[Robbery.]ix.Viuat vt ex spoliis grandi quamsepe tumultu,Quo graditur populus, latro perurget iter.P. ii. 331Sic amor, ex casu poterit quo carpere predam,Si locus est aptus, cetera nulla timet.Whan Covoitise in povere astatStant with himself upon debat462Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance,That he unto his sustienanceHic loquitur super illa Cupiditatis specie quam furtum vocant, cuius Ministri alicuius legis offensam non metuentes, tam in amoris causa quam aliter, suam quamsepe conscienciam offendunt.Ne can non other weie findeTo gete him good, thanne as the blinde,6080Which seth noght what schal after falle,That ilke vice which men calleOf Robberie, he takth on honde;Wherof be water and be londe463Of thing which othre men beswinkeHe get him cloth and mete and drinke.Him reccheth noght what he beginne,Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne:Forthi to maken his pourchasHe lith awaitende on the pas,6090And what thing that he seth ther passe,He takth his part, or more or lasse,If it be worthi to be take.He can the packes wel ransake,So prively berth non abouteHis gold, that he ne fint it oute,Or other juel, what it be;He takth it as his proprete.In wodes and in feldes ekeThus Robberie goth to seke,6100Wher as he mai his pourpos finde.464And riht so in the same kinde,P. ii. 332My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,465To speke of love in the matiereAnd make a verrai resemblance,Riht as a thief makth his chevanceAnd robbeth mennes good abouteIn wode and field, wher he goth oute,So be ther of these lovers some,In wylde stedes wher thei come4666110And finden there a womman able,And therto place covenable,Withoute leve, er that thei fare,Thei take apart of that chaffare:467Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse,Yit wol the lord of wantounesseAssaie, althogh sche be unmete,For other mennes good is swete.Bot therof wot nothing the wifAt hom, which loveth as hir lif6120Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshingeAfter hir lordes hom comynge:Bet whan that he comth hom at eve,Anon he makth his wif beleve,For sche noght elles scholde knowe:He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe,And hou his houndes have wel runne,And hou ther schon a merye Sunne,And hou his haukes flowen wel;Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel6130Hou he to love untrewe was,Of that he robbede in the pas,P. ii. 333And tok his lust under the schaweAyein love and ayein his lawe.Confessor.Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede,For it is an ungoodly dede.For who that takth be RobberieHis love, he mai noght justefieHis cause, and so fulofte sitheFor ones that he hath be blithe6140He schal ben after sory thries.Ensample of suche RobberiesI finde write, as thou schalt hiere,Acordende unto this matiere.[Neptune and Cornix.]I rede hou whilom was a Maide,The faireste, as Ovide saide,Hic loquitur contra istos in amoris causa predones, qui cum in suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant, fortuna in contrarium operatur. Et narrat quod cum468Neptunus quamdam virginem nomine Cornicem solam iuxta mare deambulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset, superueniens Pallas ipsam e manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius liberauit.Which was in hire time tho;And sche was of the chambre alsoOf Pallas, which is the goddesseAnd wif to Marte, of whom prouesse6150Is yove to these worthi knihtes.469For he is of so grete mihtes,That he governeth the bataille;Withouten him may noght availeThe stronge hond, bot he it helpe;Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe,Bot he feihte under his banere.Bot nou to speke of mi matiere,This faire, freisshe, lusti mai,Al one as sche wente on a dai6160Upon the stronde forto pleie,Ther cam Neptunus in the weie,470P. ii. 334Which hath the See in governance;And in his herte such plesanceHe tok, whan he this Maide sih,That al his herte aros on hih,For he so sodeinliche unwar471Behield the beaute that sche bar.And caste anon withinne his herteThat sche him schal no weie asterte,6170Bot if he take in avantageFro thilke maide som pilage,Noght of the broches ne the Ringes,Bot of some othre smale thingesHe thoghte parte, er that sche wente;And hire in bothe hise armes hente,And putte his hond toward the cofre,Wher forto robbe he made a profre,472That lusti tresor forto stele,Which passeth othre goodes fele6180And cleped is the maidenhede,Which is the flour of wommanhede.This Maiden, which Cornix be nameWas hote, dredende alle schame,Sih that sche mihte noght debate,And wel sche wiste he wolde algateFulfille his lust of Robberie,Anon began to wepe and crie,And seide, ‘O Pallas, noble queene,Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene,4736190To kepe and save myn honour:Help, that I lese noght mi flour,P. ii. 335Which nou under thi keie is loke.’That word was noght so sone spoke,Whan Pallas schop recoverirAfter the will and the desirOf hire, which a Maiden was,And sodeinliche upon this casOut of hire wommanisshe kindeInto a briddes like I finde6200Sche was transformed forth withal,So that Neptunus nothing stalOf such thing as he wolde have stole.With fetheres blake as eny coleOut of hise armes in a throweSche flih before his yhe a Crowe;Which was to hire a more delit,To kepe hire maidenhede whitUnder the wede of fethers blake,In Perles whyte than forsake6210That no lif mai restore ayein.Bot thus Neptune his herte in veinHath upon Robberie sett;The bridd is flowe and he was let,The faire Maide him hathascaped,474Wherof for evere he was bejapedAnd scorned of that he hath lore.Confessor.Mi Sone, be thou war therforeThat thou no maidenhode stele,Wherof men sen deseses fele6220Aldai befalle in sondri wise;So as I schal thee yit deviseAn other tale therupon,Which fell be olde daies gon.P. ii. 336[Tale of Calistona.]King Lichaon upon his wifA dowhter hadde, a goodly lif,Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in causa virginitatis lese predones. Et narrat quod cum Calistona Lichaontis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem Diane conseruandam castissima vouisset, et in Siluam que Tegea dicitur inter alias ibidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulisset, Iupiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens, quendam476filium, qui postea Archas nominatus est, ex ea genuit: vnde Iuno in Calistonam seuiens eius pulcritudinem in vrse turpissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit.A clene Maide of worthi fame,Calistona whos rihte nameWas cleped, and of many a lordSche was besoght, bot hire acord6230To love myhte noman winne,As sche which hath no lust therinne;Bot swor withinne hir herte and saideThat sche wolde evere ben a Maide.475Wherof to kepe hireself in pes,With suche as AmadriadesWere cleped, wodemaydes, tho,And with the Nimphes ek alsoUpon the spring of freisshe wellesSche schop to duelle and nagher elles.6240And thus cam this CalistonaInto the wode of Tegea,Wher sche virginite behihteUnto Diane, and therto plihteHer trouthe upon the bowes grene,To kepe hir maidenhode clene.Which afterward upon a dayWas priveliche stole away;For Jupiter thurgh his queintiseFrom hire it tok in such a wise,6250That sodeinliche forth withalHire wombe aros and sche toswal,So that it mihte noght ben hidd.And therupon it is betidd,P. ii. 337Diane, which it herde telle,In prive place unto a welle477With Nimphes al a compainie478Was come, and in a ragerieSche seide that sche bathe wolde,And bad that every maide scholde6260With hire al naked bathe also.And tho began the prive wo,Calistona wax red for schame;Bot thei that knewe noght the game,To whom no such thing was befalle,Anon thei made hem naked alle,As thei that nothing wolden hyde:479Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde,And natheles into the flod,Wher that Diane hirselve stod,6270Sche thoghte come unaperceived.Bot therof sche was al deceived;For whan sche cam a litel nyh,And that Diane hire wombe syh,Sche seide, ‘Awey, thou foule beste,For thin astat is noght honesteThis chaste water forto touche;For thou hast take such a touche,Which nevere mai ben hol ayein.’And thus goth sche which was forlein6280With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde,Til whanne that nature hire spedde,That of a Sone, which ArchasWas named, sche delivered was.P. ii. 338And tho Juno, which was the wifOf Jupiter, wroth and hastif,In pourpos forto do venganceCam forth upon this ilke chance,And to Calistona sche spak,480And sette upon hir many a lak,6290And seide, ‘Ha, nou thou art atake,That thou thi werk myht noght forsake.Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite,481Hou thou art gretly forto wyte!Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abieThat ilke stelthe and micherie,482Which thou hast bothe take and do;Wherof thi fader LichaoSchal noght be glad, whan he it wot,Of that his dowhter was so hot,6300That sche hath broke hire chaste avou.Bot I thee schal chastise nou;483Thi grete beaute schal be torned,Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned,484Thi large frount, thin yhen greie,I schal hem change in other weie,And al the feture of thi faceIn such a wise I schal deface,That every man thee schal forbere.’With that the liknesse of a bere6310Sche tok and was forschape anon.Withinne a time and theruponBefell that with a bowe on honde,485To hunte and gamen forto fonde,P. ii. 339Into that wode goth to pleieHir Sone Archas, and in his weieIt hapneth that this bere cam.486And whan that sche good hiede nam,487Wher that he stod under the bowh,488Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh;6320For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore,The love was noght lost therforeWhich kinde hath set under his lawe.Whan sche under the wodesschawe489Hire child behield, sche was so glad,That sche with bothe hire armes sprad,As thogh sche were in wommanhiede,Toward him cam, and tok non hiedeOf that he bar a bowe bent.And he with that an Arwe hath hent6330And gan to teise it in his bowe,As he that can non other knowe,Bot that it was a beste wylde.Bot Jupiter, which wolde schyldeThe Moder and the Sone also,Ordeineth for hem bothe so,490That thei for evere were save.Confessor.Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht haveEnsample, hou that it is to fleTo robbe the virginite6340Of a yong innocent aweie:491And overthis be other weie,In olde bokes as I rede,Such Robberie is forto drede,P. ii. 340And nameliche of thilke goodWhich every womman that is goodDesireth forto kepe and holde,As whilom was be daies olde.For if thou se mi tale welOf that was tho, thou miht somdiel6350Of old ensample taken hiede,492Hou that the flour of maidenhiedeWas thilke time holde in pris.And so it was, and so it is,And so it schal for evere stonde:And for thou schalt it understonde,Nou herkne a tale next suiende,Hou maidenhod is to commende.[Virginity.]x.Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,493Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.Of Rome among the gestes oldeI finde hou that Valerie tolde6360Hic loquitur de virginitatis commendacione, vbi dicit quod nuper Imperatores ob tanti status dignitatem virginibus cedebant496in via.That what man tho was Emperour494Of Rome, he scholde don honourTo the virgine, and in the weie,495Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeieIn worschipe of virginite,Which tho was of gret dignite.497Noght onliche of the wommen tho,498Bot of the chaste men alsoIt was commended overal:And forto speke in special6370P. ii. 341Touchende of men, ensample I finde,Hic loquitur, qualiter Phyrinus, iuuenum Rome pulcherrimus, ut illesam suam conseruaret virginitatem, ambos oculos eruens vultus sui decorem abhominabilem constituit.Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde499Above alle othre the fairesteOf Rome and ek the comelieste,That wel was hire which him mihteBeholde and have of him a sihte.Thus was he tempted ofte sore;Bot for he wolde be nomore500Among the wommen so coveited,The beaute of his face streited6380He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen,501That alle wommen whiche him syhen502Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte:And thus his maidehiede he boghte.So mai I prove wel forthi,Above alle othre under the Sky,Who that the vertus wolde peise,503Virginite is forto preise,Which, as thapocalips recordeth,To Crist in hevene best acordeth.5046390So mai it schewe wel therfore,As I have told it hier tofore,In hevene and ek in Erthe alsoIt is accept to bothe tuo*.And if I schal more over thisDeclare what this vertu is,I finde write upon this thing[Chastity of Valentinian.]Of Valentinian the kingAnd Emperour be thilke daies,Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo, quod contra sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam optinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus permansit.A worthi knyht at alle assaies,6400Hou he withoute MariageWas of an hundred wynter Age,And hadde ben a worthi knihtBothe of his lawe and of his myht.
[Robbery.]ix.Viuat vt ex spoliis grandi quamsepe tumultu,Quo graditur populus, latro perurget iter.P. ii. 331Sic amor, ex casu poterit quo carpere predam,Si locus est aptus, cetera nulla timet.Whan Covoitise in povere astatStant with himself upon debat462Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance,That he unto his sustienanceHic loquitur super illa Cupiditatis specie quam furtum vocant, cuius Ministri alicuius legis offensam non metuentes, tam in amoris causa quam aliter, suam quamsepe conscienciam offendunt.Ne can non other weie findeTo gete him good, thanne as the blinde,6080Which seth noght what schal after falle,That ilke vice which men calleOf Robberie, he takth on honde;Wherof be water and be londe463Of thing which othre men beswinkeHe get him cloth and mete and drinke.Him reccheth noght what he beginne,Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne:Forthi to maken his pourchasHe lith awaitende on the pas,6090And what thing that he seth ther passe,He takth his part, or more or lasse,If it be worthi to be take.He can the packes wel ransake,So prively berth non abouteHis gold, that he ne fint it oute,Or other juel, what it be;He takth it as his proprete.In wodes and in feldes ekeThus Robberie goth to seke,6100Wher as he mai his pourpos finde.464And riht so in the same kinde,P. ii. 332My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,465To speke of love in the matiereAnd make a verrai resemblance,Riht as a thief makth his chevanceAnd robbeth mennes good abouteIn wode and field, wher he goth oute,So be ther of these lovers some,In wylde stedes wher thei come4666110And finden there a womman able,And therto place covenable,Withoute leve, er that thei fare,Thei take apart of that chaffare:467Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse,Yit wol the lord of wantounesseAssaie, althogh sche be unmete,For other mennes good is swete.Bot therof wot nothing the wifAt hom, which loveth as hir lif6120Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshingeAfter hir lordes hom comynge:Bet whan that he comth hom at eve,Anon he makth his wif beleve,For sche noght elles scholde knowe:He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe,And hou his houndes have wel runne,And hou ther schon a merye Sunne,And hou his haukes flowen wel;Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel6130Hou he to love untrewe was,Of that he robbede in the pas,P. ii. 333And tok his lust under the schaweAyein love and ayein his lawe.Confessor.Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede,For it is an ungoodly dede.For who that takth be RobberieHis love, he mai noght justefieHis cause, and so fulofte sitheFor ones that he hath be blithe6140He schal ben after sory thries.Ensample of suche RobberiesI finde write, as thou schalt hiere,Acordende unto this matiere.[Neptune and Cornix.]I rede hou whilom was a Maide,The faireste, as Ovide saide,Hic loquitur contra istos in amoris causa predones, qui cum in suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant, fortuna in contrarium operatur. Et narrat quod cum468Neptunus quamdam virginem nomine Cornicem solam iuxta mare deambulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset, superueniens Pallas ipsam e manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius liberauit.Which was in hire time tho;And sche was of the chambre alsoOf Pallas, which is the goddesseAnd wif to Marte, of whom prouesse6150Is yove to these worthi knihtes.469For he is of so grete mihtes,That he governeth the bataille;Withouten him may noght availeThe stronge hond, bot he it helpe;Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe,Bot he feihte under his banere.Bot nou to speke of mi matiere,This faire, freisshe, lusti mai,Al one as sche wente on a dai6160Upon the stronde forto pleie,Ther cam Neptunus in the weie,470P. ii. 334Which hath the See in governance;And in his herte such plesanceHe tok, whan he this Maide sih,That al his herte aros on hih,For he so sodeinliche unwar471Behield the beaute that sche bar.And caste anon withinne his herteThat sche him schal no weie asterte,6170Bot if he take in avantageFro thilke maide som pilage,Noght of the broches ne the Ringes,Bot of some othre smale thingesHe thoghte parte, er that sche wente;And hire in bothe hise armes hente,And putte his hond toward the cofre,Wher forto robbe he made a profre,472That lusti tresor forto stele,Which passeth othre goodes fele6180And cleped is the maidenhede,Which is the flour of wommanhede.This Maiden, which Cornix be nameWas hote, dredende alle schame,Sih that sche mihte noght debate,And wel sche wiste he wolde algateFulfille his lust of Robberie,Anon began to wepe and crie,And seide, ‘O Pallas, noble queene,Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene,4736190To kepe and save myn honour:Help, that I lese noght mi flour,P. ii. 335Which nou under thi keie is loke.’That word was noght so sone spoke,Whan Pallas schop recoverirAfter the will and the desirOf hire, which a Maiden was,And sodeinliche upon this casOut of hire wommanisshe kindeInto a briddes like I finde6200Sche was transformed forth withal,So that Neptunus nothing stalOf such thing as he wolde have stole.With fetheres blake as eny coleOut of hise armes in a throweSche flih before his yhe a Crowe;Which was to hire a more delit,To kepe hire maidenhede whitUnder the wede of fethers blake,In Perles whyte than forsake6210That no lif mai restore ayein.Bot thus Neptune his herte in veinHath upon Robberie sett;The bridd is flowe and he was let,The faire Maide him hathascaped,474Wherof for evere he was bejapedAnd scorned of that he hath lore.Confessor.Mi Sone, be thou war therforeThat thou no maidenhode stele,Wherof men sen deseses fele6220Aldai befalle in sondri wise;So as I schal thee yit deviseAn other tale therupon,Which fell be olde daies gon.P. ii. 336[Tale of Calistona.]King Lichaon upon his wifA dowhter hadde, a goodly lif,Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in causa virginitatis lese predones. Et narrat quod cum Calistona Lichaontis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem Diane conseruandam castissima vouisset, et in Siluam que Tegea dicitur inter alias ibidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulisset, Iupiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens, quendam476filium, qui postea Archas nominatus est, ex ea genuit: vnde Iuno in Calistonam seuiens eius pulcritudinem in vrse turpissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit.A clene Maide of worthi fame,Calistona whos rihte nameWas cleped, and of many a lordSche was besoght, bot hire acord6230To love myhte noman winne,As sche which hath no lust therinne;Bot swor withinne hir herte and saideThat sche wolde evere ben a Maide.475Wherof to kepe hireself in pes,With suche as AmadriadesWere cleped, wodemaydes, tho,And with the Nimphes ek alsoUpon the spring of freisshe wellesSche schop to duelle and nagher elles.6240And thus cam this CalistonaInto the wode of Tegea,Wher sche virginite behihteUnto Diane, and therto plihteHer trouthe upon the bowes grene,To kepe hir maidenhode clene.Which afterward upon a dayWas priveliche stole away;For Jupiter thurgh his queintiseFrom hire it tok in such a wise,6250That sodeinliche forth withalHire wombe aros and sche toswal,So that it mihte noght ben hidd.And therupon it is betidd,P. ii. 337Diane, which it herde telle,In prive place unto a welle477With Nimphes al a compainie478Was come, and in a ragerieSche seide that sche bathe wolde,And bad that every maide scholde6260With hire al naked bathe also.And tho began the prive wo,Calistona wax red for schame;Bot thei that knewe noght the game,To whom no such thing was befalle,Anon thei made hem naked alle,As thei that nothing wolden hyde:479Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde,And natheles into the flod,Wher that Diane hirselve stod,6270Sche thoghte come unaperceived.Bot therof sche was al deceived;For whan sche cam a litel nyh,And that Diane hire wombe syh,Sche seide, ‘Awey, thou foule beste,For thin astat is noght honesteThis chaste water forto touche;For thou hast take such a touche,Which nevere mai ben hol ayein.’And thus goth sche which was forlein6280With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde,Til whanne that nature hire spedde,That of a Sone, which ArchasWas named, sche delivered was.P. ii. 338And tho Juno, which was the wifOf Jupiter, wroth and hastif,In pourpos forto do venganceCam forth upon this ilke chance,And to Calistona sche spak,480And sette upon hir many a lak,6290And seide, ‘Ha, nou thou art atake,That thou thi werk myht noght forsake.Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite,481Hou thou art gretly forto wyte!Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abieThat ilke stelthe and micherie,482Which thou hast bothe take and do;Wherof thi fader LichaoSchal noght be glad, whan he it wot,Of that his dowhter was so hot,6300That sche hath broke hire chaste avou.Bot I thee schal chastise nou;483Thi grete beaute schal be torned,Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned,484Thi large frount, thin yhen greie,I schal hem change in other weie,And al the feture of thi faceIn such a wise I schal deface,That every man thee schal forbere.’With that the liknesse of a bere6310Sche tok and was forschape anon.Withinne a time and theruponBefell that with a bowe on honde,485To hunte and gamen forto fonde,P. ii. 339Into that wode goth to pleieHir Sone Archas, and in his weieIt hapneth that this bere cam.486And whan that sche good hiede nam,487Wher that he stod under the bowh,488Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh;6320For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore,The love was noght lost therforeWhich kinde hath set under his lawe.Whan sche under the wodesschawe489Hire child behield, sche was so glad,That sche with bothe hire armes sprad,As thogh sche were in wommanhiede,Toward him cam, and tok non hiedeOf that he bar a bowe bent.And he with that an Arwe hath hent6330And gan to teise it in his bowe,As he that can non other knowe,Bot that it was a beste wylde.Bot Jupiter, which wolde schyldeThe Moder and the Sone also,Ordeineth for hem bothe so,490That thei for evere were save.Confessor.Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht haveEnsample, hou that it is to fleTo robbe the virginite6340Of a yong innocent aweie:491And overthis be other weie,In olde bokes as I rede,Such Robberie is forto drede,P. ii. 340And nameliche of thilke goodWhich every womman that is goodDesireth forto kepe and holde,As whilom was be daies olde.For if thou se mi tale welOf that was tho, thou miht somdiel6350Of old ensample taken hiede,492Hou that the flour of maidenhiedeWas thilke time holde in pris.And so it was, and so it is,And so it schal for evere stonde:And for thou schalt it understonde,Nou herkne a tale next suiende,Hou maidenhod is to commende.[Virginity.]x.Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,493Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.Of Rome among the gestes oldeI finde hou that Valerie tolde6360Hic loquitur de virginitatis commendacione, vbi dicit quod nuper Imperatores ob tanti status dignitatem virginibus cedebant496in via.That what man tho was Emperour494Of Rome, he scholde don honourTo the virgine, and in the weie,495Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeieIn worschipe of virginite,Which tho was of gret dignite.497Noght onliche of the wommen tho,498Bot of the chaste men alsoIt was commended overal:And forto speke in special6370P. ii. 341Touchende of men, ensample I finde,Hic loquitur, qualiter Phyrinus, iuuenum Rome pulcherrimus, ut illesam suam conseruaret virginitatem, ambos oculos eruens vultus sui decorem abhominabilem constituit.Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde499Above alle othre the fairesteOf Rome and ek the comelieste,That wel was hire which him mihteBeholde and have of him a sihte.Thus was he tempted ofte sore;Bot for he wolde be nomore500Among the wommen so coveited,The beaute of his face streited6380He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen,501That alle wommen whiche him syhen502Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte:And thus his maidehiede he boghte.So mai I prove wel forthi,Above alle othre under the Sky,Who that the vertus wolde peise,503Virginite is forto preise,Which, as thapocalips recordeth,To Crist in hevene best acordeth.5046390So mai it schewe wel therfore,As I have told it hier tofore,In hevene and ek in Erthe alsoIt is accept to bothe tuo*.And if I schal more over thisDeclare what this vertu is,I finde write upon this thing[Chastity of Valentinian.]Of Valentinian the kingAnd Emperour be thilke daies,Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo, quod contra sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam optinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus permansit.A worthi knyht at alle assaies,6400Hou he withoute MariageWas of an hundred wynter Age,And hadde ben a worthi knihtBothe of his lawe and of his myht.
[Robbery.]ix.Viuat vt ex spoliis grandi quamsepe tumultu,Quo graditur populus, latro perurget iter.P. ii. 331Sic amor, ex casu poterit quo carpere predam,Si locus est aptus, cetera nulla timet.
[Robbery.]
ix.Viuat vt ex spoliis grandi quamsepe tumultu,
Quo graditur populus, latro perurget iter.
P. ii. 331
Sic amor, ex casu poterit quo carpere predam,
Si locus est aptus, cetera nulla timet.
Whan Covoitise in povere astatStant with himself upon debat462Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance,That he unto his sustienanceHic loquitur super illa Cupiditatis specie quam furtum vocant, cuius Ministri alicuius legis offensam non metuentes, tam in amoris causa quam aliter, suam quamsepe conscienciam offendunt.Ne can non other weie findeTo gete him good, thanne as the blinde,6080Which seth noght what schal after falle,That ilke vice which men calleOf Robberie, he takth on honde;Wherof be water and be londe463Of thing which othre men beswinkeHe get him cloth and mete and drinke.Him reccheth noght what he beginne,Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne:Forthi to maken his pourchasHe lith awaitende on the pas,6090And what thing that he seth ther passe,He takth his part, or more or lasse,If it be worthi to be take.He can the packes wel ransake,So prively berth non abouteHis gold, that he ne fint it oute,Or other juel, what it be;He takth it as his proprete.In wodes and in feldes ekeThus Robberie goth to seke,6100Wher as he mai his pourpos finde.464And riht so in the same kinde,P. ii. 332My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,465To speke of love in the matiereAnd make a verrai resemblance,Riht as a thief makth his chevanceAnd robbeth mennes good abouteIn wode and field, wher he goth oute,So be ther of these lovers some,In wylde stedes wher thei come4666110And finden there a womman able,And therto place covenable,Withoute leve, er that thei fare,Thei take apart of that chaffare:467Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse,Yit wol the lord of wantounesseAssaie, althogh sche be unmete,For other mennes good is swete.Bot therof wot nothing the wifAt hom, which loveth as hir lif6120Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshingeAfter hir lordes hom comynge:Bet whan that he comth hom at eve,Anon he makth his wif beleve,For sche noght elles scholde knowe:He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe,And hou his houndes have wel runne,And hou ther schon a merye Sunne,And hou his haukes flowen wel;Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel6130Hou he to love untrewe was,Of that he robbede in the pas,P. ii. 333And tok his lust under the schaweAyein love and ayein his lawe.Confessor.Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede,For it is an ungoodly dede.For who that takth be RobberieHis love, he mai noght justefieHis cause, and so fulofte sitheFor ones that he hath be blithe6140He schal ben after sory thries.Ensample of suche RobberiesI finde write, as thou schalt hiere,Acordende unto this matiere.
Whan Covoitise in povere astat
Stant with himself upon debat462
Thurgh lacke of his misgovernance,
That he unto his sustienance
Hic loquitur super illa Cupiditatis specie quam furtum vocant, cuius Ministri alicuius legis offensam non metuentes, tam in amoris causa quam aliter, suam quamsepe conscienciam offendunt.
Ne can non other weie finde
To gete him good, thanne as the blinde,6080
Which seth noght what schal after falle,
That ilke vice which men calle
Of Robberie, he takth on honde;
Wherof be water and be londe463
Of thing which othre men beswinke
He get him cloth and mete and drinke.
Him reccheth noght what he beginne,
Thurgh thefte so that he mai winne:
Forthi to maken his pourchas
He lith awaitende on the pas,6090
And what thing that he seth ther passe,
He takth his part, or more or lasse,
If it be worthi to be take.
He can the packes wel ransake,
So prively berth non aboute
His gold, that he ne fint it oute,
Or other juel, what it be;
He takth it as his proprete.
In wodes and in feldes eke
Thus Robberie goth to seke,6100
Wher as he mai his pourpos finde.464
And riht so in the same kinde,
P. ii. 332
My goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,465
To speke of love in the matiere
And make a verrai resemblance,
Riht as a thief makth his chevance
And robbeth mennes good aboute
In wode and field, wher he goth oute,
So be ther of these lovers some,
In wylde stedes wher thei come4666110
And finden there a womman able,
And therto place covenable,
Withoute leve, er that thei fare,
Thei take apart of that chaffare:467
Yee, though sche were a Scheperdesse,
Yit wol the lord of wantounesse
Assaie, althogh sche be unmete,
For other mennes good is swete.
Bot therof wot nothing the wif
At hom, which loveth as hir lif6120
Hir lord, and sitt alday wisshinge
After hir lordes hom comynge:
Bet whan that he comth hom at eve,
Anon he makth his wif beleve,
For sche noght elles scholde knowe:
He telth hire hou his hunte hath blowe,
And hou his houndes have wel runne,
And hou ther schon a merye Sunne,
And hou his haukes flowen wel;
Bot he wol telle her nevere a diel6130
Hou he to love untrewe was,
Of that he robbede in the pas,
P. ii. 333
And tok his lust under the schawe
Ayein love and ayein his lawe.
Confessor.
Which thing, mi Sone, I thee forbede,
For it is an ungoodly dede.
For who that takth be Robberie
His love, he mai noght justefie
His cause, and so fulofte sithe
For ones that he hath be blithe6140
He schal ben after sory thries.
Ensample of suche Robberies
I finde write, as thou schalt hiere,
Acordende unto this matiere.
[Neptune and Cornix.]I rede hou whilom was a Maide,The faireste, as Ovide saide,Hic loquitur contra istos in amoris causa predones, qui cum in suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant, fortuna in contrarium operatur. Et narrat quod cum468Neptunus quamdam virginem nomine Cornicem solam iuxta mare deambulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset, superueniens Pallas ipsam e manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius liberauit.Which was in hire time tho;And sche was of the chambre alsoOf Pallas, which is the goddesseAnd wif to Marte, of whom prouesse6150Is yove to these worthi knihtes.469For he is of so grete mihtes,That he governeth the bataille;Withouten him may noght availeThe stronge hond, bot he it helpe;Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe,Bot he feihte under his banere.Bot nou to speke of mi matiere,This faire, freisshe, lusti mai,Al one as sche wente on a dai6160Upon the stronde forto pleie,Ther cam Neptunus in the weie,470P. ii. 334Which hath the See in governance;And in his herte such plesanceHe tok, whan he this Maide sih,That al his herte aros on hih,For he so sodeinliche unwar471Behield the beaute that sche bar.And caste anon withinne his herteThat sche him schal no weie asterte,6170Bot if he take in avantageFro thilke maide som pilage,Noght of the broches ne the Ringes,Bot of some othre smale thingesHe thoghte parte, er that sche wente;And hire in bothe hise armes hente,And putte his hond toward the cofre,Wher forto robbe he made a profre,472That lusti tresor forto stele,Which passeth othre goodes fele6180And cleped is the maidenhede,Which is the flour of wommanhede.This Maiden, which Cornix be nameWas hote, dredende alle schame,Sih that sche mihte noght debate,And wel sche wiste he wolde algateFulfille his lust of Robberie,Anon began to wepe and crie,And seide, ‘O Pallas, noble queene,Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene,4736190To kepe and save myn honour:Help, that I lese noght mi flour,P. ii. 335Which nou under thi keie is loke.’That word was noght so sone spoke,Whan Pallas schop recoverirAfter the will and the desirOf hire, which a Maiden was,And sodeinliche upon this casOut of hire wommanisshe kindeInto a briddes like I finde6200Sche was transformed forth withal,So that Neptunus nothing stalOf such thing as he wolde have stole.With fetheres blake as eny coleOut of hise armes in a throweSche flih before his yhe a Crowe;Which was to hire a more delit,To kepe hire maidenhede whitUnder the wede of fethers blake,In Perles whyte than forsake6210That no lif mai restore ayein.Bot thus Neptune his herte in veinHath upon Robberie sett;The bridd is flowe and he was let,The faire Maide him hathascaped,474Wherof for evere he was bejapedAnd scorned of that he hath lore.Confessor.Mi Sone, be thou war therforeThat thou no maidenhode stele,Wherof men sen deseses fele6220Aldai befalle in sondri wise;So as I schal thee yit deviseAn other tale therupon,Which fell be olde daies gon.P. ii. 336
[Neptune and Cornix.]
I rede hou whilom was a Maide,
The faireste, as Ovide saide,
Hic loquitur contra istos in amoris causa predones, qui cum in suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant, fortuna in contrarium operatur. Et narrat quod cum468Neptunus quamdam virginem nomine Cornicem solam iuxta mare deambulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset, superueniens Pallas ipsam e manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius liberauit.
Which was in hire time tho;
And sche was of the chambre also
Of Pallas, which is the goddesse
And wif to Marte, of whom prouesse6150
Is yove to these worthi knihtes.469
For he is of so grete mihtes,
That he governeth the bataille;
Withouten him may noght availe
The stronge hond, bot he it helpe;
Ther mai no knyht of armes yelpe,
Bot he feihte under his banere.
Bot nou to speke of mi matiere,
This faire, freisshe, lusti mai,
Al one as sche wente on a dai6160
Upon the stronde forto pleie,
Ther cam Neptunus in the weie,470
P. ii. 334
Which hath the See in governance;
And in his herte such plesance
He tok, whan he this Maide sih,
That al his herte aros on hih,
For he so sodeinliche unwar471
Behield the beaute that sche bar.
And caste anon withinne his herte
That sche him schal no weie asterte,6170
Bot if he take in avantage
Fro thilke maide som pilage,
Noght of the broches ne the Ringes,
Bot of some othre smale thinges
He thoghte parte, er that sche wente;
And hire in bothe hise armes hente,
And putte his hond toward the cofre,
Wher forto robbe he made a profre,472
That lusti tresor forto stele,
Which passeth othre goodes fele6180
And cleped is the maidenhede,
Which is the flour of wommanhede.
This Maiden, which Cornix be name
Was hote, dredende alle schame,
Sih that sche mihte noght debate,
And wel sche wiste he wolde algate
Fulfille his lust of Robberie,
Anon began to wepe and crie,
And seide, ‘O Pallas, noble queene,
Scheu nou thi myht and let be sene,4736190
To kepe and save myn honour:
Help, that I lese noght mi flour,
P. ii. 335
Which nou under thi keie is loke.’
That word was noght so sone spoke,
Whan Pallas schop recoverir
After the will and the desir
Of hire, which a Maiden was,
And sodeinliche upon this cas
Out of hire wommanisshe kinde
Into a briddes like I finde6200
Sche was transformed forth withal,
So that Neptunus nothing stal
Of such thing as he wolde have stole.
With fetheres blake as eny cole
Out of hise armes in a throwe
Sche flih before his yhe a Crowe;
Which was to hire a more delit,
To kepe hire maidenhede whit
Under the wede of fethers blake,
In Perles whyte than forsake6210
That no lif mai restore ayein.
Bot thus Neptune his herte in vein
Hath upon Robberie sett;
The bridd is flowe and he was let,
The faire Maide him hathascaped,474
Wherof for evere he was bejaped
And scorned of that he hath lore.
Confessor.
Mi Sone, be thou war therfore
That thou no maidenhode stele,
Wherof men sen deseses fele6220
Aldai befalle in sondri wise;
So as I schal thee yit devise
An other tale therupon,
Which fell be olde daies gon.
P. ii. 336
[Tale of Calistona.]King Lichaon upon his wifA dowhter hadde, a goodly lif,Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in causa virginitatis lese predones. Et narrat quod cum Calistona Lichaontis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem Diane conseruandam castissima vouisset, et in Siluam que Tegea dicitur inter alias ibidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulisset, Iupiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens, quendam476filium, qui postea Archas nominatus est, ex ea genuit: vnde Iuno in Calistonam seuiens eius pulcritudinem in vrse turpissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit.A clene Maide of worthi fame,Calistona whos rihte nameWas cleped, and of many a lordSche was besoght, bot hire acord6230To love myhte noman winne,As sche which hath no lust therinne;Bot swor withinne hir herte and saideThat sche wolde evere ben a Maide.475Wherof to kepe hireself in pes,With suche as AmadriadesWere cleped, wodemaydes, tho,And with the Nimphes ek alsoUpon the spring of freisshe wellesSche schop to duelle and nagher elles.6240And thus cam this CalistonaInto the wode of Tegea,Wher sche virginite behihteUnto Diane, and therto plihteHer trouthe upon the bowes grene,To kepe hir maidenhode clene.Which afterward upon a dayWas priveliche stole away;For Jupiter thurgh his queintiseFrom hire it tok in such a wise,6250That sodeinliche forth withalHire wombe aros and sche toswal,So that it mihte noght ben hidd.And therupon it is betidd,P. ii. 337Diane, which it herde telle,In prive place unto a welle477With Nimphes al a compainie478Was come, and in a ragerieSche seide that sche bathe wolde,And bad that every maide scholde6260With hire al naked bathe also.And tho began the prive wo,Calistona wax red for schame;Bot thei that knewe noght the game,To whom no such thing was befalle,Anon thei made hem naked alle,As thei that nothing wolden hyde:479Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde,And natheles into the flod,Wher that Diane hirselve stod,6270Sche thoghte come unaperceived.Bot therof sche was al deceived;For whan sche cam a litel nyh,And that Diane hire wombe syh,Sche seide, ‘Awey, thou foule beste,For thin astat is noght honesteThis chaste water forto touche;For thou hast take such a touche,Which nevere mai ben hol ayein.’And thus goth sche which was forlein6280With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde,Til whanne that nature hire spedde,That of a Sone, which ArchasWas named, sche delivered was.P. ii. 338And tho Juno, which was the wifOf Jupiter, wroth and hastif,In pourpos forto do venganceCam forth upon this ilke chance,And to Calistona sche spak,480And sette upon hir many a lak,6290And seide, ‘Ha, nou thou art atake,That thou thi werk myht noght forsake.Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite,481Hou thou art gretly forto wyte!Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abieThat ilke stelthe and micherie,482Which thou hast bothe take and do;Wherof thi fader LichaoSchal noght be glad, whan he it wot,Of that his dowhter was so hot,6300That sche hath broke hire chaste avou.Bot I thee schal chastise nou;483Thi grete beaute schal be torned,Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned,484Thi large frount, thin yhen greie,I schal hem change in other weie,And al the feture of thi faceIn such a wise I schal deface,That every man thee schal forbere.’With that the liknesse of a bere6310Sche tok and was forschape anon.Withinne a time and theruponBefell that with a bowe on honde,485To hunte and gamen forto fonde,P. ii. 339Into that wode goth to pleieHir Sone Archas, and in his weieIt hapneth that this bere cam.486And whan that sche good hiede nam,487Wher that he stod under the bowh,488Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh;6320For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore,The love was noght lost therforeWhich kinde hath set under his lawe.Whan sche under the wodesschawe489Hire child behield, sche was so glad,That sche with bothe hire armes sprad,As thogh sche were in wommanhiede,Toward him cam, and tok non hiedeOf that he bar a bowe bent.And he with that an Arwe hath hent6330And gan to teise it in his bowe,As he that can non other knowe,Bot that it was a beste wylde.Bot Jupiter, which wolde schyldeThe Moder and the Sone also,Ordeineth for hem bothe so,490That thei for evere were save.Confessor.Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht haveEnsample, hou that it is to fleTo robbe the virginite6340Of a yong innocent aweie:491And overthis be other weie,In olde bokes as I rede,Such Robberie is forto drede,P. ii. 340And nameliche of thilke goodWhich every womman that is goodDesireth forto kepe and holde,As whilom was be daies olde.For if thou se mi tale welOf that was tho, thou miht somdiel6350Of old ensample taken hiede,492Hou that the flour of maidenhiedeWas thilke time holde in pris.And so it was, and so it is,And so it schal for evere stonde:And for thou schalt it understonde,Nou herkne a tale next suiende,Hou maidenhod is to commende.
[Tale of Calistona.]
King Lichaon upon his wif
A dowhter hadde, a goodly lif,
Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in causa virginitatis lese predones. Et narrat quod cum Calistona Lichaontis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem Diane conseruandam castissima vouisset, et in Siluam que Tegea dicitur inter alias ibidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulisset, Iupiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens, quendam476filium, qui postea Archas nominatus est, ex ea genuit: vnde Iuno in Calistonam seuiens eius pulcritudinem in vrse turpissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit.
A clene Maide of worthi fame,
Calistona whos rihte name
Was cleped, and of many a lord
Sche was besoght, bot hire acord6230
To love myhte noman winne,
As sche which hath no lust therinne;
Bot swor withinne hir herte and saide
That sche wolde evere ben a Maide.475
Wherof to kepe hireself in pes,
With suche as Amadriades
Were cleped, wodemaydes, tho,
And with the Nimphes ek also
Upon the spring of freisshe welles
Sche schop to duelle and nagher elles.6240
And thus cam this Calistona
Into the wode of Tegea,
Wher sche virginite behihte
Unto Diane, and therto plihte
Her trouthe upon the bowes grene,
To kepe hir maidenhode clene.
Which afterward upon a day
Was priveliche stole away;
For Jupiter thurgh his queintise
From hire it tok in such a wise,6250
That sodeinliche forth withal
Hire wombe aros and sche toswal,
So that it mihte noght ben hidd.
And therupon it is betidd,
P. ii. 337
Diane, which it herde telle,
In prive place unto a welle477
With Nimphes al a compainie478
Was come, and in a ragerie
Sche seide that sche bathe wolde,
And bad that every maide scholde6260
With hire al naked bathe also.
And tho began the prive wo,
Calistona wax red for schame;
Bot thei that knewe noght the game,
To whom no such thing was befalle,
Anon thei made hem naked alle,
As thei that nothing wolden hyde:479
Bot sche withdrouh hire evere asyde,
And natheles into the flod,
Wher that Diane hirselve stod,6270
Sche thoghte come unaperceived.
Bot therof sche was al deceived;
For whan sche cam a litel nyh,
And that Diane hire wombe syh,
Sche seide, ‘Awey, thou foule beste,
For thin astat is noght honeste
This chaste water forto touche;
For thou hast take such a touche,
Which nevere mai ben hol ayein.’
And thus goth sche which was forlein6280
With schame, and fro the Nimphes fledde,
Til whanne that nature hire spedde,
That of a Sone, which Archas
Was named, sche delivered was.
P. ii. 338
And tho Juno, which was the wif
Of Jupiter, wroth and hastif,
In pourpos forto do vengance
Cam forth upon this ilke chance,
And to Calistona sche spak,480
And sette upon hir many a lak,6290
And seide, ‘Ha, nou thou art atake,
That thou thi werk myht noght forsake.
Ha, thou ungoodlich ypocrite,481
Hou thou art gretly forto wyte!
Bot nou thou schalt ful sore abie
That ilke stelthe and micherie,482
Which thou hast bothe take and do;
Wherof thi fader Lichao
Schal noght be glad, whan he it wot,
Of that his dowhter was so hot,6300
That sche hath broke hire chaste avou.
Bot I thee schal chastise nou;483
Thi grete beaute schal be torned,
Thurgh which that thou hast be mistorned,484
Thi large frount, thin yhen greie,
I schal hem change in other weie,
And al the feture of thi face
In such a wise I schal deface,
That every man thee schal forbere.’
With that the liknesse of a bere6310
Sche tok and was forschape anon.
Withinne a time and therupon
Befell that with a bowe on honde,485
To hunte and gamen forto fonde,
P. ii. 339
Into that wode goth to pleie
Hir Sone Archas, and in his weie
It hapneth that this bere cam.486
And whan that sche good hiede nam,487
Wher that he stod under the bowh,488
Sche kneu him wel and to him drouh;6320
For thogh sche hadde hire forme lore,
The love was noght lost therfore
Which kinde hath set under his lawe.
Whan sche under the wodesschawe489
Hire child behield, sche was so glad,
That sche with bothe hire armes sprad,
As thogh sche were in wommanhiede,
Toward him cam, and tok non hiede
Of that he bar a bowe bent.
And he with that an Arwe hath hent6330
And gan to teise it in his bowe,
As he that can non other knowe,
Bot that it was a beste wylde.
Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde
The Moder and the Sone also,
Ordeineth for hem bothe so,490
That thei for evere were save.
Confessor.
Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht have
Ensample, hou that it is to fle
To robbe the virginite6340
Of a yong innocent aweie:491
And overthis be other weie,
In olde bokes as I rede,
Such Robberie is forto drede,
P. ii. 340
And nameliche of thilke good
Which every womman that is good
Desireth forto kepe and holde,
As whilom was be daies olde.
For if thou se mi tale wel
Of that was tho, thou miht somdiel6350
Of old ensample taken hiede,492
Hou that the flour of maidenhiede
Was thilke time holde in pris.
And so it was, and so it is,
And so it schal for evere stonde:
And for thou schalt it understonde,
Nou herkne a tale next suiende,
Hou maidenhod is to commende.
[Virginity.]x.Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,493Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.
[Virginity.]
x.Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,493
Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,
Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,
Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.
Of Rome among the gestes oldeI finde hou that Valerie tolde6360Hic loquitur de virginitatis commendacione, vbi dicit quod nuper Imperatores ob tanti status dignitatem virginibus cedebant496in via.That what man tho was Emperour494Of Rome, he scholde don honourTo the virgine, and in the weie,495Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeieIn worschipe of virginite,Which tho was of gret dignite.497Noght onliche of the wommen tho,498Bot of the chaste men alsoIt was commended overal:And forto speke in special6370P. ii. 341Touchende of men, ensample I finde,Hic loquitur, qualiter Phyrinus, iuuenum Rome pulcherrimus, ut illesam suam conseruaret virginitatem, ambos oculos eruens vultus sui decorem abhominabilem constituit.Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde499Above alle othre the fairesteOf Rome and ek the comelieste,That wel was hire which him mihteBeholde and have of him a sihte.Thus was he tempted ofte sore;Bot for he wolde be nomore500Among the wommen so coveited,The beaute of his face streited6380He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen,501That alle wommen whiche him syhen502Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte:And thus his maidehiede he boghte.So mai I prove wel forthi,Above alle othre under the Sky,Who that the vertus wolde peise,503Virginite is forto preise,Which, as thapocalips recordeth,To Crist in hevene best acordeth.5046390So mai it schewe wel therfore,As I have told it hier tofore,In hevene and ek in Erthe alsoIt is accept to bothe tuo*.And if I schal more over thisDeclare what this vertu is,I finde write upon this thing[Chastity of Valentinian.]Of Valentinian the kingAnd Emperour be thilke daies,Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo, quod contra sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam optinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus permansit.A worthi knyht at alle assaies,6400Hou he withoute MariageWas of an hundred wynter Age,And hadde ben a worthi knihtBothe of his lawe and of his myht.
Of Rome among the gestes olde
I finde hou that Valerie tolde6360
Hic loquitur de virginitatis commendacione, vbi dicit quod nuper Imperatores ob tanti status dignitatem virginibus cedebant496in via.
That what man tho was Emperour494
Of Rome, he scholde don honour
To the virgine, and in the weie,495
Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie
In worschipe of virginite,
Which tho was of gret dignite.497
Noght onliche of the wommen tho,498
Bot of the chaste men also
It was commended overal:
And forto speke in special6370
P. ii. 341
Touchende of men, ensample I finde,
Hic loquitur, qualiter Phyrinus, iuuenum Rome pulcherrimus, ut illesam suam conseruaret virginitatem, ambos oculos eruens vultus sui decorem abhominabilem constituit.
Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde499
Above alle othre the faireste
Of Rome and ek the comelieste,
That wel was hire which him mihte
Beholde and have of him a sihte.
Thus was he tempted ofte sore;
Bot for he wolde be nomore500
Among the wommen so coveited,
The beaute of his face streited6380
He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen,501
That alle wommen whiche him syhen502
Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte:
And thus his maidehiede he boghte.
So mai I prove wel forthi,
Above alle othre under the Sky,
Who that the vertus wolde peise,503
Virginite is forto preise,
Which, as thapocalips recordeth,
To Crist in hevene best acordeth.5046390
So mai it schewe wel therfore,
As I have told it hier tofore,
In hevene and ek in Erthe also
It is accept to bothe tuo*.
And if I schal more over this
Declare what this vertu is,
I finde write upon this thing
[Chastity of Valentinian.]
Of Valentinian the king
And Emperour be thilke daies,
Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo, quod contra sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam optinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus permansit.
A worthi knyht at alle assaies,6400
Hou he withoute Mariage
Was of an hundred wynter Age,
And hadde ben a worthi kniht
Bothe of his lawe and of his myht.