Chapter 19

FromTh. (Thynne, ed. 1532);collated withF. (Fairfax 16); and H. (Harl. 372).Also inFf. (Camb. Univ. Lib. Ff. 1. 6).Bad spellings ofTh.are corrected by theMSS.Title.Th. H. La ... mercy; F. Balade de la Bele Dame sanz mercy. H.adds—Translatid ... Ros. 1. Th. F. Halfe; H. Half. 2. F. H. Ff. wrapt. 3.Allrose. 4. Th. Ff.-selfe;H. F. self. 5. F. matere; H. matier. Th. leuynge. 6. Th. must; F. sholde; H. shold. 7. H. to whom; F. the which; Th. whiche. Th. F. dysobey; H. sey nay. 9. Th. thynge. Ff. part;restparte. 10. Th. F. boke; H. book. Th. La bel; F. la bele; H.om.La. H. F. sanz; Th. sauns. 11. Th. Whiche. 12. Th. secratairie; F. secretare; H. secretarie. 13. H. ther-; Th. F. her-. Th. F. stode; H. stood. 14. Th. greatly ymagenynge. 15. Th. shulde; F. H. sholde; Ff. shuld. Th. the; F. H. this. 16. Ff. avysement;restadv. 17. F. H. Ff. Myn; Th. My. F. H. Ff. symplesse.

18. Th. -warde; strayte. 19. Th. myne. 20. Th. downe. 21. Th. conclusyon. 24. H. in-to. H. green; Th. F. grene. 25. Th. se; great. 26. F. H. Ff. bolded; Th. boldly. F. benyng; Th. benygne; H. benyngne. 27. F. H. Ff. That; Th. Whiche. Th. F. boke; H. booke. H. F. the; Th. Ff. this. Th.om.seid. 28. F. H. begynne. Th. please. (From this point I silently correct the spelling ofTh.) 33. Th. Ff. by; F. H. with. 35. Ff. soleyne (forsole thus);perhaps better. 41. F. H. Ff. is; Th. doth. 42. F. felde. Th. maner of ease. 43. F. H. I; Th. as I. 44. F. H. Ff. nor doth noon other. 46. F. H. Ff. Were constreyned. 47. H. Myn eyen; F. Myn eyn; Th. My penne; Ff. My pen. Ff. neuerhaue knolege; H. haue knowlege (!); Th. neuer knowe; F. haue no knowlych.

49. F. H. Ff. And; Th. Tho. Th.om.if. 53. F. H. Ff. seke; Th. sicke. 54. Th. Ff. theyr; H. F. her (often). 55. F. H. balade or. 60. F. H. Ff. lyth with hir vndir hir tumbe in graue (Ff. I-graue). 65. Th. Ff. by; F. H. with. F. hath the forser vnschete. 66. Th. sperde; Ff. spred; F. sprad; H. spradde (!). 73. Th. H.om.good. 74. Th.om.Al. H. made than. 75. F. Ff. set; H. sette; Th. shette. F. H. Ff. boundes; Th. bondes. 77. F. H. thoughtes. Th.om.my. 79. F. I (forit). 80. H. I purposid me to bide.

81. H. forth to. 83. F. H. Ff. but; Th. a. 84. F. H. gardeyn; Th. garden. 88. F.om.yet I; H.om.yet. 89. F. H. come; Th. came. 90. Th. her; F. H. Ff. their. 92. F. H. nede; Th. nedes. 95. H. F. Ff. eueryche by one and one; Th. euery one by one. 103.SoFf.; H. F. Were none that serued in that place (!); Th. Ther were no deedly seruaunts in the place. 105. Ff.peraunter. H.om.most. 106. Th.om.sitting. 110. F. com; H. come; Th. came. 111. H. F. man; Th. one; Ff. on.

115. Th. F. Ff. went; H. yode. 116. Th. F. Ff. Ful; H. At. 117. Th.om.goodandright. 122. F. H. Come; Th. Came. 124. F. H.om. 2ndin. 133. F. H. feste; Th. feest. 134. Th. coude;restcouth. F. H.om.it. 138. Th. H. bode. 143. F. eey; H. yee; Th. eye. Th. F. Ff. stedfast; H. faste. 144. Th.om.the.

145. F. H. And; Th. For. Th. Ff. shot; H. sight; F. seght. 146. H. fedired; F. fedred; Ff. federid; Th. fereful. 148. Th. I, or that; F. ther that; H. I that there. Th. iestes. 151. F. H. tendirly; Th. wonderly. 154. F. H. come; Th. came. 155. F. H.om.most. F. H. ruful; Ff. rewfull; Th. woful. F. H. Ff. semblaunce; Th. penaunce. 158. F. H. these; Th. the. 159. F. H. louer; Th. man he. 160. Th.om.but. 166.Allchase. 168. F. H. beautevous. 169. F. H. that; Th. so. F. H. set; Th. setteth. H. trist. 170. Th. the (rightly); H. there; F. Ff. their. 171. F. vndir a. 173. F. H. as; Th. that. 174. F. Ff. O; H. On; Th. One. F. H. vice. (!). H. ner (for 1stnor). Th. Ff. nor; H. or; F. ne. Ff. apert; Th. H. perte;F. pert. 175. Th. garyson. Th. goodlynesse. 176.Allfrounter.

178. F. H. Ff. her; Th. of (twice). 180. Th. standerde; F. standarte; H. standart. 183. Th.-drawe;H.-drewh.184. Th. Ff. alone; F. H.om.186. F. withes; H. Ff. wythyes; Th. wrethes. 188. H. Ff. thorughe; Th. through; F. thorgh. Th. no man might. 189. Th. this; H. his. F. H. come; Th. came. 191. Th. Set (forSith). H. herbier. 192. H. them. Th. but a. 193. Th. of a certayne. 195. Th.om.And. 196.SoF. H.; Th. bytwene hem two. 201. Th. more; H. Ff. neer. 204. Ff. hete; Th. heate; F. H. hert.

209. Th. Ff. gan; F. H. can. 210. F. H. The toon. 213-220. F.omits. 224. F. H. Ff. kyns; Th. kynde. 225. H. Ff. avise; Th. aduyse. 226. Th. it at; F. H.om.at. 227. H. enterprise. 228. F. H. It; Th. Yet. 229. Th. it be; F. H.om.it. 231. Th. Ff. eschewynge; F. H. escusyng. 234. F. H. to; Th. vnto. 235.Allye. Th. Ff. right; F. even; H. euyn. 237. H.om.that. 238. Th. alway; F. H. ay to. 239. F. H.om.for. 240. Th. Withouten; F. Without.

241. H. gif; F. geve. 242. F. H. ayein; Th. any (!). 243. F. withouten; H. withoughtyn; Th. withoute. 248. F. Ff. mesurabely; Th. H. mesurably. 249. Th. Ff. your thought is; F. H. ye do ful. 251. Th. thynketh; F. H. think ye. Th. whyles; H. whil that; Ff. whils that. 252. F. matere; H. matier; Th. mater. 258. F. Ff. dyffiaunce. 259. F. H. Ff. to forbarre; Th. for to barre. 262. Th.om.hath. 263 Th. eye; F. eeye; H. yee; (ready). 265. F. if that ye lyst to beholde; H. Ff. if ye liste to biholde; Th. if ye list ye may beholde. 267. H. nor; Th. F. Ff. ne.

273. Th.om.not. Th. her; F. H. Ff. his. 275. F. H. Ff. But; Th. By (!). 278. H.om.trewly. Th. Ff. nought; F. H. neuer. 281. F. beleue; H. bileue; Th. loue (!). 282.SoFf.; H. F.om.greet (Th. you dyspleasaunce!). 284.SoF. Th.; H. encombrance. 290. F. I-falle; H. y-falle; Ff. falle; Th. fal. 297. Th. F. Ff. now; H. nought. 302. Th. it were; F. H.om.it. 303. F. sorow; H. sorwe; Th. Ff. sory. 304. F. H. stroye; Th. destroye. 308. F. H. oo; Th. one.

309. Th. Ff. nor; F. H. ne. 310. F. H. grete desire nor; Th. haue therin no. Th.om.right. 311. F. H. seke; Th. sicke. 312. Th. of; F. H. Ff. to. 313. F. H. their; Th. her. 317. Th. that ioy; F. H.om.that. 318. F. H.om.al. 319. F. H. their; Th. her. 320. Th. maner of age. 322. Th. by; F. H. Ff. of. Th. purchesse; F. H. purchace. 324. Th. tymes. F.om.the. H. dere his richesse bought has. Ff. rechace;restrichesse. 326. Th. in (for 2ndof). 327. F. ben; Th. be; H. are. 329. H. scoolys holden dieuly. 330. F. H. of; Th. al. 331. F. H. their hedes away. 334. F. set; Ff. sette; Th. H. setteth. 337. F. H.om.that. 340. Th. shewe; F. sue; H. Ff. sewe.

341. Th. Ff. awayte; F. H. abayte. 342. F. worching; H. worsching; Th. workyng. 344. F. H. know and fele. 346. F. H. him; Th. Ff. hem. 347. F. H. when that; Th.om.that. 348. F. H. their; Th. her. 350.Allavaunced loue. 351. Th. sharpe. F. H. this; Th. thus. 352. F. H. It; Th. Ff. Yet. 354. F. ton; H. toon; Th. one. F. H. the tother; Th. that other. 355. Th.om.the. Th. certeyne (!). 356. F. wonne; H. wonnen; Th. one (!). F. H. with; Th. in. 358. F. H. is; Th. thinke. 363. F. nor; H. ner; Th. and. Th.om.certayn. 364. F. H. stant; Th. standeth. F. enfeoffed. 366. Th.om.as. 371. F. H. rightwysly; Th. vnryghtfully (!).

384. Th. Ff. ayre; F. eir; H. heire. 386. Th. Thus be. F. H. Ff. man of; Th. maner. 387. F. layth; Th. layeth; H. latith. 388. H. losith. 389. F. Ff. currisch; H. kurressh; Th. cursed. 391. Th. F. right; H. ful. 392. F. H. their; Th. her. F. worchyng; H. werchyng; Th. workynge. 393. Th. and; F. H. a. F. Th. Ff. semyng; H. menyng. 394. F. H. Their; Th. Her (thrice). Th.om.be. Th. but; F. H. not. 400. H. sorowe. 401. Th. wheder; Ff. whedre; F. H. wher. 403. F. H. Ff. if; Th. of. 404. F. Ff. Then; H. Thanne; Th. That.

408. Th. sicknesse. 410. Th. disporte. Th. me. 411. Th. Ff. nor; F. H. ne. 412. F. H. Ff. it; Th. hem. 413. Th. Ff. byrde; F. bride; H. bridde. 415. H.om. 2ndhim. 416. F. H.om. 2ndhim. 419. Th. farther. 420. F. H. sett lesse. 422. F. H. Ff. of; Th. for. 424. F. H. of all; Th. Ff.om.of. 425. Th. wote; F. H. wytt. 429-716.Misarranged inF. H.; Th. Ff.follow the right order. 429. (Th.) = 669 (F. H.). F.om. 2ndby. 431. F. There-of. F. H. shulde; Th. shal. 432. Th. him that cometh and goth. 433. Th. holdeth. 434. Th. as to; F. H. Ff.om.as. 435. F. H. wolde; Th. Ff. wyl. 436. Th. desyringe (!).

438. Th. To; F. H. With. F. H. best and tendyrly; Th. Ff.om.best and. 440. F. H.om.no. F. H. Ff. yift; Th. gyftes. 442. F. Wheryn hym. 443. F. H. Ff. constreynte. 444. F. H. Ff. may not; Th. canneuer. F. H. ne; Th. Ff. nor. 445. H. seche; F. beseche. 446. F. H.om.it. 450. Th. a curtyse; Ff. a corteys; F. H. curteysy. 456. Th.om.al. 460. H. loste (forleft). 461. F. H. Ff. neuer formed (fourmed); Th. founded neuer. 467. Th. no (fornon). F. eeyn; H. yeen. 468. H. That ne alle ar.

472. F. feoffeth. 474. Th. be (forhe). 475. F. H.om.his. 477-524.Follows572inF. H. 477 (Th.) = 525 (F. H.). 478. Th. Ff. so; H. sum; F. some. 479. H. sowndith. 481. H. Ff. thus; Th. this. 486. F.om.ye. H. F. your sesoun spende not. 488. H. Ff. foly; Th. folly. 489. Th. H. herte. H. F. folyly; Th. follyly. 492. H. F. And; Th.om.Th. to fal. 493. H. Th. faire. 494. H. Ff. had (forhath). H. F. your; Th. Ff. his. 495. F. H. I neuer; Th. Ff. It neuer. 496. F. H. whiles. 500. H. F. not; Ff. nought; Th. neyther.

501. Th. gyfte; H. yifte. 502. Th.om.that. 503. Th. a gifte; H. F. Ff.om.a. 505. H. F.om.an. H. hurte ful fele (!). 506. H. F. Ff. in; Th. to. 508. H. F. neuer; Th. neyther. 509. H. F. Who; Th. Ff. He. 512. F.om.the. Th. reproveable. 513. F. H. feyled; Th. fayned. 514. Th. I mystoke; H. F. Ff. me mystoke. 515. F. entrepris. 516. H. F. goten. 517. H. Th. liste. 518. F. H. Secheth; Th. Seche a. 519. Th. preuayle. 523. H. hosithe (forleseth). 525-572.Follows716inF. H. 528. H. hoole; Th. hole. 529. H. F. it; Th. I. H. F.om.ne. 530. H. soundyng. 531. H. F. it ar; Th. I se be. Th. Ff. fantasise; F. fantasyse; H. fantaisise.

533. H. F. Ff. folily; Th. no foly (!). 534. H. Th. parte. 536. F. condyte. 538. Th. Ff. sute; H. F. suerte. H. F. in; Th. in to. 539. Th.om.which. H. F.om.that. 540. H. F. Ff. left as; Th. lost and. F. dethe (!). 542. H. Ff. Whils; Th. Whyles. Th.om.may. 544. Th. Than; H. F. Ff. That. H. not; Th. F.om.545. Ff. full;rest om.Th. H. harde. 546. H. triew; Th. true. H. grete; Th. great. F. Ff.om.a. 547. F. H.om.the;readmochel less? 550. H. F. nyl; Th. wyl. H. Th. harde. 551. Th. no man (fornor maner). 555. Th. cast me not. 556. H. F. ther-to; Th. therof. 558. H. F. beth. 559. H. trewe; Th. true. Ff. devoyr; H. duetes; F. dewtis; Th. honour. 560. Th. gotten. H. F. due; Th. dewe. 562. H. grete; Th. great. H. Th.-forte.564. H. F. oo; Ff. on; Th. one. H. Th.-porte.

565. Ff. H. cases;restcauses. 566. H. F. Which; Th. Ff. That. 567. H. F. Ff. entre; Th. auenture (!). 570. Th. Where I ne wyl make suche. 571. Th. but a; H. F.om.a. 573-620.Follows668inH. F. 573. F. matere; Th. mater. 574. Th. fantasyse; F. fantasise; H. fantesye. 576. F. Ff. avyse; Th. H. aduyse. 577. H. Ff. prefe; F. preue; Th. prise. 578. H. trouthe; Th. truthe. 579. H. Th. trewe. 581. H. Th. trewe. 583. H. Ff. deserue; Th. discerne (!). H. Th. knewe. 585. H. Ff. sueth; F. seweth; Th. swereth. 587. Th. geten; H. F. getith. 588. H. F. Ff. it haue; Th. haue it. 590. Th. H. shewe; fynde. 593. H. F. a slepe; Th. on slepe. 595. Th. H. comforte. 596. Ff. Shuld; H. F. Shulde; Th. Shal.

599. Th. sycke; H. F. seke. F.om.his. H. F. Ff. al awaye; Th. alway. 600. H. Ff. fele; Th. felen. H. sorwe; F. Ff. sorowe; Th. sore. 602. Th.om.right. Th. hindraunce. 604. H. Ff. so; Th. ful; F.om.605. H. Th. defende. H. F. haueles; Th. harmlesse (!). 607. Th.om.the. 608. Th. gyfte; H. yifte. 609. Th. Ff. vouchesafe; H. vouchith sauf. 610. H. F. cherissh; Th. Ff. cherissheth. 611. H. Th. defaute. 613. H. F. of; Th. on. H. Th. suche. 614. H. one; F. ōn; Th. loue. 615. H. Th. One. 616. H. Th. none. 617. H. Th. her;see618. Th. course; H. corse. Th. H. one; F. a. 618. H. F. euere newe; Th. Ff. euermore. Ff. their; Th. theyr; H. there; F. thair. 619. Th. Ff. their great; H. F.om.great. H. F. subtilite; Th. subtelte; Ff. sotelte. 621-668.Follows524inF. H. 621. F. oone; H. on; Th. one. Th. dothe; great. 622. H. F. Ff. be; Th. is. H. F. Ff. Iuyse; Th. iustyse. 625.SoH. F. Ff.; Th. And al euer sayd god wyl. 626. Th.om.so.

627. Ff. highe; H. F. her; Th. his. H. F. shal; Th. Ff. may. 629. Th. great; F. H.om.Th. dayse; H. daies. 631. H. preys; Th. prayse. 632. F. H. Ff. for; Th. in. 633. Th. F. Theyr; H. There. 637. Th. one; H. on; Ff. won. 638. H. Ff. which (foras). 643.SoF. H.; Th. As for my partie that. 644. Th. Whyle; H. F. Ff. Whils that. 645. F. H. ye; Th. it. 647. Th. H. foule. H. F. deceyued; Th. disceyued. 648. H. F. lightly; Th. light. 649. H. F. this; Th. Ff. your. 650. H. Ff. sumwhat haue; Th. haue some. 651.AllMoche. H. sonner; F. sunner; Th. Ff. better. Th. to abide. Ff. fole;restfoly. Th. simplenes;restsimplesse. 653. F. Ff. avyse; Th. H. aduyse. 656. Th. as a; H. F. Ff.om.a.

657. H. There. Th. H. one; Ff. won. 659. Th. Ff. as (rightly); H. F. is. Th. H. none. 660. Th. H. bonde. 661. H. Ff. Who loueth; F. Who love; Th. Ye loue. H. F. hym-; Th. your-. H. F. he be; Th. ye be. 662.SoH. F. Ff.; Th. That in loue stande. 664. Th. bileue ye;rest om.ye. 665. H. F. beth; Th. be. Th. as in;rest om.as. 666. Th. alway; H. F. alwaies. Th. one; Ff. on; H. an. 667. F. H. trusteth; Th. trust. 668. Th. H. take. 669-716.Follows428inF. H. 670. Th. lacke; H. F. Ff. faile. 673. H. faileth. 674. F. H. Ff. then she to; Th. thoughe she do. 675. Th. my; F. H. Ff. the. H. surtee; F. seurte. 677. H. purpos; Th. pupose. 678. Th. For the lenger ye. H. F. Ff. thus; Th. is. 680. H. F. Ff. ye; Th. you. 684. Th.om.That. H. ther; Th. her. 686. Th. great.

688. F. H. Ff. felt; Th. fele. Th. great. 691. H. F. semeth; Th. semed. 694. H. F. of; Th. do no. 696. F. damage; H. dammage; Th. Ff. domage. 697. H. F.om.wil. 699. H. dispetous. 700. Th. suche; H. F. Ff. the. 702. Th. H. harme. H. F. Ff. worship; Th. comforte. 703. H. F. Ff. bere an; Th. haue a. Th. H. suche. 704. H. F. Ff.om.And.Allfayre. H. F. Ff. body; Th. lady (!). H. formed to; F. Ff. y-formed to; Th. I must affirme (!). 710. H. F. Ff. that; Th. wel. 712. H. noght; Th. not. 714. H. F. Ff. manerles; Th. mercylesse. 717.HereH. F.agree withTh.again. Ff. marbre. Th. H. harde.

720. H. F. Ff. vaileth; Th. auayleth. Th. great. 721. H. F. Please; Th. Pleaseth. Th. H. dye. 722. Th. H. dysporte. 723. H. F. Ff. or; Th. and. 724. Th. H. dethe. H. F. that; Th. whiche. 725. Th. H. disease. 726. H. F. Ff. shake; Th. slake. 728. Th. heale. 729. H. F. Ff. nyl; Th. wyl. H. F. Ff. hate myn herte; Th. hurte my selfe. 730. Th. they I; H. F. Ff. this I. 731. H. F. wel to: Th. wyl I. 732. H. F. you; Th. hem. 733. H. noo; Th. nat. H. F. Ff. song; Th. loue. Th. alone. 735. H. F. Ff. I; Th. ye. Th. H. wote. Th. none. 737. Th. One; H. On. 739. Th. H. a vauntour;cf.l. 735. 741. Th. great. 744. H. F. Ff. to boste; Th. best. 745. H. wil wele; F. Ff. wille wel; Th. ywis. H. F. Ff. that; Th. yet. 746. H. F. on; Th. in. F. Th. partyse; Ff. partyes; H. party. 747. H. F. Ff. what; Th. whan so. Th. say (forpray). 748. H. F. shal; Ff. schuld; Th. shulde.

750. Th. H. suche. Th. Ff. erth; H. F. dethe. H. F. Ff. it is not; Th. is not al. 751. H. F. preve; Th. profe. 752. Th. great villony. 753. F. Ff. Is it; Th. H. It is. Th. H. one. 755. H. F. refuse. 756. Th. renomed; H. renommeed. F. H. her (fortheir). 757. Th. here; H. herde. 758. Th. H. eche. 759. H. purposen; F. porposyn; Th. pursuen. 760.SoH. F. Ff.; Th. Wyl not set by none il d. 761. Th. in euery; H. F.om.euery. 763. Ff. thair; F. ther; H. theym; Th. the. F. H.om.hertes. 764. Th. faithe. Th. Ff. softe and fayre; H. faire and softe. 766. F. H. Though; Th. Ff. If.Allone. 768. H. banshid. 769. H. F. oo; Th. one. 770. Th. the (for 1stand); H. F. and. Ff. eke;resteke the. 771. H. Ff. shal; Th. such. 772. H. F. ben; Ff. beth; Th. lyue. 777. F. H. Ff. visage; Th. face (!). 778. H. F. Ff. the; Th. these. Th. H. Ff. a wayte.

779. F. H. Ff. yf that we wil; Th. if we wyl here. 780. Th. H. conceyte. 781. F. H. oo; Th. a. Th. worde. H. F. Ff. allone; Th. nat one. 782. F. H. not; Th. nowe. Th. kepte. 783. H. F. Ff. pele; Th. appele.Allmone (readmoon). 785. H. Ff. pleyne me; F. pleyn me; Th. complayne. 786. Th. H. forgate. 787. H. elles. 788. Ff. H. F. he so sone put; Th. so sone am put. 789. Th. H. forfeyte. 791.SoH. F. Ff.; Th. Nothing hurteth you but your owne conceyte. 792. H. shal ye. 793. H. F. Ones for; Th. Thus. 794.SoH. Ff.;soF. (withtheforye); Th. That your desyre shal neuer recouered be. 796. Th. ynoughe.Title;inH. 797. Th. rose; H. rosse. H. F. al in; Th. Ff. in al. 798. Ff. partyd;restdeparted. 799. Th. to-brast; H. F. Ff. it brest. 800. H. forth walkyng; Th. Ff. walkynge forth. 801. Th.om.Now. 803. Th. Ff. shorter; H. shorte; F. short. 805. H. Ff. whider; Th. whither. 806. F. party. F. Ff. drow; H. drowh; Th. drewe.

809. Th. Ff. thus; H. it; F.om.811. Th. great.Title;inTh. 813. H. F. Ff. Ye; Th. The. F. trew; H. trewe; Th. true. Th. thus; H. Ff. this. 814. Ff. aventours;restaventures (see note). Th. flie; H. F. fle. 816. Th. great. 817. Th.omits this line; fromH. F. Ff. H. F. made. H. F. Ff. flaterise. 821. Th. H. estate; Ff. astate. 822. H. F. Ff. In; Th. Of. 824. Ff. haue; F. hath; H.om.Th.omits the line. 825. H. folwe ye not; F. folowe ye not; Ff. folowe not; Th. foule not.After828, F.has—Explicit la bele dame sanz mercy; H. F. Verba translatoris. 829. Th. H. Ff. the. 833. H. F.om.al.Allthe. 834. Th. hir (fortheir). 835. Th. H. The.

837. Th. cace; H. caas. 838. H. elles. 840, 841. Th. her (fortheir). 843. Th. H. wote. 844. Th.om.and. 845. H. F. Wilde; Th. Ff. Lyke. 846. Ff. tabyde; Th. to abyde. 847. H. axe. 848. Th. Ff. were made; F. was made; H. made was. 850. H. F. Ff. processe; Th. prosses. 852. Th. H. trewe. 854. Th. done her; Ff. do thair; H. dothe here; F. doth thair. 855. Th. her (fortheir).After856; Th. Explicit; H. Amen.

XVII.

THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID.

Ane dooly sesoun to ane cairfull dyteSuld correspond, and be equivalent.Richt sa it wes quhen I began to wryteThis tragedy; the wedder richt fervent,5Quhen Aries, in middis of the Lent,Shouris of haill can fra the north discend;That scantly fra the cauld I micht defend.Yit nevertheles, within myn oratureI stude, quhen Tytan had his bemis bricht10Withdrawin doun and sylit under cure;And fair Venus, the bewty of the nicht,Uprais, and set unto the west full richtHir goldin face, in oppositiounOf god Phebus direct discending doun.15Throwout the glas hir bemis brast sa fairThat I micht see, on every syde me by,The northin wind had purifyit the air,And shed the misty cloudis fra the sky.The froist freisit, the blastis bitterly20Fra pole Artyk come quhisling loud and shill,And causit me remuf aganis my will.For I traistit that Venus, luifis quene,To quhom sum-tyme I hecht obedience,My faidit hart of luf sho wald mak grene;25And therupon, with humbil reverence,I thocht to pray hir hy magnificence;But for greit cald as than I lattit was,And in my chalmer to the fyr can pas.Thocht luf be hait, yit in ane man of age30It kendillis nocht sa sone as in youthheid,Of quhom the blude is flowing in ane rage;And in the auld the curage †douf and deid,Of quhilk the fyr outward is best remeid,To help be phisik quhair that nature failit;35I am expert, for baith I have assailit.I mend the fyr, and beikit me about,Than tuik ane drink my spreitis to comfort,And armit me weill fra the cauld thairout.To cut the winter-nicht, and mak it short,40I tuik ane quair, and left all uther sport,Writtin be worthy Chaucer glorious,Of fair Cresseid and lusty Troilus.And thair I fand, efter that DiomeidRessavit had that lady bricht of hew,45How Troilus neir out of wit abraid,And weipit soir, with visage paill of hew;For quhilk wanhope his teiris can renew,Quhill †esperans rejoisit him agane:Thus quhyl in joy he levit, quhyl in pane.50Of hir behest he had greit comforting,Traisting to Troy that sho suld mak retour,Quhilk he desyrit maist of eirdly thing,For-quhy sho was his only paramour.Bot quhen he saw passit baith day and hour55Of hir gaincome, than sorrow can oppresHis woful hart in cair and hevines.Of his distres me neidis nocht reheirs,For worthy Chaucer, in the samin buik,In guidly termis and in joly veirs60Compylit hes his cairis, quha will luik.To brek my sleip ane uther quair I tuik,In quilk I fand the fatall destenyOf fair Cresseid, that endit wretchitly.Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew?65Nor I wait nocht gif this narratiounBe authoreist, or fenyeit of the newBe sum poeit, throw his inventioun,Maid to report the lamentatiounAnd woful end of this lusty Cresseid,70And quhat distres sho thoillit, and quhat deid.Quhen Diomed had all his appetyt,And mair, fulfillit of this fair lady,Upon ane uther he set his haill delyt,And send to hir ane lybel of répudy,75And hir excludit fra his company.Than desolait sho walkit up and doun,And, sum men sayis, into the court commoun.O fair Cresseid! the flour andA-per-seOf Troy and Grece, how was thou fortunait,80To change in filth all thy feminitee,And be with fleshly lust sa maculait,And go amang the Greikis air and laitSa giglot-lyk, takand thy foull plesance!I have pity thee suld fall sic mischance!85Yit nevertheles, quhat-ever men deme or sayIn scornful langage of thy brukilnes,I sall excuse, als far-furth as I may,Thy womanheid, thy wisdom, and fairnes,The quilk Fortoun hes put to sic distres90As hir pleisit, and na-thing throw the giltOf thee, throw wikkit langage to be spilt.This fair lady, in this wys destitutOf all comfort and consolatioun,Richt prively, but fellowship, on fut95Disgysit passit far out of the tounAne myle or twa, unto ane mansiounBeildit full gay, quhair hir father Calchas,Quhilk than amang the Greikis dwelland was.Quhan he hir saw, the caus he can inquyr100Of hir cuming; sho said, syching full soir,'Fra Diomeid had gottin his desyrHe wox wery, and wald of me no moir!'Quod Calchas, 'Douchter, weip thow not thairfoir;Peraventure all cummis for the best;105Welcum to me; thow art full deir ane gest.'This auld Calchas, efter the law was tho,Wes keeper of the tempill, as ane preist,In quhilk Venus and hir son CupidoWar honourit; and his chalmer was thaim neist;110To quhilk Cresseid, with baill aneuch in breist,Usit to pas, hir prayeris for to say;Quhill at the last, upon ane solempne day,As custom was, the pepill far and neir,Befoir the none, unto the tempill went115With sacrifys devoit in thair maneir.But still Cresseid, hevy in hir intent,In-to the kirk wald not hir-self present,For giving of the pepil ony demingOf hir expuls fra Diomeid the king:120But past into ane secreit oratureQuhair sho micht weip hir wofull desteny.Behind hir bak sho cloisit fast the dure,And on hir knëis bair fell down in hy.Upon Venus and Cupid angerly125Sho cryit out, and said on this same wys,'Allas! that ever I maid yow sacrifys!Ye gave me anis ane devyn responsaillThat I suld be the flour of luif in Troy;Now am I maid an unworthy outwaill,130And all in cair translatit is my joy.Quha sall me gyde? quha sall me now convoy,Sen I fra Diomeid and nobill TroilusAm clene excludit, as abject odious?O fals Cupide, is nane to wyte bot thow135And thy mother, of luf the blind goddes!Ye causit me alwayis understand and trowThe seid of luf was sawin in my face,And ay grew grene throw your supply and grace.But now, allas! that seid with froist is slane,140And I fra luifferis left, and all forlane!'Quhen this was said, doun in ane extasy,Ravishit in spreit, intill ane dream sho fell;And, be apperance, hard, quhair sho did ly,Cupid the king ringand ane silver bell,145Quhilk men micht heir fra hevin unto hell;At quhais sound befoir Cupide appeirisThe sevin planetis, discending fra thair spheiris,Quhilk hes powèr of all thing generábillTo reull and steir, be thair greit influence,150Wedder and wind and coursis variábill.And first of all Saturn gave his sentence,Quhilk gave to Cupid litill reverence,But as ane busteous churl, on his maneir,Com crabbitly, with auster luik and cheir.155His face fronsit, his lyr was lyk the leidHis teith chatterit and cheverit with the chinHis ene drowpit, how, sonkin in his heidOut of his nois the meldrop fast can rinWith lippis bla, and cheikis leine and thin160The yse-shoklis that fra his hair doun hangWas wonder greit, and as ane speir als lang.Atour his belt his lyart lokkis layFelterit unfair, ourfret with froistis hoir;His garmound and his †gyte full gay of gray;165His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir.Ane busteous bow within his hand he boir;Under his gyrdil ane flash of felloun flanisFedderit with yse, and heidit with hail-stanis.Than Juppiter richt fair and amiábill,170God of the starnis in the firmament,And nureis to all thing[is] generábill,Fra his father Saturn far different,With burely face, and browis bricht and brent;Upon his heid ane garland wonder gay175Of flouris fair, as it had been in May.His voice was cleir, as cristal wer his ene;As goldin wyr sa glitterand was his hair;His garmound and his gyte full gay of grene,With goldin listis gilt on every gair;180Ane burely brand about his middill bair.In his right hand he had ane groundin speir,Of his father the wraith fra us to weir.Nixt efter him com Mars, the god of ire,Of stryf, debait, and all dissensioun;185To chyde and fecht, als feirs as ony fyr;In hard harnes, hewmound and habirgeoun,And on his hanche ane rousty fell fachioun:And in his hand he had ane rousty sword,Wrything his face with mony angry word.190Shaikand his sword, befoir Cupide he comWith reid visage and grisly glowrand ene;And at his mouth ane bullar stude of fome,Lyk to ane bair quhetting his tuskis keneRicht tuilyour-lyk, but temperance in tene;195Ane horn he blew, with mony bosteous brag,Quhilk all this warld with weir hes maid to wag.Than fair Phebus, lanterne and lamp of lichtOf man and beist, baith frute and flourishing,Tender nuréis, and banisher of nicht,200And of the warld causing, be his movingAnd influence, lyf in all eirdly thing;Without comfort of quhom, of force to nochtMust all ga dy, that in this warld is wrocht.As king royáll he raid upon his chair,205The quhilk Phaeton gydit sum-tyme unricht;The brichtnes of his face, quhen it was bair,Nane micht behald for peirsing of his sicht.This goldin cart with fyry bemes brichtFour yokkit steidis, full different of hew,210But bait or tyring throw the spheiris drew.The first was soyr, with mane als reid as rois,Callit Eöy, in-to the orient;The secund steid to name hecht Ethiös,Quhytly and paill, and sum-deill ascendent;215The thrid Peros, richt hait and richt fervent;The feird was blak, callit †Philegoney,Quhilk rollis Phebus down in-to the sey.Venus was thair present, that goddes gay,Hir sonnis querrel for to defend, and mak220Hir awin complaint, cled in ane nyce array,The ane half grene, the uther half sabill-blak;Quhyte hair as gold, kemmit and shed abak;But in hir face semit greit variance,Quhyles perfit treuth, and quhylës inconstance.225Under smyling sho was dissimulait,Provocative with blenkis amorous;And suddanly changit and alterait,Angry as ony serpent venemous,Richt pungitive with wordis odious.230Thus variant sho was, quha list tak keip,With ane eye lauch, and with the uther weip:—In taikning that all fleshly paramour,Quhilk Venus hes in reull and governance,Is sum-tyme sweit, sum-tyme bitter and sour,235Richt unstabill, and full of variance,Mingit with cairfull joy, and fals plesance;Now hait, now cauld; now blyth, now full of wo;Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago.With buik in hand than com Mercurius,240Richt eloquent and full of rethory;With pólite termis and delicious;With pen and ink to réport all redy;Setting sangis, and singand merily.His hude was reid, heklit atour his croun,245Lyk to ane poeit of the auld fassoun.Boxis he bair with fine electuairis,And sugerit syropis for digestioun;Spycis belangand to the pothecairis,With mony hailsum sweit confectioun;250Doctour in phisik, cled in scarlot goun,And furrit weill, as sic ane aucht to be,Honest and gude, and not ane word coud le.Nixt efter him com lady Cynthia,The last of all, and swiftest in hir spheir,255Of colour blak, buskit with hornis twa,And in the nicht sho listis best appeir;Haw as the leid, of colour na-thing cleir.For all hir licht sho borrowis at hir brothirTitan; for of hir-self sho hes nane uther.260Hir gyte was gray, and full of spottis blak;And on hir breist ane churl paintit ful evin,Beirand ane bunch of thornis on his bak,Quhilk for his thift micht clim na nar the hevin.Thus quhen they gadderit war, thir goddis sevin,265Mercurius they cheisit with ane assentTo be foir-speikar in the parliament.Quha had ben thair, and lyking for to heirHis facound toung and termis exquisyte,Of rhetorik the praktik he micht leir,270In breif sermone ane pregnant sentence wryte.Befoir Cupide vailing his cap a lyte,Speiris the caus of that vocacioun;And he anon shew his intencioun.'Lo!' quod Cupide, 'quha will blaspheme the name275Of his awin god, outhir in word or deid,To all goddis he dois baith lak and shame,And suld have bitter panis to his meid.I say this by yonder wretchit Cresseid,The quhilk throw me was sum-tyme flour of lufe,280Me and my mother starkly can reprufe.Saying, of hir greit infelicitèI was the caus; and my mother Venus,Ane blind goddes hir cald, that micht not see,With slander and defame injurious.285Thus hir leving unclene and lecherousSho wald returne on me and [on] my mother,To quhom I shew my grace abone all uther.And sen ye ar all sevin deificait,Participant of dévyn sapience,290This greit injúry don to our hy estaitMe-think with pane we suld mak recompence;Was never to goddis don sic violence.As weill for yow as for myself I say;Thairfoir ga help to révenge, I yow pray.'295Mercurius to Cupid gave answeir,And said, 'Shir king, my counsall is that yeRefer yow to the hyest planeit heir,And tak to him the lawest of degrè,The pane of Cresseid for to modify;300As god Saturn, with him tak Cynthia.''I am content,' quod he, 'to tak thay twa.'Than thus proceidit Saturn and the Mone,Quhen thay the mater rypely had degest;For the dispyt to Cupid sho had done,305And to Venus oppin and manifest,In all hir lyf with pane to be opprestAnd torment sair, with seiknes incurábill,And to all lovers be abominábill.This dulefull sentence Saturn tuik on hand,310And passit doun quhair cairfull Cresseid lay;And on hir heid he laid ane frosty wand,Than lawfully on this wyse can he say;'Thy greit fairnes, and al thy bewty gay,Thy wantoun blude, and eik thy goldin hair,315Heir I exclude fra thee for evermair.I change thy mirth into melancholy,Quhilk is the mother of all pensivenes;Thy moisture and thy heit in cald and dry;Thyne insolence, thy play and wantones320To greit diseis: thy pomp and thy richesIn mortall neid; and greit penuritieThow suffer sall, and as ane beggar die.'O cruel Saturn, fraward and angry,Hard is thy dome, and to malicious!325On fair Cresseid quhy hes thow na mercy,Quhilk was sa sweit, gentill, and amorous?Withdraw thy sentence, and be graciousAs thow was never; so shawis thow thy deid,Ane wraikfull sentence gevin on fair Cresseid.330Than Cynthia, quhen Saturn past away,Out of hir sait discendit down belyve,And red ane bill on Cresseid quhair sho lay,Contening this sentence diffinityve:—'Fra heil of body I thee now depryve,335And to thy seiknes sal be na recure,But in dolóur thy dayis to indure.Thy cristall ene minglit with blude I mak,Thy voice sa cleir unplesand, hoir, and hace;Thy lusty lyre ourspred with spottis blak,340And lumpis haw appeirand in thy face.Quhair thow cummis, ilk man sall flee the place;Thus sall thou go begging fra hous to hous,With cop and clapper, lyk ane lazarous.'This dooly dream, this ugly visioun345Brocht to ane end, Cresseid fra it awoik,And all that court and convocatiounVanischit away. Than rais sho up and tuikAne poleist glas, and hir shaddow coud luik;And quhen sho saw hir face sa déformait,350Gif sho in hart was wa aneuch, god wait!Weiping full sair, 'Lo! quhat it is,' quod she,'With fraward langage for to mufe and steirOur crabbit goddis, and sa is sene on me!My blaspheming now have I bocht full deir;355All eirdly joy and mirth I set areir.Allas, this day! Allas, this wofull tyde,Quhen I began with my goddis to chyde!'Be this was said, ane child com fra the hallTo warn Cresseid the supper was redy;360First knokkit at the dure, and syne coud call—'Madame, your father biddis you cum in hy;He has mervell sa lang on grouf ye ly,And sayis, "Your prayërs been to lang sum-deill;The goddis wait all your intent full weill."'365Quod sho, 'Fair child, ga to my father deir,And pray him cum to speik with me anon.'And sa he did, and said, 'Douchter, quhat cheir?''Allas!' quod she, 'father, my mirth is gon!''How sa?' quod he; and sho can all expone,370As I have tauld, the vengeance and the wrak,For hir trespas, Cupide on hir coud tak.He luikit on hir ugly lipper face,The quhilk befor was quhyte as lilly-flour;Wringand his handis, oftymes he said, Allas!375That he had levit to see that wofull hour!For he knew weill that thair was na succourTo hir seiknes; and that dowblit his pane;Thus was thair cair aneuch betwix tham twane.Quhen thay togidder murnit had full lang,380Quod Cresseid, 'Father, I wald not be kend;Thairfoir in secreit wyse ye let me gangTo yon hospítall at the tounis end;And thidder sum meit, for cheritie, me sendTo leif upon; for all mirth in this eird385Is fra me gane; sik is my wikkit weird.'Than in ane mantill and ane bevar hat,With cop and clapper, wonder prively,He opnit ane secreit yet, and out thairatConvoyit hir, that na man suld espy,390Unto ane village half ane myle thairby;Deliverit hir in at the spittail-hous,And dayly sent hir part of his almous.Sum knew hir weill, and sum had na knawlegeOf hir, becaus sho was sa déformait395With bylis blak, ourspred in hir visage,And hir fair colour faidit and alterait.Yit thay presumit, for hir hy regraitAnd still murning, sho was of nobill kin;With better will thairfoir they tuik hir in.400The day passit, and Phebus went to rest,The cloudis blak ourquhelmit all the sky;God wait gif Cresseid was ane sorrowful gest,Seeing that uncouth fair and herbery.But meit or drink sho dressit hir to ly405In ane dark corner of the hous allone;And on this wyse, weiping, sho maid hir mone.The Complaint of Cresseid.'O sop of sorrow sonken into cair!O caytive Cresseid! now and ever-mairGane is thy joy and all thy mirth in eird;410Of all blyithnes now art thow blaiknit bair;Thair is na salve may saif thee of thy sair!Fell is thy fortoun, wikkit is thy weird;Thy blis is baneist, and thy baill on breird!Under the eirth god gif I gravin wer,415Quhar nane of Grece nor yit of Troy micht heird!Quhair is thy chalmer, wantounly beseneWith burely bed, and bankouris browderit bene,Spycis and wynis to thy collatioun;The cowpis all of gold and silver shene,420The swete meitis servit in plaittis clene,With saipheron sals of ane gude sessoun;Thy gay garmentis, with mony gudely goun,Thy plesand lawn pinnit with goldin prene?All is areir thy greit royáll renoun!425Quhair is thy garding, with thir greissis gayAnd fresshe flouris, quhilk the quene FlorayHad paintit plesandly in every pane,Quhair thou was wont full merily in MayTo walk, and tak the dew be it was day,430And heir the merle and mavis mony ane;With ladyis fair in carrolling to gane,And see the royal rinkis in thair arrayIn garmentis gay, garnischit on every grane?Thy greit triumphand fame and hy honour,435Quhair thou was callit of eirdly wichtis flour,All is decayit; thy weird is welterit so,Thy hy estait is turnit in darknes dour!This lipper ludge tak for thy burelie bour,And for thy bed tak now ane bunch of stro.440For waillit wyne and meitis thou had tho,Tak mowlit breid, peirry, and syder sour;But cop and clapper, now is all ago.My cleir voice and my courtly carrolling,Quhair I was wont with ladyis for to sing,445Is rawk as ruik, full hiddeous, hoir, and hace;My plesand port all utheris precelling,Of lustines I was held maist conding;Now is deformit the figour of my face;To luik on it na leid now lyking hes.450Sowpit in syte, I say with sair siching—Lugeit amang the lipper-leid—"Alas!"O ladyis fair of Troy and Grece, attendMy misery, quhilk nane may comprehend,My frivoll fortoun, my infelicitie,455My greit mischief, quhilk na man can amend.Be war in tyme, approchis neir the end,And in your mynd ane mirrour mak of me.As I am now, peradventure that ye,For all your micht, may cum to that same end,460Or ellis war, gif ony war may be.Nocht is your fairnes bot ane faiding flour,Nocht is your famous laud and hy honourBot wind inflat in uther mennis eiris;Your roising reid to rotting sall retour.465Exempill mak of me in your memour,Quhilk of sic thingis wofull witnes beiris.All welth in eird away as wind it weiris;Be war thairfoir; approchis neir the hour;Fortoun is fikkil, quhen sho beginnis and steiris.'—470Thus chydand with her drery desteny,Weiping, sho woik the nicht fra end to end,But all in vane; hir dule, hir cairfull cryMicht nocht remeid, nor yit hir murning mend.Ane lipper-lady rais, and till hir wend,475And said, 'Quhy spurnis thou aganis the wall,To sla thyself, and mend na-thing at all?Sen that thy weiping dowbillis bot thy wo,I counsall thee mak vertew of ane neid,To leir to clap thy clapper to and fro,480And †live efter the law of lipper-leid.'Thair was na buit, bot forth with thame sho yeidFra place to place, quhill cauld and hounger sairCompellit hir to be ane rank beggair.That samin tyme, of Troy the garnisoun,485Quhilk had to chiftane worthy Troilus,Throw jeopardy of weir had strikkin dounKnichtis of Grece in number mervellous.With greit triúmph and laud victoriousAgane to Troy richt royally thay raid490The way quhair Cresseid with the lipper baid.Seing that company cum, all with ane stevinThey gaif ane cry, and shuik coppis gude speid;Said, 'Worthy lordis, for goddis lufe of hevin,To us lipper part of your almous-deid.'495Than to thair cry nobill Troilus tuik heid;Having pity, neir by the place can pasQuhair Cresseid sat, nat witting quhat sho was.Than upon him sho kest up baith her ene,And with ane blenk it com in-to his thocht500That he sum-tyme hir face befoir had sene;But sho was in sic ply he knew hir nocht.Yit than hir luik in-to his mind it brochtThe sweit visage and amorous blenkingOf fair Cresseid, sumtyme his awin darling.505Na wonder was, suppois in mynd that heTuik hir figure sa sone, and lo! now, quhy;The idole of ane thing in cace may beSa deip imprentit in the fantasy,That it deludis the wittis outwardly,510And sa appeiris in forme and lyke estaitWithin the mynd as it was figurait.Ane spark of lufe than till his hart coud spring,And kendlit all his body in ane fyre;With hait fevir ane sweit and trimbilling515Him tuik, quhill he was redy to expyre;To beir his sheild his breist began to tyre;Within ane whyle he changit mony hew,And nevertheles not ane ane-uther knew.For knichtly pity and memoriall520Of fair Cresseid, ane girdill can he tak,Ane purs of gold and mony gay jowáll,And in the skirt of Cresseid doun can swak;Than raid away, and not ane word he spak,Pensive in hart, quhill he com to the toun,525And for greit cair oft-syis almaist fell doun.The lipper-folk to Cresseid than can draw,To see the equall distribuciounOf the almous; but quhan the gold they saw,Ilk ane to uther prevely can roun,530And said, 'Yon lord hes mair affectioun,However it be, unto yon lazarousThan to us all; we knaw be his almous.''Quhat lord is yon?' quod sho, 'have ye na feill,Hes don to us so greit humanitie?'535'Yes,' quod a lipper-man, 'I knaw him weill;Shir Troilus it is, gentill and free.'Quhen Cresseid understude that it was he,Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stoundThrowout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground.540Quhen sho, ourcom with syching sair and sad,With mony cairfull cry and cald—'Ochane!Now is my breist with stormy stoundis stad,Wrappit in wo, ane wretch full will of wane';Than swounit sho oft or sho coud refrane,545And ever in hir swouning cryit sho thus:'O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!Thy luf, thy lawtee, and thy gentilnesI countit small in my prosperitie;Sa elevait I was in wantones,550And clam upon the fickill quheill sa hie;All faith and lufe, I promissit to thee,Was in the self fickill and frivolous;O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!For lufe of me thou keipt gude countinence,555Honest and chaist in conversatioun;Of all wemen protectour and defenceThou was, and helpit thair opinioun.My mynd, in fleshly foull affectioun,Was inclynit to lustis lecherous;560Fy! fals Cresseid! O, trew knicht Troilus!Lovers, be war, and tak gude heid aboutQuhom that ye lufe, for quhom ye suffer paine;I lat yow wit, thair is richt few thairoutQuhom ye may traist, to have trew lufe againe;565Preif quhen ye will, your labour is in vaine.Thairfoir I reid ye tak thame as ye find;For they ar sad as widdercock in wind.Becaus I knaw the greit unstabilnesBrukkil as glas, into my-self I say,570Traisting in uther als greit unfaithfulnes,Als unconstant, and als untrew of fay.Thocht sum be trew, I wait richt few ar thay.Quha findis treuth, lat him his lady ruse;Nane but my-self, as now, I will accuse.'575Quhen this was said, with paper sho sat doun,And on this maneir maid hirTESTAMENT:—'Heir I beteich my corps and cariounWith wormis and with taidis to be rent;My cop and clapper, and myne ornament,580And all my gold, the lipper-folk sall have,Quhen I am deid, to bury me in grave.This royall ring, set with this ruby reid,Quhilk Troilus in drowry to me send,To him agane I leif it quhan I am deid,585To mak my cairfull deid unto him kend.Thus I conclude shortly, and mak ane end.My spreit I leif to Diane, quhair sho dwellis,To walk with hir in waist woddis and wellis.O Diomeid! thow hes baith broche and belt590Quhilk Troilus gave me in takinningOf his trew lufe!'—And with that word sho swelt.And sone ane lipper-man tuik of the ring,Syne buryit hir withoutin tarying.To Troilus furthwith the ring he bair,595And of Cresseid the deith he can declair.Quhen he had hard hir greit infirmitè,Hir legacy and lamentatioun,And how sho endit in sik povertè,He swelt for wo, and fell doun in ane swoun;600For greit sorrow his hart to birst was boun.Syching full sadly, said, 'I can no moir;Sho was untrew, and wo is me thairfoir!'Sum said, he maid ane tomb of merbell gray,And wrait hir name and superscriptioun,605And laid it on hir grave, quhair that sho lay,In goldin letteris, conteining this ressoun:—'Lo! fair ladyis, Cresseid of Troyis toun,Sumtyme countit the flour of womanheid,Under this stane, late lipper, lyis deid!'610Now, worthy wemen, in this ballet short,Made for your worship and instructioun,Of cheritè I monish and exhort,Ming not your luf with fals deceptioun.Beir in your mynd this short conclusioun615Of fair Cresseid, as I have said befoir;Sen sho is deid, I speik of hir no moir.

Ane dooly sesoun to ane cairfull dyte

Suld correspond, and be equivalent.

Richt sa it wes quhen I began to wryte

This tragedy; the wedder richt fervent,

Quhen Aries, in middis of the Lent,

Shouris of haill can fra the north discend;

That scantly fra the cauld I micht defend.

Yit nevertheles, within myn oratureI stude, quhen Tytan had his bemis bricht10Withdrawin doun and sylit under cure;And fair Venus, the bewty of the nicht,Uprais, and set unto the west full richtHir goldin face, in oppositiounOf god Phebus direct discending doun.

Yit nevertheles, within myn orature

I stude, quhen Tytan had his bemis bricht

Withdrawin doun and sylit under cure;

And fair Venus, the bewty of the nicht,

Uprais, and set unto the west full richt

Hir goldin face, in oppositioun

Of god Phebus direct discending doun.

15Throwout the glas hir bemis brast sa fairThat I micht see, on every syde me by,The northin wind had purifyit the air,And shed the misty cloudis fra the sky.The froist freisit, the blastis bitterly20Fra pole Artyk come quhisling loud and shill,And causit me remuf aganis my will.

Throwout the glas hir bemis brast sa fair

That I micht see, on every syde me by,

The northin wind had purifyit the air,

And shed the misty cloudis fra the sky.

The froist freisit, the blastis bitterly

Fra pole Artyk come quhisling loud and shill,

And causit me remuf aganis my will.

For I traistit that Venus, luifis quene,To quhom sum-tyme I hecht obedience,My faidit hart of luf sho wald mak grene;25And therupon, with humbil reverence,I thocht to pray hir hy magnificence;But for greit cald as than I lattit was,And in my chalmer to the fyr can pas.

For I traistit that Venus, luifis quene,

To quhom sum-tyme I hecht obedience,

My faidit hart of luf sho wald mak grene;

And therupon, with humbil reverence,

I thocht to pray hir hy magnificence;

But for greit cald as than I lattit was,

And in my chalmer to the fyr can pas.

Thocht luf be hait, yit in ane man of age30It kendillis nocht sa sone as in youthheid,Of quhom the blude is flowing in ane rage;And in the auld the curage †douf and deid,Of quhilk the fyr outward is best remeid,To help be phisik quhair that nature failit;35I am expert, for baith I have assailit.

Thocht luf be hait, yit in ane man of age

It kendillis nocht sa sone as in youthheid,

Of quhom the blude is flowing in ane rage;

And in the auld the curage †douf and deid,

Of quhilk the fyr outward is best remeid,

To help be phisik quhair that nature failit;

I am expert, for baith I have assailit.

I mend the fyr, and beikit me about,Than tuik ane drink my spreitis to comfort,And armit me weill fra the cauld thairout.To cut the winter-nicht, and mak it short,40I tuik ane quair, and left all uther sport,Writtin be worthy Chaucer glorious,Of fair Cresseid and lusty Troilus.

I mend the fyr, and beikit me about,

Than tuik ane drink my spreitis to comfort,

And armit me weill fra the cauld thairout.

To cut the winter-nicht, and mak it short,

I tuik ane quair, and left all uther sport,

Writtin be worthy Chaucer glorious,

Of fair Cresseid and lusty Troilus.

And thair I fand, efter that DiomeidRessavit had that lady bricht of hew,45How Troilus neir out of wit abraid,And weipit soir, with visage paill of hew;For quhilk wanhope his teiris can renew,Quhill †esperans rejoisit him agane:Thus quhyl in joy he levit, quhyl in pane.

And thair I fand, efter that Diomeid

Ressavit had that lady bricht of hew,

How Troilus neir out of wit abraid,

And weipit soir, with visage paill of hew;

For quhilk wanhope his teiris can renew,

Quhill †esperans rejoisit him agane:

Thus quhyl in joy he levit, quhyl in pane.

50Of hir behest he had greit comforting,Traisting to Troy that sho suld mak retour,Quhilk he desyrit maist of eirdly thing,For-quhy sho was his only paramour.Bot quhen he saw passit baith day and hour55Of hir gaincome, than sorrow can oppresHis woful hart in cair and hevines.

Of hir behest he had greit comforting,

Traisting to Troy that sho suld mak retour,

Quhilk he desyrit maist of eirdly thing,

For-quhy sho was his only paramour.

Bot quhen he saw passit baith day and hour

Of hir gaincome, than sorrow can oppres

His woful hart in cair and hevines.

Of his distres me neidis nocht reheirs,For worthy Chaucer, in the samin buik,In guidly termis and in joly veirs60Compylit hes his cairis, quha will luik.To brek my sleip ane uther quair I tuik,In quilk I fand the fatall destenyOf fair Cresseid, that endit wretchitly.

Of his distres me neidis nocht reheirs,

For worthy Chaucer, in the samin buik,

In guidly termis and in joly veirs

Compylit hes his cairis, quha will luik.

To brek my sleip ane uther quair I tuik,

In quilk I fand the fatall desteny

Of fair Cresseid, that endit wretchitly.

Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew?65Nor I wait nocht gif this narratiounBe authoreist, or fenyeit of the newBe sum poeit, throw his inventioun,Maid to report the lamentatiounAnd woful end of this lusty Cresseid,70And quhat distres sho thoillit, and quhat deid.

Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew?

Nor I wait nocht gif this narratioun

Be authoreist, or fenyeit of the new

Be sum poeit, throw his inventioun,

Maid to report the lamentatioun

And woful end of this lusty Cresseid,

And quhat distres sho thoillit, and quhat deid.

Quhen Diomed had all his appetyt,And mair, fulfillit of this fair lady,Upon ane uther he set his haill delyt,And send to hir ane lybel of répudy,75And hir excludit fra his company.Than desolait sho walkit up and doun,And, sum men sayis, into the court commoun.

Quhen Diomed had all his appetyt,

And mair, fulfillit of this fair lady,

Upon ane uther he set his haill delyt,

And send to hir ane lybel of répudy,

And hir excludit fra his company.

Than desolait sho walkit up and doun,

And, sum men sayis, into the court commoun.

O fair Cresseid! the flour andA-per-seOf Troy and Grece, how was thou fortunait,80To change in filth all thy feminitee,And be with fleshly lust sa maculait,And go amang the Greikis air and laitSa giglot-lyk, takand thy foull plesance!I have pity thee suld fall sic mischance!

O fair Cresseid! the flour andA-per-se

Of Troy and Grece, how was thou fortunait,

To change in filth all thy feminitee,

And be with fleshly lust sa maculait,

And go amang the Greikis air and lait

Sa giglot-lyk, takand thy foull plesance!

I have pity thee suld fall sic mischance!

85Yit nevertheles, quhat-ever men deme or sayIn scornful langage of thy brukilnes,I sall excuse, als far-furth as I may,Thy womanheid, thy wisdom, and fairnes,The quilk Fortoun hes put to sic distres90As hir pleisit, and na-thing throw the giltOf thee, throw wikkit langage to be spilt.

Yit nevertheles, quhat-ever men deme or say

In scornful langage of thy brukilnes,

I sall excuse, als far-furth as I may,

Thy womanheid, thy wisdom, and fairnes,

The quilk Fortoun hes put to sic distres

As hir pleisit, and na-thing throw the gilt

Of thee, throw wikkit langage to be spilt.

This fair lady, in this wys destitutOf all comfort and consolatioun,Richt prively, but fellowship, on fut95Disgysit passit far out of the tounAne myle or twa, unto ane mansiounBeildit full gay, quhair hir father Calchas,Quhilk than amang the Greikis dwelland was.

This fair lady, in this wys destitut

Of all comfort and consolatioun,

Richt prively, but fellowship, on fut

Disgysit passit far out of the toun

Ane myle or twa, unto ane mansioun

Beildit full gay, quhair hir father Calchas,

Quhilk than amang the Greikis dwelland was.

Quhan he hir saw, the caus he can inquyr100Of hir cuming; sho said, syching full soir,'Fra Diomeid had gottin his desyrHe wox wery, and wald of me no moir!'Quod Calchas, 'Douchter, weip thow not thairfoir;Peraventure all cummis for the best;105Welcum to me; thow art full deir ane gest.'

Quhan he hir saw, the caus he can inquyr

100

Of hir cuming; sho said, syching full soir,

'Fra Diomeid had gottin his desyr

He wox wery, and wald of me no moir!'

Quod Calchas, 'Douchter, weip thow not thairfoir;

Peraventure all cummis for the best;

105

Welcum to me; thow art full deir ane gest.'

This auld Calchas, efter the law was tho,Wes keeper of the tempill, as ane preist,In quhilk Venus and hir son CupidoWar honourit; and his chalmer was thaim neist;110To quhilk Cresseid, with baill aneuch in breist,Usit to pas, hir prayeris for to say;Quhill at the last, upon ane solempne day,

This auld Calchas, efter the law was tho,

Wes keeper of the tempill, as ane preist,

In quhilk Venus and hir son Cupido

War honourit; and his chalmer was thaim neist;

110

To quhilk Cresseid, with baill aneuch in breist,

Usit to pas, hir prayeris for to say;

Quhill at the last, upon ane solempne day,

As custom was, the pepill far and neir,Befoir the none, unto the tempill went115With sacrifys devoit in thair maneir.But still Cresseid, hevy in hir intent,In-to the kirk wald not hir-self present,For giving of the pepil ony demingOf hir expuls fra Diomeid the king:

As custom was, the pepill far and neir,

Befoir the none, unto the tempill went

115

With sacrifys devoit in thair maneir.

But still Cresseid, hevy in hir intent,

In-to the kirk wald not hir-self present,

For giving of the pepil ony deming

Of hir expuls fra Diomeid the king:

120But past into ane secreit oratureQuhair sho micht weip hir wofull desteny.Behind hir bak sho cloisit fast the dure,And on hir knëis bair fell down in hy.Upon Venus and Cupid angerly125Sho cryit out, and said on this same wys,'Allas! that ever I maid yow sacrifys!

120

But past into ane secreit orature

Quhair sho micht weip hir wofull desteny.

Behind hir bak sho cloisit fast the dure,

And on hir knëis bair fell down in hy.

Upon Venus and Cupid angerly

125

Sho cryit out, and said on this same wys,

'Allas! that ever I maid yow sacrifys!

Ye gave me anis ane devyn responsaillThat I suld be the flour of luif in Troy;Now am I maid an unworthy outwaill,130And all in cair translatit is my joy.Quha sall me gyde? quha sall me now convoy,Sen I fra Diomeid and nobill TroilusAm clene excludit, as abject odious?

Ye gave me anis ane devyn responsaill

That I suld be the flour of luif in Troy;

Now am I maid an unworthy outwaill,

130

And all in cair translatit is my joy.

Quha sall me gyde? quha sall me now convoy,

Sen I fra Diomeid and nobill Troilus

Am clene excludit, as abject odious?

O fals Cupide, is nane to wyte bot thow135And thy mother, of luf the blind goddes!Ye causit me alwayis understand and trowThe seid of luf was sawin in my face,And ay grew grene throw your supply and grace.But now, allas! that seid with froist is slane,140And I fra luifferis left, and all forlane!'

O fals Cupide, is nane to wyte bot thow

135

And thy mother, of luf the blind goddes!

Ye causit me alwayis understand and trow

The seid of luf was sawin in my face,

And ay grew grene throw your supply and grace.

But now, allas! that seid with froist is slane,

140

And I fra luifferis left, and all forlane!'

Quhen this was said, doun in ane extasy,Ravishit in spreit, intill ane dream sho fell;And, be apperance, hard, quhair sho did ly,Cupid the king ringand ane silver bell,145Quhilk men micht heir fra hevin unto hell;At quhais sound befoir Cupide appeirisThe sevin planetis, discending fra thair spheiris,

Quhen this was said, doun in ane extasy,

Ravishit in spreit, intill ane dream sho fell;

And, be apperance, hard, quhair sho did ly,

Cupid the king ringand ane silver bell,

145

Quhilk men micht heir fra hevin unto hell;

At quhais sound befoir Cupide appeiris

The sevin planetis, discending fra thair spheiris,

Quhilk hes powèr of all thing generábillTo reull and steir, be thair greit influence,150Wedder and wind and coursis variábill.And first of all Saturn gave his sentence,Quhilk gave to Cupid litill reverence,But as ane busteous churl, on his maneir,Com crabbitly, with auster luik and cheir.

Quhilk hes powèr of all thing generábill

To reull and steir, be thair greit influence,

150

Wedder and wind and coursis variábill.

And first of all Saturn gave his sentence,

Quhilk gave to Cupid litill reverence,

But as ane busteous churl, on his maneir,

Com crabbitly, with auster luik and cheir.

155His face fronsit, his lyr was lyk the leidHis teith chatterit and cheverit with the chinHis ene drowpit, how, sonkin in his heidOut of his nois the meldrop fast can rinWith lippis bla, and cheikis leine and thin160The yse-shoklis that fra his hair doun hangWas wonder greit, and as ane speir als lang.

155

His face fronsit, his lyr was lyk the leid

His teith chatterit and cheverit with the chin

His ene drowpit, how, sonkin in his heid

Out of his nois the meldrop fast can rin

With lippis bla, and cheikis leine and thin

160

The yse-shoklis that fra his hair doun hang

Was wonder greit, and as ane speir als lang.

Atour his belt his lyart lokkis layFelterit unfair, ourfret with froistis hoir;His garmound and his †gyte full gay of gray;165His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir.Ane busteous bow within his hand he boir;Under his gyrdil ane flash of felloun flanisFedderit with yse, and heidit with hail-stanis.

Atour his belt his lyart lokkis lay

Felterit unfair, ourfret with froistis hoir;

His garmound and his †gyte full gay of gray;

165

His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir.

Ane busteous bow within his hand he boir;

Under his gyrdil ane flash of felloun flanis

Fedderit with yse, and heidit with hail-stanis.

Than Juppiter richt fair and amiábill,170God of the starnis in the firmament,And nureis to all thing[is] generábill,Fra his father Saturn far different,With burely face, and browis bricht and brent;Upon his heid ane garland wonder gay175Of flouris fair, as it had been in May.

Than Juppiter richt fair and amiábill,

170

God of the starnis in the firmament,

And nureis to all thing[is] generábill,

Fra his father Saturn far different,

With burely face, and browis bricht and brent;

Upon his heid ane garland wonder gay

175

Of flouris fair, as it had been in May.

His voice was cleir, as cristal wer his ene;As goldin wyr sa glitterand was his hair;His garmound and his gyte full gay of grene,With goldin listis gilt on every gair;180Ane burely brand about his middill bair.In his right hand he had ane groundin speir,Of his father the wraith fra us to weir.

His voice was cleir, as cristal wer his ene;

As goldin wyr sa glitterand was his hair;

His garmound and his gyte full gay of grene,

With goldin listis gilt on every gair;

180

Ane burely brand about his middill bair.

In his right hand he had ane groundin speir,

Of his father the wraith fra us to weir.

Nixt efter him com Mars, the god of ire,Of stryf, debait, and all dissensioun;185To chyde and fecht, als feirs as ony fyr;In hard harnes, hewmound and habirgeoun,And on his hanche ane rousty fell fachioun:And in his hand he had ane rousty sword,Wrything his face with mony angry word.

Nixt efter him com Mars, the god of ire,

Of stryf, debait, and all dissensioun;

185

To chyde and fecht, als feirs as ony fyr;

In hard harnes, hewmound and habirgeoun,

And on his hanche ane rousty fell fachioun:

And in his hand he had ane rousty sword,

Wrything his face with mony angry word.

190Shaikand his sword, befoir Cupide he comWith reid visage and grisly glowrand ene;And at his mouth ane bullar stude of fome,Lyk to ane bair quhetting his tuskis keneRicht tuilyour-lyk, but temperance in tene;195Ane horn he blew, with mony bosteous brag,Quhilk all this warld with weir hes maid to wag.

190

Shaikand his sword, befoir Cupide he com

With reid visage and grisly glowrand ene;

And at his mouth ane bullar stude of fome,

Lyk to ane bair quhetting his tuskis kene

Richt tuilyour-lyk, but temperance in tene;

195

Ane horn he blew, with mony bosteous brag,

Quhilk all this warld with weir hes maid to wag.

Than fair Phebus, lanterne and lamp of lichtOf man and beist, baith frute and flourishing,Tender nuréis, and banisher of nicht,200And of the warld causing, be his movingAnd influence, lyf in all eirdly thing;Without comfort of quhom, of force to nochtMust all ga dy, that in this warld is wrocht.

Than fair Phebus, lanterne and lamp of licht

Of man and beist, baith frute and flourishing,

Tender nuréis, and banisher of nicht,

200

And of the warld causing, be his moving

And influence, lyf in all eirdly thing;

Without comfort of quhom, of force to nocht

Must all ga dy, that in this warld is wrocht.

As king royáll he raid upon his chair,205The quhilk Phaeton gydit sum-tyme unricht;The brichtnes of his face, quhen it was bair,Nane micht behald for peirsing of his sicht.This goldin cart with fyry bemes brichtFour yokkit steidis, full different of hew,210But bait or tyring throw the spheiris drew.

As king royáll he raid upon his chair,

205

The quhilk Phaeton gydit sum-tyme unricht;

The brichtnes of his face, quhen it was bair,

Nane micht behald for peirsing of his sicht.

This goldin cart with fyry bemes bricht

Four yokkit steidis, full different of hew,

210

But bait or tyring throw the spheiris drew.

The first was soyr, with mane als reid as rois,Callit Eöy, in-to the orient;The secund steid to name hecht Ethiös,Quhytly and paill, and sum-deill ascendent;215The thrid Peros, richt hait and richt fervent;The feird was blak, callit †Philegoney,Quhilk rollis Phebus down in-to the sey.

The first was soyr, with mane als reid as rois,

Callit Eöy, in-to the orient;

The secund steid to name hecht Ethiös,

Quhytly and paill, and sum-deill ascendent;

215

The thrid Peros, richt hait and richt fervent;

The feird was blak, callit †Philegoney,

Quhilk rollis Phebus down in-to the sey.

Venus was thair present, that goddes gay,Hir sonnis querrel for to defend, and mak220Hir awin complaint, cled in ane nyce array,The ane half grene, the uther half sabill-blak;Quhyte hair as gold, kemmit and shed abak;But in hir face semit greit variance,Quhyles perfit treuth, and quhylës inconstance.

Venus was thair present, that goddes gay,

Hir sonnis querrel for to defend, and mak

220

Hir awin complaint, cled in ane nyce array,

The ane half grene, the uther half sabill-blak;

Quhyte hair as gold, kemmit and shed abak;

But in hir face semit greit variance,

Quhyles perfit treuth, and quhylës inconstance.

225Under smyling sho was dissimulait,Provocative with blenkis amorous;And suddanly changit and alterait,Angry as ony serpent venemous,Richt pungitive with wordis odious.230Thus variant sho was, quha list tak keip,With ane eye lauch, and with the uther weip:—

225

Under smyling sho was dissimulait,

Provocative with blenkis amorous;

And suddanly changit and alterait,

Angry as ony serpent venemous,

Richt pungitive with wordis odious.

230

Thus variant sho was, quha list tak keip,

With ane eye lauch, and with the uther weip:—

In taikning that all fleshly paramour,Quhilk Venus hes in reull and governance,Is sum-tyme sweit, sum-tyme bitter and sour,235Richt unstabill, and full of variance,Mingit with cairfull joy, and fals plesance;Now hait, now cauld; now blyth, now full of wo;Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago.

In taikning that all fleshly paramour,

Quhilk Venus hes in reull and governance,

Is sum-tyme sweit, sum-tyme bitter and sour,

235

Richt unstabill, and full of variance,

Mingit with cairfull joy, and fals plesance;

Now hait, now cauld; now blyth, now full of wo;

Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago.

With buik in hand than com Mercurius,240Richt eloquent and full of rethory;With pólite termis and delicious;With pen and ink to réport all redy;Setting sangis, and singand merily.His hude was reid, heklit atour his croun,245Lyk to ane poeit of the auld fassoun.

With buik in hand than com Mercurius,

240

Richt eloquent and full of rethory;

With pólite termis and delicious;

With pen and ink to réport all redy;

Setting sangis, and singand merily.

His hude was reid, heklit atour his croun,

245

Lyk to ane poeit of the auld fassoun.

Boxis he bair with fine electuairis,And sugerit syropis for digestioun;Spycis belangand to the pothecairis,With mony hailsum sweit confectioun;250Doctour in phisik, cled in scarlot goun,And furrit weill, as sic ane aucht to be,Honest and gude, and not ane word coud le.

Boxis he bair with fine electuairis,

And sugerit syropis for digestioun;

Spycis belangand to the pothecairis,

With mony hailsum sweit confectioun;

250

Doctour in phisik, cled in scarlot goun,

And furrit weill, as sic ane aucht to be,

Honest and gude, and not ane word coud le.

Nixt efter him com lady Cynthia,The last of all, and swiftest in hir spheir,255Of colour blak, buskit with hornis twa,And in the nicht sho listis best appeir;Haw as the leid, of colour na-thing cleir.For all hir licht sho borrowis at hir brothirTitan; for of hir-self sho hes nane uther.

Nixt efter him com lady Cynthia,

The last of all, and swiftest in hir spheir,

255

Of colour blak, buskit with hornis twa,

And in the nicht sho listis best appeir;

Haw as the leid, of colour na-thing cleir.

For all hir licht sho borrowis at hir brothir

Titan; for of hir-self sho hes nane uther.

260Hir gyte was gray, and full of spottis blak;And on hir breist ane churl paintit ful evin,Beirand ane bunch of thornis on his bak,Quhilk for his thift micht clim na nar the hevin.Thus quhen they gadderit war, thir goddis sevin,265Mercurius they cheisit with ane assentTo be foir-speikar in the parliament.

260

Hir gyte was gray, and full of spottis blak;

And on hir breist ane churl paintit ful evin,

Beirand ane bunch of thornis on his bak,

Quhilk for his thift micht clim na nar the hevin.

Thus quhen they gadderit war, thir goddis sevin,

265

Mercurius they cheisit with ane assent

To be foir-speikar in the parliament.

Quha had ben thair, and lyking for to heirHis facound toung and termis exquisyte,Of rhetorik the praktik he micht leir,270In breif sermone ane pregnant sentence wryte.Befoir Cupide vailing his cap a lyte,Speiris the caus of that vocacioun;And he anon shew his intencioun.

Quha had ben thair, and lyking for to heir

His facound toung and termis exquisyte,

Of rhetorik the praktik he micht leir,

270

In breif sermone ane pregnant sentence wryte.

Befoir Cupide vailing his cap a lyte,

Speiris the caus of that vocacioun;

And he anon shew his intencioun.

'Lo!' quod Cupide, 'quha will blaspheme the name275Of his awin god, outhir in word or deid,To all goddis he dois baith lak and shame,And suld have bitter panis to his meid.I say this by yonder wretchit Cresseid,The quhilk throw me was sum-tyme flour of lufe,280Me and my mother starkly can reprufe.

'Lo!' quod Cupide, 'quha will blaspheme the name

275

Of his awin god, outhir in word or deid,

To all goddis he dois baith lak and shame,

And suld have bitter panis to his meid.

I say this by yonder wretchit Cresseid,

The quhilk throw me was sum-tyme flour of lufe,

280

Me and my mother starkly can reprufe.

Saying, of hir greit infelicitèI was the caus; and my mother Venus,Ane blind goddes hir cald, that micht not see,With slander and defame injurious.285Thus hir leving unclene and lecherousSho wald returne on me and [on] my mother,To quhom I shew my grace abone all uther.

Saying, of hir greit infelicitè

I was the caus; and my mother Venus,

Ane blind goddes hir cald, that micht not see,

With slander and defame injurious.

285

Thus hir leving unclene and lecherous

Sho wald returne on me and [on] my mother,

To quhom I shew my grace abone all uther.

And sen ye ar all sevin deificait,Participant of dévyn sapience,290This greit injúry don to our hy estaitMe-think with pane we suld mak recompence;Was never to goddis don sic violence.As weill for yow as for myself I say;Thairfoir ga help to révenge, I yow pray.'

And sen ye ar all sevin deificait,

Participant of dévyn sapience,

290

This greit injúry don to our hy estait

Me-think with pane we suld mak recompence;

Was never to goddis don sic violence.

As weill for yow as for myself I say;

Thairfoir ga help to révenge, I yow pray.'

295Mercurius to Cupid gave answeir,And said, 'Shir king, my counsall is that yeRefer yow to the hyest planeit heir,And tak to him the lawest of degrè,The pane of Cresseid for to modify;300As god Saturn, with him tak Cynthia.''I am content,' quod he, 'to tak thay twa.'

295

Mercurius to Cupid gave answeir,

And said, 'Shir king, my counsall is that ye

Refer yow to the hyest planeit heir,

And tak to him the lawest of degrè,

The pane of Cresseid for to modify;

300

As god Saturn, with him tak Cynthia.'

'I am content,' quod he, 'to tak thay twa.'

Than thus proceidit Saturn and the Mone,Quhen thay the mater rypely had degest;For the dispyt to Cupid sho had done,305And to Venus oppin and manifest,In all hir lyf with pane to be opprestAnd torment sair, with seiknes incurábill,And to all lovers be abominábill.

Than thus proceidit Saturn and the Mone,

Quhen thay the mater rypely had degest;

For the dispyt to Cupid sho had done,

305

And to Venus oppin and manifest,

In all hir lyf with pane to be opprest

And torment sair, with seiknes incurábill,

And to all lovers be abominábill.

This dulefull sentence Saturn tuik on hand,310And passit doun quhair cairfull Cresseid lay;And on hir heid he laid ane frosty wand,Than lawfully on this wyse can he say;'Thy greit fairnes, and al thy bewty gay,Thy wantoun blude, and eik thy goldin hair,315Heir I exclude fra thee for evermair.

This dulefull sentence Saturn tuik on hand,

310

And passit doun quhair cairfull Cresseid lay;

And on hir heid he laid ane frosty wand,

Than lawfully on this wyse can he say;

'Thy greit fairnes, and al thy bewty gay,

Thy wantoun blude, and eik thy goldin hair,

315

Heir I exclude fra thee for evermair.

I change thy mirth into melancholy,Quhilk is the mother of all pensivenes;Thy moisture and thy heit in cald and dry;Thyne insolence, thy play and wantones320To greit diseis: thy pomp and thy richesIn mortall neid; and greit penuritieThow suffer sall, and as ane beggar die.'

I change thy mirth into melancholy,

Quhilk is the mother of all pensivenes;

Thy moisture and thy heit in cald and dry;

Thyne insolence, thy play and wantones

320

To greit diseis: thy pomp and thy riches

In mortall neid; and greit penuritie

Thow suffer sall, and as ane beggar die.'

O cruel Saturn, fraward and angry,Hard is thy dome, and to malicious!325On fair Cresseid quhy hes thow na mercy,Quhilk was sa sweit, gentill, and amorous?Withdraw thy sentence, and be graciousAs thow was never; so shawis thow thy deid,Ane wraikfull sentence gevin on fair Cresseid.

O cruel Saturn, fraward and angry,

Hard is thy dome, and to malicious!

325

On fair Cresseid quhy hes thow na mercy,

Quhilk was sa sweit, gentill, and amorous?

Withdraw thy sentence, and be gracious

As thow was never; so shawis thow thy deid,

Ane wraikfull sentence gevin on fair Cresseid.

330Than Cynthia, quhen Saturn past away,Out of hir sait discendit down belyve,And red ane bill on Cresseid quhair sho lay,Contening this sentence diffinityve:—'Fra heil of body I thee now depryve,335And to thy seiknes sal be na recure,But in dolóur thy dayis to indure.

330

Than Cynthia, quhen Saturn past away,

Out of hir sait discendit down belyve,

And red ane bill on Cresseid quhair sho lay,

Contening this sentence diffinityve:—

'Fra heil of body I thee now depryve,

335

And to thy seiknes sal be na recure,

But in dolóur thy dayis to indure.

Thy cristall ene minglit with blude I mak,Thy voice sa cleir unplesand, hoir, and hace;Thy lusty lyre ourspred with spottis blak,340And lumpis haw appeirand in thy face.Quhair thow cummis, ilk man sall flee the place;Thus sall thou go begging fra hous to hous,With cop and clapper, lyk ane lazarous.'

Thy cristall ene minglit with blude I mak,

Thy voice sa cleir unplesand, hoir, and hace;

Thy lusty lyre ourspred with spottis blak,

340

And lumpis haw appeirand in thy face.

Quhair thow cummis, ilk man sall flee the place;

Thus sall thou go begging fra hous to hous,

With cop and clapper, lyk ane lazarous.'

This dooly dream, this ugly visioun345Brocht to ane end, Cresseid fra it awoik,And all that court and convocatiounVanischit away. Than rais sho up and tuikAne poleist glas, and hir shaddow coud luik;And quhen sho saw hir face sa déformait,350Gif sho in hart was wa aneuch, god wait!

This dooly dream, this ugly visioun

345

Brocht to ane end, Cresseid fra it awoik,

And all that court and convocatioun

Vanischit away. Than rais sho up and tuik

Ane poleist glas, and hir shaddow coud luik;

And quhen sho saw hir face sa déformait,

350

Gif sho in hart was wa aneuch, god wait!

Weiping full sair, 'Lo! quhat it is,' quod she,'With fraward langage for to mufe and steirOur crabbit goddis, and sa is sene on me!My blaspheming now have I bocht full deir;355All eirdly joy and mirth I set areir.Allas, this day! Allas, this wofull tyde,Quhen I began with my goddis to chyde!'

Weiping full sair, 'Lo! quhat it is,' quod she,

'With fraward langage for to mufe and steir

Our crabbit goddis, and sa is sene on me!

My blaspheming now have I bocht full deir;

355

All eirdly joy and mirth I set areir.

Allas, this day! Allas, this wofull tyde,

Quhen I began with my goddis to chyde!'

Be this was said, ane child com fra the hallTo warn Cresseid the supper was redy;360First knokkit at the dure, and syne coud call—'Madame, your father biddis you cum in hy;He has mervell sa lang on grouf ye ly,And sayis, "Your prayërs been to lang sum-deill;The goddis wait all your intent full weill."'

Be this was said, ane child com fra the hall

To warn Cresseid the supper was redy;

360

First knokkit at the dure, and syne coud call—

'Madame, your father biddis you cum in hy;

He has mervell sa lang on grouf ye ly,

And sayis, "Your prayërs been to lang sum-deill;

The goddis wait all your intent full weill."'

365Quod sho, 'Fair child, ga to my father deir,And pray him cum to speik with me anon.'And sa he did, and said, 'Douchter, quhat cheir?''Allas!' quod she, 'father, my mirth is gon!''How sa?' quod he; and sho can all expone,370As I have tauld, the vengeance and the wrak,For hir trespas, Cupide on hir coud tak.

365

Quod sho, 'Fair child, ga to my father deir,

And pray him cum to speik with me anon.'

And sa he did, and said, 'Douchter, quhat cheir?'

'Allas!' quod she, 'father, my mirth is gon!'

'How sa?' quod he; and sho can all expone,

370

As I have tauld, the vengeance and the wrak,

For hir trespas, Cupide on hir coud tak.

He luikit on hir ugly lipper face,The quhilk befor was quhyte as lilly-flour;Wringand his handis, oftymes he said, Allas!375That he had levit to see that wofull hour!For he knew weill that thair was na succourTo hir seiknes; and that dowblit his pane;Thus was thair cair aneuch betwix tham twane.

He luikit on hir ugly lipper face,

The quhilk befor was quhyte as lilly-flour;

Wringand his handis, oftymes he said, Allas!

375

That he had levit to see that wofull hour!

For he knew weill that thair was na succour

To hir seiknes; and that dowblit his pane;

Thus was thair cair aneuch betwix tham twane.

Quhen thay togidder murnit had full lang,380Quod Cresseid, 'Father, I wald not be kend;Thairfoir in secreit wyse ye let me gangTo yon hospítall at the tounis end;And thidder sum meit, for cheritie, me sendTo leif upon; for all mirth in this eird385Is fra me gane; sik is my wikkit weird.'

Quhen thay togidder murnit had full lang,

380

Quod Cresseid, 'Father, I wald not be kend;

Thairfoir in secreit wyse ye let me gang

To yon hospítall at the tounis end;

And thidder sum meit, for cheritie, me send

To leif upon; for all mirth in this eird

385

Is fra me gane; sik is my wikkit weird.'

Than in ane mantill and ane bevar hat,With cop and clapper, wonder prively,He opnit ane secreit yet, and out thairatConvoyit hir, that na man suld espy,390Unto ane village half ane myle thairby;Deliverit hir in at the spittail-hous,And dayly sent hir part of his almous.

Than in ane mantill and ane bevar hat,

With cop and clapper, wonder prively,

He opnit ane secreit yet, and out thairat

Convoyit hir, that na man suld espy,

390

Unto ane village half ane myle thairby;

Deliverit hir in at the spittail-hous,

And dayly sent hir part of his almous.

Sum knew hir weill, and sum had na knawlegeOf hir, becaus sho was sa déformait395With bylis blak, ourspred in hir visage,And hir fair colour faidit and alterait.Yit thay presumit, for hir hy regraitAnd still murning, sho was of nobill kin;With better will thairfoir they tuik hir in.

Sum knew hir weill, and sum had na knawlege

Of hir, becaus sho was sa déformait

395

With bylis blak, ourspred in hir visage,

And hir fair colour faidit and alterait.

Yit thay presumit, for hir hy regrait

And still murning, sho was of nobill kin;

With better will thairfoir they tuik hir in.

400The day passit, and Phebus went to rest,The cloudis blak ourquhelmit all the sky;God wait gif Cresseid was ane sorrowful gest,Seeing that uncouth fair and herbery.But meit or drink sho dressit hir to ly405In ane dark corner of the hous allone;And on this wyse, weiping, sho maid hir mone.

400

The day passit, and Phebus went to rest,

The cloudis blak ourquhelmit all the sky;

God wait gif Cresseid was ane sorrowful gest,

Seeing that uncouth fair and herbery.

But meit or drink sho dressit hir to ly

405

In ane dark corner of the hous allone;

And on this wyse, weiping, sho maid hir mone.

The Complaint of Cresseid.

'O sop of sorrow sonken into cair!O caytive Cresseid! now and ever-mairGane is thy joy and all thy mirth in eird;410Of all blyithnes now art thow blaiknit bair;Thair is na salve may saif thee of thy sair!Fell is thy fortoun, wikkit is thy weird;Thy blis is baneist, and thy baill on breird!Under the eirth god gif I gravin wer,415Quhar nane of Grece nor yit of Troy micht heird!

'O sop of sorrow sonken into cair!

O caytive Cresseid! now and ever-mair

Gane is thy joy and all thy mirth in eird;

410

Of all blyithnes now art thow blaiknit bair;

Thair is na salve may saif thee of thy sair!

Fell is thy fortoun, wikkit is thy weird;

Thy blis is baneist, and thy baill on breird!

Under the eirth god gif I gravin wer,

415

Quhar nane of Grece nor yit of Troy micht heird!

Quhair is thy chalmer, wantounly beseneWith burely bed, and bankouris browderit bene,Spycis and wynis to thy collatioun;The cowpis all of gold and silver shene,420The swete meitis servit in plaittis clene,With saipheron sals of ane gude sessoun;Thy gay garmentis, with mony gudely goun,Thy plesand lawn pinnit with goldin prene?All is areir thy greit royáll renoun!

Quhair is thy chalmer, wantounly besene

With burely bed, and bankouris browderit bene,

Spycis and wynis to thy collatioun;

The cowpis all of gold and silver shene,

420

The swete meitis servit in plaittis clene,

With saipheron sals of ane gude sessoun;

Thy gay garmentis, with mony gudely goun,

Thy plesand lawn pinnit with goldin prene?

All is areir thy greit royáll renoun!

425Quhair is thy garding, with thir greissis gayAnd fresshe flouris, quhilk the quene FlorayHad paintit plesandly in every pane,Quhair thou was wont full merily in MayTo walk, and tak the dew be it was day,430And heir the merle and mavis mony ane;With ladyis fair in carrolling to gane,And see the royal rinkis in thair arrayIn garmentis gay, garnischit on every grane?

425

Quhair is thy garding, with thir greissis gay

And fresshe flouris, quhilk the quene Floray

Had paintit plesandly in every pane,

Quhair thou was wont full merily in May

To walk, and tak the dew be it was day,

430

And heir the merle and mavis mony ane;

With ladyis fair in carrolling to gane,

And see the royal rinkis in thair array

In garmentis gay, garnischit on every grane?

Thy greit triumphand fame and hy honour,435Quhair thou was callit of eirdly wichtis flour,All is decayit; thy weird is welterit so,Thy hy estait is turnit in darknes dour!This lipper ludge tak for thy burelie bour,And for thy bed tak now ane bunch of stro.440For waillit wyne and meitis thou had tho,Tak mowlit breid, peirry, and syder sour;But cop and clapper, now is all ago.

Thy greit triumphand fame and hy honour,

435

Quhair thou was callit of eirdly wichtis flour,

All is decayit; thy weird is welterit so,

Thy hy estait is turnit in darknes dour!

This lipper ludge tak for thy burelie bour,

And for thy bed tak now ane bunch of stro.

440

For waillit wyne and meitis thou had tho,

Tak mowlit breid, peirry, and syder sour;

But cop and clapper, now is all ago.

My cleir voice and my courtly carrolling,Quhair I was wont with ladyis for to sing,445Is rawk as ruik, full hiddeous, hoir, and hace;My plesand port all utheris precelling,Of lustines I was held maist conding;Now is deformit the figour of my face;To luik on it na leid now lyking hes.450Sowpit in syte, I say with sair siching—Lugeit amang the lipper-leid—"Alas!"

My cleir voice and my courtly carrolling,

Quhair I was wont with ladyis for to sing,

445

Is rawk as ruik, full hiddeous, hoir, and hace;

My plesand port all utheris precelling,

Of lustines I was held maist conding;

Now is deformit the figour of my face;

To luik on it na leid now lyking hes.

450

Sowpit in syte, I say with sair siching—

Lugeit amang the lipper-leid—"Alas!"

O ladyis fair of Troy and Grece, attendMy misery, quhilk nane may comprehend,My frivoll fortoun, my infelicitie,455My greit mischief, quhilk na man can amend.Be war in tyme, approchis neir the end,And in your mynd ane mirrour mak of me.As I am now, peradventure that ye,For all your micht, may cum to that same end,460Or ellis war, gif ony war may be.

O ladyis fair of Troy and Grece, attend

My misery, quhilk nane may comprehend,

My frivoll fortoun, my infelicitie,

455

My greit mischief, quhilk na man can amend.

Be war in tyme, approchis neir the end,

And in your mynd ane mirrour mak of me.

As I am now, peradventure that ye,

For all your micht, may cum to that same end,

460

Or ellis war, gif ony war may be.

Nocht is your fairnes bot ane faiding flour,Nocht is your famous laud and hy honourBot wind inflat in uther mennis eiris;Your roising reid to rotting sall retour.465Exempill mak of me in your memour,Quhilk of sic thingis wofull witnes beiris.All welth in eird away as wind it weiris;Be war thairfoir; approchis neir the hour;Fortoun is fikkil, quhen sho beginnis and steiris.'—

Nocht is your fairnes bot ane faiding flour,

Nocht is your famous laud and hy honour

Bot wind inflat in uther mennis eiris;

Your roising reid to rotting sall retour.

465

Exempill mak of me in your memour,

Quhilk of sic thingis wofull witnes beiris.

All welth in eird away as wind it weiris;

Be war thairfoir; approchis neir the hour;

Fortoun is fikkil, quhen sho beginnis and steiris.'—

470Thus chydand with her drery desteny,Weiping, sho woik the nicht fra end to end,But all in vane; hir dule, hir cairfull cryMicht nocht remeid, nor yit hir murning mend.Ane lipper-lady rais, and till hir wend,475And said, 'Quhy spurnis thou aganis the wall,To sla thyself, and mend na-thing at all?

470

Thus chydand with her drery desteny,

Weiping, sho woik the nicht fra end to end,

But all in vane; hir dule, hir cairfull cry

Micht nocht remeid, nor yit hir murning mend.

Ane lipper-lady rais, and till hir wend,

475

And said, 'Quhy spurnis thou aganis the wall,

To sla thyself, and mend na-thing at all?

Sen that thy weiping dowbillis bot thy wo,I counsall thee mak vertew of ane neid,To leir to clap thy clapper to and fro,480And †live efter the law of lipper-leid.'Thair was na buit, bot forth with thame sho yeidFra place to place, quhill cauld and hounger sairCompellit hir to be ane rank beggair.

Sen that thy weiping dowbillis bot thy wo,

I counsall thee mak vertew of ane neid,

To leir to clap thy clapper to and fro,

480

And †live efter the law of lipper-leid.'

Thair was na buit, bot forth with thame sho yeid

Fra place to place, quhill cauld and hounger sair

Compellit hir to be ane rank beggair.

That samin tyme, of Troy the garnisoun,485Quhilk had to chiftane worthy Troilus,Throw jeopardy of weir had strikkin dounKnichtis of Grece in number mervellous.With greit triúmph and laud victoriousAgane to Troy richt royally thay raid490The way quhair Cresseid with the lipper baid.

That samin tyme, of Troy the garnisoun,

485

Quhilk had to chiftane worthy Troilus,

Throw jeopardy of weir had strikkin doun

Knichtis of Grece in number mervellous.

With greit triúmph and laud victorious

Agane to Troy richt royally thay raid

490

The way quhair Cresseid with the lipper baid.

Seing that company cum, all with ane stevinThey gaif ane cry, and shuik coppis gude speid;Said, 'Worthy lordis, for goddis lufe of hevin,To us lipper part of your almous-deid.'495Than to thair cry nobill Troilus tuik heid;Having pity, neir by the place can pasQuhair Cresseid sat, nat witting quhat sho was.

Seing that company cum, all with ane stevin

They gaif ane cry, and shuik coppis gude speid;

Said, 'Worthy lordis, for goddis lufe of hevin,

To us lipper part of your almous-deid.'

495

Than to thair cry nobill Troilus tuik heid;

Having pity, neir by the place can pas

Quhair Cresseid sat, nat witting quhat sho was.

Than upon him sho kest up baith her ene,And with ane blenk it com in-to his thocht500That he sum-tyme hir face befoir had sene;But sho was in sic ply he knew hir nocht.Yit than hir luik in-to his mind it brochtThe sweit visage and amorous blenkingOf fair Cresseid, sumtyme his awin darling.

Than upon him sho kest up baith her ene,

And with ane blenk it com in-to his thocht

500

That he sum-tyme hir face befoir had sene;

But sho was in sic ply he knew hir nocht.

Yit than hir luik in-to his mind it brocht

The sweit visage and amorous blenking

Of fair Cresseid, sumtyme his awin darling.

505Na wonder was, suppois in mynd that heTuik hir figure sa sone, and lo! now, quhy;The idole of ane thing in cace may beSa deip imprentit in the fantasy,That it deludis the wittis outwardly,510And sa appeiris in forme and lyke estaitWithin the mynd as it was figurait.

505

Na wonder was, suppois in mynd that he

Tuik hir figure sa sone, and lo! now, quhy;

The idole of ane thing in cace may be

Sa deip imprentit in the fantasy,

That it deludis the wittis outwardly,

510

And sa appeiris in forme and lyke estait

Within the mynd as it was figurait.

Ane spark of lufe than till his hart coud spring,And kendlit all his body in ane fyre;With hait fevir ane sweit and trimbilling515Him tuik, quhill he was redy to expyre;To beir his sheild his breist began to tyre;Within ane whyle he changit mony hew,And nevertheles not ane ane-uther knew.

Ane spark of lufe than till his hart coud spring,

And kendlit all his body in ane fyre;

With hait fevir ane sweit and trimbilling

515

Him tuik, quhill he was redy to expyre;

To beir his sheild his breist began to tyre;

Within ane whyle he changit mony hew,

And nevertheles not ane ane-uther knew.

For knichtly pity and memoriall520Of fair Cresseid, ane girdill can he tak,Ane purs of gold and mony gay jowáll,And in the skirt of Cresseid doun can swak;Than raid away, and not ane word he spak,Pensive in hart, quhill he com to the toun,525And for greit cair oft-syis almaist fell doun.

For knichtly pity and memoriall

520

Of fair Cresseid, ane girdill can he tak,

Ane purs of gold and mony gay jowáll,

And in the skirt of Cresseid doun can swak;

Than raid away, and not ane word he spak,

Pensive in hart, quhill he com to the toun,

525

And for greit cair oft-syis almaist fell doun.

The lipper-folk to Cresseid than can draw,To see the equall distribuciounOf the almous; but quhan the gold they saw,Ilk ane to uther prevely can roun,530And said, 'Yon lord hes mair affectioun,However it be, unto yon lazarousThan to us all; we knaw be his almous.'

The lipper-folk to Cresseid than can draw,

To see the equall distribucioun

Of the almous; but quhan the gold they saw,

Ilk ane to uther prevely can roun,

530

And said, 'Yon lord hes mair affectioun,

However it be, unto yon lazarous

Than to us all; we knaw be his almous.'

'Quhat lord is yon?' quod sho, 'have ye na feill,Hes don to us so greit humanitie?'535'Yes,' quod a lipper-man, 'I knaw him weill;Shir Troilus it is, gentill and free.'Quhen Cresseid understude that it was he,Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stoundThrowout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground.

'Quhat lord is yon?' quod sho, 'have ye na feill,

Hes don to us so greit humanitie?'

535

'Yes,' quod a lipper-man, 'I knaw him weill;

Shir Troilus it is, gentill and free.'

Quhen Cresseid understude that it was he,

Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stound

Throwout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground.

540Quhen sho, ourcom with syching sair and sad,With mony cairfull cry and cald—'Ochane!Now is my breist with stormy stoundis stad,Wrappit in wo, ane wretch full will of wane';Than swounit sho oft or sho coud refrane,545And ever in hir swouning cryit sho thus:'O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!

540

Quhen sho, ourcom with syching sair and sad,

With mony cairfull cry and cald—'Ochane!

Now is my breist with stormy stoundis stad,

Wrappit in wo, ane wretch full will of wane';

Than swounit sho oft or sho coud refrane,

545

And ever in hir swouning cryit sho thus:

'O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!

Thy luf, thy lawtee, and thy gentilnesI countit small in my prosperitie;Sa elevait I was in wantones,550And clam upon the fickill quheill sa hie;All faith and lufe, I promissit to thee,Was in the self fickill and frivolous;O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!

Thy luf, thy lawtee, and thy gentilnes

I countit small in my prosperitie;

Sa elevait I was in wantones,

550

And clam upon the fickill quheill sa hie;

All faith and lufe, I promissit to thee,

Was in the self fickill and frivolous;

O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!

For lufe of me thou keipt gude countinence,555Honest and chaist in conversatioun;Of all wemen protectour and defenceThou was, and helpit thair opinioun.My mynd, in fleshly foull affectioun,Was inclynit to lustis lecherous;560Fy! fals Cresseid! O, trew knicht Troilus!

For lufe of me thou keipt gude countinence,

555

Honest and chaist in conversatioun;

Of all wemen protectour and defence

Thou was, and helpit thair opinioun.

My mynd, in fleshly foull affectioun,

Was inclynit to lustis lecherous;

560

Fy! fals Cresseid! O, trew knicht Troilus!

Lovers, be war, and tak gude heid aboutQuhom that ye lufe, for quhom ye suffer paine;I lat yow wit, thair is richt few thairoutQuhom ye may traist, to have trew lufe againe;565Preif quhen ye will, your labour is in vaine.Thairfoir I reid ye tak thame as ye find;For they ar sad as widdercock in wind.

Lovers, be war, and tak gude heid about

Quhom that ye lufe, for quhom ye suffer paine;

I lat yow wit, thair is richt few thairout

Quhom ye may traist, to have trew lufe againe;

565

Preif quhen ye will, your labour is in vaine.

Thairfoir I reid ye tak thame as ye find;

For they ar sad as widdercock in wind.

Becaus I knaw the greit unstabilnesBrukkil as glas, into my-self I say,570Traisting in uther als greit unfaithfulnes,Als unconstant, and als untrew of fay.Thocht sum be trew, I wait richt few ar thay.Quha findis treuth, lat him his lady ruse;Nane but my-self, as now, I will accuse.'

Becaus I knaw the greit unstabilnes

Brukkil as glas, into my-self I say,

570

Traisting in uther als greit unfaithfulnes,

Als unconstant, and als untrew of fay.

Thocht sum be trew, I wait richt few ar thay.

Quha findis treuth, lat him his lady ruse;

Nane but my-self, as now, I will accuse.'

575Quhen this was said, with paper sho sat doun,And on this maneir maid hirTESTAMENT:—'Heir I beteich my corps and cariounWith wormis and with taidis to be rent;My cop and clapper, and myne ornament,580And all my gold, the lipper-folk sall have,Quhen I am deid, to bury me in grave.

575

Quhen this was said, with paper sho sat doun,

And on this maneir maid hirTESTAMENT:—

'Heir I beteich my corps and carioun

With wormis and with taidis to be rent;

My cop and clapper, and myne ornament,

580

And all my gold, the lipper-folk sall have,

Quhen I am deid, to bury me in grave.

This royall ring, set with this ruby reid,Quhilk Troilus in drowry to me send,To him agane I leif it quhan I am deid,585To mak my cairfull deid unto him kend.Thus I conclude shortly, and mak ane end.My spreit I leif to Diane, quhair sho dwellis,To walk with hir in waist woddis and wellis.

This royall ring, set with this ruby reid,

Quhilk Troilus in drowry to me send,

To him agane I leif it quhan I am deid,

585

To mak my cairfull deid unto him kend.

Thus I conclude shortly, and mak ane end.

My spreit I leif to Diane, quhair sho dwellis,

To walk with hir in waist woddis and wellis.

O Diomeid! thow hes baith broche and belt590Quhilk Troilus gave me in takinningOf his trew lufe!'—And with that word sho swelt.And sone ane lipper-man tuik of the ring,Syne buryit hir withoutin tarying.To Troilus furthwith the ring he bair,595And of Cresseid the deith he can declair.

O Diomeid! thow hes baith broche and belt

590

Quhilk Troilus gave me in takinning

Of his trew lufe!'—And with that word sho swelt.

And sone ane lipper-man tuik of the ring,

Syne buryit hir withoutin tarying.

To Troilus furthwith the ring he bair,

595

And of Cresseid the deith he can declair.

Quhen he had hard hir greit infirmitè,Hir legacy and lamentatioun,And how sho endit in sik povertè,He swelt for wo, and fell doun in ane swoun;600For greit sorrow his hart to birst was boun.Syching full sadly, said, 'I can no moir;Sho was untrew, and wo is me thairfoir!'

Quhen he had hard hir greit infirmitè,

Hir legacy and lamentatioun,

And how sho endit in sik povertè,

He swelt for wo, and fell doun in ane swoun;

600

For greit sorrow his hart to birst was boun.

Syching full sadly, said, 'I can no moir;

Sho was untrew, and wo is me thairfoir!'

Sum said, he maid ane tomb of merbell gray,And wrait hir name and superscriptioun,605And laid it on hir grave, quhair that sho lay,In goldin letteris, conteining this ressoun:—'Lo! fair ladyis, Cresseid of Troyis toun,Sumtyme countit the flour of womanheid,Under this stane, late lipper, lyis deid!'

Sum said, he maid ane tomb of merbell gray,

And wrait hir name and superscriptioun,

605

And laid it on hir grave, quhair that sho lay,

In goldin letteris, conteining this ressoun:—

'Lo! fair ladyis, Cresseid of Troyis toun,

Sumtyme countit the flour of womanheid,

Under this stane, late lipper, lyis deid!'

610Now, worthy wemen, in this ballet short,Made for your worship and instructioun,Of cheritè I monish and exhort,Ming not your luf with fals deceptioun.Beir in your mynd this short conclusioun615Of fair Cresseid, as I have said befoir;Sen sho is deid, I speik of hir no moir.

610

Now, worthy wemen, in this ballet short,

Made for your worship and instructioun,

Of cheritè I monish and exhort,

Ming not your luf with fals deceptioun.

Beir in your mynd this short conclusioun

615

Of fair Cresseid, as I have said befoir;

Sen sho is deid, I speik of hir no moir.

FromE. (Edinburgh edition, 1593);collated withTh. (Thynne, ed. 1532). 1. E. Ane; Th. A (often). E. doolie; Th. doly. E. to; Th. tyl. 4. E. tragedie (I substitute-yfor-ie).6. E. Schouris (I substituteSh-forSch-). 7. Th. myȝt me defende. 8. E. oratur; Th. orature. 10. Th. scyled. 16.Bothse. 17. Th. northern. 18. Th. shedde his. 19. Th. frost. 20. E. Artick; Th. Artike. Th. whiskyng. 21. E. remufe; Th. remoue.

24. Th. faded. 28. Th. chambre.Bothfyre. 29. E. lufe; Th. loue. 30. E. youtheid; Th. youthheed. 32. E. doif; Th. dull;readdouf. 34. E. phisike. 36. E. mend; Th. made.Bothfyre. Th. beaked. 37. E. ane; Th. I. 40. Th. queare. 42. E. worthy; Th. lusty. 43. Th. founde. 45. Th. of his wytte abrede. 46. Th. wepte. 48. Th. esperous; E. Esperus. 49. E. quhyle. Th. and while (for 2ndquhyl). 51. E. suld; Th. wolde. 52. Th. of al erthly.

55. E. ganecome; Th. gayncome. Th. in (forthan). 58. Th. in that same. 63. Th. which ended. 66. Th. authorysed or forged. 67. Th. Of some; by (forthrow). 70. Th. she was in or she deyde. 71.Bothappetyte. 73. Th. sette was al his delyte. 74. Th.om.of. 77. Th. As (forAnd); in the courte as commune. 78. Th. Creseyde.Bothfloure. 79. Th. were. 80. E. feminitie. 82. Th. early (forair). 84. Th. the; E. thow.

86. E. scornefull. E. brukkilnes; Th. brutelnesse. 88. E. wisdome. 91. E. wickit. 92. E. in; Th. on.Bothwyse destitute. 94. E. but; Th. without. Th. or refute; E. on fute. 95. E. Disagysit; Th. Dissheuelde. Th. passed out. 99. E. inquyre; Th. enquyre. 101.Bothdesyre. 108. E. sone; Th. sonne. 109. E. hir; Th. his. Th. chambre. E. thame; Th.om.110. E. aneuch in; Th. enewed. 113.Bothcustome. 115.Bothsacrifice. Th. deuout.

117. Th. churche. 118. E. givin; Th. gyueng. E. pepill; Th. people. 120. Th. oratore. 122. Th. closed; dore. 124.BothCupide. 125. Th.om.same.Bothwyse. 126. E. Allace; Th. Alas.Bothsacrifice. 127. E. devine; Th. diuyne. 132. E. Sen; Th. Sithe. 135. E. lufe; Th. loue. E. the; Th. that. 136. Th. vnderstande alway. 137. E. lufe; Th. loue. 138. Th. souple grace. 139. E. allace; Th. alas. Th. frost. 140. Th. louers;-layne.143. Th. herde. 144.BothCupide. E. ringand; Th. tynkyng. 145. Th. in-to. 147. Th. speres.

150. Th. course. 151.BothSaturne. 152.BothCupide. 153. Th. boystous. E. on; Th. in. 154.BothCome. E. crabitlie; Th. crabbedly. Th. austryne. 155. E. frosnit (forfronsit); Th. frounsed. E. lyre; Th. lere.Bothlyke. 156. Th. sheuered. 157. Th. drouped hole. 158. E. of; Th. at. Th. myldrop. 159. Th. blo. 160. E. ic-eschoklis; Th. yse-yckels. 162. E. Atouir; Th. Attour. 163. E. ovirfret; Th. ouerfret;readourfret. 164. Th. garment. E. gyis; Th. gate;seel. 178. 165. Th. wyddred; wore. 166. Th. boustous; bor[e]. 167. E. gyrdill. Th. a fasshe(!); flayns. 168. Th. holstayns (!). 170. Th. sterres. 171. Th. norice; thinge. 172.BothSaturne. 173. Th. burly. 174. Th. wonders. 175. E. bene; Th. ben.

177. E. wyre; Th. wyer. Th. glyttryng. 178. Th. garment. E. gyis; Th. gyte. 180. Th. A burly; myddle he beare. 182. Th. wrathe. E. weir; Th. bere. 183. E. come; Th. came. 184. E. strife; Th. stryfe. 185.Bothfyre. 186. Th. hewmonde. 187. Th. fauchoun. 190. Th. Shakyng his brande.Bothcome. 191. Th. glowyng. 192. E. bullar; Th. blubber. 193. Th. boore. 194. E. tuilyeour; Th. tulsure (!).Bothlyke. 195.Bothhorne; Th.om.he. Th. boustous. 196. E. weir; Th. warre. 199. Th. norice. 201.Bothlyfe. Th. erthly. 203. Th.om.all. Th. that al this worlde hath. 204. Th. a chare. 205. Th. Phiton somtyme gyded. E. upricht (!); Th. unright.

210. Th. speres. 211. Th. sorde (forsoyr). 212.BothEoye. 213. Th. Ethose. 215. Th. Perose; and eke. 216. E. Philologie; Th. Philologee. 218. E.om.gay. 219. Th.om.for. 222. Th. kembet. 224. Th. While parfite. E. perfyte. 227. E. suddanely; Th. sodaynly. 228. E. vennemous; Th. venomous. 232. Th. tokenyng. 237. E. blyith; Th. blyth. 238. Th. wyddred.

239.Bothcome. 242. E. reddie; Th. redy. 244. E. atouir; Th. attour. 245.BothLyke. 250. E. phisick. Th. cledde in a scarlet. 252. E. culd lie; Th. couth lye. 253.Bothcome. 254. Th. spere. 256. Th. tapere. 258. E. hir (1); Th. the. 260. E. gyse; Th. gyte. 261. E. churle; Th. chorle. 262. E. bunche; Th. busshe. 263. Th. theft; no ner. 264. Th. gadred were the. 267. E. bene. 269. E. rhetorick; Th. rethorike. E. prettick; Th. practyke.

273. E. anone. E. schew; Th. shewde. 276. E. lak; Th. losse. 278. E. yone; Th. yonder. Th. wretche Creseyde. 280. E. starklie; Th. she stately. 281. E.-tie.283. Th. She called a blynde goddes and myght. 286. E. returne; Th. retorte. E. on; Th. in.I supply 2ndon. 287. E. schew; Th. shewde (as inl. 273). Th. aboue. 289. E. devyne; Th. diuyne. 290. E. iniurie; Th. iniure.Bothdone. 290. E. hie; Th. hye. 292.Bothgoddes done. 295.BothCupide. 299. E. modifie; Th. modifye. 300.BothSaturne.

303, 309, 323, 330.BothSaturne. 304.BothCupide. E. scho; Th. that she. 305. Th. open. 306.Bothlyfe. 308. E. abhominabill; Th. abhominable. 309. Th. doleful. 318. E. in; Th. into. 319. E. and; Th. and thy. 321. E. In; Th. Into. E. penuritie; Th.-te.322. Th. shalte. Th. dye. 324. E. malitious. 325. E. On; Th. Of. 328. Th. sheweth through. 329. Th.om.fair. 331. Th. seate.

334. E. heit; Th. heale. 336. Th. endure. 338. Th. vnplesaunt heer. 339. Th. lere. E. ouirspred; Th. ouerspred. 342. E. This; Th. Thus. 343. Th. cuppe.Bothlyke. 344.Bothdreame. E. uglye. 347. Th. rose she. 348. Th. polysshed. E. culd; Th. couth. 349. E. face; Th. visage. 350. Th. were wo, I ne wyte god wate. 352. Th.om.for. E. mufe; Th. moue. 353. E. craibit; Th. crabbed. 355. Th. erthly. 356. E. Allace; Th. Alas. 357. E. for to; Th.om.for. 358. E. come; Th. came. 359.Bothwarne. Th. Creseyde. E. reddy; Th. redy. 360. E. syne culd; Th. efte couth. 362. E. merwel; Th. marueyle. 363. E. prayers bene; Th. bedes bethe.

365.Bothchylde. 366.Bothanone. 368.Bothgone. 370. E. wraik; Th. wrake. 371. E. culd. 372. E. uglye. Th. lepers. 374. Th.om.he. 378. Th. ynow. E. thame; Th. hem. 380. Th. Creseyde. 382. Th. To yon; E. Unto yone. 383. Th. charite. 384. Th. lyue; erthe. 385. Th. werthe(!). 386. E. Than; Th. Whan(!). Th. Beuer; E. bawar. 387. Th. cuppe. 388. Th. secrete gate. 389. Th. Conueyed. 390. Th. There to. 393. E. knawledge. 395. E. ovirspred; Th. ouerspred.

397. E. hie; Th. hye. 399. Th. there (forthairfoir). 401. E. ovirquhelmit; Th. ouerheled. 402. E. was; Th. were. 403. Th. fare. 405, 406.Perhaps readalane, mane. 408. E. cative; Th. caytife. E. for now; Th.om.for. 409. Th. erthe. 410. Th. blake and bare. 411. Th. helpe (forsaif thee of). 412. Th. werthe (!). 413. Th. bale vnberd (!). 414. Th. Vnder the great god. 415. Th. men (fornane). Th. herd. 416. Th. chambre. 417. Th. burly; bankers brouded. 418. Th. wyne. 419. Th. cuppes. 420. Th. plates. 421. Th. sauery sauce. 423. Th. pene (!). 424. Th. arere.

425. Th. thy greces. 430. E. mawis. 432. Th. renkes. E. array; Th. ray. Th.omitsll. 433-437. 434, 437. E. hie. 438. Th. leper loge. E. burelie; Th. goodly. 439. E. bunche; Th. bonch. 441. E. peirrie; Th. pirate. E. ceder; Th. syder. 442. Th. cuppe. 443. E.om.my. 444. Th.om. this line. 445. Th. ranke as roke, ful hidous heer. Th.om.ll. 446, 447. 448. Th. Deformed is. 449. Th. no pleople (sic) hath lykyng (!). 450. Th. Solped in syght. 451. E. Ludgeit; Th. Lyeng. Th. leper folke. E. allace; Th. alas. 453. Th.omits. 454. Th. freyle fortune.

455. Th. war therfore; your ende. 456. Th.places afterl. 460. 459. E. that; Th. the. 460. Th. worse, if any worse. 464. Th. rosyng. 465. Th. memore. 468. Th. your hour. 469. Th.omits. 471. Th. woke. 472. Th. dole. 473. Th. remedy ne. 474. Th. rose. 477. E. Sen; Th. Sithe. E.om.that. Th. but doubleth. 479. E. To leir; Th. Go lerne. 480. E. leir; Th. lerne;readlive. Th. lepers lede. 486. Th. warre.

488.Bothtryumphe; laude. 489. Th. rode. 490. E. baid; Th. stode. 491. E. thai come; Th. come;readcum. 492. Th. shoke cuppes. 493. Th.om.Said. 495. Th. her (forthair). 496. Th. pyte; E. pietie. 499.Bothcome. 501. E. plye; Th. plyte. 502. E. it; Th. he. 504. E. awin; Th. owne. 508. Th. enprynted. 512. E. culd; Th. couth. 514. E. fewir; Th. feuer. Th. in swette.Bothtrimbling. 515. E. reddie. 516. Th. brest. 517. Th. many a hewe.

519. Th. pyte; E. pietie. 520. Th. gan. 521. Th. many a gay iewel. 522. E. swak; Th. shake. 523. E.om.he. 524. E. come; Th. came. 525. E.-syis;Th.-syth.526. E. can; Th. couth. 527.Bothse. 529. E. prewelie; Th. priuely. 530. Th. yon; E. yone. 534. Th. That dothe. E. humanitie; Th.-te.536. Th.ins.a knightafteris. 540. E. ovircome; Th. ouercome. 541. Th. colde atone (!). 542. Th. brest. 543. Th.om.ane; Th. one (forwane). 544. Th. Than fel in swoun ful ofte. E. culd; Th. wolde. Th. fone (!);forrefrane. 547. E. lufe; Th. loue. Th. laude and al thy. 549. Th. So effated (oressated).

551. Th. promytted. 552. Th. thy selfe; furious (!). 554. Th. countenaunce (om.gude). 557. Th. were. 558. E. in; Th. on. 562. E. Quhome; Th. Whom. E. quhome; Th. whan. 563. Th. thrughout. 565. Th. Proue. 569. Th. Brittel; unto. 570. Th. great brutelnesse. 572. Th. Though. 576. Th. maner. 577. E. beteiche; Th. bequeth. Th. corse. 578. Th. toodes. 579. Th. cuppe my. 580. E. the; Th. these.

583. E. drowrie; Th. dowry (!). 587. Th. spirite. 590. E. takning; Th. tokenyng;readtakinning. 593. E. withouttin. 596. E. infirmitie; Th.-te.598. E. povertie; Th.-te.600. Th.om.greit. 605. Th. where as she. 607. Th. Troy the toun. 612. E. cheritie; Th. charyte. 613. E. lufe; Th. loue. 614. E. schort; Th. sore (!). 616. E. Sen; Th. Sithe.

XVIII.

THE CUCKOO AND THE NIGHTINGALE;

THE BOOK OF CUPID, GOD OF LOVE.

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