< Confessio Amantis < Incipit Liber Primus
| 1764 | And sche began to pleie and rage, |
| 1765 | As who seith, I am wel ynowh; |
| 1766 | Bot he therof nothing ne lowh, |
| 1767 | For sche tok thanne chiere on honde |
| 1768 | And clepeth him hire housebonde, |
| 1769 | And seith, "My lord, go we to bedde, |
| 1770 | For I to that entente wedde, |
| 1771 | That thou schalt be my worldes blisse:" |
| 1772 | And profreth him with that to kisse, |
| 1773 | As sche a lusti Lady were. |
| 1774 | His body myhte wel be there, |
| 1775 | Bot as of thoght and of memoire |
| 1776 | His herte was in purgatoire. |
| 1777 | Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoine |
| 1778 | He myhte make non essoine, |
| 1779 | That he ne mot algates plie |
| 1780 | To gon to bedde of compaignie: |
| 1781 | And whan thei were abedde naked, |
| 1782 | Withoute slep he was awaked; |
| 1783 | He torneth on that other side, |
| 1784 | For that he wolde hise yhen hyde |
| 1785 | Fro lokynge on that foule wyht. |
| 1786 | The chambre was al full of lyht, |
| 1787 | The courtins were of cendal thinne, |
| 1788 | This newe bryd which lay withinne, |
| 1789 | Thogh it be noght with his acord, |
| 1790 | In armes sche beclipte hire lord, |
| 1791 | And preide, as he was torned fro, |
| 1792 | He wolde him torne ayeinward tho; |
| 1793 | "For now," sche seith, "we ben bothe on." |
| 1794 | And he lay stille as eny ston, |
| 1795 | Bot evere in on sche spak and preide, |
| 1796 | And bad him thenke on that he seide, |
| 1797 | Whan that he tok hire be the hond. |
| 1798 | He herde and understod the bond, |
| 1799 | How he was set to his penance, |
| 1800 | And as it were a man in trance |
| 1801 | He torneth him al sodeinly, |
| 1802 | And syh a lady lay him by |
| 1803 | Of eyhtetiene wynter age, |
| 1804 | Which was the faireste of visage |
| 1805 | That evere in al this world he syh: |
| 1806 | And as he wolde have take hire nyh, |
| 1807 | Sche put hire hand and be his leve |
| 1808 | Besoghte him that he wolde leve, |
| 1809 | And seith that forto wynne or lese |
| 1810 | He mot on of tuo thinges chese, |
| 1811 | Wher he wol have hire such on nyht, |
| 1812 | Or elles upon daies lyht, |
| 1813 | For he schal noght have bothe tuo. |
| 1814 | And he began to sorwe tho, |
| 1815 | In many a wise and caste his thoght, |
| 1816 | Bot for al that yit cowthe he noght |
| 1817 | Devise himself which was the beste. |
| 1818 | And sche, that wolde his hertes reste, |
| 1819 | Preith that he scholde chese algate, |
| 1820 | Til ate laste longe and late |
| 1821 | He seide: "O ye, my lyves hele, |
| 1822 | Sey what you list in my querele, |
| 1823 | I not what ansuere I schal yive: |
| 1824 | Bot evere whil that I may live, |
| 1825 | I wol that ye be my maistresse, |
| 1826 | For I can noght miselve gesse |
| 1827 | Which is the beste unto my chois. |
| 1828 | Thus grante I yow myn hole vois, |
| 1829 | Ches for ous bothen, I you preie; |
| 1830 | And what as evere that ye seie, |
| 1831 | Riht as ye wole so wol I." |
| 1832 | "Mi lord," sche seide, " grant merci, |
| 1833 | For of this word that ye now sein, |
| 1834 | That ye have mad me soverein, |
| 1835 | Mi destine is overpassed, |
| 1836 | That nevere hierafter schal be lassed |
| 1837 | Mi beaute, which that I now have, |
| 1838 | Til I be take into my grave; |
| 1839 | Bot nyht and day as I am now |
| 1840 | I schal alwey be such to yow. |
| 1841 | The kinges dowhter of Cizile |
| 1842 | I am, and fell bot siththe awhile, |
| 1843 | As I was with my fader late, |
| 1844 | That my Stepmoder for an hate, |
| 1845 | Which toward me sche hath begonne, |
| 1846 | Forschop me, til I hadde wonne |
| 1847 | The love and sovereinete |
| 1848 | Of what knyht that in his degre |
| 1849 | Alle othre passeth of good name: |
| 1850 | And, as men sein, ye ben the same, |
| 1851 | The dede proeveth it is so; |
| 1852 | Thus am I youres evermo." |
| 1853 | Tho was plesance and joye ynowh, |
| 1854 | Echon with other pleide and lowh; |
| 1855 | Thei live longe and wel thei ferde, |
| 1856 | And clerkes that this chance herde |
| 1857 | Thei writen it in evidence, |
| 1858 | To teche how that obedience |
| 1859 | Mai wel fortune a man to love |
| 1860 | And sette him in his lust above, |
| 1861 | As it befell unto this knyht. |
| 1862 | Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht, |
| 1863 | Thou schalt unto thi love obeie, |
| 1864 | And folwe hir will be alle weie. |
| 1865 | Min holy fader, so I wile: |
| 1866 | For ye have told me such a skile |
| 1867 | Of this ensample now tofore, |
| 1868 | That I schal evermo therfore |
| 1869 | Hierafterward myn observance |
| 1870 | To love and to his obeissance |
| 1871 | The betre kepe: and over this |
| 1872 | Of pride if ther oght elles is, |
| 1873 | Wherof that I me schryve schal, |
| 1874 | What thing it is in special, |
| 1875 | Mi fader, axeth, I you preie. |
| 1876 | Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie: |
| 1877 | For yit ther is Surquiderie, |
| 1878 | Which stant with Pride of compaignie; |
| 1879 | Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon, |
| 1880 | To knowe if thou have gult or non |
| 1881 | Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere: |
| 1882 | Now understond wel the matiere. |
| 1883 | Surquiderie is thilke vice |
| 1884 | Of Pride, which the thridde office |
| 1885 | Hath in his Court, and wol noght knowe |
| 1886 | The trowthe til it overthrowe. |
| 1887 | Upon his fortune and his grace |
| 1888 | Comth "Hadde I wist" fulofte aplace; |
| 1889 | For he doth al his thing be gesse, |
| 1890 | And voideth alle sikernesse. |
| 1891 | Non other conseil good him siemeth |
| 1892 | Bot such as he himselve diemeth; |
| 1893 | For in such wise as he compasseth, |
| 1894 | His wit al one alle othre passeth; |
| 1895 | And is with pride so thurghsoght, |
| 1896 | That he alle othre set at noght, |
| 1897 | And weneth of himselven so, |
| 1898 | That such as he ther be nomo, |
| 1899 | So fair, so semly, ne so wis; |
| 1900 | And thus he wolde bere a pris |
| 1901 | Above alle othre, and noght forthi |
| 1902 | He seith noght ones "grant mercy" |
| 1903 | To godd, which alle grace sendeth, |
| 1904 | So that his wittes he despendeth |
| 1905 | Upon himself, as thogh ther were |
| 1906 | No godd which myhte availe there: |
| 1907 | Bot al upon his oghne witt |
| 1908 | He stant, til he falle in the pitt |
| 1909 | So ferr that he mai noght arise. |
| 1910 | And riht thus in the same wise |
| 1911 | This vice upon the cause of love |
| 1912 | So proudly set the herte above, |
| 1913 | And doth him pleinly forto wene |
| 1914 | That he to loven eny qwene |
| 1915 | Hath worthinesse and sufficance; |
| 1916 | And so withoute pourveance |
| 1917 | Fulofte he heweth up so hihe, |
| 1918 | That chippes fallen in his yhe; |
| 1919 | And ek ful ofte he weneth this, |
| 1920 | Ther as he noght beloved is, |
| 1921 | To be beloved alther best. |
| 1922 | Now, Sone, tell what so thee lest |
| 1923 | Of this that I have told thee hier. |
| 1924 | Ha, fader, be noght in a wer: |
| 1925 | I trowe ther be noman lesse, |
| 1926 | Of eny maner worthinesse, |
| 1927 | That halt him lasse worth thanne I |
| 1928 | To be beloved; and noght forthi |
| 1929 | I seie in excusinge of me, |
| 1930 | To alle men that love is fre. |
| 1931 | And certes that mai noman werne; |
| 1932 | For love is of himself so derne, |
| 1933 | It luteth in a mannes herte: |
| 1934 | Bot that ne schal me noght asterte, |
| 1935 | To wene forto be worthi |
| 1936 | To loven, bot in hir mercy. |
| 1937 | Bot, Sire, of that ye wolden mene, |
| 1938 | That I scholde otherwise wene |
| 1939 | To be beloved thanne I was, |
| 1940 | I am beknowe as in that cas. |
| 1941 | Mi goode Sone, tell me how. |
| 1942 | Now lest, and I wol telle yow, |
| 1943 | Mi goode fader, how it is. |
| 1944 | Fulofte it hath befalle or this |
| 1945 | Thurgh hope that was noght certein, |
| 1946 | Mi wenynge hath be set in vein |
| 1947 | To triste in thing that halp me noght, |
| 1948 | Bot onliche of myn oughne thoght. |
| 1949 | For as it semeth that a belle |
| 1950 | Lik to the wordes that men telle |
| 1951 | Answerth, riht so ne mor ne lesse, |
| 1952 | To yow, my fader, I confesse, |
| 1953 | Such will my wit hath overset, |
| 1954 | That what so hope me behet, |
| 1955 | Ful many a time I wene it soth, |
| 1956 | Bot finali no spied it doth. |
| 1957 | Thus may I tellen, as I can, |
| 1958 | Wenyng beguileth many a man; |
| 1959 | So hath it me, riht wel I wot: |
| 1960 | For if a man wole in a Bot |
| 1961 | Which is withoute botme rowe, |
| 1962 | He moste nedes overthrowe. |
| 1963 | Riht so wenyng hath ferd be me: |
| 1964 | For whanne I wende next have be, |
| 1965 | As I be my wenynge caste, |
| 1966 | Thanne was I furthest ate laste, |
| 1967 | And as a foll my bowe unbende, |
| 1968 | Whan al was failed that I wende. |
| 1969 | Forthi, my fader, as of this, |
| 1970 | That my wenynge hath gon amis |
| 1971 | Touchende to Surquiderie, |
| 1972 | Yif me my penance er I die. |
| 1973 | Bot if ye wolde in eny forme |
| 1974 | Of this matiere a tale enforme, |
| 1975 | Which were ayein this vice set, |
| 1976 | I scholde fare wel the bet. |
| 1977 | Mi Sone, in alle maner wise |
| 1978 | Surquiderie is to despise, |
| 1979 | Wherof I finde write thus. |
| 1980 | The proude knyht Capaneuµs |
| 1981 | He was of such Surquiderie, |
| 1982 | That he thurgh his chivalerie |
| 1983 | Upon himself so mochel triste, |
| 1984 | That to the goddes him ne liste |
| 1985 | In no querele to beseche, |
| 1986 | Bot seide it was an ydel speche, |
| 1987 | Which caused was of pure drede, |
| 1988 | For lack of herte and for no nede. |
| 1989 | And upon such presumpcioun |
| 1990 | He hield this proude opinioun, |
| 1991 | Til ate laste upon a dai, |
| 1992 | Aboute Thebes wher he lay, |
| 1993 | Whan it of Siege was belein, |
| 1994 | This knyht, as the Croniqes sein, |
| 1995 | In alle mennes sihte there, |
| 1996 | Whan he was proudest in his gere, |
| 1997 | And thoghte how nothing myhte him dere, |
| 1998 | Ful armed with his schield and spere |
| 1999 | As he the Cite wolde assaile, |
| 2000 | Godd tok himselve the bataille |
| 2001 | Ayein his Pride, and fro the sky |
| 2002 | A firy thonder sodeinly |
| 2003 | He sende, and him to pouldre smot. |
| 2004 | And thus the Pride which was hot, |
| 2005 | Whan he most in his strengthe wende, |
| 2006 | Was brent and lost withouten ende: |
| 2007 | So that it proeveth wel therfore, |
| 2008 | The strengthe of man is sone lore, |
| 2009 | Bot if that he it wel governe. |
| 2010 | And over this a man mai lerne |
| 2011 | That ek fulofte time it grieveth, |
| 2012 | Whan that a man himself believeth, |
| 2013 | As thogh it scholde him wel beseme |
| 2014 | That he alle othre men can deme, |
| 2015 | And hath foryete his oghne vice. |
| 2016 | A tale of hem that ben so nyce, |
| 2017 | And feigne hemself to be so wise, |
| 2018 | I schal thee telle in such a wise, |
| 2019 | Wherof thou schalt ensample take |
| 2020 | That thou no such thing undertake. |
| 2021 | I finde upon Surquiderie, |
| 2022 | How that whilom of Hungarie |
| 2023 | Be olde daies was a King |
| 2024 | Wys and honeste in alle thing: |
| 2025 | And so befell upon a dai, |
| 2026 | And that was in the Monthe of Maii, |
| 2027 | As thilke time it was usance, |
| 2028 | This kyng with noble pourveance |
| 2029 | Hath for himself his Charr araied, |
| 2030 | Wher inne he wolde ride amaied |
| 2031 | Out of the Cite forto pleie, |
| 2032 | With lordes and with gret nobleie |
| 2033 | Of lusti folk that were yonge: |
| 2034 | Wher some pleide and some songe, |
| 2035 | And some gon and some ryde, |
| 2036 | And some prike here hors aside |
| 2037 | And bridlen hem now in now oute. |
| 2038 | The kyng his yhe caste aboute, |
| 2039 | Til he was ate laste war |
| 2040 | And syh comende ayein his char |
| 2041 | Two pilegrins of so gret age, |
| 2042 | That lich unto a dreie ymage |
| 2043 | Thei weren pale and fade hewed, |
| 2044 | And as a bussh which is besnewed, |
| 2045 | Here berdes weren hore and whyte; |
| 2046 | Ther was of kinde bot a lite, |
| 2047 | That thei ne semen fulli dede. |
| 2048 | Thei comen to the kyng and bede |
| 2049 | Som of his good par charite; |
| 2050 | And he with gret humilite |
| 2051 | Out of his Char to grounde lepte, |
| 2052 | And hem in bothe hise armes kepte |
| 2053 | And keste hem bothe fot and hond |
| 2054 | Before the lordes of his lond, |
| 2055 | And yaf hem of his good therto: |
| 2056 | And whanne he hath this dede do, |
| 2057 | He goth into his char ayein. |
| 2058 | Tho was Murmur, tho was desdeign, |
| 2059 | Tho was compleignte on every side, |
| 2060 | Thei seiden of here oghne Pride |
| 2061 | Eche until othre: "What is this? |
| 2062 | Oure king hath do this thing amis, |
| 2063 | So to abesse his realte |
| 2064 | That every man it myhte se, |
| 2065 | And humbled him in such a wise |
| 2066 | To hem that were of non emprise." |
| 2067 | Thus was it spoken to and fro |
| 2068 | Of hem that were with him tho |
| 2069 | Al prively behinde his bak; |
| 2070 | Bot to himselven noman spak. |
| 2071 | The kinges brother in presence |
| 2072 | Was thilke time, and gret offence |
| 2073 | He tok therof, and was the same |
| 2074 | Above alle othre which most blame |
| 2075 | Upon his liege lord hath leid, |
| 2076 | And hath unto the lordes seid, |
| 2077 | Anon as he mai time finde, |
| 2078 | Ther schal nothing be left behinde, |
| 2079 | That he wol speke unto the king. |
| 2080 | Now lest what fell upon this thing. |
| 2081 | The day was merie and fair ynowh, |
| 2082 | Echon with othre pleide and lowh, |
| 2083 | And fellen into tales newe, |
| 2084 | How that the freisshe floures grewe, |
| 2085 | And how the grene leves spronge, |
| 2086 | And how that love among the yonge |
| 2087 | Began the hertes thanne awake, |
| 2088 | And every bridd hath chose hire make: |
| 2089 | And thus the Maies day to thende |
| 2090 | Thei lede, and hom ayein thei wende. |
| 2091 | The king was noght so sone come, |
| 2092 | That whanne he hadde his chambre nome, |
| 2093 | His brother ne was redi there, |
| 2094 | And broghte a tale unto his Ere |
| 2095 | Of that he dede such a schame |
| 2096 | In hindringe of his oghne name, |
| 2097 | Whan he himself so wolde drecche, |
| 2098 | That to so vil a povere wrecche |
| 2099 | Him deigneth schewe such simplesce |
| 2100 | Ayein thastat of his noblesce: |
| 2101 | And seith he schal it nomor use, |
| 2102 | And that he mot himself excuse |
| 2103 | Toward hise lordes everychon. |
| 2104 | The king stod stille as eny ston, |
| 2105 | And to his tale an Ere he leide, |
| 2106 | And thoghte more than he seide: |
| 2107 | Bot natheles to that he herde |
| 2108 | Wel cortaisly the king answerde, |
| 2109 | And tolde it scholde be amended. |
| 2110 | And thus whan that her tale is ended, |
| 2111 | Al redy was the bord and cloth, |
| 2112 | The king unto his Souper goth |
| 2113 | Among the lordes to the halle; |
| 2114 | And whan thei hadden souped alle, |
| 2115 | Thei token leve and forth thei go. |
| 2116 | The king bethoghte himselve tho |
| 2117 | How he his brother mai chastie, |
| 2118 | That he thurgh his Surquiderie |
| 2119 | Tok upon honde to despreise |
| 2120 | Humilite, which is to preise, |
| 2121 | And therupon yaf such conseil |
| 2122 | Toward his king that was noght heil; |
| 2123 | Wherof to be the betre lered, |
| 2124 | He thenkth to maken him afered. |
| 2125 | It fell so that in thilke dawe |
| 2126 | Ther was ordeined be the lawe |
| 2127 | A trompe with a sterne breth, |
| 2128 | Which cleped was the Trompe of deth: |
| 2129 | And in the Court wher the king was |
| 2130 | A certein man this Trompe of bras |
| 2131 | Hath in kepinge, and therof serveth, |
| 2132 | That whan a lord his deth deserveth, |
| 2133 | He schal this dredful trompe blowe |
| 2134 | Tofore his gate, and make it knowe |
| 2135 | How that the jugement is yove |
| 2136 | Of deth, which schal noght be foryove. |
| 2137 | The king, whan it was nyht, anon |
| 2138 | This man asente and bad him gon |
| 2139 | To trompen at his brother gate; |
| 2140 | And he, which mot so don algate, |
| 2141 | Goth forth and doth the kynges heste. |
| 2142 | This lord, which herde of this tempeste |
| 2143 | That he tofore his gate blew, |
| 2144 | Tho wiste he be the lawe and knew |
| 2145 | That he was sikerliche ded: |
| 2146 | And as of help he wot no red, |
| 2147 | Bot sende for hise frendes alle |
| 2148 | And tolde hem how it is befalle. |
| 2149 | And thei him axe cause why; |
| 2150 | Bot he the sothe noght forthi |
| 2151 | Ne wiste, and ther was sorwe tho: |
| 2152 | For it stod thilke tyme so, |
| 2153 | This trompe was of such sentence, |
| 2154 | That therayein no resistence |
| 2155 | Thei couthe ordeine be no weie, |
| 2156 | That he ne mot algate deie, |
| 2157 | Bot if so that he may pourchace |
| 2158 | To gete his liege lordes grace. |
| 2159 | Here wittes therupon thei caste, |
| 2160 | And ben apointed ate laste. |
| 2161 | This lord a worthi ladi hadde |
| 2162 | Unto his wif, which also dradde |
| 2163 | Hire lordes deth, and children five |
| 2164 | Betwen hem two thei hadde alyve, |
| 2165 | That weren yonge and tendre of age, |
| 2166 | And of stature and of visage |
| 2167 | Riht faire and lusty on to se. |
| 2168 | Tho casten thei that he and sche |
| 2169 | Forth with here children on the morwe, |
| 2170 | As thei that were full of sorwe, |
| 2171 | Al naked bot of smok and scherte, |
| 2172 | To tendre with the kynges herte, |
| 2173 | His grace scholden go to seche |
| 2174 | And pardoun of the deth beseche. |
| 2175 | Thus passen thei that wofull nyht, |
| 2176 | And erly, whan thei sihe it lyht, |
| 2177 | Thei gon hem forth in such a wise |
| 2178 | As thou tofore hast herd devise, |
| 2179 | Al naked bot here schortes one. |
| 2180 | Thei wepte and made mochel mone, |
| 2181 | Here Her hangende aboute here Eres; |
| 2182 | With sobbinge and with sory teres |
| 2183 | This lord goth thanne an humble pas, |
| 2184 | That whilom proud and noble was; |
| 2185 | Wherof the Cite sore afflyhte, |
| 2186 | Of hem that sihen thilke syhte: |
| 2187 | And natheless al openly |
| 2188 | With such wepinge and with such cri |
| 2189 | Forth with hise children and his wif |
| 2190 | He goth to preie for his lif. |
| 2191 | Unto the court whan thei be come, |
| 2192 | And men therinne have hiede nome, |
| 2193 | Ther was no wiht, if he hem syhe, |
| 2194 | Fro water mihte kepe his yhe |
| 2195 | For sorwe which thei maden tho. |
| 2196 | The king supposeth of this wo, |
| 2197 | And feigneth as he noght ne wiste; |
| 2198 | Bot natheles at his upriste |
| 2199 | Men tolden him how that it ferde: |
| 2200 | And whan that he this wonder herde, |
| 2201 | In haste he goth into the halle, |
| 2202 | And alle at ones doun thei falle, |
| 2203 | If eny pite may be founde. |
| 2204 | The king, which seth hem go to grounde, |
| 2205 | Hath axed hem what is the fere, |
| 2206 | Why thei be so despuiled there. |
| 2207 | His brother seide: "Ha lord, mercy! |
| 2208 | I wot non other cause why, |
| 2209 | Bot only that this nyht ful late |
| 2210 | The trompe of deth was at my gate |
| 2211 | In tokne that I scholde deie; |
| 2212 | Thus be we come forto preie |
| 2213 | That ye mi worldes deth respite." |
| 2214 | "Ha fol, how thou art forto wyte," |
| 2215 | The king unto his brother seith, |
| 2216 | "That thou art of so litel feith, |
| 2217 | That only for a trompes soun |
| 2218 | Hast gon despuiled thurgh the toun, |
| 2219 | Thou and thi wif in such manere |
| 2220 | Forth with thi children that ben here, |
| 2221 | In sihte of alle men aboute, |
| 2222 | For that thou seist thou art in doute |
| 2223 | Of deth, which stant under the lawe |
| 2224 | Of man, and man it mai withdrawe, |
| 2225 | So that it mai par chance faile. |
| 2226 | Now schalt thou noght forthi mervaile |
| 2227 | That I doun fro my Charr alihte, |
| 2228 | Whanne I behield tofore my sihte |
| 2229 | In hem that were of so grete age |
| 2230 | Min oghne deth thurgh here ymage, |
| 2231 | Which god hath set be lawe of kynde, |
| 2232 | Wherof I mai no bote finde: |
| 2233 | For wel I wot, such as thei be, |
| 2234 | Riht such am I in my degree, |
| 2235 | Of fleissh and blod, and so schal deie. |
| 2236 | And thus, thogh I that lawe obeie |
| 2237 | Of which the kinges ben put under, |
| 2238 | It oghte ben wel lasse wonder |
| 2239 | Than thou, which art withoute nede |
| 2240 | For lawe of londe in such a drede, |
| 2241 | Which for tacompte is bot a jape, |
| 2242 | As thing which thou miht overscape. |
| 2243 | Forthi, mi brother, after this |
| 2244 | I rede, sithen that so is |
| 2245 | That thou canst drede a man so sore, |
| 2246 | Dred god with al thin herte more: |
| 2247 | For al schal deie and al schal passe, |
| 2248 | Als wel a Leoun as an asse, |
| 2249 | Als wel a beggere as a lord, |
| 2250 | Towardes deth in on acord |
| 2251 | Thei schullen stonde." And in this wise |
| 2252 | The king hath with hise wordes wise |
| 2253 | His brother tawht and al foryive. |
| 2254 | Forthi, mi Sone, if thou wolt live |
| 2255 | In vertu, thou most vice eschuie, |
| 2256 | And with low herte humblesce suie, |
| 2257 | So that thou be noght surquidous. |
| 2258 | Mi fader, I am amorous, |
| 2259 | Wherof I wolde you beseche |
| 2260 | That ye me som ensample teche, |
| 2261 | Which mihte in loves cause stonde. |
| 2262 | Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde, |
| 2263 | In love and othre thinges alle |
| 2264 | If that Surquiderie falle, |
| 2265 | It may to him noght wel betide |
| 2266 | Which useth thilke vice of Pride, |
| 2267 | Which torneth wisdom to wenynge |
| 2268 | And Sothfastnesse into lesynge |
| 2269 | Thurgh fol ymaginacion. |
| 2270 | And for thin enformacion, |
| 2271 | That thou this vice as I the rede |
| 2272 | Eschuie schalt, a tale I rede, |
| 2273 | Which fell whilom be daies olde, |
| 2274 | So as the clerk Ovide tolde. |
| 2275 | Ther was whilom a lordes Sone, |
| 2276 | Which of his Pride a nyce wone |
| 2277 | Hath cawht, that worthi to his liche, |
| 2278 | To sechen al the worldes riche, |
| 2279 | Ther was no womman forto love. |
| 2280 | So hihe he sette himselve above |
| 2281 | Of stature and of beaute bothe, |
| 2282 | That him thoghte alle wommen lothe: |
| 2283 | So was ther no comparisoun |
| 2284 | As toward his condicioun. |
| 2285 | This yonge lord Narcizus hihte: |
| 2286 | No strengthe of love bowe mihte |
| 2287 | His herte, which is unaffiled; |
| 2288 | Bot ate laste he was beguiled: |
| 2289 | For of the goddes pourveance |
| 2290 | It fell him on a dai par chance, |
| 2291 | That he in all his proude fare |
| 2292 | Unto the forest gan to fare, |
| 2293 | Amonges othre that ther were |
| 2294 | To hunte and to desporte him there. |
| 2295 | And whanne he cam into the place |
| 2296 | Wher that he wolde make his chace, |
| 2297 | The houndes weren in a throwe |
| 2298 | Uncoupled and the hornes blowe: |
| 2299 | The grete hert anon was founde, |
| 2300 | Which swifte feet sette upon grounde, |
| 2301 | And he with spore in horse side |
| 2302 | Him hasteth faste forto ride, |
| 2303 | Til alle men be left behinde. |
| 2304 | And as he rod, under a linde |
| 2305 | Beside a roche, as I thee telle, |
| 2306 | He syh wher sprong a lusty welle: |
| 2307 | The day was wonder hot withalle, |
| 2308 | And such a thurst was on him falle, |
| 2309 | That he moste owther deie or drinke; |
| 2310 | And doun he lihte and be the brinke |
| 2311 | He teide his Hors unto a braunche, |
| 2312 | And leide him lowe forto staunche |
| 2313 | His thurst: and as he caste his lok |
| 2314 | Into the welle and hiede tok, |
| 2315 | He sih the like of his visage, |
| 2316 | And wende ther were an ymage |
| 2317 | Of such a Nimphe as tho was faie, |
| 2318 | Wherof that love his herte assaie |
| 2319 | Began, as it was after sene, |
| 2320 | Of his sotie and made him wene |
| 2321 | It were a womman that he syh. |
| 2322 | The more he cam the welle nyh, |
| 2323 | The nerr cam sche to him ayein; |
| 2324 | So wiste he nevere what to sein; |
| 2325 | For whanne he wepte, he sih hire wepe, |
| 2326 | And whanne he cride, he tok good kepe, |
| 2327 | The same word sche cride also: |
| 2328 | And thus began the newe wo, |
| 2329 | That whilom was to him so strange; |
| 2330 | Tho made him love an hard eschange, |
| 2331 | To sette his herte and to beginne |
| 2332 | Thing which he mihte nevere winne. |
| 2333 | And evere among he gan to loute, |
| 2334 | And preith that sche to him come oute; |
| 2335 | And otherwhile he goth a ferr, |
| 2336 | And otherwhile he draweth nerr, |
| 2337 | And evere he fond hire in o place. |
| 2338 | He wepth, he crith, he axeth grace, |
| 2339 | There as he mihte gete non; |
| 2340 | So that ayein a Roche of Ston, |
| 2341 | As he that knew non other red, |
| 2342 | He smot himself til he was ded. |
| 2343 | Wherof the Nimphes of the welles, |
| 2344 | And othre that ther weren elles |
| 2345 | Unto the wodes belongende, |
| 2346 | The body, which was ded ligende, |
| 2347 | For pure pite that thei have |
| 2348 | Under the grene thei begrave. |
| 2349 | And thanne out of his sepulture |
| 2350 | Ther sprong anon par aventure |
| 2351 | Of floures such a wonder syhte, |
| 2352 | That men ensample take myhte |
| 2353 | Upon the dedes whiche he dede, |
| 2354 | As tho was sene in thilke stede; |
| 2355 | For in the wynter freysshe and faire |
| 2356 | The floures ben, which is contraire |
| 2357 | To kynde, and so was the folie |
| 2358 | Which fell of his Surquiderie. |
| 2359 | Thus he, which love hadde in desdeign, |
| 2360 | Worste of all othre was besein, |
| 2361 | And as he sette his pris most hyhe, |
| 2362 | He was lest worth in loves yhe |
| 2363 | And most bejaped in his wit: |
| 2364 | Wherof the remembrance is yit, |
| 2365 | So that thou myht ensample take, |
| 2366 | And ek alle othre for his sake. |
| 2367 | Mi fader, as touchende of me, |
| 2368 | This vice I thenke forto fle, |
| 2369 | Which of his wenynge overtroweth; |
| 2370 | And nameliche of thing which groweth |
| 2371 | In loves cause or wel or wo |
| 2372 | Yit pryded I me nevere so. |
| 2373 | Bot wolde god that grace sende, |
| 2374 | That toward me my lady wende |
| 2375 | As I towardes hire wene! |
| 2376 | Mi love scholde so be sene, |
| 2377 | Ther scholde go no pride a place. |
| 2378 | Bot I am ferr fro thilke grace, |
| 2379 | As forto speke of tyme now; |
| 2380 | So mot I soffre, and preie yow |
| 2381 | That ye wole axe on other side |
| 2382 | If ther be eny point of Pride, |
| 2383 | Wherof it nedeth to be schrive. |
| 2384 | Mi Sone, godd it thee foryive, |
| 2385 | If thou have eny thing misdo |
| 2386 | Touchende of this, bot overmo |
| 2387 | Ther is an other yit of Pride, |
| 2388 | Which nevere cowthe hise wordes hide, |
| 2389 | That he ne wole himself avaunte; |
| 2390 | Ther mai nothing his tunge daunte, |
| 2391 | That he ne clappeth as a Belle: |
| 2392 | Wherof if thou wolt that I telle, |
| 2393 | It is behovely forto hiere, |
| 2394 | So that thou myht thi tunge stiere, |
| 2395 | Toward the world and stonde in grace, |
| 2396 | Which lacketh ofte in many place |
| 2397 | To him that can noght sitte stille, |
| 2398 | Which elles scholde have al his wille. |
| 2399 | The vice cleped Avantance |
| 2400 | With Pride hath take his aqueintance, |
| 2401 | So that his oghne pris he lasseth, |
| 2402 | When he such mesure overpasseth |
| 2403 | That he his oghne Herald is. |
| 2404 | That ferst was wel is thanne mis, |
| 2405 | That was thankworth is thanne blame, |
| 2406 | And thus the worschipe of his name |
| 2407 | Thurgh pride of his avantarie |
| 2408 | He torneth into vilenie. |
| 2409 | I rede how that this proude vice |
| 2410 | Hath thilke wynd in his office, |
| 2411 | Which thurgh the blastes that he bloweth |
| 2412 | The mannes fame he overthroweth |
| 2413 | Of vertu, which scholde elles springe |
| 2414 | Into the worldes knowlechinge; |
| 2415 | Bot he fordoth it alto sore. |
| 2416 | And riht of such a maner lore |
| 2417 | Ther ben lovers: forthi if thow |
| 2418 | Art on of hem, tell and sei how. |
| 2419 | Whan thou hast taken eny thing |
| 2420 | Of loves yifte, or Nouche or ring, |
| 2421 | Or tok upon thee for the cold |
| 2422 | Som goodly word that thee was told, |
| 2423 | Or frendly chiere or tokne or lettre, |
| 2424 | Wherof thin herte was the bettre, |
| 2425 | Or that sche sende the grietinge, |
| 2426 | Hast thou for Pride of thi likinge |
| 2427 | Mad thin avant wher as the liste? |
| 2428 | I wolde, fader, that ye wiste, |
| 2429 | Mi conscience lith noght hiere: |
| 2430 | Yit hadde I nevere such matiere, |
| 2431 | Wherof min herte myhte amende, |
| 2432 | Noght of so mochel that sche sende |
| 2433 | Be mowthe and seide, "Griet him wel:" |
| 2434 | And thus for that ther is no diel |
| 2435 | Wherof to make myn avant, |
| 2436 | It is to reson acordant |
| 2437 | That I mai nevere, bot I lye, |
| 2438 | Of love make avanterie. |
| 2439 | I wot noght what I scholde have do, |
| 2440 | If that I hadde encheson so, |
| 2441 | As ye have seid hier manyon; |
| 2442 | Bot I fond cause nevere non: |
| 2443 | Bot daunger, which welnyh me slowh, |
| 2444 | Therof I cowthe telle ynowh, |
| 2445 | And of non other Avantance: |
| 2446 | Thus nedeth me no repentance. |
| 2447 | Now axeth furthere of my lif, |
| 2448 | For hierof am I noght gultif. |
| 2449 | Mi Sone, I am wel paid withal; |
| 2450 | For wite it wel in special |
| 2451 | That love of his verrai justice |
| 2452 | Above alle othre ayein this vice |
| 2453 | At alle times most debateth, |
| 2454 | With al his herte and most it hateth. |
| 2455 | And ek in alle maner wise |
| 2456 | Avantarie is to despise, |
| 2457 | As be ensample thou myht wite, |
| 2458 | Which I finde in the bokes write. |
| 2459 | Of hem that we Lombars now calle |
| 2460 | Albinus was the ferste of alle |
| 2461 | Which bar corone of Lombardie, |
| 2462 | And was of gret chivalerie |
| 2463 | In werre ayein diverse kinges. |
| 2464 | So fell amonges othre thinges, |
| 2465 | That he that time a werre hadde |
| 2466 | With Gurmond, which the Geptes ladde, |
| 2467 | And was a myhti kyng also: |
| 2468 | Bot natheles it fell him so, |
| 2469 | Albinus slowh him in the feld, |
| 2470 | Ther halp him nowther swerd ne scheld, |
| 2471 | That he ne smot his hed of thanne, |
| 2472 | Wherof he tok awey the Panne, |
| 2473 | Of which he seide he wolde make |
| 2474 | A Cuppe for Gurmoundes sake, |
| 2475 | To kepe and drawe into memoire |
| 2476 | Of his bataille the victoire. |
| 2477 | And thus whan he the feld hath wonne, |
| 2478 | The lond anon was overronne |
| 2479 | And sesed in his oghne hond, |
| 2480 | Wher he Gurmondes dowhter fond, |
| 2481 | Which Maide Rosemounde hihte, |
| 2482 | And was in every mannes sihte |
| 2483 | A fair, a freissh, a lusti on. |
| 2484 | His herte fell to hire anon, |
| 2485 | And such a love on hire he caste, |
| 2486 | That he hire weddeth ate laste; |
| 2487 | And after that long time in reste |
| 2488 | With hire he duelte, and to the beste |
| 2489 | Thei love ech other wonder wel. |
| 2490 | Bot sche which kepth the blinde whel, |
| 2491 | Venus, whan thei be most above, |
| 2492 | In al the hoteste of here love, |
| 2493 | Hire whiel sche torneth, and thei felle |
| 2494 | In the manere as I schal telle. |
| 2495 | This king, which stod in al his welthe |
| 2496 | Of pes, of worschipe and of helthe, |
| 2497 | And felte him on no side grieved, |
| 2498 | As he that hath his world achieved, |
| 2499 | Tho thoghte he wolde a feste make; |
| 2500 | And that was for his wyves sake, |
| 2501 | That sche the lordes ate feste, |
| 2502 | That were obeissant to his heste, |
| 2503 | Mai knowe: and so forth therupon |
| 2504 | He let ordeine, and sende anon |
| 2505 | Be lettres and be messagiers, |
| 2506 | And warnede alle hise officiers |
| 2507 | That every thing be wel arraied: |
| 2508 | The grete Stiedes were assaied |
| 2509 | For joustinge and for tornement, |
| 2510 | And many a perled garnement |
| 2511 | Embroudred was ayein the dai. |
| 2512 | The lordes in here beste arrai |
| 2513 | Be comen ate time set, |
| 2514 | On jousteth wel, an other bet, |
| 2515 | And otherwhile thei torneie, |
| 2516 | And thus thei casten care aweie |
| 2517 | And token lustes upon honde. |
| 2518 | And after, thou schalt understonde, |
| 2519 | To mete into the kinges halle |
| 2520 | Thei come, as thei be beden alle: |
| 2521 | And whan thei were set and served, |
| 2522 | Thanne after, as it was deserved, |
| 2523 | To hem that worthi knyhtes were, |
| 2524 | So as thei seten hiere and there, |
| 2525 | The pris was yove and spoken oute |
| 2526 | Among the heraldz al aboute. |
| 2527 | And thus benethe and ek above |
| 2528 | Al was of armes and of love, |
| 2529 | Wherof abouten ate bordes |
| 2530 | Men hadde manye sondri wordes, |
| 2531 | That of the merthe which thei made |
| 2532 | The king himself began to glade |
| 2533 | Withinne his herte and tok a pride, |
| 2534 | And sih the Cuppe stonde aside, |
| 2535 | Which mad was of Gurmoundes hed, |
| 2536 | As ye have herd, whan he was ded, |
| 2537 | And was with gold and riche Stones |
| 2538 | Beset and bounde for the nones, |
| 2539 | And stod upon a fot on heihte |
| 2540 | Of burned gold, and with gret sleihte |
| 2541 | Of werkmanschipe it was begrave |
| 2542 | Of such werk as it scholde have, |
| 2543 | And was policed ek so clene |
| 2544 | That no signe of the Skulle is sene, |
| 2545 | Bot as it were a Gripes Ey. |
| 2546 | The king bad bere his Cuppe awey, |
| 2547 | Which stod tofore him on the bord, |
| 2548 | And fette thilke. Upon his word |
| 2549 | This Skulle is fet and wyn therinne, |
| 2550 | Wherof he bad his wif beginne: |
| 2551 | "Drink with thi fader, Dame," he seide. |
| 2552 | And sche to his biddinge obeide, |
| 2553 | And tok the Skulle, and what hire liste |
| 2554 | Sche drank, as sche which nothing wiste |
| 2555 | What Cuppe it was: and thanne al oute |
| 2556 | The kyng in audience aboute |
| 2557 | Hath told it was hire fader Skulle, |
| 2558 | So that the lordes knowe schulle |
| 2559 | Of his bataille a soth witnesse, |
| 2560 | And made avant thurgh what prouesse |
| 2561 | He hath his wyves love wonne, |
| 2562 | Which of the Skulle hath so begonne. |
| 2563 | Tho was ther mochel Pride alofte, |
| 2564 | Thei speken alle, and sche was softe, |
| 2565 | Thenkende on thilke unkynde Pride, |
| 2566 | Of that hire lord so nyh hire side |
| 2567 | Avanteth him that he hath slain |
| 2568 | And piked out hire fader brain, |
| 2569 | And of the Skulle had mad a Cuppe. |
| 2570 | Sche soffreth al til thei were uppe, |
| 2571 | And tho sche hath seknesse feigned, |
| 2572 | And goth to chambre and hath compleigned |
| 2573 | Unto a Maide which sche triste, |
| 2574 | So that non other wyht it wiste. |
| 2575 | This Mayde Glodeside is hote, |
| 2576 | To whom this lady hath behote |
| 2577 | Of ladischipe al that sche can, |
| 2578 | To vengen hire upon this man, |
| 2579 | Which dede hire drinke in such a plit |
| 2580 | Among hem alle for despit |
| 2581 | Of hire and of hire fader bothe; |
| 2582 | Wherof hire thoghtes ben so wrothe, |
| 2583 | Sche seith, that sche schal noght be glad, |
| 2584 | Til that sche se him so bestad |
| 2585 | That he nomore make avant. |
| 2586 | And thus thei felle in covenant, |
| 2587 | That thei acorden ate laste, |
| 2588 | With suche wiles as thei caste |
| 2589 | That thei wol gete of here acord |
| 2590 | Som orped knyht to sle this lord: |
| 2591 | And with this sleihte thei beginne, |
| 2592 | How thei Helmege myhten winne, |
| 2593 | Which was the kinges Boteler, |
| 2594 | A proud a lusti Bacheler, |
| 2595 | And Glodeside he loveth hote. |
| 2596 | And sche, to make him more assote, |
| 2597 | Hire love granteth, and be nyhte |
| 2598 | Thei schape how thei togedre myhte |
| 2599 | Abedde meete: and don it was |
| 2600 | This same nyht; and in this cas |
| 2601 | The qwene hirself the nyht secounde |
| 2602 | Wente in hire stede, and there hath founde |
| 2603 | A chambre derk withoute liht, |
| 2604 | And goth to bedde to this knyht. |
| 2605 | And he, to kepe his observance, |
| 2606 | To love doth his obeissance, |
| 2607 | And weneth it be Glodeside; |
| 2608 | And sche thanne after lay aside, |
| 2609 | And axeth him what he hath do, |
| 2610 | And who sche was sche tolde him tho, |
| 2611 | And seide: "Helmege, I am thi qwene, |
| 2612 | Now schal thi love wel be sene |
| 2613 | Of that thou hast thi wille wroght: |
| 2614 | Or it schal sore ben aboght, |
| 2615 | Or thou schalt worche as I thee seie. |
| 2616 | And if thou wolt be such a weie |
| 2617 | Do my plesance and holde it stille, |
| 2618 | For evere I schal ben at thi wille, |
| 2619 | Bothe I and al myn heritage." |
| 2620 | Anon the wylde loves rage, |
| 2621 | In which noman him can governe, |
| 2622 | Hath mad him that he can noght werne, |
| 2623 | Bot fell al hol to hire assent: |
| 2624 | And thus the whiel is al miswent, |
| 2625 | The which fortune hath upon honde; |
| 2626 | For how that evere it after stonde, |
| 2627 | Thei schope among hem such a wyle, |
| 2628 | The king was ded withinne a whyle. |
| 2629 | So slihly cam it noght aboute |
| 2630 | That thei ne ben descoevered oute, |
| 2631 | So that it thoghte hem for the beste |
| 2632 | To fle, for there was no reste: |
| 2633 | And thus the tresor of the king |
| 2634 | Thei trusse and mochel other thing, |
| 2635 | And with a certein felaschipe |
| 2636 | Thei fledde and wente awey be schipe, |
| 2637 | And hielde here rihte cours fro thenne, |
| 2638 | Til that thei come to Ravenne, |
| 2639 | Wher thei the Dukes helpe soghte. |
| 2640 | And he, so as thei him besoghte, |
| 2641 | A place granteth forto duelle; |
| 2642 | Bot after, whan he herde telle |
| 2643 | Of the manere how thei have do, |
| 2644 | This Duk let schape for hem so, |
| 2645 | That of a puison which thei drunke |
| 2646 | Thei hadden that thei have beswunke. |
| 2647 | And al this made avant of Pride: |
| 2648 | Good is therfore a man to hide |
| 2649 | His oghne pris, for if he speke, |
| 2650 | He mai lihtliche his thonk tobreke. |
| 2651 | In armes lith non avantance |
| 2652 | To him which thenkth his name avance |
| 2653 | And be renomed of his dede: |
| 2654 | And also who that thenkth to spede |
| 2655 | Of love, he mai him noght avaunte; |
| 2656 | For what man thilke vice haunte, |
| 2657 | His pourpos schal fulofte faile. |
| 2658 | In armes he that wol travaile |
| 2659 | Or elles loves grace atteigne, |
| 2660 | His lose tunge he mot restreigne, |
| 2661 | Which berth of his honour the keie. |
| 2662 | Forthi, my Sone, in alle weie |
| 2663 | Tak riht good hiede of this matiere. |
| 2664 | I thonke you, my fader diere, |
| 2665 | This scole is of a gentil lore; |
| 2666 | And if ther be oght elles more |
| 2667 | Of Pride, which I schal eschuie, |
| 2668 | Now axeth forth, and I wol suie |
| 2669 | What thing that ye me wole enforme. |
| 2670 | Mi Sone, yit in other forme |
| 2671 | Ther is a vice of Prides lore, |
| 2672 | Which lich an hauk whan he wol sore, |
| 2673 | Fleith upon heihte in his delices |
| 2674 | After the likynge of his vices, |
| 2675 | And wol no mannes resoun knowe, |
| 2676 | Till he doun falle and overthrowe. |
| 2677 | This vice veine gloire is hote, |
| 2678 | Wherof, my Sone, I thee behote |
| 2679 | To trete and speke in such a wise, |
| 2680 | That thou thee myht the betre avise. |
| 2681 | The proude vice of veine gloire |
| 2682 | Remembreth noght of purgatoire, |
| 2683 | Hise worldes joyes ben so grete, |
| 2684 | Him thenkth of hevene no beyete; |
| 2685 | This lives Pompe is al his pes: |
| 2686 | Yit schal he deie natheles, |
| 2687 | And therof thenkth he bot a lite, |
| 2688 | For al his lust is to delite |
| 2689 | In newe thinges, proude and veine, |
| 2690 | Als ferforth as he mai atteigne. |
| 2691 | I trowe, if that he myhte make |
| 2692 | His body newe, he wolde take |
| 2693 | A newe forme and leve his olde: |
| 2694 | For what thing that he mai beholde, |
| 2695 | The which to comun us is strange, |
| 2696 | Anon his olde guise change |
| 2697 | He wole and falle therupon, |
| 2698 | Lich unto the Camelion, |
| 2699 | Which upon every sondri hewe |
| 2700 | That he beholt he moste newe |
| 2701 | His colour, and thus unavised |
| 2702 | Fulofte time he stant desguised. |
| 2703 | Mor jolif than the brid in Maii |
| 2704 | He makth him evere freissh and gay, |
| 2705 | And doth al his array desguise, |
| 2706 | So that of him the newe guise |
| 2707 | Of lusti folk alle othre take; |
| 2708 | And ek he can carolles make, |
| 2709 | Rondeal, balade and virelai. |
| 2710 | And with al this, if that he may |
| 2711 | Of love gete him avantage, |
| 2712 | Anon he wext of his corage |
| 2713 | So overglad, that of his ende |
| 2714 | Him thenkth ther is no deth comende: |
| 2715 | For he hath thanne at alle tide |
| 2716 | Of love such a maner pride, |
| 2717 | Him thenkth his joie is endeles. |
| 2718 | Now schrif thee, Sone, in godes pes, |
| 2719 | And of thi love tell me plein |
| 2720 | If that thi gloire hath be so vein. |
| 2721 | Mi fader, as touchinge of al |
| 2722 | I may noght wel ne noght ne schal |
| 2723 | Of veine gloire excuse me, |
| 2724 | That I ne have for love be |
| 2725 | The betre adresced and arraied; |
| 2726 | And also I have ofte assaied |
| 2727 | Rondeal, balade and virelai |
| 2728 | For hire on whom myn herte lai |
| 2729 | To make, and also forto peinte |
| 2730 | Caroles with my wordes qweinte, |
| 2731 | To sette my pourpos alofte; |
| 2732 | And thus I sang hem forth fulofte |
| 2733 | In halle and ek in chambre aboute, |
| 2734 | And made merie among the route, |
| 2735 | Bot yit ne ferde I noght the bet. |
| 2736 | Thus was my gloire in vein beset |
| 2737 | Of al the joie that I made; |
| 2738 | For whanne I wolde with hire glade, |
| 2739 | And of hire love songes make, |
| 2740 | Sche saide it was noght for hir sake, |
| 2741 | And liste noght my songes hiere |
| 2742 | Ne witen what the wordes were. |
| 2743 | So forto speke of myn arrai, |
| 2744 | Yit couthe I nevere be so gay |
| 2745 | Ne so wel make a songe of love, |
| 2746 | Wherof I myhte ben above |
| 2747 | And have encheson to be glad; |
| 2748 | Bot rathere I am ofte adrad |
| 2749 | For sorwe that sche seith me nay. |
| 2750 | And natheles I wol noght say, |
| 2751 | That I nam glad on other side; |
| 2752 | For fame, that can nothing hide, |
| 2753 | Alday wol bringe unto myn Ere |
| 2754 | Of that men speken hier and there, |
| 2755 | How that my ladi berth the pris, |
| 2756 | How sche is fair, how sche is wis, |
| 2757 | How sche is wommanlich of chiere; |
| 2758 | Of al this thing whanne I mai hiere, |
| 2759 | What wonder is thogh I be fain? |
| 2760 | And ek whanne I may hiere sain |
| 2761 | Tidinges of my ladi hele, |
| 2762 | Althogh I may noght with hir dele, |
| 2763 | Yit am I wonder glad of that; |
| 2764 | For whanne I wot hire good astat, |
| 2765 | As for that time I dar wel swere, |
| 2766 | Non other sorwe mai me dere, |
| 2767 | Thus am I gladed in this wise. |
| 2768 | Bot, fader, of youre lores wise, |
| 2769 | Of whiche ye be fully tawht, |
| 2770 | Now tell me if yow thenketh awht |
| 2771 | That I therof am forto wyte. |
| 2772 | Of that ther is I thee acquite, |
| 2773 | Mi sone, he seide, and for thi goode |
| 2774 | I wolde that thou understode: |
| 2775 | For I thenke upon this matiere |
| 2776 | To telle a tale, as thou schalt hiere, |
| 2777 | How that ayein this proude vice |
| 2778 | The hihe god of his justice |
| 2779 | Is wroth and gret vengance doth. |
| 2780 | Now herkne a tale that is soth: |
| 2781 | Thogh it be noght of loves kinde, |
| 2782 | A gret ensample thou schalt finde |
| 2783 | This veine gloire forto fle, |
| 2784 | Which is so full of vanite. |
| 2785 | Ther was a king that mochel myhte, |
| 2786 | Which Nabugodonosor hihte, |
| 2787 | Of whom that I spak hier tofore. |
| 2788 | Yit in the bible his name is bore, |
| 2789 | For al the world in Orient |
| 2790 | Was hol at his comandement: |
| 2791 | As thanne of kinges to his liche |
| 2792 | Was non so myhty ne so riche; |
| 2793 | To his Empire and to his lawes, |
| 2794 | As who seith, alle in thilke dawes |
| 2795 | Were obeissant and tribut bere, |
| 2796 | As thogh he godd of Erthe were. |
| 2797 | With strengthe he putte kinges under, |
| 2798 | And wroghte of Pride many a wonder; |
| 2799 | He was so full of veine gloire, |
| 2800 | That he ne hadde no memoire |
| 2801 | That ther was eny good bot he, |
| 2802 | For pride of his prosperite; |
| 2803 | Til that the hihe king of kinges, |
| 2804 | Which seth and knoweth alle thinges, |
| 2805 | Whos yhe mai nothing asterte,- |
| 2806 | The privetes of mannes herte |
| 2807 | Thei speke and sounen in his Ere |
| 2808 | As thogh thei lowde wyndes were,- |
| 2809 | He tok vengance upon this pride. |
| 2810 | Bot for he wolde awhile abide |
| 2811 | To loke if he him wolde amende, |
| 2812 | To him a foretokne he sende, |
| 2813 | And that was in his slep be nyhte. |
| 2814 | This proude kyng a wonder syhte |
| 2815 | Hadde in his swevene, ther he lay: |
| 2816 | Him thoghte, upon a merie day |
| 2817 | As he behield the world aboute, |
| 2818 | A tree fulgrowe he syh theroute, |
| 2819 | Which stod the world amiddes evene, |
| 2820 | Whos heihte straghte up to the hevene; |
| 2821 | The leves weren faire and large, |
| 2822 | Of fruit it bar so ripe a charge, |
| 2823 | That alle men it myhte fede: |
| 2824 | He sih also the bowes spriede |
| 2825 | Above al Erthe, in whiche were |
| 2826 | The kinde of alle briddes there; |
| 2827 | And eke him thoghte he syh also |
| 2828 | The kinde of alle bestes go |
| 2829 | Under this tre aboute round |
| 2830 | And fedden hem upon the ground. |
| 2831 | As he this wonder stod and syh, |
| 2832 | Him thoghte he herde a vois on hih |
| 2833 | Criende, and seide aboven alle: |
| 2834 | "Hew doun this tree and lett it falle, |
| 2835 | The leves let defoule in haste |
| 2836 | And do the fruit destruie and waste, |
| 2837 | And let of schreden every braunche, |
| 2838 | Bot ate Rote let it staunche. |
| 2839 | Whan al his Pride is cast to grounde, |
| 2840 | The rote schal be faste bounde, |
| 2841 | And schal no mannes herte bere, |
| 2842 | Bot every lust he schal forbere |
| 2843 | Of man, and lich an Oxe his mete |
| 2844 | Of gras he schal pourchace and ete, |
| 2845 | Til that the water of the hevene |
| 2846 | Have waisshen him be times sevene, |
| 2847 | So that he be thurghknowe ariht |
| 2848 | What is the heveneliche myht, |
| 2849 | And be mad humble to the wille |
| 2850 | Of him which al mai save and spille." |
| 2851 | This king out of his swefne abreide, |
| 2852 | And he upon the morwe it seide |
| 2853 | Unto the clerkes whiche he hadde: |
| 2854 | Bot non of hem the sothe aradde, |
| 2855 | Was non his swevene cowthe undo. |
| 2856 | And it stod thilke time so, |
| 2857 | This king hadde in subjeccioun |
| 2858 | Judee, and of affeccioun |
| 2859 | Above alle othre on Daniel |
| 2860 | He loveth, for he cowthe wel |
| 2861 | Divine that non other cowthe: |
| 2862 | To him were alle thinges cowthe, |
| 2863 | As he it hadde of goddes grace. |
| 2864 | He was before the kinges face |
| 2865 | Asent, and bode that he scholde |
| 2866 | Upon the point the king of tolde |
| 2867 | The fortune of his swevene expounde, |
| 2868 | As it scholde afterward be founde. |
| 2869 | Whan Daniel this swevene herde, |
| 2870 | He stod long time er he ansuerde, |
| 2871 | And made a wonder hevy chiere. |
| 2872 | The king tok hiede of his manere, |
| 2873 | And bad him telle that he wiste, |
| 2874 | As he to whom he mochel triste, |
| 2875 | And seide he wolde noght be wroth. |
| 2876 | Bot Daniel was wonder loth, |
| 2877 | And seide: "Upon thi fomen alle, |
| 2878 | Sire king, thi swevene mote falle; |
| 2879 | And natheles touchende of this |
| 2880 | I wol the tellen how it is, |
| 2881 | And what desese is to thee schape: |
| 2882 | God wot if thou it schalt ascape. |
| 2883 | The hihe tree, which thou hast sein |
| 2884 | With lef and fruit so wel besein, |
| 2885 | The which stod in the world amiddes, |
| 2886 | So that the bestes and the briddes |
| 2887 | Governed were of him al one, |
| 2888 | Sire king, betokneth thi persone, |
| 2889 | Which stant above all erthli thinges. |
| 2890 | Thus regnen under the the kinges, |
| 2891 | And al the poeple unto thee louteth, |
| 2892 | And al the world thi pouer doubteth, |
| 2893 | So that with vein honour deceived |
| 2894 | Thou hast the reverence weyved |
| 2895 | Fro him which is thi king above, |
| 2896 | That thou for drede ne for love |
| 2897 | Wolt nothing knowen of thi godd; |
| 2898 | Which now for thee hath mad a rodd, |
| 2899 | Thi veine gloire and thi folie |
| 2900 | With grete peines to chastie. |
| 2901 | And of the vois thou herdest speke, |
| 2902 | Which bad the bowes forto breke |
| 2903 | And hewe and felle doun the tree, |
| 2904 | That word belongeth unto thee; |
| 2905 | Thi regne schal ben overthrowe, |
| 2906 | And thou despuiled for a throwe: |
| 2907 | Bot that the Rote scholde stonde, |
| 2908 | Be that thou schalt wel understonde, |
| 2909 | Ther schal abyden of thi regne |
| 2910 | A time ayein whan thou schalt regne. |
| 2911 | And ek of that thou herdest seie, |
| 2912 | To take a mannes herte aweie |
| 2913 | And sette there a bestial, |
| 2914 | So that he lich an Oxe schal |
| 2915 | Pasture, and that he be bereined |
| 2916 | Be times sefne and sore peined, |
| 2917 | Til that he knowe his goddes mihtes, |
| 2918 | Than scholde he stonde ayein uprihtes,- |
| 2919 | Al this betokneth thin astat, |
| 2920 | Which now with god is in debat: |
| 2921 | Thi mannes forme schal be lassed, |
| 2922 | Til sevene yer ben overpassed, |
| 2923 | And in the liknesse of a beste |
| 2924 | Of gras schal be thi real feste, |
| 2925 | The weder schal upon thee reine. |
| 2926 | And understond that al this peine, |
| 2927 | Which thou schalt soffre thilke tide, |
| 2928 | Is schape al only for thi pride |
| 2929 | Of veine gloire, and of the sinne |
| 2930 | Which thou hast longe stonden inne. |
| 2931 | So upon this condicioun |
| 2932 | Thi swevene hath exposicioun. |
| 2933 | Bot er this thing befalle in dede, |
| 2934 | Amende thee, this wolde I rede: |
| 2935 | Yif and departe thin almesse, |
| 2936 | Do mercy forth with rihtwisnesse, |
| 2937 | Besech and prei the hihe grace, |
| 2938 | For so thou myht thi pes pourchace |
| 2939 | With godd, and stonde in good acord." |
| 2940 | Bot Pride is loth to leve his lord, |
| 2941 | And wol noght soffre humilite |
| 2942 | With him to stonde in no degree; |
| 2943 | And whan a schip hath lost his stiere, |
| 2944 | Is non so wys that mai him stiere |
| 2945 | Ayein the wawes in a rage. |
| 2946 | This proude king in his corage |
| 2947 | Humilite hath so forlore, |
| 2948 | That for no swevene he sih tofore, |
| 2949 | Ne yit for al that Daniel |
| 2950 | Him hath conseiled everydel, |
| 2951 | He let it passe out of his mynde, |
| 2952 | Thurgh veine gloire, and as the blinde, |
| 2953 | He seth no weie, er him be wo. |
| 2954 | And fell withinne a time so, |
| 2955 | As he in Babiloine wente, |
| 2956 | The vanite of Pride him hente; |
| 2957 | His herte aros of veine gloire, |
| 2958 | So that he drowh into memoire |
| 2959 | His lordschipe and his regalie |
| 2960 | With wordes of Surquiderie. |
| 2961 | And whan that he him most avaunteth, |
| 2962 | That lord which veine gloire daunteth, |
| 2963 | Al sodeinliche, as who seith treis, |
| 2964 | Wher that he stod in his Paleis, |
| 2965 | He tok him fro the mennes sihte: |
| 2966 | Was non of hem so war that mihte |
| 2967 | Sette yhe wher that he becom. |
| 2968 | And thus was he from his kingdom |
| 2969 | Into the wilde Forest drawe, |
| 2970 | Wher that the myhti goddes lawe |
| 2971 | Thurgh his pouer dede him transforme |
| 2972 | Fro man into a bestes forme; |
| 2973 | And lich an Oxe under the fot |
| 2974 | He graseth, as he nedes mot, |
| 2975 | To geten him his lives fode. |
| 2976 | Tho thoghte him colde grases goode, |
| 2977 | That whilom eet the hote spices, |
| 2978 | Thus was he torned fro delices: |
| 2979 | The wyn which he was wont to drinke |
| 2980 | He tok thanne of the welles brinke |
| 2981 | Or of the pet or of the slowh, |
| 2982 | It thoghte him thanne good ynowh: |
| 2983 | In stede of chambres wel arraied |
| 2984 | He was thanne of a buissh wel paied, |
| 2985 | The harde ground he lay upon, |
| 2986 | For othre pilwes hath he non; |
| 2987 | The stormes and the Reines falle, |
| 2988 | The wyndes blowe upon him alle, |
| 2989 | He was tormented day and nyht, |
| 2990 | Such was the hihe goddes myht, |
| 2991 | Til sevene yer an ende toke. |
| 2992 | Upon himself tho gan he loke; |
| 2993 | In stede of mete gras and stres, |
| 2994 | In stede of handes longe cles, |
| 2995 | In stede of man a bestes lyke |
| 2996 | He syh; and thanne he gan to syke |
| 2997 | For cloth of gold and for perrie, |
| 2998 | Which him was wont to magnefie. |
| 2999 | Whan he behield his Cote of heres, |
| 3000 | He wepte and with fulwoful teres |
| 3001 | Up to the hevene he caste his chiere |
| 3002 | Wepende, and thoghte in this manere; |
| 3003 | Thogh he no wordes myhte winne, |
| 3004 | Thus seide his herte and spak withinne: |
| 3005 | "O mihti godd, that al hast wroght |
| 3006 | And al myht bringe ayein to noght, |
| 3007 | Now knowe I wel, bot al of thee, |
| 3008 | This world hath no prosperite: |
| 3009 | In thin aspect ben alle liche, |
| 3010 | The povere man and ek the riche, |
| 3011 | Withoute thee ther mai no wight, |
| 3012 | And thou above alle othre miht. |
| 3013 | O mihti lord, toward my vice |
| 3014 | Thi merci medle with justice; |
| 3015 | And I woll make a covenant, |
| 3016 | That of my lif the remenant |
| 3017 | I schal it be thi grace amende, |
| 3018 | And in thi lawe so despende |
| 3019 | That veine gloire I schal eschuie, |
| 3020 | And bowe unto thin heste and suie |
| 3021 | Humilite, and that I vowe." |
| 3022 | And so thenkende he gan doun bowe, |
| 3023 | And thogh him lacke vois and speche, |
| 3024 | He gan up with his feet areche, |
| 3025 | And wailende in his bestly stevene |
| 3026 | He made his pleignte unto the hevene. |
| 3027 | He kneleth in his wise and braieth, |
| 3028 | To seche merci and assaieth |
| 3029 | His god, which made him nothing strange, |
| 3030 | Whan that he sih his pride change. |
| 3031 | Anon as he was humble and tame, |
| 3032 | He fond toward his god the same, |
| 3033 | And in a twinklinge of a lok |
| 3034 | His mannes forme ayein he tok, |
| 3035 | And was reformed to the regne |
| 3036 | In which that he was wont to regne; |
| 3037 | So that the Pride of veine gloire |
| 3038 | Evere afterward out of memoire |
| 3039 | He let it passe. And thus is schewed |
| 3040 | What is to ben of Pride unthewed |
| 3041 | Ayein the hihe goddes lawe, |
| 3042 | To whom noman mai be felawe. |
| 3043 | Forthi, my Sone, tak good hiede |
| 3044 | So forto lede thi manhiede, |
| 3045 | That thou ne be noght lich a beste. |
| 3046 | Bot if thi lif schal ben honeste, |
| 3047 | Thou most humblesce take on honde, |
| 3048 | For thanne myht thou siker stonde: |
| 3049 | And forto speke it otherwise, |
| 3050 | A proud man can no love assise; |
| 3051 | For thogh a womman wolde him plese, |
| 3052 | His Pride can noght ben at ese. |
| 3053 | Ther mai noman to mochel blame |
| 3054 | A vice which is forto blame; |
| 3055 | Forthi men scholde nothing hide |
| 3056 | That mihte falle in blame of Pride, |
| 3057 | Which is the werste vice of alle: |
| 3058 | Wherof, so as it was befalle, |
| 3059 | The tale I thenke of a Cronique |
| 3060 | To telle, if that it mai thee like, |
| 3061 | So that thou myht humblesce suie |
| 3062 | And ek the vice of Pride eschuie, |
| 3063 | Wherof the gloire is fals and vein; |
| 3064 | Which god himself hath in desdeign, |
| 3065 | That thogh it mounte for a throwe, |
| 3066 | It schal doun falle and overthrowe. |
| 3067 | A king whilom was yong and wys, |
| 3068 | The which sette of his wit gret pris. |
| 3069 | Of depe ymaginaciouns |
| 3070 | And strange interpretaciouns, |
| 3071 | Problemes and demandes eke, |
| 3072 | His wisdom was to finde and seke; |
| 3073 | Wherof he wolde in sondri wise |
| 3074 | Opposen hem that weren wise. |
| 3075 | Bot non of hem it myhte bere |
| 3076 | Upon his word to yeve answere, |
| 3077 | Outaken on, which was a knyht; |
| 3078 | To him was every thing so liht, |
| 3079 | That also sone as he hem herde, |
| 3080 | The kinges wordes he answerde; |
| 3081 | What thing the king him axe wolde, |
| 3082 | Therof anon the trowthe he tolde. |
| 3083 | The king somdiel hadde an Envie, |
| 3084 | And thoghte he wolde his wittes plie |
| 3085 | To sette som conclusioun, |
| 3086 | Which scholde be confusioun |
| 3087 | Unto this knyht, so that the name |
| 3088 | And of wisdom the hihe fame |
| 3089 | Toward himself he wolde winne. |
| 3090 | And thus of al his wit withinne |
| 3091 | This king began to studie and muse, |
| 3092 | What strange matiere he myhte use |
| 3093 | The knyhtes wittes to confounde; |
| 3094 | And ate laste he hath it founde, |
| 3095 | And for the knyht anon he sente, |
| 3096 | That he schal telle what he mente. |
| 3097 | Upon thre pointz stod the matiere |
| 3098 | Of questions, as thou schalt hiere. |
| 3099 | The ferste point of alle thre |
| 3100 | Was this: "What thing in his degre |
| 3101 | Of al this world hath nede lest, |
| 3102 | And yet men helpe it althermest?" |
| 3103 | The secounde is: "What most is worth, |
| 3104 | And of costage is lest put forth?" |
| 3105 | The thridde is: "Which is of most cost, |
| 3106 | And lest is worth and goth to lost?" |
| 3107 | The king thes thre demandes axeth, |
| 3108 | And to the knyht this lawe he taxeth, |
| 3109 | That he schal gon and come ayein |
| 3110 | The thridde weke, and telle him plein |
| 3111 | To every point, what it amonteth. |
| 3112 | And if so be that he misconteth, |
| 3113 | To make in his answere a faile, |
| 3114 | Ther schal non other thing availe, |
| 3115 | The king seith, bot he schal be ded |
| 3116 | And lese hise goodes and his hed. |
| 3117 | The knyht was sori of this thing |
| 3118 | And wolde excuse him to the king, |
| 3119 | Bot he ne wolde him noght forbere, |
| 3120 | And thus the knyht of his ansuere |
| 3121 | Goth hom to take avisement: |
| 3122 | Bot after his entendement |
| 3123 | The more he caste his wit aboute, |
| 3124 | The more he stant therof in doute. |
| 3125 | Tho wiste he wel the kinges herte, |
| 3126 | That he the deth ne scholde asterte, |
| 3127 | And such a sorwe hath to him take, |
| 3128 | That gladschipe he hath al forsake. |
| 3129 | He thoghte ferst upon his lif, |
| 3130 | And after that upon his wif, |
| 3131 | Upon his children ek also, |
| 3132 | Of whiche he hadde dowhtres tuo; |
| 3133 | The yongest of hem hadde of age |
| 3134 | Fourtiene yer, and of visage |
| 3135 | Sche was riht fair, and of stature |
| 3136 | Lich to an hevenely figure, |
| 3137 | And of manere and goodli speche, |
| 3138 | Thogh men wolde alle Londes seche, |
| 3139 | Thei scholden noght have founde hir like. |
| 3140 | Sche sih hire fader sorwe and sike, |
| 3141 | And wiste noght the cause why; |
| 3142 | So cam sche to him prively, |
| 3143 | And that was where he made his mone |
| 3144 | Withinne a Gardin al him one; |
| 3145 | Upon hire knes sche gan doun falle |
| 3146 | With humble herte and to him calle, |
| 3147 | And seide: "O goode fader diere, |
| 3148 | Why make ye thus hevy chiere, |
| 3149 | And I wot nothing how it is? |
| 3150 | And wel ye knowen, fader, this, |
| 3151 | What aventure that you felle |
| 3152 | Ye myhte it saufly to me telle, |
| 3153 | For I have ofte herd you seid, |
| 3154 | That ye such trust have on me leid, |
| 3155 | That to my soster ne my brother, |
| 3156 | In al this world ne to non other, |
| 3157 | Ye dorste telle a privite |
| 3158 | So wel, my fader, as to me. |
| 3159 | Forthi, my fader, I you preie, |
| 3160 | Ne casteth noght that herte aweie, |
| 3161 | For I am sche that wolde kepe |
| 3162 | Youre honour." And with that to wepe |
| 3163 | Hire yhe mai noght be forbore, |
| 3164 | Sche wissheth forto ben unbore, |
| 3165 | Er that hire fader so mistriste |
| 3166 | To tellen hire of that he wiste: |
| 3167 | And evere among merci sche cride, |
| 3168 | That he ne scholde his conseil hide |
| 3169 | From hire that so wolde him good |
| 3170 | And was so nyh his fleissh and blod. |
| 3171 | So that with wepinge ate laste |
| 3172 | His chiere upon his child he caste, |
| 3173 | And sorwfulli to that sche preide |
| 3174 | He tolde his tale and thus he seide: |
| 3175 | "The sorwe, dowhter, which I make |
| 3176 | Is noght al only for my sake, |
| 3177 | Bot for thee bothe and for you alle: |
| 3178 | For such a chance is me befalle, |
| 3179 | That I schal er this thridde day |
| 3180 | Lese al that evere I lese may, |
| 3181 | Mi lif and al my good therto: |
| 3182 | Therfore it is I sorwe so." |
| 3183 | "What is the cause, helas!" quod sche, |
| 3184 | "Mi fader, that ye scholden be |
| 3185 | Ded and destruid in such a wise?" |
| 3186 | And he began the pointz devise, |
| 3187 | Whiche as the king told him be mowthe, |
| 3188 | And seid hir pleinly that he cowthe |
| 3189 | Ansuere unto no point of this. |
| 3190 | And sche, that hiereth how it is, |
| 3191 | Hire conseil yaf and seide tho: |
| 3192 | "Mi fader, sithen it is so, |
| 3193 | That ye can se non other weie, |
| 3194 | Bot that ye moste nedes deie, |
| 3195 | I wolde preie of you a thing: |
| 3196 | Let me go with you to the king, |
| 3197 | And ye schull make him understonde |
| 3198 | How ye, my wittes forto fonde, |
| 3199 | Have leid your ansuere upon me; |
| 3200 | And telleth him, in such degre |
| 3201 | Upon my word ye wole abide |
| 3202 | To lif or deth, what so betide. |
| 3203 | For yit par chaunce I may pourchace |
| 3204 | With som good word the kinges grace, |
| 3205 | Your lif and ek your good to save; |
| 3206 | For ofte schal a womman have |
| 3207 | Thing which a man mai noght areche." |
| 3208 | The fader herde his dowhter speche, |
| 3209 | And thoghte ther was resoun inne, |
| 3210 | And sih his oghne lif to winne |
| 3211 | He cowthe don himself no cure; |
| 3212 | So betre him thoghte in aventure |
| 3213 | To put his lif and al his good, |
| 3214 | Than in the maner as it stod |
| 3215 | His lif in certein forto lese. |
| 3216 | And thus thenkende he gan to chese |
| 3217 | To do the conseil of this Maide, |
| 3218 | And tok the pourpos which sche saide. |
| 3219 | The dai was come and forth thei gon, |
| 3220 | Unto the Court thei come anon, |
| 3221 | Wher as the king in juggement |
| 3222 | Was set and hath this knyht assent. |
| 3223 | Arraied in hire beste wise |
| 3224 | This Maiden with hire wordes wise |
| 3225 | Hire fader ladde be the hond |
| 3226 | Into the place, wher he fond |
| 3227 | The king with othre whiche he wolde, |
| 3228 | And to the king knelende he tolde |
| 3229 | As he enformed was tofore, |
| 3230 | And preith the king that he therfore |
| 3231 | His dowhtres wordes wolde take, |
| 3232 | And seith that he wol undertake |
| 3233 | Upon hire wordes forto stonde. |
| 3234 | Tho was ther gret merveile on honde, |
| 3235 | That he, which was so wys a knyht, |
| 3236 | His lif upon so yong a wyht |
| 3237 | Besette wolde in jeupartie, |
| 3238 | And manye it hielden for folie: |
| 3239 | Bot ate laste natheles |
| 3240 | The king comandeth ben in pes, |
| 3241 | And to this Maide he caste his chiere, |
| 3242 | And seide he wolde hire tale hiere, |
| 3243 | He bad hire speke, and sche began: |
| 3244 | "Mi liege lord, so as I can," |
| 3245 | Quod sche, "the pointz of whiche I herde, |
| 3246 | Thei schul of reson ben ansuerde. |
| 3247 | The ferste I understonde is this, |
| 3248 | What thing of al the world it is, |
| 3249 | Which men most helpe and hath lest nede. |
| 3250 | Mi liege lord, this wolde I rede: |
| 3251 | The Erthe it is, which everemo |
| 3252 | With mannes labour is bego; |
| 3253 | Als wel in wynter as in Maii |
| 3254 | The mannes hond doth what he mai |
| 3255 | To helpe it forth and make it riche, |
| 3256 | And forthi men it delve and dyche |
| 3257 | And eren it with strengthe of plowh, |
| 3258 | Wher it hath of himself ynowh, |
| 3259 | So that his nede is ate leste. |
| 3260 | For every man and bridd and beste, |
| 3261 | And flour and gras and rote and rinde, |
| 3262 | And every thing be weie of kynde |
| 3263 | Schal sterve, and Erthe it schal become; |
| 3264 | As it was out of Erthe nome, |
| 3265 | It schal to therthe torne ayein: |
| 3266 | And thus I mai be resoun sein |
| 3267 | That Erthe is the most nedeles, |
| 3268 | And most men helpe it natheles. |
| 3269 | So that, my lord, touchende of this |
| 3270 | I have ansuerd hou that it is. |
| 3271 | That other point I understod, |
| 3272 | Which most is worth and most is good, |
| 3273 | And costeth lest a man to kepe: |
| 3274 | Mi lord, if ye woll take kepe, |
| 3275 | I seie it is Humilite, |
| 3276 | Thurgh which the hihe trinite |
| 3277 | As for decerte of pure love |
| 3278 | Unto Marie from above, |
| 3279 | Of that he knew hire humble entente, |
| 3280 | His oghne Sone adoun he sente, |
| 3281 | Above alle othre and hire he ches |
| 3282 | For that vertu which bodeth pes: |
| 3283 | So that I may be resoun calle |
| 3284 | Humilite most worth of alle. |
| 3285 | And lest it costeth to maintiene, |
| 3286 | In al the world as it is sene; |
| 3287 | For who that hath humblesce on honde, |
| 3288 | He bringth no werres into londe, |
| 3289 | For he desireth for the beste |
| 3290 | To setten every man in reste. |
| 3291 | Thus with your hihe reverence |
| 3292 | Me thenketh that this evidence |
| 3293 | As to this point is sufficant. |
| 3294 | And touchende of the remenant, |
| 3295 | Which is the thridde of youre axinges, |
| 3296 | What leste is worth of alle thinges, |
| 3297 | And costeth most, I telle it, Pride; |
| 3298 | Which mai noght in the hevene abide, |
| 3299 | For Lucifer with hem that felle |
| 3300 | Bar Pride with him into helle. |
| 3301 | Ther was Pride of to gret a cost, |
| 3302 | Whan he for Pride hath hevene lost; |
| 3303 | And after that in Paradis |
| 3304 | Adam for Pride loste his pris: |
| 3305 | In Midelerthe and ek also |
| 3306 | Pride is the cause of alle wo, |
| 3307 | That al the world ne may suffise |
| 3308 | To stanche of Pride the reprise: |
| 3309 | Pride is the heved of alle Sinne, |
| 3310 | Which wasteth al and mai noght winne; |
| 3311 | Pride is of every mis the pricke, |
| 3312 | Pride is the werste of alle wicke, |
| 3313 | And costneth most and lest is worth |
| 3314 | In place where he hath his forth. |
| 3315 | Thus have I seid that I wol seie |
| 3316 | Of myn answere, and to you preie, |
| 3317 | Mi liege lord, of youre office |
| 3318 | That ye such grace and such justice |
| 3319 | Ordeigne for mi fader hiere, |
| 3320 | That after this, whan men it hiere, |
| 3321 | The world therof mai speke good." |
| 3322 | The king, which reson understod |
| 3323 | And hath al herd how sche hath said, |
| 3324 | Was inly glad and so wel paid |
| 3325 | That al his wraththe is overgo: |
| 3326 | And he began to loke tho |
| 3327 | Upon this Maiden in the face, |
| 3328 | In which he fond so mochel grace, |
| 3329 | That al his pris on hire he leide, |
| 3330 | In audience and thus he seide: |
| 3331 | "Mi faire Maide, wel thee be! |
| 3332 | Of thin ansuere and ek of thee |
| 3333 | Me liketh wel, and as thou wilt, |
| 3334 | Foryive be thi fader gilt. |
| 3335 | And if thou were of such lignage, |
| 3336 | That thou to me were of parage, |
| 3337 | And that thi fader were a Pier, |
| 3338 | As he is now a Bachilier, |
| 3339 | So seker as I have a lif, |
| 3340 | Thou scholdest thanne be my wif. |
| 3341 | Bot this I seie natheles, |
| 3342 | That I wol schape thin encress; |
| 3343 | What worldes good that thou wolt crave, |
| 3344 | Axe of my yifte and thou schalt have." |
| 3345 | And sche the king with wordes wise |
| 3346 | Knelende thonketh in this wise: |
| 3347 | "Mi liege lord, god mot you quite! |
| 3348 | Mi fader hier hath bot a lite |
| 3349 | Of warison, and that he wende |
| 3350 | Hadde al be lost; bot now amende |
| 3351 | He mai wel thurgh your noble grace." |
| 3352 | With that the king riht in his place |
| 3353 | Anon forth in that freisshe hete |
| 3354 | An Erldom, which thanne of eschete |
| 3355 | Was late falle into his hond, |
| 3356 | Unto this knyht with rente and lond |
| 3357 | Hath yove and with his chartre sesed; |
| 3358 | And thus was all the noise appesed. |
| 3359 | This Maiden, which sat on hire knes |
| 3360 | Tofore the king, hise charitees |
| 3361 | Comendeth, and seide overmore: |
| 3362 | "Mi liege lord, riht now tofore |
| 3363 | Ye seide, as it is of record, |
| 3364 | That if my fader were a lord |
| 3365 | And Pier unto these othre grete, |
| 3366 | Ye wolden for noght elles lete, |
| 3367 | That I ne scholde be your wif; |
| 3368 | And this wot every worthi lif, |
| 3369 | A kinges word it mot ben holde. |
| 3370 | Forthi, my lord, if that ye wolde |
| 3371 | So gret a charite fulfille, |
| 3372 | God wot it were wel my wille: |
| 3373 | For he which was a Bacheler, |
| 3374 | Mi fader, is now mad a Pier; |
| 3375 | So whenne as evere that I cam, |
| 3376 | An Erles dowhter now I am." |
| 3377 | This yonge king, which peised al, |
| 3378 | Hire beaute and hir wit withal, |
| 3379 | As he that was with love hent, |
| 3380 | Anon therto yaf his assent. |
| 3381 | He myhte noght the maide asterte, |
| 3382 | That sche nis ladi of his herte; |
| 3383 | So that he tok hire to his wif, |
| 3384 | To holde whyl that he hath lif: |
| 3385 | And thus the king toward his knyht |
| 3386 | Acordeth him, as it is riht. |
| 3387 | And over this good is to wite, |
| 3388 | In the Cronique as it is write, |
| 3389 | This noble king of whom I tolde |
| 3390 | Of Spaine be tho daies olde |
| 3391 | The kingdom hadde in governance, |
| 3392 | And as the bok makth remembrance, |
| 3393 | Alphonse was his propre name: |
| 3394 | The knyht also, if I schal name, |
| 3395 | Danz Petro hihte, and as men telle, |
| 3396 | His dowhter wyse Peronelle |
| 3397 | Was cleped, which was full of grace: |
| 3398 | And that was sene in thilke place, |
| 3399 | Wher sche hir fader out of teene |
| 3400 | Hath broght and mad hirself a qweene, |
| 3401 | Of that sche hath so wel desclosed |
| 3402 | The pointz wherof sche was opposed. |
| 3403 | Lo now, my Sone, as thou myht hiere, |
| 3404 | Of al this thing to my matiere |
| 3405 | Bot on I take, and that is Pride, |
| 3406 | To whom no grace mai betide: |
| 3407 | In hevene he fell out of his stede, |
| 3408 | And Paradis him was forbede, |
| 3409 | The goode men in Erthe him hate, |
| 3410 | So that to helle he mot algate, |
| 3411 | Where every vertu schal be weyved |
| 3412 | And every vice be received. |
| 3413 | Bot Humblesce is al otherwise, |
| 3414 | Which most is worth, and no reprise |
| 3415 | It takth ayein, bot softe and faire, |
| 3416 | If eny thing stond in contraire, |
| 3417 | With humble speche it is redresced: |
| 3418 | Thus was this yonge Maiden blessed, |
| 3419 | The which I spak of now tofore, |
| 3420 | Hire fader lif sche gat therfore, |
| 3421 | And wan with al the kinges love. |
| 3422 | Forthi, my Sone, if thou wolt love, |
| 3423 | It sit thee wel to leve Pride |
| 3424 | And take Humblesce upon thi side; |
| 3425 | The more of grace thou schalt gete. |
| 3426 | Mi fader, I woll noght foryete |
| 3427 | Of this that ye have told me hiere, |
| 3428 | And if that eny such manere |
| 3429 | Of humble port mai love appaie, |
| 3430 | Hierafterward I thenke assaie: |
| 3431 | Bot now forth over I beseche |
| 3432 | That ye more of my schrifte seche. |
| 3433 | Mi goode Sone, it schal be do: |
| 3434 | Now herkne and ley an Ere to; |
| 3435 | For as touchende of Prides fare, |
| 3436 | Als ferforth as I can declare |
| 3437 | In cause of vice, in cause of love, |
| 3438 | That hast thou pleinly herd above, |
| 3439 | So that ther is nomor to seie |
| 3440 | Touchende of that; bot other weie |
| 3441 | Touchende Envie I thenke telle, |
| 3442 | Which hath the propre kinde of helle, |
| 3443 | Withoute cause to misdo |
| 3444 | Toward himself and othre also, |
| 3445 | Hierafterward as understonde |
| 3446 | Thou schalt the spieces, as thei stonde. |
Explicit Liber Primus
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