Chapter 35

[Saul and Agag.]P. iii. 220Nou forthermore if I schal seinOf my matiere, and torne ayeinHic dicit quod vbi et quando causa et tempus requirunt, princeps illos sub potestate sua, quos iusticie aduersarios agnouerit, occidere de iure tenetur. Et narrat in exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Saul Regem Agag in bello deuictum iuxta Samuelis consilium occidere noluit, ipse diuino iudicio non solum a regno Israel priuatus, set et heredes sui pro perpetuo exheredati sunt.To speke of justice and PiteAfter the reule of realte,3810This mai a king wel understonde,Knihthode mot ben take on honde,Whan that it stant upon the nede:He schal no rihtful cause drede,Nomore of werre thanne of pes,If he wol stonde blameles;For such a cause a king mai haveThat betre him is to sle than save,Wherof thou myht ensample finde.1312The hihe makere of mankinde3820Be Samuel to Saül bad,That he schal nothing ben adradAyein king Agag forto fihte;For this the godhede him behihte,That Agag schal ben overcome:And whan it is so ferforth come,That Saül hath him desconfit,The god bad make no respit,That he ne scholde him slen anon.Bot Saül let it overgon3830And dede noght the goddes heste:For Agag made gret behesteOf rancoun which he wolde yive,King Saül soffreth him to liveAnd feigneth pite forth withal.Bot he which seth and knoweth al,P. iii. 221The hihe god, of that he feignethTo Samuel upon him pleigneth.And sende him word, for that he lefteOf Agag that he ne berefte3840The lif, he schal noght only dyeHimself, bot fro his regalieHe schal be put for everemo,Noght he, bot ek his heir also,That it schal nevere come ayein.[David and Joab.]Thus myht thou se the sothe plein,Hic narrat vlterius super eodem, qualiter Dauid in extremis iusticie causa vt Ioab occideretur absque vlla remissione filio suo Salomoni iniunxit.That of tomoche and of tolyteUpon the Princes stant the wyte.Bot evere it was a kinges rihtTo do the dedes of a knyht;3850For in the handes of a kingThe deth and lif is al o thing(4050*)After the lawes of justice.To slen it is a dedly vice,1313Bot if a man the deth deserve;And if a king the lif preserveOf him which oghte forto dye,He suieth noght thensamplerieWhich in the bible is evident:Hou David in his testament,3860Whan he no lengere myhte live,1314Unto his Sone in charge hath yiveThat he Joab schal slen algate;And whan David was gon his gate,The yonge wise SalomonHis fader heste dede anon,P. iii. 222And slouh Joab in such a wise,That thei that herden the juiseEvere after dradden him the more,And god was ek wel paid therfore,3870That he so wolde his herte plyeThe lawes forto justefie.And yit he kepte forth withalPite, so as a Prince schal,That he no tirannie wroghte;He fond the wisdom which he soghte,And was so rihtful natheles,That al his lif he stod in pes,That he no dedly werres hadde,For every man his wisdom dradde.3880And as he was himselve wys,Riht so the worthi men of prisHe hath of his conseil withholde;For that is every Prince holde,To make of suche his retenueWhiche wise ben, and to remueThe foles: for ther is nothingWhich mai be betre aboute a king,Than conseil, which is the substanceOf all a kinges governance.3890[Solomon’s Wisdom.]In Salomon a man mai seeWhat thing of most necessiteHic dicit quod populum sibi commissum bene regere super omnia Principi laudabilius est. Et narrat in exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Salomon, vt populum bene regeret, ab altissimo sapienciam specialius postulauit, omnia bona pariter cum illa sibi habundancius aduenerunt.Unto a worthi king belongeth.Whan he his kingdom underfongeth,God bad him chese what he wolde,And seide him that he have scholdeP. iii. 223What he wolde axe, as of o thing.And he, which was a newe king,Forth therupon his bone preideTo god, and in this wise he seide:3900‘O king, be whom that I schal regne,Yif me wisdom, that I my regne,1315(4100*)Forth with thi poeple which I have,1316To thin honour mai kepe and save.’Whan Salomon his bone hath taxed,The god of that which he hath axedWas riht wel paid, and granteth soneNoght al only that he his boneSchal have of that, bot of richesse,Of hele, of pes, of hih noblesse,3910Forth with wisdom at his axinges,Which stant above alle othre thinges.Bot what king wole his regne save,Hic dicit secundum Salomonem, quod regie maiestatis imperium ante omnia sano consilio dirigendum est.Ferst him behoveth forto haveAfter the god and his believeSuch conseil which is to believe,Fulfild of trouthe and rihtwisnesse:Bot above alle in his noblesseBetwen the reddour and piteA king schal do such equite3920And sette the balance in evene,So that the hihe god in heveneAnd al the poeple of his nobleieLoange unto his name seie.For most above all erthli good,Wher that a king himself is goodP. iii. 224It helpeth, for in other weieIf so be that a king forsueie,Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achiui.Fulofte er this it hath be sein,The comun poeple is overlein3930And hath the kinges Senne aboght,Al thogh the poeple agulte noght.Of that the king his god misserveth,The poeple takth that he descervethHier in this world, bot elleswhereI not hou it schal stonde there.Forthi good is a king to tristeFerst to himself, as he ne wisteNon other help hot god alone;So schal the reule of his persone3940Withinne himself thurgh providenceBen of the betre conscience.And forto finde ensample of this,A tale I rede, and soth it is.[The Courtiers and the Fool.]In a Cronique it telleth thus:The king of Rome LuciusWithinne his chambre upon a nyhtHic de Lucio Imperatore exemplum ponit, qualiter Princeps sui nominis famam a secretis consiliariis sapienter inuestigare debet; et si quid in ea sinistrum inuenerit, prouisa discrecione ad dexteram conuertat.The Steward of his hous, a knyht,Forth with his Chamberlein also,To conseil hadde bothe tuo,3950And stoden be the ChimineeTogedre spekende alle thre.(4150*)And happeth that the kinges folSat be the fyr upon a stol,As he that with his babil pleide,Bot yit he herde al that thei seide,P. iii. 225And therof token thei non hiede.The king hem axeth what to redeOf such matiere as cam to mouthe,And thei him tolden as thei couthe.3960Whan al was spoke of that thei mente,The king with al his hole ententeThanne ate laste hem axeth this,What king men tellen that he is:Among the folk touchende his name,Or be it pris, or be it blame,Riht after that thei herden sein,He bad hem forto telle it plein,That thei no point of soth forbere,Be thilke feith that thei him bere.3970The Steward ferst upon this thingYaf his ansuere unto the kingAnd thoghte glose in this matiere,And seide, als fer as he can hiere,His name is good and honourable:Thus was the Stieward favorable,That he the trouthe plein ne tolde.The king thanne axeth, as he scholde,The Chamberlein of his avis.And he, that was soubtil and wys,3980And somdiel thoghte upon his feith,Him tolde hou al the poeple seithThat if his conseil were trewe,Thei wiste thanne wel and knewe1317That of himself he scholde beA worthi king in his degre:P. iii. 226And thus the conseil he accusethIn partie, and the king excuseth.The fol, which herde of al the cas1318That time, as goddes wille was,13193990Sih that thei seiden noght ynowh,And hem to skorne bothe lowh,And to the king he seide tho:‘Sire king, if that it were so,Of wisdom in thin oghne modThat thou thiselven were good,Thi conseil scholde noght be badde.’The king therof merveille hadde,Whan that a fol so wisly spak,And of himself fond out the lack4000Withinne his oghne conscience:And thus the foles evidence,(4200*)Which was of goddes grace enspired,Makth that good conseil was desired.1320He putte awey the viciousAnd tok to him the vertuous;The wrongful lawes ben amended,The londes good is wel despended,The poeple was nomore oppressed,And thus stod every thing redressed.4010For where a king is propre wys,And hath suche as himselven isOf his conseil, it mai noght faileThat every thing ne schal availe:The vices thanne gon aweie,And every vertu holt his weie;P. iii. 227Wherof the hihe god is plesed,And al the londes folk is esed.For if the comun poeple crie,And thanne a king list noght to plie13214020To hiere what the clamour wolde,And otherwise thanne he scholdeDesdeigneth forto don hem grace,It hath be sen in many place,Ther hath befalle gret contraire;And that I finde of ensamplaire.[Folly of Rehoboam.]After the deth of Salomon,Whan thilke wise king was gon,Hic dicit quod Seniores magis experti ad Principis consilium admittendi pocius existunt. Et narrat qualiter, pro eo quod Roboas Salomonis filius et heres senium sermonibus renuncians dicta iuuenum preelegit, de xii. tribubus Israel a dominio suo x. penitus amisit, et sic cum duabus tantummodo illusus postea regnauit.And Roboas in his personeReceive scholde the corone,4030The poeple upon a Parlement1322Avised were of on assent,And alle unto the king thei preiden,With comun vois and thus thei seiden:‘Oure liege lord, we thee besecheThat thou receive oure humble specheAnd grante ous that which reson wile,1323Or of thi grace or of thi skile.Thi fader, whil he was alyveAnd myhte bothe grante and pryve,4040Upon the werkes whiche he haddeThe comun poeple streite ladde:Whan he the temple made newe,Thing which men nevere afore knewe1324He broghte up thanne of his taillage,And al was under the visageP. iii. 228Of werkes whiche he made tho.Bot nou it is befalle so,That al is mad, riht as he seide,And he was riche whan he deide;4050So that it is no maner nede,If thou therof wolt taken hiede,(4250*)To pilen of the poeple more,Which long time hath be grieved sore.And in this wise as we thee seie,With tendre herte we thee preieThat thou relesse thilke dette,Which upon ous thi fader sette.And if thee like to don so,We ben thi men for everemo,4060To gon and comen at thin heste.’The king, which herde this requeste,Seith that he wole ben avised,And hath therof a time assised;And in the while as he him thoghteUpon this thing, conseil he soghte.And ferst the wise knyhtes olde,To whom that he his tale tolde,De consilio Senium.Conseilen him in this manere;That he with love and with glad chiere4070Foryive and grante al that is axedOf that his fader hadde taxed;For so he mai his regne achieveWith thing which schal him litel grieve.The king hem herde and overpasseth,And with these othre his wit compasseth,P. iii. 229That yonge were and nothing wise.And thei these olde men despise,De consilio iuuenum.And seiden: ‘Sire, it schal be schameFor evere unto thi worthi name,4080If thou ne kepe noght the riht,1325Whil thou art in thi yonge myht,Which that thin olde fader gat.Bot seie unto the poeple plat,That whil thou livest in thi lond,The leste finger of thin hondIt schal be strengere overalThan was thi fadres bodi al.And this also schal be thi tale,If he hem smot with roddes smale,4090With Scorpions thou schalt hem smyte;1326And wher thi fader tok a lyte,1327Thou thenkst to take mochel more.1328Thus schalt thou make hem drede soreThe grete herte of thi corage,So forto holde hem in servage.’This yonge king him hath conformedTo don as he was last enformed,Which was to him his undoinge:For whan it cam to the spekinge,4100He hath the yonge conseil holde,That he the same wordes tolde(4300*)Of al the poeple in audience;And whan thei herden the sentenceOf his malice and the manace,Anon tofore his oghne faceP. iii. 230Thei have him oultreli refusedAnd with ful gret reproef accused.So thei begunne forto rave,That he was fain himself to save;4110For as the wilde wode rageOf wyndes makth the See salvage,And that was calm bringth into wawe,So for defalte of grace and laweThis poeple is stered al at ones1329And forth thei gon out of hise wones;So that of the lignages tuelveTuo tribes only be hemselveWith him abiden and nomo:So were thei for everemo4120Of no retorn withoute espeirDeparted fro the rihtfull heir.Al Irahel with comun vois1330A king upon here oghne choisAmong hemself anon thei make,And have here yonge lord forsake;A povere knyht JeroboasThei toke, and lefte Roboas,Which rihtfull heir was be descente.Lo, thus the yonge cause wente:4130For that the conseil was noght good,The regne fro the rihtfull blodEvere afterward divided was.So mai it proven be this casThat yong conseil, which is to warm,Er men be war doth ofte harm.P. iii. 231Old age for the conseil serveth,And lusti youthe his thonk deservethUpon the travail which he doth;And bothe, forto seie a soth,4140Be sondri cause forto have,If that he wole his regne save,A king behoveth every day.That on can and that other mai,Be so the king hem bothe reule,For elles al goth out of reule.[Wisdom in a King’s Council.]And upon this matiere alsoA question betwen the tuoNota questionem cuiusdam Philosophi, vtrum regno conueniencius foret principem cum malo consilio optare sapientem, quam cum sano consilio ipsum eligere insipientem.Thus writen in a bok I fond;Wher it be betre for the lond4150A king himselve to be wys,And so to bere his oghne pris,(4350*)And that his consail be noght good,Or other wise if it so stod,A king if he be viciousAnd his conseil be vertuous.It is ansuerd in such a wise,That betre it is that thei be wiseBe whom that the conseil schal gon,For thei be manye, and he is on;13314160And rathere schal an one man1332With fals conseil, for oght he can,From his wisdom be mad to falle,Thanne he al one scholde hem alleFro vices into vertu change,For that is wel the more strange.[Mercy and Justice.]P. iii. 232Forthi the lond mai wel be glad,Whos king with good conseil is lad,Which set him unto rihtwisnesse,So that his hihe worthinesse4170Betwen the reddour and PiteDoth mercy forth with equite.A king is holden overalTo Pite, bot in special1333To hem wher he is most beholde;Thei scholde his Pite most beholdeThat ben the Lieges of his lond,For thei ben evere under his hondAfter the goddes ordinaunceTo stonde upon his governance.4180Nota adhuc precipue de principis erga suos subditos debita pietate. Legitur enim qualiter Anthonius a Cipione exemplificatus dixit, quod mallet vnum de populo sibi commisso virum saluare, quam centum ex hostibus alienigenis in bello perdere.Of themperour AnthoniusI finde hou that he seide thus,That levere him were forto save1334Oon of his lieges than to haveOf enemis a thousend dede.1335And this he lernede, as I rede,1336Of Cipio, which hadde beConsul of Rome. And thus to seDiverse ensamples hou thei stonde,A king which hath the charge on honde4190The comun poeple to governe,If that he wole, he mai wel lerne.Is non so good to the plesanceOf god, as is good governance;1337And every governance is dueTo Pite: thus I mai argueP. iii. 233That Pite is the foundementOf every kinges regiment,If it be medled with justice.Thei tuo remuen alle vice,4200And ben of vertu most vailableTo make a kinges regne stable.(4400*)Lo, thus the foure pointz tofore,In governance as thei ben bore,Of trouthe ferst and of largesse,Of Pite forth with rihtwisnesse,I have hem told; and over thisThe fifte point, so as it is1338Set of the reule of Policie,Wherof a king schal modefie4210The fleisschly lustes of nature,Nou thenk I telle of such mesure,1339That bothe kinde schal be servedAnd ek the lawe of god observed.[The Fifth Point of Policy. Chastity.]xi.Corporis et mentis regem decet omnis honestas,Nominis vt famam nulla libido ruat.Omne quod est hominis effeminat illa voluptas,Sit nisi magnanimi cordis, vt obstet ei.The Madle is mad for the femele,Bot where as on desireth fele,That nedeth noght be weie of kinde:Hic tractat secundum Aristotelem de quinta principum regiminis Policia, que Castitatem concernit, cuius honestas impudicicie motus obtemperans tam corporis quam anime mundiciam specialius preseruat.For whan a man mai redy findeHis oghne wif, what scholde he secheIn strange places to beseche4220To borwe an other mannes plouh,Whan he hath geere good ynouh1340P. iii. 234Affaited at his oghne heste,And is to him wel more honesteThan other thing which is unknowe?Forthi scholde every good man knoweAnd thenke, hou that in mariageHis trouthe plight lith in morgage,Which if he breke, it is falshode,And that descordeth to manhode,4230And namely toward the grete,Wherof the bokes alle trete;So as the Philosophre techethTo Alisandre, and him betechethThe lore hou that he schal mesureHis bodi, so that no mesureOf fleisshly lust he scholde excede.And thus forth if I schal procede,The fifte point, as I seide er,1341Is chastete, which sielde wher4240Comth nou adaies into place;And natheles, bot it be graceAbove alle othre in special,Is non that chaste mai ben all.Bot yit a kinges hihe astat,1342Which of his ordre as a prelatSchal ben enoignt and seintefied,He mot be more magnefiedFor dignete of his corone,Than scholde an other low persone,4250Which is noght of so hih emprise.Therfore a Prince him scholde avise,(4450*)P. iii. 235Er that he felle in such riote,And namely that he nassoteTo change for the wommanhedeThe worthinesse of his manhede.Nota de doctrina Aristotilis, qualiter Princeps, vt animi sui iocunditatem prouocet, mulieres formosas crebro aspicere debet. Caueat tamen, ne mens voluptuosa torpescens ex carnis fragilitate in vicium dilabatur.Of Aristotle I have wel rad,Hou he to Alisandre bad,That forto gladen his corageHe schal beholde the visage4260Of wommen, whan that thei ben faire.Bot yit he set an essamplaire,1343His bodi so to guide and reule,That he ne passe noght the reule,Wherof that he himself beguile.For in the womman is no guile1344Of that a man himself bewhapeth;Whan he his oghne wit bejapeth,I can the wommen wel excuse:1345Bot what man wole upon hem muse4270After the fool impressionOf his ymaginacioun,Withinne himself the fyr he bloweth,Wherof the womman nothing knoweth,So mai sche nothing be to wyte.For if a man himself exciteTo drenche, and wol it noght forbere,1346The water schal no blame bere.What mai the gold, thogh men coveite?If that a man wol love streite,4280The womman hath him nothing bounde;If he his oghne herte wounde,P. iii 236Sche mai noght lette the folie;And thogh so felle of compainieThat he myht eny thing pourchace,Yit makth a man the ferste chace,The womman fleth and he poursuieth:So that be weie of skile it suieth,The man is cause, hou so befalle,That he fulofte sithe is falle4290Wher that he mai noght wel aryse.And natheles ful manye wiseBefoled have hemself er this,As nou adaies yit it isAmong the men and evere was,The stronge is fieblest in this cas.It sit a man be weie of kindeTo love, bot it is noght kindeA man for love his wit to lese:For if the Monthe of Juil schal frese4300And that Decembre schal ben hot,The yeer mistorneth, wel I wot.(4500*)To sen a man fro his astatThurgh his sotie effeminat,And leve that a man schal do,It is as Hose above the Scho,To man which oghte noght ben used.Bot yit the world hath ofte accusedFul grete Princes of this dede,Hou thei for love hemself mislede,4310Wherof manhode stod behinde,Of olde ensamples as I finde.1347[Evil Example of Sardanapalus.]P. iii. 237These olde gestes tellen thus,That whilom Sardana Pallus,1348Hic ponit exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Sardana Pallus1349Assiriorum Princeps muliebri1350oblectamento effeminatus sue concupiscencie torporem quasi ex consuetudine adhibebat, a Barbaro Rege Medorum super hoc insidiante in sui feruoris maiori voluptate1351subitis mutacionibus extinctus est.Which hield al hol in his empireThe grete kingdom of Assire,Was thurgh the slouthe of his corageFalle into thilke fyri rageOf love, which the men assoteth,Wherof himself he so rioteth,4320And wax so ferforth womannyssh,1352That ayein kinde, as if a fisshAbide wolde upon the lond,In wommen such a lust he fond,That he duelte evere in chambre stille,And only wroghte after the willeOf wommen, so as he was bede,That selden whanne in other stedeIf that he wolde wenden oute,To sen hou that it stod aboute.4330Bot ther he keste and there he pleide,1353Thei tawhten him a Las to breide,And weve a Pours, and to enfileA Perle: and fell that ilke while,On Barbarus the Prince of MedeSih hou this king in wommanhede1354Was falle fro chivalerie,And gat him help and compaignie,And wroghte so, that ate lasteThis king out of his regne he caste,4340Which was undon for everemo:And yit men speken of him so,P. iii. 238That it is schame forto hiere.[David.]Forthi to love is in manere.Nota qualiter Dauid amans mulieres propter hoc probitatem Armorum non minus excercuit.King David hadde many a love,Bot natheles alwey aboveKnyhthode he kepte in such a wise,That for no fleisshli covoitiseOf lust to ligge in ladi armesHe lefte noght the lust of armes.4350For where a Prince hise lustes suieth,That he the werre noght poursuieth,(4550*)Whan it is time to ben armed,His contre stant fulofte harmed,Whan thenemis ben woxe bolde,That thei defence non beholde.Ful many a lond hath so be lore,1355As men mai rede of time aforeOf hem that so here eses soghten,Which after thei full diere aboghten.4360

[Saul and Agag.]

P. iii. 220

Nou forthermore if I schal sein

Of my matiere, and torne ayein

Hic dicit quod vbi et quando causa et tempus requirunt, princeps illos sub potestate sua, quos iusticie aduersarios agnouerit, occidere de iure tenetur. Et narrat in exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Saul Regem Agag in bello deuictum iuxta Samuelis consilium occidere noluit, ipse diuino iudicio non solum a regno Israel priuatus, set et heredes sui pro perpetuo exheredati sunt.

To speke of justice and Pite

After the reule of realte,3810

This mai a king wel understonde,

Knihthode mot ben take on honde,

Whan that it stant upon the nede:

He schal no rihtful cause drede,

Nomore of werre thanne of pes,

If he wol stonde blameles;

For such a cause a king mai have

That betre him is to sle than save,

Wherof thou myht ensample finde.1312

The hihe makere of mankinde3820

Be Samuel to Saül bad,

That he schal nothing ben adrad

Ayein king Agag forto fihte;

For this the godhede him behihte,

That Agag schal ben overcome:

And whan it is so ferforth come,

That Saül hath him desconfit,

The god bad make no respit,

That he ne scholde him slen anon.

Bot Saül let it overgon3830

And dede noght the goddes heste:

For Agag made gret beheste

Of rancoun which he wolde yive,

King Saül soffreth him to live

And feigneth pite forth withal.

Bot he which seth and knoweth al,

P. iii. 221

The hihe god, of that he feigneth

To Samuel upon him pleigneth.

And sende him word, for that he lefte

Of Agag that he ne berefte3840

The lif, he schal noght only dye

Himself, bot fro his regalie

He schal be put for everemo,

Noght he, bot ek his heir also,

That it schal nevere come ayein.

[David and Joab.]

Thus myht thou se the sothe plein,

Hic narrat vlterius super eodem, qualiter Dauid in extremis iusticie causa vt Ioab occideretur absque vlla remissione filio suo Salomoni iniunxit.

That of tomoche and of tolyte

Upon the Princes stant the wyte.

Bot evere it was a kinges riht

To do the dedes of a knyht;3850

For in the handes of a king

The deth and lif is al o thing(4050*)

After the lawes of justice.

To slen it is a dedly vice,1313

Bot if a man the deth deserve;

And if a king the lif preserve

Of him which oghte forto dye,

He suieth noght thensamplerie

Which in the bible is evident:

Hou David in his testament,3860

Whan he no lengere myhte live,1314

Unto his Sone in charge hath yive

That he Joab schal slen algate;

And whan David was gon his gate,

The yonge wise Salomon

His fader heste dede anon,

P. iii. 222

And slouh Joab in such a wise,

That thei that herden the juise

Evere after dradden him the more,

And god was ek wel paid therfore,3870

That he so wolde his herte plye

The lawes forto justefie.

And yit he kepte forth withal

Pite, so as a Prince schal,

That he no tirannie wroghte;

He fond the wisdom which he soghte,

And was so rihtful natheles,

That al his lif he stod in pes,

That he no dedly werres hadde,

For every man his wisdom dradde.3880

And as he was himselve wys,

Riht so the worthi men of pris

He hath of his conseil withholde;

For that is every Prince holde,

To make of suche his retenue

Whiche wise ben, and to remue

The foles: for ther is nothing

Which mai be betre aboute a king,

Than conseil, which is the substance

Of all a kinges governance.3890

[Solomon’s Wisdom.]In Salomon a man mai seeWhat thing of most necessiteHic dicit quod populum sibi commissum bene regere super omnia Principi laudabilius est. Et narrat in exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Salomon, vt populum bene regeret, ab altissimo sapienciam specialius postulauit, omnia bona pariter cum illa sibi habundancius aduenerunt.Unto a worthi king belongeth.Whan he his kingdom underfongeth,God bad him chese what he wolde,And seide him that he have scholdeP. iii. 223What he wolde axe, as of o thing.And he, which was a newe king,Forth therupon his bone preideTo god, and in this wise he seide:3900‘O king, be whom that I schal regne,Yif me wisdom, that I my regne,1315(4100*)Forth with thi poeple which I have,1316To thin honour mai kepe and save.’Whan Salomon his bone hath taxed,The god of that which he hath axedWas riht wel paid, and granteth soneNoght al only that he his boneSchal have of that, bot of richesse,Of hele, of pes, of hih noblesse,3910Forth with wisdom at his axinges,Which stant above alle othre thinges.Bot what king wole his regne save,Hic dicit secundum Salomonem, quod regie maiestatis imperium ante omnia sano consilio dirigendum est.Ferst him behoveth forto haveAfter the god and his believeSuch conseil which is to believe,Fulfild of trouthe and rihtwisnesse:Bot above alle in his noblesseBetwen the reddour and piteA king schal do such equite3920And sette the balance in evene,So that the hihe god in heveneAnd al the poeple of his nobleieLoange unto his name seie.For most above all erthli good,Wher that a king himself is goodP. iii. 224It helpeth, for in other weieIf so be that a king forsueie,Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achiui.Fulofte er this it hath be sein,The comun poeple is overlein3930And hath the kinges Senne aboght,Al thogh the poeple agulte noght.Of that the king his god misserveth,The poeple takth that he descervethHier in this world, bot elleswhereI not hou it schal stonde there.Forthi good is a king to tristeFerst to himself, as he ne wisteNon other help hot god alone;So schal the reule of his persone3940Withinne himself thurgh providenceBen of the betre conscience.And forto finde ensample of this,A tale I rede, and soth it is.

[Solomon’s Wisdom.]

In Salomon a man mai see

What thing of most necessite

Hic dicit quod populum sibi commissum bene regere super omnia Principi laudabilius est. Et narrat in exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Salomon, vt populum bene regeret, ab altissimo sapienciam specialius postulauit, omnia bona pariter cum illa sibi habundancius aduenerunt.

Unto a worthi king belongeth.

Whan he his kingdom underfongeth,

God bad him chese what he wolde,

And seide him that he have scholde

P. iii. 223

What he wolde axe, as of o thing.

And he, which was a newe king,

Forth therupon his bone preide

To god, and in this wise he seide:3900

‘O king, be whom that I schal regne,

Yif me wisdom, that I my regne,1315(4100*)

Forth with thi poeple which I have,1316

To thin honour mai kepe and save.’

Whan Salomon his bone hath taxed,

The god of that which he hath axed

Was riht wel paid, and granteth sone

Noght al only that he his bone

Schal have of that, bot of richesse,

Of hele, of pes, of hih noblesse,3910

Forth with wisdom at his axinges,

Which stant above alle othre thinges.

Bot what king wole his regne save,

Hic dicit secundum Salomonem, quod regie maiestatis imperium ante omnia sano consilio dirigendum est.

Ferst him behoveth forto have

After the god and his believe

Such conseil which is to believe,

Fulfild of trouthe and rihtwisnesse:

Bot above alle in his noblesse

Betwen the reddour and pite

A king schal do such equite3920

And sette the balance in evene,

So that the hihe god in hevene

And al the poeple of his nobleie

Loange unto his name seie.

For most above all erthli good,

Wher that a king himself is good

P. iii. 224

It helpeth, for in other weie

If so be that a king forsueie,

Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achiui.

Fulofte er this it hath be sein,

The comun poeple is overlein3930

And hath the kinges Senne aboght,

Al thogh the poeple agulte noght.

Of that the king his god misserveth,

The poeple takth that he descerveth

Hier in this world, bot elleswhere

I not hou it schal stonde there.

Forthi good is a king to triste

Ferst to himself, as he ne wiste

Non other help hot god alone;

So schal the reule of his persone3940

Withinne himself thurgh providence

Ben of the betre conscience.

And forto finde ensample of this,

A tale I rede, and soth it is.

[The Courtiers and the Fool.]In a Cronique it telleth thus:The king of Rome LuciusWithinne his chambre upon a nyhtHic de Lucio Imperatore exemplum ponit, qualiter Princeps sui nominis famam a secretis consiliariis sapienter inuestigare debet; et si quid in ea sinistrum inuenerit, prouisa discrecione ad dexteram conuertat.The Steward of his hous, a knyht,Forth with his Chamberlein also,To conseil hadde bothe tuo,3950And stoden be the ChimineeTogedre spekende alle thre.(4150*)And happeth that the kinges folSat be the fyr upon a stol,As he that with his babil pleide,Bot yit he herde al that thei seide,P. iii. 225And therof token thei non hiede.The king hem axeth what to redeOf such matiere as cam to mouthe,And thei him tolden as thei couthe.3960Whan al was spoke of that thei mente,The king with al his hole ententeThanne ate laste hem axeth this,What king men tellen that he is:Among the folk touchende his name,Or be it pris, or be it blame,Riht after that thei herden sein,He bad hem forto telle it plein,That thei no point of soth forbere,Be thilke feith that thei him bere.3970The Steward ferst upon this thingYaf his ansuere unto the kingAnd thoghte glose in this matiere,And seide, als fer as he can hiere,His name is good and honourable:Thus was the Stieward favorable,That he the trouthe plein ne tolde.The king thanne axeth, as he scholde,The Chamberlein of his avis.And he, that was soubtil and wys,3980And somdiel thoghte upon his feith,Him tolde hou al the poeple seithThat if his conseil were trewe,Thei wiste thanne wel and knewe1317That of himself he scholde beA worthi king in his degre:P. iii. 226And thus the conseil he accusethIn partie, and the king excuseth.The fol, which herde of al the cas1318That time, as goddes wille was,13193990Sih that thei seiden noght ynowh,And hem to skorne bothe lowh,And to the king he seide tho:‘Sire king, if that it were so,Of wisdom in thin oghne modThat thou thiselven were good,Thi conseil scholde noght be badde.’The king therof merveille hadde,Whan that a fol so wisly spak,And of himself fond out the lack4000Withinne his oghne conscience:And thus the foles evidence,(4200*)Which was of goddes grace enspired,Makth that good conseil was desired.1320He putte awey the viciousAnd tok to him the vertuous;The wrongful lawes ben amended,The londes good is wel despended,The poeple was nomore oppressed,And thus stod every thing redressed.4010For where a king is propre wys,And hath suche as himselven isOf his conseil, it mai noght faileThat every thing ne schal availe:The vices thanne gon aweie,And every vertu holt his weie;P. iii. 227Wherof the hihe god is plesed,And al the londes folk is esed.For if the comun poeple crie,And thanne a king list noght to plie13214020To hiere what the clamour wolde,And otherwise thanne he scholdeDesdeigneth forto don hem grace,It hath be sen in many place,Ther hath befalle gret contraire;And that I finde of ensamplaire.

[The Courtiers and the Fool.]

In a Cronique it telleth thus:

The king of Rome Lucius

Withinne his chambre upon a nyht

Hic de Lucio Imperatore exemplum ponit, qualiter Princeps sui nominis famam a secretis consiliariis sapienter inuestigare debet; et si quid in ea sinistrum inuenerit, prouisa discrecione ad dexteram conuertat.

The Steward of his hous, a knyht,

Forth with his Chamberlein also,

To conseil hadde bothe tuo,3950

And stoden be the Chiminee

Togedre spekende alle thre.(4150*)

And happeth that the kinges fol

Sat be the fyr upon a stol,

As he that with his babil pleide,

Bot yit he herde al that thei seide,

P. iii. 225

And therof token thei non hiede.

The king hem axeth what to rede

Of such matiere as cam to mouthe,

And thei him tolden as thei couthe.3960

Whan al was spoke of that thei mente,

The king with al his hole entente

Thanne ate laste hem axeth this,

What king men tellen that he is:

Among the folk touchende his name,

Or be it pris, or be it blame,

Riht after that thei herden sein,

He bad hem forto telle it plein,

That thei no point of soth forbere,

Be thilke feith that thei him bere.3970

The Steward ferst upon this thing

Yaf his ansuere unto the king

And thoghte glose in this matiere,

And seide, als fer as he can hiere,

His name is good and honourable:

Thus was the Stieward favorable,

That he the trouthe plein ne tolde.

The king thanne axeth, as he scholde,

The Chamberlein of his avis.

And he, that was soubtil and wys,3980

And somdiel thoghte upon his feith,

Him tolde hou al the poeple seith

That if his conseil were trewe,

Thei wiste thanne wel and knewe1317

That of himself he scholde be

A worthi king in his degre:

P. iii. 226

And thus the conseil he accuseth

In partie, and the king excuseth.

The fol, which herde of al the cas1318

That time, as goddes wille was,13193990

Sih that thei seiden noght ynowh,

And hem to skorne bothe lowh,

And to the king he seide tho:

‘Sire king, if that it were so,

Of wisdom in thin oghne mod

That thou thiselven were good,

Thi conseil scholde noght be badde.’

The king therof merveille hadde,

Whan that a fol so wisly spak,

And of himself fond out the lack4000

Withinne his oghne conscience:

And thus the foles evidence,(4200*)

Which was of goddes grace enspired,

Makth that good conseil was desired.1320

He putte awey the vicious

And tok to him the vertuous;

The wrongful lawes ben amended,

The londes good is wel despended,

The poeple was nomore oppressed,

And thus stod every thing redressed.4010

For where a king is propre wys,

And hath suche as himselven is

Of his conseil, it mai noght faile

That every thing ne schal availe:

The vices thanne gon aweie,

And every vertu holt his weie;

P. iii. 227

Wherof the hihe god is plesed,

And al the londes folk is esed.

For if the comun poeple crie,

And thanne a king list noght to plie13214020

To hiere what the clamour wolde,

And otherwise thanne he scholde

Desdeigneth forto don hem grace,

It hath be sen in many place,

Ther hath befalle gret contraire;

And that I finde of ensamplaire.

[Folly of Rehoboam.]After the deth of Salomon,Whan thilke wise king was gon,Hic dicit quod Seniores magis experti ad Principis consilium admittendi pocius existunt. Et narrat qualiter, pro eo quod Roboas Salomonis filius et heres senium sermonibus renuncians dicta iuuenum preelegit, de xii. tribubus Israel a dominio suo x. penitus amisit, et sic cum duabus tantummodo illusus postea regnauit.And Roboas in his personeReceive scholde the corone,4030The poeple upon a Parlement1322Avised were of on assent,And alle unto the king thei preiden,With comun vois and thus thei seiden:‘Oure liege lord, we thee besecheThat thou receive oure humble specheAnd grante ous that which reson wile,1323Or of thi grace or of thi skile.Thi fader, whil he was alyveAnd myhte bothe grante and pryve,4040Upon the werkes whiche he haddeThe comun poeple streite ladde:Whan he the temple made newe,Thing which men nevere afore knewe1324He broghte up thanne of his taillage,And al was under the visageP. iii. 228Of werkes whiche he made tho.Bot nou it is befalle so,That al is mad, riht as he seide,And he was riche whan he deide;4050So that it is no maner nede,If thou therof wolt taken hiede,(4250*)To pilen of the poeple more,Which long time hath be grieved sore.And in this wise as we thee seie,With tendre herte we thee preieThat thou relesse thilke dette,Which upon ous thi fader sette.And if thee like to don so,We ben thi men for everemo,4060To gon and comen at thin heste.’The king, which herde this requeste,Seith that he wole ben avised,And hath therof a time assised;And in the while as he him thoghteUpon this thing, conseil he soghte.And ferst the wise knyhtes olde,To whom that he his tale tolde,De consilio Senium.Conseilen him in this manere;That he with love and with glad chiere4070Foryive and grante al that is axedOf that his fader hadde taxed;For so he mai his regne achieveWith thing which schal him litel grieve.The king hem herde and overpasseth,And with these othre his wit compasseth,P. iii. 229That yonge were and nothing wise.And thei these olde men despise,De consilio iuuenum.And seiden: ‘Sire, it schal be schameFor evere unto thi worthi name,4080If thou ne kepe noght the riht,1325Whil thou art in thi yonge myht,Which that thin olde fader gat.Bot seie unto the poeple plat,That whil thou livest in thi lond,The leste finger of thin hondIt schal be strengere overalThan was thi fadres bodi al.And this also schal be thi tale,If he hem smot with roddes smale,4090With Scorpions thou schalt hem smyte;1326And wher thi fader tok a lyte,1327Thou thenkst to take mochel more.1328Thus schalt thou make hem drede soreThe grete herte of thi corage,So forto holde hem in servage.’This yonge king him hath conformedTo don as he was last enformed,Which was to him his undoinge:For whan it cam to the spekinge,4100He hath the yonge conseil holde,That he the same wordes tolde(4300*)Of al the poeple in audience;And whan thei herden the sentenceOf his malice and the manace,Anon tofore his oghne faceP. iii. 230Thei have him oultreli refusedAnd with ful gret reproef accused.So thei begunne forto rave,That he was fain himself to save;4110For as the wilde wode rageOf wyndes makth the See salvage,And that was calm bringth into wawe,So for defalte of grace and laweThis poeple is stered al at ones1329And forth thei gon out of hise wones;So that of the lignages tuelveTuo tribes only be hemselveWith him abiden and nomo:So were thei for everemo4120Of no retorn withoute espeirDeparted fro the rihtfull heir.Al Irahel with comun vois1330A king upon here oghne choisAmong hemself anon thei make,And have here yonge lord forsake;A povere knyht JeroboasThei toke, and lefte Roboas,Which rihtfull heir was be descente.Lo, thus the yonge cause wente:4130For that the conseil was noght good,The regne fro the rihtfull blodEvere afterward divided was.So mai it proven be this casThat yong conseil, which is to warm,Er men be war doth ofte harm.P. iii. 231Old age for the conseil serveth,And lusti youthe his thonk deservethUpon the travail which he doth;And bothe, forto seie a soth,4140Be sondri cause forto have,If that he wole his regne save,A king behoveth every day.That on can and that other mai,Be so the king hem bothe reule,For elles al goth out of reule.

[Folly of Rehoboam.]

After the deth of Salomon,

Whan thilke wise king was gon,

Hic dicit quod Seniores magis experti ad Principis consilium admittendi pocius existunt. Et narrat qualiter, pro eo quod Roboas Salomonis filius et heres senium sermonibus renuncians dicta iuuenum preelegit, de xii. tribubus Israel a dominio suo x. penitus amisit, et sic cum duabus tantummodo illusus postea regnauit.

And Roboas in his persone

Receive scholde the corone,4030

The poeple upon a Parlement1322

Avised were of on assent,

And alle unto the king thei preiden,

With comun vois and thus thei seiden:

‘Oure liege lord, we thee beseche

That thou receive oure humble speche

And grante ous that which reson wile,1323

Or of thi grace or of thi skile.

Thi fader, whil he was alyve

And myhte bothe grante and pryve,4040

Upon the werkes whiche he hadde

The comun poeple streite ladde:

Whan he the temple made newe,

Thing which men nevere afore knewe1324

He broghte up thanne of his taillage,

And al was under the visage

P. iii. 228

Of werkes whiche he made tho.

Bot nou it is befalle so,

That al is mad, riht as he seide,

And he was riche whan he deide;4050

So that it is no maner nede,

If thou therof wolt taken hiede,(4250*)

To pilen of the poeple more,

Which long time hath be grieved sore.

And in this wise as we thee seie,

With tendre herte we thee preie

That thou relesse thilke dette,

Which upon ous thi fader sette.

And if thee like to don so,

We ben thi men for everemo,4060

To gon and comen at thin heste.’

The king, which herde this requeste,

Seith that he wole ben avised,

And hath therof a time assised;

And in the while as he him thoghte

Upon this thing, conseil he soghte.

And ferst the wise knyhtes olde,

To whom that he his tale tolde,

De consilio Senium.

Conseilen him in this manere;

That he with love and with glad chiere4070

Foryive and grante al that is axed

Of that his fader hadde taxed;

For so he mai his regne achieve

With thing which schal him litel grieve.

The king hem herde and overpasseth,

And with these othre his wit compasseth,

P. iii. 229

That yonge were and nothing wise.

And thei these olde men despise,

De consilio iuuenum.

And seiden: ‘Sire, it schal be schame

For evere unto thi worthi name,4080

If thou ne kepe noght the riht,1325

Whil thou art in thi yonge myht,

Which that thin olde fader gat.

Bot seie unto the poeple plat,

That whil thou livest in thi lond,

The leste finger of thin hond

It schal be strengere overal

Than was thi fadres bodi al.

And this also schal be thi tale,

If he hem smot with roddes smale,4090

With Scorpions thou schalt hem smyte;1326

And wher thi fader tok a lyte,1327

Thou thenkst to take mochel more.1328

Thus schalt thou make hem drede sore

The grete herte of thi corage,

So forto holde hem in servage.’

This yonge king him hath conformed

To don as he was last enformed,

Which was to him his undoinge:

For whan it cam to the spekinge,4100

He hath the yonge conseil holde,

That he the same wordes tolde(4300*)

Of al the poeple in audience;

And whan thei herden the sentence

Of his malice and the manace,

Anon tofore his oghne face

P. iii. 230

Thei have him oultreli refused

And with ful gret reproef accused.

So thei begunne forto rave,

That he was fain himself to save;4110

For as the wilde wode rage

Of wyndes makth the See salvage,

And that was calm bringth into wawe,

So for defalte of grace and lawe

This poeple is stered al at ones1329

And forth thei gon out of hise wones;

So that of the lignages tuelve

Tuo tribes only be hemselve

With him abiden and nomo:

So were thei for everemo4120

Of no retorn withoute espeir

Departed fro the rihtfull heir.

Al Irahel with comun vois1330

A king upon here oghne chois

Among hemself anon thei make,

And have here yonge lord forsake;

A povere knyht Jeroboas

Thei toke, and lefte Roboas,

Which rihtfull heir was be descente.

Lo, thus the yonge cause wente:4130

For that the conseil was noght good,

The regne fro the rihtfull blod

Evere afterward divided was.

So mai it proven be this cas

That yong conseil, which is to warm,

Er men be war doth ofte harm.

P. iii. 231

Old age for the conseil serveth,

And lusti youthe his thonk deserveth

Upon the travail which he doth;

And bothe, forto seie a soth,4140

Be sondri cause forto have,

If that he wole his regne save,

A king behoveth every day.

That on can and that other mai,

Be so the king hem bothe reule,

For elles al goth out of reule.

[Wisdom in a King’s Council.]And upon this matiere alsoA question betwen the tuoNota questionem cuiusdam Philosophi, vtrum regno conueniencius foret principem cum malo consilio optare sapientem, quam cum sano consilio ipsum eligere insipientem.Thus writen in a bok I fond;Wher it be betre for the lond4150A king himselve to be wys,And so to bere his oghne pris,(4350*)And that his consail be noght good,Or other wise if it so stod,A king if he be viciousAnd his conseil be vertuous.It is ansuerd in such a wise,That betre it is that thei be wiseBe whom that the conseil schal gon,For thei be manye, and he is on;13314160And rathere schal an one man1332With fals conseil, for oght he can,From his wisdom be mad to falle,Thanne he al one scholde hem alleFro vices into vertu change,For that is wel the more strange.[Mercy and Justice.]P. iii. 232Forthi the lond mai wel be glad,Whos king with good conseil is lad,Which set him unto rihtwisnesse,So that his hihe worthinesse4170Betwen the reddour and PiteDoth mercy forth with equite.A king is holden overalTo Pite, bot in special1333To hem wher he is most beholde;Thei scholde his Pite most beholdeThat ben the Lieges of his lond,For thei ben evere under his hondAfter the goddes ordinaunceTo stonde upon his governance.4180Nota adhuc precipue de principis erga suos subditos debita pietate. Legitur enim qualiter Anthonius a Cipione exemplificatus dixit, quod mallet vnum de populo sibi commisso virum saluare, quam centum ex hostibus alienigenis in bello perdere.Of themperour AnthoniusI finde hou that he seide thus,That levere him were forto save1334Oon of his lieges than to haveOf enemis a thousend dede.1335And this he lernede, as I rede,1336Of Cipio, which hadde beConsul of Rome. And thus to seDiverse ensamples hou thei stonde,A king which hath the charge on honde4190The comun poeple to governe,If that he wole, he mai wel lerne.Is non so good to the plesanceOf god, as is good governance;1337And every governance is dueTo Pite: thus I mai argueP. iii. 233That Pite is the foundementOf every kinges regiment,If it be medled with justice.Thei tuo remuen alle vice,4200And ben of vertu most vailableTo make a kinges regne stable.(4400*)Lo, thus the foure pointz tofore,In governance as thei ben bore,Of trouthe ferst and of largesse,Of Pite forth with rihtwisnesse,I have hem told; and over thisThe fifte point, so as it is1338Set of the reule of Policie,Wherof a king schal modefie4210The fleisschly lustes of nature,Nou thenk I telle of such mesure,1339That bothe kinde schal be servedAnd ek the lawe of god observed.

[Wisdom in a King’s Council.]

And upon this matiere also

A question betwen the tuo

Nota questionem cuiusdam Philosophi, vtrum regno conueniencius foret principem cum malo consilio optare sapientem, quam cum sano consilio ipsum eligere insipientem.

Thus writen in a bok I fond;

Wher it be betre for the lond4150

A king himselve to be wys,

And so to bere his oghne pris,(4350*)

And that his consail be noght good,

Or other wise if it so stod,

A king if he be vicious

And his conseil be vertuous.

It is ansuerd in such a wise,

That betre it is that thei be wise

Be whom that the conseil schal gon,

For thei be manye, and he is on;13314160

And rathere schal an one man1332

With fals conseil, for oght he can,

From his wisdom be mad to falle,

Thanne he al one scholde hem alle

Fro vices into vertu change,

For that is wel the more strange.

[Mercy and Justice.]

P. iii. 232

Forthi the lond mai wel be glad,

Whos king with good conseil is lad,

Which set him unto rihtwisnesse,

So that his hihe worthinesse4170

Betwen the reddour and Pite

Doth mercy forth with equite.

A king is holden overal

To Pite, bot in special1333

To hem wher he is most beholde;

Thei scholde his Pite most beholde

That ben the Lieges of his lond,

For thei ben evere under his hond

After the goddes ordinaunce

To stonde upon his governance.4180

Nota adhuc precipue de principis erga suos subditos debita pietate. Legitur enim qualiter Anthonius a Cipione exemplificatus dixit, quod mallet vnum de populo sibi commisso virum saluare, quam centum ex hostibus alienigenis in bello perdere.

Of themperour Anthonius

I finde hou that he seide thus,

That levere him were forto save1334

Oon of his lieges than to have

Of enemis a thousend dede.1335

And this he lernede, as I rede,1336

Of Cipio, which hadde be

Consul of Rome. And thus to se

Diverse ensamples hou thei stonde,

A king which hath the charge on honde4190

The comun poeple to governe,

If that he wole, he mai wel lerne.

Is non so good to the plesance

Of god, as is good governance;1337

And every governance is due

To Pite: thus I mai argue

P. iii. 233

That Pite is the foundement

Of every kinges regiment,

If it be medled with justice.

Thei tuo remuen alle vice,4200

And ben of vertu most vailable

To make a kinges regne stable.(4400*)

Lo, thus the foure pointz tofore,

In governance as thei ben bore,

Of trouthe ferst and of largesse,

Of Pite forth with rihtwisnesse,

I have hem told; and over this

The fifte point, so as it is1338

Set of the reule of Policie,

Wherof a king schal modefie4210

The fleisschly lustes of nature,

Nou thenk I telle of such mesure,1339

That bothe kinde schal be served

And ek the lawe of god observed.

[The Fifth Point of Policy. Chastity.]xi.Corporis et mentis regem decet omnis honestas,Nominis vt famam nulla libido ruat.Omne quod est hominis effeminat illa voluptas,Sit nisi magnanimi cordis, vt obstet ei.

[The Fifth Point of Policy. Chastity.]

xi.Corporis et mentis regem decet omnis honestas,

Nominis vt famam nulla libido ruat.

Omne quod est hominis effeminat illa voluptas,

Sit nisi magnanimi cordis, vt obstet ei.

The Madle is mad for the femele,Bot where as on desireth fele,That nedeth noght be weie of kinde:Hic tractat secundum Aristotelem de quinta principum regiminis Policia, que Castitatem concernit, cuius honestas impudicicie motus obtemperans tam corporis quam anime mundiciam specialius preseruat.For whan a man mai redy findeHis oghne wif, what scholde he secheIn strange places to beseche4220To borwe an other mannes plouh,Whan he hath geere good ynouh1340P. iii. 234Affaited at his oghne heste,And is to him wel more honesteThan other thing which is unknowe?Forthi scholde every good man knoweAnd thenke, hou that in mariageHis trouthe plight lith in morgage,Which if he breke, it is falshode,And that descordeth to manhode,4230And namely toward the grete,Wherof the bokes alle trete;So as the Philosophre techethTo Alisandre, and him betechethThe lore hou that he schal mesureHis bodi, so that no mesureOf fleisshly lust he scholde excede.And thus forth if I schal procede,The fifte point, as I seide er,1341Is chastete, which sielde wher4240Comth nou adaies into place;And natheles, bot it be graceAbove alle othre in special,Is non that chaste mai ben all.Bot yit a kinges hihe astat,1342Which of his ordre as a prelatSchal ben enoignt and seintefied,He mot be more magnefiedFor dignete of his corone,Than scholde an other low persone,4250Which is noght of so hih emprise.Therfore a Prince him scholde avise,(4450*)P. iii. 235Er that he felle in such riote,And namely that he nassoteTo change for the wommanhedeThe worthinesse of his manhede.Nota de doctrina Aristotilis, qualiter Princeps, vt animi sui iocunditatem prouocet, mulieres formosas crebro aspicere debet. Caueat tamen, ne mens voluptuosa torpescens ex carnis fragilitate in vicium dilabatur.Of Aristotle I have wel rad,Hou he to Alisandre bad,That forto gladen his corageHe schal beholde the visage4260Of wommen, whan that thei ben faire.Bot yit he set an essamplaire,1343His bodi so to guide and reule,That he ne passe noght the reule,Wherof that he himself beguile.For in the womman is no guile1344Of that a man himself bewhapeth;Whan he his oghne wit bejapeth,I can the wommen wel excuse:1345Bot what man wole upon hem muse4270After the fool impressionOf his ymaginacioun,Withinne himself the fyr he bloweth,Wherof the womman nothing knoweth,So mai sche nothing be to wyte.For if a man himself exciteTo drenche, and wol it noght forbere,1346The water schal no blame bere.What mai the gold, thogh men coveite?If that a man wol love streite,4280The womman hath him nothing bounde;If he his oghne herte wounde,P. iii 236Sche mai noght lette the folie;And thogh so felle of compainieThat he myht eny thing pourchace,Yit makth a man the ferste chace,The womman fleth and he poursuieth:So that be weie of skile it suieth,The man is cause, hou so befalle,That he fulofte sithe is falle4290Wher that he mai noght wel aryse.And natheles ful manye wiseBefoled have hemself er this,As nou adaies yit it isAmong the men and evere was,The stronge is fieblest in this cas.It sit a man be weie of kindeTo love, bot it is noght kindeA man for love his wit to lese:For if the Monthe of Juil schal frese4300And that Decembre schal ben hot,The yeer mistorneth, wel I wot.(4500*)To sen a man fro his astatThurgh his sotie effeminat,And leve that a man schal do,It is as Hose above the Scho,To man which oghte noght ben used.Bot yit the world hath ofte accusedFul grete Princes of this dede,Hou thei for love hemself mislede,4310Wherof manhode stod behinde,Of olde ensamples as I finde.1347

The Madle is mad for the femele,

Bot where as on desireth fele,

That nedeth noght be weie of kinde:

Hic tractat secundum Aristotelem de quinta principum regiminis Policia, que Castitatem concernit, cuius honestas impudicicie motus obtemperans tam corporis quam anime mundiciam specialius preseruat.

For whan a man mai redy finde

His oghne wif, what scholde he seche

In strange places to beseche4220

To borwe an other mannes plouh,

Whan he hath geere good ynouh1340

P. iii. 234

Affaited at his oghne heste,

And is to him wel more honeste

Than other thing which is unknowe?

Forthi scholde every good man knowe

And thenke, hou that in mariage

His trouthe plight lith in morgage,

Which if he breke, it is falshode,

And that descordeth to manhode,4230

And namely toward the grete,

Wherof the bokes alle trete;

So as the Philosophre techeth

To Alisandre, and him betecheth

The lore hou that he schal mesure

His bodi, so that no mesure

Of fleisshly lust he scholde excede.

And thus forth if I schal procede,

The fifte point, as I seide er,1341

Is chastete, which sielde wher4240

Comth nou adaies into place;

And natheles, bot it be grace

Above alle othre in special,

Is non that chaste mai ben all.

Bot yit a kinges hihe astat,1342

Which of his ordre as a prelat

Schal ben enoignt and seintefied,

He mot be more magnefied

For dignete of his corone,

Than scholde an other low persone,4250

Which is noght of so hih emprise.

Therfore a Prince him scholde avise,(4450*)

P. iii. 235

Er that he felle in such riote,

And namely that he nassote

To change for the wommanhede

The worthinesse of his manhede.

Nota de doctrina Aristotilis, qualiter Princeps, vt animi sui iocunditatem prouocet, mulieres formosas crebro aspicere debet. Caueat tamen, ne mens voluptuosa torpescens ex carnis fragilitate in vicium dilabatur.

Of Aristotle I have wel rad,

Hou he to Alisandre bad,

That forto gladen his corage

He schal beholde the visage4260

Of wommen, whan that thei ben faire.

Bot yit he set an essamplaire,1343

His bodi so to guide and reule,

That he ne passe noght the reule,

Wherof that he himself beguile.

For in the womman is no guile1344

Of that a man himself bewhapeth;

Whan he his oghne wit bejapeth,

I can the wommen wel excuse:1345

Bot what man wole upon hem muse4270

After the fool impression

Of his ymaginacioun,

Withinne himself the fyr he bloweth,

Wherof the womman nothing knoweth,

So mai sche nothing be to wyte.

For if a man himself excite

To drenche, and wol it noght forbere,1346

The water schal no blame bere.

What mai the gold, thogh men coveite?

If that a man wol love streite,4280

The womman hath him nothing bounde;

If he his oghne herte wounde,

P. iii 236

Sche mai noght lette the folie;

And thogh so felle of compainie

That he myht eny thing pourchace,

Yit makth a man the ferste chace,

The womman fleth and he poursuieth:

So that be weie of skile it suieth,

The man is cause, hou so befalle,

That he fulofte sithe is falle4290

Wher that he mai noght wel aryse.

And natheles ful manye wise

Befoled have hemself er this,

As nou adaies yit it is

Among the men and evere was,

The stronge is fieblest in this cas.

It sit a man be weie of kinde

To love, bot it is noght kinde

A man for love his wit to lese:

For if the Monthe of Juil schal frese4300

And that Decembre schal ben hot,

The yeer mistorneth, wel I wot.(4500*)

To sen a man fro his astat

Thurgh his sotie effeminat,

And leve that a man schal do,

It is as Hose above the Scho,

To man which oghte noght ben used.

Bot yit the world hath ofte accused

Ful grete Princes of this dede,

Hou thei for love hemself mislede,4310

Wherof manhode stod behinde,

Of olde ensamples as I finde.1347

[Evil Example of Sardanapalus.]P. iii. 237These olde gestes tellen thus,That whilom Sardana Pallus,1348Hic ponit exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Sardana Pallus1349Assiriorum Princeps muliebri1350oblectamento effeminatus sue concupiscencie torporem quasi ex consuetudine adhibebat, a Barbaro Rege Medorum super hoc insidiante in sui feruoris maiori voluptate1351subitis mutacionibus extinctus est.Which hield al hol in his empireThe grete kingdom of Assire,Was thurgh the slouthe of his corageFalle into thilke fyri rageOf love, which the men assoteth,Wherof himself he so rioteth,4320And wax so ferforth womannyssh,1352That ayein kinde, as if a fisshAbide wolde upon the lond,In wommen such a lust he fond,That he duelte evere in chambre stille,And only wroghte after the willeOf wommen, so as he was bede,That selden whanne in other stedeIf that he wolde wenden oute,To sen hou that it stod aboute.4330Bot ther he keste and there he pleide,1353Thei tawhten him a Las to breide,And weve a Pours, and to enfileA Perle: and fell that ilke while,On Barbarus the Prince of MedeSih hou this king in wommanhede1354Was falle fro chivalerie,And gat him help and compaignie,And wroghte so, that ate lasteThis king out of his regne he caste,4340Which was undon for everemo:And yit men speken of him so,P. iii. 238That it is schame forto hiere.[David.]Forthi to love is in manere.Nota qualiter Dauid amans mulieres propter hoc probitatem Armorum non minus excercuit.King David hadde many a love,Bot natheles alwey aboveKnyhthode he kepte in such a wise,That for no fleisshli covoitiseOf lust to ligge in ladi armesHe lefte noght the lust of armes.4350For where a Prince hise lustes suieth,That he the werre noght poursuieth,(4550*)Whan it is time to ben armed,His contre stant fulofte harmed,Whan thenemis ben woxe bolde,That thei defence non beholde.Ful many a lond hath so be lore,1355As men mai rede of time aforeOf hem that so here eses soghten,Which after thei full diere aboghten.4360

[Evil Example of Sardanapalus.]

P. iii. 237

These olde gestes tellen thus,

That whilom Sardana Pallus,1348

Hic ponit exemplum qualiter, pro eo quod Sardana Pallus1349Assiriorum Princeps muliebri1350oblectamento effeminatus sue concupiscencie torporem quasi ex consuetudine adhibebat, a Barbaro Rege Medorum super hoc insidiante in sui feruoris maiori voluptate1351subitis mutacionibus extinctus est.

Which hield al hol in his empire

The grete kingdom of Assire,

Was thurgh the slouthe of his corage

Falle into thilke fyri rage

Of love, which the men assoteth,

Wherof himself he so rioteth,4320

And wax so ferforth womannyssh,1352

That ayein kinde, as if a fissh

Abide wolde upon the lond,

In wommen such a lust he fond,

That he duelte evere in chambre stille,

And only wroghte after the wille

Of wommen, so as he was bede,

That selden whanne in other stede

If that he wolde wenden oute,

To sen hou that it stod aboute.4330

Bot ther he keste and there he pleide,1353

Thei tawhten him a Las to breide,

And weve a Pours, and to enfile

A Perle: and fell that ilke while,

On Barbarus the Prince of Mede

Sih hou this king in wommanhede1354

Was falle fro chivalerie,

And gat him help and compaignie,

And wroghte so, that ate laste

This king out of his regne he caste,4340

Which was undon for everemo:

And yit men speken of him so,

P. iii. 238

That it is schame forto hiere.

[David.]

Forthi to love is in manere.

Nota qualiter Dauid amans mulieres propter hoc probitatem Armorum non minus excercuit.

King David hadde many a love,

Bot natheles alwey above

Knyhthode he kepte in such a wise,

That for no fleisshli covoitise

Of lust to ligge in ladi armes

He lefte noght the lust of armes.4350

For where a Prince hise lustes suieth,

That he the werre noght poursuieth,(4550*)

Whan it is time to ben armed,

His contre stant fulofte harmed,

Whan thenemis ben woxe bolde,

That thei defence non beholde.

Ful many a lond hath so be lore,1355

As men mai rede of time afore

Of hem that so here eses soghten,

Which after thei full diere aboghten.4360

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