Chapter 7

CHAPTER IX.Of twey thinges art thou answered, as me thinketh (quodLove); and if any thing be in doute in thy soule, sheweit forth, thyn ignoraunce to clere, and leve it for no shame.''Certes,' quod I, 'there is no body in this worlde, that aught5coude saye by reson ayenst any of your skilles, as I leve; and bymy witte now fele I wel, that yvel-spekers or berers of enfamemay litel greve or lette my purpos, but rather by suche thinge myquarel to be forthered.''Ye,' quod she,'and it is proved also, that the ilke jewel in10my kepinge shal nat there-thorow be stered, of the lest momentthat might be imagined.''That is soth,' quod I.'Wel,' quod she, 'than †leveth there, to declare that thyinsuffisance is no maner letting, as thus: for that she is so worthy,15thou shuldest not clymbe so highe; for thy moebles and thynestate arn voyded, thou thinkest [thee] fallen in suche miserie,that gladnesse of thy pursute wol nat on thee discende.''Certes,' quod I, 'that is sothe; right suche thought is in mynherte; for commenly it is spoken, and for an olde proverbe it is20leged: "He that heweth to hye, with chippes he may lesehis sight." Wherfore I have ben about, in al that ever I might,to studye wayes of remedye by one syde or by another.''Now,' quod she, 'god forbede †that thou seke any otherdoinges but suche as I have lerned thee in our restinge-whyles,25and suche herbes as ben planted in oure gardins. Thou shaltwel understande that above man is but oon god alone.''How,' quod I, 'han men to-forn this tyme trusted in writtesand chauntements, and in helpes of spirites that dwellen in theayre, and therby they han getten their desyres, where-as first, for30al his manly power, he daunced behynde?''O,' quod she, 'fy on suche maters! For trewly, that issacrilege; and that shal have no sort with any of my servauntes;in myne eyen shal suche thing nat be loked after. How often isit commaunded by these passed wyse, that "to one god shal men35serve, and not to goddes?" And who that liste to have mynehelpes, shal aske none helpe of foule spirites. Alas! is nat manmaked semblable to god? Wost thou nat wel, that al vertue oflyvelich werkinge, by goddes purveyaunce, is underput to resonablecreature in erthe? Is nat every thing, a this halfe god, mad40buxom to mannes contemplation, understandinge in heven andin erthe and in helle? Hath not man beinge with stones, soule ofwexing with trees and herbes? Hath he nat soule of felinge, withbeestes, fisshes, and foules? And he hath soule of reson andunderstanding with aungels; so that in him is knit al maner45of lyvinges by a resonable proporcioun. Also man is mad ofal the foure elementes. Al universitee is rekened in him alone;he hath, under god, principalitè above al thinges. Now is hissoule here, now a thousand myle hence; now fer, now nygh;now hye, now lowe; as fer in a moment as in mountenaunce of50ten winter; and al this is in mannes governaunce and disposicion.Than sheweth it that men ben liche unto goddes, and children ofmoost heyght. But now, sithen al thinges [arn] underput to thewil of resonable creatures, god forbede any man to winne thatlordship, and aske helpe of any-thing lower than him-selfe; and than,55namely, of foule thinges innominable. Now than, why shuldestthou wene to love to highe, sithen nothing is thee above but godalone? Trewly, I wot wel that thilke jewel is in a maner even inlyne of degree there thou art thy-selfe, and nought above, savethus: aungel upon angel, man upon man, and devil upon devil60han a maner of soveraigntee; and that shal cese at the dayeof dome. And so I say: though thou be put to serve theilke jewel duringe thy lyfe, yet is that no servage ofunderputtinge, but a maner of travayling plesaunce, to conquere andgette that thou hast not. I sette now the hardest: in my service65now thou deydest, for sorowe of wantinge in thy desyres; trewly,al hevenly bodyes with one voyce shul come and make melody inthy cominge, and saye—"Welcome, our fere, and worthy to entreinto Jupiters joye! For thou with might hast overcome deth;thou woldest never flitte out of thy service; and we al shul70now praye to the goddes, rowe by rowe, to make thilk Margarite,that no routh had in this persone, but unkyndely without comfortlet thee deye, shal besette her-selfe in suche wyse, that in erthe,for parte of vengeaunce, shal she no joye have in loves service;and whan she is deed, than shal her soule ben brought up in-to75thy presence; and whider thou wilt chese, thilke soule shal bencommitted." Or els, after thy deth, anon al the foresayd hevenlybodyes, by one accorde, shal †benimen from thilke perle al thevertues that firste her were taken; for she hath hem forfeytedby that on thee, my servaunt, in thy lyve, she wolde not suffre80to worche al vertues, withdrawen by might of the hygh bodyes.Why than shuldest thou wene so any more? And if thee listeto loke upon the lawe of kynde, and with order whiche to mewas ordayned, sothely, non age, non overtourninge tyme but†hiderto had no tyme ne power to chaunge the wedding, ne85the knotte to unbynde of two hertes [that] thorow oon assent, inmy presence, †togider accorden to enduren til deth hem departe.What? trowest thou, every ideot wot the meninge and the privyentent of these thinges? They wene, forsothe, that suche accordmay not be, but the rose of maydenhede be plucked. Do way,90do way; they knowe nothing of this. For consent of two hertesalone maketh the fasteninge of the knotte; neither lawe of kyndene mannes lawe determineth neither the age ne the qualitè ofpersones, but only accord bitwene thilke twaye. And trewly,after tyme that suche accord, by their consent in hert, is enseled,95and put in my tresorye amonges my privy thinges, than ginneththe name of spousayle; and although they breken forward bothe,yet suche mater enseled is kept in remembrance for ever. Andsee now that spouses have the name anon after accord, thoughthe rose be not take. The aungel bad Joseph take Marye his100spouse, and to Egypte wende. Lo! she was cleped "spouse,"and yet, toforn ne after, neither of hem bothe mente no flesshlylust knowe. Wherfore the wordes of trouthe acorden that myservauntes shulden forsake bothe †fader and moder, and be adherandto his spouse; and they two in unitè of one flesshe105shulden accorde. And this wyse, two that wern firste in a litelmaner discordaunt, hygher that oon and lower that other, benmad evenliche in gree to stonde. But now to enfourme theethat ye ben liche to goddes, these clerkes sayn, and in determinacionshewen, that "three thinges haven [by] the names110of goddes ben cleped; that is to sayn: man, divel, and images";but yet is there but oon god, of whom al goodnesse, al grace, andal vertue cometh; and he †is loving and trewe, and everlasting,and pryme cause of al being thinges. But men ben goddeslovinge and trewe, but not everlasting; and that is by adopcioun115of the everlastinge god. Divels ben goddes, stirringe bya maner of lyving; but neither ben they trewe ne everlastinge;and their name of godliheed th[e]y han by usurpacion, as theprophete sayth: "Al goddes of gentyles (that is to say, paynims)are divels." But images ben goddes by nuncupacion; and they120ben neither livinge ne trewe, ne everlastinge. After these wordesthey clepen "goddes" images wrought with mennes handes.But now [art thou a] resonable creature, that by adopcion aloneart to the grete god everlastinge, and therby thou art "god"cleped: let thy †faders maners so entre thy wittes that thou might125folowe, in-as-moche as longeth to thee, thy †faders worship, sothat in nothinge thy kynde from his wil declyne, ne from hisnobley perverte. In this wyse if thou werche, thou art aboveal other thinges save god alone; and so say no more "thyn herteto serve in to hye a place."

CHAPTER IX.

Of twey thinges art thou answered, as me thinketh (quodLove); and if any thing be in doute in thy soule, sheweit forth, thyn ignoraunce to clere, and leve it for no shame.'

Of twey thinges art thou answered, as me thinketh (quod

Love); and if any thing be in doute in thy soule, shewe

it forth, thyn ignoraunce to clere, and leve it for no shame.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'there is no body in this worlde, that aught5coude saye by reson ayenst any of your skilles, as I leve; and bymy witte now fele I wel, that yvel-spekers or berers of enfamemay litel greve or lette my purpos, but rather by suche thinge myquarel to be forthered.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'there is no body in this worlde, that aught

coude saye by reson ayenst any of your skilles, as I leve; and by

my witte now fele I wel, that yvel-spekers or berers of enfame

may litel greve or lette my purpos, but rather by suche thinge my

quarel to be forthered.'

'Ye,' quod she,'and it is proved also, that the ilke jewel in10my kepinge shal nat there-thorow be stered, of the lest momentthat might be imagined.'

'Ye,' quod she,'and it is proved also, that the ilke jewel in

my kepinge shal nat there-thorow be stered, of the lest moment

that might be imagined.'

'That is soth,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'than †leveth there, to declare that thyinsuffisance is no maner letting, as thus: for that she is so worthy,15thou shuldest not clymbe so highe; for thy moebles and thynestate arn voyded, thou thinkest [thee] fallen in suche miserie,that gladnesse of thy pursute wol nat on thee discende.'

'Wel,' quod she, 'than †leveth there, to declare that thy

insuffisance is no maner letting, as thus: for that she is so worthy,

thou shuldest not clymbe so highe; for thy moebles and thyn

estate arn voyded, thou thinkest [thee] fallen in suche miserie,

that gladnesse of thy pursute wol nat on thee discende.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'that is sothe; right suche thought is in mynherte; for commenly it is spoken, and for an olde proverbe it is20leged: "He that heweth to hye, with chippes he may lesehis sight." Wherfore I have ben about, in al that ever I might,to studye wayes of remedye by one syde or by another.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'that is sothe; right suche thought is in myn

herte; for commenly it is spoken, and for an olde proverbe it is

leged: "He that heweth to hye, with chippes he may lese

his sight." Wherfore I have ben about, in al that ever I might,

to studye wayes of remedye by one syde or by another.'

'Now,' quod she, 'god forbede †that thou seke any otherdoinges but suche as I have lerned thee in our restinge-whyles,25and suche herbes as ben planted in oure gardins. Thou shaltwel understande that above man is but oon god alone.'

'Now,' quod she, 'god forbede †that thou seke any other

doinges but suche as I have lerned thee in our restinge-whyles,

and suche herbes as ben planted in oure gardins. Thou shalt

wel understande that above man is but oon god alone.'

'How,' quod I, 'han men to-forn this tyme trusted in writtesand chauntements, and in helpes of spirites that dwellen in theayre, and therby they han getten their desyres, where-as first, for30al his manly power, he daunced behynde?'

'How,' quod I, 'han men to-forn this tyme trusted in writtes

and chauntements, and in helpes of spirites that dwellen in the

ayre, and therby they han getten their desyres, where-as first, for

al his manly power, he daunced behynde?'

'O,' quod she, 'fy on suche maters! For trewly, that issacrilege; and that shal have no sort with any of my servauntes;in myne eyen shal suche thing nat be loked after. How often isit commaunded by these passed wyse, that "to one god shal men35serve, and not to goddes?" And who that liste to have mynehelpes, shal aske none helpe of foule spirites. Alas! is nat manmaked semblable to god? Wost thou nat wel, that al vertue oflyvelich werkinge, by goddes purveyaunce, is underput to resonablecreature in erthe? Is nat every thing, a this halfe god, mad40buxom to mannes contemplation, understandinge in heven andin erthe and in helle? Hath not man beinge with stones, soule ofwexing with trees and herbes? Hath he nat soule of felinge, withbeestes, fisshes, and foules? And he hath soule of reson andunderstanding with aungels; so that in him is knit al maner45of lyvinges by a resonable proporcioun. Also man is mad ofal the foure elementes. Al universitee is rekened in him alone;he hath, under god, principalitè above al thinges. Now is hissoule here, now a thousand myle hence; now fer, now nygh;now hye, now lowe; as fer in a moment as in mountenaunce of50ten winter; and al this is in mannes governaunce and disposicion.Than sheweth it that men ben liche unto goddes, and children ofmoost heyght. But now, sithen al thinges [arn] underput to thewil of resonable creatures, god forbede any man to winne thatlordship, and aske helpe of any-thing lower than him-selfe; and than,55namely, of foule thinges innominable. Now than, why shuldestthou wene to love to highe, sithen nothing is thee above but godalone? Trewly, I wot wel that thilke jewel is in a maner even inlyne of degree there thou art thy-selfe, and nought above, savethus: aungel upon angel, man upon man, and devil upon devil60han a maner of soveraigntee; and that shal cese at the dayeof dome. And so I say: though thou be put to serve theilke jewel duringe thy lyfe, yet is that no servage ofunderputtinge, but a maner of travayling plesaunce, to conquere andgette that thou hast not. I sette now the hardest: in my service65now thou deydest, for sorowe of wantinge in thy desyres; trewly,al hevenly bodyes with one voyce shul come and make melody inthy cominge, and saye—"Welcome, our fere, and worthy to entreinto Jupiters joye! For thou with might hast overcome deth;thou woldest never flitte out of thy service; and we al shul70now praye to the goddes, rowe by rowe, to make thilk Margarite,that no routh had in this persone, but unkyndely without comfortlet thee deye, shal besette her-selfe in suche wyse, that in erthe,for parte of vengeaunce, shal she no joye have in loves service;and whan she is deed, than shal her soule ben brought up in-to75thy presence; and whider thou wilt chese, thilke soule shal bencommitted." Or els, after thy deth, anon al the foresayd hevenlybodyes, by one accorde, shal †benimen from thilke perle al thevertues that firste her were taken; for she hath hem forfeytedby that on thee, my servaunt, in thy lyve, she wolde not suffre80to worche al vertues, withdrawen by might of the hygh bodyes.Why than shuldest thou wene so any more? And if thee listeto loke upon the lawe of kynde, and with order whiche to mewas ordayned, sothely, non age, non overtourninge tyme but†hiderto had no tyme ne power to chaunge the wedding, ne85the knotte to unbynde of two hertes [that] thorow oon assent, inmy presence, †togider accorden to enduren til deth hem departe.What? trowest thou, every ideot wot the meninge and the privyentent of these thinges? They wene, forsothe, that suche accordmay not be, but the rose of maydenhede be plucked. Do way,90do way; they knowe nothing of this. For consent of two hertesalone maketh the fasteninge of the knotte; neither lawe of kyndene mannes lawe determineth neither the age ne the qualitè ofpersones, but only accord bitwene thilke twaye. And trewly,after tyme that suche accord, by their consent in hert, is enseled,95and put in my tresorye amonges my privy thinges, than ginneththe name of spousayle; and although they breken forward bothe,yet suche mater enseled is kept in remembrance for ever. Andsee now that spouses have the name anon after accord, thoughthe rose be not take. The aungel bad Joseph take Marye his100spouse, and to Egypte wende. Lo! she was cleped "spouse,"and yet, toforn ne after, neither of hem bothe mente no flesshlylust knowe. Wherfore the wordes of trouthe acorden that myservauntes shulden forsake bothe †fader and moder, and be adherandto his spouse; and they two in unitè of one flesshe105shulden accorde. And this wyse, two that wern firste in a litelmaner discordaunt, hygher that oon and lower that other, benmad evenliche in gree to stonde. But now to enfourme theethat ye ben liche to goddes, these clerkes sayn, and in determinacionshewen, that "three thinges haven [by] the names110of goddes ben cleped; that is to sayn: man, divel, and images";but yet is there but oon god, of whom al goodnesse, al grace, andal vertue cometh; and he †is loving and trewe, and everlasting,and pryme cause of al being thinges. But men ben goddeslovinge and trewe, but not everlasting; and that is by adopcioun115of the everlastinge god. Divels ben goddes, stirringe bya maner of lyving; but neither ben they trewe ne everlastinge;and their name of godliheed th[e]y han by usurpacion, as theprophete sayth: "Al goddes of gentyles (that is to say, paynims)are divels." But images ben goddes by nuncupacion; and they120ben neither livinge ne trewe, ne everlastinge. After these wordesthey clepen "goddes" images wrought with mennes handes.But now [art thou a] resonable creature, that by adopcion aloneart to the grete god everlastinge, and therby thou art "god"cleped: let thy †faders maners so entre thy wittes that thou might125folowe, in-as-moche as longeth to thee, thy †faders worship, sothat in nothinge thy kynde from his wil declyne, ne from hisnobley perverte. In this wyse if thou werche, thou art aboveal other thinges save god alone; and so say no more "thyn herteto serve in to hye a place."

'O,' quod she, 'fy on suche maters! For trewly, that is

sacrilege; and that shal have no sort with any of my servauntes;

in myne eyen shal suche thing nat be loked after. How often is

it commaunded by these passed wyse, that "to one god shal men

serve, and not to goddes?" And who that liste to have myne

helpes, shal aske none helpe of foule spirites. Alas! is nat man

maked semblable to god? Wost thou nat wel, that al vertue of

lyvelich werkinge, by goddes purveyaunce, is underput to resonable

creature in erthe? Is nat every thing, a this halfe god, mad

buxom to mannes contemplation, understandinge in heven and

in erthe and in helle? Hath not man beinge with stones, soule of

wexing with trees and herbes? Hath he nat soule of felinge, with

beestes, fisshes, and foules? And he hath soule of reson and

understanding with aungels; so that in him is knit al maner

of lyvinges by a resonable proporcioun. Also man is mad of

al the foure elementes. Al universitee is rekened in him alone;

he hath, under god, principalitè above al thinges. Now is his

soule here, now a thousand myle hence; now fer, now nygh;

now hye, now lowe; as fer in a moment as in mountenaunce of

ten winter; and al this is in mannes governaunce and disposicion.

Than sheweth it that men ben liche unto goddes, and children of

moost heyght. But now, sithen al thinges [arn] underput to the

wil of resonable creatures, god forbede any man to winne that

lordship, and aske helpe of any-thing lower than him-selfe; and than,

namely, of foule thinges innominable. Now than, why shuldest

thou wene to love to highe, sithen nothing is thee above but god

alone? Trewly, I wot wel that thilke jewel is in a maner even in

lyne of degree there thou art thy-selfe, and nought above, save

thus: aungel upon angel, man upon man, and devil upon devil

han a maner of soveraigntee; and that shal cese at the daye

of dome. And so I say: though thou be put to serve the

ilke jewel duringe thy lyfe, yet is that no servage of

underputtinge, but a maner of travayling plesaunce, to conquere and

gette that thou hast not. I sette now the hardest: in my service

now thou deydest, for sorowe of wantinge in thy desyres; trewly,

al hevenly bodyes with one voyce shul come and make melody in

thy cominge, and saye—"Welcome, our fere, and worthy to entre

into Jupiters joye! For thou with might hast overcome deth;

thou woldest never flitte out of thy service; and we al shul

now praye to the goddes, rowe by rowe, to make thilk Margarite,

that no routh had in this persone, but unkyndely without comfort

let thee deye, shal besette her-selfe in suche wyse, that in erthe,

for parte of vengeaunce, shal she no joye have in loves service;

and whan she is deed, than shal her soule ben brought up in-to

thy presence; and whider thou wilt chese, thilke soule shal ben

committed." Or els, after thy deth, anon al the foresayd hevenly

bodyes, by one accorde, shal †benimen from thilke perle al the

vertues that firste her were taken; for she hath hem forfeyted

by that on thee, my servaunt, in thy lyve, she wolde not suffre

to worche al vertues, withdrawen by might of the hygh bodyes.

Why than shuldest thou wene so any more? And if thee liste

to loke upon the lawe of kynde, and with order whiche to me

was ordayned, sothely, non age, non overtourninge tyme but

†hiderto had no tyme ne power to chaunge the wedding, ne

the knotte to unbynde of two hertes [that] thorow oon assent, in

my presence, †togider accorden to enduren til deth hem departe.

What? trowest thou, every ideot wot the meninge and the privy

entent of these thinges? They wene, forsothe, that suche accord

may not be, but the rose of maydenhede be plucked. Do way,

do way; they knowe nothing of this. For consent of two hertes

alone maketh the fasteninge of the knotte; neither lawe of kynde

ne mannes lawe determineth neither the age ne the qualitè of

persones, but only accord bitwene thilke twaye. And trewly,

after tyme that suche accord, by their consent in hert, is enseled,

and put in my tresorye amonges my privy thinges, than ginneth

the name of spousayle; and although they breken forward bothe,

yet suche mater enseled is kept in remembrance for ever. And

see now that spouses have the name anon after accord, though

the rose be not take. The aungel bad Joseph take Marye his

100

spouse, and to Egypte wende. Lo! she was cleped "spouse,"

and yet, toforn ne after, neither of hem bothe mente no flesshly

lust knowe. Wherfore the wordes of trouthe acorden that my

servauntes shulden forsake bothe †fader and moder, and be adherand

to his spouse; and they two in unitè of one flesshe

105

shulden accorde. And this wyse, two that wern firste in a litel

maner discordaunt, hygher that oon and lower that other, ben

mad evenliche in gree to stonde. But now to enfourme thee

that ye ben liche to goddes, these clerkes sayn, and in determinacion

shewen, that "three thinges haven [by] the names

110

of goddes ben cleped; that is to sayn: man, divel, and images";

but yet is there but oon god, of whom al goodnesse, al grace, and

al vertue cometh; and he †is loving and trewe, and everlasting,

and pryme cause of al being thinges. But men ben goddes

lovinge and trewe, but not everlasting; and that is by adopcioun

115

of the everlastinge god. Divels ben goddes, stirringe by

a maner of lyving; but neither ben they trewe ne everlastinge;

and their name of godliheed th[e]y han by usurpacion, as the

prophete sayth: "Al goddes of gentyles (that is to say, paynims)

are divels." But images ben goddes by nuncupacion; and they

120

ben neither livinge ne trewe, ne everlastinge. After these wordes

they clepen "goddes" images wrought with mennes handes.

But now [art thou a] resonable creature, that by adopcion alone

art to the grete god everlastinge, and therby thou art "god"

cleped: let thy †faders maners so entre thy wittes that thou might

125

folowe, in-as-moche as longeth to thee, thy †faders worship, so

that in nothinge thy kynde from his wil declyne, ne from his

nobley perverte. In this wyse if thou werche, thou art above

al other thinges save god alone; and so say no more "thyn herte

to serve in to hye a place."

Ch. IX.1. arte. 2. thynge. 3. thyne. leaue. 5. reason. 6. nowe. bearers. 7. purpose. 9. Yea. 10.-thorowe.steered. 13. leneth;readleueth. 15. thyne. 16. arne.I supplythee. 17. the. 18. myne hert.

20. maye. 23. Nowe. are;readthat. 24. the. 25. shalte. 26. one. 27. Howe. to forne. 31. fye. 38. vnderputte. 39. thynge. made. 40. buxome. 41. manne. 43. reason. 44. knytte. 45. lyuenges. reasonable. made. 47. Nowe. 48. nowe. nowe ferre nowe. thousande. 49. nowe (twice). ferre. momente. 50. tenne. disposytion. 52. nowe.I supplyarn. vnderputte. 53. reasonable. 54. lordshippe. thynge.

56. nothynge. the. 57. wote. euyn. 58. arte. 59. manne (twice). 60. soueraygntie. cease. 61. thoughe putte. 64. haste. 64-5. nowe. 68. haste. dethe. 70. nowe pray. 71.Forinreadon? comforte. 72. lette the. 75. wylte. 76. dethe anone. 77. benommen;readbenimen. 79. the. 81. the. 83. none (twice). 84. hytherto. 85.Supplythat. thorowe one. 86. togyther. dethe. 87. ydeot wotte. 88. accorde. 89. waye (twice). 90. consente.

93. onely. 93-4. accorde. 94. ensealed. 96. breaken forwarde. 97. ensealed. kepte. 98. se nowe. accorde. 99. bade. 101. toforne. 102. luste. 103. father and mother;rather, fader and moder. adherande. 105. werne. 106. one. 107. made. nowe. the. 108. sayne. 109. thre.I supplyby. 110. cleaped. 111. one. 112. his;readis. 116. lyueng. 117. thy;readthey. 118. saythe. 121. cleapen. 122. nowe.I supplyart thou a. reasonable. 123. arte (twice). great. 124. lette. 124-5. fathers;readfaders. 125. the. worshyppe.

127. arte.

CHAPTER X.Fully have I now declared thyn estate to be good, so thoufolow therafter, and that the †objeccion first †by theealeged, in worthinesse of thy Margaryte, shal not thee lette, asit shal forther thee, and encrese thee. It is now to declare, the5last objeccion in nothing may greve.''Yes, certes,' quod I, 'bothe greve and lette muste it nedes;the contrarye may not ben proved; and see now why. WhyleI was glorious in worldly welfulnesse, and had suche goodes inwelth as maken men riche, tho was I drawe in-to companyes10that loos, prise, and name yeven. Tho louteden blasours; thocurreyden glosours; tho welcomeden flatterers; tho worshippedthilke that now deynen nat to loke. Every wight, in such erthlywele habundant, is holde noble, precious, benigne, and wyse todo what he shal, in any degree that men him sette; al-be-it that15the sothe be in the contrarye of al tho thinges. But he that cannever so wel him behave, and hath vertue habundaunt in manyfoldemaners, and be nat welthed with suche erthly goodes, is holdefor a foole, and sayd, his wit is but sotted. Lo! how fals foraver is holde trewe! Lo! how trewe is cleped fals for wanting20of goodes! Also, lady, dignitees of office maken men mikelcomended, as thus: "he is so good, were he out, his pere shuldemen not fynde." Trewly, I trowe of some suche that are sopraysed, were they out ones, another shulde make him so beknowe, he shulde of no wyse no more ben loked after: but only25fooles, wel I wot, desyren suche newe thinges. Wherfore I wonderthat thilke governour, out of whom alone the causes procedenthat governen al thinges, whiche that hath ordeyned this worldin workes of the kyndely bodyes so be governed, not withunstedfast or happyous thing, but with rules of reson, whiche30shewen the course of certayne thinges: why suffreth he sucheslydinge chaunges, that misturnen suche noble thinges as ben wemen, that arn a fayr parcel of the erthe, and holden the upperestdegree, under god, of benigne thinges, as ye sayden right nowyour-selfe; shulde never man have ben set in so worthy a place35but-if his degrè were ordayned noble. Alas! thou that knittestthe purveyaunce of al thinges, why lokest thou not to amendenthese defautes? I see shrewes that han wicked maners sitten inchayres of domes, lambes to punisshen, there wolves shulden benpunisshed. Lo! vertue, shynende naturelly, for povertee lurketh,40and is hid under cloude; but the moone false, forsworn (asI knowe my-selfe) for aver and yeftes, hath usurped to shyne byday-light, with peynture of other mens praysinges; and trewly,thilke forged light fouly shulde fade, were the trouth away ofcolours feyned. Thus is night turned in-to day, and day in-to45night; winter in-to sommer, and sommer in-to winter; not indede, but in misclepinge of foliche people.''Now,' quod she, 'what wenest thou of these thinges? Howfelest thou in thyn hert, by what governaunce that this comethaboute?'50'Certes,' quod I, 'that wot I never; but-if it be that Fortunehath graunt from above, to lede the ende of man as her lyketh.''Ah! now I see,' quod she, 'th'entent of thy mening! Lo,bycause thy worldly goodes ben fulliche dispent, thou beraft outof dignitè of office, in whiche thou madest the †gaderinge of thilke55goodes, and yet diddest in that office by counsaile of wyse [beforethat] any thing were ended; and true were unto hem whos profitthou shuldest loke; and seest now many that in thilke hervestmade of thee mokel, and now, for glosing of other, deyneth theenought to forther, but enhaunsen false shrewes by witnessinge of60trouthe! These thinges greveth thyn herte, to sene thy-selfe thusabated; and than, frayltè of mankynde ne setteth but litel by thelesers of suche richesse, have he never so moche vertue; and sothou wenest of thy jewel to renne in dispyt, and not ben acceptedin-to grace. Al this shal thee nothing hinder. Now (quod she)65first thou wost wel, thou lostest nothing that ever mightest thouchalenge for thyn owne. Whan nature brought thee forth, comethou not naked out of thy †moders wombe? Thou haddest norichesse; and whan thou shalt entre in-to the ende of everyflesshly body, what shalt thou have with thee than? So, every70richesse thou hast in tyme of thy livinge, nis but lent; thoumight therin chalenge no propertee. And see now; every thingthat is a mannes own, he may do therwith what him lyketh, toyeve or to kepe; bul richesse thou playnest from thee lost; if thymight had strecched so ferforth, fayn thou woldest have hem kept,75multiplyed with mo other; and so, ayenst thy wil, ben they departedfrom thee; wherfore they were never thyn. And if thou laudestand joyest any wight, for he is stuffed with suche maner richesse,thou art in that beleve begyled; for thou wenest thilke joye to beselinesse or els ese; and he that hath lost suche happes to ben80unsely.''Ye, forsoth,' quod I.'Wel,' quod she, 'than wol I prove that unsely in that wise isto preise; and so the tother is, the contrary, to be lacked.''How so?' quod I.85'For Unsely,' quod she, 'begyleth nat, but sheweth th'ententof her working.Et e contra: Selinesse begyleth. For in prosperitèshe maketh a jape in blyndnesse; that is, she wyndeth him tomake sorowe whan she withdraweth. Wolt thou nat (quod she)preise him better that sheweth to thee his herte, tho[ugh] it be90with bytande wordes and dispitous, than him that gloseth andthinketh in †his absence to do thee many harmes?''Certes,' quod I, 'the oon is to commende; and the other tolacke and dispice.''A! ha!' quod she, 'right so Ese, while †she lasteth, gloseth95and flatereth; and lightly voydeth whan she most plesauntlysheweth; and ever, in hir absence, she is aboute to do thee teneand sorowe in herte. But Unsely, al-be-it with bytande chere,sheweth what she is, and so doth not that other; wherforeUnsely doth not begyle. Selinesse disceyveth; Unsely put away100doute. That oon maketh men blynde; that other openeth theireyen in shewinge of wrecchidnesse. The oon is ful of drede tolese that is not his owne; that other is sobre, and maketh mendischarged of mokel hevinesse in burthen. The oon drawetha man from very good; the other haleth him to vertue by the105hookes of thoughtes. And wenist thou nat that thy disese hathdon thee mokel more to winne than ever yet thou lostest, andmore than ever the contrary made thee winne? Is nat a greetgood, to thy thinking, for to knowe the hertes of thy sothfastfrendes? Pardè, they ben proved to the ful, and the trewe have110discevered fro the false. Trewly, at the goinge of the ilke broteljoye, ther yede no more away than the ilke that was nat thynproper. He was never from that lightly departed; thyn ownegood therfore leveth it stille with thee. Now good (quod she);for how moche woldest thou somtyme have bought this verry115knowing of thy frendes from the flatteringe flyes that thee glosed,whan thou thought thy-selfe sely? But thou that playnest of lossein richesse, hast founden the most dere-worthy thing; that thouclepest unsely hath made thee moche thing to winnen. Andalso, for conclusioun of al, he is frende that now leveth nat his120herte from thyne helpes. And if that Margarite denyeth now natto suffre her vertues shyne to thee-wardes with spredinge bemes,as far or farther than if thou were sely in worldly joye, trewly,I saye nat els but she is somdel to blame.''Ah! pees,' quod I, 'and speke no more of this; myn herte125breketh, now thou touchest any suche wordes!''A! wel!' quod she, 'thanne let us singen; thou herest nomore of these thinges at this tyme.'Thus endeth the firste book of the Testament of Love;and herafter foloweth the seconde.

CHAPTER X.

Fully have I now declared thyn estate to be good, so thoufolow therafter, and that the †objeccion first †by theealeged, in worthinesse of thy Margaryte, shal not thee lette, asit shal forther thee, and encrese thee. It is now to declare, the5last objeccion in nothing may greve.'

Fully have I now declared thyn estate to be good, so thou

folow therafter, and that the †objeccion first †by thee

aleged, in worthinesse of thy Margaryte, shal not thee lette, as

it shal forther thee, and encrese thee. It is now to declare, the

last objeccion in nothing may greve.'

'Yes, certes,' quod I, 'bothe greve and lette muste it nedes;the contrarye may not ben proved; and see now why. WhyleI was glorious in worldly welfulnesse, and had suche goodes inwelth as maken men riche, tho was I drawe in-to companyes10that loos, prise, and name yeven. Tho louteden blasours; thocurreyden glosours; tho welcomeden flatterers; tho worshippedthilke that now deynen nat to loke. Every wight, in such erthlywele habundant, is holde noble, precious, benigne, and wyse todo what he shal, in any degree that men him sette; al-be-it that15the sothe be in the contrarye of al tho thinges. But he that cannever so wel him behave, and hath vertue habundaunt in manyfoldemaners, and be nat welthed with suche erthly goodes, is holdefor a foole, and sayd, his wit is but sotted. Lo! how fals foraver is holde trewe! Lo! how trewe is cleped fals for wanting20of goodes! Also, lady, dignitees of office maken men mikelcomended, as thus: "he is so good, were he out, his pere shuldemen not fynde." Trewly, I trowe of some suche that are sopraysed, were they out ones, another shulde make him so beknowe, he shulde of no wyse no more ben loked after: but only25fooles, wel I wot, desyren suche newe thinges. Wherfore I wonderthat thilke governour, out of whom alone the causes procedenthat governen al thinges, whiche that hath ordeyned this worldin workes of the kyndely bodyes so be governed, not withunstedfast or happyous thing, but with rules of reson, whiche30shewen the course of certayne thinges: why suffreth he sucheslydinge chaunges, that misturnen suche noble thinges as ben wemen, that arn a fayr parcel of the erthe, and holden the upperestdegree, under god, of benigne thinges, as ye sayden right nowyour-selfe; shulde never man have ben set in so worthy a place35but-if his degrè were ordayned noble. Alas! thou that knittestthe purveyaunce of al thinges, why lokest thou not to amendenthese defautes? I see shrewes that han wicked maners sitten inchayres of domes, lambes to punisshen, there wolves shulden benpunisshed. Lo! vertue, shynende naturelly, for povertee lurketh,40and is hid under cloude; but the moone false, forsworn (asI knowe my-selfe) for aver and yeftes, hath usurped to shyne byday-light, with peynture of other mens praysinges; and trewly,thilke forged light fouly shulde fade, were the trouth away ofcolours feyned. Thus is night turned in-to day, and day in-to45night; winter in-to sommer, and sommer in-to winter; not indede, but in misclepinge of foliche people.'

'Yes, certes,' quod I, 'bothe greve and lette muste it nedes;

the contrarye may not ben proved; and see now why. Whyle

I was glorious in worldly welfulnesse, and had suche goodes in

welth as maken men riche, tho was I drawe in-to companyes

that loos, prise, and name yeven. Tho louteden blasours; tho

curreyden glosours; tho welcomeden flatterers; tho worshipped

thilke that now deynen nat to loke. Every wight, in such erthly

wele habundant, is holde noble, precious, benigne, and wyse to

do what he shal, in any degree that men him sette; al-be-it that

the sothe be in the contrarye of al tho thinges. But he that can

never so wel him behave, and hath vertue habundaunt in manyfolde

maners, and be nat welthed with suche erthly goodes, is holde

for a foole, and sayd, his wit is but sotted. Lo! how fals for

aver is holde trewe! Lo! how trewe is cleped fals for wanting

of goodes! Also, lady, dignitees of office maken men mikel

comended, as thus: "he is so good, were he out, his pere shulde

men not fynde." Trewly, I trowe of some suche that are so

praysed, were they out ones, another shulde make him so be

knowe, he shulde of no wyse no more ben loked after: but only

fooles, wel I wot, desyren suche newe thinges. Wherfore I wonder

that thilke governour, out of whom alone the causes proceden

that governen al thinges, whiche that hath ordeyned this world

in workes of the kyndely bodyes so be governed, not with

unstedfast or happyous thing, but with rules of reson, whiche

shewen the course of certayne thinges: why suffreth he suche

slydinge chaunges, that misturnen suche noble thinges as ben we

men, that arn a fayr parcel of the erthe, and holden the upperest

degree, under god, of benigne thinges, as ye sayden right now

your-selfe; shulde never man have ben set in so worthy a place

but-if his degrè were ordayned noble. Alas! thou that knittest

the purveyaunce of al thinges, why lokest thou not to amenden

these defautes? I see shrewes that han wicked maners sitten in

chayres of domes, lambes to punisshen, there wolves shulden ben

punisshed. Lo! vertue, shynende naturelly, for povertee lurketh,

and is hid under cloude; but the moone false, forsworn (as

I knowe my-selfe) for aver and yeftes, hath usurped to shyne by

day-light, with peynture of other mens praysinges; and trewly,

thilke forged light fouly shulde fade, were the trouth away of

colours feyned. Thus is night turned in-to day, and day in-to

night; winter in-to sommer, and sommer in-to winter; not in

dede, but in misclepinge of foliche people.'

'Now,' quod she, 'what wenest thou of these thinges? Howfelest thou in thyn hert, by what governaunce that this comethaboute?'

'Now,' quod she, 'what wenest thou of these thinges? How

felest thou in thyn hert, by what governaunce that this cometh

aboute?'

50'Certes,' quod I, 'that wot I never; but-if it be that Fortunehath graunt from above, to lede the ende of man as her lyketh.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'that wot I never; but-if it be that Fortune

hath graunt from above, to lede the ende of man as her lyketh.'

'Ah! now I see,' quod she, 'th'entent of thy mening! Lo,bycause thy worldly goodes ben fulliche dispent, thou beraft outof dignitè of office, in whiche thou madest the †gaderinge of thilke55goodes, and yet diddest in that office by counsaile of wyse [beforethat] any thing were ended; and true were unto hem whos profitthou shuldest loke; and seest now many that in thilke hervestmade of thee mokel, and now, for glosing of other, deyneth theenought to forther, but enhaunsen false shrewes by witnessinge of60trouthe! These thinges greveth thyn herte, to sene thy-selfe thusabated; and than, frayltè of mankynde ne setteth but litel by thelesers of suche richesse, have he never so moche vertue; and sothou wenest of thy jewel to renne in dispyt, and not ben acceptedin-to grace. Al this shal thee nothing hinder. Now (quod she)65first thou wost wel, thou lostest nothing that ever mightest thouchalenge for thyn owne. Whan nature brought thee forth, comethou not naked out of thy †moders wombe? Thou haddest norichesse; and whan thou shalt entre in-to the ende of everyflesshly body, what shalt thou have with thee than? So, every70richesse thou hast in tyme of thy livinge, nis but lent; thoumight therin chalenge no propertee. And see now; every thingthat is a mannes own, he may do therwith what him lyketh, toyeve or to kepe; bul richesse thou playnest from thee lost; if thymight had strecched so ferforth, fayn thou woldest have hem kept,75multiplyed with mo other; and so, ayenst thy wil, ben they departedfrom thee; wherfore they were never thyn. And if thou laudestand joyest any wight, for he is stuffed with suche maner richesse,thou art in that beleve begyled; for thou wenest thilke joye to beselinesse or els ese; and he that hath lost suche happes to ben80unsely.'

'Ah! now I see,' quod she, 'th'entent of thy mening! Lo,

bycause thy worldly goodes ben fulliche dispent, thou beraft out

of dignitè of office, in whiche thou madest the †gaderinge of thilke

goodes, and yet diddest in that office by counsaile of wyse [before

that] any thing were ended; and true were unto hem whos profit

thou shuldest loke; and seest now many that in thilke hervest

made of thee mokel, and now, for glosing of other, deyneth thee

nought to forther, but enhaunsen false shrewes by witnessinge of

trouthe! These thinges greveth thyn herte, to sene thy-selfe thus

abated; and than, frayltè of mankynde ne setteth but litel by the

lesers of suche richesse, have he never so moche vertue; and so

thou wenest of thy jewel to renne in dispyt, and not ben accepted

in-to grace. Al this shal thee nothing hinder. Now (quod she)

first thou wost wel, thou lostest nothing that ever mightest thou

chalenge for thyn owne. Whan nature brought thee forth, come

thou not naked out of thy †moders wombe? Thou haddest no

richesse; and whan thou shalt entre in-to the ende of every

flesshly body, what shalt thou have with thee than? So, every

richesse thou hast in tyme of thy livinge, nis but lent; thou

might therin chalenge no propertee. And see now; every thing

that is a mannes own, he may do therwith what him lyketh, to

yeve or to kepe; bul richesse thou playnest from thee lost; if thy

might had strecched so ferforth, fayn thou woldest have hem kept,

multiplyed with mo other; and so, ayenst thy wil, ben they departed

from thee; wherfore they were never thyn. And if thou laudest

and joyest any wight, for he is stuffed with suche maner richesse,

thou art in that beleve begyled; for thou wenest thilke joye to be

selinesse or els ese; and he that hath lost suche happes to ben

unsely.'

'Ye, forsoth,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'than wol I prove that unsely in that wise isto preise; and so the tother is, the contrary, to be lacked.'

'Wel,' quod she, 'than wol I prove that unsely in that wise is

to preise; and so the tother is, the contrary, to be lacked.'

'How so?' quod I.

85'For Unsely,' quod she, 'begyleth nat, but sheweth th'ententof her working.Et e contra: Selinesse begyleth. For in prosperitèshe maketh a jape in blyndnesse; that is, she wyndeth him tomake sorowe whan she withdraweth. Wolt thou nat (quod she)preise him better that sheweth to thee his herte, tho[ugh] it be90with bytande wordes and dispitous, than him that gloseth andthinketh in †his absence to do thee many harmes?'

'For Unsely,' quod she, 'begyleth nat, but sheweth th'entent

of her working.Et e contra: Selinesse begyleth. For in prosperitè

she maketh a jape in blyndnesse; that is, she wyndeth him to

make sorowe whan she withdraweth. Wolt thou nat (quod she)

preise him better that sheweth to thee his herte, tho[ugh] it be

with bytande wordes and dispitous, than him that gloseth and

thinketh in †his absence to do thee many harmes?'

'Certes,' quod I, 'the oon is to commende; and the other tolacke and dispice.'

'Certes,' quod I, 'the oon is to commende; and the other to

lacke and dispice.'

'A! ha!' quod she, 'right so Ese, while †she lasteth, gloseth95and flatereth; and lightly voydeth whan she most plesauntlysheweth; and ever, in hir absence, she is aboute to do thee teneand sorowe in herte. But Unsely, al-be-it with bytande chere,sheweth what she is, and so doth not that other; wherforeUnsely doth not begyle. Selinesse disceyveth; Unsely put away100doute. That oon maketh men blynde; that other openeth theireyen in shewinge of wrecchidnesse. The oon is ful of drede tolese that is not his owne; that other is sobre, and maketh mendischarged of mokel hevinesse in burthen. The oon drawetha man from very good; the other haleth him to vertue by the105hookes of thoughtes. And wenist thou nat that thy disese hathdon thee mokel more to winne than ever yet thou lostest, andmore than ever the contrary made thee winne? Is nat a greetgood, to thy thinking, for to knowe the hertes of thy sothfastfrendes? Pardè, they ben proved to the ful, and the trewe have110discevered fro the false. Trewly, at the goinge of the ilke broteljoye, ther yede no more away than the ilke that was nat thynproper. He was never from that lightly departed; thyn ownegood therfore leveth it stille with thee. Now good (quod she);for how moche woldest thou somtyme have bought this verry115knowing of thy frendes from the flatteringe flyes that thee glosed,whan thou thought thy-selfe sely? But thou that playnest of lossein richesse, hast founden the most dere-worthy thing; that thouclepest unsely hath made thee moche thing to winnen. Andalso, for conclusioun of al, he is frende that now leveth nat his120herte from thyne helpes. And if that Margarite denyeth now natto suffre her vertues shyne to thee-wardes with spredinge bemes,as far or farther than if thou were sely in worldly joye, trewly,I saye nat els but she is somdel to blame.'

'A! ha!' quod she, 'right so Ese, while †she lasteth, gloseth

and flatereth; and lightly voydeth whan she most plesauntly

sheweth; and ever, in hir absence, she is aboute to do thee tene

and sorowe in herte. But Unsely, al-be-it with bytande chere,

sheweth what she is, and so doth not that other; wherfore

Unsely doth not begyle. Selinesse disceyveth; Unsely put away

100

doute. That oon maketh men blynde; that other openeth their

eyen in shewinge of wrecchidnesse. The oon is ful of drede to

lese that is not his owne; that other is sobre, and maketh men

discharged of mokel hevinesse in burthen. The oon draweth

a man from very good; the other haleth him to vertue by the

105

hookes of thoughtes. And wenist thou nat that thy disese hath

don thee mokel more to winne than ever yet thou lostest, and

more than ever the contrary made thee winne? Is nat a greet

good, to thy thinking, for to knowe the hertes of thy sothfast

frendes? Pardè, they ben proved to the ful, and the trewe have

110

discevered fro the false. Trewly, at the goinge of the ilke brotel

joye, ther yede no more away than the ilke that was nat thyn

proper. He was never from that lightly departed; thyn owne

good therfore leveth it stille with thee. Now good (quod she);

for how moche woldest thou somtyme have bought this verry

115

knowing of thy frendes from the flatteringe flyes that thee glosed,

whan thou thought thy-selfe sely? But thou that playnest of losse

in richesse, hast founden the most dere-worthy thing; that thou

clepest unsely hath made thee moche thing to winnen. And

also, for conclusioun of al, he is frende that now leveth nat his

120

herte from thyne helpes. And if that Margarite denyeth now nat

to suffre her vertues shyne to thee-wardes with spredinge bemes,

as far or farther than if thou were sely in worldly joye, trewly,

I saye nat els but she is somdel to blame.'

'Ah! pees,' quod I, 'and speke no more of this; myn herte125breketh, now thou touchest any suche wordes!'

'Ah! pees,' quod I, 'and speke no more of this; myn herte

125

breketh, now thou touchest any suche wordes!'

'A! wel!' quod she, 'thanne let us singen; thou herest nomore of these thinges at this tyme.'

'A! wel!' quod she, 'thanne let us singen; thou herest no

more of these thinges at this tyme.'

Thus endeth the firste book of the Testament of Love;and herafter foloweth the seconde.

Thus endeth the firste book of the Testament of Love;

and herafter foloweth the seconde.

Ch. X.1. nowe. 2. abiection;readobjeccion. be;readby. the. 3. the. 4. the. encrease the. nowe. 5. obiection. 6. let. 7. maye. se nowe. 12. nowe. 14. set. 15. can ne never;omitne. 18. wytte. false. 19. auer (sic);foraueir (avoir). howe. cleaped. false. 24. onely. 25. wotte. new. 26. whome. 27. worlde.

29. reason. 32. arne a fayre parsel. 33. nowe. 37. se. 39. pouertie. 40. hydde. forsworne. 44. daye (twice). 46. miscleapynge. 50. wotte. 52. nowe I se. thentent. meanyng. 53. berafte. 54. gatherynge. 55.I supplybefore that. 56. whose profyte. 57. nowe. 58. the (twice). nowe. 63. dispyte. 64. the. Nowe. 65. woste.

66. the forthe. 67. mothers;readmoders. 69. the. 70. haste. lente. 71. propertie. se nowe. 72. owne. 73. the. 74. stretched. fayne. 76. the. 78. arte. 79. ease. loste. 84. Howe. 85. thentent. 88. Wolte. 89. the. 91. their;readhis. the. 92. one. 94. ease. he;readshe. 99. dothe. awaye. 100-1. one (twice). 101. wretchydnesse.

103. one. 105. disease. 106. done the. 107. the. great. 109. Pardy. 111. awaye. 111-2. thyne. 113. leaueth. the. Nowe. 114. howe. 115. the. 117. thynge. 118. cleapest. the. thynge. 119. nowe leaueth. 120. hert. nowe. 121. the. spreadynge beames. 122. farre. 123. somdele. 124. peace. myne. 125. breaketh nowe. 126. lette.

BOOK II.CHAPTER I.Very welth may not be founden in al this worlde; and thatis wel sene. Lo! how in my mooste comfort, as I wendeand moost supposed to have had ful answere of my contrarythoughtes, sodaynly it was vanisshed. And al the workes of man5faren in the same wyse; whan folk wenen best her entent for tohave and willes to perfourme, anon chaunging of the lift syde tothe right halve tourneth it so clene in-to another kynde, that nevershal it come to the first plyte in doinge.O this wonderful steering so soone otherwysed out of knowinge!10But for my purpos was at the beginninge, and so dureth yet, if godof his grace tyme wol me graunt, I thinke to perfourme thisworke, as I have begonne, in love; after as my thinne wit, withinspiracion of him that hildeth al grace, wol suffre. Grevously,god wot, have I suffred a greet throwe that the Romayne15emperour, which in unitè of love shulde acorde, and every withother * * * * in cause of other to avaunce; and namely, sithethis empyre [nedeth] to be corrected of so many sectes in heresieof faith, of service, o[f] rule in loves religion. Trewly, al wereit but to shende erroneous opinions, I may it no lenger suffre.20For many men there ben that sayn love to be in gravel and sande,that with see ebbinge and flowinge woweth, as riches that sodaynlyvanissheth. And some sayn that love shulde be in windy blastes,that stoundmele turneth as a phane, and glorie of renomè, whichafter lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stilled.25Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone and othersterres love shulde ben founden; for among al other planettesmoste soveraynly they shynen, as dignitees in reverence of estatesrather than good han and occupyen. Ful many also there benthat in okes and in huge postes supposen love to ben grounded,30as in strength and in might, whiche mowen not helpen their ownewrecchidnesse, whan they ginne to falle. But [of] suche diversitèof sectes, ayenst the rightful beleve of love, these errours ben forthspredde, that loves servantes in trewe rule and stedfast fayth inno place daren apere. Thus irrecuperable joy is went, and anoy35endless is entred. For no man aright reproveth suche errours,but [men] confirmen their wordes, and sayn, that badde is noblegood, and goodnesse is badde; to which folk the prophete biddethwo without ende.Also manye tonges of greet false techinges in gylinge maner,40principally in my tymes, not only with wordes but also with armes,loves servauntes and professe in his religion of trewe rule pursewen,to confounden and to distroyen. And for as moche as holy †faders,that of our Christen fayth aproved and strengthed to the Jewes, asto men resonable and of divinitè lerned, proved thilke fayth with45resones, and with auctoritès of the olde testament and of the newe,her pertinacie to distroy: but to paynims, that for beestes andhoundes were holde, to putte hem out of their errour, was †miracleof god shewed. These thinges were figured by cominge of th'angelto the shepherdes, and by the sterre to paynims kinges; as who50sayth: angel resonable to resonable creature, and sterre of miracleto people bestial not lerned, wern sent to enforme. But I, loversclerk, in al my conning and with al my mightes, trewly I have nosuche grace in vertue of miracles, ne for no discomfit falsheedessuffyseth not auctoritès alone; sithen that suche [arn] heretikes55and maintaynours of falsitès. Wherfore I wot wel, sithen thatthey ben men, and reson is approved in hem, the clowde of errourhath her reson beyond probable resons, whiche that cacchendewit rightfully may not with-sitte. By my travaylinge studie I haveordeyned hem, †whiche that auctoritè, misglosed by mannes60reson, to graunt shal ben enduced.Now ginneth my penne to quake, to thinken on the sentencesof the envyous people, whiche alway ben redy, both ryder andgoer, to scorne and to jape this leude book; and me, for rancourand hate in their hertes, they shullen so dispyse, that although65my book be leude, yet shal it ben more leude holden, and bywicked wordes in many maner apayred. Certes, me thinketh,[of] the sowne of their badde speche right now is ful bothe myneeeres. O good precious Margaryte, myne herte shulde wepe ifI wiste ye token hede of suche maner speche; but trewly, I wot70wel, in that your wysdom shal not asterte. For of god, maker ofkynde, witnesse I took, that for none envy ne yvel have I drawethis mater togider; but only for goodnesse to maintayn, anderrours in falsetees to distroy. Wherfore (as I sayd) with resonI thinke, thilke forsayd errours to distroye and dequace.75These resons and suche other, if they enduce men, in lovesservice, trewe to beleve of parfit blisse, yet to ful faithe incredence of deserte fully mowe they nat suffyse; sithen 'faith hathno merite of mede, whan mannes reson sheweth experience indoing.' For utterly no reson the parfit blisse of love by no waye80may make to be comprehended. Lo! what is a parcel of loversjoye? Parfit science, in good service, of their desyre to comprehendein bodily doinge the lykinge of the soule; not as bya glasse to have contemplacion of tyme cominge, but thilke firstimagined and thought after face to face in beholding. What85herte, what reson, what understandinge can make his heven to befeled and knowe, without assaye in doinge? Certes, noon. Sithenthanne of love cometh suche fruite in blisse, and love in him-selfeis the most among other vertues, as clerkes sayn; the seed ofsuche springinge in al places, in al countreys, in al worldes shulde90ben sowe.But o! welawaye! thilke seed is forsake, and †mowe not bensuffred, the lond-tillers to sette a-werke, without medlinge ofcockle; badde wedes whiche somtyme stonken †han caught thename of love among idiotes and badde-meninge people. Never-the-later,95yet how-so-it-be that men clepe thilke †thing preciousestin kynde, with many eke-names, that other thinges that the souleyeven the ilke noble name, it sheweth wel that in a maner menhave a greet lykinge in worshippinge of thilke name. Wherforethis worke have I writte; and to thee, tytled of Loves name,100I have it avowed in a maner of sacrifyse; that, where-ever it berad, it mowe in merite, by the excellence of thilke name, themore wexe in authoritè and worshippe of takinge in hede; and towhat entent it was ordayned, the inseëres mowen ben moved.Every thing to whom is owande occasion don as for his ende,105Aristotle supposeth that the actes of every thinge ben in a manerhis final cause. A final cause is noblerer, or els even as noble,as thilke thing that is finally to thilke ende; wherfore accion ofthinge everlasting is demed to be eternal, and not temporal;sithen it is his final cause. Right so the actes of my boke 'Love,'110and love is noble; wherfore, though my book be leude, the causewith which I am stered, and for whom I ought it doon, nobleforsothe ben bothe. But bycause that in conninge I am yong,and can yet but crepe, this leude A. b. c. have I set in-to lerning;for I can not passen the telling of three as yet. And if god115wil, in shorte tyme, I shal amende this leudnesse in joiningesyllables; whiche thing, for dulnesse of witte, I may not in threeletters declare. For trewly I saye, the goodnesse of my Margaryte-perlewolde yeve mater in endyting to many clerkes; certes, hermercy is more to me swetter than any livinges; wherfore my120lippes mowen not suffyse, in speking of her ful laude and worshippeas they shulde. But who is that [wolde be wyse] inknowing of the orders of heven, and putteth his resones in theerthe? I forsothe may not, with blere eyen, the shyning sonne ofvertue in bright whele of this Margaryte beholde; therfore as yet125I may her not discryve in vertue as I wolde. In tyme cominge,in another tretyse, thorow goddes grace, this sonne in clerenesseof vertue to be-knowe, and how she enlumineth al this day,I thinke to declare.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.

Very welth may not be founden in al this worlde; and thatis wel sene. Lo! how in my mooste comfort, as I wendeand moost supposed to have had ful answere of my contrarythoughtes, sodaynly it was vanisshed. And al the workes of man5faren in the same wyse; whan folk wenen best her entent for tohave and willes to perfourme, anon chaunging of the lift syde tothe right halve tourneth it so clene in-to another kynde, that nevershal it come to the first plyte in doinge.

Very welth may not be founden in al this worlde; and that

is wel sene. Lo! how in my mooste comfort, as I wende

and moost supposed to have had ful answere of my contrary

thoughtes, sodaynly it was vanisshed. And al the workes of man

faren in the same wyse; whan folk wenen best her entent for to

have and willes to perfourme, anon chaunging of the lift syde to

the right halve tourneth it so clene in-to another kynde, that never

shal it come to the first plyte in doinge.

O this wonderful steering so soone otherwysed out of knowinge!10But for my purpos was at the beginninge, and so dureth yet, if godof his grace tyme wol me graunt, I thinke to perfourme thisworke, as I have begonne, in love; after as my thinne wit, withinspiracion of him that hildeth al grace, wol suffre. Grevously,god wot, have I suffred a greet throwe that the Romayne15emperour, which in unitè of love shulde acorde, and every withother * * * * in cause of other to avaunce; and namely, sithethis empyre [nedeth] to be corrected of so many sectes in heresieof faith, of service, o[f] rule in loves religion. Trewly, al wereit but to shende erroneous opinions, I may it no lenger suffre.20For many men there ben that sayn love to be in gravel and sande,that with see ebbinge and flowinge woweth, as riches that sodaynlyvanissheth. And some sayn that love shulde be in windy blastes,that stoundmele turneth as a phane, and glorie of renomè, whichafter lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stilled.

O this wonderful steering so soone otherwysed out of knowinge!

But for my purpos was at the beginninge, and so dureth yet, if god

of his grace tyme wol me graunt, I thinke to perfourme this

worke, as I have begonne, in love; after as my thinne wit, with

inspiracion of him that hildeth al grace, wol suffre. Grevously,

god wot, have I suffred a greet throwe that the Romayne

emperour, which in unitè of love shulde acorde, and every with

other * * * * in cause of other to avaunce; and namely, sithe

this empyre [nedeth] to be corrected of so many sectes in heresie

of faith, of service, o[f] rule in loves religion. Trewly, al were

it but to shende erroneous opinions, I may it no lenger suffre.

For many men there ben that sayn love to be in gravel and sande,

that with see ebbinge and flowinge woweth, as riches that sodaynly

vanissheth. And some sayn that love shulde be in windy blastes,

that stoundmele turneth as a phane, and glorie of renomè, which

after lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stilled.

25Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone and othersterres love shulde ben founden; for among al other planettesmoste soveraynly they shynen, as dignitees in reverence of estatesrather than good han and occupyen. Ful many also there benthat in okes and in huge postes supposen love to ben grounded,30as in strength and in might, whiche mowen not helpen their ownewrecchidnesse, whan they ginne to falle. But [of] suche diversitèof sectes, ayenst the rightful beleve of love, these errours ben forthspredde, that loves servantes in trewe rule and stedfast fayth inno place daren apere. Thus irrecuperable joy is went, and anoy35endless is entred. For no man aright reproveth suche errours,but [men] confirmen their wordes, and sayn, that badde is noblegood, and goodnesse is badde; to which folk the prophete biddethwo without ende.

Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone and other

sterres love shulde ben founden; for among al other planettes

moste soveraynly they shynen, as dignitees in reverence of estates

rather than good han and occupyen. Ful many also there ben

that in okes and in huge postes supposen love to ben grounded,

as in strength and in might, whiche mowen not helpen their owne

wrecchidnesse, whan they ginne to falle. But [of] suche diversitè

of sectes, ayenst the rightful beleve of love, these errours ben forth

spredde, that loves servantes in trewe rule and stedfast fayth in

no place daren apere. Thus irrecuperable joy is went, and anoy

endless is entred. For no man aright reproveth suche errours,

but [men] confirmen their wordes, and sayn, that badde is noble

good, and goodnesse is badde; to which folk the prophete biddeth

wo without ende.

Also manye tonges of greet false techinges in gylinge maner,40principally in my tymes, not only with wordes but also with armes,loves servauntes and professe in his religion of trewe rule pursewen,to confounden and to distroyen. And for as moche as holy †faders,that of our Christen fayth aproved and strengthed to the Jewes, asto men resonable and of divinitè lerned, proved thilke fayth with45resones, and with auctoritès of the olde testament and of the newe,her pertinacie to distroy: but to paynims, that for beestes andhoundes were holde, to putte hem out of their errour, was †miracleof god shewed. These thinges were figured by cominge of th'angelto the shepherdes, and by the sterre to paynims kinges; as who50sayth: angel resonable to resonable creature, and sterre of miracleto people bestial not lerned, wern sent to enforme. But I, loversclerk, in al my conning and with al my mightes, trewly I have nosuche grace in vertue of miracles, ne for no discomfit falsheedessuffyseth not auctoritès alone; sithen that suche [arn] heretikes55and maintaynours of falsitès. Wherfore I wot wel, sithen thatthey ben men, and reson is approved in hem, the clowde of errourhath her reson beyond probable resons, whiche that cacchendewit rightfully may not with-sitte. By my travaylinge studie I haveordeyned hem, †whiche that auctoritè, misglosed by mannes60reson, to graunt shal ben enduced.

Also manye tonges of greet false techinges in gylinge maner,

principally in my tymes, not only with wordes but also with armes,

loves servauntes and professe in his religion of trewe rule pursewen,

to confounden and to distroyen. And for as moche as holy †faders,

that of our Christen fayth aproved and strengthed to the Jewes, as

to men resonable and of divinitè lerned, proved thilke fayth with

resones, and with auctoritès of the olde testament and of the newe,

her pertinacie to distroy: but to paynims, that for beestes and

houndes were holde, to putte hem out of their errour, was †miracle

of god shewed. These thinges were figured by cominge of th'angel

to the shepherdes, and by the sterre to paynims kinges; as who

sayth: angel resonable to resonable creature, and sterre of miracle

to people bestial not lerned, wern sent to enforme. But I, lovers

clerk, in al my conning and with al my mightes, trewly I have no

suche grace in vertue of miracles, ne for no discomfit falsheedes

suffyseth not auctoritès alone; sithen that suche [arn] heretikes

and maintaynours of falsitès. Wherfore I wot wel, sithen that

they ben men, and reson is approved in hem, the clowde of errour

hath her reson beyond probable resons, whiche that cacchende

wit rightfully may not with-sitte. By my travaylinge studie I have

ordeyned hem, †whiche that auctoritè, misglosed by mannes

reson, to graunt shal ben enduced.

Now ginneth my penne to quake, to thinken on the sentencesof the envyous people, whiche alway ben redy, both ryder andgoer, to scorne and to jape this leude book; and me, for rancourand hate in their hertes, they shullen so dispyse, that although65my book be leude, yet shal it ben more leude holden, and bywicked wordes in many maner apayred. Certes, me thinketh,[of] the sowne of their badde speche right now is ful bothe myneeeres. O good precious Margaryte, myne herte shulde wepe ifI wiste ye token hede of suche maner speche; but trewly, I wot70wel, in that your wysdom shal not asterte. For of god, maker ofkynde, witnesse I took, that for none envy ne yvel have I drawethis mater togider; but only for goodnesse to maintayn, anderrours in falsetees to distroy. Wherfore (as I sayd) with resonI thinke, thilke forsayd errours to distroye and dequace.

Now ginneth my penne to quake, to thinken on the sentences

of the envyous people, whiche alway ben redy, both ryder and

goer, to scorne and to jape this leude book; and me, for rancour

and hate in their hertes, they shullen so dispyse, that although

my book be leude, yet shal it ben more leude holden, and by

wicked wordes in many maner apayred. Certes, me thinketh,

[of] the sowne of their badde speche right now is ful bothe myne

eeres. O good precious Margaryte, myne herte shulde wepe if

I wiste ye token hede of suche maner speche; but trewly, I wot

wel, in that your wysdom shal not asterte. For of god, maker of

kynde, witnesse I took, that for none envy ne yvel have I drawe

this mater togider; but only for goodnesse to maintayn, and

errours in falsetees to distroy. Wherfore (as I sayd) with reson

I thinke, thilke forsayd errours to distroye and dequace.

75These resons and suche other, if they enduce men, in lovesservice, trewe to beleve of parfit blisse, yet to ful faithe incredence of deserte fully mowe they nat suffyse; sithen 'faith hathno merite of mede, whan mannes reson sheweth experience indoing.' For utterly no reson the parfit blisse of love by no waye80may make to be comprehended. Lo! what is a parcel of loversjoye? Parfit science, in good service, of their desyre to comprehendein bodily doinge the lykinge of the soule; not as bya glasse to have contemplacion of tyme cominge, but thilke firstimagined and thought after face to face in beholding. What85herte, what reson, what understandinge can make his heven to befeled and knowe, without assaye in doinge? Certes, noon. Sithenthanne of love cometh suche fruite in blisse, and love in him-selfeis the most among other vertues, as clerkes sayn; the seed ofsuche springinge in al places, in al countreys, in al worldes shulde90ben sowe.

These resons and suche other, if they enduce men, in loves

service, trewe to beleve of parfit blisse, yet to ful faithe in

credence of deserte fully mowe they nat suffyse; sithen 'faith hath

no merite of mede, whan mannes reson sheweth experience in

doing.' For utterly no reson the parfit blisse of love by no waye

may make to be comprehended. Lo! what is a parcel of lovers

joye? Parfit science, in good service, of their desyre to comprehende

in bodily doinge the lykinge of the soule; not as by

a glasse to have contemplacion of tyme cominge, but thilke first

imagined and thought after face to face in beholding. What

herte, what reson, what understandinge can make his heven to be

feled and knowe, without assaye in doinge? Certes, noon. Sithen

thanne of love cometh suche fruite in blisse, and love in him-selfe

is the most among other vertues, as clerkes sayn; the seed of

suche springinge in al places, in al countreys, in al worldes shulde

ben sowe.

But o! welawaye! thilke seed is forsake, and †mowe not bensuffred, the lond-tillers to sette a-werke, without medlinge ofcockle; badde wedes whiche somtyme stonken †han caught thename of love among idiotes and badde-meninge people. Never-the-later,95yet how-so-it-be that men clepe thilke †thing preciousestin kynde, with many eke-names, that other thinges that the souleyeven the ilke noble name, it sheweth wel that in a maner menhave a greet lykinge in worshippinge of thilke name. Wherforethis worke have I writte; and to thee, tytled of Loves name,100I have it avowed in a maner of sacrifyse; that, where-ever it berad, it mowe in merite, by the excellence of thilke name, themore wexe in authoritè and worshippe of takinge in hede; and towhat entent it was ordayned, the inseëres mowen ben moved.Every thing to whom is owande occasion don as for his ende,105Aristotle supposeth that the actes of every thinge ben in a manerhis final cause. A final cause is noblerer, or els even as noble,as thilke thing that is finally to thilke ende; wherfore accion ofthinge everlasting is demed to be eternal, and not temporal;sithen it is his final cause. Right so the actes of my boke 'Love,'110and love is noble; wherfore, though my book be leude, the causewith which I am stered, and for whom I ought it doon, nobleforsothe ben bothe. But bycause that in conninge I am yong,and can yet but crepe, this leude A. b. c. have I set in-to lerning;for I can not passen the telling of three as yet. And if god115wil, in shorte tyme, I shal amende this leudnesse in joiningesyllables; whiche thing, for dulnesse of witte, I may not in threeletters declare. For trewly I saye, the goodnesse of my Margaryte-perlewolde yeve mater in endyting to many clerkes; certes, hermercy is more to me swetter than any livinges; wherfore my120lippes mowen not suffyse, in speking of her ful laude and worshippeas they shulde. But who is that [wolde be wyse] inknowing of the orders of heven, and putteth his resones in theerthe? I forsothe may not, with blere eyen, the shyning sonne ofvertue in bright whele of this Margaryte beholde; therfore as yet125I may her not discryve in vertue as I wolde. In tyme cominge,in another tretyse, thorow goddes grace, this sonne in clerenesseof vertue to be-knowe, and how she enlumineth al this day,I thinke to declare.

But o! welawaye! thilke seed is forsake, and †mowe not ben

suffred, the lond-tillers to sette a-werke, without medlinge of

cockle; badde wedes whiche somtyme stonken †han caught the

name of love among idiotes and badde-meninge people. Never-the-later,

yet how-so-it-be that men clepe thilke †thing preciousest

in kynde, with many eke-names, that other thinges that the soule

yeven the ilke noble name, it sheweth wel that in a maner men

have a greet lykinge in worshippinge of thilke name. Wherfore

this worke have I writte; and to thee, tytled of Loves name,

100

I have it avowed in a maner of sacrifyse; that, where-ever it be

rad, it mowe in merite, by the excellence of thilke name, the

more wexe in authoritè and worshippe of takinge in hede; and to

what entent it was ordayned, the inseëres mowen ben moved.

Every thing to whom is owande occasion don as for his ende,

105

Aristotle supposeth that the actes of every thinge ben in a maner

his final cause. A final cause is noblerer, or els even as noble,

as thilke thing that is finally to thilke ende; wherfore accion of

thinge everlasting is demed to be eternal, and not temporal;

sithen it is his final cause. Right so the actes of my boke 'Love,'

110

and love is noble; wherfore, though my book be leude, the cause

with which I am stered, and for whom I ought it doon, noble

forsothe ben bothe. But bycause that in conninge I am yong,

and can yet but crepe, this leude A. b. c. have I set in-to lerning;

for I can not passen the telling of three as yet. And if god

115

wil, in shorte tyme, I shal amende this leudnesse in joininge

syllables; whiche thing, for dulnesse of witte, I may not in three

letters declare. For trewly I saye, the goodnesse of my Margaryte-perle

wolde yeve mater in endyting to many clerkes; certes, her

mercy is more to me swetter than any livinges; wherfore my

120

lippes mowen not suffyse, in speking of her ful laude and worshippe

as they shulde. But who is that [wolde be wyse] in

knowing of the orders of heven, and putteth his resones in the

erthe? I forsothe may not, with blere eyen, the shyning sonne of

vertue in bright whele of this Margaryte beholde; therfore as yet

125

I may her not discryve in vertue as I wolde. In tyme cominge,

in another tretyse, thorow goddes grace, this sonne in clerenesse

of vertue to be-knowe, and how she enlumineth al this day,

I thinke to declare.

Ch. I.2. howe. comforte. 3. hadde. 5. folke. 6. anone. 10. purpose. 12. wytte. 14. wotte. great. 16.(Something seems to be lost here).17.I supplynedeth. 18. o;readof. 19. erronyous. maye. 20. menne. sayne. 26. amonge.

31. wretchydnesse. fal.I supplyof. 32. forthe. 33. stedfaste faythe. 34. darne. 35. endlesse. 36.I supplymen. 37. folke. 39. great. 40. onely. 42. fathers;readfaders. 44. faythe. 47. put. miracles;readmiracle. 48. thangel. 50. saythe. 51. werne. 53. discomfyte. 54.I supplyarn. 55. wotte. 56. reason. erroure. 57. reason. bewonde (sic). catchende wytte. 59. with;readwhiche. 60. reason. 61. Nowe. 62. alwaye. 63. booke. rancoure. 64. althoughe. 65. booke.

67.I supplyof. nowe. 69. wotte. 70. wysdome 71. toke. 73. reason. 75. reasons. 76. parfyte. 78-9. reason (twice). 79. parfyte. 80. maye. persel. 81. parfyte. 85. reason. 86. none. 88. amonge. sayne. 88-91. sede. 91. mowen;readmowe. 92. londe-tyllers. set. 93. hath;readhan. 94. meanynge. 95. howe. menne cleape. kynge (sic);readthing. 98. great. 99. the. 101. radde.

104. thynge. done. 107. thynge. 110. boke. 111. done (sic). 112. yonge. 113. canne. sette. 114. thre. 116. thynge. maye. thre. 121. that in knowyng (sic);supplywolde be wysebeforein knowing. 125. maye. 126. thorowe. 127. howe.

CHAPTER II.In this mene whyle this comfortable lady gan singe a wondermater of endytinge in Latin; but trewly, the noble colours inrethorik wyse knitte were so craftely, that my conning wol notstrecche to remembre; but the sentence, I trowe, somdel have5I in mynde. Certes, they were wonder swete of sowne, and theywere touched al in lamentacion wyse, and by no werbles ofmyrthe. Lo! thus gan she singe in Latin, as I may constrewe itin our Englisshe tonge.'Alas! that these hevenly bodyes their light and course shewen,10as nature yave hem in commaundement at the ginning of the firstage; but these thinges in free choice of reson han nonunderstondinge. But man that ought to passe al thing of doinge, ofright course in kynde, over-whelmed sothnesse by wrongful tytle,and hath drawen the sterre of envye to gon by his syde, that the15clips of me, that shulde be his shynande sonne, so ofte is seye,that it wened thilke errour, thorow hem come in, shulde ben mynowne defaute. Trewly, therfore, I have me withdrawe, and madmy dwellinge out of lande in an yle by my-selfe, in the occianclosed; and yet sayn there many, they have me harberowed; but,20god wot, they faylen. These thinges me greven to thinke, andnamely on passed gladnesse, that in this worlde was wont medisporte of highe and lowe; and now it is fayled; they thatwolden maystries me have in thilke stoundes. In heven onhighe, above Saturnes sphere, in sesonable tyme were they25lodged; but now come queynte counsailours that in no housewol suffre me sojourne, wherof is pitè; and yet sayn some thatthey me have in celler with wyne shed; in gernere, there corn islayd covered with whete; in sacke, sowed with wolle; in purse,with money faste knit; among pannes mouled in a †whicche;30in presse, among clothes layd, with riche pelure arayed; in stable,among hors and other beestes, as hogges, sheep, and neet; andin many other wyse. But thou, maker of light (in winking ofthyn eye the sonne is queynt), wost right wel that I in trewe namewas never thus herberowed.35Somtyme, toforn the sonne in the seventh partie was smiten,I bar both crosse and mytre, to yeve it where I wolde. With methe pope wente a-fote; and I tho was worshipped of al holychurch. Kinges baden me their crownes holden. The law wasset as it shuld; tofore the juge, as wel the poore durste shewe40his greef as the riche, for al his money. I defended tho taylages,and was redy for the poore to paye. I made grete feestes in mytyme, and noble songes, and maryed damoselles of gentil feture,withouten golde or other richesse. Poore clerkes, for witte ofschole, I sette in churches, and made suche persones to preche;45and tho was service in holy churche honest and devout, inplesaunce bothe of god and of the people. But now the leudefor symonye is avaunced, and shendeth al holy churche. Now issteward, for his achates; now †is courtiour, for his debates; nowis eschetour, for his wronges; now is losel, for his songes,50personer; and [hath his] provendre alone, with whiche manyethrifty shulde encrese. And yet is this shrewe behynde; freeherte is forsake; and losengeour is take. Lo! it acordeth; forsuche there ben that voluntarie lustes haunten in courte withribaudye, that til midnight and more wol playe and wake, but in55the churche at matins he is behynde, for yvel disposicion of hisstomake; therfore he shulde ete bene-breed (and so did hissyre) his estate ther-with to strengthen. His auter is broke, andlowe lyth, in poynte to gon to the erthe; but his hors muste benesy and hye, to bere him over grete waters. His chalice poore,60but he hath riche cuppes. No towayle but a shete, there godshal ben handled; and on his mete-borde there shal ben bord-clothesand towelles many payre. At masse serveth but a clergion;fyve squiers in hal. Poore chaunsel, open holes in everysyde; beddes of silke, with tapites going al aboute his chambre.65Poore masse-book and leud chapelayn, and broken surplice withmany an hole; good houndes and many, to hunte after hart andhare, to fede in their feestes. Of poore men have they greetcare; for they ever crave and nothing offren, they wolden havehem dolven! But among legistres there dar I not come; my70doinge[s], they sayn, maken hem nedy. They ne wolde fornothing have me in town; for than were tort and †force noughtworth an hawe about, and plesen no men, but thilk grevous andtorcious ben in might and in doing. These thinges to-forn-saydmowe wel, if men liste, ryme; trewly, they acorde nothing. And75for-as-moch as al thinges by me shulden of right ben governed,I am sory to see that governaunce fayleth, as thus: to sene smaleand lowe governe the hye and bodies above. Certes, thatpolicye is naught; it is forbode by them that of governauncetreten and enformen. And right as beestly wit shulde ben80subject to reson, so erthly power in it-selfe, the lower shulde bensubject to the hygher. What is worth thy body, but it begoverned with thy soule? Right so litel or naught is wortherthely power, but if reignatif prudence in heedes governe thesmale; to whiche heedes the smale owen to obey and suffre in85their governaunce. But soverainnesse ayenward shulde thinke inthis wyse: "I am servaunt of these creatures to me delivered,not lord, but defendour; not mayster, but enfourmer; notpossessour, but in possession; and to hem liche a tree in whichesparowes shullen stelen, her birdes to norisshe and forth bringe,90under suretee ayenst al raveynous foules and beestes, and not tobe tyraunt them-selfe." And than the smale, in reste and quiete,by the heedes wel disposed, owen for their soveraynes helth andprosperitè to pray, and in other doinges in maintenaunce therofperforme, withouten other administracion in rule of any maner95governaunce. And they wit have in hem, and grace to come tosuche thinges, yet shulde they cese til their heedes them cleped,although profit and plesaunce shulde folowe. But trewly, othergovernaunce ne other medlinge ought they not to clayme, nethe heedes on hem to putte. Trewly, amonges cosinage dar100I not come, but-if richesse be my mene; sothly, she and otherbodily goodes maketh nigh cosinage, ther never propinquitè nealyaunce in lyve was ne shulde have be, nere it for her medlingmaners; wherfore kindly am I not ther leged. Povert ofkinred is behynde; richesse suffreth him to passe; truly he saith,105he com never of Japhetes childre. Whereof I am sory thatJaphetes children, for povert, in no linage ben rekened, andCaynes children, for riches, be maked Japhetes heires. Alas! thisis a wonder chaunge bitwene tho two Noës children, sithen thatof Japhetes ofspring comeden knightes, and of Cayn discended110the lyne of servage to his brothers childre. Lo! how gentillesseand servage, as cosins, bothe discended out of two brethern ofone body! Wherfore I saye in sothnesse, that gentilesse inkinrede †maketh not gentil linage in succession, without desertof a mans own selfe. Where is now the lyne of Alisaundre the115noble, or els of Hector of Troye? Who is discended of rightbloode of lyne fro king Artour? Pardè, sir Perdicas, whom thatAlisandre made to ben his heire in Grece, was of no kingesbloode; his dame was a tombestere. Of what kinred ben thegentiles in our dayes? I trow therfore, if any good be in gentilesse,120it is only that it semeth a maner of necessitè be input togentilmen, that they shulden not varyen fro the vertues of theirauncestres. Certes, al maner linage of men ben evenliche inbirth; for oon †fader, maker of al goodnes, enformed hem al,and al mortal folk of one sede arn greyned. Wherto avaunt men125of her linage, in cosinage or in †elde-faders? Loke now the ginning,and to god, maker of mans person; there is no clerk ne noworthy in gentilesse; and he that norissheth his †corage withvyces and unresonable lustes, and leveth the kynde course, towhiche ende him brought forth his birthe, trewly, he is ungentil,130and among †cherles may ben nempned. And therfore, he thatwol ben gentil, he mot daunten his flesshe fro vyces that causenungentilnesse, and leve also reignes of wicked lustes, and draweto him vertue, that in al places gentilnesse gentilmen maketh.And so speke I, in feminine gendre in general, of tho persones,135at the reverence of one whom every wight honoureth; for herbountee and her noblesse y-made her to god so dere, that hismoder she became; and she me hath had so greet in worship,that I nil for nothing in open declare, that in any thinge ayenst hersecte may so wene. For al vertue and al worthinesse of plesaunce140in hem haboundeth. And although I wolde any-thing speke,trewly I can not; I may fynde in yvel of hem no maner mater.'

CHAPTER II.

In this mene whyle this comfortable lady gan singe a wondermater of endytinge in Latin; but trewly, the noble colours inrethorik wyse knitte were so craftely, that my conning wol notstrecche to remembre; but the sentence, I trowe, somdel have5I in mynde. Certes, they were wonder swete of sowne, and theywere touched al in lamentacion wyse, and by no werbles ofmyrthe. Lo! thus gan she singe in Latin, as I may constrewe itin our Englisshe tonge.

In this mene whyle this comfortable lady gan singe a wonder

mater of endytinge in Latin; but trewly, the noble colours in

rethorik wyse knitte were so craftely, that my conning wol not

strecche to remembre; but the sentence, I trowe, somdel have

I in mynde. Certes, they were wonder swete of sowne, and they

were touched al in lamentacion wyse, and by no werbles of

myrthe. Lo! thus gan she singe in Latin, as I may constrewe it

in our Englisshe tonge.

'Alas! that these hevenly bodyes their light and course shewen,10as nature yave hem in commaundement at the ginning of the firstage; but these thinges in free choice of reson han nonunderstondinge. But man that ought to passe al thing of doinge, ofright course in kynde, over-whelmed sothnesse by wrongful tytle,and hath drawen the sterre of envye to gon by his syde, that the15clips of me, that shulde be his shynande sonne, so ofte is seye,that it wened thilke errour, thorow hem come in, shulde ben mynowne defaute. Trewly, therfore, I have me withdrawe, and madmy dwellinge out of lande in an yle by my-selfe, in the occianclosed; and yet sayn there many, they have me harberowed; but,20god wot, they faylen. These thinges me greven to thinke, andnamely on passed gladnesse, that in this worlde was wont medisporte of highe and lowe; and now it is fayled; they thatwolden maystries me have in thilke stoundes. In heven onhighe, above Saturnes sphere, in sesonable tyme were they25lodged; but now come queynte counsailours that in no housewol suffre me sojourne, wherof is pitè; and yet sayn some thatthey me have in celler with wyne shed; in gernere, there corn islayd covered with whete; in sacke, sowed with wolle; in purse,with money faste knit; among pannes mouled in a †whicche;30in presse, among clothes layd, with riche pelure arayed; in stable,among hors and other beestes, as hogges, sheep, and neet; andin many other wyse. But thou, maker of light (in winking ofthyn eye the sonne is queynt), wost right wel that I in trewe namewas never thus herberowed.

'Alas! that these hevenly bodyes their light and course shewen,

as nature yave hem in commaundement at the ginning of the first

age; but these thinges in free choice of reson han non

understondinge. But man that ought to passe al thing of doinge, of

right course in kynde, over-whelmed sothnesse by wrongful tytle,

and hath drawen the sterre of envye to gon by his syde, that the

clips of me, that shulde be his shynande sonne, so ofte is seye,

that it wened thilke errour, thorow hem come in, shulde ben myn

owne defaute. Trewly, therfore, I have me withdrawe, and mad

my dwellinge out of lande in an yle by my-selfe, in the occian

closed; and yet sayn there many, they have me harberowed; but,

god wot, they faylen. These thinges me greven to thinke, and

namely on passed gladnesse, that in this worlde was wont me

disporte of highe and lowe; and now it is fayled; they that

wolden maystries me have in thilke stoundes. In heven on

highe, above Saturnes sphere, in sesonable tyme were they

lodged; but now come queynte counsailours that in no house

wol suffre me sojourne, wherof is pitè; and yet sayn some that

they me have in celler with wyne shed; in gernere, there corn is

layd covered with whete; in sacke, sowed with wolle; in purse,

with money faste knit; among pannes mouled in a †whicche;

in presse, among clothes layd, with riche pelure arayed; in stable,

among hors and other beestes, as hogges, sheep, and neet; and

in many other wyse. But thou, maker of light (in winking of

thyn eye the sonne is queynt), wost right wel that I in trewe name

was never thus herberowed.

35Somtyme, toforn the sonne in the seventh partie was smiten,I bar both crosse and mytre, to yeve it where I wolde. With methe pope wente a-fote; and I tho was worshipped of al holychurch. Kinges baden me their crownes holden. The law wasset as it shuld; tofore the juge, as wel the poore durste shewe40his greef as the riche, for al his money. I defended tho taylages,and was redy for the poore to paye. I made grete feestes in mytyme, and noble songes, and maryed damoselles of gentil feture,withouten golde or other richesse. Poore clerkes, for witte ofschole, I sette in churches, and made suche persones to preche;45and tho was service in holy churche honest and devout, inplesaunce bothe of god and of the people. But now the leudefor symonye is avaunced, and shendeth al holy churche. Now issteward, for his achates; now †is courtiour, for his debates; nowis eschetour, for his wronges; now is losel, for his songes,50personer; and [hath his] provendre alone, with whiche manyethrifty shulde encrese. And yet is this shrewe behynde; freeherte is forsake; and losengeour is take. Lo! it acordeth; forsuche there ben that voluntarie lustes haunten in courte withribaudye, that til midnight and more wol playe and wake, but in55the churche at matins he is behynde, for yvel disposicion of hisstomake; therfore he shulde ete bene-breed (and so did hissyre) his estate ther-with to strengthen. His auter is broke, andlowe lyth, in poynte to gon to the erthe; but his hors muste benesy and hye, to bere him over grete waters. His chalice poore,60but he hath riche cuppes. No towayle but a shete, there godshal ben handled; and on his mete-borde there shal ben bord-clothesand towelles many payre. At masse serveth but a clergion;fyve squiers in hal. Poore chaunsel, open holes in everysyde; beddes of silke, with tapites going al aboute his chambre.65Poore masse-book and leud chapelayn, and broken surplice withmany an hole; good houndes and many, to hunte after hart andhare, to fede in their feestes. Of poore men have they greetcare; for they ever crave and nothing offren, they wolden havehem dolven! But among legistres there dar I not come; my70doinge[s], they sayn, maken hem nedy. They ne wolde fornothing have me in town; for than were tort and †force noughtworth an hawe about, and plesen no men, but thilk grevous andtorcious ben in might and in doing. These thinges to-forn-saydmowe wel, if men liste, ryme; trewly, they acorde nothing. And75for-as-moch as al thinges by me shulden of right ben governed,I am sory to see that governaunce fayleth, as thus: to sene smaleand lowe governe the hye and bodies above. Certes, thatpolicye is naught; it is forbode by them that of governauncetreten and enformen. And right as beestly wit shulde ben80subject to reson, so erthly power in it-selfe, the lower shulde bensubject to the hygher. What is worth thy body, but it begoverned with thy soule? Right so litel or naught is wortherthely power, but if reignatif prudence in heedes governe thesmale; to whiche heedes the smale owen to obey and suffre in85their governaunce. But soverainnesse ayenward shulde thinke inthis wyse: "I am servaunt of these creatures to me delivered,not lord, but defendour; not mayster, but enfourmer; notpossessour, but in possession; and to hem liche a tree in whichesparowes shullen stelen, her birdes to norisshe and forth bringe,90under suretee ayenst al raveynous foules and beestes, and not tobe tyraunt them-selfe." And than the smale, in reste and quiete,by the heedes wel disposed, owen for their soveraynes helth andprosperitè to pray, and in other doinges in maintenaunce therofperforme, withouten other administracion in rule of any maner95governaunce. And they wit have in hem, and grace to come tosuche thinges, yet shulde they cese til their heedes them cleped,although profit and plesaunce shulde folowe. But trewly, othergovernaunce ne other medlinge ought they not to clayme, nethe heedes on hem to putte. Trewly, amonges cosinage dar100I not come, but-if richesse be my mene; sothly, she and otherbodily goodes maketh nigh cosinage, ther never propinquitè nealyaunce in lyve was ne shulde have be, nere it for her medlingmaners; wherfore kindly am I not ther leged. Povert ofkinred is behynde; richesse suffreth him to passe; truly he saith,105he com never of Japhetes childre. Whereof I am sory thatJaphetes children, for povert, in no linage ben rekened, andCaynes children, for riches, be maked Japhetes heires. Alas! thisis a wonder chaunge bitwene tho two Noës children, sithen thatof Japhetes ofspring comeden knightes, and of Cayn discended110the lyne of servage to his brothers childre. Lo! how gentillesseand servage, as cosins, bothe discended out of two brethern ofone body! Wherfore I saye in sothnesse, that gentilesse inkinrede †maketh not gentil linage in succession, without desertof a mans own selfe. Where is now the lyne of Alisaundre the115noble, or els of Hector of Troye? Who is discended of rightbloode of lyne fro king Artour? Pardè, sir Perdicas, whom thatAlisandre made to ben his heire in Grece, was of no kingesbloode; his dame was a tombestere. Of what kinred ben thegentiles in our dayes? I trow therfore, if any good be in gentilesse,120it is only that it semeth a maner of necessitè be input togentilmen, that they shulden not varyen fro the vertues of theirauncestres. Certes, al maner linage of men ben evenliche inbirth; for oon †fader, maker of al goodnes, enformed hem al,and al mortal folk of one sede arn greyned. Wherto avaunt men125of her linage, in cosinage or in †elde-faders? Loke now the ginning,and to god, maker of mans person; there is no clerk ne noworthy in gentilesse; and he that norissheth his †corage withvyces and unresonable lustes, and leveth the kynde course, towhiche ende him brought forth his birthe, trewly, he is ungentil,130and among †cherles may ben nempned. And therfore, he thatwol ben gentil, he mot daunten his flesshe fro vyces that causenungentilnesse, and leve also reignes of wicked lustes, and draweto him vertue, that in al places gentilnesse gentilmen maketh.And so speke I, in feminine gendre in general, of tho persones,135at the reverence of one whom every wight honoureth; for herbountee and her noblesse y-made her to god so dere, that hismoder she became; and she me hath had so greet in worship,that I nil for nothing in open declare, that in any thinge ayenst hersecte may so wene. For al vertue and al worthinesse of plesaunce140in hem haboundeth. And although I wolde any-thing speke,trewly I can not; I may fynde in yvel of hem no maner mater.'

Somtyme, toforn the sonne in the seventh partie was smiten,

I bar both crosse and mytre, to yeve it where I wolde. With me

the pope wente a-fote; and I tho was worshipped of al holy

church. Kinges baden me their crownes holden. The law was

set as it shuld; tofore the juge, as wel the poore durste shewe

his greef as the riche, for al his money. I defended tho taylages,

and was redy for the poore to paye. I made grete feestes in my

tyme, and noble songes, and maryed damoselles of gentil feture,

withouten golde or other richesse. Poore clerkes, for witte of

schole, I sette in churches, and made suche persones to preche;

and tho was service in holy churche honest and devout, in

plesaunce bothe of god and of the people. But now the leude

for symonye is avaunced, and shendeth al holy churche. Now is

steward, for his achates; now †is courtiour, for his debates; now

is eschetour, for his wronges; now is losel, for his songes,

personer; and [hath his] provendre alone, with whiche manye

thrifty shulde encrese. And yet is this shrewe behynde; free

herte is forsake; and losengeour is take. Lo! it acordeth; for

suche there ben that voluntarie lustes haunten in courte with

ribaudye, that til midnight and more wol playe and wake, but in

the churche at matins he is behynde, for yvel disposicion of his

stomake; therfore he shulde ete bene-breed (and so did his

syre) his estate ther-with to strengthen. His auter is broke, and

lowe lyth, in poynte to gon to the erthe; but his hors muste ben

esy and hye, to bere him over grete waters. His chalice poore,

but he hath riche cuppes. No towayle but a shete, there god

shal ben handled; and on his mete-borde there shal ben bord-clothes

and towelles many payre. At masse serveth but a clergion;

fyve squiers in hal. Poore chaunsel, open holes in every

syde; beddes of silke, with tapites going al aboute his chambre.

Poore masse-book and leud chapelayn, and broken surplice with

many an hole; good houndes and many, to hunte after hart and

hare, to fede in their feestes. Of poore men have they greet

care; for they ever crave and nothing offren, they wolden have

hem dolven! But among legistres there dar I not come; my

doinge[s], they sayn, maken hem nedy. They ne wolde for

nothing have me in town; for than were tort and †force nought

worth an hawe about, and plesen no men, but thilk grevous and

torcious ben in might and in doing. These thinges to-forn-sayd

mowe wel, if men liste, ryme; trewly, they acorde nothing. And

for-as-moch as al thinges by me shulden of right ben governed,

I am sory to see that governaunce fayleth, as thus: to sene smale

and lowe governe the hye and bodies above. Certes, that

policye is naught; it is forbode by them that of governaunce

treten and enformen. And right as beestly wit shulde ben

subject to reson, so erthly power in it-selfe, the lower shulde ben

subject to the hygher. What is worth thy body, but it be

governed with thy soule? Right so litel or naught is worth

erthely power, but if reignatif prudence in heedes governe the

smale; to whiche heedes the smale owen to obey and suffre in

their governaunce. But soverainnesse ayenward shulde thinke in

this wyse: "I am servaunt of these creatures to me delivered,

not lord, but defendour; not mayster, but enfourmer; not

possessour, but in possession; and to hem liche a tree in whiche

sparowes shullen stelen, her birdes to norisshe and forth bringe,

under suretee ayenst al raveynous foules and beestes, and not to

be tyraunt them-selfe." And than the smale, in reste and quiete,

by the heedes wel disposed, owen for their soveraynes helth and

prosperitè to pray, and in other doinges in maintenaunce therof

performe, withouten other administracion in rule of any maner

governaunce. And they wit have in hem, and grace to come to

suche thinges, yet shulde they cese til their heedes them cleped,

although profit and plesaunce shulde folowe. But trewly, other

governaunce ne other medlinge ought they not to clayme, ne

the heedes on hem to putte. Trewly, amonges cosinage dar

100

I not come, but-if richesse be my mene; sothly, she and other

bodily goodes maketh nigh cosinage, ther never propinquitè ne

alyaunce in lyve was ne shulde have be, nere it for her medling

maners; wherfore kindly am I not ther leged. Povert of

kinred is behynde; richesse suffreth him to passe; truly he saith,

105

he com never of Japhetes childre. Whereof I am sory that

Japhetes children, for povert, in no linage ben rekened, and

Caynes children, for riches, be maked Japhetes heires. Alas! this

is a wonder chaunge bitwene tho two Noës children, sithen that

of Japhetes ofspring comeden knightes, and of Cayn discended

110

the lyne of servage to his brothers childre. Lo! how gentillesse

and servage, as cosins, bothe discended out of two brethern of

one body! Wherfore I saye in sothnesse, that gentilesse in

kinrede †maketh not gentil linage in succession, without desert

of a mans own selfe. Where is now the lyne of Alisaundre the

115

noble, or els of Hector of Troye? Who is discended of right

bloode of lyne fro king Artour? Pardè, sir Perdicas, whom that

Alisandre made to ben his heire in Grece, was of no kinges

bloode; his dame was a tombestere. Of what kinred ben the

gentiles in our dayes? I trow therfore, if any good be in gentilesse,

120

it is only that it semeth a maner of necessitè be input to

gentilmen, that they shulden not varyen fro the vertues of their

auncestres. Certes, al maner linage of men ben evenliche in

birth; for oon †fader, maker of al goodnes, enformed hem al,

and al mortal folk of one sede arn greyned. Wherto avaunt men

125

of her linage, in cosinage or in †elde-faders? Loke now the ginning,

and to god, maker of mans person; there is no clerk ne no

worthy in gentilesse; and he that norissheth his †corage with

vyces and unresonable lustes, and leveth the kynde course, to

whiche ende him brought forth his birthe, trewly, he is ungentil,

130

and among †cherles may ben nempned. And therfore, he that

wol ben gentil, he mot daunten his flesshe fro vyces that causen

ungentilnesse, and leve also reignes of wicked lustes, and drawe

to him vertue, that in al places gentilnesse gentilmen maketh.

And so speke I, in feminine gendre in general, of tho persones,

135

at the reverence of one whom every wight honoureth; for her

bountee and her noblesse y-made her to god so dere, that his

moder she became; and she me hath had so greet in worship,

that I nil for nothing in open declare, that in any thinge ayenst her

secte may so wene. For al vertue and al worthinesse of plesaunce

140

in hem haboundeth. And although I wolde any-thing speke,

trewly I can not; I may fynde in yvel of hem no maner mater.'

Ch. II.1. meane. ganne. 4. stretche. somdele. 7. ganne.

11. none. 12. thynge. 15. sey;readseyeorseyen. 16. thorowe. 17. made. 19. sayne. 20. wote. 21. wonte. 23. nowe. 24. seasonable. 26. sayne. 27. corne. 28. layde. 29. knytte. amonge (twice). wyche;readwhicche. 30. layde. 31. amonge horse. shepe. nete. 33. woste. 36. bare. 37. went. 40. grefe. 41. pay. great. 44. preache.

45. deuoute. 46. nowe. 47. Nowe. 48. stewarde. nowe. it;readis. nowe. 49. eschetoure. nowe. 50.I supplyhath his. 51. encrease. 56. eate beane-. 58. lythe. gone. horse. 59. easy. beare. great. 61. meate-. borde-. 65. boke. leude chapelayne. 66. harte. 67. great. 68. nothynge. 69. amonge. dare. 70. sayne. 71. forthe;readforce. 72. worthe. pleasen. 73. to-forne-. 74. nothynge. 76. sorye. se. 78. polesye. 79. treaten. wytte.

80. subiecte. reason. 82. worthe. 83. reignatyfe. 85. ayenwarde. 87. lorde. 88. possessoure. 89. forth bring. 90. suretie. 96. cease. 97. profyte. pleasaunce. 99. put. dare. 100. meane. 109. comeden (sic);readcomen? 110. howe. 111. bretherne. 113. maken;readmaketh. deserte. 114. nowe.

118. tombystere. 123. one. father;readfader. 124. folke. arne. 125.-fathers;read-faders.126. clerke. 127. corare;readcorage. 128. leaueth. 129. forthe. 130. amonge. clerkes (!);readcherles. 131. mote. 132. leaue. 136. bountie. 137. great. 139. maye.

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