Chapter 15

*Out of his flessh a man to live505In carne preter carnem viuere pocius vita angelica quam humana est.506Gregoire hath this ensample yive,And seith it schal rather be toldLich to an Angel manyfold,507P. ii. 342Than to the lif of mannes kinde.Ther is no reson forto finde,6400*Bot only thurgh the grace above,In flessh withoute flesshly loveA man to live chaste hiere:And natheles a man mai hiereOf suche that have ben er this,And yit ther ben; bot for it isA vertu which is sielde wonne,Now I this matiere have begonne,I thenke tellen overmore,Which is, mi Sone, for thi lore,6410*If that the list to taken hiede.x.508Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.To trete upon the maidenhiede,Milicia est vita hominis super terram.509The bok seith that a mannes lifUpon knyhthode in werre and strif510Is sett among hise enemys:The frele fleissh, whos nature isAi redy forto sporne and falle,The ferste foman is of alle;For thilke werre is redi ai,It werreth nyht, it werreth dai,6420*So that a man hath nevere reste.Forthi is thilke knyht the beste,Thurgh myht and grace of goddes sondeWhich that bataille mai withstonde:Wherof yit duelleth the memoireOf hem that whilom the victoireOf thilke dedly werre hadden;511The hih prouesse which thei ladden,P. ii. 343Wherof the Soule stod amended,512Upon this erthe is yit commended.5136430*Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo quod contra514sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriamoptinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus515permansit.An Emperour be oldedaiesTher was, and he at alle assaiesA worthi knyht was of his hond,Ther was non such in al the lond;Bot yit for al his vasselageHe stod unwedded al his age,516And in Cronique as it is told,He was an hundred wynter old.Bot whan men wolde etc. (as6405 ff.)Bot whan men wolde his dedes peiseAnd his knyhthode of Armes preise,Of that he dede with his hondes,Whan he the kinges and the londes517To his subjeccion put under,518Of al that pris hath he no wonder,6410For he it sette of non acompte,And seide al that may noght amonteAyeins o point which he hath nome,That he his fleissh hath overcome:P. ii. 344He was a virgine, as he seide;On that bataille his pris he leide.(6450*)[Virginity.]Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee.Amans.Yee, fader, al this wel mai be,519Bot if alle othre dede so,The world of men were sone go:6420And in the lawe a man mai finde,Hou god to man be weie of kindeHath set the world to multeplie;And who that wol him justefie,It is ynouh to do the lawe.And natheles youre goode saweIs good to kepe, who so may,I wol noght therayein seie nay.Confessor.Mi Sone, take it as I seie;520If maidenhod be take aweie6430Withoute lawes ordinance,It mai noght failen of vengance.And if thou wolt the sothe wite,Behold a tale which is write,Hou that the King Agamenon,Whan he the Cite of LesbonHath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond,Which was the faireste of the LondIn thilke time that men wiste.He tok of hire what him liste6440Of thing which was most precious,Wherof that sche was dangerous.This faire Maiden cleped isCriseide, douhter of Crisis,521P. ii. 345Which was that time in specialOf thilke temple principal,Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice,So was it wel the more vice.Agamenon was thanne in weieTo Troieward, and tok aweie6450This Maiden, which he with him ladde,So grete a lust in hire he hadde.522Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeignOf that his Maiden was forlein,Anon as he to Troie cam,Vengance upon this dede he namAnd sende a comun pestilence.Thei soghten thanne here evidenceAnd maden calculation,To knowe in what condicion6460This deth cam in so sodeinly;523And ate laste redylyThe cause and ek the man thei founde:524And forth withal the same stoundeAgamenon opposed was,525Which hath beknowen al the cas(6500*)Of the folie which he wroghte.And therupon mercy thei soghteToward the god in sondri wiseWith preiere and with sacrifise,6470The Maide and hom ayein thei sende,526And yive hire good ynouh to spende527For evere whil sche scholde live:And thus the Senne was foryiveP. ii. 346And al the pestilence cessed.Confessor.Lo, what it is to ben encressedOf love which is evele wonne.It were betre noght begonneThan take a thing withoute leve,Which thou most after nedes leve,6480And yit have malgre forth withal.Forthi to robben overalIn loves cause if thou beginne,I not what ese thou schalt winne.Mi Sone, be wel war of this,For thus of Robberie it is.528Amans.Mi fader, youre ensamplerieIn loves cause of RobberieI have it riht wel understonde.Bot overthis, hou so it stonde,6490Yit wolde I wite of youre apriseWhat thing is more of Covoitise.[Stealth and Michery.]xi.Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et horam529Fur, quibus occulto tempore furta parat.530Sic amor insidiis vacat, vt sub tegmine ludos531Prendere furtiuos nocte fauente queat.With Covoitise yit I findeA Servant of the same kinde,Hic tractat super illa Cupiditatis specie, que secretum latrocinium dicitur, cuius natura custode532rerum nesciente ea que cupit tam per diem quam per noctem absque strepitu clanculo furatur.Which Stelthe is hote, and MecherieWith him is evere in compainie.Of whom if I schal telle soth,He stalketh as a Pocok doth,And takth his preie so covert,That noman wot it in apert.6500P. ii. 347For whan he wot the lord from home,533Than wol he stalke aboute and rome;And what thing he fint in his weie,Whan that he seth the men aweie,He stelth it and goth forth withal,That therof noman knowe schal.And ek fulofte he goth a nyhtWithoute Mone or sterreliht,And with his craft the dore unpiketh,And takth therinne what him liketh:6510And if the dore be so schet,That he be of his entre let,He wole in ate wyndou crepe,And whil the lord is faste aslepe,He stelth what thing as him best list,And goth his weie er it be wist.(6550*)Fulofte also be lyhte of dayYit wole he stele and make assay;534Under the cote his hond he put,Til he the mannes Purs have cut,6520And rifleth that he fint therinne.And thus he auntreth him to winne,And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth,For noman of his conseil knoweth;What he mai gete of his Michinge,It is al bile under the winge.And as an hound that goth to foldeAnd hath ther taken what he wolde,His mouth upon the gras he wypeth,And so with feigned chiere him slypeth,6530P. ii. 348That what as evere of schep he strangle,Ther is noman therof schal jangle,As forto knowen who it dede;535Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede,Where as him list his preie take.He can so wel his cause makeAnd so wel feigne and so wel glose,That ther ne schal noman suppose,Bot that he were an innocent,And thus a mannes yhe he blent:6540So that thiscraft I mai remeneWithouten help of eny mene.[Stealth of Lovers.]Ther be lovers of that degre,Which al here lust in privete,As who seith, geten al be Stelthe,And ofte atteignen to gret weltheAs for the time that it lasteth.536For love awaiteth evere and castethHou he mai stele and cacche his preie,Whan he therto mai finde a weie:6550For be it nyht or be it day,He takth his part, whan that he may,And if he mai nomore do,Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo.Confessor.Mi Sone, what seist thou therto?Tell if thou dedest evere so.Mi fader, hou?Mi Sone, thus,—If thou hast stolen eny cussOr other thing which therto longeth,For noman suche thieves hongeth:6560P. ii. 349Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe.Confessio Amantis.Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe,For be mi will I am a thief;Bot sche that is to me most lief,Yit dorste I nevere in priveteNoght ones take hire be the kne,(6600*)To stele of hire or this or that,And if I dorste, I wot wel what:And natheles, bot if I lie,Be Stelthe ne be Robberie6570Of love, which fell in mi thoght,To hire dede I nevere noght.Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed,Ther schal no castell ben assailed;Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten,And were als strong as alle men,If I be noght myn oghne manAnd dar noght usen that I can,I mai miselve noght recovere.Thogh I be nevere man so povere,6580I bere an herte and hire it is,So that me faileth wit in this,Hou that I scholde of myn acordThe servant lede ayein the lord:For if mi fot wolde awher go,537Or that min hand wolde elles do,Whan that myn herte is therayein,The remenant is al in vein.And thus me lacketh alle wele,And yit ne dar I nothing stele6590P. ii. 350Of thing which longeth unto love:And ek it is so hyh above,I mai noght wel therto areche,Bot if so be at time of speche,Ful selde if thanne I stele mayA word or tuo and go my way.Betwen hire hih astat and me538Comparison ther mai non be,So that I fiele and wel I wot,Al is to hevy and to hot6600To sette on hond withoute leve:And thus I mot algate leveTo stele that I mai noght take,And in this wise I mot forsakeTo ben a thief ayein mi willeOf thing which I mai noght fulfille.For that Serpent which nevere slepteThe flees of gold so wel ne kepteIn Colchos, as the tale is told,That mi ladi a thousendfold6610Nys betre yemed and bewaked,Wher sche be clothed or be naked.To kepe hir bodi nyht and day,Sche hath a wardein redi ay,Which is so wonderful a wyht,That him ne mai no mannes myht(6650*)With swerd ne with no wepne daunte,539Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte,Wherof he mihte be mad tame,And Danger is his rihte name;6620P. ii. 351Which under lock and under keie,That noman mai it stele aweie,Hath al the Tresor underfongeThat unto love mai belonge.The leste lokinge of hire yheMai noght be stole, if he it syhe;And who so gruccheth for so lyte,He wolde sone sette a wyteOn him that wolde stele more.And that me grieveth wonder sore,6630For this proverbe is evere newe,That stronge lokes maken treweOf hem that wolden stele and pyke:540For so wel can ther noman slyke541Be him ne be non other mene,To whom Danger wol yive or leneOf that tresor he hath to kepe.So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe,And wayte on eve and ek on morwe,Of Danger schal I nothing borwe,6640And stele I wot wel may I noght:542And thus I am riht wel bethoght,Whil Danger stant in his office,Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice,I schal be gultif neveremo.Therfore I wolde he were agoSo fer that I nevere of him herde,Hou so that afterward it ferde:For thanne I mihte yit per casOf love make som pourchas6650P. ii. 352Be Stelthe or be som other weie,That nou fro me stant fer aweie.Bot, fader, as ye tolde above,543Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love,I mai noght wel that point forsake,That ofte times I ne wakeOn nyhtes, whan that othre slepe;Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe.Whan I am loged in such wise544That I be nyhte mai arise,6660At som wyndowe and loken outeAnd se the housinge al aboute,So that I mai the chambre knoweIn which mi ladi, as I trowe,Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe,Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte:(6700*)For there I stonde to beholde545The longe nyhtes that ben colde,And thenke on hire that lyth there.And thanne I wisshe that I were6670Als wys as was NectanabusOr elles as was Protheüs,That couthen bothe of nigromaunceIn what liknesse, in what semblaunce,Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme:For if I were of such a forme,I seie thanne I wolde fleInto the chambre forto se546If eny grace wolde falle,So that I mihte under the palle6680P. ii. 353Som thing of love pyke and stele.And thus I thenke thoghtes fele,And thogh therof nothing be soth,Yit ese as for a time it doth:Bot ate laste whanne I findeThat I am falle into my mynde,And se that I have stonde longeAnd have no profit underfonge,Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne.And this is al that evere I winne6690Of love, whanne I walke on nyht:Mi will is good, bot of mi myhtMe lacketh bothe and of mi grace;For what so that mi thoght embrace,547Yit have I noght the betre ferd.Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herdWhat I be Stelthe of love have do,548And hou mi will hath be therto:If I be worthi to penanceI put it on your ordinance.5496700Confessor.Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete,Thogh it be for a time swete,At ende it doth bot litel good,As be ensample hou that it stodWhilom, I mai thee telle nou.Amans.I preie you, fader, sei me hou.550Confessor.Mi Sone, of him which goth be daieBe weie of Stelthe to assaie,In loves cause and takth his preie,Ovide seide as I schal seie,6710P. ii. 354And in his Methamor he toldeA tale, which is good to holde.[Tale of Leucothoe.]The Poete upon this matiereOf Stelthe wrot in this manere.Venus, which hath this lawe in honde551Hic in amoris causa super isto Latrocinio quod de die552contigit ponit exemplum. Et narrat quod, cum Leuchotoe Orchami filia in cameris sub arta matris custodia virgo preseruabatur, Phebus eius pulcritudinem concupiscens, in conclave domus clara luce subintrans, virginis pudiciciam matre nescia553deflorauit: vnde ipsa inpregnata iratus pater filiam suam ad sepeliendum viuam effodit; ex cuius tumulo florem, quem554Solsequium vocant, dicunt tunc555consequenter primitus accreuisse.Of thing which mai noght be withstonde,(6750*)As sche which the tresor to wardeOf love hath withinne hir warde,Phebum to love hath so constreigned,556That he withoute reste is peined6720With al his herte to coveiteA Maiden, which was warded streyteWithinne chambre and kept so clos,That selden was whan sche desclosGoth with hir moder forto pleie.Leuchotoe, so as men seie,This Maiden hihte, and OrchamusHir fader was; and befell thus.This doughter, that was kept so deere,And hadde be fro yer to yeere6730Under hir moder disciplineA clene Maide and a Virgine,Upon the whos nativiteOf comelihiede and of beauteNature hath set al that sche may,That lich unto the fresshe Maii,Which othre monthes of the yeerSurmonteth, so withoute pierWas of this Maiden the feture.Wherof Phebus out of mesure6740P. ii. 355Hire loveth, and on every sydeAwaiteth, if so mai betyde,557That he thurgh eny sleihte myhteHire lusti maidenhod unrihte,The which were al his worldes welthe.And thus lurkende upon his stelthe558In his await so longe he lai,Til it befell upon a dai,That he thurghout hir chambre wallCam in al sodeinliche, and stall6750That thing which was to him so lief.559Bot wo the while, he was a thief!For Venus, which was enemieOf thilke loves micherie,Discovereth al the pleine casTo Clymene, which thanne was560Toward Phebus his concubine.And sche to lette the covineOf thilke love, dedli wrothTo pleigne upon this Maide goth,6760And tolde hire fader hou it stod;Wherof for sorwe welnyh wodUnto hire moder thus he saide:‘Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide!To Phebus dar I nothing speke,Bot upon hire I schal be wreke,561(6800*)So that these Maidens after thisMow take ensample, what it is562To soffre her maidenhed be stole,563Wherof that sche the deth schal thole.’6770P. ii. 356And bad with that do make a pet,564Wherinne he hath his douhter set,As he that wol no pite have,So that sche was al quik begraveAnd deide anon in his presence.Bot Phebus, for the reverenceOf that sche hadde be his love,Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above,That sche sprong up out of the moldeInto a flour was named golde,6780Which stant governed of the Sonne.And thus whan love is evele wonne,Fulofte it comth to repentaile.Amans.Mi fader, that is no mervaile,Whan that the conseil is bewreid.Bot ofte time love hath pleidAnd stole many a prive game,Which nevere yit cam into blame,Whan that the thinges weren hidde.Bot in youre tale, as it betidde,6790Venus discoverede al the cas,And ek also brod dai it was,Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte,Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte,That afterward sche was so lore.565Bot for ye seiden nou toforeHou stelthe of love goth be nyhte,And doth hise thinges out of syhte,Therof me liste also to hiereA tale lich to the matiere,6800P. ii. 357Wherof I miyhte ensample take.Confessor.Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake,566So as it fell be daies olde,567And so as the Poete it tolde,Upon the nyhtes micherieNou herkne a tale of Poesie.[Tale of Hercules and Faunus.]The myhtieste of alle menWhan Hercules with Eolen,Hic ponit exemplum super eodem quod de nocte contigit. Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Eole in quadam spelunca nobili, Thophis dicta, sub monte Thymolo, vbi silua Bachi est, hospicio pernoctarunt. Et cum ipsi variis lectis seperatim568iacentes dormierunt, contigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Eole lectumque Eole pelle leonis, qua Hercules induebatur, operiri. Super quo Faunus a silua descendens speluncam subintrauit, temptans si forte cum Eole sue concupiscencie voluptatem569nesciente Hercule furari posset. Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset, putans Eolen fuisse, cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur; quem senciens Hercules manibus apprehensum ipsum ad terram ita fortiter allisit, ut impotens sui corporis effectus usque mane ibidem requieuit, vbi Saba cum Nimphis siluestribus superueniens ipsum sic illusum deridebat.Which was the love of his corage,Togedre upon a Pelrinage6810Towardes Rome scholden go,570It fell hem be the weie so,That thei upon a dai a CaveWithinne a roche founden have,Which was real and gloriousAnd of Entaile curious,(6850*)Be name and Thophis it was hote.The Sonne schon tho wonder hote,As it was in the Somer tyde;This Hercules, which be his syde6820Hath Eolen his love there,571Whan thei at thilke cave were,He seide it thoghte him for the besteThat sche hire for the hete resteAl thilke day and thilke nyht;And sche, that was a lusti wyht,It liketh hire al that he seide:And thus thei duelle there and pleideThe longe dai. And so befell,This Cave was under the hell6830P. ii. 358Of Tymolus, which was begroweWith vines, and at thilke throweFaunus with Saba the goddesse,Be whom the large wildernesseIn thilke time stod governed,Weere in a place, as I am lerned,572Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte.This Faunus tok a gret insihteOf Eolen, that was so nyh;573For whan that he hire beaute syh,6840Out of his wit he was assoted,And in his herte it hath so noted,That he forsok the Nimphes alle,And seide he wolde, hou so it falle,Assaie an other forto winne;So that his hertes thoght withinne574He sette and caste hou that he myhteOf love pyke awey be nyhte575That he be daie in other wiseTo stele mihte noght suffise:6850And therupon his time he waiteth.Nou tak good hiede hou love afaitethHim which withal is overcome.Faire Eolen, whan sche was comeWith Hercules into the Cave,Sche seide him that sche wolde have576Hise clothes of and hires bothe,577That ech of hem scholde other clothe.578And al was do riht as sche bad,He hath hire in hise clothes clad6860P. ii. 359And caste on hire his gulion,Which of the Skyn of a LeounWas mad, as he upon the weieIt slouh, and overthis to pleieSche tok his grete Mace alsoAnd knet it at hir gerdil tho.(6900*)So was sche lich the man arraied,579And Hercules thanne hath assaiedTo clothen him in hire array:And thus thei jape forth the dai,6870Til that her Souper redy were.And whan thei hadden souped there,Thei schopen hem to gon to reste;And as it thoghte hem for the beste,Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht,Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht,For thei togedre ligge nolde,Be cause that thei offre woldeUpon the morwe here sacrifice.The servantz deden here office6880And sondri beddes made anon,Wherin that thei to reste gonEch be himself in sondri place.580Faire Eole hath set the MaceBeside hire beddes hed above,And with the clothes of hire loveSche helede al hire bed aboute;And he, which hadde of nothing doute,Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke,Hire kertell and hire mantel eke6890P. ii. 360Abrod upon his bed he spredde.And thus thei slepen bothe abedde;And what of travail, what of wyn,The servantz lich to drunke SwynBegunne forto route faste.581This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste,Was thanne come to the Cave,And fond thei weren alle saveWithoute noise, and in he wente.The derke nyht his sihte blente,6900And yit it happeth him to goWhere Eolen abedde thoWas leid al one for to slepe;Bot for he wolde take kepeWhos bed it was, he made assai,And of the Leoun, where it lay,The Cote he fond, and ek he fielethThe Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth,That there dorste he noght abyde,Bot stalketh upon every side6910And soghte aboute with his hond,That other bedd til that he fond,Wher lai bewympled a visage.Tho was he glad in his corage,For he hir kertell fond alsoAnd ek hir mantell bothe tuo(6950*)Bespred upon the bed alofte.He made him naked thanne, and softeInto the bedd unwar he crepte,Wher Hercules that time slepte,6920P. ii. 361And wende wel it were sche;And thus in stede of EoleAnon he profreth him to love.But he, which felte a man above,This Hercules, him threw to grounde582So sore, that thei have him foundeLiggende there upon the morwe;And tho was noght a litel sorwe,That Faunus of himselve made,Bot elles thei were alle glade6930And lowhen him to scorne aboute:Saba with Nimphis al a route583Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde,584And whan that thei the sothe herde,He was bejaped overal.Confessor.Mi Sone, be thou war withalTo seche suche mecheries,Bot if thou have the betre aspies,In aunter if the so betydeAs Faunus dede thilke tyde,6940Wherof thou miht be schamed so.Amans.Min holi fader, certes no.Bot if I hadde riht good leve,Such mecherie I thenke leve:Mi feinte herte wol noght serve;For malgre wolde I noght deserveIn thilke place wher I love.Bot for ye tolden hier aboveOf Covoitise and his pilage,If ther be more of that lignage,6950P. ii. 362Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preieThat ye therof me wolde seie,So that I mai the vice eschuie.Confessor.Mi Sone, if I be order suie585The vices, as thei stonde arowe,586Of Covoitise thou schalt knoweTher is yit on, which is the laste;In whom ther mai no vertu laste,For he with god himself debateth,Wherof that al the hevene him hateth.6960[Sacrilege.]xii.Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat;Vt sibi sunt agri, sic domus alma dei.Nec locus est, in quo non temptat amans quod amatur,Et que posse nequit carpere, velle capit.Hic tractat super vltima Cupiditatis specie, que Sacrilegium dicta est, cuius furtum ea que altissimo sanctificantur bona depredans ecclesie tantum spoliis insidiatur.The hihe god, which alle goodePourveied hath for mannes fodeOf clothes and of mete and drinke,Bad Adam that he scholde swinkeTo geten him his sustienance;And ek he sette an ordinance(7000*)Upon the lawe of Moïses,587That though a man be haveles,Yit schal he noght be thefte stele.Bot nou adaies ther ben fele,6970That wol no labour undertake,Bot what thei mai be Stelthe takeThei holde it sikerliche wonne.And thus the lawe is overronne,Which god hath set, and namelyWith hem that so untrewelyThe goodes robbe of holi cherche.P. ii. 363The thefte which thei thanne wercheBe name is cleped Sacrilegge,Ayein the whom I thenke alegge.*6980Of his condicion to telle,Which rifleth bothe bok and belle,588*Upon the pointz as we ben taught589Stant sacrilege, and elles nought.The firste point is for to seye,Whan that a thief schal stele aweyeThe holy thing from holy place.The secounde is, if he pourchace7020*By wey of thefte unholy thing,Which he upon his knowlechingFro holy place aweie took.The thridde point, as seith the book,Is such as, wher as evere it be,590In woode, in feld or in Cite,Schal no man stele by no wiseThat halwed is to the serviseOf god which alle thinges wot.But ther is nouther cold ne hot,7030*Which he for god or man wol spare,So that the body may wel fare;And that he may the world aschape,The hevene him thenkth is but a jape:591And thus, the sothe for to telle,He rifleth bothe book and belle,592So forth with al, etc. (as6983 ff.)So forth with al the remenantTo goddes hous appourtenant,Wher that he scholde bidde his bede,He doth his thefte in holi stede,P. ii. 364And takth what thing he fint therinne:For whan he seth that he mai winne,He wondeth for no cursednesse,That he ne brekth the holinesse6990And doth to god no reverence;For he hath lost his conscience,That though the Prest therfore curse,He seith he fareth noght the wurse.593And forto speke it otherwise,What man that lasseth the franchise(7050*)And takth of holi cherche his preie,I not what bedes he schal preie.Whan he fro god, which hath yive al,The Pourpartie in special,7000Which unto Crist himself is due,594Benymth, he mai noght wel eschueThe peine comende afterward;For he hath mad his forewardWith Sacrilegge forto duelle,Which hath his heritage in helle.And if we rede of tholde lawe,595I finde write, in thilke dawe596Of Princes hou ther weren thre597Coupable sore in this degre.5987010That on of hem was cleped thus,The proude king Antiochus;That other Nabuzardan hihte,Which of his crualte behyhteThe temple to destruie and waste,And so he dede in alle haste;P. ii. 365The thridde, which was after schamed,Was Nabugodonosor named,And he Jerusalem putte under,Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder7020There in the holi temple he wroghte,Which Baltazar his heir aboghte,599Whan Mane, Techel, Phares writeWas on the wal, as thou miht wite,So as the bible it hath declared.600Bot for al that it is noght sparedYit nou aday, that men ne pile,And maken argument and skileTo Sacrilegge as it belongeth,For what man that ther after longeth,7030He takth non hiede what he doth.*And riht so, forto telle soth,601*And if a man schal telle soth,Of guile and of soubtiliteIs non so slyh in his degreTo feigne a thing for his beyete,As is this vice of which I trete.7090*He can so priveliche pyke,He can so wel hise wordes slykeTo putte awey suspecioun,That in his excusacioun,Ther schal noman defalte finde.And thus fulofte men be blinde,That stonden of his word deceived,Er his queintise be perceived.P. ii. 366Bot natheles yit otherwhile,For al his sleyhte and al his guile,6027100*Of that he wolde his werk forsake,He is atteint and overtake;Wherof thou schalt a tale rede,In Rome as it befell in dede.603[Tale of Lucius and the Statue.]Er Rome cam to the creanceOf Cristes feith, it fell per chance,Hic loquitur de illis qui laruata consciencia Sacrilegium sibi licere fingunt. Et narrat quod, cum quidam Lucius clericus famosus et Imperatori notus deum suum Apollinem in templo Rome de anulo suo, pallio et barba aurea spoliasset, ipse tandem apprehensus et coram Imperatore accusatus taliter se excusando ait: ‘Anulum a deo recepi, quia ipse digito protenso ex sua largitate anulum hunc graciose michi optulit; pallium ex lamine aureo constructum tuli, quia aurum maxime ponderosum et frigidum naturaliter consistit, vnde nec in estate propter pondus nec in yeme propter frigus ad dei vestes vtile fuit; barbam ab eo605deposui, quia ipsum patri suo assimilare volui,606nam et Apollo, qui ante ipsum in templo607stetit, absque barba iuvenis apparuit. Et sic ea que gessi non ex furto set honestate608processisse manifeste declaraui.’Cesar, which tho was Emperour,Him liste forto don honourUnto the temple Apollinis,And made an ymage upon this,7110*The which was cleped Apollo.Was non so riche in Rome tho;Of plate of gold a berd he hadde,The which his brest al overspradde;Of gold also withoute faileHis mantell was of large entaile,Beset with perrie al aboute,Forthriht he strawhte his finger oute,Upon the which he hadde a ryng,To sen it was a riche thing,7120*A fin Carbuncle for the nones,604Most precious of alle Stones.And fell that time in Rome thus:Ther was a clerk, on Lucius,A Courteour, a famous man,Of every witt somwhat he can,Outake that him lacketh reuleHis oghne astat to guide and reule;P. ii. 367How so it stod of his spekinge,He was noght wys in his doinge.7130*Bot every riot ate lasteMot nedes falle and mai noght laste:After the meede of his decerte,So fell this clerk into poverteAnd wiste noght how forto ryse;Wherof in many a sondri wyseHe caste his wittes hier and ther,He loketh nyh, he loketh fer,Til on a time that he comInto the temple, and hiede he nom6097140*Wher that the god Apollo stod.He sih the richesse and the good,And thoghte he wolde be som weieThe tresor pyke and stele aweie;And therupon so slyhly wroghte,That his pourpos aboute he broghte,And wente awey unaparceived.Thus hath the man his god deceived,610His ryng, his mantell and his beerd,As he which nothing was a feerd,6117150*Al prively with him he bar:And whan the wardeins weren warOf that here god despuiled was,Hem thoghte it was a wonder cas,How that a man for eny weleDurste in so holy place stele,612And namely so gret a thing.613This tale cam unto the king,P. ii. 368And was thurgh spoken overal:Bot forto knowe in special7160*What maner man hath do the dede,Thei soghten help upon the nedeAnd maden calculacioun,Wherof be demonstraciounThe man was founde with the good.In juggement and whan he stood,The king hath axed of him thus:‘Sey, thou unsely Lucius,Whi hast thoudo this sacrilegge?’‘Mi lord, if I the cause allegge,’7170*Quod he ayein, ‘me thenketh this,That I have do nothing amis.Thre pointz ther ben whiche I have do,Wherof the ferste point stant so,That I the ryng have take aweie.As unto that this wole I seie:614Whan I the god behield aboute,I sih how he his hond strawhte outeAnd profred me the ryng to yive;And I, which wolde gladly live7180*Out ofpoverte of his largesse,615Itunderfing, so that I gesse,As therof I am noght to wyte.616And overmore I wol me quite,Of gold that I the mantell tok:Gold in his kinde, as seith the bok,Is hevy bothe and cold also;And for that it was hevy so,P. ii. 369Me thoghte it was no garnementUnto the god convenient,7190*To clothen him the somer tide;I thoghte upon that other sideHow gold is cold, and such a clothBe resoun oghte to be lothIn wynter time for the chele.And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,As I myn yhe aboute caste,His large beerd thanne ate lasteI syh, and thoghte anon therforeHow that his fader him before,7200*Which stod upon the same place,Was beerdles with a yongly face:And in such wise as ye have herdI tok awey the Sones berd,617For that his fader hadde non,To make hem liche, and hier uponI axe forto ben excused.’Lo thus, wherSacrilegge is used,A man can feigne his conscience;And riht upon such evidence7210*In loves cause, &c. (as7033 ff.)

*Out of his flessh a man to live505

In carne preter carnem viuere pocius vita angelica quam humana est.506

Gregoire hath this ensample yive,

And seith it schal rather be told

Lich to an Angel manyfold,507

P. ii. 342

Than to the lif of mannes kinde.

Ther is no reson forto finde,6400*

Bot only thurgh the grace above,

In flessh withoute flesshly love

A man to live chaste hiere:

And natheles a man mai hiere

Of suche that have ben er this,

And yit ther ben; bot for it is

A vertu which is sielde wonne,

Now I this matiere have begonne,

I thenke tellen overmore,

Which is, mi Sone, for thi lore,6410*

If that the list to taken hiede.

x.508Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.

x.508Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,

Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,

Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,

Eternos fetus que sine labe parit.

To trete upon the maidenhiede,Milicia est vita hominis super terram.509The bok seith that a mannes lifUpon knyhthode in werre and strif510Is sett among hise enemys:The frele fleissh, whos nature isAi redy forto sporne and falle,The ferste foman is of alle;For thilke werre is redi ai,It werreth nyht, it werreth dai,6420*So that a man hath nevere reste.Forthi is thilke knyht the beste,Thurgh myht and grace of goddes sondeWhich that bataille mai withstonde:Wherof yit duelleth the memoireOf hem that whilom the victoireOf thilke dedly werre hadden;511The hih prouesse which thei ladden,P. ii. 343Wherof the Soule stod amended,512Upon this erthe is yit commended.5136430*Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo quod contra514sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriamoptinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus515permansit.An Emperour be oldedaiesTher was, and he at alle assaiesA worthi knyht was of his hond,Ther was non such in al the lond;Bot yit for al his vasselageHe stod unwedded al his age,516And in Cronique as it is told,He was an hundred wynter old.Bot whan men wolde etc. (as6405 ff.)

To trete upon the maidenhiede,

Milicia est vita hominis super terram.509

The bok seith that a mannes lif

Upon knyhthode in werre and strif510

Is sett among hise enemys:

The frele fleissh, whos nature is

Ai redy forto sporne and falle,

The ferste foman is of alle;

For thilke werre is redi ai,

It werreth nyht, it werreth dai,6420*

So that a man hath nevere reste.

Forthi is thilke knyht the beste,

Thurgh myht and grace of goddes sonde

Which that bataille mai withstonde:

Wherof yit duelleth the memoire

Of hem that whilom the victoire

Of thilke dedly werre hadden;511

The hih prouesse which thei ladden,

P. ii. 343

Wherof the Soule stod amended,512

Upon this erthe is yit commended.5136430*

Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo quod contra514sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriamoptinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus515permansit.

An Emperour be oldedaies

Ther was, and he at alle assaies

A worthi knyht was of his hond,

Ther was non such in al the lond;

Bot yit for al his vasselage

He stod unwedded al his age,516

And in Cronique as it is told,

He was an hundred wynter old.

Bot whan men wolde etc. (as6405 ff.)

Bot whan men wolde his dedes peiseAnd his knyhthode of Armes preise,Of that he dede with his hondes,Whan he the kinges and the londes517To his subjeccion put under,518Of al that pris hath he no wonder,6410For he it sette of non acompte,And seide al that may noght amonteAyeins o point which he hath nome,That he his fleissh hath overcome:P. ii. 344He was a virgine, as he seide;On that bataille his pris he leide.(6450*)[Virginity.]Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee.Amans.Yee, fader, al this wel mai be,519Bot if alle othre dede so,The world of men were sone go:6420And in the lawe a man mai finde,Hou god to man be weie of kindeHath set the world to multeplie;And who that wol him justefie,It is ynouh to do the lawe.And natheles youre goode saweIs good to kepe, who so may,I wol noght therayein seie nay.Confessor.Mi Sone, take it as I seie;520If maidenhod be take aweie6430Withoute lawes ordinance,It mai noght failen of vengance.And if thou wolt the sothe wite,Behold a tale which is write,Hou that the King Agamenon,Whan he the Cite of LesbonHath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond,Which was the faireste of the LondIn thilke time that men wiste.He tok of hire what him liste6440Of thing which was most precious,Wherof that sche was dangerous.This faire Maiden cleped isCriseide, douhter of Crisis,521P. ii. 345Which was that time in specialOf thilke temple principal,Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice,So was it wel the more vice.Agamenon was thanne in weieTo Troieward, and tok aweie6450This Maiden, which he with him ladde,So grete a lust in hire he hadde.522Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeignOf that his Maiden was forlein,Anon as he to Troie cam,Vengance upon this dede he namAnd sende a comun pestilence.Thei soghten thanne here evidenceAnd maden calculation,To knowe in what condicion6460This deth cam in so sodeinly;523And ate laste redylyThe cause and ek the man thei founde:524And forth withal the same stoundeAgamenon opposed was,525Which hath beknowen al the cas(6500*)Of the folie which he wroghte.And therupon mercy thei soghteToward the god in sondri wiseWith preiere and with sacrifise,6470The Maide and hom ayein thei sende,526And yive hire good ynouh to spende527For evere whil sche scholde live:And thus the Senne was foryiveP. ii. 346And al the pestilence cessed.Confessor.Lo, what it is to ben encressedOf love which is evele wonne.It were betre noght begonneThan take a thing withoute leve,Which thou most after nedes leve,6480And yit have malgre forth withal.Forthi to robben overalIn loves cause if thou beginne,I not what ese thou schalt winne.Mi Sone, be wel war of this,For thus of Robberie it is.528Amans.Mi fader, youre ensamplerieIn loves cause of RobberieI have it riht wel understonde.Bot overthis, hou so it stonde,6490Yit wolde I wite of youre apriseWhat thing is more of Covoitise.

Bot whan men wolde his dedes peise

And his knyhthode of Armes preise,

Of that he dede with his hondes,

Whan he the kinges and the londes517

To his subjeccion put under,518

Of al that pris hath he no wonder,6410

For he it sette of non acompte,

And seide al that may noght amonte

Ayeins o point which he hath nome,

That he his fleissh hath overcome:

P. ii. 344

He was a virgine, as he seide;

On that bataille his pris he leide.(6450*)

[Virginity.]

Lo nou, my Sone, avise thee.

Amans.

Yee, fader, al this wel mai be,519

Bot if alle othre dede so,

The world of men were sone go:6420

And in the lawe a man mai finde,

Hou god to man be weie of kinde

Hath set the world to multeplie;

And who that wol him justefie,

It is ynouh to do the lawe.

And natheles youre goode sawe

Is good to kepe, who so may,

I wol noght therayein seie nay.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, take it as I seie;520

If maidenhod be take aweie6430

Withoute lawes ordinance,

It mai noght failen of vengance.

And if thou wolt the sothe wite,

Behold a tale which is write,

Hou that the King Agamenon,

Whan he the Cite of Lesbon

Hath wonne, a Maiden ther he fond,

Which was the faireste of the Lond

In thilke time that men wiste.

He tok of hire what him liste6440

Of thing which was most precious,

Wherof that sche was dangerous.

This faire Maiden cleped is

Criseide, douhter of Crisis,521

P. ii. 345

Which was that time in special

Of thilke temple principal,

Wher Phebus hadde his sacrifice,

So was it wel the more vice.

Agamenon was thanne in weie

To Troieward, and tok aweie6450

This Maiden, which he with him ladde,

So grete a lust in hire he hadde.522

Bot Phebus, which hath gret desdeign

Of that his Maiden was forlein,

Anon as he to Troie cam,

Vengance upon this dede he nam

And sende a comun pestilence.

Thei soghten thanne here evidence

And maden calculation,

To knowe in what condicion6460

This deth cam in so sodeinly;523

And ate laste redyly

The cause and ek the man thei founde:524

And forth withal the same stounde

Agamenon opposed was,525

Which hath beknowen al the cas(6500*)

Of the folie which he wroghte.

And therupon mercy thei soghte

Toward the god in sondri wise

With preiere and with sacrifise,6470

The Maide and hom ayein thei sende,526

And yive hire good ynouh to spende527

For evere whil sche scholde live:

And thus the Senne was foryive

P. ii. 346

And al the pestilence cessed.

Confessor.

Lo, what it is to ben encressed

Of love which is evele wonne.

It were betre noght begonne

Than take a thing withoute leve,

Which thou most after nedes leve,6480

And yit have malgre forth withal.

Forthi to robben overal

In loves cause if thou beginne,

I not what ese thou schalt winne.

Mi Sone, be wel war of this,

For thus of Robberie it is.528

Amans.

Mi fader, youre ensamplerie

In loves cause of Robberie

I have it riht wel understonde.

Bot overthis, hou so it stonde,6490

Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise

What thing is more of Covoitise.

[Stealth and Michery.]xi.Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et horam529Fur, quibus occulto tempore furta parat.530Sic amor insidiis vacat, vt sub tegmine ludos531Prendere furtiuos nocte fauente queat.

[Stealth and Michery.]

xi.Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et horam529

Fur, quibus occulto tempore furta parat.530

Sic amor insidiis vacat, vt sub tegmine ludos531

Prendere furtiuos nocte fauente queat.

With Covoitise yit I findeA Servant of the same kinde,Hic tractat super illa Cupiditatis specie, que secretum latrocinium dicitur, cuius natura custode532rerum nesciente ea que cupit tam per diem quam per noctem absque strepitu clanculo furatur.Which Stelthe is hote, and MecherieWith him is evere in compainie.Of whom if I schal telle soth,He stalketh as a Pocok doth,And takth his preie so covert,That noman wot it in apert.6500P. ii. 347For whan he wot the lord from home,533Than wol he stalke aboute and rome;And what thing he fint in his weie,Whan that he seth the men aweie,He stelth it and goth forth withal,That therof noman knowe schal.And ek fulofte he goth a nyhtWithoute Mone or sterreliht,And with his craft the dore unpiketh,And takth therinne what him liketh:6510And if the dore be so schet,That he be of his entre let,He wole in ate wyndou crepe,And whil the lord is faste aslepe,He stelth what thing as him best list,And goth his weie er it be wist.(6550*)Fulofte also be lyhte of dayYit wole he stele and make assay;534Under the cote his hond he put,Til he the mannes Purs have cut,6520And rifleth that he fint therinne.And thus he auntreth him to winne,And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth,For noman of his conseil knoweth;What he mai gete of his Michinge,It is al bile under the winge.And as an hound that goth to foldeAnd hath ther taken what he wolde,His mouth upon the gras he wypeth,And so with feigned chiere him slypeth,6530P. ii. 348That what as evere of schep he strangle,Ther is noman therof schal jangle,As forto knowen who it dede;535Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede,Where as him list his preie take.He can so wel his cause makeAnd so wel feigne and so wel glose,That ther ne schal noman suppose,Bot that he were an innocent,And thus a mannes yhe he blent:6540So that thiscraft I mai remeneWithouten help of eny mene.[Stealth of Lovers.]Ther be lovers of that degre,Which al here lust in privete,As who seith, geten al be Stelthe,And ofte atteignen to gret weltheAs for the time that it lasteth.536For love awaiteth evere and castethHou he mai stele and cacche his preie,Whan he therto mai finde a weie:6550For be it nyht or be it day,He takth his part, whan that he may,And if he mai nomore do,Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo.Confessor.Mi Sone, what seist thou therto?Tell if thou dedest evere so.Mi fader, hou?Mi Sone, thus,—If thou hast stolen eny cussOr other thing which therto longeth,For noman suche thieves hongeth:6560P. ii. 349Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe.Confessio Amantis.Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe,For be mi will I am a thief;Bot sche that is to me most lief,Yit dorste I nevere in priveteNoght ones take hire be the kne,(6600*)To stele of hire or this or that,And if I dorste, I wot wel what:And natheles, bot if I lie,Be Stelthe ne be Robberie6570Of love, which fell in mi thoght,To hire dede I nevere noght.Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed,Ther schal no castell ben assailed;Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten,And were als strong as alle men,If I be noght myn oghne manAnd dar noght usen that I can,I mai miselve noght recovere.Thogh I be nevere man so povere,6580I bere an herte and hire it is,So that me faileth wit in this,Hou that I scholde of myn acordThe servant lede ayein the lord:For if mi fot wolde awher go,537Or that min hand wolde elles do,Whan that myn herte is therayein,The remenant is al in vein.And thus me lacketh alle wele,And yit ne dar I nothing stele6590P. ii. 350Of thing which longeth unto love:And ek it is so hyh above,I mai noght wel therto areche,Bot if so be at time of speche,Ful selde if thanne I stele mayA word or tuo and go my way.Betwen hire hih astat and me538Comparison ther mai non be,So that I fiele and wel I wot,Al is to hevy and to hot6600To sette on hond withoute leve:And thus I mot algate leveTo stele that I mai noght take,And in this wise I mot forsakeTo ben a thief ayein mi willeOf thing which I mai noght fulfille.For that Serpent which nevere slepteThe flees of gold so wel ne kepteIn Colchos, as the tale is told,That mi ladi a thousendfold6610Nys betre yemed and bewaked,Wher sche be clothed or be naked.To kepe hir bodi nyht and day,Sche hath a wardein redi ay,Which is so wonderful a wyht,That him ne mai no mannes myht(6650*)With swerd ne with no wepne daunte,539Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte,Wherof he mihte be mad tame,And Danger is his rihte name;6620P. ii. 351Which under lock and under keie,That noman mai it stele aweie,Hath al the Tresor underfongeThat unto love mai belonge.The leste lokinge of hire yheMai noght be stole, if he it syhe;And who so gruccheth for so lyte,He wolde sone sette a wyteOn him that wolde stele more.And that me grieveth wonder sore,6630For this proverbe is evere newe,That stronge lokes maken treweOf hem that wolden stele and pyke:540For so wel can ther noman slyke541Be him ne be non other mene,To whom Danger wol yive or leneOf that tresor he hath to kepe.So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe,And wayte on eve and ek on morwe,Of Danger schal I nothing borwe,6640And stele I wot wel may I noght:542And thus I am riht wel bethoght,Whil Danger stant in his office,Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice,I schal be gultif neveremo.Therfore I wolde he were agoSo fer that I nevere of him herde,Hou so that afterward it ferde:For thanne I mihte yit per casOf love make som pourchas6650P. ii. 352Be Stelthe or be som other weie,That nou fro me stant fer aweie.Bot, fader, as ye tolde above,543Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love,I mai noght wel that point forsake,That ofte times I ne wakeOn nyhtes, whan that othre slepe;Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe.Whan I am loged in such wise544That I be nyhte mai arise,6660At som wyndowe and loken outeAnd se the housinge al aboute,So that I mai the chambre knoweIn which mi ladi, as I trowe,Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe,Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte:(6700*)For there I stonde to beholde545The longe nyhtes that ben colde,And thenke on hire that lyth there.And thanne I wisshe that I were6670Als wys as was NectanabusOr elles as was Protheüs,That couthen bothe of nigromaunceIn what liknesse, in what semblaunce,Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme:For if I were of such a forme,I seie thanne I wolde fleInto the chambre forto se546If eny grace wolde falle,So that I mihte under the palle6680P. ii. 353Som thing of love pyke and stele.And thus I thenke thoghtes fele,And thogh therof nothing be soth,Yit ese as for a time it doth:Bot ate laste whanne I findeThat I am falle into my mynde,And se that I have stonde longeAnd have no profit underfonge,Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne.And this is al that evere I winne6690Of love, whanne I walke on nyht:Mi will is good, bot of mi myhtMe lacketh bothe and of mi grace;For what so that mi thoght embrace,547Yit have I noght the betre ferd.Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herdWhat I be Stelthe of love have do,548And hou mi will hath be therto:If I be worthi to penanceI put it on your ordinance.5496700Confessor.Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete,Thogh it be for a time swete,At ende it doth bot litel good,As be ensample hou that it stodWhilom, I mai thee telle nou.Amans.I preie you, fader, sei me hou.550Confessor.Mi Sone, of him which goth be daieBe weie of Stelthe to assaie,In loves cause and takth his preie,Ovide seide as I schal seie,6710P. ii. 354And in his Methamor he toldeA tale, which is good to holde.

With Covoitise yit I finde

A Servant of the same kinde,

Hic tractat super illa Cupiditatis specie, que secretum latrocinium dicitur, cuius natura custode532rerum nesciente ea que cupit tam per diem quam per noctem absque strepitu clanculo furatur.

Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie

With him is evere in compainie.

Of whom if I schal telle soth,

He stalketh as a Pocok doth,

And takth his preie so covert,

That noman wot it in apert.6500

P. ii. 347

For whan he wot the lord from home,533

Than wol he stalke aboute and rome;

And what thing he fint in his weie,

Whan that he seth the men aweie,

He stelth it and goth forth withal,

That therof noman knowe schal.

And ek fulofte he goth a nyht

Withoute Mone or sterreliht,

And with his craft the dore unpiketh,

And takth therinne what him liketh:6510

And if the dore be so schet,

That he be of his entre let,

He wole in ate wyndou crepe,

And whil the lord is faste aslepe,

He stelth what thing as him best list,

And goth his weie er it be wist.(6550*)

Fulofte also be lyhte of day

Yit wole he stele and make assay;534

Under the cote his hond he put,

Til he the mannes Purs have cut,6520

And rifleth that he fint therinne.

And thus he auntreth him to winne,

And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth,

For noman of his conseil knoweth;

What he mai gete of his Michinge,

It is al bile under the winge.

And as an hound that goth to folde

And hath ther taken what he wolde,

His mouth upon the gras he wypeth,

And so with feigned chiere him slypeth,6530

P. ii. 348

That what as evere of schep he strangle,

Ther is noman therof schal jangle,

As forto knowen who it dede;535

Riht so doth Stelthe in every stede,

Where as him list his preie take.

He can so wel his cause make

And so wel feigne and so wel glose,

That ther ne schal noman suppose,

Bot that he were an innocent,

And thus a mannes yhe he blent:6540

So that thiscraft I mai remene

Withouten help of eny mene.

[Stealth of Lovers.]

Ther be lovers of that degre,

Which al here lust in privete,

As who seith, geten al be Stelthe,

And ofte atteignen to gret welthe

As for the time that it lasteth.536

For love awaiteth evere and casteth

Hou he mai stele and cacche his preie,

Whan he therto mai finde a weie:6550

For be it nyht or be it day,

He takth his part, whan that he may,

And if he mai nomore do,

Yit wol he stele a cuss or tuo.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, what seist thou therto?

Tell if thou dedest evere so.

Mi fader, hou?

Mi Sone, thus,—

If thou hast stolen eny cuss

Or other thing which therto longeth,

For noman suche thieves hongeth:6560

P. ii. 349

Tell on forthi and sei the trouthe.

Confessio Amantis.

Mi fader, nay, and that is routhe,

For be mi will I am a thief;

Bot sche that is to me most lief,

Yit dorste I nevere in privete

Noght ones take hire be the kne,(6600*)

To stele of hire or this or that,

And if I dorste, I wot wel what:

And natheles, bot if I lie,

Be Stelthe ne be Robberie6570

Of love, which fell in mi thoght,

To hire dede I nevere noght.

Bot as men sein, wher herte is failed,

Ther schal no castell ben assailed;

Bot thogh I hadde hertes ten,

And were als strong as alle men,

If I be noght myn oghne man

And dar noght usen that I can,

I mai miselve noght recovere.

Thogh I be nevere man so povere,6580

I bere an herte and hire it is,

So that me faileth wit in this,

Hou that I scholde of myn acord

The servant lede ayein the lord:

For if mi fot wolde awher go,537

Or that min hand wolde elles do,

Whan that myn herte is therayein,

The remenant is al in vein.

And thus me lacketh alle wele,

And yit ne dar I nothing stele6590

P. ii. 350

Of thing which longeth unto love:

And ek it is so hyh above,

I mai noght wel therto areche,

Bot if so be at time of speche,

Ful selde if thanne I stele may

A word or tuo and go my way.

Betwen hire hih astat and me538

Comparison ther mai non be,

So that I fiele and wel I wot,

Al is to hevy and to hot6600

To sette on hond withoute leve:

And thus I mot algate leve

To stele that I mai noght take,

And in this wise I mot forsake

To ben a thief ayein mi wille

Of thing which I mai noght fulfille.

For that Serpent which nevere slepte

The flees of gold so wel ne kepte

In Colchos, as the tale is told,

That mi ladi a thousendfold6610

Nys betre yemed and bewaked,

Wher sche be clothed or be naked.

To kepe hir bodi nyht and day,

Sche hath a wardein redi ay,

Which is so wonderful a wyht,

That him ne mai no mannes myht(6650*)

With swerd ne with no wepne daunte,539

Ne with no sleihte of charme enchaunte,

Wherof he mihte be mad tame,

And Danger is his rihte name;6620

P. ii. 351

Which under lock and under keie,

That noman mai it stele aweie,

Hath al the Tresor underfonge

That unto love mai belonge.

The leste lokinge of hire yhe

Mai noght be stole, if he it syhe;

And who so gruccheth for so lyte,

He wolde sone sette a wyte

On him that wolde stele more.

And that me grieveth wonder sore,6630

For this proverbe is evere newe,

That stronge lokes maken trewe

Of hem that wolden stele and pyke:540

For so wel can ther noman slyke541

Be him ne be non other mene,

To whom Danger wol yive or lene

Of that tresor he hath to kepe.

So thogh I wolde stalke and crepe,

And wayte on eve and ek on morwe,

Of Danger schal I nothing borwe,6640

And stele I wot wel may I noght:542

And thus I am riht wel bethoght,

Whil Danger stant in his office,

Of Stelthe, which ye clepe a vice,

I schal be gultif neveremo.

Therfore I wolde he were ago

So fer that I nevere of him herde,

Hou so that afterward it ferde:

For thanne I mihte yit per cas

Of love make som pourchas6650

P. ii. 352

Be Stelthe or be som other weie,

That nou fro me stant fer aweie.

Bot, fader, as ye tolde above,543

Hou Stelthe goth a nyht for love,

I mai noght wel that point forsake,

That ofte times I ne wake

On nyhtes, whan that othre slepe;

Bot hou, I prei you taketh kepe.

Whan I am loged in such wise544

That I be nyhte mai arise,6660

At som wyndowe and loken oute

And se the housinge al aboute,

So that I mai the chambre knowe

In which mi ladi, as I trowe,

Lyth in hir bed and slepeth softe,

Thanne is myn herte a thief fulofte:(6700*)

For there I stonde to beholde545

The longe nyhtes that ben colde,

And thenke on hire that lyth there.

And thanne I wisshe that I were6670

Als wys as was Nectanabus

Or elles as was Protheüs,

That couthen bothe of nigromaunce

In what liknesse, in what semblaunce,

Riht as hem liste, hemself transforme:

For if I were of such a forme,

I seie thanne I wolde fle

Into the chambre forto se546

If eny grace wolde falle,

So that I mihte under the palle6680

P. ii. 353

Som thing of love pyke and stele.

And thus I thenke thoghtes fele,

And thogh therof nothing be soth,

Yit ese as for a time it doth:

Bot ate laste whanne I finde

That I am falle into my mynde,

And se that I have stonde longe

And have no profit underfonge,

Than stalke I to mi bedd withinne.

And this is al that evere I winne6690

Of love, whanne I walke on nyht:

Mi will is good, bot of mi myht

Me lacketh bothe and of mi grace;

For what so that mi thoght embrace,547

Yit have I noght the betre ferd.

Mi fader, lo, nou have ye herd

What I be Stelthe of love have do,548

And hou mi will hath be therto:

If I be worthi to penance

I put it on your ordinance.5496700

Confessor.

Mi Sone, of Stelthe I the behiete,

Thogh it be for a time swete,

At ende it doth bot litel good,

As be ensample hou that it stod

Whilom, I mai thee telle nou.

Amans.

I preie you, fader, sei me hou.550

Confessor.

Mi Sone, of him which goth be daie

Be weie of Stelthe to assaie,

In loves cause and takth his preie,

Ovide seide as I schal seie,6710

P. ii. 354

And in his Methamor he tolde

A tale, which is good to holde.

[Tale of Leucothoe.]The Poete upon this matiereOf Stelthe wrot in this manere.Venus, which hath this lawe in honde551Hic in amoris causa super isto Latrocinio quod de die552contigit ponit exemplum. Et narrat quod, cum Leuchotoe Orchami filia in cameris sub arta matris custodia virgo preseruabatur, Phebus eius pulcritudinem concupiscens, in conclave domus clara luce subintrans, virginis pudiciciam matre nescia553deflorauit: vnde ipsa inpregnata iratus pater filiam suam ad sepeliendum viuam effodit; ex cuius tumulo florem, quem554Solsequium vocant, dicunt tunc555consequenter primitus accreuisse.Of thing which mai noght be withstonde,(6750*)As sche which the tresor to wardeOf love hath withinne hir warde,Phebum to love hath so constreigned,556That he withoute reste is peined6720With al his herte to coveiteA Maiden, which was warded streyteWithinne chambre and kept so clos,That selden was whan sche desclosGoth with hir moder forto pleie.Leuchotoe, so as men seie,This Maiden hihte, and OrchamusHir fader was; and befell thus.This doughter, that was kept so deere,And hadde be fro yer to yeere6730Under hir moder disciplineA clene Maide and a Virgine,Upon the whos nativiteOf comelihiede and of beauteNature hath set al that sche may,That lich unto the fresshe Maii,Which othre monthes of the yeerSurmonteth, so withoute pierWas of this Maiden the feture.Wherof Phebus out of mesure6740P. ii. 355Hire loveth, and on every sydeAwaiteth, if so mai betyde,557That he thurgh eny sleihte myhteHire lusti maidenhod unrihte,The which were al his worldes welthe.And thus lurkende upon his stelthe558In his await so longe he lai,Til it befell upon a dai,That he thurghout hir chambre wallCam in al sodeinliche, and stall6750That thing which was to him so lief.559Bot wo the while, he was a thief!For Venus, which was enemieOf thilke loves micherie,Discovereth al the pleine casTo Clymene, which thanne was560Toward Phebus his concubine.And sche to lette the covineOf thilke love, dedli wrothTo pleigne upon this Maide goth,6760And tolde hire fader hou it stod;Wherof for sorwe welnyh wodUnto hire moder thus he saide:‘Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide!To Phebus dar I nothing speke,Bot upon hire I schal be wreke,561(6800*)So that these Maidens after thisMow take ensample, what it is562To soffre her maidenhed be stole,563Wherof that sche the deth schal thole.’6770P. ii. 356And bad with that do make a pet,564Wherinne he hath his douhter set,As he that wol no pite have,So that sche was al quik begraveAnd deide anon in his presence.Bot Phebus, for the reverenceOf that sche hadde be his love,Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above,That sche sprong up out of the moldeInto a flour was named golde,6780Which stant governed of the Sonne.And thus whan love is evele wonne,Fulofte it comth to repentaile.Amans.Mi fader, that is no mervaile,Whan that the conseil is bewreid.Bot ofte time love hath pleidAnd stole many a prive game,Which nevere yit cam into blame,Whan that the thinges weren hidde.Bot in youre tale, as it betidde,6790Venus discoverede al the cas,And ek also brod dai it was,Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte,Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte,That afterward sche was so lore.565Bot for ye seiden nou toforeHou stelthe of love goth be nyhte,And doth hise thinges out of syhte,Therof me liste also to hiereA tale lich to the matiere,6800P. ii. 357Wherof I miyhte ensample take.Confessor.Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake,566So as it fell be daies olde,567And so as the Poete it tolde,Upon the nyhtes micherieNou herkne a tale of Poesie.

[Tale of Leucothoe.]

The Poete upon this matiere

Of Stelthe wrot in this manere.

Venus, which hath this lawe in honde551

Hic in amoris causa super isto Latrocinio quod de die552contigit ponit exemplum. Et narrat quod, cum Leuchotoe Orchami filia in cameris sub arta matris custodia virgo preseruabatur, Phebus eius pulcritudinem concupiscens, in conclave domus clara luce subintrans, virginis pudiciciam matre nescia553deflorauit: vnde ipsa inpregnata iratus pater filiam suam ad sepeliendum viuam effodit; ex cuius tumulo florem, quem554Solsequium vocant, dicunt tunc555consequenter primitus accreuisse.

Of thing which mai noght be withstonde,(6750*)

As sche which the tresor to warde

Of love hath withinne hir warde,

Phebum to love hath so constreigned,556

That he withoute reste is peined6720

With al his herte to coveite

A Maiden, which was warded streyte

Withinne chambre and kept so clos,

That selden was whan sche desclos

Goth with hir moder forto pleie.

Leuchotoe, so as men seie,

This Maiden hihte, and Orchamus

Hir fader was; and befell thus.

This doughter, that was kept so deere,

And hadde be fro yer to yeere6730

Under hir moder discipline

A clene Maide and a Virgine,

Upon the whos nativite

Of comelihiede and of beaute

Nature hath set al that sche may,

That lich unto the fresshe Maii,

Which othre monthes of the yeer

Surmonteth, so withoute pier

Was of this Maiden the feture.

Wherof Phebus out of mesure6740

P. ii. 355

Hire loveth, and on every syde

Awaiteth, if so mai betyde,557

That he thurgh eny sleihte myhte

Hire lusti maidenhod unrihte,

The which were al his worldes welthe.

And thus lurkende upon his stelthe558

In his await so longe he lai,

Til it befell upon a dai,

That he thurghout hir chambre wall

Cam in al sodeinliche, and stall6750

That thing which was to him so lief.559

Bot wo the while, he was a thief!

For Venus, which was enemie

Of thilke loves micherie,

Discovereth al the pleine cas

To Clymene, which thanne was560

Toward Phebus his concubine.

And sche to lette the covine

Of thilke love, dedli wroth

To pleigne upon this Maide goth,6760

And tolde hire fader hou it stod;

Wherof for sorwe welnyh wod

Unto hire moder thus he saide:

‘Lo, what it is to kepe a Maide!

To Phebus dar I nothing speke,

Bot upon hire I schal be wreke,561(6800*)

So that these Maidens after this

Mow take ensample, what it is562

To soffre her maidenhed be stole,563

Wherof that sche the deth schal thole.’6770

P. ii. 356

And bad with that do make a pet,564

Wherinne he hath his douhter set,

As he that wol no pite have,

So that sche was al quik begrave

And deide anon in his presence.

Bot Phebus, for the reverence

Of that sche hadde be his love,

Hath wroght thurgh his pouer above,

That sche sprong up out of the molde

Into a flour was named golde,6780

Which stant governed of the Sonne.

And thus whan love is evele wonne,

Fulofte it comth to repentaile.

Amans.

Mi fader, that is no mervaile,

Whan that the conseil is bewreid.

Bot ofte time love hath pleid

And stole many a prive game,

Which nevere yit cam into blame,

Whan that the thinges weren hidde.

Bot in youre tale, as it betidde,6790

Venus discoverede al the cas,

And ek also brod dai it was,

Whan Phebus such a Stelthe wroghte,

Wherof the Maide in blame he broghte,

That afterward sche was so lore.565

Bot for ye seiden nou tofore

Hou stelthe of love goth be nyhte,

And doth hise thinges out of syhte,

Therof me liste also to hiere

A tale lich to the matiere,6800

P. ii. 357

Wherof I miyhte ensample take.

Confessor.

Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake,566

So as it fell be daies olde,567

And so as the Poete it tolde,

Upon the nyhtes micherie

Nou herkne a tale of Poesie.

[Tale of Hercules and Faunus.]The myhtieste of alle menWhan Hercules with Eolen,Hic ponit exemplum super eodem quod de nocte contigit. Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Eole in quadam spelunca nobili, Thophis dicta, sub monte Thymolo, vbi silua Bachi est, hospicio pernoctarunt. Et cum ipsi variis lectis seperatim568iacentes dormierunt, contigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Eole lectumque Eole pelle leonis, qua Hercules induebatur, operiri. Super quo Faunus a silua descendens speluncam subintrauit, temptans si forte cum Eole sue concupiscencie voluptatem569nesciente Hercule furari posset. Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset, putans Eolen fuisse, cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur; quem senciens Hercules manibus apprehensum ipsum ad terram ita fortiter allisit, ut impotens sui corporis effectus usque mane ibidem requieuit, vbi Saba cum Nimphis siluestribus superueniens ipsum sic illusum deridebat.Which was the love of his corage,Togedre upon a Pelrinage6810Towardes Rome scholden go,570It fell hem be the weie so,That thei upon a dai a CaveWithinne a roche founden have,Which was real and gloriousAnd of Entaile curious,(6850*)Be name and Thophis it was hote.The Sonne schon tho wonder hote,As it was in the Somer tyde;This Hercules, which be his syde6820Hath Eolen his love there,571Whan thei at thilke cave were,He seide it thoghte him for the besteThat sche hire for the hete resteAl thilke day and thilke nyht;And sche, that was a lusti wyht,It liketh hire al that he seide:And thus thei duelle there and pleideThe longe dai. And so befell,This Cave was under the hell6830P. ii. 358Of Tymolus, which was begroweWith vines, and at thilke throweFaunus with Saba the goddesse,Be whom the large wildernesseIn thilke time stod governed,Weere in a place, as I am lerned,572Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte.This Faunus tok a gret insihteOf Eolen, that was so nyh;573For whan that he hire beaute syh,6840Out of his wit he was assoted,And in his herte it hath so noted,That he forsok the Nimphes alle,And seide he wolde, hou so it falle,Assaie an other forto winne;So that his hertes thoght withinne574He sette and caste hou that he myhteOf love pyke awey be nyhte575That he be daie in other wiseTo stele mihte noght suffise:6850And therupon his time he waiteth.Nou tak good hiede hou love afaitethHim which withal is overcome.Faire Eolen, whan sche was comeWith Hercules into the Cave,Sche seide him that sche wolde have576Hise clothes of and hires bothe,577That ech of hem scholde other clothe.578And al was do riht as sche bad,He hath hire in hise clothes clad6860P. ii. 359And caste on hire his gulion,Which of the Skyn of a LeounWas mad, as he upon the weieIt slouh, and overthis to pleieSche tok his grete Mace alsoAnd knet it at hir gerdil tho.(6900*)So was sche lich the man arraied,579And Hercules thanne hath assaiedTo clothen him in hire array:And thus thei jape forth the dai,6870Til that her Souper redy were.And whan thei hadden souped there,Thei schopen hem to gon to reste;And as it thoghte hem for the beste,Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht,Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht,For thei togedre ligge nolde,Be cause that thei offre woldeUpon the morwe here sacrifice.The servantz deden here office6880And sondri beddes made anon,Wherin that thei to reste gonEch be himself in sondri place.580Faire Eole hath set the MaceBeside hire beddes hed above,And with the clothes of hire loveSche helede al hire bed aboute;And he, which hadde of nothing doute,Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke,Hire kertell and hire mantel eke6890P. ii. 360Abrod upon his bed he spredde.And thus thei slepen bothe abedde;And what of travail, what of wyn,The servantz lich to drunke SwynBegunne forto route faste.581This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste,Was thanne come to the Cave,And fond thei weren alle saveWithoute noise, and in he wente.The derke nyht his sihte blente,6900And yit it happeth him to goWhere Eolen abedde thoWas leid al one for to slepe;Bot for he wolde take kepeWhos bed it was, he made assai,And of the Leoun, where it lay,The Cote he fond, and ek he fielethThe Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth,That there dorste he noght abyde,Bot stalketh upon every side6910And soghte aboute with his hond,That other bedd til that he fond,Wher lai bewympled a visage.Tho was he glad in his corage,For he hir kertell fond alsoAnd ek hir mantell bothe tuo(6950*)Bespred upon the bed alofte.He made him naked thanne, and softeInto the bedd unwar he crepte,Wher Hercules that time slepte,6920P. ii. 361And wende wel it were sche;And thus in stede of EoleAnon he profreth him to love.But he, which felte a man above,This Hercules, him threw to grounde582So sore, that thei have him foundeLiggende there upon the morwe;And tho was noght a litel sorwe,That Faunus of himselve made,Bot elles thei were alle glade6930And lowhen him to scorne aboute:Saba with Nimphis al a route583Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde,584And whan that thei the sothe herde,He was bejaped overal.Confessor.Mi Sone, be thou war withalTo seche suche mecheries,Bot if thou have the betre aspies,In aunter if the so betydeAs Faunus dede thilke tyde,6940Wherof thou miht be schamed so.Amans.Min holi fader, certes no.Bot if I hadde riht good leve,Such mecherie I thenke leve:Mi feinte herte wol noght serve;For malgre wolde I noght deserveIn thilke place wher I love.Bot for ye tolden hier aboveOf Covoitise and his pilage,If ther be more of that lignage,6950P. ii. 362Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preieThat ye therof me wolde seie,So that I mai the vice eschuie.Confessor.Mi Sone, if I be order suie585The vices, as thei stonde arowe,586Of Covoitise thou schalt knoweTher is yit on, which is the laste;In whom ther mai no vertu laste,For he with god himself debateth,Wherof that al the hevene him hateth.6960

[Tale of Hercules and Faunus.]

The myhtieste of alle men

Whan Hercules with Eolen,

Hic ponit exemplum super eodem quod de nocte contigit. Et narrat qualiter Hercules cum Eole in quadam spelunca nobili, Thophis dicta, sub monte Thymolo, vbi silua Bachi est, hospicio pernoctarunt. Et cum ipsi variis lectis seperatim568iacentes dormierunt, contigit lectum Herculis vestimentis Eole lectumque Eole pelle leonis, qua Hercules induebatur, operiri. Super quo Faunus a silua descendens speluncam subintrauit, temptans si forte cum Eole sue concupiscencie voluptatem569nesciente Hercule furari posset. Et cum ad lectum Herculis muliebri palpata veste ex casu peruenisset, putans Eolen fuisse, cubiculum nudo corpore ingreditur; quem senciens Hercules manibus apprehensum ipsum ad terram ita fortiter allisit, ut impotens sui corporis effectus usque mane ibidem requieuit, vbi Saba cum Nimphis siluestribus superueniens ipsum sic illusum deridebat.

Which was the love of his corage,

Togedre upon a Pelrinage6810

Towardes Rome scholden go,570

It fell hem be the weie so,

That thei upon a dai a Cave

Withinne a roche founden have,

Which was real and glorious

And of Entaile curious,(6850*)

Be name and Thophis it was hote.

The Sonne schon tho wonder hote,

As it was in the Somer tyde;

This Hercules, which be his syde6820

Hath Eolen his love there,571

Whan thei at thilke cave were,

He seide it thoghte him for the beste

That sche hire for the hete reste

Al thilke day and thilke nyht;

And sche, that was a lusti wyht,

It liketh hire al that he seide:

And thus thei duelle there and pleide

The longe dai. And so befell,

This Cave was under the hell6830

P. ii. 358

Of Tymolus, which was begrowe

With vines, and at thilke throwe

Faunus with Saba the goddesse,

Be whom the large wildernesse

In thilke time stod governed,

Weere in a place, as I am lerned,572

Nyh by, which Bachus wode hihte.

This Faunus tok a gret insihte

Of Eolen, that was so nyh;573

For whan that he hire beaute syh,6840

Out of his wit he was assoted,

And in his herte it hath so noted,

That he forsok the Nimphes alle,

And seide he wolde, hou so it falle,

Assaie an other forto winne;

So that his hertes thoght withinne574

He sette and caste hou that he myhte

Of love pyke awey be nyhte575

That he be daie in other wise

To stele mihte noght suffise:6850

And therupon his time he waiteth.

Nou tak good hiede hou love afaiteth

Him which withal is overcome.

Faire Eolen, whan sche was come

With Hercules into the Cave,

Sche seide him that sche wolde have576

Hise clothes of and hires bothe,577

That ech of hem scholde other clothe.578

And al was do riht as sche bad,

He hath hire in hise clothes clad6860

P. ii. 359

And caste on hire his gulion,

Which of the Skyn of a Leoun

Was mad, as he upon the weie

It slouh, and overthis to pleie

Sche tok his grete Mace also

And knet it at hir gerdil tho.(6900*)

So was sche lich the man arraied,579

And Hercules thanne hath assaied

To clothen him in hire array:

And thus thei jape forth the dai,6870

Til that her Souper redy were.

And whan thei hadden souped there,

Thei schopen hem to gon to reste;

And as it thoghte hem for the beste,

Thei bede, as for that ilke nyht,

Tuo sondri beddes to be dyht,

For thei togedre ligge nolde,

Be cause that thei offre wolde

Upon the morwe here sacrifice.

The servantz deden here office6880

And sondri beddes made anon,

Wherin that thei to reste gon

Ech be himself in sondri place.580

Faire Eole hath set the Mace

Beside hire beddes hed above,

And with the clothes of hire love

Sche helede al hire bed aboute;

And he, which hadde of nothing doute,

Hire wympel wond aboute his cheke,

Hire kertell and hire mantel eke6890

P. ii. 360

Abrod upon his bed he spredde.

And thus thei slepen bothe abedde;

And what of travail, what of wyn,

The servantz lich to drunke Swyn

Begunne forto route faste.581

This Faunus, which his Stelthe caste,

Was thanne come to the Cave,

And fond thei weren alle save

Withoute noise, and in he wente.

The derke nyht his sihte blente,6900

And yit it happeth him to go

Where Eolen abedde tho

Was leid al one for to slepe;

Bot for he wolde take kepe

Whos bed it was, he made assai,

And of the Leoun, where it lay,

The Cote he fond, and ek he fieleth

The Mace, and thanne his herte kieleth,

That there dorste he noght abyde,

Bot stalketh upon every side6910

And soghte aboute with his hond,

That other bedd til that he fond,

Wher lai bewympled a visage.

Tho was he glad in his corage,

For he hir kertell fond also

And ek hir mantell bothe tuo(6950*)

Bespred upon the bed alofte.

He made him naked thanne, and softe

Into the bedd unwar he crepte,

Wher Hercules that time slepte,6920

P. ii. 361

And wende wel it were sche;

And thus in stede of Eole

Anon he profreth him to love.

But he, which felte a man above,

This Hercules, him threw to grounde582

So sore, that thei have him founde

Liggende there upon the morwe;

And tho was noght a litel sorwe,

That Faunus of himselve made,

Bot elles thei were alle glade6930

And lowhen him to scorne aboute:

Saba with Nimphis al a route583

Cam doun to loke hou that he ferde,584

And whan that thei the sothe herde,

He was bejaped overal.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, be thou war withal

To seche suche mecheries,

Bot if thou have the betre aspies,

In aunter if the so betyde

As Faunus dede thilke tyde,6940

Wherof thou miht be schamed so.

Amans.

Min holi fader, certes no.

Bot if I hadde riht good leve,

Such mecherie I thenke leve:

Mi feinte herte wol noght serve;

For malgre wolde I noght deserve

In thilke place wher I love.

Bot for ye tolden hier above

Of Covoitise and his pilage,

If ther be more of that lignage,6950

P. ii. 362

Which toucheth to mi schrifte, I preie

That ye therof me wolde seie,

So that I mai the vice eschuie.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, if I be order suie585

The vices, as thei stonde arowe,586

Of Covoitise thou schalt knowe

Ther is yit on, which is the laste;

In whom ther mai no vertu laste,

For he with god himself debateth,

Wherof that al the hevene him hateth.6960

[Sacrilege.]xii.Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat;Vt sibi sunt agri, sic domus alma dei.Nec locus est, in quo non temptat amans quod amatur,Et que posse nequit carpere, velle capit.

[Sacrilege.]

xii.Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat;

Vt sibi sunt agri, sic domus alma dei.

Nec locus est, in quo non temptat amans quod amatur,

Et que posse nequit carpere, velle capit.

Hic tractat super vltima Cupiditatis specie, que Sacrilegium dicta est, cuius furtum ea que altissimo sanctificantur bona depredans ecclesie tantum spoliis insidiatur.The hihe god, which alle goodePourveied hath for mannes fodeOf clothes and of mete and drinke,Bad Adam that he scholde swinkeTo geten him his sustienance;And ek he sette an ordinance(7000*)Upon the lawe of Moïses,587That though a man be haveles,Yit schal he noght be thefte stele.Bot nou adaies ther ben fele,6970That wol no labour undertake,Bot what thei mai be Stelthe takeThei holde it sikerliche wonne.And thus the lawe is overronne,Which god hath set, and namelyWith hem that so untrewelyThe goodes robbe of holi cherche.P. ii. 363The thefte which thei thanne wercheBe name is cleped Sacrilegge,Ayein the whom I thenke alegge.*6980Of his condicion to telle,Which rifleth bothe bok and belle,

Hic tractat super vltima Cupiditatis specie, que Sacrilegium dicta est, cuius furtum ea que altissimo sanctificantur bona depredans ecclesie tantum spoliis insidiatur.

The hihe god, which alle goode

Pourveied hath for mannes fode

Of clothes and of mete and drinke,

Bad Adam that he scholde swinke

To geten him his sustienance;

And ek he sette an ordinance(7000*)

Upon the lawe of Moïses,587

That though a man be haveles,

Yit schal he noght be thefte stele.

Bot nou adaies ther ben fele,6970

That wol no labour undertake,

Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take

Thei holde it sikerliche wonne.

And thus the lawe is overronne,

Which god hath set, and namely

With hem that so untrewely

The goodes robbe of holi cherche.

P. ii. 363

The thefte which thei thanne werche

Be name is cleped Sacrilegge,

Ayein the whom I thenke alegge.*6980

Of his condicion to telle,

Which rifleth bothe bok and belle,

588*Upon the pointz as we ben taught589Stant sacrilege, and elles nought.The firste point is for to seye,Whan that a thief schal stele aweyeThe holy thing from holy place.The secounde is, if he pourchace7020*By wey of thefte unholy thing,Which he upon his knowlechingFro holy place aweie took.The thridde point, as seith the book,Is such as, wher as evere it be,590In woode, in feld or in Cite,Schal no man stele by no wiseThat halwed is to the serviseOf god which alle thinges wot.But ther is nouther cold ne hot,7030*Which he for god or man wol spare,So that the body may wel fare;And that he may the world aschape,The hevene him thenkth is but a jape:591And thus, the sothe for to telle,He rifleth bothe book and belle,592So forth with al, etc. (as6983 ff.)

588*Upon the pointz as we ben taught589

Stant sacrilege, and elles nought.

The firste point is for to seye,

Whan that a thief schal stele aweye

The holy thing from holy place.

The secounde is, if he pourchace7020*

By wey of thefte unholy thing,

Which he upon his knowleching

Fro holy place aweie took.

The thridde point, as seith the book,

Is such as, wher as evere it be,590

In woode, in feld or in Cite,

Schal no man stele by no wise

That halwed is to the servise

Of god which alle thinges wot.

But ther is nouther cold ne hot,7030*

Which he for god or man wol spare,

So that the body may wel fare;

And that he may the world aschape,

The hevene him thenkth is but a jape:591

And thus, the sothe for to telle,

He rifleth bothe book and belle,592

So forth with al, etc. (as6983 ff.)

So forth with al the remenantTo goddes hous appourtenant,Wher that he scholde bidde his bede,He doth his thefte in holi stede,P. ii. 364And takth what thing he fint therinne:For whan he seth that he mai winne,He wondeth for no cursednesse,That he ne brekth the holinesse6990And doth to god no reverence;For he hath lost his conscience,That though the Prest therfore curse,He seith he fareth noght the wurse.593And forto speke it otherwise,What man that lasseth the franchise(7050*)And takth of holi cherche his preie,I not what bedes he schal preie.Whan he fro god, which hath yive al,The Pourpartie in special,7000Which unto Crist himself is due,594Benymth, he mai noght wel eschueThe peine comende afterward;For he hath mad his forewardWith Sacrilegge forto duelle,Which hath his heritage in helle.And if we rede of tholde lawe,595I finde write, in thilke dawe596Of Princes hou ther weren thre597Coupable sore in this degre.5987010That on of hem was cleped thus,The proude king Antiochus;That other Nabuzardan hihte,Which of his crualte behyhteThe temple to destruie and waste,And so he dede in alle haste;P. ii. 365The thridde, which was after schamed,Was Nabugodonosor named,And he Jerusalem putte under,Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder7020There in the holi temple he wroghte,Which Baltazar his heir aboghte,599Whan Mane, Techel, Phares writeWas on the wal, as thou miht wite,So as the bible it hath declared.600Bot for al that it is noght sparedYit nou aday, that men ne pile,And maken argument and skileTo Sacrilegge as it belongeth,For what man that ther after longeth,7030He takth non hiede what he doth.*And riht so, forto telle soth,

So forth with al the remenant

To goddes hous appourtenant,

Wher that he scholde bidde his bede,

He doth his thefte in holi stede,

P. ii. 364

And takth what thing he fint therinne:

For whan he seth that he mai winne,

He wondeth for no cursednesse,

That he ne brekth the holinesse6990

And doth to god no reverence;

For he hath lost his conscience,

That though the Prest therfore curse,

He seith he fareth noght the wurse.593

And forto speke it otherwise,

What man that lasseth the franchise(7050*)

And takth of holi cherche his preie,

I not what bedes he schal preie.

Whan he fro god, which hath yive al,

The Pourpartie in special,7000

Which unto Crist himself is due,594

Benymth, he mai noght wel eschue

The peine comende afterward;

For he hath mad his foreward

With Sacrilegge forto duelle,

Which hath his heritage in helle.

And if we rede of tholde lawe,595

I finde write, in thilke dawe596

Of Princes hou ther weren thre597

Coupable sore in this degre.5987010

That on of hem was cleped thus,

The proude king Antiochus;

That other Nabuzardan hihte,

Which of his crualte behyhte

The temple to destruie and waste,

And so he dede in alle haste;

P. ii. 365

The thridde, which was after schamed,

Was Nabugodonosor named,

And he Jerusalem putte under,

Of Sacrilegge and many a wonder7020

There in the holi temple he wroghte,

Which Baltazar his heir aboghte,599

Whan Mane, Techel, Phares write

Was on the wal, as thou miht wite,

So as the bible it hath declared.600

Bot for al that it is noght spared

Yit nou aday, that men ne pile,

And maken argument and skile

To Sacrilegge as it belongeth,

For what man that ther after longeth,7030

He takth non hiede what he doth.*

And riht so, forto telle soth,

601*And if a man schal telle soth,Of guile and of soubtiliteIs non so slyh in his degreTo feigne a thing for his beyete,As is this vice of which I trete.7090*He can so priveliche pyke,He can so wel hise wordes slykeTo putte awey suspecioun,That in his excusacioun,Ther schal noman defalte finde.And thus fulofte men be blinde,That stonden of his word deceived,Er his queintise be perceived.P. ii. 366Bot natheles yit otherwhile,For al his sleyhte and al his guile,6027100*Of that he wolde his werk forsake,He is atteint and overtake;Wherof thou schalt a tale rede,In Rome as it befell in dede.603[Tale of Lucius and the Statue.]Er Rome cam to the creanceOf Cristes feith, it fell per chance,Hic loquitur de illis qui laruata consciencia Sacrilegium sibi licere fingunt. Et narrat quod, cum quidam Lucius clericus famosus et Imperatori notus deum suum Apollinem in templo Rome de anulo suo, pallio et barba aurea spoliasset, ipse tandem apprehensus et coram Imperatore accusatus taliter se excusando ait: ‘Anulum a deo recepi, quia ipse digito protenso ex sua largitate anulum hunc graciose michi optulit; pallium ex lamine aureo constructum tuli, quia aurum maxime ponderosum et frigidum naturaliter consistit, vnde nec in estate propter pondus nec in yeme propter frigus ad dei vestes vtile fuit; barbam ab eo605deposui, quia ipsum patri suo assimilare volui,606nam et Apollo, qui ante ipsum in templo607stetit, absque barba iuvenis apparuit. Et sic ea que gessi non ex furto set honestate608processisse manifeste declaraui.’Cesar, which tho was Emperour,Him liste forto don honourUnto the temple Apollinis,And made an ymage upon this,7110*The which was cleped Apollo.Was non so riche in Rome tho;Of plate of gold a berd he hadde,The which his brest al overspradde;Of gold also withoute faileHis mantell was of large entaile,Beset with perrie al aboute,Forthriht he strawhte his finger oute,Upon the which he hadde a ryng,To sen it was a riche thing,7120*A fin Carbuncle for the nones,604Most precious of alle Stones.And fell that time in Rome thus:Ther was a clerk, on Lucius,A Courteour, a famous man,Of every witt somwhat he can,Outake that him lacketh reuleHis oghne astat to guide and reule;P. ii. 367How so it stod of his spekinge,He was noght wys in his doinge.7130*Bot every riot ate lasteMot nedes falle and mai noght laste:After the meede of his decerte,So fell this clerk into poverteAnd wiste noght how forto ryse;Wherof in many a sondri wyseHe caste his wittes hier and ther,He loketh nyh, he loketh fer,Til on a time that he comInto the temple, and hiede he nom6097140*Wher that the god Apollo stod.He sih the richesse and the good,And thoghte he wolde be som weieThe tresor pyke and stele aweie;And therupon so slyhly wroghte,That his pourpos aboute he broghte,And wente awey unaparceived.Thus hath the man his god deceived,610His ryng, his mantell and his beerd,As he which nothing was a feerd,6117150*Al prively with him he bar:And whan the wardeins weren warOf that here god despuiled was,Hem thoghte it was a wonder cas,How that a man for eny weleDurste in so holy place stele,612And namely so gret a thing.613This tale cam unto the king,P. ii. 368And was thurgh spoken overal:Bot forto knowe in special7160*What maner man hath do the dede,Thei soghten help upon the nedeAnd maden calculacioun,Wherof be demonstraciounThe man was founde with the good.In juggement and whan he stood,The king hath axed of him thus:‘Sey, thou unsely Lucius,Whi hast thoudo this sacrilegge?’‘Mi lord, if I the cause allegge,’7170*Quod he ayein, ‘me thenketh this,That I have do nothing amis.Thre pointz ther ben whiche I have do,Wherof the ferste point stant so,That I the ryng have take aweie.As unto that this wole I seie:614Whan I the god behield aboute,I sih how he his hond strawhte outeAnd profred me the ryng to yive;And I, which wolde gladly live7180*Out ofpoverte of his largesse,615Itunderfing, so that I gesse,As therof I am noght to wyte.616And overmore I wol me quite,Of gold that I the mantell tok:Gold in his kinde, as seith the bok,Is hevy bothe and cold also;And for that it was hevy so,P. ii. 369Me thoghte it was no garnementUnto the god convenient,7190*To clothen him the somer tide;I thoghte upon that other sideHow gold is cold, and such a clothBe resoun oghte to be lothIn wynter time for the chele.And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,As I myn yhe aboute caste,His large beerd thanne ate lasteI syh, and thoghte anon therforeHow that his fader him before,7200*Which stod upon the same place,Was beerdles with a yongly face:And in such wise as ye have herdI tok awey the Sones berd,617For that his fader hadde non,To make hem liche, and hier uponI axe forto ben excused.’Lo thus, wherSacrilegge is used,A man can feigne his conscience;And riht upon such evidence7210*In loves cause, &c. (as7033 ff.)

601*And if a man schal telle soth,

Of guile and of soubtilite

Is non so slyh in his degre

To feigne a thing for his beyete,

As is this vice of which I trete.7090*

He can so priveliche pyke,

He can so wel hise wordes slyke

To putte awey suspecioun,

That in his excusacioun,

Ther schal noman defalte finde.

And thus fulofte men be blinde,

That stonden of his word deceived,

Er his queintise be perceived.

P. ii. 366

Bot natheles yit otherwhile,

For al his sleyhte and al his guile,6027100*

Of that he wolde his werk forsake,

He is atteint and overtake;

Wherof thou schalt a tale rede,

In Rome as it befell in dede.603

[Tale of Lucius and the Statue.]

Er Rome cam to the creance

Of Cristes feith, it fell per chance,

Hic loquitur de illis qui laruata consciencia Sacrilegium sibi licere fingunt. Et narrat quod, cum quidam Lucius clericus famosus et Imperatori notus deum suum Apollinem in templo Rome de anulo suo, pallio et barba aurea spoliasset, ipse tandem apprehensus et coram Imperatore accusatus taliter se excusando ait: ‘Anulum a deo recepi, quia ipse digito protenso ex sua largitate anulum hunc graciose michi optulit; pallium ex lamine aureo constructum tuli, quia aurum maxime ponderosum et frigidum naturaliter consistit, vnde nec in estate propter pondus nec in yeme propter frigus ad dei vestes vtile fuit; barbam ab eo605deposui, quia ipsum patri suo assimilare volui,606nam et Apollo, qui ante ipsum in templo607stetit, absque barba iuvenis apparuit. Et sic ea que gessi non ex furto set honestate608processisse manifeste declaraui.’

Cesar, which tho was Emperour,

Him liste forto don honour

Unto the temple Apollinis,

And made an ymage upon this,7110*

The which was cleped Apollo.

Was non so riche in Rome tho;

Of plate of gold a berd he hadde,

The which his brest al overspradde;

Of gold also withoute faile

His mantell was of large entaile,

Beset with perrie al aboute,

Forthriht he strawhte his finger oute,

Upon the which he hadde a ryng,

To sen it was a riche thing,7120*

A fin Carbuncle for the nones,604

Most precious of alle Stones.

And fell that time in Rome thus:

Ther was a clerk, on Lucius,

A Courteour, a famous man,

Of every witt somwhat he can,

Outake that him lacketh reule

His oghne astat to guide and reule;

P. ii. 367

How so it stod of his spekinge,

He was noght wys in his doinge.7130*

Bot every riot ate laste

Mot nedes falle and mai noght laste:

After the meede of his decerte,

So fell this clerk into poverte

And wiste noght how forto ryse;

Wherof in many a sondri wyse

He caste his wittes hier and ther,

He loketh nyh, he loketh fer,

Til on a time that he com

Into the temple, and hiede he nom6097140*

Wher that the god Apollo stod.

He sih the richesse and the good,

And thoghte he wolde be som weie

The tresor pyke and stele aweie;

And therupon so slyhly wroghte,

That his pourpos aboute he broghte,

And wente awey unaparceived.

Thus hath the man his god deceived,610

His ryng, his mantell and his beerd,

As he which nothing was a feerd,6117150*

Al prively with him he bar:

And whan the wardeins weren war

Of that here god despuiled was,

Hem thoghte it was a wonder cas,

How that a man for eny wele

Durste in so holy place stele,612

And namely so gret a thing.613

This tale cam unto the king,

P. ii. 368

And was thurgh spoken overal:

Bot forto knowe in special7160*

What maner man hath do the dede,

Thei soghten help upon the nede

And maden calculacioun,

Wherof be demonstracioun

The man was founde with the good.

In juggement and whan he stood,

The king hath axed of him thus:

‘Sey, thou unsely Lucius,

Whi hast thoudo this sacrilegge?’

‘Mi lord, if I the cause allegge,’7170*

Quod he ayein, ‘me thenketh this,

That I have do nothing amis.

Thre pointz ther ben whiche I have do,

Wherof the ferste point stant so,

That I the ryng have take aweie.

As unto that this wole I seie:614

Whan I the god behield aboute,

I sih how he his hond strawhte oute

And profred me the ryng to yive;

And I, which wolde gladly live7180*

Out ofpoverte of his largesse,615

Itunderfing, so that I gesse,

As therof I am noght to wyte.616

And overmore I wol me quite,

Of gold that I the mantell tok:

Gold in his kinde, as seith the bok,

Is hevy bothe and cold also;

And for that it was hevy so,

P. ii. 369

Me thoghte it was no garnement

Unto the god convenient,7190*

To clothen him the somer tide;

I thoghte upon that other side

How gold is cold, and such a cloth

Be resoun oghte to be loth

In wynter time for the chele.

And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,

As I myn yhe aboute caste,

His large beerd thanne ate laste

I syh, and thoghte anon therfore

How that his fader him before,7200*

Which stod upon the same place,

Was beerdles with a yongly face:

And in such wise as ye have herd

I tok awey the Sones berd,617

For that his fader hadde non,

To make hem liche, and hier upon

I axe forto ben excused.’

Lo thus, wherSacrilegge is used,

A man can feigne his conscience;

And riht upon such evidence7210*

In loves cause, &c. (as7033 ff.)

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