Chapter 33

[Envy.]i.Inuidie culpa magis est attrita dolore,Nam sua mens nullo tempore leta manet:Quo gaudent alii, dolet ille, nec vnus amicusEst, cui de puro comoda velle facit.Proximitatis honor sua corda veretur, et omnisEst sibi leticia sic aliena dolor.Hoc etenim vicium quam sepe repugnat amanti,Non sibi, set reliquis, dum fauet ipsa Venus.Est amor ex proprio motu fantasticus, et queGaudia fert alius, credit obesse sibi.536(10)Now after Pride the secoundeTher is, which many a woful stoundeHic in secundo libro tractat de Inuidia et eius speciebus, quarum dolor alterius gaudii prima nuncupatur, cuius condicionem secundum vicium Confessor primitus describens, Amanti, quatenus amorem concernit, super eodem consequenter opponit.Towardes othre berth abouteWithinne himself and noght withoute;For in his thoght he brenneth evere,Whan that he wot an other levereOr more vertuous than he,Which passeth him in his degre;Therof he takth his maladie:That vice is cleped hot Envie.10Forthi, my Sone, if it be soThou art or hast ben on of tho,As forto speke in loves cas,[i.Sorrow for another man’s Joy.]If evere yit thin herte wasP. i. 160Sek of an other mannes hele?So god avance my querele,Mi fader, ye, a thousend sithe:Whanne I have sen an other blitheOf love, and hadde a goodly chiere,Ethna, which brenneth yer be yere,20Was thanne noght so hot as IOf thilke Sor which privelyMin hertes thoght withinne brenneth.The Schip which on the wawes renneth,And is forstormed and forblowe,Is noght more peined for a throweThan I am thanne, whanne I seAn other which that passeth meIn that fortune of loves yifte.Bot, fader, this I telle in schrifte,30That is nowher bot in o place;537For who that lese or finde graceIn other stede, it mai noght grieve:Bot this ye mai riht wel believe,Toward mi ladi that I serve,Thogh that I wiste forto sterve,Min herte is full of such sotie,That I myself mai noght chastie.Whan I the Court se of CupideAproche unto my ladi side40Of hem that lusti ben and freisshe,—Thogh it availe hem noght a reisshe,Bot only that thei ben in speche,—My sorwe is thanne noght to seche:P. i. 161Bot whan thei rounen in hire Ere,Than groweth al my moste fere,And namly whan thei talen longe;My sorwes thanne be so strongeOf that I se hem wel at ese,I can noght telle my desese.50Bot, Sire, as of my ladi selve,Thogh sche have wowers ten or twelve,For no mistrust I have of hireMe grieveth noght, for certes, Sire,I trowe, in al this world to seche,Nis womman that in dede and specheWoll betre avise hire what sche doth,Ne betre, forto seie a soth,Kepe hire honour ate alle tide,538And yit get hire a thank beside.53960Bot natheles I am beknowe,That whanne I se at eny throwe,Or elles if I mai it hiere,That sche make eny man good chiere,Thogh I therof have noght to done,Mi thought wol entermette him sone.For thogh I be miselve strange,Envie makth myn herte change,That I am sorghfully bestadOf that I se an other glad70With hire; bot of other alle,540Of love what so mai befalle,Or that he faile or that he spede,Therof take I bot litel heede.P. i. 162Now have I seid, my fader, alAs of this point in special,Als ferforthli as I have wist.Now axeth further what you list.541Confessor.Mi Sone, er I axe eny more,I thenke somdiel for thi lore80Telle an ensample of this matiereTouchende Envie, as thou schalt hiere.Write in Civile this I finde:Thogh it be noght the houndes kindeTo ete chaf, yit wol he werneAn Oxe which comth to the berne,Therof to taken eny fode.And thus, who that it understode,It stant of love in many place:Who that is out of loves grace90And mai himselven noght availe,He wolde an other scholde faile;542And if he may put eny lette,He doth al that he mai to lette.[Tale of Acis and Galatea.]Wherof I finde, as thou schalt wite,To this pourpos a tale write.543Ther ben of suche mo than twelve,That ben noght able as of hemselveTo gete love, and for EnvieUpon alle othre thei aspie;100Hic ponit Confessor exemplum saltem contra istos qui in amoris causa aliorum gaudiis inuidentes nequaquam per hoc sibi ipsis proficiunt. Et narrat, qualiter quidam iuuenis miles nomine Acis, quem Galathea Nimpha pulcherrima toto corde peramauit, cum ipsi sub quadam rupe iuxta litus maris colloquium adinuicem habuerunt, Poliphemus Gigas concussa rupe magnam inde partem super caput Acis ab alto proiciens ipsum per inuidiam interfecit. Et cum ipse super hoc dictam Galatheam rapere544voluisset, Neptunus Giganti obsistens ipsam inuiolatam salua custodia preseruauit. Set et546dii miserti corpus Acis defuncti in fontem aque dulcissime subito transmutarunt.And for hem lacketh that thei wolde,Thei kepte that non other scholdeTouchende of love his cause spede:Wherof a gret ensample I rede,P. i. 163Which unto this matiere acordeth,As Ovide in his bok recordeth,How Poliphemus whilom wroghte,Whan that he Galathee besoghteOf love, which he mai noght lacche.That made him forto waite and wacche110Be alle weies how it ferde,Til ate laste he knew and herdeHow that an other hadde leveTo love there as he mot leve,As forto speke of eny sped:So that he knew non other red,Bot forto wayten upon alle,545Til he may se the chance falleThat he hire love myhte grieve,Which he himself mai noght achieve.120This Galathee, seith the Poete,Above alle othre was unmeteOf beaute, that men thanne knewe,547And hadde a lusti love and trewe,A Bacheler in his degree,Riht such an other as was sche,On whom sche hath hire herte set,So that it myhte noght be letFor yifte ne for no beheste,548That sche ne was al at his heste.130This yonge knyht Acis was hote,Which hire ayeinward als so hoteAl only loveth and nomo.Hierof was Poliphemus woP. i. 164Thurgh pure Envie, and evere aspide,And waiteth upon every side,549Whan he togedre myhte seThis yonge Acis with Galathe.So longe he waiteth to and fro,Til ate laste he fond hem tuo,140In prive place wher thei stodeTo speke and have here wordes goode.The place wher as he hem syh,It was under a banke nyhThe grete See, and he aboveStod and behield the lusti loveWhich ech of hem to other madeWith goodly chiere and wordes glade,That al his herte hath set afyre550Of pure Envie: and as a fyre551150Which fleth out of a myhti bowe,Aweie he fledde for a throwe,As he that was for love wod,Whan that he sih how that it stod.This Polipheme a Geant was;And whan he sih the sothe cas,How Galathee him hath forsakeAnd Acis to hire love take,His herte mai it noght forbereThat he ne roreth lich a Bere;552160And as it were a wilde beste,The whom no reson mihte areste,553He ran Ethna the hell aboute,Wher nevere yit the fyr was oute,P. i. 165Fulfild of sorghe and gret desese,That he syh Acis wel at ese.Til ate laste he him bethoghte,As he which al Envie soghte,And torneth to the banke ayein,Wher he with Galathee hath seyn170Acis, whom that he thoghte grieve,Thogh he himself mai noght relieve.This Geant with his ruide myhtPart of the banke he schof doun riht,The which evene upon Acis fell,So that with fallinge of this hell554This Poliphemus Acis slowh,Wherof sche made sorwe ynowh.And as sche fledde fro the londe,Neptunus tok hire into honde180And kept hire in so sauf a place555Fro Polipheme and his manace,That he with al his false EnvieNe mihte atteigne hir compaignie.This Galathee of whom I speke,That of hirself mai noght be wreke,Withouten eny semblant feignedSche hath hire loves deth compleigned,And with hire sorwe and with hire woSche hath the goddes moeved so,190That thei of pite and of graceHave Acis in the same place,Ther he lai ded, into a welle556Transformed, as the bokes telle,P. i. 166With freisshe stremes and with cliere,As he whilom with lusti chiereWas freissh his love forto qweme.And with this ruide PoliphemeFor his Envie and for his hateThei were wrothe.Confessor.And thus algate,200Mi Sone, thou myht understonde,That if thou wolt in grace stondeWith love, thou most leve Envie:And as thou wolt for thi partieToward thi love stonde fre,So most thou soffre an other be,What so befalle upon the chaunce:For it is an unwys vengance,Which to non other man is lief,And is unto himselve grief.210Amans.Mi fader, this ensample is good;Bot how so evere that it stodWith Poliphemes love as tho,It schal noght stonde with me so,To worchen eny felonieIn love for no such Envie.Forthi if ther oght elles be,Now axeth forth, in what degreIt is, and I me schal confesseWith schrifte unto youre holinesse.220[ii.Joy for another man’s Grief.]ii.Orta sibi solito mentalia gaudia liuor557Dum videt alterius, dampna doloris agit.Inuidus obridet hodie fletus aliorum,Fletus cui proprios crastina fata parant.P. i. 167Sic in amore pari stat sorte iocosus, amantes558Cum videt illusos, inuidus ille quasi.Sit licet in vacuum, sperat tamen ipse leuamenAlterius casu, lapsus et ipse simul.Mi goode Sone, yit ther isA vice revers unto this,Which envious takth his gladnesseHic loquitur Confessor de secunda specie Inuidie, que gaudium alterius doloris dicitur, et primo eiusdem vicii materiam tractans amantis conscienciam super eodem vlterius inuestigat.Of that he seth the hevinesseOf othre men: for his welfareIs whanne he wot an other care:Of that an other hath a fall,He thenkth himself arist withal.559Such is the gladschipe of EnvieIn worldes thing, and in partie230Fulofte times ek alsoIn loves cause it stant riht so.If thou, my Sone, hast joie had,Whan thou an other sihe unglad,Schrif the therof.Amans.Mi fader, yis:I am beknowe unto you this.Of these lovers that loven streyte,And for that point which thei coveiteBen poursuiantz fro yeer to yereIn loves Court, whan I may hiere240How that thei clymbe upon the whel,And whan thei wene al schal be wel,Thei ben doun throwen ate laste,Thanne am I fedd of that thei faste,And lawhe of that I se hem loure;And thus of that thei brewe soureP. i. 168I drinke swete, and am wel esedOf that I wot thei ben desesed.Bot this which I you telle hiereIs only for my lady diere;250That for non other that I knoweMe reccheth noght who overthrowe,Ne who that stonde in love upriht:Bot be he squier, be he knyht,Which to my ladiward poursuieth,The more he lest of that he suieth,The mor me thenketh that I winne,And am the more glad withinneOf that I wot him sorwe endure.For evere upon such aventure260It is a confort, as men sein,Boicius. Consolacio miserorum est habere consortem in pena.To him the which is wo beseinTo sen an other in his peine,So that thei bothe mai compleigne.Wher I miself mai noght availeTo sen an other man travaile,I am riht glad if he be let;And thogh I fare noght the bet,His sorwe is to myn herte a game:Whan that I knowe it is the same270Which to mi ladi stant enclined,And hath his love noght termined,I am riht joifull in my thoght.If such Enviegrieveth oght,As I beknowe me coupable,Ye that be wys and resonable,P. i. 169Mi fader, telleth youre avis.Confessor.Mi Sone, Envie into no prisOf such a forme, I understonde,Ne mihte be no resoun stonde280For this Envie hath such a kinde,That he wole sette himself behindeTo hindre with an othre wyht,And gladly lese his oghne rihtTo make an other lesen his.And forto knowe how it so is,A tale lich to this matiereI thenke telle, if thou wolt hiere,To schewe proprely the viceOf this Envie and the malice.290[The Travellers and the Angel.]Hic ponit Confessor exemplum presertim contra illum, qui sponte sui ipsius detrimentum in alterius penam maiorem patitur. Et narrat quod, cum Iupiter angelum suum in forma hominis, vt hominum condiciones exploraret, ab excelso in terram misit, contigit quod ipse angelus duos homines, quorum vnus cupidus, alter inuidus erat, itinerando spacio quasi vnius diei comitabatur. Et cum sero factum esset, angelus eorum noticie seipsum tunc manifestans dixit, quod quicquid alter eorum ab ipso donari sibi pecierit, illud statim obtinebit, quod et socio suo secum comitanti affirmat duplicandum. Super quo cupidus impeditus auaricia, sperans sibi diuicias carpere562duplicatas, primo petere recusauit. Quod cum inuidus animaduerteret, naturam sui vicii concernens, ita vt socius suus vtroque lumine priuaretur, seipsum monoculum fieri constanter primus ab angelo postulabat. Et sic vnius inuidia alterius auariciam maculauit.Of Jupiter this finde I write,How whilom that he wolde witeUpon the pleigntes whiche he herde,Among the men how that it ferde,As of here wrong condicionTo do justificacion:And for that cause doun he senteAn Angel, which aboute wente,560That he the sothe knowe mai.So it befell upon a dai300This Angel, which him scholde enforme,Was clothed in a mannes forme,And overtok, I understonde,Tuo men that wenten over londe,Thurgh whiche he thoghte to aspieHis cause, and goth in compaignie.P. i. 170This Angel with hise wordes wiseOpposeth hem in sondri wise,Now lowde wordes and now softe,That mad hem to desputen ofte,561310And ech of hem his reson hadde.And thus with tales he hem laddeWith good examinacioun,Til he knew the condicioun,What men thei were bothe tuo;And sih wel ate laste tho,That on of hem was coveitous,And his fela was envious.And thus, whan he hath knowlechinge,Anon he feigneth departinge,320And seide he mot algate wende.Bot herkne now what fell at ende:For thanne he made hem understondeThat he was there of goddes sonde,And seide hem, for the kindeschipeThat thei have don him felaschipe,He wole hem do som grace ayein,And bad that on of hem schal seinWhat thing him is lievest to crave,And he it schal of yifte have;330And over that ek forth withalHe seith that other have schalThe double of that his felaw axeth;And thus to hem his grace he taxeth.The coveitous was wonder glad,And to that other man he badP. i. 171And seith that he ferst axe scholde:For he supposeth that he woldeMake his axinge of worldes good;For thanne he knew wel how it stod,340That he himself be double weyhteSchal after take, and thus be sleyhte,Be cause that he wolde winne,He bad his fela ferst beginne.This Envious, thogh it be late,Whan that he syh he mot algate.563Make his axinge ferst, he thoghte,If he worschipe or profit soghte,It schal be doubled to his fiere:That wolde he chese in no manere.350Bot thanne he scheweth what he wasToward Envie, and in this cas564Unto this Angel thus he seideAnd for his yifte this he preide,565To make him blind of his on yhe,So that his fela nothing syhe.This word was noght so sone spoke,That his on yhe anon was loke,And his felawh forthwith alsoWas blind of bothe his yhen tuo.360Tho was that other glad ynowh,That on wepte, and that other lowh,He sette his on yhe at no cost,Wherof that other two hath lost.Of thilke ensample which fell tho,566Men tellen now fulofte so,P. i. 172The world empeireth comunly:And yit wot non the cause why;For it acordeth noght to kindeMin oghne harm to seche and finde370Of that I schal my brother grieve;It myhte nevere wel achieve.Confessor.What seist thou, Sone, of this folie?Amans.Mi fader, bot I scholde lie,Upon the point which ye have seidYit was myn herte nevere leid,Bot in the wise as I you tolde.567Bot overmore, if that ye wolde568Oght elles to my schrifte seieTouchende Envie, I wolde preie.380Confessor.Mi Sone, that schal wel be do:Now herkne and ley thin Ere to.[iii.Detraction.]iii.Inuidie pars est detraccio pessima, pestemQue magis infamem flatibus oris agit.569Lingua venenato sermone repercutit auras,Sic ut in alterius scandala fama volat.Morsibus a tergo quos inficit ipsa fideles,Vulneris ignoti sepe salute carent.Set generosus amor linguam conseruat, vt eiusVerbum quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat.Touchende as of Envious brodI wot noght on of alle good;Bot natheles, suche as thei be,Hic tractat Confessor de tercia specie Inuidie, que Detraccio dicitur, cuius morsus vipereos lesa quamsepe fama deplangit.Yit is ther on, and that is heWhich cleped is Detraccioun.And to conferme his accioun,He hath withholde Malebouche,Whos tunge neither pyl ne crouche390P. i. 173Mai hyre, so that he pronounceA plein good word withoute frounceAwher behinde a mannes bak.For thogh he preise, he fint som lak,Which of his tale is ay the laste,That al the pris schal overcaste:And thogh ther be no cause why,Yit wole he jangle noght forthi,As he which hath the heraldieOf hem that usen forto lye.400For as the Netle which up renneth570The freisshe rede Roses brennethAnd makth hem fade and pale of hewe,Riht so this fals Envious hewe,In every place wher he duelleth,With false wordes whiche he tellethHe torneth preisinge into blameAnd worschipe into worldes schame.Of such lesinge as he compasseth,571Is non so good that he ne passeth410Betwen his teeth and is bacbited,And thurgh his false tunge endited:Lich to the Scharnebudes kinde,Of whos nature this I finde,That in the hoteste of the dai,Whan comen is the merie Maii,He sprat his wynge and up he fleth:And under al aboute he sethThe faire lusti floures springe,Bot therof hath he no likinge;420P. i. 174Bot where he seth of eny besteThe felthe, ther he makth his feste,And therupon he wole alyhte,Ther liketh him non other sihte.Riht so this janglere Envious,Thogh he a man se vertuousAnd full of good condicioun,Therof makth he no mencioun:Bot elles, be it noght so lyte,Wherof that he mai sette a wyte,430Ther renneth he with open mouth,Behinde a man and makth it couth.Bot al the vertu which he can,That wole he hide of every man,And openly the vice telle,As he which of the Scole of helleIs tawht, and fostred with EnvieOf houshold and of compaignie,Wher that he hath his propre officeTo sette on every man a vice.440How so his mouth be comely,His word sit evermore awryAnd seith the worste that he may.[Detraction of Lovers.]And in this wise now a dayIn loves Court a man mai hiereFulofte pleigne of this matiere,That many envious tale is stered,Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered;Bot yit fulofte it is believed,And many a worthi love is grieved450P. i. 175Thurgh bacbitinge of fals Envie.If thou have mad such janglerieIn loves Court, mi Sone, er this,Schrif thee therof.Hic in amoris causa huius vicii crimen ad memoriam reducens Confessor Amanti super eodem plenius opponit.Mi fader, yis:Bot wite ye how? noght openly,Bot otherwhile prively,Whan I my diere ladi mete,And thenke how that I am noght meteUnto hire hihe worthinesse,And ek I se the besinesse460Of al this yonge lusty route,Whiche alday pressen hire aboute,And ech of hem his time awaiteth,And ech of hem his tale affaiteth,Al to deceive an innocent,Which woll noght ben of here assent;And for men sein unknowe unkest,572Hire thombe sche holt in hire festSo clos withinne hire oghne hond,That there winneth noman lond;470Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth,And thus fulofte hirself sche skierethAnd is al war of ‘hadde I wist’:—573Bot for al that myn herte arist,Whanne I thes comun lovers se,That woll noght holden hem to thre,Bot welnyh loven overal,Min herte is Envious withal,And evere I am adrad of guile,In aunter if with eny wyle480P. i. 176Thei mihte hire innocence enchaunte.Forthi my wordes ofte I haunteBehynden hem, so as I dar,Wherof my ladi may be war:I sai what evere comth to mowthe,And worse I wolde, if that I cowthe;For whanne I come unto hir speche,Al that I may enquere and secheOf such deceipte, I telle it al,And ay the werste in special.490So fayn I wolde that sche wisteHow litel thei ben forto triste,And what thei wolde and what thei mente,So as thei be of double entente:Thus toward hem that wicke meneMy wicked word was evere grene.And natheles, the soth to telle,In certain if it so befelleThat althertrewest man ybore,To chese among a thousend score,500Which were alfulli forto triste,Mi ladi lovede, and I it wiste,Yit rathere thanne he scholde spede,I wolde swiche tales spredeTo my ladi, if that I myhte,That I scholde al his love unrihte,And therto wolde I do mi peine.For certes thogh I scholde feigne,And telle that was nevere thoght,For al this world I myhte noght510P. i. 177To soffre an othre fully winne,Ther as I am yit to beginne.For be thei goode, or be thei badde,I wolde non my ladi hadde;And that me makth fulofte aspieAnd usen wordes of Envie,Al forto make hem bere a blame.574And that is bot of thilke same,The whiche unto my ladi drawe,For evere on hem I rounge and gknawe520And hindre hem al that evere I mai;And that is, sothly forto say,Bot only to my lady selve:I telle it noght to ten ne tuelve,Therof I wol me wel avise,To speke or jangle in eny wiseThat toucheth to my ladi name,The which in ernest and in gameI wolde save into my deth;For me were levere lacke breth530Than speken of hire name amis.Now have ye herd touchende of this,Mi fader, in confessioun:And therfor of DetracciounIn love, of that I have mispoke,Tel how ye wole it schal be wroke.I am al redy forto bereMi peine, and also to forbereWhat thing that ye wol noght allowe;For who is bounden, he mot bowe.540P. i. 178So wol I bowe unto youre heste,For I dar make this beheste,That I to yow have nothing hid,Bot told riht as it is betid;And otherwise of no mispeche,Mi conscience forto seche,I can noght of Envie finde,That I mispoke have oght behindeWherof love owhte be mispaid.Now have ye herd and I have said;550What wol ye, fader, that I do?Confessor.Mi Sone, do nomore so,Bot evere kep thi tunge stille,Thou miht the more have of thi wille.575For as thou saist thiselven here,Thi ladi is of such manere,So wys, so war in alle thinge,It nedeth of no bakbitingeThat thou thi ladi mis enforme:For whan sche knoweth al the forme,560How that thiself art envious,Thou schalt noght be so graciousAs thou peraunter scholdest elles.Ther wol noman drinke of tho wellesWhiche as he wot is puyson inne;And ofte swich as men beginneTowardes othre, swich thei finde,That set hem ofte fer behinde,Whan that thei wene be before.Mi goode Sone, and thou therfore570P. i. 179Bewar and lef thi wicke speche,576Wherof hath fallen ofte wrecheTo many a man befor this time.For who so wole his handes lime,Thei mosten be the more unclene;For many a mote schal be sene,That wolde noght cleve elles there;And that schold every wys man fere:577For who so wol an other blame,He secheth ofte his oghne schame,580Which elles myhte be riht stille.Forthi if that it be thi willeTo stonde upon amendement,A tale of gret entendementI thenke telle for thi sake,Wherof thou miht ensample take.

[Envy.]

i.Inuidie culpa magis est attrita dolore,

Nam sua mens nullo tempore leta manet:

Quo gaudent alii, dolet ille, nec vnus amicus

Est, cui de puro comoda velle facit.

Proximitatis honor sua corda veretur, et omnis

Est sibi leticia sic aliena dolor.

Hoc etenim vicium quam sepe repugnat amanti,

Non sibi, set reliquis, dum fauet ipsa Venus.

Est amor ex proprio motu fantasticus, et que

Gaudia fert alius, credit obesse sibi.536(10)

Now after Pride the secoundeTher is, which many a woful stoundeHic in secundo libro tractat de Inuidia et eius speciebus, quarum dolor alterius gaudii prima nuncupatur, cuius condicionem secundum vicium Confessor primitus describens, Amanti, quatenus amorem concernit, super eodem consequenter opponit.Towardes othre berth abouteWithinne himself and noght withoute;For in his thoght he brenneth evere,Whan that he wot an other levereOr more vertuous than he,Which passeth him in his degre;Therof he takth his maladie:That vice is cleped hot Envie.10Forthi, my Sone, if it be soThou art or hast ben on of tho,As forto speke in loves cas,[i.Sorrow for another man’s Joy.]If evere yit thin herte wasP. i. 160Sek of an other mannes hele?So god avance my querele,Mi fader, ye, a thousend sithe:Whanne I have sen an other blitheOf love, and hadde a goodly chiere,Ethna, which brenneth yer be yere,20Was thanne noght so hot as IOf thilke Sor which privelyMin hertes thoght withinne brenneth.The Schip which on the wawes renneth,And is forstormed and forblowe,Is noght more peined for a throweThan I am thanne, whanne I seAn other which that passeth meIn that fortune of loves yifte.Bot, fader, this I telle in schrifte,30That is nowher bot in o place;537For who that lese or finde graceIn other stede, it mai noght grieve:Bot this ye mai riht wel believe,Toward mi ladi that I serve,Thogh that I wiste forto sterve,Min herte is full of such sotie,That I myself mai noght chastie.Whan I the Court se of CupideAproche unto my ladi side40Of hem that lusti ben and freisshe,—Thogh it availe hem noght a reisshe,Bot only that thei ben in speche,—My sorwe is thanne noght to seche:P. i. 161Bot whan thei rounen in hire Ere,Than groweth al my moste fere,And namly whan thei talen longe;My sorwes thanne be so strongeOf that I se hem wel at ese,I can noght telle my desese.50Bot, Sire, as of my ladi selve,Thogh sche have wowers ten or twelve,For no mistrust I have of hireMe grieveth noght, for certes, Sire,I trowe, in al this world to seche,Nis womman that in dede and specheWoll betre avise hire what sche doth,Ne betre, forto seie a soth,Kepe hire honour ate alle tide,538And yit get hire a thank beside.53960Bot natheles I am beknowe,That whanne I se at eny throwe,Or elles if I mai it hiere,That sche make eny man good chiere,Thogh I therof have noght to done,Mi thought wol entermette him sone.For thogh I be miselve strange,Envie makth myn herte change,That I am sorghfully bestadOf that I se an other glad70With hire; bot of other alle,540Of love what so mai befalle,Or that he faile or that he spede,Therof take I bot litel heede.P. i. 162Now have I seid, my fader, alAs of this point in special,Als ferforthli as I have wist.Now axeth further what you list.541Confessor.Mi Sone, er I axe eny more,I thenke somdiel for thi lore80Telle an ensample of this matiereTouchende Envie, as thou schalt hiere.Write in Civile this I finde:Thogh it be noght the houndes kindeTo ete chaf, yit wol he werneAn Oxe which comth to the berne,Therof to taken eny fode.And thus, who that it understode,It stant of love in many place:Who that is out of loves grace90And mai himselven noght availe,He wolde an other scholde faile;542And if he may put eny lette,He doth al that he mai to lette.[Tale of Acis and Galatea.]Wherof I finde, as thou schalt wite,To this pourpos a tale write.543

Now after Pride the secounde

Ther is, which many a woful stounde

Hic in secundo libro tractat de Inuidia et eius speciebus, quarum dolor alterius gaudii prima nuncupatur, cuius condicionem secundum vicium Confessor primitus describens, Amanti, quatenus amorem concernit, super eodem consequenter opponit.

Towardes othre berth aboute

Withinne himself and noght withoute;

For in his thoght he brenneth evere,

Whan that he wot an other levere

Or more vertuous than he,

Which passeth him in his degre;

Therof he takth his maladie:

That vice is cleped hot Envie.10

Forthi, my Sone, if it be so

Thou art or hast ben on of tho,

As forto speke in loves cas,

[i.Sorrow for another man’s Joy.]

If evere yit thin herte was

P. i. 160

Sek of an other mannes hele?

So god avance my querele,

Mi fader, ye, a thousend sithe:

Whanne I have sen an other blithe

Of love, and hadde a goodly chiere,

Ethna, which brenneth yer be yere,20

Was thanne noght so hot as I

Of thilke Sor which prively

Min hertes thoght withinne brenneth.

The Schip which on the wawes renneth,

And is forstormed and forblowe,

Is noght more peined for a throwe

Than I am thanne, whanne I se

An other which that passeth me

In that fortune of loves yifte.

Bot, fader, this I telle in schrifte,30

That is nowher bot in o place;537

For who that lese or finde grace

In other stede, it mai noght grieve:

Bot this ye mai riht wel believe,

Toward mi ladi that I serve,

Thogh that I wiste forto sterve,

Min herte is full of such sotie,

That I myself mai noght chastie.

Whan I the Court se of Cupide

Aproche unto my ladi side40

Of hem that lusti ben and freisshe,—

Thogh it availe hem noght a reisshe,

Bot only that thei ben in speche,—

My sorwe is thanne noght to seche:

P. i. 161

Bot whan thei rounen in hire Ere,

Than groweth al my moste fere,

And namly whan thei talen longe;

My sorwes thanne be so stronge

Of that I se hem wel at ese,

I can noght telle my desese.50

Bot, Sire, as of my ladi selve,

Thogh sche have wowers ten or twelve,

For no mistrust I have of hire

Me grieveth noght, for certes, Sire,

I trowe, in al this world to seche,

Nis womman that in dede and speche

Woll betre avise hire what sche doth,

Ne betre, forto seie a soth,

Kepe hire honour ate alle tide,538

And yit get hire a thank beside.53960

Bot natheles I am beknowe,

That whanne I se at eny throwe,

Or elles if I mai it hiere,

That sche make eny man good chiere,

Thogh I therof have noght to done,

Mi thought wol entermette him sone.

For thogh I be miselve strange,

Envie makth myn herte change,

That I am sorghfully bestad

Of that I se an other glad70

With hire; bot of other alle,540

Of love what so mai befalle,

Or that he faile or that he spede,

Therof take I bot litel heede.

P. i. 162

Now have I seid, my fader, al

As of this point in special,

Als ferforthli as I have wist.

Now axeth further what you list.541

Confessor.

Mi Sone, er I axe eny more,

I thenke somdiel for thi lore80

Telle an ensample of this matiere

Touchende Envie, as thou schalt hiere.

Write in Civile this I finde:

Thogh it be noght the houndes kinde

To ete chaf, yit wol he werne

An Oxe which comth to the berne,

Therof to taken eny fode.

And thus, who that it understode,

It stant of love in many place:

Who that is out of loves grace90

And mai himselven noght availe,

He wolde an other scholde faile;542

And if he may put eny lette,

He doth al that he mai to lette.

[Tale of Acis and Galatea.]

Wherof I finde, as thou schalt wite,

To this pourpos a tale write.543

Ther ben of suche mo than twelve,That ben noght able as of hemselveTo gete love, and for EnvieUpon alle othre thei aspie;100Hic ponit Confessor exemplum saltem contra istos qui in amoris causa aliorum gaudiis inuidentes nequaquam per hoc sibi ipsis proficiunt. Et narrat, qualiter quidam iuuenis miles nomine Acis, quem Galathea Nimpha pulcherrima toto corde peramauit, cum ipsi sub quadam rupe iuxta litus maris colloquium adinuicem habuerunt, Poliphemus Gigas concussa rupe magnam inde partem super caput Acis ab alto proiciens ipsum per inuidiam interfecit. Et cum ipse super hoc dictam Galatheam rapere544voluisset, Neptunus Giganti obsistens ipsam inuiolatam salua custodia preseruauit. Set et546dii miserti corpus Acis defuncti in fontem aque dulcissime subito transmutarunt.And for hem lacketh that thei wolde,Thei kepte that non other scholdeTouchende of love his cause spede:Wherof a gret ensample I rede,P. i. 163Which unto this matiere acordeth,As Ovide in his bok recordeth,How Poliphemus whilom wroghte,Whan that he Galathee besoghteOf love, which he mai noght lacche.That made him forto waite and wacche110Be alle weies how it ferde,Til ate laste he knew and herdeHow that an other hadde leveTo love there as he mot leve,As forto speke of eny sped:So that he knew non other red,Bot forto wayten upon alle,545Til he may se the chance falleThat he hire love myhte grieve,Which he himself mai noght achieve.120This Galathee, seith the Poete,Above alle othre was unmeteOf beaute, that men thanne knewe,547And hadde a lusti love and trewe,A Bacheler in his degree,Riht such an other as was sche,On whom sche hath hire herte set,So that it myhte noght be letFor yifte ne for no beheste,548That sche ne was al at his heste.130This yonge knyht Acis was hote,Which hire ayeinward als so hoteAl only loveth and nomo.Hierof was Poliphemus woP. i. 164Thurgh pure Envie, and evere aspide,And waiteth upon every side,549Whan he togedre myhte seThis yonge Acis with Galathe.So longe he waiteth to and fro,Til ate laste he fond hem tuo,140In prive place wher thei stodeTo speke and have here wordes goode.The place wher as he hem syh,It was under a banke nyhThe grete See, and he aboveStod and behield the lusti loveWhich ech of hem to other madeWith goodly chiere and wordes glade,That al his herte hath set afyre550Of pure Envie: and as a fyre551150Which fleth out of a myhti bowe,Aweie he fledde for a throwe,As he that was for love wod,Whan that he sih how that it stod.This Polipheme a Geant was;And whan he sih the sothe cas,How Galathee him hath forsakeAnd Acis to hire love take,His herte mai it noght forbereThat he ne roreth lich a Bere;552160And as it were a wilde beste,The whom no reson mihte areste,553He ran Ethna the hell aboute,Wher nevere yit the fyr was oute,P. i. 165Fulfild of sorghe and gret desese,That he syh Acis wel at ese.Til ate laste he him bethoghte,As he which al Envie soghte,And torneth to the banke ayein,Wher he with Galathee hath seyn170Acis, whom that he thoghte grieve,Thogh he himself mai noght relieve.This Geant with his ruide myhtPart of the banke he schof doun riht,The which evene upon Acis fell,So that with fallinge of this hell554This Poliphemus Acis slowh,Wherof sche made sorwe ynowh.And as sche fledde fro the londe,Neptunus tok hire into honde180And kept hire in so sauf a place555Fro Polipheme and his manace,That he with al his false EnvieNe mihte atteigne hir compaignie.This Galathee of whom I speke,That of hirself mai noght be wreke,Withouten eny semblant feignedSche hath hire loves deth compleigned,And with hire sorwe and with hire woSche hath the goddes moeved so,190That thei of pite and of graceHave Acis in the same place,Ther he lai ded, into a welle556Transformed, as the bokes telle,P. i. 166With freisshe stremes and with cliere,As he whilom with lusti chiereWas freissh his love forto qweme.And with this ruide PoliphemeFor his Envie and for his hateThei were wrothe.Confessor.And thus algate,200Mi Sone, thou myht understonde,That if thou wolt in grace stondeWith love, thou most leve Envie:And as thou wolt for thi partieToward thi love stonde fre,So most thou soffre an other be,What so befalle upon the chaunce:For it is an unwys vengance,Which to non other man is lief,And is unto himselve grief.210Amans.Mi fader, this ensample is good;Bot how so evere that it stodWith Poliphemes love as tho,It schal noght stonde with me so,To worchen eny felonieIn love for no such Envie.Forthi if ther oght elles be,Now axeth forth, in what degreIt is, and I me schal confesseWith schrifte unto youre holinesse.220

Ther ben of suche mo than twelve,

That ben noght able as of hemselve

To gete love, and for Envie

Upon alle othre thei aspie;100

Hic ponit Confessor exemplum saltem contra istos qui in amoris causa aliorum gaudiis inuidentes nequaquam per hoc sibi ipsis proficiunt. Et narrat, qualiter quidam iuuenis miles nomine Acis, quem Galathea Nimpha pulcherrima toto corde peramauit, cum ipsi sub quadam rupe iuxta litus maris colloquium adinuicem habuerunt, Poliphemus Gigas concussa rupe magnam inde partem super caput Acis ab alto proiciens ipsum per inuidiam interfecit. Et cum ipse super hoc dictam Galatheam rapere544voluisset, Neptunus Giganti obsistens ipsam inuiolatam salua custodia preseruauit. Set et546dii miserti corpus Acis defuncti in fontem aque dulcissime subito transmutarunt.

And for hem lacketh that thei wolde,

Thei kepte that non other scholde

Touchende of love his cause spede:

Wherof a gret ensample I rede,

P. i. 163

Which unto this matiere acordeth,

As Ovide in his bok recordeth,

How Poliphemus whilom wroghte,

Whan that he Galathee besoghte

Of love, which he mai noght lacche.

That made him forto waite and wacche110

Be alle weies how it ferde,

Til ate laste he knew and herde

How that an other hadde leve

To love there as he mot leve,

As forto speke of eny sped:

So that he knew non other red,

Bot forto wayten upon alle,545

Til he may se the chance falle

That he hire love myhte grieve,

Which he himself mai noght achieve.120

This Galathee, seith the Poete,

Above alle othre was unmete

Of beaute, that men thanne knewe,547

And hadde a lusti love and trewe,

A Bacheler in his degree,

Riht such an other as was sche,

On whom sche hath hire herte set,

So that it myhte noght be let

For yifte ne for no beheste,548

That sche ne was al at his heste.130

This yonge knyht Acis was hote,

Which hire ayeinward als so hote

Al only loveth and nomo.

Hierof was Poliphemus wo

P. i. 164

Thurgh pure Envie, and evere aspide,

And waiteth upon every side,549

Whan he togedre myhte se

This yonge Acis with Galathe.

So longe he waiteth to and fro,

Til ate laste he fond hem tuo,140

In prive place wher thei stode

To speke and have here wordes goode.

The place wher as he hem syh,

It was under a banke nyh

The grete See, and he above

Stod and behield the lusti love

Which ech of hem to other made

With goodly chiere and wordes glade,

That al his herte hath set afyre550

Of pure Envie: and as a fyre551150

Which fleth out of a myhti bowe,

Aweie he fledde for a throwe,

As he that was for love wod,

Whan that he sih how that it stod.

This Polipheme a Geant was;

And whan he sih the sothe cas,

How Galathee him hath forsake

And Acis to hire love take,

His herte mai it noght forbere

That he ne roreth lich a Bere;552160

And as it were a wilde beste,

The whom no reson mihte areste,553

He ran Ethna the hell aboute,

Wher nevere yit the fyr was oute,

P. i. 165

Fulfild of sorghe and gret desese,

That he syh Acis wel at ese.

Til ate laste he him bethoghte,

As he which al Envie soghte,

And torneth to the banke ayein,

Wher he with Galathee hath seyn170

Acis, whom that he thoghte grieve,

Thogh he himself mai noght relieve.

This Geant with his ruide myht

Part of the banke he schof doun riht,

The which evene upon Acis fell,

So that with fallinge of this hell554

This Poliphemus Acis slowh,

Wherof sche made sorwe ynowh.

And as sche fledde fro the londe,

Neptunus tok hire into honde180

And kept hire in so sauf a place555

Fro Polipheme and his manace,

That he with al his false Envie

Ne mihte atteigne hir compaignie.

This Galathee of whom I speke,

That of hirself mai noght be wreke,

Withouten eny semblant feigned

Sche hath hire loves deth compleigned,

And with hire sorwe and with hire wo

Sche hath the goddes moeved so,190

That thei of pite and of grace

Have Acis in the same place,

Ther he lai ded, into a welle556

Transformed, as the bokes telle,

P. i. 166

With freisshe stremes and with cliere,

As he whilom with lusti chiere

Was freissh his love forto qweme.

And with this ruide Polipheme

For his Envie and for his hate

Thei were wrothe.

Confessor.

And thus algate,200

Mi Sone, thou myht understonde,

That if thou wolt in grace stonde

With love, thou most leve Envie:

And as thou wolt for thi partie

Toward thi love stonde fre,

So most thou soffre an other be,

What so befalle upon the chaunce:

For it is an unwys vengance,

Which to non other man is lief,

And is unto himselve grief.210

Amans.

Mi fader, this ensample is good;

Bot how so evere that it stod

With Poliphemes love as tho,

It schal noght stonde with me so,

To worchen eny felonie

In love for no such Envie.

Forthi if ther oght elles be,

Now axeth forth, in what degre

It is, and I me schal confesse

With schrifte unto youre holinesse.220

[ii.Joy for another man’s Grief.]ii.Orta sibi solito mentalia gaudia liuor557Dum videt alterius, dampna doloris agit.Inuidus obridet hodie fletus aliorum,Fletus cui proprios crastina fata parant.P. i. 167Sic in amore pari stat sorte iocosus, amantes558Cum videt illusos, inuidus ille quasi.Sit licet in vacuum, sperat tamen ipse leuamenAlterius casu, lapsus et ipse simul.

[ii.Joy for another man’s Grief.]

ii.Orta sibi solito mentalia gaudia liuor557

Dum videt alterius, dampna doloris agit.

Inuidus obridet hodie fletus aliorum,

Fletus cui proprios crastina fata parant.

P. i. 167

Sic in amore pari stat sorte iocosus, amantes558

Cum videt illusos, inuidus ille quasi.

Sit licet in vacuum, sperat tamen ipse leuamen

Alterius casu, lapsus et ipse simul.

Mi goode Sone, yit ther isA vice revers unto this,Which envious takth his gladnesseHic loquitur Confessor de secunda specie Inuidie, que gaudium alterius doloris dicitur, et primo eiusdem vicii materiam tractans amantis conscienciam super eodem vlterius inuestigat.Of that he seth the hevinesseOf othre men: for his welfareIs whanne he wot an other care:Of that an other hath a fall,He thenkth himself arist withal.559Such is the gladschipe of EnvieIn worldes thing, and in partie230Fulofte times ek alsoIn loves cause it stant riht so.If thou, my Sone, hast joie had,Whan thou an other sihe unglad,Schrif the therof.Amans.Mi fader, yis:I am beknowe unto you this.Of these lovers that loven streyte,And for that point which thei coveiteBen poursuiantz fro yeer to yereIn loves Court, whan I may hiere240How that thei clymbe upon the whel,And whan thei wene al schal be wel,Thei ben doun throwen ate laste,Thanne am I fedd of that thei faste,And lawhe of that I se hem loure;And thus of that thei brewe soureP. i. 168I drinke swete, and am wel esedOf that I wot thei ben desesed.Bot this which I you telle hiereIs only for my lady diere;250That for non other that I knoweMe reccheth noght who overthrowe,Ne who that stonde in love upriht:Bot be he squier, be he knyht,Which to my ladiward poursuieth,The more he lest of that he suieth,The mor me thenketh that I winne,And am the more glad withinneOf that I wot him sorwe endure.For evere upon such aventure260It is a confort, as men sein,Boicius. Consolacio miserorum est habere consortem in pena.To him the which is wo beseinTo sen an other in his peine,So that thei bothe mai compleigne.Wher I miself mai noght availeTo sen an other man travaile,I am riht glad if he be let;And thogh I fare noght the bet,His sorwe is to myn herte a game:Whan that I knowe it is the same270Which to mi ladi stant enclined,And hath his love noght termined,I am riht joifull in my thoght.If such Enviegrieveth oght,As I beknowe me coupable,Ye that be wys and resonable,P. i. 169Mi fader, telleth youre avis.Confessor.Mi Sone, Envie into no prisOf such a forme, I understonde,Ne mihte be no resoun stonde280For this Envie hath such a kinde,That he wole sette himself behindeTo hindre with an othre wyht,And gladly lese his oghne rihtTo make an other lesen his.And forto knowe how it so is,A tale lich to this matiereI thenke telle, if thou wolt hiere,To schewe proprely the viceOf this Envie and the malice.290

Mi goode Sone, yit ther is

A vice revers unto this,

Which envious takth his gladnesse

Hic loquitur Confessor de secunda specie Inuidie, que gaudium alterius doloris dicitur, et primo eiusdem vicii materiam tractans amantis conscienciam super eodem vlterius inuestigat.

Of that he seth the hevinesse

Of othre men: for his welfare

Is whanne he wot an other care:

Of that an other hath a fall,

He thenkth himself arist withal.559

Such is the gladschipe of Envie

In worldes thing, and in partie230

Fulofte times ek also

In loves cause it stant riht so.

If thou, my Sone, hast joie had,

Whan thou an other sihe unglad,

Schrif the therof.

Amans.

Mi fader, yis:

I am beknowe unto you this.

Of these lovers that loven streyte,

And for that point which thei coveite

Ben poursuiantz fro yeer to yere

In loves Court, whan I may hiere240

How that thei clymbe upon the whel,

And whan thei wene al schal be wel,

Thei ben doun throwen ate laste,

Thanne am I fedd of that thei faste,

And lawhe of that I se hem loure;

And thus of that thei brewe soure

P. i. 168

I drinke swete, and am wel esed

Of that I wot thei ben desesed.

Bot this which I you telle hiere

Is only for my lady diere;250

That for non other that I knowe

Me reccheth noght who overthrowe,

Ne who that stonde in love upriht:

Bot be he squier, be he knyht,

Which to my ladiward poursuieth,

The more he lest of that he suieth,

The mor me thenketh that I winne,

And am the more glad withinne

Of that I wot him sorwe endure.

For evere upon such aventure260

It is a confort, as men sein,

Boicius. Consolacio miserorum est habere consortem in pena.

To him the which is wo besein

To sen an other in his peine,

So that thei bothe mai compleigne.

Wher I miself mai noght availe

To sen an other man travaile,

I am riht glad if he be let;

And thogh I fare noght the bet,

His sorwe is to myn herte a game:

Whan that I knowe it is the same270

Which to mi ladi stant enclined,

And hath his love noght termined,

I am riht joifull in my thoght.

If such Enviegrieveth oght,

As I beknowe me coupable,

Ye that be wys and resonable,

P. i. 169

Mi fader, telleth youre avis.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, Envie into no pris

Of such a forme, I understonde,

Ne mihte be no resoun stonde280

For this Envie hath such a kinde,

That he wole sette himself behinde

To hindre with an othre wyht,

And gladly lese his oghne riht

To make an other lesen his.

And forto knowe how it so is,

A tale lich to this matiere

I thenke telle, if thou wolt hiere,

To schewe proprely the vice

Of this Envie and the malice.290

[The Travellers and the Angel.]Hic ponit Confessor exemplum presertim contra illum, qui sponte sui ipsius detrimentum in alterius penam maiorem patitur. Et narrat quod, cum Iupiter angelum suum in forma hominis, vt hominum condiciones exploraret, ab excelso in terram misit, contigit quod ipse angelus duos homines, quorum vnus cupidus, alter inuidus erat, itinerando spacio quasi vnius diei comitabatur. Et cum sero factum esset, angelus eorum noticie seipsum tunc manifestans dixit, quod quicquid alter eorum ab ipso donari sibi pecierit, illud statim obtinebit, quod et socio suo secum comitanti affirmat duplicandum. Super quo cupidus impeditus auaricia, sperans sibi diuicias carpere562duplicatas, primo petere recusauit. Quod cum inuidus animaduerteret, naturam sui vicii concernens, ita vt socius suus vtroque lumine priuaretur, seipsum monoculum fieri constanter primus ab angelo postulabat. Et sic vnius inuidia alterius auariciam maculauit.Of Jupiter this finde I write,How whilom that he wolde witeUpon the pleigntes whiche he herde,Among the men how that it ferde,As of here wrong condicionTo do justificacion:And for that cause doun he senteAn Angel, which aboute wente,560That he the sothe knowe mai.So it befell upon a dai300This Angel, which him scholde enforme,Was clothed in a mannes forme,And overtok, I understonde,Tuo men that wenten over londe,Thurgh whiche he thoghte to aspieHis cause, and goth in compaignie.P. i. 170This Angel with hise wordes wiseOpposeth hem in sondri wise,Now lowde wordes and now softe,That mad hem to desputen ofte,561310And ech of hem his reson hadde.And thus with tales he hem laddeWith good examinacioun,Til he knew the condicioun,What men thei were bothe tuo;And sih wel ate laste tho,That on of hem was coveitous,And his fela was envious.And thus, whan he hath knowlechinge,Anon he feigneth departinge,320And seide he mot algate wende.Bot herkne now what fell at ende:For thanne he made hem understondeThat he was there of goddes sonde,And seide hem, for the kindeschipeThat thei have don him felaschipe,He wole hem do som grace ayein,And bad that on of hem schal seinWhat thing him is lievest to crave,And he it schal of yifte have;330And over that ek forth withalHe seith that other have schalThe double of that his felaw axeth;And thus to hem his grace he taxeth.The coveitous was wonder glad,And to that other man he badP. i. 171And seith that he ferst axe scholde:For he supposeth that he woldeMake his axinge of worldes good;For thanne he knew wel how it stod,340That he himself be double weyhteSchal after take, and thus be sleyhte,Be cause that he wolde winne,He bad his fela ferst beginne.This Envious, thogh it be late,Whan that he syh he mot algate.563Make his axinge ferst, he thoghte,If he worschipe or profit soghte,It schal be doubled to his fiere:That wolde he chese in no manere.350Bot thanne he scheweth what he wasToward Envie, and in this cas564Unto this Angel thus he seideAnd for his yifte this he preide,565To make him blind of his on yhe,So that his fela nothing syhe.This word was noght so sone spoke,That his on yhe anon was loke,And his felawh forthwith alsoWas blind of bothe his yhen tuo.360Tho was that other glad ynowh,That on wepte, and that other lowh,He sette his on yhe at no cost,Wherof that other two hath lost.Of thilke ensample which fell tho,566Men tellen now fulofte so,P. i. 172The world empeireth comunly:And yit wot non the cause why;For it acordeth noght to kindeMin oghne harm to seche and finde370Of that I schal my brother grieve;It myhte nevere wel achieve.Confessor.What seist thou, Sone, of this folie?Amans.Mi fader, bot I scholde lie,Upon the point which ye have seidYit was myn herte nevere leid,Bot in the wise as I you tolde.567Bot overmore, if that ye wolde568Oght elles to my schrifte seieTouchende Envie, I wolde preie.380Confessor.Mi Sone, that schal wel be do:Now herkne and ley thin Ere to.

[The Travellers and the Angel.]

Hic ponit Confessor exemplum presertim contra illum, qui sponte sui ipsius detrimentum in alterius penam maiorem patitur. Et narrat quod, cum Iupiter angelum suum in forma hominis, vt hominum condiciones exploraret, ab excelso in terram misit, contigit quod ipse angelus duos homines, quorum vnus cupidus, alter inuidus erat, itinerando spacio quasi vnius diei comitabatur. Et cum sero factum esset, angelus eorum noticie seipsum tunc manifestans dixit, quod quicquid alter eorum ab ipso donari sibi pecierit, illud statim obtinebit, quod et socio suo secum comitanti affirmat duplicandum. Super quo cupidus impeditus auaricia, sperans sibi diuicias carpere562duplicatas, primo petere recusauit. Quod cum inuidus animaduerteret, naturam sui vicii concernens, ita vt socius suus vtroque lumine priuaretur, seipsum monoculum fieri constanter primus ab angelo postulabat. Et sic vnius inuidia alterius auariciam maculauit.

Of Jupiter this finde I write,

How whilom that he wolde wite

Upon the pleigntes whiche he herde,

Among the men how that it ferde,

As of here wrong condicion

To do justificacion:

And for that cause doun he sente

An Angel, which aboute wente,560

That he the sothe knowe mai.

So it befell upon a dai300

This Angel, which him scholde enforme,

Was clothed in a mannes forme,

And overtok, I understonde,

Tuo men that wenten over londe,

Thurgh whiche he thoghte to aspie

His cause, and goth in compaignie.

P. i. 170

This Angel with hise wordes wise

Opposeth hem in sondri wise,

Now lowde wordes and now softe,

That mad hem to desputen ofte,561310

And ech of hem his reson hadde.

And thus with tales he hem ladde

With good examinacioun,

Til he knew the condicioun,

What men thei were bothe tuo;

And sih wel ate laste tho,

That on of hem was coveitous,

And his fela was envious.

And thus, whan he hath knowlechinge,

Anon he feigneth departinge,320

And seide he mot algate wende.

Bot herkne now what fell at ende:

For thanne he made hem understonde

That he was there of goddes sonde,

And seide hem, for the kindeschipe

That thei have don him felaschipe,

He wole hem do som grace ayein,

And bad that on of hem schal sein

What thing him is lievest to crave,

And he it schal of yifte have;330

And over that ek forth withal

He seith that other have schal

The double of that his felaw axeth;

And thus to hem his grace he taxeth.

The coveitous was wonder glad,

And to that other man he bad

P. i. 171

And seith that he ferst axe scholde:

For he supposeth that he wolde

Make his axinge of worldes good;

For thanne he knew wel how it stod,340

That he himself be double weyhte

Schal after take, and thus be sleyhte,

Be cause that he wolde winne,

He bad his fela ferst beginne.

This Envious, thogh it be late,

Whan that he syh he mot algate.563

Make his axinge ferst, he thoghte,

If he worschipe or profit soghte,

It schal be doubled to his fiere:

That wolde he chese in no manere.350

Bot thanne he scheweth what he was

Toward Envie, and in this cas564

Unto this Angel thus he seide

And for his yifte this he preide,565

To make him blind of his on yhe,

So that his fela nothing syhe.

This word was noght so sone spoke,

That his on yhe anon was loke,

And his felawh forthwith also

Was blind of bothe his yhen tuo.360

Tho was that other glad ynowh,

That on wepte, and that other lowh,

He sette his on yhe at no cost,

Wherof that other two hath lost.

Of thilke ensample which fell tho,566

Men tellen now fulofte so,

P. i. 172

The world empeireth comunly:

And yit wot non the cause why;

For it acordeth noght to kinde

Min oghne harm to seche and finde370

Of that I schal my brother grieve;

It myhte nevere wel achieve.

Confessor.

What seist thou, Sone, of this folie?

Amans.

Mi fader, bot I scholde lie,

Upon the point which ye have seid

Yit was myn herte nevere leid,

Bot in the wise as I you tolde.567

Bot overmore, if that ye wolde568

Oght elles to my schrifte seie

Touchende Envie, I wolde preie.380

Confessor.

Mi Sone, that schal wel be do:

Now herkne and ley thin Ere to.

[iii.Detraction.]iii.Inuidie pars est detraccio pessima, pestemQue magis infamem flatibus oris agit.569Lingua venenato sermone repercutit auras,Sic ut in alterius scandala fama volat.Morsibus a tergo quos inficit ipsa fideles,Vulneris ignoti sepe salute carent.Set generosus amor linguam conseruat, vt eiusVerbum quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat.

[iii.Detraction.]

iii.Inuidie pars est detraccio pessima, pestem

Que magis infamem flatibus oris agit.569

Lingua venenato sermone repercutit auras,

Sic ut in alterius scandala fama volat.

Morsibus a tergo quos inficit ipsa fideles,

Vulneris ignoti sepe salute carent.

Set generosus amor linguam conseruat, vt eius

Verbum quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat.

Touchende as of Envious brodI wot noght on of alle good;Bot natheles, suche as thei be,Hic tractat Confessor de tercia specie Inuidie, que Detraccio dicitur, cuius morsus vipereos lesa quamsepe fama deplangit.Yit is ther on, and that is heWhich cleped is Detraccioun.And to conferme his accioun,He hath withholde Malebouche,Whos tunge neither pyl ne crouche390P. i. 173Mai hyre, so that he pronounceA plein good word withoute frounceAwher behinde a mannes bak.For thogh he preise, he fint som lak,Which of his tale is ay the laste,That al the pris schal overcaste:And thogh ther be no cause why,Yit wole he jangle noght forthi,As he which hath the heraldieOf hem that usen forto lye.400For as the Netle which up renneth570The freisshe rede Roses brennethAnd makth hem fade and pale of hewe,Riht so this fals Envious hewe,In every place wher he duelleth,With false wordes whiche he tellethHe torneth preisinge into blameAnd worschipe into worldes schame.Of such lesinge as he compasseth,571Is non so good that he ne passeth410Betwen his teeth and is bacbited,And thurgh his false tunge endited:Lich to the Scharnebudes kinde,Of whos nature this I finde,That in the hoteste of the dai,Whan comen is the merie Maii,He sprat his wynge and up he fleth:And under al aboute he sethThe faire lusti floures springe,Bot therof hath he no likinge;420P. i. 174Bot where he seth of eny besteThe felthe, ther he makth his feste,And therupon he wole alyhte,Ther liketh him non other sihte.Riht so this janglere Envious,Thogh he a man se vertuousAnd full of good condicioun,Therof makth he no mencioun:Bot elles, be it noght so lyte,Wherof that he mai sette a wyte,430Ther renneth he with open mouth,Behinde a man and makth it couth.Bot al the vertu which he can,That wole he hide of every man,And openly the vice telle,As he which of the Scole of helleIs tawht, and fostred with EnvieOf houshold and of compaignie,Wher that he hath his propre officeTo sette on every man a vice.440How so his mouth be comely,His word sit evermore awryAnd seith the worste that he may.[Detraction of Lovers.]And in this wise now a dayIn loves Court a man mai hiereFulofte pleigne of this matiere,That many envious tale is stered,Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered;Bot yit fulofte it is believed,And many a worthi love is grieved450P. i. 175Thurgh bacbitinge of fals Envie.If thou have mad such janglerieIn loves Court, mi Sone, er this,Schrif thee therof.Hic in amoris causa huius vicii crimen ad memoriam reducens Confessor Amanti super eodem plenius opponit.Mi fader, yis:Bot wite ye how? noght openly,Bot otherwhile prively,Whan I my diere ladi mete,And thenke how that I am noght meteUnto hire hihe worthinesse,And ek I se the besinesse460Of al this yonge lusty route,Whiche alday pressen hire aboute,And ech of hem his time awaiteth,And ech of hem his tale affaiteth,Al to deceive an innocent,Which woll noght ben of here assent;And for men sein unknowe unkest,572Hire thombe sche holt in hire festSo clos withinne hire oghne hond,That there winneth noman lond;470Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth,And thus fulofte hirself sche skierethAnd is al war of ‘hadde I wist’:—573Bot for al that myn herte arist,Whanne I thes comun lovers se,That woll noght holden hem to thre,Bot welnyh loven overal,Min herte is Envious withal,And evere I am adrad of guile,In aunter if with eny wyle480P. i. 176Thei mihte hire innocence enchaunte.Forthi my wordes ofte I haunteBehynden hem, so as I dar,Wherof my ladi may be war:I sai what evere comth to mowthe,And worse I wolde, if that I cowthe;For whanne I come unto hir speche,Al that I may enquere and secheOf such deceipte, I telle it al,And ay the werste in special.490So fayn I wolde that sche wisteHow litel thei ben forto triste,And what thei wolde and what thei mente,So as thei be of double entente:Thus toward hem that wicke meneMy wicked word was evere grene.And natheles, the soth to telle,In certain if it so befelleThat althertrewest man ybore,To chese among a thousend score,500Which were alfulli forto triste,Mi ladi lovede, and I it wiste,Yit rathere thanne he scholde spede,I wolde swiche tales spredeTo my ladi, if that I myhte,That I scholde al his love unrihte,And therto wolde I do mi peine.For certes thogh I scholde feigne,And telle that was nevere thoght,For al this world I myhte noght510P. i. 177To soffre an othre fully winne,Ther as I am yit to beginne.For be thei goode, or be thei badde,I wolde non my ladi hadde;And that me makth fulofte aspieAnd usen wordes of Envie,Al forto make hem bere a blame.574And that is bot of thilke same,The whiche unto my ladi drawe,For evere on hem I rounge and gknawe520And hindre hem al that evere I mai;And that is, sothly forto say,Bot only to my lady selve:I telle it noght to ten ne tuelve,Therof I wol me wel avise,To speke or jangle in eny wiseThat toucheth to my ladi name,The which in ernest and in gameI wolde save into my deth;For me were levere lacke breth530Than speken of hire name amis.Now have ye herd touchende of this,Mi fader, in confessioun:And therfor of DetracciounIn love, of that I have mispoke,Tel how ye wole it schal be wroke.I am al redy forto bereMi peine, and also to forbereWhat thing that ye wol noght allowe;For who is bounden, he mot bowe.540P. i. 178So wol I bowe unto youre heste,For I dar make this beheste,That I to yow have nothing hid,Bot told riht as it is betid;And otherwise of no mispeche,Mi conscience forto seche,I can noght of Envie finde,That I mispoke have oght behindeWherof love owhte be mispaid.Now have ye herd and I have said;550What wol ye, fader, that I do?Confessor.Mi Sone, do nomore so,Bot evere kep thi tunge stille,Thou miht the more have of thi wille.575For as thou saist thiselven here,Thi ladi is of such manere,So wys, so war in alle thinge,It nedeth of no bakbitingeThat thou thi ladi mis enforme:For whan sche knoweth al the forme,560How that thiself art envious,Thou schalt noght be so graciousAs thou peraunter scholdest elles.Ther wol noman drinke of tho wellesWhiche as he wot is puyson inne;And ofte swich as men beginneTowardes othre, swich thei finde,That set hem ofte fer behinde,Whan that thei wene be before.Mi goode Sone, and thou therfore570P. i. 179Bewar and lef thi wicke speche,576Wherof hath fallen ofte wrecheTo many a man befor this time.For who so wole his handes lime,Thei mosten be the more unclene;For many a mote schal be sene,That wolde noght cleve elles there;And that schold every wys man fere:577For who so wol an other blame,He secheth ofte his oghne schame,580Which elles myhte be riht stille.Forthi if that it be thi willeTo stonde upon amendement,A tale of gret entendementI thenke telle for thi sake,Wherof thou miht ensample take.

Touchende as of Envious brod

I wot noght on of alle good;

Bot natheles, suche as thei be,

Hic tractat Confessor de tercia specie Inuidie, que Detraccio dicitur, cuius morsus vipereos lesa quamsepe fama deplangit.

Yit is ther on, and that is he

Which cleped is Detraccioun.

And to conferme his accioun,

He hath withholde Malebouche,

Whos tunge neither pyl ne crouche390

P. i. 173

Mai hyre, so that he pronounce

A plein good word withoute frounce

Awher behinde a mannes bak.

For thogh he preise, he fint som lak,

Which of his tale is ay the laste,

That al the pris schal overcaste:

And thogh ther be no cause why,

Yit wole he jangle noght forthi,

As he which hath the heraldie

Of hem that usen forto lye.400

For as the Netle which up renneth570

The freisshe rede Roses brenneth

And makth hem fade and pale of hewe,

Riht so this fals Envious hewe,

In every place wher he duelleth,

With false wordes whiche he telleth

He torneth preisinge into blame

And worschipe into worldes schame.

Of such lesinge as he compasseth,571

Is non so good that he ne passeth410

Betwen his teeth and is bacbited,

And thurgh his false tunge endited:

Lich to the Scharnebudes kinde,

Of whos nature this I finde,

That in the hoteste of the dai,

Whan comen is the merie Maii,

He sprat his wynge and up he fleth:

And under al aboute he seth

The faire lusti floures springe,

Bot therof hath he no likinge;420

P. i. 174

Bot where he seth of eny beste

The felthe, ther he makth his feste,

And therupon he wole alyhte,

Ther liketh him non other sihte.

Riht so this janglere Envious,

Thogh he a man se vertuous

And full of good condicioun,

Therof makth he no mencioun:

Bot elles, be it noght so lyte,

Wherof that he mai sette a wyte,430

Ther renneth he with open mouth,

Behinde a man and makth it couth.

Bot al the vertu which he can,

That wole he hide of every man,

And openly the vice telle,

As he which of the Scole of helle

Is tawht, and fostred with Envie

Of houshold and of compaignie,

Wher that he hath his propre office

To sette on every man a vice.440

How so his mouth be comely,

His word sit evermore awry

And seith the worste that he may.

[Detraction of Lovers.]

And in this wise now a day

In loves Court a man mai hiere

Fulofte pleigne of this matiere,

That many envious tale is stered,

Wher that it mai noght ben ansuered;

Bot yit fulofte it is believed,

And many a worthi love is grieved450

P. i. 175

Thurgh bacbitinge of fals Envie.

If thou have mad such janglerie

In loves Court, mi Sone, er this,

Schrif thee therof.

Hic in amoris causa huius vicii crimen ad memoriam reducens Confessor Amanti super eodem plenius opponit.

Mi fader, yis:

Bot wite ye how? noght openly,

Bot otherwhile prively,

Whan I my diere ladi mete,

And thenke how that I am noght mete

Unto hire hihe worthinesse,

And ek I se the besinesse460

Of al this yonge lusty route,

Whiche alday pressen hire aboute,

And ech of hem his time awaiteth,

And ech of hem his tale affaiteth,

Al to deceive an innocent,

Which woll noght ben of here assent;

And for men sein unknowe unkest,572

Hire thombe sche holt in hire fest

So clos withinne hire oghne hond,

That there winneth noman lond;470

Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth,

And thus fulofte hirself sche skiereth

And is al war of ‘hadde I wist’:—573

Bot for al that myn herte arist,

Whanne I thes comun lovers se,

That woll noght holden hem to thre,

Bot welnyh loven overal,

Min herte is Envious withal,

And evere I am adrad of guile,

In aunter if with eny wyle480

P. i. 176

Thei mihte hire innocence enchaunte.

Forthi my wordes ofte I haunte

Behynden hem, so as I dar,

Wherof my ladi may be war:

I sai what evere comth to mowthe,

And worse I wolde, if that I cowthe;

For whanne I come unto hir speche,

Al that I may enquere and seche

Of such deceipte, I telle it al,

And ay the werste in special.490

So fayn I wolde that sche wiste

How litel thei ben forto triste,

And what thei wolde and what thei mente,

So as thei be of double entente:

Thus toward hem that wicke mene

My wicked word was evere grene.

And natheles, the soth to telle,

In certain if it so befelle

That althertrewest man ybore,

To chese among a thousend score,500

Which were alfulli forto triste,

Mi ladi lovede, and I it wiste,

Yit rathere thanne he scholde spede,

I wolde swiche tales sprede

To my ladi, if that I myhte,

That I scholde al his love unrihte,

And therto wolde I do mi peine.

For certes thogh I scholde feigne,

And telle that was nevere thoght,

For al this world I myhte noght510

P. i. 177

To soffre an othre fully winne,

Ther as I am yit to beginne.

For be thei goode, or be thei badde,

I wolde non my ladi hadde;

And that me makth fulofte aspie

And usen wordes of Envie,

Al forto make hem bere a blame.574

And that is bot of thilke same,

The whiche unto my ladi drawe,

For evere on hem I rounge and gknawe520

And hindre hem al that evere I mai;

And that is, sothly forto say,

Bot only to my lady selve:

I telle it noght to ten ne tuelve,

Therof I wol me wel avise,

To speke or jangle in eny wise

That toucheth to my ladi name,

The which in ernest and in game

I wolde save into my deth;

For me were levere lacke breth530

Than speken of hire name amis.

Now have ye herd touchende of this,

Mi fader, in confessioun:

And therfor of Detraccioun

In love, of that I have mispoke,

Tel how ye wole it schal be wroke.

I am al redy forto bere

Mi peine, and also to forbere

What thing that ye wol noght allowe;

For who is bounden, he mot bowe.540

P. i. 178

So wol I bowe unto youre heste,

For I dar make this beheste,

That I to yow have nothing hid,

Bot told riht as it is betid;

And otherwise of no mispeche,

Mi conscience forto seche,

I can noght of Envie finde,

That I mispoke have oght behinde

Wherof love owhte be mispaid.

Now have ye herd and I have said;550

What wol ye, fader, that I do?

Confessor.

Mi Sone, do nomore so,

Bot evere kep thi tunge stille,

Thou miht the more have of thi wille.575

For as thou saist thiselven here,

Thi ladi is of such manere,

So wys, so war in alle thinge,

It nedeth of no bakbitinge

That thou thi ladi mis enforme:

For whan sche knoweth al the forme,560

How that thiself art envious,

Thou schalt noght be so gracious

As thou peraunter scholdest elles.

Ther wol noman drinke of tho welles

Whiche as he wot is puyson inne;

And ofte swich as men beginne

Towardes othre, swich thei finde,

That set hem ofte fer behinde,

Whan that thei wene be before.

Mi goode Sone, and thou therfore570

P. i. 179

Bewar and lef thi wicke speche,576

Wherof hath fallen ofte wreche

To many a man befor this time.

For who so wole his handes lime,

Thei mosten be the more unclene;

For many a mote schal be sene,

That wolde noght cleve elles there;

And that schold every wys man fere:577

For who so wol an other blame,

He secheth ofte his oghne schame,580

Which elles myhte be riht stille.

Forthi if that it be thi wille

To stonde upon amendement,

A tale of gret entendement

I thenke telle for thi sake,

Wherof thou miht ensample take.

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