[Tale of Phrixus and Helle.]The fame of thilke schepes fell,228Which in Colchos, as it befell,Nota qualiter aureum vellus in partes insule Colchos primo deuenit. Athemas Rex Philen habuit coniugem, ex qua Frixum et Hellen genuit: mortua autem229Philen Athemas Ynonem Regis Cadmi filiam postea in vxorem duxit, que more Nouerce dictos infantes in tantum recollegit odium, quod ambos in mare proici penes Regem procurauit. Vnde Iuno compaciens quendam Arietem grandem aureo vestitum vellere ad litus natantem destinauit; super cuius dorsum pueros apponi iussit. Quo facto Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Frixo sibi adherente in Colchos applicuit, vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cum suo vellere,230prout in aliis canitur231cronicis, sub arta custodia collocauit.Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;Wherof I thenke for to seieHou it cam ferst into that yle.Ther was a king in thilke whyleTowardes Grece, and AthemasThe Cronique of his name was;4250And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,He hadde of children yonge tuo.Frixus the ferste was of tho,A knave child, riht fair withalle;A dowhter ek, the which men calleHellen, he hadde be this wif.Bot for ther mai no mannes lifEndure upon this Erthe hiere,This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,4260P. ii. 270Er that the children were of age,Tok of hire ende the passage,With gret worschipe and was begrave.What thing it liketh god to haveIt is gret reson to ben his;Forthi this king, so as it is,With gret suffrance it underfongeth:And afterward, as him belongeth,Whan it was time forto wedde,A newe wif he tok to bedde,4270Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,And ek the dowhter, as men saide,Of Cadme, which a king alsoWas holde in thilke daies tho.Whan Yno was the kinges make,Sche caste hou that sche mihte make232These children to here fader lothe,And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,233Which to the king was al unknowe.A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe4280The lond with sode whete aboute,Wherof no corn mai springen oute;And thus be sleyhte and be covineAros the derthe and the famineThurghout the lond in such a wise,So that the king a sacrifiseUpon the point of this destresseTo Ceres, which is the goddesseOf corn, hath schape him forto yive,To loke if it mai be foryive,4290P. ii. 271The meschief which was in his lond.Bot sche, which knew tofor the hondThe circumstance of al this thing,Ayein the cominge of the kingInto the temple, hath schape so,Of hire acord that alle thoWhiche of the temple prestes wereHave seid and full declared thereUnto the king, bot if so beThat he delivere the contre4300Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,That whil tho children ben therinne,Such tilthe schal noman beginne,Wherof to gete him eny corn.Thus was it seid, thus was it swornOf all the Prestes that ther are;234And sche which causeth al this fareSeid ek therto what that sche wolde,235And every man thanne after tolde4310So as the queene hem hadde preid.236The king, which hath his Ere leid,And lieveth al that evere he herde,Unto here tale thus ansuerde,And seith that levere him is to cheseHise children bothe forto lese,Than him and al the remenantOf hem whiche are aportenantUnto the lond which he schal kepe:And bad his wif to take kepe4320P. ii. 272In what manere is best to done,237That thei delivered weren soneOut of this world. And sche anonTuo men ordeigneth forto gon;Bot ferst sche made hem forto swereThat thei the children scholden bereUnto the See, that non it knowe,And hem therinne bothe throwe.The children to the See ben lad,Wher in the wise as Yno bad2384330These men be redy forto do.Bot the goddesse which JunoIs hote, appiereth in the stede,And hath unto the men forbede239That thei the children noght ne sle;Bot bad hem loke into the SeeAnd taken hiede of that thei sihen.Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,Whos flees of burned gold was al;And this goddesse forth withal4340Comandeth that withoute letteThei scholde anon these children setteAbove upon this Schepes bak;240And al was do, riht as sche spak,Wherof the men gon hom ayein.And fell so, as the bokes sein,Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,Which of the See was wo bego,For pure drede hire herte hath lore,241That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore,4350P. ii. 273As sche that was swounende feint,242Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;243With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,Where Juno the goddesse he fond,Which tok the Schep unto the lond,And sette it there in such a wiseAs thou tofore hast herd devise,Wherof cam after al the wo,Why Jason was forswore so4360Unto Medee, as it is spoke.244Amans.Mi fader, who that hath tobrokeHis trouthe, as ye have told above,He is noght worthi forto loveNe be beloved, as me semeth:Bot every newe love quemethTo him which newefongel is.245And natheles nou after this,If that you list to taken hiede246Upon mi Schrifte to procede,4370In loves cause ayein the viceOf covoitise and AvariceWhat ther is more I wolde wite.Confessor.Mi Sone, this I finde write,Ther is yit on of thilke brood,Which only for the worldes good,To make a Tresor of Moneie,Put alle conscience aweie:Wherof in thi confessionThe name and the condicion4380P. ii. 274I schal hierafterward declare,Which makth on riche, an other bare.[Usury.]v.Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur, et illudFraude colorata sepe latenter agit.Sic amor excessus quamsepe suos vt auarusSpirat, et vnius tres capit ipse loco.Upon the bench sittende on hihWith Avarice Usure I sih,Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie, que Vsura dicitur, cuius creditor in pecunia tantum numerata plusquam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri adauget.Full clothed of his oghne suite,Which after gold makth chace and suiteWith his brocours, that renne abouteLich unto racches in a route.Such lucre is non above grounde,Which is noght of tho racches founde;4390For wher thei se beyete sterte,247That schal hem in no wise asterte,Bot thei it dryve into the netOf lucre, which Usure hath set.Usure with the riche duelleth,To al that evere he beith and selleth248He hath ordeined of his sleyhteMesure double and double weyhte:Outward he selleth be the lasse,And with the more he makth his tasse,4400Wherof his hous is full withinne.He reccheth noght, be so he winne,249Though that ther lese ten or tuelve:His love is al toward himselveAnd to non other, bot he seThat he mai winne suche thre;P. ii. 275For wher he schal oght yive or lene,He wol ayeinward take a bene,Ther he hath lent the smale pese.And riht so ther ben manye of these4410Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte,250That scarsly wolde it weie a myte,Yit wolde thei have a pound again,251As doth Usure in his bargain.Bot certes such usure unlicheIt falleth more unto the riche,Als wel of love as of beyete,Than unto hem that be noght grete,And, as who seith, ben simple and povere;For sielden is whan thei recovere,4420Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte.And natheles men se poverteWith porsuite and continuance252Fulofte make a gret chevanceAnd take of love his avantage,253Forth with the help of his brocage,That maken seme wher is noght.254And thus fulofte is love boghtFor litel what, and mochel take,With false weyhtes that thei make.4430Confessor.Nou, Sone, of that I seide aboveThou wost what Usure is of love:Tell me forthi what so thou wilt,If thou therof hast eny gilt.Amans.Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere.For of tho pointz ye tolden hiereP. ii. 276I wol you be mi trouthe assure,Mi weyhte of love and mi mesureHath be mor large and mor certeinThan evere I tok of love ayein:4440For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte,To take ayein be double weyhteOf love mor than I have yive.For als so wiss mot I be schriveAnd have remission of Sinne,As so yit couthe I nevere winne,Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein,That evere I mihte have half ayeinOf so full love as I have lent:And if myn happ were so wel went,4450That for the hole I mihte have half,Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf.255For where Usure wole have double,Mi conscience is noght so trouble,I biede nevere as to my delBot of the hole an halvendel;That is non excess, as me thenketh.Bot natheles it me forthenketh;For wel I wot that wol noght be,For every day the betre I se4460That hou so evere I yive or leneMi love in place ther I mene,256For oght that evere I axe or crave,I can nothing ayeinward have.Bot yit for that I wol noght lete,What so befalle of mi beyete,P. ii. 277That I ne schal hire yive and leneMi love and al mi thoght so clene,257That toward me schal noght beleve.And if sche of hire goode leve4470Rewarde wol me noght again,I wot the laste of my bargainSchal stonde upon so gret a lost,That I mai neveremor the costRecovere in this world til I die.So that touchende of this partieI mai me wel excuse and schal;And forto speke forth withal,If eny brocour for me wente,That point cam nevere in myn entente:4480So that the more me merveilleth,What thing it is mi ladi eilleth,That al myn herte and al my timeSche hath, and doth no betre bime.I have herd seid that thoght is fre,258And natheles in priveteTo you, mi fader, that ben hiereMin hole schrifte forto hiere,I dar min herte wel desclose.Touchende usure, as I suppose,4490Which as ye telle in love is used,Mi ladi mai noght ben excused;That for o lokinge of hire yëMin hole herte til I dyeWith al that evere I may and canSche hath me wonne to hire man:P. ii. 278Wherof, me thenkth, good reson woldeThat sche somdel rewarde scholde,And yive a part, ther sche hath al.I not what falle hierafter schal,4500Bot into nou yit dar I sein,Hire liste nevere yive ayeinA goodli word in such a wise,Wherof min hope mihte arise,259Mi grete love to compense.I not hou sche hire conscienceExcuse wole of this usure;260Be large weyhte and gret mesureSche hath mi love, and I have noghtOf that which I have diere boght,4510And with myn herte I have it paid;Bot al that is asyde laid,261And I go loveles aboute.Hire oghte stonde in ful gret doute,Til sche redresce such a sinne,That sche wole al mi love winneAnd yifth me noght to live by:Noght als so moche as ‘grant mercy’262Hir list to seie, of which I mihteSom of mi grete peine allyhte.4520Bot of this point, lo, thus I fareAs he that paith for his chaffare,And beith it diere, and yit hath non,263So mot he nedes povere gon:Thus beie I diere and have no love,264That I ne mai noght come above265P. ii. 279To winne of love non encress.Bot I me wole nathelesTouchende usure of love aquite;And if mi ladi be to wyte,4530I preie to god such grace hir sendeThat sche be time it mot amende.Confessor.Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerdTouchende Usure I have al herd,Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:Bot that thou tellest in thi taleAnd thi ladi therof accusest,Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.For be thin oghne knowlechingeThou seist hou sche for o lokinge4540Thin hole herte fro the tok:Sche mai be such, that hire o lokIs worth thin herte manyfold;So hast thou wel thin herte sold,Whan thou hast that is more worth.And ek of that thou tellest forth,Hou that hire weyhte of love uneveneIs unto thin, under the heveneStod nevere in evene that balanceWhich stant in loves governance.4550Such is the statut of his lawe,That thogh thi love more draweAnd peise in the balance more,Thou miht noght axe ayein therforeOf duete, bot al of grace.For love is lord in every place,P. ii. 280Ther mai no lawe him justefieBe reddour ne be compaignie,That he ne wole after his willeWhom that him liketh spede or spille.4560To love a man mai wel beginne,Bot whether he schal lese or winne,That wot noman til ate laste:Forthi coveite noght to faste,Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,266Per cas al mai to goode wende.Bot that thou hast me told and said,Of o thing I am riht wel paid,267That thou be sleyhte ne be guileOf no brocour hast otherwhile4570Engined love, for such dede268Is sore venged, as I rede.[Love-Brokerage. Tale of Echo.]Brocours of love that deceiven,No wonder is thogh thei receiven269After the wrong that thei decerven;For whom as evere that thei serven270And do plesance for a whyle,Yit ate laste here oghne guileHic ponit exemplum contra istos maritos qui vltra id quod proprias habent vxores ad noue voluptatis incrementum alias mulieres superflue lucrari non verentur. Et narrat qualiter Iuno vindictam suam in Eccho decreuit, pro eo quod ipsa Eccho272in huiusmodi mulierum lucris adquirendis de consilio mariti sui Iouis mediatrix extiterat.Upon here oghne hed descendeth,271Which god of his vengance sendeth,4580As be ensample of time goA man mai finde it hath be so.It fell somtime, as it was sene,The hihe goddesse and the queeneJuno tho hadde in compainieA Maiden full of tricherie;P. ii. 281For sche was evere in on acord273With Jupiter, that was hire lord,To gete him othre loves newe,Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe4590Al otherwise than him nedeth.Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth,With queinte wordes and with slyheBlente in such wise hir lady yhe,As sche to whom that Juno triste,274So that therof sche nothing wiste.Bot so prive mai be nothing,That it ne comth to knowleching;Thing don upon the derke nyhtIs after knowe on daies liht:4600So it befell, that ate lasteAl that this slyhe maiden casteWas overcast and overthrowe.For as the sothe mot be knowe,To Juno was don understondeIn what manere hir housebondeWith fals brocage hath take usureOf love mor than his mesure,Whan he tok othre than his wif,Wherof this mayden was gultif,4610Which hadde ben of his assent.And thus was al the game schent;275Sche soffreth him, as sche mot nede,Bot the brocour of his misdede,Sche which hir conseil yaf therto,On hire is the vengance do:P. ii. 282For Juno with hire wordes hote,This Maiden, which Eccho was hote,Reproveth and seith in this wise:‘O traiteresse, of which servise4620Hast thou thin oghne ladi served!Thou hast gret peine wel deserved,That thou canst maken it so queinte,Thi slyhe wordes forto peinteTowardes me, that am thi queene,Wherof thou madest me to weneThat myn housbonde trewe were,Whan that he loveth elleswhere,Al be it so him nedeth noght.Bot upon thee it schal be boght,4630Which art prive to tho doinges,And me fulofte of thi lesingesDeceived hast: nou is the dayThat I thi while aquite may;276And for thou hast to me conceledThat my lord hath with othre deled,I schal thee sette in such a kende,That evere unto the worldes endeAl that thou hierest thou schalt telle,And clappe it out as doth a belle.’4640And with that word sche was forschape,Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape,277What man that in the wodes crieth,278Withoute faile Eccho replieth,And what word that him list to sein,The same word sche seith ayein.P. ii. 283Thus sche, which whilom hadde leveTo duelle in chambre, mot beleveIn wodes and on helles bothe,For such brocage as wyves lothe,4650Which doth here lordes hertes change279And love in other place strange.280Confessor.Forthi, if evere it so befalle,That thou, mi Sone, amonges alleBe wedded man, hold that thou hast,For thanne al other love is wast.O wif schal wel to thee suffise,And thanne, if thou for covoitiseOf love woldest axe more,Thou scholdest don ayein the lore4660Of alle hem that trewe be.Amans.Mi fader, as in this degreMy conscience is noght accused;For I no such brocage have used,Wherof that lust of love is wonne.Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne,Of Avarice upon mi schrifte.Confessor.Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifteBe ordre so as thei ben set,On whom no good is wel beset.4670[Parsimony.]vi.Pro verbis verba, munus pro munere reddiConvenit, vt pondus equa statera gerat.Propterea cupido non dat sua dona Cupido,Nam qui nulla serit, gramina nulla metet.Blinde Avarice of his lignage281For conseil and for cousinage,P. ii. 284To be withholde ayein largesse,Hic tractat super illa specie Auaricie que Parcimonia dicitur, cuius natura tenax aliqualem sue substancie porcionem aut deo aut hominibus participare nullatenus consentit.Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse,The which is kepere of his hous,And is so thurghout averous,That he no good let out of honde;Thogh god himself it wolde fonde,Of yifte scholde he nothing have;And if a man it wolde crave,2824680He moste thanne faile nede,Wher god himselve mai noght spede.283And thus Skarsnesse in every placeBe reson mai no thonk porchace,And natheles in his degreeAbove alle othre most priveWith Avarice stant he this.For he governeth that ther isIn ech astat of his officeAfter the reule of thilke vice;4690He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint,That lihtere is to fle the flintThan gete of him in hard or neissheOnly the value of a reyssheOf good in helpinge of an other,Noght thogh it were his oghne brother.For in the cas of yifte and loneStant every man for him al one,Him thenkth of his unkindeschipeThat him nedeth no felaschipe:4700Be so the bagge and he acorden,284Him reccheth noght what men recordenP. ii. 285Of him, or it be evel or good.For al his trust is on his good,So that al one he falleth ofte,Whan he best weneth stonde alofte,Als wel in love as other wise;For love is evere of som repriseTo him that wole his love holde.Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde,4710Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte:Hast thou be scars or large of yifteUnto thi love, whom thou servest?For after that thou wel deservestOf yifte, thou miht be the bet;For that good holde I wel beset,For why thou miht the betre fare;285Thanne is no wisdom forto spare.For thus men sein, in every nedeHe was wys that ferst made mede;4720For where as mede mai noght spede,I not what helpeth other dede:Fulofte he faileth of his gameThat wol with ydel hand reclameHis hauk, as many a nyce doth.Forthi, mi Sone, tell me sothAnd sei the trouthe, if thou hast beUnto thy love or skars or fre.Confessio Amantis.Mi fader, it hath stonde thus,That if the tresor of Cresus4730And al the gold Octovien,Forth with the richesse Yndien286P. ii. 286Of Perles and of riche stones,Were al togedre myn at ones,I sette it at nomore acompteThan wolde a bare straw amonte,To yive it hire al in a day,Be so that to that suete may287I myhte like or more or lesse.288And thus be cause of my scarsnesse4740Ye mai wel understonde and lieveThat I schal noght the worse achieve289The pourpos which is in my thoght.Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght,Ne therto dorste a profre make;For wel I wot sche wol noght take,And yive wol sche noght also,She is eschu of bothe tuo.And this I trowe be the skileTowardes me, for sche ne wile4750That I have eny cause of hope,Noght also mochel as a drope.Bot toward othre, as I mai se,Sche takth and yifth in such degre,That as be weie of frendlihiedeSche can so kepe hir wommanhiede,That every man spekth of hir wel.Bot sche wole take of me no del,And yit sche wot wel that I woldeYive and do bothe what I scholde4760To plesen hire in al my myht:Be reson this wot every wyht,P. ii. 287For that mai be no weie asterte,Ther sche is maister of the herte,Sche mot be maister of the good.For god wot wel that al my modAnd al min herte and al mi thoghtAnd al mi good, whil I have oght,Als freliche as god hath it yive,It schal ben hires, while I live,2904770Riht as hir list hirself commande.So that it nedeth no demande,To axe of me if I be scarsTo love, for as to tho parsI wole ansuere and seie no.Confessor.Mi Sone, that is riht wel do.For often times of scarsnesseIt hath be sen, that for the lesseIs lost the more, as thou schalt hiereA tale lich to this matiere.4780
[Tale of Phrixus and Helle.]The fame of thilke schepes fell,228Which in Colchos, as it befell,Nota qualiter aureum vellus in partes insule Colchos primo deuenit. Athemas Rex Philen habuit coniugem, ex qua Frixum et Hellen genuit: mortua autem229Philen Athemas Ynonem Regis Cadmi filiam postea in vxorem duxit, que more Nouerce dictos infantes in tantum recollegit odium, quod ambos in mare proici penes Regem procurauit. Vnde Iuno compaciens quendam Arietem grandem aureo vestitum vellere ad litus natantem destinauit; super cuius dorsum pueros apponi iussit. Quo facto Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Frixo sibi adherente in Colchos applicuit, vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cum suo vellere,230prout in aliis canitur231cronicis, sub arta custodia collocauit.Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;Wherof I thenke for to seieHou it cam ferst into that yle.Ther was a king in thilke whyleTowardes Grece, and AthemasThe Cronique of his name was;4250And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,He hadde of children yonge tuo.Frixus the ferste was of tho,A knave child, riht fair withalle;A dowhter ek, the which men calleHellen, he hadde be this wif.Bot for ther mai no mannes lifEndure upon this Erthe hiere,This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,4260P. ii. 270Er that the children were of age,Tok of hire ende the passage,With gret worschipe and was begrave.What thing it liketh god to haveIt is gret reson to ben his;Forthi this king, so as it is,With gret suffrance it underfongeth:And afterward, as him belongeth,Whan it was time forto wedde,A newe wif he tok to bedde,4270Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,And ek the dowhter, as men saide,Of Cadme, which a king alsoWas holde in thilke daies tho.Whan Yno was the kinges make,Sche caste hou that sche mihte make232These children to here fader lothe,And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,233Which to the king was al unknowe.A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe4280The lond with sode whete aboute,Wherof no corn mai springen oute;And thus be sleyhte and be covineAros the derthe and the famineThurghout the lond in such a wise,So that the king a sacrifiseUpon the point of this destresseTo Ceres, which is the goddesseOf corn, hath schape him forto yive,To loke if it mai be foryive,4290P. ii. 271The meschief which was in his lond.Bot sche, which knew tofor the hondThe circumstance of al this thing,Ayein the cominge of the kingInto the temple, hath schape so,Of hire acord that alle thoWhiche of the temple prestes wereHave seid and full declared thereUnto the king, bot if so beThat he delivere the contre4300Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,That whil tho children ben therinne,Such tilthe schal noman beginne,Wherof to gete him eny corn.Thus was it seid, thus was it swornOf all the Prestes that ther are;234And sche which causeth al this fareSeid ek therto what that sche wolde,235And every man thanne after tolde4310So as the queene hem hadde preid.236The king, which hath his Ere leid,And lieveth al that evere he herde,Unto here tale thus ansuerde,And seith that levere him is to cheseHise children bothe forto lese,Than him and al the remenantOf hem whiche are aportenantUnto the lond which he schal kepe:And bad his wif to take kepe4320P. ii. 272In what manere is best to done,237That thei delivered weren soneOut of this world. And sche anonTuo men ordeigneth forto gon;Bot ferst sche made hem forto swereThat thei the children scholden bereUnto the See, that non it knowe,And hem therinne bothe throwe.The children to the See ben lad,Wher in the wise as Yno bad2384330These men be redy forto do.Bot the goddesse which JunoIs hote, appiereth in the stede,And hath unto the men forbede239That thei the children noght ne sle;Bot bad hem loke into the SeeAnd taken hiede of that thei sihen.Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,Whos flees of burned gold was al;And this goddesse forth withal4340Comandeth that withoute letteThei scholde anon these children setteAbove upon this Schepes bak;240And al was do, riht as sche spak,Wherof the men gon hom ayein.And fell so, as the bokes sein,Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,Which of the See was wo bego,For pure drede hire herte hath lore,241That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore,4350P. ii. 273As sche that was swounende feint,242Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;243With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,Where Juno the goddesse he fond,Which tok the Schep unto the lond,And sette it there in such a wiseAs thou tofore hast herd devise,Wherof cam after al the wo,Why Jason was forswore so4360Unto Medee, as it is spoke.244Amans.Mi fader, who that hath tobrokeHis trouthe, as ye have told above,He is noght worthi forto loveNe be beloved, as me semeth:Bot every newe love quemethTo him which newefongel is.245And natheles nou after this,If that you list to taken hiede246Upon mi Schrifte to procede,4370In loves cause ayein the viceOf covoitise and AvariceWhat ther is more I wolde wite.Confessor.Mi Sone, this I finde write,Ther is yit on of thilke brood,Which only for the worldes good,To make a Tresor of Moneie,Put alle conscience aweie:Wherof in thi confessionThe name and the condicion4380P. ii. 274I schal hierafterward declare,Which makth on riche, an other bare.[Usury.]v.Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur, et illudFraude colorata sepe latenter agit.Sic amor excessus quamsepe suos vt auarusSpirat, et vnius tres capit ipse loco.Upon the bench sittende on hihWith Avarice Usure I sih,Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie, que Vsura dicitur, cuius creditor in pecunia tantum numerata plusquam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri adauget.Full clothed of his oghne suite,Which after gold makth chace and suiteWith his brocours, that renne abouteLich unto racches in a route.Such lucre is non above grounde,Which is noght of tho racches founde;4390For wher thei se beyete sterte,247That schal hem in no wise asterte,Bot thei it dryve into the netOf lucre, which Usure hath set.Usure with the riche duelleth,To al that evere he beith and selleth248He hath ordeined of his sleyhteMesure double and double weyhte:Outward he selleth be the lasse,And with the more he makth his tasse,4400Wherof his hous is full withinne.He reccheth noght, be so he winne,249Though that ther lese ten or tuelve:His love is al toward himselveAnd to non other, bot he seThat he mai winne suche thre;P. ii. 275For wher he schal oght yive or lene,He wol ayeinward take a bene,Ther he hath lent the smale pese.And riht so ther ben manye of these4410Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte,250That scarsly wolde it weie a myte,Yit wolde thei have a pound again,251As doth Usure in his bargain.Bot certes such usure unlicheIt falleth more unto the riche,Als wel of love as of beyete,Than unto hem that be noght grete,And, as who seith, ben simple and povere;For sielden is whan thei recovere,4420Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte.And natheles men se poverteWith porsuite and continuance252Fulofte make a gret chevanceAnd take of love his avantage,253Forth with the help of his brocage,That maken seme wher is noght.254And thus fulofte is love boghtFor litel what, and mochel take,With false weyhtes that thei make.4430Confessor.Nou, Sone, of that I seide aboveThou wost what Usure is of love:Tell me forthi what so thou wilt,If thou therof hast eny gilt.Amans.Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere.For of tho pointz ye tolden hiereP. ii. 276I wol you be mi trouthe assure,Mi weyhte of love and mi mesureHath be mor large and mor certeinThan evere I tok of love ayein:4440For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte,To take ayein be double weyhteOf love mor than I have yive.For als so wiss mot I be schriveAnd have remission of Sinne,As so yit couthe I nevere winne,Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein,That evere I mihte have half ayeinOf so full love as I have lent:And if myn happ were so wel went,4450That for the hole I mihte have half,Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf.255For where Usure wole have double,Mi conscience is noght so trouble,I biede nevere as to my delBot of the hole an halvendel;That is non excess, as me thenketh.Bot natheles it me forthenketh;For wel I wot that wol noght be,For every day the betre I se4460That hou so evere I yive or leneMi love in place ther I mene,256For oght that evere I axe or crave,I can nothing ayeinward have.Bot yit for that I wol noght lete,What so befalle of mi beyete,P. ii. 277That I ne schal hire yive and leneMi love and al mi thoght so clene,257That toward me schal noght beleve.And if sche of hire goode leve4470Rewarde wol me noght again,I wot the laste of my bargainSchal stonde upon so gret a lost,That I mai neveremor the costRecovere in this world til I die.So that touchende of this partieI mai me wel excuse and schal;And forto speke forth withal,If eny brocour for me wente,That point cam nevere in myn entente:4480So that the more me merveilleth,What thing it is mi ladi eilleth,That al myn herte and al my timeSche hath, and doth no betre bime.I have herd seid that thoght is fre,258And natheles in priveteTo you, mi fader, that ben hiereMin hole schrifte forto hiere,I dar min herte wel desclose.Touchende usure, as I suppose,4490Which as ye telle in love is used,Mi ladi mai noght ben excused;That for o lokinge of hire yëMin hole herte til I dyeWith al that evere I may and canSche hath me wonne to hire man:P. ii. 278Wherof, me thenkth, good reson woldeThat sche somdel rewarde scholde,And yive a part, ther sche hath al.I not what falle hierafter schal,4500Bot into nou yit dar I sein,Hire liste nevere yive ayeinA goodli word in such a wise,Wherof min hope mihte arise,259Mi grete love to compense.I not hou sche hire conscienceExcuse wole of this usure;260Be large weyhte and gret mesureSche hath mi love, and I have noghtOf that which I have diere boght,4510And with myn herte I have it paid;Bot al that is asyde laid,261And I go loveles aboute.Hire oghte stonde in ful gret doute,Til sche redresce such a sinne,That sche wole al mi love winneAnd yifth me noght to live by:Noght als so moche as ‘grant mercy’262Hir list to seie, of which I mihteSom of mi grete peine allyhte.4520Bot of this point, lo, thus I fareAs he that paith for his chaffare,And beith it diere, and yit hath non,263So mot he nedes povere gon:Thus beie I diere and have no love,264That I ne mai noght come above265P. ii. 279To winne of love non encress.Bot I me wole nathelesTouchende usure of love aquite;And if mi ladi be to wyte,4530I preie to god such grace hir sendeThat sche be time it mot amende.Confessor.Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerdTouchende Usure I have al herd,Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:Bot that thou tellest in thi taleAnd thi ladi therof accusest,Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.For be thin oghne knowlechingeThou seist hou sche for o lokinge4540Thin hole herte fro the tok:Sche mai be such, that hire o lokIs worth thin herte manyfold;So hast thou wel thin herte sold,Whan thou hast that is more worth.And ek of that thou tellest forth,Hou that hire weyhte of love uneveneIs unto thin, under the heveneStod nevere in evene that balanceWhich stant in loves governance.4550Such is the statut of his lawe,That thogh thi love more draweAnd peise in the balance more,Thou miht noght axe ayein therforeOf duete, bot al of grace.For love is lord in every place,P. ii. 280Ther mai no lawe him justefieBe reddour ne be compaignie,That he ne wole after his willeWhom that him liketh spede or spille.4560To love a man mai wel beginne,Bot whether he schal lese or winne,That wot noman til ate laste:Forthi coveite noght to faste,Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,266Per cas al mai to goode wende.Bot that thou hast me told and said,Of o thing I am riht wel paid,267That thou be sleyhte ne be guileOf no brocour hast otherwhile4570Engined love, for such dede268Is sore venged, as I rede.[Love-Brokerage. Tale of Echo.]Brocours of love that deceiven,No wonder is thogh thei receiven269After the wrong that thei decerven;For whom as evere that thei serven270And do plesance for a whyle,Yit ate laste here oghne guileHic ponit exemplum contra istos maritos qui vltra id quod proprias habent vxores ad noue voluptatis incrementum alias mulieres superflue lucrari non verentur. Et narrat qualiter Iuno vindictam suam in Eccho decreuit, pro eo quod ipsa Eccho272in huiusmodi mulierum lucris adquirendis de consilio mariti sui Iouis mediatrix extiterat.Upon here oghne hed descendeth,271Which god of his vengance sendeth,4580As be ensample of time goA man mai finde it hath be so.It fell somtime, as it was sene,The hihe goddesse and the queeneJuno tho hadde in compainieA Maiden full of tricherie;P. ii. 281For sche was evere in on acord273With Jupiter, that was hire lord,To gete him othre loves newe,Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe4590Al otherwise than him nedeth.Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth,With queinte wordes and with slyheBlente in such wise hir lady yhe,As sche to whom that Juno triste,274So that therof sche nothing wiste.Bot so prive mai be nothing,That it ne comth to knowleching;Thing don upon the derke nyhtIs after knowe on daies liht:4600So it befell, that ate lasteAl that this slyhe maiden casteWas overcast and overthrowe.For as the sothe mot be knowe,To Juno was don understondeIn what manere hir housebondeWith fals brocage hath take usureOf love mor than his mesure,Whan he tok othre than his wif,Wherof this mayden was gultif,4610Which hadde ben of his assent.And thus was al the game schent;275Sche soffreth him, as sche mot nede,Bot the brocour of his misdede,Sche which hir conseil yaf therto,On hire is the vengance do:P. ii. 282For Juno with hire wordes hote,This Maiden, which Eccho was hote,Reproveth and seith in this wise:‘O traiteresse, of which servise4620Hast thou thin oghne ladi served!Thou hast gret peine wel deserved,That thou canst maken it so queinte,Thi slyhe wordes forto peinteTowardes me, that am thi queene,Wherof thou madest me to weneThat myn housbonde trewe were,Whan that he loveth elleswhere,Al be it so him nedeth noght.Bot upon thee it schal be boght,4630Which art prive to tho doinges,And me fulofte of thi lesingesDeceived hast: nou is the dayThat I thi while aquite may;276And for thou hast to me conceledThat my lord hath with othre deled,I schal thee sette in such a kende,That evere unto the worldes endeAl that thou hierest thou schalt telle,And clappe it out as doth a belle.’4640And with that word sche was forschape,Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape,277What man that in the wodes crieth,278Withoute faile Eccho replieth,And what word that him list to sein,The same word sche seith ayein.P. ii. 283Thus sche, which whilom hadde leveTo duelle in chambre, mot beleveIn wodes and on helles bothe,For such brocage as wyves lothe,4650Which doth here lordes hertes change279And love in other place strange.280Confessor.Forthi, if evere it so befalle,That thou, mi Sone, amonges alleBe wedded man, hold that thou hast,For thanne al other love is wast.O wif schal wel to thee suffise,And thanne, if thou for covoitiseOf love woldest axe more,Thou scholdest don ayein the lore4660Of alle hem that trewe be.Amans.Mi fader, as in this degreMy conscience is noght accused;For I no such brocage have used,Wherof that lust of love is wonne.Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne,Of Avarice upon mi schrifte.Confessor.Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifteBe ordre so as thei ben set,On whom no good is wel beset.4670[Parsimony.]vi.Pro verbis verba, munus pro munere reddiConvenit, vt pondus equa statera gerat.Propterea cupido non dat sua dona Cupido,Nam qui nulla serit, gramina nulla metet.Blinde Avarice of his lignage281For conseil and for cousinage,P. ii. 284To be withholde ayein largesse,Hic tractat super illa specie Auaricie que Parcimonia dicitur, cuius natura tenax aliqualem sue substancie porcionem aut deo aut hominibus participare nullatenus consentit.Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse,The which is kepere of his hous,And is so thurghout averous,That he no good let out of honde;Thogh god himself it wolde fonde,Of yifte scholde he nothing have;And if a man it wolde crave,2824680He moste thanne faile nede,Wher god himselve mai noght spede.283And thus Skarsnesse in every placeBe reson mai no thonk porchace,And natheles in his degreeAbove alle othre most priveWith Avarice stant he this.For he governeth that ther isIn ech astat of his officeAfter the reule of thilke vice;4690He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint,That lihtere is to fle the flintThan gete of him in hard or neissheOnly the value of a reyssheOf good in helpinge of an other,Noght thogh it were his oghne brother.For in the cas of yifte and loneStant every man for him al one,Him thenkth of his unkindeschipeThat him nedeth no felaschipe:4700Be so the bagge and he acorden,284Him reccheth noght what men recordenP. ii. 285Of him, or it be evel or good.For al his trust is on his good,So that al one he falleth ofte,Whan he best weneth stonde alofte,Als wel in love as other wise;For love is evere of som repriseTo him that wole his love holde.Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde,4710Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte:Hast thou be scars or large of yifteUnto thi love, whom thou servest?For after that thou wel deservestOf yifte, thou miht be the bet;For that good holde I wel beset,For why thou miht the betre fare;285Thanne is no wisdom forto spare.For thus men sein, in every nedeHe was wys that ferst made mede;4720For where as mede mai noght spede,I not what helpeth other dede:Fulofte he faileth of his gameThat wol with ydel hand reclameHis hauk, as many a nyce doth.Forthi, mi Sone, tell me sothAnd sei the trouthe, if thou hast beUnto thy love or skars or fre.Confessio Amantis.Mi fader, it hath stonde thus,That if the tresor of Cresus4730And al the gold Octovien,Forth with the richesse Yndien286P. ii. 286Of Perles and of riche stones,Were al togedre myn at ones,I sette it at nomore acompteThan wolde a bare straw amonte,To yive it hire al in a day,Be so that to that suete may287I myhte like or more or lesse.288And thus be cause of my scarsnesse4740Ye mai wel understonde and lieveThat I schal noght the worse achieve289The pourpos which is in my thoght.Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght,Ne therto dorste a profre make;For wel I wot sche wol noght take,And yive wol sche noght also,She is eschu of bothe tuo.And this I trowe be the skileTowardes me, for sche ne wile4750That I have eny cause of hope,Noght also mochel as a drope.Bot toward othre, as I mai se,Sche takth and yifth in such degre,That as be weie of frendlihiedeSche can so kepe hir wommanhiede,That every man spekth of hir wel.Bot sche wole take of me no del,And yit sche wot wel that I woldeYive and do bothe what I scholde4760To plesen hire in al my myht:Be reson this wot every wyht,P. ii. 287For that mai be no weie asterte,Ther sche is maister of the herte,Sche mot be maister of the good.For god wot wel that al my modAnd al min herte and al mi thoghtAnd al mi good, whil I have oght,Als freliche as god hath it yive,It schal ben hires, while I live,2904770Riht as hir list hirself commande.So that it nedeth no demande,To axe of me if I be scarsTo love, for as to tho parsI wole ansuere and seie no.Confessor.Mi Sone, that is riht wel do.For often times of scarsnesseIt hath be sen, that for the lesseIs lost the more, as thou schalt hiereA tale lich to this matiere.4780
[Tale of Phrixus and Helle.]The fame of thilke schepes fell,228Which in Colchos, as it befell,Nota qualiter aureum vellus in partes insule Colchos primo deuenit. Athemas Rex Philen habuit coniugem, ex qua Frixum et Hellen genuit: mortua autem229Philen Athemas Ynonem Regis Cadmi filiam postea in vxorem duxit, que more Nouerce dictos infantes in tantum recollegit odium, quod ambos in mare proici penes Regem procurauit. Vnde Iuno compaciens quendam Arietem grandem aureo vestitum vellere ad litus natantem destinauit; super cuius dorsum pueros apponi iussit. Quo facto Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Frixo sibi adherente in Colchos applicuit, vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cum suo vellere,230prout in aliis canitur231cronicis, sub arta custodia collocauit.Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;Wherof I thenke for to seieHou it cam ferst into that yle.Ther was a king in thilke whyleTowardes Grece, and AthemasThe Cronique of his name was;4250And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,He hadde of children yonge tuo.Frixus the ferste was of tho,A knave child, riht fair withalle;A dowhter ek, the which men calleHellen, he hadde be this wif.Bot for ther mai no mannes lifEndure upon this Erthe hiere,This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,4260P. ii. 270Er that the children were of age,Tok of hire ende the passage,With gret worschipe and was begrave.What thing it liketh god to haveIt is gret reson to ben his;Forthi this king, so as it is,With gret suffrance it underfongeth:And afterward, as him belongeth,Whan it was time forto wedde,A newe wif he tok to bedde,4270Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,And ek the dowhter, as men saide,Of Cadme, which a king alsoWas holde in thilke daies tho.Whan Yno was the kinges make,Sche caste hou that sche mihte make232These children to here fader lothe,And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,233Which to the king was al unknowe.A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe4280The lond with sode whete aboute,Wherof no corn mai springen oute;And thus be sleyhte and be covineAros the derthe and the famineThurghout the lond in such a wise,So that the king a sacrifiseUpon the point of this destresseTo Ceres, which is the goddesseOf corn, hath schape him forto yive,To loke if it mai be foryive,4290P. ii. 271The meschief which was in his lond.Bot sche, which knew tofor the hondThe circumstance of al this thing,Ayein the cominge of the kingInto the temple, hath schape so,Of hire acord that alle thoWhiche of the temple prestes wereHave seid and full declared thereUnto the king, bot if so beThat he delivere the contre4300Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,That whil tho children ben therinne,Such tilthe schal noman beginne,Wherof to gete him eny corn.Thus was it seid, thus was it swornOf all the Prestes that ther are;234And sche which causeth al this fareSeid ek therto what that sche wolde,235And every man thanne after tolde4310So as the queene hem hadde preid.236The king, which hath his Ere leid,And lieveth al that evere he herde,Unto here tale thus ansuerde,And seith that levere him is to cheseHise children bothe forto lese,Than him and al the remenantOf hem whiche are aportenantUnto the lond which he schal kepe:And bad his wif to take kepe4320P. ii. 272In what manere is best to done,237That thei delivered weren soneOut of this world. And sche anonTuo men ordeigneth forto gon;Bot ferst sche made hem forto swereThat thei the children scholden bereUnto the See, that non it knowe,And hem therinne bothe throwe.The children to the See ben lad,Wher in the wise as Yno bad2384330These men be redy forto do.Bot the goddesse which JunoIs hote, appiereth in the stede,And hath unto the men forbede239That thei the children noght ne sle;Bot bad hem loke into the SeeAnd taken hiede of that thei sihen.Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,Whos flees of burned gold was al;And this goddesse forth withal4340Comandeth that withoute letteThei scholde anon these children setteAbove upon this Schepes bak;240And al was do, riht as sche spak,Wherof the men gon hom ayein.And fell so, as the bokes sein,Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,Which of the See was wo bego,For pure drede hire herte hath lore,241That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore,4350P. ii. 273As sche that was swounende feint,242Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;243With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,Where Juno the goddesse he fond,Which tok the Schep unto the lond,And sette it there in such a wiseAs thou tofore hast herd devise,Wherof cam after al the wo,Why Jason was forswore so4360Unto Medee, as it is spoke.244Amans.Mi fader, who that hath tobrokeHis trouthe, as ye have told above,He is noght worthi forto loveNe be beloved, as me semeth:Bot every newe love quemethTo him which newefongel is.245And natheles nou after this,If that you list to taken hiede246Upon mi Schrifte to procede,4370In loves cause ayein the viceOf covoitise and AvariceWhat ther is more I wolde wite.Confessor.Mi Sone, this I finde write,Ther is yit on of thilke brood,Which only for the worldes good,To make a Tresor of Moneie,Put alle conscience aweie:Wherof in thi confessionThe name and the condicion4380P. ii. 274I schal hierafterward declare,Which makth on riche, an other bare.
[Tale of Phrixus and Helle.]
The fame of thilke schepes fell,228
Which in Colchos, as it befell,
Nota qualiter aureum vellus in partes insule Colchos primo deuenit. Athemas Rex Philen habuit coniugem, ex qua Frixum et Hellen genuit: mortua autem229Philen Athemas Ynonem Regis Cadmi filiam postea in vxorem duxit, que more Nouerce dictos infantes in tantum recollegit odium, quod ambos in mare proici penes Regem procurauit. Vnde Iuno compaciens quendam Arietem grandem aureo vestitum vellere ad litus natantem destinauit; super cuius dorsum pueros apponi iussit. Quo facto Aries super vndas regressus cum solo Frixo sibi adherente in Colchos applicuit, vbi Iuno dictum Arietem cum suo vellere,230prout in aliis canitur231cronicis, sub arta custodia collocauit.
Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;
Wherof I thenke for to seie
Hou it cam ferst into that yle.
Ther was a king in thilke whyle
Towardes Grece, and Athemas
The Cronique of his name was;4250
And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,
Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,
He hadde of children yonge tuo.
Frixus the ferste was of tho,
A knave child, riht fair withalle;
A dowhter ek, the which men calle
Hellen, he hadde be this wif.
Bot for ther mai no mannes lif
Endure upon this Erthe hiere,
This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,4260
P. ii. 270
Er that the children were of age,
Tok of hire ende the passage,
With gret worschipe and was begrave.
What thing it liketh god to have
It is gret reson to ben his;
Forthi this king, so as it is,
With gret suffrance it underfongeth:
And afterward, as him belongeth,
Whan it was time forto wedde,
A newe wif he tok to bedde,4270
Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,
And ek the dowhter, as men saide,
Of Cadme, which a king also
Was holde in thilke daies tho.
Whan Yno was the kinges make,
Sche caste hou that sche mihte make232
These children to here fader lothe,
And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,233
Which to the king was al unknowe.
A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe4280
The lond with sode whete aboute,
Wherof no corn mai springen oute;
And thus be sleyhte and be covine
Aros the derthe and the famine
Thurghout the lond in such a wise,
So that the king a sacrifise
Upon the point of this destresse
To Ceres, which is the goddesse
Of corn, hath schape him forto yive,
To loke if it mai be foryive,4290
P. ii. 271
The meschief which was in his lond.
Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond
The circumstance of al this thing,
Ayein the cominge of the king
Into the temple, hath schape so,
Of hire acord that alle tho
Whiche of the temple prestes were
Have seid and full declared there
Unto the king, bot if so be
That he delivere the contre4300
Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,
With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,
That whil tho children ben therinne,
Such tilthe schal noman beginne,
Wherof to gete him eny corn.
Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn
Of all the Prestes that ther are;234
And sche which causeth al this fare
Seid ek therto what that sche wolde,235
And every man thanne after tolde4310
So as the queene hem hadde preid.236
The king, which hath his Ere leid,
And lieveth al that evere he herde,
Unto here tale thus ansuerde,
And seith that levere him is to chese
Hise children bothe forto lese,
Than him and al the remenant
Of hem whiche are aportenant
Unto the lond which he schal kepe:
And bad his wif to take kepe4320
P. ii. 272
In what manere is best to done,237
That thei delivered weren sone
Out of this world. And sche anon
Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon;
Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere
That thei the children scholden bere
Unto the See, that non it knowe,
And hem therinne bothe throwe.
The children to the See ben lad,
Wher in the wise as Yno bad2384330
These men be redy forto do.
Bot the goddesse which Juno
Is hote, appiereth in the stede,
And hath unto the men forbede239
That thei the children noght ne sle;
Bot bad hem loke into the See
And taken hiede of that thei sihen.
Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,
Whos flees of burned gold was al;
And this goddesse forth withal4340
Comandeth that withoute lette
Thei scholde anon these children sette
Above upon this Schepes bak;240
And al was do, riht as sche spak,
Wherof the men gon hom ayein.
And fell so, as the bokes sein,
Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,
Which of the See was wo bego,
For pure drede hire herte hath lore,241
That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore,4350
P. ii. 273
As sche that was swounende feint,242
Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;243
With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,
Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,
Where Juno the goddesse he fond,
Which tok the Schep unto the lond,
And sette it there in such a wise
As thou tofore hast herd devise,
Wherof cam after al the wo,
Why Jason was forswore so4360
Unto Medee, as it is spoke.244
Amans.
Mi fader, who that hath tobroke
His trouthe, as ye have told above,
He is noght worthi forto love
Ne be beloved, as me semeth:
Bot every newe love quemeth
To him which newefongel is.245
And natheles nou after this,
If that you list to taken hiede246
Upon mi Schrifte to procede,4370
In loves cause ayein the vice
Of covoitise and Avarice
What ther is more I wolde wite.
Confessor.
Mi Sone, this I finde write,
Ther is yit on of thilke brood,
Which only for the worldes good,
To make a Tresor of Moneie,
Put alle conscience aweie:
Wherof in thi confession
The name and the condicion4380
P. ii. 274
I schal hierafterward declare,
Which makth on riche, an other bare.
[Usury.]v.Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur, et illudFraude colorata sepe latenter agit.Sic amor excessus quamsepe suos vt auarusSpirat, et vnius tres capit ipse loco.
[Usury.]
v.Plus capit vsura sibi quam debetur, et illud
Fraude colorata sepe latenter agit.
Sic amor excessus quamsepe suos vt auarus
Spirat, et vnius tres capit ipse loco.
Upon the bench sittende on hihWith Avarice Usure I sih,Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie, que Vsura dicitur, cuius creditor in pecunia tantum numerata plusquam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri adauget.Full clothed of his oghne suite,Which after gold makth chace and suiteWith his brocours, that renne abouteLich unto racches in a route.Such lucre is non above grounde,Which is noght of tho racches founde;4390For wher thei se beyete sterte,247That schal hem in no wise asterte,Bot thei it dryve into the netOf lucre, which Usure hath set.Usure with the riche duelleth,To al that evere he beith and selleth248He hath ordeined of his sleyhteMesure double and double weyhte:Outward he selleth be the lasse,And with the more he makth his tasse,4400Wherof his hous is full withinne.He reccheth noght, be so he winne,249Though that ther lese ten or tuelve:His love is al toward himselveAnd to non other, bot he seThat he mai winne suche thre;P. ii. 275For wher he schal oght yive or lene,He wol ayeinward take a bene,Ther he hath lent the smale pese.And riht so ther ben manye of these4410Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte,250That scarsly wolde it weie a myte,Yit wolde thei have a pound again,251As doth Usure in his bargain.Bot certes such usure unlicheIt falleth more unto the riche,Als wel of love as of beyete,Than unto hem that be noght grete,And, as who seith, ben simple and povere;For sielden is whan thei recovere,4420Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte.And natheles men se poverteWith porsuite and continuance252Fulofte make a gret chevanceAnd take of love his avantage,253Forth with the help of his brocage,That maken seme wher is noght.254And thus fulofte is love boghtFor litel what, and mochel take,With false weyhtes that thei make.4430Confessor.Nou, Sone, of that I seide aboveThou wost what Usure is of love:Tell me forthi what so thou wilt,If thou therof hast eny gilt.Amans.Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere.For of tho pointz ye tolden hiereP. ii. 276I wol you be mi trouthe assure,Mi weyhte of love and mi mesureHath be mor large and mor certeinThan evere I tok of love ayein:4440For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte,To take ayein be double weyhteOf love mor than I have yive.For als so wiss mot I be schriveAnd have remission of Sinne,As so yit couthe I nevere winne,Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein,That evere I mihte have half ayeinOf so full love as I have lent:And if myn happ were so wel went,4450That for the hole I mihte have half,Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf.255For where Usure wole have double,Mi conscience is noght so trouble,I biede nevere as to my delBot of the hole an halvendel;That is non excess, as me thenketh.Bot natheles it me forthenketh;For wel I wot that wol noght be,For every day the betre I se4460That hou so evere I yive or leneMi love in place ther I mene,256For oght that evere I axe or crave,I can nothing ayeinward have.Bot yit for that I wol noght lete,What so befalle of mi beyete,P. ii. 277That I ne schal hire yive and leneMi love and al mi thoght so clene,257That toward me schal noght beleve.And if sche of hire goode leve4470Rewarde wol me noght again,I wot the laste of my bargainSchal stonde upon so gret a lost,That I mai neveremor the costRecovere in this world til I die.So that touchende of this partieI mai me wel excuse and schal;And forto speke forth withal,If eny brocour for me wente,That point cam nevere in myn entente:4480So that the more me merveilleth,What thing it is mi ladi eilleth,That al myn herte and al my timeSche hath, and doth no betre bime.I have herd seid that thoght is fre,258And natheles in priveteTo you, mi fader, that ben hiereMin hole schrifte forto hiere,I dar min herte wel desclose.Touchende usure, as I suppose,4490Which as ye telle in love is used,Mi ladi mai noght ben excused;That for o lokinge of hire yëMin hole herte til I dyeWith al that evere I may and canSche hath me wonne to hire man:P. ii. 278Wherof, me thenkth, good reson woldeThat sche somdel rewarde scholde,And yive a part, ther sche hath al.I not what falle hierafter schal,4500Bot into nou yit dar I sein,Hire liste nevere yive ayeinA goodli word in such a wise,Wherof min hope mihte arise,259Mi grete love to compense.I not hou sche hire conscienceExcuse wole of this usure;260Be large weyhte and gret mesureSche hath mi love, and I have noghtOf that which I have diere boght,4510And with myn herte I have it paid;Bot al that is asyde laid,261And I go loveles aboute.Hire oghte stonde in ful gret doute,Til sche redresce such a sinne,That sche wole al mi love winneAnd yifth me noght to live by:Noght als so moche as ‘grant mercy’262Hir list to seie, of which I mihteSom of mi grete peine allyhte.4520Bot of this point, lo, thus I fareAs he that paith for his chaffare,And beith it diere, and yit hath non,263So mot he nedes povere gon:Thus beie I diere and have no love,264That I ne mai noght come above265P. ii. 279To winne of love non encress.Bot I me wole nathelesTouchende usure of love aquite;And if mi ladi be to wyte,4530I preie to god such grace hir sendeThat sche be time it mot amende.Confessor.Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerdTouchende Usure I have al herd,Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:Bot that thou tellest in thi taleAnd thi ladi therof accusest,Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.For be thin oghne knowlechingeThou seist hou sche for o lokinge4540Thin hole herte fro the tok:Sche mai be such, that hire o lokIs worth thin herte manyfold;So hast thou wel thin herte sold,Whan thou hast that is more worth.And ek of that thou tellest forth,Hou that hire weyhte of love uneveneIs unto thin, under the heveneStod nevere in evene that balanceWhich stant in loves governance.4550Such is the statut of his lawe,That thogh thi love more draweAnd peise in the balance more,Thou miht noght axe ayein therforeOf duete, bot al of grace.For love is lord in every place,P. ii. 280Ther mai no lawe him justefieBe reddour ne be compaignie,That he ne wole after his willeWhom that him liketh spede or spille.4560To love a man mai wel beginne,Bot whether he schal lese or winne,That wot noman til ate laste:Forthi coveite noght to faste,Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,266Per cas al mai to goode wende.Bot that thou hast me told and said,Of o thing I am riht wel paid,267That thou be sleyhte ne be guileOf no brocour hast otherwhile4570Engined love, for such dede268Is sore venged, as I rede.
Upon the bench sittende on hih
With Avarice Usure I sih,
Hic tractat de illa specie Auaricie, que Vsura dicitur, cuius creditor in pecunia tantum numerata plusquam sibi de iure debetur incrementum lucri adauget.
Full clothed of his oghne suite,
Which after gold makth chace and suite
With his brocours, that renne aboute
Lich unto racches in a route.
Such lucre is non above grounde,
Which is noght of tho racches founde;4390
For wher thei se beyete sterte,247
That schal hem in no wise asterte,
Bot thei it dryve into the net
Of lucre, which Usure hath set.
Usure with the riche duelleth,
To al that evere he beith and selleth248
He hath ordeined of his sleyhte
Mesure double and double weyhte:
Outward he selleth be the lasse,
And with the more he makth his tasse,4400
Wherof his hous is full withinne.
He reccheth noght, be so he winne,249
Though that ther lese ten or tuelve:
His love is al toward himselve
And to non other, bot he se
That he mai winne suche thre;
P. ii. 275
For wher he schal oght yive or lene,
He wol ayeinward take a bene,
Ther he hath lent the smale pese.
And riht so ther ben manye of these4410
Lovers, that thogh thei love a lyte,250
That scarsly wolde it weie a myte,
Yit wolde thei have a pound again,251
As doth Usure in his bargain.
Bot certes such usure unliche
It falleth more unto the riche,
Als wel of love as of beyete,
Than unto hem that be noght grete,
And, as who seith, ben simple and povere;
For sielden is whan thei recovere,4420
Bot if it be thurgh gret decerte.
And natheles men se poverte
With porsuite and continuance252
Fulofte make a gret chevance
And take of love his avantage,253
Forth with the help of his brocage,
That maken seme wher is noght.254
And thus fulofte is love boght
For litel what, and mochel take,
With false weyhtes that thei make.4430
Confessor.
Nou, Sone, of that I seide above
Thou wost what Usure is of love:
Tell me forthi what so thou wilt,
If thou therof hast eny gilt.
Amans.
Mi fader, nay, for ought I hiere.
For of tho pointz ye tolden hiere
P. ii. 276
I wol you be mi trouthe assure,
Mi weyhte of love and mi mesure
Hath be mor large and mor certein
Than evere I tok of love ayein:4440
For so yit couthe I nevere of sleyhte,
To take ayein be double weyhte
Of love mor than I have yive.
For als so wiss mot I be schrive
And have remission of Sinne,
As so yit couthe I nevere winne,
Ne yit so mochel, soth to sein,
That evere I mihte have half ayein
Of so full love as I have lent:
And if myn happ were so wel went,4450
That for the hole I mihte have half,
Me thenkth I were a goddeshalf.255
For where Usure wole have double,
Mi conscience is noght so trouble,
I biede nevere as to my del
Bot of the hole an halvendel;
That is non excess, as me thenketh.
Bot natheles it me forthenketh;
For wel I wot that wol noght be,
For every day the betre I se4460
That hou so evere I yive or lene
Mi love in place ther I mene,256
For oght that evere I axe or crave,
I can nothing ayeinward have.
Bot yit for that I wol noght lete,
What so befalle of mi beyete,
P. ii. 277
That I ne schal hire yive and lene
Mi love and al mi thoght so clene,257
That toward me schal noght beleve.
And if sche of hire goode leve4470
Rewarde wol me noght again,
I wot the laste of my bargain
Schal stonde upon so gret a lost,
That I mai neveremor the cost
Recovere in this world til I die.
So that touchende of this partie
I mai me wel excuse and schal;
And forto speke forth withal,
If eny brocour for me wente,
That point cam nevere in myn entente:4480
So that the more me merveilleth,
What thing it is mi ladi eilleth,
That al myn herte and al my time
Sche hath, and doth no betre bime.
I have herd seid that thoght is fre,258
And natheles in privete
To you, mi fader, that ben hiere
Min hole schrifte forto hiere,
I dar min herte wel desclose.
Touchende usure, as I suppose,4490
Which as ye telle in love is used,
Mi ladi mai noght ben excused;
That for o lokinge of hire yë
Min hole herte til I dye
With al that evere I may and can
Sche hath me wonne to hire man:
P. ii. 278
Wherof, me thenkth, good reson wolde
That sche somdel rewarde scholde,
And yive a part, ther sche hath al.
I not what falle hierafter schal,4500
Bot into nou yit dar I sein,
Hire liste nevere yive ayein
A goodli word in such a wise,
Wherof min hope mihte arise,259
Mi grete love to compense.
I not hou sche hire conscience
Excuse wole of this usure;260
Be large weyhte and gret mesure
Sche hath mi love, and I have noght
Of that which I have diere boght,4510
And with myn herte I have it paid;
Bot al that is asyde laid,261
And I go loveles aboute.
Hire oghte stonde in ful gret doute,
Til sche redresce such a sinne,
That sche wole al mi love winne
And yifth me noght to live by:
Noght als so moche as ‘grant mercy’262
Hir list to seie, of which I mihte
Som of mi grete peine allyhte.4520
Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare
As he that paith for his chaffare,
And beith it diere, and yit hath non,263
So mot he nedes povere gon:
Thus beie I diere and have no love,264
That I ne mai noght come above265
P. ii. 279
To winne of love non encress.
Bot I me wole natheles
Touchende usure of love aquite;
And if mi ladi be to wyte,4530
I preie to god such grace hir sende
That sche be time it mot amende.
Confessor.
Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerd
Touchende Usure I have al herd,
Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:
Bot that thou tellest in thi tale
And thi ladi therof accusest,
Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.
For be thin oghne knowlechinge
Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge4540
Thin hole herte fro the tok:
Sche mai be such, that hire o lok
Is worth thin herte manyfold;
So hast thou wel thin herte sold,
Whan thou hast that is more worth.
And ek of that thou tellest forth,
Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene
Is unto thin, under the hevene
Stod nevere in evene that balance
Which stant in loves governance.4550
Such is the statut of his lawe,
That thogh thi love more drawe
And peise in the balance more,
Thou miht noght axe ayein therfore
Of duete, bot al of grace.
For love is lord in every place,
P. ii. 280
Ther mai no lawe him justefie
Be reddour ne be compaignie,
That he ne wole after his wille
Whom that him liketh spede or spille.4560
To love a man mai wel beginne,
Bot whether he schal lese or winne,
That wot noman til ate laste:
Forthi coveite noght to faste,
Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,266
Per cas al mai to goode wende.
Bot that thou hast me told and said,
Of o thing I am riht wel paid,267
That thou be sleyhte ne be guile
Of no brocour hast otherwhile4570
Engined love, for such dede268
Is sore venged, as I rede.
[Love-Brokerage. Tale of Echo.]Brocours of love that deceiven,No wonder is thogh thei receiven269After the wrong that thei decerven;For whom as evere that thei serven270And do plesance for a whyle,Yit ate laste here oghne guileHic ponit exemplum contra istos maritos qui vltra id quod proprias habent vxores ad noue voluptatis incrementum alias mulieres superflue lucrari non verentur. Et narrat qualiter Iuno vindictam suam in Eccho decreuit, pro eo quod ipsa Eccho272in huiusmodi mulierum lucris adquirendis de consilio mariti sui Iouis mediatrix extiterat.Upon here oghne hed descendeth,271Which god of his vengance sendeth,4580As be ensample of time goA man mai finde it hath be so.It fell somtime, as it was sene,The hihe goddesse and the queeneJuno tho hadde in compainieA Maiden full of tricherie;P. ii. 281For sche was evere in on acord273With Jupiter, that was hire lord,To gete him othre loves newe,Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe4590Al otherwise than him nedeth.Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth,With queinte wordes and with slyheBlente in such wise hir lady yhe,As sche to whom that Juno triste,274So that therof sche nothing wiste.Bot so prive mai be nothing,That it ne comth to knowleching;Thing don upon the derke nyhtIs after knowe on daies liht:4600So it befell, that ate lasteAl that this slyhe maiden casteWas overcast and overthrowe.For as the sothe mot be knowe,To Juno was don understondeIn what manere hir housebondeWith fals brocage hath take usureOf love mor than his mesure,Whan he tok othre than his wif,Wherof this mayden was gultif,4610Which hadde ben of his assent.And thus was al the game schent;275Sche soffreth him, as sche mot nede,Bot the brocour of his misdede,Sche which hir conseil yaf therto,On hire is the vengance do:P. ii. 282For Juno with hire wordes hote,This Maiden, which Eccho was hote,Reproveth and seith in this wise:‘O traiteresse, of which servise4620Hast thou thin oghne ladi served!Thou hast gret peine wel deserved,That thou canst maken it so queinte,Thi slyhe wordes forto peinteTowardes me, that am thi queene,Wherof thou madest me to weneThat myn housbonde trewe were,Whan that he loveth elleswhere,Al be it so him nedeth noght.Bot upon thee it schal be boght,4630Which art prive to tho doinges,And me fulofte of thi lesingesDeceived hast: nou is the dayThat I thi while aquite may;276And for thou hast to me conceledThat my lord hath with othre deled,I schal thee sette in such a kende,That evere unto the worldes endeAl that thou hierest thou schalt telle,And clappe it out as doth a belle.’4640And with that word sche was forschape,Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape,277What man that in the wodes crieth,278Withoute faile Eccho replieth,And what word that him list to sein,The same word sche seith ayein.P. ii. 283Thus sche, which whilom hadde leveTo duelle in chambre, mot beleveIn wodes and on helles bothe,For such brocage as wyves lothe,4650Which doth here lordes hertes change279And love in other place strange.280Confessor.Forthi, if evere it so befalle,That thou, mi Sone, amonges alleBe wedded man, hold that thou hast,For thanne al other love is wast.O wif schal wel to thee suffise,And thanne, if thou for covoitiseOf love woldest axe more,Thou scholdest don ayein the lore4660Of alle hem that trewe be.Amans.Mi fader, as in this degreMy conscience is noght accused;For I no such brocage have used,Wherof that lust of love is wonne.Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne,Of Avarice upon mi schrifte.Confessor.Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifteBe ordre so as thei ben set,On whom no good is wel beset.4670
[Love-Brokerage. Tale of Echo.]
Brocours of love that deceiven,
No wonder is thogh thei receiven269
After the wrong that thei decerven;
For whom as evere that thei serven270
And do plesance for a whyle,
Yit ate laste here oghne guile
Hic ponit exemplum contra istos maritos qui vltra id quod proprias habent vxores ad noue voluptatis incrementum alias mulieres superflue lucrari non verentur. Et narrat qualiter Iuno vindictam suam in Eccho decreuit, pro eo quod ipsa Eccho272in huiusmodi mulierum lucris adquirendis de consilio mariti sui Iouis mediatrix extiterat.
Upon here oghne hed descendeth,271
Which god of his vengance sendeth,4580
As be ensample of time go
A man mai finde it hath be so.
It fell somtime, as it was sene,
The hihe goddesse and the queene
Juno tho hadde in compainie
A Maiden full of tricherie;
P. ii. 281
For sche was evere in on acord273
With Jupiter, that was hire lord,
To gete him othre loves newe,
Thurgh such brocage and was untrewe4590
Al otherwise than him nedeth.
Bot sche, which of no schame dredeth,
With queinte wordes and with slyhe
Blente in such wise hir lady yhe,
As sche to whom that Juno triste,274
So that therof sche nothing wiste.
Bot so prive mai be nothing,
That it ne comth to knowleching;
Thing don upon the derke nyht
Is after knowe on daies liht:4600
So it befell, that ate laste
Al that this slyhe maiden caste
Was overcast and overthrowe.
For as the sothe mot be knowe,
To Juno was don understonde
In what manere hir housebonde
With fals brocage hath take usure
Of love mor than his mesure,
Whan he tok othre than his wif,
Wherof this mayden was gultif,4610
Which hadde ben of his assent.
And thus was al the game schent;275
Sche soffreth him, as sche mot nede,
Bot the brocour of his misdede,
Sche which hir conseil yaf therto,
On hire is the vengance do:
P. ii. 282
For Juno with hire wordes hote,
This Maiden, which Eccho was hote,
Reproveth and seith in this wise:
‘O traiteresse, of which servise4620
Hast thou thin oghne ladi served!
Thou hast gret peine wel deserved,
That thou canst maken it so queinte,
Thi slyhe wordes forto peinte
Towardes me, that am thi queene,
Wherof thou madest me to wene
That myn housbonde trewe were,
Whan that he loveth elleswhere,
Al be it so him nedeth noght.
Bot upon thee it schal be boght,4630
Which art prive to tho doinges,
And me fulofte of thi lesinges
Deceived hast: nou is the day
That I thi while aquite may;276
And for thou hast to me conceled
That my lord hath with othre deled,
I schal thee sette in such a kende,
That evere unto the worldes ende
Al that thou hierest thou schalt telle,
And clappe it out as doth a belle.’4640
And with that word sche was forschape,
Ther may no vois hire mouth ascape,277
What man that in the wodes crieth,278
Withoute faile Eccho replieth,
And what word that him list to sein,
The same word sche seith ayein.
P. ii. 283
Thus sche, which whilom hadde leve
To duelle in chambre, mot beleve
In wodes and on helles bothe,
For such brocage as wyves lothe,4650
Which doth here lordes hertes change279
And love in other place strange.280
Confessor.
Forthi, if evere it so befalle,
That thou, mi Sone, amonges alle
Be wedded man, hold that thou hast,
For thanne al other love is wast.
O wif schal wel to thee suffise,
And thanne, if thou for covoitise
Of love woldest axe more,
Thou scholdest don ayein the lore4660
Of alle hem that trewe be.
Amans.
Mi fader, as in this degre
My conscience is noght accused;
For I no such brocage have used,
Wherof that lust of love is wonne.
Forthi spek forth, as ye begonne,
Of Avarice upon mi schrifte.
Confessor.
Mi Sone, I schal the branches schifte
Be ordre so as thei ben set,
On whom no good is wel beset.4670
[Parsimony.]vi.Pro verbis verba, munus pro munere reddiConvenit, vt pondus equa statera gerat.Propterea cupido non dat sua dona Cupido,Nam qui nulla serit, gramina nulla metet.
[Parsimony.]
vi.Pro verbis verba, munus pro munere reddi
Convenit, vt pondus equa statera gerat.
Propterea cupido non dat sua dona Cupido,
Nam qui nulla serit, gramina nulla metet.
Blinde Avarice of his lignage281For conseil and for cousinage,P. ii. 284To be withholde ayein largesse,Hic tractat super illa specie Auaricie que Parcimonia dicitur, cuius natura tenax aliqualem sue substancie porcionem aut deo aut hominibus participare nullatenus consentit.Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse,The which is kepere of his hous,And is so thurghout averous,That he no good let out of honde;Thogh god himself it wolde fonde,Of yifte scholde he nothing have;And if a man it wolde crave,2824680He moste thanne faile nede,Wher god himselve mai noght spede.283And thus Skarsnesse in every placeBe reson mai no thonk porchace,And natheles in his degreeAbove alle othre most priveWith Avarice stant he this.For he governeth that ther isIn ech astat of his officeAfter the reule of thilke vice;4690He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint,That lihtere is to fle the flintThan gete of him in hard or neissheOnly the value of a reyssheOf good in helpinge of an other,Noght thogh it were his oghne brother.For in the cas of yifte and loneStant every man for him al one,Him thenkth of his unkindeschipeThat him nedeth no felaschipe:4700Be so the bagge and he acorden,284Him reccheth noght what men recordenP. ii. 285Of him, or it be evel or good.For al his trust is on his good,So that al one he falleth ofte,Whan he best weneth stonde alofte,Als wel in love as other wise;For love is evere of som repriseTo him that wole his love holde.Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde,4710Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte:Hast thou be scars or large of yifteUnto thi love, whom thou servest?For after that thou wel deservestOf yifte, thou miht be the bet;For that good holde I wel beset,For why thou miht the betre fare;285Thanne is no wisdom forto spare.For thus men sein, in every nedeHe was wys that ferst made mede;4720For where as mede mai noght spede,I not what helpeth other dede:Fulofte he faileth of his gameThat wol with ydel hand reclameHis hauk, as many a nyce doth.Forthi, mi Sone, tell me sothAnd sei the trouthe, if thou hast beUnto thy love or skars or fre.Confessio Amantis.Mi fader, it hath stonde thus,That if the tresor of Cresus4730And al the gold Octovien,Forth with the richesse Yndien286P. ii. 286Of Perles and of riche stones,Were al togedre myn at ones,I sette it at nomore acompteThan wolde a bare straw amonte,To yive it hire al in a day,Be so that to that suete may287I myhte like or more or lesse.288And thus be cause of my scarsnesse4740Ye mai wel understonde and lieveThat I schal noght the worse achieve289The pourpos which is in my thoght.Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght,Ne therto dorste a profre make;For wel I wot sche wol noght take,And yive wol sche noght also,She is eschu of bothe tuo.And this I trowe be the skileTowardes me, for sche ne wile4750That I have eny cause of hope,Noght also mochel as a drope.Bot toward othre, as I mai se,Sche takth and yifth in such degre,That as be weie of frendlihiedeSche can so kepe hir wommanhiede,That every man spekth of hir wel.Bot sche wole take of me no del,And yit sche wot wel that I woldeYive and do bothe what I scholde4760To plesen hire in al my myht:Be reson this wot every wyht,P. ii. 287For that mai be no weie asterte,Ther sche is maister of the herte,Sche mot be maister of the good.For god wot wel that al my modAnd al min herte and al mi thoghtAnd al mi good, whil I have oght,Als freliche as god hath it yive,It schal ben hires, while I live,2904770Riht as hir list hirself commande.So that it nedeth no demande,To axe of me if I be scarsTo love, for as to tho parsI wole ansuere and seie no.Confessor.Mi Sone, that is riht wel do.For often times of scarsnesseIt hath be sen, that for the lesseIs lost the more, as thou schalt hiereA tale lich to this matiere.4780
Blinde Avarice of his lignage281
For conseil and for cousinage,
P. ii. 284
To be withholde ayein largesse,
Hic tractat super illa specie Auaricie que Parcimonia dicitur, cuius natura tenax aliqualem sue substancie porcionem aut deo aut hominibus participare nullatenus consentit.
Hath on, whos name is seid Skarsnesse,
The which is kepere of his hous,
And is so thurghout averous,
That he no good let out of honde;
Thogh god himself it wolde fonde,
Of yifte scholde he nothing have;
And if a man it wolde crave,2824680
He moste thanne faile nede,
Wher god himselve mai noght spede.283
And thus Skarsnesse in every place
Be reson mai no thonk porchace,
And natheles in his degree
Above alle othre most prive
With Avarice stant he this.
For he governeth that ther is
In ech astat of his office
After the reule of thilke vice;4690
He takth, he kepth, he halt, he bint,
That lihtere is to fle the flint
Than gete of him in hard or neisshe
Only the value of a reysshe
Of good in helpinge of an other,
Noght thogh it were his oghne brother.
For in the cas of yifte and lone
Stant every man for him al one,
Him thenkth of his unkindeschipe
That him nedeth no felaschipe:4700
Be so the bagge and he acorden,284
Him reccheth noght what men recorden
P. ii. 285
Of him, or it be evel or good.
For al his trust is on his good,
So that al one he falleth ofte,
Whan he best weneth stonde alofte,
Als wel in love as other wise;
For love is evere of som reprise
To him that wole his love holde.
Forthi, mi Sone, as thou art holde,4710
Touchende of this tell me thi schrifte:
Hast thou be scars or large of yifte
Unto thi love, whom thou servest?
For after that thou wel deservest
Of yifte, thou miht be the bet;
For that good holde I wel beset,
For why thou miht the betre fare;285
Thanne is no wisdom forto spare.
For thus men sein, in every nede
He was wys that ferst made mede;4720
For where as mede mai noght spede,
I not what helpeth other dede:
Fulofte he faileth of his game
That wol with ydel hand reclame
His hauk, as many a nyce doth.
Forthi, mi Sone, tell me soth
And sei the trouthe, if thou hast be
Unto thy love or skars or fre.
Confessio Amantis.
Mi fader, it hath stonde thus,
That if the tresor of Cresus4730
And al the gold Octovien,
Forth with the richesse Yndien286
P. ii. 286
Of Perles and of riche stones,
Were al togedre myn at ones,
I sette it at nomore acompte
Than wolde a bare straw amonte,
To yive it hire al in a day,
Be so that to that suete may287
I myhte like or more or lesse.288
And thus be cause of my scarsnesse4740
Ye mai wel understonde and lieve
That I schal noght the worse achieve289
The pourpos which is in my thoght.
Bot yit I yaf hir nevere noght,
Ne therto dorste a profre make;
For wel I wot sche wol noght take,
And yive wol sche noght also,
She is eschu of bothe tuo.
And this I trowe be the skile
Towardes me, for sche ne wile4750
That I have eny cause of hope,
Noght also mochel as a drope.
Bot toward othre, as I mai se,
Sche takth and yifth in such degre,
That as be weie of frendlihiede
Sche can so kepe hir wommanhiede,
That every man spekth of hir wel.
Bot sche wole take of me no del,
And yit sche wot wel that I wolde
Yive and do bothe what I scholde4760
To plesen hire in al my myht:
Be reson this wot every wyht,
P. ii. 287
For that mai be no weie asterte,
Ther sche is maister of the herte,
Sche mot be maister of the good.
For god wot wel that al my mod
And al min herte and al mi thoght
And al mi good, whil I have oght,
Als freliche as god hath it yive,
It schal ben hires, while I live,2904770
Riht as hir list hirself commande.
So that it nedeth no demande,
To axe of me if I be scars
To love, for as to tho pars
I wole ansuere and seie no.
Confessor.
Mi Sone, that is riht wel do.
For often times of scarsnesse
It hath be sen, that for the lesse
Is lost the more, as thou schalt hiere
A tale lich to this matiere.4780