Chapter 30

Vndecimum Signum Aquarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Ianuarius est.Quo Ianus vultum duplum conuertit in annum.Of tho that sitte upon the heveneOf Signes in the nombre elleveneP. iii. 125Aquarius hath take his place,And stant wel in Satornes grace,Which duelleth in his herbergage,Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage.1190This Signe is verraily resembledLich to a man which halt assembledIn eyther hand a water spoute,Wherof the stremes rennen oute.He is of kinde moiste and hot,And he that of the sterres wotSeith that he hath of sterres tuoUpon his heved, and ben of thoThat Capricorn hath on his ende;And as the bokes maken mende,1200That Tholomeüs made himselve,He hath ek on his wombe tuelve,And tweie upon his ende stonde.Thou schalt also this understonde,The frosti colde Janever,Whan comen is the newe yeer,That Janus with his double faceIn his chaiere hath take his placeAnd loketh upon bothe sides,Somdiel toward the wynter tydes,1210Somdiel toward the yeer suiende,That is the Monthe belongendeUnto this Signe, and of his doleHe yifth the ferste Primerole.Duodecimum Signum Piscis dicitur, cuius Mensis Februarius est.Quo pluuie torrens riparum concitat ampnes.P. iii. 126The tuelfthe, which is last of alleOf Signes, Piscis men it calle,The which, as telleth the scripture,Berth of tuo fisshes the figure.So is he cold and moiste of kinde,And ek with sterres, as I finde,1220Beset in sondri wise, as thus:Tuo of his ende AquariusHath lent unto his heved, and tuo1023This Signe hath of his oghne alsoUpon his wombe, and over thisUpon his ende also ther isA nombre of twenty sterres bryghte,Which is to sen a wonder sighte.Toward this Signe into his hous1024Comth Jupiter the glorious,1230And Venus ek with him acordethTo duellen, as the bok recordeth.The Monthe unto this Signe ordeinedIs Februer, which is bereined,And with londflodes in his rageAt Fordes letteth the passage.Nou hast thou herd the propreteOf Signes, bot in his degreAlbumazar yit over thisSeith, so as therthe parted is1240In foure, riht so ben divisedThe Signes tuelve and stonde assised,That ech of hem for his partieHath his climat to justefie.P. iii. 127Wherof the ferste regimentToward the part of OrientFrom Antioche and that contreGoverned is of Signes thre,That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo:And toward Occident also1250From Armenie, as I am lerned,Of Capricorn it stant governed,Of Pisces and Aquarius:And after hem I finde thus,Southward from Alisandre forthTho Signes whiche most ben worthIn governance of that doaire,Libra thei ben and SagittaireWith Scorpio, which is conjointWith hem to stonde upon that point:10251260Constantinople the Cite,1026So as the bokes tellen me,The laste of this divisionStant untoward Septemtrion,Wher as be weie of pourveanceHath Aries the governance1027Forth with Taurus and Gemini.Thus ben the Signes propreliDivided, as it is reherced,Wherof the londes ben diversed.1270Confessor.Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere,Was Alisandre mad to liereOf hem that weren for his lore.But nou to loken overmore,P. iii. 128Of othre sterres hou thei fareI thenke hierafter to declare,So as king Alisandre in youtheOf him that suche thinges coutheEnformed was tofore his yheBe nyhte upon the sterres hihe.10281280[The Fifteen Stars.]Upon sondri creacionStant sondri operacion,Hic tractat super doctrina Nectanabi, dum ipse iuuenem Alexandrum instruxit, de illis precipue xv. stellis vna cum earum lapidibus et herbis, que ad artis magice naturalis operacionem specialius conueniunt.Som worcheth this, som worcheth that;The fyr is hot in his astatAnd brenneth what he mai atteigne,The water mai the fyr restreigne,The which is cold and moist also.1029Of other thing it farth riht soUpon this erthe among ous here;And forto speke in this manere,1290Upon the hevene, as men mai finde,The sterres ben of sondri kindeAnd worchen manye sondri thingesTo ous, that ben here underlinges.Among the whiche forth withalNectanabus in special,Which was an AstronomienAnd ek a gret Magicien,And undertake hath thilke empriseTo Alisandre in his aprise1300As of Magique naturelTo knowe, enformeth him somdelOf certein sterres what thei mene;Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene,P. iii. 129And sondrily to everich onA gras belongeth and a Ston,Wherof men worchen many a wonderTo sette thing bothe up and under.Prima Stella vocatur Aldeboran, cuius lapis Carbunculus et herba Anabulla est.To telle riht as he began,The ferste sterre Aldeboran,1310The cliereste and the moste of alle,Be rihte name men it calle;Which lich is of condicionTo Mars, and of complexionTo Venus, and hath theruponCarbunculum his propre Ston:His herbe is Anabulla named,Which is of gret vertu proclamed.Secunda stella vocatur Clota seu Pliades, cuius lapis Cristallum et herba Feniculus est.The seconde is noght vertules;Clota or elles Pliades1320It hatte, and of the mones kinde1030He is, and also this I finde,He takth of Mars complexion:And lich to such condicionHis Ston appropred is Cristall,And ek his herbe in specialThe vertuous Fenele it is.Tercia Stella vocatur Algol, cuius lapis Dyamans et herba Eleborum nigrum est.The thridde, which comth after this,Is hote Algol the clere rede,Which of Satorne, as I may rede,1330His kinde takth, and ek of JoveComplexion to his behove.His propre Ston is Dyamant,Which is to him most acordant;P. iii. 130His herbe, which is him betake,Is hote Eleborum the blake.Quarta Stella vocatur Alhaiot, cuius lapis Saphirus et herba Marrubium est.So as it falleth upon lot,The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot,Which in the wise as I seide erOf Satorne and of Jupiter1340Hath take his kinde; and theruponThe Saphir is his propre Ston,Marrubium his herbe also,The whiche acorden bothe tuo.Quinta Stella vocatur Canis maior, cuius lapis Berillus1031et herba Savina est.And Canis maior in his likeThe fifte sterre is of Magique,The whos kinde is venerien,As seith this Astronomien.His propre Ston is seid Berille,Bot forto worche and to fulfille1350Thing which to this science falleth,Ther is an herbe which men callethSaveine, and that behoveth nedeTo him that wole his pourpos spede.Sexta Stella vocatur Canis minor, cuius lapis Achates et herba Primula est.The sexte suiende after thisBe name Canis minor is;The which sterre is MercurialBe weie of kinde, and forth withal,As it is writen in the carte,Complexion he takth of Marte.1360His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole,1032Ben Achates and Primerole.Septima Stella vocatur Arial, cuius lapis Gorgonza et herba Celidonia est.The sefnthe sterre in specialOf this science is Arial,P. iii. 131Which sondri nature underfongeth.The Ston which propre unto him longeth,Gorgonza proprely it hihte:His herbe also, which he schal rihteUpon the worchinge as I mene,Is Celidoine freissh and grene.1370Octaua stella vocatur Ala Corui, cuius lapis Honochinus1033et herba Lapacia est.Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihteHath take his place in nombre of eighte,Which of his kinde mot parforneThe will of Marte and of Satorne:To whom Lapacia the greteIs herbe, hot of no beyete;His Ston is Honochinus hote,Thurgh which men worchen gret riote.Nona stella vocatur Alaezel, cuius lapis Smaragdus et herba Salgea est.The nynthe sterre faire and welBe name is hote Alaezel,1380Which takth his propre kinde thusBothe of Mercurie and of Venus.His Ston is the grene Amyraude,1034To whom is yoven many a laude:Salge is his herbe appourtenantAboven al the remenant.Decima stella vocatur Almareth, cuius lapis Iaspis et herba Plantago est.The tenthe sterre is Almareth,Which upon lif and upon dethThurgh kinde of Jupiter and MartHe doth what longeth to his part.1390His Ston is Jaspe, and of PlanteineHe hath his herbe sovereine.Vndecima Stella vocatur Venenas, cuius lapis Adamans et herba Cicorea est.The sterre ellefthe is Venenas,1035The whos nature is as it wasP. iii. 132Take of Venus and of the Mone,In thing which he hath forto done.Of Adamant is that perrieIn which he worcheth his maistrie;Thilke herbe also which him befalleth,Cicorea the bok it calleth.10361400Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta, cuius lapis Topazion1037et herba Rosa marina est.Alpheta in the nombre sit,And is the twelfthe sterre yit;Of Scorpio which is governed,And takth his kinde, as I am lerned;And hath his vertu in the StonWhich cleped is Topazion:1038His herbe propre is Rosmarine,Which schapen is for his covine.Terciadecima stella vocatur Cor Scorpionis, cuius lapis Sardis et herba Aristologia1039est.Of these sterres, whiche I mene,Cor Scorpionis is thritiene;1410The whos nature Mart and JoveHave yoven unto his behove.His herbe is Aristologie,1040Which folweth his Astronomie:The Ston which that this sterre alloweth,Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.Quartadecima stella vocatur Botercadent, cuius lapis Crisolitus et herba Satureia est.The sterre which stant next the laste,Nature on him this name casteAnd clepeth him Botercadent;Which of his kinde obedient1420Is to Mercurie and to Venus.His Ston is seid Crisolitus,His herbe is cleped Satureie,So as these olde bokes seie.P. iii. 133Quintadecima stella vocatur Cauda Scorpionis, cuius lapis Calcedonia et herba Maiorana est.Bot nou the laste sterre of alleThe tail of Scorpio men calle,Which to Mercurie and to SatorneBe weie of kinde mot retorneAfter the preparacionOf due constellacion.1430The Calcedoine unto him longeth,Which for his Ston he underfongeth;Of Majorane his herbe is grounded.Thus have I seid hou thei be founded,Of every sterre in special,Which hath his herbe and Ston withal,As Hermes in his bokes oldeWitnesse berth of that I tolde.[Authors of the Science of Astronomy.]The science of Astronomie,Which principal is of clergie1440Nota hic de Auctoribus illis, qui ad Astronomie scienciam pre ceteris studiosius intendentes libros super hoc distinctis nominibus composuerunt.To dieme betwen wo and welIn thinges that be naturel,Thei hadde a gret travail on honde1041That made it ferst ben understonde;And thei alsowhich overmoreHere studie sette upon this lore,Thei weren gracious and wysAnd worthi forto bere a pris.And whom it liketh forto witeOf hem that this science write,1450On of the ferste which it wrotAfter Noë, it was Nembrot,To his disciple YchonithonAnd made a bok forth theruponP. iii. 134The which Megaster cleped was.An other Auctor in this casIs Arachel, the which men note;His bok is Abbategnyh hote.Danz Tholome is noght the leste,Which makth the bok of Almageste;1460And Alfraganus doth the same,Whos bok is Chatemuz be name.Gebuz and Alpetragus ekeOf Planisperie, which men seke,1042The bokes made: and over thisFul many a worthi clerc ther is,That writen upon this clergieThe bokes of Altemetrie,Planemetrie and ek also,Whiche as belongen bothe tuo,1470So as thei ben naturiens,Unto these Astronomiens.Men sein that Habraham was on;1043Bot whether that he wrot or non,That finde I noght; and MoïsesEk was an other: bot HermesAbove alle othre in this science1044He hadde a gret experience;Thurgh him was many a sterre assised,Whos bokes yit ben auctorized.1480I mai noght knowen alle thoThat writen in the time thoOf this science; bot I finde,Of jugement be weie of kindeP. iii. 135That in o point thei alle acorden:Of sterres whiche thei recordenThat men mai sen upon the hevene,Ther ben a thousend sterres eveneAnd tuo and twenty, to the syhteWhiche aren of hemself so bryhte,10451490That men mai dieme what thei be,The nature and the proprete.Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise1046These noble Philosophres wiseEnformeden this yonge king,And made him have a knowlechingOf thing which ferst to the partieBelongeth of Philosophie,Which Theorique cleped is,As thou tofore hast herd er this.1500Bot nou to speke of the secounde,Which Aristotle hath also founde,And techeth hou to speke faire,Which is a thing full necessaireTo contrepeise the balance,Wher lacketh other sufficance.[ii.Rhetoric.]v.Compositi pulcra sermonis verba placere1047Principio poterunt, veraque fine placent.Herba, lapis, sermo, tria sunt virtute repleta,Vis tamen ex verbi pondere plura facit.1048Above alle erthli creaturesThe hihe makere of naturesHic tractat de secunda parte Philosophie, cuius nomen Rethorica facundos efficit. Loquitur eciam de eiusdem duabus speciebus, scilicet Grammatica et Logica, quarum doctrina Rethor sua verba perornat.The word to man hath yove alone,So that the speche of his persone,1510P. iii. 136Or forto lese or forto winne,The hertes thoght which is withinneMai schewe, what it wolde mene;And that is noghwhere elles seneOf kinde with non other beste.So scholde he be the more honeste,To whom god yaf so gret a yifte,And loke wel that he ne schifteHise wordes to no wicked us;For word the techer of vertus1520Is cleped in Philosophie.Wherof touchende this partie,Is Rethorique the scienceAppropred to the reverenceOf wordes that ben resonable:And for this art schal be vailableWith goodli wordes forto like,It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe,That serven bothe unto the speche.Gramaire ferste hath forto teche10491530To speke upon congruite:Logique hath eke in his degreBetwen the trouthe and the falshodeThe pleine wordes forto schode,So that nothing schal go beside,That he the riht ne schal decide,Wherof full many a gret debatReformed is to good astat,And pes sustiened up alofteWith esy wordes and with softe,1540P. iii. 137Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.The Philosophre amonges alleForthi commendeth this science,Which hath the reule of eloquence.In Ston and gras vertu ther is,1050Bot yit the bokes tellen this,That word above alle erthli thingesIs vertuous in his doinges,Wher so it be to evele or goode.For if the wordes semen goode1550And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere,Whan that ther is no trouthe there,Thei don fulofte gret deceipte;For whan the word to the conceipteDescordeth in so double a wise,Such Rethorique is to despiseIn every place, and forto drede.For of Uluxes thus I rede,As in the bok of Troie is founde,His eloquence and his facounde1560Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde,Hath mad that Anthenor him soldeThe toun, which he with tresoun wan.Word hath beguiled many a man;With word the wilde beste is daunted,With word the Serpent is enchaunted,Of word among the men of ArmesBen woundes heeled with the charmes,Wher lacketh other medicine;Word hath under his discipline1570P. iii. 138Of Sorcerie the karectes.The wordes ben of sondri sectes,Of evele and eke of goode also;The wordes maken frend of fo,1051And fo of frend, and pes of werre,And werre of pes, and out of herreThe word this worldes cause entriketh,1052And reconsileth whan him liketh.The word under the coupe of heveneSet every thing or odde or evene;1580With word the hihe god is plesed,With word the wordes ben appesed,The softe word the loude stilleth;Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth,To make amendes for the wrong;Whan wordes medlen with the song,It doth plesance wel the more.Bot forto loke upon the lore1053Hou Tullius his Rethorique1054Nota de Eloquencia Iulii in causa Cateline contra Cillenum et alios tunc vrbis Rome Conciues.Componeth, ther a man mai pike1590Hou that he schal hise wordes sette,Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette,And in what wise he schal pronounceHis tale plein withoute frounce.Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche,Tak hiede and red whilom the speche1055Of Julius and Cithero,1056Which consul was of Rome tho,Of Catoun eke and of Cillene,Behold the wordes hem betwene,1600P. iii. 139Whan the tresoun of CatelineDescoevered was, and the covineOf hem that were of his assentWas knowe and spoke in parlement,And axed hou and in what wiseMen scholde don hem to juise.Cillenus ferst his tale tolde,To trouthe and as he was beholde,1057The comun profit forto save,He seide hou tresoun scholde have1610A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke,The Consul bothe and Catoun eke,And seiden that for such a wrongTher mai no peine be to strong.Bot Julius with wordes wiseHis tale tolde al otherwise,As he which wolde her deth respite,And fondeth hou he mihte exciteThe jugges thurgh his eloquence1058Fro deth to torne the sentence1620And sette here hertes to pite.Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he;Thei spieken plein after the lawe,Bot he the wordes of his saweColoureth in an other weieSpekende, and thus betwen the tweie,To trete upon this juggement,Made ech of hem his Argument.Wherof the tales forto hiere,Ther mai a man the Scole liere1630P. iii. 140Of Rethoriqes eloquences,Which is the secounde of sciencesTouchende to Philosophie;Wherof a man schal justifieHise wordes in disputeisoun,And knette upon conclusiounHis Argument in such a forme,Which mai the pleine trouthe enformeAnd the soubtil cautele abate,Which every trewman schal debate.10591640[iii.Practic.]vi.Practica quemque statum pars tercia PhilosophieAd regimen recte ducit in orbe vie:Set quanto maior Rex est, tanto magis ipsumHec scola concernit, qua sua regna regat.1060The ferste, which is Theorique,Hic tractat de tercia parte Philosophie, que Practica vocatur, cuius species sunt tres, scilicet Etica, Ichonomia et Policia, quarum doctrina regia magestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur.And the secounde Rethorique,Sciences of Philosophie,I have hem told as in partie,So as the Philosophre it toldeTo Alisandre: and nou I woldeTelle of the thridde what it is,The which Practique cleped is.Practique stant upon thre thingesToward the governance of kinges;1650Wherof the ferst Etique is named,1061The whos science stant proclamedTo teche of vertu thilke reule,Hou that a king himself schal reuleOf his moral condicionWith worthi disposicionP. iii. 141Of good livinge in his persone,Which is the chief of his corone.It makth a king also to lerneHou he his bodi schal governe,1660Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe,Hou that he schal his hele kepeIn mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke:Ther is no wisdom forto sekeAs for the reule of his persone,The which that this science al one1062Ne techeth as be weie of kinde,That ther is nothing left behinde.That other point which to PractiqueBelongeth is Iconomique,10631670Which techeth thilke honestete1064Thurgh which a king in his degreHis wif and child schal reule and guie,So forth with al the companieWhich in his houshold schal abyde,And his astat on every sydeIn such manere forto lede,That he his houshold ne mislede.Practique hath yit the thridde aprise,Which techeth hou and in what wise1680Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance1065A king schal sette in governanceHis Realme, and that is Policie,Which longeth unto RegalieIn time of werre, in time of pes,To worschipe and to good encressP. iii. 142Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant,And so forth of the remenant1066Of al the comun poeple aboute,Withinne Burgh and ek withoute,10671690Of hem that ben Artificiers,Whiche usen craftes and mestiers,Whos Art is cleped Mechanique.And though thei ben noght alle like,Yit natheles, hou so it falle,1068O lawe mot governe hem alle,Or that thei lese or that thei winne,After thastat that thei ben inne.1069[Five Points of Policy.]Lo, thus this worthi yonge kingWas fulli tauht of every thing,1700Which mihte yive entendementOf good reule and good regimentTo such a worthi Prince as he.Bot of verray necessiteThe Philosophre him hath betakeFyf pointz, whiche he hath undertakeTo kepe and holde in observance,As for the worthi governanceWhich longeth to his Regalie,After the reule of Policie.1710

Vndecimum Signum Aquarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Ianuarius est.Quo Ianus vultum duplum conuertit in annum.Of tho that sitte upon the heveneOf Signes in the nombre elleveneP. iii. 125Aquarius hath take his place,And stant wel in Satornes grace,Which duelleth in his herbergage,Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage.1190This Signe is verraily resembledLich to a man which halt assembledIn eyther hand a water spoute,Wherof the stremes rennen oute.He is of kinde moiste and hot,And he that of the sterres wotSeith that he hath of sterres tuoUpon his heved, and ben of thoThat Capricorn hath on his ende;And as the bokes maken mende,1200That Tholomeüs made himselve,He hath ek on his wombe tuelve,And tweie upon his ende stonde.Thou schalt also this understonde,The frosti colde Janever,Whan comen is the newe yeer,That Janus with his double faceIn his chaiere hath take his placeAnd loketh upon bothe sides,Somdiel toward the wynter tydes,1210Somdiel toward the yeer suiende,That is the Monthe belongendeUnto this Signe, and of his doleHe yifth the ferste Primerole.Duodecimum Signum Piscis dicitur, cuius Mensis Februarius est.Quo pluuie torrens riparum concitat ampnes.P. iii. 126The tuelfthe, which is last of alleOf Signes, Piscis men it calle,The which, as telleth the scripture,Berth of tuo fisshes the figure.So is he cold and moiste of kinde,And ek with sterres, as I finde,1220Beset in sondri wise, as thus:Tuo of his ende AquariusHath lent unto his heved, and tuo1023This Signe hath of his oghne alsoUpon his wombe, and over thisUpon his ende also ther isA nombre of twenty sterres bryghte,Which is to sen a wonder sighte.Toward this Signe into his hous1024Comth Jupiter the glorious,1230And Venus ek with him acordethTo duellen, as the bok recordeth.The Monthe unto this Signe ordeinedIs Februer, which is bereined,And with londflodes in his rageAt Fordes letteth the passage.Nou hast thou herd the propreteOf Signes, bot in his degreAlbumazar yit over thisSeith, so as therthe parted is1240In foure, riht so ben divisedThe Signes tuelve and stonde assised,That ech of hem for his partieHath his climat to justefie.P. iii. 127Wherof the ferste regimentToward the part of OrientFrom Antioche and that contreGoverned is of Signes thre,That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo:And toward Occident also1250From Armenie, as I am lerned,Of Capricorn it stant governed,Of Pisces and Aquarius:And after hem I finde thus,Southward from Alisandre forthTho Signes whiche most ben worthIn governance of that doaire,Libra thei ben and SagittaireWith Scorpio, which is conjointWith hem to stonde upon that point:10251260Constantinople the Cite,1026So as the bokes tellen me,The laste of this divisionStant untoward Septemtrion,Wher as be weie of pourveanceHath Aries the governance1027Forth with Taurus and Gemini.Thus ben the Signes propreliDivided, as it is reherced,Wherof the londes ben diversed.1270Confessor.Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere,Was Alisandre mad to liereOf hem that weren for his lore.But nou to loken overmore,P. iii. 128Of othre sterres hou thei fareI thenke hierafter to declare,So as king Alisandre in youtheOf him that suche thinges coutheEnformed was tofore his yheBe nyhte upon the sterres hihe.10281280[The Fifteen Stars.]Upon sondri creacionStant sondri operacion,Hic tractat super doctrina Nectanabi, dum ipse iuuenem Alexandrum instruxit, de illis precipue xv. stellis vna cum earum lapidibus et herbis, que ad artis magice naturalis operacionem specialius conueniunt.Som worcheth this, som worcheth that;The fyr is hot in his astatAnd brenneth what he mai atteigne,The water mai the fyr restreigne,The which is cold and moist also.1029Of other thing it farth riht soUpon this erthe among ous here;And forto speke in this manere,1290Upon the hevene, as men mai finde,The sterres ben of sondri kindeAnd worchen manye sondri thingesTo ous, that ben here underlinges.Among the whiche forth withalNectanabus in special,Which was an AstronomienAnd ek a gret Magicien,And undertake hath thilke empriseTo Alisandre in his aprise1300As of Magique naturelTo knowe, enformeth him somdelOf certein sterres what thei mene;Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene,P. iii. 129And sondrily to everich onA gras belongeth and a Ston,Wherof men worchen many a wonderTo sette thing bothe up and under.Prima Stella vocatur Aldeboran, cuius lapis Carbunculus et herba Anabulla est.To telle riht as he began,The ferste sterre Aldeboran,1310The cliereste and the moste of alle,Be rihte name men it calle;Which lich is of condicionTo Mars, and of complexionTo Venus, and hath theruponCarbunculum his propre Ston:His herbe is Anabulla named,Which is of gret vertu proclamed.Secunda stella vocatur Clota seu Pliades, cuius lapis Cristallum et herba Feniculus est.The seconde is noght vertules;Clota or elles Pliades1320It hatte, and of the mones kinde1030He is, and also this I finde,He takth of Mars complexion:And lich to such condicionHis Ston appropred is Cristall,And ek his herbe in specialThe vertuous Fenele it is.Tercia Stella vocatur Algol, cuius lapis Dyamans et herba Eleborum nigrum est.The thridde, which comth after this,Is hote Algol the clere rede,Which of Satorne, as I may rede,1330His kinde takth, and ek of JoveComplexion to his behove.His propre Ston is Dyamant,Which is to him most acordant;P. iii. 130His herbe, which is him betake,Is hote Eleborum the blake.Quarta Stella vocatur Alhaiot, cuius lapis Saphirus et herba Marrubium est.So as it falleth upon lot,The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot,Which in the wise as I seide erOf Satorne and of Jupiter1340Hath take his kinde; and theruponThe Saphir is his propre Ston,Marrubium his herbe also,The whiche acorden bothe tuo.Quinta Stella vocatur Canis maior, cuius lapis Berillus1031et herba Savina est.And Canis maior in his likeThe fifte sterre is of Magique,The whos kinde is venerien,As seith this Astronomien.His propre Ston is seid Berille,Bot forto worche and to fulfille1350Thing which to this science falleth,Ther is an herbe which men callethSaveine, and that behoveth nedeTo him that wole his pourpos spede.Sexta Stella vocatur Canis minor, cuius lapis Achates et herba Primula est.The sexte suiende after thisBe name Canis minor is;The which sterre is MercurialBe weie of kinde, and forth withal,As it is writen in the carte,Complexion he takth of Marte.1360His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole,1032Ben Achates and Primerole.Septima Stella vocatur Arial, cuius lapis Gorgonza et herba Celidonia est.The sefnthe sterre in specialOf this science is Arial,P. iii. 131Which sondri nature underfongeth.The Ston which propre unto him longeth,Gorgonza proprely it hihte:His herbe also, which he schal rihteUpon the worchinge as I mene,Is Celidoine freissh and grene.1370Octaua stella vocatur Ala Corui, cuius lapis Honochinus1033et herba Lapacia est.Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihteHath take his place in nombre of eighte,Which of his kinde mot parforneThe will of Marte and of Satorne:To whom Lapacia the greteIs herbe, hot of no beyete;His Ston is Honochinus hote,Thurgh which men worchen gret riote.Nona stella vocatur Alaezel, cuius lapis Smaragdus et herba Salgea est.The nynthe sterre faire and welBe name is hote Alaezel,1380Which takth his propre kinde thusBothe of Mercurie and of Venus.His Ston is the grene Amyraude,1034To whom is yoven many a laude:Salge is his herbe appourtenantAboven al the remenant.Decima stella vocatur Almareth, cuius lapis Iaspis et herba Plantago est.The tenthe sterre is Almareth,Which upon lif and upon dethThurgh kinde of Jupiter and MartHe doth what longeth to his part.1390His Ston is Jaspe, and of PlanteineHe hath his herbe sovereine.Vndecima Stella vocatur Venenas, cuius lapis Adamans et herba Cicorea est.The sterre ellefthe is Venenas,1035The whos nature is as it wasP. iii. 132Take of Venus and of the Mone,In thing which he hath forto done.Of Adamant is that perrieIn which he worcheth his maistrie;Thilke herbe also which him befalleth,Cicorea the bok it calleth.10361400Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta, cuius lapis Topazion1037et herba Rosa marina est.Alpheta in the nombre sit,And is the twelfthe sterre yit;Of Scorpio which is governed,And takth his kinde, as I am lerned;And hath his vertu in the StonWhich cleped is Topazion:1038His herbe propre is Rosmarine,Which schapen is for his covine.Terciadecima stella vocatur Cor Scorpionis, cuius lapis Sardis et herba Aristologia1039est.Of these sterres, whiche I mene,Cor Scorpionis is thritiene;1410The whos nature Mart and JoveHave yoven unto his behove.His herbe is Aristologie,1040Which folweth his Astronomie:The Ston which that this sterre alloweth,Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.Quartadecima stella vocatur Botercadent, cuius lapis Crisolitus et herba Satureia est.The sterre which stant next the laste,Nature on him this name casteAnd clepeth him Botercadent;Which of his kinde obedient1420Is to Mercurie and to Venus.His Ston is seid Crisolitus,His herbe is cleped Satureie,So as these olde bokes seie.P. iii. 133Quintadecima stella vocatur Cauda Scorpionis, cuius lapis Calcedonia et herba Maiorana est.Bot nou the laste sterre of alleThe tail of Scorpio men calle,Which to Mercurie and to SatorneBe weie of kinde mot retorneAfter the preparacionOf due constellacion.1430The Calcedoine unto him longeth,Which for his Ston he underfongeth;Of Majorane his herbe is grounded.Thus have I seid hou thei be founded,Of every sterre in special,Which hath his herbe and Ston withal,As Hermes in his bokes oldeWitnesse berth of that I tolde.[Authors of the Science of Astronomy.]The science of Astronomie,Which principal is of clergie1440Nota hic de Auctoribus illis, qui ad Astronomie scienciam pre ceteris studiosius intendentes libros super hoc distinctis nominibus composuerunt.To dieme betwen wo and welIn thinges that be naturel,Thei hadde a gret travail on honde1041That made it ferst ben understonde;And thei alsowhich overmoreHere studie sette upon this lore,Thei weren gracious and wysAnd worthi forto bere a pris.And whom it liketh forto witeOf hem that this science write,1450On of the ferste which it wrotAfter Noë, it was Nembrot,To his disciple YchonithonAnd made a bok forth theruponP. iii. 134The which Megaster cleped was.An other Auctor in this casIs Arachel, the which men note;His bok is Abbategnyh hote.Danz Tholome is noght the leste,Which makth the bok of Almageste;1460And Alfraganus doth the same,Whos bok is Chatemuz be name.Gebuz and Alpetragus ekeOf Planisperie, which men seke,1042The bokes made: and over thisFul many a worthi clerc ther is,That writen upon this clergieThe bokes of Altemetrie,Planemetrie and ek also,Whiche as belongen bothe tuo,1470So as thei ben naturiens,Unto these Astronomiens.Men sein that Habraham was on;1043Bot whether that he wrot or non,That finde I noght; and MoïsesEk was an other: bot HermesAbove alle othre in this science1044He hadde a gret experience;Thurgh him was many a sterre assised,Whos bokes yit ben auctorized.1480I mai noght knowen alle thoThat writen in the time thoOf this science; bot I finde,Of jugement be weie of kindeP. iii. 135That in o point thei alle acorden:Of sterres whiche thei recordenThat men mai sen upon the hevene,Ther ben a thousend sterres eveneAnd tuo and twenty, to the syhteWhiche aren of hemself so bryhte,10451490That men mai dieme what thei be,The nature and the proprete.Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise1046These noble Philosophres wiseEnformeden this yonge king,And made him have a knowlechingOf thing which ferst to the partieBelongeth of Philosophie,Which Theorique cleped is,As thou tofore hast herd er this.1500Bot nou to speke of the secounde,Which Aristotle hath also founde,And techeth hou to speke faire,Which is a thing full necessaireTo contrepeise the balance,Wher lacketh other sufficance.[ii.Rhetoric.]v.Compositi pulcra sermonis verba placere1047Principio poterunt, veraque fine placent.Herba, lapis, sermo, tria sunt virtute repleta,Vis tamen ex verbi pondere plura facit.1048Above alle erthli creaturesThe hihe makere of naturesHic tractat de secunda parte Philosophie, cuius nomen Rethorica facundos efficit. Loquitur eciam de eiusdem duabus speciebus, scilicet Grammatica et Logica, quarum doctrina Rethor sua verba perornat.The word to man hath yove alone,So that the speche of his persone,1510P. iii. 136Or forto lese or forto winne,The hertes thoght which is withinneMai schewe, what it wolde mene;And that is noghwhere elles seneOf kinde with non other beste.So scholde he be the more honeste,To whom god yaf so gret a yifte,And loke wel that he ne schifteHise wordes to no wicked us;For word the techer of vertus1520Is cleped in Philosophie.Wherof touchende this partie,Is Rethorique the scienceAppropred to the reverenceOf wordes that ben resonable:And for this art schal be vailableWith goodli wordes forto like,It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe,That serven bothe unto the speche.Gramaire ferste hath forto teche10491530To speke upon congruite:Logique hath eke in his degreBetwen the trouthe and the falshodeThe pleine wordes forto schode,So that nothing schal go beside,That he the riht ne schal decide,Wherof full many a gret debatReformed is to good astat,And pes sustiened up alofteWith esy wordes and with softe,1540P. iii. 137Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.The Philosophre amonges alleForthi commendeth this science,Which hath the reule of eloquence.In Ston and gras vertu ther is,1050Bot yit the bokes tellen this,That word above alle erthli thingesIs vertuous in his doinges,Wher so it be to evele or goode.For if the wordes semen goode1550And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere,Whan that ther is no trouthe there,Thei don fulofte gret deceipte;For whan the word to the conceipteDescordeth in so double a wise,Such Rethorique is to despiseIn every place, and forto drede.For of Uluxes thus I rede,As in the bok of Troie is founde,His eloquence and his facounde1560Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde,Hath mad that Anthenor him soldeThe toun, which he with tresoun wan.Word hath beguiled many a man;With word the wilde beste is daunted,With word the Serpent is enchaunted,Of word among the men of ArmesBen woundes heeled with the charmes,Wher lacketh other medicine;Word hath under his discipline1570P. iii. 138Of Sorcerie the karectes.The wordes ben of sondri sectes,Of evele and eke of goode also;The wordes maken frend of fo,1051And fo of frend, and pes of werre,And werre of pes, and out of herreThe word this worldes cause entriketh,1052And reconsileth whan him liketh.The word under the coupe of heveneSet every thing or odde or evene;1580With word the hihe god is plesed,With word the wordes ben appesed,The softe word the loude stilleth;Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth,To make amendes for the wrong;Whan wordes medlen with the song,It doth plesance wel the more.Bot forto loke upon the lore1053Hou Tullius his Rethorique1054Nota de Eloquencia Iulii in causa Cateline contra Cillenum et alios tunc vrbis Rome Conciues.Componeth, ther a man mai pike1590Hou that he schal hise wordes sette,Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette,And in what wise he schal pronounceHis tale plein withoute frounce.Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche,Tak hiede and red whilom the speche1055Of Julius and Cithero,1056Which consul was of Rome tho,Of Catoun eke and of Cillene,Behold the wordes hem betwene,1600P. iii. 139Whan the tresoun of CatelineDescoevered was, and the covineOf hem that were of his assentWas knowe and spoke in parlement,And axed hou and in what wiseMen scholde don hem to juise.Cillenus ferst his tale tolde,To trouthe and as he was beholde,1057The comun profit forto save,He seide hou tresoun scholde have1610A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke,The Consul bothe and Catoun eke,And seiden that for such a wrongTher mai no peine be to strong.Bot Julius with wordes wiseHis tale tolde al otherwise,As he which wolde her deth respite,And fondeth hou he mihte exciteThe jugges thurgh his eloquence1058Fro deth to torne the sentence1620And sette here hertes to pite.Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he;Thei spieken plein after the lawe,Bot he the wordes of his saweColoureth in an other weieSpekende, and thus betwen the tweie,To trete upon this juggement,Made ech of hem his Argument.Wherof the tales forto hiere,Ther mai a man the Scole liere1630P. iii. 140Of Rethoriqes eloquences,Which is the secounde of sciencesTouchende to Philosophie;Wherof a man schal justifieHise wordes in disputeisoun,And knette upon conclusiounHis Argument in such a forme,Which mai the pleine trouthe enformeAnd the soubtil cautele abate,Which every trewman schal debate.10591640[iii.Practic.]vi.Practica quemque statum pars tercia PhilosophieAd regimen recte ducit in orbe vie:Set quanto maior Rex est, tanto magis ipsumHec scola concernit, qua sua regna regat.1060The ferste, which is Theorique,Hic tractat de tercia parte Philosophie, que Practica vocatur, cuius species sunt tres, scilicet Etica, Ichonomia et Policia, quarum doctrina regia magestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur.And the secounde Rethorique,Sciences of Philosophie,I have hem told as in partie,So as the Philosophre it toldeTo Alisandre: and nou I woldeTelle of the thridde what it is,The which Practique cleped is.Practique stant upon thre thingesToward the governance of kinges;1650Wherof the ferst Etique is named,1061The whos science stant proclamedTo teche of vertu thilke reule,Hou that a king himself schal reuleOf his moral condicionWith worthi disposicionP. iii. 141Of good livinge in his persone,Which is the chief of his corone.It makth a king also to lerneHou he his bodi schal governe,1660Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe,Hou that he schal his hele kepeIn mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke:Ther is no wisdom forto sekeAs for the reule of his persone,The which that this science al one1062Ne techeth as be weie of kinde,That ther is nothing left behinde.That other point which to PractiqueBelongeth is Iconomique,10631670Which techeth thilke honestete1064Thurgh which a king in his degreHis wif and child schal reule and guie,So forth with al the companieWhich in his houshold schal abyde,And his astat on every sydeIn such manere forto lede,That he his houshold ne mislede.Practique hath yit the thridde aprise,Which techeth hou and in what wise1680Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance1065A king schal sette in governanceHis Realme, and that is Policie,Which longeth unto RegalieIn time of werre, in time of pes,To worschipe and to good encressP. iii. 142Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant,And so forth of the remenant1066Of al the comun poeple aboute,Withinne Burgh and ek withoute,10671690Of hem that ben Artificiers,Whiche usen craftes and mestiers,Whos Art is cleped Mechanique.And though thei ben noght alle like,Yit natheles, hou so it falle,1068O lawe mot governe hem alle,Or that thei lese or that thei winne,After thastat that thei ben inne.1069[Five Points of Policy.]Lo, thus this worthi yonge kingWas fulli tauht of every thing,1700Which mihte yive entendementOf good reule and good regimentTo such a worthi Prince as he.Bot of verray necessiteThe Philosophre him hath betakeFyf pointz, whiche he hath undertakeTo kepe and holde in observance,As for the worthi governanceWhich longeth to his Regalie,After the reule of Policie.1710

Vndecimum Signum Aquarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Ianuarius est.Quo Ianus vultum duplum conuertit in annum.Of tho that sitte upon the heveneOf Signes in the nombre elleveneP. iii. 125Aquarius hath take his place,And stant wel in Satornes grace,Which duelleth in his herbergage,Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage.1190This Signe is verraily resembledLich to a man which halt assembledIn eyther hand a water spoute,Wherof the stremes rennen oute.He is of kinde moiste and hot,And he that of the sterres wotSeith that he hath of sterres tuoUpon his heved, and ben of thoThat Capricorn hath on his ende;And as the bokes maken mende,1200That Tholomeüs made himselve,He hath ek on his wombe tuelve,And tweie upon his ende stonde.Thou schalt also this understonde,The frosti colde Janever,Whan comen is the newe yeer,That Janus with his double faceIn his chaiere hath take his placeAnd loketh upon bothe sides,Somdiel toward the wynter tydes,1210Somdiel toward the yeer suiende,That is the Monthe belongendeUnto this Signe, and of his doleHe yifth the ferste Primerole.

Vndecimum Signum Aquarius dicitur, cuius Mensis Ianuarius est.Quo Ianus vultum duplum conuertit in annum.

Of tho that sitte upon the hevene

Of Signes in the nombre ellevene

P. iii. 125

Aquarius hath take his place,

And stant wel in Satornes grace,

Which duelleth in his herbergage,

Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage.1190

This Signe is verraily resembled

Lich to a man which halt assembled

In eyther hand a water spoute,

Wherof the stremes rennen oute.

He is of kinde moiste and hot,

And he that of the sterres wot

Seith that he hath of sterres tuo

Upon his heved, and ben of tho

That Capricorn hath on his ende;

And as the bokes maken mende,1200

That Tholomeüs made himselve,

He hath ek on his wombe tuelve,

And tweie upon his ende stonde.

Thou schalt also this understonde,

The frosti colde Janever,

Whan comen is the newe yeer,

That Janus with his double face

In his chaiere hath take his place

And loketh upon bothe sides,

Somdiel toward the wynter tydes,1210

Somdiel toward the yeer suiende,

That is the Monthe belongende

Unto this Signe, and of his dole

He yifth the ferste Primerole.

Duodecimum Signum Piscis dicitur, cuius Mensis Februarius est.Quo pluuie torrens riparum concitat ampnes.P. iii. 126The tuelfthe, which is last of alleOf Signes, Piscis men it calle,The which, as telleth the scripture,Berth of tuo fisshes the figure.So is he cold and moiste of kinde,And ek with sterres, as I finde,1220Beset in sondri wise, as thus:Tuo of his ende AquariusHath lent unto his heved, and tuo1023This Signe hath of his oghne alsoUpon his wombe, and over thisUpon his ende also ther isA nombre of twenty sterres bryghte,Which is to sen a wonder sighte.Toward this Signe into his hous1024Comth Jupiter the glorious,1230And Venus ek with him acordethTo duellen, as the bok recordeth.The Monthe unto this Signe ordeinedIs Februer, which is bereined,And with londflodes in his rageAt Fordes letteth the passage.

Duodecimum Signum Piscis dicitur, cuius Mensis Februarius est.Quo pluuie torrens riparum concitat ampnes.

P. iii. 126

The tuelfthe, which is last of alle

Of Signes, Piscis men it calle,

The which, as telleth the scripture,

Berth of tuo fisshes the figure.

So is he cold and moiste of kinde,

And ek with sterres, as I finde,1220

Beset in sondri wise, as thus:

Tuo of his ende Aquarius

Hath lent unto his heved, and tuo1023

This Signe hath of his oghne also

Upon his wombe, and over this

Upon his ende also ther is

A nombre of twenty sterres bryghte,

Which is to sen a wonder sighte.

Toward this Signe into his hous1024

Comth Jupiter the glorious,1230

And Venus ek with him acordeth

To duellen, as the bok recordeth.

The Monthe unto this Signe ordeined

Is Februer, which is bereined,

And with londflodes in his rage

At Fordes letteth the passage.

Nou hast thou herd the propreteOf Signes, bot in his degreAlbumazar yit over thisSeith, so as therthe parted is1240In foure, riht so ben divisedThe Signes tuelve and stonde assised,That ech of hem for his partieHath his climat to justefie.P. iii. 127Wherof the ferste regimentToward the part of OrientFrom Antioche and that contreGoverned is of Signes thre,That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo:And toward Occident also1250From Armenie, as I am lerned,Of Capricorn it stant governed,Of Pisces and Aquarius:And after hem I finde thus,Southward from Alisandre forthTho Signes whiche most ben worthIn governance of that doaire,Libra thei ben and SagittaireWith Scorpio, which is conjointWith hem to stonde upon that point:10251260Constantinople the Cite,1026So as the bokes tellen me,The laste of this divisionStant untoward Septemtrion,Wher as be weie of pourveanceHath Aries the governance1027Forth with Taurus and Gemini.Thus ben the Signes propreliDivided, as it is reherced,Wherof the londes ben diversed.1270Confessor.Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere,Was Alisandre mad to liereOf hem that weren for his lore.But nou to loken overmore,P. iii. 128Of othre sterres hou thei fareI thenke hierafter to declare,So as king Alisandre in youtheOf him that suche thinges coutheEnformed was tofore his yheBe nyhte upon the sterres hihe.10281280

Nou hast thou herd the proprete

Of Signes, bot in his degre

Albumazar yit over this

Seith, so as therthe parted is1240

In foure, riht so ben divised

The Signes tuelve and stonde assised,

That ech of hem for his partie

Hath his climat to justefie.

P. iii. 127

Wherof the ferste regiment

Toward the part of Orient

From Antioche and that contre

Governed is of Signes thre,

That is Cancer, Virgo, Leo:

And toward Occident also1250

From Armenie, as I am lerned,

Of Capricorn it stant governed,

Of Pisces and Aquarius:

And after hem I finde thus,

Southward from Alisandre forth

Tho Signes whiche most ben worth

In governance of that doaire,

Libra thei ben and Sagittaire

With Scorpio, which is conjoint

With hem to stonde upon that point:10251260

Constantinople the Cite,1026

So as the bokes tellen me,

The laste of this division

Stant untoward Septemtrion,

Wher as be weie of pourveance

Hath Aries the governance1027

Forth with Taurus and Gemini.

Thus ben the Signes propreli

Divided, as it is reherced,

Wherof the londes ben diversed.1270

Confessor.

Lo thus, mi Sone, as thou myht hiere,

Was Alisandre mad to liere

Of hem that weren for his lore.

But nou to loken overmore,

P. iii. 128

Of othre sterres hou thei fare

I thenke hierafter to declare,

So as king Alisandre in youthe

Of him that suche thinges couthe

Enformed was tofore his yhe

Be nyhte upon the sterres hihe.10281280

[The Fifteen Stars.]Upon sondri creacionStant sondri operacion,Hic tractat super doctrina Nectanabi, dum ipse iuuenem Alexandrum instruxit, de illis precipue xv. stellis vna cum earum lapidibus et herbis, que ad artis magice naturalis operacionem specialius conueniunt.Som worcheth this, som worcheth that;The fyr is hot in his astatAnd brenneth what he mai atteigne,The water mai the fyr restreigne,The which is cold and moist also.1029Of other thing it farth riht soUpon this erthe among ous here;And forto speke in this manere,1290Upon the hevene, as men mai finde,The sterres ben of sondri kindeAnd worchen manye sondri thingesTo ous, that ben here underlinges.Among the whiche forth withalNectanabus in special,Which was an AstronomienAnd ek a gret Magicien,And undertake hath thilke empriseTo Alisandre in his aprise1300As of Magique naturelTo knowe, enformeth him somdelOf certein sterres what thei mene;Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene,P. iii. 129And sondrily to everich onA gras belongeth and a Ston,Wherof men worchen many a wonderTo sette thing bothe up and under.Prima Stella vocatur Aldeboran, cuius lapis Carbunculus et herba Anabulla est.To telle riht as he began,The ferste sterre Aldeboran,1310The cliereste and the moste of alle,Be rihte name men it calle;Which lich is of condicionTo Mars, and of complexionTo Venus, and hath theruponCarbunculum his propre Ston:His herbe is Anabulla named,Which is of gret vertu proclamed.Secunda stella vocatur Clota seu Pliades, cuius lapis Cristallum et herba Feniculus est.The seconde is noght vertules;Clota or elles Pliades1320It hatte, and of the mones kinde1030He is, and also this I finde,He takth of Mars complexion:And lich to such condicionHis Ston appropred is Cristall,And ek his herbe in specialThe vertuous Fenele it is.Tercia Stella vocatur Algol, cuius lapis Dyamans et herba Eleborum nigrum est.The thridde, which comth after this,Is hote Algol the clere rede,Which of Satorne, as I may rede,1330His kinde takth, and ek of JoveComplexion to his behove.His propre Ston is Dyamant,Which is to him most acordant;P. iii. 130His herbe, which is him betake,Is hote Eleborum the blake.Quarta Stella vocatur Alhaiot, cuius lapis Saphirus et herba Marrubium est.So as it falleth upon lot,The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot,Which in the wise as I seide erOf Satorne and of Jupiter1340Hath take his kinde; and theruponThe Saphir is his propre Ston,Marrubium his herbe also,The whiche acorden bothe tuo.Quinta Stella vocatur Canis maior, cuius lapis Berillus1031et herba Savina est.And Canis maior in his likeThe fifte sterre is of Magique,The whos kinde is venerien,As seith this Astronomien.His propre Ston is seid Berille,Bot forto worche and to fulfille1350Thing which to this science falleth,Ther is an herbe which men callethSaveine, and that behoveth nedeTo him that wole his pourpos spede.Sexta Stella vocatur Canis minor, cuius lapis Achates et herba Primula est.The sexte suiende after thisBe name Canis minor is;The which sterre is MercurialBe weie of kinde, and forth withal,As it is writen in the carte,Complexion he takth of Marte.1360His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole,1032Ben Achates and Primerole.Septima Stella vocatur Arial, cuius lapis Gorgonza et herba Celidonia est.The sefnthe sterre in specialOf this science is Arial,P. iii. 131Which sondri nature underfongeth.The Ston which propre unto him longeth,Gorgonza proprely it hihte:His herbe also, which he schal rihteUpon the worchinge as I mene,Is Celidoine freissh and grene.1370Octaua stella vocatur Ala Corui, cuius lapis Honochinus1033et herba Lapacia est.Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihteHath take his place in nombre of eighte,Which of his kinde mot parforneThe will of Marte and of Satorne:To whom Lapacia the greteIs herbe, hot of no beyete;His Ston is Honochinus hote,Thurgh which men worchen gret riote.Nona stella vocatur Alaezel, cuius lapis Smaragdus et herba Salgea est.The nynthe sterre faire and welBe name is hote Alaezel,1380Which takth his propre kinde thusBothe of Mercurie and of Venus.His Ston is the grene Amyraude,1034To whom is yoven many a laude:Salge is his herbe appourtenantAboven al the remenant.Decima stella vocatur Almareth, cuius lapis Iaspis et herba Plantago est.The tenthe sterre is Almareth,Which upon lif and upon dethThurgh kinde of Jupiter and MartHe doth what longeth to his part.1390His Ston is Jaspe, and of PlanteineHe hath his herbe sovereine.Vndecima Stella vocatur Venenas, cuius lapis Adamans et herba Cicorea est.The sterre ellefthe is Venenas,1035The whos nature is as it wasP. iii. 132Take of Venus and of the Mone,In thing which he hath forto done.Of Adamant is that perrieIn which he worcheth his maistrie;Thilke herbe also which him befalleth,Cicorea the bok it calleth.10361400Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta, cuius lapis Topazion1037et herba Rosa marina est.Alpheta in the nombre sit,And is the twelfthe sterre yit;Of Scorpio which is governed,And takth his kinde, as I am lerned;And hath his vertu in the StonWhich cleped is Topazion:1038His herbe propre is Rosmarine,Which schapen is for his covine.Terciadecima stella vocatur Cor Scorpionis, cuius lapis Sardis et herba Aristologia1039est.Of these sterres, whiche I mene,Cor Scorpionis is thritiene;1410The whos nature Mart and JoveHave yoven unto his behove.His herbe is Aristologie,1040Which folweth his Astronomie:The Ston which that this sterre alloweth,Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.Quartadecima stella vocatur Botercadent, cuius lapis Crisolitus et herba Satureia est.The sterre which stant next the laste,Nature on him this name casteAnd clepeth him Botercadent;Which of his kinde obedient1420Is to Mercurie and to Venus.His Ston is seid Crisolitus,His herbe is cleped Satureie,So as these olde bokes seie.P. iii. 133Quintadecima stella vocatur Cauda Scorpionis, cuius lapis Calcedonia et herba Maiorana est.Bot nou the laste sterre of alleThe tail of Scorpio men calle,Which to Mercurie and to SatorneBe weie of kinde mot retorneAfter the preparacionOf due constellacion.1430The Calcedoine unto him longeth,Which for his Ston he underfongeth;Of Majorane his herbe is grounded.Thus have I seid hou thei be founded,Of every sterre in special,Which hath his herbe and Ston withal,As Hermes in his bokes oldeWitnesse berth of that I tolde.[Authors of the Science of Astronomy.]The science of Astronomie,Which principal is of clergie1440Nota hic de Auctoribus illis, qui ad Astronomie scienciam pre ceteris studiosius intendentes libros super hoc distinctis nominibus composuerunt.To dieme betwen wo and welIn thinges that be naturel,Thei hadde a gret travail on honde1041That made it ferst ben understonde;And thei alsowhich overmoreHere studie sette upon this lore,Thei weren gracious and wysAnd worthi forto bere a pris.And whom it liketh forto witeOf hem that this science write,1450On of the ferste which it wrotAfter Noë, it was Nembrot,To his disciple YchonithonAnd made a bok forth theruponP. iii. 134The which Megaster cleped was.An other Auctor in this casIs Arachel, the which men note;His bok is Abbategnyh hote.Danz Tholome is noght the leste,Which makth the bok of Almageste;1460And Alfraganus doth the same,Whos bok is Chatemuz be name.Gebuz and Alpetragus ekeOf Planisperie, which men seke,1042The bokes made: and over thisFul many a worthi clerc ther is,That writen upon this clergieThe bokes of Altemetrie,Planemetrie and ek also,Whiche as belongen bothe tuo,1470So as thei ben naturiens,Unto these Astronomiens.Men sein that Habraham was on;1043Bot whether that he wrot or non,That finde I noght; and MoïsesEk was an other: bot HermesAbove alle othre in this science1044He hadde a gret experience;Thurgh him was many a sterre assised,Whos bokes yit ben auctorized.1480I mai noght knowen alle thoThat writen in the time thoOf this science; bot I finde,Of jugement be weie of kindeP. iii. 135That in o point thei alle acorden:Of sterres whiche thei recordenThat men mai sen upon the hevene,Ther ben a thousend sterres eveneAnd tuo and twenty, to the syhteWhiche aren of hemself so bryhte,10451490That men mai dieme what thei be,The nature and the proprete.Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise1046These noble Philosophres wiseEnformeden this yonge king,And made him have a knowlechingOf thing which ferst to the partieBelongeth of Philosophie,Which Theorique cleped is,As thou tofore hast herd er this.1500Bot nou to speke of the secounde,Which Aristotle hath also founde,And techeth hou to speke faire,Which is a thing full necessaireTo contrepeise the balance,Wher lacketh other sufficance.

[The Fifteen Stars.]

Upon sondri creacion

Stant sondri operacion,

Hic tractat super doctrina Nectanabi, dum ipse iuuenem Alexandrum instruxit, de illis precipue xv. stellis vna cum earum lapidibus et herbis, que ad artis magice naturalis operacionem specialius conueniunt.

Som worcheth this, som worcheth that;

The fyr is hot in his astat

And brenneth what he mai atteigne,

The water mai the fyr restreigne,

The which is cold and moist also.1029

Of other thing it farth riht so

Upon this erthe among ous here;

And forto speke in this manere,1290

Upon the hevene, as men mai finde,

The sterres ben of sondri kinde

And worchen manye sondri thinges

To ous, that ben here underlinges.

Among the whiche forth withal

Nectanabus in special,

Which was an Astronomien

And ek a gret Magicien,

And undertake hath thilke emprise

To Alisandre in his aprise1300

As of Magique naturel

To knowe, enformeth him somdel

Of certein sterres what thei mene;

Of whiche, he seith, ther ben fiftene,

P. iii. 129

And sondrily to everich on

A gras belongeth and a Ston,

Wherof men worchen many a wonder

To sette thing bothe up and under.

Prima Stella vocatur Aldeboran, cuius lapis Carbunculus et herba Anabulla est.

To telle riht as he began,

The ferste sterre Aldeboran,1310

The cliereste and the moste of alle,

Be rihte name men it calle;

Which lich is of condicion

To Mars, and of complexion

To Venus, and hath therupon

Carbunculum his propre Ston:

His herbe is Anabulla named,

Which is of gret vertu proclamed.

Secunda stella vocatur Clota seu Pliades, cuius lapis Cristallum et herba Feniculus est.

The seconde is noght vertules;

Clota or elles Pliades1320

It hatte, and of the mones kinde1030

He is, and also this I finde,

He takth of Mars complexion:

And lich to such condicion

His Ston appropred is Cristall,

And ek his herbe in special

The vertuous Fenele it is.

Tercia Stella vocatur Algol, cuius lapis Dyamans et herba Eleborum nigrum est.

The thridde, which comth after this,

Is hote Algol the clere rede,

Which of Satorne, as I may rede,1330

His kinde takth, and ek of Jove

Complexion to his behove.

His propre Ston is Dyamant,

Which is to him most acordant;

P. iii. 130

His herbe, which is him betake,

Is hote Eleborum the blake.

Quarta Stella vocatur Alhaiot, cuius lapis Saphirus et herba Marrubium est.

So as it falleth upon lot,

The ferthe sterre is Alhaiot,

Which in the wise as I seide er

Of Satorne and of Jupiter1340

Hath take his kinde; and therupon

The Saphir is his propre Ston,

Marrubium his herbe also,

The whiche acorden bothe tuo.

Quinta Stella vocatur Canis maior, cuius lapis Berillus1031et herba Savina est.

And Canis maior in his like

The fifte sterre is of Magique,

The whos kinde is venerien,

As seith this Astronomien.

His propre Ston is seid Berille,

Bot forto worche and to fulfille1350

Thing which to this science falleth,

Ther is an herbe which men calleth

Saveine, and that behoveth nede

To him that wole his pourpos spede.

Sexta Stella vocatur Canis minor, cuius lapis Achates et herba Primula est.

The sexte suiende after this

Be name Canis minor is;

The which sterre is Mercurial

Be weie of kinde, and forth withal,

As it is writen in the carte,

Complexion he takth of Marte.1360

His Ston and herbe, as seith the Scole,1032

Ben Achates and Primerole.

Septima Stella vocatur Arial, cuius lapis Gorgonza et herba Celidonia est.

The sefnthe sterre in special

Of this science is Arial,

P. iii. 131

Which sondri nature underfongeth.

The Ston which propre unto him longeth,

Gorgonza proprely it hihte:

His herbe also, which he schal rihte

Upon the worchinge as I mene,

Is Celidoine freissh and grene.1370

Octaua stella vocatur Ala Corui, cuius lapis Honochinus1033et herba Lapacia est.

Sterre Ala Corvi upon heihte

Hath take his place in nombre of eighte,

Which of his kinde mot parforne

The will of Marte and of Satorne:

To whom Lapacia the grete

Is herbe, hot of no beyete;

His Ston is Honochinus hote,

Thurgh which men worchen gret riote.

Nona stella vocatur Alaezel, cuius lapis Smaragdus et herba Salgea est.

The nynthe sterre faire and wel

Be name is hote Alaezel,1380

Which takth his propre kinde thus

Bothe of Mercurie and of Venus.

His Ston is the grene Amyraude,1034

To whom is yoven many a laude:

Salge is his herbe appourtenant

Aboven al the remenant.

Decima stella vocatur Almareth, cuius lapis Iaspis et herba Plantago est.

The tenthe sterre is Almareth,

Which upon lif and upon deth

Thurgh kinde of Jupiter and Mart

He doth what longeth to his part.1390

His Ston is Jaspe, and of Planteine

He hath his herbe sovereine.

Vndecima Stella vocatur Venenas, cuius lapis Adamans et herba Cicorea est.

The sterre ellefthe is Venenas,1035

The whos nature is as it was

P. iii. 132

Take of Venus and of the Mone,

In thing which he hath forto done.

Of Adamant is that perrie

In which he worcheth his maistrie;

Thilke herbe also which him befalleth,

Cicorea the bok it calleth.10361400

Duodecima stella vocatur Alpheta, cuius lapis Topazion1037et herba Rosa marina est.

Alpheta in the nombre sit,

And is the twelfthe sterre yit;

Of Scorpio which is governed,

And takth his kinde, as I am lerned;

And hath his vertu in the Ston

Which cleped is Topazion:1038

His herbe propre is Rosmarine,

Which schapen is for his covine.

Terciadecima stella vocatur Cor Scorpionis, cuius lapis Sardis et herba Aristologia1039est.

Of these sterres, whiche I mene,

Cor Scorpionis is thritiene;1410

The whos nature Mart and Jove

Have yoven unto his behove.

His herbe is Aristologie,1040

Which folweth his Astronomie:

The Ston which that this sterre alloweth,

Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.

Quartadecima stella vocatur Botercadent, cuius lapis Crisolitus et herba Satureia est.

The sterre which stant next the laste,

Nature on him this name caste

And clepeth him Botercadent;

Which of his kinde obedient1420

Is to Mercurie and to Venus.

His Ston is seid Crisolitus,

His herbe is cleped Satureie,

So as these olde bokes seie.

P. iii. 133

Quintadecima stella vocatur Cauda Scorpionis, cuius lapis Calcedonia et herba Maiorana est.

Bot nou the laste sterre of alle

The tail of Scorpio men calle,

Which to Mercurie and to Satorne

Be weie of kinde mot retorne

After the preparacion

Of due constellacion.1430

The Calcedoine unto him longeth,

Which for his Ston he underfongeth;

Of Majorane his herbe is grounded.

Thus have I seid hou thei be founded,

Of every sterre in special,

Which hath his herbe and Ston withal,

As Hermes in his bokes olde

Witnesse berth of that I tolde.

[Authors of the Science of Astronomy.]

The science of Astronomie,

Which principal is of clergie1440

Nota hic de Auctoribus illis, qui ad Astronomie scienciam pre ceteris studiosius intendentes libros super hoc distinctis nominibus composuerunt.

To dieme betwen wo and wel

In thinges that be naturel,

Thei hadde a gret travail on honde1041

That made it ferst ben understonde;

And thei alsowhich overmore

Here studie sette upon this lore,

Thei weren gracious and wys

And worthi forto bere a pris.

And whom it liketh forto wite

Of hem that this science write,1450

On of the ferste which it wrot

After Noë, it was Nembrot,

To his disciple Ychonithon

And made a bok forth therupon

P. iii. 134

The which Megaster cleped was.

An other Auctor in this cas

Is Arachel, the which men note;

His bok is Abbategnyh hote.

Danz Tholome is noght the leste,

Which makth the bok of Almageste;1460

And Alfraganus doth the same,

Whos bok is Chatemuz be name.

Gebuz and Alpetragus eke

Of Planisperie, which men seke,1042

The bokes made: and over this

Ful many a worthi clerc ther is,

That writen upon this clergie

The bokes of Altemetrie,

Planemetrie and ek also,

Whiche as belongen bothe tuo,1470

So as thei ben naturiens,

Unto these Astronomiens.

Men sein that Habraham was on;1043

Bot whether that he wrot or non,

That finde I noght; and Moïses

Ek was an other: bot Hermes

Above alle othre in this science1044

He hadde a gret experience;

Thurgh him was many a sterre assised,

Whos bokes yit ben auctorized.1480

I mai noght knowen alle tho

That writen in the time tho

Of this science; bot I finde,

Of jugement be weie of kinde

P. iii. 135

That in o point thei alle acorden:

Of sterres whiche thei recorden

That men mai sen upon the hevene,

Ther ben a thousend sterres evene

And tuo and twenty, to the syhte

Whiche aren of hemself so bryhte,10451490

That men mai dieme what thei be,

The nature and the proprete.

Nou hast thou herd, in which a wise1046

These noble Philosophres wise

Enformeden this yonge king,

And made him have a knowleching

Of thing which ferst to the partie

Belongeth of Philosophie,

Which Theorique cleped is,

As thou tofore hast herd er this.1500

Bot nou to speke of the secounde,

Which Aristotle hath also founde,

And techeth hou to speke faire,

Which is a thing full necessaire

To contrepeise the balance,

Wher lacketh other sufficance.

[ii.Rhetoric.]v.Compositi pulcra sermonis verba placere1047Principio poterunt, veraque fine placent.Herba, lapis, sermo, tria sunt virtute repleta,Vis tamen ex verbi pondere plura facit.1048

[ii.Rhetoric.]

v.Compositi pulcra sermonis verba placere1047

Principio poterunt, veraque fine placent.

Herba, lapis, sermo, tria sunt virtute repleta,

Vis tamen ex verbi pondere plura facit.1048

Above alle erthli creaturesThe hihe makere of naturesHic tractat de secunda parte Philosophie, cuius nomen Rethorica facundos efficit. Loquitur eciam de eiusdem duabus speciebus, scilicet Grammatica et Logica, quarum doctrina Rethor sua verba perornat.The word to man hath yove alone,So that the speche of his persone,1510P. iii. 136Or forto lese or forto winne,The hertes thoght which is withinneMai schewe, what it wolde mene;And that is noghwhere elles seneOf kinde with non other beste.So scholde he be the more honeste,To whom god yaf so gret a yifte,And loke wel that he ne schifteHise wordes to no wicked us;For word the techer of vertus1520Is cleped in Philosophie.Wherof touchende this partie,Is Rethorique the scienceAppropred to the reverenceOf wordes that ben resonable:And for this art schal be vailableWith goodli wordes forto like,It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe,That serven bothe unto the speche.Gramaire ferste hath forto teche10491530To speke upon congruite:Logique hath eke in his degreBetwen the trouthe and the falshodeThe pleine wordes forto schode,So that nothing schal go beside,That he the riht ne schal decide,Wherof full many a gret debatReformed is to good astat,And pes sustiened up alofteWith esy wordes and with softe,1540P. iii. 137Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.The Philosophre amonges alleForthi commendeth this science,Which hath the reule of eloquence.In Ston and gras vertu ther is,1050Bot yit the bokes tellen this,That word above alle erthli thingesIs vertuous in his doinges,Wher so it be to evele or goode.For if the wordes semen goode1550And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere,Whan that ther is no trouthe there,Thei don fulofte gret deceipte;For whan the word to the conceipteDescordeth in so double a wise,Such Rethorique is to despiseIn every place, and forto drede.For of Uluxes thus I rede,As in the bok of Troie is founde,His eloquence and his facounde1560Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde,Hath mad that Anthenor him soldeThe toun, which he with tresoun wan.Word hath beguiled many a man;With word the wilde beste is daunted,With word the Serpent is enchaunted,Of word among the men of ArmesBen woundes heeled with the charmes,Wher lacketh other medicine;Word hath under his discipline1570P. iii. 138Of Sorcerie the karectes.The wordes ben of sondri sectes,Of evele and eke of goode also;The wordes maken frend of fo,1051And fo of frend, and pes of werre,And werre of pes, and out of herreThe word this worldes cause entriketh,1052And reconsileth whan him liketh.The word under the coupe of heveneSet every thing or odde or evene;1580With word the hihe god is plesed,With word the wordes ben appesed,The softe word the loude stilleth;Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth,To make amendes for the wrong;Whan wordes medlen with the song,It doth plesance wel the more.Bot forto loke upon the lore1053Hou Tullius his Rethorique1054Nota de Eloquencia Iulii in causa Cateline contra Cillenum et alios tunc vrbis Rome Conciues.Componeth, ther a man mai pike1590Hou that he schal hise wordes sette,Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette,And in what wise he schal pronounceHis tale plein withoute frounce.Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche,Tak hiede and red whilom the speche1055Of Julius and Cithero,1056Which consul was of Rome tho,Of Catoun eke and of Cillene,Behold the wordes hem betwene,1600P. iii. 139Whan the tresoun of CatelineDescoevered was, and the covineOf hem that were of his assentWas knowe and spoke in parlement,And axed hou and in what wiseMen scholde don hem to juise.Cillenus ferst his tale tolde,To trouthe and as he was beholde,1057The comun profit forto save,He seide hou tresoun scholde have1610A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke,The Consul bothe and Catoun eke,And seiden that for such a wrongTher mai no peine be to strong.Bot Julius with wordes wiseHis tale tolde al otherwise,As he which wolde her deth respite,And fondeth hou he mihte exciteThe jugges thurgh his eloquence1058Fro deth to torne the sentence1620And sette here hertes to pite.Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he;Thei spieken plein after the lawe,Bot he the wordes of his saweColoureth in an other weieSpekende, and thus betwen the tweie,To trete upon this juggement,Made ech of hem his Argument.Wherof the tales forto hiere,Ther mai a man the Scole liere1630P. iii. 140Of Rethoriqes eloquences,Which is the secounde of sciencesTouchende to Philosophie;Wherof a man schal justifieHise wordes in disputeisoun,And knette upon conclusiounHis Argument in such a forme,Which mai the pleine trouthe enformeAnd the soubtil cautele abate,Which every trewman schal debate.10591640

Above alle erthli creatures

The hihe makere of natures

Hic tractat de secunda parte Philosophie, cuius nomen Rethorica facundos efficit. Loquitur eciam de eiusdem duabus speciebus, scilicet Grammatica et Logica, quarum doctrina Rethor sua verba perornat.

The word to man hath yove alone,

So that the speche of his persone,1510

P. iii. 136

Or forto lese or forto winne,

The hertes thoght which is withinne

Mai schewe, what it wolde mene;

And that is noghwhere elles sene

Of kinde with non other beste.

So scholde he be the more honeste,

To whom god yaf so gret a yifte,

And loke wel that he ne schifte

Hise wordes to no wicked us;

For word the techer of vertus1520

Is cleped in Philosophie.

Wherof touchende this partie,

Is Rethorique the science

Appropred to the reverence

Of wordes that ben resonable:

And for this art schal be vailable

With goodli wordes forto like,

It hath Gramaire, it hath Logiqe,

That serven bothe unto the speche.

Gramaire ferste hath forto teche10491530

To speke upon congruite:

Logique hath eke in his degre

Betwen the trouthe and the falshode

The pleine wordes forto schode,

So that nothing schal go beside,

That he the riht ne schal decide,

Wherof full many a gret debat

Reformed is to good astat,

And pes sustiened up alofte

With esy wordes and with softe,1540

P. iii. 137

Wher strengthe scholde lete it falle.

The Philosophre amonges alle

Forthi commendeth this science,

Which hath the reule of eloquence.

In Ston and gras vertu ther is,1050

Bot yit the bokes tellen this,

That word above alle erthli thinges

Is vertuous in his doinges,

Wher so it be to evele or goode.

For if the wordes semen goode1550

And ben wel spoke at mannes Ere,

Whan that ther is no trouthe there,

Thei don fulofte gret deceipte;

For whan the word to the conceipte

Descordeth in so double a wise,

Such Rethorique is to despise

In every place, and forto drede.

For of Uluxes thus I rede,

As in the bok of Troie is founde,

His eloquence and his facounde1560

Of goodly wordes whiche he tolde,

Hath mad that Anthenor him solde

The toun, which he with tresoun wan.

Word hath beguiled many a man;

With word the wilde beste is daunted,

With word the Serpent is enchaunted,

Of word among the men of Armes

Ben woundes heeled with the charmes,

Wher lacketh other medicine;

Word hath under his discipline1570

P. iii. 138

Of Sorcerie the karectes.

The wordes ben of sondri sectes,

Of evele and eke of goode also;

The wordes maken frend of fo,1051

And fo of frend, and pes of werre,

And werre of pes, and out of herre

The word this worldes cause entriketh,1052

And reconsileth whan him liketh.

The word under the coupe of hevene

Set every thing or odde or evene;1580

With word the hihe god is plesed,

With word the wordes ben appesed,

The softe word the loude stilleth;

Wher lacketh good, the word fulfilleth,

To make amendes for the wrong;

Whan wordes medlen with the song,

It doth plesance wel the more.

Bot forto loke upon the lore1053

Hou Tullius his Rethorique1054

Nota de Eloquencia Iulii in causa Cateline contra Cillenum et alios tunc vrbis Rome Conciues.

Componeth, ther a man mai pike1590

Hou that he schal hise wordes sette,

Hou he schal lose, hou he schal knette,

And in what wise he schal pronounce

His tale plein withoute frounce.

Wherof ensample if thou wolt seche,

Tak hiede and red whilom the speche1055

Of Julius and Cithero,1056

Which consul was of Rome tho,

Of Catoun eke and of Cillene,

Behold the wordes hem betwene,1600

P. iii. 139

Whan the tresoun of Cateline

Descoevered was, and the covine

Of hem that were of his assent

Was knowe and spoke in parlement,

And axed hou and in what wise

Men scholde don hem to juise.

Cillenus ferst his tale tolde,

To trouthe and as he was beholde,1057

The comun profit forto save,

He seide hou tresoun scholde have1610

A cruel deth; and thus thei spieke,

The Consul bothe and Catoun eke,

And seiden that for such a wrong

Ther mai no peine be to strong.

Bot Julius with wordes wise

His tale tolde al otherwise,

As he which wolde her deth respite,

And fondeth hou he mihte excite

The jugges thurgh his eloquence1058

Fro deth to torne the sentence1620

And sette here hertes to pite.

Nou tolden thei, nou tolde he;

Thei spieken plein after the lawe,

Bot he the wordes of his sawe

Coloureth in an other weie

Spekende, and thus betwen the tweie,

To trete upon this juggement,

Made ech of hem his Argument.

Wherof the tales forto hiere,

Ther mai a man the Scole liere1630

P. iii. 140

Of Rethoriqes eloquences,

Which is the secounde of sciences

Touchende to Philosophie;

Wherof a man schal justifie

Hise wordes in disputeisoun,

And knette upon conclusioun

His Argument in such a forme,

Which mai the pleine trouthe enforme

And the soubtil cautele abate,

Which every trewman schal debate.10591640

[iii.Practic.]vi.Practica quemque statum pars tercia PhilosophieAd regimen recte ducit in orbe vie:Set quanto maior Rex est, tanto magis ipsumHec scola concernit, qua sua regna regat.1060

[iii.Practic.]

vi.Practica quemque statum pars tercia Philosophie

Ad regimen recte ducit in orbe vie:

Set quanto maior Rex est, tanto magis ipsum

Hec scola concernit, qua sua regna regat.1060

The ferste, which is Theorique,Hic tractat de tercia parte Philosophie, que Practica vocatur, cuius species sunt tres, scilicet Etica, Ichonomia et Policia, quarum doctrina regia magestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur.And the secounde Rethorique,Sciences of Philosophie,I have hem told as in partie,So as the Philosophre it toldeTo Alisandre: and nou I woldeTelle of the thridde what it is,The which Practique cleped is.Practique stant upon thre thingesToward the governance of kinges;1650Wherof the ferst Etique is named,1061The whos science stant proclamedTo teche of vertu thilke reule,Hou that a king himself schal reuleOf his moral condicionWith worthi disposicionP. iii. 141Of good livinge in his persone,Which is the chief of his corone.It makth a king also to lerneHou he his bodi schal governe,1660Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe,Hou that he schal his hele kepeIn mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke:Ther is no wisdom forto sekeAs for the reule of his persone,The which that this science al one1062Ne techeth as be weie of kinde,That ther is nothing left behinde.That other point which to PractiqueBelongeth is Iconomique,10631670Which techeth thilke honestete1064Thurgh which a king in his degreHis wif and child schal reule and guie,So forth with al the companieWhich in his houshold schal abyde,And his astat on every sydeIn such manere forto lede,That he his houshold ne mislede.Practique hath yit the thridde aprise,Which techeth hou and in what wise1680Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance1065A king schal sette in governanceHis Realme, and that is Policie,Which longeth unto RegalieIn time of werre, in time of pes,To worschipe and to good encressP. iii. 142Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant,And so forth of the remenant1066Of al the comun poeple aboute,Withinne Burgh and ek withoute,10671690Of hem that ben Artificiers,Whiche usen craftes and mestiers,Whos Art is cleped Mechanique.And though thei ben noght alle like,Yit natheles, hou so it falle,1068O lawe mot governe hem alle,Or that thei lese or that thei winne,After thastat that thei ben inne.1069[Five Points of Policy.]Lo, thus this worthi yonge kingWas fulli tauht of every thing,1700Which mihte yive entendementOf good reule and good regimentTo such a worthi Prince as he.Bot of verray necessiteThe Philosophre him hath betakeFyf pointz, whiche he hath undertakeTo kepe and holde in observance,As for the worthi governanceWhich longeth to his Regalie,After the reule of Policie.1710

The ferste, which is Theorique,

Hic tractat de tercia parte Philosophie, que Practica vocatur, cuius species sunt tres, scilicet Etica, Ichonomia et Policia, quarum doctrina regia magestas in suo regimine ad honoris magnificenciam per singula dirigitur.

And the secounde Rethorique,

Sciences of Philosophie,

I have hem told as in partie,

So as the Philosophre it tolde

To Alisandre: and nou I wolde

Telle of the thridde what it is,

The which Practique cleped is.

Practique stant upon thre thinges

Toward the governance of kinges;1650

Wherof the ferst Etique is named,1061

The whos science stant proclamed

To teche of vertu thilke reule,

Hou that a king himself schal reule

Of his moral condicion

With worthi disposicion

P. iii. 141

Of good livinge in his persone,

Which is the chief of his corone.

It makth a king also to lerne

Hou he his bodi schal governe,1660

Hou he schal wake, hou he schal slepe,

Hou that he schal his hele kepe

In mete, in drinke, in clothinge eke:

Ther is no wisdom forto seke

As for the reule of his persone,

The which that this science al one1062

Ne techeth as be weie of kinde,

That ther is nothing left behinde.

That other point which to Practique

Belongeth is Iconomique,10631670

Which techeth thilke honestete1064

Thurgh which a king in his degre

His wif and child schal reule and guie,

So forth with al the companie

Which in his houshold schal abyde,

And his astat on every syde

In such manere forto lede,

That he his houshold ne mislede.

Practique hath yit the thridde aprise,

Which techeth hou and in what wise1680

Thurgh hih pourveied ordinance1065

A king schal sette in governance

His Realme, and that is Policie,

Which longeth unto Regalie

In time of werre, in time of pes,

To worschipe and to good encress

P. iii. 142

Of clerk, of kniht and of Marchant,

And so forth of the remenant1066

Of al the comun poeple aboute,

Withinne Burgh and ek withoute,10671690

Of hem that ben Artificiers,

Whiche usen craftes and mestiers,

Whos Art is cleped Mechanique.

And though thei ben noght alle like,

Yit natheles, hou so it falle,1068

O lawe mot governe hem alle,

Or that thei lese or that thei winne,

After thastat that thei ben inne.1069

[Five Points of Policy.]

Lo, thus this worthi yonge king

Was fulli tauht of every thing,1700

Which mihte yive entendement

Of good reule and good regiment

To such a worthi Prince as he.

Bot of verray necessite

The Philosophre him hath betake

Fyf pointz, whiche he hath undertake

To kepe and holde in observance,

As for the worthi governance

Which longeth to his Regalie,

After the reule of Policie.1710


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