[Sidenote: [TALE OF THE BEGGARS AND THE PASTIES.]]

Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious typographical errors in punctuation have been silently

corrected.

Corrections noted in “CORRIGENDA ET ADDENDA” before page 1 have been

corrected in place.

Page 548 - corrected “inital” to “initial”

Footnote 847 (original page 208) - Corrected 2513 to 1513

Italics are represented as _italic_.

THE COMPLETE WORKS

OF

JOHN GOWER

_G. C. MACAULAY_

* * *

THE ENGLISH WORKS

HENRY FROWDE, M.A.

PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

[Illustration]

LONDON, EDINBURGH, AND NEW YORK

THE COMPLETE WORKS

OF

JOHN GOWER

_EDITED FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS

WITH INTRODUCTIONS, NOTES, AND GLOSSARIES_

BY

G. C. MACAULAY, M.A.

FORMERLY FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

* * *

THE ENGLISH WORKS

(CONFESSIO AMANTIS, LIB. V. 1971--LIB. VIII; _and_ IN PRAISE OF PEACE)

O gentile Engleterre, a toi j’escrits.

Oxford

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS

1901

Oxford

PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS

BY HORACE HART, M.A.

PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

CONTENTS

PAGE

CONFESSIO AMANTIS:--

LIBER V (l. 1971) 1

LIBER VI 167

LIBER VII 233

LIBER VIII 386

IN PRAISE OF PEACE 481

NOTES 495

GLOSSARY AND INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 555

INDEX TO THE NOTES 651

CORRIGENDA ET ADDENDA

p. 1, l. 1981, _for_ one _read_ on

p. 11, l. 2349, _for_ well _read_ wel

p. 25, note on l. 2872, _for_ B, _read_ SB,

p. 35, l. 3222, _for_ well _read_ wel

p. 57, l. 4068, _for_ both _read_ bothe

p. 96, l. 5504, _for_ ware _read_ war

p. 97, l. 5540, _for_ luste _read_ lust

p. 104, l. 5771, _for_ letres _read_ lettres

p. 111, notes on ll. 6020, 6046, _for_ AdΔ, _read_ SAdΔ,

p. 113, l. 6114, _for_ parte _read_ part

p. 116, l. 6215, _for_ escaped _read_ ascaped

p. 119, note on l. 6313, _for_ AdBTΔ _read_ SAdBTΔ

p. 122, l. 6422* _read_ Forthi l. 6431* _read_ daies

p. 123, l. 6408 (_margin_), _for_ obtinu- _read_ optinu-

p. 127, l. 6541, _for_ crafte _read_ craft

p. 143, l. 7169*, _for_ don _read_ do

p. 144, l. 7181* _read_ poverte 7182* _read_ underfing

p. 145, l. 7208* _read_ Sacrilegge

p. 170, l. 116, _for_ verraliche _read_ verrailiche

p. 178, l. 415, _for_ Distruid _read_ Destruid

p. 180, note on l. 497 (_margin_), _for_ BΔ _read_ SBΔ

p. 218, l. 1880, _for_ schall _read_ schal

p. 240, note on l. 262, _for_ Nomans, F _read_ Noman S, F

p. 245, note on l. 451 _read_ J, SB, F

p. 259, l. 983 (_margin_), _for_ adesse _read_ ad esse

p. 270, note on l. 1393, _for_ ellef þe _read_ ellefþe

p. 272, l. 1445, _for_ whiche _read_ which

p. 283, l. 1871, _for_ Well _read_ Wel

CONFESSIO AMANTIS

(LIBER QUINTUS).

[Sidenote: [COVEITISE.]]

iii. _Agros iungit agris cupidus domibusque domosque,_

_Possideat totam sic quasi solus humum._

_Solus et innumeros mulierum spirat amores,_

_Vt sacra millenis sit sibi culta Venus._[1]

Dame Avarice is noght soleine,

Which is of gold the Capiteine;

Bot of hir Court in sondri wise[2]

After the Scole of hire aprise

[Sidenote: Hic tractat confessor super illa specie

Auaricie, que Cupiditas[3] dicitur, quam in amoris causa

pertractans Amanti super hoc opponit.]

Sche hath of Servantz manyon,

Wherof that Covoitise is on;

Which goth the large world aboute,

To seche thavantages oute,[4]

Wher that he mai the profit winne[5]

To Avarice, and bringth it inne. 1980

That on hald and that other draweth,[6]

Ther is no day which hem bedaweth,

No mor the Sonne than the Mone,

Whan ther is eny thing to done,

And namely with Covoitise;

For he stant out of al assisse

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 194=]

Of resonable mannes fare.

Wher he pourposeth him to fare[7]

Upon his lucre and his beyete,

The smale path, the large Strete, 1990

The furlong and the longe Mile,

Al is bot on for thilke while:[8]

And for that he is such on holde,

Dame Avarice him hath withholde,

As he which is the principal

Outward, for he is overal

A pourveour and an aspie.

For riht as of an hungri Pie

The storve bestes ben awaited,

Riht so is Covoitise afaited 2000

To loke where he mai pourchace,

For be his wille he wolde embrace[9]

Al that this wyde world beclippeth;

Bot evere he somwhat overhippeth,

That he ne mai noght al fulfille

The lustes of his gredi wille.

Bot where it falleth in a lond,

That Covoitise in myhti hond

Is set, it is ful hard to fiede;

For thanne he takth non other hiede, 2010

Bot that he mai pourchace and gete,

His conscience hath al foryete,

And not what thing it mai amonte

That he schal afterward acompte.

Bote as the Luce in his degre

Of tho that lasse ben than he

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 195=]

The fisshes griedeli devoureth,

So that no water hem socoureth,

Riht so no lawe mai rescowe

Fro him that wol no riht allowe;[10] 2020

For wher that such on is of myht,

His will schal stonde in stede of riht.

Thus be the men destruid fulofte,

Til that the grete god alofte

Ayein so gret a covoitise

Redresce it in his oghne wise:

And in ensample of alle tho

I finde a tale write so,

The which, for it is good to liere,

Hierafterward thou schalt it hiere.[11] 2030

[Sidenote: [TALE OF VIRGIL’S MIRROR.]]

Whan Rome stod in noble plit,

Virgile, which was tho parfit,

[Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum contra magnates cupidos. Et

narrat de Crasso Romanorum Imperatore, qui turrim, in qua

speculum Virgilii Rome fixum extiterat, dolosa circumuentus

cupiditate euertit; vnde non solum sui ipsius perdicionem,

set tocius Ciuitatis intollerabile dampnum contingere

causauit.]

A Mirour made of his clergie

And sette it in the tounes ÿe

Of marbre on a piler withoute;

That thei be thritty Mile aboute

Be daie and ek also be nyhte

In that Mirour beholde myhte

Here enemys, if eny were,

With al here ordinance there, 2040

Which thei ayein the Cite caste:

So that, whil thilke Mirour laste,

Ther was no lond which mihte achieve

With werre Rome forto grieve;

Wherof was gret envie tho.

And fell that ilke time so,

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 196=]

That Rome hadde werres stronge

Ayein Cartage, and stoden longe

The tuo Cites upon debat.

Cartage sih the stronge astat[12] 2050

Of Rome in thilke Mirour stonde,

And thoghte al prively to fonde

To overthrowe it be som wyle.

And Hanybal was thilke while

The Prince and ledere of Cartage,

Which hadde set al his corage

Upon knihthod in such a wise,[13]

That he be worthi and be wise

And be non othre was conseiled,[14]

Wherof the world is yit merveiled 2060

Of the maistries that he wroghte

Upon the marches whiche he soghte.

And fell in thilke time also,

The king of Puile, which was tho,

Thoghte ayein Rome to rebelle,

And thus was take the querele,

Hou to destruie this Mirour.

Of Rome tho was Emperour[15]

Crassus, which was so coveitous,

That he was evere desirous 2070

Of gold to gete the pilage;

Wherof that Puile and ek Cartage

With Philosophres wise and grete

Begunne of this matiere trete,[16]

And ate laste in this degre

Ther weren Philosophres thre,

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 197=]

To do this thing whiche undertoke,

And therupon thei with hem toke

A gret tresor of gold in cophres,[17]

To Rome and thus these philisophres 2080

Togedre in compainie wente,

Bot noman wiste what thei mente.

Whan thei to Rome come were,

So prively thei duelte there,

As thei that thoghten to deceive:

Was non that mihte of hem perceive,

Til thei in sondri stedes have

Here gold under the ground begrave

In tuo tresors, that to beholde

Thei scholden seme as thei were olde. 2090

And so forth thanne upon a day

Al openly in good arai

To themperour thei hem presente,

And tolden it was here entente

To duellen under his servise.

And he hem axeth in what wise;

And thei him tolde in such a plit,

That ech of hem hadde a spirit,[18]

The which slepende a nyht appiereth

And hem be sondri dremes lereth 2100

After the world that hath betid.

Under the ground if oght be hid

Of old tresor at eny throwe,

They schull it in here swevenes knowe;

And upon this condicioun,

Thei sein, what gold under the toun

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 198=]

Of Rome is hid, thei wole it finde,

Ther scholde noght be left behinde,[19]

Be so that he the halvendel

Hem grante, and he assenteth wel; 2110

And thus cam sleighte forto duelle

With Covoitise, as I thee telle.

This Emperour bad redily

That thei be logged faste by[20]

Where he his oghne body lay;

And whan it was amorwe day,

That on of hem seith that he mette

Wher he a goldhord scholde fette:

Wherof this Emperour was glad,

And therupon anon he bad 2120

His Mynours forto go and myne,

And he himself of that covine

Goth forth withal, and at his hond

The tresor redi there he fond,

Where as thei seide it scholde be;

And who was thanne glad bot he?

Upon that other dai secounde

Thei have an other goldhord founde,

Which the seconde maister tok

Upon his swevene and undertok. 2130

And thus the sothe experience

To themperour yaf such credence,

That al his trist and al his feith

So sikerliche on hem he leith,

Of that he fond him so relieved,

That thei ben parfitli believed,

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 199=]

As thogh thei were goddes thre.

Nou herkne the soutilete.

The thridde maister scholde mete,

Which, as thei seiden, was unmete 2140

Above hem alle, and couthe most;

And he withoute noise or bost

Al priveli, so as he wolde,

Upon the morwe his swevene tolde

To themperour riht in his Ere,

And seide him that he wiste where

A tresor was so plentivous

Of gold and ek so precious

Of jeueals and of riche stones,

That unto alle hise hors at ones[21] 2150

It were a charge sufficant.

This lord upon this covenant

Was glad, and axeth where it was.

The maister seide, under the glas,

And tolde him eke, as for the Myn

He wolde ordeigne such engin,

That thei the werk schull undersette[22]

With Tymber, that withoute lette

Men mai the tresor saufli delve,

So that the Mirour be himselve 2160

Withoute empeirement schal stonde:

And this the maister upon honde[23]

Hath undertake in alle weie.

This lord, which hadde his wit aweie

And was with Covoitise blent,

Anon therto yaf his assent;

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 200=]

And thus they myne forth withal,

The timber set up overal,

Wherof the Piler stod upriht;

Til it befell upon a nyht 2170

These clerkes, whan thei were war

Hou that the timber only bar

The Piler, wher the Mirour stod,--

Here sleihte noman understod,--

Thei go be nyhte unto the Myne

With pich, with soulphre and with rosine,

And whan the Cite was a slepe,[24]

A wylde fyr into the depe

They caste among the timberwerk,

And so forth, whil the nyht was derk, 2180

Desguised in a povere arai

Thei passeden the toun er dai.

And whan thei come upon an hell,

Thei sihen how the Mirour fell,

Wherof thei maden joie ynowh,

And ech of hem with other lowh,

And seiden, ‘Lo, what coveitise

Mai do with hem that be noght wise!’

And that was proved afterward,

For every lond, to Romeward 2190

Which hadde be soubgit tofore,

Whan this Mirour was so forlore

And thei the wonder herde seie,

Anon begunne desobeie

With werres upon every side;

And thus hath Rome lost his pride

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 201=]

And was defouled overal.

For this I finde of Hanybal,

That he of Romeins in a dai,

Whan he hem fond out of arai, 2200

So gret a multitude slowh,

That of goldringes, whiche he drowh[25]

Of gentil handes that ben dede,

Buisshelles fulle thre, I rede,

He felde, and made a bregge also,

That he mihte over Tibre go

Upon the corps that dede were

Of the Romeins, whiche he slowh there.[26]

Bot now to speke of the juise,

The which after the covoitise 2210

Was take upon this Emperour,

For he destruide the Mirour;

It is a wonder forto hiere.

The Romeins maden a chaiere

And sette here Emperour therinne,

And seiden, for he wolde winne

Of gold the superfluite,

Of gold he scholde such plente

Receive, til he seide Ho:

And with gold, which thei hadden tho 2220

Buillende hot withinne a panne,

Into his Mouth thei poure thanne.

And thus the thurst of gold was queynt,

[Sidenote: [COVEITISE.]]

With gold which hadde ben atteignt.

[Sidenote: Confessor.]

Wherof, mi Sone, thou miht hiere,

Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere[27]

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 202=]

Of resonable governance,

Ther falleth ofte gret vengance.

For ther mai be no worse thing

Than Covoitise aboute a king: 2230

If it in his persone be,

It doth the more adversite;

And if it in his conseil stonde,

It bringth alday meschief to honde

Of commun harm; and if it growe

Withinne his court, it wol be knowe,

For thanne schal the king be piled.

The man which hath hise londes tiled,

Awaiteth noght more redily

The Hervest, than thei gredily 2240

Ne maken thanne warde and wacche,

Wher thei the profit mihten cacche:

And yit fulofte it falleth so,

As men mai sen among hem tho,

That he which most coveiteth faste

Hath lest avantage ate laste.

For whan fortune is therayein,

Thogh he coveite, it is in vein;

The happes be noght alle liche,

On is mad povere, an other riche, 2250

The court to some doth profit,

And some ben evere in o plit;

And yit thei bothe aliche sore

Coveite, bot fortune is more

Unto that o part favorable.

And thogh it be noght resonable,

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 203=]

This thing a man mai sen alday,

Wherof that I thee telle may

A fair ensample in remembrance,

Hou every man mot take his chance 2260

Or of richesse or of poverte.

Hou so it stonde of the decerte,

Hier is noght every thing aquit,

For ofte a man mai se this yit,

That who best doth, lest thonk schal have;

It helpeth noght the world to crave,

Which out of reule and of mesure

Hath evere stonde in aventure

Als wel in Court as elles where:

And hou in olde daies there 2270

It stod, so as the thinges felle,

I thenke a tale forto telle.

[Sidenote: [TALE OF THE TWO COFFERS.]]

In a Cronique this I rede.

Aboute a king, as moste nede,

[Sidenote: Hic ponit Confessor exemplum contra illos, qui

in domibus Regum seruientes, pro eo quod ipsi secundum

eorum cupiditatem promoti non existunt, de regio seruicio

quamuis in eorum[28] defectu indiscrete murmurant.]

Ther was of knyhtes and squiers

Gret route, and ek of Officers:

Some of long time him hadden served,

And thoghten that thei have deserved

Avancement, and gon withoute;

And some also ben of the route 2280

That comen bat a while agon,

And thei avanced were anon.

These olde men upon this thing,

So as thei dorste, ayein the king

Among hemself compleignen ofte:

Bot ther is nothing seid so softe,

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 204=]

That it ne comth out ate laste;

The king it wiste, and als so faste,[29]

As he which was of hih Prudence,

He schop therfore an evidence 2290

Of hem that pleignen in that cas,[30]

To knowe in whos defalte it was.

And al withinne his oghne entente,

That noman wiste what it mente,

Anon he let tuo cofres make

Of o semblance and of o make,

So lich that no lif thilke throwe[31]

That on mai fro that other knowe:

Thei were into his chambre broght,

Bot noman wot why thei be wroght, 2300

And natheles the king hath bede

That thei be set in prive stede.

As he that was of wisdom slih,

Whan he therto his time sih,

Al prively, that non it wiste,

Hise oghne hondes that o kiste

Of fin gold and of fin perrie,

The which out of his tresorie

Was take, anon he felde full;

That other cofre of straw and mull 2310

With Stones meind he felde also.

Thus be thei fulle bothe tuo,

So that erliche upon a day

He bad withinne, ther he lay,

Ther scholde be tofore his bed

A bord upset and faire spred;

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 205=]

And thanne he let the cofres fette,

Upon the bord and dede hem sette.

He knew the names wel of tho,

The whiche ayein him grucche so, 2320

Bothe of his chambre and of his halle,

Anon and sende for hem alle,

And seide to hem in this wise:

‘Ther schal noman his happ despise;

I wot wel ye have longe served,

And god wot what ye have deserved:

Bot if it is along on me

Of that ye unavanced be,[32]

Or elles it be long on you,

The sothe schal be proved nou, 2330

To stoppe with youre evele word.

Lo hier tuo cofres on the bord:

Ches which you list of bothe tuo;

And witeth wel that on of tho

Is with tresor so full begon,

That if ye happe therupon,

Ye schull be riche men for evere.

Now ches and tak which you is levere:

Bot be wel war, er that ye take;

For of that on I undertake 2340

Ther is no maner good therinne,

Wherof ye mihten profit winne.

Now goth togedre of on assent

And taketh youre avisement,

For bot I you this dai avance,

It stant upon youre oghne chance

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 206=]

Al only in defalte of grace:

So schal be schewed in this place

Upon you alle wel afyn,

That no defalte schal be myn.’[33] 2350

Thei knelen alle and with o vois

The king thei thonken of this chois:[34]

And after that thei up arise,

And gon aside and hem avise,

And ate laste thei acorde;

Wherof her tale to recorde,

To what issue thei be falle,[35]

A kniht schal speke for hem alle.

He kneleth doun unto the king,

And seith that thei upon this thing, 2360

Or forto winne or forto lese,

Ben alle avised forto chese.

Tho tok this kniht a yerde on honde,

And goth there as the cofres stonde,

And with assent of everichon

He leith his yerde upon that on,

And seith the king hou thilke same

Thei chese in reguerdoun be name,

And preith him that thei mote it have.

The king, which wolde his honour save, 2370

Whan he hath herd the commun vois,

Hath granted hem here oghne chois

And tok hem therupon the keie.

Bot for he wolde it were seie

What good thei have, as thei suppose,

He bad anon the cofre unclose,

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 207=]

Which was fulfild with straw and stones:

Thus be thei served al at ones.

This king thanne in the same stede

Anon that other cofre undede, 2380

Where as thei sihen gret richesse,

Wei more than thei couthen gesse.

‘Lo,’ seith the king, ‘nou mai ye se

That ther is no defalte in me;

Forthi miself I wole aquyte,

And bereth ye youre oghne wyte

Of that fortune hath you refused.’

Thus was this wise king excused,

And thei lefte of here evele speche

And mercy of here king beseche. 2390

[Sidenote: [TALE OF THE BEGGARS AND THE PASTIES.]]

Somdiel to this matiere lik

I finde a tale, hou Frederik,

[Sidenote: Nota hic de diuiciarum Accidencia: vbi narrat

qualiter Fredericus Romanorum Imperator duos pauperes

audiuit litigantes, quorum vnus dixit, ‘Bene potest ditari,

quem Rex vult ditare.’ Et alius dixit, ‘Quem deus vult

ditare, diues erit.’ Que res cum ad experimentum postea

probata fuisset, ille qui deum inuocabat pastellum auro

plenum sortitus est, alius vero caponis pastellum sorte[36]

preelegit.]

Of Rome that time Emperour,

Herde, as he wente, a gret clamour

Of tuo beggers upon the weie.

That on of hem began to seie,

‘Ha lord, wel mai the man be riche

Whom that a king list forto riche.’

That other saide nothing so,

Bot, ‘He is riche and wel bego, 2400

To whom that god wole sende wele.’

And thus thei maden wordes fele,

Wherof this lord hath hiede nome,

And dede hem bothe forto come

To the Paleis, wher he schal ete,

And bad ordeine for here mete

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 208=]

Tuo Pastes, whiche he let do make.

A capoun in that on was bake,

And in that other forto winne

Of florins al that mai withinne 2410

He let do pute a gret richesse;[37]

And evene aliche, as man mai gesse,[38]

Outward thei were bothe tuo.

This begger was comanded tho,

He that which hield him to the king,

That he ferst chese upon this thing:

He sih hem, bot he felte hem noght,[39]

So that upon his oghne thoght

He ches the Capoun and forsok

That other, which his fela tok. 2420

Bot whanne he wiste hou that it ferde,

He seide alowd, that men it herde,

‘Nou have I certeinly conceived

That he mai lihtly be deceived,

That tristeth unto mannes helpe;

Bot wel is him whom god wol helpe,

For he stant on the siker side,

Which elles scholde go beside:

I se my fela wel recovere,

And I mot duelle stille povere.’ 2430

Thus spak this begger his entente,

And povere he cam and povere he wente;

Of that he hath richesse soght,[40]

His infortune it wolde noght.

So mai it schewe in sondri wise,

Betwen fortune and covoitise

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 209=]

The chance is cast upon a Dee;

Bot yit fulofte a man mai se

Ynowe of suche natheles,

Whiche evere pute hemself in press 2440

To gete hem good, and yit thei faile.

[Sidenote: [COVEITISE OF LOVERS.]]

And forto speke of this entaile

Touchende of love in thi matiere,

Mi goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,

That riht as it with tho men stod

Of infortune of worldes good,

As thou hast herd me telle above,

Riht so fulofte it stant be love:

Thogh thou coveite it everemore,

Thou schalt noght have o diel the more, 2450

Bot only that which thee is schape,

The remenant is bot a jape.

And natheles ynowe of tho[41]

Ther ben, that nou coveiten so,

That where as thei a womman se,

Ye ten or tuelve thogh ther be,

The love is nou so unavised,

That wher the beaute stant assised,

The mannes herte anon is there,

And rouneth tales in hire Ere, 2460

And seith hou that he loveth streite,

And thus he set him to coveite,

An hundred thogh he sihe aday.

So wolde he more thanne he may;

Bot for the grete covoitise[42]

Of sotie and of fol emprise

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 210=]

In ech of hem he fint somwhat

That pleseth him, or this or that;

Som on, for sche is whit of skin,

Som on, for sche is noble of kin, 2470

Som on, for sche hath rodi chieke,

Som on, for that sche semeth mieke,

Som on, for sche hath yhen greie,

Som on, for sche can lawhe and pleie,

Som on, for sche is long and smal,

Som on, for sche is lyte and tall,

Som on, for sche is pale and bleche,[43]

Som on, for sche is softe of speche,

Som on, for that sche is camused,

Som on, for sche hath noght ben used, 2480

Som on, for sche can daunce and singe;

So that som thing to his likinge[44]

He fint, and thogh nomore he fiele,

Bot that sche hath a litel hiele,

It is ynow that he therfore

Hire love, and thus an hundred score,

Whil thei be newe, he wolde he hadde;

Whom he forsakth, sche schal be badde.[45]

[Sidenote: Cecus non iudicat de coloribus.]

The blinde man no colour demeth,

But al is on, riht as him semeth; 2490

So hath his lust no juggement,

Whom covoitise of love blent.

Him thenkth that to his covoitise

Hou al the world ne mai suffise,

For be his wille he wolde have alle,

If that it mihte so befalle:

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 211=]

Thus is he commun as the Strete,

I sette noght of his beyete.

[Sidenote: Confessor.]

Mi Sone, hast thou such covoitise?

[Sidenote: Amans.]

Nai, fader, such love I despise,[46] 2500

And whil I live schal don evere,

For in good feith yit hadde I levere,

Than to coveite in such a weie,

To ben for evere til I deie

As povere as Job, and loveles,

Outaken on, for haveles

His thonkes is noman alyve.

For that a man scholde al unthryve[47]

Ther oghte no wisman coveite,

The lawe was noght set so streite: 2510

Forthi miself withal to save,

Such on ther is I wolde have,

And non of al these othre mo.[48]

[Sidenote: Confessor.]

Mi Sone, of that thou woldest so,

I am noght wroth, bot over this

I wol thee tellen hou it is.

For ther be men, whiche otherwise,

Riht only for the covoitise

Of that thei sen a womman riche,

Ther wol thei al here love affiche; 2520

Noght for the beaute of hire face,

Ne yit for vertu ne for grace,

Which sche hath elles riht ynowh,

Bot for the Park and for the plowh,

And other thing which therto longeth:

For in non other wise hem longeth[49]

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 212=]

To love, bot thei profit finde;

And if the profit be behinde,

Here love is evere lesse and lesse,

For after that sche hath richesse, 2530

Her love is of proporcion.

If thou hast such condicion,

Mi Sone, tell riht as it is.

[Sidenote: Confessio Amantis.]

Min holi fader, nay ywiss,

Condicion such have I non.

For trewli, fader, I love oon

So wel with al myn hertes thoght,

That certes, thogh sche hadde noght,

And were as povere as Medea,

Which was exiled for Creusa,[50] 2540

I wolde hir noght the lasse love;

Ne thogh sche were at hire above,

As was the riche qwen Candace,

Which to deserve love and grace

To Alisandre, that was king,

Yaf many a worthi riche thing,[51]

Or elles as Pantasilee,

Which was the quen of Feminee,

And gret richesse with hir nam,

Whan sche for love of Hector cam[52] 2550

To Troie in rescousse of the toun,--[53]

I am of such condicion,

That thogh mi ladi of hirselve

Were also riche as suche tuelve,[54]

I couthe noght, thogh it wer so,

No betre love hir than I do.

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 213=]

For I love in so plein a wise,

That forto speke of coveitise,

As for poverte or for richesse

Mi love is nouther mor ne lesse. 2560

For in good feith I trowe this,

So coveitous noman ther is,

Forwhy and he mi ladi sihe,[55]

That he thurgh lokinge of his yhe[56]

Ne scholde have such a strok withinne,

That for no gold he mihte winne

He scholde noght hire love asterte,

Bot if he lefte there his herte;

Be so it were such a man,

That couthe Skile of a womman. 2570

For ther be men so ruide some,[57]

Whan thei among the wommen come,

Thei gon under proteccioun,[58]

That love and his affeccioun[59]

Ne schal noght take hem be the slieve;

For thei ben out of that believe,

Hem lusteth of no ladi chiere,

Bot evere thenken there and hiere

Wher that here gold is in the cofre,[60]

And wol non other love profre: 2580

Bot who so wot what love amounteth

And be resoun trewliche acompteth,

Than mai he knowe and taken hiede

That al the lust of wommanhiede,

Which mai ben in a ladi face,

Mi ladi hath, and ek of grace

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 214=]

If men schull yiven hire a pris,[61]

Thei mai wel seie hou sche is wys

And sobre and simple of contenance,

And al that to good governance 2590

Belongeth of a worthi wiht[62]

Sche hath pleinli: for thilke nyht

That sche was bore, as for the nones

Nature sette in hire at ones

Beaute with bounte so besein,

That I mai wel afferme and sein,

I sawh yit nevere creature

Of comlihied and of feture

In eny kinges regioun

Be lich hire in comparisoun: 2600

And therto, as I have you told,

Yit hath sche more a thousendfold

Of bounte, and schortli to telle,

Sche is the pure hed and welle

And Mirour and ensample of goode.

Who so hir vertus understode,

Me thenkth it oughte ynow suffise

Withouten other covoitise

To love such on and to serve,

Which with hire chiere can deserve 2610

To be beloved betre ywiss

Than sche per cas that richest is

And hath of gold a Milion.

Such hath be myn opinion

And evere schal: bot natheles

I seie noght sche is haveles,

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 215=]

That sche nys riche and wel at ese,

And hath ynow wherwith to plese

Of worldes good whom that hire liste;

Bot o thing wolde I wel ye wiste, 2620

That nevere for no worldes good

Min herte untoward hire stod,

Bot only riht for pure love;

That wot the hihe god above.

Nou, fader, what seie ye therto?

[Sidenote: Confessor.]

Mi Sone, I seie it is wel do.

For tak of this riht good believe,[63]

What man that wole himself relieve

To love in eny other wise,

He schal wel finde his coveitise 2630

Schal sore grieve him ate laste,

For such a love mai noght laste.

Bot nou, men sein, in oure daies

Men maken bot a fewe assaies,

Bot if the cause be richesse;

Forthi the love is wel the lesse.

And who that wolde ensamples telle,[64]

Be olde daies as thei felle,

Than mihte a man wel understonde

Such love mai noght longe stonde. 2640

Now herkne, Sone, and thou schalt hiere

A gret ensample of this matiere.

[Sidenote: [TALE OF THE KING AND HIS STEWARD’S WIFE.]]

To trete upon the cas of love,

So as we tolden hiere above,

[Sidenote: 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,

[Sidenote: =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 corage 2650

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 aventure[66]

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;

[Sidenote: =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 alyve[69]

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 fond[70] 2690

So worthily, and such richesse

Of worldes good and such largesse

With hire he yaf in mariage,

That only for thilke avantage[71]

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 asterte 2700

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.

[Sidenote: =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 schame 2710

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 nyht 2730

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,

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 219=]

With bothe hire handes hath him preid[75]

Knelende and in this wise seid,[76]

That sche to reson and to skile

In what thing that he bidde wile[77] 2740

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 adrad 2750

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 goth 2760

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

[Sidenote: =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 wise[81]

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,[84] 2780

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 schame[85]

In savinge of hire goode name

He myhte leden hom ayein

This lady, and hath told him plein

[Sidenote: =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.

[Sidenote: Confessor.]

Mi Sone, be thou war therfore,

[Sidenote: =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 finde 2830

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.

[Sidenote: Amans.]

Mi fader, such is myn entente:

Bot natheles good is to have,

For good mai ofte time save 2840

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]

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 223=]

Of covoitise if ther be more

In love, agropeth out the sore.

[Sidenote: [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 puellam_[91]

_Gloria, set false condicionis opus._

Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde

Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde 2860

In special tuo conseilours,

That ben also hise procurours.

[Sidenote: Hic tractat super illis[92] Auaricie speciebus,

que falsum Testimonium et Periurium nuncupantur; quorum

fraudulenta circumuencio tam in cupiditatis[95] quam 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 crok[97]

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

[Sidenote: =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 sein 2890

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.[99] 2900

Thus is the trouthe of love exiled,

[Sidenote: [FALSE WITNESS.]]

And many a good womman beguiled.

[Sidenote: 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 begunne 2910

[Sidenote: =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 conscience 2920

Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.

[Sidenote: 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 yit[103]

Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit,

That I my conseil scholde seie

To eny wiht, or me bewreie[104] 2940

[Sidenote: =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 natheles 2950

In youre dom I put it al.[106]

[Sidenote: 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

[Sidenote: [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,

[Sidenote: 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 warde[107]

Sche thoghte him salfly to betake,

As sche which dradde for his sake[108]

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

[Sidenote: =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 belongeth 3000

[Sidenote: =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 abyde[113]

Among hise dowhtres forto duelle.

Achilles herde his moder telle,

And wiste noght the cause why;

And natheles ful buxomly 3030

[Sidenote: =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 ferde 3040

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 compainie[115]

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

[Sidenote: =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 throwe 3070

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 grete 3080

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.[119] 3090

[Sidenote: =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 Lichomede 3100

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,[120] 3110

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

[Sidenote: =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 bethoght 3130

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 route[122]

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

[Sidenote: =P. ii. 233=]

Ne be his vois, ne be his pas.

Ulixes thanne upon this cas[123]

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 seke[124]

Men scholden noght a fairer se,--

And every thing in his degre 3160

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

[Sidenote: =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 yit[126]

Thing which schal nevere be foryete,

Hou that Achilles hath begete

Pirrus upon Deïdamie,

Wherof cam out the tricherie

Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide[127]

Hou that Achilles was a Maide.

Bot that was nothing sene tho,

For he is to the Siege go 3200

Forth with Ulixe and Diomede.

[Sidenote: 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 innocence[128]

Is nou alday thurgh such credence[129] 3210

[Sidenote: =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]

[Sidenote: [PERJURY.]]

Forthi, my Sone, do noght so.

[Sidenote: 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 have wel 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.

[Sidenote: 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

[Sidenote: =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]