Chapter 27

[The Trojan Horse.]Of hem that ben so derk withinne,At Troie also if we beginne,Ipocrisie it hath betraied:333For whan the Greks hadde al assaied,1080Hic vlterius ponit exemplum de illa eciam Ypocrisia, que inter virum334et virum decipiens periculosissima consistit. Et narrat, qualiter Greci in obsidione ciuitatis Troie, cum ipsam vi comprehendere nullatenus potuerunt, fallaci animo cum Troianis pacem vt dicunt pro perpetuo statuebant: et super hoc335quendam equum mire grossitudinis de ere fabricatum ad sacrificandum in templo336Minerue confingentes, sub tali sanctitatis ypocrisi dictam Ciuitatem intrarunt, et ipsam cum inhabitantibus gladio et igne comminuentes pro perpetuo penitus deuastarunt.337And founde that be no batailleNe be no Siege it myhte availeThe toun to winne thurgh prouesse,This vice feigned of simplesceThurgh sleyhte of Calcas and of CriseIt wan be such a maner wise.An Hors of Bras thei let do forgeOf such entaile, of such a forge,That in this world was nevere manThat such an other werk began.1090The crafti werkman EpiusIt made, and forto telle thus,The Greks, that thoghten to beguileThe kyng of Troie, in thilke whileWith Anthenor and with Enee,That were bothe of the CiteAnd of the conseil the wiseste,The richeste and the myhtieste,P. i. 79In prive place so thei treteWith fair beheste and yiftes grete1100Of gold, that thei hem have engined;Togedre and whan thei be covined,Thei feignen forto make a pes,And under that yit nathelesThei schopen the destrucciounBothe of the kyng and of the toun.And thus the false pees was takeOf hem of Grece and undertake,And therupon thei founde a weie,Wher strengthe myhte noght aweie,1110That sleihte scholde helpe thanne;And of an ynche a large spanneBe colour of the pees thei made,And tolden how thei weren gladeOf that thei stoden in acord;338And for it schal ben of record,Unto the kyng the Gregois seiden,Be weie of love and this thei preiden,339As thei that wolde his thonk deserve,A Sacrifice unto Minerve,1120The pes to kepe in good entente,Thei mosten offre er that thei wente.The kyng conseiled in this casBe Anthenor and EneasTherto hath yoven his assent:340So was the pleine trowthe blentThurgh contrefet IpocrisieOf that thei scholden sacrifie.P. i. 80The Greks under the holinesseAnon with alle besinesse1130Here Hors of Bras let faire dihte,Which was to sen a wonder sihte;For it was trapped of himselve,And hadde of smale whieles twelve,Upon the whiche men ynoweWith craft toward the toun it drowe,And goth glistrende ayein the Sunne.Tho was ther joie ynowh begunne,For Troie in gret devociounCam also with processioun1140Ayein this noble SacrifiseWith gret honour, and in this wiseUnto the gates thei it broghte.Bot of here entre whan thei soghte,The gates weren al to smale;341And therupon was many a tale,Bot for the worschipe of Minerve,To whom thei comen forto serve,Thei of the toun, whiche understodeThat al this thing was do for goode,1150For pes, wherof that thei ben glade,The gates that Neptunus madeA thousend wynter ther tofore,Thei have anon tobroke and tore;The stronge walles doun thei bete,So that in to the large streteThis Hors with gret solempniteWas broght withinne the Cite,P. i. 81And offred with gret reverence,Which was to Troie an evidence1160Of love and pes for everemo.The Gregois token leve tho342With al the hole felaschipe,And forth thei wenten into SchipeAnd crossen seil and made hem yare,343Anon as thogh thei wolden fare:Bot whan the blake wynter nyhtWithoute Mone or Sterre lyhtBederked hath the water Stronde,Al prively thei gon to londe1170Ful armed out of the navie.Synon, which mad was here aspie344Withinne Troie, as was conspired,Whan time was a tokne hath fired;And thei with that here weie holden,And comen in riht as thei wolden,Ther as the gate was tobroke.The pourpos was full take and spoke:Er eny man may take kepe,Whil that the Cite was aslepe,1180Thei slowen al that was withinne,And token what thei myhten wynneOf such good as was sufficant,And brenden up the remenant.And thus cam out the tricherie,Which under fals YpocrisieWas hid, and thei that wende peesTho myhten finde no relesP. i. 82Of thilke swerd which al devoureth.[Hypocrisy in Love.]Fulofte and thus the swete soureth,1190Whan it is knowe to the tast:He spilleth many a word in wastThat schal with such a poeple trete;For whan he weneth most beyete,Thanne is he schape most to lese.And riht so if a womman cheseUpon the wordes that sche hiereth345Som man, whan he most trewe appiereth,Thanne is he forthest fro the trowthe:Bot yit fulofte, and that is rowthe,1200Thei speden that ben most untreweAnd loven every day a newe,Wherof the lief is after lothAnd love hath cause to be wroth.Bot what man that his lust desirethOf love, and therupon conspirethWith wordes feigned to deceive,He schal noght faile to receiveHis peine, as it is ofte sene.Confessor.346Forthi, my Sone, as I thee mene,1210It sit the wel to taken hiedeThat thou eschuie of thi manhiedeIpocrisie and his semblant,That thou ne be noght deceivant,To make a womman to believeThing which is noght in thi bilieve:347For in such feint IpocrisieOf love is al the tricherie,P. i. 83Thurgh which love is deceived ofte;For feigned semblant is so softe,1220Unethes love may be war.Forthi, my Sone, as I wel dar,I charge thee to fle that vice,That many a womman hath mad nice;Bot lok thou dele noght withal.Amans.Iwiss, fader, nomor I schal.Confessor.Now, Sone, kep that thou hast swore:For this that thou hast herd beforeIs seid the ferste point of Pride:And next upon that other side,1230To schryve and speken overthisTouchende of Pride, yit ther isThe point seconde, I thee behote,Which Inobedience is hote.[ii.Inobedience.]vi.Flectere quam frangi melius reputatur, et olleFictilis ad cacabum pugna valere nequit.Quem neque lex hominum, neque lex diuina valebitFlectere, multociens corde reflectit amor.348Quem non flectit amor, non est flectendus ab vllo,Set rigor illius plus Elephante riget.Dedignatur amor poterit quos scire rebelles,Et rudibus sortem prestat habere rudem;Set qui sponte sui subicit se cordis amore,Frangit in aduersis omnia fata pius.(10)This vice of InobedienceAyein the reule of conscienceAl that is humble he desalloweth,That he toward his god ne bowethAfter the lawes of his heste.Hic loquitur de secunda specie Superbie, que Inobediencia dicitur: et primo illius vicii naturam simpliciter declarat, et tractat consequenter super illa precipue Inobediencia, que in curia Cupidinis exosa amoris causam ex sua imbecillitate sepissime retardat. In cuius materia Confessor Amanti specialius opponit.Noght as a man bot as a beste,1240P. i. 84Which goth upon his lustes wilde,So goth this proude vice unmylde,That he desdeigneth alle lawe:He not what is to be felawe,And serve may he noght for pride;So is he badde on every side,And is that selve of whom men speke,Which wol noght bowe er that he breke.I not if love him myhte plie,For elles forto justefie1250His herte, I not what mihte availe.Confessor.349Forthi, my Sone, of such entaileIf that thin herte be disposed,Tell out and let it noght be glosed:For if that thou unbuxom beTo love, I not in what degreeThou schalt thi goode world achieve.350Amans.Mi fader, ye schul wel believe,The yonge whelp which is affaitedHath noght his Maister betre awaited,1260To couche, whan he seith ‘Go lowe,’That I, anon as I may knoweMi ladi will, ne bowe more.351Bot other while I grucche soreOf some thinges that sche doth,Wherof that I woll telle soth:For of tuo pointz I am bethoght,That, thogh I wolde, I myhte noghtObeie unto my ladi heste;Bot I dar make this beheste,1270P. i. 85Save only of that ilke tuoI am unbuxom of no mo.Opponit Confessor.What ben tho tuo? tell on, quod he.Respondet Amans.352Mi fader, this is on, that scheComandeth me my mowth to close,And that I scholde hir noght opposeIn love, of which I ofte preche,Bot plenerliche of such a specheForbere, and soffren hire in pes.Bot that ne myhte I natheles3531280For al this world obeie ywiss;For whanne I am ther as sche is,Though sche my tales noght alowe,Ayein hir will yit mot I bowe,To seche if that I myhte have grace:Bot that thing may I noght enbrace354For ought that I can speke or do;And yit fulofte I speke so,That sche is wroth and seith, ‘Be stille.’If I that heste schal fulfille1290And therto ben obedient,Thanne is my cause fully schent,For specheles may noman spede.So wot I noght what is to rede;Bot certes I may noght obeie,That I ne mot algate seieSomwhat of that I wolde mene;For evere it is aliche grene,The grete love which I have,Wherof I can noght bothe save1300P. i. 86My speche and this obedience:And thus fulofte my silenceI breke, and is the ferste point355Wherof that I am out of point356In this, and yit it is no pride.Now thanne upon that other sideTo telle my desobeissance,Ful sore it stant to my grevanceAnd may noght sinke into my wit;For ofte time sche me bit3571310To leven hire and chese a newe,And seith, if I the sothe kneweHow ferr I stonde from hir grace,I scholde love in other place.358Bot therof woll I desobeie;For also wel sche myhte seie,‘Go tak the Mone ther it sit,’As bringe that into my wit:For ther was nevere rooted tre,That stod so faste in his degre,1320That I ne stonde more fasteUpon hire love, and mai noght casteMin herte awey, althogh I wolde.For god wot, thogh I nevere scholdeSen hir with yhe after this day,Yit stant it so that I ne mayHir love out of my brest remue.This is a wonder retenue,That malgre wher sche wole or nonMin herte is everemore in on,1330P. i. 87So that I can non other chese,Bot whether that I winne or lese,I moste hire loven til I deie;And thus I breke as be that weieHire hestes and hir comandinges,Bot trewliche in non othre thinges.359Forthi, my fader, what is moreTouchende to this ilke lore360I you beseche, after the formeThat ye pleinly me wolde enforme,1340So that I may myn herte reuleIn loves cause after the reule.[Murmur and Complaint.]vii.Murmur in aduersis ita concipit ille superbus,Pena quod ex bina sorte perurget eum.Obuia fortune cum spes in amore resistit,Non sine mentali murmure plangit amans.361Hic loquitur de Murmure et Planctu, qui super omnes alios Inobediencie secreciores vt ministri illi deseruiunt.363Toward this vice of which we treteTher ben yit tweie of thilke estrete,Here name is Murmur and Compleignte:362Ther can noman here chiere peinte,To sette a glad semblant therinne,For thogh fortune make hem wynne,Yit grucchen thei, and if thei lese,Ther is no weie forto chese,1350Wherof thei myhten stonde appesed.So ben thei comunly desesed;Ther may no welthe ne poverteAttempren hem to the decerteOf buxomnesse be no wise:For ofte time thei despiseP. i. 88The goode fortune as the badde,As thei no mannes reson hadde,Thurgh pride, wherof thei be blinde.And ryht of such a maner kinde1360Ther be lovers, that thogh thei haveOf love al that thei wolde crave,Yit wol thei grucche be som weie,That thei wol noght to love obeieUpon the trowthe, as thei do scholde;And if hem lacketh that thei wolde,Anon thei falle in such a peine,That evere unbuxomly thei pleigneUpon fortune, and curse and crie,That thei wol noght here hertes plie1370To soffre til it betre falle.Forthi if thou amonges alleHast used this condicioun,Mi Sone, in thi ConfessiounNow tell me pleinly what thou art.Amans.364Mi fader, I beknowe a part,So as ye tolden hier aboveOf Murmur and Compleignte of love,365That for I se no sped comende,Ayein fortune compleignende1380I am, as who seith, everemo:And ek fulofte tyme also,Whan so is that I se and hiereOr hevy word or hevy chiere366Of my lady, I grucche anon;Bot wordes dar I speke non,Wherof sche myhte be desplesed,P. i. 89Bot in myn herte I am desesed:With many a Murmur, god it wot,Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot,1390And thogh I make no semblant,Min herte is al desobeissant;And in this wise I me confesseOf that ye clepe unbuxomnesse.Now telleth what youre conseil is.Confessor.367Mi Sone, and I thee rede this,368What so befalle of other weie,That thou to loves heste obeieAls ferr as thou it myht suffise:For ofte sithe in such a wise1400Obedience in love availeth,Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth;Wherof, if that the list to wite369In a Cronique as it is write,A gret ensample thou myht fynde,Which now is come to my mynde.[Tale of Florent.]Hic contra amori inobedientes ad commendacionem Obediencie Confessor super eodem exemplum ponit; vbi dicit quod, cum quedam Regis Cizilie filia in sue iuuentutis floribus pulcherrima ex eius Nouerce incantacionibus in vetulam turpissimam transformata extitit, Florencius tunc Imparatoris Claudi Nepos, miles in armis strenuissimus amorosisque372legibus intendens, ipsam ex sua obediencia in pulcritudinem pristinam mirabiliter reformauit.373Ther was whilom be daies oldeA worthi knyht, and as men tolde370He was Nevoeu to themperourAnd of his Court a Courteour:1410Wifles he was, Florent he hihte,He was a man that mochel myhte,Of armes he was desirous,Chivalerous and amorous,And for the fame of worldes speche,Strange aventures forto seche,371P. i. 90He rod the Marches al aboute.And fell a time, as he was oute,Fortune, which may every thredTobreke and knette of mannes sped,1420Schop, as this knyht rod in a pas,That he be strengthe take was,And to a Castell thei him ladde,Wher that he fewe frendes hadde:For so it fell that ilke stoundeThat he hath with a dedly woundeFeihtende his oghne hondes slainBranchus, which to the CapitainWas Sone and Heir, wherof ben wrotheThe fader and the moder bothe.1430That knyht Branchus was of his hondThe worthieste of al his lond,And fain thei wolden do venganceUpon Florent, bot remembranceThat thei toke of his worthinesseOf knyhthod and of gentilesse,And how he stod of cousinageTo themperour, made hem assuage,And dorsten noght slen him for fere:In gret desputeisoun thei were3741440Among hemself, what was the beste.Ther was a lady, the slyhesteOf alle that men knewe tho,So old sche myhte unethes go,And was grantdame unto the dede:And sche with that began to rede,P. i. 91And seide how sche wol bringe him inne,That sche schal him to dethe winneAl only of his oghne grant,Thurgh strengthe of verray covenant1450Withoute blame of eny wiht.Anon sche sende for this kniht,And of hire Sone sche alleideThe deth, and thus to him sche seide:‘Florent, how so thou be to wyteOf Branchus deth, men schal respiteAs now to take vengement,Be so thou stonde in juggementUpon certein condicioun,That thou unto a questioun1460Which I schal axe schalt ansuere;And over this thou schalt ek swere,That if thou of the sothe faile,Ther schal non other thing availe,375That thou ne schalt thi deth receive.And for men schal thee noght deceive,That thou therof myht ben avised,Thou schalt have day and tyme assisedAnd leve saufly forto wende,Be so that at thi daies ende1470Thou come ayein with thin avys.This knyht, which worthi was and wys,This lady preith that he may wite,And have it under Seales write,What questioun it scholde beFor which he schal in that degreeP. i. 92Stonde of his lif in jeupartie.With that sche feigneth compaignie,And seith: ‘Florent, on love it hongeth376Al that to myn axinge longeth:1480What alle wommen most desireThis wole I axe, and in thempireWher as thou hast most knowlechingeTak conseil upon this axinge.’377Florent this thing hath undertake,The day was set, the time take,Under his seal he wrot his oth,In such a wise and forth he gothHom to his Emes court ayein;To whom his aventure plein1490He tolde, of that him is befalle.And upon that thei weren alle378The wiseste of the lond asent,Bot natheles of on assentThei myhte noght acorde plat,On seide this, an othre that.After the disposiciounOf naturel complexiounTo som womman it is plesance,That to an other is grevance;3791500Bot such a thing in special,Which to hem alle in generalIs most plesant, and most desiredAbove alle othre and most conspired,Such o thing conne thei noght finde380Be Constellation ne kinde:P. i. 93And thus Florent withoute cureMot stonde upon his aventure,And is al schape unto the lere,381As in defalte of his answere.1510This knyht hath levere forto dyeThan breke his trowthe and forto lyeIn place ther as he was swore,And schapth him gon ayein therfore.Whan time cam he tok his leve,That lengere wolde he noght beleve,And preith his Em he be noght wroth,For that is a point of his oth,He seith, that noman schal him wreke,Thogh afterward men hiere speke1520That he par aventure deie.And thus he wente forth his weieAlone as knyht aventurous,And in his thoght was curiousTo wite what was best to do:And as he rod al one so,And cam nyh ther he wolde be,In a forest under a treHe syh wher sat a creature,A lothly wommannysch figure,1530That forto speke of fleisch and bonSo foul yit syh he nevere non.This knyht behield hir redely,And as he wolde have passed by,Sche cleped him and bad abide;And he his horse heved asideP. i. 94Tho torneth, and to hire he rod,And there he hoveth and abod,To wite what sche wolde mene.And sche began him to bemene,1540And seide: ‘Florent be thi name,Thou hast on honde such a game,That bot thou be the betre avised,Thi deth is schapen and devised,That al the world ne mai the save,Bot if that thou my conseil have.’Florent, whan he this tale herde,Unto this olde wyht answerdeAnd of hir conseil he hir preide.And sche ayein to him thus seide:1550‘Florent, if I for the so schape,That thou thurgh me thi deth ascapeAnd take worschipe of thi dede,What schal I have to my mede?’‘What thing,’ quod he, ‘that thou wolt axe.’382‘I bidde nevere a betre taxe,’Quod sche, ‘bot ferst, er thou be sped,Thou schalt me leve such a wedd,That I wol have thi trowthe in hondeThat thou schalt be myn housebonde.’1560‘Nay,’ seith Florent, ‘that may noght be.’‘Ryd thanne forth thi wey,’ quod sche,‘And if thou go withoute red,Thou schalt be sekerliche ded.’Florent behihte hire good ynowhOf lond, of rente, of park, of plowh,P. i. 95Bot al that compteth sche at noght.Tho fell this knyht in mochel thoght,Now goth he forth, now comth ayein,He wot noght what is best to sein,1570And thoghte, as he rod to and fro,That chese he mot on of the tuo,Or forto take hire to his wif383Or elles forto lese his lif.And thanne he caste his avantage,That sche was of so gret an age,That sche mai live bot a while,And thoghte put hire in an Ile,384Wher that noman hire scholde knowe,Til sche with deth were overthrowe.1580And thus this yonge lusti knyhtUnto this olde lothly wihtTho seide: ‘If that non other chanceMai make my deliverance,Bot only thilke same specheWhich, as thou seist, thou schalt me teche,Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde.’And thus his trowthe he leith to wedde.With that sche frounceth up the browe:‘This covenant I wol allowe,’1590Sche seith: ‘if eny other thingBot that thou hast of my techyngFro deth thi body mai respite,I woll thee of thi trowthe acquite,And elles be non other weie.Now herkne me what I schal seie.P. i. 96Whan thou art come into the place,Wher now thei maken gret manaceAnd upon thi comynge abyde,Thei wole anon the same tide1600Oppose thee of thin answere.I wot thou wolt nothing forbereOf that thou wenest be thi beste,And if thou myht so finde reste,Wel is, for thanne is ther nomore.And elles this schal be my lore,That thou schalt seie, upon this MoldeThat alle wommen lievest woldeBe soverein of mannes love:For what womman is so above,1610Sche hath, as who seith, al hire wille;And elles may sche noght fulfilleWhat thing hir were lievest have.With this answere thou schalt saveThiself, and other wise noght.And whan thou hast thin ende wroght,Com hier ayein, thou schalt me finde,And let nothing out of thi minde.’He goth him forth with hevy chiere,As he that not in what manere1620He mai this worldes joie atteigne:For if he deie, he hath a peine,And if he live, he mot him bindeTo such on which of alle kindeOf wommen is thunsemlieste:Thus wot he noght what is the beste:385P. i. 97Bot be him lief or be him loth,Unto the Castell forth he gothHis full answere forto yive,Or forto deie or forto live.1630Forth with his conseil cam the lord,The thinges stoden of record,386He sende up for the lady sone,And forth sche cam, that olde Mone.In presence of the remenantThe strengthe of al the covenantTho was reherced openly,And to Florent sche bad forthiThat he schal tellen his avis,As he that woot what is the pris.1640Florent seith al that evere he couthe,Bot such word cam ther non to mowthe,That he for yifte or for behesteMihte eny wise his deth areste.And thus he tarieth longe and late,Til that this lady bad algateThat he schal for the dom finalYive his answere in special387Of that sche hadde him ferst opposed:And thanne he hath trewly supposed1650That he him may of nothing yelpe,Bot if so be tho wordes helpe,388Whiche as the womman hath him tawht;Wherof he hath an hope cawhtThat he schal ben excused so,And tolde out plein his wille tho.P. i. 98And whan that this Matrone herdeThe manere how this knyht ansuerde,Sche seide: ‘Ha treson, wo thee be,That hast thus told the privite,1660Which alle wommen most desire!I wolde that thou were afire.’Bot natheles in such a plitFlorent of his answere is quit:And tho began his sorwe newe,For he mot gon, or ben untrewe,To hire which his trowthe hadde.Bot he, which alle schame dradde,Goth forth in stede of his penance,And takth the fortune of his chance,1670As he that was with trowthe affaited.This olde wyht him hath awaitedIn place wher as he hire lefte:Florent his wofull heved uplefteAnd syh this vecke wher sche sat,Which was the lothlieste whatThat evere man caste on his yhe:Hire Nase bass, hire browes hyhe,Hire yhen smale and depe set,Hire chekes ben with teres wet,1680And rivelen as an emty skynHangende doun unto the chin,Hire Lippes schrunken ben for age,Ther was no grace in the visage,Hir front was nargh, hir lockes hore,Sche loketh forth as doth a More,P. i. 99Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe,That myhte a mannes lust destourbe,Hire body gret and nothing smal,And schortly to descrive hire al,1690Sche hath no lith withoute a lak;Bot lich unto the wollesakSche proferth hire unto this knyht,389And bad him, as he hath behyht,So as sche hath ben his warant,That he hire holde covenant,And be the bridel sche him seseth.Bot godd wot how that sche him plesethOf suche wordes as sche spekth:Him thenkth welnyh his herte brekth1700For sorwe that he may noght fle,Bot if he wolde untrewe be.Loke, how a sek man for his heleTakth baldemoine with Canele,390And with the Mirre takth the Sucre,Ryht upon such a maner lucreStant Florent, as in this diete:He drinkth the bitre with the swete,He medleth sorwe with likynge,And liveth, as who seith, deyinge;1710His youthe schal be cast aweieUpon such on which as the weieIs old and lothly overal.Bot nede he mot that nede schal:He wolde algate his trowthe holde,As every knyht therto is holde,P. i. 100What happ so evere him is befalle:Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle,Yet to thonour of wommanhiedeHim thoghte he scholde taken hiede;1720So that for pure gentilesse,As he hire couthe best adresce,In ragges, as sche was totore,He set hire on his hors toforeAnd forth he takth his weie softe;No wonder thogh he siketh ofte.Bot as an oule fleth be nyhteOut of alle othre briddes syhte,Riht so this knyht on daies brodeIn clos him hield, and schop his rode1730On nyhtes time, til the tydeThat he cam there he wolde abide;And prively withoute noiseHe bringth this foule grete CoiseTo his Castell in such a wiseThat noman myhte hire schappe avise,Til sche into the chambre cam:Wher he his prive conseil namOf suche men as he most troste,And tolde hem that he nedes moste1740This beste wedde to his wif,For elles hadde he lost his lif.The prive wommen were asent,That scholden ben of his assent:Hire ragges thei anon of drawe,And, as it was that time lawe,P. i. 101She hadde bath, sche hadde reste,And was arraied to the beste.Bot with no craft of combes brodeThei myhte hire hore lockes schode,1750And sche ne wolde noght be schoreFor no conseil, and thei therfore,With such atyr as tho was used,Ordeinen that it was excused,And hid so crafteliche aboute,391That noman myhte sen hem oute.Bot when sche was fulliche arraiedAnd hire atyr was al assaied,Tho was sche foulere on to se:Bot yit it may non other be,1760Thei were wedded in the nyht;So wo begon was nevere knyhtAs he was thanne of mariage.And sche began to pleie and rage,As who seith, I am wel ynowh;Bot he therof nothing ne lowh,For sche tok thanne chiere on hondeAnd clepeth him hire housebonde,392And seith, ‘My lord, go we to bedde,For I to that entente wedde,3931770That thou schalt be my worldes blisse:’And profreth him with that to kisse,As sche a lusti Lady were.His body myhte wel be there,Bot as of thoght and of memoireHis herte was in purgatoire.P. i. 102Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoineHe myhte make non essoine,That he ne mot algates plieTo gon to bedde of compaignie:1780And whan thei were abedde naked,Withoute slep he was awaked;He torneth on that other side,For that he wolde hise yhen hydeFro lokynge on that foule wyht.394The chambre was al full of lyht,The courtins were of cendal thinne,This newe bryd which lay withinne,Thogh it be noght with his acord,In armes sche beclipte hire lord,1790And preide, as he was torned fro,He wolde him torne ayeinward tho;‘For now,’ sche seith, ‘we ben bothe on.’395And he lay stille as eny ston,Bot evere in on sche spak and preide,And bad him thenke on that he seide,Whan that he tok hire be the hond.He herde and understod the bond,How he was set to his penance,And as it were a man in trance1800He torneth him al sodeinly,And syh a lady lay him byOf eyhtetiene wynter age,Which was the faireste of visageThat evere in al this world he syh:And as he wolde have take hire nyh,P. i. 103Sche put hire hand and be his leveBesoghte him that he wolde leve,And seith that forto wynne or lese396He mot on of tuo thinges chese,1810Wher he wol have hire such on nyht,Or elles upon daies lyht,For he schal noght have bothe tuo.And he began to sorwe tho,In many a wise and caste his thoght,Bot for al that yit cowthe he noghtDevise himself which was the beste.And sche, that wolde his hertes reste,Preith that he scholde chese algate,Til ate laste longe and late1820He seide: ‘O ye, my lyves hele,Sey what you list in my querele,397I not what ansuere I schal yive:Bot evere whil that I may live,I wol that ye be my maistresse,For I can noght miselve gesseWhich is the beste unto my chois.Thus grante I yow myn hole vois,Ches for ous bothen, I you preie;And what as evere that ye seie,1830Riht as ye wole so wol I.’‘Mi lord,’ sche seide, ‘grant merci,For of this word that ye now sein,That ye have mad me soverein,Mi destine is overpassed,That nevere hierafter schal be lassedP. i. 104Mi beaute, which that I now have,Til I be take into my grave;Bot nyht and day as I am now398I schal alwey be such to yow.1840The kinges dowhter of CizileI am, and fell bot siththe awhile,As I was with my fader late,That my Stepmoder for an hate,Which toward me sche hath begonne,Forschop me, til I hadde wonneThe love and sovereineteOf what knyht that in his degreAlle othre passeth of good name:And, as men sein, ye ben the same,1850The dede proeveth it is so;Thus am I youres evermo.’Tho was plesance and joye ynowh,Echon with other pleide and lowh;Thei live longe and wel thei ferde,And clerkes that this chance herdeThei writen it in evidence,To teche how that obedienceMai wel fortune a man to loveAnd sette him in his lust above,1860As it befell unto this knyht.Confessor.Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht,Thou schalt unto thi love obeie,And folwe hir will be alle weie.Amans.Min holy fader, so I wile:For ye have told me such a skileP. i. 105Of this ensample now tofore,That I schal evermo therforeHierafterward myn observanceTo love and to his obeissance1870The betre kepe: and over thisOf pride if ther oght elles is,Wherof that I me schryve schal,What thing it is in special,Mi fader, axeth, I you preie.Confessor.Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie:For yit ther is Surquiderie,Which stant with Pride of compaignie;Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon,To knowe if thou have gult or non1880Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere:399Now understond wel the matiere.

[The Trojan Horse.]

Of hem that ben so derk withinne,

At Troie also if we beginne,

Ipocrisie it hath betraied:333

For whan the Greks hadde al assaied,1080

Hic vlterius ponit exemplum de illa eciam Ypocrisia, que inter virum334et virum decipiens periculosissima consistit. Et narrat, qualiter Greci in obsidione ciuitatis Troie, cum ipsam vi comprehendere nullatenus potuerunt, fallaci animo cum Troianis pacem vt dicunt pro perpetuo statuebant: et super hoc335quendam equum mire grossitudinis de ere fabricatum ad sacrificandum in templo336Minerue confingentes, sub tali sanctitatis ypocrisi dictam Ciuitatem intrarunt, et ipsam cum inhabitantibus gladio et igne comminuentes pro perpetuo penitus deuastarunt.337

And founde that be no bataille

Ne be no Siege it myhte availe

The toun to winne thurgh prouesse,

This vice feigned of simplesce

Thurgh sleyhte of Calcas and of Crise

It wan be such a maner wise.

An Hors of Bras thei let do forge

Of such entaile, of such a forge,

That in this world was nevere man

That such an other werk began.1090

The crafti werkman Epius

It made, and forto telle thus,

The Greks, that thoghten to beguile

The kyng of Troie, in thilke while

With Anthenor and with Enee,

That were bothe of the Cite

And of the conseil the wiseste,

The richeste and the myhtieste,

P. i. 79

In prive place so thei trete

With fair beheste and yiftes grete1100

Of gold, that thei hem have engined;

Togedre and whan thei be covined,

Thei feignen forto make a pes,

And under that yit natheles

Thei schopen the destruccioun

Bothe of the kyng and of the toun.

And thus the false pees was take

Of hem of Grece and undertake,

And therupon thei founde a weie,

Wher strengthe myhte noght aweie,1110

That sleihte scholde helpe thanne;

And of an ynche a large spanne

Be colour of the pees thei made,

And tolden how thei weren glade

Of that thei stoden in acord;338

And for it schal ben of record,

Unto the kyng the Gregois seiden,

Be weie of love and this thei preiden,339

As thei that wolde his thonk deserve,

A Sacrifice unto Minerve,1120

The pes to kepe in good entente,

Thei mosten offre er that thei wente.

The kyng conseiled in this cas

Be Anthenor and Eneas

Therto hath yoven his assent:340

So was the pleine trowthe blent

Thurgh contrefet Ipocrisie

Of that thei scholden sacrifie.

P. i. 80

The Greks under the holinesse

Anon with alle besinesse1130

Here Hors of Bras let faire dihte,

Which was to sen a wonder sihte;

For it was trapped of himselve,

And hadde of smale whieles twelve,

Upon the whiche men ynowe

With craft toward the toun it drowe,

And goth glistrende ayein the Sunne.

Tho was ther joie ynowh begunne,

For Troie in gret devocioun

Cam also with processioun1140

Ayein this noble Sacrifise

With gret honour, and in this wise

Unto the gates thei it broghte.

Bot of here entre whan thei soghte,

The gates weren al to smale;341

And therupon was many a tale,

Bot for the worschipe of Minerve,

To whom thei comen forto serve,

Thei of the toun, whiche understode

That al this thing was do for goode,1150

For pes, wherof that thei ben glade,

The gates that Neptunus made

A thousend wynter ther tofore,

Thei have anon tobroke and tore;

The stronge walles doun thei bete,

So that in to the large strete

This Hors with gret solempnite

Was broght withinne the Cite,

P. i. 81

And offred with gret reverence,

Which was to Troie an evidence1160

Of love and pes for everemo.

The Gregois token leve tho342

With al the hole felaschipe,

And forth thei wenten into Schipe

And crossen seil and made hem yare,343

Anon as thogh thei wolden fare:

Bot whan the blake wynter nyht

Withoute Mone or Sterre lyht

Bederked hath the water Stronde,

Al prively thei gon to londe1170

Ful armed out of the navie.

Synon, which mad was here aspie344

Withinne Troie, as was conspired,

Whan time was a tokne hath fired;

And thei with that here weie holden,

And comen in riht as thei wolden,

Ther as the gate was tobroke.

The pourpos was full take and spoke:

Er eny man may take kepe,

Whil that the Cite was aslepe,1180

Thei slowen al that was withinne,

And token what thei myhten wynne

Of such good as was sufficant,

And brenden up the remenant.

And thus cam out the tricherie,

Which under fals Ypocrisie

Was hid, and thei that wende pees

Tho myhten finde no reles

P. i. 82

Of thilke swerd which al devoureth.

[Hypocrisy in Love.]

Fulofte and thus the swete soureth,1190

Whan it is knowe to the tast:

He spilleth many a word in wast

That schal with such a poeple trete;

For whan he weneth most beyete,

Thanne is he schape most to lese.

And riht so if a womman chese

Upon the wordes that sche hiereth345

Som man, whan he most trewe appiereth,

Thanne is he forthest fro the trowthe:

Bot yit fulofte, and that is rowthe,1200

Thei speden that ben most untrewe

And loven every day a newe,

Wherof the lief is after loth

And love hath cause to be wroth.

Bot what man that his lust desireth

Of love, and therupon conspireth

With wordes feigned to deceive,

He schal noght faile to receive

His peine, as it is ofte sene.

Confessor.346

Forthi, my Sone, as I thee mene,1210

It sit the wel to taken hiede

That thou eschuie of thi manhiede

Ipocrisie and his semblant,

That thou ne be noght deceivant,

To make a womman to believe

Thing which is noght in thi bilieve:347

For in such feint Ipocrisie

Of love is al the tricherie,

P. i. 83

Thurgh which love is deceived ofte;

For feigned semblant is so softe,1220

Unethes love may be war.

Forthi, my Sone, as I wel dar,

I charge thee to fle that vice,

That many a womman hath mad nice;

Bot lok thou dele noght withal.

Amans.

Iwiss, fader, nomor I schal.

Confessor.

Now, Sone, kep that thou hast swore:

For this that thou hast herd before

Is seid the ferste point of Pride:

And next upon that other side,1230

To schryve and speken overthis

Touchende of Pride, yit ther is

The point seconde, I thee behote,

Which Inobedience is hote.

[ii.Inobedience.]vi.Flectere quam frangi melius reputatur, et olleFictilis ad cacabum pugna valere nequit.Quem neque lex hominum, neque lex diuina valebitFlectere, multociens corde reflectit amor.348Quem non flectit amor, non est flectendus ab vllo,Set rigor illius plus Elephante riget.Dedignatur amor poterit quos scire rebelles,Et rudibus sortem prestat habere rudem;Set qui sponte sui subicit se cordis amore,Frangit in aduersis omnia fata pius.(10)

[ii.Inobedience.]

vi.Flectere quam frangi melius reputatur, et olle

Fictilis ad cacabum pugna valere nequit.

Quem neque lex hominum, neque lex diuina valebit

Flectere, multociens corde reflectit amor.348

Quem non flectit amor, non est flectendus ab vllo,

Set rigor illius plus Elephante riget.

Dedignatur amor poterit quos scire rebelles,

Et rudibus sortem prestat habere rudem;

Set qui sponte sui subicit se cordis amore,

Frangit in aduersis omnia fata pius.(10)

This vice of InobedienceAyein the reule of conscienceAl that is humble he desalloweth,That he toward his god ne bowethAfter the lawes of his heste.Hic loquitur de secunda specie Superbie, que Inobediencia dicitur: et primo illius vicii naturam simpliciter declarat, et tractat consequenter super illa precipue Inobediencia, que in curia Cupidinis exosa amoris causam ex sua imbecillitate sepissime retardat. In cuius materia Confessor Amanti specialius opponit.Noght as a man bot as a beste,1240P. i. 84Which goth upon his lustes wilde,So goth this proude vice unmylde,That he desdeigneth alle lawe:He not what is to be felawe,And serve may he noght for pride;So is he badde on every side,And is that selve of whom men speke,Which wol noght bowe er that he breke.I not if love him myhte plie,For elles forto justefie1250His herte, I not what mihte availe.Confessor.349Forthi, my Sone, of such entaileIf that thin herte be disposed,Tell out and let it noght be glosed:For if that thou unbuxom beTo love, I not in what degreeThou schalt thi goode world achieve.350Amans.Mi fader, ye schul wel believe,The yonge whelp which is affaitedHath noght his Maister betre awaited,1260To couche, whan he seith ‘Go lowe,’That I, anon as I may knoweMi ladi will, ne bowe more.351Bot other while I grucche soreOf some thinges that sche doth,Wherof that I woll telle soth:For of tuo pointz I am bethoght,That, thogh I wolde, I myhte noghtObeie unto my ladi heste;Bot I dar make this beheste,1270P. i. 85Save only of that ilke tuoI am unbuxom of no mo.Opponit Confessor.What ben tho tuo? tell on, quod he.Respondet Amans.352Mi fader, this is on, that scheComandeth me my mowth to close,And that I scholde hir noght opposeIn love, of which I ofte preche,Bot plenerliche of such a specheForbere, and soffren hire in pes.Bot that ne myhte I natheles3531280For al this world obeie ywiss;For whanne I am ther as sche is,Though sche my tales noght alowe,Ayein hir will yit mot I bowe,To seche if that I myhte have grace:Bot that thing may I noght enbrace354For ought that I can speke or do;And yit fulofte I speke so,That sche is wroth and seith, ‘Be stille.’If I that heste schal fulfille1290And therto ben obedient,Thanne is my cause fully schent,For specheles may noman spede.So wot I noght what is to rede;Bot certes I may noght obeie,That I ne mot algate seieSomwhat of that I wolde mene;For evere it is aliche grene,The grete love which I have,Wherof I can noght bothe save1300P. i. 86My speche and this obedience:And thus fulofte my silenceI breke, and is the ferste point355Wherof that I am out of point356In this, and yit it is no pride.Now thanne upon that other sideTo telle my desobeissance,Ful sore it stant to my grevanceAnd may noght sinke into my wit;For ofte time sche me bit3571310To leven hire and chese a newe,And seith, if I the sothe kneweHow ferr I stonde from hir grace,I scholde love in other place.358Bot therof woll I desobeie;For also wel sche myhte seie,‘Go tak the Mone ther it sit,’As bringe that into my wit:For ther was nevere rooted tre,That stod so faste in his degre,1320That I ne stonde more fasteUpon hire love, and mai noght casteMin herte awey, althogh I wolde.For god wot, thogh I nevere scholdeSen hir with yhe after this day,Yit stant it so that I ne mayHir love out of my brest remue.This is a wonder retenue,That malgre wher sche wole or nonMin herte is everemore in on,1330P. i. 87So that I can non other chese,Bot whether that I winne or lese,I moste hire loven til I deie;And thus I breke as be that weieHire hestes and hir comandinges,Bot trewliche in non othre thinges.359Forthi, my fader, what is moreTouchende to this ilke lore360I you beseche, after the formeThat ye pleinly me wolde enforme,1340So that I may myn herte reuleIn loves cause after the reule.

This vice of Inobedience

Ayein the reule of conscience

Al that is humble he desalloweth,

That he toward his god ne boweth

After the lawes of his heste.

Hic loquitur de secunda specie Superbie, que Inobediencia dicitur: et primo illius vicii naturam simpliciter declarat, et tractat consequenter super illa precipue Inobediencia, que in curia Cupidinis exosa amoris causam ex sua imbecillitate sepissime retardat. In cuius materia Confessor Amanti specialius opponit.

Noght as a man bot as a beste,1240

P. i. 84

Which goth upon his lustes wilde,

So goth this proude vice unmylde,

That he desdeigneth alle lawe:

He not what is to be felawe,

And serve may he noght for pride;

So is he badde on every side,

And is that selve of whom men speke,

Which wol noght bowe er that he breke.

I not if love him myhte plie,

For elles forto justefie1250

His herte, I not what mihte availe.

Confessor.349

Forthi, my Sone, of such entaile

If that thin herte be disposed,

Tell out and let it noght be glosed:

For if that thou unbuxom be

To love, I not in what degree

Thou schalt thi goode world achieve.350

Amans.

Mi fader, ye schul wel believe,

The yonge whelp which is affaited

Hath noght his Maister betre awaited,1260

To couche, whan he seith ‘Go lowe,’

That I, anon as I may knowe

Mi ladi will, ne bowe more.351

Bot other while I grucche sore

Of some thinges that sche doth,

Wherof that I woll telle soth:

For of tuo pointz I am bethoght,

That, thogh I wolde, I myhte noght

Obeie unto my ladi heste;

Bot I dar make this beheste,1270

P. i. 85

Save only of that ilke tuo

I am unbuxom of no mo.

Opponit Confessor.

What ben tho tuo? tell on, quod he.

Respondet Amans.352

Mi fader, this is on, that sche

Comandeth me my mowth to close,

And that I scholde hir noght oppose

In love, of which I ofte preche,

Bot plenerliche of such a speche

Forbere, and soffren hire in pes.

Bot that ne myhte I natheles3531280

For al this world obeie ywiss;

For whanne I am ther as sche is,

Though sche my tales noght alowe,

Ayein hir will yit mot I bowe,

To seche if that I myhte have grace:

Bot that thing may I noght enbrace354

For ought that I can speke or do;

And yit fulofte I speke so,

That sche is wroth and seith, ‘Be stille.’

If I that heste schal fulfille1290

And therto ben obedient,

Thanne is my cause fully schent,

For specheles may noman spede.

So wot I noght what is to rede;

Bot certes I may noght obeie,

That I ne mot algate seie

Somwhat of that I wolde mene;

For evere it is aliche grene,

The grete love which I have,

Wherof I can noght bothe save1300

P. i. 86

My speche and this obedience:

And thus fulofte my silence

I breke, and is the ferste point355

Wherof that I am out of point356

In this, and yit it is no pride.

Now thanne upon that other side

To telle my desobeissance,

Ful sore it stant to my grevance

And may noght sinke into my wit;

For ofte time sche me bit3571310

To leven hire and chese a newe,

And seith, if I the sothe knewe

How ferr I stonde from hir grace,

I scholde love in other place.358

Bot therof woll I desobeie;

For also wel sche myhte seie,

‘Go tak the Mone ther it sit,’

As bringe that into my wit:

For ther was nevere rooted tre,

That stod so faste in his degre,1320

That I ne stonde more faste

Upon hire love, and mai noght caste

Min herte awey, althogh I wolde.

For god wot, thogh I nevere scholde

Sen hir with yhe after this day,

Yit stant it so that I ne may

Hir love out of my brest remue.

This is a wonder retenue,

That malgre wher sche wole or non

Min herte is everemore in on,1330

P. i. 87

So that I can non other chese,

Bot whether that I winne or lese,

I moste hire loven til I deie;

And thus I breke as be that weie

Hire hestes and hir comandinges,

Bot trewliche in non othre thinges.359

Forthi, my fader, what is more

Touchende to this ilke lore360

I you beseche, after the forme

That ye pleinly me wolde enforme,1340

So that I may myn herte reule

In loves cause after the reule.

[Murmur and Complaint.]vii.Murmur in aduersis ita concipit ille superbus,Pena quod ex bina sorte perurget eum.Obuia fortune cum spes in amore resistit,Non sine mentali murmure plangit amans.361

[Murmur and Complaint.]

vii.Murmur in aduersis ita concipit ille superbus,

Pena quod ex bina sorte perurget eum.

Obuia fortune cum spes in amore resistit,

Non sine mentali murmure plangit amans.361

Hic loquitur de Murmure et Planctu, qui super omnes alios Inobediencie secreciores vt ministri illi deseruiunt.363Toward this vice of which we treteTher ben yit tweie of thilke estrete,Here name is Murmur and Compleignte:362Ther can noman here chiere peinte,To sette a glad semblant therinne,For thogh fortune make hem wynne,Yit grucchen thei, and if thei lese,Ther is no weie forto chese,1350Wherof thei myhten stonde appesed.So ben thei comunly desesed;Ther may no welthe ne poverteAttempren hem to the decerteOf buxomnesse be no wise:For ofte time thei despiseP. i. 88The goode fortune as the badde,As thei no mannes reson hadde,Thurgh pride, wherof thei be blinde.And ryht of such a maner kinde1360Ther be lovers, that thogh thei haveOf love al that thei wolde crave,Yit wol thei grucche be som weie,That thei wol noght to love obeieUpon the trowthe, as thei do scholde;And if hem lacketh that thei wolde,Anon thei falle in such a peine,That evere unbuxomly thei pleigneUpon fortune, and curse and crie,That thei wol noght here hertes plie1370To soffre til it betre falle.Forthi if thou amonges alleHast used this condicioun,Mi Sone, in thi ConfessiounNow tell me pleinly what thou art.Amans.364Mi fader, I beknowe a part,So as ye tolden hier aboveOf Murmur and Compleignte of love,365That for I se no sped comende,Ayein fortune compleignende1380I am, as who seith, everemo:And ek fulofte tyme also,Whan so is that I se and hiereOr hevy word or hevy chiere366Of my lady, I grucche anon;Bot wordes dar I speke non,Wherof sche myhte be desplesed,P. i. 89Bot in myn herte I am desesed:With many a Murmur, god it wot,Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot,1390And thogh I make no semblant,Min herte is al desobeissant;And in this wise I me confesseOf that ye clepe unbuxomnesse.Now telleth what youre conseil is.Confessor.367Mi Sone, and I thee rede this,368What so befalle of other weie,That thou to loves heste obeieAls ferr as thou it myht suffise:For ofte sithe in such a wise1400Obedience in love availeth,Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth;Wherof, if that the list to wite369In a Cronique as it is write,A gret ensample thou myht fynde,Which now is come to my mynde.

Hic loquitur de Murmure et Planctu, qui super omnes alios Inobediencie secreciores vt ministri illi deseruiunt.363

Toward this vice of which we trete

Ther ben yit tweie of thilke estrete,

Here name is Murmur and Compleignte:362

Ther can noman here chiere peinte,

To sette a glad semblant therinne,

For thogh fortune make hem wynne,

Yit grucchen thei, and if thei lese,

Ther is no weie forto chese,1350

Wherof thei myhten stonde appesed.

So ben thei comunly desesed;

Ther may no welthe ne poverte

Attempren hem to the decerte

Of buxomnesse be no wise:

For ofte time thei despise

P. i. 88

The goode fortune as the badde,

As thei no mannes reson hadde,

Thurgh pride, wherof thei be blinde.

And ryht of such a maner kinde1360

Ther be lovers, that thogh thei have

Of love al that thei wolde crave,

Yit wol thei grucche be som weie,

That thei wol noght to love obeie

Upon the trowthe, as thei do scholde;

And if hem lacketh that thei wolde,

Anon thei falle in such a peine,

That evere unbuxomly thei pleigne

Upon fortune, and curse and crie,

That thei wol noght here hertes plie1370

To soffre til it betre falle.

Forthi if thou amonges alle

Hast used this condicioun,

Mi Sone, in thi Confessioun

Now tell me pleinly what thou art.

Amans.364

Mi fader, I beknowe a part,

So as ye tolden hier above

Of Murmur and Compleignte of love,365

That for I se no sped comende,

Ayein fortune compleignende1380

I am, as who seith, everemo:

And ek fulofte tyme also,

Whan so is that I se and hiere

Or hevy word or hevy chiere366

Of my lady, I grucche anon;

Bot wordes dar I speke non,

Wherof sche myhte be desplesed,

P. i. 89

Bot in myn herte I am desesed:

With many a Murmur, god it wot,

Thus drinke I in myn oghne swot,1390

And thogh I make no semblant,

Min herte is al desobeissant;

And in this wise I me confesse

Of that ye clepe unbuxomnesse.

Now telleth what youre conseil is.

Confessor.367

Mi Sone, and I thee rede this,368

What so befalle of other weie,

That thou to loves heste obeie

Als ferr as thou it myht suffise:

For ofte sithe in such a wise1400

Obedience in love availeth,

Wher al a mannes strengthe faileth;

Wherof, if that the list to wite369

In a Cronique as it is write,

A gret ensample thou myht fynde,

Which now is come to my mynde.

[Tale of Florent.]Hic contra amori inobedientes ad commendacionem Obediencie Confessor super eodem exemplum ponit; vbi dicit quod, cum quedam Regis Cizilie filia in sue iuuentutis floribus pulcherrima ex eius Nouerce incantacionibus in vetulam turpissimam transformata extitit, Florencius tunc Imparatoris Claudi Nepos, miles in armis strenuissimus amorosisque372legibus intendens, ipsam ex sua obediencia in pulcritudinem pristinam mirabiliter reformauit.373Ther was whilom be daies oldeA worthi knyht, and as men tolde370He was Nevoeu to themperourAnd of his Court a Courteour:1410Wifles he was, Florent he hihte,He was a man that mochel myhte,Of armes he was desirous,Chivalerous and amorous,And for the fame of worldes speche,Strange aventures forto seche,371P. i. 90He rod the Marches al aboute.And fell a time, as he was oute,Fortune, which may every thredTobreke and knette of mannes sped,1420Schop, as this knyht rod in a pas,That he be strengthe take was,And to a Castell thei him ladde,Wher that he fewe frendes hadde:For so it fell that ilke stoundeThat he hath with a dedly woundeFeihtende his oghne hondes slainBranchus, which to the CapitainWas Sone and Heir, wherof ben wrotheThe fader and the moder bothe.1430That knyht Branchus was of his hondThe worthieste of al his lond,And fain thei wolden do venganceUpon Florent, bot remembranceThat thei toke of his worthinesseOf knyhthod and of gentilesse,And how he stod of cousinageTo themperour, made hem assuage,And dorsten noght slen him for fere:In gret desputeisoun thei were3741440Among hemself, what was the beste.Ther was a lady, the slyhesteOf alle that men knewe tho,So old sche myhte unethes go,And was grantdame unto the dede:And sche with that began to rede,P. i. 91And seide how sche wol bringe him inne,That sche schal him to dethe winneAl only of his oghne grant,Thurgh strengthe of verray covenant1450Withoute blame of eny wiht.Anon sche sende for this kniht,And of hire Sone sche alleideThe deth, and thus to him sche seide:‘Florent, how so thou be to wyteOf Branchus deth, men schal respiteAs now to take vengement,Be so thou stonde in juggementUpon certein condicioun,That thou unto a questioun1460Which I schal axe schalt ansuere;And over this thou schalt ek swere,That if thou of the sothe faile,Ther schal non other thing availe,375That thou ne schalt thi deth receive.And for men schal thee noght deceive,That thou therof myht ben avised,Thou schalt have day and tyme assisedAnd leve saufly forto wende,Be so that at thi daies ende1470Thou come ayein with thin avys.This knyht, which worthi was and wys,This lady preith that he may wite,And have it under Seales write,What questioun it scholde beFor which he schal in that degreeP. i. 92Stonde of his lif in jeupartie.With that sche feigneth compaignie,And seith: ‘Florent, on love it hongeth376Al that to myn axinge longeth:1480What alle wommen most desireThis wole I axe, and in thempireWher as thou hast most knowlechingeTak conseil upon this axinge.’377Florent this thing hath undertake,The day was set, the time take,Under his seal he wrot his oth,In such a wise and forth he gothHom to his Emes court ayein;To whom his aventure plein1490He tolde, of that him is befalle.And upon that thei weren alle378The wiseste of the lond asent,Bot natheles of on assentThei myhte noght acorde plat,On seide this, an othre that.After the disposiciounOf naturel complexiounTo som womman it is plesance,That to an other is grevance;3791500Bot such a thing in special,Which to hem alle in generalIs most plesant, and most desiredAbove alle othre and most conspired,Such o thing conne thei noght finde380Be Constellation ne kinde:P. i. 93And thus Florent withoute cureMot stonde upon his aventure,And is al schape unto the lere,381As in defalte of his answere.1510This knyht hath levere forto dyeThan breke his trowthe and forto lyeIn place ther as he was swore,And schapth him gon ayein therfore.Whan time cam he tok his leve,That lengere wolde he noght beleve,And preith his Em he be noght wroth,For that is a point of his oth,He seith, that noman schal him wreke,Thogh afterward men hiere speke1520That he par aventure deie.And thus he wente forth his weieAlone as knyht aventurous,And in his thoght was curiousTo wite what was best to do:And as he rod al one so,And cam nyh ther he wolde be,In a forest under a treHe syh wher sat a creature,A lothly wommannysch figure,1530That forto speke of fleisch and bonSo foul yit syh he nevere non.This knyht behield hir redely,And as he wolde have passed by,Sche cleped him and bad abide;And he his horse heved asideP. i. 94Tho torneth, and to hire he rod,And there he hoveth and abod,To wite what sche wolde mene.And sche began him to bemene,1540And seide: ‘Florent be thi name,Thou hast on honde such a game,That bot thou be the betre avised,Thi deth is schapen and devised,That al the world ne mai the save,Bot if that thou my conseil have.’Florent, whan he this tale herde,Unto this olde wyht answerdeAnd of hir conseil he hir preide.And sche ayein to him thus seide:1550‘Florent, if I for the so schape,That thou thurgh me thi deth ascapeAnd take worschipe of thi dede,What schal I have to my mede?’‘What thing,’ quod he, ‘that thou wolt axe.’382‘I bidde nevere a betre taxe,’Quod sche, ‘bot ferst, er thou be sped,Thou schalt me leve such a wedd,That I wol have thi trowthe in hondeThat thou schalt be myn housebonde.’1560‘Nay,’ seith Florent, ‘that may noght be.’‘Ryd thanne forth thi wey,’ quod sche,‘And if thou go withoute red,Thou schalt be sekerliche ded.’Florent behihte hire good ynowhOf lond, of rente, of park, of plowh,P. i. 95Bot al that compteth sche at noght.Tho fell this knyht in mochel thoght,Now goth he forth, now comth ayein,He wot noght what is best to sein,1570And thoghte, as he rod to and fro,That chese he mot on of the tuo,Or forto take hire to his wif383Or elles forto lese his lif.And thanne he caste his avantage,That sche was of so gret an age,That sche mai live bot a while,And thoghte put hire in an Ile,384Wher that noman hire scholde knowe,Til sche with deth were overthrowe.1580And thus this yonge lusti knyhtUnto this olde lothly wihtTho seide: ‘If that non other chanceMai make my deliverance,Bot only thilke same specheWhich, as thou seist, thou schalt me teche,Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde.’And thus his trowthe he leith to wedde.With that sche frounceth up the browe:‘This covenant I wol allowe,’1590Sche seith: ‘if eny other thingBot that thou hast of my techyngFro deth thi body mai respite,I woll thee of thi trowthe acquite,And elles be non other weie.Now herkne me what I schal seie.P. i. 96Whan thou art come into the place,Wher now thei maken gret manaceAnd upon thi comynge abyde,Thei wole anon the same tide1600Oppose thee of thin answere.I wot thou wolt nothing forbereOf that thou wenest be thi beste,And if thou myht so finde reste,Wel is, for thanne is ther nomore.And elles this schal be my lore,That thou schalt seie, upon this MoldeThat alle wommen lievest woldeBe soverein of mannes love:For what womman is so above,1610Sche hath, as who seith, al hire wille;And elles may sche noght fulfilleWhat thing hir were lievest have.With this answere thou schalt saveThiself, and other wise noght.And whan thou hast thin ende wroght,Com hier ayein, thou schalt me finde,And let nothing out of thi minde.’He goth him forth with hevy chiere,As he that not in what manere1620He mai this worldes joie atteigne:For if he deie, he hath a peine,And if he live, he mot him bindeTo such on which of alle kindeOf wommen is thunsemlieste:Thus wot he noght what is the beste:385P. i. 97Bot be him lief or be him loth,Unto the Castell forth he gothHis full answere forto yive,Or forto deie or forto live.1630Forth with his conseil cam the lord,The thinges stoden of record,386He sende up for the lady sone,And forth sche cam, that olde Mone.In presence of the remenantThe strengthe of al the covenantTho was reherced openly,And to Florent sche bad forthiThat he schal tellen his avis,As he that woot what is the pris.1640Florent seith al that evere he couthe,Bot such word cam ther non to mowthe,That he for yifte or for behesteMihte eny wise his deth areste.And thus he tarieth longe and late,Til that this lady bad algateThat he schal for the dom finalYive his answere in special387Of that sche hadde him ferst opposed:And thanne he hath trewly supposed1650That he him may of nothing yelpe,Bot if so be tho wordes helpe,388Whiche as the womman hath him tawht;Wherof he hath an hope cawhtThat he schal ben excused so,And tolde out plein his wille tho.P. i. 98And whan that this Matrone herdeThe manere how this knyht ansuerde,Sche seide: ‘Ha treson, wo thee be,That hast thus told the privite,1660Which alle wommen most desire!I wolde that thou were afire.’Bot natheles in such a plitFlorent of his answere is quit:And tho began his sorwe newe,For he mot gon, or ben untrewe,To hire which his trowthe hadde.Bot he, which alle schame dradde,Goth forth in stede of his penance,And takth the fortune of his chance,1670As he that was with trowthe affaited.This olde wyht him hath awaitedIn place wher as he hire lefte:Florent his wofull heved uplefteAnd syh this vecke wher sche sat,Which was the lothlieste whatThat evere man caste on his yhe:Hire Nase bass, hire browes hyhe,Hire yhen smale and depe set,Hire chekes ben with teres wet,1680And rivelen as an emty skynHangende doun unto the chin,Hire Lippes schrunken ben for age,Ther was no grace in the visage,Hir front was nargh, hir lockes hore,Sche loketh forth as doth a More,P. i. 99Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe,That myhte a mannes lust destourbe,Hire body gret and nothing smal,And schortly to descrive hire al,1690Sche hath no lith withoute a lak;Bot lich unto the wollesakSche proferth hire unto this knyht,389And bad him, as he hath behyht,So as sche hath ben his warant,That he hire holde covenant,And be the bridel sche him seseth.Bot godd wot how that sche him plesethOf suche wordes as sche spekth:Him thenkth welnyh his herte brekth1700For sorwe that he may noght fle,Bot if he wolde untrewe be.Loke, how a sek man for his heleTakth baldemoine with Canele,390And with the Mirre takth the Sucre,Ryht upon such a maner lucreStant Florent, as in this diete:He drinkth the bitre with the swete,He medleth sorwe with likynge,And liveth, as who seith, deyinge;1710His youthe schal be cast aweieUpon such on which as the weieIs old and lothly overal.Bot nede he mot that nede schal:He wolde algate his trowthe holde,As every knyht therto is holde,P. i. 100What happ so evere him is befalle:Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle,Yet to thonour of wommanhiedeHim thoghte he scholde taken hiede;1720So that for pure gentilesse,As he hire couthe best adresce,In ragges, as sche was totore,He set hire on his hors toforeAnd forth he takth his weie softe;No wonder thogh he siketh ofte.Bot as an oule fleth be nyhteOut of alle othre briddes syhte,Riht so this knyht on daies brodeIn clos him hield, and schop his rode1730On nyhtes time, til the tydeThat he cam there he wolde abide;And prively withoute noiseHe bringth this foule grete CoiseTo his Castell in such a wiseThat noman myhte hire schappe avise,Til sche into the chambre cam:Wher he his prive conseil namOf suche men as he most troste,And tolde hem that he nedes moste1740This beste wedde to his wif,For elles hadde he lost his lif.The prive wommen were asent,That scholden ben of his assent:Hire ragges thei anon of drawe,And, as it was that time lawe,P. i. 101She hadde bath, sche hadde reste,And was arraied to the beste.Bot with no craft of combes brodeThei myhte hire hore lockes schode,1750And sche ne wolde noght be schoreFor no conseil, and thei therfore,With such atyr as tho was used,Ordeinen that it was excused,And hid so crafteliche aboute,391That noman myhte sen hem oute.Bot when sche was fulliche arraiedAnd hire atyr was al assaied,Tho was sche foulere on to se:Bot yit it may non other be,1760Thei were wedded in the nyht;So wo begon was nevere knyhtAs he was thanne of mariage.And sche began to pleie and rage,As who seith, I am wel ynowh;Bot he therof nothing ne lowh,For sche tok thanne chiere on hondeAnd clepeth him hire housebonde,392And seith, ‘My lord, go we to bedde,For I to that entente wedde,3931770That thou schalt be my worldes blisse:’And profreth him with that to kisse,As sche a lusti Lady were.His body myhte wel be there,Bot as of thoght and of memoireHis herte was in purgatoire.P. i. 102Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoineHe myhte make non essoine,That he ne mot algates plieTo gon to bedde of compaignie:1780And whan thei were abedde naked,Withoute slep he was awaked;He torneth on that other side,For that he wolde hise yhen hydeFro lokynge on that foule wyht.394The chambre was al full of lyht,The courtins were of cendal thinne,This newe bryd which lay withinne,Thogh it be noght with his acord,In armes sche beclipte hire lord,1790And preide, as he was torned fro,He wolde him torne ayeinward tho;‘For now,’ sche seith, ‘we ben bothe on.’395And he lay stille as eny ston,Bot evere in on sche spak and preide,And bad him thenke on that he seide,Whan that he tok hire be the hond.He herde and understod the bond,How he was set to his penance,And as it were a man in trance1800He torneth him al sodeinly,And syh a lady lay him byOf eyhtetiene wynter age,Which was the faireste of visageThat evere in al this world he syh:And as he wolde have take hire nyh,P. i. 103Sche put hire hand and be his leveBesoghte him that he wolde leve,And seith that forto wynne or lese396He mot on of tuo thinges chese,1810Wher he wol have hire such on nyht,Or elles upon daies lyht,For he schal noght have bothe tuo.And he began to sorwe tho,In many a wise and caste his thoght,Bot for al that yit cowthe he noghtDevise himself which was the beste.And sche, that wolde his hertes reste,Preith that he scholde chese algate,Til ate laste longe and late1820He seide: ‘O ye, my lyves hele,Sey what you list in my querele,397I not what ansuere I schal yive:Bot evere whil that I may live,I wol that ye be my maistresse,For I can noght miselve gesseWhich is the beste unto my chois.Thus grante I yow myn hole vois,Ches for ous bothen, I you preie;And what as evere that ye seie,1830Riht as ye wole so wol I.’‘Mi lord,’ sche seide, ‘grant merci,For of this word that ye now sein,That ye have mad me soverein,Mi destine is overpassed,That nevere hierafter schal be lassedP. i. 104Mi beaute, which that I now have,Til I be take into my grave;Bot nyht and day as I am now398I schal alwey be such to yow.1840The kinges dowhter of CizileI am, and fell bot siththe awhile,As I was with my fader late,That my Stepmoder for an hate,Which toward me sche hath begonne,Forschop me, til I hadde wonneThe love and sovereineteOf what knyht that in his degreAlle othre passeth of good name:And, as men sein, ye ben the same,1850The dede proeveth it is so;Thus am I youres evermo.’Tho was plesance and joye ynowh,Echon with other pleide and lowh;Thei live longe and wel thei ferde,And clerkes that this chance herdeThei writen it in evidence,To teche how that obedienceMai wel fortune a man to loveAnd sette him in his lust above,1860As it befell unto this knyht.Confessor.Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht,Thou schalt unto thi love obeie,And folwe hir will be alle weie.Amans.Min holy fader, so I wile:For ye have told me such a skileP. i. 105Of this ensample now tofore,That I schal evermo therforeHierafterward myn observanceTo love and to his obeissance1870The betre kepe: and over thisOf pride if ther oght elles is,Wherof that I me schryve schal,What thing it is in special,Mi fader, axeth, I you preie.Confessor.Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie:For yit ther is Surquiderie,Which stant with Pride of compaignie;Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon,To knowe if thou have gult or non1880Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere:399Now understond wel the matiere.

[Tale of Florent.]

Hic contra amori inobedientes ad commendacionem Obediencie Confessor super eodem exemplum ponit; vbi dicit quod, cum quedam Regis Cizilie filia in sue iuuentutis floribus pulcherrima ex eius Nouerce incantacionibus in vetulam turpissimam transformata extitit, Florencius tunc Imparatoris Claudi Nepos, miles in armis strenuissimus amorosisque372legibus intendens, ipsam ex sua obediencia in pulcritudinem pristinam mirabiliter reformauit.373

Ther was whilom be daies olde

A worthi knyht, and as men tolde370

He was Nevoeu to themperour

And of his Court a Courteour:1410

Wifles he was, Florent he hihte,

He was a man that mochel myhte,

Of armes he was desirous,

Chivalerous and amorous,

And for the fame of worldes speche,

Strange aventures forto seche,371

P. i. 90

He rod the Marches al aboute.

And fell a time, as he was oute,

Fortune, which may every thred

Tobreke and knette of mannes sped,1420

Schop, as this knyht rod in a pas,

That he be strengthe take was,

And to a Castell thei him ladde,

Wher that he fewe frendes hadde:

For so it fell that ilke stounde

That he hath with a dedly wounde

Feihtende his oghne hondes slain

Branchus, which to the Capitain

Was Sone and Heir, wherof ben wrothe

The fader and the moder bothe.1430

That knyht Branchus was of his hond

The worthieste of al his lond,

And fain thei wolden do vengance

Upon Florent, bot remembrance

That thei toke of his worthinesse

Of knyhthod and of gentilesse,

And how he stod of cousinage

To themperour, made hem assuage,

And dorsten noght slen him for fere:

In gret desputeisoun thei were3741440

Among hemself, what was the beste.

Ther was a lady, the slyheste

Of alle that men knewe tho,

So old sche myhte unethes go,

And was grantdame unto the dede:

And sche with that began to rede,

P. i. 91

And seide how sche wol bringe him inne,

That sche schal him to dethe winne

Al only of his oghne grant,

Thurgh strengthe of verray covenant1450

Withoute blame of eny wiht.

Anon sche sende for this kniht,

And of hire Sone sche alleide

The deth, and thus to him sche seide:

‘Florent, how so thou be to wyte

Of Branchus deth, men schal respite

As now to take vengement,

Be so thou stonde in juggement

Upon certein condicioun,

That thou unto a questioun1460

Which I schal axe schalt ansuere;

And over this thou schalt ek swere,

That if thou of the sothe faile,

Ther schal non other thing availe,375

That thou ne schalt thi deth receive.

And for men schal thee noght deceive,

That thou therof myht ben avised,

Thou schalt have day and tyme assised

And leve saufly forto wende,

Be so that at thi daies ende1470

Thou come ayein with thin avys.

This knyht, which worthi was and wys,

This lady preith that he may wite,

And have it under Seales write,

What questioun it scholde be

For which he schal in that degree

P. i. 92

Stonde of his lif in jeupartie.

With that sche feigneth compaignie,

And seith: ‘Florent, on love it hongeth376

Al that to myn axinge longeth:1480

What alle wommen most desire

This wole I axe, and in thempire

Wher as thou hast most knowlechinge

Tak conseil upon this axinge.’377

Florent this thing hath undertake,

The day was set, the time take,

Under his seal he wrot his oth,

In such a wise and forth he goth

Hom to his Emes court ayein;

To whom his aventure plein1490

He tolde, of that him is befalle.

And upon that thei weren alle378

The wiseste of the lond asent,

Bot natheles of on assent

Thei myhte noght acorde plat,

On seide this, an othre that.

After the disposicioun

Of naturel complexioun

To som womman it is plesance,

That to an other is grevance;3791500

Bot such a thing in special,

Which to hem alle in general

Is most plesant, and most desired

Above alle othre and most conspired,

Such o thing conne thei noght finde380

Be Constellation ne kinde:

P. i. 93

And thus Florent withoute cure

Mot stonde upon his aventure,

And is al schape unto the lere,381

As in defalte of his answere.1510

This knyht hath levere forto dye

Than breke his trowthe and forto lye

In place ther as he was swore,

And schapth him gon ayein therfore.

Whan time cam he tok his leve,

That lengere wolde he noght beleve,

And preith his Em he be noght wroth,

For that is a point of his oth,

He seith, that noman schal him wreke,

Thogh afterward men hiere speke1520

That he par aventure deie.

And thus he wente forth his weie

Alone as knyht aventurous,

And in his thoght was curious

To wite what was best to do:

And as he rod al one so,

And cam nyh ther he wolde be,

In a forest under a tre

He syh wher sat a creature,

A lothly wommannysch figure,1530

That forto speke of fleisch and bon

So foul yit syh he nevere non.

This knyht behield hir redely,

And as he wolde have passed by,

Sche cleped him and bad abide;

And he his horse heved aside

P. i. 94

Tho torneth, and to hire he rod,

And there he hoveth and abod,

To wite what sche wolde mene.

And sche began him to bemene,1540

And seide: ‘Florent be thi name,

Thou hast on honde such a game,

That bot thou be the betre avised,

Thi deth is schapen and devised,

That al the world ne mai the save,

Bot if that thou my conseil have.’

Florent, whan he this tale herde,

Unto this olde wyht answerde

And of hir conseil he hir preide.

And sche ayein to him thus seide:1550

‘Florent, if I for the so schape,

That thou thurgh me thi deth ascape

And take worschipe of thi dede,

What schal I have to my mede?’

‘What thing,’ quod he, ‘that thou wolt axe.’382

‘I bidde nevere a betre taxe,’

Quod sche, ‘bot ferst, er thou be sped,

Thou schalt me leve such a wedd,

That I wol have thi trowthe in honde

That thou schalt be myn housebonde.’1560

‘Nay,’ seith Florent, ‘that may noght be.’

‘Ryd thanne forth thi wey,’ quod sche,

‘And if thou go withoute red,

Thou schalt be sekerliche ded.’

Florent behihte hire good ynowh

Of lond, of rente, of park, of plowh,

P. i. 95

Bot al that compteth sche at noght.

Tho fell this knyht in mochel thoght,

Now goth he forth, now comth ayein,

He wot noght what is best to sein,1570

And thoghte, as he rod to and fro,

That chese he mot on of the tuo,

Or forto take hire to his wif383

Or elles forto lese his lif.

And thanne he caste his avantage,

That sche was of so gret an age,

That sche mai live bot a while,

And thoghte put hire in an Ile,384

Wher that noman hire scholde knowe,

Til sche with deth were overthrowe.1580

And thus this yonge lusti knyht

Unto this olde lothly wiht

Tho seide: ‘If that non other chance

Mai make my deliverance,

Bot only thilke same speche

Which, as thou seist, thou schalt me teche,

Have hier myn hond, I schal thee wedde.’

And thus his trowthe he leith to wedde.

With that sche frounceth up the browe:

‘This covenant I wol allowe,’1590

Sche seith: ‘if eny other thing

Bot that thou hast of my techyng

Fro deth thi body mai respite,

I woll thee of thi trowthe acquite,

And elles be non other weie.

Now herkne me what I schal seie.

P. i. 96

Whan thou art come into the place,

Wher now thei maken gret manace

And upon thi comynge abyde,

Thei wole anon the same tide1600

Oppose thee of thin answere.

I wot thou wolt nothing forbere

Of that thou wenest be thi beste,

And if thou myht so finde reste,

Wel is, for thanne is ther nomore.

And elles this schal be my lore,

That thou schalt seie, upon this Molde

That alle wommen lievest wolde

Be soverein of mannes love:

For what womman is so above,1610

Sche hath, as who seith, al hire wille;

And elles may sche noght fulfille

What thing hir were lievest have.

With this answere thou schalt save

Thiself, and other wise noght.

And whan thou hast thin ende wroght,

Com hier ayein, thou schalt me finde,

And let nothing out of thi minde.’

He goth him forth with hevy chiere,

As he that not in what manere1620

He mai this worldes joie atteigne:

For if he deie, he hath a peine,

And if he live, he mot him binde

To such on which of alle kinde

Of wommen is thunsemlieste:

Thus wot he noght what is the beste:385

P. i. 97

Bot be him lief or be him loth,

Unto the Castell forth he goth

His full answere forto yive,

Or forto deie or forto live.1630

Forth with his conseil cam the lord,

The thinges stoden of record,386

He sende up for the lady sone,

And forth sche cam, that olde Mone.

In presence of the remenant

The strengthe of al the covenant

Tho was reherced openly,

And to Florent sche bad forthi

That he schal tellen his avis,

As he that woot what is the pris.1640

Florent seith al that evere he couthe,

Bot such word cam ther non to mowthe,

That he for yifte or for beheste

Mihte eny wise his deth areste.

And thus he tarieth longe and late,

Til that this lady bad algate

That he schal for the dom final

Yive his answere in special387

Of that sche hadde him ferst opposed:

And thanne he hath trewly supposed1650

That he him may of nothing yelpe,

Bot if so be tho wordes helpe,388

Whiche as the womman hath him tawht;

Wherof he hath an hope cawht

That he schal ben excused so,

And tolde out plein his wille tho.

P. i. 98

And whan that this Matrone herde

The manere how this knyht ansuerde,

Sche seide: ‘Ha treson, wo thee be,

That hast thus told the privite,1660

Which alle wommen most desire!

I wolde that thou were afire.’

Bot natheles in such a plit

Florent of his answere is quit:

And tho began his sorwe newe,

For he mot gon, or ben untrewe,

To hire which his trowthe hadde.

Bot he, which alle schame dradde,

Goth forth in stede of his penance,

And takth the fortune of his chance,1670

As he that was with trowthe affaited.

This olde wyht him hath awaited

In place wher as he hire lefte:

Florent his wofull heved uplefte

And syh this vecke wher sche sat,

Which was the lothlieste what

That evere man caste on his yhe:

Hire Nase bass, hire browes hyhe,

Hire yhen smale and depe set,

Hire chekes ben with teres wet,1680

And rivelen as an emty skyn

Hangende doun unto the chin,

Hire Lippes schrunken ben for age,

Ther was no grace in the visage,

Hir front was nargh, hir lockes hore,

Sche loketh forth as doth a More,

P. i. 99

Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe,

That myhte a mannes lust destourbe,

Hire body gret and nothing smal,

And schortly to descrive hire al,1690

Sche hath no lith withoute a lak;

Bot lich unto the wollesak

Sche proferth hire unto this knyht,389

And bad him, as he hath behyht,

So as sche hath ben his warant,

That he hire holde covenant,

And be the bridel sche him seseth.

Bot godd wot how that sche him pleseth

Of suche wordes as sche spekth:

Him thenkth welnyh his herte brekth1700

For sorwe that he may noght fle,

Bot if he wolde untrewe be.

Loke, how a sek man for his hele

Takth baldemoine with Canele,390

And with the Mirre takth the Sucre,

Ryht upon such a maner lucre

Stant Florent, as in this diete:

He drinkth the bitre with the swete,

He medleth sorwe with likynge,

And liveth, as who seith, deyinge;1710

His youthe schal be cast aweie

Upon such on which as the weie

Is old and lothly overal.

Bot nede he mot that nede schal:

He wolde algate his trowthe holde,

As every knyht therto is holde,

P. i. 100

What happ so evere him is befalle:

Thogh sche be the fouleste of alle,

Yet to thonour of wommanhiede

Him thoghte he scholde taken hiede;1720

So that for pure gentilesse,

As he hire couthe best adresce,

In ragges, as sche was totore,

He set hire on his hors tofore

And forth he takth his weie softe;

No wonder thogh he siketh ofte.

Bot as an oule fleth be nyhte

Out of alle othre briddes syhte,

Riht so this knyht on daies brode

In clos him hield, and schop his rode1730

On nyhtes time, til the tyde

That he cam there he wolde abide;

And prively withoute noise

He bringth this foule grete Coise

To his Castell in such a wise

That noman myhte hire schappe avise,

Til sche into the chambre cam:

Wher he his prive conseil nam

Of suche men as he most troste,

And tolde hem that he nedes moste1740

This beste wedde to his wif,

For elles hadde he lost his lif.

The prive wommen were asent,

That scholden ben of his assent:

Hire ragges thei anon of drawe,

And, as it was that time lawe,

P. i. 101

She hadde bath, sche hadde reste,

And was arraied to the beste.

Bot with no craft of combes brode

Thei myhte hire hore lockes schode,1750

And sche ne wolde noght be schore

For no conseil, and thei therfore,

With such atyr as tho was used,

Ordeinen that it was excused,

And hid so crafteliche aboute,391

That noman myhte sen hem oute.

Bot when sche was fulliche arraied

And hire atyr was al assaied,

Tho was sche foulere on to se:

Bot yit it may non other be,1760

Thei were wedded in the nyht;

So wo begon was nevere knyht

As he was thanne of mariage.

And sche began to pleie and rage,

As who seith, I am wel ynowh;

Bot he therof nothing ne lowh,

For sche tok thanne chiere on honde

And clepeth him hire housebonde,392

And seith, ‘My lord, go we to bedde,

For I to that entente wedde,3931770

That thou schalt be my worldes blisse:’

And profreth him with that to kisse,

As sche a lusti Lady were.

His body myhte wel be there,

Bot as of thoght and of memoire

His herte was in purgatoire.

P. i. 102

Bot yit for strengthe of matrimoine

He myhte make non essoine,

That he ne mot algates plie

To gon to bedde of compaignie:1780

And whan thei were abedde naked,

Withoute slep he was awaked;

He torneth on that other side,

For that he wolde hise yhen hyde

Fro lokynge on that foule wyht.394

The chambre was al full of lyht,

The courtins were of cendal thinne,

This newe bryd which lay withinne,

Thogh it be noght with his acord,

In armes sche beclipte hire lord,1790

And preide, as he was torned fro,

He wolde him torne ayeinward tho;

‘For now,’ sche seith, ‘we ben bothe on.’395

And he lay stille as eny ston,

Bot evere in on sche spak and preide,

And bad him thenke on that he seide,

Whan that he tok hire be the hond.

He herde and understod the bond,

How he was set to his penance,

And as it were a man in trance1800

He torneth him al sodeinly,

And syh a lady lay him by

Of eyhtetiene wynter age,

Which was the faireste of visage

That evere in al this world he syh:

And as he wolde have take hire nyh,

P. i. 103

Sche put hire hand and be his leve

Besoghte him that he wolde leve,

And seith that forto wynne or lese396

He mot on of tuo thinges chese,1810

Wher he wol have hire such on nyht,

Or elles upon daies lyht,

For he schal noght have bothe tuo.

And he began to sorwe tho,

In many a wise and caste his thoght,

Bot for al that yit cowthe he noght

Devise himself which was the beste.

And sche, that wolde his hertes reste,

Preith that he scholde chese algate,

Til ate laste longe and late1820

He seide: ‘O ye, my lyves hele,

Sey what you list in my querele,397

I not what ansuere I schal yive:

Bot evere whil that I may live,

I wol that ye be my maistresse,

For I can noght miselve gesse

Which is the beste unto my chois.

Thus grante I yow myn hole vois,

Ches for ous bothen, I you preie;

And what as evere that ye seie,1830

Riht as ye wole so wol I.’

‘Mi lord,’ sche seide, ‘grant merci,

For of this word that ye now sein,

That ye have mad me soverein,

Mi destine is overpassed,

That nevere hierafter schal be lassed

P. i. 104

Mi beaute, which that I now have,

Til I be take into my grave;

Bot nyht and day as I am now398

I schal alwey be such to yow.1840

The kinges dowhter of Cizile

I am, and fell bot siththe awhile,

As I was with my fader late,

That my Stepmoder for an hate,

Which toward me sche hath begonne,

Forschop me, til I hadde wonne

The love and sovereinete

Of what knyht that in his degre

Alle othre passeth of good name:

And, as men sein, ye ben the same,1850

The dede proeveth it is so;

Thus am I youres evermo.’

Tho was plesance and joye ynowh,

Echon with other pleide and lowh;

Thei live longe and wel thei ferde,

And clerkes that this chance herde

Thei writen it in evidence,

To teche how that obedience

Mai wel fortune a man to love

And sette him in his lust above,1860

As it befell unto this knyht.

Confessor.

Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht,

Thou schalt unto thi love obeie,

And folwe hir will be alle weie.

Amans.

Min holy fader, so I wile:

For ye have told me such a skile

P. i. 105

Of this ensample now tofore,

That I schal evermo therfore

Hierafterward myn observance

To love and to his obeissance1870

The betre kepe: and over this

Of pride if ther oght elles is,

Wherof that I me schryve schal,

What thing it is in special,

Mi fader, axeth, I you preie.

Confessor.

Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie:

For yit ther is Surquiderie,

Which stant with Pride of compaignie;

Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon,

To knowe if thou have gult or non1880

Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere:399

Now understond wel the matiere.

Back to Index Next