Chapter 49

The more that the nede is hyh,The more it nedeth to be slyh[The Confessor Replies.]To him which hath the nede on honde.I have wel herd and understonde,Mi Sone, al that thou hast me seid,Hic super Amoris causa finita confessione, Confessor Genius Amanti ea que sibi salubrius expediunt, sano consilio finaliter iniungit.And ek of that thou hast me preid,Nou at this time that I schalAs for conclusioun final2070Conseile upon thi nede sette:1684So thenke I finaly to knetteThis cause, where it is tobroke,And make an ende of that is spoke.1685For I behihte thee that yifteFerst whan thou come under my schrifte,That thogh I toward Venus were,Yit spak I suche wordes there,That for the Presthod which I have,Min ordre and min astat to save,2080I seide I wolde of myn officeTo vertu more than to viceP. iii. 345Encline, and teche thee mi lore.Forthi to speken overmoreOf love, which thee mai availe,Tak love where it mai noght faile:1686For as of this which thou art inne,Be that thou seist it is a Sinne,And Sinne mai no pris deserve,Withoute pris and who schal serve,2090I not what profit myhte availe.Thus folweth it, if thou travaile,Wher thou no profit hast ne pris,Thou art toward thiself unwis:And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne,1687Of every lust thende is a peine,And every peine is good to fle;So it is wonder thing to se,1688Why such a thing schal be desired.The more that a Stock is fyred,2100The rathere into Aisshe it torneth;The fot which in the weie spornethFulofte his heved hath overthrowe;Thus love is blind and can noght knowe1689Wher that he goth, til he be falle:Forthi, bot if it so befalle1690With good conseil that he be lad,Him oghte forto ben adrad.For conseil passeth alle thingTo him which thenkth to ben a king;2110And every man for his partieA kingdom hath to justefie,P. iii. 346That is to sein his oghne dom.If he misreule that kingdom,He lest himself, and that is moreThan if he loste Schip and OreAnd al the worldes good withal:For what man that in specialHath noght himself, he hath noght elles,Nomor the perles than the schelles;2120Al is to him of o value:Thogh he hadde at his retenueThe wyde world riht as he wolde,Whan he his herte hath noght withholdeToward himself, al is in vein.And thus, my Sone, I wolde sein,As I seide er, that thou aryse,Er that thou falle in such a wiseThat thou ne myht thiself rekevere:For love, which that blind was evere,2130Makth alle his servantz blinde also.My Sone, and if thou have be so,Yit is it time to withdrawe,And set thin herte under that lawe,1691The which of reson is governedAnd noght of will. And to be lerned,Ensamples thou hast many onOf now and ek of time gon,1692That every lust is bot a while;And who that wole himself beguile,2140He may the rathere be deceived.Mi Sone, now thou hast conceivedP. iii. 347Somwhat of that I wolde mene;Hierafterward it schal be seneIf that thou lieve upon mi lore;For I can do to thee nomoreBot teche thee the rihte weie:Now ches if thou wolt live or deie.[The Controversy.]Mi fader, so as I have herdYour tale, bot it were ansuerd,2150Hic loquitur de controuersia, que inter Confessorem et Amantem in fine confessionis versabatur.I were mochel forto blame.Mi wo to you is bot a game,That fielen noght of that I fiele;1693The fielinge of a mannes HieleMai noght be likned to the Herte:I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte,And ye be fre from al the peineOf love, wherof I me pleigne.It is riht esi to comaunde;The hert which fre goth on the launde2160Not of an Oxe what him eileth;It falleth ofte a man merveilethOf that he seth an other fare,Bot if he knewe himself the fare,And felt it as it is in soth,He scholde don riht as he doth,Or elles werse in his degre:For wel I wot, and so do ye,That love hath evere yit ben used,So mot I nedes ben excused.2170Bot, fader, if ye wolde thusUnto Cupide and to VenusP. iii. 348Be frendlich toward mi querele,So that myn herte were in heleOf love which is in mi briest,I wot wel thanne a betre PrestWas nevere mad to my behove.Bot al the whiles that I hove1694In noncertein betwen the tuo,1695And not if I to wel or wo16962180Schal torne, that is al my drede,So that I not what is to rede.Bot for final conclusionI thenke a SupplicacionWith pleine wordes and expresseWryte unto Venus the goddesse,The which I preie you to bereAnd bringe ayein a good ansuere.Tho was betwen mi Prest and meDebat and gret perplexete:2190Mi resoun understod him wel,And knew it was soth everydelThat he hath seid, bot noght forthiMi will hath nothing set therby.For techinge of so wis a port1697Is unto love of no desport;Yit myhte nevere man beholdeReson, wher love was withholde,Thei be noght of o governance.And thus we fellen in distance,2200Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire,And thurgh mi wordes debonaireP. iii. 349Thanne ate laste we acorden,1698So that he seith he wol recordenTo speke and stonde upon mi sydeTo Venus bothe and to Cupide;And bad me wryte what I wolde,And seith me trewly that he scholdeMi lettre here unto the queene.And I sat doun upon the grene2210[The Supplication.]Fulfilt of loves fantasie,And with the teres of myn ÿeIn stede of enke I gan to wryteThe wordes whiche I wolde endite1699Unto Cupide and to Venus,And in mi lettre I seide thus.The wofull peine of loves maladie,Hic tractat formam cuiusdam Supplicacionis, quam ex parte Amantis per manus Genii Sacerdotis sui Venus sibi porrectam acceptabat.Ayein the which mai no phisique availe,Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie,That wher so that I reste or I travaile,17002220I finde it evere redy to assaileMi resoun, which that can him noght defende:Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende.Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne,Ther finde I hou that every creatureSom time ayer hath love in his demeine,So that the litel wrenne in his mesureHath yit of kinde a love under his cure;1701And I bot on desire, of which I misse:And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse.2230P. iii. 350The resoun of my wit it overpasseth,Of that Nature techeth me the weieTo love, and yit no certein sche compassethHou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweieI stonde, and not if I schal live or deie.For thogh reson ayein my will debate,I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate.Upon miself is thilke tale come,Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde,With love wrastlede and was overcome:17022240For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde,That I no strengthe in al min herte finde,Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe;So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe.Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave,Or helpeles he schal his nede spille:Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have,1703Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille;And als so wel I mihte sitte stille,As preie unto mi lady eny helpe:2250Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe.1704Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde,To do me grace of thilke swete tunne,Which under keie in his celier amiddeLith couched, that fortune is overrunne,Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne,I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game;1705For evere I axe and evere it is the same.P. iii. 351I se the world stonde evere upon eschange,Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe;2260I mai sen ek the grete mone change,And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte;The dredfull werres into pes fulofteThei torne; and evere is Danger in o place,Which wol noght change his will to do me grace.Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide,Of love whan he makth his remembrance,He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide,The which hath love under his governance,And in his hond with many a fyri lance17062270He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele;And that somdiel is cause of mi querele.1707Ovide ek seith that love to parforneStant in the hond of Venus the goddesse,Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne,Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse,Began mi love, of which myn hevynesseIs now and evere schal, bot if I spede:So wot I noght miself what is to rede.Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe,2280With al myn hertes obeissance I preie,If ye were ate ferste time wrothe,Whan I began to love, as I you seie,Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie,1708So that Danger, which stant of retenueWith my ladi, his place mai remue.P. iii. 352O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe,That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyreMin herte, do that wounde be withdrawe,Or yif me Salve such as I desire:2290For Service in thi Court withouten hyreTo me, which evere yit have kept thin heste,Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste.O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene,1709Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche;Thou wost my peine is evere aliche greneFor love, and yit I mai it noght areche:This wold I for my laste word beseche,1710That thou mi love aquite as I deserve,Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve.2300[Venus replies to the Supplication.]Whanne I this SupplicaciounWith good deliberacioun,Hic loquitur qualiter Venus, accepta Amantis Supplicacione, indilate ad singula respondit.In such a wise as ye nou wite,Hadde after min entente writeUnto Cupide and to Venus,This Prest which hihte GeniusIt tok on honde to presente,On my message and forth he wenteTo Venus, forto wite hire wille.And I bod in the place stille,2310And was there bot a litel while,Noght full the montance of a Mile,Whan I behield and sodeinlyI sih wher Venus stod me by.P. iii. 353So as I myhte, under a treTo grounde I fell upon mi kne,And preide hire forto do me grace:Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face,And as it were halvinge a game1711Sche axeth me what is mi name.17122320‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘John Gower.’‘Now John,’ quod sche, ‘in my pouerThou most as of thi love stonde;For I thi bille have understonde,In which to Cupide and to meSomdiel thou hast compleigned thee,And somdiel to Nature also.Bot that schal stonde among you tuo,For therof have I noght to done;For Nature is under the Mone2330Maistresse of every lives kinde,Bot if so be that sche mai finde1713Som holy man that wol withdraweHis kindly lust ayein hir lawe;1714Bot sielde whanne it falleth so,For fewe men ther ben of tho,Bot of these othre ynowe be,Whiche of here oghne nyceteAyein Nature and hire officeDeliten hem in sondri vice,2340Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned,And ek my Court it hath desdeigned1715And evere schal; for it receivethNon such that kinde so deceiveth.P. iii. 354For al onliche of gentil loveMi court stant alle courtz aboveAnd takth noght into retenueBot thing which is to kinde due,For elles it schal be refused.Wherof I holde thee excused,2350For it is manye daies gon,That thou amonges hem were onWhich of my court hast ben withholde;So that the more I am beholdeOf thi desese to commune,And to remue that fortune,Which manye daies hath the grieved.Bot if my conseil mai be lieved,Thou schalt ben esed er thou goOf thilke unsely jolif wo,2360Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred:Bot as of that thou hast desiredAfter the sentence of thi bille,Thou most therof don at my wille,And I therof me wole avise.For be thou hol, it schal suffise:Mi medicine is noght to sieke1716For thee and for suche olde sieke,1717Noght al per chance as ye it wolden,1718Bot so as ye be reson scholden,2370Acordant unto loves kinde.1719For in the plit which I thee finde,So as mi court it hath awarded,Thou schalt be duely rewarded;P. iii. 355And if thou woldest more crave,It is no riht that thou it have.’iii.Qui cupit id quod habere nequit, sua tempora perdit,Est vbi non posse, velle salute caret.Non estatis opus gelidis hirsuta capillis,Cum calor abcessit, equiperabit hiems;Sicut habet Mayus non dat natura Decembri,Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutum;Sic neque decrepita senium iuvenile voluptasFloret in obsequium, quod Venus ipsa petit.1720Conveniens igitur foret, vt quos cana senectusAttigit, vlterius corpora casta colant.(10)Venus, which stant withoute laweIn noncertein, bot as men draweHic in exemplum contra quoscunque viros inveteratos amoris concupiscenciam affectantes loquitur Venus, huiusque Amantis Confessi supplicacionem quasi deridens, ipsum pro eo quod senex et debilis est, multis exhortacionibus insufficientem redarguit.1721Of Rageman upon the chance,Sche leith no peis in the balance,2380Bot as hir lyketh forto weie;The trewe man fulofte aweieSche put, which hath hir grace bede,And set an untrewe in his stede.Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemethIn loves cause, as tome siemeth:1722I not what othre men wol sein,1723Bot I algate am so besein,And stonde as on amonges alleWhich am out of hir grace falle:2390It nedeth take no witnesse,For sche which seid is the goddesse,To whether part of love it wende,Hath sett me for a final endeThe point wherto that I schal holde.For whan sche hath me wel beholde,P. iii. 356Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus:‘Thou wost wel that I am Venus,Which al only my lustes seche;And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche2400Mi love, lustes ben ther none,Whiche I mai take in thi persone;For loves lust and lockes hore1724In chambre acorden neveremore,And thogh thou feigne a yong corage,It scheweth wel be the visageThat olde grisel is no fole:There ben fulmanye yeres stoleWith thee and with suche othre mo,1725That outward feignen youthe so2410And ben withinne of pore assay.Min herte wolde and I ne mayIs noght beloved nou adayes;Er thou make eny suche assaiesTo love, and faile upon the fet,Betre is to make a beau retret;For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne,Yit were it bot an ydel peine,Whan that thou art noght sufficantTo holde love his covenant.2420Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein,That thou travaile noght in vein,Wherof my Court may be deceived.I wot and have it wel conceived,Hou that thi will is good ynowh;Bot mor behoveth to the plowh,P. iii. 357Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe:So sitte it wel that thou beknowe1726Thi fieble astat, er thou beginneThing wher thou miht non ende winne.2430What bargain scholde a man assaie,Whan that him lacketh forto paie?Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght,1727This toucheth thee; foryet it noght:The thing is torned into was;That which was whilom grene gras,1728Is welked hey at time now.1729Forthi mi conseil is that thouRemembre wel hou thou art old.’[The Companies of Lovers.]Whan Venus hath hir tale told,2440And I bethoght was al aboute,1730Qualiter super derisoria Veneris exhortacione contristatus Amans, quasi mortuus in terram corruit, vbi, vt sibi videbatur, Cupidinem cum innumera multitudine nuper Amantum variis turmis assistencium conspiciebat.Tho wiste I wel withoute doute,1731That ther was no recoverir;And as a man the blase of fyrWith water quencheth, so ferd I;1732A cold me cawhte sodeinly,1733For sorwe that myn herte madeMi dedly face pale and fadeBecam, and swoune I fell to grounde.And as I lay the same stounde,2450Ne fully quik ne fully ded,Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hedCupide with his bowe bent,And lich unto a Parlement,Which were ordeigned for the nones,With him cam al the world at onesP. iii. 358Of gentil folk that whilom wereLovers, I sih hem alle thereForth with Cupide in sondri routes.Min yhe and as I caste aboutes,2460To knowe among hem who was who,I sih wher lusty Youthe tho,1734As he which was a Capitein,Tofore alle othre upon the pleinStod with his route wel begon,Here hevedes kempt, and theruponGarlandes noght of o colour,Some of the lef, some of the flour,And some of grete Perles were;The newe guise of Beawme there,2470With sondri thinges wel devised,I sih, wherof thei ben queintised.It was al lust that thei with ferde,Ther was no song that I ne herde,Which unto love was touchende;Of Pan and al that was likende1735As in Pipinge of melodieWas herd in thilke compaignieSo lowde, that on every sideIt thoghte as al the hevene cride2480In such acord and such a sounOf bombard and of clarionWith Cornemuse and Schallemele,That it was half a mannes heleSo glad a noise forto hiere.And as me thoghte, in this manereP. iii. 359Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance,And do to love her entendanceAfter the lust of youthes heste.Ther was ynowh of joie and feste,2490For evere among thei laghe and pleie,And putten care out of the weie,That he with hem ne sat ne stod.And overthis I understod,So as myn Ere it myhte areche,The moste matiere of her specheWas al of knyhthod and of Armes,1736And what it is to ligge in armesWith love, whanne it is achieved.De nominibus illorum nuper Amantum, qui tunc Amanti spasmato, aliqui iuuenes, aliqui senes, apparuerunt. Senes autem precipue tam erga deum quam deam amoris pro sanitate Amantis recuperanda multiplicatis precibus misericorditer instabant.Ther was Tristram, which was believed2500With bele Ysolde, and LancelotStod with Gunnore, and GalahotWith his ladi, and as me thoghte,I syh wher Jason with him broghteHis love, which that Creusa hihte,And Hercules, which mochel myhte,Was ther berende his grete Mace,And most of alle in thilke placeHe peyneth him to make chiereWith Eolen, which was him diere.2510Theseüs, thogh he were untreweTo love, as alle wommen knewe,Yit was he there nathelesWith Phedra, whom to love he ches:Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon,Which fro the king LamenedonP. iii. 360At Troie his doghter refte aweie,Eseonen, as for his preie,Which take was whan Jason camFro Colchos, and the Cite nam2520In vengance of the ferste hate;That made hem after to debate,Whan Priamus the newe tounHath mad. And in avisiounMe thoghte that I sih alsoEctor forth with his brethren tuo;Himself stod with Pantaselee,And next to him I myhte se,Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine,Which was his joie sovereine;2530And Troilus stod with Criseide,Bot evere among, althogh he pleide,Be semblant he was hevy chiered,For Diomede, as him was liered,Cleymeth to ben his parconner.And thus full many a bacheler,A thousend mo than I can sein,With Yowthe I sih ther wel beseinForth with here loves glade and blithe.And some I sih whiche ofte sithe2540Compleignen hem in other wise;Among the whiche I syh NarciseAnd Piramus, that sory were.1737The worthy Grek also was there,Achilles, which for love deide:Agamenon ek, as men seide,P. iii. 361And Menelay the king alsoI syh, with many an other mo,Which hadden be fortuned soreIn loves cause.And overmore2550Of wommen in the same cas,With hem I sih wher Dido was,Forsake which was with Enee;And Phillis ek I myhte see,Whom Demephon deceived hadde;And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde,For Theseüs hir Soster tokAnd hire unkindely forsok.I sih ther ek among the pressCompleignende upon Hercules2560His ferste love Deyanire,Which sette him afterward afyre:Medea was there ek and pleignethUpon Jason, for that he feigneth,Withoute cause and tok a newe;Sche seide, ‘Fy on alle untrewe!’I sih there ek Deÿdamie,Which hadde lost the compaignieOf Achilles, whan DiomedeTo Troie him fette upon the nede.2570Among these othre upon the greneI syh also the wofull queeneCleopatras, which in a Cave1738With Serpentz hath hirself begraveAlquik, and so sche was totore,1739For sorwe of that sche hadde loreP. iii. 362Antonye, which hir love hath be:And forth with hire I sih Tisbee,Which on the scharpe swerdes pointFor love deide in sory point;2580And as myn Ere it myhte knowe,She seide, ‘Wo worthe alle slowe!’The pleignte of Progne and PhilomeneTher herde I what it wolde mene,How Tereüs of his untroutheUndede hem bothe, and that was routhe;And next to hem I sih Canace,Which for Machaire hir fader graceHath lost, and deide in wofull plit.And as I sih in my spirit,2590Me thoghte amonges othre thusThe doghter of king Priamus,Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh,Was there and made sorwe ynowh,As sche which deide gultelesFor love, and yit was loveles.And forto take the desport,I sih there some of other port,1740And that was Circes and Calipse,That cowthen do the Mone eclipse,2600Of men and change the liknesses,Of Artmagique Sorceresses;Thei hielde in honde manyon,To love wher thei wolde or non.Bot above alle that ther wereOf wommen I sih foure there,P. iii. 363Whos name I herde most comended:Be hem the Court stod al amended;For wher thei comen in presence,Men deden hem the reverence,2610As thogh they hadden be goddesses,Of al this world or Emperesses.And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide,And herde hou that these othre seide,‘Lo, these ben the foure wyves,Whos feith was proeved in her lyves:For in essample of alle goodeWith Mariage so thei stode,That fame, which no gret thing hydeth,Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth.’2620Penolope that on was hote,Whom many a knyht hath loved hote,Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay1741Full many a yer and many a dayUpon the grete Siege of Troie:Bot sche, which hath no worldes joieBot only of hire housebonde,Whil that hir lord was out of londe,So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede,That al the world therof tok hiede,2630And nameliche of hem in Grece.That other womman was Lucrece,Wif to the Romain Collatin;And sche constreigned of TarquinTo thing which was ayein hir wille,Sche wolde noght hirselven stille,P. iii. 364Bot deide only for drede of schameIn keping of hire goode name,As sche which was on of the beste.The thridde wif was hote Alceste,2640Which whanne Ametus scholde dyeUpon his grete maladye,Sche preide unto the goddes so,That sche receyveth al the woAnd deide hirself to yive him lif:Lo, if this were a noble wif.1742The ferthe wif which I ther sih,I herde of hem that were nyhHou sche was cleped Alcione,Which to Seyix hir lord al one17432650And to nomo hir body kepte;And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepteInto the wawes where he swam,1744And there a Sefoul sche becam,And with hire wenges him bespraddeFor love which to him sche hadde.1745Lo, these foure were thoWhiche I sih, as me thoghte tho,Among the grete compaignieWhich Love hadde forto guye:2660Bot Youthe, which in specialOf Loves Court was Mareschal,So besy was upon his lay,That he non hiede where I lay1746Hath take. And thanne, as I behield,Me thoghte I sih upon the field,P. iii. 365Where Elde cam a softe pasToward Venus, ther as sche was.With him gret compaignie he ladde,Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde:17472670The moste part were of gret Age,And that was sene in the visage,1748And noght forthi, so as thei myhte,Thei made hem yongly to the sihte:Bot yit herde I no pipe there1749To make noise in mannes Ere,1750Bot the Musette I myhte knowe,For olde men which souneth lowe,1751With Harpe and Lute and with Citole.The hovedance and the Carole,2680In such a wise as love hath bede,A softe pas thei dance and trede;And with the wommen otherwhileWith sobre chier among thei smyle,For laghtre was ther non on hyh.And natheles full wel I syhThat thei the more queinte it madeFor love, in whom thei weren glade.And there me thoghte I myhte seThe king David with Bersabee,2690And Salomon was noght withoute;Passende an hundred on a routeOf wyves and of Concubines,Juesses bothe and Sarazines,1752To him I sih alle entendant:I not if he was sufficant,1753P. iii. 366Bot natheles for al his witHe was attached with that writWhich love with his hond enseleth,Fro whom non erthly man appeleth.2700And overthis, as for a wonder,1754With his leon which he put under,1755With Dalida Sampson I knew,Whos love his strengthe al overthrew.I syh there Aristotle also,Whom that the queene of Grece so1756Hath bridled, that in thilke timeSche made him such a Silogime,That he foryat al his logique;Ther was non art of his Practique,2710Thurgh which it mihte ben excludedThat he ne was fully concludedTo love, and dede his obeissance.And ek Virgile of aqueintanceI sih, wher he the Maiden preide,Which was the doghter, as men seide,Of themperour whilom of Rome;Sortes and Plato with him come,So dede Ovide the Poete.I thoghte thanne how love is swete,2720Which hath so wise men reclamed,And was miself the lasse aschamed,Or forto lese or forto winneIn the meschief that I was inne:And thus I lay in hope of grace.And whan thei comen to the placeP. iii. 367Wher Venus stod and I was falle,These olde men, with o vois alleTo Venus preiden for my sake.And sche, that myhte noght forsake2730So gret a clamour as was there,Let Pite come into hire Ere;And forth withal unto CupideSche preith that he upon his sideMe wolde thurgh his grace sendeSom confort, that I myhte amende,Upon the cas which is befalle.And thus for me thei preiden alleOf hem that weren olde aboute,And ek some of the yonge route,2740Of gentilesse and pure troutheI herde hem telle it was gret routhe,That I withouten help so ferde.And thus me thoghte I lay and herde.

The more that the nede is hyh,

The more it nedeth to be slyh

[The Confessor Replies.]

To him which hath the nede on honde.

I have wel herd and understonde,

Mi Sone, al that thou hast me seid,

Hic super Amoris causa finita confessione, Confessor Genius Amanti ea que sibi salubrius expediunt, sano consilio finaliter iniungit.

And ek of that thou hast me preid,

Nou at this time that I schal

As for conclusioun final2070

Conseile upon thi nede sette:1684

So thenke I finaly to knette

This cause, where it is tobroke,

And make an ende of that is spoke.1685

For I behihte thee that yifte

Ferst whan thou come under my schrifte,

That thogh I toward Venus were,

Yit spak I suche wordes there,

That for the Presthod which I have,

Min ordre and min astat to save,2080

I seide I wolde of myn office

To vertu more than to vice

P. iii. 345

Encline, and teche thee mi lore.

Forthi to speken overmore

Of love, which thee mai availe,

Tak love where it mai noght faile:1686

For as of this which thou art inne,

Be that thou seist it is a Sinne,

And Sinne mai no pris deserve,

Withoute pris and who schal serve,2090

I not what profit myhte availe.

Thus folweth it, if thou travaile,

Wher thou no profit hast ne pris,

Thou art toward thiself unwis:

And sett thou myhtest lust atteigne,1687

Of every lust thende is a peine,

And every peine is good to fle;

So it is wonder thing to se,1688

Why such a thing schal be desired.

The more that a Stock is fyred,2100

The rathere into Aisshe it torneth;

The fot which in the weie sporneth

Fulofte his heved hath overthrowe;

Thus love is blind and can noght knowe1689

Wher that he goth, til he be falle:

Forthi, bot if it so befalle1690

With good conseil that he be lad,

Him oghte forto ben adrad.

For conseil passeth alle thing

To him which thenkth to ben a king;2110

And every man for his partie

A kingdom hath to justefie,

P. iii. 346

That is to sein his oghne dom.

If he misreule that kingdom,

He lest himself, and that is more

Than if he loste Schip and Ore

And al the worldes good withal:

For what man that in special

Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles,

Nomor the perles than the schelles;2120

Al is to him of o value:

Thogh he hadde at his retenue

The wyde world riht as he wolde,

Whan he his herte hath noght withholde

Toward himself, al is in vein.

And thus, my Sone, I wolde sein,

As I seide er, that thou aryse,

Er that thou falle in such a wise

That thou ne myht thiself rekevere:

For love, which that blind was evere,2130

Makth alle his servantz blinde also.

My Sone, and if thou have be so,

Yit is it time to withdrawe,

And set thin herte under that lawe,1691

The which of reson is governed

And noght of will. And to be lerned,

Ensamples thou hast many on

Of now and ek of time gon,1692

That every lust is bot a while;

And who that wole himself beguile,2140

He may the rathere be deceived.

Mi Sone, now thou hast conceived

P. iii. 347

Somwhat of that I wolde mene;

Hierafterward it schal be sene

If that thou lieve upon mi lore;

For I can do to thee nomore

Bot teche thee the rihte weie:

Now ches if thou wolt live or deie.

[The Controversy.]Mi fader, so as I have herdYour tale, bot it were ansuerd,2150Hic loquitur de controuersia, que inter Confessorem et Amantem in fine confessionis versabatur.I were mochel forto blame.Mi wo to you is bot a game,That fielen noght of that I fiele;1693The fielinge of a mannes HieleMai noght be likned to the Herte:I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte,And ye be fre from al the peineOf love, wherof I me pleigne.It is riht esi to comaunde;The hert which fre goth on the launde2160Not of an Oxe what him eileth;It falleth ofte a man merveilethOf that he seth an other fare,Bot if he knewe himself the fare,And felt it as it is in soth,He scholde don riht as he doth,Or elles werse in his degre:For wel I wot, and so do ye,That love hath evere yit ben used,So mot I nedes ben excused.2170Bot, fader, if ye wolde thusUnto Cupide and to VenusP. iii. 348Be frendlich toward mi querele,So that myn herte were in heleOf love which is in mi briest,I wot wel thanne a betre PrestWas nevere mad to my behove.Bot al the whiles that I hove1694In noncertein betwen the tuo,1695And not if I to wel or wo16962180Schal torne, that is al my drede,So that I not what is to rede.Bot for final conclusionI thenke a SupplicacionWith pleine wordes and expresseWryte unto Venus the goddesse,The which I preie you to bereAnd bringe ayein a good ansuere.Tho was betwen mi Prest and meDebat and gret perplexete:2190Mi resoun understod him wel,And knew it was soth everydelThat he hath seid, bot noght forthiMi will hath nothing set therby.For techinge of so wis a port1697Is unto love of no desport;Yit myhte nevere man beholdeReson, wher love was withholde,Thei be noght of o governance.And thus we fellen in distance,2200Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire,And thurgh mi wordes debonaireP. iii. 349Thanne ate laste we acorden,1698So that he seith he wol recordenTo speke and stonde upon mi sydeTo Venus bothe and to Cupide;And bad me wryte what I wolde,And seith me trewly that he scholdeMi lettre here unto the queene.And I sat doun upon the grene2210[The Supplication.]Fulfilt of loves fantasie,And with the teres of myn ÿeIn stede of enke I gan to wryteThe wordes whiche I wolde endite1699Unto Cupide and to Venus,And in mi lettre I seide thus.

[The Controversy.]

Mi fader, so as I have herd

Your tale, bot it were ansuerd,2150

Hic loquitur de controuersia, que inter Confessorem et Amantem in fine confessionis versabatur.

I were mochel forto blame.

Mi wo to you is bot a game,

That fielen noght of that I fiele;1693

The fielinge of a mannes Hiele

Mai noght be likned to the Herte:

I mai noght, thogh I wolde, asterte,

And ye be fre from al the peine

Of love, wherof I me pleigne.

It is riht esi to comaunde;

The hert which fre goth on the launde2160

Not of an Oxe what him eileth;

It falleth ofte a man merveileth

Of that he seth an other fare,

Bot if he knewe himself the fare,

And felt it as it is in soth,

He scholde don riht as he doth,

Or elles werse in his degre:

For wel I wot, and so do ye,

That love hath evere yit ben used,

So mot I nedes ben excused.2170

Bot, fader, if ye wolde thus

Unto Cupide and to Venus

P. iii. 348

Be frendlich toward mi querele,

So that myn herte were in hele

Of love which is in mi briest,

I wot wel thanne a betre Prest

Was nevere mad to my behove.

Bot al the whiles that I hove1694

In noncertein betwen the tuo,1695

And not if I to wel or wo16962180

Schal torne, that is al my drede,

So that I not what is to rede.

Bot for final conclusion

I thenke a Supplicacion

With pleine wordes and expresse

Wryte unto Venus the goddesse,

The which I preie you to bere

And bringe ayein a good ansuere.

Tho was betwen mi Prest and me

Debat and gret perplexete:2190

Mi resoun understod him wel,

And knew it was soth everydel

That he hath seid, bot noght forthi

Mi will hath nothing set therby.

For techinge of so wis a port1697

Is unto love of no desport;

Yit myhte nevere man beholde

Reson, wher love was withholde,

Thei be noght of o governance.

And thus we fellen in distance,2200

Mi Prest and I, bot I spak faire,

And thurgh mi wordes debonaire

P. iii. 349

Thanne ate laste we acorden,1698

So that he seith he wol recorden

To speke and stonde upon mi syde

To Venus bothe and to Cupide;

And bad me wryte what I wolde,

And seith me trewly that he scholde

Mi lettre here unto the queene.

And I sat doun upon the grene2210

[The Supplication.]

Fulfilt of loves fantasie,

And with the teres of myn ÿe

In stede of enke I gan to wryte

The wordes whiche I wolde endite1699

Unto Cupide and to Venus,

And in mi lettre I seide thus.

The wofull peine of loves maladie,Hic tractat formam cuiusdam Supplicacionis, quam ex parte Amantis per manus Genii Sacerdotis sui Venus sibi porrectam acceptabat.Ayein the which mai no phisique availe,Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie,That wher so that I reste or I travaile,17002220I finde it evere redy to assaileMi resoun, which that can him noght defende:Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende.

The wofull peine of loves maladie,

Hic tractat formam cuiusdam Supplicacionis, quam ex parte Amantis per manus Genii Sacerdotis sui Venus sibi porrectam acceptabat.

Ayein the which mai no phisique availe,

Min herte hath so bewhaped with sotie,

That wher so that I reste or I travaile,17002220

I finde it evere redy to assaile

Mi resoun, which that can him noght defende:

Thus seche I help, wherof I mihte amende.

Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne,Ther finde I hou that every creatureSom time ayer hath love in his demeine,So that the litel wrenne in his mesureHath yit of kinde a love under his cure;1701And I bot on desire, of which I misse:And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse.2230

Ferst to Nature if that I me compleigne,

Ther finde I hou that every creature

Som time ayer hath love in his demeine,

So that the litel wrenne in his mesure

Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure;1701

And I bot on desire, of which I misse:

And thus, bot I, hath every kinde his blisse.2230

P. iii. 350The resoun of my wit it overpasseth,Of that Nature techeth me the weieTo love, and yit no certein sche compassethHou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweieI stonde, and not if I schal live or deie.For thogh reson ayein my will debate,I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate.

P. iii. 350

The resoun of my wit it overpasseth,

Of that Nature techeth me the weie

To love, and yit no certein sche compasseth

Hou I schal spede, and thus betwen the tweie

I stonde, and not if I schal live or deie.

For thogh reson ayein my will debate,

I mai noght fle, that I ne love algate.

Upon miself is thilke tale come,Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde,With love wrastlede and was overcome:17022240For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde,That I no strengthe in al min herte finde,Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe;So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe.

Upon miself is thilke tale come,

Hou whilom Pan, which is the god of kinde,

With love wrastlede and was overcome:17022240

For evere I wrastle and evere I am behinde,

That I no strengthe in al min herte finde,

Wherof that I mai stonden eny throwe;

So fer mi wit with love is overthrowe.

Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave,Or helpeles he schal his nede spille:Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have,1703Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille;And als so wel I mihte sitte stille,As preie unto mi lady eny helpe:2250Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe.1704

Whom nedeth help, he mot his helpe crave,

Or helpeles he schal his nede spille:

Pleinly thurghsoght my wittes alle I have,1703

Bot non of hem can helpe after mi wille;

And als so wel I mihte sitte stille,

As preie unto mi lady eny helpe:2250

Thus wot I noght wherof miself to helpe.1704

Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde,To do me grace of thilke swete tunne,Which under keie in his celier amiddeLith couched, that fortune is overrunne,Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne,I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game;1705For evere I axe and evere it is the same.

Unto the grete Jove and if I bidde,

To do me grace of thilke swete tunne,

Which under keie in his celier amidde

Lith couched, that fortune is overrunne,

Bot of the bitter cuppe I have begunne,

I not hou ofte, and thus finde I no game;1705

For evere I axe and evere it is the same.

P. iii. 351I se the world stonde evere upon eschange,Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe;2260I mai sen ek the grete mone change,And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte;The dredfull werres into pes fulofteThei torne; and evere is Danger in o place,Which wol noght change his will to do me grace.

P. iii. 351

I se the world stonde evere upon eschange,

Nou wyndes loude, and nou the weder softe;2260

I mai sen ek the grete mone change,

And thing which nou is lowe is eft alofte;

The dredfull werres into pes fulofte

Thei torne; and evere is Danger in o place,

Which wol noght change his will to do me grace.

Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide,Of love whan he makth his remembrance,He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide,The which hath love under his governance,And in his hond with many a fyri lance17062270He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele;And that somdiel is cause of mi querele.1707

Bot upon this the grete clerc Ovide,

Of love whan he makth his remembrance,

He seith ther is the blinde god Cupide,

The which hath love under his governance,

And in his hond with many a fyri lance17062270

He woundeth ofte, ther he wol noght hele;

And that somdiel is cause of mi querele.1707

Ovide ek seith that love to parforneStant in the hond of Venus the goddesse,Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne,Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse,Began mi love, of which myn hevynesseIs now and evere schal, bot if I spede:So wot I noght miself what is to rede.

Ovide ek seith that love to parforne

Stant in the hond of Venus the goddesse,

Bot whan sche takth hir conseil with Satorne,

Ther is no grace, and in that time, I gesse,

Began mi love, of which myn hevynesse

Is now and evere schal, bot if I spede:

So wot I noght miself what is to rede.

Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe,2280With al myn hertes obeissance I preie,If ye were ate ferste time wrothe,Whan I began to love, as I you seie,Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie,1708So that Danger, which stant of retenueWith my ladi, his place mai remue.

Forthi to you, Cupide and Venus bothe,2280

With al myn hertes obeissance I preie,

If ye were ate ferste time wrothe,

Whan I began to love, as I you seie,

Nou stynt, and do thilke infortune aweie,1708

So that Danger, which stant of retenue

With my ladi, his place mai remue.

P. iii. 352O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe,That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyreMin herte, do that wounde be withdrawe,Or yif me Salve such as I desire:2290For Service in thi Court withouten hyreTo me, which evere yit have kept thin heste,Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste.

P. iii. 352

O thou Cupide, god of loves lawe,

That with thi Dart brennende hast set afyre

Min herte, do that wounde be withdrawe,

Or yif me Salve such as I desire:2290

For Service in thi Court withouten hyre

To me, which evere yit have kept thin heste,

Mai nevere be to loves lawe honeste.

O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene,1709Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche;Thou wost my peine is evere aliche greneFor love, and yit I mai it noght areche:This wold I for my laste word beseche,1710That thou mi love aquite as I deserve,Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve.2300

O thou, gentile Venus, loves queene,1709

Withoute gult thou dost on me thi wreche;

Thou wost my peine is evere aliche grene

For love, and yit I mai it noght areche:

This wold I for my laste word beseche,1710

That thou mi love aquite as I deserve,

Or elles do me pleinly forto sterve.2300

[Venus replies to the Supplication.]Whanne I this SupplicaciounWith good deliberacioun,Hic loquitur qualiter Venus, accepta Amantis Supplicacione, indilate ad singula respondit.In such a wise as ye nou wite,Hadde after min entente writeUnto Cupide and to Venus,This Prest which hihte GeniusIt tok on honde to presente,On my message and forth he wenteTo Venus, forto wite hire wille.And I bod in the place stille,2310And was there bot a litel while,Noght full the montance of a Mile,Whan I behield and sodeinlyI sih wher Venus stod me by.P. iii. 353So as I myhte, under a treTo grounde I fell upon mi kne,And preide hire forto do me grace:Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face,And as it were halvinge a game1711Sche axeth me what is mi name.17122320‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘John Gower.’‘Now John,’ quod sche, ‘in my pouerThou most as of thi love stonde;For I thi bille have understonde,In which to Cupide and to meSomdiel thou hast compleigned thee,And somdiel to Nature also.Bot that schal stonde among you tuo,For therof have I noght to done;For Nature is under the Mone2330Maistresse of every lives kinde,Bot if so be that sche mai finde1713Som holy man that wol withdraweHis kindly lust ayein hir lawe;1714Bot sielde whanne it falleth so,For fewe men ther ben of tho,Bot of these othre ynowe be,Whiche of here oghne nyceteAyein Nature and hire officeDeliten hem in sondri vice,2340Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned,And ek my Court it hath desdeigned1715And evere schal; for it receivethNon such that kinde so deceiveth.P. iii. 354For al onliche of gentil loveMi court stant alle courtz aboveAnd takth noght into retenueBot thing which is to kinde due,For elles it schal be refused.Wherof I holde thee excused,2350For it is manye daies gon,That thou amonges hem were onWhich of my court hast ben withholde;So that the more I am beholdeOf thi desese to commune,And to remue that fortune,Which manye daies hath the grieved.Bot if my conseil mai be lieved,Thou schalt ben esed er thou goOf thilke unsely jolif wo,2360Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred:Bot as of that thou hast desiredAfter the sentence of thi bille,Thou most therof don at my wille,And I therof me wole avise.For be thou hol, it schal suffise:Mi medicine is noght to sieke1716For thee and for suche olde sieke,1717Noght al per chance as ye it wolden,1718Bot so as ye be reson scholden,2370Acordant unto loves kinde.1719For in the plit which I thee finde,So as mi court it hath awarded,Thou schalt be duely rewarded;P. iii. 355And if thou woldest more crave,It is no riht that thou it have.’

[Venus replies to the Supplication.]

Whanne I this Supplicacioun

With good deliberacioun,

Hic loquitur qualiter Venus, accepta Amantis Supplicacione, indilate ad singula respondit.

In such a wise as ye nou wite,

Hadde after min entente write

Unto Cupide and to Venus,

This Prest which hihte Genius

It tok on honde to presente,

On my message and forth he wente

To Venus, forto wite hire wille.

And I bod in the place stille,2310

And was there bot a litel while,

Noght full the montance of a Mile,

Whan I behield and sodeinly

I sih wher Venus stod me by.

P. iii. 353

So as I myhte, under a tre

To grounde I fell upon mi kne,

And preide hire forto do me grace:

Sche caste hire chiere upon mi face,

And as it were halvinge a game1711

Sche axeth me what is mi name.17122320

‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘John Gower.’

‘Now John,’ quod sche, ‘in my pouer

Thou most as of thi love stonde;

For I thi bille have understonde,

In which to Cupide and to me

Somdiel thou hast compleigned thee,

And somdiel to Nature also.

Bot that schal stonde among you tuo,

For therof have I noght to done;

For Nature is under the Mone2330

Maistresse of every lives kinde,

Bot if so be that sche mai finde1713

Som holy man that wol withdrawe

His kindly lust ayein hir lawe;1714

Bot sielde whanne it falleth so,

For fewe men ther ben of tho,

Bot of these othre ynowe be,

Whiche of here oghne nycete

Ayein Nature and hire office

Deliten hem in sondri vice,2340

Wherof that sche fulofte hath pleigned,

And ek my Court it hath desdeigned1715

And evere schal; for it receiveth

Non such that kinde so deceiveth.

P. iii. 354

For al onliche of gentil love

Mi court stant alle courtz above

And takth noght into retenue

Bot thing which is to kinde due,

For elles it schal be refused.

Wherof I holde thee excused,2350

For it is manye daies gon,

That thou amonges hem were on

Which of my court hast ben withholde;

So that the more I am beholde

Of thi desese to commune,

And to remue that fortune,

Which manye daies hath the grieved.

Bot if my conseil mai be lieved,

Thou schalt ben esed er thou go

Of thilke unsely jolif wo,2360

Wherof thou seist thin herte is fyred:

Bot as of that thou hast desired

After the sentence of thi bille,

Thou most therof don at my wille,

And I therof me wole avise.

For be thou hol, it schal suffise:

Mi medicine is noght to sieke1716

For thee and for suche olde sieke,1717

Noght al per chance as ye it wolden,1718

Bot so as ye be reson scholden,2370

Acordant unto loves kinde.1719

For in the plit which I thee finde,

So as mi court it hath awarded,

Thou schalt be duely rewarded;

P. iii. 355

And if thou woldest more crave,

It is no riht that thou it have.’

iii.Qui cupit id quod habere nequit, sua tempora perdit,Est vbi non posse, velle salute caret.Non estatis opus gelidis hirsuta capillis,Cum calor abcessit, equiperabit hiems;Sicut habet Mayus non dat natura Decembri,Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutum;Sic neque decrepita senium iuvenile voluptasFloret in obsequium, quod Venus ipsa petit.1720Conveniens igitur foret, vt quos cana senectusAttigit, vlterius corpora casta colant.(10)

iii.Qui cupit id quod habere nequit, sua tempora perdit,

Est vbi non posse, velle salute caret.

Non estatis opus gelidis hirsuta capillis,

Cum calor abcessit, equiperabit hiems;

Sicut habet Mayus non dat natura Decembri,

Nec poterit compar floribus esse lutum;

Sic neque decrepita senium iuvenile voluptas

Floret in obsequium, quod Venus ipsa petit.1720

Conveniens igitur foret, vt quos cana senectus

Attigit, vlterius corpora casta colant.(10)

Venus, which stant withoute laweIn noncertein, bot as men draweHic in exemplum contra quoscunque viros inveteratos amoris concupiscenciam affectantes loquitur Venus, huiusque Amantis Confessi supplicacionem quasi deridens, ipsum pro eo quod senex et debilis est, multis exhortacionibus insufficientem redarguit.1721Of Rageman upon the chance,Sche leith no peis in the balance,2380Bot as hir lyketh forto weie;The trewe man fulofte aweieSche put, which hath hir grace bede,And set an untrewe in his stede.Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemethIn loves cause, as tome siemeth:1722I not what othre men wol sein,1723Bot I algate am so besein,And stonde as on amonges alleWhich am out of hir grace falle:2390It nedeth take no witnesse,For sche which seid is the goddesse,To whether part of love it wende,Hath sett me for a final endeThe point wherto that I schal holde.For whan sche hath me wel beholde,P. iii. 356Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus:‘Thou wost wel that I am Venus,Which al only my lustes seche;And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche2400Mi love, lustes ben ther none,Whiche I mai take in thi persone;For loves lust and lockes hore1724In chambre acorden neveremore,And thogh thou feigne a yong corage,It scheweth wel be the visageThat olde grisel is no fole:There ben fulmanye yeres stoleWith thee and with suche othre mo,1725That outward feignen youthe so2410And ben withinne of pore assay.Min herte wolde and I ne mayIs noght beloved nou adayes;Er thou make eny suche assaiesTo love, and faile upon the fet,Betre is to make a beau retret;For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne,Yit were it bot an ydel peine,Whan that thou art noght sufficantTo holde love his covenant.2420Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein,That thou travaile noght in vein,Wherof my Court may be deceived.I wot and have it wel conceived,Hou that thi will is good ynowh;Bot mor behoveth to the plowh,P. iii. 357Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe:So sitte it wel that thou beknowe1726Thi fieble astat, er thou beginneThing wher thou miht non ende winne.2430What bargain scholde a man assaie,Whan that him lacketh forto paie?Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght,1727This toucheth thee; foryet it noght:The thing is torned into was;That which was whilom grene gras,1728Is welked hey at time now.1729Forthi mi conseil is that thouRemembre wel hou thou art old.’[The Companies of Lovers.]Whan Venus hath hir tale told,2440And I bethoght was al aboute,1730Qualiter super derisoria Veneris exhortacione contristatus Amans, quasi mortuus in terram corruit, vbi, vt sibi videbatur, Cupidinem cum innumera multitudine nuper Amantum variis turmis assistencium conspiciebat.Tho wiste I wel withoute doute,1731That ther was no recoverir;And as a man the blase of fyrWith water quencheth, so ferd I;1732A cold me cawhte sodeinly,1733For sorwe that myn herte madeMi dedly face pale and fadeBecam, and swoune I fell to grounde.And as I lay the same stounde,2450Ne fully quik ne fully ded,Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hedCupide with his bowe bent,And lich unto a Parlement,Which were ordeigned for the nones,With him cam al the world at onesP. iii. 358Of gentil folk that whilom wereLovers, I sih hem alle thereForth with Cupide in sondri routes.Min yhe and as I caste aboutes,2460To knowe among hem who was who,I sih wher lusty Youthe tho,1734As he which was a Capitein,Tofore alle othre upon the pleinStod with his route wel begon,Here hevedes kempt, and theruponGarlandes noght of o colour,Some of the lef, some of the flour,And some of grete Perles were;The newe guise of Beawme there,2470With sondri thinges wel devised,I sih, wherof thei ben queintised.It was al lust that thei with ferde,Ther was no song that I ne herde,Which unto love was touchende;Of Pan and al that was likende1735As in Pipinge of melodieWas herd in thilke compaignieSo lowde, that on every sideIt thoghte as al the hevene cride2480In such acord and such a sounOf bombard and of clarionWith Cornemuse and Schallemele,That it was half a mannes heleSo glad a noise forto hiere.And as me thoghte, in this manereP. iii. 359Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance,And do to love her entendanceAfter the lust of youthes heste.Ther was ynowh of joie and feste,2490For evere among thei laghe and pleie,And putten care out of the weie,That he with hem ne sat ne stod.And overthis I understod,So as myn Ere it myhte areche,The moste matiere of her specheWas al of knyhthod and of Armes,1736And what it is to ligge in armesWith love, whanne it is achieved.De nominibus illorum nuper Amantum, qui tunc Amanti spasmato, aliqui iuuenes, aliqui senes, apparuerunt. Senes autem precipue tam erga deum quam deam amoris pro sanitate Amantis recuperanda multiplicatis precibus misericorditer instabant.Ther was Tristram, which was believed2500With bele Ysolde, and LancelotStod with Gunnore, and GalahotWith his ladi, and as me thoghte,I syh wher Jason with him broghteHis love, which that Creusa hihte,And Hercules, which mochel myhte,Was ther berende his grete Mace,And most of alle in thilke placeHe peyneth him to make chiereWith Eolen, which was him diere.2510Theseüs, thogh he were untreweTo love, as alle wommen knewe,Yit was he there nathelesWith Phedra, whom to love he ches:Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon,Which fro the king LamenedonP. iii. 360At Troie his doghter refte aweie,Eseonen, as for his preie,Which take was whan Jason camFro Colchos, and the Cite nam2520In vengance of the ferste hate;That made hem after to debate,Whan Priamus the newe tounHath mad. And in avisiounMe thoghte that I sih alsoEctor forth with his brethren tuo;Himself stod with Pantaselee,And next to him I myhte se,Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine,Which was his joie sovereine;2530And Troilus stod with Criseide,Bot evere among, althogh he pleide,Be semblant he was hevy chiered,For Diomede, as him was liered,Cleymeth to ben his parconner.And thus full many a bacheler,A thousend mo than I can sein,With Yowthe I sih ther wel beseinForth with here loves glade and blithe.And some I sih whiche ofte sithe2540Compleignen hem in other wise;Among the whiche I syh NarciseAnd Piramus, that sory were.1737The worthy Grek also was there,Achilles, which for love deide:Agamenon ek, as men seide,P. iii. 361And Menelay the king alsoI syh, with many an other mo,Which hadden be fortuned soreIn loves cause.And overmore2550Of wommen in the same cas,With hem I sih wher Dido was,Forsake which was with Enee;And Phillis ek I myhte see,Whom Demephon deceived hadde;And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde,For Theseüs hir Soster tokAnd hire unkindely forsok.I sih ther ek among the pressCompleignende upon Hercules2560His ferste love Deyanire,Which sette him afterward afyre:Medea was there ek and pleignethUpon Jason, for that he feigneth,Withoute cause and tok a newe;Sche seide, ‘Fy on alle untrewe!’I sih there ek Deÿdamie,Which hadde lost the compaignieOf Achilles, whan DiomedeTo Troie him fette upon the nede.2570Among these othre upon the greneI syh also the wofull queeneCleopatras, which in a Cave1738With Serpentz hath hirself begraveAlquik, and so sche was totore,1739For sorwe of that sche hadde loreP. iii. 362Antonye, which hir love hath be:And forth with hire I sih Tisbee,Which on the scharpe swerdes pointFor love deide in sory point;2580And as myn Ere it myhte knowe,She seide, ‘Wo worthe alle slowe!’The pleignte of Progne and PhilomeneTher herde I what it wolde mene,How Tereüs of his untroutheUndede hem bothe, and that was routhe;And next to hem I sih Canace,Which for Machaire hir fader graceHath lost, and deide in wofull plit.And as I sih in my spirit,2590Me thoghte amonges othre thusThe doghter of king Priamus,Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh,Was there and made sorwe ynowh,As sche which deide gultelesFor love, and yit was loveles.And forto take the desport,I sih there some of other port,1740And that was Circes and Calipse,That cowthen do the Mone eclipse,2600Of men and change the liknesses,Of Artmagique Sorceresses;Thei hielde in honde manyon,To love wher thei wolde or non.Bot above alle that ther wereOf wommen I sih foure there,P. iii. 363Whos name I herde most comended:Be hem the Court stod al amended;For wher thei comen in presence,Men deden hem the reverence,2610As thogh they hadden be goddesses,Of al this world or Emperesses.And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide,And herde hou that these othre seide,‘Lo, these ben the foure wyves,Whos feith was proeved in her lyves:For in essample of alle goodeWith Mariage so thei stode,That fame, which no gret thing hydeth,Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth.’2620Penolope that on was hote,Whom many a knyht hath loved hote,Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay1741Full many a yer and many a dayUpon the grete Siege of Troie:Bot sche, which hath no worldes joieBot only of hire housebonde,Whil that hir lord was out of londe,So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede,That al the world therof tok hiede,2630And nameliche of hem in Grece.That other womman was Lucrece,Wif to the Romain Collatin;And sche constreigned of TarquinTo thing which was ayein hir wille,Sche wolde noght hirselven stille,P. iii. 364Bot deide only for drede of schameIn keping of hire goode name,As sche which was on of the beste.The thridde wif was hote Alceste,2640Which whanne Ametus scholde dyeUpon his grete maladye,Sche preide unto the goddes so,That sche receyveth al the woAnd deide hirself to yive him lif:Lo, if this were a noble wif.1742The ferthe wif which I ther sih,I herde of hem that were nyhHou sche was cleped Alcione,Which to Seyix hir lord al one17432650And to nomo hir body kepte;And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepteInto the wawes where he swam,1744And there a Sefoul sche becam,And with hire wenges him bespraddeFor love which to him sche hadde.1745Lo, these foure were thoWhiche I sih, as me thoghte tho,Among the grete compaignieWhich Love hadde forto guye:2660Bot Youthe, which in specialOf Loves Court was Mareschal,So besy was upon his lay,That he non hiede where I lay1746Hath take. And thanne, as I behield,Me thoghte I sih upon the field,P. iii. 365Where Elde cam a softe pasToward Venus, ther as sche was.With him gret compaignie he ladde,Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde:17472670The moste part were of gret Age,And that was sene in the visage,1748And noght forthi, so as thei myhte,Thei made hem yongly to the sihte:Bot yit herde I no pipe there1749To make noise in mannes Ere,1750Bot the Musette I myhte knowe,For olde men which souneth lowe,1751With Harpe and Lute and with Citole.The hovedance and the Carole,2680In such a wise as love hath bede,A softe pas thei dance and trede;And with the wommen otherwhileWith sobre chier among thei smyle,For laghtre was ther non on hyh.And natheles full wel I syhThat thei the more queinte it madeFor love, in whom thei weren glade.And there me thoghte I myhte seThe king David with Bersabee,2690And Salomon was noght withoute;Passende an hundred on a routeOf wyves and of Concubines,Juesses bothe and Sarazines,1752To him I sih alle entendant:I not if he was sufficant,1753P. iii. 366Bot natheles for al his witHe was attached with that writWhich love with his hond enseleth,Fro whom non erthly man appeleth.2700And overthis, as for a wonder,1754With his leon which he put under,1755With Dalida Sampson I knew,Whos love his strengthe al overthrew.I syh there Aristotle also,Whom that the queene of Grece so1756Hath bridled, that in thilke timeSche made him such a Silogime,That he foryat al his logique;Ther was non art of his Practique,2710Thurgh which it mihte ben excludedThat he ne was fully concludedTo love, and dede his obeissance.And ek Virgile of aqueintanceI sih, wher he the Maiden preide,Which was the doghter, as men seide,Of themperour whilom of Rome;Sortes and Plato with him come,So dede Ovide the Poete.I thoghte thanne how love is swete,2720Which hath so wise men reclamed,And was miself the lasse aschamed,Or forto lese or forto winneIn the meschief that I was inne:And thus I lay in hope of grace.And whan thei comen to the placeP. iii. 367Wher Venus stod and I was falle,These olde men, with o vois alleTo Venus preiden for my sake.And sche, that myhte noght forsake2730So gret a clamour as was there,Let Pite come into hire Ere;And forth withal unto CupideSche preith that he upon his sideMe wolde thurgh his grace sendeSom confort, that I myhte amende,Upon the cas which is befalle.And thus for me thei preiden alleOf hem that weren olde aboute,And ek some of the yonge route,2740Of gentilesse and pure troutheI herde hem telle it was gret routhe,That I withouten help so ferde.And thus me thoghte I lay and herde.

Venus, which stant withoute lawe

In noncertein, bot as men drawe

Hic in exemplum contra quoscunque viros inveteratos amoris concupiscenciam affectantes loquitur Venus, huiusque Amantis Confessi supplicacionem quasi deridens, ipsum pro eo quod senex et debilis est, multis exhortacionibus insufficientem redarguit.1721

Of Rageman upon the chance,

Sche leith no peis in the balance,2380

Bot as hir lyketh forto weie;

The trewe man fulofte aweie

Sche put, which hath hir grace bede,

And set an untrewe in his stede.

Lo, thus blindly the world sche diemeth

In loves cause, as tome siemeth:1722

I not what othre men wol sein,1723

Bot I algate am so besein,

And stonde as on amonges alle

Which am out of hir grace falle:2390

It nedeth take no witnesse,

For sche which seid is the goddesse,

To whether part of love it wende,

Hath sett me for a final ende

The point wherto that I schal holde.

For whan sche hath me wel beholde,

P. iii. 356

Halvynge of scorn, sche seide thus:

‘Thou wost wel that I am Venus,

Which al only my lustes seche;

And wel I wot, thogh thou beseche2400

Mi love, lustes ben ther none,

Whiche I mai take in thi persone;

For loves lust and lockes hore1724

In chambre acorden neveremore,

And thogh thou feigne a yong corage,

It scheweth wel be the visage

That olde grisel is no fole:

There ben fulmanye yeres stole

With thee and with suche othre mo,1725

That outward feignen youthe so2410

And ben withinne of pore assay.

Min herte wolde and I ne may

Is noght beloved nou adayes;

Er thou make eny suche assaies

To love, and faile upon the fet,

Betre is to make a beau retret;

For thogh thou myhtest love atteigne,

Yit were it bot an ydel peine,

Whan that thou art noght sufficant

To holde love his covenant.2420

Forthi tak hom thin herte ayein,

That thou travaile noght in vein,

Wherof my Court may be deceived.

I wot and have it wel conceived,

Hou that thi will is good ynowh;

Bot mor behoveth to the plowh,

P. iii. 357

Wherof the lacketh, as I trowe:

So sitte it wel that thou beknowe1726

Thi fieble astat, er thou beginne

Thing wher thou miht non ende winne.2430

What bargain scholde a man assaie,

Whan that him lacketh forto paie?

Mi Sone, if thou be wel bethoght,1727

This toucheth thee; foryet it noght:

The thing is torned into was;

That which was whilom grene gras,1728

Is welked hey at time now.1729

Forthi mi conseil is that thou

Remembre wel hou thou art old.’

[The Companies of Lovers.]

Whan Venus hath hir tale told,2440

And I bethoght was al aboute,1730

Qualiter super derisoria Veneris exhortacione contristatus Amans, quasi mortuus in terram corruit, vbi, vt sibi videbatur, Cupidinem cum innumera multitudine nuper Amantum variis turmis assistencium conspiciebat.

Tho wiste I wel withoute doute,1731

That ther was no recoverir;

And as a man the blase of fyr

With water quencheth, so ferd I;1732

A cold me cawhte sodeinly,1733

For sorwe that myn herte made

Mi dedly face pale and fade

Becam, and swoune I fell to grounde.

And as I lay the same stounde,2450

Ne fully quik ne fully ded,

Me thoghte I sih tofor myn hed

Cupide with his bowe bent,

And lich unto a Parlement,

Which were ordeigned for the nones,

With him cam al the world at ones

P. iii. 358

Of gentil folk that whilom were

Lovers, I sih hem alle there

Forth with Cupide in sondri routes.

Min yhe and as I caste aboutes,2460

To knowe among hem who was who,

I sih wher lusty Youthe tho,1734

As he which was a Capitein,

Tofore alle othre upon the plein

Stod with his route wel begon,

Here hevedes kempt, and therupon

Garlandes noght of o colour,

Some of the lef, some of the flour,

And some of grete Perles were;

The newe guise of Beawme there,2470

With sondri thinges wel devised,

I sih, wherof thei ben queintised.

It was al lust that thei with ferde,

Ther was no song that I ne herde,

Which unto love was touchende;

Of Pan and al that was likende1735

As in Pipinge of melodie

Was herd in thilke compaignie

So lowde, that on every side

It thoghte as al the hevene cride2480

In such acord and such a soun

Of bombard and of clarion

With Cornemuse and Schallemele,

That it was half a mannes hele

So glad a noise forto hiere.

And as me thoghte, in this manere

P. iii. 359

Al freissh I syh hem springe and dance,

And do to love her entendance

After the lust of youthes heste.

Ther was ynowh of joie and feste,2490

For evere among thei laghe and pleie,

And putten care out of the weie,

That he with hem ne sat ne stod.

And overthis I understod,

So as myn Ere it myhte areche,

The moste matiere of her speche

Was al of knyhthod and of Armes,1736

And what it is to ligge in armes

With love, whanne it is achieved.

De nominibus illorum nuper Amantum, qui tunc Amanti spasmato, aliqui iuuenes, aliqui senes, apparuerunt. Senes autem precipue tam erga deum quam deam amoris pro sanitate Amantis recuperanda multiplicatis precibus misericorditer instabant.

Ther was Tristram, which was believed2500

With bele Ysolde, and Lancelot

Stod with Gunnore, and Galahot

With his ladi, and as me thoghte,

I syh wher Jason with him broghte

His love, which that Creusa hihte,

And Hercules, which mochel myhte,

Was ther berende his grete Mace,

And most of alle in thilke place

He peyneth him to make chiere

With Eolen, which was him diere.2510

Theseüs, thogh he were untrewe

To love, as alle wommen knewe,

Yit was he there natheles

With Phedra, whom to love he ches:

Of Grece ek ther was Thelamon,

Which fro the king Lamenedon

P. iii. 360

At Troie his doghter refte aweie,

Eseonen, as for his preie,

Which take was whan Jason cam

Fro Colchos, and the Cite nam2520

In vengance of the ferste hate;

That made hem after to debate,

Whan Priamus the newe toun

Hath mad. And in avisioun

Me thoghte that I sih also

Ector forth with his brethren tuo;

Himself stod with Pantaselee,

And next to him I myhte se,

Wher Paris stod with faire Eleine,

Which was his joie sovereine;2530

And Troilus stod with Criseide,

Bot evere among, althogh he pleide,

Be semblant he was hevy chiered,

For Diomede, as him was liered,

Cleymeth to ben his parconner.

And thus full many a bacheler,

A thousend mo than I can sein,

With Yowthe I sih ther wel besein

Forth with here loves glade and blithe.

And some I sih whiche ofte sithe2540

Compleignen hem in other wise;

Among the whiche I syh Narcise

And Piramus, that sory were.1737

The worthy Grek also was there,

Achilles, which for love deide:

Agamenon ek, as men seide,

P. iii. 361

And Menelay the king also

I syh, with many an other mo,

Which hadden be fortuned sore

In loves cause.

And overmore2550

Of wommen in the same cas,

With hem I sih wher Dido was,

Forsake which was with Enee;

And Phillis ek I myhte see,

Whom Demephon deceived hadde;

And Adriagne hir sorwe ladde,

For Theseüs hir Soster tok

And hire unkindely forsok.

I sih ther ek among the press

Compleignende upon Hercules2560

His ferste love Deyanire,

Which sette him afterward afyre:

Medea was there ek and pleigneth

Upon Jason, for that he feigneth,

Withoute cause and tok a newe;

Sche seide, ‘Fy on alle untrewe!’

I sih there ek Deÿdamie,

Which hadde lost the compaignie

Of Achilles, whan Diomede

To Troie him fette upon the nede.2570

Among these othre upon the grene

I syh also the wofull queene

Cleopatras, which in a Cave1738

With Serpentz hath hirself begrave

Alquik, and so sche was totore,1739

For sorwe of that sche hadde lore

P. iii. 362

Antonye, which hir love hath be:

And forth with hire I sih Tisbee,

Which on the scharpe swerdes point

For love deide in sory point;2580

And as myn Ere it myhte knowe,

She seide, ‘Wo worthe alle slowe!’

The pleignte of Progne and Philomene

Ther herde I what it wolde mene,

How Tereüs of his untrouthe

Undede hem bothe, and that was routhe;

And next to hem I sih Canace,

Which for Machaire hir fader grace

Hath lost, and deide in wofull plit.

And as I sih in my spirit,2590

Me thoghte amonges othre thus

The doghter of king Priamus,

Polixena, whom Pirrus slowh,

Was there and made sorwe ynowh,

As sche which deide gulteles

For love, and yit was loveles.

And forto take the desport,

I sih there some of other port,1740

And that was Circes and Calipse,

That cowthen do the Mone eclipse,2600

Of men and change the liknesses,

Of Artmagique Sorceresses;

Thei hielde in honde manyon,

To love wher thei wolde or non.

Bot above alle that ther were

Of wommen I sih foure there,

P. iii. 363

Whos name I herde most comended:

Be hem the Court stod al amended;

For wher thei comen in presence,

Men deden hem the reverence,2610

As thogh they hadden be goddesses,

Of al this world or Emperesses.

And as me thoghte, an Ere I leide,

And herde hou that these othre seide,

‘Lo, these ben the foure wyves,

Whos feith was proeved in her lyves:

For in essample of alle goode

With Mariage so thei stode,

That fame, which no gret thing hydeth,

Yit in Cronique of hem abydeth.’2620

Penolope that on was hote,

Whom many a knyht hath loved hote,

Whil that hire lord Ulixes lay1741

Full many a yer and many a day

Upon the grete Siege of Troie:

Bot sche, which hath no worldes joie

Bot only of hire housebonde,

Whil that hir lord was out of londe,

So wel hath kept hir wommanhiede,

That al the world therof tok hiede,2630

And nameliche of hem in Grece.

That other womman was Lucrece,

Wif to the Romain Collatin;

And sche constreigned of Tarquin

To thing which was ayein hir wille,

Sche wolde noght hirselven stille,

P. iii. 364

Bot deide only for drede of schame

In keping of hire goode name,

As sche which was on of the beste.

The thridde wif was hote Alceste,2640

Which whanne Ametus scholde dye

Upon his grete maladye,

Sche preide unto the goddes so,

That sche receyveth al the wo

And deide hirself to yive him lif:

Lo, if this were a noble wif.1742

The ferthe wif which I ther sih,

I herde of hem that were nyh

Hou sche was cleped Alcione,

Which to Seyix hir lord al one17432650

And to nomo hir body kepte;

And whan sche sih him dreynt, sche lepte

Into the wawes where he swam,1744

And there a Sefoul sche becam,

And with hire wenges him bespradde

For love which to him sche hadde.1745

Lo, these foure were tho

Whiche I sih, as me thoghte tho,

Among the grete compaignie

Which Love hadde forto guye:2660

Bot Youthe, which in special

Of Loves Court was Mareschal,

So besy was upon his lay,

That he non hiede where I lay1746

Hath take. And thanne, as I behield,

Me thoghte I sih upon the field,

P. iii. 365

Where Elde cam a softe pas

Toward Venus, ther as sche was.

With him gret compaignie he ladde,

Bot noght so manye as Youthe hadde:17472670

The moste part were of gret Age,

And that was sene in the visage,1748

And noght forthi, so as thei myhte,

Thei made hem yongly to the sihte:

Bot yit herde I no pipe there1749

To make noise in mannes Ere,1750

Bot the Musette I myhte knowe,

For olde men which souneth lowe,1751

With Harpe and Lute and with Citole.

The hovedance and the Carole,2680

In such a wise as love hath bede,

A softe pas thei dance and trede;

And with the wommen otherwhile

With sobre chier among thei smyle,

For laghtre was ther non on hyh.

And natheles full wel I syh

That thei the more queinte it made

For love, in whom thei weren glade.

And there me thoghte I myhte se

The king David with Bersabee,2690

And Salomon was noght withoute;

Passende an hundred on a route

Of wyves and of Concubines,

Juesses bothe and Sarazines,1752

To him I sih alle entendant:

I not if he was sufficant,1753

P. iii. 366

Bot natheles for al his wit

He was attached with that writ

Which love with his hond enseleth,

Fro whom non erthly man appeleth.2700

And overthis, as for a wonder,1754

With his leon which he put under,1755

With Dalida Sampson I knew,

Whos love his strengthe al overthrew.

I syh there Aristotle also,

Whom that the queene of Grece so1756

Hath bridled, that in thilke time

Sche made him such a Silogime,

That he foryat al his logique;

Ther was non art of his Practique,2710

Thurgh which it mihte ben excluded

That he ne was fully concluded

To love, and dede his obeissance.

And ek Virgile of aqueintance

I sih, wher he the Maiden preide,

Which was the doghter, as men seide,

Of themperour whilom of Rome;

Sortes and Plato with him come,

So dede Ovide the Poete.

I thoghte thanne how love is swete,2720

Which hath so wise men reclamed,

And was miself the lasse aschamed,

Or forto lese or forto winne

In the meschief that I was inne:

And thus I lay in hope of grace.

And whan thei comen to the place

P. iii. 367

Wher Venus stod and I was falle,

These olde men, with o vois alle

To Venus preiden for my sake.

And sche, that myhte noght forsake2730

So gret a clamour as was there,

Let Pite come into hire Ere;

And forth withal unto Cupide

Sche preith that he upon his side

Me wolde thurgh his grace sende

Som confort, that I myhte amende,

Upon the cas which is befalle.

And thus for me thei preiden alle

Of hem that weren olde aboute,

And ek some of the yonge route,2740

Of gentilesse and pure trouthe

I herde hem telle it was gret routhe,

That I withouten help so ferde.

And thus me thoghte I lay and herde.

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