath  dominacion  5 GO 

ELLESMERE    378    (6-T.  320") 


321    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

He  kan  no  conseil  kepe  /  it  is  no  drede 

Now  kepe  yow  /  fro  the  white  and  fro  the  rede 

And  namely  /  fro  the  white  wyn  of  lepe 

That  is  to  selle  /  in  ffysshstrete  /  or  in  Chepe  564 

This  wyn  of  Spaigne  /  crepeth  subtilly 

In  othere  wynes  /  growynge  faste  by 

Of  which  ther  ryseth  swich  fumositee 

That  whan  a  man  hath  dronken  draughtes  thre  5G8 

And  weneth  /  that  he  be  at  hoom  in  Chepe 

He  is  in  Spaigne  /  right  at  the  tonne  of  lepe 

Nat  at  the  Rochele  /  ue  at  Burdeux  toun 

And  thanne  wol  he  seye  /  Sampsozm  Sampsown  572 

IT  But  herkneth  lordes  /  o  word  I  yow  preye 

That  alle  the  souereyn  Actes  dar  I  seye 

Of  victories  /  in  the  olde  testament1 

Thurgh"  verray  god  /  fat  is  omnipotent*  576 

Were  doon  in  Abstinence  /  and  in  preyere 

Looketh  the  Bible  /  and  ther  ye  may  it  leere 

IT  Looke  Attilla  the  grete  Conquerour 

Deyde  in  his  sleepe  /  vrith  shame  and  dishonour  580 

Bledynge  ay  at  his  nose  in  dronkenesse 

A  Capitayn  /  sholde  lyue  in  sobrenesse 

And  cue?-  al  this  /  auyseth  yow  right  wel 

What  was  comaunded  /  yn  to  Lamwel      f  Noiivinu»»<iare  584 

Nat  Samuel  /  but  Lamwel  seye  I 

Eedeth  the  Bible  /  and  fynde  it  expresly 

Of  wyn  yeuyng*  to  hem  fat  han  lustise 

Namoore  of  this  /  for  it  may  wel  suffise  588 

ANd  now  I  haue  spoken  of  Glotonye  peaf  i4s,  back] 

Now  wol  I  yow  /  deffenden  hasardrye      f  of  Hasardrye 
Hasard  /  is  verray  mooder  of  Jesynges  $™fi*  {f^Tu^l 
And  of  deceite  /  and  cursed  forswerynges  ^^.veAuAiatm  mater 
Blasphemyng  of  cn'st1  manslaughtre  and  wasf  also 
Of  catel  and  of  tyme  /  and  forthermo 
It  is  repreeue  /  and  contrarie  of  honoMr 
ffor  to  ben  holde  /  a  commune  hasardour  596 

29  ELLESMERE    379  (6-T.  32l) 


322    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  euer  the  hyer/  he  is  of  estaaf 

The  moore  /  is  he  holden  desolaaf 

If  that  a  Prynce  /  vseth  hasardrye 

In  alle  gouernance  and  policye  600 

He  is  /  as  by  commune  opinion 

Yholde  the  lasse  /  in  reputacion 

IT  Stilbon  /  that  was  a  wys  embassadour 

Was  sent  to  Corynthe  /  in  ful  greet  honowr  604 

ffro  Lacidomye  /  to  maken  hire  Alliaunce 

And  whan  he  cam  /  hym  happed[e]  par  chauwce 

That  alle  the  gretteste  /  that  were  of  that  lond! 

Pleyynge  atte  hasard?  /  he  hem  fond  608 

ffor  which  /  as  soone  /  as  it  myghte  be 

He  stal  hym  hoom  agayn  /  to  his  contree 

And  seyde  /  ther  wol  I  nat  lese  my  name 

!N"e  I  wol  nat  take  on  me  so  greet  defame  612 

Yow  for  to  allie  /  vn-to  none  hasardours 

Sendeth  /  othere  wise  Embassadours 

ffor  by  my  trouthe  /  me  were  leuere  dye 

Than  I  yow  sholde  /  to  hasardours  allye  616 

ffor  ye  that  been  /  so  glorious  in  honours 

Shul  nat  allyen  yow  /  with  hasardours 

As  by  my  wyl  /  ne  as  by  my  tretee 

This  wise  Philosopbre  /  thus  seyde  hee  620 

IT  Looke  eek1  that  the  kyng1  Demetrius 

The  kyng  of  Parthes  as  the  book  seith  vs 

Sente  him  /  a  paire  of  dees  of  gold  in  scorn 

ffor  he  hadde  vsed  /  hasard1  ther-biforn  624 

ffor  which  /  he  heeld  his  glorie  /  or  his  renoun 

At  no  value  /  or  reputacioun 

Lordes  may  fynden  /  oother  maner  pley 

Honeste  ynough"  /  to  dryue  the  day  awey  628 

Now  wol  I  speke  /  of  othes  false  and  grete  jl^e^.^"^  & 
A  word  or  two  /  as  olde  bookes  trete 
Gret  sweryng1  is  a  thyng'  abhominable 
And  fals  sweryng1  is  yet  moore  repreuable  632 

ELLESMERE  380    (6-T.  322) 


323   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

The  heigfre  god  /  forbad  sweryng1  at  al       f  Noiite  om«ino  lurare 

Witnesse  on  Mathew  /  but  in  special 

Of  sweryng*  seith  the  hooly  leremye  Z£%™&$'£^  wl' 

Thou  shalt  seye  sooth  thyne  othes  and  nat  lye  636 

And  swere  in  doom  /  and  eek  in  rightwisnesse  [leaf  w*] 

But  ydel  sweryng1  is  a  cursednesse 

Bihoold  and  se  /  that  in  the  firste  table 

Of  heigh"  e  goddes  heestes  honorable  640 

Hou  /  that  the  seconde  heeste  /  of  hym  /  is  this 

Take  nat  my  name  /  in  ydel  or  amys 

Lo  rather  he  forbedeth  swich  sweryng1 

Than  homycide  /  or  any  cursed  thyng1  64-4 

I  seye  /  that  as  by  ordre  /  thus  it  stondeth" 

This  knowen  /  that  hise  heestes  vnderstondeth" 

How  fat  /  the  seconde  heeste  of  god  is  that1 

And  forther  ouer  /  I  wol  thee  telle  al  plat  648 

That  vengeance  /  shal  nat  parten  from  his  hous 

That  of  hise  othes  /  is  to  outrageous 

By  goddes  precious  herte  /  and  by  his  nayles 

And  by  the  blood  of  Crist1  that  is  in  Hayles  652 

Seuene  is  my  chaunce  /  and  thyn  is  cynk1  and  treye 

By  goddes  Annes  /  if  thou  falsly  pleye 

This  daggere  /  shal  thurgh"-put  thyn  herte  go 

This  fruyt  cometh  /  of  the  bicched  bones  two  656 

fforsweryng1  Ire  /  falsnesse  /  Homycide 

Now  for  the  loue  of  Cristf  fat  for  vs  dyde 

Lete  youre  othes  /  bothe  grete  and  smale 

But  sires  /  now  wol  I  telle  forth  my  tale  660 

THise  Eiotours  thre  /  of  whiche  I  telle 
Longe  erst1  er  prime  rong1  of  any  belle 
Were  set  hem  /  in  a  Tauerne  to  drynke 
And  as  they  sat1  they  herde  a  belle  clynke  664 

Biforn  a  cors  /  was  caried  /  to  his  graue 
That  oon  of  hem  /  gan  callen  to  his  knaue 
Go  bet  quod  he  /  and  axe  redily 
What  cors  is  this  /  fat  passeth  heer  forby  668 

ELLESMERE    381   (6-T.  323) 


324    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  looke  /  J>at  tliou  reporte  his  name  weel 

IT  Sire  quod  this  boy  /  it  nedeth  neueradeel 

It  was  me  toold  /  er  ye  cam  heer  two  houres 

He  was  pardee  /  an  old  felawe  of  youres  672 

And  sodeynly  /  he  was  yslayn  to-nygh"tt 

ffor-dronke  /  as  he  sat  on  his  bench  vprightt 

Ther  cam  a  p?-mee  theef/  men  clepeth  deeth" 

That  in  this  contree  /  al  the  peple  sleeth"  676 

And  vr-Oh  his  spere  /  he  smoot  his  herte  atwo 

And  wente  his  wey  /  with-outen  wordes  mo 

He  hath  /  a  thousand  slayn  this  pestilence 

And  maister  /  er  ye  come  in  his  presence  680 

Me  thynketh  /  that  it  were  necessarie 

ffor  to  be  war  /  of  swich  an  Aduersarie 

Beth  redy  /  for  to  meete  hym  eueremoore 

Thus  taughte  me  my  dame  /  I  sey  namoore  684 

By  seinte  Marie  seyde  this  Tauerner  [leaf  lu,  back] 

The  child  seith  sooth  /  for  he  hath  slayn  this  yeer 

Henne  oner  a  Mile  /  with-Inne  a  greet  village 

Bothe  man  and  womman  /  child!  and  hyne  /  and  page 

I  trowe  /  his  habitacion  be  there  689 

To  been  auysed  /  greet  wysdom  it  were 

Er  that1  he  dide  a  man  /  a  dishonour 

1T  Ye  goddes  Armes  /  quod  this  Biotour  692 

Is  it  swich  peril  /  with  hym  for  to  meete  ? 

I  shal  hym  seke  /  by  wey  and  eek  by  strete 

I  make  auow  /  to  goddes  digne  bones 

Herkneth  felawes  /  we  thre  been  al  ones  696 

Lat  ech  of  vs  /  holde  vp  his  hand  til  oother 

And  ech  of  vs  /  bicomen  otheres  brother 

And  we  wol  sleen  /  this  false  traytowr  deeth 

He  shal  be  slayn  /  which  fat  so  manye  sleeth  700 

By  goddes  dignitee  /  er  it  be  nyght/ 

IT  Togidres  han  thise  thre  /  hir  trouthes  plight1  ^. 

To  lyue  and  dyen  /  ech  of  hem  for  oother 

As  though"  he  were  /  his  owene  yborn  brother  704 

ELLESMERE    382  (6-T.  324) 


325    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C,  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  vp  they  stirte  /  and  dronken  in  this  rage 

And  forth  they  goon  /  towardes  that  village 

Of  which  the  Tauerner/  hadde  spoke  biforn 

And  many  a  grisly  ooth  /  thanne  han  they  sworn          708 

And  Cristes  blessed  body  /  they  to-rente 

Deeth  shal  be  deed  /  if  that  they  may  hym  hente 

IF  Whan  they  han  goon  /  nat  fully  half  a  Mile 

Eight  as  they  wolde  /  han  troden  oner  a  stile  712 

An  oold  man  and  a  poure  /  with  hem  mette 

This  olde  man  /  ful  mekely  hem  gretto 

And  seyde  thus  /  now  lordes  /  god  yow  see 

IT  The  proudeste  /  of  thise  Eio tours  three  716 

Answerde  agayn  /  what  carl  with  sory  grace 

Why  artow  /  al  forwrapped  sane  thy  face  ? 

Why  lyuestow  so  longe  /  in  so  greet  age  ? 

IT  This  olde  man  /  gan  looke  in  his  visage  720 

And  seyde  thus  /  for  I  ne  kan  nat  fynde 

A  man  /  though"  fat  I  walked  in  to  ynde 

Neither  in  Citee  /  nor  in  no  Village 

That  wolde  chaunge  /  his  youthe  for  myn  Age  724 

And  therfore  /  moot  I  han  myn  Age  stille 

As  longe  tyme  /  as  it  is  goddes  wille 

IT  Ne  deeth  alias  /  ne  wol  nat  han  my  lyf1 

Thus  walke  1  /  lyk1  a  restelees  kaityf1  728 

And  on  the  ground?  /  which  is  my  moodres  gate 

I  knokke  with  my  staf  /  bothe  erly  and  late 

And  seye  /  leeue  mooder/  leet  me  In 

Lo  how  I  vanyssfie  /  flessh"  and  blood!  and  skyn  732 

Alias  /  whan  shul  /  my  bones  been  at  reste  Deaf  us] 

Mooder  /  with  yow  /  wolde  I  chaunge  my  cheste 

That  in  my  chambre  /  longe  tyme  hath  be 

Ye  for  an  heyre  clowt1  to  wrappe  me  736 

But  yet  to  me  /  she  wol  nat  do  that  grace 

ffor  which  /  ful  pale  /  and  welked  is  my  face 

IT  But  sires  to  yow  /  it  is  no  curteisye 

To  speken  /  to  an  old  man  vileynye  740 

ELLESMERE    383    (6-T.  32o) 


326   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

But  he  trespasse  /  in  word  /  or  elles  in  dede 

In  hooly  writ1  ye  may  your  self  wel  rede 

Agayns  an  oold  man  /  hoor  vpon  his  heed1          '  Tu^nsur1*" 

Ye  sholde  arise  /  wherfore  I  yeue  yow  reed?  744 

Ne  dooth  vn-to  an  oold  man  /  noon  harm  now 

Namoore  than  fat  ye  wolde  /  men  did  to  yow 

In  age  /  if  that  ye  so  longe  abyde 

And  god  be  -with  yow  /  where  ye  go  or  ryde  748 

I  moote  go  thider  /  as  I  haue  to  go 

5T  Nay  olde  cherl  /  by  god  thou  shalt  nat  so 

Seyde  this  oother  hasardour  anon 

Thou  partest  nat  so  lightly  /  by  Seint  lofrn  752 

Thou  spak1  right/  now  /  of  thilke  traytowr  decth 

That  in  this  contree  /  alle  oure  freendes  sleeth 

Haue  heer  my  trouthe  /  as  thou  art  his  espye 

Telle  where  he  is  /  or  thou  shalt  it  abye  756 

By  god  /  and  by  the  hooly  sacrement1 

ffor  soothly  /  thou  art  oon  of  his  assent* 

To  sleen  vs  yonge  folk  /  thou  false  theef1 

II  Now  sires  quod  he  /  if  fat  ye  be  so  leef1  7GO 
To  fynde  deeth  /  turne  vp  this  croked  wey 

ffor  in  that  groue  /  I  lafte  hym  by  my  fey 

Vnder  a  tree  /  and  there  he  wole  abyde 

Noght  for  youre  boost1  he  wole  him  no  thyng  hydo       7C4 

Se  ye  that  ook"  right  there  ye  shal  hym  fynde 

God  saue  yow  J>at  boghte  agayn  mankynde 

And  yow  amende  /  thus  seyde  this  oldo  man 

And  euerich  /  of  thise  Eio tours  ran  768 

Til  he  cam  to  that  tree  /  and  ther  they  founde 

Of  floryns  fyne  of  gold?  ycoyned  rounde 

"Wel  ny  an  .viij.  bussllels  /  as  hem  thoughte 

No  lenger  thanne  /  after  deeth  they  soughte  772 

But  ech  of  hem  /  so  glad  was  of  that  sighte 

ffor  J>at  the  floryns  /  been  so  faire  and  brighte 

That  doun  they  sette  hem  /  by  this  precious  hoord? 

The  worste  of  hem  /  he  spak  the  firste  word1  776 

ELLESMERE    384  (6-T.  326) 


327    SIX-TEXT 

GRODP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  Bretheren  quod  lie  /  taak  kepe  what  I  seye 

My  wit  is  greet*  though"  fat  I  bourde  and  pleye 

This  tresor  /  hath  ffortune  vn-to  vs  yeuen 

In  myrthe  and  loliftee  /  oure  lyf  to  lyuen  780 

And  lightly  as  it  comth"  /  so  wol  we  spende         [leaf  1*5,  back] 

Ey  goddes  precious  dignitee  /  who  wende 

To-day  /  that  we  sholde  han  so  fair  a  grace 

But  mygSte  this  gold  /  be  caried  fro  this  place  784 

Hoom  to  myn  hous  /  or  elles  vn-to  youres 

ffor  wel  ye  woot1  fat  al  this  gold  is  oures 

Thanne  were  we  /  in  heigh  felicitee 

But  trewely  /  by  daye  it  may  nat  bee  788 

Men  wolde  seyn  /  fat  we  were  theues  stronge 

And  for  oure  owene  tresor/  doon  vs  honge 

This  tresor  /  moste  ycaried  be  by  nyghte 

As  wisely  /  and  as  slyly  /  as  it  myghte  792 

Wherfore  I  rede  /  fat  Cut  among  vs  alle 

Be  drawe  /  and  lat  se  /  wher  the  Cut  wol  falle 

And  he  fat  hath  the  Cut1  with  herte  blithe 

Shal  renne  to  towne  /  and  that  ful  swithe  796 

And  brynge  vs  breed  and  wyn  /  ful  pn'uely 

And  two  of  vs  /  shul  kepen  subtilly 

This  tresor  wel  /  and  if  he  wol  nat  tarie 

Whan  it  is  nyghf  we  wol  this  tresor  carie  800 

By  oon  assent  /  where  as  vs  thynketh  best1 

That  oon  of  hem  /the  Cut  broghte  in  his  fesf 

And  bad  hym  drawe  /  and  looke  where  it  wol  falle 

And  it  fil  /  on  the  yongeste  of  hem  alle  804 

And  forth"  toward  the  toun  /  he  wente  anon 

And  al  so  soone  /  as  that  he  was  gon 

That  oon  spak  thus  /  vn-to  that  oother 

Thow  knowest  wel  /  thou  art  my  sworn  brother  808 

Thy  profit1  wol  I  telle  thee  anon 

Thou  woost  wel  /  that  oure  felawe  is  agon 

And  heere  is  gold  /  and  that  ful  greet  plentee 

That  shal  departed  been  /  among  vs  thre  812 

ELLESMERE    385   (6-T.  327) 


328   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

But  nathelees  /  if  I  kan  shape  it  so 

That  it  departed  were  /  among  vs  two 

Hadde  I  nat  doon  /  a  freendes  torn  to  thee  ? 

11  That  oother  answerde  /  I  noot1  hou  that  may  be         816 

He  woot1  how  that  the  gold  is  with  vs  tweye 

"VVha[t  sha]l  we  doon  /  what  shal  we  to  hym  seye  ? 

IT  Shal  it  be  conseil  /  seyde  the  firste  slirewe  ? 

And  I  shal  tellen  /  in  a  wordes  fewe  820 

What  we  shal  doon  /  and  bryngen  it  wel  aboute 

IT  I  graunte  quod  that  oother  /  out  of  doute 

That  by  my  trouthe  /  I  shal  thee  nat  biwreye 

IF  Now  quod  the  firste  /  thou  woost  wel  we  be  tweyc    824 

And  two  of  vs  /  shul  stronger  be  than  oon 

Looke  whan  fat  he  is  set1  that  right  anoon 

Arys  /  as  though"  thou  woldesf  with  hym  pleye 

And  I  shal  /  ryue  hym  /  thurgh"  the  sydes  tweye  828 

Whil  that  thou  strogelest  with  hym  /  as  in  game       [leaf  i«5] 

And  with  thy  daggere  /  looke  thou  do  the  same 

And  thanne  /  shal  al  this  gold  /  departed  be 

My  deere  freendf  /  bitwixen  me  and  thee  832 

Thanne  may  we  /  bothe  oure  lustes  aH  fulfille 

And  pleye  at  dees  /  right  at  oure  owene  wille 

And  thus  /  acorded  been  thise  shrewes  tweye 

To  sleen  the  thridde  /  as  ye  han  herd  me  seye  836 

1F  This  yongeste  /  which  fat  wente  vn-to  the  toun 

fful  ofte  in  herte  /  he  rolleth  vp  and  doun 

The  beautee  of  thise  floryns  /  newe  and  brighte 

0  lord  quod  he  /  if  so  were  fat  I  mygfite  8-10 

Haue  al  this  tresor  /  to  my  self  allone 

Ther  is  no  man  /  fat  lyueth  vnder  the  trone 

Of  god  /  that  sholde  lyue  so  murye  as  I 

And  atte  laste  /  the  feend  oure  enemy  84  4 

Putte  in  his  thought"  fat  he  sholde  poyson  beye 

With  which  /  he  myghte  /  sleen  hise  felawes  tweye 

ffor  why  /  the  feend  foond  hym  in  swich  lyuynge 

That  he  hadde  leue  /  hem  to  sorwe  brynge  848 

ELLESMEHE   386    (G-T.  328) 


329    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  this  was  outrely  /  his  fulle  entente 

To  sleen  hem  bothe  /  and  neuere  to  repente 

And  forth  he  gooth  /  no  lenger  wolde  he  tarie 

Into  the  toun  /  vn-to  Apothecarie  852 

And  preyde  hym  /  fat  he  hym  wolde  selle 

Som  poyson)  /  fat  he  myghte  hise  rattes  quelle 

And  eek  ther  was  /  a  polcat1  in  his  hawe 

That  as  he  seyde  /  hise  capons  hadde  yslawe  856 

And  fayn  he  wolde  /  wreke  hym  /  if  he  myghte 

On  vef-myn  /  fat  destroyed  hym  "by  nyghte 

II  The  Pothecarie  answerde  /  and  thou  shalt  haue 

A  thyng1  that  al  so  god  my  soule  sane  8 GO 

In  al  this  world  /  ther  is  no  creature 

That  eten  or  dronken  hath  /  of  this  confiture 

Noght/  but  the  montance  of  a  corn  of  whete 

That  he  ne  shal  /  his  lif  anon  forlete  864 

Ye  sterue  he  shal  /  and  that  in  lasse  while 

Than  thou  wolt  goon  a  paas  /  nat  but  A  Mile 

This  poyson  /  is  so  strong  and  violent1 

IF  This  cursed  man  /  hath  in  his  hond  yhent1  868 

This  poyson  in  a  box  /  and  sith  he  ran 

In-to  the  nexte  strete  /  vn-to  a  man 

And  borwed  hym  /  large  botels  thre 

And  in  the  two  /  his  poyson  poured  he  872 

The  thridde  he  kepte  clene  /  for  his  owene  drynke 

ffor  al  the  nygnt/  he  shoope  hym  for  to  swynke 

In  cariynge  of  the  gold  /  out  of  that  place 

And  whan  this  Biotour/  with  sory  grace  876 

Hadde  filled  with  wyn  /  hise  grete  botels  thre     [leaf  HG,  back] 

To  hise  felawes  /  agayn  repaireth  he 

IT  What  nedeth  it1  to  sermone  of  it  moore 

ffor  right  so  /  as  they  hadde  cast  his  deeth  bifoore         880 

Eight  so  they  han  hym  slayn  /  and  that  anon 

And  whan  fat  this  was  doon  /  thus  spak  that  oon 

Now  lat  vs  sitte  and  drynke  /  and  make  vs  merie 

And  afterward!  /  we  wol  his  body  berie  884 

ELLESMERE    387   (6-T.  329) 


330   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  with  that  word  /  it  happed  hym  par  cos 

To  take  the  botel  /  ther  the  poyson)  was 

And  drank1  and  yaf  his  felawe  drynke  also 

ffor  which  anon  /  they  storuen  bothe  two  888 

If  But  certes  I  suppose  /  that  Auycen) 

Wroot  neuere  in  no  Canon)  /  ne  in  no  fen) 

Mo  wonder  signes  /  of  empoisonyng1 

Than  hadde  thise  wrecches  two  /  er  hir  endyng1  892 

Thus  ended  been  /  thise  homycides  two 

And  eek1  the  false  empoysonere  also 

IT  0  cursed  synne  /  of  alle  cursednesse  f  Auctor 

O  traytours  homycide  .o.  wikkednesse  89G 

0  glotonye  /  luxurie  /  and  hasardrye 
Thou  blasphemowr  of  Cristt  with  vileynye 
And  othes  grete  /  of  vsage  /  and  of  pride 

Alias  mankynde  /  how  may  it  bitide  900 

That  to  thy  creatour  /  which  fat  the  wroghte 

And  with  his  precious  herte-blood  thee  boghto 

Thou  art  so  fals  /  and  so  vnkynde  alias 

IF  Now  goode  men  /  god  foryeue  yow  youre  trespas       904 

And  ware  yow  /  fro  the  synne  of  Auarice 

Myn  hooly  pardon  /  may  yow  alle  warice 

So  fat  ye  offre  /  nobles  /  or  sterlynges 

Or  elles  siluer  broches  /  spoones  /  rynges  908 

Boweth  youre  heed  /  vnder  this  hooly  bulle 

Com  vp  ye  wyues  /  offreth  of  youre  wolle 

Youre  names  /  I  entre  heer/  in  my  rolle  anon 

In-to  the  blisse  of  heueue  /  shul  ye  gon  912 

1  yow  assoille  /  by  myn  heigh  power 

Yow  fat  wol  offre  /  as  clene  and  eek  as  cleer 

As  ye  were  born  /  and  lo  sires  thus  I  preche 

And  Ihesu  crist1  that  is  cure  soules  leche  916 

So  graunte  yow  /  his  pardon  to  receyue 

ffor  that  is  best1 1  wol  yow  naf  deceyue 

But  sires  /  o.  word  /  forgatt  I  in  my  tale 
I  haue  Relikes  /  and  pardon  in  my  male  920 

EI/LESMERE   388   (6-T.  330) 


331    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

As  faire  /  as  any  man  in  Engelond? 

Whiclie  were  me  yeuen  /  by  the  popes '  hond!     P  ?a£f  ?f^ 

•*•       •*•  Out  Oj  ttlC  jUoj 

If  any  of  yow  /  wole  of  deuocion 

Offren  /  and  han  myn  Absolucion  924 

Com  forth,  anon  /  and  kneleth  heere  adoun  [leaf  u?] 

And  mekely  /  receyueth  my  pardoun 

Or  elles  /  taketh  pardon  /  as  ye  wende 

Al  newe  and  fressh"  /  at  euery  Miles  ende  928 

So  fat  ye  oifren  /  alwey  newe  and  newe 

Nobles  or  pens  /  whiche  fat  be  goode  and  trewe 

It  is  an  honour  /  to  euerich  that  is  heer 

That  ye  mo  we  haue  /  a  suffisant  Pardoneer  932 

Tassoille  yow  /  in  contree  as  ye  ryde 

ffor  auentures  /  whiche  fat  may  bityde 

Parauenture  /  ther  may  fallen  /  oon  or  two 

Doun  of  his  hors  /  and  breke  his  nekke  atwo  936 

Looke  which  a  seuretee  /  is  it  to  yow  alle 

That  I  am  /  in  youre  felaweshipe  yfalle 

That  may  assoille  yow  /  bothe  moore  and  lasse 

Whan  fat  the  soule  /  shal  fro  the  body  passe  940 

I  rede  /  fat  oure  hoost  heere  shal  bigynne 

ffor  he  is  /  moost  envoluped  in  synne 

Com  forth  sire  hoost1  and  offire  first  anon 

And  thou  shaltt  kisse  /  my  Relikes  euery chon  944 

Ye  for  a  grote  /  vnbokele  anon  thy  purs 

Nay  nay  quod  he  /  thanne  haue  I  cr/stes  curs 
Lat  be  quod  he  /  it  shal  nat  be  so  theech" 
Thou  woldest  make  me  /  kisse  thyn  olde  breech"  948 

And  swere  /  it  were  a  relyk1  of  a  seinf 
Though  it  were  /  \fiih  thy  fundement  depeinf 
But  by  the  croys  /  which  fat  seint  Eleyne  fond!2  ^"^,"£1 
I  wolde  /  I  hadde  /  thy  coillons  in  myn  hond?  952 

In  stide  of  Relikes  /  or  of  seintuarie 
Lat  kutte  hem  of  /  I  wol  with  thee  hem  cario 
They  shul  be  shryned  /  in  an  hogges  toord? 
IT  This  Pardoner/  answerde  nat  a  word*  956 

ELLESMERE    389   (6-T.  33l) 


332    SIX-TEXT 

GHODP  C.  §  4.  PARDONER'S  TALE.  EUesmere  MS. 

So  wrooth  lie  was  /  no  word  ne  wolde  he  seye 

IT  Now  quod  oure  hoosfl  I  wol  no  lenger  pleye 

With  thee  /  ne  wtt/i  noon  oother  angry  man 

But  right  anon  /  the  worthy  knyght1  bigan  9 GO 

Whan  fat  he  saugh"  /  fat  al  the  peple  lough" 

Namoore  of  this  /  for  it  is  right  ynough 

Sire  Pardoner  /  be  glad  and  myrie  of  cheere 

And  ye  sir1  hoostt  fat  been  to  me  so  deere  964 

I  prey  yow  /  fat  ye  kisse  the  Pardoner 

And  Pardoner  /  I  prey  thee  /  drawe  thee  neer 

And  as  we  diden  /  lat  vs  laughe  and  pleye 

Anon  they  kiste  /  and  ryden  forth  hir  weye  968 


Heere  is  ended  the  Pardoners  tale 


ELLESMERE    390  (6-T.  332) 


GEOUP  B.  (0-  FEAGMENT  III.) 

§  4.    THE  SHIPMAN'S  TALE. 


A 


If  Heere  bigynnetfc  tlie  Shipmannes  tale,  fa 

[Elles.  MS,  If  147,  bk.] 

IMarcliant  whilom  dwelled  at  Seint  Denys, 
That  riche  was  /  for  which  men  helde  hym  wys 
A  wyf  he  hadde  /  of  excellent  beautee          [painting  of 
the  Shipman, 
And  compaignable  /  and  reuelous  was  she    °n  the  */'•] 

Which  is  a  thyng1  that  causeth  more  dispence 

Than  worth  is  /  al  the  chiere  and  reuerence  1196 

That  men  hem  doon  /  at  festes  and  at  daunces 

Swiche  salutacions  /  and  contenaunces 

Passen  /  as  dooth  a  shadwe  vp  on  the  wal 

But  wo  is  hym  /  that  pay  en  moot  for  al  1200 

The  sely  housbonde  /  algate  he  moste  paye 

He  moot  vs  clothe  /  and  he  moot  vs  arraye 

Al  for  his  owene  worship  richely 

In  which  array  /  we  daunce  iolily  1204 

And  if  fat  he  noght  may  /  par  auenture 

Or  ellis  /  list  no  swich  dispence  endure 

But  thynketh  /  it  is  wasted  /  and  ylosf 

Thanne  moot"  another  /  payen  for  oure  cost1  1208 

Or  lene  vs  gold  /  and  that  is  perilous 

IT  This  noble  Marchantt  heeld  a  worthy  hous 

ffor  which  /  he  hadde  alday  so  greet  repair 

ffor  his  largesse  /  and  for  his  wyf  was  fair  1212 

That  wonder  is  /  but  herkneth  to  my  tale 

Amonges  alle  hise  gestes  /  grete  and  smale 

Ther  was  a  Monk*  a  fair  man  and  a  boold? 

I  trowe  of  thritty  wynter  he  was  oold?  121 G 

That  euere  in  oon  /  was  comynge  to  that  place 

This  yonge  Monk  /  fat  was  so  fair  of  face 

ELLESMEEE    391   (6-T.    168) 


169    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  4.  SHIPMAN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Aqueynted  was  so  /  with  the  goode  man 

Sith  that  /  hir  firste  knoweliche  bigan  1220 

That  in  his  hous  /  as  famuli  er  was  he 

As  it  possible  /  any  freend  to  be 

IT  And  for  as  muchel  /  as  this  goode  man 

And  eek  this  Monk1  of  which  fat  I  bigan  1224 

Were  bothe  two  /  yborn  in  o  village 

The  Monk  /  hym  claymeth  /  as  for  cosynage 

And  he  agayn  /  he  seith  nat  ones  nay 

But  was  as  glad  ther-of  /  as  fowel  of  day  1228 

ffor  to  his  herte  /  it  was  a 'greet  plesance 

Thus  been  they  knyf  with  eterne  alliance 

And  ech  of  hem  /  gan  oother  for  tassure 

Of  bretherhede  /  whil  fat  hir  lyf  may  dure 

IT  ffree  was  Daun  Ioh"n  and  namely  of  dispence 

As  in  that  hous  /  and  ful  of  diligence 

To  doon  plesance  /  and  also  greet  costage 

He  noght1  forgat1  to  yeue  the  leeste  page  1236 

In  al  the  hous  /  but  after  hir  degree 

He  yaf  the  lord  /  and  sitthe  al  his  meynee 

Whan  that  he  cam  /  som  manere  honest  thyng1 

flfor  which  /  they  were  as  glad  of  his  comyng1  1240 

As  fowel  is  fayn  /  whan  J>at  the  sonne  vp  riseth 

Na  moore  of  this  as  now  /  for  it  sumseth 

But  so  bifel  /  this  Marchant  on  a  day 
Shoop  hym  /  to  make  redy  his  array  1244 

Toward  /  the  toun  of  Brugges  for  to  fare 
To  byen  there  /  a  porcion  of  ware 
ffor  which  /  he  hath  to  Parys  sent  anon 
A  Messager  /  and  preyed  hath  daun  Ioh"n  1248 

That  he  sholde  come  /  to  Seint  Denys  to  pleye 
With  hym  and  -with  his  wyf  /  a  day  or  tweye 
Er  he  to  Brugges  wente  /  in  alle  wise 
IT  This  noble  Monk1  of  which  I  yow  deuyse  1252 

Hath  of  his  Abbot*  as  hym  list  licence 
By  cause  /  he  was  a  man  /  of  heigfi  prudence 

ELLESMEllE   392   (6-T.    169) 


170    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  4.   SHIPMAN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  eek1-  an  Officer  /  out  for  to  ryde 

To  seen  hir  graunges  /  and  hire  bernes  wyde  1256 

And  vn-to  Seint  Denys  /  he  comth  anon 

AYho  was  so  welcome  /  as  my  lord  Daun  lofin 

Oure  deere  cosyn  /  ful  of  curteisye 

With  hym  broghte  he  a  lubbe  of  Maluesye  1260 

And  eek  another  /  ful  of  fyn  vemage 

And  volatyl  /  as  ay  was  his  vsage 

And  thus  /  I  lete  hem  drynke  and  pleye 

This  Marchanf  and  this  Monk1  a  day  or  tweye  1264 

IT  The  thridde  day  /  this  Marchant  vp  ariseth 

And  on  hise  nedes  /  sadly  hyrn  auyseth 

And  vp  /  in  to  his  Countour  hous  gooth  he 

To  rekene  Vfith  hym  self  /  wel  may  be  1268 

Of  thilke  yeer  /  how  fat  it  with  hym  stood 

And  how  fat  he  /  despended  hadde  his  good 

And  if  fat  he  /  encressed  were  or  noon 

Hise  bookes  /  and  his  bagges  many  oon  1272 

He  leith  biforn  hym  /  on  his  countyng1  borcJ 

iful  riche  /  was  his  tresor  and  his  hord? 

ffor  which  ful  faste  /  his  Countour  dore  he  shette 

And  eek  he  nolde  /  fat  no  man  sholde  hym  lette         1276 

Of  hise  accountes  /  for  the  meene  tyme 

And  thus  he  sit1  til  it  was  passed  pryme 

11  Daun  Ioh"n  was  rysen  /  in  the  morwe  also 

And  in  the  gardyn  /  walketh  to  and  fro  1280 

And  hath  hise  thynges  seyd  /  ful  curteisly  [leaf  us,  back] 

IT  This  goode  wyf1  cam  walkynge  pryuely 

In  to  the  gardyn  /  there  he  walketh  softe 

And  hym  saleweth  /  as  she  hath  doon  ofte  1284 

A  mayde  child  /  cam  in  hire  compaignye 

Which  as  hir  list1  she  may  goueme  and  gye 

ffor  yet1  vnder  the  yerde  was  the  mayde 

O  deere  cosyn  myn  /  daun  lohn  she  sayde  1288 

What  eyleth  yow  /  so  rathe  for  to  ryse 

IF  Nece  quod  he  /  it  oghte  ynougfr  suffise 

ELLESMERE    393   (6-T.    170) 


SIX-TEXT    171 

GROUP  B.   §  4.   SHIPMAN'S  TALE.   Ellesniere  MS. 

ffyue  houres  for  to  slepe  /  vp  on  a  nyghfr 

Butt  it  Avere  /  for  an  old!  appalled  wight1  1292 

As  been  thise  wedded  men  /  J?at  lye  and  dare 

As  in  a  fourme  /  sit  a  wery  hare 

Were  al  forstraughtf  /  with  houndes  grete  and  smale 

But1  deere  Nece  /  why  be  ye  so  pale  1296 

I  trowe  certes  /  that  oure  goode  man 

Hath  yow  laboured  /  sith  the  nyght  bigan 

That  yow  were  nede  /  to  resten  hastily 

And  with  that  word  /  he  lough"  ful  murily  1300 

And  of  his  owene  thought1  he  wax  al  reed! 

IT  This  faire  wyf1  gan  for  to  shake  hir  heed! 

And  seyde  thus  /  ye  god  woot  al  quod  she 

Nay  nay  cosyn  myn  /  it  stant  nat  so  with  me  1304 

ffor  by  that  god  /  that  yaf  me  soule  and  lyf/ 

In  a!  the  Beawme  of  iFrance  /  is  ther  no  wyfH 

That  lasse  lust  hath  /  to  that  sory  pley 

ffor  I  may  synge  /  alias  and  weylawey  1 308 

That  I  was  born  /  but  to  no  wight1  quod  she 

Dar  I  nat  telle  /  how  that  it  stant  \vit7i  me 

Wherfore  I  thynke  /  out  of  this  land'  to  wende 

Or  elles  /  of  my  self1  to  make  an  ende  1312 

So  ful  am  I  /  of  drede  /  and  eek  of  care 

IF  This  Monk1  bigan  vp  on  this  wyf  to  stare 

And  /  seyde  /  Alias  my  Nece  god  forbede 

That  ye  /  for  any  sorwe  /  or  any  drede  1316 

ffordo  youre  self  /  but  tel  me  of  youre  grief* 

Parauenture  /  I  yow  may  /  in  youre  meschief1 

Conseille  or  helpe  /  and  therfore  telleth  me 

All  youre  anoy  /  for  it  shal  been  secree  1320 

ffor  on  my  porthors  /  I  make  an  ooth 

That  neuere  in  my  lyf  /  for  lief  ne  looth 

!N"e  shal  I  /  of  no  conseil  yow  biwreye 

1T  The  same  agayn  /  to  yow  quod  she  I  seye  1324 

By  god  /  and  by  this  Porthors  I  yow  swere 

Though"  men  me  wolde  /  al  in  to  pieces  tore 

ELLESMERE   894   (6-T.    17l) 


SIX-TEXT    172 

GROUP  B.   §  4.   SHIPMAN'B  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Ne  shal  I  neuere  /  for  to  goon  to  helle 

Biwreye  a  word  /  of  thyng1  fat  ye  me  telle  1328 

Nat  for  no  cosynage  /  ne  alliance  [leaf  119] 

But  ven-aily  /  for  loue  and  affiance 

Thus  been  they  sworn  /  and  heer  vpon  they  kiste 

And  ech  of  hem  /  tolde  oother  what  hem  liste  1332 

11  Cosyn  quod  she  /  if  fat  I  hadde  a  space 

As  I  haue  noon  /  and  namely  in  this  place 

Thanne  wolde  I  telle  /  a  legende  of  my  lyf 

What  I  haue  suffred  /  sith  I  was  a  wyf  1336 

With  myn  housbonde  /  al  be  he  of  youre  kyn 

11  Nay  quod  this  Monk1  by  god  /  and  by  seint  Martyn 

He  is  /  na  moore  cosyn  vn-to  me 

Than  is  this  lief1  fat  hangeth  on  the  tree  1340 

I  clepe  hym  so  /  by  Seint  Denys  of  ffraiicc 

To  haue  /  the  moore  cause  of  Aqueyiitance 

Of  yow  /  which  I  haue  loued  specially 

Abouen  alle  wommen  sikerly  1344 

This  swere  I  yow  /  on  my  profession 

Telleth  youre  grief  /  lest  fat  he  come  adoun 

And  hasteth  yow  /  and  gooth  youre  wey  anon 

H"  My  deere  loue  quod  she  /  o  my  daun  lohn  1348 

fful  lief  were  me  /  this  conseil  for  to  hyde 

But  out  it1  moot1 1  may  namoore  abyde 

Myn  housbonde  /  is  to  me  the  worste  man 

That  euere  was  /  sith  fat  the  world  bigan  1352 

But  sith  I  am  a  wyf1  it  sit  nat  me  • 

To  tellen  no  wight  /  of  oure  pn'uetee 

Neither  a  bedde  /  ne  in  noon  oother  place 

God  shilde  /  I  sholde  it  tellen  for  his  g?-ace  1-35  G 

A  wyf  /  ne  shal  nat  seyn  of  hir  housbonde 

But  al  honour  /  as  I  kan  vnderstonde 

Saue  vn  to  yow  /  thus  muche  I  tellen  shal 

As  helpe  me  god  /  he  is  nogfit  worth  at  al  1360 

In  no  degree  /  the  value  of  a  flye 

But  yet1  me  greueth  moosfr  his  nygardyo 

30  ELLESMEKE   395    (6-T.    172) 


173    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  4.  SHIPMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  wel  ye  woof  )>at  wommen  naturelly 

Desiren  thynges  sixe  /  as  wel  as  I  1 364 

They  wolde  /  that1  hir  housbondes  sholde  be 

Hardy  and  wise  /  and  riche  and  ther-to  free 

And  buxom  vn  to  his  wyf*  and  fressfi  abedde 

But  by  that  ilke  lord  /  that  for  vs  bledde  1368 

ffor  his  honour  /  my  self  for  to  arraye 

A  sonday  next1 1  moste  nedes  paye 

An  hundred  frankes  /  or  ellis  I  am  lorn 

Yet  were  me  leuere  /  that  I  were  vnborn  1372 

Than  me  were  doon  /  a  sclaundre  or  vileynye 

And  if  myn  housbonde  /  eek  it  myghte  espye 

I  nere  but  lost1  and  therfore  I  yow  preye 

Lene  me  this  sowme  /  or  ellis  moot  I  deyc  1376 

Daun  John  I  seye  /  lene  me  thise  hundred  frankes  [Uiw,biQ 

Pardee  /  I  wol  nat  faille  yow  my  thankes 

If  that  yow  list1  to  doon  that  I  yow  praye 

ffor  at  a  certeyn  day  /  I  wol  yow  paye  1380 

And  doon  to  yow  /  what  plesance  and  service 

That  1  may  doon  /  right  as  yow  list  deuise 

And  but  I  do  /  god  take  on  me  vengeance 

As  foul  /  as  euere  badde  Genylon)  of  ffrance  1384 

IF  This  gentil  Monk  /  answerde  in  this  manere 

Now  trewely  /  myn  owene  lady  deere 

I  haue  quod  he  /  on  yow  so  greet  a  routhe 

That  I  yow  swere  /  and  plighte  yow  my  trouthe          1388 

That  whan  youre  housbonde  /  is  to  fflaundres  fare 

I  wol  delyuere  yow  /  out  of  this  care 

ffor  I  wol  brynge  yow  /-an  hundred  frankes 

And  vfith  that  word  /  he  caughte  hire  by  the  flankes  1392 

And  hire  embraceth  harde  /  and  kiste  hire  ofte 

Gooth  now  youre  wey  quod  he  /  al  stille  and  softe 

And  lat  us  dyne  /  as  soone  as  J>at  ye  may 

ffor  by  my  chilyndre  /  it  is  pryme  of  day  1396 

Gooth  now  /  and  beeth  as  trewe  as  I  shal  bo 

IT  No\f  elles  /  god  forbede  sire  quod  she 

ELLESMERE   39G    (6-T.    173) 


174    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  4.   SHIPMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  forth  she  gooth  /  as  lolif1  as  a  pye 

And  bad  the  cookes  /  pot  they  sholde  hem  hye  1400 

So  pat  men  mygfite  dyne  /  and  that  anon 

Vp  to  hir  housbonde  /  is  this  wyf  ygon 

And  knokketh  /  at  his  Countour  boldely 

IT  Who  ther  ?    quod  he  /  Peter  it  am  1 .  1T  qi  la  ? 

Quod  she  /  what  sire  /  how  longe  wol  ye  faste  ? 

How  longe  tyme  /  wol  ye  rekene  and  caste  ? 

Youre  sorames  /  and  youre  bookes  /  and  youre  thynges  ? 

The  deuel  haue  part1  on  alle  swiche  rekenynges  1408 

Ye  haue  ynough  pardee  /  of  goddes  sonde 

Com  doun  to  day  /  and  lat  youre  bagges  stonde 

Ne  be  ye  nat  ashamed  that  Daun  lohn 

Shal  fastiwg1  al  this  day  alenge  goon  1412 

Lat  vs  heere  a  messe  /  and  go  we  dyne 

IT  Wyf  quod  this  man  /  litel  kanstow  deuyne 

The  curious  bisynesse  /  that  we  haue 

if  or  of  vs  Chapmen  /  al  so  god  me  saue  1416 

And  by  that  lord  /  pat  clepid  is  Seinf  Yve 

Scarsly  amonges  .xij.  ten  shul  thryue 

Continuelly  /  lastynge  vn  to  oure  age 

We  may  wel  /  make  chiere  /  and  good  visage  1420 

And  dryue  forth  the  world  /  as  it  may  be 

And  kepen  /  oure  estaafr  in  pryuetee 

Til  we  be  deed  /  or  elles  that  we  pleye 

A  pilgrymage  /  or  goon  out  of  the  weye  1424 

And  therfore  /  haue  I  greet  necessitee  [leaf  isoj 

Vp  on  this  queynte  world  tauyse  me 

ffor  eueremoore  /  we  moote  stonde  in  dreda 

Of  hap  and  ffortune  /  in  oure  chapmanhede  1428 

IT  To  fflaundres  /  wol  I  go  /  to  morwe  at  day 

And  come  agayn  /  as  soone  as  euere  I  may 

ffor  which  my  deere  wyf  I  thee  biseke 

As  be  to  euery  wight1  buxom  and  meke  1432 

And  for  to  kepe  oure  good  /  be  curious 

And  honestly  /  gouerne  wel  oure  hous 

ELLESMERE   397   (6-T.    174) 


SIX-TEXT    175 

GROUP  B.   §  4.   smryAx's  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS 

Thou  hast  ynough"  /  in  cnery  maner  wise 

That  /  to  a  thrifty  houshold  may  suffise  1436 

Thee  lakketh  noon  array  /  ne  no  vitaille 

Of  siluer  in  thy  purs  /  shaltow  nat  faille 

And  with  that  word'  /  his  Countoz^r  dore  he  shette 

And  doun  he  gooth  /  no  lenger  wolde  he  lette  1440 

But  hastily  /  a  messe  was  ther  seyd? 

And  spedily  /  the  tables  were  yleyd? 

And  to  the  dyner  /  faste  they  hem  spedde 

And  richely  /  this  Monk  /  the  chapman  feddo  1444 

11  At  after  dyner  /  daun  lofin  sobrely 

This  Chapman  took1  a-part1  and  pmiely 

He  seyde  hym  thus  /  cosyn  it  standeth  so 

That  wel  I  se  /  to  Brugges  /  wol  ye  go  1448 

God  and  seint  Austyn  /  spede  yow  and  gyde 

I  prey  yow  cosyn  /  wisely  that  ye  ryde 

Gouemeth  yow  also  /  of  youre  diete 

Atemprely  /  and  namely  in  this  hete  1452 

Bitwix  vs  two  /  nedeth  no  strange  fare 

fiare  wel  cosyn  /  god  shilde  yow  fro  care 

And  if  fat  any  thyng1  by  day  or  nygfitf 

If  it  lye  in  my  power  /  and  my  myglitf  145C 

That  ye  me  wol  comande  in  any  wyse 

It  shal  be  doon  /  right  as  ye  wol  deuyse 

IT  0  thyng1  er  Jjat  ye  goon  /  if  it  may  be 

I  wolde  prey  yow  /  for  to  lene  me  14GO 

An  hundred  frankes  /  for  a  wyke  or  twcye 

ffor  certein  beestes  /  fat  I  moste  beye 

To  stoore  with  a  place  J>at  is  oures 

God  helpe  me  so  /  I  wolde  it  were  youres  1464 

I  shal  nat  faille  /  surely  at  my  day 

Nat  for  a  thousand!  frankes  a  Mile  way 

But  lat  this  thyng  be  secree  /  I  yow  prcye 

flfor  yet  to  nyglitt  /  thise  beestes  moot  I  beye  1468 

And  fare  now  wel  /  myn  owene  cosyn  deere 

Graunt  mercy  /  of  youre  cost1  /  and  of  youre  chcere 

ELLESMERE    398   (6-T.    17o). 


SIX-TEXT    176 

GROUP  B.   §  4.   SHIPMAN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS, 

^F  This  noble  marchant1  /  gentilly  anon 

Answerde  /  and  seyde  o  cosyn  myn  Daun  lofin  1472 

Now  sikerly  /  this  is  a  smal  requeste  [leaf  150,  back] 

My  gold  is  youres  /  whan  fat  it  yow  leste 

And  nat  oonly  my  gold  /  but  my  chaffare 

Take  what  yow  list1  .god  shilde  pat  ye  spare  1476 

IF  But  o  thyng  is  /  ye  knowe  it  wel  ynogh" 

Of  Chapmen  /  that  hir  moneie  is  hir  plogft 

We  may  creawnce  /  whil  we  haue  a  name 

But  goldlees  for  to  be  /  it  is  no  game  1480 

Paye  it  agayn  /  whan  it  lith  in  youre  ese 

After  my  myghfr  /  ful  fayn  wolde  I  yow  plese 

IT  Thise  hundred  frankes  /  he  fette  hym  forth  anon 

And  pn'uely  /  he  took  hem  to  daun  lofin  1484 

No  wight1  in  al  this  world  /  wiste  of  this  loone 

Sauynge  this  Marchant1  /  and  daun  John  alloone 

They  drynke  /  and  speke  /  and  rome  a  while  and  pleye 

Til  fat  daun  lohn  /  rideth  to  his  Abbeye  1488 

The  morwe  cam  /  and  forth  this  Marchant  rideth" 
To  fflaundres  ward?  /  his  prentys  wel  hym  gydeth" 
Til  he  cam  /  in  to  Brugges  murily 

Now  gooth  this  Marchant1  faste  and  bisily  1492 

Aboute  his  nede  /  and  byeth  and  creaunceth 
He  neither  /  pleyeth  at  dees  ne  daunceth 
But  as  a  Marchanfr  shortly  for  to  telle 
He  let  his  lyf  /  and  there  I  lete  hym  dwelle  1496 

The  sonday  next*  this  Marchant  was  agon 
To  seint  Denys  /  yeomen  is  Daun  Ioh"n 
With  crowne  and  berde  all  fressn"  and  newe  y-shaue 
In  al  the  hous  /  ther  nas  so  litel  a  knaue  1500 

Ne  no  wight  elles  /  fat  he  nas  ful  fayn 
That  my  lord  Daun  lohn  /  was  come  agayn. 
And  shortly  /  right  to  the  point  for  to  gon 
This  faire  wyf*  accorded  with  daun  lohn  1504 

That  for  thise  hundred  frankes  /  he  sholde  al  nyglitt 
Haue  hire  in  hise  armes  /  bolt  upright 

ELLESMERE     399  (G-T.    176) 


177   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  4.   BHIPMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  this  acord  /  parfourned  was  in  dede 

In  myrthe  al  nygfif  a  bisy  lyf  they  lede  1508 

Til  it  was  day  /  fat  Daun  Ioh"n  wente  his  way 

And  bad  the  meynee  /  fare  wel  haue  good  day 

ffor  noon  of  hem  /  ne  no  wight  in  the  toun 

Hath  of  daun  lofin  /  right  no  suspecioun  1512 

And  forth"  he  rydeth  /  hoom  to  his  Abbeye 

Or  where  hym  list1,  namoore  of  hym  I  seye 

This  Marchantf  whan  fat  ended  was  the  faire 
To  Seint  Denys  /  he  gan  for  to  repaire  1516 

And  with  his  wyf1  he  maketh  feeste  and  cheere 
And  telleth  hire  /  that  Chaffare  is  so  deere 
That  nedes  /  moste  he  make  a  cheuyssance 
ffor  he  was  bounden  /  in  a  reconyssafi.ce  1520 

To  paye  twenty  thousand!  sheeld?  anon  Deaf  mj 

ifor  which  /  this  Marchant1  is  to  Parys  gon 
To  borwe  /  of  certeine  freendes  fat  he  hadde 
A  certeyn  frankes  /  and  sowme  ~with  him  he  ladde      1524 
And  whan  fat  he  was  come  /  in  to  the  toun 
ffor  greet1  chiertee  /  and  greet  affectiown 
Vn  to  daun  Ioh"n  /  he  gooth  hym  first  to  pleye 
Nat  for  to  axe  /  or  borwe  of  hym  moneye  1528 

But  for  to  wite  /  and  seen  of  his  welfare 
And  for  to  tellen  hym  /  of  his  chaifare 
As  freendes  doon  /  whan  they  been  met  yfeere 
Daun  lohn  /  hym  maketh  feeste  and  murye  cheere      1532 
And  he  hym  tolde  agayn  /  ful  specially 
How  he  hadde  wel  ybogfctt  and  graciously 
Thanked  be  god  /  al  hool  his  marchandise 
Sane  fat  he  moste  /  in  alle  maner  wise  1536 

Maken  a  cheuyssance  /  as  for  his  beste 
And  thanne  /  he  sholde  been  /  in  ioye  and  reste 
IT  Daun  lohn  answerde-/  certes  I  am  fayn 
That  ye  in  heele  /  ar  comere  horn  agayn  15 '10 

And  if  fat  I  were  riche  /  as  haue  I  blisse 
Of  twenty  thousand!  sheeld  /  shold  ye  nat  mysse 

ELLESMERE   400   (6-T.    177) 


178   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  4.  SHIPMAN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  ye  /  so  kyndely  /  this  oother  daj 

Lente  me  gold  /  and  as  I  kan  and  may  1544 

I  thanke  yow  /  by  god  and  by  seint  lame 

But  nathelees  /  I  took  vn  to  oure  dame 

Youre  wyf  /  at  horn  /  the  same  gold  ageyn 

Vpon  youre  bench  /  she  woot  it  wel  certeyn  1548 

By  certeyn  tokenes  /  that  I  kan  yow  telle 

Now  by  youre  leue  /  I  may  no  longer  dwelle 

Oure  Abbot1  wole  out  of  this  toun  anon 

And  in  his  compaignye  /  moot  I  goon  1552 

Grete  wel  oure  dame  /  myn  owene  Kece  sweete 

And  fare  wel  deere  cosyn  /  til  we  meete 

This  Marchanf  which  fat  was  ful  war  and  wys 
Creanced  hath  /  and  payd  eek  in  Parys  1556 

To  certeyn  lumbardes  /  redy  in  hir  hond? 

.1.  obligactoncm 

The  sorame  of  gold  /  and  hadde  of  hem  his  bond! 

And  hoom  he  gooth  /  murie  /  as  a  Papeiay 

ffor  wel  he  knew  /  he  stood  in  swich  array  15  CO 

That  nedes  moste  he  wynne  in  that  viage 

A  thousand1  frankes  /  abouen  al  his  costage 

U  His  wyf  ful  redy  /  mette  hym  atte  gate 

As  she  was  wontt  of  oold  vsage  algate  1564 

And  al  that  nyght1  in  myrthe  they  bisette 

ffor  he  was  riche  /  and  cleerly  out  of  dette 

Whan  it  was  day  /  this  Marchant  gan  embrace 

His  wyf  /  al  newe  /  and  kiste  hire  on  hir  face  1568 

And  vp  he  gooth  /  and  maketh  it  ful  tough"         [lean  51,  back] 

1T  Namoore  quod  she  /  by  god  ye  haue  ynougfi 

And  wantownely  agayn  /  with  hym  she  pleyde 

f  Til  atte  laste  /  this  Marchant  seyde  1572 

By  god  quod  he  /  I  am  a  litel  wrooth" 

With  yow  my  wyf  /  al-though"  it  were  me  looth 

And  woot  ye  why  /  by  god  as  pat. I  gesse 

That  ye  han  maad  /  a  manere  straungenesse  1576 

Bitwixen  me  /  and  my  cosyn  daun  Ioh"n 

Ye  sholde  han  warned  me  /  er  I  had  gon 

ELLESMERE    401    (6-T.    178) 


179    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  4.   SHIPMAN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  he  yow  hadde  /  an  hundred  frankes  payed 

By  redy  tokene  /  and  heeld  hym  yuele  apayed  1580 

ffor  )>at  I  to  hym  spak  of  cheuyssance 

Me  semed  so  /  as  by  his  contenance 

But  nathelees  /  by  god  oure  heuene  kyng» 

I  thoughte  nat1  to  axen  hym  no  thyng1  1584 

I  prey  thee  wyf  /  as  do  namoore  so 

Telle  me  alwey  /  er  that  I  fro  thee  go 

If  any  dettour/  hath  in  myn  absence 

Ypayed  thee  /  lest  thurgh"  thy  necligence  1588 

I  myghte  hym  axe  /  a  thing  that  he  hath  payed! 

1T  This  wyf1  was  nat  afered  nor  affrayed? 

But  boldely  she  seyde  /  and  that  anon 

Marie  /  I  deffie  /  the  false  Monk  /  daun  Ioh"n  1592 

I  kepe  nat  of  hise  tokenes  /  neuer  a  deel 

He  took  me  certeyn  gold  /  that  woot  I  wee 

"What  yuel  thedam  /  on  his  Monkes  snowte 

ffor  god  it  woof  I  wende  wft^outen  doute  1596 

That  he  hadde  yeue  it  me  /  bycause  of  yow 

To  doon  ther-with  /  myn  honowr  and  my  prow 

ffor  cosynage  /  and  eek  for  beele  cheere 

That  he  hath  had  /  ful  ofte  tymes  heere  1600 

But  sith  I  se  /  I  stonde  in  this  disioyntt 

I  wol  answere  yow  /  shortly  to  the  poynfr 

IT  Ye  han  mo  slakkere  dettours  /  than  am  I 

ffor  I  wol  paye  yow  /  wel  and  redily  1604 

ffro  day  to  day  /  and  if  so  be  I  faille 

I  am  youre  wyf1  score  it  vp-on  my  taille 

And  I  shal  paye  /  as  soone  as  euer  I  may 

ffor  by  my  trouthe  /  I  haue  on  myn  array  1608 

And  nat  on  wast1  bistowed  euery  deel 

And  for  I  haue  /  bistowed  it  so  weel 

ffor  youre  honour  /  for  goddes  sake  I  seye 

As  be  nat  wrooth  /  but  lat  vs  laugfee  and  pleye  1G12 

Ye  shal  /  my  ioly  body  /  haue  to  wedde 

By  god  I  wol  nat  paye  yow  but  a  bedde 

ELLESMEKE    402   (6-T.    179) 


180    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  4.  SHIPMAX'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

fforgyue  it  me  /  myn  owene  spouse  deere 

Turne  hiderward!  /  and  maketh  bettre  cheere  1616 

IT  This  Marchant  saugR  /  ther  was  no  remedie  [leaf  1521 

And  for  to  chide  /  it  nere  but  greet  folie 

Sith  that  the  thyng1  may  nat  amended  be 

Now  wyf  he  seyde  /  and  I  foryeue  it  th.ee  1620 

But  by  thy  lyf*  ne  be  namoore  so  large 

Keepe  bet1  oure  good  /  that1  yeue  I  thee  in  charge 

Thus  endeth  my  tale  /  and  god  vs  sende 

Taillynge  ynougfr  /  vn-to  oure  lyues  ende  Amen  fo    1624 

H  Heere  endetfi  /  the  Shipmannes  tale  (S) 


15LLESMERE   403   (6-T.    180^ 


181    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  5.    SHIPMA.N-PRIORESS  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 


^[  Bihoold!  the  murie  wordes  of  the  Hoost1  to  the 
Shipman  and  to  the  lady  Prioresse.  [on  tea/ 152] 

Wei  seyd  by  corpus  dominus  quod  our  Hoostt 
Now  longe  /  moote  thou  saille  by  the  cost1 
Sire  gentil  maister  /  gentil  Maryneer 
God  yeue  this  Monk  /  a  thousand!  last1  quade  yeer       1628 
A  ha  felawes  /  beth  ware  of  swiche  a  lape 
The  Monk1  putte  /  in  the  mannes  hood  an  Ape 
And  in  his  wyues  eek1  by  Seint  Austyn 
Draweth  no  Monkes  /  moore  vn  to  youre  In  1632 

1T  But  now  passe  oner  /  and  lat  vs  seke  aboute 
Who  shal  now  /  telle  first*  of  al  this  route 
Another  tale  /  and  with  that  word  he  sayde 
As  curteisly  /  as  it  had  ben  a  mayde  1636 

My  lady  Prioresse  /  by  youre  leue 
So  that  I  wiste  /  I  sholde  yow  nat  greue 
I  wolde  demen  /  that  ye  tellen  sholde 
A  tale  next1  if  so  were  that  ye  wolde  1640 

jtfow  wol  ye  vouche  sauf1  my  lady  deerc 
IT  Gladly  quod  she  /  and  seyde  as  ye  shal  heere 

^   Explicit.   £) 


ELLESMERE  404    (C-T.    181) 


182   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  6.   PRIORESS'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


The  prologe  of  the  Prioresses  tale,  fa         (on 
Domine  dominus  noster. 


Olord  oure  lord  /  thy  name  how  merueillous 
Is  in  this  large  world?  /  ysprad  quod  she 
ffor  noght  oonly  /  thy  laude  precious 
Parfourned  is  /  by  men  of  dignitee  1646 

But  by  the  mouth  of  children  /  thy  bouwtee 
Parfourned  is  /  for  on  the  brest  soukynge 
Somtyme  /  she  wen  they  thyn  heriynge  1649 

Wherfore  in  laude  /  as  I  best  kan  or  may  [leaf  152,  back] 

Of  thee  /  and  of  the  lylye  flour 

Which  that  the  bar  /  and  is  a  mayde  alway 

To  telle  a  storie  /  I  wol  do  my  labour  1653 

Nat  that  I  may  /  encreessen  hir  honour 

ffor  she  hir  self  /  is  honow?1  and  the  roote 

Of  bouwtee  next*  hir  sone  /  and  soules  boote  1656 

0  mooder  mayde  /  o  mayde  mooder  fre 

0  bussh  vnbrent1  brennynge  in  Moyses  sighte 

That  rauysedest1  doun  fro  the  deitee 

Thurgfi  thyn  humblesse  /  the  goost1  fat  in  thaligtite    1660 

Of  whos  vertu  /  whan  he  thyn  herte  lighte 

Conceyued  was  /  the  fadres  sapience 

Helpe  me  /  to  telle  it  in  thy  reuerence  1663 

Lady  /  thy  bowntee  /  thy  magnificence 

Thy  vertu  /  and  thy  grete  humylitee 

Ther  may  no  tonge  expresse  /  in  no  science 

ffor  somtyme  lady  /  er  men  praye  to  thee  1667 

Thou  goost  biforn  /  of  thy  benyngnytee 

And  getest  vs  /  thurgh  lygfttf  of  thy  preyere 

To  gyden  vs  /  vn  to  thy  sone  so  deere  1670 

ELLESMERE   405    (G-T.    182) 


183    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  6.  PRIORESS'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

My  konnyng1  is  so  wayk*  o  blisful  queene 

ffor  to  declare  /  thy  grete  worthynesse 

That  I  ne  may  /  the  weighte  nat  susteene 

But  as  a  child  /  of  twelf  /  monthe  oold  or  lesse  1C 74 

That  kan  vnnethe  /  any  word  expresse 

Eight  so  fare  I  /  and  therfore  I  yow  preye 

Gydeth  my  song1  pat  I  shal  of  yow  seye  1677 

If  Explicit1  & 


H  Heere  bigynneth  the  Prioresses  tale. 

Ther  was  in  Asye  /  in  a  greet  Citee  [paMiw  of 

1  °  the  Priorets 

Amonges  cristene  folk  /  a  lewerye 
Sustened  /  by  a  lord  /  of  that  contree 
ffor  foule  vsure  /  and  lucre  of  vileynye 
Hateful  /  to  Crist'  and  to  his  compaignye 
And  thurgfi  the  strete  /  men  myghte  ride  or  wende 
ffor  it  was  free  /  and  open  at  eyther  ende  1G84 


A  litel  scole  /  of  cristen  folk1  ther  stoocfef 

Doun  at  the  ferther  ende  /  in  which  ther  were 

Children  an  heepe  /  yeomen  of  cn'sten  blood 

That  lerned  in  that  scole  /  yeer  by  yere  1688 

Swich  manere  doctrine  /  as  men  vsed  there 

This  is  to  seyn  /  to  syngen  /  and  to  rede 

As  smale  children  doon  /  in  hire  childhede  1691 

Among1  thise  children  /  was  a  wydwes  sone 

A  litel  clergeon)  /  seuen  yeer  of  age 

That  day  by  day  /  to  scole  was  his  wone 

And  eek  also  /  where  as  he  saugh  thymage  1  695 

Of  Cristes  mooder  he  hadde  in  vsage 

As  hym  was  taugnf  to  knele  adoun  and  seye 

His  Aue  Marie  /  as  he  goth  by  the  weye  1698 

ELLESMERE    406   (6-T.    183) 


184   SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  B.      6.   PRIORESS'S  TALE.   Ellesxnere  MS. 

Thus  hath  this  wydwe  /  hir  litel  eone  y taught1 

Oure  blisful  lady  cristes  mooder  deere 

To  worshipe  ay  /  and  he  forgate  it  naught 

ffor  sely  child  /  wol  alday  soone  leefe  1702 

But  ay  /  whan.  I  remembre  on  this  mateere 

Seint  Nicholas  /  stant  euere  in  iny  presence 

Ifor  he  so  yong1  to  Crist1  dide  reuerence  1 705 

This  litel  child4  his  litel  boot  lernynge 

As  he  sat  in  the  scole  /  at  his  prymer 

He  /  Alma  redemptoris  /  herde  synge 

As  children  /  lerned  hire  Anthiphoner  1709 

And  as  he  dorste  /  he  drough  hym  ner  and  ner      .  - 

And  herkned  ay  /  the  wordes  and  the  noote 

Til  he  the  firste  vers  /  koude  al  by  rote  1712 

Noght  wiste  he  /  what  this  latyn  was  to  seye 

ffor  he  so  yong1  and  tendre  was  of  age 

But  on  a  day  /  his  felawe  gan  he  preye 

Texpounden  hym  this  song1  in  his  langage  1716 

Or  telle  hym  /  why  this  song1  was  in  vsage 

This  preyde  he  hym  /  to  construe  and  declare 

fful  often  tyme  /  vpon  hise  knowes  bare  1719 

His  felawe  /  which  that  elder  was  than  he 

Answerde  hym  thus  /  this  song  I  haue  herd  seye 

Was  maked  /  of  oure  blisful  lady  free 

Hire  to  salue  /  and  eek  hire  for  to  preye  1723 

To  been  oure  help  /  and  socour  whan  we  deye 

I  kan  na  moore  /  expounde  in  this  mateere 

I  lerne  song1 1  kan  but  smal  grammeere  1726 

iff  Aiid  is  this  song1  maked  in  reuerence  peaf  153,  back] 

Of  cristes  mooder*  seyde  /  this  Innocent1 

Now  certes  /  I  wol  do  my  diligence 

To  konne  it  al  /  er  Cristemasse  is  went1  ..."  1730 

ELLESMERE   407   (6-T.    18i) 


185    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  6.  PRIORESS'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Though  fat  /  I  for  my  prymer  shal  be  shentt 

And  shal  be  beten  /  thries  in  an  houre 

I  wol  it  konne  /  oure  lady  for  to  honoure  1733 

His  f  elawe  /  taugfrte  hym  horn  ward  pn'uely 

ffro  day  to  day  /  til  he  koude  it  by  rote 

And  thanne  /  he  song1  it  wel  and  boldely 

ffro  word  to  word!  to  word  acordynge  \vith  the  note     1737 

Twies  a  day  /  it  passed  thurgfi  his  throte 

To  scoleward  and  homward  whan  he  wente 

On  cristes  mooder  /  set  was  his  entente  1740 

IT  As  I  haue  seyd  /  thurgfi  out  the  luerie 

This  litel  child  /  as  he  cam  to  and  fro 

fful  murily  /  wolde  he  synge  and  crie 

O  Alma  redemptoris  /  euere  mo  1744 

The  swetnesse  /  his  herte  perced  so 

Of  cristes  mooder  /  that  to  hire  to  preye 

He  kan  nat  stynte  /  of  syngyng*  by  the  weye  1747 

Ovre  firste  foo  /  the  serpent  Sathanas  1  Aueu>r 

That  hath  /  in  lues  herte  his  waspes  nest1 
Vp  swal  /  and  seide  /  o.  hebrayk1  peple  alias 
Is  this  to  yow  /  a  thyng1  fat  is  honest*  1751 

That  swich  a  boy  /  shal  walken  as  hym  lest1 
In  youre  despitf  and  synge  of  swich  sentence 
Which  is  /  agayn  oure  lawes  reuerence  1754 

ffro  thennes  forth  /  the  lues  han  conspired 

This  Innocent1  out  of  this  world  to  chace 

An  homycide  /  ther  to  /  han  they  hyred 

That  in  an  Aleye  /  hadde  a  pnuee  place  1 758 

And  as  the  child  /  gan  forby  for  to  pace 

This  cursed  lew  hym  hente  /  and  heeld  hym  faste 

And  kitte  his  throte  /  and  in  a  pit  hym  caste  1761 

ELLESMERE   408   (6-T.    185) 


186   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  6.  PRIORESS'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

I  seye  /  that  in  a  wardrobe  /  they  hym  threwe 

Where  as  thise  lewes  /  purgen  hire  entraille 

0  cursed  folk  /  of  Herodes  al  newe 

"What  may  youre  yuel  entente  yow  auaille  1765 

Mordre  wol  out1  certeyn  /  it  wol  nat  faille 

And  namely  /  ther  thonour  of  god  shal  sprede 

The  blood  out  crieth  /  on  youre  cursed  dede  1768 

IT  0  martir  /  sowded  to  virginitee  [leaf  154 j 

Now  maystow  syngen  /  folwynge  euere  in  oon 

The  white  lamb  celestial  quod  she 

Of  which  /  the  grete  Euawngelist1  Seint  loRn  1772 

In  Pathmos  wroof  which  seith  /  ]>at  they  fat  goon 

Biforn  this  lamb  /  and  synge  a  song  al  newe 

i.  carnalitw 

That  neuere  fleshly  /  wommen  they  ne  knewe  1775 

IT  This  poure  wydwe  /  awaiteth  al  that  nygfif 

After  hir  litel  child  /  but  he  cam  nogfif 

ffor  which  as  soone  /  as  it  was  dayes  lyg&fr 

With  face  pale  of  drede  /  and  bisy  thoghf  1779 

She  hath  at  scole  /  and  elles  where  hym  soght1 

Til  finally  /  she  gan  so  fer  espie 

That  he  /  last  seyn  was  in  the  luerie  1 782 

With  moodres  pitee  /  in  hir  bresf  enclosed 

She  gooth  /  as  she  were  half  /  out  of  hir  mynde 

To  euery  place  /  where  she  hath  supposed 

By  liklihede  /  hir  litel  child  to  fynde  1786 

And  euere  /  on  Cristes  mooder/  meeke  and  kynde 

She  cride  /  and  atte  laste  /  thus  she  wroghte 

Among1  the  cursed  lues  /  she  hym  soghte  1 789 

She  frayneth  /  and  she  preyeth  pitously 

To  euery  lew  /  fat  dwelte  in  thilke  place 

To  telle  hire  /  if  hir  child  /  wente  oght  forby 

They  seyde  nay  /  but  Ihesu  of  his  grace  1793 

ELLESMERE   409   (6-T.    186) 


187    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  2.  PRIORESS'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

Yaf  in  hir  thoght1  inwith  a  litel  space 

That  in  that  place  /after  hir  sone  she  cryde 

Where  he  was  casten  /  in  a  pit  bisyde  1796 

Ogrete  god  /  that  parfournest  thy  laude  if  Auctor 

By  mouth  of  Innocentz  /  lo  heere  thy  myghf 
This  gemme  of  chastite  /  this  Emeraude 
And  eek  of  martirdom  /  the  Euhy  bright1  1800 

Ther  he  with  throte  ykomen  lay  vprightt 
He  Alma  redemptoris  /  gan  to  synge 
So  loude  /  fat  al  the  place  gan  to  rynge  1803 

•  v.     .     .    _ 

1T  The  cristene  folk  /  that  thurgh"  the  strete  wente 

In  coomen  /  for  to  wondre  vp  on  this  thyng1 

And  hastily  /  they  for  the  Prouost  sente 

He  cam  anon  /  with  outen  tariyng1  1807 

And  herieth  Crist1  that  is  of  heuene  kyng* 

And  eek  his  mooder  /  honour  of  mankyhde 

And  after  that  /  the  lewes  leet  he  bynde  1810 


*![  This  child  /  with  pitous  lamentacion  [leaf  154, 

Vp  taken  was  /  syngynge  his  song  alway 

And  with  honour/  of  greet  procession 

They  carien  hym  /  vn  to  the  nexte  Abbay  1814 

His  mooder  swownynge  /  by  his  beere  lay 

Vnnethe  /  myghte  the  peple  fat  was  theere 

This  newe  Rachel  /  brynge  fro  his  beere  1817 

H  With  torment1  and  vfiih  shameful  deeth  echon) 

Thia  Prouosf  dooth  the  lewes  for  to  sterue 

That  of  this  mordre  wiste  /  and  that  anon) 

He  nolde  /  no  swich  cursednesse  obserue  1821 

Yuele  shal  he  haue  /  fat  yuele  wol  deserue 

Therfore  /  with  wilde  hors  /  he  dide  hem  drawe 

And  after  that  he  heng  hem  by  the  lawe  1824' 

ELLESMERE  410    (6-T.    187) 


188    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  6.   PRIORESS'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

IF  Vp  on  this  beere  /  ay  lith  this. Innocent1 

Biforn  the  chief  Auter  /  whil  the  masse  laste 

And  after  that*  the  Abbot*  with  his  Couenf 

Han  sped  hem  /  for  to  burien  hym  ful  faste  1828 

And  whan  they  /  hooly  water  on  hym  caste 

Yet  spak  this  child  /  whan  spreynd  was  hooly  water 

And  song1  0  Alma  redemptoris  mater.  1831 

11  This  Abbot*  which  fat  was  an  hooly  man 

As  Monkes  been  /  or  elles  oghte  be 

This  yonge  child  /  to  coniure  he  bigan 

And  seyde  o  deere  child  I  halsen  thee  1835 

In  vertu  /  of  the  hooly  Trinitee 

Tel  me  /  what  is  thy  cause  /  for  to  synge 

Sith  fat  thy  throte  is  kuf  to  my  semynge  1838 

1F  My  throte  is  kutt  vn  to  my  nekke  boon 

Seyde  this  child!  and  as  by  wey  of  kynde 

I  sholde  haue  dyed  /  ye  longe  tyme  agon 

But  Ihesu  crist  /  as  ye  in  bookes  fynde  1842 

Wil  fat  his  glorie  /  laste  /  and  be  in  mynde 

And  for  the  worship  /  of  his  mooder  deere 

Yet  may  I  synge  /  0  Alma  /  loude  and  cleere  1845 

1T  This  welle  of  mercy  Cristes  mooder  sweete 

I  loued  alwey  /  as  after  my  konnynge 

And  whan  fat  I  my  lyf  /  sholde  forlete 

To  me  she  cam  /  and  bad  me  for  to  synge  1849 

This  Anthephen)  /  verraily  /  in  my  deyynge 

As  ye  han  herd!  /  and  whan  fat  I  hadde  songe 

Me  thoughte  /  she  leyde  a  greyn  vp  on  my  tonge         1852 

"Wherfore  I  synge  /  and  synge  I  moot  certeyn  [leaf  155] 

In  honour  /  of  that  blisful  mayden  free 

Til  fro  my  tonge  /  of  taken  is  the  greyn 

And  afterward  /  thus  seyde  she  to  me  1856 

31  ELLESMEI1E   411   (6-T.    188) 


189    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  6.   PRIORESS'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

My  litel  child  /  now  wol  I  fecche  thee 

Whan  fat  the  greyn  /  is  fro  thy  tonge  ytake 

Be  nat  agast1 1  wol  thee  nat  forsake  1859 

IT  This  hooly  Monk1  this  Abbot  hym  meene  I 

His  tonge  out  caughte  /  and  took  a-wey  the  greyn 

And  he  yaf  vp  the  goost1  ful  softely 

And  whan  this  Abbot1  hadde  this  wonder  seyn  1863 

Hise  salte  teeris  /  trikled  doun  as  reyn 

And  gruf  he  fil  /  al  plat  vp  on  the  grounde 

And  stille  he  lay  /  as  he  had  leyn  ybounde  1866 

The  Couentt  eek  /  lay  on  the  pauemenf 

Wepynge  /  and  heryen  cristes  mooder  deere 

And  after  that  /  they  ryse  and  forth  been  went* 

And  tooken  awey  /  this  martir  from  his  beere  1870 

And  in  a  temple  /  of  Marbul  stones  cleere 

Enclosen  they  /  his  litel  body  sweete 

Ther  he  is  now  /  god  leue  us  alle  for  to  meete  1873 

1T  0  yonge  HugR  of  Lyncolri)  slayn  also 

"With  cursed  lewes  /  as  it  is  notable 

ffor  it  is  /  but  a  litel  while  ago 

Preye  eek  /  for  vs  /  we  synful  folk  vnstable  1877 

That  of  his  mercy  /  god  so  merciable 

On  vs  /  his  grete  mercy  multiplie 

ffor  reuerence  /  of  his  mooder  Marie     Amen  fa  1880 

U  Heere  is  ended  /  the  Prioresses  Tale  fa 


ELLESMERE    412  (6-T.    189) 


190    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  B.   §  7.   PRIORESS-THOPAS  LINK.   EUesmere  MS. 


II  Bihoold  the  murye  wordes  of  the  Boost*  to 
Chaucer  [o^ 


WHan  seyd  was  al  this  miracle  /  eue;y  man 
As  sobre  was  /  that  wonder  was  to  se 
Til  that  oure  hoost1  lapen  to  bigan 

.s.  Chaucer 

And  thanne  at  erst1  he  looked  vp  on  me  1884 

And  seyde  thus  /  what  man  artow  quod  he  ? 

Thou  lookest1  as  thou  woldest  fynde  an  hare 

ffor  euere  /  vp  on  the  ground?  /  I  se  thee  stare  1887 

Approche  neer  /  and  looke  vp  murily  [leaf  1 55,  back: 

Now  War  yow  sires  /  and  lat  this  man  haue  place 

He  in  the  waast1  is  shape  /  as  wel  as  .1.  a.  henry  Ba-iij 

This  were  a  popet1  in  an  Arm  tenbrace  1891 

ffor  any  womman  smal  /  and  fair  of  face 

He  semeth  eluyssh"  /  by  his  contenance 

if  or  vn  to  no  wight  /  dooth  he  daliance  1894 

Sey  now  somwhaf  syn  oother  folk1  han  sayd? 

Telle  vs  a  tale  /  of  myrthe  /  and  that  anon 

Hoost1  quod  I  /  ne  beth  nat  yuele  apayd! 

ifor  oother  tale  /  certes  kan  I  noon  1898 

But  of  a  rym  /  I  lerned  longe  agoon 

.i.  hoost 

Ye  that  is  good  quod  he  /  now  shul  ye  heere 

Som  deyntee  thyng1  me  thynketh  by  his  cheere  1901 

1  Explicit-  ft 


ELLESMERE  413    (6-T.    190) 


191    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  8.    SIR  THOPAS.    Ellcsmere  MS. 


5[  Heere  bigynnetfi  Chaucers  tale  of  Thopas.      [™/[£f 

[The  First  Fit.] 
[Each  third  line  is  on  the  right  of  its  couple,  in  the  MS.] 

Listeth  lordes  in  good  ententt 
And  I  wol  telle  verraymentt 

Of  myrthe  and  of  solas  1 904 

Al  of  a  knygnt  /  was  fair  and  gent1 
In  bataille  /  and  in  tourneymentt 

His  name  was  sire  Thopas  1907 

IT  Ybom  he  was  /  in  fer  contree 
In  flaundres  /  al  biyonde  the  see 

At  Poperyng1  in  the  place  1910 

His  fader  was  /  a  man  ful  free 
And  lord  he  was  /  of  that  contree 

As  it  was  goddes  grace  1913 

1T  Sire  Thopas  /  wax  a  dogSty  swayn 
Whit  was  his  face  as  Payndemayn 

Hise  lippes  rede  as  rose  1916 

His  rode  is  lyk  /  scarlet  in  grayn 
And  I  yow  telle  /  in  good  certayn 

He  hadde  /  a  semely  nose  1919 

H  His  heer  /  his  herd1  /  was  lyk  saffroun 
That  to  his  girdel  raugfite  adoun 

Hise  shoos  of  Cordewane  1922 

Of  Brugges  /  were  his  hosen  broun 
His  Robe  /  was  of  Syklatoun 

That  coste  many  a  lane  1925 

ELlESMERE   414    (6-T.    19l) 


192   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  8.    SIR  THOPAS.    Ellesmere  MS. 

IF  He  koude  hunte  /  at  wilde  deer 
And  ride  an  haukyng1  for  Eiuer 

With  grey  goshauk  on  honde  1928 

Ther-to  he  was  /  a  good  Archeer 
Of  wrastlyng*  was  ther  noon  his  peer 

Ther  any  Ram  shal  stonde  1931 

IT  fful  many  a  mayde  /  bright  in  hour 
They  moorne  for  hym  paramour 

Whan  hem  were  bet  to  slepe  1934 

But  he  was  chaast1  and  no  lechour 
And  sweete  as  is  the  Brembul  flour 

That  bereth  the  rede  hepe  1937 

And  so  bifel  vp  on  a  day 
flbr  sothe  /  as  I  yow  telle  may 

Sire  Thopas  /  wolde  out  ride  1940 

He  worth  /  vpon  his  steede  gray 
And  in  his  hand  a  launcegay 

A  long  swerd  /  by  his  side  1943 

1T  He  priketh  /  thurgfi  a  fair  forest1  [leaf  ise] 

Ther  Inne  /  is  many  a  wilde  besf 

Ye  bothe  bukke  and  hare  1946 

And  as  he  priketh  North  and  Est1 
I  telle  it  yow  /  hym  hadde  almesf 

Bitidde  /  a  sory  care  1949 

IT  Ther  spryngen  herbes  /  grete  and  smale 
The  lycorys  and  Cetewale 

And  many  a  clowe  gylofre  1952 

And  Notemuge  /  to  putte  in  Ale 
Wheither  it  be  moyste  /  or  stale 

Or  for  to  leye  in  cofre  1955 

ELLESMERE  416    (6-T.    192) 


193    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  8.    SIR  THOPAS.    Ellcsmere  MS. 

IF  The  briddes  synge  /  it  is  no  nay 
The  sparhauk1  and  the  papeiay 

That  ioye  it  was  to  heere  1958 

The  thrustelcok  /  made  eek  hir  lay 
The  wodedowue  /  vp  on  a  spray 

She  sang1  ful  loude  and  cleere  19G1 

IF  Sire  Thopas  fil  in  loue  longynge 
Al  whan  he  herde  /  the  thrustel  synge 

And  pryked  /  as  he  were  wood'  19G4 

His  faire  steede  in  his  prikynge 
So  swatte  /  fat  men  myghte  him  wrynge 

His  sydes  /  were  al  blood*  1967 

IT  Sire  Thopas  eek  /  so  wery  was 
ffor  prikyng1  on  the  softe  gras 

So  fiers  was  his  corage  1970 

That  doun  he  leyde  him  in  that  plas 
To  make  his  steede  som  solas 

And  yaf  hym  good  forage  1973 

11  0  seinte  Marie  benedicite 
What  eyleth  /  this  loue  at  me 

To  bynde  me  so  soore  197G 

Me  dremed  /  al  this  nyghfr  pardee 
An  elf  queene  /  shal  my  lemman  be 

And  slepe  vnder  my  goore  1979 

IT  An  Elf  queene  /  wol  I  loue  ywis 
ffor  in  this  world  /  no  womman  is 

Worthy  to  be  my  make  ?  1 982 

In  towne 

1F  Alle  othere  wowzmen  I  forsake 
And  to  an  Elf  queene  I  me  take 

By  dale  and  eek  by  downe  1986 

ELLESMERE   416   (6-T.    193) 


194    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  8.    SIR  THOPAS.    Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  In  to  his  sadel  /  he  clamb  anon 
And  priketh  ouer  stile  and  stoon 

An  Elf  queene  for  tespye  1989 

Til  he  so  longe  /  hadde  riden  and  goon 
That  he  foond  /  in  a  pryue  woon 

The  contree  of  ffairye  1992 

so  wilde 

ffor  in  that  contree  was  ther  noon  ? 
[ no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

Neither  wyf  ne  childe  1996 


1T  Til  J>at  ther  cam  a  greet  geaimt1 
His  name  was  /  sire  Olifauntt 

A  perilous  man  of  dede  1999 

He  seyde  child  by  Termagaunt  / 
But  if  thou  prike  /  out  of  myn  haunt1 

Anon  I  sle  thy  steede  2002 

with  mace 

IT  Heere  is  /  the  queene  of  ffairye 
With  harpe  /  and  pipe  and  symphonye 

Dwellynge  in  this  place  2006 


IT  The  child  seyde  /  Al  so  moote  I  thee 
Tomorwe  /  wol  I  meete  Vfith  thee 

Whan  I  haue  myn  Armoure  2009 

1T  And  yet  I  hope  /  par  ma  fay 
That  thou  shalt1  vrith  this  launcegay 

Abyen  it  ful  sowre  2012 

Thy  mawe 

Thyn  hauberk  /  shal  I  percen  /  if  I  may1    ['  aiiover  an  era*ure\ 
Er  it  be  fully  pryme  of  day 

ffor  heere  thow  shalt  be  slawe  2016 

ELLESMERE    417    (6-T.    194) 


195    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  8.    sm  THOPAS.    Eliesmere  MS. 

1T  Sire  Thopas  /  drow  abak  ful  faste 
This  geant1  at  hym  stones  caste 

Out  of  a  fel  staf  slynge  201 9 

U  But  faire  escapeth  sire  Thopas 
And  al  it  was  thurgfi  goddes  gras 

And  thurgh"  his  fair  berynge  2022 

Yet  listeth  /  lordes  /  to  my  tale  [leaf  isc,  b-.uk] 

Murier  than  the  Nightyngale 

I  wol  yow  rowne  .       2025 

How  sir  Thopas  /  with  sydes  smale 
Prikyng1  ouer  hift  and  dale 

Is  comen  agayn  to  towne  2028 

IT  His  murie  men  /  comanded  he 
To  make  hym  /  bothe  game  and  glee 

.  ifor  nedes  /  moste  he  figfete     *  2031 

With  a  geaunf  with  heuedes  three 
ffor  paramour  and  lolitee 

Of  oon  /  that  shoon  ful  brighte  2034 

IT  Do  come  he  seyde  /  my  Mynstrales 
And  geestours  /  for  to  tellen  tales 

Anon  in  myn  Armynge  2037 

Of  Romances  /  that  been  Eoiales 
Of  Popes  /  and  of  Cardinales 

And  eek1  of  loue  likynge  2040 

1F  They  sette  hym  first1  sweete  wyn 
And  Mede  eek1  in  a  Mazelyn 

And  Roial  spicerye  2043 

And  Gyngebreed  /  fat  was  ful  fyn 
And  lycorys  and  eek  Comyn 

With  sugre  pat  is  so  trye  2046 

ELLESMERE    418   (6-T.    19o) 


19G    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  8.    SIR  THOPAS.    Ellesmere  MS. 

IF  He  dide  /  next  his  white  leere 
Of  clooth  of  lake  /  fyn  and  cleere 

A  breech  /  and  eek  a  sherte  2049 

And  next  his  sherte  an  Aketon 
And  oner  that1  an  haubergeoii 

ffor  percynge  of  his  herte  2052 

IT  And  oner  that  /  a  fyn  hawberk1 
Was  al  y  wroght  of  lewes  werk1 

fful  strong  it  was  of  plate  2055 

And  ouer  that1  his  cote  Armour 
As  whitt  as  is  /  a  lilye  flour 

In  which  /  he  wol  debate  2058 

IT  His  sheeld  /  was  al  /  of  gold  so  reed? 
And  ther  Inne  /  was  a  bores  heed? 

A  Charbocle  bisyde  2061 

And  there  he  swoor  /  on  ale  and  breed! 
How  fat  the  geaunt1  shal  be  deed' 

Bityde  what  bityde  2064 

1F  Hise  lambeux  were  of  quyrboilly 
His  swerdes  shethe  of  Yuory 

His  helm  of  laton  bright1  2067 

His  sadel  was  of  Rewel  boon 
His  brydel  /  as  the  sonne  shoon 

Or  as  the  moone  light"  2070 

IT  His  spere  it  was  /  of  fyn  Ciprees 
That  bodeth  werre  /  and  no  thyng1  pees 

The  heed  /  ful  sharpe  ygrounde  2073 

IT  His  steede  was  /  al  dappuH  gray 
It  gooth  an  Ambil  in  the  way 

fful  softely  and  rounde  2076 

ELLESMERE    419    (6-T.    196) 


197    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  fi.    §  8.    SIR  THOPAS.    Ellcsmerc  MS. 

In  londe 

IT  Loo  lordes  myne  /  heere  is  a  fit1 
If  ye  wol  any  moore  of  it* 

To  telle  it  /  wol  I  fonde  2080 


[TJie  Second  Fit.] 

NOw  holde  youre  mouth  par  charitee 
Bothe  knygnt1  and  lady  free 

And  herkneth  to  my  spelle  2083 

IT  Of  batailles  /  and  of  Chiualry 
And  of  ladyes  /  loue  drury 

Anon  I  wol  yow  telle  2086 

IT  Men  speken  of  Romances  of  prys 
Of  Hornchiltf  /  and  of  Ypotys 

Of  Beves  and  of  sir  Gy  2089 

Of  sir  lybeux  and  pleyn  damowr 
But  sir  Thopas  /  he  bereth  the  flowr 

Of  Eoial  Chiualry  2092 

IT  His  goode  Steede  /  al  he  bistrood? 
And  forth  /  vpon  his  wey  he  rood? 

As  sparcle  /  out  of  the  bronde  2095 

IT  Vp  on  his  Creest4  He  bar  a  tour  peaf  157] 

And  ther  Inne  /  stiked  a  lilie  flour 

God  shilde  his  cors  fro  shonde  2098 

IT  And  for  he  was  /  a  knygfit  Auntrous 
He  nolde  slepen  /  in  noon  hous 

But  liggen  in  his  hcode  2101 

1T  His  brighte  helm  /  was  his  wonger 
And  by  hym  /  baiteth  his  dextrer 

Of  herbes  fyne  and  goode  2104 

ELLESMERE    420  (fi-T.    19?) 


198    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  8.    SIR  THOPAS.    Ellesmere  MS, 

IT  Hym  self  /  drank  water  of  the  well 
As  dide  the  knygttf  sire  PercyueH 

So  worly  vnder  wede 
1T  Til  on  a  day  2108 


ELLESMERE   421    (6-T.    198) 


199    SIX-TEXT 

GUOUP  B.   §  9.  THOPAS-MELIBE  LINK.   Ellesmcre  MS. 


^f  Heere  tlie  Hoost*  stynteth  Chaucer  /  of  his  tale  of 
Thopas  & 

"\~T~a  moore  of  this  /  for  goddes  dignitee 

\^     Quod  oure  hoosf  for  thou  makest  me 
-L-  1     So  wery  /  of  thy  verray  lewednesse 
That  also  wisly  /  god  my  soule  blesse  2112 

Min  eres  aken  /  of  thy  drasty  speche 
Now  swich  a  Rym  /  the  deuel  I  biteche 
This  may  wel  /  be  Rym  dogerel  quod  he 
IT  Why  so  quod  I  /  why  wiltow  lette  me?  2116 

Moore  of  my  tale  /  than  another  man 
Syn  that  it  is  /  the  beste  tale  I  kan 
^T  By  god  quod  he  /  for  pleynly  at  a  word? 
Thy  drasty  rymyng  /  is  nat  worth  a  toord1  2120 

Thou  doost1  noght  elles  /  but  despendest  tyme 
Sire  at  o  word  /  thou  shalt  no  lenger  ryme 
Lat  se  /  wher  thou  kanst  tellen  aught  in  geeste 
Or  telle  in  prose  /  somwhat  at  the  leeste  2124 

In  which  ther  be  som  murthe  /  or  som  doctryne 
^T  Gladly  quod  I  /  by  goddes  sweete  pyne 
I  wol  yow  telle  /  a  litel  thyng  in  prose 
That  ogfite  liken  yow  /  as  I  suppose  2128 

Or  elles  certes  /  ye  been  to  daungerous 
It  is  a  moral  tale  vertuous 
A 1  be  it  take  som  tyme  /  in  sondry  wyse 
Of  sondry  folk1  as  I  shal  yow  deuyse  2132 

IT  As  thus  /  ye  woot1  J>at  euery  Euatmgelist/ 
That  telleth  vs  /  the  peyne  of  Ihesn.  cristf 
Ne  seith  nat  alle  thyng1  as  his  felawe  dootH 
But  nathelees  /  hir  sentence  is  al  sooth"  2136 

And  alle  acorden  /  as  in  hire  sentence 
Al  be  ther  /  in  hir  telly ng1  difference 

ELLESMERE   422    (6-T.    199) 


200    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  9.  THOPAS-MELIBE  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  somme  of  hem  seyn  moore  /  and  so?mne  seyn  lesse 
Whan  they  /  his  pitous  passiou?^  exp?v?sse  2140 

I  meene  /  of  Mark1  Mathew  /  Luc1  and  John 
Eut  doutelees  /  hir  sentence  is  all  oon 

II  Therfore  lordynges  alle  /  I  yow  biseche  Deaf  157,  back] 
If  J>«t  yow  thynke  /  I  varie  as  in  my  speche  2144 
As  thus  /  though"  that  I  telle  som  what  moore 

Of  prouerbes  /  than  ye  ban  herd  bifoore 

Comprehended  /  in  this  litel  tretys  heere 

To  enforce  with  /  theffect1  of  my  mateere  2148 

And  though"  I  /  nat  the  same  wordes  seye 

As  ye  ban  hercB  /  yet  to  yow  alle  I  preye 

Blameth  me  naf  for  as  in  my  sentence 

Shul  ye  /  nowher  /  fynden  difference  2152 

ffro  the  sentence  /  of  this  tretys  lyte 

After  the  which  /  this  murye  tale  I  write 

And  therfore  /  herkneth  /  what  J?at  I  shal  seye 

And  lat  me  tellen  /  al  my  tale  I  preye  2156 

f  Explicit1  & 


ELLESMERE   123    (6-T.    200) 


201    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  B.     §  10.    MELIBEUS.    Ellcsmere  MS. 


\Tliere  are  no  line-numbers  or  breaks  between  the  paragraphs  in 
the  MS,  Tyrrvhitt's  breaks  are  kept  here  to  prevent  slight 
differences  in  the  Six  Texts  throwing  out  many  lines.  j|  stands 
for  a  triangular  pause-mark  in  the  MS.~\ 

\Ellesmere  MS,  on  leaf  157,  bacJc."] 
H  Heere  bigynneth  Chaucers  tale  of  Melibee  fa 

Yong  man  called  Melibeus  myghty  and  riche  / 
bigaf  vp  on  his  wyf  that  called  was  Prudence  /  a 
doghter  which  that  called  was  Sophie  /. 
[2158]  Vpon  a  day  bifel  J?at  he  /  for  his  desport/ 
|  is  went  in  to  the  feeldes  hym  to  pleye  /  [2159]  his  wyf  / 
"'and  eek  his  doghter  /  hath  he  left1  in  with  his  hous  /  of 
which  the  dores  /  weren  fast  yshette  [2160]  IF  thre  of  hise 
olde  foes  /  han  it  espyed?  and  setteii  laddres  /  to  the  walles 
of  his  hous  /  and  by  wyndowes  been  entred  /  [2161]  and 
betten  his  wyf  /  and  wounded  his  doghter  with  fyue 
mortal  woundes  in  fyue  sondry  places  [2162]  1F  this  is  to 
seyn  /  in  hir  feet1,  in  hire  handes  /.  in  hir  erys  /.  in  hir 
nose  /.  and  in  hire  mouth  and  leften  hire  for  deed  /  and 
wenten  awey 

[2163]  IF  Whan  Melibeus  /  retourned  was  in  to  his 
hous  /  and  saugh"  al  this  meschief1?  he  lyk1  a  mad  man 
rentynge  his  clothes  /  gan  to  wepe  and  crie 

[2164]  IF  Prudence  his  wyf  /  as  ferforth  as  she  dorste  / 

bisoghte  hym  /  of  his  wepyng1  for  to  stynte  /  [2165]  but  nat 

for-thy  /  he  gan  to  crie  and  wepen  euere  lenger  the  moore 

[2166]  IF  This  noble  wyf  Prudence  /  remembred  hire  / 

vpon  the  sentence  of  Guide  /  in  his  book  /  that  cleped  is  the 

TOuidius  /de      remedie  of  loue  ||  where  as  he  seith  /  [2167]  he  is  a  fool  / 

that  destourbeth  the  mooder  to  wepen  in  the  deeth  of  hire 

child?  /  til  she  haue  wept  hir  fille  /  as  for  a  certein  tyme 

[2168]  1F  And  thanne  /  shal  man  doon  his  diligence  with 

amyable  wordes  /  hire  to  reconforte  /  and  preyen  hire  of 

ELLESMERE  424    (6-T.  20l) 


202    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.     §  10.    MELIBEUS.     Ellesmere  MS. 

hir  wepyng1  for  to  stynte  [2169]  H  ffor  which  reson  this 

noble  wyf  Prudence  /  suffred  hir  housbonde  for  to  wepe 

and  crie  /  as  for  a  certein  space  /.  [2170]  And  whan  she 

saugh  hir  tyme  /  she  seyde  hym  in  this  wise  IF  Alias  /  my 

lord  quod  she  /  why  make  ye  youre  self1  for  to  be  lyk1  a 

fool  /  [2171]  for  sothe  /  it  aperteneth  nat  to  a  wys  man  / 

to  maken  swiche  a  sorwe  /  [2172]  youre  1dogh"ter  /  with" 

the  grace  of  god  shal  Avarisshe  and  escape  /  [2173]  And  al 

were  it  so  /  that  she  right  now  were  deed  ?   ye  ne  oughte 

nat1  as  for  hir  deeth  youre  self  to  destroye  [2174]  IT  Senek1    *t  Seneca 

seith  /  the  wise  man  /  shal  nat  take  to  greet  disconfort1  for 

the  deeth  of  his  children  /  [2175]  but  certes  /  he  sholde 

suffren  it  in  pacience  /  as  wel  /  as  he  /  abideth  the  deeth  / 

of  his  owene.  propre  persone 

[2176]  IF  This  Melibeus  /  answerde  anon  and  seyde    f  M 
IT  What1  man  quod  he  sholde  of  his  wepyng  stente  /  that 
hath  so  greet  a  cause  for  to  wepe  ?   [2177]  Ihesu  cn'stt    T  Quanta  nimis 

christus  fletiit 

oure  lord  hym  self  wepte  for  the  deeth  of  Lazarus  hys    P™^  mor--em 

freend!  [2178]  1T  Prudence  answerde  ||.  Certes  wel  I  woott  ||     7  Prudence 

Attempree  wepyng1  is  no  thyng  deftended  to  hym  fat 

sorweful  is  amonges  folk  in  sorwe  /  but  it  is  rather  graunted 

hym   to    wepe    [2170!   1T  The  Apostle   Paul  vn-to   the    f  A.po*Mns  p.-m- 

lus  ad  Romanes 

Komayns  writeth  ||  Man  shal  reioyse  with  hem  that  maken 
ioye  and  wepen  /  with  swich  folk  as  wepen  [2180]  IT  But 
though  attempree  wepyng  be  ygraunted  /  outrageous 
wepyng1  certes  is  deffended  /  [2181]  Mesure  of  wepyng1 
sholde  be  considered  /  after  the  loore  fat  tccheth  us  Senek1  ^  Seneca 
[2182]  IT  Whan  that  thy  frend  is  deed  quod  he  /  lat  nat 
thyne  eyen  to  moyste  been  of  teeris  /  ne  to  muche  drye  /  Al 
though  the  teeris  come  to  thyne  eyen  /  laf  hem  nat  falle  / 
[2183]  And  whan  thou  hast  for-goon  thy  freend?  /  do  dili- 
gence to  gete  another  freend?  /  and  this  is  moore  wysdom  / 
than  for  to  wepe  for  thy  freend?  which  that  thou  hast  lorn  / 
for  ther-Inne  is  no  boote  /  [2184]  And  therfore  /if  ye 
goue?*ne  yow  by  sapience  /  put  awey  sorAve  /  out  of  youre 
herte  [2185]  IT  Eemembre  yow  /  fat  Ihesus  Syrak1  seith  t 

ELLESMETIE    425    (6-T.  202)  [i  leaf  158] 


203    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP   B. 


§  10.    MELIBEUS.    Ellesmere  MS. 


If  Memorandum 
delob 


IT  A  man  that  is  ioyous  and  glad  in  herte  /  it  hjm  con- 
serueth  florissynge  in  his  age  /  But  soothly  /  sorweful  herte  / 
make th  hise  hones  drye  [2186]  IT  He  seith  eek/  thus  / 

1  Salomon  That  sorwe  in  herte  /  sleeth  ful  many  a  man  [2187]  II  Sa- 
lomon seith  /  That  right  as  Motthes  in  the  shepes  flees  / 
anoyeth  to  the  clothes  /  and  the  smale  wormes  to  the  tree  / 
right  so  anoyeth  sorwe  to  the  herte/  [2188]  wherfore  / 
vs  oghte  as  wel  in  the  deeth  of  oure  children  /  as  in  the 
losse  of  o]>e re  goodes  temporels  haue  pacience 

[2189]  IT  Eememhre  yow  vp  on  the  pacient  lob  / 
whan  he  hadde  lost  his  children  and  his  temporeel  sub- 
stance /  and  in  his  body  endured  and  receyued  ful  many  a 
greuous  tribulacion)  f  yet1  seyde  he  thus  [2190]  H  Oure 
lord  /  \le  m'a  donne;  nostre  Seigneur\  hath  biraft  it  me  / 
right  as  oure  lord  hath  woldf  /  right  so  it  is  doon  /  blessed 
be  the  name  of  oure  lord1  [2191]  IT  To  thise  foreseide 

?  Melibeus  thynges  /  answerde  Melibeus  /  vn  to  his  wyf  Prudence 
1T  Alle  thy  wordes  quod  he  been  sothe  /  and  therwith  pro- 
fitable /  but  trewely  /  myn  herte  is  troubled  with  this  sorwe 
so  greuously  /  that  I  nootf  what  to  doone  [2192]  H  Lat  calle 

1  Prudence  quod  Prudence  thy  trewe  freendes  alle  /  and  thy  lynage  / 
whiche  that  been  wise  /  telleth  youre  cas  /  and  herkneth 
what  they  seye  in  conseillyng1  and  yow  gouerae  after  hire 

1  Salomon  sentence  [2193]  IT  Salomon  seith  /  werk  alle  thy  thynges 
by  conseil  /  and  thou  shalt  neuer  repente 

[2194]  1T  Thanne  by  the  conseil  of  his  wyf  Prudence  / 
this  Melibeus  /  leet  callen  a  greet  congregacion)  of  folk/. 
[2195]  as  surgiens  /  Phisiciens  olde  folk  and  yonge  /  and 
sorame  of  hise  olde  enemys  reconsiled  as  by  hir  semblawnf 
to  his  loue  /  and  in  to  his  grace  /  [2196]  and  ther-with-al  / 
ther  coomen  somme  of  hise  neigh ebores  /  that  diden  hym 
reuerence  /  moore  for  drede  than  for  loue  /  as  it  happeth 
ofte  /  [2197]  11  Ther  coomen  also/  ful  many  subtille  flatereres 
and  wise  Aduocatz  lerned  in  the  lawe  / 

[2198]  And  whan  tliis  folk  /  togidre  assembled  weren  / 
this  Melibeus  in  sorweful  wise  /  shewed  hem  his  cas  / 

ELLESMERE  4.26    (6-T.  203) 


204   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.     §  10.     MELIBEUS.     Ellesmere  MS. 

[2199]  and  by  the  manere  of  his  'speche  /  it  semed  wel  / 
that  in  herte  /  he  baar  a  crueel  Ire  /  redy  to  doon  venge- 
afice  vp  on  hise  foes  /  and  sodeynly  desired  /  that  the 
werre  sholde  bigynne  /  [2200]  but1  nathelees  /  yet  axed  he 
hire  conseil  vpon  this  matiere  [2201]  1T  A  Surgien  by 
licence  and  assent*  of  swiche  as  weren  Avise  /  vp  roos  /  and 
to  Melibeus  /  seyde  /  as  ye  may  heere 

[2202]  IT  Sire  quod  he  /  as  to  vs  Surgiens  aperfceneth  / 
that  we  do  to  euery  wight1  the  beste  that  we  kan  /  where  as 
we  been  withholde  /  and  to  oure  pacientz  that  we  do  no 
damage  /  [2203]  wherfore  it  happeth  many  tyme  and  ofte  / 
that  whan  twey  men  /  han  euerich  wounded  oother  /  oon 
same  surgien  heeleth  hem  bothe  /  [2204]  wherfore  /  vn  to 
oure  Art1  it  is  nat  pertinent1  to  norice  werre  ne  parties 
to  supporte  ||.  [2205]  But  certes  /  as  to  the  warisshynge  of, 
youre  doghter  /  al  be  it  so  /  that  she  pe?'ilously  be 
wounded  /  we  shullen  do  so  ententif  bisynesse  fro  day  to 
nyghf  that  with  the  grace  of  god  /  she  shal  be  hool  and 
sound  /  as  sooiie  as  is  possible  [2206]  11  Almoost  /  right 
in  the  same  wise  /  the  Phisiciens  answerden  /  saue  that 
they  seyden  /  a  fewe  woordes  moore  /  [2207]  That  right 
as  maladies  /  been  cured  by  hir  contraries  ||  right  so  /  shul 
men  warisshe  werre  by  vengeance  [2208]  IF  Hise  neighe- 
bores  ful  of  enuye  /  hise  feyned  freendes  that  semeden 
reconsiled  /  and  hise  flatereres  /  [2209]  maden  semblanfr 
of  wepyng1  and  empeireden  and  agreggeden  muchel  of  this 
matiere  in  preisynge  greetly  Melibee  /  of  myght  /  of  power  / 
of  richesse  /  and  of  freendes  despisynge  /  the  power  of  hise 
Aduersaries  /  [2210]  and  seiden  outrely  that  he  anon 
sholde  wreken  hym  on  hise  foes  and  bigynne  werre 

[2211]  IT  Vp  roos  thanne  an  Aduocafr  that  was  wys  / 
by  leue  and  by  conseil  of  othere  that  were  wise  /  and  seide  ||. 
[2212]  Lordynges  /  the  nede  for  which  we  been  assembled? 
in  this  place  /  is  a  ful  heuy  thyng1  and  an  heigh  matiere  / 
[2213]  by  cause  of  the  wrong1  and  of  the  wikkednesse  that 
hath  be  doon  /  and  eck  by  reson  of  the  grete  damages  that 

32  ELLESMERE    427   (6-T.  204)      [<  leaf  159,  back] 


205    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.  Ellesmere  MS. 

in  tyme  comynge  /  been  possible  to  fallen  for  this  same 
cause  /  [2214]  and  eek1  by  resoii  of  the  grete  richesse  and 
power  of  the  parties  bothe  /  [2215]  for  the  whiche  resons  / 
it  were  a  ful  greet  peril  to  erren  in  tliis  matiere  [2216] 
11  wherfore  /  Melibeus  this  is  cure  sentence  /  we  conseille 
yow  abouen  alle  thyng1.  that  right  anon  /  thou  do  thy 
diligence  in  kepynge  of  thy  propre  persone  /  in  swich  a 
wise  j?at  thou  wante  noon  espie  /  ne  wacche  /  thy  persone 
for  to  saue  [2217]  IT  And  after  that1  we  conseille  fat  in 
thyn  hous  /  thou  sette  sufficeant  garnison  so  that1  they  may  / 
as  wel  thy  body  as  thyn  hous  defende  [2218]  IT  But  certes  / 
for  to  nioeue  werre  /  or  sodeynly  for  to  doon  vengeaunce  / 
we  may  nat  demen  /  in  so  litel  tyme  /  that  it  were  profit- 
able /.  [2219]  Wherfore  we  axen  leyser  and  espace  /  to  haue 
deliberacion)  in  this  cas  to  deme  /  [2220]  ffor  the  cowmune 
Nr>ta  de  prouerbe  seith  thus  IT  He  that  soone  deemeth .  soone  shal 
«Mbiuafcii»  repente  [2221]  And  eek*  men  seyn  /  that  thilke  luge  is 
wys  that  soone  vnderstondeth  a  matiere  and  luggeth  by 
leyser  [2222]  II  for  al  be  it  so  that  alle  tariyng  be  anoyful  / 
algates  /  it  is  nat  to  repreue  in  yeuynge  of  luggement1  ne  in 
vengeance  takyng1  whan  it  is  sufficeant1  and  resonable 
[2223]  IT  And  that  shewed  oure  lord  Ihesu.  crist  by  en- 
sample  /  for  whan  that  the  womman  /  that  was  taken  in 
Auowtrie  was  broght1  in  his  presence  /  to  knowen  /  what 
sholde  be  doon  with  hire  persone  /  al  be  it  so  that  he  wiste 
wel  hym  self  /  what  that  he  wolde  answere  /  yet  ne  wolde  he 
nat  answere  sodeynly  /  but  he  wolde  haue  deliberacion)  /  and 
in  the  ground  1he  Avroof  twies  /  [2224]  and  by  thise 
causes  /  we  axen  deliberacion  /  and  we  shal  thanne  by 
the  grace  of  god  /  conseille  thee  thyng  /  that  shal  be 
profitable  / 

[2225]  11  Vp  stirten  thanne  /  the  yonge  folk  atones  / 
and  the  mooste  partie  of  that  compaignye  scorned  the  olde 
wise  men  and  bigonnen  to  make  noyse  /  and  seyden  /  that 
[2226]  right  so  /  as  whil  that  Iren  is  hoof  men  sholden 
smyte  /  right  so  /  men  sholde  wreken  hir  wronges  /  while 

ELLESMERE   428    (6-T.  20o)  n  leaf  159] 


206    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.  Ellesmere  MS. 

fat  they  been  fressfie  and  newe  /  and  with  loud  voys  /  they 
criden  werre  /  werre 

[2227]  IT  Vp  roos  tho  /  oon  of  thise  olde  wise  /  and 
with  his  hand  made  contenaunce  /  that  men  sholde 
hold  en  hem  stille  and  yeuen  hym  Audience  [2228] 
IT  Lordynges  quod  he  /  ther  is  ful  many  a  man  /  that 
crieth  werre  werre  /  that  woot  ful  litel  what  werre 
amounteth  [2229]  IT  werre  at  his  higynnyng*  hath  so  greet 
an  entryng1  and  so  large  /  that  euery  wight1  may  entre 
whan  hym  liketh  /  and  lightly  fynde  werre  /  [2230]  but 
ccries  I  what  ende  that  shal  ther-of  bifalle  /  it  is  nat  light 
to  knowe  ||  [2231]  ffor  soothly  /  whan  fat  werre  is  ones 
bigonne  /  ther  is  ful  many  a  child  vnborn  of  his  mooder  / 
that  shal  sterue  yong1  by  cause  of  that  ilke  werre  /  or  elles 
lyue  in  sorwe  /  and  dye  in  wrecchednesse  ||.  [2232]  And 
ther  fore  /  er  f«t  any  werre  bigynne  /  men  moste  haue 
greet  conseil  and  greet1  deliberacion)  [2233]  IF  And  whan 
this  olde  man  /  wende  /  to  enforcen  his  tale  by  resons  / 
wel  ny  alle  atones  /  bigonne  they  to  rise  for  to  breken  his 
tale  /  and  beden  "hym  ful  ofte  /  hise  wordes  for  to  abregge  / 
[2234]  ffor  soothly  /  he  that  precheth  to  hem  /  that  listen 
nat  heeren  hise  wordes  /  his  smnon  hem  anoieth  [2235] 
IT  ffor  Ihesus  Syrak  seith  /  that  Musik1  in  wepynge  is  f  ihp.ms 
anoyous  thyngjj.  this  is  to  seyn  ||  As  muche  auailleth  to 
speken  bifore  folk  /  to  Avhiche  his  speche  anoyeth  /  as  it  is 
to  synge  /  biforn  hym  that  wepeth  ||.  [2236]  And  this  wise 
man  /  saugfi  that  hym  wanted  audience  /  and  al  shamefast1 
he  sette  hym  donn  agayn  [2237]  1T  ffor  Salomon  seith  ||  ther  ^Salomon 
as  thou  ne  mayst  haue  noon  Audience  /  enforce  thee  nat 
to  speke  [2238]  ^[  I  see  wel  quod  this  wise  man  /  fat  the 
commune  prou«?*be  is  sooth  ||  That  good  conseil  wanteth  / 
whan  it  is  moost  [nede] 

[2239]  IT  Yet  hadde  this  Melibeus  in  his  conseil  /  many 
folk1  that1  pn'uely  in  his  eere  conseilled  hym  certeyn  thyng1. 
and  conseilled  hym  the  contrarie  in  general  Audience 

[2240]  Whan  Melibeus  hadde  herd  /  that  the  gretteste    i[Meiibeu» 

ELLESMERE    429   (6-T.  206) 


207   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

partie  of  his  conseil  /  weren  accorded  J?at  he  sholde  malt  en 
werre  /  anoon  /  he  consented  to  Mr  conseillyng1  and  fully 

? Pru<kn<x  afFermed  hire  sentence/  [2241]  Thanne  dame  Prudence  / 
whan  fat  she  saugh  /  how  that  hir  houshonde  shoope  hym 
for  to  wreken  hym  on  hise  foes  /  and  to  bigynne  werre  /  she 
in  ful  humble  wise  /  whan  she  saugh  hir  tyme  /  seide  to 
hym  thise  Avordes  [2242]  II  My  lord  quod  she  /  I  yow 
biseche  as  hertely  as  I  dar  and  kan  /  ne  haste  yow  nat  to 
faste  /  and  for  alle  gerdons  /  as  yeueth  me  Audience 

IPetrns  [2243]  ^  ff°r  Piers  Alfonce  seith  IT  who  so  that  dooth  to 

that  oother  good  or  harm  /  haste  thee  nat1  to  quiten  it1 .  for 
in  this  wise  thy  freend  wole  abyde  /  and  thyn  enemy  shal 
the  lenger  lyue  in  drede  [2244]  11  The  prouerbe  seith  jj  he 
hasteth  wel  that  wisely  kan  abyde  ||  And  in  wikked  haste  / 
is  no  profit1 

^Meiibe*  [2245]  This  Melibce  answerde  vn  to  his  wyf  Prudence 

IT  I  purpose  nat  quod  he  to  werke  by  thy  conseil  /  for 
many  causes  and  resons  1F  ffor  certes  /  eue?y  wignt  wolde 
holde  me  thanne  a  fool  [2246]  IT  this  is  to  seyn  /  If  I. 
for  thy  conseillyng1  wolde  chaungen  thynges  that  been 
ordeyned  and  after med  by  so  manye  wyse  [2247]  H  Sec- 
oundly  I  seye  /  that  alle  wo?nmen  been  wikke  /  and  noon 

IKutasecundum.  good  of  hem  alle  IT  ffor  of  a  thousand  men  seith  Salomon  / 
I  foond  a  good  man  *but  certes  of  alle  wommen  /  good 
womman  foond  I  neuere  [2248]  IT  And  also  certes  /  If  I 
gouerned  me  by  thy  conseil  /  it  sholde  seme  that  I  hadde 
yeue  to  thee  ouer  me  the  maistrie  /  and  god  forbede  /  that 

•jiiimissyrak/  it  so  weere  [2249]  ^  ^or  Ihesus  Syrak  seith  /  that  if  the 
wyf  haue  maistrie  /  she  is  contrarious  to  hir  housbonde 

1  Salomon  [2250]  H  And  Salomon  seith  11  ISTeuere  in  thy  lyf  /  to  thy 

wyf  /  ne  to  thy  child!  /  ne  to  thy  freend  /  ne  yeue  no  power 
ouer  thy  self  ||.  ffor  bettre  it  were  /  that  thy  children  aske 
of  thy  pe?-sone  /  thynges  that  hem  nedeth  /  than  thou  be 
thy  self1  in  the  handes  of  thy  children  /  [2251]  H  And  if  I 
wolde  werke  by  thy  conseillyng' s  Certes  /  my  conseillyng* 
moste  sorn  tyme  be  secree  /  til  it  were  tyme  fat  it  moste  be 

ELLESMERE    430   (6-T.  207)        [l  leaf  159,  back] 


208   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmcre  MS. 

knowe  and  this  /  ne  may  noght  be  [2252.  Car  il  est 
escript,  la  genylerie  des  femm.es  ne  puct  riens  celler  fors  ce 
qiCelle  ne  scet.  [2253]  Apres,  le  pliilosoplire  dit,  en  mauvais 
conseil  les  femmes  vainquent  les  liommes :  et  par  ces  raisons 
je  ne  dors  point  user  de  ton  conseil.  MS  Reg.  19  C.  vii,  in 
Tynvhitt,  iv.  335.  (.See  Prudence  on  Reasons  4  <$•  5.  further  on.~)\ 

[2254]  Whanne  dame  Prudence  /  ful  debonairly  and   «fpmdenc 
with  greet  pacience  /  hadde  herd  /  al  that  hir  housbonde 
liked  for  to  seye  /  thanne  axed  she  of  hyin  licence  for  to 

t/         /  *J 

speke  /  and  seyde  in  this  wise  [2255]  H  My  lord  quod  she  / 
as  to  youre  firste  reson  /  cei-ies  it  may  lightly  been 
answered?  IT  ffor  I  seye  /  that  it  is  no  folie  /  to  chaunge 
conseil  ||.  whan  the  thyng  is  chaunged  IT  or  elles  /  whan 
the  thyng  semeth  /  -ootherweyes  /  than  it  was  biforn 
[2256]  1T  And  mooreouer  I  seye  /  that  though  ye  han 
sworn  and  bihight  to  perfourne  youre  emprise  IF  And 
nathelees  /  ye  weyue  to  perfourne  /  thilke  same  emprise 
by  luste  cause  /  men  sholde  nat  seyn  therfore  /  that  ye  were 
a  Her1  ne  forsworn  [2257]  IT  ffor  the  book  seith  /  Jpat  the 
wise  man  maketh  no  lesyng1  whan  he  turneth  his  corage  to 
the  bettre  [2258]  1F  And  al  be  it  so  /  that*  youre  empn'se  be 
establissed  and  ordeyned  /  by  greet  multitude  of  folk1  /  yet 
thar  ye  nat1  accomplice  thilke  ordinance  /  but  yow  like 
[2259]  11  ffor  the  trouthe  of  thynges  /  and  the  profit1  been 
rather  founden  in  fewe  folk1  that  been  wise  /  and  ful  of 
reson  /  than  by  greet1  multitude  of  folk1  ther  euery  man 
crieth  and  clatereth  /  what  that1  hym.  liketh  IT  Soothly  / 
swich  multitude  is  nat  honeste  [2260]  IF  As  to  the  seconde 
reson  /.  where  as  ye  seyn  ]>at  alle  wowmen  been  wikke  ? 
Saue  youre  grace  /  certes  ye  despisen  alle  wommen  in  this 
wyse  /  [car  il  est  escript,  qui  tout  desprist,  a  tons  desplaist] 
[2261]  &  Senetf  seith  /  that  who  so  wole  haue  sapi-  «rSene<,a 
ence  /  shal  no  man  despise  but  he  shal  gladly  /  techen  the 
science  that  he  kan  with-outen  presumpcion)  or  pride  / 
[2262]  And  swiche  thynges  //  as  he  nought  ne  kan  /he 
shal  nat1  been  ashamed  to  lerne  hem  and  enqnere  of  lasse 

ELLESMERE    431  (6-T.  208) 


209    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.     §  10.    MELIBEUS.    Ellesmere  MS. 

folk  /  than  hym  self  /.  [2263]  And  sire  /  that  ther  hath 
been  many  a  good  womman  /  may  lightly  be  preued  / 
[2264]  ^F  ffor  certes  sire  /  oure  lord  Ih&m  crist1  wolde 
neuere  haue  descended  to  be  born  of  a  womman  /  if  alle 
wommen  /  hadden  ben  wikke  /  [2265]  And  after  that1  for 
the  grete  bou/ztee  that  is  in  wommen  oure  lord  Ihesu  crist1 
whan  he  was  risen  fro  deeth  to  lyue  /  appeered  rather  to  a 
woraman  /  than  to  hise  Apostles  [2266]  11  And  though" 
that  Salomon  seith  /  that  he  ne  foond  ueuere  wo?mnan 
good  /  it  folweth  nat  therfore  /  that  alle  wommen  ben 
wikke  [2267]  ffor  though  that  he  ne  foond  no  good 
wo??zman  /.  certes  ful  many  another  man  /  hath  founden  / 
many  a  womman  ful  good  and  trewe  [2268]  IT  Or  elles 
per  auenture  /  the  entente  of  Salomon  was  this  /  that  as  in 
souereyn  bownte  he  foond  no  womman  /  [2269]  this  is  to 
seyn  /  that  ther  is  no  wight  fat  hath  souereyn  bowntee  / 
saue  god  allone  /  as  he  hym  self  recordeth  in  hys  Eurtwn- 
gelie  /  [2270-]  ffor  ther  nys  no  creature  so  good  /  that  hym 
ne  wanteth  somwhat1  of  the  perfeccion  of  god  /  that  is  his 
maker1  [2271]  1F  Youre  1thridde  reson  is  this  IT  ye  seyn  /  if 
ye  gouerae  yow  by  my  conseil  /  it1  sholde  seme  that  ye 
hadde  yeue  me  the  maistrie  /  and  the  lordshipe  ouer  youre 
persone  ||.  [2272]  sire  saue  youre  grace  /  it  is  nat  so  ||  ffor 
if  it  were  so  that  no  man  sholde  be  conseilled  /  but  oonly 
of  hem  that  hadden  lordshipe  and  maistrie  of  his  persone  / 
men  wold  en  nat  be  conseilled  so  ofte  ||  [2273]  ffor  soothly  / 
thilke  man  that  asketh  conseil  of  a  purpos  /  yet  hath  he 
free  choys  /  wheither  he  wole  Averke  by  that  conseil  or 
noon  [2274]  IT  And  as  to  youre  fourthe  reson  IT  ther  ye 
seyn  fat  the  langlerie  of  wommen  hath  byd  thynges  that 
they  wiste  noghtf .  As  who  seith  /  that  a  wowman  kan  nat 
hyde  that  she  woot  [2275]  1T  sire  thise  wordes  been  vnder- 
stonde  of  wommen  fat  been  langleresses  and  wikked  / 
[2276]  of  whiche  wommen  /  men  seyn  that  thre  thynges  / 
f  or  .iij.  thynges  dryuen  a  man  out  of  his  hous  IT  that  is  to  seyn  Smoke  / 

pat  dryuen  a  man  - 

out  of  his  hous.     droppyng1  of  Keyn  /.  and  wikked  wyues  /   [2277J   ant* 

ELLESMEllE    432   (6-T.  209)  [MeaflCO] 


210    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.     §  10.    MELIBEUS.     Ellcsmere  MS. 

swiche  woramen  seith  Salomon  /  Jwt  it  were  bettre  chvelle   f  Salomon 

in  desert1  than  with  a  wowman  that  is  riotous  [2278]  IT  And 

sire  by  youre  leue  /  that  am  nat  .1.  /  [2279]  ^OT  7e  naan  ful 

ofle  assayed  my  grete  silence  /  and  my  gret  pacience.  ||  And 

eek*  how  wel  /  that  I  kan  hyde  and  hele  thynges  /  that 

men  oghte  secreely  to  hyde  [2280]  IT  And  soothly  /  as  to 

youre  fifthe  reson  /  where  as  ye  seyn  /  that  in  wikked  con- 

seil  /  wommen  venquisshe  men  IT  god  woof  thilke  reson 

stant  heere  in  no  stede  [2281]  IF  ffor  vnderstoond  now  /  ye 

asken  conseil  to  do  wikkednesse  /  [2282}  and  if  ye  wole 

werken  wikkednesse  /  and  youre  wif  restreyneth  thilke 

wikked  purpos  /  and  ouercometh  yow  by  reson)  and  by 

good  conseil  /  [2283]  ce?-tes  youre  wyf1  oghte  rather  to  be 

preised  /  than  yblamed  [2284]  1T  Thus  sholde  ye  vnder- 

stonde  the  Philosophre  /  that  seith  /  In  wikked  conseil 

wo?wmen  venquisshen  hir  housboiides  [2285]  IT  And  ther 

as  ye  blamen  alle  wowzmen  and  hir  resons  ||  I  shal  shewe 

yow  by  manye  ensamples  /  that  many  a  Avwrcman  /  hath 

ben  ful  good  /  and  yet  been  /  and  hir  conseils  ful  hoolsome 

and  profitable  [2286]  IT  Eek/^om  men  han  seyd  that  the 

conseillynge  of  wommen  /  is  outher  to  deere  /  or  elles  to 

litel  of  pris  [2287]  IF  But  al  be  it  so  /  J>at  ful  many  a 

\vo?mnan  is  badde  /  and  hir  cowseil  vile  and  noght  worth  / 

yet  han  men  founde  /  ful  many  a  good  wowiman  /  and  ful 

discrete  and  wise  in  conseillynge  [2288]  IT  Loo  lacob  /  by    ^  No^de 

good  conseil  of  his  mooder  Eebekka  wan  the  benyson  of    ] 

Ysaak/  his  fader  /  and  the  lordshipe  ouer  alle  hise  bretheren 

[2289]  IT  ludith  by  hire  good  corcseil  deliuered  the  Citee  of   ^  de  Judith 

Bethulie  in  which  she  dwelled  /  out  of  the  handes  of 

Olofernws/  that  hadde  it  biseged  and  wolde  haue  al  destroyed 

if  [2290]  IT  Abygail  deliuered  ISTabal  hir  housbonde  fro    ^deAtygafl 

Dauid  the  kyng1  that  wolde  haue  slayn  hym  /  and  apaysed 

the  Ire  of  the  kyng1  by  hir  wit1  and  by  hir  good  conseil- 

lyng1  [2291]  IT  Hester  /  enhaunced  greetly  by  hir  good  con-    ^  de  Hester* 

seil  the  peple  of  god  /  in  the  regne  of  Assuerus  the  kyng» 

[2292]  IT  and  the  same  bou??tee  in  good  conseillyng1  of 

ELLESMERE    433   (6-T.  210) 


211    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   EUesmere  MS. 

many  a  good  womman  may  men  telle  [2293]  IT  And  moore 
ouer/  whan  oure  lord  hadde  creat  Adam  oure  forme  fader  / 
he  seyde  in  this  wise  /  [2294]  It  is  nat  good  /  to  been  a 
man  alloone  /  make  we  to  hym  an  helpe  semblable  to  hym 
self/  [2295]  IT  Heere  may  ye  se  /  that  if  that  wommen 
were  nat  goode  and  hir  conseils  goode  &  profitable  / 
[2296]  oure  lord  god  of  heuene  /  wolde  neuere  han  wrogtit 
hem  /  ne  called  hem  /  help  of  man  but  rather  confusion  of 
man  [2297]  H  And  ther  seyde  oones  a  clerk1  in  'two  vers  || 
what  is  bettre  /  than  gold  ?  laspre  11  What  is  bettre  than 
laspre  ?  wisedoom  /  [2298]  If  And  what  is  better  than 
wisedoom  ?  womman  ||.  And  what  is  bettre  than  a  good 
wowman?  no  thyng  [2299]  IT  And  sire  by  manye  of  othre 
resons  /  may  ye  seen  that  manye  wowmen  been  goode  / 
and  hir  conseils  goode  and  profitable  ||  [2300]  And  therfore 
sire  /  if  ye  wol  triste  to  my  conseil  /  I  shal  restoore  yow  / 
youre  doghter  /  hool  and  sound*  /  [2301]  And  eek/  .1.  wol  do 
to  yow  so  muche  /  that  ye  shul  haue  honour  in  this  cause  / 

If  Meiibce  [2302]  Whan  Melibee-  hadde  herd!  the  wordes  of  his 

wyf  Prudence  /  he  seyde  thus  [2303]  1T  I  se  wel  that  the 

t  Salomon  word  of  Salomon  is  sooth  ||.  he  seith  that  wordes  fat 
been  spoken  discreetly  by  ordinaunce  /  been  honyco?nbes  / 
for  they  yeuen  swetnesse  to  the  soule  /  and  hoolsomnes&e 
to  the  body  [2304]  IF  And  wyf  /  by  cause  of  thy  sweete 
wordes  /  and  eek1  for  I  haue  assayed  and  preued  thy  grete 
sapience  /  and  thy  grete  trouthe  /  I  wol  gouerne  me  by  thy 
conseil  /  in  alle  thyng  / 

5  Prudence  [2305]  Now  sire  quod  dame  Prudence  /  and  syn  ye 
vouche  sauf  /  to  been  gouerned  by  my  conseil  /  I  wol 
enforme  yow  /  how  ye  shul  gouerne  youre  self/  in  chesynge 
of  youre  conseillours  [2306]  IF  Ye  shul  first/  in  alle  youre 
werkes  /  mekely  /  biseken  to  the  heighe  god  /  fat  he  wol 
be  youre  conseillowr /.  [2307]  And  shapeth  yow  /  to  swich 
entente  /  that  he  yeue  yow  conseil  and  conforf  as  taughte 

j  Thobias    Thobie  his  sone  [2308]  IT  At  alle  tymes  /  thou  shalt  blesse 

ELLESMERE    434   (6-T.  21l)        P  leaf  160,  back] 


212    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

god  and  praye  hyni  /  to  dresse  thy  weyes  /  and  looke  /  fat 

alle  thy  conseils  been  in  hym  for  eueremoore  [2309]  Seint    f  sa»c<us 

lacobus 

lame  eek1  seith  ||.  If  any  of  yow  haue  nede  of  sapience  /  axe 
it  of  god  [2310]  1F  And  afterward  /  thanne  shul  ye  taken 
conseil  of  youre  [self]  and  examyne  wel  youre  thoghtes  /  of 
swich  thyng1  as  yow  thynketh  fat  is  best  for  youre  profit  / 
[2311]  And  thanne  shid  ye  dryue  fro  youre  herte.  thre  Tor.iy. 

J>flt  been  contru- 

thynges  that  been  contrariouse  to  good  cowseil  /  [2312]    nousetogood 

couseil 

That  is  to  seyn  /  Ire  /  coueitise  /  and  liastifnesse 

[23 13]  IF  ffirsf  he  fat  axeth  conseil  of  hym  self  /  certes  / 
he  moste  been  with-outen  Ire  /  for  manye  causes  /  [2314] 
the  firste  is  this  IF  he  fat  hath  greet  Ire  and  wratthe  in 
hym  self  /  he  wenef  alwey  that  he  may  do  thyng1  that  he 
may  nat  do  [2315]  1F  And  secoundely  /  he  that  is  Irons 
and  wrooth  /  he  ne  may  nat  wel  deme  /  [2316]  and  he 
fat  may  nat  wel  deme  /  may  nat  wel  conseille  [2317]  IF  The 
thridde  is  this  /  that  he  fat  is  Irous  and  wrooth"  as  seith 
Senec1  ne  may  nat  speke  /  but  he  blame  thyiiges  /  [2318]  ifseneca 
and  wit//  hise  viciouse  wordes  /  he  stireth  oother  folk  /  to 
Angre  and  to  Ire  [2319]  ^F  And  eek  sire  /  ye  moste  dryue 
coueitise  out  of  youre  herte  /  [2320]  ffor  the  Apostle  seith  f  Apo«foius 
1F  That  coueitise  is  roote  of  alle  harnies  ||  [2321]  And  trust1 
wel  /  that  a  coueitous  man  ne  kan  noght  deme  ne  thynke  / 
but  oonly  to  fulfille  the  ende  of  his  coueitise  /  [2322]  and 
certes  /  that  ne  may  neuere  been  accompliced  /  for  euere  / 
the  moore  habundaunce  fat  he  hath  of  richesse  /  the  moore 
he  desireth  [2323]  IF  And  sire  /  ye  moste  also  /  dryue  out 
of  youre  herte  hastifnesse  /  for  certes  /  [2324]  ye  ne  may 
nat  deeme  for  the  beste  a  sodeyn  thought  /  that  falleth  in 
youre  herte  /  bnt  ye  moste  auyse  yow  on  it1  ful  ofte  / 
[2325]  ffor  as  ye  herde  biforn  /  The  co?mnune  prcmerbe  is 
this  IF  That  he  fat  soone  deemeth  /  soone  repenteth. 

[2326]  IF  Sire  /  ye  ne  be  nat  alwey  in  lyke  disposicioii 
[2327]  for  certes  /  som  thyng1  fat  somtyme  semeth  to 
yow  /  that  it  is  good  for  to  do  /  Another  tyme  it  semeth 
to  yow  the  contrarie  / 

ELLESMERE   435   (6-T.  212) 


213    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

[2328]  whan  ye  han  taken  conseil  of  youre  self/  and 
han  deemed  by  good  deliberacion  swich  thyng/  as  you  list 
best/  [2329]  IT  Thanne  rede  I  yow  /  that  ye  kepe  it/ 
'secree  /  [2330]  biwrey  nat  youre  conseil  to  no  persone  / 
but  if  so  be  that  ye  wenen  sikerly  /  that  thurgfi  youre 
biwreyyng1  youre  condieion  /  shal  be  to  yow  the  moore 

U  ni«ras  profitable  [2331]  IT  ffor  Ihesus  Syrak  seith  /  Xeither  to  thy 

foo  ne  to  thy  fremJ  discouere  nat  thy  secree  ne  thy  folie  / 
[2332]  for  they  wol  yeue  yow  Audience  and  lookynge  /  to 
supportacion  in  thy  presence  /  and  scorne  thee  in  thyn 
Absence  [2333]  IF  Another  clerk1  seith  /  That  scarsly  shaltou 
fynden  any  persone  /  that  may  kepe  conseil  sikerly 
[2334]  IT  The  book  seith  /  whil  fat  thou  kepest  thy  conseil 
in  thyn  herte  /  thou  kepest  it  in  thy  pr/son  /  [2335]  and 
whan  thou  biwreyesf  thy  conseil  to  any  wigfit  /  he  holdeth 
thee  in  his  snare  [2336]  IT  And  therfore  yow  is  bettre  to 
hyde  youre  conseil  in  youre  herte  /  than  praye  hem  /  to 
whom  ye  han  biwreyed  youre  conseil  /  that  he  wole  kepen 

1[Se:ieca  it  cloos  and  stille  [2337]  IT  ffor  Seneca  seith  IT  If  so  be  / 
fat  thou  ne  mayst  nat  thyn  owene  conseil  hyde  s  how 
darstou  prayen  any  oother  wigfitt  thy  conseil  sikerly  to 
kepe  [2338]  IT  But  nathelees  /  If  thou  wene  sikerly  /  fat 
the  biwreiyng1  of  thy  conseil  to  a  persone  /  wol  make  thy 
condieion)  to  stonden  in  the  bettre  plyt/.  thanne  shaltou 

f  HOW  a  man     tellen  hym  thy  conseil  in  this  wise  [2339]  IT  ffirsf  thou 

conseii  er  '  shalt  make  no  semblant1  wheither  thee  were  leuere  pees  or 
werre  /  or  this  /  or  that1 .  ne  shewe  hym  nat  thy  wille  and 
thyn  entente  /  [2340]  ffor  trust  wel  /  fat  cowewli  thise 
conseillours  been  flatereres  /  [2341]  namely  the  conseilloMrs 
of  grete  lordes  /  [2342]  for  they  enforcen  hem  alwey  / 
rather  to  speken  plesante  wordes  /  enclynynge  to  the  lordes 
lust1,  than  wordes  fat  been  trewe  or  profitable  [2343]  IT  And 
therfore  /  men  seyn  /  fat  the  riche  man  hath  seeld  good  con- 
seil but  if1  he  haue  it  of  hym  self*  [2344]  ^T  And  after  that1 
thou  shalt  coHsidere  thy  freendes  and  thyne  enemys  || 
[2345]  And  as  touchynge  thy  freendes  thou  shalt  con- 

ELLESMERE  436    (6-T.  213)  ['leaf  161] 


214    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

sidere  /  \viche  of  hem  /  fat  been  moost  feithful  and  nioosfr 
wise  /  and  eldest1  and  most  appixmed  in  conseillyng1  . 
[2346]  And  of  hem  shalt1  thou  aske  thy  conseil  /  as  the 
caas  requireth 

[2347]  IT  I  seye  /  fat  first  /  ye  shul  clepe  to  youre  con- 
seil youre  freendes  that  been  trewe  [2348]  11  ffor  Salomon  7  Salomon 
seith  IF  That  right1  as  the  herte  of  a  man  deliteth  in  sauour 
fat  is  soote  /  right  so  /  the  conseil  of  trewe  freendes  / 
yeueth  swetenesse  to  the  soule  f  [2349]  He  seith  also  IT  ther 
may  no  thyng  be  likned  to  the  trewe  freend?  ||  [2350]  for 
certes  gold  ne  siluer  /  beth  nat  so  muche  worth  as  the 
goode  wyl  of  a  trewe  freendf  [2351]  IT  And  eek  he  seith  / 
that  a  trewe  freend  /  is  a  strong  deffense  /  who  so  fat 
hym  fyndeth  /  certes  /  he  fyndeth  a  greet  tresour 
[2352]  1T  Thanne  shul  ye  eek  considere  /  if  that  youre 
trewe  freendes  /  been  discrete  and  wise  /  1T  ffor  the  book1 
seith  /  Axe  alwey  thy  conseil  /  of  hem  J>at  been  wise  / 
[2353]  And  by  this  same  reson  /  shul  ye  clepen  to  youre 
conseil  of  youre  freendes  that  been  of  age  /  swiche  as  han 
seyn  and  been  expertf  in  manye  thynges  /  and  been 
approued  in  conseillynges  [2354]  IT  ffor  the  book  seith  / 
that  in  the  olde  men  is  the  Sapience  /  and  in  longe  tyrne 
the  prudence  [2355]  5F  And  Tullius  seith  /  that  grete 
thynges  /  ne  been  nat  ay  accompliced  by  strengthe  /  ne  by 
deliuemesse  of  body  /  but  by  good,  conseil  /  by  Auctoritee 
of  persones  and  by  science  /  the  whiche  thre  thynges  /  ne 
been  nat  fieble  by  age  /  but  certes  /  they  enforcen  and  en- 
creescen  day  by  day  /  [2356]  And  thanne  /  shul  ye  kepe 
this  /  for  a  general  reule  IT  ffirst1  shul  ye  clepen  to  youre 
conseil  /  a  fewe  of  youre  freendes  that  been  especiale  / 
[2357]  for  Salomon  seith  1T  Manye  freendes  haue  thou/ 


,  .  i  ,       i        ,1  -1      secundztm 

but  among  a  thousand?  chese  tnee  oon  /  to  be  thy  conseil-   saiomonem 
lour  /  [2358]  ffor  al  be  it  so  /  that  thou  first  ne  Helle  thy 
conseil  /  but  to  a  fewe  /  thou  mayst  afterward'  telle  it  to 
mo  folk1  if  it  be  nede  /  [2359]  but  looke  alwey  /  that  thy 
conseillours  /  haue  thilke  thre  condicions  fat  I  haue  seyd 

ELLESMERE   437    (6-T.  214)        fl  leaf  161,  back] 


215    SIX-TEXT 

GBOOP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   EUesmere  MS. 

bifore  /  that  is  to  seyn  /  that  they  be  trewe  /  wise  /  and 
of  oold  experience  [2360]  IT  And  werke  nat  alwey  in  euery 
nede  /  by  oon  counseiUowr  allone  IT  ffor  somtyme  bihooueth 
U  Salomon  it1  to  been  conseilled  by  manye  ||  [2361]  ffor  Salomon  seith" 
IT  Saluacion)  of  thynges  /  is  /  where  as  ther  been  manye 
conseilkmrs 

[2362]  Now  /  sith  I  haue  toold  yow  /  of  which  folk  / 

ye  sholde  been  counselled  /  now  wol  I  teche  yow  which 

couseil  /  ye  oghte  to  eschewe  [2363]  IT  ffirst1  ye  shul  eschue 

«I  Salomon  the  conseillyng  of  fooles  ||  fFor  Salomon  seith  /  taalf  no  con- 

f  ofconseiiiours   seil  of  a  fool  /  for  he  ne  kan  noght  conseille  /  but  after  his 

jx;t  a  man  oghte 

to  eschue  owene  lust*  and  his  afleccion  [2364]  1F  The  book  seith/ 

that*  the  propretee  of  a  fool  is  this  1T  he  troweth  lightly 
harm  of  euery  wight  /  and  lightly  troweth  alle  bowntee  in 
hym  self  [2365]  IT  Thou  shalt  eek  eschue  /  the  conseiUyng1 
of  flatereres  /  swiche  as  enforcen  hem  /  rather  to  preise 
youre  persone  by  flaterye  than  for  to  telle  yow  /  the  sooth- 
fastnesse  of  thynges 

U  TuiHus  [2366]  IT  Wherfore  Tulliws  seith  IT  Amonges  alle  the 

pestilences  that  been  in  freendshipe  /  the  gretteste  is 
flatme  /  And  therfore  is  it  moore  nede  fat  thou  eschue 
and  drede  flatereres  /  than  any  oother  peple  [2367]  ^1  The 
book  seith  /  thou  shalt  rather  drede  and  flee  /  fro  the 
sweete  wordes  /  of  flaterynge  preiseres  /  than  fro  the  egre 
wordes  of  thy  freend?  /  that  seith  thee  thy  sqthes  ||  [2368] 
Salomon  seith  /  that  the  wordes  of  a  flaterere  /  is  a  snare 
to  chacche  with  Innocentz  [2369]  1T  He  seith  also  /  that  he 
fat  speketh  to  his  freend  /  wordes  of1  swetnesse  and  of 
plesaunce  /  setteth  a  net1  biforn  his  feet1  to  cacche  hym 
[2370]  IT  And  therfore  seith  Tullius  /  Enclyne  nat  thyne 
eres  to  flatereres  /  ne  taaketh  no  conseil  of  the  wordes  of 

ICato  flaterye  ||.  [2371]  And  Caton  seith  IT  Auyse  thee  wel  /  and 

eschue  the  wordes  /  of  swetnesse  and  of  plesaunce 
[2372]  IT  And  eek1  thou  shalt  eschue  /  the  conseillyng'  of 
thyne  olde  enemys  /  that  been  reconsiled  [2373]  IT  The 
book1  seith  /.  that  no  wight  retourneth  saufly  /  in-to  the 

ELLESMEKE  438    (6-T.  215) 


216    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  10.   MELIBEUS.  Ellesmere  MS. 

grace  of  his  olde  enemy  [2374]  1T  And  Isope  seith  /  ~Ne 

trust  nat  to  hem  /  to  whiche  thou  hast  had  som  tyrne  werre 

or  enemytee  /  ne  telle  hem  nat  thy  conseil  [2375]  IT  And 

Seneca  telleth  the  cause  why  IF  It  may  nat  be  seith  he  /   f  Seneca 

that  where  greet  fyr  /  hath  longe  tyme  endured  /  that 

ther  ne  dwelleth  som  vapour  of  warmnesse  [2376]  And 

therfore  seith  Salomon  IT  In  thyn  olde  foo  trust  neuere   f  Salomon 

[2377]  11  ffor  sikerly  /  though  thyn  enemy  /  be  reconsileo? 

and  maketh  thee  chiere  of  humylitee  /  and  lowteth  to  thee 

with  his  heed  ue  trust  hym  neuere  [2378]  IT  ffor  certes  / 

he  maketh  thilke  feyned  humilitee  /  moore  for  his  profit* 

than  for  any  loue  of  thy  persone  /  by  cause  that  he  deem- 

eth  /  to  haue  victorie  ouer  thy  persone  /  by  swich  feyned! 

contenance  /  the  which  victorie  /  he  myghte  nat1  wynne  /  by 

strif1  or  werre  [2379]  And  Peter  Alfonce  seith  /.  Make  no   1  Petrus  Aifonce 

felawshipe  /  with  thyne  olde  enemys  ||  ffor  if  thou  do  hem 

bouwtee  /  they  wol  peruerten  it  /  in  to   wikkednesse 

[2380]  And  eek1  thou  most  eschue  /  the  conseillyng1  of  hem  / 

that  been  thy  seruantz  and  beren  thee  greet  reuerence  /  for 

perauenture  /  they  doon  it  moore  /  for  drede  than  for  loue 

[2381]  IT  And  therfore  /  seith  a  Philosophre  /  in  this   1  eiuiosophua 

wise  ||.  Ther  is  no  wight  parfitly  trewe  /  to  hym  fat  he  to 

soore  dredeth  [2382]  IT  And  Tullius  seith  ||  Ther  nys  no   f  Tuiims 

myght  so  greet  of  any  Emperour  /  that  longe  may  endure  / 

but  if  he  haue  /  moore  Io1ue  of  the  peple  /  than  for  drede 

[2383]  1T  Thou  shalt  also  eschue  /  the  conseiling1  of  folk 

that  been  dronkelewe  |j  for  they  kau   no   conseil  hyde 

[2384]  IT  ffor  Salomon  seith  ||  Ther  is  no  przuetee  /  ther  as  «f  Salomon 

regneth  dronkenesse  [2385]  ^T  Ye  shul  also  /ban  in  suspect1 

the  conseillyng1  of  swich  folk1 .  as  conssille  yow .  a  thyng1 

pnuely  /  and  conseille  yow  /  the  contrarie  openly  [2386] 

1T  ffor  Cassidorie  seith  /.  that  it  is  a  manere  sleigh"  te  to  f  Cassidorus 

hyndre  /  whan  he  sheweth  to  doon  a  thyng1  openly  /  and 

werketh  prmely  the  contrarie  [2387]  IT  Thou  shalf  also  / 

haue  in  suspect1,  the  conseillyng1  of  wikked  folk  ||.  ffor  the 

book1  seith  /  The  conseillyng1  of  wikked  folk* .  is  alwey  ful 

ELLESMERE  439    (6-T.  216)  [» leaf  162] 


217    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellcsmere  MS. 

t  Dauid  of  fraude  ||.  [2388]  And  Dauid  seith  IT  blisful  is  that  man  / 

fat  hath  nat  folwed  /  the  conseilyng1  of  sherewes  [2389] 
IT  Thou  shalt  also  eschue  /  the  conseillyng*  of  yong1  fulk  . 
for  Mr  conseil  is  nat  rype 

[2390]  NOw  sire  /  sith  I  have  shewed  yow  /  of  which 
folk1  ye  shiil  take  youre  conseil  /  and  of  which  folk*  ye  shul 
folwe  the  conseil  9  [2391]  now  wol  I  teche  yow  /  how  ye 
shal  examyne  youre  conseil  /  after  the  doctrine  of  Tullius 
f  how  a  man        [2392]  U  In  the  examynynge  thanne  of  youre  conseillour1 
cdnseiiioHrs  after    ye  shul  considere  manye  thynges  [2393]  ^T  Alderfirst1  thou 
r"  shalt  considere  /  fat  in  thilke  thyng1  that  thou  purposest  / 

and  vpon  what  thyng*  thou  wolf  liaue  conseil  /  fat  verray 
trouthe  /  he  seyd  and  conserued  /  this  is  to  seyn  /  telle 
trewely  thy  tale  [2394]  H  ffor  he  that  seith  fals  /  may  nat 
wel  be  conseilled?  /  in  that  cas  of  which  he  lieth  [2395] 
1F  And  after  this  /  thou  shalt  considere  the  thynges  fat 
acorden  to  that  thou  purpcsest  /  for  to  do  /  by  thy  conseil- 
lours  if  reson  accorde  therto  /.  [2396]  And  eek  /  if  thy 
myght  may  atteine  ther-to  /  And  if  the  moore  part1  and  the 
bettre  part1  of  thy  conseillours  acorde  ther-to  /  or  noon 
[2397]  IT  Thanne  shaltou  considere  /  what  thyng  shal 
folwe  /  after  hir  conseillyng1 .  as  hate  /  pees  /  werre  / 
grace  /  profit*  or  damage  /  and  manye  othere  thynges 
[2398]  IT  Thanne  /  of  alle  thise  thynges  /  thou  shalt  chese 
the  beste  /  and  weyue  alle  othere  thynges  [23.99]  ^  Thanne 
shaltow  considere  of  what  roote  is  engendred!  the  matiere 
of  thy  conseil  /  and  what  fruyf  it  may  conserue  and 
engendre  [2400]  1T  Thou  shalt  eek  considere  alle  thise 
causes  /  fro  whennes  they  been  sprongen  [2401]  IT  And 
whan  ye  han  examyned  youre  conseil  /  as  I  have  seyd?  / 
and  which  partie  is  the  bettre  and  moore  profitable  /  and 
hast  approued  it1  by  manye  wise  folk1  and  olde  [2402] 
IT  thawne  shaltou  considere  /  it  thou  mayst  parfourne  it1  and 
maken  of  it  a  good  ende  [2403]  IF  ffor  certes  reson  wol  nat 
that  any  man  /  sholde  bigynne  a  thyng1.  but  if  he  myghte  / 
parfourne  if  as  hym  oghte  [2404]  IF  Ne  no  wight1  sholde 

ELLESMERE    140    (6-T.  217) 


218    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

take  vp  on  hym  so  heuy  a  charge  /  that  he  myghte  nat  bere 

it1  [2405]  1T  ffor  the  prouerbe  seith  ||.  he  that  to  muche    f  prouert>« 

embraceth   /   distreyneth   litel    [2406]    And    Caton   seith    tcato 

IT  Assay  to  do  swich  thyng1 .  as  thou  hast  power  to  doon  / 

lest1  that1  the  charge  oppresse  thee  /  so  soore  /  that  thee 

bihoueth  /  to  weyue   thyng1   that   thou  hast   bigonne  / 

[2407]  And  if  so  be  /  fat  thou  be  in  doute.  /  wheither  thou 

mayst1  parfourne  a  thing1  or  noon  /  chese  rather  /  to  suffro 

than  bigynne   [2408]  H  And  Piers  Alphonce  seith  IT  If   1  Petrus  Aifoncc 

thou  hast  myght  to  doon  a  thyng1  of  which  thou  most 

repente  thee  /  it  is  bettre  /  nay  than  ye  [2409]  5T  this  is 

to  seyn  /  that  thee  is  bettre  /  holde  thy  tonge  stille  /  than 

for  to  speke  [2410]  1T  Thanne  may  ye  vnderstonde  /  by 

stronger  resons  /  that  if  thou  hast  poHver  /  to  parfowrne  a 

werk*  of  which"  thou  shalt  repente  /  thanne  is  it  bettre  / 

that  thou  suffre  than  bigynne  [2411]  11  wel  seyn  they  fat 

defenden  euery  wight1  to  assaye  any  thyng1  of  which  he  is 

in  doute  /  wheither  he  may  parfowrae  it  or  noon  ||  [2412] 

And  after  /  whan  ye  han  examyned  youre  conseil  /  as  I 

haue  seyd  biforn  /  and  knowen  wel  /  that  ye  may  p«?-- 

fourne  youre  empn'se  /  conferme  it  thanne  sadly  til  it  be  at 

an  ende 

[2413]  NOw  is  it  resoii  and  tyme  fat  I  she  we  yow  / 
wha?zne  and  wherfore  /  that  ye  may  chauuge  youre  conseil- 
lours  /  with-outen  youre  repreue  [2414]  IT  Soothly  /  a  man  t  HOW  a  man 

.  may  clmun^en 

may  chaungen  his   pwrpos  and  his  conseil  if  the  cause    hise  conseiiioure 

cesseth  /  or  whan  a  newe  caas  bitydeth  [2415]  IF  ffor  the    repreue 

lawe  seith  that  vpon  thynges  fat  newely  bityden  /  bihoueth 

newe  conseil  [2416]  IT  And  senec/ seith  ||.  If  thy  conseil    ^[Seneca 

is  comen  /  to  the  eeris  of  thyn  enemy  chaunge  thy  conseil 

[2417]  1T  Thou  mayst  also  chaunge  thy  conseil  /  If  so  be  / 

that  thou  mayst  fynde  /  that  by  errour  /  or  by  oother 

cause  /  harm  or  damage  may  bityde  [2418]  IT  Also  /  if  thy 

conseil  be  dishonest1 .  or  ellis  cometh  of  dishoneste  cause  / 

chaunge  thy  conseil  ||.  [2419]  ffor  the  lawes  seyn  H  that 

alle  bihestes  that  been    dishoneste  /  been   of  no   value 

ELLESMEHE    441    (6-T.  218)        [i  leaf  162,  back] 


219    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmcre  MS. 

[2420]  1F  And  eek/  If  so  be  /  pat  it  be  inpossible  /  or  may 
nat  goodly  be  parfowrned  or  kept1 

[2421]  IT  And  take  this  /  for  a  general  reule  /  that  euery 
conseil  pat  is  afferrned  so  strongly  /  that  it  may  nat  be 
chaunged  for  no  condition  that  may  bityde  1T  I  seye  /  J>«t 
thilke  conseil  is  wikked* .  [2422] 

U  aieiibeus  v  |  ihis  Melibeus  /  whanne  he  hadde  herd  the  doctrine  of 
his  wyf  dame  Prudence  /  answerde  in  this  wyse 
JL  [2423]  U  Dame  quod  he  as  yef  in  to  this  tyme  /  ye 
ban  wel  and  couenablely  taught1  me  as  in  general  /  how  I 
shal  gouerne  me  in  the  chesynge  /  and  in  the  withholdynge 
of  my  conseillours  ||  [2424]  but  now  wolde  I  fayn  /  that 
ye  wolde  condescende  in  especial  /  [2425]  and  telle  me  / 
how  liketh  yow  /  or  what  semeth  yow  by  oure  conseillours  / 
that  we  han  chosen  in  oure  present  nede 

H  Prudence  [2426]  My  lord  quod  she  /  I  biseke  yow  in  al  hum- 

blesse  /  that  ye  wol  nat  wilfully  replie  agayn  my  resons  / 
ne  distempre  youre  herte  /  thogh"  I  speke  thyng*  that  yow 
displese  ||  [2427]  ffor  god  woof  that  as  in  myn  entente  I 
speke  it1  for  youre  beste  /  for  youre  honour  /  and  for  youre 
profite  eke  /  [2428]  And  soothly  I  hope  /  that  youre  be- 
nyngnytee  /wol  taken  it  in  pacience  [2429]  1T  Trustethme 
wel  quod  she  /  that  youre  conseil  as  in  this  caas  ne  sholde 
nat1  as  to  speke  properly  /  be  called  a  conseillyng1  but  a 
mocion  or  a  moeuyng1  of  folye  /  [2430]  in  which  conseil  / 
ye  han  erred  in  many  a  sondry  wise 

[2431]  IT  ffirst  /  and  forward  /  ye  han  erred  in  thassem- 
blynge  of  youre  conseillours  ||  [2432]  ffor  ye  sholde  first 
haue  cleped  a  fewe  folk  /  to  youre  conseil  /  and  after  ye 
myghte  han  shewed  it1  to  mo  folk  /  if  it  hadde  been  nede 
[2433]  IT  But  certes  /  ye  han  sodeynly  cleped  to  youre  con- 
seil a  greet1  multitude  of  peple  ful  chargeant1  and  ful 
anoyous  for  to  heere  [2434]  1T  Also  /  ye  han  erred  /  for 
there  as  ye  sholden  oonly  haue  cleped  to  youre  conseil 
youre  trewe  frendes  olde  and  wise  /  [2435]  ye  han  ycleped 
straunge  folk  /  and  yong1  folk1 .  false  flatereres  /  and  enemys 

ELLESMERE   442   (6-T.  219) 


220    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

reconsiled  /  and  folk  /  fat  doon  yow  reuerence  withouten 
loue  [2436]  IT  And  eek  also  /  ye  haue  erred  /  for  ye  han 
broght  with  yow  to  youre  conseil  /  Ire  /  coueitise  /  and 
hastifnesse  /  [2437]  the  wliiche  thre  thinges  been  con- 
trariouse  to  euery  conseil  /  lioneste  and  pj-ofitable  /  [2438] 
the  whiche  thre  /  ye  han  nat  anientissed  or  destroyed  hem  / 
neither  in  youre  self1  ne  in  youre  conseillours  as  yow  ogh~te 
[2439]  IT  Ye  han  erred  also  /  for  ye  han  shewed?  '  to  youre 
conseillours  /  youre  talent1  and  youre  affeccion  /  to  make 
werre  anon  /  and  for  to  do  vengeance  /  [2440]  they  han 
espied  hy  youre  wordes  to  what  thyng1  ye  been  enclyned  || 
[2441]  And  therfore  /  han  they  rather  conseilled  yow  to 
youre  talent1  than  to  youre  profit1  [2442]  IT  Ye  han  erred 
also  /  for  it  semeth  /  fat  it  suffiseth  /to  han  been  con- 
seilled by  thise  conseillours  oonly  /  and  wif  litel  Auys  / 
[2443]  where-as  in  so  greet1  and  so  heigh"  a  nede  /  it  hadde 
been  necessarie  mo  conseillours  /  and  moore  deliberacion)  to 
parfourne  youre  emprise  [2444]  IT  Ye  han  erred  also  /  for 
ye  han  nat  examyned  youre  conseil  /  in  the  forseyde 
manere  ne  in  due  manere  as  the  caas  requireth"  [2445]  U  Ye 
han  erred  also  /  for  ye  han  nat  maked  no  diuision)  bitwixe 
youre  conseillours  IT  this  is  to  seyn  /  bitwixen  youre  trewe 
freendes  /  and  youre  feyned  conseillours  '.  [2446]  ne  ye  han 
nat  knowe  the  wil  of  youre  trewe  freendes  /  olde  and  wise 
[2447]  but  ye  han  cast1  alle  hire  wordes  in  an  hochepot1 
and  enclyned  youre  herte  to  the  moore  partie  /  and  to  the 
gretter  nombre  /  and  there  been  ye  condescended  [2448] 
IT  And  sith  ye  woot  wel  f  «t  meti  shal  alwey  /  fynde  a 
gretter  nombre  of  fooles  /  than  of  wise  men  /  [2449]  and 
therfore  /  the  cowseils  that  been  at  congregacions  and  mul- 
titudes of  folk1,  there  as  men  take  moore  reward*  to  the 
nombre  /  than  to  the  sapience  of  persones  /  [2450]  ye  se  wel  / 
that  in  swiche  conseillynges  /  fooles  han  the  maistrie  [245 1] 
Melibe?(s  answerde  agayn  /  and  seyde  /  I  graunte  wel  that 
I  haue  erred  ||  [2452]  but  there  as  thou  hast  toold  me  heer- 
biforn  /  fat  he  nys  nat  to  blame  fat  chaungeth  hise  con- 

33  ELLESMERE    443   (6-T.  220)  ['leaf  108] 


221    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   EUesmere  MS. 

seillours  in  certein  caas  /  and  for  certeine  luste  causes 
[2453]  1F  I  am  al  redy  to  chaunge  my  conseillours  /  right 

1  Prouerbe  as  thow  wolt  deuv86  /  [2454]  1F  The  prouerbe  seith  /.  that 
for  to  do  synne  is  manuyssh  /  but  certes  /  for  to  perseuere 
longe  in  synne  /  is  werk  of  the  deuel 

1  Prudence  [2455]  ^I  To  this  sentence  answereth  anon  dame  Pru- 

dence and  seyde  [2456]  ^F  Examineth  quod  she  youre  con- 
seil  /  and  lat  vs  see  /  the  whiche  of  hem  /  han  spoken 
most  resonablely  /  and  taught  yow  best  conseil  ||.  [2457] 
And  for  as  muche  as  fat  the  examynacion)  is  necessarie  / 
lat  vs  bigynne  at  the  surgiens  and  at  the  phisiciens  /  that 
first*  speeken  in  this  matiere  [2458]  IF  I  sey  yow  /  that  the 
surgiens  and  phisiciens  /  han  seyd  yow  in  youre  conseil 
discreetly  /  as  hem  oughte  [2459]  IF  And  in  hir  speche 
seyd  ful  wisely  /  that  to  the  office  of  hem  ape?-teneth  to 
doon  to  euery  wight  honowr  and  profit  /  and  no  wight  for 
to  anoye  /  [2460]  and  in  hir  craft  /  to  doon  greet  diligence 
vn-to  the  cxire  of  hem  /  whiche  Jjat  they  han  in  hir  gouern- 
aunce  /  [2461]  And  sire  /  right  as  they  han  answered 
wisely  and  discreetly  /  [2462]  right  so  rede  I  that  they 
been  hoighly  and  souereynly  gerdoned  for  hir  noble 
speche  /  [2463]  and  eek1  for  they  sholde  do  /  the  moore 
ententif  bisynesse  in  the  curacion)  of  youre  doghter  deere  || 
[2464]  fFor  al  be  it  so  /  J>at  they  been  youre  freendes  / 
therfore  shal  ye  nat  suffren  /  that  they  serue  yow  for 
noght  /  [2465]  but  ye  oghte  the  rather  gerdone  hem  and 
shewe  hern  youre  largesse  [2466]  IF  And  as  touchynge  the 
proposicion  which  that  the  Phisiciens  encreesceden  in  this 
caas  /  this  is  to  seyn  /  [2467]  that  in  maladies  /  that  oon 
cont?-arie  is  warisshed  by  another  contrarie  /.  [2468]  I 
wolcle  fayn  knowe  /  hou  ye  vnderstonde  this  text  /  and 
what  is  youre  sentence  [2469]  IF  Certes  quod  Melibeus/  L 
vnderstonde  it  in  this  wise  [2470]  IF  that  right1  as  they  han 
doon  me  a  contrarie  /  right  so  /  sholde  I  doon  hem  another  || 
[2471]  fFor  right1  as  they  han  1venged  hem  on  me  /  and 
doon  me  wrong1  f  Eight  so  /  shal  I  venge  me  vpon  hem  / 

ELLESMEBE    444   (6-T.  22l)       [i  leaf  163,  back] 


222    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

and  doon  liem  wrong4.  [2472]  and  thanne  haue  I  cured  oon 
contrarie  by  another 

[2473]  -k°  •  1°  quod  dame  Prudence  /  how  lightly  is  U  Pradence 
euery  man  enclined  to  his  owene  desir  /  and  to  his  owene 
plesau?zce  [2474]  IT  Certes  quod  she  the  wordes  of  the 
Phisiciens  /  ne  sholde  nat  han  been  vnderstonden  in  thys 
wise  [|.  [2475]  ff°r  certes  /  wikkednesse  /  is  nat  contrarie 
to  wikkednesse  /  ne  vengeance  to  vengeaurcce  /  ne  wrong1 
to  wrong1  •  but  they  been  semblable  [2476]  IF  And  ther- 
fore  /  o  vengeaurece  /  is  nat  warisshed  by  another  venge- 
a?/nce  /  ne  o  wroong4  by  another  wroong1.  [2477]  but 
euerich  of  hem  encreesceth  and  aggreggeth  oother  [2478] 
II  But  certes  /  the  wordes  of  the  Phisiciens  /  sholde  been 
vnderstonden  in  this  wise  [2479]  1F  ffor  good  and  wikked- 
nesse /  been  two  contraries  and  pees  and  werre  /  venge- 
auwce  and  suffraunce  /  discord?  and  accord?  and  manye 
othere  thynges  ||  [2480]  But  certes  /  wikkednesse  /  shal  be 
warisshed  by  goodnesse  /  discord1  by  accord1  /  werre  by  pees  / 
and  so  forth  of  othere  thynges  [2481]  And  heer-to  accordeth 
Seint  Paul  the  Apostle  /  in  manye  places  [2482]  IT  He  f  Pauius  Apo»- 
seith  Ne  yeldeth  nat  harm  for  harm  /  ne  wikked  speche  / 
for  wikked  speche  /  [2483]  But  do  wel  /  to  hym  fat  dooth 
thee  harm  /  and  blesse  hym  fat  seith  to  thee  harm  [2484] 
1T  And  in  manye  othere  places  he  amonesteth  pees  and 
accord?  [2485]  IF  But1  now  wol  I  speke  to  yow  /  of  the  con- 
seil  /  which  fat  was  yeuen  to  yow  /  by  the  men  of  lawe  / 
and  the  wise  folk*  [2486]  that  seyden  alle  by  oon  accord?  / 
as  ye  han  herd  bifore  [2487]  IT  That  ouer  alle  thynges  /  ye 
sholde  doon  youre  diligence  to  kepen  youre  persone  /  and 
to  warnestoore  youre  hous  [2488]  IT  And  seyden  also  that 
in  this  caas  /  yow  ogfiten  for  to  werken  ful  auysely  and 
with  greet1  deliberacion  [2489]  IT  And  sire  /  as  to  the  firste 
point1 .  that  toucheth  to  the  kepyng  of  youre  persone  / 
[2490]  ye  shul  vnderstonde  /  that  he  fat  hath  werre  shal 
eueremoore  /  mekely  and  deuoutly  /  preyen  biforn  alle 
thynges  /  [2491]  that  Ihesiis  crist  of  his  grcte  mercy  wol 

ELLESMERE    445   (6-T.  222) 


223    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

han  hym  in  his  p?'oteccion)  /  and  been  his  souereyn  helpyng1 
at  his  nede  ||.  [2492]  ffor  certes  /  In  this  world  ther  is  no 
Aright1  that  may  be  conseilled  ne  kept  sufficeantly  with- 
outen  the  kepyng1  of  oure  lord  Ihesu  crist1  [2493]  IF  To  this 

5  Dauid  prophet  sentence  accordeth  the  pmphete  dauid  /  that  seith  ||  [2494] 
If  god  ne  kepe  the  Citee  /  in  ydel  waketh  he  that  it  kepeth 
[2495]  Now  sire  /  thanne  shul  ye  coramitte  /  the  kepyng1  of 
youre  persone  to  youre  trewe  freendes  /  that  been  approued 
and  knowe  /  [2496]  and  of  hem  /  shul  ye  axen  helpe  /  youre 

ICato  persone  for  to  kepe  IF  ffor  Caton  seith  1F  If  thou  hast 

nede  of  help  /  axe  it  of  thy  freendes  ||  [2497]  ffor  ther  nys 
noon  so  good  a  Phisicien  /  as  thy  trewe  freend?  [2498] 
^F  And  after  this  /  thanne  shul  ye  kepe  yow  fro  alle 
straunge  folk  /  and  fro  lyeres  /  and  haue  alwey  in  suspect1 

1  Petrus  Aifonce  hire  compaignye  [2499]  IF  ffor  Piers  Alfonce  seith  ||  Ne 
taak  /  no  compaignye  by  the  weye  of  straunge  men  but  if 
so  be  J?at  thou  haue  knowe  hym  of  a  lenger  tyme  [2500] 
IT  And  if  so  be  /  that  he  be  falle  in-to  thy  compaignye  par- 
auenture  wft/iouten  thyn  assent1 ./  [2501]  enquere  thanne  / 
as  subtilly  as  thou  mayst1  of  his  conuersacion)  /  and  of  his  lyf 
bifore  /  and  feyne  thy  wey  ||.  seye  that  thou  goosf  thider 
as  thou  wolt  naf  go  /  [2502]  and  if  he  bereth  a  spere  / 
hoold  thee  on  the  right  syde  /  and  if  he  here  a  swerd  / 
hoold  thee  on  his  lift1  syde .  [2503]  IF  And  after  this  / 
thanne  /  shul  ye  kepe  yow  wisely  from  ati  swich  manere 
peple  as  I  haue  seyd  bifore  /  And  hem  and  hir  conseil 
eschewe  /  [2504]  IF  And  after  this  /  thanne  shul  ye  kepe  yow 
in  swich  manere  /  [2505]  that  for  any  presuinpciori)  of  youre 
strengthe  /  that  ye  ne  dispise  nat1  ne  acounte  anat  the 
myghf  of  youre  Aduersarie  /  so  litel  /  that  ye  lete  /  the 
kepyng1  of  youre  persone  /  for  youre  presumpcion  /  [2506] 
for  euery  wys  man  /  dredeth  his  enemy  [2507]  IF  And 

T  Salomon  Salomon  seith  1F  weleful  is  he  /  that  of  alle  hath  drede  / 

[2508]  for  certes  /  he  that  thurgh"  the  hardynesse  of  his 
herte  /  and  thurgh"  the  hardynesse  of  hym  self  /  hath  to 
greet  presumpcion)  /  hym  shal  yuel  bityde  [2509]  IF  Thanne  / 

ELLESMERE   446   (6-T.  223)  [MeaflM] 


221    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

shul  ye  eueremoore  countrewayte  embussRementz  and  alle 

espiaille  [2510]  IT  ffor  senec1  seith  IT  That  tlie  wise  man  /  ifseneca 

he  dredeth  harmes  /  [  .    .    .    no  gap\  [2511]  ne  he  ne 

falleth  in-to  perils  /  that  perils  eschueth  ||  [2512]  And  al 

be  it  so  /  fat  it  seme  that  thou  art1  in  siker  place  /  yet 

shaltow  alwey  do  thy  diligence  in  kepynge  of  thy  pe?'sone 

[2513]  IT  this  is  to  seyn  N~e  be  nat  necligent1  to  kepe  thy 

persone  /  nat  oonly  /  for  thy  gretteste  enemys  /  but  for  thy 

leeste  enemy  [2514]  [Car  senegue  dit  il  appartient  a  Iwmme 

lien  enseigne  qui\l]  doulte  son  petit  ennemy l]  [2  5 1 5]  1F  Ouyde  f  Omdius 

seith  ||  that  the  litel  wesele  /  wol  slee  the  grete  bole  /  and  the   vn.  leaf  133.] 

wilde  hert1  [2516]  IF  And  the  book  /  seith  ||  A  litel  thorn  / 

may  prikke  a  greet  kyng  ful  soore  ||.  And  an  hoiind  /  wol 

holde  the  wilde  boor  [2517]  ^[  But  nathelees  /  I  sey  nat1. 

thou  shalt  be  coward*  /  that  thou  doute  /  ther  /  wher  as  is  no 

drede  [2518]  1T  The  book  seith  /  that  sowzrne  folk1,  han 

greet*  lust  to  deceyue  /  but  yet1  they  dreden  hem  to  be  de- 

ceyued  [2519]  IT  Yet  shaltou  drede  /  to  been  empoisoned2 

And  kepe  yow  /  from  the  compaignye  of  Scorneres  [2520] 

IT  ffor  the  book  seith  f  with  scorneres  make  no  compaignye  / 

but  flee  hire  wordes  as  venym 

[252 1]  IF  Now  as  to  the  seconde  point1  IT  Where  as  youre 
wise  conseillours  conseilled  yow  to  warnestoore  youre  hous  / 
with  gret1  diligence  [2  5  2  2]  IT  .1.  wolde  fayn  knowe  /  how  that 
ye  vnderstonde  /  thi'lke  wordes  /  and  what  is  youre  sentence 

[2523]  Melibeus  answerde  and  seyde  IT  Certes  I  vnder-  f  Meiibeus 
stande  it  in  this  wise  IT  That  I  shal  warnestoore  myn  hous  / 
with  toures  /  swiche  as  han  Castelles  /  and  othere  manere 
edifices  /  and  Armure  and  Artelries  /  [2524]  by  whiche 
thynges  /  I  may  my  persone  and  myn  hous  so  kepen  and 
deffenden  that  myne  enemys  /  shul  been  in  drede  /  myn 
hous  for  to  Approche 

[2525]  TO  this  sentence  /  answerde  anon  Prudence  ||.    IT  Prudence 
Warnestooryng1  quod  she  of  heighe  toures  and  of  grete 
edifices  /  [appartient  aucunesfois  a  orgueil.  [2526]  L?  en  fait 
les  tours  et  Us  grans  edifices  (Le  Menagier,  i.  209)]  with  grete 

ELLESMERE    447  (6-T.  224) 


225    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.  Ellesmere  MS. 

costagcs  and  with  greet  trauaille  /  and  whan  that  they  been 

accompliced  /  yet1  be  they  nat  worth  a  stree  /  but  if  they  be 

T  Nota  /  of  the      defended  by  trewe  freendes  that  been  /  olde  and  wise  [2527] 

stronjjeste  garny- 

Bone  that  may  be.  ^f  And  vnderstoond  wel  /  that  the  gretteste  and  strongeste 
garnyson  /  that  a  riche  man  may  haue  /  as  wel  to  kepen  his 
persone  as  hise  goodesf  is/  [2528]  that  he  be  biloued  / 

1  Tuiiius  amonges  hys  subgetz  and  with  hise  neighebores  [2  5  2  9]  IT  ffor 

thus  seith  Tullius  IT  That  ther  is  a  manere  garnyson  /  that 
no  man  may  venquysse  ne  disconfite  /  and  that  is  /  [2530] 
a  lord  to  be  biloued  of  hise  Citezeins  /  and  of  his  peple 

[2531]  NOw  sire  /  as  to  the  thridde  point1,  where  as 
youre  olde  /  and  wise  conseillours  seyden  1F  That  yow  ne 
ogfite  nat  sodeynly  ne  hastily  proceden  in  this  nede  / 
[2532]  but  that  yow  oghte  pmnieyen  and  apparaillen  yow 
in  this  caas  with^  greet  diligence  and  greet1  deliberacion 
[2533]  1T  trewely  /  I  trowe  that  they  seyden  right  wisely 

1  Tuiiius  and  right  sooth   [2534]   1T  ffor  Tullius  seith  /  In  euery 

nede  /  er  thou  bigynne  it  /  Apparaille  thee  vriih  greet 
diligence  [2535]  IT  Thanne  seye  I  /  that  in  vengeance 
takyng1  In  werre  /  in  bataille  /  and  in  warnestooryng1 
[2536]  er  thow  bigynne  /  .1.  rede  /  )?at  thou  apparaille  thee 
ther  to  /  and  do  if  with  greet*  deliberacion) '  [2537]  affor 

t  Tuiiius  Tullius  seith  IT  The  longe  apparaillyng1  biforn  the  bataille  / 

T  Cassidorus  maketh  short  victorie  ||.  [2538]  And  Cassidorus  seith  IT  The 
garnyson  is  stronger  /  whan  it  is  longe  tyme  auyseu 

[2539]  But  now  lat  vs  speken  /  of  the  conseil  that  was 
accorded  by  youre  neighebores  /  swiche  as  doon  yow 
reuerence  withouten  loue  /  [2540]  youre  olde  enemys  recon- 
siled  /  youre  flatereres  /  [2541]  that  conseilled  yow  cer- 
teyne  thynges  pn'uely  /  and  openly  /  conseilleden  yow  the 
contrarie  [2542]  1T  The  yonge  folk  also  /  that  conseilleden 
yow  to  venge  yow  /  and  make  werre  anon  [2543]  IT  And 
certes  sire  /  as  I  haue  seyd  biforn  /  ye  han  greetly  erred  / 
to  han  cleped  /  swich  rnanere  folk1  to  youre  conseil  /  [2544] 
which  conseillowrs  been  ynogh  repreued  by  the  resofis 
aforeseyd*  /  [2545]  but  nathelees  /  lat  vs  now  descende  to 

ELLESMERE   418    (6-T.  225)        P  leaf  164,  back] 


226    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

the  special  If  Ye  shuln  first  precede  /  after  the  doctrine  of 
Tullius  [2546]  IF  Certes  /  the  trouthe  of  this  matiere  /  or  of 
this  conseil  /  nedeth  nat1  diligently  enquere  /  [2547]  for  it 
is  wel  wistt  whiche  they  been  /  that  han  doon  to  yow  this 
trespas  and  vileynye  /  [2548]  and  how  rnanye  trespassours 
and  in  what  manere  /  they  han  to  yow  doon  /  al  this 
wrong*  and  all  this  vileynye  [2549]  ^F  And  after  this 
thanne  /  shul  ye  examyne  the  seconde  condicion)  /  which 
that  the  same  Tullius  /  addeth  in  this  matiere  [2550]  IF  ffor 
Tullius  put  a  thyng1.  which  that  he  clepeth  consentynge/this 
is  to  seyn  ||.  [2  5 5 1]  who  been  they  and  how  manye  /  \Et  quelx 
ilz  sonf]  that  consenten  to  thy  conseil  /  in  thy  wilfulnesse  / 
to  doon  hastif  vengeance  [2552]  IF  And  lat  vs  considers 
also  who  been  they  and  how  manye  been  they  /  and  whiche 
been  they  /  that1  consenteden  to  youre  Aduersaries  [2553] 
IF  And  certes/as  to  the  firste  poynf  It  is  wel  knowen/whiche 
folk1  been  they  /  that  consenteden  /  to  youre  hastif  wilful- 
nesse /  [2554]  for  treAvely  /  alle  tho  that  conseilleden  yow  / 
to  maken  sodeyn  werre  /  ne  been  nat  youre  freendes  [2555] 
IF  Lat  vs  now  cowsidere  /  whiche  been  they  /  that  ye  holde 
so  greetly  youre  freendes  as  to  youre  persone  ||  [2556]  ffor 
al  be  it  so  /  that  ye  be  myghty  and  riche  /  certes  /  ye  ne 
been  nat  but  allone  /  [2  5  5  7]  for  certes  /  ye  ne  han  no  child 
but  a  doghter  /  [2558]  ne  ye  ne  han  bretheren  ne  cosyns 
gfirmayns  /  ne  noon  oo]?er  neigh"  kynrede  /  [2559]  wherfore 
that  youre  enemys  for  drede  sholde  stinte  /  to  plede  with 
yow  /  or  to  destroye  youre  persone  [2560]  IF  Ye  knowen 
also  that  youre  richesses  /  mooten  been  dispended  /  in 
diuerse  parties  /  [2561]  and  whan  fat  euery  wight  hath 
his  part1 .  they  ne  wollen  taken  but  litel  reward?  to  v[e]nge 
thy  deeth  ||.  [2562]  But  thyne  enemys  /  been  thre  /  and 
they  han  manie  children  /  bretheren  /  cosyns  /  and  oother  ny 
kynrede  /  [2563]  And  though  so  were  that  thou  haddest 
slayn  of  hem  .ij°  or  .iij*  yet  dwellen  ther  ynowe  to  wreken 
hir  deeth  /  and  to  sle  thy  persone  ||.  [2564]  And  though  so 
be  that*  youre  kynrede  be  moore  siker  and  stedefastf.  than 

BLLESMEEE    449  (6-T.  226) 


227    SIX-TEXT 

GUOUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

the  kyn  of1  youre  aduersarie'  ||  [2565]  yet  nathelees  youre 
kynrede  /  nys  but  a  fer  kynrede  /  they  been  /  but  litel  syb 
to  yow  /  [2566]  and  the  kyn  of  youre  enemys  been  ny  syb 
to  hem  /  And  certes  /  as  in  that1  hir  condicion  /  is  bef  than 
youres  [2567]  II  Thanne  /  lat  vs  considere  also  /  if  the 
conseillyng1  of  hem  J»at  conseilleden  yow  /  to  taken  sodeyn 
vengeance  /  wheither  it  accorde  to  reson  i  [2568]  And 
certes  /  ye  knowe  wel  nay  ||  [2569]  for  as  by  right  and 
reson  /  ther  may  no  man  taken  vengeance  on  no  wight  /  but 
the  luge  that  hath  the  lurisdiccion  of  it1  [2570]  whan  it  is 
graunted  hym  /  to  take  thilke  vengeance  hastily  or  at- 
temprely  as  the  lawe  requireth  [2571]  1F  And  yet  moore 
oner  /  of  thilke  word  /  that1  Tullius  clepeth  consentynge  /. 
[2572]  thou  shalt  considere  /  if  thy  myght  and  'thy  power/ 
may  consenten  and  suffise  /  to  thy  wilfulnesse  /  and  to  thy 
conseillowrs  '.  [2573]  And  certes  /  thou  rnayst  wel  seyn  / 
that  nay  [2574]  ^T  ifor  sikerly  /  as  for  to  speke  proprely  / 
we  may  do  no  thyng1 .  but  oonly  swich  thyng1  as  we  may 
doon  rightfully  f  [2575]  And  certes  rightfully  ne  mowe  ye 
take  no  vengeance  /  as  of  youre  propre  Auctoritee  [2576] 
^T  thanne  mowe  ye  seen  /  that  youre  power  ne  consenteth 
nat1  ne  accordeth  nat  with  youre  wilfulnesse  [2577]  IT  Lat 
vs  now  examyne  the  thridde  point1  that  Tullius  clepeth 
Consequent1  [2578]  IT  Thou  shalt  vnderstonde  that  the 
vengeance  that  thou  purposest  for  to  take  J  is  the  conse- 
quent ||.  [2579]  And  ther-of  /  folweth  another  vengeance  / 
pej-il  /  and  werre  /  and  othere  damages  with-oute  nombre  / 
of  whiche  /  we  be  nat  war/  as  at  this  tyme  [2580]  IT  And 
as  touchynge  the  fourthe  point*,  that  Tullius  clepeth  en- 
gendryngef  [2581]  thou  shalt  considere  /  that  this  wrong* 
which  that  is  doon  to  thee  /  is  engeudred  of  the  hate  of 
thyne  enemys  /  [2582]  and  of  the  vengeance  takynge  /  vpon 
that1  wolde  engendre  another  vengeance  /  and  muchel  sorwe 
and  wastynge  of  richesses  as  I  seyde 

[2583]  IT  !NVw  sire  /  as  to  the  point1  that  Tullius 
clepeth  causes  /  which  that  is  the  laste  point1.  [2584]  thou 

ELLESMERE   450    (6-T.  227)  [Heat  165] 


228    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   EUesmere  MS. 

shalt  vnderstonde  /  fat  the  wrong1  that  thou  hast  receyued  / 

hath  certeine  causes  /  [2585]  whiche  fat  clerkes  clepen 

Oriens  and  Efficiens  /  and  Causa  longinqua  /  and  Causa 

propinqua  /.  this  is  to  seyn  /  the  fer  cause  and  the  ny 

cause  [2586]  IF  The  fer  cause  /  is  almyghty  god  /  that  is 

cause  of  alle  thynges  [2587]  IT  The  neer  cause  /  is  thy 

thre  enemys  [2588]  IT  The  caiise  Accidental  /  was  hate 

[2589]  IT  The  cause  material  /  been  the  fyue  woundes  of 

thy  doghter  [2590]  1F  The  cause  formal  /  is  the  mane?-e  of 

hir  werkynge  that  broghten  laddres  and  cloumben  in  at 

thy  wyndowes '.  [2591]  The  cause  final  /  was  for  to  sle  thy 

doghter  /  It  letted  nat1  in  as  muche  as  in  hem  was  [2592] 

1T  But  for  to  speken  of  the  fer  cause  /  as  to  what  ende  they 

shul  come  /  or  what  shal  finally  bityde  of  hem  in  this 

caas  /  ne  kan  .1.  nat  deme  ||.  but  by  coniectynge  and  by 

supposynge  [2593]  H  for  we  shul  suppose  /  that  they  shul 

come  to  a  wikked  ende  /.  [2594]  by  cause  /  that  the  book1  f  in  ubn>  decre- 

of*  decrees  seith  ||.  seelden  or  with  greet  peyne  /  been  causes 

ybroght  /  to  good  ende  /  whanne  they  been  baddely  bigonne 

[2595]  IT  Now  sire  /  If  men  wolde  axe  me  /  why  that1 
god  suffred  men  to  do  yow  this  vileynye  f  Certes  /  I  kan. 
nat  wel  answere  /  as  for  no  soothfastuesse  [2596]  H  ffor 
thapostle  seith  /  that  the  sciences  and  the  luggementz  of 
oure  lord  god  almyghty  been  ful  depe  /  [2597]  ther  may 
no  man  co?«prehende  ne  serchen  hem  suffisantly  /  [2598] 
IT  Kathelees  /  by  certeyne  presumpcions  and  coniectynges  / 
I  holde  and  bileeue  [2599]  that  god  /  which  that  is  ful  of 
lustice  and  of  rightwisnesse  hath  suffred  this  bityde  by 
luste  cause  resonable  j|. 

[2600]  Thy  name  is  Melibee  /  this  is  to  seyn  /  a  man 
that  drynketh  hony  [2601]  IT  Thou  hast  ydronke  so  muchel 
hony  of  sweete  temporeel  richesses  /  and  delices  and  hon- 
ours of  this  world  /  [2602]  that  thou  art  dronken  /  and 
hast  forgeten  /  Ihesu  crist1  thy  creatour  /  [2603]  thou  ne 
hast  nat  doon  to  hym  swich  honour  and  reuerence  as  thee 
oughte  /  [2604]  ne  thou  ne  hast  natf  wel  ytaken  kepe  /  to 

ELLESMERE  451    (6-T.  228) 


229    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

t  Ouidius  the  wordes  of  Guide  ^T  That  seith  ||  [2605]  vnder  the  hony 

of  the  goodes  of  the  body  /  is  hyd  the  venym  /  that  sleeth 

t  Salomon  the  soule  [2606]  1T  And  Salomon  seith  IT  If  thou  hast 

founden  hony  /  ete  of  it*  that  suffiseth  /  [2607]  for  if  thou 
ete  of  if  out  of  mesure  /  thou  shalt  spewe  /  and  be  nedy 
and  poure  /  [2608]  And  perauenture  /  Crist'  hath  thee  in 
despit/  and  hath  turned!  awey  fro  thee  his  face  and  hise 
eeris  of  Misericorde  [2609]  1T  And  also  /  he  hath  l  suffred  / 
that  thou  hast  been  punyssfied!  in  the  manere  that  thow 
hasf  ytrespassed  [2610]  ^1  Thou  hast  doon  synne  /  agayn 
cure  lord  cn'stt .  [2611]  for  certes.  the  .iij.  enemys  of  man- 
kynde  /  that  is  to  seyn  /  the  flessh"  /  the  feend  and  the 
world!  /.  [2612]  thou  hast  suffred  hem  /  entre  in  to  thyn 
herte  wilfully  by  the  wyndowes  of  thy  body  /  [2613]  and 
hast  nat  defended  thy  self  suffisantly  agayns  hire  assautes  / 
and  hire  temptacions  /  so  /  that1  they  han  wounded  thy 
soule  /  in  .v.  places  /  [2614]  this  is  to  seyn  /  the  deedly 
synnes  that  been  entred  in-to  thyn  herte  /  by  thy  .v. 
wittes  ||.  [2615]  And  in  the  same  manere  /  oure  lord  crz'sfr 
hath  woold  and  suffred  /  that  thy  .iij.  enemys  been  entred  / 
in-to  thyn  hous  by  the  wyndowes  /  [2616]  and  han 
ywounded  thy  doghter  in  the  foreseyde  manere 

•fMeiibee  [2617]  1T  Certes  quod  Melibee  /  I  se  wel  that  ye  en- 

force yow  muchel  by  wordes  /  to  ouercome  me  /  in  swich 
manere  that  I  shal  nat  /  venge  me  of  myne  enemys  [2618] 
shewynge  me  the  perils  and  the  yueles  /  that  myghten 
falle  of  this  vengeance  ||  [2619]  But  who  so  wolde  considere 
in  alle  vengeances  the  perils  and  yueles  J>«t  myghte  sewe 
•of  vengeance  takynge  /  [2620]  a  man  wolde  neuere  take 
vengeance  /  and  that  were  harm  /  [2621]  for  by  the  venge- 
ance takynge  /  been  the  wikked  men  disseuered  fro  the 
goode  men  [2622]  IF  And  they  that  han  wyl  to  do  wikked- 
nesse  /  restreyne  hir  wikked  pz/rpos  /  whan  they  seen  the 
punyssynge  and  chastisynge  of  the  trespassours  [2623] 
V  a  ce  Respont  dame  prudence  certes  dist  die  le  fottroye 
que  de  vengence  went  molt  de  inaidx  Et  de  biens; 

ELLESMERE   452    (6-T.  229)        ['  Ieafl65,  back] 


230   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

[2624]    Mais    vengence    n'appartient  pas   a   vn    chascun 

fors  seulement  aux  iuges  Et  a  ceidx  qui  ont  la  iuridicion 

sur   les  malfaitteurs.     (MS   Reg.   19   C.  vii,  leaf  136.)] 

[2625]  IF  And  yet  seye  I  rnoore  /.  that1  right  as  a  singuler 

pe?'sone  /  synneth  /  in  takynge  vengeance  of  another  man  ./ 

[2626]  right  so  /  synneth  the  luge  /  if  he  do  no  vengeance 

of  hem/  that  it  han  disserued  ||  [2627]  ffor  Senetf  seith    f  Seneca 

thus  1F  That  maister  he  seith  is  good  /  that  proueth  shrewes  . 

[2628]  II  And  as  Cassidore  seith  1F  A  man  dredeth  to  do    ncassidoraf 

outrages  /  whan  he  woot1  and  knoweth  /  that  it1  displeseth 

to  the  luges  /  and  souereyns  [2629]  5F  Another  seith  11  The 

luge  fat  dredeth  to  do  right*,    maketh  men  shrewes  ||. 

[2630!  And  Seint  Paule  the  Apostle  /  seith  in  his  epistle  /    f  Pauius  Apo»- 

tolus  ad  Romano 

whan  he  writeth  vn-to  the  Eomayns '.  That  the  luges  beren 
nat  the  spere  /  with-outen  cause  /  [2631]  but  they  berew  if 
to  punysse  the  shrewes  and  mysdoeres  /  and  to  defende 
the  goode  men  [2632]  1T  If  ye  wol  thanne  take  vengeance 
of  youre  enemys  /  ye  shul  retourne  /  or  haue  youre  recours 
to  the  luge  that  hath  the  lurisdiccion  vp-on  hem  /  [2633] 
and  he  shal  punysse  hem  /  as  the  lawe  axeth  and  requireth 

[2634]  A  quod  Melibee  /  this  vengeance  /  liketh  me  f  MeHix* 
no  thyng1  [2635]  ^T  I  bithenke  me  now  and  take  heede  / 
how  ffortune  /  hath  norissed  me  fro  my  childhede  / 
and  hath  holpen  me  /  to  passe  many  a  stroong1  paas  [2636] 
H  Now  wol  I  assayen  hire  trowynge  with  goddes  helpe  / 
that  she  shal  helpe  me  /  my  shame  for  to  venge 

[2637]  Certes  quod  Prudence  IT  If  ye  wol  werke  by  my    T  Prudence 
conseil  /  ye  shul  nat1  assaye  ffortune  by  no  wey  /  [2638]  ne 
ye  shul  nat1  lene  or  bowe  /  vnto  hire  after  the  word  of- 
Senec  [2639]  IT  ffor  thynges  /  that  been  folily  doon  /  and    tseneoa 
that  been  in  hope  of  ffortune  /  shullen  neuere  come  to  good 
ende  ||.   [2640]  And  as  the  same  Senec*  seith  IT  The  moore 
cleer  and  the  moore  shynyng1  that  ffortune  is  /  the  moore 
brotil  /  and  the  sonner  broken  she  is  ||  [2641]  trusteth  nat 
in  hire  /  for  she  nys  nat  stidefasf  ne  stable  [2642]  for 
whan  thow  trowest1  to  be  moost  seur  and  siker  of  hire 

ELLESMERE  453    (6-T.  230) 


231    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEDS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

helpe  she  wol  faille  thee  /  and  deceyue  thee  [2643] 
•where  as  ye  seyn  that  ffortune  hath  norissed  yow  fro  youre 
childhede  /.  [2644]  I  seye  /  that1  '  in  so  mnchel  /  shul  ye  / 

^seneoa  the  lasse  truste  in  hire  and  in  hir  wit  ||.  [2645]  iFor  senec* 

seith  ||  what  man  that  is  norissed  by  ffortuue  /  she  maketh 
liym  a  greet*  fool  [2646]  1T  Xow  thanne  /  syn  ye  desire  / 
and  axe  vengeance  /  and  the  vengeance  /  that  is  doon  after 
the  la  we  and  bifore  the  luge  /  ne  liketh  yow  nat*  [2647] 
And  the  vengeance  that  is  doon  in  hope  of  ffortune  is  peril- 
ous and  vncertein  [2648]  Thanne  haue  ye  noon  oother 
remedie  /  but  for  to  haue  youre  recours  /  vnto  the  souereyn 
luge  that  vengeth  /  alle  vileynyes  and  wronges  /.  [2649] 
And  he  shal  venge  yow  /  after  that  hym  self  witnesseth  / 
where  as  he  seith  ||.  [2650]  leueth  the  vengeance  to  me  / 
and  I  shal  do  if 

•[Meiibee  [2651]  Melibee  answerde  ||.  If  I  ne  venge  me  nat1.  of 

the  vileynye  that  men  han  doon  to  me  [2652]  .1.  sompne  or 
warne  hem  /  that  han  doon  to  me  that  vileynyo  and  alle 
othere  /  to  do  me  another  vileynye  [2653]  IT  ffor  it  is  writen 
11"  If  thou  take  no  vengeance  of  an  oold  vileynye  /  thou  somp- 
nesf  thyne  Aduersaries  to  do  thee  a  newe  vileynye  [2654] 
H  And  also  /  for  my  suffrance  /  men  wolden  do  to  me  so 
muchel  vileynye  /  that1  I  mygfite  neither  bere  it  ne  sus- 
teene  /  [2655]  and  so  sholde  I  been  puf  and  holdeii  ouer 
lowe  [2656]  IT  ffor  men  seyn  /  In  muchel  suffrynge  /  shul 
nianye  thynges  falle  vn-to  thee  /  whiche  /  thou  shalt  nat 
mowe  suffre 

If  Prudence  [2657]  Certes   quod  Prudence  .1.   graunte   yow  that 

ouer  muchel  suffrance  nys  nat  good  /  [2658]  but  yet  ne 
folweth  it  nat  ther-of  /  that  euery  persone  /  to  whom  men 
doon  vileynye  take  of  it  vengeance  /  [2659]  for  that  aper- 
teneth  and  longeth  al  oonly  to  the  luges  /  for  they  shul 
venge  the  vileynyes  and  iniuries  ||.  [2660]  And  ther-fore  / 
tho  two  Auctoritees  /  that  ye  han  seyd  aboue  /  been  oonly 
vnderstonden  in  the  luges  /  [2661]  for  whan  they  suffreu 
ouer  muchel  the  wronges  and  the  vileynyes  to  be  doon 

ELLESMERE   454    (6-T.  23l)  [MeaflC6] 


232    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

withouten  punysshynge  /  [2662]  they  sompne  nat  a  man  al 
oonly  /  for  to  do  newe  wronges  /  but  they  comanden  it* 
[2663]  IT  Also  a  wys  man  seith  /  that  the  luge  that  cor- 
recteth  nat  the  synnere  comandeth  and  biddeth  hym  do 
synne  [2664]  IT  And  the  luges  and  souereyns  myghten  in 
hir  land  so  muchel  suffre  of  the  shrewes  and  mysdoeres  / 
[2665]  that  they  sholden  by  swich  suffrance  by  proces  of 
tyme  /  wexen  of  swich  power  and  myght/  that  they  sholden 
putte  out  the  luges  and  the  souereyns  /  from  hir  places  / 
[2666]  and  atte  laste  maken  hem  lesen  hire  lordshipes 

[2667]  IT  But  lat  vs  now  putte  /  that  ye  haue  leue  to 
venge  yow  /  [2668]  I  seye  /  ye  been  nat1  of  myght  and 
power  /  as  now  to  venge  yow  /  [2669]  for  if  ye  wole  maken 
comparison  /  vn-to  the  myght  of  youre  Aduersaries  /  ye  shul 
fynde  in  manye  thynges  /  that1 1  haue  shewed  yow  er  this  / 
that  hire  condicion)  /  is  bettre  than  youres  [2670]  IT  And 
therfore  seye  I  that  it  is  good  as  now  /  that  ye  suffre  and 
be  pacientf 

[2671]  1F  fforthermoore  /  ye  knowen  wel  /  that  after  the 
comune  sawe  /  it  is  a  woodnesse  /  a  man  /  to  stryue  with  a 
stronger  /  or  a  moore  myghty  man  /  than  he  is  hym  self  ||. 
[2672]  And  for  to  stryue  with  a  man  of  euene  strengthe  / 
that  is  to  seyn  /  with  as  strong1  a  man  as  he  f  it  is  peril  /. 
[2673]  And  for  to  stryue  with  a  weyker  man  /  it  is  folie 
[2674]  IT  And  therfore  /  sholde  a  man  flee  stryuynge  /  as 
muchel  as  he  myghte  [2675]  IT  ffor  Salomon  seith  ||  It  is  a 
greet  worshipe  to  a  man  /  to  kepen  hym  fro  noyse  and 
stryf1  [2676]  1T  And  if  it  so  bifalle  or  happe  /  that  a  man 
of  gretter  myght  and  strengthe  /  than  thou  art1 .  do  thee 
grevaunce  /  [2677]  studie  /  and  bisye  thee  rather  to  stille  / 
the  1same  greuawnce  /  than  for  to  venge  thee  ||  [2678]  ffor 
Senec1  seith  ||  That*  he  putteth  hym  in  greet1  peril  /  that 
stryueth  with  a  gretter  man  /  than  he  is  hym  self  [2679] 
1F  And  Caton  seith  /  If  a  man  of  hyer  estaat1  or  degree  /  or 
moore  myghty  than  thou  /  do  thee  anoy  or  greuance  / 
suffre  hym  /  [2680]  for  he  that  oones  hath  greued  thee  / 

ELLESMERE    455    (6-T.  232)        [» leaf  166,  back] 


^  Salt  mon 


^f  Seneca 


IfCato 


233   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmerc  MS. 

another  tyme  /  may  releene  thee  and  helpef  [2681]  IT  Yet 
sette  I  caas  /  ye  haue  bothe  mygfct  and  licence  /  for  to 
venge  yow  /  [2682]  .1.  seye  that  ther  be  ful  manye 
thynges  /  that  shul  restreyne  yow  /  of1  vengeance  takynge  /. 
[2683]  and  make  yow  /  for  to  enclyne  to  suffre  /  and  for 
to  han  pacience  /  in  the  thynges  /  that  han  been  doon  to 
yow  [2684]  1F  ffirstf  and  forewardf  /  if  ye  wole  considere 
the  defautes  /  that  been  in  youre  owene  persone  /  [2685] 
for  whiche  defautes  /  god  hath  suffred  yow  haue  this 
tribulacion  /  as  I  haue  seyd  yow  heer  biforn  [2686]  IT  ffor 

U  roeta  the  Poete  seith  That  we  ogfite  paciently  taken  the  tribu- 

lacions  that  comen  to  vs  whan  we  thynken  and  consideren  / 
that  we  han  disserued  to  haue  hem  [2687]  IT  And  Seint 

UGregorios  Gregorie  seith"  ||  That  whan  a  man  considereth  wel  the 
nombre  of  hise  defautes  /  and  of  his  synnes  /.  [2688]  the 
peynes  and  the  tribulacions  that  he  suffreth"  /  semen  /  the 
lesse  vn-to  hym  [2689]  And  in  as  muche  /  as  hym  thynk- 
eth  /  hise  synnes  moore  heuy  and  greuous  /  [2690]  in  so 
muche  /  semeth  his  peyne  the  lighter  /  an[d]  the  esier  vn-to 
hym  [2691]  1T  Also  /  ye  owen  to  enclyne  and  bowe  youre 
herte  /  to  take  the  pacience  of  oure  lord  Ihesu  crist  ||  As 

1  para*  in  epw-  seith  seinf  Peter  in  hise  Epistles  [2692]  IT  Ihesu  crist  he 
seith  /  hath  suffred  for  vs  and  yeuen  ensainple  to  euery 
man  /  to  folwe  and  sewe  hym  /  [2693]  for  he  dide  neuere 
synne  /  ne  neuere  cam  ther  a  vileynous  word!  out  of  his 
rnoujj  /  [2694]  whan  men  cursed  hym  /  he  cursed  hem 
noghf .  And  whan  men  betten  hym  /  he  manaced  hem 
nogfitt.  [2695]  1F  Also  /  the  grete  pacience/  which  the 
seintes  that  been  in  Paradys  /  han  had  in  tribulacions  that 
they  han  ysuffred  with-outen  hir  desert1  or  gilt1.  [2696] 
og&te  muchel  stiren  yow  to  pacience  [2697]  1T  fforther- 
moore  /  ye  sholde  enforce  yow  /  to  haue  pacience  /  [2698] 
considerynge  /  that1  the  tribulacions  of  this  world  /  but1 
litel  while  endure  /  and  soone  passed  been  and  goone 
[2699]  IT  And  the  ioye  that  a  man  /  seketh  to  haue  by 
pacience  in  tribulacions  /  is  perdurable  /  after  that  the 

ELLESMERE    456  (6-T.  233) 


234:    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Apostle  seith  in  his  epistle  [2700]  1F  The  ioye  of  god  /  he 

ryistoto 

seith  is  perdurable  /  that  is  to  seyn  euerelastynge  [2701] 

1T  Also  trowe)>  and  bileueth  stedefastly  /  that  he  nys  nat 

wel  ynorissed  ne  wel  ytaught1  that  kan  nat  haue  pacience  / 

or  \vol  nat  receyue  pacience  f  [2702]   ffor  Salomon   seith   T  Salomon 

IT  That  the  doctrine  and  the  wit  of  a  man  /  is  knowen  by 

pacience  [2703]  IT  And  in  another  place  he  seith  1T  that  he 

that  is  pacient1.  gouerneth  hym  by  greet  prudence  [2704] 

IT  And  the  same  Salomon  seith  The  angry  and  wrathful 

man  /  maketh  noyses  /  And  the  pacient  man  atempreth 

hem  and  stilleth  [2705]  H  He  seith  also  /  It  is  moore 

worth  to  be  pacienf  than  for  to  be  right  strong1.  [2706]  And 

he  that  may  haue  the  lordshipe  of  his  owene  herte  /  is 

moore  to  preyse  /  than  he  that  by  his  force  or  strengths 

taketh  grete  Citees  [2707]  IT  And  therfore  /  seith  Seinfe 

lame  in  his  Epistle  1[  That  pacience  /  is  a  greet  vertu  of  IT  lacobtw  in  o,n« 

toia 

perfeccion 

[2708]  IT  Certes  quod  Melibee  /.  I  graunte  yow  Dame  «fMeiibe» 
Prudence  /  that  pacience  /  is  a  greet  vertu  of  perfeccion  / 
[2709]  but  euery  man  may  nat  haue  the  perfeccion  )?at  ye 
seken  /  [2710]  ne  I  nam  nat  of  the  nombre  /  of  right  par- 
fite  men  /  [2711]  for  myn  l  herte  /  may  neuere  been  in 
pees  /  vn-to  the  tyme  it  be  venged  /  [2712]  And  al  be  it  so 
that  it  was  greet  peril  to  myne  enemy s  /  to  do  me  a 
vileynye  /  in  takynge  vengeance  vp-on  me  /.  [2713]  yet 
tooken  they  noon  heede  of  the  peril  /  but  fulfilleden  /  hir 
wikked  wyl  and  hir  corage  [2714]  1T  And  therfore  /  me 
thynketh  men  oghten  nat  repreue  me  /  though"  I  putte  me 
in  a  litel  peril  for  to  venge  me  /  [2715]  And  though  .1.  do 
a  greet  excesse  /  that  is  to  seyn  /  that  I  venge  oon  outrage 
by  another 

[2716]  A  quod  dame  Prudence  /  ye  seyn  youre  wyl  /    IT  Prudence 
and  as  yow  liketh"  /  [2717]  but1  in  no  caas  of  the  world  /  a 
man  sholde  nat  doon  outrage  ne  excesse  /  for  to  vengen 
hym  [2718]  1T  ffor  Cassidore  seith  ||  That  as  yuele  dooth 
he  that  vengeth  hym  by  outrage  /  as  he  that  dooth  the 

ELLESMERE   457    (6-T.  23-4)  [Ueafl67] 


235   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

outrage  ||.  [2719]  And  therfore  /  ye  shul  venge  yow  /  after 
the  ordre  of  right  /  that  is  to  seyn  by  the  lawe  /  and  nogh"t 
by  excesse  ne  by  outrage  [2720]  1F  And  also  /  If  ye  wol 
venge  yow  of  the  outrage  of  youre  Aduersaries  in  oother 
manere  than  right  cornandeth"  /  ye  synnenf  [2721]  And 
therfore  seith  Senec  ||.  That  a  man  shal  neuere  vengen 
shrewednesse  /  by  shrewednesse  [2722]  *[[  And  if  ye  seye  / 
that  right  axeth"  /  a  man  to  defenden  violence  by  violence  / 
and  fightyng1  by  fightyng*?  [2723]  Certes  /  ye  seye  sooth" 
whan  the  defense  is  doon  anon  with-outen  Interualle  or 
with-outen  tariyng*  or  delay  [2724]  for  to  deffenden  hym  / 
and  nat  for  to  vengen  hym!  [2725]  IT  And  it  bihoueth  / 
that  a  man  putte  swich  attemperance  in  his  deffensef 
[2726]  that  men  haue  no  cause  ne  matiere  /  to  repreuen 
hym  that  deffendeth  hym  of  excesse  and  outrage  /  for  ellis 
were  it  agayn  reson  [2727]  H  Pardee  /  ye  knowen  wel  / 
that  ye  maken  no  deffense  as  now  /  for  to  deffende  yow 
but  for  to  venge  yow  /  [2728]  and  so  sheweth  if  that  ye 
han  no  wyl  to  do  youre  dede  attemprely  ||.  [2729]  And 

Salomon  therfore  /  me  thynketh  that  pacience  is  good  ||  ffor  Salomon 
seith  ^T  That  he  that  is  nat  pacient1  shal  haue  greet 
harm 

Meiibce  [2730]  Certes  quod  Melibee  /  I  graunte  yow  /  that1 

whan  a  man  is  inpacient1  and  wrooth  /  of  that*  fat1  toucheth 
Lym  noghfr  and  that  aperteneth  nat  vn-to  hym  /  though  it 
harrne  hym  /  it  is  no  wonder  ||  [2731]  ifor  the  lawe  seith  || 
That  he  is  coupable  that  entremetteth  or  medleth  /  with 
swych  thyng*  as  aperteneth  nat  vn-to  hym  [2732]  IT  And 

Salomon  Salomon  seith  ||  That  he  that  entremetteth  hym  of  the 

noyse  or  strif  /  of  another  man  /.is  lyk<  to  hym  /  that  taketh 
an  hound  by  the  eris  ||  [2733]  ifor  right1  as  he  that  taketh 
a  straunge  hound!  by  the  eris  /  is  outherwhile  /  biten  with 
the  hound*  [2734]  Eight  in  the  same  wise  is  it  resofl  /  that 
he  haue  harm  /  that  by  his  inpacieuce  /  medleth  hym  /  of 
the  noyse  of  another  man  /  where-as  it  aperteneth  nat  vn-to 
hym  [2735]  IT  But  ye  knowen  wel  /  that  this  dede  /  that 

ELUESMERE  458    (6-T.  235) 


236    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmcre  MS. 

is  to  seyn  /  my  grief1  and  my  disese  /  toucheth  me  right 
ny  ||.  [2736]  And  therfore  /  though  I  be  wrooth  and  iu- 
pacienfr.  it  is  no  merueille  /  [2737]  And  sauynge  youre 
grace  /  I  kan  nat  seen  /  that  it  myghte  greetly  harme  me  / 
though  I  tooke  vengeauwce  /  [2738]  for  I  am  richer  /  and 
moore  myghty  than  myne  enemys  been  /  [2739]  And  wel 
knowen  ye  /  that  by  moneye  and  by  hanynge  grete  posses- 
sions /  been  alle  the  thynges  of  this  world  gouerned  [2740] 
IT  And  Salomon  seith  H  That  alle  thynges  /  obey  en  to  f  Salomon- 
ononeye  /. 

[2741]  Whan  Prudence/  hadde  herd  hir  housboncle  ^ Prudence 
auanten  hym  of  his  richesse  and  of  his  moneye  /  dispreis- 
ynge  the  power  of  hise  Aduersaries  /  she  spak/  and  seyde  in 
this  wise  [2742]  11  Certes  /  deere  sire  I  graunte  yow  that 
ye  been  riche  and  myghty  /  [2743]  and  that  the  richesses 
been  goode  /  to  hem  Jj«t  han  hem  wel  ygeten  hem  /  and 
wel  konne  vsen  hem  ||.  [2744]  ffor  l  right  as  the  body  of  a 
man  /  may  nat1  lyuen  with-oute  the  soule  /  namoore  may  it 
lyue  /  with-outen  temporeel  goodes  /  [2745]  And  for  rich- 
esses  /  may  a  man  gete  hym  grete  freendes  [2746]  IT  And 
therfore  seith  Pamphilles  1T  If  a  netherdes  doghter  seith  f 
he  /  be  riche  /  she  may  chesen  of  a  thousand'  men  /  \lequel 
quelle  veult pour  mary  (MS  Reg.  19  C.vii,  If  140)]  [2747]  for 
of  a  thousand*  men  /  oon  wol  nat  forsaken  hire  ne  refusen 
hire  [2748]  IT  And  this  Pamphilles  seith  also  IT  If  thow  be 
right  happy  /.  that  is  to  seyn  /  If  thou  be  right  riche  /  thou 
shalt  fynde  a  greet  nombre  of  felawes  and  freendes  ||.  [2749] 
And  if  thy  ffortune  change  /  that  thou  wexe  poure  /  fare- 
wel  /  freendshipe  and  felaweshipe  /  [2750]  for  thou  shalt  be 
al  alloone  w/t/i-outen  any  compaignye  /  but  if  it  be  /  the 
compaignye  of  poure  folk1  [2751]  H  And  yet  seith  /  this 
Pamphilles  moreouer  IT  That  they  that  been  thralle  and 
bonde  of  lynage  shullen  been  maad  worthy  and  noble  by 
the  richesses  [2752]  fl"  And  right  so  /  as  by  richesses  /  ther 
comen  manye  goodes  /.  right  so  by  pouerte  come  ther 
manye  harmes  and  yueles  /.  [2753]  for  greet  pouerte  con- 

34  ZLLESMERE    459   (6-T.  236)        [i  leaf  167,  back] 


237    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  10.   MELIBEUS.  Ellesmere  MS. 

streyneth  a  man  /  to  do  manye  yueles  /.  [2754]  And  ther- 

1  cassidorus  fore  j  clepeth  Cassidore  /  pouerte  /  the  mooder  of  Ruyne  / 
[2755]  that  is  to  seyn  /  the  mooder  of  ouerthrowynge  or 

t  Petms  Aifonce  fallynge  doun  [2756]  IT  And  therfore  seith  Piers  Alfonce  ||. 
Oon  of  the  gretteste  Aduersitees  of  this  world!  is  /  [2757] 
whan  a  free  man  /  by  kynde  or  by  burthe  is  cowstreyned 
by  pouerte  to  eten  the  Almesse  of  his  enemy  [2758]  IT  And 

1  inuocencius  ^he  same  seith  Innocent1  in  oon  of  hise  bookes  ||.  he  seith  / 
that  sorweful  and  myshappy  /  is  the  condicion  of  a  poure 
beggere  /  [2759]  for  if  he  axe  nat  his  mete  /  he  dyeth  for 
hunger  /.  [2760]  And  if  he  axe  /  he  dyeth  for  shame  / 
And  algates  necessitee  constreyneth  hym  to  axe  [2761] 

«I  Salomon  ^[  And  therfore  seith  Salomon  ||  That  bet  it  is  to  dye  /  than 
for  to  haue  swich  pouertef  [2762]  IT  And  as  the  same  Salo- 
mon seith  1T  Bettre  it  is  to  dye  of  bitter  deeth  than  for  to 
lyuen  /  in  swich  wise  [2763]  IT  By  thise  resons  /  that  I 
haue  seid  vn-to  yow  /  and  by  manye  othere  resons  that  I 
koude  seyes  /  [2764]  I  graurcte  yow  /  that  richesses  been 
goode  to  hem  /  that  geten  hem  wel  /  and  to  hem  that  wel 
vsen  tho  richesses  [2765]  II  And  therfore  wol  I  shewe 
yow  /  hou  ye  shul  haue  yow  /  and  how  ye  shul  bere  yow 
in  gaderynge  of  richesses  /  and  in  what  manere  /  ye  shul 
vsen  hem 

[2766]  IT  ffirstt  ye  shul  geten  hem  with-outen  greet 
desir  /  by  good  leyser  sekyngly  /  and  naf  ouer  hastily  / 
[2767]  ffor  a  man  that  is  to  desirynge  to  gete  richesses  / 
abaundoneth  hym  first  to  thefte  /  and  to  alle  other  yueles 

j  Salomon  [2768]  IT  And  therfore  seith  Salomon  IT  He  that  hasteth 

hym  to  bisily  /  to  wexe  riche  shal  be  noon  Innocent*  [2769] 
1T  He  seith  also  /.  that  the  richesse  that  hastily  cometh  to 
a  man  /  soone  and  lightly  /  gooth  and  passeth  fro  a  man 
[2770]  IT  but  that1  richesse  /  that  cometh  litel  and  litel 
wexeth  alwey  and  multiplieth  [2771]  IT  And  sire  /  ye  shul 
geten  richesses  /  by  youre  wit1  and  by  youre  trauaille  vn-to 
youre  profit1.  [2772]  and  that  with-outen  wrong*  or  harm 
doynge  /  to  any  oother  persone  [2773]  IT  nor  the  lawe 

ELLESMERE   460    (6-T.  237) 


238    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.  Ellesmere  MS. 

seith  /  that  ther  maketh  no  man  Imnseluen  riche  /  if  he  do 

harm  to  another  wight  ||   [2774]  This  is  to  seyn  /  that1 

nature  deffendeth  and  forbedeth  by  right1  that  no  man 

make  hym-self  riche  /  vn-to  the  harm  of  another  persone 

[2775]  IT  And  Tullius  seith  ||  fat  no  sorwe  /  ne  no  drede   HTuiHus 

of  deeth"  /  ne  no  thyng1  that  may  falle  vn-to  a  man  /  [2776] 

is  so  muchel  agayns  nature  /  as  a  man  to  encressen  his 

owene  profit1  to  the  harm  of  another  man  ||  [2777]  And  though 

the  grete  men  *and  the  myghty  men  geten  richesses  moore 

lightly  than  thou  /.  [2778]  yet1  shaltou  nat  been  ydel  ne 

slow  to  do  thy  profit1 .  for  thou  shalt  in  alle  wise  flee  ydel- 

nesse  [2779]  IT  ffor  Salomon  seith  /.  that  ydelnesse  /  techeth    ^  Salomon 

a  man  to  do  manye  yueles  [2780]  IT  And  the  same  Salomon 

seith  ||  That  he  that  trauailleth  and  bisieth  hym  to  tilien 

his  land'  /  shal  eten  breed'  [2781]  but  he  that  is  ydel  /  and 

casteth  hym  to  no  bisynesse  ne  occupacion  /  shal  falle  in-to 

pouerte  /  and  dye  for  hunger  [2782]  IT  And  he  that  is 

ydel  and  slow  /  kan  neuere  fynde  couenable  tyme  for  to 

doon  his  profit1.  [2783]  ffor  ther  is  a  versifiour  seith  /  that    f  vnde  verstft- 

the  ydel  man  excuseth  hym  in  wynter  /  by  cause  of  the 

grete  coold?  and  in  somer  /  by  enchesofi  of  the  heete  jj. 

[2784]  ffor  thise  causes  seijj  Caton  ||.  waketh  and  enclyneth    ^cato 

nat  yow  ouer  muchel  /  for  to  slepe  /  for  ouer  muchel  reste 

norisseth  and  causeth  manye  vices  ||.  [2785]  And  therfore  / 

seith  Seint  lerome  ||.  Dooth  so?»me  goodes  /  that  the  deuel  /    f  s<™cto>  leron- 

which  is  oure  enemy  /  ne  fynde  yow  nat  vnocupied  ||. 

[2786]  ffor  the  deuel  ne  taketh  nat  lightly  vn-to  his  werk- 

ynge  swiche  as  he  fyndeth  occupied  in  goode  werkes 

[2787]  1T  Thanne  thus  /  In  getynge  richesses  /  ye 
mosten  flee  ydelnesse  ||.  [2788]  And  afterward?  ye  shul  vse 
the  richesses  /  whiche  ye  haue  geten  by  youre  wit1  and  by 
youre  trauaille  /  [2789]  in  swich  a  manere  /  that  men 
holde  nat  yow  /  to  scars  ne  to  sparynge  ne  to  fool  large  / 
that  is  to  seyn  /  ouer  large  a  spendere  /  [2790]  for  right1  as 
men  blamen  an  Auaricious  man  /  by  cause  /  of  his  scarsetee 
and  chyngerie  /  [2791]  In  the  same  wise  is  he  to  blame 

ELLESMERE    461    (6-T.  238)  p  leaf  168] 


239    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   EUesmere  MS. 

that  spende'th  oucr  largely  ||.  [2792]  And  therfore  seith 
%  Cato  Caton  IF  Vse  he  seith  /  thy  richesses  that  thou  hast  geten 

[2793]  in  swich  a  manere  /  that  men  haue  /  no  matiere  ne 
cause  /  to  calle  thee  /  nei)>er  wrecche  ne  chynche  /  [2794] 
for  it  is  a  greet  shame  to  a  man  /  to  haue  a  pouere  herte 
and  a  riche  purs  [2795]  IF  He  seith  also  /  the  goodes  that 
thou  hast  ygeten  /  vse  hem  by  mesure  /  that  is  to  seyn  / 
spende  hem  mesurably  /  [2796]  for  they  that  folily  /  wasten 
and  despenden  /  the  goodes  that  they  hani"  [2797]  whan 
they  han  namoore  propre  of  hir  owene  /  they  shapen  hem 
to  take  the  goodes  of  another  man  [2798]  If  I  seye  thanne  / 
that  ye  shul  fleen  Auarice  /  [2799]  vsynge  youre  richesses  / 
in  swich  manere  /  that  men  seye  nat  f>at  youre  richesses 
been  yburyed  /  [2800]  but  J)at  ye  haue  hem  in  youre 
myght1  and  in  youre  weeldynge  [2801]  IF  iFor  a  wys  man  / 
repreueth  the  Auaricious  man  /  and  seith  thus  /  in  two 
IVndeversift-  vers  [2802]  IF  Wherto  and  why  /  burieth  a  man  hise 

cator 

goodes  by  his  grete  Auarice  /  and  knoweth  wel  that  nedes 
moste  he  dye  /  [2803]  for  deeth  is  the  ende  of  G\\ery  man  / 
as  in  this  p?-esenf  lyf1  [2804]  IF  And  for  what  cause  /  or 
encheson  ioyneth  he  hyni  /  or  knytteth  he  hym  /  so  faste 
yn-to  hise  goodes  /  [2805]  that  alle  hise  wittes  mowen  nat 
disseueren  hym  /  or  departen  hym  from  hise  goodes  / 
[2806]  and  knoweth  wel  /  or  oghte  knowe  /  that  Avhan  he 
is  deed  /  he  shal  no  thyng  bere  with  hym  /  out  of  this 

TAugustii!»»  world1  [2807]  1F  And  ther-fore  seith  seint  Augustyn  ||  That 
the  Auaricious  man  is  likned  vn-to  helle  /  [2808]  that  the 
moore  it  swelweth  /  the  moore  desir  it  hath  to  swelwe  and 
deuoure  /  [2809]  And  as  wel  /  as  ye  wolde  eschewe  /  to  be 
called  an  Auaricious  man  /  or  chynche  /  [2810]  as  wel 
sholde  ye  kepe  yow  and  gouerne  yow  /  in  swich  a  wise  / 
that  men  calle  yow  naf  fool  large  [2811]  IF  Therfore  seith 

1  Tuiuua  Tullius  ||.  The  goodes  he  seith  of  tbyn  hous  /  ne  sholde 

nat1  been  hyd  /  ne  kept  so  cloos  l  but  that  they  mygfrte 
been  opened  by  piteeand  debonairetee  [2812]  IF  that1  is  to 
seyn  /  to  yeuen  part1  to  hem  that  han  greet  nede  /.  [2813] 

ELLESMERE    462    (6-T.  239>       [' leaf  168,  back] 


240    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS, 

ne  thy  goodes  /  shullen  nat  been  so  opene  /  to  been  euery 

mannes  goodes  [2814]  IF  After-ward*  /  in  getynge  of  youre 

richesses  /  and  in  vsynge  hem  /  ye  shul  alwey  /  haue  thre 

thynges  in  youre  herte  /.  [2815]  that  is  to  seyn  /  Oure  lord 

god  /  Conscience  /  and  good  name  [2816]  H  ffirst  /  ye  shul 

haue  god  in  youre  herte  /  [2817]  and  for  no  richesse  /  ye 

shullen  do  no  thyng1.  which  may  in  any  manere  displese 

god  /  that  is  youre  creatour  and  makere  [2818]  IT  ffor  after 

the  word  of  Salomon  11  It  is  bettre  to  haue  a  litel  good    If  Salomon 

with  the  loue  of  god  /  [2819]  than  to  haue  /  muchel  good 

and  tresour  /  and  lese  the  loue  of  his  lord  god  [2820] 

IT  And  the  prophete  seith  |[  That  bettre  it  is  /  to  been  a     f  Prophrfa 

good  man  and  haue  litel  good  and  tresour  /  [2821]  than  to 

been  holden  a  shrewe  /  and  haue  grete  richesses  [2822] 

IT  And  yet  seye  I  ferthermoore  /  that  ye  sholde  alwey 

doon  youre  bisynesse  to  gete  yow  richesses  /  [2823]  so  that 

ye  gete  hem  with  good  conscience  [2824]  IF  And  thapostle     f  Apo»toms 

seith  ||.  that  ther  nys  thyng  in  this  world?  /  of1  which  /  we 

sholden  haue  so  greet  ioye  /  as  whan  oure  Conscience  bereth" 

vs  good  witnesse  [2825]  ^T  And  the  wise  man  seith  ||  The     i  sapiens 

substance  of  a  man  is  ful  good  /  whan  synne  is  nat1  in 

mannes  conscience  [2826]  H  Afterward1  in  getynge  of  youre 

richesses  /  and  in  vsynge  of  hem  /  [2827]  yow  moste  haue 

greet  bisynesse  and  greet  diligence   /  that  youre   goode 

name  /  be  alwey  kept*  and  conserued  ||.   [2828]  ffor  salo-     f  Salomon 

mon  seith  /.  that  bettre  it  is  /  and  moore  it  auailleth  a  man 

to  haue  a  good  name  /  than  for  to  haue  grete  richesses  s 

[2829]  And  therfore  /  he  seith  in  another  place  1F  Do  greet 

diligence  seith  Salomon  /  in  kepyng1  of  thy  freend?  /  and  of 

thy  goode  name  /  [2830]  for  it  shal  lenger  abide  with 

thee  /  than  any  tresour/  be  it  neuer  so  precious  [2831] 

IT  And  certes  he  sholde  nat  be  called  a  gentil  man  /  that 

after  god  and  good  conscience  /  alle  thynges  left1,  ne  do.oth 

his   diligence  and  bisynesse  /  to  kepen  his  good  name 

[2832]  1F  And  Cassidore  seith  IT  That  it  is  signe  of  gentil     f  cassidon 

herte  s  whan  a  man  loueth  and  desireth  to  han  a  good  name 

ELLESMEKE    163    (6-T.  240) 


241    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

•If  Augustinw  [2833]  1T  And  therfore  seith  Seint  Augustyn  1T  That  ther 
been  two  thynges  /  that1  arn  necessarie  and  nedefulle  / 
[2834]  and  that  is  good  Conscience  and  good  loos  /  [2835] 
J>«t  is  to  seyn  /  good  Conscience  /  to  thyn  owene  persons 
inward?  /  and  good  loos  for  thy  neighebore  outward!  /. 
[2836]  And  he  that  trusteth  hym  so  muchel  in  his  goode 
conscience  /  [2837]  that  he  displeseth  /  and  setteth  at 
noght  his  goode  name  or  loos  /  and  rekketh  noghf  though 
he  kepe  nat  his  goode  name  /  nys  but  a  crueel  cherl  / 

[2838]  Sire  /  now  haue  I  shewed  yow  /  how  ye  shul 
do  in  getynge  richesses  /  and  how  /  ye  slmllen  vsen  hem  / 
[2839]  and  I  se  wel  /  that  for  the  trust1  that  ye  han  in. 
youre  richesses  /  ye  wole  moeue  werre  and  bataille  [2840] 
IT  I  conseille  yow  /  that  ye  bigynne  no  werre  /  in  trust*  of 
youre  richesses  /  for  they  ne  suffisen  noght1  werres  to  mayn- 

1  piuVo«>pAus  tene  [2841]  IT  And  therfore  /  seith  a  Philosophre  1T  That 
man  /  that1  desireth  /  and  wole  algates  han  werre  /  shal 
neuere  haue  suffisau?zce  /  [2842]  for  the  richer  that  he  is  / 
the  gretter  despenses  inoste  he  make  /  if  he  wole  haue  wor- 

1  Salomon  shipe  and  victorie  [2843]  IT  And  Salomon  seith  ||.  That  the 
gretter  richesses  that  a  man  hath  /  the  mo  despendours  he 
hath  [2844]  H  And  deere  sire  /  al  be  it  so  /  that  for  youre 
richesses  /  ye  mowe  haue  muchel  folk1  [2845]  7e^  bihoueth 
it  naf .  ne  it  is  nat  good  to  bigynne  werre  /  where  as  ye 
mowe  in  oother  manere  /  haue  pees  vn-to  youre  worshipe 
and  a  profit  [2846]  1T  ffor  the  victories  of  batailles  that  been 
in  this  world!  /  lyen  nat1  in  greet  nombre  or  multitude  of 
the  peple  /  ne  in  the  vertu  of  man  /  [2847]  but  it  lith  in 
the  wyl  /  and  in  the  hand  of  oure  lord  god  almyghty 
[2848]  IT  And  therfore  /  ludas  Machabeus  /  which  was 
goddes  knyghtf.  [2849]  whan  he  sholde  figlite  agayn  his 
aduersarie  that  hadde  a  greet  nombre  /  and  a  gretter  mul- 
titude of  folk  /  and  strenger  than  was  this  peple  of1  Macha- 
bee  /.  [2850]  yet  he  reconforted  his  litel  compaigrye  /and 
seyde  right  in  this  wise  [2851]  IT  Als  lightly  quod  he  / 
may  oure  lord  god  almyghty  yeue  victorie  to  a  fewe  folk1 

ELLESMERE    464  (6-T.  24l)  [» leaf  169] 


242    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MEUBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

as  to  many  folk1.  [2852]  for  the  victorie  of  a  bataile  comth 

nat1  by  the  grete  nombre  of  peple  /  [2853]  but  it  come  / 

from  oure  lord  god  of  heuene  [2854]  IT  And  deere  sire  /  for 

as  muchel  /  as  ther  is  no  man  certein  /  if  he  be  worthy  /  that 

god  yeue  hym  victorie  [neplus  que  il  est  certain  se  il  est  digne 

de  T  amour  de  Dieu  (Le  Menagier,  i.  226)]  or  naught/.  After 

that  Salomon  seith/  [2855]  therfore/euerymansholdegreetly   f  Salomon 

drede  werres  to  bigynne  /  [2856]  1[  And  by  cause  /  that  in 

batailles  /  fallen  rnanye  perils  /  [2857]  and  happeth  outher 

while  /  that  as  soone  is  the  grete  man  slayn  as  the  litel 

man  /.  [2858]  And  as  it  is  writen  /  in  the  seconde  book  of  tin  .ij.*»mro 

Regui» 

kynges  The  dedes  of  batailles  been  auenturouse  /  and  no 
thyng  certeyne  /  [2859]  for  as  lightly  is  0011  hurt1  with  a 
spere  as  another1  ||.  [2860]  And  for  ther  is  gret  peril  in 
werre  /  therfore  /  sholde  a  man  flee  and  eschue  werre  /  in 
as  muchel  as  a  man  may  goodly  ||.  [2861]  ffor  Salomon  f  Salomon 
seith  /.  He  that  loueth  peril  shal  falle  in  peril 

[2862]  After  that  Dame  Prudence  /  hadde  spoken  in  ^Meiibee  .»' 
this  manere  /  Melibee  answerde  and  seyde  [2863]  IT  I  see 
wel  dame  Prudence  that  by  youre  faire  wordes  /  and  by 
youre  resofis  that  ye  han  shewed  me  /  that  the  werre  liketh 
yow  no  thyng1.  [2864]  but  I  haue  nat  yet1  herd  youre  con- 
seil  /  how  I  shal  do  in  this  nede 

[2865]   Certes   quod  she   I  conseille   yow  /  that   ye   f  prudence 
accorde  with  youre  aduersaries  /  arid  that  ye  haue  pees 
with  hem  [2866]  IT  ifor  Seint  lame  seith  /  in  hise  epistles   f  sawcinsiacobui 

/  i         •   T  in  epistoft'* 

IF  That  by  concord  and  pees  /  the  smale  richesses  wexen 

grete  /  [2867]  and  by  debaat1  and  discord?  /  the  grete  richesses 

fallen  doun  [2868]  IF  And  ye  knowen  wel  that  oon  of  the 

gretteste  and  moost  souereyn  thyng1.  that  is  in  this  world  / 

is  vnytee  and  pees  [2869]  1F  And  therfore  /  seyde  oure  lord   f  Domfnus  Apo«- 

Ihesu  cn'st1  to  hise  Apostles  in  this  wise  £2870]  IF  wel 

happy  and  blessed  been  they  /  that1  louen  and  purchacen 

pees  /  for  they  been  called  children  of  god  [2871]  A  quod 

Melibee  /.  now  se  I  wel  /  that  ye  louen  nat  myn  honour  / 

ne  my  worshipe  [2872]   IT  Ye  knowen  wel  that  myne 

ELLESMERE   463   (6-T.  242) 


243    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Adue?-saries  /  ban  bigonnen  this  debaaf  and  bryge  /  by  hire 
outrage  /  [2873]  an{i  ye  ^  we^  ^ia^  they  ne  requeren  ne 
preyen  me  nat  of  pees  /  ne  they  askeu  nat1  to  be  reconsiled 
[-2874]  IF  wol  ye  thanne  /  that  I  go  and  meke  nie  and 
obeye  me  to  hem  and  crie  hem  mercy  SJ.  [2875]  ff°r  s°the  / 
that  were  nat  my  worshipe  [2876]  ffor  right  as  men  seyii  / 
that  ouer  greet  boomlyncsse  /  engendreth  dispreisynge  /•  so 
fareth  it1  by  to  greet  humylitee  or  mekenesse 

?  Prudence  [2877]  Thanne  bigan  dame  Prudence  /  to  maken  sem- 

blant1  of  wratthe  /  and  seyde  [2878]  11  Certes  sire  /  sauf 
youre  grace  /  I  loue  youre  honour  and  youre  profit1  as  I  do 
myn  owene  /  and  euere  haue  doon  /  [2879]  ne  ye  ne  noon 
oother  /  syen  neuere  the  contrarie  [2880]  IT  And  yit1  if  I 
hadde  seyd  /  that  ye  sholde  ban  purchaced  the  pees  /  and 
the  reconsiliacion  /.  I  ne  hadde  nat  muchel  mystaken  me  / 

IT  Sapiens  ne  seyd  amys  /.  [2881]  ffor  the  wise  man  seij>  IT  The  dis- 

sension /  bigynneth  by  another  man  /  and  the  reconsilyng1 

If  prophet*  by^gynneth  by  thy  self1  [2882]  1T  And  the  propbete  seith  ||. 

fflee  slirewednesse  and  do  goodnesse  /  [2883]  seke  pees  and 
folwe  it4  as  muchel  as  in  thee  is  [2884]  11  Yet1  seye  I  naf 
that  ye  shul  rather  pz/rsue  to  youre  Aduersaries  for  pees 
than  they  shuln  to  yow  ||.  [2885]  for  I  knowe  wel  /  that  ye 
been  so  hard-herted  /  that  ye  wol  do  no  thyng  for  me 

1  Salomon  [2886]  H  And  Salomon  seith  ||.  he  that1  hath  ouer  hard  an 

herte  /  atte  laste  /  he  shal  myshappe  and  mystyde 

^Meiibee  [2887]  Whanne  Melibee  hadde  herd  dame  Prudence 

maken  semblanf  of  wratthe  /  he  seyde  in  this  wise  [2888] 
IT  Dame  I  prey  yow  that  ye  be  nat  displesed  /  of  thynges 
that  I  seye  [2889]  for  ye  knowe  wel  that  I  am  angry  and 
wrootfr  /  and  that  is  no  wonder  /  [2890]  and  they  that1 
been  wrothe  /  witen  nat  wel  /  what  they  don  ne  what  they 

fprophrfa  seyn  [2891]  IT  Therfore  /  the  prophete  seith  IT  That 
troubled  eyen  /  ban  no  cleer  signte  [2892]  H  but  seyeth 
and  conseileth  me  as  yow  liketh  /  for  I  am  redy  to  do 
right1  as  ye  wol  desire  /  [2893]  and  if  ye  repreue  me  of  my 
folye  /  I  am  the  moore  holden  /  to  loue  yow  and  preyse 

ELLESMERE    466  (6-T.  243)        [Ueaf  169,  back] 


244    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

JOAV  [2894]  H  ffor  Salomon  seith  ||.  That1  he  fat  repreueth    t  Salomon 
hym  that  dooth  folye  /  [2895]  he  shal  fynde  gretter  grace 
than  he  /  that  deceyueth  hym  by  sweete  wordes 

[2896]  Thanne  seide  dame  Prudence  IT  I  make  no 
semblantf  of  wratthe  ne  Anger  /  but*  for  youre  grete  profit 
[2897]  IT  ffor  Salomon  seith  ||.  He  is  inoore  worth  that1  re-  IT  Salomon 
preueth  /  or  chideth  a  fool  for  his  folye  shewynge  hym 
semblant1  of  wratthe  /  [2898]  than  he  that  supporteth  hym 
and  p[r]eyseth  hym  in  his  mysdoynge  and  laugfreth  at  his 
folye  [2899]  ^T  And  this  same  Salomon  /  seith  afterward!  .|[. 
That  by  the  sorweful  visage  of  a  man  /  that  is  to  seyn  /by 
the  sory  and  heuy  contenance  of  a  man  /  [2900]  the  fool 
correcteth  and  amendeth  hym  self 

[2901]  Thanne  seyde  Melibee  1F  I  shal  nat1  konne  an-    UMeiibee 
swere  to  so  manye  faire  resons  /  as  ye  putten  to  me  and 
shewen  /  [2902]  seyeth  shortly  youre  wyl  and  youre  con- 
seil  /  and  I  am  al  redy  to  fulfille  and  parfowrne  it1 

[2903]  Thanne  dame  Prudence  /  discouered  al  hir  wyl  \Pmdcnce 
to  hym  /  and  seyde  [2904]  IT  I  conseille  yow  quod  she 
abouen  alle  thynges  /  that  ye  make  pees  /  bitweiie  god  and 
yow  /  [2905]  and  beth  reconsiled  vn-to  hym  and  to  his 
grace  ||  [2906]  ffor  as  I  haue  seyd  yow  heer  biforn  /.  god 
hath  suffred  yow  to  haue  this  tribulacion  and  disese  for 
youre  synnes  /  [2907]  And  if  ye  do  as  I  sey  yow  /  god  wol 
sende  youre  Aduersaries  vn-to  yow  [2908]  and  maken  hem 
fallen  at  youre  feet1  redy  to  do  youre  wyl  and  youre  com- 
andementz  [2909]  IT  ffor  Salomon  seith  ||.  whan  the  con-  H  Salomon 
dicion  of  man  is  plesauret1  and  likynge  to  god  /.  [2910]  he 
chaungeth  the  hertes  of  the  mannes  Aduersaries  and  con- 
streyneth  hem  /  to  biseken  hym  /  of  pees  and  of  grace  / 
[291 1]  and  I  prey  yow  /  lat  me  speke  with  youre  Aduersaries 
in  pn'uee  place  /  [2912]  for  they  shul  nat  knowe  /  that  it 
be  of  youre  wyl  /  or  youre  assent1.  [2913]  and  thanne  whan 
I  knowe  /  hir  wil  and  hire  entente  /.  I  may  conseille  yow 
the  moore  seurely 

[2914]  Dame  quod  Melibee  /  dooth  youre  wil  and    ^Melibee 

ELLESMERE    407   (6-T.  244) 


245    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

youre  likynge  /.  [2915]  for  I  putte  me  hoolly  /  in  youre 
disposicion  and  ordinaunce 

f  Prudence  [2916]  Thaiine  Dame  Prudence  /whan  she  saugfe  the 

goode  wyl  of  hir  housbonde  /  delibered  and  took  auys  in 
hir  self1.  [2917]  thinkinge  /  how  she  mygfrte  brynge  this 
nede  /  vn-to  a  good  conclusion  /  and  to  a  good  ende  /. 
[2918]  And  whan  she  saugh  hir  tyine  /  she  sente  for  thise 
Adue?-saries  /  to  come  vn-to  hire  in  to  a  pryuee  place  / 
[2919]  and  shewed  wisely  vn-to  hem  /  the  grete  goodes 
that  comen  of  pees  /  [2920]  and  the  grete  harames  and 
pe?ils  /  that  been  in  werre  /  [2921]  and  seyde  to  hem  /  in 
a  goodly  manere  /.  hou  that  hem  oughteii  /  haue  greet  re- 
pentaunce  /  [2922]  of  the  Iniurie  and  wrong1  that  they 
hadden  doon  /  to  Melibee  hir  lord  /  and  to  hire  /  And  to 
hire  dogtter 

[2923]  And  whan  they  herden  the  goodliche  wordes  of 
Dame  Prudence  /  [2924]  they  weren  so  supprised  and 
rauysshed  /  and  hadden  so  greet  ioye  of  hire  /  that  wonder 
was  to  telle  [2925]  1T  A  lady  quod  they  /  ye  han  shewed 
vn-to  vs  /  the  blessynge  of  swetnesse  /  after  the  sawe  of 
Dauid  the  prophete  /  [2926]  for  the  reconsilynge  /  which 
we  been  nat  worthy  to  haue  in  no  manere  /  [2927]  but*  we 
ogfite  requeren  it1  with  greet  contricion  and  humylitee  / 
[2928]  ye  of  youre  grete  goodnesse  haue  presented  vnto  vs 
[2929]  IT  Xow  se  we  we!  /  that  the  science  and  the  konnynge 
of  Salomon  is  ful  trewe  [2930]  1T  ffor  he  seith  ||  That 
sweete  wordes  /  multiplien  and  encreesen  freendes  /  and 
maken  shrewes  /  to  be  debonaire  and  meeke 

[2931]  IT  Certes  quod  they  ./  we  putten  cure  dede  and 
al  oure  matere  and  cause  /  al  hoolly  /  in  youre  goode  wyl  / 
[2932]  and  been  redy  to  obeye  to  the  speche  and  comande- 
menf  of  my  lord  Melibee  [2933]  IT  And  therfore  deere 
and  benygne  lady  /  we  preien  yow  and  biseke  yow  as 
mekely  as  we  konne  and  mow  en  /  [2934]  that  it  lyke  vn-to 
youre  grete  goodnesse  /  to  fulfillen  in  dede  /  youre  good- 
liche wor1-"  /  [2935]  for  we  consideren  and  knowelichen  / 

ELLESMERE    468   (6-T.  24o)  P  leaf  170] 


246    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

that  we  han  offended  and  greued  my  lord'  Melibee  out  of 
inesure  /.  [2936]  so  ferforth  /  that  \ve  be  nat  of  power  /  to 
maken  hise  amendes  /  [2937]  and  therfore  /  we  oblige  and 
bynden  vs  and  oure  freendes  /  to  doon  al  his  wyl  and  hise 
comandementz  ||  [2938]  11  but  perauenture  /  he  hath  swich 
heuynesse  /  and  swich  wratthe  to  vs  ward?  /  by  cause  of  oure 
offense  /  [2939]  that  he  wole  enioyne  vs  swich  a  peyne  / 
as  we  mowe  nat  bere  ne  susteene  /.  [2940]  and  therfore 
noble  lady  /  we  biseke  /  to  youre  wommanly  pitee  /  [2941] 
to  taken  swich  auysement1  in  this  nede  /  that  we  /  ne  oure 
freendes  /  be  nat  desherited  ne  destroyed  /  thurgh"  oure 
folye 

[2942]  Certes  quod  Prudence  /  it  is  an  hard  thyng*  and  If  Prudance 
right*  perilous  /  [2943]  that  a  man  putte  hym  al  outrely  / 
in  the  arbitracion  and  luggement*.  and  in  the  myght1  and 
power  of  hise  enemys  [2944]  IT  ffor  Salomon  seith  ||  Leeueth  f  Salomon 
me  /  and  yeueth  credence  /  to  that  I  shal  seyn  IT  I  seye 
quod  he  IT  ye  peple  /  folk*  and  gouemours  of  hooly  chirche 
[2945]  U  to  thy  sone  /  to  thy  wyf  /  to  thy  freendf  /  ne  to 
thy  broother  /  [2946]  ne  yeue  thou  neuere  rnyght*  ne 
maistrie  of  thy  body  /  whil  thou  lyuest*.  [2947]  1T  Now 
sithen  he  deffendeth  /  that  man  shal  nat  yeuen  to  his- 
broother  /  ne  to  his  freend  /  the  myght  of  his  body  s 
[2948]  by  strenger  reson  he  deffendeth  /  and  forbedeth  a 
man  /  to  yeuen  hym  self  to  his  enemy  [2949]  11  And  nathe- 
lees  I  conseille  you  /  that  ye  /  mystruste  nat*  my  lord?  / 
[2950]  for  I  woot  wel  /  and  knowe  ven-aily  /  that  he  is  / 
debonaire  and  meeke  /  large  /  curteys  /  [2951]  and  no 
thyng*  desirous  ne  coueitous  of  good  ne  richesse  [2952] 
^  for  ther  nys  no  thyng1  in  this  world?  that  he  desireth  / 
saue  oonly  /  worships  and  honour  [2953]  IF  fforther-moore 
I  knowe  wel  /  and  am  right  seur  /  that  he  shal  no  thyng1 
doon  in  this  nede  /  with-outen  my  conseil  /  [2954]  And  I 
shal  so  werken  in  this  cause  /  that*  by  grace  of  oure  lord 
god  /  ye  shul  been  reconsiled  vn-to  vs 

[2955]  Thanne  seyden  they  /  with  o.  *  voys  ||  worshipful 

ELLESMERE    469    (6-T.  246)        [Meaf  176,  back] 


247    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

lady  we  putten  vs  and  oure  goodes  al  fully  in  youre  wil 
and  disposicion  /  [2956]  and  been  redy  /  to  comen  /  what 
day  fat  it  like  vn-to  youre  noblesse  to  lymyte  vs  or  assigne 
vs  [2957]  for  to  maken  oure  obligacion  and  boondf  as  strong* 
as  it  liketh  vn-to  youre  goodnesse  /  [2958]  that  we  mowe 
fulfille  the  wille  of  vow  /  and  of  my  lord  Melibee 

U  Prudence  [2959J   Whan   Dame  Prudence  /  hadde  herd  the  an- 

sweres  of  thise  men  /  she  bad  hem  /  goon  agayn  pn'uely  / 
[2960]  and  she  retourned  to  hir  lord  Melibee  /  and  tolcle 
hym  /  how  she  foond  hise  Aduersaries  ful  repentant1  [2961] 
knowelechynge  ful  lowely  hir  synnes  and  trespas  /  and  how 
they  were  redy  to  suffren  aH  peyne  /  [2962]  requirynge  and 
:  preiynge  hym  of  mercy  and  pitee  f 

1?  Melibee  [2963]  Thanne  seyde  Melibee  IT  he  is  wel  worthy  to 

haue  pardon  and  foryifnesse  of  his  synne  fat  excuseth  nat. 
his  synne  /  [2964]  but  knowelecheth  it1  ana1  repenteth 

^senoca  hym  /  axinge  Indulgence  [2965]  1T  ffor  Senec/seith  ||.  ther 

is  the  remission  and  foryifnesse .  where  as  confession  is 
[2966]  1T  ffor  Confession  is  neighebore  to  Innocence  [2967] 
\et  dit  autre part:  cellui  est  presque  innocent  qui  a  haute  d& 
son  pechie  et  le  recongnoist.  (Le  Menagier,  i.  231)]. 
And  therfore  I  assente  and  corforme  me  to  haue  pees  / 
[2968]  but  it  is  good  fat  we  do  it1  nat  witA-outen  the  assent 
and  wyl  of  oure  freendes 

t  Prndence  [2969]  Thanne  was  Prudence  right  glad  and  ioyeful  / 

and  seyde  [2970]  1T  Certes  sire  quod  she  ye  han  wel  and 
goodly  answered*  [2971]  ffor  right1  as  by  the  conseil  / 
assent1  and  helpe  of  youre  freendes  /  ye  han  been  stired  / 
to  venge  yow  and  maken  werre  s  [2972]  right  so  with- 
outen  hire  conseil  /  shul  ye  nat  accorden  yow  /  ne  haue 
pees  with  youre  Aduersaries  [2973]  1F  ffor  the  la  we  seith  || 
ther  nys  no  thyng1  so  good  by  wey  of  kynde  /  as  a  thyng1 
to  been  vnbounde  by  hym  fat  it  was  ybounde 

[2974]  IT  And  thanne  Dame  Prudence  with-outen  delay 
or  tariynge  /  sente  anon  hire  messages  for  hire  kyn  and  for 
hire  olde  freendes  /  whiche  fat  were  trewe  and  wyse  /  [  2  9  7  5  ] 

.  ELLESMERE    470   (6-T.  247^ 


248    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

and  tolde  hem  by  ordre  /  in  the  presence  of  Melibee  al 
this  mateere  as  it  is  abouen  expressed  and  declared  /  [2976] 
and  preyden  fat  they  wolde  yeuen  hire  auys  and  con- 
seil  /  what  best  were  to  doon  in  this  nede  [2977]  1F  And 
whan  Melibees  freendes  hadde  taken  hire  auys  and  deliber- 
ation of  theforseide  mateere  /  [2978]  tmrf'hadden  examyned 
it  by  greet  bisynesse  and  greet  diligence  /  [2979]  they  yaue 
ful  conseil  for  to  haue  pees  and  reste  /  [2980]  and  fat 
Melibee  /  sholde  receyue  with  good  herte  hise  adversaries  / 
to  foryifnesse  and  mercy 

[2981]  And  whan  dame  Prudence  hadde  herd  the 
assent*  of  hir  lord  Melibee  /  and  the  conseil  of  hise  freendes 
[2982]  accorde  w?'tA  hire  wille  and  hire  entencion  /  [2983] 
she  was  wonderly  glad  in  hire  herte  /  and  seyde  [2984] 
IT  Ther  is  an  old  prouerbe  quod  she  seith"  ||.  That1  the  T  Prudence 
goodnesse  fat  thou  maysf  do  this  day  /  do  it1  [2985]  and 
abide  natt  ne  delaye  it  nafl  til  to  morwe  [2986]  IT  And 
therfore  /  I  conseille  fat  ye  sende  youre  messages  swiche 
'as  been  discrete  and  wise  /  [2987]  vn-to  youre  Adversaries  / 
tellynge  hem  on  youre  bihalue  /  [2988]  faf  if  they  wole 
•trete  of  pees  and  of  accord!  /  [2989]  that*  they  shape  hem  / 
with-outen  delay  or  tariyng1  to  comen  vn-to  vs  /  [2990] 
which  thyng1  parfoz<?-ned  was  in  dede  [2991]  1F  And 
whanne  thise  trespassours  and  repentynge  folk*  of  hire 
folies  /  that  is  to  seyn/  the  Adversaries  of  Melibee  /  [2992] 
hadden  herd  /  what  thise  Messagers  seyden  vn-to  hem  / 
[2993]  they  weren  right  glad  and  ioyeful  /  and  answeredeii 
ful  mekely  and  benignely  /  [2994]  yeldynge  graces  and 
thankynges  to  hir  lord  Melibee  and  to  al  his  compaignye  / 
[2995]  and  shop  en  hem  wit^-outen  delay  to  go  with  the 
Messagers  and  obeye  to  the  comandement1  of  hir  lord 
Melibee 

[2996]  1T  And  right  anon  /  they  tooken  hire  wey  to  the 
Court  of  Melibee  /  [2997]  and  tooken  vfith  hem  /  somme 
of  hire  trewe  freendes  /  to  maken  feith  for  hem  and  for  to 
been  hire  borwes  /  [2998]  and  whan  they  were  comen  /  Jto 

ELLESMERE    471  (6-T.  248)  [i  leaf  171] 


249    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

tlie  presence   of  Melibee  /  he  seyde   hem  thise  wordes 
If  Melibee  [2999J  It  standeth  thus  quod  Melibee  /  and  sooth  it  is  / 

that  ye  [3000]  causelees  and  w/t/j-outen  skile  and  reson 
[3001]  han  doon  grete  Iniuries  and  wronges  /  to  me  and 
to  my  wyf  Prudence f  and  to  my  doghter  also  /  [3002]  for 
ye  han  entred  in  to  myn  hous  "by  violence  [3003]  and  haue 
doon  swich  outrage  ]?at  alle  men  knowen  \vel  )>at  ye  haue 
disserued  the  deeth  /  [3004]  and  therfore  /  wol  I  knowe 
and  wite  of  yoAV  /  [3005]  AV  neither  ye  wol  putte  the 
punyssemenf  and  the  chastisynge  /  and  the  vengeance  of 
this  outrage  /  in  the  wyl  of  me  /  and  of  my  wyf  Prudence  / 
or  ye  wol  naf 

[3006]  Thanne  /  the  wiseste  of  hem  thre  answerde  for 
hew  alle  and  seyde  [3007]  IT  Sire  quod  he  /  we  knowen 
wel  /  Jjat  we  been  vn worthy  /  to  comen  vn-to  the  Court1 
of  so  greet  a  lord?  and  so  worthy  as  ye  been  S  [3008]  ffor 
we  han  so  greetly  mystaken  vs  /  and  han  offended  and  agilf 
in  swich"  a  wise  /  agayn  youre  heigh"  lordshipe  /  [3009]  that 
trewely  /  we  han  disserued  the  deeth  /  [3010]  but  yet*  for 
the  grete  goodnesse  and  debonairetee  )>«t  al  the  world  / 
witnesseth  in  youre  persone  /  [3011]  we  submytten  vs  /  to 
the  excellence  and  benignitee  of  youre  gracious  lordshipe  / 
[3012]  and  been  redy  to  obeie  to  alle  youre  comandementz  / 
[3013]  bisekynge  yow  /  that  of  youre  merciable  pitee  /  ye 
wol  considere  oure  grete  repentance  and  lough  submyssion 
[3014]  and  graunten  vs  foryeuenesse  of  oure  outrageous 
trespas  and  offense  /  [3015]  for  wel  we  knowe  J?at  youre 
liberal  grace  and  mercy  /  strecchen  he??i  ferther  in-to  good- 
nesse /  than  doon  oure  outrageouse  giltes  and  trespas  in-to 
wikkednesse  /  [3016]  al  be  if  J?at  cursedly  and  damp- 
nablely  /  we  han  agilf  agayn  youre  heigh"  lordshipe 

[3017]  Thanne  Melibee  /  took  hem  vp  fro  the  grouncJ 
ful  benignely  [3018]  and  receyued  hire  obligacions  ana"  hir 
boondes  by  hire  othes  vp-on  hire  plegges  and  borwes  /  [30 1 9] 
and  assigned  hem  a  certeyn  day  /  to  retourne  vn-to  his 
Courf .  [3020]  for  to  accepte  and  receyue  the  sentence  and 

ELLESMERE    472  (6-T.  249) 


250    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

luggementf  fat  Melibee  wolde  comande  to  be  doon  on  hem 
by  the  causes  aforeseyd  /  [302 1]  whiche  tbynges  ordeyned  /. 
enery  man  retowrned  to  his  hous  |] 

[3022]  And  whan  fat  dame  Prudence  saugh"  hir 
tyme  /  she  freyned  and  axed  hir  lord?  Melibee  /  [3023]  what 
vengeance  /  he  thoughte  /  to  taken  of  hise  Aduersaries 

[3024]  To  which  Melibee  answerde  and  seyde  IF  Certes   f  Melibee 
quod  he  /  I  thynke  and  purpose  me  fully  /  [3025]  to  des- 
herite  hem  /  of  al  fat  euere  they  han  /  and  for  to  putte 
hem  /  in  exil  for  euere 

[3026]  Certes  quod  dame  Prudence  /this  were  a  crueel  n  Prudence 
sentence  and  muchel  agayn  reson  /  [3027]  fifor  ye  been  riche 
ynough  and  han  no  nede  of  oother  mennes  good  /  [3028] 
and  ye  myghte  lightly  in  this  wise  gete  yow  a  coueitous 
name  /  [3029]  which  is  a  vicious  thyng1  and  oghte  been 
eschued  of  euery  good  man  [3030]  ffor  after  the  sawe  of  the 
word  of  the  Apostle  /.  Coueitise  is  roote  of  alle  harmes  /  u  Apo*toius 
[303 1]  And  therfore  it  were  bettre  for  yow  /  to  lese  so  muchel 
good  of  youre  owene.  /  than  for  to  taken  of  hir  good  in  this 
manere  /  [3032]  for  bettre  it  is  to  lesen  with  worshipe  / 
than  it  is  to  wynne  with  vileynye  and  shame  /.  [3033]  And 
eueri  man  oghte  to  doon  his  diligence  and  his  bisynesse  / 
to  geten  hym  a  good  name  /.  [3034]  And  yet  shal  he  nat 
oonly  bisie  hym  in  kepynge  of  his  good  name.  [3035]  but 
he  shal  also  enforcen  hym  alwey  /  to  do  som  thyng1  by 
which  he  may  renouelle  his  good  name  /  [3036]  for  it  is 
writen  /  fat  the  olde  good  loos  and  good  name  of  a  man  / 
is  soone  goon  and  passed  /  whan  it  is  nat  newed  ne  re- 
nouelled  [3037]  1F  And  as  touchynge  /  fat  ye  seyn  /  ye 
wole  exile  youre  Aduersaries  /  [3038]  that  thynketh  me  / 
muchel  agayn  reson  /  and  out  of  1mesure  /  [3039]  con- 
sidered the  power  fat  they  han  yeue  yow  vp-on  hem  self  ||. 
[3040]  And  it1  is  writen  fat  he  is  worthy  /  to  lesen  his 
pn'uilege  /  fat  mysuseth  /  the  myght  and  the  power  fat 
is  yeuen  hym  [3041]  IF  And  I  sette  cas  /  ye  myghte  enioyne 
hem  fat  peyne  by  right  and  by  lawe  /  [3042]  which  I 

ELLESMERE    473  (6-T.  250)  [i  leaf  171] 


2,51    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.  MELIBEUS.   Ellesinere  MS. 

trowe  /  ye  mowe  nat  do  /.  [3043]  I  seye  ye  mignte  nat 
putten  it  to  execucion  per-auenture  /  [3044]  and  thanne 
were  it  likly  to  retourne  to  tlie  werre  as  it  was  biforn  / 
[3045]  And  therfore  /  if  ye  wole  fat  men  do  yow  obeis- 
ance /  ye  moste  deemen  moore  curteisly  /  [3046]  this  is  to 
seyn  /  ye  moste  yeuen  moore  esy  sentences  and  luggementz 
[3047]  IF  flbr  it  is  writen  /  fat  he  fat  moost  curteisly 
comandeth  /  to  hym  men  moost  obeyen  /  [3048]  And  ther- 
fore I  prey  yow  fat  in  this  necessitee  /  and  in  this  nede  / 

IF  Seneca  ye  caste  yow  to  ouercome  youre  herte  [3049]  IF  ffor  Senec" 

seith  /.  That  he  fat  oue?'cometh  his  herte  /  ouercomef 

TTTuiiius  twies  [3050]  1F  And  Tullius  seith  IF  Ther  is  no  tliyng  so 

comeiidable  in  a  greet*  lord  /  [3051]  as  whan  he  is  debon- 
aire  and  meeke  /  and  appeseth  ligfetly  /  [3052]  And  I.  prey 
yow  fat  ye  wole  forbere  now  to  do  vengeance  [3053]  in 
swich  a  manere  /  fat  youre  goode  name  may  be  kept*  and 
conserued  /  [3054]  and  fat  men  mowe  haue  cause  and 
mateere  /  to  preyse  yow  of  pitee  and  of  mercy  /  [3055]  and 
fat  ye  haue  no  cause  to  repente  yow  of  thyng  fat  ye  doon 

t  Seneca  [3°56]  ^F  ffor  Scnec*  seith  IF  He  ouercometh  in  an  yuel 

manere  fat  repenteth  hym  of  his  victorie  /  [3057]  Wher- 
fore  I  pray  yow  /  lat  mercy  been  in  youre  niynde  and  in 
youre  herte  /  [3058]  to  theffect  and  entente  fat  god 
almyghty  haue  me?-cy  on  yow  in  his  laste  luggemenff  [3059] 

f  lacoiuu  in  1F  ffor  seint  lame  seith  in  his  Epistle  IF  luggement  wit/t- 
outen  mercy  shal  be  doon  to  hym  /  fat  hath  no  mercy  of 
another  wignf 

t  Meiihee  [3060]  Whanne  Melibee  hadde  herd  the  grete  skiles 

and  resons  of  Dame  Prudence  /  and  hire  wise  informacions 
and  techynges  /  [3061]  his  herte  gan  enclyne  to  the  wil  of 
his  wif  considerynge  hir  trewe  entente  /  [3062]  and  con- 
formed hym  anon  and  assented  fully  to  werken  after  hir 
conseil  /  [3063]  and  thonked  god  /  of  whom  procedef  al 
vertu  and  alle  goodnesse  /  fat  hym  sente  a  wyf  /  of  so  greet 
discrecion  [3064]  And  whan  the  day  cam  fat  hise  Aduer- 
saries  sholde  appieren  in  his  presence  /  [3065]  he  spak  vn- 

ELLESMERE   474   (6-T.  25l) 


252    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  10.   MELIBEUS.   Ellesmere  MS. 

to  hem  ful  goodly  /  and  seyde  in  this  wyse  [3066]  If  Al  "be 
it  so  /  fat  of  youre  pride  /  and  presumpcion  and  folie  / 
and  of  youre  necligence  and  vnkonnynge  /  [3067]  ye  hane 
mysborn  yow  and  trespassed  vn-to  me .  [3068]  yet1  for  as 
muche  /  as  I  see  and  biholde  youre  grete  humylitee  / 
[3069]  and  fat  ye  been  sory  and  repentant*  of  youre  giltes  / 
[3070]  it  constreyneth  me  /  to  doon  yow  grace  and  mercy 
[3071]  IF  Therfore  /  I  receyue  yow/  to  my  grace  [3072]  and 
foryeue  yow  outrely  alle  the  offenses  /  Iniuries  and  wronges 
fat  ye  haue  doon  agayn  me  and  myne  /  [3073]  to  this 
effect1  and  to  this  ende  /  that  god  of  his  endelees  mercy 
[3074]  wole  at  the  tyme  of  oure  diynge  foryeuen  vs  oure 
giltes  that  we  han  trespassed  to  hym  in  this  wrecched? 
world!  /  [3075]  ffor  doutelees  /  if  we  be  sory  and  repentant1 
of  the  synnes  and  giltes  whiche  we  han  trespassed  in  the 
sigfrte  of  oure  lord  god  /  [3076]  he  is  so  free  and  so  merci- 
able  /  [3077]  that  he  wole  foryeuen  vs  oure  giltes  [3078] 
and  bryngen  vs  to  his  blisse  /  that  neuere  hath  ende .  Amen 

If  Heere  is  ended  Chaucers  tale  of  Melibee  /  and  of 
Dame  Prudence  ^ 


35  ELLESMERE    475  (6-T.  252) 


W 


253    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  11,  MELIDE-MONK  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 


Tlie  murye  wordes  of  the  Hoost/  to  the  Monk/  fa 

[on  tea/ 1 72 J 

'ban  ended  /  was  my  tale  /  of  Melibee     3079 
And  of  Prudence  /  and  hire  benignytee 
Oure  boost  seyde  /  as  I  am  feithful  man 
And  by  that  precious  corpus  Madrian 
I  hadde  leuere  /  than  a  barel  ale 

That  good  lief  my  wyf  /  hadde  herd  this  tale  3084 

She  nys  no  thyng  /  of  swich  pacience 

As  was  this  Melibeus  wyf  Prudence 

By  goddes  bones  /  whan  I  bete  my  knaues 

She  bryngeth  me  forth  /  the  grete  clobbed  staues         3088 

And  crieth  /  slee  the  dogges  euerichoon 

And  brek/  hem  /  bothe  bak  and  euery  boon 

IT  And  if  that1  any  neighebore  of  myne 

Wol  nat  in  chirche  /  to  my  wyf  enclyne  3092 

Or  be  so  hardy  /  to  hire  to  trespace 

Whan  she  comth  [home]  /  she  rampeth  in  my  face 

And  crieth  /  false  coward  /  wrek  thy  wyf/ 

By  corpus  bones  /  I  wol  haue  thy  knyf/  3096 

And  thou  shalt  haue  my  distaf  and  go  spynne 

ffro  day  to  nyght  /  right  thus  she  wol  bigynne 

Alias  she  seith  /  that  euere  J?at  I  was  shape 

To  wedden  a  Milksope  /  or  a  coward  ape  3100 

That  wol  been  ouerlad  with  euery  wight 

Thou  darst  nat1  stonden  by  thy  wyues  riglif 

IT  This  is  my  lif1  but  if  that  I  wol  figftte 

And  out  at  dore  /  anon  I  moot  me  dighte  3104 

Or  elles  I  am  but  lost1  but  if  that  I 

Be  lik1  a  wilde  leon  fool-hardy 

I  woot  wel  /  she  wol  do  me  slee  som  day 

Som  neighebore  /  and  thanne  go  my  way  3108 

ffor  I  am  perilous  /  with  knyf  in  honde 

Al  be  if  that  I  dar  hire  nat  withstonde 

ELLESMERE    476  (6-T.  253) 


254    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  11.   MELIBE-MONK  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  she  is  /  byg  in  Armes  by  my  feith" 

That  slial  he  fynde  /  J>at  hire  mysdooth  or  seith  3112 

But  lat  vs  passe  awey  /  fro  this  mateere 

^T  My  lord  the  Monk  quod  he  /  be  myrie  of  cheere 

ffor  ye  shul  telle  a  tale  trewely 

Loo  Eouchestre  /  stant  heer  faste  by  3116 

Ryde  forth  myn  owene  lord  /  brek  nat  cure  game 

But  by  my  trouthe  /  I  knowe  nat  youre  name 

Wher  shal  I  calle  yow  /  my  lord  daun  Ioh"n 

Or  daun  Thomas  /  or  elles  daun  Albon  3120 

Of  what  hous  be  ye  /  by  youre  fader  kyn 

I  vowe  to  god  /  thou  hast  a  ful  fair  skyn 

It  is  a  gentil  pasture  /  ther  thow  goostf  Deaf  172,  back] 

Thou  art  nat  lyk1  a  penantt  or  a  goosf  3124 

Vpon  my  feith  /  thou  art  som  Officer 

Som  worthy  sexteyn  /  or  som  Celerer 

ffor  by  my  fader  soule  /  as  to  my  doom 

Thou  art  a  maister  /  whan  thou  art  at  hoom  3128 

No  poure  cloystrer/  ne  no  Novys 

But  a  gouernour  /  wily  and  wys 

And  therwt'tA-al  /  of  brawnes  and  of  bones 

A  wel  farynge  persone  /  for  the  nones  3132 

I  pray  to  god  /  yeue  hym  confusiouw 

That  first  thee  broghte  /  vn-to  Religious 

Thou  woldest  han  been  /  a  tredefowel  aright1 

Haddestow  /  as  greet  a  leeue  /  as  thou  hast  myghf     3136 

To  parfourne  al  thy  lust/  in  engendrure 

Thou  haddesf  bigeten  /  ful  many  a  creature 

Alias  /  why  werestow  /  so  wyd  a  Cope 

God  yeue  me  sorwe  /  but  and  I  were  a  pope  3140 

Nat  oonly  thou  /  but  euery  myghty  man 

Though"  he  were  shorn  /  ful  bye  vpon  his  pan 

Sholde  haue  a  wyf  /  for  al  the  world  is  lorn 

Religiowz  /  hath  take  vp  al  the  corn  3144 

Of  tredyng1.  and  we  borel  men  been  shrympes 

Of  fieble  trees  /  ther  comen  wrecched  y rapes 

ELLESMERE    477    (6-T.  254) 


255    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  11.  MELIBE-MONK  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 


........     no  gap  in  the  MS.] 

This  maketh  /  that  oure  wyues  wole  assaye 

Religious  folk1  for  ye  mowe  bettre  paye 

Of  Venus  paiementz  /  than  mowe  we 

God  woof  no  lussheburgh"  payen  ye  3152 

But  be  nat  wrooth  /  my  lord  for  fat  I  pleye 

fful  ofte  in  game  /  a  sooth  I  haue  herd  seye 

IT  This  worthy  Monk  /  took  al  in  pacience 

And  seyde  I  wol  doon  al  my  diligence  3156 

As  fer  as  sowneth  /  in-to  honestee 

To  telle  yow  a  tale  /  or  two  /  or  three 

And  if  yow  list1  to  herkne  hyderward? 

I  wol  [yow]  seyn  the  lyf  /  of  seint  Ed  ware?  3160 

Or  ellis  /  first1  Tragedies  wol  I  telle 

Of  whiche  /I/  haue  an  hundred  in  my  Celle 

IT  Tragedie  is  to  seyn  /  a  certeyn  storie 

As  olde  bookes  /  maken  vs  memorie  3164 

Of  hym  /  that  stood  /  in  greet  prosperitee 

And  is  yfallen  /  out  of  heigh"  degree 

In  to  myserie  /  and  endeth  wrecchedly 

And  they  ben  versified  communely  3168 

Of  .vj.  feet1,  which  men  clepen  Exametron 

In  prose  eek  /  been  endited  many  oon 

And  eek  in  meetre  /  in  many  a  sondry  wyse 

Lo  /  this  declaryng1  oghte  vnogh"  suffise  3172 

Now  herkneth"  /  if  yow  liketh"  for  to  heere  [leaf  173] 

But  first  /  I  yow  biseeke  /  in  this  mateere 

Though  I  by  ordre  /  telle  nat  thise  thynges 

Be  it  of  Popes  /  Emperours  /  or  kynges  31  76 

After  hir  ages  /  as  men  writen  fynde'       • 

But  tellen  hem  /  som  bifore  and  som  bihynde 

As  it  now  comth  /  vn-to  my  remembraunce 

Haue  me  excused  of  min  ignoraunce  3180 

IT  Explicit1 

ELLESMEKE    478  (6-T.  255) 


256    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MOXK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


Heere  bigynneth  /  tlie  Monkes  tale  /  de  casibws 
virorum  Illustrium. 


Iwol  biwaille  /  in  manere  of  Tragedie  ^l 
The  harm  of  hem  /  that  stoode  in  heigh"  degree 
And  fillen  so  /  that  ther  nas  no  remedie 
To  brynge  hem  /  out  of  hir*  aduersitee  31  8  i 

ffor  certein  /  whan  ]?at  ffortune  list  to  flee 
Ther  may  no  man  /  the  cours  of  hire  withholds 
Lat  no  man  tniste  /  on  blynd  prosperitee 
Be  war  of  thise  ensamples  /  trewe  and  olde  3188 

[Lucifer.] 

AT  lucifer  /  though"  /  he  an  Angel  were  IT  Lucifer 

And  nat  a  man  /  at  hym  wol  I  bigynne 
ffor  though"  ffortune  /  may  noon  Angel  dere 
ffrom  heigh"  degree  /  yet  fel  he  for  his  synne  3192 

Doun  in  to  helle  /  where  he  yet  is  Inne 
0  Lucifer/  brightest1  .  of  Angels  alle 
'Now  artow  sathanas  /  fat  mayst  nat  twynne 
Out  of  miserie  /  in  which  fcjt  thou  arf  falle  3196 


Loo  Adam  /  in  the  feeld  of  Damyssene  IT  Adani 

With  goddes  owene  fynger/  wroght  was  he 
And  nat  bigeten  /  of  mannes  sperme  vnclene 
And  welte  all  Paradys  /  sauynge  o  tree  3200 

Hadde  neuere  worldly  man  so  heigh"  degree 
As  Adam  /  til  he  for  mysgouernance 
Was  dryuen  /  out  of  hys  hye  prosperitee 
To  labour  and  to  helle  /  and  to  meschafice  3204 

ELLESMERE    479  (6-T.  256) 


257    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

[Sampson.] 

Loo  Sampson  /  which  that  was  Annuwciaf    1T  Sampson 
By  Angel  /  longe  er  his  Natiuitee 
And  was  /  to  god  almyghty  consecratf 
And  stood  in  noblesse  /  whil  he  myghte  see  3208 

Was  neuere  /  swich  another  as  was  hee 
To  speke  of  strengthe  /  and  ther-wt't/i  hardynesse 
But  to  hise  wyues  /  toolde  he  his  secree  3211 

Thurgh"  which  /  he  slow  hym  self  /  for  wrecchednesse 

Sampson  /  this  noble  almyghty  Champion  [leaf  ITS,  back] 

With-outen  wepene  /  saue  his  handes  tweyne 

He  slow  /  and  al  torente  the  leon 

Toward1  his  weddyng1  walkynge  by  the  weye  3216 

His  false  wyf  /  koude  hym  so  plese  and  preye 

Til  she  his  conseil  knew  /  and  she  vntrewe 

Vn-to  hise  foos  /  his  conseil  gan  biwreye 

And  hym  forsook1,  and  took  another  newe  3220 

Thre  hundred  foxes  /  took  Sampson  for  Ire 

And  alle  hir  tayles  /  he  togydre  bond? 

And  sette  the  foxes  tayles  /  alle  on  fire 

ffor  he  /  on  euery  tayl  /  had  knytf  a  brond?  3224 

And  they  brende  /  alle  the  cornes  in  that  lond? 

And  alle  hire  Olyueres  /  and  vynes  eke 

A  thousand  men  /  he  slow  eek  with  his  hone? 

And  hadde  no  wepene  /  but  an  Asses  cheke  3228 

Whan  they  were  slayn  /  so  thursted  hym  /  that  he 

Was  wel  ny  lorn  /  for  which  he  gan  to  preye 

That  god  wolde  /  on  his  peyne  han  som  pitee 

And  sende  hym  drynke  /  or  elles  moste  he  deye          3232 

And  of  this  asses  cheke  /  that  was  dreye 

Out  of  a  wang1  tooth  /  sprang  anon  a  welle 

Of  which  he  drank  anon  /  shortly  to  seye 

Thus  heelpe  hym  god  /  as  ludicum  can  telle  3236 

ELLESMERE  480   (6-T.  257) 


258   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


By  verray  force  /  at  Gazan  /  on  a  nyghtf 

Maugree  Philistiens  of  that  Citee 

The  gates  of  the  toun  /  he  hath  vp  plygh"  tt 

And  on  his  bak<.  ycaryed  hem  hath  hee  3240 

Hye  on  an  hiH  /  fat  men  myghte  hem  see 

0  noble  almygnty  Sampson  /  lief  and  deere 

Had  thou  nat  toold  /  to  wommen  thy  secree 

In  all  this  world1  /  ne  hadde  been  thy  peere  3244 

This  Sampson  /  neuere  Ciser  drank  ne  wyn 

Ne  on  his  heed  /  cam  rasour  noon  ne  sheere 

By  precept1  of  the  Messager  diuyn 

ffor  alle  hise  strengthes  /  in  hise  heeres  weere  3248 

And  fully  twenty  wynter  yeer  by  yeere 

He  /  hadde  of  Israel  the  gouernaiice 

But  soone  /  shal  he  wepe  many  a  teere 

ffor  wommen  /  shal  hym  bryngen  to  nieschance  3252 

Vn-to  his  lemman  Dalida  he  tolde 

That  in  hise  heeris  /  al  his  strengthe  lay 

And  falsly  to  hise  foomen  /  she  hym  solde 

IF  And  slepynge  in  hir  barm  /  vp-on  a  day     [leaf  174]     3256 

She  made  to  clippe  /  or  shere  /  hise  heres  away 

And  made  hise  foomen  /  al  this  craft  espyen 

And  whan  Ipat  they  /  hym  foond  in  this  array 

They  bounde  hym  faste  /  and  putten  out  hise  eyen      3260 

But  er  his  heer/  were  clipped  or  yshaue 

Ther  was  no  boond  /  with  which  men  myglite  him  bynde 

But  now  is  he  /  in  pi-ison  in  a  Caue 

Where  as  they  made  hym  /  at  the  Queerne  grynde      3264 

O  noble  Sampson  /  strongest1  of  mankynde 

O  whilom  /  luge  in  glorie  and  in  richesse 

Now  maystow  wepen  /  -with  thyne  eyen  blynde 

Sith  thou  fro  wele  /  art  falle  in  wrecchednesse  3268 

ELLESMERE    481   (6-T.  258) 


259    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

The  ende  of  this  caytyf1  was  as  I  shal  seye 

Hise  foomen  /  made  a  feeste  vp-on  a  day 

And  made  hym  as  a  fool  /  biforn  hem  pleye 

And  this  was  /  in  a  temple  of  greet  array  3272 

But  atte  laste  /  he  made  a  foul  affray 

ffor  he  /  the  pilers  shook  /  and  made  hem  falle 

And  doun  fil  Temple  and  al  /  and  ther  it  lay 

Aud  slow  hym  self  /  and  eek  his  foomen  alle  3276 

This  is  to  seyn  the  Prynces  euerichoon 

And  eek  /  thre  thousand1  bodyes  were  ther  slayn 

"With  fallynge  /  of  the  grete  Temple  of  stoon 

Of  Sampson  /  now  wol  I  na  moore  sayn  3280- 

Beth  war  /  by  this  ensample  oold  and  playn 

That  no  men  /  telle  hir  conseil  til  hir  wyues 

Of  swich  thyng1  as  they  wolde  han  secree  faya 

If  fat  it  touche  /  hir  lymes  or  hir  lyues  3284 

[Hercules.] 

Off  Hercules  /  the  souereyn  Conquerour        IT  Hercules 
Syngen  hise  werkes  /  laude  and  heigh"  renoun 
ffor  in  his  tyme  /  of  strengthe  he  was  the  flour 
He  slow  /  and  rafte  the  skyn  of  the  leoun  3288 

He  of  Centauros  /  leyde  the  boost  adoun 
He  Arpies  slow  /  the  crueel  bryddes  felle 
He  golden  Apples  /  refte  of  the  dragoun 
He  drow  out  Cerberus  /  the  hound  of  helle  3292 

He  slow  the  crueel  tyrant  Busirus 

And  made  his  hors  /  to  frete  hym  flessfi  and  boon 

He  slow  /  the  firy  serpent  venymus 

Of  Acheloys  homes  two  /  he  brak1  oon  3296 

And  he  slow  Cacus  /  in  a  Caue  of  stoon 

He  slow  the  geant1  Antheus  the  stronge 

He  slow  the  grisly  boor  /  and  that  anon  [leaf  174,  back] 

And  bar  the  heuene  /  on  his  nekke  longe  3300 

ELLESMEEE  482   (6-T.  259) 


260   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Was  neuere  wight1  sith  that  this  world  bigan 

That  slow  so  manye  Monstres  /  as  dide  he 

Thurgh-out  this  wyde  world  /  his  name  ran 

"What  for  his  strengthe  /  and  for  his  heigh"  bouwtee     3304 

And  euery  Reawme  /  wente  he  for  to  see 

He  was  so  stroong1  fat  no  man  myghte  hym  lette 

At  bothe  the  worldes  endes  /  seith  Trophee  f  JjJfJ^  ffi?*" 

In  stide  of  boundes  /  he  a  pileer  sette  3308 

A  lemman  hadde  /  this  noble  Champion 

That  highte  Dianira  /  fressh"  as  May 

And  as  thise  clerkes  /  maken  mention 

She  hath  hym  senU  a  sherte  fressh  and  gay  3312 

Alias  this  sherte  /  alias  and  weylaway 

Euenymed  was  /  so  subtilly  with-alle 

That  er  fat  he  /  had  wered  it  half  a  day 

It  made  his  flessh  /  al  from  hise  bones  falle  3316 

But  nathelees  /  somme  clerkes  hire  excusen 

By  oon  fat  highte  Nessus  that  it  maked 

Be  as  be  may  /  I  wol  hire  noght  accusen 

But  on  his  bak1  this  sherte  he  wered  al  naked  3320 

Til  fat  his  flessh  /  was  for  the  venym  blaked 

And  whan  he  saugh  /  noon  oother  remedy e 

In  hoote  coles  /  he  hath  hym  seluen  raked 

ffor  w?'t/i  no  venym  deigned  hym  to  dye  3324 

Thus  starf  /  this  worthy  /  myghty  Hercules 

Lo  /  who  may  truste  /  on  ffortune  any  throwe 

ffor  hym  fat  folweth  /  al  this  world  of  prees 

Er  he  be  war  /  is  ofte  yleyd  ful  lowe  3328 

fful  wys  is  he  /  that  kan  hym  seluen  knowe 

Beth  war1  /  for  whan  that  ffortune  list  to  glose 

Thanne  Avayteth  she  /  her  man  to  ouerthrowe 

By  swich  a  wey  /  as  he  wolde  leest  suppose  3332 

ELLESMERE    483   (6-T.  260) 


261    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

T  [Nebuchadnezzar.'] 

he  myghty  trone  /  the  precious  tresor         IF  lsrabugo- 
The  glorious  ceptre  /  and  Roial  magestee      donosor 
That  hadde  the  kyng4  Nabugodonosor 
With  tonge  /  vnnethe  may  discryued  bee  3336 

He  twyes  /  wan  Jerusalem  the  Citee 
The  vessel  of  the  temple  /  he  with  hym  ladde 
At  Babiloigne  /  was  his  souereyn  see 
In  which  his  glorie  /  and  his  delit  he  hadde  3340 

The  faireste  children  /  of  the  blood  Eoial  [leaf  175] 

Of  Israel  /  he  leet  do  gelde  anoon 

And  maked  ech  of  hem  /  to  been  his  thral 

Arnonges  othere  /  Daniel  was  oon  3344 

That  was  the  wiseste  child  of  euerychon 

ffor  he  /  the  dremes  of  the  kyng  expowned 

Where  as  in  Chaldeye  /  clerk  ne  was  ther  noon 

That  wiste  /  to  what  fyn  /  hise  dremes  sowned  3348 

This  proude  kyng1  leet  maken  a  statue  of  gold? 

Sixty  cubites  long1  and  seuene  in  brede 

The  which  ymage  /  he  bothe  yonge  and  oold! 

Comanded  to  loute  /  and  haue  in  drede  3352 

Or  in  a  ffourneys  /  ful  of  flambes  rede 

He  shal  be  brent1  that  wolde  noght  obeye 

But  neuere  wolde  assente  /  to  that  dede 

Daniel  /  ne  hise  yonge  felawes  tweye  3356 

This  kyng  of  kynges  /  proud  was  and  elaaf 

He  wende  /  fat  god  that  sit  in  magestee 

Ne  myghte  /  hym  nat  bireue  of  his  estaat 

But  sodeynly  /  he  loste  his  dignytee  3360 

And  lyk  a  beest  /  hym  seined  for  to  bee 

And  eet  hey  as  an  Oxe  /  and  lay  ther  oute 

In  reyn  /  with  wilde  beestes  walked  hee 

Til  certein  tyme  /  was  ycome  aboute  3364 

ELLESMERE   484  (6-T.  261) 


262    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  lik/  an  Egles  fetheres  /  wax  his  heres 

Hise  nayles  /  lyk  a  briddes  clawes  weere 

Til  god  relessed  hym  /  a  certeyn  yeres 

And  yaf  hym  wit  /  and  thanne  vriih  many  a  teere       3368 

He  thanked  god  /  and  euere  his  lyf  in  feere 

Was  he  /  to  doon  amys  /  or  moore  trespace 

And  til  that  tyme  /  he  leyd  was  on  his  beere 

He  knew  /  that  god  was  /  ful  of  myght  and  grace       3372 

H  \Belshazzar '.] 

is  sone  /  which  that  highte  Balthasar     IT  Balthasar 
That  heeld  the  regne  /  after  his  fader  day 
He  by  his  fader  /  koude  noght  be  war 
ffor  proud  he  was  /  of  herte  and  of  array  3376 

And  eek  /  an  ydolastre  /  he  was  ay 
His  hye  estaat1  assured  hym  in  pryde 
But  ifortune  /  caste  hym  doun  /  and  ther  he  lay 
And  sodeynly  /  his  regne  gan  diuide  3380 

A  feeste  he  made  /  vn-to  hise  lordes  alle 

Vp-on  a  tyme  /  and  bad  hem  blithe  bee 

And  thanne  /  hise  Officers  gan  he  calle 

Gooth"  bryngeth"  forth"  /  the  vessels  quod  he         [leaf  175,  back] 

Whiche  that  my  fader  /  in  his  prosperitee  3385 

Out  of  the  temple  /  of  Jerusalem  birafte 

And  to  oure  hye  goddes  /  thanke  we 

Of  honowr  /  that  oure  eldres  wiih  us  lafte  3388 

Hys  wyf*  hise  lordes  /  and  hise  concubynes 

Ay  dronken  /  whil  hire  Appetites  laste 

Out  of  thise  noble  vessels  /  sondry  wynes 

And  on  a  wal  /  this  kyng1  hise  even  caste  3392 

And  saugh"  an  hand  Armlees  /  fat  wroot  ful  fast 

ffor  feere  of  which  /  he  quook*  and  siked  soore 

This  hand1  /  that  Balthasar  so  soore  agaste 

"Wrootf  Mane  techel  phares  /  and  na  moore  3396 

ELLESMERE   486   (6-T.  262) 


263   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

In  al  that  land!  /  Magicien  was  noon 

That  koude  expounds  /  what  this  lettre  mente 

But  Daniel  /  expowned  it  anon 

And  seyde  kyng*  god  to  thy  fader  sente  3400 

Glorie  and  honour  /  regne  /  tresour  /  rente 

And  he  was  proud?  /  and  no-thyng1  god  ne  dradde 

And  therfore  /  god  greet  wreche  vp-on  hym  sente 

And  hym  Mrafte  /  the  regne  fat  he  hadde  3404 

He  was  out  cast1  of  mannes  compaignye 

With  asses  /  was  his  habitacioure 

And  eet  hey  as  a  beesf  in  weet  and  drye 

Til  that  he  knew  /  by  grace  and  by  resouw  3408 

That  god  of  heuene  /  hath  domynacioure 

Ouer  euery  regne  /  and  euery  creature 

And  thanne  /  hadde  god  of  hym  compassiouw 

And  hym  restored  /  his  regne  and  his  figure  3412 

Eek  /  thou  that  art1  his  sone  /  art  proud  also 

And  knowest1  alle  thise  thynges  verraily 

And  art  rebel  to  god  /  and  art  his  foo 

Thou  drank  eek  /  of  hise  vessels  boldely  3416 

Thy  wyf  eek1  and  thy  wenches  synfully 

Dronke  of  the  same  vessels  /  sondry  wynys 

And  heryesf  false  goddes  cursedly 

Therfore  to  thee  /  yshapen  ful  greet  pyne  ys  3420 

This  hand  was  sent  from  god  /  that  on  the  wal 

Wrootf  Mane  techel  phares  /  truste  me 

Thy  regne  is  doon  /  thou  weyest1  noghtf  at  al 

Dyuyded  is  thy  regne  /  and  it  shal  be  3424 

To  Medes  and  to  Perses  [yeue]  quod  he 

And  thilke  same  nyght1  this  kyng1  was  slawe 

And  Darius  /  occupieth  his  degree  n<»f  nn] 

Thogh"  he  therto  /  hadde  neither  right  ne  lawe  3428 

ELLESMERE  486   (6-T.  263) 


264   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Lordynges  /  ensample  /  heer-by  may  ye  take 

How  that1  in  lordshipe  /  is  no  sikernesse 

ffor  whan  ffortune  wole  a  man  forsake 

She  bereth  awey  /  his  regne  and  his  richesse  3432 

And  eek1  hise  freendes  /  bothe  moore  and  lesse 

ffor  what  man  /  j?at  hath  freendes  /  thurgh"  ffortune 

Mi  shape  /  wol  maken  hem  enemy  s  as  I  gesse 

This  prouerbe  /  is  ful  sooth  and  ful  commune  3436 

^^  [Zenobia.] 

I     ,Enobia  /  of  Palymerie  Queene  IT  Cenobia 

\-/    As  writen  Persiens  /  of  hir  noblesse 
So  worthy  was  in  Armes  /  and  so  keene 
That  no  wight1  passed  hire  in  hardynesse  3440 

Ne  in  lynage  /  nor  in  oother  gentillesse 
Of  kynges  blood  of  Perce  /  is  she  descended 
I  seye  nat1  that  she  hadde  moost  fairnesse 
But  of  hire  shape  /  she  myghte  nat  been  amended       3444 

ffrom  hire  childhede  /  I  fynde  that  she  fledde 

Office  of  wommen  /  and  to  wode  she  went 

And  many  a  wilde  hertes  blood  she  shedde 

With  arwes  brode  /  that  she  to  hem  sente  3448 

She  was  so  swift1  /  fat  she  anon  -hem  hente 

And  whan  fat  she  was  elder  /  she  wolde  kille 

Leofis  /  leopardes  /  and  Beres  al  to-rente 

And  in  hir  Armes  /  weelde  hem  at  hir  wille  3452 

She  dorste  /  wilde  beestes  dennes  seke 

And  rennen  in  the  montaignes  al  the  nyghf 

And  slepen  vnder  the  bussh"  /  and  she  koude  eke 

Wrastlen  /  by  verray  force  /  and  verray  myght/  3456 

With  any  yong  man  /  were  he  neuer  so  wight1 

Ther  myghte  no  thyng1  in  hir  Armes  stonde 

She  kepte  hir  maydenhod?  /  from  euery  wignf 

To  no  man  /  deigned  hire  for  to  be  bonde  3460 

ELLESMERE   487   (6-T.  264) 


265    SIX-TEXT 

GUOUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

But  atte  laste  /  hir  freendes  han  hire  maried? 

To  Onedake  /  a  Prynce  of  that  contree 

Al  were  it  so  /  that  she  hem  longe  taxied? 

And  ye  shul  vnderstonde  /  how  that  he  s  3464 

Hadde  swiche  fantasies  /  as  hadde  she 

simul 

But  nathelees  /  whan  they  were  knyt  infeere 

They  lyued  /  in  ioye  /  and  in  felicitee 

ffor  ech  of  hem  /  hadde  oother  lief  and  deere  3468 

Saue  o  thyng1  that  she  wolde  neuere  assente        [leaf  ITS,  back] 

By  no  wey  /  that  he  sholde  by  hire  lye 

But  ones  /  for  it  was  hir  pleyn  entente 

To  haue  a  child?  /  the  world  to  multiplye  3472 

And  also  soone  /  as  J)at  she  myghte  espye 

That  she  was  nat  with  childe  /  with  that  dede 

Thanne  wolde  she  suffre  hym  /  doon  his  fantasye 

Eft  soone  /  and  nat  but1  oones  out  of  drede  3476 

And  if  she  were  with  childe  /  at  thilke  cast1 

Na  moore  /  sholde  he  pleyen  thilke  game 

Til  fully  /  fourty  dayes  /  weren  past1 

Thanne  wolde  she  ones  /  suffre  hym  do  the  same         3480 

Al  were  this  Onedake  /  wilde  or  tame 

He  gat  na  moore  of  hire  f  for  thus  she  seyde 

It  was  to  wyues  /  lecherie  and  shame 

In  oother  caas  /  if  fat  men  with  hem  pleyde  3484 

Two  sones  /  by  Onedake  hadde  she 

The  whiche  she  kepte  /  in  vertu  and  lettrure 

But  now  /  vn-to  oure  tale  /  turne  we 

I  seye  /  so  worshipful  a  creature  3488 

And  wys  ther-with  /  and  large  with  mesure 

So  penyble  in  the  werre  /  and  curteis  eke 

He  moore  labour  /  mygfrte  in  werre  endure 

Was  noon  /  though"  al  this  world  men  wolde  seke        3492 

ELLESMERE   488   (6-T.  265) 


266   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.   MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Hir  riche  array  /  ne  myghte  nat  be  told? 

As  wel  in  vessel  /  as  in  hire  clothyng1 

She  was  al  clad  /  in  perree  and  in  gold? 

And  eek  /  she  lafte  nogfit  /  for  noon  huntyng*  3496 

To  haue  of  sondry  tonges  /  ful  knowyng1 

Whan  fat  she  leyser  hadde  /  and  for  to  entende 

To  lerne  bookes  /  was  al  hire  likyng1 

How  she  in  vertu  /  mygfrte  hir  lyf  dispende  3500 

And  shortly  /  of  this  proces  for  to  trete 

So  doghty  was  hir  housbonde  and  eek  she 

That  they  conquered  /  manye  regnes  grete 

In  the  Orient1  with  many  a  faire  Citee  3504 

Apertenaunf  vn-to  the  magestee 

Of  Rome  /  and  wit7i  strong  hond  held  hem  ful  faste 

~Ne  neuere  myghte  /  hir  foo  men  doon  hem  flee 

Ay  /  whil  that  Onedakes  dayes  laste  3508 

Hir  batailles  /  who  so  list  hem  for  to  rede 

Agayn  Sapor  the  kyng1  and  othere  mo 

And  how  al  this  proces  /  fil  in  dede 

Why  she  conquered  /  and  what  title  therto     [leafm]    3512 

And  after/  of  hir  meschief1  and  hire  wo 

How  fat  she  was  /  biseged  and  ytake 

Laf  hym  /  vn-to  my  maister  Petrak  go 

That  writ  ynougfr  of  this  .1  vndertake  3516 

Whan  Onedake  was  deed  /  she  myghtily 

The  regnes  heeld  /  and  with  hire  propre  hond1 

Agayn  hir  foos  /  she  faught  so  cruelly 

That  ther  nas  kyng1  ne  prynce  in  al  that  lond?  3520 

That  he  nas  glad  /  if  he  that  grace  fond? 

That  she  ne  wolde  /  vp-on  his  lond  werreye 

With  hire  /  they  made  alliance  by  bond' 

To  been  in  pees  /  and  lete  hire  ride  and  pleye  3524 

ELLESMERE    489  (6-T.  266) 


267   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

The  Emperour  of  Eome  Claudius 

Ne  hym  bifore  /  the  Romayn  Galien 

Ne  dorste  neuere  /  been  so  corageus 

Ne  noon  Ennyn  /  ne  noon  Egipcien  3528 

Ne  Surrien  /  ne  noon  Arabyen 

With-Inne  the  feeldes  /  that  dorste  \rith  hire  figfrte 

Lest  that  she  wolde  /  hem  "with  hir  handes  slen 

Or  with  hir  meignee  /  putten  hem  to  flighte  3532 

In  kynges  habit  /  wente  hir  sones  two' 

As  heires  /  of  hir  fadres  regnes  alle 

And  hermanno  /  and  Thymalao 

Hir  names  were  /  as  Persiens  hem  calle  3536 

But  ay  ffortune  /  hath  in  hire  hony  galle 

This  myghty  queene  /  may  no  while  endure 

ffortune  /  out  of  hir  regne  made  hire  falle 

To  wrecchednesse  /  and  to  mysauenture  3540 

Aurelian  /  whan  that  the  gouemaunce 

Of  Rome  /  cam  in-to  hise  handes  tweye 

He  shoope  /  vp-on  this  queene  to  doon  vengeawnce 

And  with  hise  legions  /  he  took  his  weye  3544 

Toward  Cenobie  /  and  shortly  for  to  seye 

He  made  hire  flee  /  and  atte  last  hire  hente 

And  fettred  hire  /  and  eek  hire  children  tweye 

And  wan  the  land  /  and  hoom  to  Rome  he  wente        3548 

Amonges  othere  thynges  /  that  he  wan 
Hir  Chaar/  fat  was  vriih  gold  wrogftt  and  perree 
This  grete  Romayn  /  this  Aurelian 

Hath  wt'tft  hym  lad  /  for  that  men  sholde  it  see          3552 
Biforn  his  triumphe  /  walketh  shee 
With  gilte  cheynes  /  on  hire  nekke  hangynge 
Coroned  was  she  /  after  hir  degree  [leaf  177,  back] 

And  ful  of  perree  /  charged  hire  clothynge  3556 

ELLESMEKE   490  (6-T.  267) 


268,  271  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.   MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Alias  ffortune  /  she  that  whilom  was 

Dredeful  /  to  kynges  and  to  Emperoures 

Now  gauretli  al  the  peple  /  on  hire  alias 

And  she  /  that  helmed  was  in  starke  shoures  3560 

And  wan  by  force  /  townes  stronge  and  toures 

Shal  on  hir  heed  /  now  were  a  vitremyte 

And  she  that  bar/  the  ceptre  ful  of  floures 

Shal  bere  a  distaf  /  hire  costes  for  to  quyte  3564 

{The  modern  instances  ichich  should  come  here,  are  at  the  end  of  the  Tale  in  this  MS.'] 

[Nero.] 

l\    1  though  /  that  Nero  were  vicius  1T  Nero 

JL  JL.  As  any  feend  that  lith  in  helle  adoun  3654 

Yet  he  /  as  telleth  vs  Swetonius 

This  wyde  world  /  hadde  in  subieccioun  3656 

Bothe  Est1  and  West1  North  /  and  Septemtrioim 
Of  Rubies  /  saphires  /  and  of  peerles  white 
Were  alle  hise  clothes  /  brouded  vp  and  doun 
ffor  he  in  gemmes  /  greetly  gan  delite  3660 

Moore  delicaat1  moore  pompous  of  array 

Moore  proud  /  was  neuer-e  Emperour  than  he 

That  ilke  clooth  /  fat  he  hadde  wered  o  day 

After  that  tyme  /  he  nolde  it  neuere  see  3664 

Nettes  of  gold  threed  /  hadde  he  greet  plentee 

To  fissne  in  Tybre  /  whan  hym  liste  pleye 

Hise  lustes  were  al  lawe  /  in  his  decree 

ffor  ffortune  /  as  his  freend?  /  hym  wolde  obeye  3668 

He  Eome  brende  /  for  his  delicasie 

The  Senatours  /  he  slow  vp-on  a  day 

To  heere  /  how  men  wolde  wepe  and  crie 

And  slow  his  brother  /  and  by  his  suster  lay  3672 

His  mooder  made  he  /  in  pitous  array 

ffor  he  /  hire  wombe  slitte  /  to  biholde 

Where  he  conceyued  was  so  weilaway 

That  he  so  litel  /  of  his  mooder  tolde  3676 

36  ELLESMERE   491   (6-T.  268,  27l) 


271,  272  SIX-TEXT 

GUOUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

~No  teere  out  of  hise  eyen  /  for  that  sigfite 

Ne  cam  /  but  seyde  /  a  fair  wo?nnian  was  she 

Greet  wonder  is  /  how  fat  he  koude  /  or  mygh'te 

Be  domesman  /  of  hire  dede  beautee  3680 

The  wyn  to  bryngen  hym  conianded  he 

And  drank  /  anon  /  noon  oother  wo  he  made 

Whan  myght  is  ioyned  vn-to  crueltee 

Alias  to  depe  /  wol  the  venym  wade  3684 

In  yowthe  /  a  maister  hadde  this  Emperour  pear  ITS] 

To  teche  hym  lettrure  /  and  curteisye 

ffor  of  moralitee  /  he  was  the  flour 

As  in  his  tyme  /  but  if  bookes  lye  3688 

And  whil  this  maister  /  hadde  of  hym  maistrye 

He  maked  hym  /  so-konnyng*  and  so  sowple 

That  longe  tyme  it  was  /  er  tirannye 

Or  any  vice  /  dorste  on  hym  vncowple  3692 

This  Seneca  /  of  which  that  I  deuyse 

By  cause  Nero  /  hadde  of  hym  swich  drede 

ffor  he  fro  vices  /  wolde  hym  chastise 

Discreetly  /  as  by  word  /  and  nat  by  dede  3696 

Sire  wolde  he  seyn  /  an  Emperour  moot  nede 

Be  vertuous  /  and  hate  tirannye 

ffor  which  /  he  in  a  bath  /  made  hym  to  blede 

On  bothe  hise  Armes  /  til  he  moste  dye  3700 

This  Nero  /  hadde  eek/  of  acustumawnce 

In  youthe  /  agayns  his  maister  for  to  ryse 

Which  afterward1  /  hym  thoughte  greet  greuamice 

Therfore  /  he  made  hym  dyen  in  this  wise  3704 

But  nathelees  /  this  Seneca  the  wise 

Chees  in  a  Bath  to  dye  /  in  this  manere 

Eather  than  ban  /  any  oother  tormentise 

And  thus  hath  Nero  /  slayn  his  maister  deere  3708 

ELLESMERE   492   (6-T.  271,  272) 


272,  273  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Now  fil  it  so  /  that  ffortune  liste  no  lenger 

The  hye  pryde  of  Nero  to  cherice 

ffor  though  fat  he  was  strong1  yet  was  she  stronger 

She  thoughte  thus  /  by  god  I  am  to  nyce  3712 

To  sette  a  man  /  that  is  fulfild  of  vice 

In  heigh"  degree  /  and  Emperour  hym  calle 

By  god  /  out  of  his  sete  /  I  wol  hym  trice 

Whan  he  leesf  weneth  /  sonnest  shal  he  falle  3716 

The  peple  roos  vp-on  hym  on  a  nyght 

ffor  his  defaute  /  and  whan  he  it  espied 

Out  of  hise  dores  /  anon  he  hath  hym  dightt 

Allone  /  and  ther  he  wende  han  ben  allied  3720 

He  knokked  faste  /  and  ay  the  moore  he  cried 

The  fastere  shette  they  /  the  dores  alle 

ffor  drede  of  this  /  hym  thoughte  Jx/t  he  dyed 

And  wente  his  wey  /  no  lenger  dorste  he  calle  3724 

The  peple  cride  /  and  rombled  vp  and  doun 

That  vfith  his  erys  /  herde  he  /  how  they  seyde 

"Where  is  this  false  tiraunt1  this  Neroun 

ffor  fere  /  almoosf  out  of  his  wit  he  breyde          [leaf  m,  back] 

And  to  hise  goddes  /  pitously  he  preyd 

ffor  socour  /  but  it  myghte  nat  bityde 

ffor  drede  of  this  /  hym  thoughte  fat  he  deyde 

And  ran  in-to  a  gardyn  hym  to  hyde  3732 

And  in  this  gardyn  /  foond  he  cherles  tweye 

That  seten  by  a  fyr  /  greet  and  reed! 

And  to  thise  cherles  two  /  he  gan  to  preye 

To  sleen  hym  /  and  to  girden  of  his  heed?  3736 

That  to  his  body  /  whan  fat  he  were  deed? 

"Were  no  despit  ydoon  /  for  his  defame 

Hym  self  he  slow  /  he  koucle  no  bettre  reed! 

Of  which  /  ffortune  lough"  /  and  hadde  a  game  3740 

ELLESMEEE    493  (6-T.  272,  273) 


273,  274  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  12.   HONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS 


W 
as  neuere  Capitayn  /  vnder  a  kyng/  1T  De  Oloferno;' 
That  regnes  mo  /  putte  in  subiecciouw 
!Ne  strenger  was  in  feeld  /  of  alle  thyng* 
As  in  his  tyme  /  ne  gretter  of  renoun  3744 

Ne  moore  pompous  /  in  heigh  presumpciou/t 
Than  Oloferne  /  which  ffortune  ay  kiste 
So  likerously  /  and  ladde  hym  vp  and  doun 
Til  fat  his  heed  was  of  /  er  fat  he  wiste  3748 


oonly  /  that  this  world  /  hadde  hym  in  Awe 
ffor  lesynge  /  of  richesse  /  or  lihertee 
But  made  euery  man  /  reneyen  his  lawe 
Nabugodonosor  /  was  god  seyde  hee  3752 

Noon  oother  god  /  [ne]  sholde  adoured  bee 
Agayns  his  heeste  /  no  wight1  dorste  trespace 
saue  in  Bethulia  /  a  strong  Citee 
Where  Eliachim  /  a  preest  was  of  that  place 

ni  Eliachim.    [t.  i.  Joacim,  Judith  iv.  8.] 

But  taak  kepe  of  the  deeth  of  Olofeme 

Amydde  his  hoosfr  he  dronke  lay  a  nyghtf 

With-Inne  his  tente  /  large  as  is  a  berne 

And  yet1  for  al  his  pompe  /  and  al  his  mygfrf  3760 

ludith  a  womman  /  as  he  lay  vprigfrtt 

Slepynge  /  his  heed  of  smoof  and  from  his  tente 

iful  pryuely  /  she  stal  from  euery  wight1 

And  with  his  heed  /  vn-to  hir  toun  she  wente       .       3764 

W\_Antioclius.~\ 
hat  nedeth  if  of  kyng  Anthiochus  1T  De  Rege  An- 
To  telle  /  his  hye  Eoial  magestee  thiocho  iUustri- 
His  hye  pride  /  hise  werkes  venymus 
ffor  swich  another  /  was  ther  noon  as  he  3768 

Eede  which  fat  he  was  /  in  Machabee 
And  rede  /  the  proude  wordes  that  he  seyde 
And  why  he  fil  /  fro  heigR  prosperitee  DeafmJ 

And  in  an  hiH  /  how  wrecchedly  he  deyde  3772? 

ELLESMEKE  494    (6-f  .  273,  274)- 


274,  275  SIX-TEXT 

.GKOUP  B.   §  12.  .MONK'S  TALE.  .Ellesmere  MS. 

ffortune  /  hym  hadde  enhaunced  so  in  pride 

That  verraily  /  he  wende  he  myghte  attayne 

Yn-to  the  sterres  /  vp-on  euery  syde 

And  in  balance  /  weyen  ech  montayne  3776 

And  alle  the  floodes  /  of  the  see  restrayne 

And  goddes  peple  /  hadde  he  moostt  in  hate 

Hem  wolde  he  .sleen  /  in  torment*  and  in  payne 

;Wenynge  /  J?at  god  ne  mygfcte  his  pride  abate 


And  for  that  Nichanore  /  and  Thymothee 

Of  lewes  /  weren  venquyssfred  myghtily 

Yn-to  the  lewes  /  swich  an  hate  hadde  he 

That  he  bad  /  greithen  his  Chaar  ful  hastily  3784 

And  swoor  /  and  seyde  ful  despitously 

Yn-to  Jerusalem  /  he  wolde  eft  soone 

To  wreken  his  Ire  /  on  it  ful  cruelly 

But  of  his  purpos  /  he  was  let  ful  soone  3788 

God  for  his  manace  /  hym  so  soore  srnoof . 

With  invisible  wounde  /  ay  incurable 

That  in  hise  guttes  /  carf  it  so  and  boot1 

That  hise  peynes  /  weren  importable  3792 

And  certeinly  /  the  wreche  was  resonable 

ffor  many  a  mannes  guttes  /  dide  he  peyne 

But  from  his  purpos  /  cursed  and  dampnable 

ffor  all  his  smertf  he  wolde  hym  nat  restreyne  3796 

But  bad  anon  /  apparaillen  his  hoost 

And  sodeynly  /  er  he  was  of  it  war 

God  daunted  /  al  his  pride  and  all  his  boost* 

ffor  he  so  soore  /  fil  out  of  his  Char  3800 

lumMH 

That  it  hise  lemes  /  and  his  skyn  to-tar 

So  that1  he  neyther/  mygfrte  go  ne  ryde 

But  in  a  chayer  /  men  /  aboute  hym  bar 

Al  forbrused  /  bo  the  bak  and  syde  3804 

ELLESMERE   495   (6-T.  274,  27o) 


275,  276  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

The  wreche  of  god  /  hym  smoot  so  cruelly 

That  thurgfi  his  body  /  \vikked  wormes  crepte 

And  ther-with-al  /  he  stank*  horriblely 

That  noon  of  al  his  meynee  /  ]>at  hym  kepte  3808 

Wheither  so  he  wook1  or  ellis  slepte 

Ne  myghte  nogfet1  for  stynk1  of  hym  endure 

In  this  meschief  /  he  wayled  and  eek  wepte 

And  knew  god  /  lord  of  euery  creature  3812 


To  all  his  hoosf  and  to  hym  self  also 

fFul  wlatsom  was  /  the  stynk1  of  his  careyne 

No  man  /  ne  myghte  hym  bere  /  to  ne  fro 

And  in  this  stynk1  and  this  horrible  peyne  3816 

He  starf  ful  wrecchedly  /  in  a  Monteyne 

Thus  hath  this  Robbour  /  and  this  homycide 

That  many  a  man  /  made  to  wepe  and  pleyne 

Swich  gerdon  /  as  bilongeth  vn-to  pryde  3820 

[Alexander  the  Great.] 

he  storie  of  Alisaundre  /  is  so  co?/zmune     IT  De  Alex- 
JL_    That  euery  wight1  that  hath  discreciown       anaro 
Hath  herd  somwhaf  or  al  /  of  his  {fortune 
This  wyde  world  /  as  in  concluskmn  3824 

He  wan  by  strengthe  /  or  for  his  hye  renoim 
They  weren  glad  /  for  pees  vn-to  hym  sende 
The  pride  /  of  man  and  beest  /  he  leyde  adoun 
Wher  so  he  cam  /  vn-to  the  worldes  ende  3828 

Comparison  /  myghte  neuere  yet  been  maked 

Bitwixen  hym  /  and  another  Conquerour 

ffor  al  this  world  /  for  drede  of  hym  hath  quaked 

He  [was]  of  knygfethod?  and  of  fredom  flour  3832 

ffortune  hym  made  /  the  heir  of  hire  honour 

Saue  wyn  and  wowmen  /  no  man  mighte  aswage 

His  hye  entente  in  Armes  and  labour 

So  was  he  ful  /  of  leonyn  corage  3836 

ELLESMERE  496    (0-T.  275,  276) 


276,  277  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS, 

"What  pris  were  it  to  hym  /  though  I  yow  tolde 

Of  Darius  /  and  an  hundred  thousand  mo 

Of  kynges  /  pn'nces  /  Erles  /  dukes  /  bolde 

Whiche  he  conquered  /  and  broghte  hem  in-to  wo       3840 

I  seye  /  as  fer  as  man  may  ryde  or  go 

The  world  was  his  /  what  sholde  I  moore  deuyse 

ffor  though  I  write  /  or  tolde  yow  eueremo 

Of  his  knyghthode  /  it  myghte  nat  suffise  3844 

Twelf  yeer  he  regned  /  as  seith  Machabee 

Philippes  sone  of  Macidoyne  he  was 

That  first  was  kyng1  in  Grece  the  contree 

O  worthy  gentil  Alisandre  alias  3848 

That  euere  sholde  fallen  swich  a  cas 

Empoysoned  /  of  thyn  owene  folk  thou  weere 

Thy  sys  /  ffortune  /  hath  turned  in-to  Aas 

And  [yet]  for  thee  /  ne  weepe  she  neuer  a  teere  3852 

Who  shal  me  yeuen  teeris  to  compleyne 

The  deeth  of  gentillesse  /  and  of  fTranchise 

That1  al  the  world  /  weelded  in  his  demeyne 

And  yet  hym  thoughte  /  it  myghte  nat  suffise  Deaf  iso]  3856 

So  ful  was  his  corage  /  of  heigh  emprise 

Alias  /  who  shal  me  helpe  to  endite 

ffalse  ffortune  /  and  poyson  to  despise 

The  whiche  two  /  of  al  this  wo  I  wyte  3860 

[Julius  Ccesar.] 

wisedom  /  manhede  /  and  by  labour       IF  De  lulio 
ffrom  humble  bed  /  to  roial  magestee  Cesare 

Vp  roos  he  lulius  the  Conquerour 

That  wan  al  thoccident1  by  land*  and  See  3864    * 

By  strengthe  of  hand  /  or  elles  by  tretee 
And  vn-to  Eome  /  made  hem  tributarie 
And  sitthe  of  Eome  /  the  Empe?*our  was  he 
Til  that  ffortune  /  weex  his  Aduersarie  3868 

ELLESMEEE  497    (6-T.  276,  277) 


277,  278  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

0  myghty  Cesar  /  that  in  Thessalie 
Agayn  Pompeus  /  fader  thyn  in  lawe 
That  of  the  Orient1  hadde  all  the  Chiualrie 

As  fer/  as  fat  the  day  bigynneth  dawe  3872 

Thou  thurgh"  thy  knyghthod!  /  hast  hem  take  and  slawe 
Saue  fe\ve  folk  /  that  *wikh  Pompeus  fledde 
Thurgfi.  which  thou  puttesf  al  thorienf  in  Awe 
Thanke  ffortune  /  that  so  wel  thee  spedde  3876 

1T  But  now  a  litel  while  / 1  wol  biwaille  1T  Nota  de  Pompeyo 

This  Pompeus  /  this  noble  goumiour 

Of  Rome  /  which  that  fleigh  at  this  bataille 

1  seye  /  oon  of  hise  men  /  a  fals  traitour  3880 
His  heed  of  srnoott  to  wynnen  hym  fauour 

Of  lulius  /  and  hym  the  heed  he  brogfite 
Alias  Pompeye  /  of  Thorient  Conquerour 
That  ffortune  /  vn-to  swich  a  fyn  thee  brogtite  3884 

IT  To  Rome  agayn  /  repaireth  lulius 

With  his  triumphe  /  lauriat  fill  hye 

But  on  a  tyme  /  Brutus  Cassius 

That  euere  hadde  /  of  his  hye  estaat  envye  3888 

fful  prniely  /  hath  maad  conspiracye 

Agayns  this  lulius  /  in  subtil  wise 

And  caste  the  place  /  in  which  he  sholde  dye 

With  Boydekyns  /  as  I  shal  yow  deuyse  3892 

This  lulius  /  to  the  Capitolie  wente 

Vpon  a  day  /  as  he  was  wont  to  goon 

And  in  the  Capitolie  /  anon  hym  hente 

This  false  Brutus  /  and  hise  othere  foon  3896 

And  stiked  hym  /  with  boydekyns  anoon 

With  many  a  wounde  /  and  thus  they  lete  hym  lye 

But  neuere  gronte  he  /  at  no  strook1  but  oon        [lean  so,  back] 

Or  elles  at  two  /  but1  if  his  storie  lye  3900 

ELLESMERE  498   (6-T.  277,  278) 


278,  279  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

So  manly  /  was  this  lulius  of  herte 

And  so  wel  louede  /  estaatly  honestee 

That*  though"  hise  deedly  woundes  soore  smerte 

His  Mantel  /  oner  hise  hypes  caste  he  3904 

ffor  no  man  /  sholde  seen  his  pn'uetee 

And  as  he  lay  /  of  diyng1  in  a  traunce 

And  wiste  ve'/raily  /  that  deed  was  hee 

Of  honestee  /  yet  hadde  he  remembrawnce  3908 

Lucan  /  to  thee  /  this  storie  I  recomende 

And  to  Swetoii  /  and  to  Valerius  also 

That  of  this  storie  /  writen  word  and  ende 

How  fat  /  to  thise  grete  Conquerours  two  3912 

Ifortune  was  first  freend  /  and  sitthe  foo 

No  man  ne  truste  /  vp-on  hire  fauour  longe 

But  haue  hire  /  in  awaytf  for  euere  moo 

Witnesse  /  on  alle  thise  Conqiierours  stronge  3916 

\Cresus.'] 

T. 
his  riche  Cresus  /  whilom  kyng1  of  Lyde        IT  Cresus 
Of  which  Cresus  /  Cirus  soore  hym  dradde 
Yet  was  he  caught/  amyddes  al  his  pryde 
And  to  be  brent/  men  to  the  fyr  hym  ladde  3920 

But  swich  a  reyn  /  doun  fro  the  welkne  shadde 
That  slow  the  fyr  /  and  made  hym  to  escape 
But  to  be  war  /  no  grace  yet  he  hadde 
Til  ifortune  /  on  the  galwes  /  made  hym  gape  3924 

Whanne  he  escaped  was  /  he  kan  nat  stente 

ffor  to  bigynne  /  a  newe  werre  agayn 

He  wende  wel  /  for  Jjat  ffortune  hym  sente 

Swich  hape  /  that  he  escaped  thurgh"  the  rayn  3928 

That  of  hise  foos  /he  myghte  nat  be  slayn 

And  eek  a  sAveuene  /  vp-on  a  nygfrtf  he  mette 

Of  which  /  he  was  so  proud?  /  and  eek  so  fayn 

That  in  vengeance  /  he  al  his  herte  sette  3932 

ELLESMERE   499    (6-T.  278,  279) 


279,  280,  268  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS, 

Vp-on  a  tree  /  he  was  /  as  that  hym  thoughte 

Ther  luppiter  hym  wesshe  /  bothe  bak1  and  syde 

And  Phebus  eek1  a  fair  towaille  hym  broughte 

To  dryen  hym  with"  /  and  therfore  wax  his  pryde         3936 

And  to  his  doghter  /  that  stood  hym  bisyde 

Which  pat  he  knew  /  in  heigh"  science  habounde 

He  bad  hire  telle  hym  /  what  it  signyfyde 

And  she  his  dreem  /  bigan  right  thus  expounde  3940 

The  tree  quod  she  /the  galwes  is  to  meene  [leafisi] 

And  luppiter  /  bitokneth  snow  and  reyn 

And  Phebus  /  witA  his  towaille  so  clene 

Tho  been  /  the  sonne  bemes  for  to  seyn  3944 

Thou  shalt  anhanged  be  /  fader  certeyn 

Reyn  shal  thee  wassh"e  /  and  sonne  shal  thee  drye 

Thus  warned  hym  /  ful  plat*  and  ful  pleyn 

His  doghter  /  which  that  called  was  Phanye  3948 

An-hanged  was  Cresus  /  the  proude  kyng1 

His  roial  Trone  /  myghte  hym  nat  auaille 

Tragedies  /  noon  oother  maner  thyng  / 

Ne  kan  in  syngyng*  crie  ne  biwaille  3952 

But  that  ffortune  /  alwey  wole  assaille 

"WYt/i  vnwar  strook1  /  the  Eegnes  J>at  been  proude 

ffor  whan  men  trusteth  hire  /  thanne  wol  she  faille 

And  couere  hire  brighte  face  /  with  a  clowde  3956 

[Thete  4  modern  instances  should  follow  Zenobia,  p.  268.] 

^>^  [Peter  the  Cruel,  of  Spain.] 

I     I  noble  /  o.  worthy  Petro  /  glorie  of  Spayne 

\J  Whom  ffortune  heeldl  /  so  hye  in  magestee 

Wei  oghten  men  /  thy  pitous  deeth  complayne 

Out  of  thy  lan<J  /  thy  brother  made  thee  flee  3568 

And  after/  at  a  seege  by  subtiltee 

Thou  were  bitraysed  /  and  lad  vn-to  his  tente 

Where  as  he  /  with  his  owene  hand  slow  thee 

Succedynge  /  in  thy  regne  and  in  thy  rente  3572 

ELLESMERE  600    (6-T.  279,  280,  268) 


268,  269  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


The  feeld  of  snow  /  with  thegle  of  blak  ther-Inne 

Gueschn.] 

Caught  with  the  lymerod?  /  coloured  as  the  gleede 

He  brew  this  cursednesse  /  and  al  this  synne 

The  wikked  nest1  was  werker*  of  this  nede  3576 

Noght  Charles  Olyuver  /  that  took  ay  heede 

Of  trouthe  and  honour  /  but  of  Armorike         [?£"fT  de  M-,aiinv 

I  oj  Britanny  .] 

Genylon)  Olyuer  /  corrupt*  for  meede 

Broghte  this  worthy  kyng1  in  swich  a  brike  3580 

0  [Peter  of  Cyprus.  ,] 

worthy  Petro  /  kyng  of  Cipre  also  IT  De  Petro 

That  Alisandre  wan  /  by  heigh  maistrie    ^eSe  de  . 
fful  many  an  hethen  /  wroghtestow  ful  wo 
Of  which  /  thyne  owene  liges  hadde  en  vie  3584 

And  for  no  thyng1  but  for  thy  Chiualrie 
They  in  thy  bed  /  han  slayn  thee  by  the  morwe 
Thus  kan  ffortune  /  hir  wheel  goueme  and  gye 
And  out  of  loye  /  brynge  men  to  sorwe  3588 

\_Bernabo  Visconti,  of  Milan.] 

Off  Melan  /  grete  Barnabo  Viscounte        1T  De  Barnabo 
God  of  delif  .  and  scourge  of  Lumbardye 
Why  sholde  I  nat1  thyn  Infortune  acounte 
Sith  in  estaatt  /  thow  cloumbe  were  so  hye 
Thy  brother  sone  /  that  was  thy  double  allye 
ffor  he  thy  Nevew  was  /  and  sone  in  lawe 
With-Inne  his  prison  /  made  thee  to  dye 
But  why  ne  how  /  noot  I  fat  thou  were  slawe  3596 

[Ugolino,  Count  of  Pisa.'] 

Off  the  Erl  Hugelyn  of  Pyze  /  the  langotir  II  De  Huge- 
Ther  may  no  tonge  /  telle  for  pitee  lino  Comite 

de  Pize 
But1  Htel  out  of  Pize  /  stant  a  tour 

In  which  tour/  in  prison  put  was  he  3600 

And  with  hym  /  been  hise  litel  children  thre 

The  eldeste  /  scarsly  /  fyf  yeer  was  of  Age 

Alias  ffortune  /  it  was  greet  crueltee 

Swiche  briddes  /  for  to  putte  /  in  swiche  a  Cage          3604 

ELLESMERE  501    (6-T.  268,  269) 


269,  270  SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.  MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Dampned  was  he  /  to  dyen  in  that  prison 

ffor  Roger  /  which  fat  Bisshope  was  of  Pize 

Hadde  on  hym  maad  /  a  fals  suggestion 

Thurgh"  which  /  the  peple  /  gan  vpon  hym  rise  3608 

And  putten  hym  to  prison  /  in  swich  wise 

As  ye  han  herd  /  and  mete  /  and  drynke  he  hadde 

So  smal  /  that  vnnethe  it  may  suffise 

And  therwith-al  /  it  was  ful  poure  and  badde  3612 

And  on  a  day  /  bifil  /  jjat  in  that  hour 

Whan  J?at  his  mete  /  wont  was  to  be  broghfr 

The  Gayler  shette  the  dores  of  the  tour 

He  herde  it  wel  /  but  he  spak  right  noghf  3616 

And  in  his  herte  /  anon  ther  fil  a  thoght/ 

That  they  for  hunger  /  wolde  doon  hym  dyen 

Alias  quod  he  /  alias  that  I  was  wrogfif 

Ther-with  /  the  teeris  fillen  from  hise  eyen  .     3620 

His  yonge  sone  /  that  thre  yeer  was  of  age 

Vn-to  hym  seyde  /  fader  /  fader  //  why  do  ye  wepe 

Whanne  wol  the  Gayler  /  bryngen  oure  potage 

Is  ther  no  morsel  breed  /  that  ye  do  kepe  3624 

I  am  so  hungry  /  that  I  may  nat  slepe 

Now  wolde  god  /  that  I  myghte  slepen  enere 

Thanne  sholde  nat  hunger  /  in  my  wombe  crepe 

Ther  is  no  thyng1  but  breed  /  that  me  were  leuere        3628 

Thus  day  by  day  /  this  child  bigan  to  crye 

Til  in  his  fadres  barm  /  adoun  it  lay 

And  seyde  /  fare  wel  fader  /  I  moot*  dye 

And  kiste  his  fader/  and  dyde  the  same  day  3632 

And  whan  the  woful  fader/  deed  it  say 

ffor  wo  /  hise  Armes  two  /  he  gan  to  byte 

And  seyde  /  Alias  ffortune  and  weylaway  [leaf  isz] 

Thy  false  wheel  /  my  wo  al  may  I  wyte  3636 

ELLESMERE    502   (6-T.  269,  270) 


270    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  12.   MONK'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Hise  children  wende  /  that  it  for  hunger  was 

That  he  hise  Annes  gnow  /  and  nat  for  wo 

And  seyde  fader/  do  nat  so  Alias 

But  rather  ete  the  flessh  vp-on  vs  two  3640 

Oure  flessh"  thou  yaf  /.  take  oure  flessh"  vs  fro 

And  ete  ynogh"  /  right  thus  they  to  hym  seyde 

And  after  that*  with-Inne  a  day  or  two 

They  leyde  hem  /  in  his  lappe  adoun  and  deyde  3644 

Hym-self  despeired  /  eek  for  hunger  starf* 

Thus  ended  is  /  this  myghty  Erl  of  Pize 

ffrom  heigh"  estaat1  ffortune  awey  hym  carf* 

Of  this  Tragedie  /  it1  oghte  ynough  suffise  3648 

"Who  so  wol  here  it1  in  a  lenger  wise 

Eedeth  /  the  grete  Poete  of  ytaille 

That  highte  Danfr .  for  he  kan  al  deuyse 

fEro  point  to  point*,  nat  o  word  wol  he  faille  3652 

5[  Explicit*  Tragech'a 

C  ..  -  >  < 

H  Heere  stynteth  the  Knyghf  the  Monk1  of  his  tale.  fa 


ELLESMERE    503  (6-T.  270) 


281    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  13.  MONK-NUN'S-FRIEST'S  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 


[<w  tea/ 1823 

IT  The  prologue  of  the  Nonnes  preestes  tale  fo 

Hoo  quod  the  knyghtt  /  good  sire  namoore  this 
That  ye  han  seyd  /  is  right  ynough  ywis 
And  muchel  moore  /  for  litel  heuynesse 
Is  right  ynougfi.  /  to  muche  folk  I  gesse     39GO 
I  seye  for  me  /  it  is  a  greet  disese 
Where  as  men  han  been  /  in  greet  welthe  and  ese 
To  heeren  /  of  hire  sodeyn  fal  alias 

And  the  contrarie  /  is  ioye  and  greet  solas  3964 

As  whan  a  man  /  hath  hen  in  poure  estaat1 
And  clymheth  vp  /  and  wexeth  fortunaf 
And  there  ahideth  /  in  prospmtee 

Swich  thyng1  is  gladsom  /  as  it  thynketh  me  3968 

And  of  swich  thyng1.  were  goodly  for  to  telle 
Ye  quod  oure  hoostf  hy  seint  Poules  helle 
ye  seye  right  sooth  this  Monk  /  he  clappeth  lowde 
He  spak1.  how  ifortune  /  couered  with  a  clowde  3972 

IT  I  noot  neuere  what/  and  also  of  a  Tragedie     [leaf  192,  back] 
Eight  now  ye  herde  /  and  pardee  no  remedie 
It  is  /  for  to  hiwaille  /  ne  compleyne 
That  pat  is  doon  /  and  als  it  is  a  peyne  3976 

As  ye  han  seyd  /  to  heere  of  heuynesse 
H  Sire  monk1,  namoore  of  this  /  so  god  yow  blesse 
Youre  tale  /  anoyeth  all  this  compaignye 
Swich  talkyng*  is  nat  worth  a  boterflye  3980 

ffor  ther-Inne  is  ther/  no  desport1  ne  game 
1T  Wherfore  sire  Monk*  daun  Piers  hy  youre  name 
I  pray  yow  hertely  /  telle  vs  somwhat  elles 
ffor  sikerly  nere  clynkyng1  of  youre  helles  3984 

ELLESMERE   604   (6-T.  28 1) 


282    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  13.  MONK-NUN'S-PKIEST'S  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

That  on  youre  bridel  hange  /  on  euery  syde 

By  heuene  kyng1.  that  for  vs  alle  dyde 

I  sholde  er  this  /  han  fallen  doun  for  sleepe 

Al-thogh  the  slough  /.  had  neuer  been  so  deepe  3988 

Thanne  hadde  your  tale  /  al  be  toold?  in  veyn 

ffor  certeinly  /  as  that  thise  clerkes  seyn 

Where  as  a  man  /  may  haue  noon  Audience 

Noght  helpeth  it1  to  tellen  his  sentence  3992 

And  wel  I  woof  the  substance  is  in  me 

If  any  thyng1  shal  wel  reported  be 

Sir*  /  sey  somwhat  of  huntyng  I  yow  preye 

1T  Nay  quod  this  Monk/  I  haue  no  lust1  to  pleye         3996 

Now  lat  another  telle  /  as  I  haue  toold? 

Thanne  spak  oure  hoostt  with  rude  speche  and  book! 

And  seyde  /  vn-to  the  Nonnes  preest  anon 

Com  neer  thou  preest1.  com  hyder  thou  sir  loBn          4000 

Telle  vs  swich  thyng1  as  may  oure  hertes  glade 

Be  blithe  /  though"  thou  ryde  vp-on  a  lade 

What  thogh  thyn  hors  /  be  bothe  foule  and  lene 

If  he  wol  seme  thee  /  rekke  nat  a  bene  4004 

Lodke  /  that  thyn  herte  /  be  murie  eueremo 

IT  Yis  sir*  quod  he  /  yis  hoosfr  so  moot  I  go 

But  I  be  myrie  /  ywis  I  wol  be  blamed 

And  right  anon  /  his  tale  he  hath  attained  4008 

And  thus  he  seyde  /  vn-to  vs  euerichon 

This  sweete  preest1.  this  goodly  man  sir  lohn 

If  Explicit 
[8  lines  blank  in  the  MS.] 


ELLESMERE    60o    (6-T.  282) 


283   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  14.   NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


[leaf  1881 

T  Heere  bigynneth  /  the  Nonnes  Preestes  tale  of 
the  Cok1  and  Hen  Chauntecleer  and  Pertelote 

poure  wydwe  /  somdel  stape  in  Age 
Was  whilom  dwellyng1.  in  a  narwe  cotage  4012 
Beside  a  greue  /  stondynge  in  a  dale 
This  wydwe  /  of  which  I  telle  yow  my  tale 
Syn  thilke  day  /  that  she  was  last  a  wyf/  %£??%!•&*' 

In  pacience  /  ladde  a  ful  symple  lyf/  4016 

ffor  litel  /  was  hir  catel  and  hir  rente 
By  houshondrie  /  of  swich  as  god  hire  sente 
She  foond  hir  self  /  and  eek  hire  doghtren  two 
Thre  large  sowes  /  hadde  she  and  nanio  4020 

Three  keen  /  and  eek  a  sheep  pat  highte  Malle 
flul  sooty  /  was  hir  bour/  and  eek  hire  halle 
In  which  she  eet1  ful  many  a  sklendre  Meel 
Of  poynaunt  sauce  /  hir  neded  neuer  a  deel  4024 

No  deyntee  morsel  /  passed  thurgh  hir  throte 
Kir  diete  /  was  accordant1  to  hir  Cote 
Repleccion  /  ne  made  hire  neuere  sik  / 
Attempree  diete  /  was  al  hir  phisik  /  4028 

And  exercise  /  and  hertes  suffisaunce 
The  goute  /  lette  hire  no-thyng1  for  to  dannce 
Napoplexie  /  shente  nat  hir  heed? 

No  wyn  ne  drank  /  she  /  neither  whit  ne  reed1  4032 

Hir  bord  was  seraed  moosf  wit/t  whit  and  blak1 
Milk*  and  broun  breed  /  in  which  she  foond  no  lak1 
Seynd  Bacon  /  and  somtyme  an  Ey  or  tweye 
ffor  she  was  /  as  it  were  /  a  maner  deye  4036 

IT  A  yeerd!  she  hadde  /  enclosed  al  aboute 
With  stikkes  /  and  a  drye  dych  wtt/f-oute 
In  which  /  she  hadde  a  Cok1  beet1  Chauntecleer 
In  al  the  land1  /  of  crowyng  nas  his  peer  4040 

ELLESMERE   506  (6-T.  283) 


284    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS 

His  voys  was  murier/  than  the  rnurie  Orgon 

On  Messedayes  /  that  in  the  chirche  gon. 

Wei  sikerer/  was  his  crowyng1  in  his  logge 

Than  is  a  Clokke  /  or  an  abbey  Orlogge  4044 

By  nature  /  he  crew  eche  Ascenciozm 

Of  the  equynoxial  in  thilke  toun  .  v  - 

ffor  whan  degrees  fiftene  weren  ascended 

Thanne  crew  he  /  that  it  myghte  nat  been  amended    4048 

His  Coomb  was  redder  /  than  the  fyn  coral 

And  batailled  /  as  it  were  a  Castel  wal 

His  byle  was  blak1  and  as  the  leet  it  shoon 

Lyk  Asure  /  were  hise  legges  and  his  toon  4052 

Hise  nayles  /  whiter  than  the  lylye  fiour 

And  lyk1  the  burned  gold  /  was  his  colour 

This  gentil  Cok1 .  hadde  in  his  gouernau?zce         [leaf  iss,  back] 

Seuene  hennes  /  for  to  doon  al  his  plesaunce  4056 

Whiche  were  /  hise  sustres  and  his  paramours 

And  wonder  lyk1  to  hym  /  as  of  colours 

Of  whiche  /  the  faireste  hewed  /  on  hir  throte 

Was  cleped  /  faire  damoysele  Pertelote  40GO 

Curteys  she  was  /  discreet  and  debonaire 

And  compaignable  /  and  bar  hyr  self  so  faire 

Syn  thilke  day  /  fat  she  was  seuen  nyght  oold? 

That  trewely  /  she  hath  the  herte  in  hoold?  4064 

Of  Chauntecleer  /  loken  in  euery  lith 

He  loued  hire  so  /  J>at  wel  was  hym  therwith 

But  swiche  a  ioye  was  it1  to  here  hem  synge 

Whan  fat  /  the  brighte  sonne  /  bigan  to  sprynge        4068 

In  sweete  accord1  /  My  lief1  is  faren  in  londe 

ffor  thilke  tyme  /  as  I  haue  vnderstonde 

Beestes  and  briddes  /  koude  speke  and  synge 

1T  And  so  bifel  /  that  in  the  dawenynge  4072 

As  Chauntecleer  /  among  hise  wyues  alle 

Sat  on  his  perche  /  that  was  in  the  halle 

And  next  hym  /  sat  this  faire  Pertelote 

This  Chauntecleer  /  gan  gronen  in  his  throte  4076 

37  ELLESMERE    507  (6-T.  284) 


285    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

As  man  fat  in  his  dreem  /  is  drecched  sooro 

IT  And  whan  that  Pertelote  /  thus  herde  hym  roore 

She  was  agasfr  and  seyde  o  herte  deere 

What  eyleth  yow  /  to  grone  in  this  manere  4080 

Ye  been  a  verray  sleper1  /  fy  for  shame 

1T  And  he  answerde  /  and  seyde  thus  ?  /  niadame 

I  pray  yow  /  that  ye  take  it  nat  agrief1 

By  god  me  thoughte  /  I  was  in  swich  meschief*  4084 

Eight  now  /fat  yet  myn  herte  is  soore  afrighf 

Now  god  quod  he  /  my  sweuene  recche  aright" 

And  kepe  my  body  /  out  of  foul  prisoun 

Me  mette  /  how  that1 1  romed  vp  and  doun  4-088 

Wit/i-Inne  our  yeerd!  /  wheer  as  I  saugh  a  beest1 

Was  lyk  an  hound  /  and  wolde  han  maad  areest1 

Vpon  my  body  /  and  han  had  me  deed1 

His  colour/  was  bitwixe  yelow  and  reed1  4092 

And  tipped  was  his  tayl  /  and  bothe  hise  eeris 

With  blak  /  vnlyk1  the  remenantt  of  hise  heeris 

His  snowte  smal  /  with  glowynge  eyen  tweye 

Yet<  of  his  look1,  for  feere  almoost  I  deye  4096 

This  caused  me  /  my  gronyng1  doutelees 

IT  Avoy  quod  she  /  fy  on  yow  hertelees 

Alias  quod  she  /  for  by  that  god  aboue 

Now  han  ye  lost1  myn  herte  and  al  my  loue  4100 

I  kan  nat  loue  a  Coward1  /  by  my  feith 

ffor  certes  /  what  so  any  woraman  seith 

We  alle  desiren  /  if  it  myghte  bee  [leaf  iS4j 

To  han  housbondes  /  hardy  wise  and  free  4104 

And  secree  /  and  no  Nygard?  /  ne  no  fool 

Ne  hym  /  fat  is  agast  of  euery  tool 

Ne  noon  auauntour  /  by  that  god  aboue 

How  dorste  ye  seyn  for  shame  /  vn-to  youre  loue         4108 

That  any  thyng1  myghte  make  yow  aferd? 

Haue  ye  no  mannes  herte  /  and  han  a  berd? 

1T  Alias  and  konne  ye  been  agast1  of  sweuenys 

No  thyng1  god  woot1  /  but  vanitee  in  sweuene  is          4112 

ELLESMERE   508   (6-T.  28o) 


286    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.    §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Sweuenes  /  engendren  of  repleccions 

And  ofte  of  fume  /  and  of  compleccions 

"VYhan  humours  /  been  to  habundanf  in  a  wigfrtf 

IT  Certes  this  dreem  /  which  ye  han  met  to-nygnf       4116 

Cometh  /  of  greet  superfluytee 

Of  youre  rede  Colera  pardee 

"Which  causeth  folk  /  to  dreden  in  hir  dremes 

Of  Arwes  /  and  of  fyre  with  rede  lenies  4120 

Of  grete  beestes  /  that  they  wol  hem  byte 

Of  contekes  and  of  whelpes  /  grete  and  lyte 

Right  as  the  humour/  of  Malencolie 

Causeth  ful  many  a  man  /  in  sleepe  to  crie  4124 

ffor  feere  of  blake  beres  /  or  boles  blake 

Or  elles  /  blake  deueles  wole  hem  take 

1T  Of  othere  humours  /  koude  I  telle  also 

That  werken  many  a  man  /  in  sleepe  ful  wo  4128 

But  I  wol  passe  /  as  ligfitly  as  I  kan 

LO  Caton  which  fat  was  so  wys  a  man 
Seyde  he  nat  thus  /  ne  do  no  fors  of  dremes 
IT  Now  sire  quod  she  /  whan  ye  flee  fro  the  bemes      4132 
ffor  goddes  loue  /  as  taak1  som  laxatyf1 
Vp  peril  of  my  soule  /  and  of  my  lyf1 
I  conseille  yow  the  beste  /  I.  wol  nat  lye 
That  bothe  of  Colere  /  and  of  Malencolye  4136 

Ye  purge  yow  /  and  for  ye  shal  nat  tarie 
Though  in  this  toim  /  is  noon  Apothecarie 
I  shal  my  self1,  to  herbes  techen  yow 
That  shul  been  /  for  youre  hele  /  and  for  youre  prow  4140 
And  in  oure  yeerd*  /  tho  herbes  shal  I  fynde 
The  whiche  han  /  of  hire  propretee  by  kynde 
To  purge  yow  /  bynethe  and  eek  aboue 
fforyet  nat  this  /  for  goddes  owene  loue  4144 

Ye  been  ful  coleryk1  of  compleccion 
Ware  the  sonne  /  in  his  ascencion 
Ne  fynde  yow  nat  repleetf  of  humows  hoote  . 
And  if  it  do  /  I  dar  wel  leye  a  grote  4148 

ELLESMERE   509    (6-T.  286) 


287    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

That  ye  shul  haue  /  a  ffeuere  terciane 

Or  an  Agu  /  that  may  be  youre  bane 

A  day  or  two  /  ye  shul  haue  digestyues  [leaf  i&4,  back] 

Of  wormes  /  er  ye  take  youre  laxatyues  4152 

Of  lawriol  /  Centaure  /  and  flumetere 

Or  elles  of  Ellebor  /  that  groweth  there 

Of  katapuce  /  or  of  Gaitrys  beryls 

Of  herbe  yue  growyng1  in  oure  yeerd!  ther  mery  is       4156 

Pekke  hem  vp  right1  as  they  growe  and  ete  hem  yn 

Be  myrie  housbonde  /  for  youre  fader  kyn 

Dredeth  no  dreem  /  I  kan  sey  yow  namoore 

Madame  quod  he  /  grauntt  mercy  of  youre  loore    4160 
But  nathelees  /  as  touchyng1  Daun  Catoun 
That  hath  of  wysdom  /  swich  a  greet  renoun 
Though"  that  he  bad  /  no  dremes  for  to  drede 
By  god  /  men  may  /  in  olde  bookes  rede  4164 

Of  many  a  man  /  moore  of  Auctorite 
Than  euere  Caton  was  /  so  moot  I  thee 
That  al  the  reuers  seyn  /  of  this  sentence 
And  han  wel  founden  by  experience  41 G8 

That  dremes  /  been  significacions 
As  wel  of  love  /  as  of  tribulacions 
That  folk  enduren  /  in  this  lif  present1 
Ther  nedeth  /  make  of  this  noon  Argument*  4172 

The  ven-ay  preeue  /  sheweth  it  in  dede 
IT  Oon  /  of  the  gretteste  Auctour  /  fat  men  rede  f  Nofcide  sompnio 
Seith  thus  /  fat  whilom  two  felawes  wente 
On  pilgrimage  /  in  a  ful  good  entente  4176' 

And  happed  so  /  they  coomen  in  a  toun 
Wher  as  ther  was  /  swich  congregacioun 
Of  peple  /  and  eek1  so  streitt  of  herbergage 
That  they  ne  founde  /  as  muche  as  o  cotage  4180 

In  which  they  bothe  /  myghte  logged  bee 
Wherfore  /  they  mosten  of  necessitee 
As  for  that1  nyght1  departen  compaignye 
And  ech  of  hem  /  gooth  to  his  hostelry e  4184 

ELLESMEEE   510   (6-T.  287) 


288    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

And  took1  his  loggyng1  as  it  wolde  falle 

That  oon  of  hem  /  was  logged  in  a  stalls 

ffer  in  a  yeerc?  /  with  Oxen  of  the  plough" 

That  oother  man  /  was  logged  wel  ynough"  4188 

As  was  his  Auenture  /  or  his  ffortune 

That  vs  gouerneth  alle  /  as  in  cowmune 

1T  And  so  hifel  /  J)at  longe  er  it  were  day 

.1.  dremed 

This  man  mette  in  his  bed  ther  as  he  lay  4192 

How  fat  his  felawe  /  gan  vp-on  hym  calle 

And  seyde  Alias  /  for  in  an  Oxes  stalle 

This  nyght  I  shal  be  mordred  /  ther  I  lyo 

Now  helpe  me  deere  brother  /  or  I  dye  4196 

In  alle  haste  /  com  to  me  he  sayde 

1F  This  man  out  of  his  sleepe  /  for  feere  abrayde 

But  whan  that  he  was  wakened  /  of  his  sleepe  pcaf  iss] 

He  turned  hym  /  and  took  of  it  no  keepe  4200 

Hym  thoughte  /  his  dreem  nas  but*  a  vanitee 

Thus  twies  /  in  his  slepyng1  dremed  hee 

And  atte  thridde  tyrne  /  yet  his  felawe 

Cam  as  hym  thougSte  /  and  seide  .1  am  now  slawe     4204 

Bihoold  my  bloody  woundes  depe  and  wyde 

Arys  vp  erly  /  in  the  morwe  tyde 

And  at  the  "West  gate  /  of  the  toun  quod  he 

A  Carte  /  ful  of  donge  /  ther  shaltow  se  4208 

In  Which  /  my  body  is  hid  /  ful  prmely 

Do  thilke  Carte  /  arresten  boldely 

My  gold  caused  my  mordre  /  sooth  to  sayn 

And  toXde  hym  euery  point1  how  he  was  slayn  4212 

With  a  ful  pitous  face  /  pale  of  hewe 

And  truste  wel  /  his  dreem  he  foond  ful  trewe 

ffor  on  the  morwe  /  as  soone  as  it  was  day 

To  his  felawes  In  /  he  took  the  way  4216 

And  whan  fat  he  cam  /  to  this  Oxes  stalle 

After  his  felawe  /  he  bigan  to  calle 

H  The  hostiler  /  answerde  hym  anon 

And  seyde  sire  /  your1  felawe  is  agon  4220 

ELLESMERE    611  (6-T.  288) 


289    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  14.   NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

As  soone  as  day  /  he  wente  out  of  the  toun 

IT  This  man  /  gan  fallen  in  suspecioun 

Remembrynge  /  on  hise  dremes  /  fat  he  mette 

And  forth  he  gooth  /  no  lenger  wolde  he  lette  4224 

Vn-to  the  westgate  of  the  toun  /  and  fond? 

A  dong  Carte  /  as  it  were  to  donge  loncfc 

That  was  arrayed  /  in  that  same  wise 

As  ye  han  herd?  /  the  dede  man  deuyse  4228 

And  with  an  hardy  herte  /  he  gan  to  crye 

Vengeance  and  Justice  /  of  this  felonye 

My  felawe  /  mordred  is  /  this  same  nyghf 

And  in  this  Carte  /  heere  he  lith  gapyng  vprignt1        4232 

I  crye  out1  on  the  Ministres  quod  he 

That  sholden  kepe  /  and  reulen  this  Citee 

Harrow  alias  /  heere  lith  my  felawe  slayn 

"What  sholde  I  moore  /  vn-to  this  tale  sayn  4236 

The  peple  out  sterte  /  and  caste  the  Carf  to  grounde 

And  in  the  myddel  of  the  dong1  they  founde 

The  dede  man  /  that  mordred  was  al  newe 

Oblisful  god  /  that  art  so  lust1  and  trewe  H  Auctor 

Lo  /  ho  we  fat  thou  biwreyesf  mordre  alway      4241 
Mordre  wol  out  /  that  se  we  day  by  day 
Mordre  /  is  so  wlatsom  /  and  abhomynable 
To  god  /  that  is  so  lust1  and  resonable  4244 

That  he  /  ne  wol  nat/  suffre  it  heled  be 
Though"  it  abyde  /  a  yeer  /  or  two  /  or  thre 
Mordre  wol  outt  this  my  conclusiown  [leaf  i8o,  back] 

And  right  anon  /  Ministres  of  that  toun  4248 

Han  hent  the  Carter1  /  and  so  soore  hym  pyned 
And  eek  the  hostiler  /  so  soore  engyned 
That  they  biknewe  /  hire  wikkednesse  anon 
And  were  an-hanged  /  by  the  nekke  bon  4252 

1T  Heere  may  men  seen  /  fat  dremes  been  to  drede 
And  certes  /  in  the  same  book  /  I  rede 
Right1  in  the  nexte  Chapitre  after  this 
I  gabbe  naf.  so  haue  I  ioye  or  blis  4256 

ELLESMERE   512   (6-T.  289) 


290    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


T 


wo  men  /  that  wolde  ban  passed  ouer  see       ^  Atthuc  de 

sompnio 

ffor  ce;-teyn  cause  /  in  to  a  fer  contree 
If  that  the  wynd  /  ne  hadde  been  contrarie 
That  made  hem  /  in  a  Citee  for  to  tarie  4260 

That  stood  ful  myrie  /  vpon  an  hauen  syde 
But  on  a  day  /  agayn  the  euen  tyde 
The  wynd  gan  chaunge  /  and  blew  right1  as  hem  leste 
lolif  and  glad  /  they  wente  vn-to  hir  reste  4264 

And  casten  hem  /  ful  erly  for  to  saille 
IT  But  herkneth  /  to  that  o  man  /  fil  a  greet  meruaille 
That  oon  of  hem  /  in  slepyng1  as  he  lay 
Hym  mette  a  wonder  dreem  /  agayn  the  day  4268 

Him  thoughte  /  a  man  stood  by  his  beddes  syde 
And  hym  cornanded  /  fat  he  sholde  abyde 
And  seyde  hym  thus  /  if  thou  tomorwe  wende 
Thow  shalt  be  dreynf  my  tale  is  at  an  ende  4272 

1T  He  wook  /  and  tolde  his  felawe  what  he  mette 
And  preyde  hym  /  his  viage  to  lette 
As  for  that  day  /  he  preyde  hym  to  byde 
IT  His  felawe  /  that  lay  /  by  his  beddes  syde  4276 

Gan  for  to  laughe  /  and  scorned  him  ful  faste 
No  dreem  quod  he  /  may  so  myn  herte  agaste 
That  I  wol  lette  /  for  to  do  my  thynges 
I  sette  nat  a  straw  /  by  thy  dremynges  4280 

ffor  sweuenes  /  been  but  vanytees  and  Tapes 
Men  dreme  al  day  /  of  Owles  /  or  of  Apes 
And  of  many  a  maze  /  ther-with-al 

Men  dreme  of  thyng1  fat  neuere  was  ne  shal  4284 

But  sith  I  see  /  that  thou  wolt1  heere  abyde 
And  thus  forslewthen  /  wilfully  thy  tyde 
God  woof  it  reweth  me  /  and  haue  good  day 
And  thus  /  he  took  his  leue  /  and  wente  his  way        4288 
But  er  pat  he  hadde  /  half  his  cours  yseyled 
Noot  I  nat  why  /  ne  what  myschaunce  it  eyled 
But  casuelly  /  the  shippes  botme  rente 
And  shipe  and  man  /  vnder  the  water  wente  4292 

ELLESMERE    513   (6-T.  290) 


291    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

In  sigfrte  of  othere  shippes  /  it  bisyde 

That  with  hem  seyled  /  at  the  same  tyde 

And  therfore  /  faire  Pertelote  so  deere  Deaf  186] 

By  swiche  ensamples  olde  /  yet  maistow  leere  4296 

That  no  man  /  sholde  been  to  recchelees 

Of  drernes  /  for  I  seye  thee  doutelees 

That  many  a  dreem  /  ful  soore  is  for  to  drede 

LO  /  in  the  lyf  of  seint  kenelm  /  I  rede  f  De  sompnio  s^e- 
ti  kenehui 
That  was  kenulphus  sone  /  the  noble  kyng1 

Of  Mertenrike  /  how  kenelm  mette  a  thyng* 

A  lite  er  he  was  mordred  /  on  a  day 

His  mordre  /  in  his  Auysion  he  say  4304 

His  Norice  /  hym  expowned  euery  deel 

His  sweuene  /  and  bad  hyni  for  to  kepe  hym  weel 

ffor  traison  /  but  he  nas  but  .vij.  yeer  oold! 

And  therfore  /  litel  tale  hath  he  toold?  4308 

Of  any  dreem  /  so  hooly  is  his  herte 

By  god  /  I  hadde  leuere  than  my  sherte 

That  ye  hadde  rad  his  legende  /  as  haue  I. 

Dame  Pertelote  /  I  sey  yow  trewely  4312 

Macrobeus  /  that  writ  the  Avision 

In  Affrike  /  of  the  worthy  Cipioii 

Affermeth  dremes  /  and  seith  fat  they  been 

Warnynge  of  thynges  /  fat  men  after  seen  4316 

^T  And  forther-moore  I  pray  yow  looketh  wel        ^  Adhuc  do 

sompnijs 

In  the  olde  testament1  of  Daniel 

If  he  /  heeld  dremes  any  vanitee 

^T  Eeed  eek*  of  loseph"  /  and  ther  shul  ye  see  4320 

Wher  dremes  be  somtyme  /  I  sey  nat  alle    . 

Warnynge  /  of  thynges  /  fat  shul  after  falle 

IT  Looke  of  Egipte  /  the  kyng1  daun  Pharao 

His  Baker*  /  and  his  Butiller  also  4324 

Wher  they  ne  felte  noon  effect1  in  dremes 

Who  so  wol  seken  actes  /  of  sondry  Kernes 

May  rede  of  dremes  /  many  a  wonder  thyng1 

flT  Lo  Cresus  /  which  fat  was  of  Lyde  kyng1  4328 

ELLESMERE   514    (6-T.  29l) 


292    SIX-TEXT 

QKOUP  B.   §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

Mette  he  nat1  that  he  sat  vp-on  a  tree 

"Which  signified  /  he  sholde  anhanged  bee 

IT  Lo  heere  Adromacha  /  Ectores  wyf1 

That  day  /  that  Ector  /  sholde  lese  his  lyf1  4332 

She  dremed  /  on  the  same  nyght  biforn 

How  \>(ti  the  lyf  of  Ector  /  sholde  be  lorne 

If  thilke  day  /  he  wente  in-to  bataille 

She  warned  hym  /  but1  it  myghte  nat  auaille  4336 

He  wente  /  for  to  fighte  natheles 

But  he  was  slayn  anon  of  Achilles 

But  thilke  tale  is  al  to  longe  for  to  telle 

And  eek1  it  is  ny  day  /  I  may  nat  dwelle  4340 

Shortly  I  seye  /  as  for  conclusion 

That  I  shal  ban  /  of  this  A  vision 

Aduersitee  /.  and  I  seye  forthermoor  oeafise,  back] 

That  I  ne  telle  /  of  laxatyues  no  stoor  4344 

ffor  they  been  venymes  /  I  woot  it  weel 

I  hem  diffye  /  I  loue  hem  neuer  a  deel 

IF  Now  let  vs  speke  of  myrthe  /  and  stynte  al  this 

Madame  Pertelote  /  so  haue  I  blis  4348 

Of  o  thyng1  god  hath  sent  me  large  grace 

ffor  whan  I  se  /  the  beautee  of  youre  face 

Ye  been  so  scarlet1  reed  /  aboute  youre  eyen 

It  maketh  /  al  my  drede  for  to  dyen  4352 

ffor  al  so  siker  /  as  In  principle 

Mulier  est1  hominis  confusio 

IF  Madame  /  the  sentence  /  of  this  latyn  is 

Womman  is  niannes  loye  /  and  al  his  blis  4356 

ffor  whan  I  feele  a  nygnt1  your1  softe  syde 

Al  be  iV  that  I  may  nat1  on  yow  ryde 

ffor  fat  oure  pe?-che  /  is  maad  so  narwe  alias 

I  am  so  ful  of  ioye  /  and  of  solas  4360 

That  I  diffye  /  bothe  sweuene  and  dreem 

And  with  that  word  /  he  fly  doun  fro  the  beem 

ffor  it  was  day  /  and  eke  hise  hennes  alle 

And  with  a  chuk  /  he  gan  hem  for  to  calle  43 G 4 

ELLESMERE   515    (6-T.  292) 


293   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  he  hadde  founde  a  corn  /  lay  in  the  yercB 

Real  he  was  /  he  was  namoore  aferc? 

And  fethered  Pertelote  /  twenty  tyme 

And  trad  as  ofte  /  er  it  was  pryme  4368 

He  looketh  /  as  it  were  /  a  grym  leoun 

And  on  hise  toos  /  he  rometh  vp  and  doun 

Hym  deigned  nat1  to  sette  his  foot  to  grounde 

He  chukketh  /  whan  he  hath  a  corn  yfounde  4372 

And  to  hym  rennen  thanne  /  hise  wyues  alle 

Thus  roial  /  as  a  prince  is  in  an  halle 

Leue  I  this  Chauntecleer  /  in  his  pasture 

And  after  /  wol  I  telle  /  his  auenture  4376 

Whan  J>at  the  Monthe  /  in  which  the  world  bigan 
That  highte  March  /  whan  god  first  maked  man 
Was  compleet1  and  passed  were  also 

Syn  March"  bigan  /  thritty  dayes  and  two  4380 

Bifel  /  that  Chauntecleer  /  in  al  his  pryde 
Hise  seuene  wyues  /  walkynge  by  his  syde 
Caste  vp  hise  eyen  /  to  the  brighte  sonne 
That  in  the  signe  of  Taurus  /  hadde  yronne  4384 

Twenty  degrees  and  oon  /  and  som-what  moore 
And  knew  by  kynde  /  and  by  noon  oother  loore 
That  it  was  Pryme  /  and  crew  wi't/i  blisful  steuene 
The  sonne  he  seyde  /  is  clomben  vp  on  heuene   .         4388 
ifourty  degrees  and  oon  /  and  moore  ywis 
Madame  Pertelote  /  my  worldes  blis 

Herkneth  thise  blisful  briddes  /  how  they  synge        [leaf  m] 
And  se  /  the  fresshe  floures  /  how  they  sprynge  4392 

fiul  is  myn  herte  /  of  reuel  and  solas 
But  sodeynly  /  hym  fil  a  sorweful  cas 
ifor  euere  /  the  latter  ende  of  ioye  is  wo 
God  woof  fat  worldly  ioye  /  is  soone  ago  4396 

And  if  a  Rethor  /  koude  faire  endite 
He  in  a  Cronycle  saufly  myghte  it  write 
As  for  a  souereyn  notabilitee  ^T  Petms  Coruestor 

Now  euery  wys  man  /  lat  him  herkne  me  4400 

ELLESMERE    616  (6-T.  293) 


294    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

This  storie  /  is  al  so  trewe  I  vndertake 

As  is  the  "book  /  of  launcelof  die  lake 

That  wommen  holde  /  in  ful  greet  reuerence 

Now  wol  I  /  come  /  agayn  to  my  sentence  4404 

AColfox  /  ful  of  sly  Iniquitee 
That  in  the  groue  /  hadde  wonned  yeres  three 
By  heigh"  ymaginaciofi  /  forn-cast1 

The  same  nyght  /  thurgh"-out  the  hegges  brastt  4408 

In-to  the  yerd  /  ther  Chauntecleer  the  faire 
Was  wont1  and  eek  hise  wyues  to  repaire 
And  in  a  bed  of  wortes  /  stille  he  lay 
Til  it  was  passed  /  vndren  of  the  day  4412 

Waitynge  his  tyme  /  on  Chauntecleer  to  falle 
As  gladly  /  doon  thise  homycides  alle 
That  in  await  liggen  /  to  mordre  men 
0  false  mordrour  /  lurkynge  in  thy  den  4416 

0  newe  Scariofr  newe  Genylon) 
ffalse  dissynulour  /  o  greek1  synon) 
That  broghtest  Troye  /  al  outrely  to  sorwe 

0  Chauntecleer  /  acursed  be  that  morwe  4420 
That  thou  in-to  that  yerd?  /  flaugh  fro  the  bemes 

Thou  were  /  ful  wel  ywarned  by  thy  dremes 

That  thilke  day  /  was  perilous  to  thee 

But  what  fat  god  forwootf  moot  nedes  bee  4424 

After  the  opinion  /  of  certein  clerkis 

Witnesse  on  hym  /  that  any  parfit  clerk1  is 

That  in  scole  /  is  greet  altercation 

In  this  mateere  /  and  greet  disputisofi  4428 

And  hath  been  /  of  a-n  hundred  thousand  men 

But  I  ne  kan  nat1  bidte  it  to  the  bren 

As  kan  the  hooly  doctour  Augustyn 

Or  Boece  /  or  the  Bissfcope  Bradwardyn  4432 

Wheither  /  that  goddes  /  worthy  forwityng1 

Streyneth  me  /  nedefully  to  doon  a  thyng1 

.Nedely  /  clepe  I  /  syrnple  necessitee 

01  elles  /  if  free  choys  be  graunted  me  4436 

ELLESMERE    517    (6-T.  294) 


295   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

To  do  that  same  thyng1.  or  do  it  noghtf 

Though"  god  forwoof  it1  er  fat  it  was  wroghf 

Or  if  his  wityng1.  streyneth  neue?-  a  deel  pear  is:,  back] 

But  by  necessitee  condicioneel  4440 

I  wil  nat  han  to  do  /  of  swich  mateere 

My  tale  is  of  a  Cot .  as  ye  may  heere 

That  took  his  conseil  /  of  his  wyf  \vith  sorvve 

To  walken  in  the  yerdf  /  vpon  that  morwe  4444 

That  he  hadde  met  that  dreem  /  fat  I  of  tolde 

Wowiinennes  conseils  y  been  ful  ofte  colde 

Wommannes  conseil  /  broghte  vs  first  to  wo 

And  made  Adam  /  out  of  Paradys  to  go  4448 

Ther  as  he  was  ful  myrie  /  and  wel  at  ese 

But  for  I  noof  to  whom  it  mygfit  displese 

If  I  /  conseil  of  wowmen  wolde  blame 

Passe  ouer  /  for  I  seye  it  in  my  game  4452 

Kede  Auctours  /  where  they  trete  /  of  swich  mateere 

And  what  they  seyn  of  wowimen  /  ye  may  heere 

Thise  been  the  Cokkes  wordes  /  and  nat  myne 

I  kan  noon  harm  /  of  no  womman  diuyne  4456 

Faire  in  the  soond!  /  to  bathe  hire  myrily 
Lith  Pertelote  /  and  alle  hire  sustres  by 
Agayn  the  sonne  /  and  Chauntecleer  so  free 
Soong1  murier  /  than  the  Mermayde  in  the  see  44 GO 

ifor  Phisiologus  /  seith  sikerly 
How  fat  they  syngen  /  wel  and  myrily 
IF  And  so  bifel  /  that  as  he  cast  his  eye 
Among1  the  wortes  /  on  a  Boterflye  4464 

He  was  war  of  this  fox  /  fat  lay  ful  lowe 
No-thyng1  ne  liste  hym  thanne  for  to  crowe 
But  cride  anon  cok  /  cok  /  and  vp  he  sterte 
As  man  /  that  was  affray ed  in  his  herte  4468 

ifor  natureelly  /  a  beest1  desireth  flee 
ffro  his  contrarie  /.  if  he  may  it  see 
Though"  he  neuer  erst1,  hadde  seyn  it  vriik-  his  eye 
IF  This  Chauntecleer  /  whan  he  gan  hym  espye  4472 

ELLESMERE    518  (6-T.  295) 


296    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

He  wolde  han  fled  /  but  that  the  fox  anon 

Seyde  gentil  sire  /  alias  wher  wol  ye  gon 

Be  ye  affrayed  of  me  /  that  am  youre  freend? 

~Now  certes  /  I  were  worse  than  a  feend?  4476 

If  I  to  yow  /  wolde  harm  /  or  vileynye 

I  am  nat  come  /  your  conseil  for  tespye 

But  trewely  /  the  cause  of  my  comynge 

Was  oonly  /  for  to  herkne  how  that  ye  synge  4480 

ffor  trewely  /  ye  haue  as  myrie  a  steuene 

As  any  Aungel  /  that  is  in  heuene 

Ther-with  ye  han  in  Musyk1  moore  feelynge 

Than  hadde  Boece  /  or  any  fat  kan  synge  4484 

My  lord  youre  fader  /  god  his  soule  blesse 

And  eek  youre  mooder/  of  hire  gentillesse 

Han  in  myn  hous  ybeen  /  to  my  greet  ese  peaf  iss] 

And  certes  sire  /  ful  fayn  wolde  I  yow  plese  4488 

IT  But  for  men  speke  of  syngyng1 1  wol  yow  seye 

So  moote  I  brouke  wel  /  myne  eyen  tweye 

Saue  yow  /  herde  I  neuere  man  yet  synge 

As  dide  youre  fader  /  in  the  morwenynge  4492 

Certes  /  it  was  of  herte  /  al  that  he  song1 

And  for  to  make  /  his  voys  /  the  moore  strong1 

He  wolde  so  peyne  hym  /  that  wz't/i  bothe  hise  eyeii 

He  moste  wynke  /  so  loude  he  wolde  cry  en  4496 

And  stonden  on  his  tiptoon  /  ther-with-al 

And  strecche  forth  his  nekke  /  long1  and  smal 

And  eek  he  was  /  of  swich  discrecion 

That  ther  nas  /  no  man  in  no  Region  4500 

That  hym  /  in  song1  or  wisedom  myghte  passe 

I  haue  wel  rad  /  in  daun  Burnel  the  Asse 

Among1  hise  vers  /  how  that  ther  was  a  Cok1 

ffor  that  a  preestes  sone  /  yaf  hym  a  knok1  4504 

Vp-on  his  leg1  whil  he  was  yong  and  nyce 

He  made  hym  /  for  to  lese  his  benefice 

But  certeyn  /  ther  nys  no  comparison 

Bitwixe  /  the  wisedom  /  and  discrecion  4508 

ELLESMERE    619  (6-T. 


297    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.  §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Of  youre  fader  /  and  of  his  subtiltee 

Now  syngeth  sire  /  for  seinte  charitee 

Lat  se  /  konne  ye  youre  fader  countrefete 

1T  This  Chauntecleer  /  hise  wynges  gan  to  bete  4512 

As  man  /  fat  koude  his  traysofi  nat  espie 

So  was  he  rauysshed  with  his  flaterie 

Alias  ye  lordes  /  many  a  fals  flatour 
Is  in  youre  Cowrtes  /  and  many  a  losengeour     4516 
That  plesen  yow  /  wel  moore  by  my  feith 
Than  he  /  that  soothfastnesse  /  vn-to  yow  seith 
Redeth  Ecclesiaste  /  of  fflaterye 

Beth  war  ye  lordes  /  of  hir  trecherye  4520 

IT  This  Chauntecleer  /  stood  hye  vp  on  his  toos 
Strecchynge  his  nekke  /  and  heeld  hise  eyen  cloos 
And  gan  to  crowe  /  loude  for  the  nones 
And  daun  Russell  the  fox  /  stirte  vp  atones  4524 

And  by  the  gargafr  hente  Chauntecleer 
And  on  his  bak  /  toward  the  wode  hym  beer 
ffor  yet1  ne  was  ther  no  man  /  fat  hym  sewed 
IT  0  destinee  /  that  mayst  nat  been  eschewed  4528 

Alias  /  fat  Chauntecleer  /  Heigh"  fro  the  bemes 
Alias  /  his  wyf  /  ne  roghte  nat  of  dremes 
And  on  a  friday  /  fil  al  this  meschaunce 
1T  0  Venus  /  that  art  goddesse  of  plesaunce  4532 

Syn  that1  thy  seruantf.  was  this  Chauntecleer      [leaf  ies,  back] 
And  in  thy  seruyce  /  dide  al  his  poweer 
Moore  for  delif  than  world  to  multiplye 
Why  woltestow  suffre  hym  /  on  thy  day  to  dye  4536 

IT  0  Gaufred?  deere  Maister  souerayn 
That1  whan  thy  worthy  kyng<  Richard?  was  slayn 
With  shot1,  compleynedest1  his  deeth  so  soere 
Why  ne  hadde  I  now  /  thy  sentence  /  and  thy  loore  4540 
The  friday  for  to  chide  /  as  diden  ye 
ffor  on  a  friday  /  soothly  slayn  was  he 
Thanne  wolde  I  shewe  yow  /  how  fat  I  koude  pleyne 
ffor  Chauntecleres  drede  /  and  for  his  peyne  4544 

ELLESMERE  520   (6-T.  297) 


298    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

H  Certes  /  swich  cry  /  ne  lamentacion) 

Was  neuere  /  of  ladyes  maad  /  whan  Ylion) 

Was  worcne  /  and  Pirrus  with  his  streite  swerd? 

Whan  he  hadde  hentt  kyng  Priam  /  hy  the  herd? 

And  slayn  hym  /  as  seith  vs  Eneydos 

As  maden  /  alle  the  hennes  in  the  clos 

Whan  they  had  seyn  /  of  Chauntecleer  the  sigftte 

But  sodeynly  /  dame  Pertelote  shrighto  4552 

fful  louder/  than  dide  Hasdrubales  wyf 

Whan  pat  hir  housbonde  /  hadde  lost  his  lyf1 

And  fat  the  Eomayns  /  hadde  brend  Cartage 

She  was  /  so  ful  of  torment1  and  of  rage  4556 

That  wilfully  /  in-to  the  fyr  she  sterte 

And  brende  hir  seluen  /  with  a  stedefast  herte 

1T  0  woful  hennes  /  right  so  criden  ye 

As  whan  that  Nero  /  brende  the  Citee  4560 

Of  Rome  /  cryden  senatours  wyues 

ffor  J>at  hir  husbondes  losten  alle  hir  lyues 

With-outen  gilf  this  Nero  hath  hem  slayn 

Now  turne  I  wole  /.  to  my  tale  agayn  4564 

This  sely  wydwe  /  and  eek1  hir  doghtres  two 
Herden  thise  hennes  crie  /  and  maken  wo 
And  out  at  dores  /  stirten  they  anon 
And  syen  the  fox  /  toward  the  groue  gon  4568 

And  bar  vp-on  his  bak  /  the  Cok1  away 
And  cryden  out1  harrow  /  and  weylaway 
Ha ,  ha  /  the  fox  /  and  after  hym  they  ran 
And  eek1  with  staues  /  many  another  man  4572 

Kan  Colle  oure  dogge  /  and  Talbof  and  Gerland? 
And  Malkyn  /  with  a  dystaf  /  in  hir  hand* 
Ean  Cow  and  Calf  and  the  verray  hogges 
So  fered  /  for  berkyng1  of  the  dogges  4576 

And  shoutyng1  of  the  men  and  wommen  eek1  • 
They  ronne  so  /  hem  thougfrte  hir  herte  breek1 
They  yolleden  /  as  feendes  doon  in  helle 
The  dokes  cryden  /  as  men  wolde  hem  quelle  4580 

ELLESMERE    521   (6-T.  298) 


299    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

The  gees  for  feere  /  flowen  oner  the  trees  Deaf  iso] 

Out  of  the  hyve  /  cam  the  swarm  of  bees 

So  hydous  was  the  noyse  /  a  benedicitee 

Certes  /  he  lakke  Straw  /  and  his  meynee  4584 

Ne  made  neuere  /  shoutes  /  half  so  shille 

"Whan  fat  they  wolden  /  any  flemyng  kille 

As  thilke  day  /  was  maad  vp-on  the  fox 

Of  bras  /  they  broghten  bemes  and  of  box  4588 

Of  horn  /  of  boon  /-in  whiche  they  blewe  and  powped 

And  ther-with-al  /  they  skriked  /  and  they  howped 

It  semed  /  as  that  heuene  sholde  falle 

Now  goode  men  /  I  pray  yow  herkneth  alle  4592 

Lo  /  how  ffortune  /  turneth  sodeynly 
The  hope  /  and  pryde  /  of  hir  enemy 
This  Cok  /  that  lay  vpon  the  foxes  bak* 
In  al  his  drede  /  vn-to  the  fox  he  spak*  4596 

And  seyde  sire  /  if  that  I  were  as  ye 
Yet  wolde  I  seyn  /  as  wys  god  helpe  me 
Turneth  agayn  /  ye  proude  cherles  alle 
A  verray  pestilence  /  vp-on  yow  falle  4600 

Now  am  I  come  /  vn-to  the  wodes  syde 
Maugree  youre  heed  /  the  Cox  shal  heere  abyde 
I  wol  hym  ete  in  feith  /  and  that  anon 
IT  The  fox  answerde  /  in  feith  it  shal  be  don  4G04 

And  as  he  spak  that  word  /  al  sodeynly 
This  Cok  /  brak  from  his  mouth  delyuerly 
And  heigSe  vp-on  a  tree  /  he  fleigh"  anon 
And  whan  the  fox  saugfr  /  jjat  he  was  gon  4608 

1F  Alias  quod  he  /  o  Chauntecleer  /  alias 
I  haue  to  yow  quod  he  ydoon  trespas 
In  as  muche  /  as  I  maked  yow  aferd? 
Whan  I  yow  hente  /  and  broght  in  to  this  yerd?          4612 
But  sire  I  dide  it1 .  of  no  wikke  entente 
Com  doun  /  and  I  shal  telle  yow  what  I  mente 
I  shal  seye  sooth  to  yow  /  god  help  me  so 
U  Nay  thanne  quod  he  /  I  shrewe  vs  bothe  two  4616 

ELLESMERE  522    (6-T.  299J 


300   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  B.   §  14.  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  first1 1  shrewe  my  self  /  bothe  blood  and  bones 

If  thou  bigyle  me  /  any  ofter  than  ones 

Thou  shalt  na  moore  /  thurgh"  thy  flaterye 

Do  me  to  synge  /  and  wynke  with  myn  eye  4620 

ffor  he  that  wynketh  /  whan  he  sholde  see 

Al  wilfully  /  god  lat  him  neuere  thee 

1T  Nay  quod  the  fox  /  but  god  yeue  hym  meschaunce 

That  is  so  /  vndiscreett  of  gouernaunce  4624 

That  langleth  /  whan  he  sholde  holde  his  pees 

IT  Lo  swich  it  is  /  for  to  be  recchelees 

And  necligenf  and  truste  on  flaterye 

1[  But  ye  /  that  holden  /  this  tale  a  folye  4628 

As  of  a  fox  /  or  of  a  Cok  and  Hen  Deaf  189,  back] 

Taketh  the  moralite  /  goode  men 

ffor  seint  Paul  seith  /  fat  al  that  writen  is 

To  oure  doctrine  /  it  is  ywrite  ywis  4632 

Taketh  the  fruyfr  and  lat  the  chaf  be  stille 

Now  goode  god  /  if  that  it  be  thy  wille 

As  seith  my  lord!  /  so  make  vs  alle  goode  men  ^  scilicet  domi- 

IIMS  Arcmepts- 

And  brynge  vs  /  to  his  heighe  blisse  Amen 

^  Heere  is  ended  /  the  Nonnes  preestes  tale 


38  ELLKSMERE    523   (6-T.  SOO) 


GBOUP  G.    FKAGMENT  VIII. 

§  1.    THE  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE. 
ELLESMERE  MS. 


[THE  PROEM.] 
U  The  prologe  of  the  Seconde  Nonnes  tale  ^)  £«•  v  is>,  «*] 

Td)  : "-., 

He  Mimstre  and  tlie  Norice  /  vn-to  vices  1 

Which,  that  men  clepe  in  Englissfi  ydelnesse 
That  Porter  of  the  gate  is  /  of  delices 
To  eschue  /  and  hy  hire  contrarie  /  hire  oppresse  4 

That  is  to  seyn  /  by  leueful  bisynesse 
Wei  oghten  we  /  to  doon  al  oure  entente 
Lest  that  the  feend?  /  thurgh  ydelnesse  vs  shente  7 

(2) 

ffor  he  /  that*  with  hise  /  thousand  cordes  slye  8 

Continuelly  /  vs  waiteth  to  biclappe 
Whan  he  may  man  /  in  ydelnesse  espye 
He  kan  so  lightly  /  cacche  hym  in  his  trappe  1J. 

Til  J>at  a  man  /  be  hent1  right  by  the  lappe 
He  nys  nat  war  /  the  feend  hath  hym  in  honde 
Wei  oghte  vs  werche  /  and  ydehiesse  withstonde  14 

(3) 

And  though  men  dradden  /  neuere  for  to  dye  15 

Yet  seen  men  wel  /  by  reson  doutelees 
That  ydelnesse  /  is  roten  slogardye 

Of  which  ther  neuere  comth  /  no  good  nencrees  18 

And  seen  /  J>at  slouthe  /  it  holdeth  in  a  lees 
Oonly  to  slepe  /  and  for  to  ete  and  drynke 
And  to  deuouren  /  al  that  othere  swynke  21 

ELLESMERE   624   (6-T.  527) 


528   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS, 


And  for  to  putte  vs  /  fro  swich  ydelnesse  22 

That  cause  is  /  of  so  greet  confusion 

I  haue  heer  doon  /  my  feithful  bisynesse 

After  the  legende  /  in  translation  25 

Eight  of  thy  glorious  lif  and  passion 

Thou  -with  thy  gerland*/  wrogh"t  with  rose  and  lilie 

Thee  meene  I  /  mayde  and  mooder  Cecilie  28 

(5) 

ANd  thow  /  that  flour  of  virgines  art  alle  JfaImUOCacip^1,  -j^j 
Of  whom  that  Bernard?/  list  so  wel  to  write 
To*  thee  /  at  my  bigynnyng1  first  I  call 
Thou  confort  of  vs  wrecches  /  do  me  endite  32 

Thy  maydens  deeth  /  that  wan  thurgh"  hire  merite 
The  eteroeel  lyf  /  and  of  the  feend  victorie 
As  man  may  after  /  reden  in  hire  storie  35 

(6) 

Thow  mayde  and  mooder  /  doghter  of  thy  sone  36 

Thow  welle  of  mercy  /  synful  soules  cure 

In  whom  /  that  god  for  bourctee  /  chees  to  wone 

Thow  humble  and  heigh"  /  ouer  euery  creature  39 

Thow  nobledest1  so  ferforth  /  oure  nature 

That  no  desdeyn  /  the  makere  hadde  of  kynde 

His  sone  /  in  blood  and  flessh"  /  to  clothe  and  wynde      42 


With-Inne  the  Cloistre  blisful  of  thy  sydis  43 

Took  mannes  shape  /  the  eterneel  loue  and  pees 

That  of  the  tryne  conipas  /  lord  and  gyde  is 

"Whom  erthe  and  see  /  and  heuene  out  of  relees  46 

Ay  heryen  /  and  thou  virgine  wemmelees 

Baar  of  thy  body  /  and  dweltest  may  den  pure 

The  creatour  /  of  euery  creature  49 

ELLESMERE   525   (6-T.  528) 


529    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

(8) 

Assembled  is  in  thee  /  magnificence  50 

With  mercy  /  goodnesse  /  and  with  swich  pitee 
That1  thou  /  that  art  the  sonne  of  excellence 
Nat  oonly  /  helpest  hem  that  prey  en  thee  53 

But  often  tyme  /  of  thy  benygnytee 
fful  frely  /  er  that  men  /  thyn  help  biseche 
Thou  goost  biforn  /  and  art  hir  lyues  leche  56 


Now  help  thow  meeke  /  and  blisful  faire  mayde  57 

Me  flemed  wrecche  /  in  this  desert  of  galle 

Thynk*  on  the  wowman  Cananee  /  that  sayde 

That  whelpes  eten  /  sowme  of  the  cro?«mes  alle  60 

That*  from  hir  lordes  table  /  been  yfalle 

And  though  that  I  /  vnworthy  sone  of  Eue 

Be  synful  /  yet  accepte  my  bileue  63 

(10) 

for  that  feith  is  deed  /  with-outen  werkis  64 

So  for  to  werken  /  yif  me  wit  and  space 
That  I  be  quit1  fro  thennes  /  fat  moost  derk  is 
0  thou  /  that  art  so  fair  /  and  ful  of  grace  67 

Be  myn  Aduocat1  in  that  heigfie  place 
Theras  with-outen  ende  /  is  songe  Osanne 
Thow  Cristes  mooder  /  doghter  deere  of  Anne  70 


And  of  thy  light1  my  soule  in  prison  ligfc  te          Deaf  iso,  back] 

That  troubled  is  /  by  the  contagion 

Of  my  body  /  and  also  by  the  wigfite 

Of  erthely  lust1  and  fals  affeccion  74 

O  hauene  of  refut1  o  saluacion 

Of  hem  /  )>«t  been  in  sorwe  /  and  in  distresse 

Now  helpe  /  for  to  my  werk  I  wol  me  dresse  77 

ELLESMERE   526   (6-T.  529) 


530   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.   SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

(12) 

Yet  preye  I  yow  /  J>at  reden  that  I  write  78 

fforyeue  me  /  that  I  do  no  diligence 

This  ilke  storie  /  subtilly  to  endite 

ffor  bojje  haue  I  /  the  wordes  and  sentence  81 

Of  hym  /  that  at  the  seintes  reuerence 

The  storie  wroott  and  folwen  hire  legende 

I  pray  yow  /  that  ye  wole  my  werk1  amende  84 

(13)     [THE  TALE.] 

First  wolde  I  /  the  name  of  seinte  Cecile  JJifc^fieTqiuuw 
Expowne  /  as  men  may  in  hir  storie  see  f£nuen«^i^e»da 
It  is  to  seye  in  englissfi.  /  heuenes  lilie 
ffor  pure  chaastnesse  of  virginitee  88 

Or  /  for  she  whitnesse  hadde  of  honestee 
And  grene  of  Conscience  /  and  of  good  fame 
The  soote  favour  lilie  /  was  hir  name  91 

(14) 

Or  Cecilie  is  to  seye  /  the  wey  to  blynde  92 

ffor  she  ensample  was  /  by  good  techynge 

Or  elles  Cecile  /  as  I  writen  fynde 

Is  ioyned  /  by  a  manere  conioynynge  95 

Of  heuene  and  lia  /  and  heere  in  figurynge 

The  heuene  is  set1  for  thoght1  of  hoolynesse 

And  lia  /  for  hire  lastynge  bisynesse  98 

(15) 

Cecile  /  may  eek  be  seyd  /  in  this  manere  99 

"Wantynge  of  blyndnesse  /  for  hir  grete  light1 

Of  sapience  /  and  for  hire  thewes  oleere 

Or  elles  loo  /  this  maydens  name  bright1  102 

Of  heuene  and  leos  comth  /  for  which  by  right1 

Men  myghte  hire  wel  /  the  heuene  of  peple  calle 

Ensample  /  of  goode  /  and  wise  werkes  alle  105 

ELLESMERE   627   (6-T.  680) 


531    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  GK   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.  Ellesmcre  MS. 

(16) 

ffor  leos  /  peple  in  englissh  is  to  seye  106 

And  right*  as  men  may  /  in  the  heuene  see 
The  sonne  and  moone  /  and  sterres  euery  weye 
Eight  so  men  goostly  /  in  this  may  den  free  109 

Syen  of  feith  /  the  magnanymytee 
And  eek1  the  cleernesse  hool  /  of  sapience 
And  sondry  werkes  /  brighte  /  of  excellence  112 

(17) 

And  right/  so  /  as  thise  Philosophres  write  [leaf  191] 

That  heuene  is  swift1  and  round  /  and  eek  brennynge 
Hight  so  /  was  faire  Cecilie  the  white 
fful  swift1  and  bisy  /  euere  in  good  werkynge  116 

And  round  and  hool  /  in  good  perseue?yDge 
And  brennynge  euere  /  in  charite  fill  brighte 
Now  haue  I  yow  declared  what  she  highte  119 

Tf  Explicit/ 

H"  Here  bigynneth  the  Seconde  Nonnes  tale  /  of  the 
lyf*  of  Seinte  Cecile  fo 

T(18)..  I 

his  mayden  bright1  Cecilie  /  as  hir  lif  seith          •§ 
"Was  comen  of  Eomayns  /  and  of  noble  kynde  $ 
And  from  hir  Cradel  /  vp  fostred  in  the  feith    ~ 
Of  Crist'  and  bar  his  gospel- in  hir  mynde          .| 
She  neuere  cessed  /  as  I  writen  fynde 
Of  hir  preyere  /  and  god  to  loue  and  drede 
Bisekynge  hym  /  to  kepe  hir  maydenhede  126 

(19) 

And  whan  this  mayden  /  sholde  vn-to  a  man  127 

Ywedded  be  /  that  was  ful  yong  of  age 
Which  that  ycleped  was  Valerian 

And  day  was  comen  /  of  hir  marriage  130 

She  ful  devout1  and  humble  in  hire  corage 
Vnder  hir  robe  of  gold  /  that  sat  ful  faire 
Hadde  next  hire  flessh  /  yclad  hire  in  an  haire  133 

ELLESMERE    528    (6-T    63l) 


532  SIX-TEXT  ;_    ; 

GROUP  GK   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.  Ellefimere  MS. 

(20) 

And  whil  the  Orgues  /  maden  melodie  134 

To  god  allone  /  in  herte  thus  sang  she 
0  lord  /  my  soule  /  and  eek  my  body  gye 
Vnwenuned  /  lest  that  it  confounded  be  137 

And  for  his  loue  /  that  dyde  /  vp-on  a  tree 
Euery  seconde  /  and  thridde  day  she  faste 
Ay  biddynge  /  in  hire  orisons  ful  faste  140 

(21) 

The  nygh"t  cam  /  and  to  bedde  moste  she  gon  141 

With  hire  housbonde  /  as  ofte  is  the  manere 
And  pryuely  /  to  hym  she  seyde  anon 

0  sweete  /  and  wel  biloued  spouse  deere  144 
Ther  is  a  conseil  /  and  ye  wolde  it  heere 

"Which  that  right  fayn  /  I  wolde  vn-to  yow  seye 

So  that1  ye  swere  /  ye  shul  me  naf  biwreye  147 

(22) 

^1  Valerian  /  gan  faste  vn-to  hire  swere  [leaf  191,  back] 

That  for  no  cas  /  ne  thyng/  that  myghte  be 

He  sholde  neuere  mo  /  biwreyen  here 

And  thanne  at  ersf  to  hym  thus  seyde  she  151 

1  haue  an  Aungel  /  which  that  loueth  me 
That  with  greet  loue  /  wher  so  I  wake  or  sleepe 

Is  redy  ay  /  my  body  for  to  kepe  154 

(23) 

And  if  he  /  may  feelen  out  of  drede  155 

That  ye  me  touche  //  or  loue  in  vileynye 

He  right  anon  /  wol  sle  yow  with  the  dede 

And  in  youre  yowthe  /  thus  ye  sholden  dye  158 

And  if  that  ye  /  in  clene  loue  me  gye 

He  wol  yow  louen  as  me  /  for  youre  clennesse 

And  shewen  yow  /  his  ioye  and  his  brightnesse  161 

ELLESMERE    529   (6-T.  532) 


533   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

(24) 

IT  Valerian  /  corrected  /  as  god  wolde  162 

Answerde  agayn  /  if  I  shal  trusten  thee 

Lat  me  that  Aungel  se  /  and  hym  biholde 

And  if  that  if  a  verray  Angel  bee  165 

Thanne  wol  I  doon  /  as  thou  hast  prayed  me 

And  if  thou  lone  /  another  man  /  for  sothe 

Kigh~t  vrith  this  swerd!/  thanne  wol  I  sle  yow  bothe       168 

(25) 

Cecile  answerde  anon  /  right  in  this  wise  169 

If  that  yow  list1 .  the  AngeJ.  shul  ye  see 

So  fat  ye  trowe  in  Crist/  and  yow  baptize 

Gooth  forth  /  to  Yia  Apia  /  quod  shee  172 

That  fro  this  toun  /  ne  stant  but  Miles  three 

And  to  the  poure  folkes  /  fat  ther  dwelle 

Sey  hem  right  thus  /  as  that  I  shal  yow  telle  175 

(26) 

Telle  hem  /  that  I  Cecile  /  yow  to  hem  sente  176 

To  shewen  yow  /  the  goode  Vrban  the  olde 

ffor  secree  thynges  /  and  for  good  entente 

And  whan  that  ye  /  Seint  Vrban  han  biholde  179 

Telle  hym  the  wordes  /  whiche  J>at  I  to  yow  tolde 

And  whan  Jjat  he  /  hath  purged  yow  fro  synne 

Thanne  shul  ye  se  /  that  Angel  er  ye  twynne  182 

(27) 

IT  Valerian  /  is  to  the  place  ygon  183 

And  right1  as  hym  was  taught/  by  his  lernynge 
He  foond  this  hooly  /  olde  Vrban  anon 

.1.  latit&ntem 

Among  the  Seintes  buryeles  lotynge  186 

And  he  anon  /  with-outen  tariynge 

Dide  his  message  /  and  whan  J>at  he  it  tolde 

Vrban  for  ioye  /  his  handes  gan  vp  holde  189 

ELLESMEKE   530   (6-T.  533) 


534   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellcsmerc  MS. 

(28) 

The  teeris  /  from  his  eyen  leet  he  falle  Deaf  192] 

Almyghty  lord  /  o  Ihesu  Crist1  quod  he 

Sower1  of  chast  conseil  /  hierde  of  vs  alle 

The  fruyf  of  thilke  seed  of  Chastitee  193 

That  thou  hast  sowe  in  Cecile  /  taak  to  thee 

Lo  /  lyk  a  bisy  bee  /  with-outen  gile 

Thee  serueth  ay  /  thyn  owene  thral  Cecile  196 

(29) 

ffor  thilke  spouse  /  that  she  took  right .  now  197 

fful  lyk  a  fiers  leoun  /  she  sendeth  heere 

As  meke  /  as  euere  /  was  any  lamb  to  yow 

And  with  that  word  /  anon  ther  gan  appere  200 

An  oold  man  /  clad  in  white  clothes  cleere 

That  hadde  a  book1  with  lettre  of  gold  in  honde 

And  gan  /  bifore  Valerian  to  stonde.  203 

(30) 

Valerian  as  deed  /  fil  doun  for  drede  204 

"Whan  he  hym  saugh"  /  and  he  vp  hente  hym  tho 

And  on  his  book  /  right  thus  he  gan  to  rede 

0.  lord.  o.  feith.  o.  god  with-outen  mo  207 

0.  Cristendom  /  and  fader  of  alle  also 

Abouen  alle  /  ouer  alle  /  euerywhere 

Thise  wordes  /  al  with  gold  ywriten  were  210 

(31) 

Whan  this  was  rad  /  thanne  seyde  this  olde  man  211 

Leeuestow  this  thyng*  or  no  $  /  sey  ye  or  nay  9 

I  leeue  al  this  thyng  /  quod  Valerian 

ffor  oother  thyng1  than  this  /  I  dar  wel  say  214 

Vnder  the  heuene  /  no  wight1  thynke  may 

Tho  vanysshed  this  olde  man  /  he  nyste  where 

And  Pope  Vrban  /  hym  cristned  right  there  217 

ELLESMERE   531    (6-T.  534) 


535    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  GK   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

(32) 

1f  Valerian  gooth  hoom  /  and  fynt  Cecilie  218 

"With-Inne  his  chambre  /  with  an  Angel  stonde 

This  Angel  /  hadde  /  of  Eoses  and  l  of  lilie !  P  - » *«*«•] 

Corones  two  /  the  which  he  bar  in  honde  221 

And  first*  to  Cecile  /  as  I  vnderstonde 

He  yaf  that  oon  /  and  after  gan  he  take 

That  oother  /  to  Valerian  hir  make  224 

(33) 

With  body  clene  /  and  with  vnwemmed  thogftf  225 

Kepeth  ay  wel  /  thise  corones  three 

ffro  Paradys  to  yow  /  haue  I  hem  broghf 

Ne  neuere  mo  /  ne  shal  they  roten  bee  228 

Ne  lese  hir  soote  sauour  /  trusteth  me 

Ne  neuere  wightt  shal  seen  hem  vfith  his  eye 

But  he  be  chaastt  and  hate  vileynye  231 

(34) 

And  thow  Valerian  /  for  thow  so  soone  [leaf  192,  back] 

Assented  esfr  to  good  conseil  also 

Sey  what  thee  list1  and  thou  shalt  han  thy  boone 

I  haue  a  brother  /  quod  Valerian  tho  235 

That  in  this  world  /  I  loue  no  man  so 

I  pray  yow  /  that  my  brother  may  han  grace 

To  knowe  the  trouthe  /  as  I  do  in  this  place  238 

(35) 

1T  The  Angel  seyde  /  god  liketh  thy  requeste  239 

And  bothe  /  with  the  palm  of  martirdom 

Ye  shullen  come  /  vn-to  his  blisful  feste 

And  with  that  word?  /  Tiburce  his  brother  coom  242 

And  whan  that  he  /  the  sauour  vndernoom 

Which  that  the  Roses  /  and  the  lilies  caste 

With-Inne  his  herte  /  he  gan  to  wondre  faste  245 

ELLESMERE   532   (6-T.  635) 


536    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.   SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

(36) 

And  seyde  /  I  \vondre  /  this  tyme  of  the  yeer  246 

Whennes  /  that  soote  sauour  cometh  so 

Of  Eose  and  lilies  /  that  I  smelle  heer 

ffor  though"  I  hadde  hem  /  in  myne  handes  two  249 

The  sauour  /  myghte  in  me  no  depper  go 

The  sweete  smel  /  J»at  in  myn  herte  I  fynde 

Hath  chaunged  me  /  al  in  another  kynde  252 

(37) 

IT  Valerian  seyde  /  two  corones  /  han  we  253 

Snow  white  and  Eose  reed  /  that  shynen  cleere 

Whiche  J?at  thyne  eyen  /  han  no  myght  to  see 

And  as  thou  smellest  hem  /  thurgh  my  preyere  256 

So  shaltow  seen  hem  /  leeue  brother  deere 

If  it  so  be  /  thou  wolt1  wiih-onten  slouthe 

Bileue  aright1  and  knowen  verray  trouthe  259 

(38) 

IT  Tiburce  answerde  /  seistow  this  to  me  260 

In  soothnesse  /  or  in  dreem  I  herkne  this 

In  dremes  quod  valerian  /  han  we  be 

Vn-to  this  tyme  /  brother  myn  ywis  263 

But  now  at  erst1  in  trouthe  our  dwellyng  is 

How  woostow  this  quod  Tiburce  /  in  what  wyse  ? 

Quod  Valerian  /  that  shal  I  thee  deuyse  266 

(39) 

1T  The  Aungel  of  god  /  hath  me  trouthe  y taught1  267 

Which  thou  shalt  seen  /  if  that  thou  wolt  reneye 

The  ydoles  and  be  clene  /  and  elles  naught1 

And  of  the  myracle  /  of  thise  corones  tweye  270 

Seint  Ambrose  /  in  his  preface  list  to  seye 

Solempnely  /  this  noble  doctour  deere 

Co?wmendeth  hym  /  and  seith  in  this  manere  273 

ELLESMERE   533   (6-T.  536) 


537    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  G.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.  Ellcsmere  MS. 

(40) 

IT  The  palm  of  martirdom  /  for  to  receyue  Deaf  193] 

Seinte  Cecile  /  fulfild  of  goddes  yifte 

The  world  /  and  eek  hire  chambre  /  gan  she  weyue 

Witnesse  /  Tyburces  /  and  Cecilies  shrifte  277 

To  whiche  /  god  of  his  bouwtee  wolde  shifte 

Corones  two  /  of  floures  wel  smellynge 

And  made  his  Angel  /  hem  the  corones  brynge  280 

(41) 

The  may  do  hath  broght  men  /  to  blisse  aboue  281 

The  world  hath  wist1  /  what  it  is  worth  certeyn 

Deuocion  of  Chastitee  to  loue 

Tho  shewed  hym  Cecile  /  al  open  and  pleyn  284 

That  alle  ydoles  /  nys  but  a  thyng*  in  veyn 

ffor  they  been  dombe  /  and  therto  they  been  deue 

And  charged  hym  /  hise  ydoles  for  to  leue  287 

(42) 

Who  so  /  that  troweth  nat  this  /  a  beest  he  is  288 

Quod  tho  Tiburce  /  if  fat  I  shal  nat  lye 

And  she  gan  kisse  his  bresf .  that  herde  this 

And  was  ful  glad  /  he  koude  trouthe  espye  291 

This  day  /  I  take  thee  /  for  myn  Allye 

Seyde  this  blisful  /  faire  mayde  deere 

And  after  that1,  she  seyde  as  ye  may  heere  294 

(43) 

IF  Lo  /  right  so  /  as  the  loue  of  Crist1  quod  she  295 

Made  me  thy  brotheres  wyf/.  right  in  that  wise 

Anon  for  myn  Allyee  /  heer  take  I  thee 

Syn  that  thou  wolt1  thyne  ydoles  despise  298 

Go  with  thy  brother  now  /  and  thee  baptise 

And  make  thee  clene  /  so  j?at  thou  mowe  biholde 

The  Angeles  face  /  of  which  thy  brother  tolde  301 

ELLESMERE   534   (6-T.  537) 


538   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE,  Ellcsmere  MS. 

(44) 

1T  Tiburce  answerde  /  and  seyde  brother  dere  302 

ffirst  tel  me  /  winder  fat  I  shal  /  and  to  what  man  f 

To  whom  quod  he  y  com  forth  /  vfiih  right  good  cheere 

I  wol  thee  lede  /  vn-to  the  Pope  Vrban  305 

Til  Vrban  s  brother  myn  Valerian 

Quod  tho  Tiburce  /.  woltow  me  thider  lede 

Me  thynketh  /  that  it  were  a  wonder  dede  308 

(45) 

Ne  menestow  nat  Vrban  /  quod  he  tho  309 

That  is  so  ofte  /  dampned  to  be  deed! 

And  woneth  in  halkes  /  alwey  to  and  fro 

And  dar  nat  ones  /  putte  forth  his  heed!  312 

Men  sholde  hym  brennen  /  in  a  fyr  so  reed! 

If  he  were  founde  /  or  fat  men  myghte  hym  spye 

And  we  also  /  to  bere  hym  compaignye  315 

(46) 

And  whil  we  seken  /  thilke  diuinitee  D«rf  ws,  back] 

That  is  yhid  /  in  heuene  pryuely 

Algate  /  ybrend  in  this  world  shul  we  be 

To  whom  Cecile  /  answerde  boldely  319 

Men  mygfiten  dreden  /  wel  and  skilfully 

This  lyf  to  lese  /  myn  owene  deere  brother 

If  this  were  lyuynge  oonly  and  noon  oother  322 

(47) 

But  ther  is  bettre  lif1  in  oother  place  323 

That  neuere  shal  be  lost1  ne  drede  thee  noght1 

Which  goddes  sone  /  vs  tolde  thurgh"  his  grace 

That  fadres  sone  /  hath  alle  thyng<  ywroghf  326 

And  al  that  wroght  is  /  wz'tA  a  skilful  thoghf 

The  goost1.  that  fro  the  fader  gan  precede 

Hath  sowled  hem  /  with-outen  any  drede  329 

ELLESMEEE   535  (6-T.  538) 


539    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  GK   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

(48) 

By  word  and  by  myracle  /  goddes  sone  330 

Whan  he  was  in  this  world  declared  heere 

That  ther  was  oother  lyf/  ther  men  may  wone 

To  whom  answerde  Tiburce  /  o  suster  deere  333 

Ne  seydestow  right  now  /  in  this  manere 

Ther  nys  but  o  god  /  lord  in  soothfastnesse 

And  now  of  three  /  how  maystow  here  witnesse  336 

(49) 

IT  That  shal  I  teUe  quod  she  /  er  I  go  337 

Eight  as  a  man  /  hath  sapiences  three 

Memorie  /  Engyn  /  and  Intellect1  also 

So  /.  in  beynge  /  of  diuinitee  340 

Thre  persones  /  may  ther  right  wel  bee 

Tho  gan  she  hym  /  ful  bisily  to  preche 

Of  Cristes  come  /  and  of  hise  peynes  teche  343 

(50) 

And  many  pointes  /  of  his  passion  344 

How  goddes  sone  /  in  this  world  was  withholde 

To  doon  mankynde  /  pleyn  remission 

That  was  ybounde  in  synne  and  cares  colde  347 

Al  this  thyng*.  she  vn-to  Tiburce  tolde 

And  after  this  /  Tiburce  in  good  entente 

With  Valerian  /  to  Pope  Vrban  he  wente  350 

(51) 

qui.  iciliKt  Vrbanui 

That  thanked  god  /  and  with  glad  herte  and  light1         351 

He  cristned  hyin  /  and  made  hym  in  that  place 

Parfitf  in  his  lernynge  /  goddes  knyghtt 

And  after  this  /  Tiburce  /  gat  swich  grace  354 

That  euery  day  /  he  saugh  in  tyme  and  space 

The  Aungel  of  god  /  and  euery  maner  boone 

That  he  god  axed  //  it  was  sped  ful  soone  357 

ELLESMERE   536   (6-T.  639) 


540   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.   SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

(52) 

IT  It  were  ful  hard  /  by  ordre  for  to  seyn  .[leaf  194] 

How  manye  wondres  /  Ihesus  for  hem  wrogfrte 

But  atte  laste  /  to  tellen  short  and  pleyn 

The  sergeantz  /  of  the  toun  of  Eome  hem  soghte  361 

And  hem  /  biforn  Almache  the  Prefect*  brogfrte 

"Which  hem  opposed  /  and  knew  al  hire  entente 

And  to  the  ymage  /  of  luppiter  hem  sente  364 

(53) 

And  seyde  /  who  so  wol  nat  sacrifise  365 

Swape  of  his  heed  /  this  my  sentence  heer 

Anon  thise  martirs  fat  I  yow  deuyse 

Oon  Maximws  /  that  was  an  Officer  368 

Of  the  Prefectes  /  and  his  Comiculer 

Hem  hente  /  and  whan  he  forth  the  Seintes  ladde 

Hym  self  he  weepe  /  for  pitee  that  he  hadde  371. 

(54) 

Whan  Maxima  /  had  herd  the  Seintes  loore  372 

He  gat  hym  /  of  the  tormentours  leue 

And  ladde  hem  to  his  hous  /  with-ouke  moore 

And  with  hir  prechyng1  er  that  it  were  eue  375 

They  gonnen  /  fro  the  tormentours  to  reue 

And  fro  Maxime  /  and  fro  his  folk  echone 

The  false  feith  /  to  trowe  in  god  allone  378 

(55) 

1T  Cecile  cam  /  whan  it  was  woxen  nyght1  379 

With  preestes  /  that  hem  cristned  alle  yfeere 

And  afterward4  /  whan  day  was  woxen  light* 

Cecile  hem  seyde  /  with  a  ful  stedefast  cheere  382 

Now  Cristes  owene  knygfrtes  /  leeue  and  deere 

Cast  alle  awey  /  the  werkes  of  derknesse 

And  Arnieth  yow  /  in  Armure  of  brightnesse  385 

ELLESMERE   637   (6-T.  640) 


541    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.   SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmcrc  MS. 

(56) 

Ye  han  for  sothe  /  ydoon  a  greet  bataille  386 

Youre  cours  is  doon  /  youre  feith  han  ye  consented 

Gooth  to  the  corone  of  lif1  that  may  nat  faille 

The  rightful  luge  /  which  fat  ye  han  serued  389- 

Shal  yeue  it  yow  /  as  ye  han  it  deserued 

And  whan  this  thyng  was  seyd  /  as  I  deuyse 

Men  ledde  hem  forth  /  to  doon  the  sacrefise  392 

(57) 

But  whan  they  weren  /  to  the  place  broghtt  393 

To  tellen  shortly  /  the  conclusioun 

They  nolde  en  cense  /  ne  sacrifise  right  noght1 

But  on  hir  knees  /  they  setten  hem  adoun  396 

With  humble  herte  /  and  sad  deuocioun 

And  losten  /  bothe  hir  heuedes  in  the  place 

Hir  soules  wenten  /  to  the  kyng1  of  grace  399 

(58) 

This  Maximus  /  that  saugh  this  thyng1  bityde     Peaf  194,  back] 

With  pitous  teeris  /  tolde  it  anon  right1 

That  he  hir  soules  /  saugh"  to  heuene  glyde 

With  Aungels  /  ful  of  cleernesse  and  of  light1  403 

And  with  this  word  /  conuerted  many  a  wigfif 

ffor  which  Almachius  /  dide  hym  so  bete 

With  whippe  of  leed  /  til  he  the  lif  gan  lete  406 

(59) 

IT  Cecile  hym  toook/  and  buryed  hym  anon  407 

By  Tiburce  /  and  Valerian  softely 

With-Inne  hire  buriyng1  place  vnder  the  stoon 

And  after  this  /  Almachius  hastily  410 

Bad  hise  Ministres  /  fecchen  openly 

Cecile  /  so  that  she  myglite  in  his  presence 

Doon  sacrifice  /  and  luppiter  encense  413 

ELLESMERE    638   (6-T.  64l) 


542    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  Gr.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 
(60) 

.scilicet  Minutrcs 

But  they  connected  /  at  hir  wise  loore  414 

Wepten  ful  score  /  and  yauen  ful  credence 

Vn-to  hire  wordl/  and  cryden  moore  and  moore 

Crist  goddes  sone  /  with-outen  difference  417 

Is  verray  god  /  this  is.oure  sentence 

That  hath  so  good  a  seruant/  hym  to  seme 

This  with  o  voys  /  we  trowen  /  thogfr  we  sterue  420 

(61) 

IT  Almachius  /  that  herde  of  this  doynge,  421 

Bad  fecchen  Cecile  /  that  he  myghte  hire  see 

And  alderfirsf.  lo  this  was  his  axynge  -,<•>. 

What  maner  womman  /  artow  quod  he  ?  424 

I  am  a  gentil  woraman  born  quod  she 

I  axe  thee  quod  he  /  though"  it  thee  greeue 

Of  thy  Religion  /  and  of  thy  bileeue  427 

(62) 

1T  Ye  han  bigonne  /  youre  question  foHly  428 

Quod  she  /  that  w  olden  two  answeres  conclude 

In  o  demande  /  ye  axed  lewedly 

Aim  ache  answerde  /  vn-to  that  similitude  431 

Of  whennes  comth  /  thyn  answeryng1  so  rude  ? 

Of  whennes  quod  she  /  *  whan  J?at  she  was  freyned 

Of  Conscience  /  and  of  good  feith  vnfeyned  434 

(63) 

1T  Almachius  seyde  /  ne  takestow  noon  heede  435 

Of  my  power  /  and  she  answerde  bym 

Youre  myght  quod  she  /  ful  litel  is  to  dreede 

ffor  euery  /  mortal  /  mannes  power  nys  438 

But  lyke  a  bladdre  /  ful  of  wynd  ywys 

ffor  with  a  nedles  poynf  whan  it  is  blowe 

May  al  the  boost  of  it1  be  leyd  ful  lowe  441 

39  ELLESMERE   539   (6-T.  542) 


543    SIX-TEXT 

QEOUP  G.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

(64) 

1T  fful  wrongfully  /  bigonne  thow  quod  he  [leaf  195] 

And  yet  in  wrong1  is  thy  perseuerance 

Wostow  nat1  how  oure  myghty  prmces  free 

Han  thus  comanded  /  and  maad  ordinance  445 

That  euery  cristen  wightf  shal  han  penance 

But  if  that  he  /  his  cristendom  witliseye 

And  goon  al  quit1,  if  he  wole  it  reneye  4 18 

(65) 

IT  Yowre  pn'nces  erren  /  as  youre  nobleye  dooth  449 

Quod  tho  Cecile  /  and  with  a  wood  sentence 

Ye  make  vs  gilty  /  and  [it]  is  nat  sooth 

ffor  ye  /  that  knowen  wel  cure  Innocence  452 

ffor  as  muche  /  as  we  doon  a  reuerence 

To  crist1  and  for  we  here  a  cristen  name 

Ye  putte  on  vs  /  a  cryme  /  and  eek  a  blame  455 

(66) 

But  we  that  knowen  /  thilke  name  so  456 

ffor  vertuous  /  we  may  it  nat  withseye 

Almache  answerde  /  chees  oon  of  thise  two 

Do  sacrifice  /  or  cristendom  reneye  459 

That  thou  mowe  now  /  escapen  by  that  weye 

At  which  /  the  hooly  blisful  faire  mayde 

Gan  for  to  laugh" e  /  and  to  the  luge  sayde  462 

(67) 

IF  0  luge  /  confus  in  thy  nycetee  463 

Woltow  /  that  I  reneye  Innocence 

To  make  me  /  a  wikked  wight  quod  she 

Lo  /  he  dissymuleth  heere  /  in  Audience  466 

He  stareth  /  and  he  woodeth  in  his  Aduertence 

To  whom  Almachius  /  vnsely  wrecche 

Ne  woostow  nat1  how  far  my  myght1  may  strecche         469 

ELLESMEBE   540   (6-T.  64,3) 


544   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

(68) 

Han  noghfr  oure  myghty  pr/nces  /  to  me  yeuen  470 

Ye  bothe  power  /  and  Auctoritee 

To  maken  folk/  to  dyen  or  to  lyuen 

Why  spekestow  /  so  proudly  thanne  to  me  473 

I  speke  nogfit  /  but  stedfastly  quod  she 

Nat  proudly  /  for  I  speke  as  for  my  syde 

We  naten  deedly  /  thilke  vice  of  pryde  476 

(69) 

J.  andire 

And  if  thou  drede  nat1  a  sooth  to  heere.  477 

Thanne  wol  I  shewe  /  al  openly  by  right1 

hlc 

That  thou  hast  maad  /  a  ful  gret  lesyng1  heere 

Thou  seysf  thy  Princes  /  han  thee  yeuen  mygfit*  480 

Bothe  for  to  sleen  /  and  for  to  quyken  a  wight* 

Thou  that  ne  maystf  but  oonly  lyf  bireue 

Thou  hast1  noon  oother  power  ne  no  leue  483 

(70) 

But  thou  mayst  seyn  /  thy  pnnces  han  thee  maked     [if  195,  bk] 

Ministre  of  deeth  /  for  if  thou  speke  of  mo 

Thou  lyest1  for  thy  power  is  ful  naked 

Do  wey  thy  booldnesse  /  seyde  Almachius  tho  487 

And  sacrifie  to  oure  goddes  er  thou  go 

I  recche  nat1  what  wrong1  J>at  thou  me  profre 

ffor  I  can  suffre  it  /  as  a  Philosophre.  490 

(71) 

IT  But  thilke  wronges  /  may  I  nat  endure  491 

That  thou  spekesf  of  oure  goddes  heere  quod  he 

Cecile  answerde  /  o  nyce  creature 

Thou  seydest  no  word  /  syn  thou  spak  to  me  494 

That  I  ne  knew  ther  with  /  thy  nycetee 

And  that  thou  were  /  in  euery  maner  wise 

A  lowed  Officer  /  and  a  veyn  lustise  497 

ELLESMERE   541    (6-T.  544) 


545    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.   SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 
(72) 

exterioribiu  oculiJ 

Ther  lakketh  no  thyng1.  to  thyne  outter  eyeu  498 

That  thou  nart  blynd?  /  for  thyng<  Jjat  we  seen  alle 

That  it  is  stoon  /  Jjat  men  may  wel  espyen 

That  ilke  stoon  /  a  god  thow  wolt  it  calle  501 

I  rede  thee  /  lat  thyn  hand  vp  on  it  falle 

And  taste  it  wel  /  and  stoon  thou  shalt  it  fynde 

Syn  that  thou  seesf  nat1  with  thyne  eyen  blynde  504 

(73) 

It  is  a  shame  /  that  the  peple  shal  505 

So  scorne  thee  /  and  laughe  at  thy  folye 

ffor  communly  /  men  woot  it  wel  oueral 

That  myghty  god  /  is  in  hise  heuenes  hye  508 

And  thise  ymages  /  wel  thou  mayst  espye 

To  thee  /  ne  to  hem  self*  ne  mowen  noght  profite 

ffor  in  effect1  they  been  nat  worth  a  myte  511 

(74) 

IT  Thise  wordes  /  and  swiche  othere  seyde  she  512 

And  he  weex  wrooth  /  and  bad  men  sholde  hir  lede 

Horn  til  hir  house  /  and  in  hire  hous  quod  he 

Brenne  hire  /  right  in  a  bath  of  flambes  rede  515 

And  as  he  bad  /  right  so  was  doon  in  dede 

ffor  in  a  Bath  /  they  gonne  hire  faste  shetten 

And  nyght  and  day  /  greet  fyre  they  vnder  betten,         518 

(75) 

IT  The  longe  nygh"t  /  and  eek1  a  day  also  519 

ffor  al  the  fyr  /  and  eek  the  bathes  heete 

She  sat  al  coold  /  and  feeled  no  wo 

It  made  hire  /  nat*  a  drope  for  to  sweete  522 

But  in  that  Bath  /  hir  lyf  she  moste  lete 

ffor  he  Almachius  /  with  a  ful  wikke  entente  ? 

To  sleen  hire  in  the  Bath  his  sonde  sente  525 

ELLESMERE   542   (6-T.  545) 


546    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.   §  1.  SECOND  NUN'S  TALE.   EllesHiere  MS. 

(76) 

Thre  strokes  in  the  nekke  /  he  sraoot  hire  tho  Deaf  IOG] 

The  tormentour  /  but  for  no  maner  chaunce 
He  mygfite  nogSt  smyte  /  al  hir  nekke  atwo 
And  for  ther  was  /  that  tyme  an  ordinaunce  529 

That  no  man  /  sholde  doon  men  swich  penaunce 
The  ferthe  strook/  to  smyten  softe  or  soore 
This  tormentour  /  ne  dorste  do  namoore  532 

(77)  \  •' 

But  half  deed  /  with  hir  nekke  yeomen  there  533 

He  lefte  hir  lye  /  and  on  his  wey  he  went1 
The  cristen  folk  /  which  that  aboute  hire  were 
"With  sheetes  /  han  the  blood  /  ful  faire  yhenf  536 

Thre  dayes  lyued  she  /  in  this  torment1  • 
And  neuere  cessed  /  hem  the  feith  to  teche 
That  she  hadde  fostred  /  hem  she  gan  to  preche  539 

(78) 

And  hem  she  yaf  /  hir  moebles  /  and  hir  thyng1  540 

And  to  the  Pope  Vrban  /  bitook  hem  tho 
And  seyde  /  I  axed  this  at  heuene  kyng1 
To  han  respifr.  thre  dayes  and  namo  543 

To  recomende  to  yow  /  er  that  I  go 
Thise  soules  lo  /  and  J>at  I  myghte  do  werche 
Heere  of  myn  hous  /  perpetuelly  a  cherche  546 

(79) 

IT  Seint  Vrban  /  with  hise  deknes  pmtely  547 

This  body  fette  /  and  buryed  it  by  nyghte 
Among*  hise  othere  seintes  /  honestly 
Hir  hous  /  the  chirche  of  seinte  Cecilie  highte  550 

Seint  Vrban  halwed  it  /  as  he  wel  myghte 
In  which  /  in  to  this  day  /  in  noble  wyse 
Men  doon  to  Crist1,  and  to  his  seinte  seruyse  553 

^[  Heere  is  ended  /  the  Seconde  Nonnes  tale  ^ 

ELLESMERE    543   (6-T.  646) 


547   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  2.  aHD  NON-CAN. -YEO.  LINK.  Ellcsmere  MS. 


[onZea/196] 

Tlie  prologe  /  of  the  Chanoiis  yemannes  tale  <£) 
' 


W 
lian  toold  was  al  the  lyf  /.  of  seinte  Cecile 
Er  we  hadde  riden  /  fully  fyue  Mile 
At  Bogtton  VBder  Blee  /  vs  gan  atake 
A  man  /  that  clothed  was  /  in  clothes  blake  557 

And  vnder-nethe  /  he  wered  a  surplys 
His  hakeney  /  which  fat  was  al  pomely  grys 
So  swatte  /  that  it  wonder  was  to  see 
It  semed  /  as  he  had  priked  Miles  three  561 

The  hakeney  eek  /  J?«t  his  yeman  rood  vpon 
So  swatte  /  that  vnnethe  myghte  it  gon 


.......     no  gap  in  the  MS.]  565 

A  Male  tweyfoolo?  /  vp  on  his  croper  lay  peaf  1%,  back] 

It  semed  /  that  he  caried  lite  array 

Al  ligfit  for  Somer  /  rood  this  worthy  man 

And  in  myn  herte  /  to  wondren  I  bigan  569 

What  fat  he  was  /  til  that  I  vnderstood 

How  that  his  cloke  /  was  sowed  to  his  hood 

ffor  which  /  whan  I  hadde  longe  auysed  me 

I  demed  hym  /  som  Chanon  for  to  be  573 

His  hat  heeng  /  at  his  bak  /  doun  by  a  laas 

ffor  he  hadde  riden  /  moore  than  trot1  or  paas 

He  hadde  ay  priked/  lik  as  he  were  wood? 

A.  Clote  leef  /  he  hadde  vnder  his  hoocf  577 

ffor  swoot1  and  for  to  kepe  his  heed  from  heete 

But  it  was  ioye  /  for  to  seen  hym  swete 

His  forheed  dropped  /  as  a  stillatorie 

Were  ful  of  Plantayne  /  and  of  Paritorie  581 

ELLESMERE    544   (6-T.  647) 


54:8    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  GK  §  2.  2™  NUN-CAN.-YEO.  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  whan  that  he  was  come  /  he  gan  to  crye  582 

God  saue  quod  he  /  this  ioly  compaignye 

ffaste  haue  I  priked  quod  he  /  for  youre  sake 

By  cause  /  that  I  wolde  yow  atake  585 

To  riden  /  in  som  myrie  compaignye 

His  yeman  eek1  was  ful  of  curteisye 

And  seyde  sires  /  now  in  the  morwe  tyde 

Out  of  youre  hostelrie  /  I  saugh  you  ryde  589 

And  warned  heer  /  my  lord  and  my  souerayn 

Which  /  to  ryden  with  yow  /  is  ful  fayn 

ifor  his  desport1  he  loueth  daliance 

11  ffreend  /  for  thy  warnyng1  god  yeue  thee  chance         593 

Thanne  seyde  oure  hoost1.  for  certein  /  it  wolde  seme 

Thy  lord  were  wys  /  and  so  I  may  wel  deme 

He  is  ful  iocunde  also  /  dar  I  leye 

Can  he  oght1  telle  /  a  myrie  tale  or  tweye  597 

With  which  /  he  glade  may  this  compaignye  ? 

IT  Who  sire  /  my  lord  f  ye  /  ye  with-outen  lye 

He  kan  of  murthe  /  and  eek  of  lolitee 

Nat  but  ynough"  /  also  sire  trusteth  me  601 

And  ye  hym  knewe  /  as  wel  as  do  I 

Ye  wolde  wondre  /  how  wel  and  craftily 

He  koude  werke  /  and  that  in  sondry  wise 

He  hath  take  on  hym  /.  many  a  greet  emprz'se  605 

Which  were  ful  hard  /  for  any  that  is  heere 

To  brynge  aboute  /  but  they  of  hym  it  leere 

As  hoomely  /  as  he  rif  amonges  yow 

If  ye  hym  knewe  /  it  wolde  be  for  youre  prow  609 

Ye  wolde  nat  forgoon  his  Aqueyntaurcce 

flbr  muchel  good  /  I  dar  leye  in  balaunce 

Al  that  I  haue  /  in  my  possessions 

He  is  a  man  /  of  heigh"  discrecioure  613 

I  warne  yow  wel  /  he  is  a  passyng  man  [leaf  197] 

IT  Wel  quod  oure  hoost1.  I  pray  thee  tel  me  than 

Is  he  a  clerk  /  or  noon  ?  telle  what  he  is 

1T  Nay  /  he  is  gretter  than  a  clerk  ywis  617 

ELLESMEKE   645    (6-T.  548) 


549   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  2.  2KI)  NUN-CAN.-YEO.  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Seyde  tliis  yeman  /  and  in  wordes  fewe  618 

Hoosf  of  his  craft*  som  what  I  wol  yow  shewe 

IT  I  seye  /  my  lord  /  kan  swich  subtilitee 

But  al  his  craft  /.  ye  may  nat  wite  for  me  621 

And  som  what  helpe  I  yet1  to  his  wirkyng1 

That  al  this  ground  /  on  which  we  been  ridyng1 

Til  that  we  come  /  to  Caunterbury  toun 

He  koude  al  clene  /  turne  it  vp  so  dotin  625 

And  paue  it  /  al  of  siluer  /  and  of  gold 

1T  And  whan  this  yeman  /  hadde  this  tale  ytold 

Vn-to  cure  hoost/  he  seyde  benedicitee 

This  thyng1  is  wonder  memeillous  to  me  629 

Syn  that  thy  lord  /  is  of  so  heigh"  prudence 

By  cause  of  which  /  men  sholde  hym  reuerence 

That  of  his  worships  /  rekketh  he  so  lite 

His  ouerslope  /  nys  nat  worth  a  myte  633 

As  in  effect*  to  hym  /  so  moot  I  go 

It  is  al  baudy  /  and  to-tore  also 

Why  is  thy  lord  so  sluttissh"  I  the  preye 

And  is  of  power/  bettre  clooth  to  beye  637 

If  that  his  dede  /  accorde  with  thy  speche 

Telle  me  that" .  and  that  I  thee  biseche 

IT  Why  quod  this  yeman  8  wherto  axe  ye  me  ?  • 

God  help  me  so  /  for  he  shal  neuere  thee  641 

But  I  wol  nat1  auowe  that  I  seye 

And  therfore  /  keepe  it  secree  I  yow  preye 

He  is  to  wys  /  in  feith  /  as  I  bileeue 

That*  that  is  ouerdoon  /  it  wol  nat  preeue          T  P"?we  i"0(1  est 

minium  beetera 

Aright1  s/  as  clerkes  seyn  /  it  is  a  vice 

Wherfore  in  that1 1  holde  hym  lewed  and  nyce 

ffor  whan  a  man  /  hath  ouer  greet  a  wit1 

iful  oft  hym  happeth  /  to  mysusen  it1  649 

So  dooth  my  lord  /  and  that  me  greueth  score 

God  it  amende  /  I  kan  sey  yow  namoore 

1T  Ther-of  no  fors  /  good  yeman  /  quod  oure  hoosf 

Syn  of  the  konnyng1  of  thy  lord  thow  woost1  653 

ELLESMERE    646   (6-T.  549) 


550    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  2.  2™  NUN-CAN. -YEO.  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Telle  how  lie  dooth  /  I  pray  thee  hertely  65  i 

Syn  that  he  is  /  so  crafty  and  so  sly 

Where  dwelle  ye  /  if  it  to  telle  be  ? 

IT  In  the  suburbes  /  of  a  toun  quod  he  657 

Lurkynge  in  hernes  /  and  in  lanes  blynde 

Where  as  thise  robbowrs  /  and  thise  theues  by  kynde 

Holden  /  hir  pryuee  fereful  residence 

As  they  /  that  dar  nat  she  wen  hir  presence  661 

So  faren  we  /  if  I  shal  seye  the  so  the  [leaf  197,  back] 

IT  Now  quod  oure  hoost  /.  lat  me  telle  to  the 

Why  artow  /  so  discoloured  of  thy  face  ? 

IT  Peter  quod  he  /  god  yeue  it  harde  grace  665 

I  am  so  vsed  /  in  the  fyr  to  blowe 

That  it  hath  chaunged  my  colour  I  trowe 

I  am  nat  wont/  in  no  Mirour  to  prie 

But  swynke  score  /  and  lerne  multiplie  669 

We  blondren  euere  /  and  pouren  in  the  fir 

And  for  al  that  /  we  faille  of  oure  desir 

ffor  euere  we  lakke  /  of  oure  conclusion 

To  muchel  folk  /  we  doon  illusion  673 

And  borwe  gold  /  be  it  a  pound  or  two 

Or  ten  /  or  twelue  /  or  manye  sommes  mo 

And  make  hem  /  wenen  at  the  leeste  weye 

That  of  a  pound  /  we  koude  make  tweye  677 

Yet  is  it  fals  /  but  ay  we  han  good  hope 

It  for  to  doon  /  and  after  it  we  grope 

But  that  science  /  is  so  fer  vs  biforn 

We  mowen  nat1  al  though"  we  hadden  sworn  681 

It  ouer-take  /  it  slit  awey  so  faste 

It  wole  /  vs  maken  beggers  atte  laste 

1F  Whil  this  yeman  /  was  thus  in  his  talkyng* 

This  Chanon  drough"  hym  neer  /  and  herde  al  thyng1    685 

Which  this  yeman  spak  /  for  suspecion 

Of  meranes  speche  /  euere  hadde  this  Chanon 

ffor  Caton  seith  /  that  he  that  gilty  is  If  Cato. 

Demeth  alle  thyng1.  be  spoke  of  hym  ywis  689 

ELLESMEB.E    647    (6-T.  550) 


551    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  2.  2SD  N  UN-CAN. -YEO.  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

That  was  the  cause  /  he  gan  so  ny/  hym  drawe  690 

To  his  yeman  /  to  herknen  al  his  sawe 

And  thus  he  seyde  /  vn-to  his  yeman  tho 

Hoold  thou  thy  pees  /  and  spek  no  wordes  mo  693 

ffor  if  thou  do  /  /thou  shalt  it  deere  abye 

Thou  sclaundrest  me  /  heere  in  this  compaignye 

And  eek1  discouerestt  that  thou  sholdest  hyde   - 

IT  Ye  quod  our  hoost  /  telle  on  what  so  bityde  697 

Of  al  his  thretyng4  rekke  nat  a  myte 

IT  In  feith  quod  he  /  namoore  I  do  but  lyte 

IT  And  whan  this  Chanon)  /  saugh"  it  wolde  nat  be 

But  his  yeman  /  wolde  telle  his  pryuetee  701 

He  fledde  awey  /  for  verray  sorwe  and  shame 

IT  A  quod  the  yeman  /  heere  shal  arise  game 

Al  that  I  kan  /  anon  now  wol  I  telle 

Syn  he  is  goon  /  the  foule  feend  hym  quelle  705 

ffor  neuere  heer  /  wol  I  with  hym  meete 

ffor  peny  ne  for  pound1  /  I  yow  biheete 

He  that  me  broghte  first1  vn-to  that  game 

Er  that  he  dye  /  sorwe  haue  he  and  shame  709 

ffor  it  is  /  ernest  to  me  by  my  feith  Deaf  IDS] 

That  feele  I  wel  /  what  that  any  man  seith 

And  yet  for  al  my  smertf  and  al  my  grief 

ffor  al  my  sorwe  /  labour  /  and  meschief1  713 

I  koude  neuere  leue  it  /  in  no  wise 

Now  wolde  god  /  my  wit  myghte  suffise 

To  tellen  /  al  that  longeth  /  to  that  Art1 ' 

And  nafelees  /  yow  wol  I  tellen  part*  717 

Syn  that  my  lord  is  goon  /  I  wol  nat  spare 

Swich  thyng1  as  that  I  knowe  /  I  wol  declare 

5[  Heere  endej>  J?e  prologe  of  the  Chanons  yemannes 
tale 


ELLESMERE   648   (6-T.  65l) 


552   SIX-TEXT 

GEOUP  G.  §  3.  CAN.-YEOM.  PREAMBLE.  Ellcsmere  MS. 


[on  leaf  198] 

^f  Heere  bigynneth  /  the  Chanoiis  yeman  his  tale  fo 
[THE  PREAMBLE.] 

With  this  Chanon  /  I  dwelt  haue  seuen  yeer 
And  of  his  science  /  am  I  neuer  the  neer 
Al  that  I  hadde  /  I  haue  lost  ther-by 
And  god  woof  so  hath  many  mo  than  I 
Ther  I  was  wont1  to  he  right  fressh  and  gay 
Of  clothyng1  and  of  oother  good  array  725 

Now  may  I  were  /  an  hose  vp-on  myn  heed? 
And  wher  my  colour  /  was  hothe  fressh  and  reed? 
Now  is  it  wan  /  and  of  leden  hewe 

Who  so  it  vseth  /  soore  shal  he  re  we  729 

And  of  my  SAvynk  /  yet  hlered  is  myn  eye 
Lo  /  which  auantage  /  is  to  multiplie 
That  slidynge  science  /  hath  me  maad  so  hare 
That  I  haue  no  good  /  wher  fat  euere  I  fare  733 

And  yet4 1  am  endetted  so  ther-by 
Of  gold  /  that  I  haue  borwed  trewely 
That  whil  I  lyue  /  I  shal  it  quite  neuere 
Lat  euery  man  /  be  war  by  me  for  euere  737 

"What  maner  man  /  that  casteth  hym  ther  to 
If  he  continue  /  I  holde  his  thrift  ydo 
ffor  so  helpe  me  god  /  ther-by  shal  he  nat  wynne 
But  empte  his  purs  /  and  make  liise  wittes  thynne         74 1 
And  whan  he  /  thurgfi  his  madnesse  and  folye 
Hath  lost  his  owene  good  /  thurgh  lupartye 
Thanne  he  exciteth  /  oother  folk  /  ther-to  744 

To  lesen  hir  good  /  as  he  hym  self  hath  do       *  ^™»™™™.' 
ffor  vn-to  shrewes  /  ioye  it  is  and  ese 
To  haue  hir  felawes  /  in  peyne  and  disese 

ELLESMERE    649   (6-T.  652) 


553    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  3.  CAN.-YEOM.  PREAMBLE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Thus  was  I  /  ones  lerned  of  a  Clerk1 

Of  that  no  charge  /  I  wol  speke  of  oure  werk1  749 

1T  Whan  we  been  there  /  as  we  shul  excercise 

Oure  Eluysshe  craft/  we  semen  wonder  wise 

Oure  tennes  /  been  so  clergial  /  and  so  queynte    Deaf  los,  back] 

I  bio  we  the  fir  /  til  that  myn  herte  feynte  753 

What  sholde  I  tellen  eche  proporcion 
Of  thynges  /  whiche  pat  we  werche  vpon 
As  on  fyue  /  or  sixe  Ounces  /  may  wel  be 
Of  siluer  /  or  som  oother  quantitee  757 

And  bisye  me  /  to  telle  yow  the  names 
Of  Orpymentf  brent  bones  /  Iren  Squames 
That  in-to  poudre  /  grounden  been  ful  smal 
And  in  an  erthen  pot1  put  is  al  761 

And  salt  yput  In  /  and  also  papeer 
Biforn  thise  poudres  /  that  I  speke  of  heer 
And  wel  ycouered  /  with  a  lampe  of  glas 
And  muchel  oother  thyng  /  which  J>at  ther  was  765 

And  of  the  pot1  and  glasses  enlutyng1 
That  of  the  Eyr/  myghte  passe  out  no  thyng1 
And  of  the  esy  fir  /  and  smart  also 

Which  that  was  maad  /  and  of  the  care  and  wo  769 

That  we  hadden  /  in  oure  matires  sublymyng< 
And  in  Almalgamyng1  and  calceniyng1 
Of  quyk/  siluer  /  yclept  Me?*curie  crude 
ffor  alle  our  sleigh" tes  /  we  kan  nat  conclude  773 

Oure  Orpyment1.  and  sublymed  Mercurie 
Oure  grounden  litarge  eek*  in  the  P[o]rfurie 
And  ech  oT  thise  /  of  Ounces  a  certeyn 
Nogfit  helpeth  vs  /  oure  labour  is  in  veyn  777 

Ne  eek*  oure  spirites  Ascenciown 
!N"e  oure  matires  /  J>at  lyen  al  fix  adoun 
Mowe  in  oure  werkyng1  no  thyng  vs  auaille 
ffor  lost  is  /  al  oure  labour  and  trauaille  781 

And  al  the  cost/  a  twenty  deuel  way 
Is  lost  also  /  which  we  vp-on  it  lay 

ELLESMERE    650   (6-T.  653) 


554    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  3.  CAN.-YEOM.  PREAMBLE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  Ther  is  .also  /  ful  many  another  thyng* 

That  is  /  vn-to  oure  craft  apertenyng*  785 

Though"  I  by  ordre  /  hem  nat  reherce  kan 

By  cause  /  that  I  am  a  lewed  man 

yet  wol  I  telle  hem  /  as  they  come  to  mynde  • 

Thogh"  I  ne  kan  nat1  sette  hem  in  hir  kynde  789 

As  Boole  /  armonyak1  vertgrees  /  Boras 

And  sondry  vessels  /  maad  of  erthe  and  glas 

Oure  vrynals  /  and  our  descensories 

Violes  /  crosletz  /  and  sublymatories  793 

Cucurbites  /  and  Alambikes  eek1 

And  othere  swiche  /  deere  ynough"  a  leek1 

Nat  nedeth  if  for  to  reherce  hem  alle 

Watres  rubifiyng1  and  Boles  galle  797 

Arsenyk  /  sal  Armonyak1  and  Brymstoon 

And  herbes  /  koude  I  telle  eek  many  oon 

As  Egremoyne  /  Valerian  /  and  lunarie 

And  othere  swiche  /  if  that  me  liste  tarie 

Oure  lampes  brennyng1  bothe  nyght  and  day 

To  brynge  aboute  /  oure  purpos  /  if  we  may 

Oure  fourneys  eek  /  of  Calcinacion 

And  of  watres  Albificacion  805 

Vnslekked  lym  /  Chalk  /  and  gleyre  of  an  ey 

Poudres  diucrse  /  assfies  /  donge  /  pisse  /  and  cley 

Cered  pottes  /  sal  Peter  /  vitriole 

And  diuerse  fires  /  maad  of  wode  and  cole  809 

Sal  tartre  /  Alkaly  /  and  sal  preparat/ 

And  combust1  matires  /  and  coagulaf 

Cley  /  maad  with  hors  /  and  marines  heer  and  oille 

Of  Tartre  /  Alum  glas  /  berme  /  wort1  and  argoille         813 

Resalgar  /  and  oure  matires  enbibyng1 

And  eek1  of  oure  matires  encorporyng1 

And  of  oure  siluer  citrinacion 

And  of  oure  cementyng1  and  fermentacion  817 

Oure  yngottes  /  testes  {  and  many  mo 

I  wol  yow  telle  /  as  was  me  taught  also 
ELLESMERE   651   (6-T.  654) 


655    SIX-TEXT 

GBOUP  G.  §  3.  CAN.-YEOM.  PREAMBLE.  Ellcsmere  MS. 

The  seuene  spirites  /  and  the  bodies  seuene 

By  ordre  /  as  ofte  I  herde  my  lord  hem  neuene  821 

IT  The  firste  spirit1  quyk  siluer  called  is 

The  seconde  Orpymenf  the  thridde  ywis 

Sal  Armonyak  /  and  the  ferthe  Brymstoon 

The  bodyes  seuene  eek/.  lo  hem  heere  anoon  825 

IT  Sol  gold  is  /  and  Luna  /  siluer  we  threpe 

Mars  Iren  /  Mercurie  quyk  siluer  we  clepe 

Saturnws  leed  /  and  luppiter  is  tyn 

And  Venus  Coper  /  by  my  fader  kyn  829 

IT  This  cursed  craft/  who  so  wole  excercise 

He  shal  no  good  han  /  fat  hym  may  suffise 

ffor  al  the  good  /  he  spendeth  ther  abottte 

He  lese  shal  /  ther-of  haue  I  no  doute  833 

"Who  that  listeth  /  outen  his  folie 

Lat  hym  come  forth  /  and  lerne  multiplie 

And  euery  man  /  that  oght  hath  in  his  cofre 

Lat  hym  appiere  /  and  wexe  a  Philosophre  837 

Ascauns  /  that  craft  is  so  light  to  leere 

!N"ay  nay  god  woof  al  be  he  Monk  or  frere 

Preesf  or  Chanon  /  or  any  oother  wyght1 

Though  he  sitte  at  his  book1  bothe  day  and  nyght1        841 

In  lernyng1  of  this  Eluysshe  nyce  loore 

Al  is  in  veyn  /  and  parde  muchel  moore 

To  lerne  a  lewed  man  this  subtiltee 

ffy  spek1  nat  ther-of  /  for  it  wol  nat  bee  845 

And  konne  he  letterure  /  or  konne  he  noon 

As  in  effect1,  he  shal  fynde  it  al  oon 

ffor  bothe  /  two  /  by  my  sauacion  Deaf  199,  back] 

Concluden  in  multiplicacion  849 

Ylike  wel  /  whan  they  han  al  ydo 

This  is  to  seyn  /  they  faillen  bothe  two 

Y"         ~~"~et/  forgat  I  /  to  maken  rehersaille 
Of  watres  corosif  /  and  of  lymaille  853 

And  of  bodies  mollificacion) 
And  also  /  of  hire  induration 

ELLESMERE   652   (6-T.  665) 


556    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  3.  CAN.-YEOM.  PREAMBLE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Oilles  /  Ablucions  /  and  metal  fusible 

To  tellen  al  /  wolde  passen  any  Bible  857 

That  owher  is  /  wherfore  as  for  the  beste 

Of  alle  thise  names  /  now  wol  I  me  reste 

ffor  as  I  trowe  /  I  haue  yow  toold  ynowe 

To  reyse  a  feend  /  al  looke  he  neuer  so  rowe  861 

IT  A  nay  lat  be  /  the  Philosophies  stoon 

Elixer  clept1./  we  sechen  faste  echoon 

ffor  hadde  we  hym  /  thanne  were  it  siker  ynow 

But  vn-to  god  of  heuene  /  I  make  avow  865 

ffor  al  oure  craft1  whan  we  han  al  ydo 

With  al  oure  sleighte  /  he  wol  nat  come  vs  to 

He  hath  maad  vs  spenden  muchel  good 

ffor  sorwe  of  which  /  almoost  we  wexen  wood  869 

But  that  good  hope  /  crepeth  in  oure  herte 

Supposynge  /  though  we  sore  smerte 

To  be  releeued  /  by  hym  afterward 

Swich  supposyng*  and  hope  /  is  sharpe  and  hard!  873 

I  warne  yow  wel  /  it  is  to  seken  euere 

That  futur  temps  /  hath  maad  men  disseuere 

In  trust  ther-of  /  from  al  }»at  euere  they  hadde* 

Yet  of  that  Art1  they  kan  nat  wexen  sadde  877 

ffor  vn-to  hem  /  it  is  a  bitter  sweete 

So  semeth  it1  for  nadde  they  but  a  sheete 

Which  J?at  they  myghte  wrappe  hem  Inne  at  nygfrf 

And  a  brat1  to  walken  Inne  by  day  lygBf  881 

They  wolde  hem  selle  /  and  spenden  on  the  craft1 

They  kan  nat  stynte  /  til  no  thyng  be  laff 

And  eueremoore  /  where  fat  euere  they  goon 

Men  may  hem  knowe  /  by  smel  of  Brymstoon  885 

ffor  al  the  world  /  they  stynken  as  a  goof 

Hir  sauour  /  is  so  rammyssli  and  so  hoof  < 

Thaf  though"  a  man  /  a  Mile  from  hem  be 

The  sauour  wole  infecte  hym  truste  me  889 

And  thus  by  smel  /  and  threedbare  array 

If  J?at  men  liste  /  this  folk  they  knowe  may 

ELLESMERE   653    (6-T.  656) 


557    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  3.  CAN.-YEOM.  PREAMBLE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  if  a  man  /  wole  aske  hem  pryuely 

Why  they  been  clothed  /  so  vnthriftily  893 

They  right  anon  /  \vol  rownen  in  his  ere 

And  seyn  /  fat  if  fat  they  espied  were 

Men  wolde  hem  slee  /  by  cause  of  hir  science  Deaf  200] 

Lo  /  thus  /  this  folk1  bitrayen  Innocence  897 

Passe  oner  this  /  I  go  my  tale  vn-to 
Er  pat  the  pot1  be  on  the  fir  ydo 
Of  metals  /  with  a  certeyn  quantitee 
My  lord  hem  tempreth  /  and  no  man  but  he  901 

Now  he  is  goon  /  I  dare  seyn  boldely 
fibr  as  men  seyn  /  he  kan  doon  craftily 
Algate  I  woot  wel  /  he  hath  swich  a  name 
And  yet  ful  oft  /  he  renneth  in  a  blame  905 

And  wite  ye  how  /  ful  ofte  it  happeth  so  ' 
The  pot  tobreketh  /  and  farewel  al  is  go 
Thise  Metals  /  been  of  so  greet  violence 
Oure  walles  /  mowe  nat  make  hem  resistence  909 

But  if  they  weren  wrogiLt/  of  lym  and  stoon 
They  percen  so  /  and  thurgh"  the  wal  they  goon 
And  somme  of  hem  /  synke  in  to  the  ground? 
Thus  han  we  losf  by  tymes  many  a  pound?  913 

And  somme  are  scatered  /  al  the  floor  aboute 
Sorame  lepte  in-to  the  roof1  with-outen  doute 
Though  pat  the  feend?  /  noght  in  oure  sighte  hym  shewe 
I  trowe  he  with  vs  be  /  that  ilke  shrewe  -  917 

In  helle  /  where  Jjat  he  lord  is  and  sire 
Ms  ther  moore  wo  /  ne  moore  rancour  ne  Ire  . 
Whan  that  oure  pot  is  broke  /  as  I  haue  sayd? 
Euery  man  chitf  and  halt  hym  yuele  apayd?  921 

IT  Somme  seyde  /  it  was  along1  on  the  fir  makyng*j 
Somme  seyde  nay  /  it  was  on  the  blowyng1 
Thanne  was  I  fered  /  for  that  was  myn  office 
IT  Straw  quod  the  thridde  /  ye  been  lewed  and  nyce     925 
It  was  nat  tempred  as  it  ogfite  be 
IT  Uay  quod  the  fourthe  /  stynt  and  herkne  me 

ELLESMERE   554   (6-T.  557) 


558   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  3.  CAN.-YEOM.  PREAMBLE.  Ellcsmere  MS. 

By  cause  our  fir  /  ne  was  nat  maad  of  Beech" 

That  is  the  cause  /  and  oother  noon  so  theecfi  929 

I  kan  nat  telle  /  wher-on  it  was  along1 

But  wel  I  woot1  greet  strif  vs  is  among1 

1T  What  quod  my  lord*  /  ther  is  namoore  to  doone 

Of  thise  perils  /  I  wol  be  war  eft  soone  933 

I  am  right  siker/  that  the  pot  was  erased? 

Be  as  be  may  /  be  ye  no  thyng1  amased? 

As  vsage  is  /  lat  swepe  the  floor  as  swithe 

Plukke  vp  youre  hertes  /  and  beeth  glad  and  blithe      937 

^F  The  Mullok/  on  an  heepe  /  sweped  was 

And  on  the  floor  /  yeast  a  Canevas 

And  al  this  Mullok/  in  a  syve  ythrowe 

And  sifted  /  and  ypiked  many  a  throwe  941 

IT  Pardee  quod  oon  /  somwhat1  of  oure  metal 

Yet  is  ther  heere  /  though"  fat  we  han  nat  al 

Al  though"  this  thyng1  myshapped  haue  as  now    [leaf  200,  back] 

Another  tyme  /  it  may  be  wel  ynow  945 

Vs  moste  putte  /  oure  good  in  auenture 

A  Marchant  pardee  /  may  nat  ay  endure 

Trusteth  me  wel  /  in  his  prosperitee 

Somtyme  his  good  /  is  drenched  in  the  see  949 

And  somtyme  /  comth  it  sauf  /  vn-to  the  londe 

IT  Pees  quod  my  lord1  /  the  nexte  tyme  I  shal  fonde 

To  bryngen  oure  craff  /  al  in  another  plite 

And  but  I  do  /  lat  me  han  the  wite  953 

Ther  was  defaute  in  som  what1  wel  I  woof 

IF  Another  seyde  /  the  fir  was  ouer  hoof 

And  be  it  hoot1  or  coold  /  I  dar  seye  this 

That  we  concluden  /  eue?'emoore  amys  957 

We  faille  of  that  /  which  pat  we  wolden  hauo 

And  in  oure  madnesse  /  eueremoore  we  raue 

And  whan  we  been  /  togidres  euerichoon 

Euery  man  /  semeth  a  Salomon)  961 

But  euery  thyng1  which  fat  seineth  as  the  gold? 

Nis  nat  gold  /  as  fat  I  haue  herd?  told? 

40  ELLESMEKE   555    (6-T.  558) 


559    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  3.  CAN.-YEOM.  PREAMBLE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Ne  euery  appul  /  that  is  fair  to  eye    if  Nee  puieruw  pomum  Sxetera 

Nis  nat  good  /  what  so  men  clappe  or  crye  965 

11  Right  so  /  fareth  it/  arnonges  vs 

He  j?at  semeth  the  wiseste  by  Ihmis 

Is  moost  fool  /  whan  it  comth  to  the  preef 

And  he  Jjat  semeth  trewesf  is  a  theef/  969 

That  shul  ye  knowe  /  er  J>at  I  fro  yow  wende 

By  that/  I  of  my  tale  haue  maad  an  ende 

If  Explicit  prims,  pars  / 


ELLF.SMEKK   006    (6  T.  550) 


560    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S- YEOMAN'S  TALK  Ellesmere  MS. 


Et  sequitw  pars  secunda  ^ 
[THE  TALE.] 

her  was  /  a  Chanon  of  Religioim 
Amonges  vs  /  wolde  infecte  al  a  toun  973 

Thogh  it  as  greet  were  /  as  was  Nynyuee 

Rome  /  Alisaundre  /  Troye  /  and  othere  three 

His  sleighte  /  and  his  infinit  falsnesse 

Ther  koude  no  man  /  writen  as  I  gesse  977 

Though  J?at  he  lyue  mygfite  a  thousand?  yeer 

In  al  this  world*  /  of  falshede  nas  his  peer 

ffor  in  hise  tennes  /  so  he  wolde  hym  wynde 

And  speke  hise  wordes  /  in  so  sly  a  kynde  981 

Whanne  he  commune  shal  with  any  wight1 

That  he  wol  make  hym  doteii  anon  right1 

But  it  a  feend?  be  /  as  hym  seluen  is 

fful  many  a  man  /  hath  he  bigiled  er  this  985 

And  wole  /  if  that  he  lyue  may  a  while 

And  yet  men  ride  and  goon  ful  many  a  Mile 

Hym  for  to  seke  /  and  haue  his  Aqueyntaunce  [leaf  201] 

Noght  knowynge  /  of  his  false  goue>*naunce  989 

And  if  yow  list1,  to  yeue  me  Audience 

I  wol  it  telle  heere  /  in  youre  presence 

1T  But  worshipful  Chanons  Religious 

~Ne  demeth  nat1.  that  I  desclaundre  youre  hous  993 

Al-though  that  my  tale  /  of  a  Chanoun  bee 

Of  euery  ordre  /  som  shrewe  is  pardee 

And  god  forbede  /  that  al  a  compaignye 

Sholde  re  we  /  o.  singuleer  mannes  folye  997 

To  sclaundre  yow  /  is  no  thyng1  myn  entente 

But  to  correcten  /  that  is  mys  I-mente 

ELLESMERE    657    (6-T.  560) 


661    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

This  tale  /  was  nat  oonly  /  toold  for  yow 

But  eek  /  for  othere  mo  /  ye  woot  wel  how  1001 

That1  among*,  cristes  Apostles  twelue 

Ther  nas  no  traytour/  but  ludas  hym  selue 

Thanne  /  why  sholde  al  the  remenantf  haue  a  blame 

That  giltlees  were  /  by  yow  I  seye  the  same  1005 

Saue  oonly  this  /  if  ye  wol  herkne  me 

If  any  ludas  /  in  youre  Couenf  be 

Eemoeueth  hym  bitymes  /  I  yow  rede 

If  shame  /  or  los  /  may  causen  any  drede  1009 

And  beeth  no  thyng1  displesed  I  yow  preye 

Bat  in  this  cas  /  herketh  what  I  shal  seye 

IN  London  /  was  a  preest  Annueleer 
That  ther-Inne  /  had  dwelled  many  a  yeer  1013 

Which  was  so  plesaunt1  and  so  seruysable 
Vn-to  the  wyf  /  where  as  he  was  at  table 
That  she  wolde  suffre  hym  no  thyng  for  to  paye 
ffor  bord  ne  clothyng1  wente  he  neuer  so  gaye  1017 

And  spendyng1  siluer  /  hadde  he  right  ynow 
Ther-of  no  fors  /  I  wol  precede  as  now 
And  telle  forth  my  tale  /  of  the  Chanon 
That  broghte  this  preest/  to  confusion  1021 

IT  This  false  Chanon)'  /  cam  vp  on  a  day 
Vn-to  this  preestes  chambre  /  wher  he  lay 
Bisechynge  hym  /  to  lene  hym  a  certeyn 
Of  gold  /  and  he  wolde  quite  it  hym  ageyn  1025 

Leene  me  a  marc1  quod  he  /  but  dayes  three 
And  at  my  day  /  I  wol  it  quiten  thee 
And  if  so  be  /  that  thow  me  fynde  fals 
Another  day  /  do  hange  me  by  the  hals  1029 

11  This  preest  hym  took  a  marc<  and  that  as  swithe 
And  this  Chanoure  /  hym  thanked  ofte  sithe 
And  took/  his  leue  /  and  wente  forth  his  weye 
And  at  the  thridde  day  /  broghte  his  moneye  1033 

And  to  the  preest  /  he  took  his  gold  agayn 
Wher-of  this  preest1  was  Avonder  glad  and  fayn 

ELLESMKRR   558    (6-T.  56l) 


562    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S- YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

IF  Certes  quod  he  /  no  thyng/  anoyeth  me  [leaf 201  .back] 

To  lene  a  man  /  a  noble  /  or  two  /  or  thre  1037 

Or  what  thyng  /  were  in  my  possession 

Whan  he  /  so  trewe  is  of  condicion 

That  in  no  Avise  /  he  breke  wole  his  day 

To  swich  a  man  /  I  kan  neuer  seye  nay  1041 

IT  What  quod  this  Chanouw  /  sholde  I  be  viitrewe  ? 

Nay  that  were  a  thyng1  y fallen  al  of  newe 

Trouthe  is  a  thyng1  that  I  wol  euere  kepe 

In  to  that  day  /  in  which  that  I  shal  crepe  1045 

In  to  my  graue  /  or  ellis  god  forbede 

JBileueth  this  /  as  siker  as  the  Crede 

God  thanke  I  /  and  in  good  tyine  /  be  it  sayd! 

That  ther  was  neue/'e  man  yet  yuele  apayd*  1049 

fifor  gold  ne  siluer  /  that  he  to  me  lente 

!Sre  neuere  falshede  /  in  myii  herte  I  mente 

And  sire  quod  he  /  now  of  my  pryuetee 

Syn  ye  so  goodlich  /  han  been  vn-to  me  1053 

And  kithed  to  me  /  so  greet  gentillesse 

Somwhafr  to  quyte  with  youre  kyndenesse 

I  wol  yow  shewe  /  if  that  yow  list*  to  leere 

I  wol  yow  teche  /  pleynly  the  rnanere  1057 

How  I  kan  werken  /  in  Philosophie 

Taketh  good  heede  /  ye  shul  wel  seen  at  eye 

That  I  wol  doon  /  a  maistrie  er  I  go  1060 

IF  Ye  quod  the  preesf.  ye  sire  quod  he  /  and  wol  ye  so  ? 

Marie  /  ther-of  /  I  pray  yow  hertely 

IF  At  youre  comandement1  sire  trewely 

Quod  the  Chanon  /  and  ellis  god  forbeede 

1F  Loo  how  this  theef1  koude  his  seruice  beede  1065 

fful  sooth  it  is  /  that  swich  profred  seruyse 

Stynketh  /  as  witnessen  thise  olde  wyse 

And  that  ful  soone  /  I  wol  it  verifie 

In  this  Chanon  /  roote  of  alle  trecherie  1069 

That  euere  moore  /  delit  hath  and  gladnesse 

Swiche  feendly  thoughtes  /  in  his  herte  impresse 

ELLESMERE    559    (6-T.  562) 


563    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOMAN'B  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

How  Cristes  peple  /  he  may  to  meschief  /  brynge 

God  kepe  vs  /  from  his  false  dissymulynge  1073 

1[  Noght  wiste  this  preest1  with  whom  fat  he  delt 

IST[e]  of  his  harm  comynge  /  he  no  thyng  felte 

0  sely  preest1  /  o  sely  Innocent1 

With  coueitise  /  anon  thou  shalt  be  blent1  1077 

O  gracelees  /  ful  blynd  is  thy  conceite 

No  thyng/  ne  artow  war/  of  the  deceite 

Which  that  this  fox  /  yshapen  hath  for  thee 

Hise  wily  wrenches  /  thou  ne  mayst  nat  flee  1081 

Wherfore  to  go  /  to  the  conclusion) 

That  refereth  /  to  thy  confusion) 

Vnhappy  man  /  anon  I  wol  me  hye  [leaf  202] 

To  tellen  thyn  vnwitf  /  and  his  folye  1085 

And  eek  the  falsnesse  /  of  that  oother  wrecche 

As  ferforth  /  as  my  konnyng1  may  strecche 

This  Chanon)  was  my  lord?  /  ye  wolden  weene 
Sire  hoost1  in  feith  /  and  by  the  heuenes  queene  1089 
It  was  another  Chanon  /  and  nat  hee    . 
That  kan  an  hundred  foold?  nioore  subtiltee 
He  hath  bitrayed  folkes  many  tyme 

Of  his  falshede  /  it  dulleth  me  to  rynie  1093 

Euere  whan  J>at  I  speke  /  of  his  falshede 
ffor  shame  of  hym  /  my  chekes  wexen  rede 
Algates  /  they  bigynnen  for  to  glowe 
ffor  reednesse  haue  I  noon  /  right  wel  I  knowe  1097 

In  my  visage  /  for  fumes  diuerse 
Of  metals  /  whiche  ye  han  herd  me  roherce 
Consumed  /  and  wasted  han  my  reednesse 
Now  taak  heede  /  of  this  Chanons  cursednesse  1101 

^T  Sire  quod  he  to  the  preest1  lat  youre  man  gon 
ffor  quyk  siluer  /  that  we  hadde  it  anon 
And  lat  hym  /  bryngen  Ounces  two  or  three 
And  whan  he  comth  /  as  faste  shal  ye  see  1105 

A  wonder  thyng1  which  ye  saugh  neuere  er  this 
IT  Sire  quod  the  preest1  it  shal  be  doon  ywis 

ELLESMERE   500   (6-T.  56i) 


564    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOJIAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

He  bad  his  seruantf.  fecchen  liym  this  thyng1 

And  he  al  redy  /  was  at  his  biddyng*  1109 

And  wente  hym  forth  /  and  cam  anon  agayn 

With  this  quyk  siluer  /  soothly  for  to  sayn 

And  toke  thise  Ounces  .thre  /  to  the  Chanoun 

And  he  hem  leyde  /  faire  and  wel  adoun  1113 

And  bad  the  seruanf.  coles  for  to  brynge 

That  he  anon  /  myghte  go  to  his  werkynge 

1F  The  coles  /  right  anon  weren  yfet1 

And  this  Chanon  /  took  out  a  Crosselet1  1117 

Of  his  bosom  /  and  shewed  it  to  the  preesf 

This  Instrument  quod  he  /  which  fat  thou  seestf 

Taake  in  thyn  hand?  /  and  put  thy  self  ther  Inne 

Of  this  quyk  siluer  an  Ounce  /  and  heer  bigynne         1121 

In  the  name  of  Crist*,  to  wexe  a  philosofre 

Ther  been  ful  fewe  /  to  whiche  I  wolde  profre 

To  shewen  hem  /  thus  muche  of  my  science 

ifor  ye  shul  seen  /  heer  by  experience  1125 

That  this  quyk  siluer  /  wol  I  niortifye 

Right  in  youre  sighte  anon  /  I  wol  nat  lye 

And  make  as  good  siluer  /  and  as  fyn 

As  ther  is  any  /  in  youre  purse  or  myn  1129 

Or  elleswhere  /  and  make  it  nialliable 

And  elles  /  holdeth  me  /  fals  and  vnable 

Amoriges  folk/  for  euere  to  appeere         [leaf  202,  back] 

I  haue  a  poudre  heer  /  fat  coste  me  deere  1133 

Shal  make  al  good  /  for  it  is  cause  of  al 

My  konnyng1  /  which  fat  I  to  yow  shewen  shal 

Voyde  youre  man  /  and  lat  hym  be  ther  oute 

And  shette  the  dore  /  whils  we  been  aboute  1137 

Oure  pryuetee  /  that  no  man  vs  espie 

Whils  that  we  werke  /  in  this  Philosophic 

IT  Al  as  he  bad  /  fulfilled  was  in  dede 

This  ilke  senianf  anonrightf  out  yede  1141 

And  his  Maister  /  shette  the  dore  anon 

And  to  hire  labour/  spedily  they  gon 

ELLESMERE   561    (6-T.  564). 


565    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS 

IT  This  preesf  at  this  cursed  Chanons  biddyng1 

Vp  on  the  fir/  anon  sette  this  thyng1  1145 

And  blew  the  fir  /  and  bisyed  hym  ful  faste 

And  this  Chanon  /  in-to  the  Crosselet  cast 

A  poudre  noot  I  wher  of  /  that  it  was 

Ymaad  /  ouj?er  of  chalk1  or  of  glas  1149 

Or  som  what  elles  /  was  nat  worth  a  flye 

To  blynde  with  the  preesf.  and  bad  hym  hye 

The  coles  /  for  to  couchen  al  aboue 

The  Crosselett.  for  in  tokenyng1  I  thee  loue  1153 

Quod  this  Chanon  /  thyiie  oweiie  handes  two 

Shul  werche  al  thyng/.  which  shal  heer  be  do 

IT  Graunt  mercy  quod  the  preest1  and  was  ful  glad? 

And  couched  cole  /  as  that  Chanon  bad  1157 

And  while  he  bisy  was  //  this  feendly  wrecche 

This  false  Chanoura  /  the  foule  feend!  hym  fecche 

Out  of  his  bosom  /  he  took/  a  Bechen  cole 

In  which  ful  subtilly  /  was  maad  an  hole  1161 

And  ther-Inne  /  put  was  of  siluer  lemaille 

An  Ounce  /  and  stopped  was  wj't/i-outen  faille 

The  hole  vritli  wex  /  to  kepe  the  lemaille  In 

And  vnderstondeth  /  that  this  false  gyn  1165 

"Was  nat  maad  ther  /  but  it  was  maad  bifore 

And  othere  thynges  /  I  shal  tellen  moore 

Herafterward*  /  whiche  ]?at  he  vtiili  hym  broghte 

E;.  he  cam  there  /  hym  to  bigile  he  thoghte  1169 

And  so  he  dide  /  er  J>at  they  wente  atwynne 

Til  he  had  terned  hym  /  he  koude  nat  blynne 

It  dulleth  me  /  whan  that  I  of  hym  speke 

On  his  falshede  /  fayn  wolde  I  me  wreke  1173 

If  I  wiste  how  /  but  he  is  heere  and  there 

He  is  so  variaunt  /  J>at  he  abit  nowhere 

H  But  taketh  heede  /  now  sires  for  goddes  loue 

He  took1  this  cole  /  of  which  1  spak  aboue  1177 

And  in  his  hand  /  he  baar  it  pryuely 

And  whils  the  preest1  couched  bisily 

ELLESMERE    662    (6-T.  660) 


566    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

The  coles  /  as  I  tolde  yow  er  this  [leaf  203] 

This  Chanon  seyde  /  freend  ye  doon  amys  1181 

This  is  nat  couched  /  as  it  oghte  be 

But  soone  /  I  shal  amenden  it  quod  he 

Now  lat  me  medle  ther-with  /  but  a  while 

ffor  of  yow  /  haue  I  pitee  by  seint  Gile  1185 

Ye  been  right  hoot1.  I  se  wel  how  ye  swete 

Haue  heer  a  clooth  /  and  wipe  awey  the  wete 

And  whils  fat  the  preest1  wiped  his  face 

This  Chanon  /  took  his  cole  with  harde  grace  1189 

And  leyde  it  aboue  /  vp  on  the  mydcleward? 

Of  the  Crosselet*.  and  blew  wel  afterward? 

Til  that  the  coles  /  gonne  fas'te  brenne 

H  Now  yeue  vs  drynke  /  quod  the  Chanon  thenne      1193 

As  swithe  al  shal  be  wel  I  vndertake 

Sitte  we  doun  /  and  lat  vs  myrie  make 

And  whan  j>at  /  this  Chanones1  Bechen  cole         [1MS  ns] 

Was  brent1,  al  the  lemaille  out  of  the  hole  1197 

In-to  the  Crosselef  fil  anon  adoun 

And  so  it  moste  nedes  by  resoun 

Syn  it  so  euene  /  abouen  it  couched  was 

But  ther-of  /  wiste  the  preest1  no  thyng1  alas  1201 

He  demed  alle  the  coles  yliche  good! 

ffor  of  that  sleignte  /  he  no  thyng*  vnderstood? 

And  whan  this  Alkamystre  saugh  his  tyme 

Eis  vp  quod  he  sire  preest1.  and  sit  by  me  1205 

And  for  I  woot  wel  /  Ingot  haue  I  noon 

Gooth  walketh  forth  and  brynge  vs  a  Chalk/  stoon 

ffor  I  wol  make  oon  /  of  the  same  shape 

That  is  an  Ingott.  if  I  may  han  hape  1209 

And  bryngeth  eek  with  yow  /  a  bolle  or  a  panne 

fful  of  water  /  and  ye  shul  se  we]  thanne 

How  J?at  oure  bisynesse  /  shal  thryue  &  preeue 

And  yef  for  ye  shul  han  no  mysbileeue  1213 

Ne  wrong  conceite  of  me  /  in  youre  Absence 

I  ne  wol  naf  been  out  of  youre  presence 

ELLESMERE    563    (6-T.  566) 


5G7    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUJP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S- YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

But  go  with  yow  /  and  come  with  yow  ageyn 

The  chainbre  dore  /  shortly  for  to  seyu  1217 

They  opened  and  shette  /  and  wente  hir  weye 

And  forth  with  hem  /  they  carieden  the  keye 

And  coome  agayn  /  wj't/i-outen  any  delay 

What  sholde  I  tarien  /  al  the  longe  day  1221 

He  took  the  Chalk1  /  and  shoope  if  in  the  wise 

Of  an  Ingot1  as  I  shal  yow  deuyse 

1T  I  seye  /  he  took/  out  of  his  owene  sleeue 

A  teyne  of  siluer  /  yuele  moot  he  cheeue  1225 

Which  fat  was  nat1  /  but  an  Ounce  of  weigfrte 

And  taak  heede  now  /  of  his  cursed  sleighte 

If  He  shoope  his  Ingot1  in  lengthe  and  eek*  in  breede  [leaf  203] 

Of  this  teyne  /  with-outen  any  drede  1229 

So  slyly  /  that  the  preest1  it  nat  espide 

And  in  his  sleue  /  agayn  he  gan  it  hide 

And  fro  the  fir/  he  took  vp  his  mateere 

And  in  thyngot1  putte  it  with  myrie  cheere  1233 

And  in  the  water  vessel  /  he  it  caste 

Whan  fat  hym  luste  /  and  bad  the  preest  as  faste 

What  J>at  heer  is  /  put  In  thin  hand  and  grope 

Thow  fynde  shalt  ther  siluer  as  I  hope  1237 

tlffot  in  Reg.  17  D  art), 
leaf  210,  8*.    In  Brit. 

no  gap  m  the  MS.]      %t£S?S£&$ 

TT  L      L  •      L        a  T       J          J    i.       1  «,  '/  171 ;  Hurl.  73SS, 

He  putte  his  hand  In  /  and  took  vp  a  teyne  ^0/92,  coi.  i,  <tc.] 

Of  siluer  fyh  /  and  glad  in  euery  veyne  1241 

Was  this  preest1.  whan  he  saugh  it  was  so 

Goddes  blessyng1  and  his  moodres  also 

And  alle  halwes  /  have  ye  sire  Chanon 

Seyde  this  preest*.  and  .1.  hir  malison  1245 

But  and  ye  vouch&sauf1  to  techen  me 

This  noble  craft1  and  this  subtiltee 

I  wol  be  youre  /  in  al  that  euere  I  may 

IT  Quod  the  preest1  yet  wol  I  make  assay  1249 

The  seconde  tyme  /  j>at  ye  may  taken  heede 

And  been  expert1  of  this  /  and  in  youre  neede 

ELLESMEKE    564   (6-T.  587) 


568    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S- YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Another  day  /  assaye  in  myn  absence 

This  disciplyne  /  and  this  crafty  science  1253 

Lat  take  another  Ounce  /  quod  he  tho 

Of  quyk  siluer  /  with-outen  wordes  mo 

And  do  ther  with  /  as  ye  han  doon  er  this 

"With  that  oother  /  which  fat  now  siluer  is  1257 

IT  This  preest  hym  bisieth  /  in  al  Jjat  he  kan 

To  doon  /  as  this  Chanon  /  this  cursed  man 

Comanded  hym  /  and  faste  he  blew  the  fir 

ffor  to  come  /  to  theffecf  of  his  desir  1261 

And  this  Chanon)  /  right  in  the  meene  while 

Al  redy  was  /  the  preest1  eft  to  bigile 

And  for  a  contenaiice  /  in  his  hand  he  bar 

An  holwe  stikke  /  taak  kepe  and  be  war  1265 

In  the  ende  of  which  /  an  Ounce  and  namoore 

Of  siluer  lemaille  /  put  was  as  bifore 

In  his  cole  /  and  stopped  with  wex  weel 

ffor  to  kepe  In  /  his  lemaille  euery  deel  1269 

And  whil  this  preest1  was  in  his  bisynesse 

This  Chanon  /  with  his  stikke  gan  hym  dresse 

To  hym  anon  /  and  his  poudre  caste  In 

As  he  dide  er  /  the  deuel  /  out  of  his  skyn  1273 

Hym  terve  /  I  pray  to  god  /  for  his  falshede 

ffor  he  was  euere  fals  /  in  thoght  and  dede 

And  with  this  stikke-/  aboue  the  Crosseletf 

That  was  ordeyned  /  with  that  false  let/  1277 

He  stired  the  coles  /  til  relente  gan  [leaf  201] 

The  wex  agayn  the  fir  /  as  euery  man  s 

But  it  a  fool  be  /  woof  wel  it  moot  nede 

And  al  that  in  the  stikke  was  out  yede  1281 

And  in  the  crosselet1  hastily  it  fel 

IT  Now  good  sires  /  what  wol  ye  bet  than  wel 

Whan  p«t  this  preest1.  thus  was  bigiled  ageyn 

Supp.osynge  noght1  but  treuthe  sooth  to  seyii  1285 

He  was  so  glad  /  that  I  ne  kan  iiat  expresse 

In  no  manere  /  his  myrthe  and  his  gladnesse 

ELLESMEBE   565    (6-T.  568)  - 


669    SIX-TKXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

And  to  the  Chanon  /  he  profred  eftsoone 

Body  and  good  /  ye  quod  the  Chanon  sooiie  1289 

Though"  poure  I  be  /  crafty  thou  shalt  me  fynde 

I  warne  thee  /  yet  is  ther.  moore  bihynde 

II  Is  ther  any  coper/  her  Inne  seyde  he  ? 

H  Ye  quod  the  preest*  sire  I  trowe  wel  ther  be  1293 

H  Elles  go  bye  vs  soin  /  and  that  as  swithe 
Now  good  sire  /  go  forth  thy  wey  and  hy  the 
^1  He  wente  his  wey  /  and  with  the  coper  cam 
And  this  Chanon)  /  it  in  hise  handes  nam  1297 

And  of  that  coper  /  weyed  out1  but  an  Ounce 
H  Al  to  symple  /  is  my  tonge  to  p?-onounce 
As  Ministre  of  my  wit1  the  doublenesse 
Of  this  Chanon  /  roote  of  alle  cursednesse  1301 

He  semed  freendly  /  to  hem  /  jjat  knewe  hym  noglitf 
But  he  was  feendly  /  bothe  in  herte  and  thoghtf 
It  weerieth  me  /  to  telle  of  his  falsnesse 
And  nathelees  /  yet  wol  I  it  expresse  1 305 

To  thentente  /  that  men  may  be  war  therby 
And  for  noon  oother  cause  trewely 
•  11  He  putte  the  Ounce  of  Coper  in  the  Crosseletf 
And  on  the  fir  /  as  swithe  he  hath  it  set/  1309 

And  caste  In  poudre  /  and  made  the  preest/  to  blowe 
And  in  his  werkyng1  for  to  stoupe  lowe 
As  he  dide  er  /  and  al  nas  but  a  lape 

Eight  as  hym  liste  /  the  preest  he  made  his  Ape          1313 
And  afterward!  /  in  the  Ingot*  he  it  caste 
And  in  the  panne  /  putte  it  at  the  laste 
Of  the  water  /  In  he  putte  his  owene  hand! 
And  in  his  sleue  /  as  ye  biforn  hand?  1317 

Herde  me  telle  /  hadde  a  siluer  teyne 
He  slyly  tooke  it  out/  this  cursed  heyne 
Vnwityng1  this  preest1  of  his  false  craftf 
And  in  the  pannes  botme  /  he  hath  it  laftf  1321 

And  in  the  water  /  rombled  to  and  fro 
And  wonder  pryuely  /  took  vp  also 

ELLESMERE    566   (6-T.  509) 


670    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S- YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

The  coper  teyne  /  noght1  knowynge  this  preesf 

And  hidde  if  and  hym  hente  by  the  breesf  1325 

And  to  hym  spak1  and  thus  seyde  in  his  game     [leaf  204,  back] 

Stoupeth  adoun  /  by  god  ye  be  to  blame 

Helpeth  me  now  /  as  a  dide  yow  whil  eer 

Putte  In  yotire  hand  /  and  looketh  what  is  theer         1329 

IF  This  preestt  took  vp  /  this  siluer  teyne  anon 

And  thanne  seyde  the  Chanon  /  lat  vs  gon 

Wiih  thise  thre  teynes  /  whiche  Jjat  we  han  wrogRf 

To  som  Goldsmytfi.  /  and  wite  if  they  been  ouh"f  •        1333 

ffor  by  my  feith  /  I  nolde  for  myn  hood? 

But  if  that  they  were  siluer/  fyn  and  good? 

And  that  as  swithe  /  preeued  it  shal  bee 

IT  Vn-to  the  Goldsmyth  /  with  thise  teynes  three         1337 

They  wente  /  and  putte  thise  teynes  in  Assay 

To  fir  and  hamer  /  myghte  no  man  seye  nay 

But  fat  they  weren  /  as  hem  oghte  be 

IF  This  sotted  preest1.  who  was  gladder  than  he  1341 

Was  neuere  brid  /  gladder  agayn  the  day 

N"e  nygfetyngale  /  in  the  seson  of  May 

Nas  neuere  man  /  that  luste  bet  to  synge 

N"e  lady  /  lustier  in  carolynge  1345 

Or  for  to  speke  of  love  and  wommanhede 

Ne  knyght  in  Armes  /  to  doon  an  hardy  dede 

To  stonden  in  grace  /  of  his  lady  deere 

Than  hadde  this  preesf  this  soory  craft  to  leere  1349 

And  to  the  Chanon  /  thus  he  spak  and  seyde 

ffor  loue  of  god  /  that  for  vs  alle  deyde 

And  as  I  may  /  deserue  it  vn-to  yow 

What  shal  this  receite  coste  /  telleth  now  1353 

1F  By  oure  lady  quod  this  Chanon)  /  it  is  deere 

I  warne  yow  wel  /  for  sane  I  and  a  frere 

In  Engelonct  /  ther  kan  no  man  it  make 

IF  No  fors  quod  he  /  now  sire  for  goddes  sake  1357 

What  shal  I  paye  /  telleth  me  I  preye  ? 

IF  Ywis  quod  he  /  it  is  ful  deere  I  seye 

ELLESMERE   667   (6-T.  670) 


571    SIX-TEXT 

GIIOUP  Q-.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

Sire  at  o  word  /  if  that  thee  list  it  haue 

Ye  shul  paye  fourty  pound  /  so  god  me  saue  13G1 

And  nere  the  freendshipe  /  J>at  ye  dide  er  this 

To  me  /.  ye  sholde  paye  moore  y-wis 

II  This  preest1  the  so?/ime  of  fourty  pound  anon 

Of  nobles  fette  /  and  took  hem  euerichon  1365 

To  this  Chanon  /  for  this  ilke  receif 

Al  his  werkyng1  nas  but  fraude  and  deceit1 

*1T  Sire  preest  he  seyde  /  I  kepe  han  no  loos 

Of  my  craft  /  for  I  wolde  it1  kept  were  cloos  1369 

And  as  ye  loue  me  /  kepeth  it  secree 

ffor  and  men  knewen  /  al  my  soutiltee 

By  god  /  they  wolden  han  so  greet  enuye 

To  me  /  by  cause  /  of  my  Philosophye  1373 

I  sholde  be  deed  /  ther  were  noon  oother  weye  [leaf  any 

IT  God  it  forbeede  quod  the  preest/  what  sey  ye 

Yet  hadde  I  leuere  /  spenden  al  the  goocf 

Which  J>«t  I  haue  /  or  elles  wexe  I  wood?  1377 

Than  that  ye  sholden  falle  in  swiche  mescheef/ 

1T  ffor  youre  good  wyl  /  sire  haue  ye  right  good  preef 

Quod  the  Chanon  /  and  farwel  grant  mercy 

He  wente  his  wey  /  and  neuer  the  preest  hym  sy         1381 

After  that  day  /  and  whan  J>at  this  preest  shoolde 

Maken  assay  /  at  swich  tyme  as  he  wolde 

<}     I  v 

Of  this  receit  /  farwel  /  it  wolde  nat  be 

Lo  thus  byiaped  /  and  bigiled  was  he  1385 

Thus  maketh  he  /  his  introduccion 

To  brynge  folk/  to  [hir]  destruccion 

COnsidereth  sires  /  how  Jjat  in  ech  estaat1 
Bilwixe  men  and  gold  /  ther  is  debaatf  1389 

So  ferforth  /  that  vnnethe  is  ther  noon 
This  multiplying1  blent  so  many  oon 
That  in  good  feith  /  I  trowe  fat  it  bee 
The;cause  grettest1  of  swich  scarsetee  1393 

Philosophres  /  speken  so  mystily 
In  this  craft1  |«t  men  kan  nat  come  therby 

ELLESMERE    568    (6-T.  671) 


572    SIX-TEXT 

cnoup  G.  §  4.  CANON'S- YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  any  wit1  fat  men  han  now  a  dayes 

They  mowe  wel  chiteren  /  as  fat  doon  loyes     [so]      1397 

And  in  hir  termes  /  sette  hir  lust  and  peyne 

But  to  hir  purpos  /  shul  they  neuere  atteyne 

A  man  may  lightly  lerne  /  if  he  haue  aught1 

To  multiplie  /  and  brynge  his  good  to  naught1  1401 

5T  Lo  /  swich  a  lucre  /  is  in  this  lusty  game 

A  mannes  inyrthe  /  it  wol  turne  vn-to  grame 

And  empten  also  /  grete  and  heuye  purses 

And  maken  folk  /  for  to  purchacen  curses  1405 

Of  hem  /  jj«t  han  hir  good  /  ther-to  ylenf 

ffy  for  shame  /  they  fat  han  been  brent1 

Alias  /  kan  they  nat  flee  /  the  fires  heete 

Ye  that  it  vse  /  I  rede  ye  it  leete  1 409 

Lest  ye  lese  al  /  for  bet  than  neuere  is  late 

]SFeuere  to  thryue  /  were  to  long1  a  date 

Though  ye  prolle  ay  /  ye  shul  it  neuere  fynde 

Ye  been  as  boold?  as  is  Bayard'  the  btynde  1413 

That  blondreth  forth  /  and  peril  casteth  noon 

He  is  as  boold  /  to  renne  agayn  a  stoon 

As  for  to  goon  /  bisides  in  the  weye 

So  faren  ye  /  that  multiplie  I  seye  1417 

If  f  at  youre  eyen  /  kan  nat  seen  aright1 

Looke  fat  youre  mynde  /  lakke  noght  his  sight1 

ffor  though  ye  looken  neuer  so  brode  and  stare 

Ye  shul  no  thyng1  wynne  on  that  chaffare  1421 

But  wasten  /  al  that  ye  /  may  rape  and  renne      [leaf  205,  back] 

Withdraweth  the  fir  /  lest  it  to  faste  brenne 

]\Iedleth  uamoore  /  with  that  Art  I  mene 

ffor  if  ye  doon  /  youre  thrift  is  goon  ful  clene  1425 

And  right  as  swithe  /  I  wol  yow  tellen  heere 

What  fat  the  Philosophres  seyn  in  this  mateere 

LO  thus  seith  Arnold!  of  the  neAve  toun 
As  his  Kosarie  /  maketh  mencioun  1429 

He  seith  right  thus  /  with-outen  any  lye 
Ther  may  no  man  /  Mercuric  mortifie 

ELLESMERE    569    (6-T.  572) 


573   SIX-TEXT 

QKOUP  Of.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

But  it  be  /  with  his  brother  knowlechyng1 

How  J?at  he  /  which  pat  first  seyde  this  thyng<  1433 

Of  Philosophies  /  fader  first  was  hermes 

He  seith  /  how  }>at  the  dragon  doutelees 

Ne  dyeth  naf.  but  if  that  he  be  slayn 

With  his  brother/  and  that  is  for  to  sayn  1437 

By  the  dragon  /  Mercurie  and  noon  oother 

He  understood  /  and  Brymstoon  by  his  brother 

That  out  of  sol  /  and  Luna  were  ydrawe 

And  therfore  seyde  he  /  taak  heede  to  my  sawe  1441 

Lat  no  man  bisye  hym  /  this  Art1  for  to  seche 

But  if  Jjat  he  /  thentencion  and  speche 

Of  Philosophres  /  vnderstonde  kan 

And  if  he  do  /  he  is  a  lewed  man  1445 

ffor  this  science  /  and  this  konnyng  quod  he 

Is  of  the  secree  /  of  the  secretes  pardee 

IT  Also  /  ther  was  a  disciple  of  Plato 

That  on  a  tyme  /  seyde  his  maister  to  1449 

As  his  book  senior  /  wol  bere  witnesse 

And  this  was  his  demande  in  soothfastnesse 

Telle  me  the  name  /  of  the  pn'uee  stoon 

IT  And  Plato  answerde  /  vn-to  hym  anoon  1453 

Take  the  stoon  /  that  Titanos  men  name 

11  Which  is  that  quod  he  J1  Magnasia  is  the  same 

Seyde  Plato  /  ye  sire  /  and  is  it  thus  ? 

This  is  /  ignotum  per  ignocius  1457 

What  is  Magnasia  /  good  sire  I  yow  preye  ? 

1T  It  is  a  water  /  that  is  maad  I  seye 

Of  elementes  foure  quod  Plato 

IT  Telle  me  the  roote  /  good  sire  quod  he  tho  1461 

Of  that  water  /  if  it  be  youre  wille 

IT  Nay  nay  quod  Plato  /  certein  that  I  nylle 

The  Philosophres  /  sworn  were  euerychoon 

That  they  /  sholden  discouere  it  vn-to  noon  1465 

Ne  in  no  book  it  write  /  in  no  manere 

ffor  vn-to  Crist  /  it  is  so  lief  and  deere 

ELLESMERE    670   (6-T.  673) 


574   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  G.  §  4.  CANON'S-YEOMAN'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

That  he  wol  naf  that  it  discovered  bee 

But  where  it  liketh  /  to  his  deitee 

Man  for  tenspire  /  and  eek  /  for  to  deffende 

Whom  J?at  hym  liketh  /  lo  this  is  the  ende 

IT  Thanne  conclude  I  thus  /  sith  fat  god  of  heuene 

Ne  wil  naf  that  the  Philosophres  neuene  1473 

How  J?at  a  man  /  shal  come  vn-to  this  stoon 

I  rede  vs  for  the  beste  /  lete  it  goon 

ffor  who  so  /  maketh  god  his  Adue?-sarie 

As  for  to  werken  /  any  thyng1  in  contrarie  1477 

Of  his  wil  /  certes  neuer  shal  he  thryue  < 

Thogh"  that  he  multiplie  ternie  of  lyue 

And  there  a  poynt1  for  ended  is  my  tale  1480 

God  sende  euery  trewe  man  /  boote  of  his  bale      Amen  ^ 

![  Heere  is  ended  the  Chanons  yeniannes  tale  fa 


41  ELLESMERE   571    (6-T.  574) 


GEOIIP  H.    FKAGHENT  IX. 

§  1.    THE  MANCIPLE'S  HEAD-LINK. 
ELLESMEEE  MS. 


^f  Heere  folweth  the  Prologe  /  of  the  Maunciples 

tale  (fo  [onfea/206] 

Woof  ye  nat1  /  where  ther  stant/  a  litel  toun 
Which  J?at  ycleped  is  Bobbe  up  and  doun 
Vnder  the  Blee  /  in  Caunterbury  weye 
Ther  gan  oure  hoost1  for  to  lape  and  pleye  4 

And  seyde  sires  /  what  Dun  is  in  the  My  re 
Is  ther  no  man  /  for  preyere  ne  for  hyre 
That  wole  awake  /  oure  felawe  al  bihynde 
A  theef  /  myghte  hym  ful  lightly  robbe  and  bynde  8 

See  how  he  nappeth  /  see  how  for  Cokkes  bones 
As  he  wol  falle  /  fro  his  hors  atones 
Is  that  a  Cook  of  London  /  with  meschance 
Do  hym  come  forth  /  he  knoweth  his  penaunce  12 

ffor  he  shal  telle  a  tale  /  by  my  fey 
Al-though  /  it  be  nat  worth  a  Botel  hey 
Awake  thou  Cook*  quod  he  /  god  yeue  thee  sorwe 
"What  eyleth  thee  /  to  slepe  by  the  morwe  ?  16 

Hastow  had  fleen  al  nygfef  or  artow  dronke  ? 
Or  hastow  /  with  som  queue  /  al  nyght  yswonke  ? 
So  that  thow  mayst  nat1  holden  vp  thyn  heed* 
1T  This  Cook  /  fat  was  ful  pale  and  no  thyng1  reed          20 
Seyde  to  oure  hoosf .  so  god  my  soule  blesse 
As  ther  is  falle  on  me  swich  heuynesse 
Noot  I  nat  why  y  J?«t  me  were  leuere  slepe 
Than  /  the  beste  galon  wyn  in  Chepe  24 

ELLESMERE   572   (6-T.  676) 


577    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  H.    §  1.   MANCIPLE'S  HEAD-LINK.   Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  Wei  quod  the  Maunciple  /  if  it  may  doon  ese  25 

To  thee  sire  Cook  /  and  to  no  wight1  displese 

Which  J?at  heere  rideth  /  in  this  compaignye 

4nd  that  oure  hoost/  wole  of  his  curteisye  28 

I  wol  now  /  excuse  thee  /  of  thy  tale 

ffor  in  good  feith  /  thy  visage  is  ful  pale 

Thyne  eyen  daswen  eek1  as  that  me  thynketh       peaf206,bk] 

And  wel  I  woot  /  thy  breeth  /  ful  soure  stynketh  32 

That  sheweth  wel  /  thou  art  nat  wel  disposed1 

Of  me  certeyn  /  thou  shalt  nat  been  yglosed! 

See  how  he  ganeth  /  lo  this  dronken  wighf 

As  though  he  wolde  /  swolwe  vs  anonrightt  36 

Hoold  cloos  thy  mouth  man  /  by  thy  fader  kyn 

The  deuel  of  helle  /  sette  his  foot  ther-In 

Thy  cursed  breeth  /  infecte  wole  vs  alle 

ffy  stynkyng*  swyn  /  fy  /  foule  moote  thou  falle  40 

A  taketh  heede  sires  /  of  this  lusty  man 

Now  sweete  sire  /  wol  ye  lusteu  atte  ffan 

Therto  me  thynketh  /  ye  been  wel  yshape 

I  trowe  /  that  ye  dronken  han  wyn  Ape  44 

And  that  is  /  whan  men  pleyen  with  a  straw 

And  with  this  speche  /  the  Cook1  wax  wrooth  &  wraw 

And  on  the  Manciple  /  he  gan  nodde  faste 

ffor  lakke  of  speche  /  and  doun  the  hors  hym  caste         48 

Where  as  he  lay  /  til  ]>ai  men  vp  hym  took1 

This  was  /  a  fair  chyuachee  /  of  a  Cook1 

Alias  /  he  nadde  /  holde  hym  by  his  ladel 

And  er  fat  he  /  agayn  were  in  his  Sadel  52 

Ther  was  greet1  showuyng1  bothe  to  and  fro 

To  lifte  hym  vp  /  and  muchel  care  and  wo 

So  vnweeldy  /  was  this  sory  palled  goostf 

And  to  the  Manciple  /  thanne  spak  oure  hoost/  56 

IT  By  cause  /  drynke  /  hath  dominacion 

Vpon  this  man  /  by  my  sauacion 

I  trowe  /  lewedly  /  he  wolde  telle  his  tale 

ffor  were  it  wyn  /  or  ooh?  /  or  moysty  Ale  60 

ELLESMERE   573   (6-T.  577) 


578    SIX-TEXT 

GBODP  H.   §  1.   MANCIPLE'S  HEAD-LINK.   Ellesmere  MS. 

That  he  hath  dronke  /  he  speketh  in  his  nose  61 

And  fneseth  faste  /  and  eek  he  hath  the  pose 

11  He  hath  also  /  to  do  moore  than  ynough 

To  kepen  hym  and  his  Capul  out  of  slough"  64 

And  if  he  falle  /  from  his  capul  eftsoone 

Thanne  shal  we  alle  /  haue  ynogh"  to  doone 

In  liftyng  vp  /  his  heuy  dronken  cors 

Telle  on  thy  tale  /  of  hym  make  I  no  fors  68 

IT  But  yet  Manciple  /  in  feith  thou  art/  to  nyce 

Thus  openly  /  repreue  hym  of  his  vice 

Another  day  /  he  wole  perauenture 

Keclayme  thee  /  and  brynge  thee  to  lure  72 

I  meene  /  he  speke  wole  /  of  smale  thynges 

As  for  to  pynchen  /  at  thy  rekenynges 

That  were  nat  honeste  /  if  it  cam  to  preef  / 

IT  No  quod  the  Manciple  /  that  were  a  greet  mescheef*  76 

So  mygfrte  he  lightly  /  brynge  me  in  the  snare 

Yet  hadde  I  leuere  /  payen  for  the  Mare 

Which"  that*  he  rit  on  /  than  he  sholde  with"  me  stryue 

I  wol  nat  wratthen  hym  /  al  so  moot  I  thryue 

That1  that/ 1  speke  /  I  seyde  it  in  my  bourde  81 

And  wite  ye  what1 1  haue  heer  in  a  gourde 

A  draghte  of  wyn  /  ye  of  a  ripe  grape 

And  right  anon  /  ye  shul  seen  a  good  Tape  84 

This  Cook  shal  drynke  ther  of  /  if  fat  I  may 

Vp  peyne  of  deeth  /  he  wol  nat  seye  me  nay 

1T  And  certeynly  /  to  tellen  as  it  was 

Of  this  vessel  /  the  Cook1  drank  faste  /  alias  s  88 

What  neded  hym  /  he  drank  ynough"  biforn 

And  whan  he  hadde  /  pouped  in  this  horn 

To  the  Manciple  /  he  took  the  gourde  agayn 

And  of  that  drynke  /  the  Cook  was  wonder  fayn  92 

And  thanked  hym  /  in  swich  wise  as  he  koude 

IT  Thanne  gan  oure  hoost1  to  laugfien  wonder  loude 

And  seyde  /  I  se  wel  /  it  is  necessarie 

Where  J?at  we  goon  /  J>at  drynke  we  vfiih  vs  carie          96 

ELLESMERE    574   (6-T.  578) 


579    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  H.    §  1.   MANCIPLE'S  HEAD-LINK.   Ellesmere  MS. 

ffor  that  wol  turne  /  rancour  and  disese  97 

Tacord  and  loue  /  arid  many  a  wrong*  apese 

IT  0  Bacus  /  yblessed  be  thy  name 

That  so  kansf  turnen  /  ernesf  in-to  game  100 

Worships  and  thank*  be  to  thy  deitee 

Of  that  mateere  /  ye  gete  namoore  of  me 

Telle  on  thy  tale  /  Manciple  I  thee  preye 

IT  Wei  sire  quod  he  /  now  herkneth  what  I  seye  104 


KLLESMKKK    575    (6-T.  679.) 


580   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  H.   §  2.  MANCIPLE'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 


^[    Heere   bigynneth   the   Manciples   tale   /   of  the 
Crowe  (5) 

¥Han  Phebus  /  dwelled  heere  /  in  this  world1 
As  olde  bookes  /  maken  mencioun     [a(louu  | 
He  was  /  the  mooste  lusty  Bachiler  | 

In  al  this  world  /  and  eek  the  beste  Archer  | 
He  slow  Phiton  /  the  serpent1  as  he  lay 
Slepynge  /  agayn  the  sonne  vpon  a  day 

O 

And  many  another  /  noble  worthy  dede  &, 

He  with  his  bo  we  Svroghte  /  as  men  may  rede  112 

IT  Pleyen  he  koude  /  on  euery  Mynstralcie 

And  syngen  /  that  it  was  a  melodie 

To  heeren  /  of  his  cleere  voys  the  soun 

Certes  /  the  kyng1  of  Thebes  Amphioun  116 

That  with  his  syngyng1  walled  that  Citee 

Koude  neuere  syngen  /  half  so  wel  as  hee 

Therto  he  was  /  the  semelieste  man 

That  is  or  was  /  sith  jjat  the  world  bigan  120 

What  nedeth  it/  hise  fetures  to  discryue 

ffor  in  this  world  /  was  noon  so  fair  on  lyue 

He  was  ther-with  /  fulfild!  of  gentillesse  peaf  207,  back] 

Of  honour  /  and  of  parfitt  worthynesse  124 

IT  This  Phebus  /  that  was  /  flour  of  Bachilrie 

As  wel  /  in  fredom  /  as  in  Chiualrie 

ffor  his  desporf .  in  signe  eek  of  Victorie 

Of  Phiton  /  so  as  telleth  vs  the  storie  128 

Was  wont1  to  beren  in  his  hand  a  bowe 

1T  Now  hadde  this  Phebus  /  in  his  hous  a  crowe 

Which  in  a  Cage  /  he  fostred  many  a  day 

And  taughte  it  speke  /  as  men  teche  a  lay  132 

ELLESMERE    576    (6-T.  6fiO) 


581    SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  H.   §  2.   MANCIPLE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Whit  was  this  Crowe  /  as  a  snow  whit  swan  133 

And  countrefete  the  speche  of  euery  man 

He  koude  /  whan  he  sholde  telle  a  tale 

Ther-with  in  al  this  world  /  no  nyghtyngale  1 36 

]S"e  koude  /  by  an  hondred  thousand!  deel 

Syngen  /  so  wonder  myrily  and  weel 

H  Now  hadde  this  Phebus  /  in  his  hous  a  wyf  / 

"Which  fat  he  louede  /  moore  than  his  lyf/  140 

And  nyght  and  day  /  dide  euere  his  diligence 

Hir  for  to  plese  /  and  doon  hire  reuerence 

Saue  oonly  /  the  sothe  that  I  shal  sayn 

lalous  he  was  /  and  wolde  haue  kept  hire  fayn  144 

ffor  hym  were  looth  /  byiaped  for  to  be 

And  so  is  euery  wignf  in  swich  degree 

But  all  in  ydel  /  for  it  auailleth  noghtt 

A  good  wyf  /  that  is  clene  /  of  werk1  and  thoghf  148 

Sholde  nat  been  kept*  in  noon  awayt  certayn 

And  trewely  /  the  labour  is  in  vayn 

To  kepe  a  shrewe  /  for  it  wol  nat  bee 

This  holde  I  /  for  a  verray  nycetee  152 

To  spille  labour  /  for  to  kepe  wyues 

Thus  writen  olde  clerkes  /  in  hir  lyues 

Bvt  now  to  purpos  /  as  I  first  bigan 
This  worthy  Phebus  /  dooth  all  that  he  kan         156 
To  plesen  hire  /  wenynge  that  swich  plesance. 
And  for  his  manhede  /  and  his  gouemance 
That  no  man  /  sholde  han  put  hym  from  hire  grace 
But  god  it  woof,  ther  may  no  man  embrace  160 

As  to  destreyne  a  thyng* .  which  \>at  nature 
Hath  natureelly  /  set  in  a  creature 

IT  Taak  any  bryd  /  and  put  it  in  a  Cage  T  Exempium .  de  voiucre 
And  do  al  thyn  entente  /  and  thy  corage  164 

To  fostre  it  tendrely  /  with  mete  and  drynke 
Of  alle  deyntees  /  J)«t  thou  kanst  bithynke 
And  keepe  it1  al  so  clenly  /  as  thou  may 
Al  though  his  Cage  /  of  gold  be  neuer  so  gay  168 

ELLESMERE    577    (6-T.  58l) 


582    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  H.   §  2.   MANCIPLE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Yet  hath  this  brid  /  by  twenty  thousand  foold!  169 

Leuere  in  a  fforest  /  that  is  rude  and  coold? 

Goon  ete  wormes  /  and  swich  wrecchednesse  peaf2os] 

ffor  euere  this  brid  /  wol  doon  his  bisynesse  172 

To  escape  out  of  his  Cage  /  if  he  may 

His  libertee  /  this  brid  desireth  ay 

1T  Lat  take  a  Cat*  and  fostre  hym  wel  wit/i  Milk1  J^tZS*' 

And  tendre  flessh  /  and  make  his  couche  of  silk1  176 

And  lat  hym  seen  /  a  Mous  go  by  the  wal 

Anon  he  weyueth  /  Milk  /  and  flessh"  and  al 

And  euery  deyntee  /  that  is  in  that  hous 

Swich  appetit  he  hath  /  to  ete  a  Mous  180 

Lo  /  heere  hath  lust1  his  dominacion 

And  Appetif  fleemeth  discrecion 

IT  A  she  wolf  /  hath  also  /  a  vileyns  kynde          Jefu^"1*111"1 ' 

The  lewedeste  wolf/  j?at  she  may  fynde  184 

Or  leesf  of  reputacion  /  that  wol  she  take 

In  tyme  /  whan  hir  lust  to  han  a  make 

IT  Alle  thise  ensamples  /  speke  I  by  thise  men 

•That  been  vntrewe  /  and  no  thyng*  by  wowmen  1 88 

ffor  men  han  euere  /  a  likerous  appetif 

On  lower  thyng*  to  parfourne  hire  delit1 

Than  on  hire  wyues  /  be  they  neuer  so  faire 

;Ne  neuev  so  trewe  /  ne  so  debonaire  192 

fflessh  is  so  iiewefangel  with  meschaunce 

That  we  ne  konne  /  in  no  thyng  han  plesaunce 

That  sowneth  in-to  vertu  /  any  while 

;1T-This  Phebus  /  which  J>at  thoghte  vpon  no  gile          196 

Deceyued  was  /  for  al  his  lolitee 

ffor  vnder  hym  /  another  hadde  shee 

A  man  /  of  litel  reputacion 

Nat  worth  to  Phebus  /  in  co?nparison  200 

The  moore  harm  is  /  it  happeth  ofte  so 

Of  which  ther  cometh  /  muchel  harm  and  wo 

If  And  so  bifel  /  whan  Phebus  was  absent1 

His  wy f  anon  /  hath  for  hir  lemman  senf  204 

ELLESMERE   678    (6-T.  682) 


583   SIX-TEXT 

GKOUP  H.   §  2.   MANCIPLE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Hir  le?nman  ?  certes  tliis  is  a  knauyssh  speche  205 

fforyeueth  it  me  /  and  that  I  yow  biseche 

IT  The  wise  Plato  seith  /  as  ye  may  rede 

The  word  /  moot  nede  accorde  with  the  dede  208 

If  men  shal  telle  pyoprely  a  thyng* 

The  word  /  moot  cosyn  be  to  the  werkyng1 

I  am  a  boystous  man  /  right  thus  seye  I 

Ther  nys  no  difference  trewely  212 

Bitwixe  a  wyf/  J>at  is  of  heigh  degree 

If  of  hire  body  /  dishoneste  she  bee 

And  a  poure  wenche  /8  oother  than  this 

If  it  so  be  /  they  werke  bo  the  amys  216 

But  j>at  the  gentile  /  in  hire  estaat  aboue 

She  shal  be  cleped  /  his  lady  as  in  loue 

And  for  that  oother  /  is  a  poure  womman  [leaf  208,  bajk] 

She  shal  be  cleped  /  his  wenche  /  or  his  lemman  220 

And  god  it  woof  myn  owene  deere  brother 

Men  leyn  fat  oon  /  as  lowe  as  lith  fat  oother 

IT  Eight  so  /  bitwixe  a  titlelees  tiraiit/ 

And  an  Outlawe  /  or  a  theef  errant1  22 1 

The  same  I  seye  /  ther  is  no  difference 

To  Alisaundre  /  was  toold  this  sentence 

That  for  the  tirantt  is  of  gretter  myghf 

By  force  of  meynee  /  for  to  sleen  doun  right1  223 

And  brennen  hous  and  hoom  /  and  make  al  playn 

Lo  /  therfore  /  is  he  cleped  a  Capitayn 

And  for  the  Outlawe  /  hath  but  smal  meynee 

And  may  nat  doon  /  so  greet  an  harm  as  he  232 

Ne  brynge  a  contree  /  to  so  greet  mescheef/ 

Men  clepen  hym  /  an  Outlawe  /  or  a  theef  / 

But  for  I  am  a  man  /  noght  tcxtueel 

I  wol  noght  telle  /  of  textes  neuer  a  deel  236 

I  wol  go  /  to  my  tale  /  as  I  bigan 

Whan  Phebus  wyf  /  had  sent  for  hir  lemman 

Anon  they  wroghten  /  al  hire  lust  volage 

flT  The  white  crowe  /  they  heeng  ay  in  the  Cage  240 

ELLESMERE    579    (G-T.  683) 


584   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  H.   §  2.  MANCIPLE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Biheeld  hire  werk1  and  seyde  neuer  a  wore?  241 

And  whan  fat  hoom  was  come  Phebus  the  lord? 

This  Crowe  sang  /  Cokkow  /  Cokkow  /  Cokkow  / 

IT  What  bryd  quod  Phebus  /  what  song1  syngestow  ?    244 

Ne  were  thow  wont/  so  myrily  to  synge 

That  to  myn  herte  /  it  was  a  reioysynge 

To  heere  thy  voys  /  alias  what  song  is  this  ? 

1T  By  god  quod  he  /  I  synge  nat  amys  248 

Phebus  quod  he  /  for  al  thy  worthynesse 

ffor  al  thy  beautee  /  and  thy  gentilesse 

ffor  al  thy  song/  and  thy  Mynstralcye 

ffor  al  thy  waityng*  blered  is  thyn  eye  252 

With  oon  /  of  litel  reputacion 

Noght  worth  to  thee  /  in  comparison 

The  montance  of  a  gnat/  so  nioote  I  thryue 

ffor  on  thy  bed  /  thy  wyf  /  I  saugh  hym  swy  &  cetera  ^£°£ 

IT  What  wol  ye  moore  /  the  Crowe  anon  hym  tolde     qmd' 

By  sadde  tokenes  /  and  by  wordes  bolde 

How  j?at  his  wyf1  had  doon  hire  lecherye 

Hym  to  greet/  shame  /  and  to  greet  vileynye  260 

And  tolde  hym  ofte  /  he  saugh"  it  vrith  hise  eyen 

U  This  Phebus  /  gan  aweyward  for  to  wryen 

And  thoughte  /  his  sorweful  herte  brast  atwo 

His  bowe  he  bente  /  and  sette  ther-Inne  a  flo  264 

And  in  his  Ire  /  his  wyf  /  thanne  hath  he  slayn 

This  is  theffecf .  ther  is  namoore  to  sayn 

ffor  sorwe  of  which"  /  he  brak  his  Mynstralcie  Deaf  209] 

Bothe  harpe  /  and  lute  /  and  Gyterne  /  and  sautrie       268 

And  eek1  he  brak  hise  Arwes  /  and  his  bowe 

And  after  that/  thus  spak  he  to  the  crowe 

1F  Traitour  quod  he  /  with  tonge  of  Scorpion 

Thou  hast  me  broght/  to  my  confusion  272 

Alias  that  I  was  wroght  /  why  nere  I  deedf 

O  deere  wyf*  o  gemme  of  lustiheedf 

That  were  to  me  /  so.  sad  /  and  eek1  so  trewe 

Now  listow  deed  /  with  face  pale  of  hewe  276 

ELLESMERE    580   (6-T.  684) 


585    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  H.   §  2.  MANCIPLE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

fful  giltlees  /  that  dorste  I  swere  ywys  277 

0  rakel  hand  /  to  doon  so  foule  amys 

O  trouble  wit1  o  Ire  recchelees 

That  vnauysed  /  smyteth  giltles  280 

O  wantrust1  .  ful  of  fals  suspecion) 

"Where  was  thy  wit1  and  thy  discrecion) 

0  euery  man  /  be  war  of  rakelnesse 

Ne  trowe  no  thyng1  wit/i-outen  strong  witnesse  284 

Smyt  nat  to  soone  /  er  J>ot  ye  witen  why 

And  beeth  auysed  /  wel  and  sobrely 

Er  ye  doon  /  any  execucion) 

Yp  on  youre  Ire  /  for  suspecion)  288 

Alias  /  a  thousand  folk1  hath  rakel  Ire 

ffully  fcrdoon  /  and  broght  hem  in  the  Mire 

Alias  /  for  sorwe  .1  wol  my  seluen  slee 

IT  And  to  the  Crowe  /  o  false  theef  seyde  lie  292 

1  wol  thee  quite  anon  /  thy  false  tale 
Thou  songe  whilom  /  lyk1  a  nyghtyngale 
Now  shaltow  false  theef1  thy  song1  forgon 

And  eek  thy  white  fetheres  euerichon  296 

Ne  neuere  in  al  thy  lif/  ne  shaltou  speke 

Thus  shal  men  /  on  a  traytour  been  awreke 

Thou  /  and  thyn  of-spryng/  euere  shul  be  blake 

Ne  neuere  /  sweete  voys  shul  ye  make  300 

But  euere  crie  /  agayn  tempest1  and  rayn 

In  tokenynge  /  fat  thurgh  thee  /  my  wyf  is  slayn 

And  to  the  Crowe  /  he  stirte  /  and  that  anon 

And  pulled  /  hise  white  fetheres  euerychon  304 

And  made  hym  blak1  and  refte  hym  al  his  song* 

Aiid  eek  his  speche  /  and  out  at  dore  hym  slong1 

Vn-to  the  deuel  /  which  I  hym  bitake 

And  for  this  caas  /  been  alle  Crowes  blake  308 

LOrdynges  /  by  this  ensample  I  yow  preye 
Beth  war  /  and  taketh  kepe  what  I  seye 
Ne  telleth  neuere  /  no  man  in  youre  lyf 
How  J>rtt  another  man  /  hath  digRt  his  wyf  /  312 

ELLESMERE    581    (6-T.  585) 


686    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  H.   §  2.  MANCIPLE'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

He  wol  yow  liaten  /  mortally  certeyn  313 

Daun  Salomon  /  as  wise  clerkes  seyn 

Techetfi  a  man  /  to  kepen  his  tonge  weel  [leaf  209,  back] 

But  as  I  seyde  /  I  am  nognt  textueel  316 

But  nathelees  /  thus  taughte  me  my  dame 

My  sone  /  thenk/  on  the  Crowe  on  goddes  name 

My  sone  /  keepe  wel  thy  tonge  /  and  keepe  thy  freen<J 

A  wikked  tonge  /  is  worse  than  a  feendf  320 

My  sone  /  from  a  feend  /  men  may  hem  blesse 

My  sone  /  god  of  his  endelees  goodnesse 

Walled  a  tonge  /  with  teeth  and  lippes  eke 

ffor  man  sholde  hym  auyse  /  what  he  speeke  324 

My  sone  /  ful  ofte  /  for  to  rnuche  speche 

Hath  many  a  man  been  spilt1  as  clerkes  teche 

But  for  litel  speche  /  auysely 

Is  no  men  shenf '.  to  speke  generally  328 

My  sone  /  thy  tonge  sholdestow  restreyne 

At  alle  tymes  /  but  whan  thou  doost  thy  peyne 

To  speke  of  god  /  in  honour  and  preyere 

The  firste  vertu  sone  /  if  thou  wolt  leere  332 

Is  to  restreyne  /  and  kepe  wel  thy  tonge 

Thus  lerne  children  /  whan  j?«t  they  been  yonge 

My  sone  /  of  muchel  spekyng/  yuele  auysed 

Ther  lasse  spekyng/  hadde  ynough"  suffised  336 

Comth  muchel  harm  /  thus  was  me  toold  antl  taugfif 

In  muchel  speche  /  synne  wanteth  naught* 

Wostow  /  wher-of  a  rakel  tonge  semetfi 

Right  as  a  swerd  /  forkutteth  and  forkerueth  340 

An  Arm  atwo  /  my  deere  sone  right  so 

A  tonge  /  kutteth  freendshipe  al  atwo 

A  langler1  /  is  to  god  abhomynable 

Reed  Salomon  /  so  wys  and  honurable  344 

Reed  Dauid  in  hise  psalmes  /  reed  S«nekke 

My  sone  spek  naf  but  \ritJt  thyn  heed  thou  bekke 

Dissimule  as  thou  were  deef  /  if  that  thou  heere 

A  Tangier1  /.  speke  of  perilous  mateere  348 

ELLESMERE    582    (6  T.  586) 


587    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  H.   §  2.   MANCIPLE'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

The  flemyng1  seith  /and  lerne  it  if  tliee  leste  349 

That  litel  langlyng1  causeth  muchel  rest 

My  sone  /  if  thou  no  wikked  word  hast  seyc? 

Thee  thar  nat  drede  /  for  to  be  biwreyd?  352 

But  he  fat  hath  mysseyd  /  I  dar  wel  sayn 

He  may  by  110  wey  /  clepe  his  word  agayn 

Thyng  that  is  seyd  is  seyd  /  and  forth  it  gooth 

Though"  hym  repente  /  or  be  hym  leef  /  or  looth  356 

He  is  his  thral  /  to  whom  J?at  he  hath  sayd! 

A  tale  /  of  which  he  is  now  yuele  apayd? 

My  sone  be  war  /  and  be  noon  Auctour  newe 

Of  tidynges  /  wheither  they  been  false  or  trewe  360 

Wher1  so  thou  come  /  amonges  hye  or  lowe 

Kepe  wel  thy  tonge  /  and  thenk  vp-on  the  Crowe         362 

Tl  Heere  is  ended  /  the  Manciples  tale  of  the  Crowe  ^ 


EM.ESMEKE   583    (G-T.  587) 


GROUP  I.    FRAGMENT  X. 

§  1.    THE  BLANK-PARSON  LIKE. 

[Thit  it  really  a  link  between  tome  unwritten  Tale  end  the  Parson's,  ft  hat  been 
made  into  the  Manciple-Parson  Link  (or  Yeoman-Par  ton  by  the  Christ-Church  US] 
by  Chaucer'*  copiers,  though  not  meant  for  it] 

ELLESMERE  MS. 


[leaf  210] 

Heere  folweth  the  Prologe  /  of  the  Persons  tale  ^ 

Y  that  the  Manciple  /  had.de  his  tale  al  ended?. 

The  sonne  /  fro  the  south  lyne  was  descended? 

So  lowe  /  that  he  ne  nas  nat  to  my  sighte 
Degrees  /  nyne  and  twenty  /  as  in  higiLte  4 

Ten  of  the  Clokke  /  it  was  tho  /  as  I  gesse 
ffor  elleuene  foot*  or  litel  moore  /  or  lesse 
My  shadwe  was  /  at  thilke  tynie  as  there 
Of  swiche  feett  as  my  lengthe  parted  were  8 

In  sixe  feet1  equal  /  of  proporcion 
Ther  with  /  the  Moones  exaltacion 
I  meene  Libra  /  alwey  gan  ascende 

As  we  /  were  entry ng<  at  a  Thropes  ende  12 

1T  ffor  which  our  hoosf  as  he  was  wont  to  gye 
As  in  this  caas  /  oure  loly  compaignye 
Seyde  in  this  wise  /  lordynges  euerichoon 
.Now  lakketh  vs  no  tales  /  mo  than  oon  16 

ffulfilled  is  my  sentence  /  and  my  decree 
I  trowe  /  that  we  han  herd  of  ech  degree 
Almoosfr  fulfild  is  al  myn  ordinaunce 
I  pray  to  god  /  so  yeue  hym  right  good  chaunce  20 

That  telleth  this  tale  /  to  vs  lustily 
H  Sire  preest  quod  he  /  artow  a  vicary 
Or  arte  a  person  /  sey  sooth  by  thy  fey 
He  what  thou  be  /  ne  breke  thou  nat  oure  pley  24 

ELLESMERE   584   (6-T.  589) 


£>90    SIX-TEXT 

GBOUP  I.   §  1,  BLANK-PARSON  LINK.   Ellesmcre  MS. 

ffor  euery  man  saue  thou  /  hath  toold  his  tale  25 

Viibokele  /  and  shewe  vs  what  is  in  thy  Male 

ffor  trewely  /  me  thynketh  by  thy  cheere 

Thou  sholdesf  knytte  vp  wel  a  greet  mateere  28 

Telle  vs  a  fable  anon  /  for  Cokkes  hones 

11  This  Peraon  answerde  /  al  atones 

Thou  getest  fable  noon  /  ytoold*  for  me 

ffor  Paul  /  that  writeth  vn-to  thymothee          L^eu™.""1  ™" 

Repreueth  hem  /  that  weyueth  soothfastnesse 

And  tellen  fables  /  and  swich  wrecchednesse 

Why  sholde  I  sowen  /  draf1  out  of  my  fesf 

"Whan  I  may  sowen  whete  /  if  fat  me  lest1  36 

ffor  which  I  seye  /  if  that  yow  list  to  heere 

Moralitee  /  and  vertuous  mateere 

And  thanne  /  fat  ye  wol  yeue  me  Audience 

I  wol  fayn  /  at  Cristes  reuerence  40 

Do  yow  plesauuce  /  leefful  as  I  kan 

But  trusteth  wel  / 1  am  a  Southren  man 

I  kan  nat  geeste  /  Rum  /  Earn  /  Ruf  /  by  lettre 

Ne  god  woof  rym  holde  I  but  litel  bettre  44 

And  therfore  /  if  yow  list1  I  wol  nat  glose 

I  wol  yow  telle  /  a  myrie  tale  in  prose 

To  knytte  vp  at  this  feeste  /  and  make  an  ende 

And  Ihesu  for  his  grace  /  wit  me  sende  48 

To  shewe  yow  the  wey  /  in  this  viage  [leaf  210,  back] 

Of  thilke  paj-fit/  glorious  pilgrymage 

That  highte  /  Jerusalem  celestial 

And  if  ye  vouch e  sauf  /  anon  I  shal  52 

Bigynne  vp-on  my  tale  /  for  which  I  preye 

Telle  youre  auys  /  I  kan  no  bettre  seye 

1F  But  nathelees  /  this  ineditacion 

I  putte  it  ay  /  vnder  correccion  56 

Of  Clerkes  /  for  I  am  nat  textueel 

I  take  but  sentence  /  trusteth  weel 

Therfore  /  I  make  a  protestacion 

That  I  wol  stonde  to  correccion  60 

ELLESMERE   585   (6-T.  590) 


591    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  1.  BLANK-PARSON  LINK.  Ellesmere  MS. 

^T  Vp  on  this  word  /  we  han  assented  soone  61 

ffor  as  vs  seined  /  it  was  for  to  doone 

To  enden  /  in  som  vertuous  sentence 

And  for  to  yeue  hym  space  and  audience  64 

And  bede  oure  hoosf  he  sholde  to  hym  seye 

That  alle  we  /  to  telle  his  tale  hym  preye 

IT  Oure  hoost1  hadde  the  wordes  for  vs  alle 

Sire  preest  quod  he  /  now  faire  yow  bifalle  68 

Sey  what  yow  list*  and  we  wol  gladly  heere 

And  with  that  word  /  he  seyde  in  this  manere 

Telleth  quod  he  /  youre  meditaciouw 

But  hasteth  yow  /the  sonne  wole  adoun  72 

Beth  fructuous  /  and  that  in  litel  space 

And  to  do  wel  /  god  sende  yow  his  grace  74 

^[  Explicit/  prohemium  fa 


ELLESMERE    586   (6-T.  59l) 


592    SIX-TEXT 

CONTENTS    OF    PARSON'S    TALE.       PART    I. 

THE  PARSON'S  TALE. 

A  TREATISE  ON  PENITENCE,  IN  3  PARTS : 

Part  I.  On  Penitence,  and  its  1st  requisite  Contrition  (A)  (p. 

593—612). 

Part  II.  On  its  2nd  requisite,  Confession  (B)  (p.  612—679). 
Part  III.  On  its  3rd  requisite,  Satisfaction  (C)  (p.  679 — 684),  with 
the  Writer's  Leave-taking  and  Retractations  (p.  684-85) . 


PART  I.  (p.  593—612). 

ON  PENITENCE,  AND  ITS  IST  REQUISITE,  CONTBITION. 
Proem  on  Jeremiah  vi.  16.    The  Tale  is  to  be  on  Penitence  as  a  full 
noble  way  to  lead  folk  to  Christ,  and  is  to  treat  of 
i.  '  what  is  Penitence '  (p.  594) . 
ii.  '  whennes  it  is  cleped  Penitence '.  [not  in  the  Tale.} 
iii.  'in  how  manye  maneres  been  the  acciowns  or  werkynges  of 

Penitence  r  (p.  594-5). 

iv.  '  how  many  speces  ther  been  of  Penitence '  (p.  595). 
v.  '  whiche  thynges  apertenen  and  bihouen  to  Penitence r  (p.  595 — 

682 :  nearly  all  Parts  I  and  III,  and  all  Part  II). 
vi.  '  whiche  thyuges  destourbew  Penitence '  (at  end  of  Part  III, 
p.  682)  (p.  593). 

1.  Penitence  denned,  by  a.  St  Ambrose ;  b.  '  som  doctour ' ;  c.  the 

writer.  Its  requisites :  1.  bewailing  of  sins ;  2.  purpose  to 
have  shrift,  to  do  satisfaction,  never  to  sin  again,  to  continue 
in  good  works  (p.  594). 

[ii.  not  given.] 

iii.  The  3  actions  of  Penitence :  1.  Baptism  after  sin ;  2.  not  to  do 
deadly  sin  after  baptism ;  3.  not  thus  to  do  venial  sin  (p.  594-95). 

IT.  The  3  speces  or  kinds  of  Penitence :  1.  Solemn  (to  be  put  out  of 
church,  or  do  open  penance) ;  2.  Common  (to  go  naked  on  pil- 
grimage) ;  3.  Private  (p.  595). 
v.  The  3  necessities  or  requisites  for  Penitence  (p.  596 — 682) : 

A.  Contrition  of  heart  (p.  596—612). 

B.  Confession  of  mouth  (Part  II,  p.  612 — 679). 

C.  Satisfaction  (Part  III,  p.  679—682). 

Penitence  avails  against  3  things,  by  which  we  wrath  Christ  (p.  595). 
A-  Contrition  is  the  root  of  Penitence,  whose  stem  bears  branches 

and  leaves  of  Confession,  and  fruit  of  Satisfaction. 
Contrition  also  bears  a  seed  of  grace,  whose  heat  draws  men  to 

God.     (Simile  of  the  child  and  his  nurse's  milk.) 
Penance  is  the  tree  of  life  (p.  596). 
Four  Points  to  be  known  about  Contrition : 
1.  What  it  is ;  2.  the  causes  that  move  a  man  to  it ;  3.  how  to 
be  contrite ;  4.  what  it  avails  the  soul  (p.  597). 

2.  The  6  Causes  that  should  move  a  man  to  Contrition : 

a.  Remembrance  of  Sins  (p!  597-8). 

b.  Whoso  does  sin  is  the  Thrall  of  Sin  (p.  598-99). 

c.  Dread  of  the  Day  of  Doom  and  the  Pains  of  Hell  (p.  599 — 604). 
These  described:  the  Doom  (p.  599-600);  Job's  Tond  of 

mysese  and  of  derknesse'  (p.  600-1) ;  the  3  shames  in  hell 
against  (1) '  Honours,  (2)  delices,  and  (3)  richesses'  (p.  611) ; 
poverty  in  4  things :  no  treasure,  food,  clothing,  or  friends 
(p.  602) ;  and  no  delights  of  the  5  senses.  The  pain  shall  be 
eternal  (p.  603).  Hell  is  orderless  (p.  603-4).  .The  7  causes 
why  the  damnd  have  lost  all  hope  (p.  604). 

d.  Remembrance  of  the  good  works  we've  left  undone,  and  the 

loss  of  the  good  works  done  while  we  were  in  sin  (p.  604-6). 
Deadly  sin  wipes  out  all  good  works  formerly  done  (p.  605) ;. 
and  no  good  works  can  be  done  in  deadly  sin  (p.  605-6). 
The  new  French  song,  J'ai  tout  perdu  mon  temps  (also 
quoted  in  Chaucer's  late  poem  of  Fortune). 
42  (FOR  ELLESMERE  687) 


592    SIX-TEXT 

CONTENTS   OP   PARSON'S   TALE.       PART   II, 

e.  Remembrance  of  Christ's  suffering  for  our  sins  (p.  606).  In 
man's  sin.  every  ordinance  is  turnd  up-so-down  (p.  607). 
For  this  disorder  Christ  sufferd  (p.  608). 

/.  The  hope  of  3  things :  1.  Forgiveness  of  Sins,  2.  the  Gift  of 
Grace  to  do  well,  3.  the  Glory  of  Heaven  (p.  609). 

3.  How  to  be  contrite.     Contrition  must  be  universal  and  total : 

for  sins  of  thought,  for  desires  against  God's  law,  for  wicked 
words  as  well  as  wicked  deeds  (p.  610).  Contrition  must  be 
angwishous  and  continual  (p.  609-11). 

4.  How  Contrition  helps  the  soul.     It  sometimes  delivers  a  man 

from  sin ;  destroys  the  prison  of  hell ;  cleanses  the  soul ; 
changes  the  son  of  Wrath  to  the  son  of  Grace  (p.  611-12). 


PAET  II  (no.  v.  continued). 

B.  CONFESSION  (THE  2ND  REQUISITE  FOR  PENITENCE) 

(p.  612—679). 
B.  Confession.  §  1.  (1.  317)  'what  is  confession'  (p.  612). 

§  2.  '  wheither  it  oghte  nedes  be  doon  or  noon'  (p.  672-9). 
§  3.  'whiche  thynges  been  couenabie  to  verray  Confession'  (p. 
674-79). 

CONFESSION,  §  1. 

1.  'Confession  is  verray  shewynge  of  synnes  to  the  preest' 

(1.  318)  (p.  612).     We  must  understand  too 
a.  (1.  321) '  whennes  that  synnes  spryngen '  (p.  612 — 15). 
&.  'how  they  encreessen'  (p.  615-16;  672-74). 
c.  'whiche  they  been'  (p.  616—672). 

l.o.  Sin  sprang  from  the  fall  of  Adam  (p.  612) .  The  legend  of 
Adam  and  Eve  told  (p.  613).  From  Adam  we  took  Original 
Sin,  and  were  born  sons  of  eternal  damnation ;  but  Baptism 
rescues  us ;  though  we  keep  liability  to  temptation,  or  Con- 
cupiscence (p.  613-14). 
Concupiscence,  or  the  nourishing  and  occasion  of  sin.  St  Paul 

and  St  Jerome's  temptations  (p.  614-15). 

1.6.  How  Sin  grows  in  a  man.     1.  by  Concupiscence;  2.  Subjec- 
tion to  the  Devil;  3.  Hesitation;  4.  Doing,  the  Sin  be- 
coming Actual  (p.  615-16). 
I.e.  Sin  is  a.  venial,  /3.  deadly  (or  mortal). 

a.  1.  Venial  Sin  defined.     It  skips  into  Deadly  Sin.     (Simile 
of  the  drops  of  water  into  a  vessel's  hold  drowning 
the  ship ;)  (p.  616). 
ft.  1.  Deadly  Sin  defined  (p.  617). 

a.  2.  Of  divers  small  venial  sins,  hardly  thought  sins  (p.  617- 
18) ;  eating,  drinking,  talking,  too  much ;  using  your 
wife  too  much ;  not  visiting  the  sick  (p.  617) ;  talking 
vanities  at  church,  &c.  (p.  618).  Cure  of  venial  sins 
by  love  to  Christ,  prayer,  confession,  good  works,  re- 
ceiving the  Sacrament,  holy- water,  &c.  (p.  618). 
I.e.  /3.  2.  The  Seven  Deadly  Sins.  The  Chieftains,  head  and 

spring,  of  all  other  Sins  (p.  619). 
i.  Pride  (p.  619-26),  and  its  Remedy  (p.  626-8). 
ii.  Envy  (p.  628-30),  and  its  Remedy  (p.  630-1). 
iii.  Ire  or  Anger  (p.  631-42),  and  its  Remedy  (p.  642-5). 
iv.  Accidie  or  Sloth  (Discontent,  Ennui)  (p.  645-49),  and 

its  Remedy  (p.  650-1). 
v.  Avarice  or  Covetousness  (p.  651-7),  and  its  Remedy 

(p.  657-8). 

vi.  Gluttony  (p.  658-9),  and  its  Remedy  (p.  660). 
vii.  Lechery  (p.  660-8),  and  its  Remedy  (p.  668-72). 
i.  PRIDE  (p.  619—626).   Its  16  (and  more)  Twigs.   1.  Disobedience, 

2.  Boasting,  3.  Hypocrisy,  4.  Despite,  5.  Arrogance  (p.  619), 
6.  Impudence,  7.  Swelling  of  Heart  (rejoicing  in  harm  done), 
8.  Insolence,  9.  Elation,  10.  Impatience,  11.  Contumacy,  12. 

(FOB   ELLESMERE    587  «) 


592    SIX-TEXT 

CONTENTS    OF    PARSON'S    TALE.       PART    II. 

Presumption,  13.  Irreverence,  14.  Pertinacity,  15.  Vain-glory, 
16.  Jangling  (chattering). 
A  private  kind  of  pride  (the  Host's  Wife's  and  Wife  of  Bath's1), 

wanting  to  go  to  offering  first,  &c.  (p.  620). 
Two  kinds  of  Pride,  a.  '  within  man's  heart ',  b.  without ;  b.  being 
the  sign  of  a.,  '  as  the  gaye  leefsel  atte  Taverne  is  sign  of  the 
wvn  that  is  in  the  Celer'2  (p.  620-21),  b.  outside  pride. 
a.  in  dear  clothing,  1.  superfluity  of  it:  its  cost,  furring,  chisel- 
holes,  dragging  in  the  dung,  waste  of  material  (p.  621),  un- 
fitness  for  giving  to  the  poor :  2.  scantness  of  it :  showing 
men's  privy  members,  and  buttocks  (like  a  she-ape's  rump), 
and  the  former  as  half-flayd,  in  parti-colourd  hose3.     The 
'outrageous  array  of  Women'  (p.  623). 

/3.  in  horses  (p.  623),  and  vicious  grooms  to  tend  'em;  plate- 
harness,  &c. 
y.  in  household :  keeping  too  many  retainers  or  servants,  who 

oppress  the  poor  (p.  624). 

S.  in  table :  not  asking  the  poor  to  feasts ;  having  burning  and 
ornamented  dishes4;  too  costly  cups,  &c.,  and  too  choice 
minstrelsy  (p.  624). 

What  Pride  sins  are  deadly,  and  what  venial  (p.  624). 
The  Sources  of  Pride  (p.  624) :  goods  of  Nature,  Fortune,  Grace 
(p.  624).     The  Folly  of  Pride  in  any  of  these  goods  of  Nature : 
'  we  ben  alle  of  o  fader  and  of  o  mooder,  and  .  .  of  o  nature ' 5. 
The  general  signs  of  Gentleness.     (The  flies  calld  'bees',  and 
then-  stingless  king)  (p.  625) ;  3  gifts  of  Grace ;  3  of  Fortune. 
The  brittleness  of  popular  praise6  (p.  626). 
The  Remedy  against  Pride. 

Humility  or  Meekness,  and  its  3  kinds :  in  1.  heart,  2.  mouth, 
3.  works.  4  kinds  of  each  of  these  (p.  626-27). 

ii.  ENVY  (p.  627-30) :  defined  by  the  Philosopher  and  St  Augustine. 
It  springs  from  Malice  (p.  627). 

Malice ;  2  kinds  of :  1.  hardness  of  heart,  or  recklessness ;  2.  op- 
posing truth  (p.  627). 

The  2  kinds  of  Envy  (p.  628)  :  1.  sorrow  at  other  men's  prosper- 
ity ;  2.  joy  at  other  men's  harm :  whence  comes 

Backbiting ;  5  kinds  (p.  628) :  1.  praise  with  a  but  at  the  end;  2. 
turning  well-meant  things  upside  down  to  ill  ones ;  3.  lessening 
a  neighbour's  goodness ;  4.  putting  one  man  above  another ;  5. 
glad  listening  to  scandal  (p.  628). 

Grudging  or  murmuring  (p.  628) :  1.  against  God  (p.  629) ;  2. 
Murmuring  from  avarice,  3.  from  pride,  4.  from  envy ;  5.  among 
Servants,  who  say  'the  Devil's  Paternoster' ;  6.  Murmuring 
from  ire  or  hate :  thence,  a.  Bitterness  of  Heart,  b.  Discord, 
c.  Scorning;  d.  Accusing  (p.  629) ;  e.  Malignity  (p.  630). 
The  Remedy  against  Envy  (p.  630-31). 

Love  of  God  and  one's  neighbour.  How  a  man  shall  love  his 
neighbour.  How  an  enemy  is  included  in  the  name  'neigh- 
bour' (p.  630).  3  Remedies  of  Love,  against  3  deeds  of  Hate 
(p.  631).  Love  is  the  medicine  that  casts  out  the  venom  of 
Envy  from  man's  heart  (p.  631). 

iii.  IBB  or  ANGER  (p.  631-42),  and  its  2  kinds :  a.  good  Ire  or  Wrath 
(p.  632) ;  b.  wicked  Ire,  and  its  2  kinds :  sudden  ire,  and  ire 
of  malice  aforethought  (p.  632-33). 

Three  Shrews  that  forge  in  the  Devil's  furnace :  Pride,  Envy, 
and  Contumely  (p.  633). 

1  Melibe-Monk  Link,  B.  §  11 ;  and  General  Prologue,  A. 

2  Chaucer's  father  uo  doubt  had  a  sign  outside  his  wine-shop  or  tavern  in  Thames 
Street,  London. 

3  The  outspoken  and  somewhat  coarse  abuse  of  the  new  fashions  in  dress  is  a  great 
change  from  Chaucer's  admirable  Third-Period  chaff  of  the  moral  short-comings  of 
the  monks  and  friars,  &c.,  in  the  Prologue  and  middle  Tales.    If  this  is  not  change  of 
man,  it's  change  of  mood. 

*  Chaucer  must  have  seen  plenty  of  these  when  he  was  page,  valet,  and  squire. 
5  Compare  Chaucer's  Gentleaens,  &c.        6  Compare  Clerk's  Tale,  Part  VI,  st.  135. 
(FOR   ELLESMERE    587  6) 


SIX-TEXT    592 
CONTENTS   OP   PARSON'S   TALE.      PART    II. 

Wrath  takes  away  a  man's  wit  and  spiritual  life  (p.  634). 
Fruits  of  Wrath  :  1.  Hate.    2.  War  and  wrong.    3.  Manslaughter, 
a.  spiritual  ;  b.  bodily  (p.  634). 

a.  The  3  kinds  of  spiritual  Manslaughter  (3,  calld  6  in  MSS. 
p.  634)  :  1.  by  Hate.   2.  by  Backbiting.     3.  Giving  wicked 
Counsel,  by  Fraud  (p.  634). 

b.  bodily  Manslaughter:  slaying  with  your  tongue,  giving 
orders  or  counsel  to  slay  a  man  (p.  634). 

Manslaughter  in  deed  :  its  4  (that  is,  7)  kinds  (p.  635)  :  1.  by  law  : 
a  Justice  condemning  a  man  to  death  ;  2.  justifiable  homicide, 
in  defence  of  one's  own  life  ;  3.  by  misadventure  :  shooting  an 
arrow,  &c.  ;  4.  a  woman  overlying  her  child  ;  5.  a  man  making 
a  woman  barren  by  drinks,  &c.,  killing  the  foetus  within  her, 
shedding  his  seed  in  the  wrong  place  ;  a  woman  kiDing  the  child 
in  her  womb  ;  6.  a  woman  killing  her  child  (after  birth)  for 
shame  ;  7.  a  man  by  lechery  or  blows  killing  a  foetus. 

(Sixteen)  other  sins  coining  from  Ire  or  Anger. 

1.  blaming  or  despising  God,  as  hazarders  do  (Cp.  Pardoner's 

Tale)  (p.  635)  ;  and  those  who  treat  of  the  Sacrament  of 
the  altar  irreverently  (p.  636). 

2.  Attry  anger  :  making  angry  false  excuses  for  sin. 

3.  Swearing,  which  dismembers  Christ  (p.  636). 

a.  Of  lawful  Swearing,  before  a  Judge  :  its  3  conditions,  and 
its  motives  ;  b.  God's  name  and  Christ's,  not  to  be  taken 
in  vain  (p.  637)  ;  c.  swearing  for  gentility  or  manliness 

a  638)  ;  d.  swearing  suddenly;  e.  of  Adjuration  and 
njuration  by  enchanters   and   necromancers  ;  f.   of 
Divination  by  Dreams,  &c.  ;  g.  of  Charms  for  Wounds 


and  Maladies  (p.  638). 

4.  yng  (p.  638),  and  its  6  kns. 

5.  Flattering.      How  Flatterers  are  the  Devil's  Nurses,  his 


Enchanters  and  Chaplains  (p.  639). 

6.  Cursing  that  comes  of  irous  heart  :  Malison. 

7.  Chiding  and  Reproach  (p.  640);  (specially  a  chiding  wife1) 

(p.  640-41). 


8.  Scorning  (p.  641). 

9.  Giving    wicked    Counsel 

(p.  641). 

10.  Sowing  and  making  Dis- 

cord (p.  642). 

11.  Double  tongue  (p.  642). 


12.  Betraying    of    Counsel    (p. 

642). 

13.  Menace. 

14.  Idle  words. 

1 5.  Jangling  (chatteringXp.  642) . 

16.  Japing  (joking)  (p.  642-43). 


The  Remedy  against  Anger  (p.  643-5).  Debonairtee  and  Patience 
(p.  643).  Four  kinds  of  grievances,  and  their  remedies:  1. 
wicked  words,  2.  loss  of  goods,  3.  harm  of  body,  4.  outrageous 
labour  (p.  644). 

Incentives  to  Patience.     Story  of  the  Philosopher  and  Child 
(p.  644-45).    Obedience  comes  from  Patience  (p.  645). 

iv.  ACCIDIE,  or  SLOTH  (Discontent,  Ennui)  (p.  645-49),  is  an  enemy 
to  the  3  states  of  man, — 1.  innocence  (p.  645),  2.  prayer  (p.  646), 
3.  grace;— and  to  one's  livelihood.  Its  12  bad  consequences  (p. 
646) :  1.  Sloth  (and  its  remedy) ;  2.  Dread  to  begin  good  works 
(p.  646) ;  3.  Wanhope,  or  Despair  (and  its  Remedy)  (p.  647) ;  4. 
Somnolence  (p.  648),  and  5.  Negligence,  or  6.  Recklessness,  and 
the  Remedy  for  each ;  7.  Idleness ;  8.  Tarditas,  or  tarrying 
before  turning  to  God  (p.  649) ;  9.  Lachesse,  or  giving  up  a 
good  work  begun ;  10.  Coldness;  11.  Undevotion;  12.  Worldly 
sorrow  (p.  649). 

The  Remedy  against  Accidie  (p.  650-51) :  Fortitude  or  Strength, 
and  its  5  kinds.  1.  Magnanimity2  or  great  Courage ;  2.  Faith 
or  Hope ;  3.  Assurance ;  4.  Magnificence ;  5.  Constancy  (p. 
651). 

1  Does  Chaucer  here  refer  to  his  former  wife? 

*  Miswritten  '  Magnificence '  in  Ellesmere  and  Lansdowne  MSS. 

(FOB    ELLESMERE    588) 


SIX-TEXT    592 
CONTEXTS    OF    PARSON'S    TALE.       PART    II. 

v.  AVARICE  (p.  651-57).  The  difference  between  Avarice  and  Coyet- 
ousness  (p.  651) ;  and  between  an  Idolater  and  an  avaricious 
man  (p.  652).  Of  Covetousness,  and  lords'  extortion  from  their 
bondmen :  "humble  folk  been  Cristes  freendes"  (p.  652-53).  The 
Duty  of  lords  to  their  thralls  or  churls.  Of  those  that  pillage 
Holy  Church  (p.  653-54) ;  lords  who  plunder  the  poor  are  like 
wolves  (p.  654).  Of  Deceit  between  Merchant  and  Merchant 
(p.  654).  Of  honest  bodily  Merchandise  (the  surplus  of  one 
country  may  be  sent  to  help  another)  (p.  654).  Of  spiritual 
Merchandise,  or  Simony,  and  its  2  kinds  (p.  655), — thieves  that 
steal  Christ's  souls  get  livings  (p.  655-56) ; — Hasardry  or  Games 
of  Chance  (p.  656).  Other  outcomes  of  Avarice  (p.  656) :  1.  Lying, 
2.  Theft  (bodily  and  spiritual)  (p.  656-57),  3.  False  Witness, 

4.  False  Oaths  (p.  657). 

The  Remedy  against  Avarice  (p.  657) :  Mercy  and  Pity,  and  reason- 
able Liberality  (p.  658).  Of  foolish  largess  (p.  658). 

vi.  GLUTTONY  (p.  658-59),  and  its  5  kinds  (p.  659) :  1.  Drunkenness, 
or  the  burial  of  man's  reason ;  2.  a  troubled  spirit ;  3.  bad  way 
of  eating ;  4.  distemperd  bodily  humours ;  5.  forgetfulness.  Or, 
as  St  Gregory  says,  1.  eating  too  soon ;  2.  eating  too  delicate 
food ;  3.  taking  too  much ;  4.  troubling  too  much  about  cooking 
food ;  5.  eating  greedily :  these  are  the  5  fingers  of  the  devil's 
hand  (p.  659). 

The  Remedy  against  Gluttony  (p.  660) :  Abstinence,  and  its  fellows. 
Temperance,  Shame,  Content  with  plain  food,  Moderation,  So- 
berness, Sparing  (p.  660). 

vii.  LECHERY  (p.  660).     Its  punishment  in  the  Old  Testament  (p. 

660).  Adultery,  and  the  desire  of  it  (p.  661-62). 
The  5  fingers  of  the  Devil's  other  hand  (p.  662) ;  1.  foolish  look- 
ing; 2.  villainous  touching;  3.  foul  words;  4.  kissing  (old  do- 
tards, and  dry  dogs  at  a  rose-tree  (p.  662) ;  and  how  a  man  should 
love  his  wife) ;  5.  the  stinking  deed  of  lechery  (p.  663).  Its 
kinds :  1.  Fornication.  Taking  a  maid's  maidenhead,  or  100th 
fruit  (p.  663).  2.  Adultery,  defined.  3.  Harms  following  from  it : 
a.  breaking  of  faith ;  b.  theft  (of  the  wife's  body  from  her  hus- 
band (Joseph  and  Potiphar's  wife),  and  of  her  soul  from  Christ) ; 
c.  breaking  God's  commandment,  and  defouling  Christ  (p.  664). 
Of  Harlots  and  Bawds  (p.  665).  Adultery  is  set  between  Theft 
and  Manslaughter.  More  kinds  of  Adultery:  1.  by  Men  bound 
by  Religious  Vows,  &c. ;  2.  those  hi  Holy  Orders  (p.  665). 
Lecherous  Priests  are  like  a  free  Bull  in  a  town,  and  they  eat 
raw  flesh  of  folk's  wives  and  daughters  (p.  666) ;  3.  by  man  and 
wife  copulating  for  pleasure  only  (p.  667) ;  4.  copulation  with 
kinsfolk,  spiritual  (or  godchildren)  or  fleshly  (blood  relations). 

5.  the  abominable  unmentionable  sin ;  6.  Pollution,  of  3  kinds : 
1.  too  rank  humours;  2.  weakness  (p.  667);  3.  evil  thoughts 
(p.  668). 

The  Remedy  for  Lechery  (p.  668) :  I.  Chastity  and  Continence. 

1.  in  Marriage.     (The  true  effect  of  Marriage.     One  husband  to 
have  one  wife  (p.  668).     How  a  man  should  behave  to  his  wife 
(p.  669).     How  the  wife  should  be  subject  to  her  husband  (p. 
€69),  and  be  moderate  in  behaviour,  discreet  in  words,  &c.  (p. 
669-70).     The  3  causes  for  which  man  and  wife  may  copulate 
(p.  670) :  a.  begetting  of  children ;  b.  to  pay  the  mutual  debt  of 
their  bodies ;  c.  to  avoid  lechery  (p.  670).     The  4th  cause, 
pleasure,  is  deadly  sin  (p.  670-71).) 

2.  In  Widowhood ;  3.  Virginity  (p.  671). 

II.  Special  avoidance  of  causes  of  lechery :  a.  eating  and  drink- 
ing ;  long  sleeping ;  b.  the  person  who'd  tempt  you  (p.  671-72}. 
(I  wish  I  could  tell  you  the  Ten  Commandments ;  but  it's 
too  high  doctrine  (p.  672).)  [End  of  Confession,  §  1,  c.] 

Sin  is  in  heart,  mouth,  deed,  by  the  5  Wits  (p.  672). 
(FOR   ELLESMKRE    588  a) 


SIX-TEXT   592 
CONTENTS   OF   PARSON'S   TALE.      PARTS   II   AND   III. 

$  1.6.  (see  p.  615-16.)  The  7  Circumstances  that  encrease  or  aggravate 
sins  (p.  672).  1.  the  person  who  sins  (male  OP  female,  &c.) ; 
2.  the  kind  of  sin  (fornication  or  homicide) ;  3.  the  place  it 
was  committed  in  (as  in  a  church,  by  a  priest)  (p.  673) ;  4.  for 
what  motive ;  5.  the  number  of  tiijies  it  was  committed  ;  6. 
by  what  temptation ;  7.  how  it  was  committed ;  and  all  other 
circumstances  (p.  674). 

CONFESSION,  §  2,  §  3  (p.  674-79). 
Profitable  Confession,  and  its  4  (=  3)  Conditions  (p.  674) : 

1.  sorrowful  bitterness  of  heart  (p.  674) ;  its  5  signs :  a.  shame- 
fastness  (like  the  Publican's)  (p.  675) ;  b.  humility ;  c.  fulness 
of  tears  (p.  675) ;  d.  no  hesitation  (like  the  Magdalen)  for 
shame ;  e.  obedience  to  receive  penance  laid  on  you  (p.  675). 

2.  speedy  Confession  (p.  676) ;  its  4  Conditions :  /.  that  it  be 
well  thought  over ;  a.  the  greatness  and  number  of  sins  must 
be  understood ;  h.  the  sinner  must  be  contrite,  and  i.  avoid 
occasions  of  sins. 

3.  Shrift  must  be  made  to  one  man,  not  more  (p.  676). 

True  Shrift,  and  its  10  Conditions  (p.  677) :  1.  that  it  be  of  free 
will ;  2.  that  it  be  lawful  (both  sinner  and  priest,  Popish) ;  3. 
that  it  be  not  despairing  of  Christ's  mercy;  4.  that  a  man 
accuse  himself  only,  and  not  another ;  5.  that  it  be  not  lying 
(accusing  oneself  of  sins  never  committed)  (p.  678) ;  that  it  be 
by  one's  own  mouth,  and  not  by  letter ;  7.  that  the  sin  be  not 
painted  with  fair  words ;  8.  that  the  shrift  be  to  a  discreet 
priest ;  9.  that  the  shrift  be  not  made  for  vain  -glory,  but  for 
fear  of  Christ ;  10.  that  the  shrift  be  not  made  suddenly,  for  a 
joke  (p.  678).  You  may  be  shriven  more  than  once  for  the  same 
sin ;  and  should  be  houseld  once  a  year  (p.  679). 


PAET  III  (no.  v.  continued,  and  no.  vi). 

SATISFACTION  (THE  SRD 'REQUISITE  FOR  PENITENCE) 
(p.  679—684). 

In  a.  Alms.    /3.  bodily  punishment. 

a.  Alms  and  its  three  kinds  (p.  679) :  1.  Contrition  of  heart.  2. 
Pity  for  one's  neighbour's  faults.  3.  Giving  good  counsel  to 
other's  souls  and  bodies  (food,  visits  in  prison,  burial).  These 
Alms  should  be  done  privily,  if  possible  (p.  680). 
/3.  Bodily  Punishment  (Penance),  of  4  kinds:  1.  Prayers 
(chiefly  of  the  Paternoster,  whose  expounding  I  leave  to  Mas- 
ters of  Theology)  (p.  680).  2.  Watching,  and  its  3  kinds : 
forbearing,  a.  meat  and  drink,  b.  worldly  jollity,  and  c. 
deadly  sin  (p.  681).  3.  Fasting,  and  its  4  lands :  Liberality  to 
poor  folk ;  spiritual  gladness  of  neart ;  not  grudging  at  fasting ; 
reasonable  eating.  4.  Virtuous  teachings,  or  Discipline :  a. 
by  word,  writing,  or  example ;  b.  by  wearing  hairshirts.,  &c  , 
next  your  skin,  scourging  yourself,  taking  evils  and  injuries 
patiently  (p.  682).  [End  of  no.  v.  in  Part  i;  p.  593.] 


vi.  The  4  Things  that  disturb  Penance  [no.  vi,  or  last  §,  of  p.  593 
at  foot]  (p.  682).  1.  Dread,  and  its  remedy.  2.  Shame,  and 
its  remedy.  3.  Hope :  a.  of  long  life,  and  b.  consequent  over- 
confidence  in  Christ  s  mercy  (p.  683).  4.  Wanhope,  or  Despair 
of  Mercy ;  its  3  kinds :  x.  from  great  and  long  continued  sin ; 
y.  from  falls-back  into  sin ;  z.  from  not  being  able  to  persevere 
in  goodness  (p.  683). 
The  fruit  of  Penance  (p.  683-4). 

EPILOGUE. 

The  Author's  Leave-taking,  and  Lament  over,  and  Withdrawal  of, 
his  Sinful  Books,  &c.  (p.  684-85). 

(r'OU    El.LESMERE    588  ?') 


593   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   589 


[EUesmere  MS,  leaf  210,  back.} 

[There  are  no  paragraph-breaks  in  the  MS,  tut  TyrmhUfs  are 
kept  in  the  print  for  convenience  sakeJ\ 

^[  Heere  bigynneth  /  the  Persouws  tale  fa 

IF  Ier\  6°.  State  super  vias  &  videte  &  interrogate  de 
viis  antiquis  /  que  sit  via  bona  /  &  ambulate  in  ea  &  in- 
uenietis  refrigerium  animabws  vestris  &c  fo  fo 

0[75] 
ure  sweete  lord  god  of  heuene  /  that  no  man  wole 
perisse  /  but  wole  that  we  comen  alle  to  the 
knoweleche  of  hym  /  and   the   blissful   lif  / 
that  is  perdurable  /.  [76]  amonesteth  vs  by  the 
prophete   leremie  /  and  seith  in  this  wyse  / 
[77]  IT  Stondeth  vpon  the  weyes  /  and  seeth  /  and  axeth 
of  olde  pathes  /  that  is  to   seyn  /  of  olde  sentences  / 
which  is  the  goode  wey  /  [78]  and  walketh  in  that  wey  / 
and    ye    shal   fynde   refresshynge   for   youre   soules    && 
[79]  1T  Manye  been  the  weyes  espirituels  that1  leden  folk  / 
to  oure  Lord  Ihesu  Crist1,  and  to  the  regne  of  glorie  / 
[80]  Of  whiche  weyes  /  ther  is  a  ful  noble  wey  /  and  a 
couenable  /  which   may  nat   fayle   Jto   no  man  /  ne  to 
womman  /  that  thurgh  synne  hath  mysgoon  fro  the  righte 
wey  of  Jerusalem  celestial  /  [81]  and  this  wey  /  is  cleped 
Penitence  /  of  which   man   sholde   gladly  herknen  and 
enquere  with  al  his  herte  /  [82]  to  wyten  what  is  Peni- 
tence /  and  whennes  it  is  cleped  Penitence  /  and  in  how 
manye  maneres  been  the  accions  or  werkynges  of  Penitence  / 
[83]  and  how  manye  speces  /  ther  been  of  Penitence  /  and 
whiche  thynges  apertenen  and  bihouen  to  Penitence  /  and 
whiche  thynges  /  destourben  Penitence  / 

ELLESMERE   589   (6-T.  593)  [U«af2H] 


594   SIX-TEXT 

590    QUOUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 
J  what  [84]  IF  Seint  Ambrose  seith  /  that  Penitence  /  is  the 

Penitence  is 

pleynynge  of  man  /  for  gilt  \>at  he  hath  doon  /  and  na- 
moore  to  do  any  thyng1  for  which  hym  oghte  to  pleyne  / 
[85]  f  And  som  doctour  seith  /  Penitence  is  the  wayment- 
ynge  of  man  /  that  sorweth  for  his  synne  /  and  pyneth 
hym  self1  for  he  hath  mysdoon  [86]  ^F  Penitence  /  with 
certeyne  circumstances  /  is  verray  repentance  of  a  man  that1 
halt  hym  self  in  sorwe  /  and  oother  peyne  for  hise  giltes  / 
[87]  And  for  he  shal  be  verray  penitent1,  he  shal  first1 
biwaylen  the  synnes  that  he  hath  doon  and  stidefastly 
pzwposen  in  his  herte  /  to  haue  shrift1  of  mouthe  /  and  to 
doon  satisfaccion  [88]  and  neuere  to  doon  thyng1.  for  which 
hym  oghte  moore  biwayle  /  or  to  compleyne  /  and  con- 
tinue in  goode  werkes  /  or  elles  his  repentance  may  nat 
auaille  /.  [89]  ffor  as  seith  seint  Ysidre  IF  he  is  a  laper1  and 
a  gabber1  /  and  no  verray  repentant1,  that  eftsoone  dooth 
jNofa  thyng1.  for  which  hym  oghte  repente  /.  [90]  "Wepynge  / 

and  nat  for  to  stynt  to  synne  /  may  nat  auaylle  [91]  IF  But 
nathelees  /  men  shal  hope  /.  that  euery  tyme  }>at  man 
falleth  /  be  it  neuer  so  ofte  /  }>at  he  may  arise  thurgh"  Peni- 
tence /  if  he  haue  grace  /.  but1  certeinly  it  is  greet  doute  || 
f  Nota  sfcttndvm  [92]  ffor  as  seith  Seint  Gregorie  /  vnnethe  ariseth  he  out 
Grego'rium  of  synne  /  that  is  charged  with  the  charge  of  yuel  vsage  / 
[93]  And  therfore  /  repentant  folk  /  J?at  stynte  for  to 
synne  /  and  forlete  synne  /  er  fat  synne  forlete  hem  /  hooly 
chirche  /  holdeth  hem  siker  of  hire  sauacion  /.  [94]  And 
he  that1  synneth  /  and  verraily  repenteth  hym  in  his  laste  /. 
hooly  chirche  yet  hopeth  his  sauacion  /  by  the  grete 
mercy  /  of  cure  lord  Ihesu  Crist1  for  his  repentance  but 

tene  certnm 

taak  the  siker  wey  / 

[95]  IF  And  now  /  sith  I  haue  declared  yow  /  what 

thyng  is  penitence  /  now  shul  ye  vnclerstonde  /  that  ther 
^Thefirste  been  .iij.  accioiis  of  Penitence  /  [96]  II  The  firste  accion  of 
penitence  Penitence  is  /  that  a  man  be  baptized  after  that1  he  hath 

•[  NO<O  secundum  synned  ||.  [97]  Seint  Augustyn  seith  ||  but  he  be  penytenf 
Augustinum        for  his  olde  synful  lyf1.  he  may  nat  bigynne  /  the  newe 

ELLESMKRE    590   (6-T.  594) 


595    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   591 

clene  lif*  /.  [98]  for  ceries  /  if  lie  be  baptized  /  withouten 
penitence  of  his  olde  gilt1  he  receyueth  the  mark1  of 
baptesme  /  but  nat  the  grace  /  ne  the  remission  of  his 
synnes  /  til  he  haue  repentance  verray  /  [99]  IF  Another  f  The.ij««. 

•  T  i  acciottn  of 

defaute  is  this  that  men  doon  deedly  synne  /  after  fat  penitence 
they  han  receyued  baptesme  [100]  IF  The  thridde  defaute  1TThe.iijd«. 

aceiottii  of 

is  /  that  men  fallen  in  venial  synnes  after  hir  baptesme  /  penitence 
fro  day  to  day  [101]   1F  Ther  of  seith  Seint  Augustyn  HAugustin«* 
1F  That  penitence  /  of  goode  and  humble  folk  /.  is  the 
penitence  of  euery  day  / 

ipecies 

[102]  The  speces  of  Penitence  /  been  .iij.  1F  That  oon  n  or .iij.  speces 

Of  pCU£Lf6MCC 

of  hem  /  is  solempne  IF  Another1  is  co?muune  IF  and  the 

thridde   is   pn'uee   [103]   1F  Thilke   penance   that   is  so-  t  ofpena«nce 

solempne 

lempne  is  in  two  maneres  /.  As  to  be  put  out  of  hooly 
chirche  in  lente  for  slaughtre  of  children  /  and  swich 
maner  thyng1  [104]  1F  Another  thyng1  is  /  Whan  a  man 
hath  synned  openly  /  of  which  synne  /  the  fame  is  openly 
spoken  in  the  contree  /  and  thanne  hooly  chirche  by  lugge- 
ment1  destreyneth  hym  /  for  to  do  open  penaunce  /  [105] 
IF  Commune  penaunce  is  /  that  preestes  enioynen  men  in  for  commune 

penaance 

certeyn  caas  /  as  for  to  goon  pe?'auen1ture  /  naked  in 
pilgrimages  /  or  bare  foot*  [106]  IF  Pryuee  penaurcce  isfofprmee 

penaunce 

thilke  /  that1  men  doon  alday  for  priuee  synnes  /  of  whiche 
they  shryue  hem  pn'uely  and  receyue  pn'uee  penance 

[107]  Now  shaltow  vnderstande  /  what  is  bihouely  f  what  is 

,    ,  c,  .,  ,  ,     ,,  .     bihouely  to  perfit 

and  necessarie  /  to  verray  perfit   penitence  /.  And  this  penitence 
stant  on  .iij.  thynges  ||.  [108]  Contriciown  of  herte  ||.  Con- 
fession of  Mouth"  1F  and  Satisfaccion  /.  [109]  if  or  which  / 
seith  Seint  John  Crisostom  IF  Penitence  destreyneth  a  man  f  lohannea 

Crisostoma* 

to  accepte  benygnely  euery  peyne  that  hym  is  emoyned  / 
with  Contricion  of  herte  and  shrift1  of  moutfi  /  with  satis- 
faccion  /  and  in  werkynge  of  alle  manere  humylitee  /  [no] 
and  this  is  fruytful  penitence  agayn  .iij.  thynges  in  whiche  for  Hi  thynges 

.  in  whiche  we 

we  wratthe  oure  lord  Inesu.  Crist  [|.  [in]  This  is  to  seyn  /  wratthe oure lord 

Ihesu  cr  jst  / 

by  delit1  in  thynkynge  5F  by  reccheleesnesse  in  spekynge  ||. 
and  by  wikked  synful  werkynge  ||  [112]  And  agayns  thise 

ELLESMERE    691    (6-T.  59o)        C1  leaf  211,  back] 


596    SIX-TEXT 

592    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

f  HOW  penaunce  wikkede  giltes  is  Penitence  that  may  be  likned  vn-to  a  tree  / 

may  be  likned  to 

a  tree.  [1I3J  Tke  ro°te  °f  this  tree  /  is  Contricion  /  that  hideth 

hym  in  the  herte  /  of  hym  J>at  is  ve;Tay  repentant1,  right*  as 
the  roote  of  a  tree  hydeth  hym  in  the  erthe  [114]  H  Of  the 
roote  of  Contricion  spryngeth  a  stalke  that  bereth  braunches 
and  leues  of  Confession  /  and  fruyt  of  satisfaccion  [115] 

f  dominus  in       1F  ffor  which"  Crist  seith  in  his  gospel  /.  dooth  digne  fruyt  of 

Euattngelio. 

Penitence  /.  for  by  this  fruyt1  may  men  knowe  this 
tree  /  and  nat  by  the  roote  /  that  is  hyd  /  in  the  herte 
of  man  /  ne  by  the  braunches  /  ne  by  the  leues  of  Confession 
[i  1 6]  And  therfore  /  oure  Lord  Ihesu  Crist  /  seith  thus  /.  by 
tOfaseedj>at  the  fruyt  of  hem/  ye  shul  knowera  hem  [117]  IT  Of  this 

spryngejjof 

contricio»n  roote  eek1  spryngeth  a  seed  a  grace  /  the  \vhich  seed  /  is 
niooder  of  sikernesse  /  and  this  seed  /  is  egre  and  hoof 
[118]  the  grace  of  this  seed  /  spryngeth  of  god  thurgh"  re- 
membrance of  the  day  of  doome  /  and  on  the  peynes  of 

USaiomotm        helle  [119]  IT  Of  this  matere  seith  Salomon  That1  in  the 

^  or  theheeteof  drede  of  god  /  man  forleteth  his  synne  [120]  IT  The  heete 
of  this  seed  /  is  the  loue  of  god  /  and  the  desiryng*  of  the 
ioye  perdurable  [121]  This  heete  /  draweth  the  herte  of  a 
man  to  god  /  and  dooth  hym  haten  his  synne  /  [122]  for 
soothly  /  ther  is  no  thyng1  that  sauoureth  so  wel  to  a  child*  / 
as  the  Milk  of  his  Nonce  /  ne  no  thyng1  moore  abhom- 
ynable  than  thilke  Milk1  whan  it  is  medled  with 

tNofa  oother  mete   [123]  Eight1  so  the  synful  man  that  loueth 

exemplum. 

his  synne  /  hym  semeth  /  that  it  is  to  him  moost  sweete  of 
any  thyng1.  [124]  but  fro  that  tyme  /  that  he  loueth  sadly 
oure  lord  Ihesu  m'st1.  and  desireth  the  lif  perdurable  /  ther 
nys  to  him  no  thyng  moore  abhomynable  /  [125]  for 
soothly  /  the  lawe  of  god  /  is  the  loue  of  god  /  for  which  / 
•f  dauid  propheta  Dauid  the  prophete  seith  1T  I.  haue  loued  thy  lawe  &  hated 
wikkednesse  and  hate  /  he  that  loued  god  /  kepeth  his  lawe 
and  his  worcJ  [126]  IT  This  tree  saugfi  the  prophete  Daniel  / 
in  the  Auysion  of  the  kyng  /  N abugodonosor  /  whan  he  con- 
seiled  hym  to  do  penitence  [127]  IF  Penaunce  /  is  the  tree 
of  lyf  /  to  hem  that  it  receyuen  /  and  he  fat  holdeth  hym 

ELLESMERE    592    (6-T. 


597    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   593 

in  ve/ray  penitence  /  is  blessed  /  after  the  sentence  of 
Salomon 

[128]  IT  In  this  penitence  or  contricion  /  man  shal  vn-  irof.inj. 
derstonde  .iiij.  thynges  /  that  is  to  seyn  /  what  is  Contricion  /.  longynge  to 

i        i  .   •,        i  ,1  .     ,  contricuwn 

and  whiche  been  the  causes  pat  moeuen  a  man  to  con- 
tricion /.  and  how  he  sholde  be  contrit1.  /  &  what1  con- 
tricion /  auailleth  to  the  Soule  [129]  IT  Thanne  is  it  thus  /  f  what 

contricioun  is. 

pat  contricion  /  is  the  verray  sorwe  /  that  a  man  receyueth 
in  his  herte  for  his  synnes  /  with  sad  purpos  /  to  shryue 
hym  /  and  to  do  penaunce  /  and  neueremoore  to  do  synne  / 
[130]  and  this  sorwe  /  shal  been  in  this  manere  as  seith 
seint  Bernard*  1T  It  shal  been  heuy  and  greuous  /  and  1ful  fSa»c«us 

Bernardus 

sharpe  and  poynanf  in  herte  [131]  1F  ffirst  /  for  man  hath 
agilt  his  lord?  /  &  his  Creatour  /  and  moore  sharpe  and 
poynant1.  for  he  hath  agilfr  hys  fader  celestial  /.  [132]  and 
yet  moore  sharpe  and  poynanf.  for  he  hath  wrathed  and 
agilt  hym  that  bogfrte  hym  /.  which  with  his  precious  blood 
haj?  deliuered  vs  /  fro  the  bondes  of  synne  /  and  fro  the 
crueltee  of  the  deuel  and  fro  the  peynes  of  helle 

[133]  ^T  The  causes  that  ogfite  moeue  a  man  to  Con-  f  of  .vj.  causes 
tricion  /  been  .vj.  /  IT  ffirst1  a  man  shal  remembre  hym  of  moeuf  a  man  to 
hise  synnes  /  [134]  but  looke  he  /  that   thilke  remem-  ^  The  firste  cause 
brance.  ne  be  to  hym  no  delit  by  no  wey  /  but  greet  shame  of  contn< 
and  sorwe  for  his  gilt1 1T  ffor  lob  seith  /  synf ul  men  /  doon  ^  i0b 
werkes  /  worthy  of  Confession  [135]  And  therfore  seith 
Ezechie  /.  I.  wol  remembre  me  /  alle  the  yeres  of  my  lyf1  T  Ezeciuas 
in  bitternesse  of  myn  herte  [136]  And  god  seith  in  the  1T  Aominus  m 
Apocalipse  IT  Eemembreth  yow  /  fro  whewnes  j?at  ye  been 
falle  /.  for  biforn  that  tyme  pat  ye  synned  /  ye  were  the 
children  of  god  /.  and  lymes  of  the  regne  of  god  /  [137]  but 
for  youre  synne  /  ye  been  woxen  thral  and  foul  /  and 
membres  of  the  feend?  /  hate  of  Aungels  /  sclaundre  of  hooly 
chirche  /  and  foode  of  the  false  serpent1,  perpetueel  matere 
of  the  fir  of  helle  /.  [138]  And  yet  moore  foul  and  abhoni- 
ynable  /  for  ye  trespassen  so  ofte  tyme  /  as  dooth  the  hound?  / 
pat   retourneth   to    eten   his    spewyng   /.   [139]    and   yet 

ELLESMERE    693    (6-T.  597)  [i  leaf  212] 


^T  dom'im*  per 
Ezecliielem  pro- 
phetain 


598    SIX-TEXT 

594    GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

be  ye  fouler  /  for  youre  longe  continuyng*  in  synne  & 
youre  synful  vsage  /  for  which  /  ye  be  roten  in  youre 
synne  /  as  a  beest  in  his  dong1  [140]  1T  Swiche  manere  of 
thoghtes  /  maken  a  man  /  to  haue  shame  of  his  synne  / 
and  no  delitf.  as  god  seith  /  by  the  prophete  Ezechiel  ||. 
[141]  ye  shal  remembre  yow  of  youre  weyes  /  and  they 
shuln  displese  yow  /.  soothly  synnes  been  the  weyes  /  that 
leden  folk  to  helle 

IT  [142]  The  seconde  cause  that  ogh~te  make  a  man  / 
to  haue  desdeyn  of  synne  is  this  /.  That  as  seith  seint 
aanctm  Petrus  Peter  /.  who  so  that  dooth  synne  /  is  thral  of  synne  /.  And 
synne  /  put  a  man  in  greet  thraldom  ||.  [143]  And  ther- 
fore  seith  the  pmphete  Ezechiel  /.  I.  wente  sorweful  /  in 
desdayn  of  my  self/.  And  certes  /  wel  oghte  a  man  / 
haue  desdayn  of  synne  /  and  withdrawe  hym  /  from  that 
thraldom  and  vileynj^e  /.  [144]  and  lo  /  what  seith  Seneca 
in  this  matere  ||.  He  seith  thus  /.  though"  I  wiste  /  that  god  / 
neither  god  ne  man  /  ne  sholde  neuere  knowe  it/,  yet 
wolde  I  haue  desdayn  /  for  to  do  synne  [145]  IT  And  the 
same  Seneca  also  seith  /  .1.  am  born  to  gretter  thynges  / 
than  to  be  thral  to  my  body  /  or  than  for  to  maken  /  of  my 
body  a  thral  /  [146]  ne  a  fouler  thral  /  may  no  man  ne 
womman  maken  of  his  body  /  than  for  to  yeuen  his  body 
to  synne  /.  [147]  al  were  it  the  fouleste  cherl  /  or  the 
fouleste  womman  that  lyueth  /  and  leest  of  value  /  yet  is  he 
thanne  moore  foule  /  &  moore  in  seruitute  /.  [148]  euere  / 
fro  the  hyer  degree  that  man  falleth  /.  the  moore  is  he 
thral  /  and  moore  /  to  god  and  to  the  world  abhomyn- 
able  /  [149]  IT  0  goode  god  /  wel  oghte  man  haue  desdayn 
of  synne  /  sith  that  thurgh  synne  /  ther  he  was  free  / 
now  is  he  maked  bonde  [150]  1T  And  therfore  /  seytfr  Seint 
Augustyn  /.  If  thou  hast  desdayn  of  thy  seruanf.  if  he 
agilte  /  or  synne  /.  haue  thou  thanne  desdayn  /  that  thou 
thy  self  /  sholdest  do  synne  /.  [151]  take  reward1  of  thy 
value  /  that  thou  ne  be  /  to  foul  to  thy  self  [152] 
1T  Alias  wel  oghten  they  thanne  haue  desdayn  to  been 

ELLESMERE    594   (6-T.  598) 


TThe  .ij.d«  cause 
of  cuutricioun 


IT  Ezechiel 
propheto 


T  Seneca 


•JT  Idem  Seneca 


T  Sanctus 
Augustinus 


599    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   595 

seruauntz  &  thralles  to  synne  /  and  score  "been  ashamed 
of  hem  self1.  [153]  that  god  /  of  his  endelees  goodnesse  / 
hath  set  hem  in  heigh  estaat  /.  or  yeuen  hem  wit  /  strengthe 
of  body  /  heele  /  beautee  /  prosperitee  /  [154]  and 
boghte  hem  fro  1the  deeth  /  with  his  herte  blood?  /  that 
they  so  vnkyndely  /  agayns  his  gentilesse  /  quiten  hym  so 
vileynsly  /  to  slaughtre  of  hir  owene  soules  /  [155]  IT  0 
goode  god  /  ye  wominen  /  that  been  of  so  greet  beautee  / 
remembreth  yow  /  of  the  prouerbe  of  Salomon  IT  he  seith  /  ^  Salomon 
[156]  likneth  a  fair  womman  /  that  is  a  fool  of  hire  body  / 
lyk  to  a  ryng1  of  gold?  /  that  were  in  the  groyn  of  a  soughe 
[157]  if  or  right*  as  a  soughe  /  wroteth  in  euerich  ordure  /  so 
wroteth  hire  beautee  in  the  stynkynge  ordure  of  synne 

[158]  IF  The  thridde  cause  /  that  oghte  moeue  a  man  f  The.uj.a* 
to  Contricion  /  is  drede  of  the  day  of  doome  /  and  of  the  Co»triciozm 
horrible  peynes  of  helle  [159]  1T  ffor  as  seint  lerome  seith  ||.  f  sanctus 
At  euery  tyme  /  J>at  me  remembreth  of  the  day  of  doome  .1. 
quake  /.  [160]  for  whan  I  ete  or  drynke  /  or  what  so  that  I 
do  /  euere  semeth  me  /  fat  the  trorape  sowneth  in  myn  ere 
[161]  Blseth  vp  ye  that  been  dede  /  and  cometh  to  the 
luggementt  [162]  IF  0  goode  god  /  muchel  ogfite  a  man  /  to 
drede  swich"  a  luggement/.  ther  as  we  shullen  been  alle  / 
as  seint  Poul  seith  /  biforn  the  seete  of  oure  lord  Thesu  ^  sonct-as  Pauius 
Crist/.    [163]   wher1   as  he   shal  make  /  a  general   con- 
gregacion  /  wher*  as  no  man  may  been  absent/.  [164]  for 
certes  /  there   auailleth  noon   Essoyne   /  ne   excusacion 
[165]   And  nat   oonly   /   that  oure   defautes   shullen  be 
lugged  /.  but  eek1  that*  alle  oure  werkes  /  shullen  openly 
be  knowe    [166]  IF  And  as  seith  Seint*  Bernard*,  ther  ne  f  gancms 
shal  /  no  pledynge  auaille  ne  sleighte  /.  we  shullen  yeuen 
rekenynge  of  euerich  ydel  word?  /  [167]  ther  shul  we  han 
a  luge  /  that  may  nat  been  deceyued  ne  corrupt1.   And  whys 
for  certes  alle  oure  thoghtes  /  been  discouered  as  to  hym  /. 
ne  for  preyere  /  ne  for  meede  /  he  shal  nat  been  corrupt 
[168]  IF  And  therfore  seith  Salomon  IF  The  wratthe  of  god  / 1  Salomon 
[ no  gap  in  the  MSJ\ 

ELLESMERE   595   (6-T.  599)       P  leaf  212,  back] 


600   SIX-TEXT 

596    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


If  Sanctna 
Anselmos 


If  Santtua 
Ieroniinu« 


ne  wol  nat  spare  no  wight  /.  for  preyere  ne  for  yifte  /.  and 
therfore  at  tlie  day  of  doom  /  ther  nys  noon  hope  to  escape 
[169]  IT  Wherfore  as  seith   Seinf  Anselm.  /  fful  greet1 
angwyssfi  /  shul  the  synful  folk*  haue  at  that1  tyme  /. 
[170]  ther  shal  /  the  stierne  and  wrothe  luge  sitte  aboue  /. 
and  vnder  hym  /  the  horrible  put  of  helle  open  to  de- 
stroyen  hym   that   noot   biknowen  hise  synnes  /  whiche 
synnes   /  openly   been    shewed   biforn    god    and    biforn 
euery  creature  [171]  IT  And  in  the  left  syde  /  mo  deueles  / 
than  herte  may  bithynke  /.  for  to   harye  and   drawe  / 
the  synful  soules  to  the  peyne  of  helle  [172]  1T  And  with 
Inne  the  hertes  of  folk1  shal  be  the  bitynge  Conscience  / 
and  with  oute  forth  /  shal  be  the  world  al  brennynge  /. 
[173]  Whider  shal  thanne  the  wrecched  synful  man  flee  / 
to  hiden  hym  IT  certes  he  may  nat  hyden  hym  /  he  moste 
come  forth  and  shewen  hym  [174]  IT  ffor  certes  /  as  seith 
seint  lerome  /.  the  Erthe  shal  casten  hym  /  out  of  hym  / 
and  the  See  also  /  and  the  Eyr  also  /  that  shal  be  ful  /  of 
thonder  clappes  and  lightnynges  /  [175]  IT  Now  soothly  / 
who  so  wel  remembreth  hym  of  thise  thynges  /  I  gesse  / 
J>at  his  synne  /  shal  naf  turne  hym  in  delit1  but  to  greet 
sorwe  /  for  drede  of  the  peyne  of  helle  /.  [176]  And  ther- 
fore  seith  lob  to  god  1T  suffre  lord  /  that1 .1.  may  a  while 
biwaille  /  and  wepe  /  er  I  go  with  oute  returnyng1.  to  the 
derke  lond*  /  couered  with  the  derknesse  of  deeth  /  [177] 
to  the  lond  of  mysese  and  of  derknesse  /  where  as  is  the 
shadwe  of  deeth  /.  where  as  ther  is  /  noon  ordre  /  or 
ordinance  /  but  grisly  drede  that  euere  shal  laste   [178] 
1f  Loo  /  heere  may  ye  seen  /  ]>at  lob  preyde  raspitt  a  while  / 
to  biwepe  and  waille  his  trespas  /  for  soothly  /  a  day  of 
respitf.  is  bettre  than  al  the  tresor  of  the  world  [179]  1T  And 
for  as  muche  as  a  man  /  may  acquiten  hym  self  /  biforn  god 
by  Penitence  in  Hhis  world  /  and  nat  by  tresor  /  therfore 
sholde  he  preye  to  god  /  to  yeue  hym  respite  a  while  /  to 
biwepe  /  and  biwaillen  his  trespas  /.  [180]  for  certes  /  al 
the  sorwe  /  that  a  man  myghte  make  /  fro  the  bigynnyng* 

ELLESMERE   596    (6-T.  600)  P  leaf  218] 


601    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   597 

of  the  world  /  nys  but  a  litel  thyng1  at  regard  of  the  sorwe 

of  helle  /  fiSil  IF  The  cause  /  why  that  lob  clepeth  helle  /  f  why  iob 

clepeth  helle  the 

the  lond  of  derknesse  /.  [182]  Ynder-stondeth  /  that  he  lond  of  derknesse 

clepeth  it  londe  of  Erthe  /  for  it  is  stable  /  and  neuere  shal 

faille  dirk1,  for  he   that   is  in   helle  /  hath   defaute   of 

light  material  [183]  for  certes  /  the  derke  light*  that  shal 

come  out  of  the  fyr/  that  euere  shal  brenne  /  shal  turne 

hym  al  to  peyne  Jjat  is  in  helle  /  for  it  sheweth  him  to  the 

horrible  deueles  /  that  hym  tormenten  /  [184]  couered  with 

the  derknesse  of  deeth  /.  that  is  to  seyn  /  that  he  fat  is  in 

helle  /  shal  haue  defaute  of  the  sighte  of  god  /.  for  certes  / 

the  sighte  of  god  /  is  the  lyf  perdurable  [185]  ^[  The  derk-  for  the  derk- 
nesse of  deeth 
nesse  of  deeth  /  been  the  synnes  /  that  the  wrecched  man 

hath  /  doon  /  whiche  that  destourben  hym  /  to  see  the  face 
of  god  /  right  as  dooj>  a  derk1  clowde  /  bitwixe  vs  and  the 
sonne  [186!  IT  Lond  of  Misese  /  by  cause  that  ther  been  f  oftheiondof 

Misese 

.iij.  maneres  of  defautes  /  agayn  .iij.  thynges  /  that  folk  / 
of  this  world  /  han  in  this  present  lyf  ||.  that  is  to  seyn 
honours  /  delices  /  and  richesses  [187]  1T  Agayns  honour  /  f  ofhomwrs/ 

L          .  '   delices  /  & 

haue  they  in  helle  /  shame  and  cowfusion  [188]  ffor  Avel  ye  richesses. 

woof  that  men  clepen  honour  /  the  reuerence  /  that  man 

do]?  to  man  /.  but  in  helle  /  is  noon  honour  ne  reuerence  /. 

for  certes  /  namoore  reuerence  shal  be  doon  there  to  a 

kyng*  than  to  a  knaue  [189]  IT  ifor  which  god  seith  /  by 

the  prophete  leremye  ||  Thilke  folk  /  fat  me  despisen  /  shul  f  domiws  per 

been  in  despif  /  [190]  IT  Honour/  is  eek  cleped  greet  lord-  fro&™um 

shipe  /   [ 

no  gap  in  the  MS.]  and  heigh- 

nesse  /  but  in  helle  /  shul  they  been  al  fortroden  of  deueles  /. 

[191]  And  god  seith  /.  the  horrible  deueles  shulle  goon  and  H  fommua  dicit 

comen  /  vp  on  the  heuedes  of  the  dampned  folk1  /.  And  this 

is  for  as  muche  /  as  the  hyer  that  they  were  in  this  present1 

lyf  /.  the  moore  shulle  they  been  abated  and  defouled  in 

helle  /  [192]  1F  Agayns  the  richesses  of  this  world?  /  shul  i[  Agayns  the 

,          ,  /         i    ,  t  •  richesses  of  this 

they  han  mysese  01  pouerte  /  and  this  pouerte  /  shal  been  world 
in  foure  thynges  /.  [193]  In  defaute  of  tresor  /  of  which  that 

ELLESMERE   597   (6-T.  60l) 


602    SIX-TEXT 

598    GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


T  Of  defaute  of 
mete  &  drynke 
Tf  domiims  yer 


T  Of  defaute  of 
clolhyng  / 


f  of  defaute  of    Dauid  seith  H  The  riche  folk  /  that  embraceden  and  oneden 

tresor  vnde 

dawid  [?]  al  hire  herte  to  tresor  of  this  world  /  shul  slepe  /  in  the 

slepynge  of  deeth  /.  and  no  thyng1  ne  shal  they  fynden  in 
hir  handes  /  of  al  hir  tresor  [194]  IT  And  moore  ouer  /  the 
myseyse  of  helle  /  shal  been  /  in  defaute  of  mete  and 
drinke  /.  [195]  for  god  seith  thus  by  Moyses  /.  They  shul 
been  wasted  with  hunger  and  the  briddes  of  helle  /  shul 
deuouren  heni  with  the  bitter  deeth  /  and  the  galle  of  the 
dragon  /  shal  been  hire  drynke  /  and  the  venym  of  the 
dragon)  /  hire  morsels  [196]  IF  And  forther  ouer  /  hire 
myseyse  /  shal  been  in  defaute  of  clothyng*.  for  they  shulle 
be  naked  in  body  /  as  of  clothyng1.  saue  the  fyr  /  in  which 
they  brenne  /  and  othere  filthes  /  [197]  and  naked  shul 
they  been  of  soule  /  as  of  alle  manere  vertues  /  which  Jjat 
is  the  clothyng  of  the  soule  /.  Where  been  thanne  the  gaye 
Robes  /  and  the  smale  shetes  /  and  the  softe  shertes  [198] 
1T  Loo  /  what  seith  god  of1  hem  by  the  prophete  ysaye. 
That  vnder  hem  /  shul  been  strawecJ  Motthes  /  and  hire 
couertures  /  shulle  been  of  wormes  of  helle  [199]  H"  And 
forther  ouer  /  hir  myseyse  shal  been  /  in  defaute  of 
freendes  /  for  he  nys  nat  poure  that  hath  goode  freendes  / 
but  there  is  no  frencfe  [200]  for  neither  god  ne  no 
creature  /  shal  been  freend  to  hem  /  and  euerich  of  hem  / 
shal  haten  oother  with  deedly  hate  /  [201]  The  sones  and 
athe  doghtren  /  shullen  rebelleii  /  agayns  fader  and  mooder  / 
and  kynrede  agayns  kynrede  /  and  chiden  and  despisen  / 
euerich  of  hem  oother  bothe  day  and  nygfrt*.  as  god  seith  / 
by  the  prophete  Michias  [202]  IT  And,  the  louynge.  children  / 
that  whilom  loueden  so  flesshly  euerich  oother  /  wolden 
euerich  of  hem  /  eten  oother  /  if  they  mygfcte  /.  [203]  for  how 
sholden  they  loue  togidre  in  the  peyne  of  helle  /  whan 
they  hated  ech  of  hem  oother  in  the  prosperitee  of  this  lyf 
[204]  11  ffor  truste  wel  /  hir  flesshly  loue  /  was  deedly  hate  / 

t  Dauid  prophet  as  seith  the  prophete  Dauid  1F  who  so  that  loueth  wikked- 
nesse  /  he  hateth  his  soule  /.  [205]  and  who  so  hateth 

,  ,,  •    tj_, 

his  owene  soule  /  certes  /  he  may  loue  noon  oother  wignf 

ELLESMERE   598    (6-T.  602)        [i  leaf  213,  back] 


*fi  dominuspei* 

Ysayam 

prophe&m 


\  Of  defaute  of 
freeudea 


1[  domimts  \ier 
Micliaiam  pro- 
phetain 


iniqaiutem/ 

edit  animara 


G03    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS.   599 

in  no  manere  /  [206]  and  therfore  /  [in  helte]  is  no  solas  / 
ne  no  freendshipe  /  but1  euere  /  the  moore  flesshly  kynredes  / 
that  been  in  helle  /.  the  moore  cursynges  /  the  more  chid- 
ynges  /  and  the  moore  deedly  hate  /  ther  is  among  hem 
[207]  IT  And  forther  ouer  /  they  shul  haue  defaute  of  alle  f  HOW  the 

,   ,.  lf  ,   ,.  ,  .  ,,        ..  ...       dampnetl  shul 

manere  delices  /  for  certes  delices  /  been  after  the  appetites  haue  defaute .,( 

of  the  .v.  wittes  /.  as  sighte  /.  herynge.  smellynge  /.  savior-  deiices"1" 

ynge./  and  touchynge  /.  [208]  but  in  helle  /  hir  signte  shal  be 

ful  of  derknesse   and  of  smoke,   and   therfore  /  ful   of 

teeres  /.  and  hir  herynge  /  ful  of  waymentynge  /  and  of 

gryntynge  of  teeth  /  as  seith  Ihesu  crisf.  [209]  hir  nose- 

thirles  shullen  be  ful  of  stynkyuge  stynk/.  And  as  seith 

Ysaye  the  prophete  /.  hir  savoryng1  shal  be  ful  of  bitter  if  Ysayas 

galle  /.    [210]  and  touchynge  of  al  hir  body  /  ycouered 

with  fir  that   neuere  shal   quenche  /  and  with   wormes 

that1  neuere  shul  dyen  /  as  god  seith  /  by  the  Mouth,  of  irdominaspw 

Vsayuui 

Ysaye  /.  [211]  And  for  as  muche  as  they  shul  nat  wene  / 
that  they  may  dyen  for  peyne  /  and  by  hir  deejj  flee  fro 
peyne  /  that  may  they  vnderstonden  by  the  word  of  lob  /.  \  iob 
that  seith  /  ther  as  is  the  shadwe  of  deeth  [212]  IT  Certes 
a  shadwe  /  hath  the  liknesse  of  the  thyng*.  of  which  it  is 
shadwe  /.  but  shadwe  is  nat  the  same  thyng1  of  which  it  is 
shadwe  [213]  IT  Eight  so  fareth  the  peyne  of  helle  /  it  is  ?  Excmpium 
lyk  deeth  for  the  horrible  angwissfi  /.  and  why?  for  it 
peyneth  hem  euere  /  as  though"  they  sholde  dye  anon  /  but 
ceries  /  they  shal  nat  dye   [214]  IT  ffor  /  as  seith  Seint  f  eanctna 
Gregorie  IT  To  wrecche  caytyues  /  shal  be  deeth  with-oute 
deeth  /  and  ende  with-outen  ende  /  and  defaute  with-oute 
failynge  /  [215]  for  hir  deeth  /  shal  alwey  lyuen  /  and  hir 
ende  /  shal  eueremo  bigynne  /  and  hir  defaute  shal  nat 
faille    [216]   IT   And    therfore   /    seith    Seint    lohn  thousands 
Euawngelist  /.  They  shullen  folwe  deeth  /  and  they  shul  Euauugeiisu 
nat  fynde  hym  /.  and  they  shul  desiren  to  dye  /  and  deeth 
shal  flee  fro  hem  [217]  1T  And  eek  Iob  seith  /  that  in  helle  IT  i<* 
is  noon  ordre  of  rule  /.  [218]  and  al  be  it  so  that  god  hath 
creafr  alle  thynges  in  right  ordre  /  and  no  thyng/  with- 

43  ELLESMEIIE    599    (6-T.  603) 


604   SIX-TEXT 

COO   GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


If  Sanctas 
Basilius 


If  Sauclus  lob 


outen  ordre  /  but*  alle  thynges  /  been  ordeyned  and  nom- 
bred  /.  yet  nathelees  /  they  that  been  dampned  /  been  no 
thyng1  in  the  ordre  /  ne  holden  noon  ordre  /.  [219]  for  the 

j  Dauid  prophet  erthe  ne  shal  bere  hem  no  fruyt  [220]  1T  ffor  as  the  prophete 
Dauid  seith  IT  god  shal  destroie  the  fruyt  of  the  erthe  /  as 
fro  hem  /  ne  water  /  ne  shal  yeve  hem  no  moisture  /.  ne 
the  Eyr  no  refressRyng1.  ne  fyr  no  light  [221]  1T  ffor  as 
eeith  seint  Basilie  ^T  The  brennynge  of  the  fyr  of  this 
world  /  shal  god  yeuen  in  helle  /  to  hem  fat  been  dampned  /. 
[222]  but  the  light  /  and  the  cleernesse  /  shal  be  yeuen  in 
heuene  to  hise  children  /.  right  as  the  goode  man  /  yeueth 
flessh"  to  hise  children  and  bones  to  his  houndes  /.  [223] 
And  for  they  shullen  haue  noon  hope  to  escape  seith  seint 
lob  atte  laste  IT  that  ther  shal  horrour  /  and  grisly  drede  / 
dwellen  with-outen  ende  /.  [224]  Horrour  /  is  alwey  drede  / 
of  harm  that  is  to  come  /  and  this  drede  shal  euere  dwelle 
in  the  hertes  /  of  hem  that  been  dampned  /  And  therfore  / 
ban  they  lorn  al  hire  hope  /  for  .vij.  causes  [225]  1[  ffirsf. 
for  god  Hhat  is  hir  luge  /  shal  be  /  with-outen  mercy  to 
hem  /.  and  they  may  naf  plese  hyin  /  ne  noon  of  hise 
halwes  /.  ne  they  /  ne  may  yeue  no  thyng1  for  hir  raunson  /. 
[226]  ne  they  haue  no  voys  /  to  speke  to  hym  /.  ne  they 
may  nat  fle  fro  peyne  /.  ne  they  haue  no  goodncsse  in 
hem  /  that  they  mowe  shewe  to  deliuere  hem  fro  peyne 
[227]  H  And  therfore  seith  Salomon  H  The  wikked  man 
dyeth  /  and  whan  he  is  deed,  he  shal  haue  -  noon  hope  /  to 
escape  fro  peyne  [228]  IT  Who  so  thanne  /  wolde  wel  vn- 
derstande  the  peynes  /  and  bithynke  hym  weel  /  that  he 
hath  deserued  thilke  peynes  for  his  synnes  /  certes  /  he 
sholde  haue  moore  talent1  to  siken  and  to  wepe  /.  than  for 

K  idem  Salomon  to  syngen  and  to  pleye  /  [229]  ffor  as  that  seith  Salomon  /. 
Who  so  that  hadde  the  science  to  knowe  the  peynes  that 
been  establissed  and  ordeyned  for  synne  /  he  wolde  make 
sorwe  /  [230]  Thilke  science  /  as  seith  seint  Augustyn  / 
niaketh  a  man  /  to  waymenten  in  his  herte 

[231]  IF  The  fourthe  point1  that  oghte  maken  a  man 

ELLESMERE    600   (6-T.  604)  pleaf2U] 


^T  How  the 
dampned  /  ban 
lom  al  hir  hope 
for  .vij.  causes 


*H  Salomon 


•|  Sanctvs 
Augustinit* 


605    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS.    G01 

to  haue  coutricion  /  is  the  sorweful  remembrance  of  the  point 

maken  a  man 

good  /  that  he  hath  left1  to  doon  /  heere  in  erthe  /.  And  to  haue 

eek  the  good  that  he  hath  lorn  [232]  ^1  soothly  /  the  goode 

werkes  fat  he  hath  left  /.  outlier  they  been  /  the  goode 

werkes  that  he  hath  wroght1.  er  he  fel  /  in  to  deedly  synne  /. 

or  elles  /  the  goode  werkes  that  he  wroghte  /  while  he  lay 

in  synne  [233]  IT  soothly  /  the  goode  werkes  that  he  dide  / 

biforn  that  he  fil  in  synne  /  been  al  mortefied  and  astoned 

and  dulled  /  by  the  ofte  synnyng  ||    [234]   The  othcre 

goode  werkes  that  he  wroghte  /  whil  he  lay  in  deedly 

synne  /  fei  been  outrely  dede  /  as  to  the  lyf  perdurable  in 

heuene  [235]  11  Thanne  thilke  goode  werkes  /  that  been 

mortefied  by  ofte  synnyng1.  whiche  goode  werkes  he  dide  / 

whil  he  was  in  charitee  /.  ne  mowe  neuere  quyken  agayn  / 

with-outen  verray  penitence  /.  [236]  and  ther-of  seith  god  / 

by  the  mouth  of  Ezechiel  IT  That1  if  the  rightful  man  /  re-  f  do»iims  per 

.  Kzechicleiu 

turne  agayn  from  his  nghtwisnesse  /  and  werke  wikked- 
nesse  /  shal  he  lyue  S  [237]  nay  /.  for  alle  the  goode  werkes 
that  he  hath  wroght1  ne  shul  neuere  been  in  remembrance  / 
for  he  shal  dyen  in  his  synne  [238]  IF  And  vp-on  thilke 
Chapitre  /  seith  seint  Gregorie  thus  ||.  That  we  shulle  vnder- 1  sawhw 

Gregorius 

stonde  this  principally  /.  [239]  that  whan  we  doon  deedly 
synne  /  it  is  for  noght1  thanne  to  rehercen  /  or  drawen  in-to 
memorie  the  goode  werkes  /  that  we  han  wroght1  biforn 
[240]  IT  ffor  certes  /  in  the  werkynge  of  the  deedly  synne  / 
ther  is  no  trust  to  no  good  werk1  that  we  han  doon  biforn  /. 
that  is  for  to  seyn  /.  as  for  to  haue  therby  the  lyf  per- 
durable /  in  heuene  /.  [241]  but  nathelees  /.  the  goode 
werkes  quyken  agayn  and  comen  agayn  /  and  helpen  and 
auaillen  /  to  haue  the  lyf  perdurable  in  heuene  /  whan  we 
han  contricion  /.  [242]  but  soothly  /  the  goode  werkes  that 
men  doon  /  whil  they  been  in  deedly  synne  /  for  as  muche  / 
as  they  were  doon  in  deedly  synne.  they  may  neuere  quyke 
agayn  /  [243]  ffor  certes  /  tliyng  J>at  neuere  hadde  lyf1.  may 
neue?-e  quykeiie  /  and  nathelees  /.  al  be  if  that  they  ne 
auaille  noght  /.  to  han  the  lyf  perdurable.  /  yet  auaillen 

ELLESMERE    601    (G-T.  605) 


606    SIX-TEXT 

602    GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

they  /  to  abregge  of  the  peyne  of  helle  /.  or  elles  /  to  getcn 
temporal  richesse.  /  [244]  or  elles  /  that*  god  wole  /  the 
rather  enlumyne  /  and  lightne  the  herte  of  the  synful 
man  /  to  haue  repentance  /.  [245]  and  eek  they  auaillen  / 
for  to  vsen  a  man  to  doon  goode  werkes  /  that  the  feend  / 
haue  the  lasse  power  of  his  soule  /  [246]  And  thus  the 
curteis  lord  Ihesn  crist/.  wole  that  no  good  werk1 
be  lost1,  for  in  soniwhat1  it  shal  auaille  /.  [247]  but  for  as 
ixiuche  /  as  the  goode  werkes  that  men  doon  /  whil  they 
been  in  good  lyf  /.  been  al  mortefied  /  by  synne  folwynge. 
and  eek  /  sith  that  alle  the  goode  werkes  /  that  men  doon  / 
whil  they  been  in  deedly  synne  /  been  outrely  dede  / 
for  to  haue  the  lyf  perdurable  /.  [248]  wol  1may  that  man 
that  no  good  work1  ne  dooth  /  synge  thilke  newe  frenshe  song 
lay  tout  perdu  mon  temps  et  mon  labour  [249]  1T  ffor 
certes  /  synne  bireueth  a  man  /  bothe  goodnesse  of  nature  / 
and  eek1  the  goodnesse  of  grace  /  [250]  IT  ffor  soothly  / 
the  grace  of  the  hooly  goosf  fareth  lyk  fyr/  that  may  nat 
been  ydel  /  for  fyr/  fayleth  /  anoon  as  it  forleteth  his  wirk- 
ynge  /  and  right  so.  grace  fayleth  anoon  as  it  forleteth  his 
werkynge/  [251]  the?i  leseth  the  synful  man  the  goodnesse 
of  glorie  /  that  oonly  is  bihigtf  to  goode  men  that  labouren 
and  werken  ||.  [252]  wel  may  he  be  sory  thanne  /  that 
oweth  al  his  lif  to  god  /  as  longe  as  he  hath  lyued  /  and 
eek1  as  longe  as  he  shal  lyue  /  that  no  goodnesse  ne  hath  / 
to  paye  with  his  dette  /  to  god  /  to  whom  he  owcth  al  his 
lyf  || .  [253]  ffor  trust  wel  /  he  shal  yeuen  acountes  /  as  seith 
t  sanctna  seint  Bernard?  of  alle  the  goodes  /  that  han  be  yeuen  hyin 

Beruardus  .  ,  . 

in  this  present  lyr.  and  how  /  he  hath  hem  desponded  / 
[254]  noght  so  muche  /.  that  ther  shal  nat  perisse  an  heer 
of  his  heed  /.  ne  a  moment1  of  an  houre  /  ne  shal  nat  perisse 
of  his  tytne  /  that  he  ne  shal  yeue  of  it  a  rekenyng/ 
fOfthc.v".  \2<ti\  The  fifthe  thyng1  that  ogfite  moeue  a  man  to 

thyngJMitoghte  r...    ,,  ,  ,    ,,  .    _    ,,,      , 

moeue  a  man  to    contncion  /  is  remembrance  ol  the  passion  /  that  oure  lord 

Ihesu  crat  suffred  for  oure   synnes  /  [256]  for  as  seith 

toS£          seint  Bernard?  IT  whil  that  .1.  lyue  /  I  shal  haue  remem- 

ELLESMERE    602    (6-T.  606)        [» leaf  2H,  back] 


607   SIX -TEXT 

GUOUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   G03 

brance  of  the  trauailles  /  that  oiire  lord  crist  sufficed  in 
prechyng/.  [257]  his  werynesse  in  trauaillyng1.  hise  tempt- 
acioils  whan  he  fasted  /.  hise  longe  wakynges  /  whan  he 
preyde  /.  hise  teeres  /  whan  that  he  weepe  /  for  pitee.  of 
good  peple  /.  [258]  the  wo  /  and  the  shame  /  and  the 
filthe  /  that  men  seyden  to  hym  /.  of  the  foule  spittyng/ 
that  men  spitte  in  his  face  /.  of.  the  buffettes  /  that  men 
yauen  hym  /.  of  the  foule  moAves  /  and  of  /  the  re- 
preues  /  that  men  to  hym  seyden  /.  [259]  of  the  nayles  / 
wit/*  whiche  he  was  nayled  to  the  croys  /.  and  of  al  the 
remenanf  of  his  passion  that  he  sufficed  for  my  synnes  / 
and  no  thyng1  for  his  gilt1  [260]  IT  And  ye  shul  vnder-  f  how  in  mannes 

synne  /  is  /  every 

stonde  /  that  in  mannes  synne  /  is  euery  manere  of  ordre  manere  of  onire/ 

or  ordinannoe 

or  ordinance  /  turned  vp  so  doun  [261]  II  ffor  it  is  sooth  /  turned  vp  so 
that  god  and  reson.  and  sensualitee  /  and  the  body  of  man  / 
been  ordeyned  /  that  euerich  /  of  thise  foure  thynges  / 
sholde  haue  lordshipe  /  oner  that  oother  /.  [262]  as  thus  /. 
god  sholde  haue  lordshipe  ouer  reson  /.  and  reson  ouer 
sensualitee  /.  and  sensualitee  ouer  the  body  of  man  /. 
[263]  but  soothly  /  whan  man  synneth  /  al  this  ordre  or 
ordinance  /  is  turned  vp  so  doun  [264]  1T  And  therfore 
thanne  /  for  as  muche  as  the  reson  of  man  /  ne  wol  nat  be 
subget1  ne  obeisant  to  god  that  is  his  lord  by  right1,  ther- 
fore /  leseth  it  the  lordshipe  /  that  it  sholde  haue  /  ouor 
sensualitee  /  and  eek  oner  the  body  of  man  /.  [265]  And 
why  S  ffor  sensualitee  rebelleth  thanne  agayns  reson  /.  and 
by  that  wey  /  leseth  reson  the  lordshipe  ouer  sensualitee  / 
and  ouer  the  body  /.  [266]  for  right*  as  reson  is  rebel  to 
god  /  right  so  /  is  bothe  sensualitee  /  rebel  to  reson  /  and 
the  body  also  [267]  1f  And  certes  this  disordinance  and 
this  rebellion  /  oure  lord  Ihesu  crist  aboghte  vp-on  his 
precious  body  ful  deere  /  and  herknejj  in  which  wise  / 
[268]  IT  ffor  as  muche  thanne  as  reson  /  is  rebel  to  god  $  ther- 
fore /  is  man  worthy  to  haue  sorwe  /  and  to  be  deed  /. 
[269]  this  suffred  oure  lord  Ihesu  crist  for  man  /  after  that1 
he  hadde  be  bitraysed  of  his  disciple  /  and  distreyncd  and 

ELLESMERE    603    (6-T.  607) 


608    SIX-TEXT 

604   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

bounde  /  so  that  his  blood  /  brasf  out*  at  euery  nayl  of  hise 
handes  /  as  seith  seint  Augustyn  [270!  H  And  forther  ouer  / 

J      L     '     J 

for  as  muchel  as  reson  of  man  /  no  wol  nat  daunte  1sensu- 
alitee  whan  it  may  /  therfore  is  man  worthy  to  haue  shame 
and  this  suffred  oure  lord  Ihesu  crist1  for  man  /  whan  they 
spetten  in  his  visage  [271]  IT  And  forther  ouer/  for  as 
muchel  thanne  /  as  the  caytyf  body  of  man  /  is  rebel  / 
botho  to  reson  and  to  sensualitee  /  therfore  is  it  worthy  the 
deeth  [272]  IT  And  this  suffred  our  lord  Ihora  crist  for  man 
vp-on  the  croys  /  where  as  ther  was  no  part*  of  his  body 
free  /  with-outen  greet  peyne  and  bitter  passion  [273] 
If  And  al  this  suffred  Ihesu  crist1  fat  neuere  forfeted  / 

[ 

no  gap  in  the  MS.]  to  muchel  am  I  peyned  for  the 
thynges  that  I  neuere  desmied  and  to  muche  defouled  / 
for  shendshipe  that  -man  is  worthy  to  haue  [274]  And  ther- 
fore  /  may  the  synf ul  man  wel  seye  /  as  seith  seint  Bernard* 
Acursed  be  the  bitternesse  of  my  synne  /.  for  which  /  ther 
moste  be  suffred  so  muchel  bitternesse  /.  [275]  ffor  certes  / 
after  the  diuerse  disconcordances  of  oure  wikkednesses  / 
was  the  passion  of  Ihesu  cmtt.  ordeyned  in  diue?-se  thynges  / 
[276]  as  thus  IT  Certes  /  synful  marines  soule  /  is  bitraysed 
of  the  deuel  /  by  coueitise  of  temporeel  prosperitee  /  and 
scorned  by  deceite  whan  he  cheseth  flesshly  delices  /  and 
yet  is  it  tormented  by  Inpacience  of  aduersitee  and  dispeir 
by  seruage  and  subieccion  of  synne  /  and  atte  laste  /  it  is 
slayn  fynally  [277]  IT  ffor  this  disordinaunce  of  synful  man 
was  Ihesu  crist1  bitraysed  /  and  after  that  was  he  bounde 
that  cam  for  to  vnbynden  vs  /  of  synne  and  peyne  /  [278] 
thanne  was  he  by-scorned  that  oonly  /  sholde  han  been 
honoured  in  alle  thynges  and  of  alle  thynges  [279] 
^T  Thanne  was  his  visage  /  that  oghte  be  desired  to  be  seyn 
of  al  man  kynde  /  in  which  visage  Aungels  desiren  to 
looke  /  vileynsly  bispet/.  [280]  thanne  was  he  scourged  / 
that  no  thyng  hadde  agilt1  And  finally  /  thanne  was  he 
crucified  and  slayn  [281]  1T  Thanne  was  acompliced  the 

ELLESMERE    604   (6-T.  608)  [>  leaf  415] 


609    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   605 

word  of  ysaye  /  that  seith  /  that  he  was  wounded  /  for  \  Ysayas 
cure  mysdedes  /  and  defouled  for  oure  felonies  /  [282] 
IT  Now  sith  that  Ihesu  crist1  took  vp-on  hym  self  /  the 
peyne  of  alle  oure  wikkednesses  /.  muchel  ogh~te  synful 
man  wepen  and  biwayle  /  that  for  hise  synnes  gcddes  sone 
of  heuene  /  sholde  al  this  peyne  endure  [283!  1f  The  sixte 


tliyng  that  oolite 

thyng1  J>at  ogftte  moeue  a  man  to  contricion  /  is  the  hope  moeue  a  man 

to  co»tricio!tn  / 

of  .iij.  thynges  /.  that  is  to  seyn  /  foryifnesse  of  synne  /.  timrghe  hope  of 

.iij.  thynges  t 

and  the  yifte  of  grace  /  wel  for  to  do  and  the  glorie  of 

heuene  /  with  which  /  god  shal  gerdone  a  man  for  hise 

goode  dedes  /  [284]  IT  And  for  as  muche  as  Ihesu  crist 

yeueth  vs  thise  yiftes  of  his  largesse  /  and  of  his  souereyn 

bottntee  /.  therfore  is  he  cleped  /  Iheszts  Nazarenus  rex 

ludeorwm  /  [285]  Ihesus  /  is  to  seyn  saueour/  or  sal- 

uacioii  on  whom  /  men  shul  hope  /  to  haue  foryifnesse  of 

synnes  /  which  that1  [is]  proprely  /  saluacion  of  synnes  / 

[286]  and  therfore  /  seyde  the  Aungel  to  losepfe  Thou  shalt  ?  How  the 

clepen  his  name  Ihesus  /  that  shal  sauen  his  peple  of  hir  Josephs 

synnes  /.  [287]  And  heer-of  seith  seint  Peter  /.  Ther  is  t  sanctus  Pet™* 

noon  oother  name  vnder  heuene  /  that  is  yeue  to  any  man 

by  which  /  a  man  may  be  saued  but  oonly  Ihesus  ?  /.  [288] 

Nazarenus  /  is  as  muche  for  to  seye  /  as  florissfrynge  /  in 

which  a  man  shal  hope  /.  that  he  J?at  yeueth  hym  remission 

of  eynnes  /  shal  yeue  hym  eek  grace  /  wel  for  to  do  /  for 

in  the  flour  is  hope  of  fruyt1  in  tyme  comynge  /.  And  in 

foryifnesse  of  synnes  hope  of  grace  /  wel  for  to  do  [289]  IF  I 

was  atte  dore  of  thyn  herte  seith  Ihesus  and  cleped  for  to 

entre  /.  he  that  openeth  to  me  /  shal  hauo  foryifnesse  of 

synne  /.  [290]  .1  wol  entre  in-to  hym  by  my  grace  /  and 

soupe  with  hym  xby  the  goode  werkes  that  he  shal  doon  / 

whiche  werkes  /  been  the  foode  of  god  /  and  he  shal  soupe 

with  me  /  by  the  grete  ioye  that  I  shal  yeuen  hym  [291] 

H  Thus  shal  man  hope  /.  for  hise  werkes  of  penaunce  /  that1 

god  shal  yeuen  hym  his  regne  /  as  he  bihooteth  hym  in  the 

gospel 

[292]  IT  Now  shal  a  man  vnderstonde  /  in  which  J^t™"1  8hal 

ELLE8MEKE   605    (6-T.  G09)        C1  leaf  215,  back] 


610   SIX-TEXT 

606    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

manere  /  shal  been  his  cowtricion  /.  I  seye  /  that  it  sluil 
been  vniuersal  and  total  //  this  is  to  seyn  A  man  shal  be 
verray  repentant*  for  alle  hise  synnes  that  he  hath  doon  in 
delif  of  his  thoghf.  for  delit  is  ful  perilous.  /  [293]  ffor  ther 
t  or  two  manere  been  /  two  manere  of  consentynges  /.  that  oon  of  hem  /  is 

of  conscntynges 

cleped  consentynge  of  Affeccion  /  whan  a  man  is  moeued 
to  do  synne  /  and  deliteth  hym  longe  /  for  to  thynke  on 
that  synne  /.  [294]  and  his  reson  aperceyueth  it  wel  that 
it  is  synne  /  agayns  the  lawe  of  god  /  and  yet  liis  reson  / 
refreyneth  nat  his  foul  delif  or  talent1,  though"  he  se  wel 
apertly  /  that  it  is  /  agayns  the  reuerence  of  god  /.  al-thougli 
his  reson  ne  consente  nogfif  to  doon  that  synne  in  dede  / 
[295]  yet  seyn  sorame  doctours  /  that  swich  delif  that 
dwelleth  longe  /  it  is  ful  perilous  /  al  be  it  neuere  so  lite  / 
[296]  IT  And  also  /  a  man  sholde  sorwe  namely  /  for  al 
that  euere  he  hath  desired  agayn  the  lawe  of  god  with 
periif  consentynge  of  his  reson  /  for  ther-of  is  no  doute  / 
that  it  is  deedly  synne  in  consentynge  ||.  [297]  ffor  certes  / 
ther  is  no  deedly  synne  /that  it  nas  firsf  in  mannes 
though" f.  and  after  thaf  in  his  delit  /.  and  so  forth  /  in-to 
consentynge  and  in-to  dede  /.  [298]  Wherfore  I  seye  /  that 
many  men  ne  repenten  hem  neuere  of  swiche  thoghtes  and 
delites  /  ne  neuere  shryuen  hem  of  if.  but  oonly  /  of  the 
dede  of  grete  synnes  outward!  /.  [299]  wherfore  I  seye  / 
that  swiche  wikked  delites  /  and  wikked  thoghtes  /  been 
subtile  bigileres  /  of  hem  that  shullen  be  dampned  [300] 
iHiwaman  ^  Moore  ouer  man  oghte  to  sorwe  /  for  hise  wikked  e 
repenten  hym  /  wordes  /  as  wel  /  as  for  hise  wikkede  dedes  /.  for  certes  / 

for  liise  wikkede     ,,  PI  j  j?      n 

wordes  /  as  wei    the  repentance  of  a  synguler  synne  and  nat  repente  ot  alle 

wikkUe^edes      hise  othere  synnes  /.  or  elles  repenten  hym  /  of  alle  hise 

othere  synnes  /  and  nat  of  a  synguler  synne  /  may  nat 

auaille  /.  [301]  for  certes  /  god  almyghty  is  al  good  /  and 

ther-fore  /  he  foryeueth  al  /  or  elles  right  noghf.  [302] 

fsoneftis          And     heer-of    seith     seinf    Augustyn     /.      [303]     thaf 

god  is  enemy  to  euerich  synnere  /.  and  how  thanne  /  he 

that  obserueth  o  synne  /.  shal  he  haue  foryifnesse  of  the 

ELLESMERE    606    (6-T.  610) 


611    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.   607 

remenawnf  of  liise  othere  synnes  ?  nay  [304]  IF  And  forther 

ouer  /  contrition  sholde   be  wonder  sorweful  /  and   ang-  f  how  con- 

tricion  /  sholde 

wissous  /.  and  then  ore   /  yeueth   hym   god  pleynly  his  be  wonder 

sorweful 

mercy  /  and  therfore  /  whan  my  soule  was  angwissous 
with  Inne  me  /.  I  hadde  remembrance  of  god  that 
my  preyere  mygfite  come  to  hym  [305]  IF  fforther  ouer  / 
contricion  moste  be  continueel  /.  and  that  man  haue  stede-  f  howcontnciown 

moste  be  con- 

fast  purpos  to  shriuen  hym  /  and  for  to  amenden  hym  of  tinueei 
his  lyf  /.  [306]  ffor  soothly  /  whil  contricion  lasteth  /  man 
may  euere  haue  hope  of  foryifnesse  /  and  of  this  /  comth 
hate  of  synne  /.  that  destroyeth  synne  /  bofe  in  him  self/. 
and  eek  in  oother  folk1,  at  his  power  ||.  [307]  ffor  which 
seith  Dauid  ye  that  louen  god  /  hateth  wikkednesse  /  for  t  Dauia 
trusteth  wel  /  to  loue  god  /  is  for  to  loue  that  he  loueth  / 
and  hate  that  he  hateth  / 

[308!  IF  The  laste  thvng4  that  man  shal  vnderstonde  in  T  wiierof 

J     b  Contricioun 

contriciou  /  is  this  /  wher-of  /  auayleth  contricion  1F  I  seye  /  auanietu 
that  som  tyme  /  contricion  /  deliuereth  a  man  fro  synne  /. 
[309]  of  which  that  Dauid  seith  /  ||  .1.  seye  quod  Dauid?  v  ifou'd 
Hhat  is  to  seyn  IT  I  purposed  fermely  to  shryue  me  /  and 
thow  Lord  /  relesedest  /  my  synne  [310]  ^F  And  right  so 
as  contricion)  auailleth   nogflt1  with-outen   sad   purpos  of 
shrifte  /  if  man  haue  oportunitee  /  right  so  /  litel  worth  is 
shrifte  /  or  satisfaccion  /  with-outen  contricion  [311]  IF  And 
moore-ouer  contricion)  /  destroyeth  the  prison  of  helle  /  f  HOW  con- 

tricion  destroyetb 

and   maketh  wayk  and  neble  alle  the   strengthes  of  the  the  prisoan  of 

helle 

deueles  /  and  restoreth  /  the  yiftes  of  the  hooly  goosf  and 
of  alle  goode  vertues  /  [312]  and  it  clenseth  the  soule  of 
synne  and  deliuereth  the  soule  /  fro  the  peyne  of  helle  / 
and  fro  the  compaignye  of  the  deuel  /  and  fro  the  seruage 
of  synne  /  and  restoreth  if  to  alle  goodes  espirituels  /  and 
to  the  compaignye  and  communyon  of  hooly  chirche  [313] 
IF  And  forther  ouer  /.  it  maketh  hym  that  whilom  was  f  how  con- 

.  .         ,  „  .          ,      ..        ,  .          .  triciotcn  /  maketh 

sone  of  Ire  /  to  be  sone  of  grace  /.  and  alle  thise  thynges  him  that  whiiom 
been  preued  by  hooly  writ1.  [314]  and  therfore  /he  that  toabeSsone°of '" 
wolde  sette  his  entente   to   thise   thynges  /  he  were  ful  grac 

ELLESMERE    607    (6-T.  61l)  [>  leaf  216] 


G12    SIX-TEXT 

G08   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS. 

wys  /.  for  soothly  /  he  ne  sholde  nat  thannc  in  al  his  lyf1 
haue  corago  to  synne  /  but  yeuen  his  body  and  al  his  herte 
to  the  seruice  of  Ih&m  crist  /.  and  ther-of  doon  hym 
howmage  /.  [315]  for  sooply  /  cure  sweete  lord  Ihesu  crist1. 
hath  spared  vs  so  debonairly  in  our  folies  /  that  if  he  ne 
haddc  pitee  of  inannes  soule  a  sory  song1  we  niyghteii  alle 


Explicit  pn'ma  pars  penitentie  j|  .  Et  sequitwr 
secunda,  pars  eiusdem  ^ 


T[ 
He  seconde  partie  of  Penitence  /  is  Confession  / 
that  is  signe  of  contricion  /  [317]  11  Now  shul  ye 
vnderstonde  /  what  is  confession  /.  and  wheither 
it  oghte  nedes  /  be  doon  or  noon  /.  and  whiche 
thynges  been  couenable  to  verray  Confession 
IT  wimt  con-  fa  1  81  IT  ffirst  shaltow  vnderstonde  /  that  confession  /  is 

fession  is 

verray  shewynge  of  synnes  to  the  preesf.  [319]  this  is  to 
seyn  verray  /.  for  he  moste  confessen  hym  /  of  alle  the 
condiciowns  /  that  bilongen  to  his  synne  /  as  ferforth  as  ho 
kan  /  [320]  al  moot  be  seyd  /  and  no  thyng1  excused  ne 
hyd  ne  forwrapped  /  and  noght  auaunte  thee  of  thy  goode 
werkes  [321]  IT  And  forther  ouer/  it  is  necessarie  to  vnder- 
stonde /  whennes  that  synnes  spryngen  /  and  how  they 
encreessen  and  whiche  they  been 

f  ofspryngynge         [322]  IT  Of  the  spryngynge  of  synnes  seith  seinf  Paul 
secundmn          in  this  wise  /.  that  right  as  by  a  man  /  synne  entred  first* 

Piiulum  J  '     J 

in-to  this  world?,  and  thurgfi  that  synne  deeth  /.  Eight  so 

thilke  deeth  entred  in-to  alle  men  that  synneden  /  [323] 

and  this  man  was  Adam  /  by  whom  /  synne  entred  in-to 

this  world  /  whan  he  brak  the  comaundementz  of  god.  / 

[324]  And  therfore  /  he  that  first  was  so  myghty  /  that  he 

sholde  nat  haue  dyed  /  bicam  swich  oon  that  he  moste 

nedes  dye  wheither  he  wolde  or  noon  /  and  al  his  progenye 

t  ofthetempta-  *&  this  world*  that  in  thilke  man  synneden  [325]  IF  Looke  / 

i'!uady[AdaL   "  that  in  thestaat  of  Innocence  /  whan  Adam  and  Eue 

ELLESMERE    608   (6-T.  612) 


G13    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS.   609 

naked  wererc  in  Paradys  /  and  no  tliyng1  ne  hadden  shame 
of  hir  nakednesse  /.  [326]  how  that  the  serpent1  that1  was 
nioost  wily  of  alle  othere  beestes  /  that  god  hadde  inaked 
scyde  to  the  womman  /.  why  comafided  god  to  yow  / 
ye  sholde  nat1  cteii  /  of  euery  tree  in  Paradys?  [327]  The 
womman  answerde  /.  Of  the  fruyt1  quod  she  /  of  the  trees 
in  Paradys  /  we  feden  vs  /  hut  soojjly  Jof  the  fruyt  of  the 
tree  /  that  is  in  the  myddel  of  Paradys  /  god  forbad  vs 
for  to  ete  /  and  nat  touchen  it/,  lest  per  auenture  we  sholde 
dyen  [328]  IT  The  serpent  scyde  to  the  wo?«man  /.  nay  /. 
nay  /.  ye  shul  nat  dyen  of  deeth  /  for  sothe  god  woofr.  that 
what  day  /  that  ye  eten  ther-of  /.  youre  eyen  shul  opene  / 
and  [ye]  shul  been  as  goddes  /  knowynge  good  and  harm. 
[329]  II  The  wowtman  thanne  saugh  /  that  the  tree  was  good 
to  feedyng1.  &  fair  to  the  eyen  /  and  delitable  to  the 
sigh te  /  she  took  of  the  fruy f  of  the  tree  /  and  eef  it  /  and 
yaf  to  hire  housbonde  /  and  he  eetf  and  anoon  the  eyen  of 
hem  bothe  openeden  /.  [330]  and  whan  that  they  knewe 
that1  they  were  naked  /  they  sowed  of  fige  leues  a  maner* 
of  breches  /  to  hiden  hire  me?nbres  [331]  IT  There  may  ye 
seen  /  that  deedly  synne  /  hath  first1  suggestio-n)  of  the 
feen<J  /.  as  sheweth  heere  by  the  naddre  /.  And  afterward, 
the  delit  of  the  flessh"  /  as  sheweth  heere  by  Eue  /.  And 
after  that1  the  consentynge  of  reson  /.  as  sheweth  heere  by 
Adam  /  [332]  ffor  trust  wel  /  though  so  were  /  that  the 
feend  tempted  Eue  /  that  is  to  seyn  the  flessh  /  and  the 
flessh"  hadde  delif  in  the  beautee  of  the  fruyt1  defended  /. 
yet  certes  /  til  that  reson  /  that  is  to  seyn  Adam  /  con- 
sented to  the  etynge  of  the  fruyt1.  yet  stood  he  in  thestaat 
of  Innoce?zce  [333]  IT  Of  thilke  Adam  /  tooke  we  thilke 
synne  original  /.  for  of  hym  flesshly  descended  be  we  alle 
and  engendred  /  of  vile  and  corrupt  mateere  /  [334]  and 
whan  the  soule  /  is  put  in  oure  body,  right  anon  /  is  con- 
tract1 original  synne  /.  and  that1  J?at  was  erst1  but  oonly 
peyne  of  concupiscence  /  is  afterward  /  bothe  peyne  and 
synne  /.  [335]  and  therfore  /  be  we  alle  born  /  sones  of 

ELLESMERE    609    (6-T.  613)        C1  leaf  216,  back] 


614    SIX-TEXT 

610    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

wratthe  and  of  dampnacion  perdurable  /  if  it  nere  baptesine 
that  we  receyuen  /  which  bynyneth  vs  the  culpe  /.  'but*  for 
sothe  /  the  peyne  dwelleth  with  vs.  as  to  temptacion.  which 
peyne  /  highte  concupiscence  /  [336]  whan  it  is  wrongfully 
disposed  /  or  ordeyned  in  man  /.  if  maketh  hym  coueite 
by  coueitise  of  flessh  /  flesshly  synne  /  by  sigfrte  of  hise 
eyen  /  as  to  erthely  thynges  /.  and  coueitise  of  hynesse  / 
by  pride  of  herte 

[337]  ^  Now  as  for  to  speken  of  the  firste  coueitise  / 

Concupiscence          ,  .       _ 

that  is  Concupiscence  after  the  lawe  of  oure  membres  / 
that  weren  lawefulliche  ymaked  and  by  rightful  lugge- 
menf  of  god  [338]  IT  I  seye  for  as  muche  /  as  man  is  nat 
obeisaunt  to  god  that  is  his  lord?  therfore  /  is  the  flessh"  to 
hym  disobeisauntt  thurgh"  Concupiscence  which  yet  is 
cleped  norrissynge  of  synne  /  and  occasion  of  synne  /. 
[339]  therfore  /  al  the  while  that  a  man  hath  in  hym  /  the 
peyne  of  Concupiscence  /.  it  is  impossible  /  but  he  be 
tempted  somtime  and  moeued  in  his  flessfi  to  synne  ./ 
[340]  and  this  thyng1  may  nat  faille  as  longe  as  he  lyueth  /. 
it  may  wel  wexe  fieble  and  faille  by  ve?lu  of  baptesme  / 
and  by  the  grace  of  god  /  thurgh  penitence  /  [341]  but 
fully  /  ne  shal  it  neuere  quenche  /.  that  he  ne  shal  som 
tyme  be  moeued  in  hym  self1,  but  if  he  were  al  refreyded  by 
siknesse  /  or  by  malefice  of  sorcerie  /  or  colde  drynkes  /. 

f  sanc<u«  [342]  ff°r  1°  /  what  seith  seint  Paul  IT  the  flessh"  coueiteth 
agayn  the  spirit/  and  the  spirit1  agayn  the  flessh  /.  they 
been  so  contrarie  and  so  stryuen  /.  that  a  man  may  nat 

t  snnchis  alwey  doon  as  he  wolde  /  [343]  IT  The  same  seint  Paul 
after  his  grete  penance  /  in  water  Jand  in  lond  /.  in  water 
by  nyghtt  /  and  by  day  in  greet  peril  /  &  in  greet  peyne  /. 
In  lond  /  in  famyne  /  in  thursf  in  coold  and  cloothlees 
and  ones  stoned  almoost  to  the  deeth  //  [344]  yet  seyde  he  / 
alias  I  caytyf1  man  /.  who  shal  deliuere  me  fro  the  prison 

t  sancfns  of  my  caytyf  body  [345]  1T  And  seint  lerome  /  whan  he 

longe  tyme  hadde  woned  in  desert1  /where  as  he  hadde  no 
compaignye  /  but  of  wilde  beestes  /  where  as  he  ne  hadde 

ELLESMERE    610    (6-T.  614)  P  leaf  217] 


615    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I,   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALK   Ellesmere  MS.   611 

no  mete  but  herbes  /  and  water  to  his  drynke  /  ne  no  bed  / 

but  the  naked  erthe  /  for  which  his  flessh"  was  blak1  as  an 

Ethiopeen  for  heete  /  and  ny  destroyed  for  coold!  /.  [346] 

yet  seyde  he  /  that  the  brennynge  of  lecherie  boyled  in  al 

his  body  /  [347]  wherfore  /  I  woot  wel  sykerly  /  that  they 

been  deceyued  /  that  seyn  /  that  they  ne  be  nat  tempted  in 

hir  body  /  [348]  witnesse  on  Seint  lame  the  Apostel  /.  IT  sanctua 

that  seith  /  that1  euery  wigRt1  is  tempted  in  his  owene  con-  Apo«toius 

cupiscence  /.  that  is  to  seyn  that  euerich  of  vs  /  hath  niatere 

and  occasion  to  be  tempted  of  the  norissynge  of  synne  / 

that  is  in  his  body  /.  [349]  And  therfore  seith  Seint1  Ioh~n  f  Sanctns 

Johannes 

the  Euawngelist  ||.  If  that  we  seyn  /  that  we  beth  with  oute  Euaimga<* 
synne  /.  we  deceyue  vs  selue  /  and  trouthe  is  nat  in  vs 

[350]  If  Now  shal  ye  vnderstonde  /  in  what  manure  /  f  how  synn 

wexeth  or ./ 

that  synne  wexeth  /  or  encreesseth  in  man  II  The  nrste  encreessetu 

thyng  /.  is  thilke  norissynge  of  synne  of  which  I  spak 

biforn  /.  thilke  flessfily  concupiscence  /.  [351]  and  after 

that/  comth  the  subieccion  of  the  deuel  /  this  is  to  seyn  / 

the  deueles  bely  /  with  which  he  bloweth  in  man  /  the  fir 

of  flesshly  concupiscence  /.  [352]  and  after  that1  a  man  bi- 

thynketh  hym  /  wheither  he  wol  doon  or  no  thilke  thing1 

to  which  he  is  tempted  /.  [353]  And  thanne  /.  if  that  a 

man  withstonde   and  weyue  the   firste  entisynge  of  his 

flessh"  /  and  of  the  feend  /  thanne  is  it  no  synne  /  and  if 

it  so  be  /  that  he  do  nat  so  /  thanne  feeleth  he  anoon  a  flambe 

of  delit1.  [354]  and  thanne  is  it  good  to  be  war  /  and  kepen 

hym  wel  or  elles  /  he  wol  falle  anon  in  to  consentynge  of 

synne.  /  and  thanne  wol  he  do  if.  if  he  may  haue  tyme 

and  place  ||.  [355]  And  of  this  matere  seith  Moyses  by  f  Moyses  p 

deuioiiGQi 

the  deuel  in  this  manere  1T  The  feend  seith  /  I  wole 
chace  and  pursue  the  man  /  by  wikked  suggestion  ./ 
and  I  wole  hente  hym  by  moeuynge  /  or  stirynge  of 
synne.  /  I  wol  departe  my  prise  or  my  praye  by  de- 
liberacion  /  and  my  lust1  shal  been  accompliced  in  delit1. 
I  wol  drawe  my  swerd  in  consentynge  /.  [356]  ffor  certes  / 
right1  as  a  swerd  departeth  a  thyng1  in  two  peces  /  right1 

ELLESMERE    611    (6-T.  616) 


616    SIX-TEXT 

612    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

so  consentynge  /  departcth  god  fro  man  /  and  thanne 
wol  I  sleeii  hym  /  with  myn  hand  in  dede  of  synne  /  thus 
seith  the  feend  /.  [357]  for  certes  /  thanne  is  a  man  al 
deed  in  soule  /.  And  thus  is  synne  Accompliced  by  tempt- 
acion  "by  delif.  and  by  consentynge  /.  and  thanne  is  the 
synne  /  cleped  Actueel 

IfOfgynnein  [$5^]  ^  ffor  sothe  /  synne  is  in  two  maneres  /.  outher  / 

vemij  uua  deedly  it  is  venial  /  or  deedly  synne  ^[  Soothly  /  whan  man  loueth 
any  creature  moore  than  Ihesu  crisf  oure  creatour/  thanne 
is  it  deedly  synne  ||.  And  venial  synne  is  if.  if  man  loue 
Ihesu  crisf  lasse  than  hym  /.  [359]  ffor  sothe  /  the 
dede  of  this  venial  synne  /  is  ful  perilous  for  it  amenuseth 
the  loue  /  that  men  sholde  ban  to  god  moore  and  moore 
[360]  And  therfore  /  if  a  man  charge  hym  self  with  manye 
swiche  venial  synnes  /.  certes  /  but  if  so  be  that  he  som 
tyme  descharge  hym  of  hem  by  shrifte  /.  they  mowe  ful 
lightly  amenuse  in  hym  al  the  loue  that  he  hath  to  Ihe.su 
crist1.  [361]  and  in  this  wise  /  skippeth  venial  in-to  deedly 
synne  xffor  certes  the  moore  that  a  man  /  chargeth  his  soule 
with  venial  synne  the  moore  is  he  enclyned  /  to  fallen  in-to 
deedly  synne  /.  [362]  and  therfore  /  lat1  vs  nat  be  necligenf  to 

T  prouerMim  deschargcn  vs  of  venial  synnes  1T  ffor  the  prouerbe  seith 
that1  manye  smale  /  maken  a  greet  [363]  IT  And  herkne 

U  ewmpium  this  ensample  ||.  A  greet1  wawe  of  the  see  comth  som  tyme 
with  so  greet1  a  violence  /  that  it  drencheth  the  shipe 
H  And  the  same  harm  dooth  som  tyme  /  the  smale  dropes 
of  water/  that  entren  /  thurgli  a  litel  creuace  in  to  the 
thurrok1.  and  in  the  botme  of  the  shipe  /  if  men  be  so 
necligenf  that  they  /  ne  descharge  hem  nat  by  tyme  /. 
[364]  And  therfore  /  al  though  ther  be  a  difference  bitwixe 
thise  two  causes  of  drenchynge  /.  algates  /  the  shipe  is 
dreyiif.  [365]  U  Kigfif  so  fareth  it  som  tyme  of  deedly 
synno  /  and  of  anoyouse  veniale  synnes  /  whan  they 
multiplie  in  a  man  so  greetly  /  that  thilke  worldly  thynges 
that  he  louej)  thurgli  whiche  he  synneth  venyally  /.  is 
as  greet  in  his  herte  as  the  loue  of  god  /  or  moore  /  [366] 

ELLESMERE    612    (6-T.  616)        [Meaf  217,  back] 


617    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    613 

and  therfore  the  lone  of  euery  thyng1.  that  is  nat  biset  in  god 
ne  doon  principally  for  goddes  sake  /.  al  though  that  a  man 
loue  it  lasse  than  god  /  yet  is  it  venial  synne  /.  [367]  and 
deedly  synne  /  whan  the  loue  of  any  thyng1.  wexeth 
in  the  herte  of  man  /  as  muchel  as  the  loue  of  god  /  or 
moore  /  [368]  1T  Deedly  synne  /  as  seith  seint  Augustyn  /  f  sanctm 

Augustiiiuf 

is.  whan  a  man  /  turneth  his  herte  fro  god  /  which  that  is 
verray  souereyn  bouwtee  /  that  may  nat  chaunge  /  and 
yeueth  his  herte  /  to  thyng1  that  may  chaunge  and  flitte  /. 
[369]  And  certes  /  that  is  euery  thyng1  saue  god  of  heuene  /. 
fFor  sooth  is  /  that  if  a  man  yeue  his  loue  /  the  which  fat 
he  oweth  al  to  god  with  al  his  herte  /.  vn-to  a  creature  /. 
certes  /  as  muche  as  he  yeueth  of  his  loue  to  thilke 
creature  /  so  muche  he  bireueth  fro  god  /  [370]  and  ther 
fore  dooth  he  synne  /.  for  he  that  is  dettour  to  god  /.  ne 
yeldeth  nat  to  god  al  his  dette  /  that  is  to  seyn  al  the 
loue  of  his  herte 

[371]  IT  NOw  sith  man  vnderstondeth  generally  /  which 
is  venial  synne  /.  thanne  is  it1  couenable  /  to  tellen  specially 
of  synnes  /  whiche  that  many  a  man  per  auenture  /  ne 
demeth  hem  nat  synnes  /  and  ne  shryueth  hem  nat1  of  the 
same  thynges  /  and  yet  nathelees  /  they  been  synnes 
[372]  1T  Soothly  /  as  thise  clerkes  writen  /  this  is  to  seyn  /.  f  of  manye 

diuerse  syuncs 

that  at  euery  tyme  that  a  man  eteth  or  drynketh  /  moore  than 
suffiseth  to  the  sustenance  of  his  body  /  in  certein  he  dooth 
synne  [373]  1T  And  eelc1  whan  he  speketh  moore  than 
nedeth  /  it  is  synne  ^T  Eke  /  whan  he  herkneth  nat  be- 
nignely  the  compleinfr  of  the  poure  [374]  II  Eke  /  whan 
he  is  in  heele  of  body  and  wol  nat  faste  whan  hym  oghte 
faste  /  with-outen  cause  resonable  1T  Eke  whan  he  slepeth 
moore  than  nedeth  /.  or  whan  he  comth  by  thilke  encheson 
to  late  to  chirche  /  or  to  othere  werkes  of  charite  [375] 
1T  Eke  /  whan  he  vseth  his  wyf1.  with-outen  souereyn  desir 
of  engendrure  to  the  honour  of  god  /  or  for  the  entente  / 
to  yelde  to  his  wyf1  the  dette  of  his  body  [376]  H  Eke  / 
whan  he  wol  nat1  visite  the  sike  and  the  prisoner  if  he  may 

ELLESMERE    613    (6-T.  617) 


618    SIX-TEXT 

614   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  Eke  /  if  lie  loue  /  wyf  or  child  /.  or  oother  worldly 
thyng<.  moore  than  reson  requireth  IT  Eke  /  if  he  flatere  or 
blandise  /  moore  than  hym  ogfite  /  for  any  necessitee 
[377]  ^  Eke  /  if  he  amenuse  or  withdrawe  the  Almesse  of 
the  poure  IT  Eke  /  if  he  apparailleth  his  mete  moore 
deliciously  /  than  nede  is  /  or  etc  to  hastily  by  likerous- 
nesse  [378]  1T  Eke  /  if  he  tale  vanytees  at  chirche  /  or 
at  goddes  sendee  /  or  that  he  be  a  talker*  of  ydel  wordes  / 
of  folye  /  or  of  vileynye  /.  for  he  shal  yeldere  l  acountes  of 
if  at  the  day  of  doome  ||.  [379]  Eke  /  whan  he  biheteth  / 
or  assureth  to  do  thynges  /  that  he  may  naf  perfourne 
1T  Eke  /  whan  that  he  /  by  lightfnesse  or  folie  /  mysseyeth  / 
or  scorneth  his  neighebore  [380]  IT  Eke  /  whan  he  hath  any 
wikked  suspecion  of  thyng*  ther  he  ne  woot  of  it  no  sooth- 
fastnesse  ||  [381]  Thise  thynges  and  mo  with-oute  nombre  / 
been  synnes  /  as  aeith  seinf  Augustyn. 

[382]  1T  NOw  shal  men  vnderstonde  /  that  al  be  it  so  / 
that  noon  erthely  man  /  may  eschue  alle  venial  synnes  /.  yet 
may  he  restreyne  hym  /  by  the  brennynge  loue  /  that  he 
hath  to  oure  lord  Ihmi  crist1.  and  by  preyeres  and  confession 
and  othere  goode  werkes  /.  so  that  it  shal  but  litel  greue  ||. 
[383]  for  as  seith  seint  Augustyn  11  If  a  man  loue  god 
in  swich  manere  /  that  al  that  euere  he  dooth  /  is  in  the 
loue  of  god  /  and  for  the  loue  of  god  verraily  /  for  he 
brenneth  in  the  loue  of  god  /  [384]  Looke  how  muche  that 
a  drope  of  water/  that  falleth  in  a  fourneys  ful  of  fyr 
anoyeth  or  greueth  /  so  muche  anoyeth  a  venial 
synne  vn-to  a  man  /  that  is  perfif  in  the  loue  of  Ihesu 
crist  /  [385]  1T  Men  may  also  /  refreyne  venial  synne  / 
by  receyuynge  worthily  /  of  the  precious  body  of 
Ihesu  crist  Q.  [386]  by  receyuynge  eek1  of  hooly  water/, 
by  Almesdede  /.  by  general  confession  of  Confiteor 
at  masse  and  at  Complyn  /  and  by  blessynge  of 
Bissfropes  and  of  preestes  and  oothere  goode  werkes 

Explicit1  secunda  pars  Penitentie  (5) 

ELLESMERE   614   (6-T.  618)  [» leaf  218] 


619    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   G15 

5f  Sequitw  de  septem  peccatis  mortalibus  /  eft 
eorwm  dependency's  circumstancijs  &  speciebus 

"l^    T  *f[  De  Superbia  rSb 

\        [387] 
^k       Ow  is  it1  bihouely  thyng1.  to  telle  /  whiche  been 

^j  the  deedly  synnes  /  this  is  to  seyn  /  Chieftaynes 
•  -  1  of  synnes  /.  alle  they  renne  in  o  lees  /  but1  in 
diuerse  maneres  II  Now  been  they  cleped  Chieftaynes  / 
for  as  muche  as  they  been  chief1,  and  spryngen  of  alle 
othere  synnes  /  [388]  IT  Of  the  roote  /  of  thise  .vij.  synnes  / 
thanne  is  pride  the  general  roote  of  alle  harmes  /.  ffor  of 
this  roote  /  spryngen  certein  braunches  /.  As  Ire.  Enuye. 
Accidie  /  or  Slewthe.  Auarice  /  or  Coueitise  to  commune 
vnderstondynge  /.  Glotonye.  and  Lecherye.  [389]  And 
euerich  of  thise  chief  synnes  hath  hise  braunches  and  hise 
twigges  as  shal  be  declared  /  in  hire  Chapitres  folwynge  / 

[no  break  in  the  MS.] 

[The  Twigs  of  Pride.] 

[390]  And  thogh  so  be  that  no  man  kan  outrely  telle  / 
the  nombre  of  twigges  and  of  the  harmes  that  coineth  of 
pride  /.  yet  wol  I  shewe  a  partie  of  hem  /  as  ye  shul 
vnderstonde  [391]  IT  Ther  is  /  Inobedience.  Auauntyiige. 
Ypocn'sie.    Despit.    Arrogance.    Inpudence.    swellynge   of 
herte.    Insolence.    Elacion.   Inpacieiice.  strif.    Contumacie. 
Presumpciou.  Irreuerence.  Pertinacie.  Veyne  glorie  /  and 
many  another  twig1  that  I  kan  nat  declare  [392]  IT  Ino-  IT  or  inobedteno 
bedient  is  he  /  that  disobeyeth  for  despitf  to  the  comande- 
mentz  of  god  /.  and  to  hise  souereyns  /.  And  to  his  goostly 
fader  /  [393]  IT  Auauntour  is  he  /  that  bosteth  of  the  harm  /  j  or  Auauntyiig 
or  of  the  bountee  /  that  he  hath  doon  [394]  H  Ypocrite  is  f  ofYpocnsie 
he  /  that  hideth  to  shewe  hym  swich   as   he   is  /.  and 
sheweth  hym  /  swich  as  he  noghf  is  [395]  X1T  Despitous  nofdespit/ 
is  he  /  that  hath  desdeyn  of  his  neighebore  /  that  is  to 
seyn  of  euene  cristene  /  or  hath  despif  to  doon  that 
hym  ogfite  to  do  [396]  U  Arrogant  is  he  /  that  thynketh  /  f  or  Arrogance 
jjat  he  hath  thilke  bountees  in  hym  that1  he  hath  noghf  or 

44  ELLESMERE    615    (6-T.  619)        ['  leaf  818,  back] 


6:20  SIX-TEXT 

G16   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

weneth  that  he  sholde  haue  hem  /  by  hise  desertes  /.  or 
If  orinpudenoe    elles  /  he  demeth  that  he  be  that  he  nys  nat/  [397]  1T  In- 
pudent  is  he  /.  that  for  his  pride  /  hath  no  shame  of  hise 
f  Of  sweiiynge  of  synnes  /  [398]  IT  Swellynge  of  herte  is  /.  whan  a  man 
f  of  insolence     reioyseth  hym  /  of  harm  that  he  hath  doon  /  [399]  IT  Inso- 
lent is  he  /.  that  despiseth  in  his  luggement1  allo  othere 
folk/  as  to  regard  of  his  value  /.  and  of  his  konnyng1.  and  of 
f  of  Eiaeio«n      his  spekyng1.  and  of  his  beryng1  [400]  H  Elacion  is  /  whan 
he  ne  may  neither  suffre  to  haue  maister  ne  felawe  /  [401] 
H  Inpacient  is  he  /.  that  wol  nat  been  ytaught  ne  vnder- 
nome  of  his  vice  /  and  by  strif  werreieth  trouthe  wityngly  / 
and  deffendeth  his  folye  /  [402]  1T  Contumax  is  he  /.  that 
thuTglL  his  indignacion  is   agayns   euerich  auctoritee   or 
•[Of  pro  power/  of  hem  that  been  hise  souereyns  [403]  IT  Pre- 

sumpcioua 

sumpcion  is  /  whan  a  man  vndertaketh  an  emprise  that 

hym  ogfite  nat  do  /  or  elles  that1  he  may  nat  do  /  and  this 
If  or  imuwence  is  called  surquidie  IT  Irreuerence  is  /  whan  men  do  nat1 

honoz/r  /  there  as  hem  oghte  to  doon  /  and  waiten  to  be 
••ofPertinacie     referenced   [404]  1T  Pertinacie  is.  whan  man  deffendeth 

hise  folies.  and  trusteth  to  muchel  in  his  owene  wit1.  [405] 
f  Of  veyne  giorie  ^r  Veyneglorie  /  is  for  to  haue  poinpe  and  delif  in  his 

temporeel   hynesse  /  and   glorifie   hym  in   this   worldly 
ITOfiangiynge    estaaf  [406]  IT  langlynge  /  is  /  whan   men  speken  to 

inuche  biforn  folk1,  and  clappen  as  a  Mille  /  and  taken  no 

kepe  what  they  seye  / 
f  of  othere  [40  7]  IT  And  yet1  is  ther  a  pn'uee  spece  of  pride  /  that 

priuee  speces  of 

pride  waiteth  first1  to  be  salewed  er  he  wole  salewe  /  al  be  lie 

lasse  worth  /  than  that  oother  is  per  auenture  /.  and  eek  he 
waiteth  or  desireth  /  to  sitte  /  or  elles  to  goon  aboue  hym  iu 
the  wey  /  or  kisse  pax  /.  or  been  encensed  /  or  goon  to 
offryng1  biforn  his  neigfiebore  /  [408]  and  swiche  semblable 
thynges  /  agayns  his  duetee  per  auenture  /  but  that  he  hath 
his  herte  and  his  entente  in  swich  a  proud  desir  to  be 
magnified*  and  honoured  biforn  the  peple 

II  of  two  [409]  11  Now  been  ther  two  maneres  of  pn'de /.  that 

inaneres  of  pride  . 

oon  of  hem  /  is  with  Inne  the  herte  of  man  /  and  that 

ELLESMEKE   616   (6-T.  620) 


G21    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   G17 

oother  is  with  oute  /.  [410]  of  whiche  soothly  thise  for- 

seyde  thynges  /  and  mo  than  I  haue  seyd  /  apertenen  to 

pride  that  is  in  the  herte  of  man  /  and  that  othere  speces 

of  pride  /  been  with  oute  /.  [411]  hut  natheles  that  oon 

of  thise  speces  of  pride  /  is  signe  of  that  oother.  /  right1 

as  the  gaye  leefsel  atte  Tauerne  /  is  signe  of  the  wyn 

that  is  in  the  Celer  /.  [412]  and  this  is  in  manye  thynges  / 

As  in  speche  and  contenance  /  and  in  outrageous  array  of 

clothyng*.  [413]  for  certes  /  if  ther  ne  hadde  be  no  synne 

in  clothyng1  Crist  wolde  nat1  haue  noted  and  spoken  of  the 

clothyng1  of  thilke  riche  man  in  the  gospel  ||.  [414]  And 

as  seith  Seint1  Gregorie  IT  That  precious  clothyng1  is  cow- 1  sawc/im 

pable  /  for  the  derthe  of  if.  and  for  his  softenesse  /  and 

for  his  strangenesse  and  degisynesse  /  and  for  the  super- 

fluitee  /  and  for   the   inordinate  scantnesse  of  it1   [415] 

IT  Alias  /  may  men  nat  seen  as  in  oure  dayes  /  the  synful 

costlewe  array  of  clothynge  /.  and  namely  /  in  to  muche 

superfluite  /  or  elles  /  in  to  desordinat*  scantnesse 

[416]   AS   to   the   firste   synne  /   in   superfluitee   of  f  or  superfluit 

&  outrageous 

clothynge  /  which  that  maketh  it  so  deere  to  harm  of  the  array  of  ciothi 

peple  /.    [417]  nat  oonly  /  the  cost1  of  embrowdynge  / 

the  degise  /  endentynge  /  barrynge  /  owndynge  /  palynge  / 

wyndynge  /  or  bendynge  /  and  semblable  wast1  of  clooth  / 

in  vanitee  /  [418]  but  ther  is  1also  costlewe  furrynge  in 

hir  gownes  /.  so  muche  powsonynge  of  chisel  to  maken 

holes  /.  so  muche  daggynge  of  sheres  /  [419]  forth  with 

the  superfluitee  in  lengthe  of  the  forseide  gownes  /  trail- 

ynge  /  in  the  dong1  and  in  the  Mire  on  horse  and  eek1  on 

foote  /  as  wel  /  of  men  as  of  wommen  /.  that  al  thilke 

trailyng1  is  verraily  as  in  effect1  wasted  /  consumed  /  thred- 

bare  /  and  roten  with  donge  /  rather/  than  it  is  yeuen  to 

the  poure  /  to  greet  damage  of  the  forseyde  poure  folk  /. 

[420]  and  that  in  sondry  wise  /.  this  is  to  seyn  /  that1  the 

moore  that  clooth  is  wasted  /  the  moore  it  costeth  to 

the  peple  for  the  scantnesse  [421]  IT  And  forther  ouer  / 

if  so  be  /  that  they  wolde  yeuen  swich  powsoned  and 

ELLESMERE    617    (0-T.  62l)  p  leal  219] 


622    SIX-TEXT 

618    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

dagged  clothyng1  to  the  poure  folk  /.  it  is  naf  conuenient1 
to  were  for  hire  estaaf  ne  sufnsanf  to  beete  hire  necessitee  / 
to  kepe  hem  /  fro  the  distemperance  of  the  firmament1 
[422]  Up-on  fat  oother  side  /  to  speken  of  the  horrible 
disordmat  scantnesse  of  clothyng*.  as  been  thise  kutted 
sloppes  /  or  haynselyns  /  that  thurgh"  hire  shortnesse  /  ne 
couere  nat1  the  shameful  membres  of  man  to  wikked 
entente  [423]  H  Alias  /  sorame  of  hem  shewen  the  boce  of 
hir  shape  and  the  horrible  swollen  membres  /  that  semeth  / 
lik  the  maladie  of  Hirnia  in  the  wrappynge  of  hir  hoses  / 
[424]  and  eek1  the  buttokes  of  hem  faren  /  as  it  were 
the  hyndre  part1  of  a  she  Ape  in  the  fulle  of  the  Moone 
[425]  IT  And  moore  ouer  /  the  wrecched  swollen  membres 
that  they  shewe  /  thurgh  the  degisynge  in  departynge  of 
hire  hoses  in  whit  and  reed  /  semeth  that  half  hir  shame- 
ful pmiee  membres  weren  flayne  [426]  1T  And  if  so  be  that 
they  departen  hire  hoses  in  othere  colours  /.  as  is  whif 
and  blak1.  or  whit1  and  blew  /  or  blak  /  and  reed  and  so 
forth  /.  [427]  thanne  semeth  if  as  by  variance  of  colour 
that  half  the  partie  of  hire  prmee  membres  were  corrupt* 
by  the  fir  of  seint  Antony  /  or  by  Cancre  /  or  by  oother 
swich  meschaunce  [428]  1T  Of  the  hyndre  part1  of  hir 
buttokes.  it  is  ful  horrible  for  to  see  /.  ffor  certes  /  in  that 
partie  of  hir  body  /  ther  as  they  purgen  hir  stynkynge 
ordure  /  [429]  that  foule  partie  shewe  they  to  the  peple 
prowdly  in  despit1  of  honestitee  /  the  which  honestitee  that 
Ihesu  crisf  and  hise  freendes  obseruede  /  to  shewen  in  hir 
lyue  [430]  NOw  /  of  the  outrageous  array  of  wowmen  / 

array  of  Wommen  .          .          i     ,1          •  <•  i 

god  woof  that  though  the  visages  01  so?wnie  ot  liem  /  seme 
ful  chaasf  and  debonaire  /  yet  notifie  they  in  hire  array  of 
Atyr  likerousnesse  and  pride  [431]  IT  I  sey  naf  that 
honestitee  in  ciothynge  of  man  or  womman  /  is  vncouen- 
able  /  but  certes  the  superfluitee  /  or  disordinaf  scantitee 
of  ciothynge  /  is  repreuable  [432]  IT  Also  /  the  synne  of 
f  of  outrageous  aornemenf  or  of  apparaille  /  is  in  thynges  that  apertenen 
tuat°  to  ridyngc  /.  as  /  in  to  nianye  delicat  horses  that  been  hoold- 

ELLESMERE    618   (6-T.  622) 


623    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    C19 

en  for  delifr.  that  been  so  faire  /  fatte  and  costlewe  /.  [433]  ap^enen  to 

ridyiige 

and  also  /  to  many  a  vicious  knaue  /  that  is  susteiied  by 
cause  of  hem  /  In  to  curious  barneys  /.  as  in  sadeles  /  in 
Crouperes  /  peytrels  and  bridles  couered  with  precious 
clothyiig1  and  riche  /  barres  and  plates  of  gold  and  of 


siluer   /.    U'ul   for   which   god   seith  /  by  Zakarie   the*  **•*««•  P"1 

znkuriam 

prophete  /  I  wol  confounde  the  rideres  of  swiche  horses  p>-ophe«am 

[435]  ^  r^is  folk1  taken  litel  reward  of  the  ridynge  of 

goddes  sone  of  heuene  /  and  of  his  harneys  whan  he  rood 

vp  on  the  Asse  /  and  ne  hadde  noon  oother  harneys  /  but 

the  poure  clothes  of  hise  disciples  /  ne  /  we  1  ne  rede  nat1. 

that  euere  he  rood  on  oother  beesf.  [436]  I  speke  this  / 

for   the  synne  of  superfluitee   /   and   nat   for   resonable 

honestitee  /  whan  reson  if  requireth  [437]  And  forther/ 

certes  pride  is  greetly  notified  in  holdynge  of  greet  meynee  /  f  or  pride  /  in 

.  holdynge  ol'giect 

whan   they    be    of    litel    profit1    or    of    ngfit    no    profit*,  meynee 

[438]  and  namely  /  whan  that  meynee  /  is  felonous  and  dama- 

geous  to  the  peple  by  hardynesse  of  heigh  lordshipe  /  or  by 

wey  of  Offices  /.  [439]  ffor  certes  swiche  lordes  /  sellen 

thanne  hir  lordshipe  to  the  deuel  of  helle  /  whanne  they 

sustenen  /  the  wikkcdnesse  of  hir  meynee  [440]  H  Or  elles  / 

whan  this  folk  of  lowe  degree  /  as  thilke   that  holdeu 

hostelries    /    sustenynge    the    thefte    of   hire    hostilers    / 

and     that     is     /     in     many     manere     of     deceites     / 

[441]  II  Thilke  manere  of  folk  /  been  the  flyes  that  folwen 

the  hony  /  or  elles  /  the  houndes  /  that  folwen  the  careyne  /. 

Swich  forseyde  folk  stranglen  spiritually  hir  lordshipes  /. 

[442]  for  which  /  thus  seith  Dauid  the  prophete  /  IT  Wikked  IF  Dauid  pro- 

phela 

deeth  moote  come  vp  thilke  lordshipes  /.  and  god  yeue  /  that 
they  moote  descenden  in-to  helle  al  doun  /  al  doun  /.  for  in 
hire  houses  /  been  iniquitees  and  shrewednesses  /  and  nat  god 
of  heuene  /.  [443]  and  certes  /  but  if  they  doon  amende- 
mentt.  right/  as  god  yaf  his  benyson  to  Pharao  /  by  the 
seruice  of  lacob  /  and  to  Laban  /  by  the  seruice  of  Joseph.  / 
right  so  /  god  wol  yeue  his  malison  to  swiche  lordshipes  / 
as  sustenen  the  wikkednesse  of  hir  seruauntz  /  but*  if  they 

ELLESMERE    619    (6-T.  623)        ['  leaf  219,  back  J 


624    SIX-TEXT 

620    GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

1  or  pride  of  the  come  to  ameiidemcnt  [444]  1F  Pride  of  the  table  /  appeereth 
eek1  ful  ofte  ./  for  ceHes  riche  men  been  cleped  to  festes  / 
and  poure  folk1  been  put1  awey  and  rebuked  [445]  Also 

f  ofexcesseof     in  excesse  of  diuerse  metes  and  dryukes  /.  and  namely  / 

diuerRe  metes  .  - 

and  drynkes  swiche  manere  bake  metes  and  dissn  metes  brennynge  ot 
wilde  fir  /  and  peynted  and  castelled  with  papir  /  and 
semblable  wast/  so  that1  it  is  abusion  for  to  thynke  [446] 

t  of  to  great       And  eek1  in  to  greet1  pveciousnesse  of  vessel  /  and  curiositee 

pra-iousnesseof  .  . 

vessel /.and        ot  Mynstralcie  /  by  wlnche  /  a  man  is  stired  the  moore  to 

Mynstraicye        delices  of  luxurie  /  [447]  if  so  be  that  he  sette  his  herte  / 

the   lasse   vp-on  oure  lord   Ihesu  crist  /.  certeyn  it   is  a 

synne  /  and  certeinly  /  the  delices  /  myghte  been  so  grete 

in  this  caas  /  that  man  myghte  lightly  /  falle  by  hem  in-to 

toftheespeees   deedly  synne  [448]  The  especes  that  sourden  of  pride  / 

that  sourden  of 

pride  soothly  /  Avhan  they  sourden  of  malice  ymagined  /  auised 

and  forncasf.  or  elles  of  vsage  /  been  deedly  synnes  /  it  is 
no  doute  /.  [449]  And  whan  they  sourden  by  freletee  vn- 
auysed  /  and  sodeynly  withdrawen  ayeyn  /  al  been 
they  greuouse  synnes  /.  I  gesse  /  that  they  ne  been  nat 

t  wi>er-of  /  pride  deedly  [450]  Now  myghte  men  axe  /  wher-of  that  pn'de 

sourdeth  and 

spryngeth  sourdeth  /  and  spryngeth  and  1  seye  /  somtyme  it 

spryngeth  /  of  the  goodes  of  nature  /  and  som  tyme  /  of 
the  goodes  of  ffortune  /.  and  som  tyme  /  of  the  goodes  of 

T  or  goodes  of  grace  [451]  ^F  Certes  /  the  goodes  of  nature  /  stonden  / 
outlier  in  goodes  of  body  /  or  in  goodes  of  soule  [452] 

t  of  goodes  of  IF  Certes  /  goodes  of  body  /  been  heele  of  body,  as 
strengthe  /  deliuernesse  /  beautee  /  gentries  /  franchise  / 

t  of  goodes /of   [453]  IF  Goodes  of  nature  of  the  soule  /  been  good  witf 

souie  sharpe  vnderstoiidynge.  subtil  engyn.  vertu  natureel.  good 

If  or  goodes  of  memorie  [454]  IF  Goodes  of  ffortune  /  been  richesse  / 
hyghe  degrees  of  lordshipes.  preisynges  of  the  peple  [455] 

1  or  goodes  of  1F  Goodes  of  grace  /  been  science,  power/  to  suffre 
spiritueel  trauaille.  benignitee.  vertuous  contemplacion. 
withstondynge  of  temptacion  /  and  semblable  thynges  /. 
[456]  of  whiche  forseyde  goodes.  certes  it  is  a  ful  greet 
folye  /  a  man  to  priden  hym  /  in  any  of  hem  alle  [457] 

ELLESMEUE    620    (6-T.  624) 


625    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   621 


as  for  to  speken  of  goodes  of  nature  /.  god  woof  that 
som  tyme  we  han  hem  /  in  nature  /  as  muche  to  oure 
1  damage  /  as  to  oure  profit  [458]  IF  As  for  to  speken  of 
heele  of  body  /.  certes  /  it  passeth"  ful  lightly  /  and  eek  it 
is  /  ful  ofte  enchesofi  of  the  siknesse  of  oure  soule  /.  for 
God  woof  the  flessn"  /  is  a  ful  greet  enemy  to  the  soule  /. 
and  therfore  /  the  moore  that  the  body  is  hool  /  the  moore 
be  we  in  peril  to  falle  [459]  IT  Eke  /  for  to  pride  /  hym  in  f  ofprMe  /  of 

i     '   i    f  i         i    n>  strengthe  of  body 

his  strengthe  of  body  /  it  is  an  heigh  folye  /.  ffor  certes  / 
the  flessh"  coueiteth  agayn  the  spirit  /.  and  ay  /  the  moore 
strong1  that  the  flessh"  is  /  the  sorier  may  the  soule  be  /. 
[460]  and  ouer  al  this  /  strengthe  of  body  and  worldly 
hardynesse  /  causeth  ful  ofte  many  a  man  /  to  peril  and 
meschaunce  [461]  11  Eek1  for  to  pride  hym  of  his  for  pride  of 

gentrye 

gentrie  /  is  ful  greet  folie/  for  ofte  tyme  /  the  gentrie  of  the 
body  /  binymeth  the  gentrie  of  the  soule  /.  and  eek1  we 
ben  alle  /  of  o  fader  /  and  of  o  mooder  /.  and  alle  we  been 
of  o  nature  /  roten.  and  corrupf.  bothe  riche  and  poure  ||. 
[462]  ffor  sothe  /  o  manere  gentrie  /  is  for  to  preise  / 
that  apparailleth  mannes  corage  with  vertues  and  moralitees/ 
and  maketh  hym  cristes  child*.  [463]  for  truste  wel  /  that 
ouer  what  man  fat  synne  hath  maistrie  /  he  is  /  a  verray 
cherl  to  synne 

[464]  IT  NOw  been  ther  generale  signes  of  gentillesse  /.  f  or  generate 

,  ,  ,       .,         ,  ,  ,  signes  /of/ 

as  eschewynge  or  vice   and  ribaudye  /  and  seruage  of  gentuiesse 
synne  /.  in  word  /  in  werk  /.  and  contenance  /.  [465]  and 
vsynge   vertu   /   curteisye.   and   clennesse   /.   and   to   be 
liberal  /.  that  is  to  seyn  /  large  by  mesure  /.  for  thilke  that 
passeth  mesure  /  is  folie  and  synne  [466]  1F  Another  is  / 
to  remembre  hym  of  bouwtee  /  that  he  of  oother  folk1  hath 
receyued  [467]  IT  Another  is  /  to  be  benigne  to  hise  goode 
subgetis  ||.  wherfore  seith  senek1  IT  ther  is  no  thing1  moore  f  Seneca 
couenable  to  a  man  of  heigh"  estaaf  /.  than  debonairetee 
and  pitee  [468]  And  therfore  /  thise  flyes  /  that  men  if  No<a 
clepeth  bees  /.  whan  they  maken  hir1  kyng1.  they  chesen 
oon  that  hath  no  prikke  /  wherwith  he  may  stynge  [469] 

ELLESMEllE    621    (6-T.  625)  [i  leaf  220] 


626    SIX-TEXT 

622   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

IT  Another  is  /  man  to  haue  a  noble  herte  /  and  a  diligent1 

to  attayne  to  heighe  vertuouse  thynges  [470]  NOw  certes  / 

fofprt.ieinthe  a  man  to  pra'de  hym  in  the  goodes  of  grace  /  is  eek  /  an 

yiitesofsroce  J 

outrageous  folie  /  for  thilke  yifte  of  grace  /  that  sholdo 

haue  turned  hym  to  goodnesse  and  to  medicine  /  turneth 

hym  to  venym  and  to  confusion  /  as  seith  seint1  Gregorie 

t  or  prWe  in  the  [471!  Certes  also  /  who  so  prideth  hym  /  in  the  goodes  of 

g.KHlc-s  of  (fortune  L         J 

ffortune  /.  he  is  a  ful  greet  fool  /.  for  som  tyme  is  a  man  a 
greet  lord  by  the  morwe  /.  that  is  a  caytyf1  and  a  wrecche 
er  it  be  nyghf.  [472]  and  som  tyme  /  the  richesse  of  a  man  / 
is  cause  of  his  dej)  /  somtyme  /  the  delices  of  a  man  /  is 
cause  of  the  greuous  maladye  /  thurgfi  which  he  dyeth 
T  or  cowmen-  \4T\\  Certes  /  the  cowmendacion  of  the  peple  /  is  som- 

daoioHiiofthe          L-T/OJ  / 

pepie.  tyme  /  ful  fals  and  ful  brotel  for  to  triste  /.  this  day  they 

preyse  /  tomorwe  they  blame  /  [474]  god  jvvoofr  desir/  to 
haue  commendacion  of  the  peple  /  hath  caused  deeth  /  to 
many  a  bisy  man  [475]  Now  sith  that  so  is  /  that  ye  han 
vnderstonde  what  is  pride  /  and  whiche  been  the  spoces  of 
if.  and  whennes  pride  sourdeth  /  and  spryngeth 


^[  Remediu?n  contra  peccatum  Superbie  ^) 
[476J 

NOw  shul  ye  vnderstonde  which  is  the  remedie  agayns  / 
the  synne  of  pride  /.  and  that  is  humylitee  /  or 
mekenesse  /.  [477]  that  is  a  vertu  /  thurgh"  which,  a  man  / 
hath  verray  knoweleche  of  hym  self1,  and  holdeth  of  hym- 
self/  no  pris  ne  deyntee  /.  as  in  regard  of  hise  desertes  / 
considerynge  euere  his  freletee  [478]  NOw  been  ther  .iij. 

«j  or  .iij.  maneres  maneres  of  humylitee  /.  as  humylitee  in  herte  /.  and  another 
humylitee  in  his  *  mouth  11  The  thridde  in  hise  werkes 

^  of  .mj.  maneres  [479]  U  The  humilitce  in  herte  /  is  in  iiij.  maneres  H  that 
oon  is  /  whan  a  man  /  holdeth  hym  self1  as  nogfitt  worth 
biforn  god  of  heuene  ||.  Another  is  /.  whan  he  ne  despiseth 

ELLESMERE    622    (6-T.  626)        [»  leaf  220,  back] 


"1 


627   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PAKSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   623 

noon  oother  man  [480]  IT  The  thridde  is  /  whan  he 
rekketh  naf.  though"  men  holde  hym  nogfit  worth  IT  The 
ferthe  is  /  whan  he  nys  nat  sory  of  his  humiliacion  [481] 
If  Also  the  humilitee  of  moutfi  /.  is  in  .iiij.  thynges  If  In  tof.Hij. 

thynges  /  of/ 

attempree  speche  IT  And  in  humblesse  of  speche  IT  and  humintec  of 

whan  he  biknoweth"  with  his  owene  mouth  /.  that  he  is 

swich  /  as  hym  thynketh  that  he  is  in  his  herte  H  Another 

is  /.  whan  he  preiseth  the  bouretee  of  another  man  /.  and 

no  thyng1  ther  of  amenuseth  /  [482]  IT  Humilitee  eek1  in  f  of  .inj.maner 

rr  mi       r-  •  t  °V  l>nmilitee  in 

werkes  is  in  .nij.  maneres  H  The  firste  is  /  whan  he  putteth  werkes 
othere  men  biforn  hym  IT  The  seconde  is  /  to  chese  the 
loweste  place  oner  al  If  The  thridde  is  /  gladly  to  assente 
to  conseil  [483]  IT  The  ferthe  /  is  to  stonde  gladly  /  to 
the  award!  of  hise  souereyns  /.  or  of  hym  /  that  is  in  hyer 
degree  /.  certein  this  is  a  greet  werk  of  humylitee  fa 


A 


^T  Sequitwr  de  Inuidia  fa 

[484]  . 

fter  Pride  wol  I  speken  /  of  the  foule  synne  of  Enuye  f  what  Enuye  is 

which  is  /  as  by  the  word  of  the  Philosophre  /  p\,i/ogophum  et 
sorwe  /  of  oother  mannes  prosperitee  /.  and  after  the  AugusUimw 
word  of  seinf  Augustyn  /.  it  is  sorwe  of  oother  mannes 
wele  /  and  ioye  of  othere  mennes  harm  /  [485]  11  This 
synne    is    platly   agayns    the    hooly   /.    Al    be    it    so   / 
that  euery  synne  is  agayns  the  hooly  goost/.  yet  nathelees 
for  as  muche  /  as  bouwtee  /  aperteneth  proprely  to  the 
hooly.    and   Enuye  comth    proprely.    of   malice   /.    ther- 
fore  it  is  proprely  /  agayn  the  bouwtee  of  the  hooly  goost1 
[486]  U  Now  hath  malice  two  speces  /.  that  is  to  seyn  t  or  .ij.»  spece» 
hardnesse  of  herte  in  wikkednesse  /.  or  elles  /  the  flessfi  of  the  firste  /  is 

,  ,        ,    ,    ,  i      ,    ,  .  ,  , ,     ,    ,        .      .      liardnesse  /  of 

man  is  so  blynd  /  that  he  considere])  naf.  that  he  is  in  herte 

synne  /.   or  rekketh  naf  that  he  is  in  synne  /.  which 

is   the   hardnesse   of  the   deuel  /   [487!   II   That  oother  tor  another  spece 

of  malice 

speche  of  malice  /  is  whan  a  man  werreyeth  trouthe  / 
whan  he  woof  that  it  is  trouthe  /.  And  eek  /  whan 
he  werreyeth  the  grace  /  that  god  hath  yeue  to  his 

ELLESMEEE    623   (6-T.  627) 


628   SIX-TEXT 

624   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.    Ellesmere  MS. 

neigheborc  /  and  al  this  /  is  by  Enuye  [488]  IT  Certes  / 
thanne  is  Enuye  the  worste  synne  that  is  /.  ffor  soothly  / 
alle  othere  synnes  been  som  tyine  oonly  /  agayns  o  special 
vertu  /.  [489]  but  certes  /  Enuye  is  agayns  alle  vertues  / 
and  agayns  alle  goodnesses  /.  for  it  is  sory  /  of  alle  the 
bowntees  of  his  neighebore  /  and  in  this  manere  /  it  is 
diuers  from  alle  othere  synnes  [490]  U  ffor  wel  vnnethe  / 
is  ther  any  synne  /  that1  it  ne  hath  /  som  delif  in  itself1, 
saue  oonly  Enuye  /  that  euere  hath  in  itself  angwissh"  and 
t  or  the  firsts  sorwe  [491]  U  The  speces  of  Enuye  been  those  /  Ther  is 

Bpece  of  Knuye  . 

first1,  sorwe  of  oother  mannes  goodnesse  /  and. of  his  pros- 
peritee.  /  and  prosperitee  /  is  kyndely  matere  of  loye/. 
thanne  is  Enuye  a  synne  agayns  kynde  [492]  U  The 

1  ofthe.ij.««  seconde  spece  of  Enuye  /  is  ioye  of  oother  mannes  harm  /. 
and  that  is  proprely  lyk  to  the  deuel  /.  that  euere  reioyseth 
bym  of  mannes  harm  [493]  U  Of  thise  two  speces  /  comth 
bakbityng1.  and  this  synne  /  of  bakbityng1  or  detraccion  / 

t  The  first*        hath   certeine  speces  /  as  thus  U  Som  man  preiseth  his 

bakbitynge  neighebore  by  a  wikke  entente  /.  [494]  for  he  maketh 
alwey  a  wikked  knotte  aatte  laste  ende  /.  alwey  /  he 
maketh  a  but/  atte  laste  ende  /  that  is  digne  of  mooro 

f  The  .i.j.<i«  specc  blame  /.  than  worth  is  al  the  preisynge  [495]  U  The  secondo 

of/  bakbityngfi 

spece  is  /  that  if  a  man  be  good  /  and  dooth  /  or  seith  a 
thing1  to  good  entente  /.  the  bakbiter*  wol  turne  all  thilke 
goodnesse  /  vp  so  doun  /  to  his  shrewed  entente  [496] 

t  The  .nj.do  spece  H  The  thridde  is  /  to  amenuse  the  bou?ztee  of  his  neighe- 

t  The  .nij.  spece  bore  [497]  II  The  fourthe  spece  of  bakbityng*  is  this  /. 
that1  if  men  speke  goodnesse  of  a  man  /.  thanne  wol  the 
bakbiter1  seyn  /.  pardee  /.  swich  a  man  /  is  yet1  bet  than  he  / 
in  dispreisynge  /  of  hym  that  men  preise  /  [498]  11  The 

^  The  v.«  spece  fifte  spece  is  this  /.  for  to  consente  gladly  and  herkne 
gladly  to  the  harm  that  men  speke  of/  oother  folk  ||.  this 
synne  is  ful  greet1  and  ay  encreeseth  /  after  the  wikked 
entente  of  the  bakbiter'  [499]  After  bakbityng1  cometh 

If  ofgrnechyng/  grucfichyng1  or  Mwrmuracion  /.  and  somtyme  it  spryngeth 

or  Munuuraciown 

of  Inpacience  agayns  god  /.  and   somtyme  agayns  man 

ELLESMERE   624   (6-T.  628)  f  leaf  221] 


G29    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   625 

[500]  IT  Agayns  god  it  is  /  whan  a  man  gruccheth  agayn 
the  peynes  of  helle  /.  or  agayns  pouerte  /.  or  los  of  catel. 
agayn  reyn  /  or  tempest1,  or  elles  gruccheth  /  that  shrewes 
han  prosperitee  /.  or  elles  /  for  that  goode  men  han  Ad- 
uersitee  /  [501]  and  alle  thise  thynges  sholde  men  suffre 
paciently  /.  for  they  comen  by  the  rightful  luggement1  and 
ordinance  of  god  [502]  1T  Som  tyme  comth  grucching1  o 

\>ai  comth  of 

Auarice  /  as  ludas  grucched  agayns  the  Magdaleyne  /.  whan  Auance 

she  enoynte  /  the  heued  of  oure  lord  Ihmi  crist1.  with  hir1 

precious  oynement1  [503]  IT  This  maner*  niMrmure  is  swich. 

as   whan  man  gruccheth  /  of  goodnesse  /  pat  hym  self 

dooth  /.  or  that  oother  folk  doon  of  hir  owene  catel  [504] 

IT  Som  tyme  comth  rrmraLure  of  pride  /.  as  whan  Simon  TOfmarmnre 

b«t  comth  of 

the  Pharisee  /  grucchched  agayn  the  Magdaleyne  /  whan  pride 

she  approched  to  Ihesu  crisfr.  and  weepe  at  his  feet1  for  hire 

synnes    [505]  IT   And   somtyme  gracchyng1   sourdeth   of  f  ofmarmnre 

|>at  sourdeth  of 

Enuye  /  whan  men  discouereth  a  mannes  harm  that  was  Euuye 

pryuee  /  or  bereth  hym  on  hond  /  thyng1  that  is  fals  [506] 

IT  Muramre  eek  /  is  ofte  amonges  seruauntz  /  that  grucchen  /  T  ormnrmure 

whan  hir  souereyns  bidden  hem  doon  leueful  thynges  /.  seruauntz 

[507]  and  for  as  muche  /  as  they  dar  nat  openly  withseyo 

the  comaundementz  of  hir  souereyns  /  yet  wol  they  seyn 

harm  /  and   grucche   and   nmrmure   pri'uely   for   verray 

despitf  /  [508]  whiche  wordes  /  men  clepen  the  deueles 

Pater  noster  /  though  so   be  that  the  deuel  ne  hadde 

neuere  Pater  noster  /.  but  that  lewed  folk1  yeuen  it  swich 

a  name  [509]  IT  Som  tyme  /  grucchyng1  comth  of  Ire  /  or 


prz'ue  hate  /  that  norisseth  rancour  in  herte  /.  as  afterward  ire 

I   shal  declare    [510]  Thanne  cometh  eek1  bitternesse  of  nofbitt«rnesse 

herte  /  thurgh"  which  bitternesse  /  euery  good  dede  of  his 

neighebor  /  semeth  to  hym  /  bitter  and  vnsauory  [511] 

IT  Tbanne  cometh  discord  /  that  vnbyndeth  alle  manere  IT  of  discord 

of  freendshipe  IT  Thanne  comth  /  scornynge  of  [.     .     . 

.........     no  gap  in  the  MS.]  his  neighe- 

bor /  al  do  he  neuer  so  weel   [512]  IT  Thanne  comth  / 
Accusynge  /.  as  whan  man  seketh  occasion  /  to  anoyen  his 

ELLESMERE    625    (6-T.  629) 


630    SIX-TEXT 

626   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

neighebor  /  which  that  is  lyk  /  to  the  craft*  of  the  deuel  / 
that  waiteth  /  bothe  nyght  and  day  to  accusen  vs  alle 
t  ofMaJigniteo  [513]  U  Thanno  comth  malignitee  /  thui'gh"  which"  a  man 
anoyeth  his  neighebor  praiely  /  if  he  may.  [514]  and  if  he 
noght  may  /  algate  /  his  wikked  wil  /  ne  shal  nat  wante  /. 
as  for  to  brennen  his  hous  pryuely  /.  or  empoysone  /  or  sleen 
hise  beestes  /  and  semblable  thynges  /. 

r      -i    X1F  Remedium  contra  peccatfwm  Inuidie 

NOW  wol  I  speke  of  the  remedie  /  agayns  the  foule 
syiine  of   Enuye  /  U  ffirst*  is  the  louynge  of  god 
principal  /  and  louyng  /  of  his  neighebor  as  hyrn  self  /.  for 
soothly  /  that  oon  ne   may  nat  been  /  with-oute   that 
oother  /.  [516]  And  truste  wel  /  that  in  the  name  of  thy 
ncighebore  /.  thou  shalt  vnderstonde   the   name  of  thy 
brother  ffor  certes  /  alle  we  haue  o  fader  flesshly  /  and  o 
mooder  /  that  is  to  seyn  /  Adam  and  Eue  /.  and  eek1  o  fader 
espiritueel  /  and   that   is   god  of  heuene    [517]   U   Thy 
f  HOW  a  man  /     neighebore  /  artow  holden  for  to  loue  and  wilne  hym  alle 

shal  loue  his  ii/.  •  tit  .11 

neignebore  goodnesse  /.  and  therfore  seith  god  /  loue  thy  neighebore  as 
thy  selue  /  that  is  to  seyn  /  to  saluacion  /  of  lyf  and  of 
soule  [518]  U  And  moore  ouer  /  thou  shalt  loue  hym  in 
word  /  and  in  benigne  amonestynge  /  and  chastisynge  / 
and  conforten  hym  /  in  hise  anoyes  /  and  preye  for  hym  with 
al  thyn  herte  /  [519]  IT  And  in  dede  /  thou  shalt  loue  hym 
in  swich  wise  /.  that  thou  shalt  doon  to  hym  in  charitee  / 
as  thou  woldest1  that  it  were  doon  to  thyn  owene  persone  /. 
[520]  And  therfore  /  thou  ne  shalt1  doon  hym  no  damage 
in  wikked  word  /  ne  harm  in  his  body  /  ne  in  his  catel  / 
ne  in  his  soule  /  by  entissyng1  of  wikked  ensample  [521] 
U  Thou  shalt  nat1  desiren  his  wyf1  ne  none  of  hise  thynges 

f  HOW  in  the       Vnderstoond1  eek  /  that  in  the  name  of  neighebor  /  is  corn- 
name  of  neighe-  •        .    »- v«  ri«r  i_ii  v,- 

bor  /  is  compre-    prehended  his  enemy  [522J   »  certes  man  shal  louen  his 

hended  a  mannes 

enemy  enemy  /  by  the  comandement1  of  god  /.  and  soothly  /  thy 

freend  /  shaltow   loue  in  god   [523]  U  I  seye  /   thyn 
enemy  /  shaltow  loue  for  goddes  sake  /  by  his  comande- 

E.LLESMERE   626   (6-T.  630)       [i  leaf  221,  back] 


631    SIX-TEXT 

GUOUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   627 

ment1  U  ffor  if  it  were  reson  fat  a  man  sholde  haten  his 
enemy  /.  for  sothe  /  god  nolde  nafr  receyuen  vs  to  his  loue  / 
that  been  hise  enemys  [524]  11  Agayns  .iij.  manere  of  T  HOW  a  man 

si i ul  do  .iij. 

thynges  that  his  enemy  dooth  to  hym  /.  he  shal  doon  .iij.  thynges  /  agayns 

'  .iij.  manere  of 

thynges  as  thus  |S2<|  H  Agayns  hate  and  rancour  of  herte  /  thynges  that  his 

'  enemy  dooth  to 

he  shal  loue  hym  in  herte  H  Agayns  chidyng1  and  wikkede  hym 
wordes  /  he  shal  preye  for  his  enemy  II  And  agayn  wikked 
dede  of  his  enemy  /.  he  shal  doon  hym.  bourctee  [526]  U  ffor 
crist  seith  /  loueth  youre  enemys  /  and  preyeth  for  hem 
that1  speke  yow  harm  /.  and  eek1  for  hem  /  that  yow  chacen 
and  pursewen  and  dooth  bouwtee  /  to  hem  that  yow  haten 
U  Loo  /  thus  comaundeth  vs  oure  lord  Ihesu  crist1.  to  do  / 
to  oure  enemys  /.  [527]  ffor  soothly  nature  dryueth  vs  / 
to  louen  oure  freendes  /.  and  parfey  /  oure  enemys  /  han 
moore  nede  to  loue  than  oure  freendes  /.  and  they  that 
moore  nede  haue  /  certes  /  to  hem  shal  men  doon  good- 
nesse  /  [528]  and  certes  in  thilke  dede  /  haue  we  remem- 
brance /  of  the  loue  of  Ihesu  cristf  that  deyde  for  hise 
enemys  /.  [529]  and  in  as  muche  as  thilke  loue  /  is  the 
moore  greuous  to  perfourne  /  in  so  muche  /  is  the  moore 
gretter  the  merite  /  and  ther-fore  the  louynge  of  oure 
enemy  /  hath  confounded  /  the  venym  of  the  deuel  /. 
[530]  ffor  right1  as  the  deuel  /  is  discounted  by  humylitee  /. 
right1  so  /  is  he  wounded  to  the  deeth  /  by  loue  of  oure 
enemy  [531]  U  Certes.  /  thanne  is  loue  the  medicine  /  that 
caste th  out1  the  venym  of  Enuye  /  fro  mawnes  herte  [532] 
U  The  speces  of  this  paas  /  shullen  be  moore  largely  in  hir 
Chapitres  folwynge  declared  J&F  &  fub 


^[  Sequitur  de  Ira  fa 
[533] 

fter  Enuye  /  wol  I  discryuen  the  synne  of  Ire  /.  ffor 
soothly  /  who  so  hath  enuye  vpon  his  neighebor  / 
_  anon  he  wole  comunly  fynde  hym  a  matere  of 
wratthe  /  in  word  /or  l  in  dede  /  agayus  hym  /  to  whom 
he  hath  enuye  ||.  [534]  And  as  wel  comth  Ire  of  pride  / 

ELLESMERE    627    (C-T.  63l)  P  leaf  222] 


A 


IT  sanctna 
Amniatiiittf 
1!  Pkttoaopuus 


K  Of  Ire  in  two 
maneres 


TI  Of  good  Ire 


*„  Sapiens 


IT  Dauid  prophefa 

t  Of  wikked  Ire 
in  ijo.  manerca  / 
ami  tlie  first*  /  is 
i  Ire 


f  Of  Ire  |>at 
conith  of  felon  ie 
of  herte  uuised  & 
cast  biforn 


632    SIX-TEXT 

628    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

as  of  enuye  /.  for  soothly  /  ho  that  is  proude  or  enuyous  / 
is  lightly  wrooth 

[535]  ^  This  synne  of  Ire  /  after  the  discryuyng*  of 
seint1  Augustyn  /  is  wikked  wil  /  to  been  auenged  /  by 
word  /  or  by  dede  /.  [536]  Ire  after  the  Philosophre  /.  is 
the  feruent  blood  of  man  /  yquyked  in  his  herte  /  thurgh" 
which  he  wole  harm  /  to  hym  that  he  hateth  [537]  U  ffor 
certes  the  herte  of  man  by  eschawfynge  and  moeuynge  of 
his  blood  /  wexeth  so  trouble  /  that  he  is  /  out  of  alle 
luggementt  of  reson  [538]  H  But  ye  shal  vnderstonde  / 
that  Ire  is  in  two  maneres  /  that  oon  of  hem  is  good  /  and 
that  oother  is  wikked  /  [539]  U  The  goode  Ire  /  is  by 
lalousie  of  goodnesse  /  thurgh"  which  /  a  man  is  wrooth 
with  wikkednesse  /  and  agayns  wikkednesse  /.  and  ther- 
fore  seith  a  wys  man  /.  that  Ire  is  bet  than  pley  ||  [540] 
This  Ire  /  is  with .  debonairetee  /.  and  it  is  wrooth  with- 
outen  bitternesse  /  nat  wrooth  agayns  the  man  /  but 
wrooth  /  with  the  mysdede  of  /  the  man  /.  as  seith  the 
prophete  Dauid  Irascimini  &  nolite  peccare  [541]  NOvv 
vnderstondeth  /  that  wikked  Ire  /  is  in  two  maneres  / 
that1  is  to  seyn  /  sodeyn  Ire  /  or  hastif  Ire  withouten 
auisement1  and  co^sentynge  of  reson  /.  [542]  the  menyng1 
and  the  sens  of  this  /  is  /  that  the  reson  of  man  ne  con- 
sente  nat1  to  thilke  sodeyn  Ire  /  and  thanne  it  is  venial 
[543]  ^  Another  Ire  is  ful  wikked  /  that  comth  of 
felonie  of  herte  auysed  and  cast  biforn  /  with  wikked  wil  / 
to  do  vengeance  /  and  therto  /  his  reson  co??senteth  and 
soothly  /  this  is  deedly  synne  [544]  U  This  Ire  /  is  so  dis- 
plesanf  to  god  that  it  troubleth  his  hous  /  and  chaceth  the 
hooly  goost1  out1  of  mannes  soule  /  and  wasteth  and  de- 
stroyeth  the  liknesse  of  god  /  that  is  to  seyn  /  the  vertu 
that  is  in  mannes  soule  /  [545]  and  put  in  hym  /  the  lik- 
nesse of  the  deuel  and  bynymeth  the  man  fro  god  /  that 
is  /  his  rightful  lord  /.  [546]  this  Ire  /  is  a  ful  greet 
plesaurece  to  the  deuel  /.  for  it  is  the  deueles  fourneys  / 
that  is  eschawfed  /  with  the  fir  of  helle  ||.  [547]  ffor 

ELLESMERE    628    (6-T.  632) 


C33    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.   629 

right1  so  /  as  fir. is  moore  mighty  /  to  destroycn  erthely 
thynges  /  than  any  oother  Element1,  right  so  Ire  is  myghty  to 
destroyen  alle  spiritueel  thynges  [548]  H  Looke  /.  how  that 
fir  of  smale  gleedes  that  been  almoost  dede  vnder  asshen 
wollen  quike  agayn  /  whan  they  been  touched  with 
brymstoon-S/  right1  so  Ire  wol  eueremo  quyken  agayn  / 
whan  it  is  touched  /  by  the  pride  that  is  couered  in 
mannes  herte  /  [549]  ffor  certes  /  fir  ne  may  natt  coinen 
out  of  no  thyng1.  but  if  it  were  first1  in  the  same  thyng1 
natureelly  /  as  fir  /  is  drawen  out  of  flyntes  with  steel 
[550]  And  right  so  /  as  pride  is  ofte  tyme  matere  of  Ire  /. 
right  so  is  rancour/  norice  and  keper1  of  Ire  [551]  Ther  is  TKota  &e™,n- 

.,,  .        ,,.  .  ,          /,-!_,  dara  Ysodorim 

a   maner  tree   as   seith   sein    Ysidre  /  that1   whan   men  . 
maken  fire  of  thilke  tree  /  and  couere  the  coles  of  it  with 
Asshen  soothly  /  the  fir  of  if  wol  lasten  al  a  yeer  or  moore  ||. 
[552]  And  right  so  /  fareth   it  of  rancour/,   whan  it   is  1  exempium 
ones  conceyued  in  the  hertes  of  som  men  certein  /  it  wol 
lasten   perauenture  /  from   oon   Estre  day  vnto  another 
Estre  day  /  and  moore  /.  [553]  but  certes  /  thilke  man  / 
is  ful  fer  fro  the  mercy  of  god  /  in  thilke  while 

[554]    ^    In   this   forseyde   deueles   fourneys   /  ther  f  of.iy.  shrewes 

J>at  forgen  ulwuy 

forgen  .nj.  shrewes  ||.  Pnde  that  ay  bloweth  and  encreesseth  in  the  deueies 
the  fir/  by  chidynge  and  wikked  wordes  [555]  U  Thanne 
stant1  Enuye  /  and  holdeth  the  hoote  Iren  vpon  the  herte 
of  man  /  with  a  peire  of  longe  toonges  /  of  long1  rancour 
[556]  H  And  thanne  stantt  the  synne  of  contumelie  /  or 
strif1  and  cheeste  /  and  batereth  and  forgeth  /  by  vileyns 
repreuynges  [557]  U  Certes  /  this  cursed  synne  anoyeth 
1bothe  to  the  man  hym  self/  and  eek  to  his  neighebore 
II  ffor  soothly  /  almoost1  al  the  harm  that  any  man 
dooth  to  his  neighebore  /  comth  of  wratthe  /.  [558]  for 
certes  outrageous  wratthe  /  dooth  /  al  that  euere  /  the 
deuel  hym  comaundeth  /.  for  he  ne  spareth  neither 
cristt  ne  his  sweete  mooder/.  [559]  And  in  his  out- 
rageous anger  and  Ire  /  alias  /  alias  /  ful  many  oon 
at  that  tyme  /  feeleth  in  his  herte  ful  wikkedly  / 

ELLESMEIIE    629    (&-'£.  633)        [» leaf  222,  back] 


634   SIX-TEXT 

630   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

bothe  of  crisf  and  of  alle  hise  halwes  [560]  U  Is 
nat  this  a  cursed  vice?  yis  certes  /  Alias  /  it  bynymeth 
from  man  his  wit1  and  his  reson  /  and  al  his  debonaire 
lif/  espiritueel  /  that  sholde  kepen  his  soule  [561] 
IT  Certes  /  it  bynymeth  eek1  goddes  due  lordshipe  /  and 
that1  is  mannes  soule  /  and  the  loue  of  hise  neighebores  ||. 
It  stryueth  eek1  alday  agayn  trouthe  /.  It  reueth  hym  /  the 
quiete  of  his  herte  /  and  subuerteth  his  soule  / 

Ifortheengen-          [s^2]  Of  Ire  /  comen   thise  stynkynge  engendrures 

of  pride  IT  ffirsf  hate  /  that  is  oold  wratthe.  discord  /  thurgfr  which 

a       man       /       forsaketh       his       olde       freenc}       ful 

longe  /  [563]  IT  And  thanne  cometh  werre  /  and  every 

manere  of  wrong1  that  man  dooth  to  his  neighebore  /  in 

If  or  man-          body  /  or  in  catel  [564]  Of  this  cursed  synne  of  Ire  / 

aiuerse  maueres    cometh  eek1  manslaugfitre  ||.  And  vnderstonde  wel  /  that 

homycide  /  that  is  manslaug&tre  /  is  in  diuerse  wise  1T  Som 

manere  of  homycide  is  spiritueel  /  and  som  is  bodily  [565] 

tor.vj.  IT  Spiritueel  manslaugh"tre  is  in  .vj.  thynges  IT  ffirsf  by 

thynges  /  J>flt 

bee  /  in  spiritueei  hate  /  as  seint1  Ioh"n  seith  /.  he  that  hateth  his  brother  / 

t  xota  secun-     is  homycide  /  [566]  IT  homycide  is  eek1  by  bakbitynge  /  of 

•j  Salomon          whiche   bakbiteres   seith  Salomon  /.  that  they  han  two 

swerdes  /  with  whiche  /  the  sleen  hire  neighebores  /.  ffor 

soothly  /  as  wikke  is  /  to  bynyme  his  good  name  /  as 

t  or  homycide  /  his  lyf1  [567]  IT  Homycide  is  eek  /  in  yeuynge  of  wikked 

in  yeuyiiBe  of  * 

wikked  couseii  conseil  by  fraude  /.  as  for  to  yeuen  conseil  /  to  areysen 
wrongful  custumes  /and  taillages  /.  [568]  of  whiche  seitli 

^  Salomon  Salomon  IT  Leon)  rorynge  and  Bere  hongry  /  been  like  to  the 
crueel  lordshipes  /  in  withholdynge  or  abreggynge  /  of  the 
shepe  /  or  the  hyre  or  of  the  wages  of  seruauntz  /.  or  elles  in 
vsures  /  or  in  withdrawynge  of  the  Almesse  of  poure  folk1. 

If  sapiens  \_5^9]  ff°r  which  the  wise  man  seith  1T  ffedeth  hym  /  that1 

almoostdyethfor  honger/.  for  soothly /but  if  thowfeede  hym/ 
thou  sleest  hym  /  and  alle  thise  been  deedly  synnes  [570] 

f  of  bodily  man-  BOdily  manslaughtre  is  /  whan  thow  sleest  him  with  thy 

slaugktre 

tonge  /.  In  oother  manere  /.  as  whan  thou  comandest1  to 
sleen  a  man  /  or  elles  /  yeuest1  hym  conseil  /  to  sleen  a 

ELLESMERE   630   (6-T.  634) 


G35    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  L   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    631 

man  [571]  Manslaughtre  in  dede  /  is  in  .iiij.   maneres.  IF  or  man- 

.  slauglitre  in  dede. 

U  That  oon  /  is  by  lawe /.  rignt  as  a  lustioe  danapneth  in./iiij. maueres 

hym  that  is  coupable  to  the  deeth.  /  but  lat  the  lustice  siaught™  by 

be  war/  that1  he  do  it  rightfully  /.  and  that  he  do  it  natt 

for  delifr  to  spille  blood  /  but1  for  kepynge  of  rightwise- 

nesse  /  [572]  U  Another  homycide  /  is  that1  is  doon  for  f  ofhomycide 

necessitee  /.  as  whan  o  man  sleeth  another  in  his  defendaunt1  necessitee 

and  J?at  he  ne  may  noon  ootherwise  escape  /  from  his 

owene  deeth  /.  [573]  but  certeinly  /  if  he  may  escape  with 

outen  manslaugfitre  of  his  aduersarie  /  and  sleeth  hym  /. 

he  dooth  synne  /  and  he  shal  bere  penance  as  for  deedly 

synne  [574]  11  Eek/  if  a  man  /  by  caas  or  auenture  /  shete  f  of  iiomycide  / 

an  arwe  /  or  caste  a  stoon  /  vrith  which  he  sleeth  a  man  /  auenture 

he  is  homycide  [575]  U  Eek/  if  a  womman  by  necligence  /  f  ofhomycide ; 

ouerlyeth  hire  child*  in  hir  slepyng1.  it  is  homycide  and  womman  / 

in  i     r       x-i    -n   i    /        i  n  1,1  ouerlith  hir  childe 

deedly  synne  /    [576]  xLek/  whan  man  destourbeth   con-  ^  or  homycide  / 
cepcion  of  a  child1  and  maketh  a  womman  /  outher  bareyne  "f  tiie^>I!Si!!?on 
by  drynkynge  venenouse  herbes  /  thurgh  which  /  she  may  °"  a  chllde> 
nat  conceyue  /.  or  sleeth  a  child  by  drynkes  wilfully  or 
elles  /  putteth  certeine  material  thynges  /  in  hire  secree 
places  /  to  slee  the  child*  /  [577]  or  elles  /  dooth  vnkyndely 
synne  /  by  which  man  or  womman  shedeth  hire  nature  / 
in  manere  or  in  place  /  ther  as  a  child  may  nat*  be  con- 
ceited /.  or  elles  /  if  a  woman  haue  conceyued  /  and  hurf 
hir  child  /  and  sleeth"  the   child  /  yet1   it   is   homycide 
[578]  U  What  seye  we  eek/  of  wommen  that  mordren  f  or wommen  >at 
hir  children  for   drede  of  worldly  shame  /.  certes  /  an  chnJren'/'for 
horrible  homicide  [579]  1T  Homycide  is  eek/ .if  a  man  ip-fS&SSS 
procheth  to  a  womman  /  by  desir  of  lecherie  /  thurj  which  the  JSir  Z'l?" 
child  is  perissed  /  or  elles  smyteth  a  womman  wityngly  /  ISwieY.  or*" 
thurgn  which  she  leseth  hir  child!  ||.  AUe  thise  been  homy-  Sj^i. 
cides  /  and  horrible  deedly  synnes  [580]  Yet  conien  ther  of  ™£*"  with 
Ire  /  manye  mo  synnes  /.  as  wel  /  in  word  /  as  in  thoghf  and  J  ™™™Ztmo 
in  dede  /  as  he  that  arretteth  vpon  god  /.  or  blameth  god  /  comeri  of  Ire 
of  thyng1.  of  which  he  is  hym  self  gilty.  /  or  despiseth 
god  /and  alle  hise  halwes  /  as  doon  thise  cursede  hasardours 

45  ELLESMERE    631    (6-T.  635)  [Ueaf223] 


636    SIX-TEXT 

632    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PAUSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

in  diuerse  contrees  ||.  [581]  This  cursed  /  synne  doon  they  / 

whan  they  feelen  in  hir  hertes  /  ful  wikkedly  of  god  /  and 

«l  of  hem  j>at      of  hise  halwes  r<;82]  U  also  /  whan  they  treten  vnreuerently 

vnreuerently 

treten  /  the        the  sacrement/  of  the  Auter  /  thilke  synne  is  so  greet1. 

eacrement  of  the 

Auter  that  vnnethe  may  it  been  releessed  but1  that  the  mercy  of 

god  /  passeth  alle  hise  werkes  /  it  is  so  greet1  and  he  so 

f  ofattryAngre  benigne  [583]  Thanne  comth  of  Ire  attry  Angre  /. 
whan  a  man  /  is  sharpely  amonested  in  his  shrifte  to  for- 
leten  his  synne  /.  [584]  thanne  wole  he  be  angry  and 
answeren  hokerly  and  angrily  /  and  deffenden  /  or  excusen. 
his  synne  /  by  vnstedefastnesse  of  his  flessh"  /.  or  elles  he 
dide  if  for  to  holde  compaignye  with  hise  felawes  /.  or 
elles  he  seith  the  fend  enticed  hym  /  [585]  or  elles  /  he 
dide  it  for  his  youthe  /.  or  elles  /  his  conpleccion  is  so 
corageous  /  that  he  may  naf  forbere  /.  or  elles  it  is  his 
destinee  /  as  he  seith  /  vnto  a  certein  age  /.  or  elles  he 
seith  /  it  cometh  hym  of  gentillesse  of  hise  Auncestres 
and  semblable  thynges  [586]  U  Alle  this  manere  of  folk  / 
so  wrappen  hem  in  hir  synnes  /.  that  they  ne  wol  nat 
deliuere  hem  self  /.  ffor  soothly  /  no  wignt  /  that  exeuseth 
hym  wilfully  of  his  synne  /  may  naf  been  deliuered  of  his 
synne  /  til  that  he  mekely  biknoweth  his  synne  $  [587] 

tofswevyng/  After  this  /  thanne  cometh  sweryng1.  that  is  expres  / 
agayn  the  comandemenf  of  god.  and  this  bifalleth  ofte  / 
of  anger  and  of  Ire  ||.  [588]  God  seith  f  thow  shalt  nat 
take  /  the  name  of  thy  lord  god  in  veyn  /  or  in  ydel  /  Also 

t  Math.  6».  noiite  oure  lord  Ihesu  crisf  seith  by  the  word  of  seint  Mathew  /. 

ino      ^ no  gap  in  the  MS.]  [s&9\  Ne  vol  ye 

naf  swere  in  alle  manere.  neither  by 
heuene.  for  it  is  goddes  trone.  /  ne  by  erthe  /.  for  it  is  the 
bench  of  his  feef.  ne  by  lerusalem  /.  for  it  is  the  Citee  of 
a  greef  kyng1.  ne  by  thyn  heed  /  for  thou  mayst  naf 
make,  an  heer  whit  ne  blak  /.  [590]  but  seyeth  «by  youre 
word  /  ye  /  ye  /  and  nay  /  nay  And  what  that  is  moore  / 
it  is  of  yuel  seith  crisf.  [591]  ffor  cristes  sake  ne  swereth 
nat  so  synfully  /  in  dismembrynge  of  Crisf.  by  soule. 

ELLESMERE    632   (6-T.  636) 


G37    SIX  TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   633 

herte.  bones,  and  body  II  ffor  certes  /  it  semeth  that  ye 
thynke  /  that  the  cursede  lewes  /  ne  dismembred  nat 
ynougfr  the  preciouse  persone  of  crist1.  but  ye  dismembre 
hym  moore  /  [592]  H  And  if  so  be  /  that  the  lawe  com- 
pelle  yow  to  swere  /.  thanne  rule  yow  /  after  the  lawe  of 
god  in  youre  sweryng1.  as  seith  leremye  .4°.  c° 

[. no  gap  in  the  MS.~\   U  Thou 

shalt  kepe  .iij.  condicions    Thou  shalt  swere  in  trouthe  /.  t  lurabis  in 

...  IT     r          -i      -i  •      •  veritate  in  ludicio 

in  doom.  /  and  in  rigntwisnesse  ||.  [593J  this  is  to  seyn  /  £iniusticia 
thou  shalt  swere  sooth  /.  for  euery  lesynge  is  agayns  Crist', 
ffor  crist  is  verray  trouthe  /.  And  thynk  wel  this  /  that 
euery  greet  swerere  /  nat  compelled  lawefully  to  swere  /. 
the  wounde  shal  nat  departe  from  his  hous  /  whil  he 
vseth/swich  vnleueful  sweryng  ||.  [594]  Thou  shalt  sweren 
eek  in  doom  /  whan  thou  art"  constreyned  by  thy  domes- 
man  /  to  witnessen  the  trouthe  [595]  U  Eek1  Hhow  shalt1  if  HOW  a  man 

„         .  .  -  -         .  slial  nat  swere  / 

nat   swere  /  for  enuye   ne  for  ISLIIOUT  /  ne  for  meede  /  for  enuye  /  ne  tor 

but1  for  rigBtwisnesse  /  and  for  declaration  of   it  /.  to  ^"ede '  but'for 

the  worships    of   god  /  and    helpyng*    of   thyne   euene rightwisiiesse  &c* 

cn'stene    /.     [596]    And    therfore    /    euery    man    that 

taketh  goddes  name  in  ydel  /.    or  falsly  swereth   with 

his  mouth  /.  or  elles  taketh  on  hym  the  name  of  crist". 

to  be  called  a  cristene  man  /  and  lyueth  agayns  Cristes 

luyunge  and  his  techynge  /  alle  they  /  taken  goddes  name 

in  ydel  /  [597]   U   Looke  eek/  what   seint   Peter  seith 

Actwwm  .4°.  Non  est  aliud  nomen  sub  celo  &c  H  Ther  f  sa«c<us  petr»» 

AcU^o/t  .4°. 

nys  noon  oother  name  seith  seint  Peter  /  vnder  heuene 
yeuen  to  men  /  in  which  they  mowe  be  saued  /.  that  is  to 
seyn  /  but  the  name  of  Ihesu  crist1  [598]  H  Take  kepe  eek  / 
how  that  the  precious  name  of  crist  /.  as  seith  seinf  Paul  /  f  Panius  ad 
ad  Philipenses  ,2°.  In  nomine  Ihesw  &&  U  that  in  the 
name  of  Ihesu  /  euery  /  knee  of  heuenely  creatures  /.  or 
erthely.  or  of  helle  sholden  bowe  /.  for  it  is  /  so  heigh 
and  so  worshipful  /  that  the  cursede  f eend  in  helle  /  sholde 
trcniblen  /  to  heeren  it  ynempnec?  [599]  U  Thanne 
semeth  if  that1  men  fat  sweren  so  horriblely  /  by  his 

ELLESMERE   633   (6-T.  637)       C1  leaf  223,  back] 


638    SIX-TEXT 

634:   GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

blessed  name  /.  that  they  despise  hym  moore  booldely  / 
than  dide  the  cursede  lewes  /  or  elles  the  deuel  /  that 
trembleth  whan  he  heereth  his  name  / 

[600]  U  [N]0w  certes  /  sith  that  sweryng1.  but1  if  it  bo 
lawefully  doon  is  so  heighly  deffended  /.  muche  worse  is 
forsweryng1  falsly  /.  and  yet1  nedelees 
t  or  hew  t>at  [601]  H  What  seye  we  eek/  of  hem./  that  daliten  hem 

deliten  hem  in 

sweryng/.  for       in  sweryng1  and  holden  it  a  gentne  /  or  a  manly  dede  to 

^"ea  swere  grete  othes  ||.  And  what  of  hem  /  that  of  verray 

vsage  ne  cesse  nat1  to  swere  grete  othes  /  al  be  the  cause 

nat1  worth  a  straw  /.  certes  /  it  is  horrible  synne   [602] 

U   Swerynge    sodeynly  with-oute    auysement1    is    eek    a 

f  orthesweryng/  synne  [603]  But  lat  vs  go  now  to  thilke  horrible  sweryng1 

cowiuractou         o'f  Adiuracion  and  cowiuracion  /  as  doon  thise  false  En- 

chauntours  /  or  Nigromanens  /  in  bacyns  ful  of  water  /.  or 

in  a  bright  swerd.  in  a  Cercle  /orinafir/or  in  a  shulder 

boon  of  a  sheepe  /.  [604]  I  kan  nat  seye  /  but  that1  they 

doon  cursedly  /  and  damnablely  agayns  exist/,  and  al  the 

feith  of  hooly  chirche  / 

t  of  hem ;  \>at          [605]  H  What  seye  we  of  hem  /  that  bileeueu  in 

bileeuenin  • 

dyuynayles  diuynailes  /.  as  by  flight1  or  by  noyse  of  briddes  /or  of 
beestes.  or  by  sort/  by  Geomancie.  by  dremes.  by  chirkynge 
of  dores.  or  crakynge  of  houses,  by  gnawynge  of  rattes. 
and  swich  manere.  wrecchednesse.  /  [606]  certes  /  al  this 
thyng1  is  deffended  by  god  /  and  by  al  hooly  chirche  /.  fibr 
which  they  been  acursed  /  til  they  come  to  amendement1. 
f  Ofcharmesfor  that  on  swich  filthe  setten  hire  bileeue  [607]  IT  Charmes 
ormaiadie  for  woundes  or  maladie  of  men  /  or  of  beestes  /.  if  they 
taken  any  effect1,  it  be  perauenture  /  that  god  suffreth 
if.  for  folk  sholden  yeue  the  moore  feith  /  and  reuerence  to 
his  name 

8  f6o8]  NOw  wol  I.  speken  of  lesynges  /.  which  gener- 

ally /  is  fals  signyficacion  of  word  /  in  entente  /  to  deceyuen 
his  euene  cristene  [609]  II  Some  lesynge  is  /  of  which  / 
ther  comth  noon  auantage  to  no  wight  ||.  And  som  lesynge  / 
turneth  to  the  ese  and  profit1,  of  o  man  /  and  to  disose 

JBLLESMfiEE    634    (6-T.  638} 


639    SIX-TEXT 

QROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    635; 

and  damage  of  another  man  [610]  H  Another  lesynge  / 
for  to  sauen  his  lyf  or  his  catel  /  [Another  lesynge]  comth 
of  delifr.  for  to  lye.  in  which  delit  /  they  wol  forge  a  long* 
tale  /  and  peynten  if  with  alle  circumstaunces  where  / 
al  the  ground  of  the  tale  is  fals  ||.  [611]  som  lesynge; 
1  comth"  /  for  he  wole  sustene  his  word  II  And  som  lesynge  / 
qomth  of  reccheleesnesse  with-outen  auisementt.  and  sem-. 
blable  thynges 

[612]  Latt  vs  now  touche  /  the  vice  of1  flaterynge  /.  f  orfflatciynge 
which  ne  comth  nat  gladly  but  for  drede  /.  or  for  coueitise 
[613]  II  fflaterye  is  generally  wrongful  preisynge  H  fflater-  f  how  flatercrcs 

.  .  been  the  deuelcs 

eres  /  been  the  deueles  nonces  /  that1  nonssen  hise  children  /  nonces 

with  Milk1  of  losengerie  |f.  [614]  ffor  sothe  /  Salomon  seith.  t  Salomon 

that  flaterie  is   wors   than  detraccion.  for  som   tyme  de- 

traccion  maketh  an  hauteyn  man  /  be  the  moore  humble  /. 

for  he  dredeth  detraccion  /  but  certes  flaterye  /  that1  maketh 

a   man  /  to   enhauncen   his    herte    and   his   contenance 

[615]  IT  fflatereres  /  been   the  deueles   Enchauntours  for  f  how  flatereres/ 

,  ,  „  ,  ...     ,        ,    ,       .     ,          ,       been  the  deueles 

the  make  a  man  to  wene  of  hym  self,  be  lyk  /  that  he  enchauntours 

nys  nat1  lyk1.  [616]  they  been  lyk  to  ludas  /  that  bitraysed 

[God  /  and  thise  flatereres  bitraysen]  a  man  /  to  sellen  hym 

to  hise  enemy,  that  is  to  the  deuel  [617]  IT  fflatereres  /  been  f  how  flatereres/ 

,i         j         i          ~,          ,,  in,  been  the  deueles 

the   deueles   Chapelleyns   /   that    syngen    euere    Placebo  chapeiieyns 
[6 1 8]  IT  I  rekene  fla[te]rie  in  the  vices  of  Ire.  /  for  ofte 
tyme  /  if  o  man  /  be  wrooth  with  another  /.  thanne  wole 
he  flatere  som  wigfrf .  to  sustene  hym  in  his  querele 

[619]  Speke  we  now  /  of  swich  cursynge  /  as  comth  fofcnwynge 
of  Irous  herte  IT  Malison  generally  /  may  be  seyd  euery  imuTterto° 
maner  power  or  harm  j|.  swich  cursynge  /  bireueth  man  fro 
the  regne  of  god  /  as  seith  seint  Paul/.  [620]  And  ofte  f  sa«c(usPauius 
tyme  /  swich  cursynge  wrongfully  /  retorneth  agayn  /  to 
hym  fat  curseth  /.  as  a  bryd  that  retorneth  agayn  /  to  his 
owene   nest  [621]  IT  And  ouer  alle  thyng*  men  oghten 
eschewe  to  cursen  hire  children  /  and  yeuen  to  the  deuel 
hire  engendrure  /  as  ferforth  /  as  in  hem  is  /.  certes  it  is 
greet  peril  and  greet  synne 

ELLESMERE    635    (6-T.  639)  P  leaf  221] 


640   SIX-TEXT 

C36   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 

f  or  chMynge  [622]  Lat  vs  thanne  speken  of  chidynge  and  reproche  / 

•whiche  been  /  ful  grete  woundes  in  mannes  herte  /  for 
they  vnsowen  /  the  semes  of  freendshipe  in  mannes  herte 
[623]  11  ffor  certes  /  vnnethes  may  a  man  /  pleynly  been 
accorded  with  hym  /  that  hath  hym  openly  reuyled  and 
repreued  in  disclaundre  /.  U  This  is  /  a  ful  grisly  synne  / 
as  crist  seith  in  the  gospel  /.  [624]  And  taak  kepe  now. 
that  he  fat  repreueth  his  neighebor  /.  outher  he  repreueth 
hym  by  som  harm  of  peyne  /  that  he  hath  on  his  body  /. 
as  Mesel  /  croked  harlot*,  or  by  som  synne  that  he  dooth 
[625]  U  Now  if  he  repreue  hym  by  harm  of  peyne  / 
thanne  turneth  the  repreue  to  Ihesu  crisf.  for  peyne  is 
sent1  by  the  rightwys  sonde  of  god  /  and  by  his  suffrance  / 
be  it  Meselrie  or  Maheym  or  maladie  [626]  U  And  if  he 
repreue  hym  vncharitably  of  synne  /.  as  thou  dronk- 
elewe  harlot1  and  so  forth"  /.  thanne  aperteneth  that/ 
to  the  reioysynge  of  the  deuel  /.  that  euere  hath  ioye  / 
that1  men  doon  synne  [627]  H  And  certes  /  chidynge  may 
nat  come  /  but  out  of  a  vileyns  herte  U  ffor  after  the 
habundance  of  the  herte  /  speketh  the  mouth  ful  ofte 
[628]  U  And  ye  shul  vnderstonde  that  looke  by  any  wey. 
whan  any  man  shal  chastise  another  /  that  he  be  war  / 
from  chidynge  and  repreuynge  /.  ffor  trewely  /  but  he  be 
war  he  may  ful  lightly  /  quyken  the  fir  of  Angre  and  of 
•wratthe  /  which  fat  he  sholde  quenche.  and  per  auenture 
sleeth  hym  /  which  that  he  myghte  chastise  with  benig- 

1  saioir.cn  nitee  [629]  U  ffor  as  seith  Salomon  f  the  amyable  tonge  is 
the  tree  of  lyf1.  that  is  to  seyn  /  of  lyf  espiritueel  /.  and 
soothly.  a  deslauee  tonge  /  sleeth  the  spirites  of  hym  that 
repreueth  /  and  eek1  of  hym  that  is  repreued  [630]  U  loo  / 

f  sancftw  what  seith  seint  Augustyn  ||  ther  is  no  thyng1  so  lyk  the 

f 'ISncius*  deueles  child  /.  as  he  /  that1  ofte  chideth  U  Seint1  xPaul  seith 
eek  ||.  I  seruant  of  god  /  bihoueth  nat  to  chide  [631]  II  And 
how  pat  chidynge  /  be  a  vileyns  thyng1  bitwixe  alle 
manere  folk/,  yet  is  if  certes  /  moost  vncouenable  / 
bitwixe  a  man  and  his  wyf  /.  for  there  is  neuere  reste  / 

ELLESMERE    636    (6-T.  640)        [>  leaf  224,  back] 


641    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   637 

and  therfore  seith  Salomon  /.  An  hous  that  is  vncouered  U  Salomon 

and    droppynge    /.    and    a    chidynge    wyf1    been    lyke 

[632]  U  A  man  that  is  in  a  droppynge  hous  in  manye 

places  /.  though  he  eschewe  the  droppynge  in  o  place  / 

it  droppeth  on  hym  /  in  another  place  U  So  fareth  if  by  f  No«zexempin» 

a  chydynge  wyf*  /.  but  she  chide  hym  in  o  place  /  she 

wol  chide  hym  in  anoper  [633]  IT  And  therfore  /  bettre  is 

a   morsel   of    breed   with    ioye   /  than   an   hous   ful   of 

dclices    with    chidynge    seith    Salomon    [634]    H    Seint  f  Salomon 

Paul   seith  U  '0  ye  wommen  /  be  ye  subgetes  to  youre  f  Paui?«  ad 

Coloniense*  .3*. 

housbondes    /    and    ye    men    /    loueth    youre    wyues. 
Ad  Colonienses  .3°. 

[635]  Afterward  /  speke  we  of  scornynge.  which  is  anofscomynge 
wikked  synne  /.  and  namely  /  whan  he  scorneth  a  man  for 
hise  goode  werkes  /.  [636]  ffor  certes  /  swiche  scorneres  / 
faren  /  lyk  the  foule  tode  /  that1  may  nat  endure  /  to 
smelle  /  the  soote  sauour  of  the  vyne  /  whanne  if 
florissfieth  [637]  11  Thise  scorneres  /  been  partyng1  felawes 
with  the  deuel.  /  for  they  han  ioye  /  whan  the  deuel 
wynneth .  and  sorwe  whan  he  leseth.  [638]  they  been 
Aduersaries  of  Ihesu  crisf .  for  they  haten  that  he  loueth. 
that  is  to  seyn  /  saluacion  of  soule 

[639]  Speke  we  now  of  wikked  conseil.  for  he  fat  f  ofyeuyng/of 
wikked   conseil  yeueth  /  is   a  traytour.  /  he   deceyueth 
hym  pat  trusteth  in  hym  Vt  Achitofel  ad  Absolonem  .||. 
But  nathelees  /  yet  is  his  wikked  conseil  first  agayn  hym 
self  /.    [640]   ffor  as   seith  the  wise   man./  euery   fals 
luyunge  /  hath  his  propertee  in  hym  self/,  that  he  pat 
wole  anoye    another    man.   he  anoyeth  first    hym  self* 
[641]  U  And  men  shul  vnderstonde  /  that  man  shal  naf  IF  of  what  folk/ 
taken  his   conseil  of  fals  folk/,    ne   of  angry  folk/   or  esctmen  to  taken 
greuous  folk/  that  louen  specially  /  to  muchel  hir  owene 
profif .  ne  to  muche  worldly  folk4  namely  /  in  conseilynge 
of  soules 

[642]  NOw  comth  the  synne  of  hem  that  sowen  /  and  IF  or  hem  that 

sowen  and  maken 

maken   discord*  amonges  folk1,  which  is  a  synne  /  thaf  discord* 

ELLESMERE    637   (6-T.  64l) 


T  Of  the  synne  of 
double  tonge 


If  Ofbiwreying 
of  conseil 


H  Of  Manace 


T  Of  ydel  wordes 


5  Of  langlynge 


Philosophns 


5  Of  the  synne 
of  laperis. 


642    SIX-TEXT 

638   GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

Crist1  hateth  outrely  /.  and  no  wonder  is  11  ffor  he  deyde  / 
for  to  make  concord.  [643]  And  moore  shame  do  they  to 
Crisf.  than  dide  they  /  that  hym  crucifiedo  /  for  god 
loueth  bettre  /  that  freendshipe  be  amonges  folk*,  than 
he  dide  his  owene  body,  the  which  that  he  yaf  for  vnitee  ||. 
Therfore  been  they  likned  to  the  deuel  /  that  euere  been 
aboute  to  maken  discord8 

[644]  NOw  comth  the  synne  of  double  tonge.  swiche 
as  speken  faire  byforn  folk/,  and  wikkedly  bihynde.  or 
elles  /  they  maken  sernblanU  as  though"  they  speeke  of 
good  entencion.  or  elles  in  game  and  pley  and  yet  they 
speke  of  wikked  entente 

[645]  NOw  comth  biwreying"  of  conseil.  thurgh 
which  /  a  man  is  defamed  /.  certes  /vnnethe  /  may  he  restoore  the 
damage 

[646]  NOw  comth  Manace.  that  is  an  open  folye  /.  for 
he  /  that  ofte  manaceth.  he  threteth  /  moore  than  he  may 
pe?-fourne  /  ful  ofte  tyme 

[647]  NOw  cometh  ydel  wordes.  that  is  with  outen 
profit1  of  hym  that  speketh  tho  wordes.  and  eek  of  hym  / 
that  herkneth  tho  wordes  U  Or  elles  ydel  wordes  /  been 
tho  that  been  nedelees  /  or  with  outen  entente  of  naturecl 
pj-ofit  ./  [648]  And  al  be  if  that  ydel  wordes  been  som 
tyme  venial  synne.  yet  sholde  men  douten  hem.  for  we 
shul  yeue  rekenynge  of  hem  bifore  god 

[649]  NOw  comth  langlynge.  that  may  nafr  been  with 
oute  synne  IT  And  as  seith  Salomon,  it  is  a  synne  of  aperf 
folye  /.  [650]  And  therfore  /  a  Philosophro  seyde  /.  whan 
men  axed  hym  /  how  l  that  men  sholde  plese  the  peple : 
and  he  answerde  /  do  manye  goode  werkes  /  and  spek  fewe 
Tangles 

[651]  After  this  /  comth  the  synne  of  laperes  /  that 
been  the  deueles  Apes,  for  they  maken  folk  to  laugfie  at 
hire  laperie  /  as  folk  doon  /  at  the  gawdes  of  An  Ape  /. 
Swiche  laperes  deflendeth  seint  Paul.  [652]  U  Looke/how 
that  vertuouse  wordes  and  hooly  woordes  conforten  hem  / 

ELLESMERE    638    (6-T.  642)  P  leaf  225] 


643    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   G39 

that  trauaillen  /  in  the  seruice  of  crisf.  right  so  conforten 
the  vileyns  wordes  and  knakkes  of  laperis.  hem  that 
trauaillen  /  in  the  seruice  of  the  deuel  [653]  U  Thise  been 
the  synnes  /  that*  comen  of  the  tonge.  that  comen  of  Ire  / 
and  of  othere  synnes  mo  fo 

T^f  Sequitwr  remedium  contra  peccatum  Ire  fgj 
[654] 
he   remedie   agayns  Ire.  is   a   vertu   /  that   men 
clepen  Mansuetude.    that   is  debonairetee  /.  and 
eek    another    vertu    /    pat    men    callen    pacience    /    or 
suffrance 

[655]  If  Debonairetee  /  withdraw eth   and   refreyneth  II  of  debonairetee 
the  stirynges  and  the  moeuynges  of  mannes  corage  in  his 
herte.  in  swich  manere  /  that  they  ne  skippe  naf  out  by 
Angre  ne  by  Ire  /  [656]  U  SufFrance  /  suffreth  swetely  /  alle  1  or  Suffrance 
the  anoyaunces  and  J?e  wronges  /  that  men  doon  /  to  man 
outward1  [657]  H  Seint  lerome  seith  thus  of  debonairetee.  f  s<inc<us 

leronimus 

that  it  dooth  noon  harm  to  no  wight1  ne  seith.  ne  for  noon 
harm  that  men  doon  or  seyn.  he  ne  eschawfeth  naf 
agayns  his  reson  [658]  U  This  vertu  som  tyme  comth  of 
nature  /.  ffor  as  seith  the  Philosophre.  A  man  is  a  quyk*  f  Phiios 
thyng1  by  nature,  debonaire  and  tretable  to  goodnesse . 
but  whan  debonairetee  /  is  enformed  of  grace  /  thanne  is 
if  the  moore  worth 

[659]  U  Pacience/  that  is  another  remedie.  Agayns  Ire. 
it  is  a  vertu  that  suffreth  swetely  eue?y  mannes  goodnesse  / 
and  is  nat  wrooth  for  noon  harm  /  that  is  doon  to  hym 
[660]  IT  The  philosophre  seith  /  that  pacience  is  thilke  If  Phiiosophus 
vertu  /  that  suffreth  debonairely  alle  the  outrages  of 
Aduersitee  /  and  euery  wikked  word1  [66 1]  11  This  vertu  / 
maketh  a  man  lyk1  to  god  /  and  maketh  hym  /  goddes 
owene  deere  child?  /  as  seith  Crisf.  this  vertu  disconfiteth 
thyn  enemy  U  And  therfore  seith  the  wise  man.  /  If  thow  ^-sotasecundum 
wolt  venquysse  thyn  enemy  /  lerne  to  suffre  /  [662]  And 
thou  shalt  vnderstonde  /  that  man  suffreth  iiij.  manere  7f  greuanceaahat 

ELLESMEKE    639   (6-T.  643) 


man  suflreth  in 
out  warile  thynges 

If  The  firste 
greuance 


If  Remedium 

f  ftota  de 
sapiente 

f  The  .ij.d« 
Kreuance 
H  Remedium 


f  The  .iij.«« 
greuance 
If  Remedium 

If  The  .iiij.* 
greuance 


%  Reuicdinm 


f  Note  dc  in- 
pacienoia  cuius- 
dam  Ph»7o»oj>Ai 
contra  SHUMI 
disuipulum 


644    SIX-TEXT 

640   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

of  greuances  in  outward  thynges.  agayna  the  whiche  iiij. 
he  moot  haue  /  .iiij  manere  of  paciences 

[663]  H  The  firste  greuance  /  is  of  wikkede  wordes  /. 
thilke  suffrede  Ihesu  crist1.  with-outen  grucchyng4  ful 
paciently.  whan  the  lewes  despised  and  repreued  hym 
ful  ofte  [664]  H  suffice  thou  therfore  paciently.  for  the 
wise  man  seith  /.  If  thou  stryue  with  a  fool  /  though 
the  fool  be  wrooth  /  or  though  he  laughe.  algate  / 
thou  shalt1  haue  no  reste  [665]  II  That  oother  greuance 
outward!,  is  to  haue  damage  of  thy  catel  U  Ther  agayns 
suffred  crist  ful  paciently.  whan  h,e  was  despoyled  /  of  al 
that1  he  hadde  in  this  lyf1.  and  that  nas  but1  hise  clothes  / 
[666]  U  The  thridde  greuance  is  /  a  man  to  haue  harm  in 
Ids  body  H  That1  suffred  crist1.  ful  paciently  in  al  his 
passion  [667]  U  The  fourthe  greuance  /.  is  in  outrageous 
labour  /  in  werkes .  Wherfore  I  seye  that1  folk/  that 
maken  Mr  seruantz  to  trauaillen.  to  greuously  /  or  out1  of 
tyme.  as  on  haly  dayes  /  soothly  /  they  do  greet1  synne 
[668]  Heer  agayns  suffred  Crist1  ful  paciently  /  and 
taughte  vs  pacience  /.  whan  he  baar  1vp-on  his  blissed 
shulder  /  the  croys  /  vp-on  which"  /  he  sholde  suffren 
despitous  deeth  [669]  U  Heere  may  men  lerne  to  be 
pacient/.  for  certes  nogfit  oonly  cristen  men  been  pacienf. 
for  loue  of  Ihesu  crist1  /  and  for  gerdofl  /  of  the  blisful 
lyf  /  that  is  perdura[b]le.  but  certes  the  olde  payens  that 
neuere  were  cristene  /  commendeden  and  vseden  the  vertu 
of1  pacience 

[670]  A  Philosophre  vp-on  a  tyme  that  wolde  haue 
beten  his  disciple  for  his  grete  trespas  for  which  he  was 
greetly  amoeued  and  broghte  a  yerde  to  scoure  with  the 
child.  [671]  and  whan  this  child1  saugh"  the  yerde.  he 
seyde  to  his  maister.  what  thenke  ye  do  ?  /  I.  wol  bete 
thee  quod  the  maister  for  thy  correccion  [672]  U  ffor  sothe 
quod  the  child  /  ye  oghten  first1  correcte  youre  self  /.  that 
han  lost  al  youre  pacience  /  for  the  gilt  of  a  child 
[673]  H  ffor  sothe  quod  the  maister  al  wepynge  thow 

ELLESMERE   640   (6-T.  644)       [' leaf  225, back] 


645    SIX-TEXT 

GBOUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS.  641 

seyst1  sooth  /  haue   thow   the  yerde  my  deere  sone  and 

correcte  me  /  for  myn  inpacience  [674]  Of  pacience  comth  f  how  obedience 

comth  of 

Obedience  /  thurgh  which  a  man  is  obedient  to  Crist',  and  pacience 
to  alle  hem  to  whiche  he  ogfrte  to  been  obedient1  in  Crist 
[675]  IT  And  vnderstond  wel  that  obedience  is  perfif. 
whan  that  a  man  dooth  gladly  and  hastily  with  good 
herte  entierly  al  that  he  sholde  do  [676]  IT  Obedience 
generally  /  is  to  perfourne  the  doctrine  of  god  and 
of  his  souereyns  to  whiche  /  hym  oghte  to  ben  obeisaunf 
in  alle  rightwisnesse  fft  (fi>  fft  <S 


A 


Tf  Sequitur  de  Accidia  fa 

[677] 

fter  the  synne  of  Enuye  and  of  Ire.  now  wol  I 

speken  of  the  synne  of  Accidie,  for  Enuye  / 
.  blyndeth  the  herte  of  man  and  Ire  troubleth 
a  man.  and  Accidie  maketh  hym  heuy  thoghtful  and 
wrawful  [678]  Enuye  and  Ire  maken  bitternesse  in  herte. 
which  bitternesse  is  mooder  of  Accidie  and  bynymeth  hym 
the  loue  of  alle  goodnesse.  thanne  is  Accidie  /  the 
AngwissB  of  troubled  herte  And  seint  Augustyn  seith.  /  f  sanctna 
it  is  anoy  of  goodnesse  and  ioye  of  harm  [679]  fl  Certes 
this  is  a  dampnable  synne.  for  it  dooth  wrong1  to  Ihesu 
eristt.  in  as  muche  as  it  bynymeth  the  seruice  /  that  men 
oghte  doon  to  crist1  with  alle  diligence  /  as  seith  Salomon.  /  n  Salomon 
[680]  but  Accidie  /  dooth  no  swich  diligence.  He  dooth 
alle  thyng  with  anoy  /  and  with  wrawnesse  /  slaknesse  / 
and  excusacion  /  and  with  ydelnesse  /  and  vnlusf.  ffor 
which  the  book  seith  ||.  Acursed  be  he  that  dooth  the 
seruice  of  god  necligently  [68 1]  IT  Thanne  is  Accidie 
enemy  /  to  euerich  estaat  of  man.  for  certes  /  the  estaat  of 
man  /  is  in  .iij.  maneres  [682]  IT  Outher  it  is  /  thestaat  of  f  or  .HJ. 

T  n  naiji.n  of  estates  of  man 

Innocence,  as  was  thestaat  of  Adam  /  biforn  that  he  fil  into  f  of  thestaat/ of 
synne.  in  which  estaat1  he  was  holden  to  wirche  /as  in  In 
heriynge  and  adowrynge  of  god  [683]  II  Another  estaat1.  f  of  thestaat/ of 
is  estaat  of  synful  men.  in  which  estaat1  men  been  holden 
ELLESMERE   641   (6-T.  645) 


646    SIX-TEXT 

642    GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

to  laboure  in  preiynge  to   god.  for   amendemenf  of  hire 

synnes.  and  that  he  wole  graunte  hem  to  arysen  out  of  hit 

1,  oftiiest.iatof    synnes  /  [684]  IT  Another  estaaf  is  thestaat  of  grace,  in 

grace 

which  estaaf  he  is  holden  to  werkes  of  penitence,  and 
certes  /  to  alle  thise  thynges  is  Accidie  enemy  and  con- 
trarie.  ffor  he  loueth  no  hisynesse  at  al  [685]  U  Now 
certes  this  foule  swyn  Accidie,  is  eek  a  ful  greet  enemy 
to  the  liflode  of  the  body,  for  it  ne  hath  no  pwrueaunce 
agayn  temporeel  necessitee.  for  if  forsleweth  and  for- 
sluggeth.  and  destroyeth  alle  goodes  temporeles  /  by 
areccheleesnesse 
f  HOW  Accidie  is  [686]  The  fourthe  thyng  is.  that  Accidie  is  lyk  to  hem 

lyk  to  hem  that 

been  in  the  peyne  that1  been  in  the  peyne  of  helle.  by  cause  of  hir  slouthe 
and  of  hire  heuynesse  for  they  that  been  dampned  /  been 
so  bounde.  that  they  ne  may  neither  wel  do  /  ne  wel 
thynke  [687]  U  Of  Accidie  comth  first1  that  a  man  is 
anoyed  and  encombred  for  to  doon  any  goodnesse.  and 
maketh  /  that  god  hath  abhomynacion)  of  swich 
Accidie 

«!  or  the  synne  [688]  NOw  comth  slouthe.  that  wol  nat  suffre  noon 

hardnesse  ne  no  penaunce.  ffor  soothly  /  Slouthe  is  so 

«I  Salomon  tendre.  and  so  delicaaf  as  seith  Salomon  /  that  he  wol  nat 
suffre  /  noon  hardnesse  ne  penaunce.  and  therfore  /  he 

t  Rcmedie  agayn  shendeth  /  al  that  he  dooth  [689]  IT  Agayns  this  roten 
herted  synne  of  Accidie  and  slouthe  /  sholde  men 
exercise  hem  self1  to  doon  goode  werkes.  and  manly 
and  virtuously  cacchen  corage  wel  to  doon.  thynk- 
ynge  that  cure  lord  Ihesu  crisf .  quiteth  euery  good 
dede  /  be  if  neuer  so  lite.  /  [690]  vsage  of  labour/  is  a 

•fNotasmtn-      greet  thyng*.  for  it  maketh  as  seith   seint   Bernard   the 

dam  Bcrnardum 

laborer/  to  haue  stronge  armes  /  and  harde  synwes.  and 
If  ofdrede  /  to     slouthe  maketh  hem  feble  and  tendre  [691]  Thanne  comth 

bigynnenanye 

goode  werkos  drede  to  bigynne  to  werke  anye  goode  werkes.  tor 
certes  /  he  thaf  is  enclyned  to  synne.  hym  thynketh  /  it 
is  so  greet  an  emprise  /  for  to  vndertake  to  doon  werkes 
of  goodnesse.  [692]  and  casteth  in  his  herte  /  that  the 

ELLESMERE   642   (6-T.  646)  [Meaf226] 


647    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    643 

circumstances  of  goodnesse  been  so  greuouse  and  so 
chargeanf  for  to  suffre.  that  he  dar  nat  vndertake  /  to 
do  werkes  of  goodnesse  /  as  seith  seint1  Gregorie  II  Gregorius 

[693]  NOw  comth  wanhope.  that  is  despeir  of  the  IT  or  the  synne  of 

waiihope 

mercy  of  god.  fat  comth  somtyme  /  of  to  muche  out- 
rageous sorwe.  and  somtyme  /  of  to  muche  drede.  ymagin- 
ynge  that  he  hath  doon  so  muche  synne  /  that  it1  wol 
nat  auaillen  hym.  though  he  wolde  repenten  hym  and 
forsake  synne  /.  [694]  thurgh"  which  despeir/  or  drede  / 
he  abaundoneth  al  his  herte  to  euery  maner  synne  as  seith 
seint  Augustin.  [695!  Which  dampnable  synne  /  if  that  f  Sa»c«us 

Augustinus 

it  continue  vn-to  his  ende  /  it  is  cleped  synnyng*  in  the 
hooly  goostt  [696]  U  This  horrible  synne  is  so  perilous, 
that  he  pat  is  despeired?  ther  nys  no  felonye  /  ne  no  synne 
that  he  douteth  for  to  do.  as  sheweth  Avel  by  ludas 
[697]  H  Certes  abouen  alle  synnes  /  thanne  is  this  synne 
moost  displesant1  to  Crist'  and  moost  Aduersarie  [698] 
U  Soothly.  he  that  despeireth  hym  /  is  lyke  the  coward? 

champion  recreant1  [ 

no  gap  in  the  MS '.] 

and  nedelees  despeired  ||.  [699]  Certes  /  the  mercy  of  god  /  is 

euere  redy  to  euery  penitent1,  and  is  abouen  alle  hise  werkes 

[700]  IT  Alias  /  kan  a  man  nat1  bithynke  hym  /  on  the  gospel 

of  seint1  Luc1 . 1 5.  where  as  Cristf  seith  /.  that  as  wel  shal  f  LUC«  in 

ther  be  loye  in  heuene  vpon  a  synful  man   that  dooth 

penitence,  than  vp  on  90  and  .19.  rightful  men  /  that 

[.     .     .     .    no  gap  in  the  MS.~\    neden  no  penitence  [701] 

U  Looke  forther  in  the  same  gospel,  the  ioye  /  and  the  f  in  eodem 

feeste  of  the  goode  man  that  hadde  lost1  his  sone.  whan 

his   sone   with   repentance,    was   retourned   to   his  fader 

[702]  11  kan  they  nat  remembren  hem  eek/.  that  as  seith 

seint1   Lutf   .23.    how   that   the   theef    that  was    hanged  uxotasecundum 

bisyde   Ihesu  crisf.  seyde.  Lord  remembre  of  me.  whan  latrone  /  sus- 

thow  comest1  in  to  thy  regne  [703]  U  ffor  sothe.  [seyde] 

Crist1.  I  seye  to  thee.  to  day  shaltow  been  with  me  in 

Paradys  [704]  U  Certes  ther  is  noon  so  horrible  synne 

ELLESMERE   643   (6-T.  CJ.7) 


648    SIX-TEXT 

644    GUOUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

man  /  that1  it  nc  may  in  his  lyf  be  destroyed  by  penitence, 
thurgh"  vertu  of  the  passion  /  and  of  the  deeth  of  Crist  ||. 
[705]  Alias  /  what  nedeth  man  thanne  to  been  despeired. 
sith  fat  his.  mercy  /  so  redy  is  and  large.  /  Axe  and  haue 
no-  [706]  Thanne  cometh  Sompnolence  /  that  is  sloggy 

leuce 

slombrynge.  which  maketh  a  man  be  aheuy  and  dul  /  in 
body  and  in  soule.  And  this  synne  comth  of  Slouthe 
[707]  And  certes  /  the  tyme  that  by  wey  of  reson  men 
sholde  nat  slepe.  that  is  by  [the  morwe]  but  if  ther  were 
cause  resonable.  /  [708]  ffor  soothly  /  the  morwe  tyde  is 
moostf  couenable  a  man  to  seye  hise  preyeres  /  and  for 
to  thynken  on  god  /  and  for  to  honoure  god.  and  to 
yeuen  Almesse  to  the  poure.  that  first1  cometh  in  the  name 

U  Salomon  of  Crist' .  [709]  Lo  what  seith  Salomon  IT  Who  so  wolde 
by  the  morwe  awaken  and  seke  me  /  he  shal  fynde 

f  ofNeciigencc/  [710]   Thanne   cometh"  Necligence  /  or  reccheleesnesse  / 

or  reccheleesnesse 

that  rekketh  of  no  thyng/.  And  how  that1  Ignorance  be 
mooder   of  alle   harm.  /  certes  Necligence   is  the   norice 
[711]  H  Necligence  ne  dooth  no  fors  /  whan  he  shal  doon 
a  thyng1.  Wheither  he  do  it  weel  or  baddely 
1  ortheremedie         [712]  Of  the  remedie  of  thise   two  synnes.  as  seith 

ay  ens  Necligence 

ami  receheiees-     the  wise  man  /.  that  he  that  dredeth  god  /  he  spareth  nat 

uesse. 

secundum          to  doon  that  him  ogBte  doon  /.  [713]  and  he  that  loueth 

Supieiitem 

god  /  he  wol  doon  diligence  to  plese  god  by  hise  werkes  / 
and  abaundone  hym  self1  with  al  his  myg&f  wel  for  to  doon 

H  or ydelnesse  [7i4]JFhanne  comth  ydelnesse.  that  is  the  yate  of  alle 
harmes  /  IT  An  ydel  man  /  is  lyk1  to  a  place  that  hath  no 
walles.  the  deueles  may  entre  on  euery  syde  and  shetcn 
at  hym  at  discouert1  by  temptacion  on  euery  syde 
[715]  IT  This  ydelnesse  is  the  thurrok1  of  alle  wikked  and 
vileyns  thoghtes  /  and  of  alle  Tangles  /  trufles  /  and  of 
alle  ordure  [716]  IT  Certes  /  fhe  heuene  is  yeuen  to  hem  that 

If  Uauid  wol  labouren  and  nat  to  ydel  folk1  IT  Eek  Dauid  seith  / 

that  they  ne  been  nat  in  the  labour  of  men  ne  they  shul 
nat  been  whipped  with  men  /  that  is  to  seyn  in  purgatorie  / 

ELLESMERE    644   (6-T.  648)        [Meaf  226,  back] 


649   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   645 

[717]  certes  thanne  semeth  if.  they  shul  be  tormented 
with  the  deuel  in  helle  but  if  they  doon  penitence 

[718]    Thanne    comth    the    synne   that    men    clepew  f  of  the  synne 

pat  men  clepen 

Tarditas.  as  whan  a  man  is  to  laterede  /  or  tariynge  er  Tarditas 
he  wole  turne  to  god  /.  and  certes  /  that  is  a  greet  f  olie. 
He  is  lyk/  to  hym  that1  falleth  in  the  dych".  and  wol  nat 
arise  ./  [719]  And  this  vice  /  comth  of  a  fals  hope,  that 
he  thynketh  /  that  he  shal  lyue  longe.  but  that  hope  / 
failej)  ful  ofte  / 

[720]  Thanne  comth  lachesse.  that  is  he  /  that  whan  he  f  of  the  synne 
biginneth  any  good  werk/.  anon  he  shal  forleten  if  and 
stynten  /  as  doon  they  /  that  han  any  wight  to  goueme  / 
and  ne  taken  of  hym  namoore  kepe  anon  as  they  fynden 
any  contrarie  or  any  anoy  [721]  U  Thise  been  the  newe 
sheepherdes  /  that  leten  hir  sheepe  wityngly  go  renne  to 
the  wolf  /  that  is  in  the  breres  /  or  do  no  fors  of  hir  owene 
gouemance  [722]  of  this  /  comth  pouerte  and  destruccion. 
bothe  of  spiritueel  /  and  temporeel  thynges  Thanne  comth 
a  manere  cooldnesse  /  that  freseth  al  the  herte  of  a  man  /  f  ofcooidnesse 

r          -i    mi  11  i  •    -    j-i          i         i  •  -i  •     of  a  mannes  herte 

[723]  Thanne  comth  vndeuocion  thurgh  which  a  man  is  ^  Of  mdeuocioitn 
blenf  as  seith  Seint  Bernard!,  and  hath  swich  langour  in  t  sanctus 

Beruardus 

soule.  that  he  may  neither  rede  ne  singe  in  hooly  chirche  / 
ne  heere  /  ne  thynke  of  no  deuocion  /  ne  trauailie  with 
hise  handes  in  no  good  werk1.  that  it  nys  hym  vnsauory 
and  al  apalled  [724]  U  thanne  wexeth  he  slough  and 
slombry  and  soone  wol  be  wrooth  /  and  soone  is  enclyned 
to  hate  and  to  enuye  [725]  Thanne  comth  the  synne  of  f  Of  worldly 

sorwe 

worldly  sorwe.  /  which  as  is  cleped  tristicia.  that  sleeth 
man  /  as  seint  Paul  seith  /  [726]  ffor  certes  swich  sorwe  / 


werketh  to  the  deeth  of  the  soule  and  of  the  body  also  / 
for  ther-of  comth  fat  a  man  is  anoyed  of  his  owene  lif1. 
[727]  wherfore  swich  sorwe  shorteth  ful  ofte  the  lif  of 
man.  er  fat  his  tyme  be  come  by  wey  of  kynde  fgj 


ELLESMERE    645    (6-T.  649) 


C50    SIX-TEXT 

646    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

l^  Remediuw  contra  peccatum  Accidie  fa 
[728] 

Agayns  this  horrible  synne  of  Accidie,  and  the 
branches  of  the  same,  ther  is  a  vertu  /  that  is  called 
fortitude,  or  strengthe  /  that  is  an  affeccion  /  thurgfi 
which  /  a  man  despiseth  anoyouse  thinges  [729]  U  This 
vertu  is  so  mygfity  and  so  vigerous.  that  it  dar  withstonde 
myghtily  and  wisely  kepen  hym  self1  fro  perils  that  been 
wikked.  and  wrastle  agayn  the  assautes  of  the  deuel. 
[730]  for  it  enhaunceth  and  enforceth  the  soule  rignt  as 
Accidie  abateth  it1  and  maketh  it  fieble.  /  ffor  this  fortitudo 
may  endure  by  long  suffrance  /the  trauailles  that  been 
couenable 

[731]   U  This  vertu  /  hath  manye  speces.   and   the 
tofMagnanim-  firste  /  is  cleped  Magnificence,  that  is  to  seyn  greet  corage. 

itee 

for  ce?*tes  ther  bihoueth  greet  corage  agains  Accidie  /  lest 
that  it  ne  swolwe  the  soule  by  the  synne  of  sorwe  /  or 
destroye  if  by  wanhope  [732]  U  This  vertu  maketh 
folk  /  to  vndertake  harde  thynges  and  greuouse  thynges  / 
by  hir  owene  wil  /  wesely  and  resonably  ||.  [733]  And  for 
as  muchel  /  as  the  deuel  fighteth  agayns  a  man.  moore  by 
queyntise  and  by  sleighte.  than  by  strengthe.  therfore  men 
shal  withstonden  hym  by  wit  and  by  reson  and  by  dis- 

tocti.evertuea  crecion  [734]  Thanne  arn  ther  the  ve/iues  of  ffeith  and 
hope  in  god  and  in  hise  seintes  to  acheue  and  acomplice 
the  goode  werkes  /  in  the  whiche  /  he  pwrposeth  fermely 
to  continue  [735]  Thanne  comth  seuretee  /  or  sikernesse. 
and  that1  is.  whan  a  man  /  ne  douteth  no  trauaille  in  tyme 
comynge  /  of  the  goode  werkes  /  that  a  man  hath  bigonna 

U  of  Magnificence  [736]  Thanne  comth  Magnificence  /  that1  is  to  seyn  /  whan 
a  man  dooth  and  perfourneth  grete  werkes  of  goodnesse 
and  that  is  the  ende  /  why  that  men  sholde  do  goode 
werkes.  for  in  the  acomplissynge  of  grete  goode 
werkes  /  lith  the  grete  gerdon  [737]  Thanne  is  ther 

t  ofConstattnoe  Constance,  that  is  stablenesse  of  corage.  and  this  sholde 
been  in  herte  /  by  stedefasf  feith.  and  in  mouth  /  and  in 

ELLESMEIIE    646    (6-T.  650)  [>  leaf  227] 


651    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   647 

berynge  /  and  in  chiere  and  in  dede  [738]  Eke  ther  been 

mo  speciale  remedies  agains  Accidie  in  diuerse  werkes  /  f  Ofmospeciaie 

.       .        .         .  remedies  iigayua 

and  in  consideraciofl  of  the  peynes  of   helle  and  of  the  Accidie 
ioyes  of  heuene  /  and  in  trust1  of  the  grace  of  the  holy 
goosf  that  wole  yeue  hym  myght1  to  perfourne  his  goode 
entente 


A 


11"  Sequitur  de  Auaricia  fa 

[739] 
fter  Accidie  /  wol  I  speke  of  Auarice  and  of 

Coueitise  /  of  which  synne  seith  seint  Paule  if  Sanctua  Paulas 
-  that  the  roote  of  alle  harmes  is  Coueitise.  Ad 
Thimotheura  .6°.  [740]  ffor  soothly  whan  the  herte  of  a 
man.  is  confounded  in  it  self1  and  troubled!  and  that  the 
soule  /  hath  lost  the  conforf  of  god.  thanne  seketh  he  an 
ydel  solas  of  worldly  thynges  / 

[741]  Auarice  /  after  the  descripeion  of  seint  Augustyn.  f  what  Auarice 

.  iii*8  secundum. 

is  likerousnesse  in  nerte  to  haue  erthely  thynges.  Augustmuw 
[742]  U  Som  oother  folk  seyn  /  that  Auarice  /  is.  for  to 
purchacen  manye  erthely  thynges.  and  no  thyng1  yeue 
to  hem  that  han  nede  /  [743]  U  And  vnderstoond  /  that 
Auarice  /  ne  stanfr  nat  oonly  in  lond  ne  catel  but  som- 
tyme  /  in  science  and  in  glorie.  and  in  euery  manere  of 
outrageous  thyng1  is  Auarice  and  Coueitise  /  [744]  U  And 
the  difference  bitwixe  Auarice  and  Coueitise  is  this  f  or  the  differ- 

«T    i~t         •.!_•         i    '      f  •,  •  i        , -i  ence  /.bitwixe 

II  Coueitise  /  is  for  to  coueite  swiche  thynges  as  thou  -Auarfcc  and 
hast  nat  ||.  And  Auarice  /  is  for  to  withholde  and  kepe  swiche  C° 
thynges  as  thou  hast1  with-oute  rightful  nede  [745]  U  soothly 
Hhis  Auarice  is  a  synne  /  that  is  ful  dampnable.  for  al  hooly 
writ*  curseth  it  /  and  speketh  agayns  that  vice,  for  it  dooth 
wrong1  to  Ihesu  crist1.  [746]  for  it  bireueth  hym  the  loue 
that  men  to  hym  owen  /  and  turneth  it  bakward?  agayns 
alle  reson.  [747]  and  maketh  that  the  Auaricious  man  / 
hath  moore  hope  in  his  catel  /  than  in  Ihesn  crist1  and 
dooth  moore  obseruance  in  kepynge  of  his  tresor  /  than 
he  dooth  to  seruice  of  Ihesu  crist1.  [748]  And  therfore  seith 

46  ELLESMERE    647    (6-T.  66l)        C1  leaf  227.  back] 


652   SIX-TEXT 

648   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 
Paniiaad          selnt  Paul  ad  Ephesios  5°.  that  an  Auaricious  man  /  ia 

£pliesi0£  .5°, 

the  thraldom  of  ydolatrie 
f  or  the  differ-  [749]  H  What  difference  /  is  bitwixe  an  ydolastre  /  and 

ence  bitwix  an 

ydoiastre  and      an  Auaricious  man  ?  but  that  an  ydolastre  per  auenture  / 

an  auaricious  -       ,    ,  ,  r  .  . 

mau  ne  hath  but  o  Mawmett  or  two  /  and  the  Auaricious  man 

hath  manye.  ffor  certes  /  euery  floryn  in  his  cofre  is  his 
Mawmet/.  [750]  And  certes  the  synne  of  Mawmettrie  is 
the  firste  thyng1  that  God  deffended  in  the  ten  comaund- 

H  Exodi  capituio.  mentz  as  bereth  witnesse  Exodi  capitulo  .20°  [751]  II  Thou 

2O» 

shalt  haue  no  false  goddes  bifore  me  /  ne  thou  shalt  make 
to  thee  no  graue  thyng1.  thus  is  an  Auaricious  man  that 
loueth  his  tresor  biforn  god  an  ydolastre  /  [752]  thurgll 

^ofCoueitise  this  cursed  synne  of  Auarice  Of  Coueitise  comen  thise 
harde  lordshipes  /  thurgh"  whiche  men  been  distreyned 
by  taylages  /  custumes  and  cariages  /  moore  than  lure 
duetee  or  reson  is  /  And  eek  they  taken  of  hire  bondo 
men  Amercimentz.  whic[h]e  myghtera  moore  resonably  ben 
cleped  extorcions  than  Amercimentz  [753]  U  Of  whiche 
Amercimentz  and  raunsonynge  of  bondemen  /  sowme 
lordes  stywardes  /  seyn  that  it  is  rightful,  for  as  muche  as 
a  cherl  /  hath  no  temporeel  thyng1  that  it  ne  is  his  lordes  / 
as  they  seyn  /  [754]  but  certes  thise  lordshipes  doon 
wrong1  that  bireuen  hire  bonde  folk1,  thynges  that  they 

^  Angustitiu* cte  ncuere  yauo  hem  /.  Augustim^s  de  civitate.  li&?fo.  9°.  [755] 
*  U  Sooth  is  /  fat  the  condicion  of  thraldom  and  the  firste 
.9*.      cause  of  thraldom  is  for  synne  genesis  9°. 

[756]  U  Thus  may  ye  seen  that  the  gilt1  disserueth 
thraldom  /  but  nat  nature  /.  [757]  wherfore  thise  lordes 
ne  sholde  nat  muche  glorifien  hem  in  hir  lordshipes  / 
sith  that  by  natureel  corzdicion)  they  been  nat  lordes  of 
thralles.  but  that  thraldom  comth  first1  by  the  desert  of 
synne  [758]  H  And  forther  ouer  /  ther  as  the  lawe  seith  / 
that  temporeel  goodes  of  boonde  folk1,  been  the  goodes 
of  hir  lordshipes.  ye  that  is  for  to  vnderstonde.  the  goodes 
of  the  Emperour  /  to  deffenden  hem  in  hir  right1,  but  nat 
for  to  robben  hem  ne  reuen  hem  [759]  11  And  thcrforo 

ELLESMERE    648   (6-T.  662) 


653   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   649 

seith  Seneca  U  thy  prudence  sholde  lyue  benignely  "with  f  Seneca 
tliy  thralles  /.  [760]  thilke  fat  thou  clepest  thy  thralles 
been  goddes  peple.  for  humble  folk/,  been  cristes  freendes  / 
they  been  contubernyal  "with  the  lord  / 

[761]  IT  Thynk1  eek  /  that  of  swich  seed  as  cherles 
spryngeth.  of  swich  seed  spryngen  lordes.  As  wel  may 
the  cherl  be  saued  as  the  lord1.  [762]  the  same  deeth  fat 
takef  the  cherl.  swich  deeth  taketh  the  lord?,  wherfore  I 
rede  /  do  right1  s<s  with  thy  cherl.  as  thou  woldestt  that  f  Nofa 
thy  lord  dide  with  thee  if  thou  were  in  his  plit/. 
[763]  euery  synfid  man  /  is  a  cherl  to  synne  I  rede 
thee  certes  that  thou  lord  werke  in  swiche  wise  with 
thy  cherles.  that  they  rather  loue  thee  than  drede  /  [764] 
I  woot  wel  ther  is  degree  aboue  degree,  as  reson 
is  and  skile  if  is  that1  men  do  hir  deuoir/  ther  as  it  is  due  / 
but  certes  extorcions  and  l  despit  of  youre  vnderlynges  /  is 
dampnable  / 

[765]  U  And  forth  er  oner  vnderstoond  wel  /  that  thise 
Conquerours  /  or  tirauntz  /  maken  ful  ofte  thralles  of 
hem  that  been  born  /  of  as  roial  blood  as  been  they  that 
hem  conqueren  /  [766]  11  This  name  of  thraldom  /  was  T  Genesis  n  Male- 

dictus  <  'ini.iiin 

neuere  erst  kowth.  til  that1   JN  oe   seyde  /  that   his   sone  serum  s«-uor«»» 
Canaan  sholde  be  thral  to  hise  bretheren  for  his  synne  suis 


[767]  What  seye  we  thanne  /  of  hem  that  pilen  and 

extorcions  in  hooly  chirche  ?  /  11  Certes  /  the  swerd  that  extorcions  in 

men  yeuen  first1  to  a  knygfif  whan  he  is  newe  dubbed  /  °°y 

signifieth  /  that  he  sholde  deffenden  hooly  chirche  /  and 

nat  robben  it1  ne  pilen  it  /.  and  who  so  dooth  is  traitour 

to  Crist  [768]  U  And  as  seith  seint  Augustyn  /  they  been  f  aanctus 

Augustiuus 

the  deueles  wolues  that  stranglen  the  sheepe  of  Ihesu 
crisf.  and  doon  worse  than  wolues.  [769]  ffor  soothly  / 
whan  the  wolf1  hath  ful  his  wombe  /  he  stynteth  to 
strangle  sheepe.  /  but  soothly  /  the  pilours  and  destroy- 
ours  of  goddes  hooly  chirche  /  ne  do  nat  so  /  for  they  ne 
stynte  neuere  to  pile  [770]  NOw  as  I  haue  seyd  /  sith  so 
is  /  that  synne  /  was  first1  cause  of  thraldom,  thanne  is  it 

ELLESMERE    649   (6-T.  653)  P  leaf  228] 


654    SIX-TEXT 

650   GROUP  I.    §  2.   TAKSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


thus.  /  that  thilke  tyme  that  al  this  world  was  in  synne. 
thanne  was  al  this  world  in  thraldom  and  subiecciofi 
[771]  U  but  certes  /  sith  the  time  of  grace  cam  /  god. 
ordeyned  that  som  folk1  sholde  be  nioore  heigh"  in  estaafc 
and  in  degree,  and  som  folk  moore  lough",  and  that 
euerich  /  sholde  be  serued  in  his  estaat1.  [.  .  no  gap  in  MS.] 
[772]  and  therfore  /  in  sowme  contrees  ther  they  by  en 
thralles.  whan  they  han  turned  hem  to  the  feith.  they  maken 
hire  tliralles  free  out  of  thraldom.  And  therfore  certes  / 
the  lord  oweth  to  his  man.  that  the  man  oweth  to 
his  lord  ||.  [773]  the  Pope  calleth  hym-self1  seruant* 
of  the  seruafltz  of  god.  /  but  for  as  muche  as  the  estaat  of 
hooly  chirche.  ne  myghte  nat  han  be  /  ne  the  cowmiune 
profit1  myghte  nat  han  be  kept1,  ne  pees  and  reste  in 
erthe  /  but  if  god  hadde  ordeyned  that  som  men  hadde 
hyer  degree  and  som  men  lower/  [774]  therfore  /  was 
souereyntee  ordeyned  /  to  kepe  and  mayntene  and  def-. 
fen  den  hire  vnderlynges  or  hire  subgetz  in  reson  /  as  fer- 
forth  as  it  lith  in  hire  power/,  and  nat  to  destroy  en  hem. 
no  corafounde  [775]  U  Wherfore  I  seye  /  that  thilke  lordes 
that  been  lyk  wolues  that1  deuouren  the  possessions  or 
the  catel  of  poure  folk1  wrongfully  with-outen  mercy  or 
mesure  /  [776]  they  shul  receyuen  by  the  same  mesure 
that  they  han  mesured  to  poure  folk/  the  mercy  of  Ihtvu 
cristt  but  if  it  be  amended  [777]  U  NOw  comth  deceite  / 
bitwixe  Marchant  and  Marchant1  U  And  thaw  shalt1  vnder- 
stonde  that  marchandise  /  is  in  manye  maneres.  that  oon 
is  bodily  and  that  oother  is  goostly,  that  oon  is  honeste 
and  leueful.  and  that  oother  is  deshoneste  and  vnleueful 
H  or  bodily  [77&]  Of  thilke  bodily  marchandise  that  is  leueful  and 

march  ami  ise  that 

is  leueful  &  honeste.  is  this  /.  that  there  as  god  hath  ordeyned  that1  a 
regne  or  a  contree  /  is  suffisanf  to  hym  self/,  thanne  is  it 
honeste  and  leueful.  that  of  habundauwce  of  this  contree. 
that  men  helpe  another  contree  that  is  moore  nedy  /. 
[779]  And  therfore  /  ther  moote  been  Marchantz  to 
bryngen  fro  that  o  contree  to  that  oother  /  hire  inarch- 

JBLLESMEKE    650   (6-T.  654) 


U  Eadem 
mensura  &c 


T  Of  deceite  / 
bitwixe  Mar- 
chaunt and 
Marchaut/ 


G55    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    G51 

andises  [780]  U  That*  oothcr  marchandisc  that  men 
haunten  with  fraude  and  trecherie  and  deceite.  with 
lesynges  and  false  othes  /  is  cursed  and  dampnable 
[781"!  Espiritueel  marchandise  /  is  proprely  Symonye  /. 

marchandise  / 

that  is  ententif  desir/  to  byen  thyng1  espiritueel.  that  is  //  that  is  symonye 

thyng1  that  aperteneth  to  the  Seintuarie  of  god  /  and  to 

cure  of  the  soule  [782]  U  this  desir/  if  so  be  that  a 

man  do  his  diligence  to  parfournen  if.  al  be  if  that  his 

desir  ne  take  noon  1effecf.  yet  is  it  to  hym  a  deedly 

synne  /  and  if  he  be  ordred  /  he  is  irreguleer  [783]  Certes 

Symonye  /  is  cleped  of  Simon  Magus  /  that  wolde  han  f  or  whom 

Symonye  bereth 

bognf  for  temporeel  catel.  the  yifte  that  god  hadde  yeuen  his  name 
by  the  hooly  goosf.  to  seint  Peter  and  to  the  Apostles  ||. 
[784]   And   therfore    -vnderstoond!    that    bothe    he    that 
selleth   and   he   that   beyeth  thynges   espirituels  /  been  irofdiuerso 

raaneres  of 

cleped!  Symonyals.  be  it  by  catel.  be  if  by  p-ocurynge  /  symonye 
or  by  flesshly  preyere  of  hise  freendes  /  flesshly  freendes  / 
or  espiritueel  freendes  [785]  H  flessnly  in  two  maneres  /. 
As  by  kynrede  /  or  othere  freendes.  soothly  if  they  praye 
for  hym  that  is  nat  worthy  and  able  /  it  is  Symonye.  if  ho 
take  the  benefice.  /  and  if  he  be  worthy  and  able  /  ther 

riys  noon  [786]  H  Thaf  oother  manere  is  /  whan  a  man  or  f  or  another 

Inanere  °^ 
womman   preyen  for  folk1   to  auauncen  hem  oonly  /  for  symonye 

wikked  flessnly  affeccion  that  they  have  vn-to  the  persono 
and  that  is  foul  Symonye  [787]  U  but  certes  in  seruice  / 
for  which  men  yeuen  thynges  espirituels  vn-to  hir 
seruantz.  it  moot  been  vnderstonde  /  fat  the  seruice  / 
moot  been  honeste  /  and  elles  naf .  and  eek  /  that  it  bo 
with-outen  bargaynynge.  and  that  the  persone  bo  able. 
[788]  for  as  seith  Seinf  Damasie  IT  Alle  the  synnes  of  the  f  Mnctna 

11/1  i      f   j-i  •  i  damasius 

world  /  at  regard  of  this  synne  /  arn  as  thyng1  of  nognt. 
for  it  is  the  grettesto  synne  that  may  be.  after  the  synne 
of  Lucifer  and  Antecrisf.  [789]  for  by  this  synne  /  god 
forleseth  /  the  chirche  and  the  soule  that  he  boghte  with 
his  precious  blood  /  by  hem  fat  yeuen  chirches  to  hem 
that  been  nat  digne.  [790]  for  they  putten  in  theues  that 

ELLESMERE    651    (6-T.  655)        C1  leaf  228,  back] 


G56   SIX-TEXT 

652   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

stelen  the  soules  of  Ihesu  crist1  and  destroyen  his  patri- 
moyne  ||.  [791]  by  swiche  vndigne  preestes  and  Curates  / 
han  lowed  men  the  lasse  reuerence  of  the  sacramentz  of 
hooly  chirche.  and  swiche  yeueres  of  chirches  putten  out 
the  children  of  Crist  /.  and  putten  in  to  the  chirche  the 
deueles  owene  sone.  [792]  they  sellen  the  soules  / 
that  lamhes  sholde  kepen  to  the  wolf*  that  strangleth 
hem  /.  And  therfore  /  shul  they  neuere  han  part* 
of  the  pasture  of  lambes  /  that  is  the  blisse  of 
t  or  hasardrye  hcuene  [793]  NOw  comth"  /  hasardrie  with  hise  apur- 

w/tA  iiisr  apur- 

tenaances  tenances.  as  tables  and  Eafles.  of  which  /  comth"  deceite. 

false  othes.  chidynges.  and  alle  rauynes.  blasphemyngo 
and  reneiynge  of  god.  and  hate  of  hise  neighebores.  wast 
of  goodes.  mysspendynge  of  tyme.  and  somtyme  man- 
slaugfitre.||.  [794]  Certes  /  hasardours  ne  mo  we  nat  been 

t  irowof  with-outen  greet  synne  f.     .     .     no  gap  in  the  MS.]  f795l 

Aim-ice,  comen. 

icsynges.  fais       Of  Auaricc/comeneek'lesynges.  thefte.  falswitnesse.  andfalse 

witnesse.  and 

false  othes.  othes  ||.  And  ye  shul  vnderstonde  that  thise  been  grete  synnes. 
and  expres  agayn  the  comaundementz  of  god  as  I  haue 

t  or  rais  witnesse  seyd  [796]  II  fials  witnesse.  is  in  word  and  eek  in  dede 
11  In  word  /  as  for  to  bireue  thy  neighebores  goode  name 
by  thy  fals  witnessyng1.  or  bireuen  hym  his  catel  or  his 
heritage,  by  thy  fals  witnessyng1.  whan  thou  for  Ire  /  or 
for  meede.  or  for  enuye.  berest  fals  witnesse  /  or  accusest 
hym  or  excusest  hym  by  thy  fals  witnesse.  or  elles  ex- 
cusesf  thy  self  falsly.  [797]  ware  yow  questemongeres  and 
Notaries  11  Certes.  for  fals  witnessyng  was  Susanna  in  ful 
gret  sorwe  and  peyne.  and  many  another  mo  /  [798]  H  The 

tor  the  synne     synne  of  thefte  is  eek1  expres  agayns  goddes  heeste.  and  in 

I  of  thefte         two  mancres  /  corporeel.  or  espiritueeL  [799]  [Corporeel] 

corporeel  ,  ,  . 

as  for  to  take  thy  neighebores  catel  agayn  his  wyl 
be  it  by  force  or  by  sleighte.  be  it1  by  Met1  or  by  mesure. 
[800]  By  stelyng1  eek  of  false  enditementz  vpon  hym.  and 
in  borwynge  of  thy  neighebores  catel.  in  entente  neuere 
to  pay  en  it  agayn  aand  semblable  thynges  /  [80 1]  U  Es- 
IspiriS  piritueel  thefte  /  is  Sacrilege,  that  /  is  to  seyn  /  hurt- 

ELLESMERE    652   (6-T.  656)  P  leaf 229] 


657    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.    G53 

ynge  of  hooly  thynges.  or  of  thynges  sacred  to  crist1  in  two 
maneres.  by  reson  of  the  hooly  place,  as  chirches  or 
chirchc  hawes.  [802]  for  which  euery  vileyns  synne  that 
men  doon  in  swiche  places  /  may  be  cleped  sacrilege,  or 
euery  violence  in  the  semblable  places  /  U  Also  /  they  that 
withdrawen  falsly  /  the  rightes  thafr  longen  to  hooly 
chirche  [803]  U  And  pleynly  and  generally  .sacrilege, 
is  /  to  reuen  hooly  thyng/  fro  hooly  place  /.  or  vnhooly 
thyng1  out/  of  hooly  place.  /  or  hooly  thing1  out  of  vn- 
hooly place 


Releuacio  contra  peccahtm  Auaricie  fa 

[804] 
Ow  shul  ye  vnderstonde.  that  the  releeuynge  of 

Auarice.  is  Misericorde  and  pitee  largely  taken  /. 
And  men  myghtcn  axe.  why  that  Misericorde  and  pitee.  IT  or  Misericorde 
is  releeuynge  of  Auarice  [805]  IT  Certes  /  the  Auaricious 
man  /  sheweth  no  pitee  ne  Misericorde  to  the  nedeful 
man  /  for  he  dcliteth  hym  in  the  kepynge  of  his  tresor. 
and  nat1  in  the  rescowynge  ne  releeuynge  of  his  euene 
cristene.  and  therfore  speke  I  first1  of  Misericorde  / 
[806]  U  Thanne  is  Misericorde  /  as  seith  the  Philosophre.  IT  what  Miserf- 

.  corde  \Bsecundnia 

a  vertu  /  by  which  the  corago  01  man  is  stired  by  the 
myseso  of  hym  that  is  mysesed  /.  [807]  vp-on  which 
Misericorde  folweth  pitee  in  parfournynge  of  charitable 
werkes  of  Misericorde  [808]  And  certes  thise  thynges  / 

that  sliolde 

moeuen  a  man  to  Misericorde  of  Ihesu  crisf.  that  he  yaf  moeue  a  man  to 

Misericorde 

hym  self  for  oure  gilt1,  and  suffred  deeth  for  Misericorde  / 
and  forgaf  vs  oure  originale  synnes.  [809]  and  therby 
relessed  vs  fro  the  peynes  of  hello,  and  arnenused  the 
peynes  of  Purgatorie  by  penitence  and  yeueth  grace 
wel  to  do  /  and  atte  laste  the  blisse  of  heuene  /  [810]  Tho 
speces  of  Misericorde  been,  as  for  to  lene  and  for  to 
yeue  /.  and  to  foryeuen  and  relesse.  and  for  to  han  for  the  speces 

of  Misericorde 

pitee  in  herte   and  compassion  of  the   meschief1  of  his 

ELLESMERE    653   (6-T.  657) 


658   SIX-TEXT 

654   GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

euene   cristene.  And  eek  to  chastise  there  as  nede  is  / 
1  or  another       fSul  U  Another  manere  of  remedie  agayns  Auarice  /  is 

reinc.lie  iigayn 

Amu-ice  resonablo  largesse  /  but  soothly  heere  bihoueth  the  con- 

sideraciofi  of  the  grace  of  Ihesu  crist1  and  of  hise. 
temporeel  goodes  /  and  eek1  of  the  goodes  perdurables 
that1  crist  yaf  to  vs.  [812]  and  to  han  remembrance  /  of 
the  deeth  that  he  shal  receyue.  he  noot  whanne.  where,  no 
how  /.  and  eek1  that  he  shal  forgon  al  that  he  hath, 
saue  oonly  /  that  he  hath  despended  in  goode  werkes. 

[813]  11  But  for  as  muche  as  som  folk  been  vnmesur- 

1  or  fool  largesse  able,  men  oughten  eschue  fool  largesse  that  men 
clepen  wast  /  [814]  U  Certes  /  he  that  is  fool  large  ne 
yeueth  nat  his  catel  /  but  he  leseth  his  catel  ||.  Soothly  / 
what  thyng1  that  he  yeueth  for  veyne  glorie.  as  to 
Mynstrals  and  to  folk  /.  for  to  beren  his  renoun  in  the 
world,  he  hath  synne  ther-of  and  noon  Almesse. 
[815]  certes  he  leseth  foule  his  good,  that  ne  seketh 
with  the  yifte  of  his  good  /  no  thyng1  but  synne. 
[8 1 6]  He  is  lyk/  to  an  hors  that  seketh.  rather  to  drynken 
drouy  or  trouble  water  /  than  for  to  drynken  water  of  the 
clere  welle.  /  [817]  And  for  as  muchel  as  they  yeuen.  ther 
as  they  sholde  nat  yeuen.  to  hem  aperteneth  thilke 
malison  /  that  crist  shal  yeuen  at  the  day  of  doome  /  to 
hem  /  that  shullen  been  dampned  (3)  (5)  f2) 

1Sequitwr  de  gula 

[818] 

After  Auarice  comtfr  Glotonye  /  which  is  expres  eek1 
agayn  the  comandement  of  god  U  Glotonye  /  is 
vnmesurable  Appetif  to  ete  or  to  drynke  /  or  elles 
to  doon  ynogfi  to  the  vnmesurable  Appetit1  and  desordeyneo 
coueitise  to  eten  or  to  drynke.  [819]  U  This  synne  cor- 
rumped  al  this  world,  as  is  wel  shewed  /  in  the  synne  of 
f  sanctm          Adam  and  of  Eue  H  Looke  eek  /  what  seith  seint  Paul  of 
Glotonye  [820]  U  Manye  seith  seint  Paul  goon  /  of  whiche 

ELLESMERE    664   (6-T.  658)        C1  leaf  229,  back] 


G59    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   655 

I  haue  ofte  seyd  to  yow.  and  now  I  seye  it  wepynge  / 
that  been'  the  enemy s  of  the  croys  of  Crist',  of 
whiche  the  ende  is  deeth.  and  of  whiche  /  hire  wombe  is 
hire  god  and  hire  glorie  /  in  confusion  of  hem  /  that  so 
devouren  erthely  thynges  [821]  U  He  that  is  vsant  /  to 
this  synne  of  Glotonye  /  he  ne  may  no  synne  withstonde. 
he  moot  been  in  seruage  of  alle  vices,  for  it  is  the  deueles 
hoord  /  ther  he  hideth  hym  and  resteth  [822!  U  This  for  the  speces 

L'        J  of  Glotonye 

synne  hath  manye  speces  U  The  firste  /  is  dronkenesse.  f  The  firste  specs 

of  Glotonye 

that  is  the  horrible  sepulture  of  mannes  reson.  and  ther- 
fore  /  whan  a  man  is  dronken  /  he  hath  lost1  his  reson.  and 
this  is  deedly  synne  [823]  IT  But  soothly.  whan  that  a 
man  is  nat  wont  to  strong  drynke.  and  perauenttwe  /  ne 
knoweth  naf  the  strengthe  of  the  drynke.  or  hath  feblesso 
in  his  heed,  or  hath  trauailed.  thurgh  which  he  drynketh 
the  moore.  al  be  he  sodeynly  caught  with  drynke  /  it  is  no 
deedly  synne  /  but  venyal  [824]  II  The  seconde  spece  of  f  The  .ij.««  «pece 

-  of  Glotonye 

Glotonye  is.  that  the  spirit  of  a  man  /  wexeth  al  trouble, 
for  dronkenesse  bireueth  hym  the.  discrecion  of  his  wit 
[825]  H  The  thridde  :  spece  of  Glotonye.  is  whan  a  man  t  The  .iij.»«  spece 

11.  iii  •*-*-,  °f  Glotonye 

deuoureth  his  mete,  and  hath  no  rigntful  manere  of  etynge 

[826!  U  The  fourthe  is.  whan  thurgh"  the  grete  habuwd-  IT  The  .uij.«  spece 

of  Glotonye 

aunce  of  his  mete,  -the  humours  in  his  body  /  been  des- 
tempred  [827]  11  The  fifthe.  is  foryetelnesse  by  to  nrachel  IT  The  .v.«  spece 
drynkynge.  for  which  somtyme  a  man  foryeteth  er  the 
morwe.  what  he  dide  at  euen.  or  on  the  nygfit  biforn 

[828]  U  In  oother  mane/e  been  distinct1  the  speces  of/  t  of  other* 

'  man  ere  speces 

Glotonye  after  seint  Gregorie  II  The  firste  is.  for  to  ete  bi-  of  oiotonye. 
forn  tyme  to  ete  U  The  seconde  is  /  whan  a  man  get  hym.  nkned  to  the  .v. 
to  delicaat1  mete  /  or  drynke  [829]  H  The  thridde  is.  whan  deuces  hand! 
men    taken   to    muche   ouer  mesure    H   The   fourthe   is  ^c"«nT 
curiositee   with  greet  entente,  to  maken  and   apparaillen  Gregoni 
his  mete  U  The  fifthe  is.  for  to  eten  to  gredily  [830]  Thiso 
been  /  the  fyue  fyngres  of  the  deueles  hand,  by  whicho. 
he  draweth  folk1  to  synne  fo         fa        fa         fa 

ELLESMERE   656    (6-T.  659) 


C60   SIX-TEXT 

G56   GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


L"0AJ 

A' 


Remediuw  contra  peccatum  Gale  ^ 

gayns    Glotonye   is    the    remedie    Abstinence,    as 
seith  Galien.  but  that  holde  I  nat  meritorie.  if 
he  do  it  oonly  for  the  heele  of  his  body  ||.  seint 
T  Augusts™*      Augustyn  wole  /  that  Abstinence  be  doon  for  vertu  and 
with  pacience  [832]  U  Abstinence  he  seith  is  litel  worth  /. 
but1  if  a  man  haue  good  wil  ther-to.  and  but  it  be  enforced 
by  pacience  and  by  charitee.  and  that  men  doon  it  for 
godcs  sake,  and  in  hope  to  haue  the  blisse  of  heuene 
«[  orthc  feiawes         [833]  U  The  felawes  of  Abstinence  /  been.  Attemper- 

of  Abstinwe 

t  Attemperaance  awnce  that   holdeth  the  meene  in   alle   thynges  H  Eek 

f  siiame  shame,  that  eschueth  alle  deshonestee  U  Suflisance  /  that 

seketh  no  riche  metes  ne  drynkes.  ne  dooth  no  fors  of  to 

HMesure  outrageous  apparai'lynge  of  mete  [834]  U  Mesure  also, 

that  restreyneth  by  reson  /  the  deslauee  appetit  of  etyngo 

1  sobrcnesse  «[J  Sobrenesse  also,  that  restreyneth  the  outrage  of  drynke  || 
[835]  sparynge  also,  that  restreyneth  the  delicaat  ese  to 
sitte  longe  at  his  mete  and  softely.  wherfore  /  som  folk* 
stonden  of  hir  owene  wyl  /  to  eten  /  at  the  lasse  leyser 


A 


^[  Sequitur  de  Luxuria  ^ 

[836] 

fter  Glotonye  /  thanne  comth  lecherie.  for  thise 
two  synnes  /  been  so  ny  cosyns.  that  ofte  tyme  / 
.  they  wol  nat1  departe.    [837]  god  woof  this 
synne  is  ful  displesant  thyng  to  god.  ffor  he  seyde  hym 
self/  do  no  lecherie.  and  therfore  /  he  putte  grete  peynes 
agayns  this  synne  /  in  the  olde  lawe  [838]  U  If  wom- 
diu^ewommeu  man  thral  /  were  taken  in  this  synne.  she  sholde  be 
BymuTof  lecLrye  beten  with  staues  to  the  deeth.  And  if  she  were  a  gentil 
wommau  /  she  sholde  be  slayn  with  stones.  And  if  she 
were  a  bisshoppes   doghter/  she  sholde  been  brenf  by 
f  HOW  for  the     goddes    comandement1    [839]    H    fforther    ouer/   by    the 
ai  the  world  was   synne  of  lecherie  /  god  dreynte  al   the  world  /  at  the 

ELLESMERE   056   (6-T.  660)  f»leaf.280] 


G61    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS.   657 

dilute.  And  after  that  he  bronte  .v.  Citees  with  thonder  <ireynt/  And  .\. 

Citees  brent  & 

leyt1  and  sank  hem  in  to  helle  sonken 

[840!  Now  lat  vs  speke  thanne  /  of  thilke  stynkjoigc  f  or  the  synne  of 

Auowtrie 

synne  of  lecherie  that1  men  clepe  Auowtrie.  of  wedded 
folk  /.  that  is  to  seyn.  if  that  oon  of  hem  be  wedded, 
or  elles  bothe  [841!  U  Seint  Ioh~n  seith  that  Auowtiers  f  No*a  «ecun- 

d«m  lolianncm 

shullen  been  in  helle  /  in  a  stank  brennynge  of  fyr  and 

of  Brymston  [ no  gap  in  the  MS.]  for  the 

stynk  of  hire  ordure  /.  [842]  Certes  /  the  brekyngo  of 

this  sacremenf  is  an  horrible  thyng/.  it  was  maked  of 

god  hym  self  in  paradys  and  confermed  by  Ihesu  crist1  as 

witnesseth  seint  Mathew  in  the  gospel.  A  man  shal  lete  f  Math«-  .tg». 

fader  and  mooder/  and  taken  hym  to  his  wif /  And  they 

shullen  be  two  in  o  flessh"  [843]  H  This  sacremenf  bitok- 

neth  the  knyttynge  togidre  /  of  Crist1  and  of  hooly  chirche. 

[844]  And  nat  oonly  that  god  forbad  Auowtrie  in  dede. 

but  eek  he  comanded  that  thou  sholdest  nat  coueite  thy 

neighebores   wyf    [845]    U    In    this    heeste    seith    seint 

Augustyn.   is  forboden   alle  manere    coueitise    to    doon  f  Sanctua 

lecherie  IT  Lo  what  seith  seint  Mathew  in  the  gospel,  that  ^  Matnei  .v.w 

who  so  seeth  a  woraman  to  coueitise  of  his  lust  /.  he  hath 

doon  lecherie  /  vfith  hire  in  his  herte.  [846]  Heere  may  ye 

seen  /  that  nat  oonly.  the  dede  of  this  synne  is  forboden. 

but  eek  the  desir  /  to  doon  that  synne  /  [847]  This  cursed 

synne  anoyeth  greuousliche  hem  that  it  haunten  U  And  first 

to  hire  soule.  for  he  obligeth  it  to  synne  and  to  peyne  of 

deeth  that  is  perdurable  [|.  [848]  vn-to  the  body,  anoyeth 

it  greuously  also  for  it   dreyeth   hym.  and  wasteth.  and 

shent  hym.  and  of  his  blood  he  maketh  sacrifice  to  the 

feend?  of  helle.  it  wasteth  his  catel  and   his  substance. 

[849]  And  certes  if  it  be  a  foul  thyng  /  a  man  to  waste  t  No«a 

his  catel  on  wommen.  yet  is  it  a  fouler  thyng/.  whan  that 

for  swich  ordure,  wommen  dispenden  vp-on  men  hir  catel 

and  substance  [850]  U  This  synne  as  seith  the  prophete  t  propii^a 

bireueth  man  and  womman  hir  goode  fame,  and  al  hire 

honour,  and  it  is  ful  plesant  to  the  deuel.  for  ther-by 

ELLESMERE    057   (6-T.  66l) 


CG2    SIX-TEXT 

C58    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

wynneth     he.    the    mooste     partie    of     this     worlcF    ||. 
[851]   And   right   as   a   Marchaiit/   delitcth   hym   moosf 
in  1chaffare  /  that  he  hath  moost  auantage  of  //  right 
so  dcliteth  the  fend  in  this  ordure. 
t  or.v.  fvngrea          [852]  this  is  that  oother  hand  of  the  deuel  /  with  .v. 

"of  the  deuelea 

hande  fyngres  to  cacche  the  peple  to  his  vileynye  [853]  U  The 

t  The  firete        firste  fynger  /  is  the  fool  lookynge  of  the  fool  womman. 

fyiisre 

and  of  the  fool  man.  that  sleeth  /  right  as  the  Basilicok1 

sleeth  folk1  by  the  venym  of  his  sighte.  for  the  coueitise 

of  eyen  /  folweth  the  coueitise  of  the  herte  [854]  U  The 

f  Thc.ij.d*         seconde  fynger  /  is   the   vileyns  touchynge   in   wikkede 

tynger 

1T  Salomon  manere.  And  ther-fore  seith  Salomon.  /  That  who  so 
toucheth  and  handleth  a  womman.  he  fareth  lyk  hym 
that  handleth  the  Scorpion  ]>at  styngeth  and  sodeynly 
sleeth  /  thurgh  his  enuenymynge.  as  who  so  toucheth 

If  The  .iij.-ta        warm  pych.  it  shent1  hise  fyngres  [855!  U  The  thridde.  is 

fynger 

foule    wordes.    that   fareth    lyk   fyr.    that    right    anon   / 
f  The.iiij.«         brenneth  the  herte   [856]  11  The  fourthe  fynger  /  is  the 

fynger 

kissynge.  and  trewely  /  he  were  a  greet  fool  that  woldo 
kisse  the  mouth  of  a  brcnnynge  Ouene  /  or  of  a  fourneys. 
[857]  And  moore  fooles  been  they  that  kissen  in  vileynye. 
for  that  mouth  /  is  the  mouth  of  helle.  and  namely  thise 
t  HOW  thise  oide  olde  dotardes  holours.  yet  wol  they  kisse  /  though 

lecchours  /  been 

iikiiedto  they  may  nat  do  and  smatre  hem  [858]  Certes  /  they 

been  lyk  to  houndes.  for  an  hound  /  whan  he  comth  by 
the  Eoser  /  or  by  othere  beautees.  though  he  may  nat 
pisse.  yet  wole  he  heue  vp  his  leg  /  and  make  a  con- 

^N<rfo  tenanco  to  pisse  [859]  And  for  that  many  man  weneth. 

that  he  may  nat  synne.  for  no  likerousnesse  that  he  dooth 
with  his  wyf/./  Certes  that  opinion)  is  fals.  god  woof,  a 
man  may  sleen  hym  self/  with  his  owene  knyf  /  and  make 
hym  seluen  dronken  of  his  owene  tonne  ||.  [860]  Certes 
be  it  wyf1  be  it  child  /  or  any  worldly  thyng/  that  he 
loueth  biforn  god.  it  is  his  mawmetf  and  he  is  an  ydolastre 

t  HOW  a  man      [861]    H    Man    sholde    louen    his    wyf/    by    discretion 

aholde  louen  his     L         J 

*y*  paciently  and  atemprely.  and  thanne  is  she.  as  though  it 

ELLESMERE    658    (6-T.  662)-      P  leaf  230,  back] 


663   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   G59 

were  his  suster  [862]  IT  The  fifthe  fynger  of  the  deueles  f  The  v»  fynger 

hand?  is  the  stynkynge  dede  of  leccherie  [863]  II  Certes  the  .v.  hande 

fyngres  of  Glotonie  the  feend  put  in  the  wombe  of  a  man. 

and  with  hise  .v.  fyngres  of  lecherie.  he  gripeth  hym  by 

the  reynes  /  for  to  throwen   hym  in  to  the  fourneys  of 

helle.  [864]  ther  as  they  shul  han  the  fyr  and  the  wormes 

that   euere   shul    lasten.   and    wepynge    and    wailynge   / 

sharpe  hunger  and  thurstf.  and  grymnesse  of  deueles  / 

that  shullen  al  to-trede  hem  with-outen  respit1  and  with- 

outen  ende  [865]  U  Of  leccherie  /  as  I  seyde  /  sourden  f  or  diuo-se 

diuerse  speces  U  As  ffornicacion  /  that  is  bitwixe  man  leccherie 

and  womman  /  that1  been  nat  maried.  and  this  is  deedly 

synne   and   agayns   nature.    [866]  Al  that  is  enemy  and 

destruction  to  nature,  is  agayns  nature  [867]  Parfay  /  tho 

reson  of  a  man  /  telleth  eek  hym  wel  /  that  it  is  deedly 

synne.  for  as  muche.  as  god  forbad  leccherie.  And  seiut 

Paul  yeuejj  hem.  the  regne  that  nys  dewe  to  no  wight1. 

but  to  hem  that  doon  deedly  synne  [868]  Another  synne  f  or  the  synne. 

to  bireue.  a 

of  leccherie.  is  to  bireue  a  may  den  of  hir  maydenhcde.  may<ien:/  oihh- 

maydenheile 

for  he  that  so  dooth.  /  certes  /  he  casteth  a  mayden  /  out 
of  the  hyeste  degree  that  is  in  this  present  lif.  [869]  and 
bireue]?  hire  thilke  precious  fruytt  that  the  book  clepeth 
the  hundred  fruyt1  I  ne  kan  seye  it  noon  oother  weyes  in 
englissn.  but  in  latyn  /  it  highte  Centesimws  fructus 
[870]  11  Certes  /  he  that  so  dooth.  is  cause  of  manye 
damages  and  vileynyes  /  mo  than  any  man  kan  rekene. 
right  as  he  som  tyme  is  cause  of  alle  damages  that  beestes 
don  in  the  feeld'.  that  breketh  the  hegge  or  the  closure, 
thurgh  which  he  1destroyeth.  that  may  nat  been  restoored. 
[871]  U  ffor  certes  /  namoore  may  maydenhede  be  ro- 
stoored.  than  an  Arm  that  is  smyten  fro  the  body  may 
retourne  agayn  to  wexe.  /  [872]  She  may  haue  mercy  this 
woot  I  wel.  if  she  do  penitence,  but  neuere  shal  it 
be  /  that  she  nas  corrupt1  [873]  U  And  al  be  it  so  that  I 
haue  spoken  somwhat  of  Auowtrie.  it  is  good  to  shewen  mo 
perils  that  longen  to  Auowtrie.  for  to  eschue  that  foulc 

KLLESMKKE    659    (6-T.  663}  [i  leaf  231] 


664    SIX-TEXT 

GGO   GHOUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

t  AuowWe  synne  [874]  Auowtrie  in  latyn  is  for  to  seyru  Approchynge 

in  /.  Ami  of  „ 

diuerse  periu      of  Qother  mannes  bed.  thurgh"  which  /  tho  that  whilom 
Auowt»-ie  weren  o  flessfi  abawndone  hir  bodyes  to  othcre  persones 

[875]  H  Of  this  synne  /  as  seith  the  wise  man  folwen 
manye  harmes  U  ffirsf  brekynge  of  feith.  and  certes.  in 
feith  is  the  keye  of  Cristendom.  [876]  and  whan  that 
feith  is  broken  and  lorn,  soothly  Cristendom  stant 
H  HOW  in  veyn  and  with-outen  fruyf  [877]  H  This  synne  is  eek1  a 

hefte  thefte.  for  thefte  generally  is  for  to  reue  a  wight1  his  thyng 


agayns  his  wille  [878]  H  Certes  /  this  is  the  fouleste  thefte 
that  may  be.  whan  a  womman  /  steleth  hir  body  from 
hir  housbonde  and  yeueth  it  to  hire  holour  to  defoulen 
hire  ./  and  steleth  hir  soule  fro  Crist  /  and  yeueth  if  to 
the  deuel.  [879]  this  is  a  fouler  thefte.  than  for  to  breke  a 
chirche  and  stele  the  chalice  ||.  for  thise  Auowtiers 
breken  the  temple  of  god  spiritually  and  stelen  the  vessel 
of  grace,  that  is  the  body  and  the  soule.  for  which  Crist 
U  sanctm  Pauius  shal  destroyen  hem.  as  seith  Seiut  Paul  [880]  H  Soothly 
U  Note  do  of  this  thefte  douted  gretly  Joseph,  whan  that  his  lordes 
wyf  preyed  hym  of  vileynye.  whan  he  seyde.  lo  my  lady. 
how  my  lord  hath  take  to  me  vnder  my  warde  al  that  he 
hath  in  this  world,  ne  no  thyng1  of  hise  thynges  is  out1  of 
my  power/  but  oonly  /  ye  that  been  his  wyf.  [88  1]  And 
how  sholde  I  thanne  do  this  wikkednesse  and  synne  so 
horrible  agayns  god  /  and  agayns  my  lord  ?  god  it  forbeede. 
Alias  al  to  liteL  is  swich  trouthe  now  y-founde  [882]  H  The 
thridde  harm,  is  the  filthe  /  thurgh  which  they  breken 
the  comandement  of  god.  and  defoulen  the  Actour  of 
matrimoyne  fat  is  Crist/.  [883]  ffor  certes  /  in  so  muche 
as  the  sacrernent  of  mariage  is  so  noble  and  so  digne.  so 
muche  is  it  gretter  synne  for  to  breken  if.  for  god 
made  mariage  in  Paradys  in  the  estaat  of  Innocence  to 
multiplye  man  kynde  to  the  sendee  of  god.  [884]  and 
therfore.  is  the  brekynge  moore  greuous.  of  which 
brekynge  comen  false  heires  ofte  tyme  that  wrongfully 
ocupien  folkes  heritages.  And  therfore  /  wol  Crist  putte 

ELLESMERE   660   (6-T.  664) 


665    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   601 

hem  out  of  the  regne  of  heuene  that  is  heritage  to  goode 

folk  [885]  11  Of  this  brekynge  comth  eek  ofte  tyme.  that 

folk  vnwar  /  wedden  or  synnen  with  hire  owene  kynrede. 

and  namely  /  thilke  harlottes  that  haunten  bordels  of  thise 

fool  wojftmen.  that  mowe  be  likned  to  a  commune  gonge 

where  as  men  purgen  hire  ordure  [886]  11  "What  seye  we 

eek  of  Putours  fat  lyuen  by  the  horrible  synne  of  putrie.  ifOfputourstimt 

and  constreyne  wowmen  to  yelden  to  hem  a  certeyn  rente  puterye  of 

of  hire  bodily  puterie.  ye  somtyme  of  his  oweno  wyf/  or 

his  child,  as  doon  this  bawdes  /  certes  /  thise  been  cursede 

synnes  [887]  H  Vnderstoond  eek  /  that  Auowtrie  is  set 

gladly  in  the  ten  comandementz  bitwixe  thefte  and  man- 

slaughtre.  for  it  is  /  the  gretteste  thefte  that  may  be.  for  it 

is  thefte  of  body  and  of  soule.  [888]  and  it  is  lyk  to 

homycide.  for  it  kerueth  atwo  and  breketh  atwo  /  hem  / 

that  first  were  maked  o  flessfi.  and  therfore  /  by  the  oldo 

lawe  of  god  they  sholde  be  slayu.  [889]  but  nathelees  by 

the  lawe  of  Ihesu  crisf  that  is  lawe  of  pitee.  whan  ho 

seyde  to  the  1womman  that  was  founden  in  Auowtrie. 

and  sholde  han  been  slayn  with  stones,  after  the  wyl  of  the 

lewes  as  was  hir  lawe.  Go  quod  Ihesn  crist1  and  haue  na- 

moore  wyl  to   synne.  or  wille   namoore   to  do  synne  || 

[890]  Soothly  /  the  vengeance  of  Auowfe-ie   is   awarded 

to  the  peynes  of  helle  but  if  so  be  /  that  it  be  destourbed 

by  penitence  [891]  Yet  been  ther  mo  speces  of  this  cursed 

synne.  as  whan  that  oon  of  hem  is  religious,  or  elles  bothe.  for  Religions 

„...  .  and  ortlred  folk/ 

or  ot  tolk  /  that  been  entred  in-to   ordre.  as   subdekne  that  vsen 

,          ..    ,.  lecchurya 

or  preesf  or  hospitallers,  and  euere  the  hyer  that 
he  is  in  ordre.  the  gretter  is  the  synne  [892]  H  The 
thynges  that  gretly  agreggen  hire  synne.  is  the  brekyngo 
of  hire  Auow  of  chastitee.  whan  they  receyued  the  ordre  ||. 
[893]  And  forther  ouer  sooth  is  that  hooly  ordre.  is  chief* 
of  al  the  tresorie  of  god.  and  his  especial  signe  and  mark 
of  chastitee.  to  shewe  that  they  been  ioyned  to  chastitee 
which  that  is  moost  precious  lyf  that  is  /.  [894]  And 
thise  ordred  folk1  been  specially  titled  to  god  /  and  of  the 

ELLESMERE    6C1    (6-T.  665)        [' leaf  231,  back] 


G66    SIX-TEXT 

662   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

special  meignee  of  god.  for  which  /  whan  they  doon  deedly 
synne.  they  been  /  the  special  traytours  of  god  and  of  his 
peple.  for  they  lyuen  of  the  peple  ||.  [ 

.  no  gap  in  the  MS.]  [895]  Preestes  been  Aungelcs.  as  by 
the  dignitee  of  hir  mysterye  /.  but  for  sothe  /  seint  Paul 
seith  /.  that  Sathanas  transformeth  hym  in  an  Aungel  of 
light.  /  [896]  Soothly  /  the  preest1  that1  haunteth  deedly 
synne.  he  may  be  likned  to  the  Aungel  of  derknesse 
transformed  in  the  Aungel  of  light  /.  he  semeth  Aungel 
of  light1,  but  for  sothe  /  he  is  Aungel  of  derknesse 
p  jiret  Belie]  [897]  H  swiche  preestes  been  the  sones  of  1Helie.  as 

H  i»  Hbro  Regujn  sheweth  in  the  book  of  Kynges.  that  they  weren  the 
sones  of  Belial,  that  is  the  deuel  ||.  [898]  Belial  is  to  seyn  / 
with-outen  luge,  and  so  faren  they  /  hem  thynketh 
they  been  free  and  ban  no  luge,  namoore  than  hath  a  free 
bolo  that  taketh  /  which  Cow  that  hym  liketh  in  the 
town.  [899]  so  faren  they  by  wommen.  /  ffor  right  as  a 
free  bole,  is  ynough  for  al  a  toun.  right  so  is  a  wikked 
preest1  corrupcion  ynough  for  al  a  parisshe.  or  for  al  a 
contree  ||.  [900]  Thise  preestes  as  seith  the  book  /  no 
konne  nat  the  mysterie  of  preesthode  to  the  peple.  no  god 
ne  knowe  they  nat1.  they  ne  holde  hem  nat  apayd  as  seith 
the  book1  of  soden  flessh"  that  was  to  hem  offred  /  but  they 
tooke  by  force  /  the  flessh  that  is  rawe  [901]  H  Certes  /  so 
thise  shrewes  /  ne  holden  hem  nat  apayed  of  roosted  flessh 
and  sode  flessh".  with  which  the  peple  /  fedden  hem  in. 
greet  reuerence.  but  they  wole  haue  raw  flessh"  of  folkes 

f  Negate  &  wyues  and  hir  doghtres.  /  [902]  And  certes  /  thise 
wow  men  that  consenten  to  hire  harlotrie  /  doon  greet 
wrong1  to  Crist1  and  to  hooly  chirche  /  and  alle  halwes.  and 
to  alle  soules.  for  they  bireuen  alle  thise.  hym  that  sholde 
worshipe  Crist1  and  hooly  chirche  And  preye  for  cristene 
soules  ||.  [903]  And  therfore  ban  swiche  preestes  and  hire 
lemmanes  eek1  that  consenten  to  hir  leccherie  the  malison 
of  al  the  cotirt  cristiene.  til  they  come  to  amendement 

ELLESMERE    662    (6-T.  666) 


CG7    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.    PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   663 

[004!  The  thridde  spece  of  Auowtrie  /  is  som  tyme  bitwise  f  or  Auowtnc  / 

L7       J  .  bitwixeaman 

a  man  and  his  wyf1  and  that  is  whan  they  take  no  reward  and  MS  wyf/ 

in  hire  assemblynge.  but  oonly  to  hire  flessfily  delit  /.  as 

seith  seintf  lerome.  [905]  And  ne  rekken  of  no  thyng1  but  1  ieronhn«w 

that  they  been  assembled,  by  cause  that  they  been  maried 

al  is  good  ynougfi  as  thynketh  to  hem.  [906]  but  in  swich 

folk1  hath  the  deuel  power  /  as  seyde  the  Aungel  Raphael  t  Angei«3 

Raphael  ad 

to  Thobie.  for  in  hire  assemblynge  /  they  putten  Ihesu  Thobia>» 

crisf  out  of  hire  herte.  and  yeuen  hem  self  to  alle  ordure 

[907]  The  fourthe  spece  is.  the  assemblee  of  hem  that  been  T  ortheaspem- 

L7       J  bleeofhem/ 

lof  hire  kynrede.  or  of  hem  /  that  been  of  oon  afiynytee.  or  that/  been  ofo 

kynrede 

elles  with  hem  with  whiche  hir  fadres  /  or  hir  kynrede  / 
han  deled  in  the  synne  of  lecherie  /  this  synne  /  maketh 
hem  lyk  to  houndes  that  taken  no  kepe  to  kynrede  f  or  kynrede  in 

two  maneres  / 

[908]  If  And  ceries  parentele  is  in  two  maneres  /  outher  outher  goostly  / 

or  flesshely 

goostly  or  flesshly  /.  goostly  /  as  for  to  deelen  with  hise 
godsibbes.  [909]  for  right  so  as  he  that  engendreth  a  child  / 
is  his  flesshly  fader  /  right  so  is  his  godfader  /  his  fader 
espiritueel.  for  which  /  a  wowman  may  in  no  lasse  synne 
assemblen  with  hire  godsib/  than  with  hire  owene  flesshly 
brother  [910]  The  fifthe  spece.  is  thilke  abhomynable  ir  The  .v«.  speche 

ofleccherie 

synne.  of  which  /  that  no  man  vnnethe  oghte  speke  ne 
write,  nathelees  /  it  is  openly  reherced  in  holy  writ  || 
[911]  This  cursednesse  doon  men  and  wommen  in  diuerse 
entente  and  in  diuerse  manere.  but  though"  that  hooly  writ 
speke  of  horrible  synne.  certes  /  hooly  writ1  may  nat  been 
defouled.  namoore  /  than  the  sonne  that1  shyneth  on  the 
Mixne  [912]  Another  synne  aperteneth  to  leccherie  that  f  or  the  synne  of 

-  ,        ,    .  PolUCiOKll 

comj)  in  slepynge.  and  this  synne  cometh  ofte  /  to  hem 
that  been  maydenes  /  and  eek/  to  hem  that  been  corrupt1, 
and  this  synne  men  clepen  Polucion  that  comth  in  .iij. 
maneres  ||.  [913]  Somtyme  /  of  langwissynge  of  body  /  for 
the  humoz<rs  been  to  ranke  /  and  habundaunf  in  the  body 
of  man  It  Somtyme  of  infermetee.  for  the  fieblesse  of  the 
vertu  retentif*.  as  phisik  maketh  mencion  If  som  tyme  for 
surfeef  of  mete  and  drynke  [914]  If  And  somtyme  /  of 

47  ELLESMERE    663    (6-T.  667)  P  leaf  232] 


C68   SIX-TEXT 

C64   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

vileyns  thoghtes.  that  been  enclosed  in  mannes  mynde  / 
whan  he  gooth  to  slepe.  which  may  nat  been  with-oute 
synne.  for  which  men  moste  kepen  hem  wisely,  or  elles  / 
may  men  synnen  ful  greously 

TT  Remedium  contra  peccatum  luxurie  fa 

AT  [915] 

%^  Ow  comth  the  remedie  agayns  leccherie.  and  that 
-L  i  is  generally  Chastitee  and  Continence,  that  re- 
streyneth  alle  /  the  desordeynee  moeuynges  /  that  comen 
of  flesshly  talentes.  [916]  And  euere  /  the  gretter  merite 
shal  he  han.  that  moost  restreyneth  the  wikkede  eschaw- 
t  of  chastitee  in  fynges  of  the  ordure  of  this  synne.  and  this  is  in  two 

two  maneres 

maneres.  that  is  to  seyn  /  chastitee  in  manage  and  chastitee 

of    widwehode    [917]    NOw   shaltow    vnderstonde    that 

nwhatmatri.     matrimoyne  /  is   leefful    assemblynge   of    man   And    of 

moyue  is 

woT/zman  /  that  receyuen  by  vertu  of  the  sacrement1  the 
boond*.  thurgfi  which  they  may  nat  be  departed  in  al  hir 
lyf1  that  is  to  seyn.  whil  that  they  lyuen  bothe 
[918]  This  as  seith  the  book/  is  a  ful  greet  sacrement1. 
god  maked  if.  as  I  haue  seyd  in  Paradys.  and  wolde  hym 
self1,  be  born  in  mariage.  [919]  and  for  to  halwen  manage, 
he  was  at  a  weddynge.  where  as  he  turned  water  in  to 
wyn.  which  was  /  the  firste  miracle  that  he  wroghte  in 

f  or  trewe  effect/ erthe  biforn  hise  disciples  [920]  U  Trewe  effect1  of 
mariage  /  clenseth  fornicacion  and  replenysseth  hooly 
chirche  of  good  lynage.  for  that  is  the  ende  of  mariage. 
and  it  chaungeth  deedly  synne  in  to  venial  synne  /  bitwixe 
hem  that  been  ywedded.  and  maketh  the  hertes  al  oon  / 
of  hem  that  been  ywedded.  as  wel  as  the  bodies. 
[921]  verray  mariage.  that  was  establissed  by 
god.  er  that  synne  bigan.  whan  natureel  lawe  /  was  in  his 

t  HOW  o  man      right  poynt1  in  Paradys  and  it  was  ordeyned.  that  o  man  / 

sholde  haue  but  , 

o  womman.         sholde  haue  but  o  wo7ttman.  and  o.  womman  but  o  man. 

And  o  womman 

but  o  ma»»  in       as  seith  Seuit  Augustyn  by  manye  resons 

mariage  secun-  r          -,  _   „          „  .  •     r>  111  -L     •         /~t  •  jj         j 

dum  Augusu-  L922J  "  mrs^  ^or  manage  ls  ngured  /  bitwixe  Onstr  ana 

uum  , 

ELLESMERE    664   (6-T. 


669    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   G65 

holy  chirche.  And  that  oother  is  xfor  a  man  /  is  heued  of 
a  wowzman.  algate  /  by  ordinaunce  it  sholde  be  so. 
[923]  ffor  if  a  womman  /  hadde  no  men  than  oon.  thanne 
sholde  she  haue  /  moo  heuedes  than  oon.  and  that  were  an 
horrible  thyng<  biforn  god.  and  eek  /  a  wofwman  /  ne 
mygfite  nat  plese  to  many  folk  /  at  oones.  /  And  also  / 
ther  ne  sholde  neuere  be  pees  ne  reste  amonges  hem.  for 
euerich  /  wolde  /  axen  his  owene  thyng  [924]  H  And 
forther  ouer  /  no  man  ne  sholde  knowe  /  his  owene  en- 
gendrure.  ne  who  sholde  haue  his  heritage,  and  the 
womman  sholde  been  the  lasse  biloued  /  fro  the  tyme  that 
she  were  /  conioynt  to  many  men 

\Q2<\  NOw  comth  /  how  that  a  man  sholde  bere  hym  i  HOW  a  man 

sholde  bere  him 

with  his  wif  /  and  namely  in  two  thynges.  that  is  to  wttfebfew/fl 
seyn  /  in  suffrance  and  reuerence  as  shewed  Crist1, 
whan  he  made  first  womman.  [926]  ffor  he  ne  made  hire 
nat*  of  the  heued  of  Adam,  for  she  sholde  nat  clayme  to 
greet  lordshipe  [927]  for  ther  as  the  womman  hath  the 
maistrie  /  she  maketh  to  muche  desray  /  ther  neden  none 
ensamples  of  this,  the  experience  of  day  by  day 
oghte  suffi.se  [928]  U  Also  certes  /  god  ne  made  nat 
womman  of  the  foot  of  Adam  /  for  she  ne  sholde  nat  been 
holden  to  lowe.  for  she  kan  nat  paciently  suffre.  but  god 
made  womman  of  the  ryb  of  Adam,  for  womman  sholde 
be  felawe  vn-to  man  [929]  Man  sholde  bere  hym  to  his 
wyf1  In  feith  /  in  trouthe  /  and  in  loue  /  as  seith  seint  f  sanctna 
Paul  that  a  man  sholde  louen  his  wyf  /  as  Crist  loued 
hooly  chirche  /.  that  loued  it  so  wel  /  that  he  deyde  for  if. 
so  sholde  a  man  for  his  wy[f]  if  it  were  nede 

[930]  U  No  w  /how  that  a  womman  /  sholde  be  subget1  f  HOW  a 
to  hire  housbonde  that  telleth  seint  Peter,  ffirsfr  in  Obedi-  be  subget  to  Mr 
ence  [931]  II  And  eek  /  as  seith  the  decree.  A  womman  that  eecundum  petnm 

»/  i  i         .  j?;i-L.L-L  *  decret»»» 

is  wyf  /  as  longe  as  she  is  a  wyf  /  she  hath  noon 
Auctoritee  to  swere  ne  bere  witnesse  /  with-oute  leue  of 
hir  housbonde.  that  is  hire  lord  /  algate  /  he  sholde  be  so 
by  reson  [932]  IT  She  sholde  eek/  semen  hym  in  alle 

ELLESMERE   665    (6-T.  669)        C1  leaf  232,  back] 


If  Note  secun- 
iln.m  sanctum 
leroniinum 


T  Soncius 
Gregorius 


T  How  a  wyf 
sholde  be  mesnr- 
able  in  lookynge 
&  i»  berynge 
Sicetera 


If  How  a  man  & 
his  wyf/  mowen 
assemblen 
flesshely  for  .iij. 
tliynges 


In  decreto 


670   SIX-TEXT 

•666    GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

honestee.  and  been  attempree  of  hire  array  /.  I  woof  wel/ 
that  they  sholde  setten  hire  entente  to  plesen  hir  hous- 
bondes  but  nat1  by  hire  queyntise  of  array  [933]  IT  Seint 
Jerome  seith  /  that  wyues  /  that  been  apparailled  in  silk/  and 
in  precious  purpre.  ne  mowe  nat  clothen  hem  in  Ihesn 
Crist1.  /  What  seith  seint  Io£n  eek  /  in  thys  matere?!) 
[934]  Seint  Gregorie  eek  seith.  that  no  wight1  seketh 
precious  array,  but  oonly  for  veyne  glorie  /  to  been 
honoured  the  moore  /  biforn  the  peple  ||.  [935]  It  is  a  greet 
folye  /.  a  womman  to  haue  a  fair  array  outward!  /  and  in 
hir  self  /  foul  inward!  [936]  U  A  wyf  /  sholde  eek  be 
mesurable  in  lookynge  and  in  berynge  and  in  lawghynge  / 
and  discreet1  in  alle  hire  wordes  /  and  hire  dedes.  [937]  and 
abouen  alle  worldly  thyng*  she  sholde  louen  hire  housbonde 
with  al  hire  herte.  and  to  hym  /  be  trewe  of  hir  body 
[938]  U  so  sholde  an  housbonde  eek1  be  to  his  wyf  /. 
ffor  sith  that/  al  the  body  /  is  the  housbondes.  so  sholde 
hire  herte  been,  or  elles  /  ther  is  bitwixe  hem  two.  as  in 
that1  no  parfit  mariage  [939]  Thanne  shal  men  vnder- 
stonde.  that  for  thre  thynges  /  a  man  and  his  wyf1  flesshly 
mowen  assemble  ||  II  The  firste.  is  in  entente  of  engen- 
drure  of  children,  to  the  seraice  of  god.  ffor  certes  /  that  is 
the  cause  final  of  matrimoyne  [940]  U  Another  cause  is.  to 
yelden  euerich  of  hem  to  oother  /  the  dette  of  hire  bodies, 
ffor  neither  of  hem  /  hath  power  ouer  his  owene  body  / 
Tf  The  thridde  is.  for  to  eschewe  leccherye  and  vileynye 
U  The  ferthe  /  is  for  sothe  deedly  synne  [941]  As  to  the 
1  firste  /  it  is  meritorie  /.  the  seconde  also  /  for  as  seith  the 
decree,  that  she  hath  [merite  of  chastitee]  fat  yeldeth  to 
hire  housbonde  the  dette  of  hir  body,  ye  though"  it  be 
agayn  hir  likynge  and  the  lust  of  hire  herte  [942]  U  The 
thridde  manere  is  venyal  synne.  and  trewely  scarsly  may 
ther  any  [of]  thise  be  wttA-oute  venial  synne  /  for  the 
corrupcion)  and  for  the  delit  /  [943]  H  The  fourthe 
manere  is  for  to  vnderstonde.  if  they  assemble  oonly  for 
amorous  loue  /  and  for  noon  of  the  foreseyde  causes,  but 

ELLESMERE    666    (6-T.  670)  [>  leaf  233] 


671    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   667 

for  to  accomplice  thilke  brennynge  delit  /  they  rekke 
neuere  how  ofte.  soothly  it  is  deedly  synne.  and  yet  with 
sorwe  somme  folk  \vol  peynen  hem  moore  to  doon  /  than 
to  hire  appetit  suffiseth 

[944]  The  seconde  manere  of  chastitee  /  is  for  to  been  irof  chastitee  in 
a  clene  wydewe  and  eschue  the  embracynges  of  man 
and  desiren  the  embracynge  of  Ihesu  crisf.  [945]  thise 
been  tho  fat  han  been  wyues  and  han  forgoon  hire  hous- 
bondes.  and  eek  wommen  fat  han  doon  leccherie  and  been 
releeued  by  Penitence  [946]  If  And  certes.  if  fat  a  wyf 
koude  kepen  hire  al  chaastt  by  licence  of  hir  housbonde  so 
fat  she  yeue  neuere  noon  occasion  fat  he  agilte.  it 
were  to  hire  a  greet  merite  [947]  IT  Thise  manere 

woramen  fat  obseruen  chastitee  [. 

v    t no  gap  in  the  MS.~]  in  clothynge 

and  in  contenance  /  &  been  abstinent  in  etynge.  and 
drynkynge.  in  spekynge  /  and  in  dede.  they  been  the 
ressel  /  or  the  boyste  of  the  blissed  Magdelene  /  fat 
fulfilleth  hooly  chirche  of  good  odour  [948]  The  thridde  f  of  chastitee  in. 

virginitee 

manere  of  chastitee  is  virginitee.  and  it  bihoueth  fat  she 
be  hooly  in  herte  and  clene  of  body  /  thanne  is  she 
spouse  to  Ihesu  cn'sf  and  she  is  the  lyf  of  Angeles. 
[949]  she  is  the  preisynge  of  this  world,  and  she  is  as 
thise  martirs  in  egalitee.  she  hath  in  hire,  that  tonge  may 
nat  telle  ne  herte  thynke  ||.  [950]  Virginitee  baar  oure  lord 
Ihesu  crist?  and  virgine  was  hym  selue 

[951]  Another  remedie  agayns  leccherie.  is  specially  /  T  or  another 

.,,    ,  •   i      j/i  .  remedie  agayns 

to  witndrawen  swicne  thynges  /  as  yeue  occasion  to  thilke  leceherye 
vileynye.  as  ese.  etynge  and  drynkynge  /  for  certes  /  whan 
the  pofr  boyleth  strongly  /.  the  beste  remedie  is  to  with- 
drawe   the  fyr  [952]  1f  Slepynge.  longe  in  greet  quiete. 
is  eek  a  greet  norice  to  leccherie 

[953]  11  Another  remedie  agayns  leccherie.  is  /fat  at  Another 

,  ,  remedie  agayus 

man  or  a  womman  eschue   the   compaignye  of  hem   by  leccherie 
whiche  he  douteth  to  be  tempted,  for  al  be  it  so  fat  the 
dede   is   withstonden.    yet    is    ther   greet    teniptacion   |j. 

ELLESMERE    667    (6-T.  67l) 


672    SIX-TEXT 

6G8    GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

[954]  Soothly.  a  whit  wal.  al-though  it  ne  brenne  noght 
fully  by  stikynge  of  a  candele.  yet  is  the  wal  blak  of  the 
leyf.  [955]  U  fful  ofte  tyme  I  rede.  fat  no  man  truste  in 
his  owene  perfeccion  but  he  be  stronger  than  Sampson).  & 
hoolier  than  Danyel.  &  wiser  ihan  Salomon 

[956]  II  Now  after  fat  I  haue  declared  yow  as  I  kan 
the  seuene  deedly  synnes  and  sowme  of  hire  brauwches  and 
hire  remedies  f  soothly  if  .1.  koude  .1.  wolde  telle  yow  the 
ten  comandementz.  [95  7]  but  so  heigh"  a  doctn'ne  I  lete  to 
diuines.  nathelees  I  hope  to  god.  they  been  touched  in  this 
tretice  euerich  of  hem  alle 


[958] 
"~ 


Sequitw  secvmda  pars  Penitencie 


What  synne  i»» 

fcunilum 

AuguBtinuM 


T  ffpmoran&um 
more  introuit/ 
per  fenestras 

•f  Of  thynges  pat 
Bgrejrgeth  synne. 
nnd  the  firste  is 
thta 


[959] 


T  The  .ij  *> 

rircuiii!it..itnce 


t  The  .iij.<le 
cirruinstaunce 


w  for  as  muche.  as  the  second  partie  of  Penitence. 
stanf  in  Confession  of  mouth  /  as  I  bigan  in  the 
firste  Chapitre  /  I  seye.  seint  Augustyn  seith 
Synne  is  euery  word  and  euery  dede.  and  al  fat 
men  coueiten  agayn  the  lawe  of  Thesu.  crist1.  and  this  is 
for  to  synne.  in  herte.  in  mouth",  and  in  dede  by  thy  fiue 
wittes.  that  been,  sighte.  herynge.  smellynge.  tastynge  / 
or  sauourynge.  and  feelyngef  [960]  Now  is  it  good  to 
vnderstonde  that1,  fat  agreggeth  muchel  1  euery  synne 
[961]  H  Thow  shalt  considere  /  what  thow  art  fat  doost 
the  synne  /  wheither  thou  be  male  or  femele.  yong/  or 
oold.  gentil  or  thral.  free  /  or  seruanf.  hool  /  or  syk*. 
wedded  or  sengle.  ordred  /  or  vnordred.  wys  or  /  fool. 
clerk  /  or  seculeer.  [962]  if  she  be  of  thy  kynrede  /  bodily 
or  goostly  or  noon  /  if  any  of  thy  kynrede  haue  synned 
w-/t7i  hire  or  noon  /.  and  manye  mo  thinges 

[963]  U  Another  circunzstauwce  is  this,  wheither  it  be 
doon  in  fornicacion  or  in  Auowtrie  or  noon  /  Incest*  or 
noon  /.  mayden  or  noon,  in  manere  of  homicide  /  or  noon. 
horrible  grete  synnes  /  or  smale.  and  how  longe  thou  hast 
continued  in  synne  [964]  51  The  thridde  circumstance  /  is 
the  place  /  ther  thou  hast  do  synne.  wheither  in  oother 

ELLESMEEE    668    (C-T.  672)        ['  leaf  233,  back] 


673   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   669 

me?mes  hous  /  or  in  thyn  owene.  in  feeld  or  in  ehirche  / 
or    in    chirchehaw&    in    ehirche    dedicaat    /    or    noon. 
[965]  for  if  the  ehirche  be  halwed.  and  man  or  womman 
spille  his  kynde  in  with  that  place  by  wey  of  synne  or  by 
wikked  temptacion  /  the  ehirche  is  entredited  [.     .     .     . 

.     .......     no  gap  in  the  MS.]  [966]  and  the 

preest  fat  dide  swich  a  vileynye.  to  terme  of  al  his  lif/  he 
sholde  namoore  synge  masse,  and  if  he  dide.  he  sholde 
doon  deedly  synne  /  at  euery  time  fat  he  so  songe  masse  / 
[967]  U  The  fourthe  circumstance  is.  by  whiche  mediat-  1  The.uij.« 

cireuinstaunce 

ours  /  or  by  whiche  messagers  /  as  for  enticement1  or  for 
cowsentementt  to  bere  compaignye  vtiih  felaweshipe.  for 
many  a  wrecche  for  to  bere  compaignye  shal  go  to  the 
deuel  of  helle.  [968]  wher-fore  /  they  fat  eggen  or  con- 
senten  to  the  synne  /  been  parteners  of  the  synne  /  and 
of  the  temptacion  of  the  synnere. 

[969]  U  The  fifthe  circumstance,  is  /  how  manye  tymes  f  The.v.« 
fat  he  hath  synned  /  if  it  be  in  his  mynde  /  and  how  ofte 
fat  he  hath  falle.  [970]  for  he  fat  ofte  falleth  in  synne. 
he  despiseth  the  mercy  of  god  and  encreesseth  hys  synne 
and  is  vnkynde  to  cn'st1.  and  he  wexeth  the  moore  fieble 
to  withskmde  synne  and  synneth  the  moore  lightly  / 
[971]  and  the  latter  ariseth  /  and  is  the  moore  eschew  for 
to  shryuen  hym  /  namely  /  to  hym  fat  is  his  Con- 
fessour  /  [972]  ffor  which  that  folk  /  whan  they  falle  agayn 
in  Mr  olde  folies.  outher  they  forleten  hir  olde  confessours 
al  outrely.  or  elles  they  departen  hir  shrift1  in  diuerse 
places,  but  soothly  /  swich  departed  shrift1  deserueth  no 
mercy  of  god  of  hise  synnes  [973]  H  The  sixte  circum- 


i    •          i         ,     ,  ji  i  •        circumstawnce 

stance  /  is  why  fat  a  man  synneth  as  by  temptacion 
and  if  hym  self  procure  thilke  temptacion  /  or  by  the  ex- 
citynge  of  oother  folk*,  or  if  he  synne  -with  a  womman  by 
force  /  or  by  hire  owene  assent1.  [974]  or  if  the  womman 
maugree  hir  hed  hath  been  afforced  or  noon  /  this 
shal  she  telle.  ffor  coueitise  /  or  for  pouerte.  and 
if  it  was  hire  procurynge  or  noon  /  and  swiche  manere 

ELLESMERE    669   (6-T.  673) 


674    SIX-TEXT 

670    GROUP  I.    §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   EHesmere  MS. 

The.vij.-  harneys  [975]  U  The  seuenthe  circumtance  /  is  /  in  what 

circuuistaunce 

manere  he  hath  doon  his  synne  /  or  how  fat  she  hath 
suffred  fat  folk  han  doon  to  hire.  [976]  And  the  same  shal 
the  man  telle  pleynly  with  alle  circumstances,  and  wheither 
he  hath  synned  Vfitk  comune  bordel  wommen  or  noon. 
[977]  or  doon  his  synne  in  hooly  tymes  or  noon,  in  fast- 
ynge  tymes  or  noon,  or  biforn  hia  shrifte.  or  after  his  latter 
shrifte.  [978]  and  hath  per  auenture  /  broken  ther-fore  his 
penance  enioyned.  by  whos  helpe  and  whos  conseil.  by 
sorcerie  or  craft1,  al  moste  be  toold  [979]  H  Alia  thise 
thynges.  after  fat  they  been  grete  or  smale  engreggen  the 
conscience  of  man.  And  eek  the  preesf  fat  is 
thy  luge  may  the  bettre  been  auysed  of  his  luggement1  in 
yeuynge  of  thy  penance  and  that  is  after  thy  cowtricion  || 
[980]  fibr  vnderstond  wel  fat  after  tyme  fat  a  man 
hath  defouled  his  'baptesme  by  synne.  if  he  wole  come  to 
1saluacio?m.  ther  is  noon  other  wey  /  but  by  penitence  /  and 
shrifte  and  satisfacciown  [981]  and  namely  by  the  two 
if  ther  be  a  confessour  /  to  which  he  may  shriuen  hym  / 
and  the  thridde  if  he  haue  lyf  to  parfo?<?-nen  it 

[982]  Thanne  shal  man  looke  and  considere  /  fat  if  he 

wole  maken  a   trewe  and   a  profitable   cowfessiozrn  ther 

t  HOW  shrift       moste  be  .iiij.  condicions  [983]  U  ffirst1  it  moot  been  in 

moot  been  . 

sorwefui  sorweful  bittemesse  of  herte.  as  seyde  the  kyng  Ezechiel  to 

f  Notadeeon-  . 

fcssione  Regis      god  /.  I  wol  remerabre  me  alle  the  yeres  ol  my  m  in 
T  HOW  oo*.        bittemesse  of  myn  herte  /.  [984]  this  condicion  of  bitter- 

fcssioHn  moste  be  _.    _,         „      .        .       ,    .  «       .    _ 

sbamefast/  nesse  hath  fyue  signes  U  The  firste  is  /  fat  confession 
moste  be  shamefast;.  nat  for  to  couere  ne  hyden  his  synne  / 
for  he  hath  agilt  his  god  and  defouled  his  soule  /. 

fsa«c<u3          [985]    And  ther-of    seith   seint   Augustyn    H   the  herte 

Augustinuj. 

trauailleth  for  shame  of  his  synne  /  and  for  he  hath  greet 

shamefastnesse  /  he  is  digne  to  haue  greet  mercy  of  god 

Nota  de  con-        [086!  ^1  Swich  was  the  co?ifession  of   the    Puplican    bat 

fe-sioiie  Publi-        Ly       J  r 

cani  vrolde  nat  heuen  vp  hise  eyen  to  heuene  /  for  he  hadde 

offended  god  of  heuene  /  for  which  sbamefastnesse/  he 
hadde  anon  the  mercy  of  god  [987]  U  And  ther-of  seith 

KLLESMEHE    670    (6-T.  674,)  D  leaf  234] 


675    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   EUesmere  MS.    671 

seint  Augustyn  /.  that  swich  shamefast  folk  /  been  next 
foryeuenesse    and    remission    [988]   Another    signe   /  is 

.  in  confessio«u 

humylitee  in  confessiouw.  of  which   seith   seint  Peter  /  vnde  sowctus 

Humbleth  yow  vnder  the  mygfit  of  god.  the  hond  of  god 

is  myghty  in  confession,  for  ther-by  /  god  foryeueth  thee 

thy  synnes.  for  he  allone  hath  the  power  /  [989]  &  this 

humylitee   shal  been  in  herte  and  in  signe  outward,  for 

right  as  he  hath  humylitee  to  god  in  his  herte  f  right  so 

sholde  he  humble  his  body  outward  to  the  preest/  fat  sit 

in  goddes  place.  [990]  ffor  which  in  no  manere  sith  fat 

cn'st  is  souereyn  and  the  preest  meene  and  mediatour  bi- 

twixe  crist  and  the  synnere.  and  the  synnere  is  the  laste. 

by  wey  of  reson  [991]  thanne  sholde  nat  the  synnere  sitte 

as  heigfee  as  his  confessour/  but  knele  biforn  hym  /  or  at 

his  feef  but  if  maladie  destourbe  it  /.  ffor  he  shal  nat  taken 

kepe.  who  sit  there  /  but  in  whos  place  fat  he  sitteth  ||. 

[992]  A  man  fat  hath  trespased  to  a  lord  and  comth  for  to 

axe  mercy  and  maken  his  accord?,  and  set  him  doun  anon 

by  the  lord  /  men  wolde  holden  hym  outrageous  and  'nat 

worthy  so  soone  for  to  haue  remission  ne  mercy  [993]  U  The 

thridde  signe  is.  how  fat  thy  shrift1  sholde  be  ful  of  teeris  if  f  HOW  a  mannea 

shrift/  sholde  be 

man  may  /  and  if  man  may  nat  wepe  with  hise  bodily  eyen  /  ful  of  teeris 
lat  hym  wepe  in  herte/.   [994]  Swich  was  the  confession  f  No*a  de  con- 
of  seint  Peter/  for  after  fat  he  hadde  forsake  Ihesu  crist/  Petri  / 
he  wente  out1  and  weepe  ful  bitterly  [995]  U  The  fourthe  f  HOW  a  man 

sholde  nat  lette 

signe  is  /   fat   he  ne    lette   nat   for   shame   to   shewen  for  shame  to 
his  confession  [996]  U  swich  was  the  confession  of  the  fessio«u 
Magdelene  /  fat  ne  spared  for  no  shame  of  hem  fat  weren  fession"  Ma^ki" 
atte  feeste  for  to  go  to  cure  lord  Ihesu  crist/  and  biknowe 
to  hym  hire  synnes  [997]  H  The  fifthe  signe  is  /  that  a  man  t  HOW  a  man 

,          ,     .  ,  sholde  been 

or  a  womman  be  obeisant  to  receyuen.  the  penauwce  f  at  obeisawnt  to 

,  ..  j    /?       i_  •  F  -ri  •   ,    t-       receyue  pennmice 

hym  is  enioyned  lor  hise  synnes.  ior  certes  Ihesu  crist  for  for  hise  synnes 
the  giltes  of  a  man  /  was  obedient  to  the  deeth 

[998]  U  The  seconde  con[dicion]  of  verray  confession  /  f  Howconfes- 

.       ,         ..       ,  sioan  sholde  been 

is  /  fat  it  be  hastily  doon.  for  certes  /  if  a  maw  hadde  a  hastily  doon  for 
deedly  wounde  euere  the  lenger  fat  he  taried  to  warissne 

ELLESMERE    671    (6-T.  675) 


67G   SIX-TEXT 

672   GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

hym  self  /  the  moore  wolde  it  corrupte  and  haste  hym  to 
his  deeth  and  eek  the  wounde  /  wolde  he  the  wors  for  to 
heele.  [999]  U  And  right  /  so  fareth  synne  /  fat  longe 
tyme  is  in  a  man  vnshewed  [1000]  H  Certes  a  man  ogftte 
hastily  shewen  hise  synnes  for  manye  causes,  as  for  drede 
of  deeth  fat  cometh  ofte  sodenly.  and  no  certeyn  what 
tyme  it  shal  be  /  ne  in  what  place,  and  eek1  the  drecchynge 
of  o  synne  drawej)  In  another  /  [1001]  and  eek1  the  lenger 
fat  he  tarieth  /  the  ferther  he  is  fro  crist1  xAnd  if  he  abide 
to  his  laste  day  /  scarsly  may  he  shryuen  hym  /  or  re- 
membre  hym  of  hise  synnes  /  or  repenten  hym  /  for  the 
greuous  maladie  of  his  deeth  [1002]  and  for  as  muche  as 
he  ne  hath  nat  in  his  lyf*  herkned  Ihesu  cristf  whanne  he 
hath  spoken,  he  shal  crie  to  Ihesu  crist1  at  his  laste 
day  /  and  scarsly  wol  he  herkne  hym  [1003]  U  And 
vnderstond!  /  that  this  condition  moste  han  foure  thynges 
f  Howamannes  ^  Thi  shrift/  moste  be  pwrueyed  bifore  and  auysed. 

shrift  moste  be 

p»rueyed&  for  wikked  haste  dooth  no  profit/  and  fat  a  man  konne 
shryue  hym  of  hise  synnes  /  be  it  of  pride  or  of  Enuye  and 
so  forth  of  the  speces  and  circumstances.  [1004]  and  fat 
he  haue  comprehended  in  hys  mynde  the  nombre  and  the 
greetnesse  of  hise  synnes.  and  how  longe  fat  he  hath  leyn 
in  synne.  [1005]  and  eek/  fat  he  be  corctrit  of  hise  synnes. 
and  in  stidefast  piwpos  by  the  grace  of  god  neuere  eft1  to 
falle  in  synne.  and  eek/  fat  he  drede  and  countrewaite 
hym  self  /  fat  he  fle  the  occasions  of  synne  to  whiche  he 

f  HOW  a  man      is  enclyned  [1006]  U  Also  /  thou  shalt  shryue  thee  of  alle 

shal  shryue  him 

of  uiie  hise  synnes  thy  synnes  to  o  man  /  and  nat  a  parcel  to  o  man  and 
a  parcel  to  another  /.  that  is  to  vnderstonde  in  entente  / 
to  departe  thy  confession  /  as  for  shame  or  drede.  for  it 
nys  but  stranglynge  of  thy  soule  /.  [1007]  ffor  certes  Ihesu 
crist  is  entierly  al  good  in  hym  nys  noon  inperfeccion.  and 
therfore  /  outher  he  foryeueth  al  parfitly  /  or  neuer  a 
deel  [1008]  11  I  seye  nat1  fat  if  thow  be  assigned  to  the 
Penitancer  for  certein  synne.  fat  thow  art  bounde  to 
shewen  hym  al  the  remenanf  of  thy  synnes.  of  whiche 

ELLESMERE   672   (6-T.  676)       P  leaf  834,  back] 


677   SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   673 

thow  hast  be  shryuen  to  thy  curaaf.  but  if  it  like  to  thee 
of  thyn  humylitee  /.  this  is  no  departynge  of  shrifte. 
[1009]  ne  I  seye  nat1  ther  as  I  speke  of  diuision  of  confes- 
sion /  pat  if  thou  haue  licence  for  to  shryue  thee  to  a  discreet* 
and  an  honeste  preest  /  where  thee  liketfi.  and  by  licence 
of  thy  curaaf.  that  thow  ne  mayst  wel  shryue  thee  to  him 
of  alle  thy  synnes.  [1010]  but  lat  no  blotte  be  bihynde  / 
lat  no  synne  been  vntoold  /  as  fer  as  thow  hast  remem- 
braunce.  [ion]  and  whan  thou  shalt  be  shryuen  to  thy 
curaaf.  telle  hym  eek"  alle  the  synnes  pat  thow  hast  doon  / 
syn  thou  were  last  yshryuen  /  this  is  no  wikked  entente  of 
diuision  of  shrifte 

[1012]  IT  Also  the  verray  shrifte  axeth  certeine  con-  v  HOW  a  man 

sholde  shryue 

dicions  /  IT  ffirst/  fat  thow  shryue  thee  by  thy  free  wil  him  by  ins  free 

nogfit  cowstreyned.  ne  for  shame  of  folk/,  ne  for  maladie.  streyned 

ne  swiche  thynges.  for  it  is  reson  pat  he  pat  trespasseth 

by  his  free  wyl.  that  by  his  free  wyl  /  he  confesse  his 

trespas.  [1013]  and  pat  noon  oother  man  telle  his  synne 

but  he  hym  self,  ne  he  shal  nat  nayte  ne  denye  his  synne. 

ne  wratthe  hym  agayn  the  preesf  for  his   amonestynge 

to  leue  synne  [1014]  U  The  seconde  condicion.  is  bat  thy  IT  HOW  a  mannes 

shrift/ shal  be 

shrift  be  laweful.  that  is  to  seyn  /  that  thow  pat  shryuest  lawemi 

thee  /  and  eek  the  preest1  pat  hereth  thy  confession  been 

verraily  in  the  feith  of  hooly  chirche.   [1015]  and  pat  a 

man  /  ne  be  nat  despeired  of  the  mercy  of  Ihesu  crisf  as 

Caym  or  ludas   [1016]  IT  And  eek  a  man  moot  accusen  f  HOW  a  man 

moot  accusen 

hym  self  /  of  his  owene  trespas  and  nat  another  /  but  he  him  self  /  &  noon 
shal  blame  and  wyten  hym  self/  &  his  owene  malice  of  his  owene  trespa» 
synne  /  and  noon  oother.  [1017]  but  nathelees  /  if  that 
another  man  be  occasion  or  enticere  of  his  synne.  or  the 
estaat  of  a  persone  be  swich  /  thurgh"  which  his  synne  is 
agregged.  or  elles  pat  he  may  nat  pleynly  shryuen  hym  / 
but  he  telle  the  persone  /  wt't/i  which  he  hath  synned. 
thanne  may  he  telle.  [1018]  so  pat  his  entente  /  ne  be  nat/ 
to  bakbite  the  persone  /  but  oonly  to  declaren  his  con- 
fession 

ELLESMEEE    673   (6-T.  677) 


If  How  a  man 
shal  make  no 
leaynget  in  his 
coiifessioun 


T  TXota&emndum 
Augustinunt 


T  How  a  man 
moot  shewe  his 
eynne  /  by  his 
owene  propre 
moutlie 

^f  How  a  man  / 
shal  nat  peynten 
his  confessioun 


T  How  a  man 
shal  shruyen  hym 
to  a  discreet 
preest/ 


51  How  a  man 
shal  nat  reiiue 
sodeynly  to 
thrift*. 


f  Nota  / 


^[  Snncrtis 
Augustinu*. 


678    SIX-TEXT 

674   GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

[1019]  U  Thou  ne  shalt  nat  eek/  make  no  lesynges  in 
thy  confession  /  for  humylitee  per  auenture  /  to  seyn 
fat  thou  hast  doon  synnes  of  whiche  that  thow  were 
neuere  gilty  [1020]  11  ffor  Seint  Augustyn  seith  U  If 
thou  Jby  cause  of  thyn  humylitee  /  makest  lesynges 
on  thy  self  /.  though"  thow  ne  were  nat  in  synne  biforn  / 
yet  artow  thanne  in  synne  thurgh"  thy  lesynges  /  [1021] 
H  Thou  most  eek  shewe  thy  synne  /  by  thyn  owene  prapre 
mouth"  /  but  thow  be  woxe  dowmb  /  and  nat  by  no 
lettre.  for  thow  that  hast  doon  the  synne  thou  shalt  haue 
the  shame  therfore  [1022]  H  Thow  shalt  nat  eek1 
peynte  thy  confession  by  faire  subtile  wordes  to  couere 
the  moore  thy  synne.  for  thanne  bigilestow  thy  self/  and 
nat  the  preest/.  thow  most  tellen  it  pleynly  /  be  it 
neuere  so  foul  ne  so  horrible  [1023]  U  Thow  shalt  eek 
shryue  thee  to  a  preest  fat  is  discreet*  to  conseille.  and 
eek1  thou  shalt  nat  shryue  thee  for  veyne  glorie  /  ne  for 
ypocrisye  /  ne  for  no  cause  /  but  oonly  for  the  doute  of 
Ihesu  cristf  and  the  heele  of  thy  soule.  [1024]  H  Thow 
shalt  nat  eek  renne  to  the  preest  sodeynly  to  tellen  hym 
lightly  thy  synne  /  as  who  so  telleth  a  lape  or  a  tale  /  but 
auysely  and  with  greet  deuocion  ||.  [1025]  And  generally 
shryue  thee  ofte  ||.  If  thou  ofte  falle  /  ofte  thou  arise  by 
confession.  [1026]  and  though"  thou  shryue  thee  ofter 
than  ones  of  synne  /  of  which  thou  hast  be  shryuen.  it  is 
the  moore  merite?  And  as  seith  seint  Augustyn  /  thow 
shalt  haue  the  moore  lightly  relesyng/  and  g?-ace  of  god  / 
bothe  of  synne  and  of  peyne  /.  [1027]  And  certes  oones  a 
yeere  atte  leeste  wey  /  it  is  laweful  for  to  been  housled.  for 
certes  oones  a  yeere  /  alle  thynges  renouellen 

[1028]  11  Now  haue  I  toolde  you  of  verray  confession. 
that  is  the  seconde  partie  of  Penitence  fgj 


Explicit/  secwwda  pars  Penitencie  ? 


ELLESMERE    674   (6-T.  678) 


leaf  235] 


679    SIX-TEXT 

GEOUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   675 


et  sequitttr  tercia  pars  eiusdem 

|[l029] 


T 


he  thridde  partie  of  Penitence,  is  Satisfaccion.  and  f  of.nj.  ma 
that  stant  moost  generally  in   Almesse.  and  in 


bodily  peyne  [1030]  IT  Now  been  ther  thre 
manere  of  Almesses  IT  Contricion)  of  Herte  f  where  a  man 
oifreth  hymself  to  god  II  Another  is  /  to  han  pitee  of 
defaute  of  hise  neighebores  IT  And  the  thridde  is  /  in 
yeuynge  of  good  conseil  goostly  and  bodily  /  where  men 
han  nede.  and  namely  in  sustenance  of  mannes  foode 
[1031]  IT  And  tak  [kepe]  /  fat  a  man  hath  nede  of  thise  for  the  werkes 
thinges  generally  /.  he  hath  nede  of  foode.  he  hath  nede  /  of 
clothyng  /  and  herberwe.  he  hath  nede  of  charitable 
conseil  and  visitynge  in  prisone  and  in  maladie  /  and 
sepulture  of  his  dede  body.  [1032]  And  if  thow  mayst  nat1 
visite  the  nedeful  with  thy  persone  /  visite  hym  by  thy 
message  and1  by  thy  yiftes.  /  [1033]  Thise  been  generally  P  MS.  repeats  thy 

message  and] 

almesses  or  werkes  of  charitee  of  hem  that  han  temporeel 
richesses  /  or  discrecion  in  conseilynge  IT  Of  thise  werkes  / 
shaltow  heren  at  the  day  of  doome  ? 

[1034]  Thise  Almesses  shaltow  doon  of  thyne  owene 
propre  thynges  and  hastily  and  priuely  if  thow  mayst*. 
[1035]  but  nathelees  /  if  thow  mayst  nat  doon  it  priuely. 
thow  shalt  nat  forbere  to  doon  Almesse  though  men  seen 
it/  so  that  it  be  nat  doon  for  thank  of  the  world,  but 
oonly  for  thank  of  Ihesu  crist  [1036]  IT  ffor  as  witnesseth 
Seint  Mathew  capitulo  .v°.  A  Citee  may  nat  been  hyd  /  «[  Mathei  .50. 
that  is  set  on  a  montayne.  ne  men  lighte  nat  a  lanterne  and 
put  it  vnder  a  busshel  /.  but  men  sette  it  on  a  candle- 
stikke  to  yeue  light1  to  the  men  in  the  hous./  [1037]  right 
so  shal  youre  light  lighten  bifore  men.  that  they  may 
seen  youre  goode  werkes  and  glorifie  youre  fader  that  is  in 
heuene  ? 

[10-58]  IT  Now  as  to  speken  of  bodily  peyne.  it  stant  in  f  of  bodily 

pWMCBM 

preyeres  /  in  2wakynges  /  in   fastynges  /  in  vertuouse 

ELLESMERE    675    (6-T.  679)  P  leaf  235,  back] 


C80    SIX-TEXT 

676   GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.  Ellesmere  MS. 


techinges  of  orisons  /  [1039]  11  And  ve  ^^  vnderstonde  / 
that  orisons  or  preyeres  /  is  for  to  seyn  a  pitous  wyl  of 
herte  that  redresseth  it  in  god  and  expresseth  it  by  word 
outward1  to  remoeuen  harmes  and  to  han  thyngea 
espiritueel  and  durable  /  and  somtyme  temporele  thynges.  / 
T  or  the  orisouw  of  whiche  orisons  certes  /  in  the  orison  of  the  Pater  noster  / 

of  the  patei- 

Dotteii  hath  Ihesu  crisf  enclosed  moost  thynges  [1040]  U  Certes 

it  is  priuyleged  of  thre  thynges  in  his  dignytee.  for  which 
it  is  moore  digne  than  any  oother  preyere.  for  that  Ih&su 
cnst  hym  self  maked  it/  [1041]  and  it  is  short/  for  it  sholde 
be  koud  the  moore  lightly,  and  for  to  withholden  it  the 
moore  esily  in  herte.  and  helpen  hym  self/  the  ofter  with 
the  orison.  [1042]  and  for  a  man  sholde  be  the  lasse  wery 
to  seyen  if.  and  for  a  man  may  nat  excusen  hym  to  lerne 
if.  it  is  so  short1  and  so  esy.  and  for  it  comprehendeth  in  it 
self  alle  goode  preyeres.  /  [1043]  the  exposicion  of  this 
hooly  preyere  /  that  is  so  excellent  and  digne  I  bitake  to 
thise  maistres  of  Theologie.  saue  thus  muchel  wol  I  seyn. 
that  whan  thow  prayest/  that  god  sholde  foryeue  thee  thy 
giltes  /  as  thou  foryeuest  hem  that  agilten  to  thee.  be  ful 
wel  war  /  that  thow  be  nat  out  of  charitee  S  [1044]  U  This 
hooly  orisourc  amenuseth  eek  venyal  synne  /  and  therfore 
it  aperteueth  specially  to  penitence 

[1045]  This  preyere  /  moste  be  trewely  seyd  and  in 
verray  feith.  and  that  men  preye  to  god  ordinatly  &  dis- 
creetly &  deuoutly.  and  alwey  a  man  shal  putten  his  wyl  / 
to  be  subget1  to  the  wille  of  god  [1046]  IT  This  orison 
moste  eek  been  seyd  with  greef  humblesse  and  ful  pure 
honestly,  and  nat  to  the  anoyance  of  any  man  or  womman  /. 
It  moste  eek  been  continued  with  the  werkes  of  charitee. 
[1047]  It  auayleth  eek1  agayn  the  vices  of  the  soule.  for  as 

f  Kotasecnndum  seith  seint  lerome.  By  fastynge  /  been  saued  the  vices  of  the 
flessfi.  /  and  by  preyere  the  vertues  of  the  soule 

[1048]  H  After  this,  thou  shalt  vnderstonde  /  thaf 
bodily  peyne  stant  in  wakynge.  for  Ihesu  crist  seith. 
waketh  and  preyeth  that  ye  ne  entre  in  wikked 

ELLESMERE    676   (6-T.  680) 


681    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   677 

temptation  [1049!  H  Ye  shul  vnderstanden  also,  that  fast- 1  Howfastynge 

yj  slant  in  thre 

ynge  stant  in  thre  thynges.  In  forberynge  of  bodily  mete  thynges. 
and  drynke.  and  in  forberynge  of  worldly  lolitee.  and  in  for- 
berynge of  deedly  synne.  this  is  to  seyn  /  that  a  man  shal 
kepen  hym  fro  deedly  synne  with  al  his  myght/ 

[1050]   And   thou  shalt  vnderstanden  eek1  that  god  f  or  .uy.  thynges 

J>at  apertene»  to 

ordeyned  fastynge.  and  to  fastynge  appertenen  .iiij.  fastynge. 
tliinges.  [1051]  Largenesse  to  poure  folk/./  gladnesse  of 
herte  espiritueel.  nat  to  been  angry  /  ne  anoyed  /  ne 
grucche  for  he  fasteth.  /  and  also  /  resonable  houre  for  to 
ete  by  mesure.  that  is  for  to  seyn.  a  man  shal  nat  ete  in 
vntyme  /  ne  sitte  the  lenger  at  his  table  to  ete  for  he 
fasteth 

[1052]  IT  Thanne  shaltow  vnderstonde  /  that  bodily  f  HOW  bodily 

.  peyne  stant/  in 

peyne  /  stant  in  disciplyne  or  techynge  /  by  word  and  by  discipiyne  /  or 

.,  ,  ,        ,    .  ,  „  ,  techynge. 

writynge  /  or  in  ensample.  /  Also  in  werynge  oi  heyres  or 

of  stamyn  /  or  of  haubergeons  on  hire  naked  flessh"  for  cristes 

sake  /  and  swiche  manere  penances.  [1053]  but  war  thee  wel 

that  swiche  manere  penances  on  thy  flessfi  /  ne  make  thee  nat1 

or    angry    or    anoyed    of    thy    self/,     for    bettre    /    is 

to  caste  awey  thyn  heyre.  than  for  to  caste  awey  /  the  siker- 

nesse  of  Ihesu  crist  [1054]  H  And  therfore  seith  seint  Paul  /.  f  sanotua  Pauius 

Clothe  yow  as  they  that  been  chosen  of  god  in  herte.  of 

Misericorde.  debonairetee  /  suffrance  /  and  swich  manere  of 

clothynge.  of  whiche  Ihesu  crist  is  moore  apayed  /  than  of 

heyres  or  haubergeons  /  or  hauberkes  ? 

[1055]  11I  Thanne  is  discipline  eek1  in  knokkynge  of  f  ofothere 

.-,-,,,.  .,-,  i          •        i        i  •      diuerse  manures 

thy  brest/  in  scourgynge  w^t&   yerdes.  in  knelynges.  in  ofdisdpiyne 
tribulacions  ?.  [1056]  in  suffrynge  paciently  wronges  that 
been  doon  to  thee.  and  eek/  in  patient  suffrance  of  maladies  / 
or  lesynge  of  worldly  catel  /  or  of  wyf/  or  of  child  /  or 
othere  freendes 

[1057]  11  Thanne  shaltow  vnderstonde  /  whiche  thynges  f  or  the  thynges 

..  i    ,  i  •      •  thilt  destourben 

destourben  penance,  and  this  is  in  .inj.  maneres  /  that  is.  penaunce 

drede.  shame,  hope,  and  wanhope  /  that   is   desperation) 

[1058]  11  And  for  to  speke  first/  of  drede.  for  which  he  f  fflrstof  drede/ 

ELLESMEKE    677    (6-T.  68l)  [Ueaf236] 


682   SIX-TEXT 

678   GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 

and  of  the  demeth  that   he   may  suffre  no   penaunce  II    fio^gl   ther 

remedie  ther  of/ 

agayns  is  remedie  for  to  thynke.  that  bodily  penance  /  is 
but  short  and  litel  at  regard  of  the  peynes  of  helle.  that 
is  so  crueel  and  so  long  /  that  it  lasteth  with-outen  ende 
1  or  shame/  [1060]  H  Now  again  the  shame  /  that  a  man  hath  to 

and  of the  J 

remedie  ther  of/  shryuen  hym.  and  namely  thise  ypocrites  /  that  wolden 
been  holden  so  parfite  /  that  they  han  no  nede  to  shryuen 
hem  [1061]  U  Agayns  that  shame,  sholde  a  man  thynke  that 
by  wey  of  reson  /  that  he  fat  hath  nat  been  shamed  to 
doon  foule  thinges  /  certes  hym  oghte  nat  been  ashamed  to 
do  faire  thynges  /  and  that  is  confessions  [1062]  U  A  man 
sholde  eek  thynke  /  that  god  seeth  and  woof  alle  hise 
thoghtes  and  alle  hise  werkes  /  to  hym  may  no  thyng1  been 
hyd  ne  couered  [1063]  U  Men  sholden  eek  /  remembren 
hem  of  the  shame  that  is  to  come  at  the  day  of  doome  to 
hem  that  been  nat  penitent/  And  shryuen  in  this  present 
lyf.  /  [1064]  ffor  alle  the  creatures  in  erthe  and  in  helle 
shullen  seen  apertly  /  al  that  they  hyden  in  this  world 

f  of  hope  &  of  [1065]  U  Now  for  to  speken  of  hope  /  of  hem  that 

been  necligent/  and  slowe  to  shryuen  hem  $  that  stantf  in 
two  maneres.  [1066]  that  oon  is  fat  he  hopeth  for  to  lyue 
longe  and  for  to  pwrchacen  muche  richesse  for  his  delit/. 
and  thanne  he  wol  shryuen  hym.  and  as  he  seith  / 
hym  semeth  thanne  tyniely  ynough"  to  come  to  shrifte  || 
[1067]  Another  is  Surquidrie  /  that  he  hath  in  cristes 

1  Remedie  agayn  mercy  /  [1068]  U  Agayns  the  firste  vice,  he  shal  thynke  / 
that  oure  lif  is  in  no  sikernesse.  and  eek  that  alle  the 
richesses  in  this  world  /  ben  in  auenture  and  passen  as  a 

1  Sonets  shadwe  on  the  wal.  [1069]  and  as  seith  seint1  Gregorie.  / 
that  it  aperteneth  to  the  grete  rigfttwisnesse  of  god.  that 
neuere  shal  the  peyne  stynte.  of  hem  fat  neuere 
wolde  withdrawen  hem  fro  synne  hir  thankes  /  but 
ay  continue  in  synne.  ffor  thilke  perpetueel  wil  to  do 
synne  /  shul  they  han  perpetueel  peyne 

T  ofwanhopein  [1070]  H  Wanhope  is  in  two  maneres.  the  firste  wan- 
hope  is  in  the  mercy  of  crist  ||.  that  oother  is  /  fat  they 

ELLESMERE    678    (6-T. 


G83    SIX-TEXT 

GHOUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   679 

thynken  /  J>at  they  ne  myghte  nat  longe  perseuere  in  good- 

nesse    [1071]  U  The  firste  wanhope  comth  /  of   that  he  If  bftheflrste 

wanhope 

demeth  that  he  hath  synned  so  greetly  and  so  ofte  /  and  so 

longe    leyn    in    synne    /    that    he    shal    nat    be    saued 

[1072]  U  Certes  agayns  that   cursed  wanhope  sholde  he  IF  Remedium 

thynke  that  the  passion  of  Ihesu.  crist/  is  moore  strong1  for 

to    vnbynde   /   than    synne   is   strong   /   for    to    bynde 

[1073]  IT  Agayns  the  seconde  wanhope  /  he  shal  thynke  /  t  Remedie/ 

agayn  the  .ij11*. 

that  as  ofte  as  he  falleth.  he  may  arise  agayn  by  penitence  /  wanhope 
And  though"  he  neuer  so  longe  haue  leyn  in  synne  /  the 
mercy  of  crist  is  alwey  redy  to  receiuew  hym  to  mercy 
[1074!  U  Agayns  the  wanhope  /  bat  he  demeth  /  that  he  f  Remedie 

,          ,        '  ,          agayn  the  thridde 

sholde  nat  longe  perseuere  in  goodnesse.  he  shal  thynke  /  wanhope 
bat  the  feblesse  of  the  deuel  may  no  thyng  doon  /  but  if 
men  wol  suffren  hym  [1075]  and  eek/  he  shal  han  strengthe 
of  the  helpe  of  god  /  and  of  al  hooly  chirche  /  and  of  the 
proteccion  of  Aungels  /  if  hym  list1 

[1076]  1T  Thanne  shal  men  vnder'stonde  /  what  is  the  T  what  the  fmyt 

f  r  of  penance  in. 

Iruytt  of  penance  And  after  the  word  of  Ihesu  crist1  it  is 
the  endelees  blisse  of  heuene.  [1077]  ther  i°ye  hath  no 
contrarioustee  of  wo  ne  greuance.  ther  alle  harmes  been 
passed  of  this  present  lyf  /  ther  as  is  the  sikernesse  /  fro 
the  peyne  of  helle.  ther  as  is  the  blisful  compaignye  that 
reioysen  hem  eueremo  euerich  of  otheres  ioye.  [1078]  ther 
as  the  body  of  man  /  that  whilom  was  foul  and  derk/.  is 
moore  cleer  than  the  sonne.  ther/  as  the  body  that  whilom 
was  syk/  freele  /  &  fieble  /  and  mortal  /  is  inmortal  and 
so  strong/  and  so  hool  /  that  ther  may  no  thyng  apeyren 
if.  [1079]  ther  as  ne  is  /  neither  hunger  /  thurstt  ne  coold? 
but  euery  soule  replenyssed  with  the  sigSte  of  the  parfit 
knowynge  of  god  [1080]  U  This  blisful  regne  may  men 
purchace  by  pouerte  espiritueel.  and  the  glorie  by  lowe- 
nesse.  the  plentee  of  Ioye  by  hunger  and  thursf  and  the 
reste  by  trauaiUe  /.  and  the  lyf/  by  mortificaciori)  of 
syniie  ? 

48  ELLESMERE    679    (6-T.  683)        [Meaf  236,  back] 


684   SIX-TEXT 

680   GROUP  I.   §  2.  PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS. 


1  Here  taketh  the  makere  of  this  book/  his  leue 


f 


"Ow  preye  I  to  hem  aUe  that  herkne  this  litel  tretys 
or  rede  that  if  ther  be  any  thyng/  in  it  that  liketh 
-i-  1  hem  /  that  ther-of  they  thanken  cure  lord  Ihesu 
crisf.  of  whom  procedeth  al  wit  and  al  goodnesse. 
[1082]  And  if  ther  be  any  thyngi  that  displese  hem.  I 
preye  hem  also  that  they  arrette  it  to  the  defaute  of  myn 
vnkonnynge  and  nat  to  my  wyl.  that  wolde  ful  fayn  haue 
seyd  bettre  /  if  I  hadde  had  konnynge.  [1083]  ffor  oure 
boke  seith  /  al  that  is  writen  /  is  writen  for  oure 
doctrine,  and  that  is  myn  entente  [1084]  U  Wherfore  /  I 
biseke  yow  mekely  for  the  mercy  of  god  /  that  ye  preye  for 
me  /  that  crist  haue  mercy  on  me  and  foryeue  me  my 
giltes.  ||  [1085]  and  namely  of  my  translacions  and  endit- 
ynges  of  worldly  vanitees  /  the  whiche  I  reuoke  in  my  re- 
tractions [1086]  H  As  is  the  book1  of  Troilus  U  The  book 
also  of  ffame  ||  The  book  of  the  .xxv.  Ladies  U  The 
book  of  the  Duchesse  U  The  book  of  seint  Valentynes 
day  of  the  parlement  of  briddes  ||.  The  tales  of  Caunter- 
bury  /  thilke  that  sownen  in  to  synne  [1087]  IT  The  book 
of  the  Leon  And  many  another  book/  if  they  were  in  my 
remembrance  /  and  many  a  song  and  many  a  leccherous 
lay.  that  crist  for  his  grete  mercy  foryeue  me  the  synne 
[1088]  11  But  of  the  translation  of  Boece  de  consolacione  / 
and  othere  bookes  of  Legendes  of  seintes  /  and  Omelies  / 
and  moralitee  /  and  deuocion  /  [1089]  that  thanke  I  oure 
lord  Ihesu  crist1  and  his  blisful  mooder  /  and  alle  the 
seintes  of  heuene  /  [1090]  bisekynge  hem  /  fat  they  from 
hennes  forth  vn-to  my  lyues  ende  /  sende  me  grace  to 
biwayle  my  giltes  /  and  to  studie  to  the  saluacion  of  my 
soule  /  and  graunte  me  grace  of  verray  penitence  /  con- 

ELLESMERE    680   (6-T.  684) 


685    SIX-TEXT 

GROUP  I.   §  2.   PARSON'S  TALE.   Ellesmere  MS.   681 

fession  and  satisfaction  to  doon  in  this  present  lyf  / 
[1091]  thurgh"  the  benigne  grace  /  of  hym.  fat  is  kyng1  of 
kynges  /  and  preest/  ouer  alle  preestes  /  that  boghte  vs 
•with  the  precious  blood  of  his  herte  /  [1092]  so  fat  I  may 
been  oon  of  hem  at  the  day  of  doome  that  shulle  be  saued  ? 
Qui  cum  patre  &cetera 

1f  Heere  is  ended  the  book/  of  the  tales  of  Caunter- 
bury  /  compiled  by  Geffrey  Chaucer  /  of  whos 
soule  Ihesu  crist/  haue  mercy  Amen  fa 

[4  fly-leaves  follow,  more  or  less  scribbled-on  with  later 
verses,  fyc.  On  the  back  of  the  3rd  is  a  list  of  the  Tales, 
and  on  the  front  of  the  4th  is  a  late  I5t7i-century  copy 
of  Chaucer's  '  Truth  ' — "  Fie  fro  the  prees  and  dwelle  with 
sothfastnesse"  without  the  Envoy.  Other  lines  follow  this.] 


ELLESMERE   681   (6-T.  686) 


(1H3 


ELLESMEEE  APPENDIX1 

OF  PIECES  AND  CUTS  NOT  IN  THE  ELLESMERE  MS. 


PAGB 

1.  Appendix  to  Group  A :  the  spurious   Tale  of 

Gamelyn,  from  MS.  Keg.  18  C  ii,  in  the 
British  Museum  l*-26* 

2.  The  genuine  Man-of-Law — Shipman  Link,  Group 

B,  §  3,  p.  167  Six-Text,  from  MS.  Arch. 
Selden,  B  14,  in  the  Bodleian  Library. 
('T  would  have  followd  p.  166  above,  had  it 
been  in  the  Ellesmere  MS.)  27* 

3.  The  genuine  Nun's-Priest's  End-Link,  Group  B, 

§  15,  p.  301  Six-Text,  from  MS.  Dd.  4.  24,  in 
the  Cambridge  University  Library.  ('T  would 
have  followd  p.  523  above,  had  it  been  in  the 
Ellesmere  MS.)  28* 

4.  Drawings  of  6  Tellers  of  6  of  the  Canterbury 

Tales — the  Cook,  Wife  of  Bath,  Summoner, 
Pardoner,  Monk,  and  Manciple, — and  of  6 
allegorical  Figures — Wrath  and  Mercy,  Glut- 
tony and  Abstinence,  Lechery  and  Chastity — 
copied  from  MS.  Gg.  4.  27,  in  the  Cambridge 
University  Library,  and  cut  on  wood  by  Mr. 
W.  H.  Hooper  *  ...  29* 

1  None  of  the  pieces  1,  2,  3,  is  in  the  best  MSS.  of  the  A  type. 


SIX-TEXT    167 

GB.B.  §  3.  MAN-OF-LAW — SHIPMAN  LINK.  Arch.  Seld.B.  14.  27* 


THE  MAN-OF-LAW— SHIPMAN  LINK. 

Here  endith  the  man  of  lawe  Ms  tale.    And  //  next 
folwith  the  Shipman  his  prolog. 

OVre  Ost  vppon  his  stiropes  /  stood  anoon 
and  seide  good  men  herkeneth"  euerychoon 
this  was  a  thrifty  tale  /  for  the  nonys 
Sir  parisshe  preste  quod  he  /  for  godis  bonys  1166 

telle  vs  a  tale  /  as  was  thi  forward  yore 
I  se  wel  /  that  ye  lernede  men  in  lore 
can  meche  good  /  bi  godis  dignite 

the  parson  him  answerde  /  benedicite  1170 

What  eyletfi  the  man  /  so  synfully  to  swere 
oure  Ost  answerde  /  0  lankyn  be  ye  there 
I  smelle  a  lollere  in  the  wynde  quod  he 
Howe  goodmen  quod  oure  Ost  /  herkeneth  me  1174 

a-bide  for  godis  digne  passion 
for  we  shul  han  /  a  predication 
this  lollere  here  /  wol  prechen  vs  somwhat 
nay  bi  godis  soule  /  that  shal  he  nat  1178 

Seide  the  Shipman  /  here  shal  he  not  preche 
he  shal  no  gospel  glosen  here  /  ne  teche 
We  leuen  alle  /  in  the  grete  god  quod  he 
He  wolde  sowen  /  som  difficulte  1182 

or  sprengen  Cokkel  /  in  oure  clene  corn 
and  therfore  Ost  /  I  warne  the  biforri 
my  ioly  body  /  shal  a  tale  telle 

and  I  shal  clynkyn  yow  /  so  mery  a  belle  118G 

that  I  shal  wakyn  /  al  this  companye 
but  it  shal  not  ben  /  of  Philosophic 
ne  phislyas  /  ne  termes  queynte  of  lawe 
ther  is  but  litil  latyn  /  in  my  ma  we  .  1 190 

Here  endith  the  Shipman  his  prolog.     And  next  fol- 
•  wyng  he  bigynneth  his  tale  &c. 

ELLESMERE  27*  (6-T.  167)  [this  page,  Arch.  Seld.  B.  11] 


301    SIX-TEXT 

28*  GROUP  B.  §15.  NUN'S-PRIEST'S  END-LINK.  MS.Dd.4.24. 


3. 

THE  NUN'S  PRIEST'S  END-LINK. 
[Camb.  Univ.  MS  Dd.  4.  24,  on  leaf  195.] 

[Sire  Nonnes  Freest  /  oure  hoost  seide  a-noon 

I-blissed  be  thy  troche  /  &  euery  ston 

This  was  a  murie  tale  /  of  Chauntecleer 

But  by  my  trouthe  /  if  J>ou  were  seculer  4640 

Thow  woldest  ben  a  tredfoul  /  a  right 

ffor  if  J»ou  haue  corage  /  as  ]>0u  hast  myght 

The  were  nede  of  hennes  /  as  I  wene 

3a  /  moo  than  seuene  tymes  /  seuentene  4644 

Se  which  braunes  /  hath  this  gentil  Freest  [Tea/ 195,601*] 

So  gret  a  nekke  /  &  swich  a  large  breest 

He  loketh  as  a  sparhauke  /  \fith  hise  eyen 

Hi??i  nedetfi.  nat  /  his  colour  for  to  dyghen  4648 

With  brasile  /  ne  with  greyn  of  Portyngale 

Now  sire  /  faire  falle  ^ow  /  for  ^oure  tale 

And  after  that  /  he  with  ful  merle  chere  4651 

rM   •  T  J-L        i  r.    i      -L          ~\        [Camb.  Dd.  4. 34  ex- 

Seide  vn-to  a  nother  /  as  30  shuln  heerej      tract  stops] 

[Group  G  (Second  Nun  and  Canon's  Yeoman)  imperfect, 
folloics  in  the  MS.~\ 


ELLESMERE  28*  (6-T.  30l)  [this  page,  Camb.  Dd.  4.  24] 


OL. 


DRAWINGS  OF  THE  23  TELLERS 


OF    THE 


24  CANTERBURY  TALES, 


AND   CUT   ON   WOOD, 


BY 


Jlr  M.  ft  Cooper, 


In  this  first  issue,  1871,  only  14  of  the  Cut*  are  given. 
The,  other  10  will  fottoio  in  1872.  When  the  print  of  each 
MS  is  bound,  the  cut  of  each  Teller  of  a  Tale  can  be  put 
at  the  beginning  of  his  Tale,  as  in  the  Ellesmere  MS,  or 
by  his  description  in  the  General  Prologue,  to  contrast  the 
artist's  hand  with  the  poets ;  or,  all  the  cuts  can  be  put 
together  before  or  after  the  Prologue,  or  at  the  end  of  the 
volume  (as  not  part  of  the  MS),  according  to  the  fancy 
of  each  Member. 


c 


THE    MILLERE. 
Ellesmere  MS,  leaf  88,  back. 


THE    KNYGHT. 
Ellesmere  MS,  leaf  14. 

(The  brand  on  the  horse's  hip— M,  ?  for  Miles- 
is  in  ink,  and  probably  by  a  later  hand.) 


SL 


THE    COOK. 
Ellesmere  MS,  leaf  51. 


THE    REVE. 
Blleamere  JUS,  leaf  46. 


THE    WYP    OF    BATHE. 
Elletmere  MS,  leaf  76. 


THE    MAN    OP    LAWB. 

Ellesmere  MS,  leaf  54,  back. 


THE     FRERB. 
Ellesmere  MS,  leaf  80,  back. 


•• 


THE     SO  MONO  DR. 

Elffgmere  MS,  leaf  85,  back. 


THE     CLERK     OF     OXENFORD. 
Ellermere  MS,  leaf  92. 


THE    SHIPMAN. 
Ettetmere  MS,  leaf  147,  back. 


THE     PBIOBBSSE. 
Elleimere  MS,  leaf  152,  back. 


3 


CHAUCER. 
Ellesmere  MS,  leaf  157,  back. 


X 


THE     MONK. 

Eltetmere  MS,  leaf  173. 


THE     NONNE8     FREEST. 
Ellegmere  MS,  leaf  183. 


THE    MERCHANT. 
Ellesmere  US,  leaf  106,  back. 


THE   SQUIRE. 
Ellemere  MS,  leaf  119,  back. 


THE    FRANKLIN. 

EUesmere  MS,  leaf  127,  back. 


-Jr 


THE    DOCTOR. 
Ellesmere  MS,  leaf  137. 


l/U 


THE   PARDONER. 
Ellegmere  MS,  leaf  142. 


THE   SECOND    NUN. 
BUetmere  US,  leaf  191. 


THE  CANON'S  YEOMAN. 

Ellesmere  MS,  leaf  198. 


THE   MANCIPLE. 
Elletmere  MS,  leaf  207. 


THE   PARSON. 
Elletmere  US,  leaf  210,  lack. 

[These  coloured  figures  in  the  Ellesmere  MS  have  evidently 
been  drawn  by  two  different  persons.  The  little  pieces  of  ground 
on  which  the  later  hand  places  his  figures,  mark  those  done  by 
him. 

His  drawing  is  not  so  good  as  the  first  hand's ;  and  his  colours 
are  badly  ground,  and  of  poor  quality. — W.  H.  HOOPEB.] 


>v 


Ikntobt. 


ELLESMERE  MS. 
Leaf  14 


(Ebc  fl&illev. 


$Mti 


ELLESMERE  MS. 
Lfaf  38,   /A/ryJ-. 


Gbe  IRcvc. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 


Gbe   Cook. 


ELLESMERE  MS. 
5 1 . 


She  flDan  of  Xaw, 


ELLESMERE  MS. 

54, 


'•• 


{The  Wife  of  Batb, 


ELLESMERE  MS. 
Leaf  76. 


{The   friar. 


ELLESMERE  MS. 
Leaf  80,  Zi'rtt^. 


Zbe  Sum'ner. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
,  Back. 


ELLESMERE  MS, 
Zt'rt/"  92. 


She  merchant. 


ELLESMERE     MS. 
Leaf  1 06,  Ajf/6. 


Squire. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
Leaf  119,  Pack. 


Gbe  franklin. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
Leaf  1 27, 


Gbe  Doctor. 


ELLESMERE  MS. 
«/  137- 


iparboner. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
14?. 


Sbtpman. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
147,  Back. 


prioress. 


ELLESMERE  MS. 
152, 


Chaucer. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
LeaJ  157, 


flfeonfc  anfc 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
Leaf  173, 


TRun's  priest. 


KLLESMERE  MS, 
Z^/  183. 


£  be  Seconfc 


ELLESMERE  MS. 


Canon's  Jjeoman. 


ELLESMERE  MS. 
Leaf  198. 


flfcandple. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
Leaf  207. 


parson. 


ELLESMERE    MS. 
210,  Back. 


PR     Chaucer  Society,  London 
1901      cPutlicationsD 

A3 

no. 2,8 
etc. 

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