Chapter 9

[Tale of the King and his Steward’s Wife.]To trete upon the cas of love,So as we tolden hiere above,Hic ponit exemplum contra istos qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia sumunt. Et narrat de quodam Regis Apulie Seneschallo, qui non solum propter pecuniam vxorem duxit, set eciam pecunie commercio vxorem sibi desponsatam vendidit.I finde write a wonder thing.Of Puile whilom was a king,P. ii. 216A man of hih complexiounAnd yong, bot his affecciounAfter the nature of his ageWas yit noght falle in his corage2650The lust of wommen forto knowe.So it betidde upon a throweThis lord fell into gret seknesse:Phisique hath don the besinesseOf sondri cures manyonTo make him hol; and theruponA worthi maister which ther wasYaf him conseil upon this cas,65That if he wolde have parfit hele,He scholde with a womman dele,2660A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht,To don him compaignie a nyht;For thanne he seide him redily,That he schal be al hol therby,And otherwise he kneu no cure.This king, which stod in aventure66Of lif and deth, for medicineAssented was, and of covineHis Steward, whom he tristeth wel,He tok, and tolde him everydel,2670Hou that this maister hadde seid:67And therupon he hath him preidAnd charged upon his ligance,That he do make porveanceOf such on as be covenableFor his plesance and delitable;P. ii. 217And bad him, hou that evere it stod,That he schal spare for no good,For his will is riht wel to paie.The Steward seide he wolde assaie:2680Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite,As I finde in the bokes write,68What coveitise in love doth.This Steward, forto telle soth,Amonges al the men alyve69A lusti ladi hath to wyve,Which natheles for gold he tokAnd noght for love, as seith the bok.A riche Marchant of the londHir fader was, and hire fond702690So worthily, and such richesseOf worldes good and such largesseWith hire he yaf in mariage,That only for thilke avantage71Of good this Steward hath hire take,For lucre and noght for loves sake,72And that was afterward wel seene;Nou herkne what it wolde meene.This Steward in his oghne herteSih that his lord mai noght asterte2700His maladie, bot he haveA lusti womman him to save,And thoghte he wolde yive ynowhOf his tresor; wherof he drowhGret coveitise into his mynde,And sette his honour fer behynde.P. ii. 218Thus he, whom gold hath overset,Was trapped in his oghne net;The gold hath mad hise wittes lame,So that sechende his oghne schame2710He rouneth in the kinges Ere,And seide him that he wiste whereA gentile and a lusti onTho was, and thider wolde he gon:73Bot he mot yive yiftes grete;For bot it be thurgh gret beyeteOf gold, he seith, he schal noght spede.The king him bad upon the nedeThat take an hundred pound he scholde,And yive it where that he wolde,2720Be so it were in worthi place:And thus to stonde in loves graceThis king his gold hath abandouned.And whan this tale was full rouned,The Steward tok the gold and wente,Withinne his herte and many a wenteOf coveitise thanne he caste,Wherof a pourpos ate lasteAyein love and ayein his rihtHe tok, and seide hou thilke nyht2730His wif schal ligge be the king;And goth thenkende upon this thingToward his In, til he cam homInto the chambre, and thanne he nomHis wif, and tolde hire al the cas.74And sche, which red for schame was,P. ii. 219With bothe hire handes hath him preid75Knelende and in this wise seid,76That sche to reson and to skileIn what thing that he bidde wile772740Is redy forto don his heste,Bot this thing were noght honeste,That he for gold hire scholde selle.And he tho with hise wordes felleForth with his gastly contienanceSeith that sche schal don obeissanceAnd folwe his will in every place;And thus thurgh strengthe of his manaceHir innocence is overlad,Wherof sche was so sore adrad2750That sche his will mot nede obeie.And therupon was schape a weie,78That he his oghne wif be nyhteHath out of alle mennes sihteSo prively that non it wisteBroght to the king, which as him listeMai do with hire what he wolde.For whan sche was ther as sche scholde,With him abedde under the cloth,The Steward tok his leve and goth2760Into a chambre faste by;79Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I,For he sih cause of jelousie.Bot he, which hath the compainieOf such a lusti on as sche,Him thoghte that of his degreP. ii. 220Ther was noman so wel at ese:Sche doth al that sche mai to plese,So that his herte al hol sche hadde;And thus this king his joie ladde,2770Til it was nyh upon the day.80The Steward thanne wher sche layCam to the bedd, and in his wise81Hath bede that sche scholde arise.The king seith, ‘Nay, sche schal noght go.’His Steward seide ayein, ‘Noght so;82For sche mot gon er it be knowe,And so I swor at thilke throwe,Whan I hire fette to you hiere.’83The king his tale wol noght hiere,842780And seith hou that he hath hire boght,Forthi sche schal departe noght,Til he the brighte dai beholde.And cawhte hire in hise armes folde,As he which liste forto pleie,And bad his Steward gon his weie,And so he dede ayein his wille.And thus his wif abedde stilleLay with the king the longe nyht,Til that it was hih Sonne lyht;2790Bot who sche was he knew nothing.Tho cam the Steward to the kingAnd preide him that withoute schame85In savinge of hire goode nameHe myhte leden hom ayeinThis lady, and hath told him pleinP. ii. 221Hou that it was his oghne wif.The king his Ere unto this strifHath leid, and whan that he it herde,Welnyh out of his wit he ferde,2800And seide, ‘Ha, caitif most of alle,Wher was it evere er this befalle,That eny cokard in this wiseBetok his wif for coveitise?Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiledAnd ek thin oghne astat reviled,Wherof that buxom unto theeHierafter schal sche nevere be.For this avou to god I make,After this day if I thee take,2810Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe.Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe,So that I se thee neveremore.’This Steward thanne dradde him sore,With al the haste that he maiAnd fledde awei that same dai,86And was exiled out of londe.Lo, there a nyce housebonde,Which thus hath lost his wif for evere!Bot natheles sche hadde a levere;2820The king hire weddeth and honoureth,Wherof hire name sche socoureth,Which erst was lost thurgh coveitiseOf him, that ladde hire other wise,And hath himself also forlore.Confessor.Mi Sone, be thou war therfore,P. ii. 222Wher thou schalt love in eny place,That thou no covoitise embrace,The which is noght of loves kinde.Bot for al that a man mai finde2830Nou in this time of thilke rageFul gret desese in mariage,Whan venym melleth with the SucreAnd mariage is mad for lucre,Or for the lust or for the hele:What man that schal with outher dele,87He mai noght faile to repente.Amans.Mi fader, such is myn entente:Bot natheles good is to have,For good mai ofte time save2840The love which scholde elles spille.Bot god, which wot myn hertes wille,I dar wel take to witnesse,Yit was I nevere for richesseBeset with mariage non;For al myn herte is upon onSo frely, that in the personeStant al my worldes joie al one:I axe nouther Park ne Plowh,If I hire hadde, it were ynowh,2850Hir love scholde me suffiseWithouten other coveitise.Lo now, mi fader, as of this,Touchende of me riht as it is,Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein;And if ye wole oght elles sein,88P. ii. 223Of covoitise if ther be moreIn love, agropeth out the sore.[False Witness and Perjury.]iv.Fallere cum nequeat propria vir fraude, subornatTestes, sit quod eis vera retorta fides.89Sicut agros cupidus dum querit amans mulieres,Vult testes falsos falsus habere suos.90Non sine vindicta periurus abibit in eiusVisu, qui cordis intima cuncta videt.Fallere periuro non est laudanda puellam91Gloria, set false condicionis opus.Mi Sone, thou schalt understondeHou Coveitise hath yit on honde2860In special tuo conseilours,That ben also hise procurours.Hic tractat super illis92Auaricie speciebus, que falsum Testimonium et Periurium nuncupantur; quorum fraudulenta circumuencio tam in cupiditatis95quam in amoris causa sui desiderii propositum quamsepe fallaciter attingit.The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse,93Which evere is redi to witnesseWhat thing his maister wol him hote:Perjurie is the secounde hote,94Which spareth noght to swere an oth,Thogh it be fals and god be wroth.96That on schal falswitnesse bere,That other schal the thing forswere,2870Whan he is charged on the bok.So what with hepe and what with crok97Thei make here maister ofte winneAnd wol noght knowe what is sinneFor coveitise, and thus, men sain,Thei maken many a fals bargain.Ther mai no trewe querele ariseIn thilke queste and thilke assise,98Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme;For thei kepe evere o maner forme,2880P. ii. 224That upon gold here conscienceThei founde, and take here evidence;And thus with falswitnesse and othesThei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes.Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe,Of thes lovers ful many untrewe:Nou mai a womman finde ynowe,That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe,Anon he wole his hand doun leinUpon a bok, and swere and sein2890That he wole feith and trouthe bere;And thus he profreth him to swereTo serven evere til he die,And al is verai tricherie.For whan the sothe himselven trieth,The more he swerth, the more he lieth;Whan he his feith makth althermest,Than mai a womman truste him lest;For til he mai his will achieve,He is no lengere forto lieve.992900Thus is the trouthe of love exiled,[False Witness.]And many a good womman beguiled.Confessor.And ek to speke of Falswitnesse,There be nou many suche, I gesse,100That lich unto the provisoursThei make here prive procurours,101To telle hou ther is such a man,Which is worthi to love and canAl that a good man scholde kunne;So that with lesinge is begunne2910P. ii. 225The cause in which thei wole procede,And also siker as the credeThei make of that thei knowen fals.And thus fulofte aboute the halsLove is of false men embraced;Bot love which is so pourchacedComth afterward to litel pris.Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis,Nou thou hast herd this evidence,Thou miht thin oghne conscience2920Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.Amans.Nai, god wot, fader, I am non,Ne nevere was; for as men seith,Whan that a man schal make his feith,His herte and tunge moste acorde;For if so be that thei discorde,Thanne is he fals and elles noght:And I dar seie, as of my thoght,In love it is noght descordableUnto mi word, bot acordable.2930And in this wise, fader, IMai riht wel swere and salvely,102That I mi ladi love wel,For that acordeth everydel.It nedeth noght to mi sothsaweThat I witnesse scholde drawe,Into this dai for nevere yit103Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit,That I my conseil scholde seieTo eny wiht, or me bewreie1042940P. ii. 226To sechen help in such manere,Bot only of mi ladi diere.105And thogh a thousend men it wiste,That I hire love, and thanne hem listeWith me to swere and to witnesse,Yit were that no falswitnesse;For I dar on this trouthe duelle,I love hire mor than I can telle.Thus am I, fader, gulteles,As ye have herd, and natheles2950In youre dom I put it al.106Confessor.Mi Sone, wite in special,It schal noght comunliche faile,Al thogh it for a time availeThat Falswitnesse his cause spede,Upon the point of his falshiedeIt schal wel afterward be kid;Wherof, so as it is betid,Ensample of suche thinges blindeIn a Cronique write I finde.2960[Tale of Achilles and Deidamia.]The Goddesse of the See Thetis,Sche hadde a Sone, and his name isAchilles, whom to kepe and warde,Hic ponit exemplum de illis, qui falsum testificantes amoris innocenciam circumueniunt. Et narrat qualiter Thetis Achillem filium suum adolescentem, muliebri vestitum apparatu, asserens esse puellam inter Regis Lichomedis filias ad educandum produxit. Et sic Achilles decepto Rege filie sue Deidamie socia et cubicularia effectus super ipsam Pirrum genuit; qui postea mire probitatis miliciam assecutus mortem patris sui apud Troiam in Polixenen tirannice vindicauit.Whil he was yong, as into warde107Sche thoghte him salfly to betake,As sche which dradde for his sake108Of that was seid in prophecie,109That he at Troie scholde die,Whan that the Cite was belein.Forthi, so as the bokes sein,2970P. ii. 227Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise,Hou sche him mihte so desguiseThat noman scholde his bodi knowe:And so befell that ilke throwe,Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede,110Ther was a king, which LichomedeWas hote, and he was wel begonWith faire dowhtres manyon,And duelte fer out in an yle.Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle:2980This queene, which the moder wasOf Achilles, upon this casHire Sone, as he a Maiden were,Let clothen in the same gereWhich longeth unto wommanhiede:And he was yong and tok non hiede,Bot soffreth al that sche him dede.Wherof sche hath hire wommen bedeAnd charged be here othes alle,Hou so it afterward befalle,2990That thei discovere noght this thing,Bot feigne and make a knowleching,Upon the conseil which was nome,In every place wher thei comeTo telle and to witnesse this,Hou he here ladi dowhter is.111And riht in such a maner wiseSche bad thei scholde hire don servise,So that Achilles underfongethAs to a yong ladi belongeth3000P. ii. 228Honour, servise and reverence.For Thetis with gret diligenceHim hath so tawht and so afaited,That, hou so that it were awaited,112With sobre and goodli contenanceHe scholde his wommanhiede avance,That non the sothe knowe myhte,Bot that in every mannes syhteHe scholde seme a pure Maide.And in such wise as sche him saide,3010Achilles, which that ilke whileWas yong, upon himself to smyleBegan, whan he was so besein.And thus, after the bokes sein,With frette of Perle upon his hed,Al freissh betwen the whyt and red,As he which tho was tendre of Age,Stod the colour in his visage,That forto loke upon his chekeAnd sen his childly manere eke,3020He was a womman to beholde.And thanne his moder to him tolde,That sche him hadde so begonBe cause that sche thoghte gonTo Lichomede at thilke tyde,Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde113Among hise dowhtres forto duelle.Achilles herde his moder telle,And wiste noght the cause why;And natheles ful buxomly3030P. ii. 229He was redy to that sche bad,Wherof his moder was riht glad,114To Lichomede and forth thei wente.And whan the king knew hire entente,And sih this yonge dowhter there,And that it cam unto his EreOf such record, of such witnesse,He hadde riht a gret gladnesseOf that he bothe syh and herde,As he that wot noght hou it ferde3040Upon the conseil of the nede.Bot for al that king LichomedeHath toward him this dowhter take,And for Thetis his moder sakeHe put hire into compainie115To duelle with Deïdamie,116His oghne dowhter, the eldeste,The faireste and the comeliesteOf alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde.Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde,3050And lefte there Achilles feigned,As he which hath himself restreignedIn al that evere he mai and canOut of the manere of a man,117And tok his wommannysshe chiere,Wherof unto his beddefereDeïdamie he hath be nyhte.Wher kinde wole himselve rihte,118After the Philosophres sein,Ther mai no wiht be therayein:3060P. ii. 230And that was thilke time seene.The longe nyhtes hem betueneNature, which mai noght forbere,Hath mad hem bothe forto stereThei kessen ferst, and overmoreThe hihe weie of loves loreThei gon, and al was don in dede,Wherof lost is the maydenhede;And that was afterward wel knowe.For it befell that ilke throwe3070At Troie, wher the Siege layUpon the cause of MenelayAnd of his queene dame Heleine,The Gregois hadden mochel peineAlday to fihte and to assaile.Bot for thei mihten noght availeSo noble a Cite forto winne,A prive conseil thei beginne,In sondri wise wher thei trete;And ate laste among the grete3080Thei fellen unto this acord,That Protheüs, of his recordWhich was an AstronomienAnd ek a gret Magicien,Scholde of his calculacionSeche after constellacion,Hou thei the Cite mihten gete:And he, which hadde noght foryeteOf that belongeth to a clerk,His studie sette upon this werk.1193090P. ii. 231So longe his wit aboute he caste,Til that he fond out ate laste,Bot if they hadden AchillesHere werre schal ben endeles.And over that he tolde hem pleinIn what manere he was besein,And in what place he schal be founde;So that withinne a litel stoundeUlixes forth with DiomedeUpon this point to Lichomede3100Agamenon togedre sente.Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente,Which was on of the moste wise,Ordeigned hath in such a wise,That he the moste riche aray,Wherof a womman mai be gay,With him hath take manyfold,And overmore, as it is told,An harneis for a lusti kniht,Which burned was as Selver bryht,1203110Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile,As thogh he scholde to bataille,He tok also with him be Schipe.And thus togedre in felaschipeForth gon this Diomede and heIn hope til thei mihten seThe place where Achilles is.The wynd stod thanne noght amis,Bot evene topseilcole it blew,121Til Ulixes the Marche knew,3120P. ii. 232Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde.The Stieresman so wel hem ladde,That thei ben comen sauf to londe,Wher thei gon out upon the strondeInto the Burgh, wher that thei foundeThe king, and he which hath facounde,Ulixes, dede the message.Bot the conseil of his corage,Why that he cam, he tolde noght,Bot undernethe he was bethoght3130In what manere he mihte aspieAchilles fro DeïdamieAnd fro these othre that ther were,Full many a lusti ladi there.Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo,And as it was fortuned so,It fell that time in such a wise,To Bachus that a sacrifiseThes yonge ladys scholden make;And for the strange mennes sake,3140That comen fro the Siege of Troie,Thei maden wel the more joie.Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge,And every lif which coude singeOf lusti wommen in the route122A freissh carole hath sunge aboute;Bot for al this yit nathelesThe Greks unknowe of AchillesSo weren, that in no degreThei couden wite which was he,3150P. ii. 233Ne be his vois, ne be his pas.Ulixes thanne upon this cas123A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght:For thilke aray, which he hath broghtTo yive among the wommen there,He let do fetten al the gereForth with a knihtes harneis eke,—In al a contre forto seke124Men scholden noght a fairer se,—And every thing in his degre3160Endlong upon a bord he leide.To Lichomede and thanne he preideThat every ladi chese scholdeWhat thing of alle that sche wolde,And take it as be weie of yifte;For thei hemself it scholde schifte,He seide, after here oghne wille.Achilles thanne stod noght stille:Whan he the bryhte helm behield,125The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield,3170His herte fell therto anon;Of all that othre wolde he non,The knihtes gere he underfongeth,And thilke aray which that belongethUnto the wommen he forsok.And in this wise, as seith the bok,Thei knowen thanne which he was:For he goth forth the grete pasInto the chambre where he lay;Anon, and made no delay,3180P. ii. 234He armeth him in knyhtli wise,That bettre can noman devise,And as fortune scholde falle,He cam so forth tofore hem alle,As he which tho was glad ynowh.But Lichomede nothing lowh,Whan that he syh hou that it ferde,For thanne he wiste wel and herde,His dowhter hadde be forlein;Bot that he was so oversein,3190The wonder overgoth his wit.For in Cronique is write yit126Thing which schal nevere be foryete,Hou that Achilles hath begetePirrus upon Deïdamie,Wherof cam out the tricherieOf Falswitnesse, whan thei saide127Hou that Achilles was a Maide.Bot that was nothing sene tho,For he is to the Siege go3200Forth with Ulixe and Diomede.Confessor.Lo, thus was proved in the dedeAnd fulli spoke at thilke while:If o womman an other guile,Wher is ther eny sikernesse?Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse,Deïdamie hath so bejaped,I not hou it schal ben ascapedWith tho wommen whos innocence128Is nou alday thurgh such credence1293210P. ii. 235Deceived ofte, as it is seene,With men that such untrouthe meene.For thei ben slyhe in such a wise,That thei be sleihte and be queintiseOf Falswitnesse bringen inneThat doth hem ofte forto winne,Wher thei ben noght worthi therto.130[Perjury.]Forthi, my Sone, do noght so.AmansMi fader, as of FalswitnesseThe trouthe and the matiere expresse,3220Touchende of love hou it hath ferd,As ye have told, I havewel herd.Bot for ye seiden otherwise,Hou thilke vice of CovoitiseHath yit Perjurie of his acord,131If that you list of som recordTo telle an other tale alsoIn loves cause of time ago,What thing it is to be forswore,I wolde preie you therfore,3230Wherof I mihte ensample take.Confessor.Mi goode Sone, and for thi sakeTouchende of this I schal fulfilleThin axinge at thin oghne wille,And the matiere I schal declare,Hou the wommen deceived are,Whan thei so tendre herte bere,132Of that thei hieren men so swere;Bot whan it comth unto thassay,Thei finde it fals an other day:3240P. ii. 236As Jason dede to Medee,133Which stant yet of AuctoriteIn tokne and in memorial;Wherof the tale in specialIs in the bok of Troie write,Which I schal do thee forto wite.134

[Tale of the King and his Steward’s Wife.]

To trete upon the cas of love,

So as we tolden hiere above,

Hic ponit exemplum contra istos qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia sumunt. Et narrat de quodam Regis Apulie Seneschallo, qui non solum propter pecuniam vxorem duxit, set eciam pecunie commercio vxorem sibi desponsatam vendidit.

I finde write a wonder thing.

Of Puile whilom was a king,

P. ii. 216

A man of hih complexioun

And yong, bot his affeccioun

After the nature of his age

Was yit noght falle in his corage2650

The lust of wommen forto knowe.

So it betidde upon a throwe

This lord fell into gret seknesse:

Phisique hath don the besinesse

Of sondri cures manyon

To make him hol; and therupon

A worthi maister which ther was

Yaf him conseil upon this cas,65

That if he wolde have parfit hele,

He scholde with a womman dele,2660

A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht,

To don him compaignie a nyht;

For thanne he seide him redily,

That he schal be al hol therby,

And otherwise he kneu no cure.

This king, which stod in aventure66

Of lif and deth, for medicine

Assented was, and of covine

His Steward, whom he tristeth wel,

He tok, and tolde him everydel,2670

Hou that this maister hadde seid:67

And therupon he hath him preid

And charged upon his ligance,

That he do make porveance

Of such on as be covenable

For his plesance and delitable;

P. ii. 217

And bad him, hou that evere it stod,

That he schal spare for no good,

For his will is riht wel to paie.

The Steward seide he wolde assaie:2680

Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite,

As I finde in the bokes write,68

What coveitise in love doth.

This Steward, forto telle soth,

Amonges al the men alyve69

A lusti ladi hath to wyve,

Which natheles for gold he tok

And noght for love, as seith the bok.

A riche Marchant of the lond

Hir fader was, and hire fond702690

So worthily, and such richesse

Of worldes good and such largesse

With hire he yaf in mariage,

That only for thilke avantage71

Of good this Steward hath hire take,

For lucre and noght for loves sake,72

And that was afterward wel seene;

Nou herkne what it wolde meene.

This Steward in his oghne herte

Sih that his lord mai noght asterte2700

His maladie, bot he have

A lusti womman him to save,

And thoghte he wolde yive ynowh

Of his tresor; wherof he drowh

Gret coveitise into his mynde,

And sette his honour fer behynde.

P. ii. 218

Thus he, whom gold hath overset,

Was trapped in his oghne net;

The gold hath mad hise wittes lame,

So that sechende his oghne schame2710

He rouneth in the kinges Ere,

And seide him that he wiste where

A gentile and a lusti on

Tho was, and thider wolde he gon:73

Bot he mot yive yiftes grete;

For bot it be thurgh gret beyete

Of gold, he seith, he schal noght spede.

The king him bad upon the nede

That take an hundred pound he scholde,

And yive it where that he wolde,2720

Be so it were in worthi place:

And thus to stonde in loves grace

This king his gold hath abandouned.

And whan this tale was full rouned,

The Steward tok the gold and wente,

Withinne his herte and many a wente

Of coveitise thanne he caste,

Wherof a pourpos ate laste

Ayein love and ayein his riht

He tok, and seide hou thilke nyht2730

His wif schal ligge be the king;

And goth thenkende upon this thing

Toward his In, til he cam hom

Into the chambre, and thanne he nom

His wif, and tolde hire al the cas.74

And sche, which red for schame was,

P. ii. 219

With bothe hire handes hath him preid75

Knelende and in this wise seid,76

That sche to reson and to skile

In what thing that he bidde wile772740

Is redy forto don his heste,

Bot this thing were noght honeste,

That he for gold hire scholde selle.

And he tho with hise wordes felle

Forth with his gastly contienance

Seith that sche schal don obeissance

And folwe his will in every place;

And thus thurgh strengthe of his manace

Hir innocence is overlad,

Wherof sche was so sore adrad2750

That sche his will mot nede obeie.

And therupon was schape a weie,78

That he his oghne wif be nyhte

Hath out of alle mennes sihte

So prively that non it wiste

Broght to the king, which as him liste

Mai do with hire what he wolde.

For whan sche was ther as sche scholde,

With him abedde under the cloth,

The Steward tok his leve and goth2760

Into a chambre faste by;79

Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I,

For he sih cause of jelousie.

Bot he, which hath the compainie

Of such a lusti on as sche,

Him thoghte that of his degre

P. ii. 220

Ther was noman so wel at ese:

Sche doth al that sche mai to plese,

So that his herte al hol sche hadde;

And thus this king his joie ladde,2770

Til it was nyh upon the day.80

The Steward thanne wher sche lay

Cam to the bedd, and in his wise81

Hath bede that sche scholde arise.

The king seith, ‘Nay, sche schal noght go.’

His Steward seide ayein, ‘Noght so;82

For sche mot gon er it be knowe,

And so I swor at thilke throwe,

Whan I hire fette to you hiere.’83

The king his tale wol noght hiere,842780

And seith hou that he hath hire boght,

Forthi sche schal departe noght,

Til he the brighte dai beholde.

And cawhte hire in hise armes folde,

As he which liste forto pleie,

And bad his Steward gon his weie,

And so he dede ayein his wille.

And thus his wif abedde stille

Lay with the king the longe nyht,

Til that it was hih Sonne lyht;2790

Bot who sche was he knew nothing.

Tho cam the Steward to the king

And preide him that withoute schame85

In savinge of hire goode name

He myhte leden hom ayein

This lady, and hath told him plein

P. ii. 221

Hou that it was his oghne wif.

The king his Ere unto this strif

Hath leid, and whan that he it herde,

Welnyh out of his wit he ferde,2800

And seide, ‘Ha, caitif most of alle,

Wher was it evere er this befalle,

That eny cokard in this wise

Betok his wif for coveitise?

Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiled

And ek thin oghne astat reviled,

Wherof that buxom unto thee

Hierafter schal sche nevere be.

For this avou to god I make,

After this day if I thee take,2810

Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe.

Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe,

So that I se thee neveremore.’

This Steward thanne dradde him sore,

With al the haste that he mai

And fledde awei that same dai,86

And was exiled out of londe.

Lo, there a nyce housebonde,

Which thus hath lost his wif for evere!

Bot natheles sche hadde a levere;2820

The king hire weddeth and honoureth,

Wherof hire name sche socoureth,

Which erst was lost thurgh coveitise

Of him, that ladde hire other wise,

And hath himself also forlore.

Confessor.

Mi Sone, be thou war therfore,

P. ii. 222

Wher thou schalt love in eny place,

That thou no covoitise embrace,

The which is noght of loves kinde.

Bot for al that a man mai finde2830

Nou in this time of thilke rage

Ful gret desese in mariage,

Whan venym melleth with the Sucre

And mariage is mad for lucre,

Or for the lust or for the hele:

What man that schal with outher dele,87

He mai noght faile to repente.

Amans.

Mi fader, such is myn entente:

Bot natheles good is to have,

For good mai ofte time save2840

The love which scholde elles spille.

Bot god, which wot myn hertes wille,

I dar wel take to witnesse,

Yit was I nevere for richesse

Beset with mariage non;

For al myn herte is upon on

So frely, that in the persone

Stant al my worldes joie al one:

I axe nouther Park ne Plowh,

If I hire hadde, it were ynowh,2850

Hir love scholde me suffise

Withouten other coveitise.

Lo now, mi fader, as of this,

Touchende of me riht as it is,

Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein;

And if ye wole oght elles sein,88

P. ii. 223

Of covoitise if ther be more

In love, agropeth out the sore.

[False Witness and Perjury.]iv.Fallere cum nequeat propria vir fraude, subornatTestes, sit quod eis vera retorta fides.89Sicut agros cupidus dum querit amans mulieres,Vult testes falsos falsus habere suos.90Non sine vindicta periurus abibit in eiusVisu, qui cordis intima cuncta videt.Fallere periuro non est laudanda puellam91Gloria, set false condicionis opus.

[False Witness and Perjury.]

iv.Fallere cum nequeat propria vir fraude, subornat

Testes, sit quod eis vera retorta fides.89

Sicut agros cupidus dum querit amans mulieres,

Vult testes falsos falsus habere suos.90

Non sine vindicta periurus abibit in eius

Visu, qui cordis intima cuncta videt.

Fallere periuro non est laudanda puellam91

Gloria, set false condicionis opus.

Mi Sone, thou schalt understondeHou Coveitise hath yit on honde2860In special tuo conseilours,That ben also hise procurours.Hic tractat super illis92Auaricie speciebus, que falsum Testimonium et Periurium nuncupantur; quorum fraudulenta circumuencio tam in cupiditatis95quam in amoris causa sui desiderii propositum quamsepe fallaciter attingit.The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse,93Which evere is redi to witnesseWhat thing his maister wol him hote:Perjurie is the secounde hote,94Which spareth noght to swere an oth,Thogh it be fals and god be wroth.96That on schal falswitnesse bere,That other schal the thing forswere,2870Whan he is charged on the bok.So what with hepe and what with crok97Thei make here maister ofte winneAnd wol noght knowe what is sinneFor coveitise, and thus, men sain,Thei maken many a fals bargain.Ther mai no trewe querele ariseIn thilke queste and thilke assise,98Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme;For thei kepe evere o maner forme,2880P. ii. 224That upon gold here conscienceThei founde, and take here evidence;And thus with falswitnesse and othesThei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes.Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe,Of thes lovers ful many untrewe:Nou mai a womman finde ynowe,That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe,Anon he wole his hand doun leinUpon a bok, and swere and sein2890That he wole feith and trouthe bere;And thus he profreth him to swereTo serven evere til he die,And al is verai tricherie.For whan the sothe himselven trieth,The more he swerth, the more he lieth;Whan he his feith makth althermest,Than mai a womman truste him lest;For til he mai his will achieve,He is no lengere forto lieve.992900Thus is the trouthe of love exiled,[False Witness.]And many a good womman beguiled.Confessor.And ek to speke of Falswitnesse,There be nou many suche, I gesse,100That lich unto the provisoursThei make here prive procurours,101To telle hou ther is such a man,Which is worthi to love and canAl that a good man scholde kunne;So that with lesinge is begunne2910P. ii. 225The cause in which thei wole procede,And also siker as the credeThei make of that thei knowen fals.And thus fulofte aboute the halsLove is of false men embraced;Bot love which is so pourchacedComth afterward to litel pris.Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis,Nou thou hast herd this evidence,Thou miht thin oghne conscience2920Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.Amans.Nai, god wot, fader, I am non,Ne nevere was; for as men seith,Whan that a man schal make his feith,His herte and tunge moste acorde;For if so be that thei discorde,Thanne is he fals and elles noght:And I dar seie, as of my thoght,In love it is noght descordableUnto mi word, bot acordable.2930And in this wise, fader, IMai riht wel swere and salvely,102That I mi ladi love wel,For that acordeth everydel.It nedeth noght to mi sothsaweThat I witnesse scholde drawe,Into this dai for nevere yit103Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit,That I my conseil scholde seieTo eny wiht, or me bewreie1042940P. ii. 226To sechen help in such manere,Bot only of mi ladi diere.105And thogh a thousend men it wiste,That I hire love, and thanne hem listeWith me to swere and to witnesse,Yit were that no falswitnesse;For I dar on this trouthe duelle,I love hire mor than I can telle.Thus am I, fader, gulteles,As ye have herd, and natheles2950In youre dom I put it al.106Confessor.Mi Sone, wite in special,It schal noght comunliche faile,Al thogh it for a time availeThat Falswitnesse his cause spede,Upon the point of his falshiedeIt schal wel afterward be kid;Wherof, so as it is betid,Ensample of suche thinges blindeIn a Cronique write I finde.2960

Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde

Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde2860

In special tuo conseilours,

That ben also hise procurours.

Hic tractat super illis92Auaricie speciebus, que falsum Testimonium et Periurium nuncupantur; quorum fraudulenta circumuencio tam in cupiditatis95quam in amoris causa sui desiderii propositum quamsepe fallaciter attingit.

The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse,93

Which evere is redi to witnesse

What thing his maister wol him hote:

Perjurie is the secounde hote,94

Which spareth noght to swere an oth,

Thogh it be fals and god be wroth.96

That on schal falswitnesse bere,

That other schal the thing forswere,2870

Whan he is charged on the bok.

So what with hepe and what with crok97

Thei make here maister ofte winne

And wol noght knowe what is sinne

For coveitise, and thus, men sain,

Thei maken many a fals bargain.

Ther mai no trewe querele arise

In thilke queste and thilke assise,98

Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme;

For thei kepe evere o maner forme,2880

P. ii. 224

That upon gold here conscience

Thei founde, and take here evidence;

And thus with falswitnesse and othes

Thei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes.

Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe,

Of thes lovers ful many untrewe:

Nou mai a womman finde ynowe,

That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe,

Anon he wole his hand doun lein

Upon a bok, and swere and sein2890

That he wole feith and trouthe bere;

And thus he profreth him to swere

To serven evere til he die,

And al is verai tricherie.

For whan the sothe himselven trieth,

The more he swerth, the more he lieth;

Whan he his feith makth althermest,

Than mai a womman truste him lest;

For til he mai his will achieve,

He is no lengere forto lieve.992900

Thus is the trouthe of love exiled,

[False Witness.]

And many a good womman beguiled.

Confessor.

And ek to speke of Falswitnesse,

There be nou many suche, I gesse,100

That lich unto the provisours

Thei make here prive procurours,101

To telle hou ther is such a man,

Which is worthi to love and can

Al that a good man scholde kunne;

So that with lesinge is begunne2910

P. ii. 225

The cause in which thei wole procede,

And also siker as the crede

Thei make of that thei knowen fals.

And thus fulofte aboute the hals

Love is of false men embraced;

Bot love which is so pourchaced

Comth afterward to litel pris.

Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis,

Nou thou hast herd this evidence,

Thou miht thin oghne conscience2920

Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.

Amans.

Nai, god wot, fader, I am non,

Ne nevere was; for as men seith,

Whan that a man schal make his feith,

His herte and tunge moste acorde;

For if so be that thei discorde,

Thanne is he fals and elles noght:

And I dar seie, as of my thoght,

In love it is noght descordable

Unto mi word, bot acordable.2930

And in this wise, fader, I

Mai riht wel swere and salvely,102

That I mi ladi love wel,

For that acordeth everydel.

It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe

That I witnesse scholde drawe,

Into this dai for nevere yit103

Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit,

That I my conseil scholde seie

To eny wiht, or me bewreie1042940

P. ii. 226

To sechen help in such manere,

Bot only of mi ladi diere.105

And thogh a thousend men it wiste,

That I hire love, and thanne hem liste

With me to swere and to witnesse,

Yit were that no falswitnesse;

For I dar on this trouthe duelle,

I love hire mor than I can telle.

Thus am I, fader, gulteles,

As ye have herd, and natheles2950

In youre dom I put it al.106

Confessor.

Mi Sone, wite in special,

It schal noght comunliche faile,

Al thogh it for a time availe

That Falswitnesse his cause spede,

Upon the point of his falshiede

It schal wel afterward be kid;

Wherof, so as it is betid,

Ensample of suche thinges blinde

In a Cronique write I finde.2960

[Tale of Achilles and Deidamia.]The Goddesse of the See Thetis,Sche hadde a Sone, and his name isAchilles, whom to kepe and warde,Hic ponit exemplum de illis, qui falsum testificantes amoris innocenciam circumueniunt. Et narrat qualiter Thetis Achillem filium suum adolescentem, muliebri vestitum apparatu, asserens esse puellam inter Regis Lichomedis filias ad educandum produxit. Et sic Achilles decepto Rege filie sue Deidamie socia et cubicularia effectus super ipsam Pirrum genuit; qui postea mire probitatis miliciam assecutus mortem patris sui apud Troiam in Polixenen tirannice vindicauit.Whil he was yong, as into warde107Sche thoghte him salfly to betake,As sche which dradde for his sake108Of that was seid in prophecie,109That he at Troie scholde die,Whan that the Cite was belein.Forthi, so as the bokes sein,2970P. ii. 227Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise,Hou sche him mihte so desguiseThat noman scholde his bodi knowe:And so befell that ilke throwe,Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede,110Ther was a king, which LichomedeWas hote, and he was wel begonWith faire dowhtres manyon,And duelte fer out in an yle.Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle:2980This queene, which the moder wasOf Achilles, upon this casHire Sone, as he a Maiden were,Let clothen in the same gereWhich longeth unto wommanhiede:And he was yong and tok non hiede,Bot soffreth al that sche him dede.Wherof sche hath hire wommen bedeAnd charged be here othes alle,Hou so it afterward befalle,2990That thei discovere noght this thing,Bot feigne and make a knowleching,Upon the conseil which was nome,In every place wher thei comeTo telle and to witnesse this,Hou he here ladi dowhter is.111And riht in such a maner wiseSche bad thei scholde hire don servise,So that Achilles underfongethAs to a yong ladi belongeth3000P. ii. 228Honour, servise and reverence.For Thetis with gret diligenceHim hath so tawht and so afaited,That, hou so that it were awaited,112With sobre and goodli contenanceHe scholde his wommanhiede avance,That non the sothe knowe myhte,Bot that in every mannes syhteHe scholde seme a pure Maide.And in such wise as sche him saide,3010Achilles, which that ilke whileWas yong, upon himself to smyleBegan, whan he was so besein.And thus, after the bokes sein,With frette of Perle upon his hed,Al freissh betwen the whyt and red,As he which tho was tendre of Age,Stod the colour in his visage,That forto loke upon his chekeAnd sen his childly manere eke,3020He was a womman to beholde.And thanne his moder to him tolde,That sche him hadde so begonBe cause that sche thoghte gonTo Lichomede at thilke tyde,Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde113Among hise dowhtres forto duelle.Achilles herde his moder telle,And wiste noght the cause why;And natheles ful buxomly3030P. ii. 229He was redy to that sche bad,Wherof his moder was riht glad,114To Lichomede and forth thei wente.And whan the king knew hire entente,And sih this yonge dowhter there,And that it cam unto his EreOf such record, of such witnesse,He hadde riht a gret gladnesseOf that he bothe syh and herde,As he that wot noght hou it ferde3040Upon the conseil of the nede.Bot for al that king LichomedeHath toward him this dowhter take,And for Thetis his moder sakeHe put hire into compainie115To duelle with Deïdamie,116His oghne dowhter, the eldeste,The faireste and the comeliesteOf alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde.Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde,3050And lefte there Achilles feigned,As he which hath himself restreignedIn al that evere he mai and canOut of the manere of a man,117And tok his wommannysshe chiere,Wherof unto his beddefereDeïdamie he hath be nyhte.Wher kinde wole himselve rihte,118After the Philosophres sein,Ther mai no wiht be therayein:3060P. ii. 230And that was thilke time seene.The longe nyhtes hem betueneNature, which mai noght forbere,Hath mad hem bothe forto stereThei kessen ferst, and overmoreThe hihe weie of loves loreThei gon, and al was don in dede,Wherof lost is the maydenhede;And that was afterward wel knowe.For it befell that ilke throwe3070At Troie, wher the Siege layUpon the cause of MenelayAnd of his queene dame Heleine,The Gregois hadden mochel peineAlday to fihte and to assaile.Bot for thei mihten noght availeSo noble a Cite forto winne,A prive conseil thei beginne,In sondri wise wher thei trete;And ate laste among the grete3080Thei fellen unto this acord,That Protheüs, of his recordWhich was an AstronomienAnd ek a gret Magicien,Scholde of his calculacionSeche after constellacion,Hou thei the Cite mihten gete:And he, which hadde noght foryeteOf that belongeth to a clerk,His studie sette upon this werk.1193090P. ii. 231So longe his wit aboute he caste,Til that he fond out ate laste,Bot if they hadden AchillesHere werre schal ben endeles.And over that he tolde hem pleinIn what manere he was besein,And in what place he schal be founde;So that withinne a litel stoundeUlixes forth with DiomedeUpon this point to Lichomede3100Agamenon togedre sente.Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente,Which was on of the moste wise,Ordeigned hath in such a wise,That he the moste riche aray,Wherof a womman mai be gay,With him hath take manyfold,And overmore, as it is told,An harneis for a lusti kniht,Which burned was as Selver bryht,1203110Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile,As thogh he scholde to bataille,He tok also with him be Schipe.And thus togedre in felaschipeForth gon this Diomede and heIn hope til thei mihten seThe place where Achilles is.The wynd stod thanne noght amis,Bot evene topseilcole it blew,121Til Ulixes the Marche knew,3120P. ii. 232Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde.The Stieresman so wel hem ladde,That thei ben comen sauf to londe,Wher thei gon out upon the strondeInto the Burgh, wher that thei foundeThe king, and he which hath facounde,Ulixes, dede the message.Bot the conseil of his corage,Why that he cam, he tolde noght,Bot undernethe he was bethoght3130In what manere he mihte aspieAchilles fro DeïdamieAnd fro these othre that ther were,Full many a lusti ladi there.Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo,And as it was fortuned so,It fell that time in such a wise,To Bachus that a sacrifiseThes yonge ladys scholden make;And for the strange mennes sake,3140That comen fro the Siege of Troie,Thei maden wel the more joie.Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge,And every lif which coude singeOf lusti wommen in the route122A freissh carole hath sunge aboute;Bot for al this yit nathelesThe Greks unknowe of AchillesSo weren, that in no degreThei couden wite which was he,3150P. ii. 233Ne be his vois, ne be his pas.Ulixes thanne upon this cas123A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght:For thilke aray, which he hath broghtTo yive among the wommen there,He let do fetten al the gereForth with a knihtes harneis eke,—In al a contre forto seke124Men scholden noght a fairer se,—And every thing in his degre3160Endlong upon a bord he leide.To Lichomede and thanne he preideThat every ladi chese scholdeWhat thing of alle that sche wolde,And take it as be weie of yifte;For thei hemself it scholde schifte,He seide, after here oghne wille.Achilles thanne stod noght stille:Whan he the bryhte helm behield,125The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield,3170His herte fell therto anon;Of all that othre wolde he non,The knihtes gere he underfongeth,And thilke aray which that belongethUnto the wommen he forsok.And in this wise, as seith the bok,Thei knowen thanne which he was:For he goth forth the grete pasInto the chambre where he lay;Anon, and made no delay,3180P. ii. 234He armeth him in knyhtli wise,That bettre can noman devise,And as fortune scholde falle,He cam so forth tofore hem alle,As he which tho was glad ynowh.But Lichomede nothing lowh,Whan that he syh hou that it ferde,For thanne he wiste wel and herde,His dowhter hadde be forlein;Bot that he was so oversein,3190The wonder overgoth his wit.For in Cronique is write yit126Thing which schal nevere be foryete,Hou that Achilles hath begetePirrus upon Deïdamie,Wherof cam out the tricherieOf Falswitnesse, whan thei saide127Hou that Achilles was a Maide.Bot that was nothing sene tho,For he is to the Siege go3200Forth with Ulixe and Diomede.Confessor.Lo, thus was proved in the dedeAnd fulli spoke at thilke while:If o womman an other guile,Wher is ther eny sikernesse?Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse,Deïdamie hath so bejaped,I not hou it schal ben ascapedWith tho wommen whos innocence128Is nou alday thurgh such credence1293210P. ii. 235Deceived ofte, as it is seene,With men that such untrouthe meene.For thei ben slyhe in such a wise,That thei be sleihte and be queintiseOf Falswitnesse bringen inneThat doth hem ofte forto winne,Wher thei ben noght worthi therto.130[Perjury.]Forthi, my Sone, do noght so.AmansMi fader, as of FalswitnesseThe trouthe and the matiere expresse,3220Touchende of love hou it hath ferd,As ye have told, I havewel herd.Bot for ye seiden otherwise,Hou thilke vice of CovoitiseHath yit Perjurie of his acord,131If that you list of som recordTo telle an other tale alsoIn loves cause of time ago,What thing it is to be forswore,I wolde preie you therfore,3230Wherof I mihte ensample take.Confessor.Mi goode Sone, and for thi sakeTouchende of this I schal fulfilleThin axinge at thin oghne wille,And the matiere I schal declare,Hou the wommen deceived are,Whan thei so tendre herte bere,132Of that thei hieren men so swere;Bot whan it comth unto thassay,Thei finde it fals an other day:3240P. ii. 236As Jason dede to Medee,133Which stant yet of AuctoriteIn tokne and in memorial;Wherof the tale in specialIs in the bok of Troie write,Which I schal do thee forto wite.134

[Tale of Achilles and Deidamia.]

The Goddesse of the See Thetis,

Sche hadde a Sone, and his name is

Achilles, whom to kepe and warde,

Hic ponit exemplum de illis, qui falsum testificantes amoris innocenciam circumueniunt. Et narrat qualiter Thetis Achillem filium suum adolescentem, muliebri vestitum apparatu, asserens esse puellam inter Regis Lichomedis filias ad educandum produxit. Et sic Achilles decepto Rege filie sue Deidamie socia et cubicularia effectus super ipsam Pirrum genuit; qui postea mire probitatis miliciam assecutus mortem patris sui apud Troiam in Polixenen tirannice vindicauit.

Whil he was yong, as into warde107

Sche thoghte him salfly to betake,

As sche which dradde for his sake108

Of that was seid in prophecie,109

That he at Troie scholde die,

Whan that the Cite was belein.

Forthi, so as the bokes sein,2970

P. ii. 227

Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise,

Hou sche him mihte so desguise

That noman scholde his bodi knowe:

And so befell that ilke throwe,

Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede,110

Ther was a king, which Lichomede

Was hote, and he was wel begon

With faire dowhtres manyon,

And duelte fer out in an yle.

Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle:2980

This queene, which the moder was

Of Achilles, upon this cas

Hire Sone, as he a Maiden were,

Let clothen in the same gere

Which longeth unto wommanhiede:

And he was yong and tok non hiede,

Bot soffreth al that sche him dede.

Wherof sche hath hire wommen bede

And charged be here othes alle,

Hou so it afterward befalle,2990

That thei discovere noght this thing,

Bot feigne and make a knowleching,

Upon the conseil which was nome,

In every place wher thei come

To telle and to witnesse this,

Hou he here ladi dowhter is.111

And riht in such a maner wise

Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise,

So that Achilles underfongeth

As to a yong ladi belongeth3000

P. ii. 228

Honour, servise and reverence.

For Thetis with gret diligence

Him hath so tawht and so afaited,

That, hou so that it were awaited,112

With sobre and goodli contenance

He scholde his wommanhiede avance,

That non the sothe knowe myhte,

Bot that in every mannes syhte

He scholde seme a pure Maide.

And in such wise as sche him saide,3010

Achilles, which that ilke while

Was yong, upon himself to smyle

Began, whan he was so besein.

And thus, after the bokes sein,

With frette of Perle upon his hed,

Al freissh betwen the whyt and red,

As he which tho was tendre of Age,

Stod the colour in his visage,

That forto loke upon his cheke

And sen his childly manere eke,3020

He was a womman to beholde.

And thanne his moder to him tolde,

That sche him hadde so begon

Be cause that sche thoghte gon

To Lichomede at thilke tyde,

Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde113

Among hise dowhtres forto duelle.

Achilles herde his moder telle,

And wiste noght the cause why;

And natheles ful buxomly3030

P. ii. 229

He was redy to that sche bad,

Wherof his moder was riht glad,114

To Lichomede and forth thei wente.

And whan the king knew hire entente,

And sih this yonge dowhter there,

And that it cam unto his Ere

Of such record, of such witnesse,

He hadde riht a gret gladnesse

Of that he bothe syh and herde,

As he that wot noght hou it ferde3040

Upon the conseil of the nede.

Bot for al that king Lichomede

Hath toward him this dowhter take,

And for Thetis his moder sake

He put hire into compainie115

To duelle with Deïdamie,116

His oghne dowhter, the eldeste,

The faireste and the comelieste

Of alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde.

Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde,3050

And lefte there Achilles feigned,

As he which hath himself restreigned

In al that evere he mai and can

Out of the manere of a man,117

And tok his wommannysshe chiere,

Wherof unto his beddefere

Deïdamie he hath be nyhte.

Wher kinde wole himselve rihte,118

After the Philosophres sein,

Ther mai no wiht be therayein:3060

P. ii. 230

And that was thilke time seene.

The longe nyhtes hem betuene

Nature, which mai noght forbere,

Hath mad hem bothe forto stere

Thei kessen ferst, and overmore

The hihe weie of loves lore

Thei gon, and al was don in dede,

Wherof lost is the maydenhede;

And that was afterward wel knowe.

For it befell that ilke throwe3070

At Troie, wher the Siege lay

Upon the cause of Menelay

And of his queene dame Heleine,

The Gregois hadden mochel peine

Alday to fihte and to assaile.

Bot for thei mihten noght availe

So noble a Cite forto winne,

A prive conseil thei beginne,

In sondri wise wher thei trete;

And ate laste among the grete3080

Thei fellen unto this acord,

That Protheüs, of his record

Which was an Astronomien

And ek a gret Magicien,

Scholde of his calculacion

Seche after constellacion,

Hou thei the Cite mihten gete:

And he, which hadde noght foryete

Of that belongeth to a clerk,

His studie sette upon this werk.1193090

P. ii. 231

So longe his wit aboute he caste,

Til that he fond out ate laste,

Bot if they hadden Achilles

Here werre schal ben endeles.

And over that he tolde hem plein

In what manere he was besein,

And in what place he schal be founde;

So that withinne a litel stounde

Ulixes forth with Diomede

Upon this point to Lichomede3100

Agamenon togedre sente.

Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente,

Which was on of the moste wise,

Ordeigned hath in such a wise,

That he the moste riche aray,

Wherof a womman mai be gay,

With him hath take manyfold,

And overmore, as it is told,

An harneis for a lusti kniht,

Which burned was as Selver bryht,1203110

Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile,

As thogh he scholde to bataille,

He tok also with him be Schipe.

And thus togedre in felaschipe

Forth gon this Diomede and he

In hope til thei mihten se

The place where Achilles is.

The wynd stod thanne noght amis,

Bot evene topseilcole it blew,121

Til Ulixes the Marche knew,3120

P. ii. 232

Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde.

The Stieresman so wel hem ladde,

That thei ben comen sauf to londe,

Wher thei gon out upon the stronde

Into the Burgh, wher that thei founde

The king, and he which hath facounde,

Ulixes, dede the message.

Bot the conseil of his corage,

Why that he cam, he tolde noght,

Bot undernethe he was bethoght3130

In what manere he mihte aspie

Achilles fro Deïdamie

And fro these othre that ther were,

Full many a lusti ladi there.

Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo,

And as it was fortuned so,

It fell that time in such a wise,

To Bachus that a sacrifise

Thes yonge ladys scholden make;

And for the strange mennes sake,3140

That comen fro the Siege of Troie,

Thei maden wel the more joie.

Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge,

And every lif which coude singe

Of lusti wommen in the route122

A freissh carole hath sunge aboute;

Bot for al this yit natheles

The Greks unknowe of Achilles

So weren, that in no degre

Thei couden wite which was he,3150

P. ii. 233

Ne be his vois, ne be his pas.

Ulixes thanne upon this cas123

A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght:

For thilke aray, which he hath broght

To yive among the wommen there,

He let do fetten al the gere

Forth with a knihtes harneis eke,—

In al a contre forto seke124

Men scholden noght a fairer se,—

And every thing in his degre3160

Endlong upon a bord he leide.

To Lichomede and thanne he preide

That every ladi chese scholde

What thing of alle that sche wolde,

And take it as be weie of yifte;

For thei hemself it scholde schifte,

He seide, after here oghne wille.

Achilles thanne stod noght stille:

Whan he the bryhte helm behield,125

The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield,3170

His herte fell therto anon;

Of all that othre wolde he non,

The knihtes gere he underfongeth,

And thilke aray which that belongeth

Unto the wommen he forsok.

And in this wise, as seith the bok,

Thei knowen thanne which he was:

For he goth forth the grete pas

Into the chambre where he lay;

Anon, and made no delay,3180

P. ii. 234

He armeth him in knyhtli wise,

That bettre can noman devise,

And as fortune scholde falle,

He cam so forth tofore hem alle,

As he which tho was glad ynowh.

But Lichomede nothing lowh,

Whan that he syh hou that it ferde,

For thanne he wiste wel and herde,

His dowhter hadde be forlein;

Bot that he was so oversein,3190

The wonder overgoth his wit.

For in Cronique is write yit126

Thing which schal nevere be foryete,

Hou that Achilles hath begete

Pirrus upon Deïdamie,

Wherof cam out the tricherie

Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide127

Hou that Achilles was a Maide.

Bot that was nothing sene tho,

For he is to the Siege go3200

Forth with Ulixe and Diomede.

Confessor.

Lo, thus was proved in the dede

And fulli spoke at thilke while:

If o womman an other guile,

Wher is ther eny sikernesse?

Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse,

Deïdamie hath so bejaped,

I not hou it schal ben ascaped

With tho wommen whos innocence128

Is nou alday thurgh such credence1293210

P. ii. 235

Deceived ofte, as it is seene,

With men that such untrouthe meene.

For thei ben slyhe in such a wise,

That thei be sleihte and be queintise

Of Falswitnesse bringen inne

That doth hem ofte forto winne,

Wher thei ben noght worthi therto.130

[Perjury.]

Forthi, my Sone, do noght so.

Amans

Mi fader, as of Falswitnesse

The trouthe and the matiere expresse,3220

Touchende of love hou it hath ferd,

As ye have told, I havewel herd.

Bot for ye seiden otherwise,

Hou thilke vice of Covoitise

Hath yit Perjurie of his acord,131

If that you list of som record

To telle an other tale also

In loves cause of time ago,

What thing it is to be forswore,

I wolde preie you therfore,3230

Wherof I mihte ensample take.

Confessor.

Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake

Touchende of this I schal fulfille

Thin axinge at thin oghne wille,

And the matiere I schal declare,

Hou the wommen deceived are,

Whan thei so tendre herte bere,132

Of that thei hieren men so swere;

Bot whan it comth unto thassay,

Thei finde it fals an other day:3240

P. ii. 236

As Jason dede to Medee,133

Which stant yet of Auctorite

In tokne and in memorial;

Wherof the tale in special

Is in the bok of Troie write,

Which I schal do thee forto wite.134

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