THE 
 
 CANTERBURY TALES 
 
 CHAUCER. 
 
 IN FIVE VOLUMES. 
 
/ 
 
THE 
 
 CANTERBURY I’ALES 
 
 OF 
 
 C H A U C E K ; 
 
 WITH AN ESSAY UPON HIS LANGUAGE AND VERSIFICATION, 
 AN INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE, NOTES, 
 
 AND A GLOSSARY, 
 
 BY T. TYRWHITT, ESQ. 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 PKINTED FOR W. PICKE R IN G, 31, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS; 
 AND R. AND S- PROWETT, 269 , STRAND. 
 
 MDCCCXXII. 
 
T. WHITE 6c Co 
 Hrinten, H, Beta Alley> LsmUon* 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 OF THE THIRD VOLUME. 
 
 The Doctoures Prologue 1 
 
 The Doctoures Tale 1 
 
 The Pardoneres Prologue ^ - 
 
 The Pardoneres Tale 
 
 The Shipmannes Prologue S9 
 
 The Shipmannes Tale 4^^ 
 
 The Prioresses Prologue 57 
 
 The Prioresses Tale 58 
 
 Prologue to Sire Thopas - 58 
 
 The Rime of Sire Thopas 69 
 
 Prologue to Melibeus 78 
 
 The Tale of Melibeus 80 
 
 The Monkes Prologue 152 
 
 The Monkes Tale 156 
 
 The Nonnes Preestes Prologue 196 
 
 The Nonnes Preestes Tale 192 
 
 The Second Nonnes Tale 217 
 
 The Chanones Yemannes Prologue 241 
 
 The Chanones Yeniannes Tale 247 
 
 The Manciples Prologue 277 
 
 The Manciples Tale 281 
 
r 
 
 I 
 
THE 
 
 CANTERBURY TALES. 
 
 THE DOCTOURES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Ye, let that passen, quod oure Hoste, as now. 1 192.9 
 Sire Doctour of Physike, I prey you, 
 
 Tell us a tale of som honest matere. 
 
 It shal be don, if that ye wol it here, 
 
 Said this doctour, and his tale began anon. 
 
 Now, good men, quod he, herkeneth everich on. 
 
 THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 Tiler was, as telleth Titus Livius, 11.935 
 
 A knight, that cleped was Virginius, 
 
 Fulfilled of honour and worthinesse. 
 
 And strong of frendes, and of gret richesse. 
 
 This knight a doughter hadde by his wif. 
 
 No children had he mo in all his lif. 
 
 Faire was this maid in excellent beautee 
 Aboven every wight that man may see : 
 
 For nature hath with soveraine diligence 
 Yformed hire in so gret excellence, 11,944 
 
 VOL 111 . 
 
 B 
 
52 
 
 THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 As though she wolde sayn, lo, I nature, 
 
 Thus can I forme and peint a creature. 
 
 Whan that me list ; who can me contrefete ? 
 Pigmalion ? not, though he ay forge and bete, 
 Or grave, or peinte : for I dare wel sain, 
 Apelles, Xeuxis, shulden werche in vain. 
 Other to grave, or peinte, or forge, or bete. 
 
 If they presumed me to contrefete. 
 
 For he that is the former principal. 
 
 Hath maked me his vicaire general 
 To forme and peinten erthly creatures 
 / Right as me list, and eche thing in my cure is 
 
 Under the mone, that may wane and waxe. 
 And for my werk right nothing wol I axe; 
 
 My lord and I ben ful of on accord. 
 
 I made hire to the worship of my lord ; 
 
 So do I all min other creatures, 
 
 What colour that they han, or what figures. 
 Thus semeth me that nature wolde say. 
 
 This maid of age twelf yere was and tway. 
 In which that nature hadde swiche delit. 
 
 For right as she can peint a lily whit 
 And red a rose, right with swiche peinture 
 She peinted hath this noble creature 
 Er she was borne, upon hire limmes free, 
 Wheras by right swiche colours shulden be : 
 
 11 .040 
 
 1 1953 
 
 1 196‘1 
 
 1 1970 
 
THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 3 
 
 And Phebus died hath hire tresses grete, 11971 
 Like to the stremes of his burned hete. 
 
 And if that exeellent were hire beautee, 
 
 A thousand fold more vertuous was she. 
 
 In hire ne lacked no condition. 
 
 That is to preise, as by discretion. 
 
 As wel in gost as body, ehast was she ; 
 
 For which she floured in virginitee, 
 
 With all humilitee and abstinence, 11979 
 
 With all attemperance and patience, 
 
 With mesure eke, of bering and array. 
 
 Discrete she was in answering alway, 
 
 Though she were wise as Pallas, dare I sain, 
 
 Hire facounde eke ful womanly and plain, 
 
 No contrefeted termes hadde she 
 To semen wise ; but after hire degree 
 She spake, and all hire wordes more andlesse 11987 
 Souning in vertue and in gentillesse. 
 
 Shamefast she was in maidens shamefastnesse, 
 Constant in herte, and ever in besinesse 
 To drive hire out of idel slogardie : 
 
 Bacchus had of hire mouth right no maistrie. 
 
 For wine and youthe don Venus encrese, 
 
 As men in fire wol casten oile and grese. 
 
 And of hire owen vertue unconstreined, 
 
 She hath hireself ful often sike yfeined, 
 
 1 1996 
 
4 
 
 THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 \ 
 
 For that she wolde fleen the compagnie, 
 Wher likely was to treten of folie, 
 
 As is at festes, at revels, and at dances, 
 That ben occasions of daliances. 
 
 Swiche thinges maken children for to be 
 To sone ripe and bold, as men may see. 
 Which is ful perilous, and hath ben yore ; 
 For al to sone may she lernen lore 
 Of boldnesse, whan she woxen is a wif. 
 
 And ye maistresses in your olde lif, 
 
 That lordes doughters han in governance, 
 Ne taketh of my wordes displesance: 
 Thinketh that ye ben set in governinges 
 Of lordes doughters, only for two thinges. 
 Other for ye han kept your honestee. 
 
 Or elles for ye han fallen in freeltee. 
 
 And knowen wel ynough the olde dance. 
 And han forsaken fully swiche meschance 
 For evermo : therfore for Cristes sake 
 To teche hem vertue loke that ye ne slake. 
 
 A theef of venison, that hath forlaft 
 His likerousnesse, and all his olde craft, 
 Can kepe a forest best of any man: 
 
 Now kepeth hem wel, for if ye wol ye can. 
 Loke wel, that ye unto no vice assent. 
 
 Lest ye be damned for your wikke entent. 
 
 11 , 9.97 
 
 12005 
 
 12013 
 
 12022 
 
THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 For who so doth, a traytour is certain ; 
 
 And taketh kepe of that I shal you sain ; 
 
 Of alle treson soveraine pestilence 
 Is, whan a wight betrayeth innocence. 
 
 Ye fathers, and ye mothers, eke also, 
 
 Though ye han children, be it on or mo. 
 
 Your is the charge of all hir surveance. 
 
 While that they ben under your governance. 
 
 Beth ware, that by ensample of your living, 12031 
 Or by your negligence in chastising, 
 
 That they ne perish : for I dare wel saye. 
 
 If that they don, ye shul it dere abeye. 
 
 Under a shepherd soft and negligent. 
 
 The wolf hath many a shepe and lamb to-rent. 
 
 Sufficeth this ensample now as here. 
 
 For I mote turne agen to my matere. 
 
 This maid, of which I tell my tale expresse, 12039 
 She kept hireself, hire neded no maistresse ; 
 
 For in hire living maidens rnighten rede, 
 
 As in a book, every good word and dede. 
 
 That longeth to a maiden vertuous : 
 
 She was so prudent and so bounteous. 
 
 For which the fame out sprong on every side 
 Both of hire beautee and hire bountee wide : 
 
 That thurgh the lond they preised hire ech one, 
 That loved vertue, sauf envie alone, 1204s 
 
 5 
 
 12023 
 
6 
 
 THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 That sory is of other marines wele, 
 
 And glad is of his sorwe and his unhele. 
 
 The doctour maketh this descriptioun. 
 
 This maiden on a day went in the toun 
 Toward a temple, with hire mother dere, 
 
 As is of yonge maidens the manere. 
 
 Now was ther than a justice in that toun, 
 d'hat o;overnour was of that reg-ioun : 
 
 And so befell, this juge his eyen cast 
 Upon this maid, avising hire ful fast. 
 
 As she came forth by ther this juge stood : 
 Anon his herte changed and his mood. 
 
 So was he caught with beautee of this maid, 
 And to himself ful prively he said, 
 
 This maiden shal be min for any man. 
 
 Anon the fend into his herte ran, 
 
 And taught him sodenly, that he by sleight 
 This maiden to his purpos winnen might. 
 
 For certes, by no force, ne by no mede. 
 
 Him thought he was not able for to spede ; 
 For she was strong of frendes, and eke she 
 Confermed was in swiche soveraine bountee, 
 That wel he wist he might hire never winne, 
 As for to make hire with hire body sinne. 
 For which with gret deliberatioun 
 He sent after a cherl was in the toun. 
 
 12049 
 
 12057 
 
 12065 
 
 12074 
 
THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 The which he knew for sotil and for bold. 
 
 This juge unto this cherl his tale hath told 
 In secree wise, and made him to ensure, 
 
 He shulde tell it to no creature, 
 
 And if he did, he shulde lese his hede. 
 
 And whan assented was this cursed rede. 
 Glad was the juge, and maked him gret chere 
 And yaf him yeftes precious and dere. 
 
 Whan shapen was all hir conspiracie 
 Fro point to point, how that his lecherie 
 Parformed shulde be ful sotilly, 
 
 As ye shul here it after openly. 
 
 Home goth this cherl, that highte Claudius. 
 This false juge, that highte Appius, 
 
 (So was his name, for it is no fable 
 But knowen for an historial thing notable ; 
 The sentence of it soth is out of doute) 
 
 This false juge goth now fast aboute 
 'lo hasten his delit all that he may. 
 
 And so befell, sone after on a day 
 This false juge, as telleth us the storie. 
 
 As he was wont, sat in his consistorie, 
 
 And yaf his domes upon sondry cas ; 
 
 This false cherl came forth a ful gret pas, 
 
 And saide ; lord, if that it be your will. 
 
 As doth me right upon this pitous bill. 
 
 12075 
 
 12083 
 
 120.91 
 
 12100 
 
8 
 
 THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 Ill which I plaine upon Virginias. 12101 
 
 And if that he wol sayn it is not thus, 
 
 I wol it preve, and finden good witnesse, 
 
 That soth is that my bille wol expresse. 
 
 The juge answerd, of this in his absence 
 I may not yeve difFmitif sentence 
 Let don him call, and I wol gladly here ; 
 
 Thou shalt have right, and no wrong as now here, 
 Virginias came to wete the juges will, 1210.9 
 
 And right anon was red this cursed bill ; 
 
 The sentence of it was as ye shul here. 
 
 To you, my lord sire Appius so dere, 
 
 Sheweth your poure servant Claudius, 
 
 How that a knight called Virginias, 
 
 Agein the lawe, agein all equitee, 
 
 Holdeth, expresse agein the will of me. 
 
 My servant, which that is my thral by right, 
 
 Which from min ho us was stolen on a nigcht 12117 
 While that she was ful yong, I wol it preve 
 By witness, lord, so that it you not greve ; 
 
 She n’is his doughter nought, what so he say. 
 Wherfore to you, my lord the juge, I pray; 
 
 Yelde me my thral, if that it be your will. 
 
 Lo, this was all the sentence of his bill. 
 
 Virginias gan upon the cherl behold ; 
 
 But hastily, er he his tale told, 
 
 12126 
 
THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 9 
 
 And wold han proved it, as shuid a knight, 
 And eke by witnessing of many a wight. 
 
 That all was false, that said his adversary, 
 This cursed juge wolde nothing tary, 
 
 Ne here a word more of Virginius, 
 
 But yave his jugement, and saide thus, 
 
 I deme anon this cherl his servant have. 
 Thou shalt no longer in thin hous hire save. 
 Go bring hire forth, and put hire in our ward. 
 The cherl shal have his thral ; thus I award. 
 
 And whan this worthy knight Virginius, 
 Thurgh sentence of this justice Appius, 
 
 Muste by force his dere doughter yeven 
 Unto the juge, in lecherie to liven, 
 
 He goth him home, and set him in his hall. 
 And let anon his dere doughter call : 
 
 And with a face ded as ashen cold, 
 
 Upon hire humble face he gan beliold. 
 
 With fadres pitee stiking thurgh his herte, 
 
 A1 wold he from his purpos not converte. 
 
 Doughter, quod he, Virginia by thy name, 
 Ther ben two waies, other doth or shame. 
 That thou must suftre, alas that I was bore ! 
 For never thou deservedest wherfore 
 To dien with a swerd or with a knif. 
 
 O dere doughter, ender of my lif, 
 
 12127 
 
 12135 
 
 12143 
 
 12152 
 
10 
 
 T1I£ DOCTOUIIES TALE. 
 
 Which I have fostred up with swiche plesance, 12153 
 
 That thou were never out of mv remembrance ; 
 
 «/ 
 
 O doughter, which that art my laste wo, 
 
 And in my lif my laste joye also, 
 
 O gemme of chastitee, in patience 
 
 Take thou thy deth, for this is my sentence ; 
 
 For love and not for hate thou must be ded, 
 
 My pitous bond must smiten of thin hed. 
 
 Alas that ever Appius thee say ! i2i6’i 
 
 Thus hath he falsely juged thee to-day. 
 
 And told hire all the cas, as ye before 
 Han herd, it nedeth not to tell it more. 
 
 O mercy, dere father, quod this maid. 
 
 And with that word she both hire armes laid 
 About his necke, as she was wont to do, 
 
 (The teres brast out of hire eyen two,) 
 
 And said, O goode father, shal 1 die? 1216’9 
 
 Is ther no grace ? is ther no remedie ? 
 
 No certes, dere doughter min, quod he. 
 
 Than yeve me leiser, father min, quod she. 
 
 My deth for to complaine a litel space : 
 
 For parde Jepte yave his doughter grace 
 For to complaine, or he hire slow, alas ! 
 
 And God it wot, nothing was hire trespas. 
 
 But for she ran hire father first to see. 
 
 To welcome him with gret solempnitee. 12178 
 
THE DOCTOURES TALE. 
 
 li 
 
 And with that word she fell aswoune anon, 12179 
 And after, whan hire swouniiig was agon, 
 
 She riseth up, and to hire father said : 
 
 Blessed be God, that I shal die a maid. 
 
 Yeve me my deth, or that 1 have a shame. 
 
 Doth with your child your wille a goddes name. 
 
 And with that word she praied him ful oft, 
 
 That with his swerd he wolde smite hire soft ; 
 
 And wdth that word, aswouue again she fell. 121 S 7 
 Hire father, with ful sorweful herte and will, 
 
 Hire hed of smote, and by the top it hent. 
 
 And to the juge he gan it to present, 
 
 As he sat yet in dome in consistorie. 
 
 And whan the juge it saw, as saith the stone, 
 
 He bad to take him, and anhang him fast. 
 
 But right anon a thousand peple in thrast 
 To save the knight, for routh and for pitee, 12195 
 For knowen was the false iniquitee. 
 
 The peple anon had suspect in this thing 
 By maner of the cherles chalenging. 
 
 That it was by the assent of Appius ; 
 
 They wisten wel that he was lecherous. 
 
 For which unto this Appius they gon. 
 
 And caste him in a prison right anon, 
 
 Wheras he slow himself : and Claudius, 
 
 That servant was unto this Appius, 12204 
 
1^2 
 
 THE PARDONEKES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Was demed for to hange upon a tree ; 12205 
 
 But that Virginius of his pitee 
 So prayed for him, that he was exiled, 
 
 And elles certes had he ben begiled : 
 
 The remenant were anhanged, more and lesse. 
 
 That were consentant of this cursednesse. 
 
 Here men may see how sin hath his merite : 
 
 Beth ware, for no man wot whom God wol smite 
 In no degree, ne in which maner wise “12213 
 
 The worme of conscience may agrise 
 Of wicked lif, though it so privee be. 
 
 That no man wote therof, sauf God and he ; 
 
 For be he lewed man or elles lered. 
 
 He n’ot how sone that he shal ben afered, 
 
 Therfore I rede you this conseil take, 
 
 Forsaketh sinne, or sinne you forsake. 12220 
 
 THE PARDONERES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Our Hoste gan to swere as he were wood ; 
 Harow ! (quod he) by nailes and by blood, 
 
 This was a false cherl, and a false justice. 
 
 As shameful deth, as herte can devise. 
 
 Come to thise juges and hir advocas. 
 
 Algate this sely maide is slain, alas ! 
 
 Alas ! to dere abought she hire beautee. 
 
 12227 
 
THE PARDONETIES PROLOGUE. 
 
 13 
 
 Wherfore I say, that al day man may see, 
 That yeftes of fortune and of nature 
 Ben cause of deth to many a creature. 
 
 Hire beautee was hire deth, I dare wel sain ; 
 Alas! so pitously as she was slain. 
 
 Of bothe yeftes, that I speke of now, 
 
 Men han ful often more for harm than prow. 
 
 But trewely, min owen maister dere, 
 
 This was a pitous tale for to here : 
 
 But natheles, passe over, is no force. 
 
 I pray to God so save thy gentil corps. 
 
 And eke thyn urinals, and thy jordanes. 
 Thin ypocras, and eke thy galianes. 
 
 And every boist ful of thy letuarie, 
 
 God blesse hem and our lady^Seinte Marie. 
 So mote I the, thou art a propre man. 
 
 And like a prelat by Seint Roman ; 
 
 Said I not wel ? I cannot speke in terme ; 
 But wel I wot, thou dost min herte to erme. 
 That I have almost caught a cardiacle : 
 
 By corpus domini but I hav'e triacle. 
 
 Or elles a draught of moist and corny ale. 
 Or but I here anon a mery tale, 
 
 Myn herte is lost for pitee of this maid. 
 Thou bel amy, thou pardoner, he said, 
 
 Tel us som mirth of japes right anon. 
 
 1 2228 
 
 12236 
 
 12 2.14 
 
 122 .) 3 
 
14 
 
 THE PAIIDONERES TALE. 
 
 It shal be don, quod he, by Seint Ronion. 12254 
 But first (quod he) here at this aie-stake 
 I wol both drinke, and biten on a cake. 
 
 But right anon thise gentiles gan to crie ; 
 
 Nay, let him tell us of no ribaudrie. 
 
 Tell us som moral thing, that we mow lere, 
 
 Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly here. 
 
 I graunte ywis, quod he, but 1 must thinke 
 Upon som honest thing, while that I drinke. 1226'2 
 
 THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 Lordings, quod he, in chirche whan I preche, 
 
 I peine me to have an hautein speche. 
 
 And ring it out, as round as goth a bell. 
 
 For 1 can all by rote that I tell. 
 
 My teme is alway on, and ever was ; 12267 
 
 Radix malorum est cupiditas. 
 
 First 1 pronounce whennes that 1 come, 
 
 And than my bulles shew I all and some : 
 
 Our liege lordes sele on my patente, 
 
 That shew I first my body to warrente, 
 
 That no man be so bold, ne preest ne clerk. 
 
 Me to disturbe of Cristes holy werk. 
 
 And after that than tell I forth my tales. 
 
 Bulles of popes, and of cardinales, 12276 
 
THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 15 
 
 Of patriarkes, and bishoppes I shewe, 12277 
 
 And in Latin I speke a wordes fewe, 
 
 To saffron with my predication, 
 
 And for to stere men to devotion. 
 
 Than shew I forth my longe cristal stones, 
 Ycrammed ful of cloiites and of bones, 
 
 Relikes they ben, as wenen they echon. 
 
 Than have I in laton a shulder bone. 
 
 Which that was of an holy iewes shepe. i22S5 
 
 Good men, say I, take of my wordes kepe : 
 
 If that this bone be washe in any well, 
 
 If cow, or calf, or shepe, or oxe swell, 
 
 That any worm hath ete, or worm ystonge. 
 
 Take water of that well, and wash his tonge, 
 
 And it is hole anon : and forthermore 
 Of pockes, and of scab, and every sore 
 Shal every shepe be hole, that of this well 12293 
 Drinketh a draught ; take kepe of that I tell. 
 
 If that the good man, that the bestes oweth, 
 
 Wol every weke, er that the cok him croweth, 
 Fasting ydrinken of this well a draught. 
 
 As thilke holy Jew our eldres taught. 
 
 His bestes and his store shal multiplie. 
 
 And, sires, also it heleth jalousie. 
 
 For though a man be falle in jalous rage. 
 
 Let maken with this water his potage, 12302 
 
16' 
 
 TOE PA 11 DONE RES TALE. 
 
 And never shal he more his wif mistrist, 
 Though he the soth of hire defaiite wist ; 
 
 A\ had she taken preestes two or three. " 
 
 Here is a mitaine eke, that ye may see: 
 
 He that liis hand wol put in this mitaine, 
 
 He shal have multiplying of his graine, 
 
 Whan he hath soAven, be it whete or otes, 
 
 So that he offer pens or elles grotes. 
 
 And, men and women, o thing warne I you : 
 If any wight be in this chirche now. 
 
 That hath don sinne horrible, so that he 
 Dare not for shame of it yshriven be : 
 
 Or any woman, be she yong or old, 
 
 That hath ymade hire husbond cokewold, 
 Swiche folk shul ban no power ne no grace 
 To offer to my relikes in this place. 
 
 And Avho so findeth him out of swiche blame, 
 He wol come up and offer in Goddes name. 
 And I assoyle him by the auctoritee. 
 
 Which that by bulle ygranted was to me. 
 
 By this gaude have I wonnen yere by yere 
 An hundred mark, sin I was pardonere. 
 
 1 stonde like a clerk in my pulpet. 
 
 And whan the lewed peple is doun yset, 
 
 1 preche so as ye han herd before. 
 
 And tell an hundred false japes more. 
 
 1230 .'A 
 
 12311 
 
 12319 
 
 12328 
 
THE PARDON EEES TALE. 
 
 17 
 
 Than peine I me to stretchen forth my necke, 
 ^ And est and west upon the peple I becke, 
 
 As doth a dove, sitting upon a berne: 
 
 Myn hondes and my tonge gon so yerne, 
 That it is joye to see my besinesse. 
 
 Of avarice and of swiche cursednesse 
 Is all my preching, for to make hem free 
 To yeve hir pens, and namely unto me. 
 
 For min entente is not but for to winne. 
 
 And nothing: for correction of sinne. 
 
 I recke never whan that they be beried. 
 Though that hir soules gon a blake beried. 
 
 For certes many a predication 
 Cometh oft time of evil entention ; 
 
 Som for plesance of folk, and flaterie, 
 
 To ben avanced by hypocrisie ; 
 
 And som for vaine glorie, and som for hate. 
 For whan I dare non other wayes debate, 
 Than wol I sting him with my tonge smerte 
 In preching, so that he shal not asterte 
 To ben defamed falsely, if that he 
 Hath trespased to my brethren or to me. 
 
 For though I telle not his propre name. 
 
 Men shal wel knowen that it is the same 
 By signes, and by other circumstances. 
 
 Thus quite I folk, that don us displesances ; 
 VOL. III. c 
 
 12329 
 
 12337 
 
 1234.5 
 
 123.54 
 
18 
 
 THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 Thus spit I out my venime under hewe 12-355 
 
 Of holinesse, to seme holy and trewe. 
 
 But shortly min entente I wol devise', 
 
 I preche of nothing but for covetise. 
 
 Therfore mv teme is yet, and ever was, 
 
 fc/ V 
 
 Radix maloram est cuplditas. 
 
 Thus can 1 preche again the same vice 
 Which that I use, and that is avarice. 
 
 But though myself be gilty in that sinne, 1 236*3 
 
 Yet can I maken other folk to twinne 
 From avarice, and sore hem to repente. 
 
 But that is not my principal entente ; 
 
 I preche nothing but for covetise. 
 
 Of this matere it ought ynough suffise. 
 
 Than tell I hem ensamples many on 
 Of olde stories longe time agon. 
 
 For lewed peple loven tales olde; 12371 
 
 Swhiche thinges can they wel report and holde. 
 What ? trowen ye, that whiles I may preche 
 And winnen gold and silver for I teche, 
 
 That I wol live in poverte wilfully ? 
 
 Nay, nay, I thought it never trewely. 
 
 For I wol preche and beg in sondry londes, 
 
 I wol not do no labour with min hondes, 
 
 Ne make baskettes for to live therby, 
 
 Because I wol not beggen idelly. 
 
 12380 
 
THE PARDONEIIES TALE. 
 
 19 
 
 1 wol non of the apostles contrefete : i23si 
 
 I wol have money, wolle, chese, and whete, 
 
 A1 were it yeven of the pourest page, 
 
 Or of the poorest widewe in a village: 
 
 A1 shulde hire children sterven for famine. 
 
 Nay, I wol drinke the licoiir of the vine, 
 
 And have a joly wenche in every toun. 
 
 But herkeneth, lordings, in conclusioun, 
 
 Your liking is that I shal tell a tale, 12389 
 
 Now I have dronke a draught of corny ale, 
 
 By God I hope J shal you tell a thing. 
 
 That shal by reson ben at your liking : 
 
 For though myself be a ful vicious man, 
 
 A moral tale yet 1 you tellen can. 
 
 Which I am wont to prechen, for to winne. 
 
 Now hold your pees, my tale I wol beginne 1239G 
 
 In Flandres whilom was a compagnie 
 Of yonge folk, that haunteden folie, 
 
 As hasard, riot, stewes, and tavernes ; 
 
 Wheras with harpes, lutes, and giternes. 
 
 They dance and plaie at dis bothe day and night 
 And ete also, and drinke over hir might; 
 
 Thurgh which they don the devil sacrifice 
 Within the devils temple, in cursed wise. 
 
 By snperfiuitee abhominable. 12405 
 
20 
 
 TiiE PARDONERES TALE, 
 
 Hir othes ben so gret and so damnable, 
 
 That it is grisly for to here hem swere. 
 
 Our blisful lordes body they to-tere ; 
 
 Hem thought the Jewes rent him not ynough ; 
 And eche of hem at others sinne lough. 
 
 And right anon in comen tombesteres 
 Fetis and smale, and yonge fruitesteres, 
 Singers with harpes, baudes, wafereres, 
 Which ben the veray devils ofFiceres, 
 
 To kindle and blow the fire of lecherie, 
 
 That is annexed unto glotonie. 
 
 The holy writ take I to my witnesse, 
 
 That luxiirie is in wine and dronkenesse. 
 
 To, how that dronken Loth unkindely 
 Lay by his daughters two unwetingly, 
 
 So dronke he was he n’iste what he wrought. 
 
 Herodes, who so wel the stories sought, 
 Whan he of wine replete was at his feste. 
 Right at his owen table he yave his heste 
 To sleen the Baptist John ful gilteles. 
 
 Seneca saith a good word douteles : 
 
 He saith he can no difference find 
 Betwix a man that is out of his mind. 
 
 And a man whiche that is dronkelew : 
 
 But that woodnesse, yfallen in a shrew, 
 Persevereth lenger than doth dronkenesse. 
 
 1240G 
 
 12414 
 
 12422 
 
 12431 
 
THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 21 
 
 O glotonie, full of cursednesse ; 12432 
 
 O cause first of our confusion, 
 
 O original of our damnation, 
 
 Til Crist had bought us with his blood again, 
 Loketh,^ how dere, shortly for to sain, 
 
 Abought was thilke cursed vilanie : 
 
 Corrupt was all this world for glotonie. 
 
 Adam our father, and his wif also, • 
 
 Fro Paradis, to labour and to wo, 12440 
 
 Were driven for that vice, it is no drede. 
 
 For while that Adam fasted, as I rede, 
 
 He was in Paradis, and whan that he 
 Ete of the fruit defended on a tree. 
 
 Anon he was out cast to wo and peine. 
 
 O glotonie, on thee wel ought us plaine. 
 
 O, wist a man how many maladies 
 Folwen of excesse and of glotonies, 12443 
 
 He wolde ben the more mesurable 
 Of his diete, sitting at his table. 
 
 Alas ! the shorte throte, the tendre mouth, 
 
 Maketh that Est and West, and North and South, 
 
 In erthe, in air, in water, men to-swinke, 
 
 To gete a gloton deintee mete and drinke. 
 
 Of this matere, O Poule, wel canst thou trete. 
 
 Mete unto wombe, and wombe eke unto mete 
 Shal God destroien bothe, as Paulus saith. 12457 
 
12458 
 
 THE PAllDONEllES TALE. 
 
 Alas ! a foule thing is it by my faith 
 To say this word, and fouler is the dede, 
 
 Whan man so drinketh of the white and rede, 
 
 That of his throte he maketh his privee 
 Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee. 
 
 The Apostle saith weping ful pitously, 
 
 Ther walken many, of which you told have I, 
 
 I say it now weping with pitous vois. 
 
 That they ben enemies of Cristes crois : 12-16() 
 
 Of whiche the end is deth, womb is hir God. 
 
 O wombe, O belly, stinking is thy cod, 
 
 Fulfilled of dong and of corruptioun ; 
 
 At either end of thee foule is the soun. 
 
 How gret labour and cost is thee to find! 
 
 Thise cokes how they stamp, and strein, and grind. 
 And turnen substance into accident. 
 
 To fulfill all thy likerous talent! 12474 
 
 Out of the harde bones knocken they 
 The mary, for they casten nought away. 
 
 That may go thurgh the gullet soft and sote : 
 
 Of spicerie, of leef, of barke, and rote, 
 
 Shal ben his sause ymaked by debt 
 To make him yet a newer appetit. 
 
 But certes he, that htiunteth swiche delices, 
 
 Is ded, while that he liveth in tho vices. 
 
 A lecherous thing is wine, and dronkenesse. i248a 
 
THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 23 
 
 Is ful of striving and of wretchednesse. 12434 
 
 O dronken man, disfigured is thy face, 
 
 Sour is thy breth, foul art thou to enbrace ; 
 
 And thurgh thy dronken nose semeth the soun, 
 
 As though thou saidest ay, Sampsoun, Sampsoun ; 
 And yet, God wot, Sampsoun dronk never no wine. 
 Thou fullest, as it were a stiked swine : 
 
 Thy tonge is lost, and all thin honest cure. 
 
 For dronkenesse is veray sepulture 12492 
 
 Of mannes wit, and his discretion. 
 
 In whom that drinke hath domination, 
 
 He can no conseil kepe, it is no drede. 
 
 Now kepe you fro the white and fro the rede. 
 
 And namely fro the white wine of Lepe, 
 
 That is to sell in Fishstrete and in Chepe. 
 
 This wine of Spaigne crepeth subtilly 
 
 In other wines growing faste by, 12500 
 
 Of which ther riseth swiche fumositee. 
 
 That whan a man hath dronken draughtes three. 
 And weneth that he be at home in Chepe, 
 
 He is in Spaigne, right at the toun of Lepe, 
 
 Not at the Rochell, ne at Burdeux toun; 
 
 And thanne wol he say, Sampsoun, Sampsoun. 
 
 But herkeneth, lordings, o word, I you pray, 
 
 That all the soveraine actes, dare I say, 
 
 Of victories in the Olde Testament, 
 
 12509 
 
24 
 
 THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 Thurgh veray God, that is omnipotent, 12510 
 
 Were don in abstinence and in prayere : 
 
 Loketh the Bible, and ther ye mow it lere. 
 
 Loke Attila, the grete conquerour, 
 
 Died in his slepe, with shame and dishonour, 
 Bleding ay at his nose in dronkenesse ; 
 
 A capitaine shulde live in sobrenesse. 
 
 And over all this, aviseth you right wel. 
 
 What was commanded unto Lamuel ; 1251a 
 
 Not Samuel, but Lamuel say 1 . 
 
 Redeth the Bible, and find it expresly 
 Of wine yeving to hem that have justice. 
 
 No more of this, for it may wel suffice. 
 
 And now that I have spoke of glotonie, 
 
 Now wol I you defenden hasardrie. 
 
 Hasard is veray moder of lesinges, 
 
 And of deceite, and cursed forsweringes : 12526 - 
 
 Blaspheming of Crist, manslaughter, and wast also 
 Of catel, and of time ; and forthermo 
 It is repreve, and contrary of honour, 
 
 For to ben hold a commun hasardour. 
 
 And ever the higher he is of estat. 
 
 The more he is holden desolat. 
 
 If that a Prince useth hasarderie. 
 
 In alle governance and policie 
 He is, as by commun opinion, 
 
 12535 
 
THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 25 
 
 Yhold the lesse in reputation. 12536' 
 
 Stilbon, that was a wise embassadour, 
 
 Was sent to Corinth with ful gret honour 
 Fro Calidone, to maken hem alliance : 
 
 And whan he came, it happed him par chance, 
 
 That all the gretest that were of that Idnd 
 Yplaying atte hasard he hem fond. 
 
 For which, as sone as that it niighte be, 
 
 He stale him home agein to his contree, 12544 
 
 And sayde ther, I wol not lese ray name, 
 
 Ne wol not take on me so gret defame, 
 
 You for to allie unto non hasardours. 
 
 Sendeth som other wise embassadours. 
 
 For by my trouthe, me were lever die, 
 
 Than I you shuld to hasardours allie. 
 
 For ye, that ben so glorious in honours, 
 
 Shal not allie you to non hasardours, 12552 
 
 As by my wille, ne as by my tretee. 
 
 This wise philosophre thus sayd he. 
 
 Loke eke how to the king Demetrius 
 The king of Parthes, as the book sayth us. 
 
 Sent him a pair of dis of gold in scorne. 
 
 For he had used hasard therbeforne ; 
 
 For which he held his glory and his renoun 
 At no value or reputatioun. 
 
 Lordes may finden other maner play 
 
 12561 
 
t 
 
 1 
 
 26 THE PAllDONEIlES TALE. 
 
 Honest ynough to drive the day way, L256'2 
 
 Now wol I speke of othes false and grete 
 A word or two, as olcle bookes trete. 
 
 Gret swering is a thing abhominable, 
 
 And false swering is yet more reprevable. 
 
 The highe God forbad swering at al, 
 
 Witnesse on Mathew : but in special 
 Of swering sayth the holy Jeremie, 
 
 Thou shalt swere soth thin othes, and not lie; 12570 
 And swere in dome, and eke in rightwisnesse ; 
 
 But idel swering is a cursednesse. 
 
 Behold and see, that in the firste table 
 Of highe Goddes hestes honourable, 
 
 How that the second best of him is this. 
 
 Take not my name in idel or amis. 
 
 Lo, rather he forbedeth swiche swering. 
 
 Than homicide, or many an other thing. 12578 
 
 I say that as by ordre thus it stondeth ; 
 
 This knoweth he that his hestes understondeth. 
 
 How that the second best of God is that. 
 
 And forthermore, I wol thee tell all plat. 
 
 That vengeance shal not par ten from his hous, 
 
 That of his othes is outrageous. 
 
 By Goddes precious herte, and by his nailes, 
 
 And by the blood of Crist, that is in Hailes, 
 
 Seven is my chance, and thin is cink and treye : 12537 
 
THE PAIIDONERES TALE. 
 
 By Goddes armes if thou falsly pleye, 
 
 This dagger shal thurghout thin herte go. 
 
 This fruit cometh of the bicchel bones two, 
 Forswering, ire, falsenesse, and homicide. 
 
 Now for the love of Crist that for us dide, 
 Leteth your othes, bothe gret and smale. 
 
 But, sires, now wol I tell you forth my tale. 
 
 Thise riotoures three, of which I tell. 
 
 Long erst or prime rong of any bell. 
 
 Were set hem in a taverne for to drinke ; 
 
 And as they sat, they herd a belle clinke 
 Beforn a corps, was caried to his grave : 
 
 That on of hem gan callen to his knave. 
 
 Go bet, quod he, and axe redily, 
 
 What corps is this, that passeth here forth by 
 And loke that thou report his name wel. 
 
 Sire, quod this boy, it nedeth never a del ; 
 It was me told or ye came here two houres ; 
 He was parde an old felaw of youres. 
 
 And sodenly he was yslain to-night, 
 Fordronke as he sat on his benche upright, 
 Ther came a privee theef, men clepen Deth, 
 That in this contree all the peple sleth. 
 
 And with his spere he smote his herte atwo. 
 And went his way withouten wordes mo. 
 
 He hath a thousand slain this pestilence : 
 
 27 
 
 12588 
 
 125 . 86 ' 
 
 12604 
 
 12613 
 
 f 
 
28 
 
 THE PAllDONEIlES TALE. 
 
 And, maister, or ye come in his presence, i' 26 ’i 4 
 Me thinketh that it were ful necessarie 
 For to beware of swiche an adversarie; 
 
 Beth redy for to mete him evermore. 
 
 Thus taughte me my dame, I say no more. 
 
 By Seinte Marie, sayd this tavernere, 
 
 The child sayth soth, for he hath slain this yere 
 Hens over a mile, within a gret village, 12621 
 
 Both man and woman, child, and hyne, and page ; 
 
 I trowe his habitation be there : 
 
 To ben avised gret wisdome it were. 
 
 Or that he did a man a dishonour. 
 
 Ye, Goddes armes, quod this riotour, 
 
 Is it swiche peril with him for to mete ? 
 
 I shal him seke by stile and eke by strete. 
 
 I make a vow by Goddes digne bones. 
 
 Herkeneth, felawes, we three ben alle ones : i 2630 
 
 Let eche of us hold up his hond to other, 
 
 And eche of us becomen others brother. 
 
 And we wol slen this false traitour deth ; 
 
 He shal be slain, he that so many sleth. 
 
 By Goddes dignitee, or it be night. 
 
 Togeder han thise three hir trouthes plight 
 To live and dien eche of hem for other, 
 
 As though he were his owen boren brother. 
 
 And up they stert al dronken in this rage, 12639 
 
THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 29 
 
 And forth they gon towardes that village, 126:40 
 Of which the taverner had spoke beforn, 
 
 And many a grisly oth than have they sworn, 
 
 And Cristes blessed body they to-rent; 
 
 Deth shal be ded, if that we may him hent. 
 
 Whan they han gon not fully half a mile. 
 
 Right as they wold han troden over a stile. 
 
 An olde man and a poure with hem mette. 
 
 This olde man ful mekely hem grette, 12643 
 
 And sayde, thus ; Now, lordes, God you see. 
 
 The proudest of thise riotoures three 
 Answerd agen ; What? cherl, with sory grace, 
 
 Why art thou all forwrapped save thy face? 
 
 Why livest thou so longe in so gret age? 
 
 This olde man gan loke in his visage, 
 
 And sayde thus ; For I ne cannot finde 
 A man, though that I walked into Inde, 12606 
 
 Neither in citee, ne in no village. 
 
 That wolde change his youthe for min age ; 
 
 And therfore mote I han min age still 
 As lonffe time as it is Goddes will. 
 
 o 
 
 Ne deth, alas ! ne will not han my lif. 
 
 Thus walke I like a resteles caitif, 
 
 And on the ground, which is my modres gate, 
 
 I knocke with my staf, erlich and late. 
 
 And say to hire, Leve mother, let me in. 1266; 
 
 539 
 
30 
 
 THE PARDOXERES TALE. 
 
 Lo, how I vanish, flesh, and blood, and skin: i26'6'6‘ 
 Alas ! whan shul my bones ben at reste? 
 
 Mother, with you wold I changen my cheste, 
 
 That in my chambre longe time hath be. 
 
 Ye, for an heren clout to Avrap in me. 
 
 But yet to me she wol not don that grace, 
 
 For which ful pale and welked is my face. 
 
 But, sires, to you it is no curtesie 
 To speke unto an olde man vilanie, 12674 
 
 But he trespase in word or elles in dede. 
 
 In holy writ ye moun yourselven rede; 
 
 Ageins an olde man, hore upon his hede. 
 
 Ye shuld arise : therfore I yeve you rede, 
 
 Ne doth unto an olde man non harm now, 
 
 No more than that ye wold a man did you 
 In age, if that ye may so long abide. 
 
 And God be with you, wher ye go or ride 12682 
 I moste go thider as I have to go. 
 
 Nay, olde ched, by God thou shalt not so, 
 
 Sayde this other hasardour anon ; 
 
 Thou partest not so lightly by Seint John. 
 
 Thou spake right now of thilke traitour deth. 
 
 That in this contree all our frendes sleth ; 
 
 Have here my trouth as thou art his espie ; 
 
 Tell wher he is, or thou shalt it abie, 
 
 ] 3 y God and by the holy Sacrement ; 
 
 1 26‘fH 
 
THE rAEDONERES TALE. 
 
 31 
 
 For sothly thou art on of his assent i 26'9 2 
 
 To slen us yonge folk, thou false thefe. 
 
 Now, sires, quod he, if it be you so lefe 
 To finden deth, tourne up this croked way, 
 
 For in that grove I left him by my fay 
 Under a tree, and ther he wol abide ; 
 
 Ne for your host he wol him nothing hide. 
 
 Se ye that oke ? right ther ye shuln him find. 
 
 God save you, that bought agen mankind, 12700 
 And you amende ; thus sayd this olde man. 
 
 And everich of thise riotoures ran, 
 
 Til they came to the tree, and ther they found 
 Of Floreins fine of gold ycoined round, 
 
 Wei nigh an eighte bushels, as hem thought. 
 
 No longer than after dethe they sought, 
 
 But eche of hem so glad was of the sight, 
 
 For that the floreins ben so faire and bright, 127O8 
 That doun they sette hem by the precious hord. 
 
 The werste of hem he spake the firste word. 
 Brethren, quod he, take kepe what 1 shal say ; 
 My wit is gret, though that I bourde and play. 
 
 This tresour hath fortune unto us yeven 
 In mirth and jolitee our lif to liven. 
 
 And lightly as it cometh, so wol we spend. 
 
 Ey, Goddes precious dignitee, who wend 
 To-day, that we shuld han so faire a grace ? 12717 
 
32 
 
 THE PAllDONERES TALE. 
 
 But might this gold be caried fro this place 1271s 
 Home to myn hous, or elles unto youres, 
 
 (For wel I wote that all this gold is oures) 
 
 Thanne were we in high felicitee. 
 
 But trewely by day it may not be ; 
 
 Men wolden say that we were theeves strong, 
 
 And for our owen tresour don us hong. 
 
 This tresour must ycaried be by night 
 As wisely and as sleighly as it might. i272() 
 
 Wherfore I rede, that cut among us alle 
 We drawe, and let see wher the cut wol falle : 
 
 And he that hath the cut, with herte blith, 
 
 Shal rennen to the toun, and that ful swith, 
 
 And bring us bred and win ful prively : 
 
 And two of us shal kepen subtilly 
 
 This tresour wel ; and if he wol not tarien, 
 
 Whan it is night, we wol this tresour carien 12734 
 By on assent, wher as us thinketh best. 
 
 That on of hem the cut brought in his fest, 
 
 And bad hem drawe and loke wher it wold falle. 
 And it fell on the yongest of hem alle : 
 
 And forth toward the toun he went anon. 
 
 And al so sone as that he was agon. 
 
 That on of hem spake thus unto that other ; 
 
 Ihou wotest wel thou art my sworen brother, 
 
 Thy profite wol I tell thee right anon. 12743 
 
THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 33 
 
 Thou wost wel that our felaw is aoron, 12744 
 
 ^ O' 
 
 And here is gold, and that ful gret plentee, 
 
 That shal departed ben among us three. 
 
 But natheles, if I can shape it so, 
 
 That it departed were among us two, 
 
 Had I not don a frendes turn to thee ? 
 
 That other answerd, I n'ot how that may be : 
 
 He wote wel that the gold is with us tweye. 
 
 What shuln we don ? what shuln we 'to him seye ? 
 
 Shal it be conseil ? sayd the firste shrewe ; 12753 
 And 1 shal tellen thee in wordes fewe 
 What we shul don, and bring it wel aboute. 
 
 I grante, quod that other, out of doute. 
 
 That by my trouth I wol thee not bewreie. 
 
 Now, quod the first, thou wost wel we ben tweie. 
 And tweie of us shul strensrer be than on. 
 
 O 
 
 Loke, whan that he is set, thou right anon i27fio 
 Arise, as though thou woldest with him play ; 
 
 A nd I shal rivehim thurgh the sides tway, 
 
 While that thou stroglest with him as in game, 
 
 And with thy dagger loke thou do the same ; 
 
 And than shal ali this gold departed be, 
 
 My dere frend, betwixen thee and me ; 
 
 Than moun we bothe our lustes al fulfille, 
 
 And play at dis right at our owen wille. 
 
 And thus accorded ben thise shrewes tweye, i276'.q 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 D 
 
34 
 
 THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 To slen the thridde, as ye han herd me seye. 12770 
 This yongest, whieh that wente to the toun, 
 
 Ful oft in herte he rolleth up and doun 
 The beautee of thise floreins newe and bright. 
 
 O Lord, quod he, if so were that 1 might 
 Have all this tresour to myself alone, 
 
 Ther n’is no man that liveth under the trone 
 Of God, that shulde live so mery as I. 
 
 And at the last the fend our enemy 12778 
 
 Putte in his thought, that he shuld poison beye. 
 With which he mighte slen his felaws tweye. 
 
 For why, the fend fond him in swiche living. 
 
 That he had leve to sorwe him to bring. 
 
 For this was outrely his ful entente 
 To slen hem both, and never to repente. 
 
 And forth he goth, no lenger wold he tary, 
 
 Into the toun unto a Poj;ecary, 12786' 
 
 And praied him that he him wolde sell 
 Som poison, that he might his ratouus quell. 
 
 And eke ther was a polkat in his hawe. 
 
 That, as he sayd, his capons had yslawe : 
 
 And fayn he wolde him wreken, if he might, 
 
 Of vermine, that destroied hem by night. 
 
 The Potecary answerd. Thou shalt have 
 A thing, as wisly God my soule save. 
 
 In all this world ther n’is no creature, 12795 
 
THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 35 
 
 That ete or dronke hath of this confecture, 12796 
 Not but the mountance of a come of whete, 
 
 That he ne shal his lif anon forlete ; 
 
 Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lesse while, 
 
 Than thou wolt gon a pas not but a mile : 
 
 This poison is so strong and violent. 
 
 This cursed man hath in his hond yhent 
 This poison in a box, and swithe he ran 
 Into the nexte strete unto a man, i2804 
 
 And borwed of him large botelles three ; 
 
 And in the two the poison poured he ; 
 
 The thridde he kepte clene for his drinke. 
 
 For all the night he shope him for to swinke 
 In carying of the gold out of that place. 
 
 And whan this riotour with sory grace 
 Hath filled with win his grete botelles three. 
 
 To his felawes agen repaireth he. 128 12 
 
 What nedeth it therof to sermon more ? 
 
 For right as they had cast his deth before, 
 
 Right so they han him slain, and that anon. 
 
 And whan that this was don, thus spake that on ; 
 Now let us sit and drinke, and make us mery. 
 
 And afterward we wiln his body bery. 
 
 And with that word it happed him par cas, 
 
 To take the botelle, ther the poison was. 
 
 And dronke, and yave his felaw drinke also, i2S2i 
 
36 
 
 THE PARDOXERES TALE. 
 
 For which anon they storven bothe two. 1282^2 
 
 But certes I suppose that Avicenne 
 Wrote never in no canon, ne in no fenne, 
 
 Mo wonder signes of empoisoning-, 
 
 Than had thise wretches two or hir ending. 
 
 Thus ended ben thise homicides two. 
 
 And eke the false empoisoner also. 
 
 O cursednesse of alle cursednesse ! 
 
 O traitours homicide! O wickednesse ! i28ao 
 
 0 glotonie, luxurie, and hasardrie ! 
 
 Thou blasphemour of Crist with vilanie. 
 
 And othes grete, of usage and of pride! 
 
 Alas ! mankinde, how may it betide, 
 
 'riiat to thy Creatour, which that thee wrought, 
 
 And with his precious herte-blood thee bou''>’ht, 
 7 'hou art so false and so unkind, alas ! 
 
 Now, good men, God foryeve you your trespas ; 
 And ware you fro the sinne of avarice. 12539 
 
 Min holy pardon may you all warice, 
 
 80 that ye offre nobles or starlinges. 
 
 Or elles silver broches, spones, ringes. 
 
 Boweth your bed under this holy Bulle. 
 
 Cometh up, ye wives, and ofFreth of your wolle ; 
 Your names I entre here in my roll anon ; 
 
 Into the blisse of heven shul ye gon : 
 
 1 you assoile by min high powere, 12547 
 
THE PARDONERES TALE. 
 
 37 
 
 You that wiln ofFre, as dene and eke as clere 12848 
 As ye were borne. Lo, sires, thus I predie ; 
 
 And Jesu Crist, that is our soules leche, 
 
 So graunte you his pardon to receive ; 
 
 For that is best, I wol you not deceive. 
 
 But, sires, o word forgate I in my tale ; 
 
 I have relikes and pardon in my male. 
 
 As faire as any man in Englelond, 
 
 Which were me yeven by the Popes bond. i2S56‘ 
 If any of you wol of devotion 
 Olfren, and han min absolution, 
 
 Cometh forth anon, and kneleth here adoun, 
 
 And mekely receiveth my pardoun. 
 
 Or elles taketh pardon, as ye wende, 
 
 A1 newe and freshe at every tounes ende. 
 
 So that ye offren alway newe and newe, 
 
 Nobles or pens, which that ben good and trewe. 12864 
 It is an honour to everich that is here. 
 
 That ye moun have a sufhsant pardonere 
 To assoilen you in contree as ye ride. 
 
 For aventures, which that moun betide. 
 
 Paraventure ther may falle on, or two, 
 
 Doun of his hors, and breke his necke atwo. 
 
 Loke, which a seurtee is it to you alle, 
 
 That I am in your felawship yfalle. 
 
 That may assoile you bothe more and lasse, 
 
 12873. 
 
38 
 
 THE PARDONEIIES TALE. 
 
 
 Whan that the soule shal fro the body passe. i 287 t 
 I rede that our hoste shal beginne, 
 
 For he is most envoluped in sinne. 
 
 Come forth, sire hoste, and offre first anon. 
 
 And thou shalt kisse the relikes everich on. 
 
 Ye for a grote; unbokel anon thy purse. 
 
 Nay nay, quod he, than have I Cristes curse. 
 
 Let be, quod he, it shal not be, so the ich. 
 
 Thou woldest make me kisse thin olde brech, 12SS2 
 And swere it were a relike of a seint. 
 
 Though it were with thy foundement depeint. 
 
 But by the crois, which that Seint Heleine fond, 
 
 I wolde I had thin coilons in min hond, 
 
 Instede of relikes, or of seintuarie. 
 
 Let cut hem of, I wol thee help hem carie ; 
 
 They shul be shrined in an hogges tord. 
 
 This Pardoner answered not a word ; 12390 
 
 So wroth he was, no word ne wolde he say. 
 
 Now, quod our hoste, I wol no lenger play 
 With thee, ne with non other angry man. 
 
 But right anon the worthy knight began, 
 
 (Whan that he saw that all the peple lough) 
 
 No more of this, for it is right ynough. 
 
 Sire Pardoner, be mery and glad of chere ; 
 
 And ye, sire hoste, that ben to me so dere, 
 
 I pray you that ye kisse the Pardoner ; 12399 
 
THE SIIIPMANNES PROLOGUE. 
 
 39 
 
 And, Pardoner, I pray thee draw thee ner, 12900 
 And as we diden, let us laugh and play. 
 
 Anon they kissed, and riden forth hir way. 
 
 THE SHIPMANNES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Our hoste upon his stirrops stode anon, 
 
 And saide ; Good men, herkeneth everich on, 
 
 This was a thrifty tale for the nones. 12905 
 
 Sire parish preest, quod he, for Goddes bones, 
 
 Tell us a tale, as was thy forward yore: 
 
 I see wel that ye lerned men in lore 
 Can mochel good, by Goddes dignitee. 
 
 The Person him answerd, Benedicite ! 
 
 What eileth the man, so sinfully to swere ? 
 
 Our hoste answerd, O Jankin, be ye there? 
 
 Now, good men, quod our hoste, herkneth to me. 
 
 I smell a loller in the wind, quod he. 12911 
 
 Abideth for Goddes digne passion, 
 
 For we shul han a predication : 
 
 This loller here wol prechen us somwhat. 
 
 Nay by my fathers soule, that shal he nat, 
 
 Sayde the Shipman, here shal he nat preche, 
 
 He shal no gospel glosen here ne teche. 
 
 We leven all in the gret God, quod he. 
 
 He wolde sowen som difficultee, 
 
 12922 
 
40 
 
 THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 Or springen cockle in our dene come. 12.923 
 
 And therfore, hoste, I warne thee beforne, 
 
 My joly body shal a tale telle. 
 
 And I shal clinken you so mery a belle, 
 
 That I shal waken all this compagnie : 
 
 But it shal not ben of philosophie, 
 
 Ne of physike, ne termes queinte of lawe ; 
 
 Ther is but litel Latin in my mawe. 12930 
 
 THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 A Marciiant whilom dwelled at Seint Denise, 
 That riche was, for which men held him wise. 
 
 A wif he had of excellent beautee, 
 
 And compaignable, and revelous was she, 
 
 Which is a thing that causeth more dispence. 
 
 Than worth is all the chere and reverence, 1293& 
 That men hem don at festes and at dances. 
 
 Swiche salutations and contenances 
 Passen, as doth a shadwe upon the wall : 
 
 But wo is him that payen mote for all. 
 
 The sely husbond algate he mote pay. 
 
 He mote us' clothe and he mote us array 
 All for his owen worship richely : 
 
 In which array we dancen jolily. 
 
 And if that he may not paraveriture. 
 
 12945 
 
THE SIIIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 41 
 
 Or elles lust not swiche clispence endure, 
 But thinketh it is wasted and ylost, 
 
 Than mote another payen for our cost, 
 
 Or lene us gold, and that is perilous. 
 
 This noble Marchant held a worthy hous. 
 For which he had all day so gret repaire 
 For his largesse, and for his wif was faire, 
 That wonder is : but herkeneth to my tale. 
 
 Amonges all thise gestes gret and smale, 
 Ther was a Monk, a faire man and a bold, 
 
 I trow a thrittv winter he was old 
 That ever in on was drawing to that place. 
 This yonge Monk, that was so faire of face, 
 Acquainted was so with this goode man, 
 Sithen that hir firste knowlege began. 
 
 That in his hous as familier was he. 
 
 As it possible is any frend to be. 
 
 And for as mochel as this goode man 
 And eke this Monk, of which that I began, 
 Were bothe two yborne in o village. 
 
 The Monk him claimeth, as for cosinage. 
 And he again him sayd not ones nay. 
 
 But was as glad therof, as foule of day : 
 For to his herte it was a gret plesance. 
 
 ' Thus ben they knit with eterne alliance. 
 And eche of hem gan other for to ensure 
 
 / 
 
 12946 * 
 
 12954 
 
 1 2962 
 
 12971 
 
42 
 
 THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 Of brotlierhed, while that hir lif may dure. 12.972 
 
 Free was Dan John, and namely of dispence 
 As in that hous, and ful of diligence 
 To don plesance, and also gret costage: 
 
 He not forgate to yeve the leste page 
 In all that hous; but, after hir degree, 
 
 He yave the lord, and .sithen his meinee, 
 
 Whan that he came, som maner honest thing; 
 
 For which they were as glad of his coming i2f)so 
 As foule is fayn, whan that the sonne up riseth. 
 
 No more of this as now, for it suffiseth. 
 
 But so befell, this Marchant on a day 
 Shope him to maken redy his array 
 Toward the toun of Brugges for to fare, 
 
 To byen ther a portion of ware : 
 
 For which he hath to Paris sent anon 
 A messager, and praied hath Dan John 12988 
 
 That he shuld come to Seint Denis, and pleie 
 With him, and with his wif, a day or tweie. 
 
 Or he to Brugges went, in alle wise. 
 
 This noble Monk, of which I you devise. 
 
 Hath of his Abbot, as him list, licence, 
 
 (Because he was a man of high prudence. 
 
 And eke an officer out for to ride. 
 
 To seen hir granges, and hir bernes wide) 
 
 And unto Seint Denis he cometh anon. 
 
 12997 
 
THE SIIIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 43 
 
 Who was so welcome as my lord Dan John, 12993 
 Our dere cousin, ful of curtesie ? 
 
 With him he brought a jubbe of Malvesie, 
 
 And eke another ful of fine Vernage, 
 
 And volatile, as ay was his usage : 
 
 And thus I let hem ete, and drinke, and pleye, 
 
 This marchant and this monk, a day or tweye. 
 
 The thridde day this marchant up ariseth, 
 
 And on his nedes sadly him aviseth: laooG 
 
 And up into his countour hous goth he. 
 
 To reken with himselven, wel may be. 
 
 Of thilke yere, how that it with him stood, 
 
 And how that he dispended had his good. 
 
 And if that he encresed were or non. 
 
 His bookes and his bagges many on 
 He layth beforn him on his counting bord. 
 
 Ful riche was his tresour and his hord; 13014 
 
 For which ful fast his countour dore he shet ; 
 
 And eke he n’olde no man shuld him let 
 Of his accountes, for the mene time : 
 
 And thus he sit, til it was passed prime, 
 
 Dan John was risen in the morwe also, 
 
 And in the gardin walketh to and fro. 
 
 And hath his thinges sayd ful curteisly. 
 
 This goode wif came walking prively 
 Into the gardin, ther he walketh soft, 
 
 13023 
 
44 
 
 THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 And him salueth, as she hath don oft : 130^4 
 
 A maiden child came in hire compagnie, 
 
 Which as hire lust she may governe and gie. 
 
 For yet under the yerde was the maide. 
 
 O dere cosin min Dan John, she saide, 
 
 What aileth you so rathe for to arise ? 
 
 Nece, quod he, it ought ynough suffise 
 Five houres for to slepe upon a night ; 
 
 But it were for an olde appalled wight, 13032 
 
 As ben thise wedded men, that lie and dare, 
 
 As in a fourme sitteth a wery hare. 
 
 Were al forstraught with houndes gret and smale. 
 But, dere nece, why be ye so pale ? 
 
 I trowe certes, that our goode man 
 Hath you laboured, sith this night began. 
 
 That you were nede to resten hastily. 
 
 And with that word he lough ful merily, i304O 
 
 And of his owen thought he wexe all red. 
 
 This faire wif gan for to shake hire hed, 
 
 And saied thus; Ye, God wote all, quod she. 
 
 Nay, cosill min, it stant not so with me. 
 
 For by that God, that yave me soule and lif, 
 
 In all the reame of Fraunce is ther no wif, 
 
 j. 
 
 That lasse lust hath to that sory play ; 
 
 For I may singe alas and wala wa 
 
 That I was borne, but to no wight (quod she) 13049 
 
THE SIIIPMAX?7ES TALE. 
 
 45 
 
 Dare I not tell how that it stant with me. i3050 
 Wherfore I thinke out of this lond to wende, 
 
 Or elles of myself to make an ende, 
 
 So ful am I of drede and eke of care. 
 
 This monk began upon this wif to stare. 
 
 And sayd, Alas! my nece, God forbede, 
 
 That ye for any sorwe, or any drede, 
 
 Fordo yourself; but telleth me your grefe, 
 Paraventure I may in your mischefe isoss 
 
 Conseile or helpe ; and therfore telleth me 
 All your annoy, for it shal ben secree. 
 
 For on my Portos here I make an oth, 
 
 That never in my lif, for lefe ne loth, 
 
 Ne shal I of no conseil you bewray. 
 
 The same agen to you, quod she, I say. 
 
 By God and by this Portos I you swere, 
 
 Though men me wolden all in peces tere, i 306 ’G 
 Ne shal I never, for to gon to helle, 
 
 Bewrey o word of thing that ye me tell, 
 
 Nought for no cosinage, ne alliance. 
 
 But veraily for love and affiance. 
 
 Thus ben they sworne, and hereupon they kiste, 
 And eche of hem told other what hem liste. 
 
 Cosin, quod she, if that I had a space, 
 
 As I have non, and namely in this place, 
 
 Than wold I tell a legend of my lif. 
 
 13075 
 
46 
 
 THE SIIIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 What I have sufFred sith I was a wif i 307 fi 
 
 With min husbond, al be he your cosin. 
 
 Nay, quod this monk, by God and Seint Martin, 
 He n’is no more cosin unto me, 
 
 Than is the leef that hangeth on the tree : 
 
 I clepe him so by Seint Denis of France 
 
 To han the more cause of acquaintance 
 
 Of you, which I have loved specially 
 
 Aboven alle women sikerly, 130 84 
 
 This swere I you on my professioun : 
 
 Telleth your grefe, lest that he come adoun, 
 
 And hasteth you, and goth away anon. 
 
 My dere love, quod she, o my Dan John, 
 
 Ful lefe were me this conseil for to hide. 
 
 But out it mote, 1 may no longer abide. 
 
 Myn husbond is to me the werste man. 
 
 That ever was sith that the world began ; 130,92 
 
 But sith I am a wif, it sit not me 
 To tellen no wight of our privetee. 
 
 Neither in bed, ne in non other place; 
 
 God shilde I shulde it tellen for his grace; 
 
 A Avif ne ghal not sayn of hire husbond 
 But all honour, as I can understond ; 
 
 Save unto you thus moch I tellen shal : 
 
 As helpe me God, he is nought worth at all, 
 
 In no degree, the value of a die. 
 
 13101 
 
THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 47 
 
 But yet me greveth most his nigardie : 13] 02 
 
 And wel ye wot, that women naturally 
 Desiren thinges sixe, as wel as I. 
 
 They wolden that hir husbondes shnlden be 
 Hardy, and wise, and riche, and therto free. 
 
 And buxomc to his wif, and fresh a-bedde. 
 
 But by that ilke Lord that for ns bledde. 
 
 For his honour myselven for to array, 
 
 A sonday next I muste nedes pay 13110 
 
 An hundred franks, or elles am I lorne. 
 
 Yet were me lever that I were unborne. 
 
 Than me were don a sclandre or vilanie. 
 
 And if min husbond eke might it espie, 
 
 I n’ere but lost ; and therefore I you prey 
 Lene me this summe, or elles mote I dey. 
 
 Dan John, I say, lene me this hundred frankes ; 
 Parde I wol not faille you my thankes, 131 is 
 
 If that you list to do that I you pray. 
 
 For at a certain day I wol you pay. 
 
 And do to you what plesance and service 
 That I may don, right as you list devise : 
 
 And but I do, God take on me vengeance. 
 
 As foul as ever had Genelon of France. 
 
 This gen til monk answerd in this manere ; 
 
 Now trewely, min owen lady dere, 
 
 I have (quod he) on you so grete a routhe, 13127 
 
48 
 
 THE SHIPMAN NES TALE. 
 
 That I you swere, and pliglite you my troutlie, 1312s 
 That whan your husbond is to Flandres fare, 
 
 I wol deliver you out of this care, 
 
 For I vvol bringen you an hundred frankes. 
 
 And with that word he caught hire by the flankes, 
 And hire embraced hard, and kiste hire oft. 
 
 Goth now your way, quod he, al stille and soft, 
 
 And let us dine as sone as that ye may. 
 
 For by my kalender it is prime of day : 13136 ‘ 
 
 Goth now, and beth as trewe as I shal be. 
 
 Now elles God forbede, sire, quod she ; 
 
 And forth she goth, as joly as a pie, 
 
 And bad the cokes that they shuld hem hie. 
 
 So that men mighten dine, and that anon. 
 
 Up to hire husbond is this wif ygon. 
 
 And knocketh at his countour boldely. 
 
 Qui cst la ? quod he. Peter, it am I, 1314 4 
 
 Quod she. What, sire, how longe wol ye fast? 
 
 How longe time wol ye reken and cast 
 
 Your summes, and your bookes, and your thinges ? 
 
 The devil have part of all swiche rekeninges. 
 
 Ye han ynough parde of Goddes sonde. 
 
 Come doun to-day, and let your bagges stonde. 
 
 Ne be ye not ashamed, that Dan John 
 Shal fasting all this day elenge gon? 
 
 What? let us here a masse, and go we dine. 13153 
 
THE SlilPMANNES TALE. 
 
 49 
 
 Wif, quod this man, litel canst thou divine 13154 
 The curious besinesse that we have : 
 
 For of us chapmen, all so God me save, 
 
 And by that lord that cleped is Seint Ive, 
 
 Scarsly amonges twenty, ten shul thrive 
 Continuelly, lasting unto oure age. 
 
 We moun wel maken chere and good visage, 
 
 And driven forth the world as it may be. 
 
 And kepen oure estat in privitee, 131 62 
 
 Til we be ded, or elles that we play 
 A pilgrimage, or gon out of the way. 
 
 And therfore have I gret necessitee 
 Upon this queinte world to avisen me. 
 
 For evermore mote we stond in drede 
 Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhede. 
 
 To Flandres wol I go to-morwe at day, 
 
 And come agein as sone as ever I may : 13170 
 
 For which, my dere wif, I thee beseke 
 As be to every wight buxom and meke, 
 
 And for to kepe our good be curious, 
 
 And honestly governe wel our hous. 
 
 Thou hast ynough, in every maner wise. 
 
 That to a thrifty houshold may suffice. 
 
 Thee lacketh non array, ne no vitaille ; 
 
 Of silver in thy purse shalt thou not faille. 13178 
 And with that word his countour dore he shette. 
 
 VOL. Ill, 
 
 E 
 
50 
 
 THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 And doun he goth ; no lenger wold he lette ; 
 And hastily a masse was ther saide, 
 
 And spedily the tables were ylaide, 
 
 And to the diner faste they hem spedde, 
 
 And richely this monk the chapman fedde. 
 And after diner Dan John sobrely 
 This chapman toke apart, and prively 
 He said him thus ; Cosin, it stondeth so. 
 
 That, wel I see, to Brugges ye wol go, 
 
 God and Seint Austin spede you and gide. 
 
 I pray you, cosin, wisely that ye ride; 
 Governeth you also of your diete 
 Attemprely, and namely in this hete. 
 
 Betwix us two nedeth no strange fare ; 
 Farewel, cosin, God shilde you fro care. 
 
 If any thing ther be by day or night. 
 
 If it lie in my power and my might. 
 
 That ye me wol command in any wise. 
 
 It shal be don, right as ye wol devise. 
 
 But o thing or ye go, if it may be, 
 
 1 wolde prayen you for to lene me 
 An hundred frankes for a weke or tweye. 
 
 For certain bestes that I muste beye. 
 
 To storen with a place that is oures : 
 
 (God helpe me so, I wold that it were youres) 
 1 shal not faille surely of my day. 
 
 13180 
 
 13188 
 
 131 . 96 ' 
 
 13205 
 
THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 51 
 
 Not for a thousand frankes, a mile way. 1320a 
 
 But let this thing be secree, I you preye ; 
 
 For yet to-night thise bestes mote I beye. 
 
 And fare now wel, min owen cosin dere, 
 
 Grand mercy of your cost and of your chere. 
 
 This noble marchant gentilly anon 
 Answerd and said, O cosin min Dan John, 
 
 Now sikerly this is a smal requeste : 
 
 My gold is youres, whan that it you leste, 13214 
 And not only my gold, but my chaffare : 
 
 Take what you lest, God shilde that ye spare. 
 
 But o thing is, ye know it wel ynough 
 Of chapmen, that hir money is hir plough. 
 
 We moun creancen while we han a name. 
 
 But goodies for to ben it is no game. 
 
 Pay it agen, whan it lith in your ese ; 
 
 After my might ful fayn wold I you plese. 13222 
 Thise hundred frankes fet he forth anon. 
 
 And prively he toke hem to Dan John ; 
 
 No wight in al this world wist of this lone. 
 
 Saving this marchant, and Dan John alone. 
 
 They drinke, and speke, and rome a while and pleye. 
 Til that Dan John rideth to his abbey e. 
 
 The morwe came, and forth this marchant rideth 
 To Flandres ward, his prentis wel him gideth, 
 
 Til he came in to Brugges merily. 13231 
 
52 
 
 THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 Now goth this marchant faste and besily 13232 
 About his node, and bieth, and creanceth ; 
 
 He neither playeth at the dis, ne danceth; 
 
 But as a marchant, shortly for to tell, 
 
 He ledeth his lif, and ther I let him dwell. 
 
 The sonday next the marchant was agon, 
 
 To Seint Denis yeomen is Dan John, 
 
 With croune and berde all fresh and newe yshave. 
 In all the hous ther n’as so litel a knave, i 3240 
 Ne no wight elles, that he n’as ful fain. 
 
 For that my lord Dan John was come again. 
 
 And shortly to the point right for to gon. 
 
 This faire wif accordeth with Dan John, 
 
 That for thise hundred frankes he shuld all night 
 Haven hire in his armes bolt upright; 
 
 And this accord parformed was in dede. 
 
 In mirth all night a besy lif they lede 13248 
 
 Til it was day, that Dan John yede his way. 
 
 And bad the meinie farewel, have good day. 
 
 For non of hem, ne no wight in the toun. 
 
 Hath of Dan John right non suspectioun ; 
 
 And forth he rideth home to his abbey, 
 
 Or wher him liste, no more of him I sey. 
 
 This marchant, whan that ended was the faire. 
 
 To Seint Denis he gan for to repaire. 
 
 And with his wif he maketh feste and chere, 13257 
 
THE SHTPMANNES TALE. 
 
 53 
 
 And telleth hire that chatFare is so dere, 13258 
 That nedes muste he make a chevisance, 
 
 For he was bonde in a recognisance, 
 
 To payen twenty thousand sheldes anon. 
 
 For which this marchant is to Paris gon 
 To borwe of certain frendes that he hadde 
 A certain frankes, and som with him he ladde. 
 
 And whan that he was come in to the toun, 
 
 For gret chiertee and gret affectioun ]326ff 
 
 Unto Dan John he goth him first to pleye ; 
 
 Not for to axe or borwe of him moneye, 
 
 But for to wete and seen of his welfare. 
 
 And for to tellen him of his chaffare. 
 
 As frendes don, whan they ben mette in fere. 
 
 Dan John him maketh feste and mery chere; 
 
 And he him toide agen ful specially. 
 
 How he had wel ybought and graciously 13274 
 (Thanked be God) all hole his marchandise ; 
 
 Save that he must in alle manere wise 
 Maken a chevisance, as for his beste : 
 
 And than he shulde ben in joye and reste, 
 
 Dan John answered, Certes I am fain. 
 
 That ye in hele be comen home again ; 
 
 And if that I were riche, as have I blisse. 
 
 Of twenty thousand sheldes shuld ye not misse. 
 
 For ye so kindely this other day 13283 
 
54 
 
 THE SIIIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 Lente me gold, and as I can and may I3-2B4 
 
 1 thanke you, by God and by Seint Jame. 
 
 But natheles I toke unto our Dame, 
 
 Your wife at home, the same gold again 
 Upon your benche, she wote it wel certain. 
 
 By certain tokenes that I can hire tell. 
 
 Now by your leve, I may no longer dwell; 
 
 Our abbot wol out of this toun anon, 
 
 And in his compagnie I muste gon. 13292 
 
 Grete wel our dame, min owen nece swete. 
 
 And farewel, dere cosin, til we mete. 
 
 This marchant which that was ful ware and wise, 
 Creanced hath, and paide eke in Paris 
 To certain Lumbardes redy in hir bond 
 The summe of gold, and gate of hem his bond. 
 
 And home he goth, mery as a popingay. 
 
 For wel he knew he stood in swiche array, i 33 oa 
 That nedes muste he winne in that viage 
 A thousand frankes, above all his costage. 
 
 His wif ful redy mette him at the gate. 
 
 As she was wont of old usage algate : 
 
 And all that night in mirthe they ben sette. 
 
 For he was riche, and clerely out of dette. 
 
 Whan it was day, this marchant gan enbrace 
 His wif all newe, and kiste hire in hire face. 
 
 And up he goth, and maketh it ful tough. 13309 
 
THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 No more, quod she, by God ye have ynough ; 
 And wantonly agen with him she plaide, 
 
 Til at the last this marchant to hire saide. 
 
 By God, quod he, I am a litel wrothe 
 With you, my wif, although it be me lothe : 
 And wote ye why ? by God, as that I gesse, 
 That ye han made a manere strangenesse 
 Betwixenme and my cosin Dan John. 
 
 Ye shuld have warned me, or I had gon. 
 
 That he you had an hundred frankes paide 
 By redy token : and held him evil apaide, 
 For that I to him spake of chevisance : 
 
 (Me semed so as by his contenance) 
 
 But natheles by God our heven king, 
 
 I thoughte not to axe of him no thing. 
 
 I pray thee, wif, ne do thou no more so. 
 
 Tell me alway, er that I fro thee go. 
 
 If any dettour hath in min absence 
 Ypaide thee, lest thurgh thy negligence 
 I might him axe a thing that he hath paide. 
 
 This wif was not aferde ne affraide, 
 
 But boldely she saide, and that anon ; 
 
 Mary I defie that false monk Dan John, 
 
 I kepe not of his tokenes never a del : 
 
 He toke me certain gold, I wote it wel. 
 
 What ? evil thedome on his monkes snoute ; 
 
 13310 
 
 1331S 
 
 13326 ' 
 
 13335 
 
5f3 
 
 THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 
 
 For, God it wote, I wend withouten doute, 13336 
 That he had yeve it me, because of you. 
 
 To don therwith min honour and my prow. 
 
 For cosinage, and eke for belle chere 
 That he hath had ful often times here. 
 
 But sith I see I stonde in swiche disjoint, 
 
 I wol answere you shortly to the point. 
 
 Ye have mo slakke dettours than am I : 
 
 For I wol pay you wel and redily 13344 
 
 Fro day to day, and if so be I faille, 
 
 I am your wif, score it upon my taile, 
 
 And 1 shal pay as sone as ever I may. 
 
 For by my trouth, I have on min array, 
 
 And not in waste, bestowed it every del. 
 
 And for I have bestowed it so wel 
 For your honour, for Goddes sake I say. 
 
 As beth not wrothe, but let us laugh and play .13352 
 Ye shal my joly body han to wedde ; 
 
 By God 1 n’ill not pay you but a-bedde : 
 
 Foryeve it me, min owen spouse dere; 
 
 Turne hitherward and maketh better chere. 
 
 This marchant saw ther was no remedy : 
 
 And for to chide, it n’ere but a foly, 
 
 Sith that the thing may not amended be. 
 
 Now, wif, he said, and I foryeve it thee ; 
 
 But by thy lif ne be no more so large; i336i 
 
THE PRIORESSES PROLOGUE. 
 
 57 
 
 Kepe bet ray good, this yeve I thee in charge. 13362 
 Thus endeth now my tale, and God us sende 
 Taling ynough, unto our lives ende. 
 
 THE PRIORESSES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Wel said by corpus Domini, quod our Hoste, 
 Now longe mote thou sailen by the coste, 
 
 Thou gentil Maister, gentil Marinere 13367 
 
 God give the monke a thousand last quad yere. 
 
 A ha, felawes, beth ware of swiche a jape. 
 
 The monke put in the mannes hode an ape, 
 
 And in his wifes eke, by Seint Austin. 
 
 Draweth no monkes more into your in. 
 
 But now passe over, and let us seke aboute, 
 
 Who shal now tellen first of all this route 
 Another tale : and with that word he said, 13375 
 As curteisly as it had ben a maid, 
 
 My lady Prioresse, by your leve. 
 
 So that I wist I shuld you not agreve, 
 
 I wolde demen, that ye tellen shold 
 A tale next, if so were that ye wold. 
 
 Now wol ye voiichesauf, my lady dere ? 1338 1 
 
 Gladly, quod she, and saide as ye shul here. 
 
58 
 
 THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 O Lord our lord, thy name how merveillous issss 
 Is in this large world ysprad ! (quod she) 
 
 For not al only thy laude precious 
 PaTfourmed is by men of dignitee, 
 
 But by the mouth of children thy bountee 
 Parfourmed is, for on the brest souking mass 
 
 Somtime shewen they thin herying. 
 
 Wherfore in laude, as I can best and may. 
 
 Of thee and of the white lily flour, 
 
 Which that thee bare, and is a maide alway. 
 
 To tell a storie I wol do my labour ; 
 
 Not that I may encresen hire honour. 
 
 For she hireselven is honour and rote 13395 
 
 Of bountee, next hire sone, and soules bote . 
 
 O mother maide, o maide and mother fre, 
 
 0 bushe unbrent, brenning in Moyses sight. 
 
 That ravishedest doun fro the deitee, 
 
 Thurgh thin humblesse, the gost that in thee alight ; 
 Of whos vertue, whan he thin herte light. 
 
 Conceived was the fathers sapience : 
 
 Helpe me to tell it in thy reverence. 
 
 13403 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 59 
 
 Lady, thy bountee, thy magnificence, 13404 
 
 Thy vertue and thy gret humilitee, 
 
 Ther may no tonge expresse in no science : 
 
 For somtime, lady, or men pray to thee. 
 
 Thou gost beforn of thy benignitee, 
 
 And getest us the light of thy prayere. 
 
 To giden us unto thy sone so dere. 
 
 My conning is so weke, o blisful quene, 13411 
 For to declare thy grete worthinesse, 
 
 That I ne may the weighte not sustene ; 
 
 But as a child of twelf moneth old or lesse, 
 
 That can unnethes any word expresse. 
 
 Right so fare I, and therfore I you pray, 
 
 Gideth my song, that I shal of you say. 
 
 Ther was in Asie, in a gret citee, 134 is 
 
 Amonges Cristen folk a Jewerie, 
 
 Sustened by a lord of that contree. 
 
 For foule usure, and lucre of vilanie, 
 
 Hateful to Crist, and to his compagnie : 
 
 And thurgh the strete men mighten ride and wende. 
 For it was free, and open at eyther ende. 
 
 A litel scole of Cristen folk ther stood 
 Doun at the ferther ende, in which ther were 13423 
 
60 
 
 THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 Children an hepe comen of Cristen blood, 13427 
 That lerned in that scole yere by yere, 
 
 Swiche manere doctrine as men used there : 
 
 This is to say, to singen and to rede, 
 
 As smale children don in hir childhede. 
 
 Among thise children was a widewes sone, 
 
 A litel clergion, sevene yere of age, 
 
 That day by day to scole was his wone, 13431 
 
 And eke also, wheras he sey the image 
 Of Cristes moder, had he in usage. 
 
 As him was taught, to knele adoun, and say 
 Ave Marie, as he goth by the way. 
 
 Thus hath this widewe hire litel sone ytaught 
 Our blisful Lady, Cristes moder dere. 
 
 To worship ay, and he forgate it naught : 13441 
 
 For sely childe wol alway sone lere. 
 
 But ay, whan I remembre on this matere, 
 
 Seint Nicholas stant ever in my presence, 
 
 For he so yong to Crist did reverence. 
 
 This litel childe his litel book lerning, 
 
 As he sate in the scole at his primere. 
 
 He Alma redemptoris herde sing. 
 
 As children lered hir antiphonere: 
 
 13449 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 61 
 
 And as he dorst, he drow him nere and nere, 13450 
 And herkened ay the wordes and the note, 
 
 Til he the firste vers coude al by rote. 
 
 Nought wist he what this Latin was to say, 
 
 For he so yonge and tendre was of age ; 
 
 But on day his felaw gan he pray 
 To expounden him this song in his langage. 
 
 Or telle him why this song was in usage : 13457 
 
 This prayde he him to construe and declare. 
 
 Fill often time upon his knees bare. 
 
 His felaw, which that elder was than he, 
 
 Answerd him thus ; This song, I have herd say, 
 
 Was maked of our blisful Lady fre. 
 
 Hire to salue, and eke hire for to prey 
 
 To ben our help and socour whan we dey. 13464 
 
 I can no more expound in this matere : 
 
 I lerne song, I can but smal grammere. 
 
 And is this sono- maked in reverence 
 Of Cristes moder? said this innocent; 
 
 Now certes I wol don my diligence 
 To conne it all, or Cristemasse be went. 
 
 Though that I for my primer shal be shent. 
 
 And shal be beten thries in an houre, 
 
 I wol it conne, our Ladie for to honoure. 13473 
 
62 
 
 THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 His felaw taught him homeward prively 
 Fro day to day, til he coude it by rote. 
 
 And than he song it wel and boldely 
 Fro word to word according with the note : 
 Twies a day it passed thurgh his throte, 
 
 To scoleward and homeward whan he wente : 
 On Cristes inoder set was his entente. 
 
 As I have said, thurgout the Jewerie 
 This litel child as he came to and fro, 
 
 Ful merily than wold he sing and crie, 
 
 O Alma redemptoris, ever mo : 
 
 The swetenesse hath his herte persed so 
 Of Cristes moder, that to hire to pray 
 He cannot stint of singing by the way. 
 
 Our firste fo, the serpent Sathanas, 
 
 That hath in Jewes herte his waspes nest. 
 
 Up swale and said, O Ebraike peple, alas ! 
 
 Is this to you a thing that is honest. 
 
 That swiche a boy shal walken as him leste 
 In your despit, and sing of swiche sentence, 
 Which is again our lawes reverence ? 
 
 From thennesforth the Jewes han conspired 
 This innocent out of this world to chace : 
 
 An homicide therto han they hired. 
 
 13474 
 
 13481 
 
 13488 
 
 13497 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 63 
 
 That in an aleye had a privee place, 13498 
 
 And as the child gan forthby for to pace, 
 
 This cursed Jew him hent, and held him fast, 
 
 And cut his throte, and in a pit him cast. 
 
 I say that in a wardrope they him threwe, 
 
 Wher as thise Jewes purgen hir entraille. 
 
 O cursed folk, of Herodes alle newe. 
 
 What may your evil entente you availle? 1350.5 
 Mordre wol out, certein it wol not faille, 
 
 And namely ther the honour of God shal sprede : 
 The blood out crieth on your cursed dede. 
 
 O martyr souded in virginitee, 
 
 Now maist thou singe, and folwen ever in on 
 The white lamb celestial, quod she. 
 
 Of which the gret Evangelist Seint John 13512 
 In Pathmos wrote, which sayth that they that gon 
 Beforn this lamb, and singe a song al newe. 
 
 That never fleshly woman they ne knewe. 
 
 This poure widewe awaiteth al that night 
 After hire litel childe, and he came nought. 
 
 For which as sone as it was dayes light. 
 
 With face pale of drede and besy thought, 
 
 She hath at scole and elles wher him sought, 13520 
 
64 
 
 THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 
 Til finally she gan so fer aspie, 
 
 That he last seen was in the Jewerie. 
 
 With modres pitee in hire brest enclosed 
 She goth, as she were half out of hire minde, 
 To every place, wher she hath supposed 
 By likelihed hire litel child to finde : 
 
 And ever on Cristes moder meke and kinde 
 She cried, and at the laste thus she wrought, 
 Among the cursed Jewes she him sought. 
 
 She freyneth, and she praieth pitously 
 To every Jew that dwelled in thilke place, 
 
 To telle hire, if hire child went ought forth by 
 They sayden. Nay ; but Jesu of his grace 
 Yave in hire thought, within a litel space. 
 That in that place after hire sone she cride, 
 Ther he was casten in a pit beside. 
 
 O grete God, that parformest thy laude 
 By mouth of innocentes, lo here thy might ! 
 This gemme of chastitee, this emeraude. 
 
 And eke of martirdome the rubie bright, 
 
 Ther he with throte ycorven lay upright. 
 
 He Alma redemptoris gan to singe 
 So loude, that all the place gan to ringe. 
 
 13521 
 
 13528 
 
 13535 
 
 13543 
 
THE ERIOUESSES TALE. 
 
 65 
 
 The Cristen folk, that thurgh the strete vvente, 
 In comen, for to wondre upon this thing : 
 
 And hastifly they for the provost sente. 
 
 He came anon withouten tarying, 
 
 And herieth Crist, that is of heven king, 
 
 And eke his moder, honour of mankind, 
 
 And after that the Jewes let he binde. 
 
 This child with pitous lamentation 
 Was taken up, singing his song alway : 
 
 And with honour and gret procession. 
 
 They carien him unto the next abbey. 
 
 His moder swouning by the here lay ; 
 Unnethes might the peple that was there 
 This newe Rachel bringen fro his here. 
 
 AVith turment, and with shameful beth eche 
 This provost doth thise Jewes for to sterve. 
 That of this morder wiste, and that anon ; 
 
 He n’olde no swiche cursednesse observe : 
 
 Evil shal he have, that evil wol deserve, 
 Therfore with wilde hors he did hem drawe. 
 And after that he heng hem by the lawe. 
 
 Upon his here ay lith this innocent 
 Beforn the auter while the masse last ; 
 
 VOL nr. F 
 
 13544 
 
 1355 ? 
 
 on 
 
 13559 
 
 13566 
 
66 
 
 THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 And after that, the abbot with his covent 13667 
 Han spedde hem for to berie him fill fast : 
 
 And whan they holy water on him cast, 
 
 Yet spake this child, whan spreint was the holy water,' 
 And sang, o alma redemptoris mater. 
 
 This abbot, which that was an holy man, 
 
 As monkes ben, or elles ought to be. 
 
 This yonge child to conjure he began, 13574 
 
 And said ; O dere child, I halse thee 
 In vertue of the holy Trinitee, 
 
 Tell me what is thy cause for to sing, 
 
 Sith that thy throte is cut to my seming. 
 
 My throte is cut unto my nekke bon, 
 
 Saide this child, and as by way of kinde 
 I shuld have deyd, ye longe time agon : 13581 
 
 But Jesu Crist, as ye in bookes finde, 
 
 Wol that his glory last and be in minde, 
 
 And for the worship of his moder dere, 
 
 Y et may I sing o alma loude and clere^ 
 
 This Welle of mercie, Cristes moder swete, 
 
 I loved alway, as after my conning : 
 
 And whan that I my lif shulde forlete, 
 
 To me she came, and bad me for to sing 13589 
 
THE PRIORESSES TALE. 
 
 67 
 
 This antem veraily in my dying, 13590 
 
 As ye han herde, and, whan that I had songe, 
 
 Me thought she laid a grain upon my tonge. 
 
 Wherfore I sing, and sing I mote certain 
 In honour of that blisful maiden free, 
 
 Til fro my tonge of taken is the grain. 
 
 And after that thus saide she to me ; 
 
 My litel child, than wol I fetchen thee, 13597 
 
 Whan that the grain is fro thy tong ytake : 
 
 Be not agaste, 1 wol thee not forsake. 
 
 This holy monk, this abbot him mene I, 
 
 His tonge out caught, and toke away the grain ; 
 And he yave up the gost ful softely. 
 
 And whan this abbot had this wonder sein. 
 
 His sake teres trilled adoun as reyne : is604 
 
 And groff he fell al platte upon the ground. 
 
 And still he lay, as he had ben ybound. 
 
 The covent lay eke upon the pavement 
 Weping and herying Cristes moder dere. 
 
 And after that they risen, and forth ben went, 
 
 And toke away this martir fro his here. 
 
 And in a tombe of marble stones clere 
 Enclosen they his litel body swete : 
 
 Ther he is now, God lene us for to mete. i36i3 
 
^8 
 
 PROLOGUE TO SIRE TIIOPAS. 
 
 O yonge Hew of Lincoln, slain also i36i4 
 
 With cursed Jewes, as it is notable, 
 
 For it n’is but a litel while ago, 
 
 Pray eke for us, we sinful folk unstable. 
 
 That of his mercy God so merciable 
 On us his grete mercie multiplie. 
 
 For reverence of his moder Marie. i3()20 
 
 PROLOGUE TO SIRE THOPAS. 
 
 Whan said was this miracle, every man 
 As sober was, that wonder was to see, 
 
 'I'il that our hoste to japen he began, 
 
 And than at erst he loked upon me, 
 
 And saide thus ! What man art thou? quod he. 
 'I'hou lokest, as thou woldest finde an hare, 13626' 
 For ever upon the ground I see thee stare. 
 
 Approche nere, and loke up merily. 
 
 Now ware you, sires, and let this man have place. 
 He in the waste is shapen as wel as I : 
 
 This were a popet in an arme to enbrace 
 For any woman, snial and faire of face. 
 
 He semeth elvish by his contenance, 
 
 For unto no wight doth he daliance. 
 
 13634 
 
THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 
 
 69 
 
 Say now somwhat, sin other folk ban saide ; 
 Tell us a tale of mirthe and that anon, 
 
 Hoste, quod I, ne be not evil apaide, 
 
 For other tale certes can I non. 
 
 But of a rime I lerned yore agon. 
 
 Ye, that is good, quod he, we shullen here 
 Som deintee thing, me thinketh by thy chere. 
 
 THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 
 
 Listeneth, lordinges, in good entent, 
 
 And I wol tel you verament 
 Of mirthe and of solas, 
 
 A1 of a knight was faire and gent 
 In bataille and in turnament. 
 
 His name was sire Thopas. 
 
 Yborne he was in fer contree, 
 
 In Flandres, al beyonde the see, 
 
 At Popering in the place, 
 
 His father was a man ful free. 
 
 And lord he was of that contree. 
 
 As it was Goddes grace. 
 
 Sire Thopas was a doughty swain. 
 
 White was his face as paindemaine 
 
 13635 
 
 13641 
 
 13647 
 
 13655 
 
70 
 
 THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 
 
 His lippes red as rose. 
 
 His rudde is like scarlet in grain, 
 And I you tell in good certain 
 He had a semely nose. 
 
 His here, his berde, was like safroun, 
 That to his girdle raught adoun. 
 
 His shoon of cordewane ; 
 
 Of Brugges were his hosen broun ; 
 His robe was of chekelatoun, 
 
 That coste many a jane. 
 
 He coude hunt at the wilde dere. 
 And ride on banking for the rivere 
 With grey goshauk on honde : 
 Therto he was a good archere. 
 
 Of wrastling was ther non his pere, 
 Ther ony ram shuld stonde. 
 
 Ful many a maide bright in hour 
 They mourned for him par amour, 
 Whan hem were bet to slepe; 
 
 But he was chaste and no lechour. 
 And swete as is the bramble flour. 
 That bereth the red hepe. 
 
 1365e 
 
 13663 
 
 13670 
 
 13677 
 
THE RIME or SIRE THOPAS. 
 
 And so it fell upon a day, 
 
 Forsoth, as I you tellen may, 
 
 Sire Thopas wold out ride ; 
 
 He worth upon his stede gray. 
 
 And in his bond a launcegay, 
 
 A long swerd by his side. 
 
 He priketh thurgh a faire forest, 
 Therin is many a wilde best. 
 
 Ye bothe buck and hare, 
 
 And as he priked North and Est, 
 
 I telle it you, him had almeste 
 Betidde a sory care. 
 
 Ther springen herbes grete and smale, 
 The licoris and the setewale, 
 
 And many a clone gilofre, 
 
 And noternuge to put in ale. 
 
 Whether it be moist or stale, 
 
 Or for to lain in cofre. 
 
 The briddes singen, it is no nay. 
 
 The sperhauk and the popingay, 
 
 That joye it was to here, 
 
 The throstel cok made eke his lay, 
 
 / 1 
 
 13678 
 
 13685 
 
 13692 
 
 13699 
 
THE RIME OF SIRE TIIOPAS. 
 
 
 The wode dove upon the spray 
 He sang ful loude and clere. 
 
 Sire Thopas tell in love-longing 
 A1 whan he herd the throstel sing. 
 
 And priked as he were wood ; 
 
 His faire stede in his priking 
 So swatte, that men might him wring, 
 His sides were al blood. 
 
 Sire Thopas eke so wery was 
 For priking on the softe gras, 
 
 So fiers was his corage, 
 
 That doun he laid him in that place 
 To maken his stede som solace. 
 
 And yaf him good forage. 
 
 A, Seinte Mary, benedicite, 
 
 What aileth this love at me 
 To binde me so sore ? 
 
 Me dremed all this night parde. 
 
 An elf queue shal my lemman be, 
 
 And slepe under my gore. 
 
 An elf queue wol 1 love ywis. 
 
 For in this world no woman is 
 
 13700 
 
 13707 
 
 13713 
 
 13721 
 
THE RIME Of SIRE TIiOPAS. 
 
 73 
 
 Worthy to be my make H in toun, — 
 All other women I forsake, 
 
 And to an elf quene I me take 
 By dale and eke by doun. 
 
 Into his sadel he clombe anon, 
 
 And priked over stile and ston 
 An elf quene for to espie. 
 
 Til he so long had ridden and gone. 
 That he fond in a privee wone 
 The contree of Faerie. 
 
 Wherin he soughte North and South, 
 And oft he spied with his mouth 
 In many a forest wiide, 
 
 For in that contree n’as ther non, 
 
 That to him dorst ride or gon. 
 
 Neither wif ne child e. 
 
 Til that ther came a gret geaunt, 
 
 His name was Sire Oliphaunt, 
 
 A perilous man of dede. 
 
 He sayde. Child, by Termagaunt, 
 
 But if thou prike out of myn haunt. 
 Anon I slee thy stede \\ with mace — 
 Here is the Quene of Faerie, 
 
 13722 
 
 13729 
 
 13736 
 
 13744 
 
74 
 
 THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 
 
 With harpe, and pipe, and simphonie, 
 Dwelling in this place. 
 
 The child sayd, A1 so mote I the, 
 
 To morwe wol I meten thee, 
 
 Whan I have min armoure. 
 
 And yet 1 hope par ma fay, 
 
 That thou shalt with this launcegay 
 Abien it ful soure ; || thy mawe 
 Shal I perce, if I may. 
 
 Or it be fully prime of the day. 
 
 For here thou shalt be slawe. 
 
 Sire Thopas drow abak ful fast ; 
 
 This geaunt at him stones cast 
 Out of a fel staffe sling : 
 
 But faire escaped child Thopas, 
 
 And all it was thurgh Goddes grace. 
 And thurgh his faire bering. 
 
 Yet listeneth, lordings, to my tale, 
 Merier than the nightingale. 
 
 For now I wol you roune. 
 
 How Sire Thopas with sides smale, 
 Priking over hill and dale, 
 
 Is comen agein to toune. 
 
 13745 
 
 13752 
 
 13759 
 
 137P7 
 
THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 
 
 75 
 
 His mery men commandeth he, 
 
 To maken him bothe game and gle. 
 For nedes must he fighte, 
 
 With a geaunt with hedes three, 
 For paramour and jolitee 
 
 Of on that shone ful brighte, 
 
 Do come, he sayd, my minestrales 
 And gestours for to tellen tales 
 Anon in min arming. 
 
 Of romaunces that ben reales, 
 
 Of popes and of cardinales, 
 
 And eke of love-longing. 
 
 They fet him first the swete win, 
 And mede eke in a maselin. 
 
 And real spicerie. 
 
 Of ginger-bred that was ful fin. 
 And licoris and eke comin. 
 
 With suger that is trie. 
 
 He didde next his white lere 
 Of cloth of lake fin and clere 
 A breche and eke a sherte, 
 
 And next his sherte and haketon. 
 
 13768 
 
 1377 -^ 
 
 13782 
 
 13789 
 
76 
 
 THE RIME OF SIRE THOPAS. 
 
 And over that an habergeon, 
 
 For percing of his herte, 
 
 And over that a fin hauberk, 
 
 Was all ywrought of Jewes werk, 
 Ful strong it was of plate. 
 
 And over that his cote-armoure, 
 
 As white as is the lily floure. 
 
 In which he wold debate. 
 
 His sheld was all of gold so red. 
 And therin was a bores hed, 
 
 A charboucle beside ; 
 
 And ther he swoie on ale and bred 
 How that the geaunt shuld be ded, 
 Betide what so betide. 
 
 His jambeux were of cuirbouly, 
 
 His swerdes sheth of ivory. 
 
 His helme of latoun bright, 
 
 Flis sadel was of rewel bone, 
 
 His bridel as the sonne shone, 
 
 Or as the mone light. 
 
 13790 
 
 13707 
 
 13803 
 
 His spere was of fin cypres. 
 
 That bodeth werre, and nothing pees, 
 
 13811 
 
THE RIME OF SIRE TIIOPAS, 
 
 The lied ful sharpe yground. 
 
 His stede was all dapple gray, 
 
 It goth an aumble in the way 
 
 Ful softely and round |1 in londe — 
 Lo, Lordes min, here is a fit ; * 
 
 If ye wol ony more of it, 
 
 To telle it wol I fond. 
 
 Now hold your mouth powr charite, 
 Bothe knight and lady fre. 
 
 And herkeneth to my spell, 
 
 Of bataille and of chevalrie, 
 
 Of ladies love and druerie. 
 
 Anon I wol you tell. 
 
 Men speken of romaunces of pris. 
 
 Of Hornchild, and of Ipotis, 
 
 Of Bevis, and Sire Guy, 
 
 Of Sire Libeux, and Pleindamour, 
 But Sire Thopas, he bereth the flour 
 Of real chevalrie. 
 
 His goode stede he al bestrode, 
 
 And forth upon his way he glode, 
 As sparcle out of bronde ; 
 
 Upon his crest he bare a tour. 
 
78 
 
 PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS. 
 
 And therin stiked a lily flour, 13835 
 
 God shilde his corps fro shonde. 
 
 And for he was a knight auntrous, 
 
 He n’olde slepen in non hous, 
 
 But liggen in his hood, 
 
 His brighte helm was his wanger. 
 
 And by him baited his destrer 
 
 Of herbes fin and good. 13842 
 
 Himself drank water of the well, 
 
 And did the knight Sire Percivell 
 So worthy under wede, 
 
 Til on a day 
 
 PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS. 
 
 No more of this for Goddes dignitee, 13847 
 
 Quod oiire hoste, for thou makest me 
 So wery of thy veray lewednesse, 
 
 That al so wdsly God my soule blesse, 
 
 Min eres aken of thy drcifty speche. 
 
 Now' swiche a rime the devil I beteche ; 
 
 This may w’el be rime dogerel, quod he. 
 
 Why so? quod I, why wolt thou letteu me 
 More of my tale, than an another man, 
 
 13855 
 
PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS. 
 
 79 
 
 Sin that it is the beste rime I can ? 13856 
 
 By God, quod he, for plainly at o word. 
 
 Thy drafty riming is not worth a tord : 
 
 Thou dost nought elles but dispendest time. 
 
 Sire, at o word, thou shalt no lenger rime. 
 
 Let see wher thou canst tellen ought in geste, 
 
 Or tellen in prose somwhat at the leste, 
 
 In which ther be som mirthe or som doctrine. 
 
 Gladly, quod I, by Goddes swete pine 13864 
 I wol you tell a litel thing in prose, 
 
 That oughte liken you, as I suppose, 
 
 Or elles certes ye be to dangerous. 
 
 It is a moral tale vertuous, 
 
 Al be it told somtime in sondry wise 
 Of sondry folk, as I shal you devise. 
 
 As thus, ye wote that every Evangelist, 
 
 That telleth us the peine of Jesu Crist, 13872 
 
 Ne saith not alle thing as his felaw doth: 
 
 But natheles hir sentence is al soth. 
 
 And alle accorden as in hir sentence, 
 
 Al be ther in hir telling difference : 
 
 For som of hem say more, and som say lesse. 
 Whan they his pitous passion expresse ; 
 
 I mene of Mark and Mathew, Luke and John, 
 
 But douteles hir sentence is all on. 
 
 Therfore, lordinges all, I you beseche, isssi 
 
so 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 If that ye thiiike I vary in my spechc; 13882 
 
 As thus, though that I telle som del more 
 Of proverbes, than ye han herde before 
 Comprehended in this litel tretise here, 
 
 To enforce!! with the effect of my matere, 
 
 And though I not the same wordes say 
 
 As ye han herde, yet to you alle I pray 13888 
 
 Blameth me not, for, as in my sentence, 
 
 Shul ye nowher finden no difference 
 Fro the sentence of thilke tretise lite. 
 
 After the which this mery tale I write. 
 
 And therforc herkeneth what I shal say. 
 
 And let me tellen all my tale I pray. 13994 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 A YONGE man called Melibeus, mighty and riche, 
 begate upon his wif, that called was Prudence, a 
 doughter which that called was Sophie. 
 
 Upon a day befell, that he for his disport is went 
 into the feldes him to playe. His wif and eke his 
 doughter hath he laft within his lions, of which the 
 dores weren fast yshette. Foure of his olde foos 
 han it espied, and setten ladders to the walles of 
 his hous, and by the windowes ben entred, and 
 beten his wif, and wounded his doughter with five 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 81 
 
 mortal woundes, in five sondry places ; this is to 
 say, in hire feet, in hire hondes, in hire eres, in hire 
 nose, and in hire mouth ; and leften hire for dede, 
 and wenten away. 
 
 Whan Melibeus retorned was into his hous, and 
 sey al this meschief, he, like a mad man, rending 
 his clothes, gan to wepe and crie. 
 
 Prudence liis wif, as fer forth as she dorste be- 
 sought him of his weping for to stint; but not 
 forthy he gan to crie and wepen ever lenger the 
 more . 
 
 This noble wif Prudence remembred hire upon 
 the sentence of Ovide, in his book that cleped is 
 the Remedie of love, wheras he saith ; he is a fool 
 that distourbeth the moder to wepe, in the deth of 
 hire childe, til she have wept hire fille, as for a 
 certain time; and than shal a man don his dili- 
 gence with amiable wordes hire to reconforte and 
 preye hire of hire weping for to stinte. For which 
 resonthis noble wif Prudence sufired hire housbond 
 for to wepe and crie, as fora certain space ; and whan 
 she saw hire time, she sayde to him in this wise. 
 iVlas ! my lord, quod she, why make ye youreself for 
 to be like a fool ? Forsothe it apperteineth not to a 
 wise man, to maken swiche a sorwe. Youre 
 doughter, with the grace of God, shal warish and 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 G 
 
82 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 escape. And al were it so that she right now were 
 dede, ye ne ought not as for hire deth youreself to 
 destroye. Senek saith; the wise man shal not take 
 to gret discomfort for the deth of his children, but 
 certes he shulde suffren it in patience, as wel as he 
 abideth the deth of his owen propre persone. 
 
 This Melibeus answered anon and saide : what 
 man (quod he) shulde of his weping stinte, that 
 hath so gret a cause for to wepe? Jesu Crist, our 
 Lord, himself wepte for the deth of Lazarus his 
 frend. Prudence answered ; certes wel I wote, 
 attempre weping is nothing defended, to him that 
 sorweful is, among folk in sorwe, but it is rather 
 graunted him to wepe. The Apostle Poule unto 
 the Romaines writeth ; man shal rejoyce with hem 
 that maken joye, and wepen with swiche folk as we- 
 pen. But though attrempre weping be ygranted, out- 
 rageous weping certes is defended, Mesure of we- 
 ping shulde be considered, after the lore that techeth 
 us Senek, Whan that thy frend is dede (quod he) 
 let not thin eyen to moiste ben of teres, ne to 
 muche drie : although the teres comen to thin eyen, 
 let hem not falle. And whan thou hast forgon thy 
 frend, do diligence to get agein another frend : 
 and this is more wisdom than for to wepe for thy 
 frend, which that thou hast lorne, for therin is no 
 
 } 
 
THE TALE OF MELIEEUS. 
 
 83 
 
 bote. And therfore if ye governe you by sapience, 
 put away sorwe out of your lierte. Remembretb 
 you that Jesus Sirak sayth ; a man that is joyous 
 and glad in herte, it him conserveth florishing in 
 his age : but sothly a sorweful herte maketh his 
 bones drie. He saith eke thus, that sorwe in herte 
 sleeth fill many a man. Salomon sayth, that right 
 as moiithes in the shepes fleese anoien to the 
 clothes, and the smale wormes to the tree, right so 
 anoieth sorwe to the herte of man. Wherfore us 
 ought as w^el in the deth of oure children, as in the 
 the losse of oure goodes temporel, have patience. 
 
 Remembre you upon the patient Job, whan he 
 hadde lost his children and his temporel sub- 
 staunce, and in his body endured and received ful 
 many a grevous tribulation, yet sayde he thus : 
 Oure Lord hath yeve it to me, oure Lord hath be- 
 raft it me ; right as oure Lord hath wold, right so is 
 it don ; yblessed be the name of oure Lord. To 
 thise foresaide thino;es answered Melibeus unto his 
 wif Prudence ; all thy wordes (quod he) ben trewe, 
 and therto profitable, but trewely min herte is 
 troubled with this sorwe so grevously, that I n’ot 
 what to don. Let calle (quod Prudence) thyn 
 trewe frendes alle, and thy linage, which that ben 
 wise, and telleth to hem your cas, and herkeneth 
 
 / 
 
84 
 
 THE TALE OF MELllVEUS. 
 
 what they saye in conseilliiig*, and govorne yon 
 alter hir sentence. Salomon saith ; werke all thinges 
 by conseil, and thou shalt never repente. 
 
 Than, by conseil of his wif Prudence, this Meli- 
 bens let callen a gret congregation of folk, as sur- 
 giens, phisiciens, olde folk and yonge, and som of 
 his olde enemies reconciled (as by hir semblant) to 
 his love and to his grace : and therwithal ther comen 
 some of his neigheboures, that diden him reverence 
 more for drede than for love, as it happeth oft. 
 'I'her comen also ful many subtil flaterers, and wise 
 Advocats lerned in the lawe. 
 
 And whan thise folk togeder assembled weren, 
 ibis Melibeus in sorweful wise shewed hem his, cas, 
 and by the manere of his speche,' it seined that in 
 herte he bare a cruel ire, redy to don vengeaunce 
 upon his foos, and sodeinly desired that the werre 
 shuldc beo'inne, but natheles yet axed he his con- 
 seil upon this matere. A surgien, by licence and 
 assent of swiche as weren wise, up rose, and unto 
 Melibeus sayde, as ye moun here. 
 
 Sire, ((piod he) as to us surgiens apperteineth, 
 that we do to every wight the beste that we can, 
 wher as we ben withholden, and to our patient that 
 we do no damage : wherfore it happeth many time 
 and ofte, that whan twey men han everich wounded 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 S5 
 
 other, 0 same surgien heleth hem both, wherfore 
 unto our art it is not pertinent to norice werre, ne 
 parties to supporte. But certes, as to the warish- 
 ing of youre doughter, al be it so that perilously she 
 be wounded, we shuln do so ententif besinesse fro 
 day to night, that with the grace of God, she shal 
 be hole and sound, as sone as is possible. Almost 
 right in the same wise the phisiciens answerden, 
 save that they saiden a fewe wordes more : that 
 right as maladies ben cured by hir contraries, right 
 so shal man warishe werre. His neigheboures ful 
 of envie, his feined frendes that seined reconciled, 
 and his ^flaterers, maden semblant of weping, and 
 empeired and agregged muchel of this matere, in 
 preysing gretly Melibee of might, of power, of 
 richesse, and of frendes, despising the power of his 
 adversaries : and saiden outrely, that he anon shulde 
 wreken him on his foos, and beginnen werre. 
 
 Up rose than an Advocat that was wise, by leve 
 and by conseil of other that were wise, and sayde : 
 Lordinges, the nede for the which we ben assembled 
 in this place, is a ful hevie thing, and an heigh ma- 
 tere, because of the wrong and of the wikkednesse 
 that hath be don, and eke by reson of the grete 
 damages, that in time coming ben possible to fallen 
 for the same cause, and eke by reson of the gret 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 SG 
 
 richesse and power of the parties bothe, for the 
 which resoris, it were a ful gret peril to erren in this 
 matere, Wherfore, Melibeus, this is oure sentence ; 
 we conseille you, aboven alle thing, that right anon 
 tliou do thy diligence in keping of thy propre per- 
 sone, in swiche a wise that thou ne want non espie 
 ne watche, thy body for to save. And after that, 
 we conseille that in thin hous thou sette suffisant 
 garnison, so that they moun as wel thy body as thy 
 hous defende. But certes for to meeven werre, ne 
 sodenly for to do vengeaunce, we moun not deme in 
 so litel time that it were profitable. Wherfore we 
 axen leiser and space to have deliberation in this 
 cas to deme ; for the comune proverbe saith thus ; 
 He that sone demeth, sone shal repente. And eke 
 men sain, that thilke juge is wise, that sone under- 
 stondeth a matere, and jugeth by leiser. For al be 
 it so, that al tarying be anoiful, algates it is not to 
 repreve in yeving of jugement, ne in vengeance 
 taking, whan it is suffisant and resonable. And 
 that shewed our Lord Jesu Crist by ensample, for 
 whan that the woman that was taken in advoutrie^ 
 was brought in his presence to knowen what shuld 
 be don with hire persone, al be it that he wist wel 
 himself what that he wolde answere, yet ne wolde 
 he not answere sodeinly, but he wolde have deli- 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 87 
 
 beration, and in the ground he wrote twies ; and by 
 thise causes we axen deliberation : and we shuln 
 than by the grace of God conseille the thing that 
 shal be profitable. 
 
 Up sterte than the younge folk at ones, and the 
 most partie of that compagnie han scorned this olde 
 wise man, and begonnen to make noise and saiden ; 
 Right so as while that iren is hot men shulde smite, 
 right so men shuln do wreken hir wronges, while 
 that they ben freshe and newe : and with loude voys 
 they criden werre, werre. Up rose tho on of thise 
 olde wise, and with his hand made countenaunce 
 that men shuld holde hem stille, and yeve him au- 
 dience. Lordinges, (quod he) ther is ful many a 
 man that crieth werre, werre, that wote ful litel 
 what werre amounteth. Werre at his beginning 
 hath so gret an entring and so large, that every 
 wight may enter whan him liketh, and lightly find 
 werre : but certes what end that shal befalle, it is 
 not light to know. For sothly whan that werre is 
 ones begonne, ther is ful many a child unborne of 
 his moder, that shal sterve yong, by cause of thilke 
 werre, other elles live in sorwe, and dien in wretch- 
 ednesse ; and therfore or that any werre be begonne, 
 men must have gret conseil and gret deliberation. 
 And whan this olde man wende to enforcen his tale 
 
ss 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 by resoiiS; wel nie alle at ones begonne they to 
 rise, for to breken his tale, and bidden him ful oft 
 his wordes for to abregge. For sothly he that 
 prechetli to hem that listen not heren his wordes, 
 his sermon hem anoieth. P’or Jesus Sirak sayth? 
 that musike in weping is a noious thing. This is to 
 sayn, as muche availleth to speke beforn folk to 
 which his speche anoieth, as to singe beforne him 
 that wepeth. And whan this wise man saw that 
 liim wanted audience, al shamefast he sette him 
 doun agein. For Salomon saith : ther as thou ne 
 mayst have non audience, enforce thee not to speke. 
 I see wel, (quod this wise man) that the comune 
 proverbe is soth, that good conseil wanteth, whan it 
 is most nede. 
 
 Yet had this Melibeus in his conseil many folk, 
 that prively in his ere conseilled him certain thing, 
 and conseilled him the contrary in general audience 
 Whan Melibeus had herd that the gretest partie of 
 his conseil were accorded that he shulde make 
 werre, anon he consented to hire conseilling, and 
 fully afferrned hir sentence. Than dame Prudence, 
 whan that she saw how that hire hosbonde shope 
 him for to awreke him on his foos, and to beginne 
 werre, she in ful humble wise, whan she saw hire 
 time, sayde him these wordes ; my lord, (quod she) 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 89 
 
 I you beseclie as hertly as 1 dare and can, ne haste 
 you not to faste, and for alle guerdons as yeve me 
 audience. For Piers Alphonse sayth; who so that 
 doth to thee outlier good or harme, haste thee not 
 to quite it, for in this wise thy frend wol abide, and 
 thin enemie shal the lenger live in drede. The pro- 
 verbe sayth ; he hasteth wel that wisely can abide : 
 and in wikked hast is no profite. 
 
 This Melibee answered unto his wif Prudence : I 
 purpose not (quod he) to werken by thy conseil, for 
 many causes and resons ; for certes every wight 
 wold hold me than a fool; this is to sayn, if I for 
 thy conseilling wolde change thinges, that ben or- 
 deined and affirmed by so many wise men. Se- 
 condly, I say, that all women ben wicke, and non 
 good of hem all. For of a thousand men, saith 
 Salomon, I found o good man : but certes of alle 
 women good woman found I never. And also certes, 
 if I governed me by thy conseil, it shulde seme that 
 I had yeve thee over me the maistrie : and God for- 
 bede that it so were. For Jesus Sirak sayth, that 
 if the wif have the maistrie, she is contrarious to 
 hire husbond. And Salomon sayth ; never in thy 
 lif to thy wif, ne to thy childe, ne to thy frend, ne 
 yeve no power over thy self: for better it were that 
 thy children axe of thee thinges that hem nedeth, 
 
90 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEU8 
 
 than thou see thy self in the handes of thy children. 
 And also if I wol werche by thy conseilling, certes 
 it must be somtime secree, till it were time that it 
 be knowen ; and this ne may not be, if I shulde be 
 conseilled by thee. [For it is written ; the janglerie 
 of women ne can no thing hide, save that which they 
 wote not. After the Philosophre sayth ; in wikked 
 conseil women venquishen men ; and for thise re- 
 sons I ne owe not to be conseilled by thee.] 
 
 Whan dame Prudence, ful debonairly and with 
 gret pacience, had herd all that hire housbonde 
 liked for to say, than axed she of him licence for 
 to speke, and sayde in this wise. My lord (quod 
 she) as to your first reson, it may lightly ben an- 
 swerd ; for I say that it is no folie to chaunge con- 
 seil whan the thing is chaunged, or elles whan the 
 thing semeth otherwise than it semed afore. And 
 moreover I say, though that ye have sworne and 
 behight to performe your emprise, and nevertheles 
 ye weive to performe thilke same emprise by just 
 cause, men shuld not say therfore ye were a Iyer, 
 ne forsworn ; for the book sayth, that the wise man 
 maketh no lesing, whan he turneth his corage for 
 the better. And al be it that your emprise be es- 
 tablished and ordeined by gret multitude of folk 
 yet thar you not accomplish thilke ordinance but 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 91 
 
 you liketli ; for the trouthe of thinges, and the pro- 
 fit, ben rather founden in fewe folk that ben wise 
 and ful of reson, than by gret multitude of folk, 
 ther every man cryeth and clattereth what him 
 liketh ; sothly swiche multitude is not honest. As 
 to the second reson, wheras ye say, that alle women 
 ben wicke : save your grace, certes ye despise alle 
 women in this wise, and he that all despiseth, as 
 saith the book, all displeseth. And Senek saith, 
 that who so wol have sapience, shal no man dis- 
 preise, but he shal gladly teche the science that he 
 can, without presumption or pride ; and swiche 
 thinges as he nought can, he shal not ben ashamed 
 to lere hem, and to enquere of lesse folk than him- 
 self, And, Sire, that ther hath ben ful many a 
 good woman, may lightly be preved : for certes, 
 Sire, our Lord Jesu Crist n’olde never ban de- 
 scended to be borne of a woman, if all women had 
 be wicked. And after that, for the gret bountee 
 that is in women, our Lord Jesu Crist, whan he was 
 risen from deth to lif, appered rather to a woman 
 than to his Apostles. And though that Salomon 
 sayde, he found never no good woman, it folweth 
 not therfore, that all women be wicked : for though 
 that he ne found no good woman, certes many an- 
 other man hath foimde many a woman ful good and 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 
 trewe. Or elles peraventure the entent of Salomon 
 was this, that in soveraine bountee he found no 
 woman ; this is to say, that ther is no wight that 
 hath soveraine bountee, save God alone, as he 
 himself recordeth in his Evangelies. For ther is no 
 creature so good, that him ne wanteth somwhat of 
 the perfection of God that is his maker. Youre 
 thridde reson is this ; ye say that if that ye go- 
 verne you by my conseil, it shulde seme that ye 
 had yeve me the maistrie and the lordship of your 
 person. Sire, save your grace, it is not so ; for if 
 so were that no man shulde be conseilled but only 
 of hem that han lordship and maistrie of his person, 
 men n’olde not be conseilled so often ; for sothly 
 thilke man that asketh conseil of a purpos, yet 
 hath he free chois whether he wol werke after that 
 conseil or non. And as to your fourth reson, ther 
 as ye sain that the janglerie of women can hide 
 thinges that they wot not ; as who so sayth, that a 
 woman can not hide that she wote ; Sire, thise 
 wordes ben understonde of women that ben jan- 
 gleresses and wicked ; of which women men sain 
 that three thinges driven a man out of his hous, 
 that is to say, smoke, dropping of raine, and wicked 
 wives. And of swiche women Salomon sayth. That 
 a man were better dwell in desert, than with a wo- 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 93 
 
 man that is riotous. And, sire, by your leve, that 
 am not I ; for ye have ful often assaied my gret 
 silence and my gret patience, and eke how wel that 
 I can hide and hele thinges, that men oughten 
 secretly to hiden. And sothly as to your fifthe re- 
 son, wheras ye say, that in wicked conseil women 
 venquishen men ; God wote that thilke reson stant 
 here in no stede ; for understondeth now, ye axen 
 conseil for to do wickednesse; and if ye wol werken 
 wickednesse, and your wif restraineth thilke v/icked 
 purpos, and overcometh you by reson and by'good 
 conseil, certes your wif ought rather to be preised 
 than to be blamed. Thus shulde ye understonde 
 the philosophre that sayth. In wicked conseil wo- 
 men venquishen hir husbondes. And ther as ye 
 blamen all women and hir resons, I shal shewe you 
 by many ensamples, that many women have ben 
 ful good, and yet ben, and hir conseil holesome and 
 profitable. Eke som men han sayd, that the con- 
 seil of women is either to dere, or elles to litel of 
 pris. But al be it so that ful many a woman be 
 bad, and hire conseil vile and nought worth, yet 
 han men founden ful many a good woman, and dis- 
 crete and wise in conseilling. Lo, Jacob, thurgh 
 the good conseil of his mother Rebecke, wan the 
 benison of his father, and the lordship over all his 
 
94 
 
 THE TALE OF MEI.IREUS. 
 
 brethren. Judith, by hire good conseil, the citce of 
 Bethulie, in which she dwelt, out of the honde of 
 Holofern, that hud it bcseged, and wolde it al des- 
 troye. Abigail delivered Nabal hire housbond fro 
 David the king, that wolde han slain him, and ap- 
 pesed the ire of the king by hire wit, and by hire 
 good conseilling. Hester by hire conseil enhaunced 
 gretly the peple of God, in the regne of Assuerus the 
 king. And the same bountee in good conseilling of 
 many a good woman moun men rede and tell. And 
 further more, whan that oure Lord had created Adam 
 oure forme father, he savd in this wise ; it is not 
 good to be a man allone : make we to him an helpe 
 semblable to himself. Here moun ye see that if 
 that women weren not good, and hir conseil good 
 and protitable, oure l.ord God of heven wolde 
 neither han wrought hem, ne called hem helpe 
 of man, but rather confusion of man. And ther 
 sayd a clerk ones in two vers ; what is better than 
 gold? Jaspre. What is better than jaspre? wis- 
 dom. And what is better than wisdom? woman. 
 And what is better than a good woman ? nothing. 
 And, Sire, by many other resons moun ye seen, 
 that many women ben good, and hir conseil good 
 and prohtable. And therfore. Sire, if ye wol troste 
 to my conseil, I shal restore you your doughter 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 95 
 
 hole and sound : and I wol don to you so muche, 
 that ye shuln have honour in this cas. 
 
 Whan Melibee had herd the wordes of his wif 
 Prudence, he sayd thus : I se wel that the word of 
 Salomon is soth ; for he saith, that wordes, that 
 ben spoken discretly by ordinaunce, ben honie- 
 combes, for they yeven swetenesse to the soule, and 
 holsomnesse to the body. And, wif, because of 
 thy swete wordes, and eke for I have preved and 
 assaied thy grete sapience and thy grete trouthe, I 
 wol governe me by thy conseil in alle thing. 
 
 Now, Sire, (quod dame Prudence) and sin that 
 ye vouchesafe to be governed by my conseil I wol 
 enfonne you how that ye shuln governe yourself, 
 in chesing of youre conseillours. Ye shuln first in 
 alle your werkes mekely besechen to the heigh 
 God, that he w^ol be your conseillour : and shapeth 
 you to swiche entente that he yeve you conseil and 
 comforte, as taught Tobie his sone ; at alle times 
 thou shalt blesse God, and preie him to dresse thy 
 wayes ; and loke that alle thy conseils ben in him 
 for evermore. Saint James eke sayth ; if any of 
 you have nede of sapience, axe it of God. And 
 afterwarde, than shullen ye take conseil in your- 
 self, and examine wel your owen thoughtes, of 
 swiche thinges as you thinketh that ben best for 
 
96 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 your profit. And than shuln ye drive fro your 
 herte three thinges that ben contrarious to good 
 conseil; that is to sayn, ire, coveitise, and ha- 
 stinesse. 
 
 First, he that axeth conseil of himself, certes he 
 must be withouten ire, for many causes. The first 
 is this : he that hath gret ire and wrath in himself, 
 he weneth alway that he may do thing that he may 
 not do. And secondly, he that is irons and wroth, 
 he may not wel deme : and he that may not wel 
 deme, may not wel conseille. The thridde is this ; 
 he that is irons and wroth, as sayth Senek, ne may 
 not spekebut blameful thinges, and with his vi- 
 cious wordes he stirreth other folk to anger and to 
 ire. And eke. Sire, ye must drive coveitise out of 
 your herte. For the Apostle sayth, that coveitise 
 is the rote of alle harmes. And trosteth wel, that 
 a coveitous man ne can not deme ne thinke, but 
 only to fulfille the ende of his coveitise ; and 
 certes that ne may never ben accomplised ; for ever 
 the more haboundance that he hath of richesse, the 
 more he desireth. And, Sire, ye must also drive 
 out of youre herte hastinesse : for certes ye ne 
 moun not deme for the beste a soden thought that 
 falleth in your herte, but ye must avise you on it 
 fill ofte ; for as ye have herde herebeforii, the com- 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 97 
 
 mime proverbe is tins ; lie that sone demeth, sone 
 repenteth. 
 
 Sire, ye iie be not alway in like disposition, for 
 certes som thing that somtime someth to you that 
 it is good for to do, another time it semeth to you 
 the contrarie. 
 
 And whan ye han taken conseil in yourself, and 
 han domed by good deliberation swiche thing as 
 you semeth beste, than rede I you that ye kepe it 
 secree. Bewreye not your conseil to no persone, 
 but if so be that ye wenen sikerly, that thurgh 
 youre bewreying youre condition shal ben to you 
 more profitable. For Jesus Sirak saith : neither to 
 thy foo ne to thy frend discover not thy secree, ne 
 thy folie : for they woln yeve you audience and 
 loking, and supportation in youre presence, and 
 scorne you in youre absence. Another clerk sayth, 
 that scarsly shalt thou finden any persone that may 
 kepe thy conseil secrely. The book sayth ; while 
 that thou kepest thy conseil in thin herte, thou 
 kepest it in thy prison : and whan thou bewreyest 
 thv conseil to any wight, he holdeth thee in his 
 snare. And therfore you is better to hide your 
 conseil in your herte, than to preye him to whom 
 ye han bewreyed youre conseil, that he wol kepe it 
 close and stille. For Seneca sayth: if so be that 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 H 
 
98 
 
 TilE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 thou lie mayst not thin owen conseil hide, how 
 darest thou preyen any other wight thy conseil se- 
 crely to kepe ? but natheles, if thou wene sikerly 
 that thy bewreying of thy conseil to a persone wol 
 make thy condition to stonden in the better plight, 
 than shalt thou telle him thy conseil in this wise. 
 First, thou shalt make no semblant whether thee 
 were lever pees or werre, or this or that ; ne shewe 
 him not thy will ne thin entente : for troste wel 
 that communly these conseillours ben flaterers, 
 namely the conseillours of grete lordes, for they en- 
 forcen hem alway rather to speken plesant wordes 
 enclining to the lordes lust, than wordes that ben 
 trewe or profitable : and therfore men sayn, that 
 the riche man hath selde good conseil, but if he 
 have it of himself. And after that thou shalt con- 
 sider thy frendes and thin enemies. And as touch- 
 ing thy frendes, thou shalt consider which of hem 
 ben most feithful and most wise, and eldest and 
 most appreved in conseilling : and of hem shalt 
 thou axe thy conseil, as the cas reipiireth. 
 
 I say, that first ye shuln clepe to youre conseil 
 youre frendes that ben trewe. For Salomon saith : 
 that right as the herte of a man deliteth in savour 
 that is swote, right so the conseil of trewe frendes 
 yeveth swetenesse to the soule. He savth also. 
 
THE TALE OF MELTBEUS. 
 
 99 
 
 iher may nothing be likened to the trewe frend : 
 for certes 2:old ne silver ben not so muche worth as 
 the good will of a trewe frend. And eke he sayth, 
 that a trewe frend is a strong defence ; who so that 
 it findeth, certes he findeth a gret tresor. Than 
 shuln ye eke consider if that your trewe frendes ben 
 discrete and wise ; for the book saith, axe alway 
 thy conseil of hem that ben wise. And by this 
 same reson shuln ye clepen to youre conseil youre 
 frendes that ben of age, swiche as han seyn and 
 ben expert in many thinges, and ben appreved in 
 conseillinges. For the book sayth, in olde men is 
 al the sapience, and in longe time the prudence. 
 And Tullius sayth, that grete thinges ne ben not ay 
 accomplised by strengthe, ne by delivernesse of 
 body, but by good conseil, by auctoritee of per- 
 sones, and by science : the which three thinges ne 
 ben not feble by age, but certes they enforcen and 
 encresen day by day. And than shuln ye kepe 
 this for a general reule. First ye shuln clepe to 
 youre conseil a fewe of youre frendes that ben es- 
 pecial. For Salomon saith ; many frendes have 
 thou, but among a thousand chese thee on to be thy 
 conseillour. For al be it so, that thou first ne telle 
 thy conseil but to a fewe, thou mayest afterwarde 
 tell it to mo folk, if it be nede. But loke alwav 
 
100 
 
 THE TALE OE MELlBEUS. 
 
 that thy conseillours have thilke three conditions 
 that I have sayd before ; that is to say, that they 
 be trewe, wise, and of olde experience. And werke 
 not alway in every nede by on conseillour allone ; 
 for somtime behoveth it to be conseilled by many. 
 For Salomon sayth; salvation of thinges is wher as 
 ther ben many conseillours. 
 
 Now sith that I have told you of which folk ye 
 shulde be conseilled : now wol I teche you which 
 conseil ye ought to eschue. First ye shuln eschue 
 the conseilling of fooles ; for Salomon sayth. Take 
 no conseil of a fool : for he ne can not conseille but 
 after his owen lust and his affection. The book 
 sayth, the propretee of a fool is this : He troweth 
 lightly harme of every man, and lightly troweth all 
 bountee in himself. Thou shalt eke eschue the 
 conseilling of all fiaterers, swiche as enforcen hem 
 rather to preisen youre persone by flaterie, than for 
 to tell you the sothfastnesse of thinges. 
 
 Wherfore Tullius sayth, Among alle the pesti- 
 lences that ben in frendship, the gretest is flaterie. 
 And therfore it is more nede that thou eschue and 
 drede fiaterers, than any other peple. The book 
 saith. Thou shalt rather drede and flee fro the swete 
 wordes of flatering preisers, than fro the egre 
 wordes of thy frend that saith thee sothes. Sale- 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 101 
 
 mon saith, that the wordes of a flaterer is a snare 
 to cacchen innocentes. He sayth also, He that 
 speketh to his frend wordes of swetenesse and of 
 plesaunce, he setteth a net beforne his feet to cac- 
 chen him. And therfore sayth Tullius, Encline 
 not thin eres to flaterers, ne take no conseil of 
 wordes of flaterie. And Caton sayth, Aviso thee 
 wel, and eschue wordes of swetenesse and of ple- 
 saunce. And eke thou shalt eschue the conseilling 
 of thin olde enemies that ben reconciled. The 
 book sayth, that no wight retourneth safely into the 
 grace of his olde enemie. And Ysope sayth, Ne 
 trost not to hem, to which thou hast somtime had 
 werre or enmitee, ne telle hem not thy conseil. 
 And Senek telleth the cause why. It may not be, 
 sayth he, ther as gret fire hath long time endured, 
 that ther ne dwelleth som vapour of warmnesse. 
 And therfore saith Salomon, In thin olde foo trost 
 thou never. For sikerly though thin enemie be 
 reconciled, and maketh thee chere of humilitee, 
 and louteth to thee with his hed, ne trost him 
 never : for certes he maketh thilke feined humilitee 
 more for his profite, than for any love of thy per- 
 sone ; because that he demeth to have victorie 
 over thy persone by swiche feined contenance, the 
 which victorie he might not have by strif of werre. 
 
102 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 And Peter Alphonse sayth; Make no felawship 
 Avith thin olde enemies, for if thou do hem bountee, 
 they wollen perverten it to wickednesse. And eke 
 thou must eschue the conseilling of hem that ben 
 thy servaunts, and beren thee gret reverence : for 
 paraventure they fein it more for drede than for 
 love. And therfore saith a philosophre in this 
 wise: Ther is no wight parfitly trewe to him that 
 he to sore dredeth. And Tullius sayth, Ther nhs 
 no might so gret of any emperour that longe may 
 endure, but if he have more love of the peple than 
 drede. Thou shalt also eschue the conseilling of 
 folk that ben dronkelewe, for they ne can no con- 
 seil hide. For Salomon sayth, Ther n’is no pri- 
 vetee ther as regneth dronkennesse. Ye shuln 
 also have in suspect the conseilling of swiche folk 
 as conseille you o thing prively, and conseille you 
 the contrarie openly. For Cassiodore sayth, That 
 it is a manere sleighte to hinder his enemy whan 
 he sheweth to don a thing openly, and werketh 
 prively the contrary. Thou shalt also have in sus- 
 pect the conseilling of wicked folk, for hir conseil 
 is alway ful of fraude. And David sayth ; Blisful 
 is that man that hath not folwed the conseilling of 
 shrewes. Thou shalt also eschue the conseilling 
 of yonge folk, for hir conseilling is not ripe, as 
 Salomon saith. 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 103 
 
 Now, Sire, sith I have shewed you of which folk 
 ye shullen take youre conseil, and of which folk ye 
 shullen eschue the conseil, now wol I teche you 
 how ye shuln examine your conseil after the doc- 
 trine of Tullius. In examining than of your con- 
 seillours, ye shuln considre many thinges. Alder- 
 first thou shalt considre that in thilke thing that 
 thou purposest, and upon what thing that thou 
 wolt have conseil, that veray trouthe be said and 
 conserved ; this is to say, telle trewely thy tale : 
 for he that sayth false, may not wel be conseilled 
 in that cas, of which he lieth. And after this, thou 
 shalt considre the thinges that accorden to that 
 thou purposest for to do by thy conseillours, if re- 
 son accord therto, and eke if thy might may at- 
 teine therto, and if the more part and the better 
 part of thin conseillours accorden therto or no. 
 Than shalt thou considre what thing shal folwe of 
 that conseilling; as hate, pees, werre, grace, pro- 
 fite, or domage, and many other thinges : and in 
 alle thinges thou shalt chese the beste, and weive 
 alle other thinges. Than shalt thou considre of 
 what roote is engendred the matere of thy conseil, 
 and what fruit it may conceive and engendre. Thou 
 shalt eke considre alle the causes, from whennes 
 they ben sprongen. And whan thou hast examined 
 
104 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 tliy conseil, as I have said, and which partie is the 
 better and more profitable, and hast appreved it by 
 many wise folk and olde, than shalt thou considre, 
 if thou mayst performe it and maken of it a good 
 ende. For certes reson wol not that any man 
 shulde beginne a thing, but if he mighte performe 
 it as him oughte : ne no wight shulde take upon 
 him so hevy a charge, that he might not beren 
 it. For the proverbe sayth ; he that to muche 
 embraceth distreineth litel. And Caton saith ; 
 assay to do swiche thinges as thou hast power 
 to don, lest the charge oppresse thee so sore, 
 that thee behoveth to weive thing: that thou hast 
 begonne. And if so be that thou be in doute, 
 whether thou mayst performe a thing or non, chese 
 rather to suflPre than to beginne. And Peter Al- 
 phonse sayth ; If thou hast might to don a thing, 
 of which thou must repente, it is better nay than 
 ya : this is to sayn, that thee is better to holde thy 
 tonge stille than for to speke. Than mayst thou 
 understonde by stronger resons, that if thou hast 
 power to performe a werk, of which thou shalt 
 repente, than is thee better that thou suffre than 
 beginne. Vv^el sain they that defenden every 
 wight to assaye a thing of which he is in doute, 
 whether he may performe it or non. And after 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 105 
 
 whan ye han examined yoiire conseil, as I have 
 said beforne, and knowen wel that ye moun per- 
 forme your emprise, conferme it than sadly til it be 
 at an ende. 
 
 Now is it reson and time that I shewe you whan, 
 and wherfore, that ye moun chaunge your conseil, 
 withouten repreve. Sothly, a man may change his 
 purpos and his conseil, if the cause ceseth, or whan 
 a newe cas betideth. For the lawe saith, that upon 
 thinges that newly betiden, behoveth newe conseil. 
 And Seneca sayth ; if thy conseil is comen to the 
 eres of thin enemies, chaunge thy conseil. Thou 
 mayst also chaunge thy conseil, if so be that thou 
 find that by errour, or by other cause, harme or 
 damage may betide. Also if thy conseil be dis- 
 honeste, other elles come of dishoneste cause, 
 chaunge thy conseil : for the lawes sain, that all 
 behestes that ben dishoneste ben of no value ; and 
 eke, if so be that it be impossible, or may not 
 goodly be performed or kept. 
 
 And take this for a general reule, that every con- 
 seil that is affermed so strongly, that it may not 
 be chaunged for no condition that may betide, I 
 say that thilke conseil is wicked. 
 
 This Melibeus, whan he had herd the doctrine of 
 his wif dame Prudence, answered in this wise. 
 
106 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 Dame, quod he, as yet unto this time ye han wel 
 and covenably taught me, as in general, how I shal 
 governe me in the chesing and in the withholding 
 of my conseillours : but now w^old I fain that ye 
 wold condescend in especial, and telle me how 
 liketh you, or what semeth you by oure conseillours 
 that we han chosen in oure present nede. 
 
 My lord, (quod she, I beseche you in alle hum- 
 blesse, that ye wol not wilfully replie again my re- 
 sons, ne distempre your herte, though I speke thing 
 that you displese ; for God wote that, as in min en- 
 tente, I speke it for your beste, for youre honour 
 and for youre profite eke, and sothly I hope that 
 youre benignitee wol taken it in patience. And 
 trosteth me wel, quod she, that youre conseil as in 
 this cas ne shulde not (as to speke proprely) be 
 called a conseilling, but a motion or a moving of 
 folie, in which conseil ye han erred in many a son- 
 dry wise. 
 
 First and forward, ye han erred in the assem- 
 bling of youre conseillours : for ye sholde first han 
 cleped a fewe folk to youre conseil, and after ye 
 mighte han shewed it to mo folk, if it hadde be 
 nede. But certes ye han sodeinly cleped to your 
 conseil a gret multitude of peple, ful chargeant and 
 ful anoyous for to here. Also ye han erred, for ther 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 107 
 
 as ye shulcle han only cleped to youre conseile 
 yoiire trewe frendes, olde and wise, ye han cleped 
 straunge folk, yonge folk, false flaterers, and ene- 
 mies reconciled, and folk that don you reverence 
 withouten love. And eke ye han erred, for ye han 
 brought with you to youre conseil ire, coveitise, and 
 hastifnesse, the which three thinges ben contrary to 
 every conseil honest and profitable : the which three 
 thinges ye ne han not anientissed or destroyed, 
 neither in youreself ne in youre conseillours, as you 
 ought. Ye han erred also, for ye han shewed to 
 youre conseillours youre talent and youre affections 
 to make werre anon, and for to do vengeaunce, and 
 they han espied by youre wordes to what thing ye 
 ben enclined : and therfore han they conseilled you 
 rather to youre talent, than to youre profite. Ye 
 han erred also, for it someth that you sufficeth to 
 han ben conseilled by thise conseillours only, and 
 with litel avis, wheras in so high and so gret a nede, 
 it had ben necessarie mo conseillours, and more de- 
 liberation to performe your emprise. Ye han erred 
 also, for ye han not examined your conseil in the 
 foresaid manere, ne in due manere, as the cas re- 
 quireth. Ye han erred also, for ye han maked no 
 division betwix youre conseillours ; this is to sayn, 
 betwix youre trewe frendes and youre feined con- 
 
lOS 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 scilloiirs : rie ye liari not knowe the wille of your 
 trcwe frendes, olde and wise, but ye ban caste alle 
 liir wordes in an hochepot, and enclined your herte 
 to the more part and to the greter noinbre, and ther 
 be ye condescended ; and sith ye wot wel that men 
 sliuln alway finde a greter nombre of fooles than of 
 wise men, and therfore the conseillings that ben at 
 congregations and multitudes of folk, ther as men 
 take more regard to the nombre, than to the sapi- 
 ence of persones, ye seen wel, that in swiche con- 
 seillino;s fooles han the maistrie. Melibeus an- 
 swered and said agein : I graunte wel that I have 
 erred ; but ther as thou hast told me herebeforne, 
 that he n’is not to blame that chaungeth his conseil 
 in certain cas, and for certain and just causes, I am 
 al redy to chaunge my conseil right as thou wolt 
 devise. The proverbe sayth; for to don sinne is 
 mannish, but certes for to persevere long in sinne is 
 werke of the Divel. 
 
 To this sentence answered anon dame Prudence, 
 and saide ; examineth (quod she) wel your conseil^ 
 and let us see the which of hem han spoken most re- 
 sonably, and taught you best conseil. And for as 
 muche as the examination is necessarie, let us be-^ 
 ginne at the Surgiens and at the Physiciens, that 
 first spaken in this mater. 1 say that Physiciens 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 109 
 
 and Surgiens han sayde you in youre conseil dis- 
 cretly, as hem oughte : and in hir speche saiden ful 
 wisely, that to the office of hem apperteineth to don 
 to every wight honour and profite, and no wight to 
 anoye, and after hir craft to don gret diligence unto 
 the cure of hem which that they han in hir gover- 
 naunce. And, Sire, right as they han answered 
 wisely and discretly, right so rede I that they be 
 highly and soverainly guerdoned for hir noble 
 speche, and eke for they shulden do the more en- 
 tentif besinesse in the curation of thy dere doughter. 
 For al be it so that they ben youre frendes, therfore 
 shullen ye not suffren, that they serve you for 
 nought, but ye oughte the rather guerdone hem, and 
 shewe hem youre largesse. And as touching the 
 proposition, which the Physiciens entreteden in 
 this cas, this is to sain, that in maladies, that a 
 contrarie is warished by another contrarie ; I wold 
 fain knowe how ye understonde thilke text, and 
 what is youre sentence. Certes quod Melibeus, I 
 understond it in this wise ; that right as they han 
 don me a contrarie, right so shulde I don hem ano- 
 ther ; for right as they han venged hem upon me 
 and don me wrong, right so shal I venge me upon 
 hem, and don hem wrong, and than have I cured a 
 contrarie by another. 
 
110 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 Lo, lo, quod dame Prudence, how lightly is 
 every man enclined to his owen desire and his owen 
 plesaunce ! certes (quod she) the wordes of the 
 Physiciens ne shulden not han ben understonden 
 in that wise ; for certes wickednesse is not con- 
 trarie to wickednesse, ne vengeaunce to vengeaunce, 
 ne wrong to wrong, but they ben semblable : and 
 therfore a vengeaunce is not warished by another 
 vengeaunce, ne a wrong by another wrong, but 
 everich of hem encreseth and aggreggeth other. 
 But certes the wordes of the Physiciens shulden 
 ben understonde in this wise ; for good and wicked- 
 nesse ben two contraries, and pees and werre, ven- 
 geaunce and suffraunce, discord and accord, and 
 many other thinges ; but certes, wickednesse shal 
 be warished by goodnesse, discord by accord, werre 
 by pees, and so forth of other thinges. And hereto 
 accordeth Seint Poule the Apostle in many places : 
 he sayth, ne yelde not harme for harme, ne wicked 
 speche for wicked speche, but do wel to him that 
 doth to thee harme, and blesse him that saith to 
 thee harme. And in many other places he anio- 
 nesteth pees and accord. But now wol I speke to 
 you of the conseil, which that was yeven to you by 
 the men of lawe, and the wise folk, and old folke, 
 that sayden alle by on accord as ye han herd be- 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 foiTie, that over alle thinges ye shuhi do youre di- 
 ligence to kepe youre persone, and to warnestore 
 your house : and saiden also, that in this cas you 
 oughte for to werchen ful avisely and with gret de- 
 liberation. And, Sire, as to the first point, that 
 toucheth the keping of youre persone, ye shuln un- 
 derstond, that he that hath werre, shal ever more 
 devoutly and mekely preien beforne alle* thinges, 
 that Jesu Crist of his mercie wol han him in his 
 protection, and ben his soveraine helping at his 
 nede: for certes in this world ther is no wight that 
 may be conseilled ne kept suffisantly, withoute the 
 keping of oure lord Jesu Crist. To this sentence 
 accordeth the Prophete David that sayth : if God 
 ne kepe the citee, in idel waketh he that kepeth it. 
 Now, Sire, than shuln ye committe the keping of 
 youre persone to youre trewe frendes, that ben ap- 
 preved and yknowe, and of hem shuln ye axen 
 helpe, youre persone for to kepe. For Caton saith. 
 if thou have nede of helpe, axe it of thy frendes, 
 for ther n’is non so good a Physicien as thy trewe 
 frend. And after this than shuln ye kepe you fro 
 alle straunge folk, and fro lieres, and have alway 
 in suspect Inr compaignie. For Piers Alphonse 
 sayth : ne take no compaignie by the way of a 
 straunge man, but if so be that thou have knowen 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS- 
 
 ne 
 
 him of leno;er time : and if so be that he falle into 
 thy compaignie paraventure withouten thin assent, 
 enquere than, as subtilly as thou maist, of his con- 
 versation, and of his lif beforne, and feine thy way, 
 saying thou wolt go thider as thou wolt not go : and 
 if he here a spere, hold thee on the right side, and 
 and if he here a swerd, hold thee on his left side. 
 And after this than shuln ye kepe you wisely from 
 all swiche manere peple as I have sayed before, 
 and hem and hir conseil eschue. And after this 
 than shuln ye kepe you in swiche manere, that for 
 any presumption of youre strengthe, that ye ne de- 
 spise not, ne account not the might of your adver- 
 sary so lite, that ye let the keping of youre persone 
 for your presumption ; for every wise man dredeth 
 his enemie. And Salomon sayth ; welful is he 
 that of alle hath drede ; For certes he that thurgh 
 the hardinesse of his herte, and thurgh the hardi- 
 nesse of himself, hath* to gret presumption, him 
 shal evil betide. Than shuln ye evermo countre- 
 waite emboyssements, and alle espiaile. For Senek 
 sayth, that the wise man that dredeth harmes, es- 
 chueth harmes ; ne he ne falleth into perils, that 
 perils eschueth. And al be it so, that it seme that 
 thou art in siker place, yet shalt thou alway do thy 
 diligence in keping of thy persone ; this is to sayn, 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 113 
 
 ne be not negligent to kepe thin persone, not only 
 fro thy gretest enemy, but also fro thy leste ene- 
 my. Senek sayth; a man that is wel avised, he 
 dredeth his leste enemie. Ovide sayth, that the 
 litel wesel wol slee the gret boll and the wilde hart. 
 And the book sayth ; a litel thorne may prikke a 
 king ful sore, and a litel hound wol hold the wilde 
 bore. But natheles, I say not thou shalt be so 
 coward, that thou doute wher as is no drede. The 
 book saith, that som men [han taught hir deceivour, 
 for they han to muche dreded] to be deceived. 
 Yet shalt thou drede to be empoysoned ; and [ther- 
 fore shalt thou] kepe thee fro the compagnie of 
 scorners : for the book sayth, with scorners ne make 
 no compagnie, but flee hir wordes as venime. 
 
 Now as to the second point, wheras youre wise 
 conseillours conseilled you to warnestore your 
 hous with gret diligence, I wolde fain knowe how 
 that ye understode thilke wordes, and what is 
 youre sentence. 
 
 Melibeus answered and saide ; Certes I under- 
 stand it in this wise, that I shal warnestore min 
 hous with toures, swiche as han castelles and 
 other manere edifices, and armure, and artelries, 
 by which thinges I may my persone and myn 
 
 VOL III. 
 
 I 
 
114 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 hous SO kepen and defenden, that min enemies 
 shuln ben in drede min hous for to approche. 
 
 To this sentence answered anon Prudence. 
 Warnestoring (quod she) of heighe toures and of 
 grete edifices, is with grete costages and with grete 
 travaille ; and whan that they ben accompliced, 
 yet ben they not worth a stre, but if they ben de- 
 fended by trewe frendes, that ben olde and wise. 
 And understonde wel, that the greteste and strong- 
 este garneson that a riche man may have, as wel 
 to kepen his persone as his goodes, is, that he be 
 beloved with his subgets, and with his neighe- 
 boures. For thus sayth Tullius, that ther is a 
 maner garneson, that no man may venquish ne 
 discomfite, and that is a lord to be beloved of his 
 citizeins, and of his peple. 
 
 Now, Sire, as to the thridde point, wheras youre 
 olde and wise conseillours sayden, that you ne 
 oughte not sodeinly ne hastily proceden in this 
 nede, but that you oughte purveyen and appareilen 
 you in this cas, with gret diligence and gret delibe- 
 ration ; trewely, I trowe, that they sayden right 
 wisely and right soth. For Tullius sayth : in 
 every nede er thou beginne it, appareile thee with 
 gret diligence. Than say I, that in vengeaunce 
 
THE TALE OF MELTBEUS. 
 
 115 
 
 taking, in werre, in bataille, and in warnestoring, 
 er thou beginne, I rede that thou appareile thee 
 therto, and do it with gret deliberation. For Tul- 
 lius sayth, that longe appareiling tofore the bataille, 
 maketh short victorie. And Cassiodorus sayth : 
 the garneson is stronger, whan it is longe time 
 avised. 
 
 But now let us speken of the conseil that was 
 accorded by your neigheboures, swiche as don you 
 reverence withouten love; youre olde enemies re- 
 conciled ; your flatereres, that conseilled you cer- 
 tain thinges prively, and openly conseilled you the 
 contrarie ; the yonge folk also, that conseilled you 
 to venge you, and to make werre anon. Certes, 
 Sire, as I have sayde beforne, ye han gretly erred 
 to han cleped swiche maner folk to youre conseil, 
 which conseillours ben ynough reproved by the 
 resons aforesaid. But natheles, let us now de- 
 scende to the special. Ye shul first proceden after 
 the doctrine of Tullius. Certes the trouthe of 
 this matere or of this conseil nedeth not diligently 
 to enquere, for it is wel wist, which they ben that 
 han don to you this trespas and vilanie, and how 
 many trespasours, and in what manere they han 
 don to you all this wrong, and all this vilanie. 
 And after this, than shuln ye examine the second 
 
116 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 condition, which that the same Tullius addeth in 
 this matere. For Tullius piitteth a thing, which 
 that he clepeth consenting : this to sayn, who ben 
 they, and which ben they, and how many, that 
 consenten to thy conseil in thy wilfulnesse, to don 
 hastif vengeaunce. And let us considre also who 
 ben they, and how many ben they, and which ben 
 they, that consenteden to youre adversaries. As 
 to the first point, it it is wel knowen which folk they 
 be that consenteden to youre wilfulnesse. For 
 trewely, all tho that conseileden you to maken 
 sodein werre, ne ben not youre frendes. Let us 
 now considre which ben they that ye holden so 
 gretly youre frendes, as to youre persone: for al 
 be it so that ye be mighty and riche, certes ye ne 
 ben but allone ; for certes ye ne han no child but 
 a doughter, ne ye ne han no brethren, ne cosins 
 germains, ne non other nigh kinrede, wherfore that 
 youre enemies for drede shulde stinte to plede with 
 you, or to destroye youre persone. Ye knowen 
 also, that your richesses moten ben dispended in 
 diverse parties; and whan that every wight hath 
 his part, they ne wollen taken but litel regard to 
 venge youre deth. But thin enemies ben three, 
 and they han many brethren, children, cosins, and 
 other nigh kinrede : and though so were, that thou 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 117 
 
 haddest slain of hem two or three, yet dwellen 
 ther ynow to wreken hir deth, and to slee thy per- 
 sone. And though so be that youre kinrede be 
 more stedefast and siker than the kin of your ad- 
 versaries, yet natheles youre kinrede is but a fer 
 kinrede ; they ben but litel sibbe to you, and the 
 kin of youre enemies ben nigh sibbe to hem. And 
 certes as in that, hir condition is better than youres. 
 Than let us considre also of the conseilling of hem 
 that conseilled you to take sodein vengeance, whe- 
 ther it accorde to reson : and certes, ye knowe wel, 
 nay; for as by right and reson, ther may no man 
 taken vengeaunce on no wight, but the juge that 
 hath the jurisdiction of it, whan it is ygraunted 
 him to take thilke vengeaunce hastily, or attem- 
 prely, as the lawe requireth. And yet moreover of 
 thilke word that Tullius clepeth consenting, thou 
 shalt considre, if thy might and thy power may 
 consente and suffice to thy wilfulnesse, and to thy 
 conseillours : and certes, thou mayest wel say, 
 that nay ; for sikerly, as for to speke proprely, we 
 moun do nothing but only swiche thing as we moun 
 don rightfully : and certes rightfully ye ne mowe 
 take no vengeance, as of youre propre auctoritee. 
 Than mowe ye sen that your power ne consenteth 
 not, ne accordeth not to youre wilfulnesse. Now 
 
118 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 let US examine the thridde point, that Tullius 
 clepeth consequent. Thou shalt understonde, that 
 the vengeauiice that thou purposest for to take, is 
 the consequent, and therof folweth another venge- 
 ance, peril, and werre, and other damages with- 
 outen nombre, of which we ben not ware, as at this 
 time. And as touching the fourthe point, that 
 Tullius clepeth engendririg, thou shalt consider, 
 that this wrong which that is don to thee, is en- 
 gendred of the hate of thin enemies, and of the 
 vengeaunce taking upon that wold engender ano- 
 ther vengeaunce, and muchel sorwe wasting of 
 richesses, as I sayde ere. 
 
 Now, sire, as to the point, that Tullius clepeth 
 causes, which that is the last point, thou shalt un- 
 derstonde, that the wrong that thou hast received, 
 hath certaine causes, which that clerkes clepen 
 oriens, and ejficiens, and causa longiuqua, and causa 
 propinqua, this is to sayn, the fer cause, and the 
 nigh cause. The fer cause is almighty God, that 
 is cause of alle thinges ; the ner cause, is thin three 
 enemies; the cause accidental was hate; the cause 
 material, ben the five woundes of thy doughter; the 
 cause formal, is the maner of hir working, that 
 broiighten ladders, and clomben in at thy windowes; 
 the cause final was for to slee thy doughter; it 
 
THE TALE OF MELTBEUS. 
 
 119 
 
 letted not in as muche as in hem was. But for to 
 speke of the fer cause, as to what ende they shuln 
 come, or what shal finally betide of hem in this cas, 
 ne can I not deme, but by conjecting and suppos- 
 ing : for we shuln suppose, that they shuln come to 
 a wicked ende, because that the book of Decrees 
 sayth : Selden or with gret peine ben causes 
 ybrought to a good ende, whan they ben badly be- 
 gonne. 
 
 Now, Sire, if men wold axen me, why that God 
 sufired men to do you this vilanie, certes 1 can not 
 wel answer, as for no sothfastnesse. For the Apos- 
 tle sayth, that the sciences, and the jugements of 
 oure Lord God Almighty ben ful depe : ther may no 
 man comprehend ne serche hem suffisantly. Nathe- 
 les, by certain presumptions and conjectings, I hold 
 and beleve, that God, which that is ful of justice 
 and of rightwisenesse, hath suffered this betide, by 
 just cause resonable. 
 
 Thy name is Melibee, this is to sayn, a man that 
 drinketh hony. Thou hast dronke so muche hony 
 of swete temporel richesses, and delices, and ho- 
 nours of this world, that thou art dronken, and hast 
 forgotten Jesu Crist thy creatour: thou ne hast not 
 don to him swiche honour and reverence as thee 
 ought, ne thou ne hast wel ytaken kepe to the 
 
120 
 
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 wordes of Ovide, that sayth : Under the honey of 
 the goodes of thy body is hid the venime that sleth 
 the soule. And Salomon sayth : If thou hast foun- 
 den hony, ete of it that sufficeth ; for if thou ete of 
 it out of mesure, thou shalt spewe, and be nedy 
 and poure. And peraventure Crist hath thee in 
 despit, and hath tourned away fro thee his face, 
 and his eres of misericorde ; and also he hath suf- 
 fred, that thou hast ben punished in the manere 
 that thou hast ytrespased. Thou hast don sinne 
 again oure Lord Crist, for certes the three enemies 
 of mankind, that is to sayn, the flesh, the fend, and 
 the world, thou hast suffred hem entre into thin 
 herte wilfully, by the windowes of thy body, and 
 hast not defended thyself suffisantly agein hir as- 
 sautes, and hir temptations, so that they han wound- 
 ed thy soule in five places, this is to sayn the dedly 
 sinnes that ben entred into thyn herte by thy five 
 wittes : and in the same manere our Lord Crist hath 
 wold and suffred, that thy three enemies ben entred 
 into thyn hous by the windowes, and han y wounded 
 thy doughter in the foresayd manere. 
 
 Certes, quod Melibee, I see wel that ye enforce 
 you muchel by wordes to overcomen me, in swiche 
 manere, that I shal not venge me on mine enemies, 
 shewing me the perils and the evils that mighten 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 121 
 
 falle of this vengeaunce : but who so wolde con- 
 sidre in alle vengeaunces the perils and evils that 
 mighten sue of vengeaunce taking, a man wold 
 never take vengeaunce, and that were harme : for 
 by the vengeaunce taking ben the wicked men dis- 
 severed fro the goode men. And they that han will 
 to do wickednesse, restreinen hir wicked purpos, 
 whan they sen the punishing and the chastising of 
 the trespasours. [To this answered dame Pru- 
 dence; Certes, quod she, I graunte you that of ven- 
 geaunce taking cometh muche evil and muche good ; 
 but vengeaunce taking apperteineth not to everich 
 on, but only to juges, and to hem that han the ju- 
 risdiction over the trespasours;] and yet say I more, 
 that right as a singuler persone sinneth in taking 
 vengeaunce of another man, right so sinneth the 
 juge, if he do no vengeaunce of hem that it han de- 
 served. For Senek sayth thus ; That maister (he 
 sayth) is good, that preveth shrewes. And Cassio- 
 dore saith : A man dredeth to do outrages, whan 
 he wot and knoweth, that it displeseth to the juges 
 and soveraines. And another sayth: The juge that 
 dredeth to do right, maketh men shrewes. And Seint 
 Poule the Apostle sayth in his Epistle, whan he 
 write th unto the Romaines, that the juges beren not 
 the spere withouten cause, but they beren it to 
 
122 
 
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 punishe the shrewes and misdoers, and for to de- 
 fende the goode men. If ye wiln than take ven- 
 geaunce of youre enemies, ye shuln retourne or have 
 your recours to the juge, that hath the jurisdiction 
 upon hem, and he shal punishe hem, as the lawe 
 axeth and requireth. 
 
 A, sayd Melibee, this vengeaunce liketh me noth- 
 ing, I bethink me now, and take hede how that 
 fortune hath norished me fro my childhode, and 
 hath holpen me to passe many a stronge pas : now 
 wol I assayen hire, trowing, with Goddes helpe, 
 that she shal helpe me my shame for to venge, 
 
 Certes, quod Prudence, if ye wol werke by my 
 conseil, ye shuln not assaye fortunp by no way : ne 
 ye ne shuln not lene or bowe unto hire, after the 
 wordes of Senek ; for thinges that ben folily don, 
 and tho that ben don in hope of fortune, shuln 
 never come to good ende. And as the same Senek 
 sayth ; The more clere and the more shining that 
 fortune is, the more brotel and the soner broke she 
 is. Trusteth not in hire, for she nhs not stedefast 
 ne stable : for whan thou trowest to be most siker 
 and seure of hire helpe, she wol faille and deceive 
 thee. And wheras ye sayn, that fortune hath no- 
 rished you fro youre childhode, I say that in so 
 muchel ye shuln the lesse truste in hire, and in hire 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 123 
 
 wit. For Senek saith ; What man that is norished 
 by fortune, she maketh him a gret fool. Now than 
 sin ye desire and axe vengeaunce, and the ven- 
 geaunce that is don after the lawe and before 
 thejuge, ne liketh you not, and the vengeaunce, 
 that is don in hope of fortune, is perilous and un- 
 certain, than have ye non other remedie, but for to 
 have your recours unto the soveraine juge, that 
 vengeth alle vilanies, and wronges ; and he shal 
 venge you, after that himself witnesseth, wheras 
 he saith ; Leveth the vengeaunce to me, and I shal 
 do it. 
 
 Melibeus answered: Tf I ne venge me of the vila- 
 nie that men han don to me, I sompne or warne 
 hem, that han don to me vilanie, and alle other, to 
 do me another vilanie. For it 'is written ; If thou 
 take no vengeaunce of an olde vilany, thou somp- 
 nest thin adversaries to do thee a newe vilanie : and 
 also for my sulfraunce, men wolden do me so muche 
 vilanie, that I might neither here it ne susteine ; 
 and so shulde I ben put and holden over lowe. For 
 som men sain. In muchel sufFring shul many thinges 
 falle unto thee, which thou shalt not mowe suffre. 
 
 Certes, quod Prudence, I graunte you wel, that 
 overmuchel sulfraunce is not good, but yet ne 
 folweth it not therof, that every persone to whom 
 
1^4 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 men don vilanie, shuld take of it vengeaiince : for 
 that apperteineth and long-eth all only to the juges, 
 for they shul venge the vilanies and injuries : and 
 therfore tho two auctoritees, that ye han sayd above, 
 ben only understonden in the juges : for whan they 
 suffren overmuchel the wronges and vilanies to be 
 don, withouten punishing, they sompne not a man 
 all only for to do newe wronges, but they commaun- 
 den it : al so as a wise man sayth, that the juge that 
 correcteth not the sinner, commaundeth and biddeth 
 him do sinne. And thejuges and soveraines mighten 
 in hir lond so muche suffre of the shrewes and mis- 
 doers, that they shulden by swiche sufFraunce, by 
 proces of time, wexen of swiche power and might, 
 that they shuld putte out the juges and the sove- 
 raines from hir places, and atte laste maken hem 
 lese hir lordshippes. 
 
 But now let us putte, that ye have leve to venge 
 you : I say ye be not of might and power, as now 
 to venge you : for if ye wol maken comparison unto 
 the might of youre adversaries, ye shuln finde in 
 many thinges, that I have shewed you er this, that 
 hir condition is better than youres, and therfore say 
 I, that it is good as now, that ye suffre and be pa- 
 tient. 
 
 Forthermore ye knowen wel, that after the com- 
 
THE TALE OF MELTBEUS. 
 
 125 
 
 mune saw, it is a woodnesse, a man to strive with 
 a stronger, or a more mighty man than he is him- 
 self ; and for to strive with a man of even strengthe, 
 that is to say, with as strong a man as he is, it is 
 peril ; and for to strive with a weker man, it is folie ; 
 and therfore shulde a man flee striving, as muchel 
 as he mighte. For Salomon sayth : It is a gret 
 worship to a man to kepe him fro noise and strif. 
 And if it so happe, that a man of greter mighte and 
 strengthe than thou art, do thee grevaunce : studie 
 and besie thee rather to stifle the same grevaunce, 
 than for to venge thee. For Senek sayth, that he 
 putteth him in a grete peril, that striveth with a 
 greter man than he is himself. And Caton sayth ; 
 If a man of higher estat or degree, or more mighty 
 than thou, do thee anoye or grevance, suflre him : 
 for he that ones hath greved thee, may another time 
 releve thee andhelpe thee. Yet sette I cas, ye have 
 bothe might and licence for to venge you, I say 
 that ther ben ful many thinges that shuln restreine 
 you of vengeance taking, and make you for to en- 
 cline to suflre, and for to han patience in the 
 wronges that han ben don to you. First and for- 
 ward, if ye wol considre the defautes that ben in 
 youre owen persone, for which defautes God hath 
 suflred you have this tribulation, as I have sayd 
 
126 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 to you herebeforne. For the Poete sayth, that we 
 oughten patiently taken the tribulations that comen 
 to us, whan that we thinken and consideren, that 
 we han deserved to have hem. And Seint Gre- 
 gorie sayth, that whan a man considereth wel the 
 
 I 
 
 nombre of his defautes and of his sinnes, the peines 
 and the tribulations that he suffereth, semen the 
 lesse unto him. And in as muche as him thinketh 
 his sinnes more hevy and grevous, in so muche 
 semeth his peine the lighter and the esier unto him. 
 Also ye owen to encline and bowe youre herte, to 
 take the patience of oure Lord Jesu Crist, as sayth 
 Seint Peter in his Epistles. Jesu Crist (he saith) 
 hath suffred for us, and yeven ensample to every 
 man to folwe and sue him, for he dide never sinne, 
 ne never came ther a vilains word out of his mouth. 
 Whan men cursed him, he cursed hem nought ; 
 and whan men beten him, he manaced hem nought. 
 Also the gret patience, which Seintes that ben in 
 Paradis han had in tribulations that they han suf- 
 fred, withouten hir desert or gilt, oughte muchel 
 stirre you to patience. Forthermore, ye shulde en- 
 force you to have patience, considering that the tri- 
 bulations of this world but litel while endure, and 
 sone passed ben and gon, and the joye that a 
 man seketh to han by patience in tribulations is 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 127 
 
 perdurable ; after that the Apostle sayth in his 
 Epistle : the joye of God, he sayth, is perdurable, 
 that is to sayn, everlasting. Also troweth and be- 
 leveth stedfastly, that he n’is not wel ynorished ne 
 wel ytaught, that cannot have patience, or wol not 
 receive patience. For Salomon sayth, that the doc- 
 trine and wit of a man is knowen by patience. And 
 in another place he sayeth, that he that is patient, 
 governeth him by gret prudence. And the same 
 Salomon saith : The angrie and wrathful man maketh 
 noises, and the patient man attempreth and stilleth 
 hem. He saith also, It is more worth to be pa- 
 tient than for to be right strong. And he that may 
 have the lordshipe of his owen herte, is more to 
 preise, than he that by his force or strengthe taketh 
 gret citees. And therfore sayth Seint James in his 
 Epistle, that patience is a gret vertue of perfection. 
 
 Certes, quod Melibee, I graunte you. Dame Pru- 
 dence, that patience is a gret vertue of perfection, 
 but every man may not have the perfection that ye 
 seken, ne I am not of the nombre of the right parfit 
 men ; for min herte may never be in pees, unto the 
 time it be venged. And al be it so, that it was 
 gret peril to min enemies to do me a vilanie in tak- 
 ing vengeaunce upon me, yet token they non hede 
 of the peril, but fulfilleden hir wicked will and hir 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 128 
 
 corage : and therfore me thinketh men ougliten not 
 repreve me, though I put me in a litel peril for to 
 venge me, and though I do a gretexcesse, that is to 
 sayn, that I venge on outrage by another. 
 
 A, quod dame Prudence, ye sayn your will and 
 as you liketh ; but in no cas of the world a man 
 shulde not don outrage ne excesse, for to vengen 
 him. For Cassiodore sayth, that as evil doth he 
 that vengeth him by outrage, as he that doth the 
 outrage. And therfore ye shuln venge you after 
 the ordre of right, that is to sayn, by the lawe, and 
 not by excesse, ne by outrage. And also if ye wol 
 venge you of the outrage of youre adversaries, in 
 other manere than right commaundeth, ye sinnen. 
 And therfore sayth Senek, that a man shall never 
 venge shrewednesse by shrewednesse. And if ye 
 say that right axeth a man to defende violence by 
 violence, and fighting by fighting: certes ye say 
 soth, whan the defence is don withouten intervalle, 
 or withouten tarying or delay, for to defende him, 
 and not for to venge. And it behoveth, that a man 
 putte swiche attemperaunce in his defence, that 
 men have no cause ne mater to repreve him, that 
 defendeth him, of outrage and excesse, for elles 
 were it againe reson. Parde ye knowen wel, that 
 ye maken no defence as now, for to defende you, 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 129 
 
 blit for to veng’e you : and so sheweth it, that ye 
 han no will to do youre dede attemprely ; and ther- 
 fore me thinketh that patience is good. For Salo- 
 mon sayth, that he that is not patient, shal have 
 gret harme. 
 
 Certes, quod Melibee, I graunte you, that whan 
 a man is impatient and wrothe of that that touch- 
 eth him not, and that apperteineth not unto him, 
 thousrh it harme him it is no wonder. For the lawe 
 
 o 
 
 saith, that he is coupable that entremeteth or med- 
 leth with swiche thing, as apperteineth not unto him. 
 And Salomon saith, that he that entremeteth of the 
 noise or strif of another man, is like to him that 
 taketh a straunge hound by the eres ; for right as he 
 that taketh a straunge hound by the eres is other- 
 while bitten with the hound, right in the same wise, 
 it is reson that he have harme, that by his impa- 
 tience medleth him of the noise of another man, 
 wheras it apperteineth not unto him. But ye 
 knowe wel, that this dede, that is to sayn, my greef 
 and my disese, toucheth me right nigh. And ther- 
 fore though I be wroth and impatient, it is no m.er- 
 vaille : and (saving your grace) I cannot see that it 
 might gretly harme me, though 1 took vengeaunce, 
 for I am richer and more mighty than min enemies 
 ben . and wel knowe ye, that by money and by hav- 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 K 
 
130 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 ing grete possessions, ben alle tbinges of this world 
 governed. And Salomon sayth, that alle thinges 
 obeye to money. 
 
 Whan Prudence had herd hire husbond avaunte 
 him of his richesse and of his money, dispreising 
 the power of his adversaries, she spake and sayd in 
 this wise: Certes, dere Sire, I graunte you that ye 
 ben riche and mighty, and that richesses ben good 
 to hem that han wel ygeten hem, and that wel conne 
 usen hem. For right as the body of a man may not 
 liven withouten soul, no more may it liven with- 
 outen temporel goodes, and by richesses may a man 
 gete him grete frendes. And therfore sayth Pam- 
 philus : If a netherdes doughter (he sayth) be riche, 
 she may chese of a thousand men, which she wol 
 take to hire husbond : for of a thousand men on wol 
 not forsaken hire ne refusen hire. And this Pam- 
 philus saith also : If thou be right happy, that is to 
 sayn, if thou be right riche, thou shalt finde a gret 
 nombre of felawes and frendes ; and if thy fortune 
 chaunge, that thou wexe poure, farewel frendshipe 
 and felawshipe, for thou shalt be al allone with- 
 outen any compaignie, but if it be the compaignie 
 of poure folk. And yet sayth this Pamphilus more- 
 over, that they that ben bond and thralle of linage, 
 shuln be made worthy and noble by richesses. And 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 V3i 
 
 right so as by richesses ther comen many goodes, 
 right so by poverte come ther many harmes and 
 eviles : for gret poverte constreineth a man to do 
 many eviles. And therfore clepeth Cassiodore po- 
 verte the moder of mine, that is to sayn, the moder 
 of overthrowing or falling doun. And therfore 
 sayth Piers Alfonse : on of the gretest adversitees of 
 this world, is whan a free man by kinde, or of birthe, 
 is constreined by poverte to eten the almesse of his 
 enemie. And the same sayth Innocent in on of his 
 bookes : he sayth, that sorweful and mishappy is 
 the condition of a poure begger, for if he axe not 
 his mete, he dieth for hunger, and if he axe, he dieth 
 for shame : and algates necessitee constreineth him 
 to axe. And therfore sayth Salomon, that better it 
 is to die, than for to have swiche poverte. And as 
 the same Salomon sayth : Better it is to die of bitter 
 deth, than for to liven in swiche -wise. By thise 
 resons that I have said unto you, and by many other 
 resons that I coude saye, I graunte you that rich- 
 esses ben good to hem that wel geten hem, and to 
 hem that wel usen tho richesses : and therfore wol 1 
 shewe you how ye shuln behave you in gadering of 
 youre richesses, and in what manere ye shuln usen 
 hem. 
 
 First, ye shuln geten hem withouten gret desir. 
 
132 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 by good leiser, sokingly, and not over bastifly, for a 
 man that is to desiring to gete richesses, aban- 
 doneth him first to thefte and to alle other eviles. 
 And therfore sayth Salomon : He that hasteth him 
 to besily to wexe riche, he shal be non innocent. 
 He sayth also, that the richesse that hastily cometh 
 to a man, sone and lightly goeth and passeth from 
 a man, but that richesse that cometh litel and litel, 
 wexeth alway and multiplieth. And, Sire, ye 
 shulen gete richesses by youre wit and by youre 
 travaille, unto youre profite, and that withouten 
 wrong or harme doing to any other persone. For 
 the lawe sayth ; Ther maketh no man himself riche, 
 if he do harme to another wight ; this is to say, that 
 nature defendeth and forbedeth by right, that no 
 man make himself riche, unto the harme of another 
 persone. And Tullius sayth, that no sorwe, ne no 
 drede of deth, ne nothing that may falle unto a man, 
 is so muchel ageins nature, as a man to encrese his 
 owen profite, to harme of another man. And though 
 the grete men and the mighty men geten richesses 
 more lightly than thou, yet shalt thou not ben idel 
 ne slowe to do thy profite, for thou shalt in alle 
 wise flee idelnesse. For Salomon sayth, that idel- 
 nesse techeth a man to do many eviles. And the 
 same Salomon sayth, that he that travailleth and 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 133 
 
 besieth him to tillen his lond, shal ete bred; but he 
 that is idel, and casteth him to no besinesse ne oc- 
 cupation, shal falle into poverte, and die for hunger. 
 And he that is idel and slow, can never find coven- 
 able time for to do his profite. For ther is a versi- 
 fiour sayth, that the idel man excuseth him in Win- 
 ter, because of the grete cold, and in Sommer by 
 encheson of the hete. For thise causes, sayth Ca- 
 ton, waketh, and encliueth you not over muchel to 
 slepe, for over muchel reste norisheth and causeth 
 many vices. And therfore sayth Seint Jerome ; 
 Doeth som good dedes, that the devil which is oure 
 enemie, ne finde you not unoccupied, for the devil 
 ne taketh not lightly unto his working swiehe as he 
 findeth occupied in goode werkes. 
 
 . Than thus in geting richesses ye musten flee 
 idelnesse. And afterward ye shuln usen the 
 richesses, which ye han geten by youre wit and by 
 youre travaille, in swiehe manere, that men holde 
 you not to scarce ne to sparing, ne fool-large, that 
 is to say, over large a spender : for right as men 
 blamen an avaricious man, because of his scarcitee 
 and chincherie, in the same wise is he to blame, 
 that spendeth over largely. And therfore saith 
 Caton ; Use (sayth he) the richesses that thou hast 
 ygeten in swiehe manere, that men have no matere 
 
134 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 lie cause to calle thee nother wretche ne chinche : 
 for it is a gret shame to a man to have a poure 
 herte and riche purse. He sayth also : the goodes 
 that thou hast ygeten, use hem by mesure, that is 
 to sayn, spende mesurably ; for they that folily 
 wasten and dispenden the goodes that they han, 
 whan they han no more propre of hir owen, than 
 they shapen hem to take the goodes of another 
 man. I say than that ye shiiln dee avarice, using 
 Youre richesses in swiche manere, that men sayn 
 not that your richesses ben yberied, but that ye 
 have hem in youre might, and in youre welding. 
 For a wise man repreveth the avaricious man, and 
 sayth thus in two vers. Wherto and why berieth 
 a man his goodes by his gret avarice, and knoweth 
 wel, that nedes must he die, for deth is the end of 
 every man, as in this present lif? and for what 
 cause or encheson joineth he him, or knitteth he 
 him so fast unto his goodes, that alle his wittes 
 mown not disseveren him, or departen him from 
 his goodes, and knoweth wel, or oughte to knowe, 
 that whan he is ded, he shal nothing here with him * 
 out of this world ? And therfore sayth Seint Auo'us- 
 tine, that the avaricious man is likened unto helle, 
 that the more it swalweth, the more desir it hath to 
 swalwe and devoure. And as wel as ye wolde 
 
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 135 
 
 eschue to be called an avaricious man or chincbe, 
 as wel shulde ye kepe you and governe you in 
 swiche a wise, that men calle you not fool-large. 
 Therfore saith Tullius : The goodes of thin hous ne 
 shulde not ben hid ne kept so close, but that they 
 might ben opened by pitee and debonairetee ; that 
 is to sayn, to yeve hem part that han gret nede ; ne 
 thy goodes shulden not ben so open, to be every 
 mannes goodes. Afterward, in geting of youre 
 richesses, and in using of hem, ye shiiln alway 
 have three thinges in youre herte, that is to say, 
 oure Lord God, conscience, and good name. First, 
 ye shuln have God in youre herte, and for no ri- 
 chesse ye shuln do no thing, which may in any 
 manere displese God that is your creatour and 
 maker. For after the word of Salomon, it is better 
 to have a litel good with love of God; than 
 to have muchel good, and lese the love of his 
 Lord God. And the Prophete sayth, That better 
 it is to ben a good man, and have litel good and 
 tresor, than to be holden a shrewe, and have grete 
 richesses. And yet I say forthermore, that ye 
 shulden alway do youre besinesse to gete you 
 richesses, so that ye gete hem with good conscience. 
 And the Apostle sayth, that ther n’is thing in this 
 world of which we shulden have so gret joye, as 
 
136 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIEEUS. 
 
 whan oiire conscience bereth us good witnesse. 
 And the Wise man sayth ; The substaunce of a 
 man is ful good, whan sinne is not in mannes con- 
 science. Afterward, in geting of youre richesses, 
 and in using of liem, ye must have gret besinesse 
 and gret diligence, that youre good name be alway 
 kept and conserved. For Salomon sayth, that 
 beter it is, and more it availeth a man to have a 
 good name, than for to have grete richesses : and 
 therfore he sayth in another place ; Do grete dili- 
 gence (saith Salomon) in keping of thy frendes, 
 and of thy good name, for it shal longer abide with 
 thee, than any tresor, be it never so precious. And 
 certes, he shulde not be called a Gentilman, that 
 after God and good conscience, alle thinges left, 
 ne doth his diligence and besinesse, to kepen his 
 good name. And Cassiodore sayth, that it is a 
 signe of a gentil herte, whan a man loveth and de- 
 sireth to have a good name. And therfore sayth 
 Seint Augustine, that ther ben two thinges that 
 arn right necessarie and nedeful ; and that is good 
 conscience, and good los ; that is to sayn, good 
 conscience to thin owen persone inward, and good 
 los for thy neighebour outward. And he that 
 trosteth him so muchel in his good conscience, 
 that he despiseth and setteth at nought his good 
 
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 137 
 
 name or los, and recketh not. though he kepe not 
 his good name, n’is but a cruel cherl. 
 
 Sire, now have I shewed you how ye shulden do 
 in geting richesses, and how ye shuln usen hem ; 
 and T see wel that for the trust that ye han in youre 
 richesses, ye wiln meve werre and bataille. I con- 
 seille you that ye beginne no bataille ne werre, in 
 trust of youre richesses, for they ne sufficen not 
 werres to mainteine. And therfore sayth a Philo- 
 sophre : That man that desireth and wol algates 
 han werre, shal never have suffisaunce : for the 
 richer that he is, the greter dispences must he 
 make, if he wol have worship and victorie. And 
 Salomon saith, that the greter richesses that a man 
 hath, the mo dispendours he hath. And, dere 
 Sire, al be it so, that for your richesses ye moun 
 have muchel folk, yet behoveth it not, ne it is not 
 good to beginne werre, wheras ye moun in other 
 
 % 
 
 manere have pees, unto youre worship and profite : 
 for the victorie of batailles that ben in this world, 
 lith not in gret nombre or multitude of peple, ne in 
 the vertue of man, but it lith in the will and in the 
 bond of oure Lord God almighty. And therfore 
 Judas Machabeus, which was Goddes knight, whan 
 he shulde fighte again his adversarie, that hadde a 
 
138 
 
 THE TALE Of WELIEEUS. 
 
 greter nombre and a greter multitude of folk, and 
 strenger than was the peple of this Machabee, yet 
 he recomforted his litel compagnie, and sayde 
 right in this wise : A1 so lightly (sayde he) may 
 our Lord God almighty yeve victorie to a fewe folk, 
 as to many folk ; for the victorie of a bataille 
 Cometh not by the gret nombre of peple, but it 
 cometh from oure Lord God of heven. And, dere 
 Sire, for as muchel as ther is no man certaine, if it 
 be worthy that God yeve him victorie or not, after 
 that Salomon sayth, therfore every man shulde 
 gretly drede werres to beginne : and because that 
 in batailles fallen many perils, and it happeth other 
 while, that as sone is the gret man slain, as the litel 
 man; and, as it is ywritten in the second book of 
 Kinges, the dedes of batailles ben aventurous, and 
 nothing certain, for as lightly is on hurt with a 
 spere, as another; and for ther is gret peril in 
 wcrre ; therfore shulde a man flee and eschue 
 werre in as muchel as a man may goodly For 
 Salomon sayth ; He that loveth peril, shal falle in 
 peril. 
 
 After that Dame Prudence had spoken in this 
 manere, Melibee answerd and saide : I see wel, 
 dame Prudence, that by youre faire wordes and by 
 
1 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 1.39 
 
 yoiire resons, that ye han shewed me, that the 
 werre liketh you nothing: but I have not yet herd 
 your conseil, how I shal do in this nede. 
 
 Certes, quod she, I conseille you that ye ac- 
 corde with youre adversaries, and that ye have pees 
 with hem. For Seint James sayth in his Epistle, 
 that by concorde and pees, the smale richesses 
 wexen grete, and by debat and discorde grete rich- 
 esses fallen doun. And ye knowen wel, that on of 
 the gretest and moste soveraine thing that is in this 
 world, is unitee and pees. And therfore sayde 
 oure Lord Jesu Crigt to his Apostles in this wise : 
 Wel happy and blessed ben they that loven and 
 purchasen pees, for they ben called the children of 
 God, A, quod Melibee, now see I wel, that ye 
 loven not min honour, ne my worshipe. Ye knowen 
 wel that min adversaries han begonne this debat 
 and brige by hir outrage, and ye see wel, that they 
 ne requeren ne prayen me not of pees, ne they axen 
 not to be reconciled; wol ye than that J go and 
 meke me, and obeye me to hem, and crie hem 
 mercie? Forsoth that were not my worshipe: for 
 right as men sayn, that overgret homlinesse en- 
 gendreth dispreising, so fareth it by to gret humi- 
 litee or mekenesse. 
 
 Than began dame Prudence to make semblaunt 
 
 \ 
 
 k 
 
140 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 of wrathe, and sayde : Certes, Sire, (sauf your 
 grace) I love youre honour and youre profile, as I 
 do min owen, and ever have don ; ye, ne non other, 
 seyn never the contrary : and if I had sayde, that 
 ye shulde han purchased the pees and the recon- 
 ciliation, I ne hadde not muchel mistake me, ne 
 sayde amis. For the Wise man sayth : The dis- 
 sention beginneth by another man, and the recon- 
 ciling beginneth by thyself. And the Prophete 
 saith : Flee shrewednesse and do goodnesse ; seke 
 pees and folwe it, in as muchel as in thee is. Yet 
 say I not, that ye shuln rather pursue to youre ad- 
 versaries for pees, than they shuln to you : for I 
 know wel that ye ben so hard-herted, that ye wol 
 do nothing for me ; and Salomon sayth : he that 
 hath over hard an herte, atte laste he shal mis- 
 happe and mistide. 
 
 Whan Melibee had herd dame Prudence make 
 semblaunt of wrath, he sayde in this wise. Dame, 
 I pray you that ye be not displesed of thinges that 
 I say, for I knowe wel that I am angry and wroth, 
 and that is no wonder ; and they that ben wroth, 
 woten not wel what they don, ne what they sayn. 
 Therfore the Prophete sayth, that troubled eyen 
 lian no clere sighte. But sayth and conseilleth me 
 as you liketh, for 1 am redy to do right as ye wol 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 141 
 
 desire. And if ye repreve me of my folie, I am the 
 more holden to love you and to preise you. For 
 Salomon saith, that he that repreveth him that doth 
 folie, he shal find greter grace, than he that de- 
 ceiveth him by swete wordes. 
 
 Than sayde Dame Prudence ; I make no sem- 
 blaunt of wrath ne of anger, but for youre grete 
 profite. For Salomon saith : he is more worth, that 
 repreveth or chideth a fool for his folie, shevv^ing 
 him semblaunt of wrath, than he that supporteth 
 him and preiseth him in his misdoing, and laugheth 
 at his folie. And this same Salomon saith after- 
 ward, that by the sorweful visage of a man, that is 
 to sayn, by the sory and hevy countenance of a 
 man, the fool correcteth and amendeth himself. 
 
 Than said Melibee ; I shal not conne answere 
 unto so many faire resons as ye putten to me and 
 shewen ; sayth shortly youre will and youre con- 
 seil, and I am al redy to performe and fulfille it. 
 
 < Than Dame Prudence discovered all hire will 
 unto him and saide : I conseille you, quod she, 
 above alle thinges that ye make pees betwene God 
 and you, and be reconciled unto him and to his 
 grace, for as I have sayde you herebeforen, God 
 hath suffered you to have this tribulation and disese 
 for youre sinnes ; and if ye do as I say you, God 
 
14^2 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUb. 
 
 wol sende youre adversaries unto you, and make 
 hem falle at youre feet, redy to do youre will 
 and youre commaundements. For Salomon sayth ; 
 whan the condition of man is plesaunt and liking 
 to God, he chaungeth the hertes of the mannes 
 adversaries, and constreineth hem to besechen him 
 of pees and of grace. And I pray you let me speke 
 with your adversaries in privee place, for they 
 shuln not knowe that it be of youre will or youre 
 assent : and than, whan I knowe hir will and hir 
 entente, I may conseille you the more seurely. 
 
 Dame, quod Melibeus, doth youre will and youre 
 liking, for I putte me holly in youre disposition and 
 ordinaunce. 
 
 Than Dame Prudence, when she sey the good 
 will of hire husbond, delibered unto hire, and toke 
 avis in hire self, thinking how she might bring this 
 nede unto goode ende. And whan she sey hire 
 time, she sent for thise adversaries to come unto 
 hire in to a privee place, and shewed wisely unto 
 hem the grete goodes that comen of pees, and the 
 grete harmes and perils that ben in werre ; and 
 saide to hem in a goodly manere, how that hem 
 oughte have gret repentaunce of the injuries and 
 wronges, that they hadden don to Melibeus hire 
 lord, and unto hire and to hire doughter. 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 143 
 
 And whan they harden the goodly wordes of 
 Dame Prudence, they weren so surprised and 
 ravished, and hadden so gret joye of hire, that won- 
 der was to telle. A, lady, quod they, ye have 
 shewed unto us the blessing of sweteiiesse, after 
 the saying of David the Prophete ; for the recon- 
 ciling, which we be not worthy to have in no ma- 
 nere, but we oughten requeren it with grete con- 
 trition and humilitee, ye of you re grete goodnesse 
 have presented unto us. Now see we wel, that the 
 science and conning of Salomon is ful trewe ; for he 
 saith swete wordes multiplien and encresen frendes, 
 and maken shrewes to be debonaire and meke. 
 
 Certes, quod they, we putten oure dede, and all 
 oure matere and cause, al holly in youre good will, 
 and ben redy to obeye unto the speche and com- 
 maundement of my lord Melibeus. And therfore, 
 dere and benigne lady, we praye you and beseche 
 you as mekely as we conne and moun, that it like 
 unto youre grete goodnesse to fulfille in dede youre 
 goodly wordes. For we consideren and knowe- 
 lechen, that we han offended and greved my lord 
 Melibeus out of mesure, so fer forth, that we ben 
 not of power to maken him amendes ; and therfore 
 w'e oblige and binde us and oure frendes, for to do 
 all his will and his commaundements *: but peraven- 
 
1^4 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 tiire he hath swiche hevinesse and swiche wrath to 
 us ward, because of oure offence, that he wol enjoy- 
 nen us swiche a peine, as we moun not here ne sus- 
 teine ; and therfore, noble ladie, we beseche to youre 
 womanly pittee to take swiehe avisement in this 
 nede, that we, ne oure frendes, ben not disherited 
 and destroied, thurgh oure folie. 
 
 Certes, quod Prudence, it is an hard thing and 
 right perilous, that a man putte him all outrely in 
 the arbitration and jugement, and in the might and 
 power of his enemie : for Salomon sayth : leveth me, 
 and yeveth credence to that that I shall say ; to thy 
 sone, to thy wif, to thy frend, ne to thy brother, ne 
 yeve thou never might ne maistrie over thy body, 
 while thou livest. Now, sith he defendeth that a 
 man shulde not yeve to his brother, ne to his frend, 
 the might of his body, by a stronger reson he de- 
 fendeth and forbedeth a man to yeve himself to his 
 enemy. And natheles, I conseille you that ye mis- 
 truste not my lord : for I wot wel and know veraily, 
 that he is debonaire and meke, large, curteis, and 
 nothing desirous ne coveitous of good ne richesse : 
 for ther is nothing in this world that he desireth, 
 save only worshipe and honour. Forthermore I 
 know wel, and am right sure, that he shal nothing 
 do in this nede withouten my conseil ; and I shal so 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 145 
 
 / 
 
 werken in this cas, that by the grace of oure Lord 
 God ye shuln be reconciled unto us. 
 
 Than saiden they with o vois ; worshipful lady, 
 we putten us and oure opcodes al fully in youre will 
 and disposition, and ben redy to come, what day 
 that it like unto youre noblesse to limite us or 
 assigne us, for to make oure obligation and bond, as 
 strong as it liketh unto youre goodnesse, that we 
 moun fulfille the will of you and of my lord Melibee. 
 
 Whan Dame Prudence had herd the answer of 
 thise men, she bad hem go agein prively, and she 
 retourned to hire lord Melibee, and told him how 
 she fond his adversaries ful repentaunt, knowlech- 
 ing ful lowly hir sinnes and trespas, and how they 
 weren redy to suffren all peine, requering and prey- 
 ing him of mercy and pitee. 
 
 Than saide Melibee ; he is wel worthy to have 
 pardon and foryevenesse of his sinne, that excuseth 
 not his sinne, but knowlecheth, and repenteth him, 
 axing indulgence. ForSenek saith ; ther is the re- 
 mission and foryevenesse, wher as the confession is ; 
 for confession is neighebour to innocence. And 
 therefore 1 assente and conferme me to have pees, 
 but it is good that we do nought withouten the as- 
 sent and will of oure frendes. 
 
 Than was Prudence right glad and joyeful, and 
 
 VOL. Ill, 
 
 L 
 
14b* 
 
 THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 saide ; certes, sire, ye han wel and goodly answered : 
 for right as by the conseil, assent, and helpe of your 
 frendes, ye han be stired to venge you and make 
 werre : right so withouten hir conseil shul ye not 
 accord you, ne have pees with youre adversaries. 
 For the lawe saith : ther is nothing so good by way 
 of kinde, as a thing to be unbounde by him that it 
 was ybounde. 
 
 And than Dame Prudence, withouten delay or 
 tarying, sent anon hire messageres for hir kin and 
 for hir olde frendes, which that were trewe and wise : 
 and told hem by ordre, in the presence of Melibee, 
 all the matere, as it is above expressed and declared ; 
 and preied hem that they wold yeve hir avis and 
 conseil, what were best to do in this nede. And 
 whan Melibeus frendes hadden taken hir avis and 
 deliberation of the foresaid matere, and hadden ex- 
 amined it by gret besinesse and gret diligence, they 
 yaven ful conseil for to have pees and reste, and 
 that Melibee shulde receive with good herte his ad- 
 versaries to foryevenesse and mercy. 
 
 And whan dame Prudence had herd the assent of 
 hire lord Melibee, and the conseil of his frendes, 
 accord with hire will and hire entention, she was 
 wonder glad in hire herte, and sayde : ther is an 
 olde Proverbe, quod she, sayth, that the goodnesse 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 147 
 
 that thou maist do this day, do it, and abide not, ne 
 delay it not til to morwe : and therfore I conseille, 
 that ye sende youre messageres, swiche as ben dis- 
 crete and wise, unto youre adversaries, telling hem 
 on youre behalf, that if they wol trete of pees and of 
 accord, that they shape hem, withouten delay or 
 tarying, to come unto us. Which thing parfourmed 
 was indede. And whan thise trespasours and re- 
 penting folk of hir folies, that is to sayn, the adver- 
 saries of Melibee, hadden herd what thise messa- 
 geres sayden unto hem, they weren right glade and 
 joyeful, and answerden ful mekely and benignely, 
 yelding graces and thankinges to hir lord Melibee, 
 and to all his compagnie : and shopen hem with- 
 outen delay to go with the messageres, and obeye 
 to the commaundement of hir lord Melibee. 
 
 And right anon they token hir way to the court 
 of Melibee, and token with hem some of hir trewe 
 frendes, to make feith for hem, and for to ben hir 
 borwes. And wlian they were comen to the pre- 
 sence of Melibee, he saide hem thise wordes : it 
 stant thus, quod Melibee, and soth it is, that ye 
 causeles, and withouten skdl and reson, han don 
 grete injuries and wronges to me, and to my wif 
 Prudence, and to my dough ter also, for ye han 
 entred into myn hous by violence, and have don 
 
148 
 
 THE TALE or MELIBEUS. 
 
 swiche outrage, that alle men knowen wel that ye 
 han deserved the deth : and therfore wol I know 
 and wete of you, whether ye wol putte the punish- 
 ing and chastising, and the vengeaunce of this out- 
 rage, in the will of me and of my wif, or ye wol not. 
 
 Than the wisest of hem three answered for hem 
 alle, and saide. Sire, quod he, we knowen wel, 
 that we ben unworthy to come to the court of so 
 gret a lord and so worthy as ye ben, for we han so 
 gretly mistaken us, and han offended and agilte in 
 swiche wise agein youre high lordshipe, that trewely 
 we han deserved the deth ; but yet for the grete 
 goodnesse and debonairetee, that all the world 
 witnesseth of youre persone, we submitten us to the 
 excellence and benignitee of youre gracious lord- 
 shipe, and ben redy to obeye to alle youre co- 
 mandements, beseching you, that of youre merciable 
 pitee ye wol considere oure grete repentance and 
 lowe submission, and graunte us foryevenesse of 
 oure outragious trespas and offence : for wel we 
 knowen, that youre liberal grace and mercie stretchen 
 hem further into goodnesse, than don oure outragi- 
 ous giltes and trespas into wickednesse ; al be it 
 that cursedly and dampnably we han agilte again 
 youre highe lordshipe. 
 
 Than Melibee toke hem up fro the ground ful 
 
THE TALE OF MELTBEUS. 
 
 149 
 
 benignely, and received hir obligations, and hir 
 bondes, by hir othes upon hir plegges and borwes, 
 and assigned hem a certain day to retourne unto 
 his court for to receive and accept sentence and 
 jugement, that Melibee wolde commande to be don 
 on hem, by the causes aforesaid ; which thinges or- 
 deined, every man retourned to his hous. 
 
 And whan that dame Prudence saw hire time, 
 she freined and axed hire lord Melibee, what ven- 
 geance he thoughte to taken of his adversaries. 
 
 To which Melibee answered, and said : certes, 
 quod he, I thinke and purpose me fully to disherite 
 hem of all that ever they han, and for to putte hem 
 in exile for ever. 
 
 Certes, quod Dame Prudence, this were a cruel 
 sentence, and muchel agein reson. For ye ben 
 riche ynough, and han no nede of other mennes 
 good ; and ye might lightly in this wise gete you a 
 coveitous name, which is a vicious thing, and oughte 
 to ben eschewed of every good man : for after the 
 sawe of the Apostle, coveitisc is rote of alle harmes. 
 And therfore it were better for you to lese muchel 
 good of your owen, than for to take of hir good in 
 this manere. For better it is to lese good with 
 worship, than to winiie good with vilanie and shame. 
 And every man oughte to do his diligence and his 
 
150 
 
 THE TALE OE MELIBEUS. 
 
 besinesse, to gete him a good name. And yet shal 
 he not only besie him in keping his good name, 
 but he shal also enforcen him alway to do som 
 thing, by which he may renovelle his good name : 
 for it is written, that the olde good los, or good 
 name, of a man is sone gon and passed, whan it 
 is not newed. And as touching that ye sayn, 
 that ye wol exile your adversaries, that thinketh 
 me muchel agein reson, and out of mesure, con- 
 sidered the power that they han yeven you upon 
 hemself. And it is written, that he is worthy 
 to lese his privilege, that misuseth the might and 
 the power that is yeven him. And I sette cas, ye 
 might enjoine hem that peine by right and by lawe, 
 (which I trowe ye mowe not do) I say, ye might 
 not putte it to execution peraventure, and than it 
 were like to retourne to the werre, as it was beforn. 
 And therfore if ye wol that men do you obeisaunce, 
 ye must deme more curteisly, that is to sayn, ye 
 must yeve more esie sentences and jugements. 
 For it is written : he that most curteisly command- 
 eth, to him men most obeyen. And therfore I pray 
 you, that in this necessitee and in this nede ye 
 caste you to overcome youre herte. For Senek 
 sayth, that he that overcometh his herte, over- 
 cometh twies And Tullius saith : ther is nothing 
 
THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 
 
 151 
 
 so commendable in a gret lord, as whan he is de- 
 bonaire and meke, and appeseth him lightly. And 
 I pray you, that ye wol now forbere to do ven- 
 geauiice, in swiche a manere, that your good name 
 may be kept and conserved, and that men mown 
 have cause and matere to preise you of pitee and of 
 mercy; and that ye have no cause to repente you 
 of thing that ye don. For Seneke saieth ; he over- 
 cometh in an evil manere, that repenteth him of his 
 victorie. Wherfore I pray you let mercy be in 
 youre herte, to the effect and entente, that God 
 almighty have mercy upon you in his last juge- 
 ment : for seint James saith in his Epistle: juge- 
 ment withoute mercy shal be do to him, that hath 
 no mercy of another wight. 
 
 Whan Melibee had heard the grete skilles and 
 resons of dame Prudence, and hire wise informa- 
 tions and techinges, his herte gan encline to the 
 will of his wif, considering hire trewe entente, en- 
 forced him anon and assented fully to werken after 
 hire conseil, and thanked God, of whom procedeth 
 all goodnesse and all vertue, that him sent a wif of 
 so gret discretion. And whan the day came that 
 his adversaries shulde appere in his presence, he 
 spake to hem ful goodly, and saide in this wise. 
 A1 be itso, that of youre pride and high presump- 
 
I 
 
 15^ THE MONKES PROLOGUE. 
 
 tion and folie, and of youre negligence and uncon- 
 ning, ye have misborne you, and trespased unto 
 me, yet for as muchel as 1 see and behold youre 
 grete humilitee, and that ye ben sory and repentant 
 of youre giltes, vt constreineth me to do you grace 
 and mercy ; wherfore I receive you into my grace, 
 and foryeve you outrely alle the offences, ii^ijuries, 
 and wronges, that ye have don agein me and mine, 
 to this effect and to this ende, that God of his 
 endeles merciewol at the time of oure dying foryeve 
 us oure giltes, that we han trespased to him in this 
 wretched world : for douteles, if we be sory and 
 repentant of the sinnes and giltes, which we han 
 trespased in the sight of oure Lord God, he is so 
 free and so merciable, that he wol foryeven us oure 
 giltes, and bringen us to the blisse that never hath 
 ende. Amen. 
 
 THE MONKES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Whan ended was my tale of'Melibee, T3895 
 And of Prudence and hire benignitee, 
 
 Our hoste saide; as I am faithful man, 
 
 And by the precious corpus Madrian, 
 
 1 hadde lever than a barell of ale, 
 
 That goode lefe my wif had herde this tale : 
 
 13.900 
 
THE MONKES PROLOGUE. 
 
 153 
 
 For she n’is no thing of swiche patience, 13901 
 As was this Melibeus wif Prudence. 
 
 By Goddes bones, whan I bete my knaves, 
 
 She bringeth me the grete clobbed staves. 
 
 And cryeth ; slee the dogges everich on. 
 
 And breke hem bothe bak and every bon. 
 
 And if that any neighebour of mine 
 Wol not in chirche to my wif encline. 
 
 Or be so hardy to hire to trespace, 13909 
 
 Whan she cometh home she rampeth in my face, 
 And cryeth ; false coward, wreke thy wif : 
 
 By corpus Domini, I wol have thy knif. 
 
 And thou shalt have my distaf, and go spinne. 
 
 Fro day til night right thus she wol beginne. 
 
 Alas, she saith, that ever I was yshape 
 To wed a milksop, or a coward ape, 
 
 That wol ben overladde with every wight ! 13917 
 
 Thou darst not stonden by thy wives right. 
 
 This is my lif, but if that I wol fight. 
 
 And out at dore anon I mote me dight. 
 
 Or elles I am lost, but if that I 
 Be like a wilde leon, fool-hardy. 
 
 I wote wel she wol do me slee som day 
 Som neighebour, and thanne go my way. 
 
 For I am perilous with knif in honde, 
 
 A 1 be it that I dare not hire withstonde : 
 
 1392f; 
 
154 
 
 THE MONKES PROLOGUE. 
 
 For she is big-ge in armes by my faith, i 8 !i 27 
 
 That shal he finde, that hire misdoth or saith. 
 
 But let us passe away fro this matere. 
 
 My lord the Monk, quod he, be mery of chere. 
 For ye shul telle a tale trewely. 
 
 Lo, Rouchester stondeth here faste by. ' - 
 
 Ride forth, min owen lord, breke not our game. 
 
 But by my trouthe I can not telle youre name ; 
 Whether shal I call you my lord Dan John, 13.935 
 Or Dan Thomas, or elles Dan Albon ? 
 
 Of what hous be ye, by your fader kin ? 
 
 I vow to God, thou hast a ful faire skin ; 
 
 It is a gentil pasture ther thou gost ; 
 
 Thou art not like a penaunt or a gost. 
 
 Upon my faith thou art som officer, 
 
 Som worthy sextein, or som celerer. 
 
 For by my fadres soule, as to my dome, 13943 
 
 Thou art a maister, whan thou art at home ; 
 
 No pome cloisterer, ne non novice. 
 
 But a governour bothe ware and wise. 
 
 And therwithal of braunes and of bones 
 A right wel faring persone for the nones. 
 
 I pray to God yeve him confusion, 
 
 That first thee brought into religion. 
 
 Thou woldest han ben a trede-foul a ri2:ht, 
 
 Haddest thou as grete leve, as thou hast might, 13952 
 
THE MONKES PROLOGUE. 
 
 155 
 
 To parfourme all thy lust in engendrure, iS953 
 Thou haddest begeten many a creature. 
 
 Alas ! why werest thou so wide a cope ? 
 
 God yeve me sorwe, but, and I were pope, 
 
 Not only thou but every mighty man, 
 
 Though he v/ere shore ful high upon his pan, 
 
 Shuld have a wif, for al this world is lorn; 
 
 Religion hath take up all the corn 
 
 Of treding, and we borel men ben shrimpes : 13961 
 
 Of feble trees ther comen wretched impes. 
 
 This maketh that our heires ben so sclendre 
 And feble, that they moun not wel engendre. 
 
 This maketh that our wives wol assaye 
 Religious folk, for they moun better paye 
 Of Venus payementes than mowen we : 
 
 God wote, no lusheburghes payen ye. 
 
 But be not wroth, my lord, though that I play ; 13969 
 Ful oft in game a sothe have I herd say. 
 
 This worthy Monke toke all in patience. 
 
 And saide; I wol don all my diligence. 
 
 As fer as souneth into honestee, 
 
 To tellen you a tale, or two or three. 
 
 And if you list to herken hiderward, 
 
 I wol you sayn the lif of Seint Edward ; 
 
 Or elles tragedies first I wol telle. 
 
 Of which 1 have an hundred in my celle. 
 
 1397 8 
 
156 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 Tragedie is to sayn a certain storie. 
 
 As olde bookes maken ns memorie. 
 
 Of him that stood in g-ret prosperitee, 
 
 And is yfallen out of high degree 
 In to miserie, and endeth wretchedly. 
 
 And they ben versified coramunly 
 
 Of six feet, which men clepen exametron : 
 
 In prose eke ben endited many on, 
 
 And eke in metre, in many a sondry wise. 
 Lo, this declaring ought ynough suffice. 
 
 Now herkeneth, if you liketh for to here. 
 But first 1 you beseche in this matere. 
 Though I by ordre telle not thise thinges. 
 Be it of popes, emperoures, or kinges. 
 
 After hir ages, as men written finde. 
 
 But telle hem som before and som behinde, 
 As it now cometh to my remembrance, 
 
 Have me excused of min ignorance. 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 I woL bewaile in manere of tragedie 
 The harm of hem, that stode in high degree^ 
 And fellen so, that ther n*as no remedie 
 To bring hem out of hir adversitee. 
 
 For certain whan that fortune list to flee, 
 
 13.979 
 
 13987 
 
 13995 
 
 14001 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 157 
 
 Ther may no man of hire the conrs withholde ; 14002 
 Let no man trust on blinde prosperitee ; 
 
 Beth ware by thise ensamples trewe and olde. 
 
 Lucifer. 
 
 At Lucifer, though he an angel were 
 And not a man, at him I wol beginne. 
 
 For though fortune may non angel dere, 
 
 From high degree yet fell he for his sinne i 400 s 
 Doun into helle, wheras he yet is inne. 
 
 O Lucifer, brightest of angels alle. 
 
 Now art thou Sathanas, that maist not twinne 
 Out of miserie, in wdiich that thou art falie. 
 
 Adam. 
 
 Lo Adam, in the feld of Damascene 
 With Goddes owen finger wrought was he, 14014 
 And not begeten of mannes sperme unclene, 
 
 And welte all Paradis saving o tree ; 
 
 Had never worldly man so high degree 
 As Adam, til he for misgovernance 
 Was driven out of his prosperitee 
 To labour, and to helle, and to meschance. 
 
 Sampson. 
 
 Lo Sampson, which that was annunciat 110-21 
 
158 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 By the angel, long or his nativitee : 14022 
 
 And was to God Almighty consecrat, 
 
 And stode in noblesse whde he mighte see : 
 
 Was never swiche another as was he, 
 
 To speke of strength, and therto hardinesse ; 
 
 But to his wives tolde he his secree, 
 
 Thurgh which he slow himself for wretchednesse. 
 
 Sampson, this noble and mighty champion, 14029 
 Withouten wepen, save his handes twey. 
 
 He slow and all to-rente the leon. 
 
 Toward his wedding walking by the wey : 
 
 His false wif coude him so plese, and pray. 
 
 Til she his conseil knewe ; and she untrewe 
 Unto his foos his conseil gan bewray. 
 
 And him forsoke, and toke another newe. 
 
 Three hundred foxes toke Sampson for ire, 14037 
 And all hir tayles he togeder bond : 
 
 And set the foxes tayles all on fire. 
 
 For he in every tayl had knit a brond. 
 
 And they brent all the comes in that lond, 
 
 And all hir oliveres, and vines eke. 
 
 A thousand men he slow eke with his bond, 
 
 And had no wepen, but an asses cheke. 
 
 Whan they were slain, so thurstedhim,thathe 14045 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 159 
 
 Was wel nie lorne, for which he gan to preye, 
 That God wold on his peine han som pitee. 
 And send him drinke, or elles inoste be deye : 
 And of this asses cheke, that was so dreye, 
 Out of a wang toth sprang anon a welle, 
 
 Of which he dranke ynough, shortly to seye. 
 Thus halp him God, as Judicum can telle. 
 
 By veray force at Gasa on a night, 
 
 Maugre the Philistins of that citee, 
 
 The gates of the toun he hath up plight, 
 
 And on his bak ycaried hem hath he 
 High on an hill, wher as men might hem se. 
 O noble mighty Sampson, lefe and dere, 
 Haddest thou not told to women thy secree. 
 In all this world ne had ther ben thy pere. 
 
 This Sampson never sider drank ne wine, 
 Ne on his hed came rasour non ne shere, 
 
 By precept of the messager divine, 
 
 For all his strengthes in his heres were ; 
 
 And fully twenty winter yere by yere 
 He hadde of Israel the governance ; 
 
 But sone shal he wepen many a tere. 
 
 For women shuln him bringen to meschance. 
 
 H040’ 
 
 14053 
 
 140G1 
 
 Unto his lemman Dalida he told. 
 
 1406’9 
 
160 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 That in his heres all his strengthe lay, 14070 
 
 And falsely to his fomen she him sold ; 
 
 And sleping in hire barme upon a day 
 She made to clip or shere his here away. 
 
 And made his fomen all his craft espien ; 
 
 And whan that they him fond in this array, 
 
 They bond him fast, and putten out his eyen. 
 
 But or his here was clipped or yshave, 14077 
 Ther was no bond, with which men might him bind. 
 But now is he in prison in a cave, 
 
 Wheras they made him at the querne grinde. 
 
 O noble Sampson, strongest of mankind, 
 
 O whilom juge in glory and richesse, 
 
 Now mayest thou wepen with thin eyen blind, 
 
 Sith thou fro wele art falle in wretchednesse. 
 
 The ende of this caitif was, as I shal seye : i4085 
 His fomen made a feste upon a day, 
 
 And made him as hir fool before hem pleye : 
 
 And this was in a temple of gret array. 
 
 But at the last he made a foule affray. 
 
 For he two pillers shoke, and made hem falle. 
 
 And doun fell temple and all, and ther it lay, 
 
 And slow himself, and eke his fomen alle. 
 
 This is to sayn, the princes everich on, hops 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 161 
 
 And eke three thousand bodies were ther slain 140.94 
 With falling of the gret temple of ston. 
 
 Of Sampson now wol I no more sain : 
 
 Beth ware by this ensample old and plain, 
 
 That no men tell hir conseil to hir wives 
 Of swiche thing, as they wold han secree fain, 
 
 If that it touch hir limmes or hir lives. 
 
 Hercules. 
 
 Of Hercules the soveraine conquerour 11 101 
 Singen his werkes laude, and high renoun ; 
 
 For in his time of strength he was the flour. 
 
 He slow and raft the skinne of the leon ; 
 
 He of Centaures laid the host adoun ; 
 
 He Harpies slow, the cruel briddes felle ; 
 
 He golden apples raft fro the dragon ; 
 
 He drow out Cerberus the hound of helle. i 4 io.s 
 
 He slow the cruel tirant Busirus, 
 
 And made his hors to fret him flesh and bon ; 
 
 He slow the firy serpent venemous ; 
 
 Of Achelous two homes brake he on. 
 
 And he slow Cacus in a cave of ston ; 
 
 He slow the geaunt Anteus the strong ; 
 
 He slow the grisely bore, and that anon ; 
 
 And bare the hevene on his nekke long. 14116' 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 M 
 
162 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 Was never wight sith that the world began, 14117 
 That slow so many monstres, as did he ; 
 
 Thurghout the wide world his name ran, 
 
 ' What for his strength, and for his high bountee ; 
 And every reaume went he for to see, 
 
 He was so strong that no man might him let ; 
 
 At bothe the worldes endes, saith Trophee, 
 
 In stede of boundes he a piller set. 
 
 A lemman had this noble champion, 14125 
 
 'That highte Deianire, as fresh as May; 
 
 And as thise clerk es maken mention, 
 
 She hath him sent a sherte fresh and gay ; 
 
 Alas ! this sherte, alas and wala wa ! 
 
 Envenimed was sotilly withalle, 
 
 That or that he had wered it half a day, 
 
 It mede his flesh all from his bones falle. 14132 
 
 But natheles som clerkes hire excusen 
 By no, that highte Nessus, that it maked ; 
 
 Be as may be, I wol hire not accusen ; 
 
 But on his bak this sherte he wered al naked, 
 
 Til that his flesh was for the venim blaked : 
 
 And whan he saw non other remedie ; 
 
 In hote coles he hath himselven raked, 
 
 For with no venime deigned him to die. i4i40 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 163 
 
 Thus starf this worthy mighty Hercules. 
 Lo, who may trust on fortune any throw ? 
 For him that folweth all this world of pres, 
 Or he be ware, is oft ylaid ful lowe : 
 
 Ful wise is he, that can himselven knowe. 
 Beth ware, for whan that fortune list to glose. 
 Than waiteth she hire man to overthrowe 
 By swiche a way, as he wold lest suppose. 
 
 Na b u chodonosor. 
 
 The mighty trone, the precious tresor, 
 
 The glorious sceptre, and real majestee. 
 
 That hadde the king Nabuchodonosor, 
 
 With tonge unnethes may descrived be. 
 
 He twies wan Jerusalem the citee. 
 
 The vessell of the temple he with him ladde ; 
 At Babiloine was his soveraine see. 
 
 In which his glorie and his debt he hadde. 
 
 The fayrest children of the blood real 
 Of Israel he did do gelde anon, 
 
 And maked eche of hem to ben his thral. 
 Amonges other Daniel was on. 
 
 That was the wisest child of everich on ; 
 
 For he the dremes of the king expouned, 
 
 Wher as in Caldee clerk ne was ther non. 
 
 That wiste to what fin his dremes souned. 
 
 t 
 
 14141 
 
 14148 
 
 14155 
 
 14164 
 
164 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 This proude king let make a statue of gold 
 Sixty cubites long, and seven in brede, 
 
 To which image bothe yonge and old 
 Commanded he to loute, and have in drede, 
 Or in a fourneis, ful of flames rede, 
 
 He shuld be brent, that wolde not obeye : 
 
 But never wold assenten to that dede 
 Daniel, ne his yonge felawes tweye. 
 
 This king of kinges proud was and elat ; 
 
 He wend that God, that sit in majestee, 
 
 Ne might him nat bereve of his estat ; 
 
 But sodenly he lost his dignitee, 
 
 And like a best him semed for to be. 
 
 And ete hey as an oxe, and lay therout : 
 
 In rain with wilde bestes walked he, 
 
 Til certain time was ycome about. 
 
 And like an egles fethers wex his heres, 
 His neyles like a briddes clawes were, 
 
 Til God relesed him at certain yeres. 
 
 And yaf him wit, and than with many a tere 
 He thanked God, and ever his lif in fere 
 Was he to don amis, or more trespace : 
 
 And til that time he laid was on his bere. 
 
 He knew that God was ful of might and grace 
 
 14165 
 
 14173 
 
 14180 
 
 ; 14188 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 165 
 
 Balthasar. 
 
 His sone, which thathighte Balthasar, 
 That held the regne after his fadres day, 
 
 He by his fader coude not beware, 
 
 For proude he was of herte, and of array ; 
 And eke an ydolaster was he ay. 
 
 His high estat assured him in pride; 
 
 But fortune cast him doun (and ther he lay) 
 And sodenly his regne gan devide. 
 
 A feste he made unto his lordes alle 
 Upon a time, and made hem blithe be, 
 
 And than his officeres gan he calle ; 
 
 Goth, bringeth forthe the vessels, quod he. 
 Which that my fader in his prosperitee 
 Out of the temple of Jerusalem beraft. 
 
 And to our highe goddes thanke we 
 Of honour, that our eldres with us laft. 
 
 His wif, his lordes, and his concubines 
 Ay dronken, while hir appetites last. 
 
 Out of thise noble vessels sondry wines. 
 
 And on a wall this king his eyen cast. 
 
 And saw an hand armies, that wrote ful fast. 
 For fere of whiche he quoke, and siked sore. 
 This hand, that Balthasar so sore agast, ‘ 
 Wrote Mane techel phares, and no more. 
 
 141S9 
 
 14196' 
 
 14203 
 
 14212 
 
1()6 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 In al that lond Magicien was non, 14213 
 
 That coiid expounen Avhat this lettre ment, 
 
 But Daniel expouned it anon, 
 
 And said ; O king, God to thy fader lent 
 Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, and rent ; 
 
 And he was proud, and nothing God ne dradde ; 
 And therfore God gret wreche upon him sent, 
 
 And him beraft the regne that he hadde. 
 
 He was out cast of mannes compagnie, 14221 
 With asses was his habitation ; 
 
 And ete hey, as a best, in wete and drie, 
 
 Til that he knew by grace and by reson, 
 
 That God of heven hath domination 
 Over every regne, and every creature : 
 
 And than had God of him compassion. 
 
 And him restored his regne and his figure. 14228 
 
 Eke thou, that art his sone, art proud also. 
 
 And knowest all thise thinges veraily ; 
 
 And art rebel to God, and art his fo. 
 
 Thou dranke eke of his vessels boldely. 
 
 Thy wif eke, and thy wenches sinfully 
 Dranke of the same vessels sondry wines. 
 
 And heried false goddes cursedly, 
 
 Therfore to thee yshapen ful gret pine is. 
 
 14236 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 16 : 
 
 This hand was sent fro God, that on the wall 14237 
 Wrote Mane tecliel pliares, trusteth me ; 
 
 Thy regne is don, thou weyest nought at all ; 
 Divided is thy regne, and it shal be 
 To Medes and to Perses yeven, quod he. 
 
 And thilke same night this king was slawe ; 
 
 And Darius occupied his degree. 
 
 Though he therto had neither right ne lawe. 
 
 Lordinges, ensample hereby moun ye take, 14245 
 How that in lordship is no sikernesse : 
 
 For whan that fortune wol a man forsake. 
 
 She bereth away his regne and his richesse. 
 
 And eke his frendes, bothe more and lesse. 
 
 For what man that hath frendes thurgh fortune. 
 Mishap wol make hem enemies, I gesse. 
 
 This proverbe is ful soth, and ful commune. 
 
 Zenobia. 
 
 Zenobia, of Palmerie the quene, 14252 
 
 (As writen Persiens of hire noblesse) 
 
 So worthy was in armes, and so kene, 
 
 That no wight passed hire in hardinesse, 
 
 Ne in linage, ne in other gentillesse. 
 
 Of kinges blood of Perse is she descended ; 
 
 1 say not that she hadde most fairenesse. 
 
 But of hire shape she might not ben amended. 14260 
 
I 
 
 1 
 
 168 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 From hire childhode I finde that she fledde 
 Office of woman, and to wode she went ; 
 
 And many a wilde hartes blood she shedde 
 With arwes brode that she to hem sent; 
 
 She was so swift, that she anon hem hent. 
 And whan that she was elder, she wold kille 
 Leons, lepards, and beres al to-rent. 
 
 And in hire armes weld hem at hire wille. 
 
 She dorst the wilde bestes dennes seke. 
 And rennen in the mountaignes all the night, 
 And slepe under the bush ; and she coud eke 
 Wrastlen by veray force and veray might 
 With any yong man, were he never so wight; 
 Ther mighte nothing in hire armes stonde ; 
 She kept hire maidenhode from every wight. 
 To no man deigned hire for to be bonde. 
 
 But at the last hire frendes han hire maried 
 To Odenat, a prince of that contree ; 
 
 Al were it so, that she hem longe taried. 
 
 And ye shul understonden, how that he 
 Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she ; 
 
 But natheles, whan they were knit in fere. 
 They lived in joye, and in felicitee. 
 
 For eche of hem had other lefe and derc. 
 
 f 
 
 
 14261 
 
 X 
 
 14269 
 
 14276 
 
 14284 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 169 
 
 Save 0 thing, that she n’olde never assente, 14285 
 By no way, that he shulde by hire lie 
 But ones, for it was hire plaine entente 
 To have a childe, the world to multiplie ; 
 
 And al so sone as that she might espie. 
 
 That she was not with childe with that dede. 
 
 Than would she suflPer him don his fantasie 
 Eftsone, and not but ones out of drede. 
 
 And if she were with child at thilke cast, i 429 a 
 No more shuld he playen thilke game 
 Till fully fourty dayes weren past : 
 
 Than wold she ones sufFre him do the same. 
 
 Al were this Oden ate wild or tame. 
 
 He gate no more of hire, for thus she sayde. 
 
 It was to wives lecherie and shame. 
 
 In other cas if that men with hem playde. 14300 
 
 Two sones by this Odenate had she. 
 
 The which she kept in vertue and lettrure. 
 
 But now unto our tale turne we : 
 
 I say, so worshipful a creature, 
 
 And wise therwith, and large with mesure. 
 
 So penible in the werre, and curteis eke, 
 
 Ne more labour might in werre endure, 14307 
 
 Was non, though al this world men shulden seke. 
 
170 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 Hire riche array ne mighte not be told, 1430.9 
 As wel in vessell as in hire clothing ; 
 
 She was al clad in pierrie and in gold, 
 
 And eke she lefte not for non hunting 
 To have of sondry tonges ful knowing, 
 
 Whan that she leiser had, and for to entend 
 To lernen bookes was all hire liking, 
 
 How she in vertue might hire lif dispend. 
 
 And shortly of this storie for to trete, 14317 
 
 So doughty was hire husbond and eke she. 
 
 That they conquered many regnes grete 
 In the Orient, with many a faire citee, 
 
 Appertenaunt unto the majestee 
 
 Of Rome, and with strong hand held hem ful fast, 
 
 Ne never might hir fomen don hem flee, 
 
 Ay while that Odenates dayes last. 14324 
 
 Hire batailles, who so list hem for to rede, 
 
 Againe Sapor the king, and other mo, 
 
 And how that all this processe fell in dede. 
 
 Why she conquered, and what title therto. 
 
 And after of hire mischefe and hire wo, 
 
 How that she was beseged, and ytake. 
 
 Let him unto my maister Petrark go, 
 
 That writeth ynough of this, I undertake. 14332 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 171 
 
 Whan Odenate was ded, she mightily 
 The regnes held, and with hire propre bond 
 Agains hire fos she fought so cruelly, 
 
 That ther n’as king ne prince in all that lond. 
 That he n’as glad, if he that grace fond 
 That she ne wolde upon his lond werreye : 
 With hire they maden alliaunce by bond 
 To ben in pees, and let hire ride and pleye. 
 
 The emperour of Rome Claudius, 
 
 Ne, him beforn, the Romain Galien 
 Ne dorste never be so corageous, 
 
 Ne non Ermin, ne non Egiptien, 
 
 Ne Surrien, ne non Arabien 
 
 Within the feld ne dorste with hire fight, 
 
 Lest that she wold hem with hire hondes slen 
 Or with hire meinie putten hem to flight. 
 
 In kinges habite wente hire sones two. 
 
 As heires of hir fadres regnes alle. 
 
 And Heremanno and Timolao 
 
 Hir names were, as Persiens hem calle. 
 
 But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle : 
 
 This mighty quene may no while endure, 
 Fortune out of hire regne made hire falle 
 To wretchednesse, and to misaventure. 
 
 14333 
 
 14341 
 
 14343 
 
 14356 
 
17*2 
 
 TIJE MONKES TALE. 
 
 Aurelian, whan that the governance 14357 
 
 Of Rome came into his hondes twey. 
 
 He shope upon this quene to do vengeance, 
 
 And with his legions he toke his way 
 Toward Zenobie, and shortly for to say, 
 
 He made hire flee, and atte last hire hent. 
 
 And fettred hire, and eke hire children tway, 
 
 And wan the loud, and home to Rome he went. 
 
 Amonges other thinges that he wan, i 43(>5 
 
 Hire char, that was with gold wrought and pierrie. 
 This grete Romain, this Aurelian 
 Hath with him lad, for that men shuld it see. 
 Beforen his triumphe walketh she 
 With gilte chaines on hire necke honging, 
 
 Crouned she was, as after hire degree. 
 
 And ful of pierrie charged hire clothing. 14372 
 
 Alas fortune ! she that whilom was 
 Dredeful to kinges and to emperoures. 
 
 Now gaureth all the peple on hire, alas! 
 
 And she that helmed was in starke stoures. 
 
 And wan by force tonnes stronge and toures, 
 
 Shal on hire hed now were a vitremite : 
 
 And she that bare the sceptre ful of floures, 
 
 Shal here a distaf hire cost for to quite. 
 
 14380 
 
THE MONKES TALE, 
 
 173 
 
 Nero. 
 
 Although that Nero were as vicious, 
 
 As any fend, that lith ful low adoun. 
 
 Yet he, as telleth us Suetonius, 
 
 This wide world had in subjectioun. 
 
 Both Est and West, South and Septentrioun. 
 Of rubies, saphires, and of perles white 
 Were all his clothes broudedup and doun. 
 For he in gemmes gretly gan delite. 
 
 More delicat, more pompous of array. 
 More proude, was never emperour than he ; 
 That ilke cloth that he had wered o day. 
 After that time he n’olde it never see ; 
 
 Nettes of gold threde had he gret plentee, 
 To fish in Tiber, whan him list to play ; 
 
 His lustes were as law, in his degree, 
 
 For fortune as his frend wold him obay. 
 
 He Rome brente for his delicacie; 
 
 The senatours he slow upon a day. 
 
 To heren how that men wold wepe and crie; 
 And slow his brother, and by his suster lay 
 His moder made he in pitous array. 
 
 For he hire wombe let slitten, to behold 
 Wher he conceived was, so wala wa ! 
 
 That he so litel of his moder told. 
 
 14381 
 
 14388 
 
 143.95 
 
 14404 
 
174 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 No tore out of his eyeii for that sight 
 Ne came, but sayd, a faire woman was she. 
 Gret wonder is, how that he coud or might 
 Be domesman of hire dede beautee : 
 
 The wine to bringen him commanded he. 
 And dranke anon, non other wo he made. 
 Whan might is joined unto crueltee, 
 
 Alas ! to depe wol the venime wade. 
 
 In youthe a maister had this emperour 
 To techen him lettrure and curtesie. 
 
 For of moralitee he was the flour. 
 
 As in his time, but if bookes lie. 
 
 And while this maister had of him maistrie. 
 He maked him so conning and so souple, 
 That longe time it was, or tyrannie, 
 
 Or any vice dorst in him uncouple. 
 
 This Seneka, of which that I devise, 
 Because Nero had of him swiche drede, 
 
 For he fro vices wold him ay chastise 
 Discretly, as by word, and not by dede, 
 Sire, he wold say, an emperour mote nede 
 Be vertuous, and haten tyrannie. 
 
 For which he made him in a bathe to blede 
 On bothe his armes, till he muste die. 
 
 14405 
 
 14413 
 
 14420 
 
 14428 
 
1 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 175 
 
 This Nero had eke of a cnstumaiince 14429 
 
 In youth ageins his maister for to rise ; 
 
 Which afterward him thought a gret grevaunce, 
 Therfore he made him dien in this wise. 
 
 But natheles this Seneka the wise 
 Chees in a bathe to die in this manere, 
 
 Rather than han another turmentise : 
 
 And thus hath Nero slain his maister dere. 
 
 Now fell it so, that fortune list no lenger 14437 
 The highe pride of Nero to cherice : 
 
 For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger. 
 She thoughte thus ; by God I am to nice 
 To set a man, that is fulfilled of vice, 
 
 In high degree, and emperour him calle : 
 
 By God out of his sete I wol him trice, 
 
 Whan he lest weneth, sonest shal he falle. 14444 
 
 The peple rose upon him on a night 
 For his defaute, and whan he it espied. 
 
 Out of his dores anon he hath him dight 
 Alone, and ther he wend han ben allied, 
 
 He knocked fast, and ay the more he cried, 
 
 The faster shetten they hir dores alle : 
 
 Tho wist he wel he had himself misgied. 
 
 And went his way, no lenger dorst he calle. 14452 
 
176 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 The peple cried and rombied up and doun, 
 That with his eres herd he how they sayde, 
 Wher is this false tyrant, this Neroun ? 
 
 For fere almost out of his wit he brayde, 
 
 And to his goddes pitously he preide 
 For socour, but it mighte not betide ; 
 
 For drede of this him thoughte that he deide, 
 And ran into a gardin him to hide. 
 
 x4nd in this gardin found he cherles tweye 
 That saten by a fire gret and red, 
 
 And to thise cherles two he gan to preye 
 To slen him, and to girden of his hed. 
 
 That to his body, whan that he were ded, 
 Were no despit ydon for his defame. 
 
 Himself he slow, he coud no better rede. 
 
 Of which fortune lough and hadde a game. 
 
 Holofernes. 
 
 Was never capitaine under a king. 
 
 That regnes mo put in subjectioun, 
 
 Ne stronger was in feld of alle thing 
 As in his time, ne greter of renoun, 
 
 Ne more pompous in high presumptioun. 
 
 Than Holoferne, which that fortune a kist 
 So likerously, and lad him up and doun, 
 
 Til that his hed was of, or that he wist. 
 
 14453 
 
 14461 
 
 14468 
 
 14476 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 177 
 
 Not only that this world had him in awe 
 For lesing of richesse and libertee ; 
 
 But he made every man reneie his lawe. 
 Nabuchodonosor was God, sayd he ; 
 
 Non other God ne shulde honoured be. 
 Ageins his heste ther dare no wight trespace, 
 Save in Bethulia, a strong citee, 
 
 Wher Eliachim a preest was of that place. 
 
 But take kepe of the deth of Holoferne : 
 Amid his host he dronken lay a night 
 Within his tente, large as is a berne ; 
 
 And yet for all his pompe and all his might, 
 Judith, a woman, as he lay upright 
 Sleping, his hed of smote, and fro his tente 
 Ful prively she stale from every wight. 
 
 And with his hed unto hire toun she wente. 
 
 Antiochus. 
 
 What nedeth it of king Antiochus 
 To tell his high and real majestee. 
 
 His gret pride, and his werkes venimous ? 
 For swiche another was ther non as he; 
 Redeth what that he was in Machabe, 
 
 And redeth the proud wordes that he seid. 
 
 14477 
 
 14484 
 
 144 <12 
 
 144.98 
 
 VOL III. 
 
178 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 And why he fell from his prosperitee, 
 
 And in an hill how wretchedly he deid. 
 
 Fortune him had enhaunsed so in pride, 
 That veraily he wend he might attaine 
 Unto the sterres upon every side, 
 
 And in a balaunce weyen eche mountaine, 
 And all the floodes of the see restreine : 
 And Goddes peple had he most in hate, 
 Hem wold he sleen in turment and in peine, 
 Wening that God ne might his pride abate. 
 
 And for that Nichanor and Timothee 
 With Jewes were venquished mightily. 
 
 Unto the Jewes swiche an hate had he. 
 That he bad greithe his char ful hastily. 
 And swore and sayde ful despitously. 
 
 Unto Jerusalem he wold eftsone 
 To wreke his ire on it ful cruelly. 
 
 But of his purpos was he let ful sone. 
 
 God for his manace him so sore smote. 
 With invisible wound, ay incurable. 
 
 That in his guttes carfe it so and bote. 
 
 Til thatte his peines weren importable ; 
 
 14<!,99 
 
 1450G 
 
 14513 
 
 14520 
 
THE MOGSTKES TALE. 
 
 179 
 
 And certainly the wreche was resonable, 14521 
 For many a mannes giittes did he peine; 
 
 But from his piirpos, cursed and damnable, 
 
 For all his smerte, he n’olde him not restreine : 
 
 But bade anon apparailen his host. 
 
 And sodenly, or he was of it ware, 
 
 God daunted all his pride, and all his host; 
 
 For he so sore fell out of his chare, 14528 
 
 That it his limmes and his skinne to-tare, 
 
 So that he neither mighte go ne ride ; 
 
 But in a chaiere men about him bare, 
 
 Alle forbrused bothe bak and side. 
 
 The wreche of God him smote so cruelly, 
 
 That thurgh his body wicked wormes crept. 
 
 And therwithal he stanke so horribly, 14535 
 
 That non of all his meinie that him kept. 
 
 Whether so that he woke or elles slept, 
 
 Ne mighte not of him the stinke endure. 
 
 In this mischiefe he wailed and eke wept. 
 
 And knew God, Lord of every creature. 
 
 To all his host, and to himself also 
 Ful wlatsom was the stinke of his careine; 
 
 No man ne mighte him bereii to ne fro. 
 
 14543 
 
180 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 And in this stinke, and this horrible peine, \4544 
 He starf ful wretchedly in a mountaine. 
 
 Thus hath this robbour, and this homicide, 
 
 That many a man made to wepe and pleine, 
 
 Swiche guerdon, as belongeth unto pride. 
 
 Alexander. 
 
 The storie of Alexandre is so commune. 
 
 That every wight, that hath discretioun, 14550 
 
 Hath herd somwhat or all of his fortune. 
 
 This wide world, as in conclusioun, 
 
 He wan by strength, or for his high renoun 
 They weren glad for pees unto him sende. 
 
 The pride of man and host he layd adoun, 
 
 Wher so he came, unto the world es ende. 
 
 Comparison might never yet be maked 14557 
 Betwix him and another conquerour, 
 
 For al this world for drede of him hath quaked ; 
 
 He was of knighthode and of fredome flour ; 
 Fortune him maked the heir of hire honour. 
 
 Save wine and women, nothing might asswage 
 His high entente in armes and labour. 
 
 So was he ful of leonin corage. 
 
 What pris were it to him, though I you told i456‘5 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 181 
 
 Of Darius, and an hundred thousand mo, 145 GG 
 Of king-es, princes, dukes, erles bold. 
 
 Which he conquered, and brought hem into wo? 
 
 I say, as fer as man may ride or go 
 The world was his, what shuld 1 more devise 
 For though I wrote or told you ever mo 
 Of his knighthode, it mighte not suffice. 
 
 Twelf yere he regned, as saith Machabe; 14573 
 Philippus sone of Macedoine he was. 
 
 That first was king in Grece the contree. 
 
 O worthy gentil Alexandre, alas 
 
 That ever shuld thee fallen swiche a cas ! 
 
 Enpoisoned of thyn owen folke thou were ; 
 
 Thy sis fortune hath turned into an as. 
 
 And yet for thee ne wept she never a tere. 
 
 Who shal me yeven teres to complaine i45si 
 The deth of gentillesse, and of fraunchise. 
 
 That all this world welded in his demaine. 
 
 And yet him thought it mighte not suffice ? 
 
 So ful was his corage of high emprise. 
 
 Alas ! who shal me helpen to endite 
 False fortune, and poison to despise ? 
 
 The whiche two of all this wo I wite. 
 
 1458a 
 
182 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 Julius Cesar. 
 
 By wisdome, manhode, and by gret labour, 1458 ^ 
 From hiimblehede to real majestee 
 Up rose he Julius the conquerour, 
 
 That wan all the Occident, by lond and see, 
 
 By strengthe of hond, or elles by tretee. 
 
 And unto Rome made hem tributarie ; 
 
 And sith of Rome the emperour was he, 
 
 Til that fortune wexe his adversarie. 145.96' 
 
 O mighty Cesar, that in Thessalie 
 Ageins Pompeius father thin in lawe. 
 
 That of the orient had all the chivalrie. 
 
 As fer as that the day beginneth dawe. 
 
 Thou thurghtliy knighthodehast hem take and slawe. 
 Save fewe folk, that with Pompeius fledde, 
 
 Thurgh which thou put all the orient in awe, Hsoa 
 Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde. 
 
 But now a litel while I wol bewaile 
 This Pompeius, this noble governour 
 Of Rome, which that fled at this bataille. 
 
 I say, on of his men, a false traitour, 
 
 His hed of smote, to winnen him favour 
 Of Julius, and him the hed he broucfht : 
 
 Alas, Pompeie, of the orient conquerour. 
 
 That fortune unto swiche a fin thee brought ! 
 
 14612 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 183 
 
 To Rome again repaireth Julius i46i3 
 
 With his triumphe laureat ful hie, 
 
 But on a time Brutus and Cassius, 
 
 That ever had of his high estat envie, 
 
 Ful prively had made conspiracie 
 Ageins this Julius in sotil wise ; 
 
 And cast the place, in which he shulde die 
 With bodekins, as I shal you devise. i4(f2o 
 
 This Julius to the capitolie wente 
 Upon a day, as he was wont to gon, 
 
 And in the capitolie anon him hente 
 This false Brutus, and his other foon. 
 
 And stiked him with bodekins anon 
 
 With many a wound, and thus they let him lie : 
 
 But never gront he at no stroke but on, 
 
 Or elles at two, but if his storie lie. 14628 
 
 So manly was this Julius of herte. 
 
 And so wel loved estatly honestee, 
 
 That though his dedly woundes sore smerte, 
 
 His mantel over his hippes caste he, 
 
 For no man shulde seen his privetee : 
 
 And as he lay of dying in a trance. 
 
 And wiste veraily that ded was he. 
 
 Of honestee yet had he remembrance. 
 
 14636 
 
184 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 Lucan, to thee this storie I recommende, i46'37 
 And to Sueton, and Valerie also, 
 
 That of this storie writen word and ende : 
 
 How that to thise gret conqueroures two 
 Fortune was first a frend, and sith a fo. 
 
 No man ne trust upon hire favour long. 
 
 But have hire in await for evermo ; 
 
 Witnesse on all thise conqueroures strong. 14644 
 
 Cresus. 
 
 The riche Cresus, whilom king of Lide, 
 
 Of whiche Cresus, Cirus sore him dradde, 
 
 Yet was he caught amiddes all his pride, 
 
 And to be brent men to the fire him ladde ; 
 
 But swiche a rain doun from the welken shadde. 
 That slow the fire, and made to him escape : 
 
 But to beware no grace yet he hadde, i465i 
 
 Til fortune on the galwes made him gape. 
 
 Whan he escaped was, he can not stint 
 For to beginne a newe werre again : 
 
 He wened wel, for that fortune him sent 
 Swiche hap, that he escaped thurgh the rain. 
 
 That of his foos he mighte not be slain ; 
 
 And eke a sweven upon a night he mette. 
 
 Of which he was so proud, and eke so fain. 
 
 That in vengeance he all his herte sette. 
 
 14660 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 185 
 
 Upon a tree he was, as that him thought, i46gi 
 T her Jupiter him weshe, both bak and side ; 
 
 And Phebus eke a faire towail him brought 
 To drie him with, and therfore wex his pride. 
 
 And to his doughter that stood him beside, 
 
 Which that he knew in high science habound, 
 
 He bad hire tell him what it signified, 
 
 And she his dreme began right thus expound. 14668 
 
 The tree (quod she) the galwes is to mene, 
 
 And Jupiter betokeneth snow and rain. 
 
 And Phebus with his towail clere and dene, 
 
 Tho ben the sonnes stremes, soth to sain ; 
 
 Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certain ; 
 
 Rain shal thee wash, and sonne shal thee drie. 
 
 Thus warned him ful plat and eke ful plain 
 
 His douditer, which that called was Phanie. 14676 
 
 Anhanged was Cresus the proude king. 
 
 His real trone might him not availle : 
 
 Tragedie is non other maner thing, 
 
 Ne can in singing crien ne bewaile. 
 
 But for that fortune all day wol assaille 
 With tinware stroke the regnes that ben proude : 
 For whan men trusten hire, than wol she faille. 
 
 And cover hire bright face with a cloude. i46S4 
 
I8(> 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 Peter of Spaine. 
 
 O noble, a worthy Petro, glorie of Spaine, 146'85 
 Whom fortune held so high in majestee, 
 
 Wei oug'liten men thy pitons deth complaine. 
 
 Out of thy loud thy brother made thee flee. 
 
 And after at a sege by sotiltee 
 
 Thou were betraied, and lad unto his tent, 
 
 Wher as he with his owen hond slow thee, 14 (L 9 i 
 S ucceeding in thy regne and in thy rent. 
 
 The feld of snow, with th’egle of blak therin. 
 Caught with the limerod, coloured as the glede, 
 
 He brewed this curscdnesse, and all this sinne ; 
 
 The wicked neste was werker of this dede ; 
 
 Not Charles Oliver, that toke ay hede 
 
 Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike Mcas 
 
 Genilon Oliver, corrupt for mede, 
 
 Broughtc this worthy king in swiche a brike. 
 
 Petro, King of Cypre. 
 
 O worthy Petro king of Cypre also, 
 
 That Alexandrie wan by high maistrie, 
 
 Ful many an hcthen wroughtest thou ful wo. 
 
 Of which thin owen lieges had envie ; 
 
 And for no thing but for thy chivalrie. 1 1705 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 187 
 
 They in thy bed han slain thee by the morwe; 14706 
 Thus can fortune hire whele governe and gie, 
 
 And out of joye bringen men to sorwe. 
 
 Barnaho Viscount. 
 
 Of Milane grete Barnabo Viscount, 
 
 God of delit, and scourge of Lumbardie, 
 
 Why shuld I not thin infortune account, 
 
 Sith in estat thou clomben were so high ? 14712 
 
 Thy brothers sone, that was thy double allie, 
 
 For he thy nevew was, and sone in lawe. 
 
 Within his prison made he thee to die. 
 
 But why, ne how, n’ot I that thou were slawe. 
 
 Hugelin of Pise. 
 
 Of the erl Hugelin of Pise the langour 
 Ther may no tonge tellen for pitee. _ 1471s 
 
 But litel out of Pise stant a tour, ' 
 
 In whiche tour in prison yput was he, 
 
 And with him ben his litel children three, 
 
 The eldest scarsely five yere was of age : 
 
 Alas ! fortune, it was gret crueltee 
 Swiche briddes for to put in swiche a cage. 
 
 Dampned was he to die in that prison, 
 
 For Roger, which that bishop was of Pise, 14726 
 
1&8 
 
 THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 Had on him made a false sug-gestion, J 4727 
 
 Thurgh which the peple gan upon him rise, 
 
 And put him in prison, in swiche a wise. 
 
 As ye han herd ; and mete and drinke he had 
 So smale, that wel unnethe it may suffise, 
 
 And therwithal it was ful poure and bad. 
 
 And on a day befell, that in that houre. 
 
 Whan that his mete wont was to be brought, 14734 
 The gailer shette the dores of the toure ; 
 
 He hered it wel, but he spake right nought. 
 
 And in his herte anon ther fell a thought, 
 
 That they for hunger wolden do him dien ; 
 
 Alas ! quod he, alas that I was wrought ! 
 
 Therwith the teres fellen fro his eyen. 
 
 His yonge sone, that three yere was of age, 14741 
 Unto him said, fader, why do ye wepe ? 
 
 Whan will the gailer bringen our potage ? 
 
 Is ther no morsel bred that ye do kepe ? 
 
 1 am so hungry, that I may not slepe. 
 
 Now wolde God that I might slepen ever, 
 
 Than shuld not hunger in my wombe crepe ; 
 
 I'her n’is no thing, sauf bred, that me were lever. 
 
 Thus day by day this childe began to crie, i 474 .'> 
 
THE MONKES TALE. 
 
 1S9 
 
 Til in his fadres barprie adoim it lay, 14750 
 
 And saide, farewel, fader, I mote die ; 
 
 And kist his fader, and dide the same day. 
 
 And whan the woful fader did it sey, 
 
 For wo his armes two he gan to bite. 
 
 And saide, alas ! fortune, and wala wa ! 
 
 Thy false whele my wo all may I wite. 
 
 His children wenden, that for hunger it was 14757 
 That he his armes gnowe, and not for wo. 
 
 And sayden : fader, do not so, alas ! 
 
 But rather ete the flesh upon us two. 
 
 Our flesh thou yaf us, take our flesh us fro. 
 
 And ete ynough : right thus they to him seide, 
 
 And after that, within a day or two. 
 
 They laide hem in his lappe adoun, and deide. 
 
 Himself dispeired eke for hunger starf. 14765 
 Thus ended is this mighty Erl of Pise : 
 
 From high estat fortune away him carf. 
 
 Of this tragedie it ought ynough suffice ; 
 
 Who so woi here it in a longer wise, 
 
 Redeth the grete poete of Itaille, 
 
 That highte Dante, for he can it devise 
 
 Fro point to point, not 0 word wol he faille. 14772 
 
190 THE NOISrXES ereestes prologue. 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Ho ! quod the knight, good sire, no more of this : 
 That ye han said, is right ynough ywis. 
 
 And moche] more ; for litel hcvinesse 
 Is right ynough to mochel folk, I gesse. 
 
 I say for me, it is a gret disese, 
 
 Wher as men have ben in gret welth and ese, 14778 
 To heren of hir soden fall, alas ! 
 
 And the contrary is joye and gret solas. 
 
 As whan a man hath ben in poure estat. 
 
 And climbeth up, and wexeth fortunat, 
 
 And ther abideth in prosperitee : 
 
 8wiche thing is gladsom, as it thinketh me, 
 
 And of swiche thing were goodly for to telle. 
 
 Ye, quod our hoste, by Seint Poules belle, i4786' 
 Ye say right soth ; this monk hath clapped loude : 
 He spake, how fortune covered with a cloude 
 I wote not what, and als of a tragedie 
 Right now ye herd : and parde no remedie 
 It is for to bewailen, ne complaine 
 That that is don, and als it is a paine. 
 
 As ye han said, to here of hevinesse. 
 
 Sire monk, no more of this, so God you blesse ; 
 Your tale anoyeth all this compagnie ; 14795 
 
THE ISrONNES PllEESTES PllOLOGUE, 191 
 
 Svviche talking is not worth a boterflie, 14796' 
 
 For therin is ther no disport ne game : 
 
 Therfore, sire monk, clan Piers by your name, 
 
 I pray you hertely, tell us somwhat elles, 
 
 For sikerly, n’ere clinking of your belles, 
 
 That on your bridel hange on every side, 
 
 By heven king, that for us alle dide, 
 
 I shuld er this have fallen doun for slepe, 
 
 Although the slough had ben never so depe : i4804 
 Than hadde your tale all ben tolde in vain. 
 
 For certainly, as that thise clerkes sain, 
 
 Wher as a man may have non audience, 
 
 Nought helpeth it to tellen his sentence. 
 
 And wel I wote the substance is in me, 
 
 If any thing shal wel reported be. 
 
 Sire, say somwhat of hunting, I you pray. 
 
 Nay, quod this Monk, I have no lust to play ; i4si2 
 Now let another telle as I have told. 
 
 Than spake our hoste with rude speche and bold, 
 And sayd unto the Nonnes Freest anon, 
 
 Come nere, thou preest, come hither thou Sire John, 
 Telle us swiche thing, as may our hertes glade. 
 
 Be blithe, although thou ride upon a jade. 
 
 What though thyn horse be bothe foule and lene, 
 
 If he wol serve thee, recke thee not a bene ; 
 
 Loke that thyn herte be mery evermo. i482i 
 
IV z 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 Yes, hoste, quod he, so mote I ride or go, 14 822 
 But I be mery, ywis 1 wol be blamed. 
 
 And right anon his tale he hath attained ; 
 
 And thus lie said unto us everich on, 
 
 This swete preest, this goodly man Sire John. 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 A pouRE widewe somdel stoupen in age, 14327 
 Was whilom dwelling in a narwe cotage. 
 
 Beside a grove, stonding in a dale. 
 
 This widewe, which I tell you of my tale. 
 
 Sin thilke day that she was last a wif. 
 
 In patience led a ful simple lif. 
 
 For litel was hire catel and hire rente : 
 
 By husbondry of swiche as God hire sente. 
 
 She found hireself, and eke hire doughtren two. 
 Three large sowes had she, and no mo : 14836' 
 
 Three kine, and eke a sheep that highte Malle. 
 
 Ful sooty was hire boure, and eke hire halle. 
 
 In which she ete many a slender mele. 
 
 Of poinant sauce ne knew she never a dele. 
 
 No deintee morsel passed thurgh hire throte ; 
 
 Hire diete was accordant to hire cote. 
 
 Repletion ne made hire never sike ; 
 
 Attempre diete was all hire physike, i4844 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 193 
 
 And exercise, and hertes suffisance. i isio 
 
 The g’oute let hire nothing for to dance, 
 
 Ne apoplexie shente not hire hed. 
 
 No win ne dranke she, neyther white ne red : 
 
 Hire bord was served most with white and black. 
 Milk and broun bred in which she fond no lack, 
 Seinde bacon, and somtime an ey or twey ; 
 
 For she was as it were a maner dey. 
 
 A yerd she had, enclosed all about usss 
 
 With stickes, and a drie diche without. 
 
 In which she had a cok highte Chaunteclere, 
 
 In all the land of crowing n’as his pere. 
 
 His vois was merier than the mery orgon, 
 
 On masse daies that in the chirches g-on. 
 
 Wei sikerer was his crowing in his loge. 
 
 Than is a clok, or any abbey orloge. 
 
 By nature he knew eche ascentioun i486*i 
 
 Of the equinoctial in thilke toun ; 
 
 For whan degrees fiftene were ascended. 
 
 Than crew he, that it might not ben amended. 
 
 His combe was redder than the fin corail, 
 Enbattelled, as it were a castel wall. 
 
 His bill was black, and as the jet it shone ; 
 
 Like asure were his legges and his tone ; 
 
 His nailes whiter than the lily flour. 
 
 And like the burned gold was his colour. i4870 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 o 
 
194 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 This gentil cok had in his governance 
 Seven hennes, for to don all his plesance. 
 Which were his susters and his paramoures, 
 And wonder like to him, as of coloures. 
 
 Of which the fairest hewed in the throte, 
 
 Was cleped faire damoselle Pertelote. 
 
 Curteis she was, discrete, and debonaire. 
 
 And compenable, and bare hireself so faire, 
 Sithen the day that she was sevennight old. 
 That trewelich she hath the herte in hold 
 Of Chaunteclere, loken in every lith : 
 
 He loved hire so, that wel was him therwith. 
 Bat swiche a joye it was to here hem sing, 
 Whan that the brighte sonne gan to spring, 
 In swete accord ; my lefe is fare in lond. 
 
 For thilke time, as I have understond, 
 Bestes and briddes couden speke and sing. 
 
 And so befell, that in a dawening, 
 
 As Chaunteclere among his wives alle 
 Sate on his perche, that was in the halle. 
 And next him sate his faire Pertelote, 
 
 This Chaunteclere gan gronen in his throte. 
 As man that in his dreme is dretched sore. 
 And whan that Pertelote thus herd him rore, 
 She was agast, and saide, herte dere. 
 
 What aileth you to grone in this manere ? 
 
 14871 
 
 14879 
 
 14887 
 
 1489(>’ 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 195 
 
 Ye ben a veray sleper, fy for shame, 14397 
 
 And he answered and sayde thus ; madame, 
 
 I pray you, that ye take it not agrefe : 
 
 By God me mette I was in swiche mischefe 
 Right now, that yet min herte is sore afright. 
 
 Now God (quod he) my sweven recche aright, 
 
 And kepe my body out of foule prisoun. 
 
 Me mette, how that I romed up and doun 
 Within our yerde, wher as I saw a beste, 14905 
 Was like an hound, and wold han made areste 
 Upon my body, and han had me ded. 
 
 His colour was betwix yelwe and red ; 
 
 And tipped was his tail, and both his eres 
 With black, unlike the remenant of his heres. 
 
 His snout was smal, with glowing eyen twey : 
 
 Yet for his loke almost for fere 1 dey : 
 
 This caused me my groning douteles. 14913 
 
 Away, quod she, fy on you herteles. 
 
 Alas ! quod she, for by that God above 
 Now han ye lost myn herte and all my love ; 
 
 I cannot love a coward by my faith. 
 
 For certes, what so any woman saith, 
 
 We all desiren, if it mighte be. 
 
 To have an husbond, hardy, wise and free, 
 
 And secree, and non niggard ne no fool, 
 
 Ne him that is agast of every tool, 
 
 14922 
 
19 b* 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 Ne non avantour by that God above. 14923 
 
 How dorsten ye for shame to say to your love, 
 
 That any thing might maken you aferde? 
 
 Han ye no mannes herte, and han a berde ? 
 
 Alas ! and con ye ben agast of swevenis ? 
 
 Nothing but vanitee, god wote, in sweven is. 
 
 Swevenes engendren of repletions, 
 
 And oft of fume, and of complexions, 
 
 Whan humours ben to h abundant in a wight. 14931 
 Certes this dreme, which ye han met to-night, 
 Cometh of the grete superfluitee 
 Of youre rede colera parde, 
 
 Which causeth folk to dreden in hir dremes 
 Of arwes, and of fire with rede lemes, 
 
 Of rede bestes, that they wo\ hem bite. 
 
 Of conteke, and of waspes gret and lite ; 
 
 Right as the humour of rnelancolie 14939 
 
 Causeth ful many a man in slepe to crie, 
 
 For fere of holies, and of beres blake, 
 
 Or elles that blake devils wol hem take. 
 
 Of other humours coud I telle also, 
 
 That werken many a man in slepe moch wo ; 
 
 But I wol passe, as lightly as I can. 
 
 Lo Caton, which that was so wise a man. 
 
 Said he not thus ? Ne do no force of dremes. 14947 
 Now, Sire, quod she, whan we flee fro the bemes. 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 197 
 
 For Goddes love, as take som laxatif : 14949 
 
 Lip peril of my soule, and of my lif, 
 
 I conseil you the best, I wol not lie. 
 
 That both of coler, and of melancolie 
 Ye purge you ; and for ye shul not tarie. 
 
 Though in this toun be non apotecarie, 
 
 I shal myself two herbes techen you. 
 
 That shal be for your hele, and for your prow ; 
 
 And in our yerde, the herbes shall I finde, 14957 
 The which han of hir propretee by kinde 
 To purgen you benethe, and eke above. 
 
 Sire, forgete not this for Goddes love ; 
 
 Ye ben ful colerike of complexion; 
 
 Ware that the sonne in his ascention 
 Ne finde you not replete of humours hote : 
 
 And if it do, I dare wel lay a grote, 
 
 That ye shul han a fever tertiane, 14965 
 
 Or elles an ague, that may be your bane. 
 
 A day or two ye shul han digestives 
 Of wormes, or ye take your laxatives. 
 
 Of laureole, centaurie, and fumetere. 
 
 Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there. 
 
 Of catapuce, or of gaitre beries. 
 
 Or herbe ive growing in our yerd, that mery is : 
 Picke hem right as they grow, and ete hem in. 
 
 Beth mery, husbond, for your fader kin, 14974 
 
198 
 
 THE NONNES PllEESTES TALE. 
 
 Dredetli no dreme, I can say you no more. i4‘)7& 
 Madame, quod he, grand mercy of your lore. 
 
 But natheles, as touching dan Caton, 
 
 That hath of wisdome swiche a gret renoun, 
 
 Thouo-h that he bade no dremes for to drede, 
 
 By God, men moun in olde bookes rede, 
 
 Of many a man, more of auctoritee 
 Than ever Caton was, so mote I the. 
 
 That all the revers sayn of his sentence, i498S 
 
 And han wel founden by experience. 
 
 That dremes ben significations 
 As wel ofjoye, as tribulations, 
 
 That folk enduren in this lif present. 
 
 Ther nedeth make of this non argument ; 
 
 The veray preve sheweth it indede. 
 
 On of the gretest auctours that men rede, 
 
 Saith thus ; that whilom twey felawes wente 14991 
 On pilgrimage in a ful good entente ; 
 
 And happed so, they came into a toun, 
 
 Wher ther was swiche a congregatioun 
 Of peple, and eke so streit of herbergage. 
 
 That they ne founde as moche as a cotage, 
 
 In which they bothe might ylogged be : 
 
 Wherfore they musten of necessitee. 
 
 As for that night, departen compagnie ; 
 
 And eche of hem goth to his hostelrie. 
 
 loOOry 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES T^LE, 199 
 
 And toke his logging as it wolde falle. isooi 
 
 That on of hem was logged in a stalle, 
 
 Fer in a yerd, with oxen of the plough ; 
 
 That other man was logged wel ynough, 
 
 As was his aventure, or his fortune, 
 
 That us governeth all, as in commune. 
 
 And so befell, that, long or it were day. 
 
 This man met in his bed, ther as he lay, 
 
 How that his felaw gan upon him calle, 15009 
 
 And said, alas ! for in an oxes stalle 
 This night shal I be mordred, ther I lie. 
 
 Now helpe me, dere brother, or I die; 
 
 In alle haste come to me, he saide. 
 
 This man out of his slepe for fere abraide ; 
 
 But whan that he was waked of his slepe. 
 
 He turned him, and toke of this no kepe ; 
 
 Him thought his dreme was but a vanitee. 15017 
 Thus twies in his sloping dremed he. 
 
 And at the thridde time yet his felaw 
 Came, as him thought, and said, I now am slaw : 
 Behold my blody woundes, depe and wide. 
 
 Arise up erly, in the morwe tide. 
 
 And at the West gate of the toun (quod he) 
 
 A carte ful of donge ther shalt thou see. 
 
 In which my body is hid prively. 
 
 Do thilke carte arresten boldely. 15026 
 
200 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 My gold caused my mordre, sotli to sain. 15027 
 And told him every point how he was slain 
 With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe. 
 
 And trusteth wel, his dreme he found ful trewe. 
 
 For on the morwe, as sone as it was day, 
 
 To his felawes inne he toke his way ; 
 
 And whan that he came to this oxes stalle, 
 
 After his felaw he began to calle. 
 
 The hosteler answered him anon, 15035 
 
 And saide. Sire, your felaw is agon. 
 
 As sone as day he went out of the toun. 
 
 This man gan fallen in suspecioun 
 Remembring on his dremes that he mette, 
 
 And forth he goth, no longer wold he lette, 
 
 Unto the West gate of the toun, and fond 
 A dong carte, as it went for to dong lond, 
 
 That was arraied in the same wise 15043 
 
 As ye han herde the dede man devise : 
 
 And with an hardy herte he gan to crie, 
 
 Vengeance and justice of this felonie ; 
 
 My felaw mordred is this same night, 
 
 And in this carte he lith, gaping upright. 
 
 I crie out on the ministres, quod he. 
 
 That shulden kepe and reulen this citee : 
 
 Harow ! alas ! here lith my felaw slain. 
 
 What shuld I more unto this tale sain ? 15052 
 
THE NOISTNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 201 
 
 The peple out stert, and cast the cart to ground, 
 And in the middel of the dong they found i5U54 
 The dede man, that mordred was ail newe. 
 
 O blisful God, that art so good and trewe, 
 
 Lo, how that thou bewreyest mordre alway. 
 
 Mordre wol out, that see we day by day. 
 
 Mordre is so wlatsom and abhominable 
 To God, that is so just and resonable. 
 
 That he ne wol not sufFre it hylled be : loOGi 
 
 Though it abide a yere, or two, or three, 
 
 Mordre wol out, this is my conclusioun. 
 
 And right anon, the ministres of the toun 
 Han bent the carter, and so sore him pined. 
 
 And eke the hosteler so sore engined. 
 
 That they beknew hir wickednesse anon, 
 
 And were anhanged by the necke bon. 
 
 Heremoun ye see that dremes ben to drede. i5069 
 And certes in the same book I rede, 
 
 Right in the nexte chapitre after this, 
 
 (I gabbe not, so have T joye and blis) 
 
 Two men that wold han passed over the see 
 For certain cause in to a fer contree. 
 
 If that the wind ne hadde ben contrarie, 
 
 That made hem in a citee for to tarie. 
 
 That stood ful mery upon an haven side. 
 
 But on a day, agein the even tide. 
 
 15078 
 
^ZO^Z THE NONNES PEEESTES TALE. 
 
 The wind gan change, and blew right as hem lest 
 Jolif and glad they wenten to hir rest, i soso 
 
 And casten hem ful erly for to saile ; 
 
 But to that o man fell a gret mervaile. 
 
 That on of hem in sleping as he lay, 
 
 He mette a wonder dreme, again the day : 
 
 Him thought a man stood by his beddes side. 
 
 And him commanded, that he shuld abide, 
 
 And said him thus; if thou to-morwe wende, isos? 
 Thou shalt be dreint ; my tale is at an ende. 
 
 He woke, and told his felaw what he met. 
 
 And praied him his viage for to let. 
 
 As for that day, he prayd him for to abide. 
 
 His felaw that lay by his beddes side, 
 
 Gan for to laugh, and scorned him ful faste. 
 
 No dreme, quod he, may so my herte agaste. 
 
 That I wol leten for to do my thinges. 1509.5 
 
 I sette not a straw by thy dreminges. 
 
 For swevens ben but vanitees and japes. 
 
 Men dreme al day of oules and of apes. 
 
 And eke of many a mase ther withal ; 
 
 Men dreme of thing that never was, ne shal. 
 
 But sith I see that thou wolt here abide. 
 
 And thus forslouthen wilfully thy tide, 
 
 God wot it reweth me, and have good day. 
 
 And thus he took his leve, and went his way. 
 
 15104 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 203 
 
 But or that he had half his cours ysailed, 15105 
 N’ot I not why, ne what meschance it ailed, 
 
 But casuelly the shippes bottom rente. 
 
 And ship and man under the water wente 
 In sight of other shippes ther beside. 
 
 That with him sailed at the same tide. 
 
 And therfore, faire Pertelote so dere. 
 
 By swiche ensamples olde maist thou lere. 
 
 That no man shulde be to reccheles 15 no 
 
 Of dremes, for 1 say thee douteles, 
 
 That many a dreme ful sore is for to drede. 
 
 Lo, in the lif of seint Kenelme, I rede. 
 
 That was Kenulphus sone, the noble king 
 Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thing. 
 
 A litel or he were mordred on a day, 
 
 His mordre in his avision he say. 
 
 His norice him expouned every del 15121 
 
 His sweven, and bade him for to keep him wel 
 Fro treson ; but he n’as but seven yere old, 
 
 And therfore litel tale hath he told 
 Of any dreme, so holy was his herte. 
 
 By God I hadde lever than my sherte, 
 
 That ye had red his legend, as have I. 
 
 Dame Pertelote, I say you trewely, 
 
 Macrobius, that writ the avision 
 
 In Affrike of the worthy Scipion, 15130 
 
 r 
 
204 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 Affirmeth dremes, and sayth that they ben 
 Warning of thinges, that men after seen. 
 
 And forthermore, I pray you loketh wel 
 In the olde Testament, of Daniel, 
 
 If he held dremes any vanitee. 
 
 Rede eke of Joseph, and ther shuln ye see 
 Wher dremes ben somtime (I say not alle) 
 Warning of thinges that shuln after falle. 
 
 Loke of Egipt the king, dan Pharao, 
 
 His baker and his boteler also, 
 
 Wheder they ne felten non effect in dremes. 
 Who so wol seken actes of sondry remes, 
 May rede of dremes many a wonder thing. 
 
 Lo Cresus, which that was of Lydie king, 
 Mette he not that he sat upon a tree. 
 
 Which signified he shuld anhanged be ? 
 
 Lo hire Andromacha, Hectores wif. 
 
 That day that Hector shulde lese his lif, 
 
 She dremed on the same night beforne, 
 
 How that the lif of Hector shuld be lorne. 
 
 If thilke day he went into bataille : 
 
 She warned him, but it might not availle ; 
 He went forth for to fighten natheles, 
 
 And was yslain anon of Achilles. 
 
 But thilke tale is al to long to telle, 
 
 And eke it is nigh day, I may not dwelle. 
 
 15131 
 
 15139 
 
 15147 
 
 151 5f? 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 205 
 
 Shortly I say, as for conclusion, 15157 
 
 That I shal han of this avision 
 Adversitee : and I say forthermore. 
 
 That I ne tell of laxatives no store, 
 
 Fer they ben venimous, I wot it wel : 
 
 I hem deffie, I love hem never a del. 
 
 But let us speke of mirthe, and stinte all this ; 
 Madame Pertelote, so have I blis. 
 
 Of o thing God hath sent me large grace : i5i65 
 
 For whan I see the beau tee of your face, 
 
 Yc ben so scarlet red about your eyen, 
 
 It maketh all my drede for to dien. 
 
 For, al so siker as In principio, 
 
 MuUer est homlnis confusio. 
 
 (Madame, the sentence of this Latine is, 
 
 Woman is mannes joye and mannes blis.) 
 
 For whan I fele a-night your softe side, 1517.3 
 
 Al be it that I may not on you ride. 
 
 For that our perche is made so narwe, alas ! 
 
 I am so ful of joye and of solas. 
 
 That I deffie bothe sweven and dreme. 
 
 And with that word he flew doun fro the beme 
 For it was day, and eke his hennes alle ; 
 
 And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle. 
 
 For he had found a corn, lay in the yerd. 
 
 Real he was, he was no more aferd : i5is2 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 ^ZOG 
 
 He fetliered Pertelote twenty time, i 5 i 83 
 
 And trade hire eke as oft, er it was prime. 
 
 He loketh as it were a grim leoun ; 
 
 And on his toos he rometh up and doun, 
 
 Him deigned not to set his feet to ground : 
 
 He chukketh, whan he hath a corn y found. 
 
 And to him rennen than his wives alle. 
 
 Thus real, as a prince is in his halle, 
 
 Leve I this Chaunteclere in his pasture; 15191 
 And after wol 1 tell his aventure. 
 
 Whan that the month in which the world began, 
 That highte March, whan God first maked man. 
 Was complete, and ypassed were also, 
 
 Sithen March ended, thritty dayes and two, 
 
 Befell that Chaunteclere in all his pride. 
 
 His seven wives walking him beside. 
 
 Cast up his eyen to the brighte sonne, 15199 
 
 That in the signe of Taurus hadde yronne 
 Twenty degrees and on, and somwhat more : 
 
 He knew by kind, and by non other lore, 
 
 That it was prime, and crew with blisful steven. 
 
 The sonne, he said, is clomben up on heven 
 Twenty degrees and on, and more ywis. 
 
 Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis, 
 
 Herkcneth thise blisful briddes how they sing, 
 
 And see the freshe floures how they spring ; 15208 
 
THE XONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 207 
 
 Ful IS min herte of revel, and solas. 
 
 But sodenly him fell a sorvveful cas ; 
 
 For ever the latter ende of joye is wo : 
 
 God wote that worldly joye is sone ago : 
 And if a rethor coude faire endite, 
 
 He in a chronicle might it saufly write, 
 
 As for a soveraine notabilitee. 
 
 Now every wise man let him herken me : 
 This story is al so trewe, I undertake, 
 
 As is the book of Launcelot du lake, 
 
 That women holde in ful gret reverence. 
 Now wol I turne agen to my sentence, 
 
 A col fox, ful of sleigh iniquitee. 
 
 That in the grove had wonned yeres three, 
 By high imagination forecast. 
 
 The same night thurghout the hegges brast 
 Into the yerd, ther Chaunteclere the faire 
 Was wont, and eke his wives, to repaire : 
 And in a bedde of wortes stille he lay. 
 
 Till it was passed undern of the day. 
 Waiting his time on Chaunteclere to falle : 
 As gladly don thise homicides alle. 
 
 That in await ligr^en to mordre men. 
 
 O false morderour, rucking in thy den ! 
 O newe Scariot, newe Genelon ! 
 
 O false dissimulour, o Greek Sinon, 
 
 15209 
 
 15217 
 
 ] 52 25 
 
 15234 
 
208 
 
 THE NONNES PKEESTES TALE. 
 
 That broug'htest Troye al utterly to sorvve ! 15235 
 
 0 Chaunteclere, accursed be the morwe, 
 
 That thou into thy yerd flew fro the bemes : 
 
 Thou were ful wel y warned by thy dremes, 
 
 That thilke day was perilous to thee. 
 
 But what that God forewote most nedes be, 
 
 After the opinion of certain clerkes. 
 
 Witnesse on him, that any parfit clerk is, 
 
 That in scole is gret altercation 15243 
 
 In this matere, and gret disputison, 
 
 And hath ben of an hundred thousand men. 
 
 But I ne cannot boult it to the bren, 
 
 As can the holy doctour Augustin, 
 
 Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardin, 
 
 Whether that Goddes worthy foreweting 
 Streineth me nedely for to don a thing, 
 
 (Nedely clepe I simple necessitee) 15251 
 
 Or elles if free chois be granted me 
 To do that same thing, or do it nought, 
 
 Though God forewot it, or that it was wrought ; 
 
 Or if his weting streineth never a del. 
 
 But by necessitee condicionel. 
 
 1 wol not han to don of swiche matere ; 
 
 My tale is of a cok, as ye may here. 
 
 That took his conseil of his wif with sorwe 
 
 To walken in the yerd upon the morwe, 15260 
 
 l 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 ^09 
 
 That he had met the dreme, as I you told. io2Gi 
 W omennes conseiles ben ful often cold ; 
 
 Womannes conseil brought us first to wo. 
 
 And made Adam fro paradis to go, 
 
 Ther as he was ful mery, and wel at ese. 
 
 But for I n’ot, to whom I might displese, 
 
 If I conseil of women wolde blame, 
 
 Passe over, for I said it in my game. 
 
 Rede auctours, wher they trete of swiche matere. 
 And what they sayn of women ye mown here. 15270 
 Thise ben the Cokkes wordes, and not mine ; 
 
 I can non harme of no woman devine. 
 
 Faire in the sond, to bath hire merily, 
 
 Lith Pertelote, and all hire susters by, 
 
 Agein the sonne, and Chaunteclere so free 
 Sang merier than the Mermaid in the see. 
 
 For Phisiologus sayth sikerly. 
 
 How that they singen wel and merily. 
 
 And so befell that as he cast his eye 
 Among the wortes on a boterflie. 
 
 He was ware of this fox that lay ful low. 
 
 Nothing ne list him thanne for to crow, 
 
 But cried anon cok, cok, and up he sterte. 
 
 As man that was affraied in his herte . 
 
 For naturelly a beest desireth flee 
 Fro his contrarie, if he mav it see. 
 
 15278 
 
 15286 
 
 VOL. HI. 
 
 P 
 
210 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 Though he never erst had seen it with his eye. 15287 
 This Chaunteclere, whan he gan him espie, 
 
 He wold han fled, but that the fox anon 
 Said ; gentil sire, alas ! what wol ye don ? 
 
 Be ye affraid of me that am your frend ? ^ 
 
 Now certes, I were werse than any fend, 
 
 If I to you wold harme or vilanie. 
 
 I n’am not come your conseil to espie. 
 
 But trewely the cause of my coming 15295 
 
 Was only for to herken how ye sing : 
 
 For trewely ye han as mery a steven, 
 
 As any angel hath, that is in heven; 
 
 Therwith ye han of musike more feling. 
 
 Than had Boece, or any that can sing. 
 
 My lord your fader (God his soule blesse) 
 
 And eke your moder of hire gentillesse 
 
 Han in myn hous yben, to my gret ese : 1530s 
 
 And certes, sire, ful fain wold I you plese. 
 
 But for men speke of singing, 1 wol sey. 
 
 So mote I brouken wel min eyen twey. 
 
 Save you, ne herd I never man so sing. 
 
 As did your fader in the morwening. 
 
 Certes it was of herte all that he song. 
 
 And for to make his vois the more strong, 
 
 He wold so peine him, that with both his eyen 
 He muste winke, so loud he wolde crien, 15312 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 And stonden on his tiptoon therwithal. 
 
 And stretchen forth his necke long and smal. 
 And eke he was of swiche discretion, 
 
 That ther n’as no man in no region, 
 
 That him in song or wisdom mighte passe. 
 
 1 have wel red in dan Burnel the asse 
 Among his vers, how that ther was a cok, 
 
 That for a preestes sone yave him a knok 
 Upon his leg, while he was yonge and nice. 
 He made him for to lese his benefice. 
 
 But certain ther is no comparison 
 Betwix the wisdom and discretion 
 Of youre fader, and his subtilitee. 
 
 Now singeth, sire, for Seinte Charitee, 
 
 Let see, can ye your fader contrefete ? 
 
 This Chaunteclere his winges gan to bete, 
 
 " As man that coud not his treson espie. 
 
 So was he ravished with his flaterie. 
 
 Alas ! ye lordes, many a false flatour 
 Is in your court, and many a losengeour. 
 
 That pleseth you wel more, by my faith. 
 
 Than he that sothfastnesse unto you saith. 
 Redeth Ecclesiast of flaterie, 
 
 Beth ware, ye lordes, of hire trecherie. 
 
 This Chaunteclere stood high upon his toos 
 Stretching his necke, and held his eyen cloos, 
 
 21 1 
 
 15313 
 
 15321 
 
 1532.0 
 
 15338 
 
 1 
 
212 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 And gan to crowen loude for the nones : isssn 
 
 And dan Russel the fox stert up at ones, 
 
 And by the gargat hente Chaimteclere, 
 
 And on his back toward the wood him here. 
 
 For yet ne was ther no man that him sued. 
 
 O destinee, that maist not ben eschued ! 
 
 Alas, that Chaunteclere flew fro the bemes ! 
 
 Alas, his wif ne raughte not of dremes ! 
 
 And on a Friday fell all this meschance. 15347 
 O Venus, that art goddesse of plesance, 
 
 Sin that thy servant was this Chaunteclere, 
 
 And in thy service did all his powere. 
 
 More for debt, than world to multiplie. 
 
 Why wolt thou sulfre him on thy day to die ? 
 
 O Gaufride, dere maister soverain, 
 
 That, whan thy worthy king Richard was slain 
 With shot, complainedest his deth so sore, 15355 
 Why ne had I now thy science and thy lore, 
 
 The Friday for to chiden, as did ye ? 
 
 (For on a Friday sothly slain was he) 
 
 Than wold I shew you how that I coud plaine, 
 
 For Chauntecleres drede, and for his paine. 
 
 Certes swiche cry, ne lamentation 
 N’as never of ladies made, whan Ilion 
 Was wonne, and Firms with his streite swerd 
 Whan he had hent king Priam by the herd, i63()4 
 
 / 
 
THE NONT^ES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 213 
 
 And slain him, (as saith us Erieidos) 15365 
 
 As maden all the hennes in the cloos, 
 
 Whan they had seen of Chaunteclere the sight. 
 
 But soverainly dame Pertelote shright, 
 
 Ful louder than did Hasdruballes wif, 
 
 Whan that hire husbond hadde ylost his lif, 
 
 And that the Romaines hadden brent Cartage, 
 
 She was so ful of turment and of rao’e, 
 
 'I’hat wilfully into the fire she sterte, 15373 
 
 And brent hire selven, with a stedfast herte. 
 
 O woful hennes, right so criden ye. 
 
 As, Avhan that Nero brente the citee 
 Of Rome, cried the senatoures wives. 
 
 For that hir husbonds losten alle hir lives ; 
 Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slain. 
 
 Now wol I turne unto my tale again. 
 
 The sely wide we, and hire doughtren two, i 53 Si 
 Herden thise hennes crie and maken wo. 
 
 And out at the dores sterten they anon, 
 
 And saw the fox toward the wode is gon. 
 
 And bare upon his back the cok away : 
 
 They crieden, out ! harow and wala wa ! 
 
 A ha the fox ! and after him they ran. 
 
 And eke with staves, many another man ; 
 
 Ran Colle our dogge, and Talbot, and Gerlond, 
 And Malkin, with hire distaf in hire bond ; 15390 
 
214 
 
 THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 Kan cow and calf, and eke the veray hogges 153.91 
 So fered were for berking of the dogges. 
 
 And shouting of the men and women eke, 
 
 They ronnen so, hem thought hir hertes breke. 
 
 They yelleden as fendes don in helle : 
 
 The dokes crieden as men wold hem quelle : 
 
 The gees for fere flewen over the trees, 
 
 Out of the hive came the swarme of bees. 
 
 So hidous was the noise, a henedicite ! 15399 
 
 Certes he Jakke Straw, and his meinie, 
 
 Ne maden never shoutes half so shrille, 
 
 Whan that they wolden any Fleming kille. 
 
 As thilke day was made upon the fox. 
 
 Of bras they broughten beemes and of box. 
 
 Of horn and bone, in which they blew and pouped. 
 And therwithal they shriked and they houped ; 
 
 It semed, as that the heven shulde falle. 15407 
 Now, goode men, I pray you herkeneth alle; 
 
 Lo, how fortune turneth sodenly 
 The hope and pride eke of hire enemy. 
 
 This cok that lay upon the foxes bake. 
 
 In all his drede, unto the fox he spake, 
 
 And sayde ; sire, if that I were as ye. 
 
 Yet wolde I sayn, (as wisly God helpe me) 
 
 Turneth agein, ye proude cherles alle ; 
 
 A veray pestilence upon you falle. 15 im 
 
THE NONNES PREESTES TALE. 
 
 215 
 
 Now am I come unto the wodes side, 15417 
 
 Maugre your lied, the cok shal here abide ; 
 
 1 wol him ete in faith, and that anon. 
 
 The fox answered, in faith it shal be don ; 
 
 And as he spake the word, al sodenly 
 The cok brake from his mouth deliverly, 
 
 And high upon a tree he flew anon. 
 
 And whan the fox saw that the cok was gon, 
 Alas! quod he, o Chaunteclere, alas ! 15425 
 
 I have (quod he) ydon to you trespas. 
 
 In as moche as I maked you aferd, 
 
 Whan 1 you hente, and brought out of your yerd ; 
 But, sire, I did it in no wikke entente ; 
 
 Come doun, and I shal tell you what I mente. 
 
 I shal say sothe to you, God helpe me so. 
 
 Nay than, quod he, I shrewe us bothe two. 
 
 And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones, 
 If thou begile me oftener than ones. 15434 
 
 Thou shalt no more thurgh thy flaterie 
 Do me to sing and winken with myn eye. 
 
 For he that winketh, whan he shulde see, 
 
 Al wilfully, God let him never the. 
 
 Nay, quod the fox, but God yeve him meschance, 
 That is so indiscrete of governance, 
 
 That jangleth, whan that he shuld hold his pees. 
 
 Lo, which it is for to be reccheles 
 And negligent, and trust on flaterie. 
 
 15413 
 
216 
 
 THE NONNES PllEESTES TALE. 
 
 But ye that holden this tale a folie, 
 
 As of a fox, or of a cok, or hen, 
 
 Taketh the moralitee therof, good men. 
 
 For Seint Poule sayth, That all that writen is 
 To our doctrine it is ywnten ywis. ' 
 
 Taketh the fruit, and let the chaf be stille. 
 
 Now, goode God, if that it be thy wille, 
 
 As sayth my Lord, so make us all good men; 
 And bring us to thy highe blisse. Amen. 
 
 Sire Nonnes Freest, our hoste sayd anon, 
 Yblessed be thy breche and every ston ; 
 
 This was a mery tale of Chaunteclere. 
 
 But by my trouthe, if thou were seculere. 
 Thou woldest ben a tredefoule a right : 
 
 For if thou have corage as thou hast might, 
 Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene, 
 
 Ye mo than seven times seventene. 
 
 Se, whiche braunes hath this gentil preest, 
 So gret a necke, and swiche a large breest ! 
 He loketh as a sparhauk with his eyen; 
 
 Him nedeth not his colour for to dien 
 With Brasil, ne with grain of Portingale» 
 But, sire, faire falle you for your tale. 
 
 And after that, he with ful mery chere 
 
 Sayd to another, as ye shulen here. 
 
 * * 
 
 15444 
 
 15452 
 
 15459 
 
 154es 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 21/ 
 
 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 The ministre and the norice unto vices, io469 
 Which that men clepe in English idelnesse, 
 
 That porter at the gate is of delices, 
 
 To eschuen, and by hire contrary hire oppresse, 
 
 That is to sain, by leful besinesse, 
 
 Wei oughte we to don al our entente. 
 
 Lest that the fend thurgh idelnesse us hente. 15475 
 
 For ho that with his thousand cordes she 
 Continuelly us waiteth to beclappe. 
 
 Whan he may man in idelnesse espie. 
 
 He can so lightly cacche him in his trappe, 
 
 Til that a man be hent right by the lappe, 
 
 He n’is not ware the fend hath him in bond : 
 
 Wei ought us werche, and idelnesse withstond. 15482 
 
 And thoudi men dradden never for to die, 
 
 Yet see men wel by reson douteles. 
 
 That idelnesse is rote of slogardie. 
 
 Of which ther never cometh no good encrees, 
 
 And see that slouthe holdeth hem in a lees, 
 
 Only to slope, and for to ete and drinke, 
 
 And to devouren all that other swinke. 
 
 15489 
 
218 
 
 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 And for to put us from swiche idelnesse, i54no 
 That cause is of so gret confusion, 
 
 I have here don my feithful besinesse 
 After the Legende in translation 
 Right of thy glorious lif and passion, 
 
 Thou with thy gerlond, wrought of rose and lilie, 
 Thee mene I, maid and martir Seinte Cecilie. 
 
 And thou, that arte floure of virgines all, 15497 
 Of whom that Bernard list so wel to write. 
 
 To thee at my beginning first I call, 
 
 Thou comfort of us wretches, do me endite 
 Thy maidens deth, that wan thurgh hire merite 
 The eternal lif, and over the fend victorie. 
 
 As man may after reden in hire storie. 
 
 Thou maide and mother, doughter of thy son, 15504 
 Thou well of mercy, sinful soules cure. 
 
 In whom that God of bountee chees to won ; 
 
 Thou humble and high over every creature. 
 
 Thou nobledest so fer forth our nature, 
 
 That no desdaine the maker had of kinde 
 His son in blood and flesh to clothe and winde. 
 
 Within the cloystre blisful of thy sides, 
 
 Toke mannes shape the eternal love and pees, 15512 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 219 
 
 That of the trine compas Lord and gide is, 15513 
 Whom erthe, and see, and heven out of relees 
 Ay herien ; and thou, virgine wemmeles. 
 
 Bare of thy body (and dweltest maiden pure) 
 
 The creatour of every creature. 
 
 Assembled is in thee magnificence 
 With mercy, goodnesse, and with swiche pitee. 
 
 That thou, that art the sonne of excellence, 155-20 
 Not only helpest hem that praien thee. 
 
 But oftentime of thy benignitee, 
 
 Ful freely, or that men thin helpe beseche. 
 
 Thou goest beforne, and art hir lives leche. 
 
 Now helpe, thou meke and blisful faire maide, 
 
 Me flemed wretch, in this desert of galle ; 
 
 Thinke on the woman Cananee, that saide 15527 
 That whelpes eten som of the cromes alle 
 That from hir Lordes table ben yfalle ; 
 
 And though that I, unworthy sone of Eve, 
 
 Be sinful, yet accepteth my beleve. 
 
 And for that feith is ded withouten werkes, 
 
 So for to werken yeve me wit and space. 
 
 That I be quit from thennes that most derke is ; 
 
 O thou, that art so faire and ful of grace, 15535 
 
2^20 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 Be thou min advocat in that high place, 
 
 Ther as withouten ende is songe Osanne. 
 Thou Cristes mother, doughter dere of Anne. 
 
 And of thy light my soule in prison light, 
 That troubled is by the contagion 
 Of my body, and also by the wight 
 Of erthly lust, and false affection : 
 
 O haven of refute, o salvation 
 
 Of hem that ben in sorwe and in distresse. 
 
 Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse. 
 
 Yet pray I you that reden that I write, 
 Foryeve me, that I do no diligence 
 This ilke storie subtilly to endite. 
 
 For both have I the wordes and sentence 
 Of him, that at the seintes reverence 
 The storie wrote, and folowed hire legende. 
 And pray you that ye wol my werk amende. 
 
 First wol I you the name of Seinte Cecilie 
 Expoune, as men may in hire storie see : 
 
 It is to sayn in English, Hevens lilie. 
 
 For pure chastnesse of virginitee. 
 
 Or for she whitnesse had of honestee. 
 
 io5a() 
 
 15543 
 
 1 5550 
 
 15557 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE, 
 
 And grene of conscience, and of good fame 
 The swote savour, Lilie was hire name. 
 
 Or Cecilie is to sayn, the way to blinde, 
 
 For she ensample was by good teching ; 
 
 Or elles Cecilie, as I writen finde, 
 
 Is joined by a maner conjoining 
 Of heven and Lia, and here in figuring 
 The heven is set for thought of holinesse. 
 
 And Lia, for hire lasting besinesse. 
 
 Cecilie may eke be sayd in this manere, 
 Wanting of blindnesse, for liire grete light 
 Of sapience, and for hire thewes clere. 
 
 Or elles lo, this maidens name bright 
 Of heven and Leos cometh, for which by right 
 Men might hire wel the heven of peple calle, 
 Ensample of good and wise werkes alle : 
 
 For Leos peple in English is to say ; 
 
 And right as men may in the heven see 
 The sonne and mone, and sterres every way, 
 Right so men gostly, in this maiden free 
 Sawen of faith the magnanimitee, 
 
 And eke the clerenesse hole of sapience. 
 
 And sondry werkes, bright of excellence. 
 
 221 
 
 15558 
 
 1556'5 
 
 ] 5572 
 
 1 5580 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE, 
 
 
 And right so as thisc Philosophres write, isosi 
 That heven is swift and round, and eke brenning, 
 Riofht so was faire Cecilie the white 
 Ful swift and besy in every good working, 
 
 And round and hole in good persevering, 
 
 And brenning ever in charitee ful bright : 
 
 Now hav'e 1 you declared what she hight. 
 
 This maiden bright Cecile, as hire lif saith, issss 
 Was come of Romaines and of noble kind, 
 
 And from hire cradle fostred in the faith 
 Of Crist, and bare his Gospel in hire mind : 
 
 She never cesed, as I writen find, 
 
 Of hire prayere, and God to love and drede, 
 Beseching him to kepe hire maidenhede. 
 
 And whan tliis maiden shuld until a man 15595 
 Ywedded be, that was ful yonge of age, 
 
 Which that ycleped was Valerian, 
 
 And day was comen of hire marriage. 
 
 She ful devout and humble in hire corage. 
 
 Under hire robe of gold, that sat ful faire. 
 
 Had next hire flesh yclad hire in an haire. 
 
 And while that the organs maden melodie, 
 
 To God alone thus in hire Inert song she; i56'03 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 O Lord, my soule and eke my body gie 
 Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be. 
 
 And for his love that died upon the tree, 
 Every second or thridde day she fast, 
 
 Ay bidding in hire orisons ful fast. 
 
 The night came, and to bedde must she go 
 With hire husbond, as it is the manere, 
 
 And prively she said to him anon ; 
 
 0 swete and wel beloved spouse dere, 
 
 Ther is a conseil, and ye wol it here. 
 
 Which that right fayn I wold unto you saie, 
 So that ye swere, ye wol it not bewraie. 
 
 Valerian gan fast unto hire swere, 
 
 That for no cas, ne thing that mighte be. 
 
 He shulde never to non bewraien here ; 
 
 And than at erst thus to him saide she ; 
 
 1 have an Angel which that loveth me. 
 
 That with gret love, wher so 1 wak^ or siepe, 
 Is redy ay my body for to kepe ; 
 
 And if that he mav felen out of drede, 
 
 That ve me touch or love in vilanie, 
 
 He right anon wol sleen you with the dede, 
 And in your youthe thus ye shulden die. 
 
 2^3 
 
 15604 
 
 15611 
 
 15618 
 
 15626 
 
224 
 
 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 And if that ye in clene love me gie, I oG's? 
 
 He wol you love as me, for your clenenesse, 
 
 And shew to you his joye and his brightnesse. 
 
 This Valerian, corrected as God wold, 
 
 Answerd again, if I shal trusten thee. 
 
 Let me that angel seen, and him behold ; 
 
 And if that it a veray angel be, 
 
 Than wol I don as thou hast prayed me ; i56‘34 
 
 And if thou love another man, forsothe 
 
 Right with this swerd than wol I slee you bothe. 
 
 Cecile answerd anon right in this wise ; 
 
 If that you list, the angel shul ye see. 
 
 So that ye trowe on Crist and you baptise ; 
 
 Goth forth to Via Apia (quod she) 
 
 That fro this toun ne stant but miles three, i564i 
 And to the poure folkes that ther dwellen 
 Say hem right thus, as that I shal you tellen. 
 
 1 ell hem, that I Cecile you to hem sent 
 To shewen you the good Urban the old, 
 
 For secree nedes, and for good entent ; 
 
 And whan that ye Seint Urban han behold, 
 
 Tell him the wordes whiche I to you told ; 
 
 And whan that he hath purged you fro sinne. 
 
 Than shal ye seen that angel er ye twinne. i565o 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 2^5 
 
 Valerian is to the place gon, 
 
 And right as he was taught by hire lerning, 
 
 He fond this holy old Urban anon 
 Among the seintes buriels louting: 
 
 And he anon withouten tarying 
 
 Did his message, and whan that he it tolde, 
 
 Urban for jo ye his hondes gan upholde. 
 
 I 
 
 The teres from his eyen let he falle; isess 
 
 Almighty Lord, o Jesu Crist, quod he, 
 
 Sower of chast conseil, hierde of us alle, 
 
 The fruit of thilke seed of chastitee 
 That thou hast sow in Cecile, take to thee ; 
 
 Lo, like a besy bee withouten gile 
 Thee serveth ay thin owen thral Cecile. 
 
 For thilke spouse, that she toke but newe 15665 
 Ful like a fiers leon, she sendeth here 
 As meke as ever was any lambe to ewe. 
 
 And with that word anon ther gan apere 
 An old man, clad in white clothes clere, 
 
 That had a book with lettres of gold in bond , 
 
 And gan beforne Valerian to stond. 
 
 Valerian, as ded, fell doun for drede. 
 
 Whan he him saw ; and he up hent him tho, 15673 
 
 VOL. Ill, 
 
 Q 
 
226 
 
 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 And on his book right thus he gan to rede ; 15674 
 
 On Lord, on faith, on God withouten mo. 
 
 On Cristendom, and fader of all also 
 Aboven all, and over all every wher : 
 
 Thise wordes all with gold ywriten were. 
 
 Whan this was red, than said this olde man, 
 Levest thou this thing or no ? say ye or nay. 
 
 I leve all this thing, quod Valerian, i568i 
 
 For sother thing than this, I dare wel say, 
 
 Under the heven no wight thinken may. 
 
 Tho vanished the olde man, he n’iste wher. 
 
 And pope Urban him cristened right ther. 
 
 Valerian goth home, and fint Cecilie 
 Within his chambre with an angel stonde : 
 
 This angel had of roses eind of lilie locss 
 
 Corones two, the which he bare in honde, 
 
 And first to Cecile, as I understonde. 
 
 He yaf that on, and after gan he take 
 That other to Valerian hire make. 
 
 With body dene, and with unwemmed thought 
 Kepeth ay wel thise corones two, quod he, 
 
 From paradis to you I have hem brought, 
 
 Ne never mo ne shiil they roten be, i 56 ‘ 9 G 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 OQT 
 
 ^ i 
 
 Ne lese hir swete savour, trusteth me, 156.97 
 
 Ne never wight shal seen hem with his eye, 
 
 But he be chaste, and hate vilanie. 
 
 And thou, Valerian, for thou so sone 
 Assentedest to good conseil, also 
 Say what thee list, and thou shalt han thy bone. 
 
 I have a brother, quod Valerian tho. 
 
 That in this world I love no man so, 15704 
 
 I pray you that my brother may have grace 
 To know the trouth, as I do in this place. 
 
 The angel sayd ; God liketh thy request. 
 
 And bothe with the palme of martirdome 
 Ye shullen come unto his blisful rest. 
 
 And with that word, Tiburce his brother come. 
 
 And whan that he the savour undernome, 1571 1 
 Which that the roses and the lilies cast. 
 
 Within his herte he gan to wonder fast, 
 
 And said ; I wonder this time of the yere 
 Whennes that swete savour cometh so 
 Of roses and lilies, that I smelle here ; 
 
 For though I had hem in min hondes two. 
 
 The savour might in me no deper, go : 
 
 The swete smel, that in min herte I find. 
 
 Hath changed me all in another kind. 15720 
 
228 
 
 THE SECO'ND NONNES TALE. 
 
 Valerian saide; two corones han we 15721 
 
 Snow-white and rose-red, that shinen clere, 
 
 Which that thin eyen han no might to see : 
 
 And as thou smellest hem thurgh my praiere, 
 
 So shalt thou seen hem, leve brother dere. 
 
 If it so be thou wolt withouten slouthe 
 Beleve aright, and know the veray trouthe. 
 
 Tiburce answered; saiest thou this to me 15728 
 In sothnesse, or in dreme herken I this? 
 
 In dremes, quod Valerian, han we be 
 Unto this time, brother min, ywis : 
 
 But now at erst in trouthe our dwelling is. 
 
 How wost thou this, quod Tiburce, in what wise ? 
 Quod Valerian ; that shal I thee devise. 
 
 The angel of God hath me the trouth ytaught. 
 Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wilt reney 15436 ‘ 
 The idoles, and be dene, and elles naught. 
 
 [ And of the miracle of thise corones twey 
 Seint Ambrose in his preface list to sey; 
 
 Solempnely this noble doctour dere 
 Commend eth it, and saith in this manere. 
 
 The palme of martirdome for to receive, 
 
 Seinte Cecilie, fulfilled of Goddes yeft, 15743 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 229 
 
 The world and eke hire chambre gan she weive; 15744 
 Witnesse Tiburces and Ceciles shrift, 
 
 To which God of his boimtee woide shift 
 Corones two, of floures wel smelling, 
 
 And made his angel hem the corones bring. 
 
 The maid hath brought thise men to blisse above ; 
 The world hath wist what it is worth certain 
 Devotion of chastitee to love.] ’ 15751 
 
 Tho shewed him Cecile all open and plain, 
 
 That all idoles n’is but a thing in vain. 
 
 For they ben dombe, and therto they ben deve. 
 
 And charg^ed him his idoles for to leve. 
 
 Who so that troweth not this, a best he is, 
 
 Quod this Tiburce, if that I shal not lie. 
 
 And she gan kisse his brest whan she herd this, 15758 
 And was ful glad he coude trouth espie : 
 
 This day I take thee for min allie, 
 
 Saide this blisful faire maiden dere ; 
 
 And after that she said as ye may here. 
 
 Lo, right so as the love of Crist (quod she) 
 
 Made me thy brothers wif, right in that wise 
 Anon for mine allie here take I thee, 
 
 Sithen that thou wolt thin idoles despise. 15766* 
 
* 
 
 ‘230 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 Goth with thy brother now and thee baptise, 15767 
 And make thee clene, so that thou maist behold 
 The angels face, of which thy brother told. 
 
 Tiburce answered, and saide ; brother dere, 
 
 First tell me whither T shal, and to what man. 
 
 To whom quod he ; come forth with goode chere, 
 
 I wol thee lede unto the pope Urban. 
 
 To Urban? brother min Valerian, 15774 
 
 Quod tho Tiburce, wilt thou me thider lede ? 
 
 Me thinketh that it were a wonder dede. 
 
 Ne menest thou not Urban (quod he tho) 
 
 That is so often damned to be ded. 
 
 And woneth in halkes alway to and fro. 
 
 And dare not ones putten forth his hed ? 
 
 Men shuld him brennen in a fire so red, ' i57Si 
 If he were found, or that men might him spie, 
 
 And we also, to here him compagnie. 
 
 And while we seken thilke divinitee. 
 
 That is yhid in heven prively, 
 
 Algate ybrent in this world shuld we be. 
 
 To whom Cecile answered boldely; 
 
 Men mighten dreden wel and skilfully 
 This lif to lese, min owen dere brother. 
 
 If this were living only and non other. 157.00 
 
 J 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 231 
 
 Butther is better lif in other place, 15791 
 
 That never shal be lost, ne drede thee nought: 
 Which Goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace, 
 
 That fadres sone which alle thinges wrought ; 
 
 And all that wrought is with a skilful thought, 
 
 The gost, that from the fader gan precede. 
 
 Hath souled hem withouten any drede. 
 
 By word and by miracle he Goddes sone, 15798 
 Whan he was in this world, declared here. 
 
 That ther is other lif ther men may wone. 
 
 To whom answerd Tiburce; o suster dere, 
 
 Ne saidest thou right now in this manere, 
 
 Ther n’as but o God, lord in sothfastnesse. 
 
 And now of three how mayst thou here witnesse ? 
 
 That shal I tell, quod she, or that I go. i5805 
 Right as a man hath sapiences three, 
 t Memorie, engine, and intellect also. 
 
 So in o being of divinitee 
 
 Three persones mowen ther righte wel be. 
 
 Tho gan she him ful besily to preche 
 Of Cristes sonde, and of his peines teche. 
 
 And many pointes of his passion ; 
 
 How Goddes sone in this world was withhold i58i3 
 
232 
 
 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 To don mankinde pleine remission, 15814 
 
 That was ybound in sinne and cares cold. 
 
 All this thing she unto Tiburce told, 
 
 And after this Tiburce in good entent. 
 
 With Valerian to pope Urban he went. 
 
 That thanked God, and with glad herte and light 
 He cristened him, and made him in that place 
 Parfite in his lerning and Goddes knight. i582i 
 And after this Tiburce gat swiche grace. 
 
 That every day he saw in time and space 
 The angel of God, and every maner bone 
 That he God axed, it was sped ful sone. 
 
 It were ful hard by ordre for to sain 
 How many wonders Jesus for hem wrought. 
 
 But at the last, to tellen short and plain, 15828 
 The sergeaunts of the toun of Rome hem sought. 
 And hem before Almache the prefect brought, 
 Which hem apposed, and knew all hire entent, 
 
 And to the image of Jupiter hem sent. 
 
 And said ; who so wol nought do sacrifice, 
 
 Swap of his hed, this is my sentence here. 
 
 Anon thise martyrs, that J you devise. 
 
 On Maximus, that was an officerc 
 
 1 5s;3(; 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 233 
 
 Of the prefectes, and his corniculere, issar 
 
 Hem hent, and whan he forth the seintes lad. 
 Himself he wept for pitee that he had. 
 
 Wlian Maximus had herd the seintes lore, 
 
 He gate him of the turmentoures leve, 
 
 And lad hem to his hous withouten more ; 
 
 And wdth hir preching, or that it were eve, 
 
 They gonnen fro the turmentours to reve, 15R44 
 And fro Maxime, and fro his folk eche on 
 The false faith, to trowe in God alone. 
 
 Cecilie came, whan it was waxen night. 
 
 With prestees, that hem cristened all yfere ; 
 
 And afterward, whan day was waxen light, 
 
 Cecilie hem said with a ful stedfast chere ; 
 
 Now, Cristes owen knightes leve and dere, i585i 
 Caste all away the werkes of derkenesse. 
 
 And armeth you in armes of brightnesse. 
 
 Ye han forsoth ydon a gret bataille ; 
 
 Your cours is don, your faith hath you conserved ; 
 Goth to the croune of lif that may not faille ; 
 
 The rightful juge, which that ye han served, 
 
 Shal yeve it you, as ye han it deserved. 
 
 And whan this thing was said, as 1 devise, 
 
 Men ledde hem forth to don the sacrifice. 
 
 15860 
 
^234 
 
 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 But whan they v/eren to the place ybrought, 1586T 
 To tellen shortly the conclusioun, 
 
 They ii’olde encense, ne sacrifice right nought, 
 
 But on hir knees they setten hem adoun, 
 
 With humble herte and sad devotioun, 
 
 And losten bothe hir hedes in the place ; 
 
 His soules wenten to the king of grace. 
 
 This Maximus, that saw this thing betide, isses 
 With pitous teres told it anon right. 
 
 That he hir soules saw to heven glide 
 With angels, ful of clerenesse and of light ; 
 
 And with his word converted many a wight. 
 
 For which Almachius did him to-bete 
 With whip of led, til he his lif gan lete. 
 
 Cecile him toke, and buried him anon 16875 
 
 By Tiburce and Valerian softely. 
 
 Within hir burying place, under the ston. 
 
 And after this Almachius hastily 
 Bad his ministres fetchen openly 
 Cecile, so that she might in his presence 
 Don sacrifice, and Jupiter encense. 
 
 But they converted at hire wise lore 
 Wepten ful sore, and yaven ful credence issss 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 235 
 
 Unto hire word, and crieden more and more; 15884 
 Crist, Goddes sone, withouten difference 
 Is veray God, this is all our sentence, 
 
 That hath so good a servant him to serve : 
 
 Thus with o vois we trowen though we sterve. 
 
 Almachius, that herd of this doing, 
 
 Bad fetchen Cecile, that he might hire see : 
 
 And alderfirst, lo, this was his axing ; i 5 s, 9 i 
 
 What maner woman arte thou ? quod he, 
 
 I am a gentilwoman borne, quod she. 
 
 I axe thee, quod he, though it thee greve. 
 
 Of thy religion and of thy beleve. 
 
 Why than began your question folily, 
 
 Quod she, that w^oldest two answers conclude 
 In o demand ? ye axen lewedly. 15898 
 
 Almache answerd to that similitude. 
 
 Of whennes cometh thin answering so rude ? 
 
 Of whennes ? (quod she, whan that she was freined) 
 Of conscience, and of good faith unfeined. 
 
 Almachius said ; ne takest thou non hede 
 Of my power ? and she him answerd this ; 
 
 Your might (quod she) ful litel is to drede ; 
 
 For every mortal mannes power n'is 
 
 15906 
 
236 
 
 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 But like a bladder fill of wind ywis : 15.90^ 
 
 For with a nedles point, whan it is blow, 
 
 May all the host of it be laid ful low. 
 
 Fill wrongfully begonnest thou, (quod he) 
 
 And yet in wrong is al thy perseverance 
 West thou not how our mighty princes free 
 Have thus commanded and made ordinance, 
 
 That every cristen wight shal han penance i 59 i 4 
 But if that he his Cristendome withseye. 
 
 And gon al quite, if he wol it reneye ? 
 
 Your princes erren, as your nobley doth, 
 
 Quod tho Cecile, and with a wood sentence 
 Ye make us gilty, and it is not soth ; 
 
 For ye that knowen wel our innocence, 
 
 For as moche as we don ay reverence I 0921 
 
 To Crist, and for we here a Cristen name. 
 
 Ye put on us a crime and eke a blame. 
 
 But we that knowen thilke name so 
 For vertuous, we may it not withseye. 
 
 Almache answered ; chese on of thise two. 
 
 Do sacrifice, or Cristendom reneye, 
 
 That thou mow now escapen by that wey. 
 
 At which this holy blisful fayr£ maid 
 Gan for to laughe, and to the juge said : 
 
 15930 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 237 
 
 O juge confuse in thy nicetee, 15931 
 
 Woltest thou that I reney innocence? 
 
 To maken me a wicked wight (quod she) 
 
 Lo, he dissimuleth here in audience, 
 
 He stareth and wodeth in his advertence. 
 
 To whom Almachius said; Unsely wretch, 
 
 Ne wost thou not how far my might may stretch ? 
 
 Han not our mighty princes to me yeven 15938 
 Ya bothe power and eke auctoritee 
 To maken folk to dien or to liven ? 
 
 Why spekest thou so proudly than to me ? 
 i ne speke nought but stedfastly, quod she. 
 
 Not prcudely, for I say, as for my side, 
 
 We haten dedly thilke vice of pride. 
 
 And if thou drede not a soth for to here, 15945 
 Than wol I shewe al openly by right. 
 
 That thou hast made a ful gret lesing here. 
 
 Thou saist, thy princes han thee yeven might 
 Both for to slee and for to quiken a wight. 
 
 Thou that ne maist but only lif bereve, 
 
 Thou hast non other power ne no leve. 
 
 But thou maist sayn, thy princes han thee maked 
 Ministre of deth; for if thou speke of mo, 15953 
 
^38 
 
 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 Thou liest; for thy power is ful naked. i59oi 
 
 Do way thy boldnesse, said Almachius tho, 
 
 And sacrifice to our goddes, er thou go. 
 
 1 recke not what wrong that thou me profire, 
 
 For I can sufFre it as a philosophre. 
 
 But thilke wronges may I not endure, 
 
 That thou spekest of our goddes here, quod he. 
 Cecile answerd ; o nice creature, i596i 
 
 Thou saidest no word sin thou spake to me, 
 
 That I ne knew therwith thy nicetee. 
 
 And that thou were in every maner wise 
 A lewed officer, a vain justice. 
 
 Ther lacketh nothing to thin utter eyen 
 That thou n’art blind; for thing that we seen alie 
 That is a ston, that men may wel espien, io96'8 
 That ilke ston a god thou wolt it calle, 
 
 I rede thee let thin hond upon it falle. 
 
 And tast it wel, and ston thou shalt it find. 
 
 Sin that thou seest not with thin eyen blind. 
 
 It is a shame that the peple shal 
 So scornen thee, and laugh at thy folie : 
 
 For comunly men wot it wel over al. 
 
 That mighty God is in his hevens hie ; 
 
 15976“ 
 
THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 239 
 
 And thise images, wel maist thou espie. 15977 
 
 To thee iie to hemself may not profite, 
 
 For in effect they be not worth a mite. 
 
 Thise and swiche other wordes saide she, 
 
 And he wex wroth, and bade men shuld hire lede 
 Home til hire house, and in hire lious (quod he) 
 Brenne hire right in a bath, with flames rede. 
 
 And as he bade, right so was don the dede; 15984 
 For in a bathe they gonne hire faste shetten. 
 
 And night and day gret fire they under betten. 
 
 The longe night, and eke a day also. 
 
 For all the fire, and eke the bathes hete. 
 
 She sate al cold, and felt of it no wo, 
 
 It made hire not a drope for to swete : 
 
 But in that bath hire lif she muste lete. 159.91 
 
 For he Almache, with a ful wicke entent. 
 
 To sleen hire in the bath his sonde sent. 
 
 Three strokes in the nekke he smote hire tho 
 The turmentour, but for no maner chance 
 He mighte not smite all hire nekke atwo ; 
 
 And for ther was that time an ordinance 
 That no man shulde don man swiche penance, 
 
 The fourthe stroke to smiten, soft or sore. 
 
 This turmentour ne dorste do no more ; 
 
 isooo 
 
^40 THE SECOND NONNES TALE. 
 
 But half ded, with hire nekke ycorven ther h;ooi 
 He left hire lie, and on his way is went. 
 
 The cristen folk, which that about hire were. 
 
 With shetes han the blood ful faire yhent 
 Three dayes lived she in this turment. 
 
 And never cesed hem the faith to teche. 
 
 That she had fostred hem, she gan to preche. 
 
 And hem she yaf hire mebles and hire thing, ib'oos 
 And to the pope Urban betoke hem tho. 
 
 And said ; I axed this of heven king. 
 
 To have respit three dayes no mo. 
 
 To recommend to you, or that I go, 
 
 Thise soules lo, and that I might do werche 
 Here of min hous perpetuellich a cherche. 
 
 Seint Urban, with his dekenes prively i6'oi5 
 The body fette, and buried it by night 
 Among his other seintes honestly : 
 
 Hire hous the cherche of seinte Cecile hight; 
 
 Seint Urban halowed it, as he wel might, 
 
 In which unto this day in noble wise 
 
 Men don to Crist and to his seinte servise. 16021 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANIsES PROLOGUE. 241 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Whan that tolde was the lif of seinte Cecile, 1 6*022 
 Er we had ridden fully five mile, 
 
 At Boughton under blee us gan atake 
 A man, that clothed was in clothes blake. 
 
 And undernethe he wered a white surplis. 
 
 His hakeney, which that was al pomelee gris, 16027 
 So swatte, that it wonder was to see. 
 
 It semed as he had priked miles three. 
 
 The horse eke that his yeman rode upon. 
 
 So swatte, that unnethes might he gon. 
 
 About the peytrel stood the fome ful hie. 
 
 He was of fome as flecked as a pie. 
 
 A male tweifold on his croper lay, 
 
 It semed that he caried litel array, 16035 
 
 Al light for sommer rode this worthy man. 
 
 And in my herte wondren I began 
 What that he was, til that I understode. 
 
 How that his cloke was sowed to his hode ; 
 
 For which whan I had long avised me, 
 
 I demed him some chanon for to be. 
 
 His hat heng at his back doun by a las. 
 
 For he had ridden more than trot or pas. 
 
 He had ay priked like as he were wode. 16044 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 R 
 
242 THE CHANoneS yemannes prologue. 
 
 A dote lefe he had laid under his hode h;045 
 
 For swete, and for to kepe his hed fro hete. 
 
 But it was joye for to seen him swete ; 
 
 His forehed dropped, as a stillatorie 
 Were ful of plantaine or of paritorie. 
 
 And whan that he was come, he gan to crie, 
 
 God save (quod he) this joly compagnie. 
 
 Fast have I priked (quod he) for your sake. 
 Because that 1 wolde you atake, i6‘053 
 
 To riden in this mery compagnie. 
 
 His yeman was eke ful of curtesie, 
 
 And saide ; Sires, now in the morwe tide 
 Out of your hostelrie I saw you ride. 
 
 And warned here my lord and soverain. 
 
 Which that to riden with you is ful fain, 
 
 For his disport ; he loveth daliance. 
 
 Frend, for thy warning God yeve the good chance. 
 Than said our hoste ; certain it wolde seme i6'06'2 
 Thy lord were wise, and so I may wel deme ; 
 
 He is ful joconde also dare I leye ; 
 
 Can he ought tell a mery tale or tweie. 
 
 With which he gladen may this compagnie? 
 
 Who, sire ? my lord ? Ye, sire, withouten lie, 
 
 He can of mirth and eke of jolitee 
 Not but ynough ; also, sire, trusteth me, 
 
 And ye him knew al so wel as do I, 16070 
 
THE CHA NONES YEMANNES PROLOGUE. ^243 
 
 Ye wolden wondre how wel and craftily hjuti 
 
 He coude werke, and that in sondry wise. 
 
 He hath take on him many a gret emprise, 
 
 Which were ful harde for any that is here 
 To bring about, but they of him it lere. 
 
 As homely as he rideth amonges you, 
 
 If ye him knew, it wold be for your prow : 
 
 Ye wolden not forgon his acquaintance 
 
 For mochel good, I dare lay in balance 16079 
 
 All that I have in my possession. 
 
 He is a man of high discression, 
 
 I warne you wel, he is a passing man. 
 
 Wel, quod our hoste, I pray thee tell me than. 
 
 Is he a clerk, or non ? tell what he is. 
 
 Nay, he is greter than a clerk ywis, 
 
 Saide this yeman, and in wordes fewe, 
 
 Hoste, of his craft somwhat I wol you shewe. ifios? 
 
 I say, my lord can swiche a subtiltee, 
 
 (But all his craft ye moun not wete of me, 
 
 And somwhat help I yet to his working) 
 
 That all the ground on which we ben riding 
 Til that we come to Canterbury toun, 
 
 He coud al dene turnen up so doun, 
 
 And pave it all of silver and of gold. 
 
 And whan this yeman had this tale ytolde 
 Unto our hoste, he said; benedicite, i 6 ‘ 096 ‘ 
 
 V 
 
244 THE CHA^rONES YEMANNES PROLOGUE. 
 
 This thing is wonder mervailious to me, i6’o.97 
 
 Sin that thy lord is of so high prudence, 
 
 Because of whkh men shulde him reverence, 
 
 That of his worship rekketh he so lite ; 
 
 His overest sloppe it is not worth a mite 
 As in effect to him, so mote I go ; 
 
 It is all baudy and to-tore also. 
 
 Why is thy lord so sluttish I thee preye. 
 
 And is of power better cloth to beye, 1 G 105 
 
 If that his dede acorded with thy speche ? 
 
 Telle me that, and that I thee beseche. 
 
 Why ? quod this yeman, wherto axe ye me ? 
 
 God helpe me so, for he shal never the : 
 
 (But I wol not avowen that I say, 
 
 And therfore kepe it secree I you pray) 
 
 He is to wise in faith, as I beleve. 
 
 Thing that is overdon, it wol not preve iGi 13 
 
 Aright, as clerkes sain, it is a vice ; 
 
 Wherfore in that I hold him lewed and nice. 
 
 For whan a man hath overgret a wit, 
 
 Ful oft him happeth to misusen it : 
 
 So doth my lord, and that me greveth sore. 
 
 God it amende, I can say now no more. 
 
 Therof no force, good yeman, quod our host, 
 
 Sin of the conning of thy lord thou wost. 
 
 Telle how he doth, I pray thee hertily. 
 
 16 ' 122 
 
THE CHAKONES YEMANNES PROLOGUE. ^245 
 
 Sin that he is so crafty and so sly. - 16123 
 
 Wher dwellen ye, if it to tellen be ? 
 
 In the subarbes of a toun, quod he, 
 
 Lurking' in hernes and in lanes blinde, 
 
 Wheras thise robbours and thise theves by kinde 
 Holden hir privee fereful residence. 
 
 As they that dare not shewen hir presence, 
 
 So faren we, if I shal say the sothe. 
 
 Yet, quod our hoste, let me talken to the ; 16131 
 
 Why art thou so discoloured of thy face ? 
 
 Peter, quod he, God yeve it harde grace, 
 
 I am so used the hote fire to blow, 
 
 That it hath changed my colour T trow ; 
 
 I n’am not wont in no mirrour to prie, 
 
 But swinke sore, and lerne to multiplie. 
 
 We blundren ever, and poren in the fire. 
 
 And for all that we faille of our desire, 16139 
 
 For ever we lacken our conclusion. 
 
 To mochel folk we don illusion, 
 
 And borwe gold, be it a pound to two. 
 
 Or ten or twelve, or many sommes mo. 
 
 And make hem wenen at the leste wey, 
 
 That of a pound we connen maken twey. 
 
 Yet is it false ; and ay we han good hope 
 It for to don, and after it we grope ; 
 
 But that science is so fer us beforne. 
 
 If)l48 
 
9,46 THE CHANOlSiES YEMANlSiES PROLOGUE. 
 
 We mowen not, although we had it sworne, i 6 ’i 49 
 It overtake, it slit away so fast; 
 
 It wol us maken beggers at the last. 
 
 While this yeman was thus in his talking. 
 
 This Chanoii drow him nere, and herd all thing 
 Which this yeman spake, for suspecion 
 Of mennes speche ever had this Chanon : 
 
 For Caton sayth, that he that gilty is, 
 
 Demeth all thing be spoken of him ywis ; 16M07 
 
 That was the cause, he gan so nigh him drawe 
 To his yeman, to herken all his sawe. 
 
 And thus he saide unto his yeman tho ; 
 
 Hold thou thy pees, and speke no wordes mo : 
 
 For if thou do, thou shalt it dere abie. 
 
 Thou sclaundrest me here in this compagnie. 
 
 And eke discoverest that thou shuldest hide. 
 
 Ye, quod our hoste, tell on, what so betide; leib's 
 Of all his thretening recke not a mite. 
 
 In faith, quod he^ no more I do but lite. 
 
 And whan this Chanon saw it wold not be. 
 
 But his yeman wold tell his privetee, 
 
 He fled away for veray sorwe and shame. 
 
 A, quod the yeman, here shal rise a game : 
 
 All that I can anon I wol you telle. 
 
 Sin he is gon ; the foule fend him quelle ; 
 
 For never hereafter wol I with him mete 16 174 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE, 
 
 247 
 
 For peny ne for pound, I you behete. 16175 
 
 He that me broughte first unto that game, 
 
 Er that he die, sorwe have he and shame. 
 
 For it is ernest to me by faith ; 
 
 That fele 1 wel, what that any man saith ; 
 
 And yet for all my smert, and all my grief. 
 
 For all my sorwe, labour and meschief, 
 
 I coude never leve it in no wise. 
 
 Now wolde God my wit mighte suffice unss 
 
 To tellen all that longeth to that art; • 
 
 But natheles, yet wol 1 tellen part ; 
 
 Sin that my lord is gon, I wol not spare, 
 
 Swiche thing as that I know, I wol declare. 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 With this Chanon I dwelt have seven yere, iciss 
 And of his science am I never the nere : 
 
 All that I had, I have ylost therby, 
 
 And God wot, so han many mo than I, 
 
 Ther I was wont to be right fresh and gay 
 Of clothing, and of other good array, 
 
 Now may I were an hose upon min hed ; 
 
 And wher my colour was both fresh and red, 
 
 Now is it wan, and of a leden hewe ; 
 
 (Who so it useth, so shal he it re we) 
 
 16 ' 1.97 
 
2i8 
 
 THE CIIANONES YEMANISTES TALE. 
 
 And of my swinke yet blered is min eye ; 16198 
 
 Lo which avantage is to multiplie ! 
 
 That sliding science hath me made so bare, 
 
 That I have no good, wher that ever I fare ; 
 
 And yet 1 am endetted so therby 
 Of gold, that I have borwed trewely, 
 
 That while I live, I shal it quiten never ; 
 
 Let every man be ware by me for ever. 
 
 What maner man that casteth him therto, i 6 ‘>(k; 
 If he continue, I hold his thrift ydo ; 
 
 So help me God, therby shal he nat winne. 
 
 But empte his purse, and make his wittes thinne. 
 And whan he, thurgh his madnesse and folie, 
 
 Hath lost his owen good thurgh jupartie. 
 
 Than he exciteth other folk therto. 
 
 To lese hir good as he himself hath do. 
 
 For unto shrewes joye it is and ese 16214 
 
 To have hir felawes in peine and disese. 
 
 Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk ; 
 
 Of that no charge ; I wol speke of our werk. 
 
 Whan we be ther as we shuln exercise 
 Our elvish craft, we semen wonder wise. 
 
 Our termes ben so clergial and queinte, 
 
 I blow the fire til that myn herte feinte. 
 
 What shuld I tellen eche proportion 
 Of thinges, whiche that we werchen upon. 
 
 16223 
 
THE CIIANONES YEMAXNES TALE. 
 
 249 
 
 As on five or six unces, may wel be, 
 
 Of silver, or som other quantitee? 
 
 And besie me to tellen you the names. 
 
 As orpiment, brent bones, yren squames. 
 
 That into poudre grounden ben ful smal ? 
 
 And in an ertlien pot how put is al, 
 
 And salt yput in, and also pepere, 
 
 Beforn tbise poudres that I speke of here. 
 
 And wel ycovered with a lampe of glas ? 
 
 And of moche other thing which that ther was 
 And of the pottes and glasses engluting. 
 
 That of the aire might passen out no thing ? 
 And of the esy fire, and smert also. 
 
 Which that was made ? and of the care and w 
 That we had in our materes subliming, 
 
 And in amalgaming, and calcening 
 Of quiksilver, ycleped mercurie crude ? 
 
 For all our sleightes we can not conclude. 
 
 Our orpiment, and sublimed mercurie, 
 
 Our grounden litarge eke on the porphurie, 
 
 Of eche of thise of unces a certain 
 Not helpeth us, our labour is in vain. 
 
 Ne, neyther our spirites ascentioun, 
 
 Ne our materes that lien al fix adoun. 
 
 Mown in our working nothing us availle ; 
 
 For lost is all our labour and travaille. 
 
 1G224 
 
 IC‘282 
 
 ? 
 
 Ill 240 
 
 1G249 
 
250 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 And all the cost a twenty devil way i 6 ‘ 25 o 
 
 Is lost also, which we upon it lay. 
 
 Ther is also ful many another thing, 
 
 That is unto our craft apperteining, 
 
 Though I by ordre hem nat rehersen can, 
 
 Because that I am a lewed man, 
 
 Yet wol I telle hem, as they come to minde. 
 
 Though I ne cannot set hem in hir kinde, 
 
 As bole armoniak, verdegrese, boras ; 16258 
 
 And sondry vessels made of erthe and glas, 
 
 Our urinales, and our descensories. 
 
 Viols, croslettes, and sublimatories, 
 
 Cucurbites, and alembikes eke, 
 
 And other swiche ger, dere ynough a leke. 
 
 What nedeth it for to reherse hem alle ? 
 
 Wateres rubifying, and bolles galle, 
 
 Arsenik, sal armoniak, and brimston? 16266 
 
 And herbes coude I tell eke many on. 
 
 As egremoine, valerian, and lunarie, 
 
 And other swiche, if that me list to tarie ; 
 
 Our lampes brenning bothe night and day. 
 
 To bring about our craft if that we may ; 
 
 Our fourneis eke of calcination. 
 
 And of wateres albification, 
 
 Unslekked lime, chalk, and gleire of an ey, 
 
 Poudres divers, ashes, dong, pisse, and cley, 16275 
 
 / 
 
THE CIIANONES YEMANNES TALE. 251 
 
 Sered pokettes, sal peter, and vitriole ; i6‘276 
 
 And divers fires made of wode and cole; 
 
 Sal tartre, alcaly, and salt preparat, 
 
 And combust rnateres, and coagulat : 
 
 Cley made with hors and mannes here, and oile 
 Of tartre, alum, glas, berme, wort, and argoile, 
 Rosalgar, and other materes enbibing ; 
 
 And eke of our materes encorporing, 
 
 And of our silver citrination, 16284 
 
 Our cementing, and fermentation, 
 
 Our ingottes, testes, and many thinges mo. 
 
 I wol you tell as was me taught also 
 The foure spirites, and the bodies sevene 
 By ordre, as oft I herd my lord hem nevene. 
 
 The firste spirit quiksilver cleped is ; 
 
 The second orpiment ; the thridde ywis 
 Sal armoniak, and the fourth brimston. 16292 
 
 The bodies sevene eke, lo hem here anon. 
 
 Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe ; 
 
 Mars iren, Mercuric quiksilver we clepe : 
 
 Saturnus led, and Jupiter is tin. 
 
 And Venus coper, by my fader kin. 
 
 This cursed craft who so wol exercise. 
 
 He shal no good have, that him may suffice. 
 
 For all the good he spendeth theraboute 
 He lesen shal, therof have I no doute. 
 
 16301 
 
2o2 THE CIIANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 Who so that listeth uttren his folie, 
 
 Let him come forth and lernen multiplie : 
 
 And every man that hath ought in his cofre, 
 Let him appere, and wex a philosophre, 
 Ascaunce that craft is so light to lere. 
 
 Nay, nay, God wot, al be he monk or frere. 
 Freest or chanon, or any other wight, 
 
 Though he sit at his book both day and night 
 In lerning of this elvish nice lore, 
 
 All is in vain, and parde mochel more 
 To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee ; 
 
 Fie, speke not therof, for it wol not be. 
 
 And conne he letterure, or conne he non. 
 
 As in effect, he shal finde it all on ; 
 
 For bothe two by my salvation 
 Concluden in multiplication 
 Ylike wel, whan they have all ydo ; 
 
 This is to sain, they faillen bothe two. 
 
 Yet forgate I to maken rehersaile 
 Of waters corosif, and of limaile. 
 
 And of bodies mollification. 
 
 And also of hir induration, 
 
 Giles, ablusions, metal fusible. 
 
 To tellen all, wold passen any bible, 
 
 That 0 wher is ; wherfore as for the best 
 Of all thise names now wol I me rest; 
 
 lf)30-2 
 
 16310 
 
 16318 
 
 16327 
 
THE CHANONES YEMAXNES TALE. 
 
 For as I trow, 1 have you told ynow 
 To reise a fend, al loke he never so row. 
 
 A, nay, let be ; the philosophres ston, 
 
 Elixer cleped, we seken fast eche on. 
 
 For had we him, than were we siker ynow; 
 
 But unto God of heven I make avow. 
 
 For all our craft, v/han we han all ydo. 
 
 And all our sleight, he wol not come us to. 
 
 He hath ymade us spenden mochel g’ood. 
 
 For sorwe of which almost we waxen wood, 
 
 But that good hope crepeth in our herte. 
 
 Supposing ever, though we sore smerte. 
 
 To ben releved of him afterward. 
 
 Swiche supposing and hope is sharpe and hard, 
 
 I warne you wel it is to seken ever. 
 
 That future temps hath made men dissever, 
 
 In trust therof, from all that ever they had, 16‘344 
 Yet of that art they conne not waxen sad. 
 
 For unto hem it is a bitter swete ; 
 
 So semeth it; for ne had they but a shete 
 Which that they might wrappen hem in a-night, 
 And a bratt to walken in by day-light. 
 
 They wold hem sell, and spend it on this craft ; 
 They conne not slinten, til no thing be laft. 
 
 And evermore, wher ever that they gon. 
 
 Men may hem kennen by smell of brimston ; I63b3 
 
 253 
 
 16‘323 
 
 1()336‘ 
 
254 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 For all the world they stinken as a gote ; 
 
 Hir savour is so rammish and so hote. 
 
 That though a man a mile from hem be, 
 
 The savour wol enfect him, trusteth me. 
 
 Lo, thus by smelling and thred-bare array, 
 If that men list, this folk they knowen may. 
 And if a man wol axe hem prively. 
 
 Why they be clothed so unthriftily. 
 
 They right anon wol rounen in his ere. 
 
 And saien, if that they espied were, 
 
 Men wolde hem sle, because of hir science : 
 Lo, thus thise folk betraien innocence. 
 
 Passe over this, I go my tale unto, 
 
 Er that the pot be on the fire ydo 
 Of metals with a certain quantitee, 
 
 My lord hem tempereth, and no man but he ; 
 (Now he is gon, I dare say boldely) 
 
 For as men sain, he can don craftily ; 
 
 Algate I wote wel he hath swiche a name, 
 x4nd yet ful oft he renneth in a blame, 
 
 And wete ye how ? ful oft it falleth sa, 
 
 The pot to-breketh, and farewel all is go, 
 Thise metales ben of so gret violence. 
 
 Our walles may not make hem resistence. 
 
 But if they weren wrought of lime and ston ; 
 They percen so, that thurgh the wall they gon ; 
 
 16354 
 
 16362 
 
 16370 
 
 16379 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANKES TALE, 
 
 '255 
 
 And som of hem sinke doun into the ground, i6'38o 
 (Thus have we lost by times many a pound) 
 
 And som are scatered all the flore aboute ; 
 
 Som lepen into the roof withouten doute. 
 
 Though that the fend not in our sight him shewe, 
 
 I trow that he be with us, thilke shrewe, 
 
 In helle, wher that he is lord and sire, 
 
 Ne is ther no more wo, rancour, ne ire. 
 
 Whan that our pot is broke, as I have sayde, iGsss 
 Every man chit, and holt liim evil apayde. 
 
 Som sayd it was long on the fire- making; 
 
 Som sayd nay, it was long on the blowing ; 
 
 (Than was I ferd, for that was min office) 
 
 Straw, quod the thridde, ye ben lewed and nice. 
 
 It was not tempred as it ought to be. 
 
 Nay, quod the fourthe, stint and herken me ; 
 Because our fire was not made of beche, i6‘396 
 That is the cause, and other non, so the iche. 
 
 I can not tell wheron it was along, 
 
 But wel I wot gret strif is us among. 
 
 What ? quod my lord, ther n’is no more to don, 
 
 Of thise perils I wol beware eftsone. 
 
 I am right siker, that the pot was erased. 
 
 Be as be may, be ye no thing amased. 
 
 As usage is, let swepe the flore as swithe ; 
 
 Plucke up your hertes and be glad and blithe. i6’405 
 
256 
 
 TPIE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 The mullok on an hepe ysweped was, i6‘406 
 
 And on the flore yeast a canevas, 
 
 And all this mullok in a sive ythrowe, 
 
 And sifted, and ypicked many a throwe. 
 
 Parde, quod on, somwhat of our metall 
 Yet is ther here, though that we have not all. 
 
 And though this thing mishapped hath as now, 
 Another time it may be wel ynow. 
 
 We mosten put out good in aventure : i64i4 
 
 A marchant parde may not ay endure, 
 
 Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee : 
 
 Somtime his good is drenched in the see. 
 
 And somtime cometh it sauf unto the lond. 
 
 Pees, quod my lord, the next time I wol fond 
 To bring our craft all in another plite. 
 
 And but I do, sires, let me have the wite : 
 
 Ther was defaute in somwhat, wel I wote. 16422 
 Another sayd, the fire was over hote. 
 
 But be it hote or cold, I dare say this. 
 
 That we concluden ever more amis : 
 
 We faille alway of that which we wold have. 
 
 And in our madnesse evermore we rave. 
 
 And whan we be together everich on. 
 
 Every man semeth a Salomon. 
 
 But all thing, which that shineth as the gold, 
 
 Ne is no gold, as I have herd it told ; 
 
 16431 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE, 
 
 257 
 
 Ne every apple that is faire at eye, 
 
 Ne is not good, what so men clap or crie. 
 Right so, lo, fareth it amonges ns. 
 
 He that semeth the wisest by Jesus 
 Is most fool, whan it cometh to the prefe ; 
 And he that semeth trewest, is a thefe. 
 
 That shal ye know, or that I from you wende. 
 By that I of my tale have made an ende. 
 
 Ther was a chanon of religiouii 
 Amonges us, wold enfect all a toun. 
 
 Though it as gret were as was Ninive, 
 
 Rome, Alisaundre, Troie, or other three. 
 
 His sleightes and his infinite falsenesse 
 Ther coude no man writen, as I gesse, 
 
 Though that he mighte live a thousand yere ; 
 In all this w'orld of falsenesse n’is his pere. 
 
 For in his termes he wol him so winde. 
 
 And speke his wordes in so slie a kinde. 
 Whan he comunen shal with any wight. 
 
 That he wol make him doten anon right. 
 
 But it a fend be, as himselven is. 
 
 Ful many a man hath he begiled er this. 
 
 And wol, if that he may live any while : 
 
 And yet men gon and riden many a mile 
 Him for to seke, and have his acquaintance. 
 Not knowing of his false governance. 
 
 VOL. III. s 
 
 IG‘1.32 
 
 U;440 
 
 16'44S 
 
 16‘457 
 
‘258 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 And if you lust to yeve me audience, i6’4r)8 
 
 I wol it tellen here in your presence. 
 
 But, worshipful Chanons religious, 
 
 Ne demeth not that I sclander your hous. 
 
 Although that my tale of a Chanon be. 
 
 Of every order som shrew is parde : 
 
 And God forbede that all a compagnie 
 Shuld rewe a singuler mannes folie. 
 
 To sclander you is no thing min entent, i6‘46'6 
 
 But to correcten that is mis I ment. 
 
 This tale was not only told for you, 
 
 But eke for other mo ; ye wote wel how 
 That among Cristes aposteles twelve 
 Ther was no traitour but Judas himselve : 
 
 Than why shuld al the remenant have blame, 
 
 That giltles were? by you I say the same. 
 
 Save only this, if ye wol herken me, i6’474 
 
 If any Judas in your covent be, 
 
 Remeveth him betimes, I you rede. 
 
 If shame or los may can sen any drede. 
 
 And be no thing displesed I you pray. 
 
 But in this cas herkeneth what I say. 
 
 In London was a preest, an annuellere, 
 
 That therin dwelled hadde many a yere. 
 
 Which was so plesant and so servisable 16482 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 ^59 
 
 Unto the wif, ther as he was at table, 16488 
 
 That she wold suffer him no thing to pay 
 For horde ne clothing, went he never so gay ; 
 
 And spending silver had he right ynow : 
 
 Therof no force ; 1 wol proceed as now. 
 
 And tellen forth my tale of the Chanon, 
 
 That broughte this preest to confusion. 
 
 This false Chanon came upon a day 
 Unto the preestes chambre, ther he lay, i649i 
 
 Beseching him to lene him a certain 
 Of gold, and he wold quite it him again. 
 
 Lene me a marke, quod he, but dayes three, 
 
 And at my day I wol it quiten thee. 
 
 And if it so be, that thou finde me false. 
 
 Another day hang me up by the halse. 
 
 This preest him toke a marke, and that as swith. 
 And this Chanon him thanked often sith, i()49.9 
 And toke his leve, and wente forth his wey : 
 
 And at the thridde day brought his money ; 
 
 And to the preest he toke his gold again, 
 
 Wherof this preest was wonder glad and fain, 
 Certes, quod he, nothing anoieth me 
 To lene a man a noble, or two, or three. 
 
 Or what thing were in my possession, 
 
 Whan he so trewe is of condition. 
 
 That in no wise he breken wol his day : i650s 
 
^260 
 
 THE ClIANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 To swiche a man I can never say nay. iGoOf) 
 
 What ? quod this Chanon, shuld I be untrewe ? 
 Nay, that were thing fallen al of the newe. 
 
 Trouth is a thing that I wol ever kepe 
 Unto the day in which that I shal crepe 
 Into my grave, and elles God forbede; 
 
 Beleveth this as siker as your crede. 
 
 God thanke I, and in good time be it sayde. 
 
 That ther n’as never man yet evil apayde iCoi? 
 For gold ne silver that he to me lent, 
 
 Ne never falshede in min herte I ment. 
 
 And, sire, (quod he) now of my privetee. 
 
 Sin ye so goodlich have ben unto me, 
 
 And kithed to me so gret gentillesse. 
 
 Somwhat, to quiten with your kindenesse, 
 
 I wol you shewe, and if you lust to lere 
 I wol you techen pleinly the manere, 165-25 
 
 How I can werken in philosophic. 
 
 Taketh good heed, ye shuln wel sen at eye, 
 
 That T wol do a maistrie or I s:o. 
 
 Ye ? quod the preest, ye, sire, and wol ye so ? 
 Mary therof I pray you hertily. 
 
 At your commandement, sire, trewely. 
 
 Quod the Chanon, and elles God forbede. 
 
 Lo, how this thefe coude his service bede. 
 
 Ful soth it is that swiche profered service 16534 
 
261 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 Stinketh, as witiiessen tliise olde wise ; 16535 
 
 And that ful sone I wol it verifie 
 In this Chanon, rote of all trecherie, 
 
 That evermore delight hath and gladnesse 
 (Swiche fendly thoughtes in his herte empresse) 
 How Cristes peple he may to meschief bring. 
 
 God kepe us from his false dissimuling. 
 
 Nought wiste this preest v/ith whom that he delt, 
 
 Ne of his harme coming nothing he felt. 16543 
 
 O sely preest, o sely innocent, 
 
 With covetise anon thou shalt be blent ; 
 
 O graceles, ful blind is thy conceite, 
 
 For nothing art thou ware of the disceite. 
 
 Which that this fox yshapen hath to thee ; 
 
 His wily wrenches thou ne mayst not flee. 
 
 Wherfore to go to the conclusion i655i 
 
 That refer reth to thy confusion, 
 
 Unhappy man, anon 1 wol me hie 
 To tellen thin unwit and thy folie. 
 
 And eke the falsenesse of that other wretch. 
 
 As ferforth as that my conning wol stretch. 
 
 This Chanon was my lord, ye wolden wene ; 
 
 Sire hoste, in faith, and by the heven quene. 
 
 It was another Chanon, and not he. 
 
 That can an hundred part more subtiltee. 
 
 He hath betraied folkes many a time ; i 6560 
 
26*2 
 
 THE cn ANGLES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 Of his falseiiesse it dulleth me to rime. 
 
 Ever whan that 1 speke of his falshede 
 For shame of him my chekes waxen rede ; 
 Alg'ates they beginnen for to glowe, 
 
 For rednesse have I non, right wel I knowe, 
 In my visage, for fumes diverse 
 Of metals, which ye have herd me reherse, 
 Consumed han and wasted my rednesse, 
 
 Now take hede of this Chanons cursednesse. 
 
 Sire, quod the Chanon, let your yeman gon 
 For quiksilver, that we it had anon ; 
 
 And let him bringen unces two or three; 
 
 And whan he cometh, as faste shul ye see 
 A wonder thing, which ye saw never er this. 
 Sire, quod the preest, it shal be don ywis. 
 He bad his servant fetchen him this thing. 
 And he al redy was at his bidding. 
 
 And went him forth, and came anon again 
 With this quiksilver, shortly for to sain. 
 
 And toke thise unces three to the Chanoun ; 
 And he hem laide wel and faire adoun. 
 
 And bad the servant coles for to bring, 
 
 That he anon might go to his werking. 
 
 The coles right anon weren yfet, 
 
 And this Chanon toke out a crosselet 
 Of his bosome, and shewed it to the preest. 
 
 
 lG56’.f) 
 
 16577 
 
 16586’ 
 
the chan ones yemannes tale. 
 
 263 
 
 This instrument, quod he, which that thou seest. 
 Take in thyn hond, and put thyself therin lesss 
 Of this quiksilver an unce, and here begin 
 In the name of Crist to wex a philosophre. 
 
 Ther be ful fewe, which that I wolde profre 
 To shewen hem thus muche of my science ; 
 
 For here shul ye see by experience. 
 
 That this quiksilver I wol mortifie. 
 
 Right in your sight anon withouten lie, i6'595 
 
 And make it as good silver and as fine, 
 
 As ther is any in your purse or mine. 
 
 Or elles wher ; and make it malliable ; 
 
 And elles holdeth me false and unable 
 Amonges folk for ever to appere. 
 
 I have a ponder here that cost me dere, 
 
 Shal make all good, for it is cause of all 
 My conning, which that I you shewen shall, leeos 
 Voideth your man, and let him be therout ; 
 
 And shet the dore, while we ben about 
 Our privetee, that no man us espie. 
 
 While that we werke in this philosophie 
 All, as he bade, fulfilled was in dede. 
 
 This ilke servant anon right out yede. 
 
 And his maister shette the dore anon, 
 
 And to hir labour spedily they gon. 
 
 This preest at this cursed Chanons bidding, i6‘6i2 
 
264 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 Upon the fire anon he set this thing, 16613 
 
 And blew the fire, and besied him ful fast- 
 And this Chanon into the crosselet cast 
 A ponder, n’ot 1 never wherof it was 
 Ymade, other of chalk, other of glas. 
 
 Or somwhat elles, was not worth a flie, 
 
 To blinden with this preest; and bade him hie 
 The coles for to couchen all above 
 The crosselet; for in tokening I thee love 16621 
 (Quod this Chanon) thine owen hondes two 
 Shal werken all thing which that here is do. 
 
 Grand mercy, quod the preest, and was ful glad. 
 And couched the coles as the Chanon bad. 
 
 And while he besy was, this fendly wretch. 
 
 This false Chanon (the foule fend him fetch) 
 
 Out of his bosom toke a bechen cole, 
 
 In which ful subtilly was made an hole, 16629 
 
 And therin put was of silver limaile 
 An unce, and stopped was withouten fade 
 The hole with wax, to kepe the limaile in. 
 
 And understandeth, that this false gin 
 Was not made ther, but it was made before ; 
 
 And other thinges I shal tell you more 
 Hereafterward, which that he with him brought; 
 
 Er he came ther, him to begile he thought. 
 
 And so he did, or that they went atwin : 16638 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 265 
 
 Til he had torned him, coud he not blin. i6G3,9 
 It dulleth me, whan that 1 of him speke ; 
 
 On his falshede fain wold I me awreke, 
 
 If I wist how, but he is here and ther, 
 
 He is so variaunt, he abit no wher. 
 
 But taketh hede, sires, now for Goddes love. 
 
 He toke his cole, of which I spake above. 
 
 And in his hond he bare it prively, 
 
 And whiles the preest couched besily 16647 
 
 The coles, as I tolde you er this, 
 
 This Chanon sayde ; frend, ye don amis ; 
 
 This is not couched as it ought to be. 
 
 But sone I shal amenden it, quod he. 
 
 Now let me meddle ther with but a while. 
 
 For of you have I pitee by Seint Gile. 
 
 Ye ben right hot, I see wel how ye swete ; 
 
 Have here a cloth and wipe away the wete. 16655 
 And whiles that the preest wiped his face. 
 
 This Chanon toke his cole, with sory grace. 
 
 And laied it above on the midward 
 Of the crosselet, and blew wel afterward, 
 
 Til that the coles gonnen fast to bren. 
 
 Now yeve us drinke, quod this Chanon then. 
 
 As swithe all shal be wel, 1 undertake. 
 
 Sitte we doun, and let us mery make. 
 
 And whanne that this Chanones bechen cole 16664 
 
266 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNE8 TALE. 
 
 Was brent, all the limaile out of the hole 16665 
 Into the crosselet anon fell adoun; 
 
 And so it muste nedes by resoun. 
 
 Sin it above so even couched was ; 
 
 But therof wist the preest nothing, alas ! 
 
 He denied all the coles ylike good. 
 
 For of the sleight he nothing understood. 
 
 And whan this Alkymistre saw his time, 
 
 Riseth up, sire preest, quod he, and stondeth by me ; 
 And for I wote wel ingot have ye non, 16674 
 
 Goth, walketh forth, and bringeth a chalk ston ; 
 
 For I wol make it of the same shap. 
 
 That is an ingot, if I may have hap. 
 
 Bring eke with you a bolle or elles a panne 
 Ful of water, and ye shul wel see thanne 
 How that our besinesse shal thrive and preve. 
 
 And yet, for ye shul have no misbeleve . 1668I 
 Ne wrong conceit of me in your absence, 
 
 I ne wol not ben out of your presence, 
 
 But go with you, and come with you again. 
 
 The chambre dore, shortly for to sain. 
 
 They opened and shet, and went hir wey. 
 
 And forth with hem they caried the key. 
 
 And camen again withouten any delay. 
 
 What shuld I tarien all the longe day ? 
 
 He toke the chalk, and shope it in the wise 
 
 16690 
 
THE CUAXONES YEMAXXES TALE, 
 
 267 
 
 Of an ingot, as I shal you devise; 16691 
 
 I say, he toke out of his owen sieve 
 A teine of silver (yvel mote he cheve) 
 
 Which that ne was but a just unce of weight. 
 
 And taketh heed now of his cursed sleight ; 
 
 He shop his ingot, in length and in brede 
 Of thilke teine, withouten any drede. 
 
 So slily, that the preest it not espide ; 
 
 And in his sieve again he gan it hide ; 16699 
 
 And from the fire he toke up his matere. 
 
 And in the ingot it put with mery chere : 
 
 And in the water-vessel he it cast. 
 
 Whan that him list, and bad the preest as fast, 
 Loke what ther is ; put in thin bond and grope ; 
 Thou shalt ther finden silver as I hope. 
 
 What, divel of helle ! shuld it elles be ? 
 
 Shaving of silver, silver is parde. 16707 
 
 He put his hond in, and toke up a teine 
 Of silver fine, and glad in every veine 
 Was this preest, whan he saw that it was so. 
 Goddes blessing, and his mothers also, 
 
 And alle Halwes, have ye, sire Chanon, 
 
 Sayde this preest, and I hir malison. 
 
 But, and ye vouchesauf to techen me 
 This noble craft and this subtilitee, 
 
 I wol be your in all that ever I may. 
 
 16716 
 
26‘8 .THE CIJANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 Quod the Chanon, yet wol I make assay 
 The second time, that ye mow taken hede. 
 And ben expert of this, and in your nede 
 Another day assay in min absence 
 This discipline, and this crafty science. 
 
 Let take another unce, quod he tho, 
 
 Of quiksilver, withouten wordes mo. 
 
 And do therwith as ye have don er this 
 With that other, which that now silver is. 
 
 The preest him besieth all that ever he can 
 To don as this Chanon, this cursed man, 
 Commandeth him, and faste blewe the fire. 
 For to come to the effect of his desire. 
 
 And this Chanon right in the mene while 
 A1 redy was this preest eft to begile, 
 
 And for a countenance in his hond bare 
 An holow stikke, (take kepe and beware) 
 
 In the ende of which an unce and no more 
 Of silver limaile put was, as before 
 Was in his cole, and stopped with wax wel 
 For to kepe in his limaile every del. 
 
 And while this preest was in his besinesse. 
 This Chanon with his stikke gan him dresse 
 To him anon, and his pouder cast in. 
 
 As he did erst, (the devil out of his skin 
 Him tome, I pray to God, for his falshede, 
 
 
 16717 
 
 16725 
 
 16733 
 
 16742 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 26 Si 
 
 For he was ever false in thought and dede) 16743 
 And with his stikke, above the crosselet, 
 
 That was ordained with that false get, 
 
 He stirreth the coles, til relenten gan 
 The wax again the fire, as every man. 
 
 But he a fool be, wote wel it mote nede. 
 
 And all that in the stikke w’as out yede, 
 
 And in the crosselet hastily it fell. 
 
 Now, goode sires, what wol ye bet than wel. 16751 
 Whan that this preest was thus begiled again. 
 Supposing nought but trouthe, soth to sain, 
 
 He was so glad, that I can not expresse 
 In no manere his mirth and his gladnesse, 
 
 And to the Chanon he profered eftsone 
 Body and good : ye, quod the Chanon, sone. 
 Though poure I be, crafty thou shalt me finde : 
 
 I warne thee wel, yet is ther more behinde. 1 675,9 
 
 Is ther any coper here within? sayd he. 
 
 Ye, sire, quod the preest, I trow ther be. 
 
 Elies go beie us som, and that as swithe. 
 
 Now, goode sire, go forth thy way and hie the. 
 
 He went his way, and with the coper he came, 
 And this Chanon it in his hondes name. 
 
 And of that coper weyed out an unce. 
 
 To simple is fny tonge to pronounce. 
 
 As minister of mv wit, the doublenesse 16768 
 
270 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE, 
 
 Of this Chanon, rote of all cursednesse. i 676‘9 
 
 He semed frendly, to hem that knew him nought, 
 But he was fendly both in werk and thought. 
 
 It werieth me to tell of his falsenesse ; 
 
 And natheles yet wol I it expresse, 
 
 To that entent men may beware therby, 
 
 And for non other cause trewely. 
 
 He put this coper into the crosselet, 
 
 And on the fire as swithe he hath it set, 16777 
 
 And cast in ponder, and made the preest to blow, 
 And in his working for to stoupen low. 
 
 As he did erst, and all n’as but a jape ; 
 
 Right as him list the preest he made his ape. 
 
 And afterward in the ingot he it cast. 
 
 And in the panne put it at the last 
 
 Of water, and in he put his owen bond ; 16785 
 
 And in his sieve, as ye beforen bond 
 
 Herde me tell, he had a silver teine; 
 
 He slily toke it out, this cursed heine, 
 
 (Unweting this preest of his false craft) 
 
 And in the pannes bottome he it laft. 
 
 And in the water rombleth to and fro, 
 
 And wonder prively toke up also 
 
 The coper teine, (not knowing thilke preest) 
 
 And hid it, and him hente by the brest. 
 
 And to him spake, and thus said in his game; 16794 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 271 
 
 Stoupeth adoun; by God ye be to blame : 16795 
 
 Helpetli me now, as I did you wbilere ; 
 
 Put in your bond, and loketh what is there. 
 
 This preest toke up this silver teine anon ; 
 
 And thanne said the Chanon, let us g-on 
 
 With thise three teines which that we han wrought, 
 
 To som goldsmith, and wete if they ben ought; 
 
 For by my faith I n’olde for my hood 
 
 But if they weren silver fine and good, lesos 
 
 And that as swithe wel proved shal it be. 
 
 Unto the g-oldsmith with thise teines three 
 They went anon, and put hem in assay 
 To fire and hammer : might no man say nay. 
 
 But that they weren as hem ought to be. 
 
 This soted preest, who was gladder than he ? 
 Was never brid gladder agains the day, 
 
 Ne nightingale in the seson of May iGsii 
 
 Was never non, that list better to sing, 
 
 Ne lady lustier in carolling. 
 
 Or for to speke of love and womanhede, 
 
 Ne knight in armes don a hardy dede 
 To stonden in grace of his lady dere. 
 
 Than hadde this preest this craft for to lere ; 
 
 And to the Chanon thus he spake and seid ; 
 
 For the love of God, that for us alle deid, 
 
 And as I may deserve it unto you, 
 
 16820 
 
THE CHAM ONES YEMANMES TALE. 
 
 ^ 27*2 
 
 What shal this receit cost? telleth me now. 16821 
 
 By our lady, quod this Chanon, it is dere. 
 
 I warne you wel, that, save I and a frere, * 
 
 In Eng’lelond ther can no man it make. 
 
 No force, quod he ; now, sire, for Goddes sake. 
 What shall I pay ? telleth me, I you pray. 
 
 Ywis, quod he, it is ful dere I say. 
 
 Sire at o word, if that you list it have, 
 
 Ye shal pay fourty pound, so God me save; 16829 
 And n’ere the frendship that ye did er this 
 To me, ye shulden payen more ywis. 
 
 This preest the sum of fourty pound anon 
 Of nobles fet, and toke hem everich on 
 To this Chanon, for this ilke receit. 
 
 All his werking n’as but fraud and deceit. 
 
 Sire preest, he said, 1 kepe for to have no loos 
 Of my craft, for I wold it were kept cloos ; i6‘837 
 
 And as ye love me, kepeth it secree : 
 
 For if men knewen all my subtiltee. 
 
 By God they wolden have so gret envie 
 To me, because of my philosophie, 
 
 I shuld be ded, ther were non other way. 
 
 God it forbede, quod the preest, what ye say. 
 
 Yet had I lever spenden all the good 
 Which that I have, (and elles were I wood) 
 
 Than that ye shuld fallen in swiche meschefe. 16346 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 273 
 
 For your good will, sire, have ye right good prefe. 
 Quod the Chanon, and farewel, grand mercy. 16848 
 He went his way, and never the preest him sey 
 After that day : and whan that this preest shold 
 Maken assay, at swiche time as he wold. 
 
 Of this receit, farewel, it n’old not be. 
 
 Lo, thus bejaped and begiled was he : 
 
 Thus maketh he his introduction 
 To bringen folk to hir destruction. 16855 
 
 Considereth, sires, how that in eche estat 
 Betwixen men and gold ther is debat. 
 
 So ferforth that unnethes is ther non. 
 
 This multiplying so blint many on, 
 
 That in good faith I trowe that it be 
 The cause gretest of swiche scarsitee. 
 
 Thise philosophres speke so mistily 
 
 In this craft, that men cannot come therby, i6863 
 
 For any wit that men have now adayes. 
 
 They mow wel chateren, as don thise jayes. 
 
 And in hir termes set hir lust and peine. 
 
 But to hir purpos shul they never atteine. 
 
 A man may lightly lerne, if he have ought. 
 
 To multiplie, and bring his good to nought. 
 
 Lo, swiche a lucre is in this lusty game ; 
 
 A mannes mirth it wol turne al to grame. 
 
 And emptien also gret and hevy purses, 16872 
 
 VOL. III. T 
 
274 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 And maken folk for to purchasen curses 
 Of hem, that han therto hir good ylent. 
 
 O, fy for shame, they that han be brent, 
 
 Alas ! can they not flee the fires hete ? 
 
 Ye that it use, 1 rede that ye it lete, 
 
 Lest ye lese all ; for bet than never is late : 
 Never to thriven, were to long a date. 
 
 Though ye prolle ay, ye shul it never find ; 
 
 Ye ben as bold as is Bayard the blind, 
 
 That blondereth forth, and peril casteth non ; 
 He is as bold to renne agains a ston. 
 
 As for to go besides in the way : 
 
 So faren ye that multiplien, I say. 
 
 If that your eyen cannot seen aright, 
 
 Loketh that youre mind lacke not his sight. 
 For though ye loke never so brode and stare, 
 Ye shul not win a mite on that chaffare, 
 
 But wasten all that ye may rape and renne. 
 Withdraw the fire,Test it to faste brenne; 
 Medleth no more with that art, I mene ; 
 
 For if ye don, your thrift is gon ful dene. 
 And right as swithe I wol you tellen here 
 What philosophres sain in this matere. 
 
 Lo, thus saith Arnolde of the newe toun,. 
 As his Rosarie maketh mentioun, 
 
 He saith right thus, withouten any lie ; 
 
 16' 873 
 
 16881 
 
 1 6889 
 
 16898 
 
THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 275 
 
 Ther may no man Mercurie mortifie, 16899 
 
 But it be with his brothers knowleching. 
 
 Lo, how that he, which firste said this thing, 
 
 Of philosophres father was Hermes : 
 
 He saith, how that the dragon douteles 
 Ne dieth not, but if that he be slain 
 With his brother. And this is for to sain, 
 
 By the dragon Mercury, and non other, 
 
 He understood, and brimstone by his brother, i(j 907 
 That out of Sol and Luna were ydrawe. 
 
 And therfore, said he, take heed to my sawe. 
 
 Let no man besie him this art to seche, 
 
 But if that he the entention and speche 
 Of philosophres understonden can ; 
 
 And if he do, he is a lewed man. 
 
 For this science and this conning (quod he) 
 
 Is of the secree of secrees parde. 16915 
 
 Also ther was a disciple of Plato, 
 
 That on a time said his maister to, 
 
 As his book Senior wol here witnesse. 
 
 And this was his demand in sothfastnesse : 
 
 Telle me the name of thilke privee ston. 
 
 And Plato answerd unto him anon ; 
 
 Take the ston that Titanos men name, 
 
 Which is that? quod he. Magnetia is the same, 
 Saide Plato. Ye, sire, and is it thus ? 16924 
 
276 
 
 THE CHANONES YEMANNES TALE. 
 
 This is ignotum per ignotius. H )925 
 
 What is Magnetia, good sire, I pray ? 
 
 It is a water that is made, I say, 
 
 Of the elementes foure, quod Plato. 
 
 Tell me the rote, good sire, quod he tho. 
 
 Of that water, if that it be your will. 
 
 Nay, nay, quod Plato, certain that I n’ill. 
 
 The philosophres were sworne everich on. 
 
 That they ne shuld discover it unto non, 16933 
 Ne in no book it write in no manere ; 
 
 For unto God it is so lefe and dere. 
 
 That he wol not that it discovered be. 
 
 But wher it liketh to his deitee 
 
 Man for to enspire, and eke for to defende 
 
 Whom that him liketh ; lo, this is the ende. 
 
 Than thus conclude I, sin that God of heven 
 Ne wol not that the philosophres neven, 1694 1 
 
 How that a man shal come unto this ston, 
 
 1 rede as for the best to let it gon. 
 
 For who so maketh God his adversary, 
 
 As for to worken any thing in contrary 
 Of his will, certes never shal he thrive. 
 
 Though that he multiply terme of his live. 
 
 And ther a point ; for ended is my tale. 
 
 God send every good man bote of his bale. 16949 
 
TilE MANCIPLES PROLOGUE. 
 
 277 
 
 THE MANCIPLES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Wete ye not wher stondetli a litel toun, i6'950 
 Which that ycleped is Bob up and doun, 
 
 Under the blee, in Canterbury way ? 
 
 Ther gan our hoste to jape and to play, 
 
 And sayde ; sires, what ? Dun is in the mire. 
 
 Is ther no man for praiere ne for hire, i6“955 
 
 That wol awaken our felaw behind ? 
 
 A thefe him might ful lightly rob and bind. 
 
 See how he nappeth, see, for cockes bones. 
 
 As he wold fallen from his hors atones. 
 
 Is that a coke of London, with meschance ? 
 
 Do him come forth, he knoweth his penance ; 
 
 For he shal tell a tale by my fey, 
 
 Although it be not worth a hotel hey. 16963 
 
 Awake thou coke, quod he, God yeve thee sorwe. 
 What aileth thee to slepen by the morwe ? 
 
 Hast thou had fleen al night, or art thou dronke ? 
 
 Or hast thou with som queue al night yswonke. 
 
 So that thou mayst not holden up thin hed ? 
 
 This coke, that was ful pale and nothing red, 
 Sayd to our hoste ; so God my soule blesse. 
 
 As ther is falle on me swiche hevinesse, 
 
 N’ot I nat why, that me were lever to slepe, 16972 
 
278 
 
 THE MANCIPLES PROLOGUE. 
 
 Than the best g'allon wine that is in Chepe. 16'.973 
 Wei, quod the Manciple, if it may don ese 
 To thee, sire Coke, and to no wight displese. 
 
 Which that here rideth in this compagnie, 
 
 And that our hoste wol of his curtesie, 
 
 1 wol as now excuse thee of thy tale ; 
 
 For in good faith thy visage is ful pale : 
 
 Thin eyen dasen, sothly as me thinketh. 
 
 And wel I wot, thy breth ful soure stinketh, legsi 
 That sheweth wel thou art not wel disposed : 
 
 Of me certain thou shalt not ben yglosed. 
 
 See how he galpeth, lo, this dronken wight. 
 
 As though he wold us swalow anon right. 
 
 Hold close thy mouth, man, by thy father kin : 
 
 The devil of helle set his foot therin. 
 
 Thy cursed breth enfecten woll us alle : 
 
 Fy stinking swine, fy, foul mote thee befalle. i6989 
 A taketh heed, sires, of this lusty man. 
 
 Now, swete sire, wol ye just at the fan? 
 
 Therto, me thinketh, ye be wel yshape. 
 
 1 trow that ye have dronken win of ape, 
 
 And that is whan men playen with a straw. 
 
 And with this speche the coke waxed all wraw, 
 And on the Manciple he gan nod fast 
 For lacke of speche; and doun his hors him cast, 
 Wher as he lay, til that men him up toke. i6P.9s 
 
 
THE MANCIPLES PROLOGUE. 
 
 <279 
 
 This was a faire chivachee of a coke 
 Alas that he ne had hold him by his ladel ! 
 And er that he agen were in the sadel, 
 
 Ther was gret shoving bothe to and fro 
 To lift him up, and mochel care and wo, 
 
 So unweldy was this sely palled gost : 
 
 And to the Manciple than spake our host. 
 
 Because that drinke hath domination 
 Upon this man, by my salvation 
 I trow he lewedly wol tell his tale' 
 
 For were it win, or old or moisty ale, 
 
 That he hath dronke, he speketh in his nose, 
 And sneseth fast, and eke he hath the pose. 
 He also hath to don more than ynough 
 To kepe him on his capel out of the slough : 
 And if he falle from of his capel eftsone. 
 Than shul we alle have ynough to done 
 In lifting up his hevy dronken cors. 
 
 Tell on thy tale, of him make I no force. 
 
 But yet, Manciple, in faith thou art to nice 
 Thus openly to repreve him of his vice : 
 Another day he wol paraventure 
 Recleimen thee, and bring thee to the lure : 
 
 I mene, he speken wol of smale thinges, 
 
 As for to pinchen at thy rekeninges. 
 
 That were not honest, if it came to prefe. 
 
 1699.9 
 
 17007 
 
 17015 
 
 17024 
 
^80 
 
 THE MANCIPLES PROLOGUE, 
 
 Quod the Manciple, that were a gret meschefe ; 
 So might he lightly bring me in the snare. 17026 
 Yet had I lever payen for the mare, 
 
 Which he rit on, than he shuld with me strive. 
 
 I wol not wrathen him, so mote I thrive ; 
 
 That that I spake, I sayd it in my bourd. 
 
 And wete ye what ? I have here in my gourd 
 A draught of win, ye of a ripe grape, 
 
 And right anon ye shul seen a good jape. 17033 
 This coke shal drinke therof, if that I may ; 
 
 Up peine of my lif he wol not say nay. 
 
 And certainly, to tellen as it was. 
 
 Of this vessell the coke dranke fast, (alas ! 
 
 What nedeth it? he dranke ynough beforne) 
 
 And whan he hadde pouped in his home. 
 
 To the Manciple he toke the gourd again. 
 
 And of that drinke the coke was wonder fain, 17041 
 And thonked him in swiche wise as he coude. 
 
 Than gan our hoste to laughen wonder loude. 
 And sayd ; I see wel it is necessary 
 Wher that we gon good drinke with us to cary ; 
 
 For that wol turnen rancour and disese 
 To accord and love, and many a wrong apese. 
 
 O Bacchus, Bacchus, blessed be thy name. 
 
 That so canst turnen ernest into game ; 
 
 Worship and thonke be to thy deitee. 17050 
 
THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 281 
 
 Of that matere ye get no more of me. 17051 
 
 Tell on thy tale, Manciple, I thee pray. 
 
 Wei, sire, quod he, now herkeneth what I say. 
 
 THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 WiiAN Phebus dwelled here in erth adoun. 
 
 As olde bookes maken mentioun. 
 
 He was the moste lusty bacheler i 7056 ' 
 
 Of all this world, and eke the best archer. 
 
 He slow Phiton the serpent, as he lay 
 Sleping again s the sonne upon a day ; 
 
 And many another noble worthy dede 
 He with his bow wrought, as men mowen rede. 
 
 Playen he coude on every minstralcie, 
 
 And singen, that it was a melodie 
 
 To heren of his clere vois the soun. 17064 
 
 Certes the king of Thebes, Amphioun, 
 
 That with his singing walled the citee, 
 
 Coud never singen half so wel as he. 
 
 Therto he was the semelieste man. 
 
 That is or was, sithen the world began ; 
 
 What nedeth it his feture to descrive ? 
 
 For in this world, n’is non so faire on live. 
 
 He was therwith fulfilled of gentillesse. 
 
 Of honour, and of parfite worthinesse. 17073 
 
28 ^ 
 
 THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 This Phebus, that was flour of bachelerie, 
 As wel in fredom, as in chivalrie, 
 
 For his disport, in signe eke of victorie 
 Of Phiton, so as telleth us the storie. 
 
 Was wont to beren in his bond a bowe. 
 
 Now had this Phebus in his hous a crowe, 
 Which in a cage he fostred many a day, 
 
 And taught it speken, as men teche a jay. 
 Whit was this crowe, as is a snow-whit swan, 
 And contrefete the speche of every man 
 He coude, whan he shulde tell a tale. 
 Therwith in all this world no nightingale 
 Ne coude by an hundred thousand del 
 Singen so wonder merily and wel. 
 
 Now had this Phebus in his hous a wif. 
 Which that he loved more than his lif. 
 
 And night and day did ever his diligence 
 Hire for to plese, and don hire reverence : 
 Save only, if that I the soth shal sain, 
 
 Jelous he was, and wold have kept hire fain, 
 For him were loth yjaped for to be ; 
 
 And so is every wight in swiche degree ; 
 
 But all for nought, for it availeth nought. 
 
 A good wif, that is dene of werk and thought, 
 Shuld not be kept in non await certain ; 
 
 And trewely the labour is in vain 
 
 17074 
 
 17082 
 
 17090 
 
 17099 
 
TPIE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 283 
 
 To kepe a shrewe, for it wol not be. 17100 
 
 ' This hold I for a veray nicetee, 
 
 To spillen labour for to kepen wives; 
 
 Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lives. 
 
 But now to purpos, as I first began. 
 
 This worthy Phebus doth all that he can 
 To plesen hire, wening thurgh swiche plesance, 
 And for his manhood and his governance, 
 
 That no man shulde put him from hire grace : 17108 
 But God it wote, ther may no man embrace 
 As to destreine a thing, which that nature 
 Hath naturelly set in a creature. 
 
 Take any brid, and put it in a cage. 
 
 And do all thin entente, and thy corage. 
 
 To foster it tendrely with mete and drinke 
 Of alle deintees that thou canst bethinke. 
 
 And kepe it al so clenely as thou may ; 17110' 
 
 Although the cage of gold be never so gay, * 
 
 ’ Yet had this brid, by twenty thousand fold. 
 
 Lever in a forest, that is wilde and cold, 
 
 r 
 
 Gon eten wormes, and swiche wretchednesse. 
 
 For ever this brid will don his besinesse 
 To escape out of his cage whan that he may : 
 
 His libertee the brid desireth ay. 
 
 Let take a cat, and foster hire with milke 17124 
 And tendre flesh, and make hire couche of silke, 
 
 / 
 
^284 
 
 THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 And lei hire see a mous go by the wall, 17126 
 
 Anon she weiveth milke and flesh, and all, 
 
 And every deintee that is in that hous, 
 
 Swiche appetit hath she to ete the mous, 
 
 Lo, here hath kind hire domination, 
 
 And appetit flemeth discretion. 
 
 A she- wolf hath also a vilains kind ; 
 
 The lewedeste wolf that she may find. 
 
 Or lest of reputation, wol she take 17134 
 
 In time whan hire lust to have a make. 
 
 All thise ensamples speke I by thise men 
 That ben untrewe, and nothing by women. 
 
 For men have ever a likerous appetit 
 On lower thing to parforme hir debt 
 Than on hir wives, be they never so faire, 
 
 Ne never so trewe, ne so debonaire. 
 
 Flesh is so newefangle, with meschance, 17142 
 That we ne con in nothing have plesance. 
 
 That souneth unto vertue any while. 
 
 This Phebus, which that thought upon no gile, 
 Disceived was for all his jolitee : 
 
 For under him another hadde she, 
 
 A man of litel reputation, 
 
 Nought worth to Phebus in comparison : 
 
 The more harme is ; it happeth often so ; 
 
 Of which ther cometh mochel harme and wo. 17151 
 
THE MANCIPLES TALE, 
 
 285 
 
 And so befell, wban Phebus was absent, 17152 
 His wif anon hath for hire lemman sent. 
 
 Hire lemman ? certes that is a knavish speche. 
 Foryeve it me, and that I you beseche. 
 
 The wise Plato sayth, as ye mow rede. 
 
 The word must nede accorden with the dede, 
 
 If men shul tellen proprely a thing. 
 
 The word must cosin be to the werking, 
 
 I am a boistous man, right thus say I; itig'o 
 
 'hher is no difference trewely 
 Betwix a wif that is of high degree, 
 
 (If of hire body dishonest she be) 
 
 And any poure wench e, other than this, 
 
 (If it so be they werken both amis) 
 
 But, for the gentil is in estat above, 
 
 She shal be cleped his lady and his love ; 
 
 And, for that other is a poure woman, 1716‘8 
 
 She shal be cleped his wenche and his lemman ; 
 And God it wote, min owen dere brother, 
 
 Men lay as low that on as lith that other. 
 
 Right so betwix a titleles tiraunt 
 And an outlawe, or any thefe erraunt. 
 
 The same I say, ther is no difference, 
 
 (To Alexander told was this sentence) . 
 
 But, for the tyrant is of greter might 
 
 By force of meinie for to sle doun right, 17177 
 
286 
 
 THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 And brenneii hoiis and home, and make all plain, 
 Lo, therfore is he cleped a capitain; 17179 
 
 And, for the outlawe hath but sniale meinie. 
 
 And may not do so gret an harme as he, 
 
 Ne bring a contree to so gret meschiefe, 
 
 Men clepen him an outlawe or a thefe. 
 
 But, for I am a man not textuel, 
 
 1 wol not tell of textes never a del ; 
 
 1 wol go to my tale, as I began. 17186' 
 
 Whan Phebus wif had sent for hire lemman, 
 
 Anon they wroughten all hir lust volage. 
 
 This white crowe, that heng ay in the cage, 
 
 Beheld hir werke, and sayde never a word: 
 
 And whan that home was come Phebus the lord, 
 This crowe song, cuckow, cuckow, cuckow. 
 
 What? brid, quod Phebus, what song singest . 
 thou now? 17193 
 
 Ne were thou wont so merily to sing, 
 
 That to my herte it was a rejoysing 
 To here thy vois ? alas ! what song is this ? 
 
 By God, quod he, I singe not amis. 
 
 Phebus, (quod he) for all thy worthinesse. 
 
 For ail thy beautee, and all thy gentillesse, 
 
 For all thy song, and all thy minstralcie, 
 
 For all thy waiting, blered is thin eye. 
 
 With on of litel reputation. 
 
 17-202 
 
THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 287 
 
 Not worth to thee as in comparison 
 The mountance of a gnat, so mote I thrive ; 
 
 For on thy bedcle thy wif I saw him swive. 
 
 Wbat wol you more ? the crowe anon him told, 
 
 By sade tokenes, and by wordes bold, 
 
 How that his wif had don hire lecherie 
 Him to gret shame, and to gret vilanie ; 
 
 And told him oft, he sawe it with his eyen. 
 
 This Phebus gan awayward for to wrien ; 17211 
 
 Him thought his woful herte brast atwo. 
 
 His bowe he bent, and set therin a flo ; 
 
 And in his ire he hath his wif yslain ; 
 
 This is the effect, ther is no more to sain. 
 
 For sorwe of which he brake his minstraicie. 
 
 Both harpe and lute, giterne, and sautrie; 
 
 And eke he brake his arwes, and his bowe ; 
 
 And after that thus spake he to the crowe. 17219 
 Traitour, quod he, with tonge of scorpion. 
 
 Thou hast me brought to my confusion : 
 
 Alas that I was wrought ! why n’ere I dede ? 
 
 O dere wif, 0 gemme of lustyhede. 
 
 That were to me so sade, and eke so trewe. 
 
 Now liest thou ded, with face pale of hewe, 
 
 Ful gilteles, that durst I swere ywis. 
 
 O rakel bond, to do so foule a mis. 
 
 0 troubled wit, o ire reccheles, 17228 
 
^288 
 
 THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 That unavised smitest g-ilteles. 17^2-29 
 
 0 wantrust, ful of false suspecion, 
 
 Wher was thy wit and thy discretion ? 
 
 O, every man beware of rakelnesse, 
 
 Ne trowe no thing withouten strong witnesse. 
 
 Smite not to sone, er that ye weten why, 
 
 And beth avised wel and sikerly, 
 
 Or ye do any execution 
 
 Upon your ire for suspecion. 17237 
 
 Alas ! a thousand folk hath rakel ire 
 Fully fordon, and brought hem in the mire. 
 
 Alas ! for sorwe I wol myselven sle. 
 
 And to the crowe, o false thefe, said he, 
 
 1 wol thee quite anon thy false tale. 
 
 Thou song whilom, like any nightingale, 
 
 Now shalt thou, false thefe, thy song forgon, 
 
 And eke thy white fethers everich on, 17245 
 
 Ne never in all thy lif ne shalt thou speke ; 
 
 Thus shul men on a traitour ben awreke. 
 
 Thou and thin ofspring ever shul be blake, 
 
 Ne never swete noise shul ye make. 
 
 But ever crie ageins tempest and rain. 
 
 In token, that thurgh thee my wif is slain. 
 
 And to the crowe he stert, and that anon, 
 
 And pulled his white fethers everich on, 
 
 And made him blak, and raft him all his sons; 17254 
 
THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 289 
 
 And eke his speche, and out at dore himflong 17255 
 Unto the devil, which I him betake ; 
 
 And for this cause ben alle crowes blake. 
 
 Lordings, by this ensample, I you pray, 
 
 Beth ware, and taketh kepe what that ye say ; 
 
 Ne telleth never man in all your lif. 
 
 How that another man hath dight his wif ; 
 
 He wol you haten mortally certain. 
 
 Dan Salomon, as 'wise clerkes sain, 17263 
 
 Techeth a man to kepe his tonge wel ; 
 
 But as I sayd, I am not textuel. 
 
 But natheles thus taughte me my dame ; 
 
 My sone, thinke on the crowe a Goddes name. 
 
 My sone, kepe wel thy tonge, and kepe thy frend; 
 A wicked tonge is werse than a fend : 
 
 My sone, from a fende men may hem blesse. 
 
 My sone, God of his endeles goodnesse 17 271 
 
 Walled a tonge with teeth, and lippes eke. 
 
 For man shuld him avisen what he speke. 
 
 My sone, ful often for to mochel speche 
 Hath many a man ben spilt, as clerkes teche ; 
 
 But for a litel speche avisedly 
 
 Is no man shent, to speken generally. 
 
 My sone, thy’tonge shuldest thou restreine 
 At alle time, but whan thou dost thy peine 
 To speke of God in honour and prayere. 17230 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 u 
 
290 
 
 THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 The firste vertue, sonc; if thou wolt lere, 17281 
 Is to restreine, and kepen wel thy tonge ; 
 
 Thus leren children, whan that they be yonge. 
 
 My sone, of mochel speking evil avised, 
 
 Ther lesse speking had ynough suffised, 
 
 Cometh mochel harme ; thus was me told and taught; 
 In mochel speche sinne wanteth naught. 
 
 Wost thou wherof a rakel tonge serveth ? 
 
 Right as a swerd forcutteth and forkerveth 17289 
 An arme atwo, my dere sone, right so 
 A tonge cutteth frendship all atwo. 
 
 A j angler is to God abhominable. 
 
 Rede Salomon, so wise and honourable. 
 
 Rede David in his Psalmes, rede Senek. 
 
 My sone, speke not, but with thyn hed thou beck, 
 Dissimule as thou were defe, if that thou here 
 A janglour speke of perilous matere, 17297 
 
 The Fleming sayth, and lerne if that thee lest, 
 
 That litel jangling causeth mochel rest. 
 
 My sone, if thou no wicked word hast said. 
 
 Thee thar not dreden for to be bewraid ; 
 
 But he that hath missayd, I dare wel sain, 
 
 He may by no way clepe his word again. 
 
 Thing that is sayd is sayd, and forth it goth, 
 Though him repent, or be him never so loth, 
 
 He is his thral, to whom that he hath sayd i 730 b' 
 
THE MANCIPLES TALE. 
 
 A tale, of which he is now evil apaid. 
 
 My sone, beware, and be non auctour newe 
 Of tidings, whether they ben false or trewe ; 
 Wher so thou come, amonges high or lowe, 
 Kepe wel thy tonge, and thinke upon the crowe. 
 
 END OF VOL. III. 
 
 I 
 
 291 
 
 17307 
 
 17311 
 
 T. WHITE & Co. 
 Printers, 14, Bear Alley, Loudon, 
 

 
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