Cupido, which may hurte and heleIn loves cause, as for myn hele[Cupid and the Lover.]Upon the point which him was preidCam with Venus, wher I was leidHic tractat qualiter Cupido Amantis senectute confracti viscera perscrutans, ignita sue concupiscencie tela ab eo penitus extraxit, quem Venus postea absque calore percipiens, vacuum reliquit: et sic tandem prouisa Senectus, racionem inuocans, hominem interiorem per prius amore infatuatum mentis sanitati plenius restaurauit.Swounende upon the grene gras.And, as me thoghte, anon ther was2750On every side so gret presse,That every lif began to presse,I wot noght wel hou many score,Suche as I spak of now tofore,Lovers, that comen to beholde,Bot most of hem that weren olde:P. iii. 368Thei stoden there at thilke tyde,To se what ende schal betydeUpon the cure of my sotie.Tho myhte I hiere gret partie2760Spekende, and ech his oghne avisHath told, on that, an other this:Bot among alle this I herde,Thei weren wo that I so ferde,And seiden that for no rioteAn old man scholde noght assote;For as thei tolden redely,Ther is in him no cause why,Bot if he wolde himself benyce;1757So were he wel the more nyce.2770And thus desputen some of tho,And some seiden nothing so,Bot that the wylde loves rageIn mannes lif forberth non Age;Nota.1758Whil ther is oyle forto fyre,The lampe is lyhtly set afyre,And is fulhard er it be queynt,Bot only if it be som seint,Which god preserveth of his grace.And thus me thoghte, in sondri place2780Of hem that walken up and dounTher was diverse opinioun:And for a while so it laste,Til that Cupide to the laste,[The Fiery Dart withdrawn.]Forth with his moder full avised,Hath determined and devisedP. iii. 369Unto what point he wol descende.And al this time I was liggendeUpon the ground tofore his yhen,And thei that my desese syhen2790Supposen noght I scholde live;Bot he, which wolde thanne yiveHis grace, so as it mai be,This blinde god which mai noght se,Hath groped til that he me fond;And as he pitte forth his hond1759Upon my body, wher I lay,Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay,Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste,He pulleth oute, and also faste2800As this was do, Cupide namHis weie, I not where he becam,And so dede al the remenantWhich unto him was entendant,Of hem that in AvisionI hadde a revelacion,So as I tolde now tofore.[The Healing of Love.]Bot Venus wente noght therfore,Ne Genius, whiche thilke time1760Abiden bothe faste byme.2810And sche which mai the hertes byndeIn loves cause and ek unbinde,Er I out of mi trance aros,Venus, which hield a boiste clos,And wolde noght I scholde deie,Tok out mor cold than eny keieP. iii. 370An oignement, and in such pointSche hath my wounded herte enoignt,My temples and my Reins also.1761And forth withal sche tok me tho2820A wonder Mirour forto holde,In which sche bad me to beholdeAnd taken hiede of that I syhe;Wherinne anon myn hertes yheI caste, and sih my colour fade,Myn yhen dymme and al unglade,Mi chiekes thinne, and al my faceWith Elde I myhte se deface,So riveled and so wo besein,That ther was nothing full ne plein,2830I syh also myn heres hore.Mi will was tho to se nomoreOutwith, for ther was no plesance;1762And thanne into my remembranceI drowh myn olde daies passed,And as reson it hath compassed,Quod status hominis Mensibus anni equiperatur.1763I made a liknesse of miselveUnto the sondri Monthes twelve,Wherof the yeer in his astatIs mad, and stant upon debat,2840That lich til other non acordeth.For who the times wel recordeth,And thanne at Marche if he beginne,Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne,Til Augst be passed and Septembre,The myhty youthe he may remembreP. iii. 371In which the yeer hath his deduitOf gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit,1764Of corn and of the wyny grape.And afterward the time is schape17652850To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein,Til eft that Mars be come ayein:The Wynter wol no Somer knowe,The grene lef is overthrowe,The clothed erthe is thanne bare,Despuiled is the Somerfare,1766That erst was hete is thanne chele.And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,I was out of mi swoune affraied,Wherof I sih my wittes straied,17672860And gan to clepe hem hom ayein.And whan Resoun it herde seinThat loves rage was aweie,He cam to me the rihte weie,And hath remued the sotieOf thilke unwise fantasie,Wherof that I was wont to pleigne,So that of thilke fyri peineI was mad sobre and hol ynowh.Venus behield me than and lowh,2870And axeth, as it were in game,What love was. And I for schameNe wiste what I scholde ansuere;And natheles I gan to swereThat be my trouthe I knew him noght;So ferr it was out of mi thoght,P. iii. 372Riht as it hadde nevere be.‘Mi goode Sone,’ tho quod sche,‘Now at this time I lieve it wel,So goth the fortune of my whiel;2880Forthi mi conseil is thou leve.’‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘be your leve,Ye witen wel, and so wot I,That I am unbehovelyYour Court fro this day forth to serve:1768And for I may no thonk deserve,And also for I am refused,I preie you to ben excused.And natheles as for the laste,1769Whil that my wittes with me laste,2890Touchende mi confessionI axe an absolucionOf Genius, er that I go.’[The Absolution.]The Prest anon was redy tho,And seide, ‘Sone, as of thi schrifteThou hast ful pardoun and foryifte;Foryet it thou, and so wol I.’Amans.‘Min holi fader, grant mercy,’Quod I to him, and to the queene1770I fell on knes upon the grene,2900And tok my leve forto wende.[Leave-taking of Venus.]Bot sche, that wolde make an ende,As therto which I was most able,A Peire of Bedes blak as SableSche tok and heng my necke aboute;Upon the gaudes al withouteP. iii. 373Was write of gold,Por reposer.1771‘Lo,’ thus sche seide, ‘John Gower,Now thou art ate laste cast,This have I for thin ese cast,2910That thou nomore of love sieche.Bot my will is that thou besiecheAnd preie hierafter for the pes,And that thou make a plein relesTo love, which takth litel hiedeOf olde men upon the nede,Whan that the lustes ben aweie:Forthi to thee nys bot o weie,In which let reson be thi guide;For he may sone himself misguide,2920That seth noght the peril tofore.Mi Sone, be wel war therfore,And kep the sentence of my loreAnd tarie thou mi Court nomore,Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth,1772Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth,1773Whiche of long time thou hast write.For this I do thee wel to wite,If thou thin hele wolt pourchace,Thou miht noght make suite and chace,2930Wher that the game is nought pernable;1774It were a thing unresonable,A man to be so overseie.Forthi tak hiede of that I seie;For in the lawe of my comuneWe be noght schape to comune,P. iii. 374Thiself and I, nevere after this.Now have y seid al that ther is1775Of love as for thi final ende:*Adieu, for y mot fro the wende.’2940P. iii. 375And with that word al sodeinly,Enclosid in a sterred sky,1776Venus, which is the qweene of love,Was take in to hire place above,P. iii. 376More wiste y nought wher sche becam.1777And thus my leve of hire y nam,1778And forth with al the same tideHire prest, which wolde nought abide,P. iii. 377Or be me lief or be me loth,Out of my sighte forth he goth,2950And y was left with outen helpe.So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe,Bot only that y hadde loreMy time, and was sori ther fore.P. iii. 378And thus bewhapid in my thought,Whan al was turnyd in to nought,I stod amasid for a while,And in my self y gan to smyleThenkende uppon the bedis blake,And how they weren me betake,2960For that y schulde bidde and preie.And whanne y sigh non othre weieBot only that y was refusid,Unto the lif which y hadde usidI thoughte nevere torne ayein:And in this wise, soth to seyn,Homward a softe pas y wente,Wher that with al myn hol entente1779Uppon the point that y am schryveI thenke bidde whil y live.17802970[The Author prays for the State of England.]iv.Parce precor, Criste, populus quo gaudeat iste;Anglia ne triste subeat, rex summe, resiste.Corrige quosque status, fragiles absolue reatus;Vnde deo gratus vigeat locus iste beatus.He which withinne daies sevene1781This large world forth with the heveneHic in anno quartodecimo Regis Ricardi orat pro statu regni, quod a diu diuisum nimia aduersitate periclitabatur.1782Of his eternal providenceHath mad, and thilke intelligenceIn mannys soule resonableHath schape to be perdurable,Wherof the man of his fetureAbove alle erthli creatureAftir the soule is immortal,To thilke lord in special,2980P. iii. 379As he which is of alle thingesThe creatour, and of the kyngesHath the fortunes uppon honde,His grace and mercy forto fondeUppon my bare knes y preie,That he this loud in siker weieWol sette uppon good governance.1783For if men takyn remembranceWhat is to live in unite,1784Ther ys no staat in his degree2990That noughte to desire pes,With outen which, it is no les,To seche and loke in to the laste,Ther may no worldes joye laste.1785[Evil of Division in the Land.]Ferst forto loke the Clergie,Hem oughte wel to justefieThing which belongith to here cure,As forto praie and to procureOure pes toward the hevene above,And ek to sette reste and love3000Among ous on this erthe hiere.For if they wroughte in this manereAftir the reule of charite,I hope that men schuldyn seThis loud amende.And ovyr this,1786To seche and loke how that it is1787Touchende of the chevalerie,Which forto loke, in som partieIs worthi forto be comendid,And in som part to ben amendid,3010P. iii. 380That of here large retenueThe lond is ful of maintenue,Which causith that the comune right1788In fewe contrees stant upright.Extorcioun, contekt, ravine1789Withholde ben of that covyne,Aldai men hierin gret compleignteOf the desease, of the constreignte,Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid:God graunte it mote be redressid.3020For of knyghthode thordre woldeThat thei defende and kepe scholdeThe comun right and the fraunchise1790Of holy cherche in alle wise,So that no wikke man it dere,And ther fore servith scheld and spere:1791Bot for it goth now other weie,Oure grace goth the more aweie.And forto lokyn ovyrmore,Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore,3030Toward the lawis of oure lond,Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bondAnd with brocage is goon aweie,So that no man can se the weieWher forto fynde rightwisnesse.And if men sechin sikernesseUppon the lucre of marchandie,1792Compassement and tricherieOf singuler profit to wynne,Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne,3040P. iii. 381And namely of divisioun,Which many a noble worthi tounFro welthe and fro prosperiteHath brought to gret adversite.So were it good to ben al on,For mechil grace ther uppon1793Unto the Citees schulde falle,Which myghte availle to ous alle,If these astatz amendid were,So that the vertus stodyn there3050And that the vices were aweie:Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie,This londis grace schulde arise.[The Duty of a King.]Bot yit to loke in othre wise,1794Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere,Above alle othre on erthe hiere,Which hath the loud in his balance:To him belongith the leianceOf Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe;Undir his hond al is forth drawe17953060The marchant and the laborer;So stant it al in his powerOr forto spille or forto save.1796Bot though that he such power have,And that his myghtes ben so large,He hath hem nought withouten charge,1797To which that every kyng ys swore:So were it good that he ther foreFirst un to rightwisnesse entende,Wherof that he hym self amende3070P. iii. 382Toward his god and leve vice,Which is the chief of his office;And aftir al the remenantHe schal uppon his covenantGoverne and lede in such a wise,So that ther be no tirandise,Wherof that he his poeple grieve,Or ellis may he nought achieveThat longith to his regalie.For if a kyng wol justifie3080His lond and hem that beth withynne,1798First at hym self he mot begynne,To kepe and reule his owne astat,That in hym self be no debatToward his god: for othre wise1799Ther may non erthly kyng suffiseOf his kyngdom the folk to lede,Bot he the kyng of hevene drede.For what kyng sett hym uppon prideAnd takth his lust on every side3090And wil nought go the righte weie,Though god his grace caste aweieNo wondir is, for ate lasteHe schal wel wite it mai nought laste,1800The pompe which he secheth here.Bot what kyng that with humble chereAftir the lawe of god eschuiethThe vices, and the vertus suieth,1801His grace schal be suffisantTo governe al the remenant3100P. iii. 383Which longith to his duite;So that in his prosperiteThe poeple schal nought ben oppressid,Wherof his name schal be blessid,For evere and be memorial.[The Book completed.]And now to speke as in final,Touchende that y undirtokHic in fine recapitulat super hoc quod in principio libri primi promisit se in amoris causa specialius tractaturum. Concludit enim quod omnis amoris delectacio extra caritatem nichil est. Qui autem manet in caritate, in deo manet.In englesch forto make a bookWhich stant betwene ernest and game,I have it maad as thilke same3110Which axe forto ben excusid,And that my bok be nought refusidOf lered men, whan thei it se,1802For lak of curiosite:For thilke scole of eloquenceBelongith nought to my science,Uppon the forme of rethoriqeMy wordis forto peinte and pike,As Tullius som tyme wrot.Bot this y knowe and this y wot,3120That y have do my trewe peyneWith rude wordis and with pleyne,In al that evere y couthe and myghte,This bok to write as y behighte,So as siknesse it soffre wolde;And also for my daies olde,That y am feble and impotent,I wot nought how the world ys went.So preye y to my lordis alleNow in myn age, how so befalle,3130P. iii. 384That y mot stonden in here grace:1803For though me lacke to purchaceHere worthi thonk as by decerte,Yit the symplesse of my poverteDesireth forto do plesanceTo hem undir whos governanceI hope siker to abide.[Farewell to Earthly Love.]But now uppon my laste tideThat y this book have maad and write,My muse doth me forto wite,3140And seith it schal be for my besteFro this day forth to take reste,That y nomore of love make,Which many an herte hath overtake,And ovyrturnyd as the blyndeFro reson in to lawe of kynde;Wher as the wisdom goth aweie1804And can nought se the ryhte weieHow to governe his oghne estat,Bot everydai stant in debat18053150Withinne him self, and can nought leve.And thus forthy my final leveI take now for evere more,Withoute makynge any more,Of love and of his dedly hele,Which no phisicien can hele.For his nature is so divers,That it hath evere som traversOr of to moche or of to lite,That pleinly mai noman delite,18063160P. iii. 385Bot if him faile or that or this.Bot thilke love which that isWithinne a mannes herte affermed,And stant of charite confermed,[Heavenly Love.]Such love is goodly forto have,Such love mai the bodi save,Such love mai the soule amende,The hyhe god such love ous sendeForthwith the remenant of grace;1807So that above in thilke place3170Wher resteth love and alle pes,Oure joie mai ben endeles.Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liberVt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore.Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista IohannisPerpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis.Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,1808Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus.1809
Cupido, which may hurte and heleIn loves cause, as for myn hele[Cupid and the Lover.]Upon the point which him was preidCam with Venus, wher I was leidHic tractat qualiter Cupido Amantis senectute confracti viscera perscrutans, ignita sue concupiscencie tela ab eo penitus extraxit, quem Venus postea absque calore percipiens, vacuum reliquit: et sic tandem prouisa Senectus, racionem inuocans, hominem interiorem per prius amore infatuatum mentis sanitati plenius restaurauit.Swounende upon the grene gras.And, as me thoghte, anon ther was2750On every side so gret presse,That every lif began to presse,I wot noght wel hou many score,Suche as I spak of now tofore,Lovers, that comen to beholde,Bot most of hem that weren olde:P. iii. 368Thei stoden there at thilke tyde,To se what ende schal betydeUpon the cure of my sotie.Tho myhte I hiere gret partie2760Spekende, and ech his oghne avisHath told, on that, an other this:Bot among alle this I herde,Thei weren wo that I so ferde,And seiden that for no rioteAn old man scholde noght assote;For as thei tolden redely,Ther is in him no cause why,Bot if he wolde himself benyce;1757So were he wel the more nyce.2770And thus desputen some of tho,And some seiden nothing so,Bot that the wylde loves rageIn mannes lif forberth non Age;Nota.1758Whil ther is oyle forto fyre,The lampe is lyhtly set afyre,And is fulhard er it be queynt,Bot only if it be som seint,Which god preserveth of his grace.And thus me thoghte, in sondri place2780Of hem that walken up and dounTher was diverse opinioun:And for a while so it laste,Til that Cupide to the laste,[The Fiery Dart withdrawn.]Forth with his moder full avised,Hath determined and devisedP. iii. 369Unto what point he wol descende.And al this time I was liggendeUpon the ground tofore his yhen,And thei that my desese syhen2790Supposen noght I scholde live;Bot he, which wolde thanne yiveHis grace, so as it mai be,This blinde god which mai noght se,Hath groped til that he me fond;And as he pitte forth his hond1759Upon my body, wher I lay,Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay,Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste,He pulleth oute, and also faste2800As this was do, Cupide namHis weie, I not where he becam,And so dede al the remenantWhich unto him was entendant,Of hem that in AvisionI hadde a revelacion,So as I tolde now tofore.[The Healing of Love.]Bot Venus wente noght therfore,Ne Genius, whiche thilke time1760Abiden bothe faste byme.2810And sche which mai the hertes byndeIn loves cause and ek unbinde,Er I out of mi trance aros,Venus, which hield a boiste clos,And wolde noght I scholde deie,Tok out mor cold than eny keieP. iii. 370An oignement, and in such pointSche hath my wounded herte enoignt,My temples and my Reins also.1761And forth withal sche tok me tho2820A wonder Mirour forto holde,In which sche bad me to beholdeAnd taken hiede of that I syhe;Wherinne anon myn hertes yheI caste, and sih my colour fade,Myn yhen dymme and al unglade,Mi chiekes thinne, and al my faceWith Elde I myhte se deface,So riveled and so wo besein,That ther was nothing full ne plein,2830I syh also myn heres hore.Mi will was tho to se nomoreOutwith, for ther was no plesance;1762And thanne into my remembranceI drowh myn olde daies passed,And as reson it hath compassed,Quod status hominis Mensibus anni equiperatur.1763I made a liknesse of miselveUnto the sondri Monthes twelve,Wherof the yeer in his astatIs mad, and stant upon debat,2840That lich til other non acordeth.For who the times wel recordeth,And thanne at Marche if he beginne,Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne,Til Augst be passed and Septembre,The myhty youthe he may remembreP. iii. 371In which the yeer hath his deduitOf gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit,1764Of corn and of the wyny grape.And afterward the time is schape17652850To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein,Til eft that Mars be come ayein:The Wynter wol no Somer knowe,The grene lef is overthrowe,The clothed erthe is thanne bare,Despuiled is the Somerfare,1766That erst was hete is thanne chele.And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,I was out of mi swoune affraied,Wherof I sih my wittes straied,17672860And gan to clepe hem hom ayein.And whan Resoun it herde seinThat loves rage was aweie,He cam to me the rihte weie,And hath remued the sotieOf thilke unwise fantasie,Wherof that I was wont to pleigne,So that of thilke fyri peineI was mad sobre and hol ynowh.Venus behield me than and lowh,2870And axeth, as it were in game,What love was. And I for schameNe wiste what I scholde ansuere;And natheles I gan to swereThat be my trouthe I knew him noght;So ferr it was out of mi thoght,P. iii. 372Riht as it hadde nevere be.‘Mi goode Sone,’ tho quod sche,‘Now at this time I lieve it wel,So goth the fortune of my whiel;2880Forthi mi conseil is thou leve.’‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘be your leve,Ye witen wel, and so wot I,That I am unbehovelyYour Court fro this day forth to serve:1768And for I may no thonk deserve,And also for I am refused,I preie you to ben excused.And natheles as for the laste,1769Whil that my wittes with me laste,2890Touchende mi confessionI axe an absolucionOf Genius, er that I go.’[The Absolution.]The Prest anon was redy tho,And seide, ‘Sone, as of thi schrifteThou hast ful pardoun and foryifte;Foryet it thou, and so wol I.’Amans.‘Min holi fader, grant mercy,’Quod I to him, and to the queene1770I fell on knes upon the grene,2900And tok my leve forto wende.[Leave-taking of Venus.]Bot sche, that wolde make an ende,As therto which I was most able,A Peire of Bedes blak as SableSche tok and heng my necke aboute;Upon the gaudes al withouteP. iii. 373Was write of gold,Por reposer.1771‘Lo,’ thus sche seide, ‘John Gower,Now thou art ate laste cast,This have I for thin ese cast,2910That thou nomore of love sieche.Bot my will is that thou besiecheAnd preie hierafter for the pes,And that thou make a plein relesTo love, which takth litel hiedeOf olde men upon the nede,Whan that the lustes ben aweie:Forthi to thee nys bot o weie,In which let reson be thi guide;For he may sone himself misguide,2920That seth noght the peril tofore.Mi Sone, be wel war therfore,And kep the sentence of my loreAnd tarie thou mi Court nomore,Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth,1772Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth,1773Whiche of long time thou hast write.For this I do thee wel to wite,If thou thin hele wolt pourchace,Thou miht noght make suite and chace,2930Wher that the game is nought pernable;1774It were a thing unresonable,A man to be so overseie.Forthi tak hiede of that I seie;For in the lawe of my comuneWe be noght schape to comune,P. iii. 374Thiself and I, nevere after this.Now have y seid al that ther is1775Of love as for thi final ende:*Adieu, for y mot fro the wende.’2940P. iii. 375And with that word al sodeinly,Enclosid in a sterred sky,1776Venus, which is the qweene of love,Was take in to hire place above,P. iii. 376More wiste y nought wher sche becam.1777And thus my leve of hire y nam,1778And forth with al the same tideHire prest, which wolde nought abide,P. iii. 377Or be me lief or be me loth,Out of my sighte forth he goth,2950And y was left with outen helpe.So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe,Bot only that y hadde loreMy time, and was sori ther fore.P. iii. 378And thus bewhapid in my thought,Whan al was turnyd in to nought,I stod amasid for a while,And in my self y gan to smyleThenkende uppon the bedis blake,And how they weren me betake,2960For that y schulde bidde and preie.And whanne y sigh non othre weieBot only that y was refusid,Unto the lif which y hadde usidI thoughte nevere torne ayein:And in this wise, soth to seyn,Homward a softe pas y wente,Wher that with al myn hol entente1779Uppon the point that y am schryveI thenke bidde whil y live.17802970[The Author prays for the State of England.]iv.Parce precor, Criste, populus quo gaudeat iste;Anglia ne triste subeat, rex summe, resiste.Corrige quosque status, fragiles absolue reatus;Vnde deo gratus vigeat locus iste beatus.He which withinne daies sevene1781This large world forth with the heveneHic in anno quartodecimo Regis Ricardi orat pro statu regni, quod a diu diuisum nimia aduersitate periclitabatur.1782Of his eternal providenceHath mad, and thilke intelligenceIn mannys soule resonableHath schape to be perdurable,Wherof the man of his fetureAbove alle erthli creatureAftir the soule is immortal,To thilke lord in special,2980P. iii. 379As he which is of alle thingesThe creatour, and of the kyngesHath the fortunes uppon honde,His grace and mercy forto fondeUppon my bare knes y preie,That he this loud in siker weieWol sette uppon good governance.1783For if men takyn remembranceWhat is to live in unite,1784Ther ys no staat in his degree2990That noughte to desire pes,With outen which, it is no les,To seche and loke in to the laste,Ther may no worldes joye laste.1785[Evil of Division in the Land.]Ferst forto loke the Clergie,Hem oughte wel to justefieThing which belongith to here cure,As forto praie and to procureOure pes toward the hevene above,And ek to sette reste and love3000Among ous on this erthe hiere.For if they wroughte in this manereAftir the reule of charite,I hope that men schuldyn seThis loud amende.And ovyr this,1786To seche and loke how that it is1787Touchende of the chevalerie,Which forto loke, in som partieIs worthi forto be comendid,And in som part to ben amendid,3010P. iii. 380That of here large retenueThe lond is ful of maintenue,Which causith that the comune right1788In fewe contrees stant upright.Extorcioun, contekt, ravine1789Withholde ben of that covyne,Aldai men hierin gret compleignteOf the desease, of the constreignte,Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid:God graunte it mote be redressid.3020For of knyghthode thordre woldeThat thei defende and kepe scholdeThe comun right and the fraunchise1790Of holy cherche in alle wise,So that no wikke man it dere,And ther fore servith scheld and spere:1791Bot for it goth now other weie,Oure grace goth the more aweie.And forto lokyn ovyrmore,Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore,3030Toward the lawis of oure lond,Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bondAnd with brocage is goon aweie,So that no man can se the weieWher forto fynde rightwisnesse.And if men sechin sikernesseUppon the lucre of marchandie,1792Compassement and tricherieOf singuler profit to wynne,Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne,3040P. iii. 381And namely of divisioun,Which many a noble worthi tounFro welthe and fro prosperiteHath brought to gret adversite.So were it good to ben al on,For mechil grace ther uppon1793Unto the Citees schulde falle,Which myghte availle to ous alle,If these astatz amendid were,So that the vertus stodyn there3050And that the vices were aweie:Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie,This londis grace schulde arise.[The Duty of a King.]Bot yit to loke in othre wise,1794Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere,Above alle othre on erthe hiere,Which hath the loud in his balance:To him belongith the leianceOf Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe;Undir his hond al is forth drawe17953060The marchant and the laborer;So stant it al in his powerOr forto spille or forto save.1796Bot though that he such power have,And that his myghtes ben so large,He hath hem nought withouten charge,1797To which that every kyng ys swore:So were it good that he ther foreFirst un to rightwisnesse entende,Wherof that he hym self amende3070P. iii. 382Toward his god and leve vice,Which is the chief of his office;And aftir al the remenantHe schal uppon his covenantGoverne and lede in such a wise,So that ther be no tirandise,Wherof that he his poeple grieve,Or ellis may he nought achieveThat longith to his regalie.For if a kyng wol justifie3080His lond and hem that beth withynne,1798First at hym self he mot begynne,To kepe and reule his owne astat,That in hym self be no debatToward his god: for othre wise1799Ther may non erthly kyng suffiseOf his kyngdom the folk to lede,Bot he the kyng of hevene drede.For what kyng sett hym uppon prideAnd takth his lust on every side3090And wil nought go the righte weie,Though god his grace caste aweieNo wondir is, for ate lasteHe schal wel wite it mai nought laste,1800The pompe which he secheth here.Bot what kyng that with humble chereAftir the lawe of god eschuiethThe vices, and the vertus suieth,1801His grace schal be suffisantTo governe al the remenant3100P. iii. 383Which longith to his duite;So that in his prosperiteThe poeple schal nought ben oppressid,Wherof his name schal be blessid,For evere and be memorial.[The Book completed.]And now to speke as in final,Touchende that y undirtokHic in fine recapitulat super hoc quod in principio libri primi promisit se in amoris causa specialius tractaturum. Concludit enim quod omnis amoris delectacio extra caritatem nichil est. Qui autem manet in caritate, in deo manet.In englesch forto make a bookWhich stant betwene ernest and game,I have it maad as thilke same3110Which axe forto ben excusid,And that my bok be nought refusidOf lered men, whan thei it se,1802For lak of curiosite:For thilke scole of eloquenceBelongith nought to my science,Uppon the forme of rethoriqeMy wordis forto peinte and pike,As Tullius som tyme wrot.Bot this y knowe and this y wot,3120That y have do my trewe peyneWith rude wordis and with pleyne,In al that evere y couthe and myghte,This bok to write as y behighte,So as siknesse it soffre wolde;And also for my daies olde,That y am feble and impotent,I wot nought how the world ys went.So preye y to my lordis alleNow in myn age, how so befalle,3130P. iii. 384That y mot stonden in here grace:1803For though me lacke to purchaceHere worthi thonk as by decerte,Yit the symplesse of my poverteDesireth forto do plesanceTo hem undir whos governanceI hope siker to abide.[Farewell to Earthly Love.]But now uppon my laste tideThat y this book have maad and write,My muse doth me forto wite,3140And seith it schal be for my besteFro this day forth to take reste,That y nomore of love make,Which many an herte hath overtake,And ovyrturnyd as the blyndeFro reson in to lawe of kynde;Wher as the wisdom goth aweie1804And can nought se the ryhte weieHow to governe his oghne estat,Bot everydai stant in debat18053150Withinne him self, and can nought leve.And thus forthy my final leveI take now for evere more,Withoute makynge any more,Of love and of his dedly hele,Which no phisicien can hele.For his nature is so divers,That it hath evere som traversOr of to moche or of to lite,That pleinly mai noman delite,18063160P. iii. 385Bot if him faile or that or this.Bot thilke love which that isWithinne a mannes herte affermed,And stant of charite confermed,[Heavenly Love.]Such love is goodly forto have,Such love mai the bodi save,Such love mai the soule amende,The hyhe god such love ous sendeForthwith the remenant of grace;1807So that above in thilke place3170Wher resteth love and alle pes,Oure joie mai ben endeles.Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liberVt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore.Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista IohannisPerpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis.Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,1808Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus.1809
Cupido, which may hurte and heleIn loves cause, as for myn hele[Cupid and the Lover.]Upon the point which him was preidCam with Venus, wher I was leidHic tractat qualiter Cupido Amantis senectute confracti viscera perscrutans, ignita sue concupiscencie tela ab eo penitus extraxit, quem Venus postea absque calore percipiens, vacuum reliquit: et sic tandem prouisa Senectus, racionem inuocans, hominem interiorem per prius amore infatuatum mentis sanitati plenius restaurauit.Swounende upon the grene gras.And, as me thoghte, anon ther was2750On every side so gret presse,That every lif began to presse,I wot noght wel hou many score,Suche as I spak of now tofore,Lovers, that comen to beholde,Bot most of hem that weren olde:P. iii. 368Thei stoden there at thilke tyde,To se what ende schal betydeUpon the cure of my sotie.Tho myhte I hiere gret partie2760Spekende, and ech his oghne avisHath told, on that, an other this:Bot among alle this I herde,Thei weren wo that I so ferde,And seiden that for no rioteAn old man scholde noght assote;For as thei tolden redely,Ther is in him no cause why,Bot if he wolde himself benyce;1757So were he wel the more nyce.2770And thus desputen some of tho,And some seiden nothing so,Bot that the wylde loves rageIn mannes lif forberth non Age;Nota.1758Whil ther is oyle forto fyre,The lampe is lyhtly set afyre,And is fulhard er it be queynt,Bot only if it be som seint,Which god preserveth of his grace.And thus me thoghte, in sondri place2780Of hem that walken up and dounTher was diverse opinioun:And for a while so it laste,Til that Cupide to the laste,[The Fiery Dart withdrawn.]Forth with his moder full avised,Hath determined and devisedP. iii. 369Unto what point he wol descende.And al this time I was liggendeUpon the ground tofore his yhen,And thei that my desese syhen2790Supposen noght I scholde live;Bot he, which wolde thanne yiveHis grace, so as it mai be,This blinde god which mai noght se,Hath groped til that he me fond;And as he pitte forth his hond1759Upon my body, wher I lay,Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay,Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste,He pulleth oute, and also faste2800As this was do, Cupide namHis weie, I not where he becam,And so dede al the remenantWhich unto him was entendant,Of hem that in AvisionI hadde a revelacion,So as I tolde now tofore.[The Healing of Love.]Bot Venus wente noght therfore,Ne Genius, whiche thilke time1760Abiden bothe faste byme.2810And sche which mai the hertes byndeIn loves cause and ek unbinde,Er I out of mi trance aros,Venus, which hield a boiste clos,And wolde noght I scholde deie,Tok out mor cold than eny keieP. iii. 370An oignement, and in such pointSche hath my wounded herte enoignt,My temples and my Reins also.1761And forth withal sche tok me tho2820A wonder Mirour forto holde,In which sche bad me to beholdeAnd taken hiede of that I syhe;Wherinne anon myn hertes yheI caste, and sih my colour fade,Myn yhen dymme and al unglade,Mi chiekes thinne, and al my faceWith Elde I myhte se deface,So riveled and so wo besein,That ther was nothing full ne plein,2830I syh also myn heres hore.Mi will was tho to se nomoreOutwith, for ther was no plesance;1762And thanne into my remembranceI drowh myn olde daies passed,And as reson it hath compassed,Quod status hominis Mensibus anni equiperatur.1763I made a liknesse of miselveUnto the sondri Monthes twelve,Wherof the yeer in his astatIs mad, and stant upon debat,2840That lich til other non acordeth.For who the times wel recordeth,And thanne at Marche if he beginne,Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne,Til Augst be passed and Septembre,The myhty youthe he may remembreP. iii. 371In which the yeer hath his deduitOf gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit,1764Of corn and of the wyny grape.And afterward the time is schape17652850To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein,Til eft that Mars be come ayein:The Wynter wol no Somer knowe,The grene lef is overthrowe,The clothed erthe is thanne bare,Despuiled is the Somerfare,1766That erst was hete is thanne chele.And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,I was out of mi swoune affraied,Wherof I sih my wittes straied,17672860And gan to clepe hem hom ayein.And whan Resoun it herde seinThat loves rage was aweie,He cam to me the rihte weie,And hath remued the sotieOf thilke unwise fantasie,Wherof that I was wont to pleigne,So that of thilke fyri peineI was mad sobre and hol ynowh.Venus behield me than and lowh,2870And axeth, as it were in game,What love was. And I for schameNe wiste what I scholde ansuere;And natheles I gan to swereThat be my trouthe I knew him noght;So ferr it was out of mi thoght,P. iii. 372Riht as it hadde nevere be.‘Mi goode Sone,’ tho quod sche,‘Now at this time I lieve it wel,So goth the fortune of my whiel;2880Forthi mi conseil is thou leve.’‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘be your leve,Ye witen wel, and so wot I,That I am unbehovelyYour Court fro this day forth to serve:1768And for I may no thonk deserve,And also for I am refused,I preie you to ben excused.And natheles as for the laste,1769Whil that my wittes with me laste,2890Touchende mi confessionI axe an absolucionOf Genius, er that I go.’[The Absolution.]The Prest anon was redy tho,And seide, ‘Sone, as of thi schrifteThou hast ful pardoun and foryifte;Foryet it thou, and so wol I.’Amans.‘Min holi fader, grant mercy,’Quod I to him, and to the queene1770I fell on knes upon the grene,2900And tok my leve forto wende.[Leave-taking of Venus.]Bot sche, that wolde make an ende,As therto which I was most able,A Peire of Bedes blak as SableSche tok and heng my necke aboute;Upon the gaudes al withouteP. iii. 373Was write of gold,Por reposer.1771‘Lo,’ thus sche seide, ‘John Gower,Now thou art ate laste cast,This have I for thin ese cast,2910That thou nomore of love sieche.Bot my will is that thou besiecheAnd preie hierafter for the pes,And that thou make a plein relesTo love, which takth litel hiedeOf olde men upon the nede,Whan that the lustes ben aweie:Forthi to thee nys bot o weie,In which let reson be thi guide;For he may sone himself misguide,2920That seth noght the peril tofore.Mi Sone, be wel war therfore,And kep the sentence of my loreAnd tarie thou mi Court nomore,Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth,1772Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth,1773Whiche of long time thou hast write.For this I do thee wel to wite,If thou thin hele wolt pourchace,Thou miht noght make suite and chace,2930Wher that the game is nought pernable;1774It were a thing unresonable,A man to be so overseie.Forthi tak hiede of that I seie;For in the lawe of my comuneWe be noght schape to comune,P. iii. 374Thiself and I, nevere after this.Now have y seid al that ther is1775Of love as for thi final ende:*Adieu, for y mot fro the wende.’2940P. iii. 375And with that word al sodeinly,Enclosid in a sterred sky,1776Venus, which is the qweene of love,Was take in to hire place above,P. iii. 376More wiste y nought wher sche becam.1777And thus my leve of hire y nam,1778And forth with al the same tideHire prest, which wolde nought abide,P. iii. 377Or be me lief or be me loth,Out of my sighte forth he goth,2950And y was left with outen helpe.So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe,Bot only that y hadde loreMy time, and was sori ther fore.P. iii. 378And thus bewhapid in my thought,Whan al was turnyd in to nought,I stod amasid for a while,And in my self y gan to smyleThenkende uppon the bedis blake,And how they weren me betake,2960For that y schulde bidde and preie.And whanne y sigh non othre weieBot only that y was refusid,Unto the lif which y hadde usidI thoughte nevere torne ayein:And in this wise, soth to seyn,Homward a softe pas y wente,Wher that with al myn hol entente1779Uppon the point that y am schryveI thenke bidde whil y live.17802970
Cupido, which may hurte and hele
In loves cause, as for myn hele
[Cupid and the Lover.]
Upon the point which him was preid
Cam with Venus, wher I was leid
Hic tractat qualiter Cupido Amantis senectute confracti viscera perscrutans, ignita sue concupiscencie tela ab eo penitus extraxit, quem Venus postea absque calore percipiens, vacuum reliquit: et sic tandem prouisa Senectus, racionem inuocans, hominem interiorem per prius amore infatuatum mentis sanitati plenius restaurauit.
Swounende upon the grene gras.
And, as me thoghte, anon ther was2750
On every side so gret presse,
That every lif began to presse,
I wot noght wel hou many score,
Suche as I spak of now tofore,
Lovers, that comen to beholde,
Bot most of hem that weren olde:
P. iii. 368
Thei stoden there at thilke tyde,
To se what ende schal betyde
Upon the cure of my sotie.
Tho myhte I hiere gret partie2760
Spekende, and ech his oghne avis
Hath told, on that, an other this:
Bot among alle this I herde,
Thei weren wo that I so ferde,
And seiden that for no riote
An old man scholde noght assote;
For as thei tolden redely,
Ther is in him no cause why,
Bot if he wolde himself benyce;1757
So were he wel the more nyce.2770
And thus desputen some of tho,
And some seiden nothing so,
Bot that the wylde loves rage
In mannes lif forberth non Age;
Nota.1758
Whil ther is oyle forto fyre,
The lampe is lyhtly set afyre,
And is fulhard er it be queynt,
Bot only if it be som seint,
Which god preserveth of his grace.
And thus me thoghte, in sondri place2780
Of hem that walken up and doun
Ther was diverse opinioun:
And for a while so it laste,
Til that Cupide to the laste,
[The Fiery Dart withdrawn.]
Forth with his moder full avised,
Hath determined and devised
P. iii. 369
Unto what point he wol descende.
And al this time I was liggende
Upon the ground tofore his yhen,
And thei that my desese syhen2790
Supposen noght I scholde live;
Bot he, which wolde thanne yive
His grace, so as it mai be,
This blinde god which mai noght se,
Hath groped til that he me fond;
And as he pitte forth his hond1759
Upon my body, wher I lay,
Me thoghte a fyri Lancegay,
Which whilom thurgh myn herte he caste,
He pulleth oute, and also faste2800
As this was do, Cupide nam
His weie, I not where he becam,
And so dede al the remenant
Which unto him was entendant,
Of hem that in Avision
I hadde a revelacion,
So as I tolde now tofore.
[The Healing of Love.]
Bot Venus wente noght therfore,
Ne Genius, whiche thilke time1760
Abiden bothe faste byme.2810
And sche which mai the hertes bynde
In loves cause and ek unbinde,
Er I out of mi trance aros,
Venus, which hield a boiste clos,
And wolde noght I scholde deie,
Tok out mor cold than eny keie
P. iii. 370
An oignement, and in such point
Sche hath my wounded herte enoignt,
My temples and my Reins also.1761
And forth withal sche tok me tho2820
A wonder Mirour forto holde,
In which sche bad me to beholde
And taken hiede of that I syhe;
Wherinne anon myn hertes yhe
I caste, and sih my colour fade,
Myn yhen dymme and al unglade,
Mi chiekes thinne, and al my face
With Elde I myhte se deface,
So riveled and so wo besein,
That ther was nothing full ne plein,2830
I syh also myn heres hore.
Mi will was tho to se nomore
Outwith, for ther was no plesance;1762
And thanne into my remembrance
I drowh myn olde daies passed,
And as reson it hath compassed,
Quod status hominis Mensibus anni equiperatur.1763
I made a liknesse of miselve
Unto the sondri Monthes twelve,
Wherof the yeer in his astat
Is mad, and stant upon debat,2840
That lich til other non acordeth.
For who the times wel recordeth,
And thanne at Marche if he beginne,
Whan that the lusti yeer comth inne,
Til Augst be passed and Septembre,
The myhty youthe he may remembre
P. iii. 371
In which the yeer hath his deduit
Of gras, of lef, of flour, of fruit,1764
Of corn and of the wyny grape.
And afterward the time is schape17652850
To frost, to Snow, to Wind, to Rein,
Til eft that Mars be come ayein:
The Wynter wol no Somer knowe,
The grene lef is overthrowe,
The clothed erthe is thanne bare,
Despuiled is the Somerfare,1766
That erst was hete is thanne chele.
And thus thenkende thoghtes fele,
I was out of mi swoune affraied,
Wherof I sih my wittes straied,17672860
And gan to clepe hem hom ayein.
And whan Resoun it herde sein
That loves rage was aweie,
He cam to me the rihte weie,
And hath remued the sotie
Of thilke unwise fantasie,
Wherof that I was wont to pleigne,
So that of thilke fyri peine
I was mad sobre and hol ynowh.
Venus behield me than and lowh,2870
And axeth, as it were in game,
What love was. And I for schame
Ne wiste what I scholde ansuere;
And natheles I gan to swere
That be my trouthe I knew him noght;
So ferr it was out of mi thoght,
P. iii. 372
Riht as it hadde nevere be.
‘Mi goode Sone,’ tho quod sche,
‘Now at this time I lieve it wel,
So goth the fortune of my whiel;2880
Forthi mi conseil is thou leve.’
‘Ma dame,’ I seide, ‘be your leve,
Ye witen wel, and so wot I,
That I am unbehovely
Your Court fro this day forth to serve:1768
And for I may no thonk deserve,
And also for I am refused,
I preie you to ben excused.
And natheles as for the laste,1769
Whil that my wittes with me laste,2890
Touchende mi confession
I axe an absolucion
Of Genius, er that I go.’
[The Absolution.]
The Prest anon was redy tho,
And seide, ‘Sone, as of thi schrifte
Thou hast ful pardoun and foryifte;
Foryet it thou, and so wol I.’
Amans.
‘Min holi fader, grant mercy,’
Quod I to him, and to the queene1770
I fell on knes upon the grene,2900
And tok my leve forto wende.
[Leave-taking of Venus.]
Bot sche, that wolde make an ende,
As therto which I was most able,
A Peire of Bedes blak as Sable
Sche tok and heng my necke aboute;
Upon the gaudes al withoute
P. iii. 373
Was write of gold,Por reposer.1771
‘Lo,’ thus sche seide, ‘John Gower,
Now thou art ate laste cast,
This have I for thin ese cast,2910
That thou nomore of love sieche.
Bot my will is that thou besieche
And preie hierafter for the pes,
And that thou make a plein reles
To love, which takth litel hiede
Of olde men upon the nede,
Whan that the lustes ben aweie:
Forthi to thee nys bot o weie,
In which let reson be thi guide;
For he may sone himself misguide,2920
That seth noght the peril tofore.
Mi Sone, be wel war therfore,
And kep the sentence of my lore
And tarie thou mi Court nomore,
Bot go ther vertu moral duelleth,1772
Wher ben thi bokes, as men telleth,1773
Whiche of long time thou hast write.
For this I do thee wel to wite,
If thou thin hele wolt pourchace,
Thou miht noght make suite and chace,2930
Wher that the game is nought pernable;1774
It were a thing unresonable,
A man to be so overseie.
Forthi tak hiede of that I seie;
For in the lawe of my comune
We be noght schape to comune,
P. iii. 374
Thiself and I, nevere after this.
Now have y seid al that ther is1775
Of love as for thi final ende:
*Adieu, for y mot fro the wende.’2940
P. iii. 375
And with that word al sodeinly,
Enclosid in a sterred sky,1776
Venus, which is the qweene of love,
Was take in to hire place above,
P. iii. 376
More wiste y nought wher sche becam.1777
And thus my leve of hire y nam,1778
And forth with al the same tide
Hire prest, which wolde nought abide,
P. iii. 377
Or be me lief or be me loth,
Out of my sighte forth he goth,2950
And y was left with outen helpe.
So wiste I nought wher of to yelpe,
Bot only that y hadde lore
My time, and was sori ther fore.
P. iii. 378
And thus bewhapid in my thought,
Whan al was turnyd in to nought,
I stod amasid for a while,
And in my self y gan to smyle
Thenkende uppon the bedis blake,
And how they weren me betake,2960
For that y schulde bidde and preie.
And whanne y sigh non othre weie
Bot only that y was refusid,
Unto the lif which y hadde usid
I thoughte nevere torne ayein:
And in this wise, soth to seyn,
Homward a softe pas y wente,
Wher that with al myn hol entente1779
Uppon the point that y am schryve
I thenke bidde whil y live.17802970
[The Author prays for the State of England.]iv.Parce precor, Criste, populus quo gaudeat iste;Anglia ne triste subeat, rex summe, resiste.Corrige quosque status, fragiles absolue reatus;Vnde deo gratus vigeat locus iste beatus.
[The Author prays for the State of England.]
iv.Parce precor, Criste, populus quo gaudeat iste;
Anglia ne triste subeat, rex summe, resiste.
Corrige quosque status, fragiles absolue reatus;
Vnde deo gratus vigeat locus iste beatus.
He which withinne daies sevene1781This large world forth with the heveneHic in anno quartodecimo Regis Ricardi orat pro statu regni, quod a diu diuisum nimia aduersitate periclitabatur.1782Of his eternal providenceHath mad, and thilke intelligenceIn mannys soule resonableHath schape to be perdurable,Wherof the man of his fetureAbove alle erthli creatureAftir the soule is immortal,To thilke lord in special,2980P. iii. 379As he which is of alle thingesThe creatour, and of the kyngesHath the fortunes uppon honde,His grace and mercy forto fondeUppon my bare knes y preie,That he this loud in siker weieWol sette uppon good governance.1783For if men takyn remembranceWhat is to live in unite,1784Ther ys no staat in his degree2990That noughte to desire pes,With outen which, it is no les,To seche and loke in to the laste,Ther may no worldes joye laste.1785[Evil of Division in the Land.]Ferst forto loke the Clergie,Hem oughte wel to justefieThing which belongith to here cure,As forto praie and to procureOure pes toward the hevene above,And ek to sette reste and love3000Among ous on this erthe hiere.For if they wroughte in this manereAftir the reule of charite,I hope that men schuldyn seThis loud amende.And ovyr this,1786To seche and loke how that it is1787Touchende of the chevalerie,Which forto loke, in som partieIs worthi forto be comendid,And in som part to ben amendid,3010P. iii. 380That of here large retenueThe lond is ful of maintenue,Which causith that the comune right1788In fewe contrees stant upright.Extorcioun, contekt, ravine1789Withholde ben of that covyne,Aldai men hierin gret compleignteOf the desease, of the constreignte,Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid:God graunte it mote be redressid.3020For of knyghthode thordre woldeThat thei defende and kepe scholdeThe comun right and the fraunchise1790Of holy cherche in alle wise,So that no wikke man it dere,And ther fore servith scheld and spere:1791Bot for it goth now other weie,Oure grace goth the more aweie.And forto lokyn ovyrmore,Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore,3030Toward the lawis of oure lond,Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bondAnd with brocage is goon aweie,So that no man can se the weieWher forto fynde rightwisnesse.And if men sechin sikernesseUppon the lucre of marchandie,1792Compassement and tricherieOf singuler profit to wynne,Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne,3040P. iii. 381And namely of divisioun,Which many a noble worthi tounFro welthe and fro prosperiteHath brought to gret adversite.So were it good to ben al on,For mechil grace ther uppon1793Unto the Citees schulde falle,Which myghte availle to ous alle,If these astatz amendid were,So that the vertus stodyn there3050And that the vices were aweie:Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie,This londis grace schulde arise.[The Duty of a King.]Bot yit to loke in othre wise,1794Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere,Above alle othre on erthe hiere,Which hath the loud in his balance:To him belongith the leianceOf Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe;Undir his hond al is forth drawe17953060The marchant and the laborer;So stant it al in his powerOr forto spille or forto save.1796Bot though that he such power have,And that his myghtes ben so large,He hath hem nought withouten charge,1797To which that every kyng ys swore:So were it good that he ther foreFirst un to rightwisnesse entende,Wherof that he hym self amende3070P. iii. 382Toward his god and leve vice,Which is the chief of his office;And aftir al the remenantHe schal uppon his covenantGoverne and lede in such a wise,So that ther be no tirandise,Wherof that he his poeple grieve,Or ellis may he nought achieveThat longith to his regalie.For if a kyng wol justifie3080His lond and hem that beth withynne,1798First at hym self he mot begynne,To kepe and reule his owne astat,That in hym self be no debatToward his god: for othre wise1799Ther may non erthly kyng suffiseOf his kyngdom the folk to lede,Bot he the kyng of hevene drede.For what kyng sett hym uppon prideAnd takth his lust on every side3090And wil nought go the righte weie,Though god his grace caste aweieNo wondir is, for ate lasteHe schal wel wite it mai nought laste,1800The pompe which he secheth here.Bot what kyng that with humble chereAftir the lawe of god eschuiethThe vices, and the vertus suieth,1801His grace schal be suffisantTo governe al the remenant3100P. iii. 383Which longith to his duite;So that in his prosperiteThe poeple schal nought ben oppressid,Wherof his name schal be blessid,For evere and be memorial.[The Book completed.]And now to speke as in final,Touchende that y undirtokHic in fine recapitulat super hoc quod in principio libri primi promisit se in amoris causa specialius tractaturum. Concludit enim quod omnis amoris delectacio extra caritatem nichil est. Qui autem manet in caritate, in deo manet.In englesch forto make a bookWhich stant betwene ernest and game,I have it maad as thilke same3110Which axe forto ben excusid,And that my bok be nought refusidOf lered men, whan thei it se,1802For lak of curiosite:For thilke scole of eloquenceBelongith nought to my science,Uppon the forme of rethoriqeMy wordis forto peinte and pike,As Tullius som tyme wrot.Bot this y knowe and this y wot,3120That y have do my trewe peyneWith rude wordis and with pleyne,In al that evere y couthe and myghte,This bok to write as y behighte,So as siknesse it soffre wolde;And also for my daies olde,That y am feble and impotent,I wot nought how the world ys went.So preye y to my lordis alleNow in myn age, how so befalle,3130P. iii. 384That y mot stonden in here grace:1803For though me lacke to purchaceHere worthi thonk as by decerte,Yit the symplesse of my poverteDesireth forto do plesanceTo hem undir whos governanceI hope siker to abide.[Farewell to Earthly Love.]But now uppon my laste tideThat y this book have maad and write,My muse doth me forto wite,3140And seith it schal be for my besteFro this day forth to take reste,That y nomore of love make,Which many an herte hath overtake,And ovyrturnyd as the blyndeFro reson in to lawe of kynde;Wher as the wisdom goth aweie1804And can nought se the ryhte weieHow to governe his oghne estat,Bot everydai stant in debat18053150Withinne him self, and can nought leve.And thus forthy my final leveI take now for evere more,Withoute makynge any more,Of love and of his dedly hele,Which no phisicien can hele.For his nature is so divers,That it hath evere som traversOr of to moche or of to lite,That pleinly mai noman delite,18063160P. iii. 385Bot if him faile or that or this.Bot thilke love which that isWithinne a mannes herte affermed,And stant of charite confermed,[Heavenly Love.]Such love is goodly forto have,Such love mai the bodi save,Such love mai the soule amende,The hyhe god such love ous sendeForthwith the remenant of grace;1807So that above in thilke place3170Wher resteth love and alle pes,Oure joie mai ben endeles.
He which withinne daies sevene1781
This large world forth with the hevene
Hic in anno quartodecimo Regis Ricardi orat pro statu regni, quod a diu diuisum nimia aduersitate periclitabatur.1782
Of his eternal providence
Hath mad, and thilke intelligence
In mannys soule resonable
Hath schape to be perdurable,
Wherof the man of his feture
Above alle erthli creature
Aftir the soule is immortal,
To thilke lord in special,2980
P. iii. 379
As he which is of alle thinges
The creatour, and of the kynges
Hath the fortunes uppon honde,
His grace and mercy forto fonde
Uppon my bare knes y preie,
That he this loud in siker weie
Wol sette uppon good governance.1783
For if men takyn remembrance
What is to live in unite,1784
Ther ys no staat in his degree2990
That noughte to desire pes,
With outen which, it is no les,
To seche and loke in to the laste,
Ther may no worldes joye laste.1785
[Evil of Division in the Land.]
Ferst forto loke the Clergie,
Hem oughte wel to justefie
Thing which belongith to here cure,
As forto praie and to procure
Oure pes toward the hevene above,
And ek to sette reste and love3000
Among ous on this erthe hiere.
For if they wroughte in this manere
Aftir the reule of charite,
I hope that men schuldyn se
This loud amende.
And ovyr this,1786
To seche and loke how that it is1787
Touchende of the chevalerie,
Which forto loke, in som partie
Is worthi forto be comendid,
And in som part to ben amendid,3010
P. iii. 380
That of here large retenue
The lond is ful of maintenue,
Which causith that the comune right1788
In fewe contrees stant upright.
Extorcioun, contekt, ravine1789
Withholde ben of that covyne,
Aldai men hierin gret compleignte
Of the desease, of the constreignte,
Wher of the poeple is sore oppressid:
God graunte it mote be redressid.3020
For of knyghthode thordre wolde
That thei defende and kepe scholde
The comun right and the fraunchise1790
Of holy cherche in alle wise,
So that no wikke man it dere,
And ther fore servith scheld and spere:1791
Bot for it goth now other weie,
Oure grace goth the more aweie.
And forto lokyn ovyrmore,
Wher of the poeple pleigneth sore,3030
Toward the lawis of oure lond,
Men sein that trouthe hath broke his bond
And with brocage is goon aweie,
So that no man can se the weie
Wher forto fynde rightwisnesse.
And if men sechin sikernesse
Uppon the lucre of marchandie,1792
Compassement and tricherie
Of singuler profit to wynne,
Men seyn, is cause of mochil synne,3040
P. iii. 381
And namely of divisioun,
Which many a noble worthi toun
Fro welthe and fro prosperite
Hath brought to gret adversite.
So were it good to ben al on,
For mechil grace ther uppon1793
Unto the Citees schulde falle,
Which myghte availle to ous alle,
If these astatz amendid were,
So that the vertus stodyn there3050
And that the vices were aweie:
Me thenkth y dorste thanne seie,
This londis grace schulde arise.
[The Duty of a King.]
Bot yit to loke in othre wise,1794
Ther is a stat, as ye schul hiere,
Above alle othre on erthe hiere,
Which hath the loud in his balance:
To him belongith the leiance
Of Clerk, of knyght, of man of lawe;
Undir his hond al is forth drawe17953060
The marchant and the laborer;
So stant it al in his power
Or forto spille or forto save.1796
Bot though that he such power have,
And that his myghtes ben so large,
He hath hem nought withouten charge,1797
To which that every kyng ys swore:
So were it good that he ther fore
First un to rightwisnesse entende,
Wherof that he hym self amende3070
P. iii. 382
Toward his god and leve vice,
Which is the chief of his office;
And aftir al the remenant
He schal uppon his covenant
Governe and lede in such a wise,
So that ther be no tirandise,
Wherof that he his poeple grieve,
Or ellis may he nought achieve
That longith to his regalie.
For if a kyng wol justifie3080
His lond and hem that beth withynne,1798
First at hym self he mot begynne,
To kepe and reule his owne astat,
That in hym self be no debat
Toward his god: for othre wise1799
Ther may non erthly kyng suffise
Of his kyngdom the folk to lede,
Bot he the kyng of hevene drede.
For what kyng sett hym uppon pride
And takth his lust on every side3090
And wil nought go the righte weie,
Though god his grace caste aweie
No wondir is, for ate laste
He schal wel wite it mai nought laste,1800
The pompe which he secheth here.
Bot what kyng that with humble chere
Aftir the lawe of god eschuieth
The vices, and the vertus suieth,1801
His grace schal be suffisant
To governe al the remenant3100
P. iii. 383
Which longith to his duite;
So that in his prosperite
The poeple schal nought ben oppressid,
Wherof his name schal be blessid,
For evere and be memorial.
[The Book completed.]
And now to speke as in final,
Touchende that y undirtok
Hic in fine recapitulat super hoc quod in principio libri primi promisit se in amoris causa specialius tractaturum. Concludit enim quod omnis amoris delectacio extra caritatem nichil est. Qui autem manet in caritate, in deo manet.
In englesch forto make a book
Which stant betwene ernest and game,
I have it maad as thilke same3110
Which axe forto ben excusid,
And that my bok be nought refusid
Of lered men, whan thei it se,1802
For lak of curiosite:
For thilke scole of eloquence
Belongith nought to my science,
Uppon the forme of rethoriqe
My wordis forto peinte and pike,
As Tullius som tyme wrot.
Bot this y knowe and this y wot,3120
That y have do my trewe peyne
With rude wordis and with pleyne,
In al that evere y couthe and myghte,
This bok to write as y behighte,
So as siknesse it soffre wolde;
And also for my daies olde,
That y am feble and impotent,
I wot nought how the world ys went.
So preye y to my lordis alle
Now in myn age, how so befalle,3130
P. iii. 384
That y mot stonden in here grace:1803
For though me lacke to purchace
Here worthi thonk as by decerte,
Yit the symplesse of my poverte
Desireth forto do plesance
To hem undir whos governance
I hope siker to abide.
[Farewell to Earthly Love.]
But now uppon my laste tide
That y this book have maad and write,
My muse doth me forto wite,3140
And seith it schal be for my beste
Fro this day forth to take reste,
That y nomore of love make,
Which many an herte hath overtake,
And ovyrturnyd as the blynde
Fro reson in to lawe of kynde;
Wher as the wisdom goth aweie1804
And can nought se the ryhte weie
How to governe his oghne estat,
Bot everydai stant in debat18053150
Withinne him self, and can nought leve.
And thus forthy my final leve
I take now for evere more,
Withoute makynge any more,
Of love and of his dedly hele,
Which no phisicien can hele.
For his nature is so divers,
That it hath evere som travers
Or of to moche or of to lite,
That pleinly mai noman delite,18063160
P. iii. 385
Bot if him faile or that or this.
Bot thilke love which that is
Withinne a mannes herte affermed,
And stant of charite confermed,
[Heavenly Love.]
Such love is goodly forto have,
Such love mai the bodi save,
Such love mai the soule amende,
The hyhe god such love ous sende
Forthwith the remenant of grace;1807
So that above in thilke place3170
Wher resteth love and alle pes,
Oure joie mai ben endeles.
Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liberVt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore.Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista IohannisPerpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis.Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,1808Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus.1809
Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liber
Vt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore.
Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista Iohannis
Perpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis.
Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,1808
Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus.1809