Confessio Amantis
or
Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins
Incipit Liber Quintus: Part 3
Online Medieval and Classical Library Release
#4
3983 Sche seide, "Helpeth at this nede,
3984 And as ye maden me to spede,
3985 Whan Jason cam the Flees to seche,
3986 So help me nou, I you beseche."
3987 With that sche loketh and was war,
3988 Doun fro the Sky ther cam a char,
3989 The which Dragouns aboute drowe:
3990 And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe,
3991 And up sche styh, and faire and wel
3992 Sche drof forth bothe char and whel
3993 Above in thair among the Skyes.
3994 The lond of Crete and tho parties
3995 Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye,
3996 And there upon the hulles hyhe
3997 Of Othrin and Olimpe also,
3998 And ek of othre hulles mo,
3999 Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote,
4000 Sche pulleth up som be the rote,
4001 And manye with a knyf sche scherth,
4002 And alle into hir char sche berth.
4003 Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought,
4004 The flodes ther foryat sche nought,
4005 Eridian and Amphrisos,
4006 Peneie and ek Sperchei5dos,
4007 To hem sche wente and ther sche nom
4008 Bothe of the water and the fom,
4009 The sond and ek the smale stones,
4010 Whiche as sche ches out for the nones,
4011 And of the rede See a part,
4012 That was behovelich to hire art,
4013 Sche tok, and after that aboute
4014 Sche soughte sondri sedes oute
4015 In feldes and in many greves,
4016 And ek a part sche tok of leves:
4017 Bot thing which mihte hire most availe
4018 Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile.
4019 In daies and in nyhtes Nyne,
4020 With gret travaile and with gret pyne,
4021 Sche was pourveid of every piece,
4022 And torneth homward into Grece.
4023 Before the gates of Eson
4024 Hir char sche let awai to gon,
4025 And tok out ferst that was therinne;
4026 For tho sche thoghte to beginne
4027 Such thing as semeth impossible,
4028 And made hirselven invisible,
4029 As sche that was with Air enclosed
4030 And mihte of noman be desclosed.
4031 Sche tok up turves of the lond
4032 Withoute helpe of mannes hond,
4033 Al heled with the grene gras,
4034 Of which an Alter mad ther was
4035 Unto Echates the goddesse
4036 Of art magique and the maistresse,
4037 And eft an other to Juvente,
4038 As sche which dede hir hole entente.
4039 Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne,
4040 Of herbes ben noght betre tueine,
4041 Of which anon withoute let
4042 These alters ben aboute set:
4043 Tuo sondri puttes faste by
4044 Sche made, and with that hastely
4045 A wether which was blak sche slouh,
4046 And out therof the blod sche drouh
4047 And dede into the pettes tuo;
4048 Warm melk sche putte also therto
4049 With hony meynd: and in such wise
4050 Sche gan to make hir sacrifice,
4051 And cride and preide forth withal
4052 To Pluto the god infernal,
4053 And to the queene Proserpine.
4054 And so sche soghte out al the line
4055 Of hem that longen to that craft,
4056 Behinde was no name laft,
4057 And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe,
4058 To grante Eson his ferste youthe.
4059 This olde Eson broght forth was tho,
4060 Awei sche bad alle othre go
4061 Upon peril that mihte falle;
4062 And with that word thei wenten alle,
4063 And leften there hem tuo al one.
4064 And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone,
4065 And made signes manyon,
4066 And seide hir wordes therupon;
4067 So that with spellinge of hir charmes
4068 Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes,
4069 And made him forto slepe faste,
4070 And him upon hire herbes caste.
4071 The blake wether tho sche tok,
4072 And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok;
4073 On either alter part sche leide,
4074 And with the charmes that sche seide
4075 A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte
4076 And made it forto brenne lyhte.
4077 Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne,
4078 Anon sche gan to sterte and renne
4079 The fyri aulters al aboute:
4080 Ther was no beste which goth oute
4081 More wylde than sche semeth ther:
4082 Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her,
4083 As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde
4084 And torned in an other kynde.
4085 Tho lay ther certein wode cleft,
4086 Of which the pieces nou and eft
4087 Sche made hem in the pettes wete,
4088 And put hem in the fyri hete,
4089 And tok the brond with al the blase,
4090 And thries sche began to rase
4091 Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte;
4092 And eft with water, which sche kepte,
4093 Sche made a cercle aboute him thries,
4094 And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes:
4095 Ful many an other thing sche dede,
4096 Which is noght writen in this stede.
4097 Bot tho sche ran so up and doun,
4098 Sche made many a wonder soun,
4099 Somtime lich unto the cock,
4100 Somtime unto the Laverock,
4101 Somtime kacleth as a Hen,
4102 Somtime spekth as don the men:
4103 And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth,
4104 In sondri wise hir forme changeth,
4105 Sche semeth faie and no womman;
4106 For with the craftes that sche can
4107 Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse,
4108 And what hir liste, more or lesse,
4109 Sche dede, in bokes as we finde,
4110 That passeth over manneskinde.
4111 Bot who that wole of wondres hiere,
4112 What thing sche wroghte in this matiere,
4113 To make an ende of that sche gan,
4114 Such merveile herde nevere man.
4115 Apointed in the newe Mone,
4116 Whan it was time forto done,
4117 Sche sette a caldron on the fyr,
4118 In which was al the hole atir,
4119 Wheron the medicine stod,
4120 Of jus, of water and of blod,
4121 And let it buile in such a plit,
4122 Til that sche sawh the spume whyt;
4123 And tho sche caste in rynde and rote,
4124 And sed and flour that was for bote,
4125 With many an herbe and many a ston,
4126 Wherof sche hath ther many on:
4127 And ek Cimpheius the Serpent
4128 To hire hath alle his scales lent,
4129 Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin,
4130 And sche to builen caste hem in;
4131 A part ek of the horned Oule,
4132 The which men hiere on nyhtes houle;
4133 And of a Raven, which was told
4134 Of nyne hundred wynter old,
4135 Sche tok the hed with al the bile;
4136 And as the medicine it wile,
4137 Sche tok therafter the bouele
4138 Of the Seewolf, and for the hele
4139 Of Eson, with a thousand mo
4140 Of thinges that sche hadde tho,
4141 In that Caldroun togedre as blyve
4142 Sche putte, and tok thanne of Olyve
4143 A drie branche hem with to stere,
4144 The which anon gan floure and bere
4145 And waxe al freissh and grene ayein.
4146 Whan sche this vertu hadde sein,
4147 Sche let the leste drope of alle
4148 Upon the bare flor doun falle;
4149 Anon ther sprong up flour and gras,
4150 Where as the drope falle was,
4151 And wox anon al medwe grene,
4152 So that it mihte wel be sene.
4153 Medea thanne knew and wiste
4154 Hir medicine is forto triste,
4155 And goth to Eson ther he lay,
4156 And tok a swerd was of assay,
4157 With which a wounde upon his side
4158 Sche made, that therout mai slyde
4159 The blod withinne, which was old
4160 And sek and trouble and fieble and cold.
4161 And tho sche tok unto his us
4162 Of herbes al the beste jus,
4163 And poured it into his wounde;
4164 That made his veynes fulle and sounde:
4165 And tho sche made his wounde clos,
4166 And tok his hond, and up he ros;
4167 And tho sche yaf him drinke a drauhte,
4168 Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte,
4169 His hed, his herte and his visage
4170 Lich unto twenty wynter Age;
4171 Hise hore heres were away,
4172 And lich unto the freisshe Maii,
4173 Whan passed ben the colde shoures,
4174 Riht so recovereth he his floures.
4175 Lo, what mihte eny man devise,
4176 A womman schewe in eny wise
4177 Mor hertly love in every stede,
4178 Than Medea to Jason dede?
4179 Ferst sche made him the flees to winne,
4180 And after that fro kiththe and kinne
4181 With gret tresor with him sche stal,
4182 And to his fader forth withal
4183 His Elde hath torned into youthe,
4184 Which thing non other womman couthe:
4185 Bot hou it was to hire aquit,
4186 The remembrance duelleth yit.
4187 King Peles his Em was ded,
4188 Jason bar corone on his hed,
4189 Medea hath fulfild his wille:
4190 Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille
4191 The trouthe, which to hire afore
4192 He hadde in thyle of Colchos swore,
4193 Tho was Medea most deceived.
4194 For he an other hath received,
4195 Which dowhter was to king Creon,
4196 Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason,
4197 As he that was to love untrewe,
4198 Medea lefte and tok a newe.
4199 Bot that was after sone aboght:
4200 Medea with hire art hath wroght
4201 Of cloth of gold a mantel riche,
4202 Which semeth worth a kingesriche,
4203 And that was unto Creusa sent
4204 In name of yifte and of present,
4205 For Sosterhode hem was betuene;
4206 And whan that yonge freisshe queene
4207 That mantel lappeth hire aboute,
4208 Anon therof the fyr sprong oute
4209 And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon.
4210 Tho cam Medea to Jason
4211 With bothe his Sones on hire hond,
4212 And seide, "O thou of every lond
4213 The moste untrewe creature,
4214 Lo, this schal be thi forfeture."
4215 With that sche bothe his Sones slouh
4216 Before his yhe, and he outdrouh
4217 His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho,
4218 Bot farewel, sche was ago
4219 Unto Pallas the Court above,
4220 Wher as sche pleigneth upon love,
4221 As sche that was with that goddesse,
4222 And he was left in gret destresse.
4223 Thus miht thou se what sorwe it doth
4224 To swere an oth which is noght soth,
4225 In loves cause namely.
4226 Mi Sone, be wel war forthi,
4227 And kep that thou be noght forswore:
4228 For this, which I have told tofore,
4229 Ovide telleth everydel.
4230 Mi fader, I may lieve it wel,
4231 For I have herde it ofte seie
4232 Hou Jason tok the flees aweie
4233 Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght
4234 Be whom it was ferst thider broght.
4235 And for it were good to hiere,
4236 If that you liste at mi preiere
4237 To telle, I wolde you beseche.
4238 Mi Sone, who that wole it seche,
4239 In bokes he mai finde it write;
4240 And natheles, if thou wolt wite,
4241 In the manere as thou hast preid
4242 I schal the telle hou it is seid.
4243 The fame of thilke schepes fell,
4244 Which in Colchos, as it befell,
4245 Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;
4246 Wherof I thenke for to seie
4247 Hou it cam ferst into that yle.
4248 Ther was a king in thilke whyle
4249 Towardes Grece, and Athemas
4250 The Cronique of his name was;
4251 And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,
4252 Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,
4253 He hadde of children yonge tuo.
4254 Frixus the ferste was of tho,
4255 A knave child, riht fair withalle;
4256 A dowhter ek, the which men calle
4257 Hellen, he hadde be this wif.
4258 Bot for ther mai no mannes lif
4259 Endure upon this Erthe hiere,
4260 This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,
4261 Er that the children were of age,
4262 Tok of hire ende the passage,
4263 With gret worschipe and was begrave.
4264 What thing it liketh god to have
4265 It is gret reson to ben his;
4266 Forthi this king, so as it is,
4267 With gret suffrance it underfongeth:
4268 And afterward, as him belongeth,
4269 Whan it was time forto wedde,
4270 A newe wif he tok to bedde,
4271 Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,
4272 And ek the dowhter, as men saide,
4273 Of Cadme, which a king also
4274 Was holde in thilke daies tho.
4275 Whan Yno was the kinges make,
4276 Sche caste hou that sche mihte make
4277 These children to here fader lothe,
4278 And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,
4279 Which to the king was al unknowe.
4280 A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe
4281 The lond with sode whete aboute,
4282 Wherof no corn mai springen oute;
4283 And thus be sleyhte and be covine
4284 Aros the derthe and the famine
4285 Thurghout the lond in such a wise,
4286 So that the king a sacrifise
4287 Upon the point of this destresse
4288 To Ceres, which is the goddesse
4289 Of corn, hath schape him forto yive,
4290 To loke if it mai be foryive,
4291 The meschief which was in his lond.
4292 Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond
4293 The circumstance of al this thing,
4294 Ayein the cominge of the king
4295 Into the temple, hath schape so,
4296 Of hire acord that alle tho
4297 Whiche of the temple prestes were
4298 Have seid and full declared there
4299 Unto the king, bot if so be
4300 That he delivere the contre
4301 Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,
4302 With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,
4303 That whil tho children ben therinne,
4304 Such tilthe schal noman beginne,
4305 Wherof to gete him eny corn.
4306 Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn
4307 Of all the Prestes that ther are;
4308 And sche which causeth al this fare
4309 Seid ek therto what that sche wolde,
4310 And every man thanne after tolde
4311 So as the queene hem hadde preid.
4312 The king, which hath his Ere leid,
4313 And lieveth al that evere he herde,
4314 Unto here tale thus ansuerde,
4315 And seith that levere him is to chese
4316 Hise children bothe forto lese,
4317 Than him and al the remenant
4318 Of hem whiche are aportenant
4319 Unto the lond which he schal kepe:
4320 And bad his wif to take kepe
4321 In what manere is best to done,
4322 That thei delivered weren sone
4323 Out of this world. And sche anon
4324 Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon;
4325 Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere
4326 That thei the children scholden bere
4327 Unto the See, that non it knowe,
4328 And hem therinne bothe throwe.
4329 The children to the See ben lad,
4330 Wher in the wise as Yno bad
4331 These men be redy forto do.
4332 Bot the goddesse which Juno
4333 Is hote, appiereth in the stede,
4334 And hath unto the men forbede
4335 That thei the children noght ne sle;
4336 Bot bad hem loke into the See
4337 And taken hiede of that thei sihen.
4338 Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,
4339 Whos flees of burned gold was al;
4340 And this goddesse forth withal
4341 Comandeth that withoute lette
4342 Thei scholde anon these children sette
4343 Above upon this Schepes bak;
4344 And al was do, riht as sche spak,
4345 Wherof the men gon hom ayein.
4346 And fell so, as the bokes sein,
4347 Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,
4348 Which of the See was wo bego,
4349 For pure drede hire herte hath lore,
4350 That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore,
4351 As sche that was swounende feint,
4352 Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;
4353 With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,
4354 Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,
4355 Where Juno the goddesse he fond,
4356 Which tok the Schep unto the lond,
4357 And sette it there in such a wise
4358 As thou tofore hast herd devise,
4359 Wherof cam after al the wo,
4360 Why Jason was forswore so
4361 Unto Medee, as it is spoke.
4362 Mi fader, who that hath tobroke
4363 His trouthe, as ye have told above,
4364 He is noght worthi forto love
4365 Ne be beloved, as me semeth:
4366 Bot every newe love quemeth
4367 To him which newefongel is.
4368 And natheles nou after this,
4369 If that you list to taken hiede
4370 Upon mi Schrifte to procede,
4371 In loves cause ayein the vice
4372 Of covoitise and Avarice
4373 What ther is more I wolde wite.
4374 Mi Sone, this I finde write,
4375 Ther is yit on of thilke brood,
4376 Which only for the worldes good,
4377 To make a Tresor of Moneie,
4378 Put alle conscience aweie:
4379 Wherof in thi confession
4380 The name and the condicion
4381 I schal hierafterward declare,
4382 Which makth on riche, an other bare.
4383 Upon the bench sittende on hih
4384 With Avarice Usure I sih,
4385 Full clothed of his oghne suite,
4386 Which after gold makth chace and suite
4387 With his brocours, that renne aboute
4388 Lich unto racches in a route.
4389 Such lucre is non above grounde,
4390 Which is noght of tho racches founde;
4391 For wher thei se beyete sterte,
4392 That schal hem in no wise asterte,
4393 Bot thei it dryve into the net
4394 Of lucre, which Usure hath set.
4395 Usure with the riche duelleth,
4396 To al that evere he beith and selleth
4397 He hath ordeined of his sleyhte
4398 Mesure double and double weyhte:
4399 Outward he selleth be the lasse,
4400 And with the more he makth his tasse,
4401 Wherof his hous is full withinne.
4402 He reccheth noght, be so he winne,
4403 Though that ther lese ten or tuelve:
4404 His love is al toward himselve
4405 And to non other, bot he se
4406 That he mai winne suche thre;
4407 For wher he schal oght yive or lene,
4408 He wol ayeinward take a bene,
4409 Ther he hath lent the smale pese.
4410 And riht so ther ben manye of these
4411 Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte,
4412 That scarsly wolde it weie a myte,
4413 Yit wolde thei have a pound again,
4414 As doth Usure in his bargain.
4415 Bot certes such usure unliche,
4416 It falleth more unto the riche,
4417 Als wel of love as of beyete,
4418 Than unto hem that be noght grete,
4419 And, as who seith, ben simple and povere;
4420 For sielden is whan thei recovere,
4421 Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte.
4422 And natheles men se poverte
4423 With porsuite and continuance
4424 Fulofte make a gret chevance
4425 And take of love his avantage,
4426 Forth with the help of his brocage,
4427 That maken seme wher is noght.
4428 And thus fulofte is love boght
4429 For litel what, and mochel take,
4430 With false weyhtes that thei make.
4431 Nou, Sone, of that I seide above
4432 Thou wost what Usure is of love:
4433 Tell me forthi what so thou wilt,
4434 If thou therof hast eny gilt.
4435 Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere.
4436 For of tho pointz ye tolden hiere
4437 I wol you be mi trouthe assure,
4438 Mi weyhte of love and mi mesure
4439 Hath be mor large and mor certein
4440 Than evere I tok of love ayein:
4441 For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte,
4442 To take ayein be double weyhte
4443 Of love mor than I have yive.
4444 For als so wiss mot I be schrive
4445 And have remission of Sinne,
4446 As so yit couthe I nevere winne,
4447 Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein,
4448 That evere I mihte have half ayein
4449 Of so full love as I have lent:
4450 And if myn happ were so wel went,
4451 That for the hole I mihte have half,
4452 Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf.
4453 For where Usure wole have double,
4454 Mi conscience is noght so trouble,
4455 I biede nevere as to my del
4456 Bot of the hole an halvendel;
4457 That is non excess, as me thenketh.
4458 Bot natheles it me forthenketh;
4459 For wel I wot that wol noght be,
4460 For every day the betre I se
4461 That hou so evere I yive or lene
4462 Mi love in place ther I mene,
4463 For oght that evere I axe or crave,
4464 I can nothing ayeinward have.
4465 Bot yit for that I wol noght lete,
4466 What so befalle of mi beyete,
4467 That I ne schal hire yive and lene
4468 Mi love and al mi thoght so clene,
4469 That toward me schal noght beleve.
4470 And if sche of hire goode leve
4471 Rewarde wol me noght again,
4472 I wot the laste of my bargain
4473 Schal stonde upon so gret a lost,
4474 That I mai neveremor the cost
4475 Recovere in this world til I die.
4476 So that touchende of this partie
4477 I mai me wel excuse and schal;
4478 And forto speke forth withal,
4479 If eny brocour for me wente,
4480 That point cam nevere in myn entente:
4481 So that the more me merveilleth,
4482 What thing it is mi ladi eilleth,
4483 That al myn herte and al my time
4484 Sche hath, and doth no betre bime.
4485 I have herd seid that thoght is fre,
4486 And natheles in privete
4487 To you, mi fader, that ben hiere
4488 Min hole schrifte forto hiere,
4489 I dar min herte wel desclose.
4490 Touchende usure, as I suppose,
4491 Which as ye telle in love is used,
4492 Mi ladi mai noght ben excused;
4493 That for o lokinge of hire ye5
4494 Min hole herte til I dye
4495 With al that evere I may and can
4496 Sche hath me wonne to hire man:
4497 Wherof, me thenkth, good reson wolde
4498 That sche somdel rewarde scholde,
4499 And yive a part, ther sche hath al.
4500 I not what falle hierafter schal,
4501 Bot into nou yit dar I sein,
4502 Hire liste nevere yive ayein
4503 A goodli word in such a wise,
4504 Wherof min hope mihte arise,
4505 Mi grete love to compense.
4506 I not hou sche hire conscience
4507 Excuse wole of this usure;
4508 Be large weyhte and gret mesure
4509 Sche hath mi love, and I have noght
4510 Of that which I have diere boght,
4511 And with myn herte I have it paid;
4512 Bot al that is asyde laid,
4513 And I go loveles aboute.
4514 Hire oghte stonde if ful gret doute,
4515 Til sche redresce such a sinne,
4516 That sche wole al mi love winne
4517 And yifth me noght to live by:
4518 Noght als so moche as "grant mercy"
4519 Hir list to seie, of which I mihte
4520 Som of mi grete peine allyhte.
4521 Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare
4522 As he that paith for his chaffare,
4523 And beith it diere, and yit hath non,
4524 So mot he nedes povere gon:
4525 Thus beie I diere and have no love,
4526 That I ne mai noght come above
4527 To winne of love non encress.
4528 Bot I me wole natheles
4529 Touchende usure of love aquite;
4530 And if mi ladi be to wyte,
4531 I preie to god such grace hir sende
4532 That sche be time it mot amende.
4533 Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerd
4534 Touchende Usure I have al herd,
4535 Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:
4536 Bot that thou tellest in thi tale
4537 And thi ladi therof accusest,
4538 Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.
4539 For be thin oghne knowlechinge
4540 Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge
4541 Thin hole herte fro the tok:
4542 Sche mai be such, that hire o lok
4543 Is worth thin herte manyfold;
4544 So hast thou wel thin herte sold,
4545 Whan thou hast that is more worth.
4546 And ek of that thou tellest forth,
4547 Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene
4548 Is unto thin, under the hevene
4549 Stod nevere in evene that balance
4550 Which stant in loves governance.
4551 Such is the statut of his lawe,
4552 That thogh thi love more drawe
4553 And peise in the balance more,
4554 Thou miht noght axe ayein therfore
4555 Of duete, bot al of grace.
4556 For love is lord in every place,
4557 Ther mai no lawe him justefie
4558 Be reddour ne be compaignie,
4559 That he ne wole after his wille
4560 Whom that him liketh spede or spille.
4561 To love a man mai wel beginne,
4562 Bot whether he schal lese or winne,
4563 That wot noman til ate laste:
4564 Forthi coveite noght to faste,
4565 Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,
4566 Per cas al mai to goode wende.
4567 Bot that thou hast me told and said,
4568 Of o thing I am riht wel paid,
4569 That thou be sleyhte ne be guile
4570 Of no brocour hast otherwhile
4571 Engined love, for such dede
4572 Is sore venged, as I rede.
4573 Brocours of love that deceiven,
4574 No wonder is thogh thei receiven
4575 After the wrong that thei decerven;
4576 For whom as evere that thei serven
4577 And do plesance for a whyle,
4578 Yit ate laste here oghne guile
4579 Upon here oghne hed descendeth,
4580 Which god of his vengance sendeth,
4581 As be ensample of time go
4582 A man mai finde it hath be so.
4583 It fell somtime, as it was sene,
4584 The hihe goddesse and the queene
4585 Juno tho hadde in compainie
4586 A Maiden full of tricherie;
4587 For sche was evere in on acord
4588 With Jupiter, that was hire lord,
4589 To gete him othre loves newe,
4590 Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe
4591 Al otherwise than him nedeth.
4592 Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth,
4593 With queinte wordes and with slyhe
4594 Blente in such wise hir lady yhe,
4595 As sche to whom that Juno triste,
4596 So that therof sche nothing wiste.
4597 Bot so prive mai be nothing,
4598 That it ne comth to knowleching;
4599 Thing don upon the derke nyht
4600 Is after knowe on daies liht:
4601 So it befell, that ate laste
4602 Al that this slyhe maiden caste
4603 Was overcast and overthrowe.
4604 For as the sothe mot be knowe,
4605 To Juno was don understonde
4606 In what manere hir housebonde
4607 With fals brocage hath take usure
4608 Of love mor than his mesure,
4609 Whan he tok othre than his wif,
4610 Wherof this mayden was gultif,
4611 Which hadde ben of his assent.
4612 And thus was al the game schent;
4613 She soffreth him, as sche mot nede,
4614 Bot the brocour of his misdede,
4615 Sche which hir conseil yaf therto,
4616 On hire is the vengance do:
4617 For Juno with hire wordes hote,
4618 This Maiden, which Eccho was hote,
4619 Reproveth and seith in this wise:
4620 "O traiteresse, of which servise
4621 Hast thou thin oghne ladi served!
4622 Thou hast gret peine wel deserved,
4623 That thou canst maken it so queinte,
4624 Thi slyhe wordes forto peinte
4625 Towardes me, that am thi queene,
4626 Wherof thou madest me to wene
4627 That myn housbonde trewe were,
4628 Whan that he loveth elleswhere,
4629 Al be it so him nedeth noght.
4630 Bot upon thee it schal be boght,
4631 Which art prive to tho doinges,
4632 And me fulofte of thi lesinges
4633 Deceived hast: nou is the day
4634 That I thi while aquite may;
4635 And for thou hast to me conceled
4636 That my lord hath with othre deled,
4637 I schal thee sette in such a kende,
4638 That evere unto the worldes ende
4639 Al that thou hierest thou schalt telle,
4640 And clappe it out as doth a belle."
4641 And with that word sche was forschape,
4642 Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape,
4643 What man that in the wodes crieth,
4644 Withoute faile Eccho replieth,
4645 And what word that him list to sein,
4646 The same word sche seith ayein.
4647 Thus sche, which whilom hadde leve
4648 To duelle in chambre, mot beleve
4649 In wodes and on helles bothe,
4650 For such brocage as wyves lothe,
4651 Which doth here lordes hertes change
4652 And love in other place strange.
4653 Forthi, if evere it so befalle,
4654 That thou, mi Sone, amonges alle
4655 Be wedded man, hold that thou hast,
4656 For thanne al other love is wast.
4657 O wif schal wel to thee suffise,
4658 And thanne, if thou for covoitise
4659 Of love woldest axe more,
4660 Thou scholdest don ayein the lore
4661 Of alle hem that trewe be.
4662 Mi fader, as in this degre
4663 My conscience is noght accused;
4664 For I no such brocage have used,
4665 Wherof that lust of love is wonne.
4666 Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne,
4667 Of Avarice upon mi schrifte.
4668 Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifte
4669 Be ordre so as thei ben set,
4670 On whom no good is wel beset.
4671 Blinde Avarice of his lignage
4672 For conseil and for cousinage,
4673 To be withholde ayein largesse,
4674 Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse,
4675 The which is kepere of his hous,
4676 And is so thurghout averous,
4677 That he no good let out of honde;
4678 Thogh god himself it wolde fonde,
4679 Of yifte scholde he nothing have;
4680 And if a man it wolde crave,
4681 He moste thanne faile nede,
4682 Wher god himselve mai noght spede.
4683 And thus Skarsnesse in every place
4684 Be reson mai no thonk porchace,
4685 And natheles in his degree
4686 Above all othre most prive
4687 With Avarice stant he this.
4688 For he governeth that ther is
4689 In ech astat of his office
4690 After the reule of thilke vice;
4691 He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint,
4692 That lihtere is to fle the flint
4693 Than gete of him in hard or neisshe
4694 Only the value of a reysshe
4695 Of good in helpinge of an other,
4696 Noght thogh it were his oghne brother.
4697 For in the cas of yifte and lone
4698 Stant every man for him al one,
4699 Him thenkth of his unkindeschipe
4700 That him nedeth no felaschipe:
4701 Be so the bagge and he acorden,
4702 Him reccheth noght what men recorden
4703 Of him, or it be evel or good.
4704 For al his trust is on his good,
4705 So that al one he falleth ofte,
4706 Whan he best weneth stonde alofte,
4707 Als wel in love as other wise;
4708 For love is evere of som reprise
4709 To him that wole his love holde.
4710 Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde,
4711 Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte:
4712 Hast thou be scars or large of yifte
4713 Unto thi love, whom thou servest?
4714 For after that thou wel deservest
4715 Of yifte, thou miht be the bet;
4716 For that good holde I wel beset,
4717 For why thou miht the betre fare;
4718 Thanne is no wisdom forto spare.
4719 For thus men sein, in every nede
4720 He was wys that ferst made mede;
4721 For where as mede mai noght spede,
4722 I not what helpeth other dede:
4723 Fulofte he faileth of his game
4724 That wol with ydel hand reclame
4725 His hauk, as many a nyce doth.
4726 Forthi, mi Sone, tell me soth
4727 And sei the trouthe, if thou hast be
4728 Unto thy love or skars or fre.
4729 Mi fader, it hath stonde thus,
4730 That if the tresor of Cresus
4731 And al the gold Octovien,
4732 Forth with the richesse Yndien
4733 Of Perles and of riche stones,
4734 Were al togedre myn at ones,
4735 I sette it at nomore acompte
4736 Than wolde a bare straw amonte,
4737 To yive it hire al in a day,
4738 Be so that to that suete may
4739 I myhte like or more or lesse.
4740 And thus be cause of my scarsnesse
4741 Ye mai wel understonde and lieve
4742 That I schal noght the worse achieve
4743 The pourpos which is in my thoght.
4744 Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght,
4745 Ne therto dorste a profre make;
4746 For wel I wot sche wol noght take,
4747 And yive wol sche noght also,
4748 Sche is eschu of bothe tuo.
4749 And this I trowe be the skile
4750 Towardes me, for sche ne wile
4751 That I have eny cause of hope,
4752 Noght also mochel as a drope.
4753 Bot toward othre, as I mai se,
4754 Sche takth and yifth in such degre,
4755 That as be weie of frendlihiede
4756 Sche can so kepe hir wommanhiede,
4757 That every man spekth of hir wel.
4758 Bot sche wole take of me no del,
4759 And yit sche wot wel that I wolde
4760 Yive and do bothe what I scholde
4761 To plesen hire in al my myht:
4762 Be reson this wot every wyht,
4763 For that mai be no weie asterte,
4764 Ther sche is maister of the herte,
4765 Sche mot be maister of the good.
4766 For god wot wel that al my mod
4767 And al min herte and al mi thoght
4768 And al mi good, whil I have oght,
4769 Als freliche as god hath it yive,
4770 It schal ben hires, while I live,
4771 Riht as hir list hirself commande.
4772 So that it nedeth no demande,
4773 To axe of me if I be scars
4774 To love, for as to tho pars
4775 I wole ansuere and seie no.
4776 Mi Sone, that is riht wel do.
4777 For often times of scarsnesse
4778 It hath be sen, that for the lesse
4779 Is lost the more, as thou schalt hiere
4780 A tale lich to this matiere.
4781 Skarsnesse and love acorden nevere,
4782 For every thing is wel the levere,
4783 Whan that a man hath boght it diere:
4784 And forto speke in this matiere,
4785 For sparinge of a litel cost
4786 Fulofte time a man hath lost
4787 The large cote for the hod.
4788 What man that scars is of his good
4789 And wol noght yive, he schal noght take:
4790 With yifte a man mai undertake
4791 The hihe god to plese and queme,
4792 With yifte a man the world mai deme;
4793 For every creature bore,
4794 If thou him yive, is glad therfore,
4795 And every gladschipe, as I finde,
4796 Is confort unto loves kinde
4797 And causeth ofte a man to spede.
4798 So was he wys that ferst yaf mede,
4799 For mede kepeth love in house;
4800 Bot wher the men ben coveitouse
4801 And sparen forto yive a part,
4802 Thei knowe noght Cupides art:
4803 For his fortune and his aprise
4804 Desdeigneth alle coveitise
4805 And hateth alle nygardie.
4806 And forto loke of this partie,
4807 A soth ensample, hou it is so,
4808 I finde write of Babio;
4809 Which hadde a love at his menage,
4810 Ther was non fairere of hire age,
4811 And hihte Viola be name;
4812 Which full of youthe and ful of game
4813 Was of hirself, and large and fre,
4814 Bot such an other chinche as he
4815 Men wisten noght in al the lond,
4816 And hadde affaited to his hond
4817 His servant, the which Spodius
4818 Was hote. And in this wise thus
4819 The worldes good of sufficance
4820 Was had, bot likinge and plesance,
4821 Of that belongeth to richesse
4822 Of love, stod in gret destresse;
4823 So that this yonge lusty wyht
4824 Of thing which fell to loves riht
4825 Was evele served overal,
4826 That sche was wo bego withal,
4827 Til that Cupide and Venus eke
4828 A medicine for the seke
4829 Ordeigne wolden in this cas.
4830 So as fortune thanne was,
4831 Of love upon the destine
4832 It fell, riht as it scholde be,
4833 A freissh, a fre, a frendly man
4834 That noght of Avarice can,
4835 Which Croceus be name hihte,
4836 Toward this swete caste his sihte,
4837 And ther sche was cam in presence.
4838 Sche sih him large of his despence,
4839 And amorous and glad of chiere,
4840 So that hir liketh wel to hiere
4841 The goodly wordes whiche he seide;
4842 And therupon of love he preide,
4843 Of love was al that he mente,
4844 To love and for sche scholde assente,
4845 He yaf hire yiftes evere among.
4846 Bot for men sein that mede is strong,
4847 It was wel seene at thilke tyde;
4848 For as it scholde of ryht betyde,
4849 This Viola largesce hath take
4850 And the nygard sche hath forsake:
4851 Of Babio sche wol no more,
4852 For he was grucchende everemore,
4853 Ther was with him non other fare
4854 Bot forto prinche and forto spare,
4855 Of worldes muk to gete encress.
4856 So goth the wrecche loveles,
4857 Bejaped for his Skarcete,
4858 And he that large was and fre
4859 And sette his herte to despende,
4860 This Croceus, the bowe bende,
4861 Which Venus tok him forto holde,
4862 And schotte als ofte as evere he wolde.
4863 Lo, thus departeth love his lawe,
4864 That what man wol noght be felawe
4865 To yive and spende, as I thee telle,
4866 He is noght worthi forto duelle
4867 In loves court to be relieved.
4868 Forthi, my Sone, if I be lieved,
4869 Thou schalt be large of thi despence.
4870 Mi fader, in mi conscience
4871 If ther be eny thing amis,
4872 I wol amende it after this,
4873 Toward mi love namely.
4874 Mi Sone, wel and redely
4875 Thou seist, so that wel paid withal
4876 I am, and forthere if I schal
4877 Unto thi schrifte specefie
4878 Of Avarices progenie
4879 What vice suieth after this,
4880 Thou schalt have wonder hou it is,
4881 Among the folk in eny regne
4882 That such a vice myhte regne,
4883 Which is comun at alle assaies,
4884 As men mai finde nou adaies.
4885 The vice lik unto the fend,
4886 Which nevere yit was mannes frend,
4887 And cleped is Unkindeschipe,
4888 Of covine and of felaschipe
4889 With Avarice he is withholde.
4890 Him thenkth he scholde noght ben holde
4891 Unto the moder which him bar;
4892 Of him mai nevere man be war,
4893 He wol noght knowe the merite,
4894 For that he wolde it noght aquite;
4895 Which in this world is mochel used,
4896 And fewe ben therof excused.
4897 To telle of him is endeles,
4898 Bot this I seie natheles,
4899 Wher as this vice comth to londe,
4900 Ther takth noman his thonk on honde;
4901 Thogh he with alle his myhtes serve,
4902 He schal of him no thonk deserve.
4903 He takth what eny man wol yive,
4904 Bot whil he hath o day to live,
4905 He wol nothing rewarde ayein;
4906 He gruccheth forto yive o grein,
4907 Wher he hath take a berne full.
4908 That makth a kinde herte dull,
4909 To sette his trust in such frendschipe,
4910 Ther as he fint no kindeschipe;
4911 And forto speke wordes pleine,
4912 Thus hiere I many a man compleigne,
4913 That nou on daies thou schalt finde
4914 At nede fewe frendes kinde;
4915 What thou hast don for hem tofore,
4916 It is foryete, as it were lore.
4917 The bokes speken of this vice,
4918 And telle hou god of his justice,
4919 Be weie of kinde and ek nature
4920 And every lifissh creature,
4921 The lawe also, who that it kan,
4922 Thei dampnen an unkinde man.
4923 It is al on to seie unkinde
4924 As thing which don is ayein kinde,
4925 For it with kinde nevere stod
4926 A man to yelden evel for good.
4927 For who that wolde taken hede,
4928 A beste is glad of a good dede,
4929 And loveth thilke creature
4930 After the lawe of his nature
4931 Which doth him ese. And forto se
4932 Of this matiere Auctorite,
4933 Fulofte time it hath befalle;
4934 Wherof a tale amonges alle,
4935 Which is of olde ensamplerie,
4936 I thenke forto specefie.
4937 To speke of an unkinde man,
4938 I finde hou whilom Adrian,
4939 Of Rome which a gret lord was,
4940 Upon a day as he per cas
4941 To wode in his huntinge wente,
4942 It hapneth at a soudein wente,
4943 After his chace as he poursuieth,
4944 Thurgh happ, the which noman eschuieth,
4945 He fell unwar into a pet,
4946 Wher that it mihte noght be let.
4947 The pet was dep and he fell lowe,
4948 That of his men non myhte knowe
4949 Wher he becam, for non was nyh,
4950 Which of his fall the meschief syh.
4951 And thus al one ther he lay
4952 Clepende and criende al the day
4953 For socour and deliverance,
4954 Til ayein Eve it fell per chance,
4955 A while er it began to nyhte,
4956 A povere man, which Bardus hihte,
4957 Cam forth walkende with his asse,
4958 And hadde gadred him a tasse
4959 Of grene stickes and of dreie
4960 To selle, who that wolde hem beie,
4961 As he which hadde no liflode,
4962 Bot whanne he myhte such a lode
4963 To toune with his Asse carie.
4964 And as it fell him forto tarie
4965 That ilke time nyh the pet,
4966 And hath the trusse faste knet,
4967 He herde a vois, which cride dimme,
4968 And he his Ere to the brimme
4969 Hath leid, and herde it was a man,
4970 Which seide, "Ha, help hier Adrian,
4971 And I wol yiven half mi good."
4972 The povere man this understod,
4973 As he that wolde gladly winne,
4974 And to this lord which was withinne
4975 He spak and seide, "If I thee save,
4976 What sikernesse schal I have
4977 Of covenant, that afterward
4978 Thou wolt me yive such reward
4979 As thou behihtest nou tofore?"
4980 That other hath his othes swore
4981 Be hevene and be the goddes alle,
4982 If that it myhte so befalle
4983 That he out of the pet him broghte,
4984 Of all the goodes whiche he oghte
4985 He schal have evene halvendel.
4986 This Bardus seide he wolde wel;
4987 And with this word his Asse anon
4988 He let untrusse, and therupon
4989 Doun goth the corde into the pet,
4990 To which he hath at ende knet
4991 A staf, wherby, he seide, he wolde
4992 That Adrian him scholde holde.
4993 Bot it was tho per chance falle,
4994 Into that pet was also falle
4995 An Ape, which at thilke throwe,
4996 Whan that the corde cam doun lowe,
4997 Al sodeinli therto he skipte
4998 And it in bothe hise armes clipte.
4999 And Bardus with his Asse anon
5000 Him hath updrawe, and he is gon.
5001 But whan he sih it was an Ape,
5002 He wende al hadde ben a jape
5003 Of faierie, and sore him dradde:
5004 And Adrian eftsone gradde
5005 For help, and cride and preide faste,
5006 And he eftsone his corde caste;
5007 Bot whan it cam unto the grounde,
5008 A gret Serpent it hath bewounde,
5009 The which Bardus anon up drouh.
5010 And thanne him thoghte wel ynouh,
5011 It was fantosme, bot yit he herde
5012 The vois, and he therto ansuerde,
5013 "What wiht art thou in goddes name?"
5014 "I am," quod Adrian, "the same,
5015 Whos good thou schalt have evene half."
5016 Quod Bardus, "Thanne a goddes half
5017 The thridde time assaie I schal":
5018 And caste his corde forth withal
5019 Into the pet, and whan it cam
5020 To him, this lord of Rome it nam,
5021 And therupon him hath adresced,
5022 And with his hand fulofte blessed,
5023 And thanne he bad to Bardus hale.
5024 And he, which understod his tale,
5025 Betwen him and his Asse al softe
5026 Hath drawe and set him up alofte
5027 Withouten harm al esely.
5028 He seith noght ones "grant merci,"
5029 Bot strauhte him forth to the cite,
5030 And let this povere Bardus be.
5031 And natheles this simple man
5032 His covenant, so as he can,
5033 Hath axed; and that other seide,
5034 If so be that he him umbreide
5035 Of oght that hath be speke or do,
5036 It schal ben venged on him so,
5037 That him were betre to be ded.
5038 And he can tho non other red,
5039 But on his asse ayein he caste
5040 His trusse, and hieth homward faste:
5041 And whan that he cam hom to bedde,
5042 He tolde his wif hou that he spedde.
5043 Bot finaly to speke oght more
5044 Unto this lord he dradde him sore,
5045 So that a word ne dorste he sein:
5046 And thus upon the morwe ayein,
5047 In the manere as I recorde,
5048 Forth with his Asse and with his corde
5049 To gadre wode, as he dede er,
5050 He goth; and whan that he cam ner
5051 Unto the place where he wolde,
5052 He hath his Ape anon beholde,
5053 Which hadde gadred al aboute
5054 Of stickes hiere and there a route,
5055 And leide hem redy to his hond,
5056 Wherof he made his trosse and bond;
5057 Fro dai to dai and in this wise
5058 This Ape profreth his servise,
5059 So that he hadde of wode ynouh.
5060 Upon a time and as he drouh
5061 Toward the wode, he sih besyde
5062 The grete gastli Serpent glyde,
5063 Til that sche cam in his presence,
5064 And in hir kinde a reverence
5065 Sche hath him do, and forth withal
5066 A Ston mor briht than a cristall
5067 Out of hir mouth tofore his weie
5068 Sche let doun falle, and wente aweie,
5069 For that he schal noght ben adrad.
5070 Tho was this povere Bardus glad,
5071 Thonkende god, and to the Ston
5072 He goth an takth it up anon,
5073 And hath gret wonder in his wit
5074 Hou that the beste him hath aquit,
5075 Wher that the mannes Sone hath failed,
5076 For whom he hadde most travailed.
5077 Bot al he putte in goddes hond,
5078 And torneth hom, and what he fond
5079 Unto his wif he hath it schewed;
5080 And thei, that weren bothe lewed,
5081 Acorden that he scholde it selle.
5082 And he no lengere wolde duelle,
5083 Bot forth anon upon the tale
5084 The Ston he profreth to the sale;
5085 And riht as he himself it sette,
5086 The jueler anon forth fette
5087 The gold and made his paiement,
5088 Therof was no delaiement.
5089 Thus whan this Ston was boght and sold,
5090 Homward with joie manyfold
5091 This Bardus goth; and whan he cam
5092 Hom to his hous and that he nam
5093 His gold out of his Purs, withinne
5094 He fond his Ston also therinne,
5095 Wherof for joie his herte pleide,
5096 Unto his wif and thus he seide,
5097 "Lo, hier my gold, lo, hier mi Ston!"
5098 His wif hath wonder therupon,
5099 And axeth him hou that mai be.
5100 "Nou be mi trouthe I not," quod he,
5101 "Bot I dar swere upon a bok,
5102 That to my Marchant I it tok,
5103 And he it hadde whan I wente:
5104 So knowe I noght to what entente
5105 It is nou hier, bot it be grace.
5106 Forthi tomorwe in other place
5107 I wole it fonde forto selle,
5108 And if it wol noght with him duelle,
5109 Bot crepe into mi purs ayein,
5110 Than dar I saufly swere and sein,
5111 It is the vertu of the Ston."
5112 The morwe cam, and he is gon
5113 To seche aboute in other stede
5114 His Ston to selle, and he so dede,
5115 And lefte it with his chapman there.
5116 Bot whan that he cam elleswhere,
5117 In presence of his wif at hom,
5118 Out of his Purs and that he nom
5119 His gold, he fond his Ston withal:
5120 And thus it fell him overal,
5121 Where he it solde in sondri place,
5122 Such was the fortune and the grace.
5123 Bot so wel may nothing ben hidd,
5124 That it nys ate laste kidd:
5125 This fame goth aboute Rome
5126 So ferforth, that the wordes come
5127 To themperour Justinian;
5128 And he let sende for the man,
5129 And axede him hou that it was.
5130 And Bardus tolde him al the cas,
5131 Hou that the worm and ek the beste,
5132 Althogh thei maden no beheste,
5133 His travail hadden wel aquit;
5134 Bot he which hadde a mannes wit,
5135 And made his covenant be mouthe
5136 And swor therto al that he couthe
5137 To parte and yiven half his good,
5138 Hath nou foryete hou that it stod,
5139 As he which wol no trouthe holde.
5140 This Emperour al that he tolde
5141 Hath herd, and thilke unkindenesse
5142 He seide he wolde himself redresse.
5143 And thus in court of juggement
5144 This Adrian was thanne assent,
5145 And the querele in audience
5146 Declared was in the presence
5147 Of themperour and many mo;
5148 Wherof was mochel speche tho
5149 And gret wondringe among the press.
5150 Bot ate laste natheles
5151 For the partie which hath pleigned
5152 The lawe hath diemed and ordeigned
5153 Be hem that were avised wel,
5154 That he schal have the halvendel
5155 Thurghout of Adrianes good.
5156 And thus of thilke unkinde blod
5157 Stant the memoire into this day,
5158 Wherof that every wysman may
5159 Ensamplen him, and take in mynde
5160 What schame it is to ben unkinde;
5161 Ayein the which reson debateth,
5162 And every creature it hateth.
5163 Forthi, mi Sone, in thin office
5164 I rede fle that ilke vice.
5165 For riht as the Cronique seith
5166 Of Adrian, hou he his feith
5167 Foryat for worldes covoitise,
5168 Fulofte in such a maner wise
5169 Of lovers nou a man mai se
5170 Full manye that unkinde be:
5171 For wel behote and evele laste
5172 That is here lif; for ate laste,
5173 Whan that thei have here wille do,
5174 Here love is after sone ago.
5175 What seist thou, Sone, to this cas?
5176 Mi fader, I wol seie Helas,
5177 That evere such a man was bore,
5178 Which whan he hath his trouthe suore
5179 And hath of love what he wolde,
5180 That he at eny time scholde
5181 Evere after in his herte finde
5182 To falsen and to ben unkinde.
5183 Bot, fader, as touchende of me,
5184 I mai noght stonde in that degre;
5185 For I tok nevere of love why,
5186 That I ne mai wel go therby
5187 And do my profit elles where,
5188 For eny sped I finde there.
5189 I dar wel thenken al aboute,
5190 Bot I ne dar noght speke it oute;
5191 And if I dorste, I wolde pleigne,
5192 That sche for whom I soffre peine
5193 And love hir evere aliche hote,
5194 That nouther yive ne behote
5195 In rewardinge of mi servise
5196 It list hire in no maner wise.
5197 I wol noght say that sche is kinde,
5198 And forto sai sche is unkinde,
5199 That dar I noght; bot god above,
5200 Which demeth every herte of love,
5201 He wot that on myn oghne side
5202 Schal non unkindeschipe abide:
5203 If it schal with mi ladi duelle,
5204 Therof dar I nomore telle.
5205 Nou, goode fader, as it is,
5206 Tell me what thenketh you of this.
5207 Mi Sone, of that unkindeschipe,
5208 The which toward thi ladischipe
5209 Thou pleignest, for sche wol thee noght,
5210 Thou art to blamen of that thoght.
5211 For it mai be that thi desir,
5212 Thogh it brenne evere as doth the fyr,
5213 Per cas to hire honour missit,
5214 Or elles time com noght yit,
5215 Which standt upon thi destine:
5216 Forthi, mi Sone, I rede thee,
5217 Thenk wel, what evere the befalle;
5218 For noman hath his lustes alle.
5219 Bot as thou toldest me before
5220 That thou to love art noght forswore,
5221 And hast don non unkindenesse,
5222 Thou miht therof thi grace blesse:
5223 And lef noght that continuance;
5224 For ther mai be no such grevance
5225 To love, as is unkindeschipe.
5226 Wherof to kepe thi worschipe,
5227 So as these olde bokes tale,
5228 I schal thee telle a redi tale:
5229 Nou herkne and be wel war therby,
5230 For I wol telle it openly.
5231 Mynos, as telleth the Poete,
5232 The which whilom was king of Crete,
5233 A Sone hadde and Androchee
5234 He hihte: and so befell that he
5235 Unto Athenes forto lere
5236 Was send, and so he bar him there,
5237 For that he was of hih lignage,
5238 Such pride he tok in his corage,
5239 That he foryeten hath the Scoles,
5240 And in riote among the foles
5241 He dede manye thinges wronge;
5242 And useth thilke lif so longe,
5243 Til ate laste of that he wroghte
5244 He fond the meschief which he soghte,
5245 Wherof it fell that he was slain.
5246 His fader, which it herde sain,
5247 Was wroth, and al that evere he mihte,
5248 Of men of Armes he him dighte
5249 A strong pouer, and forth he wente
5250 Unto Athenys, where he brente
5251 The pleine contre al aboute:
5252 The Cites stode of him in doute,
5253 As thei that no defence hadde
5254 Ayein the pouer which he ladde.
5255 Eges, which was there king,
5256 His conseil tok upon this thing,
5257 For he was thanne in the Cite:
5258 So that of pes into tretee
5259 Betwen Mynos and Eges
5260 Thei felle, and ben acorded thus;
5261 That king Mynos fro yer to yeere
5262 Receive schal, as thou schalt here,
5263 Out of Athenys for truage
5264 Of men that were of myhti Age
5265 Persones nyne, of whiche he schal
5266 His wille don in special
5267 For vengance of his Sones deth.
5268 Non other grace ther ne geth,
5269 Bot forto take the juise;
5270 And that was don in such a wise,
5271 Which stod upon a wonder cas.
5272 For thilke time so it was,
5273 Wherof that men yit rede and singe,
5274 King Mynos hadde in his kepinge
5275 A cruel Monstre, as seith the geste:
5276 For he was half man and half beste,
5277 And Minotaurus he was hote,
5278 Which was begete in a riote
5279 Upon Pasiphe, his oghne wif,
5280 Whil he was oute upon the strif
5281 Of thilke grete Siege at Troie.
5282 Bot sche, which lost hath alle joie,
5283 Whan that sche syh this Monstre bore,
5284 Bad men ordeigne anon therfore:
5285 And fell that ilke time thus,
5286 Ther was a Clerk, on Dedalus,
5287 Which hadde ben of hire assent
5288 Of that hir world was so miswent;
5289 And he made of his oghne wit,
5290 Wherof the remembrance is yit,
5291 For Minotaure such an hous,
5292 Which was so strange and merveilous,
5293 That what man that withinne wente,
5294 Ther was so many a sondri wente,
5295 That he ne scholde noght come oute,
5296 But gon amased al aboute.
5297 And in this hous to loke and warde
5298 Was Minotaurus put in warde,
5299 That what lif that therinne cam,
5300 Or man or beste, he overcam
5301 And slow, and fedde him therupon;
5302 And in this wise many on
5303 Out of Athenys for truage
5304 Devoured weren in that rage.
5305 For every yeer thei schope hem so,
5306 Thei of Athenys, er thei go
5307 Toward that ilke wofull chance,
5308 As it was set in ordinance,
5309 Upon fortune here lot thei caste;
5310 Til that Theses ate laste,
5311 Which was the kinges Sone there,
5312 Amonges othre that ther were
5313 In thilke yeer, as it befell,
5314 The lot upon his chance fell.
5315 He was a worthi kniht withalle;
5316 And whan he sih this chance falle,
5317 He ferde as thogh he tok non hiede,
5318 Bot al that evere he mihte spiede,
5319 With him and with his felaschipe
5320 Forth into Crete he goth be Schipe;
5321 Wher that the king Mynos he soghte,
5322 And profreth all that he him oghte
5323 Upon the point of here acord.
5324 This sterne king, this cruel lord
5325 Tok every day on of the Nyne,
5326 And put him to the discipline
5327 Of Minotaure, to be devoured;
5328 Bot Theses was so favoured,
5329 That he was kept til ate laste.
5330 And in the meene while he caste
5331 What thing him were best to do:
5332 And fell that Adriagne tho,
5333 Which was the dowhter of Mynos,
5334 And hadde herd the worthi los
5335 Of Theses and of his myht,
5336 And syh he was a lusti kniht,
5337 Hire hole herte on him sche leide,
5338 And he also of love hir preide,
5339 So ferforth that thei were al on.
5340 And sche ordeigneth thanne anon
5341 In what manere he scholde him save,
5342 And schop so that sche dede him have
5343 A clue of thred, of which withinne
5344 Ferst ate dore he schal beginne
5345 With him to take that on ende,
5346 That whan he wolde ayeinward wende,
5347 He mihte go the same weie.
5348 And over this, so as I seie,
5349 Of pich sche tok him a pelote,
5350 The which he scholde into the throte
5351 Of Minotaure caste rihte:
5352 Such wepne also for him sche dighte,
5353 That he be reson mai noght faile
5354 To make an ende of his bataile;
5355 For sche him tawhte in sondri wise,
5356 Til he was knowe of thilke emprise,
5357 Hou he this beste schulde quelle.
5358 And thus, schort tale forto telle,
5359 So as this Maide him hadde tawht,
5360 Theses with this Monstre fawht,
5361 Smot of his hed, the which he nam,
5362 And be the thred, so as he cam,
5363 He goth ayein, til he were oute.
5364 Tho was gret wonder al aboute:
5365 Mynos the tribut hath relessed,
5366 And so was al the werre cessed
5367 Betwen Athene and hem of Crete.
5368 Bot now to speke of thilke suete,
5369 Whos beaute was withoute wane,
5370 This faire Maiden Adriane,
5371 Whan that sche sih Theses sound,
5372 Was nevere yit upon the ground
5373 A gladder wyht that sche was tho.
5374 Theses duelte a dai or tuo
5375 Wher that Mynos gret chiere him dede:
5376 Theses in a prive stede
5377 Hath with this Maiden spoke and rouned,
5378 That sche to him was abandouned
5379 In al that evere that sche couthe,
5380 So that of thilke lusty youthe
5381 Al prively betwen hem tweie
5382 The ferste flour he tok aweie.
5383 For he so faire tho behihte
5384 That evere, whil he live mihte,
5385 He scholde hire take for his wif,
5386 And as his oghne hertes lif
5387 He scholde hire love and trouthe bere;
5388 And sche, which mihte noght forbere,
5389 So sore loveth him ayein,
5390 That what as evere he wolde sein
5391 With al hire herte sche believeth.
5392 And thus his pourpos he achieveth,
5393 So that assured of his trouthe
5394 With him sche wente, and that was routhe.
5395 Fedra hire yonger Soster eke,
5396 A lusti Maide, a sobre, a meke,
5397 Fulfild of alle curtesie,
5398 For Sosterhode and compainie
5399 Of love, which was hem betuene,
5400 To sen hire Soster mad a queene,
5401 Hire fader lefte and forth sche wente
5402 With him, which al his ferste entente
5403 Foryat withinne a litel throwe,
5404 So that it was al overthrowe,
5405 Whan sche best wende it scholde stonde.
5406 The Schip was blowe fro the londe,
5407 Wherin that thei seilende were;
5408 This Adriagne hath mochel fere
5409 Of that the wynd so loude bleu,
5410 As sche which of the See ne kneu,
5411 And preide forto reste a whyle.
5412 And so fell that upon an yle,
5413 Which Chyo hihte, thei ben drive,
5414 Where he to hire his leve hath yive
5415 That sche schal londe and take hire reste.
5416 Bot that was nothing for the beste:
5417 For whan sche was to londe broght,
5418 Sche, which that time thoghte noght
5419 Bot alle trouthe, and tok no kepe,
5420 Hath leid hire softe forto slepe,
5421 As sche which longe hath ben forwacched;
5422 Bot certes sche was evele macched
5423 And fer from alle loves kinde;
5424 For more than the beste unkinde
5425 Theses, which no trouthe kepte,
5426 Whil that this yonge ladi slepte,
5427 Fulfild of his unkindeschipe
5428 Hath al foryete the goodschipe
5429 Which Adriane him hadde do,
5430 And bad unto the Schipmen tho
5431 Hale up the seil and noght abyde,
5432 And forth he goth the same tyde
5433 Toward Athene, and hire alonde
5434 He lefte, which lay nyh the stronde
5435 Slepende, til that sche awok.
5436 Bot whan that sche cast up hire lok
5437 Toward the stronde and sih no wyht,
5438 Hire herte was so sore aflyht,
5439 That sche ne wiste what to thinke,
5440 Bot drouh hire to the water brinke,
5441 Wher sche behield the See at large.
5442 Sche sih no Schip, sche sih no barge
5443 Als ferforth as sche mihte kenne:
5444 "Ha lord," sche seide, "which a Senne,
5445 As al the world schal after hiere,
5446 Upon this woful womman hiere
5447 This worthi kniht hath don and wroght!
5448 I wende I hadde his love boght,
5449 And so deserved ate nede,
5450 Whan that he stod upon his drede,
5451 And ek the love he me behihte.
5452 It is gret wonder hou he mihte
5453 Towardes me nou ben unkinde,
5454 And so to lete out of his mynde
5455 Thing which he seide his oghne mouth.
5456 Bot after this whan it is couth
5457 And drawe into the worldes fame,
5458 It schal ben hindringe of his name:
5459 For wel he wot and so wot I,
5460 He yaf his trouthe bodily,
5461 That he myn honour scholde kepe."
5462 And with that word sche gan to wepe,
5463 And sorweth more than ynouh:
5464 Hire faire tresces sche todrouh,
5465 And with hirself tok such a strif,
5466 That sche betwen the deth and lif
5467 Swounende lay fulofte among.
5468 And al was this on him along,
5469 Which was to love unkinde so,
5470 Wherof the wrong schal everemo
5471 Stonde in Cronique of remembrance.
5472 And ek it asketh a vengance
5473 To ben unkinde in loves cas,
5474 So as Theses thanne was,
5475 Al thogh he were a noble kniht;
5476 For he the lawe of loves riht
5477 Forfeted hath in alle weie,
5478 That Adriagne he putte aweie,
5479 Which was a gret unkinde dede:
5480 And after this, so as I rede,
5481 Fedra, the which hir Soster is,
5482 He tok in stede of hire, and this
5483 Fel afterward to mochel teene.
5484 For thilke vice of which I meene,
5485 Unkindeschipe, where it falleth,
5486 The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth,
5487 That he can no good dede aquite:
5488 So mai he stonde of no merite
5489 Towardes god, and ek also
5490 Men clepen him the worldes fo;
5491 For he nomore than the fend
5492 Unto non other man is frend,
5493 Bot al toward himself al one.
5494 Forthi, mi Sone, in thi persone
5495 This vice above all othre fle.
5496 Mi fader, as ye techen me,
5497 I thenke don in this matiere.
5498 Bot over this nou wolde I hiere,
5499 Wherof I schal me schryve more.
5500 Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore,
5501 After the reule of coveitise
5502 I schal the proprete devise
5503 Of every vice by and by.
5504 Nou herkne and be wel war therby.
5505 In the lignage of Avarice,
5506 Mi Sone, yit ther is a vice,
5507 His rihte name it is Ravine,
5508 Which hath a route of his covine.
5509 Ravine among the maistres duelleth,
5510 And with his servantz, as men telleth,
5511 Extorcion is nou withholde:
5512 Ravine of othre mennes folde
5513 Makth his larder and paieth noght;
5514 For wher as evere it mai be soght,
5515 In his hous ther schal nothing lacke,
5516 And that fulofte abyth the packe
5517 Of povere men that duelle aboute.
5518 Thus stant the comun poeple in doute,
5519 Which can do non amendement;
5520 For whanne him faileth paiement,
5521 Ravine makth non other skile,
5522 Bot takth be strengthe what he wile.
5523 So ben ther in the same wise
5524 Lovers, as I thee schal devise,
5525 That whan noght elles mai availe,
5526 Anon with strengthe thei assaile
5527 And gete of love the sesine,
5528 Whan thei se time, be Ravine.
5529 Forthi, mi Sone, schrif thee hier,
5530 If thou hast ben a Raviner
5531 Of love. Certes, fader, no:
5532 For I mi ladi love so,
5533 That thogh I were as was Pompeie,
5534 That al the world me wolde obeie,
5535 Or elles such as Alisandre,
5536 I wolde noght do such a sklaundre;
5537 It is no good man, which so doth.
5538 In good feith, Sone, thou seist soth:
5539 For he that wole of pourveance
5540 Be such a weie his lust avance,
5541 He schal it after sore abie,
5542 Bot if these olde ensamples lie.
5543 Nou, goode fader, tell me on,
5544 So as ye cunne manyon,
5545 Touchende of love in this matiere.
5546 Nou list, mi Sone, and thou schalt hiere,
5547 So as it hath befalle er this,
5548 In loves cause hou that it is
5549 A man to take be Ravine
5550 The preie which is femeline.
5551 Ther was a real noble king,
5552 And riche of alle worldes thing,
5553 Which of his propre enheritance
5554 Athenes hadde in governance,
5555 And who so thenke therupon,
5556 His name was king Pandion.
5557 Tuo douhtres hadde he be his wif,
5558 The whiche he lovede as his lif;
5559 The ferste douhter Progne hihte,
5560 And the secounde, as sche wel mihte,
5561 Was cleped faire Philomene,
5562 To whom fell after mochel tene.
5563 The fader of his pourveance
5564 His doughter Progne wolde avance,
5565 And yaf hire unto mariage
5566 A worthi king of hih lignage,
5567 A noble kniht eke of his hond,
5568 So was he kid in every lond,
5569 Of Trace he hihte Teres;
5570 The clerk Ovide telleth thus.
5571 This Teres his wif hom ladde,
5572 A lusti lif with hire he hadde;
5573 Til it befell upon a tyde,
5574 This Progne, as sche lay him besyde,
5575 Bethoughte hir hou it mihte be
5576 That sche hir Soster myhte se,
5577 And to hir lord hir will sche seide,
5578 With goodly wordes and him preide
5579 That sche to hire mihte go:
5580 And if it liked him noght so,
5581 That thanne he wolde himselve wende,
5582 Or elles be som other sende,
5583 Which mihte hire diere Soster griete,
5584 And schape hou that thei mihten miete.
5585 Hir lord anon to that he herde
5586 Yaf his acord, and thus ansuerde:
5587 "I wole," he seide, "for thi sake
5588 The weie after thi Soster take
5589 Miself, and bringe hire, if I may."
5590 And sche with that, there as he lay,
5591 Began him in hire armes clippe,
5592 And kist him with hir softe lippe,
5593 And seide, "Sire, grant mercy."
5594 And he sone after was redy,
5595 And tok his leve forto go;
5596 In sori time dede he so.
5597 This Teres goth forth to Schipe
5598 With him and with his felaschipe;
5599 Be See the rihte cours he nam,
5600 Into the contre til he cam,
5601 Wher Philomene was duellinge,
5602 And of hir Soster the tidinge
5603 He tolde, and tho thei weren glade,
5604 And mochel joie of him thei made.
5605 The fader and the moder bothe
5606 To leve here douhter weren lothe,
5607 Bot if thei weren in presence;
5608 And natheles at reverence
5609 Of him, that wolde himself travaile,
5610 Thei wolden noght he scholde faile
5611 Of that he preide, and yive hire leve:
5612 And sche, that wolde noght beleve,
5613 In alle haste made hire yare
5614 Toward hir Soster forto fare,
5615 With Teres and forth sche wente.
5616 And he with al his hole entente,
5617 Whan sche was fro hir frendes go,
5618 Assoteth of hire love so,
5619 His yhe myhte he noght withholde,
5620 That he ne moste on hir beholde;
5621 And with the sihte he gan desire,
5622 And sette his oghne herte on fyre;
5623 And fyr, whan it to tow aprocheth,
5624 To him anon the strengthe acrocheth,
5625 Til with his hete it be devoured,
5626 The tow ne mai noght be socoured.
5627 And so that tirant raviner,
5628 Whan that sche was in his pouer,
5629 And he therto sawh time and place,
5630 As he that lost hath alle grace,
5631 Foryat he was a wedded man,
5632 And in a rage on hire he ran,
5633 Riht as a wolf which takth his preie.
5634 And sche began to crie and preie,
5635 "O fader, o mi moder diere,
5636 Nou help!" Bot thei ne mihte it hiere,
5637 And sche was of to litel myht
5638 Defense ayein so ruide a knyht
5639 To make, whanne he was so wod
5640 That he no reson understod,
5641 Bot hield hire under in such wise,
5642 That sche ne myhte noght arise,
5643 Bot lay oppressed and desesed,
5644 As if a goshauk hadde sesed
5645 A brid, which dorste noght for fere
5646 Remue: and thus this tirant there
5647 Beraft hire such thing as men sein
5648 Mai neveremor be yolde ayein,
5649 And that was the virginite:
5650 Of such Ravine it was pite.
5651 Bot whan sche to hirselven com,
5652 And of hir meschief hiede nom,
5653 And knew hou that sche was no maide,
5654 With wofull herte thus sche saide,
5655 "O thou of alle men the worste,
5656 Wher was ther evere man that dorste
5657 Do such a dede as thou hast do?
5658 That dai schal falle, I hope so,
5659 That I schal telle out al mi fille,
5660 And with mi speche I schal fulfille
5661 The wyde world in brede and lengthe.
5662 That thou hast do to me be strengthe,
5663 If I among the poeple duelle,
5664 Unto the poeple I schal it telle;
5665 And if I be withinne wall
5666 Of Stones closed, thanne I schal
5667 Unto the Stones clepe and crie,
5668 And tellen hem thi felonie;
5669 And if I to the wodes wende,
5670 Ther schal I tellen tale and ende,
5671 And crie it to the briddes oute,
5672 That thei schul hiere it al aboute.
5673 For I so loude it schal reherce,
5674 That my vois schal the hevene perce,
5675 That it schal soune in goddes Ere.
5676 Ha, false man, where is thi fere?
5677 O mor cruel than eny beste,
5678 Hou hast thou holden thi beheste
5679 Which thou unto my Soster madest?
5680 O thou, which alle love ungladest,
5681 And art ensample of alle untrewe,
5682 Nou wolde god mi Soster knewe,
5683 Of thin untrouthe, hou that it stod!"
5684 And he than as a Lyon wod
5685 With hise unhappi handes stronge
5686 Hire cauhte be the tresses longe,
5687 With whiche he bond ther bothe hire armes,
5688 That was a fieble dede of armes,
5689 And to the grounde anon hire caste,
5690 And out he clippeth also faste
5691 Hire tunge with a peire scheres.
5692 So what with blod and what with teres
5693 Out of hire yhe and of hir mouth,
5694 He made hire faire face uncouth:
5695 Sche lay swounende unto the deth,
5696 Ther was unethes eny breth;
5697 Bot yit whan he hire tunge refte,
5698 A litel part therof belefte,
5699 Bot sche with al no word mai soune,
5700 Bot chitre and as a brid jargoune.
5701 And natheles that wode hound
5702 Hir bodi hent up fro the ground,
5703 And sente hir there as be his wille
5704 Sche scholde abyde in prison stille
5705 For everemo: bot nou tak hiede
5706 What after fell of this misdede.
5707 Whanne al this meschief was befalle,
5708 This Teres, that foule him falle,
5709 Unto his contre hom he tyh;
5710 And whan he com his paleis nyh,
5711 His wif al redi there him kepte.
5712 Whan he hir sih, anon he wepte,
5713 And that he dede for deceite,
5714 For sche began to axe him streite,
5715 "Wher is mi Soster?" And he seide
5716 That sche was ded; and Progne abreide,
5717 As sche that was a wofull wif,
5718 And stod betuen hire deth and lif,
5719 Of that sche herde such tidinge:
5720 Bot for sche sih hire lord wepinge,
5721 She wende noght bot alle trouthe,
5722 And hadde wel the more routhe.
5723 The Perles weren tho forsake
5724 To hire, and blake clothes take;
5725 As sche that was gentil and kinde,
5726 In worschipe of hir Sostres mynde
5727 Sche made a riche enterement,
5728 For sche fond non amendement
5729 To syghen or to sobbe more:
5730 So was ther guile under the gore.
5731 Nou leve we this king and queene,
5732 And torne ayein to Philomene,
5733 As I began to tellen erst.
5734 Whan sche cam into prison ferst,
5735 It thoghte a kinges douhter strange
5736 To maken so soudein a change
5737 Fro welthe unto so grete a wo;
5738 And sche began to thenke tho,
5739 Thogh sche be mouthe nothing preide,
5740 Withinne hir herte thus sche seide:
5741 "O thou, almyhty Jupiter,
5742 That hihe sist and lokest fer,
5743 Thou soffrest many a wrong doinge,
5744 And yit it is noght thi willinge.
5745 To thee ther mai nothing ben hid,
5746 Thou wost hou it is me betid:
5747 I wolde I hadde noght be bore,
5748 For thanne I hadde noght forlore
5749 Mi speche and mi virginite.
5750 Bot, goode lord, al is in thee,
5751 Whan thou therof wolt do vengance
5752 And schape mi deliverance."
5753 And evere among this ladi wepte,
5754 And thoghte that sche nevere kepte
5755 To ben a worldes womman more,
5756 And that sche wissheth everemore.
5757 Bot ofte unto hir Soster diere
5758 Hire herte spekth in this manere,
5759 And seide, "Ha, Soster, if ye knewe
5760 Of myn astat, ye wolde rewe,
5761 I trowe, and my deliverance
5762 Ye wolde schape, and do vengance
5763 On him that is so fals a man:
5764 And natheles, so as I can,
5765 I wol you sende som tokninge,
5766 Wherof ye schul have knowlechinge
5767 Of thing I wot, that schal you lothe,
5768 The which you toucheth and me bothe."
5769 And tho withinne a whyle als tyt
5770 Sche waf a cloth of Selk al whyt
5771 With lettres and ymagerie,
5772 In which was al the felonie,
5773 Which Teres to hire hath do;
5774 And lappede it togedre tho
5775 And sette hir signet therupon
5776 And sende it unto Progne anon.
5777 The messager which forth it bar,
5778 What it amonteth is noght war;
5779 And natheles to Progne he goth
5780 And prively takth hire the cloth,
5781 And wente ayein riht as he cam,
5782 The court of him non hiede nam.
5783 Whan Progne of Philomene herde,
5784 Sche wolde knowe hou that it ferde,
5785 And opneth that the man hath broght,
5786 And wot therby what hath be wroght
5787 And what meschief ther is befalle.
5788 In swoune tho sche gan doun falle,
5789 And efte aros and gan to stonde,
5790 And eft sche takth the cloth on honde,
5791 Behield the lettres and thymages;
5792 Bot ate laste, "Of suche oultrages,"
5793 Sche seith, "wepinge is noght the bote:"
5794 And swerth, if that sche live mote,
5795 It schal be venged otherwise.
5796 And with that sche gan hire avise
5797 Hou ferst sche mihte unto hire winne
5798 Hir Soster, that noman withinne,
5799 Bot only thei that were suore,
5800 It scholde knowe, and schop therfore
5801 That Teres nothing it wiste;
5802 And yit riht as hirselven liste,
5803 Hir Soster was delivered sone
5804 Out of prison, and be the mone
5805 To Progne sche was broght be nyhte.
5806 Whan ech of other hadde a sihte,
5807 In chambre, ther thei were al one,
5808 Thei maden many a pitous mone;
5809 Bot Progne most of sorwe made,
5810 Which sihe hir Soster pale and fade
5811 And specheles and deshonoured,
5812 Of that sche hadde be defloured;
5813 And ek upon hir lord sche thoghte,
5814 Of that he so untreuly wroghte
5815 And hadde his espousaile broke.
5816 Sche makth a vou it schal be wroke,
5817 And with that word sche kneleth doun
5818 Wepinge in gret devocioun:
5819 Unto Cupide and to Venus
5820 Sche preide, and seide thanne thus:
5821 "O ye, to whom nothing asterte
5822 Of love mai, for every herte
5823 Ye knowe, as ye that ben above
5824 The god and the goddesse of love;
5825 Ye witen wel that evere yit
5826 With al mi will and al my wit,
5827 Sith ferst ye schopen me to wedde,
5828 That I lay with mi lord abedde,
5829 I have be trewe in mi degre,
5830 And evere thoghte forto be,
5831 And nevere love in other place,
5832 Bot al only the king of Trace,
5833 Which is mi lord and I his wif.
5834 Bot nou allas this wofull strif!
5835 That I him thus ayeinward finde
5836 The most untrewe and most unkinde
5837 That evere in ladi armes lay.
5838 And wel I wot that he ne may
5839 Amende his wrong, it is so gret;
5840 For he to lytel of me let,
5841 Whan he myn oughne Soster tok,
5842 And me that am his wif forsok."
5843 Lo, thus to Venus and Cupide
5844 Sche preide, and furthermor sche cride
5845 Unto Appollo the hiheste,
5846 And seide, "O myghti god of reste,
5847 Thou do vengance of this debat.
5848 Mi Soster and al hire astat
5849 Thou wost, and hou sche hath forlore
5850 Hir maidenhod, and I therfore
5851 In al the world schal bere a blame
5852 Of that mi Soster hath a schame,
5853 That Teres to hire I sente:
5854 And wel thou wost that myn entente
5855 Was al for worschipe and for goode.
5856 O lord, that yifst the lives fode
5857 To every wyht, I prei thee hiere
5858 Thes wofull Sostres that ben hiere,
5859 And let ous noght to the ben lothe;
5860 We ben thin oghne wommen bothe."
5861 Thus pleigneth Progne and axeth wreche,
5862 And thogh hire Soster lacke speche,
5863 To him that alle thinges wot
5864 Hire sorwe is noght the lasse hot:
5865 Bot he that thanne had herd hem tuo,
5866 Him oughte have sorwed everemo
5867 For sorwe which was hem betuene.
5868 With signes pleigneth Philomene,
5869 And Progne seith, "It schal be wreke,
5870 That al the world therof schal speke."
5871 And Progne tho seknesse feigneth,
5872 Wherof unto hir lord sche pleigneth,
5873 And preith sche moste hire chambres kepe,
5874 And as hir liketh wake and slepe.
5875 And he hire granteth to be so;
5876 And thus togedre ben thei tuo,
5877 That wolde him bot a litel good.
5878 Nou herk hierafter hou it stod
5879 Of wofull auntres that befelle:
5880 Thes Sostres, that ben bothe felle,-
5881 And that was noght on hem along,
5882 Bot onliche on the grete wrong
5883 Which Teres hem hadde do,-
5884 Thei schopen forto venge hem tho.
5885 This Teres be Progne his wif
5886 A Sone hath, which as his lif
5887 He loveth, and Ithis he hihte:
5888 His moder wiste wel sche mihte
5889 Do Teres no more grief
5890 Than sle this child, which was so lief.
5891 Thus sche, that was, as who seith, mad
5892 Of wo, which hath hir overlad,
5893 Withoute insihte of moderhede
5894 Foryat pite and loste drede,
5895 And in hir chambre prively
5896 This child withouten noise or cry
5897 Sche slou, and hieu him al to pieces:
5898 And after with diverse spieces
5899 The fleissh, whan it was so toheewe,
5900 Sche takth, and makth therof a sewe,
5901 With which the fader at his mete
5902 Was served, til he hadde him ete;
5903 That he ne wiste hou that it stod,
5904 Bot thus his oughne fleissh and blod
5905 Himself devoureth ayein kinde,
5906 As he that was tofore unkinde.
5907 And thanne, er that he were arise,
5908 For that he scholde ben agrise,
5909 To schewen him the child was ded,
5910 This Philomene tok the hed
5911 Betwen tuo disshes, and al wrothe
5912 Tho comen forth the Sostres bothe,
5913 And setten it upon the bord.
5914 And Progne tho began the word,
5915 And seide, "O werste of alle wicke,
5916 Of conscience whom no pricke
5917 Mai stere, lo, what thou hast do!
5918 Lo, hier ben nou we Sostres tuo;
5919 O Raviner, lo hier thi preie,
5920 With whom so falsliche on the weie
5921 Thou hast thi tirannye wroght.
5922 Lo, nou it is somdel aboght,
5923 And bet it schal, for of thi dede
5924 The world schal evere singe and rede
5925 In remembrance of thi defame:
5926 For thou to love hast do such schame,
5927 That it schal nevere be foryete."
