Of thilke Cite chief of alle
Which men the noble Rome calle,
[Sidenote: Hic in amoris causa contra fraudem detraccionis
ponit Confessor exemplum. Et narrat de quodam Romani
Imparatoris filio, qui probitates armorum super omnia
excercere affectans nesciente patre vltra mare in partes
Persie ad deseruiendum Soldano super guerras cum solo
milite tanquam socio suo ignotus se transtulit. Et cum
ipsius milicie fama super alios ibidem celsior accreuisset,
contigit ut in quodam bello contra Caliphum Egipti inito
Soldanusa sagitta mortaliter vulneratus, priusquam
moreretur, quendam anulum filie sue secretissimum isti
nobili Romano tradidit, dicens qualiter filia sua sub
paterne benediccionis vinculo adiurata est, quod quicumque
dictum anulum ei afferret, ipsam in coniugem pre omnibus
susciperet. Defuncto autem Soldano, versus Ciuitatem que
Kaire dicitur itinerantes, iste Romanus commilitoni suo
huius misterii secretum reuelauit; qui noctanter a bursa
domini sui anulum furto surripiens, hec que audiuit usui
proprio falsissima Supplantacione applicauit. Et sic seruus
pro domino desponsata sibi Soldani filia coronatus Persie
regnauit.]
Er it was set to Cristes feith,
Ther was, as the Cronique seith,
An Emperour, the which it ladde
In pes, that he no werres hadde:
Ther was nothing desobeissant
Which was to Rome appourtenant,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 244=]
Bot al was torned into reste.
To some it thoghte for the beste,[756] 2510
To some it thoghte nothing so,
And that was only unto tho
Whos herte stod upon knyhthode:
Bot most of alle of his manhode
The worthi Sone of themperour,
Which wolde ben a werreiour,
As he that was chivalerous
Of worldes fame and desirous,
Began his fadre to beseche[757]
That he the werres mihte seche,[758] 2520
In strange Marches forto ride.
His fader seide he scholde abide,
And wolde granten him no leve:[759]
Bot he, which wolde noght beleve,
A kniht of his to whom he triste,
So that his fader nothing wiste,
He tok and tolde him his corage,
That he pourposeth a viage.
If that fortune with him stonde,
He seide how that he wolde fonde[760] 2530
The grete See to passe unknowe,
And there abyde for a throwe
Upon the werres to travaile.
And to this point withoute faile
This kniht, whan he hath herd his lord,
Is swore, and stant of his acord,
As thei that bothe yonge were;[761]
So that in prive conseil there
[Sidenote: =P. i. 245=]
Thei ben assented forto wende.
And therupon to make an ende, 2540
Tresor ynowh with hem thei token,
And whan the time is best thei loken,
That sodeinliche in a Galeie
Fro Romelond thei wente here weie
And londe upon that other side.
The world fell so that ilke tide,
Which evere hise happes hath diverse,
The grete Soldan thanne of Perse
Ayein the Caliphe of Egipte
A werre, which that him beclipte, 2550
Hath in a Marche costeiant.
And he, which was a poursuiant
Worschipe of armes to atteigne,
This Romein, let anon ordeigne,
That he was redi everydel:
And whan he was arraied wel
Of every thing which him belongeth,
Straght unto Kaire his weie he fongeth,
Wher he the Soldan thanne fond,[762]
And axeth that withinne his lond 2560
He mihte him for the werre serve,
As he which wolde his thonk deserve.[763]
The Soldan was riht glad with al,
And wel the more in special
Whan that he wiste he was Romein;
Bot what was elles in certein,
That mihte he wite be no weie.
And thus the kniht of whom I seie
[Sidenote: =P. i. 246=]
Toward the Soldan is beleft,
And in the Marches now and eft, 2570
Wher that the dedli werres were,
He wroghte such knihthode there,
That every man spak of him good.[764]
And thilke time so it stod,
This mihti Soldan be his wif
A Dowhter hath, that in this lif[765]
Men seiden ther was non so fair.
Sche scholde ben hir fader hair,
And was of yeres ripe ynowh:
Hire beaute many an herte drowh 2580
To bowe unto that ilke lawe[766]
Fro which no lif mai be withdrawe,
And that is love, whos nature
Set lif and deth in aventure
Of hem that knyhthode undertake.
This lusti peine hath overtake[767]
The herte of this Romein so sore,
That to knihthode more and more
Prouesce avanceth his corage.
Lich to the Leoun in his rage, 2590
Fro whom that alle bestes fle,
Such was the knyht in his degre:[768]
Wher he was armed in the feld,
Ther dorste non abide his scheld;
Gret pris upon the werre he hadde.
Bot sche which al the chance ladde,
Fortune, schop the Marches so,
That be thassent of bothe tuo,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 247=]
The Soldan and the Caliphe eke,
Bataille upon a dai thei seke, 2600
Which was in such a wise set
That lengere scholde it noght be let.
Thei made hem stronge on every side,
And whan it drowh toward the tide
That the bataille scholde be,
The Soldan in gret privete
A goldring of his dowhter tok,
And made hire swere upon a bok
And ek upon the goddes alle,
That if fortune so befalle 2610
In the bataille that he deie,
That sche schal thilke man obeie
And take him to hire housebonde,
Which thilke same Ring to honde
Hire scholde bringe after his deth.
This hath sche swore, and forth he geth
With al the pouer of his lond
Unto the Marche, where he fond
His enemy full embatailled.
The Soldan hath the feld assailed: 2620
Thei that ben hardy sone assemblen,
Wherof the dredfull hertes tremblen:
That on sleth, and that other sterveth,
Bot above alle his pris deserveth
This knihtly Romein; where he rod,
His dedly swerd noman abod,
Ayein the which was no defence;
Egipte fledde in his presence,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 248=]
And thei of Perse upon the chace
Poursuien: bot I not what grace 2630
Befell, an Arwe out of a bowe
Al sodeinly that ilke throwe[769]
The Soldan smot, and ther he lay:
The chace is left for thilke day,
And he was bore into a tente.
The Soldan sih how that it wente,
And that he seholde algate die;
And to this knyht of Romanie,
As unto him whom he most triste,
His Dowhter Ring, that non it wiste, 2640
He tok, and tolde him al the cas,
Upon hire oth what tokne it was
Of that sche scholde ben his wif.
Whan this was seid, the hertes lif
Of this Soldan departeth sone;
And therupon, as was to done,
The dede body wel and faire
Thei carie til thei come at Kaire,
Wher he was worthily begrave.[770]
The lordes, whiche as wolden save 2650
The Regne which was desolat,
To bringe it into good astat
A parlement thei sette anon.
Now herkne what fell therupon:[771]
This yonge lord, this worthi kniht
Of Rome, upon the same niht
That thei amorwe trete scholde,
Unto his Bacheler he tolde
[Sidenote: =P. i. 249=]
His conseil, and the Ring with al
He scheweth, thurgh which that he schal, 2660
He seith, the kinges Dowhter wedde,[772]
For so the Ring was leid to wedde,
He tolde, into hir fader hond,
That with what man that sche it fond
She scholde him take to hire lord.
And this, he seith, stant of record,
Bot noman wot who hath this Ring.
This Bacheler upon this thing
His Ere and his entente leide,
And thoghte more thanne he seide, 2670
And feigneth with a fals visage
That he was glad, bot his corage
Was al set in an other wise.
These olde Philosophres wise
Thei writen upon thilke while,
That he mai best a man beguile
In whom the man hath most credence;
And this befell in evidence[773]
Toward this yonge lord of Rome.
His Bacheler, which hadde tome,[774] 2680
Whan that his lord be nihte slepte,
This Ring, the which his maister kepte,
Out of his Pours awey he dede,
And putte an other in the stede.
Amorwe, whan the Court is set,
The yonge ladi was forth fet,
To whom the lordes don homage,
And after that of Mariage
[Sidenote: =P. i. 250=]
Thei trete and axen of hir wille.
Bot sche, which thoghte to fulfille 2690
Hire fader heste in this matiere,
Seide openly, that men mai hiere,
The charge which hire fader bad.
Tho was this Lord of Rome glad
And drowh toward his Pours anon,
Bot al for noght, it was agon:
His Bacheler it hath forthdrawe,
And axeth ther upon the lawe[775]
That sche him holde covenant.
The tokne was so sufficant 2700
That it ne mihte be forsake,
And natheles his lord hath take
Querelle ayein his oghne man;
Bot for nothing that evere he can
He mihte as thanne noght ben herd,
So that his cleym is unansuerd,
And he hath of his pourpos failed.
This Bacheler was tho consailed[776]
And wedded, and of thilke Empire
He was coroned Lord and Sire, 2710
And al the lond him hath received;
Wherof his lord, which was deceived,
A seknesse er the thridde morwe
Conceived hath of dedly sorwe:
And as he lay upon his deth,
Therwhile him lasteth speche and breth,
He sende for the worthieste
Of al the lond and ek the beste,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 251=]
And tolde hem al the sothe tho,
That he was Sone and Heir also 2720
Of themperour of grete Rome,
And how that thei togedre come,
This kniht and he; riht as it was,
He tolde hem al the pleine cas,
And for that he his conseil tolde,
That other hath al that he wolde,
And he hath failed of his mede:
As for the good he takth non hiede,
He seith, bot only of the love,
Of which he wende have ben above. 2730
And therupon be lettre write
He doth his fader forto wite
Of al this matiere as it stod;[777]
And thanne with an hertly mod
Unto the lordes he besoghte
To telle his ladi how he boghte
Hire love, of which an other gladeth;
And with that word his hewe fadeth,
And seide, ‘A dieu, my ladi swete.’
The lif hath lost his kindly hete, 2740
And he lay ded as eny ston;[778]
Wherof was sory manyon,
Bot non of alle so as sche.
This false knyht in his degree
Arested was and put in hold:
For openly whan it was told
Of the tresoun which is befalle,
Thurghout the lond thei seiden alle,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 252=]
If it be soth that men suppose,
His oghne untrowthe him schal depose. 2750
And forto seche an evidence,
With honour and gret reverence,[779]
Wherof they mihten knowe an ende,
To themperour anon thei sende
The lettre which his Sone wrot.
And whan that he the sothe wot,
To telle his sorwe is endeles,
Bot yit in haste natheles
Upon the tale which he herde
His Stieward into Perse ferde 2760
With many a worthi Romein eke,
His liege tretour forto seke;
And whan thei thider come were,
This kniht him hath confessed there
How falsly that he hath him bore,
Wherof his worthi lord was lore.
Tho seiden some he scholde deie,
Bot yit thei founden such a weie
That he schal noght be ded in Perse;
And thus the skiles ben diverse. 2770
Be cause that he was coroned,
And that the lond was abandoned
To him, althogh it were unriht,
Ther is no peine for him diht;
Bot to this point and to this ende[780]
Thei granten wel that he schal wende
With the Romeins to Rome ayein.
And thus acorded ful and plein,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 253=]
The qwike body with the dede
With leve take forth thei lede, 2780
Wher that Supplant hath his juise.
Wherof that thou thee miht avise
Upon this enformacioun
Touchende of Supplantacioun,
That thou, my Sone, do noght so:
And forto take hiede also
What Supplant doth in other halve,
Ther is noman can finde a salve
Pleinly to helen such a Sor;
It hath and schal ben everemor, 2790
Whan Pride is with Envie joint,
He soffreth noman in good point,
Wher that he mai his honour lette.
And therupon if I schal sette
Ensample, in holy cherche I finde
How that Supplant is noght behinde;
God wot if that it now be so:
For in Cronique of time ago
I finde a tale concordable
Of Supplant, which that is no fable, 2800
In the manere as I schal telle,
So as whilom the thinges felle.
[Sidenote: [POPE BONIFACE.]]
At Rome, as it hath ofte falle,
The vicair general of alle
[Sidenote: Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra istos in
causa[781] dignitatis adquirende supplantatores. Et narrat
qualiter Papa Bonefacius predecessorem suum Celestinum
a papatu coniectata[782] circumuencione fraudulenter
supplantauit. Set qui potentes a sede deponit, huiusmodi
supplantacionis fraudem non sustinens, ipsum sic in sublime
exaltatum postea in profundi carceris miseriam proici, fame
que[783] siti cruciari, necnon et ab huius vite gaudiis
dolorosa morte explantari finali conclusione permisit.]
Of hem that lieven Cristes feith
His laste day, which non withseith,
Hath schet as to the worldes ÿe,
Whos name if I schal specefie,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 254=]
He hihte Pope Nicolas.
And thus whan that he passed was, 2810
The Cardinals, that wolden save
The forme of lawe, in the conclave
Gon forto chese a newe Pope,
And after that thei cowthe agrope[784]
Hath ech of hem seid his entente:
Til ate laste thei assente
Upon an holy clerk reclus,
Which full was of gostli vertus;
His pacience and his simplesse
Hath set him into hih noblesse. 2820
Thus was he Pope canonized,[785]
With gret honour and intronized,[786]
And upon chance as it is falle,
His name Celestin men calle;
Which notefied was be bulle[787]
To holi cherche and to the fulle
In alle londes magnified.
Bot every worschipe is envied,
And that was thilke time sene:
For whan this Pope of whom I meene 2830
Was chose, and othre set beside,
A Cardinal was thilke tide
Which the papat longe hath desired
And therupon gretli conspired;
Bot whan he sih fortune is failed,
For which long time he hath travailed,
That ilke fyr which Ethna brenneth
Thurghout his wofull herte renneth,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 255=]
Which is resembled to Envie,
Wherof Supplant and tricherie 2840
Engendred is; and natheles
He feigneth love, he feigneth pes,
Outward he doth the reverence,
Bot al withinne his conscience
Thurgh fals ymaginacioun
He thoghte Supplantacioun.
And therupon a wonder wyle
He wroghte: for at thilke whyle
It fell so that of his lignage
He hadde a clergoun of yong age, 2850
Whom he hath in his chambre affaited.
This Cardinal his time hath waited,[788]
And with his wordes slyhe and queinte,
The whiche he cowthe wysly peinte,
He schop this clerk of which I telle
Toward the Pope forto duelle,
So that withinne his chambre anyht
He lai, and was a prive wyht
Toward the Pope on nyhtes tide.
Mai noman fle that schal betide. 2860
This Cardinal, which thoghte guile,
Upon a day whan he hath while
This yonge clerc unto him tok,
And made him swere upon a bok,
And told him what his wille was.[789]
And forth withal a Trompe of bras
He hath him take, and bad him this:
‘Thou schalt,’ he seide, ‘whan time is
[Sidenote: =P. i. 256=]
Awaite, and take riht good kepe,
Whan that the Pope is fast aslepe[790] 2870
And that non other man be nyh;
And thanne that thou be so slyh
Thurghout the Trompe into his Ere,
Fro hevene as thogh a vois it were,
To soune of such prolacioun[791]
That he his meditacioun
Therof mai take and understonde,
As thogh it were of goddes sonde.
And in this wise thou schalt seie,
That he do thilke astat aweie 2880
Of Pope, in which he stant honoured,[792]
So schal his Soule be socoured
Of thilke worschipe ate laste
In hevene which schal evere laste.’
This clerc, whan he hath herd the forme
How he the Pope scholde enforme,
Tok of the Cardinal his leve,
And goth him hom, til it was Eve,
And prively the trompe he hedde,
Til that the Pope was abedde. 2890
And at the Midnyht, whan he knewh
The Pope slepte, thanne he blewh
Withinne his trompe thurgh the wal,[793]
And tolde in what manere he schal
His Papacie leve, and take
His ferste astat: and thus awake[794]
This holi Pope he made thries,
Wherof diverse fantasies
[Sidenote: =P. i. 257=]
Upon his grete holinesse
Withinne his herte he gan impresse. 2900
The Pope ful of innocence
Conceiveth in his conscience
That it is goddes wille he cesse;
Bot in what wise he may relesse
His hihe astat, that wot he noght.
And thus withinne himself bethoght,
He bar it stille in his memoire,
Til he cam to the Consistoire;
And there in presence of hem alle
He axeth, if it so befalle 2910
That eny Pope cesse wolde,
How that the lawe it soffre scholde.
Thei seten alle stille and herde,
Was non which to the point ansuerde,
For to what pourpos that it mente
Ther was noman knew his entente,
Bot only he which schop the guile.
This Cardinal the same while
Al openly with wordes pleine
Seith, if the Pope wolde ordeigne 2920
That ther be such a lawe wroght,
Than mihte he cesse, and elles noght.
And as he seide, don it was;
The Pope anon upon the cas
Of his Papal Autorite
Hath mad and yove the decre:
And whan that lawe was confermed
In due forme and al affermed,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 258=]
This innocent, which was deceived,
His Papacie anon hath weyved, 2930
Renounced and resigned eke.
That other was nothing to seke,
Bot undernethe such a jape
He hath so for himselve schape,
That how as evere it him beseme,
The Mitre with the Diademe
He hath thurgh Supplantacion:
And in his confirmacion
Upon the fortune of his grace
His name is cleped Boneface. 2940
Under the viser of Envie,
Lo, thus was hid the tricherie,
Which hath beguiled manyon.
Bot such conseil ther mai be non,
With treson whan it is conspired,
That it nys lich the Sparke fyred
Up in the Rof, which for a throwe
Lith hidd, til whan the wyndes blowe
It blaseth out on every side.
This Bonefas, which can noght hyde 2950
The tricherie of his Supplant,
Hath openly mad his avant
How he the Papacie hath wonne.
Bot thing which is with wrong begonne
Mai nevere stonde wel at ende;
Wher Pride schal the bowe bende,
He schet fulofte out of the weie:
And thus the Pope of whom I seie,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 259=]
Whan that he stod on hih the whiel,[795]
He can noght soffre himself be wel. 2960
Envie, which is loveles,
And Pride, which is laweles,
With such tempeste made him erre,
That charite goth out of herre:[796]
So that upon misgovernance
Ayein Lowyz the king of France
He tok querelle of his oultrage,
And seide he scholde don hommage
Unto the cherche bodily.
Bot he, that wiste nothing why 2970
He scholde do so gret servise
After the world in such a wise,
Withstod the wrong of that demande;
For noght the Pope mai comande
The king wol noght the Pope obeie.
This Pope tho be alle weie
That he mai worche of violence
Hath sent the bulle of his sentence
With cursinge and with enterdit.
The king upon this wrongful plyt, 2980
To kepe his regne fro servage,
Conseiled was of his Barnage
That miht with miht schal be withstonde.
Thus was the cause take on honde,
And seiden that the Papacie
Thei wolde honoure and magnefie
In al that evere is spirital;
Bot thilke Pride temporal
[Sidenote: =P. i. 260=]
Of Boneface in his persone,
Ayein that ilke wrong al one 2990
Thei wolde stonden in debat:
And thus the man and noght the stat
The Frensche schopen be her miht[797]
To grieve. And fell ther was a kniht,
Sire Guilliam de Langharet,
Which was upon this cause set;
And therupon he tok a route
Of men of Armes and rod oute,
So longe and in a wayt he lay,[798]
That he aspide upon a day 3000
The Pope was at Avinoun,
And scholde ryde out of the toun
Unto Pontsorge, the which is[799]
A Castell in Provence of his.
Upon the weie and as he rod,
This kniht, which hoved and abod
Embuisshed upon horse bak,
Al sodeinliche upon him brak
And hath him be the bridel sesed,
And seide: ‘O thou, which hast desesed 3010
The Court of France be thi wrong,
Now schalt thou singe an other song:[800]
Thin enterdit and thi sentence
Ayein thin oghne conscience
Hierafter thou schalt fiele and grope.
We pleigne noght ayein the Pope,
For thilke name is honourable,
Bot thou, which hast be deceivable
[Sidenote: =P. i. 261=]
And tricherous in al thi werk,
Thou Bonefas, thou proude clerk, 3020
Misledere of the Papacie,[801]
Thi false bodi schal abye
And soffre that it hath deserved.’
Lo, thus the Supplantour was served;
For thei him ladden into France
And setten him to his penance
Withinne a tour in harde bondes,
Wher he for hunger bothe hise hondes
Eet of and deide, god wot how:
Of whom the wrytinge is yit now 3030
Registred, as a man mai hiere,
Which spekth and seith in this manere:
[Sidenote: Cronica Bonefacii. Intrasti ut vulpis, regnasti
ut leo, et mortuus es ut canis.]
Thin entre lich the fox was slyh,
Thi regne also with pride on hih
Was lich the Leon in his rage;
Bot ate laste of thi passage
Thi deth was to the houndes like.
Such is the lettre of his Cronique
Proclamed in the Court of Rome,
Wherof the wise ensample nome. 3040
And yit, als ferforth as I dar,
I rede alle othre men be war,
And that thei loke wel algate
That non his oghne astat translate
Of holi cherche in no degree
Be fraude ne soubtilite:
For thilke honour which Aaron tok
Schal non receive, as seith the bok,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 262=]
Bot he be cleped as he was.
What I schal thenken in this cas 3050
Of that I hiere now aday,
I not: bot he which can and may,
Be reson bothe and be nature
The help of every mannes cure,
He kepe Simon fro the folde.[802]
[Sidenote: Nota de prophecia Ioachim Abbatis.]
For Joachim thilke Abbot tolde
How suche daies scholden falle,
[Sidenote: Quanti Mercenarii erunt in ouile dei, tuas aures
meis narracionibus fedare nolo.[803]]
That comunliche in places alle
The Chapmen of such mercerie
With fraude and with Supplantarie 3060
So manye scholden beie and selle,
That he ne may for schame telle
So foul a Senne in mannes Ere.
Bot god forbiede that it were
In oure daies that he seith:
For if the Clerc beware his feith
In chapmanhod at such a feire,
The remenant mot nede empeire
Of al that to the world belongeth;
For whan that holi cherche wrongeth, 3070
I not what other thing schal rihte.
And natheles at mannes sihte
Envie forto be preferred
Hath conscience so differred,
That noman loketh to the vice
Which is the Moder of malice,
And that is thilke false Envie,
Which causeth many a tricherie;
[Sidenote: =P. i. 263=]
For wher he may an other se
That is mor gracious than he, 3080
It schal noght stonden in his miht
Bot if he hindre such a wiht:
And that is welnyh overal,
This vice is now so general.
[Sidenote: [JOAB. AHITOPHEL.]]
Envie thilke unhapp indrowh,[804]
[Sidenote: Qualiter Ioab princeps milicie Dauid
inuidie causa Abner subdole interfecit. Et qualiter
eciam Achitofell ob hoc quod Cusy in consilio Absolon
preferebatur, accensus inuidia laqueo se suspendit.]
Whan Joab be deceipte slowh
Abner, for drede he scholde be
With king David such as was he.
And thurgh Envie also it fell
Of thilke false Achitofell, 3090
For his conseil was noght achieved,
Bot that he sih Cusy believed
With Absolon and him forsake,
He heng himself upon a stake.
[Sidenote: [NATURE OF ENVY.]]
Senec witnesseth openly
How that Envie proprely
Is of the Court the comun wenche,
And halt taverne forto schenche
That drink which makth the herte brenne,
And doth the wit aboute renne, 3100
Be every weie to compasse
How that he mihte alle othre passe,
As he which thurgh unkindeschipe
Envieth every felaschipe;
So that thou miht wel knowe and se,
Ther is no vice such as he,
Ferst toward godd abhominable,
And to mankinde unprofitable:
[Sidenote: =P. i. 294=]
And that be wordes bot a fewe
I schal be reson prove and schewe. 3110
vi. _Inuidie stimulus sine causa ledit abortus,_
_Nam sine temptante crimine crimen habet._
_Non est huius opus temptare Cupidinis archum,_
_Dumque faces Veneris ethnica flamma vorat._
_Absque rubore gene, pallor quas fuscus obumbrat,_
_Frigida nature cetera membra docent._
Envie if that I schal descrive,
He is noght schaply forto wyve[805]
[Sidenote: Hic describit Confessor naturam Inuidie tam
in amore quam aliter secundum proprietatem vicii sub
compendio.]
In Erthe among the wommen hiere;
For ther is in him no matiere
Wherof he mihte do plesance.
Ferst for his hevy continance
Of that he semeth evere unglad,
He is noght able to ben had;
And ek he brenneth so withinne,[806]
That kinde mai no profit winne, 3120
Wherof he scholde his love plese:
For thilke blod which scholde have ese
To regne among the moiste veines,
Is drye of thilke unkendeli peines
Thurgh whiche Envie is fyred ay.
And thus be reson prove I may
That toward love Envie is noght;
And otherwise if it be soght,
Upon what side as evere it falle,
It is the werste vice of alle, 3130
Which of himself hath most malice.
For understond that every vice
Som cause hath, wherof it groweth,
Bot of Envie noman knoweth
[Sidenote: =P. i. 265=]
Fro whenne he cam bot out of helle.
For thus the wise clerkes telle,
That no spirit bot of malice
Be weie of kinde upon a vice
Is tempted, and be such a weie
Envie hath kinde put aweie 3140
And of malice hath his steringe,
Wherof he makth his bakbitinge.
And is himself therof desesed.
So mai ther be no kinde plesed;
For ay the mor that he envieth,
The more ayein himself he plieth.
Thus stant Envie in good espeir
To ben himself the develes heir,
As he which is his nexte liche
And forthest fro the heveneriche, 3150
For there mai he nevere wone.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Forthi, my goode diere Sone,
If thou wolt finde a siker weie
To love, put Envie aweie.
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Min holy fader, reson wolde
That I this vice eschuie scholde:
Bot yit to strengthe mi corage,
If that ye wolde in avantage
Therof sette a recoverir,
It were tome a gret desir,[807] 3160
That I this vice mihte flee.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Nou understond, my Sone, and se,
Ther is phisique for the seke,
And vertus for the vices eke.
[Sidenote: =P. i. 266=]
Who that the vices wolde eschuie,
He mot be resoun thanne suie
The vertus; for be thilke weie
He mai the vices don aweie,
For thei togedre mai noght duelle:
For as the water of a welle[808] 3170
Of fyr abateth the malice,
Riht so vertu fordoth the vice.
Ayein Envie is Charite,
Which is the Moder of Pite,
That makth a mannes herte tendre,
[Sidenote: [CHARITY AND PITY.]]
That it mai no malice engendre
In him that is enclin therto.[809]
For his corage is tempred so,
That thogh he mihte himself relieve,
Yit wolde he noght an other grieve, 3180
Bot rather forto do plesance
He berth himselven the grevance,
So fain he wolde an other ese.
Wherof, mi Sone, for thin ese
Now herkne a tale which I rede,
And understand it wel, I rede.
[Sidenote: [TALE OF CONSTANTINE AND SILVESTER.]]
Among the bokes of latin
I finde write of Constantin
[Sidenote: Hic ponit Confessor exemplum de virtute
caritatis contra Inuidiam. Et narrat de Constantino Helene
filio, qui cum Imperii Romani dignitatem optinuerat, a
morbo lepre infectus, medici pro sanitate recuperanda ipsum
in sanguine puerorum masculorum balneare proposuerunt. Set
cum innumera multitudo matrum cum filiis huiusmodi medicine
causa in circuitu palacii affuisset, Imparatorque eorum
gemitus et clamores percepisset, caritate motus ingemiscens
sic ait: ‘O vere ipse est[810] dominus, qui se facit seruum
pietatis.’ Et hiis dictis statum suum cunctipotentis
medele[811] committens, sui ipsius morbum pocius quam
infancium mortem benignus[812] elegit. Vnde ipse, qui antea
Paganus et leprosus extiterat, ex vnda baptismatis[813]
renatus vtriusque materie, tam corporis quam anime, diuino
miraculo consecutus est salutem.]
The worthi Emperour of Rome,
Suche infortunes to him come, 3190
Whan he was in his lusti age,
The lepre cawhte in his visage
And so forth overal aboute,
That he ne mihte ryden oute:
[Sidenote: =P. i. 267=]
So lefte he bothe Schield and spere,
As he that mihte him noght bestere,
And hield him in his chambre clos.
Thurgh al the world the fame aros,
The grete clerkes ben asent[814]
And come at his comandement 3200
To trete upon this lordes hele.
So longe thei togedre dele,
That thei upon this medicine
Apointen hem, and determine
That in the maner as it stod
Thei wolde him bathe in childes blod
Withinne sevene wynter age:
For, as thei sein, that scholde assuage
The lepre and al the violence,
Which that thei knewe of Accidence 3210
And noght be weie of kinde is falle.
And therto thei acorden alle
As for final conclusioun,
And tolden here opinioun
To themperour: and he anon
His conseil tok, and therupon
With lettres and with seales oute
Thei sende in every lond aboute
The yonge children forto seche,
Whos blod, thei seiden, schal be leche[815] 3220
For themperoures maladie.
Ther was ynowh to wepe and crie
Among the Modres, whan thei herde
Hou wofully this cause ferde,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 268=]
Bot natheles thei moten bowe;
And thus wommen ther come ynowhe
With children soukende on the Tete.
Tho was ther manye teres lete,
Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe,
The wommen and the children bothe 3230
Into the Paleis forth be broght[816]
With many a sory hertes thoght
Of hem whiche of here bodi bore
The children hadde, and so forlore
Withinne a while scholden se.
The Modres wepe in here degre,
And manye of hem aswoune falle,[817]
The yonge babes criden alle:
This noyse aros, the lord it herde,
And loked out, and how it ferde 3240
He sih, and as who seith abreide
Out of his slep, and thus he seide:
‘O thou divine pourveance,
Which every man in the balance
Of kinde hast formed to be liche,
The povere is bore as is the riche
And deieth in the same wise,
Upon the fol, upon the wise
Siknesse and hele entrecomune;
Mai non eschuie that fortune 3250
Which kinde hath in hire lawe set;
Hire strengthe and beaute ben beset
To every man aliche fre,
That sche preferreth no degre
[Sidenote: =P. i. 269=]
As in the disposicioun
Of bodili complexioun:
And ek of Soule resonable
The povere child is bore als able
To vertu as the kinges Sone;
For every man his oghne wone 3260
After the lust of his assay
The vice or vertu chese may.
Thus stonden alle men franchised,
Bot in astat thei ben divised;
[Sidenote: Nota.[818]]
To some worschipe and richesse,
To some poverte and distresse,
On lordeth and an other serveth;
Bot yit as every man deserveth
The world yifth noght his yiftes hiere.
Bot certes he hath gret matiere 3270
To ben of good condicioun,
Which hath in his subjeccioun
The men that ben of his semblance.’
And ek he tok a remembrance
How he that made lawe of kinde
Wolde every man to lawe binde,
And bad a man, such as he wolde
Toward himself, riht such he scholde
Toward an other don also.
And thus this worthi lord as tho 3280
Sette in balance his oghne astat
And with himself stod in debat,
And thoghte hou that it was noght good[819]
To se so mochel mannes blod
[Sidenote: =P. i. 270=]
Be spilt for cause of him alone.[820]
He sih also the grete mone,
Of that the Modres were unglade,
And of the wo the children made,
Wherof that al his herte tendreth,
And such pite withinne engendreth,[821] 3290
That him was levere forto chese
His oghne bodi forto lese,
Than se so gret a moerdre wroght
Upon the blod which gulteth noght.
Thus for the pite which he tok
Alle othre leches he forsok,
And put him out of aventure
Al only into goddes cure;
And seith, ‘Who that woll maister be,
He mot be servant to pite.’ 3300
So ferforth he was overcome
With charite, that he hath nome
His conseil and hise officers,
And bad unto hise tresorers
That thei his tresour al aboute
Departe among that povere route[822]
Of wommen and of children bothe,
Wherof thei mihte hem fede and clothe
And saufli tornen hom ayein
Withoute lost of eny grein. 3310
Thurgh charite thus he despendeth
His good, wherof that he amendeth
The povere poeple, and contrevaileth
The harm, that he hem so travaileth:[823]
[Sidenote: =P. i. 271=]
And thus the woful nyhtes sorwe
To joie is torned on the morwe;
Al was thonkinge, al was blessinge,
Which erst was wepinge and cursinge;
Thes wommen gon hom glade ynowh,
Echon for joie on other lowh, 3320
And preiden for this lordes hele,
Which hath relessed the querele,
And hath his oghne will forsake
In charite for goddes sake.
Bot now hierafter thou schalt hiere
What god hath wroght in this matiere,
As he which doth al equite.
To him that wroghte charite
He was ayeinward charitous,
And to pite he was pitous: 3330
For it was nevere knowe yit
That charite goth unaquit.
The nyht, whan he was leid to slepe,
The hihe god, which wolde him kepe,
Seint Peter and seint Poul him sende,
Be whom he wolde his lepre amende.
Thei tuo to him slepende appiere
Fro god, and seide in this manere:
‘O Constantin, for thou hast served
Pite, thou hast pite deserved: 3340
Forthi thou schalt such pite have
That god thurgh pite woll thee save.
So schalt thou double hele finde,
Ferst for thi bodiliche kinde,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 272=]
And for thi wofull Soule also,
Thou schalt ben hol of bothe tuo.
And for thou schalt thee noght despeire,
Thi lepre schal nomore empeire
Til thou wolt sende therupon
Unto the Mont of Celion, 3350
Wher that Silvestre and his clergie
Togedre duelle in compaignie
For drede of thee, which many day
Hast ben a fo to Cristes lay,
And hast destruid to mochel schame
The prechours of his holy name.
Bot now thou hast somdiel appesed
Thi god, and with good dede plesed,
That thou thi pite hast bewared
Upon the blod which thou hast spared. 3360
Forthi to thi salvacion
Thou schalt have enformacioun,
Such as Silvestre schal the teche:
The nedeth of non other leche.’
This Emperour, which al this herde,
‘Grant merci lordes,’ he ansuerde,
‘I wol do so as ye me seie.
Bot of o thing I wolde preie:
What schal I telle unto Silvestre
Or of youre name or of youre estre?’ 3370
And thei him tolden what thei hihte,
And forth withal out of his sihte
Thei passen up into the hevene.
And he awok out of his swevene,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 273=]
And clepeth, and men come anon:
He tolde his drem, and therupon
In such a wise as he hem telleth
The Mont wher that Silvestre duelleth
Thei have in alle haste soght,
And founde he was and with hem broght 3380
To themperour, which to him tolde
His swevene and elles what he wolde.
And whan Silvestre hath herd the king,
He was riht joiful of this thing,
And him began with al his wit
To techen upon holi writ
Ferst how mankinde was forlore,
And how the hihe god therfore
His Sone sende from above,
Which bore was for mannes love, 3390
And after of his oghne chois
He tok his deth upon the crois;
And how in grave he was beloke,
And how that he hath helle broke,
And tok hem out that were him lieve;[824]
And forto make ous full believe
That he was verrai goddes Sone,
Ayein the kinde of mannes wone
Fro dethe he ros the thridde day,
And whanne he wolde, as he wel may, 3400
He styh up to his fader evene
With fleissh and blod into the hevene;[825]
And riht so in the same forme
In fleissh and blod he schal reforme,
[Sidenote: =P. i. 274=]
Whan time comth, the qwike and dede
At thilke woful dai of drede,[826]
Where every man schal take his dom,
Als wel the Maister as the grom.
The mihti kinges retenue
That dai may stonde of no value 3410
With worldes strengthe to defende;
For every man mot thanne entende
To stonde upon his oghne dedes
And leve alle othre mennes nedes.
That dai mai no consail availe,
The pledour and the plee schal faile,
The sentence of that ilke day
Mai non appell sette in delay;
Ther mai no gold the Jugge plie,
That he ne schal the sothe trie 3420
And setten every man upriht,
Als wel the plowman as the kniht:
The lewed man, the grete clerk
Schal stonde upon his oghne werk,
And such as he is founde tho,
Such schal he be for everemo.
Ther mai no peine be relessed,
Ther mai no joie ben encressed,
Bot endeles, as thei have do,
He schal receive on of the tuo.[827] 3430
And thus Silvestre with his sawe[828]
The ground of al the newe lawe
With gret devocion he precheth,
Fro point to point and pleinly techeth
[Sidenote: =P. i. 275=]
Unto this hethen Emperour;
And seith, the hihe creatour
Hath underfonge his charite,
Of that he wroghte such pite,
Whan he the children hadde on honde.
Thus whan this lord hath understonde 3440
Of al this thing how that it ferde,
Unto Silvestre he thanne ansuerde,
With al his hole herte and seith
That he is redi to the feith.
And so the vessel which for blod
Was mad, Silvestre, ther it stod,
With clene water of the welle
In alle haste he let do felle,
And sette Constantin therinne
Al naked up unto the chinne. 3450
And in the while it was begunne,
A liht, as thogh it were a Sunne,
Fro hevene into the place com
Wher that he tok his cristendom;
And evere among the holi tales
Lich as thei weren fisshes skales
Ther fellen from him now and eft,
Til that ther was nothing beleft[829]
Of al his grete maladie.
For he that wolde him purefie, 3460
The hihe god hath mad him clene,
So that ther lefte nothing sene;
He hath him clensed bothe tuo,
The bodi and the Soule also.
[Sidenote: =P. i. 276=]
Tho knew this Emperour in dede
That Cristes feith was forto drede,
And sende anon hise lettres oute
And let do crien al aboute,
Up peine of deth that noman weyve
That he baptesme ne receive:[830] 3470
After his Moder qweene Heleine
He sende, and so betwen hem tweine
Thei treten, that the Cite all
Was cristned, and sche forth withall.
This Emperour, which hele hath founde,
Withinne Rome anon let founde[831]
Tuo cherches, whiche he dede make
For Peter and for Poules sake,
Of whom he hadde avisioun;[832]
And yaf therto possessioun 3480
Of lordschipe and of worldes good.
Bot how so that his will was good
Toward the Pope and his Franchise,
Yit hath it proved other wise,
To se the worchinge of the dede:
For in Cronique this I rede;[833]
Anon as he hath mad the yifte,[834]
A vois was herd on hih the lifte,
Of which al Rome was adrad,
And seith: ‘To day is venym schad 3490
In holi cherche of temporal,
Which medleth with the spirital.’[835]
And hou it stant of that degree
Yit mai a man the sothe se:
[Sidenote: =P. i. 277=]
God mai amende it, whan he wile,
I can ther to non other skile.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Bot forto go ther I began,
How charite mai helpe a man
To bothe worldes, I have seid:
And if thou have an Ere leid, 3500
Mi Sone, thou miht understonde,
If charite be take on honde,
Ther folweth after mochel grace.
Forthi, if that thou wolt pourchace
How that thou miht Envie flee,
Aqueinte thee with charite,
Which is the vertu sovereine.
[Sidenote: Amans.]
Mi fader, I schal do my peine:
For this ensample which ye tolde
With al myn herte I have withholde, 3510
So that I schal for everemore
Eschuie Envie wel the more:
And that I have er this misdo,
Yif me my penance er I go.
And over that to mi matiere
Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere[836]
In privete betwen ous tweie,
Now axeth what ther is, I preie.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore
I woll thee telle what is more, 3520
So that thou schalt the vices knowe:
For whan thei be to thee full knowe,
Thou miht hem wel the betre eschuie.
And for this cause I thenke suie
[Sidenote: =P. i. 278=]
The forme bothe and the matiere,
As now suiende thou schalt hiere
Which vice stant next after this:
And whan thou wost how that it is,
As thou schalt hiere me devise,
Thow miht thiself the betre avise. 3530
=Explicit Liber Secundus.=
LINENOTES:
[536] _Latin Verses_ i. 10 aliis H₁ ... B₂, BΛ, W
[537] 31 nowher] now heer (here) MX ... B₂
[538] 59 ate A, S, F at J, B
[539] 60 get J, S, F gete AC, B
[540] 71 oþer (othir) MH₁, AdΔ, H₃ oþre AJEC, SB, F
[541] 78 further] fader KH₃
[542] 92 wolde] þought(e) XEC þough H₁RLB₂
[543] 96 write] I write AM
[544] 116 _margin_ capere H₁ ... B₂, B
[545] 117 Bot] Bo F
[546] 119 _margin_ et _om._ B
[547] 123 that men thanne knewe] þat men þat (_om._ knewe) A
þat men þat knew M that than men knewe Ad of men that knewe H₃
[548] 129 no _om._ AM
[549] 136 tyde B
[550] 149 set J, SB sette A, F
[551] 150 vyre (vire) H₁ ... L, B, W
[552] 160 lich] as B, KH₃
[553] 162 The whom AX, SAd, F Tho whome M To whom JH₁G ...
B₂, Λ In whom K _in ras._ H₃ The which B, W Hom (_om._ The) Δ
areste] haue reste J
[554] 176 þe helle AM (hille)
[555] 181 kept J, SB, F kepte A
[556] 193 Wher SAdBΔ
[557] _Latin Verses_ ii. 1 Orta] Vita H₁ ... B₂, B
[558] 5 sorte] forte H₁XGRCLB₂
[559] 228 He] Him E, KH₃
[560] 298 which _om._ B
[561] 310 mad S, F made AJ, B
[562] 315 _margin_ igitur (g^i) diuicias carpere XER, B sibi
diuicias capere MH₁, W igitur diuicias capere CL
[563] 346 What þat B What Ad
[564] 352 Ennvie F
[565] 354 thus] þis A and thus W
[566] 365-72 _Eight lines om._ SAdBΔΛ
[567] 377 the wise] þis wise B
[568] 378 euermore AJMG ... B₂, Magd forthermore W
[569] _Latin Verses_ iii. 2 infamen F
[570] 401 the _om._ AM
[571] 409 suche F
[572] 467 vnknowen vnkost R vnknowen gest AM
[573] 473 hadde I wist] hadde (had) wist XRC haddy wist(e)
H₁ELB₂ haddiwist M, H₃ haddy I wist Ad
[574] 517 Al] And H₁ ... B₂, H₃
[575] 554 of _om._ J ... B₂, B, W
[576] 571 Bewar F Be war AJ, B
[577] 578 schold BS, F scholde AJ
[578] 606 _margin_ fuit] fiunt XERCL, B fu_er_it B₂
[579] 649 be so AM sone be X
[580] 658 _margin_ in exilium] et in exilium X, B et exilium
H₁ERLB₂
[581] 671 welcominge] comyng(e) H₁ ... B₂, B
[582] 710 hiere F
[583] 716 _margin_ ad partes H₁ ... RLB₂, B
[584] 751 and] and it H₁ ... B₂, B
[585] 751 _margin_ Elda H₁G ... B₂, B
[586] 782 _margin_ ipsa sibi A ... B₂, BΔ
[587] 803 told A, SB, F tolde C
[588] 815 his l. to vnderstonde AJMH₁X GRLB₂, BΔ þis l.
tunderstonde Ad þis l. to vnderstonde C, H₃ his l. vnderstonde
E, W
[589] 833 that other] þe oþer M þat dier(e) H₁ ... B₂, B
[590] 844 caste AC, S cast J, B, F
[591] 860 thanne ... thanne] þanne ... þus LB₂, B, W
[592] 882 hast] has C, Δ haþ RLB₂, AdB, W
[593] 884 told J, SB, F tolde AC
[594] 912 the] þis H₁ ... B₂, B, H₃
[595] 925 He] And H₁YXGECLB₂, B
[596] 938 _margin_ quod] quia H₁ ... B₂, B
[597] 939 _margin_ non _om._ B
[598] 947 _margin_ desolabitur YRCL, B, W
[599] 949 þong F
[600] 951 his] þis AB₂
[601] 957 As] And C, H₃
[602] 961 ne _om._ J ... B₂, B, W
[603] 962 as] þat ERCB₂
[604] 993 him H₁ ... CB₂, B
[605] 1009 ffor wiþ RLB₂
[606] 1020 I, thei sein, delaie] I seie (se) eny delaie H₁ ...
B₂, B thei seine d. (_om._ I) H₃
[607] 1021 put AJ, S, F putte C, B
[608] 1045 that writen is] þe writen is AM þat writen was B₂ B,
W þat wryten (_om._ is) X
[609] 1048 tofore B, W
[610] 1063 Sownend(e) A, B
[611] 1066 yhe A ... B₂, SAdB
[612] 1070 þenkeþ it is gret E, B, H₃
[613] 1071 schalt] most B
[614] 1085 ff. _margin_ Qualiter--liberauit _om._ AM(_p.m._)
[615] 1101 at] as AM
[616] 1103 mo men sih sche] AM (sighe), SAdΔ (saw), F no men
seih (sigh) sche G ... B₂, B, H₃ no man s. she H₁X, W no men
sie hire J noght _om._ W
[617] 1120 preide] preide to L preieþ to C praieth Δ preith H₃
[618] 1123 menable M, Δ, F meuable GRCLB₂, B _doubtful_
AJH₁YXE, SAd, H₃ meveable W
[619] 1129 _margin_ vagans] nauigans B
[620] 1127 ff. _margin_ Qualiter--educauit _om._ AM(_p.m._)
[621] 1132 be falle J, S, F befalle AC, B
[622] 1133 the] þat A ... B₂, SAdBΔ
[623] 1140 to go in] go in AM, Δ to gon L to go doun G gone (to
se) W
[624] 1151 forþ wiþ J, SB forþwiþ A, F
[625] 1158 euermo H₁ ... CB₂, W
[626] 1169 o word H₁ECB₂, B ne] no F
[627] 1178 hire (hir) JMX ... B₂, AdB hys W
[628] 1184 al _om._ H₁Sn, H₃
[629] 1189 becam GEC, AdB, W be cam (bi cam &c.) A ... XRLB₂, F
[630] 1191 forther] for þat H₁ ... B₂, B
[631] 1193 happed H₁ ... RLB₂, B
[632] 1200 This] His H₁ ... B₂, B, W
[633] 1217: felaschip J, S, F felaschipe A
[634] 1226: herkne SAdΔ herkene X, H₃ herken B₂, W
[635] 1237: he _om._ B
[636] 1245 it] him YX ... B₂, B _om._ H₁Sn
[637] 1258 And he which noþing haþ supposed AJM, SAdΔ As he wh.
n. haþ supposed FWKH₃ And he noþing haþ ȝit supposed H₁ ... B₂,
B
[638] 1285 I schal FWKH₃ It schal A ... B₂, SAdBΔ
[639] 1303 so] þo AM wo Ad
[640] 1328 his guide] is guide H₁XGECLB₂, B
[641] 1343 how] how þat AM
[642] 1353 fell] was E, B is G _om._ XRCLB₂ (that she hadde in
here thouht H₁)
[643] 1356 agrope A, SAd, F grope J ... B₂, BΔ, WH₃
[644] 1363 at þe J, S, F atte A, B
[645] 1378 a suite] o suite AM
[646] 1412 nouther] nowher LSn neuer H₃ (now þ_er_ now here X)
[647] 1434 is] was G, B
[648] 1441 armes H₁XRCLB₂, AdΔ, W kiste] keste F
[649] 1445 this] his AM the W
[650] 1447 agret F
[651] 1457 preiþ him AM preith (_om._ him) H₁
[652] 1458 worshipe F
[653] 1461 the] þat B
[654] 1468 eny] euery H₁ ... L, B eu_er_ eny B₂
[655] 1472 he H₁, B
[656] 1479 forþ wiþ AJ, SB forþwiþ F
[657] 1483 fader half J, B, F faderhalf A, S
[658] 1484 Wiþ due reuerence as he oughte H₁ ... B₂
[659] 1495 fforþ wiþ J, SB fforþwiþ A, F
[660] 1539 the _om._ F
[661] 1543 the] þis H₁ ... B₂, B
[662] 1568 Stro̅n̅de F
[663] 1574 he] it B
[664] 1577 Ne] He YX ... B₂, B _om._ H₁
[665] 1582 wher that] where (wher) H₁ ... B₂, BΔ, W
[666] 1599 wel meninge (meuinge) AMRLB₂, SAd, F welle menyng
H₁X whele meneng Δ whel meuynge J whele mevinge W whiel (whele)
moeuyng YGEC, B, H₃
[667] 1618 ȝit is in G. rif H₁XGRCLB₂ ȝit in G. is rif E, B, H₃
[668] 1623 attendant B
[669] 1631 þanne mot(e) AM þan mot W
[670] 1640 hath ynowh] haþ Inowh of LB₂ inow had of Δ knihthode
J knithode (knythode) A, F
[671] 1644 ꝑ chance A, B, F perchaunce J
[672] 1669 Soferforþ F
[673] 1675 Which so haþ YGER, SAdΔΛ Which so as AJMH₁XCB₂, B, F
Whych so has W Which so L Which tho as H₃
[674] 1678 adai F
[675] 1706 it were noght AM
[676] 1707 that] þus H₁ ... L, B þis B₂