Chapter 43

[Athemas and Demephon.]Whan noble Troie was beleinAnd overcome, and hom ayeinThe Gregois torned fro the siege,Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui nimio furore accensi vindictam Ire sue vltra quam decet consequi affectant. Et narrat qualiter Athemas et Demephon Reges, cum ipsi de bello Troiano ad propria remeassent et a suis ibidem pacifice recepti non fuissent, congregato aliunde pugnatorum excercitu, regiones suas non solum incendio vastare set et omnes in eisdem habitantes a minimo vsque ad maiorem in perpetuam vindicte memoriam gladio interficere feruore998iracundie proposuerunt. Set Rex Nestor, qui senex et sapiens fuit, ex paciencia tractatus inter ipsos Reges et eorum Regna inita pace et concordia huiusmodi impetuositatem micius999pacificauit.The kinges founde here oghne liege1760In manye places, as men seide,That hem forsoke and desobeide.Among the whiche fell this cas1000To Demephon and Athemas,That weren kinges bothe tuo,And bothe weren served so:Here lieges wolde hem noght receive,1001So that thei mote algates weyveTo seche lond in other place,For there founde thei no grace.1770Wherof they token hem to rede,And soghten frendes ate nede,P. i. 339And ech of hem asseureth otherTo helpe as to his oghne brother,To vengen hem of thilke oultrageAnd winne ayein here heritage.And thus thei ryde aboute fasteTo gete hem help, and ate lasteThei hadden pouer sufficant,And maden thanne a covenant,1780That thei ne scholden no lif save,Ne prest, ne clerc, ne lord, ne knave,Ne wif, ne child, of that thei finde,Which berth visage of mannes kinde,So that no lif schal be socoured,Bot with the dedly swerd devoured:In such Folhaste here ordinanceThei schapen forto do vengance.Whan this pourpos was wist and knoweAmong here host, tho was ther blowe1790Of wordes many a speche aboute:Of yonge men the lusti routeWere of this tale glad ynowh,Ther was no care for the plowh;As thei that weren Folhastif,Thei ben acorded to the strif,And sein it mai noght be to gretTo vengen hem of such forfet:Thus seith the wilde unwise tongeOf hem that there weren yonge.10021800Bot Nestor, which was old and hor,The salve sih tofore the sor,P. i. 340As he that was of conseil wys:So that anon be his avisTher was a prive conseil nome.The lordes ben togedre come;1003This Demephon and AthemasHere pourpos tolden, as it was;Thei sieten alle stille and herde,Was non bot Nestor hem ansuerde.1810He bad hem, if thei wolde winne,They scholden se, er thei beginne,Here ende, and sette here ferste entente,That thei hem after ne repente:And axeth hem this questioun,To what final conclusiounThei wolde regne Kinges there,If that no poeple in londe were;And seith, it were a wonder wierdeTo sen a king become an hierde,1820Wher no lif is bot only besteUnder the liegance of his heste;For who that is of man no king,The remenant is as no thing.He seith ek, if the pourpos holdeTo sle the poeple, as thei tuo wolde,Whan thei it mihte noght restore,Al Grece it scholde abegge sore,To se the wilde beste woneWher whilom duelte a mannes Sone:10041830And for that cause he bad hem trete,And stinte of the manaces grete.1005P. i. 341Betre is to winne be fair speche,He seith, than such vengance seche;Nota.1006For whanne a man is most above,Him nedeth most to gete him love.Whan Nestor hath his tale seid,Ayein him was no word withseid;It thoghte hem alle he seide wel:And thus fortune hire dedly whiel1840Fro werre torneth into pes.Bot forth thei wenten natheles;And whan the Contres herde seinHow that here kinges be beseinOf such a pouer as thei ladde,Was non so bold that hem ne dradde,And forto seche pes and grithThei sende and preide anon forthwith,So that the kinges ben appesed,And every mannes herte is esed;1850Al was foryete and noght recorded.And thus thei ben togedre acorded;The kinges were ayein received,And pes was take and wraththe weived,And al thurgh conseil which was goodOf him that reson understod.Confessor.Be this ensample, Sone, attempreThin herte and let no will distempreNota.1007Thi wit, and do nothing be myhtWhich mai be do be love and riht.1860Folhaste is cause of mochel wo;Forthi, mi Sone, do noght so.[Homicide.]P. i. 342And as touchende of HomicideWhich toucheth unto loves side,Fulofte it falleth unavisedThurgh will, which is noght wel assised,1008Whan wit and reson ben aweieAnd that Folhaste is in the weie,Wherof hath falle gret vengance.Forthi tak into remembrance1870To love in such a maner wiseThat thou deserve no juise:For wel I wot, thou miht noght lette,That thou ne schalt thin herte setteTo love, wher thou wolt or non;Bot if thi wit be overgon,So that it torne into malice,Ther wot noman of thilke vice,What peril that ther mai befalle:Wherof a tale amonges alle,1880Which is gret pite forto hiere,I thenke forto tellen hiere,That thou such moerdre miht withstonde,Whan thou the tale hast understonde.[Tale of Orestes.]Of Troie at thilke noble toun,Whos fame stant yit of renoun1009Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui ob sue concupiscencie desiderium homicide efficiuntur. Et narrat qualiter Climestra vxor Regis Agamenontis, cum ipse a bello Troiano domi redisset, consilio Egisti, quem adultera peramauit, sponsum suum in cubili dormientem sub noctis silencio trucidabat; cuius mortem filius eius Horestes tunc minoris etatis postea diis admonitus seueritate crudelissima1011vindicauit.And evere schal to mannes Ere,The Siege laste longe there,Er that the Greks it mihten winne,Whil Priamus was king therinne;1890Bot of the Greks that lyhe abouteAgamenon ladde al the route.P. i. 343This thing is knowen overal,1010Bot yit I thenke in specialTo my matiere theruponTelle in what wise Agamenon,Thurgh chance which mai noght be weived,Of love untrewe was deceived.An old sawe is, ‘Who that is slyhIn place where he mai be nyh,1900He makth the ferre Lieve loth’:Of love and thus fulofte it goth.Ther while Agamenon bataillethTo winne Troie, and it assailleth,Fro home and was long time ferr,Egistus drowh his qweene nerr,And with the leiser which he haddeThis ladi at his wille he ladde:1012Climestre was hire rihte name,Sche was therof gretli to blame,1910To love there it mai noght laste.Bot fell to meschief ate laste;For whan this noble worthi kniht1013Fro Troie cam, the ferste nyht1014That he at home abedde lay,Egistus, longe er it was day,As this Climestre him hadde asent,And weren bothe of on assent,Be treson slowh him in his bedd.Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd,1920Sprong out to every mannes Ere,Wherof the lond was full of fere.P. i. 344Agamenon hath be this qweeneA Sone, and that was after sene;1015Bot yit as thanne he was of yowthe,A babe, which no reson cowthe,And as godd wolde, it fell him thus.A worthi kniht TaltabiusThis yonge child hath in kepinge,And whan he herde of this tidinge,10161930Of this treson, of this misdede,He gan withinne himself to drede,In aunter if this false EgisteUpon him come, er he it wiste,To take and moerdre of his malice1017This child, which he hath to norrice:And for that cause in alle hasteOut of the lond he gan him hasteAnd to the king of Crete he strawhte1018And him this yonge lord betawhte,1940And preide him for his fader sakeThat he this child wolde undertakeAnd kepe him til he be of Age,So as he was of his lignage;And tolde him over al the cas,How that his fadre moerdred was,And hou Egistus, as men seide,Was king, to whom the lond obeide.And whanne Ydomeneux the kingHath understondihge of this thing,1950Which that this kniht him hadde told,He made sorwe manyfold,P. i. 345And tok this child into his warde,And seide he wolde him kepe and warde,Til that he were of such a myhtTo handle a swerd and ben a knyht,To venge him at his oghne wille.And thus Horestes duelleth stille,Such was the childes rihte name,Which after wroghte mochel schame1960In vengance of his fader deth.The time of yeres overgeth,That he was man of brede and lengthe,Of wit, of manhod and of strengthe,A fair persone amonges alle.And he began to clepe and calle,As he which come was to manne,Unto the King of Crete thanne,1019Preiende that he wolde him makeA kniht and pouer with him take,1970For lengere wolde he noght beleve,He seith, bot preith the king of leveTo gon and cleyme his heritageAnd vengen him of thilke oultrageWhich was unto his fader do.The king assenteth wel therto,With gret honour and knyht him makth,And gret pouer to him betakth,And gan his journe forto caste:1020So that Horestes ate laste1980His leve tok and forth he goth.As he that was in herte wroth,P. i. 346His ferste pleinte to bemene,Unto the Cite of AtheneHe goth him forth and was received,So there was he noght deceived.The Duc and tho that weren wiseThei profren hem to his servise;And he hem thonketh of here profre1021And seith himself he wol gon offre1990Unto the goddes for his sped,As alle men him yeven red.So goth he to the temple forth:Of yiftes that be mochel worthHis sacrifice and his offringeHe made; and after his axingeHe was ansuerd, if that he woldeHis stat recovere, thanne he scholdeUpon his Moder do venganceSo cruel, that the remembrance2000Therof mihte everemore abide,As sche that was an homicideAnd of hire oghne lord Moerdrice.1022Horestes, which of thilke officeWas nothing glad, as thanne he preide1023Unto the goddes there and seideThat thei the juggement devise,How sche schal take the juise.And therupon he hadde ansuere,That he hire Pappes scholde of tere2010Out of hire brest his oghne hondes,And for ensample of alle londesP. i. 347With hors sche scholde be todrawe,Til houndes hadde hire bones gnaweWithouten eny sepulture:This was a wofull aventure.And whan Horestes hath al herd,How that the goddes have ansuerd,Forth with the strengthe which he laddeThe Duc and his pouer he hadde,2020And to a Cite forth thei gon,The which was cleped Cropheon,Where as Phoieus was lord and Sire,1024Which profreth him withouten hyreHis help and al that he mai do,As he that was riht glad therto,To grieve his mortiel enemy:And tolde hem certein cause why,How that Egiste in MariageHis dowhter whilom of full Age2030Forlai, and afterward forsok,Whan he Horestes Moder tok.Men sein, ‘Old Senne newe schame’:Thus more and more aros the blameAyein Egiste on every side.Horestes with his host to rideBegan, and Phoieus with hem wente;I trowe Egiste him schal repente.Thei riden forth unto Micene,Wher lay Climestre thilke qweene,2040The which Horestes moder is:1025And whan sche herde telle of this,1026P. i. 348The gates weren faste schet,And thei were of here entre let.1027Anon this Cite was withouteBelein and sieged al aboute,1028And evere among thei it assaile,Fro day to nyht and so travaile,Til ate laste thei it wonne;Tho was ther sorwe ynowh begonne.2050Horestes dede his moder calleAnon tofore the lordes alleAnd ek tofor the poeple also,To hire and tolde his tale tho,And seide, ‘O cruel beste unkinde,How mihtest thou thin herte finde,1029For eny lust of loves drawhte,That thou acordest to the slawhteOf him which was thin oghne lord?Thi treson stant of such record,2060Thou miht thi werkes noght forsake;So mot I for mi fader sakeVengance upon thi bodi do,As I comanded am therto.Unkindely for thou hast wroght,Unkindeliche it schal be boght,The Sone schal the Moder sle,For that whilom them seidest yeeTo that thou scholdest nay have seid.’And he with that his hond hath leid2070Upon his Moder brest anon,And rente out fro the bare bonP. i. 349Hire Pappes bothe and caste aweieAmiddes in the carte weie,And after tok the dede corsAnd let it drawe awey with horsUnto thehound and to the raven;1030Sche was non other wise graven.Egistus, which was elles where,Tidinges comen to his Ere2080How that Micenes was belein,Bot what was more herd he noght sein;1031With gret manace and mochel bostHe drowh pouer and made an hostAnd cam in rescousse of the toun.Bot al the sleyhte of his tresounHorestes wiste it be aspie,And of his men a gret partieHe made in buisshement abide,To waite on him in such a tide2090That he ne mihte here hond ascape:And in this wise as he hath schapeThe thing befell, so that EgisteWas take, er he himself it wiste,And was forth broght hise hondes bounde,As whan men han a tretour founde.And tho that weren with him take,Whiche of tresoun were overtake,Togedre in o sentence falle;Bot false Egiste above hem alle10322100Was demed to diverse peine,The worste that men cowthe ordeigne,P. i. 350And so forth after be the laweHe was unto the gibet drawe,Where he above alle othre hongeth,As to a tretour it belongeth.Tho fame with hire swifte wynges1033Aboute flyh and bar tidinges,And made it cowth in alle londesHow that Horestes with hise hondes2110Climestre his oghne Moder slowh.Some sein he dede wel ynowh,And som men sein he dede amis,Diverse opinion ther is:That sche is ded thei speken alle,Bot pleinli hou it is befalle,The matiere in so litel throweIn soth ther mihte noman knoweBot thei that weren ate dede:And comunliche in every nede2120The worste speche is rathest herdAnd lieved, til it be ansuerd.The kinges and the lordes greteBegonne Horestes forto threteTo puten him out of his regne:‘He is noght worthi forto regne,The child which slowh his moder so,’Thei saide; and therupon alsoThe lordes of comun assentA time sette of parlement,2130And to Athenes king and lordTogedre come of on acord,P. i. 351To knowe hou that the sothe was:So that Horestes in this casThei senden after, and he com.King Menelay the wordes nomAnd axeth him of this matiere:And he, that alle it mihten hiere,Ansuerde and tolde his tale alarge,1034And hou the goddes in his charge2140Comanded him in such a wiseHis oghne hond to do juise.And with this tale a Duc aros,Which was a worthi kniht of los,His name was Menesteüs,And seide unto the lordes thus:‘The wreeche which Horestes dede,It was thing of the goddes bede,And nothing of his crualte;And if ther were of mi degree2150In al this place such a knihtThat wolde sein it was no riht,I wole it with my bodi prove.’And therupon he caste his glove,And ek this noble Duc alleideFul many an other skile, and seideSche hadde wel deserved wreche,Ferst for the cause of Spousebreche,And after wroghte in such a wiseThat al the world it oghte agrise,2160Whan that sche for so foul a viceWas of hire oghne lord moerdrice.P. i. 352Thei seten alle stille and herde,Bot therto was noman ansuerde,It thoghte hem alle he seide skile,Ther is noman withseie it wile;1035Whan thei upon the reson musen,Horestes alle thei excusen:1036So that with gret solempneteHe was unto his dignete2170Received, and coroned king.And tho befell a wonder thing:Egiona, whan sche this wiste,Which was the dowhter of EgisteAnd Soster on the moder sideTo this Horeste, at thilke tide,Whan sche herde how hir brother spedde,1037For pure sorwe, which hire ledde,That he ne hadde ben exiled,Sche hath hire oghne lif beguiled2180Anon and hyng hireselve tho.It hath and schal ben everemo,To moerdre who that wole assente,He mai noght faille to repente:This false Egiona was on,Which forto moerdre AgamenonYaf hire acord and hire assent,So that be goddes juggement,Thogh that non other man it wolde,Sche tok hire juise as sche scholde;2190And as sche to an other wroghte,Vengance upon hireself sche soghte,P. i. 353And hath of hire unhappi witA moerdre with a moerdre quit.Such is of moerdre the vengance.Confessor.Forthi, mi Sone, in remembranceOf this ensample tak good hiede:For who that thenkth his love spiedeWith moerdre, he schal with worldes schameHimself and ek his love schame.2200Amans.Mi fader, of this aventureWhich ye have told, I you assureMin herte is sory forto hiere,Bot only for I wolde lereWhat is to done, and what to leve.1038Hic queritur quibus de causis licet hominem1039occidere.And over this now be your leve,That ye me wolden telle I preie,If ther be lieffull eny weieWithoute Senne a man to sle.1040Confessor.Mi Sone, in sondri wise ye.2210What man that is of traiterie,Of moerdre or elles robberieAtteint, the jugge schal noght lette,Bot he schal slen of pure dette,And doth gret Senne, if that he wonde.For who that lawe hath upon honde,[Lawful Homicide.]And spareth forto do justiceFor merci, doth noght his office,That he his mercy so bewareth,Seneca.1041Iudex qui parcit1042vlcisci, multos improbos facit.Whan for o schrewe which he spareth2220A thousand goode men he grieveth:With such merci who that believethP. i. 354To plese god, he is deceived,Or elles resoun mot be weyved.Apostolus. Non sine causa Iudex gladium portat.1043The lawe stod er we were bore,How that a kinges swerd is boreIn signe that he schal defendeHis trewe poeple and make an endeOf suche as wolden hem devoure.Lo thus, my Sone, to socoure2230The lawe and comun riht to winne,A man mai sle withoute Sinne,And do therof a gret almesse,So forto kepe rihtwisnesse.Pugna pro patria.1044And over this for his contreIn time of werre a man is freHimself, his hous and ek his londDefende with his oghne hond,And slen, if that he mai no bet,After the lawe which is set.2240Amans.Now, fader, thanne I you besecheOf hem that dedly werres secheIn worldes cause and scheden blod,If such an homicide is good.1045Confessor.Mi Sone, upon thi questionThe trowthe of myn opinion,Als ferforth as my wit arechethAnd as the pleine lawe techeth,1046I woll thee telle in evidence,To rewle with thi conscience.2250[Evil of War.]v.Quod creat ipse deus, necat hoc homicida creatum,Vltor et humano sanguine spargit humum.P. i. 355Vt pecoris sic est hominis cruor, heu, modo fusus,Victa iacet pietas, et furor vrget opus.Angelus ‘In terra pax’ dixit, et vltima CristiVerba sonant pacem, quam modo guerra fugat.The hihe god of his justiceHic loquitur contra motores guerre, que non solum homicidii set vniversi mundi desolacionis mater existit.That ilke foule horrible viceOf homicide he hath forbede,Be Moïses as it was bede.Whan goddes Sone also was bore,He sende hise anglis doun therfore,1047Whom the Schepherdes herden singe,Pes to the men of welwillingeIn erthe be among ous here.1048So forto speke in this matiere2260After the lawe of charite,Ther schal no dedly werre be:And ek nature it hath defendedAnd in hir lawe pes comended,Which is the chief of mannes welthe,Of mannes lif, of mannes helthe.Bot dedly werre hath his covineOf pestilence and of famine,Of poverte and of alle wo,Wherof this world we blamen so,2270Which now the werre hath under fote,Til god himself therof do bote.For alle thing which god hath wroghtIn Erthe, werre it bringth to noght:The cherche is brent, the priest is slain,The wif, the maide is ek forlain,The lawe is lore and god unserved:I not what mede he hath deservedP. i. 356That suche werres ledeth inne.If that he do it forto winne,2280Ferst to acompte his grete costForth with the folk that he hath lost,As to the worldes rekeningeTher schal he finde no winnynge;And if he do it to pourchaceThe hevene mede, of such a graceI can noght speke, and natheles1049Crist hath comanded love and pes,And who that worcheth the revers,I trowe his mede is ful divers.2290And sithen thanne that we findeThat werres in here oghne kindeBen toward god of no decerte,1050And ek thei bringen in poverteOf worldes good, it is merveileAmong the men what it mai eyle,That thei a pes ne conne sette.I trowe Senne be the lette,Apostolus. Stipendium peccati mors est.1051And every mede of Senne is deth;So wot I nevere hou that it geth:2300Bot we that ben of o believeAmong ousself, this wolde I lieve,That betre it were pes to chese,Than so be double weie lese.I not if that it now so stonde,Bot this a man mai understonde,Who that these olde bokes redeth,That coveitise is on which ledeth,P. i. 357And broghte ferst the werres inne.At Grece if that I schal beginne,2310Ther was it proved hou it stod:To Perce, which was ful of good,Thei maden werre in special,And so thei deden overal,Wher gret richesse was in londe,So that thei leften nothing stondeUnwerred, bot onliche Archade.Nota, quod Greci omnem terram fertilem debellabant, set tantum Archadiam, pro eo quod pauper et sterilis fuit, pacifice dimiserunt.For there thei no werres made,1052Be cause it was bareigne and povere,Wherof thei mihten noght recovere;2320And thus poverte was forbore,He that noght hadde noght hath lore.Bot yit it is a wonder thing,Whan that a riche worthi king,Or other lord, what so he be,Wol axe and cleyme propreteIn thing to which he hath no riht,Bot onliche of his grete miht:For this mai every man wel wite,That bothe kinde and lawe write2330Expressly stonden therayein.Bot he mot nedes somwhat sein,Althogh ther be no reson inne,Which secheth cause forto winne:For wit that is with will oppressed,Whan coveitise him hath adressed,And alle resoun put aweie,He can wel finde such a weieP. i. 358To werre, where as evere him liketh,Wherof that he the world entriketh,2340That many a man of him compleigneth:Bot yit alwei som cause he feigneth,And of his wrongful herte he demeth1053That al is wel, what evere him semeth,Be so that he mai winne ynowh.For as the trew man to the plowh1054Only to the gaignage entendeth,Riht so the werreiour despendethHis time and hath no conscience.And in this point for evidence2350Of hem that suche werres make,Thou miht a gret ensample take,How thei her tirannie excusenOf that thei wrongfull werres usen,And how thei stonde of on acord,The Souldeour forth with the lord,Thepovere man forth with the riche,As of corage thei ben liche,To make werres and to pileFor lucre and for non other skyle:2360Wherof a propre tale I rede,As it whilom befell in dede.

[Athemas and Demephon.]

Whan noble Troie was belein

And overcome, and hom ayein

The Gregois torned fro the siege,

Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui nimio furore accensi vindictam Ire sue vltra quam decet consequi affectant. Et narrat qualiter Athemas et Demephon Reges, cum ipsi de bello Troiano ad propria remeassent et a suis ibidem pacifice recepti non fuissent, congregato aliunde pugnatorum excercitu, regiones suas non solum incendio vastare set et omnes in eisdem habitantes a minimo vsque ad maiorem in perpetuam vindicte memoriam gladio interficere feruore998iracundie proposuerunt. Set Rex Nestor, qui senex et sapiens fuit, ex paciencia tractatus inter ipsos Reges et eorum Regna inita pace et concordia huiusmodi impetuositatem micius999pacificauit.

The kinges founde here oghne liege1760

In manye places, as men seide,

That hem forsoke and desobeide.

Among the whiche fell this cas1000

To Demephon and Athemas,

That weren kinges bothe tuo,

And bothe weren served so:

Here lieges wolde hem noght receive,1001

So that thei mote algates weyve

To seche lond in other place,

For there founde thei no grace.1770

Wherof they token hem to rede,

And soghten frendes ate nede,

P. i. 339

And ech of hem asseureth other

To helpe as to his oghne brother,

To vengen hem of thilke oultrage

And winne ayein here heritage.

And thus thei ryde aboute faste

To gete hem help, and ate laste

Thei hadden pouer sufficant,

And maden thanne a covenant,1780

That thei ne scholden no lif save,

Ne prest, ne clerc, ne lord, ne knave,

Ne wif, ne child, of that thei finde,

Which berth visage of mannes kinde,

So that no lif schal be socoured,

Bot with the dedly swerd devoured:

In such Folhaste here ordinance

Thei schapen forto do vengance.

Whan this pourpos was wist and knowe

Among here host, tho was ther blowe1790

Of wordes many a speche aboute:

Of yonge men the lusti route

Were of this tale glad ynowh,

Ther was no care for the plowh;

As thei that weren Folhastif,

Thei ben acorded to the strif,

And sein it mai noght be to gret

To vengen hem of such forfet:

Thus seith the wilde unwise tonge

Of hem that there weren yonge.10021800

Bot Nestor, which was old and hor,

The salve sih tofore the sor,

P. i. 340

As he that was of conseil wys:

So that anon be his avis

Ther was a prive conseil nome.

The lordes ben togedre come;1003

This Demephon and Athemas

Here pourpos tolden, as it was;

Thei sieten alle stille and herde,

Was non bot Nestor hem ansuerde.1810

He bad hem, if thei wolde winne,

They scholden se, er thei beginne,

Here ende, and sette here ferste entente,

That thei hem after ne repente:

And axeth hem this questioun,

To what final conclusioun

Thei wolde regne Kinges there,

If that no poeple in londe were;

And seith, it were a wonder wierde

To sen a king become an hierde,1820

Wher no lif is bot only beste

Under the liegance of his heste;

For who that is of man no king,

The remenant is as no thing.

He seith ek, if the pourpos holde

To sle the poeple, as thei tuo wolde,

Whan thei it mihte noght restore,

Al Grece it scholde abegge sore,

To se the wilde beste wone

Wher whilom duelte a mannes Sone:10041830

And for that cause he bad hem trete,

And stinte of the manaces grete.1005

P. i. 341

Betre is to winne be fair speche,

He seith, than such vengance seche;

Nota.1006

For whanne a man is most above,

Him nedeth most to gete him love.

Whan Nestor hath his tale seid,

Ayein him was no word withseid;

It thoghte hem alle he seide wel:

And thus fortune hire dedly whiel1840

Fro werre torneth into pes.

Bot forth thei wenten natheles;

And whan the Contres herde sein

How that here kinges be besein

Of such a pouer as thei ladde,

Was non so bold that hem ne dradde,

And forto seche pes and grith

Thei sende and preide anon forthwith,

So that the kinges ben appesed,

And every mannes herte is esed;1850

Al was foryete and noght recorded.

And thus thei ben togedre acorded;

The kinges were ayein received,

And pes was take and wraththe weived,

And al thurgh conseil which was good

Of him that reson understod.

Confessor.

Be this ensample, Sone, attempre

Thin herte and let no will distempre

Nota.1007

Thi wit, and do nothing be myht

Which mai be do be love and riht.1860

Folhaste is cause of mochel wo;

Forthi, mi Sone, do noght so.

[Homicide.]

P. i. 342

And as touchende of Homicide

Which toucheth unto loves side,

Fulofte it falleth unavised

Thurgh will, which is noght wel assised,1008

Whan wit and reson ben aweie

And that Folhaste is in the weie,

Wherof hath falle gret vengance.

Forthi tak into remembrance1870

To love in such a maner wise

That thou deserve no juise:

For wel I wot, thou miht noght lette,

That thou ne schalt thin herte sette

To love, wher thou wolt or non;

Bot if thi wit be overgon,

So that it torne into malice,

Ther wot noman of thilke vice,

What peril that ther mai befalle:

Wherof a tale amonges alle,1880

Which is gret pite forto hiere,

I thenke forto tellen hiere,

That thou such moerdre miht withstonde,

Whan thou the tale hast understonde.

[Tale of Orestes.]Of Troie at thilke noble toun,Whos fame stant yit of renoun1009Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui ob sue concupiscencie desiderium homicide efficiuntur. Et narrat qualiter Climestra vxor Regis Agamenontis, cum ipse a bello Troiano domi redisset, consilio Egisti, quem adultera peramauit, sponsum suum in cubili dormientem sub noctis silencio trucidabat; cuius mortem filius eius Horestes tunc minoris etatis postea diis admonitus seueritate crudelissima1011vindicauit.And evere schal to mannes Ere,The Siege laste longe there,Er that the Greks it mihten winne,Whil Priamus was king therinne;1890Bot of the Greks that lyhe abouteAgamenon ladde al the route.P. i. 343This thing is knowen overal,1010Bot yit I thenke in specialTo my matiere theruponTelle in what wise Agamenon,Thurgh chance which mai noght be weived,Of love untrewe was deceived.An old sawe is, ‘Who that is slyhIn place where he mai be nyh,1900He makth the ferre Lieve loth’:Of love and thus fulofte it goth.Ther while Agamenon bataillethTo winne Troie, and it assailleth,Fro home and was long time ferr,Egistus drowh his qweene nerr,And with the leiser which he haddeThis ladi at his wille he ladde:1012Climestre was hire rihte name,Sche was therof gretli to blame,1910To love there it mai noght laste.Bot fell to meschief ate laste;For whan this noble worthi kniht1013Fro Troie cam, the ferste nyht1014That he at home abedde lay,Egistus, longe er it was day,As this Climestre him hadde asent,And weren bothe of on assent,Be treson slowh him in his bedd.Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd,1920Sprong out to every mannes Ere,Wherof the lond was full of fere.P. i. 344Agamenon hath be this qweeneA Sone, and that was after sene;1015Bot yit as thanne he was of yowthe,A babe, which no reson cowthe,And as godd wolde, it fell him thus.A worthi kniht TaltabiusThis yonge child hath in kepinge,And whan he herde of this tidinge,10161930Of this treson, of this misdede,He gan withinne himself to drede,In aunter if this false EgisteUpon him come, er he it wiste,To take and moerdre of his malice1017This child, which he hath to norrice:And for that cause in alle hasteOut of the lond he gan him hasteAnd to the king of Crete he strawhte1018And him this yonge lord betawhte,1940And preide him for his fader sakeThat he this child wolde undertakeAnd kepe him til he be of Age,So as he was of his lignage;And tolde him over al the cas,How that his fadre moerdred was,And hou Egistus, as men seide,Was king, to whom the lond obeide.And whanne Ydomeneux the kingHath understondihge of this thing,1950Which that this kniht him hadde told,He made sorwe manyfold,P. i. 345And tok this child into his warde,And seide he wolde him kepe and warde,Til that he were of such a myhtTo handle a swerd and ben a knyht,To venge him at his oghne wille.And thus Horestes duelleth stille,Such was the childes rihte name,Which after wroghte mochel schame1960In vengance of his fader deth.The time of yeres overgeth,That he was man of brede and lengthe,Of wit, of manhod and of strengthe,A fair persone amonges alle.And he began to clepe and calle,As he which come was to manne,Unto the King of Crete thanne,1019Preiende that he wolde him makeA kniht and pouer with him take,1970For lengere wolde he noght beleve,He seith, bot preith the king of leveTo gon and cleyme his heritageAnd vengen him of thilke oultrageWhich was unto his fader do.The king assenteth wel therto,With gret honour and knyht him makth,And gret pouer to him betakth,And gan his journe forto caste:1020So that Horestes ate laste1980His leve tok and forth he goth.As he that was in herte wroth,P. i. 346His ferste pleinte to bemene,Unto the Cite of AtheneHe goth him forth and was received,So there was he noght deceived.The Duc and tho that weren wiseThei profren hem to his servise;And he hem thonketh of here profre1021And seith himself he wol gon offre1990Unto the goddes for his sped,As alle men him yeven red.So goth he to the temple forth:Of yiftes that be mochel worthHis sacrifice and his offringeHe made; and after his axingeHe was ansuerd, if that he woldeHis stat recovere, thanne he scholdeUpon his Moder do venganceSo cruel, that the remembrance2000Therof mihte everemore abide,As sche that was an homicideAnd of hire oghne lord Moerdrice.1022Horestes, which of thilke officeWas nothing glad, as thanne he preide1023Unto the goddes there and seideThat thei the juggement devise,How sche schal take the juise.And therupon he hadde ansuere,That he hire Pappes scholde of tere2010Out of hire brest his oghne hondes,And for ensample of alle londesP. i. 347With hors sche scholde be todrawe,Til houndes hadde hire bones gnaweWithouten eny sepulture:This was a wofull aventure.And whan Horestes hath al herd,How that the goddes have ansuerd,Forth with the strengthe which he laddeThe Duc and his pouer he hadde,2020And to a Cite forth thei gon,The which was cleped Cropheon,Where as Phoieus was lord and Sire,1024Which profreth him withouten hyreHis help and al that he mai do,As he that was riht glad therto,To grieve his mortiel enemy:And tolde hem certein cause why,How that Egiste in MariageHis dowhter whilom of full Age2030Forlai, and afterward forsok,Whan he Horestes Moder tok.Men sein, ‘Old Senne newe schame’:Thus more and more aros the blameAyein Egiste on every side.Horestes with his host to rideBegan, and Phoieus with hem wente;I trowe Egiste him schal repente.Thei riden forth unto Micene,Wher lay Climestre thilke qweene,2040The which Horestes moder is:1025And whan sche herde telle of this,1026P. i. 348The gates weren faste schet,And thei were of here entre let.1027Anon this Cite was withouteBelein and sieged al aboute,1028And evere among thei it assaile,Fro day to nyht and so travaile,Til ate laste thei it wonne;Tho was ther sorwe ynowh begonne.2050Horestes dede his moder calleAnon tofore the lordes alleAnd ek tofor the poeple also,To hire and tolde his tale tho,And seide, ‘O cruel beste unkinde,How mihtest thou thin herte finde,1029For eny lust of loves drawhte,That thou acordest to the slawhteOf him which was thin oghne lord?Thi treson stant of such record,2060Thou miht thi werkes noght forsake;So mot I for mi fader sakeVengance upon thi bodi do,As I comanded am therto.Unkindely for thou hast wroght,Unkindeliche it schal be boght,The Sone schal the Moder sle,For that whilom them seidest yeeTo that thou scholdest nay have seid.’And he with that his hond hath leid2070Upon his Moder brest anon,And rente out fro the bare bonP. i. 349Hire Pappes bothe and caste aweieAmiddes in the carte weie,And after tok the dede corsAnd let it drawe awey with horsUnto thehound and to the raven;1030Sche was non other wise graven.Egistus, which was elles where,Tidinges comen to his Ere2080How that Micenes was belein,Bot what was more herd he noght sein;1031With gret manace and mochel bostHe drowh pouer and made an hostAnd cam in rescousse of the toun.Bot al the sleyhte of his tresounHorestes wiste it be aspie,And of his men a gret partieHe made in buisshement abide,To waite on him in such a tide2090That he ne mihte here hond ascape:And in this wise as he hath schapeThe thing befell, so that EgisteWas take, er he himself it wiste,And was forth broght hise hondes bounde,As whan men han a tretour founde.And tho that weren with him take,Whiche of tresoun were overtake,Togedre in o sentence falle;Bot false Egiste above hem alle10322100Was demed to diverse peine,The worste that men cowthe ordeigne,P. i. 350And so forth after be the laweHe was unto the gibet drawe,Where he above alle othre hongeth,As to a tretour it belongeth.Tho fame with hire swifte wynges1033Aboute flyh and bar tidinges,And made it cowth in alle londesHow that Horestes with hise hondes2110Climestre his oghne Moder slowh.Some sein he dede wel ynowh,And som men sein he dede amis,Diverse opinion ther is:That sche is ded thei speken alle,Bot pleinli hou it is befalle,The matiere in so litel throweIn soth ther mihte noman knoweBot thei that weren ate dede:And comunliche in every nede2120The worste speche is rathest herdAnd lieved, til it be ansuerd.The kinges and the lordes greteBegonne Horestes forto threteTo puten him out of his regne:‘He is noght worthi forto regne,The child which slowh his moder so,’Thei saide; and therupon alsoThe lordes of comun assentA time sette of parlement,2130And to Athenes king and lordTogedre come of on acord,P. i. 351To knowe hou that the sothe was:So that Horestes in this casThei senden after, and he com.King Menelay the wordes nomAnd axeth him of this matiere:And he, that alle it mihten hiere,Ansuerde and tolde his tale alarge,1034And hou the goddes in his charge2140Comanded him in such a wiseHis oghne hond to do juise.And with this tale a Duc aros,Which was a worthi kniht of los,His name was Menesteüs,And seide unto the lordes thus:‘The wreeche which Horestes dede,It was thing of the goddes bede,And nothing of his crualte;And if ther were of mi degree2150In al this place such a knihtThat wolde sein it was no riht,I wole it with my bodi prove.’And therupon he caste his glove,And ek this noble Duc alleideFul many an other skile, and seideSche hadde wel deserved wreche,Ferst for the cause of Spousebreche,And after wroghte in such a wiseThat al the world it oghte agrise,2160Whan that sche for so foul a viceWas of hire oghne lord moerdrice.P. i. 352Thei seten alle stille and herde,Bot therto was noman ansuerde,It thoghte hem alle he seide skile,Ther is noman withseie it wile;1035Whan thei upon the reson musen,Horestes alle thei excusen:1036So that with gret solempneteHe was unto his dignete2170Received, and coroned king.And tho befell a wonder thing:Egiona, whan sche this wiste,Which was the dowhter of EgisteAnd Soster on the moder sideTo this Horeste, at thilke tide,Whan sche herde how hir brother spedde,1037For pure sorwe, which hire ledde,That he ne hadde ben exiled,Sche hath hire oghne lif beguiled2180Anon and hyng hireselve tho.It hath and schal ben everemo,To moerdre who that wole assente,He mai noght faille to repente:This false Egiona was on,Which forto moerdre AgamenonYaf hire acord and hire assent,So that be goddes juggement,Thogh that non other man it wolde,Sche tok hire juise as sche scholde;2190And as sche to an other wroghte,Vengance upon hireself sche soghte,P. i. 353And hath of hire unhappi witA moerdre with a moerdre quit.Such is of moerdre the vengance.Confessor.Forthi, mi Sone, in remembranceOf this ensample tak good hiede:For who that thenkth his love spiedeWith moerdre, he schal with worldes schameHimself and ek his love schame.2200Amans.Mi fader, of this aventureWhich ye have told, I you assureMin herte is sory forto hiere,Bot only for I wolde lereWhat is to done, and what to leve.1038Hic queritur quibus de causis licet hominem1039occidere.And over this now be your leve,That ye me wolden telle I preie,If ther be lieffull eny weieWithoute Senne a man to sle.1040Confessor.Mi Sone, in sondri wise ye.2210What man that is of traiterie,Of moerdre or elles robberieAtteint, the jugge schal noght lette,Bot he schal slen of pure dette,And doth gret Senne, if that he wonde.For who that lawe hath upon honde,[Lawful Homicide.]And spareth forto do justiceFor merci, doth noght his office,That he his mercy so bewareth,Seneca.1041Iudex qui parcit1042vlcisci, multos improbos facit.Whan for o schrewe which he spareth2220A thousand goode men he grieveth:With such merci who that believethP. i. 354To plese god, he is deceived,Or elles resoun mot be weyved.Apostolus. Non sine causa Iudex gladium portat.1043The lawe stod er we were bore,How that a kinges swerd is boreIn signe that he schal defendeHis trewe poeple and make an endeOf suche as wolden hem devoure.Lo thus, my Sone, to socoure2230The lawe and comun riht to winne,A man mai sle withoute Sinne,And do therof a gret almesse,So forto kepe rihtwisnesse.Pugna pro patria.1044And over this for his contreIn time of werre a man is freHimself, his hous and ek his londDefende with his oghne hond,And slen, if that he mai no bet,After the lawe which is set.2240Amans.Now, fader, thanne I you besecheOf hem that dedly werres secheIn worldes cause and scheden blod,If such an homicide is good.1045Confessor.Mi Sone, upon thi questionThe trowthe of myn opinion,Als ferforth as my wit arechethAnd as the pleine lawe techeth,1046I woll thee telle in evidence,To rewle with thi conscience.2250

[Tale of Orestes.]

Of Troie at thilke noble toun,

Whos fame stant yit of renoun1009

Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos qui ob sue concupiscencie desiderium homicide efficiuntur. Et narrat qualiter Climestra vxor Regis Agamenontis, cum ipse a bello Troiano domi redisset, consilio Egisti, quem adultera peramauit, sponsum suum in cubili dormientem sub noctis silencio trucidabat; cuius mortem filius eius Horestes tunc minoris etatis postea diis admonitus seueritate crudelissima1011vindicauit.

And evere schal to mannes Ere,

The Siege laste longe there,

Er that the Greks it mihten winne,

Whil Priamus was king therinne;1890

Bot of the Greks that lyhe aboute

Agamenon ladde al the route.

P. i. 343

This thing is knowen overal,1010

Bot yit I thenke in special

To my matiere therupon

Telle in what wise Agamenon,

Thurgh chance which mai noght be weived,

Of love untrewe was deceived.

An old sawe is, ‘Who that is slyh

In place where he mai be nyh,1900

He makth the ferre Lieve loth’:

Of love and thus fulofte it goth.

Ther while Agamenon batailleth

To winne Troie, and it assailleth,

Fro home and was long time ferr,

Egistus drowh his qweene nerr,

And with the leiser which he hadde

This ladi at his wille he ladde:1012

Climestre was hire rihte name,

Sche was therof gretli to blame,1910

To love there it mai noght laste.

Bot fell to meschief ate laste;

For whan this noble worthi kniht1013

Fro Troie cam, the ferste nyht1014

That he at home abedde lay,

Egistus, longe er it was day,

As this Climestre him hadde asent,

And weren bothe of on assent,

Be treson slowh him in his bedd.

Bot moerdre, which mai noght ben hedd,1920

Sprong out to every mannes Ere,

Wherof the lond was full of fere.

P. i. 344

Agamenon hath be this qweene

A Sone, and that was after sene;1015

Bot yit as thanne he was of yowthe,

A babe, which no reson cowthe,

And as godd wolde, it fell him thus.

A worthi kniht Taltabius

This yonge child hath in kepinge,

And whan he herde of this tidinge,10161930

Of this treson, of this misdede,

He gan withinne himself to drede,

In aunter if this false Egiste

Upon him come, er he it wiste,

To take and moerdre of his malice1017

This child, which he hath to norrice:

And for that cause in alle haste

Out of the lond he gan him haste

And to the king of Crete he strawhte1018

And him this yonge lord betawhte,1940

And preide him for his fader sake

That he this child wolde undertake

And kepe him til he be of Age,

So as he was of his lignage;

And tolde him over al the cas,

How that his fadre moerdred was,

And hou Egistus, as men seide,

Was king, to whom the lond obeide.

And whanne Ydomeneux the king

Hath understondihge of this thing,1950

Which that this kniht him hadde told,

He made sorwe manyfold,

P. i. 345

And tok this child into his warde,

And seide he wolde him kepe and warde,

Til that he were of such a myht

To handle a swerd and ben a knyht,

To venge him at his oghne wille.

And thus Horestes duelleth stille,

Such was the childes rihte name,

Which after wroghte mochel schame1960

In vengance of his fader deth.

The time of yeres overgeth,

That he was man of brede and lengthe,

Of wit, of manhod and of strengthe,

A fair persone amonges alle.

And he began to clepe and calle,

As he which come was to manne,

Unto the King of Crete thanne,1019

Preiende that he wolde him make

A kniht and pouer with him take,1970

For lengere wolde he noght beleve,

He seith, bot preith the king of leve

To gon and cleyme his heritage

And vengen him of thilke oultrage

Which was unto his fader do.

The king assenteth wel therto,

With gret honour and knyht him makth,

And gret pouer to him betakth,

And gan his journe forto caste:1020

So that Horestes ate laste1980

His leve tok and forth he goth.

As he that was in herte wroth,

P. i. 346

His ferste pleinte to bemene,

Unto the Cite of Athene

He goth him forth and was received,

So there was he noght deceived.

The Duc and tho that weren wise

Thei profren hem to his servise;

And he hem thonketh of here profre1021

And seith himself he wol gon offre1990

Unto the goddes for his sped,

As alle men him yeven red.

So goth he to the temple forth:

Of yiftes that be mochel worth

His sacrifice and his offringe

He made; and after his axinge

He was ansuerd, if that he wolde

His stat recovere, thanne he scholde

Upon his Moder do vengance

So cruel, that the remembrance2000

Therof mihte everemore abide,

As sche that was an homicide

And of hire oghne lord Moerdrice.1022

Horestes, which of thilke office

Was nothing glad, as thanne he preide1023

Unto the goddes there and seide

That thei the juggement devise,

How sche schal take the juise.

And therupon he hadde ansuere,

That he hire Pappes scholde of tere2010

Out of hire brest his oghne hondes,

And for ensample of alle londes

P. i. 347

With hors sche scholde be todrawe,

Til houndes hadde hire bones gnawe

Withouten eny sepulture:

This was a wofull aventure.

And whan Horestes hath al herd,

How that the goddes have ansuerd,

Forth with the strengthe which he ladde

The Duc and his pouer he hadde,2020

And to a Cite forth thei gon,

The which was cleped Cropheon,

Where as Phoieus was lord and Sire,1024

Which profreth him withouten hyre

His help and al that he mai do,

As he that was riht glad therto,

To grieve his mortiel enemy:

And tolde hem certein cause why,

How that Egiste in Mariage

His dowhter whilom of full Age2030

Forlai, and afterward forsok,

Whan he Horestes Moder tok.

Men sein, ‘Old Senne newe schame’:

Thus more and more aros the blame

Ayein Egiste on every side.

Horestes with his host to ride

Began, and Phoieus with hem wente;

I trowe Egiste him schal repente.

Thei riden forth unto Micene,

Wher lay Climestre thilke qweene,2040

The which Horestes moder is:1025

And whan sche herde telle of this,1026

P. i. 348

The gates weren faste schet,

And thei were of here entre let.1027

Anon this Cite was withoute

Belein and sieged al aboute,1028

And evere among thei it assaile,

Fro day to nyht and so travaile,

Til ate laste thei it wonne;

Tho was ther sorwe ynowh begonne.2050

Horestes dede his moder calle

Anon tofore the lordes alle

And ek tofor the poeple also,

To hire and tolde his tale tho,

And seide, ‘O cruel beste unkinde,

How mihtest thou thin herte finde,1029

For eny lust of loves drawhte,

That thou acordest to the slawhte

Of him which was thin oghne lord?

Thi treson stant of such record,2060

Thou miht thi werkes noght forsake;

So mot I for mi fader sake

Vengance upon thi bodi do,

As I comanded am therto.

Unkindely for thou hast wroght,

Unkindeliche it schal be boght,

The Sone schal the Moder sle,

For that whilom them seidest yee

To that thou scholdest nay have seid.’

And he with that his hond hath leid2070

Upon his Moder brest anon,

And rente out fro the bare bon

P. i. 349

Hire Pappes bothe and caste aweie

Amiddes in the carte weie,

And after tok the dede cors

And let it drawe awey with hors

Unto thehound and to the raven;1030

Sche was non other wise graven.

Egistus, which was elles where,

Tidinges comen to his Ere2080

How that Micenes was belein,

Bot what was more herd he noght sein;1031

With gret manace and mochel bost

He drowh pouer and made an host

And cam in rescousse of the toun.

Bot al the sleyhte of his tresoun

Horestes wiste it be aspie,

And of his men a gret partie

He made in buisshement abide,

To waite on him in such a tide2090

That he ne mihte here hond ascape:

And in this wise as he hath schape

The thing befell, so that Egiste

Was take, er he himself it wiste,

And was forth broght hise hondes bounde,

As whan men han a tretour founde.

And tho that weren with him take,

Whiche of tresoun were overtake,

Togedre in o sentence falle;

Bot false Egiste above hem alle10322100

Was demed to diverse peine,

The worste that men cowthe ordeigne,

P. i. 350

And so forth after be the lawe

He was unto the gibet drawe,

Where he above alle othre hongeth,

As to a tretour it belongeth.

Tho fame with hire swifte wynges1033

Aboute flyh and bar tidinges,

And made it cowth in alle londes

How that Horestes with hise hondes2110

Climestre his oghne Moder slowh.

Some sein he dede wel ynowh,

And som men sein he dede amis,

Diverse opinion ther is:

That sche is ded thei speken alle,

Bot pleinli hou it is befalle,

The matiere in so litel throwe

In soth ther mihte noman knowe

Bot thei that weren ate dede:

And comunliche in every nede2120

The worste speche is rathest herd

And lieved, til it be ansuerd.

The kinges and the lordes grete

Begonne Horestes forto threte

To puten him out of his regne:

‘He is noght worthi forto regne,

The child which slowh his moder so,’

Thei saide; and therupon also

The lordes of comun assent

A time sette of parlement,2130

And to Athenes king and lord

Togedre come of on acord,

P. i. 351

To knowe hou that the sothe was:

So that Horestes in this cas

Thei senden after, and he com.

King Menelay the wordes nom

And axeth him of this matiere:

And he, that alle it mihten hiere,

Ansuerde and tolde his tale alarge,1034

And hou the goddes in his charge2140

Comanded him in such a wise

His oghne hond to do juise.

And with this tale a Duc aros,

Which was a worthi kniht of los,

His name was Menesteüs,

And seide unto the lordes thus:

‘The wreeche which Horestes dede,

It was thing of the goddes bede,

And nothing of his crualte;

And if ther were of mi degree2150

In al this place such a kniht

That wolde sein it was no riht,

I wole it with my bodi prove.’

And therupon he caste his glove,

And ek this noble Duc alleide

Ful many an other skile, and seide

Sche hadde wel deserved wreche,

Ferst for the cause of Spousebreche,

And after wroghte in such a wise

That al the world it oghte agrise,2160

Whan that sche for so foul a vice

Was of hire oghne lord moerdrice.

P. i. 352

Thei seten alle stille and herde,

Bot therto was noman ansuerde,

It thoghte hem alle he seide skile,

Ther is noman withseie it wile;1035

Whan thei upon the reson musen,

Horestes alle thei excusen:1036

So that with gret solempnete

He was unto his dignete2170

Received, and coroned king.

And tho befell a wonder thing:

Egiona, whan sche this wiste,

Which was the dowhter of Egiste

And Soster on the moder side

To this Horeste, at thilke tide,

Whan sche herde how hir brother spedde,1037

For pure sorwe, which hire ledde,

That he ne hadde ben exiled,

Sche hath hire oghne lif beguiled2180

Anon and hyng hireselve tho.

It hath and schal ben everemo,

To moerdre who that wole assente,

He mai noght faille to repente:

This false Egiona was on,

Which forto moerdre Agamenon

Yaf hire acord and hire assent,

So that be goddes juggement,

Thogh that non other man it wolde,

Sche tok hire juise as sche scholde;2190

And as sche to an other wroghte,

Vengance upon hireself sche soghte,

P. i. 353

And hath of hire unhappi wit

A moerdre with a moerdre quit.

Such is of moerdre the vengance.

Confessor.

Forthi, mi Sone, in remembrance

Of this ensample tak good hiede:

For who that thenkth his love spiede

With moerdre, he schal with worldes schame

Himself and ek his love schame.2200

Amans.

Mi fader, of this aventure

Which ye have told, I you assure

Min herte is sory forto hiere,

Bot only for I wolde lere

What is to done, and what to leve.

1038Hic queritur quibus de causis licet hominem1039occidere.

And over this now be your leve,

That ye me wolden telle I preie,

If ther be lieffull eny weie

Withoute Senne a man to sle.1040

Confessor.

Mi Sone, in sondri wise ye.2210

What man that is of traiterie,

Of moerdre or elles robberie

Atteint, the jugge schal noght lette,

Bot he schal slen of pure dette,

And doth gret Senne, if that he wonde.

For who that lawe hath upon honde,

[Lawful Homicide.]

And spareth forto do justice

For merci, doth noght his office,

That he his mercy so bewareth,

Seneca.1041Iudex qui parcit1042vlcisci, multos improbos facit.

Whan for o schrewe which he spareth2220

A thousand goode men he grieveth:

With such merci who that believeth

P. i. 354

To plese god, he is deceived,

Or elles resoun mot be weyved.

Apostolus. Non sine causa Iudex gladium portat.1043

The lawe stod er we were bore,

How that a kinges swerd is bore

In signe that he schal defende

His trewe poeple and make an ende

Of suche as wolden hem devoure.

Lo thus, my Sone, to socoure2230

The lawe and comun riht to winne,

A man mai sle withoute Sinne,

And do therof a gret almesse,

So forto kepe rihtwisnesse.

Pugna pro patria.1044

And over this for his contre

In time of werre a man is fre

Himself, his hous and ek his lond

Defende with his oghne hond,

And slen, if that he mai no bet,

After the lawe which is set.2240

Amans.

Now, fader, thanne I you beseche

Of hem that dedly werres seche

In worldes cause and scheden blod,

If such an homicide is good.1045

Confessor.

Mi Sone, upon thi question

The trowthe of myn opinion,

Als ferforth as my wit arecheth

And as the pleine lawe techeth,1046

I woll thee telle in evidence,

To rewle with thi conscience.2250

[Evil of War.]v.Quod creat ipse deus, necat hoc homicida creatum,Vltor et humano sanguine spargit humum.P. i. 355Vt pecoris sic est hominis cruor, heu, modo fusus,Victa iacet pietas, et furor vrget opus.Angelus ‘In terra pax’ dixit, et vltima CristiVerba sonant pacem, quam modo guerra fugat.

[Evil of War.]

v.Quod creat ipse deus, necat hoc homicida creatum,

Vltor et humano sanguine spargit humum.

P. i. 355

Vt pecoris sic est hominis cruor, heu, modo fusus,

Victa iacet pietas, et furor vrget opus.

Angelus ‘In terra pax’ dixit, et vltima Cristi

Verba sonant pacem, quam modo guerra fugat.

The hihe god of his justiceHic loquitur contra motores guerre, que non solum homicidii set vniversi mundi desolacionis mater existit.That ilke foule horrible viceOf homicide he hath forbede,Be Moïses as it was bede.Whan goddes Sone also was bore,He sende hise anglis doun therfore,1047Whom the Schepherdes herden singe,Pes to the men of welwillingeIn erthe be among ous here.1048So forto speke in this matiere2260After the lawe of charite,Ther schal no dedly werre be:And ek nature it hath defendedAnd in hir lawe pes comended,Which is the chief of mannes welthe,Of mannes lif, of mannes helthe.Bot dedly werre hath his covineOf pestilence and of famine,Of poverte and of alle wo,Wherof this world we blamen so,2270Which now the werre hath under fote,Til god himself therof do bote.For alle thing which god hath wroghtIn Erthe, werre it bringth to noght:The cherche is brent, the priest is slain,The wif, the maide is ek forlain,The lawe is lore and god unserved:I not what mede he hath deservedP. i. 356That suche werres ledeth inne.If that he do it forto winne,2280Ferst to acompte his grete costForth with the folk that he hath lost,As to the worldes rekeningeTher schal he finde no winnynge;And if he do it to pourchaceThe hevene mede, of such a graceI can noght speke, and natheles1049Crist hath comanded love and pes,And who that worcheth the revers,I trowe his mede is ful divers.2290And sithen thanne that we findeThat werres in here oghne kindeBen toward god of no decerte,1050And ek thei bringen in poverteOf worldes good, it is merveileAmong the men what it mai eyle,That thei a pes ne conne sette.I trowe Senne be the lette,Apostolus. Stipendium peccati mors est.1051And every mede of Senne is deth;So wot I nevere hou that it geth:2300Bot we that ben of o believeAmong ousself, this wolde I lieve,That betre it were pes to chese,Than so be double weie lese.I not if that it now so stonde,Bot this a man mai understonde,Who that these olde bokes redeth,That coveitise is on which ledeth,P. i. 357And broghte ferst the werres inne.At Grece if that I schal beginne,2310Ther was it proved hou it stod:To Perce, which was ful of good,Thei maden werre in special,And so thei deden overal,Wher gret richesse was in londe,So that thei leften nothing stondeUnwerred, bot onliche Archade.Nota, quod Greci omnem terram fertilem debellabant, set tantum Archadiam, pro eo quod pauper et sterilis fuit, pacifice dimiserunt.For there thei no werres made,1052Be cause it was bareigne and povere,Wherof thei mihten noght recovere;2320And thus poverte was forbore,He that noght hadde noght hath lore.Bot yit it is a wonder thing,Whan that a riche worthi king,Or other lord, what so he be,Wol axe and cleyme propreteIn thing to which he hath no riht,Bot onliche of his grete miht:For this mai every man wel wite,That bothe kinde and lawe write2330Expressly stonden therayein.Bot he mot nedes somwhat sein,Althogh ther be no reson inne,Which secheth cause forto winne:For wit that is with will oppressed,Whan coveitise him hath adressed,And alle resoun put aweie,He can wel finde such a weieP. i. 358To werre, where as evere him liketh,Wherof that he the world entriketh,2340That many a man of him compleigneth:Bot yit alwei som cause he feigneth,And of his wrongful herte he demeth1053That al is wel, what evere him semeth,Be so that he mai winne ynowh.For as the trew man to the plowh1054Only to the gaignage entendeth,Riht so the werreiour despendethHis time and hath no conscience.And in this point for evidence2350Of hem that suche werres make,Thou miht a gret ensample take,How thei her tirannie excusenOf that thei wrongfull werres usen,And how thei stonde of on acord,The Souldeour forth with the lord,Thepovere man forth with the riche,As of corage thei ben liche,To make werres and to pileFor lucre and for non other skyle:2360Wherof a propre tale I rede,As it whilom befell in dede.

The hihe god of his justice

Hic loquitur contra motores guerre, que non solum homicidii set vniversi mundi desolacionis mater existit.

That ilke foule horrible vice

Of homicide he hath forbede,

Be Moïses as it was bede.

Whan goddes Sone also was bore,

He sende hise anglis doun therfore,1047

Whom the Schepherdes herden singe,

Pes to the men of welwillinge

In erthe be among ous here.1048

So forto speke in this matiere2260

After the lawe of charite,

Ther schal no dedly werre be:

And ek nature it hath defended

And in hir lawe pes comended,

Which is the chief of mannes welthe,

Of mannes lif, of mannes helthe.

Bot dedly werre hath his covine

Of pestilence and of famine,

Of poverte and of alle wo,

Wherof this world we blamen so,2270

Which now the werre hath under fote,

Til god himself therof do bote.

For alle thing which god hath wroght

In Erthe, werre it bringth to noght:

The cherche is brent, the priest is slain,

The wif, the maide is ek forlain,

The lawe is lore and god unserved:

I not what mede he hath deserved

P. i. 356

That suche werres ledeth inne.

If that he do it forto winne,2280

Ferst to acompte his grete cost

Forth with the folk that he hath lost,

As to the worldes rekeninge

Ther schal he finde no winnynge;

And if he do it to pourchace

The hevene mede, of such a grace

I can noght speke, and natheles1049

Crist hath comanded love and pes,

And who that worcheth the revers,

I trowe his mede is ful divers.2290

And sithen thanne that we finde

That werres in here oghne kinde

Ben toward god of no decerte,1050

And ek thei bringen in poverte

Of worldes good, it is merveile

Among the men what it mai eyle,

That thei a pes ne conne sette.

I trowe Senne be the lette,

Apostolus. Stipendium peccati mors est.1051

And every mede of Senne is deth;

So wot I nevere hou that it geth:2300

Bot we that ben of o believe

Among ousself, this wolde I lieve,

That betre it were pes to chese,

Than so be double weie lese.

I not if that it now so stonde,

Bot this a man mai understonde,

Who that these olde bokes redeth,

That coveitise is on which ledeth,

P. i. 357

And broghte ferst the werres inne.

At Grece if that I schal beginne,2310

Ther was it proved hou it stod:

To Perce, which was ful of good,

Thei maden werre in special,

And so thei deden overal,

Wher gret richesse was in londe,

So that thei leften nothing stonde

Unwerred, bot onliche Archade.

Nota, quod Greci omnem terram fertilem debellabant, set tantum Archadiam, pro eo quod pauper et sterilis fuit, pacifice dimiserunt.

For there thei no werres made,1052

Be cause it was bareigne and povere,

Wherof thei mihten noght recovere;2320

And thus poverte was forbore,

He that noght hadde noght hath lore.

Bot yit it is a wonder thing,

Whan that a riche worthi king,

Or other lord, what so he be,

Wol axe and cleyme proprete

In thing to which he hath no riht,

Bot onliche of his grete miht:

For this mai every man wel wite,

That bothe kinde and lawe write2330

Expressly stonden therayein.

Bot he mot nedes somwhat sein,

Althogh ther be no reson inne,

Which secheth cause forto winne:

For wit that is with will oppressed,

Whan coveitise him hath adressed,

And alle resoun put aweie,

He can wel finde such a weie

P. i. 358

To werre, where as evere him liketh,

Wherof that he the world entriketh,2340

That many a man of him compleigneth:

Bot yit alwei som cause he feigneth,

And of his wrongful herte he demeth1053

That al is wel, what evere him semeth,

Be so that he mai winne ynowh.

For as the trew man to the plowh1054

Only to the gaignage entendeth,

Riht so the werreiour despendeth

His time and hath no conscience.

And in this point for evidence2350

Of hem that suche werres make,

Thou miht a gret ensample take,

How thei her tirannie excusen

Of that thei wrongfull werres usen,

And how thei stonde of on acord,

The Souldeour forth with the lord,

Thepovere man forth with the riche,

As of corage thei ben liche,

To make werres and to pile

For lucre and for non other skyle:2360

Wherof a propre tale I rede,

As it whilom befell in dede.

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