[ { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer's Tale of Meliboeus.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "\"No more of this, for Godde's dignity!\"", "Quoth oure Hoste; \"for thou makest me", "So weary of thy very lewedness,", "That, all so wisly God my soule bless,", "Mine eares ache for thy drafty speech.", "Now such a rhyme the devil I beteche:", "This may well be rhyme doggerel,\" quoth he.", "\"Why so?\" quoth I; \"why wilt thou lette me", "More of my tale than any other man,", "Since that it is the best rhyme that I can?\"", "\"By God!\" quoth he, \"for, plainly at one word,", "Thy drafty rhyming is not worth a tord:", "Thou dost naught elles but dispendest time.", "Sir, at one word, thou shalt no longer rhyme.", "Let see whether thou canst tellen aught in gest,", "Or tell in prose somewhat, at the least,", "In which there be some mirth or some doctrine.\"", "\"Gladly,\" quoth I, \"by Godde's sweete pine,", "I will you tell a little thing in prose,", "That oughte like you, as I suppose,", "Or else certes ye be too dangerous.", "It is a moral tale virtuous,", "All be it told sometimes in sundry wise", "By sundry folk, as I shall you devise.", "As thus, ye wot that ev'ry Evangelist,", "That telleth us the pain of Jesus Christ,", "He saith not all thing as his fellow doth;", "But natheless their sentence is all soth,", "And all accorden as in their sentence,", "All be there in their telling difference;", "For some of them say more, and some say less,", "When they his piteous passion express;", "I mean of Mark and Matthew, Luke and John;", "But doubteless their sentence is all one.", "Therefore, lordinges all, I you beseech,", "If that ye think I vary in my speech,", "As thus, though that I telle somedeal more", "Of proverbes, than ye have heard before", "Comprehended in this little treatise here,", "T'enforce with the effect of my mattere,", "And though I not the same wordes say", "As ye have heard, yet to you all I pray", "Blame me not; for as in my sentence", "Shall ye nowhere finde no difference", "From the sentence of thilke treatise lite,", "After the which this merry tale I write.", "And therefore hearken to what I shall say,", "And let me tellen all my tale, I pray.\"" ], "linecount": "49" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Cook's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "THE Cook of London, while the Reeve thus spake,", "For joy he laugh'd and clapp'd him on the back:", "\"Aha!\" quoth he, \"for Christes passion,", "This Miller had a sharp conclusion,", "Upon this argument of herbergage.", "Well saide Solomon in his language,", "Bring thou not every man into thine house,", "For harbouring by night is perilous.", "Well ought a man avised for to be", "Whom that he brought into his privity.", "I pray to God to give me sorrow and care", "If ever, since I highte Hodge of Ware,", "Heard I a miller better set a-work;", "He had a jape of malice in the derk.", "But God forbid that we should stinte here,", "And therefore if ye will vouchsafe to hear", "A tale of me, that am a poore man,", "I will you tell as well as e'er I can", "A little jape that fell in our city.\"", "", "Our Host answer'd and said; \"I grant it thee.", "Roger, tell on; and look that it be good,", "For many a pasty hast thou letten blood,", "And many a Jack of Dover hast thou sold,", "That had been twice hot and twice cold.", "Of many a pilgrim hast thou Christe's curse,", "For of thy parsley yet fare they the worse.", "That they have eaten in thy stubble goose:", "For in thy shop doth many a fly go loose.", "Now tell on, gentle Roger, by thy name,", "But yet I pray thee be not wroth for game;", "A man may say full sooth in game and play.\"", "\"Thou sayst full sooth,\" quoth Roger, \"by my fay;", "But sooth play quad play, as the Fleming saith,", "And therefore, Harry Bailly, by thy faith,", "Be thou not wroth, else we departe here,", "Though that my tale be of an hostelere.", "But natheless, I will not tell it yet,", "But ere we part, y-wis thou shalt be quit.\"", "And therewithal he laugh'd and made cheer,", "And told his tale, as ye shall after hear.", "", "THE TALE.", "", "A prentice whilom dwelt in our city,", "And of a craft of victuallers was he:", "Galliard he was, as goldfinch in the shaw,", "Brown as a berry, a proper short fellaw:", "With lockes black, combed full fetisly.", "And dance he could so well and jollily,", "That he was called Perkin Revellour.", "He was as full of love and paramour,", "As is the honeycomb of honey sweet;", "Well was the wenche that with him might meet.", "At every bridal would he sing and hop;", "He better lov'd the tavern than the shop.", "For when there any riding was in Cheap,", "Out of the shoppe thither would he leap,", "And, till that he had all the sight y-seen,", "And danced well, he would not come again;", "And gather'd him a meinie of his sort,", "To hop and sing, and make such disport:", "And there they sette steven for to meet", "To playen at the dice in such a street.", "For in the towne was there no prentice", "That fairer coulde cast a pair of dice", "Than Perkin could; and thereto he was free", "Of his dispence, in place of privity.", "That found his master well in his chaffare,", "For oftentime he found his box full bare.", "For, soothely, a prentice revellour,", "That haunteth dice, riot, and paramour,", "His master shall it in his shop abie,", "All have he no part of the minstrelsy.", "For theft and riot they be convertible,", "All can they play on gitern or ribible.", "Revel and truth, as in a low degree,", "They be full wroth all day, as men may see.", "", "This jolly prentice with his master bode,", "Till he was nigh out of his prenticehood,", "All were he snubbed both early and late,", "And sometimes led with revel to Newgate.", "But at the last his master him bethought,", "Upon a day when he his paper sought,", "Of a proverb, that saith this same word;", "Better is rotten apple out of hoard,", "Than that it should rot all the remenant:", "So fares it by a riotous servant;", "It is well lesse harm to let him pace,", "Than he shend all the servants in the place.", "Therefore his master gave him a quittance,", "And bade him go, with sorrow and mischance.", "And thus this jolly prentice had his leve:", "Now let him riot all the night, or leave.", "And, for there is no thief without a louke,", "That helpeth him to wasten and to souk", "Of that he bribe can, or borrow may,", "Anon he sent his bed and his array", "Unto a compere of his owen sort,", "That loved dice, and riot, and disport;", "And had a wife, that held for countenance", "A shop, and swived for her sustenance." ], "linecount": "100" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Shipman's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE", "", "Our Host upon his stirrups stood anon,", "And saide; \"Good men, hearken every one,", "This was a thrifty tale for the nones.", "Sir Parish Priest,\" quoth he, \"for Godde's bones,", "Tell us a tale, as was thy forword yore:", "I see well that ye learned men in lore", "Can muche good, by Godde's dignity.\"", "The Parson him answer'd, \"Ben'dicite!", "What ails the man, so sinfully to swear?\"", "Our Host answer'd, \"O Jankin, be ye there?", "Now, good men,\" quoth our Host, \"hearken to me.", "I smell a Lollard in the wind,\" quoth he.", "\"Abide, for Godde's digne passion,", "For we shall have a predication:", "This Lollard here will preachen us somewhat.\"", "\"Nay, by my father's soul, that shall he not,", "Saide the Shipman; \"Here shall he not preach,", "He shall no gospel glose here nor teach.", "We all believe in the great God,\" quoth he.", "\"He woulde sowe some difficulty,", "Or springe cockle in our cleane corn.", "And therefore, Host, I warne thee beforn,", "My jolly body shall a tale tell,", "And I shall clinke you so merry a bell,", "That I shall waken all this company;", "But it shall not be of philosophy,", "Nor of physic, nor termes quaint of law;", "There is but little Latin in my maw.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "A Merchant whilom dwell'd at Saint Denise,", "That riche was, for which men held him wise.", "A wife he had of excellent beauty,", "And companiable and revellous was she,", "Which is a thing that causeth more dispence", "Than worth is all the cheer and reverence", "That men them do at feastes and at dances.", "Such salutations and countenances", "Passen, as doth the shadow on the wall;", "Put woe is him that paye must for all.", "The sely husband algate he must pay,", "He must us clothe and he must us array", "All for his owen worship richely:", "In which array we dance jollily.", "And if that he may not, paraventure,", "Or elles list not such dispence endure,", "But thinketh it is wasted and y-lost,", "Then must another paye for our cost,", "Or lend us gold, and that is perilous.", "", "This noble merchant held a noble house;", "For which he had all day so great repair,", "For his largesse, and for his wife was fair,", "That wonder is; but hearken to my tale.", "Amonges all these guestes great and smale,", "There was a monk, a fair man and a bold,", "I trow a thirty winter he was old,", "That ever-in-one was drawing to that place.", "This younge monk, that was so fair of face,", "Acquainted was so with this goode man,", "Since that their firste knowledge began,", "That in his house as familiar was he", "As it is possible any friend to be.", "And, for as muchel as this goode man,", "And eke this monk of which that I began,", "Were both the two y-born in one village,", "The monk him claimed, as for cousinage,", "And he again him said not once nay,", "But was as glad thereof as fowl of day;", "\"For to his heart it was a great pleasance.", "Thus be they knit with etern' alliance,", "And each of them gan other to assure", "Of brotherhood while that their life may dure.", "", "As in that house, and full of diligence", "To do pleasance, and also great costage;", "He not forgot to give the leaste page", "In all that house; but, after their degree,", "He gave the lord, and sithen his meinie,", "When that he came, some manner honest thing;", "For which they were as glad of his coming", "As fowl is fain when that the sun upriseth.", "No more of this as now, for it sufficeth.", "", "But so befell, this merchant on a day", "Shope him to make ready his array", "Toward the town of Bruges for to fare,", "To buye there a portion of ware;", "For which he hath to Paris sent anon", "A messenger, and prayed hath Dan John", "That he should come to Saint Denis, and play", "With him, and with his wife, a day or tway,", "Ere he to Bruges went, in alle wise.", "This noble monk, of which I you devise,", "Had of his abbot, as him list, licence,", "(Because he was a man of high prudence,", "And eke an officer out for to ride,", "To see their granges and their barnes wide);", "And unto Saint Denis he came anon.", "Who was so welcome as my lord Dan John,", "Our deare cousin, full of courtesy?", "With him he brought a jub of malvesie,", "And eke another full of fine vernage,", "And volatile, as aye was his usage:", "And thus I let them eat, and drink, and play,", "This merchant and this monk, a day or tway.", "The thirde day the merchant up ariseth,", "And on his needeis sadly him adviseth;", "And up into his countour-house went he,", "To reckon with himself as well may be,", "Of thilke year, how that it with him stood,", "And how that he dispended bad his good,", "And if that he increased were or non.", "His bookes and his bagges many a one", "He laid before him on his counting-board.", "Full riche was his treasure and his hoard;", "For which full fast his countour door he shet;", "And eke he would that no man should him let", "Of his accountes, for the meane time:", "And thus he sat, till it was passed prime.", "", "Dan John was risen in the morn also,", "And in the garden walked to and fro,", "And had his thinges said full courteously.", "The good wife came walking full privily", "Into the garden, where he walked soft,", "And him saluted, as she had done oft;", "A maiden child came in her company,", "Which as her list she might govern and gie,", "For yet under the yarde was the maid.", "\"O deare cousin mine, Dan John,\" she said,", "\"What aileth you so rath for to arise?\"", "\"Niece,\" quoth he, \"it ought enough suffice", "Five houres for to sleep upon a night;'", "But it were for an old appalled wight,", "As be these wedded men, that lie and dare,", "As in a forme sits a weary hare,", "Alle forstraught with houndes great and smale;", "But, deare niece, why be ye so pale?", "I trowe certes that our goode man", "Hath you so laboured, since this night began,", "That you were need to reste hastily.\"", "And with that word he laugh'd full merrily,", "And of his owen thought he wax'd all red.", "This faire wife gan for to shake her head,", "And saide thus; \"Yea, God wot all\" quoth she.", "\"Nay, cousin mine, it stands not so with me;", "For by that God, that gave me soul and life,", "In all the realm of France is there no wife", "That lesse lust hath to that sorry play;", "For I may sing alas and well-away!", "That I was born; but to no wight,\" quoth she,", "\"Dare I not tell how that it stands with me.", "Wherefore I think out of this land to wend,", "Or elles of myself to make an end,", "So full am I of dread and eke of care.\"", "", "This monk began upon this wife to stare,", "And said, \"Alas! my niece, God forbid", "That ye for any sorrow, or any dread,", "Fordo yourself: but telle me your grief,", "Paraventure I may, in your mischief,", "Counsel or help; and therefore telle me", "All your annoy, for it shall be secre.", "For on my portos here I make an oath,", "That never in my life, for lief nor loth,", "Ne shall I of no counsel you bewray.\"", "\"The same again to you,\" quoth she, \"I say.", "By God and by this portos I you swear,", "Though men me woulden all in pieces tear,", "Ne shall I never, for to go to hell,", "Bewray one word of thing that ye me tell,", "For no cousinage, nor alliance,", "But verily for love and affiance.\"", "Thus be they sworn, and thereupon they kiss'd,", "And each of them told other what them list.", "\"Cousin,\" quoth she, \"if that I hadde space,", "As I have none, and namely in this place,", "Then would I tell a legend of my life,", "What I have suffer'd since I was a wife", "With mine husband, all be he your cousin.", "\"Nay,\" quoth this monk, \"by God and Saint Martin,", "He is no more cousin unto me,", "Than is the leaf that hangeth on the tree;", "I call him so, by Saint Denis of France,", "To have the more cause of acquaintance", "Of you, which I have loved specially", "Aboven alle women sickerly,", "This swear I you on my professioun;", "Tell me your grief, lest that he come adown,", "And hasten you, and go away anon.\"", "", "\"My deare love,\" quoth she, \"O my Dan John,", "Full lief were me this counsel for to hide,", "But out it must, I may no more abide.", "My husband is to me the worste man", "That ever was since that the world began;", "But since I am a wife, it sits not me", "To telle no wight of our privity,", "Neither in bed, nor in none other place;", "God shield I shoulde tell it for his grace;", "A wife shall not say of her husband", "But all honour, as I can understand;", "Save unto you thus much I telle shall;", "As help me God, he is nought worth at all", "In no degree, the value of a fly.", "But yet me grieveth most his niggardy.", "And well ye wot, that women naturally", "Desire thinges six, as well as I.", "They woulde that their husbands shoulde be", "Hardy, and wise, and rich, and thereto free,", "And buxom to his wife, and fresh in bed.", "But, by that ilke Lord that for us bled,", "For his honour myself for to array,", "On Sunday next I muste needes pay", "A hundred francs, or elles am I lorn.", "Yet were me lever that I were unborn,", "Than me were done slander or villainy.", "And if mine husband eke might it espy,", "I were but lost; and therefore I you pray,", "Lend me this sum, or elles must I dey.", "Dan John, I say, lend me these hundred francs;", "Pardie, I will not faile you, my thanks,", "If that you list to do that I you pray;", "For at a certain day I will you pay,", "And do to you what pleasance and service", "That I may do, right as you list devise.", "And but I do, God take on me vengeance,", "As foul as e'er had Ganilion of France.\"", "", "This gentle monk answer'd in this mannere;", "\"Now truely, mine owen lady dear,", "I have,\" quoth he, \"on you so greate ruth,", "That I you swear, and plighte you my truth,", "That when your husband is to Flanders fare,", "I will deliver you out of this care,", "For I will bringe you a hundred francs.\"", "And with that word he caught her by the flanks,", "And her embraced hard, and kissed her oft.", "\"Go now your way,\" quoth he, \"all still and soft,", "And let us dine as soon as that ye may,", "For by my cylinder 'tis prime of day;", "Go now, and be as true as I shall be .\"", "\"Now elles God forbidde, Sir,\" quoth she;", "And forth she went, as jolly as a pie,", "And bade the cookes that they should them hie,", "So that men mighte dine, and that anon.", "Up to her husband is this wife gone,", "And knocked at his contour boldely.", "\"Qui est la?\" quoth he. \"Peter! it am I,\"", "Quoth she; \"What, Sir, how longe all will ye fast?", "How longe time will ye reckon and cast", "Your summes, and your bookes, and your things?", "The devil have part of all such reckonings!", "Ye have enough, pardie, of Godde's sond.", "Come down to-day, and let your bagges stond.", "Ne be ye not ashamed, that Dan John", "Shall fasting all this day elenge gon?", "What? let us hear a mass, and go we dine.\"", "\"Wife,\" quoth this man, \"little canst thou divine", "The curious businesse that we have;", "For of us chapmen, all so God me save,", "And by that lord that cleped is Saint Ive,", "Scarcely amonges twenty, ten shall thrive", "Continually, lasting unto our age.", "We may well make cheer and good visage,", "And drive forth the world as it may be,", "And keepen our estate in privity,", "Till we be dead, or elles that we play", "A pilgrimage, or go out of the way.", "And therefore have I great necessity", "Upon this quaint world to advise me.", "For evermore must we stand in dread", "Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhead.", "To Flanders will I go to-morrow at day,", "And come again as soon as e'er I may:", "For which, my deare wife, I thee beseek", "As be to every wight buxom and meek,", "And for to keep our good be curious,", "And honestly governe well our house.", "Thou hast enough, in every manner wise,", "That to a thrifty household may suffice.", "Thee lacketh none array, nor no vitail;", "Of silver in thy purse thou shalt not fail.\"", "", "And with that word his contour door he shet,", "And down he went; no longer would he let;", "And hastily a mass was there said,", "And speedily the tables were laid,", "And to the dinner faste they them sped,", "And richely this monk the chapman fed.", "And after dinner Dan John soberly", "This chapman took apart, and privily", "He said him thus: \"Cousin, it standeth so,", "That, well I see, to Bruges ye will go;", "God and Saint Austin speede you and guide.", "I pray you, cousin, wisely that ye ride:", "Governe you also of your diet", "Attemperly, and namely in this heat.", "Betwixt us two needeth no strange fare;", "Farewell, cousin, God shielde you from care.", "If any thing there be, by day or night,", "If it lie in my power and my might,", "That ye me will command in any wise,", "It shall be done, right as ye will devise.", "But one thing ere ye go, if it may be;", "I woulde pray you for to lend to me", "A hundred frankes, for a week or twy,", "For certain beastes that I muste buy,", "To store with a place that is ours", "(God help me so, I would that it were yours);", "I shall not faile surely of my day,", "Not for a thousand francs, a mile way.", "But let this thing be secret, I you pray;", "For yet to-night these beastes must I buy.", "And fare now well, mine owen cousin dear;", "Grand mercy of your cost and of your cheer.\"", "", "This noble merchant gentilly anon", "Answer'd and said, \"O cousin mine, Dan John,", "Now sickerly this is a small request:", "My gold is youres, when that it you lest,", "And not only my gold, but my chaffare;", "Take what you list, God shielde that ye spare.", "But one thing is, ye know it well enow", "Of chapmen, that their money is their plough.", "We may creance while we have a name,", "But goldless for to be it is no game.", "Pay it again when it lies in your ease;", "After my might full fain would I you please.\"", "", "These hundred frankes set he forth anon,", "And privily he took them to Dan John;", "No wight in all this world wist of this loan,", "Saving the merchant and Dan John alone.", "They drink, and speak, and roam a while, and play,", "Till that Dan John rode unto his abbay.", "The morrow came, and forth this merchant rideth", "To Flanders-ward, his prentice well him guideth,", "Till he came unto Bruges merrily.", "Now went this merchant fast and busily", "About his need, and buyed and creanced;", "He neither played at the dice, nor danced;", "But as a merchant, shortly for to tell,", "He led his life; and there I let him dwell.", "", "The Sunday next the merchant was y-gone,", "To Saint Denis y-comen is Dan John,", "With crown and beard all fresh and newly shave,", "In all the house was not so little a knave,", "Nor no wight elles that was not full fain", "For that my lord Dan John was come again.", "And shortly to the point right for to gon,", "The faire wife accorded with Dan John,", "That for these hundred francs he should all night", "Have her in his armes bolt upright;", "And this accord performed was in deed.", "In mirth all night a busy life they lead,", "Till it was day, that Dan John went his way,", "And bade the meinie \"Farewell; have good day.\"", "For none of them, nor no wight in the town,", "Had of Dan John right no suspicioun;", "And forth he rode home to his abbay,", "Or where him list; no more of him I say.", "", "The merchant, when that ended was the fair,", "To Saint Denis he gan for to repair,", "And with his wife he made feast and cheer,", "And tolde her that chaffare was so dear,", "That needes must he make a chevisance;", "For he was bound in a recognisance", "To paye twenty thousand shields anon.", "For which this merchant is to Paris gone,", "To borrow of certain friendes that he had", "A certain francs, and some with him he lad.", "And when that he was come into the town,", "For great cherte and great affectioun", "Unto Dan John he wente first to play;", "Not for to borrow of him no money,", "Bat for to weet and see of his welfare,", "And for to telle him of his chaffare,", "As friendes do, when they be met in fere.", "Dan John him made feast and merry cheer;", "And he him told again full specially,", "How he had well y-bought and graciously", "(Thanked be God) all whole his merchandise;", "Save that he must, in alle manner wise,", "Maken a chevisance, as for his best;", "And then he shoulde be in joy and rest.", "Dan John answered, \"Certes, I am fain", "That ye in health be come borne again:", "And if that I were rich, as have I bliss,", "Of twenty thousand shields should ye not miss,", "For ye so kindely the other day", "Lente me gold, and as I can and may", "I thanke you, by God and by Saint Jame.", "But natheless I took unto our Dame,", "Your wife at home, the same gold again,", "Upon your bench; she wot it well, certain,", "By certain tokens that I can her tell", "Now, by your leave, I may no longer dwell;", "Our abbot will out of this town anon,", "And in his company I muste gon.", "Greet well our Dame, mine owen niece sweet,", "And farewell, deare cousin, till we meet.", "", "This merchant, which that was full ware and wise,", "Creanced hath, and paid eke in Paris", "To certain Lombards ready in their hond", "The sum of gold, and got of them his bond,", "And home he went, merry as a popinjay.", "For well he knew he stood in such array", "That needes must he win in that voyage", "A thousand francs, above all his costage.", "His wife full ready met him at the gate,", "As she was wont of old usage algate", "And all that night in mirthe they beset;", "For he was rich, and clearly out of debt.", "When it was day, the merchant gan embrace", "His wife all new, and kiss'd her in her face,", "And up he went, and maked it full tough.", "", "\"No more,\" quoth she, \"by God ye have enough;\"", "And wantonly again with him she play'd,", "Till at the last this merchant to her said.", "\"By God,\" quoth he, \"I am a little wroth", "With you, my wife, although it be me loth;", "And wot ye why? by God, as that I guess,", "That ye have made a manner strangeness", "Betwixte me and my cousin, Dan John.", "Ye should have warned me, ere I had gone,", "That he you had a hundred frankes paid", "By ready token; he had him evil apaid", "For that I to him spake of chevisance,", "(He seemed so as by his countenance);", "But natheless, by God of heaven king,", "I thoughte not to ask of him no thing.", "I pray thee, wife, do thou no more so.", "Tell me alway, ere that I from thee go,", "If any debtor hath in mine absence", "Y-payed thee, lest through thy negligence", "I might him ask a thing that he hath paid.\"", "", "This wife was not afeared nor afraid,", "But boldely she said, and that anon;", "\"Mary! I defy that false monk Dan John,", "I keep not of his tokens never a deal:", "He took me certain gold, I wot it well. --", "What? evil thedom on his monke's snout! --", "For, God it wot, I ween'd withoute doubt", "That he had given it me, because of you,", "To do therewith mine honour and my prow,", "For cousinage, and eke for belle cheer", "That he hath had full often here.", "But since I see I stand in such disjoint,", "I will answer you shortly to the point.", "Ye have more slacke debtors than am I;", "For I will pay you well and readily,", "From day to day, and if so be I fail,", "I am your wife, score it upon my tail,", "And I shall pay as soon as ever I may.", "For, by my troth, I have on mine array,", "And not in waste, bestow'd it every deal.", "And, for I have bestowed it so well,", "For your honour, for Godde's sake I say,", "As be not wroth, but let us laugh and play.", "Ye shall my jolly body have to wed;", "By God, I will not pay you but in bed;", "Forgive it me, mine owen spouse dear;", "Turn hitherward, and make better cheer.\"", "", "The merchant saw none other remedy;", "And for to chide, it were but a folly,", "Since that the thing might not amended be.", "\"Now, wife,\" he said, \"and I forgive it thee;", "But by thy life be no more so large;", "Keep better my good, this give I thee in charge.\"", "Thus endeth now my tale; and God us send", "Taling enough, until our lives' end!" ], "linecount": "463" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "WHEN said was this miracle, every man", "As sober was, that wonder was to see,", "Till that our Host to japen he began,", "And then at erst he looked upon me,", "And saide thus; \"What man art thou?\" quoth he;", "\"Thou lookest as thou wouldest find an hare,", "For ever on the ground I see thee stare.", "", "\"Approache near, and look up merrily.", "Now ware you, Sirs, and let this man have place.", "He in the waist is shapen as well as I;", "This were a puppet in an arm t'embrace", "For any woman small and fair of face.", "He seemeth elvish by his countenance,", "For unto no wight doth he dalliance.", "", "\"Say now somewhat, since other folk have said;", "Tell us a tale of mirth, and that anon.\"", "\"Hoste,\" quoth I, \"be not evil apaid,", "For other tale certes can I none,", "Eut of a rhyme I learned yore agone.\"", "\"Yea, that is good,\" quoth he; \"now shall we hear", "Some dainty thing, me thinketh by thy cheer.\"", "", "THE TALE", "", "The First Fit", "", "Listen, lordings, in good intent,", "And I will tell you verrament", "Of mirth and of solas,", "All of a knight was fair and gent,", "In battle and in tournament,", "His name was Sir Thopas.", "", "Y-born he was in far country,", "In Flanders, all beyond the sea,", "At Popering in the place;", "His father was a man full free,", "And lord he was of that country,", "As it was Godde's grace.", "", "Sir Thopas was a doughty swain,", "White was his face as paindemain,", "His lippes red as rose.", "His rode is like scarlet in grain,", "And I you tell in good certain", "He had a seemly nose.", "", "His hair, his beard, was like saffroun,", "That to his girdle reach'd adown,", "His shoes of cordewane:", "Of Bruges were his hosen brown;", "His robe was of ciclatoun,", "That coste many a jane.", "", "He coulde hunt at the wild deer,", "And ride on hawking for rivere", "With gray goshawk on hand:", "Thereto he was a good archere,", "Of wrestling was there none his peer,", "Where any ram should stand.", "", "Full many a maiden bright in bow'r", "They mourned for him par amour,", "When them were better sleep;", "But he was chaste, and no lechour,", "And sweet as is the bramble flow'r", "That beareth the red heep.", "", "And so it fell upon a day,", "For sooth as I you telle may,", "Sir Thopas would out ride;", "He worth upon his steede gray,", "And in his hand a launcegay,", "A long sword by his side.", "", "He pricked through a fair forest,", "Wherein is many a wilde beast,", "Yea, bothe buck and hare;", "And as he pricked north and east,", "I tell it you, him had almest", "Betid a sorry care.", "", "There sprange herbes great and small,", "The liquorice and the setewall,", "And many a clove-gilofre,", "And nutemeg to put in ale,", "Whether it be moist or stale,", "Or for to lay in coffer.", "", "The birdes sang, it is no nay,", "The sperhawk and the popinjay,", "That joy it was to hear;", "The throstle-cock made eke his lay,", "The woode-dove upon the spray", "She sang full loud and clear.", "", "Sir Thopas fell in love-longing", "All when he heard the throstle sing,", "And prick'd as he were wood;", "His faire steed in his pricking", "So sweated, that men might him wring,", "His sides were all blood.", "", "Sir Thopas eke so weary was", "For pricking on the softe grass,", "So fierce was his corage,", "That down he laid him in that place,", "To make his steed some solace,", "And gave him good forage.", "", "\"Ah, Saint Mary, ben'dicite,", "What aileth thilke love at me", "To binde me so sore?", "Me dreamed all this night, pardie,", "An elf-queen shall my leman be,", "And sleep under my gore.", "", "An elf-queen will I love, y-wis,", "For in this world no woman is", "Worthy to be my make", "In town;", "All other women I forsake,", "And to an elf-queen I me take", "By dale and eke by down.\"", "", "Into his saddle he clomb anon,", "And pricked over stile and stone", "An elf-queen for to spy,", "Till he so long had ridden and gone,", "That he found in a privy wonne", "The country of Faery,", "So wild;", "For in that country was there none", "That to him durste ride or gon,", "Neither wife nor child.", "", "Till that there came a great giaunt,", "His name was Sir Oliphaunt,", "A perilous man of deed;", "He saide, \"Child, by Termagaunt,", "But if thou prick out of mine haunt,", "Anon I slay thy steed", "With mace.", "Here is the Queen of Faery,", "With harp, and pipe, and symphony,", "Dwelling in this place.\"", "", "The Child said, \"All so may I the,", "To-morrow will I meete thee,", "When I have mine armor;", "And yet I hope, par ma fay,", "That thou shalt with this launcegay", "Abyen it full sore;", "Thy maw", "Shall I pierce, if I may,", "Ere it be fully prime of day,", "For here thou shalt be slaw.\"", "", "Sir Thopas drew aback full fast;", "This giant at him stones cast", "Out of a fell staff sling:", "But fair escaped Child Thopas,", "And all it was through Godde's grace,", "And through his fair bearing.", "", "Yet listen, lordings, to my tale,", "Merrier than the nightingale,", "For now I will you rown,", "How Sir Thopas, with sides smale,", "Pricking over hill and dale,", "Is come again to town.", "", "His merry men commanded he", "To make him both game and glee;", "For needes must he fight", "With a giant with heades three,", "For paramour and jollity", "Of one that shone full bright.", "", "\"Do come,\" he saide, \"my minstrales", "And gestours for to telle tales.", "Anon in mine arming,", "Of romances that be royales,", "Of popes and of cardinales,", "And eke of love-longing.\"", "", "They fetch'd him first the sweete wine,", "And mead eke in a maseline,", "And royal spicery;", "Of ginger-bread that was full fine,", "And liquorice and eke cumin,", "With sugar that is trie.", "", "He didde, next his white lere,", "Of cloth of lake fine and clear,", "A breech and eke a shirt;", "And next his shirt an haketon,", "And over that an habergeon,", "For piercing of his heart;", "", "And over that a fine hauberk,", "Was all y-wrought of Jewes' werk,", "Full strong it was of plate;", "And over that his coat-armour,", "As white as is the lily flow'r,", "In which he would debate.", "", "His shield was all of gold so red", "And therein was a boare's head,", "A charboucle beside;", "And there he swore on ale and bread,", "How that the giant should be dead,", "Betide whatso betide.", "", "His jambeaux were of cuirbouly,", "His sworde's sheath of ivory,", "His helm of latoun bright,", "His saddle was of rewel bone,", "His bridle as the sunne shone,", "Or as the moonelight.", "", "His speare was of fine cypress,", "That bodeth war, and nothing peace;", "The head full sharp y-ground.", "His steede was all dapple gray,", "It went an amble in the way", "Full softely and round", "In land.", "", "Lo, Lordes mine, here is a fytt;", "If ye will any more of it,", "To tell it will I fand.", "", "The Second Fit", "", "Now hold your mouth for charity,", "Bothe knight and lady free,", "And hearken to my spell;", "Of battle and of chivalry,", "Of ladies' love and druerie,", "Anon I will you tell.", "", "Men speak of romances of price", "Of Horn Child, and of Ipotis,", "Of Bevis, and Sir Guy,", "Of Sir Libeux, and Pleindamour,", "But Sir Thopas, he bears the flow'r", "Of royal chivalry.", "", "His goode steed he all bestrode,", "And forth upon his way he glode,", "As sparkle out of brand;", "Upon his crest he bare a tow'r,", "And therein stick'd a lily flow'r;", "God shield his corse from shand!", "", "And, for he was a knight auntrous,", "He woulde sleepen in none house,", "But liggen in his hood,", "His brighte helm was his wanger,", "And by him baited his destrer", "Of herbes fine and good.", "", "Himself drank water of the well,", "As did the knight Sir Percivel,", "So worthy under weed;", "Till on a day - . . ." ], "linecount": "232" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Parson's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "By that the Manciple his tale had ended,", "The sunne from the south line was descended", "So lowe, that it was not to my sight", "Degrees nine-and-twenty as in height.", "Four of the clock it was then, as I guess,", "For eleven foot, a little more or less,", "My shadow was at thilke time, as there,", "Of such feet as my lengthe parted were", "In six feet equal of proportion.", "Therewith the moone's exaltation,", "In meane Libra, gan alway ascend,", "As we were ent'ring at a thorpe's end.", "For which our Host, as he was wont to gie,", "As in this case, our jolly company,", "Said in this wise; \"Lordings every one,", "Now lacketh us no more tales than one.", "Fulfill'd is my sentence and my decree;", "I trow that we have heard of each degree.", "Almost fulfilled is mine ordinance;", "I pray to God so give him right good chance", "That telleth us this tale lustily.", "Sir Priest,\" quoth he, \"art thou a vicary?", "Or art thou a Parson? say sooth by thy fay.", "Be what thou be, breake thou not our play;", "For every man, save thou, hath told his tale.", "Unbuckle, and shew us what is in thy mail.", "For truely me thinketh by thy cheer", "Thou shouldest knit up well a great mattere.", "Tell us a fable anon, for cocke's bones.\"", "", "This Parson him answered all at ones;", "\"Thou gettest fable none y-told for me,", "For Paul, that writeth unto Timothy,", "Reproveth them that weive soothfastness,", "And telle fables, and such wretchedness.", "Why should I sowe draff out of my fist,", "When I may sowe wheat, if that me list?", "For which I say, if that you list to hear", "Morality and virtuous mattere,", "And then that ye will give me audience,", "I would full fain at Christe's reverence", "Do you pleasance lawful, as I can.", "But, truste well, I am a southern man,", "I cannot gest, rom, ram, ruf, by my letter;", "And, God wot, rhyme hold I but little better.", "And therefore if you list, I will not glose,", "I will you tell a little tale in prose,", "To knit up all this feast, and make an end.", "And Jesus for his grace wit me send", "To shewe you the way, in this voyage,", "Of thilke perfect glorious pilgrimage,", "That hight Jerusalem celestial.", "And if ye vouchesafe, anon I shall", "Begin upon my tale, for which I pray", "Tell your advice, I can no better say.", "But natheless this meditation", "I put it aye under correction", "Of clerkes, for I am not textuel;", "I take but the sentence, trust me well.", "Therefore I make a protestation,", "That I will stande to correction.\"", "Upon this word we have assented soon;", "For, as us seemed, it was for to do'n,", "To enden in some virtuous sentence,", "And for to give him space and audience;", "And bade our Host he shoulde to him say", "That alle we to tell his tale him pray.", "Our Hoste had. the wordes for us all:", "\"Sir Priest,\" quoth he, \"now faire you befall;", "Say what you list, and we shall gladly hear.\"", "And with that word he said in this mannere;", "\"Telle,\" quoth he, \"your meditatioun,", "But hasten you, the sunne will adown.", "Be fructuous, and that in little space;", "And to do well God sende you his grace.\"" ], "linecount": "75" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Prologue.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "WHEN that Aprilis, with his showers swoot,", "The drought of March hath pierced to the root,", "And bathed every vein in such licour,", "Of which virtue engender'd is the flower;", "When Zephyrus eke with his swoote breath", "Inspired hath in every holt and heath", "The tender croppes and the younge sun", "Hath in the Ram his halfe course y-run,", "And smalle fowles make melody,", "That sleepen all the night with open eye,", "(So pricketh them nature in their corages);", "Then longe folk to go on pilgrimages,", "And palmers for to seeke strange strands,", "To ferne hallows couth in sundry lands;", "And specially, from every shire's end", "Of Engleland, to Canterbury they wend,", "The holy blissful Martyr for to seek,", "That them hath holpen, when that they were sick.", "", "Befell that, in that season on a day,", "In Southwark at the Tabard as I lay,", "Ready to wenden on my pilgrimage", "To Canterbury with devout corage,", "At night was come into that hostelry", "Well nine and twenty in a company", "Of sundry folk, by aventure y-fall", "In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all,", "That toward Canterbury woulde ride.", "The chamber, and the stables were wide,", "And well we weren eased at the best.", "And shortly, when the sunne was to rest,", "So had I spoken with them every one,", "That I was of their fellowship anon,", "And made forword early for to rise,", "To take our way there as I you devise.", "", "But natheless, while I have time and space,", "Ere that I farther in this tale pace,", "Me thinketh it accordant to reason,", "To tell you alle the condition", "Of each of them, so as it seemed me,", "And which they weren, and of what degree;", "And eke in what array that they were in:", "And at a Knight then will I first begin.", "", "A KNIGHT there was, and that a worthy man,", "That from the time that he first began", "To riden out, he loved chivalry,", "Truth and honour, freedom and courtesy.", "Full worthy was he in his Lorde's war,", "And thereto had he ridden, no man farre,", "As well in Christendom as in Heatheness,", "And ever honour'd for his worthiness", "At Alisandre he was when it was won.", "Full often time he had the board begun", "Above alle nations in Prusse.", "In Lettowe had he reysed, and in Russe,", "No Christian man so oft of his degree.", "In Grenade at the siege eke had he be", "Of Algesir, and ridden in Belmarie.", "At Leyes was he, and at Satalie,", "When they were won; and in the Greate Sea", "At many a noble army had he be.", "At mortal battles had he been fifteen,", "And foughten for our faith at Tramissene.", "In listes thries, and aye slain his foe.", "This ilke worthy knight had been also", "Some time with the lord of Palatie,", "Against another heathen in Turkie:", "And evermore he had a sovereign price.", "And though that he was worthy he was wise,", "And of his port as meek as is a maid.", "He never yet no villainy ne said", "In all his life, unto no manner wight.", "He was a very perfect gentle knight.", "But for to telle you of his array,", "His horse was good, but yet he was not gay.", "Of fustian he weared a gipon,", "Alle besmotter'd with his habergeon,", "For he was late y-come from his voyage,", "And wente for to do his pilgrimage.", "", "With him there was his son, a younge SQUIRE,", "A lover, and a lusty bacheler,", "With lockes crulle as they were laid in press.", "Of twenty year of age he was I guess.", "Of his stature he was of even length,", "And wonderly deliver, and great of strength.", "And he had been some time in chevachie,", "In Flanders, in Artois, and Picardie,", "And borne him well, as of so little space,", "In hope to standen in his lady's grace.", "Embroider'd was he, as it were a mead", "All full of freshe flowers, white and red.", "Singing he was, or fluting all the day;", "He was as fresh as is the month of May.", "Short was his gown, with sleeves long and wide.", "Well could he sit on horse, and faire ride.", "He coulde songes make, and well indite,", "Joust, and eke dance, and well pourtray and write.", "So hot he loved, that by nightertale", "He slept no more than doth the nightingale.", "Courteous he was, lowly, and serviceable,", "And carv'd before his father at the table.", "", "A YEOMAN had he, and servants no mo'", "At that time, for him list ride so", "And he was clad in coat and hood of green.", "A sheaf of peacock arrows bright and keen", "Under his belt he bare full thriftily.", "Well could he dress his tackle yeomanly:", "His arrows drooped not with feathers low;", "And in his hand he bare a mighty bow.", "A nut-head had he, with a brown visiage:", "Of wood-craft coud he well all the usage:", "Upon his arm he bare a gay bracer,", "And by his side a sword and a buckler,", "And on that other side a gay daggere,", "Harnessed well, and sharp as point of spear:", "A Christopher on his breast of silver sheen.", "An horn he bare, the baldric was of green:", "A forester was he soothly as I guess.", "", "There was also a Nun, a PRIORESS,", "That of her smiling was full simple and coy;", "Her greatest oathe was but by Saint Loy;", "And she was cleped Madame Eglentine.", "Full well she sang the service divine,", "Entuned in her nose full seemly;", "And French she spake full fair and fetisly", "After the school of Stratford atte Bow,", "For French of Paris was to her unknow.", "At meate was she well y-taught withal;", "She let no morsel from her lippes fall,", "Nor wet her fingers in her sauce deep.", "Well could she carry a morsel, and well keep,", "That no droppe ne fell upon her breast.", "In courtesy was set full much her lest.", "Her over-lippe wiped she so clean,", "That in her cup there was no farthing seen", "Of grease, when she drunken had her draught;", "Full seemely after her meat she raught:", "And sickerly she was of great disport,", "And full pleasant, and amiable of port,", "And pained her to counterfeite cheer", "Of court, and be estately of mannere,", "And to be holden digne of reverence.", "But for to speaken of her conscience,", "She was so charitable and so pitous,", "She woulde weep if that she saw a mouse", "Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bled.", "Of smalle houndes had she, that she fed", "With roasted flesh, and milk, and wastel bread.", "But sore she wept if one of them were dead,", "Or if men smote it with a yarde smart:", "And all was conscience and tender heart.", "Full seemly her wimple y-pinched was;", "Her nose tretis; her eyen gray as glass;", "Her mouth full small, and thereto soft and red;", "But sickerly she had a fair forehead.", "It was almost a spanne broad I trow;", "For hardily she was not undergrow.", "Full fetis was her cloak, as I was ware.", "Of small coral about her arm she bare", "A pair of beades, gauded all with green;", "And thereon hung a brooch of gold full sheen,", "On which was first y-written a crown'd A,", "And after, Amor vincit omnia.", "Another Nun also with her had she,", "[That was her chapelleine, and PRIESTES three.]", "", "A MONK there was, a fair for the mast'ry,", "An out-rider, that loved venery;", "A manly man, to be an abbot able.", "Full many a dainty horse had he in stable:", "And when he rode, men might his bridle hear", "Jingeling in a whistling wind as clear,", "And eke as loud, as doth the chapel bell,", "There as this lord was keeper of the cell.", "The rule of Saint Maur and of Saint Benet,", "Because that it was old and somedeal strait", "This ilke monk let olde thinges pace,", "And held after the newe world the trace.", "He gave not of the text a pulled hen,", "That saith, that hunters be not holy men:", "Ne that a monk, when he is cloisterless;", "Is like to a fish that is waterless;", "This is to say, a monk out of his cloister.", "This ilke text held he not worth an oyster;", "And I say his opinion was good.", "Why should he study, and make himselfe wood", "Upon a book in cloister always pore,", "Or swinken with his handes, and labour,", "As Austin bid? how shall the world be served?", "Let Austin have his swink to him reserved.", "Therefore he was a prickasour aright:", "Greyhounds he had as swift as fowl of flight;", "Of pricking and of hunting for the hare", "Was all his lust, for no cost would he spare.", " I saw his sleeves purfil'd at the hand", "With gris, and that the finest of the land.", "And for to fasten his hood under his chin,", "He had of gold y-wrought a curious pin;", "A love-knot in the greater end there was.", "His head was bald, and shone as any glass,", "And eke his face, as it had been anoint;", "He was a lord full fat and in good point;", "His eyen steep, and rolling in his head,", "That steamed as a furnace of a lead.", "His bootes supple, his horse in great estate,", "Now certainly he was a fair prelate;", "He was not pale as a forpined ghost;", "A fat swan lov'd he best of any roast.", "His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.", "", "A FRIAR there was, a wanton and a merry,", "A limitour , a full solemne man.", "In all the orders four is none that can", "So much of dalliance and fair language.", "He had y-made full many a marriage", "Of younge women, at his owen cost.", "Unto his order he was a noble post;", "Full well belov'd, and familiar was he", "With franklins over all in his country,", "And eke with worthy women of the town:", "For he had power of confession,", "As said himselfe, more than a curate,", "For of his order he was licentiate.", "Full sweetely heard he confession,", "And pleasant was his absolution.", "He was an easy man to give penance,", "There as he wist to have a good pittance:", "For unto a poor order for to give", "Is signe that a man is well y-shrive.", "For if he gave, he durste make avant,", "He wiste that the man was repentant.", "For many a man so hard is of his heart,", "He may not weep although him sore smart.", "Therefore instead of weeping and prayeres,", "Men must give silver to the poore freres.", "His tippet was aye farsed full of knives", "And pinnes, for to give to faire wives;", "And certainly he had a merry note:", "Well could he sing and playen on a rote;", "Of yeddings he bare utterly the prize.", "His neck was white as is the fleur-de-lis.", "Thereto he strong was as a champion,", "And knew well the taverns in every town.", "And every hosteler and gay tapstere,", "Better than a lazar or a beggere,", "For unto such a worthy man as he", "Accordeth not, as by his faculty,", "To have with such lazars acquaintance.", "It is not honest, it may not advance,", "As for to deale with no such pouraille,", "But all with rich, and sellers of vitaille.", "And ov'r all there as profit should arise,", "Courteous he was, and lowly of service;", "There n'as no man nowhere so virtuous.", "He was the beste beggar in all his house:", "And gave a certain farme for the grant,", "None of his bretheren came in his haunt.", "For though a widow hadde but one shoe,", "So pleasant was his In Principio,", "Yet would he have a farthing ere he went;", "His purchase was well better than his rent.", "And rage he could and play as any whelp,", "In lovedays ; there could he muchel help.", "For there was he not like a cloisterer,", "With threadbare cope as is a poor scholer;", "But he was like a master or a pope.", "Of double worsted was his semicope,", "That rounded was as a bell out of press.", "Somewhat he lisped for his wantonness,", "To make his English sweet upon his tongue;", "And in his harping, when that he had sung,", "His eyen twinkled in his head aright,", "As do the starres in a frosty night.", "This worthy limitour was call'd Huberd.", "", "A MERCHANT was there with a forked beard,", "In motley, and high on his horse he sat,", "Upon his head a Flandrish beaver hat.", "His bootes clasped fair and fetisly.", "His reasons aye spake he full solemnly,", "Sounding alway th' increase of his winning.", "He would the sea were kept for any thing", "Betwixte Middleburg and Orewell", "Well could he in exchange shieldes sell", "This worthy man full well his wit beset;", "There wiste no wight that he was in debt,", "So estately was he of governance", "With his bargains, and with his chevisance.", "For sooth he was a worthy man withal,", "But sooth to say, I n'ot how men him call.", "", "A CLERK there was of Oxenford also,", "That unto logic hadde long y-go.", "As leane was his horse as is a rake,", "And he was not right fat, I undertake;", "But looked hollow, and thereto soberly.", "Full threadbare was his overest courtepy,", "For he had gotten him yet no benefice,", "Ne was not worldly, to have an office.", "For him was lever have at his bed's head", "Twenty bookes, clothed in black or red,", "Of Aristotle, and his philosophy,", "Than robes rich, or fiddle, or psalt'ry.", "But all be that he was a philosopher,", "Yet hadde he but little gold in coffer,", "But all that he might of his friendes hent,", "On bookes and on learning he it spent,", "And busily gan for the soules pray", "Of them that gave him wherewith to scholay", "Of study took he moste care and heed.", "Not one word spake he more than was need;", "And that was said in form and reverence,", "And short and quick, and full of high sentence.", "Sounding in moral virtue was his speech,", "And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.", "", "A SERGEANT OF THE LAW, wary and wise,", "That often had y-been at the Parvis,", "There was also, full rich of excellence.", "Discreet he was, and of great reverence:", "He seemed such, his wordes were so wise,", "Justice he was full often in assize,", "By patent, and by plein commission;", "For his science, and for his high renown,", "Of fees and robes had he many one.", "So great a purchaser was nowhere none.", "All was fee simple to him, in effect", "His purchasing might not be in suspect", "Nowhere so busy a man as he there was", "And yet he seemed busier than he was", "In termes had he case' and doomes all", "That from the time of King Will. were fall.", "Thereto he could indite, and make a thing", "There coulde no wight pinch at his writing.", "And every statute coud he plain by rote", "He rode but homely in a medley coat,", "Girt with a seint of silk, with barres small;", "Of his array tell I no longer tale.", "", "A FRANKELIN was in this company;", "White was his beard, as is the daisy.", "Of his complexion he was sanguine.", "Well lov'd he in the morn a sop in wine.", "To liven in delight was ever his won,", "For he was Epicurus' owen son,", "That held opinion, that plein delight", "Was verily felicity perfite.", "An householder, and that a great, was he;", "Saint Julian he was in his country.", "His bread, his ale, was alway after one;", "A better envined man was nowhere none;", "Withoute bake-meat never was his house,", "Of fish and flesh, and that so plenteous,", "It snowed in his house of meat and drink,", "Of alle dainties that men coulde think.", "After the sundry seasons of the year,", "So changed he his meat and his soupere.", "Full many a fat partridge had he in mew,", "And many a bream, and many a luce in stew", "Woe was his cook, but if his sauce were", "Poignant and sharp, and ready all his gear.", "His table dormant in his hall alway", "Stood ready cover'd all the longe day.", "At sessions there was he lord and sire.", "Full often time he was knight of the shire", "An anlace, and a gipciere all of silk,", "Hung at his girdle, white as morning milk.", "A sheriff had he been, and a countour", "Was nowhere such a worthy vavasour.", "", " An HABERDASHER, and a CARPENTER,", "A WEBBE, a DYER, and a TAPISER,", "Were with us eke, cloth'd in one livery,", "Of a solemn and great fraternity.", "Full fresh and new their gear y-picked was.", "Their knives were y-chaped not with brass,", "But all with silver wrought full clean and well,", "Their girdles and their pouches every deal.", "Well seemed each of them a fair burgess,", "To sitten in a guild-hall, on the dais.", "Evereach, for the wisdom that he can,", "Was shapely for to be an alderman.", "For chattels hadde they enough and rent,", "And eke their wives would it well assent:", "And elles certain they had been to blame.", "It is full fair to be y-clep'd madame,", "And for to go to vigils all before,", "And have a mantle royally y-bore.", "", "A COOK they hadde with them for the nones,", "To boil the chickens and the marrow bones,", "And powder merchant tart and galingale.", "Well could he know a draught of London ale.", "He could roast, and stew, and broil, and fry,", "Make mortrewes, and well bake a pie.", "But great harm was it, as it thoughte me,", "That, on his shin a mormal hadde he.", "For blanc manger, that made he with the best", "", "A SHIPMAN was there, wonned far by West:", "For ought I wot, be was of Dartemouth.", "He rode upon a rouncy, as he couth,", "All in a gown of falding to the knee.", "A dagger hanging by a lace had he", "About his neck under his arm adown;", "The hot summer had made his hue all brown;", "And certainly he was a good fellaw.", "Full many a draught of wine he had y-draw", "From Bourdeaux-ward, while that the chapmen sleep;", "Of nice conscience took he no keep.", "If that he fought, and had the higher hand,", "By water he sent them home to every land.", "But of his craft to reckon well his tides,", "His streames and his strandes him besides,", "His herberow, his moon, and lodemanage,", "There was none such, from Hull unto Carthage", "Hardy he was, and wise, I undertake:", "With many a tempest had his beard been shake.", "He knew well all the havens, as they were,", "From Scotland to the Cape of Finisterre,", "And every creek in Bretagne and in Spain:", "His barge y-cleped was the Magdelain.", "", "With us there was a DOCTOR OF PHYSIC;", "In all this worlde was there none him like", "To speak of physic, and of surgery:", "For he was grounded in astronomy.", "He kept his patient a full great deal", "In houres by his magic natural.", "Well could he fortune the ascendent", "Of his images for his patient,.", "He knew the cause of every malady,", "Were it of cold, or hot, or moist, or dry,", "And where engender'd, and of what humour.", "He was a very perfect practisour", "The cause y-know, and of his harm the root,", "Anon he gave to the sick man his boot", "Full ready had he his apothecaries,", "To send his drugges and his lectuaries", "For each of them made other for to win", "Their friendship was not newe to begin", "Well knew he the old Esculapius,", "And Dioscorides, and eke Rufus;", "Old Hippocras, Hali, and Gallien;", "Serapion, Rasis, and Avicen;", "Averrois, Damascene, and Constantin;", "Bernard, and Gatisden, and Gilbertin.", "Of his diet measurable was he,", "For it was of no superfluity,", "But of great nourishing, and digestible.", "His study was but little on the Bible.", "In sanguine and in perse he clad was all", "Lined with taffeta, and with sendall.", "And yet he was but easy of dispense:", "He kept that he won in the pestilence.", "For gold in physic is a cordial;", "Therefore he loved gold in special.", "", "A good WIFE was there OF beside BATH,", "But she was somedeal deaf, and that was scath.", "Of cloth-making she hadde such an haunt,", "She passed them of Ypres, and of Gaunt.", "In all the parish wife was there none,", "That to the off'ring before her should gon,", "And if there did, certain so wroth was she,", "That she was out of alle charity", "Her coverchiefs were full fine of ground", "I durste swear, they weighede ten pound", "That on the Sunday were upon her head.", "Her hosen weren of fine scarlet red,", "Full strait y-tied, and shoes full moist and new", "Bold was her face, and fair and red of hue.", "She was a worthy woman all her live,", "Husbands at the church door had she had five,", "Withouten other company in youth;", "But thereof needeth not to speak as nouth.", "And thrice had she been at Jerusalem;", "She hadde passed many a strange stream", "At Rome she had been, and at Bologne,", "In Galice at Saint James, and at Cologne;", "She coude much of wand'rng by the Way.", "Gat-toothed was she, soothly for to say.", "Upon an ambler easily she sat,", "Y-wimpled well, and on her head an hat", "As broad as is a buckler or a targe.", "A foot-mantle about her hippes large,", "And on her feet a pair of spurres sharp.", "In fellowship well could she laugh and carp", "Of remedies of love she knew perchance", "For of that art she coud the olde dance.", "", "A good man there was of religion,", "That was a poore PARSON of a town:", "But rich he was of holy thought and werk.", "He was also a learned man, a clerk,", "That Christe's gospel truly woulde preach.", "His parishens devoutly would he teach.", "Benign he was, and wonder diligent,", "And in adversity full patient:", "And such he was y-proved often sithes.", "Full loth were him to curse for his tithes,", "But rather would he given out of doubt,", "Unto his poore parishens about,", "Of his off'ring, and eke of his substance.", "He could in little thing have suffisance.", "Wide was his parish, and houses far asunder,", "But he ne left not, for no rain nor thunder,", "In sickness and in mischief to visit", "The farthest in his parish, much and lit,", "Upon his feet, and in his hand a staff.", "This noble ensample to his sheep he gaf,", "That first he wrought, and afterward he taught.", "Out of the gospel he the wordes caught,", "And this figure he added yet thereto,", "That if gold ruste, what should iron do?", "For if a priest be foul, on whom we trust,", "No wonder is a lewed man to rust:", "And shame it is, if that a priest take keep,", "To see a shitten shepherd and clean sheep:", "Well ought a priest ensample for to give,", "By his own cleanness, how his sheep should live.", "He sette not his benefice to hire,", "And left his sheep eucumber'd in the mire,", "And ran unto London, unto Saint Paul's,", "To seeke him a chantery for souls,", "Or with a brotherhood to be withold:", "But dwelt at home, and kepte well his fold,", "So that the wolf ne made it not miscarry.", "He was a shepherd, and no mercenary.", "And though he holy were, and virtuous,", "He was to sinful men not dispitous", "Nor of his speeche dangerous nor dign", "But in his teaching discreet and benign.", "To drawen folk to heaven, with fairness,", "By good ensample, was his business:", "But it were any person obstinate,", "What so he were of high or low estate,", "Him would he snibbe sharply for the nones.", "A better priest I trow that nowhere none is.", "He waited after no pomp nor reverence,", "Nor maked him a spiced conscience,", "But Christe's lore, and his apostles' twelve,", "He taught, and first he follow'd it himselve.", "", "With him there was a PLOUGHMAN, was his brother,", "That had y-laid of dung full many a fother.", "A true swinker and a good was he,", "Living in peace and perfect charity.", "God loved he beste with all his heart", "At alle times, were it gain or smart,", "And then his neighebour right as himselve.", "He woulde thresh, and thereto dike, and delve,", "For Christe's sake, for every poore wight,", "Withouten hire, if it lay in his might.", "His tithes payed he full fair and well,", "Both of his proper swink, and his chattel", "In a tabard he rode upon a mare.", "", "There was also a Reeve, and a Millere,", "A Sompnour, and a Pardoner also,", "A Manciple, and myself, there were no mo'.", "", "The MILLER was a stout carle for the nones,", "Full big he was of brawn, and eke of bones;", "That proved well, for ov'r all where he came,", "At wrestling he would bear away the ram.", "He was short-shouldered, broad, a thicke gnarr,", "There was no door, that he n'old heave off bar,", "Or break it at a running with his head.", "His beard as any sow or fox was red,", "And thereto broad, as though it were a spade.", "Upon the cop right of his nose he had", "A wart, and thereon stood a tuft of hairs", "Red as the bristles of a sowe's ears.", "His nose-thirles blacke were and wide.", "A sword and buckler bare he by his side.", "His mouth as wide was as a furnace.", "He was a jangler, and a goliardais,", "And that was most of sin and harlotries.", "Well could he steale corn, and tolle thrice", "And yet he had a thumb of gold, pardie.", "A white coat and a blue hood weared he", "A baggepipe well could he blow and soun',", "And therewithal he brought us out of town.", "", "A gentle MANCIPLE was there of a temple,", "Of which achatours mighte take ensample", "For to be wise in buying of vitaille.", "For whether that he paid, or took by taile,", "Algate he waited so in his achate,", "That he was aye before in good estate.", "Now is not that of God a full fair grace", "That such a lewed mannes wit shall pace", "The wisdom of an heap of learned men?", "Of masters had he more than thries ten,", "That were of law expert and curious:", "Of which there was a dozen in that house,", "Worthy to be stewards of rent and land", "Of any lord that is in Engleland,", "To make him live by his proper good,", "In honour debtless, but if he were wood,", "Or live as scarcely as him list desire;", "And able for to helpen all a shire", "In any case that mighte fall or hap;", "And yet this Manciple set their aller cap", "", "The REEVE was a slender choleric man", "His beard was shav'd as nigh as ever he can.", "His hair was by his eares round y-shorn;", "His top was docked like a priest beforn", "Full longe were his legges, and full lean", "Y-like a staff, there was no calf y-seen", "Well could he keep a garner and a bin", "There was no auditor could on him win", "Well wist he by the drought, and by the rain,", "The yielding of his seed and of his grain", "His lorde's sheep, his neat, and his dairy", "His swine, his horse, his store, and his poultry,", "Were wholly in this Reeve's governing,", "And by his cov'nant gave he reckoning,", "Since that his lord was twenty year of age;", "There could no man bring him in arrearage", "There was no bailiff, herd, nor other hine", "That he ne knew his sleight and his covine", "They were adrad of him, as of the death", "His wonning was full fair upon an heath", "With greene trees y-shadow'd was his place.", "He coulde better than his lord purchase", "Full rich he was y-stored privily", "His lord well could he please subtilly,", "To give and lend him of his owen good,", "And have a thank, and yet a coat and hood.", "In youth he learned had a good mistere", "He was a well good wright, a carpentere", "This Reeve sate upon a right good stot,", "That was all pomely gray, and highte Scot.", "A long surcoat of perse upon he had,", "And by his side he bare a rusty blade.", "Of Norfolk was this Reeve, of which I tell,", "Beside a town men clepen Baldeswell,", "Tucked he was, as is a friar, about,", "And ever rode the hinderest of the rout.", "", "A SOMPNOUR was there with us in that place,", "That had a fire-red cherubinnes face,", "For sausefleme he was, with eyen narrow.", "As hot he was and lecherous as a sparrow,", "With scalled browes black, and pilled beard:", "Of his visage children were sore afeard.", "There n'as quicksilver, litharge, nor brimstone,", "Boras, ceruse, nor oil of tartar none,", "Nor ointement that woulde cleanse or bite,", "That him might helpen of his whelkes white,", "Nor of the knobbes sitting on his cheeks.", "Well lov'd he garlic, onions, and leeks,", "And for to drink strong wine as red as blood.", "Then would he speak, and cry as he were wood;", "And when that he well drunken had the wine,", "Then would he speake no word but Latin.", "A fewe termes knew he, two or three,", "That he had learned out of some decree;", "No wonder is, he heard it all the day.", "And eke ye knowen well, how that a jay", "Can clepen \"Wat,\" as well as can the Pope.", "But whoso would in other thing him grope,", "Then had he spent all his philosophy,", "Aye, Questio quid juris, would he cry.", "", "He was a gentle harlot and a kind;", "A better fellow should a man not find.", "He woulde suffer, for a quart of wine,", "A good fellow to have his concubine", "A twelvemonth, and excuse him at the full.", "Full privily a finch eke could he pull.", "And if he found owhere a good fellaw,", "He woulde teache him to have none awe", "In such a case of the archdeacon's curse;", "But if a manne's soul were in his purse;", "For in his purse he should y-punished be.", "\"Purse is the archedeacon's hell,\" said he.", "But well I wot, he lied right indeed:", "Of cursing ought each guilty man to dread,", "For curse will slay right as assoiling saveth;", "And also 'ware him of a significavit.", "In danger had he at his owen guise", "The younge girles of the diocese,", "And knew their counsel, and was of their rede.", "A garland had he set upon his head,", "As great as it were for an alestake:", "A buckler had he made him of a cake.", "", "With him there rode a gentle PARDONERE", "Of Ronceval, his friend and his compere,", "That straight was comen from the court of Rome.", "Full loud he sang, \"Come hither, love, to me\"", "This Sompnour bare to him a stiff burdoun,", "Was never trump of half so great a soun'.", "This Pardoner had hair as yellow as wax,", "But smooth it hung, as doth a strike of flax:", "By ounces hung his lockes that he had,", "And therewith he his shoulders oversprad.", "Full thin it lay, by culpons one and one,", "But hood for jollity, he weared none,", "For it was trussed up in his wallet.", "Him thought he rode all of the newe get,", "Dishevel, save his cap, he rode all bare.", "Such glaring eyen had he, as an hare.", "A vernicle had he sew'd upon his cap.", "His wallet lay before him in his lap,", "Bretful of pardon come from Rome all hot.", "A voice he had as small as hath a goat.", "No beard had he, nor ever one should have.", "As smooth it was as it were new y-shave;", "I trow he were a gelding or a mare.", "But of his craft, from Berwick unto Ware,", "Ne was there such another pardonere.", "For in his mail he had a pillowbere,", "Which, as he saide, was our Lady's veil:", "He said, he had a gobbet of the sail", "That Sainte Peter had, when that he went", "Upon the sea, till Jesus Christ him hent.", "He had a cross of latoun full of stones,", "And in a glass he hadde pigge's bones.", "But with these relics, whenne that he fond", "A poore parson dwelling upon lond,", "Upon a day he got him more money", "Than that the parson got in moneths tway;", "And thus with feigned flattering and japes,", "He made the parson and the people his apes.", "But truely to tellen at the last,", "He was in church a noble ecclesiast.", "Well could he read a lesson or a story,", "But alderbest he sang an offertory:", "For well he wiste, when that song was sung,", "He muste preach, and well afile his tongue,", "To winne silver, as he right well could:", "Therefore he sang full merrily and loud.", "", "Now have I told you shortly in a clause", "Th' estate, th' array, the number, and eke the cause", "Why that assembled was this company", "In Southwark at this gentle hostelry,", "That highte the Tabard, fast by the Bell.", "But now is time to you for to tell", "How that we baren us that ilke night,", "When we were in that hostelry alight.", "And after will I tell of our voyage,", "And all the remnant of our pilgrimage.", "But first I pray you of your courtesy,", "That ye arette it not my villainy,", "Though that I plainly speak in this mattere.", "To tellen you their wordes and their cheer;", "Not though I speak their wordes properly.", "For this ye knowen all so well as I,", "Whoso shall tell a tale after a man,", "He must rehearse, as nigh as ever he can,", "Every word, if it be in his charge,", "All speak he ne'er so rudely and so large;", "Or elles he must tell his tale untrue,", "Or feigne things, or finde wordes new.", "He may not spare, although he were his brother;", "He must as well say one word as another.", "Christ spake Himself full broad in Holy Writ,", "And well ye wot no villainy is it.", "Eke Plato saith, whoso that can him read,", "The wordes must be cousin to the deed.", "Also I pray you to forgive it me,", "All have I not set folk in their degree,", "Here in this tale, as that they shoulden stand:", "My wit is short, ye may well understand.", "", "Great cheere made our Host us every one,", "And to the supper set he us anon:", "And served us with victual of the best.", "Strong was the wine, and well to drink us lest.", "A seemly man Our Hoste was withal", "For to have been a marshal in an hall.", "A large man he was with eyen steep,", "A fairer burgess is there none in Cheap:", "Bold of his speech, and wise and well y-taught,", "And of manhoode lacked him right naught.", "Eke thereto was he right a merry man,", "And after supper playen he began,", "And spake of mirth amonges other things,", "When that we hadde made our reckonings;", "And saide thus; \"Now, lordinges, truly", "Ye be to me welcome right heartily:", "For by my troth, if that I shall not lie,", "I saw not this year such a company", "At once in this herberow, am is now.", "Fain would I do you mirth, an I wist how.", "And of a mirth I am right now bethought.", "To do you ease, and it shall coste nought.", "Ye go to Canterbury; God you speed,", "The blissful Martyr quite you your meed;", "And well I wot, as ye go by the way,", "Ye shapen you to talken and to play:", "For truely comfort nor mirth is none", "To ride by the way as dumb as stone:", "And therefore would I make you disport,", "As I said erst, and do you some comfort.", "And if you liketh all by one assent", "Now for to standen at my judgement,", "And for to worken as I shall you say", "To-morrow, when ye riden on the way,", "Now by my father's soule that is dead,", "But ye be merry, smiteth off mine head.", "Hold up your hands withoute more speech.", "", "Our counsel was not longe for to seech:", "Us thought it was not worth to make it wise,", "And granted him withoute more avise,", "And bade him say his verdict, as him lest.", "Lordings (quoth he), now hearken for the best;", "But take it not, I pray you, in disdain;", "This is the point, to speak it plat and plain.", "That each of you, to shorten with your way", "In this voyage, shall tellen tales tway,", "To Canterbury-ward, I mean it so,", "And homeward he shall tellen other two,", "Of aventures that whilom have befall.", "And which of you that bear'th him best of all,", "That is to say, that telleth in this case", "Tales of best sentence and most solace,", "Shall have a supper at your aller cost", "Here in this place, sitting by this post,", "When that ye come again from Canterbury.", "And for to make you the more merry,", "I will myselfe gladly with you ride,", "Right at mine owen cost, and be your guide.", "And whoso will my judgement withsay,", "Shall pay for all we spenden by the way.", "And if ye vouchesafe that it be so,", "Tell me anon withoute wordes mo',", "And I will early shape me therefore.\"", "", "This thing was granted, and our oath we swore", "With full glad heart, and prayed him also,", "That he would vouchesafe for to do so,", "And that he woulde be our governour,", "And of our tales judge and reportour,", "And set a supper at a certain price;", "And we will ruled be at his device,", "In high and low: and thus by one assent,", "We be accorded to his judgement.", "And thereupon the wine was fet anon.", "We drunken, and to reste went each one,", "Withouten any longer tarrying", "A-morrow, when the day began to spring,", "Up rose our host, and was our aller cock,", "And gather'd us together in a flock,", "And forth we ridden all a little space,", "Unto the watering of Saint Thomas:", "And there our host began his horse arrest,", "And saide; \"Lordes, hearken if you lest.", "Ye weet your forword, and I it record.", "If even-song and morning-song accord,", "Let see now who shall telle the first tale.", "As ever may I drinke wine or ale,", "Whoso is rebel to my judgement,", "Shall pay for all that by the way is spent.", "Now draw ye cuts, ere that ye farther twin.", "He which that hath the shortest shall begin.\"", "", "\"Sir Knight (quoth he), my master and my lord,", "Now draw the cut, for that is mine accord.", "Come near (quoth he), my Lady Prioress,", "And ye, Sir Clerk, let be your shamefastness,", "Nor study not: lay hand to, every man.\"", "Anon to drawen every wight began,", "And shortly for to tellen as it was,", "Were it by a venture, or sort, or cas,", "The sooth is this, the cut fell to the Knight,", "Of which full blithe and glad was every wight;", "And tell he must his tale as was reason,", "By forword, and by composition,", "As ye have heard; what needeth wordes mo'?", "And when this good man saw that it was so,", "As he that wise was and obedient", "To keep his forword by his free assent,", "He said; \"Sithen I shall begin this game,", "Why, welcome be the cut in Godde's name.", "Now let us ride, and hearken what I say.\"", "And with that word we ridden forth our way;", "And he began with right a merry cheer", "His tale anon, and said as ye shall hear." ], "linecount": "860" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Knight's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "WHILOM, as olde stories tellen us,", "There was a duke that highte Theseus.", "Of Athens he was lord and governor,", "And in his time such a conqueror", "That greater was there none under the sun.", "Full many a riche country had he won.", "What with his wisdom and his chivalry,", "He conquer'd all the regne of Feminie,", "That whilom was y-cleped Scythia;", "And weddede the Queen Hippolyta", "And brought her home with him to his country", "With muchel glory and great solemnity,", "And eke her younge sister Emily,", "And thus with vict'ry and with melody", "Let I this worthy Duke to Athens ride,", "And all his host, in armes him beside.", "", "And certes, if it n'ere too long to hear,", "I would have told you fully the mannere,", "How wonnen was the regne of Feminie,", "By Theseus, and by his chivalry;", "And of the greate battle for the nonce", "Betwixt Athenes and the Amazons;", "And how assieged was Hippolyta,", "The faire hardy queen of Scythia;", "And of the feast that was at her wedding", "And of the tempest at her homecoming.", "But all these things I must as now forbear.", "I have, God wot, a large field to ear", "And weake be the oxen in my plough;", "The remnant of my tale is long enow.", "I will not letten eke none of this rout.", "Let every fellow tell his tale about,", "And let see now who shall the supper win.", "There as I left, I will again begin.", "", "This Duke, of whom I make mentioun,", "When he was come almost unto the town,", "In all his weal, and in his moste pride,", "He was ware, as he cast his eye aside,", "Where that there kneeled in the highe way", "A company of ladies, tway and tway,", "Each after other, clad in clothes black:", "But such a cry and such a woe they make,", "That in this world n'is creature living,", "That hearde such another waimenting", "And of this crying would they never stenten,", "Till they the reines of his bridle henten.", "\"What folk be ye that at mine homecoming", "Perturben so my feaste with crying?\"", "Quoth Theseus; \"Have ye so great envy", "Of mine honour, that thus complain and cry?", "Or who hath you misboden, or offended?", "Do telle me, if it may be amended;", "And why that ye be clad thus all in black?\"", "", "The oldest lady of them all then spake,", "When she had swooned, with a deadly cheer,", "That it was ruthe for to see or hear.", "She saide; \"Lord, to whom fortune hath given", "Vict'ry, and as a conqueror to liven,", "Nought grieveth us your glory and your honour;", "But we beseechen mercy and succour.", "Have mercy on our woe and our distress;", "Some drop of pity, through thy gentleness,", "Upon us wretched women let now fall.", "For certes, lord, there is none of us all", "That hath not been a duchess or a queen;", "Now be we caitives, as it is well seen:", "Thanked be Fortune, and her false wheel,", "That none estate ensureth to be wele.", "And certes, lord, t'abiden your presence", "Here in this temple of the goddess Clemence", "We have been waiting all this fortenight:", "Now help us, lord, since it lies in thy might.", "", "\"I, wretched wight, that weep and waile thus,", "Was whilom wife to king Capaneus,", "That starf at Thebes, cursed be that day:", "And alle we that be in this array,", "And maken all this lamentatioun,", "We losten all our husbands at that town,", "While that the siege thereabouten lay.", "And yet the olde Creon, wellaway!", "That lord is now of Thebes the city,", "Fulfilled of ire and of iniquity,", "He for despite, and for his tyranny,", "To do the deade bodies villainy,", "Of all our lorde's, which that been y-slaw,", "Hath all the bodies on an heap y-draw,", "And will not suffer them by none assent", "Neither to be y-buried, nor y-brent,", "But maketh houndes eat them in despite.\"", "And with that word, withoute more respite", "They fallen groff, and cryden piteously;", "\"Have on us wretched women some mercy,", "And let our sorrow sinken in thine heart.\"", "", "This gentle Duke down from his courser start", "With hearte piteous, when he heard them speak.", "Him thoughte that his heart would all to-break,", "When he saw them so piteous and so mate", "That whilom weren of so great estate.", "And in his armes he them all up hent,", "And them comforted in full good intent,", "And swore his oath, as he was true knight,", "He woulde do so farforthly his might", "Upon the tyrant Creon them to wreak,", "That all the people of Greece shoulde speak,", "How Creon was of Theseus y-served,", "As he that had his death full well deserved.", "And right anon withoute more abode", "His banner he display'd, and forth he rode", "To Thebes-ward, and all his, host beside:", "No ner Athenes would he go nor ride,", "Nor take his ease fully half a day,", "But onward on his way that night he lay:", "And sent anon Hippolyta the queen,", "And Emily her younge sister sheen", "Unto the town of Athens for to dwell:", "And forth he rit; there is no more to tell.", "", "The red statue of Mars with spear and targe", "So shineth in his white banner large", "That all the fieldes glitter up and down:", "And by his banner borne is his pennon", "Of gold full rich, in which there was y-beat", "The Minotaur which that he slew in Crete", "Thus rit this Duke, thus rit this conqueror", "And in his host of chivalry the flower,", "Till that he came to Thebes, and alight", "Fair in a field, there as he thought to fight.", "But shortly for to speaken of this thing,", "With Creon, which that was of Thebes king,", "He fought, and slew him manly as a knight", "In plain bataille, and put his folk to flight:", "And by assault he won the city after,", "And rent adown both wall, and spar, and rafter;", "And to the ladies he restored again", "The bodies of their husbands that were slain,", "To do obsequies, as was then the guise.", "", "But it were all too long for to devise", "The greate clamour, and the waimenting,", "Which that the ladies made at the brenning", "Of the bodies, and the great honour", "That Theseus the noble conqueror", "Did to the ladies, when they from him went:", "But shortly for to tell is mine intent.", "When that this worthy Duke, this Theseus,", "Had Creon slain, and wonnen Thebes thus,", "Still in the field he took all night his rest,", "And did with all the country as him lest.", "To ransack in the tas of bodies dead,", "Them for to strip of harness and of weed,", "The pillers did their business and cure,", "After the battle and discomfiture.", "And so befell, that in the tas they found,", "Through girt with many a grievous bloody wound,", "Two younge knightes ligging by and by", "Both in one armes, wrought full richely:", "Of whiche two, Arcita hight that one,", "And he that other highte Palamon.", "Not fully quick, nor fully dead they were,", "But by their coat-armour, and by their gear,", "The heralds knew them well in special,", "As those that weren of the blood royal", "Of Thebes, and of sistren two y-born.", "Out of the tas the pillers have them torn,", "And have them carried soft unto the tent", "Of Theseus, and he full soon them sent", "To Athens, for to dwellen in prison", "Perpetually, he n'olde no ranson.", "And when this worthy Duke had thus y-done,", "He took his host, and home he rit anon", "With laurel crowned as a conquerour;", "And there he lived in joy and in honour", "Term of his life; what needeth wordes mo'?", "And in a tower, in anguish and in woe,", "Dwellen this Palamon, and eke Arcite,", "For evermore, there may no gold them quite", "", "Thus passed year by year, and day by day,", "Till it fell ones in a morn of May", "That Emily, that fairer was to seen", "Than is the lily upon his stalke green,", "And fresher than the May with flowers new", "(For with the rose colour strove her hue;", "I n'ot which was the finer of them two),", "Ere it was day, as she was wont to do,", "She was arisen, and all ready dight,", "For May will have no sluggardy a-night;", "The season pricketh every gentle heart,", "And maketh him out of his sleep to start,", "And saith, \"Arise, and do thine observance.\"", "", "This maketh Emily have remembrance", "To do honour to May, and for to rise.", "Y-clothed was she fresh for to devise;", "Her yellow hair was braided in a tress,", "Behind her back, a yarde long I guess.", "And in the garden at the sun uprist", "She walketh up and down where as her list.", "She gathereth flowers, party white and red,", "To make a sotel garland for her head,", "And as an angel heavenly she sung.", "The greate tower, that was so thick and strong,", "Which of the castle was the chief dungeon", "(Where as these knightes weren in prison,", "Of which I tolde you, and telle shall),", "Was even joinant to the garden wall,", "There as this Emily had her playing.", "", "Bright was the sun, and clear that morrowning,", "And Palamon, this woful prisoner,", "As was his wont, by leave of his gaoler,", "Was ris'n, and roamed in a chamber on high,", "In which he all the noble city sigh,", "And eke the garden, full of branches green,", "There as this fresh Emelia the sheen", "Was in her walk, and roamed up and down.", "This sorrowful prisoner, this Palamon", "Went in his chamber roaming to and fro,", "And to himself complaining of his woe:", "That he was born, full oft he said, Alas!", "And so befell, by aventure or cas,", "That through a window thick of many a bar", "Of iron great, and square as any spar,", "He cast his eyes upon Emelia,", "And therewithal he blent and cried, Ah!", "As though he stungen were unto the heart.", "And with that cry Arcite anon up start,", "And saide, \"Cousin mine, what aileth thee,", "That art so pale and deadly for to see?", "Why cried'st thou? who hath thee done offence?", "For Godde's love, take all in patience", "Our prison, for it may none other be.", "Fortune hath giv'n us this adversity'.", "Some wick' aspect or disposition", "Of Saturn, by some constellation,", "Hath giv'n us this, although we had it sworn,", "So stood the heaven when that we were born,", "We must endure; this is the short and plain.", "", "This Palamon answer'd, and said again:", "\"Cousin, forsooth of this opinion", "Thou hast a vain imagination.", "This prison caused me not for to cry;", "But I was hurt right now thorough mine eye", "Into mine heart; that will my bane be.", "The fairness of the lady that I see", "Yond in the garden roaming to and fro,", "Is cause of all my crying and my woe.", "I n'ot wher she be woman or goddess,", "But Venus is it, soothly as I guess,", "And therewithal on knees adown he fill,", "And saide: \"Venus, if it be your will", "You in this garden thus to transfigure", "Before me sorrowful wretched creature,", "Out of this prison help that we may scape.", "And if so be our destiny be shape", "By etern word to dien in prison,", "Of our lineage have some compassion,", "That is so low y-brought by tyranny.\"", "", "And with that word Arcita gan espy", "Where as this lady roamed to and fro", "And with that sight her beauty hurt him so,", "That if that Palamon was wounded sore,", "Arcite is hurt as much as he, or more.", "And with a sigh he saide piteously:", "\"The freshe beauty slay'th me suddenly", "Of her that roameth yonder in the place.", "And but I have her mercy and her grace,", "That I may see her at the leaste way,", "I am but dead; there is no more to say.\"", "This Palamon, when he these wordes heard,", "Dispiteously he looked, and answer'd:", "\"Whether say'st thou this in earnest or in play?\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth Arcite, \"in earnest, by my fay.", "God help me so, me lust full ill to play.\"", "This Palamon gan knit his browes tway.", "\"It were,\" quoth he, \"to thee no great honour", "For to be false, nor for to be traitour", "To me, that am thy cousin and thy brother", "Y-sworn full deep, and each of us to other,", "That never for to dien in the pain ,", "Till that the death departen shall us twain,", "Neither of us in love to hinder other,", "Nor in none other case, my leve brother;", "But that thou shouldest truly farther me", "In every case, as I should farther thee.", "This was thine oath, and mine also certain;", "I wot it well, thou dar'st it not withsayn,", "Thus art thou of my counsel out of doubt,", "And now thou wouldest falsely be about", "To love my lady, whom I love and serve,", "And ever shall, until mine hearte sterve", "Now certes, false Arcite, thou shalt not so", "I lov'd her first, and tolde thee my woe", "As to my counsel, and my brother sworn", "To farther me, as I have told beforn.", "For which thou art y-bounden as a knight", "To helpe me, if it lie in thy might,", "Or elles art thou false, I dare well sayn,\"", "", "This Arcita full proudly spake again:", "\"Thou shalt,\" quoth he, \"be rather false than I,", "And thou art false, I tell thee utterly;", "For par amour I lov'd her first ere thou.", "What wilt thou say? thou wist it not right now", "Whether she be a woman or goddess.", "Thine is affection of holiness,", "And mine is love, as to a creature:", "For which I tolde thee mine aventure", "As to my cousin, and my brother sworn", "I pose, that thou loved'st her beforn:", "Wost thou not well the olde clerke's saw,", "That who shall give a lover any law?", "Love is a greater lawe, by my pan,", "Than may be giv'n to any earthly man:", "Therefore positive law, and such decree,", "Is broke alway for love in each degree", "A man must needes love, maugre his head.", "He may not flee it, though he should be dead,", "All be she maid, or widow, or else wife.", "And eke it is not likely all thy life", "To standen in her grace, no more than I", "For well thou wost thyselfe verily,", "That thou and I be damned to prison", "Perpetual, us gaineth no ranson.", "We strive, as did the houndes for the bone;", "They fought all day, and yet their part was none.", "There came a kite, while that they were so wroth,", "And bare away the bone betwixt them both.", "And therefore at the kinge's court, my brother,", "Each man for himselfe, there is no other.", "Love if thee list; for I love and aye shall", "And soothly, leve brother, this is all.", "Here in this prison musten we endure,", "And each of us take his Aventure.\"", "", "Great was the strife and long between these tway,", "If that I hadde leisure for to say;", "But to the effect: it happen'd on a day", "(To tell it you as shortly as I may),", "A worthy duke that hight Perithous", "That fellow was to the Duke Theseus", "Since thilke day that they were children lite", "Was come to Athens, his fellow to visite,", "And for to play, as he was wont to do;", "For in this world he loved no man so;", "And he lov'd him as tenderly again.", "So well they lov'd, as olde bookes sayn,", "That when that one was dead, soothly to sayn,", "His fellow went and sought him down in hell:", "But of that story list me not to write.", "Duke Perithous loved well Arcite,", "And had him known at Thebes year by year:", "And finally at request and prayere", "Of Perithous, withoute ranson", "Duke Theseus him let out of prison,", "Freely to go, where him list over all,", "In such a guise, as I you tellen shall", "This was the forword, plainly to indite,", "Betwixte Theseus and him Arcite:", "That if so were, that Arcite were y-found", "Ever in his life, by day or night, one stound", "In any country of this Theseus,", "And he were caught, it was accorded thus,", "That with a sword he shoulde lose his head;", "There was none other remedy nor rede.", "But took his leave, and homeward he him sped;", "Let him beware, his necke lieth to wed.", "", "How great a sorrow suff'reth now Arcite!", "The death he feeleth through his hearte smite;", "He weepeth, waileth, crieth piteously;", "To slay himself he waiteth privily.", "He said; \"Alas the day that I was born!", "Now is my prison worse than beforn:", "Now is me shape eternally to dwell", "Not in purgatory, but right in hell.", "Alas! that ever I knew Perithous.", "For elles had I dwelt with Theseus", "Y-fettered in his prison evermo'.", "Then had I been in bliss, and not in woe.", "Only the sight of her, whom that I serve,", "Though that I never may her grace deserve,", "Would have sufficed right enough for me.", "O deare cousin Palamon,\" quoth he,", "\"Thine is the vict'ry of this aventure,", "Full blissfully in prison to endure:", "In prison? nay certes, in paradise.", "Well hath fortune y-turned thee the dice,", "That hast the sight of her, and I th' absence.", "For possible is, since thou hast her presence,", "And art a knight, a worthy and an able,", "That by some cas, since fortune is changeable,", "Thou may'st to thy desire sometime attain.", "But I that am exiled, and barren", "Of alle grace, and in so great despair,", "That there n'is earthe, water, fire, nor air,", "Nor creature, that of them maked is,", "That may me helpe nor comfort in this,", "Well ought I sterve in wanhope and distress.", "Farewell my life, my lust, and my gladness.", "Alas, why plainen men so in commune", "Of purveyance of God, or of Fortune,", "That giveth them full oft in many a guise", "Well better than they can themselves devise?", "Some man desireth for to have richess,", "That cause is of his murder or great sickness.", "And some man would out of his prison fain,", "That in his house is of his meinie slain.", "Infinite harmes be in this mattere.", "We wot never what thing we pray for here.", "We fare as he that drunk is as a mouse.", "A drunken man wot well he hath an house,", "But he wot not which is the right way thither,", "And to a drunken man the way is slither.", "And certes in this world so fare we.", "We seeke fast after felicity,", "But we go wrong full often truely.", "Thus we may sayen all, and namely I,", "That ween'd, and had a great opinion,", "That if I might escape from prison", "Then had I been in joy and perfect heal,", "Where now I am exiled from my weal.", "Since that I may not see you, Emily,", "I am but dead; there is no remedy.\"", "", "Upon that other side, Palamon,", "When that he wist Arcita was agone,", "Much sorrow maketh, that the greate tower", "Resounded of his yelling and clamour", "The pure fetters on his shinnes great", "Were of his bitter salte teares wet.", "", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"Arcita, cousin mine,", "Of all our strife, God wot, the fruit is thine.", "Thou walkest now in Thebes at thy large,", "And of my woe thou givest little charge.", "Thou mayst, since thou hast wisdom and manhead,", "Assemble all the folk of our kindred,", "And make a war so sharp on this country", "That by some aventure, or some treaty,", "Thou mayst have her to lady and to wife,", "For whom that I must needes lose my life.", "For as by way of possibility,", "Since thou art at thy large, of prison free,", "And art a lord, great is thine avantage,", "More than is mine, that sterve here in a cage.", "For I must weep and wail, while that I live,", "With all the woe that prison may me give,", "And eke with pain that love me gives also,", "That doubles all my torment and my woe.\"", "", "Therewith the fire of jealousy upstart", "Within his breast, and hent him by the heart", "So woodly, that he like was to behold", "The box-tree, or the ashes dead and cold.", "Then said; \"O cruel goddess, that govern", "This world with binding of your word etern", "And writen in the table of adamant", "Your parlement and your eternal grant,", "What is mankind more unto you y-hold", "Than is the sheep, that rouketh in the fold!", "For slain is man, right as another beast;", "And dwelleth eke in prison and arrest,", "And hath sickness, and great adversity,", "And oftentimes guilteless, pardie", "What governance is in your prescience,", "That guilteless tormenteth innocence?", "And yet increaseth this all my penance,", "That man is bounden to his observance", "For Godde's sake to letten of his will,", "Whereas a beast may all his lust fulfil.", "And when a beast is dead, he hath no pain;", "But man after his death must weep and plain,", "Though in this worlde he have care and woe:", "Withoute doubt it maye standen so.", "\"The answer of this leave I to divines,", "But well I wot, that in this world great pine is;", "Alas! I see a serpent or a thief", "That many a true man hath done mischief,", "Go at his large, and where him list may turn.", "But I must be in prison through Saturn,", "And eke through Juno, jealous and eke wood,", "That hath well nigh destroyed all the blood", "Of Thebes, with his waste walles wide.", "And Venus slay'th me on that other side", "For jealousy, and fear of him, Arcite.\"", "", "Now will I stent of Palamon a lite,", "And let him in his prison stille dwell,", "And of Arcita forth I will you tell.", "The summer passeth, and the nightes long", "Increase double-wise the paines strong", "Both of the lover and the prisonere.", "I n'ot which hath the wofuller mistere.", "For, shortly for to say, this Palamon", "Perpetually is damned to prison,", "In chaines and in fetters to be dead;", "And Arcite is exiled on his head", "For evermore as out of that country,", "Nor never more he shall his lady see.", "You lovers ask I now this question,", "Who lieth the worse, Arcite or Palamon?", "The one may see his lady day by day,", "But in prison he dwelle must alway.", "The other where him list may ride or go,", "But see his lady shall he never mo'.", "Now deem all as you liste, ye that can,", "For I will tell you forth as I began.", "", "When that Arcite to Thebes comen was,", "Full oft a day he swelt, and said, \"Alas!\"", "For see this lady he shall never mo'.", "And shortly to concluden all his woe,", "So much sorrow had never creature", "That is or shall be while the world may dure.", "His sleep, his meat, his drink is him byraft,", "That lean he wex, and dry as any shaft.", "His eyen hollow, grisly to behold,", "His hue sallow, and pale as ashes cold,", "And solitary he was, ever alone,", "And wailing all the night, making his moan.", "And if he hearde song or instrument,", "Then would he weepen, he might not be stent.", "So feeble were his spirits, and so low,", "And changed so, that no man coulde know", "His speech, neither his voice, though men it heard.", "And in his gear for all the world he far'd", "Not only like the lovers' malady", "Of Eros, but rather y-like manie", "Engender'd of humours melancholic,", "Before his head in his cell fantastic.", "And shortly turned was all upside down,", "Both habit and eke dispositioun,", "Of him, this woful lover Dan Arcite.", "Why should I all day of his woe indite?", "When he endured had a year or two", "This cruel torment, and this pain and woe,", "At Thebes, in his country, as I said,", "Upon a night in sleep as he him laid,", "Him thought how that the winged god Mercury", "Before him stood, and bade him to be merry.", "His sleepy yard in hand he bare upright;", "A hat he wore upon his haires bright.", "Arrayed was this god (as he took keep)", "As he was when that Argus took his sleep;", "And said him thus: \"To Athens shalt thou wend;", "There is thee shapen of thy woe an end.\"", "And with that word Arcite woke and start.", "\"Now truely how sore that e'er me smart,\"", "Quoth he, \"to Athens right now will I fare.", "Nor for no dread of death shall I not spare", "To see my lady that I love and serve;", "In her presence I recke not to sterve.\"", "And with that word he caught a great mirror,", "And saw that changed was all his colour,", "And saw his visage all in other kind.", "And right anon it ran him ill his mind,", "That since his face was so disfigur'd", "Of malady the which he had endur'd,", "He mighte well, if that he bare him low,", "Live in Athenes evermore unknow,", "And see his lady wellnigh day by day.", "And right anon he changed his array,", "And clad him as a poore labourer.", "And all alone, save only a squier,", "That knew his privity and all his cas,", "Which was disguised poorly as he was,", "To Athens is he gone the nexte way.", "And to the court he went upon a day,", "And at the gate he proffer'd his service,", "To drudge and draw, what so men would devise.", "And, shortly of this matter for to sayn,", "He fell in office with a chamberlain,", "The which that dwelling was with Emily.", "For he was wise, and coulde soon espy", "Of every servant which that served her.", "Well could he hewe wood, and water bear,", "For he was young and mighty for the nones,", "And thereto he was strong and big of bones", "To do that any wight can him devise.", "", "A year or two he was in this service,", "Page of the chamber of Emily the bright;", "And Philostrate he saide that he hight.", "But half so well belov'd a man as he", "Ne was there never in court of his degree.", "He was so gentle of conditioun,", "That throughout all the court was his renown.", "They saide that it were a charity", "That Theseus would enhance his degree,", "And put him in some worshipful service,", "There as he might his virtue exercise.", "And thus within a while his name sprung", "Both of his deedes, and of his good tongue,", "That Theseus hath taken him so near,", "That of his chamber he hath made him squire,", "And gave him gold to maintain his degree;", "And eke men brought him out of his country", "From year to year full privily his rent.", "But honestly and slyly he it spent,", "That no man wonder'd how that he it had.", "And three year in this wise his life be lad,", "And bare him so in peace and eke in werre,", "There was no man that Theseus had so derre.", "And in this blisse leave I now Arcite,", "And speak I will of Palamon a lite.", "", "In darkness horrible, and strong prison,", "This seven year hath sitten Palamon,", "Forpined, what for love, and for distress.", "Who feeleth double sorrow and heaviness", "But Palamon? that love distraineth so,", "That wood out of his wits he went for woe,", "And eke thereto he is a prisonere", "Perpetual, not only for a year.", "Who coulde rhyme in English properly", "His martyrdom? forsooth, it is not I;", "Therefore I pass as lightly as I may.", "It fell that in the seventh year, in May", "The thirde night (as olde bookes sayn,", "That all this story tellen more plain),", "Were it by a venture or destiny", "(As when a thing is shapen it shall be),", "That soon after the midnight, Palamon", "By helping of a friend brake his prison,", "And fled the city fast as he might go,", "For he had given drink his gaoler so", "Of a clary , made of a certain wine,", "With narcotise and opie of Thebes fine,", "That all the night, though that men would him shake,", "The gaoler slept, he mighte not awake:", "And thus he fled as fast as ever he may.", "The night was short, and faste by the day", "That needes cast he must himself to hide.", "And to a grove faste there beside", "With dreadful foot then stalked Palamon.", "For shortly this was his opinion,", "That in the grove he would him hide all day,", "And in the night then would he take his way", "To Thebes-ward, his friendes for to pray", "On Theseus to help him to warray.", "And shortly either he would lose his life,", "Or winnen Emily unto his wife.", "This is th' effect, and his intention plain.", "", "Now will I turn to Arcita again,", "That little wist how nighe was his care,", "Till that Fortune had brought him in the snare.", "The busy lark, the messenger of day,", "Saluteth in her song the morning gray;", "And fiery Phoebus riseth up so bright,", "That all the orient laugheth at the sight,", "And with his streames drieth in the greves", "The silver droppes, hanging on the leaves;", "And Arcite, that is in the court royal", "With Theseus, his squier principal,", "Is ris'n, and looketh on the merry day.", "And for to do his observance to May,", "Remembering the point of his desire,", "He on his courser, starting as the fire,", "Is ridden to the fieldes him to play,", "Out of the court, were it a mile or tway.", "And to the grove, of which I have you told,", "By a venture his way began to hold,", "To make him a garland of the greves,", "Were it of woodbine, or of hawthorn leaves,", "And loud he sang against the sun so sheen.", "\"O May, with all thy flowers and thy green,", "Right welcome be thou, faire freshe May,", "I hope that I some green here getten may.\"", "And from his courser, with a lusty heart,", "Into the grove full hastily he start,", "And in a path he roamed up and down,", "There as by aventure this Palamon", "Was in a bush, that no man might him see,", "For sore afeard of his death was he.", "Nothing ne knew he that it was Arcite;", "God wot he would have trowed it full lite.", "But sooth is said, gone since full many years,", "The field hath eyen, and the wood hath ears,", "It is full fair a man to bear him even,", "For all day meeten men at unset steven.", "Full little wot Arcite of his fellaw,", "That was so nigh to hearken of his saw,", "For in the bush he sitteth now full still.", "When that Arcite had roamed all his fill,", "And sungen all the roundel lustily,", "Into a study he fell suddenly,", "As do those lovers in their quainte gears,", "Now in the crop, and now down in the breres,", "Now up, now down, as bucket in a well.", "Right as the Friday, soothly for to tell,", "Now shineth it, and now it raineth fast,", "Right so can geary Venus overcast", "The heartes of her folk, right as her day", "Is gearful, right so changeth she array.", "Seldom is Friday all the weeke like.", "When Arcite had y-sung, he gan to sike,", "And sat him down withouten any more:", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"the day that I was bore!", "How longe, Juno, through thy cruelty", "Wilt thou warrayen Thebes the city?", "Alas! y-brought is to confusion", "The blood royal of Cadm' and Amphion:", "Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man,", "That Thebes built, or first the town began,", "And of the city first was crowned king.", "Of his lineage am I, and his offspring", "By very line, as of the stock royal;", "And now I am so caitiff and so thrall,", "That he that is my mortal enemy,", "I serve him as his squier poorely.", "And yet doth Juno me well more shame,", "For I dare not beknow mine owen name,", "But there as I was wont to hight Arcite,", "Now hight I Philostrate, not worth a mite.", "Alas! thou fell Mars, and alas! Juno,", "Thus hath your ire our lineage all fordo", "Save only me, and wretched Palamon,", "That Theseus martyreth in prison.", "And over all this, to slay me utterly,", "Love hath his fiery dart so brenningly", "Y-sticked through my true careful heart,", "That shapen was my death erst than my shert.", "Ye slay me with your eyen, Emily;", "Ye be the cause wherefore that I die.", "Of all the remnant of mine other care", "Ne set I not the mountance of a tare,", "So that I could do aught to your pleasance.\"", "", "And with that word he fell down in a trance", "A longe time; and afterward upstart", "This Palamon, that thought thorough his heart", "He felt a cold sword suddenly to glide:", "For ire he quoke, no longer would he hide.", "And when that he had heard Arcite's tale,", "As he were wood, with face dead and pale,", "He start him up out of the bushes thick,", "And said: \"False Arcita, false traitor wick',", "Now art thou hent, that lov'st my lady so,", "For whom that I have all this pain and woe,", "And art my blood, and to my counsel sworn,", "As I full oft have told thee herebeforn,", "And hast bejaped here Duke Theseus,", "And falsely changed hast thy name thus;", "I will be dead, or elles thou shalt die.", "Thou shalt not love my lady Emily,", "But I will love her only and no mo';", "For I am Palamon thy mortal foe.", "And though I have no weapon in this place,", "But out of prison am astart by grace,", "I dreade not that either thou shalt die,", "Or else thou shalt not loven Emily.", "Choose which thou wilt, for thou shalt not astart.\"", "", "This Arcite then, with full dispiteous heart,", "When he him knew, and had his tale heard,", "As fierce as lion pulled out a swerd,", "And saide thus; \"By God that sitt'th above,", "N'ere it that thou art sick, and wood for love,", "And eke that thou no weap'n hast in this place,", "Thou should'st never out of this grove pace,", "That thou ne shouldest dien of mine hand.", "For I defy the surety and the band,", "Which that thou sayest I have made to thee.", "What? very fool, think well that love is free;", "And I will love her maugre all thy might.", "But, for thou art a worthy gentle knight,", "And wilnest to darraine her by bataille,", "Have here my troth, to-morrow I will not fail,", "Without weeting of any other wight,", "That here I will be founden as a knight,", "And bringe harness right enough for thee;", "And choose the best, and leave the worst for me.", "And meat and drinke this night will I bring", "Enough for thee, and clothes for thy bedding.", "And if so be that thou my lady win,", "And slay me in this wood that I am in,", "Thou may'st well have thy lady as for me.\"", "This Palamon answer'd, \"I grant it thee.\"", "And thus they be departed till the morrow,", "When each of them hath laid his faith to borrow.", "", "O Cupid, out of alle charity!", "O Regne that wilt no fellow have with thee!", "Full sooth is said, that love nor lordeship", "Will not, his thanks, have any fellowship.", "Well finden that Arcite and Palamon.", "Arcite is ridd anon unto the town,", "And on the morrow, ere it were daylight,", "Full privily two harness hath he dight,", "Both suffisant and meete to darraine", "The battle in the field betwixt them twain.", "And on his horse, alone as he was born,", "He carrieth all this harness him beforn;", "And in the grove, at time and place y-set,", "This Arcite and this Palamon be met.", "Then change gan the colour of their face;", "Right as the hunter in the regne of Thrace", "That standeth at a gappe with a spear", "When hunted is the lion or the bear,", "And heareth him come rushing in the greves,", "And breaking both the boughes and the leaves,", "Thinketh, \"Here comes my mortal enemy,", "Withoute fail, he must be dead or I;", "For either I must slay him at the gap;", "Or he must slay me, if that me mishap:\"", "So fared they, in changing of their hue", "As far as either of them other knew.", "There was no good day, and no saluting,", "But straight, withoute wordes rehearsing,", "Evereach of them holp to arm the other,", "As friendly, as he were his owen brother.", "And after that, with sharpe speares strong", "They foined each at other wonder long.", "Thou mightest weene, that this Palamon", "In fighting were as a wood lion,", "And as a cruel tiger was Arcite:", "As wilde boars gan they together smite,", "That froth as white as foam, for ire wood.", "Up to the ancle fought they in their blood.", "And in this wise I let them fighting dwell,", "And forth I will of Theseus you tell.", "", "The Destiny, minister general,", "That executeth in the world o'er all", "The purveyance, that God hath seen beforn;", "So strong it is, that though the world had sworn", "The contrary of a thing by yea or nay,", "Yet some time it shall fallen on a day", "That falleth not eft in a thousand year.", "For certainly our appetites here,", "Be it of war, or peace, or hate, or love,", "All is this ruled by the sight above.", "This mean I now by mighty Theseus,", "That for to hunten is so desirous --", "And namely the greate hart in May --", "That in his bed there dawneth him no day", "That he n'is clad, and ready for to ride", "With hunt and horn, and houndes him beside.", "For in his hunting hath he such delight,", "That it is all his joy and appetite", "To be himself the greate harte's bane", "For after Mars he serveth now Diane.", "Clear was the day, as I have told ere this,", "And Theseus, with alle joy and bliss,", "With his Hippolyta, the faire queen,", "And Emily, y-clothed all in green,", "On hunting be they ridden royally.", "And to the grove, that stood there faste by,", "In which there was an hart, as men him told,", "Duke Theseus the straighte way doth hold,", "And to the laund he rideth him full right,", "There was the hart y-wont to have his flight,", "And over a brook, and so forth on his way.", "This Duke will have a course at him or tway", "With houndes, such as him lust to command.", "And when this Duke was come to the laund,", "Under the sun he looked, and anon", "He was ware of Arcite and Palamon,", "That foughte breme, as it were bulles two.", "The brighte swordes wente to and fro", "So hideously, that with the leaste stroke", "It seemed that it woulde fell an oak,", "But what they were, nothing yet he wote.", "This Duke his courser with his spurres smote,", "And at a start he was betwixt them two,", "And pulled out a sword and cried, \"Ho!", "No more, on pain of losing of your head.", "By mighty Mars, he shall anon be dead", "That smiteth any stroke, that I may see!", "But tell to me what mister men ye be,", "That be so hardy for to fighte here", "Withoute judge or other officer,", "As though it were in listes royally.", "This Palamon answered hastily,", "And saide: \"Sir, what needeth wordes mo'?", "We have the death deserved bothe two,", "Two woful wretches be we, and caitives,", "That be accumbered of our own lives,", "And as thou art a rightful lord and judge,", "So give us neither mercy nor refuge.", "And slay me first, for sainte charity,", "But slay my fellow eke as well as me.", "Or slay him first; for, though thou know it lite,", "This is thy mortal foe, this is Arcite", "That from thy land is banisht on his head,", "For which he hath deserved to be dead.", "For this is he that came unto thy gate", "And saide, that he highte Philostrate.", "Thus hath he japed thee full many year,", "And thou hast made of him thy chief esquier;", "And this is he, that loveth Emily.", "For since the day is come that I shall die", "I make pleinly my confession,", "That I am thilke woful Palamon,", "That hath thy prison broken wickedly.", "I am thy mortal foe, and it am I", "That so hot loveth Emily the bright,", "That I would die here present in her sight.", "Therefore I aske death and my jewise.", "But slay my fellow eke in the same wise,", "For both we have deserved to be slain.\"", "", "This worthy Duke answer'd anon again,", "And said, \"This is a short conclusion.", "Your own mouth, by your own confession", "Hath damned you, and I will it record;", "It needeth not to pain you with the cord;", "Ye shall be dead, by mighty Mars the Red.", "", "The queen anon for very womanhead", "Began to weep, and so did Emily,", "And all the ladies in the company.", "Great pity was it as it thought them all,", "That ever such a chance should befall,", "For gentle men they were, of great estate,", "And nothing but for love was this debate", "They saw their bloody woundes wide and sore,", "And cried all at once, both less and more,", "\"Have mercy, Lord, upon us women all.\"", "And on their bare knees adown they fall", "And would have kissed his feet there as he stood,", "Till at the last aslaked was his mood", "(For pity runneth soon in gentle heart);", "And though at first for ire he quoke and start", "He hath consider'd shortly in a clause", "The trespass of them both, and eke the cause:", "And although that his ire their guilt accused", "Yet in his reason he them both excused;", "As thus; he thoughte well that every man", "Will help himself in love if that he can,", "And eke deliver himself out of prison.", "Of women, for they wepten ever-in-one:", "And eke his hearte had compassion", "And in his gentle heart he thought anon,", "And soft unto himself he saide: \"Fie", "Upon a lord that will have no mercy,", "But be a lion both in word and deed,", "To them that be in repentance and dread,", "As well as-to a proud dispiteous man", "That will maintaine what he first began.", "That lord hath little of discretion,", "That in such case can no division:", "But weigheth pride and humbless after one.\"", "And shortly, when his ire is thus agone,", "He gan to look on them with eyen light,", "And spake these same wordes all on height.", "", "\"The god of love, ah! benedicite,", "How mighty and how great a lord is he!", "Against his might there gaine none obstacles,", "He may be called a god for his miracles", "For he can maken at his owen guise", "Of every heart, as that him list devise.", "Lo here this Arcite, and this Palamon,", "That quietly were out of my prison,", "And might have lived in Thebes royally,", "And weet I am their mortal enemy,", "And that their death li'th in my might also,", "And yet hath love, maugre their eyen two,", "Y-brought them hither bothe for to die.", "Now look ye, is not this an high folly?", "Who may not be a fool, if but he love?", "Behold, for Godde's sake that sits above,", "See how they bleed! be they not well array'd?", "Thus hath their lord, the god of love, them paid", "Their wages and their fees for their service;", "And yet they weene for to be full wise,", "That serve love, for aught that may befall.", "But this is yet the beste game of all,", "That she, for whom they have this jealousy,", "Can them therefor as muchel thank as me.", "She wot no more of all this hote fare,", "By God, than wot a cuckoo or an hare.", "But all must be assayed hot or cold;", "A man must be a fool, or young or old;", "I wot it by myself full yore agone:", "For in my time a servant was I one.", "And therefore since I know of love's pain,", "And wot how sore it can a man distrain,", "As he that oft hath been caught in his last,", "I you forgive wholly this trespass,", "At request of the queen that kneeleth here,", "And eke of Emily, my sister dear.", "And ye shall both anon unto me swear,", "That never more ye shall my country dere", "Nor make war upon me night nor day,", "But be my friends in alle that ye may.", "I you forgive this trespass every deal.", "And they him sware his asking fair and well,", "And him of lordship and of mercy pray'd,", "And he them granted grace, and thus he said:", "", "\"To speak of royal lineage and richess,", "Though that she were a queen or a princess,", "Each of you both is worthy doubteless", "To wedde when time is; but natheless", "I speak as for my sister Emily,", "For whom ye have this strife and jealousy,", "Ye wot yourselves, she may not wed the two", "At once, although ye fight for evermo:", "But one of you, all be him loth or lief,", "He must go pipe into an ivy leaf:", "This is to say, she may not have you both,", "All be ye never so jealous, nor so wroth.", "And therefore I you put in this degree,", "That each of you shall have his destiny", "As him is shape; and hearken in what wise", "Lo hear your end of that I shall devise.", "My will is this, for plain conclusion", "Withouten any replication,", "If that you liketh, take it for the best,", "That evereach of you shall go where him lest,", "Freely without ransom or danger;", "And this day fifty weekes, farre ne nerre,", "Evereach of you shall bring an hundred knights,", "Armed for listes up at alle rights", "All ready to darraine her by bataille,", "And this behete I you withoute fail", "Upon my troth, and as I am a knight,", "That whether of you bothe that hath might,", "That is to say, that whether he or thou", "May with his hundred, as I spake of now,", "Slay his contrary, or out of listes drive,", "Him shall I given Emily to wive,", "To whom that fortune gives so fair a grace.", "The listes shall I make here in this place.", "And God so wisly on my soule rue,", "As I shall even judge be and true.", "Ye shall none other ende with me maken", "Than one of you shalle be dead or taken.", "And if you thinketh this is well y-said,", "Say your advice, and hold yourselves apaid.", "This is your end, and your conclusion.\"", "Who looketh lightly now but Palamon?", "Who springeth up for joye but Arcite?", "Who could it tell, or who could it indite,", "The joye that is maked in the place", "When Theseus hath done so fair a grace?", "But down on knees went every manner wight,", "And thanked him with all their heartes' might,", "And namely these Thebans ofte sithe.", "And thus with good hope and with hearte blithe", "They take their leave, and homeward gan they ride", "To Thebes-ward, with his old walles wide.", "", "I trow men woulde deem it negligence,", "If I forgot to telle the dispence", "Of Theseus, that went so busily", "To maken up the listes royally,", "That such a noble theatre as it was,", "I dare well say, in all this world there n'as.", "The circuit a mile was about,", "Walled of stone, and ditched all without.", "Round was the shape, in manner of compass,", "Full of degrees, the height of sixty pas", "That when a man was set on one degree", "He letted not his fellow for to see.", "Eastward there stood a gate of marble white,", "Westward right such another opposite.", "And, shortly to conclude, such a place", "Was never on earth made in so little space,", "For in the land there was no craftes-man,", "That geometry or arsmetrike can,", "Nor pourtrayor, nor carver of images,", "That Theseus ne gave him meat and wages", "The theatre to make and to devise.", "And for to do his rite and sacrifice", "He eastward hath upon the gate above,", "In worship of Venus, goddess of love,", "Done make an altar and an oratory;", "And westward, in the mind and in memory", "Of Mars, he maked hath right such another,", "That coste largely of gold a fother.", "And northward, in a turret on the wall,", "Of alabaster white and red coral", "An oratory riche for to see,", "In worship of Diane of chastity,", "Hath Theseus done work in noble wise.", "But yet had I forgotten to devise", "The noble carving, and the portraitures,", "The shape, the countenance of the figures", "That weren in there oratories three.", "", "First in the temple of Venus may'st thou see", "Wrought on the wall, full piteous to behold,", "The broken sleepes, and the sikes cold,", "The sacred teares, and the waimentings,", "The fiery strokes of the desirings,", "That Love's servants in this life endure;", "The oathes, that their covenants assure.", "Pleasance and Hope, Desire, Foolhardiness,", "Beauty and Youth, and Bawdry and Richess,", "Charms and Sorc'ry, Leasings and Flattery,", "Dispence, Business, and Jealousy,", "That wore of yellow goldes a garland,", "And had a cuckoo sitting on her hand,", "Feasts, instruments, and caroles and dances,", "Lust and array, and all the circumstances", "Of Love, which I reckon'd and reckon shall", "In order, were painted on the wall,", "And more than I can make of mention.", "For soothly all the mount of Citheron,", "Where Venus hath her principal dwelling,", "Was showed on the wall in pourtraying,", "With all the garden, and the lustiness.", "Nor was forgot the porter Idleness,", "Nor Narcissus the fair of yore agone,", "Nor yet the folly of King Solomon,", "Nor yet the greate strength of Hercules,", "Th' enchantments of Medea and Circes,", "Nor of Turnus the hardy fierce courage,", "The rich Croesus caitif in servage.", "Thus may ye see, that wisdom nor richess,", "Beauty, nor sleight, nor strength, nor hardiness", "Ne may with Venus holde champartie,", "For as her liste the world may she gie.", "Lo, all these folk so caught were in her las", "Till they for woe full often said, Alas!", "Suffice these ensamples one or two,", "Although I could reckon a thousand mo'.", "", "The statue of Venus, glorious to see", "Was naked floating in the large sea,", "And from the navel down all cover'd was", "With waves green, and bright as any glass.", "A citole in her right hand hadde she,", "And on her head, full seemly for to see,", "A rose garland fresh, and well smelling,", "Above her head her doves flickering", "Before her stood her sone Cupido,", "Upon his shoulders winges had he two;", "And blind he was, as it is often seen;", "A bow he bare, and arrows bright and keen.", "", "Why should I not as well eke tell you all", "The portraiture, that was upon the wall", "Within the temple of mighty Mars the Red?", "All painted was the wall in length and brede", "Like to the estres of the grisly place", "That hight the great temple of Mars in Thrace,", "In thilke cold and frosty region,", "There as Mars hath his sovereign mansion.", "In which there dwelled neither man nor beast,", "With knotty gnarry barren trees old", "Of stubbes sharp and hideous to behold;", "In which there ran a rumble and a sough,", "As though a storm should bursten every bough:", "And downward from an hill under a bent", "There stood the temple of Mars Armipotent,", "Wrought all of burnish'd steel, of which th' entry", "Was long and strait, and ghastly for to see.", "And thereout came a rage and such a vise,", "That it made all the gates for to rise.", "The northern light in at the doore shone,", "For window on the walle was there none", "Through which men mighten any light discern.", "The doors were all of adamant etern,", "Y-clenched overthwart and ende-long", "With iron tough, and, for to make it strong,", "Every pillar the temple to sustain", "Was tunne-great, of iron bright and sheen.", "There saw I first the dark imagining", "Of felony, and all the compassing;", "The cruel ire, as red as any glede,", "The picke-purse, and eke the pale dread;", "The smiler with the knife under the cloak,", "The shepen burning with the blacke smoke", "The treason of the murd'ring in the bed,", "The open war, with woundes all be-bled;", "Conteke with bloody knife, and sharp menace.", "All full of chirking was that sorry place.", "The slayer of himself eke saw I there,", "His hearte-blood had bathed all his hair:", "The nail y-driven in the shode at night,", "The colde death, with mouth gaping upright.", "Amiddes of the temple sat Mischance,", "With discomfort and sorry countenance;", "Eke saw I Woodness laughing in his rage,", "Armed Complaint, Outhees, and fierce Outrage;", "The carrain in the bush, with throat y-corve,", "A thousand slain, and not of qualm y-storve;", "The tyrant, with the prey by force y-reft;", "The town destroy'd, that there was nothing left.", "Yet saw I brent the shippes hoppesteres,", "The hunter strangled with the wilde bears:", "The sow freting the child right in the cradle;", "The cook scalded, for all his longe ladle.", "Nor was forgot, by th'infortune of Mart", "The carter overridden with his cart;", "Under the wheel full low he lay adown.", "There were also of Mars' division,", "The armourer, the bowyer, and the smith,", "That forgeth sharp swordes on his stith.", "And all above depainted in a tower", "Saw I Conquest, sitting in great honour,", "With thilke sharpe sword over his head", "Hanging by a subtle y-twined thread.", "Painted the slaughter was of Julius,", "Of cruel Nero, and Antonius:", "Although at that time they were yet unborn,", "Yet was their death depainted there beforn,", "By menacing of Mars, right by figure,", "So was it showed in that portraiture,", "As is depainted in the stars above,", "Who shall be slain, or elles dead for love.", "Sufficeth one ensample in stories old,", "I may not reckon them all, though I wo'ld.", "", "The statue of Mars upon a carte stood", "Armed, and looked grim as he were wood,", "And over his head there shone two figures", "Of starres, that be cleped in scriptures,", "That one Puella, that other Rubeus.", "This god of armes was arrayed thus:", "A wolf there stood before him at his feet", "With eyen red, and of a man he eat:", "With subtle pencil painted was this story,", "In redouting of Mars and of his glory.", "", "Now to the temple of Dian the chaste", "As shortly as I can I will me haste,", "To telle you all the descriptioun.", "Depainted be the walles up and down", "Of hunting and of shamefast chastity.", "There saw I how woful Calistope,", "When that Dian aggrieved was with her,", "Was turned from a woman to a bear,", "And after was she made the lodestar:", "Thus was it painted, I can say no far;", "Her son is eke a star as men may see.", "There saw I Dane turn'd into a tree,", "I meane not the goddess Diane,", "But Peneus' daughter, which that hight Dane.", "There saw I Actaeon an hart y-maked,", "For vengeance that he saw Dian all naked:", "I saw how that his houndes have him caught,", "And freten him, for that they knew him not.", "Yet painted was, a little farthermore", "How Atalanta hunted the wild boar;", "And Meleager, and many other mo',", "For which Diana wrought them care and woe.", "There saw I many another wondrous story,", "The which me list not drawen to memory.", "This goddess on an hart full high was set,", "With smalle houndes all about her feet,", "And underneath her feet she had a moon,", "Waxing it was, and shoulde wane soon.", "In gaudy green her statue clothed was,", "With bow in hand, and arrows in a case.", "Her eyen caste she full low adown,", "Where Pluto hath his darke regioun.", "A woman travailing was her beforn,", "But, for her child so longe was unborn,", "Full piteously Lucina gan she call,", "And saide; \"Help, for thou may'st best of all.\"", "Well could he painte lifelike that it wrought;", "With many a florin he the hues had bought.", "Now be these listes made, and Theseus,", "That at his greate cost arrayed thus", "The temples, and the theatre every deal,", "When it was done, him liked wonder well.", "", "But stint I will of Theseus a lite,", "And speak of Palamon and of Arcite.", "The day approacheth of their returning,", "That evereach an hundred knights should bring,", "The battle to darraine as I you told;", "And to Athens, their covenant to hold,", "Hath ev'reach of them brought an hundred knights,", "Well-armed for the war at alle rights.", "And sickerly there trowed many a man,", "That never, sithen that the world began,", "For to speaken of knighthood of their hand,", "As far as God hath maked sea and land,", "Was, of so few, so noble a company.", "For every wight that loved chivalry,", "And would, his thankes, have a passant name,", "Had prayed, that he might be of that game,", "And well was him, that thereto chosen was.", "For if there fell to-morrow such a case,", "Ye knowe well, that every lusty knight,", "That loveth par amour, and hath his might", "Were it in Engleland, or elleswhere,", "They would, their thankes, willen to be there,", "T' fight for a lady; Benedicite,", "It were a lusty sighte for to see.", "And right so fared they with Palamon;", "With him there wente knightes many one.", "Some will be armed in an habergeon,", "And in a breast-plate, and in a gipon;", "And some will have a pair of plates large;", "And some will have a Prusse shield, or targe;", "Some will be armed on their legges weel;", "Some have an axe, and some a mace of steel.", "There is no newe guise, but it was old.", "Armed they weren, as I have you told,", "Evereach after his opinion.", "There may'st thou see coming with Palamon", "Licurgus himself, the great king of Thrace:", "Black was his beard, and manly was his face.", "The circles of his eyen in his head", "They glowed betwixte yellow and red,", "And like a griffin looked he about,", "With kemped haires on his browes stout;", "His limbs were great, his brawns were hard and strong,", "His shoulders broad, his armes round and long.", "And as the guise was in his country,", "Full high upon a car of gold stood he,", "With foure white bulles in the trace.", "Instead of coat-armour on his harness,", "With yellow nails, and bright as any gold,", "He had a beare's skin, coal-black for old.", "His long hair was y-kempt behind his back,", "As any raven's feather it shone for black.", "A wreath of gold arm-great, of huge weight,", "Upon his head sate, full of stones bright,", "Of fine rubies and clear diamants.", "About his car there wente white alauns,", "Twenty and more, as great as any steer,", "To hunt the lion or the wilde bear,", "And follow'd him, with muzzle fast y-bound,", "Collars of gold, and torettes filed round.", "An hundred lordes had he in his rout", "Armed full well, with heartes stern and stout.", "", "With Arcita, in stories as men find,", "The great Emetrius the king of Ind,", "Upon a steede bay trapped in steel,", "Cover'd with cloth of gold diapred well,", "Came riding like the god of armes, Mars.", "His coat-armour was of a cloth of Tars,", "Couched with pearls white and round and great", "His saddle was of burnish'd gold new beat;", "A mantelet on his shoulders hanging,", "Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling.", "His crispe hair like ringes was y-run,", "And that was yellow, glittering as the sun.", "His nose was high, his eyen bright citrine,", "His lips were round, his colour was sanguine,", "A fewe fracknes in his face y-sprent,", "Betwixte yellow and black somedeal y-ment", "And as a lion he his looking cast", "Of five and twenty year his age I cast", "His beard was well begunnen for to spring;", "His voice was as a trumpet thundering.", "Upon his head he wore of laurel green", "A garland fresh and lusty to be seen;", "Upon his hand he bare, for his delight,", "An eagle tame, as any lily white.", "An hundred lordes had he with him there,", "All armed, save their heads, in all their gear,", "Full richely in alle manner things.", "For trust ye well, that earles, dukes, and kings", "Were gather'd in this noble company,", "For love, and for increase of chivalry.", "About this king there ran on every part", "Full many a tame lion and leopart.", "And in this wise these lordes all and some", "Be on the Sunday to the city come", "Aboute prime, and in the town alight.", "", "This Theseus, this Duke, this worthy knight", "When he had brought them into his city,", "And inned them, ev'reach at his degree,", "He feasteth them, and doth so great labour", "To easen them, and do them all honour,", "That yet men weene that no mannes wit", "Of none estate could amenden it.", "The minstrelsy, the service at the feast,", "The greate giftes to the most and least,", "The rich array of Theseus' palace,", "Nor who sate first or last upon the dais.", "What ladies fairest be, or best dancing", "Or which of them can carol best or sing,", "Or who most feelingly speaketh of love;", "What hawkes sitten on the perch above,", "What houndes liggen on the floor adown,", "Of all this now make I no mentioun", "But of th'effect; that thinketh me the best", "Now comes the point, and hearken if you lest.", "", "The Sunday night, ere day began to spring,", "When Palamon the larke hearde sing,", "Although it were not day by houres two,", "Yet sang the lark, and Palamon right tho", "With holy heart, and with an high courage,", "Arose, to wenden on his pilgrimage", "Unto the blissful Cithera benign,", "I meane Venus, honourable and digne.", "And in her hour he walketh forth a pace", "Unto the listes, where her temple was,", "And down he kneeleth, and with humble cheer", "And hearte sore, he said as ye shall hear.", "", "\"Fairest of fair, O lady mine Venus,", "Daughter to Jove, and spouse of Vulcanus,", "Thou gladder of the mount of Citheron!", "For thilke love thou haddest to Adon", "Have pity on my bitter teares smart,", "And take mine humble prayer to thine heart.", "Alas! I have no language to tell", "Th'effecte, nor the torment of mine hell;", "Mine hearte may mine harmes not betray;", "I am so confused, that I cannot say.", "But mercy, lady bright, that knowest well", "My thought, and seest what harm that I feel.", "Consider all this, and rue upon my sore,", "As wisly as I shall for evermore", "Enforce my might, thy true servant to be,", "And holde war alway with chastity:", "That make I mine avow, so ye me help.", "I keepe not of armes for to yelp,", "Nor ask I not to-morrow to have victory,", "Nor renown in this case, nor vaine glory", "Of prize of armes, blowing up and down,", "But I would have fully possessioun", "Of Emily, and die in her service;", "Find thou the manner how, and in what wise.", "I recke not but it may better be", "To have vict'ry of them, or they of me,", "So that I have my lady in mine arms.", "For though so be that Mars is god of arms,", "Your virtue is so great in heaven above,", "That, if you list, I shall well have my love.", "Thy temple will I worship evermo',", "And on thine altar, where I ride or go,", "I will do sacrifice, and fires bete.", "And if ye will not so, my lady sweet,", "Then pray I you, to-morrow with a spear", "That Arcita me through the hearte bear", "Then reck I not, when I have lost my life,", "Though that Arcita win her to his wife.", "This is th' effect and end of my prayere, --", "Give me my love, thou blissful lady dear.\"", "When th' orison was done of Palamon,", "His sacrifice he did, and that anon,", "Full piteously, with alle circumstances,", "All tell I not as now his observances.", "But at the last the statue of Venus shook,", "And made a signe, whereby that he took", "That his prayer accepted was that day.", "For though the signe shewed a delay,", "Yet wist he well that granted was his boon;", "And with glad heart he went him home full soon.", "", "The third hour unequal that Palamon", "Began to Venus' temple for to gon,", "Up rose the sun, and up rose Emily,", "And to the temple of Dian gan hie.", "Her maidens, that she thither with her lad,", "Th' incense, the clothes, and the remnant all", "That to the sacrifice belonge shall,", "The hornes full of mead, as was the guise;", "There lacked nought to do her sacrifice.", "Smoking the temple full of clothes fair,", "This Emily with hearte debonnair", "Her body wash'd with water of a well.", "But how she did her rite I dare not tell;", "But it be any thing in general;", "And yet it were a game to hearen all", "To him that meaneth well it were no charge:", "But it is good a man to be at large.", "Her bright hair combed was, untressed all.", "A coronet of green oak cerriall", "Upon her head was set full fair and meet.", "Two fires on the altar gan she bete,", "And did her thinges, as men may behold", "In Stace of Thebes , and these bookes old.", "When kindled was the fire, with piteous cheer", "Unto Dian she spake as ye may hear.", "", "\"O chaste goddess of the woodes green,", "To whom both heav'n and earth and sea is seen,", "Queen of the realm of Pluto dark and low,", "Goddess of maidens, that mine heart hast know", "Full many a year, and wost what I desire,", "To keep me from the vengeance of thine ire,", "That Actaeon aboughte cruelly:", "Chaste goddess, well wottest thou that I", "Desire to be a maiden all my life,", "Nor never will I be no love nor wife.", "I am, thou wost, yet of thy company,", "A maid, and love hunting and venery,", "And for to walken in the woodes wild,", "And not to be a wife, and be with child.", "Nought will I know the company of man.", "Now help me, lady, since ye may and can,", "For those three formes that thou hast in thee.", "And Palamon, that hath such love to me,", "And eke Arcite, that loveth me so sore,", "This grace I pray thee withoute more,", "As sende love and peace betwixt them two:", "And from me turn away their heartes so,", "That all their hote love, and their desire,", "And all their busy torment, and their fire,", "Be queint, or turn'd into another place.", "And if so be thou wilt do me no grace,", "Or if my destiny be shapen so", "That I shall needes have one of them two,", "So send me him that most desireth me.", "Behold, goddess of cleane chastity,", "The bitter tears that on my cheekes fall.", "Since thou art maid, and keeper of us all,", "My maidenhead thou keep and well conserve,", "And, while I live, a maid I will thee serve.", "", "The fires burn upon the altar clear,", "While Emily was thus in her prayere:", "But suddenly she saw a sighte quaint.", "For right anon one of the fire's queint", "And quick'd again, and after that anon", "That other fire was queint, and all agone:", "And as it queint, it made a whisteling,", "As doth a brande wet in its burning.", "And at the brandes end outran anon", "As it were bloody droppes many one:", "For which so sore aghast was Emily,", "That she was well-nigh mad, and gan to cry,", "For she ne wiste what it signified;", "But onely for feare thus she cried,", "And wept, that it was pity for to hear.", "And therewithal Diana gan appear", "With bow in hand, right as an hunteress,", "And saide; \"Daughter, stint thine heaviness.", "Among the goddes high it is affirm'd,", "And by eternal word writ and confirm'd,", "Thou shalt be wedded unto one of tho", "That have for thee so muche care and woe:", "But unto which of them I may not tell.", "Farewell, for here I may no longer dwell.", "The fires which that on mine altar brenn,", "Shall thee declaren, ere that thou go henne,", "Thine aventure of love, as in this case.\"", "And with that word, the arrows in the case", "Of the goddess did clatter fast and ring,", "And forth she went, and made a vanishing,", "For which this Emily astonied was,", "And saide; \"What amounteth this, alas!", "I put me under thy protection,", "Diane, and in thy disposition.\"", "And home she went anon the nexte way.", "This is th' effect, there is no more to say.", "", "The nexte hour of Mars following this", "Arcite to the temple walked is", "Of fierce Mars, to do his sacrifice", "With all the rites of his pagan guise.", "With piteous heart and high devotion", "Right thus to Mars he said his orison", "\"O stronge god, that in the regnes old", "Of Thrace honoured art, and lord y-hold", "And hast in every regne, and every land", "Of armes all the bridle in thine hand,", "And them fortunest as thee list devise,", "Accept of me my piteous sacrifice.", "If so be that my youthe may deserve,", "And that my might be worthy for to serve", "Thy godhead, that I may be one of thine,", "Then pray I thee to rue upon my pine,", "For thilke pain, and thilke hote fire,", "In which thou whilom burned'st for desire", "Whenne that thou usedest the beauty", "Of faire young Venus, fresh and free,", "And haddest her in armes at thy will:", "And though thee ones on a time misfill,", "When Vulcanus had caught thee in his las,", "And found thee ligging by his wife, alas!", "For thilke sorrow that was in thine heart,", "Have ruth as well upon my paine's smart.", "I am young and unconning, as thou know'st,", "And, as I trow, with love offended most", "That e'er was any living creature:", "For she, that doth me all this woe endure,", "Ne recketh ne'er whether I sink or fleet", "And well I wot, ere she me mercy hete,", "I must with strengthe win her in the place:", "And well I wot, withoute help or grace", "Of thee, ne may my strengthe not avail:", "Then help me, lord, to-morr'w in my bataille,", "For thilke fire that whilom burned thee,", "As well as this fire that now burneth me;", "And do that I to-morr'w may have victory.", "Mine be the travail, all thine be the glory.", "Thy sovereign temple will I most honour", "Of any place, and alway most labour", "In thy pleasance and in thy craftes strong.", "And in thy temple I will my banner hong,", "And all the armes of my company,", "And evermore, until that day I die,", "Eternal fire I will before thee find", "And eke to this my vow I will me bind:", "My beard, my hair that hangeth long adown,", "That never yet hath felt offension", "Of razor nor of shears, I will thee give,", "And be thy true servant while I live.", "Now, lord, have ruth upon my sorrows sore,", "Give me the victory, I ask no more.\"", "", "The prayer stint of Arcita the strong,", "The ringes on the temple door that hong,", "And eke the doores, clattered full fast,", "Of which Arcita somewhat was aghast.", "The fires burn'd upon the altar bright,", "That it gan all the temple for to light;", "A sweete smell anon the ground up gaf,", "And Arcita anon his hand up haf,", "And more incense into the fire he cast,", "With other rites more and at the last", "The statue of Mars began his hauberk ring;", "And with that sound he heard a murmuring", "Full low and dim, that saide thus, \"Victory.\"", "For which he gave to Mars honour and glory.", "And thus with joy, and hope well to fare,", "Arcite anon unto his inn doth fare.", "As fain as fowl is of the brighte sun.", "", "And right anon such strife there is begun", "For thilke granting, in the heav'n above,", "Betwixte Venus the goddess of love,", "And Mars the sterne god armipotent,", "That Jupiter was busy it to stent:", "Till that the pale Saturnus the cold,", "That knew so many of adventures old,", "Found in his old experience such an art,", "That he full soon hath pleased every part.", "As sooth is said, eld hath great advantage,", "In eld is bothe wisdom and usage:", "Men may the old out-run, but not out-rede.", "Saturn anon, to stint the strife and drede,", "Albeit that it is against his kind,", "Of all this strife gan a remedy find.", "\"My deare daughter Venus,\" quoth Saturn,", "\"My course, that hath so wide for to turn,", "Hath more power than wot any man.", "Mine is the drowning in the sea so wan;", "Mine is the prison in the darke cote,", "Mine the strangling and hanging by the throat,", "The murmur, and the churlish rebelling,", "The groyning, and the privy poisoning.", "I do vengeance and plein correction,", "I dwell in the sign of the lion.", "Mine is the ruin of the highe halls,", "The falling of the towers and the walls", "Upon the miner or the carpenter:", "I slew Samson in shaking the pillar:", "Mine also be the maladies cold,", "The darke treasons, and the castes old:", "My looking is the father of pestilence.", "Now weep no more, I shall do diligence", "That Palamon, that is thine owen knight,", "Shall have his lady, as thou hast him hight.", "Though Mars shall help his knight, yet natheless", "Betwixte you there must sometime be peace:", "All be ye not of one complexion,", "That each day causeth such division,", "I am thine ayel, ready at thy will;", "Weep now no more, I shall thy lust fulfil.\"", "Now will I stenten of the gods above,", "Of Mars, and of Venus, goddess of love,", "And telle you as plainly as I can", "The great effect, for which that I began.", "", "Great was the feast in Athens thilke day;", "And eke the lusty season of that May", "Made every wight to be in such pleasance,", "That all that Monday jousten they and dance,", "And spenden it in Venus' high service.", "But by the cause that they shoulde rise", "Early a-morrow for to see that fight,", "Unto their reste wente they at night.", "And on the morrow, when the day gan spring,", "Of horse and harness noise and clattering", "There was in the hostelries all about:", "And to the palace rode there many a rout", "Of lordes, upon steedes and palfreys.", "There mayst thou see devising of harness", "So uncouth and so rich, and wrought so weel", "Of goldsmithry, of brouding, and of steel;", "The shieldes bright, the testers, and trappures", "Gold-hewen helmets, hauberks, coat-armures;", "Lordes in parements on their coursers,", "Knightes of retinue, and eke squiers,", "Nailing the spears, and helmes buckeling,", "Gniding of shieldes, with lainers lacing;", "There as need is, they were nothing idle:", "The foamy steeds upon the golden bridle", "Gnawing, and fast the armourers also", "With file and hammer pricking to and fro;", "Yeomen on foot, and knaves many one", "With shorte staves, thick as they may gon;", "Pipes, trumpets, nakeres, and clariouns,", "That in the battle blowe bloody souns;", "The palace full of people up and down,", "There three, there ten, holding their questioun,", "Divining of these Theban knightes two.", "Some saiden thus, some said it shall he so;", "Some helden with him with the blacke beard,", "Some with the bald, some with the thick-hair'd;", "Some said he looked grim, and woulde fight:", "He had a sparth of twenty pound of weight.", "Thus was the halle full of divining", "Long after that the sunne gan up spring.", "The great Theseus that of his sleep is waked", "With minstrelsy, and noise that was maked,", "Held yet the chamber of his palace rich,", "Till that the Theban knightes both y-lich", "Honoured were, and to the palace fet.", "Duke Theseus is at a window set,", "Array'd right as he were a god in throne:", "The people presseth thitherward full soon", "Him for to see, and do him reverence,", "And eke to hearken his hest and his sentence.", "An herald on a scaffold made an O,", "Till the noise of the people was y-do:", "And when he saw the people of noise all still,", "Thus shewed he the mighty Duke's will.", "\"The lord hath of his high discretion", "Considered that it were destruction", "To gentle blood, to fighten in the guise", "Of mortal battle now in this emprise:", "Wherefore to shape that they shall not die,", "He will his firste purpose modify.", "No man therefore, on pain of loss of life,", "No manner shot, nor poleaxe, nor short knife", "Into the lists shall send, or thither bring.", "Nor short sword for to stick with point biting", "No man shall draw, nor bear it by his side.", "And no man shall unto his fellow ride", "But one course, with a sharp y-grounden spear:", "Foin if him list on foot, himself to wear.", "And he that is at mischief shall be take,", "And not slain, but be brought unto the stake,", "That shall be ordained on either side;", "Thither he shall by force, and there abide.", "And if so fall the chiefetain be take", "On either side, or elles slay his make,", "No longer then the tourneying shall last.", "God speede you; go forth and lay on fast.", "With long sword and with mace fight your fill.", "Go now your way; this is the lordes will.", "The voice of the people touched the heaven,", "So loude cried they with merry steven:", "God save such a lord that is so good,", "He willeth no destruction of blood.", "", "Up go the trumpets and the melody,", "And to the listes rode the company", "By ordinance, throughout the city large,", "Hanged with cloth of gold, and not with sarge.", "Full like a lord this noble Duke gan ride,", "And these two Thebans upon either side:", "", "And after rode the queen and Emily,", "And after them another company", "Of one and other, after their degree.", "And thus they passed thorough that city", "And to the listes came they by time:", "It was not of the day yet fully prime.", "When set was Theseus full rich and high,", "Hippolyta the queen and Emily,", "And other ladies in their degrees about,", "Unto the seates presseth all the rout.", "And westward, through the gates under Mart,", "Arcite, and eke the hundred of his part,", "With banner red, is enter'd right anon;", "And in the selve moment Palamon", "Is, under Venus, eastward in the place,", "With banner white, and hardy cheer and face", "In all the world, to seeken up and down", "So even without variatioun", "There were such companies never tway.", "For there was none so wise that coulde say", "That any had of other avantage", "Of worthiness, nor of estate, nor age,", "So even were they chosen for to guess.", "And in two ranges faire they them dress.", "When that their names read were every one,", "That in their number guile were there none,", "Then were the gates shut, and cried was loud;", "\"Do now your devoir, younge knights proud", "The heralds left their pricking up and down", "Now ring the trumpet loud and clarioun.", "There is no more to say, but east and west", "In go the speares sadly in the rest;", "In go the sharpe spurs into the side.", "There see me who can joust, and who can ride.", "There shiver shaftes upon shieldes thick;", "He feeleth through the hearte-spoon the prick.", "Up spring the speares twenty foot on height;", "Out go the swordes as the silver bright.", "The helmes they to-hewen, and to-shred;", "Out burst the blood, with sterne streames red.", "With mighty maces the bones they to-brest.", "He through the thickest of the throng gan threst.", "There stumble steedes strong, and down go all.", "He rolleth under foot as doth a ball.", "He foineth on his foe with a trunchoun,", "And he him hurtleth with his horse adown.", "He through the body hurt is, and sith take,", "Maugre his head, and brought unto the stake,", "As forword was, right there he must abide.", "Another led is on that other side.", "And sometime doth them Theseus to rest,", "Them to refresh, and drinken if them lest.", "Full oft a day have thilke Thebans two", "Together met and wrought each other woe:", "Unhorsed hath each other of them tway", "There is no tiger in the vale of Galaphay,", "When that her whelp is stole, when it is lite", "So cruel on the hunter, as Arcite", "For jealous heart upon this Palamon:", "Nor in Belmarie there is no fell lion,", "That hunted is, or for his hunger wood", "Or for his prey desireth so the blood,", "As Palamon to slay his foe Arcite.", "The jealous strokes upon their helmets bite;", "Out runneth blood on both their sides red,", "Sometime an end there is of every deed", "For ere the sun unto the reste went,", "The stronge king Emetrius gan hent", "This Palamon, as he fought with Arcite,", "And made his sword deep in his flesh to bite,", "And by the force of twenty is he take,", "Unyielding, and is drawn unto the stake.", "And in the rescue of this Palamon", "The stronge king Licurgus is borne down:", "And king Emetrius, for all his strength", "Is borne out of his saddle a sword's length,", "So hit him Palamon ere he were take:", "But all for nought; he was brought to the stake:", "His hardy hearte might him helpe naught,", "He must abide when that he was caught,", "By force, and eke by composition.", "Who sorroweth now but woful Palamon", "That must no more go again to fight?", "And when that Theseus had seen that sight", "Unto the folk that foughte thus each one,", "He cried, Ho! no more, for it is done!", "I will be true judge, and not party.", "Arcite of Thebes shall have Emily,", "That by his fortune hath her fairly won.\"", "Anon there is a noise of people gone,", "For joy of this, so loud and high withal,", "It seemed that the listes shoulde fall.", "", "What can now faire Venus do above?", "What saith she now? what doth this queen of love?", "But weepeth so, for wanting of her will,", "Till that her teares in the listes fill", "She said: \"I am ashamed doubteless.\"", "Saturnus saide: \"Daughter, hold thy peace.", "Mars hath his will, his knight hath all his boon,", "And by mine head thou shalt be eased soon.\"", " The trumpeters with the loud minstrelsy,", "The heralds, that full loude yell and cry,", "Be in their joy for weal of Dan Arcite.", "But hearken me, and stinte noise a lite,", "What a miracle there befell anon", "This fierce Arcite hath off his helm y-done,", "And on a courser for to shew his face", "He pricketh endelong the large place,", "Looking upward upon this Emily;", "And she again him cast a friendly eye", "(For women, as to speaken in commune,", "They follow all the favour of fortune),", "And was all his in cheer, as his in heart.", "Out of the ground a fire infernal start,", "From Pluto sent, at request of Saturn", "For which his horse for fear began to turn,", "And leap aside, and founder as he leap", "And ere that Arcite may take any keep,", "He pight him on the pummel of his head.", "That in the place he lay as he were dead.", "His breast to-bursten with his saddle-bow.", "As black he lay as any coal or crow,", "So was the blood y-run into his face.", "Anon he was y-borne out of the place", "With hearte sore, to Theseus' palace.", "Then was he carven out of his harness.", "And in a bed y-brought full fair and blive", "For he was yet in mem'ry and alive,", "And always crying after Emily.", "", "Duke Theseus, with all his company,", "Is come home to Athens his city,", "With alle bliss and great solemnity.", "Albeit that this aventure was fall,", "He woulde not discomforte them all", "Then said eke, that Arcite should not die,", "He should be healed of his malady.", "And of another thing they were as fain.", "That of them alle was there no one slain,", "All were they sorely hurt, and namely one,", "That with a spear was thirled his breast-bone.", "To other woundes, and to broken arms,", "Some hadden salves, and some hadden charms:", "And pharmacies of herbs, and eke save", "They dranken, for they would their lives have.", "For which this noble Duke, as he well can,", "Comforteth and honoureth every man,", "And made revel all the longe night,", "Unto the strange lordes, as was right.", "Nor there was holden no discomforting,", "But as at jousts or at a tourneying;", "For soothly there was no discomfiture,", "For falling is not but an aventure.", "Nor to be led by force unto a stake", "Unyielding, and with twenty knights y-take", "One person all alone, withouten mo',", "And harried forth by armes, foot, and toe,", "And eke his steede driven forth with staves,", "With footmen, bothe yeomen and eke knaves,", "It was aretted him no villainy:", "There may no man clepen it cowardy.", "For which anon Duke Theseus let cry, --", "To stenten alle rancour and envy, --", "The gree as well on one side as the other,", "And either side alike as other's brother:", "And gave them giftes after their degree,", "And held a feaste fully dayes three:", "And conveyed the kinges worthily", "Out of his town a journee largely", "And home went every man the righte way,", "There was no more but \"Farewell, Have good day.\"", "Of this bataille I will no more indite", "But speak of Palamon and of Arcite.", "", "Swelleth the breast of Arcite and the sore", "Increaseth at his hearte more and more.", "The clotted blood, for any leache-craft", "Corrupteth and is in his bouk y-laft", "That neither veine blood nor ventousing,", "Nor drink of herbes may be his helping.", "The virtue expulsive or animal,", "From thilke virtue called natural,", "Nor may the venom voide, nor expel", "The pipes of his lungs began to swell", "And every lacert in his breast adown", "Is shent with venom and corruption.", "Him gaineth neither, for to get his life,", "Vomit upward, nor downward laxative;", "All is to-bursten thilke region;", "Nature hath now no domination.", "And certainly where nature will not wirch,", "Farewell physic: go bear the man to chirch.", "This all and some is, Arcite must die.", "For which he sendeth after Emily,", "And Palamon, that was his cousin dear,", "Then said he thus, as ye shall after hear.", "", "\"Nought may the woful spirit in mine heart", "Declare one point of all my sorrows' smart", "To you, my lady, that I love the most:", "But I bequeath the service of my ghost", "To you aboven every creature,", "Since that my life ne may no longer dure.", "Alas the woe! alas, the paines strong", "That I for you have suffered and so long!", "Alas the death, alas, mine Emily!", "Alas departing of our company!", "Alas, mine hearte's queen! alas, my wife!", "Mine hearte's lady, ender of my life!", "What is this world? what aske men to have?", "Now with his love, now in his colde grave", "Al one, withouten any company.", "Farewell, my sweet, farewell, mine Emily,", "And softly take me in your armes tway,", "For love of God, and hearken what I say.", "I have here with my cousin Palamon", "Had strife and rancour many a day agone,", "For love of you, and for my jealousy.", "And Jupiter so wis my soule gie,", "To speaken of a servant properly,", "With alle circumstances truely,", "That is to say, truth, honour, and knighthead,", "Wisdom, humbless, estate, and high kindred,", "Freedom, and all that longeth to that art,", "So Jupiter have of my soul part,", "As in this world right now I know not one,", "So worthy to be lov'd as Palamon,", "That serveth you, and will do all his life.", "And if that you shall ever be a wife,", "Forget not Palamon, the gentle man.\"", "", "And with that word his speech to fail began.", "For from his feet up to his breast was come", "The cold of death, that had him overnome.", "And yet moreover in his armes two", "The vital strength is lost, and all ago.", "Only the intellect, withoute more,", "That dwelled in his hearte sick and sore,", "Gan faile, when the hearte felte death;", "Dusked his eyen two, and fail'd his breath.", "But on his lady yet he cast his eye;", "His laste word was; \"Mercy, Emily!\"", "His spirit changed house, and wente there,", "As I came never I cannot telle where.", "Therefore I stent, I am no divinister;", "Of soules find I nought in this register.", "Ne me list not th' opinions to tell", "Of them, though that they writen where they dwell;", "Arcite is cold, there Mars his soule gie.", "Now will I speake forth of Emily.", "", "Shriek'd Emily, and howled Palamon,", "And Theseus his sister took anon", "Swooning, and bare her from the corpse away.", "What helpeth it to tarry forth the day,", "To telle how she wept both eve and morrow?", "For in such cases women have such sorrow,", "When that their husbands be from them y-go,", "That for the more part they sorrow so,", "Or elles fall into such malady,", "That at the laste certainly they die.", "Infinite be the sorrows and the tears", "Of olde folk, and folk of tender years,", "In all the town, for death of this Theban:", "For him there weepeth bothe child and man.", "So great a weeping was there none certain,", "When Hector was y-brought, all fresh y-slain,", "To Troy: alas! the pity that was there,", "Scratching of cheeks, and rending eke of hair.", "\"Why wouldest thou be dead?\" these women cry,", "\"And haddest gold enough, and Emily.\"", "No manner man might gladden Theseus,", "Saving his olde father Egeus,", "That knew this worlde's transmutatioun,", "As he had seen it changen up and down,", "Joy after woe, and woe after gladness;", "And shewed him example and likeness.", "\"Right as there died never man,\" quoth he,", "\"That he ne liv'd in earth in some degree,", "Right so there lived never man,\" he said,", "\"In all this world, that sometime be not died.", "This world is but a throughfare full of woe,", "And we be pilgrims, passing to and fro:", "Death is an end of every worldly sore.\"", "And over all this said he yet much more", "To this effect, full wisely to exhort", "The people, that they should them recomfort.", "Duke Theseus, with all his busy cure,", "Casteth about, where that the sepulture", "Of good Arcite may best y-maked be,", "And eke most honourable in his degree.", "And at the last he took conclusion,", "That there as first Arcite and Palamon", "Hadde for love the battle them between,", "That in that selve grove, sweet and green,", "There as he had his amorous desires,", "His complaint, and for love his hote fires,", "He woulde make a fire, in which th' office", "Of funeral he might all accomplice;", "And let anon command to hack and hew", "The oakes old, and lay them on a rew", "In culpons, well arrayed for to brenne.", "His officers with swifte feet they renne", "And ride anon at his commandement.", "And after this, Duke Theseus hath sent", "After a bier, and it all oversprad", "With cloth of gold, the richest that he had;", "And of the same suit he clad Arcite.", "Upon his handes were his gloves white,", "Eke on his head a crown of laurel green,", "And in his hand a sword full bright and keen.", "He laid him bare the visage on the bier,", "Therewith he wept, that pity was to hear.", "And, for the people shoulde see him all,", "When it was day he brought them to the hall,", "That roareth of the crying and the soun'.", "Then came this woful Theban, Palamon,", "With sluttery beard, and ruggy ashy hairs,", "In clothes black, y-dropped all with tears,", "And (passing over weeping Emily)", "The ruefullest of all the company.", "And inasmuch as the service should be", "The more noble and rich in its degree,", "Duke Theseus let forth three steedes bring,", "That trapped were in steel all glittering.", "And covered with the arms of Dan Arcite.", "Upon these steedes, that were great and white,", "There satte folk, of whom one bare his shield,", "Another his spear in his handes held;", "The thirde bare with him his bow Turkeis,", "Of brent gold was the case and the harness:", "And ride forth a pace with sorrowful cheer", "Toward the grove, as ye shall after hear.", "", "The noblest of the Greekes that there were", "Upon their shoulders carried the bier,", "With slacke pace, and eyen red and wet,", "Throughout the city, by the master street,", "That spread was all with black, and wondrous high", "Right of the same is all the street y-wrie.", "Upon the right hand went old Egeus,", "And on the other side Duke Theseus,", "With vessels in their hand of gold full fine,", "All full of honey, milk, and blood, and wine;", "Eke Palamon, with a great company;", "And after that came woful Emily,", "With fire in hand, as was that time the guise,", "To do th' office of funeral service.", "", "High labour, and full great appareling", "Was at the service, and the pyre-making,", "That with its greene top the heaven raught,", "And twenty fathom broad its armes straught:", "This is to say, the boughes were so broad.", "Of straw first there was laid many a load.", "But how the pyre was maked up on height,", "And eke the names how the trees hight,", "As oak, fir, birch, asp, alder, holm, poplere,", "Willow, elm, plane, ash, box, chestnut, lind, laurere,", "Maple, thorn, beech, hazel, yew, whipul tree,", "How they were fell'd, shall not be told for me;", "Nor how the goddes rannen up and down", "Disinherited of their habitatioun,", "In which they wonned had in rest and peace,", "Nymphes, Faunes, and Hamadryades;", "Nor how the beastes and the birdes all", "Fledden for feare, when the wood gan fall;", "Nor how the ground aghast was of the light,", "That was not wont to see the sunne bright;", "Nor how the fire was couched first with stre,", "And then with dry stickes cloven in three,", "And then with greene wood and spicery,", "And then with cloth of gold and with pierrie,", "And garlands hanging with full many a flower,", "The myrrh, the incense with so sweet odour;", "Nor how Arcita lay among all this,", "Nor what richess about his body is;", "Nor how that Emily, as was the guise,", "Put in the fire of funeral service;", "Nor how she swooned when she made the fire,", "Nor what she spake, nor what was her desire;", "Nor what jewels men in the fire then cast", "When that the fire was great and burned fast;", "", "Nor how some cast their shield, and some their spear,", "And of their vestiments, which that they wear,", "And cuppes full of wine, and milk, and blood,", "Into the fire, that burnt as it were wood;", "Nor how the Greekes with a huge rout", "Three times riden all the fire about", "Upon the left hand, with a loud shouting,", "And thries with their speares clattering;", "And thries how the ladies gan to cry;", "Nor how that led was homeward Emily;", "Nor how Arcite is burnt to ashes cold;", "Nor how the lyke-wake was y-hold", "All thilke night, nor how the Greekes play", "The wake-plays, ne keep I not to say:", "Who wrestled best naked, with oil anoint,", "Nor who that bare him best in no disjoint.", "I will not tell eke how they all are gone", "Home to Athenes when the play is done;", "But shortly to the point now will I wend,", "And maken of my longe tale an end.", "", "By process and by length of certain years", "All stinted is the mourning and the tears", "Of Greekes, by one general assent.", "Then seemed me there was a parlement", "At Athens, upon certain points and cas:", "Amonge the which points y-spoken was", "To have with certain countries alliance,", "And have of Thebans full obeisance.", "For which this noble Theseus anon", "Let send after the gentle Palamon,", "Unwist of him what was the cause and why:", "But in his blacke clothes sorrowfully", "He came at his commandment on hie;", "Then sente Theseus for Emily.", "When they were set, and hush'd was all the place", "And Theseus abided had a space", "Ere any word came from his wise breast", "His eyen set he there as was his lest,", "And with a sad visage he sighed still,", "And after that right thus he said his will.", "\"The firste mover of the cause above", "When he first made the faire chain of love,", "Great was th' effect, and high was his intent;", "Well wist he why, and what thereof he meant:", "For with that faire chain of love he bond", "The fire, the air, the water, and the lond", "In certain bondes, that they may not flee:", "That same prince and mover eke,\" quoth he,", "\"Hath stablish'd, in this wretched world adown,", "Certain of dayes and duration", "To all that are engender'd in this place,", "Over the whiche day they may not pace,", "All may they yet their dayes well abridge.", "There needeth no authority to allege", "For it is proved by experience;", "But that me list declare my sentence.", "Then may men by this order well discern,", "That thilke mover stable is and etern.", "Well may men know, but that it be a fool,", "That every part deriveth from its whole.", "For nature hath not ta'en its beginning", "Of no partie nor cantle of a thing,", "But of a thing that perfect is and stable,", "Descending so, till it be corruptable.", "And therefore of His wise purveyance", "He hath so well beset his ordinance,", "That species of things and progressions", "Shallen endure by successions,", "And not etern, withouten any lie:", "This mayst thou understand and see at eye.", "Lo th' oak, that hath so long a nourishing", "From the time that it 'ginneth first to spring,", "And hath so long a life, as ye may see,", "Yet at the last y-wasted is the tree.", "Consider eke, how that the harde stone", "Under our feet, on which we tread and gon,", "Yet wasteth, as it lieth by the way.", "The broade river some time waxeth drey.", "The greate townes see we wane and wend.", "Then may ye see that all things have an end.", "Of man and woman see we well also, --", "That needes in one of the termes two, --", "That is to say, in youth or else in age,-", "He must be dead, the king as shall a page;", "Some in his bed, some in the deepe sea,", "Some in the large field, as ye may see:", "There helpeth nought, all go that ilke way:", "Then may I say that alle thing must die.", "What maketh this but Jupiter the king?", "The which is prince, and cause of alle thing,", "Converting all unto his proper will,", "From which it is derived, sooth to tell", "And hereagainst no creature alive,", "Of no degree, availeth for to strive.", "Then is it wisdom, as it thinketh me,", "To make a virtue of necessity,", "And take it well, that we may not eschew,", "And namely what to us all is due.", "And whoso grudgeth ought, he doth folly,", "And rebel is to him that all may gie.", "And certainly a man hath most honour", "To dien in his excellence and flower,", "When he is sicker of his goode name.", "Then hath he done his friend, nor him, no shame", "And gladder ought his friend be of his death,", "When with honour is yielded up his breath,", "Than when his name appalled is for age;", "For all forgotten is his vassalage.", "Then is it best, as for a worthy fame,", "To dien when a man is best of name.", "The contrary of all this is wilfulness.", "Why grudge we, why have we heaviness,", "That good Arcite, of chivalry the flower,", "Departed is, with duty and honour,", "Out of this foule prison of this life?", "Why grudge here his cousin and his wife", "Of his welfare, that loved him so well?", "Can he them thank? nay, God wot, neverdeal, --", "That both his soul and eke themselves offend,", "And yet they may their lustes not amend.", "What may I conclude of this longe serie,", "But after sorrow I rede us to be merry,", "And thanke Jupiter for all his grace?", "And ere that we departe from this place,", "I rede that we make of sorrows two", "One perfect joye lasting evermo':", "And look now where most sorrow is herein,", "There will I first amenden and begin.", "\"Sister,\" quoth he, \"this is my full assent,", "With all th' advice here of my parlement,", "That gentle Palamon, your owen knight,", "That serveth you with will, and heart, and might,", "And ever hath, since first time ye him knew,", "That ye shall of your grace upon him rue,", "And take him for your husband and your lord:", "Lend me your hand, for this is our accord.", "Let see now of your womanly pity.", "He is a kinge's brother's son, pardie.", "And though he were a poore bachelere,", "Since he hath served you so many a year,", "And had for you so great adversity,", "It muste be considered, 'lieveth me.", "For gentle mercy oweth to passen right.\"", "Then said he thus to Palamon the knight;", "\"I trow there needeth little sermoning", "To make you assente to this thing.", "Come near, and take your lady by the hand.\"", "Betwixte them was made anon the band,", "That hight matrimony or marriage,", "By all the counsel of the baronage.", "And thus with alle bliss and melody", "Hath Palamon y-wedded Emily.", "And God, that all this wide world hath wrought,", "Send him his love, that hath it dearly bought.", "For now is Palamon in all his weal,", "Living in bliss, in riches, and in heal.", "And Emily him loves so tenderly,", "And he her serveth all so gentilly,", "That never was there worde them between", "Of jealousy, nor of none other teen.", "Thus endeth Palamon and Emily", "And God save all this faire company." ], "linecount": "2248" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Miller's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "When that the Knight had thus his tale told", "In all the rout was neither young nor old,", "That he not said it was a noble story,", "And worthy to be drawen to memory;", "And namely the gentles every one.", "Our Host then laugh'd and swore, \"So may I gon,", "This goes aright; unbuckled is the mail;", "Let see now who shall tell another tale:", "For truely this game is well begun.", "Now telleth ye, Sir Monk, if that ye conne,", "Somewhat, to quiten with the Knighte's tale.\"", "The Miller that fordrunken was all pale,", "So that unnethes upon his horse he sat,", "He would avalen neither hood nor hat,", "Nor abide no man for his courtesy,", "But in Pilate's voice he gan to cry,", "And swore by armes, and by blood, and bones,", "\"I can a noble tale for the nones", "With which I will now quite the Knighte's tale.\"", "Our Host saw well how drunk he was of ale,", "And said; \"Robin, abide, my leve brother,", "Some better man shall tell us first another:", "Abide, and let us worke thriftily.\"", "By Godde's soul,\" quoth he, \"that will not I,", "For I will speak, or elles go my way!\"", "Our Host answer'd; \"Tell on a devil way;", "Thou art a fool; thy wit is overcome.\"", "\"Now hearken,\" quoth the Miller, \"all and some:", "But first I make a protestatioun.", "That I am drunk, I know it by my soun':", "And therefore if that I misspeak or say,", "Wite it the ale of Southwark, I you pray:", "For I will tell a legend and a life", "Both of a carpenter and of his wife,", "How that a clerk hath set the wrighte's cap.\"", "The Reeve answer'd and saide, \"Stint thy clap,", "Let be thy lewed drunken harlotry.", "It is a sin, and eke a great folly", "To apeiren any man, or him defame,", "And eke to bringe wives in evil name.", "Thou may'st enough of other thinges sayn.\"", "This drunken Miller spake full soon again,", "And saide, \"Leve brother Osewold,", "Who hath no wife, he is no cuckold.", "But I say not therefore that thou art one;", "There be full goode wives many one.", "Why art thou angry with my tale now?", "I have a wife, pardie, as well as thou,", "Yet n'old I, for the oxen in my plough,", "Taken upon me more than enough,", "To deemen of myself that I am one;", "I will believe well that I am none.", "An husband should not be inquisitive", "Of Godde's privity, nor of his wife.", "So he may finde Godde's foison there,", "Of the remnant needeth not to enquere.\"", "", "What should I more say, but that this Millere", "He would his wordes for no man forbear,", "But told his churlish tale in his mannere;", "Me thinketh, that I shall rehearse it here.", "And therefore every gentle wight I pray,", "For Godde's love to deem not that I say", "Of evil intent, but that I must rehearse", "Their tales all, be they better or worse,", "Or elles falsen some of my mattere.", "And therefore whoso list it not to hear,", "Turn o'er the leaf, and choose another tale;", "For he shall find enough, both great and smale,", "Of storial thing that toucheth gentiless,", "And eke morality and holiness.", "Blame not me, if that ye choose amiss.", "The Miller is a churl, ye know well this,", "So was the Reeve, with many other mo',", "And harlotry they tolde bothe two.", "Avise you now, and put me out of blame;", "And eke men should not make earnest of game.", "", "THE TALE.", "", "Whilom there was dwelling in Oxenford", "A riche gnof, that guestes held to board,", "And of his craft he was a carpenter.", "With him there was dwelling a poor scholer,", "Had learned art, but all his fantasy", "Was turned for to learn astrology.", "He coude a certain of conclusions", "To deeme by interrogations,", "If that men asked him in certain hours,", "When that men should have drought or elles show'rs:", "Or if men asked him what shoulde fall", "Of everything, I may not reckon all.", "", "This clerk was called Hendy Nicholas;", "Of derne love he knew and of solace;", "And therewith he was sly and full privy,", "And like a maiden meek for to see.", "A chamber had he in that hostelry", "Alone, withouten any company,", "Full fetisly y-dight with herbes swoot,", "And he himself was sweet as is the root", "Of liquorice, or any setewall.", "His Almagest, and bookes great and small,", "His astrolabe, belonging to his art,", "His augrim stones, layed fair apart", "On shelves couched at his bedde's head,", "His press y-cover'd with a falding red.", "And all above there lay a gay psalt'ry", "On which he made at nightes melody,", "So sweetely, that all the chamber rang:", "And Angelus ad virginem he sang.", "And after that he sung the kinge's note;", "Full often blessed was his merry throat.", "And thus this sweete clerk his time spent", "After his friendes finding and his rent.", "", "This carpenter had wedded new a wife,", "Which that he loved more than his life:", "Of eighteen year, I guess, she was of age.", "Jealous he was, and held her narr'w in cage,", "For she was wild and young, and he was old,", "And deemed himself belike a cuckold.", "He knew not Cato, for his wit was rude,", "That bade a man wed his similitude.", "Men shoulde wedden after their estate,", "For youth and eld are often at debate.", "But since that he was fallen in the snare,", "He must endure (as other folk) his care.", "Fair was this younge wife, and therewithal", "As any weasel her body gent and small.", "A seint she weared, barred all of silk,", "A barm-cloth eke as white as morning milk", "Upon her lendes, full of many a gore.", "White was her smock, and broider'd all before,", "And eke behind, on her collar about", "Of coal-black silk, within and eke without.", "The tapes of her white volupere", "Were of the same suit of her collere;", "Her fillet broad of silk, and set full high:", "And sickerly she had a likerous eye.", "Full small y-pulled were her browes two,", "And they were bent, and black as any sloe.", "She was well more blissful on to see", "Than is the newe perjenete tree;", "And softer than the wool is of a wether.", "And by her girdle hung a purse of leather,", "Tassel'd with silk, and pearled with latoun.", "In all this world to seeken up and down", "There is no man so wise, that coude thenche", "So gay a popelot, or such a wench.", "Full brighter was the shining of her hue,", "Than in the Tower the noble forged new.", "But of her song, it was as loud and yern,", "As any swallow chittering on a bern.", "Thereto she coulde skip, and make a game", "As any kid or calf following his dame.", "Her mouth was sweet as braket, or as methe", "Or hoard of apples, laid in hay or heath.", "Wincing she was as is a jolly colt,", "Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt.", "A brooch she bare upon her low collere,", "As broad as is the boss of a bucklere.", "Her shoon were laced on her legges high;", "She was a primerole, a piggesnie ,", "For any lord t' have ligging in his bed,", "Or yet for any good yeoman to wed.", "", "Now, sir, and eft sir, so befell the case,", "That on a day this Hendy Nicholas", "Fell with this younge wife to rage and play,", "While that her husband was at Oseney,", "As clerkes be full subtle and full quaint.", "And privily he caught her by the queint,", "And said; \"Y-wis, but if I have my will,", "For derne love of thee, leman, I spill.\"", "And helde her fast by the haunche bones,", "And saide \"Leman, love me well at once,", "Or I will dien, all so God me save.\"", "And she sprang as a colt doth in the trave:", "And with her head she writhed fast away,", "And said; \"I will not kiss thee, by my fay.", "Why let be,\" quoth she, \"let be, Nicholas,", "Or I will cry out harow and alas!", "Do away your handes, for your courtesy.\"", "This Nicholas gan mercy for to cry,", "And spake so fair, and proffer'd him so fast,", "That she her love him granted at the last,", "And swore her oath by Saint Thomas of Kent,", "That she would be at his commandement,", "When that she may her leisure well espy.", "\"My husband is so full of jealousy,", "That but ye waite well, and be privy,", "I wot right well I am but dead,\" quoth she.", "\"Ye muste be full derne as in this case.\"", "\"Nay, thereof care thee nought,\" quoth Nicholas:", "\"A clerk had litherly beset his while,", "But if he could a carpenter beguile.\"", "And thus they were accorded and y-sworn", "To wait a time, as I have said beforn.", "When Nicholas had done thus every deal,", "And thwacked her about the lendes well,", "He kiss'd her sweet, and taketh his psalt'ry", "And playeth fast, and maketh melody.", "Then fell it thus, that to the parish church,", "Of Christe's owen workes for to wirch,", "This good wife went upon a holy day;", "Her forehead shone as bright as any day,", "So was it washen, when she left her werk.", "", "Now was there of that church a parish clerk,", "The which that was y-cleped Absolon.", "Curl'd was his hair, and as the gold it shone,", "And strutted as a fanne large and broad;", "Full straight and even lay his jolly shode.", "His rode was red, his eyen grey as goose,", "With Paule's windows carven on his shoes", "In hosen red he went full fetisly.", "Y-clad he was full small and properly,", "All in a kirtle of a light waget;", "Full fair and thicke be the pointes set,", "And thereupon he had a gay surplice,", "As white as is the blossom on the rise.", "A merry child he was, so God me save;", "Well could he letten blood, and clip, and shave,", "And make a charter of land, and a quittance.", "In twenty manners could he trip and dance,", "After the school of Oxenforde tho,", "And with his legges caste to and fro;", "And playen songes on a small ribible;", "Thereto he sung sometimes a loud quinible", "And as well could he play on a gitern.", "In all the town was brewhouse nor tavern,", "That he not visited with his solas,", "There as that any garnard tapstere was.", "But sooth to say he was somedeal squaimous", "Of farting, and of speeche dangerous.", "This Absolon, that jolly was and gay,", "Went with a censer on the holy day,", "Censing the wives of the parish fast;", "And many a lovely look he on them cast,", "And namely on this carpenter's wife:", "To look on her him thought a merry life.", "She was so proper, and sweet, and likerous.", "I dare well say, if she had been a mouse,", "And he a cat, he would her hent anon.", "This parish clerk, this jolly Absolon,", "Hath in his hearte such a love-longing!", "That of no wife took he none offering;", "For courtesy he said he woulde none.", "The moon at night full clear and brighte shone,", "And Absolon his gitern hath y-taken,", "For paramours he thoughte for to waken,", "And forth he went, jolif and amorous,", "Till he came to the carpentere's house,", "A little after the cock had y-crow,", "And dressed him under a shot window ,", "That was upon the carpentere's wall.", "He singeth in his voice gentle and small;", "\"Now, dear lady, if thy will be,", "I pray that ye will rue on me;\"", "Full well accordant to his giterning.", "This carpenter awoke, and heard him sing,", "And spake unto his wife, and said anon,", "What Alison, hear'st thou not Absolon,", "That chanteth thus under our bower wall?\"", "And she answer'd her husband therewithal;", "\"Yes, God wot, John, I hear him every deal.\"", "This passeth forth; what will ye bet than well?", "", "From day to day this jolly Absolon", "So wooeth her, that him is woebegone.", "He waketh all the night, and all the day,", "To comb his lockes broad, and make him gay.", "He wooeth her by means and by brocage,", "And swore he woulde be her owen page.", "He singeth brokking as a nightingale.", "He sent her piment , mead, and spiced ale,", "And wafers piping hot out of the glede:", "And, for she was of town, he proffer'd meed.", "For some folk will be wonnen for richess,", "And some for strokes, and some with gentiless.", "Sometimes, to show his lightness and mast'ry,", "He playeth Herod on a scaffold high.", "But what availeth him as in this case?", "So loveth she the Hendy Nicholas,", "That Absolon may blow the bucke's horn:", "He had for all his labour but a scorn.", "And thus she maketh Absolon her ape,", "And all his earnest turneth to a jape.", "Full sooth is this proverb, it is no lie;", "Men say right thus alway; the nighe sly", "Maketh oft time the far lief to be loth.", "For though that Absolon be wood or wroth", "Because that he far was from her sight,", "This nigh Nicholas stood still in his light.", "Now bear thee well, thou Hendy Nicholas,", "For Absolon may wail and sing \"Alas!\"", "", "And so befell, that on a Saturday", "This carpenter was gone to Oseney,", "And Hendy Nicholas and Alison", "Accorded were to this conclusion,", "That Nicholas shall shape him a wile", "The silly jealous husband to beguile;", "And if so were the game went aright,", "She shoulde sleepen in his arms all night;", "For this was her desire and his also.", "And right anon, withoute wordes mo',", "This Nicholas no longer would he tarry,", "But doth full soft unto his chamber carry", "Both meat and drinke for a day or tway.", "And to her husband bade her for to say,", "If that he asked after Nicholas,", "She shoulde say, \"She wist not where he was;", "Of all the day she saw him not with eye;", "She trowed he was in some malady,", "For no cry that her maiden could him call", "He would answer, for nought that might befall.\"", "Thus passed forth all thilke Saturday,", "That Nicholas still in his chamber lay,", "And ate, and slept, and didde what him list", "Till Sunday, that the sunne went to rest.", "This silly carpenter had great marvaill", "Of Nicholas, or what thing might him ail,", "And said; \"I am adrad, by Saint Thomas!", "It standeth not aright with Nicholas:", "God shielde that he died suddenly.", "This world is now full fickle sickerly.", "I saw to-day a corpse y-borne to chirch,", "That now on Monday last I saw him wirch.", "\"Go up,\" quod he unto his knave, \"anon;", "Clepe at his door, or knocke with a stone:", "Look how it is, and tell me boldely.\"", "This knave went him up full sturdily,", "And, at the chamber door while that he stood,", "He cried and knocked as that he were wood:", "\"What how? what do ye, Master Nicholay?", "How may ye sleepen all the longe day?\"", "But all for nought, he hearde not a word.", "An hole he found full low upon the board,", "Where as the cat was wont in for to creep,", "And at that hole he looked in full deep,", "And at the last he had of him a sight.", "This Nicholas sat ever gaping upright,", "As he had kyked on the newe moon.", "Adown he went, and told his master soon,", "In what array he saw this ilke man.", "", "This carpenter to blissen him began,", "And said: \"Now help us, Sainte Frideswide.", "A man wot little what shall him betide.", "This man is fall'n with his astronomy", "Into some woodness or some agony.", "I thought aye well how that it shoulde be.", "Men should know nought of Godde's privity.", "Yea, blessed be alway a lewed man,", "That nought but only his believe can.", "So far'd another clerk with astronomy:", "He walked in the fieldes for to pry", "Upon the starres, what there should befall,", "Till he was in a marle pit y-fall.", "He saw not that. But yet, by Saint Thomas!", "Me rueth sore of Hendy Nicholas:", "He shall be rated of his studying,", "If that I may, by Jesus, heaven's king!", "Get me a staff, that I may underspore", "While that thou, Robin, heavest off the door:", "He shall out of his studying, as I guess.\"", "And to the chamber door he gan him dress", "His knave was a strong carl for the nonce,", "And by the hasp he heav'd it off at once;", "Into the floor the door fell down anon.", "This Nicholas sat aye as still as stone,", "And ever he gap'd upward into the air.", "The carpenter ween'd he were in despair,", "And hent him by the shoulders mightily,", "And shook him hard, and cried spitously;", "\"What, Nicholas? what how, man? look adown:", "Awake, and think on Christe's passioun.", "I crouche thee from elves, and from wights.", "Therewith the night-spell said he anon rights,", "On the four halves of the house about,", "And on the threshold of the door without.", "\"Lord Jesus Christ, and Sainte Benedight,", "Blesse this house from every wicked wight,", "From the night mare, the white Pater-noster;", "Where wonnest thou now, Sainte Peter's sister?\"", "And at the last this Hendy Nicholas", "Gan for to sigh full sore, and said; \"Alas!", "Shall all time world be lost eftsoones now?\"", "This carpenter answer'd; \"What sayest thou?", "What? think on God, as we do, men that swink.\"", "This Nicholas answer'd; \"Fetch me a drink;", "And after will I speak in privity", "Of certain thing that toucheth thee and me:", "I will tell it no other man certain.\"", "", "This carpenter went down, and came again,", "And brought of mighty ale a large quart;", "And when that each of them had drunk his part,", "This Nicholas his chamber door fast shet,", "And down the carpenter by him he set,", "And saide; \"John, mine host full lief and dear,", "Thou shalt upon thy truthe swear me here,", "That to no wight thou shalt my counsel wray:", "For it is Christes counsel that I say,", "And if thou tell it man, thou art forlore:", "For this vengeance thou shalt have therefor,", "That if thou wraye me, thou shalt be wood.\"", "\"Nay, Christ forbid it for his holy blood!\"", "Quoth then this silly man; \"I am no blab,", "Nor, though I say it, am I lief to gab.", "Say what thou wilt, I shall it never tell", "To child or wife, by him that harried Hell.\"", "", "\"Now, John,\" quoth Nicholas, \"I will not lie,", "I have y-found in my astrology,", "As I have looked in the moone bright,", "That now on Monday next, at quarter night,", "Shall fall a rain, and that so wild and wood,", "That never half so great was Noe's flood.", "This world,\" he said, \"in less than half an hour", "Shall all be dreint, so hideous is the shower:", "Thus shall mankinde drench, and lose their life.\"", "This carpenter answer'd; \"Alas, my wife!", "And shall she drench? alas, mine Alisoun!\"", "For sorrow of this he fell almost adown,", "And said; \"Is there no remedy in this case?\"", "\"Why, yes, for God,\" quoth Hendy Nicholas;", "\"If thou wilt worken after lore and rede;", "Thou may'st not worken after thine own head.", "For thus saith Solomon, that was full true:", "Work all by counsel, and thou shalt not rue.", "And if thou worke wilt by good counseil,", "I undertake, withoute mast or sail,", "Yet shall I save her, and thee, and me.", "Hast thou not heard how saved was Noe,", "When that our Lord had warned him beforn,", "That all the world with water should be lorn?\"", "\"Yes,\" quoth this carpenter,\" full yore ago.\"", "\"Hast thou not heard,\" quoth Nicholas, \"also", "The sorrow of Noe, with his fellowship,", "That he had ere he got his wife to ship?", "Him had been lever, I dare well undertake,", "At thilke time, than all his wethers black,", "That she had had a ship herself alone.", "And therefore know'st thou what is best to be done?", "This asketh haste, and of an hasty thing", "Men may not preach or make tarrying.", "Anon go get us fast into this inn", "A kneading trough, or else a kemelin,", "For each of us; but look that they be large,", "In whiche we may swim as in a barge:", "And have therein vitaille suffisant", "But for one day; fie on the remenant;", "The water shall aslake and go away", "Aboute prime upon the nexte day.", "But Robin may not know of this, thy knave,", "Nor eke thy maiden Gill I may not save:", "Ask me not why: for though thou aske me", "I will not telle Godde's privity.", "Sufficeth thee, but if thy wit be mad,", "To have as great a grace as Noe had;", "Thy wife shall I well saven out of doubt.", "Go now thy way, and speed thee hereabout.", "But when thou hast for her, and thee, and me,", "Y-gotten us these kneading tubbes three,", "Then shalt thou hang them in the roof full high,", "So that no man our purveyance espy:", "And when thou hast done thus as I have said,", "And hast our vitaille fair in them y-laid,", "And eke an axe to smite the cord in two", "When that the water comes, that we may go,", "And break an hole on high upon the gable", "Into the garden-ward, over the stable,", "That we may freely passe forth our way,", "When that the greate shower is gone away.", "Then shalt thou swim as merry, I undertake,", "As doth the white duck after her drake:", "Then will I clepe, 'How, Alison? How, John?", "Be merry: for the flood will pass anon.'", "And thou wilt say, 'Hail, Master Nicholay,", "Good-morrow, I see thee well, for it is day.'", "And then shall we be lordes all our life", "Of all the world, as Noe and his wife.", "But of one thing I warne thee full right,", "Be well advised, on that ilke night,", "When we be enter'd into shippe's board,", "That none of us not speak a single word,", "Nor clepe nor cry, but be in his prayere,", "For that is Godde's owen heste dear.", "Thy wife and thou must hangen far atween,", "For that betwixte you shall be no sin,", "No more in looking than there shall in deed.", "This ordinance is said: go, God thee speed", "To-morrow night, when men be all asleep,", "Into our kneading tubbes will we creep,", "And sitte there, abiding Godde's grace.", "Go now thy way, I have no longer space", "To make of this no longer sermoning:", "Men say thus: Send the wise, and say nothing:", "Thou art so wise, it needeth thee nought teach.", "Go, save our lives, and that I thee beseech.\"", "", "This silly carpenter went forth his way,", "Full oft he said, \"Alas! and Well-a-day!,'", "And to his wife he told his privity,", "And she was ware, and better knew than he", "What all this quainte cast was for to say.", "But natheless she fear'd as she would dey,", "And said: \"Alas! go forth thy way anon.", "Help us to scape, or we be dead each one.", "I am thy true and very wedded wife;", "Go, deare spouse, and help to save our life.\"", "Lo, what a great thing is affection!", "Men may die of imagination,", "So deeply may impression be take.", "This silly carpenter begins to quake:", "He thinketh verily that he may see", "This newe flood come weltering as the sea", "To drenchen Alison, his honey dear.", "He weepeth, waileth, maketh sorry cheer;", "He sigheth, with full many a sorry sough.", "He go'th, and getteth him a kneading trough,", "And after that a tub, and a kemelin,", "And privily he sent them to his inn:", "And hung them in the roof full privily.", "With his own hand then made he ladders three,", "To climbe by the ranges and the stalks", "Unto the tubbes hanging in the balks;", "And victualed them, kemelin, trough, and tub,", "With bread and cheese, and good ale in a jub,", "Sufficing right enough as for a day.", "But ere that he had made all this array,", "He sent his knave, and eke his wench also,", "Upon his need to London for to go.", "And on the Monday, when it drew to night,", "He shut his door withoute candle light,", "And dressed every thing as it should be.", "And shortly up they climbed all the three.", "They satte stille well a furlong way.", "\"Now, Pater noster, clum,\" said Nicholay,", "And \"clum,\" quoth John; and \"clum,\" said Alison:", "This carpenter said his devotion,", "And still he sat and bidded his prayere,", "Awaking on the rain, if he it hear.", "The deade sleep, for weary business,", "Fell on this carpenter, right as I guess,", "About the curfew-time, or little more,", "For travail of his ghost he groaned sore,", "And eft he routed, for his head mislay.", "Adown the ladder stalked Nicholay;", "And Alison full soft adown she sped.", "Withoute wordes more they went to bed,", "There as the carpenter was wont to lie:", "There was the revel, and the melody.", "And thus lay Alison and Nicholas,", "In business of mirth and in solace,", "Until the bell of laudes gan to ring,", "And friars in the chancel went to sing.", "", "This parish clerk, this amorous Absolon,", "That is for love alway so woebegone,", "Upon the Monday was at Oseney", "With company, him to disport and play;", "And asked upon cas a cloisterer", "Full privily after John the carpenter;", "And he drew him apart out of the church,", "And said, \"I n'ot; I saw him not here wirch", "Since Saturday; I trow that he be went", "For timber, where our abbot hath him sent.", "And dwellen at the Grange a day or two:", "For he is wont for timber for to go,", "Or else he is at his own house certain.", "Where that he be, I cannot soothly sayn.\"", "This Absolon full jolly was and light,", "And thought, \"Now is the time to wake all night,", "For sickerly I saw him not stirring", "About his door, since day began to spring.", "So may I thrive, but I shall at cock crow", "Full privily go knock at his window,", "That stands full low upon his bower wall:", "To Alison then will I tellen all", "My love-longing; for I shall not miss", "That at the leaste way I shall her kiss.", "Some manner comfort shall I have, parfay,", "My mouth hath itched all this livelong day:", "That is a sign of kissing at the least.", "All night I mette eke I was at a feast.", "Therefore I will go sleep an hour or tway,", "And all the night then will I wake and play.\"", "When that the first cock crowed had, anon", "Up rose this jolly lover Absolon,", "And him arrayed gay, at point devise.", "But first he chewed grains and liquorice,", "To smelle sweet, ere he had combed his hair.", "Under his tongue a true love he bare,", "For thereby thought he to be gracious.", "", "Then came he to the carpentere's house,", "And still he stood under the shot window;", "Unto his breast it raught, it was so low;", "And soft he coughed with a semisoun'.", "\"What do ye, honeycomb, sweet Alisoun?", "My faire bird, my sweet cinamome,", "Awaken, leman mine, and speak to me.", "Full little thinke ye upon my woe,", "That for your love I sweat there as I go.", "No wonder is that I do swelt and sweat.", "I mourn as doth a lamb after the teat", "Y-wis, leman, I have such love-longing,", "That like a turtle true is my mourning.", "I may not eat, no more than a maid.\"", "\"Go from the window, thou jack fool,\" she said:", "\"As help me God, it will not be, 'come ba me.'", "I love another, else I were to blame\",", "Well better than thee, by Jesus, Absolon.", "Go forth thy way, or I will cast a stone;", "And let me sleep; a twenty devil way.", "\"Alas!\" quoth Absolon, \"and well away!", "That true love ever was so ill beset:", "Then kiss me, since that it may be no bet,", "For Jesus' love, and for the love of me.\"", "\"Wilt thou then go thy way therewith?\" , quoth she.", "\"Yea, certes, leman,\" quoth this Absolon.", "\"Then make thee ready,\" quoth she, \"I come anon.\"", "[And unto Nicholas she said full still:", "\"Now peace, and thou shalt laugh anon thy fill.\"]", "This Absolon down set him on his knees,", "And said; \"I am a lord at all degrees:", "For after this I hope there cometh more;", "Leman, thy grace, and, sweete bird, thine ore.\"", "The window she undid, and that in haste.", "\"Have done,\" quoth she, \"come off, and speed thee fast,", "Lest that our neighebours should thee espy.\"", "Then Absolon gan wipe his mouth full dry.", "Dark was the night as pitch or as the coal,", "And at the window she put out her hole,", "And Absolon him fell ne bet ne werse,", "But with his mouth he kiss'd her naked erse", "Full savourly. When he was ware of this,", "Aback he start, and thought it was amiss;", "For well he wist a woman hath no beard.", "He felt a thing all rough, and long y-hair'd,", "And saide; \"Fy, alas! what have I do?\"", "\"Te he!\" quoth she, and clapt the window to;", "And Absolon went forth at sorry pace.", "\"A beard, a beard,\" said Hendy Nicholas;", "\"By God's corpus, this game went fair and well.\"", "This silly Absolon heard every deal,", "And on his lip he gan for anger bite;", "And to himself he said, \"I shall thee quite.", "Who rubbeth now, who frotteth now his lips", "With dust, with sand, with straw, with cloth, with chips,", "But Absolon? that saith full oft, \"Alas!", "My soul betake I unto Sathanas,", "But me were lever than all this town,\" quoth he", "I this despite awroken for to be.", "Alas! alas! that I have been y-blent.\"", "His hote love is cold, and all y-quent.", "For from that time that he had kiss'd her erse,", "Of paramours he sette not a kers,", "For he was healed of his malady;", "Full often paramours he gan defy,", "And weep as doth a child that hath been beat.", "A softe pace he went over the street", "Unto a smith, men callen Dan Gerveis,", "That in his forge smithed plough-harness;", "He sharped share and culter busily.", "This Absolon knocked all easily,", "And said; \"Undo, Gerveis, and that anon.\"", "\"What, who art thou?\" \"It is I, Absolon.\"", "\"What? Absolon, what? Christe's sweete tree,", "Why rise so rath? hey! Benedicite,", "What aileth you? some gay girl, God it wote,", "Hath brought you thus upon the viretote:", "By Saint Neot, ye wot well what I mean.\"", "This Absolon he raughte not a bean", "Of all his play; no word again he gaf,", "For he had more tow on his distaff", "Than Gerveis knew, and saide; \"Friend so dear,", "That hote culter in the chimney here", "Lend it to me, I have therewith to don:", "I will it bring again to thee full soon.\"", "Gerveis answered; \"Certes, were it gold,", "Or in a poke nobles all untold,", "Thou shouldst it have, as I am a true smith.", "Hey! Christe's foot, what will ye do therewith?\"", "\"Thereof,\" quoth Absolon, \"be as be may;", "I shall well tell it thee another day:\"", "And caught the culter by the colde stele.", "Full soft out at the door he gan to steal,", "And went unto the carpentere's wall", "He coughed first, and knocked therewithal", "Upon the window, light as he did ere.", "This Alison answered; \"Who is there", "That knocketh so? I warrant him a thief.\"", "\"Nay, nay,\" quoth he, \"God wot, my sweete lefe,", "I am thine Absolon, my own darling.", "Of gold,\" quoth he, \"I have thee brought a ring,", "My mother gave it me, so God me save!", "Full fine it is, and thereto well y-grave:", "This will I give to thee, if thou me kiss.\"", "Now Nicholas was risen up to piss,", "And thought he would amenden all the jape;", "He shoulde kiss his erse ere that he scape:", "And up the window did he hastily,", "And out his erse he put full privily", "Over the buttock, to the haunche bone.", "And therewith spake this clerk, this Absolon,", "\"Speak, sweete bird, I know not where thou art.\"", "This Nicholas anon let fly a fart,", "As great as it had been a thunder dent;", "That with the stroke he was well nigh y-blent;", "But he was ready with his iron hot,", "And Nicholas amid the erse he smote.", "Off went the skin an handbreadth all about.", "The hote culter burned so his tout,", "That for the smart he weened he would die;", "As he were wood, for woe he gan to cry,", "\"Help! water, water, help for Godde's heart!\"", "", "This carpenter out of his slumber start,", "And heard one cry \"Water,\" as he were wood,", "And thought, \"Alas! now cometh Noe's flood.\"", "He sat him up withoute wordes mo'", "And with his axe he smote the cord in two;", "And down went all; he found neither to sell", "Nor bread nor ale, till he came to the sell,", "Upon the floor, and there in swoon he lay.", "Up started Alison and Nicholay,", "And cried out an \"harow!\" in the street.", "The neighbours alle, bothe small and great", "In ranne, for to gauren on this man,", "That yet in swoone lay, both pale and wan:", "For with the fall he broken had his arm.", "But stand he must unto his owen harm,", "For when he spake, he was anon borne down", "With Hendy Nicholas and Alisoun.", "They told to every man that he was wood;", "He was aghaste so of Noe's flood,", "Through phantasy, that of his vanity", "He had y-bought him kneading-tubbes three,", "And had them hanged in the roof above;", "And that he prayed them for Godde's love", "To sitten in the roof for company.", "The folk gan laughen at his phantasy.", "Into the roof they kyken and they gape,", "And turned all his harm into a jape.", "For whatsoe'er this carpenter answer'd,", "It was for nought, no man his reason heard.", "With oathes great he was so sworn adown,", "That he was holden wood in all the town.", "For every clerk anon right held with other;", "They said, \"The man was wood, my leve brother;\"", "And every wight gan laughen at his strife.", "Thus swived was the carpentere's wife,", "For all his keeping and his jealousy;", "And Absolon hath kiss'd her nether eye;", "And Nicholas is scalded in the tout.", "This tale is done, and God save all the rout." ], "linecount": "746" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Reeve's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "WHEN folk had laughed all at this nice case", "Of Absolon and Hendy Nicholas,", "Diverse folk diversely they said,", "But for the more part they laugh'd and play'd;", "And at this tale I saw no man him grieve,", "But it were only Osewold the Reeve.", "Because he was of carpenteres craft,", "A little ire is in his hearte laft;", "He gan to grudge and blamed it a lite.", "\"So the I,\" quoth he, \"full well could I him quite", "With blearing of a proude miller's eye,", "If that me list to speak of ribaldry.", "But I am old; me list not play for age;", "Grass time is done, my fodder is now forage.", "This white top writeth mine olde years;", "Mine heart is also moulded as mine hairs;", "And I do fare as doth an open-erse;", "That ilke fruit is ever longer werse,", "Till it be rotten in mullok or in stre.", "We olde men, I dread, so fare we;", "Till we be rotten, can we not be ripe;", "We hop away, while that the world will pipe;", "For in our will there sticketh aye a nail,", "To have an hoary head and a green tail,", "As hath a leek; for though our might be gone,", "Our will desireth folly ever-in-one:", "For when we may not do, then will we speak,", "Yet in our ashes cold does fire reek.", "Four gledes have we, which I shall devise,", "Vaunting, and lying, anger, covetise.", "These foure sparks belongen unto eld.", "Our olde limbes well may be unweld,", "But will shall never fail us, that is sooth.", "And yet have I alway a coltes tooth,", "As many a year as it is passed and gone", "Since that my tap of life began to run;", "For sickerly, when I was born, anon", "Death drew the tap of life, and let it gon:", "And ever since hath so the tap y-run,", "Till that almost all empty is the tun.", "The stream of life now droppeth on the chimb.", "The silly tongue well may ring and chime", "Of wretchedness, that passed is full yore:", "With olde folk, save dotage, is no more.", "", "When that our Host had heard this sermoning,", "He gan to speak as lordly as a king,", "And said; \"To what amounteth all this wit?", "What? shall we speak all day of holy writ?", "The devil made a Reeve for to preach,", "As of a souter a shipman, or a leach.", "Say forth thy tale, and tarry not the time:", "Lo here is Deptford, and 'tis half past prime:", "Lo Greenwich, where many a shrew is in.", "It were high time thy tale to begin.\"", "", "\"Now, sirs,\" quoth then this Osewold the Reeve,", "I pray you all that none of you do grieve,", "Though I answer, and somewhat set his hove,", "For lawful is force off with force to shove.", "This drunken miller hath y-told us here", "How that beguiled was a carpentere,", "Paraventure in scorn, for I am one:", "And, by your leave, I shall him quite anon.", "Right in his churlish termes will I speak,", "I pray to God his necke might to-break.", "He can well in mine eye see a stalk,", "But in his own he cannot see a balk.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "At Trompington, not far from Cantebrig,", "There goes a brook, and over that a brig,", "Upon the whiche brook there stands a mill:", "And this is very sooth that I you tell.", "A miller was there dwelling many a day,", "As any peacock he was proud and gay:", "Pipen he could, and fish, and nettes bete,", "And turne cups, and wrestle well, and shete.", "Aye by his belt he bare a long pavade,", "And of his sword full trenchant was the blade.", "A jolly popper bare he in his pouch;", "There was no man for peril durst him touch.", "A Sheffield whittle bare he in his hose.", "Round was his face, and camuse was his nose.", "As pilled as an ape's was his skull.", "He was a market-beter at the full.", "There durste no wight hand upon him legge,", "That he ne swore anon he should abegge.", "", "A thief he was, for sooth, of corn and meal,", "And that a sly, and used well to steal.", "His name was hoten deinous Simekin", "A wife he hadde, come of noble kin:", "The parson of the town her father was.", "With her he gave full many a pan of brass,", "For that Simkin should in his blood ally.", "She was y-foster'd in a nunnery:", "For Simkin woulde no wife, as he said,", "But she were well y-nourish'd, and a maid,", "To saven his estate and yeomanry:", "And she was proud, and pert as is a pie.", "A full fair sight it was to see them two;", "On holy days before her would he go", "With his tippet y-bound about his head;", "And she came after in a gite of red,", "And Simkin hadde hosen of the same.", "There durste no wight call her aught but Dame:", "None was so hardy, walking by that way,", "That with her either durste rage or play,", "But if he would be slain by Simekin", "With pavade, or with knife, or bodekin.", "For jealous folk be per'lous evermo':", "Algate they would their wives wende so.", "And eke for she was somewhat smutterlich,", "She was as dign as water in a ditch,", "And all so full of hoker, and bismare.", "Her thoughte that a lady should her spare,", "What for her kindred, and her nortelrie", "That she had learned in the nunnery.", "", "One daughter hadde they betwixt them two", "Of twenty year, withouten any mo,", "Saving a child that was of half year age,", "In cradle it lay, and was a proper page.", "This wenche thick and well y-growen was,", "With camuse nose, and eyen gray as glass;", "With buttocks broad, and breastes round and high;", "But right fair was her hair, I will not lie.", "The parson of the town, for she was fair,", "In purpose was to make of her his heir", "Both of his chattels and his messuage,", "And strange he made it of her marriage.", "His purpose was for to bestow her high", "Into some worthy blood of ancestry.", "For holy Church's good may be dispended", "On holy Church's blood that is descended.", "Therefore he would his holy blood honour", "Though that he holy Churche should devour.", "", "Great soken hath this miller, out of doubt,", "With wheat and malt, of all the land about;", "And namely there was a great college", "Men call the Soler Hall at Cantebrege,", "There was their wheat and eke their malt y-ground.", "And on a day it happed in a stound,", "Sick lay the manciple of a malady,", "Men weened wisly that he shoulde die.", "For which this miller stole both meal and corn", "An hundred times more than beforn.", "For theretofore he stole but courteously,", "But now he was a thief outrageously.", "For which the warden chid and made fare,", "But thereof set the miller not a tare;", "He crack'd his boast, and swore it was not so.", "", "Then were there younge poore scholars two,", "That dwelled in the hall of which I say;", "Testif they were, and lusty for to play;", "And only for their mirth and revelry", "Upon the warden busily they cry,", "To give them leave for but a little stound,", "To go to mill, and see their corn y-ground:", "And hardily they durste lay their neck,", "The miller should not steal them half a peck", "Of corn by sleight, nor them by force bereave", "And at the last the warden give them leave:", "John hight the one, and Alein hight the other,", "Of one town were they born, that highte Strother,", "Far in the North, I cannot tell you where.", "This Alein he made ready all his gear,", "And on a horse the sack he cast anon:", "Forth went Alein the clerk, and also John,", "With good sword and with buckler by their side.", "John knew the way, him needed not no guide,", "And at the mill the sack adown he lay'th.", "", "Alein spake first; \"All hail, Simon, in faith,", "How fares thy faire daughter, and thy wife.\"", "\"Alein, welcome,\" quoth Simkin, \"by my life,", "And John also: how now, what do ye here?\"", "\"By God, Simon,\" quoth John, \"need has no peer.", "Him serve himself behoves that has no swain,", "Or else he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.", "Our manciple I hope he will be dead,", "So workes aye the wanges in his head:", "And therefore is I come, and eke Alein,", "To grind our corn and carry it home again:", "I pray you speed us hence as well ye may.\"", "\"It shall be done,\" quoth Simkin, \"by my fay.", "What will ye do while that it is in hand?\"", "\"By God, right by the hopper will I stand,\"", "Quoth John, \"and see how that the corn goes in.", "Yet saw I never, by my father's kin,", "How that the hopper wagges to and fro.\"", "Alein answered, \"John, and wilt thou so?", "Then will I be beneathe, by my crown,", "And see how that the meale falls adown", "Into the trough, that shall be my disport:", "For, John, in faith I may be of your sort;", "I is as ill a miller as is ye.\"", "", "This miller smiled at their nicety,", "And thought, \"All this is done but for a wile.", "They weenen that no man may them beguile,", "But by my thrift yet shall I blear their eye,", "For all the sleight in their philosophy.", "The more quainte knackes that they make,", "The more will I steal when that I take.", "Instead of flour yet will I give them bren.", "The greatest clerks are not the wisest men,", "As whilom to the wolf thus spake the mare:", "Of all their art ne count I not a tare.\"", "Out at the door he went full privily,", "When that he saw his time, softely.", "He looked up and down, until he found", "The clerkes' horse, there as he stood y-bound", "Behind the mill, under a levesell:", "And to the horse he went him fair and well,", "And stripped off the bridle right anon.", "And when the horse was loose, he gan to gon", "Toward the fen, where wilde mares run,", "Forth, with \"Wehee!\" through thick and eke through thin.", "This miller went again, no word he said,", "But did his note, and with these clerkes play'd,", "Till that their corn was fair and well y-ground.", "And when the meal was sacked and y-bound,", "Then John went out, and found his horse away,", "And gan to cry, \"Harow, and well-away!", "Our horse is lost: Alein, for Godde's bones,", "Step on thy feet; come off, man, all at once:", "Alas! our warden has his palfrey lorn.\"", "This Alein all forgot, both meal and corn;", "All was out of his mind his husbandry.", "\"What, which way is he gone?\" he gan to cry.", "The wife came leaping inward at a renne,", "She said; \"Alas! your horse went to the fen", "With wilde mares, as fast as he could go.", "Unthank come on his hand that bound him so", "And his that better should have knit the rein.\"", "\"Alas!\" quoth John, \"Alein, for Christes pain", "Lay down thy sword, and I shall mine also.", "I is full wight, God wate, as is a roe.", "By Godde's soul he shall not scape us bathe.", "Why n' had thou put the capel in the lathe?", "Ill hail, Alein, by God thou is a fonne.\"", "These silly clerkes have full fast y-run", "Toward the fen, both Alein and eke John;", "And when the miller saw that they were gone,", "He half a bushel of their flour did take,", "And bade his wife go knead it in a cake.", "He said; I trow, the clerkes were afeard,", "Yet can a miller make a clerkes beard,", "For all his art: yea, let them go their way!", "Lo where they go! yea, let the children play:", "They get him not so lightly, by my crown.\"", "These silly clerkes runnen up and down", "With \"Keep, keep; stand, stand; jossa, warderere.", "Go whistle thou, and I shall keep him here.\"", "But shortly, till that it was very night", "They coulde not, though they did all their might,", "Their capel catch, he ran alway so fast:", "Till in a ditch they caught him at the last.", "", "Weary and wet, as beastes in the rain,", "Comes silly John, and with him comes Alein.", "\"Alas,\" quoth John, \"the day that I was born!", "Now are we driv'n till hething and till scorn.", "Our corn is stol'n, men will us fonnes call,", "Both the warden, and eke our fellows all,", "And namely the miller, well-away!\"", "Thus plained John, as he went by the way", "Toward the mill, and Bayard in his hand.", "The miller sitting by the fire he fand.", "For it was night, and forther might they not,", "But for the love of God they him besought", "Of herberow and ease, for their penny.", "The miller said again,\" If there be any,", "Such as it is, yet shall ye have your part.", "Mine house is strait, but ye have learned art;", "Ye can by arguments maken a place", "A mile broad, of twenty foot of space.", "Let see now if this place may suffice,", "Or make it room with speech, as is your guise.\"", "\"Now, Simon,\" said this John, \"by Saint Cuthberd", "Aye is thou merry, and that is fair answer'd.", "I have heard say, man shall take of two things,", "Such as he findes, or such as he brings.", "But specially I pray thee, hoste dear,", "Gar us have meat and drink, and make us cheer,", "And we shall pay thee truly at the full:", "With empty hand men may not hawkes tull.", "Lo here our silver ready for to spend.\"", "", "This miller to the town his daughter send", "For ale and bread, and roasted them a goose,", "And bound their horse, he should no more go loose:", "And them in his own chamber made a bed.", "With sheetes and with chalons fair y-spread,", "Not from his owen bed ten foot or twelve:", "His daughter had a bed all by herselve,", "Right in the same chamber by and by:", "It might no better be, and cause why,", "There was no roomer herberow in the place.", "They suppen, and they speaken of solace,", "And drinken ever strong ale at the best.", "Aboute midnight went they all to rest.", "Well had this miller varnished his head;", "Full pale he was, fordrunken, and nought red.", "He yoxed, and he spake thorough the nose,", "As he were in the quakke, or in the pose.", "To bed he went, and with him went his wife,", "As any jay she light was and jolife,", "So was her jolly whistle well y-wet.", "The cradle at her beddes feet was set,", "To rock, and eke to give the child to suck.", "And when that drunken was all in the crock", "To bedde went the daughter right anon,", "To bedde went Alein, and also John.", "There was no more; needed them no dwale.", "This miller had, so wisly bibbed ale,", "That as a horse he snorted in his sleep,", "Nor of his tail behind he took no keep.", "His wife bare him a burdoun, a full strong;", "Men might their routing hearen a furlong.", "", "The wenche routed eke for company.", "Alein the clerk, that heard this melody,", "He poked John, and saide: \"Sleepest thou?", "Heardest thou ever such a song ere now?", "Lo what a compline is y-mell them all.", "A wilde fire upon their bodies fall,", "Who hearken'd ever such a ferly thing?", "Yea, they shall have the flow'r of ill ending!", "This longe night there tides me no rest.", "But yet no force, all shall be for the best.", "For, John,\" said he, \"as ever may I thrive,", "If that I may, yon wenche will I swive.", "Some easement has law y-shapen us", "For, John, there is a law that sayeth thus,", "That if a man in one point be aggriev'd,", "That in another he shall be relievd.", "Our corn is stol'n, soothly it is no nay,", "And we have had an evil fit to-day.", "And since I shall have none amendement", "Against my loss, I will have easement:", "By Godde's soul, it shall none, other be.\"", "This John answer'd; Alein, avise thee:", "The miller is a perilous man,\" he said,", "\"And if that he out of his sleep abraid,", "He mighte do us both a villainy.\"", "Alein answer'd; \"I count him not a fly.", "And up he rose, and by the wench he crept.", "This wenche lay upright, and fast she slept,", "Till he so nigh was, ere she might espy,", "That it had been too late for to cry:", "And, shortly for to say, they were at one.", "Now play, Alein, for I will speak of John.", "", "This John lay still a furlong way or two,", "And to himself he made ruth and woe.", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"this is a wicked jape;", "Now may I say, that I is but an ape.", "Yet has my fellow somewhat for his harm;", "He has the miller's daughter in his arm:", "He auntred him, and hath his needes sped,", "And I lie as a draff-sack in my bed;", "And when this jape is told another day,", "I shall be held a daffe or a cockenay", "I will arise, and auntre it, by my fay:", "Unhardy is unsely, as men say.\"", "And up he rose, and softely he went", "Unto the cradle, and in his hand it hent,", "And bare it soft unto his beddes feet.", "Soon after this the wife her routing lete,", "And gan awake, and went her out to piss", "And came again and gan the cradle miss", "And groped here and there, but she found none.", "\"Alas!\" quoth she, \"I had almost misgone", "I had almost gone to the clerkes' bed.", "Ey! Benedicite, then had I foul y-sped.\"", "And forth she went, till she the cradle fand.", "She groped alway farther with her hand", "And found the bed, and thoughte not but good", "Because that the cradle by it stood,", "And wist not where she was, for it was derk;", "But fair and well she crept in by the clerk,", "And lay full still, and would have caught a sleep.", "Within a while this John the Clerk up leap", "And on this goode wife laid on full sore;", "So merry a fit had she not had full yore.", "He pricked hard and deep, as he were mad.", "", "This jolly life have these two clerkes had,", "Till that the thirde cock began to sing.", "Alein wax'd weary in the morrowing,", "For he had swonken all the longe night,", "And saide; \"Farewell, Malkin, my sweet wight.", "The day is come, I may no longer bide,", "But evermore, where so I go or ride,", "I is thine owen clerk, so have I hele.\"", "\"Now, deare leman,\" quoth she, \"go, fare wele:", "But ere thou go, one thing I will thee tell.", "When that thou wendest homeward by the mill,", "Right at the entry of the door behind", "Thou shalt a cake of half a bushel find,", "That was y-maked of thine owen meal,", "Which that I help'd my father for to steal.", "And goode leman, God thee save and keep.\"", "And with that word she gan almost to weep.", "Alein uprose and thought, \"Ere the day daw", "I will go creepen in by my fellaw:\"", "And found the cradle with his hand anon.", "\"By God!\" thought he, \"all wrong I have misgone:", "My head is totty of my swink to-night,", "That maketh me that I go not aright.", "I wot well by the cradle I have misgo';", "Here lie the miller and his wife also.\"", "And forth he went a twenty devil way", "Unto the bed, there as the miller lay.", "He ween'd t' have creeped by his fellow John,", "And by the miller in he crept anon,", "And caught him by the neck, and gan him shake,", "And said; \"Thou John, thou swines-head, awake", "For Christes soul, and hear a noble game!", "For by that lord that called is Saint Jame,", "As I have thries in this shorte night", "Swived the miller's daughter bolt-upright,", "While thou hast as a coward lain aghast.\"", "\"Thou false harlot,\" quoth the miller, \"hast?", "Ah, false traitor, false clerk,\" quoth he,", "\"Thou shalt be dead, by Godde's dignity,", "Who durste be so bold to disparage", "My daughter, that is come of such lineage?\"", "And by the throate-ball he caught Alein,", "And he him hent dispiteously again,", "And on the nose he smote him with his fist;", "Down ran the bloody stream upon his breast:", "And in the floor with nose and mouth all broke", "They wallow, as do two pigs in a poke.", "And up they go, and down again anon,", "Till that the miller spurned on a stone,", "And down he backward fell upon his wife,", "That wiste nothing of this nice strife:", "For she was fall'n asleep a little wight", "With John the clerk, that waked had all night:", "And with the fall out of her sleep she braid.", "\"Help, holy cross of Bromeholm,\" she said;", "\"In manus tuas! Lord, to thee I call.", "Awake, Simon, the fiend is on me fall;", "Mine heart is broken; help; I am but dead:", "There li'th one on my womb and on mine head.", "Help, Simkin, for these false clerks do fight\"", "This John start up as fast as e'er he might,", "And groped by the walles to and fro", "To find a staff; and she start up also,", "And knew the estres better than this John,", "And by the wall she took a staff anon:", "And saw a little shimmering of a light,", "For at an hole in shone the moone bright,", "And by that light she saw them both the two,", "But sickerly she wist not who was who,", "But as she saw a white thing in her eye.", "And when she gan this white thing espy,", "She ween'd the clerk had wear'd a volupere;", "And with the staff she drew aye nere and nere,", "And ween'd to have hit this Alein at the full,", "And smote the miller on the pilled skull;", "That down he went, and cried,\" Harow! I die.\"", "These clerkes beat him well, and let him lie,", "And greithen them, and take their horse anon,", "And eke their meal, and on their way they gon:", "And at the mill door eke they took their cake", "Of half a bushel flour, full well y-bake.", "", "Thus is the proude miller well y-beat,", "And hath y-lost the grinding of the wheat;", "And payed for the supper every deal", "Of Alein and of John, that beat him well;", "His wife is swived, and his daughter als;", "Lo, such it is a miller to be false.", "And therefore this proverb is said full sooth,", "\"Him thar not winnen well that evil do'th,", "A guiler shall himself beguiled be:\"", "And God that sitteth high in majesty", "Save all this Company, both great and smale.", "Thus have I quit the Miller in my tale." ], "linecount": "472" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Man of Law's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "Our Hoste saw well that the brighte sun", "Th' arc of his artificial day had run", "The fourthe part, and half an houre more;", "And, though he were not deep expert in lore,", "He wist it was the eight-and-twenty day", "Of April, that is messenger to May;", "And saw well that the shadow of every tree", "Was in its length of the same quantity", "That was the body erect that caused it;", "And therefore by the shadow he took his wit,", "That Phoebus, which that shone so clear and bright,", "Degrees was five-and-forty clomb on height;", "And for that day, as in that latitude,", "It was ten of the clock, he gan conclude;", "And suddenly he plight his horse about.", "", "\"Lordings,\" quoth he, \"I warn you all this rout,", "The fourthe partie of this day is gone.", "Now for the love of God and of Saint John", "Lose no time, as farforth as ye may.", "Lordings, the time wasteth night and day,", "And steals from us, what privily sleeping,", "And what through negligence in our waking,", "As doth the stream, that turneth never again,", "Descending from the mountain to the plain.", "Well might Senec, and many a philosopher,", "Bewaile time more than gold in coffer.", "For loss of chattels may recover'd be,", "But loss of time shendeth us, quoth he.", "", "It will not come again, withoute dread,", "No more than will Malkin's maidenhead,", "When she hath lost it in her wantonness.", "Let us not moulde thus in idleness.", "\"Sir Man of Law,\" quoth he, \"so have ye bliss,", "Tell us a tale anon, as forword is.", "Ye be submitted through your free assent", "To stand in this case at my judgement.", "Acquit you now, and holde your behest;", "Then have ye done your devoir at the least.\"", "\"Hoste,\" quoth he, \"de par dieux jeo asente;", "To breake forword is not mine intent.", "Behest is debt, and I would hold it fain,", "All my behest; I can no better sayn.", "For such law as a man gives another wight,", "He should himselfe usen it by right.", "Thus will our text: but natheless certain", "I can right now no thrifty tale sayn,", "But Chaucer (though he can but lewedly", "On metres and on rhyming craftily)", "Hath said them, in such English as he can,", "Of olde time, as knoweth many a man.", "And if he have not said them, leve brother,", "In one book, he hath said them in another", "For he hath told of lovers up and down,", "More than Ovide made of mentioun", "In his Epistolae, that be full old.", "Why should I telle them, since they he told?", "In youth he made of Ceyx and Alcyon,", "And since then he hath spoke of every one", "These noble wives, and these lovers eke.", "Whoso that will his large volume seek", "Called the Saintes' Legend of Cupid:", "There may he see the large woundes wide", "Of Lucrece, and of Babylon Thisbe;", "The sword of Dido for the false Enee;", "The tree of Phillis for her Demophon;", "The plaint of Diane, and of Hermion,", "Of Ariadne, and Hypsipile;", "The barren isle standing in the sea;", "The drown'd Leander for his fair Hero;", "The teares of Helene, and eke the woe", "Of Briseis, and Laodamia;", "The cruelty of thee, Queen Medea,", "Thy little children hanging by the halse,", "For thy Jason, that was of love so false.", "Hypermnestra, Penelop', Alcest',", "Your wifehood he commendeth with the best.", "But certainly no worde writeth he", "Of thilke wick' example of Canace,", "That loved her own brother sinfully;", "(Of all such cursed stories I say, Fy),", "Or else of Tyrius Apollonius,", "How that the cursed king Antiochus", "Bereft his daughter of her maidenhead;", "That is so horrible a tale to read,", "When he her threw upon the pavement.", "And therefore he, of full avisement,", "Would never write in none of his sermons", "Of such unkind abominations;", "Nor I will none rehearse, if that I may.", "But of my tale how shall I do this day?", "Me were loth to be liken'd doubteless", "To Muses, that men call Pierides", "(Metamorphoseos wot what I mean),", "But natheless I recke not a bean,", "Though I come after him with hawebake;", "I speak in prose, and let him rhymes make.\"", "And with that word, he with a sober cheer", "Began his tale, and said as ye shall hear.", "", "THE TALE.", "", "O scatheful harm, condition of poverty,", "With thirst, with cold, with hunger so confounded;", "To aske help thee shameth in thine hearte;", "If thou none ask, so sore art thou y-wounded,", "That very need unwrappeth all thy wound hid.", "Maugre thine head thou must for indigence", "Or steal, or beg, or borrow thy dispence.", "", "Thou blamest Christ, and sayst full bitterly,", "He misdeparteth riches temporal;", "Thy neighebour thou witest sinfully,", "And sayst, thou hast too little, and he hath all:", "\"Parfay (sayst thou) sometime he reckon shall,", "When that his tail shall brennen in the glede,", "For he not help'd the needful in their need.\"", "", "Hearken what is the sentence of the wise:", "Better to die than to have indigence.", "Thy selve neighebour will thee despise,", "If thou be poor, farewell thy reverence.", "Yet of the wise man take this sentence,", "Alle the days of poore men be wick',", "Beware therefore ere thou come to that prick.", "", "If thou be poor, thy brother hateth thee,", "And all thy friendes flee from thee, alas!", "O riche merchants, full of wealth be ye,", "O noble, prudent folk, as in this case,", "Your bagges be not fill'd with ambes ace,", "But with six-cinque, that runneth for your chance;", "At Christenmass well merry may ye dance.", "", "Ye seeke land and sea for your winnings,", "As wise folk ye knowen all th' estate", "Of regnes; ye be fathers of tidings,", "And tales, both of peace and of debate:", "I were right now of tales desolate,", "But that a merchant, gone in many a year,", "Me taught a tale, which ye shall after hear.", "", "In Syria whilom dwelt a company", "Of chapmen rich, and thereto sad and true,", "Clothes of gold, and satins rich of hue.", "That widewhere sent their spicery,", "Their chaffare was so thriftly and so new,", "That every wight had dainty to chaffare", "With them, and eke to selle them their ware.", "", "Now fell it, that the masters of that sort", "Have shapen them to Rome for to wend,", "Were it for chapmanhood or for disport,", "None other message would they thither send,", "But come themselves to Rome, this is the end:", "And in such place as thought them a vantage", "For their intent, they took their herbergage.", "", "Sojourned have these merchants in that town", "A certain time as fell to their pleasance:", "And so befell, that th' excellent renown", "Of th' emperore's daughter, Dame Constance,", "Reported was, with every circumstance,", "Unto these Syrian merchants in such wise,", "From day to day, as I shall you devise", "", "This was the common voice of every man", "\"Our emperor of Rome, God him see,", "A daughter hath, that since the the world began,", "To reckon as well her goodness and beauty,", "Was never such another as is she:", "I pray to God in honour her sustene,", "And would she were of all Europe the queen.", "", "\"In her is highe beauty without pride,", "And youth withoute greenhood or folly:", "To all her workes virtue is her guide;", "Humbless hath slain in her all tyranny:", "She is the mirror of all courtesy,", "Her heart a very chamber of holiness,", "Her hand minister of freedom for almess.\"", "", "And all this voice was sooth, as God is true;", "But now to purpose let us turn again.", "These merchants have done freight their shippes new,", "And when they have this blissful maiden seen,", "Home to Syria then they went full fain,", "And did their needes, as they have done yore,", "And liv'd in weal; I can you say no more.", "", "Now fell it, that these merchants stood in grace", "Of him that was the Soudan of Syrie:", "For when they came from any strange place", "He would of his benigne courtesy", "Make them good cheer, and busily espy", "Tidings of sundry regnes, for to lear", "The wonders that they mighte see or hear.", "", "Amonges other thinges, specially", "These merchants have him told of Dame Constance", "So great nobless, in earnest so royally,", "That this Soudan hath caught so great pleasance", "To have her figure in his remembrance,", "That all his lust, and all his busy cure,", "Was for to love her while his life may dure.", "", "Paraventure in thilke large book,", "Which that men call the heaven, y-written was", "With starres, when that he his birthe took,", "That he for love should have his death, alas!", "For in the starres, clearer than is glass,", "Is written, God wot, whoso could it read,", "The death of every man withoute dread.", "", "In starres many a winter therebeforn", "Was writ the death of Hector, Achilles,", "Of Pompey, Julius, ere they were born;", "The strife of Thebes; and of Hercules,", "Of Samson, Turnus, and of Socrates", "The death; but mennes wittes be so dull,", "That no wight can well read it at the full.", "", "This Soudan for his privy council sent,", "And, shortly of this matter for to pace,", "He hath to them declared his intent,", "And told them certain, but he might have grace", "To have Constance, within a little space,", "He was but dead; and charged them in hie", "To shape for his life some remedy.", "", "Diverse men diverse thinges said;", "And arguments they casten up and down;", "Many a subtle reason forth they laid;", "They speak of magic, and abusion;", "But finally, as in conclusion,", "They cannot see in that none avantage,", "Nor in no other way, save marriage.", "", "Then saw they therein such difficulty", "By way of reason, for to speak all plain,", "Because that there was such diversity", "Between their bothe lawes, that they sayn,", "They trowe that no Christian prince would fain", "Wedden his child under our lawe sweet,", "That us was given by Mahound our prophete.", "", "And he answered: \"Rather than I lose", "Constance, I will be christen'd doubteless", "I must be hers, I may none other choose,", "I pray you hold your arguments in peace,", "Save my life, and be not reckeless", "To gette her that hath my life in cure,", "For in this woe I may not long endure.\"", "", "What needeth greater dilatation?", "I say, by treaty and ambassadry,", "And by the Pope's mediation,", "And all the Church, and all the chivalry,", "That in destruction of Mah'metry,", "And in increase of Christe's lawe dear,", "They be accorded so as ye may hear;", "", "How that the Soudan, and his baronage,", "And all his lieges, shall y-christen'd be,", "And he shall have Constance in marriage,", "And certain gold, I n'ot what quantity,", "And hereto find they suffisant surety.", "The same accord is sworn on either side;", "Now, fair Constance, Almighty God thee guide!", "", "Now woulde some men waiten, as I guess,", "That I should tellen all the purveyance,", "The which the emperor of his noblesse", "Hath shapen for his daughter, Dame Constance.", "Well may men know that so great ordinance", "May no man tellen in a little clause,", "As was arrayed for so high a cause.", "", "Bishops be shapen with her for to wend,", "Lordes, ladies, and knightes of renown,", "And other folk enough, this is the end.", "And notified is throughout all the town,", "That every wight with great devotioun", "Should pray to Christ, that he this marriage", "Receive in gree, and speede this voyage.", "", "The day is comen of her departing, --", "I say the woful fatal day is come,", "That there may be no longer tarrying,", "But forward they them dressen all and some.", "Constance, that was with sorrow all o'ercome,", "Full pale arose, and dressed her to wend,", "For well she saw there was no other end.", "", "Alas! what wonder is it though she wept,", "That shall be sent to a strange nation", "From friendes, that so tenderly her kept,", "And to be bound under subjection", "of one, she knew not his condition?", "Husbands be all good, and have been of yore,", "That knowe wives; I dare say no more.", "", "\"Father,\" she said, \"thy wretched child Constance,", "Thy younge daughter, foster'd up so soft,", "And you, my mother, my sov'reign pleasance", "Over all thing, out-taken Christ on loft,", "Constance your child her recommendeth oft", "Unto your grace; for I shall to Syrie,", "Nor shall I ever see you more with eye.", "", "\"Alas! unto the barbarous nation", "I must anon, since that it is your will:", "But Christ, that starf for our redemption,", "So give me grace his hestes to fulfil.", "I, wretched woman, no force though I spill!", "Women are born to thraldom and penance,", "And to be under mannes governance.\"", "", "I trow at Troy when Pyrrhus brake the wall,", "Or Ilion burnt, or Thebes the city,", "Nor at Rome for the harm through Hannibal,", "That Romans hath y-vanquish'd times three,", "Was heard such tender weeping for pity,", "As in the chamber was for her parting;", "But forth she must, whether she weep or sing.", "", "O firste moving cruel Firmament,", "With thy diurnal sway that crowdest aye,", "And hurtlest all from East till Occident", "That naturally would hold another way;", "Thy crowding set the heav'n in such array", "At the beginning of this fierce voyage,", "That cruel Mars hath slain this marriage.", "", "Unfortunate ascendant tortuous,", "Of which the lord is helpless fall'n, alas!", "Out of his angle into the darkest house;", "O Mars, O Atyzar, as in this case;", "O feeble Moon, unhappy is thy pace.", "Thou knittest thee where thou art not receiv'd,", "Where thou wert well, from thennes art thou weiv'd.", "", "Imprudent emperor of Rome, alas!", "Was there no philosopher in all thy town?", "Is no time bet than other in such case?", "Of voyage is there none election,", "Namely to folk of high condition,", "Not when a root is of a birth y-know?", "Alas! we be too lewed, or too slow.", "", "To ship was brought this woeful faire maid", "Solemnely, with every circumstance:", "\"Now Jesus Christ be with you all,\" she said.", "There is no more,but \"Farewell, fair Constance.\"", "She pained her to make good countenance.", "And forth I let her sail in this manner,", "And turn I will again to my matter.", "", "The mother of the Soudan, well of vices,", "Espied hath her sone's plain intent,", "How he will leave his olde sacrifices:", "And right anon she for her council sent,", "And they be come, to knowe what she meant,", "And when assembled was this folk in fere,", "She sat her down, and said as ye shall hear.", "", "\"Lordes,\" she said, \"ye knowen every one,", "How that my son in point is for to lete", "The holy lawes of our Alkaron,", "Given by God's messenger Mahomete:", "But one avow to greate God I hete,", "Life shall rather out of my body start,", "Than Mahomet's law go out of mine heart.", "", "\"What should us tiden of this newe law,", "But thraldom to our bodies, and penance,", "And afterward in hell to be y-draw,", "For we renied Mahound our creance?", "But, lordes, will ye maken assurance,", "As I shall say, assenting to my lore?", "And I shall make us safe for evermore.\"", "", "They sworen and assented every man", "To live with her and die, and by her stand:", "And every one, in the best wise he can,", "To strengthen her shall all his friendes fand.", "And she hath this emprise taken in hand,", "Which ye shall heare that I shall devise;", "And to them all she spake right in this wise.", "", "\"We shall first feign us Christendom to take;", "Cold water shall not grieve us but a lite:", "And I shall such a feast and revel make,", "That, as I trow, I shall the Soudan quite.", "For though his wife be christen'd ne'er so white,", "She shall have need to wash away the red,", "Though she a fount of water with her led.\"", "", "O Soudaness, root of iniquity,", "Virago thou, Semiramis the second!", "O serpent under femininity,", "Like to the serpent deep in hell y-bound!", "O feigned woman, all that may confound", "Virtue and innocence, through thy malice,", "Is bred in thee, as nest of every vice!", "", "O Satan envious! since thilke day", "That thou wert chased from our heritage,", "Well knowest thou to woman th' olde way.", "Thou madest Eve to bring us in servage:", "Thou wilt fordo this Christian marriage:", "Thine instrument so (well-away the while!)", "Mak'st thou of women when thou wilt beguile.", "", "This Soudaness, whom I thus blame and warray,", "Let privily her council go their way:", "Why should I in this tale longer tarry?", "She rode unto the Soudan on a day,", "And said him, that she would reny her lay,", "And Christendom of priestes' handes fong,", "Repenting her she heathen was so long;", "", "Beseeching him to do her that honour,", "That she might have the Christian folk to feast:", "\"To please them I will do my labour.\"", "The Soudan said, \"I will do at your hest,\"", "And kneeling, thanked her for that request;", "So glad he was, he wist not what to say.", "She kiss'd her son, and home she went her way.", "", "Arrived be these Christian folk to land", "In Syria, with a great solemne rout,", "And hastily this Soudan sent his sond,", "First to his mother, and all the realm about,", "And said, his wife was comen out of doubt,", "And pray'd them for to ride again the queen,", "The honour of his regne to sustene.", "", "Great was the press, and rich was the array", "Of Syrians and Romans met in fere.", "The mother of the Soudan rich and gay", "Received her with all so glad a cheer", "As any mother might her daughter dear", "And to the nexte city there beside", "A softe pace solemnely they ride.", "", "Nought, trow I, the triumph of Julius", "Of which that Lucan maketh such a boast,", "Was royaller, or more curious,", "Than was th' assembly of this blissful host", "But O this scorpion, this wicked ghost,", "The Soudaness, for all her flattering", "Cast under this full mortally to sting.", "", "The Soudan came himself soon after this,", "So royally, that wonder is to tell,", "And welcomed her with all joy and bliss.", "And thus in mirth and joy I let them dwell.", "The fruit of his matter is that I tell;", "When the time came, men thought it for the best", "That revel stint, and men go to their rest.", "", "The time is come that this old Soudaness", "Ordained hath the feast of which I told,", "And to the feast the Christian folk them dress", "In general, yea, bothe young and old.", "There may men feast and royalty behold,", "And dainties more than I can you devise;", "But all too dear they bought it ere they rise.", "", "O sudden woe, that ev'r art successour", "To worldly bliss! sprent is with bitterness", "Th' end of our joy, of our worldly labour;", "Woe occupies the fine of our gladness.", "Hearken this counsel, for thy sickerness:", "Upon thy glade days have in thy mind", "The unware woe of harm, that comes behind.", "", "For, shortly for to tell it at a word,", "The Soudan and the Christians every one", "Were all to-hewn and sticked at the board,", "But it were only Dame Constance alone.", "This olde Soudaness, this cursed crone,", "Had with her friendes done this cursed deed,", "For she herself would all the country lead.", "", "Nor there was Syrian that was converted,", "That of the counsel of the Soudan wot,", "That was not all to-hewn, ere he asterted:", "And Constance have they ta'en anon foot-hot,", "And in a ship all steereless, God wot,", "They have her set, and bid her learn to sail", "Out of Syria again-ward to Itale.", "", "A certain treasure that she thither lad,", "And, sooth to say, of victual great plenty,", "They have her giv'n, and clothes eke she had", "And forth she sailed in the salte sea:", "O my Constance, full of benignity,", "O emperores younge daughter dear,", "He that is lord of fortune be thy steer!", "", "She bless'd herself, and with full piteous voice", "Unto the cross of Christ thus saide she;", "\"O dear, O wealful altar, holy cross,", "Red of the Lambes blood, full of pity,", "That wash'd the world from old iniquity,", "Me from the fiend and from his clawes keep,", "That day that I shall drenchen in the deepe.", "", "\"Victorious tree, protection of the true,", "That only worthy were for to bear", "The King of Heaven, with his woundes new,", "The white Lamb, that hurt was with a spear;", "Flemer of fiendes out of him and her", "On which thy limbes faithfully extend,", "Me keep, and give me might my life to mend.\"", "", "Yeares and days floated this creature", "Throughout the sea of Greece, unto the strait", "Of Maroc, as it was her a venture:", "On many a sorry meal now may she bait,", "After her death full often may she wait,", "Ere that the wilde waves will her drive", "Unto the place there as she shall arrive.", "", "Men mighten aske, why she was not slain?", "Eke at the feast who might her body save?", "And I answer to that demand again,", "Who saved Daniel in the horrible cave,", "Where every wight, save he, master or knave,", "Was with the lion frett, ere he astart?", "No wight but God, that he bare in his heart.", "", "God list to shew his wonderful miracle", "In her, that we should see his mighty workes:", "Christ, which that is to every harm triacle,", "By certain meanes oft, as knowe clerkes,", "Doth thing for certain ende, that full derk is", "To manne's wit, that for our, ignorance", "Ne cannot know his prudent purveyance.", "", "Now since she was not at the feast y-slaw,", "Who kepte her from drowning in the sea?", "Who kepte Jonas in the fish's maw,", "Till he was spouted up at Nineveh?", "Well may men know, it was no wight but he", "That kept the Hebrew people from drowning,", "With drye feet throughout the sea passing.", "", "Who bade the foure spirits of tempest,", "That power have t' annoye land and sea,", "Both north and south, and also west and east,", "Annoye neither sea, nor land, nor tree?", "Soothly the commander of that was he", "That from the tempest aye this woman kept,", "As well when she awoke as when she slept.", "", "Where might this woman meat and drinke have?", "Three year and more how lasted her vitaille?", "Who fed the Egyptian Mary in the cave", "Or in desert? no wight but Christ sans faille.", "Five thousand folk it was as great marvaille", "With loaves five and fishes two to feed", "God sent his foison at her greate need.", "", "She drived forth into our ocean", "Throughout our wilde sea, till at the last", "Under an hold, that nempnen I not can,", "Far in Northumberland, the wave her cast", "And in the sand her ship sticked so fast", "That thennes would it not in all a tide:", "The will of Christ was that she should abide.", "", "The Constable of the castle down did fare", "To see this wreck, and all the ship he sought,", "And found this weary woman full of care;", "He found also the treasure that she brought:", "In her language mercy she besought,", "The life out of her body for to twin,", "Her to deliver of woe that she was in.", "", "A manner Latin corrupt was her speech,", "But algate thereby was she understond.", "The Constable, when him list no longer seech,", "This woeful woman brought he to the lond.", "She kneeled down, and thanked Godde's sond;", "But what she was she would to no man say", "For foul nor fair, although that she should dey.", "", "She said, she was so mazed in the sea,", "That she forgot her minde, by her truth.", "The Constable had of her so great pity", "And eke his wife, that they wept for ruth:", "She was so diligent withoute slouth", "To serve and please every one in that place,", "That all her lov'd, that looked in her face.", "", "The Constable and Dame Hermegild his wife", "Were Pagans, and that country every where;", "But Hermegild lov'd Constance as her life;", "And Constance had so long sojourned there", "In orisons, with many a bitter tear,", "Till Jesus had converted through His grace", "Dame Hermegild, Constabless of that place.", "", "In all that land no Christians durste rout;", "All Christian folk had fled from that country", "Through Pagans, that conquered all about", "The plages of the North by land and sea.", "To Wales had fled the Christianity", "Of olde Britons, dwelling in this isle;", "There was their refuge for the meanewhile.", "", "But yet n'ere Christian Britons so exiled,", "That there n'ere some which in their privity", "Honoured Christ, and heathen folk beguiled;", "And nigh the castle such there dwelled three:", "And one of them was blind, and might not see,", "But it were with thilk eyen of his mind,", "With which men maye see when they be blind.", "", "Bright was the sun, as in a summer's day,", "For which the Constable, and his wife also,", "And Constance, have y-take the righte way", "Toward the sea a furlong way or two,", "To playen, and to roame to and fro;", "And in their walk this blinde man they met,", "Crooked and old, with eyen fast y-shet.", "", "\"In the name of Christ,\" cried this blind Briton,", "\"Dame Hermegild, give me my sight again!\"", "This lady wax'd afrayed of that soun',", "Lest that her husband, shortly for to sayn,", "Would her for Jesus Christe's love have slain,", "Till Constance made her hold, and bade her wirch", "The will of Christ, as daughter of holy Church", "", "The Constable wax'd abashed of that sight,", "And saide; \"What amounteth all this fare?\"", "Constance answered; \"Sir, it is Christ's might,", "That helpeth folk out of the fiendes snare:\"", "And so farforth she gan our law declare,", "That she the Constable, ere that it were eve,", "Converted, and on Christ made him believe.", "", "This Constable was not lord of the place", "Of which I speak, there as he Constance fand,", "But kept it strongly many a winter space,", "Under Alla, king of Northumberland,", "That was full wise, and worthy of his hand", "Against the Scotes, as men may well hear;", "But turn I will again to my mattere.", "", "Satan, that ever us waiteth to beguile,", "Saw of Constance all her perfectioun,", "And cast anon how he might quite her while;", "And made a young knight, that dwelt in that town,", "Love her so hot of foul affectioun,", "That verily him thought that he should spill", "But he of her might ones have his will.", "", "He wooed her, but it availed nought;", "She woulde do no sinne by no way:", "And for despite, he compassed his thought", "To make her a shameful death to dey;", "He waiteth when the Constable is away,", "And privily upon a night he crept", "In Hermegilda's chamber while she slept.", "", "Weary, forwaked in her orisons,", "Sleepeth Constance, and Hermegild also.", "This knight, through Satanas' temptation;", "All softetly is to the bed y-go,", "And cut the throat of Hermegild in two,", "And laid the bloody knife by Dame Constance,", "And went his way, there God give him mischance.", "", "Soon after came the Constable home again,", "And eke Alla that king was of that land,", "And saw his wife dispiteously slain,", "For which full oft he wept and wrung his hand;", "And ill the bed the bloody knife he fand", "By Dame Constance: Alas! what might she say?", "For very woe her wit was all away.", "", "To King Alla was told all this mischance", "And eke the time, and where, and in what wise", "That in a ship was founden this Constance,", "As here before ye have me heard devise:", "The kinges heart for pity gan agrise,", "When he saw so benign a creature", "Fall in disease and in misaventure.", "", "For as the lamb toward his death is brought,", "So stood this innocent before the king:", "This false knight, that had this treason wrought,", "Bore her in hand that she had done this thing:", "But natheless there was great murmuring", "Among the people, that say they cannot guess", "That she had done so great a wickedness.", "", "For they had seen her ever virtuous,", "And loving Hermegild right as her life:", "Of this bare witness each one in that house,", "Save he that Hermegild slew with his knife:", "This gentle king had caught a great motife", "Of this witness, and thought he would inquere", "Deeper into this case, the truth to lear.", "", "Alas! Constance, thou has no champion,", "Nor fighte canst thou not, so well-away!", "But he that starf for our redemption,", "And bound Satan, and yet li'th where he lay,", "So be thy stronge champion this day:", "For, but Christ upon thee miracle kithe,", "Withoute guilt thou shalt be slain as swithe.", "", "She set her down on knees, and thus she said;", "\"Immortal God, that savedest Susanne", "From false blame; and thou merciful maid,", "Mary I mean, the daughter to Saint Anne,", "Before whose child the angels sing Osanne,", "If I be guiltless of this felony,", "My succour be, or elles shall I die.\"", "", "Have ye not seen sometime a pale face", "(Among a press) of him that hath been lad", "Toward his death, where he getteth no grace,", "And such a colour in his face hath had,", "Men mighte know him that was so bestad", "Amonges all the faces in that rout?", "So stood Constance, and looked her about.", "", "O queenes living in prosperity,", "Duchesses, and ye ladies every one,", "Have some ruth on her adversity!", "An emperor's daughter, she stood alone;", "She had no wight to whom to make her moan.", "O blood royal, that standest in this drede,", "Far be thy friendes in thy greate need!", "", "This king Alla had such compassioun,", "As gentle heart is full filled of pity,", "That from his eyen ran the water down", "\"Now hastily do fetch a book,\" quoth he;", "\"And if this knight will sweare, how that she", "This woman slew, yet will we us advise", "Whom that we will that shall be our justice.\"", "", "A Briton book, written with Evangiles,", "Was fetched, and on this book he swore anon", "She guilty was; and, in the meanewhiles,", "An hand him smote upon the necke bone,", "That down he fell at once right as a stone:", "And both his eyen burst out of his face", "In sight of ev'rybody in that place.", "", "A voice was heard, in general audience,", "That said; \"Thou hast deslander'd guilteless", "The daughter of holy Church in high presence;", "Thus hast thou done, and yet hold I my peace?\"", "Of this marvel aghast was all the press,", "As mazed folk they stood every one", "For dread of wreake, save Constance alone.", "", "Great was the dread and eke the repentance", "Of them that hadde wrong suspicion", "Upon this sely innocent Constance;", "And for this miracle, in conclusion,", "And by Constance's mediation,", "The king, and many another in that place,", "Converted was, thanked be Christe's grace!", "", "This false knight was slain for his untruth", "By judgement of Alla hastily;", "And yet Constance had of his death great ruth;", "And after this Jesus of his mercy", "Made Alla wedde full solemnely", "This holy woman, that is so bright and sheen,", "And thus hath Christ y-made Constance a queen.", "", "But who was woeful, if I shall not lie,", "Of this wedding but Donegild, and no mo',", "The kinge's mother, full of tyranny?", "Her thought her cursed heart would burst in two;", "She would not that her son had done so;", "Her thought it a despite that he should take", "So strange a creature unto his make.", "", "Me list not of the chaff nor of the stre", "Make so long a tale, as of the corn.", "What should I tellen of the royalty", "Of this marriage, or which course goes beforn,", "Who bloweth in a trump or in an horn?", "The fruit of every tale is for to say;", "They eat and drink, and dance, and sing, and play.", "", "They go to bed, as it was skill and right;", "For though that wives be full holy things,", "They muste take in patience at night", "Such manner necessaries as be pleasings", "To folk that have y-wedded them with rings,", "And lay a lite their holiness aside", "As for the time, it may no better betide.", "", "On her he got a knave child anon,", "And to a Bishop and to his Constable eke", "He took his wife to keep, when he is gone", "To Scotland-ward, his foemen for to seek.", "Now fair Constance, that is so humble and meek,", "So long is gone with childe till that still", "She held her chamb'r, abiding Christe's will", "", "The time is come, a knave child she bare;", "Mauricius at the font-stone they him call.", "This Constable doth forth come a messenger,", "And wrote unto his king that clep'd was All',", "How that this blissful tiding is befall,", "And other tidings speedful for to say", "He hath the letter, and forth he go'th his way.", "", "This messenger, to do his avantage,", "Unto the kinge's mother rideth swithe,", "And saluteth her full fair in his language.", "\"Madame,\" quoth he, \"ye may be glad and blithe,", "And thanke God an hundred thousand sithe;", "My lady queen hath child, withoute doubt,", "To joy and bliss of all this realm about.", "", "\"Lo, here the letter sealed of this thing,", "That I must bear with all the haste I may:", "If ye will aught unto your son the king,", "I am your servant both by night and day.\"", "Donegild answer'd, \"As now at this time, nay;", "But here I will all night thou take thy rest,", "To-morrow will I say thee what me lest.\"", "", "This messenger drank sadly ale and wine,", "And stolen were his letters privily", "Out of his box, while he slept as a swine;", "And counterfeited was full subtilly", "Another letter, wrote full sinfully,", "Unto the king, direct of this mattere", "From his Constable, as ye shall after hear.", "", "This letter said, the queen deliver'd was", "Of so horrible a fiendlike creature,", "That in the castle none so hardy was", "That any while he durst therein endure:", "The mother was an elf by aventure", "Become, by charmes or by sorcery,", "And every man hated her company.", "", "Woe was this king when he this letter had seen,", "But to no wight he told his sorrows sore,", "But with his owen hand he wrote again,", "\"Welcome the sond of Christ for evermore", "To me, that am now learned in this lore:", "Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy pleasance,", "My lust I put all in thine ordinance.", "", "\"Keepe this child, albeit foul or fair,", "And eke my wife, unto mine homecoming:", "Christ when him list may send to me an heir", "More agreeable than this to my liking.\"", "This letter he sealed, privily weeping.", "Which to the messenger was taken soon,", "And forth he went, there is no more to do'n.", "", "O messenger full fill'd of drunkenness,", "Strong is thy breath, thy limbes falter aye,", "And thou betrayest alle secretness;", "Thy mind is lorn, thou janglest as a jay;", "Thy face is turned in a new array;", "Where drunkenness reigneth in any rout,", "There is no counsel hid, withoute doubt.", "", "O Donegild, I have no English dign", "Unto thy malice, and thy tyranny:", "And therefore to the fiend I thee resign,", "Let him indite of all thy treachery", "'Fy, mannish, fy! O nay, by God I lie;", "Fy, fiendlike spirit! for I dare well tell,", "Though thou here walk, thy spirit is in hell.", "", "This messenger came from the king again,", "And at the kinge's mother's court he light,", "And she was of this messenger full fain,", "And pleased him in all that e'er she might.", "He drank, and well his girdle underpight;", "He slept, and eke he snored in his guise", "All night, until the sun began to rise.", "", "Eft were his letters stolen every one,", "And counterfeited letters in this wise:", "The king commanded his Constable anon,", "On pain of hanging and of high jewise,", "That he should suffer in no manner wise", "Constance within his regne for to abide", "Three dayes, and a quarter of a tide;", "", "But in the same ship as he her fand,", "Her and her younge son, and all her gear,", "He shoulde put, and crowd her from the land,", "And charge her, that she never eft come there.", "O my Constance, well may thy ghost have fear,", "And sleeping in thy dream be in penance,", "When Donegild cast all this ordinance.", "", "This messenger, on morrow when he woke,", "Unto the castle held the nexte way,", "And to the constable the letter took;", "And when he this dispiteous letter sey,", "Full oft he said, \"Alas, and well-away!", "Lord Christ,\" quoth he, \"how may this world endure?", "So full of sin is many a creature.", "", "\"O mighty God, if that it be thy will,", "Since thou art rightful judge, how may it be", "That thou wilt suffer innocence to spill,", "And wicked folk reign in prosperity?", "Ah! good Constance, alas! so woe is me,", "That I must be thy tormentor, or dey", "A shameful death, there is no other way.", "", "Wept bothe young and old in all that place,", "When that the king this cursed letter sent;", "And Constance, with a deadly pale face,", "The fourthe day toward her ship she went.", "But natheless she took in good intent", "The will of Christ, and kneeling on the strond", "She saide, \"Lord, aye welcome be thy sond", "", "\"He that me kepte from the false blame,", "While I was in the land amonges you,", "He can me keep from harm and eke from shame", "In the salt sea, although I see not how", "As strong as ever he was, he is yet now,", "In him trust I, and in his mother dere,", "That is to me my sail and eke my stere.\"", "", "Her little child lay weeping in her arm", "And, kneeling, piteously to him she said", "\"Peace, little son, I will do thee no harm:\"", "With that her kerchief off her head she braid,", "And over his little eyen she it laid,", "And in her arm she lulled it full fast,", "And unto heav'n her eyen up she cast.", "", "\"Mother,\" quoth she, \"and maiden bright, Mary,", "Sooth is, that through a woman's eggement", "Mankind was lorn, and damned aye to die;", "For which thy child was on a cross y-rent:", "Thy blissful eyen saw all his torment,", "Then is there no comparison between", "Thy woe, and any woe man may sustene.", "", "\"Thou saw'st thy child y-slain before thine eyen,", "And yet now lives my little child, parfay:", "Now, lady bright, to whom the woeful cryen,", "Thou glory of womanhood, thou faire may,", "Thou haven of refuge, bright star of day,", "Rue on my child, that of thy gentleness", "Ruest on every rueful in distress.", "", "\"O little child, alas! what is thy guilt,", "That never wroughtest sin as yet, pardie?", "Why will thine harde father have thee spilt?", "O mercy, deare Constable,\" quoth she,", "\"And let my little child here dwell with thee:", "And if thou dar'st not save him from blame,", "So kiss him ones in his father's name.\"", "", "Therewith she looked backward to the land,", "And saide, \"Farewell, husband rutheless!\"", "And up she rose, and walked down the strand", "Toward the ship, her following all the press:", "And ever she pray'd her child to hold his peace,", "And took her leave, and with an holy intent", "She blessed her, and to the ship she went.", "", "Victualed was the ship, it is no drede,", "Abundantly for her a full long space:", "And other necessaries that should need", "She had enough, heried be Godde's grace:", "For wind and weather, Almighty God purchase,", "And bring her home; I can no better say;", "But in the sea she drived forth her way.", "", "Alla the king came home soon after this", "Unto the castle, of the which I told,", "And asked where his wife and his child is;", "The Constable gan about his heart feel cold,", "And plainly all the matter he him told", "As ye have heard; I can tell it no better;", "And shew'd the king his seal, and eke his letter", "", "And saide; \"Lord, as ye commanded me", "On pain of death, so have I done certain.\"", "The messenger tormented was, till he", "Muste beknow, and tell it flat and plain,", "From night to night in what place he had lain;", "And thus, by wit and subtle inquiring,", "Imagin'd was by whom this harm gan spring.", "", "The hand was known that had the letter wrote,", "And all the venom of the cursed deed;", "But in what wise, certainly I know not.", "Th' effect is this, that Alla, out of drede,", "His mother slew, that may men plainly read,", "For that she traitor was to her liegeance:", "Thus ended olde Donegild with mischance.", "", "The sorrow that this Alla night and day", "Made for his wife, and for his child also,", "There is no tongue that it telle may.", "But now will I again to Constance go,", "That floated in the sea in pain and woe", "Five year and more, as liked Christe's sond,", "Ere that her ship approached to the lond.", "", "Under an heathen castle, at the last,", "Of which the name in my text I not find,", "Constance and eke her child the sea upcast.", "Almighty God, that saved all mankind,", "Have on Constance and on her child some mind,", "That fallen is in heathen hand eftsoon", "In point to spill, as I shall tell you soon!", "", "Down from the castle came there many a wight", "To gauren on this ship, and on Constance:", "But shortly from the castle, on a night,", "The lorde's steward, -- God give him mischance, --", "A thief that had renied our creance,", "Came to the ship alone, and said he would", "Her leman be, whether she would or n'ould.", "", "Woe was this wretched woman then begone;", "Her child cri'd, and she cried piteously:", "But blissful Mary help'd her right anon,", "For, with her struggling well and mightily,", "The thief fell overboard all suddenly,", "And in the sea he drenched for vengeance,", "And thus hath Christ unwemmed kept Constance.", "", "O foul lust of luxury! lo thine end!", "Not only that thou faintest manne's mind,", "But verily thou wilt his body shend.", "Th' end of thy work, or of thy lustes blind,", "Is complaining: how many may men find,", "That not for work, sometimes, but for th' intent", "To do this sin, be either slain or shent?", "", "How may this weake woman have the strength", "Her to defend against this renegate?", "O Goliath, unmeasurable of length,", "How mighte David make thee so mate?", "So young, and of armour so desolate,", "How durst he look upon thy dreadful face?", "Well may men see it was but Godde's grace.", "", "Who gave Judith courage or hardiness", "To slay him, Holofernes, in his tent,", "And to deliver out of wretchedness", "The people of God? I say for this intent", "That right as God spirit of vigour sent", "To them, and saved them out of mischance,", "So sent he might and vigour to Constance.", "", "Forth went her ship throughout the narrow mouth", "Of Jubaltare and Septe, driving alway,", "Sometime west, and sometime north and south,", "And sometime east, full many a weary day:", "Till Christe's mother (blessed be she aye)", "Had shaped through her endeless goodness", "To make an end of all her heaviness.", "", "Now let us stint of Constance but a throw,", "And speak we of the Roman emperor,", "That out of Syria had by letters know", "The slaughter of Christian folk, and dishonor", "Done to his daughter by a false traitor,", "I mean the cursed wicked Soudaness,", "That at the feast let slay both more and less.", "", "For which this emperor had sent anon", "His senator, with royal ordinance,", "And other lordes, God wot, many a one,", "On Syrians to take high vengeance:", "They burn and slay, and bring them to mischance", "Full many a day: but shortly this is th' end,", "Homeward to Rome they shaped them to wend.", "", "This senator repaired with victory", "To Rome-ward, sailing full royally,", "And met the ship driving, as saith the story,", "In which Constance sat full piteously:", "And nothing knew he what she was, nor why", "She was in such array; nor she will say", "Of her estate, although that she should dey.", "", "He brought her unto Rome, and to his wife", "He gave her, and her younge son also:", "And with the senator she led her life.", "Thus can our Lady bringen out of woe", "Woeful Constance, and many another mo':", "And longe time she dwelled in that place,", "In holy works ever, as was her grace.", "", "The senatores wife her aunte was,", "But for all that she knew her ne'er the more:", "I will no longer tarry in this case,", "But to King Alla, whom I spake of yore,", "That for his wife wept and sighed sore,", "I will return, and leave I will Constance", "Under the senatores governance.", "", "King Alla, which that had his mother slain,", "Upon a day fell in such repentance;", "That, if I shortly tell it shall and plain,", "To Rome he came to receive his penitance,", "And put him in the Pope's ordinance", "In high and low, and Jesus Christ besought", "Forgive his wicked works that he had wrought.", "", "The fame anon throughout the town is borne,", "How Alla king shall come on pilgrimage,", "By harbingers that wente him beforn,", "For which the senator, as was usage,", "Rode him again, and many of his lineage,", "As well to show his high magnificence,", "As to do any king a reverence.", "", "Great cheere did this noble senator", "To King Alla and he to him also;", "Each of them did the other great honor;", "And so befell, that in a day or two", "This senator did to King Alla go", "To feast, and shortly, if I shall not lie,", "Constance's son went in his company.", "", "Some men would say, at request of Constance", "This senator had led this child to feast:", "I may not tellen every circumstance,", "Be as be may, there was he at the least:", "But sooth is this, that at his mother's hest", "Before Alla during the meates space,", "The child stood, looking in the kinges face.", "", "This Alla king had of this child great wonder,", "And to the senator he said anon,", "\"Whose is that faire child that standeth yonder?\"", "\"I n'ot,\" quoth he, \"by God and by Saint John;", "A mother he hath, but father hath he none,", "That I of wot:\" and shortly in a stound", "He told to Alla how this child was found.", "", "\"But God wot,\" quoth this senator also,", "\"So virtuous a liver in all my life", "I never saw, as she, nor heard of mo'", "Of worldly woman, maiden, widow or wife:", "I dare well say she hadde lever a knife", "Throughout her breast, than be a woman wick',", "There is no man could bring her to that prick.", "", "Now was this child as like unto Constance", "As possible is a creature to be:", "This Alla had the face in remembrance", "Of Dame Constance, and thereon mused he,", "If that the childe's mother were aught she", "That was his wife; and privily he sight,", "And sped him from the table that he might.", "", "\"Parfay,\" thought he, \"phantom is in mine head.", "I ought to deem, of skilful judgement,", "That in the salte sea my wife is dead.\"", "And afterward he made his argument,", "\"What wot I, if that Christ have hither sent", "My wife by sea, as well as he her sent", "To my country, from thennes that she went?\"", "", "And, after noon, home with the senator.", "Went Alla, for to see this wondrous chance.", "This senator did Alla great honor,", "And hastily he sent after Constance:", "But truste well, her liste not to dance.", "When that she wiste wherefore was that sond,", "Unneth upon her feet she mighte stand.", "", "When Alla saw his wife, fair he her gret,", "And wept, that it was ruthe for to see,", "For at the firste look he on her set", "He knew well verily that it was she:", "And she, for sorrow, as dumb stood as a tree:", "So was her hearte shut in her distress,", "When she remember'd his unkindeness.", "", "Twice she swooned in his owen sight,", "He wept and him excused piteously:", "\"Now God,\" quoth he, \"and all his hallows bright", "So wisly on my soule have mercy,", "That of your harm as guilteless am I,", "As is Maurice my son, so like your face,", "Else may the fiend me fetch out of this place.\"", "", "Long was the sobbing and the bitter pain,", "Ere that their woeful heartes mighte cease;", "Great was the pity for to hear them plain,", "Through whiche plaintes gan their woe increase.", "I pray you all my labour to release,", "I may not tell all their woe till to-morrow,", "I am so weary for to speak of sorrow.", "", "But finally, when that the sooth is wist,", "That Alla guiltless was of all her woe,", "I trow an hundred times have they kiss'd,", "And such a bliss is there betwixt them two,", "That, save the joy that lasteth evermo',", "There is none like, that any creature", "Hath seen, or shall see, while the world may dure.", "", "Then prayed she her husband meekely", "In the relief of her long piteous pine,", "That he would pray her father specially,", "That of his majesty he would incline", "To vouchesafe some day with him to dine:", "She pray'd him eke, that he should by no way", "Unto her father no word of her say.", "", "Some men would say, how that the child Maurice", "Did this message unto the emperor:", "But, as I guess, Alla was not so nice,", "To him that is so sovereign of honor", "As he that is of Christian folk the flow'r,", "Send any child, but better 'tis to deem", "He went himself; and so it may well seem.", "", "This emperor hath granted gentilly", "To come to dinner, as he him besought:", "And well rede I, he looked busily", "Upon this child, and on his daughter thought.", "Alla went to his inn, and as him ought", "Arrayed for this feast in every wise,", "As farforth as his cunning may suffice.", "", "The morrow came, and Alla gan him dress,", "And eke his wife, the emperor to meet:", "And forth they rode in joy and in gladness,", "And when she saw her father in the street,", "She lighted down and fell before his feet.", "\"Father,\" quoth she, \"your younge child Constance", "Is now full clean out of your remembrance.", "", "\"I am your daughter, your Constance,\" quoth she,", "\"That whilom ye have sent into Syrie;", "It am I, father, that in the salt sea", "Was put alone, and damned for to die.", "Now, goode father, I you mercy cry,", "Send me no more into none heatheness,", "But thank my lord here of his kindeness.\"", "", "Who can the piteous joye tellen all,", "Betwixt them three, since they be thus y-met?", "But of my tale make an end I shall,", "The day goes fast, I will no longer let.", "These gladde folk to dinner be y-set;", "In joy and bliss at meat I let them dwell,", "A thousand fold well more than I can tell.", "", "This child Maurice was since then emperor", "Made by the Pope, and lived Christianly,", "To Christe's Churche did he great honor:", "But I let all his story passe by,", "Of Constance is my tale especially,", "In the olde Roman gestes men may find", "Maurice's life, I bear it not in mind.", "", "This King Alla, when he his time sey,", "With his Constance, his holy wife so sweet,", "To England are they come the righte way,", "Where they did live in joy and in quiet.", "But little while it lasted, I you hete,", "Joy of this world for time will not abide,", "From day to night it changeth as the tide.", "", "Who liv'd ever in such delight one day,", "That him not moved either conscience,", "Or ire, or talent, or some kind affray,", "Envy, or pride, or passion, or offence?", "I say but for this ende this sentence,", "That little while in joy or in pleasance", "Lasted the bliss of Alla with Constance.", "", "For death, that takes of high and low his rent,", "When passed was a year, even as I guess,", "Out of this world this King Alla he hent,", "For whom Constance had full great heaviness.", "Now let us pray that God his soule bless:", "And Dame Constance, finally to say,", "Toward the town of Rome went her way.", "", "To Rome is come this holy creature,", "And findeth there her friendes whole and sound:", "Now is she scaped all her aventure:", "And when that she her father hath y-found,", "Down on her knees falleth she to ground,", "Weeping for tenderness in hearte blithe", "She herieth God an hundred thousand sithe.", "", "In virtue and in holy almes-deed", "They liven all, and ne'er asunder wend;", "Till death departeth them, this life they lead:", "And fare now well, my tale is at an end", "Now Jesus Christ, that of his might may send", "Joy after woe, govern us in his grace", "And keep us alle that be in this place." ], "linecount": "1164" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Wife of Bath's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "Experience, though none authority", "Were in this world, is right enough for me", "To speak of woe that is in marriage:", "For, lordings, since I twelve year was of age,", "(Thanked be God that is etern on live),", "Husbands at the church door have I had five,", "For I so often have y-wedded be,", "And all were worthy men in their degree.", "But me was told, not longe time gone is", "That sithen Christe went never but ones", "To wedding, in the Cane of Galilee,", "That by that ilk example taught he me,", "That I not wedded shoulde be but once.", "Lo, hearken eke a sharp word for the nonce,", "Beside a welle Jesus, God and man,", "Spake in reproof of the Samaritan:", "\"Thou hast y-had five husbandes,\" said he;", "\"And thilke man, that now hath wedded thee,", "Is not thine husband:\" thus said he certain;", "What that he meant thereby, I cannot sayn.", "But that I aske, why the fifthe man", "Was not husband to the Samaritan?", "How many might she have in marriage?", "Yet heard I never tellen in mine age", "Upon this number definitioun.", "Men may divine, and glosen up and down;", "But well I wot, express without a lie,", "God bade us for to wax and multiply;", "That gentle text can I well understand.", "Eke well I wot, he said, that mine husband", "Should leave father and mother, and take to me;", "But of no number mention made he,", "Of bigamy or of octogamy;", "Why then should men speak of it villainy?", "", "Lo here, the wise king Dan Solomon,", "I trow that he had wives more than one;", "As would to God it lawful were to me", "To be refreshed half so oft as he!", "What gift of God had he for all his wives?", "No man hath such, that in this world alive is.", "God wot, this noble king, as to my wit,", "The first night had many a merry fit", "With each of them, so well was him on live.", "Blessed be God that I have wedded five!", "Welcome the sixth whenever that he shall.", "For since I will not keep me chaste in all,", "When mine husband is from the world y-gone,", "Some Christian man shall wedde me anon.", "For then th' apostle saith that I am free", "To wed, a' God's half, where it liketh me.", "He saith, that to be wedded is no sin;", "Better is to be wedded than to brin.", "What recketh me though folk say villainy", "Of shrewed Lamech, and his bigamy?", "I wot well Abraham was a holy man,", "And Jacob eke, as far as ev'r I can.", "And each of them had wives more than two;", "And many another holy man also.", "Where can ye see, in any manner age,", "That highe God defended marriage", "By word express? I pray you tell it me;", "Or where commanded he virginity?", "I wot as well as you, it is no dread,", "Th' apostle, when he spake of maidenhead,", "He said, that precept thereof had he none:", "Men may counsel a woman to be one,", "But counseling is no commandement;", "He put it in our owen judgement.", "For, hadde God commanded maidenhead,", "Then had he damned wedding out of dread;", "And certes, if there were no seed y-sow,", "Virginity then whereof should it grow?", "Paul durste not commanden, at the least,", "A thing of which his Master gave no hest.", "The dart is set up for virginity;", "Catch whoso may, who runneth best let see.", "But this word is not ta'en of every wight,", "But there as God will give it of his might.", "I wot well that th' apostle was a maid,", "But natheless, although he wrote and said,", "He would that every wight were such as he,", "All is but counsel to virginity.", "And, since to be a wife he gave me leave", "Of indulgence, so is it no repreve", "To wedde me, if that my make should die,", "Without exception of bigamy;", "All were it good no woman for to touch", "(He meant as in his bed or in his couch),", "For peril is both fire and tow t'assemble", "Ye know what this example may resemble.", "This is all and some, he held virginity", "More profit than wedding in frailty:", "(Frailty clepe I, but if that he and she", "Would lead their lives all in chastity),", "I grant it well, I have of none envy", "Who maidenhead prefer to bigamy;", "It liketh them t' be clean in body and ghost;", "Of mine estate I will not make a boast.", "", "For, well ye know, a lord in his household", "Hath not every vessel all of gold;", "Some are of tree, and do their lord service.", "God calleth folk to him in sundry wise,", "And each one hath of God a proper gift,", "Some this, some that, as liketh him to shift.", "Virginity is great perfection,", "And continence eke with devotion:", "But Christ, that of perfection is the well,", "Bade not every wight he should go sell", "All that he had, and give it to the poor,", "And in such wise follow him and his lore:", "He spake to them that would live perfectly, --", "And, lordings, by your leave, that am not I;", "I will bestow the flower of mine age", "In th' acts and in the fruits of marriage.", "Tell me also, to what conclusion", "Were members made of generation,", "And of so perfect wise a wight y-wrought?", "Trust me right well, they were not made for nought.", "Glose whoso will, and say both up and down,", "That they were made for the purgatioun", "Of urine, and of other thinges smale,", "And eke to know a female from a male:", "And for none other cause? say ye no?", "Experience wot well it is not so.", "So that the clerkes be not with me wroth,", "I say this, that they were made for both,", "That is to say, for office, and for ease", "Of engendrure, there we God not displease.", "Why should men elles in their bookes set,", "That man shall yield unto his wife her debt?", "Now wherewith should he make his payement,", "If he us'd not his silly instrument?", "Then were they made upon a creature", "To purge urine, and eke for engendrure.", "But I say not that every wight is hold,", "That hath such harness as I to you told,", "To go and use them in engendrure;", "Then should men take of chastity no cure.", "Christ was a maid, and shapen as a man,", "And many a saint, since that this world began,", "Yet ever liv'd in perfect chastity.", "I will not vie with no virginity.", "Let them with bread of pured wheat be fed,", "And let us wives eat our barley bread.", "And yet with barley bread, Mark tell us can,", "Our Lord Jesus refreshed many a man.", "In such estate as God hath cleped us,", "I'll persevere, I am not precious,", "In wifehood I will use mine instrument", "As freely as my Maker hath it sent.", "If I be dangerous God give me sorrow;", "Mine husband shall it have, both eve and morrow,", "When that him list come forth and pay his debt.", "A husband will I have, I will no let,", "Which shall be both my debtor and my thrall,", "And have his tribulation withal", "Upon his flesh, while that I am his wife.", "I have the power during all my life", "Upon his proper body, and not he;", "Right thus th' apostle told it unto me,", "And bade our husbands for to love us well;", "All this sentence me liketh every deal.", "", "Up start the Pardoner, and that anon;", "\"Now, Dame,\" quoth he, \"by God and by Saint John,", "Ye are a noble preacher in this case.", "I was about to wed a wife, alas!", "What? should I bie it on my flesh so dear?", "Yet had I lever wed no wife this year.\"", "\"Abide,\" quoth she; \"my tale is not begun", "Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tun", "Ere that I go, shall savour worse than ale.", "And when that I have told thee forth my tale", "Of tribulation in marriage,", "Of which I am expert in all mine age,", "(This is to say, myself hath been the whip),", "Then mayest thou choose whether thou wilt sip", "Of thilke tunne, that I now shall broach.", "Beware of it, ere thou too nigh approach,", "For I shall tell examples more than ten:", "Whoso will not beware by other men,", "By him shall other men corrected be:", "These same wordes writeth Ptolemy;", "Read in his Almagest, and take it there.\"", "\"Dame, I would pray you, if your will it were,\"", "Saide this Pardoner, \"as ye began,", "Tell forth your tale, and spare for no man,", "And teach us younge men of your practique.\"", "\"Gladly,\" quoth she, \"since that it may you like.", "But that I pray to all this company,", "If that I speak after my fantasy,", "To take nought agrief what I may say;", "For mine intent is only for to play.", "", "Now, Sirs, then will I tell you forth my tale.", "As ever may I drinke wine or ale", "I shall say sooth; the husbands that I had", "Three of them were good, and two were bad", "The three were goode men, and rich, and old", "Unnethes mighte they the statute hold", "In which that they were bounden unto me.", "Yet wot well what I mean of this, pardie.", "As God me help, I laugh when that I think", "How piteously at night I made them swink,", "But, by my fay, I told of it no store:", "They had me giv'n their land and their treasor,", "Me needed not do longer diligence", "To win their love, or do them reverence.", "They loved me so well, by God above,", "That I tolde no dainty of their love.", "A wise woman will busy her ever-in-one", "To get their love, where that she hath none.", "But, since I had them wholly in my hand,", "And that they had me given all their land,", "Why should I take keep them for to please,", "But it were for my profit, or mine ease?", "I set them so a-worke, by my fay,", "That many a night they sange, well-away!", "The bacon was not fetched for them, I trow,", "That some men have in Essex at Dunmow.", "I govern'd them so well after my law,", "That each of them full blissful was and fawe", "To bringe me gay thinges from the fair.", "They were full glad when that I spake them fair,", "For, God it wot, I chid them spiteously.", "Now hearken how I bare me properly.", "", "Ye wise wives, that can understand,", "Thus should ye speak, and bear them wrong on hand,", "For half so boldely can there no man", "Swearen and lien as a woman can.", "(I say not this by wives that be wise,", "But if it be when they them misadvise.)", "A wise wife, if that she can her good,", "Shall beare them on hand the cow is wood,", "And take witness of her owen maid", "Of their assent: but hearken how I said.", "\"Sir olde kaynard, is this thine array?", "Why is my neigheboure's wife so gay?", "She is honour'd over all where she go'th,", "I sit at home, I have no thrifty cloth.", "What dost thou at my neigheboure's house?", "Is she so fair? art thou so amorous?", "What rown'st thou with our maid? benedicite,", "Sir olde lechour, let thy japes be.", "And if I have a gossip, or a friend", "(Withoute guilt), thou chidest as a fiend,", "If that I walk or play unto his house.", "Thou comest home as drunken as a mouse,", "And preachest on thy bench, with evil prefe:", "Thou say'st to me, it is a great mischief", "To wed a poore woman, for costage:", "And if that she be rich, of high parage;", "Then say'st thou, that it is a tormentry", "To suffer her pride and melancholy.", "And if that she be fair, thou very knave,", "Thou say'st that every holour will her have;", "She may no while in chastity abide,", "That is assailed upon every side.", "Thou say'st some folk desire us for richess,", "Some for our shape, and some for our fairness,", "And some, for she can either sing or dance,", "And some for gentiless and dalliance,", "Some for her handes and her armes smale:", "Thus goes all to the devil, by thy tale;", "Thou say'st, men may not keep a castle wall", "That may be so assailed over all.", "And if that she be foul, thou say'st that she", "Coveteth every man that she may see;", "For as a spaniel she will on him leap,", "Till she may finde some man her to cheap;", "And none so grey goose goes there in the lake,", "(So say'st thou) that will be without a make.", "And say'st, it is a hard thing for to weld", "A thing that no man will, his thankes, held.", "Thus say'st thou, lorel, when thou go'st to bed,", "And that no wise man needeth for to wed,", "Nor no man that intendeth unto heaven.", "With wilde thunder dint and fiery leven", "Mote thy wicked necke be to-broke.", "Thou say'st, that dropping houses, and eke smoke,", "And chiding wives, make men to flee", "Out of their owne house; ah! ben'dicite,", "What aileth such an old man for to chide?", "Thou say'st, we wives will our vices hide,", "Till we be fast, and then we will them shew.", "Well may that be a proverb of a shrew.", "Thou say'st, that oxen, asses, horses, hounds,", "They be assayed at diverse stounds,", "Basons and lavers, ere that men them buy,", "Spoones, stooles, and all such husbandry,", "And so be pots, and clothes, and array,", "But folk of wives make none assay,", "Till they be wedded, -- olde dotard shrew! --", "And then, say'st thou, we will our vices shew.", "Thou say'st also, that it displeaseth me,", "But if that thou wilt praise my beauty,", "And but thou pore alway upon my face,", "And call me faire dame in every place;", "And but thou make a feast on thilke day", "That I was born, and make me fresh and gay;", "And but thou do to my norice honour,", "And to my chamberere within my bow'r,", "And to my father's folk, and mine allies;", "Thus sayest thou, old barrel full of lies.", "And yet also of our prentice Jenkin,", "For his crisp hair, shining as gold so fine,", "And for he squireth me both up and down,", "Yet hast thou caught a false suspicioun:", "I will him not, though thou wert dead to-morrow.", "But tell me this, why hidest thou, with sorrow,", "The keyes of thy chest away from me?", "It is my good as well as thine, pardie.", "What, think'st to make an idiot of our dame?", "Now, by that lord that called is Saint Jame,", "Thou shalt not both, although that thou wert wood,", "Be master of my body, and my good,", "The one thou shalt forego, maugre thine eyen.", "What helpeth it of me t'inquire and spyen?", "I trow thou wouldest lock me in thy chest.", "Thou shouldest say, 'Fair wife, go where thee lest;", "Take your disport; I will believe no tales;", "I know you for a true wife, Dame Ales.'", "We love no man, that taketh keep or charge", "Where that we go; we will be at our large.", "Of alle men most blessed may he be,", "The wise astrologer Dan Ptolemy,", "That saith this proverb in his Almagest:", "'Of alle men his wisdom is highest,", "That recketh not who hath the world in hand.", "By this proverb thou shalt well understand,", "Have thou enough, what thar thee reck or care", "How merrily that other folkes fare?", "For certes, olde dotard, by your leave,", "Ye shall have [pleasure] right enough at eve.", "He is too great a niggard that will werne", "A man to light a candle at his lantern;", "He shall have never the less light, pardie.", "Have thou enough, thee thar not plaine thee", "Thou say'st also, if that we make us gay", "With clothing and with precious array,", "That it is peril of our chastity.", "And yet, -- with sorrow! -- thou enforcest thee,", "And say'st these words in the apostle's name:", "'In habit made with chastity and shame", "Ye women shall apparel you,' quoth he,", "'And not in tressed hair and gay perrie,", "As pearles, nor with gold, nor clothes rich.'", "After thy text nor after thy rubrich", "I will not work as muchel as a gnat.", "Thou say'st also, I walk out like a cat;", "For whoso woulde singe the catte's skin", "Then will the catte well dwell in her inn;", "And if the catte's skin be sleek and gay,", "She will not dwell in house half a day,", "But forth she will, ere any day be daw'd,", "To shew her skin, and go a caterwaw'd.", "This is to say, if I be gay, sir shrew,", "I will run out, my borel for to shew.", "Sir olde fool, what helpeth thee to spyen?", "Though thou pray Argus with his hundred eyen", "To be my wardecorps, as he can best", "In faith he shall not keep me, but me lest:", "Yet could I make his beard, so may I the.", "", "\"Thou sayest eke, that there be thinges three,", "Which thinges greatly trouble all this earth,", "And that no wighte may endure the ferth:", "O lefe sir shrew, may Jesus short thy life.", "Yet preachest thou, and say'st, a hateful wife", "Y-reckon'd is for one of these mischances.", "Be there none other manner resemblances", "That ye may liken your parables unto,", "But if a silly wife be one of tho?", "Thou likenest a woman's love to hell;", "To barren land where water may not dwell.", "Thou likenest it also to wild fire;", "The more it burns, the more it hath desire", "To consume every thing that burnt will be.", "Thou sayest, right as wormes shend a tree,", "Right so a wife destroyeth her husbond;", "This know they well that be to wives bond.\"", "", "Lordings, right thus, as ye have understand,", "Bare I stiffly mine old husbands on hand,", "That thus they saiden in their drunkenness;", "And all was false, but that I took witness", "On Jenkin, and upon my niece also.", "O Lord! the pain I did them, and the woe,", "'Full guilteless, by Godde's sweete pine;", "For as a horse I coulde bite and whine;", "I coulde plain, an' I was in the guilt,", "Or elles oftentime I had been spilt", "Whoso first cometh to the nilll, first grint;", "I plained first, so was our war y-stint.", "They were full glad to excuse them full blive", "Of things that they never aguilt their live.", "", "Of wenches would I beare them on hand,", "When that for sickness scarcely might they stand,", "Yet tickled I his hearte for that he", "Ween'd that I had of him so great cherte:", "I swore that all my walking out by night", "Was for to espy wenches that he dight:", "Under that colour had I many a mirth.", "For all such wit is given us at birth;", "Deceit, weeping, and spinning, God doth give", "To women kindly, while that they may live.", "And thus of one thing I may vaunte me,", "At th' end I had the better in each degree,", "By sleight, or force, or by some manner thing,", "As by continual murmur or grudging,", "Namely a-bed, there hadde they mischance,", "There would I chide, and do them no pleasance:", "I would no longer in the bed abide,", "If that I felt his arm over my side,", "Till he had made his ransom unto me,", "Then would I suffer him do his nicety.", "And therefore every man this tale I tell,", "Win whoso may, for all is for to sell;", "With empty hand men may no hawkes lure;", "For winning would I all his will endure,", "And make me a feigned appetite,", "And yet in bacon had I never delight:", "That made me that I ever would them chide.", "For, though the Pope had sitten them beside,", "I would not spare them at their owen board,", "For, by my troth, I quit them word for word", "As help me very God omnipotent,", "Though I right now should make my testament", "I owe them not a word, that is not quit", "I brought it so aboute by my wit,", "That they must give it up, as for the best", "Or elles had we never been in rest.", "For, though he looked as a wood lion,", "Yet should he fail of his conclusion.", "Then would I say, \"Now, goode lefe tak keep", "How meekly looketh Wilken oure sheep!", "Come near, my spouse, and let me ba thy cheek", "Ye shoulde be all patient and meek,", "And have a sweet y-spiced conscience,", "Since ye so preach of Jobe's patience.", "Suffer alway, since ye so well can preach,", "And but ye do, certain we shall you teach", "That it is fair to have a wife in peace.", "One of us two must bowe doubteless:", "And since a man is more reasonable", "Than woman is, ye must be suff'rable.", "What aileth you to grudge thus and groan?", "Is it for ye would have my [love] alone?", "Why, take it all: lo, have it every deal,", "Peter! shrew you but ye love it well", "For if I woulde sell my belle chose,", "I coulde walk as fresh as is a rose,", "But I will keep it for your owen tooth.", "Ye be to blame, by God, I say you sooth.\"", "Such manner wordes hadde we on hand.", "", "Now will I speaken of my fourth husband.", "My fourthe husband was a revellour;", "This is to say, he had a paramour,", "And I was young and full of ragerie,", "Stubborn and strong, and jolly as a pie.", "Then could I dance to a harpe smale,", "And sing, y-wis, as any nightingale,", "When I had drunk a draught of sweete wine.", "Metellius, the foule churl, the swine,", "That with a staff bereft his wife of life", "For she drank wine, though I had been his wife,", "Never should he have daunted me from drink:", "And, after wine, of Venus most I think.", "For all so sure as cold engenders hail,", "A liquorish mouth must have a liquorish tail.", "In woman vinolent is no defence,", "This knowe lechours by experience.", "But, lord Christ, when that it rememb'reth me", "Upon my youth, and on my jollity,", "It tickleth me about mine hearte-root;", "Unto this day it doth mine hearte boot,", "That I have had my world as in my time.", "But age, alas! that all will envenime,", "Hath me bereft my beauty and my pith:", "Let go; farewell; the devil go therewith.", "The flour is gon, there is no more to tell,", "The bran, as I best may, now must I sell.", "But yet to be right merry will I fand.", "Now forth to tell you of my fourth husband,", "I say, I in my heart had great despite,", "That he of any other had delight;", "But he was quit, by God and by Saint Joce:", "I made for him of the same wood a cross;", "Not of my body in no foul mannere,", "But certainly I made folk such cheer,", "That in his owen grease I made him fry", "For anger, and for very jealousy.", "By God, in earth I was his purgatory,", "For which I hope his soul may be in glory.", "For, God it wot, he sat full oft and sung,", "When that his shoe full bitterly him wrung.", "There was no wight, save God and he, that wist", "In many wise how sore I did him twist.", "He died when I came from Jerusalem,", "And lies in grave under the roode beam:", "Although his tomb is not so curious", "As was the sepulchre of Darius,", "Which that Apelles wrought so subtlely.", "It is but waste to bury them preciously.", "Let him fare well, God give his soule rest,", "He is now in his grave and in his chest.", "", "Now of my fifthe husband will I tell:", "God let his soul never come into hell.", "And yet was he to me the moste shrew;", "That feel I on my ribbes all by rew,", "And ever shall, until mine ending day.", "But in our bed he was so fresh and gay,", "And therewithal so well he could me glose,", "When that he woulde have my belle chose,", "Though he had beaten me on every bone,", "Yet could he win again my love anon.", "I trow, I lov'd him better, for that he", "Was of his love so dangerous to me.", "We women have, if that I shall not lie,", "In this matter a quainte fantasy.", "Whatever thing we may not lightly have,", "Thereafter will we cry all day and crave.", "Forbid us thing, and that desire we;", "Press on us fast, and thenne will we flee.", "With danger utter we all our chaffare;", "Great press at market maketh deare ware,", "And too great cheap is held at little price;", "This knoweth every woman that is wise.", "My fifthe husband, God his soule bless,", "Which that I took for love and no richess,", "He some time was a clerk of Oxenford,", "And had left school, and went at home to board", "With my gossip, dwelling in oure town:", "God have her soul, her name was Alisoun.", "She knew my heart, and all my privity,", "Bet than our parish priest, so may I the.", "To her betrayed I my counsel all;", "For had my husband pissed on a wall,", "Or done a thing that should have cost his life,", "To her, and to another worthy wife,", "And to my niece, which that I loved well,", "I would have told his counsel every deal.", "And so I did full often, God it wot,", "That made his face full often red and hot", "For very shame, and blam'd himself, for he", "Had told to me so great a privity.", "And so befell that ones in a Lent", "(So oftentimes I to my gossip went,", "For ever yet I loved to be gay,", "And for to walk in March, April, and May", "From house to house, to heare sundry tales),", "That Jenkin clerk, and my gossip, Dame Ales,", "And I myself, into the fieldes went.", "Mine husband was at London all that Lent;", "I had the better leisure for to play,", "And for to see, and eke for to be sey", "Of lusty folk; what wist I where my grace", "Was shapen for to be, or in what place?", "Therefore made I my visitations", "To vigilies, and to processions,", "To preachings eke, and to these pilgrimages,", "To plays of miracles, and marriages,", "And weared upon me gay scarlet gites.", "These wormes, nor these mothes, nor these mites", "On my apparel frett them never a deal", "And know'st thou why? for they were used well.", "Now will I telle forth what happen'd me:", "I say, that in the fieldes walked we,", "Till truely we had such dalliance,", "This clerk and I, that of my purveyance", "I spake to him, and told him how that he,", "If I were widow, shoulde wedde me.", "For certainly, I say for no bobance,", "Yet was I never without purveyance", "Of marriage, nor of other thinges eke:", "I hold a mouse's wit not worth a leek,", "That hath but one hole for to starte to,", "And if that faile, then is all y-do.", "[I bare him on hand he had enchanted me", "(My dame taughte me that subtilty);", "And eke I said, I mette of him all night,", "He would have slain me, as I lay upright,", "And all my bed was full of very blood;", "But yet I hop'd that he should do me good;", "For blood betoken'd gold, as me was taught.", "And all was false, I dream'd of him right naught,", "But as I follow'd aye my dame's lore,", "As well of that as of other things more.]", "But now, sir, let me see, what shall I sayn?", "Aha! by God, I have my tale again.", "When that my fourthe husband was on bier,", "I wept algate and made a sorry cheer,", "As wives must, for it is the usage;", "And with my kerchief covered my visage;", "But, for I was provided with a make,", "I wept but little, that I undertake", "To churche was mine husband borne a-morrow", "With neighebours that for him made sorrow,", "And Jenkin, oure clerk, was one of tho:", "As help me God, when that I saw him go", "After the bier, methought he had a pair", "Of legges and of feet so clean and fair,", "That all my heart I gave unto his hold.", "He was, I trow, a twenty winter old,", "And I was forty, if I shall say sooth,", "But yet I had always a colte's tooth.", "Gat-toothed I was, and that became me well,", "I had the print of Sainte Venus' seal.", "[As help me God, I was a lusty one,", "And fair, and rich, and young, and well begone:", "For certes I am all venerian", "In feeling, and my heart is martian;", "Venus me gave my lust and liquorishness,", "And Mars gave me my sturdy hardiness.]", "Mine ascendant was Taure, and Mars therein:", "Alas, alas, that ever love was sin!", "I follow'd aye mine inclination", "By virtue of my constellation:", "That made me that I coulde not withdraw", "My chamber of Venus from a good fellaw.", "[Yet have I Marte's mark upon my face,", "And also in another privy place.", "For God so wisly be my salvation,", "I loved never by discretion,", "But ever follow'd mine own appetite,", "All were he short, or long, or black, or white,", "I took no keep, so that he liked me,", "How poor he was, neither of what degree.]", "What should I say? but that at the month's end", "This jolly clerk Jenkin, that was so hend,", "Had wedded me with great solemnity,", "And to him gave I all the land and fee", "That ever was me given therebefore:", "But afterward repented me full sore.", "He woulde suffer nothing of my list.", "By God, he smote me ones with his fist,", "For that I rent out of his book a leaf,", "That of the stroke mine eare wax'd all deaf.", "Stubborn I was, as is a lioness,", "And of my tongue a very jangleress,", "And walk I would, as I had done beforn,", "From house to house, although he had it sworn:", "For which he oftentimes woulde preach", "And me of olde Roman gestes teach", "How that Sulpitius Gallus left his wife", "And her forsook for term of all his", "For nought but open-headed he her say", "Looking out at his door upon a day.", "Another Roman told he me by name,", "That, for his wife was at a summer game", "Without his knowing, he forsook her eke.", "And then would he upon his Bible seek", "That ilke proverb of Ecclesiast,", "Where he commandeth, and forbiddeth fast,", "Man shall not suffer his wife go roll about.", "Then would he say right thus withoute doubt:", "\"Whoso that buildeth his house all of sallows,", "And pricketh his blind horse over the fallows,", "And suff'reth his wife to go seeke hallows,", "Is worthy to be hanged on the gallows.\"", "But all for nought; I sette not a haw", "Of his proverbs, nor of his olde saw;", "Nor would I not of him corrected be.", "I hate them that my vices telle me,", "And so do more of us (God wot) than I.", "This made him wood with me all utterly;", "I woulde not forbear him in no case.", "Now will I say you sooth, by Saint Thomas,", "Why that I rent out of his book a leaf,", "For which he smote me, so that I was deaf.", "He had a book, that gladly night and day", "For his disport he would it read alway;", "He call'd it Valerie, and Theophrast,", "And with that book he laugh'd alway full fast.", "And eke there was a clerk sometime at Rome,", "A cardinal, that highte Saint Jerome,", "That made a book against Jovinian,", "Which book was there; and eke Tertullian,", "Chrysippus, Trotula, and Heloise,", "That was an abbess not far from Paris;", "And eke the Parables of Solomon,", "Ovide's Art, and bourdes many one;", "And alle these were bound in one volume.", "And every night and day was his custume", "(When he had leisure and vacation", "From other worldly occupation)", "To readen in this book of wicked wives.", "He knew of them more legends and more lives", "Than be of goodde wives in the Bible.", "For, trust me well, it is an impossible", "That any clerk will speake good of wives,", "(But if it be of holy saintes' lives)", "Nor of none other woman never the mo'.", "Who painted the lion, tell it me, who?", "By God, if women haddde written stories,", "As clerkes have within their oratories,", "They would have writ of men more wickedness", "Than all the mark of Adam may redress", "The children of Mercury and of Venus,", "Be in their working full contrarious.", "Mercury loveth wisdom and science,", "And Venus loveth riot and dispence.", "And for their diverse disposition,", "Each falls in other's exaltation.", "As thus, God wot, Mercury is desolate", "In Pisces, where Venus is exaltate,", "And Venus falls where Mercury is raised.", "Therefore no woman by no clerk is praised.", "The clerk, when he is old, and may not do", "Of Venus' works not worth his olde shoe,", "Then sits he down, and writes in his dotage,", "That women cannot keep their marriage.", "But now to purpose, why I tolde thee", "That I was beaten for a book, pardie.", "", "Upon a night Jenkin, that was our sire,", "Read on his book, as he sat by the fire,", "Of Eva first, that for her wickedness", "Was all mankind brought into wretchedness,", "For which that Jesus Christ himself was slain,", "That bought us with his hearte-blood again.", "Lo here express of women may ye find", "That woman was the loss of all mankind.", "Then read he me how Samson lost his hairs", "Sleeping, his leman cut them with her shears,", "Through whiche treason lost he both his eyen.", "Then read he me, if that I shall not lien,", "Of Hercules, and of his Dejanire,", "That caused him to set himself on fire.", "Nothing forgot he of the care and woe", "That Socrates had with his wives two;", "How Xantippe cast piss upon his head.", "This silly man sat still, as he were dead,", "He wip'd his head, and no more durst he sayn,", "But, \"Ere the thunder stint there cometh rain.\"", "Of Phasiphae, that was queen of Crete,", "For shrewedness he thought the tale sweet.", "Fy, speak no more, it is a grisly thing,", "Of her horrible lust and her liking.", "Of Clytemnestra, for her lechery", "That falsely made her husband for to die,", "He read it with full good devotion.", "He told me eke, for what occasion", "Amphiorax at Thebes lost his life:", "My husband had a legend of his wife", "Eryphile, that for an ouche of gold", "Had privily unto the Greekes told,", "Where that her husband hid him in a place,", "For which he had at Thebes sorry grace.", "Of Luna told he me, and of Lucie;", "They bothe made their husbands for to die,", "That one for love, that other was for hate.", "Luna her husband on an ev'ning late", "Empoison'd had, for that she was his foe:", "Lucia liquorish lov'd her husband so,", "That, for he should always upon her think,", "She gave him such a manner love-drink,", "That he was dead before it were the morrow:", "And thus algates husbands hadde sorrow.", "Then told he me how one Latumeus", "Complained to his fellow Arius", "That in his garden growed such a tree,", "On which he said how that his wives three", "Hanged themselves for heart dispiteous.", "\"O leve brother,\" quoth this Arius,", "\"Give me a plant of thilke blessed tree,", "And in my garden planted shall it be.\"", "Of later date of wives hath he read,", "That some have slain their husbands in their bed,", "And let their lechour dight them all the night,", "While that the corpse lay on the floor upright:", "And some have driven nails into their brain,", "While that they slept, and thus they have them slain:", "Some have them given poison in their drink:", "He spake more harm than hearte may bethink.", "And therewithal he knew of more proverbs,", "Than in this world there groweth grass or herbs.", "\"Better (quoth he) thine habitation", "Be with a lion, or a foul dragon,", "Than with a woman using for to chide.", "Better (quoth he) high in the roof abide,", "Than with an angry woman in the house,", "They be so wicked and contrarious:", "They hate that their husbands loven aye.\"", "He said, \"A woman cast her shame away", "When she cast off her smock;\" and farthermo',", "\"A fair woman, but she be chaste also,", "Is like a gold ring in a sowe's nose.", "Who coulde ween, or who coulde suppose", "The woe that in mine heart was, and the pine?", "And when I saw that he would never fine", "To readen on this cursed book all night,", "All suddenly three leaves have I plight", "Out of his book, right as he read, and eke", "I with my fist so took him on the cheek,", "That in our fire he backward fell adown.", "And he up start, as doth a wood lion,", "And with his fist he smote me on the head,", "That on the floor I lay as I were dead.", "And when he saw how still that there I lay,", "He was aghast, and would have fled away,", "Till at the last out of my swoon I braid,", "\"Oh, hast thou slain me, thou false thief?\" I said", "\"And for my land thus hast thou murder'd me?", "Ere I be dead, yet will I kisse thee.\"", "And near he came, and kneeled fair adown,", "And saide\", \"Deare sister Alisoun,", "As help me God, I shall thee never smite:", "That I have done it is thyself to wite,", "Forgive it me, and that I thee beseek.\"", "And yet eftsoons I hit him on the cheek,", "And saidde, \"Thief, thus much am I awreak.", "Now will I die, I may no longer speak.\"", "", "But at the last, with muche care and woe", "We fell accorded by ourselves two:", "He gave me all the bridle in mine hand", "To have the governance of house and land,", "And of his tongue, and of his hand also.", "I made him burn his book anon right tho.", "And when that I had gotten unto me", "By mast'ry all the sovereignety,", "And that he said, \"Mine owen true wife,", "Do as thee list, the term of all thy life,", "Keep thine honour, and eke keep mine estate;", "After that day we never had debate.", "God help me so, I was to him as kind", "As any wife from Denmark unto Ind,", "And also true, and so was he to me:", "I pray to God that sits in majesty", "So bless his soule, for his mercy dear.", "Now will I say my tale, if ye will hear. --", "", "The Friar laugh'd when he had heard all this:", "\"Now, Dame,\" quoth he, \"so have I joy and bliss,", "This is a long preamble of a tale.\"", "And when the Sompnour heard the Friar gale,", "\"Lo,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"Godde's armes two,", "A friar will intermete him evermo':", "Lo, goode men, a fly and eke a frere", "Will fall in ev'ry dish and eke mattere.", "What speak'st thou of perambulation?", "What? amble or trot; or peace, or go sit down:", "Thou lettest our disport in this mattere.\"", "\"Yea, wilt thou so, Sir Sompnour?\" quoth the Frere;", "\"Now by my faith I shall, ere that I go,", "Tell of a Sompnour such a tale or two,", "That all the folk shall laughen in this place.\"", "\"Now do, else, Friar, I beshrew thy face,\"", "Quoth this Sompnour; \"and I beshrewe me,", "But if I telle tales two or three", "Of friars, ere I come to Sittingbourne,", "That I shall make thine hearte for to mourn:", "For well I wot thy patience is gone.\"", "Our Hoste cried, \"Peace, and that anon;\"", "And saide, \"Let the woman tell her tale.", "Ye fare as folk that drunken be of ale.", "Do, Dame, tell forth your tale, and that is best.\"", "\"All ready, sir,\" quoth she, \"right as you lest,", "If I have licence of this worthy Frere.\"", "\"Yes, Dame,\" quoth he, \"tell forth, and I will hear.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "In olde dayes of the king Arthour,", "Of which that Britons speake great honour,", "All was this land full fill'd of faerie;", "The Elf-queen, with her jolly company,", "Danced full oft in many a green mead", "This was the old opinion, as I read;", "I speak of many hundred years ago;", "But now can no man see none elves mo',", "For now the great charity and prayeres", "Of limitours, and other holy freres,", "That search every land and ev'ry stream", "As thick as motes in the sunne-beam,", "Blessing halls, chambers, kitchenes, and bowers,", "Cities and burghes, castles high and towers,", "Thorpes and barnes, shepens and dairies,", "This makes that there be now no faeries:", "For there as wont to walke was an elf,", "There walketh now the limitour himself,", "In undermeles and in morrowings,", "And saith his matins and his holy things,", "As he goes in his limitatioun.", "Women may now go safely up and down,", "In every bush, and under every tree;", "There is none other incubus but he;", "And he will do to them no dishonour.", "", "And so befell it, that this king Arthour", "Had in his house a lusty bacheler,", "That on a day came riding from river:", "And happen'd, that, alone as she was born,", "He saw a maiden walking him beforn,", "Of which maiden anon, maugre her head,", "By very force he reft her maidenhead:", "For which oppression was such clamour,", "And such pursuit unto the king Arthour,", "That damned was this knight for to be dead", "By course of law, and should have lost his head;", "(Paraventure such was the statute tho),", "But that the queen and other ladies mo'", "So long they prayed the king of his grace,", "Till he his life him granted in the place,", "And gave him to the queen, all at her will", "To choose whether she would him save or spill", "The queen thanked the king with all her might;", "And, after this, thus spake she to the knight,", "When that she saw her time upon a day.", "\"Thou standest yet,\" quoth she, \"in such array,", "That of thy life yet hast thou no surety;", "I grant thee life, if thou canst tell to me", "What thing is it that women most desiren:", "Beware, and keep thy neck-bone from the iron", "And if thou canst not tell it me anon,", "Yet will I give thee leave for to gon", "A twelvemonth and a day, to seek and lear", "An answer suffisant in this mattere.", "And surety will I have, ere that thou pace,", "Thy body for to yielden in this place.\"", "Woe was the knight, and sorrowfully siked;", "But what? he might not do all as him liked.", "And at the last he chose him for to wend,", "And come again, right at the yeare's end,", "With such answer as God would him purvey:", "And took his leave, and wended forth his way.", "", "He sought in ev'ry house and ev'ry place,", "Where as he hoped for to finde grace,", "To learne what thing women love the most:", "But he could not arrive in any coast,", "Where as he mighte find in this mattere", "Two creatures according in fere.", "Some said that women loved best richess,", "Some said honour, and some said jolliness,", "Some rich array, and some said lust a-bed,", "And oft time to be widow and be wed.", "Some said, that we are in our heart most eased", "When that we are y-flatter'd and y-praised.", "He went full nigh the sooth, I will not lie;", "A man shall win us best with flattery;", "And with attendance, and with business", "Be we y-limed, bothe more and less.", "And some men said that we do love the best", "For to be free, and do right as us lest,", "And that no man reprove us of our vice,", "But say that we are wise, and nothing nice,", "For truly there is none among us all,", "If any wight will claw us on the gall,", "That will not kick, for that he saith us sooth:", "Assay, and he shall find it, that so do'th.", "For be we never so vicious within,", "We will be held both wise and clean of sin.", "And some men said, that great delight have we", "For to be held stable and eke secre,", "And in one purpose steadfastly to dwell,", "And not bewray a thing that men us tell.", "But that tale is not worth a rake-stele.", "Pardie, we women canne nothing hele,", "Witness on Midas; will ye hear the tale?", "Ovid, amonges other thinges smale", "Saith, Midas had, under his longe hairs,", "Growing upon his head two ass's ears;", "The whiche vice he hid, as best he might,", "Full subtlely from every man's sight,", "That, save his wife, there knew of it no mo';", "He lov'd her most, and trusted her also;", "He prayed her, that to no creature", "She woulde tellen of his disfigure.", "She swore him, nay, for all the world to win,", "She would not do that villainy or sin,", "To make her husband have so foul a name:", "She would not tell it for her owen shame.", "But natheless her thoughte that she died,", "That she so longe should a counsel hide;", "Her thought it swell'd so sore about her heart", "That needes must some word from her astart", "And, since she durst not tell it unto man", "Down to a marish fast thereby she ran,", "Till she came there, her heart was all afire:", "And, as a bittern bumbles in the mire,", "She laid her mouth unto the water down", "\"Bewray me not, thou water, with thy soun'\"", "Quoth she, \"to thee I tell it, and no mo',", "Mine husband hath long ass's eares two!", "Now is mine heart all whole; now is it out;", "I might no longer keep it, out of doubt.\"", "Here may ye see, though we a time abide,", "Yet out it must, we can no counsel hide.", "The remnant of the tale, if ye will hear,", "Read in Ovid, and there ye may it lear.", "", "This knight, of whom my tale is specially,", "When that he saw he might not come thereby,", "That is to say, what women love the most,", "Within his breast full sorrowful was his ghost.", "But home he went, for he might not sojourn,", "The day was come, that homeward he must turn.", "And in his way it happen'd him to ride,", "In all his care, under a forest side,", "Where as he saw upon a dance go", "Of ladies four-and-twenty, and yet mo',", "Toward this ilke dance he drew full yern,", "The hope that he some wisdom there should learn;", "But certainly, ere he came fully there,", "Y-vanish'd was this dance, he knew not where;", "No creature saw he that bare life,", "Save on the green he sitting saw a wife,", "A fouler wight there may no man devise.", "Against this knight this old wife gan to rise,", "And said, \"Sir Knight, hereforth lieth no way.", "Tell me what ye are seeking, by your fay.", "Paraventure it may the better be:", "These olde folk know muche thing.\" quoth she.", "My leve mother,\" quoth this knight, \"certain,", "I am but dead, but if that I can sayn", "What thing it is that women most desire:", "Could ye me wiss, I would well quite your hire.\"", "\"Plight me thy troth here in mine hand,\" quoth she,", "\"The nexte thing that I require of thee", "Thou shalt it do, if it be in thy might,", "And I will tell it thee ere it be night.\"", "\"Have here my trothe,\" quoth the knight; \"I grant.\"", "\"Thenne,\" quoth she, \"I dare me well avaunt,", "Thy life is safe, for I will stand thereby,", "Upon my life the queen will say as I:", "Let see, which is the proudest of them all,", "That wears either a kerchief or a caul,", "That dare say nay to that I shall you teach.", "Let us go forth withoute longer speech", "Then rowned she a pistel in his ear,", "And bade him to be glad, and have no fear.", "", "When they were come unto the court, this knight", "Said, he had held his day, as he had hight,", "And ready was his answer, as he said.", "Full many a noble wife, and many a maid,", "And many a widow, for that they be wise, --", "The queen herself sitting as a justice, --", "Assembled be, his answer for to hear,", "And afterward this knight was bid appear.", "To every wight commanded was silence,", "And that the knight should tell in audience,", "What thing that worldly women love the best.", "This knight he stood not still, as doth a beast,", "But to this question anon answer'd", "With manly voice, that all the court it heard,", "\"My liege lady, generally,\" quoth he,", "\"Women desire to have the sovereignty", "As well over their husband as their love", "And for to be in mast'ry him above.", "This is your most desire, though ye me kill,", "Do as you list, I am here at your will.\"", "In all the court there was no wife nor maid", "Nor widow, that contraried what he said,", "But said, he worthy was to have his life.", "And with that word up start that olde wife", "Which that the knight saw sitting on the green.", "", "\"Mercy,\" quoth she, \"my sovereign lady queen,", "Ere that your court departe, do me right.", "I taughte this answer unto this knight,", "For which he plighted me his trothe there,", "The firste thing I would of him requere,", "He would it do, if it lay in his might.", "Before this court then pray I thee, Sir Knight,\"", "Quoth she, \"that thou me take unto thy wife,", "For well thou know'st that I have kept thy life.", "If I say false, say nay, upon thy fay.\"", "This knight answer'd, \"Alas, and well-away!", "I know right well that such was my behest.", "For Godde's love choose a new request", "Take all my good, and let my body go.\"", "\"Nay, then,\" quoth she, \"I shrew us bothe two,", "For though that I be old, and foul, and poor,", "I n'ould for all the metal nor the ore,", "That under earth is grave, or lies above", "But if thy wife I were and eke thy love.\"", "\"My love?\" quoth he, \"nay, my damnation,", "Alas! that any of my nation", "Should ever so foul disparaged be.", "But all for nought; the end is this, that he", "Constrained was, that needs he muste wed,", "And take this olde wife, and go to bed.", "", "Now woulde some men say paraventure", "That for my negligence I do no cure", "To tell you all the joy and all th' array", "That at the feast was made that ilke day.", "To which thing shortly answeren I shall:", "I say there was no joy nor feast at all,", "There was but heaviness and muche sorrow:", "For privily he wed her on the morrow;", "And all day after hid him as an owl,", "So woe was him, his wife look'd so foul", "Great was the woe the knight had in his thought", "When he was with his wife to bed y-brought;", "He wallow'd, and he turned to and fro.", "This olde wife lay smiling evermo',", "And said, \"Dear husband, benedicite,", "Fares every knight thus with his wife as ye?", "Is this the law of king Arthoures house?", "Is every knight of his thus dangerous?", "I am your owen love, and eke your wife", "I am she, which that saved hath your life", "And certes yet did I you ne'er unright.", "Why fare ye thus with me this firste night?", "Ye fare like a man had lost his wit.", "What is my guilt? for God's love tell me it,", "And it shall be amended, if I may.\"", "\"Amended!\" quoth this knight; \"alas, nay, nay,", "It will not be amended, never mo';", "Thou art so loathly, and so old also,", "And thereto comest of so low a kind,", "That little wonder though I wallow and wind;", "So woulde God, mine hearte woulde brest!\"", "\"Is this,\" quoth she, \"the cause of your unrest?\"", "\"Yea, certainly,\" quoth he; \"no wonder is.\"", "\"Now, Sir,\" quoth she, \"I could amend all this,", "If that me list, ere it were dayes three,", "So well ye mighte bear you unto me.", "But, for ye speaken of such gentleness", "As is descended out of old richess,", "That therefore shalle ye be gentlemen;", "Such arrogancy is not worth a hen.", "Look who that is most virtuous alway,", "Prive and apert, and most intendeth aye", "To do the gentle deedes that he can;", "And take him for the greatest gentleman.", "Christ will, we claim of him our gentleness,", "Not of our elders for their old richess.", "For though they gave us all their heritage,", "For which we claim to be of high parage,", "Yet may they not bequeathe, for no thing,", "To none of us, their virtuous living", "That made them gentlemen called to be,", "And bade us follow them in such degree.", "Well can the wise poet of Florence,", "That highte Dante, speak of this sentence:", "Lo, in such manner rhyme is Dante's tale.", "'Full seld' upriseth by his branches smale", "Prowess of man, for God of his goodness", "Wills that we claim of him our gentleness;'", "For of our elders may we nothing claim", "But temp'ral things that man may hurt and maim.", "Eke every wight knows this as well as I,", "If gentleness were planted naturally", "Unto a certain lineage down the line,", "Prive and apert, then would they never fine", "To do of gentleness the fair office", "Then might they do no villainy nor vice.", "Take fire, and bear it to the darkest house", "Betwixt this and the mount of Caucasus,", "And let men shut the doores, and go thenne,", "Yet will the fire as fair and lighte brenne", "As twenty thousand men might it behold;", "Its office natural aye will it hold,", "On peril of my life, till that it die.", "Here may ye see well how that gentery", "Is not annexed to possession,", "Since folk do not their operation", "Alway, as doth the fire, lo, in its kind", "For, God it wot, men may full often find", "A lorde's son do shame and villainy.", "And he that will have price of his gent'ry,", "For he was boren of a gentle house,", "And had his elders noble and virtuous,", "And will himselfe do no gentle deedes,", "Nor follow his gentle ancestry, that dead is,", "He is not gentle, be he duke or earl;", "For villain sinful deedes make a churl.", "For gentleness is but the renomee", "Of thine ancestors, for their high bounte,", "Which is a strange thing to thy person:", "Thy gentleness cometh from God alone.", "Then comes our very gentleness of grace;", "It was no thing bequeath'd us with our place.", "Think how noble, as saith Valerius,", "Was thilke Tullius Hostilius,", "That out of povert' rose to high", "Read in Senec, and read eke in Boece,", "There shall ye see express, that it no drede is,", "That he is gentle that doth gentle deedes.", "And therefore, leve husband, I conclude,", "Albeit that mine ancestors were rude,", "Yet may the highe God, -- and so hope I, --", "Grant me His grace to live virtuously:", "Then am I gentle when that I begin", "To live virtuously, and waive sin.", "", "\"And whereas ye of povert' me repreve,", "The highe God, on whom that we believe,", "In wilful povert' chose to lead his life:", "And certes, every man, maiden, or wife", "May understand that Jesus, heaven's king,", "Ne would not choose a virtuous living.", "Glad povert' is an honest thing, certain;", "This will Senec and other clerkes sayn", "Whoso that holds him paid of his povert',", "I hold him rich though he hath not a shirt.", "He that coveteth is a poore wight", "For he would have what is not in his might", "But he that nought hath, nor coveteth to have,", "Is rich, although ye hold him but a knave.", "Very povert' is sinne, properly.", "Juvenal saith of povert' merrily:", "The poore man, when he goes by the way", "Before the thieves he may sing and play", "Povert' is hateful good, and, as I guess,", "A full great bringer out of business;", "A great amender eke of sapience", "To him that taketh it in patience.", "Povert' is this, although it seem elenge", "Possession that no wight will challenge", "Povert' full often, when a man is low,", "Makes him his God and eke himself to know", "Povert' a spectacle is, as thinketh me", "Through which he may his very friendes see.", "And, therefore, Sir, since that I you not grieve,", "Of my povert' no more me repreve.", "\"Now, Sir, of elde ye repreve me:", "And certes, Sir, though none authority", "Were in no book, ye gentles of honour", "Say, that men should an olde wight honour,", "And call him father, for your gentleness;", "And authors shall I finden, as I guess.", "Now there ye say that I am foul and old,", "Then dread ye not to be a cokewold.", "For filth, and elde, all so may I the,", "Be greate wardens upon chastity.", "But natheless, since I know your delight,", "I shall fulfil your wordly appetite.", "Choose now,\" quoth she, \"one of these thinges tway,", "To have me foul and old till that I dey,", "And be to you a true humble wife,", "And never you displease in all my life:", "Or elles will ye have me young and fair,", "And take your aventure of the repair", "That shall be to your house because of me, --", "Or in some other place, it may well be?", "Now choose yourselfe whether that you liketh.", "", "This knight adviseth him and sore he siketh,", "But at the last he said in this mannere;", "\"My lady and my love, and wife so dear,", "I put me in your wise governance,", "Choose for yourself which may be most pleasance", "And most honour to you and me also;", "I do no force the whether of the two:", "For as you liketh, it sufficeth me.\"", "\"Then have I got the mastery,\" quoth she,", "\"Since I may choose and govern as me lest.\"", "\"Yea, certes wife,\" quoth he, \"I hold it best.\"", "\"Kiss me,\" quoth she, \"we are no longer wroth,", "For by my troth I will be to you both;", "This is to say, yea, bothe fair and good.", "I pray to God that I may sterve wood,", "But I to you be all so good and true,", "As ever was wife since the world was new;", "And but I be to-morrow as fair to seen,", "As any lady, emperess or queen,", "That is betwixt the East and eke the West", "Do with my life and death right as you lest.", "Cast up the curtain, and look how it is.\"", "", "And when the knight saw verily all this,", "That she so fair was, and so young thereto,", "For joy he hent her in his armes two:", "His hearte bathed in a bath of bliss,", "A thousand times on row he gan her kiss:", "And she obeyed him in every thing", "That mighte do him pleasance or liking.", "And thus they live unto their lives' end", "In perfect joy; and Jesus Christ us send", "Husbandes meek and young, and fresh in bed,", "And grace to overlive them that we wed.", "And eke I pray Jesus to short their lives,", "That will not be governed by their wives.", "And old and angry niggards of dispence,", "God send them soon a very pestilence!" ], "linecount": "1264" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Friar's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "This worthy limitour, this noble Frere,", "He made always a manner louring cheer", "Upon the Sompnour; but for honesty", "No villain word as yet to him spake he:", "But at the last he said unto the Wife:", "\"Dame,\" quoth he, \"God give you right good life,", "Ye have here touched, all so may I the,", "In school matter a greate difficulty.", "Ye have said muche thing right well, I say;", "But, Dame, here as we ride by the way,", "Us needeth not but for to speak of game,", "And leave authorities, in Godde's name,", "To preaching, and to school eke of clergy.", "But if it like unto this company,", "I will you of a Sompnour tell a game;", "Pardie, ye may well knowe by the name,", "That of a Sompnour may no good be said;", "I pray that none of you be evil paid;", "A Sompnour is a runner up and down", "With mandements for fornicatioun,", "And is y-beat at every towne's end.\"", "Then spake our Host; \"Ah, sir, ye should be hend", "And courteous, as a man of your estate;", "In company we will have no debate:", "Tell us your tale, and let the Sompnour be.\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth the Sompnour, \"let him say by me", "What so him list; when it comes to my lot,", "By God, I shall him quiten every groat!", "I shall him telle what a great honour", "It is to be a flattering limitour", "And his office I shall him tell y-wis\".", "Our Host answered, \"Peace, no more of this.\"", "And afterward he said unto the frere,", "\"Tell forth your tale, mine owen master dear.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "Whilom there was dwelling in my country", "An archdeacon, a man of high degree,", "That boldely did execution,", "In punishing of fornication,", "Of witchecraft, and eke of bawdery,", "Of defamation, and adultery,", "Of churche-reeves, and of testaments,", "Of contracts, and of lack of sacraments,", "And eke of many another manner crime,", "Which needeth not rehearsen at this time,", "Of usury, and simony also;", "But, certes, lechours did he greatest woe;", "They shoulde singen, if that they were hent;", "And smale tithers were foul y-shent,", "If any person would on them complain;", "There might astert them no pecunial pain.", "For smalle tithes, and small offering,", "He made the people piteously to sing;", "For ere the bishop caught them with his crook,", "They weren in the archedeacon's book;", "Then had he, through his jurisdiction,", "Power to do on them correction.", "", "He had a Sompnour ready to his hand,", "A slier boy was none in Engleland;", "For subtlely he had his espiaille,", "That taught him well where it might aught avail.", "He coulde spare of lechours one or two,", "To teache him to four and twenty mo'.", "For, -- though this Sompnour wood be as a hare, --", "To tell his harlotry I will not spare,", "For we be out of their correction,", "They have of us no jurisdiction,", "Ne never shall have, term of all their lives.", "", "\"Peter; so be the women of the stives,\"", "Quoth this Sompnour, \"y-put out of our cure.\"", "", "\"Peace, with mischance and with misaventure,\"", "Our Hoste said, \"and let him tell his tale.", "Now telle forth, and let the Sompnour gale,", "Nor spare not, mine owen master dear.\"", "", "This false thief, the Sompnour (quoth the Frere),", "Had always bawdes ready to his hand,", "As any hawk to lure in Engleland,", "That told him all the secrets that they knew, --", "For their acquaintance was not come of new;", "They were his approvers privily.", "He took himself at great profit thereby:", "His master knew not always what he wan.", "Withoute mandement, a lewed man", "He could summon, on pain of Christe's curse,", "And they were inly glad to fill his purse,", "And make him greate feastes at the nale.", "And right as Judas hadde purses smale,", "And was a thief, right such a thief was he,", "His master had but half his duety.", "He was (if I shall give him his laud)", "A thief, and eke a Sompnour, and a bawd.", "And he had wenches at his retinue,", "That whether that Sir Robert or Sir Hugh,", "Or Jack, or Ralph, or whoso that it were", "That lay by them, they told it in his ear.", "Thus were the wench and he of one assent;", "And he would fetch a feigned mandement,", "And to the chapter summon them both two,", "And pill the man, and let the wenche go.", "Then would he say, \"Friend, I shall for thy sake", "Do strike thee out of oure letters blake;", "Thee thar no more as in this case travail;", "I am thy friend where I may thee avail.\"", "Certain he knew of bribers many mo'", "Than possible is to tell in yeare's two:", "For in this world is no dog for the bow,", "That can a hurt deer from a whole know,", "Bet than this Sompnour knew a sly lechour,", "Or an adult'rer, or a paramour:", "And, for that was the fruit of all his rent,", "Therefore on it he set all his intent.", "", "And so befell, that once upon a day.", "This Sompnour, waiting ever on his prey,", "Rode forth to summon a widow, an old ribibe,", "Feigning a cause, for he would have a bribe.", "And happen'd that he saw before him ride", "A gay yeoman under a forest side:", "A bow he bare, and arrows bright and keen,", "He had upon a courtepy of green,", "A hat upon his head with fringes blake.", "\"Sir,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"hail, and well o'ertake.\"", "\"Welcome,\" quoth he, \"and every good fellaw;", "Whither ridest thou under this green shaw?\"", "Saide this yeoman; \"wilt thou far to-day?\"", "This Sompnour answer'd him, and saide, \"Nay.", "Here faste by,\" quoth he, \"is mine intent", "To ride, for to raisen up a rent,", "That longeth to my lorde's duety.\"", "\"Ah! art thou then a bailiff?\" \"Yea,\" quoth he.", "He durste not for very filth and shame", "Say that he was a Sompnour, for the name.", "\"De par dieux,\" quoth this yeoman, \"leve brother,", "Thou art a bailiff, and I am another.", "I am unknowen, as in this country.", "Of thine acquaintance I will praye thee,", "And eke of brotherhood, if that thee list.", "I have gold and silver lying in my chest;", "If that thee hap to come into our shire,", "All shall be thine, right as thou wilt desire.\"", "\"Grand mercy,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"by my faith.\"", "Each in the other's hand his trothe lay'th,", "For to be sworne brethren till they dey.", "In dalliance they ride forth and play.", "", "This Sompnour, which that was as full of jangles,", "As full of venom be those wariangles,", "And ev'r inquiring upon every thing,", "\"Brother,\" quoth he, \"where is now your dwelling,", "Another day if that I should you seech?\"", "This yeoman him answered in soft speech;", "Brother,\" quoth he, \"far in the North country,", "Where as I hope some time I shall thee see", "Ere we depart I shall thee so well wiss,", "That of mine house shalt thou never miss.\"", "Now, brother,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"I you pray,", "Teach me, while that we ride by the way,", "(Since that ye be a bailiff as am I,)", "Some subtilty, and tell me faithfully", "For mine office how that I most may win.", "And spare not for conscience or for sin,", "But, as my brother, tell me how do ye.\"", "Now by my trothe, brother mine,\" said he,", "As I shall tell to thee a faithful tale:", "My wages be full strait and eke full smale;", "My lord is hard to me and dangerous,", "And mine office is full laborious;", "And therefore by extortion I live,", "Forsooth I take all that men will me give.", "Algate by sleighte, or by violence,", "From year to year I win all my dispence;", "I can no better tell thee faithfully.\"", "Now certes,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"so fare I;", "I spare not to take, God it wot,", "But if it be too heavy or too hot.", "What I may get in counsel privily,", "No manner conscience of that have I.", "N'ere mine extortion, I might not live,", "For of such japes will I not be shrive.", "Stomach nor conscience know I none;", "I shrew these shrifte-fathers every one.", "Well be we met, by God and by St Jame.", "But, leve brother, tell me then thy name,\"", "Quoth this Sompnour. Right in this meane while", "This yeoman gan a little for to smile.", "", "\"Brother,\" quoth he, \"wilt thou that I thee tell?", "I am a fiend, my dwelling is in hell,", "And here I ride about my purchasing,", "To know where men will give me any thing.", "My purchase is th' effect of all my rent", "Look how thou ridest for the same intent", "To winne good, thou reckest never how,", "Right so fare I, for ride will I now", "Into the worlde's ende for a prey.\"", "", "\"Ah,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"benedicite! what say y'?", "I weened ye were a yeoman truly.", "Ye have a manne's shape as well as I", "Have ye then a figure determinate", "In helle, where ye be in your estate?\"", "\"Nay, certainly,\" quoth he, there have we none,", "But when us liketh we can take us one,", "Or elles make you seem that we be shape", "Sometime like a man, or like an ape;", "Or like an angel can I ride or go;", "It is no wondrous thing though it be so,", "A lousy juggler can deceive thee.", "And pardie, yet can I more craft than he.\"", "\"Why,\" quoth the Sompnour, \"ride ye then or gon", "In sundry shapes and not always in one?\"", "\"For we,\" quoth he, \"will us in such form make.", "As most is able our prey for to take.\"", "\"What maketh you to have all this labour?\"", "\"Full many a cause, leve Sir Sompnour,\"", "Saide this fiend. \"But all thing hath a time;", "The day is short and it is passed prime,", "And yet have I won nothing in this day;", "I will intend to winning, if I may,", "And not intend our thinges to declare:", "For, brother mine, thy wit is all too bare", "To understand, although I told them thee.", "But for thou askest why laboure we:", "For sometimes we be Godde's instruments", "And meanes to do his commandements,", "When that him list, upon his creatures,", "In divers acts and in divers figures:", "Withoute him we have no might certain,", "If that him list to stande thereagain.", "And sometimes, at our prayer have we leave", "Only the body, not the soul, to grieve:", "Witness on Job, whom that we did full woe,", "And sometimes have we might on both the two, --", "This is to say, on soul and body eke,", "And sometimes be we suffer'd for to seek", "Upon a man and do his soul unrest", "And not his body, and all is for the best,", "When he withstandeth our temptation,", "It is a cause of his salvation,", "Albeit that it was not our intent", "He should be safe, but that we would him hent.", "And sometimes be we servants unto man,", "As to the archbishop Saint Dunstan,", "And to th'apostle servant eke was I.\"", "\"Yet tell me,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"faithfully,", "Make ye you newe bodies thus alway", "Of th' elements?\" The fiend answered, \"Nay:", "Sometimes we feign, and sometimes we arise", "With deade bodies, in full sundry wise,", "And speak as reas'nably, and fair, and well,", "As to the Pythoness did Samuel:", "And yet will some men say it was not he.", "I do no force of your divinity.", "But one thing warn I thee, I will not jape,", "Thou wilt algates weet how we be shape:", "Thou shalt hereafterward, my brother dear,", "Come, where thee needeth not of me to lear.", "For thou shalt by thine own experience", "Conne in a chair to rede of this sentence,", "Better than Virgil, while he was alive,", "Or Dante also. Now let us ride blive,", "For I will holde company with thee,", "Till it be so that thou forsake me.\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"that shall ne'er betide.", "I am a yeoman, that is known full wide;", "My trothe will I hold, as in this case;", "For though thou wert the devil Satanas,", "My trothe will I hold to thee, my brother,", "As I have sworn, and each of us to other,", "For to be true brethren in this case,", "And both we go abouten our purchase.", "Take thou thy part, what that men will thee give,", "And I shall mine, thus may we bothe live.", "And if that any of us have more than other,", "Let him be true, and part it with his brother.\"", "\"I grante,\" quoth the devil, \"by my fay.\"", "And with that word they rode forth their way,", "And right at th'ent'ring of the towne's end,", "To which this Sompnour shope him for to wend,", "They saw a cart, that charged was with hay,", "Which that a carter drove forth on his way.", "Deep was the way, for which the carte stood:", "The carter smote, and cried as he were wood,", "\"Heit Scot! heit Brok! what, spare ye for the stones?", "The fiend (quoth he) you fetch body and bones,", "As farforthly as ever ye were foal'd,", "So muche woe as I have with you tholed.", "The devil have all, horses, and cart, and hay.\"", "The Sompnour said, \"Here shall we have a prey,\"", "And near the fiend he drew, as nought ne were,", "Full privily, and rowned in his ear:", "\"Hearken, my brother, hearken, by thy faith,", "Hearest thou not, how that the carter saith?", "Hent it anon, for he hath giv'n it thee,", "Both hay and cart, and eke his capels three.\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth the devil, \"God wot, never a deal,", "It is not his intent, trust thou me well;", "Ask him thyself, if thou not trowest me,", "Or elles stint a while and thou shalt see.\"", "The carter thwack'd his horses on the croup,", "And they began to drawen and to stoop.", "\"Heit now,\" quoth he; \"there, Jesus Christ you bless,", "And all his handiwork, both more and less!", "That was well twight, mine owen liart, boy,", "I pray God save thy body, and Saint Loy!", "Now is my cart out of the slough, pardie.\"", "\"Lo, brother,\" quoth the fiend, \"what told I thee?", "Here may ye see, mine owen deare brother,", "The churl spake one thing, but he thought another.", "Let us go forth abouten our voyage;", "Here win I nothing upon this carriage.\"", "", "When that they came somewhat out of the town,", "This Sompnour to his brother gan to rown;", "\"Brother,\" quoth he, \"here wons an old rebeck,", "That had almost as lief to lose her neck.", "As for to give a penny of her good.", "I will have twelvepence, though that she be wood,", "Or I will summon her to our office;", "And yet, God wot, of her know I no vice.", "But for thou canst not, as in this country,", "Winne thy cost, take here example of me.\"", "This Sompnour clapped at the widow's gate:", "\"Come out,\" he said, \"thou olde very trate;", "I trow thou hast some friar or priest with thee.\"", "\"Who clappeth?\" said this wife; \"benedicite,", "God save you, Sir, what is your sweete will?\"", "\"I have,\" quoth he, \"of summons here a bill.", "Up pain of cursing, looke that thou be", "To-morrow before our archdeacon's knee,", "To answer to the court of certain things.\"", "\"Now Lord,\" quoth she, \"Christ Jesus, king of kings,", "So wis1y helpe me, as I not may.", "I have been sick, and that full many a day.", "I may not go so far,\" quoth she, \"nor ride,", "But I be dead, so pricketh it my side.", "May I not ask a libel, Sir Sompnour,", "And answer there by my procuratour", "To such thing as men would appose me?\"", "\"Yes,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"pay anon, let see,", "Twelvepence to me, and I will thee acquit.", "I shall no profit have thereby but lit:", "My master hath the profit and not I.", "Come off, and let me ride hastily;", "Give me twelvepence, I may no longer tarry.\"", "", "\"Twelvepence!\" quoth she; \"now lady Sainte Mary", "So wisly help me out of care and sin,", "This wide world though that I should it win,", "No have I not twelvepence within my hold.", "Ye know full well that I am poor and old;", "Kithe your almes upon me poor wretch.\"", "\"Nay then,\" quoth he, \"the foule fiend me fetch,", "If I excuse thee, though thou should'st be spilt.\"", "\"Alas!\" quoth she, \"God wot, I have no guilt.\"", "\"Pay me,\" quoth he, \"or, by the sweet Saint Anne,", "As I will bear away thy newe pan", "For debte, which thou owest me of old, --", "When that thou madest thine husband cuckold, --", "I paid at home for thy correction.\"", "\"Thou liest,\" quoth she, \"by my salvation;", "Never was I ere now, widow or wife,", "Summon'd unto your court in all my life;", "Nor never I was but of my body true.", "Unto the devil rough and black of hue", "Give I thy body and my pan also.\"", "And when the devil heard her curse so", "Upon her knees, he said in this mannere;", "\"Now, Mabily, mine owen mother dear,", "Is this your will in earnest that ye say?\"", "\"The devil,\" quoth she, \"so fetch him ere he dey,", "And pan and all, but he will him repent.\"", "\"Nay, olde stoat, that is not mine intent,\"", "Quoth this Sompnour, \"for to repente me", "For any thing that I have had of thee;", "I would I had thy smock and every cloth.\"", "\"Now, brother,\" quoth the devil, \"be not wroth;", "Thy body and this pan be mine by right.", "Thou shalt with me to helle yet tonight,", "Where thou shalt knowen of our privity", "More than a master of divinity.\"", "", "And with that word the foule fiend him hent.", "Body and soul, he with the devil went,", "Where as the Sompnours have their heritage;", "And God, that maked after his image", "Mankinde, save and guide us all and some,", "And let this Sompnour a good man become.", "Lordings, I could have told you (quoth this Frere),", "Had I had leisure for this Sompnour here,", "After the text of Christ, and Paul, and John,", "And of our other doctors many a one,", "Such paines, that your heartes might agrise,", "Albeit so, that no tongue may devise, --", "Though that I might a thousand winters tell, --", "The pains of thilke cursed house of hell", "But for to keep us from that cursed place", "Wake we, and pray we Jesus, of his grace,", "So keep us from the tempter, Satanas.", "Hearken this word, beware as in this case.", "The lion sits in his await alway", "To slay the innocent, if that he may.", "Disposen aye your heartes to withstond", "The fiend that would you make thrall and bond;", "He may not tempte you over your might,", "For Christ will be your champion and your knight;", "And pray, that this our Sompnour him repent", "Of his misdeeds ere that the fiend him hent." ], "linecount": "402" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Sompnour's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "The Sompnour in his stirrups high he stood,", "Upon this Friar his hearte was so wood,", "That like an aspen leaf he quoke for ire:", "\"Lordings,\" quoth he, \"but one thing I desire;", "I you beseech, that of your courtesy,", "Since ye have heard this false Friar lie,", "As suffer me I may my tale tell", "This Friar boasteth that he knoweth hell,", "And, God it wot, that is but little wonder,", "Friars and fiends be but little asunder.", "For, pardie, ye have often time heard tell,", "How that a friar ravish'd was to hell", "In spirit ones by a visioun,", "And, as an angel led him up and down,", "To shew him all the paines that there were,", "In all the place saw he not a frere;", "Of other folk he saw enough in woe.", "Unto the angel spake the friar tho;", "'Now, Sir,' quoth he, 'have friars such a grace,", "That none of them shall come into this place?'", "'Yes' quoth the angel; 'many a millioun:'", "And unto Satanas he led him down.", "'And now hath Satanas,' said he, 'a tail", "Broader than of a carrack is the sail.", "Hold up thy tail, thou Satanas,' quoth he,", "'Shew forth thine erse, and let the friar see", "Where is the nest of friars in this place.'", "And less than half a furlong way of space", "Right so as bees swarmen out of a hive,", "Out of the devil's erse there gan to drive", "A twenty thousand friars on a rout.", "And throughout hell they swarmed all about,", "And came again, as fast as they may gon,", "And in his erse they creeped every one:", "He clapt his tail again, and lay full still.", "This friar, when he looked had his fill", "Upon the torments of that sorry place,", "His spirit God restored of his grace", "Into his body again, and he awoke;", "But natheless for feare yet he quoke,", "So was the devil's erse aye in his mind;", "That is his heritage, of very kind", "God save you alle, save this cursed Frere;", "My prologue will I end in this mannere.", "", "THE TALE.", "", "Lordings, there is in Yorkshire, as I guess,", "A marshy country called Holderness,", "In which there went a limitour about", "To preach, and eke to beg, it is no doubt.", "And so befell that on a day this frere", "Had preached at a church in his mannere,", "And specially, above every thing,", "Excited he the people in his preaching", "To trentals, and to give, for Godde's sake,", "Wherewith men mighte holy houses make,", "There as divine service is honour'd,", "Not there as it is wasted and devour'd,", "Nor where it needeth not for to be given,", "As to possessioners, that may liven,", "Thanked be God, in wealth and abundance.", "\"Trentals,\" said he, \"deliver from penance", "Their friendes' soules, as well old as young,", "Yea, when that they be hastily y-sung, --", "Not for to hold a priest jolly and gay,", "He singeth not but one mass in a day.", "\"Deliver out,\" quoth he, \"anon the souls.", "Full hard it is, with flesh-hook or with owls", "To be y-clawed, or to burn or bake:", "Now speed you hastily, for Christe's sake.\"", "And when this friar had said all his intent,", "With qui cum patre forth his way he went,", "When folk in church had giv'n him what them lest;", "He went his way, no longer would he rest,", "With scrip and tipped staff, y-tucked high:", "In every house he gan to pore and pry,", "And begged meal and cheese, or elles corn.", "His fellow had a staff tipped with horn,", "A pair of tables all of ivory,", "And a pointel y-polish'd fetisly,", "And wrote alway the names, as he stood;", "Of all the folk that gave them any good,", "Askaunce that he woulde for them pray.", "\"Give us a bushel wheat, or malt, or rey,", "A Godde's kichel, or a trip of cheese,", "Or elles what you list, we may not chese;", "A Godde's halfpenny, or a mass penny;", "Or give us of your brawn, if ye have any;", "A dagon of your blanket, leve dame,", "Our sister dear, -- lo, here I write your name,--", "Bacon or beef, or such thing as ye find.\"", "A sturdy harlot went them aye behind,", "That was their hoste's man, and bare a sack,", "And what men gave them, laid it on his back", "And when that he was out at door, anon", "He planed away the names every one,", "That he before had written in his tables:", "He served them with nifles and with fables. --", "", "\"Nay, there thou liest, thou Sompnour,\" quoth the Frere.", "\"Peace,\" quoth our Host, \"for Christe's mother dear;", "Tell forth thy tale, and spare it not at all.\"", "\"So thrive I,\" quoth this Sompnour, \"so I shall.\" --", "", "So long he went from house to house, till he", "Came to a house, where he was wont to be", "Refreshed more than in a hundred places", "Sick lay the husband man, whose that the place is,", "Bed-rid upon a couche low he lay:", "\"Deus hic,\" quoth he; \"O Thomas friend, good day,\"", "Said this friar, all courteously and soft.", "\"Thomas,\" quoth he, \"God yield it you, full oft", "Have I upon this bench fared full well,", "Here have I eaten many a merry meal.\"", "And from the bench he drove away the cat,", "And laid adown his potent and his hat,", "And eke his scrip, and sat himself adown:", "His fellow was y-walked into town", "Forth with his knave, into that hostelry", "Where as he shope him that night to lie.", "", "\"O deare master,\" quoth this sicke man,", "\"How have ye fared since that March began?", "I saw you not this fortenight and more.\"", "\"God wot,\" quoth he, \"labour'd have I full sore;", "And specially for thy salvation", "Have I said many a precious orison,", "And for mine other friendes, God them bless.", "I have this day been at your church at mess,", "And said sermon after my simple wit,", "Not all after the text of Holy Writ;", "For it is hard to you, as I suppose,", "And therefore will I teach you aye the glose.", "Glosing is a full glorious thing certain,", "For letter slayeth, as we clerkes sayn.", "There have I taught them to be charitable,", "And spend their good where it is reasonable.", "And there I saw our dame; where is she?\"", "\"Yonder I trow that in the yard she be,\"", "Saide this man; \"and she will come anon.\"", "\"Hey master, welcome be ye by Saint John,\"", "Saide this wife; \"how fare ye heartily?\"", "", "This friar riseth up full courteously,", "And her embraceth in his armes narrow,", "And kiss'th her sweet, and chirketh as a sparrow", "With his lippes: \"Dame,\" quoth he, \"right well,", "As he that is your servant every deal.", "Thanked be God, that gave you soul and life,", "Yet saw I not this day so fair a wife", "In all the churche, God so save me,\"", "\"Yea, God amend defaultes, Sir,\" quoth she;", "\"Algates welcome be ye, by my fay.\"", "\"Grand mercy, Dame; that have I found alway.", "But of your greate goodness, by your leave,", "I woulde pray you that ye not you grieve,", "I will with Thomas speak a little throw:", "These curates be so negligent and slow", "To grope tenderly a conscience.", "In shrift and preaching is my diligence", "And study in Peter's wordes and in Paul's;", "I walk and fishe Christian menne's souls,", "To yield our Lord Jesus his proper rent;", "To spread his word is alle mine intent.\"", "\"Now by your faith, O deare Sir,\" quoth she,", "\"Chide him right well, for sainte charity.", "He is aye angry as is a pismire,", "Though that he have all that he can desire,", "Though I him wrie at night, and make him warm,", "And ov'r him lay my leg and eke mine arm,", "He groaneth as our boar that lies in sty:", "Other disport of him right none have I,", "I may not please him in no manner case.\"", "\"O Thomas, je vous dis, Thomas, Thomas,", "This maketh the fiend, this must be amended.", "Ire is a thing that high God hath defended,", "And thereof will I speak a word or two.\"", "\"Now, master,\" quoth the wife, \"ere that I go,", "What will ye dine? I will go thereabout.\"", "\"Now, Dame,\" quoth he, \"je vous dis sans doute,", "Had I not of a capon but the liver,", "And of your white bread not but a shiver,", "And after that a roasted pigge's head,", "(But I would that for me no beast were dead,)", "Then had I with you homely suffisance.", "I am a man of little sustenance.", "My spirit hath its fost'ring in the Bible.", "My body is aye so ready and penible", "To wake, that my stomach is destroy'd.", "I pray you, Dame, that ye be not annoy'd,", "Though I so friendly you my counsel shew;", "By God, I would have told it but to few.\"", "\"Now, Sir,\" quoth she, \"but one word ere I go;", "My child is dead within these weeke's two,", "Soon after that ye went out of this town.\"", "", "\"His death saw I by revelatioun,\"", "Said this friar, \"at home in our dortour.", "I dare well say, that less than half an hour", "Mter his death, I saw him borne to bliss", "In mine vision, so God me wiss.", "So did our sexton, and our fermerere,", "That have been true friars fifty year, --", "They may now, God be thanked of his love,", "Make their jubilee, and walk above.", "And up I rose, and all our convent eke,", "With many a teare trilling on my cheek,", "Withoute noise or clattering of bells,", "Te Deum was our song, and nothing else,", "Save that to Christ I bade an orison,", "Thanking him of my revelation.", "For, Sir and Dame, truste me right well,", "Our orisons be more effectuel,", "And more we see of Christe's secret things,", "Than borel folk, although that they be kings.", "We live in povert', and in abstinence,", "And borel folk in riches and dispence", "Of meat and drink, and in their foul delight.", "We have this worlde's lust all in despight", "Lazar and Dives lived diversely,", "And diverse guerdon hadde they thereby.", "Whoso will pray, he must fast and be clean,", "And fat his soul, and keep his body lean", "We fare as saith th' apostle; cloth and food", "Suffice us, although they be not full good.", "The cleanness and the fasting of us freres", "Maketh that Christ accepteth our prayeres.", "Lo, Moses forty days and forty night", "Fasted, ere that the high God full of might", "Spake with him in the mountain of Sinai:", "With empty womb of fasting many a day", "Received he the lawe, that was writ", "With Godde's finger; and Eli, well ye wit,", "In Mount Horeb, ere he had any speech", "With highe God, that is our live's leech,", "He fasted long, and was in contemplance.", "Aaron, that had the temple in governance,", "And eke the other priestes every one,", "Into the temple when they shoulde gon", "To praye for the people, and do service,", "They woulde drinken in no manner wise", "No drinke, which that might them drunken make,", "But there in abstinence pray and wake,", "Lest that they died: take heed what I say --", "But they be sober that for the people pray --", "Ware that, I say -- no more: for it sufficeth.", "Our Lord Jesus, as Holy Writ deviseth,", "Gave us example of fasting and prayeres:", "Therefore we mendicants, we sely freres,", "Be wedded to povert' and continence,", "To charity, humbless, and abstinence,", "To persecution for righteousness,", "To weeping, misericorde, and to cleanness.", "And therefore may ye see that our prayeres", "(I speak of us, we mendicants, we freres),", "Be to the highe God more acceptable", "Than youres, with your feastes at your table.", "From Paradise first, if I shall not lie,", "Was man out chased for his gluttony,", "And chaste was man in Paradise certain.", "But hark now, Thomas, what I shall thee sayn;", "I have no text of it, as I suppose,", "But I shall find it in a manner glose;", "That specially our sweet Lord Jesus", "Spake this of friars, when he saide thus,", "'Blessed be they that poor in spirit be'", "And so forth all the gospel may ye see,", "Whether it be liker our profession,", "Or theirs that swimmen in possession;", "Fy on their pomp, and on their gluttony,", "And on their lewedness! I them defy.", "Me thinketh they be like Jovinian,", "Fat as a whale, and walking as a swan;", "All vinolent as bottle in the spence;", "Their prayer is of full great reverence;", "When they for soules say the Psalm of David,", "Lo, 'Buf' they say, Cor meum eructavit.", "Who follow Christe's gospel and his lore", "But we, that humble be, and chaste, and pore,", "Workers of Godde's word, not auditours?", "Therefore right as a hawk upon a sours", "Up springs into the air, right so prayeres", "Of charitable and chaste busy freres", "Make their sours to Godde's eares two.", "Thomas, Thomas, so may I ride or go,", "And by that lord that called is Saint Ive,", "N'ere thou our brother, shouldest thou not thrive;", "In our chapiter pray we day and night", "To Christ, that he thee sende health and might,", "Thy body for to wielde hastily.", "", "\"God wot,\" quoth he, \"nothing thereof feel I;", "So help me Christ, as I in fewe years", "Have spended upon divers manner freres", "Full many a pound, yet fare I ne'er the bet;", "Certain my good have I almost beset:", "Farewell my gold, for it is all ago.\"", "The friar answer'd, \"O Thomas, dost thou so?", "What needest thou diverse friars to seech?", "What needeth him that hath a perfect leech,", "To seeken other leeches in the town?", "Your inconstance is your confusioun.", "Hold ye then me, or elles our convent,", "To praye for you insufficient?", "Thomas, that jape it is not worth a mite;", "Your malady is for we have too lite.", "Ah, give that convent half a quarter oats;", "And give that convent four and twenty groats;", "And give that friar a penny, and let him go!", "Nay, nay, Thomas, it may no thing be so.", "What is a farthing worth parted on twelve?", "Lo, each thing that is oned in himselve", "Is more strong than when it is y-scatter'd.", "Thomas, of me thou shalt not be y-flatter'd,", "Thou wouldest have our labour all for nought.", "The highe God, that all this world hath wrought,", "Saith, that the workman worthy is his hire", "Thomas, nought of your treasure I desire", "As for myself, but that all our convent", "To pray for you is aye so diligent:", "And for to builde Christe's owen church.", "Thomas, if ye will learne for to wirch,", "Of building up of churches may ye find", "If it be good, in Thomas' life of Ind.", "Ye lie here full of anger and of ire,", "With which the devil sets your heart on fire,", "And chide here this holy innocent", "Your wife, that is so meek and patient.", "And therefore trow me, Thomas, if thee lest,", "Ne strive not with thy wife, as for the best.", "And bear this word away now, by thy faith,", "Touching such thing, lo, what the wise man saith:", "'Within thy house be thou no lion;", "To thy subjects do none oppression;", "Nor make thou thine acquaintance for to flee.'", "And yet, Thomas, eftsoones charge I thee,", "Beware from ire that in thy bosom sleeps,", "Ware from the serpent, that so slily creeps", "Under the grass, and stingeth subtilly.", "Beware, my son, and hearken patiently,", "That twenty thousand men have lost their lives", "For striving with their lemans and their wives.", "Now since ye have so holy and meek a wife,", "What needeth you, Thomas, to make strife?", "There is, y-wis, no serpent so cruel,", "When men tread on his tail nor half so fell,", "As woman is, when she hath caught an ire;", "Very vengeance is then all her desire.", "Ire is a sin, one of the greate seven,", "Abominable to the God of heaven,", "And to himself it is destruction.", "This every lewed vicar and parson", "Can say, how ire engenders homicide;", "Ire is in sooth th' executor of pride.", "I could of ire you say so muche sorrow,", "My tale shoulde last until to-morrow.", "And therefore pray I God both day and ight,", "An irous man God send him little might.", "It is great harm, and certes great pity", "To set an irous man in high degree.", "", "\"Whilom there was an irous potestate,", "As saith Senec, that during his estate", "Upon a day out rode knightes two;", "And, as fortune would that it were so,", "The one of them came home, the other not.", "Anon the knight before the judge is brought,", "That saide thus; 'Thou hast thy fellow slain,", "For which I doom thee to the death certain.'", "And to another knight commanded he;", "'Go, lead him to the death, I charge thee.'", "And happened, as they went by the way", "Toward the place where as he should dey,", "The knight came, which men weened had been dead", "Then thoughte they it was the beste rede", "To lead them both unto the judge again.", "They saide, 'Lord, the knight hath not y-slain", "His fellow; here he standeth whole alive.'", "'Ye shall be dead,' quoth he, 'so may I thrive,", "That is to say, both one, and two, and three.'", "And to the firste knight right thus spake he:", "'I damned thee, thou must algate be dead:", "And thou also must needes lose thine head,", "For thou the cause art why thy fellow dieth.'", "And to the thirde knight right thus he sayeth,", "'Thou hast not done that I commanded thee.'", "And thus he did do slay them alle three.", "", "Irous Cambyses was eke dronkelew,", "And aye delighted him to be a shrew.", "And so befell, a lord of his meinie,", "That loved virtuous morality,", "Said on a day betwixt them two right thus:", "'A lord is lost, if he be vicious.", "[An irous man is like a frantic beast,", "In which there is of wisdom none arrest;]", "And drunkenness is eke a foul record", "Of any man, and namely of a lord.", "There is full many an eye and many an ear", "Awaiting on a lord, he knows not where.", "For Godde's love, drink more attemperly:", "Wine maketh man to lose wretchedly", "His mind, and eke his limbes every one.'", "'The reverse shalt thou see,' quoth he, 'anon,", "And prove it by thine own experience,", "That wine doth to folk no such offence.", "There is no wine bereaveth me my might", "Of hand, nor foot, nor of mine eyen sight.'", "And for despite he dranke muche more", "A hundred part than he had done before,", "And right anon this cursed irous wretch", "This knighte's sone let before him fetch,", "Commanding him he should before him stand:", "And suddenly he took his bow in hand,", "And up the string he pulled to his ear,", "And with an arrow slew the child right there.", "'Now whether have I a sicker hand or non?'", "Quoth he; 'Is all my might and mind agone?", "Hath wine bereaved me mine eyen sight?'", "Why should I tell the answer of the knight?", "His son was slain, there is no more to say.", "Beware therefore with lordes how ye play,", "Sing placebo; and I shall if I can,", "But if it be unto a poore man:", "To a poor man men should his vices tell,", "But not t' a lord, though he should go to hell.", "Lo, irous Cyrus, thilke Persian,", "How he destroy'd the river of Gisen,", "For that a horse of his was drowned therein,", "When that he wente Babylon to win:", "He made that the river was so small,", "That women mighte wade it over all.", "Lo, what said he, that so well teache can,", "'Be thou no fellow to an irous man,", "Nor with no wood man walke by the way,", "Lest thee repent;' I will no farther say.", "", "\"Now, Thomas, leve brother, leave thine ire,", "Thou shalt me find as just as is as squire;", "Hold not the devil's knife aye at thine heaat;", "Thine anger doth thee all too sore smart;", "But shew to me all thy confession.\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth the sicke man, \"by Saint Simon", "I have been shriven this day of my curate;", "I have him told all wholly mine estate.", "Needeth no more to speak of it, saith he,", "But if me list of mine humility.\"", "\"Give me then of thy good to make our cloister,\"", "Quoth he, \"for many a mussel and many an oyster,", "When other men have been full well at ease,", "Hath been our food, our cloister for to rese:", "And yet, God wot, unneth the foundement", "Performed is, nor of our pavement", "Is not a tile yet within our wones:", "By God, we owe forty pound for stones.", "Now help, Thomas, for him that harrow'd hell,", "For elles must we oure bookes sell,", "And if ye lack our predication,", "Then goes this world all to destruction.", "For whoso from this world would us bereave,", "So God me save, Thomas, by your leave,", "He would bereave out of this world the sun", "For who can teach and worken as we conne?", "And that is not of little time (quoth he),", "But since Elijah was, and Elisee,", "Have friars been, that find I of record,", "In charity, y-thanked be our Lord.", "Now, Thomas, help for sainte charity.\"", "And down anon he set him on his knee,", "The sick man waxed well-nigh wood for ire,", "He woulde that the friar had been a-fire", "With his false dissimulation.", "\"Such thing as is in my possession,\"", "Quoth he, \"that may I give you and none other:", "Ye say me thus, how that I am your brother.\"", "\"Yea, certes,\" quoth this friar, \"yea, truste well;", "I took our Dame the letter of our seal\"", "\"Now well,\" quoth he, \"and somewhat shall I give", "Unto your holy convent while I live;", "And in thine hand thou shalt it have anon,", "On this condition, and other none,", "That thou depart it so, my deare brother,", "That every friar have as much as other:", "This shalt thou swear on thy profession,", "Withoute fraud or cavillation.\"", "\"I swear it,\" quoth the friar, \"upon my faith.\"", "And therewithal his hand in his he lay'th;", "\"Lo here my faith, in me shall be no lack.\"", "\"Then put thine hand adown right by my back,\"", "Saide this man, \"and grope well behind,", "Beneath my buttock, there thou shalt find", "A thing, that I have hid in privity.\"", "\"Ah,\" thought this friar, \"that shall go with me.\"", "And down his hand he launched to the clift,", "In hope for to finde there a gift.", "And when this sicke man felte this frere", "About his taile groping there and here,", "Amid his hand he let the friar a fart;", "There is no capel drawing in a cart,", "That might have let a fart of such a soun'.", "The friar up start, as doth a wood lioun:", "\"Ah, false churl,\" quoth he, \"for Godde's bones,", "This hast thou in despite done for the nones:", "Thou shalt abie this fart, if that I may.\"", "His meinie, which that heard of this affray,", "Came leaping in, and chased out the frere,", "And forth he went with a full angry cheer", "And fetch'd his fellow, there as lay his store:", "He looked as it were a wilde boar,", "And grounde with his teeth, so was he wroth.", "A sturdy pace down to the court he go'th,", "Where as there wonn'd a man of great honour,", "To whom that he was always confessour:", "This worthy man was lord of that village.", "This friar came, as he were in a rage,", "Where as this lord sat eating at his board:", "Unnethes might the friar speak one word,", "Till at the last he saide, \"God you see.\"", "", "This lord gan look, and said, \"Ben'dicite!", "What? Friar John, what manner world is this?", "I see well that there something is amiss;", "Ye look as though the wood were full of thieves.", "Sit down anon, and tell me what your grieve is,", "And it shall be amended, if I may.\"", "\"I have,\" quoth he, \"had a despite to-day,", "God yielde you, adown in your village,", "That in this world is none so poor a page,", "That would not have abominatioun", "Of that I have received in your town:", "And yet ne grieveth me nothing so sore,", "As that the olde churl, with lockes hoar,", "Blasphemed hath our holy convent eke.\"", "\"Now, master,\" quoth this lord, \"I you beseek\" --", "\"No master, Sir,\" quoth he, \"but servitour,", "Though I have had in schoole that honour.", "God liketh not, that men us Rabbi call", "Neither in market, nor in your large hall.\"", "\"No force,\" quoth he; \"but tell me all your grief.\"", "Sir,\" quoth this friar, \"an odious mischief", "This day betid is to mine order and me,", "And so par consequence to each degree", "Of holy churche, God amend it soon.\"", "\"Sir,\" quoth the lord, \"ye know what is to doon:", "Distemp'r you not, ye be my confessour.", "Ye be the salt of th' earth, and the savour;", "For Godde's love your patience now hold;", "Tell me your grief.\" And he anon him told", "As ye have heard before, ye know well what.", "The lady of the house aye stiller sat,", "Till she had hearde what the friar said,", "\"Hey, Godde's mother;\" quoth she, \"blissful maid,", "Is there ought elles? tell me faithfully.\"", "\"Madame,\" quoth he, \"how thinketh you thereby?\"", "\"How thinketh me?\" quoth she; \"so God me speed,", "I say, a churl hath done a churlish deed,", "What should I say? God let him never the;", "His sicke head is full of vanity;", "I hold him in a manner phrenesy.\"", "\"Madame,\" quoth he, \"by God, I shall not lie,", "But I in other wise may be awreke,", "I shall defame him ov'r all there I speak;", "This false blasphemour, that charged me", "To parte that will not departed be,", "To every man alike, with mischance.\"", "", "The lord sat still, as he were in a trance,", "And in his heart he rolled up and down,", "\"How had this churl imaginatioun", "To shewe such a problem to the frere.", "Never ere now heard I of such mattere;", "I trow the Devil put it in his mind.", "In all arsmetrik shall there no man find,", "Before this day, of such a question.", "Who shoulde make a demonstration,", "That every man should have alike his part", "As of the sound and savour of a fart?", "O nice proude churl, I shrew his face.", "Lo, Sires,\" quoth the lord, \"with harde grace,", "Who ever heard of such a thing ere now?", "To every man alike? tell me how.", "It is impossible, it may not be.", "Hey nice churl, God let him never the.", "The rumbling of a fart, and every soun',", "Is but of air reverberatioun,", "And ever wasteth lite and lite away;", "There is no man can deemen, by my fay,", "If that it were departed equally.", "What? lo, my churl, lo yet how shrewedly", "Unto my confessour to-day he spake;", "I hold him certain a demoniac.", "Now eat your meat, and let the churl go play,", "Let him go hang himself a devil way!\"", "", "Now stood the lorde's squier at the board,", "That carv'd his meat, and hearde word by word", "Of all this thing, which that I have you said.", "\"My lord,\" quoth he, \"be ye not evil paid,", "I coulde telle, for a gowne-cloth,", "To you, Sir Friar, so that ye be not wrot,", "How that this fart should even dealed be", "Among your convent, if it liked thee.\"", "\"Tell,\" quoth the lord, \"and thou shalt have anon", "A gowne-cloth, by God and by Saint John.\"", "\"My lord,\" quoth he, \"when that the weather is fair,", "Withoute wind, or perturbing of air,", "Let bring a cart-wheel here into this hall,", "But looke that it have its spokes all;", "Twelve spokes hath a cart-wheel commonly;", "And bring me then twelve friars, know ye why?", "For thirteen is a convent as I guess;", "Your confessor here, for his worthiness,", "Shall perform up the number of his convent.", "Then shall they kneel adown by one assent,", "And to each spoke's end, in this mannere,", "Full sadly lay his nose shall a frere;", "Your noble confessor there, God him save,", "Shall hold his nose upright under the nave.", "Then shall this churl, with belly stiff and tought", "As any tabour, hither be y-brought;", "And set him on the wheel right of this cart", "Upon the nave, and make him let a fart,", "And ye shall see, on peril of my life,", "By very proof that is demonstrative,", "That equally the sound of it will wend,", "And eke the stink, unto the spokes' end,", "Save that this worthy man, your confessour'", "(Because he is a man of great honour),", "Shall have the firste fruit, as reason is;", "The noble usage of friars yet it is,", "The worthy men of them shall first be served,", "And certainly he hath it well deserved;", "He hath to-day taught us so muche good", "With preaching in the pulpit where he stood,", "That I may vouchesafe, I say for me,", "He had the firste smell of fartes three;", "And so would all his brethren hardily;", "He beareth him so fair and holily.\"", "", "The lord, the lady, and each man, save the frere,", "Saide, that Jankin spake in this mattere", "As well as Euclid, or as Ptolemy.", "Touching the churl, they said that subtilty", "And high wit made him speaken as he spake;", "He is no fool, nor no demoniac.", "And Jankin hath y-won a newe gown;", "My tale is done, we are almost at town." ], "linecount": "634" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Clerk's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "\"SIR Clerk of Oxenford,\" our Hoste said,", "\"Ye ride as still and coy, as doth a maid", "That were new spoused, sitting at the board:", "This day I heard not of your tongue a word.", "I trow ye study about some sophime:", "But Solomon saith, every thing hath time.", "For Godde's sake, be of better cheer,", "It is no time for to study here.", "Tell us some merry tale, by your fay;", "For what man that is entered in a play,", "He needes must unto that play assent.", "But preache not, as friars do in Lent,", "To make us for our olde sinnes weep,", "Nor that thy tale make us not to sleep.", "Tell us some merry thing of aventures.", "Your terms, your coloures, and your figures,", "Keep them in store, till so be ye indite", "High style, as when that men to kinges write.", "Speake so plain at this time, I you pray,", "That we may understande what ye say.\"", "", "This worthy Clerk benignely answer'd;", "\"Hoste,\" quoth he, \"I am under your yerd,", "Ye have of us as now the governance,", "And therefore would I do you obeisance,", "As far as reason asketh, hardily:", "I will you tell a tale, which that I", "Learn'd at Padova of a worthy clerk,", "As proved by his wordes and his werk.", "He is now dead, and nailed in his chest,", "I pray to God to give his soul good rest.", "Francis Petrarc', the laureate poet,", "Highte this clerk, whose rhetoric so sweet", "Illumin'd all Itale of poetry,", "As Linian did of philosophy,", "Or law, or other art particulere:", "But death, that will not suffer us dwell here", "But as it were a twinkling of an eye,", "Them both hath slain, and alle we shall die.", "", "\"But forth to tellen of this worthy man,", "That taughte me this tale, as I began,", "I say that first he with high style inditeth", "(Ere he the body of his tale writeth)", "A proem, in the which describeth he", "Piedmont, and of Saluces the country,", "And speaketh of the Pennine hilles high,", "That be the bounds of all West Lombardy:", "And of Mount Vesulus in special,", "Where as the Po out of a welle small", "Taketh his firste springing and his source,", "That eastward aye increaseth in his course", "T'Emilia-ward, to Ferraro, and Venice,", "The which a long thing were to devise.", "And truely, as to my judgement,", "Me thinketh it a thing impertinent,", "Save that he would conveye his mattere:", "But this is the tale, which that ye shall hear.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "Pars Prima.", "", "There is, right at the west side of Itale,", "Down at the root of Vesulus the cold,", "A lusty plain, abundant of vitaille;", "There many a town and tow'r thou may'st behold,", "That founded were in time of fathers old,", "And many another delectable sight;", "And Saluces this noble country hight.", "", "A marquis whilom lord was of that land,", "As were his worthy elders him before,", "And obedient, aye ready to his hand,", "Were all his lieges, bothe less and more:", "Thus in delight he liv'd, and had done yore,", "Belov'd and drad, through favour of fortune,", "Both of his lordes and of his commune.", "", "Therewith he was, to speak of lineage,", "The gentilest y-born of Lombardy,", "A fair person, and strong, and young of age,", "And full of honour and of courtesy:", "Discreet enough his country for to gie,", "Saving in some things that he was to blame;", "And Walter was this younge lordes name.", "", "I blame him thus, that he consider'd not", "In time coming what might him betide,", "But on his present lust was all his thought,", "And for to hawk and hunt on every side;", "Well nigh all other cares let he slide,", "And eke he would (that was the worst of all)", "Wedde no wife for aught that might befall.", "", "Only that point his people bare so sore,", "That flockmel on a day to him they went,", "And one of them, that wisest was of lore", "(Or elles that the lord would best assent", "That he should tell him what the people meant,", "Or elles could he well shew such mattere),", "He to the marquis said as ye shall hear.", "", "\"O noble Marquis! your humanity", "Assureth us and gives us hardiness,", "As oft as time is of necessity,", "That we to you may tell our heaviness:", "Accepte, Lord, now of your gentleness,", "What we with piteous heart unto you plain,", "And let your ears my voice not disdain.", "", "\"All have I nought to do in this mattere", "More than another man hath in this place,", "Yet forasmuch as ye, my Lord so dear,", "Have always shewed me favour and grace,", "I dare the better ask of you a space", "Of audience, to shewen our request,", "And ye, my Lord, to do right as you lest.", "", "\"For certes, Lord, so well us like you", "And all your work, and ev'r have done, that we", "Ne coulde not ourselves devise how", "We mighte live in more felicity:", "Save one thing, Lord, if that your will it be,", "That for to be a wedded man you lest;", "Then were your people in sovereign hearte's rest.", "", "\"Bowe your neck under the blissful yoke", "Of sovereignty, and not of service,", "Which that men call espousal or wedlock:", "And thinke, Lord, among your thoughtes wise,", "How that our dayes pass in sundry wise;", "For though we sleep, or wake, or roam, or ride,", "Aye fleeth time, it will no man abide.", "", "\"And though your greene youthe flow'r as yet,", "In creepeth age always as still as stone,", "And death menaceth every age, and smit", "In each estate, for there escapeth none:", "And all so certain as we know each one", "That we shall die, as uncertain we all", "Be of that day when death shall on us fall.", "", "\"Accepte then of us the true intent,", "That never yet refused youre hest,", "And we will, Lord, if that ye will assent,", "Choose you a wife, in short time at the lest,", "Born of the gentilest and of the best", "Of all this land, so that it ought to seem", "Honour to God and you, as we can deem.", "", "\"Deliver us out of all this busy dread,", "And take a wife, for highe Godde's sake:", "For if it so befell, as God forbid,", "That through your death your lineage should slake,", "And that a strange successor shoulde take", "Your heritage, oh! woe were us on live:", "Wherefore we pray you hastily to wive.\"", "", "Their meeke prayer and their piteous cheer", "Made the marquis for to have pity.", "\"Ye will,\" quoth he, \"mine owen people dear,", "To that I ne'er ere thought constraine me.", "I me rejoiced of my liberty,", "That seldom time is found in rnarriage;", "Where I was free, I must be in servage!", "", "\"But natheless I see your true intent,", "And trust upon your wit, and have done aye:", "Wherefore of my free will I will assent", "To wedde me, as soon as e'er I may.", "But whereas ye have proffer'd me to-day", "To choose me a wife, I you release", "That choice, and pray you of that proffer cease.", "", "\"For God it wot, that children often been", "Unlike their worthy elders them before,", "Bounte comes all of God, not of the strene", "Of which they be engender'd and y-bore:", "I trust in Godde's bounte, and therefore", "My marriage, and mine estate and rest,", "I him betake; he may do as him lest.", "", "\"Let me alone in choosing of my wife;", "That charge upon my back I will endure:", "But I you pray, and charge upon your life,", "That what wife that I take, ye me assure", "To worship her, while that her life may dure,", "In word and work both here and elleswhere,", "As she an emperore's daughter were.", "", "\"And farthermore this shall ye swear, that ye", "Against my choice shall never grudge nor strive.", "For since I shall forego my liberty", "At your request, as ever may I thrive,", "Where as mine heart is set, there will I live", "And but ye will assent in such mannere,", "I pray you speak no more of this mattere.\"", "", "With heartly will they sworen and assent", "To all this thing, there said not one wight nay:", "Beseeching him of grace, ere that they went,", "That he would grante them a certain day", "Of his espousal, soon as e'er he rnay,", "For yet always the people somewhat dread", "Lest that the marquis woulde no wife wed.", "", "He granted them a day, such as him lest,", "On which he would be wedded sickerly,", "And said he did all this at their request;", "And they with humble heart full buxomly,", "Kneeling upon their knees full reverently,", "Him thanked all; and thus they have an end", "Of their intent, and home again they wend.", "", "And hereupon he to his officers", "Commanded for the feaste to purvey.", "And to his privy knightes and squiers", "Such charge he gave, as him list on them lay:", "And they to his commandement obey,", "And each of them doth all his diligence", "To do unto the feast all reverence.", "", "Pars Secunda", "", "Not far from thilke palace honourable,", "Where as this marquis shope his marriage,", "There stood a thorp, of sighte delectable,", "In which the poore folk of that village", "Hadde their beastes and their harbourage,", "And of their labour took their sustenance,", "After the earthe gave them abundance.", "", "Among this poore folk there dwelt a man", "Which that was holden poorest of them all;", "But highe God sometimes sende can", "His grace unto a little ox's stall;", "Janicola men of that thorp him call.", "A daughter had he, fair enough to sight,", "And Griseldis this younge maiden hight.", "", "But for to speak of virtuous beauty,", "Then was she one the fairest under sun:", "Full poorely y-foster'd up was she;", "No likerous lust was in her heart y-run;", "Well ofter of the well than of the tun", "She drank, and, for she woulde virtue please", "She knew well labour, but no idle ease.", "", "But though this maiden tender were of age;", "Yet in the breast of her virginity", "There was inclos'd a sad and ripe corage;", "And in great reverence and charity", "Her olde poore father foster'd she.", "A few sheep, spinning, on the field she kept,", "She woulde not be idle till she slept.", "", "And when she homeward came, she would bring", "Wortes, and other herbes, times oft,", "The which she shred and seeth'd for her living,", "And made her bed full hard, and nothing soft:", "And aye she kept her father's life on loft", "With ev'ry obeisance and diligence,", "That child may do to father's reverence.", "", "Upon Griselda, this poor creature,", "Full often sithes this marquis set his eye,", "As he on hunting rode, paraventure:", "And when it fell that he might her espy,", "He not with wanton looking of folly", "His eyen cast on her, but in sad wise", "Upon her cheer he would him oft advise;", "", "Commending in his heart her womanhead,", "And eke her virtue, passing any wight", "Of so young age, as well in cheer as deed.", "For though the people have no great insight", "In virtue, he considered full right", "Her bounte, and disposed that he would", "Wed only her, if ever wed he should.", "", "The day of wedding came, but no wight can", "Telle what woman that it shoulde be;", "For which marvail wonder'd many a man,", "And saide, when they were in privity,", "\"Will not our lord yet leave his vanity?", "Will he not wed? Alas, alas the while!", "Why will he thus himself and us beguile?\"", "", "But natheless this marquis had done make", "Of gemmes, set in gold and in azure,", "Brooches and ringes, for Griselda's sake,", "And of her clothing took he the measure", "Of a maiden like unto her stature,", "And eke of other ornamentes all", "That unto such a wedding shoulde fall.", "", "The time of undern of the same day", "Approached, that this wedding shoulde be,", "And all the palace put was in array,", "Both hall and chamber, each in its degree,", "Houses of office stuffed with plenty", "There may'st thou see of dainteous vitaille,", "That may be found, as far as lasts Itale.", "", "This royal marquis, richely array'd,", "Lordes and ladies in his company,", "The which unto the feaste were pray'd,", "And of his retinue the bach'lery,", "With many a sound of sundry melody,", "Unto the village, of the which I told,", "In this array the right way did they hold.", "", "Griseld' of this (God wot) full innocent,", "That for her shapen was all this array,", "To fetche water at a well is went,", "And home she came as soon as e'er she may.", "For well she had heard say, that on that day", "The marquis shoulde wed, and, if she might,", "She fain would have seen somewhat of that sight.", "", "She thought, \"I will with other maidens stand,", "That be my fellows, in our door, and see", "The marchioness; and therefore will I fand", "To do at home, as soon as it may be,", "The labour which belongeth unto me,", "And then I may at leisure her behold,", "If she this way unto the castle hold.\"", "", "And as she would over the threshold gon,", "The marquis came and gan for her to call,", "And she set down her water-pot anon", "Beside the threshold, in an ox's stall,", "And down upon her knees she gan to fall,", "And with sad countenance kneeled still,", "Till she had heard what was the lorde's will.", "", "The thoughtful marquis spake unto the maid", "Full soberly, and said in this mannere:", "\"Where is your father, Griseldis?\" he said.", "And she with reverence, in humble cheer,", "Answered, \"Lord, he is all ready here.\"", "And in she went withoute longer let", "And to the marquis she her father fet.", "", "He by the hand then took the poore man,", "And saide thus, when he him had aside:", "\"Janicola, I neither may nor can", "Longer the pleasance of mine hearte hide;", "If that thou vouchesafe, whatso betide,", "Thy daughter will I take, ere that I wend,", "As for my wife, unto her life's end.", "", "\"Thou lovest me, that know I well certain,", "And art my faithful liegeman y-bore,", "And all that liketh me, I dare well sayn", "It liketh thee; and specially therefore", "Tell me that point, that I have said before, --", "If that thou wilt unto this purpose draw,", "To take me as for thy son-in-law.\"", "", "This sudden case the man astonied so,", "That red he wax'd, abash'd, and all quaking", "He stood; unnethes said he wordes mo',", "But only thus; \"Lord,\" quoth he, \"my willing", "Is as ye will, nor against your liking", "I will no thing, mine owen lord so dear;", "Right as you list governe this mattere.\"", "", "\"Then will I,\" quoth the marquis softely,", "\"That in thy chamber I, and thou, and she,", "Have a collation; and know'st thou why?", "For I will ask her, if her will it be", "To be my wife, and rule her after me:", "And all this shall be done in thy presence,", "I will not speak out of thine audience.\"", "", "And in the chamber while they were about", "The treaty, which ye shall hereafter hear,", "The people came into the house without,", "And wonder'd them in how honest mannere", "And tenderly she kept her father dear;", "But utterly Griseldis wonder might,", "For never erst ne saw she such a sight.", "", "No wonder is though that she be astoned,", "To see so great a guest come in that place,", "She never was to no such guestes woned;", "For which she looked with full pale face.", "But shortly forth this matter for to chase,", "These are the wordes that the marquis said", "To this benigne, very, faithful maid.", "", "\"Griseld',\" he said, \"ye shall well understand,", "It liketh to your father and to me", "That I you wed, and eke it may so stand,", "As I suppose ye will that it so be:", "But these demandes ask I first,\" quoth he,", "\"Since that it shall be done in hasty wise;", "Will ye assent, or elles you advise?", "", "\"I say this, be ye ready with good heart", "To all my lust, and that I freely may,", "As me best thinketh, do you laugh or smart,", "And never ye to grudge, night nor day,", "And eke when I say Yea, ye say not Nay,", "Neither by word, nor frowning countenance?", "Swear this, and here I swear our alliance.\"", "", "Wond'ring upon this word, quaking for dread,", "She saide; \"Lord, indigne and unworthy", "Am I to this honour that ye me bede,", "But as ye will yourself, right so will I:", "And here I swear, that never willingly", "In word or thought I will you disobey,", "For to be dead; though me were loth to dey.\"", "", "\"This is enough, Griselda mine,\" quoth he.", "And forth he went with a full sober cheer,", "Out at the door, and after then came she,", "And to the people he said in this mannere:", "\"This is my wife,\" quoth he, \"that standeth here.", "Honoure her, and love her, I you pray,", "Whoso me loves; there is no more to say.\"", "", "And, for that nothing of her olde gear", "She shoulde bring into his house, he bade", "That women should despoile her right there;", "Of which these ladies were nothing glad", "To handle her clothes wherein she was clad:", "But natheless this maiden bright of hue", "From foot to head they clothed have all new.", "", "Her haires have they comb'd that lay untress'd", "Full rudely, and with their fingers small", "A crown upon her head they have dress'd,", "And set her full of nouches great and small:", "Of her array why should I make a tale?", "Unneth the people her knew for her fairness,", "When she transmuted was in such richess.", "", "The marquis hath her spoused with a ring", "Brought for the same cause, and then her set", "Upon a horse snow-white, and well ambling,", "And to his palace, ere he longer let", "With joyful people, that her led and met,", "Conveyed her; and thus the day they spend", "In revel, till the sunne gan descend.", "", "And, shortly forth this tale for to chase,", "I say, that to this newe marchioness", "God hath such favour sent her of his grace,", "That it ne seemed not by likeliness", "That she was born and fed in rudeness, --", "As in a cot, or in an ox's stall, --", "But nourish'd in an emperore's hall.", "", "To every wight she waxen is so dear", "And worshipful, that folk where she was born,", "That from her birthe knew her year by year,", "Unnethes trowed they, but durst have sworn,", "That to Janicol' of whom I spake before,", "She was not daughter, for by conjecture", "Them thought she was another creature.", "", "For though that ever virtuous was she,", "She was increased in such excellence", "Of thewes good, y-set in high bounte,", "And so discreet, and fair of eloquence,", "So benign, and so digne of reverence,", "And coulde so the people's heart embrace,", "That each her lov'd that looked on her face.", "", "Not only of Saluces in the town", "Published was the bounte of her name,", "But eke besides in many a regioun;", "If one said well, another said the same:", "So spread of here high bounte the fame,", "That men and women, young as well as old,", "Went to Saluces, her for to behold.", "", "Thus Walter lowly, -- nay, but royally,-", "Wedded with fortn'ate honestete,", "In Godde's peace lived full easily", "At home, and outward grace enough had he:", "And, for he saw that under low degree", "Was honest virtue hid, the people him held", "A prudent man, and that is seen full seld'.", "", "Not only this Griseldis through her wit", "Couth all the feat of wifely homeliness,", "But eke, when that the case required it,", "The common profit coulde she redress:", "There n'as discord, rancour, nor heaviness", "In all the land, that she could not appease,", "And wisely bring them all in rest and ease", "", "Though that her husband absent were or non,", "If gentlemen or other of that country,", "Were wroth, she woulde bringe them at one,", "So wise and ripe wordes hadde she,", "And judgement of so great equity,", "That she from heaven sent was, as men wend,", "People to save, and every wrong t'amend", "", "Not longe time after that this Griseld'", "Was wedded, she a daughter had y-bore;", "All she had lever borne a knave child,", "Glad was the marquis and his folk therefore;", "For, though a maiden child came all before,", "She may unto a knave child attain", "By likelihood, since she is not barren.", "", "Pars Tertia.", "", "There fell, as falleth many times mo',", "When that his child had sucked but a throw,", "This marquis in his hearte longed so", "To tempt his wife, her sadness for to know,", "That he might not out of his hearte throw", "This marvellous desire his wife t'asssay;", "Needless, God wot, he thought her to affray.", "", "He had assayed her anough before,", "And found her ever good; what needed it", "Her for to tempt, and always more and more?", "Though some men praise it for a subtle wit,", "But as for me, I say that evil it sit", "T'assay a wife when that it is no need,", "And putte her in anguish and in dread.", "", "For which this marquis wrought in this mannere:", "He came at night alone there as she lay,", "With sterne face and with full troubled cheer,", "And saide thus; \"Griseld',\" quoth he \"that day", "That I you took out of your poor array,", "And put you in estate of high nobless,", "Ye have it not forgotten, as I guess.", "", "\"I say, Griseld', this present dignity,", "In which that I have put you, as I trow", "Maketh you not forgetful for to be", "That I you took in poor estate full low,", "For any weal you must yourselfe know.", "Take heed of every word that I you say,", "There is no wight that hears it but we tway.", "", "\"Ye know yourself well how that ye came here", "Into this house, it is not long ago;", "And though to me ye be right lefe and dear,", "Unto my gentles ye be nothing so:", "They say, to them it is great shame and woe", "For to be subject, and be in servage,", "To thee, that born art of small lineage.", "", "\"And namely since thy daughter was y-bore", "These wordes have they spoken doubteless;", "But I desire, as I have done before,", "To live my life with them in rest and peace:", "I may not in this case be reckeless;", "I must do with thy daughter for the best,", "Not as I would, but as my gentles lest.", "", "\"And yet, God wot, this is full loth to me:", "But natheless withoute your weeting", "I will nought do; but this will I,\" quoth he,", "\"That ye to me assenten in this thing.", "Shew now your patience in your working,", "That ye me hight and swore in your village", "The day that maked was our marriage.\"", "", "When she had heard all this, she not amev'd", "Neither in word, in cheer, nor countenance", "(For, as it seemed, she was not aggriev'd);", "She saide; \"Lord, all lies in your pleasance,", "My child and I, with hearty obeisance", "Be youres all, and ye may save or spill", "Your owen thing: work then after your will.", "", "\"There may no thing, so God my soule save,", "Like to you, that may displease me:", "Nor I desire nothing for to have,", "Nor dreade for to lose, save only ye:", "This will is in mine heart, and aye shall be,", "No length of time, nor death, may this deface,", "Nor change my corage to another place.\"", "", "Glad was the marquis for her answering,", "But yet he feigned as he were not so;", "All dreary was his cheer and his looking", "When that he should out of the chamber go.", "Soon after this, a furlong way or two,", "He privily hath told all his intent", "Unto a man, and to his wife him sent.", "", "A manner sergeant was this private man,", "The which he faithful often founden had", "In thinges great, and eke such folk well can", "Do execution in thinges bad:", "The lord knew well, that he him loved and drad.", "And when this sergeant knew his lorde's will,", "Into the chamber stalked he full still.", "", "\"Madam,\" he said, \"ye must forgive it me,", "Though I do thing to which I am constrain'd;", "Ye be so wise, that right well knowe ye", "That lordes' hestes may not be y-feign'd;", "They may well be bewailed and complain'd,", "But men must needs unto their lust obey;", "And so will I, there is no more to say.", "", "\"This child I am commanded for to take.\"", "And spake no more, but out the child he hent", "Dispiteously, and gan a cheer to make", "As though he would have slain it ere he went.", "Griseldis must all suffer and consent:", "And as a lamb she sat there meek and still,", "And let this cruel sergeant do his will", "", "Suspicious was the diffame of this man,", "Suspect his face, suspect his word also,", "Suspect the time in which he this began:", "Alas! her daughter, that she loved so,", "She weened he would have it slain right tho,", "But natheless she neither wept nor siked,", "Conforming her to what the marquis liked.", "", "But at the last to speake she began,", "And meekly she unto the sergeant pray'd,", "So as he was a worthy gentle man,", "That she might kiss her child, ere that it died:", "And in her barme this little child she laid,", "With full sad face, and gan the child to bless,", "And lulled it, and after gan it kiss.", "", "And thus she said in her benigne voice:", "Farewell, my child, I shall thee never see;", "But since I have thee marked with the cross,", "Of that father y-blessed may'st thou be", "That for us died upon a cross of tree:", "Thy soul, my little child, I him betake,", "For this night shalt thou dien for my sake.", "", "I trow that to a norice in this case", "It had been hard this ruthe for to see:", "Well might a mother then have cried, \"Alas!\"", "But natheless so sad steadfast was she,", "That she endured all adversity,", "And to the sergeant meekely she said,", "\"Have here again your little younge maid.", "", "\"Go now,\" quoth she, \"and do my lord's behest.", "And one thing would I pray you of your grace,", "But if my lord forbade you at the least,", "Bury this little body in some place,", "That neither beasts nor birdes it arace.\"", "But he no word would to that purpose say,", "But took the child and went upon his way.", "", "The sergeant came unto his lord again,", "And of Griselda's words and of her cheer", "He told him point for point, in short and plain,", "And him presented with his daughter dear.", "Somewhat this lord had ruth in his mannere,", "But natheless his purpose held he still,", "As lordes do, when they will have their will;", "", "And bade this sergeant that he privily", "Shoulde the child full softly wind and wrap,", "With alle circumstances tenderly,", "And carry it in a coffer, or in lap;", "But, upon pain his head off for to swap,", "That no man shoulde know of his intent,", "Nor whence he came, nor whither that he went;", "", "But at Bologna, to his sister dear,", "That at that time of Panic' was Countess,", "He should it take, and shew her this mattere,", "Beseeching her to do her business", "This child to foster in all gentleness,", "And whose child it was he bade her hide", "From every wight, for aught that might betide.", "", "The sergeant went, and hath fulfill'd this thing.", "But to the marquis now returne we;", "For now went he full fast imagining", "If by his wife's cheer he mighte see,", "Or by her wordes apperceive, that she", "Were changed; but he never could her find,", "But ever-in-one alike sad and kind.", "", "As glad, as humble, as busy in service,", "And eke in love, as she was wont to be,", "Was she to him, in every manner wise;", "And of her daughter not a word spake she;", "No accident for no adversity", "Was seen in her, nor e'er her daughter's name", "She named, or in earnest or in game.", "", "Pars Quarta", "", "In this estate there passed be four year", "Ere she with childe was; but, as God wo'ld,", "A knave child she bare by this Waltere,", "Full gracious and fair for to behold;", "And when that folk it to his father told,", "Not only he, but all his country, merry", "Were for this child, and God they thank and hery.", "", "When it was two year old, and from the breast", "Departed of the norice, on a day", "This marquis caughte yet another lest", "To tempt his wife yet farther, if he may.", "Oh! needless was she tempted in as say;", "But wedded men not connen no measure,", "When that they find a patient creature.", "", "\"Wife,\" quoth the marquis, \"ye have heard ere this", "My people sickly bear our marriage;", "And namely since my son y-boren is,", "Now is it worse than ever in all our age:", "The murmur slays mine heart and my corage,", "For to mine ears cometh the voice so smart,", "That it well nigh destroyed hath mine heart.", "", "\"Now say they thus, 'When Walter is y-gone,", "Then shall the blood of Janicol' succeed,", "And be our lord, for other have we none:'", "Such wordes say my people, out of drede.", "Well ought I of such murmur take heed,", "For certainly I dread all such sentence,", "Though they not plainen in mine audience.", "", "\"I woulde live in peace, if that I might;", "Wherefore I am disposed utterly,", "As I his sister served ere by night,", "Right so think I to serve him privily.", "This warn I you, that ye not suddenly", "Out of yourself for no woe should outraie;", "Be patient, and thereof I you pray.\"", "", "\"I have,\" quoth she, \"said thus, and ever shall,", "I will no thing, nor n'ill no thing, certain,", "But as you list; not grieveth me at all", "Though that my daughter and my son be slain", "At your commandement; that is to sayn,", "I have not had no part of children twain,", "But first sickness, and after woe and pain.", "", "\"Ye be my lord, do with your owen thing", "Right as you list, and ask no rede of me:", "For, as I left at home all my clothing", "When I came first to you, right so,\" quoth she,", "\"Left I my will and all my liberty,", "And took your clothing: wherefore I you pray,", "Do your pleasance, I will your lust obey.", "", "\"And, certes, if I hadde prescience", "Your will to know, ere ye your lust me told,", "I would it do withoute negligence:", "But, now I know your lust, and what ye wo'ld,", "All your pleasance firm and stable I hold;", "For, wist I that my death might do you ease,", "Right gladly would I dien you to please.", "", "\"Death may not make no comparisoun", "Unto your love.\" And when this marquis say", "The constance of his wife, he cast adown", "His eyen two, and wonder'd how she may", "In patience suffer all this array;", "And forth he went with dreary countenance;", "But to his heart it was full great pleasance.", "", "This ugly sergeant, in the same wise", "That he her daughter caught, right so hath he", "(Or worse, if men can any worse devise,)", "Y-hent her son, that full was of beauty:", "And ever-in-one so patient was she,", "That she no cheere made of heaviness,", "But kiss'd her son, and after gan him bless.", "", "Save this she prayed him, if that he might,", "Her little son he would in earthe grave,", "His tender limbes, delicate to sight,", "From fowles and from beastes for to save.", "But she none answer of him mighte have;", "He went his way, as him nothing ne raught,", "But to Bologna tenderly it brought.", "", "The marquis wonder'd ever longer more", "Upon her patience; and, if that he", "Not hadde soothly knowen therebefore", "That perfectly her children loved she,", "He would have ween'd that of some subtilty,", "And of malice, or for cruel corage,", "She hadde suffer'd this with sad visage.", "", "But well he knew, that, next himself, certain", "She lov'd her children best in every wise.", "But now of women would I aske fain,", "If these assayes mighte not suffice?", "What could a sturdy husband more devise", "To prove her wifehood and her steadfastness,", "And he continuing ev'r in sturdiness?", "", "But there be folk of such condition,", "That, when they have a certain purpose take,", "Thiey cannot stint of their intention,", "But, right as they were bound unto a stake,", "They will not of their firste purpose slake:", "Right so this marquis fully hath purpos'd", "To tempt his wife, as he was first dispos'd.", "", "He waited, if by word or countenance", "That she to him was changed of corage:", "But never could he finde variance,", "She was aye one in heart and in visage,", "And aye the farther that she was in age,", "The more true (if that it were possible)", "She was to him in love, and more penible.", "", "For which it seemed thus, that of them two", "There was but one will; for, as Walter lest,", "The same pleasance was her lust also;", "And, God be thanked, all fell for the best.", "She shewed well, for no worldly unrest,", "A wife as of herself no thinge should", "Will, in effect, but as her husbaud would.", "", "The sland'r of Walter wondrous wide sprad,", "That of a cruel heart he wickedly,", "For he a poore woman wedded had,", "Had murder'd both his children privily:", "Such murmur was among them commonly.", "No wonder is: for to the people's ear", "There came no word, but that they murder'd were.", "", "For which, whereas his people therebefore", "Had lov'd him well, the sland'r of his diffame", "Made them that they him hated therefore.", "To be a murd'rer is a hateful name.", "But natheless, for earnest or for game,", "He of his cruel purpose would not stent;", "To tempt his wife was set all his intent.", "", "When that his daughter twelve year was of age,", "He to the Court of Rome, in subtle wise", "Informed of his will, sent his message,", "Commanding him such bulles to devise", "As to his cruel purpose may suffice,", "How that the Pope, for his people's rest,", "Bade him to wed another, if him lest.", "", "I say he bade they shoulde counterfeit", "The Pope's bulles, making mention", "That he had leave his firste wife to lete,", "To stinte rancour and dissension", "Betwixt his people and him: thus spake the bull,", "The which they have published at full.", "", "The rude people, as no wonder is,", "Weened full well that it had been right so:", "But, when these tidings came to Griseldis.", "I deeme that her heart was full of woe;", "But she, alike sad for evermo',", "Disposed was, this humble creature,", "Th' adversity of fortune all t' endure;", "", "Abiding ever his lust and his pleasance,", "To whom that she was given, heart and all,", "As to her very worldly suffisance.", "But, shortly if this story tell I shall,", "The marquis written hath in special", "A letter, in which he shewed his intent,", "And secretly it to Bologna sent.", "", "To th' earl of Panico, which hadde tho", "Wedded his sister, pray'd he specially", "To bringe home again his children two", "In honourable estate all openly:", "But one thing he him prayed utterly,", "That he to no wight, though men would inquere,", "Shoulde not tell whose children that they were,", "", "But say, the maiden should y-wedded be", "Unto the marquis of Saluce anon.", "And as this earl was prayed, so did he,", "For, at day set, he on his way is gone", "Toward Saluce, and lorde's many a one", "In rich array, this maiden for to guide, --", "Her younge brother riding her beside.", "", "Arrayed was toward her marriage", "This freshe maiden, full of gemmes clear;", "Her brother, which that seven year was of age,", "Arrayed eke full fresh in his mannere:", "And thus, in great nobless, and with glad cheer,", "Toward Saluces shaping their journey,", "From day to day they rode upon their way.", "", "Pars Quinta.", "", "Among all this, after his wick' usage,", "The marquis, yet his wife to tempte more", "To the uttermost proof of her corage,", "Fully to have experience and lore", "If that she were as steadfast as before,", "He on a day, in open audience,", "Full boisterously said her this sentence:", "", "\"Certes, Griseld', I had enough pleasance", "To have you to my wife, for your goodness,", "And for your truth, and for your obeisance,", "Not for your lineage, nor for your richess;", "But now know I, in very soothfastness,", "That in great lordship, if I well advise,", "There is great servitude in sundry wise.", "", "\"I may not do as every ploughman may:", "My people me constraineth for to take", "Another wife, and cryeth day by day;", "And eke the Pope, rancour for to slake,", "Consenteth it, that dare I undertake:", "And truely, thus much I will you say,", "My newe wife is coming by the way.", "", "\"Be strong of heart, and void anon her place;", "And thilke dower that ye brought to me,", "Take it again, I grant it of my grace.", "Returne to your father's house,\" quoth he;", "\"No man may always have prosperity;", "With even heart I rede you to endure", "The stroke of fortune or of aventure.\"", "", "And she again answer'd in patience:", "\"My Lord,\" quoth she, \"I know, and knew alway,", "How that betwixte your magnificence", "And my povert' no wight nor can nor may", "Make comparison, it is no nay;", "I held me never digne in no mannere", "To be your wife, nor yet your chamberere.", "", "\"And in this house, where ye me lady made,", "(The highe God take I for my witness,", "And all so wisly he my soule glade),", "I never held me lady nor mistress,", "But humble servant to your worthiness,", "And ever shall, while that my life may dure,", "Aboven every worldly creature.", "", "\"That ye so long, of your benignity,", "Have holden me in honour and nobley,", "Where as I was not worthy for to be,", "That thank I God and you, to whom I pray", "Foryield it you; there is no more to say:", "Unto my father gladly will I wend,", "And with him dwell, unto my lifes end,", "", "\"Where I was foster'd as a child full small,", "Till I be dead my life there will I lead,", "A widow clean in body, heart, and all.", "For since I gave to you my maidenhead,", "And am your true wife, it is no dread,", "God shielde such a lordes wife to take", "Another man to husband or to make.", "", "\"And of your newe wife, God of his grace", "So grant you weal and all prosperity:", "For I will gladly yield to her my place,", "In which that I was blissful wont to be.", "For since it liketh you, my Lord,\" quoth she,", "\"That whilom weren all mine hearte's rest,", "That I shall go, I will go when you lest.", "", "\"But whereas ye me proffer such dowaire", "As I first brought, it is well in my mind,", "It was my wretched clothes, nothing fair,", "The which to me were hard now for to find.", "O goode God! how gentle and how kind", "Ye seemed by your speech and your visage,", "The day that maked was our marriage!", "", "\"But sooth is said, -- algate I find it true,", "For in effect it proved is on me, --", "Love is not old as when that it is new.", "But certes, Lord, for no adversity,", "To dien in this case, it shall not be", "That e'er in word or work I shall repent", "That I you gave mine heart in whole intent.", "", "\"My Lord, ye know that in my father's place", "Ye did me strip out of my poore weed,", "And richely ye clad me of your grace;", "To you brought I nought elles, out of dread,", "But faith, and nakedness, and maidenhead;", "And here again your clothing I restore,", "And eke your wedding ring for evermore.", "", "\"The remnant of your jewels ready be", "Within your chamber, I dare safely sayn:", "Naked out of my father's house,\" quoth she,", "\"I came, and naked I must turn again.", "All your pleasance would I follow fain:", "But yet I hope it be not your intent", "That smockless I out of your palace went.", "", "\"Ye could not do so dishonest a thing,", "That thilke womb, in which your children lay,", "Shoulde before the people, in my walking,", "Be seen all bare: and therefore I you pray,", "Let me not like a worm go by the way:", "Remember you, mine owen Lord so dear,", "I was your wife, though I unworthy were.", "", "\"Wherefore, in guerdon of my maidenhead,", "Which that I brought and not again I bear,", "As vouchesafe to give me to my meed", "But such a smock as I was wont to wear,", "That I therewith may wrie the womb of her", "That was your wife: and here I take my leave", "Of you, mine owen Lord, lest I you grieve.\"", "", "\"The smock,\" quoth he, \"that thou hast on thy back,", "Let it be still, and bear it forth with thee.\"", "But well unnethes thilke word he spake,", "But went his way for ruth and for pity.", "Before the folk herselfe stripped she,", "And in her smock, with foot and head all bare,", "Toward her father's house forth is she fare.", "", "The folk her follow'd weeping on her way,", "And fortune aye they cursed as they gon:", "But she from weeping kept her eyen drey,", "Nor in this time worde spake she none.", "Her father, that this tiding heard anon,", "Cursed the day and time, that nature", "Shope him to be a living creature.", "", "For, out of doubt, this olde poore man", "Was ever in suspect of her marriage:", "For ever deem'd he, since it first began,", "That when the lord fulfill'd had his corage,", "He woulde think it were a disparage", "To his estate, so low for to alight,", "And voide her as soon as e'er he might.", "", "Against his daughter hastily went he", "(For he by noise of folk knew her coming),", "And with her olde coat, as it might be,", "He cover'd her, full sorrowfully weeping:", "But on her body might he it not bring,", "For rude was the cloth, and more of age", "By dayes fele than at her marriage.", "", "Thus with her father for a certain space", "Dwelled this flow'r of wifely patience,", "That neither by her words nor by her face,", "Before the folk nor eke in their absence,", "Ne shewed she that her was done offence,", "Nor of her high estate no remembrance", "Ne hadde she, as by her countenance.", "", "No wonder is, for in her great estate", "Her ghost was ever in plein humility;", "No tender mouth, no hearte delicate,", "No pomp, and no semblant of royalty;", "But full of patient benignity,", "Discreet and prideless, aye honourable,", "And to her husband ever meek and stable.", "", "Men speak of Job, and most for his humbless,", "As clerkes, when them list, can well indite,", "Namely of men; but, as in soothfastness,", "Though clerkes praise women but a lite,", "There can no man in humbless him acquite", "As women can, nor can be half so true", "As women be, but it be fall of new.", "", "Pars Sexta", "", "From Bologn' is the earl of Panic' come,", "Of which the fame up sprang to more and less;", "And to the people's eares all and some", "Was know'n eke, that a newe marchioness", "He with him brought, in such pomp and richess", "That never was there seen with manne's eye", "So noble array in all West Lombardy.", "", "The marquis, which that shope and knew all this,", "Ere that the earl was come, sent his message", "For thilke poore sely Griseldis;", "And she, with humble heart and glad visage,", "Nor with no swelling thought in her corage,", "Came at his hest, and on her knees her set,", "And rev'rently and wisely she him gret.", "", "\"Griseld',\" quoth he, \"my will is utterly,", "This maiden, that shall wedded be to me,", "Received be to-morrow as royally", "As it possible is in my house to be;", "And eke that every wight in his degree", "Have his estate in sitting and service,", "And in high pleasance, as I can devise.", "", "\"I have no women sufficient, certain,", "The chambers to array in ordinance", "After my lust; and therefore would I fain", "That thine were all such manner governance:", "Thou knowest eke of old all my pleasance;", "Though thine array be bad, and ill besey,", "Do thou thy devoir at the leaste way.\"", "", "\"Not only, Lord, that I am glad,\" quoth she,", "\"To do your lust, but I desire also", "You for to serve and please in my degree,", "Withoute fainting, and shall evermo':", "Nor ever for no weal, nor for no woe,", "Ne shall the ghost within mine hearte stent", "To love you best with all my true intent.\"", "", "And with that word she gan the house to dight,", "And tables for to set, and beds to make,", "And pained her to do all that she might,", "Praying the chambereres for Godde's sake", "To hasten them, and faste sweep and shake,", "And she the most serviceable of all", "Hath ev'ry chamber arrayed, and his hall.", "", "Aboute undern gan the earl alight,", "That with him brought these noble children tway;", "For which the people ran to see the sight", "Of their array, so richely besey;", "And then at erst amonges them they say,", "That Walter was no fool, though that him lest", "To change his wife; for it was for the best.", "", "For she is fairer, as they deemen all,", "Than is Griseld', and more tender of age,", "And fairer fruit between them shoulde fall,", "And more pleasant, for her high lineage:", "Her brother eke so fair was of visage,", "That them to see the people hath caught pleasance,", "Commending now the marquis' governance.", "", "\"O stormy people, unsad and ev'r untrue,", "And undiscreet, and changing as a vane,", "Delighting ev'r in rumour that is new,", "For like the moon so waxe ye and wane:", "Aye full of clapping, dear enough a jane,", "Your doom is false, your constance evil preveth,", "A full great fool is he that you believeth.\"", "", "Thus saide the sad folk in that city,", "When that the people gazed up and down;", "For they were glad, right for the novelty,", "To have a newe lady of their town.", "No more of this now make I mentioun,", "But to Griseld' again I will me dress,", "And tell her constancy and business.", "", "Full busy was Griseld' in ev'ry thing", "That to the feaste was appertinent;", "Right nought was she abash'd of her clothing,", "Though it were rude, and somedeal eke to-rent;", "But with glad cheer unto the gate she went", "With other folk, to greet the marchioness,", "And after that did forth her business.", "", "With so glad cheer his guestes she receiv'd", "And so conningly each in his degree,", "That no defaulte no man apperceiv'd,", "But aye they wonder'd what she mighte be", "That in so poor array was for to see,", "And coude such honour and reverence;", "And worthily they praise her prudence.", "", "In all this meane while she not stent", "This maid, and eke her brother, to commend", "With all her heart in full benign intent,", "So well, that no man could her praise amend:", "But at the last, when that these lordes wend", "To sitte down to meat, he gan to call", "Griseld', as she was busy in the hall.", "", "\"Griseld',\" quoth he, as it were in his play,", "\"How liketh thee my wife, and her beauty?\"", "\"Right well, my Lord,\" quoth she, \"for, in good fay,", "A fairer saw I never none than she:", "I pray to God give you prosperity;", "And so I hope, that he will to you send", "Pleasance enough unto your lives end.", "", "\"One thing beseech I you, and warn also,", "That ye not pricke with no tormenting", "This tender maiden, as ye have done mo:", "For she is foster'd in her nourishing", "More tenderly, and, to my supposing,", "She mighte not adversity endure", "As could a poore foster'd creature.\"", "", "And when this Walter saw her patience,", "Her gladde cheer, and no malice at all,", "And he so often had her done offence,", "And she aye sad and constant as a wall,", "Continuing ev'r her innocence o'er all,", "The sturdy marquis gan his hearte dress", "To rue upon her wifely steadfastness.", "", "\"This is enough, Griselda mine,\" quoth he,", "\"Be now no more aghast, nor evil paid,", "I have thy faith and thy benignity", "As well as ever woman was, assay'd,", "In great estate and poorely array'd:", "Now know I, deare wife, thy steadfastness;\"", "And her in arms he took, and gan to kiss.", "", "And she for wonder took of it no keep;", "She hearde not what thing he to her said:", "She far'd as she had start out of a sleep,", "Till she out of her mazedness abraid.", "\"Griseld',\" quoth he, \"by God that for us died,", "Thou art my wife, none other I have,", "Nor ever had, as God my soule save.", "", "\"This is thy daughter, which thou hast suppos'd", "To be my wife; that other faithfully", "Shall be mine heir, as I have aye dispos'd;", "Thou bare them of thy body truely:", "At Bologna kept I them privily:", "Take them again, for now may'st thou not say", "That thou hast lorn none of thy children tway.", "", "\"And folk, that otherwise have said of me,", "I warn them well, that I have done this deed", "For no malice, nor for no cruelty,", "But to assay in thee thy womanhead:", "And not to slay my children (God forbid),", "But for to keep them privily and still,", "Till I thy purpose knew, and all thy will.\"", "", "When she this heard, in swoon adown she falleth", "For piteous joy; and after her swooning,", "She both her younge children to her calleth,", "And in her armes piteously weeping", "Embraced them, and tenderly kissing,", "Full like a mother, with her salte tears", "She bathed both their visage and their hairs.", "", "O, what a piteous thing it was to see", "Her swooning, and her humble voice to hear!", "\"Grand mercy, Lord, God thank it you,\" quoth she,", "That ye have saved me my children dear;", "Now reck I never to be dead right here;", "Since I stand in your love, and in your grace,", "No force of death, nor when my spirit pace.", "", "\"O tender, O dear, O young children mine,", "Your woeful mother weened steadfastly", "That cruel houndes, or some foul vermine,", "Had eaten you; but God of his mercy,", "And your benigne father tenderly", "Have done you keep:\" and in that same stound", "All suddenly she swapt down to the ground.", "", "And in her swoon so sadly holdeth she", "Her children two, when she gan them embrace,", "That with great sleight and great difficulty", "The children from her arm they can arace,", "O! many a tear on many a piteous face", "Down ran of them that stoode her beside,", "Unneth' aboute her might they abide.", "", "Walter her gladdeth, and her sorrow slaketh:", "She riseth up abashed from her trance,", "And every wight her joy and feaste maketh,", "Till she hath caught again her countenance.", "Walter her doth so faithfully pleasance,", "That it was dainty for to see the cheer", "Betwixt them two, since they be met in fere.", "", "The ladies, when that they their time sey,", "Have taken her, and into chamber gone,", "And stripped her out of her rude array,", "And in a cloth of gold that brightly shone,", "And with a crown of many a riche stone", "Upon her head, they into hall her brought:", "And there she was honoured as her ought.", "", "Thus had this piteous day a blissful end;", "For every man and woman did his might", "This day in mirth and revel to dispend,", "Till on the welkin shone the starres bright:", "For more solemn in every mannes sight", "This feaste was, and greater of costage,", "Than was the revel of her marriage.", "", "Full many a year in high prosperity", "Lived these two in concord and in rest;", "And richely his daughter married he", "Unto a lord, one of the worthiest", "Of all Itale; and then in peace and rest", "His wife's father in his court he kept,", "Till that the soul out of his body crept.", "", "His son succeeded in his heritage,", "In rest and peace, after his father's day:", "And fortunate was eke in marriage,", "All he put not his wife in great assay:", "This world is not so strong, it is no nay,", "As it hath been in olde times yore;", "And hearken what this author saith, therefore;", "", "This story is said, not for that wives should", "Follow Griselda in humility,", "For it were importable though they would;", "But for that every wight in his degree", "Shoulde be constant in adversity,", "As was Griselda; therefore Petrarch writeth", "This story, which with high style he inditeth.", "", "For, since a woman was so patient", "Unto a mortal man, well more we ought", "Receiven all in gree that God us sent.", "For great skill is he proved that he wrought:", "But he tempteth no man that he hath bought,", "As saith Saint James, if ye his 'pistle read;", "He proveth folk all day, it is no dread.", "", "And suffereth us, for our exercise,", "With sharpe scourges of adversity", "Full often to be beat in sundry wise;", "Not for to know our will, for certes he,", "Ere we were born, knew all our frailty;", "And for our best is all his governance;", "Let us then live in virtuous sufferance.", "", "But one word, lordings, hearken, ere I go:", "It were full hard to finde now-a-days", "In all a town Griseldas three or two:", "For, if that they were put to such assays,", "The gold of them hath now so bad allays", "With brass, that though the coin be fair at eye,", "It woulde rather break in two than ply.", "", "For which here, for the Wife's love of Bath, --", "Whose life and all her sex may God maintain", "In high mast'ry, and elles were it scath, --", "I will, with lusty hearte fresh and green,", "Say you a song to gladden you, I ween:", "And let us stint of earnestful mattere.", "Hearken my song, that saith in this mannere.", "", "L'Envoy of Chaucer.", "", "\"Griseld' is dead, and eke her patience,", "And both at once are buried in Itale:", "For which I cry in open audience,", "No wedded man so hardy be t' assail", "His wife's patience, in trust to find", "Griselda's, for in certain he shall fail.", "", "\"O noble wives, full of high prudence,", "Let no humility your tongues nail:", "Nor let no clerk have cause or diligence", "To write of you a story of such marvail,", "As of Griselda patient and kind,", "Lest Chichevache you swallow in her entrail.", "", "\"Follow Echo, that holdeth no silence,", "But ever answereth at the countertail;", "Be not bedaffed for your innocence,", "But sharply take on you the governail;", "Imprinte well this lesson in your mind,", "For common profit, since it may avail.", "", "\"Ye archiwives, stand aye at defence,", "Since ye be strong as is a great camail,", "Nor suffer not that men do you offence.", "And slender wives, feeble in battail,", "Be eager as a tiger yond in Ind;", "Aye clapping as a mill, I you counsail.", "", "\"Nor dread them not, nor do them reverence;", "For though thine husband armed be in mail,", "The arrows of thy crabbed eloquence", "Shall pierce his breast, and eke his aventail;", "In jealousy I rede eke thou him bind,", "And thou shalt make him couch as doth a quail.", "", "\"If thou be fair, where folk be in presence", "Shew thou thy visage and thine apparail:", "If thou be foul, be free of thy dispence;", "To get thee friendes aye do thy travail:", "Be aye of cheer as light as leaf on lind,", "And let him care, and weep, and wring, and wail.\"" ], "linecount": "1220" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Merchant's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "\"Weeping and wailing, care and other sorrow,", "I have enough, on even and on morrow,\"", "Quoth the Merchant, \"and so have other mo',", "That wedded be; I trow that it be so;", "For well I wot it fareth so by me.", "I have a wife, the worste that may be,", "For though the fiend to her y-coupled were,", "She would him overmatch, I dare well swear.", "Why should I you rehearse in special", "Her high malice? she is a shrew at all.", "There is a long and large difference", "Betwixt Griselda's greate patience,", "And of my wife the passing cruelty.", "Were I unbounden, all so may I the,", "I woulde never eft come in the snare.", "We wedded men live in sorrow and care;", "Assay it whoso will, and he shall find", "That I say sooth, by Saint Thomas of Ind,", "As for the more part; I say not all, --", "God shielde that it shoulde so befall.", "Ah! good Sir Host, I have y-wedded be", "These moneths two, and more not, pardie;", "And yet I trow that he that all his life", "Wifeless hath been, though that men would him rive", "Into the hearte, could in no mannere", "Telle so much sorrow, as I you here", "Could tellen of my wife's cursedness.\"", "", "\"Now,\" quoth our Host, \"Merchant, so God you bless,", "Since ye so muche knowen of that art,", "Full heartily I pray you tell us part.\"", "\"Gladly,\" quoth he; \"but of mine owen sore,", "For sorry heart, I telle may no more.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "Whilom there was dwelling in Lombardy", "A worthy knight, that born was at Pavie,", "In which he liv'd in great prosperity;", "And forty years a wifeless man was he,", "And follow'd aye his bodily delight", "On women, where as was his appetite,", "As do these fooles that be seculeres.", "And, when that he was passed sixty years,", "Were it for holiness, or for dotage,", "I cannot say, but such a great corage", "Hadde this knight to be a wedded man,", "That day and night he did all that he can", "To espy where that he might wedded be;", "Praying our Lord to grante him, that he", "Mighte once knowen of that blissful life", "That is betwixt a husband and his wife,", "And for to live under that holy bond", "With which God firste man and woman bond.", "\"None other life,\" said he, \"is worth a bean;", "For wedlock is so easy, and so clean,", "That in this world it is a paradise.\"", "Thus said this olde knight, that was so wise.", "And certainly, as sooth as God is king,", "To take a wife it is a glorious thing,", "And namely when a man is old and hoar,", "Then is a wife the fruit of his treasor;", "Then should he take a young wife and a fair,", "On which he might engender him an heir,", "And lead his life in joy and in solace;", "Whereas these bachelors singen \"Alas!\"", "When that they find any adversity", "In love, which is but childish vanity.", "And truely it sits well to be so,", "That bachelors have often pain and woe:", "On brittle ground they build, and brittleness", "They finde when they weene sickerness:", "They live but as a bird or as a beast,", "In liberty, and under no arrest;", "Whereas a wedded man in his estate", "Liveth a life blissful and ordinate,", "Under the yoke of marriage y-bound;", "Well may his heart in joy and bliss abound.", "For who can be so buxom as a wife?", "Who is so true, and eke so attentive", "To keep him, sick and whole, as is his make?", "For weal or woe she will him not forsake:", "She is not weary him to love and serve,", "Though that he lie bedrid until he sterve.", "And yet some clerkes say it is not so;", "Of which he, Theophrast, is one of tho:", "What force though Theophrast list for to lie?", "", "\"Take no wife,\" quoth he, \"for husbandry,", "As for to spare in household thy dispence;", "A true servant doth more diligence", "Thy good to keep, than doth thine owen wife,", "For she will claim a half part all her life.", "And if that thou be sick, so God me save,", "Thy very friendes, or a true knave,", "Will keep thee bet than she, that waiteth aye", "After thy good, and hath done many a day.\"", "This sentence, and a hundred times worse,", "Writeth this man, there God his bones curse.", "But take no keep of all such vanity,", "Defy Theophrast, and hearken to me.", "", "A wife is Godde's gifte verily;", "All other manner giftes hardily,", "As handes, rentes, pasture, or commune,", "Or mebles, all be giftes of fortune,", "That passen as a shadow on the wall:", "But dread thou not, if plainly speak I shall,", "A wife will last, and in thine house endure,", "Well longer than thee list, paraventure.", "Marriage is a full great sacrament;", "He which that hath no wife, I hold him shent;", "He liveth helpless, and all desolate", "(I speak of folk in secular estate):", "And hearken why, I say not this for nought, --", "That woman is for manne's help y-wrought.", "The highe God, when he had Adam maked,", "And saw him all alone belly naked,", "God of his greate goodness saide then,", "Let us now make a help unto this man", "Like to himself; and then he made him Eve.", "Here may ye see, and hereby may ye preve,", "That a wife is man s help and his comfort,", "His paradise terrestre and his disport.", "So buxom and so virtuous is she,", "They muste needes live in unity;", "One flesh they be, and one blood, as I guess,", "With but one heart in weal and in distress.", "A wife? Ah! Saint Mary, ben'dicite,", "How might a man have any adversity", "That hath a wife? certes I cannot say", "The bliss the which that is betwixt them tway,", "There may no tongue it tell, or hearte think.", "If he be poor, she helpeth him to swink;", "She keeps his good, and wasteth never a deal;", "All that her husband list, her liketh well;", "She saith not ones Nay, when he saith Yea;", "\"Do this,\" saith he; \"All ready, Sir,\" saith she.", "O blissful order, wedlock precious!", "Thou art so merry, and eke so virtuous,", "And so commended and approved eke,", "That every man that holds him worth a leek", "Upon his bare knees ought all his life", "To thank his God, that him hath sent a wife;", "Or elles pray to God him for to send", "A wife, to last unto his life's end.", "For then his life is set in sickerness,", "He may not be deceived, as I guess,", "So that he work after his wife's rede;", "Then may he boldely bear up his head,", "They be so true, and therewithal so wise.", "For which, if thou wilt worken as the wise,", "Do alway so as women will thee rede.", "Lo how that Jacob, as these clerkes read,", "By good counsel of his mother Rebecc'", "Bounde the kiddes skin about his neck;", "For which his father's benison he wan.", "Lo Judith, as the story telle can,", "By good counsel she Godde's people kept,", "And slew him, Holofernes, while he slept.", "Lo Abigail, by good counsel, how she", "Saved her husband Nabal, when that he", "Should have been slain. And lo, Esther also", "By counsel good deliver'd out of woe", "The people of God, and made him, Mardoche,", "Of Assuere enhanced for to be.", "There is nothing in gree superlative", "(As saith Senec) above a humble wife.", "Suffer thy wife's tongue, as Cato bit;", "She shall command, and thou shalt suffer it,", "And yet she will obey of courtesy.", "A wife is keeper of thine husbandry:", "Well may the sicke man bewail and weep,", "There as there is no wife the house to keep.", "I warne thee, if wisely thou wilt wirch,", "Love well thy wife, as Christ loveth his church:", "Thou lov'st thyself, if thou lovest thy wife.", "No man hateth his flesh, but in his life", "He fost'reth it; and therefore bid I thee", "Cherish thy wife, or thou shalt never the.", "Husband and wife, what so men jape or play,", "Of worldly folk holde the sicker way;", "They be so knit there may no harm betide,", "And namely upon the wife's side.", "", "For which this January, of whom I told,", "Consider'd hath within his dayes old,", "The lusty life, the virtuous quiet,", "That is in marriage honey-sweet.", "And for his friends upon a day he sent", "To tell them the effect of his intent.", "With face sad, his tale he hath them told:", "He saide, \"Friendes, I am hoar and old,", "And almost (God wot) on my pitte's brink,", "Upon my soule somewhat must I think.", "I have my body foolishly dispended,", "Blessed be God that it shall be amended;", "For I will be certain a wedded man,", "And that anon in all the haste I can,", "Unto some maiden, fair and tender of age;", "I pray you shape for my marriage", "All suddenly, for I will not abide:", "And I will fond to espy, on my side,", "To whom I may be wedded hastily.", "But forasmuch as ye be more than,", "Ye shalle rather such a thing espy", "Than I, and where me best were to ally.", "But one thing warn I you, my friendes dear,", "I will none old wife have in no mannere:", "She shall not passe sixteen year certain.", "Old fish and younge flesh would I have fain.", "Better,\" quoth he, \"a pike than a pickerel,", "And better than old beef is tender veal.", "I will no woman thirty year of age,", "It is but beanestraw and great forage.", "And eke these olde widows (God it wot)", "They conne so much craft on Wade's boat,", "So muche brooke harm when that them lest,", "That with them should I never live in rest.", "For sundry schooles make subtle clerkes;", "Woman of many schooles half a clerk is.", "But certainly a young thing men may guy,", "Right as men may warm wax with handes ply.", "Wherefore I say you plainly in a clause,", "I will none old wife have, right for this cause.", "For if so were I hadde such mischance,", "That I in her could have no pleasance,", "Then should I lead my life in avoutrie,", "And go straight to the devil when I die.", "Nor children should I none upon her getten:", "Yet were me lever houndes had me eaten", "Than that mine heritage shoulde fall", "In strange hands: and this I tell you all.", "I doubte not I know the cause why", "Men shoulde wed: and farthermore know I", "There speaketh many a man of marriage", "That knows no more of it than doth my page,", "For what causes a man should take a wife.", "If he ne may not live chaste his life,", "Take him a wife with great devotion,", "Because of lawful procreation", "Of children, to th' honour of God above,", "And not only for paramour or love;", "And for they shoulde lechery eschew,", "And yield their debte when that it is due:", "Or for that each of them should help the other", "In mischief, as a sister shall the brother,", "And live in chastity full holily.", "But, Sires, by your leave, that am not I,", "For, God be thanked, I dare make avaunt,", "I feel my limbes stark and suffisant", "To do all that a man belongeth to:", "I wot myselfe best what I may do.", "Though I be hoar, I fare as doth a tree,", "That blossoms ere the fruit y-waxen be;", "The blossomy tree is neither dry nor dead;", "I feel me now here hoar but on my head.", "Mine heart and all my limbes are as green", "As laurel through the year is for to seen.", "And, since that ye have heard all mine intent,", "I pray you to my will ye would assent.\"", "", "Diverse men diversely him told", "Of marriage many examples old;", "Some blamed it, some praised it, certain;", "But at the haste, shortly for to sayn", "(As all day falleth altercation", "Betwixte friends in disputation),", "There fell a strife betwixt his brethren two,", "Of which that one was called Placebo,", "Justinus soothly called was that other.", "", "Placebo said; \"O January, brother,", "Full little need have ye, my lord so dear,", "Counsel to ask of any that is here:", "But that ye be so full of sapience,", "That you not liketh, for your high prudence,", "To waive from the word of Solomon.", "This word said he unto us every one;", "Work alle thing by counsel, -- thus said he, --", "And thenne shalt thou not repente thee", "But though that Solomon spake such a word,", "Mine owen deare brother and my lord,", "So wisly God my soule bring at rest,", "I hold your owen counsel is the best.", "For, brother mine, take of me this motive;", "I have now been a court-man all my life,", "And, God it wot, though I unworthy be,", "I have standen in full great degree", "Aboute lordes of full high estate;", "Yet had I ne'er with none of them debate;", "I never them contraried truely.", "I know well that my lord can more than I;", "What that he saith I hold it firm and stable,", "I say the same, or else a thing semblable.", "A full great fool is any counsellor", "That serveth any lord of high honour", "That dare presume, or ones thinken it;", "That his counsel should pass his lorde's wit.", "Nay, lordes be no fooles by my fay.", "Ye have yourselfe shewed here to day", "So high sentence, so holily and well", "That I consent, and confirm every deal", "Your wordes all, and your opinioun", "By God, there is no man in all this town", "Nor in Itale, could better have y-said.", "Christ holds him of this counsel well apaid.", "And truely it is a high courage", "Of any man that stopen is in age,", "To take a young wife, by my father's kin;", "Your hearte hangeth on a jolly pin.", "Do now in this matter right as you lest,", "For finally I hold it for the best.\"", "", "Justinus, that aye stille sat and heard,", "Right in this wise to Placebo answer'd.", "\"Now, brother mine, be patient I pray,", "Since ye have said, and hearken what I say.", "Senec, among his other wordes wise,", "Saith, that a man ought him right well advise,", "To whom he gives his hand or his chattel.", "And since I ought advise me right well", "To whom I give my good away from me,", "Well more I ought advise me, pardie,", "To whom I give my body: for alway", "I warn you well it is no childe's play", "To take a wife without advisement.", "Men must inquire (this is mine assent)", "Whe'er she be wise, or sober, or dronkelew,", "Or proud, or any other ways a shrew,", "A chidester, or a waster of thy good,", "Or rich or poor; or else a man is wood.", "Albeit so, that no man finde shall", "None in this world, that trotteth whole in all,", "No man, nor beast, such as men can devise,", "But nathehess it ought enough suffice", "With any wife, if so were that she had", "More goode thewes than her vices bad:", "And all this asketh leisure to inquere.", "For, God it wot, I have wept many a tear", "Full privily, since I have had a wife.", "Praise whoso will a wedded manne's life,", "Certes, I find in it but cost and care,", "And observances of all blisses bare.", "And yet, God wot, my neighebours about,", "And namely of women many a rout,", "Say that I have the moste steadfast wife,", "And eke the meekest one, that beareth life.", "But I know best where wringeth me my shoe,", "Ye may for me right as you like do", "Advise you, ye be a man of age,", "How that ye enter into marriage;", "And namely with a young wife and a fair,", "By him that made water, fire, earth, air,", "The youngest man that is in all this rout", "Is busy enough to bringen it about", "To have his wife alone, truste me:", "Ye shall not please her fully yeares three,", "This is to say, to do her full pleasance.", "A wife asketh full many an observance.", "I pray you that ye be not evil apaid.\"", "", "\"Well,\" quoth this January, \"and hast thou said?", "Straw for thy Senec, and for thy proverbs,", "I counte not a pannier full of herbs", "Of schoole termes; wiser men than thou,", "As thou hast heard, assented here right now", "To my purpose: Placebo, what say ye?\"", "\"I say it is a cursed man,\" quoth he,", "\"That letteth matrimony, sickerly.\"", "And with that word they rise up suddenly,", "And be assented fully, that he should", "Be wedded when him list, and where he would.", "", "High fantasy and curious business", "From day to day gan in the soul impress", "Of January about his marriage", "Many a fair shape, and many a fair visage", "There passed through his hearte night by night.", "As whoso took a mirror polish'd bright,", "And set it in a common market-place,", "Then should he see many a figure pace", "By his mirror; and in the same wise", "Gan January in his thought devise", "Of maidens, which that dwelte him beside:", "He wiste not where that he might abide.", "For if that one had beauty in her face,", "Another stood so in the people's grace", "For her sadness and her benignity,", "That of the people greatest voice had she:", "And some were rich and had a badde name.", "But natheless, betwixt earnest and game,", "He at the last appointed him on one,", "And let all others from his hearte gon,", "And chose her of his own authority;", "For love is blind all day, and may not see.", "And when that he was into bed y-brought,", "He pourtray'd in his heart and in his thought", "Her freshe beauty, and her age tender,", "Her middle small, her armes long and slender,", "Her wise governance, her gentleness,", "Her womanly bearing, and her sadness.", "And when that he on her was condescended,", "He thought his choice might not be amended;", "For when that he himself concluded had,", "He thought each other manne' s wit so bad,", "That impossible it were to reply", "Against his choice; this was his fantasy.", "His friendes sent he to, at his instance,", "And prayed them to do him that pleasance,", "That hastily they would unto him come;", "He would abridge their labour all and some:", "Needed no more for them to go nor ride,", "He was appointed where he would abide.", "", "Placebo came, and eke his friendes soon,", "And alderfirst he bade them all a boon,", "That none of them no arguments would make", "Against the purpose that he had y-take:", "Which purpose was pleasant to God, said he,", "And very ground of his prosperity.", "He said, there was a maiden in the town,", "Which that of beauty hadde great renown;", "All were it so she were of small degree,", "Sufficed him her youth and her beauty;", "Which maid, he said, he would have to his wife,", "To lead in ease and holiness his life;", "And thanked God, that he might have her all,", "That no wight with his blisse parte shall;", "And prayed them to labour in this need,", "And shape that he faile not to speed:", "For then, he said, his spirit was at ease.", "\"Then is,\" quoth he, \"nothing may me displease,", "Save one thing pricketh in my conscience,", "The which I will rehearse in your presence.", "I have,\" quoth he, \"heard said, full yore ago,", "There may no man have perfect blisses two,", "This is to say, on earth and eke in heaven.", "For though he keep him from the sinne's seven,", "And eke from every branch of thilke tree,", "Yet is there so perfect felicity,", "And so great ease and lust, in marriage,", "That ev'r I am aghast, now in mine age", "That I shall head now so merry a life,", "So delicate, withoute woe or strife,", "That I shall have mine heav'n on earthe here.", "For since that very heav'n is bought so dear,", "With tribulation and great penance,", "How should I then, living in such pleasance", "As alle wedded men do with their wives,", "Come to the bliss where Christ etern on live is?", "This is my dread; and ye, my brethren tway,", "Assoile me this question, I you pray.\"", "", "Justinus, which that hated his folly,", "Answer'd anon right in his japery;", "And, for he would his longe tale abridge,", "He woulde no authority allege,", "But saide; \"Sir, so there be none obstacle", "Other than this, God of his high miracle,", "And of his mercy, may so for you wirch,", "That, ere ye have your rights of holy church,", "Ye may repent of wedded manne's life,", "In which ye say there is no woe nor strife:", "And elles God forbid, but if he sent", "A wedded man his grace him to repent", "Well often, rather than a single man.", "And therefore, Sir, the beste rede I can,", "Despair you not, but have in your memory,", "Paraventure she may be your purgatory;", "She may be Godde's means, and Godde's whip;", "And then your soul shall up to heaven skip", "Swifter than doth an arrow from a bow.", "I hope to God hereafter ye shall know", "That there is none so great felicity", "In marriage, nor ever more shall be,", "That you shall let of your salvation;", "So that ye use, as skill is and reason,", "The lustes of your wife attemperly,", "And that ye please her not too amorously,", "And that ye keep you eke from other sin.", "My tale is done, for my wit is but thin.", "Be not aghast hereof, my brother dear,", "But let us waden out of this mattere,", "The Wife of Bath, if ye have understand,", "Of marriage, which ye have now in hand,", "Declared hath full well in little space;", "Fare ye now well, God have you in his grace.\"", "", "And with this word this Justin' and his brother", "Have ta'en their leave, and each of them of other.", "And when they saw that it must needes be,", "They wroughte so, by sleight and wise treaty,", "That she, this maiden, which that Maius hight,", "As hastily as ever that she might,", "Shall wedded be unto this January.", "I trow it were too longe you to tarry,", "If I told you of every script and band", "By which she was feoffed in his hand;", "Or for to reckon of her rich array", "But finally y-comen is the day", "That to the churche bothe be they went,", "For to receive the holy sacrament,", "Forth came the priest, with stole about his neck,", "And bade her be like Sarah and Rebecc'", "In wisdom and in truth of marriage;", "And said his orisons, as is usage,", "And crouched them, and prayed God should them bless,", "And made all sicker enough with holiness.", "", "Thus be they wedded with solemnity;", "And at the feaste sat both he and she,", "With other worthy folk, upon the dais.", "All full of joy and bliss is the palace,", "And full of instruments, and of vitaille,", "The moste dainteous of all Itale.", "Before them stood such instruments of soun',", "That Orpheus, nor of Thebes Amphioun,", "Ne made never such a melody.", "At every course came in loud minstrelsy,", "That never Joab trumped for to hear,", "Nor he, Theodomas, yet half so clear", "At Thebes, when the city was in doubt.", "Bacchus the wine them skinked all about.", "And Venus laughed upon every wight", "(For January was become her knight,", "And woulde both assaye his courage", "In liberty, and eke in marriage),", "And with her firebrand in her hand about", "Danced before the bride and all the rout.", "And certainly I dare right well say this,", "Hymeneus, that god of wedding is,", "Saw never his life so merry a wedded man.", "Hold thou thy peace, thou poet Marcian,", "That writest us that ilke wedding merry", "Of her Philology and him Mercury,", "And of the songes that the Muses sung;", "Too small is both thy pen, and eke thy tongue", "For to describen of this marriage.", "When tender youth hath wedded stooping age,", "There is such mirth that it may not be writ;", "Assay it youreself, then may ye wit", "If that I lie or no in this mattere.", "", "Maius, that sat with so benign a cheer,", "Her to behold it seemed faerie;", "Queen Esther never look'd with such an eye", "On Assuere, so meek a look had she;", "I may you not devise all her beauty;", "But thus much of her beauty tell I may,", "That she was hike the bright morrow of May", "Full filled of all beauty and pleasance.", "This January is ravish'd in a trance,", "At every time he looked in her face;", "But in his heart he gan her to menace,", "That he that night in armes would her strain", "Harder than ever Paris did Helene.", "But natheless yet had he great pity", "That thilke night offende her must he,", "And thought, \"Alas, O tender creature,", "Now woulde God ye mighte well endure", "All my courage, it is so sharp and keen;", "I am aghast ye shall it not sustene.", "But God forbid that I did all my might.", "Now woulde God that it were waxen night,", "And that the night would lasten evermo'.", "I would that all this people were y-go.\"", "And finally he did all his labour,", "As he best mighte, saving his honour,", "To haste them from the meat in subtle wise.", "", "The time came that reason was to rise;", "And after that men dance, and drinke fast,", "And spices all about the house they cast,", "And full of joy and bliss is every man,", "All but a squire, that highte Damian,", "Who carv'd before the knight full many a day;", "He was so ravish'd on his lady May,", "That for the very pain he was nigh wood;", "Almost he swelt and swooned where he stood,", "So sore had Venus hurt him with her brand,", "As that she bare it dancing in her hand.", "And to his bed he went him hastily;", "No more of him as at this time speak I;", "But there I let him weep enough and plain,", "Till freshe May will rue upon his pain.", "O perilous fire, that in the bedstraw breedeth!", "O foe familiar, that his service bedeth!", "O servant traitor, O false homely hewe,", "Like to the adder in bosom shy untrue,", "God shield us alle from your acquaintance!", "O January, drunken in pleasance", "Of marriage, see how thy Damian,", "Thine owen squier and thy boren man,", "Intendeth for to do thee villainy:", "God grante thee thine homehy foe t' espy.", "For in this world is no worse pestilence", "Than homely foe, all day in thy presence.", "", "Performed hath the sun his arc diurn,", "No longer may the body of him sojourn", "On the horizon, in that latitude:", "Night with his mantle, that is dark and rude,", "Gan overspread the hemisphere about:", "For which departed is this lusty rout", "From January, with thank on every side.", "Home to their houses lustily they ride,", "Where as they do their thinges as them lest,", "And when they see their time they go to rest.", "Soon after that this hasty January", "Will go to bed, he will no longer tarry.", "He dranke hippocras, clarre, and vernage", "Of spices hot, to increase his courage;", "And many a lectuary had he full fine,", "Such as the cursed monk Dan Constantine", "Hath written in his book de Coitu;", "To eat them all he would nothing eschew:", "And to his privy friendes thus said he:", "\"For Godde's love, as soon as it may be,", "Let voiden all this house in courteous wise.\"", "And they have done right as he will devise.", "Men drinken, and the travers draw anon;", "The bride is brought to bed as still as stone;", "And when the bed was with the priest y-bless'd,", "Out of the chamber every wight him dress'd,", "And January hath fast in arms y-take", "His freshe May, his paradise, his make.", "He lulled her, he kissed her full oft;", "With thicke bristles of his beard unsoft,", "Like to the skin of houndfish, sharp as brere", "(For he was shav'n all new in his mannere),", "He rubbed her upon her tender face,", "And saide thus; \"Alas! I must trespace", "To you, my spouse, and you greatly offend,", "Ere time come that I will down descend.", "But natheless consider this,\" quoth he,", "\"There is no workman, whatsoe'er he be,", "That may both worke well and hastily:", "This will be done at leisure perfectly.", "It is no force how longe that we play;", "In true wedlock coupled be we tway;", "And blessed be the yoke that we be in,", "For in our actes may there be no sin.", "A man may do no sinne with his wife,", "Nor hurt himselfe with his owen knife;", "For we have leave to play us by the law.\"", "", "Thus labour'd he, till that the day gan daw,", "And then he took a sop in fine clarre,", "And upright in his bedde then sat he.", "And after that he sang full loud and clear,", "And kiss'd his wife, and made wanton cheer.", "He was all coltish, full of ragerie", "And full of jargon as a flecked pie.", "The slacke skin about his necke shaked,", "While that he sang, so chanted he and craked.", "But God wot what that May thought in her heart,", "When she him saw up sitting in his shirt", "In his night-cap, and with his necke lean:", "She praised not his playing worth a bean.", "Then said he thus; \"My reste will I take", "Now day is come, I may no longer wake;", "And down he laid his head and slept till prime.", "And afterward, when that he saw his time,", "Up rose January, but freshe May", "Helde her chamber till the fourthe day,", "As usage is of wives for the best.", "For every labour some time must have rest,", "Or elles longe may he not endure;", "This is to say, no life of creature,", "Be it of fish, or bird, or beast, or man.", "", "Now will I speak of woeful Damian,", "That languisheth for love, as ye shall hear;", "Therefore I speak to him in this manneare.", "I say. \"O silly Damian, alas!", "Answer to this demand, as in this case,", "How shalt thou to thy lady, freshe May,", "Telle thy woe? She will alway say nay;", "Eke if thou speak, she will thy woe bewray;", "God be thine help, I can no better say.", "This sicke Damian in Venus' fire", "So burned that he died for desire;", "For which he put his life in aventure,", "No longer might he in this wise endure;", "But privily a penner gan he borrow,", "And in a letter wrote he all his sorrow,", "In manner of a complaint or a lay,", "Unto his faire freshe lady May.", "And in a purse of silk, hung on his shirt,", "He hath it put, and laid it at his heart.", "", "The moone, that at noon was thilke day", "That January had wedded freshe May,", "In ten of Taure, was into Cancer glided;", "So long had Maius in her chamber abided,", "As custom is unto these nobles all.", "A bride shall not eaten in the ball", "Till dayes four, or three days at the least,", "Y-passed be; then let her go to feast.", "The fourthe day complete from noon to noon,", "When that the highe masse was y-done,", "In halle sat this January, and May,", "As fresh as is the brighte summer's day.", "And so befell, how that this goode man", "Remember'd him upon this Damian.", "And saide; \"Saint Mary, how may this be,", "That Damian attendeth not to me?", "Is he aye sick? or how may this betide?\"", "His squiers, which that stoode there beside,", "Excused him, because of his sickness,", "Which letted him to do his business:", "None other cause mighte make him tarry.", "\"That me forthinketh,\" quoth this January", "\"He is a gentle squier, by my truth;", "If that he died, it were great harm and ruth.", "He is as wise, as discreet, and secre',", "As any man I know of his degree,", "And thereto manly and eke serviceble,", "And for to be a thrifty man right able.", "But after meat, as soon as ever I may", "I will myself visit him, and eke May,", "To do him all the comfort that I can.\"", "And for that word him blessed every man,", "That of his bounty and his gentleness", "He woulde so comforten in sickness", "His squier, for it was a gentle deed.", "", "\"Dame,\" quoth this January, \"take good heed,", "At after meat, ye with your women all", "(When that ye be in chamb'r out of this hall),", "That all ye go to see this Damian:", "Do him disport, he is a gentle man;", "And telle him that I will him visite,", "Have I nothing but rested me a lite:", "And speed you faste, for I will abide", "Till that ye sleepe faste by my side.\"", "And with that word he gan unto him call", "A squier, that was marshal of his hall,", "And told him certain thinges that he wo'ld.", "This freshe May hath straight her way y-hold,", "With all her women, unto Damian.", "Down by his beddes side sat she than,", "Comforting him as goodly as she may.", "This Damian, when that his time he say,", "In secret wise his purse, and eke his bill,", "In which that he y-written had his will,", "Hath put into her hand withoute more,", "Save that he sighed wondrous deep and sore,", "And softely to her right thus said he:", "\"Mercy, and that ye not discover me:", "For I am dead if that this thing be kid.\"", "The purse hath she in her bosom hid,", "And went her way; ye get no more of me;", "But unto January come is she,", "That on his bedde's side sat full soft.", "He took her, and he kissed her full oft,", "And laid him down to sleep, and that anon.", "She feigned her as that she muste gon", "There as ye know that every wight must need;", "And when she of this bill had taken heed,", "She rent it all to cloutes at the last,", "And in the privy softely it cast.", "Who studieth now but faire freshe May?", "Adown by olde January she lay,", "That slepte, till the cough had him awaked:", "Anon he pray'd her strippe her all naked,", "He would of her, he said, have some pleasance;", "And said her clothes did him incumbrance.", "And she obey'd him, be her lefe or loth.", "But, lest that precious folk be with me wroth,", "How that he wrought I dare not to you tell,", "Or whether she thought it paradise or hell;", "But there I let them worken in their wise", "Till evensong ring, and they must arise.", "", "Were it by destiny, or aventure,", "Were it by influence, or by nature,", "Or constellation, that in such estate", "The heaven stood at that time fortunate", "As for to put a bill of Venus' works", "(For alle thing hath time, as say these clerks),", "To any woman for to get her love,", "I cannot say; but greate God above,", "That knoweth that none act is causeless,", "He deem of all, for I will hold my peace.", "But sooth is this, how that this freshe May", "Hath taken such impression that day", "Of pity on this sicke Damian,", "That from her hearte she not drive can", "The remembrance for to do him ease.", "\"Certain,\" thought she, \"whom that this thing displease", "I recke not, for here I him assure,", "To love him best of any creature,", "Though he no more haddee than his shirt.\"", "Lo, pity runneth soon in gentle heart.", "Here may ye see, how excellent franchise", "In women is when they them narrow advise.", "Some tyrant is, -- as there be many a one, --", "That hath a heart as hard as any stone,", "Which would have let him sterven in the place", "Well rather than have granted him her grace;", "And then rejoicen in her cruel pride.", "And reckon not to be a homicide.", "This gentle May, full filled of pity,", "Right of her hand a letter maked she,", "In which she granted him her very grace;", "There lacked nought, but only day and place,", "Where that she might unto his lust suffice:", "For it shall be right as he will devise.", "And when she saw her time upon a day", "To visit this Damian went this May,", "And subtilly this letter down she thrust", "Under his pillow, read it if him lust.", "She took him by the hand, and hard him twist", "So secretly, that no wight of it wist,", "And bade him be all whole; and forth she went", "To January, when he for her sent.", "Up rose Damian the nexte morrow,", "All passed was his sickness and his sorrow.", "He combed him, he proined him and picked,", "He did all that unto his lady liked;", "And eke to January he went as low", "As ever did a dogge for the bow.", "He is so pleasant unto every man", "(For craft is all, whoso that do it can),", "Every wight is fain to speak him good;", "And fully in his lady's grace he stood.", "Thus leave I Damian about his need,", "And in my tale forth I will proceed.", "", "Some clerke holde that felicity", "Stands in delight; and therefore certain he,", "This noble January, with all his might", "In honest wise as longeth to a knight,", "Shope him to live full deliciously:", "His housing, his array, as honestly", "To his degree was maked as a king's.", "Amonges other of his honest things", "He had a garden walled all with stone;", "So fair a garden wot I nowhere none.", "For out of doubt I verily suppose", "That he that wrote the Romance of the Rose", "Could not of it the beauty well devise;", "Nor Priapus mighte not well suffice,", "Though he be god of gardens, for to tell", "The beauty of the garden, and the well", "That stood under a laurel always green.", "Full often time he, Pluto, and his queen", "Proserpina, and all their faerie,", "Disported them and made melody", "About that well, and danced, as men told.", "This noble knight, this January old", "Such dainty had in it to walk and play,", "That he would suffer no wight to bear the key,", "Save he himself, for of the small wicket", "He bare always of silver a cliket,", "With which, when that him list, he it unshet.", "And when that he would pay his wife's debt,", "In summer season, thither would he go,", "And May his wife, and no wight but they two;", "And thinges which that were not done in bed,", "He in the garden them perform'd and sped.", "And in this wise many a merry day", "Lived this January and fresh May,", "But worldly joy may not always endure", "To January, nor to no creatucere.", "", "O sudden hap! O thou fortune unstable!", "Like to the scorpion so deceivable,", "That fhatt'rest with thy head when thou wilt sting;", "Thy tail is death, through thine envenoming.", "O brittle joy! O sweete poison quaint!", "O monster, that so subtilly canst paint", "Thy giftes, under hue of steadfastness,", "That thou deceivest bothe more and less!", "Why hast thou January thus deceiv'd,", "That haddest him for thy full friend receiv'd?", "And now thou hast bereft him both his eyen,", "For sorrow of which desireth he to dien.", "Alas! this noble January free,", "Amid his lust and his prosperity", "Is waxen blind, and that all suddenly.", "He weeped and he wailed piteously;", "And therewithal the fire of jealousy", "(Lest that his wife should fall in some folly)", "So burnt his hearte, that he woulde fain,", "That some man bothe him and her had slain;", "For neither after his death, nor in his life,", "Ne would he that she were no love nor wife,", "But ever live as widow in clothes black,", "Sole as the turtle that hath lost her make.", "But at the last, after a month or tway,", "His sorrow gan assuage, soothe to say.", "For, when he wist it might none other be,", "He patiently took his adversity:", "Save out of doubte he may not foregon", "That he was jealous evermore-in-one:", "Which jealousy was so outrageous,", "That neither in hall, nor in none other house,", "Nor in none other place never the mo'", "He woulde suffer her to ride or go,", "But if that he had hand on her alway.", "For which full often wepte freshe May,", "That loved Damian so burningly", "That she must either dien suddenly,", "Or elles she must have him as her lest:", "She waited when her hearte woulde brest.", "Upon that other side Damian", "Becomen is the sorrowfullest man", "That ever was; for neither night nor day", "He mighte speak a word to freshe May,", "As to his purpose, of no such mattere,", "But if that January must it hear,", "That had a hand upon her evermo'.", "But natheless, by writing to and fro,", "And privy signes, wist he what she meant,", "And she knew eke the fine of his intent.", "", "O January, what might it thee avail,", "Though thou might see as far as shippes sail?", "For as good is it blind deceiv'd to be,", "As be deceived when a man may see.", "Lo, Argus, which that had a hundred eyen,", "For all that ever he could pore or pryen,", "Yet was he blent; and, God wot, so be mo',", "That weene wisly that it be not so:", "Pass over is an ease, I say no more.", "This freshe May, of which I spake yore,", "In warm wax hath imprinted the cliket", "That January bare of the small wicket", "By which into his garden oft he went;", "And Damian, that knew all her intent,", "The cliket counterfeited privily;", "There is no more to say, but hastily", "Some wonder by this cliket shall betide,", "Which ye shall hearen, if ye will abide.", "", "O noble Ovid, sooth say'st thou, God wot,", "What sleight is it, if love be long and hot,", "That he'll not find it out in some mannere?", "By Pyramus and Thisbe may men lear;", "Though they were kept full long and strait o'er all,", "They be accorded, rowning through a wall,", "Where no wight could have found out such a sleight.", "But now to purpose; ere that dayes eight", "Were passed of the month of July, fill", "That January caught so great a will,", "Through egging of his wife, him for to play", "In his garden, and no wight but they tway,", "That in a morning to this May said he:", "\"Rise up, my wife, my love, my lady free;", "The turtle's voice is heard, mine owen sweet;", "The winter is gone, with all his raines weet.", "Come forth now with thine eyen columbine", "Well fairer be thy breasts than any wine.", "The garden is enclosed all about;", "Come forth, my white spouse; for, out of doubt,", "Thou hast me wounded in mine heart, O wife:", "No spot in thee was e'er in all thy life.", "Come forth, and let us taken our disport;", "I choose thee for my wife and my comfort.\"", "Such olde lewed wordes used he.", "On Damian a signe made she,", "That he should go before with his cliket.", "This Damian then hath opened the wicket,", "And in he start, and that in such mannere", "That no wight might him either see or hear;", "And still he sat under a bush. Anon", "This January, as blind as is a stone,", "With Maius in his hand, and no wight mo',", "Into this freshe garden is y-go,", "And clapped to the wicket suddenly.", "\"Now, wife,\" quoth he, \"here is but thou and I;", "Thou art the creature that I beste love:", "For, by that Lord that sits in heav'n above,", "Lever I had to dien on a knife,", "Than thee offende, deare true wife.", "For Godde's sake, think how I thee chees,", "Not for no covetise doubteless,", "But only for the love I had to thee.", "And though that I be old, and may not see,", "Be to me true, and I will tell you why.", "Certes three thinges shall ye win thereby:", "First, love of Christ, and to yourself honour,", "And all mine heritage, town and tow'r.", "I give it you, make charters as you lest;", "This shall be done to-morrow ere sun rest,", "So wisly God my soule bring to bliss!", "I pray you, on this covenant me kiss.", "And though that I be jealous, wite me not;", "Ye be so deep imprinted in my thought,", "That when that I consider your beauty,", "And therewithal th'unlikely eld of me,", "I may not, certes, though I shoulde die,", "Forbear to be out of your company,", "For very love; this is withoute doubt:", "Now kiss me, wife, and let us roam about.\"", "", "This freshe May, when she these wordes heard,", "Benignely to January answer'd;", "But first and forward she began to weep:", "\"I have,\" quoth she, \"a soule for to keep", "As well as ye, and also mine honour,", "And of my wifehood thilke tender flow'r", "Which that I have assured in your hond,", "When that the priest to you my body bond:", "Wherefore I will answer in this mannere,", "With leave of you mine owen lord so dear.", "I pray to God, that never dawn the day", "That I no sterve, as foul as woman may,", "If e'er I do unto my kin that shame,", "Or elles I impaire so my name,", "That I bee false; and if I do that lack,", "Do strippe me, and put me in a sack,", "And in the nexte river do me drench:", "I am a gentle woman, and no wench.", "Why speak ye thus? but men be e'er untrue,", "And women have reproof of you aye new.", "Ye know none other dalliance, I believe,", "But speak to us of untrust and repreve.\"", "", "And with that word she saw where Damian", "Sat in the bush, and coughe she began;", "And with her finger signe made she,", "That Damian should climb upon a tree", "That charged was with fruit; and up he went:", "For verily he knew all her intent,", "And every signe that she coulde make,", "Better than January her own make.", "For in a letter she had told him all", "Of this matter, how that he worke shall.", "And thus I leave him sitting in the perry,", "And January and May roaming full merry.", "", "Bright was the day, and blue the firmament;", "Phoebus of gold his streames down had sent", "To gladden every flow'r with his warmness;", "He was that time in Geminis, I guess,", "But little from his declination", "Of Cancer, Jove's exaltation.", "And so befell, in that bright morning-tide,", "That in the garden, on the farther side,", "Pluto, that is the king of Faerie,", "And many a lady in his company", "Following his wife, the queen Proserpina, --", "Which that he ravished out of Ethna,", "While that she gather'd flowers in the mead", "(In Claudian ye may the story read,", "How in his grisly chariot he her fet), --", "This king of Faerie adown him set", "Upon a bank of turfes fresh and green,", "And right anon thus said he to his queen.", "\"My wife,\" quoth he, \"there may no wight say nay, --", "Experience so proves it every day, --", "The treason which that woman doth to man.", "Ten hundred thousand stories tell I can", "Notable of your untruth and brittleness", "O Solomon, richest of all richess,", "Full fill'd of sapience and worldly glory,", "Full worthy be thy wordes of memory", "To every wight that wit and reason can.", "Thus praised he yet the bounte of man:", "'Among a thousand men yet found I one,", "But of all women found I never none.'", "Thus said this king, that knew your wickedness;", "And Jesus, Filius Sirach, as I guess,", "He spake of you but seldom reverence.", "A wilde fire and corrupt pestilence", "So fall upon your bodies yet to-night!", "Ne see ye not this honourable knight?", "Because, alas! that he is blind and old,", "His owen man shall make him cuckold.", "Lo, where he sits, the lechour, in the tree.", "Now will I granten, of my majesty,", "Unto this olde blinde worthy knight,", "That he shall have again his eyen sight,", "When that his wife will do him villainy;", "Then shall be knowen all her harlotry,", "Both in reproof of her and other mo'.\"", "\"Yea, Sir,\" quoth Proserpine,\" and will ye so?", "Now by my mother Ceres' soul I swear", "That I shall give her suffisant answer,", "And alle women after, for her sake;", "That though they be in any guilt y-take,", "With face bold they shall themselves excuse,", "And bear them down that woulde them accuse.", "For lack of answer, none of them shall dien.", "", "All had ye seen a thing with both your eyen,", "Yet shall we visage it so hardily,", "And weep, and swear, and chide subtilly,", "That ye shall be as lewed as be geese.", "What recketh me of your authorities?", "I wot well that this Jew, this Solomon,", "Found of us women fooles many one:", "But though that he founde no good woman,", "Yet there hath found many another man", "Women full good, and true, and virtuous;", "Witness on them that dwelt in Christes house;", "With martyrdom they proved their constance.", "The Roman gestes make remembrance", "Of many a very true wife also.", "But, Sire, be not wroth, albeit so,", "Though that he said he found no good woman,", "I pray you take the sentence of the man:", "He meant thus, that in sovereign bounte", "Is none but God, no, neither he nor she.", "Hey, for the very God that is but one,", "Why make ye so much of Solomon?", "What though he made a temple, Godde's house?", "What though he were rich and glorious?", "So made he eke a temple of false goddes;", "How might he do a thing that more forbode is?", "Pardie, as fair as ye his name emplaster,", "He was a lechour, and an idolaster,", "And in his eld he very God forsook.", "And if that God had not (as saith the book)", "Spared him for his father's sake, he should", "Have lost his regne rather than he would.", "I sette not of all the villainy", "That he of women wrote, a butterfly.", "I am a woman, needes must I speak,", "Or elles swell until mine hearte break.", "For since he said that we be jangleresses,", "As ever may I brooke whole my tresses,", "I shall not spare for no courtesy", "To speak him harm, that said us villainy.\"", "\"Dame,\" quoth this Pluto, \"be no longer wroth;", "I give it up: but, since I swore mine oath", "That I would grant to him his sight again,", "My word shall stand, that warn I you certain:", "I am a king; it sits me not to lie.\"", "\"And I,\" quoth she, \"am queen of Faerie.", "Her answer she shall have, I undertake,", "Let us no more wordes of it make.", "Forsooth, I will no longer you contrary.\"", "", "Now let us turn again to January,", "That in the garden with his faire May", "Singeth well merrier than the popinjay:", "\"You love I best, and shall, and other none.\"", "So long about the alleys is he gone,", "Till he was come to that ilke perry,", "Where as this Damian satte full merry", "On high, among the freshe leaves green.", "This freshe May, that is so bright and sheen,", "Gan for to sigh, and said, \"Alas my side!", "Now, Sir,\" quoth she, \"for aught that may betide,", "I must have of the peares that I see,", "Or I must die, so sore longeth me", "To eaten of the smalle peares green;", "Help, for her love that is of heaven queen!", "I tell you well, a woman in my plight", "May have to fruit so great an appetite,", "That she may dien, but she of it have. \"", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"that I had here a knave", "That coulde climb; alas! alas!\" quoth he,", "\"For I am blind.\" \"Yea, Sir, no force,\" quoth she;", "\"But would ye vouchesafe, for Godde's sake,", "The perry in your armes for to take", "(For well I wot that ye mistruste me),", "Then would I climbe well enough,\" quoth she,", "\"So I my foot might set upon your back.\"", "\"Certes,\" said he, \"therein shall be no lack,", "Might I you helpe with mine hearte's blood.\"", "He stooped down, and on his back she stood,", "And caught her by a twist, and up she go'th.", "(Ladies, I pray you that ye be not wroth,", "I cannot glose, I am a rude man):", "And suddenly anon this Damian", "Gan pullen up the smock, and in he throng.", "And when that Pluto saw this greate wrong,", "To January he gave again his sight,", "And made him see as well as ever he might.", "And when he thus had caught his sight again,", "Was never man of anything so fain:", "But on his wife his thought was evermo'.", "Up to the tree he cast his eyen two,", "And saw how Damian his wife had dress'd,", "In such mannere, it may not be express'd,", "But if I woulde speak uncourteously.", "And up he gave a roaring and a cry,", "As doth the mother when the child shall die;", "\"Out! help! alas! harow!\" he gan to cry;", "\"O stronge, lady, stowre! what doest thou?\"", "", "And she answered: \"Sir, what aileth you?", "Have patience and reason in your mind,", "I have you help'd on both your eyen blind.", "On peril of my soul, I shall not lien,", "As me was taught to helpe with your eyen,", "Was nothing better for to make you see,", "Than struggle with a man upon a tree:", "God wot, I did it in full good intent.\"", "\"Struggle!\" quoth he, \"yea, algate in it went.", "God give you both one shame's death to dien!", "He swived thee; I saw it with mine eyen;", "And elles be I hanged by the halse.\"", "\"Then is,\" quoth she, \"my medicine all false;", "For certainly, if that ye mighte see,", "Ye would not say these wordes unto me.", "Ye have some glimpsing, and no perfect sight.\"", "\"I see,\" quoth he, \"as well as ever I might,", "(Thanked be God!) with both mine eyen two,", "And by my faith me thought he did thee so.\"", "\"Ye maze, ye maze, goode Sir,\" quoth she;", "\"This thank have I for I have made you see:", "Alas!\" quoth she, \"that e'er I was so kind.\"", "\"Now, Dame,\" quoth he, \"let all pass out of mind;", "Come down, my lefe, and if I have missaid,", "God help me so, as I am evil apaid.", "But, by my father's soul, I ween'd have seen", "How that this Damian had by thee lain,", "And that thy smock had lain upon his breast.\"", "\"Yea, Sir,\" quoth she, \"ye may ween as ye lest:", "But, Sir, a man that wakes out of his sleep,", "He may not suddenly well take keep", "Upon a thing, nor see it perfectly,", "Till that he be adawed verily.", "Right so a man, that long hath blind y-be,", "He may not suddenly so well y-see,", "First when his sight is newe come again,", "As he that hath a day or two y-seen.", "Till that your sight establish'd be a while,", "There may full many a sighte you beguile.", "Beware, I pray you, for, by heaven's king,", "Full many a man weeneth to see a thing,", "And it is all another than it seemeth;", "He which that misconceiveth oft misdeemeth.\"", "And with that word she leapt down from the tree.", "This January, who is glad but he?", "He kissed her, and clipped her full oft,", "And on her womb he stroked her full soft;", "And to his palace home he hath her lad.", "Now, goode men, I pray you to be glad.", "Thus endeth here my tale of January,", "God bless us, and his mother, Sainte Mary." ], "linecount": "1206" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Squire's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "\"HEY! Godde's mercy!\" said our Hoste tho,", "\"Now such a wife I pray God keep me fro'.", "Lo, suche sleightes and subtilities", "In women be; for aye as busy as bees", "Are they us silly men for to deceive,", "And from the soothe will they ever weive,", "As this Merchante's tale it proveth well.", "But natheless, as true as any steel,", "I have a wife, though that she poore be;", "But of her tongue a labbing shrew is she;", "And yet she hath a heap of vices mo'.", "Thereof no force; let all such thinges go.", "But wit ye what? in counsel be it said,", "Me rueth sore I am unto her tied;", "For, an' I shoulde reckon every vice", "Which that she hath, y-wis I were too nice;", "And cause why, it should reported be", "And told her by some of this company", "(By whom, it needeth not for to declare,", "Since women connen utter such chaffare ),", "And eke my wit sufficeth not thereto", "To tellen all; wherefore my tale is do.", "Squier, come near, if it your wille be,", "And say somewhat of love, for certes ye", "Conne thereon as much as any man.\"", "\"Nay, Sir,\" quoth he; \"but such thing as I can,", "With hearty will, -- for I will not rebel", "Against your lust, -- a tale will I tell.", "Have me excused if I speak amiss;", "My will is good; and lo, my tale is this.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "Pars Prima.", "", "At Sarra, in the land of Tartary,", "There dwelt a king that warrayed Russie,", "Through which there died many a doughty man;", "This noble king was called Cambuscan,", "Which in his time was of so great renown,", "That there was nowhere in no regioun", "So excellent a lord in alle thing:", "Him lacked nought that longeth to a king,", "As of the sect of which that he was born.", "He kept his law to which he was y-sworn,", "And thereto he was hardy, wise, and rich,", "And piteous and just, always y-lich;", "True of his word, benign and honourable;", "Of his corage as any centre stable;", "Young, fresh, and strong, in armes desirous", "As any bachelor of all his house.", "A fair person he was, and fortunate,", "And kept alway so well his royal estate,", "That there was nowhere such another man.", "This noble king, this Tartar Cambuscan,", "Hadde two sons by Elfeta his wife,", "Of which the eldest highte Algarsife,", "The other was y-called Camballo.", "A daughter had this worthy king also,", "That youngest was, and highte Canace:", "But for to telle you all her beauty,", "It lies not in my tongue, nor my conning;", "I dare not undertake so high a thing:", "Mine English eke is insufficient,", "It muste be a rhetor excellent,", "That couth his colours longing for that art,", "If he should her describen any part;", "I am none such, I must speak as I can.", "", "And so befell, that when this Cambuscan", "Had twenty winters borne his diadem,", "As he was wont from year to year, I deem,", "He let the feast of his nativity", "Do crye, throughout Sarra his city,", "The last Idus of March, after the year.", "Phoebus the sun full jolly was and clear,", "For he was nigh his exaltation", "In Marte's face, and in his mansion", "In Aries, the choleric hot sign:", "Full lusty was the weather and benign;", "For which the fowls against the sunne sheen,", "What for the season and the younge green,", "Full loude sange their affections:", "Them seemed to have got protections", "Against the sword of winter keen and cold.", "This Cambuscan, of which I have you told,", "In royal vesture, sat upon his dais,", "With diadem, full high in his palace;", "And held his feast so solemn and so rich,", "That in this worlde was there none it lich.", "Of which if I should tell all the array,", "Then would it occupy a summer's day;", "And eke it needeth not for to devise", "At every course the order of service.", "I will not tellen of their strange sewes,", "Nor of their swannes, nor their heronsews.", "Eke in that land, as telle knightes old,", "There is some meat that is full dainty hold,", "That in this land men reck of it full small:", "There is no man that may reporten all.", "I will not tarry you, for it is prime,", "And for it is no fruit, but loss of time;", "Unto my purpose I will have recourse.", "And so befell that, after the third course,", "While that this king sat thus in his nobley,", "Hearing his ministreles their thinges play", "Before him at his board deliciously,", "In at the halle door all suddenly", "There came a knight upon a steed of brass,", "And in his hand a broad mirror of glass;", "Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring,", "And by his side a naked sword hanging:", "And up he rode unto the highe board.", "In all the hall was there not spoke a word,", "For marvel of this knight; him to behold", "Full busily they waited, young and old.", "", "This strange knight, that came thus suddenly,", "All armed, save his head, full richely,", "Saluted king, and queen, and lordes all,", "By order as they satten in the hall,", "With so high reverence and observance,", "As well in speech as in his countenance,", "That Gawain with his olde courtesy,", "Though he were come again out of Faerie,", "Him coulde not amende with a word.", "And after this, before the highe board,", "He with a manly voice said his message,", "After the form used in his language,", "Withoute vice of syllable or letter.", "And, for his tale shoulde seem the better,", "Accordant to his worde's was his cheer,", "As teacheth art of speech them that it lear.", "Albeit that I cannot sound his style,", "Nor cannot climb over so high a stile,", "Yet say I this, as to commune intent,", "Thus much amounteth all that ever he meant,", "If it so be that I have it in mind.", "He said; \"The king of Araby and Ind,", "My liege lord, on this solemne day", "Saluteth you as he best can and may,", "And sendeth you, in honour of your feast,", "By me, that am all ready at your hest,", "This steed of brass, that easily and well", "Can in the space of one day naturel", "(This is to say, in four-and-twenty hours),", "Whereso you list, in drought or else in show'rs,", "Beare your body into every place", "To which your hearte willeth for to pace,", "Withoute wem of you, through foul or fair.", "Or if you list to fly as high in air", "As doth an eagle, when him list to soar,", "This same steed shall bear you evermore", "Withoute harm, till ye be where you lest", "(Though that ye sleepen on his back, or rest),", "And turn again, with writhing of a pin.", "He that it wrought, he coude many a gin;", "He waited in any a constellation,", "Ere he had done this operation,", "And knew full many a seal and many a bond", "This mirror eke, that I have in mine hond,", "Hath such a might, that men may in it see", "When there shall fall any adversity", "Unto your realm, or to yourself also,", "And openly who is your friend or foe.", "And over all this, if any lady bright", "Hath set her heart on any manner wight,", "If he be false, she shall his treason see,", "His newe love, and all his subtlety,", "So openly that there shall nothing hide.", "Wherefore, against this lusty summer-tide,", "This mirror, and this ring that ye may see,", "He hath sent to my lady Canace,", "Your excellente daughter that is here.", "The virtue of this ring, if ye will hear,", "Is this, that if her list it for to wear", "Upon her thumb, or in her purse it bear,", "There is no fowl that flyeth under heaven,", "That she shall not well understand his steven,", "And know his meaning openly and plain,", "And answer him in his language again:", "And every grass that groweth upon root", "She shall eke know, to whom it will do boot,", "All be his woundes ne'er so deep and wide.", "This naked sword, that hangeth by my side,", "Such virtue hath, that what man that it smite,", "Throughout his armour it will carve and bite,", "Were it as thick as is a branched oak:", "And what man is y-wounded with the stroke", "Shall ne'er be whole, till that you list, of grace,", "To stroke him with the flat in thilke place", "Where he is hurt; this is as much to sayn,", "Ye muste with the flatte sword again", "Stroke him upon the wound, and it will close.", "This is the very sooth, withoute glose;", "It faileth not, while it is in your hold.\"", "", "And when this knight had thus his tale told,", "He rode out of the hall, and down he light.", "His steede, which that shone as sunne bright,", "Stood in the court as still as any stone.", "The knight is to his chamber led anon,", "And is unarmed, and to meat y-set.", "These presents be full richely y-fet, --", "This is to say, the sword and the mirrour, --", "And borne anon into the highe tow'r,", "With certain officers ordain'd therefor;", "And unto Canace the ring is bore", "Solemnely, where she sat at the table;", "But sickerly, withouten any fable,", "The horse of brass, that may not be remued.", "It stood as it were to the ground y-glued;", "There may no man out of the place it drive", "For no engine of windlass or polive;", "And cause why, for they can not the craft;", "And therefore in the place they have it laft,", "Till that the knight hath taught them the mannere", "To voide him, as ye shall after hear.", "", "Great was the press, that swarmed to and fro", "To gauren on this horse that stoode so:", "For it so high was, and so broad and long,", "So well proportioned for to be strong,", "Right as it were a steed of Lombardy;", "Therewith so horsely, and so quick of eye,", "As it a gentle Poileis courser were:", "For certes, from his tail unto his ear", "Nature nor art ne could him not amend", "In no degree, as all the people wend.", "But evermore their moste wonder was", "How that it coulde go, and was of brass;", "It was of Faerie, as the people seem'd.", "Diverse folk diversely they deem'd;", "As many heads, as many wittes been.", "They murmured, as doth a swarm of been,", "And made skills after their fantasies,", "Rehearsing of the olde poetries,", "And said that it was like the Pegasee,", "The horse that hadde winges for to flee;", "Or else it was the Greeke's horse Sinon,", "That broughte Troye to destruction,", "As men may in the olde gestes read.", "Mine heart,\" quoth one, \"is evermore in dread;", "I trow some men of armes be therein,", "That shape them this city for to win:", "It were right good that all such thing were know.\"", "Another rowned to his fellow low,", "And said, \"He lies; for it is rather like", "An apparence made by some magic,", "As jugglers playen at these feastes great.\"", "Of sundry doubts they jangle thus and treat.", "As lewed people deeme commonly", "Of thinges that be made more subtilly", "Than they can in their lewdness comprehend;", "They deeme gladly to the badder end.", "And some of them wonder'd on the mirrour,", "That borne was up into the master tow'r,", "How men might in it suche thinges see.", "Another answer'd and said, it might well be", "Naturally by compositions", "Of angles, and of sly reflections;", "And saide that in Rome was such a one.", "They speak of Alhazen and Vitellon,", "And Aristotle, that wrote in their lives", "Of quainte mirrors, and of prospectives,", "As knowe they that have their bookes heard.", "And other folk have wonder'd on the swerd,", "That woulde pierce throughout every thing;", "And fell in speech of Telephus the king,", "And of Achilles for his quainte spear,", "For he could with it bothe heal and dere,", "Right in such wise as men may with the swerd", "Of which right now ye have yourselves heard.", "They spake of sundry hard'ning of metal,", "And spake of medicines therewithal,", "And how, and when, it shoulde harden'd be,", "Which is unknowen algate unto me.", "Then spake they of Canacee's ring,", "And saiden all, that such a wondrous thing", "Of craft of rings heard they never none,", "Save that he, Moses, and King Solomon,", "Hadden a name of conning in such art.", "Thus said the people, and drew them apart.", "Put natheless some saide that it was", "Wonder to maken of fern ashes glass,", "And yet is glass nought like ashes of fern;", "But for they have y-knowen it so ferne", "Therefore ceaseth their jangling and their wonder.", "As sore wonder some on cause of thunder,", "On ebb and flood, on gossamer and mist,", "And on all things, till that the cause is wist.", "Thus jangle they, and deemen and devise,", "Till that the king gan from his board arise.", "", "Phoebus had left the angle meridional,", "And yet ascending was the beast royal,", "The gentle Lion, with his Aldrian,", "When that this Tartar king, this Cambuscan,", "Rose from the board, there as he sat full high", "Before him went the loude minstrelsy,", "Till he came to his chamber of parements,", "There as they sounded diverse instruments,", "That it was like a heaven for to hear.", "Now danced lusty Venus' children dear:", "For in the Fish their lady sat full", "And looked on them with a friendly eye.", "This noble king is set upon his throne;", "This strange knight is fetched to him full sone,", "And on the dance he goes with Canace.", "Here is the revel and the jollity,", "That is not able a dull man to devise:", "He must have knowen love and his service,", "And been a feastly man, as fresh as May,", "That shoulde you devise such array.", "Who coulde telle you the form of dances", "So uncouth, and so freshe countenances", "Such subtle lookings and dissimulances,", "For dread of jealous men's apperceivings?", "No man but Launcelot, and he is dead.", "Therefore I pass o'er all this lustihead", "I say no more, but in this jolliness", "I leave them, till to supper men them dress.", "The steward bids the spices for to hie", "And eke the wine, in all this melody;", "The ushers and the squiers be y-gone,", "The spices and the wine is come anon;", "They eat and drink, and when this hath an end,", "Unto the temple, as reason was, they wend;", "The service done, they suppen all by day", "What needeth you rehearse their array?", "Each man wot well, that at a kinge's feast", "Is plenty, to the most, and to the least,", "And dainties more than be in my knowing.", "", "At after supper went this noble king", "To see the horse of brass, with all a rout", "Of lordes and of ladies him about.", "Such wond'ring was there on this horse of brass,", "That, since the great siege of Troye was,", "There as men wonder'd on a horse also,", "Ne'er was there such a wond'ring as was tho.", "But finally the king asked the knight", "The virtue of this courser, and the might,", "And prayed him to tell his governance.", "The horse anon began to trip and dance,", "When that the knight laid hand upon his rein,", "And saide, \"Sir, there is no more to sayn,", "But when you list to riden anywhere,", "Ye muste trill a pin, stands in his ear,", "Which I shall telle you betwixt us two;", "Ye muste name him to what place also,", "Or to what country that you list to ride.", "And when ye come where you list abide,", "Bid him descend, and trill another pin", "(For therein lies th' effect of all the gin),", "And he will down descend and do your will,", "And in that place he will abide still;", "Though all the world had the contrary swore,", "He shall not thence be throwen nor be bore.", "Or, if you list to bid him thennes gon,", "Trill this pin, and he will vanish anon", "Out of the sight of every manner wight,", "And come again, be it by day or night,", "When that you list to clepe him again", "In such a guise, as I shall to you sayn", "Betwixte you and me, and that full soon.", "Ride when you list, there is no more to do'n.'", "Informed when the king was of the knight,", "And had conceived in his wit aright", "The manner and the form of all this thing,", "Full glad and blithe, this noble doughty king", "Repaired to his revel as beforn.", "The bridle is into the tower borne,", "And kept among his jewels lefe and dear;", "The horse vanish'd, I n'ot in what mannere,", "Out of their sight; ye get no more of me:", "But thus I leave in lust and jollity", "This Cambuscan his lordes feastying,", "Until well nigh the day began to spring.", "", "Pars Secunda.", "", "The norice of digestion, the sleep,", "Gan on them wink, and bade them take keep,", "That muche mirth and labour will have rest.", "And with a gaping mouth he all them kest,", "And said, that it was time to lie down,", "For blood was in his dominatioun:", "\"Cherish the blood, nature's friend,\" quoth he.", "They thanked him gaping, by two and three;", "And every wight gan draw him to his rest;", "As sleep them bade, they took it for the best.", "Their dreames shall not now be told for me;", "Full are their heades of fumosity,", "That caused dreams of which there is no charge:", "They slepte; till that, it was prime large,", "The moste part, but it was Canace;", "She was full measurable, as women be:", "For of her father had she ta'en her leave", "To go to rest, soon after it was eve;", "Her liste not appalled for to be;", "Nor on the morrow unfeastly for to see;", "And slept her firste sleep; and then awoke.", "For such a joy she in her hearte took", "Both of her quainte a ring and her mirrour,.", "That twenty times she changed her colour;", "And in her sleep, right for th' impression", "Of her mirror, she had a vision.", "Wherefore, ere that the sunne gan up glide,", "She call'd upon her mistress' her beside,", "And saide, that her liste for to rise.", "", "These olde women, that be gladly wise", "As are her mistresses answer'd anon,", "And said; \"Madame, whither will ye gon", "Thus early? for the folk be all in rest.\"", "\"I will,\" quoth she, \"arise; for me lest", "No longer for to sleep, and walk about.\"", "Her mistresses call'd women a great rout,", "And up they rose, well a ten or twelve;", "Up rose freshe Canace herselve,", "As ruddy and bright as is the yonnge sun", "That in the Ram is four degrees y-run;", "No higher was he, when she ready was;", "And forth she walked easily a pace,", "Array'd after the lusty season swoot,", "Lightely for to play, and walk on foot,", "Nought but with five or six of her meinie;", "And in a trench forth in the park went she.", "The vapour, which up from the earthe glode,", "Made the sun to seem ruddy and broad:", "But, natheless, it was so fair a sight", "That it made all their heartes for to light,", "What for the season and the morrowning,", "And for the fowles that she hearde sing.", "For right anon she wiste what they meant", "Right by their song, and knew all their intent.", "The knotte, why that every tale is told,", "If it be tarried till the list be cold", "Of them that have it hearken'd after yore,", "The savour passeth ever longer more;", "For fulsomness of the prolixity:", "And by that same reason thinketh me.", "I shoulde unto the knotte condescend,", "And maken of her walking soon an end.", "", "Amid a tree fordry, as white as chalk,", "There sat a falcon o'er her head full high,", "That with a piteous voice so gan to cry;", "That all the wood resounded of her cry,", "And beat she had herself so piteously", "With both her winges, till the redde blood", "Ran endelong the tree, there as she stood", "And ever-in-one alway she cried and shright;", "And with her beak herselfe she so pight,", "That there is no tiger, nor cruel beast,", "That dwelleth either in wood or in forest;", "But would have wept, if that he weepe could,", "For sorrow of her; she shriek'd alway so loud.", "For there was never yet no man alive,", "If that he could a falcon well descrive;", "That heard of such another of fairness", "As well of plumage, as of gentleness;", "Of shape, of all that mighte reckon'd be.", "A falcon peregrine seemed she,", "Of fremde land; and ever as she stood", "She swooned now and now for lack of blood;", "Till well-nigh is she fallen from the tree.", "", "This faire kinge's daughter Canace,", "That on her finger bare the quainte ring,", "Through which she understood well every thing", "That any fowl may in his leden sayn,", "And could him answer in his leden again;", "Hath understoode what this falcon said,", "And well-nigh for the ruth almost she died;.", "And to the tree she went, full hastily,", "And on this falcon looked piteously;", "And held her lap abroad; for well she wist", "The falcon muste falle from the twist", "When that she swooned next, for lack of blood.", "A longe while to waite her she stood;", "Till at the last she apake in this mannere", "Unto the hawk, as ye shall after hear:", "\"What is the cause, if it be for to tell,", "That ye be in this furial pain of hell?\"", "Quoth Canace unto this hawk above;", "\"Is this for sorrow of of death; or loss of love?", "For; as I trow, these be the causes two;", "That cause most a gentle hearte woe:", "Of other harm it needeth not to speak.", "For ye yourself upon yourself awreak;", "Which proveth well, that either ire or dread", "Must be occasion of your cruel deed,", "Since that I see none other wight you chase:", "For love of God, as do yourselfe grace;", "Or what may be your help? for, west nor east,", "I never saw ere now no bird nor beast", "That fared with himself so piteously", "Ye slay me with your sorrow verily;", "I have of you so great compassioun.", "For Godde's love come from the tree adown", "And, as I am a kinge's daughter true,", "If that I verily the causes knew", "Of your disease, if it lay in my might,", "I would amend it, ere that it were night,", "So wisly help me the great God of kind.", "And herbes shall I right enoughe find,", "To heale with your hurtes hastily.\"", "Then shriek'd this falcon yet more piteously", "Than ever she did, and fell to ground anon,", "And lay aswoon, as dead as lies a stone,", "Till Canace had in her lap her take,", "Unto that time she gan of swoon awake:", "And, after that she out of swoon abraid,", "Right in her hawke's leden thus she said:", "", "\"That pity runneth soon in gentle heart", "(Feeling his simil'tude in paines smart),", "Is proved every day, as men may see,", "As well by work as by authority;", "For gentle hearte kitheth gentleness.", "I see well, that ye have on my distress", "Compassion, my faire Canace,", "Of very womanly benignity", "That nature in your princples hath set.", "But for no hope for to fare the bet,", "But for t' obey unto your hearte free,", "And for to make others aware by me,", "As by the whelp chastis'd is the lion,", "Right for that cause and that conclusion,", "While that I have a leisure and a space,", "Mine harm I will confessen ere I pace.\"", "And ever while the one her sorrow told,", "The other wept, as she to water wo'ld,", "Till that the falcon bade her to be still,", "And with a sigh right thus she said her till:", "\"Where I was bred (alas that ilke day!)", "And foster'd in a rock of marble gray", "So tenderly, that nothing ailed me,", "I wiste not what was adversity,", "Till I could flee full high under the sky.", "Then dwell'd a tercelet me faste by,", "That seem'd a well of alle gentleness;", "All were he full of treason and falseness,", "It was so wrapped under humble cheer,", "And under hue of truth, in such mannere,", "Under pleasance, and under busy pain,", "That no wight weened that he coulde feign,", "So deep in grain he dyed his colours.", "Right as a serpent hides him under flow'rs,", "Till he may see his time for to bite,", "Right so this god of love's hypocrite", "Did so his ceremonies and obeisances,", "And kept in semblance all his observances,", "That sounden unto gentleness of love.", "As on a tomb is all the fair above,", "And under is the corpse, which that ye wet,", "Such was this hypocrite, both cold and hot;", "And in this wise he served his intent,", "That, save the fiend, none wiste what he meant:", "Till he so long had weeped and complain'd,", "And many a year his service to me feign'd,", "Till that mine heart, too piteous and too nice,", "All innocent of his crowned malice,", "Forfeared of his death, as thoughte me,", "Upon his oathes and his surety", "Granted him love, on this conditioun,", "That evermore mine honour and renown", "Were saved, bothe privy and apert;", "This is to say, that, after his desert,", "I gave him all my heart and all my thought", "(God wot, and he, that other wayes nought),", "And took his heart in change of mine for aye.", "But sooth is said, gone since many a day,", "A true wight and a thiefe think not one.", "And when he saw the thing so far y-gone,", "That I had granted him fully my love,", "In such a wise as I have said above,", "And given him my true heart as free", "As he swore that he gave his heart to me,", "Anon this tiger, full of doubleness,", "Fell on his knees with so great humbleness,", "With so high reverence, as by his cheer,", "So like a gentle lover in mannere,", "So ravish'd, as it seemed, for the joy,", "That never Jason, nor Paris of Troy, --", "Jason? certes, nor ever other man,", "Since Lamech was, that alderfirst began", "To love two, as write folk beforn,", "Nor ever since the firste man was born,", "Coulde no man, by twenty thousand", "Counterfeit the sophimes of his art;", "Where doubleness of feigning should approach,", "Nor worthy were t'unbuckle his galoche,", "Nor could so thank a wight, as he did me.", "His manner was a heaven for to see", "To any woman, were she ne'er so wise;", "So painted he and kempt, at point devise,", "As well his wordes as his countenance.", "And I so lov'd him for his obeisance,", "And for the truth I deemed in his heart,", "That, if so were that any thing him smart,", "All were it ne'er so lite, and I it wist,", "Methought I felt death at my hearte twist.", "And shortly, so farforth this thing is went,", "That my will was his wille's instrument;", "That is to say, my will obey'd his will", "In alle thing, as far as reason fill,", "Keeping the boundes of my worship ever;", "And never had I thing so lefe, or lever,", "As him, God wot, nor never shall no mo'.", "", "\"This lasted longer than a year or two,", "That I supposed of him naught but good.", "But finally, thus at the last it stood,", "That fortune woulde that he muste twin", "Out of that place which that I was in.", "Whe'er me was woe, it is no question;", "I cannot make of it description.", "For one thing dare I telle boldely,", "I know what is the pain of death thereby;", "Such harm I felt, for he might not byleve.", "So on a day of me he took his leave,", "So sorrowful eke, that I ween'd verily,", "That he had felt as muche harm as I,", "When that I heard him speak, and saw his hue.", "But natheless, I thought he was so true,", "And eke that he repaire should again", "Within a little while, sooth to sayn,", "And reason would eke that he muste go", "For his honour, as often happ'neth so,", "That I made virtue of necessity,", "And took it well, since that it muste be.", "As I best might, I hid from him my sorrow,", "And took him by the hand, Saint John to borrow,", "And said him thus; 'Lo, I am youres all;", "Be such as I have been to you, and shall.'", "What he answer'd, it needs not to rehearse;", "Who can say bet than he, who can do worse?", "When he had all well said, then had he done.", "Therefore behoveth him a full long spoon,", "That shall eat with a fiend; thus heard I say.", "So at the last he muste forth his way,", "And forth he flew, till he came where him lest.", "When it came him to purpose for to rest,", "I trow that he had thilke text in mind,", "That alle thing repairing to his kind", "Gladdeth himself; thus say men, as I guess;", "Men love of [proper] kind newfangleness,", "As birdes do, that men in cages feed.", "For though thou night and day take of them heed,", "And strew their cage fair and soft as silk,", "And give them sugar, honey, bread, and milk,", "Yet, right anon as that his door is up,", "He with his feet will spurne down his cup,", "And to the wood he will, and wormes eat;", "So newefangle be they of their meat,", "And love novelties, of proper kind;", "No gentleness of bloode may them bind.", "So far'd this tercelet, alas the day!", "Though he were gentle born, and fresh, and gay,", "And goodly for to see, and humble, and free,", "He saw upon a time a kite flee,", "And suddenly he loved this kite so,", "That all his love is clean from me y-go:", "And hath his trothe falsed in this wise.", "Thus hath the kite my love in her service,", "And I am lorn withoute remedy.\"", "", "And with that word this falcon gan to cry,", "And swooned eft in Canacee's barme", "Great was the sorrow, for that hawke's harm,", "That Canace and all her women made;", "They wist not how they might the falcon glade.", "But Canace home bare her in her lap,", "And softely in plasters gan her wrap,", "There as she with her beak had hurt herselve.", "Now cannot Canace but herbes delve", "Out of the ground, and make salves new", "Of herbes precious and fine of hue,", "To heale with this hawk; from day to night", "She did her business, and all her might.", "And by her bedde's head she made a mew,", "And cover'd it with velouettes blue,", "In sign of truth that is in woman seen;", "And all without the mew is painted green,", "In which were painted all these false fowls,", "As be these tidifes, tercelets, and owls;", "And pies, on them for to cry and chide,", "Right for despite were painted them beside.", "", "Thus leave I Canace her hawk keeping.", "I will no more as now speak of her ring,", "Till it come eft to purpose for to sayn", "How that this falcon got her love again", "Repentant, as the story telleth us,", "By mediation of Camballus,", "The kinge's son of which that I you told.", "But henceforth I will my process hold", "To speak of aventures, and of battailes,", "That yet was never heard so great marvailles.", "First I will telle you of Cambuscan,", "That in his time many a city wan;", "And after will I speak of Algarsife,", "How he won Theodora to his wife,", "For whom full oft in great peril he was,", "N'had he been holpen by the horse of brass.", "And after will I speak of Camballo,", "That fought in listes with the brethren two", "For Canace, ere that he might her win;", "And where I left I will again begin." ], "linecount": "695" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Franklin's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "\"IN faith, Squier, thou hast thee well acquit,", "And gentilly; I praise well thy wit,\"", "Quoth the Franklin; \"considering thy youthe", "So feelingly thou speak'st, Sir, I aloue thee,", "As to my doom, there is none that is here", "Of eloquence that shall be thy peer,", "If that thou live; God give thee goode chance,", "And in virtue send thee continuance,", "For of thy speaking I have great dainty.", "I have a son, and, by the Trinity;", "It were me lever than twenty pound worth land,", "Though it right now were fallen in my hand,", "He were a man of such discretion", "As that ye be: fy on possession,", "But if a man be virtuous withal.", "I have my sone snibbed and yet shall,", "For he to virtue listeth not t'intend,", "But for to play at dice, and to dispend,", "And lose all that he hath, is his usage;", "And he had lever talke with a page,", "Than to commune with any gentle wight,", "There he might learen gentilless aright.\"", "", "Straw for your gentillesse!\" quoth our Host.", "\"What? Frankelin, pardie, Sir, well thou wost", "That each of you must tellen at the least", "A tale or two, or breake his behest.\"", "\"That know I well, Sir,\" quoth the Frankelin;", "\"I pray you have me not in disdain,", "Though I to this man speak a word or two.\"", "\"Tell on thy tale, withoute wordes mo'.\"", "\"Gladly, Sir Host,\" quoth he, \"I will obey", "Unto your will; now hearken what I say;", "I will you not contrary in no wise,", "As far as that my wittes may suffice.", "I pray to God that it may please you,", "Then wot I well that it is good enow.", "", "\"These olde gentle Bretons, in their days,", "Of divers aventures made lays,", "Rhymeden in their firste Breton tongue;", "Which layes with their instruments they sung,", "Or elles reade them for their pleasance;", "And one of them have I in remembrance,", "Which I shall say with good will as I can.", "But, Sirs, because I am a borel man,", "At my beginning first I you beseech", "Have me excused of my rude speech.", "I learned never rhetoric, certain;", "Thing that I speak, it must be bare and plain.", "I slept never on the mount of Parnasso,", "Nor learned Marcus Tullius Cicero.", "Coloures know I none, withoute dread,", "But such colours as growen in the mead,", "Or elles such as men dye with or paint;", "Colours of rhetoric be to me quaint;", "My spirit feeleth not of such mattere.", "But, if you list, my tale shall ye hear.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "In Armoric', that called is Bretagne,", "There was a knight, that lov'd and did his pain", "To serve a lady in his beste wise;", "And many a labour, many a great emprise,", "He for his lady wrought, ere she were won:", "For she was one the fairest under sun,", "And eke thereto come of so high kindred,", "That well unnethes durst this knight for dread,", "Tell her his woe, his pain, and his distress", "But, at the last, she for his worthiness,", "And namely for his meek obeisance,", "Hath such a pity caught of his penance,", "That privily she fell of his accord", "To take him for her husband and her lord", "(Of such lordship as men have o'er their wives);", "And, for to lead the more in bliss their lives,", "Of his free will he swore her as a knight,", "That never in all his life he day nor night", "Should take upon himself no mastery", "Against her will, nor kithe her jealousy,", "But her obey, and follow her will in all,", "As any lover to his lady shall;", "Save that the name of sovereignety", "That would he have, for shame of his degree.", "She thanked him, and with full great humbless", "She saide; \"Sir, since of your gentleness", "Ye proffer me to have so large a reign,", "Ne woulde God never betwixt us twain,", "As in my guilt, were either war or strife:", "Sir, I will be your humble true wife,", "Have here my troth, till that my hearte brest.\"", "Thus be they both in quiet and in rest.", "", "For one thing, Sires, safely dare I say,", "That friends ever each other must obey,", "If they will longe hold in company.", "Love will not be constrain'd by mastery.", "When mast'ry comes, the god of love anon", "Beateth his wings, and, farewell, he is gone.", "Love is a thing as any spirit free.", "Women of kind desire liberty,", "And not to be constrained as a thrall,", "And so do men, if soothly I say shall.", "Look who that is most patient in love,", "He is at his advantage all above.", "Patience is a high virtue certain,", "For it vanquisheth, as these clerkes sayn,", "Thinges that rigour never should attain.", "For every word men may not chide or plain.", "Learne to suffer, or, so may I go,", "Ye shall it learn whether ye will or no.", "For in this world certain no wight there is,", "That he not doth or saith sometimes amiss.", "Ire, or sickness, or constellation,", "Wine, woe, or changing of complexion,", "Causeth full oft to do amiss or speaken:", "On every wrong a man may not be wreaken.", "After the time must be temperance", "To every wight that can of governance.", "And therefore hath this worthy wise knight", "(To live in ease) sufferance her behight;", "And she to him full wisly gan to swear", "That never should there be default in her.", "Here may men see a humble wife accord;", "Thus hath she ta'en her servant and her lord,", "Servant in love, and lord in marriage.", "Then was he both in lordship and servage?", "Servage? nay, but in lordship all above,", "Since he had both his lady and his love:", "His lady certes, and his wife also,", "The which that law of love accordeth to.", "And when he was in this prosperrity,", "Home with his wife he went to his country,", "Not far from Penmark, where his dwelling was,", "And there he liv'd in bliss and in solace.", "Who coulde tell, but he had wedded be,", "The joy, the ease, and the prosperity,", "That is betwixt a husband and his wife?", "A year and more lasted this blissful life,", "Till that this knight, of whom I spake thus,", "That of Cairrud was call'd Arviragus,", "Shope him to go and dwell a year or twain", "In Engleland, that call'd was eke Britain,", "To seek in armes worship and honour", "(For all his lust he set in such labour);", "And dwelled there two years; the book saith thus.", "", "Now will I stint of this Arviragus,", "And speak I will of Dorigen his wife,", "That lov'd her husband as her hearte's life.", "For his absence weepeth she and siketh,", "As do these noble wives when them liketh;", "She mourneth, waketh, waileth, fasteth, plaineth;", "Desire of his presence her so distraineth,", "That all this wide world she set at nought.", "Her friendes, which that knew her heavy thought,", "Comforte her in all that ever they may;", "They preache her, they tell her night and day,", "That causeless she slays herself, alas!", "And every comfort possible in this case", "They do to her, with all their business,", "And all to make her leave her heaviness.", "By process, as ye knowen every one,", "Men may so longe graven in a stone,", "Till some figure therein imprinted be:", "So long have they comforted her, till she", "Received hath, by hope and by reason,", "Th' imprinting of their consolation,", "Through which her greate sorrow gan assuage;", "She may not always duren in such rage.", "And eke Arviragus, in all this care,", "Hath sent his letters home of his welfare,", "And that he will come hastily again,", "Or elles had this sorrow her hearty-slain.", "Her friendes saw her sorrow gin to slake,", "And prayed her on knees for Godde's sake", "To come and roamen in their company,", "Away to drive her darke fantasy;", "And finally she granted that request,", "For well she saw that it was for the best.", "", "Now stood her castle faste by the sea,", "And often with her friendes walked she,", "Her to disport upon the bank on high,", "There as many a ship and barge sigh,", "Sailing their courses, where them list to go.", "But then was that a parcel of her woe,", "For to herself full oft, \"Alas!\" said she,", "Is there no ship, of so many as I see,", "Will bringe home my lord? then were my heart", "All warish'd of this bitter paine's smart.\"", "Another time would she sit and think,", "And cast her eyen downward from the brink;", "But when she saw the grisly rockes blake,", "For very fear so would her hearte quake,", "That on her feet she might her not sustene", "Then would she sit adown upon the green,", "And piteously into the sea behold,", "And say right thus, with careful sikes cold:", "\"Eternal God! that through thy purveyance", "Leadest this world by certain governance,", "In idle, as men say, ye nothing make;", "But, Lord, these grisly fiendly rockes blake,", "That seem rather a foul confusion", "Of work, than any fair creation", "Of such a perfect wise God and stable,", "Why have ye wrought this work unreasonable?", "For by this work, north, south, or west, or east,", "There is not foster'd man, nor bird, nor beast:", "It doth no good, to my wit, but annoyeth.", "See ye not, Lord, how mankind it destroyeth?", "A hundred thousand bodies of mankind", "Have rockes slain, all be they not in mind;", "Which mankind is so fair part of thy work,", "Thou madest it like to thine owen mark.", "Then seemed it ye had a great cherte", "Toward mankind; but how then may it be", "That ye such meanes make it to destroy?", "Which meanes do no good, but ever annoy.", "I wot well, clerkes will say as them lest,", "By arguments, that all is for the best,", "Although I can the causes not y-know;", "But thilke God that made the wind to blow,", "As keep my lord, this is my conclusion:", "To clerks leave I all disputation:", "But would to God that all these rockes blake", "Were sunken into helle for his sake", "These rockes slay mine hearte for the fear.\"", "Thus would she say, with many a piteous tear.", "", "Her friendes saw that it was no disport", "To roame by the sea, but discomfort,", "And shope them for to playe somewhere else.", "They leade her by rivers and by wells,", "And eke in other places delectables;", "They dancen, and they play at chess and tables.", "So on a day, right in the morning-tide,", "Unto a garden that was there beside,", "In which that they had made their ordinance", "Of victual, and of other purveyance,", "They go and play them all the longe day:", "And this was on the sixth morrow of May,", "Which May had painted with his softe showers", "This garden full of leaves and of flowers:", "And craft of manne's hand so curiously", "Arrayed had this garden truely,", "That never was there garden of such price,", "But if it were the very Paradise.", "Th'odour of flowers, and the freshe sight,", "Would have maked any hearte light", "That e'er was born, but if too great sickness", "Or too great sorrow held it in distress;", "So full it was of beauty and pleasance.", "And after dinner they began to dance", "And sing also, save Dorigen alone", "Who made alway her complaint and her moan,", "For she saw not him on the dance go", "That was her husband, and her love also;", "But natheless she must a time abide", "And with good hope let her sorrow slide.", "", "Upon this dance, amonge other men,", "Danced a squier before Dorigen", "That fresher was, and jollier of array", "As to my doom, than is the month of May.", "He sang and danced, passing any man,", "That is or was since that the world began;", "Therewith he was, if men should him descrive,", "One of the beste faring men alive,", "Young, strong, and virtuous, and rich, and wise,", "And well beloved, and holden in great price.", "And, shortly if the sooth I telle shall,", "Unweeting of this Dorigen at all,", "This lusty squier, servant to Venus,", "Which that y-called was Aurelius,", "Had lov'd her best of any creature", "Two year and more, as was his aventure;", "But never durst he tell her his grievance;", "Withoute cup he drank all his penance.", "He was despaired, nothing durst he say,", "Save in his songes somewhat would he wray", "His woe, as in a general complaining;", "He said, he lov'd, and was belov'd nothing.", "Of suche matter made he many lays,", "Songes, complaintes, roundels, virelays", "How that he durste not his sorrow tell,", "But languished, as doth a Fury in hell;", "And die he must, he said, as did Echo", "For Narcissus, that durst not tell her woe.", "In other manner than ye hear me say,", "He durste not to her his woe bewray,", "Save that paraventure sometimes at dances,", "Where younge folke keep their observances,", "It may well be he looked on her face", "In such a wise, as man that asketh grace,", "But nothing wiste she of his intent.", "Nath'less it happen'd, ere they thennes went,", "Because that he was her neighebour,", "And was a man of worship and honour,", "And she had knowen him of time yore,", "They fell in speech, and forth aye more and more", "Unto his purpose drew Aurelius;", "And when he saw his time, he saide thus:", "Madam,\" quoth he, \"by God that this world made,", "So that I wist it might your hearte glade,", "I would, that day that your Arviragus", "Went over sea, that I, Aurelius,", "Had gone where I should never come again;", "For well I wot my service is in vain.", "My guerdon is but bursting of mine heart.", "Madame, rue upon my paine's smart,", "For with a word ye may me slay or save.", "Here at your feet God would that I were grave.", "I have now no leisure more to say:", "Have mercy, sweet, or you will do me dey.\"", "", "She gan to look upon Aurelius;", "\"Is this your will,\" quoth she, \"and say ye thus?", "Ne'er erst,\" quoth she, \"I wiste what ye meant:", "But now, Aurelius, I know your intent.", "By thilke God that gave me soul and life,", "Never shall I be an untrue wife", "In word nor work, as far as I have wit;", "I will be his to whom that I am knit;", "Take this for final answer as of me.\"", "But after that in play thus saide she.", "\"Aurelius,\" quoth she, \"by high God above,", "Yet will I grante you to be your love", "(Since I you see so piteously complain);", "Looke, what day that endelong Bretagne", "Ye remove all the rockes, stone by stone,", "That they not lette ship nor boat to gon,", "I say, when ye have made this coast so clean", "Of rockes, that there is no stone seen,", "Then will I love you best of any man;", "Have here my troth, in all that ever I can;", "For well I wot that it shall ne'er betide.", "Let such folly out of your hearte glide.", "What dainty should a man have in his life", "For to go love another manne's wife,", "That hath her body when that ever him liketh?\"", "Aurelius full often sore siketh;", "Is there none other grace in you?\" quoth he,", "\"No, by that Lord,\" quoth she, \"that maked me.", "Woe was Aurelius when that he this heard,", "And with a sorrowful heart he thus answer'd.", "\"Madame, quoth he, \"this were an impossible.", "Then must I die of sudden death horrible.\"", "And with that word he turned him anon.", "", "Then came her other friends many a one,", "And in the alleys roamed up and down,", "And nothing wist of this conclusion,", "But suddenly began to revel new,", "Till that the brighte sun had lost his hue,", "For th' horizon had reft the sun his light", "(This is as much to say as it was night);", "And home they go in mirth and in solace;", "Save only wretch'd Aurelius, alas", "He to his house is gone with sorrowful heart.", "He said, he may not from his death astart.", "Him seemed, that he felt his hearte cold.", "Up to the heav'n his handes gan he hold,", "And on his knees bare he set him down.", "And in his raving said his orisoun.", "For very woe out of his wit he braid;", "He wist not what he spake, but thus he said;", "With piteous heart his plaint hath he begun", "Unto the gods, and first unto the Sun.", "He said; \"Apollo God and governour", "Of every plante, herbe, tree, and flower,", "That giv'st, after thy declination,", "To each of them his time and his season,", "As thine herberow changeth low and high;", "Lord Phoebus: cast thy merciable eye", "On wretched Aurelius, which that am but lorn.", "Lo, lord, my lady hath my death y-sworn,", "Withoute guilt, but thy benignity", "Upon my deadly heart have some pity.", "For well I wot, Lord Phoebus, if you lest,", "Ye may me helpe, save my lady, best.", "Now vouchsafe, that I may you devise", "How that I may be holp, and in what wise.", "Your blissful sister, Lucina the sheen,", "That of the sea is chief goddess and queen, --", "Though Neptunus have deity in the sea,", "Yet emperess above him is she; --", "Ye know well, lord, that, right as her desire", "Is to be quick'd and lighted of your fire,", "For which she followeth you full busily,", "Right so the sea desireth naturally", "To follow her, as she that is goddess", "Both in the sea and rivers more and less.", "Wherefore, Lord Phoebus, this is my request,", "Do this miracle, or do mine hearte brest;", "That flow, next at this opposition,", "Which in the sign shall be of the Lion,", "As praye her so great a flood to bring,", "That five fathom at least it overspring", "The highest rock in Armoric Bretagne,", "And let this flood endure yeares twain:", "Then certes to my lady may I say,", "\"Holde your hest,\" the rockes be away.", "Lord Phoebus, this miracle do for me,", "Pray her she go no faster course than ye;", "I say this, pray your sister that she go", "No faster course than ye these yeares two:", "Then shall she be even at full alway,", "And spring-flood laste bothe night and day.", "And but she vouchesafe in such mannere", "To grante me my sov'reign lady dear,", "Pray her to sink every rock adown", "Into her owen darke regioun", "Under the ground, where Pluto dwelleth in", "Or nevermore shall I my lady win.", "Thy temple in Delphos will I barefoot seek.", "Lord Phoebus! see the teares on my cheek", "And on my pain have some compassioun.\"", "And with that word in sorrow he fell down,", "And longe time he lay forth in a trance.", "His brother, which that knew of his penance,", "Up caught him, and to bed he hath him brought,", "Despaired in this torment and this thought", "Let I this woeful creature lie;", "Choose he for me whe'er he will live or die.", "", "Arviragus with health and great honour", "(As he that was of chivalry the flow'r)", "Is come home, and other worthy men.", "Oh, blissful art thou now, thou Dorigen!", "Thou hast thy lusty husband in thine arms,", "The freshe knight, the worthy man of arms,", "That loveth thee as his own hearte's life:", "Nothing list him to be imaginatif", "If any wight had spoke, while he was out,", "To her of love; he had of that no doubt;", "He not intended to no such mattere,", "But danced, jousted, and made merry cheer.", "And thus in joy and bliss I let them dwell,", "And of the sick Aurelius will I tell", "In languor and in torment furious", "Two year and more lay wretch'd Aurelius,", "Ere any foot on earth he mighte gon;", "Nor comfort in this time had he none,", "Save of his brother, which that was a clerk.", "He knew of all this woe and all this work;", "For to none other creature certain", "Of this matter he durst no worde sayn;", "Under his breast he bare it more secree", "Than e'er did Pamphilus for Galatee.", "His breast was whole withoute for to seen,", "But in his heart aye was the arrow keen,", "And well ye know that of a sursanure", "In surgery is perilous the cure,", "But men might touch the arrow or come thereby.", "His brother wept and wailed privily,", "Till at the last him fell in remembrance,", "That while he was at Orleans in France, --", "As younge clerkes, that be likerous --", "To readen artes that be curious,", "Seeken in every halk and every hern", "Particular sciences for to learn,--", "He him remember'd, that upon a day", "At Orleans in study a book he say", "Of magic natural, which his fellaw,", "That was that time a bachelor of law", "All were he there to learn another craft,", "Had privily upon his desk y-laft;", "Which book spake much of operations", "Touching the eight and-twenty mansions", "That longe to the Moon, and such folly", "As in our dayes is not worth a fly;", "For holy church's faith, in our believe,", "Us suff'reth none illusion to grieve.", "And when this book was in his remembrance", "Anon for joy his heart began to dance,", "And to himself he saide privily;", "\"My brother shall be warish'd hastily", "For I am sicker that there be sciences,", "By which men make divers apparences,", "Such as these subtle tregetoures play.", "For oft at feaste's have I well heard say,", "That tregetours, within a halle large,", "Have made come in a water and a barge,", "And in the halle rowen up and down.", "Sometimes hath seemed come a grim lioun,", "And sometimes flowers spring as in a mead;", "Sometimes a vine, and grapes white and red;", "Sometimes a castle all of lime and stone;", "And, when them liked, voided it anon:", "Thus seemed it to every manne's sight.", "Now then conclude I thus; if that I might", "At Orleans some olde fellow find,", "That hath these Moone's mansions in mind,", "Or other magic natural above.", "He should well make my brother have his love.", "For with an appearance a clerk may make,", "To manne's sight, that all the rockes blake", "Of Bretagne were voided every one,", "And shippes by the brinke come and gon,", "And in such form endure a day or two;", "Then were my brother warish'd of his woe,", "Then must she needes holde her behest,", "Or elles he shall shame her at the least.\"", "Why should I make a longer tale of this?", "Unto his brother's bed he comen is,", "And such comfort he gave him, for to gon", "To Orleans, that he upstart anon,", "And on his way forth-ward then is he fare,", "In hope for to be lissed of his care.", "", "When they were come almost to that city,", "But if it were a two furlong or three,", "A young clerk roaming by himself they met,", "Which that in Latin thriftily them gret.", "And after that he said a wondrous thing;", "I know,\" quoth he, \"the cause of your coming;\"", "Aud ere they farther any foote went,", "He told them all that was in their intent.", "The Breton clerk him asked of fellaws", "The which he hadde known in olde daws,", "And he answer'd him that they deade were,", "For which he wept full often many a tear.", "Down off his horse Aurelius light anon,", "And forth with this magician is be gone", "Home to his house, and made him well at ease;", "Them lacked no vitail that might them please.", "So well-array'd a house as there was one,", "Aurelius in his life saw never none.", "He shewed him, ere they went to suppere,", "Forestes, parkes, full of wilde deer.", "There saw he hartes with their hornes high,", "The greatest that were ever seen with eye.", "He saw of them an hundred slain with hounds,", "And some with arrows bleed of bitter wounds.", "He saw, when voided were the wilde deer,", "These falconers upon a fair rivere,", "That with their hawkes have the heron slain.", "Then saw he knightes jousting in a plain.", "And after this he did him such pleasance,", "That he him shew'd his lady on a dance,", "In which himselfe danced, as him thought.", "And when this master, that this magic wrought,", "Saw it was time, he clapp'd his handes two,", "And farewell, all the revel is y-go.", "And yet remov'd they never out of the house,", "While they saw all the sightes marvellous;", "But in his study, where his bookes be,", "They satte still, and no wight but they three.", "To him this master called his squier,", "", "And said him thus, \"May we go to supper?", "Almost an hour it is, I undertake,", "Since I you bade our supper for to make,", "When that these worthy men wente with me", "Into my study, where my bookes be.\"", "\"Sir,\" quoth this squier, \"when it liketh you.", "It is all ready, though ye will right now.\"", "\"Go we then sup,\" quoth he, \"as for the best;", "These amorous folk some time must have rest.\"", "At after supper fell they in treaty", "What summe should this master's guerdon be,", "To remove all the rockes of Bretagne,", "And eke from Gironde to the mouth of Seine.", "He made it strange, and swore, so God him save,", "Less than a thousand pound he would not have,", "Nor gladly for that sum he would not gon.", "Aurelius with blissful heart anon", "Answered thus; \"Fie on a thousand pound!", "This wide world, which that men say is round,", "I would it give, if I were lord of it.", "This bargain is full-driv'n, for we be knit;", "Ye shall be payed truly by my troth.", "But looke, for no negligence or sloth,", "Ye tarry us here no longer than to-morrow.\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth the clerk, \"have here my faith to borrow.\"", "To bed is gone Aurelius when him lest,", "And well-nigh all that night he had his rest,", "What for his labour, and his hope of bliss,", "His woeful heart of penance had a liss.", "", "Upon the morrow, when that it was day,", "Unto Bretagne they took the righte way,", "Aurelius and this magician beside,", "And be descended where they would abide:", "And this was, as the bookes me remember,", "The colde frosty season of December.", "Phoebus wax'd old, and hued like latoun,", "That in his hote declinatioun", "Shone as the burned gold, with streames bright;", "But now in Capricorn adown he light,", "Where as he shone full pale, I dare well sayn.", "The bitter frostes, with the sleet and rain,", "Destroyed have the green in every yard.", "Janus sits by the fire with double beard,", "And drinketh of his bugle horn the wine:", "Before him stands the brawn of tusked swine", "And \"nowel\" crieth every lusty man", "Aurelius, in all that ev'r he can,", "Did to his master cheer and reverence,", "And prayed him to do his diligence", "To bringe him out of his paines smart,", "Or with a sword that he would slit his heart.", "This subtle clerk such ruth had on this man,", "That night and day he sped him, that he can,", "To wait a time of his conclusion;", "This is to say, to make illusion,", "By such an appearance of jugglery", "(I know no termes of astrology),", "That she and every wight should ween and say,", "That of Bretagne the rockes were away,", "Or else they were sunken under ground.", "So at the last he hath a time found", "To make his japes and his wretchedness", "Of such a superstitious cursedness.", "His tables Toletanes forth he brought,", "Full well corrected, that there lacked nought,", "Neither his collect, nor his expanse years,", "Neither his rootes, nor his other gears,", "As be his centres, and his arguments,", "And his proportional convenients", "For his equations in everything.", "And by his eighte spheres in his working,", "He knew full well how far Alnath was shove", "From the head of that fix'd Aries above,", "That in the ninthe sphere consider'd is.", "Full subtilly he calcul'd all this.", "When he had found his firste mansion,", "He knew the remnant by proportion;", "And knew the rising of his moone well,", "And in whose face, and term, and every deal;", "And knew full well the moone's mansion", "Accordant to his operation;", "And knew also his other observances,", "For such illusions and such meschances,", "As heathen folk used in thilke days.", "For which no longer made he delays;", "But through his magic, for a day or tway,", "It seemed all the rockes were away.", "", "Aurelius, which yet despaired is", "Whe'er he shall have his love, or fare amiss,", "Awaited night and day on this miracle:", "And when he knew that there was none obstacle,", "That voided were these rockes every one,", "Down at his master's feet he fell anon,", "And said; \"I, woeful wretch'd Aurelius,", "Thank you, my Lord, and lady mine Venus,", "That me have holpen from my cares cold.\"", "And to the temple his way forth hath he hold,", "Where as he knew he should his lady see.", "And when he saw his time, anon right he", "With dreadful heart and with full humble cheer", "Saluteth hath his sovereign lady dear.", "\"My rightful Lady,\" quoth this woeful man,", "\"Whom I most dread, and love as I best can,", "And lothest were of all this world displease,", "Were't not that I for you have such disease,", "That I must die here at your foot anon,", "Nought would I tell how me is woebegone.", "But certes either must I die or plain;", "Ye slay me guilteless for very pain.", "But of my death though that ye have no ruth,", "Advise you, ere that ye break your truth:", "Repente you, for thilke God above,", "Ere ye me slay because that I you love.", "For, Madame, well ye wot what ye have hight;", "Not that I challenge anything of right", "Of you, my sovereign lady, but of grace:", "But in a garden yond', in such a place,", "Ye wot right well what ye behighte me,", "And in mine hand your trothe plighted ye,", "To love me best; God wot ye saide so,", "Albeit that I unworthy am thereto;", "Madame, I speak it for th' honour of you,", "More than to save my hearte's life right now;", "I have done so as ye commanded me,", "And if ye vouchesafe, ye may go see.", "Do as you list, have your behest in mind,", "For, quick or dead, right there ye shall me find;", "In you hes all to do me live or dey;", "But well I wot the rockes be away.\"", "", "He took his leave, and she astonish'd stood;", "In all her face was not one drop of blood:", "She never ween'd t'have come in such a trap.", "\"Alas!\" quoth she, \"that ever this should hap!", "For ween'd I ne'er, by possibility,", "That such a monster or marvail might be;", "It is against the process of nature.\"", "And home she went a sorrowful creature;", "For very fear unnethes may she go.", "She weeped, wailed, all a day or two,", "And swooned, that it ruthe was to see:", "But why it was, to no wight tolde she,", "For out of town was gone Arviragus.", "But to herself she spake, and saide thus,", "With face pale, and full sorrowful cheer,", "In her complaint, as ye shall after hear.", "\"Alas!\" quoth she, \"on thee, Fortune, I plain,", "That unware hast me wrapped in thy chain,", "From which to scape, wot I no succour,", "Save only death, or elles dishonour;", "One of these two behoveth me to choose.", "But natheless, yet had I lever lose", "My life, than of my body have shame,", "Or know myselfe false, or lose my name;", "And with my death I may be quit y-wis.", "Hath there not many a noble wife, ere this,", "And many a maiden, slain herself, alas!", "Rather than with her body do trespass?", "Yes, certes; lo, these stories bear witness.", "When thirty tyrants full of cursedness", "Had slain Phidon in Athens at the feast,", "They commanded his daughters to arrest,", "And bringe them before them, in despite,", "All naked, to fulfil their foul delight;", "And in their father's blood they made them dance", "Upon the pavement, -- God give them mischance.", "For which these woeful maidens, full of dread,", "Rather than they would lose their maidenhead,", "They privily be start into a well,", "And drowned themselves, as the bookes tell.", "They of Messene let inquire and seek", "Of Lacedaemon fifty maidens eke,", "On which they woulde do their lechery:", "But there was none of all that company", "That was not slain, and with a glad intent", "Chose rather for to die, than to assent", "To be oppressed of her maidenhead.", "Why should I then to dien be in dread?", "Lo, eke the tyrant Aristoclides,", "That lov'd a maiden hight Stimphalides,", "When that her father slain was on a night,", "Unto Diana's temple went she right,", "And hent the image in her handes two,", "From which image she woulde never go;", "No wight her handes might off it arace,", "Till she was slain right in the selfe place.", "Now since that maidens hadde such despite", "To be defouled with man's foul delight,", "Well ought a wife rather herself to sle,", "Than be defouled, as it thinketh me.", "What shall I say of Hasdrubale's wife,", "That at Carthage bereft herself of life?", "For, when she saw the Romans win the town,", "She took her children all, and skipt adown", "Into the fire, and rather chose to die,", "Than any Roman did her villainy.", "Hath not Lucretia slain herself, alas!", "At Rome, when that she oppressed was", "Of Tarquin? for her thought it was a shame", "To live, when she hadde lost her name.", "The seven maidens of Milesie also", "Have slain themselves for very dread and woe,", "Rather than folk of Gaul them should oppress.", "More than a thousand stories, as I guess,", "Could I now tell as touching this mattere.", "When Abradate was slain, his wife so dear", "Herselfe slew, and let her blood to glide", "In Abradate's woundes, deep and wide,", "And said, 'My body at the leaste way", "There shall no wight defoul, if that I may.'", "Why should I more examples hereof sayn?", "Since that so many have themselves slain,", "Well rather than they would defouled be,", "I will conclude that it is bet for me", "To slay myself, than be defouled thus.", "I will be true unto Arviragus,", "Or elles slay myself in some mannere,", "As did Demotione's daughter dear,", "Because she woulde not defouled be.", "O Sedasus, it is full great pity", "To reade how thy daughters died, alas!", "That slew themselves for suche manner cas.", "As great a pity was it, or well more,", "The Theban maiden, that for Nicanor", "Herselfe slew, right for such manner woe.", "Another Theban maiden did right so;", "For one of Macedon had her oppress'd,", "She with her death her maidenhead redress'd.", "What shall I say of Niceratus' wife,", "That for such case bereft herself her life?", "How true was eke to Alcibiades", "His love, that for to dien rather chese,", "Than for to suffer his body unburied be?", "Lo, what a wife was Alceste?\" quoth she.", "\"What saith Homer of good Penelope?", "All Greece knoweth of her chastity.", "Pardie, of Laedamia is written thus,", "That when at Troy was slain Protesilaus,", "No longer would she live after his day.", "The same of noble Porcia tell I may;", "Withoute Brutus coulde she not live,", "To whom she did all whole her hearte give.", "The perfect wifehood of Artemisie", "Honoured is throughout all Barbarie.", "O Teuta queen, thy wifely chastity", "To alle wives may a mirror be.\"", "", "Thus plained Dorigen a day or tway,", "Purposing ever that she woulde dey;", "But natheless upon the thirde night", "Home came Arviragus, the worthy knight,", "And asked her why that she wept so sore.", "And she gan weepen ever longer more.", "\"Alas,\" quoth she, \"that ever I was born!", "Thus have I said,\" quoth she; \"thus have I sworn. \"", "And told him all, as ye have heard before:", "It needeth not rehearse it you no more.", "This husband with glad cheer, in friendly wise,", "Answer'd and said, as I shall you devise.", "\"Is there aught elles, Dorigen, but this?\"", "\"Nay, nay,\" quoth she, \"God help me so, as wis", "This is too much, an it were Godde's will.\"", "\"Yea, wife,\" quoth he, \"let sleepe what is still,", "It may be well par'venture yet to-day.", "Ye shall your trothe holde, by my fay.", "For, God so wisly have mercy on me,", "I had well lever sticked for to be,", "For very love which I to you have,", "But if ye should your trothe keep and save.", "Truth is the highest thing that man may keep.\"", "But with that word he burst anon to weep,", "And said; \"I you forbid, on pain of death,", "That never, while you lasteth life or breath,", "To no wight tell ye this misaventure;", "As I may best, I will my woe endure,", "Nor make no countenance of heaviness,", "That folk of you may deeme harm, or guess.\"", "And forth he call'd a squier and a maid.", "\"Go forth anon with Dorigen,\" he said,", "\"And bringe her to such a place anon.\"", "They take their leave, and on their way they gon:", "But they not wiste why she thither went;", "He would to no wight telle his intent.", "", "This squier, which that hight Aurelius,", "On Dorigen that was so amorous,", "Of aventure happen'd her to meet", "Amid the town, right in the quickest street,", "As she was bound to go the way forthright", "Toward the garden, there as she had hight.", "And he was to the garden-ward also;", "For well he spied when she woulde go", "Out of her house, to any manner place;", "But thus they met, of aventure or grace,", "And he saluted her with glad intent,", "And asked of her whitherward she went.", "And she answered, half as she were mad,", "\"Unto the garden, as my husband bade,", "My trothe for to hold, alas! alas!\"", "Aurelius gan to wonder on this case,", "And in his heart had great compassion", "Of her, and of her lamentation,", "And of Arviragus, the worthy knight,", "That bade her hold all that she hadde hight;", "So loth him was his wife should break her truth", "And in his heart he caught of it great ruth,", "Considering the best on every side,", "That from his lust yet were him lever abide,", "Than do so high a churlish wretchedness", "Against franchise, and alle gentleness;", "For which in fewe words he saide thus;", "\"Madame, say to your lord Arviragus,", "That since I see the greate gentleness", "Of him, and eke I see well your distress,", "That him were lever have shame (and that were ruth)", "Than ye to me should breake thus your truth,", "I had well lever aye to suffer woe,", "Than to depart the love betwixt you two.", "I you release, Madame, into your hond,", "Quit ev'ry surement and ev'ry bond,", "That ye have made to me as herebeforn,", "Since thilke time that ye were born.", "Have here my truth, I shall you ne'er repreve", "Of no behest; and here I take my leave,", "As of the truest and the beste wife", "That ever yet I knew in all my life.", "But every wife beware of her behest;", "On Dorigen remember at the least.", "Thus can a squier do a gentle deed,", "As well as can a knight, withoute drede.\"", "", "She thanked him upon her knees bare,", "And home unto her husband is she fare,", "And told him all, as ye have hearde said;", "And, truste me, he was so well apaid,", "That it were impossible me to write.", "Why should I longer of this case indite?", "Arviragus and Dorigen his wife", "In sov'reign blisse ledde forth their life;", "Ne'er after was there anger them between;", "He cherish'd her as though she were a queen,", "And she was to him true for evermore;", "Of these two folk ye get of me no more.", "", "Aurelius, that his cost had all forlorn,", "Cursed the time that ever he was born.", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"alas that I behight", "Of pured gold a thousand pound of weight", "To this philosopher! how shall I do?", "I see no more, but that I am fordo.", "Mine heritage must I needes sell,", "And be a beggar; here I will not dwell,", "And shamen all my kindred in this place,", "But I of him may gette better grace.", "But natheless I will of him assay", "At certain dayes year by year to pay,", "And thank him of his greate courtesy.", "My trothe will I keep, I will not he.\"", "With hearte sore he went unto his coffer,", "And broughte gold unto this philosopher,", "The value of five hundred pound, I guess,", "And him beseeched, of his gentleness,", "To grant him dayes of the remenant;", "And said; \"Master, I dare well make avaunt,", "I failed never of my truth as yet.", "For sickerly my debte shall be quit", "Towardes you how so that e'er I fare", "To go a-begging in my kirtle bare:", "But would ye vouchesafe, upon surety,", "Two year, or three, for to respite me,", "Then were I well, for elles must I sell", "Mine heritage; there is no more to tell.\"", "", "This philosopher soberly answer'd,", "And saide thus, when he these wordes heard;", "\"Have I not holden covenant to thee?\"", "\"Yes, certes, well and truely,\" quoth he.", "\"Hast thou not had thy lady as thee liked?\"", "\"No, no,\" quoth he, and sorrowfully siked.", "\"What was the cause? tell me if thou can.\"", "Aurelius his tale anon began,", "And told him all as ye have heard before,", "It needeth not to you rehearse it more.", "He said, \"Arviragus of gentleness", "Had lever die in sorrow and distress,", "Than that his wife were of her trothe false.\"", "The sorrow of Dorigen he told him als',", "How loth her was to be a wicked wife,", "And that she lever had lost that day her life;", "And that her troth she swore through innocence;", "She ne'er erst had heard speak of apparence", "That made me have of her so great pity,", "And right as freely as he sent her to me,", "As freely sent I her to him again:", "This is all and some, there is no more to sayn.\"", "", "The philosopher answer'd; \"Leve brother,", "Evereach of you did gently to the other;", "Thou art a squier, and he is a knight,", "But God forbidde, for his blissful might,", "But if a clerk could do a gentle deed", "As well as any of you, it is no drede", "Sir, I release thee thy thousand pound,", "As thou right now were crept out of the ground,", "Nor ever ere now haddest knowen me.", "For, Sir, I will not take a penny of thee", "For all my craft, nor naught for my travail;", "Thou hast y-payed well for my vitaille;", "It is enough; and farewell, have good day.\"", "And took his horse, and forth he went his way.", "Lordings, this question would I aske now,", "Which was the moste free, as thinketh you?", "Now telle me, ere that ye farther wend.", "I can no more, my tale is at an end." ], "linecount": "946" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Doctor's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "[\"YEA, let that passe,\" quoth our Host, \"as now.", "Sir Doctor of Physik, I praye you,", "Tell us a tale of some honest mattere.\"", "\"It shall be done, if that ye will it hear,\"", "Said this Doctor; and his tale gan anon.", "\"Now, good men,\" quoth he, \"hearken everyone.\"]", "", "THE TALE.", "", "There was, as telleth Titus Livius,", "A knight, that called was Virginius,", "Full filled of honour and worthiness,", "And strong of friendes, and of great richess.", "This knight one daughter hadde by his wife;", "No children had he more in all his life.", "Fair was this maid in excellent beauty", "Aboven ev'ry wight that man may see:", "For nature had with sov'reign diligence", "Y-formed her in so great excellence,", "As though she woulde say, \"Lo, I, Nature,", "Thus can I form and paint a creature,", "When that me list; who can me counterfeit?", "Pygmalion? not though he aye forge and beat,", "Or grave or painte: for I dare well sayn,", "Apelles, Zeuxis, shoulde work in vain,", "Either to grave, or paint, or forge, or beat,", "If they presumed me to counterfeit.", "For he that is the former principal,", "Hath made me his vicar-general", "To form and painten earthly creatures", "Right as me list, and all thing in my cure is,", "Under the moone, that may wane and wax.", "And for my work right nothing will I ax", "My lord and I be full of one accord.", "I made her to the worship of my lord;", "So do I all mine other creatures,", "What colour that they have, or what figures.\"", "Thus seemeth me that Nature woulde say.", "", "This maiden was of age twelve year and tway,", "In which that Nature hadde such delight.", "For right as she can paint a lily white,", "And red a rose, right with such painture", "She painted had this noble creature,", "Ere she was born, upon her limbes free,", "Where as by right such colours shoulde be:", "And Phoebus dyed had her tresses great,", "Like to the streames of his burned heat.", "And if that excellent was her beauty,", "A thousand-fold more virtuous was she.", "In her there lacked no condition,", "That is to praise, as by discretion.", "As well in ghost as body chaste was she:", "For which she flower'd in virginity,", "With all humility and abstinence,", "With alle temperance and patience,", "With measure eke of bearing and array.", "Discreet she was in answering alway,", "Though she were wise as Pallas, dare I sayn;", "Her faconde eke full womanly and plain,", "No counterfeited termes hadde she", "To seeme wise; but after her degree", "She spake, and all her worde's more and less", "Sounding in virtue and in gentleness.", "Shamefast she was in maiden's shamefastness,", "Constant in heart, and ever in business", "To drive her out of idle sluggardy:", "Bacchus had of her mouth right no mast'ry.", "For wine and slothe do Venus increase,", "As men in fire will casten oil and grease.", "And of her owen virtue, unconstrain'd,", "She had herself full often sick y-feign'd,", "For that she woulde flee the company,", "Where likely was to treaten of folly,", "As is at feasts, at revels, and at dances,", "That be occasions of dalliances.", "Such thinges make children for to be", "Too soone ripe and bold, as men may see,", "Which is full perilous, and hath been yore;", "For all too soone may she learne lore", "Of boldeness, when that she is a wife.", "", "And ye mistresses, in your olde life", "That lordes' daughters have in governance,", "Take not of my wordes displeasance", "Thinke that ye be set in governings", "Of lordes' daughters only for two things;", "Either for ye have kept your honesty,", "Or else for ye have fallen in frailty", "And knowe well enough the olde dance,", "And have forsaken fully such meschance", "For evermore; therefore, for Christe's sake,", "To teach them virtue look that ye not slake.", "A thief of venison, that hath forlaft", "His lik'rousness, and all his olde craft,", "Can keep a forest best of any man;", "Now keep them well, for if ye will ye can.", "Look well, that ye unto no vice assent,", "Lest ye be damned for your wick' intent,", "For whoso doth, a traitor is certain;", "And take keep of that I shall you sayn;", "Of alle treason, sov'reign pestilence", "Is when a wight betrayeth innocence.", "Ye fathers, and ye mothers eke also,", "Though ye have children, be it one or mo',", "Yours is the charge of all their surveyance,", "While that they be under your governance.", "Beware, that by example of your living,", "Or by your negligence in chastising,", "That they not perish for I dare well say,", "If that they do, ye shall it dear abeye.", "Under a shepherd soft and negligent", "The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent.", "Suffice this example now as here,", "For I must turn again to my mattere.", "", "This maid, of which I tell my tale express,", "She kept herself, her needed no mistress;", "For in her living maidens mighte read,", "As in a book, ev'ry good word and deed", "That longeth to a maiden virtuous;", "She was so prudent and so bounteous.", "For which the fame out sprang on every side", "Both of her beauty and her bounte wide:", "That through the land they praised her each one", "That loved virtue, save envy alone,", "That sorry is of other manne's weal,", "And glad is of his sorrow and unheal --", "The Doctor maketh this descriptioun. --", "This maiden on a day went in the town", "Toward a temple, with her mother dear,", "As is of younge maidens the mannere.", "Now was there then a justice in that town,", "That governor was of that regioun:", "And so befell, this judge his eyen cast", "Upon this maid, avising her full fast,", "As she came forth by where this judge stood;", "Anon his hearte changed and his mood,", "So was he caught with beauty of this maid", "And to himself full privily he said,", "\"This maiden shall be mine for any man.\"", "Anon the fiend into his hearte ran,", "And taught him suddenly, that he by sleight", "This maiden to his purpose winne might.", "For certes, by no force, nor by no meed,", "Him thought he was not able for to speed;", "For she was strong of friendes, and eke she", "Confirmed was in such sov'reign bounte,", "That well he wist he might her never win,", "As for to make her with her body sin.", "For which, with great deliberatioun,", "He sent after a clerk was in the town,", "The which he knew for subtle and for bold.", "This judge unto this clerk his tale told", "In secret wise, and made him to assure", "He shoulde tell it to no creature,", "And if he did, he shoulde lose his head.", "And when assented was this cursed rede,", "Glad was the judge, and made him greate cheer,", "And gave him giftes precious and dear.", "When shapen was all their conspiracy", "From point to point, how that his lechery", "Performed shoulde be full subtilly,", "As ye shall hear it after openly,", "Home went this clerk, that highte Claudius.", "This false judge, that highte Appius, --", "(So was his name, for it is no fable,", "But knowen for a storial thing notable;", "The sentence of it sooth is out of doubt); --", "This false judge went now fast about", "To hasten his delight all that he may.", "And so befell, soon after on a day,", "This false judge, as telleth us the story,", "As he was wont, sat in his consistory,", "And gave his doomes upon sundry case';", "This false clerk came forth a full great pace,", "And saide; Lord, if that it be your will,", "As do me right upon this piteous bill,", "In which I plain upon Virginius.", "And if that he will say it is not thus,", "I will it prove, and finde good witness,", "That sooth is what my bille will express.\"", "The judge answer'd, \"Of this, in his absence,", "I may not give definitive sentence.", "Let do him call, and I will gladly hear;", "Thou shalt have alle right, and no wrong here.\"", "Virginius came to weet the judge's will,", "And right anon was read this cursed bill;", "The sentence of it was as ye shall hear", "\"To you, my lord, Sir Appius so clear,", "Sheweth your poore servant Claudius,", "How that a knight called Virginius,", "Against the law, against all equity,", "Holdeth, express against the will of me,", "My servant, which that is my thrall by right,", "Which from my house was stolen on a night,", "While that she was full young; I will it preve", "By witness, lord, so that it you not grieve;", "She is his daughter not, what so he say.", "Wherefore to you, my lord the judge, I pray,", "Yield me my thrall, if that it be your will.\"", "Lo, this was all the sentence of the bill.", "Virginius gan upon the clerk behold;", "But hastily, ere he his tale told,", "And would have proved it, as should a knight,", "And eke by witnessing of many a wight,", "That all was false that said his adversary,", "This cursed judge would no longer tarry,", "Nor hear a word more of Virginius,", "But gave his judgement, and saide thus:", "\"I deem anon this clerk his servant have;", "Thou shalt no longer in thy house her save.", "Go, bring her forth, and put her in our ward", "The clerk shall have his thrall: thus I award.\"", "", "And when this worthy knight, Virginius,", "Through sentence of this justice Appius,", "Muste by force his deare daughter give", "Unto the judge, in lechery to live,", "He went him home, and sat him in his hall,", "And let anon his deare daughter call;", "And with a face dead as ashes cold", "Upon her humble face he gan behold,", "With father's pity sticking through his heart,", "All would he from his purpose not convert.", "\"Daughter,\" quoth he, \"Virginia by name,", "There be two wayes, either death or shame,", "That thou must suffer, -- alas that I was bore!", "For never thou deservedest wherefore", "To dien with a sword or with a knife,", "O deare daughter, ender of my life,", "Whom I have foster'd up with such pleasance", "That thou were ne'er out of my remembrance;", "O daughter, which that art my laste woe,", "And in this life my laste joy also,", "O gem of chastity, in patience", "Take thou thy death, for this is my sentence:", "For love and not for hate thou must be dead;", "My piteous hand must smiten off thine head.", "Alas, that ever Appius thee say!", "Thus hath he falsely judged thee to-day.\"", "And told her all the case, as ye before", "Have heard; it needeth not to tell it more.", "", "\"O mercy, deare father,\" quoth the maid.", "And with that word she both her armes laid", "About his neck, as she was wont to do,", "(The teares burst out of her eyen two),", "And said, \"O goode father, shall I die?", "Is there no grace? is there no remedy?\"", "\"No, certes, deare daughter mine,\" quoth he.", "\"Then give me leisure, father mine, quoth she,", "\"My death for to complain a little space", "For, pardie, Jephthah gave his daughter grace", "For to complain, ere he her slew, alas!", "And, God it wot, nothing was her trespass,", "But for she ran her father first to see,", "To welcome him with great solemnity.\"", "And with that word she fell a-swoon anon;", "And after, when her swooning was y-gone,", "She rose up, and unto her father said:", "\"Blessed be God, that I shall die a maid.", "Give me my death, ere that I have shame;", "Do with your child your will, in Godde's name.\"", "And with that word she prayed him full oft", "That with his sword he woulde smite her soft;", "And with that word, a-swoon again she fell.", "Her father, with full sorrowful heart and fell,", "Her head off smote, and by the top it hent,", "And to the judge he went it to present,", "As he sat yet in doom in consistory.", "", "And when the judge it saw, as saith the story,", "He bade to take him, and to hang him fast.", "But right anon a thousand people in thrast", "To save the knight, for ruth and for pity", "For knowen was the false iniquity.", "The people anon had suspect in this thing,", "By manner of the clerke's challenging,", "That it was by th'assent of Appius;", "They wiste well that he was lecherous.", "For which unto this Appius they gon,", "And cast him in a prison right anon,", "Where as he slew himself: and Claudius,", "That servant was unto this Appius,", "Was doomed for to hang upon a tree;", "But that Virginius, of his pity,", "So prayed for him, that he was exil'd;", "And elles certes had he been beguil'd;", "The remenant were hanged, more and less,", "That were consenting to this cursedness.", "Here men may see how sin hath his merite:", "Beware, for no man knows how God will smite", "In no degree, nor in which manner wise", "The worm of conscience may agrise", "Of wicked life, though it so privy be,", "That no man knows thereof, save God and he;", "For be he lewed man or elles lear'd,", "He knows not how soon he shall be afear'd;", "Therefore I rede you this counsel take,", "Forsake sin, ere sinne you forsake." ], "linecount": "294" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Pardoner's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "OUR Hoste gan to swear as he were wood;", "\"Harow!\" quoth he, \"by nailes and by blood,", "This was a cursed thief, a false justice.", "As shameful death as hearte can devise", "Come to these judges and their advoca's.", "Algate this sely maid is slain, alas!", "Alas! too deare bought she her beauty.", "Wherefore I say, that all day man may see", "That giftes of fortune and of nature", "Be cause of death to many a creature.", "Her beauty was her death, I dare well sayn;", "Alas! so piteously as she was slain.", "[Of bothe giftes, that I speak of now", "Men have full often more harm than prow,]", "But truely, mine owen master dear,", "This was a piteous tale for to hear;", "But natheless, pass over; 'tis no force.", "I pray to God to save thy gentle corse,", "And eke thine urinals, and thy jordans,", "Thine Hippocras, and eke thy Galliens,", "And every boist full of thy lectuary,", "God bless them, and our lady Sainte Mary.", "So may I the', thou art a proper man,", "And like a prelate, by Saint Ronian;", "Said I not well? Can I not speak in term?", "But well I wot thou dost mine heart to erme,", "That I have almost caught a cardiacle:", "By corpus Domini , but I have triacle,", "Or else a draught of moist and corny ale,", "Or but I hear anon a merry tale,", "Mine heart is brost for pity of this maid.", "Thou bel ami, thou Pardoner,\" he said,", "\"Tell us some mirth of japes right anon.\"", "\"It shall be done,\" quoth he, \"by Saint Ronion.", "But first,\" quoth he, \"here at this ale-stake", "I will both drink, and biten on a cake.\"", "But right anon the gentles gan to cry,", "\"Nay, let him tell us of no ribaldry.", "Tell us some moral thing, that we may lear", "Some wit, and thenne will we gladly hear.\"", "\"I grant y-wis,\" quoth he; \"but I must think", "Upon some honest thing while that I drink.\"", "", "THE TALE", "", "Lordings (quoth he), in churche when I preach,", "I paine me to have an hautein speech,", "And ring it out, as round as doth a bell,", "For I know all by rote that I tell.", "My theme is always one, and ever was;", "Radix malorum est cupiditas.", "First I pronounce whence that I come,", "And then my bulles shew I all and some;", "Our liege lorde's seal on my patent,", "That shew I first, my body to warrent,", "That no man be so hardy, priest nor clerk,", "Me to disturb of Christe's holy werk.", "And after that then tell I forth my tales.", "Bulles of popes, and of cardinales,", "Of patriarchs, and of bishops I shew,", "And in Latin I speak a wordes few,", "To savour with my predication,", "And for to stir men to devotion", "Then show I forth my longe crystal stones,", "Y-crammed fall of cloutes and of bones;", "Relics they be, as weene they each one.", "Then have I in latoun a shoulder-bone", "Which that was of a holy Jewe's sheep.", "\"Good men,\" say I, \"take of my wordes keep;", "If that this bone be wash'd in any well,", "If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxe swell,", "That any worm hath eat, or worm y-stung,", "Take water of that well, and wash his tongue,", "And it is whole anon; and farthermore", "Of pockes, and of scab, and every sore", "Shall every sheep be whole, that of this well", "Drinketh a draught; take keep of that I tell.", "", "\"If that the goodman, that the beastes oweth,", "Will every week, ere that the cock him croweth,", "Fasting, y-drinken of this well a draught,", "As thilke holy Jew our elders taught,", "His beastes and his store shall multiply.", "And, Sirs, also it healeth jealousy;", "For though a man be fall'n in jealous rage,", "Let make with this water his pottage,", "And never shall he more his wife mistrist,", "Though he the sooth of her defaulte wist;", "All had she taken priestes two or three.", "Here is a mittain eke, that ye may see;", "He that his hand will put in this mittain,", "He shall have multiplying of his grain,", "When he hath sowen, be it wheat or oats,", "So that he offer pence, or elles groats.", "And, men and women, one thing warn I you;", "If any wight be in this churche now", "That hath done sin horrible, so that he", "Dare not for shame of it y-shriven be;", "Or any woman, be she young or old,", "That hath y-made her husband cokewold,", "Such folk shall have no power nor no grace", "To offer to my relics in this place.", "And whoso findeth him out of such blame,", "He will come up and offer in God's name;", "And I assoil him by the authority", "Which that by bull y-granted was to me.\"", "", "By this gaud have I wonne year by year", "A hundred marks, since I was pardonere.", "I stande like a clerk in my pulpit,", "And when the lewed people down is set,", "I preache so as ye have heard before,", "And telle them a hundred japes more.", "Then pain I me to stretche forth my neck,", "And east and west upon the people I beck,", "As doth a dove, sitting on a bern;", "My handes and my tongue go so yern,", "That it is joy to see my business.", "Of avarice and of such cursedness", "Is all my preaching, for to make them free", "To give their pence, and namely unto me.", "For mine intent is not but for to win,", "And nothing for correction of sin.", "I recke never, when that they be buried,", "Though that their soules go a blackburied.", "For certes many a predication", "Cometh oft-time of evil intention;", "Some for pleasance of folk, and flattery,", "To be advanced by hypocrisy;", "And some for vainglory, and some for hate.", "For, when I dare not otherwise debate,", "Then will I sting him with my tongue smart", "In preaching, so that he shall not astart", "To be defamed falsely, if that he", "Hath trespass'd to my brethren or to me.", "For, though I telle not his proper name,", "Men shall well knowe that it is the same", "By signes, and by other circumstances.", "Thus quite I folk that do us displeasances:", "Thus spit I out my venom, under hue", "Of holiness, to seem holy and true.", "But, shortly mine intent I will devise,", "I preach of nothing but of covetise.", "Therefore my theme is yet, and ever was, --", "Radix malorum est cupiditas.", "Thus can I preach against the same vice", "Which that I use, and that is avarice.", "But though myself be guilty in that sin,", "Yet can I maken other folk to twin", "From avarice, and sore them repent.", "But that is not my principal intent;", "I preache nothing but for covetise.", "Of this mattere it ought enough suffice.", "Then tell I them examples many a one,", "Of olde stories longe time gone;", "For lewed people love tales old;", "Such thinges can they well report and hold.", "What? trowe ye, that whiles I may preach", "And winne gold and silver for I teach,", "That I will live in povert' wilfully?", "Nay, nay, I thought it never truely.", "For I will preach and beg in sundry lands;", "I will not do no labour with mine hands,", "Nor make baskets for to live thereby,", "Because I will not beggen idlely.", "I will none of the apostles counterfeit;", "I will have money, wool, and cheese, and wheat,", "All were it given of the poorest page,", "Or of the pooreste widow in a village:", "All should her children sterve for famine.", "Nay, I will drink the liquor of the vine,", "And have a jolly wench in every town.", "But hearken, lordings, in conclusioun;", "Your liking is, that I shall tell a tale", "Now I have drunk a draught of corny ale,", "By God, I hope I shall you tell a thing", "That shall by reason be to your liking;", "For though myself be a full vicious man,", "A moral tale yet I you telle can,", "Which I am wont to preache, for to win.", "Now hold your peace, my tale I will begin.", "", "In Flanders whilom was a company", "Of younge folkes, that haunted folly,", "As riot, hazard, stewes, and taverns;", "Where as with lutes, harpes, and giterns,", "They dance and play at dice both day and night,", "And eat also, and drink over their might;", "Through which they do the devil sacrifice", "Within the devil's temple, in cursed wise,", "By superfluity abominable.", "Their oathes be so great and so damnable,", "That it is grisly for to hear them swear.", "Our blissful Lorde's body they to-tear;", "Them thought the Jewes rent him not enough,", "And each of them at other's sinne lough.", "And right anon in come tombesteres", "Fetis and small, and younge fruitesteres.", "Singers with harpes, baudes, waferers,", "Which be the very devil's officers,", "To kindle and blow the fire of lechery,", "That is annexed unto gluttony.", "The Holy Writ take I to my witness,", "That luxury is in wine and drunkenness.", "Lo, how that drunken Lot unkindely", "Lay by his daughters two unwittingly,", "So drunk he was he knew not what he wrought.", "Herodes, who so well the stories sought,", "When he of wine replete was at his feast,", "Right at his owen table gave his hest", "To slay the Baptist John full guilteless.", "Seneca saith a good word, doubteless:", "He saith he can no difference find", "Betwixt a man that is out of his mind,", "And a man whiche that is drunkelew:", "But that woodness, y-fallen in a shrew,", "Persevereth longer than drunkenness.", "", "O gluttony, full of all cursedness;", "O cause first of our confusion,", "Original of our damnation,", "Till Christ had bought us with his blood again!", "Looke, how deare, shortly for to sayn,", "Abought was first this cursed villainy:", "Corrupt was all this world for gluttony.", "Adam our father, and his wife also,", "From Paradise, to labour and to woe,", "Were driven for that vice, it is no dread.", "For while that Adam fasted, as I read,", "He was in Paradise; and when that he", "Ate of the fruit defended of the tree,", "Anon he was cast out to woe and pain.", "O gluttony! well ought us on thee plain.", "Oh! wist a man how many maladies", "Follow of excess and of gluttonies,", "He woulde be the more measurable", "Of his diete, sitting at his table.", "Alas! the shorte throat, the tender mouth,", "Maketh that east and west, and north and south,", "In earth, in air, in water, men do swink", "To get a glutton dainty meat and drink.", "Of this mattere, O Paul! well canst thou treat", "Meat unto womb, and womb eke unto meat,", "Shall God destroye both, as Paulus saith.", "Alas! a foul thing is it, by my faith,", "To say this word, and fouler is the deed,", "When man so drinketh of the white and red,", "That of his throat he maketh his privy", "Through thilke cursed superfluity", "The apostle saith, weeping full piteously,", "There walk many, of which you told have I, --", "I say it now weeping with piteous voice, --", "That they be enemies of Christe's crois;", "Of which the end is death; womb is their God.", "O womb, O belly, stinking is thy cod,", "Full fill'd of dung and of corruptioun;", "At either end of thee foul is the soun.", "How great labour and cost is thee to find!", "These cookes how they stamp, and strain, and grind,", "And turne substance into accident,", "To fulfill all thy likerous talent!", "Out of the harde bones knocke they", "The marrow, for they caste naught away", "That may go through the gullet soft and swoot", "Of spicery and leaves, of bark and root,", "Shall be his sauce y-maked by delight,", "To make him have a newer appetite.", "But, certes, he that haunteth such delices", "Is dead while that he liveth in those vices.", "", "A lecherous thing is wine, and drunkenness", "Is full of striving and of wretchedness.", "O drunken man! disfgur'd is thy face,", "Sour is thy breath, foul art thou to embrace:", "And through thy drunken nose sowneth the soun',", "As though thous saidest aye, Samsoun! Samsoun!", "And yet, God wot, Samson drank never wine.", "Thou fallest as it were a sticked swine;", "Thy tongue is lost, and all thine honest cure;", "For drunkenness is very sepulture", "Of manne's wit and his discretion.", "In whom that drink hath domination,", "He can no counsel keep, it is no dread.", "Now keep you from the white and from the red,", "And namely from the white wine of Lepe,", "That is to sell in Fish Street and in Cheap.", "This wine of Spaine creepeth subtilly --", "In other wines growing faste by,", "Of which there riseth such fumosity,", "That when a man hath drunken draughtes three,", "And weeneth that he be at home in Cheap,", "He is in Spain, right at the town of Lepe,", "Not at the Rochelle, nor at Bourdeaux town;", "And thenne will he say, Samsoun! Samsoun!", "But hearken, lordings, one word, I you pray,", "That all the sovreign actes, dare I say,", "Of victories in the Old Testament,", "Through very God that is omnipotent,", "Were done in abstinence and in prayere:", "Look in the Bible, and there ye may it lear.", "Look, Attila, the greate conqueror,", "Died in his sleep, with shame and dishonour,", "Bleeding aye at his nose in drunkenness:", "A captain should aye live in soberness", "And o'er all this, advise you right well", "What was commanded unto Lemuel;", "Not Samuel, but Lemuel, say I.", "Reade the Bible, and find it expressly", "Of wine giving to them that have justice.", "No more of this, for it may well suffice.", "", "And, now that I have spoke of gluttony,", "Now will I you defende hazardry.", "Hazard is very mother of leasings,", "And of deceit, and cursed forswearings:", "Blasphem' of Christ, manslaughter, and waste also", "Of chattel and of time; and furthermo'", "It is repreve, and contrar' of honour,", "For to be held a common hazardour.", "And ever the higher he is of estate,", "The more he is holden desolate.", "If that a prince use hazardry,", "In alle governance and policy", "He is, as by common opinion,", "Y-hold the less in reputation.", "", "Chilon, that was a wise ambassador,", "Was sent to Corinth with full great honor", "From Lacedemon, to make alliance;", "And when he came, it happen'd him, by chance,", "That all the greatest that were of that land,", "Y-playing atte hazard he them fand.", "For which, as soon as that it mighte be,", "He stole him home again to his country", "And saide there, \"I will not lose my name,", "Nor will I take on me so great diffame,", "You to ally unto no hazardors.", "Sende some other wise ambassadors,", "For, by my troth, me were lever die,", "Than I should you to hazardors ally.", "For ye, that be so glorious in honours,", "Shall not ally you to no hazardours,", "As by my will, nor as by my treaty.\"", "This wise philosopher thus said he.", "Look eke how to the King Demetrius", "The King of Parthes, as the book saith us,", "Sent him a pair of dice of gold in scorn,", "For he had used hazard therebeforn:", "For which he held his glory and renown", "At no value or reputatioun.", "Lordes may finden other manner play", "Honest enough to drive the day away.", "", "Now will I speak of oathes false and great", "A word or two, as olde bookes treat.", "Great swearing is a thing abominable,", "And false swearing is more reprovable.", "The highe God forbade swearing at all;", "Witness on Matthew: but in special", "Of swearing saith the holy Jeremie,", "Thou thalt swear sooth thine oathes, and not lie:", "And swear in doom and eke in righteousness;", "But idle swearing is a cursedness.", "Behold and see, there in the firste table", "Of highe Godde's hestes honourable,", "How that the second best of him is this,", "Take not my name in idle or amiss.", "Lo, rather he forbiddeth such swearing,", "Than homicide, or many a cursed thing;", "I say that as by order thus it standeth;", "This knoweth he that his hests understandeth,", "How that the second hest of God is that.", "And farthermore, I will thee tell all plat,", "That vengeance shall not parte from his house,", "That of his oathes is outrageous.", "\"By Godde's precious heart, and by his nails,", "And by the blood of Christ, that is in Hailes,", "Seven is my chance, and thine is cinque and trey:", "By Godde's armes, if thou falsely play,", "This dagger shall throughout thine hearte go.\"", "This fruit comes of the bicched bones two,", "Forswearing, ire, falseness, and homicide.", "Now, for the love of Christ that for us died,", "Leave your oathes, bothe great and smale.", "But, Sirs, now will I ell you forth my tale.", "", "These riotoures three, of which I tell,", "Long erst than prime rang of any bell,", "Were set them in a tavern for to drink;", "And as they sat, they heard a belle clink", "Before a corpse, was carried to the grave.", "That one of them gan calle to his knave,", "\"Go bet,\" quoth he, \"and aske readily", "What corpse is this, that passeth here forth by;", "And look that thou report his name well.\"", "\"Sir,\" quoth the boy, \"it needeth never a deal;", "It was me told ere ye came here two hours;", "He was, pardie, an old fellow of yours,", "And suddenly he was y-slain to-night;", "Fordrunk as he sat on his bench upright,", "There came a privy thief, men clepe Death,", "That in this country all the people slay'th,", "And with his spear he smote his heart in two,", "And went his way withoute wordes mo'.", "He hath a thousand slain this pestilence;", "And, master, ere you come in his presence,", "Me thinketh that it were full necessary", "For to beware of such an adversary;", "Be ready for to meet him evermore.", "Thus taughte me my dame; I say no more.\"", "\"By Sainte Mary,\" said the tavernere,", "\"The child saith sooth, for he hath slain this year,", "Hence ov'r a mile, within a great village,", "Both man and woman, child, and hind, and page;", "I trow his habitation be there;", "To be advised great wisdom it were,", "Ere that he did a man a dishonour.\"", "", "\"Yea, Godde's armes,\" quoth this riotour,", "\"Is it such peril with him for to meet?", "I shall him seek, by stile and eke by street.", "I make a vow, by Godde's digne bones.\"", "Hearken, fellows, we three be alle ones:", "Let each of us hold up his hand to other,", "And each of us become the other's brother,", "And we will slay this false traitor Death;", "He shall be slain, he that so many slay'th,", "By Godde's dignity, ere it be night.\"", "Together have these three their trothe plight", "To live and die each one of them for other", "As though he were his owen sworen brother.", "And up they start, all drunken, in this rage,", "And forth they go towardes that village", "Of which the taverner had spoke beforn,", "And many a grisly oathe have they sworn,", "And Christe's blessed body they to-rent;", "\"Death shall be dead, if that we may him hent.\"", "When they had gone not fully half a mile,", "Right as they would have trodden o'er a stile,", "An old man and a poore with them met.", "This olde man full meekely them gret,", "And saide thus; \"Now, lordes, God you see!\"", "The proudest of these riotoures three", "Answer'd again; \"What? churl, with sorry grace,", "Why art thou all forwrapped save thy face?", "Why livest thou so long in so great age?\"", "This olde man gan look on his visage,", "And saide thus; \"For that I cannot find", "A man, though that I walked unto Ind,", "Neither in city, nor in no village go,", "That woulde change his youthe for mine age;", "And therefore must I have mine age still", "As longe time as it is Godde's will.", "And Death, alas! he will not have my life.", "Thus walk I like a resteless caitife,", "And on the ground, which is my mother's gate,", "I knocke with my staff, early and late,", "And say to her, 'Leve mother, let me in.", "Lo, how I wane, flesh, and blood, and skin;", "Alas! when shall my bones be at rest?", "Mother, with you I woulde change my chest,", "That in my chamber longe time hath be,", "Yea, for an hairy clout to wrap in me.'", "But yet to me she will not do that grace,", "For which fall pale and welked is my face.", "But, Sirs, to you it is no courtesy", "To speak unto an old man villainy,", "But he trespass in word or else in deed.", "In Holy Writ ye may yourselves read;", "'Against an old man, hoar upon his head,", "Ye should arise:' therefore I you rede,", "Ne do unto an old man no harm now,", "No more than ye would a man did you", "In age, if that ye may so long abide.", "And God be with you, whether ye go or ride", "I must go thither as I have to go.\"", "", "\"Nay, olde churl, by God thou shalt not so,\"", "Saide this other hazardor anon;", "\"Thou partest not so lightly, by Saint John.", "Thou spakest right now of that traitor Death,", "That in this country all our friendes slay'th;", "Have here my troth, as thou art his espy;", "Tell where he is, or thou shalt it abie,", "By God and by the holy sacrament;", "For soothly thou art one of his assent", "To slay us younge folk, thou false thief.\"", "\"Now, Sirs,\" quoth he, \"if it be you so lief", "To finde Death, turn up this crooked way,", "For in that grove I left him, by my fay,", "Under a tree, and there he will abide;", "Nor for your boast he will him nothing hide.", "See ye that oak? right there ye shall him find.", "God save you, that bought again mankind,", "And you amend!\" Thus said this olde man;", "And evereach of these riotoures ran,", "Till they came to the tree, and there they found", "Of florins fine, of gold y-coined round,", "Well nigh a seven bushels, as them thought.", "No longer as then after Death they sought;", "But each of them so glad was of the sight,", "For that the florins were so fair and bright,", "That down they sat them by the precious hoard.", "The youngest of them spake the firste word:", "\"Brethren,\" quoth he, \"take keep what I shall say;", "My wit is great, though that I bourde and play", "This treasure hath Fortune unto us given", "In mirth and jollity our life to liven;", "And lightly as it comes, so will we spend.", "Hey! Godde's precious dignity! who wend", "Today that we should have so fair a grace?", "But might this gold he carried from this place", "Home to my house, or elles unto yours", "(For well I wot that all this gold is ours),", "Then were we in high felicity.", "But truely by day it may not be;", "Men woulde say that we were thieves strong,", "And for our owen treasure do us hong.", "This treasure muste carried be by night,", "As wisely and as slily as it might.", "Wherefore I rede, that cut among us all", "We draw, and let see where the cut will fall:", "And he that hath the cut, with hearte blithe", "Shall run unto the town, and that full swithe,", "And bring us bread and wine full privily:", "And two of us shall keepe subtilly", "This treasure well: and if he will not tarry,", "When it is night, we will this treasure carry,", "By one assent, where as us thinketh best.\"", "Then one of them the cut brought in his fist,", "And bade them draw, and look where it would fall;", "And it fell on the youngest of them all;", "And forth toward the town he went anon.", "And all so soon as that he was y-gone,", "The one of them spake thus unto the other;", "\"Thou knowest well that thou art my sworn brother,", "Thy profit will I tell thee right anon.", "Thou knowest well that our fellow is gone,", "And here is gold, and that full great plenty,", "That shall departed he among us three.", "But natheless, if I could shape it so", "That it departed were among us two,", "Had I not done a friende's turn to thee?\"", "Th' other answer'd, \"I n'ot how that may be;", "He knows well that the gold is with us tway.", "What shall we do? what shall we to him say?\"", "\"Shall it be counsel?\" said the firste shrew;", "\"And I shall tell to thee in wordes few", "What we shall do, and bring it well about.\"", "\"I grante,\" quoth the other, \"out of doubt,", "That by my truth I will thee not bewray.\"", "\"Now,\" quoth the first, \"thou know'st well we be tway,", "And two of us shall stronger be than one.", "Look; when that he is set, thou right anon", "Arise, as though thou wouldest with him play;", "And I shall rive him through the sides tway,", "While that thou strugglest with him as in game;", "And with thy dagger look thou do the same.", "And then shall all this gold departed be,", "My deare friend, betwixte thee and me:", "Then may we both our lustes all fulfil,", "And play at dice right at our owen will.\"", "And thus accorded be these shrewes tway", "To slay the third, as ye have heard me say.", "", "The youngest, which that wente to the town,", "Full oft in heart he rolled up and down", "The beauty of these florins new and bright.", "\"O Lord!\" quoth he, \"if so were that I might", "Have all this treasure to myself alone,", "There is no man that lives under the throne", "Of God, that shoulde have so merry as I.\"", "And at the last the fiend our enemy", "Put in his thought, that he should poison buy,", "With which he mighte slay his fellows twy.", "For why, the fiend found him in such living,", "That he had leave to sorrow him to bring.", "For this was utterly his full intent", "To slay them both, and never to repent.", "And forth he went, no longer would he tarry,", "Into the town to an apothecary,", "And prayed him that he him woulde sell", "Some poison, that he might his rattes quell,", "And eke there was a polecat in his haw,", "That, as he said, his eapons had y-slaw:", "And fain he would him wreak, if that he might,", "Of vermin that destroyed him by night.", "Th'apothecary answer'd, \"Thou shalt have", "A thing, as wisly God my soule save,", "In all this world there is no creature", "That eat or drank hath of this confecture,", "Not but the mountance of a corn of wheat,", "That he shall not his life anon forlete;", "Yea, sterve he shall, and that in lesse while", "Than thou wilt go apace nought but a mile:", "This poison is so strong and violent.\"", "This cursed man hath in his hand y-hent", "This poison in a box, and swift he ran", "Into the nexte street, unto a man,", "And borrow'd of him large bottles three;", "And in the two the poison poured he;", "The third he kepte clean for his own drink,", "For all the night he shope him for to swink", "In carrying off the gold out of that place.", "And when this riotour, with sorry grace,", "Had fill'd with wine his greate bottles three,", "", "To his fellows again repaired he.", "What needeth it thereof to sermon more?", "For, right as they had cast his death before,", "Right so they have him slain, and that anon.", "And when that this was done, thus spake the one;", "\"Now let us sit and drink, and make us merry,", "And afterward we will his body bury.\"", "And with that word it happen'd him par cas", "To take the bottle where the poison was,", "And drank, and gave his fellow drink also,", "For which anon they sterved both the two.", "But certes I suppose that Avicen", "Wrote never in no canon, nor no fen,", "More wondrous signes of empoisoning,", "Than had these wretches two ere their ending.", "Thus ended be these homicides two,", "And eke the false empoisoner also.", "", "O cursed sin, full of all cursedness!", "O trait'rous homicide! O wickedness!", "O glutt'ny, luxury, and hazardry!", "Thou blasphemer of Christ with villany,", "And oathes great, of usage and of pride!", "Alas! mankinde, how may it betide,", "That to thy Creator, which that thee wrought,", "And with his precious hearte-blood thee bought,", "Thou art so false and so unkind, alas!", "Now, good men, God forgive you your trespass,", "And ware you from the sin of avarice.", "Mine holy pardon may you all warice,", "So that ye offer nobles or sterlings,", "Or elles silver brooches, spoons, or rings.", "Bowe your head under this holy bull.", "Come up, ye wives, and offer of your will;", "Your names I enter in my roll anon;", "Into the bliss of heaven shall ye gon;", "I you assoil by mine high powere,", "You that will offer, as clean and eke as clear", "As ye were born. Lo, Sires, thus I preach;", "And Jesus Christ, that is our soules' leech,", "So grante you his pardon to receive;", "For that is best, I will not deceive.", "", "But, Sirs, one word forgot I in my tale;", "I have relics and pardon in my mail,", "As fair as any man in Engleland,", "Which were me given by the Pope's hand.", "If any of you will of devotion", "Offer, and have mine absolution,", "Come forth anon, and kneele here adown", "And meekely receive my pardoun.", "Or elles take pardon, as ye wend,", "All new and fresh at every towne's end,", "So that ye offer, always new and new,", "Nobles or pence which that be good and true.", "'Tis an honour to evereach that is here,", "That ye have a suffisant pardonere", "T'assoile you in country as ye ride,", "For aventures which that may betide.", "Paraventure there may fall one or two", "Down of his horse, and break his neck in two.", "Look, what a surety is it to you all,", "That I am in your fellowship y-fall,", "That may assoil you bothe more and lass,", "When that the soul shall from the body pass.", "I rede that our Hoste shall begin,", "For he is most enveloped in sin.", "Come forth, Sir Host, and offer first anon,", "And thou shalt kiss; the relics every one,", "Yea, for a groat; unbuckle anon thy purse.", "", "\"Nay, nay,\" quoth he, \"then have I Christe's curse!", "Let be,\" quoth he, \"it shall not be, so the'ch.", "Thou wouldest make me kiss thine olde breech,", "And swear it were a relic of a saint,", "Though it were with thy fundament depaint'.", "But, by the cross which that Saint Helen fand,", "I would I had thy coilons in mine hand,", "Instead of relics, or of sanctuary.", "Let cut them off, I will thee help them carry;", "They shall be shrined in a hogge's turd.\"", "The Pardoner answered not one word;", "So wroth he was, no worde would he say.", "", "\"Now,\" quoth our Host, \"I will no longer play", "With thee, nor with none other angry man.\"", "But right anon the worthy Knight began", "(When that he saw that all the people lough),", "\"No more of this, for it is right enough.", "Sir Pardoner, be merry and glad of cheer;", "And ye, Sir Host, that be to me so dear,", "I pray you that ye kiss the Pardoner;", "And, Pardoner, I pray thee draw thee ner,", "And as we didde, let us laugh and play.\"", "Anon they kiss'd, and rode forth their way." ], "linecount": "684" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Prioress's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "\"WELL said, by corpus Domini,\" quoth our Host;", "\"Now longe may'st thou saile by the coast,", "Thou gentle Master, gentle Marinere.", "God give the monk a thousand last quad year!", "Aha! fellows, beware of such a jape.", "The monk put in the manne's hood an ape,", "And in his wife's eke, by Saint Austin.", "Drawe no monkes more into your inn.", "But now pass over, and let us seek about,", "Who shall now telle first of all this rout", "Another tale;\" and with that word he said,", "As courteously as it had been a maid;", "\"My Lady Prioresse, by your leave,", "So that I wist I shoulde you not grieve,", "I woulde deeme that ye telle should", "A tale next, if so were that ye would.", "Now will ye vouchesafe, my lady dear?\"", "\"Gladly,\" quoth she; and said as ye shall hear.", "", "THE TALE.", "", "O Lord our Lord! thy name how marvellous", "Is in this large world y-spread! (quoth she)", "For not only thy laude precious", "Performed is by men of high degree,", "But by the mouth of children thy bounte", "Performed is, for on the breast sucking", "Sometimes showe they thy herying.", "", "Wherefore in laud, as I best can or may", "Of thee, and of the white lily flow'r", "Which that thee bare, and is a maid alway,", "To tell a story I will do my labour;", "Not that I may increase her honour,", "For she herselven is honour and root", "Of bounte, next her son, and soules' boot.", "", "O mother maid, O maid and mother free!", "O bush unburnt, burning in Moses' sight,", "That ravished'st down from the deity,", "Through thy humbless, the ghost that in thee light;", "Of whose virtue, when he thine hearte light,", "Conceived was the Father's sapience;", "Help me to tell it to thy reverence.", "", "Lady! thy bounty, thy magnificence,", "Thy virtue, and thy great humility,", "There may no tongue express in no science:", "For sometimes, Lady! ere men pray to thee,", "Thou go'st before, of thy benignity,", "And gettest us the light, through thy prayere,", "To guiden us unto thy son so dear.", "", "My conning is so weak, O blissful queen,", "For to declare thy great worthiness,", "That I not may the weight of it sustene;", "But as a child of twelvemonth old, or less,", "That can unnethes any word express,", "Right so fare I; and therefore, I you pray,", "Guide my song that I shall of you say.", "", "There was in Asia, in a great city,", "Amonges Christian folk, a Jewery,", "Sustained by a lord of that country,", "For foul usure, and lucre of villainy,", "Hateful to Christ, and to his company;", "And through the street men mighte ride and wend,", "For it was free, and open at each end.", "", "A little school of Christian folk there stood", "Down at the farther end, in which there were", "Children an heap y-come of Christian blood,", "That learned in that schoole year by year", "Such manner doctrine as men used there;", "This is to say, to singen and to read,", "As smalle children do in their childhead.", "", "Among these children was a widow's son,", "A little clergion, seven year of age,", "That day by day to scholay was his won,", "And eke also, whereso he saw th' image", "Of Christe's mother, had he in usage,", "As him was taught, to kneel adown, and say", "Ave Maria as he went by the way.", "", "Thus had this widow her little son y-taught", "Our blissful Lady, Christe's mother dear,", "To worship aye, and he forgot it not;", "For sely child will always soone lear.", "But aye when I remember on this mattere,", "Saint Nicholas stands ever in my presence;", "For he so young to Christ did reverence.", "", "This little child his little book learning,", "As he sat in the school at his primere,", "He Alma redemptoris hearde sing,", "As children learned their antiphonere;", "And as he durst, he drew him nere and nere,", "And hearken'd aye the wordes and the note,", "Till he the firste verse knew all by rote.", "", "Nought wist he what this Latin was tosay,", "For he so young and tender was of age;", "But on a day his fellow gan he pray", "To expound him this song in his language,", "Or tell him why this song was in usage:", "This pray'd he him to construe and declare,", "Full oftentime upon his knees bare.", "", "His fellow, which that elder was than he,", "Answer'd him thus: \"This song, I have heard say,", "Was maked of our blissful Lady free,", "Her to salute, and eke her to pray", "To be our help and succour when we dey.", "I can no more expound in this mattere:", "I learne song, I know but small grammere.\"", "", "\"And is this song y-made in reverence", "Of Christe's mother?\" said this innocent;", "Now certes I will do my diligence", "To conne it all, ere Christemas be went;", "Though that I for my primer shall be shent,", "And shall be beaten thries in an hour,", "I will it conne, our Lady to honour.\"", "", "His fellow taught him homeward privily", "From day to day, till he coud it by rote,", "And then he sang it well and boldely", "From word to word according with the note;", "Twice in a day it passed through his throat;", "To schoole-ward, and homeward when he went;", "On Christ's mother was set all his intent.", "", "As I have said, throughout the Jewery,", "This little child, as he came to and fro,", "Full merrily then would he sing and cry,", "O Alma redemptoris, evermo';", "The sweetness hath his hearte pierced so", "Of Christe's mother, that to her to pray", "He cannot stint of singing by the way.", "", "Our firste foe, the serpent Satanas,", "That hath in Jewes' heart his waspe's nest,", "Upswell'd and said, \"O Hebrew people, alas!", "Is this to you a thing that is honest,", "That such a boy shall walken as him lest", "In your despite, and sing of such sentence,", "Which is against your lawe's reverence?\"", "", "From thenceforth the Jewes have conspired", "This innocent out of the world to chase;", "A homicide thereto have they hired,", "That in an alley had a privy place,", "And, as the child gan forth by for to pace,", "This cursed Jew him hent, and held him fast", "And cut his throat, and in a pit him cast.", "", "I say that in a wardrobe he him threw,", "Where as the Jewes purged their entrail.", "O cursed folk! O Herodes all new!", "What may your evil intente you avail?", "Murder will out, certain it will not fail,", "And namely where th' honour of God shall spread;", "The blood out crieth on your cursed deed.", "", "O martyr souded to virginity,", "Now may'st thou sing, and follow ever-in-one", "The white Lamb celestial (quoth she),", "Of which the great Evangelist Saint John", "In Patmos wrote, which saith that they that gon", "Before this Lamb, and sing a song all new,", "That never fleshly woman they ne knew.", "", "This poore widow waited all that night", "After her little child, but he came not;", "For which, as soon as it was daye's light,", "With face pale, in dread and busy thought,", "She hath at school and elleswhere him sought,", "Till finally she gan so far espy,", "That he was last seen in the Jewery.", "", "With mother's pity in her breast enclosed,", "She went, as she were half out of her mind,", "To every place, where she hath supposed", "By likelihood her little child to find:", "And ever on Christ's mother meek and kind", "She cried, and at the laste thus she wrought,", "Among the cursed Jewes she him sought.", "", "She freined, and she prayed piteously", "To every Jew that dwelled in that place,", "To tell her, if her childe went thereby;", "They saide, \"Nay;\" but Jesus of his grace", "Gave in her thought, within a little space,", "That in that place after her son she cried,", "Where he was cast into a pit beside.", "", "O greate God, that preformest thy laud", "By mouth of innocents, lo here thy might!", "This gem of chastity, this emeraud,", "And eke of martyrdom the ruby bright,", "Where he with throat y-carven lay upright,", "He Alma Redemptoris gan to sing", "So loud, that all the place began to ring.", "", "The Christian folk, that through the streete went,", "In came, for to wonder on this thing:", "And hastily they for the provost sent.", "He came anon withoute tarrying,", "And heried Christ, that is of heaven king,", "And eke his mother, honour of mankind;", "And after that the Jewes let he bind.", "", "With torment, and with shameful death each one", "The provost did these Jewes for to sterve", "That of this murder wist, and that anon;", "He woulde no such cursedness observe", "Evil shall have that evil will deserve;", "Therefore with horses wild he did them draw,", "And after that he hung them by the law.", "", "The child, with piteous lamentation,", "Was taken up, singing his song alway:", "And with honour and great procession,", "They crry him unto the next abbay.", "His mother swooning by the biere lay;", "Unnethes might the people that were there", "This newe Rachel bringe from his bier.", "", "Upon his biere lay this innocent", "Before the altar while the masses last';", "And, after that, th' abbot with his convent", "Have sped them for to bury him full fast;", "And when they holy water on him cast,", "Yet spake this child, when sprinkled was the water,", "And sang, O Alma redemptoris mater!", "", "This abbot, which that was a holy man,", "As monkes be, or elles ought to be,", "This younger child to conjure he began,", "And said; \"O deare child! I halse thee,", "In virtue of the holy Trinity;", "Tell me what is thy cause for to sing,", "Since that thy throat is cut, to my seeming.\"", "", "\"My throat is cut unto my necke-bone,\"", "Saide this child, \"and, as by way of kind,", "I should have died, yea long time agone;", "But Jesus Christ, as ye in bookes find,", "Will that his glory last and be in mind;", "And, for the worship of his mother dear,", "Yet may I sing O Alma loud and clear.", "", "\"This well of mercy, Christe's mother sweet,", "I loved alway, after my conning:", "And when that I my life should forlete,", "To me she came, and bade me for to sing", "This anthem verily in my dying,", "As ye have heard; and, when that I had sung,", "Me thought she laid a grain upon my tongue.", "", "\"Wherefore I sing, and sing I must certain,", "In honour of that blissful maiden free,", "Till from my tongue off taken is the grain.", "And after that thus saide she to me;", "'My little child, then will I fetche thee,", "When that the grain is from thy tongue take:", "Be not aghast, I will thee not forsake.'\"", "", "This holy monk, this abbot him mean I,", "His tongue out caught, and took away the grain;", "And he gave up the ghost full softely.", "And when this abbot had this wonder seen,", "His salte teares trickled down as rain:", "And groff he fell all flat upon the ground,", "And still he lay, as he had been y-bound.", "", "The convent lay eke on the pavement", "Weeping, and herying Christ's mother dear.", "And after that they rose, and forth they went,", "And took away this martyr from his bier,", "And in a tomb of marble stones clear", "Enclosed they his little body sweet;", "Where he is now, God lene us for to meet.", "", "O younge Hugh of Lincoln! slain also", "With cursed Jewes, -- as it is notable,", "For it is but a little while ago, --", "Pray eke for us, we sinful folk unstable,", "That, of his mercy, God so merciable", "On us his greate mercy multiply,", "For reverence of his mother Mary." ], "linecount": "258" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Monk's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE", "", "WHEN ended was my tale of Melibee,", "And of Prudence and her benignity,", "Our Hoste said, \"As I am faithful man,", "And by the precious corpus Madrian,", "I had lever than a barrel of ale,", "That goode lefe my wife had heard this tale;", "For she is no thing of such patience", "As was this Meliboeus' wife Prudence.", "By Godde's bones! when I beat my knaves", "She bringeth me the greate clubbed staves,", "And crieth, 'Slay the dogges every one,", "And break of them both back and ev'ry bone.'", "And if that any neighebour of mine", "Will not in church unto my wife incline,", "Or be so hardy to her to trespace,", "When she comes home she rampeth in my face,", "And crieth, 'False coward, wreak thy wife", "By corpus Domini, I will have thy knife,", "And thou shalt have my distaff, and go spin.'", "From day till night right thus she will begin.", " 'Alas!' she saith, 'that ever I was shape", "To wed a milksop, or a coward ape,", "That will be overlad with every wight!", "Thou darest not stand by thy wife's right.'", "", "\"This is my life, but if that I will fight;", "And out at door anon I must me dight,", "Or elles I am lost, but if that I", "Be, like a wilde lion, fool-hardy.", "I wot well she will do me slay some day", "Some neighebour and thenne go my way;", "For I am perilous with knife in hand,", "Albeit that I dare not her withstand;", "For she is big in armes, by my faith!", "That shall he find, that her misdoth or saith.", "But let us pass away from this mattere.", "My lord the Monk,\" quoth he, \"be merry of cheer,", "For ye shall tell a tale truely.", "Lo, Rochester stands here faste by.", "Ride forth, mine owen lord, break not our game.", "But by my troth I cannot tell your name;", "Whether shall I call you my lord Dan John,", "Or Dan Thomas, or elles Dan Albon?", "Of what house be ye, by your father's kin?", "I vow to God, thou hast a full fair skin;", "It is a gentle pasture where thou go'st;", "Thou art not like a penant or a ghost.", "Upon my faith thou art some officer,", "Some worthy sexton, or some cellarer.", "For by my father's soul, as to my dome,", "Thou art a master when thou art at home;", "No poore cloisterer, nor no novice,", "But a governor, both wily and wise,", "And therewithal, of brawnes and of bones,", "A right well-faring person for the nonce.", "I pray to God give him confusion", "That first thee brought into religion.", "Thou would'st have been a treade-fowl aright;", "Hadst thou as greate leave, as thou hast might,", "To perform all thy lust in engendrure,", "Thou hadst begotten many a creature.", "Alas! why wearest thou so wide a cope?", "God give me sorrow, but, an I were pope,", "Not only thou, but every mighty man,", "Though he were shorn full high upon his pan,", "Should have a wife; for all this world is lorn;", "Religion hath ta'en up all the corn", "Of treading, and we borel men be shrimps:", "Of feeble trees there come wretched imps.", "This maketh that our heires be so slender", "And feeble, that they may not well engender.", "This maketh that our wives will assay", "Religious folk, for they may better pay", "Of Venus' payementes than may we:", "God wot, no lusheburghes paye ye.", "But be not wroth, my lord, though that I play;", "Full oft in game a sooth have I heard say.\"", "", "This worthy Monk took all in patience,", "And said, \"I will do all my diligence,", "As far as souneth unto honesty,", "To telle you a tale, or two or three.", "And if you list to hearken hitherward,", "I will you say the life of Saint Edward;", "Or elles first tragedies I will tell,", "Of which I have an hundred in my cell.", "Tragedy is to say a certain story,", "As olde bookes maken us memory,", "Of him that stood in great prosperity,", "And is y-fallen out of high degree", "In misery, and endeth wretchedly.", "And they be versified commonly", "Of six feet, which men call hexametron;", "In prose eke be indited many a one,", "And eke in metre, in many a sundry wise.", "Lo, this declaring ought enough suffice.", "Now hearken, if ye like for to hear.", "But first I you beseech in this mattere,", "Though I by order telle not these things,", "Be it of popes, emperors, or kings,", "After their ages, as men written find,", "But tell them some before and some behind,", "As it now cometh to my remembrance,", "Have me excused of mine ignorance.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "I will bewail, in manner of tragedy,", "The harm of them that stood in high degree,", "And felle so, that there was no remedy", "To bring them out of their adversity.", "For, certain, when that Fortune list to flee,", "There may no man the course of her wheel hold:", "Let no man trust in blind prosperity;", "Beware by these examples true and old.", "", "At LUCIFER, though he an angel were,", "And not a man, at him I will begin.", "For though Fortune may no angel dere,", "From high degree yet fell he for his sin", "Down into hell, where as he yet is in.", "O Lucifer! brightest of angels all,", "Now art thou Satanas, that may'st not twin", "Out of the misery in which thou art fall.", "", "Lo ADAM, in the field of Damascene", "With Godde's owen finger wrought was he,", "And not begotten of man's sperm unclean;", "And welt all Paradise saving one tree:", "Had never worldly man so high degree", "As Adam, till he for misgovernance", "Was driven out of his prosperity", "To labour, and to hell, and to mischance.", "", "Lo SAMPSON, which that was annunciate", "By the angel, long ere his nativity;", "And was to God Almighty consecrate,", "And stood in nobless while that he might see;", "Was never such another as was he,", "To speak of strength, and thereto hardiness;", "But to his wives told he his secre,", "Through which he slew himself for wretchedness.", "", "Sampson, this noble and mighty champion,", "Withoute weapon, save his handes tway,", "He slew and all to-rente the lion,", "Toward his wedding walking by the way.", "His false wife could him so please, and pray,", "Till she his counsel knew; and she, untrue,", "Unto his foes his counsel gan bewray,", "And him forsook, and took another new.", "", "Three hundred foxes Sampson took for ire,", "And all their tailes he together band,", "And set the foxes' tailes all on fire,", "For he in every tail had knit a brand,", "And they burnt all the combs of that lend,", "And all their oliveres and vines eke.", "A thousand men he slew eke with his hand,", "And had no weapon but an ass's cheek.", "", "When they were slain, so thirsted him, that he", "Was well-nigh lorn, for which he gan to pray", "That God would on his pain have some pity,", "And send him drink, or elles must he die;", "And of this ass's check, that was so dry,", "Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a well,", "Of which, he drank enough, shortly to say.", "Thus help'd him God, as Judicum can tell.", "", "By very force, at Gaza, on a night,", "Maugre the Philistines of that city,", "The gates of the town he hath up plight,", "And on his back y-carried them hath he", "High on an hill, where as men might them see.", "O noble mighty Sampson, lefe and dear,", "Hadst thou not told to women thy secre,", "In all this world there had not been thy peer.", "", "This Sampson never cider drank nor wine,", "Nor on his head came razor none nor shear,", "By precept of the messenger divine;", "For all his strengthes in his haires were;", "And fully twenty winters, year by year,", "He had of Israel the governance;", "But soone shall he weepe many a tear,", "For women shall him bringe to mischance.", "", "Unto his leman Dalila he told,", "That in his haires all his strengthe lay;", "And falsely to his foemen she him sold,", "And sleeping in her barme upon a day", "She made to clip or shear his hair away,", "And made his foemen all his craft espien.", "And when they founde him in this array,", "They bound him fast, and put out both his eyen.", "", "But, ere his hair was clipped or y-shave,", "There was no bond with which men might him bind;", "But now is he in prison in a cave,", "Where as they made him at the querne grind.", "O noble Sampson, strongest of mankind!", "O whilom judge in glory and richess!", "Now may'st thou weepe with thine eyen blind,", "Since thou from weal art fall'n to wretchedness.", "", "Th'end of this caitiff was as I shall say;", "His foemen made a feast upon a day,", "And made him as their fool before them play;", "And this was in a temple of great array.", "But at the last he made a foul affray,", "For he two pillars shook, and made them fall,", "And down fell temple and all, and there it lay,", "And slew himself and eke his foemen all;", "", "This is to say, the princes every one;", "And eke three thousand bodies were there slain", "With falling of the great temple of stone.", "Of Sampson now will I no more sayn;", "Beware by this example old and plain,", "That no man tell his counsel to his wife", "Of such thing as he would have secret fain,", "If that it touch his limbes or his life.", "", "Of HERCULES the sov'reign conquerour", "Singe his workes' land and high renown;", "For in his time of strength he bare the flow'r.", "He slew and reft the skin of the lion", "He of the Centaurs laid the boast adown;", "He Harpies slew, the cruel birdes fell;", "He golden apples reft from the dragon", "He drew out Cerberus the hound of hell.", "", "He slew the cruel tyrant Busirus.", "And made his horse to fret him flesh and bone;", "He slew the fiery serpent venomous;", "Of Achelous' two hornes brake he one.", "And he slew Cacus in a cave of stone;", "He slew the giant Antaeus the strong;", "He slew the grisly boar, and that anon;", "And bare the heav'n upon his necke long.", "", "Was never wight, since that the world began,", "That slew so many monsters as did he;", "Throughout the wide world his name ran,", "What for his strength, and for his high bounte;", "And every realme went he for to see;", "He was so strong that no man might him let;", "At both the worlde's ends, as saith Trophee,", "Instead of boundes he a pillar set.", "", "A leman had this noble champion,", "That highte Dejanira, fresh as May;", "And, as these clerkes make mention,", "She hath him sent a shirte fresh and gay;", "Alas! this shirt, alas and well-away!", "Envenomed was subtilly withal,", "That ere that he had worn it half a day,", "It made his flesh all from his bones fall.", "", "But natheless some clerkes her excuse", "By one, that highte Nessus, that it maked;", "Be as he may, I will not her accuse;", "But on his back this shirt he wore all naked,", "Till that his flesh was for the venom blaked.", "And when he saw none other remedy,", "In hote coals he hath himselfe raked,", "For with no venom deigned he to die.", "", "Thus sterf this worthy mighty Hercules.", "Lo, who may trust on Fortune any throw?", "For him that followeth all this world of pres,", "Ere he be ware, is often laid full low;", "Full wise is he that can himselfe know.", "Beware, for when that Fortune list to glose", "Then waiteth she her man to overthrow,", "By such a way as he would least suppose.", "", "The mighty throne, the precious treasor,", "The glorious sceptre, and royal majesty,", "That had the king NABUCHODONOSOR", "With tongue unnethes may described be.", "He twice won Jerusalem the city,", "The vessels of the temple he with him lad;", "At Babylone was his sov'reign see,", "In which his glory and delight he had.", "", "The fairest children of the blood royal", "Of Israel he did do geld anon,", "And maked each of them to be his thrall.", "Amonges others Daniel was one,", "That was the wisest child of every one;", "For he the dreames of the king expounded,", "Where in Chaldaea clerkes was there none", "That wiste to what fine his dreames sounded.", "", "This proude king let make a statue of gold", "Sixty cubites long, and seven in bread',", "To which image hathe young and old", "Commanded he to lout, and have in dread,", "Or in a furnace, full of flames red,", "He should be burnt that woulde not obey:", "But never would assente to that deed", "Daniel, nor his younge fellows tway.", "", "This king of kinges proud was and elate;", "He ween'd that God, that sits in majesty,", "Mighte him not bereave of his estate;", "But suddenly he lost his dignity,", "And like a beast he seemed for to be,", "And ate hay as an ox, and lay thereout", "In rain, with wilde beastes walked he,", "Till certain time was y-come about.", "", "And like an eagle's feathers wax'd his hairs,", "His nailes like a birde's clawes were,", "Till God released him at certain years,", "And gave him wit; and then with many a tear", "He thanked God, and ever his life in fear", "Was he to do amiss, or more trespace:", "And till that time he laid was on his bier,", "He knew that God was full of might and grace.", "", "His sone, which that highte BALTHASAR,", "That held the regne after his father's day,", "He by his father coulde not beware,", "For proud he was of heart and of array;", "And eke an idolaster was he aye.", "His high estate assured him in pride;", "But Fortune cast him down, and there he lay,", "And suddenly his regne gan divide.", "", "A feast he made unto his lordes all", "Upon a time, and made them blithe be,", "And then his officeres gan he call;", "\"Go, bringe forth the vessels,\" saide he,", "\"Which that my father in his prosperity", "Out of the temple of Jerusalem reft,", "And to our highe goddes thanks we", "Of honour, that our elders with us left.\"", "", "His wife, his lordes, and his concubines", "Aye dranke, while their appetites did last,", "Out of these noble vessels sundry wines.", "And on a wall this king his eyen cast,", "And saw an hand, armless, that wrote full fast;", "For fear of which he quaked, and sighed sore.", "This hand, that Balthasar so sore aghast,", "Wrote Mane, tekel, phares, and no more.", "", "In all that land magician was there none", "That could expounde what this letter meant.", "But Daniel expounded it anon,", "And said, \"O King, God to thy father lent", "Glory and honour, regne, treasure, rent;", "And he was proud, and nothing God he drad;", "And therefore God great wreche upon him sent,", "And him bereft the regne that he had.", "", "\"He was cast out of manne's company;", "With asses was his habitation", "And ate hay, as a beast, in wet and dry,", "Till that he knew by grace and by reason", "That God of heaven hath domination", "O'er every regne, and every creature;", "And then had God of him compassion,", "And him restor'd his regne and his figure.", "", "\"Eke thou, that art his son, art proud also,", "And knowest all these thinges verily;", "And art rebel to God, and art his foe.", "Thou drankest of his vessels boldely;", "Thy wife eke, and thy wenches, sinfully", "Drank of the same vessels sundry wines,", "And heried false goddes cursedly;", "Therefore to thee y-shapen full great pine is.", "", "\"This hand was sent from God, that on the wall", "Wrote Mane, tekel, phares, truste me;", "Thy reign is done; thou weighest naught at all;", "Divided is thy regne, and it shall be", "To Medes and to Persians giv'n,\" quoth he.", "And thilke same night this king was slaw", "And Darius occupied his degree,", "Though he thereto had neither right nor law.", "", "Lordings, example hereby may ye take,", "How that in lordship is no sickerness;", "For when that Fortune will a man forsake,", "She bears away his regne and his richess,", "And eke his friendes bothe more and less,", "For what man that hath friendes through fortune,", "Mishap will make them enemies, I guess;", "This proverb is full sooth, and full commune.", "", "ZENOBIA, of Palmyrie the queen,", "As write Persians of her nobless,", "So worthy was in armes, and so keen,", "That no wight passed her in hardiness,", "Nor in lineage, nor other gentleness.", "Of the king's blood of Perse is she descended;", "I say not that she hadde most fairness,", "But of her shape she might not he amended.", "", "From her childhood I finde that she fled", "Office of woman, and to woods she went,", "And many a wilde harte's blood she shed", "With arrows broad that she against them sent;", "She was so swift, that she anon them hent.", "And when that she was older, she would kill", "Lions, leopards, and beares all to-rent,", "And in her armes wield them at her will.", "", "She durst the wilde beastes' dennes seek,", "And runnen in the mountains all the night,", "And sleep under a bush; and she could eke", "Wrestle by very force and very might", "With any young man, were he ne'er so wight;", "There mighte nothing in her armes stond.", "She kept her maidenhood from every wight,", "To no man deigned she for to be bond.", "", "But at the last her friendes have her married", "To Odenate, a prince of that country;", "All were it so, that she them longe tarried.", "And ye shall understande how that he", "Hadde such fantasies as hadde she;", "But natheless, when they were knit in fere,", "They liv'd in joy, and in felicity,", "For each of them had other lefe and dear.", "", "Save one thing, that she never would assent,", "By no way, that he shoulde by her lie", "But ones, for it was her plain intent", "To have a child, the world to multiply;", "And all so soon as that she might espy", "That she was not with childe by that deed,", "Then would she suffer him do his fantasy", "Eftsoon, and not but ones, out of dread.", "", "And if she were with child at thilke cast,", "No more should he playe thilke game", "Till fully forty dayes were past;", "Then would she once suffer him do the same.", "All were this Odenatus wild or tame,", "He got no more of her; for thus she said,", "It was to wives lechery and shame", "In other case if that men with them play'd.", "", "Two sones, by this Odenate had she,", "The which she kept in virtue and lettrure.", "But now unto our tale turne we;", "I say, so worshipful a creature,", "And wise therewith, and large with measure,", "So penible in the war, and courteous eke,", "Nor more labour might in war endure,", "Was none, though all this worlde men should seek.", "", "Her rich array it mighte not be told,", "As well in vessel as in her clothing:", "She was all clad in pierrie and in gold,", "And eke she lefte not, for no hunting,", "To have of sundry tongues full knowing,", "When that she leisure had, and for t'intend", "To learne bookes was all her liking,", "How she in virtue might her life dispend.", "", "And, shortly of this story for to treat,", "So doughty was her husband and eke she,", "That they conquered many regnes great", "In th'Orient, with many a fair city", "Appertinent unto the majesty", "Of Rome, and with strong hande held them fast,", "Nor ever might their foemen do them flee,", "Aye while that Odenatus' dayes last'.", "", "Her battles, whoso list them for to read,", "Against Sapor the king, and other mo',", "And how that all this process fell in deed,", "Why she conquer'd, and what title thereto,", "And after of her mischief and her woe,", "How that she was besieged and y-take,", "Let him unto my master Petrarch go,", "That writes enough of this, I undertake.", "", "When Odenate was dead, she mightily", "The regne held, and with her proper hand", "Against her foes she fought so cruelly,", "That there n'as king nor prince in all that land,", "That was not glad, if be that grace fand", "That she would not upon his land warray;", "With her they maden alliance by bond,", "To be in peace, and let her ride and play.", "", "The emperor of Rome, Claudius,", "Nor, him before, the Roman Gallien,", "Durste never be so courageous,", "Nor no Armenian, nor Egyptien,", "Nor Syrian, nor no Arabien,", "Within the fielde durste with her fight,", "Lest that she would them with her handes slen,", "Or with her meinie putte them to flight.", "", "In kinges' habit went her sones two,", "As heires of their father's regnes all;", "And Heremanno and Timolao", "Their names were, as Persians them call", "But aye Fortune hath in her honey gall;", "This mighty queene may no while endure;", "Fortune out of her regne made her fall", "To wretchedness and to misadventure.", "", "Aurelian, when that the governance", "Of Rome came into his handes tway,", "He shope upon this queen to do vengeance;", "And with his legions he took his way", "Toward Zenobie, and, shortly for to say,", "He made her flee, and at the last her hent,", "And fetter'd her, and eke her children tway,", "And won the land, and home to Rome he went.", "", "Amonges other thinges that he wan,", "Her car, that was with gold wrought and pierrie,", "This greate Roman, this Aurelian", "Hath with him led, for that men should it see.", "Before in his triumphe walked she", "With gilte chains upon her neck hanging;", "Crowned she was, as after her degree,", "And full of pierrie her clothing.", "", "Alas, Fortune! she that whilom was", "Dreadful to kinges and to emperours,", "Now galeth all the people on her, alas!", "And she that helmed was in starke stowres,", "And won by force townes strong and tow'rs,", "Shall on her head now wear a vitremite;", "And she that bare the sceptre full of flow'rs", "Shall bear a distaff, her cost for to quite.", "", "Although that NERO were so vicious", "As any fiend that lies full low adown,", "Yet he, as telleth us Suetonius,", "This wide world had in subjectioun,", "Both East and West, South and Septentrioun.", "Of rubies, sapphires, and of pearles white", "Were all his clothes embroider'd up and down,", "For he in gemmes greatly gan delight.", "", "More delicate, more pompous of array,", "More proud, was never emperor than he;", "That ilke cloth that he had worn one day,", "After that time he would it never see;", "Nettes of gold thread had he great plenty,", "To fish in Tiber, when him list to play;", "His lustes were as law, in his degree,", "For Fortune as his friend would him obey.", "", "He Rome burnt for his delicacy;", "The senators he slew upon a day,", "To heare how that men would weep and cry;", "And slew his brother, and by his sister lay.", "His mother made he in piteous array;", "For he her wombe slitte, to behold", "Where he conceived was; so well-away!", "That he so little of his mother told.", "", "No tear out of his eyen for that sight", "Came; but he said, a fair woman was she.", "Great wonder is, how that he could or might", "Be doomesman of her deade beauty:", "The wine to bringe him commanded he,", "And drank anon; none other woe he made,", "When might is joined unto cruelty,", "Alas! too deepe will the venom wade.", "", "In youth a master had this emperour,", "To teache him lettrure and courtesy;", "For of morality he was the flow'r,", "As in his time, but if bookes lie.", "And while this master had of him mast'ry,", "He made him so conning and so souple,", "That longe time it was ere tyranny,", "Or any vice, durst in him uncouple.", "", "This Seneca, of which that I devise,", "Because Nero had of him suche dread,", "For he from vices would him aye chastise", "Discreetly, as by word, and not by deed;", "\"Sir,\" he would say, \"an emperor must need", "Be virtuous, and hate tyranny.\"", "For which he made him in a bath to bleed", "On both his armes, till he muste die.", "", "This Nero had eke of a custumance", "In youth against his master for to rise;", "Which afterward he thought a great grievance;", "Therefore he made him dien in this wise.", "But natheless this Seneca the wise", "Chose in a bath to die in this mannere,", "Rather than have another tormentise;", "And thus hath Nero slain his master dear.", "", "Now fell it so, that Fortune list no longer", "The highe pride of Nero to cherice;", "For though he were strong, yet was she stronger.", "She thoughte thus; \"By God, I am too nice", "To set a man, that is full fill'd of vice,", "In high degree, and emperor him call!", "By God, out of his seat I will him trice!", "When he least weeneth, soonest shall he fall.\"", "", "The people rose upon him on a night,", "For his default; and when he it espied,", "Out of his doors anon he hath him dight", "Alone, and where he ween'd t'have been allied,", "He knocked fast, and aye the more he cried", "The faster shutte they their doores all;", "Then wist he well he had himself misgied,", "And went his way, no longer durst he call.", "", "The people cried and rumbled up and down,", "That with his eares heard he how they said;", "\"Where is this false tyrant, this Neroun?\"", "For fear almost out of his wit he braid,", "And to his goddes piteously he pray'd", "For succour, but it mighte not betide", "For dread of this he thoughte that died,", "And ran into a garden him to hide.", "", "And in this garden found he churles tway,", "That satte by a fire great and red;", "And to these churles two he gan to pray", "To slay him, and to girdon off his head,", "That to his body, when that he were dead,", "Were no despite done for his defame.", "Himself he slew, he coud no better rede;", "Of which Fortune laugh'd and hadde game.", "", "Was never capitain under a king,", "That regnes more put in subjectioun,", "Nor stronger was in field of alle thing", "As in his time, nor greater of renown,", "Nor more pompous in high presumptioun,", "Than HOLOFERNES, whom Fortune aye kiss'd", "So lik'rously, and led him up and down,", "Till that his head was off ere that he wist.", "", "Not only that this world had of him awe,", "For losing of richess and liberty;", "But he made every man reny his law.", "Nabuchodonosor was God, said he;", "None other Godde should honoured be.", "Against his hest there dare no wight trespace,", "Save in Bethulia, a strong city,", "Where Eliachim priest was of that place.", "", "But take keep of the death of Holofern;", "Amid his host he drunken lay at night", "Within his tente, large as is a bern;", "And yet, for all his pomp and all his might,", "Judith, a woman, as he lay upright", "Sleeping, his head off smote, and from his tent", "Full privily she stole from every wight,", "And with his head unto her town she went.", "", "What needeth it of king ANTIOCHUS", "To tell his high and royal majesty,", "His great pride, and his workes venomous?", "For such another was there none as he;", "Reade what that he was in Maccabee.", "And read the proude wordes that he said,", "And why he fell from his prosperity,", "And in an hill how wretchedly he died.", "", "Fortune him had enhanced so in pride,", "That verily he ween'd he might attain", "Unto the starres upon every side,", "And in a balance weighen each mountain,", "And all the floodes of the sea restrain.", "And Godde's people had he most in hate", "Them would he slay in torment and in pain,", "Weening that God might not his pride abate.", "", "And for that Nicanor and Timothee", "With Jewes were vanquish'd mightily,", "Unto the Jewes such an hate had he,", "That he bade graith his car full hastily,", "And swore and saide full dispiteously,", "Unto Jerusalem he would eftsoon,", "To wreak his ire on it full cruelly", "But of his purpose was he let full soon.", "", "God for his menace him so sore smote,", "With invisible wound incurable,", "That in his guttes carf it so and bote,", "Till that his paines were importable;", "And certainly the wreche was reasonable,", "For many a manne's guttes did he pain;", "But from his purpose, curs'd and damnable,", "For all his smart he would him not restrain;", "But bade anon apparaile his host.", "", "And suddenly, ere he was of it ware,", "God daunted all his pride, and all his boast", "For he so sore fell out of his chare,", "That it his limbes and his skin to-tare,", "So that he neither mighte go nor ride", "But in a chaire men about him bare,", "Alle forbruised bothe back and side.", "", "The wreche of God him smote so cruelly,", "That through his body wicked wormes crept,", "And therewithal he stank so horribly", "That none of all his meinie that him kept,", "Whether so that he woke or elles slept,", "Ne mighte not of him the stink endure.", "In this mischief he wailed and eke wept,", "And knew God Lord of every creature.", "", "To all his host, and to himself also,", "Full wlatsem was the stink of his carrain;", "No manne might him beare to and fro.", "And in this stink, and this horrible pain,", "He starf full wretchedly in a mountain.", "Thus hath this robber, and this homicide,", "That many a manne made to weep and plain,", "Such guerdon as belongeth unto pride.", "", "The story of ALEXANDER is so commune,", "That ev'ry wight that hath discretion", "Hath heard somewhat or all of his fortune.", "This wide world, as in conclusion,", "He won by strength; or, for his high renown,", "They were glad for peace to him to send.", "The pride and boast of man he laid adown,", "Whereso he came, unto the worlde's end.", "", "Comparison yet never might be maked", "Between him and another conqueror;", "For all this world for dread of him had quaked", "He was of knighthood and of freedom flow'r:", "Fortune him made the heir of her honour.", "Save wine and women, nothing might assuage", "His high intent in arms and labour,", "So was he full of leonine courage.", "", "What praise were it to him, though I you told", "Of Darius, and a hundred thousand mo',", "Of kinges, princes, dukes, and earles bold,", "Which he conquer'd, and brought them into woe?", "I say, as far as man may ride or go,", "The world was his, why should I more devise?", "For, though I wrote or told you evermo',", "Of his knighthood it mighte not suffice.", "", "Twelve years he reigned, as saith Maccabee", "Philippe's son of Macedon he was,", "That first was king in Greece the country.", "O worthy gentle Alexander, alas", "That ever should thee falle such a case!", "Empoison'd of thine owen folk thou were;", "Thy six fortune hath turn'd into an ace,", "And yet for thee she wepte never a tear.", "", "Who shall me give teares to complain", "The death of gentiless, and of franchise,", "That all this worlde had in his demaine,", "And yet he thought it mighte not suffice,", "So full was his corage of high emprise?", "Alas! who shall me helpe to indite", "False Fortune, and poison to despise?", "The whiche two of all this woe I wite.", "", "By wisdom, manhood, and by great labour,", "From humbleness to royal majesty", "Up rose he, JULIUS the Conquerour,", "That won all th' Occident, by land and sea,", "By strength of hand or elles by treaty,", "And unto Rome made them tributary;", "And since of Rome the emperor was he,", "Till that Fortune wax'd his adversary.", "", "O mighty Caesar, that in Thessaly", "Against POMPEIUS, father thine in law,", "That of th' Orient had all the chivalry,", "As far as that the day begins to daw,", "That through thy knighthood hast them take and slaw,", "Save fewe folk that with Pompeius fled;", "Through which thou put all th' Orient in awe;", "Thanke Fortune that so well thee sped.", "", "But now a little while I will bewail", "This Pompeius, this noble governor", "Of Rome, which that fled at this battaile", "I say, one of his men, a false traitor,", "His head off smote, to winne him favor", "Of Julius, and him the head he brought;", "Alas! Pompey, of th' Orient conqueror,", "That Fortune unto such a fine thee brought!", "", "To Rome again repaired Julius,", "With his triumphe laureate full high;", "But on a time Brutus and Cassius,", "That ever had of his estate envy,", "Full privily have made conspiracy", "Against this Julius in subtle wise", "And cast the place in which he shoulde die,", "With bodekins, as I shall you devise.", "", "This Julius to the Capitole went", "Upon a day, as he was wont to gon;", "And in the Capitol anon him hent", "This false Brutus, and his other fone,", "And sticked him with bodekins anon", "With many a wound, and thus they let him lie.", "But never groan'd he at no stroke but one,", "Or else at two, but if the story lie.", "", "So manly was this Julius of heart,", "And so well loved estately honesty", "That, though his deadly woundes sore smart,", "His mantle o'er his hippes caste he,", "That ne man shoulde see his privity", "And as he lay a-dying in a trance,", "And wiste verily that dead was he,", "Of honesty yet had he remembrance.", "", "Lucan, to thee this story I recommend,", "And to Sueton', and Valerie also,", "That of this story write word and end", "How that to these great conquerores two", "Fortune was first a friend, and since a foe.", "No manne trust upon her favour long,", "But have her in await for evermo';", "Witness on all these conquerores strong.", "", "The riche CROESUS, whilom king of Lyde, --", "Of which Croesus Cyrus him sore drad, --", "Yet was he caught amiddes all his pride,", "And to be burnt men to the fire him lad;", "But such a rain down from the welkin shad,", "That slew the fire, and made him to escape:", "But to beware no grace yet he had,", "Till fortune on the gallows made him gape.", "", "When he escaped was, he could not stint", "For to begin a newe war again;", "He weened well, for that Fortune him sent", "Such hap, that he escaped through the rain,", "That of his foes he mighte not be slain.", "And eke a sweven on a night he mette,", "Of which he was so proud, and eke so fain,", "That he in vengeance all his hearte set.", "", "Upon a tree he was set, as he thought,", "Where Jupiter him wash'd, both back and side,", "And Phoebus eke a fair towel him brought", "To dry him with; and therefore wax'd his pride.", "And to his daughter that stood him beside,", "Which he knew in high science to abound,", "He bade her tell him what it signified;", "And she his dream began right thus expound.", "", "\"The tree,\" quoth she, \"the gallows is to mean,", "And Jupiter betokens snow and rain,", "And Phoebus, with his towel clear and clean,", "These be the sunne's streames sooth to sayn;", "Thou shalt y-hangeth be, father, certain;", "Rain shall thee wash, and sunne shall thee dry.\"", "Thus warned him full plat and eke full plain", "His daughter, which that called was Phanie.", "", "And hanged was Croesus the proude king;", "His royal throne might him not avail.", "Tragedy is none other manner thing,", "Nor can in singing crien nor bewail,", "But for that Fortune all day will assail", "With unware stroke the regnes that be proud:", "For when men truste her, then will she fail,", "And cover her bright face with a cloud.", "", "O noble, O worthy PEDRO, glory OF SPAIN,", "Whem Fortune held so high in majesty,", "Well oughte men thy piteous death complain.", "Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee,", "And after, at a siege, by subtlety,", "Thou wert betray'd, and led unto his tent,", "Where as he with his owen hand slew thee,", "Succeeding in thy regne and in thy rent.", "", "The field of snow, with th' eagle of black therein,", "Caught with the lion, red-colour'd as the glede,", "He brew'd this cursedness, and all this sin;", "The wicked nest was worker of this deed;", "Not Charles' Oliver, that took aye heed", "Of truth and honour, but of Armorike", "Ganilien Oliver, corrupt for meed,", "Broughte this worthy king in such a brike.", "", "O worthy PETRO, King of CYPRE also,", "That Alexandre won by high mast'ry,", "Full many a heathnen wroughtest thou full woe,", "Of which thine owen lieges had envy;", "And, for no thing but for thy chivalry,", "They in thy bed have slain thee by the morrow;", "Thus can Fortune her wheel govern and gie,", "And out of joy bringe men into sorrow.", "", "Of Milan greate BARNABO VISCOUNT,", "God of delight, and scourge of Lombardy,", "Why should I not thine clomben wert so high?", "Thy brother's son, that was thy double ally,", "For he thy nephew was and son-in-law,", "Within his prison made thee to die,", "But why, nor how, n'ot I that thou were slaw.", "", "Of th' Earl HUGOLIN OF PISE the languour", "There may no tongue telle for pity.", "But little out of Pisa stands a tow'r,", "In whiche tow'r in prison put was he,", "Aud with him be his little children three;", "The eldest scarcely five years was of age;", "Alas! Fortune, it was great cruelty", "Such birdes for to put in such a cage.", "", "Damned was he to die in that prison;", "For Roger, which that bishop was of Pise,", "Had on him made a false suggestion,", "Through which the people gan upon him rise,", "And put him in prison, in such a wise", "As ye have heard; and meat and drink he had", "So small, that well unneth it might suffice,", "And therewithal it was full poor and bad.", "", "And on a day befell, that in that hour", "When that his meate wont was to be brought,", "The jailor shut the doores of the tow'r;", "He heard it right well, but he spake nought.", "And in his heart anon there fell a thought,", "That they for hunger woulde do him dien;", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"alas that I was wrought!\"", "Therewith the teares fell from his eyen.", "", "His youngest son, that three years was of age,", "Unto him said, \"Father, why do ye weep?", "When will the jailor bringen our pottage?", "Is there no morsel bread that ye do keep?", "I am so hungry, that I may not sleep.", "Now woulde God that I might sleepen ever!", "Then should not hunger in my wombe creep;", "There is no thing, save bread, that one were lever.\"", "", "Thus day by day this child begun to cry,", "Till in his father's barme adown he lay,", "And saide, \"Farewell, father, I must die;\"", "And kiss'd his father, and died the same day.", "And when the woeful father did it sey,", "For woe his armes two he gan to bite,", "And said, \"Alas! Fortune, and well-away!", "To thy false wheel my woe all may I wite.\"", "", "His children ween'd that it for hunger was", "That he his armes gnaw'd, and not for woe,", "And saide, \"Father, do not so, alas!", "But rather eat the flesh upon us two.", "Our flesh thou gave us, our flesh take us fro',", "And eat enough;\" right thus they to him said.", "And after that, within a day or two,", "They laid them in his lap adown, and died.", "", "Himself, despaired, eke for hunger starf.", "Thus ended is this Earl of Pise;", "From high estate Fortune away him carf.", "Of this tragedy it ought enough suffice", "Whoso will hear it in a longer wise,", "Reade the greate poet of ltale,", "That Dante hight, for he can it devise", "From point to point, not one word will he fail." ], "linecount": "879" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Nun's Priest's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "\"Ho!\" quoth the Knight, \"good sir, no more of this;", "That ye have said is right enough, y-wis,", "And muche more; for little heaviness", "Is right enough to muche folk, I guess.", "I say for me, it is a great disease,", "Where as men have been in great wealth and ease,", "To hearen of their sudden fall, alas!", "And the contrary is joy and great solas,", "As when a man hath been in poor estate,", "And climbeth up, and waxeth fortunate,", "And there abideth in prosperity;", "Such thing is gladsome, as it thinketh me,", "And of such thing were goodly for to tell.\"", "", "\"Yea,\" quoth our Hoste, \"by Saint Paule's bell.", "Ye say right sooth; this monk hath clapped loud;", "He spake how Fortune cover'd with a cloud", "I wot not what, and als' of a tragedy", "Right now ye heard: and pardie no remedy", "It is for to bewaile, nor complain", "That that is done, and also it is pain,", "As ye have said, to hear of heaviness.", "Sir Monk, no more of this, so God you bless;", "Your tale annoyeth all this company;", "Such talking is not worth a butterfly,", "For therein is there no sport nor game;", "Therefore, Sir Monke, Dan Piers by your name,", "I pray you heart'ly, tell us somewhat else,", "For sickerly, n'ere clinking of your bells,", "That on your bridle hang on every side,", "By heaven's king, that for us alle died,", "I should ere this have fallen down for sleep,", "Although the slough had been never so deep;", "Then had your tale been all told in vain.", "For certainly, as these clerkes sayn,", "Where as a man may have no audience,", "Nought helpeth it to telle his sentence.", "And well I wot the substance is in me,", "If anything shall well reported be.", "Sir, say somewhat of hunting, I you pray.\"", "", "\"Nay,\" quoth the Monk, \"I have no lust to play;", "Now let another tell, as I have told.\"", "Then spake our Host with rude speech and bold,", "And said unto the Nunne's Priest anon,", "\"Come near, thou Priest, come hither, thou Sir John,", "Tell us such thing as may our heartes glade.", "Be blithe, although thou ride upon a jade.", "What though thine horse be bothe foul and lean?", "If he will serve thee, reck thou not a bean;", "Look that thine heart be merry evermo'.\"", "", "\"Yes, Host,\" quoth he, \"so may I ride or go,", "But I be merry, y-wis I will be blamed.\"", "And right anon his tale he hath attamed", "And thus he said unto us every one,", "This sweete priest, this goodly man, Sir John.", "", "THE TALE.", "", "A poor widow, somedeal y-stept in age,", "Was whilom dwelling in a poor cottage,", "Beside a grove, standing in a dale.", "This widow, of which I telle you my tale,", "Since thilke day that she was last a wife,", "In patience led a full simple life,", "For little was her chattel and her rent.", "By husbandry of such as God her sent,", "She found herself, and eke her daughters two.", "Three large sowes had she, and no mo';", "Three kine, and eke a sheep that highte Mall.", "Full sooty was her bow'r, and eke her hall,", "In which she ate full many a slender meal.", "Of poignant sauce knew she never a deal.", "No dainty morsel passed through her throat;", "Her diet was accordant to her cote.", "Repletion her made never sick;", "Attemper diet was all her physic,", "And exercise, and hearte's suffisance.", "The goute let her nothing for to dance,", "Nor apoplexy shente not her head.", "No wine drank she, neither white nor red:", "Her board was served most with white and black,", "Milk and brown bread, in which she found no lack,", "Seind bacon, and sometimes an egg or tway;", "For she was as it were a manner dey.", "A yard she had, enclosed all about", "With stickes, and a drye ditch without,", "In which she had a cock, hight Chanticleer;", "In all the land of crowing n'as his peer.", "His voice was merrier than the merry orgon,", "On masse days that in the churches gon.", "Well sickerer was his crowing in his lodge,", "Than is a clock, or an abbay horloge.", "By nature he knew each ascension", "Of th' equinoctial in thilke town;", "For when degrees fiftene were ascended,", "Then crew he, that it might not be amended.", "His comb was redder than the fine coral,", "Embattell'd as it were a castle wall.", "His bill was black, and as the jet it shone;", "Like azure were his legges and his tone;", "His nailes whiter than the lily flow'r,", "And like the burnish'd gold was his colour,", "This gentle cock had in his governance", "Sev'n hennes, for to do all his pleasance,", "Which were his sisters and his paramours,", "And wondrous like to him as of colours.", "Of which the fairest-hued in the throat", "Was called Damoselle Partelote,", "Courteous she was, discreet, and debonair,", "And companiable, and bare herself so fair,", "Since the day that she sev'n night was old,", "That truely she had the heart in hold", "Of Chanticleer, locked in every lith;", "He lov'd her so, that well was him therewith,", "But such a joy it was to hear them sing,", "When that the brighte sunne gan to spring,", "In sweet accord, \"My lefe is fare in land.\"", "For, at that time, as I have understand,", "Beastes and birdes coulde speak and sing.", "", "And so befell, that in a dawening,", "As Chanticleer among his wives all", "Sat on his perche, that was in the hall,", "And next him sat this faire Partelote,", "This Chanticleer gan groanen in his throat,", "As man that in his dream is dretched sore,", "And when that Partelote thus heard him roar,", "She was aghast, and saide, \"Hearte dear,", "What aileth you to groan in this mannere?", "Ye be a very sleeper, fy for shame!\"", "And he answer'd and saide thus; \"Madame,", "I pray you that ye take it not agrief;", "By God, me mette I was in such mischief,", "Right now, that yet mine heart is sore affright'.", "Now God,\" quoth he, \"my sweven read aright", "And keep my body out of foul prisoun.", "Me mette, how that I roamed up and down", "Within our yard, where as I saw a beast", "Was like an hound, and would have made arrest", "Upon my body, and would have had me dead.", "His colour was betwixt yellow and red;", "And tipped was his tail, and both his ears,", "With black, unlike the remnant of his hairs.", "His snout was small, with glowing eyen tway;", "Yet of his look almost for fear I dey;", "This caused me my groaning, doubteless.\"", "", "\"Away,\" quoth she, \"fy on you, hearteless!", "Alas!\" quoth she, \"for, by that God above!", "Now have ye lost my heart 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 husbandes hardy, wise, and free,", "And secret, and no niggard nor no fool,", "Nor him that is aghast of every tool,", "Nor no avantour, by that God above!", "How durste ye for shame say to your love", "That anything might make you afear'd?", "Have ye no manne's heart, and have a beard?", "Alas! and can ye be aghast of swevenes?", "Nothing but vanity, God wot, in sweven is,", "Swevens engender of repletions,", "And oft of fume, and of complexions,", "When humours be too abundant in a wight.", "Certes this dream, which ye have mette tonight,", "Cometh of the great supefluity", "Of youre rede cholera, pardie,", "Which causeth folk to dreaden in their dreams", "Of arrows, and of fire with redde beams,", "Of redde beastes, that they will them bite,", "Of conteke, and of whelpes great and lite;", "Right as the humour of melancholy", "Causeth full many a man in sleep to cry,", "For fear of bulles, or of beares blake,", "Or elles that black devils will them take,", "Of other humours could I tell also,", "That worke many a man in sleep much woe;", "That I will pass as lightly as I can.", "Lo, Cato, which that was so wise a man,", "", "Now, Sir,\" quoth she, \"when we fly from these beams,", "For Godde's love, as take some laxatife;", "On peril of my soul, and of my life,", "I counsel you the best, I will not lie,", "That both of choler, and melancholy,", "Ye purge you; and, for ye shall not tarry,", "Though in this town is no apothecary,", "I shall myself two herbes teache you,", "That shall be for your health, and for your prow;", "And in our yard the herbes shall I find,", "The which have of their property by kind", "To purge you beneath, and eke above.", "Sire, forget not this for Godde's love;", "Ye be full choleric of complexion;", "Ware that the sun, in his ascension,", "You finde not replete of humours hot;", "And if it do, I dare well lay a groat,", "That ye shall have a fever tertiane,", "Or else an ague, that may be your bane,", "A day or two ye shall have digestives", "Of wormes, ere ye take your laxatives,", "Of laurel, centaury, and fumeterere,", "Or else of elder-berry, that groweth there,", "Of catapuce, or of the gaitre-berries,", "Or herb ivy growing in our yard, that merry is:", "Pick them right as they grow, and eat them in,", "Be merry, husband, for your father's kin;", "Dreade no dream; I can say you no more.\"", "", "\"Madame,\" quoth he, \"grand mercy of your lore,", "But natheless, as touching Dan Catoun,", "That hath of wisdom such a great renown,", "Though that he bade no dreames for to dread,", "By God, men may in olde bookes read", "Of many a man more of authority", "Than ever Cato was, so may I the,", "That all the reverse say of his sentence,", "And have well founden by experience", "That dreames be significations", "As well of joy, as tribulations", "That folk enduren in this life present.", "There needeth make of this no argument;", "The very preve sheweth it indeed.", "One of the greatest authors that men read", "Saith thus, that whilom two fellowes went", "On pilgrimage in a full good intent;", "And happen'd so, they came into a town", "Where there was such a congregatioun", "Of people, and eke so strait of herbergage,", "That they found not as much as one cottage", "In which they bothe might y-lodged be:", "Wherefore they musten of necessity,", "As for that night, departe company;", "And each of them went to his hostelry,", "And took his lodging as it woulde fall.", "The one of them was lodged in a stall,", "Far in a yard, with oxen of the plough;", "That other man was lodged well enow,", "As was his aventure, or his fortune,", "That us governeth all, as in commune.", "And so befell, that, long ere it were day,", "This man mette in his bed, there: as he lay,", "How that his fellow gan upon him call,", "And said, 'Alas! for in an ox's stall", "This night shall I be murder'd, where I lie", "Now help me, deare brother, or I die;", "In alle haste come to me,' he said.", "This man out of his sleep for fear abraid;", "But when that he was wak'd out of his sleep,", "He turned him, and took of this no keep;", "He thought his dream was but a vanity.", "Thus twies in his sleeping dreamed he,", "And at the thirde time yet his fellaw again", "Came, as he thought, and said, 'I am now slaw;", "Behold my bloody woundes, deep and wide.", "Arise up early, in the morning, tide,", "And at the west gate of the town,' quoth he,", "'A carte full of dung there shalt: thou see,", "In which my body is hid privily.", "Do thilke cart arroste boldely.", "My gold caused my murder, sooth to sayn.'", "And told him every point how he was slain,", "With a full piteous face, and pale of hue.", "", "\"And, truste well, his dream he found full true;", "For on the morrow, as soon as it was day,", "To his fellowes inn he took his way;", "And when that he came to this ox's stall,", "After his fellow he began to call.", "The hostelere answered him anon,", "And saide, 'Sir, your fellow is y-gone,", "As soon as day he went out of the town.'", "This man gan fallen in suspicioun,", "Rememb'ring on his dreames that he mette,", "And forth he went, no longer would he let,", "Unto the west gate of the town, and fand", "A dung cart, as it went for to dung land,", "That was arrayed in the same wise", "As ye have heard the deade man devise;", "And with an hardy heart he gan to cry,", "'Vengeance and justice of this felony:", "My fellow murder'd in this same night", "And in this cart he lies, gaping upright.", "I cry out on the ministers,' quoth he.", "'That shoulde keep and rule this city;", "Harow! alas! here lies my fellow slain.'", "What should I more unto this tale sayn?", "The people out start, and cast the cart to ground", "And in the middle of the dung they found", "The deade man, that murder'd was all new.", "O blissful God! that art so good and true,", "Lo, how that thou bewray'st murder alway.", "Murder will out, that see we day by day.", "Murder is so wlatsom and abominable", "To God, that is so just and reasonable,", "That he will not suffer it heled be;", "Though it abide a year, or two, or three,", "Murder will out, this is my conclusioun,", "And right anon, the ministers of the town", "Have hent the carter, and so sore him pined,", "And eke the hostelere so sore engined,", "That they beknew their wickedness anon,", "And were hanged by the necke bone.", "", "\"Here may ye see that dreames be to dread.", "And certes in the same book I read,", "Right in the nexte chapter after this", "(I gabbe not, so have I joy and bliss),", "Two men that would, have passed over sea,", "For certain cause, into a far country,", "If that the wind not hadde been contrary,", "That made them in a city for to tarry,", "That stood full merry upon an haven side;", "But on a day, against the even-tide,", "The wind gan change, and blew right as them lest.", "Jolly and glad they wente to their rest,", "And caste them full early for to sail.", "But to the one man fell a great marvail", "That one of them, in sleeping as he lay,", "He mette a wondrous dream, against the day:", "He thought a man stood by his bedde's side,", "And him commanded that he should abide;", "And said him thus; 'If thou to-morrow wend,", "Thou shalt be drown'd; my tale is at an end.'", "He woke, and told his follow what he mette,", "And prayed him his voyage for to let;", "As for that day, he pray'd him to abide.", "His fellow, that lay by his bedde's side,", "Gan for to laugh, and scorned him full fast.", "'No dream,' quoth he,'may so my heart aghast,", "That I will lette for to do my things.", "I sette not a straw by thy dreamings,", "For swevens be but vanities and japes.", "Men dream all day of owles and of apes,", "And eke of many a maze therewithal;", "Men dream of thing that never was, nor shall.", "But since I see, that thou wilt here abide,", "And thus forslothe wilfully thy tide,", "God wot, it rueth me; and have good day.'", "And thus he took his leave, and went his way.", "But, ere that he had half his course sail'd,", "I know not why, nor what mischance it ail'd,", "But casually the ship's bottom rent,", "And ship and man under the water went,", "In sight of other shippes there beside", "That with him sailed at the same tide.", "", "\"And therefore, faire Partelote so dear,", "By such examples olde may'st thou lear,", "That no man shoulde be too reckeless", "Of dreames, for I say thee doubteless,", "That many a dream full sore is for to dread.", "Lo, in the life of Saint Kenelm I read,", "That was Kenulphus' son, the noble king", "Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thing.", "A little ere he was murder'd on a day,", "His murder in his vision he say.", "His norice him expounded every deal", "His sweven, and bade him to keep him well", "For treason; but he was but seven years old,", "And therefore little tale hath he told", "Of any dream, so holy was his heart.", "By God, I hadde lever than my shirt", "That ye had read his legend, as have I.", "Dame Partelote, I say you truely,", "Macrobius, that wrote the vision", "In Afric' of the worthy Scipion,", "Affirmeth dreames, and saith that they be", "'Warnings of thinges that men after see.", "And furthermore, I pray you looke well", "In the Old Testament, of Daniel,", "If he held dreames any vanity.", "Read eke of Joseph, and there shall ye see", "Whether dreams be sometimes (I say not all)", "Warnings of thinges that shall after fall.", "Look of Egypt the king, Dan Pharaoh,", "His baker and his buteler also,", "Whether they felte none effect in dreams.", "Whoso will seek the acts of sundry remes", "May read of dreames many a wondrous thing.", "Lo Croesus, which that was of Lydia king,", "Mette he not that he sat upon a tree,", "Which signified he shoulde hanged be?", "Lo here, Andromache, Hectore's wife,", "That day that Hector shoulde lose his life,", "She dreamed on the same night beforn,", "How that the life of Hector should be lorn,", "If thilke day he went into battaile;", "She warned him, but it might not avail;", "He wente forth to fighte natheless,", "And was y-slain anon of Achilles.", "But thilke tale is all too long to tell;", "And eke it is nigh day, I may not dwell.", "Shortly I say, as for conclusion,", "That I shall have of this avision", "Adversity; and I say furthermore,", "That I ne tell of laxatives no store,", "For they be venomous, I wot it well;", "I them defy, I love them never a del.", "", "\"But let us speak of mirth, and stint all this;", "Madame Partelote, so have I bliss,", "Of one thing God hath sent me large grace;", "For when I see the beauty of your face,", "Ye be so scarlet-hued about your eyen,", "I maketh all my dreade for to dien,", "For, all so sicker as In principio,", "Mulier est hominis confusio.", "Madam, the sentence of of this Latin is,", "Woman is manne's joy and manne's bliss.", "For when I feel at night your softe side, --", "Albeit that I may not on you ride,", "For that our perch is made so narrow, Alas!", "I am so full of joy and of solas,", "That I defy both sweven and eke dream.\"", "And with that word he flew down from the beam,", "For it was day, and eke his hennes all;", "And with a chuck he gan them for to call,", "For he had found a corn, lay in the yard.", "Royal he was, he was no more afear'd;", "He feather'd Partelote twenty time,", "And as oft trode her, ere that it was prime.", "He looked as it were a grim lion,", "And on his toes he roamed up and down;", "He deigned not to set his feet to ground;", "He chucked, when he had a corn y-found,", "And to him ranne then his wives all.", "Thus royal, as a prince is in his hall,", "Leave I this Chanticleer in his pasture;", "And after will I tell his aventure.", "", "When that the month in which the world began,", "That highte March, when God first maked man,", "Was complete, and y-passed were also,", "Since March ended, thirty days and two,", "Befell that Chanticleer in all his pride,", "His seven wives walking him beside,", "Cast up his eyen to the brighte sun,", "That in the sign of Taurus had y-run", "Twenty degrees and one, and somewhat more;", "He knew by kind, and by none other lore,", "That it was prime, and crew with blissful steven.", "\"The sun,\" he said, \"is clomben up in heaven", "Twenty degrees and one, and more y-wis.", "Madame Partelote, my worlde's bliss,", "Hearken these blissful birdes how they sing,", "And see the freshe flowers how they spring;", "Full is mine heart of revel and solace.\"", "But suddenly him fell a sorrowful case;", "For ever the latter end of joy is woe:", "God wot that worldly joy is soon y-go:", "And, if a rhetor coulde fair indite,", "He in a chronicle might it safely write,", "As for a sov'reign notability", "Now every wise man, let him hearken me;", "This story is all as true, I undertake,", "As is the book of Launcelot du Lake,", "That women hold in full great reverence.", "Now will I turn again to my sentence.", "", "A col-fox, full of sly iniquity,", "That in the grove had wonned yeares three,", "By high imagination forecast,", "The same night thorough the hedges brast", "Into the yard, where Chanticleer the fair", "Was wont, and eke his wives, to repair;", "And in a bed of wortes still he lay,", "Till it was passed undern of the day,", "Waiting his time on Chanticleer to fall:", "As gladly do these homicides all,", "That in awaite lie to murder men.", "O false murd'rer! Rouking in thy den!", "O new Iscariot, new Ganilion!", "O false dissimuler, O Greek Sinon,", "That broughtest Troy all utterly to sorrow!", "O Chanticleer! accursed be the morrow", "That thou into thy yard flew from the beams;", "Thou wert full well y-warned by thy dreams", "That thilke day was perilous to thee.", "But what that God forewot must needes be,", "After th' opinion of certain clerkes.", "Witness on him that any perfect clerk is,", "That in school is great altercation", "In this matter, and great disputation,", "And hath been of an hundred thousand men.", "But I ne cannot boult it to the bren,", "As can the holy doctor Augustine,", "Or Boece, or the bishop Bradwardine,", "Whether that Godde's worthy foreweeting", "Straineth me needly for to do a thing", "(Needly call I simple necessity),", "Or elles if free choice be granted me", "To do that same thing, or do it not,", "Though God forewot it ere that it was wrought;", "Or if his weeting straineth never a deal,", "But by necessity conditionel.", "I will not have to do of such mattere;", "My tale is of a cock, as ye may hear,", "That took his counsel of his wife, with sorrow,", "To walken in the yard upon the morrow", "That he had mette the dream, as I you told.", "Womane's counsels be full often cold;", "Womane's counsel brought us first to woe,", "And made Adam from Paradise to go,", "There as he was full merry and well at case.", "But, for I n'ot to whom I might displease", "If I counsel of women woulde blame,", "Pass over, for I said it in my game.", "Read authors, where they treat of such mattere", "And what they say of women ye may hear.", "These be the cocke's wordes, and not mine;", "I can no harm of no woman divine.", "Fair in the sand, to bathe her merrily,", "Lies Partelote, and all her sisters by,", "Against the sun, and Chanticleer so free", "Sang merrier than the mermaid in the sea;", "For Physiologus saith sickerly,", "How that they singe well and merrily.", "And so befell that, as he cast his eye", "Among the wortes, on a butterfly,", "He was ware of this fox that lay full low.", "Nothing ne list him thenne for to crow,", "But cried anon \"Cock! cock!\" and up he start,", "As man that was affrayed in his heart.", "For naturally a beast desireth flee", "From his contrary, if be may it see,", "Though he ne'er erst had soon it with his eye", "This Chanticleer, when he gan him espy,", "He would have fled, but that the fox anon", "Said, \"Gentle Sir, alas! why will ye gon?", "Be ye afraid of me that am your friend?", "Now, certes, I were worse than any fiend,", "If I to you would harm or villainy.", "I am not come your counsel to espy.", "But truely the cause of my coming", "Was only for to hearken how ye sing;", "For truely ye have as merry a steven,", "As any angel hath that is in heaven;", "Therewith ye have of music more feeling,", "Than had Boece, or any that can sing.", "My lord your father (God his soule bless)", "And eke your mother of her gentleness,", "Have in mnine house been, to my great ease:", "And certes, Sir, full fain would I you please.", "But, for men speak of singing, I will say,", "So may I brooke well mine eyen tway,", "Save you, I hearde never man so sing", "As did your father in the morrowning.", "Certes it was of heart all that he sung.", "And, for to make his voice the more strong,", "He would so pain him, that with both his eyen", "He muste wink, so loud he woulde cryen,", "And standen on his tiptoes therewithal,", "And stretche forth his necke long and small.", "And eke he was of such discretion,", "That there was no man, in no region,", "That him in song or wisdom mighte pass.", "I have well read in Dan Burnel the Ass,", "Among his verse, how that there was a cock", "That, for a prieste's son gave him a knock", "Upon his leg, while he was young and nice,", "He made him for to lose his benefice.", "But certain there is no comparison", "Betwixt the wisdom and discretion", "Of youre father, and his subtilty.", "Now singe, Sir, for sainte charity,", "Let see, can ye your father counterfeit?\"", "", "This Chanticleer his wings began to beat,", "As man that could not his treason espy,", "So was he ravish'd with his flattery.", "Alas! ye lordes, many a false flattour", "Is in your court, and many a losengeour,", "That please you well more, by my faith,", "Than he that soothfastness unto you saith.", "Read in Ecclesiast' of flattery;", "Beware, ye lordes, of their treachery.", "This Chanticleer stood high upon his toes,", "Stretching his neck, and held his eyen close,", "And gan to crowe loude for the nonce", "And Dan Russel the fox start up at once,", "And by the gorge hente Chanticleer,", "And on his back toward the wood him bare.", "For yet was there no man that him pursu'd.", "O destiny, that may'st not be eschew'd!", "Alas, that Chanticleer flew from the beams!", "Alas, his wife raughte nought of dreams!", "And on a Friday fell all this mischance.", "O Venus, that art goddess of pleasance,", "Since that thy servant was this Chanticleer", "And in thy service did all his powere,", "More for delight, than the world to multiply,", "Why wilt thou suffer him on thy day to die?", "O Gaufrid, deare master sovereign,", "That, when thy worthy king Richard was slain", "With shot, complainedest his death so sore,", "Why n'had I now thy sentence and thy lore,", "The Friday for to chiden, as did ye?", "(For on a Friday, soothly, slain was he),", "Then would I shew you how that I could plain", "For Chanticleere's dread, and for his pain.", "", "Certes such cry nor lamentation", "Was ne'er of ladies made, when Ilion", "Was won, and Pyrrhus with his straighte sword,", "When he had hent king Priam by the beard,", "And slain him (as saith us Eneidos),", "As maden all the hennes in the close,", "When they had seen of Chanticleer the sight.", "But sov'reignly Dame Partelote shright,", "Full louder than did Hasdrubale's wife,", "When that her husband hadde lost his life,", "And that the Romans had y-burnt Carthage;", "She was so full of torment and of rage,", "That wilfully into the fire she start,", "And burnt herselfe with a steadfast heart.", "O woeful hennes! right so cried ye,", "As, when that Nero burned the city", "Of Rome, cried the senatores' wives,", "For that their husbands losten all their lives;", "Withoute guilt this Nero hath them slain.", "Now will I turn unto my tale again;", "", "The sely widow, and her daughters two,", "Hearde these hennes cry and make woe,", "And at the doors out started they anon,", "And saw the fox toward the wood is gone,", "And bare upon his back the cock away:", "They cried, \"Out! harow! and well-away!", "Aha! the fox!\" and after him they ran,", "And eke with staves many another man", "Ran Coll our dog, and Talbot, and Garland;", "And Malkin, with her distaff in her hand", "Ran cow and calf, and eke the very hogges", "So fear'd they were for barking of the dogges,", "And shouting of the men and women eke.", "They ranne so, them thought their hearts would break.", "They yelled as the fiendes do in hell;", "The duckes cried as men would them quell;", "The geese for feare flewen o'er the trees,", "Out of the hive came the swarm of bees,", "So hideous was the noise, ben'dicite!", "Certes he, Jacke Straw, and his meinie,", "Ne made never shoutes half so shrill", "When that they woulden any Fleming kill,", "As thilke day was made upon the fox.", "Of brass they broughte beames and of box,", "Of horn and bone, in which they blew and pooped,", "And therewithal they shrieked and they hooped;", "It seemed as the heaven shoulde fall", "", "Now, goode men, I pray you hearken all;", "Lo, how Fortune turneth suddenly", "The hope and pride eke of her enemy.", "This cock, that lay upon the fox's back,", "In all his dread unto the fox he spake,", "And saide, \"Sir, if that I were as ye,", "Yet would I say (as wisly God help me),", "'Turn ye again, ye proude churles all;", "A very pestilence upon you fall.", "Now am I come unto the woode's side,", "Maugre your head, the cock shall here abide;", "I will him eat, in faith, and that anon.'\"", "The fox answer'd, \"In faith it shall be done:\"", "And, as he spake the word, all suddenly", "The cock brake from his mouth deliverly,", "And high upon a tree he flew anon.", "And when the fox saw that the cock was gone,", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"O Chanticleer, alas!", "I have,\" quoth he, \"y-done to you trespass,", "Inasmuch as I maked you afear'd,", "When I you hent, and brought out of your yard;", "But, Sir, I did it in no wick' intent;", "Come down, and I shall tell you what I meant.", "I shall say sooth to you, God help me so.\"", "\"Nay then,\" quoth he, \"I shrew us both the two,", "And first I shrew myself, both blood and bones,", "If thou beguile me oftener than once.", "Thou shalt no more through thy flattery", "Do me to sing and winke with mine eye;", "For he that winketh when he shoulde see,", "All wilfully, God let him never the.\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth the fox; \"but God give him mischance", "That is so indiscreet of governance,", "That jangleth when that he should hold his peace.\"", "", "Lo, what it is for to be reckeless", "And negligent, and trust on flattery.", "But ye that holde this tale a folly,", "As of a fox, or of a cock or hen,", "Take the morality thereof, good men.", "For Saint Paul saith, That all that written is,", "To our doctrine it written is y-wis.", "Take the fruit, and let the chaff be still.", "", "Now goode God, if that it be thy will,", "As saith my Lord, so make us all good men;", "And bring us all to thy high bliss. Amen.", "", "THE EPILOGUE", "", "\"Sir Nunne's Priest,\" our hoste said anon,", "\"Y-blessed be thy breech, and every stone;", "This was a merry tale of Chanticleer.", "But by my truth, if thou wert seculere,", "Thou wouldest be a treadefowl aright;", "For if thou have courage as thou hast might,", "Thee were need of hennes, as I ween,", "Yea more than seven times seventeen.", "See, whate brawnes hath this gentle priest,", "So great a neck, and such a large breast", "He looketh as a sperhawk with his eyen", "Him needeth not his colour for to dyen", "With Brazil, nor with grain of Portugale.", "But, Sir, faire fall you for your tale'.\"", "And, after that, he with full merry cheer", "Said to another, as ye shall hear." ], "linecount": "698" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Second Nun's Tale", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "The minister and norice unto vices,", "Which that men call in English idleness,", "The porter at the gate is of delices;", "T'eschew, and by her contrar' her oppress, --", "That is to say, by lawful business, --", "Well oughte we to do our all intent", "Lest that the fiend through idleness us hent.", "", "For he, that with his thousand cordes sly", "Continually us waiteth to beclap,", "When he may man in idleness espy,", "He can so lightly catch him in his trap,", "Till that a man be hent right by the lappe,", "He is not ware the fiend hath him in hand;", "Well ought we work, and idleness withstand.", "", "And though men dreaded never for to die,", "Yet see men well by reason, doubteless,", "That idleness is root of sluggardy,", "Of which there cometh never good increase;", "And see that sloth them holdeth in a leas,", "Only to sleep, and for to eat and drink,", "And to devouren all that others swink.", "", "And, for to put us from such idleness,", "That cause is of so great confusion,", "I have here done my faithful business,", "After the Legend, in translation", "Right of thy glorious life and passion, --", "Thou with thy garland wrought of rose and lily,", "Thee mean I, maid and martyr, Saint Cecilie.", "", "And thou, thou art the flow'r of virgins all,", "Of whom that Bernard list so well to write,", "To thee at my beginning first I call;", "Thou comfort of us wretches, do me indite", "Thy maiden's death, that won through her merite", "Th' eternal life, and o'er the fiend victory,", "As man may after readen in her story.", "", "Thou maid and mother, daughter of thy Son,", "Thou well of mercy, sinful soules' cure,", "In whom that God of bounte chose to won;", "Thou humble and high o'er every creature,", "Thou nobilest, so far forth our nature,", "That no disdain the Maker had of kind,", "His Son in blood and flesh to clothe and wind.", "", "Within the cloister of thy blissful sides", "Took manne's shape th' eternal love and peace,", "That of the trine compass Lord and guide is", "Whom earth, and sea, and heav'n, out of release,", "Aye hery; and thou, Virgin wemmeless,", "Bare of thy body, and dweltest maiden pure,", "The Creator of every creature.", "", "Assembled is in thee magnificence", "With mercy, goodness, and with such pity,", "That thou, that art the sun of excellence,", "Not only helpest them that pray to thee,", "But oftentime, of thy benignity,", "Full freely, ere that men thine help beseech,", "Thou go'st before, and art their lives' leech.", "", "Now help, thou meek and blissful faire maid,", "Me, flemed wretch, in this desert of gall;", "Think on the woman Cananee that said", "That whelpes eat some of the crumbes all", "That from their Lorde's table be y-fall;", "And though that I, unworthy son of Eve,", "Be sinful, yet accepte my believe.", "", "And, for that faith is dead withoute werkes,", "For to worke give me wit and space,", "That I be quit from thennes that most derk is;", "O thou, that art so fair and full of grace,", "Be thou mine advocate in that high place,", "Where as withouten end is sung Osanne,", "Thou Christe's mother, daughter dear of Anne.", "", "And of thy light my soul in prison light,", "That troubled is by the contagion", "Of my body, and also by the weight", "Of earthly lust and false affection;", "O hav'n of refuge, O salvation", "Of them that be in sorrow and distress,", "Now help, for to my work I will me dress.", "", "Yet pray I you, that reade what I write,", "Forgive me that I do no diligence", "This ilke story subtilly t' indite.", "For both have I the wordes and sentence", "Of him that at the sainte's reverence", "The story wrote, and follow her legend;", "And pray you that you will my work amend.", "", "First will I you the name of Saint Cecilie", "Expound, as men may in her story see.", "It is to say in English, Heaven's lily,", "For pure chasteness of virginity;", "Or, for she whiteness had of honesty,", "And green of conscience, and of good fame", "The sweete savour, Lilie was her name.", "", "Or Cecilie is to say, the way of blind;", "For she example was by good teaching;", "Or else Cecilie, as I written find,", "Is joined by a manner conjoining", "Of heaven and Lia, and herein figuring", "The heaven is set for thought of holiness,", "And Lia for her lasting business.", "", "Cecilie may eke be said in this mannere,", "Wanting of blindness, for her greate light", "Of sapience, and for her thewes clear.", "Or elles, lo, this maiden's name bright", "Of heaven and Leos comes, for which by right", "Men might her well the heaven of people call,", "Example of good and wise workes all;", "", "For Leos people in English is to say;", "And right as men may in the heaven see", "The sun and moon, and starres every way,", "Right so men ghostly, in this maiden free,", "Sawen of faith the magnanimity,", "And eke the clearness whole of sapience,", "And sundry workes bright of excellence.", "", "And right so as these philosophers write,", "That heav'n is swift and round, and eke burning,", "Right so was faire Cecilie the white", "Full swift and busy in every good working,", "And round and whole in good persevering,", "And burning ever in charity full bright;", "Now have I you declared what she hight.", "", "This maiden bright Cecile, as her life saith,", "Was come of Romans, and of noble kind,", "And from her cradle foster'd in the faith", "Of Christ, and bare his Gospel in her mind:", "She never ceased, as I written find,", "Of her prayere, and God to love and dread,", "Beseeching him to keep her maidenhead.", "", "And when this maiden should unto a man", "Y-wedded be, that was full young of age,", "Which that y-called was Valerian,", "And come was the day of marriage,", "She, full devout and humble in her corage,", "Under her robe of gold, that sat full fair,", "Had next her flesh y-clad her in an hair.", "", "And while the organs made melody,", "To God alone thus in her heart sang she;", "\"O Lord, my soul and eke my body gie", "Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be.\"", "And, for his love that died upon the tree,", "Every second or third day she fast',", "Aye bidding in her orisons full fast.", "", "The night came, and to bedde must she gon", "With her husband, as it is the mannere;", "And privily she said to him anon;", "\"O sweet and well-beloved spouse dear,", "There is a counsel, an' ye will it hear,", "Which that right fain I would unto you say,", "So that ye swear ye will it not bewray.\"", "", "Valerian gan fast unto her swear", "That for no case nor thing that mighte be,", "He never should to none bewrayen her;", "And then at erst thus to him saide she;", "\"I have an angel which that loveth me,", "That with great love, whether I wake or sleep,", "Is ready aye my body for to keep;", "", "\"And if that he may feelen, out of dread,", "That ye me touch or love in villainy,", "He right anon will slay you with the deed,", "And in your youthe thus ye shoulde die.", "And if that ye in cleane love me gie,\"", "He will you love as me, for your cleanness,", "And shew to you his joy and his brightness.\"", "", "Valerian, corrected as God wo'ld,", "Answer'd again, \"If I shall truste thee,", "Let me that angel see, and him behold;", "And if that it a very angel be,", "Then will I do as thou hast prayed me;", "And if thou love another man, forsooth", "Right with this sword then will I slay you both.\"", "", "Cecile answer'd anon right in this wise;", "\"If that you list, the angel shall ye see,", "So that ye trow Of Christ, and you baptise;", "Go forth to Via Appia,\" quoth she,", "That from this towne stands but miles three,", "And to the poore folkes that there dwell", "Say them right thus, as that I shall you tell,", "", "\"Tell them, that I, Cecile, you to them sent", "To shewe you the good Urban the old,", "For secret needes, and for good intent;", "And when that ye Saint Urban have behold,", "Tell him the wordes which I to you told", "And when that he hath purged you from sin,", "Then shall ye see that angel ere ye twin", "", "Valerian is to the place gone;", "And, right as he was taught by her learning", "He found this holy old Urban anon", "Among the saintes' burials louting;", "And he anon, withoute tarrying,", "Did his message, and when that he it told,", "Urban for joy his handes gan uphold.", "", "The teares from his eyen let he fall;", "\"Almighty Lord, O Jesus Christ,\"", "Quoth he, \"Sower of chaste counsel, herd of us all;", "The fruit of thilke seed of chastity", "That thou hast sown in Cecile, take to thee", "Lo, like a busy bee, withoute guile,", "Thee serveth aye thine owen thrall Cicile,", "", "\"For thilke spouse, that she took but now,", "Full like a fierce lion, she sendeth here,", "As meek as e'er was any lamb to owe.\"", "And with that word anon there gan appear", "An old man, clad in white clothes clear,", "That had a book with letters of gold in hand,", "And gan before Valerian to stand.", "", "Valerian, as dead, fell down for dread,", "When he him saw; and he up hent him tho,", "And on his book right thus he gan to read;", "\"One Lord, one faith, one God withoute mo',", "One Christendom, one Father of all also,", "Aboven all, and over all everywhere.\"", "These wordes all with gold y-written were.", "", "When this was read, then said this olde man,", "\"Believ'st thou this or no? say yea or nay.\"", "\"I believe all this,\" quoth Valerian,", "\"For soother thing than this, I dare well say,", "Under the Heaven no wight thinke may.\"", "Then vanish'd the old man, he wist not where", "And Pope Urban him christened right there.", "", "Valerian went home, and found Cecilie", "Within his chamber with an angel stand;", "This angel had of roses and of lily", "Corones two, the which he bare in hand,", "And first to Cecile, as I understand,", "He gave the one, and after gan he take", "The other to Valerian her make.", "", "\"With body clean, and with unwemmed thought,", "Keep aye well these corones two,\" quoth he;", "\"From Paradise to you I have them brought,", "Nor ever more shall they rotten be,", "Nor lose their sweet savour, truste me,", "Nor ever wight shall see them with his eye,", "But he be chaste, and hate villainy.", "", "\"And thou, Valerian, for thou so soon", "Assented hast to good counsel, also", "Say what thee list, and thou shalt have thy boon.\"", "\"I have a brother,\" quoth Valerian tho,", "\"That in this world I love no man so;", "I pray you that my brother may have grace", "To know the truth, as I do in this place.\"", "", "The angel said, \"God liketh thy request,", "And bothe, with the palm of martyrdom,", "Ye shalle come unto this blissful rest.\"", "And, with that word, Tiburce his brother came.", "And when that he the savour undernome", "Which that the roses and the lilies cast,", "Within his heart he gan to wonder fast;", "", "And said; \"I wonder, this time of the year,", "Whence that sweete savour cometh so", "Of rose and lilies, that I smelle here;", "For though I had them in mine handes two,", "The savour might in me no deeper go;", "The sweete smell, that in my heart I find,", "Hath changed me all in another kind.\"", "", "Valerian said, \"Two crownes here have we,", "Snow-white and rose-red, that shine clear,", "Which that thine eyen have no might to see;", "And, as thou smellest them through my prayere,", "So shalt thou see them, leve brother dear,", "If it so be thou wilt withoute sloth", "Believe aright, and know the very troth. \"", "", "Tiburce answered, \"Say'st thou this to me", "In soothness, or in dreame hear I this?\"", "\"In dreames,\" quoth Valorian, \"have we be", "Unto this time, brother mine, y-wis", "But now at erst in truth our dwelling is.\"", "How know'st thou this,\" quoth Tiburce; \"in what wise?\"", "Quoth Valerian, \"That shall I thee devise", "", "\"The angel of God hath me the truth y-taught,", "Which thou shalt see, if that thou wilt reny", "The idols, and be clean, and elles nought.\"", "[And of the miracle of these crownes tway", "Saint Ambrose in his preface list to say;", "Solemnely this noble doctor dear", "Commendeth it, and saith in this mannere", "", "\"The palm of martyrdom for to receive,", "Saint Cecilie, full filled of God's gift,", "The world and eke her chamber gan to weive;", "Witness Tiburce's and Cecilie's shrift,", "To which God of his bounty woulde shift", "Corones two, of flowers well smelling,", "And made his angel them the crownes bring.", "", "\"The maid hath brought these men to bliss above;", "The world hath wist what it is worth, certain,", "Devotion of chastity to love.\"]", "Then showed him Cecilie all open and plain,", "That idols all are but a thing in vain,", "For they be dumb, and thereto they be deave;", "And charged him his idols for to leave.", "", "\"Whoso that troweth not this, a beast he is,\"", "Quoth this Tiburce, \"if that I shall not lie.\"", "And she gan kiss his breast when she heard this,", "And was full glad he could the truth espy:", "\"This day I take thee for mine ally.\"", "Saide this blissful faire maiden dear;", "And after that she said as ye may hear.", "", "\"Lo, right so as the love of Christ,\" quoth she,", "\"Made me thy brother's wife, right in that wise", "Anon for mine ally here take I thee,", "Since that thou wilt thine idoles despise.", "Go with thy brother now and thee baptise,", "And make thee clean, so that thou may'st behold", "The angel's face, of which thy brother told.\"", "", "Tiburce answer'd, and saide, \"Brother dear,", "First tell me whither I shall, and to what man?\"", "\"To whom?\" quoth he, \"come forth with goode cheer,", "I will thee lead unto the Pope Urban.\"", "\"To Urban? brother mine Valerian,\"", "Quoth then Tiburce; \"wilt thou me thither lead?", "Me thinketh that it were a wondrous deed.", "", "\"Meanest thou not that Urban,\" quoth he tho,", "\"That is so often damned to be dead,", "And wons in halkes always to and fro,", "And dare not ones putte forth his head?", "Men should him brennen in a fire so red,", "If he were found, or if men might him spy:", "And us also, to bear him company.", "", "\"And while we seeke that Divinity", "That is y-hid in heaven privily,", "Algate burnt in this world should we be.\"", "To whom Cecilie answer'd boldely;", "\"Men mighte dreade well and skilfully", "This life to lose, mine owen deare brother,", "If this were living only, and none other.", "", "\"But there is better life in other place,", "That never shall be loste, dread thee nought;", "Which Godde's Son us tolde through his grace", "That Father's Son which alle thinges wrought;", "And all that wrought is with a skilful thought,", "The Ghost, that from the Father gan proceed,", "Hath souled them, withouten any drede.", "", "By word and by miracle, high God's Son,", "When he was in this world, declared here.", "That there is other life where men may won.\"", "To whom answer'd Tiburce, \"O sister dear,", "Saidest thou not right now in this mannere,", "There was but one God, Lord in soothfastness,", "And now of three how may'st thou bear witness?\"", "", "\"That shall I tell,\" quoth she, \"ere that I go.", "Right as a man hath sapiences three,", "Memory, engine, and intellect also,", "So in one being of divinity", "Three persones there maye right well be.\"", "Then gan she him full busily to preach", "Of Christe's coming, and his paines teach,", "", "And many pointes of his passion;", "How Godde's Son in this world was withhold", "To do mankinde plein remission,", "That was y-bound in sin and cares cold.", "All this thing she unto Tiburce told,", "And after that Tiburce, in good intent,", "With Valerian to Pope Urban he went.", "", "That thanked God, and with glad heart and light", "He christen'd him, and made him in that place", "Perfect in his learning, and Godde's knight.", "And after this Tiburce got such grace,", "That every day he saw in time and space", "Th' angel of God, and every manner boon", "That be God asked, it was sped full anon.", "", "It were full hard by order for to sayn", "How many wonders Jesus for them wrought,", "But at the last, to telle short and plain,", "The sergeants of the town of Rome them sought,", "And them before Almach the Prefect brought,", "Which them apposed, and knew all their intent,", "And to th'image of Jupiter them sent.", "", "And said, \"Whoso will not do sacrifice,", "Swap off his head, this is my sentence here.\"", "Anon these martyrs, that I you devise,", "One Maximus, that was an officere", "Of the prefect's, and his corniculere", "Them hent, and when he forth the saintes lad,", "Himself he wept for pity that he had.", "", "When Maximus had heard the saintes lore,", "He got him of the tormentores leave,", "And led them to his house withoute more;", "And with their preaching, ere that it were eve,", "They gonnen from the tormentors to reave,", "And from Maxim', and from his folk each one,", "The false faith, to trow in God alone.", "", "Cecilia came, when it was waxen night,", "With priestes, that them christen'd all in fere;", "And afterward, when day was waxen light,", "Cecile them said with a full steadfast cheer,", "\"Now, Christe's owen knightes lefe and dear,", "Cast all away the workes of darkness,", "And arme you in armour of brightness.", "", "Ye have forsooth y-done a great battaile,", "Your course is done, your faith have ye conserved;", "O to the crown of life that may not fail;", "The rightful Judge, which that ye have served", "Shall give it you, as ye have it deserved.\"", "And when this thing was said, as I devise,", "Men led them forth to do the sacrifice.", "", "But when they were unto the place brought", "To telle shortly the conclusion,", "They would incense nor sacrifice right nought", "But on their knees they sette them adown,", "With humble heart and sad devotion,", "And loste both their heades in the place;", "Their soules wente to the King of grace.", "", "This Maximus, that saw this thing betide,", "With piteous teares told it anon right,", "That he their soules saw to heaven glide", "With angels, full of clearness and of light", "Andt with his word converted many a wight.", "For which Almachius did him to-beat", "With whip of lead, till he his life gan lete.", "", "Cecile him took, and buried him anon", "By Tiburce and Valerian softely,", "Within their burying-place, under the stone.", "And after this Almachius hastily", "Bade his ministers fetchen openly", "Cecile, so that she might in his presence", "Do sacrifice, and Jupiter incense.", "", "But they, converted at her wise lore,", "Wepte full sore, and gave full credence", "Unto her word, and cried more and more;", "\"Christ, Godde's Son, withoute difference,", "Is very God, this is all our sentence,", "That hath so good a servant him to serve", "Thus with one voice we trowe, though we sterve.", "", "Almachius, that heard of this doing,", "Bade fetch Cecilie, that he might her see;", "And alderfirst, lo, this was his asking;", "\"What manner woman arte thou?\" quoth he,", "\"I am a gentle woman born,\" quoth she.", "\"I aske thee,\" quoth he,\"though it thee grieve,", "Of thy religion and of thy believe.\"", "", "\"Ye have begun your question foolishly,\"", "Quoth she, \"that wouldest two answers conclude", "In one demand? ye aske lewedly.\"", "Almach answer'd to that similitude,", "\"Of whence comes thine answering so rude?\"", "\"Of whence?\" quoth she, when that she was freined,", "\"Of conscience, and of good faith unfeigned.\"", "", "Almachius saide; \"Takest thou no heed", "Of my power?\" and she him answer'd this;", "\"Your might,\" quoth she, \"full little is to dread;", "For every mortal manne's power is", "But like a bladder full of wind, y-wis;", "For with a needle's point, when it is blow',", "May all the boast of it be laid full low.\"", "", "\"Full wrongfully begunnest thou,\" quoth he,", "\"And yet in wrong is thy perseverance.", "Know'st thou not how our mighty princes free", "Have thus commanded and made ordinance,", "That every Christian wight shall have penance,", "But if that he his Christendom withsay,", "And go all quit, if he will it renay?\"", "", "\"Your princes erren, as your nobley doth,\"", "Quoth then Cecile, \"and with a wood sentence", "Ye make us guilty, and it is not sooth:", "For ye that knowe well our innocence,", "Forasmuch as we do aye reverence", "To Christ, and for we bear a Christian name,", "Ye put on us a crime and eke a blame.", "", "\"But we that knowe thilke name so", "For virtuous, we may it not withsay.\"", "Almach answered, \"Choose one of these two,", "Do sacrifice, or Christendom renay,", "That thou may'st now escape by that way.\"", "At which the holy blissful faire maid", "Gan for to laugh, and to the judge said;", "", "\"O judge, confused in thy nicety,", "Wouldest thou that I reny innocence?", "To make me a wicked wight,\" quoth she,", "\"Lo, he dissimuleth here in audience;", "He stareth and woodeth in his advertence.\"", "To whom Almachius said, \"Unsely wretch,", "Knowest thou not how far my might may stretch?", "", "\"Have not our mighty princes to me given", "Yea bothe power and eke authority", "To make folk to dien or to liven?", "Why speakest thou so proudly then to me?\"", "\"I speake not but steadfastly,\" quoth she,", "Not proudly, for I say, as for my side,", "We hate deadly thilke vice of pride.", "", "\"And, if thou dreade not a sooth to hear,", "Then will I shew all openly by right,", "That thou hast made a full great leasing here.", "Thou say'st thy princes have thee given might", "Both for to slay and for to quick a wight, --", "Thou that may'st not but only life bereave;", "Thou hast none other power nor no leave.", "", "\"But thou may'st say, thy princes have thee maked", "Minister of death; for if thou speak of mo',", "Thou liest; for thy power is full naked.\"", "\"Do away thy boldness,\" said Almachius tho,", "\"And sacrifice to our gods, ere thou go.", "I recke not what wrong that thou me proffer,", "For I can suffer it as a philosopher.", "", "\"But those wronges may I not endure,", "That thou speak'st of our goddes here,\" quoth he.", "Cecile answer'd, \"O nice creature,", "Thou saidest no word, since thou spake to me,", "That I knew not therewith thy nicety,", "And that thou wert in every manner wise", "A lewed officer, a vain justice.", "", "\"There lacketh nothing to thine outward eyen", "That thou art blind; for thing that we see all", "That it is stone, that men may well espyen,", "That ilke stone a god thou wilt it call.", "I rede thee let thine hand upon it fall,", "And taste it well, and stone thou shalt it find;", "Since that thou see'st not with thine eyen blind.", "", "\"It is a shame that the people shall", "So scorne thee, and laugh at thy folly;", "For commonly men wot it well over all,", "That mighty God is in his heaven high;", "And these images, well may'st thou espy,", "To thee nor to themselves may not profite,", "For in effect they be not worth a mite.\"", "", "These wordes and such others saide she,", "And he wax'd wroth, and bade men should her lead", "Home to her house; \"And in her house,\" quoth he,", "\"Burn her right in a bath, with flames red.\"", "And as he bade, right so was done the deed;", "For in a bath they gan her faste shetten,", "And night and day great fire they under betten.", "", "The longe night, and eke a day also,", "For all the fire, and eke the bathe's heat,", "She sat all cold, and felt of it no woe,", "It made her not one droppe for to sweat;", "But in that bath her life she must lete.", "For he, Almachius, with full wick' intent,", "To slay her in the bath his sonde sent.", "", "Three strokes in the neck he smote her tho,", "The tormentor, but for no manner chance", "He might not smite her faire neck in two:", "And, for there was that time an ordinance", "That no man should do man such penance,", "The fourthe stroke to smite, soft or sore,", "This tormentor he durste do no more;", "", "But half dead, with her necke carven there", "He let her lie, and on his way is went.", "The Christian folk, which that about her were,", "With sheetes have the blood full fair y-hent;", "Three dayes lived she in this torment,", "And never ceased them the faith to teach,", "That she had foster'd them, she gan to preach.", "", "And them she gave her mebles and her thing,", "And to the Pope Urban betook them tho;", "And said, \"I aske this of heaven's king,", "To have respite three dayes and no mo',", "To recommend to you, ere that I go,", "These soules, lo; and that I might do wirch", "Here of mine house perpetually a church.\"", "", "Saint Urban, with his deacons, privily", "The body fetch'd, and buried it by night", "Among his other saintes honestly;", "Her house the church of Saint Cecilie hight;", "Saint Urban hallow'd it, as he well might;", "In which unto this day, in noble wise,", "Men do to Christ and to his saint service." ], "linecount": "553" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Canon's Yeoman's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "WHEN ended was the life of Saint Cecile,", "Ere we had ridden fully five mile,", "At Boughton-under-Blee us gan o'ertake", "A man, that clothed was in clothes black,", "And underneath he wore a white surplice.", "His hackenay, which was all pomely-gris,", "So sweated, that it wonder was to see;", "It seem'd as he had pricked miles three.", "The horse eke that his yeoman rode upon", "So sweated, that unnethes might he gon.", "About the peytrel stood the foam full high;", "He was of foam, as flecked as a pie.", "A maile twyfold on his crupper lay;", "It seemed that he carried little array;", "All light for summer rode this worthy man.", "And in my heart to wonder I began", "What that he was, till that I understood", "How that his cloak was sewed to his hood;", "For which, when I had long advised me,", "I deemed him some Canon for to be.", "His hat hung at his back down by a lace,", "For he had ridden more than trot or pace;", "He hadde pricked like as he were wood.", "A clote-leaf he had laid under his hood,", "For sweat, and for to keep his head from heat.", "But it was joye for to see him sweat;", "His forehead dropped as a stillatory", "Were full of plantain or of paritory.", "And when that he was come, he gan to cry,", "\"God save,\" quoth he, \"this jolly company.", "Fast have I pricked,\" quoth he, \"for your sake,", "Because that I would you overtake,", "To riden in this merry company.\"", "His Yeoman was eke full of courtesy,", "And saide, \"Sirs, now in the morning tide", "Out of your hostelry I saw you ride,", "And warned here my lord and sovereign,", "Which that to ride with you is full fain,", "For his disport; he loveth dalliance.\"", "\"Friend, for thy warning God give thee good chance,\"", "Said oure Host; \"certain it woulde seem", "Thy lord were wise, and so I may well deem;", "He is full jocund also, dare I lay;", "Can he aught tell a merry tale or tway,", "With which he gladden may this company?\"", "\"Who, Sir? my lord? Yea, Sir, withoute lie,", "He can of mirth and eke of jollity", "Not but enough; also, Sir, truste me,", "An ye him knew all so well as do I,", "Ye would wonder how well and craftily", "He coulde work, and that in sundry wise.", "He hath take on him many a great emprise,", "Which were full hard for any that is here", "To bring about, but they of him it lear.", "As homely as he rides amonges you,", "If ye him knew, it would be for your prow:", "Ye woulde not forego his acquaintance", "For muche good, I dare lay in balance", "All that I have in my possession.", "He is a man of high discretion.", "I warn you well, he is a passing man.\"", "Well,\" quoth our Host, \"I pray thee tell me than,", "Is he a clerk, or no? Tell what he is.\"", "\"Nay, he is greater than a clerk, y-wis,\"", "Saide this Yeoman; \"and, in wordes few,", "Host, of his craft somewhat I will you shew,", "I say, my lord can such a subtlety", "(But all his craft ye may not weet of me,", "And somewhat help I yet to his working),", "That all the ground on which we be riding", "Till that we come to Canterbury town,", "He could all cleane turnen up so down,", "And pave it all of silver and of gold.\"", "And when this Yeoman had this tale told", "Unto our Host, he said; \"Ben'dicite!", "This thing is wonder marvellous to me,", "Since that thy lord is of so high prudence,", "Because of which men should him reverence,", "That of his worship recketh he so lite;", "His overest slop it is not worth a mite", "As in effect to him, so may I go;", "It is all baudy and to-tore also.", "Why is thy lord so sluttish, I thee pray,", "And is of power better clothes to bey,", "If that his deed accordeth with thy speech?", "Telle me that, and that I thee beseech.\"", "", "\"Why?\" quoth this Yeoman, \"whereto ask ye me?", "God help me so, for he shall never the", "(But I will not avowe that I say,", "And therefore keep it secret, I you pray);", "He is too wise, in faith, as I believe.", "Thing that is overdone, it will not preve", "Aright, as clerkes say; it is a vice;", "Wherefore in that I hold him lewd and nice.\"", "For when a man hath over great a wit,", "Full oft him happens to misusen it;", "So doth my lord, and that me grieveth sore.", "God it amend; I can say now no more.\"", "", "\"Thereof no force, good Yeoman, \"quoth our Host;", "\"Since of the conning of thy lord, thou know'st,", "Tell how he doth, I pray thee heartily,", "Since that be is so crafty and so sly.", "Where dwelle ye, if it to telle be?\"", "\"In the suburbes of a town,\" quoth he,", "\"Lurking in hernes and in lanes blind,", "Where as these robbers and these thieves by kind", "Holde their privy fearful residence,", "As they that dare not show their presence,", "So fare we, if I shall say the soothe.\"", "\"Yet,\" quoth our Hoste, \"let me talke to thee;", "Why art thou so discolour'd of thy face?\"", "\"Peter!\" quoth he, \"God give it harde grace,", "I am so us'd the hote fire to blow,", "That it hath changed my colour, I trow;", "I am not wont in no mirror to pry,", "But swinke sore, and learn to multiply.", "We blunder ever, and poren in the fire,", "And, for all that, we fail of our desire", "For ever we lack our conclusion", "To muche folk we do illusion,", "And borrow gold, be it a pound or two,", "Or ten or twelve, or many summes mo',", "And make them weenen, at the leaste way,", "That of a pounde we can make tway.", "Yet is it false; and aye we have good hope", "It for to do, and after it we grope:", "But that science is so far us beforn,", "That we may not, although we had it sworn,", "It overtake, it slides away so fast;", "It will us make beggars at the last.\"", "While this Yeoman was thus in his talking,", "This Canon drew him near, and heard all thing", "Which this Yeoman spake, for suspicion", "Of menne's speech ever had this Canon:", "For Cato saith, that he that guilty is,", "Deemeth all things be spoken of him y-wis;", "Because of that he gan so nigh to draw", "To his Yeoman, that he heard all his saw;", "And thus he said unto his Yeoman tho", "\"Hold thou thy peace,and speak no wordes mo':", "For if thou do, thou shalt it dear abie.", "Thou slanderest me here in this company", "And eke discoverest that thou shouldest hide.\"", "\"Yea,\" quoth our Host, \"tell on, whatso betide;", "Of all his threatening reck not a mite.\"", "\"In faith,\" quoth he, \"no more do I but lite.\"", "And when this Canon saw it would not be", "But his Yeoman would tell his privity,", "He fled away for very sorrow and shame.", "", "\"Ah!\" quoth the Yeoman, \"here shall rise a game;", "All that I can anon I will you tell,", "Since he is gone; the foule fiend him quell!", "For ne'er hereafter will I with him meet,", "For penny nor for pound, I you behete.", "He that me broughte first unto that game,", "Ere that he die, sorrow have he and shame.", "For it is earnest to me, by my faith;", "That feel I well, what so any man saith;", "And yet for all my smart, and all my grief,", "For all my sorrow, labour, and mischief,", "I coulde never leave it in no wise.", "Now would to God my witte might suffice", "To tellen all that longeth to that art!", "But natheless yet will I telle part;", "Since that my lord is gone, I will not spare;", "Such thing as that I know, I will declare.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "With this Canon I dwelt have seven year,", "And of his science am I ne'er the near", "All that I had I have lost thereby,", "And, God wot, so have many more than I.", "Where I was wont to be right fresh and gay", "Of clothing, and of other good array", "Now may I wear an hose upon mine head;", "And where my colour was both fresh and red,", "Now is it wan, and of a leaden hue", "(Whoso it useth, sore shall he it rue);", "And of my swink yet bleared is mine eye;", "Lo what advantage is to multiply!", "That sliding science hath me made so bare,", "That I have no good, where that ever I fare;", "And yet I am indebted so thereby", "Of gold, that I have borrow'd truely,", "That, while I live, I shall it quite never;", "Let every man beware by me for ever.", "What manner man that casteth him thereto,", "If he continue, I hold his thrift y-do;", "So help me God, thereby shall he not win,", "But empty his purse, and make his wittes thin.", "And when he, through his madness and folly,", "Hath lost his owen good through jupartie,", "Then he exciteth other men thereto,", "To lose their good as he himself hath do'.", "For unto shrewes joy it is and ease", "To have their fellows in pain and disease.", "Thus was I ones learned of a clerk;", "Of that no charge; I will speak of our work.", "", "When we be there as we shall exercise", "Our elvish craft, we seeme wonder wise,", "Our termes be so clergial and quaint.", "I blow the fire till that mine hearte faint.", "Why should I tellen each proportion", "Of thinges, whiche that we work upon,", "As on five or six ounces, may well be,", "Of silver, or some other quantity?", "And busy me to telle you the names,", "As orpiment, burnt bones, iron squames,", "That into powder grounden be full small?", "And in an earthen pot how put is all,", "And, salt y-put in, and also peppere,", "Before these powders that I speak of here,", "And well y-cover'd with a lamp of glass?", "And of much other thing which that there was?", "And of the pots and glasses engluting,", "That of the air might passen out no thing?", "And of the easy fire, and smart also,", "Which that was made? and of the care and woe", "That we had in our matters subliming,", "And in amalgaming, and calcining", "Of quicksilver, called mercury crude?", "For all our sleightes we can not conclude.", "Our orpiment, and sublim'd mercury,", "Our ground litharge eke on the porphyry,", "Of each of these of ounces a certain,", "Not helpeth us, our labour is in vain.", "Nor neither our spirits' ascensioun,", "Nor our matters that lie all fix'd adown,", "May in our working nothing us avail;", "For lost is all our labour and travail,", "And all the cost, a twenty devil way,", "Is lost also, which we upon it lay.", "", "There is also full many another thing", "That is unto our craft appertaining,", "Though I by order them not rehearse can,", "Because that I am a lewed man;", "Yet will I tell them as they come to mind,", "Although I cannot set them in their kind,", "As sal-armoniac, verdigris, borace;", "And sundry vessels made of earth and glass;", "Our urinales, and our descensories,", "Phials, and croslets, and sublimatories,", "Cucurbites, and alembikes eke,", "And other suche, dear enough a leek,", "It needeth not for to rehearse them all.", "Waters rubifying, and bulles' gall,", "Arsenic, sal-armoniac, and brimstone,", "And herbes could I tell eke many a one,", "As egremoine, valerian, and lunary,", "And other such, if that me list to tarry;", "Our lampes burning bothe night and day,", "To bring about our craft if that we may;", "Our furnace eke of calcination,", "And of waters albification,", "Unslaked lime, chalk, and glair of an ey,", "Powders diverse, ashes, dung, piss, and clay,", "Seared pokettes, saltpetre, and vitriol;", "And divers fires made of wood and coal;", "Sal-tartar, alkali, salt preparate,", "And combust matters, and coagulate;", "Clay made with horse and manne's hair, and oil", "Of tartar, alum, glass, barm, wort, argoil,", "Rosalgar, and other matters imbibing;", "And eke of our matters encorporing,", "And of our silver citrination,", "Our cementing, and fermentation,", "Our ingots, tests, and many thinges mo'.", "I will you tell, as was me taught also,", "The foure spirits, and the bodies seven,", "By order, as oft I heard my lord them neven.", "The first spirit Quicksilver called is;", "The second Orpiment; the third, y-wis,", "Sal-Armoniac, and the fourth Brimstone.", "The bodies sev'n eke, lo them here anon.", "Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe", "Mars iron, Mercury quicksilver we clepe;", "Saturnus lead, and Jupiter is tin,", "And Venus copper, by my father's kin.", "", "This cursed craft whoso will exercise,", "He shall no good have that him may suffice;", "For all the good he spendeth thereabout,", "He lose shall, thereof have I no doubt.", "Whoso that list to utter his folly,", "Let him come forth and learn to multiply:", "And every man that hath aught in his coffer,", "Let him appear, and wax a philosopher;", "Ascaunce that craft is so light to lear.", "Nay, nay, God wot, all be he monk or frere,", "Priest or canon, or any other wight;", "Though he sit at his book both day and night;", "In learning of this elvish nice lore,", "All is in vain; and pardie muche more,", "Is to learn a lew'd man this subtlety;", "Fie! speak not thereof, for it will not be.", "And conne he letterure, or conne he none,", "As in effect, he shall it find all one;", "For bothe two, by my salvation,", "Concluden in multiplication", "Alike well, when they have all y-do;", "This is to say, they faile bothe two.", "Yet forgot I to make rehearsale", "Of waters corrosive, and of limaile,", "And of bodies' mollification,", "And also of their induration,", "Oiles, ablutions, metal fusible,", "To tellen all, would passen any Bible", "That owhere is; wherefore, as for the best,", "Of all these names now will I me rest;", "For, as I trow, I have you told enough", "To raise a fiend, all look he ne'er so rough.", "", "Ah! nay, let be; the philosopher's stone,", "Elixir call'd, we seeke fast each one;", "For had we him, then were we sicker enow;", "But unto God of heaven I make avow,", "For all our craft, when we have all y-do,", "And all our sleight, he will not come us to.", "He hath y-made us spende muche good,", "For sorrow of which almost we waxed wood,", "But that good hope creeped in our heart,", "Supposing ever, though we sore smart,", "To be relieved by him afterward.", "Such supposing and hope is sharp and hard.", "I warn you well it is to seeken ever.", "That future temps hath made men dissever,", "In trust thereof, from all that ever they had,", "Yet of that art they cannot waxe sad,", "For unto them it is a bitter sweet;", "So seemeth it; for had they but a sheet", "Which that they mighte wrap them in at night,", "And a bratt to walk in by dayelight,", "They would them sell, and spend it on this craft;", "They cannot stint, until no thing be laft.", "And evermore, wherever that they gon,", "Men may them knowe by smell of brimstone;", "For all the world they stinken as a goat;", "Their savour is so rammish and so hot,", "That though a man a mile from them be,", "The savour will infect him, truste me.", "Lo, thus by smelling and threadbare array,", "If that men list, this folk they knowe may.", "And if a man will ask them privily,", "Why they be clothed so unthriftily,", "They right anon will rownen in his ear,", "And sayen, if that they espied were,", "Men would them slay, because of their science:", "Lo, thus these folk betrayen innocence!", "", "Pass over this; I go my tale unto.", "Ere that the pot be on the fire y-do", "Of metals, with a certain quantity", "My lord them tempers, and no man but he", "(Now he is gone, I dare say boldely);", "For as men say, he can do craftily,", "Algate I wot well he hath such a name,", "And yet full oft he runneth into blame;", "And know ye how? full oft it happ'neth so,", "The pot to-breaks, and farewell! all is go'.", "These metals be of so great violence,", "Our walles may not make them resistence,", "But if they were wrought of lime and stone;", "They pierce so, that through the wall they gon;", "And some of them sink down into the ground", "(Thus have we lost by times many a pound),", "And some are scatter'd all the floor about;", "Some leap into the roof withoute doubt.", "Though that the fiend not in our sight him show,", "I trowe that he be with us, that shrew;", "In helle, where that he is lord and sire,", "Is there no more woe, rancour, nor ire.", "When that our pot is broke, as I have said,", "Every man chides, and holds him evil apaid.", "Some said it was long on the fire-making;", "Some saide nay, it was on the blowing", "(Then was I fear'd, for that was mine office);", "\"Straw!\" quoth the third, \"ye be lewed and nice,", "It was not temper'd as it ought to be.\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth the fourthe, \"stint and hearken me;", "Because our fire was not y-made of beech,", "That is the cause, and other none, so the'ch.", "I cannot tell whereon it was along,", "But well I wot great strife is us among.\"", "\"What?\" quoth my lord, \"there is no more to do'n,", "Of these perils I will beware eftsoon.", "I am right sicker that the pot was crazed.", "Be as be may, be ye no thing amazed.", "As usage is, let sweep the floor as swithe;", "Pluck up your heartes and be glad and blithe.\"", "", "The mullok on a heap y-sweeped was,", "And on the floor y-cast a canevas,", "And all this mullok in a sieve y-throw,", "And sifted, and y-picked many a throw.", "\"Pardie,\" quoth one, \"somewhat of our metal", "Yet is there here, though that we have not all.", "And though this thing mishapped hath as now,", "Another time it may be well enow.", "We muste put our good in adventure;", "A merchant, pardie, may not aye endure,", "Truste me well, in his prosperity:", "Sometimes his good is drenched in the sea,", "And sometimes comes it safe unto the land.\"", "\"Peace,\" quoth my lord; \"the next time I will fand", "To bring our craft all in another plight,", "And but I do, Sirs, let me have the wite;", "There was default in somewhat, well I wot.\"", "Another said, the fire was over hot.", "But be it hot or cold, I dare say this,", "That we concluden evermore amiss;", "We fail alway of that which we would have;", "And in our madness evermore we rave.", "And when we be together every one,", "Every man seemeth a Solomon.", "But all thing, which that shineth as the gold,", "It is not gold, as I have heard it told;", "Nor every apple that is fair at eye,", "It is not good, what so men clap or cry.", "Right so, lo, fareth it amonges us.", "He that the wisest seemeth, by Jesus,", "Is most fool, when it cometh to the prefe;", "And he that seemeth truest, is a thief.", "That shall ye know, ere that I from you wend;", "By that I of my tale have made an end.", "", "There was a canon of religioun", "Amonges us, would infect all a town,", "Though it as great were as was Nineveh,", "Rome, Alisandre, Troy, or other three.", "His sleightes and his infinite falseness", "There coulde no man writen, as I guess,", "Though that he mighte live a thousand year;", "In all this world of falseness n'is his peer.", "For in his termes he will him so wind,", "And speak his wordes in so sly a kind,", "When he commune shall with any wight,", "That he will make him doat anon aright,", "But it a fiende be, as himself is.", "Full many a man hath he beguil'd ere this,", "And will, if that he may live any while;", "And yet men go and ride many a mile", "Him for to seek, and have his acquaintance,", "Not knowing of his false governance.", "And if you list to give me audience,", "I will it telle here in your presence.", "But, worshipful canons religious,", "Ne deeme not that I slander your house,", "Although that my tale of a canon be.", "Of every order some shrew is, pardie;", "And God forbid that all a company", "Should rue a singular manne's folly.", "To slander you is no thing mine intent;", "But to correct that is amiss I meant.", "This tale was not only told for you,", "But eke for other more; ye wot well how", "That amonges Christe's apostles twelve", "There was no traitor but Judas himselve;", "Then why should all the remenant have blame,", "That guiltless were? By you I say the same.", "Save only this, if ye will hearken me,", "If any Judas in your convent be,", "Remove him betimes, I you rede,", "If shame or loss may causen any dread.", "And be no thing displeased, I you pray;", "But in this case hearken what I say.", "", "In London was a priest, an annualere,", "That therein dwelled hadde many a year,", "Which was so pleasant and so serviceable", "Unto the wife, where as he was at table,", "That she would suffer him no thing to pay", "For board nor clothing, went he ne'er so gay;", "And spending silver had he right enow;", "Thereof no force; will proceed as now,", "And telle forth my tale of the canon,", "That brought this prieste to confusion.", "This false canon came upon a day", "Unto the prieste's chamber, where he lay,", "Beseeching him to lend him a certain", "Of gold, and he would quit it him again.", "\"Lend me a mark,\" quoth he, \"but dayes three,", "And at my day I will it quite thee.", "And if it so be that thou find me false,", "Another day hang me up by the halse.\"", "This priest him took a mark, and that as swithe,", "And this canon him thanked often sithe,", "And took his leave, and wente forth his way;", "And at the thirde day brought his money;", "And to the priest he took his gold again,", "Whereof this priest was wondrous glad and fain.", "\"Certes,\" quoth he, \"nothing annoyeth me", "To lend a man a noble, or two, or three,", "Or what thing were in my possession,", "When he so true is of condition,", "That in no wise he breake will his day;", "To such a man I never can say nay.\"", "\"What,\" quoth this canon, \"should I be untrue?", "Nay, that were thing y-fallen all of new!", "Truth is a thing that I will ever keep,", "Unto the day in which that I shall creep", "Into my grave; and elles God forbid;", "Believe this as sicker as your creed.", "God thank I, and in good time be it said,", "That there was never man yet evil apaid", "For gold nor silver that he to me lent,", "Nor ever falsehood in mine heart I meant.", "And Sir,\" quoth he, \"now of my privity,", "Since ye so goodly have been unto me,", "And kithed to me so great gentleness,", "Somewhat, to quite with your kindeness,", "I will you shew, and if you list to lear,", "I will you teache plainly the mannere", "How I can worken in philosophy.", "Take good heed, ye shall well see at eye", "That I will do a mas'try ere I go.\"", "\"Yea,\" quoth the priest; \"yea, Sir, and will ye so?", "Mary! thereof I pray you heartily.\"", "\"At your commandement, Sir, truely,\"", "Quoth the canon, \"and elles God forbid.\"", "Lo, how this thiefe could his service bede!", "", "Full sooth it is that such proffer'd service", "Stinketh, as witnesse these olde wise;", "And that full soon I will it verify", "In this canon, root of all treachery,", "That evermore delight had and gladness", "(Such fiendly thoughtes in his heart impress)", "How Christe's people he may to mischief bring.", "God keep us from his false dissimuling!", "What wiste this priest with whom that he dealt?", "Nor of his harm coming he nothing felt.", "O sely priest, O sely innocent!", "With covetise anon thou shalt be blent;", "O graceless, full blind is thy conceit!", "For nothing art thou ware of the deceit", "Which that this fox y-shapen hath to thee;", "His wily wrenches thou not mayest flee.", "Wherefore, to go to the conclusioun", "That referreth to thy confusion,", "Unhappy man, anon I will me hie", "To telle thine unwit and thy folly,", "And eke the falseness of that other wretch,", "As farforth as that my conning will stretch.", "This canon was my lord, ye woulde ween;", "Sir Host, in faith, and by the heaven's queen,", "It was another canon, and not he,", "That can an hundred fold more subtlety.", "He hath betrayed folkes many a time;", "Of his falseness it doleth me to rhyme.", "And ever, when I speak of his falsehead,", "For shame of him my cheekes waxe red;", "Algates they beginne for to glow,", "For redness have I none, right well I know,", "In my visage; for fumes diverse", "Of metals, which ye have me heard rehearse,", "Consumed have and wasted my redness.", "Now take heed of this canon's cursedness.", "", "\"Sir,\" quoth he to the priest, \"let your man gon", "For quicksilver, that we it had anon;", "And let him bringen ounces two or three;", "And when he comes, as faste shall ye see", "A wondrous thing, which ye saw ne'er ere this.\"", "\"Sir,\" quoth the priest, \"it shall be done, y-wis.\"", "He bade his servant fetche him this thing,", "And he all ready was at his bidding,", "And went him forth, and came anon again", "With this quicksilver, shortly for to sayn;", "And took these ounces three to the canoun;", "And he them laide well and fair adown,", "And bade the servant coales for to bring,", "That he anon might go to his working.", "The coales right anon weren y-fet,", "And this canon y-took a crosselet", "Out of his bosom, and shew'd to the priest.", "\"This instrument,\" quoth he, \"which that thou seest,", "Take in thine hand, and put thyself therein", "Of this quicksilver an ounce, and here begin,", "In the name of Christ, to wax a philosopher.", "There be full few, which that I woulde proffer", "To shewe them thus much of my science;", "For here shall ye see by experience", "That this quicksilver I will mortify,", "Right in your sight anon withoute lie,", "And make it as good silver, and as fine,", "As there is any in your purse, or mine,", "Or elleswhere; and make it malleable,", "And elles holde me false and unable", "Amonge folk for ever to appear.", "I have a powder here that cost me dear,", "Shall make all good, for it is cause of all", "My conning, which that I you shewe shall.", "Voide your man, and let him be thereout;", "And shut the doore, while we be about", "Our privity, that no man us espy,", "While that we work in this phiosophy.\"", "All, as he bade, fulfilled was in deed.", "This ilke servant right anon out yede,", "And his master y-shut the door anon,", "And to their labour speedily they gon.", "", "This priest, at this cursed canon's biddIng,", "Upon the fire anon he set this thing,", "And blew the fire, and busied him full fast.", "And this canon into the croslet cast", "A powder, I know not whereof it was", "Y-made, either of chalk, either of glass,", "Or somewhat elles, was not worth a fly,", "To blinden with this priest; and bade him hie", "The coales for to couchen all above", "The croslet; \"for, in token I thee love,\"", "Quoth this canon, \"thine owen handes two", "Shall work all thing that here shall be do'.\"", "\"Grand mercy,\" quoth the priest, and was full glad,", "And couch'd the coales as the canon bade.", "And while he busy was, this fiendly wretch,", "This false canon (the foule fiend him fetch),", "Out of his bosom took a beechen coal,", "In which full subtifly was made a hole,", "And therein put was of silver limaile", "An ounce, and stopped was withoute fail", "The hole with wax, to keep the limaile in.", "And understande, that this false gin", "Was not made there, but it was made before;", "And other thinges I shall tell you more,", "Hereafterward, which that he with him brought;", "Ere he came there, him to beguile he thought,", "And so he did, ere that they went atwin;", "Till he had turned him, could he not blin.", "It doleth me, when that I of him speak;", "On his falsehood fain would I me awreak,", "If I wist how, but he is here and there;", "He is so variant, he abides nowhere.", "", "But take heed, Sirs, now for Godde's love.", "He took his coal, of which I spake above,", "And in his hand he bare it privily,", "And while the prieste couched busily", "The coales, as I tolde you ere this,", "This canon saide, \"Friend, ye do amiss;", "This is not couched as it ought to be,", "But soon I shall amenden it,\" quoth he.", "\"Now let me meddle therewith but a while,", "For of you have I pity, by Saint Gile.", "Ye be right hot, I see well how ye sweat;", "Have here a cloth, and wipe away the wet.\"", "And while that the prieste wip'd his face,", "This canon took his coal, -- with sorry grace, --", "And layed it above on the midward", "Of the croslet, and blew well afterward,", "Till that the coals beganne fast to brenn.", "\"Now give us drinke,\" quoth this canon then,", "\"And swithe all shall be well, I undertake.", "Sitte we down, and let us merry make.\"", "And whenne that this canon's beechen coal", "Was burnt, all the limaile out of the hole", "Into the crosselet anon fell down;", "And so it muste needes, by reasoun,", "Since it above so even couched was;", "But thereof wist the priest no thing, alas!", "He deemed all the coals alike good,", "For of the sleight he nothing understood.", "", "And when this alchemister saw his time,", "\"Rise up, Sir Priest,\" quoth he, \"and stand by me;", "And, for I wot well ingot have ye none;", "Go, walke forth, and bring me a chalk stone;", "For I will make it of the same shape", "That is an ingot, if I may have hap.", "Bring eke with you a bowl, or else a pan,", "Full of water, and ye shall well see than", "How that our business shall hap and preve", "And yet, for ye shall have no misbelieve", "Nor wrong conceit of me, in your absence,", "I wille not be out of your presence,", "But go with you, and come with you again.\"", "The chamber-doore, shortly for to sayn,", "They opened and shut, and went their way,", "And forth with them they carried the key;", "And came again without any delay.", "Why should I tarry all the longe day?", "He took the chalk, and shap'd it in the wise", "Of an ingot, as I shall you devise;", "I say, he took out of his owen sleeve", "A teine of silver (evil may he cheve!)", "Which that ne was but a just ounce of weight.", "And take heed now of his cursed sleight;", "He shap'd his ingot, in length and in brede", "Of this teine, withouten any drede,", "So slily, that the priest it not espied;", "And in his sleeve again he gan it hide;", "And from the fire he took up his mattere,", "And in th' ingot put it with merry cheer;", "And in the water-vessel he it cast,", "When that him list, and bade the priest as fast", "Look what there is; \"Put in thine hand and grope;", "There shalt thou finde silver, as I hope.\"", "What, devil of helle! should it elles be?", "Shaving of silver, silver is, pardie.", "He put his hand in, and took up a teine", "Of silver fine; and glad in every vein", "Was this priest, when he saw that it was so.", "\"Godde's blessing, and his mother's also,", "And alle hallows, have ye, Sir Canon!\"", "Saide this priest, \"and I their malison", "But, an' ye vouchesafe to teache me", "This noble craft and this subtility,", "I will be yours in all that ever I may.\"", "Quoth the canon, \"Yet will I make assay", "The second time, that ye may take heed,", "And be expert of this, and, in your need,", "Another day assay in mine absence", "This discipline, and this crafty science.", "Let take another ounce,\" quoth he tho,", "\"Of quicksilver, withoute wordes mo',", "And do therewith as ye have done ere this", "With that other, which that now silver is. \"", "", "The priest him busied, all that e'er he can,", "To do as this canon, this cursed man,", "Commanded him, and fast he blew the fire", "For to come to th' effect of his desire.", "And this canon right in the meanewhile", "All ready was this priest eft to beguile,", "and, for a countenance, in his hande bare", "An hollow sticke (take keep and beware);", "Of silver limaile put was, as before", "Was in his coal, and stopped with wax well", "For to keep in his limaile every deal.", "And while this priest was in his business,", "This canon with his sticke gan him dress", "To him anon, and his powder cast in,", "As he did erst (the devil out of his skin", "Him turn, I pray to God, for his falsehead,", "For he was ever false in thought and deed),", "And with his stick, above the crosselet,", "That was ordained with that false get,", "He stirr'd the coales, till relente gan", "The wax against the fire, as every man,", "But he a fool be, knows well it must need.", "And all that in the sticke was out yede,", "And in the croslet hastily it fell.", "Now, goode Sirs, what will ye bet than well?", "When that this priest was thus beguil'd again,", "Supposing naught but truthe, sooth to sayn,", "He was so glad, that I can not express", "In no mannere his mirth and his gladness;", "And to the canon he proffer'd eftsoon", "Body and good. \"Yea,\" quoth the canon soon,", "\"Though poor I be, crafty thou shalt me find;", "I warn thee well, yet is there more behind.", "Is any copper here within?\" said he.", "\"Yea, Sir,\" the prieste said, \"I trow there be.\"", "\"Elles go buy us some, and that as swithe.", "Now, goode Sir, go forth thy way and hie thee.\"", "He went his way, and with the copper came,", "And this canon it in his handes name,", "And of that copper weighed out an ounce.", "Too simple is my tongue to pronounce,", "As minister of my wit, the doubleness", "Of this canon, root of all cursedness.", "He friendly seem'd to them that knew him not;", "But he was fiendly, both in work and thought.", "It wearieth me to tell of his falseness;", "And natheless yet will I it express,", "To that intent men may beware thereby,", "And for none other cause truely.", "He put this copper in the crosselet,", "And on the fire as swithe he hath it set,", "And cast in powder, and made the priest to blow,", "And in his working for to stoope low,", "As he did erst, and all was but a jape;", "Right as him list the priest he made his ape.", "And afterward in the ingot he it cast,", "And in the pan he put it at the last", "Of water, and in he put his own hand;", "And in his sleeve, as ye beforehand", "Hearde me tell, he had a silver teine;", "He silly took it out, this cursed heine", "(Unweeting this priest of his false craft),", "And in the panne's bottom he it laft", "And in the water rumbleth to and fro,", "And wondrous privily took up also", "The copper teine (not knowing thilke priest),", "And hid it, and him hente by the breast,", "And to him spake, and thus said in his game;", "\"Stoop now adown; by God, ye be to blame;", "Helpe me now, as I did you whilere;", "Put in your hand, and looke what is there.\"", "", "This priest took up this silver teine anon;", "And thenne said the canon, \"Let us gon,", "With these three teines which that we have wrought,", "To some goldsmith, and weet if they be aught:", "For, by my faith, I would not for my hood", "But if they were silver fine and good,", "And that as swithe well proved shall it be.\"", "Unto the goldsmith with these teines three", "They went anon, and put them in assay", "To fire and hammer; might no man say nay,", "But that they weren as they ought to be.", "This sotted priest, who gladder was than he?", "Was never bird gladder against the day;", "Nor nightingale in the season of May", "Was never none, that better list to sing;", "Nor lady lustier in carolling,", "Or for to speak of love and womanhead;", "Nor knight in arms to do a hardy deed,", "To standen in grace of his lady dear,", "Than had this priest this crafte for to lear;", "And to the canon thus he spake and said;", "\"For love of God, that for us alle died,", "And as I may deserve it unto you,", "What shall this receipt coste? tell me now.\"", "\"By our Lady,\" quoth this canon, \"it is dear.", "I warn you well, that, save I and a frere,", "In Engleland there can no man it make.\"", "\"No force,\" quoth he; \"now, Sir, for Godde's sake,", "What shall I pay? telle me, I you pray.\"", "\"Y-wis,\" quoth he, \"it is full dear, I say.", "Sir, at one word, if that you list it have,", "Ye shall pay forty pound, so God me save;", "And n'ere the friendship that ye did ere this", "To me, ye shoulde paye more, y-wis.\"", "This priest the sum of forty pound anon", "Of nobles fet, and took them every one", "To this canon, for this ilke receipt.", "All his working was but fraud and deceit.", "\"Sir Priest,\" he said, \"I keep to have no los", "Of my craft, for I would it were kept close;", "And as ye love me, keep it secre:", "For if men knewen all my subtlety,", "By God, they woulde have so great envy", "To me, because of my philosophy,", "I should be dead, there were no other way.\"", "\"God it forbid,\" quoth the priest, \"what ye say.", "Yet had I lever spenden all the good", "Which that I have (and elles were I wood),", "Than that ye shoulde fall in such mischief.\"", "\"For your good will, Sir, have ye right good prefe,\"", "Quoth the canon; \"and farewell, grand mercy.\"", "He went his way, and never the priest him sey", "After that day; and when that this priest should", "Maken assay, at such time as he would,", "Of this receipt, farewell! it would not be.", "Lo, thus bejaped and beguil'd was he;", "Thus made he his introduction", "To bringe folk to their destruction.", "", "Consider, Sirs, how that in each estate", "Betwixte men and gold there is debate,", "So farforth that unnethes is there none.", "This multiplying blint so many a one,", "That in good faith I trowe that it be", "The cause greatest of such scarcity.", "These philosophers speak so mistily", "In this craft, that men cannot come thereby,", "For any wit that men have how-a-days.", "They may well chatter, as do these jays,", "And in their termes set their lust and pain,", "But to their purpose shall they ne'er attain.", "A man may lightly learn, if he have aught,", "To multiply, and bring his good to naught.", "Lo, such a lucre is in this lusty game;", "A manne's mirth it will turn all to grame,", "And empty also great and heavy purses,", "And make folke for to purchase curses", "Of them that have thereto their good y-lent.", "Oh, fy for shame! they that have been brent,", "Alas! can they not flee the fire's heat?", "Ye that it use, I rede that ye it lete,", "Lest ye lose all; for better than never is late;", "Never to thrive, were too long a date.", "Though ye prowl aye, ye shall it never find;", "Ye be as bold as is Bayard the blind,", "That blunders forth, and peril casteth none;", "He is as bold to run against a stone,", "As for to go beside it in the way:", "So fare ye that multiply, I say.", "If that your eyen cannot see aright,", "Look that your minde lacke not his sight.", "For though you look never so broad, and stare,", "Ye shall not win a mite on that chaffare,", "But wasten all that ye may rape and renn.", "Withdraw the fire, lest it too faste brenn;", "Meddle no more with that art, I mean;", "For if ye do, your thrift is gone full clean.", "And right as swithe I will you telle here", "What philosophers say in this mattere.", "", "Lo, thus saith Arnold of the newe town,", "As his Rosary maketh mentioun,", "He saith right thus, withouten any lie;", "\"There may no man mercury mortify,", "But it be with his brother's knowledging.\"", "Lo, how that he, which firste said this thing,", "Of philosophers father was, Hermes;", "He saith, how that the dragon doubteless", "He dieth not, but if that he be slain", "With his brother. And this is for to sayn,", "By the dragon, Mercury, and none other,", "He understood, and Brimstone by his brother,", "That out of Sol and Luna were y-draw.", "\"And therefore,\" said he, \"take heed to my saw.", "Let no man busy him this art to seech,", "But if that he th'intention and speech", "Of philosophers understande can;", "And if he do, he is a lewed man.", "For this science and this conning,\" quoth he,", "\"Is of the secret of secrets pardie.\"", "Also there was a disciple of Plato,", "That on a time said his master to,", "As his book, Senior, will bear witness,", "And this was his demand in soothfastness:", "\"Tell me the name of thilke privy stone.\"", "And Plato answer'd unto him anon;", "\"Take the stone that Titanos men name.\"", "\"Which is that?\" quoth he. \"Magnesia is the same,\"", "Saide Plato. \"Yea, Sir, and is it thus?", "This is ignotum per ignotius.", "What is Magnesia, good Sir, I pray?\"", "\"It is a water that is made, I say,", "Of th' elementes foure,\" quoth Plato.", "\"Tell me the roote, good Sir,\" quoth he tho,", "\"Of that water, if that it be your will.\"", "\"Nay, nay,\" quoth Plato, \"certain that I n'ill.", "The philosophers sworn were every one,", "That they should not discover it to none,", "Nor in no book it write in no mannere;", "For unto God it is so lefe and dear,", "That he will not that it discover'd be,", "But where it liketh to his deity", "Man for to inspire, and eke for to defend'", "Whom that he liketh; lo, this is the end.\"", "", "Then thus conclude I, since that God of heaven", "Will not that these philosophers neven", "How that a man shall come unto this stone,", "I rede as for the best to let it gon.", "For whoso maketh God his adversary,", "As for to work any thing in contrary", "Of his will, certes never shall he thrive,", "Though that he multiply term of his live.", "And there a point; for ended is my tale.", "God send ev'ry good man boot of his bale." ], "linecount": "929" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Manciple's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "THE PROLOGUE.", "", "WEET ye not where there stands a little town,", "Which that y-called is Bob-up-and-down,", "Under the Blee, in Canterbury way?", "There gan our Hoste for to jape and play,", "And saide, \"Sirs, what? Dun is in the mire.", "Is there no man, for prayer nor for hire,", "That will awaken our fellow behind?", "A thief him might full rob and bind", "See how he nappeth, see, for cocke's bones,", "As he would falle from his horse at ones.", "Is that a Cook of London, with mischance?", "Do him come forth, he knoweth his penance;", "For he shall tell a tale, by my fay,", "Although it be not worth a bottle hay.", "", "Awake, thou Cook,\" quoth he; \"God give thee sorrow", "What aileth thee to sleepe by the morrow?", "Hast thou had fleas all night, or art drunk?", "Or had thou with some quean all night y-swunk,", "So that thou mayest not hold up thine head?\"", "The Cook, that was full pale and nothing red,", "Said to Host, \"So God my soule bless,", "As there is fall'n on me such heaviness,", "I know not why, that me were lever sleep,", "Than the best gallon wine that is in Cheap.\"", "\"Well,\" quoth the Manciple, \"if it may do ease", "To thee, Sir Cook, and to no wight displease", "Which that here rideth in this company,", "And that our Host will of his courtesy,", "I will as now excuse thee of thy tale;", "For in good faith thy visage is full pale:", "Thine eyen daze, soothly as me thinketh,", "And well I wot, thy breath full soure stinketh,", "That sheweth well thou art not well disposed;", "Of me certain thou shalt not be y-glosed.", "See how he yawneth, lo, this drunken wight,", "As though he would us swallow anon right.", "Hold close thy mouth, man, by thy father's kin;", "The devil of helle set his foot therein!", "Thy cursed breath infecte will us all:", "Fy! stinking swine, fy! foul may thee befall.", "Ah! take heed, Sirs, of this lusty man.", "Now, sweete Sir, will ye joust at the fan?", "Thereto, me thinketh, ye be well y-shape.", "I trow that ye have drunken wine of ape,", "And that is when men playe with a straw.\"", "", "And with this speech the Cook waxed all wraw,", "And on the Manciple he gan nod fast", "For lack of speech; and down his horse him cast,", "Where as he lay, till that men him up took.", "This was a fair chevachie of a cook:", "Alas! that he had held him by his ladle!", "And ere that he again were in the saddle", "There was great shoving bothe to and fro", "To lift him up, and muche care and woe,", "So unwieldy was this silly paled ghost.", "And to the Manciple then spake our Host:", "\"Because that drink hath domination", "Upon this man, by my salvation", "I trow he lewedly will tell his tale.", "For were it wine, or old or moisty ale,", "That he hath drunk, he speaketh in his nose,", "And sneezeth fast, and eke he hath the pose", "He also hath to do more than enough", "To keep him on his capel out of the slough;", "And if he fall from off his capel eftsoon,", "Then shall we alle have enough to do'n", "In lifting up his heavy drunken corse.", "Tell on thy tale, of him make I no force.", "But yet, Manciple, in faith thou art too nice", "Thus openly to reprove him of his vice;", "Another day he will paraventure", "Reclaime thee, and bring thee to the lure;", "I mean, he speake will of smalle things,", "As for to pinchen at thy reckonings,", "That were not honest, if it came to prefe.\"", "Quoth the Manciple, \"That were a great mischief;", "So might he lightly bring me in the snare.", "Yet had I lever paye for the mare", "Which he rides on, than he should with me strive.", "I will not wrathe him, so may I thrive)", "That that I spake, I said it in my bourde.", "And weet ye what? I have here in my gourd", "A draught of wine, yea, of a ripe grape,", "And right anon ye shall see a good jape.", "This Cook shall drink thereof, if that I may;", "On pain of my life he will not say nay.\"", "And certainly, to tellen as it was,", "Of this vessel the cook drank fast (alas!", "What needed it? he drank enough beforn),", "And when he hadde pouped in his horn,", "To the Manciple he took the gourd again.", "And of that drink the Cook was wondrous fain,", "And thanked him in such wise as he could.", "", "Then gan our Host to laughe wondrous loud,", "And said, \"I see well it is necessary", "Where that we go good drink with us to carry;", "For that will turne rancour and disease", "T'accord and love, and many a wrong appease.", "O Bacchus, Bacchus, blessed be thy name,", "That so canst turnen earnest into game!", "Worship and thank be to thy deity.", "Of that mattere ye get no more of me.", "Tell on thy tale, Manciple, I thee pray.\"", "\"Well, Sir,\" quoth he, \"now hearken what I say.\"", "", "THE TALE.", "", "When Phoebus dwelled here in earth adown,", "As olde bookes make mentioun,", "He was the moste lusty bacheler", "Of all this world, and eke the best archer.", "He slew Python the serpent, as he lay", "Sleeping against the sun upon a day;", "And many another noble worthy deed", "He with his bow wrought, as men maye read.", "Playen he could on every minstrelsy,", "And singe, that it was a melody", "To hearen of his cleare voice the soun'.", "Certes the king of Thebes, Amphioun,", "That with his singing walled the city,", "Could never singe half so well as he.", "Thereto he was the seemlieste man", "That is, or was since that the world began;", "What needeth it his features to descrive?", "For in this world is none so fair alive.", "He was therewith full fill'd of gentleness,", "Of honour, and of perfect worthiness.", "", "This Phoebus, that was flower of bach'lery,", "As well in freedom as in chivalry,", "For his disport, in sign eke of victory", "Of Python, so as telleth us the story,", "Was wont to bearen in his hand a bow.", "Now had this Phoebus in his house a crow,", "Which in a cage he foster'd many a day,", "And taught it speaken, as men teach a jay.", "White was this crow, as is a snow-white swan,", "And counterfeit the speech of every man", "He coulde, when he shoulde tell a tale.", "Therewith in all this world no nightingale", "Ne coulde by an hundred thousand deal", "Singe so wondrous merrily and well.", "Now had this Phoebus in his house a wife;", "Which that he loved more than his life.", "And night and day did ever his diligence", "Her for to please, and do her reverence:", "Save only, if that I the sooth shall sayn,", "Jealous he was, and would have kept her fain.", "For him were loth y-japed for to be;", "And so is every wight in such degree;", "But all for nought, for it availeth nought.", "A good wife, that is clean of work and thought,", "Should not be kept in none await certain:", "And truely the labour is in vain", "To keep a shrewe, for it will not be.", "This hold I for a very nicety,", "To spille labour for to keepe wives;", "", "Thus writen olde clerkes in their lives.", "But now to purpose, as I first began.", "This worthy Phoebus did all that he can", "To please her, weening, through such pleasance,", "And for his manhood and his governance,", "That no man should have put him from her grace;", "But, God it wot, there may no man embrace", "As to distrain a thing, which that nature", "Hath naturally set in a creature.", "Take any bird, and put it in a cage,", "And do all thine intent, and thy corage,", "To foster it tenderly with meat and drink", "Of alle dainties that thou canst bethink,", "And keep it all so cleanly as thou may;", "Although the cage of gold be never so gay,", "Yet had this bird, by twenty thousand fold,", "Lever in a forest, both wild and cold,", "Go eate wormes, and such wretchedness.", "For ever this bird will do his business", "T'escape out of his cage when that he may:", "His liberty the bird desireth aye.", "Let take a cat, and foster her with milk", "And tender flesh, and make her couch of silk,", "And let her see a mouse go by the wall,", "Anon she weiveth milk, and flesh, and all,", "And every dainty that is in that house,", "Such appetite hath she to eat the mouse.", "Lo, here hath kind her domination,", "And appetite flemeth discretion.", "A she-wolf hath also a villain's kind", "The lewedeste wolf that she may find,", "Or least of reputation, will she take", "In time when her lust to have a make.", "All these examples speak I by these men", "That be untrue, and nothing by women.", "For men have ever a lik'rous appetite", "On lower things to perform their delight", "Than on their wives, be they never so fair,", "Never so true, nor so debonair.", "Flesh is so newefangled, with mischance,", "That we can in no thinge have pleasance", "That souneth unto virtue any while.", "", "This Phoebus, which that thought upon no guile,", "Deceived was for all his jollity;", "For under him another hadde she,", "A man of little reputation,", "Nought worth to Phoebus in comparison.", "The more harm is; it happens often so,", "Of which there cometh muche harm and woe.", "And so befell, when Phoebus was absent,", "His wife anon hath for her leman sent.", "Her leman! certes that is a knavish speech.", "Forgive it me, and that I you beseech.", "The wise Plato saith, as ye may read,", "The word must needs accorde with the deed;", "If men shall telle properly a thing,", "The word must cousin be to the working.", "I am a boistous man, right thus I say.", "There is no difference truely", "Betwixt a wife that is of high degree", "(If of her body dishonest she be),", "And any poore wench, other than this", "(If it so be they worke both amiss),", "But, for the gentle is in estate above,", "She shall be call'd his lady and his love;", "And, for that other is a poor woman,", "She shall be call'd his wench and his leman:", "And God it wot, mine owen deare brother,", "Men lay the one as low as lies the other.", "Right so betwixt a titleless tyrant", "And an outlaw, or else a thief errant,", "The same I say, there is no difference", "(To Alexander told was this sentence),", "But, for the tyrant is of greater might", "By force of meinie for to slay downright,", "And burn both house and home, and make all plain,", "Lo, therefore is he call'd a capitain;", "And, for the outlaw hath but small meinie,", "And may not do so great an harm as he,", "Nor bring a country to so great mischief,", "Men calle him an outlaw or a thief.", "But, for I am a man not textuel,", "I will not tell of texts never a deal;", "I will go to my tale, as I began.", "", "When Phoebus' wife had sent for her leman,", "Anon they wroughten all their lust volage.", "This white crow, that hung aye in the cage,", "Beheld their work, and said never a word;", "And when that home was come Phoebus the lord,", "This crowe sung, \"Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!\"", "\"What? bird,\" quoth Phoebus, \"what song sing'st thou now?", "Wert thou not wont so merrily to sing,", "That to my heart it was a rejoicing", "To hear thy voice? alas! what song is this?\"", "\"By God,\" quoth he, \"I singe not amiss.", "Phoebus,\" quoth he, \"for all thy worthiness,", "For all thy beauty, and all thy gentleness,", "For all thy song, and all thy minstrelsy,", "For all thy waiting, bleared is thine eye", "With one of little reputation,", "Not worth to thee, as in comparison,", "The mountance of a gnat, so may I thrive;", "For on thy bed thy wife I saw him swive.\"", "What will ye more? the crow anon him told,", "By sade tokens, and by wordes bold,", "How that his wife had done her lechery,", "To his great shame and his great villainy;", "And told him oft, he saw it with his eyen.", "This Phoebus gan awayward for to wrien;", "Him thought his woeful hearte burst in two.", "His bow he bent, and set therein a flo,", "And in his ire he hath his wife slain;", "This is th' effect, there is no more to sayn.", "For sorrow of which he brake his minstrelsy,", "Both harp and lute, gitern and psaltery;", "And eke he brake his arrows and his bow;", "And after that thus spake he to the crow.", "", "\"Traitor,\" quoth he, \"with tongue of scorpion,", "Thou hast me brought to my confusion;", "Alas that I was wrought! why n'ere I dead?", "O deare wife, O gem of lustihead,", "That wert to me so sad, and eke so true,", "Now liest thou dead, with face pale of hue,", "Full guilteless, that durst I swear y-wis!", "O rakel hand, to do so foul amiss", "O troubled wit, O ire reckeless,", "That unadvised smit'st the guilteless!", "O wantrust, full of false suspicion!", "Where was thy wit and thy discretion?", "O! every man beware of rakelness,", "Nor trow no thing withoute strong witness.", "Smite not too soon, ere that ye weete why,", "And be advised well and sickerly", "Ere ye do any execution", "Upon your ire for suspicion.", "Alas! a thousand folk hath rakel ire", "Foully fordone, and brought them in the mire.", "Alas! for sorrow I will myself slee", "And to the crow, \"O false thief,\" said he,", "\"I will thee quite anon thy false tale.", "Thou sung whilom like any nightingale,", "Now shalt thou, false thief, thy song foregon,", "And eke thy white feathers every one,", "Nor ever in all thy life shalt thou speak;", "Thus shall men on a traitor be awreak.", "Thou and thine offspring ever shall be blake,", "Nor ever sweete noise shall ye make,", "But ever cry against tempest and rain,", "In token that through thee my wife is slain.\"", "And to the crow he start, and that anon,", "And pull'd his white feathers every one,", "And made him black, and reft him all his song,", "And eke his speech, and out at door him flung", "Unto the devil, which I him betake;", "And for this cause be all crowes blake.", "Lordings, by this ensample, I you pray,", "Beware, and take keep what that ye say;", "Nor telle never man in all your life", "How that another man hath dight his wife;", "He will you hate mortally certain.", "Dan Solomon, as wise clerkes sayn,", "Teacheth a man to keep his tongue well;", "But, as I said, I am not textuel.", "But natheless thus taughte me my dame;", "\"My son, think on the crow, in Godde's name.", "My son, keep well thy tongue, and keep thy friend;", "A wicked tongue is worse than is a fiend:", "My sone, from a fiend men may them bless.", "My son, God of his endeless goodness", "Walled a tongue with teeth, and lippes eke,", "For man should him advise, what he speak.", "My son, full often for too muche speech", "Hath many a man been spilt, as clerkes teach;", "But for a little speech advisedly", "Is no man shent, to speak generally.", "My son, thy tongue shouldest thou restrain", "At alle time, but when thou dost thy pain", "To speak of God in honour and prayere.", "The firste virtue, son, if thou wilt lear,", "Is to restrain and keepe well thy tongue;", "Thus learne children, when that they be young.", "My son, of muche speaking evil advis'd,", "Where lesse speaking had enough suffic'd,", "Cometh much harm; thus was me told and taught;", "In muche speeche sinne wanteth not.", "Wost thou whereof a rakel tongue serveth?", "Right as a sword forcutteth and forcarveth", "An arm in two, my deare son, right so", "A tongue cutteth friendship all in two.", "A jangler is to God abominable.", "Read Solomon, so wise and honourable;", "Read David in his Psalms, and read Senec'.", "My son, speak not, but with thine head thou beck,", "Dissimule as thou wert deaf, if that thou hear", "A jangler speak of perilous mattere.", "The Fleming saith, and learn if that thee lest,", "That little jangling causeth muche rest.", "My son, if thou no wicked word hast said,", "Thee thar not dreade for to be bewray'd;", "But he that hath missaid, I dare well sayn,", "He may by no way call his word again.", "Thing that is said is said, and forth it go'th,", "Though him repent, or be he ne'er so loth;", "He is his thrall, to whom that he hath said", "A tale, of which he is now evil apaid.", "My son, beware, and be no author new", "Of tidings, whether they be false or true;", "Whereso thou come, amonges high or low,", "Keep well thy tongue, and think upon the crow.\"" ], "linecount": "364" }, { "title": "Troilus and Criseyde: Book I", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "", "The double sorwe of Troilus to tellen,", "That was the king Priamus sone of Troye,", "In lovinge, how his aventures fellen", "Fro wo to wele, and after out of Ioye,", "My purpos is, er that I parte fro ye.", "Thesiphone, thou help me for tendyte", "Thise woful vers, that wepen as I wryte!", "", "To thee clepe I, thou goddesse of torment,", "Thou cruel Furie, sorwing ever in peyne;", "Help me, that am the sorwful instrument", "That helpeth lovers, as I can, to pleyne!", "For wel sit it, the sothe for to seyne,", "A woful wight to han a drery fere,", "And, to a sorwful tale, a sory chere.", "", "For I, that god of Loves servaunts serve,", "Ne dar to Love, for myn unlyklinesse,", "Preyen for speed, al sholde I therfor sterve,", "So fer am I fro his help in derknesse;", "But nathelees, if this may doon gladnesse", "To any lover, and his cause avayle,", "Have he my thank, and myn be this travayle!", "", "But ye loveres, that bathen in gladnesse,", "If any drope of pitee in yow be,", "Remembreth yow on passed hevinesse", "That ye han felt, and on the adversitee", "Of othere folk, and thenketh how that ye", "Han felt that Love dorste yow displese;", "Or ye han wonne hym with to greet an ese.", "", "And preyeth for hem that ben in the cas", "Of Troilus, as ye may after here,", "That love hem bringe in hevene to solas,", "And eek for me preyeth to god so dere,", "That I have might to shewe, in som manere,", "Swich peyne and wo as Loves folk endure,", "In Troilus unsely aventure.", "", "And biddeth eek for hem that been despeyred", "In love, that never nil recovered be,", "And eek for hem that falsly been apeyred", "Thorugh wikked tonges, be it he or she;", "Thus biddeth god, for his benignitee,", "So graunte hem sone out of this world to pace,", "That been despeyred out of Loves grace.", "", "And biddeth eek for hem that been at ese,", "That god hem graunte ay good perseveraunce,", "And sende hem might hir ladies so to plese,", "That it to Love be worship and plesaunce.", "For so hope I my soule best avaunce,", "To preye for hem that Loves servaunts be,", "And wryte hir wo, and live in charitee.", "", "And for to have of hem compassioun", "As though I were hir owene brother dere.", "Now herkeneth with a gode entencioun,", "For now wol I gon streight to my matere,", "In whiche ye may the double sorwes here", "Of Troilus, in loving of Criseyde,", "And how that she forsook him er she deyde.", "", "It is wel wist, how that the Grekes stronge", "In armes with a thousand shippes wente", "To Troyewardes, and the citee longe", "Assegeden neigh ten yeer er they stente,", "And, in diverse wyse and oon entente,", "The ravisshing to wreken of Eleyne,", "By Paris doon, they wroughten al hir peyne.", "", "Now fil it so, that in the toun ther was", "Dwellinge a lord of greet auctoritee,", "A gret devyn that cleped was Calkas,", "That in science so expert was, that he", "Knew wel that Troye sholde destroyed be,", "By answere of his god, that highte thus,", "Daun Phebus or Apollo Delphicus.", "", "So whan this Calkas knew by calculinge,", "And eek by answere of this Appollo,", "That Grekes sholden swich a peple bringe,", "Thorugh which that Troye moste been for-do,", "He caste anoon out of the toun to go;", "For wel wiste he, by sort, that Troye sholde", "Destroyed ben, ye, wolde who-so nolde.", "", "For which, for to departen softely", "Took purpos ful this forknowinge wyse,", "And to the Grekes ost ful prively", "He stal anoon; and they, in curteys wyse,", "Hym deden bothe worship and servyse,", "In trust that he hath conning hem to rede", "In every peril which that is to drede.", "", "The noyse up roos, whan it was first aspyed,", "Thorugh al the toun, and generally was spoken,", "That Calkas traytor fled was, and allyed", "With hem of Grece; and casten to ben wroken", "On him that falsly hadde his feith so broken;", "And seyden, he and al his kin at ones", "Ben worthy for to brennen, fel and bones.", "", "Now hadde Calkas left, in this meschaunce,", "Al unwist of this false and wikked dede,", "His doughter, which that was in gret penaunce,", "For of hir lyf she was ful sore in drede,", "As she that niste what was best to rede;", "For bothe a widowe was she, and allone", "Of any freend to whom she dorste hir mone.", "", "Criseyde was this lady name a-right;", "As to my dome, in al Troyes citee", "Nas noon so fair, for passing every wight", "So aungellyk was hir natyf beautee,", "That lyk a thing immortal semed she,", "As doth an hevenish parfit creature,", "That doun were sent in scorning of nature.", "", "This lady, which that al-day herde at ere", "Hir fadres shame, his falsnesse and tresoun,", "Wel nigh out of hir wit for sorwe and fere,", "In widewes habit large of samit broun,", "On knees she fil biforn Ector a-doun;", "With pitous voys, and tendrely wepinge,", "His mercy bad, hir-selven excusinge.", "", "Now was this Ector pitous of nature,", "And saw that she was sorwfully bigoon,", "And that she was so fair a creature;", "Of his goodnesse he gladed hir anoon,", "And seyde, `Lat your fadres treson goon", "Forth with mischaunce, and ye your-self, in Ioye,", "Dwelleth with us, whyl you good list, in Troye.", "", "`And al thonour that men may doon yow have,", "As ferforth as your fader dwelled here,", "Ye shul han, and your body shal men save,", "As fer as I may ought enquere or here.'", "And she him thonked with ful humble chere,", "And ofter wolde, and it hadde ben his wille,", "And took hir leve, and hoom, and held hir stille.", "", "And in hir hous she abood with swich meynee", "As to hir honour nede was to holde;", "And whyl she was dwellinge in that citee,", "Kepte hir estat, and bothe of yonge and olde", "Ful wel beloved, and wel men of hir tolde.", "But whether that she children hadde or noon,", "I rede it naught; therfore I late it goon.", "", "The thinges fellen, as they doon of werre,", "Bitwixen hem of Troye and Grekes ofte;", "For som day boughten they of Troye it derre,", "And eft the Grekes founden no thing softe", "The folk of Troye; and thus fortune on-lofte,", "And under eft, gan hem to wheelen bothe", "After hir cours, ay whyl they were wrothe.", "", "But how this toun com to destruccioun", "Ne falleth nought to purpos me to telle;", "For it were a long digressioun", "Fro my matere, and yow to longe dwelle.", "But the Troyane gestes, as they felle,", "In Omer, or in Dares, or in Dyte,", "Who-so that can, may rede hem as they wryte.", "", "But though that Grekes hem of Troye shetten,", "And hir citee bisegede al a-boute,", "Hir olde usage wolde they not letten,", "As for to honoure hir goddes ful devoute;", "But aldermost in honour, out of doute,", "They hadde a relik hight Palladion,", "That was hir trist a-boven everichon.", "", "And so bifel, whan comen was the tyme", "Of Aperil, whan clothed is the mede", "With newe grene, of lusty Ver the pryme,", "And swote smellen floures whyte and rede,", "In sondry wyses shewed, as I rede,", "The folk of Troye hir observaunces olde,", "Palladiones feste for to holde.", "", "And to the temple, in al hir beste wyse,", "In general, ther wente many a wight,", "To herknen of Palladion servyse;", "And namely, so many a lusty knight,", "So many a lady fresh and mayden bright,", "Ful wel arayed, bothe moste and leste,", "Ye, bothe for the seson and the feste.", "", "Among thise othere folk was Criseyda,", "In widewes habite blak; but nathelees,", "Right as our firste lettre is now an A,", "In beautee first so stood she, makelees;", "Hir godly looking gladede al the prees.", "Nas never seyn thing to ben preysed derre,", "Nor under cloude blak so bright a sterre", "", "As was Criseyde, as folk seyde everichoon", "That hir behelden in hir blake wede;", "And yet she stood ful lowe and stille alloon,", "Bihinden othere folk, in litel brede,", "And neigh the dore, ay under shames drede,", "Simple of a-tyr, and debonaire of chere,", "With ful assured loking and manere.", "", "This Troilus, as he was wont to gyde", "His yonge knightes, ladde hem up and doun", "In thilke large temple on every syde,", "Biholding ay the ladyes of the toun,", "Now here, now there, for no devocioun", "Hadde he to noon, to reven him his reste,", "But gan to preyse and lakken whom him leste.", "", "And in his walk ful fast he gan to wayten", "If knight or squyer of his companye", "Gan for to syke, or lete his eyen bayten", "On any woman that he coude aspye;", "He wolde smyle, and holden it folye,", "And seye him thus, `god wot, she slepeth softe", "For love of thee, whan thou tornest ful ofte!", "", "`I have herd told, pardieux, of your livinge,", "Ye lovers, and your lewede observaunces,", "And which a labour folk han in winninge", "Of love, and, in the keping, which doutaunces;", "And whan your preye is lost, wo and penaunces;", "O verrey foles! nyce and blinde be ye;", "Ther nis not oon can war by other be.'", "", "And with that word he gan cast up the browe,", "Ascaunces, `Lo! is this nought wysly spoken?'", "At which the god of love gan loken rowe", "Right for despyt, and shoop for to ben wroken;", "He kidde anoon his bowe nas not broken;", "For sodeynly he hit him at the fulle;", "And yet as proud a pekok can he pulle.", "", "O blinde world, O blinde entencioun!", "How ofte falleth al theffect contraire", "Of surquidrye and foul presumpcioun;", "For caught is proud, and caught is debonaire.", "This Troilus is clomben on the staire,", "And litel weneth that he moot descenden.", "But al-day falleth thing that foles ne wenden.", "", "As proude Bayard ginneth for to skippe", "Out of the wey, so priketh him his corn,", "Til he a lash have of the longe whippe,", "Than thenketh he, `Though I praunce al biforn", "First in the trays, ful fat and newe shorn,", "Yet am I but an hors, and horses lawe", "I moot endure, and with my feres drawe.'", "", "So ferde it by this fers and proude knight;", "Though he a worthy kinges sone were,", "And wende nothing hadde had swiche might", "Ayens his wil that sholde his herte stere,", "Yet with a look his herte wex a-fere,", "That he, that now was most in pryde above,", "Wex sodeynly most subget un-to love.", "", "For-thy ensample taketh of this man,", "Ye wyse, proude, and worthy folkes alle,", "To scornen Love, which that so sone can", "The freedom of your hertes to him thralle;", "For ever it was, and ever it shal bifalle,", "That Love is he that alle thing may binde;", "For may no man for-do the lawe of kinde.", "", "That this be sooth, hath preved and doth yet;", "For this trowe I ye knowen, alle or some,", "Men reden not that folk han gretter wit", "Than they that han be most with love y-nome;", "And strengest folk ben therwith overcome,", "The worthiest and grettest of degree:", "This was, and is, and yet men shal it see.", "", "And trewelich it sit wel to be so;", "For alderwysest han ther-with ben plesed;", "And they that han ben aldermost in wo,", "With love han ben conforted most and esed;", "And ofte it hath the cruel herte apesed,", "And worthy folk maad worthier of name,", "And causeth most to dreden vyce and shame.", "", "Now sith it may not goodly be withstonde,", "And is a thing so vertuous in kinde,", "Refuseth not to Love for to be bonde,", "Sin, as him-selven list, he may yow binde.", "The yerde is bet that bowen wole and winde", "Than that that brest; and therfor I yow rede", "To folwen him that so wel can yow lede.", "", "But for to tellen forth in special", "As of this kinges sone of which I tolde,", "And leten other thing collateral,", "Of him thenke I my tale for to holde,", "Both of his Ioye, and of his cares colde;", "And al his werk, as touching this matere,", "For I it gan, I wol ther-to refere.", "", "With-inne the temple he wente him forth pleyinge,", "This Troilus, of every wight aboute,", "On this lady and now on that lokinge,", "Wher-so she were of toune, or of with-oute:", "And up-on cas bifel, that thorugh a route", "His eye perced, and so depe it wente,", "Til on Criseyde it smoot, and ther it stente.", "", "And sodeynly he wax ther-with astoned,", "And gan hire bet biholde in thrifty wyse:", "`O mercy, god!' thoughte he, `wher hastow woned,", "That art so fair and goodly to devyse?'", "Ther-with his herte gan to sprede and ryse,", "And softe sighed, lest men mighte him here,", "And caughte a-yein his firste pleyinge chere.", "", "She nas nat with the leste of hir stature,", "But alle hir limes so wel answeringe", "Weren to womanhode, that creature", "Was neuer lasse mannish in seminge.", "And eek the pure wyse of here meninge", "Shewede wel, that men might in hir gesse", "Honour, estat, and wommanly noblesse.", "", "To Troilus right wonder wel with-alle", "Gan for to lyke hir meninge and hir chere,", "Which somdel deynous was, for she leet falle", "Hir look a lite a-side, in swich manere,", "Ascaunces, `What! May I not stonden here?'", "And after that hir loking gan she lighte,", "That never thoughte him seen so good a sighte.", "", "And of hir look in him ther gan to quiken", "So greet desir, and swich affeccioun,", "That in his herte botme gan to stiken", "Of hir his fixe and depe impressioun:", "And though he erst hadde poured up and doun,", "He was tho glad his hornes in to shrinke;", "Unnethes wiste he how to loke or winke.", "", "Lo, he that leet him-selven so konninge,", "And scorned hem that loves peynes dryen,", "Was ful unwar that love hadde his dwellinge", "With-inne the subtile stremes of hir yen;", "That sodeynly him thoughte he felte dyen,", "Right with hir look, the spirit in his herte;", "Blissed be love, that thus can folk converte!", "", "She, this in blak, likinge to Troylus,", "Over alle thyng, he stood for to biholde;", "Ne his desir, ne wherfor he stood thus,", "He neither chere made, ne worde tolde;", "But from a-fer, his maner for to holde,", "On other thing his look som-tyme he caste,", "And eft on hir, whyl that servyse laste.", "", "And after this, not fulliche al awhaped,", "Out of the temple al esiliche he wente,", "Repentinge him that he hadde ever y-iaped", "Of loves folk, lest fully the descente", "Of scorn fille on him-self; but, what he mente,", "Lest it were wist on any maner syde,", "His wo he gan dissimulen and hyde.", "", "Whan he was fro the temple thus departed,", "He streyght anoon un-to his paleys torneth,", "Right with hir look thurgh-shoten and thurgh-darted, 325", "Al feyneth he in lust that he soiorneth;", "And al his chere and speche also he borneth;", "And ay, of loves servants every whyle,", "Him-self to wrye, at hem he gan to smyle.", "", "And seyde, `Lord, so ye live al in lest,", "Ye loveres! For the conningest of yow,", "That serveth most ententiflich and best,", "Him tit as often harm ther-of as prow;", "Your hyre is quit ayein, ye, god wot how!", "Nought wel for wel, but scorn for good servyse;", "In feith, your ordre is ruled in good wyse!", "", "`In noun-certeyn ben alle your observaunces,", "But it a sely fewe poyntes be;", "Ne no-thing asketh so grete attendaunces", "As doth youre lay, and that knowe alle ye;", "But that is not the worste, as mote I thee;", "But, tolde I yow the worste poynt, I leve,", "Al seyde I sooth, ye wolden at me greve!", "", "`But tak this, that ye loveres ofte eschuwe,", "Or elles doon of good entencioun,", "Ful ofte thy lady wole it misconstrue,", "And deme it harm in hir opinioun;", "And yet if she, for other enchesoun,", "Be wrooth, than shalt thou han a groyn anoon:", "Lord! wel is him that may be of yow oon!'", "", "But for al this, whan that he say his tyme,", "He held his pees, non other bote him gayned;", "For love bigan his fetheres so to lyme,", "That wel unnethe un-to his folk he fayned", "That othere besye nedes him destrayned;", "For wo was him, that what to doon he niste,", "But bad his folk to goon wher that hem liste.", "", "And whan that he in chaumbre was allone,", "He doun up-on his beddes feet him sette,", "And first be gan to syke, and eft to grone,", "And thoughte ay on hir so, with-outen lette,", "That, as he sat and wook, his spirit mette", "That he hir saw a temple, and al the wyse", "Right of hir loke, and gan it newe avyse.", "", "Thus gan he make a mirour of his minde,", "In which he saugh al hoolly hir figure;", "And that he wel coude in his herte finde,", "It was to him a right good aventure", "To love swich oon, and if he dide his cure", "To serven hir, yet mighte he falle in grace,", "Or elles, for oon of hir servaunts pace.", "", "Imagininge that travaille nor grame", "Ne mighte, for so goodly oon, be lorn", "As she, ne him for his desir ne shame,", "Al were it wist, but in prys and up-born", "Of alle lovers wel more than biforn;", "Thus argumented he in his ginninge,", "Ful unavysed of his wo cominge.", "", "Thus took he purpos loves craft to suwe,", "And thoughte he wolde werken prively,", "First, to hyden his desir in muwe", "From every wight y-born, al-outrely,", "But he mighte ought recovered be therby;", "Remembring him, that love to wyde y-blowe", "Yelt bittre fruyt, though swete seed be sowe.", "", "And over al this, yet muchel more he thoughte", "What for to speke, and what to holden inne,", "And what to arten hir to love he soughte,", "And on a song anoon-right to biginne,", "And gan loude on his sorwe for to winne;", "For with good hope he gan fully assente", "Criseyde for to love, and nought repente.", "", "And of his song nought only the sentence,", "As writ myn autour called Lollius,", "But pleynly, save our tonges difference,", "I dar wel sayn, in al that Troilus", "Seyde in his song, lo! every word right thus", "As I shal seyn; and who-so list it here,", "Lo! next this vers, he may it finden here.", "", "Cantus Troili.", "", "`If no love is, O god, what fele I so?", "And if love is, what thing and whiche is he!", "If love be good, from whennes comth my wo?", "If it be wikke, a wonder thinketh me,", "Whenne every torment and adversitee", "That cometh of him, may to me savory thinke;", "For ay thurst I, the more that I it drinke.", "", "`And if that at myn owene lust I brenne,", "Fro whennes cometh my wailing and my pleynte?", "If harme agree me, wher-to pleyne I thenne?", "I noot, ne why unwery that I feynte.", "O quike deeth, O swete harm so queynte,", "How may of thee in me swich quantitee,", "But-if that I consente that it be?", "", "`And if that I consente, I wrongfully", "Compleyne, y-wis; thus possed to and fro,", "Al sterelees with inne a boot am I", "A-mid the see, by-twixen windes two,", "That in contrarie stonden ever-mo.", "Allas! what is this wonder maladye?", "For hete of cold, for cold of hete, I deye.'", "", "And to the god of love thus seyde he", "With pitous voys, `O lord, now youres is", "My spirit, which that oughte youres be.", "Yow thanke I, lord, that han me brought to this;", "But whether goddesse or womman, y-wis,", "She be, I noot, which that ye do me serve;", "But as hir man I wole ay live and sterve.", "", "`Ye stonden in hire eyen mightily,", "As in a place un-to youre vertu digne;", "Wherfore, lord, if my servyse or I", "May lyke yow, so beth to me benigne;", "For myn estat royal here I resigne", "In-to hir hond, and with ful humble chere", "Bicome hir man, as to my lady dere.'", "", "In him ne deyned sparen blood royal", "The fyr of love, wher-fro god me blesse,", "Ne him forbar in no degree, for al", "His vertu or his excellent prowesse;", "But held him as his thral lowe in distresse,", "And brende him so in sondry wyse ay newe,", "That sixty tyme a day he loste his hewe.", "", "So muche, day by day, his owene thought,", "For lust to hir, gan quiken and encrese,", "That every other charge he sette at nought;", "For-thy ful ofte, his hote fyr to cese,", "To seen hir goodly look he gan to prese;", "For ther-by to ben esed wel he wende,", "And ay the ner he was, the more he brende.", "", "For ay the ner the fyr, the hotter is,", "This, trowe I, knoweth al this companye.", "But were he fer or neer, I dar seye this,", "By night or day, for wisdom or folye,", "His herte, which that is his brestes ye,", "Was ay on hir, that fairer was to sene", "Than ever were Eleyne or Polixene.", "", "Eek of the day ther passed nought an houre", "That to him-self a thousand tyme he seyde,", "`Good goodly, to whom serve I and laboure,", "As I best can, now wolde god, Criseyde,", "Ye wolden on me rewe er that I deyde!", "My dere herte, allas! myn hele and hewe", "And lyf is lost, but ye wole on me rewe.'", "", "Alle othere dredes weren from him fledde,", "Both of the assege and his savacioun;", "Ne in him desyr noon othere fownes bredde", "But argumentes to his conclusioun,", "That she on him wolde han compassioun,", "And he to be hir man, whyl he may dure;", "Lo, here his lyf, and from the deeth his cure!", "", "The sharpe shoures felle of armes preve,", "That Ector or his othere bretheren diden,", "Ne made him only ther-fore ones meve;", "And yet was he, wher-so men wente or riden,", "Founde oon the beste, and lengest tyme abiden", "Ther peril was, and dide eek such travayle", "In armes, that to thenke it was mervayle.", "", "But for non hate he to the Grekes hadde,", "Ne also for the rescous of the toun,", "Ne made him thus in armes for to madde,", "But only, lo, for this conclusioun,", "To lyken hir the bet for his renoun;", "Fro day to day in armes so he spedde,", "That alle the Grekes as the deeth him dredde.", "", "And fro this forth tho refte him love his sleep,", "And made his mete his foo; and eek his sorwe", "Gan multiplye, that, who-so toke keep,", "It shewed in his hewe, bothe eve and morwe;", "Therfor a title he gan him for to borwe", "Of other syknesse, lest of him men wende", "That the hote fyr of love him brende,", "", "And seyde, he hadde a fever and ferde amis;", "But how it was, certayn, can I not seye,", "If that his lady understood not this,", "Or feyned hir she niste, oon of the tweye;", "But wel I rede that, by no maner weye,", "Ne semed it as that she of him roughte,", "Nor of his peyne, or what-so-ever he thoughte.", "", "But than fel to this Troylus such wo,", "That he was wel neigh wood; for ay his drede", "Was this, that she som wight had loved so,", "That never of him she wolde have taken hede;", "For whiche him thoughte he felte his herte blede.", "Ne of his wo ne dorste he not biginne", "To tellen it, for al this world to winne.", "", "But whanne he hadde a space fro his care,", "Thus to him-self ful ofte he gan to pleyne;", "He sayde, `O fool, now art thou in the snare,", "That whilom Iapedest at loves peyne;", "Now artow hent, now gnaw thyn owene cheyne;", "Thou were ay wont eche lovere reprehende", "Of thing fro which thou canst thee nat defende.", "", "`What wol now every lover seyn of thee,", "If this be wist, but ever in thyn absence", "Laughen in scorn, and seyn, `Lo, ther gooth he,", "That is the man of so gret sapience,", "That held us lovers leest in reverence!", "Now, thonked be god, he may goon in the daunce", "Of hem that Love list febly for to avaunce!'", "", "`But, O thou woful Troilus, god wolde,", "Sin thou most loven thurgh thi destinee,", "That thow beset were on swich oon that sholde", "Knowe al thy wo, al lakkede hir pitee:", "But al so cold in love, towardes thee,", "Thy lady is, as frost in winter mone,", "And thou fordoon, as snow in fyr is sone.'", "", "`God wolde I were aryved in the port", "Of deth, to which my sorwe wil me lede!", "A, lord, to me it were a gret comfort;", "Than were I quit of languisshing in drede.", "For by myn hidde sorwe y-blowe on brede", "I shal bi-Iaped been a thousand tyme", "More than that fool of whos folye men ryme.", "", "`But now help god, and ye, swete, for whom", "I pleyne, y-caught, ye, never wight so faste!", "O mercy, dere herte, and help me from", "The deeth, for I, whyl that my lyf may laste,", "More than my-self wol love yow to my laste.", "And with som freendly look gladeth me, swete,", "Though never more thing ye me bi-hete!'", "", "This wordes and ful manye an-other to", "He spak, and called ever in his compleynte", "Hir name, for to tellen hir his wo,", "Til neigh that he in salte teres dreynte.", "Al was for nought, she herde nought his pleynte;", "And whan that he bithoughte on that folye,", "A thousand fold his wo gan multiplye.", "", "Bi-wayling in his chambre thus allone,", "A freend of his, that called was Pandare,", "Com ones in unwar, and herde him grone,", "And say his freend in swich distresse and care:", "`Allas!' quod he, `who causeth al this fare?", "O mercy, god! What unhap may this mene?", "Han now thus sone Grekes maad yow lene?", "", "`Or hastow som remors of conscience,", "And art now falle in som devocioun,", "And waylest for thy sinne and thyn offence,", "And hast for ferde caught attricioun?", "God save hem that bi-seged han our toun,", "And so can leye our Iolyte on presse,", "And bring our lusty folk to holinesse!'", "", "These wordes seyde he for the nones alle,", "That with swich thing he mighte him angry maken,", "And with an angre don his sorwe falle,", "As for the tyme, and his corage awaken;", "But wel he wist, as fer as tonges spaken,", "Ther nas a man of gretter hardinesse", "Than he, ne more desired worthinesse.", "", "`What cas,' quod Troilus, `or what aventure", "Hath gyded thee to see my languisshinge,", "That am refus of euery creature?", "But for the love of god, at my preyinge,", "Go henne a-way, for certes, my deyinge", "Wol thee disese, and I mot nedes deye;", "Ther-for go wey, ther is no more to seye.", "", "`But if thou wene I be thus sik for drede,", "It is not so, and ther-for scorne nought;", "Ther is a-nother thing I take of hede", "Wel more than ought the Grekes han y-wrought,", "Which cause is of my deeth, for sorwe and thought.", "But though that I now telle thee it ne leste,", "Be thou nought wrooth; I hyde it for the beste.'", "", "This Pandare, that neigh malt for wo and routhe,", "Ful often seyde, `Allas! what may this be?", "Now freend,' quod he, `if ever love or trouthe", "Hath been, or is, bi-twixen thee and me,", "Ne do thou never swiche a crueltee", "To hyde fro thy freend so greet a care;", "Wostow nought wel that it am I, Pandare?", "", "`I wole parten with thee al thy peyne,", "If it be so I do thee no comfort,", "As it is freendes right, sooth for to seyne,", "To entreparten wo, as glad desport.", "I have, and shal, for trewe or fals report,", "In wrong and right y-loved thee al my lyve;", "Hyd not thy wo fro me, but telle it blyve.'", "", "Than gan this sorwful Troilus to syke,", "And seyde him thus, \"God leve it be my beste", "To telle it thee; for sith it may thee lyke,", "Yet wole I telle it, though myn herte breste;", "And wel wot I thou mayst do me no reste.", "But lest thow deme I truste not to thee,", "Now herkne, freend, for thus it stant with me.", "", "`Love, a-yeins the which who-so defendeth", "Him-selven most, him alder-lest avayleth,", "With disespeir so sorwfully me offendeth,", "That streyght un-to the deeth myn herte sayleth.", "Ther-to desyr so brenningly me assaylleth,", "That to ben slayn it were a gretter Ioye", "To me than king of Grece been and Troye!", "", "`Suffiseth this, my fulle freend Pandare,", "That I have seyd, for now wostow my wo;", "And for the love of god, my colde care", "So hyd it wel, I telle it never to mo;", "For harmes mighte folwen, mo than two,", "If it were wist; but be thou in gladnesse,", "And lat me sterve, unknowe, of my distresse.'", "", "`How hastow thus unkindely and longe", "Hid this fro me, thou fool?' quod Pandarus;", "`Paraunter thou might after swich oon longe,", "That myn avys anoon may helpen us.'", "`This were a wonder thing,' quod Troylus,", "`Thou coudest never in love thy-selven wisse;", "How devel maystow bringen me to blisse?'", "", "`Ye, Troilus, now herke,' quod Pandare,", "`Though I be nyce; it happeth ofte so,", "That oon that exces doth ful yvele fare,", "By good counseyl can kepe his freend ther-fro.", "I have my-self eek seyn a blind man go", "Ther-as he fel that coude loke wyde;", "A fool may eek a wys man ofte gyde.", "", "`A whetston is no kerving instrument,", "And yet it maketh sharpe kerving-tolis.", "And ther thou woost that I have ought miswent,", "Eschewe thou that, for swich thing to thee scole is;", "Thus ofte wyse men ben war by folis.", "If thou do so, thy wit is wel biwared;", "By his contrarie is every thing declared.", "", "`For how might ever sweetnesse have be knowe", "To him that never tasted bitternesse?", "Ne no man may be inly glad, I trowe,", "That never was in sorwe or som distresse;", "Eek whyt by blak, by shame eek worthinesse,", "Ech set by other, more for other semeth;", "As men may see; and so the wyse it demeth.", "", "`Sith thus of two contraries is a lore,", "I, that have in love so ofte assayed", "Grevaunces, oughte conne, and wel the more", "Counsayllen thee of that thou art amayed.", "Eek thee ne oughte nat ben yvel apayed,", "Though I desyre with thee for to bere", "Thyn hevy charge; it shal the lasse dere.", "", "`I woot wel that it fareth thus by me", "As to thy brother Parys an herdesse,", "Which that y-cleped was Oenone,", "Wrot in a compleynte of hir hevinesse:", "Ye say the lettre that she wroot, y gesse?'", "`Nay, never yet, y-wis,' quod Troilus.", "`Now,' quod Pandare, `herkneth, it was thus. --", "", "\"Phebus, that first fond art of medicyne,'", "Quod she, `and coude in every wightes care", "Remede and reed, by herbes he knew fyne,", "Yet to him-self his conning was ful bare;", "For love hadde him so bounden in a snare,", "Al for the doughter of the kinge Admete,", "That al his craft ne coude his sorwe bete.\" --", "", "`Right so fare I, unhappily for me;", "I love oon best, and that me smerteth sore;", "And yet, paraunter, can I rede thee,", "And not my-self; repreve me no more.", "I have no cause, I woot wel, for to sore", "As doth an hauk that listeth for to pleye,", "But to thyn help yet somwhat can I seye.", "", "`And of o thing right siker maystow be,", "That certayn, for to deyen in the peyne,", "That I shal never-mo discoveren thee;", "Ne, by my trouthe, I kepe nat restreyne", "Thee fro thy love, thogh that it were Eleyne,", "That is thy brotheres wif, if ich it wiste;", "Be what she be, and love hir as thee liste.", "", "`Therfore, as freend fullich in me assure,", "And tel me plat what is thyn enchesoun,", "And final cause of wo that ye endure;", "For douteth no-thing, myn entencioun", "Nis nought to yow of reprehencioun,", "To speke as now, for no wight may bireve", "A man to love, til that him list to leve.", "", "`And witeth wel, that bothe two ben vyces,", "Mistrusten alle, or elles alle leve;", "But wel I woot, the mene of it no vyce is,", "For to trusten sum wight is a preve", "Of trouthe, and for-thy wolde I fayn remeve", "Thy wrong conseyte, and do thee som wight triste,", "Thy wo to telle; and tel me, if thee liste.", "", "`The wyse seyth, \"Wo him that is allone,", "For, and he falle, he hath noon help to ryse;\"", "And sith thou hast a felawe, tel thy mone;", "For this nis not, certeyn, the nexte wyse", "To winnen love, as techen us the wyse,", "To walwe and wepe as Niobe the quene,", "Whos teres yet in marbel been y-sene.", "", "`Lat be thy weping and thi drerinesse,", "And lat us lissen wo with other speche;", "So may thy woful tyme seme lesse.", "Delyte not in wo thy wo to seche,", "As doon thise foles that hir sorwes eche", "With sorwe, whan they han misaventure,", "And listen nought to seche hem other cure.", "", "`Men seyn, \"To wrecche is consolacioun", "To have an-other felawe in his peyne;\"", "That oughte wel ben our opinioun,", "For, bothe thou and I, of love we pleyne;", "So ful of sorwe am I, soth for to seyne,", "That certeynly no more harde grace", "May sitte on me, for-why ther is no space.", "", "`If god wole thou art not agast of me,", "Lest I wolde of thy lady thee bigyle,", "Thow wost thy-self whom that I love, pardee,", "As I best can, gon sithen longe whyle.", "And sith thou wost I do it for no wyle,", "And sith I am he that thou tristest most,", "Tel me sumwhat, sin al my wo thou wost.'", "", "Yet Troilus, for al this, no word seyde,", "But longe he ley as stille as he ded were;", "And after this with sykinge he abreyde,", "And to Pandarus voys he lente his ere,", "And up his eyen caste he, that in fere", "Was Pandarus, lest that in frenesye", "He sholde falle, or elles sone dye;", "", "And cryde `A-wake' ful wonderly and sharpe;", "`What? Slombrestow as in a lytargye?", "Or artow lyk an asse to the harpe,", "That hereth soun, whan men the strenges plye,", "But in his minde of that no melodye", "May sinken, him to glade, for that he", "So dul is of his bestialitee?'", "", "And with that, Pandare of his wordes stente;", "And Troilus yet him no word answerde,", "For-why to telle nas not his entente", "To never no man, for whom that he so ferde.", "For it is seyd, `Man maketh ofte a yerde", "With which the maker is him-self y-beten", "In sondry maner,' as thise wyse treten,", "", "And namely, in his counseyl tellinge", "That toucheth love that oughte be secree;", "For of him-self it wolde y-nough out-springe,", "But-if that it the bet governed be.", "Eek som-tyme it is craft to seme flee", "Fro thing which in effect men hunte faste;", "Al this gan Troilus in his herte caste.", "", "But nathelees, whan he had herd him crye", "`Awake!' he gan to syke wonder sore,", "And seyde, `Freend, though that I stille lye,", "I am not deef; now pees, and cry no more;", "For I have herd thy wordes and thy lore;", "But suffre me my mischef to biwayle,", "For thy proverbes may me nought avayle.", "", "`Nor other cure canstow noon for me.", "Eek I nil not be cured, I wol deye;", "What knowe I of the quene Niobe?", "Lat be thyne olde ensaumples, I thee preye.'", "`No,' quod tho Pandarus, `therfore I seye,", "Swich is delyt of foles to biwepe", "Hir wo, but seken bote they ne kepe.", "", "`Now knowe I that ther reson in the fayleth.", "But tel me, if I wiste what she were", "For whom that thee al this misaunter ayleth?", "Dorstestow that I tolde hir in hir ere", "Thy wo, sith thou darst not thy-self for fere,", "And hir bisoughte on thee to han som routhe?'", "`Why, nay,' quod he, `by god and by my trouthe!'", "", "`What, Not as bisily,' quod Pandarus,", "`As though myn owene lyf lay on this nede?'", "`No, certes, brother,' quod this Troilus,", "`And why?' -- `For that thou sholdest never spede.'", "`Wostow that wel?' -- `Ye, that is out of drede,'", "Quod Troilus, `for al that ever ye conne,", "She nil to noon swich wrecche as I be wonne.'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Allas! What may this be,", "That thou dispeyred art thus causelees?", "What? Liveth not thy lady? Benedicite!", "How wostow so that thou art gracelees?", "Swich yvel is nat alwey botelees.", "Why, put not impossible thus thy cure,", "Sin thing to come is ofte in aventure.", "", "`I graunte wel that thou endurest wo", "As sharp as doth he, Ticius, in helle,", "Whos stomak foules tyren ever-mo", "That highte volturis, as bokes telle.", "But I may not endure that thou dwelle", "In so unskilful an opinioun", "That of thy wo is no curacioun.", "", "`But ones niltow, for thy coward herte,", "And for thyn ire and folish wilfulnesse,", "For wantrust, tellen of thy sorwes smerte,", "Ne to thyn owene help do bisinesse", "As muche as speke a resoun more or lesse,", "But lyest as he that list of no-thing recche.", "What womman coude love swich a wrecche?", "", "`What may she demen other of thy deeth,", "If thou thus deye, and she not why it is,", "But that for fere is yolden up thy breeth,", "For Grekes han biseged us, y-wis?", "Lord, which a thank than shaltow han of this!", "Thus wol she seyn, and al the toun at ones,", "\"The wrecche is deed, the devel have his bones!\"", "", "`Thou mayst allone here wepe and crye and knele;", "But, love a woman that she woot it nought,", "And she wol quyte that thou shalt not fele;", "Unknowe, unkist, and lost that is un-sought.", "What! Many a man hath love ful dere y-bought", "Twenty winter that his lady wiste,", "That never yet his lady mouth he kiste.", "", "`What? Shulde be therfor fallen in despeyr,", "Or be recreaunt for his owene tene,", "Or sleen him-self, al be his lady fayr?", "Nay, nay, but ever in oon be fresh and grene", "To serve and love his dere hertes quene,", "And thenke it is a guerdoun hir to serve", "A thousand-fold more than he can deserve.'", "", "Of that word took hede Troilus,", "And thoughte anoon what folye he was inne,", "And how that sooth him seyde Pandarus,", "That for to sleen him-self mighte he not winne,", "But bothe doon unmanhod and a sinne,", "And of his deeth his lady nought to wyte;", "For of his wo, god woot, she knew ful lyte.", "", "And with that thought he gan ful sore syke,", "And seyde, `Allas! What is me best to do?'", "To whom Pandare answered, `If thee lyke,", "The best is that thou telle me thy wo;", "And have my trouthe, but thou it finde so,", "I be thy bote, or that it be ful longe,", "To peces do me drawe, and sithen honge!'", "", "`Ye, so thou seyst,' quod Troilus tho, `allas!", "But, god wot, it is not the rather so;", "Ful hard were it to helpen in this cas,", "For wel finde I that Fortune is my fo,", "Ne alle the men that ryden conne or go", "May of hir cruel wheel the harm withstonde;", "For, as hir list, she pleyeth with free and bonde.'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Than blamestow Fortune", "For thou art wrooth, ye, now at erst I see;", "Wostow nat wel that Fortune is commune", "To every maner wight in som degree?", "And yet thou hast this comfort, lo, pardee!", "That, as hir Ioyes moten over-goon,", "So mote hir sorwes passen everichoon.", "", "`For if hir wheel stinte any-thing to torne,", "Than cessed she Fortune anoon to be:", "Now, sith hir wheel by no wey may soiorne,", "What wostow if hir mutabilitee", "Right as thy-selven list, wol doon by thee,", "Or that she be not fer fro thyn helpinge?", "Paraunter, thou hast cause for to singe!", "", "`And therfor wostow what I thee beseche?", "Lat be thy wo and turning to the grounde;", "For who-so list have helping of his leche,", "To him bihoveth first unwrye his wounde.", "To Cerberus in helle ay be I bounde,", "Were it for my suster, al thy sorwe,", "By my wil, she sholde al be thyn to-morwe.", "`Loke up, I seye, and tel me what she is", "Anoon, that I may goon aboute thy nede;", "Knowe ich hir ought? For my love, tel me this;", "Than wolde I hopen rather for to spede.'", "Tho gan the veyne of Troilus to blede,", "For he was hit, and wex al reed for shame;", "`A ha!' quod Pandare, `Here biginneth game!'", "", "And with that word he gan him for to shake,", "And seyde, `Theef, thou shalt hir name telle.'", "But tho gan sely Troilus for to quake", "As though men sholde han led him in-to helle,", "And seyde, `Allas! Of al my wo the welle,", "Than is my swete fo called Criseyde!'", "And wel nigh with the word for fere he deyde.", "", "And whan that Pandare herde hir name nevene,", "Lord, he was glad, and seyde, `Freend so dere,", "Now fare a-right, for Ioves name in hevene,", "Love hath biset the wel, be of good chere;", "For of good name and wysdom and manere", "She hath y-nough, and eek of gentilesse;", "If she be fayr, thou wost thy-self, I gesse,", "", "`Ne I never saw a more bountevous", "Of hir estat, ne a gladder, ne of speche", "A freendlier, ne a more gracious", "For to do wel, ne lasse hadde nede to seche", "What for to doon; and al this bet to eche,", "In honour, to as fer as she may strecche,", "A kinges herte semeth by hirs a wrecche.", "", "`And for-thy loke of good comfort thou be;", "For certeinly, the firste poynt is this", "Of noble corage and wel ordeyne,", "A man to have pees with him-self, y-wis;", "So oughtest thou, for nought but good it is", "To loven wel, and in a worthy place;", "Thee oghte not to clepe it hap, but grace.", "", "`And also thenk, and ther-with glade thee,", "That sith thy lady vertuous is al,", "So folweth it that ther is som pitee", "Amonges alle thise othere in general;", "And for-thy see that thou, in special,", "Requere nought that is ayein hir name;", "For vertue streccheth not him-self to shame.", "", "`But wel is me that ever that I was born,", "That thou biset art in so good a place;", "For by my trouthe, in love I dorste have sworn,", "Thee sholde never han tid thus fayr a grace;", "And wostow why? For thou were wont to chace", "At Love in scorn, and for despyt him calle", "\"Seynt Idiot, lord of thise foles alle.\"", "", "`How often hastow maad thy nyce Iapes,", "And seyd, that loves servants everichone", "Of nycetee been verray goddes apes;", "And some wolde monche hir mete alone,", "Ligging a-bedde, and make hem for to grone;", "And som, thou seydest, hadde a blaunche fevere,", "And preydest god he sholde never kevere.", "", "`And som of hem tok on hem, for the colde,", "More than y-nough, so seydestow ful ofte;", "And som han feyned ofte tyme, and tolde", "How that they wake, whan they slepen softe;", "And thus they wolde han brought hem-self a-lofte,", "And nathelees were under at the laste;", "Thus seydestow, and Iapedest ful faste.", "", "`Yet seydestow, that, for the more part,", "These loveres wolden speke in general,", "And thoughten that it was a siker art,", "For fayling, for to assayen over-al.", "Now may I iape of thee, if that I shal!", "But nathelees, though that I sholde deye,", "That thou art noon of tho, that dorste I seye.", "", "`Now beet thy brest, and sey to god of love,", "\"Thy grace, lord! For now I me repente", "If I mis spak, for now my-self I love:\"", "Thus sey with al thyn herte in good entente.'", "Quod Troilus, `A! Lord! I me consente,", "And prey to thee my Iapes thou foryive,", "And I shal never-more whyl I live.'", "", "`Thou seyst wel,' quod Pandare, `and now I hope", "That thou the goddes wraththe hast al apesed;", "And sithen thou hast wepen many a drope,", "And seyd swich thing wher-with thy god is plesed,", "Now wolde never god but thou were esed;", "And think wel, she of whom rist al thy wo", "Here-after may thy comfort been al-so.", "", "`For thilke ground, that bereth the wedes wikke,", "Bereth eek thise holsom herbes, as ful ofte", "Next the foule netle, rough and thikke,", "The rose waxeth swote and smothe and softe;", "And next the valey is the hil a-lofte;", "And next the derke night the glade morwe;", "And also Ioye is next the fyn of sorwe.", "", "`Now loke that atempre be thy brydel,", "And, for the beste, ay suffre to the tyde,", "Or elles al our labour is on ydel;", "He hasteth wel that wysly can abyde;", "Be diligent, and trewe, and ay wel hyde.", "Be lusty, free, persevere in thy servyse,", "And al is wel, if thou werke in this wyse.", "", "`But he that parted is in every place", "Is no-wher hool, as writen clerkes wyse;", "What wonder is, though swich oon have no grace?", "Eek wostow how it fareth of som servyse?", "As plaunte a tre or herbe, in sondry wyse,", "And on the morwe pulle it up as blyve,", "No wonder is, though it may never thryve.", "", "`And sith that god of love hath thee bistowed", "In place digne un-to thy worthinesse,", "Stond faste, for to good port hastow rowed;", "And of thy-self, for any hevinesse,", "Hope alwey wel; for, but-if drerinesse", "Or over-haste our bothe labour shende,", "I hope of this to maken a good ende.", "", "`And wostow why I am the lasse a-fered", "Of this matere with my nece trete?", "For this have I herd seyd of wyse y-lered,", "\"Was never man ne woman yet bigete", "That was unapt to suffren loves hete,", "Celestial, or elles love of kinde;\"", "For-thy som grace I hope in hir to finde.", "", "`And for to speke of hir in special,", "Hir beautee to bithinken and hir youthe,", "It sit hir nought to be celestial", "As yet, though that hir liste bothe and couthe;", "But trewely, it sete hir wel right nouthe", "A worthy knight to loven and cheryce,", "And but she do, I holde it for a vyce.", "", "`Wherfore I am, and wol be, ay redy", "To peyne me to do yow this servyse;", "For bothe yow to plese thus hope I", "Her-afterward; for ye beth bothe wyse,", "And conne it counseyl kepe in swich a wyse", "That no man shal the wyser of it be;", "And so we may be gladed alle three.", "", "`And, by my trouthe, I have right now of thee", "A good conceyt in my wit, as I gesse,", "And what it is, I wol now that thou see.", "I thenke, sith that love, of his goodnesse,", "Hath thee converted out of wikkednesse,", "That thou shalt be the beste post, I leve,", "Of al his lay, and most his foos to-greve.", "", "`Ensample why, see now these wyse clerkes,", "That erren aldermost a-yein a lawe,", "And ben converted from hir wikked werkes", "Thorugh grace of god, that list hem to him drawe,", "Than arn they folk that han most god in awe,", "And strengest-feythed been, I understonde,", "And conne an errour alder-best withstonde.'", "", "Whan Troilus had herd Pandare assented", "To been his help in loving of Criseyde,", "Wex of his wo, as who seyth, untormented,", "But hotter wex his love, and thus he seyde,", "With sobre chere, al-though his herte pleyde,", "`Now blisful Venus helpe, er that I sterve,", "Of thee, Pandare, I may som thank deserve.", "", "`But, dere frend, how shal myn wo ben lesse", "Til this be doon? And goode, eek tel me this,", "How wiltow seyn of me and my destresse?", "Lest she be wrooth, this drede I most, y-wys,", "Or nil not here or trowen how it is.", "Al this drede I, and eek for the manere", "Of thee, hir eem, she nil no swich thing here.'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Thou hast a ful gret care", "Lest that the cherl may falle out of the mone!", "Why, lord! I hate of the thy nyce fare!", "Why, entremete of that thou hast to done!", "For goddes love, I bidde thee a bone,", "So lat me alone, and it shal be thy beste.' --", "`Why, freend,' quod he, `now do right as the leste.", "", "`But herke, Pandare, o word, for I nolde", "That thou in me wendest so greet folye,", "That to my lady I desiren sholde", "That toucheth harm or any vilenye;", "For dredelees, me were lever dye", "Than she of me ought elles understode", "But that, that mighte sounen in-to gode.'", "", "Tho lough this Pandare, and anoon answerde,", "`And I thy borw? Fy! No wight dooth but so;", "I roughte nought though that she stode and herde", "How that thou seyst; but fare-wel, I wol go.", "A-dieu! Be glad! God spede us bothe two!", "Yif me this labour and this besinesse,", "And of my speed be thyn al that swetnesse.'", "", "Tho Troilus gan doun on knees to falle,", "And Pandare in his armes hente faste,", "And seyde, `Now, fy on the Grekes alle!", "Yet, pardee, god shal helpe us at the laste;", "And dredelees, if that my lyf may laste,", "And god to-forn, lo, som of hem shal smerte;", "And yet me athinketh that this avaunt me asterte!", "", "`Now, Pandare, I can no more seye,", "But thou wys, thou wost, thou mayst, thou art al!", "My lyf, my deeth, hool in thyn bonde I leye;", "Help now,' Quod he, `Yis, by my trouthe, I shal.'", "`God yelde thee, freend, and this in special,'", "Quod Troilus, `that thou me recomaunde", "To hir that to the deeth me may comaunde.'", "", "This Pandarus tho, desirous to serve", "His fulle freend, than seyde in this manere,", "`Far-wel, and thenk I wol thy thank deserve;", "Have here my trouthe, and that thou shalt wel here.' --", "And wente his wey, thenking on this matere,", "And how he best mighte hir beseche of grace,", "And finde a tyme ther-to, and a place.", "", "For every wight that hath an hous to founde", "Ne renneth nought the werk for to biginne", "With rakel hond, but he wol byde a stounde,", "And sende his hertes lyne out fro with-inne", "Alderfirst his purpos for to winne.", "Al this Pandare in his herte thoughte,", "And caste his werk ful wysly, or he wroughte.", "", "But Troilus lay tho no lenger doun,", "But up anoon up-on his stede bay,", "And in the feld he pleyde tho leoun;", "Wo was that Greek that with him mette that day.", "And in the toun his maner tho forth ay", "So goodly was, and gat him so in grace,", "That ech him lovede that loked on his face.", "", "For he bicom the frendlyeste wight,", "The gentileste, and eek the moste free,", "The thriftieste and oon the beste knight,", "That in his tyme was, or mighte be.", "Dede were his Iapes and his crueltee,", "His heighe port and his manere estraunge,", "And ech of tho gan for a vertu chaunge.", "", "Now lat us stinte of Troilus a stounde,", "That fareth lyk a man that hurt is sore,", "And is somdel of akinge of his wounde", "Y-lissed wel, but heled no del more:", "And, as an esy pacient, the lore", "Abit of him that gooth aboute his cure;", "And thus he dryveth forth his aventure.", "" ], "linecount": "1250" }, { "title": "Troilus and Criseyde: Book II", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "", "Out of these blake wawes for to sayle,", "O wind, O wind, the weder ginneth clere;", "For in this see the boot hath swich travayle,", "Of my conning, that unnethe I it stere:", "This see clepe I the tempestous matere", "Of desespeyr that Troilus was inne:", "But now of hope the calendes biginne.", "", "O lady myn, that called art Cleo,", "Thou be my speed fro this forth, and my muse,", "To ryme wel this book, til I have do;", "Me nedeth here noon other art to use.", "For-why to every lovere I me excuse,", "That of no sentement I this endyte,", "But out of Latin in my tonge it wryte.", "", "Wherfore I nil have neither thank ne blame", "Of al this werk, but prey yow mekely,", "Disblameth me if any word be lame,", "For as myn auctor seyde, so seye I.", "Eek though I speke of love unfelingly,", "No wondre is, for it no-thing of newe is;", "A blind man can nat Iuggen wel in hewis.", "", "Ye knowe eek, that in forme of speche is chaunge", "With-inne a thousand yeer, and wordes tho", "That hadden prys, now wonder nyce and straunge", "Us thinketh hem; and yet they spake hem so,", "And spedde as wel in love as men now do;", "Eek for to winne love in sondry ages,", "In sondry londes, sondry ben usages.", "", "And for-thy if it happe in any wyse,", "That here be any lovere in this place", "That herkneth, as the storie wol devyse,", "How Troilus com to his lady grace,", "And thenketh, so nolde I nat love purchace,", "Or wondreth on his speche or his doinge,", "I noot; but it is me no wonderinge;", "", "For every wight which that to Rome went,", "Halt nat o path, or alwey o manere;", "Eek in som lond were al the gamen shent,", "If that they ferde in love as men don here,", "As thus, in open doing or in chere,", "In visitinge, in forme, or seyde hire sawes;", "For-thy men seyn, ech contree hath his lawes.", "", "Eek scarsly been ther in this place three", "That han in love seid lyk and doon in al;", "For to thy purpos this may lyken thee,", "And thee right nought, yet al is seyd or shal;", "Eek som men grave in tree, som in stoon wal,", "As it bitit; but sin I have begonne,", "Myn auctor shal I folwen, if I conne.", "", "Exclipit prohemium Secundi Libri.", "", "", "Incipit Liber Secundus.", "", "In May, that moder is of monthes glade,", "That fresshe floures, blewe, and whyte, and rede,", "Ben quike agayn, that winter dede made,", "And ful of bawme is fleting every mede;", "Whan Phebus doth his brighte bemes sprede", "Right in the whyte Bole, it so bitidde", "As I shal singe, on Mayes day the thridde,", "", "That Pandarus, for al his wyse speche,", "Felt eek his part of loves shottes kene,", "That, coude he never so wel of loving preche,", "It made his hewe a-day ful ofte grene;", "So shoop it, that hym fil that day a tene", "In love, for which in wo to bedde he wente,", "And made, er it was day, ful many a wente.", "", "The swalwe Proigne, with a sorwful lay,", "Whan morwe com, gan make hir waymentinge,", "Why she forshapen was; and ever lay", "Pandare a-bedde, half in a slomeringe,", "Til she so neigh him made hir chiteringe", "How Tereus gan forth hir suster take,", "That with the noyse of hir he gan a-wake;", "", "And gan to calle, and dresse him up to ryse,", "Remembringe him his erand was to done", "From Troilus, and eek his greet empryse;", "And caste and knew in good plyt was the mone", "To doon viage, and took his wey ful sone", "Un-to his neces paleys ther bi-syde;", "Now Ianus, god of entree, thou him gyde!", "", "Whan he was come un-to his neces place,", "`Wher is my lady?' to hir folk seyde he;", "And they him tolde; and he forth in gan pace,", "And fond, two othere ladyes sete and she,", "With-inne a paved parlour; and they three", "Herden a mayden reden hem the geste", "Of the Sege of Thebes, whyl hem leste.", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Ma dame, god yow see,", "With al your book and al the companye!'", "`Ey, uncle myn, welcome y-wis,' quod she,", "And up she roos, and by the hond in hye", "She took him faste, and seyde, `This night thrye,", "To goode mote it turne, of yow I mette!'", "And with that word she doun on bench him sette.", "", "`Ye, nece, ye shal fare wel the bet,", "If god wole, al this yeer,' quod Pandarus;", "`But I am sory that I have yow let", "To herknen of your book ye preysen thus;", "For goddes love, what seith it? tel it us.", "Is it of love? O, som good ye me lere!'", "`Uncle,' quod she, `your maistresse is not here!'", "", "With that they gonnen laughe, and tho she seyde,", "`This romaunce is of Thebes, that we rede;", "And we han herd how that king Laius deyde", "Thurgh Edippus his sone, and al that dede;", "And here we stenten at these lettres rede,", "How the bisshop, as the book can telle,", "Amphiorax, fil thurgh the ground to helle.'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Al this knowe I my-selve,", "And al the assege of Thebes and the care;", "For her-of been ther maked bokes twelve: --", "But lat be this, and tel me how ye fare;", "Do wey your barbe, and shew your face bare;", "Do wey your book, rys up, and lat us daunce,", "And lat us don to May som observaunce.'", "", "`A! God forbede!' quod she. `Be ye mad?", "Is that a widewes lyf, so god you save?", "By god, ye maken me right sore a-drad,", "Ye ben so wilde, it semeth as ye rave!", "It sete me wel bet ay in a cave", "To bidde, and rede on holy seyntes lyves;", "Lat maydens gon to daunce, and yonge wyves.'", "", "`As ever thryve I,' quod this Pandarus,", "`Yet coude I telle a thing to doon you pleye.'", "`Now, uncle dere,' quod she, `tel it us", "For goddes love; is than the assege aweye?", "I am of Grekes so ferd that I deye.'", "`Nay, nay,' quod he, `as ever mote I thryve!", "It is a thing wel bet than swiche fyve.'", "", "`Ye, holy god,' quod she, `what thing is that?", "What! Bet than swiche fyve? Ey, nay, y-wis!", "For al this world ne can I reden what", "It sholde been; som Iape, I trowe, is this;", "And but your-selven telle us what it is,", "My wit is for to arede it al to lene;", "As help me god, I noot nat what ye meene.'", "", "`And I your borow, ne never shal, for me,", "This thing be told to yow, as mote I thryve!'", "`And why so, uncle myn? Why so?' quod she.", "`By god,' quod he, `that wole I telle as blyve;", "For prouder womman were ther noon on-lyve,", "And ye it wiste, in al the toun of Troye;", "I iape nought, as ever have I Ioye!'", "", "Tho gan she wondren more than biforn", "A thousand fold, and doun hir eyen caste;", "For never, sith the tyme that she was born,", "To knowe thing desired she so faste;", "And with a syk she seyde him at the laste,", "`Now, uncle myn, I nil yow nought displese,", "Nor axen more, that may do yow disese.'", "", "So after this, with many wordes glade,", "And freendly tales, and with mery chere,", "Of this and that they pleyde, and gunnen wade", "In many an unkouth glad and deep matere,", "As freendes doon, whan they ben met y-fere;", "Til she gan axen him how Ector ferde,", "That was the tounes wal and Grekes yerde.", "", "`Ful wel, I thanke it god,' quod Pandarus,", "`Save in his arm he hath a litel wounde;", "And eek his fresshe brother Troilus,", "The wyse worthy Ector the secounde,", "In whom that ever vertu list abounde,", "As alle trouthe and alle gentillesse,", "Wysdom, honour, fredom, and worthinesse.'", "", "`In good feith, eem,' quod she, `that lyketh me;", "They faren wel, god save hem bothe two!", "For trewely I holde it greet deyntee", "A kinges sone in armes wel to do,", "And been of good condiciouns ther-to;", "For greet power and moral vertu here", "Is selde y-seye in o persone y-fere.'", "", "`In good feith, that is sooth,' quod Pandarus;", "`But, by my trouthe, the king hath sones tweye,", "That is to mene, Ector and Troilus,", "That certainly, though that I sholde deye,", "They been as voyde of vyces, dar I seye,", "As any men that liveth under the sonne,", "Hir might is wyde y-knowe, and what they conne.", "", "`Of Ector nedeth it nought for to telle:", "In al this world ther nis a bettre knight", "Than he, that is of worthinesse welle;", "And he wel more vertu hath than might.", "This knoweth many a wys and worthy wight.", "The same prys of Troilus I seye,", "God help me so, I knowe not swiche tweye.'", "", "`By god,' quod she, `of Ector that is sooth;", "Of Troilus the same thing trowe I;", "For, dredelees, men tellen that he dooth", "In armes day by day so worthily,", "And bereth him here at hoom so gentilly", "To every wight, that al the prys hath he", "Of hem that me were levest preysed be.'", "", "`Ye sey right sooth, y-wis,' quod Pandarus;", "`For yesterday, who-so hadde with him been,", "He might have wondred up-on Troilus;", "For never yet so thikke a swarm of been", "Ne fleigh, as Grekes fro him gonne fleen;", "And thorugh the feld, in everi wightes ere,", "Ther nas no cry but \"Troilus is there!\"", "", "`Now here, now there, he hunted hem so faste,", "Ther nas but Grekes blood; and Troilus,", "Now hem he hurte, and hem alle doun he caste;", "Ay where he wente, it was arayed thus:", "He was hir deeth, and sheld and lyf for us;", "That as that day ther dorste noon with-stonde,", "Whyl that he held his blody swerd in honde.", "", "`Therto he is the freendlieste man", "Of grete estat, that ever I saw my lyve;", "And wher him list, best felawshipe can", "To suche as him thinketh able for to thryve.'", "And with that word tho Pandarus, as blyve,", "He took his leve, and seyde, `I wol go henne.'", "`Nay, blame have I, myn uncle,' quod she thenne.", "", "`What eyleth yow to be thus wery sone,", "And namelich of wommen? Wol ye so?", "Nay, sitteth down; by god, I have to done", "With yow, to speke of wisdom er ye go.'", "And every wight that was a-boute hem tho,", "That herde that, gan fer a-wey to stonde,", "Whyl they two hadde al that hem liste in honde.", "", "Whan that hir tale al brought was to an ende,", "Of hire estat and of hir governaunce,", "Quod Pandarus, `Now is it tyme I wende;", "But yet, I seye, aryseth, lat us daunce,", "And cast your widwes habit to mischaunce:", "What list yow thus your-self to disfigure,", "Sith yow is tid thus fair an aventure?'", "", "`A! Wel bithought! For love of god,' quod she,", "`Shal I not witen what ye mene of this?'", "`No, this thing axeth layser,' tho quod he,", "`And eek me wolde muche greve, y-wis,", "If I it tolde, and ye it toke amis.", "Yet were it bet my tonge for to stille", "Than seye a sooth that were ayeins your wille.", "", "`For, nece, by the goddesse Minerve,", "And Iuppiter, that maketh the thonder ringe,", "And by the blisful Venus that I serve,", "Ye been the womman in this world livinge,", "With-oute paramours, to my wittinge,", "That I best love, and lothest am to greve,", "And that ye witen wel your-self, I leve.'", "", "`Y-wis, myn uncle,' quod she, `grant mercy;", "Your freendship have I founden ever yit;", "I am to no man holden trewely,", "So muche as yow, and have so litel quit;", "And, with the grace of god, emforth my wit,", "As in my gilt I shal you never offende;", "And if I have er this, I wol amende.", "", "`But, for the love of god, I yow beseche,", "As ye ben he that I love most and triste,", "Lat be to me your fremde manere speche,", "And sey to me, your nece, what yow liste:'", "And with that word hir uncle anoon hir kiste,", "And seyde, `Gladly, leve nece dere,", "Tak it for good that I shal seye yow here.'", "", "With that she gan hir eiyen doun to caste,", "And Pandarus to coghe gan a lyte,", "And seyde, `Nece, alwey, lo! To the laste,", "How-so it be that som men hem delyte", "With subtil art hir tales for to endyte,", "Yet for al that, in hir entencioun", "Hir tale is al for som conclusioun.", "", "`And sithen thende is every tales strengthe,", "And this matere is so bihovely,", "What sholde I peynte or drawen it on lengthe", "To yow, that been my freend so feithfully?'", "And with that word he gan right inwardly", "Biholden hir, and loken on hir face,", "And seyde, `On suche a mirour goode grace!'", "", "Than thoughte he thus: `If I my tale endyte", "Ought hard, or make a proces any whyle,", "She shal no savour han ther-in but lyte,", "And trowe I wolde hir in my wil bigyle.", "For tendre wittes wenen al be wyle", "Ther-as they can nat pleynly understonde;", "For-thy hir wit to serven wol I fonde --'", "", "And loked on hir in a besy wyse,", "And she was war that he byheld hir so,", "And seyde, `Lord! So faste ye me avyse!", "Sey ye me never er now? What sey ye, no?'", "`Yes, yes,' quod he, `and bet wole er I go;", "But, by my trouthe, I thoughte now if ye", "Be fortunat, for now men shal it see.", "", "`For to every wight som goodly aventure", "Som tyme is shape, if he it can receyven;", "And if that he wol take of it no cure,", "Whan that it commeth, but wilfully it weyven,", "Lo, neither cas nor fortune him deceyven,", "But right his verray slouthe and wrecchednesse;", "And swich a wight is for to blame, I gesse.", "", "`Good aventure, O bele nece, have ye", "Ful lightly founden, and ye conne it take;", "And, for the love of god, and eek of me,", "Cacche it anoon, lest aventure slake.", "What sholde I lenger proces of it make?", "Yif me your hond, for in this world is noon,", "If that yow list, a wight so wel begoon.", "", "`And sith I speke of good entencioun,", "As I to yow have told wel here-biforn,", "And love as wel your honour and renoun", "As creature in al this world y-born;", "By alle the othes that I have yow sworn,", "And ye be wrooth therfore, or wene I lye,", "Ne shal I never seen yow eft with ye.", "", "`Beth nought agast, ne quaketh nat; wher-to?", "Ne chaungeth nat for fere so your hewe;", "For hardely the werste of this is do;", "And though my tale as now be to yow newe,", "Yet trist alwey, ye shal me finde trewe;", "And were it thing that me thoughte unsittinge,", "To yow nolde I no swiche tales bringe.'", "", "`Now, my good eem, for goddes love, I preye,'", "Quod she, `com of, and tel me what it is;", "For bothe I am agast what ye wol seye,", "And eek me longeth it to wite, y-wis.", "For whether it be wel or be amis,", "Say on, lat me not in this fere dwelle:'", "`So wol I doon; now herkneth, I shal telle:", "", "`Now, nece myn, the kinges dere sone,", "The goode, wyse, worthy, fresshe, and free,", "Which alwey for to do wel is his wone,", "The noble Troilus, so loveth thee,", "That, bot ye helpe, it wol his bane be.", "Lo, here is al, what sholde I more seye?", "Doth what yow list, to make him live or deye.", "", "`But if ye lete him deye, I wol sterve;", "Have her my trouthe, nece, I nil not lyen;", "Al sholde I with this knyf my throte kerve --'", "With that the teres braste out of his yen,", "And seyde, `If that ye doon us bothe dyen,", "Thus giltelees, than have ye fisshed faire;", "What mende ye, though that we bothe apeyre?", "", "`Allas! He which that is my lord so dere,", "That trewe man, that noble gentil knight,", "That nought desireth but your freendly chere,", "I see him deye, ther he goth up-right,", "And hasteth him, with al his fulle might,", "For to be slayn, if fortune wol assente;", "Allas! That god yow swich a beautee sente!", "", "`If it be so that ye so cruel be,", "That of his deeth yow liste nought to recche,", "That is so trewe and worthy, as ye see,", "No more than of a Iapere or a wrecche,", "If ye be swich, your beautee may not strecche", "To make amendes of so cruel a dede;", "Avysement is good bifore the nede.", "", "`Wo worth the faire gemme vertulees!", "Wo worth that herbe also that dooth no bote!", "Wo worth that beautee that is routhelees!", "Wo worth that wight that tret ech under fote!", "And ye, that been of beautee crop and rote,", "If therwith-al in you ther be no routhe,", "Than is it harm ye liven, by my trouthe!", "", "`And also thenk wel that this is no gaude;", "For me were lever, thou and I and he", "Were hanged, than I sholde been his baude,", "As heyghe, as men mighte on us alle y-see:", "I am thyn eem, the shame were to me,", "As wel as thee, if that I sholde assente,", "Thorugh myn abet, that he thyn honour shente.", "", "`Now understond, for I yow nought requere,", "To binde yow to him thorugh no beheste,", "But only that ye make him bettre chere", "Than ye han doon er this, and more feste,", "So that his lyf be saved, at the leste;", "This al and som, and playnly our entente;", "God help me so, I never other mente.", "", "`Lo, this request is not but skile, y-wis,", "Ne doute of reson, pardee, is ther noon.", "I sette the worste that ye dredden this,", "Men wolden wondren seen him come or goon:", "Ther-ayeins answere I thus a-noon,", "That every wight, but he be fool of kinde,", "Wol deme it love of freendship in his minde.", "", "`What? Who wol deme, though he see a man", "To temple go, that he the images eteth?", "Thenk eek how wel and wysly that he can", "Governe him-self, that he no-thing foryeteth,", "That, wher he cometh, he prys and thank him geteth;", "And eek ther-to, he shal come here so selde,", "What fors were it though al the toun behelde?", "", "`Swich love of freendes regneth al this toun;", "And wrye yow in that mantel ever-mo;", "And god so wis be my savacioun,", "As I have seyd, your beste is to do so.", "But alwey, goode nece, to stinte his wo,", "So lat your daunger sucred ben a lyte,", "That of his deeth ye be nought for to wyte.'", "", "Criseyde, which that herde him in this wyse,", "Thoughte, `I shal fele what he meneth, y-wis.'", "`Now, eem,' quod she, `what wolde ye devyse?", "What is your reed I sholde doon of this?'", "`That is wel seyd,' quod be. `certayn, best is", "That ye him love ayein for his lovinge,", "As love for love is skilful guerdoninge.", "", "`Thenk eek, how elde wasteth every houre", "In eche of yow a party of beautee;", "And therfore, er that age thee devoure,", "Go love, for, olde, ther wol no wight of thee.", "Lat this proverbe a lore un-to yow be;", "\"To late y-war, quod Beautee, whan it paste;\"", "And elde daunteth daunger at the laste.", "", "`The kinges fool is woned to cryen loude,", "Whan that him thinketh a womman bereth hir hye,", "\"So longe mote ye live, and alle proude,", "Til crowes feet be growe under your ye,", "And sende yow thanne a mirour in to prye", "In whiche that ye may see your face a-morwe!\"", "Nece, I bidde wisshe yow no more sorwe.'", "", "With this he stente, and caste adoun the heed,", "And she bigan to breste a-wepe anoon,", "And seyde, `Allas, for wo! Why nere I deed?", "For of this world the feith is al agoon!", "Allas! What sholden straunge to me doon,", "Whan he, that for my beste freend I wende,", "Ret me to love, and sholde it me defende?", "", "`Allas! I wolde han trusted, doutelees,", "That if that I, thurgh my disaventure,", "Had loved other him or Achilles,", "Ector, or any mannes creature,", "Ye nolde han had no mercy ne mesure", "On me, but alwey had me in repreve;", "This false world, allas! Who may it leve?", "", "`What? Is this al the Ioye and al the feste?", "Is this your reed, is this my blisful cas?", "Is this the verray mede of your beheste?", "Is al this peynted proces seyd, allas!", "Right for this fyn? O lady myn, Pallas!", "Thou in this dredful cas for me purveye;", "For so astonied am I that I deye!'", "", "With that she gan ful sorwfully to syke;", "`A! May it be no bet?' quod Pandarus;", "`By god, I shal no-more come here this wyke,", "And god to-forn, that am mistrusted thus;", "I see ful wel that ye sette lyte of us,", "Or of our deeth! Allas! I woful wrecche!", "Mighte he yet live, of me is nought to recche.", "", "`O cruel god, O dispitouse Marte,", "O Furies three of helle, on yow I crye!", "So lat me never out of this hous departe,", "If that I mente harm or vilanye!", "But sith I see my lord mot nedes dye,", "And I with him, here I me shryve, and seye", "That wikkedly ye doon us bothe deye.", "", "`But sith it lyketh yow that I be deed,", "By Neptunus, that god is of the see,", "Fro this forth shal I never eten breed", "Til I myn owene herte blood may see;", "For certayn, I wole deye as sone as he --'", "And up he sterte, and on his wey he raughte,", "Til she agayn him by the lappe caughte.", "", "Criseyde, which that wel neigh starf for fere,", "So as she was the ferfulleste wight", "That mighte be, and herde eek with hir ere,", "And saw the sorwful ernest of the knight,", "And in his preyere eek saw noon unright,", "And for the harm that mighte eek fallen more,", "She gan to rewe and dredde hir wonder sore;", "", "And thoughte thus, `Unhappes fallen thikke", "Alday for love, and in swich maner cas,", "As men ben cruel in hem-self and wikke;", "And if this man slee here him-self, allas!", "In my presence, it wol be no solas.", "What men wolde of hit deme I can nat seye;", "It nedeth me ful sleyly for to pleye.'", "", "And with a sorwful syk she seyde thrye,", "`A! Lord! What me is tid a sory chaunce!", "For myn estat lyth in Iupartye,", "And eek myn emes lyf lyth in balaunce;", "But nathelees, with goddes governaunce,", "I shal so doon, myn honour shal I kepe,", "And eek his lyf;' and stinte for to wepe.", "", "`Of harmes two, the lesse is for to chese;", "Yet have I lever maken him good chere", "In honour, than myn emes lyf to lese;", "Ye seyn, ye no-thing elles me requere?'", "`No, wis,' quod he, `myn owene nece dere.'", "`Now wel,' quod she, `and I wol doon my peyne;", "I shal myn herte ayeins my lust constreyne.", "", "`But that I nil not holden him in honde,", "Ne love a man, ne can I not, ne may", "Ayeins my wil; but elles wol I fonde,", "Myn honour sauf, plese him fro day to day;", "Ther-to nolde I nought ones have seyd nay,", "But that I dredde, as in my fantasye;", "But cesse cause, ay cesseth maladye.", "", "`And here I make a protestacioun,", "That in this proces if ye depper go,", "That certaynly, for no savacioun", "Of yow, though that ye sterve bothe two,", "Though al the world on o day be my fo,", "Ne shal I never on him han other routhe. --'", "`I graunte wel,' quod Pandare, `by my trouthe.", "", "`But may I truste wel ther-to,' quod he,", "`That of this thing that ye han hight me here,", "Ye wol it holden trewly un-to me?'", "`Ye, doutelees,' quod she, `myn uncle dere.'", "`Ne that I shal han cause in this matere,'", "Quod he, `to pleyne, or after yow to preche?'", "`Why, no, parde; what nedeth more speche?'", "", "Tho fillen they in othere tales glade,", "Til at the laste, `O good eem,' quod she tho,", "`For love of god, which that us bothe made,", "Tel me how first ye wisten of his wo:", "Wot noon of hit but ye?' He seyde, `No.'", "`Can he wel speke of love?' quod she, `I preye,", "Tel me, for I the bet me shal purveye.'", "", "Tho Pandarus a litel gan to smyle,", "And seyde, `By my trouthe, I shal yow telle.", "This other day, nought gon ful longe whyle,", "In-with the paleys-gardyn, by a welle,", "Gan he and I wel half a day to dwelle,", "Right for to speken of an ordenaunce,", "How we the Grekes myghte disavaunce.", "", "`Sone after that bigonne we to lepe,", "And casten with our dartes to and fro,", "Til at the laste he seyde he wolde slepe,", "And on the gres a-doun he leyde him tho;", "And I after gan rome to and fro", "Til that I herde, as that I welk allone,", "How he bigan ful wofully to grone.", "", "`Tho gan I stalke him softely bihinde,", "And sikerly, the sothe for to seyne,", "As I can clepe ayein now to my minde,", "Right thus to Love he gan him for to pleyne;", "He seyde, \"Lord! Have routhe up-on my peyne,", "Al have I been rebel in myn entente;", "Now, MEA CULPA, lord! I me repente.", "", "`\"O god, that at thy disposicioun", "Ledest the fyn by Iuste purveyaunce,", "Of every wight, my lowe confessioun", "Accepte in gree, and send me swich penaunce", "As lyketh thee, but from desesperaunce,", "That may my goost departe awey fro thee,", "Thou be my sheld, for thy benignitee.", "", "`\"For certes, lord, so soore hath she me wounded,", "That stod in blak, with loking of hir yen,", "That to myn hertes botme it is y-sounded,", "Thorugh which I woot that I mot nedes dyen;", "This is the worste, I dar me not bi-wryen;", "And wel the hotter been the gledes rede,", "That men hem wryen with asshen pale and dede.\"", "", "`With that he smoot his heed adoun anoon,", "And gan to motre, I noot what, trewely.", "And I with that gan stille awey to goon,", "And leet ther-of as no-thing wist hadde I,", "And come ayein anoon and stood him by,", "And seyde, \"A-wake, ye slepen al to longe;", "It semeth nat that love dooth yow longe,", "", "`\"That slepen so that no man may yow wake.", "Who sey ever or this so dul a man?\"", "\"Ye, freend,\" quod he, \"do ye your hedes ake", "For love, and lat me liven as I can.\"", "But though that he for wo was pale and wan,", "Yet made he tho as freshe a countenaunce", "As though he shulde have led the newe daunce.", "", "`This passed forth, til now, this other day,", "It fel that I com roming al allone", "Into his chaumbre, and fond how that he lay", "Up-on his bed; but man so sore grone", "Ne herde I never, and what that was his mone,", "Ne wist I nought; for, as I was cominge,", "Al sodeynly he lefte his compleyninge.", "", "`Of which I took somwat suspecioun,", "And neer I com, and fond he wepte sore;", "And god so wis be my savacioun,", "As never of thing hadde I no routhe more.", "For neither with engyn, ne with no lore,", "Unethes mighte I fro the deeth him kepe;", "That yet fele I myn herte for him wepe.", "", "`And god wot, never, sith that I was born,", "Was I so bisy no man for to preche,", "Ne never was to wight so depe y-sworn,", "Or he me tolde who mighte been his leche.", "But now to yow rehersen al his speche,", "Or alle his woful wordes for to soune,", "Ne bid me not, but ye wol see me swowne.", "", "`But for to save his lyf, and elles nought,", "And to non harm of yow, thus am I driven;", "And for the love of god that us hath wrought,", "Swich chere him dooth, that he and I may liven.", "Now have I plat to yow myn herte shriven;", "And sin ye woot that myn entente is clene,", "Tak hede ther-of, for I non yvel mene.", "", "`And right good thrift, I prey to god, have ye,", "That han swich oon y-caught with-oute net;", "And be ye wys, as ye ben fair to see,", "Wel in the ring than is the ruby set.", "Ther were never two so wel y-met,", "Whan ye ben his al hool, as he is youre:", "Ther mighty god yet graunte us see that houre!'", "", "`Nay, therof spak I not, a, ha!' quod she,", "`As helpe me god, ye shenden every deel!'", "`O mercy, dere nece,' anoon quod he,", "`What-so I spak, I mente nought but weel,", "By Mars the god, that helmed is of steel;", "Now beth nought wrooth, my blood, my nece dere.'", "`Now wel,' quod she, `foryeven be it here!'", "", "With this he took his leve, and hoom he wente;", "And lord, he was glad and wel bigoon!", "Criseyde aroos, no lenger she ne stente,", "But straught in-to hir closet wente anoon,", "And sette here doun as stille as any stoon,", "And every word gan up and doun to winde,", "That he hadde seyd, as it com hir to minde;", "", "And wex somdel astonied in hir thought,", "Right for the newe cas; but whan that she", "Was ful avysed, tho fond she right nought", "Of peril, why she oughte afered be.", "For man may love, of possibilitee,", "A womman so, his herte may to-breste,", "And she nought love ayein, but-if hir leste.", "", "But as she sat allone and thoughte thus,", "Thascry aroos at skarmish al with-oute,", "And men cryde in the strete, `See, Troilus", "Hath right now put to flight the Grekes route!'", "With that gan al hir meynee for to shoute,", "`A! Go we see, caste up the latis wyde;", "For thurgh this strete he moot to palays ryde;", "", "`For other wey is fro the yate noon", "Of Dardanus, ther open is the cheyne.'", "With that com he and al his folk anoon", "An esy pas rydinge, in routes tweyne,", "Right as his happy day was, sooth to seyne,", "For which, men say, may nought disturbed be", "That shal bityden of necessitee.", "", "This Troilus sat on his baye stede,", "Al armed, save his heed, ful richely,", "And wounded was his hors, and gan to blede,", "On whiche he rood a pas, ful softely;", "But swych a knightly sighte, trewely,", "As was on him, was nought, with-outen faile,", "To loke on Mars, that god is of batayle.", "", "So lyk a man of armes and a knight", "He was to seen, fulfild of heigh prowesse;", "For bothe he hadde a body and a might", "To doon that thing, as wel as hardinesse;", "And eek to seen him in his gere him dresse,", "So fresh, so yong, so weldy semed he,", "It was an heven up-on him for to see.", "", "His helm to-hewen was in twenty places,", "That by a tissew heng, his bak bihinde,", "His sheld to-dasshed was with swerdes and maces,", "In which men mighte many an arwe finde", "That thirled hadde horn and nerf and rinde;", "And ay the peple cryde, `Here cometh our Ioye,", "And, next his brother, holdere up of Troye!'", "", "For which he wex a litel reed for shame,", "Whan he the peple up-on him herde cryen,", "That to biholde it was a noble game,", "How sobreliche he caste doun his yen.", "Cryseyda gan al his chere aspyen,", "And leet so softe it in hir herte sinke,", "That to hir-self she seyde, `Who yaf me drinke?'", "", "For of hir owene thought she wex al reed,", "Remembringe hir right thus, `Lo, this is he", "Which that myn uncle swereth he moot be deed,", "But I on him have mercy and pitee;'", "And with that thought, for pure a-shamed, she", "Gan in hir heed to pulle, and that as faste,", "Whyl he and al the peple for-by paste,", "", "And gan to caste and rollen up and doun", "With-inne hir thought his excellent prowesse,", "And his estat, and also his renoun,", "His wit, his shap, and eek his gentillesse;", "But most hir favour was, for his distresse", "Was al for hir, and thoughte it was a routhe", "To sleen swich oon, if that he mente trouthe.", "", "Now mighte som envyous Iangle thus,", "`This was a sodeyn love; how mighte it be", "That she so lightly lovede Troilus", "Right for the firste sighte; ye, pardee?'", "Now who-so seyth so, mote he never thee!", "For every thing, a ginning hath it nede", "Er al be wrought, with-outen any drede.", "", "For I sey nought that she so sodeynly", "Yaf him hir love, but that she gan enclyne", "To lyke him first, and I have told yow why;", "And after that, his manhod and his pyne", "Made love with-inne hir for to myne,", "For which, by proces and by good servyse,", "He gat hir love, and in no sodeyn wyse.", "", "And also blisful Venus, wel arayed,", "Sat in hir seventhe hous of hevene tho,", "Disposed wel, and with aspectes payed,", "To helpen sely Troilus of his wo.", "And, sooth to seyn, she nas not al a fo", "To Troilus in his nativitee;", "God woot that wel the soner spedde he.", "", "Now lat us stinte of Troilus a throwe,", "That rydeth forth, and lat us tourne faste", "Un-to Criseyde, that heng hir heed ful lowe,", "Ther-as she sat allone, and gan to caste", "Wher-on she wolde apoynte hir at the laste,", "If it so were hir eem ne wolde cesse,", "For Troilus, up-on hir for to presse.", "", "And, lord! So she gan in hir thought argue", "In this matere of which I have yow told,", "And what to doon best were, and what eschue,", "That plyted she ful ofte in many fold.", "Now was hir herte warm, now was it cold,", "And what she thoughte somwhat shal I wryte,", "As to myn auctor listeth for to endyte.", "", "She thoughte wel that Troilus persone", "She knew by sighte and eek his gentillesse,", "And thus she seyde, `Al were it nought to done,", "To graunte him love, yet, for his worthinesse,", "It were honour, with pley and with gladnesse,", "In honestee, with swich a lord to dele,", "For myn estat, and also for his hele.", "", "`Eek, wel wot I my kinges sone is he;", "And sith he hath to see me swich delyt,", "If I wolde utterly his sighte flee,", "Peraunter he mighte have me in dispyt,", "Thurgh which I mighte stonde in worse plyt;", "Now were I wys, me hate to purchace,", "With-outen nede, ther I may stonde in grace?", "", "`In every thing, I woot, ther lyth mesure.", "For though a man forbede dronkenesse,", "He nought for-bet that every creature", "Be drinkelees for alwey, as I gesse;", "Eek sith I woot for me is his distresse,", "I ne oughte not for that thing him despyse,", "Sith it is so, he meneth in good wyse.", "", "`And eek I knowe, of longe tyme agoon,", "His thewes goode, and that he is not nyce.", "Ne avauntour, seyth men, certein, he is noon;", "To wys is he to do so gret a vyce;", "Ne als I nel him never so cheryce,", "That he may make avaunt, by Iuste cause;", "He shal me never binde in swiche a clause.", "", "`Now set a cas, the hardest is, y-wis,", "Men mighten deme that he loveth me;", "What dishonour were it un-to me, this?", "May I him lette of that? Why nay, pardee!", "I knowe also, and alday here and see,", "Men loven wommen al this toun aboute;", "Be they the wers? Why, nay, with-outen doute.", "", "`I thenk eek how he able is for to have", "Of al this noble toun the thriftieste,", "To been his love, so she hir honour save;", "For out and out he is the worthieste,", "Save only Ector, which that is the beste.", "And yet his lyf al lyth now in my cure,", "But swich is love, and eek myn aventure.", "", "`Ne me to love, a wonder is it nought;", "For wel wot I my-self, so god me spede,", "Al wolde I that noon wiste of this thought,", "I am oon the fayreste, out of drede,", "And goodlieste, who-so taketh hede;", "And so men seyn in al the toun of Troye.", "What wonder is it though he of me have Ioye?", "", "`I am myn owene woman, wel at ese,", "I thank it god, as after myn estat;", "Right yong, and stonde unteyd in lusty lese,", "With-outen Ialousye or swich debat;", "Shal noon housbonde seyn to me \"Chekmat!\"", "For either they ben ful of Ialousye,", "Or maisterful, or loven novelrye.", "", "`What shal I doon? To what fyn live I thus?", "Shal I nat loven, in cas if that me leste?", "What, par dieux! I am nought religious!", "And though that I myn herte sette at reste", "Upon this knight, that is the worthieste,", "And kepe alwey myn honour and my name,", "By alle right, it may do me no shame.'", "", "But right as whan the sonne shyneth brighte,", "In March, that chaungeth ofte tyme his face,", "And that a cloud is put with wind to flighte", "Which over-sprat the sonne as for a space,", "A cloudy thought gan thorugh hir soule pace,", "That over-spradde hir brighte thoughtes alle,", "So that for fere almost she gan to falle.", "", "That thought was this: `Allas! Sin I am free,", "Sholde I now love, and putte in Iupartye", "My sikernesse, and thrallen libertee?", "Allas! How dorste I thenken that folye?", "May I nought wel in other folk aspye", "Hir dredful Ioye, hir constreynt, and hir peyne?", "Ther loveth noon, that she nath why to pleyne.", "", "`For love is yet the moste stormy lyf,", "Right of him-self, that ever was bigonne;", "For ever som mistrust, or nyce stryf,", "Ther is in love, som cloud is over that sonne:", "Ther-to we wrecched wommen no-thing conne,", "Whan us is wo, but wepe and sitte and thinke;", "Our wreche is this, our owene wo to drinke.", "", "`Also these wikked tonges been so prest", "To speke us harm, eek men be so untrewe,", "That, right anoon as cessed is hir lest,", "So cesseth love, and forth to love a newe:", "But harm y-doon, is doon, who-so it rewe.", "For though these men for love hem first to-rende,", "Ful sharp biginning breketh ofte at ende.", "", "`How ofte tyme hath it y-knowen be,", "The treson, that to womman hath be do?", "To what fyn is swich love, I can nat see,", "Or wher bicometh it, whan it is ago;", "Ther is no wight that woot, I trowe so,", "Wher it bycomth; lo, no wight on it sporneth;", "That erst was no-thing, in-to nought it torneth.", "", "`How bisy, if I love, eek moste I be", "To plesen hem that Iangle of love, and demen,", "And coye hem, that they sey non harm of me?", "For though ther be no cause, yet hem semen", "Al be for harm that folk hir freendes quemen;", "And who may stoppen every wikked tonge,", "Or soun of belles whyl that they be ronge?'", "", "And after that, hir thought bigan to clere,", "And seyde, `He which that no-thing under-taketh,", "No thing ne acheveth, be him looth or dere.'", "And with an other thought hir herte quaketh;", "Than slepeth hope, and after dreed awaketh;", "Now hoot, now cold; but thus, bi-twixen tweye,", "She rist hir up, and went hir for to pleye.", "", "Adoun the steyre anoon-right tho she wente", "In-to the gardin, with hir neces three,", "And up and doun ther made many a wente,", "Flexippe, she, Tharbe, and Antigone,", "To pleyen, that it Ioye was to see;", "And othere of hir wommen, a gret route,", "hir folwede in the gardin al aboute.", "", "This yerd was large, and rayled alle the aleyes,", "And shadwed wel with blosmy bowes grene,", "And benched newe, and sonded alle the weyes,", "In which she walketh arm in arm bi-twene;", "Til at the laste Antigone the shene", "Gan on a Troian song to singe clere,", "That it an heven was hir voys to here. --", "", "She seyde, `O love, to whom I have and shal", "Ben humble subgit, trewe in myn entente,", "As I best can, to yow, lord, yeve ich al", "For ever-more, myn hertes lust to rente.", "For never yet thy grace no wight sente", "So blisful cause as me, my lyf to lede", "In alle Ioye and seurtee, out of drede.", "", "`Ye, blisful god, han me so wel beset", "In love, y-wis, that al that bereth lyf", "Imaginen ne cowde how to ben bet;", "For, lord, with-outen Ialousye or stryf,", "I love oon which that is most ententyf", "To serven wel, unwery or unfeyned,", "That ever was, and leest with harm distreyned.", "", "`As he that is the welle of worthinesse,", "Of trouthe ground, mirour of goodliheed,", "Of wit Appollo, stoon of sikernesse,", "Of vertu rote, of lust findere and heed,", "Thurgh which is alle sorwe fro me deed,", "Y-wis, I love him best, so doth he me;", "Now good thrift have he, wher-so that he be!", "", "`Whom sholde I thanke but yow, god of love,", "Of al this blisse, in which to bathe I ginne?", "And thanked be ye, lord, for that I love!", "This is the righte lyf that I am inne,", "To flemen alle manere vyce and sinne:", "This doth me so to vertu for to entende,", "That day by day I in my wil amende.", "", "`And who-so seyth that for to love is vyce,", "Or thraldom, though he fele in it distresse,", "He outher is envyous, or right nyce,", "Or is unmighty, for his shrewednesse,", "To loven; for swich maner folk, I gesse,", "Defamen love, as no-thing of him knowe;", "Thei speken, but they bente never his bowe.", "", "`What is the sonne wers, of kinde righte,", "Though that a man, for feblesse of his yen,", "May nought endure on it to see for brighte?", "Or love the wers, though wrecches on it cryen?", "No wele is worth, that may no sorwe dryen.", "And for-thy, who that hath an heed of verre,", "Fro cast of stones war him in the werre!", "", "`But I with al myn herte and al my might,", "As I have seyd, wol love, un-to my laste,", "My dere herte, and al myn owene knight,", "In which myn herte growen is so faste,", "And his in me, that it shal ever laste.", "Al dredde I first to love him to biginne,", "Now woot I wel, ther is no peril inne.'", "", "And of hir song right with that word she stente,", "And therwith-al, `Now, nece,' quod Criseyde,", "`Who made this song with so good entente?'", "Antigone answerde anoon, and seyde,", "`Ma dame, y-wis, the goodlieste mayde", "Of greet estat in al the toun of Troye;", "And let hir lyf in most honour and Ioye.'", "", "`Forsothe, so it semeth by hir song,'", "Quod tho Criseyde, and gan ther-with to syke,", "And seyde, `Lord, is there swich blisse among", "These lovers, as they conne faire endyte?'", "`Ye, wis,' quod freshe Antigone the whyte,", "`For alle the folk that han or been on lyve", "Ne conne wel the blisse of love discryve.", "", "`But wene ye that every wrecche woot", "The parfit blisse of love? Why, nay, y-wis;", "They wenen al be love, if oon be hoot;", "Do wey, do wey, they woot no-thing of this!", "Men mosten axe at seyntes if it is", "Aught fair in hevene; Why? For they conne telle;", "And axen fendes, is it foul in helle.'", "", "Criseyde un-to that purpos nought answerde,", "But seyde, `Y-wis, it wol be night as faste.'", "But every word which that she of hir herde,", "She gan to prenten in hir herte faste;", "And ay gan love hir lasse for to agaste", "Than it dide erst, and sinken in hir herte,", "That she wex somwhat able to converte.", "", "The dayes honour, and the hevenes ye,", "The nightes fo, al this clepe I the sonne,", "Gan westren faste, and dounward for to wrye,", "As he that hadde his dayes cours y-ronne;", "And whyte thinges wexen dimme and donne", "For lak of light, and sterres for to appere,", "That she and al hir folk in wente y-fere.", "", "So whan it lyked hir to goon to reste,", "And voyded weren they that voyden oughte,", "She seyde, that to slepe wel hir leste.", "Hir wommen sone til hir bed hir broughte.", "Whan al was hust, than lay she stille, and thoughte", "Of al this thing the manere and the wyse.", "Reherce it nedeth nought, for ye ben wyse.", "", "A nightingale, upon a cedre grene,", "Under the chambre-wal ther as she lay,", "Ful loude sang ayein the mone shene,", "Paraunter, in his briddes wyse, a lay", "Of love, that made hir herte fresh and gay.", "That herkned she so longe in good entente,", "Til at the laste the dede sleep hir hente.", "", "And as she sleep, anoon-right tho hir mette,", "How that an egle, fethered whyt as boon,", "Under hir brest his longe clawes sette,", "And out hir herte he rente, and that a-noon,", "And dide his herte in-to hir brest to goon,", "Of which she nought agroos, ne no-thing smerte,", "And forth he fleigh, with herte left for herte.", "", "Now lat hir slepe, and we our tales holde", "Of Troilus, that is to paleys riden,", "Fro the scarmuch, of the whiche I tolde,", "And in his chaumbre sit, and hath abiden", "Til two or three of his messages yeden", "For Pandarus, and soughten him ful faste,", "Til they him founde and broughte him at the laste.", "", "This Pandarus com leping in at ones,", "And seiyde thus: `Who hath ben wel y-bete", "To-day with swerdes, and with slinge-stones,", "But Troilus, that hath caught him an hete?'", "And gan to Iape, and seyde, `Lord, so ye swete!", "But rys, and lat us soupe and go to reste;'", "And he answerde him, `Do we as thee leste.'", "", "With al the haste goodly that they mighte,", "They spedde hem fro the souper un-to bedde;", "And every wight out at the dore him dighte,", "And wher him liste upon his wey him spedde;", "But Troilus, that thoughte his herte bledde", "For wo, til that he herde som tydinge,", "He seyde, `Freend, shal I now wepe or singe?'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Ly stille and lat me slepe,", "And don thyn hood, thy nedes spedde be;", "And chese, if thou wolt singe or daunce or lepe;", "At shorte wordes, thow shal trowe me. --", "Sire, my nece wol do wel by thee,", "And love thee best, by god and by my trouthe,", "But lak of pursuit make it in thy slouthe.", "", "`For thus ferforth I have thy work bigonne,", "Fro day to day, til this day, by the morwe,", "Hir love of freendship have I to thee wonne,", "And also hath she leyd hir feyth to borwe.", "Algate a foot is hameled of thy sorwe.'", "What sholde I lenger sermon of it holde?", "As ye han herd bifore, al he him tolde.", "", "But right as floures, thorugh the colde of night", "Y-closed, stoupen on hir stalke lowe,", "Redressen hem a-yein the sonne bright,", "And spreden on hir kinde cours by rowe,", "Right so gan tho his eyen up to throwe", "This Troilus, and seyde, `O Venus dere,", "Thy might, thy grace, y-heried be it here!'", "", "And to Pandare he held up bothe his hondes,", "And seyde, `Lord, al thyn be that I have;", "For I am hool, al brosten been my bondes;", "A thousand Troians who so that me yave,", "Eche after other, god so wis me save,", "Ne mighte me so gladen; lo, myn herte,", "It spredeth so for Ioye, it wol to-sterte!", "", "`But Lord, how shal I doon, how shal I liven?", "Whan shal I next my dere herte see?", "How shal this longe tyme a-wey be driven,", "Til that thou be ayein at hir fro me?", "Thou mayst answere, \"A-byd, a-byd,\" but he", "That hangeth by the nekke, sooth to seyne,", "In grete disese abydeth for the peyne.'", "", "`Al esily, now, for the love of Marte,'", "Quod Pandarus, `for every thing hath tyme;", "So longe abyd til that the night departe;", "For al so siker as thow lyst here by me,", "And god toforn, I wol be there at pryme,", "And for thy werk somwhat as I shal seye,", "Or on som other wight this charge leye.", "", "`For pardee, god wot, I have ever yit", "Ben redy thee to serve, and to this night", "Have I nought fayned, but emforth my wit", "Don al thy lust, and shal with al my might.", "Do now as I shal seye, and fare a-right;", "And if thou nilt, wyte al thy-self thy care,", "On me is nought along thyn yvel fare.", "", "`I woot wel that thow wyser art than I", "A thousand fold, but if I were as thou,", "God help me so, as I wolde outrely,", "Right of myn owene hond, wryte hir right now", "A lettre, in which I wolde hir tellen how", "I ferde amis, and hir beseche of routhe;", "Now help thy-self, and leve it not for slouthe.", "", "`And I my-self shal ther-with to hir goon;", "And whan thou wost that I am with hir there,", "Worth thou up-on a courser right anoon,", "Ye, hardily, right in thy beste gere,", "And ryd forth by the place, as nought ne were,", "And thou shalt finde us, if I may, sittinge", "At som windowe, in-to the strete lokinge.", "", "`And if thee list, than maystow us saluwe,", "And up-on me make thy contenaunce;", "But, by thy lyf, be war and faste eschuwe", "To tarien ought, god shilde us fro mischaunce!", "Ryd forth thy wey, and hold thy governaunce;", "And we shal speke of thee som-what, I trowe,", "Whan Thou art goon, to do thyne eres glowe!", "", "`Touching thy lettre, thou art wys y-nough,", "I woot thow nilt it digneliche endyte;", "As make it with thise argumentes tough;", "Ne scrivenish or craftily thou it wryte;", "Beblotte it with thy teres eek a lyte;", "And if thou wryte a goodly word al softe,", "Though it be good, reherce it not to ofte.", "", "`For though the beste harpour upon lyve", "Wolde on the beste souned Ioly harpe", "That ever was, with alle his fingres fyve,", "Touche ay o streng, or ay o werbul harpe,", "Were his nayles poynted never so sharpe,", "It shulde maken every wight to dulle,", "To here his glee, and of his strokes fulle.", "", "`Ne Iompre eek no discordaunt thing y-fere,", "As thus, to usen termes of phisyk;", "In loves termes, hold of thy matere", "The forme alwey, and do that it be lyk;", "For if a peyntour wolde peynte a pyk", "With asses feet, and hede it as an ape,", "It cordeth nought; so nere it but a Iape.'", "", "This counseyl lyked wel to Troilus;", "But, as a dreedful lover, he seyde this: --", "`Allas, my dere brother Pandarus,", "I am ashamed for to wryte, y-wis,", "Lest of myn innocence I seyde a-mis,", "Or that she nolde it for despyt receyve;", "Thanne were I deed, ther mighte it no-thing weyve.' 1050", "", "To that Pandare answerde, `If thee lest,", "Do that I seye, and lat me therwith goon;", "For by that lord that formed est and west,", "I hope of it to bringe answere anoon", "Right of hir hond, and if that thou nilt noon,", "Lat be; and sory mote he been his lyve,", "Ayeins thy lust that helpeth thee to thryve.'", "", "Quod Troilus, `Depardieux, I assente;", "Sin that thee list, I will aryse and wryte;", "And blisful god preye ich, with good entente,", "The vyage, and the lettre I shal endyte,", "So spede it; and thou, Minerva, the whyte,", "Yif thou me wit my lettre to devyse:'", "And sette him doun, and wroot right in this wyse. --", "", "First he gan hir his righte lady calle,", "His hertes lyf, his lust, his sorwes leche,", "His blisse, and eek these othere termes alle,", "That in swich cas these loveres alle seche;", "And in ful humble wyse, as in his speche,", "He gan him recomaunde un-to hir grace;", "To telle al how, it axeth muchel space.", "", "And after this, ful lowly he hir prayde", "To be nought wrooth, though he, of his folye,", "So hardy was to hir to wryte, and seyde,", "That love it made, or elles moste he dye,", "And pitously gan mercy for to crye;", "And after that he seyde, and ley ful loude,", "Him-self was litel worth, and lesse he coude;", "", "And that she sholde han his conning excused,", "That litel was, and eek he dredde hir so,", "And his unworthinesse he ay acused;", "And after that, than gan he telle his woo;", "But that was endeles, with-outen ho;", "And seyde, he wolde in trouthe alwey him holde; --", "And radde it over, and gan the lettre folde.", "", "And with his salte teres gan he bathe", "The ruby in his signet, and it sette", "Upon the wex deliverliche and rathe;", "Ther-with a thousand tymes, er he lette,", "He kiste tho the lettre that he shette,", "And seyde, `Lettre, a blisful destenee", "Thee shapen is, my lady shal thee see.'", "", "This Pandare took the lettre, and that by tyme", "A-morwe, and to his neces paleys sterte,", "And faste he swoor, that it was passed pryme,", "And gan to Iape, and seyde, `Y-wis, myn herte,", "So fresh it is, al-though it sore smerte,", "I may not slepe never a Mayes morwe;", "I have a Ioly wo, a lusty sorwe.'", "", "Criseyde, whan that she hir uncle herde,", "With dreedful herte, and desirous to here", "The cause of his cominge, thus answerde:", "`Now by your feyth, myn uncle,' quod she, `dere,", "What maner windes gydeth yow now here?", "Tel us your Ioly wo and your penaunce,", "How ferforth be ye put in loves daunce.'", "", "`By god,' quod he, `I hoppe alwey bihinde!'", "And she to-laugh, it thoughte hir herte breste.", "Quod Pandarus, `Loke alwey that ye finde", "Game in myn hood, but herkneth, if yow leste;", "Ther is right now come in-to toune a geste,", "A Greek espye, and telleth newe thinges,", "For which I come to telle yow tydinges.", "", "`Into the gardin go we, and we shal here,", "Al prevely, of this a long sermoun.'", "With that they wenten arm in arm y-fere", "In-to the gardin from the chaumbre doun.", "And whan that he so fer was that the soun", "Of that he speke, no man here mighte,", "He seyde hir thus, and out the lettre plighte,", "", "`Lo, he that is al hoolly youres free", "Him recomaundeth lowly to your grace,", "And sent to you this lettre here by me;", "Avyseth you on it, whan ye han space,", "And of som goodly answere yow purchace;", "Or, helpe me god, so pleynly for to seyne,", "He may not longe liven for his peyne.'", "", "Ful dredfully tho gan she stonde stille,", "And took it nought, but al hir humble chere", "Gan for to chaunge, and seyde, `Scrit ne bille,", "For love of god, that toucheth swich matere,", "Ne bring me noon; and also, uncle dere,", "To myn estat have more reward, I preye,", "Than to his lust; what sholde I more seye?", "", "`And loketh now if this be resonable,", "And letteth nought, for favour ne for slouthe,", "To seyn a sooth; now were it covenable", "To myn estat, by god, and by your trouthe,", "To taken it, or to han of him routhe,", "In harming of my-self or in repreve?", "Ber it a-yein, for him that ye on leve!'", "", "This Pandarus gan on hir for to stare,", "And seyde, `Now is this the grettest wonder", "That ever I sey! Lat be this nyce fare!", "To deethe mote I smiten be with thonder,", "If, for the citee which that stondeth yonder,", "Wolde I a lettre un-to yow bringe or take", "To harm of yow; what list yow thus it make?", "", "`But thus ye faren, wel neigh alle and some,", "That he that most desireth yow to serve,", "Of him ye recche leest wher he bicome,", "And whether that he live or elles sterve.", "But for al that that ever I may deserve,", "Refuse it nought,' quod he, and hente hir faste,", "And in hir bosom the lettre doun he thraste,", "", "And seyde hire, `Now cast it awey anoon,", "That folk may seen and gauren on us tweye.'", "Quod she, `I can abyde til they be goon,'", "And gan to smyle, and seyde hym, `Eem, I preye,", "Swich answere as yow list, your-self purveye,", "For trewely I nil no lettre wryte.'", "`No? than wol I,' quod he, `so ye endyte.'", "", "Therwith she lough, and seyde, `Go we dyne.'", "And he gan at him-self to iape faste,", "And seyde, `Nece, I have so greet a pyne", "For love, that every other day I faste' --", "And gan his beste Iapes forth to caste;", "And made hir so to laughe at his folye,", "That she for laughter wende for to dye.", "", "And whan that she was comen in-to halle,", "`Now, eem,' quod she, `we wol go dine anoon;'", "And gan some of hir women to hir calle,", "And streyght in-to hir chaumbre gan she goon;", "But of hir besinesses, this was oon", "A-monges othere thinges, out of drede,", "Ful prively this lettre for to rede;", "", "Avysed word by word in every lyne,", "And fond no lak, she thoughte he coude good;", "And up it putte, and went hir in to dyne.", "But Pandarus, that in a study stood,", "Er he was war, she took him by the hood,", "And seyde, `Ye were caught er that ye wiste;'", "`I vouche sauf,' quod he. `do what yow liste.'", "", "Tho wesshen they, and sette hem doun and ete;", "And after noon ful sleyly Pandarus", "Gan drawe him to the window next the strete,", "And seyde, `Nece, who hath arayed thus", "The yonder hous, that stant afor-yeyn us?'", "`Which hous?' quod she, and gan for to biholde,", "And knew it wel, and whos it was him tolde,", "", "And fillen forth in speche of thinges smale,", "And seten in the window bothe tweye.", "Whan Pandarus saw tyme un-to his tale,", "And saw wel that hir folk were alle aweye,", "`Now, nece myn, tel on,' quod he; `I seye,", "How liketh yow the lettre that ye woot?", "Can he ther-on? For, by my trouthe, I noot.'", "", "Therwith al rosy hewed tho wex she,", "And gan to humme, and seyde, `So I trowe.'", "`Aquyte him wel, for goddes love,' quod he;", "`My-self to medes wol the lettre sowe.'", "And held his hondes up, and sat on knowe,", "`Now, goode nece, be it never so lyte,", "Yif me the labour, it to sowe and plyte.'", "", "`Ye, for I can so wryte,' quod she tho;", "`And eek I noot what I sholde to him seye.'", "`Nay, nece,' quod Pandare, `sey nat so;", "Yet at the leste thanketh him, I preye,", "Of his good wil, and doth him not to deye.", "Now for the love of me, my nece dere,", "Refuseth not at this tyme my preyere.'", "", "`Depar-dieux,' quod she, `God leve al be wel!", "God help me so, this is the firste lettre", "That ever I wroot, ye, al or any del.'", "And in-to a closet, for to avyse hir bettre,", "She wente allone, and gan hir herte unfettre", "Out of disdaynes prison but a lyte;", "And sette hir doun, and gan a lettre wryte,", "", "Of which to telle in short is myn entente", "Theffect, as fer as I can understonde: --", "She thonked him of al that he wel mente", "Towardes hir, but holden him in honde", "She nolde nought, ne make hir-selven bonde", "In love, but as his suster, him to plese,", "She wolde fayn to doon his herte an ese.", "", "She shette it, and to Pandarus in gan goon,", "There as he sat and loked in-to the strete,", "And doun she sette hir by him on a stoon", "Of Iaspre, up-on a quisshin gold y-bete,", "And seyde, `As wisly helpe me god the grete,", "I never dide a thing with more peyne", "Than wryte this, to which ye me constreyne;'", "", "And took it him: He thonked hir and seyde,", "`God woot, of thing ful ofte looth bigonne", "Cometh ende good; and nece myn, Criseyde,", "That ye to him of hard now ben y-wonne", "Oughte he be glad, by god and yonder sonne!", "For-why men seyth, \"Impressiounes lighte", "Ful lightly been ay redy to the flighte.'", "", "`But ye han pleyed tyraunt neigh to longe,", "And hard was it your herte for to grave;", "Now stint, that ye no longer on it honge,", "Al wolde ye the forme of daunger save.", "But hasteth yow to doon him Ioye have;", "For trusteth wel, to longe y-doon hardnesse", "Causeth despyt ful often, for destresse.'", "", "And right as they declamed this matere,", "Lo, Troilus, right at the stretes ende,", "Com ryding with his tenthe some y-fere,", "Al softely, and thiderward gan bende", "Ther-as they sete, as was his way to wende", "To paleys-ward; and Pandare him aspyde,", "And seyde, `Nece, y-see who cometh here ryde!", "", "`O flee not in, he seeth us, I suppose;", "Lest he may thinke that ye him eschuwe.'", "`Nay, nay,' quod she, and wex as reed as rose.", "With that he gan hir humbly to saluwe", "With dreedful chere, and oft his hewes muwe;", "And up his look debonairly he caste,", "And bekked on Pandare, and forth he paste.", "", "God woot if he sat on his hors a-right,", "Or goodly was beseyn, that ilke day!", "God woot wher he was lyk a manly knight!", "What sholde I drecche, or telle of his aray?", "Criseyde, which that alle these thinges say,", "To telle in short, hir lyked al y-fere,", "His persone, his aray, his look, his chere,", "", "His goodly manere, and his gentillesse,", "So wel, that never, sith that she was born,", "Ne hadde she swich routhe of his distresse;", "And how-so she hath hard ben her-biforn,", "To god hope I, she hath now caught a thorn,", "She shal not pulle it out this nexte wyke;", "God sende mo swich thornes on to pyke!", "", "Pandare, which that stood hir faste by,", "Felte iren hoot, and he bigan to smyte,", "And seyde, `Nece, I pray yow hertely,", "Tel me that I shal axen yow a lyte:", "A womman, that were of his deeth to wyte,", "With-outen his gilt, but for hir lakked routhe,", "Were it wel doon?' Quod she, `Nay, by my trouthe!'", "", "`God help me so,' quod he, `ye sey me sooth.", "Ye felen wel your-self that I not lye;", "Lo, yond he rit!' Quod she, `Ye, so he dooth!'", "`Wel,' quod Pandare, `as I have told yow thrye,", "Lat be youre nyce shame and youre folye,", "And spek with him in esing of his herte;", "Lat nycetee not do yow bothe smerte.'", "", "But ther-on was to heven and to done;", "Considered al thing, it may not be;", "And why, for shame; and it were eek to sone", "To graunten him so greet a libertee.", "`For playnly hir entente,' as seyde she,", "`Was for to love him unwist, if she mighte,", "And guerdon him with no-thing but with sighte.'", "", "But Pandarus thoughte, `It shal not be so,", "If that I may; this nyce opinioun", "Shal not be holden fully yeres two.'", "What sholde I make of this a long sermoun?", "He moste assente on that conclusioun,", "As for the tyme; and whan that it was eve,", "And al was wel, he roos and took his leve.", "", "And on his wey ful faste homward he spedde,", "And right for Ioye he felte his herte daunce;", "And Troilus he fond alone a-bedde,", "That lay as dooth these loveres, in a traunce,", "Bitwixen hope and derk desesperaunce.", "But Pandarus, right at his in-cominge,", "He song, as who seyth, `Lo! Sumwhat I bringe,'", "", "And seyde, `Who is in his bed so sone", "Y-buried thus?' `It am I, freend,' quod he.", "`Who, Troilus? Nay, helpe me so the mone,'", "Quod Pandarus, `Thou shalt aryse and see", "A charme that was sent right now to thee,", "The which can helen thee of thyn accesse,", "If thou do forth-with al thy besinesse.'", "", "`Ye, through the might of god!' quod Troilus.", "And Pandarus gan him the lettre take,", "And seyde, `Pardee, god hath holpen us;", "Have here a light, and loke on al this blake.'", "But ofte gan the herte glade and quake", "Of Troilus, whyl that he gan it rede,", "So as the wordes yave him hope or drede.", "", "But fynally, he took al for the beste", "That she him wroot, for somwhat he biheld", "On which, him thoughte, he mighte his herte reste,", "Al covered she the wordes under sheld.", "Thus to the more worthy part he held,", "That, what for hope and Pandarus biheste,", "His grete wo for-yede he at the leste.", "", "But as we may alday our-selven see,", "Through more wode or col, the more fyr;", "Right so encrees hope, of what it be,", "Therwith ful ofte encreseth eek desyr;", "Or, as an ook cometh of a litel spyr,", "So through this lettre, which that she him sente,", "Encresen gan desyr, of which he brente.", "", "Wherfore I seye alwey, that day and night", "This Troilus gan to desiren more", "Than he dide erst, thurgh hope, and dide his might", "To pressen on, as by Pandarus lore,", "And wryten to hir of his sorwes sore", "Fro day to day; he leet it not refreyde,", "That by Pandare he wroot somwhat or seyde;", "", "And dide also his othere observaunces", "That to a lovere longeth in this cas;", "And, after that these dees turnede on chaunces,", "So was he outher glad or seyde `Allas!'", "And held after his gestes ay his pas;", "And aftir swiche answeres as he hadde,", "So were his dayes sory outher gladde.", "", "But to Pandare alwey was his recours,", "And pitously gan ay til him to pleyne,", "And him bisoughte of rede and som socours;", "And Pandarus, that sey his wode peyne,", "Wex wel neigh deed for routhe, sooth to seyne,", "And bisily with al his herte caste", "Som of his wo to sleen, and that as faste;", "", "And seyde, `Lord, and freend, and brother dere,", "God woot that thy disese dooth me wo.", "But woltow stinten al this woful chere,", "And, by my trouthe, or it be dayes two,", "And god to-forn, yet shal I shape it so,", "That thou shalt come in-to a certayn place,", "Ther-as thou mayst thy-self hir preye of grace.", "", "`And certainly, I noot if thou it wost,", "But tho that been expert in love it seye,", "It is oon of the thinges that furthereth most,", "A man to have a leyser for to preye,", "And siker place his wo for to biwreye;", "For in good herte it moot som routhe impresse,", "To here and see the giltles in distresse.", "", "`Paraunter thenkestow: though it be so", "That kinde wolde doon hir to biginne", "To han a maner routhe up-on my wo,", "Seyth Daunger, \"Nay, thou shalt me never winne;", "So reuleth hir hir hertes goost with-inne,", "That, though she bende, yet she stant on rote;", "What in effect is this un-to my bote?\"", "", "`Thenk here-ayeins, whan that the sturdy ook,", "On which men hakketh ofte, for the nones,", "Receyved hath the happy falling strook,", "The grete sweigh doth it come al at ones,", "As doon these rokkes or these milne-stones.", "For swifter cours cometh thing that is of wighte,", "Whan it descendeth, than don thinges lighte.", "", "`And reed that boweth doun for every blast,", "Ful lightly, cesse wind, it wol aryse;", "But so nil not an ook whan it is cast;", "It nedeth me nought thee longe to forbyse.", "Men shal reioysen of a greet empryse", "Acheved wel, and stant with-outen doute,", "Al han men been the lenger ther-aboute.", "", "`But, Troilus, yet tel me, if thee lest,", "A thing now which that I shal axen thee;", "Which is thy brother that thou lovest best", "As in thy verray hertes privetee?'", "`Y-wis, my brother Deiphebus,' quod he.", "`Now,' quod Pandare, `er houres twyes twelve,", "He shal thee ese, unwist of it him-selve.", "", "`Now lat me allone, and werken as I may,'", "Quod he; and to Deiphebus wente he tho", "Which hadde his lord and grete freend ben ay;", "Save Troilus, no man he lovede so.", "To telle in short, with-outen wordes mo,", "Quod Pandarus, `I pray yow that ye be", "Freend to a cause which that toucheth me.'", "", "`Yis, pardee,' quod Deiphebus, `wel thow wost,", "In al that ever I may, and god to-fore,", "Al nere it but for man I love most,", "My brother Troilus; but sey wherfore", "It is; for sith that day that I was bore,", "I nas, ne never-mo to been I thinke,", "Ayeins a thing that mighte thee for-thinke.'", "", "Pandare gan him thonke, and to him seyde,", "`Lo, sire, I have a lady in this toun,", "That is my nece, and called is Criseyde,", "Which some men wolden doon oppressioun,", "And wrongfully have hir possessioun:", "Wherfor I of your lordship yow biseche", "To been our freend, with-oute more speche.'", "", "Deiphebus him answerde, `O, is not this,", "That thow spekest of to me thus straungely,", "Criseyda, my freend?' He seyde, `Yis.'", "`Than nedeth,' quod Deiphebus, `hardely,", "Na-more to speke, for trusteth wel, that I", "Wol be hir champioun with spore and yerde;", "I roughte nought though alle hir foos it herde.", "", "`But tel me how, thou that woost al this matere,", "How I might best avaylen? Now lat see.'", "Quod Pandarus; `If ye, my lord so dere,", "Wolden as now don this honour to me,", "To preyen hir to-morwe, lo, that she", "Come un-to yow hir pleyntes to devyse,", "Hir adversaries wolde of it agryse.", "", "`And if I more dorste preye as now,", "And chargen yow to have so greet travayle,", "To han som of your bretheren here with yow,", "That mighten to hir cause bet avayle,", "Than, woot I wel, she mighte never fayle", "For to be holpen, what at your instaunce,", "What with hir othere freendes governaunce.'", "", "Deiphebus, which that comen was, of kinde,", "To al honour and bountee to consente,", "Answerde, `It shal be doon; and I can finde", "Yet gretter help to this in myn entente.", "What wolt thow seyn, if I for Eleyne sente", "To speke of this? I trowe it be the beste;", "For she may leden Paris as hir leste.", "", "`Of Ector, which that is my lord, my brother,", "It nedeth nought to preye him freend to be;", "For I have herd him, o tyme and eek other,", "Speke of Criseyde swich honour, that he", "May seyn no bet, swich hap to him hath she.", "It nedeth nought his helpes for to crave;", "He shal be swich, right as we wole him have.", "", "`Spek thou thy-self also to Troilus", "On my bihalve, and pray him with us dyne.'", "`Sire, al this shal be doon,' quod Pandarus;", "And took his leve, and never gan to fyne,", "But to his neces hous, as streyt as lyne,", "He com; and fond hir fro the mete aryse;", "And sette him doun, and spak right in this wyse.", "", "He seyde, `O veray god, so have I ronne!", "Lo, nece myn, see ye nought how I swete?", "I noot whether ye the more thank me conne.", "Be ye nought war how that fals Poliphete", "Is now aboute eft-sones for to plete,", "And bringe on yow advocacyes newe?'", "`I? No,' quod she, and chaunged al hir hewe.", "", "`What is he more aboute, me to drecche", "And doon me wrong? What shal I do, allas?", "Yet of him-self no-thing ne wolde I recche,", "Nere it for Antenor and Eneas,", "That been his freendes in swich maner cas;", "But, for the love of god, myn uncle dere,", "No fors of that; lat him have al y-fere;", "", "`With-outen that I have ynough for us.'", "`Nay,' quod Pandare, `it shal no-thing be so.", "For I have been right now at Deiphebus,", "And Ector, and myne othere lordes mo,", "And shortly maked eche of hem his fo;", "That, by my thrift, he shal it never winne", "For ought he can, whan that so he biginne.'", "", "And as they casten what was best to done,", "Deiphebus, of his owene curtasye,", "Com hir to preye, in his propre persone,", "To holde him on the morwe companye", "At diner, which she nolde not denye,", "But goodly gan to his preyere obeye.", "He thonked hir, and wente up-on his weye.", "", "Whanne this was doon, this Pandare up a-noon,", "To telle in short, and forth gan for to wende", "To Troilus, as stille as any stoon;", "And al this thing he tolde him, word and ende;", "And how that he Deiphebus gan to blende;", "And seyde him, `Now is tyme, if that thou conne,", "To bere thee wel to-morwe, and al is wonne.", "", "`Now spek, now prey, now pitously compleyne;", "Lat not for nyce shame, or drede, or slouthe;", "Som-tyme a man mot telle his owene peyne;", "Bileve it, and she shal han on thee routhe;", "Thou shalt be saved by thy feyth, in trouthe.", "But wel wot I, thou art now in a drede;", "And what it is, I leye, I can arede.", "", "`Thow thinkest now, \"How sholde I doon al this?", "For by my cheres mosten folk aspye,", "That for hir love is that I fare a-mis;", "Yet hadde I lever unwist for sorwe dye.\"", "Now thenk not so, for thou dost greet folye.", "For I right now have founden o manere", "Of sleighte, for to coveren al thy chere.", "", "`Thow shalt gon over night, and that as blyve,", "Un-to Deiphebus hous, as thee to pleye,", "Thy maladye a-wey the bet to dryve,", "For-why thou semest syk, soth for to seye.", "Sone after that, doun in thy bed thee leye,", "And sey, thow mayst no lenger up endure,", "And ly right there, and byde thyn aventure.", "", "`Sey that thy fever is wont thee for to take", "The same tyme, and lasten til a-morwe;", "And lat see now how wel thou canst it make,", "For, par-dee, syk is he that is in sorwe.", "Go now, farwel! And, Venus here to borwe,", "I hope, and thou this purpos holde ferme,", "Thy grace she shal fully ther conferme.'", "", "Quod Troilus, `Y-wis, thou nedelees", "Conseylest me, that sykliche I me feyne,", "For I am syk in ernest, doutelees,", "So that wel neigh I sterve for the peyne.'", "Quod Pandarus, `Thou shalt the bettre pleyne,", "And hast the lasse need to countrefete;", "For him men demen hoot that men seen swete.", "", "`Lo, holde thee at thy triste cloos, and I", "Shal wel the deer un-to thy bowe dryve.'", "Therwith he took his leve al softely,", "And Troilus to paleys wente blyve.", "So glad ne was he never in al his lyve;", "And to Pandarus reed gan al assente,", "And to Deiphebus hous at night he wente.", "", "What nedeth yow to tellen al the chere", "That Deiphebus un-to his brother made,", "Or his accesse, or his siklych manere,", "How men gan him with clothes for to lade,", "Whan he was leyd, and how men wolde him glade?", "But al for nought; he held forth ay the wyse", "That ye han herd Pandare er this devyse.", "", "But certeyn is, er Troilus him leyde,", "Deiphebus had him prayed, over night,", "To been a freend and helping to Criseyde.", "God woot, that he it grauntede anon-right,", "To been hir fulle freend with al his might.", "But swich a nede was to preye him thenne,", "As for to bidde a wood man for to renne.", "", "The morwen com, and neighen gan the tyme", "Of meel-tyd, that the faire quene Eleyne", "Shoop hir to been, an houre after the pryme,", "With Deiphebus, to whom she nolde feyne;", "But as his suster, hoomly, sooth to seyne,", "She com to diner in hir playn entente.", "But god and Pandare wiste al what this mente.", "", "Com eek Criseyde, al innocent of this,", "Antigone, hir sister Tarbe also;", "But flee we now prolixitee best is,", "For love of god, and lat us faste go", "Right to the effect, with-oute tales mo,", "Why al this folk assembled in this place;", "And lat us of hir saluinges pace.", "", "Gret honour dide hem Deiphebus, certeyn,", "And fedde hem wel with al that mighte lyke.", "But ever-more, `Allas!' was his refreyn,", "`My goode brother Troilus, the syke,", "Lyth yet\"--and therwith-al he gan to syke;", "And after that, he peyned him to glade", "Hem as he mighte, and chere good he made.", "", "Compleyned eek Eleyne of his syknesse", "So feithfully, that pitee was to here,", "And every wight gan waxen for accesse", "A leche anoon, and seyde, `In this manere", "Men curen folk; this charme I wol yow lere.'", "But ther sat oon, al list hir nought to teche,", "That thoughte, best coude I yet been his leche.", "", "After compleynt, him gonnen they to preyse,", "As folk don yet, whan som wight hath bigonne", "To preyse a man, and up with prys him reyse", "A thousand fold yet hyer than the sonne: --", "`He is, he can, that fewe lordes conne.'", "And Pandarus, of that they wolde afferme,", "He not for-gat hir preysing to conferme.", "", "Herde al this thing Criseyde wel y-nough,", "And every word gan for to notifye;", "For which with sobre chere hir herte lough;", "For who is that ne wolde hir glorifye,", "To mowen swich a knight don live or dye?", "But al passe I, lest ye to longe dwelle;", "For for o fyn is al that ever I telle.", "", "The tyme com, fro diner for to ryse,", "And, as hem oughte, arisen everychoon,", "And gonne a while of this and that devyse.", "But Pandarus brak al this speche anoon,", "And seyde to Deiphebus, `Wole ye goon,", "If youre wille be, as I yow preyde,", "To speke here of the nedes of Criseyde?'", "", "Eleyne, which that by the hond hir held,", "Took first the tale, and seyde, `Go we blyve;'", "And goodly on Criseyde she biheld,", "And seyde, `Ioves lat him never thryve,", "That dooth yow harm, and bringe him sone of lyve!", "And yeve me sorwe, but he shal it rewe,", "If that I may, and alle folk be trewe.'", "", "`Tel thou thy neces cas,' quod Deiphebus", "To Pandarus, `for thou canst best it telle.' --", "`My lordes and my ladyes, it stant thus;", "What sholde I lenger,' quod he, `do yow dwelle?'", "He rong hem out a proces lyk a belle,", "Up-on hir fo, that highte Poliphete,", "So heynous, that men mighte on it spete.", "", "Answerde of this ech worse of hem than other,", "And Poliphete they gonnen thus to warien,", "`An-honged be swich oon, were he my brother;", "And so he shal, for it ne may not varien.'", "What sholde I lenger in this tale tarien?", "Pleynly, alle at ones, they hir highten", "To been hir helpe in al that ever they mighten.", "", "Spak than Eleyne, and seyde, `Pandarus,", "Woot ought my lord, my brother, this matere,", "I mene, Ector? Or woot it Troilus?'", "He seyde, `Ye, but wole ye now me here?", "Me thinketh this, sith Troilus is here,", "It were good, if that ye wolde assente,", "She tolde hir-self him al this, er she wente.", "", "`For he wole have the more hir grief at herte,", "By cause, lo, that she a lady is;", "And, by your leve, I wol but right in sterte,", "And do yow wite, and that anoon, y-wis,", "If that he slepe, or wole ought here of this.'", "And in he lepte, and seyde him in his ere,", "`God have thy soule, y-brought have I thy bere!'", "", "To smylen of this gan tho Troilus,", "And Pandarus, with-oute rekeninge,", "Out wente anoon to Eleyne and Deiphebus,", "And seyde hem, `So there be no taryinge,", "Ne more pres, he wol wel that ye bringe", "Criseyda, my lady, that is here;", "And as he may enduren, he wole here.", "", "`But wel ye woot, the chaumbre is but lyte,", "And fewe folk may lightly make it warm;", "Now loketh ye, (for I wol have no wyte,", "To bringe in prees that mighte doon him harm", "Or him disesen, for my bettre arm),", "Wher it be bet she byde til eft-sones;", "Now loketh ye, that knowen what to doon is.", "", "`I sey for me, best is, as I can knowe,", "That no wight in ne wente but ye tweye,", "But it were I, for I can, in a throwe,", "Reherce hir cas unlyk that she can seye;", "And after this, she may him ones preye", "To ben good lord, in short, and take hir leve;", "This may not muchel of his ese him reve.", "", "`And eek, for she is straunge, he wol forbere", "His ese, which that him thar nought for yow;", "Eek other thing that toucheth not to here,", "He wol me telle, I woot it wel right now,", "That secret is, and for the tounes prow.'", "And they, that no-thing knewe of his entente,", "With-oute more, to Troilus in they wente.", "", "Eleyne, in al hir goodly softe wyse,", "Gan him saluwe, and womanly to pleye,", "And seyde, `Ywis, ye moste alweyes aryse!", "Now fayre brother, beth al hool, I preye!'", "And gan hir arm right over his sholder leye,", "And him with al hir wit to recomforte;", "As she best coude, she gan him to disporte.", "", "So after this quod she, `We yow biseke,", "My dere brother, Deiphebus and I,", "For love of god, and so doth Pandare eke,", "To been good lord and freend, right hertely,", "Un-to Criseyde, which that certeinly", "Receyveth wrong, as woot wel here Pandare,", "That can hir cas wel bet than I declare.'", "", "This Pandarus gan newe his tunge affyle,", "And al hir cas reherce, and that anoon;", "Whan it was seyd, sone after, in a whyle,", "Quod Troilus, `As sone as I may goon,", "I wol right fayn with al my might ben oon,", "Have god my trouthe, hir cause to sustene.'", "`Good thrift have ye,' quod Eleyne the quene.", "", "Quod Pandarus, `And it your wille be", "That she may take hir leve, er that she go?'", "`O, elles god for-bede,' tho quod he,", "`If that she vouche sauf for to do so.'", "And with that word quod Troilus, `Ye two,", "Deiphebus, and my suster leef and dere,", "To yow have I to speke of o matere,", "", "`To been avysed by your reed the bettre': --", "And fond, as hap was, at his beddes heed,", "The copie of a tretis and a lettre,", "That Ector hadde him sent to axen reed,", "If swich a man was worthy to ben deed,", "Woot I nought who; but in a grisly wyse", "He preyede hem anoon on it avyse.", "", "Deiphebus gan this lettre to unfolde", "In ernest greet; so did Eleyne the quene;", "And rominge outward, fast it gan biholde,", "Downward a steyre, in-to an herber grene.", "This ilke thing they redden hem bi-twene;", "And largely, the mountaunce of an houre,", "Thei gonne on it to reden and to poure.", "", "Now lat hem rede, and turne we anoon", "To Pandarus, that gan ful faste prye", "That al was wel, and out he gan to goon", "In-to the grete chambre, and that in hye,", "And seyde, `God save al this companye!", "Com, nece myn; my lady quene Eleyne", "Abydeth yow, and eek my lordes tweyne.", "", "`Rys, take with yow your nece Antigone,", "Or whom yow list, or no fors, hardily;", "The lesse prees, the bet; com forth with me,", "And loke that ye thonke humblely", "Hem alle three, and, whan ye may goodly", "Your tyme y-see, taketh of hem your leve,", "Lest we to longe his restes him bireve.'", "", "Al innocent of Pandarus entente,", "Quod tho Criseyde, `Go we, uncle dere';", "And arm in arm inward with him she wente,", "Avysed wel hir wordes and hir chere;", "And Pandarus, in ernestful manere,", "Seyde, `Alle folk, for goddes love, I preye,", "Stinteth right here, and softely yow pleye.", "", "`Aviseth yow what folk ben here with-inne,", "And in what plyt oon is, god him amende!", "And inward thus ful softely biginne;", "Nece, I conjure and heighly yow defende,", "On his half, which that sowle us alle sende,", "And in the vertue of corounes tweyne,", "Slee nought this man, that hath for yow this peyne!", "", "`Fy on the devel! Thenk which oon he is,", "And in what plyt he lyth; com of anoon;", "Thenk al swich taried tyd, but lost it nis!", "That wol ye bothe seyn, whan ye ben oon.", "Secoundelich, ther yet devyneth noon", "Up-on yow two; come of now, if ye conne;", "Whyl folk is blent, lo, al the tyme is wonne!", "", "`In titering, and pursuite, and delayes,", "The folk devyne at wagginge of a stree;", "And though ye wolde han after merye dayes,", "Than dar ye nought, and why? For she, and she", "Spak swich a word; thus loked he, and he;", "Lest tyme I loste, I dar not with yow dele;", "Com of therfore, and bringeth him to hele.'", "", "But now to yow, ye lovers that ben here,", "Was Troilus nought in a cankedort,", "That lay, and mighte whispringe of hem here,", "And thoughte, `O lord, right now renneth my sort", "Fully to dye, or han anoon comfort';", "And was the firste tyme he shulde hir preye", "Of love; O mighty god, what shal he seye?", "" ], "linecount": "2014" }, { "title": "Troilus and Criseyde: Book III", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "", "O blisful light of whiche the bemes clere", "Adorneth al the thridde hevene faire!", "O sonnes lief, O Ioves doughter dere,", "Plesaunce of love, O goodly debonaire,", "In gentil hertes ay redy to repaire!", "O verray cause of hele and of gladnesse,", "Y-heried be thy might and thy goodnesse!", "", "In hevene and helle, in erthe and salte see", "Is felt thy might, if that I wel descerne;", "As man, brid, best, fish, herbe and grene tree", "Thee fele in tymes with vapour eterne.", "God loveth, and to love wol nought werne;", "And in this world no lyves creature,", "With-outen love, is worth, or may endure.", "", "Ye Ioves first to thilke effectes glade,", "Thorugh which that thinges liven alle and be,", "Comeveden, and amorous him made", "On mortal thing, and as yow list, ay ye", "Yeve him in love ese or adversitee;", "And in a thousand formes doun him sente", "For love in erthe, and whom yow liste, he hente.", "", "Ye fierse Mars apeysen of his ire,", "And, as yow list, ye maken hertes digne;", "Algates, hem that ye wol sette a-fyre,", "They dreden shame, and vices they resigne;", "Ye do hem corteys be, fresshe and benigne,", "And hye or lowe, after a wight entendeth;", "The Ioyes that he hath, your might him sendeth.", "", "Ye holden regne and hous in unitee;", "Ye soothfast cause of frendship been also;", "Ye knowe al thilke covered qualitee", "Of thinges which that folk on wondren so,", "Whan they can not construe how it may io,", "She loveth him, or why he loveth here;", "As why this fish, and nought that, comth to were.", "", "Ye folk a lawe han set in universe,", "And this knowe I by hem that loveres be,", "That who-so stryveth with yow hath the werse:", "Now, lady bright, for thy benignitee,", "At reverence of hem that serven thee,", "Whos clerk I am, so techeth me devyse", "Som Ioye of that is felt in thy servyse.", "", "Ye in my naked herte sentement", "Inhelde, and do me shewe of thy swetnesse. --", "Caliope, thy vois be now present,", "For now is nede; sestow not my destresse,", "How I mot telle anon-right the gladnesse", "Of Troilus, to Venus heryinge?", "To which gladnes, who nede hath, god him bringe!", "", "Explicit prohemium Tercii Libri.", "", "Incipit Liber Tercius.", "", "", "Lay al this mene whyle Troilus,", "Recordinge his lessoun in this manere,", "`Ma fey!' thought he, `Thus wole I seye and thus;", "Thus wole I pleyne unto my lady dere;", "That word is good, and this shal be my chere;", "This nil I not foryeten in no wyse.'", "God leve him werken as he can devyse!", "", "And, lord, so that his herte gan to quappe,", "Heringe hir come, and shorte for to syke!", "And Pandarus, that ledde hir by the lappe,", "Com ner, and gan in at the curtin pyke,", "And seyde, `God do bote on alle syke!", "See, who is here yow comen to visyte;", "Lo, here is she that is your deeth to wyte.'", "", "Ther-with it semed as he wepte almost;", "`A ha,' quod Troilus so rewfully,", "`Wher me be wo, O mighty god, thow wost!", "Who is al there? I se nought trewely.'", "`Sire,' quod Criseyde, `it is Pandare and I.'", "`Ye, swete herte? Allas, I may nought ryse", "To knele, and do yow honour in som wyse.'", "", "And dressede him upward, and she right tho", "Gan bothe here hondes softe upon him leye,", "`O, for the love of god, do ye not so", "To me,' quod she, `Ey! What is this to seye?", "Sire, come am I to yow for causes tweye;", "First, yow to thonke, and of your lordshipe eke", "Continuance I wolde yow biseke.'", "", "This Troilus, that herde his lady preye", "Of lordship him, wex neither quik ne deed,", "Ne mighte a word for shame to it seye,", "Al-though men sholde smyten of his heed.", "But lord, so he wex sodeinliche reed,", "And sire, his lesson, that he wende conne,", "To preyen hir, is thurgh his wit y-ronne.", "", "Cryseyde al this aspyede wel y-nough,", "For she was wys, and lovede him never-the-lasse,", "Al nere he malapert, or made it tough,", "Or was to bold, to singe a fool a masse.", "But whan his shame gan somwhat to passe,", "His resons, as I may my rymes holde,", "I yow wole telle, as techen bokes olde.", "", "In chaunged vois, right for his verray drede,", "Which vois eek quook, and ther-to his manere", "Goodly abayst, and now his hewes rede,", "Now pale, un-to Criseyde, his lady dere,", "With look doun cast and humble yolden chere,", "Lo, the alderfirste word that him asterte", "Was, twyes, `Mercy, mercy, swete herte!'", "", "And stinte a whyl, and whan he mighte out-bringe,", "The nexte word was, `God wot, for I have,", "As feyfully as I have had konninge,", "Ben youres, also god so my sowle save;", "And shal til that I, woful wight, be grave.", "And though I dar ne can un-to yow pleyne,", "Y-wis, I suffre nought the lasse peyne.", "", "`Thus muche as now, O wommanliche wyf,", "I may out-bringe, and if this yow displese,", "That shal I wreke upon myn owne lyf", "Right sone, I trowe, and doon your herte an ese,", "If with my deeth your herte I may apese.", "But sin that ye han herd me som-what seye,", "Now recche I never how sone that I deye.'", "", "Ther-with his manly sorwe to biholde,", "It mighte han maad an herte of stoon to rewe;", "And Pandare weep as he to watre wolde,", "And poked ever his nece newe and newe,", "And seyde, `Wo bigon ben hertes trewe!", "For love of god, make of this thing an ende,", "Or slee us bothe at ones, er that ye wende.'", "", "`I? What?' quod she, `By god and by my trouthe,", "I noot nought what ye wilne that I seye.'", "`I? What?' quod he, `That ye han on him routhe,", "For goddes love, and doth him nought to deye.'", "`Now thanne thus,' quod she, `I wolde him preye", "To telle me the fyn of his entente;", "Yet wist I never wel what that he mente.'", "", "`What that I mene, O swete herte dere?'", "Quod Troilus, `O goodly, fresshe free!", "That, with the stremes of your eyen clere,", "Ye wolde som-tyme freendly on me see,", "And thanne agreen that I may ben he,", "With-oute braunche of vyce on any wyse,", "In trouthe alwey to doon yow my servyse,", "", "`As to my lady right and chief resort,", "With al my wit and al my diligence,", "And I to han, right as yow list, comfort,", "Under your yerde, egal to myn offence,", "As deeth, if that I breke your defence;", "And that ye deigne me so muche honoure,", "Me to comaunden ought in any houre.", "", "`And I to ben your verray humble trewe,", "Secret, and in my paynes pacient,", "And ever-mo desire freshly newe,", "To serven, and been y-lyke ay diligent,", "And, with good herte, al holly your talent", "Receyven wel, how sore that me smerte,", "Lo, this mene I, myn owene swete herte.'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Lo, here an hard request,", "And resonable, a lady for to werne!", "Now, nece myn, by natal Ioves fest,", "Were I a god, ye sholde sterve as yerne,", "That heren wel, this man wol no-thing yerne", "But your honour, and seen him almost sterve,", "And been so looth to suffren him yow serve.'", "", "With that she gan hir eyen on him caste", "Ful esily, and ful debonairly,", "Avysing hir, and hyed not to faste", "With never a word, but seyde him softely,", "`Myn honour sauf, I wol wel trewely,", "And in swich forme as he can now devyse,", "Receyven him fully to my servyse,", "", "`Biseching him, for goddes love, that he", "Wolde, in honour of trouthe and gentilesse,", "As I wel mene, eek mene wel to me,", "And myn honour, with wit and besinesse", "Ay kepe; and if I may don him gladnesse,", "From hennes-forth, y-wis, I nil not feyne:", "Now beeth al hool; no lenger ye ne pleyne.", "", "`But nathelees, this warne I yow,' quod she,", "`A kinges sone al-though ye be, y-wis,", "Ye shal na-more have soverainetee", "Of me in love, than right in that cas is;", "Ne I nil forbere, if that ye doon a-mis,", "To wrathen yow; and whyl that ye me serve,", "Cherycen yow right after ye deserve.", "", "`And shortly, dere herte and al my knight,", "Beth glad, and draweth yow to lustinesse,", "And I shal trewely, with al my might,", "Your bittre tornen al in-to swetenesse.", "If I be she that may yow do gladnesse,", "For every wo ye shal recovere a blisse';", "And him in armes took, and gan him kisse.", "", "Fil Pandarus on knees, and up his eyen", "To hevene threw, and held his hondes hye,", "`Immortal god!' quod he, `That mayst nought dyen,", "Cupide I mene, of this mayst glorifye;", "And Venus, thou mayst maken melodye;", "With-outen hond, me semeth that in the towne,", "For this merveyle, I here ech belle sowne.", "", "`But ho! No more as now of this matere,", "For-why this folk wol comen up anoon,", "That han the lettre red; lo, I hem here.", "But I coniure thee, Criseyde, and oon,", "And two, thou Troilus, whan thow mayst goon,", "That at myn hous ye been at my warninge,", "For I ful wel shal shape youre cominge;", "", "`And eseth ther your hertes right y-nough;", "And lat see which of yow shal bere the belle", "To speke of love a-right!' ther-with he lough,", "`For ther have ye a layser for to telle.'", "Quod Troilus, `How longe shal I dwelle", "Er this be doon?' Quod he, `Whan thou mayst ryse,", "This thing shal be right as I yow devyse.'", "", "With that Eleyne and also Deiphebus", "Tho comen upward, right at the steyres ende;", "And Lord, so than gan grone Troilus,", "His brother and his suster for to blende.", "Quod Pandarus, `It tyme is that we wende;", "Tak, nece myn, your leve at alle three,", "And lat hem speke, and cometh forth with me.'", "", "She took hir leve at hem ful thriftily,", "As she wel coude, and they hir reverence", "Un-to the fulle diden hardely,", "And speken wonder wel, in hir absence,", "Of hir, in preysing of hir excellence,", "Hir governaunce, hir wit; and hir manere", "Commendeden, it Ioye was to here.", "", "Now lat hir wende un-to hir owne place,", "And torne we to Troilus a-yein,", "That gan ful lightly of the lettre passe", "That Deiphebus hadde in the gardin seyn.", "And of Eleyne and him he wolde fayn", "Delivered been, and seyde that him leste", "To slepe, and after tales have reste.", "", "Eleyne him kiste, and took hir leve blyve,", "Deiphebus eek, and hoom wente every wight;", "And Pandarus, as faste as he may dryve,", "To Troilus tho com, as lyne right;", "And on a paillet, al that glade night,", "By Troilus he lay, with mery chere,", "To tale; and wel was hem they were y-fere.", "", "Whan every wight was voided but they two,", "And alle the dores were faste y-shette,", "To telle in short, with-oute wordes mo,", "This Pandarus, with-outen any lette,", "Up roos, and on his beddes syde him sette,", "And gan to speken in a sobre wyse", "To Troilus, as I shal yow devyse:", "", "`Myn alderlevest lord, and brother dere,", "God woot, and thou, that it sat me so sore,", "When I thee saw so languisshing to-yere,", "For love, of which thy wo wex alwey more;", "That I, with al my might and al my lore,", "Have ever sithen doon my bisinesse", "To bringe thee to Ioye out of distresse,", "", "`And have it brought to swich plyt as thou wost,", "So that, thorugh me, thow stondest now in weye", "To fare wel, I seye it for no bost,", "And wostow which? For shame it is to seye,", "For thee have I bigonne a gamen pleye", "Which that I never doon shal eft for other,", "Al-though he were a thousand fold my brother.", "", "`That is to seye, for thee am I bicomen,", "Bitwixen game and ernest, swich a mene", "As maken wommen un-to men to comen;", "Al sey I nought, thou wost wel what I mene.", "For thee have I my nece, of vyces clene,", "So fully maad thy gentilesse triste,", "That al shal been right as thy-selve liste.", "", "`But god, that al wot, take I to witnesse,", "That never I this for coveityse wroughte,", "But only for to abregge that distresse,", "For which wel nygh thou deydest, as me thoughte.", "But, gode brother, do now as thee oughte,", "For goddes love, and kep hir out of blame,", "Sin thou art wys, and save alwey hir name.", "", "`For wel thou wost, the name as yet of here", "Among the peple, as who seyth, halwed is;", "For that man is unbore, I dar wel swere,", "That ever wiste that she dide amis.", "But wo is me, that I, that cause al this,", "May thenken that she is my nece dere,", "And I hir eem, and trattor eek y-fere!", "", "`And were it wist that I, through myn engyn,", "Hadde in my nece y-put this fantasye,", "To do thy lust, and hoolly to be thyn,", "Why, al the world up-on it wolde crye,", "And seye, that I the worste trecherye", "Dide in this cas, that ever was bigonne,", "And she for-lost, and thou right nought y-wonne.", "", "`Wher-fore, er I wol ferther goon a pas,", "Yet eft I thee biseche and fully seye,", "That privetee go with us in this cas;", "That is to seye, that thou us never wreye;", "And be nought wrooth, though I thee ofte preye", "To holden secree swich an heigh matere;", "For skilful is, thow wost wel, my preyere.", "", "`And thenk what wo ther hath bitid er this,", "For makinge of avantes, as men rede;", "And what mischaunce in this world yet ther is,", "Fro day to day, right for that wikked dede;", "For which these wyse clerkes that ben dede", "Han ever yet proverbed to us yonge,", "That \"Firste vertu is to kepe tonge.\"", "", "`And, nere it that I wilne as now tabregge", "Diffusioun of speche, I coude almost", "A thousand olde stories thee alegge", "Of wommen lost, thorugh fals and foles bost;", "Proverbes canst thy-self y-nowe, and wost,", "Ayeins that vyce, for to been a labbe,", "Al seyde men sooth as often as they gabbe.", "", "`O tonge, allas! So often here-biforn", "Hastow made many a lady bright of hewe", "Seyd, \"Welawey! The day that I was born!\"", "And many a maydes sorwes for to newe;", "And, for the more part, al is untrewe", "That men of yelpe, and it were brought to preve;", "Of kinde non avauntour is to leve.", "", "`Avauntour and a lyere, al is on;", "As thus: I pose, a womman graunte me", "Hir love, and seyth that other wol she non,", "And I am sworn to holden it secree,", "And after I go telle it two or three;", "Y-wis, I am avauntour at the leste,", "And lyere, for I breke my biheste.", "", "`Now loke thanne, if they be nought to blame,", "Swich maner folk; what shal I clepe hem, what,", "That hem avaunte of wommen, and by name,", "That never yet bihighte hem this ne that,", "Ne knewe hem more than myn olde hat?", "No wonder is, so god me sende hele,", "Though wommen drede with us men to dele.", "", "`I sey not this for no mistrust of yow,", "Ne for no wys man, but for foles nyce,", "And for the harm that in the world is now,", "As wel for foly ofte as for malyce;", "For wel wot I, in wyse folk, that vyce", "No womman drat, if she be wel avysed;", "For wyse ben by foles harm chastysed.", "", "`But now to purpos; leve brother dere,", "Have al this thing that I have seyd in minde,", "And keep thee clos, and be now of good chere,", "For at thy day thou shalt me trewe finde.", "I shal thy proces sette in swich a kinde,", "And god to-forn, that it shall thee suffyse,", "For it shal been right as thou wolt devyse.", "", "`For wel I woot, thou menest wel, parde;", "Therfore I dar this fully undertake.", "Thou wost eek what thy lady graunted thee,", "And day is set, the chartres up to make.", "Have now good night, I may no lenger wake;", "And bid for me, sin thou art now in blisse,", "That god me sende deeth or sone lisse.'", "", "Who mighte telle half the Ioye or feste", "Which that the sowle of Troilus tho felte,", "Heringe theffect of Pandarus biheste?", "His olde wo, that made his herte swelte,", "Gan tho for Ioye wasten and to-melte,", "And al the richesse of his sykes sore", "At ones fledde, he felte of hem no more.", "", "But right so as these holtes and these hayes,", "That han in winter dede been and dreye,", "Revesten hem in grene, whan that May is,", "Whan every lusty lyketh best to pleye;", "Right in that selve wyse, sooth to seye,", "Wax sodeynliche his herte ful of Ioye,", "That gladder was ther never man in Troye.", "", "And gan his look on Pandarus up caste", "Ful sobrely, and frendly for to see,", "And seyde, `Freend, in Aprille the laste,", "As wel thou wost, if it remembre thee,", "How neigh the deeth for wo thou founde me;", "And how thou didest al thy bisinesse", "To knowe of me the cause of my distresse.", "", "`Thou wost how longe I it for-bar to seye", "To thee, that art the man that I best triste;", "And peril was it noon to thee by-wreye,", "That wiste I wel; but tel me, if thee liste,", "Sith I so looth was that thy-self it wiste,", "How dorst I mo tellen of this matere,", "That quake now, and no wight may us here?", "", "`But natheles, by that god I thee swere,", "That, as him list, may al this world governe,", "And, if I lye, Achilles with his spere", "Myn herte cleve, al were my lyf eterne,", "As I am mortal, if I late or yerne", "Wolde it biwreye, or dorste, or sholde conne,", "For al the good that god made under sonne;", "", "`That rather deye I wolde, and determyne,", "As thinketh me, now stokked in presoun,", "In wrecchednesse, in filthe, and in vermyne,", "Caytif to cruel king Agamenoun;", "And this, in alle the temples of this toun", "Upon the goddes alle, I wol thee swere,", "To-morwe day, if that thee lyketh here.", "", "`And that thou hast so muche y-doon for me,", "That I ne may it never-more deserve,", "This knowe I wel, al mighte I now for thee", "A thousand tymes on a morwen sterve.", "I can no more, but that I wol thee serve", "Right as thy sclave, whider-so thou wende,", "For ever-more, un-to my lyves ende!", "", "`But here, with al myn herte, I thee biseche,", "That never in me thou deme swich folye", "As I shal seyn; me thoughte, by thy speche,", "That this, which thou me dost for companye,", "I sholde wene it were a bauderye;", "I am nought wood, al-if I lewed be;", "It is not so, that woot I wel, pardee.", "", "`But he that goth, for gold or for richesse,", "On swich message, calle him what thee list;", "And this that thou dost, calle it gentilesse,", "Compassioun, and felawship, and trist;", "Departe it so, for wyde-where is wist", "How that there is dyversitee requered", "Bitwixen thinges lyke, as I have lered.", "", "`And, that thou knowe I thenke nought ne wene", "That this servyse a shame be or Iape,", "I have my faire suster Polixene,", "Cassandre, Eleyne, or any of the frape;", "Be she never so faire or wel y-shape,", "Tel me, which thou wilt of everichone,", "To han for thyn, and lat me thanne allone.", "", "`But, sith that thou hast don me this servyse", "My lyf to save, and for noon hope of mede,", "So, for the love of god, this grete empryse", "Performe it out; for now is moste nede.", "For high and low, with-outen any drede,", "I wol alwey thyne hestes alle kepe;", "Have now good night, and lat us bothe slepe.'", "", "Thus held him ech of other wel apayed,", "That al the world ne mighte it bet amende;", "And, on the morwe, whan they were arayed,", "Ech to his owene nedes gan entende.", "But Troilus, though as the fyr he brende", "For sharp desyr of hope and of plesaunce,", "He not for-gat his gode governaunce.", "", "But in him-self with manhod gan restreyne", "Ech rakel dede and ech unbrydled chere,", "That alle tho that liven, sooth to seyne,", "Ne sholde han wist, by word or by manere,", "What that he mente, as touching this matere.", "From every wight as fer as is the cloude", "He was, so wel dissimulen he coude.", "", "And al the whyl which that I yow devyse,", "This was his lyf; with al his fulle might,", "By day he was in Martes high servyse,", "This is to seyn, in armes as a knight;", "And for the more part, the longe night", "He lay, and thoughte how that he mighte serve", "His lady best, hir thank for to deserve.", "", "Nil I nought swere, al-though he lay softe,", "That in his thought he nas sumwhat disesed,", "Ne that he tornede on his pilwes ofte,", "And wolde of that him missed han ben sesed;", "But in swich cas men is nought alwey plesed,", "For ought I wot, no more than was he;", "That can I deme of possibilitee.", "", "But certeyn is, to purpos for to go,", "That in this whyle, as writen is in geste,", "He say his lady som-tyme; and also", "She with him spak, whan that she dorste or leste,", "And by hir bothe avys, as was the beste,", "Apoynteden ful warly in this nede,", "So as they dorste, how they wolde procede.", "", "But it was spoken in so short a wyse,", "In swich awayt alwey, and in swich fere,", "Lest any wyght devynen or devyse", "Wolde of hem two, or to it leye an ere,", "That al this world so leef to hem ne were", "As that Cupido wolde hem grace sende", "To maken of hir speche aright an ende.", "", "But thilke litel that they spake or wroughte,", "His wyse goost took ay of al swich hede,", "It semed hir, he wiste what she thoughte", "With-outen word, so that it was no nede", "To bidde him ought to done, or ought for-bede;", "For which she thought that love, al come it late,", "Of alle Ioye hadde opned hir the yate.", "", "And shortly of this proces for to pace,", "So wel his werk and wordes he bisette,", "That he so ful stood in his lady grace,", "That twenty thousand tymes, or she lette,", "She thonked god she ever with him mette;", "So coude he him governe in swich servyse,", "That al the world ne might it bet devyse.", "", "For-why she fond him so discreet in al,", "So secret, and of swich obeisaunce,", "That wel she felte he was to hir a wal", "Of steel, and sheld from every displesaunce;", "That, to ben in his gode governaunce,", "So wys he was, she was no more afered,", "I mene, as fer as oughte ben requered.", "", "And Pandarus, to quike alwey the fyr,", "Was evere y-lyke prest and diligent;", "To ese his frend was set al his desyr.", "He shof ay on, he to and fro was sent;", "He lettres bar whan Troilus was absent.", "That never man, as in his freendes nede,", "Ne bar him bet than he, with-outen drede.", "", "But now, paraunter, som man wayten wolde", "That every word, or sonde, or look, or chere", "Of Troilus that I rehersen sholde,", "In al this whyle un-to his lady dere;", "I trowe it were a long thing for to here;", "Or of what wight that stant in swich disioynte,", "His wordes alle, or every look, to poynte.", "", "For sothe, I have not herd it doon er this,", "In storye noon, ne no man here, I wene;", "And though I wolde I coude not, y-wis;", "For ther was som epistel hem bitwene,", "That wolde, as seyth myn auctor, wel contene", "Neigh half this book, of which him list not wryte;", "How sholde I thanne a lyne of it endyte?", "", "But to the grete effect: than sey I thus,", "That stonding in concord and in quiete,", "Thise ilke two, Criseyde and Troilus,", "As I have told, and in this tyme swete,", "Save only often mighte they not mete,", "Ne layser have hir speches to fulfelle,", "That it befel right as I shal yow telle.", "", "That Pandarus, that ever dide his might", "Right for the fyn that I shal speke of here,", "As for to bringe to his hous som night", "His faire nece, and Troilus y-fere,", "Wher-as at leyser al this heigh matere,", "Touching hir love, were at the fulle up-bounde,", "Hadde out of doute a tyme to it founde.", "", "For he with greet deliberacioun", "Hadde every thing that her-to mighte avayle", "Forn-cast, and put in execucioun.", "And neither laft, for cost ne for travayle;", "Come if hem list, hem sholde no-thing fayle;", "And for to been in ought espyed there,", "That, wiste he wel, an inpossible were.", "", "Dredelees, it cleer was in the wind", "Of every pye and every lette-game;", "Now al is wel, for al the world is blind", "In this matere, bothe fremed and tame.", "This timbur is al redy up to frame;", "Us lakketh nought but that we witen wolde", "A certein houre, in which she comen sholde.", "", "And Troilus, that al this purveyaunce", "Knew at the fulle, and waytede on it ay,", "Hadde here-up-on eek made gret ordenaunce,", "And founde his cause, and ther-to his aray,", "If that he were missed, night or day,", "Ther-whyle he was aboute this servyse,", "That he was goon to doon his sacrifyse,", "", "And moste at swich a temple alone wake,", "Answered of Appollo for to be;", "And first to seen the holy laurer quake,", "Er that Apollo spak out of the tree,", "To telle him next whan Grekes sholden flee,", "And forthy lette him no man, god forbede,", "But preye Apollo helpen in this nede.", "", "Now is ther litel more for to doone,", "But Pandare up, and shortly for to seyne,", "Right sone upon the chaunging of the mone,", "Whan lightles is the world a night or tweyne,", "And that the welken shoop him for to reyne,", "He streight a-morwe un-to his nece wente;", "Ye han wel herd the fyn of his entente.", "", "Whan he was come, he gan anoon to pleye", "As he was wont, and of him-self to Iape;", "And fynally, he swor and gan hir seye,", "By this and that, she sholde him not escape,", "Ne lengere doon him after hir to gape;", "But certeynly she moste, by hir leve,", "Come soupen in his hous with him at eve.", "", "At whiche she lough, and gan hir faste excuse,", "And seyde, `It rayneth; lo, how sholde I goon?'", "`Lat be,' quod he, `ne stond not thus to muse;", "This moot be doon, ye shal be ther anoon.'", "So at the laste her-of they felle at oon,", "Or elles, softe he swor hir in hir ere,", "He nolde never come ther she were.", "", "Sone after this, to him she gan to rowne,", "And asked him if Troilus were there?", "He swor hir, `Nay, for he was out of towne,'", "And seyde, `Nece, I pose that he were,", "Yow thurfte never have the more fere.", "For rather than men mighte him ther aspye,", "Me were lever a thousand-fold to dye.'", "", "Nought list myn auctor fully to declare", "What that she thoughte whan he seyde so,", "That Troilus was out of town y-fare,", "As if he seyde ther-of sooth or no;", "But that, with-outen awayt, with him to go,", "She graunted him, sith he hir that bisoughte", "And, as his nece, obeyed as hir oughte.", "", "But nathelees, yet gan she him biseche,", "Al-though with him to goon it was no fere,", "For to be war of goosish peples speche,", "That dremen thinges whiche that never were,", "And wel avyse him whom he broughte there;", "And seyde him, `Eem, sin I mot on yow triste,", "Loke al be wel, and do now as yow liste.'", "", "He swor hire, `Yis, by stokkes and by stones,", "And by the goddes that in hevene dwelle,", "Or elles were him levere, soule and bones,", "With Pluto king as depe been in helle", "As Tantalus!' What sholde I more telle?", "Whan al was wel, he roos and took his leve,", "And she to souper com, whan it was eve,", "", "With a certayn of hir owene men,", "And with hir faire nece Antigone,", "And othere of hir wommen nyne or ten;", "But who was glad now, who, as trowe ye,", "But Troilus, that stood and mighte it see", "Thurgh-out a litel windowe in a stewe,", "Ther he bishet, sin midnight, was in mewe,", "", "Unwist of every wight but of Pandare?", "But to the poynt; now whan that she was y-come", "With alle Ioye, and alle frendes fare,", "Hir em anoon in armes hath hir nome,", "And after to the souper, alle and some,", "Whan tyme was, ful softe they hem sette;", "God wot, ther was no deyntee for to fette.", "", "And after souper gonnen they to ryse,", "At ese wel, with hertes fresshe and glade,", "And wel was him that coude best devyse", "To lyken hir, or that hir laughen made.", "He song; she pleyde; he tolde tale of Wade.", "But at the laste, as every thing hath ende,", "She took hir leve, and nedes wolde wende.", "", "But O, Fortune, executrice of wierdes,", "O influences of thise hevenes hye!", "Soth is, that, under god, ye ben our hierdes,", "Though to us bestes been the causes wrye.", "This mene I now, for she gan hoomward hye,", "But execut was al bisyde hir leve,", "At the goddes wil, for which she moste bleve.", "", "The bente mone with hir hornes pale,", "Saturne, and Iove, in Cancro ioyned were,", "That swich a rayn from hevene gan avale", "That every maner womman that was there", "Hadde of that smoky reyn a verray fere;", "At which Pandare tho lough, and seyde thenne,", "`Now were it tyme a lady to go henne!", "", "`But goode nece, if I mighte ever plese", "Yow any-thing, than prey I yow,' quod he,", "`To doon myn herte as now so greet an ese", "As for to dwelle here al this night with me,", "For-why this is your owene hous, pardee.", "For, by my trouthe, I sey it nought a-game,", "To wende as now, it were to me a shame.'", "", "Criseyde, which that coude as muche good", "As half a world, tok hede of his preyere;", "And sin it ron, and al was on a flood,", "She thoughte, as good chep may I dwellen here,", "And graunte it gladly with a freendes chere,", "And have a thank, as grucche and thanne abyde;", "For hoom to goon, it may nought wel bityde.'", "", "`I wol,' quod she, `myn uncle leef and dere,", "Sin that yow list, it skile is to be so;", "I am right glad with yow to dwellen here;", "I seyde but a-game, I wolde go.'", "`Y-wis, graunt mercy, nece!' quod he tho;", "`Were it a game or no, soth for to telle,", "Now am I glad, sin that yow list to dwelle.'", "", "Thus al is wel; but tho bigan aright", "The newe Ioye, and al the feste agayn;", "But Pandarus, if goodly hadde he might,", "He wolde han hyed hir to bedde fayn,", "And seyde, `Lord, this is an huge rayn!", "This were a weder for to slepen inne;", "And that I rede us sonE to biginne.", "", "`And nece, woot ye wher I wol yow leye,", "For that we shul not liggen fer asonder,", "And for ye neither shullen, dar I seye,", "Heren noise of reynes nor of thondre?", "By god, right in my lyte closet yonder.", "And I wol in that outer hous allone", "Be wardeyn of your wommen everichone.", "", "`And in this middel chaumbre that ye see", "Shal youre wommen slepen wel and softe;", "And ther I seyde shal your-selve be;", "And if ye liggen wel to-night, com ofte,", "And careth not what weder is on-lofte.", "The wyn anon, and whan so that yow leste,", "So go we slepe, I trowe it be the beste.'", "", "Ther nis no more, but here-after sone,", "The voyde dronke, and travers drawe anon,", "Gan every wight, that hadde nought to done", "More in the place, out of the chaumber gon.", "And ever-mo so sternelich it ron,", "And blew ther-with so wonderliche loude,", "That wel neigh no man heren other coude.", "", "Tho Pandarus, hir eem, right as him oughte,", "With women swiche as were hir most aboute,", "Ful glad un-to hir beddes syde hir broughte,", "And toke his leve, and gan ful lowe loute,", "And seyde, `Here at this closet-dore with-oute,", "Right over-thwart, your wommen liggen alle,", "That, whom yow list of hem, ye may here calle.'", "", "So whan that she was in the closet leyd,", "And alle hir wommen forth by ordenaunce", "A-bedde weren, ther as I have seyd,", "There was no more to skippen nor to traunce,", "But boden go to bedde, with mischaunce,", "If any wight was steringe any-where,", "And late hem slepe that a-bedde were.", "", "But Pandarus, that wel coude eche a del", "The olde daunce, and every poynt ther-inne,", "Whan that he sey that alle thing was wel,", "He thoughte he wolde up-on his werk biginne,", "And gan the stewe-dore al softe un-pinne;", "And stille as stoon, with-outen lenger lette,", "By Troilus a-doun right he him sette.", "", "And, shortly to the poynt right for to gon,", "Of al this werk he tolde him word and ende,", "And seyde, `Make thee redy right anon,", "For thou shalt in-to hevene blisse wende.'", "`Now blisful Venus, thou me grace sende,'", "Quod Troilus, `for never yet no nede", "Hadde I er now, ne halvendel the drede.'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Ne drede thee never a del,", "For it shal been right as thou wilt desyre;", "So thryve I, this night shal I make it wel,", "Or casten al the gruwel in the fyre.'", "`Yit blisful Venus, this night thou me enspyre,'", "Quod Troilus, `as wis as I thee serve,", "And ever bet and bet shal, til I sterve.", "", "`And if I hadde, O Venus ful of murthe,", "Aspectes badde of Mars or of Saturne,", "Or thou combust or let were in my birthe,", "Thy fader prey al thilke harm disturne", "Of grace, and that I glad ayein may turne,", "For love of him thou lovedest in the shawe,", "I mene Adoon, that with the boor was slawe.", "", "`O Iove eek, for the love of faire Europe,", "The whiche in forme of bole awey thou fette;", "Now help, O Mars, thou with thy blody cope,", "For love of Cipris, thou me nought ne lette;", "O Phebus, thenk whan Dane hir-selven shette", "Under the bark, and laurer wex for drede,", "Yet for hir love, O help now at this nede!", "", "`Mercurie, for the love of Hierse eke,", "For which Pallas was with Aglauros wrooth,", "Now help, and eek Diane, I thee biseke", "That this viage be not to thee looth.", "O fatal sustren, which, er any clooth", "Me shapen was, my destene me sponne,", "So helpeth to this werk that is bi-gonne!'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Thou wrecched mouses herte,", "Art thou agast so that she wol thee byte?", "Why, don this furred cloke up-on thy sherte,", "And folowe me, for I wol have the wyte;", "But byd, and lat me go bifore a lyte.'", "And with that word he gan un-do a trappe,", "And Troilus he broughte in by the lappe.", "", "The sterne wind so loude gan to route", "That no wight other noyse mighte here;", "And they that layen at the dore with-oute,", "Ful sykerly they slepten alle y-fere;", "And Pandarus, with a ful sobre chere,", "Goth to the dore anon with-outen lette,", "Ther-as they laye, and softely it shette.", "", "And as he com ayeinward prively,", "His nece awook, and asked, `Who goth there?'", "`My dere nece,' quod he, `it am I;", "Ne wondreth not, ne have of it no fere;'", "And ner he com, and seyde hir in hir ere,", "`No word, for love of god I yow biseche;", "Lat no wight ryse and heren of oure speche.'", "", "`What! Which wey be ye comen, benedicite?'", "Quod she; `And how thus unwist of hem alle?'", "`Here at this secre trappe-dore,' quod he.", "Quod tho Criseyde, `Lat me som wight calle.'", "`Ey! God forbede that it sholde falle,'", "Quod Pandarus, `that ye swich foly wroughte!", "They mighte deme thing they never er thoughte!", "", "`It is nought good a sleping hound to wake,", "Ne yeve a wight a cause to devyne;", "Your wommen slepen alle, I under-take,", "So that, for hem, the hous men mighte myne;", "And slepen wolen til the sonne shyne.", "And whan my tale al brought is to an ende,", "Unwist, right as I com, so wol I wende.", "", "`Now, nece myn, ye shul wel understonde,'", "Quod he, `so as ye wommen demen alle,", "That for to holde in love a man in honde,", "And him hir \"leef\" and \"dere herte\" calle,", "And maken him an howve above a calle,", "I mene, as love an other in this whyle,", "She doth hir-self a shame, and him a gyle.", "", "`Now wherby that I telle yow al this?", "Ye woot your-self, as wel as any wight,", "How that your love al fully graunted is", "To Troilus, the worthieste knight,", "Oon of this world, and ther-to trouthe plyght,", "That, but it were on him along, ye nolde", "Him never falsen, whyle ye liven sholde.", "", "`Now stant it thus, that sith I fro yow wente,", "This Troilus, right platly for to seyn,", "Is thurgh a goter, by a prive wente,", "In-to my chaumbre come in al this reyn,", "Unwist of every maner wight, certeyn,", "Save of my-self, as wisly have I Ioye,", "And by that feith I shal Pryam of Troye!", "", "`And he is come in swich peyne and distresse", "That, but he be al fully wood by this,", "He sodeynly mot falle in-to wodnesse,", "But-if god helpe; and cause why this is,", "He seyth him told is, of a freend of his,", "How that ye sholde love oon that hatte Horaste,", "For sorwe of which this night shalt been his laste.'", "", "Criseyde, which that al this wonder herde,", "Gan sodeynly aboute hir herte colde,", "And with a syk she sorwfully answerde,", "`Allas! I wende, who-so tales tolde,", "My dere herte wolde me not holde", "So lightly fals! Allas! Conceytes wronge,", "What harm they doon, for now live I to longe!", "", "`Horaste! Allas! And falsen Troilus?", "I knowe him not, god helpe me so,' quod she;", "`Allas! What wikked spirit tolde him thus?", "Now certes, eem, to-morwe, and I him see,", "I shal ther-of as ful excusen me", "As ever dide womman, if him lyke';", "And with that word she gan ful sore syke.", "", "`O god!' quod she, `So worldly selinesse,", "Which clerkes callen fals felicitee,", "Y-medled is with many a bitternesse!", "Ful anguisshous than is, god woot,' quod she,", "`Condicioun of veyn prosperitee;", "For either Ioyes comen nought y-fere,", "Or elles no wight hath hem alwey here.", "", "`O brotel wele of mannes Ioye unstable!", "With what wight so thou be, or how thou pleye,", "Either he woot that thou, Ioye, art muable,", "Or woot it not, it moot ben oon of tweye;", "Now if he woot it not, how may he seye", "That he hath verray Ioye and selinesse,", "That is of ignoraunce ay in derknesse?", "", "`Now if he woot that Ioye is transitorie,", "As every Ioye of worldly thing mot flee,", "Than every tyme he that hath in memorie,", "The drede of lesing maketh him that he", "May in no perfit selinesse be.", "And if to lese his Ioye he set a myte,", "Than semeth it that Ioye is worth ful lyte.", "", "`Wherfore I wol deffyne in this matere,", "That trewely, for ought I can espye,", "Ther is no verray wele in this world here.", "But O, thou wikked serpent, Ialousye,", "Thou misbeleved and envious folye,", "Why hastow Troilus me mad untriste,", "That never yet agilte him, that I wiste?'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Thus fallen is this cas.'", "`Why, uncle myn,' quod she, `who tolde him this?", "Why doth my dere herte thus, allas?'", "`Ye woot, ye nece myn,' quod he, `what is;", "I hope al shal be wel that is amis,", "For ye may quenche al this, if that yow leste,", "And doth right so, for I holde it the beste.'", "", "`So shal I do to-morwe, y-wis,' quod she,", "`And god to-forn, so that it shal suffyse.'", "`To-morwe? Allas, that were a fair!' quod he,", "`Nay, nay, it may not stonden in this wyse;", "For, nece myn, thus wryten clerkes wyse,", "That peril is with drecching in y-drawe;", "Nay, swich abodes been nought worth an hawe.", "", "`Nece, al thing hath tyme, I dar avowe;", "For whan a chaumber a-fyr is, or an halle,", "Wel more nede is, it sodeynly rescowe", "Than to dispute, and axe amonges alle", "How is this candele in the straw y-falle?", "A! Benedicite! For al among that fare", "The harm is doon, and fare-wel feldefare!", "", "`And, nece myn, ne take it not a-greef,", "If that ye suffre him al night in this wo,", "God help me so, ye hadde him never leef,", "That dar I seyn, now there is but we two;", "But wel I woot, that ye wol not do so;", "Ye been to wys to do so gret folye,", "To putte his lyf al night in Iupertye.", "", "`Hadde I him never leef? By god, I wene", "Ye hadde never thing so leef,' quod she.", "`Now by my thrift,' quod he, `that shal be sene;", "For, sin ye make this ensample of me,", "If I al night wolde him in sorwe see", "For al the tresour in the toun of Troye,", "I bidde god, I never mote have Ioye!", "", "`Now loke thanne, if ye, that been his love,", "Shul putte al night his lyf in Iupartye", "For thing of nought! Now, by that god above,", "Nought only this delay comth of folye,", "But of malyce, if that I shal nought lye.", "What, platly, and ye suffre him in distresse,", "Ye neither bountee doon ne gentilesse!'", "", "Quod tho Criseyde, `Wole ye doon o thing,", "And ye therwith shal stinte al his disese?", "Have here, and bereth him this blewe ringe,", "For ther is no-thing mighte him bettre plese,", "Save I my-self, ne more his herte apese;", "And sey my dere herte, that his sorwe", "Is causeles, that shal be seen to-morwe.'", "", "`A ring?' quod he, `Ye, hasel-wodes shaken!", "Ye nece myn, that ring moste han a stoon", "That mighte dede men alyve maken;", "And swich a ring trowe I that ye have noon.", "Discrecioun out of your heed is goon;", "That fele I now,' quod he, `and that is routhe;", "O tyme y-lost, wel maystow cursen slouthe!", "", "`Wot ye not wel that noble and heigh corage", "Ne sorweth not, ne stinteth eek for lyte?", "But if a fool were in a Ialous rage,", "I nolde setten at his sorwe a myte,", "But feffe him with a fewe wordes whyte", "Another day, whan that I mighte him finde;", "But this thing stant al in another kinde.", "", "`This is so gentil and so tendre of herte,", "That with his deeth he wol his sorwes wreke;", "For trusteth wel, how sore that him smerte,", "He wol to yow no Ialouse wordes speke.", "And for-thy, nece, er that his herte breke,", "So spek your-self to him of this matere;", "For with o word ye may his herte stere.", "", "`Now have I told what peril he is inne,", "And his coming unwist is to every wight;", "Ne, pardee, harm may ther be noon, ne sinne;", "I wol my-self be with yow al this night.", "Ye knowe eek how it is your owne knight,", "And that, by right, ye moste upon him triste,", "And I al prest to fecche him whan yow liste.'", "", "This accident so pitous was to here,", "And eek so lyk a sooth, at pryme face,", "And Troilus hir knight to hir so dere,", "His prive coming, and the siker place,", "That, though that she dide him as thanne a grace,", "Considered alle thinges as they stode,", "No wonder is, sin she dide al for gode.", "", "Cryseyde answerde, `As wisly god at reste", "My sowle bringe, as me is for him wo!", "And eem, y-wis, fayn wolde I doon the beste,", "If that I hadde grace to do so.", "But whether that ye dwelle or for him go,", "I am, til god me bettre minde sende,", "At dulcarnon, right at my wittes ende.'", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Ye, nece, wol ye here?", "Dulcarnon called is \"fleminge of wrecches\";", "It semeth hard, for wrecches wol not lere", "For verray slouthe or othere wilful tecches;", "This seyd by hem that be not worth two fecches.", "But ye ben wys, and that we han on honde", "Nis neither hard, ne skilful to withstonde.'", "", "`Thanne, eem,' quod she, `doth her-of as yow list;", "But er he come, I wil up first aryse;", "And, for the love of god, sin al my trist", "Is on yow two, and ye ben bothe wyse,", "So wircheth now in so discreet a wyse,", "That I honour may have, and he plesaunce;", "For I am here al in your governaunce.'", "", "`That is wel seyd,' quod he, `my nece dere'", "Ther good thrift on that wyse gentil herte!", "But liggeth stille, and taketh him right here,", "It nedeth not no ferther for him sterte;", "And ech of yow ese otheres sorwes smerte,", "For love of god; and, Venus, I the herie;", "For sone hope I we shulle ben alle merie.'", "", "This Troilus ful sone on knees him sette", "Ful sobrely, right be hir beddes heed,", "And in his beste wyse his lady grette;", "But lord, so she wex sodeynliche reed!", "Ne, though men sholden smyten of hir heed,", "She coude nought a word a-right out-bringe", "So sodeynly, for his sodeyn cominge.", "", "But Pandarus, that so wel coude fele", "In every thing, to pleye anoon bigan,", "And seyde, `Nece, see how this lord can knele!", "Now, for your trouthe, seeth this gentil man!'", "And with that word he for a quisshen ran,", "And seyde, `Kneleth now, whyl that yow leste,", "Ther god your hertes bringe sone at reste!'", "", "Can I not seyn, for she bad him not ryse,", "If sorwe it putte out of hir remembraunce,", "Or elles that she toke it in the wyse", "Of duetee, as for his observaunce;", "But wel finde I she dide him this plesaunce,", "That she him kiste, al-though she syked sore;", "And bad him sitte a-doun with-outen more.", "", "Quod Pandarus, `Now wol ye wel biginne;", "Now doth him sitte, gode nece dere,", "Upon your beddes syde al there with-inne,", "That ech of yow the bet may other here.'", "And with that word he drow him to the fere,", "And took a light, and fond his contenaunce,", "As for to loke up-on an old romaunce.", "", "Criseyde, that was Troilus lady right,", "And cleer stood on a ground of sikernesse,", "Al thoughte she, hir servaunt and hir knight", "Ne sholde of right non untrouthe in hir gesse,", "Yet nathelees, considered his distresse,", "And that love is in cause of swich folye,", "Thus to him spak she of his Ialousye:", "", "`Lo, herte myn, as wolde the excellence", "Of love, ayeins the which that no man may,", "Ne oughte eek goodly maken resistence", "And eek bycause I felte wel and say", "Youre grete trouthe, and servyse every day;", "And that your herte al myn was, sooth to seyne,", "This droof me for to rewe up-on your peyne.", "", "`And your goodnesse have I founde alwey yit,", "Of whiche, my dere herte and al my knight,", "I thonke it yow, as fer as I have wit,", "Al can I nought as muche as it were right;", "And I, emforth my conninge and my might,", "Have and ay shal, how sore that me smerte,", "Ben to yow trewe and hool, with a myn herte;", "", "`And dredelees, that shal be founde at preve. --", "But, herte myn, what al this is to seyne", "Shal wel be told, so that ye noght yow greve,", "Though I to yow right on your-self compleyne.", "For ther-with mene I fynally the peyne,", "That halt your herte and myn in hevinesse,", "Fully to sleen, and every wrong redresse.", "", "`My goode, myn, not I for-why ne how", "That Ialousye, allas! That wikked wivere,", "Thus causelees is cropen in-to yow;", "The harm of which I wolde fayn delivere!", "Allas! That he, al hool, or of him slivere,", "Shuld have his refut in so digne a place,", "Ther Iove him sone out of your herte arace!", "", "`But O, thou Iove, O auctor of nature,", "Is this an honour to thy deitee,", "That folk ungiltif suffren here iniure,", "And who that giltif is, al quit goth he?", "O were it leful for to pleyne on thee,", "That undeserved suffrest Ialousye,", "Of that I wolde up-on thee pleyne and crye!", "", "`Eek al my wo is this, that folk now usen", "To seyn right thus, \"Ye, Ialousye is love!\"", "And wolde a busshel venim al excusen,", "For that o greyn of love is on it shove!", "But that wot heighe god that sit above,", "If it be lyker love, or hate, or grame;", "And after that, it oughte bere his name.", "", "`But certeyn is, som maner Ialousye", "Is excusable more than som, y-wis.", "As whan cause is, and som swich fantasye", "With pietee so wel repressed is,", "That it unnethe dooth or seyth amis,", "But goodly drinketh up al his distresse;", "And that excuse I, for the gentilesse.", "", "`And som so ful of furie is and despyt", "That it sourmounteth his repressioun;", "But herte myn, ye be not in that plyt,", "That thanke I god, for whiche your passioun", "I wol not calle it but illusioun,", "Of habundaunce of love and bisy cure,", "That dooth your herte this disese endure.", "", "`Of which I am right sory but not wrooth;", "But, for my devoir and your hertes reste,", "Wher-so yow list, by ordal or by ooth,", "By sort, or in what wyse so yow leste,", "For love of god, lat preve it for the beste!", "And if that I be giltif, do me deye,", "Allas! What mighte I more doon or seye?'", "", "With that a fewe brighte teres newe", "Owt of hir eyen fille, and thus she seyde,", "`Now god, thou wost, in thought ne dede untrewe", "To Troilus was never yet Criseyde.'", "With that hir heed doun in the bed she leyde,", "And with the shete it wreigh, and syghed sore,", "And held hir pees; not o word spak she more.", "", "But now help god to quenchen al this sorwe,", "So hope I that he shal, for he best may;", "For I have seyn, of a ful misty morwe", "Folwen ful ofte a mery someres day;", "And after winter folweth grene May.", "Men seen alday, and reden eek in stories,", "That after sharpe shoures been victories.", "", "This Troilus, whan he hir wordes herde,", "Have ye no care, him liste not to slepe;", "For it thoughte him no strokes of a yerde", "To here or seen Criseyde, his lady wepe;", "But wel he felte aboute his herte crepe,", "For every teer which that Criseyde asterte,", "The crampe of deeth, to streyne him by the herte.", "", "And in his minde he gan the tyme acurse", "That he cam there, and that that he was born;", "For now is wikke y-turned in-to worse,", "And al that labour he hath doon biforn,", "He wende it lost, he thoughte he nas but lorn.", "`O Pandarus,' thoughte he, `allas! Thy wyle", "Serveth of nought, so weylaway the whyle!'", "", "And therwithal he heng a-doun the heed,", "And fil on knees, and sorwfully he sighte;", "What mighte he seyn? He felte he nas but deed,", "For wrooth was she that shulde his sorwes lighte.", "But nathelees, whan that he speken mighte,", "Than seyde he thus, `God woot, that of this game,", "Whan al is wist, than am I not to blame!'", "", "Ther-with the sorwe so his herte shette,", "That from his eyen fil there not a tere,", "And every spirit his vigour in-knette,", "So they astoned or oppressed were.", "The feling of his sorwe, or of his fere,", "Or of ought elles, fled was out of towne;", "And doun he fel al sodeynly a-swowne.", "", "This was no litel sorwe for to see;", "But al was hust, and Pandare up as faste,", "`O nece, pees, or we be lost,' quod he,", "`Beth nought agast;' But certeyn, at the laste,", "For this or that, he in-to bedde him caste,", "And seyde, `O theef, is this a mannes herte?'", "And of he rente al to his bare sherte;", "", "And seyde, `Nece, but ye helpe us now,", "Allas, your owne Troilus is lorn!'", "`Y-wis, so wolde I, and I wiste how,", "Ful fayn,' quod she; `Allas! That I was born!'", "`Ye, nece, wole ye pullen out the thorn", "That stiketh in his herte?' quod Pandare;", "`Sey \"Al foryeve,\" and stint is al this fare!'", "", "`Ye, that to me,' quod she, `ful lever were", "Than al the good the sonne aboute gooth';", "And therwith-al she swoor him in his ere,", "`Y-wis, my dere herte, I am nought wrooth,", "Have here my trouthe and many another ooth;", "Now speek to me, for it am I, Cryseyde!'", "But al for nought; yet mighte he not a-breyde.", "", "Therwith his pous and pawmes of his hondes", "They gan to frote, and wete his temples tweyne,", "And, to deliveren him from bittre bondes,", "She ofte him kiste; and, shortly for to seyne,", "Him to revoken she dide al hir peyne.", "And at the laste, he gan his breeth to drawe,", "And of his swough sone after that adawe,", "", "And gan bet minde and reson to him take,", "But wonder sore he was abayst, y-wis.", "And with a syk, whan he gan bet a-wake,", "He seyde, `O mercy, god, what thing is this?'", "`Why do ye with your-selven thus amis?'", "Quod tho Criseyde, `Is this a mannes game?", "What, Troilus! Wol ye do thus, for shame?'", "", "And therwith-al hir arm over him she leyde,", "And al foryaf, and ofte tyme him keste.", "He thonked hir, and to hir spak, and seyde", "As fil to purpos for his herte reste.", "And she to that answerde him as hir leste;", "And with hir goodly wordes him disporte", "She gan, and ofte his sorwes to comforte.", "", "Quod Pandarus, `For ought I can espyen,", "This light, nor I ne serven here of nought;", "Light is not good for syke folkes yen.", "But for the love of god, sin ye be brought", "In thus good plyt, lat now non hevy thought", "Ben hanginge in the hertes of yow tweye:'", "And bar the candele to the chimeneye.", "", "Sone after this, though it no nede were,", "Whan she swich othes as hir list devyse", "Hadde of him take, hir thoughte tho no fere,", "Ne cause eek non, to bidde him thennes ryse.", "Yet lesse thing than othes may suffyse", "In many a cas; for every wight, I gesse,", "That loveth wel meneth but gentilesse.", "", "But in effect she wolde wite anoon", "Of what man, and eek where, and also why", "He Ielous was, sin ther was cause noon;", "And eek the signe, that he took it by,", "She bad him that to telle hir bisily,", "Or elles, certeyn, she bar him on honde,", "That this was doon of malis, hir to fonde.", "", "With-outen more, shortly for to seyne,", "He moste obeye un-to his lady heste;", "And for the lasse harm, he moste feyne.", "He seyde hir, whan she was at swiche a feste,", "She mighte on him han loked at the leste;", "Not I not what, al dere y-nough a risshe,", "As he that nedes moste a cause fisshe.", "", "And she answerde, `Swete, al were it so,", "What harm was that, sin I non yvel mene?", "For, by that god that boughte us bothe two,", "In alle thinge is myn entente clene.", "Swich arguments ne been not worth a bene;", "Wol ye the childish Ialous contrefete?", "Now were it worthy that ye were y-bete.'", "", "Tho Troilus gan sorwfully to syke,", "Lest she be wrooth, him thoughte his herte deyde;", "And seyde, `Allas! Up-on my sorwes syke", "Have mercy, swete herte myn, Cryseyde!", "And if that, in tho wordes that I seyde,", "Be any wrong, I wol no more trespace;", "Do what yow list, I am al in your grace.'", "", "And she answerde, `Of gilt misericorde!", "That is to seyn, that I foryeve al this;", "And ever-more on this night yow recorde,", "And beth wel war ye do no more amis.'", "`Nay, dere herte myn,' quod he, `y-wis.'", "`And now,' quod she, `that I have do yow smerte,", "Foryeve it me, myn owene swete herte.'", "", "This Troilus, with blisse of that supprysed,", "Put al in goddes hond, as he that mente", "No-thing but wel; and, sodeynly avysed,", "He hir in armes faste to him hente.", "And Pandarus, with a ful good entente,", "Leyde him to slepe, and seyde, `If ye ben wyse,", "Swowneth not now, lest more folk aryse.'", "", "What mighte or may the sely larke seye,", "Whan that the sperhauk hath it in his foot?", "I can no more, but of thise ilke tweye,", "To whom this tale sucre be or soot,", "Though that I tarie a yeer, som-tyme I moot,", "After myn auctor, tellen hir gladnesse,", "As wel as I have told hir hevinesse.", "", "Criseyde, which that felte hir thus y-take,", "As writen clerkes in hir bokes olde,", "Right as an aspes leef she gan to quake,", "Whan she him felte hir in his armes folde.", "But Troilus, al hool of cares colde,", "Gan thanken tho the blisful goddes sevene;", "Thus sondry peynes bringen folk in hevene.", "", "This Troilus in armes gan hir streyne,", "And seyde, `O swete, as ever mote I goon,", "Now be ye caught, now is ther but we tweyne;", "Now yeldeth yow, for other boot is noon.'", "To that Criseyde answerde thus anoon,", "`Ne hadde I er now, my swete herte dere,", "Ben yolde, y-wis, I were now not here!'", "", "O! Sooth is seyd, that heled for to be", "As of a fevre or othere greet syknesse,", "Men moste drinke, as men may often see,", "Ful bittre drink; and for to han gladnesse,", "Men drinken often peyne and greet distresse;", "I mene it here, as for this aventure,", "That thourgh a peyne hath founden al his cure.", "", "And now swetnesse semeth more sweet,", "That bitternesse assayed was biforn;", "For out of wo in blisse now they flete;", "Non swich they felten, sith they were born;", "Now is this bet, than bothe two be lorn!", "For love of god, take every womman hede", "To werken thus, if it comth to the nede.", "", "Criseyde, al quit from every drede and tene,", "As she that iuste cause hadde him to triste,", "Made him swich feste, it Ioye was to sene,", "Whan she his trouthe and clene entente wiste.", "And as aboute a tree, with many a twiste,", "Bitrent and wryth the sote wode-binde,", "Gan eche of hem in armes other winde.", "", "And as the newe abaysshed nightingale,", "That stinteth first whan she biginneth to singe,", "Whan that she hereth any herde tale,", "Or in the hegges any wight steringe,", "And after siker dooth hir voys out-ringe;", "Right so Criseyde, whan hir drede stente,", "Opned hir herte and tolde him hir entente.", "", "And right as he that seeth his deeth y-shapen,", "And deye moot, in ought that he may gesse,", "And sodeynly rescous doth him escapen,", "And from his deeth is brought in sikernesse,", "For al this world, in swich present gladnesse", "Was Troilus, and hath his lady swete;", "With worse hap god lat us never mete!", "", "Hir armes smale, hir streyghte bak and softe,", "Hir sydes longe, fleshly, smothe, and whyte", "He gan to stroke, and good thrift bad ful ofte", "Hir snowish throte, hir brestes rounde and lyte;", "Thus in this hevene he gan him to delyte,", "And ther-with-al a thousand tyme hir kiste;", "That, what to done, for Ioye unnethe he wiste.", "", "Than seyde he thus, `O, Love, O, Charitee,", "Thy moder eek, Citherea the swete,", "After thy-self next heried be she,", "Venus mene I, the wel-willy planete;", "And next that, Imeneus, I thee grete;", "For never man was to yow goddes holde", "As I, which ye han brought fro cares colde.", "", "`Benigne Love, thou holy bond of thinges,", "Who-so wol grace, and list thee nought honouren,", "Lo, his desyr wol flee with-outen winges.", "For, noldestow of bountee hem socouren", "That serven best and most alwey labouren,", "Yet were al lost, that dar I wel seyn, certes,", "But-if thy grace passed our desertes.", "", "`And for thou me, that coude leest deserve", "Of hem that nombred been un-to thy grace,", "Hast holpen, ther I lykly was to sterve,", "And me bistowed in so heygh a place", "That thilke boundes may no blisse pace,", "I can no more, but laude and reverence", "Be to thy bounte and thyn excellence!'", "", "And therwith-al Criseyde anoon he kiste,", "Of which, certeyn, she felte no disese,", "And thus seyde he, `Now wolde god I wiste,", "Myn herte swete, how I yow mighte plese!", "What man,' quod he, `was ever thus at ese", "As I, on whiche the faireste and the beste", "That ever I say, deyneth hir herte reste.", "", "`Here may men seen that mercy passeth right;", "The experience of that is felt in me,", "That am unworthy to so swete a wight.", "But herte myn, of your benignitee,", "So thenketh, though that I unworthy be,", "Yet mot I nede amenden in som wyse,", "Right thourgh the vertu of your heyghe servyse.", "", "`And for the love of god, my lady dere,", "Sin god hath wrought me for I shal yow serve,", "As thus I mene, that ye wol be my stere,", "To do me live, if that yow liste, or sterve,", "So techeth me how that I may deserve", "Your thank, so that I, thurgh myn ignoraunce,", "Ne do no-thing that yow be displesaunce.", "", "`For certes, fresshe wommanliche wyf,", "This dar I seye, that trouthe and diligence,", "That shal ye finden in me al my lyf,", "Ne wol not, certeyn, breken your defence;", "And if I do, present or in absence,", "For love of god, lat slee me with the dede,", "If that it lyke un-to your womanhede.'", "", "`Y-wis,' quod she, `myn owne hertes list,", "My ground of ese, and al myn herte dere,", "Graunt mercy, for on that is al my trist;", "But late us falle awey fro this matere;", "For it suffyseth, this that seyd is here.", "And at o word, with-outen repentaunce,", "Wel-come, my knight, my pees, my suffisaunce!'", "", "Of hir delyt, or Ioyes oon the leste", "Were impossible to my wit to seye;", "But iuggeth, ye that han ben at the feste,", "Of swich gladnesse, if that hem liste pleye!", "I can no more, but thus thise ilke tweye", "That night, be-twixen dreed and sikernesse,", "Felten in love the grete worthinesse.", "", "O blisful night, of hem so longe y-sought,", "How blithe un-to hem bothe two thou were!", "Why ne hadde I swich on with my soule y-bought,", "Ye, or the leeste Ioye that was there?", "A-wey, thou foule daunger and thou fere,", "And lat hem in this hevene blisse dwelle,", "That is so heygh, that al ne can I telle!", "", "But sooth is, though I can not tellen al,", "As can myn auctor, of his excellence,", "Yet have I seyd, and, god to-forn, I shal", "In every thing al hoolly his sentence.", "And if that I, at loves reverence,", "Have any word in eched for the beste,", "Doth therwith-al right as your-selven leste.", "", "For myne wordes, here and every part,", "I speke hem alle under correccioun", "Of yow, that feling han in loves art,", "And putte it al in your discrecioun", "To encrese or maken diminucioun", "Of my langage, and that I yow bi-seche;", "But now to purpos of my rather speche.", "", "Thise ilke two, that ben in armes laft,", "So looth to hem a-sonder goon it were,", "That ech from other wende been biraft,", "Or elles, lo, this was hir moste fere,", "That al this thing but nyce dremes were;", "For which ful ofte ech of hem seyde, `O swete,", "Clippe ich yow thus, or elles I it mete?'", "", "And, lord! So he gan goodly on hir see,", "That never his look ne bleynte from hir face,", "And seyde, `O dere herte, may it be", "That it be sooth, that ye ben in this place?'", "`Ye, herte myn, god thank I of his grace!'", "Quod tho Criseyde, and therwith-al him kiste,", "That where his spirit was, for Ioye he niste.", "", "This Troilus ful ofte hir eyen two", "Gan for to kisse, and seyde, `O eyen clere,", "It were ye that wroughte me swich wo,", "Ye humble nettes of my lady dere!", "Though ther be mercy writen in your chere,", "God wot, the text ful hard is, sooth, to finde,", "How coude ye with-outen bond me binde?'", "", "Therwith he gan hir faste in armes take,", "And wel an hundred tymes gan he syke,", "Nought swiche sorwfull sykes as men make", "For wo, or elles whan that folk ben syke,", "But esy sykes, swiche as been to lyke,", "That shewed his affeccioun with-inne;", "Of swiche sykes coude he nought bilinne.", "", "Sone after this they speke of sondry thinges,", "As fil to purpos of this aventure,", "And pleyinge entrechaungeden hir ringes,", "Of which I can nought tellen no scripture;", "But wel I woot, a broche, gold and asure,", "In whiche a ruby set was lyk an herte,", "Criseyde him yaf, and stak it on his sherte.", "", "Lord! trowe ye, a coveitous, a wreccbe,", "That blameth love and holt of it despyt,", "That, of tho pens that he can mokre and kecche,", "Was ever yet y-yeve him swich delyt,", "As is in love, in oo poynt, in som plyt?", "Nay, doutelees, for also god me save,", "So parfit Ioye may no nigard have!", "", "They wol sey `Yis,' but lord! So that they lye,", "Tho bisy wrecches, ful of wo and drede!", "They callen love a woodnesse or folye,", "But it shal falle hem as I shal yow rede;", "They shul forgo the whyte and eke the rede,", "And live in wo, ther god yeve hem mischaunce,", "And every lover in his trouthe avaunce!", "", "As wolde god, tho wrecches, that dispyse", "Servyse of love, hadde eres al-so longe", "As hadde Myda, ful of coveityse,", "And ther-to dronken hadde as hoot and stronge", "As Crassus dide for his affectis wronge,", "To techen hem that they ben in the vyce,", "And loveres nought, al-though they holde hem nyce!", "", "Thise ilke two, of whom that I yow seye,", "Whan that hir hertes wel assured were,", "Tho gonne they to speken and to pleye,", "And eek rehercen how, and whanne, and where,", "They knewe hem first, and every wo and fere", "That passed was; but al swich hevinesse,", "I thanke it god, was tourned to gladnesse.", "", "And ever-mo, whan that hem fel to speke", "Of any thing of swich a tyme agoon,", "With kissing al that tale sholde breke,", "And fallen in a newe Ioye anoon,", "And diden al hir might, sin they were oon,", "For to recoveren blisse and been at ese,", "And passed wo with Ioye countrepeyse.", "", "Reson wil not that I speke of sleep,", "For it accordeth nought to my matere;", "God woot, they toke of that ful litel keep,", "But lest this night, that was to hem so dere,", "Ne sholde in veyn escape in no manere,", "It was biset in Ioye and bisinesse", "Of al that souneth in-to gentilnesse.", "", "But whan the cok, comune astrologer,", "Gan on his brest to bete, and after crowe,", "And Lucifer, the dayes messager,", "Gan for to ryse, and out hir bemes throwe;", "And estward roos, to him that coude it knowe,", "Fortuna maior, than anoon Criseyde,", "With herte sore, to Troilus thus seyde: --", "", "`Myn hertes lyf, my trist and my plesaunce,", "That I was born, allas! What me is wo,", "That day of us mot make desseveraunce!", "For tyme it is to ryse, and hennes go,", "Or elles I am lost for evermo!", "O night, allas! Why niltow over us hove,", "As longe as whanne Almena lay by Iove?", "", "`O blake night, as folk in bokes rede,", "That shapen art by god this world to hyde", "At certeyn tymes with thy derke wede,", "That under that men mighte in reste abyde,", "Wel oughte bestes pleyne, and folk thee chyde,", "That there-as day with labour wolde us breste,", "That thou thus fleest, and deynest us nought reste! 1435", "", "`Thou dost, allas! To shortly thyn offyce,", "Thou rakel night, ther god, makere of kinde,", "Thee, for thyn hast and thyn unkinde vyce,", "So faste ay to our hemi-spere binde.", "That never-more under the ground thou winde!", "For now, for thou so hyest out of Troye,", "Have I forgon thus hastily my Ioye!'", "", "This Troilus, that with tho wordes felte,", "As thoughte him tho, for pietous distresse,", "The blody teres from his herte melte,", "As he that never yet swich hevinesse", "Assayed hadde, out of so greet gladnesse,", "Gan therwith-al Criseyde his lady dere", "In armes streyne, and seyde in this manere: --", "", "`O cruel day, accusour of the Ioye", "That night and love han stole and faste y-wryen,", "A-cursed be thy coming in-to Troye,", "For every bore hath oon of thy bright yen!", "Envyous day, what list thee so to spyen?", "What hastow lost, why sekestow this place,", "Ther god thy lyght so quenche, for his grace?", "", "`Allas! What han thise loveres thee agilt,", "Dispitous day? Thyn be the pyne of helle!", "For many a lovere hastow shent, and wilt;", "Thy pouring in wol no-wher lete hem dwelle.", "What proferestow thy light here for to selle?", "Go selle it hem that smale seles graven,", "We wol thee nought, us nedeth no day haven.'", "", "And eek the sonne Tytan gan he chyde,", "And seyde, `O fool, wel may men thee dispyse,", "That hast the Dawing al night by thy syde,", "And suffrest hir so sone up fro thee ryse,", "For to disesen loveres in this wyse.", "What! Holde your bed ther, thou, and eek thy Morwe!", "I bidde god, so yeve yow bothe sorwe!'", "", "Therwith ful sore he sighte, and thus he seyde,", "`My lady right, and of my wele or wo", "The welle and rote, O goodly myn, Criseyde,", "And shal I ryse, allas! And shal I go?", "Now fele I that myn herte moot a-two!", "For how sholde I my lyf an houre save,", "Sin that with yow is al the lyf I have?", "", "`What shal I doon, for certes, I not how,", "Ne whanne, allas! I shal the tyme see,", "That in this plyt I may be eft with yow;", "And of my lyf, god woot, how that shal be,", "Sin that desyr right now so byteth me,", "That I am deed anoon, but I retourne.", "How sholde I longe, allas! Fro yow soiourne?", "", "`But nathelees, myn owene lady bright,", "Yit were it so that I wiste outrely,", "That I, your humble servaunt and your knight,", "Were in your herte set so fermely", "As ye in myn, the which thing, trewely,", "Me lever were than thise worldes tweyne,", "Yet sholde I bet enduren al my peyne.'", "", "To that Cryseyde answerde right anoon,", "And with a syk she seyde, `O herte dere,", "The game, y-wis, so ferforth now is goon,", "That first shal Phebus falle fro his spere,", "And every egle been the dowves fere,", "And every roche out of his place sterte,", "Er Troilus out of Criseydes herte!", "", "`Ye he so depe in-with myn herte grave,", "That, though I wolde it turne out of my thought,", "As wisly verray god my soule save,", "To dyen in the peyne, I coude nought!", "And, for the love of god that us bath wrought,", "Lat in your brayn non other fantasye", "So crepe, that it cause me to dye!", "", "`And that ye me wolde han as faste in minde", "As I have yow, that wolde I yow bi-seche;", "And, if I wiste soothly that to finde,", "God mighte not a poynt my Ioyes eche!", "But, herte myn, with-oute more speche,", "Beth to me trewe, or elles were it routhe;", "For I am thyn, by god and by my trouthe!", "", "`Beth glad for-thy, and live in sikernesse;", "Thus seyde I never er this, ne shal to mo;", "And if to yow it were a gret gladnesse", "To turne ayein, soone after that ye go,", "As fayn wolde I as ye, it were so,", "As wisly god myn herte bringe at reste!'", "And him in armes took, and ofte keste.", "", "Agayns his wil, sin it mot nedes be,", "This Troilus up roos, and faste him cledde,", "And in his armes took his lady free", "An hundred tyme, and on his wey him spedde,", "And with swich wordes as his herte bledde,", "He seyde, `Farewel, mr dere herte swete,", "Ther god us graunte sounde and sone to mete!'", "", "To which no word for sorwe she answerde,", "So sore gan his parting hir destreyne;", "And Troilus un-to his palays ferde,", "As woo bigon as she was, sooth to seyne;", "So hard him wrong of sharp desyr the peyne", "For to ben eft there he was in plesaunce,", "That it may never out of his remembraunce.", "", "Retorned to his real palais, sone", "He softe in-to his bed gan for to slinke,", "To slepe longe, as he was wont to done,", "But al for nought; he may wel ligge and winke,", "But sleep ne may ther in his herte sinke;", "Thenkinge how she, for whom desyr him brende,", "A thousand-fold was worth more than he wende.", "", "And in his thought gan up and doun to winde", "Hir wordes alle, and every countenaunce,", "And fermely impressen in his minde", "The leste poynt that to him was plesaunce;", "And verrayliche, of thilke remembraunce,", "Desyr al newe him brende, and lust to brede", "Gan more than erst, and yet took he non hede.", "", "Criseyde also, right in the same wyse,", "Of Troilus gan in hir herte shette", "His worthinesse, his lust, his dedes wyse,", "His gentilesse, and how she with him mette,", "Thonkinge love he so wel hir bisette;", "Desyring eft to have hir herte dere", "In swich a plyt, she dorste make him chere.", "", "Pandare, a-morwe which that comen was", "Un-to his nece, and gan hir fayre grete,", "Seyde, `Al this night so reyned it, allas!", "That al my drede is that ye, nece swete,", "Han litel layser had to slepe and mete;", "Al night,' quod he, `hath reyn so do me wake,", "That som of us, I trowe, hir hedes ake.'", "", "And ner he com, and seyde, `How stont it now", "This mery morwe, nece, how can ye fare?'", "Criseyde answerde, `Never the bet for yow,", "Fox that ye been, god yeve youre herte care!", "God help me so, ye caused al this fare,", "Trow I,' quod she, `for alle your wordes whyte;", "O! Who-so seeth yow knoweth yow ful lyte!'", "", "With that she gan hir face for to wrye", "With the shete, and wex for shame al reed;", "And Pandarus gan under for to prye,", "And seyde, `Nece, if that I shal be deed,", "Have here a swerd, and smyteth of myn heed.'", "With that his arm al sodeynly he thriste", "Under hir nekke, and at the laste hir kiste.", "", "I passe al that which chargeth nought to seye,", "What! God foryaf his deeth, and she al-so", "Foryaf, and with hir uncle gan to pleye,", "For other cause was ther noon than so.", "But of this thing right to the effect to go,", "Whan tyme was, hom til hir hous she wente,", "And Pandarus hath fully his entente.", "", "Now torne we ayein to Troilus,", "That resteles ful longe a-bedde lay,", "And prevely sente after Pandarus,", "To him to come in al the haste he may.", "He com anoon, nought ones seyde he `nay,'", "And Troilus ful sobrely he grette,", "And doun upon his beddes syde him sette.", "", "This Troilus, with al the affeccioun", "Of frendes love that herte may devyse,", "To Pandarus on knees fil adoun,", "And er that he wolde of the place aryse,", "He gan him thonken in his beste wyse;", "An hondred sythe he gan the tyme blesse,", "That he was born, to bringe him fro distresse.", "", "He seyde, `O frend of frendes the alderbeste", "That ever was, the sothe for to telle,", "Thou hast in hevene y-brought my soule at reste", "Fro Flegitoun, the fery flood of helle;", "That, though I mighte a thousand tymes selle,", "Upon a day, my lyf in thy servyse,", "It mighte nought a mote in that suffyse.", "", "`The sonne, which that al the world may see,", "Saw never yet, my lyf, that dar I leye,", "So inly fayr and goodly as is she,", "Whos I am al, and shal, til that I deye;", "And, that I thus am hires, dar I seye,", "That thanked be the heighe worthinesse", "Of love, and eek thy kinde bisinesse.", "", "`Thus hastow me no litel thing y-yive,", "Fo which to thee obliged be for ay", "My lyf, and why? For thorugh thyn help I live;", "For elles deed hadde I be many a day.'", "And with that word doun in his bed he lay,", "And Pandarus ful sobrely him herde", "Til al was seyd, and than he thus answerde:", "", "`My dere frend, if I have doon for thee", "In any cas, god wot, it is me leef;", "And am as glad as man may of it be,", "God help me so; but tak now a-greef", "That I shal seyn, be war of this myscheef,", "That, there-as thou now brought art in-to blisse,", "That thou thy-self ne cause it nought to misse.", "", "`For of fortunes sharpe adversitee", "The worst kinde of infortune is this,", "A man to have ben in prosperitee,", "And it remembren, whan it passed is.", "Thou art wys y-nough, for-thy do nought amis;", "Be not to rakel, though thou sitte warme,", "For if thou be, certeyn, it wol thee harme.", "", "`Thou art at ese, and holde the wel ther-inne.", "For also seur as reed is every fyr,", "As greet a craft is kepe wel as winne;", "Brydle alwey wel thy speche and thy desyr,", "For worldly Ioye halt not but by a wyr;", "That preveth wel, it brest alday so ofte;", "For-thy nede is to werke with it softe.'", "", "Quod Troilus, `I hope, and god to-forn,", "My dere frend, that I shal so me bere,", "That in my gilt ther shal no thing be lorn,", "Ne I nil not rakle as for to greven here;", "It nedeth not this matere ofte tere;", "For wistestow myn herte wel, Pandare,", "God woot, of this thou woldest litel care.'", "", "Tho gan he telle him of his glade night,", "And wher-of first his herte dredde, and how,", "And seyde, `Freend, as I am trewe knight,", "And by that feyth I shal to god and yow,", "I hadde it never half so hote as now;", "And ay the more that desyr me byteth", "To love hir best, the more it me delyteth.", "", "`I noot my-self not wisly what it is;", "But now I fele a newe qualitee,", "Ye, al another than I dide er this.'", "Pandare answerde, and seyde thus, that he", "That ones may in hevene blisse be,", "He feleth other weyes, dar I leye,", "Than thilke tyme he first herde of it seye.", "", "This is o word for al: this Troilus", "Was never ful to speke of this matere,", "And for to preysen un-to Pandarus", "The bountee of his righte lady dere,", "And Pandarus to thanke and maken chere.", "This tale ay was span-newe to biginne,", "Til that the night departed hem a-twinne.", "", "Sone after this, for that fortune it wolde,", "I-comen was the blisful tyme swete,", "That Troilus was warned that he sholde,", "Ther he was erst, Criseyde his lady mete;", "For which he felte his herte in Ioye flete;", "And feythfully gan alle the goddes herie;", "And lat see now if that he can be merie.", "", "And holden was the forme and al the wyse,", "Of hir cominge, and eek of his also,", "As it was erst, which nedeth nought devyse.", "But playnly to the effect right for to go,", "In Ioye and suerte Pandarus hem two", "A-bedde broughte, whan that hem bothe leste,", "And thus they ben in quiete and in reste.", "", "Nought nedeth it to yow, sin they ben met,", "To aske at me if that they blythe were;", "For if it erst was wel, tho was it bet", "A thousand-fold, this nedeth not enquere.", "A-gon was every sorwe and every fere;", "And bothe, y-wis, they hadde, and so they wende,", "As muche Ioye as herte may comprende.", "", "This is no litel thing of for to seye,", "This passeth every wit for to devyse;", "For eche of hem gan otheres lust obeye;", "Felicitee, which that thise clerkes wyse", "Commenden so, ne may not here suffyse.", "This Ioye may not writen been with inke,", "This passeth al that herte may bithinke.", "", "But cruel day, so wel-awey the stounde!", "Gan for to aproche, as they by signes knewe,", "For whiche hem thoughte felen dethes wounde;", "So wo was hem, that changen gan hir hewe,", "And day they goonnen to dispyse al newe,", "Calling it traytour, envyous, and worse,", "And bitterly the dayes light they curse.", "", "Quod Troilus, `Allas! Now am I war", "That Pirous and tho swifte stedes three,", "Whiche that drawen forth the sonnes char,", "Han goon som by-path in despyt of me;", "That maketh it so sone day to be;", "And, for the sonne him hasteth thus to ryse,", "Ne shal I never doon him sacrifyse!'", "", "But nedes day departe moste hem sone,", "And whanne hir speche doon was and hir chere,", "They twinne anoon as they were wont to done,", "And setten tyme of meting eft y-fere;", "And many a night they wroughte in this manere.", "And thus Fortune a tyme ladde in Ioye", "Criseyde, and eek this kinges sone of Troye.", "", "In suffisaunce, in blisse, and in singinges,", "This Troilus gan al his lyf to lede;", "He spendeth, Iusteth, maketh festeynges;", "He yeveth frely ofte, and chaungeth wede,", "And held aboute him alwey, out of drede,", "A world of folk, as cam him wel of kinde,", "The fressheste and the beste he coude fynde;", "", "That swich a voys was of hym and a stevene", "Thorugh-out the world, of honour and largesse,", "That it up rong un-to the yate of hevene.", "And, as in love, he was in swich gladnesse,", "That in his herte he demede, as I gesse,", "That there nis lovere in this world at ese", "So wel as he, and thus gan love him plese.", "", "The godlihede or beautee which that kinde", "In any other lady hadde y-set", "Can not the mountaunce of a knot unbinde,", "A-boute his herte, of al Criseydes net.", "He was so narwe y-masked and y-knet,", "That it undon on any manere syde,", "That nil not been, for ought that may betyde.", "", "And by the hond ful ofte he wolde take", "This Pandarus, and in-to gardin lede,", "And swich a feste and swich a proces make", "Him of Criseyde, and of hir womanhede,", "And of hir beautee, that, with-outen drede,", "It was an hevene his wordes for to here;", "And thanne he wolde singe in this manere.", "", "`Love, that of erthe and see hath governaunce,", "Love, that his hestes hath in hevene hye,", "Love, that with an holsom alliaunce", "Halt peples ioyned, as him list hem gye,", "Love, that knetteth lawe of companye,", "And couples doth in vertu for to dwelle,", "Bind this acord, that I have told and telle;", "", "`That that the world with feyth, which that is stable,", "Dyverseth so his stoundes concordinge,", "That elements that been so discordable", "Holden a bond perpetuely duringe,", "That Phebus mote his rosy day forth bringe,", "And that the mone hath lordship over the nightes,", "Al this doth Love; ay heried be his mightes!", "", "`That, that the see, that gredy is to flowen,", "Constreyneth to a certeyn ende so", "His flodes, that so fersly they ne growen", "To drenchen erthe and al for ever-mo;", "And if that Love ought lete his brydel go,", "Al that now loveth a-sonder sholde lepe,", "And lost were al, that Love halt now to-hepe.", "", "`So wolde god, that auctor is of kinde,", "That, with his bond, Love of his vertu liste", "To cerclen hertes alle, and faste binde,", "That from his bond no wight the wey out wiste.", "And hertes colde, hem wolde I that he twiste", "To make hem love, and that hem leste ay rewe", "On hertes sore, and kepe hem that ben trewe.'", "", "In alle nedes, for the tounes werre,", "He was, and ay the firste in armes dight;", "And certeynly, but-if that bokes erre,", "Save Ector, most y-drad of any wight;", "And this encrees of hardinesse and might", "Cam him of love, his ladies thank to winne,", "That altered his spirit so with-inne.", "", "In tyme of trewe, on haukinge wolde he ryde,", "Or elles hunten boor, bere, or lyoun;", "The smale bestes leet he gon bi-syde.", "And whan that he com rydinge in-to toun,", "Ful ofte his lady, from hir window doun,", "As fresh as faucon comen out of muwe,", "Ful redy was, him goodly to saluwe.", "", "And most of love and vertu was his speche,", "And in despyt hadde alle wrecchednesse;", "And doutelees, no nede was him biseche", "To honouren hem that hadde worthinesse,", "And esen hem that weren in distresse.", "And glad was he if any wight wel ferde,", "That lover was, whan he it wiste or herde.", "", "For sooth to seyn, he lost held every wight", "But-if he were in loves heigh servyse,", "I mene folk that oughte it been of right.", "And over al this, so wel coude he devyse", "Of sentement, and in so unkouth wyse", "Al his array, that every lover thoughte,", "That al was wel, what-so he seyde or wroughte.", "", "And though that he be come of blood royal,", "Him liste of pryde at no wight for to chase;", "Benigne he was to ech in general,", "For which he gat him thank in every place.", "Thus wolde love, y-heried be his grace,", "That Pryde, Envye, Ire, and Avaryce", "He gan to flee, and every other vyce.", "", "Thou lady bright, the doughter to Dione,", "Thy blinde and winged sone eek, daun Cupyde;", "Ye sustren nyne eek, that by Elicone", "In hil Parnaso listen for to abyde,", "That ye thus fer han deyned me to gyde,", "I can no more, but sin that ye wol wende,", "Ye heried been for ay, with-outen ende!", "", "Thourgh yow have I seyd fully in my song", "Theffect and Ioye of Troilus servyse,", "Al be that ther was som disese among,", "As to myn auctor listeth to devyse.", "My thridde book now ende ich in this wyse;", "And Troilus in luste and in quiete", "Is with Criseyde, his owne herte swete.", "" ], "linecount": "2086" }, { "title": "Troilus and Criseyde: Book IV", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "", "But al to litel, weylaway the whyle,", "Lasteth swich Ioye, y-thonked be Fortune!", "That semeth trewest, whan she wol bygyle,", "And can to foles so hir song entune,", "That she hem hent and blent, traytour comune;", "And whan a wight is from hir wheel y-throwe,", "Than laugheth she, and maketh him the mowe.", "", "From Troilus she gan hir brighte face", "Awey to wrythe, and took of him non hede,", "But caste him clene out of his lady grace,", "And on hir wheel she sette up Diomede;", "For which right now myn herte ginneth blede,", "And now my penne, allas! With which I wryte,", "Quaketh for drede of that I moot endyte.", "", "For how Criseyde Troilus forsook,", "Or at the leste, how that she was unkinde,", "Mot hennes-forth ben matere of my book,", "As wryten folk through which it is in minde.", "Allas! That they sholde ever cause finde", "To speke hir harm; and if they on hir lye,", "Y-wis, hem-self sholde han the vilanye.", "", "O ye Herines, Nightes doughtren three,", "That endelees compleynen ever in pyne,", "Megera, Alete, and eek Thesiphone;", "Thou cruel Mars eek, fader to Quiryne,", "This ilke ferthe book me helpeth fyne,", "So that the los of lyf and love y-fere", "Of Troilus be fully shewed here.", "", "Explicit prohemium.", "", "Incipit Quartus Liber.", "", "Ligginge in ost, as I have seyd er this,", "The Grekes stronge, aboute Troye toun,", "Bifel that, whan that Phebus shyning is", "Up-on the brest of Hercules Lyoun,", "That Ector, with ful many a bold baroun,", "Caste on a day with Grekes for to fighte,", "As he was wont to greve hem what he mighte.", "", "Not I how longe or short it was bitwene", "This purpos and that day they fighte mente;", "But on a day wel armed, bright and shene,", "Ector, and many a worthy wight out wente,", "With spere in hond and bigge bowes bente;", "And in the herd, with-oute lenger lette,", "Hir fomen in the feld anoon hem mette.", "", "The longe day, with speres sharpe y-grounde,", "With arwes, dartes, swerdes, maces felle,", "They fighte and bringen hors and man to grounde,", "And with hir axes out the braynes quelle.", "But in the laste shour, sooth for to telle,", "The folk of Troye hem-selven so misledden,", "That with the worse at night homward they fledden.", "", "At whiche day was taken Antenor,", "Maugre Polydamas or Monesteo,", "Santippe, Sarpedon, Polynestor,", "Polyte, or eek the Troian daun Ripheo,", "And othere lasse folk, as Phebuseo.", "So that, for harm, that day the folk of Troye", "Dredden to lese a greet part of hir Ioye.", "", "Of Pryamus was yeve, at Greek requeste,", "A tyme of trewe, and tho they gonnen trete,", "Hir prisoneres to chaungen, moste and leste,", "And for the surplus yeven sommes grete.", "This thing anoon was couth in every strete,", "Bothe in thassege, in toune, and every-where,", "And with the firste it cam to Calkas ere.", "", "Whan Calkas knew this tretis sholde holde,", "In consistorie, among the Grekes, sone", "He gan in thringe forth, with lordes olde,", "And sette him there-as he was wont to done;", "And with a chaunged face hem bad a bone,", "For love of god, to don that reverence,", "To stinte noyse, and yeve him audience.", "", "Thanne seyde he thus, `Lo! Lordes myne, I was", "Troian, as it is knowen out of drede;", "And, if that yow remembre, I am Calkas,", "That alderfirst yaf comfort to your nede,", "And tolde wel how that ye sholden spede.", "For dredelees, thorugh yow, shal, in a stounde,", "Ben Troye y-brend, and beten doun to grounde.", "", "`And in what forme, or in what maner wyse", "This town to shende, and al your lust to acheve,", "Ye han er this wel herd it me devyse;", "This knowe ye, my lordes, as I leve.", "And for the Grekes weren me so leve,", "I com my-self in my propre persone,", "To teche in this how yow was best to done;", "", "`Havinge un-to my tresour ne my rente", "Right no resport, to respect of your ese.", "Thus al my good I loste and to yow wente,", "Wening in this you, lordes, for to plese.", "But al that los ne doth me no disese.", "I vouche-sauf, as wisly have I Ioye,", "For you to lese al that I have in Troye,", "", "`Save of a doughter, that I lafte, allas!", "Slepinge at hoom, whanne out of Troye I sterte.", "O sterne, O cruel fader that I was!", "How mighte I have in that so hard an herte?", "Allas! I ne hadde y-brought hir in hir sherte!", "For sorwe of which I wol not live to morwe,", "But-if ye lordes rewe up-on my sorwe.", "", "`For, by that cause I say no tyme er now", "Hir to delivere, I holden have my pees;", "But now or never, if that it lyke yow,", "I may hir have right sone, doutelees.", "O help and grace! Amonges al this prees,", "Rewe on this olde caitif in destresse,", "Sin I through yow have al this hevinesse!", "", "`Ye have now caught and fetered in prisoun", "Troians y-nowe; and if your willes be,", "My child with oon may have redempcioun.", "Now for the love of god and of bountee,", "Oon of so fele, allas! So yeve him me.", "What nede were it this preyere for to werne,", "Sin ye shul bothe han folk and toun as yerne?", "", "`On peril of my lyf, I shal nat lye,", "Appollo hath me told it feithfully;", "I have eek founde it be astronomye,", "By sort, and by augurie eek trewely,", "And dar wel seye, the tyme is faste by,", "That fyr and flaumbe on al the toun shal sprede;", "And thus shal Troye turne to asshen dede.", "", "`For certeyn, Phebus and Neptunus bothe,", "That makeden the walles of the toun,", "Ben with the folk of Troye alwey so wrothe,", "That thei wol bringe it to confusioun,", "Right in despyt of king Lameadoun.", "By-cause he nolde payen hem hir hyre,", "The toun of Troye shal ben set on-fyre.'", "", "Telling his tale alwey, this olde greye,", "Humble in speche, and in his lokinge eke,", "The salte teres from his eyen tweye", "Ful faste ronnen doun by eyther cheke.", "So longe he gan of socour hem by-seke", "That, for to hele him of his sorwes sore,", "They yave him Antenor, with-oute more.", "", "But who was glad y-nough but Calkas tho?", "And of this thing ful sone his nedes leyde", "On hem that sholden for the tretis go,", "And hem for Antenor ful ofte preyde", "To bringen hoom king Toas and Criseyde;", "And whan Pryam his save-garde sente,", "Thembassadours to Troye streyght they wente.", "", "The cause y-told of hir cominge, the olde", "Pryam the king ful sone in general", "Let here-upon his parlement to holde,", "Of which the effect rehersen yow I shal.", "Thembassadours ben answered for fynal,", "Theschaunge of prisoners and al this nede", "Hem lyketh wel, and forth in they procede.", "", "This Troilus was present in the place,", "Whan axed was for Antenor Criseyde,", "For which ful sone chaungen gan his face,", "As he that with tho wordes wel neigh deyde.", "But nathelees, he no word to it seyde,", "Lest men sholde his affeccioun espye;", "With mannes herte he gan his sorwes drye.", "", "And ful of anguissh and of grisly drede", "Abood what lordes wolde un-to it seye;", "And if they wolde graunte, as god forbede,", "Theschaunge of hir, than thoughte he thinges tweye,", "First, how to save hir honour, and what weye", "He mighte best theschaunge of hir withstonde;", "Ful faste he caste how al this mighte stonde.", "", "Love him made al prest to doon hir byde,", "And rather dye than she sholde go;", "But resoun seyde him, on that other syde,", "`With-oute assent of hir ne do not so,", "Lest for thy werk she wolde be thy fo,", "And seyn, that thorugh thy medling is y-blowe", "Your bother love, there it was erst unknowe.'", "", "For which he gan deliberen, for the beste,", "That though the lordes wolde that she wente,", "He wolde lat hem graunte what hem leste,", "And telle his lady first what that they mente.", "And whan that she had seyd him hir entente,", "Ther-after wolde he werken also blyve,", "Though al the world ayein it wolde stryve.", "", "Ector, which that wel the Grekes herde,", "For Antenor how they wolde han Criseyde,", "Gan it withstonde, and sobrely answerde: --", "`Sires, she nis no prisoner,' he seyde;", "`I noot on yow who that this charge leyde,", "But, on my part, ye may eft-sone hem telle,", "We usen here no wommen for to selle.'", "", "The noyse of peple up-stirte thanne at ones,", "As breme as blase of straw y-set on fyre;", "For infortune it wolde, for the nones,", "They sholden hir confusioun desyre.", "`Ector,' quod they, `what goost may yow enspyre", "This womman thus to shilde and doon us lese", "Daun Antenor? -- a wrong wey now ye chese --", "", "`That is so wys, and eek so bold baroun,", "And we han nede to folk, as men may see;", "He is eek oon, the grettest of this toun;", "O Ector, lat tho fantasyes be!", "O king Priam,' quod they, `thus seggen we,", "That al our voys is to for-gon Criseyde;'", "And to deliveren Antenor they preyde.", "", "O Iuvenal, lord! Trewe is thy sentence,", "That litel witen folk what is to yerne", "That they ne finde in hir desyr offence;", "For cloud of errour let hem not descerne", "What best is; and lo, here ensample as yerne.", "This folk desiren now deliveraunce", "Of Antenor, that broughte hem to mischaunce!", "", "For he was after traytour to the toun", "Of Troye; allas! They quitte him out to rathe;", "O nyce world, lo, thy discrecioun!", "Criseyde, which that never dide hem skathe,", "Shal now no lenger in hir blisse bathe;", "But Antenor, he shal com hoom to toune,", "And she shal out; thus seyden here and howne.", "", "For which delibered was by parlement", "For Antenor to yelden out Criseyde,", "And it pronounced by the president,", "Al-theigh that Ector `nay' ful ofte preyde.", "And fynaly, what wight that it with-seyde,", "It was for nought, it moste been, and sholde;", "For substaunce of the parlement it wolde.", "", "Departed out of parlement echone,", "This Troilus, with-oute wordes mo,", "Un-to his chaumbre spedde him faste allone,", "But-if it were a man of his or two,", "The whiche he bad out faste for to go,", "By-cause he wolde slepen, as he seyde,", "And hastely up-on his bed him leyde.", "", "And as in winter leves been biraft,", "Eche after other, til the tree be bare,", "So that ther nis but bark and braunche y-laft,", "Lyth Troilus, biraft of ech wel-fare,", "Y-bounden in the blake bark of care,", "Disposed wood out of his wit to breyde,", "So sore him sat the chaunginge of Criseyde.", "", "He rist him up, and every dore he shette", "And windowe eek, and tho this sorweful man", "Up-on his beddes syde a-doun him sette,", "Ful lyk a deed image pale and wan;", "And in his brest the heped wo bigan", "Out-breste, and he to werken in this wyse", "In his woodnesse, as I shal yow devyse.", "", "Right as the wilde bole biginneth springe", "Now here, now there, y-darted to the herte,", "And of his deeth roreth in compleyninge,", "Right so gan he aboute the chaumbre sterte,", "Smyting his brest ay with his festes smerte;", "His heed to the wal, his body to the grounde", "Ful ofte he swapte, him-selven to confounde.", "", "His eyen two, for pitee of his herte,", "Out stremeden as swifte welles tweye;", "The heighe sobbes of his sorwes smerte", "His speche him refte, unnethes mighte he seye,", "`O deeth, allas! Why niltow do me deye?", "A-cursed be the day which that nature", "Shoop me to ben a lyves creature!'", "", "But after, whan the furie and the rage", "Which that his herte twiste and faste threste,", "By lengthe of tyme somwhat gan asswage,", "Up-on his bed he leyde him doun to reste;", "But tho bigonne his teres more out-breste,", "That wonder is, the body may suffyse", "To half this wo, which that I yow devyse.", "", "Than seyde he thus, `Fortune! Allas the whyle!", "What have I doon, what have I thus a-gilt?", "How mightestow for reuthe me bigyle?", "Is ther no grace, and shal I thus be spilt?", "Shal thus Criseyde awey, for that thou wilt?", "Allas! How maystow in thyn herte finde", "To been to me thus cruel and unkinde?", "", "`Have I thee nought honoured al my lyve,", "As thou wel wost, above the goddes alle?", "Why wiltow me fro Ioye thus depryve?", "O Troilus, what may men now thee calle", "But wrecche of wrecches, out of honour falle", "In-to miserie, in which I wol biwayle", "Criseyde, allas! Til that the breeth me fayle?", "", "`Allas, Fortune! If that my lyf in Ioye", "Displesed hadde un-to thy foule envye,", "Why ne haddestow my fader, king of Troye,", "By-raft the lyf, or doon my bretheren dye,", "Or slayn my-self, that thus compleyne and crye,", "I, combre-world, that may of no-thing serve,", "But ever dye, and never fully sterve?", "", "`If that Criseyde allone were me laft,", "Nought roughte I whider thou woldest me stere;", "And hir, allas! Than hastow me biraft.", "But ever-more, lo! This is thy manere,", "To reve a wight that most is to him dere,", "To preve in that thy gerful violence.", "Thus am I lost, ther helpeth no defence!", "", "`O verray lord of love, O god, allas!", "That knowest best myn herte and al my thought,", "What shal my sorwful lyf don in this cas", "If I for-go that I so dere have bought?", "Sin ye Cryseyde and me han fully brought", "In-to your grace, and bothe our hertes seled,", "How may ye suffre, allas! It be repeled?", "", "`What I may doon, I shal, whyl I may dure", "On lyve in torment and in cruel peyne,", "This infortune or this disaventure,", "Allone as I was born, y-wis, compleyne;", "Ne never wil I seen it shyne or reyne;", "But ende I wil, as Edippe, in derknesse", "My sorwful lyf, and dyen in distresse.", "", "`O wery goost, that errest to and fro,", "Why niltow fleen out of the wofulleste", "Body, that ever mighte on grounde go?", "O soule, lurkinge in this wo, unneste,", "Flee forth out of myn herte, and lat it breste,", "And folwe alwey Criseyde, thy lady dere;", "Thy righte place is now no lenger here!", "", "`O wofulle eyen two, sin your disport", "Was al to seen Criseydes eyen brighte,", "What shal ye doon but, for my discomfort,", "Stonden for nought, and wepen out your sighte?", "Sin she is queynt, that wont was yow to lighte,", "In veyn fro-this-forth have I eyen tweye", "Y-formed, sin your vertue is a-weye.", "", "`O my Criseyde, O lady sovereyne", "Of thilke woful soule that thus cryeth,", "Who shal now yeven comfort to the peyne?", "Allas, no wight; but when myn herte dyeth,", "My spirit, which that so un-to yow hyeth,", "Receyve in gree, for that shal ay yow serve;", "For-thy no fors is, though the body sterve.", "", "`O ye loveres, that heighe upon the wheel", "Ben set of Fortune, in good aventure,", "God leve that ye finde ay love of steel,", "And longe mot your lyf in Ioye endure!", "But whan ye comen by my sepulture,", "Remembreth that your felawe resteth there;", "For I lovede eek, though I unworthy were.", "", "`O olde, unholsom, and mislyved man,", "Calkas I mene, allas! What eyleth thee", "To been a Greek, sin thou art born Troian?", "O Calkas, which that wilt my bane be,", "In cursed tyme was thou born for me!", "As wolde blisful Iove, for his Ioye,", "That I thee hadde, where I wolde, in Troye!'", "", "A thousand sykes, hottere than the glede,", "Out of his brest ech after other wente,", "Medled with pleyntes newe, his wo to fede,", "For which his woful teres never stente;", "And shortly, so his peynes him to-rente,", "And wex so mat, that Ioye nor penaunce", "He feleth noon, but lyth forth in a traunce.", "", "Pandare, which that in the parlement", "Hadde herd what every lord and burgeys seyde,", "And how ful graunted was, by oon assent,", "For Antenor to yelden so Criseyde,", "Gan wel neigh wood out of his wit to breyde,", "So that, for wo, he niste what he mente;", "But in a rees to Troilus he wente.", "", "A certeyn knight, that for the tyme kepte", "The chaumbre-dore, un-dide it him anoon;", "And Pandare, that ful tendreliche wepte,", "In-to the derke chaumbre, as stille as stoon,", "Toward the bed gan softely to goon,", "So confus, that he niste what to seye;", "For verray wo his wit was neigh aweye.", "", "And with his chere and loking al to-torn,", "For sorwe of this, and with his armes folden,", "He stood this woful Troilus biforn,", "And on his pitous face he gan biholden;", "But lord, so often gan his herte colden,", "Seing his freend in wo, whos hevinesse", "His herte slow, as thoughte him, for distresse.", "", "This woful wight, this Troilus, that felte", "His freend Pandare y-comen him to see,", "Gan as the snow ayein the sonne melte,", "For which this sorwful Pandare, of pitee,", "Gan for to wepe as tendreliche as he;", "And specheles thus been thise ilke tweye,", "That neyther mighte o word for sorwe seye.", "", "But at the laste this woful Troilus,", "Ney deed for smert, gan bresten out to rore,", "And with a sorwful noyse he seyde thus,", "Among his sobbes and his sykes sore,", "`Lo! Pandare, I am deed, with-outen more.", "Hastow nought herd at parlement,' he seyde,", "`For Antenor how lost is my Criseyde?'", "", "This Pandarus, ful deed and pale of hewe,", "Ful pitously answerde and seyde, `Yis!", "As wisly were it fals as it is trewe,", "That I have herd, and wot al how it is.", "O mercy, god, who wolde have trowed this?", "Who wolde have wend that, in so litel a throwe,", "Fortune our Ioye wolde han over-throwe?", "", "`For in this world ther is no creature,", "As to my doom, that ever saw ruyne", "Straungere than this, thorugh cas or aventure.", "But who may al eschewe, or al devyne?", "Swich is this world; for-thy I thus defyne,", "Ne trust no wight to finden in Fortune", "Ay propretee; hir yeftes been comune.", "", "`But tel me this, why thou art now so mad", "To sorwen thus? Why lystow in this wyse,", "Sin thy desyr al holly hastow had,", "So that, by right, it oughte y-now suffyse?", "But I, that never felte in my servyse", "A frendly chere or loking of an ye,", "Lat me thus wepe and wayle, til I dye.", "", "`And over al this, as thou wel wost thy-selve,", "This town is ful of ladies al aboute;", "And, to my doom, fairer than swiche twelve", "As ever she was, shal I finde, in som route,", "Ye, oon or two, with-outen any doute.", "For-thy be glad, myn owene dere brother,", "If she be lost, we shal recovere another.", "", "`What, god for-bede alwey that ech plesaunce", "In o thing were, and in non other wight!", "If oon can singe, another can wel daunce;", "If this be goodly, she is glad and light;", "And this is fayr, and that can good a-right.", "Ech for his vertu holden is for dere,", "Bothe heroner and faucon for rivere.", "", "`And eek, as writ Zanzis, that was ful wys,", "\"The newe love out chaceth ofte the olde;\"", "And up-on newe cas lyth newe avys.", "Thenk eek, thy-self to saven artow holde;", "Swich fyr, by proces, shal of kinde colde.", "For sin it is but casuel plesaunce,", "Som cas shal putte it out of remembraunce.", "", "`For al-so seur as day cometh after night,", "The newe love, labour or other wo,", "Or elles selde seinge of a wight,", "Don olde affecciouns alle over-go.", "And, for thy part, thou shalt have oon of tho", "To abrigge with thy bittre peynes smerte;", "Absence of hir shal dryve hir out of herte.'", "", "Thise wordes seyde he for the nones alle,", "To helpe his freend, lest he for sorwe deyde.", "For douteles, to doon his wo to falle,", "He roughte not what unthrift that he seyde.", "But Troilus, that neigh for sorwe deyde,", "Tok litel hede of al that ever he mente;", "Oon ere it herde, at the other out it wente:", "", "But at the laste answerde and seyde, `Freend,", "This lechecraft, or heled thus to be,", "Were wel sitting, if that I were a feend,", "To traysen hir that trewe is unto me!", "I pray god, lat this consayl never y-thee;", "But do me rather sterve anon-right here", "Er I thus do as thou me woldest lere.", "", "`She that I serve, y-wis, what so thou seye,", "To whom myn herte enhabit is by right,", "Shal han me holly hires til that I deye.", "For, Pandarus, sin I have trouthe hir hight,", "I wol not been untrewe for no wight;", "But as hir man I wol ay live and sterve,", "And never other creature serve.", "", "`And ther thou seyst, thou shalt as faire finde", "As she, lat be, make no comparisoun", "To creature y-formed here by kinde.", "O leve Pandare, in conclusioun,", "I wol not be of thyn opinioun,", "Touching al this; for whiche I thee biseche,", "So hold thy pees; thou sleest me with thy speche.", "", "`Thow biddest me I sholde love an-other", "Al freshly newe, and lat Criseyde go!", "It lyth not in my power, leve brother.", "And though I mighte, I wolde not do so.", "But canstow pleyen raket, to and fro,", "Netle in, dokke out, now this, now that, Pandare?", "Now foule falle hir, for thy wo that care!", "", "`Thow farest eek by me, thou Pandarus,", "As he, that whan a wight is wo bi-goon,", "He cometh to him a pas, and seyth right thus,", "\"Thenk not on smert, and thou shalt fele noon.\"", "Thou most me first transmuwen in a stoon,", "And reve me my passiounes alle,", "Er thou so lightly do my wo to falle.", "", "`The deeth may wel out of my brest departe", "The lyf, so longe may this sorwe myne;", "But fro my soule shal Criseydes darte", "Out never-mo; but doun with Proserpyne,", "Whan I am deed, I wol go wone in pyne;", "And ther I wol eternaly compleyne", "My wo, and how that twinned be we tweyne.", "", "`Thow hast here maad an argument, for fyn,", "How that it sholde a lasse peyne be", "Criseyde to for-goon, for she was myn,", "And live in ese and in felicitee.", "Why gabbestow, that seydest thus to me", "That \"him is wors that is fro wele y-throwe,", "Than he hadde erst non of that wele y-knowe?\"", "", "`But tel me now, sin that thee thinketh so light", "To chaungen so in love, ay to and fro,", "Why hastow not don bisily thy might", "To chaungen hir that doth thee al thy wo?", "Why niltow lete hir fro thyn herte go?", "Why niltow love an-other lady swete,", "That may thyn herte setten in quiete?", "", "`If thou hast had in love ay yet mischaunce,", "And canst it not out of thyn herte dryve,", "I, that livede in lust and in plesaunce", "With hir as muche as creature on-lyve,", "How sholde I that foryete, and that so blyve?", "O where hastow ben hid so longe in muwe,", "That canst so wel and formely arguwe?", "", "`Nay, nay, god wot, nought worth is al thy reed,", "For which, for what that ever may bifalle,", "With-outen wordes mo, I wol be deed.", "O deeth, that endere art of sorwes alle,", "Com now, sin I so ofte after thee calle,", "For sely is that deeth, soth for to seyne,", "That, ofte y-cleped, cometh and endeth peyne.", "", "`Wel wot I, whyl my lyf was in quiete,", "Er thou me slowe, I wolde have yeven hyre;", "But now thy cominge is to me so swete,", "That in this world I no-thing so desyre.", "O deeth, sin with this sorwe I am a-fyre,", "Thou outher do me anoon yn teres drenche,", "Or with thy colde strook myn hete quenche!", "", "`Sin that thou sleest so fele in sondry wyse", "Ayens hir wil, unpreyed, day and night,", "Do me, at my requeste, this servyse,", "Delivere now the world, so dostow right,", "Of me, that am the wofulleste wight", "That ever was; for tyme is that I sterve,", "Sin in this world of right nought may I serve.'", "", "This Troilus in teres gan distille,", "As licour out of alambyk ful faste;", "And Pandarus gan holde his tunge stille,", "And to the ground his eyen doun he caste.", "But nathelees, thus thoughte he at the laste,", "`What, parde, rather than my felawe deye,", "Yet shal I som-what more un-to him seye:'", "", "And seyde, `Freend, sin thou hast swich distresse,", "And sin thee list myn arguments to blame,", "Why nilt thy-selven helpen doon redresse,", "And with thy manhod letten al this grame?", "Go ravisshe hir ne canstow not for shame!", "And outher lat hir out of toune fare,", "Or hold hir stille, and leve thy nyce fare.", "", "`Artow in Troye, and hast non hardiment", "To take a womman which that loveth thee,", "And wolde hir-selven been of thyn assent?", "Now is not this a nyce vanitee?", "Rys up anoon, and lat this weping be,", "And kyth thou art a man, for in this houre", "I wil be deed, or she shal bleven oure.'", "", "To this answerde him Troilus ful softe,", "And seyde, `Parde, leve brother dere,", "Al this have I my-self yet thought ful ofte,", "And more thing than thou devysest here.", "But why this thing is laft, thou shalt wel here;", "And whan thou me hast yeve an audience,", "Ther-after mayst thou telle al thy sentence.", "", "`First, sin thou wost this toun hath al this werre", "For ravisshing of wommen so by might,", "It sholde not be suffred me to erre,", "As it stant now, ne doon so gret unright.", "I sholde han also blame of every wight,", "My fadres graunt if that I so withstode,", "Sin she is chaunged for the tounes goode.", "", "`I have eek thought, so it were hir assent,", "To aske hir at my fader, of his grace;", "Than thenke I, this were hir accusement,", "Sin wel I woot I may hir not purchace.", "For sin my fader, in so heigh a place", "As parlement, hath hir eschaunge enseled,", "He nil for me his lettre be repeled.", "", "`Yet drede I most hir herte to pertourbe", "With violence, if I do swich a game;", "For if I wolde it openly distourbe,", "It moste been disclaundre to hir name.", "And me were lever deed than hir defame,", "As nolde god but-if I sholde have", "Hir honour lever than my lyf to save!", "", "`Thus am I lost, for ought that I can see;", "For certeyn is, sin that I am hir knight,", "I moste hir honour levere han than me", "In every cas, as lovere oughte of right.", "Thus am I with desyr and reson twight;", "Desyr for to destourben hir me redeth,", "And reson nil not, so myn herte dredeth.'", "", "Thus wepinge that he coude never cesse,", "He seyde, `Allas! How shal I, wrecche, fare?", "For wel fele I alwey my love encresse,", "And hope is lasse and lasse alwey, Pandare!", "Encressen eek the causes of my care;", "So wel-a-wey, why nil myn herte breste?", "For, as in love, ther is but litel reste.'", "", "Pandare answerde, `Freend, thou mayst, for me,", "Don as thee list; but hadde ich it so hote,", "And thyn estat, she sholde go with me;", "Though al this toun cryede on this thing by note,", "I nolde sette at al that noyse a grote.", "For when men han wel cryed, than wol they roune;", "A wonder last but nyne night never in toune.", "", "`Devyne not in reson ay so depe", "Ne curteysly, but help thy-self anoon;", "Bet is that othere than thy-selven wepe,", "And namely, sin ye two been al oon.", "Rys up, for by myn heed, she shal not goon;", "And rather be in blame a lyte y-founde", "Than sterve here as a gnat, with-oute wounde.", "", "`It is no shame un-to yow, ne no vyce", "Hir to with-holden, that ye loveth most.", "Paraunter, she mighte holden thee for nyce", "To lete hir go thus to the Grekes ost.", "Thenk eek Fortune, as wel thy-selven wost,", "Helpeth hardy man to his enpryse,", "And weyveth wrecches, for hir cowardyse.", "", "`And though thy lady wolde a litel hir greve,", "Thou shalt thy pees ful wel here-after make,", "But as for me, certayn, I can not leve", "That she wolde it as now for yvel take.", "Why sholde than for ferd thyn herte quake?", "Thenk eek how Paris hath, that is thy brother,", "A love; and why shaltow not have another?", "", "`And Troilus, o thing I dar thee swere,", "That if Criseyde, whiche that is thy leef,", "Now loveth thee as wel as thou dost here,", "God helpe me so, she nil nat take a-greef,", "Though thou do bote a-noon in this mischeef.", "And if she wilneth fro thee for to passe,", "Thanne is she fals; so love hir wel the lasse.", "", "`For-thy tak herte, and thenk, right as a knight,", "Thourgh love is broken alday every lawe.", "Kyth now sumwhat thy corage and thy might,", "Have mercy on thy-self, for any awe.", "Lat not this wrecched wo thin herte gnawe,", "But manly set the world on sixe and sevene;", "And, if thou deye a martir, go to hevene.", "", "`I wol my-self be with thee at this dede,", "Though ich and al my kin, up-on a stounde,", "Shulle in a strete as dogges liggen dede,", "Thourgh-girt with many a wyd and blody wounde.", "In every cas I wol a freend be founde.", "And if thee list here sterven as a wrecche,", "A-dieu, the devel spede him that it recche!'", "", "This Troilus gan with tho wordes quiken,", "And seyde, `Freend, graunt mercy, ich assente;", "But certaynly thou mayst not me so priken,", "Ne peyne noon ne may me so tormente,", "That, for no cas, it is not myn entente,", "At shorte wordes, though I dyen sholde,", "To ravisshe hir, but-if hir-self it wolde.'", "", "`Why, so mene I,' quod Pandarus, `al this day.", "But tel me than, hastow hir wil assayed,", "That sorwest thus?' And he answerde, `Nay.'", "`Wher-of artow,' quod Pandare, `than a-mayed,", "That nost not that she wol ben y-vel apayed", "To ravisshe hir, sin thou hast not ben there,", "But-if that Iove tolde it in thyn ere?", "", "`For-thy rys up, as nought ne were, anoon,", "And wash thy face, and to the king thou wende,", "Or he may wondren whider thou art goon.", "Thou most with wisdom him and othere blende;", "Or, up-on cas, he may after thee sende", "Er thou be war; and shortly, brother dere,", "Be glad, and lat me werke in this matere.", "", "`For I shal shape it so, that sikerly", "Thou shalt this night som tyme, in som manere,", "Com speke with thy lady prevely,", "And by hir wordes eek, and by hir chere,", "Thou shalt ful sone aperceyve and wel here", "Al hir entente, and in this cas the beste;", "And fare now wel, for in this point I reste.'", "", "The swifte Fame, whiche that false thinges", "Egal reporteth lyk the thinges trewe,", "Was thorugh-out Troye y-fled with preste winges", "Fro man to man, and made this tale al newe,", "How Calkas doughter, with hir brighte hewe,", "At parlement, with-oute wordes more,", "I-graunted was in chaunge of Antenore.", "", "The whiche tale anoon-right as Criseyde", "Had herd, she, which that of hir fader roughte,", "As in this cas, right nought, ne whanne he deyde,", "Ful bisily to Iuppiter bisoughte", "Yeve hem mischaunce that this tretis broughte.", "But shortly, lest thise tales sothe were,", "She dorste at no wight asken it, for fere.", "", "As she that hadde hir herte and al hir minde", "On Troilus y-set so wonder faste,", "That al this world ne mighte hir love unbinde,", "Ne Troilus out of hir herte caste;", "She wol ben his, whyl that hir lyf may laste.", "And thus she brenneth bothe in love and drede,", "So that she niste what was best to rede.", "", "But as men seen in toune, and al aboute,", "That wommen usen frendes to visyte,", "So to Criseyde of wommen com a route", "For pitous Ioye, and wenden hir delyte;", "And with hir tales, dere y-nough a myte,", "These wommen, whiche that in the cite dwelle,", "They sette hem doun, and seyde as I shal telle.", "", "Quod first that oon, `I am glad, trewely,", "By-cause of yow, that shal your fader see.'", "A-nother seyde, `Y-wis, so nam not I,", "For al to litel hath she with us be.'", "Quod tho the thridde, `I hope, y-wis, that she", "Shal bringen us the pees on every syde,", "That, whan she gooth, almighty god hir gyde!'", "", "Tho wordes and tho wommanisshe thinges,", "She herde hem right as though she thennes were;", "For, god it wot, hir herte on other thing is,", "Although the body sat among hem there.", "Hir advertence is alwey elles-where;", "For Troilus ful faste hir soule soughte;", "With-outen word, alwey on him she thoughte.", "", "Thise wommen, that thus wenden hir to plese,", "Aboute nought gonne alle hir tales spende;", "Swich vanitee ne can don hir non ese,", "As she that, al this mene whyle. brende", "Of other passioun than that they wende,", "So that she felte almost hir herte deye", "For wo, and wery of that companye.", "", "For which no lenger mighte she restreyne", "Hir teres, so they gonnen up to welle,", "That yaven signes of the bitter peyne", "In whiche hir spirit was, and moste dwelle;", "Remembring hir, fro heven unto which helle", "She fallen was, sith she forgoth the sighte", "Of Troilus, and sorowfully she sighte.", "", "And thilke foles sittinge hir aboute", "Wenden, that she wepte and syked sore", "By-cause that she sholde out of that route", "Departe, and never pleye with hem more.", "And they that hadde y-knowen hir of yore", "Seye hir so wepe, and thoughte it kindenesse,", "And eche of hem wepte eek for hir destresse;", "", "And bisily they gonnen hir conforten", "Of thing, god wot, on which she litel thoughte;", "And with hir tales wenden hir disporten,", "And to be glad they often hir bisoughte.", "But swich an ese ther-with they hir wroughte", "Right as a man is esed for to fele,", "For ache of heed, to clawen him on his hele!", "", "But after al this nyce vanitee", "They took hir leve, and hoom they wenten alle.", "Criseyde, ful of sorweful pitee,", "In-to hir chaumbre up wente out of the halle,", "And on hir bed she gan for deed to falle,", "In purpos never thennes for to ryse;", "And thus she wroughte, as I shal yow devyse.", "", "Hir ounded heer, that sonnish was of hewe,", "She rente, and eek hir fingres longe and smale", "She wrong ful ofte, and bad god on hir rewe,", "And with the deeth to doon bote on hir bale.", "Hir hewe, whylom bright, that tho was pale,", "Bar witnes of hir wo and hir constreynte;", "And thus she spak, sobbinge, in hir compleynte:", "", "`Alas!' quod she, `out of this regioun", "I, woful wrecche and infortuned wight,", "And born in corsed constellacioun,", "Mot goon, and thus departen fro my knight;", "Wo worth, allas! That ilke dayes light", "On which I saw him first with eyen tweyne,", "That causeth me, and I him, al this peyne!'", "", "Therwith the teres from hir eyen two", "Doun fille, as shour in Aperill ful swythe;", "Hir whyte brest she bet, and for the wo", "After the deeth she cryed a thousand sythe,", "Sin he that wont hir wo was for to lythe,", "She mot for-goon; for which disaventure", "She held hir-self a forlost creature.", "", "She seyde, `How shal he doon, and I also?", "How sholde I live, if that I from him twinne?", "O dere herte eek, that I love so,", "Who shal that sorwe sleen that ye ben inne?", "O Calkas, fader, thyn be al this sinne!", "O moder myn, that cleped were Argyve,", "Wo worth that day that thou me bere on lyve!", "", "`To what fyn sholde I live and sorwen thus?", "How sholde a fish with-oute water dure?", "What is Criseyde worth, from Troilus?", "How sholde a plaunte or lyves creature", "Live, with-oute his kinde noriture?", "For which ful oft a by-word here I seye,", "That \"rotelees, mot grene sone deye.\"", "", "`I shal don thus, sin neither swerd ne darte", "Dar I non handle, for the crueltee,", "That ilke day that I from yow departe,", "If sorwe of that nil not my bane be,", "Than shal no mete or drinke come in me", "Til I my soule out of my breste unshethe;", "And thus my-selven wol I do to dethe.", "", "`And, Troilus, my clothes everichoon", "Shul blake been, in tokeninge, herte swete,", "That I am as out of this world agoon,", "That wont was yow to setten in quiete;", "And of myn ordre, ay til deeth me mete,", "The observaunce ever, in your absence,", "Shal sorwe been, compleynte, and abstinence.", "", "`Myn herte and eek the woful goost ther-inne", "Biquethe I, with your spirit to compleyne", "Eternally, for they shal never twinne.", "For though in erthe y-twinned be we tweyne,", "Yet in the feld of pitee, out of peyne,", "That hight Elysos, shul we been y-fere,", "As Orpheus and Erudice, his fere.", "", "`Thus, herte myn, for Antenor, allas!", "I sone shal be chaunged, as I wene.", "But how shul ye don in this sorwful cas,", "How shal youre tendre herte this sustene?", "But herte myn, for-yet this sorwe and tene,", "And me also; for, soothly for to seye,", "So ye wel fare, I recche not to deye.'", "", "How mighte it ever y-red ben or y-songe,", "The pleynte that she made in hir distresse?", "I noot; but, as for me, my litel tonge,", "If I discreven wolde hir hevinesse,", "It sholde make hir sorwe seme lesse", "Than that it was, and childishly deface", "Hir heigh compleynte, and therfore I it pace.", "", "Pandare, which that sent from Troilus", "Was to Criseyde, as ye han herd devyse,", "That for the beste it was accorded thus,", "And he ful glad to doon him that servyse,", "Un-to Criseyde, in a ful secree wyse,", "Ther-as she lay in torment and in rage,", "Com hir to telle al hoolly his message,", "", "And fond that she hir-selven gan to trete", "Ful pitously; for with hir salte teres", "Hir brest, hir face, y-bathed was ful wete;", "The mighty tresses of hir sonnish heres,", "Unbroyden, hangen al aboute hir eres;", "Which yaf him verray signal of martyre", "Of deeth, which that hir herte gan desyre.", "", "Whan she him saw, she gan for sorwe anoon", "Hir tery face a-twixe hir armes hide,", "For which this Pandare is so wo bi-goon,", "That in the hous he mighte unnethe abyde,", "As he that pitee felte on every syde.", "For if Criseyde hadde erst compleyned sore,", "Tho gan she pleyne a thousand tymes more.", "", "And in hir aspre pleynte than she seyde,", "`Pandare first of Ioyes mo than two", "Was cause causinge un-to me, Criseyde,", "That now transmuwed been in cruel wo.", "Wher shal I seye to yow \"wel come\" or no,", "That alderfirst me broughte in-to servyse", "Of love, allas! That endeth in swich wyse?", "", "`Endeth than love in wo? Ye, or men lyeth!", "And alle worldly blisse, as thinketh me.", "The ende of blisse ay sorwe it occupyeth;", "And who-so troweth not that it so be,", "Lat him upon me, woful wrecche, y-see,", "That my-self hate, and ay my birthe acorse,", "Felinge alwey, fro wikke I go to worse.", "", "`Who-so me seeth, he seeth sorwe al at ones,", "Peyne, torment, pleynte, wo, distresse.", "Out of my woful body harm ther noon is,", "As anguish, langour, cruel bitternesse,", "A-noy, smert, drede, fury, and eek siknesse.", "I trowe, y-wis, from hevene teres reyne,", "For pitee of myn aspre and cruel peyne! '", "", "`And thou, my suster, ful of discomfort,'", "Quod Pandarus, `what thenkestow to do?", "Why ne hastow to thy-selven som resport,", "Why woltow thus thy-selve, allas, for-do?", "Leef al this werk and tak now hede to", "That I shal seyn, and herkne, of good entente,", "This, which by me thy Troilus thee sente.'", "", "Torned hir tho Criseyde, a wo makinge", "So greet that it a deeth was for to see: --", "`Allas!' quod she, `what wordes may ye bringe?", "What wol my dere herte seyn to me,", "Which that I drede never-mo to see?", "Wol he have pleynte or teres, er I wende?", "I have y-nowe, if he ther-after sende!'", "", "She was right swich to seen in hir visage", "As is that wight that men on bere binde;", "Hir face, lyk of Paradys the image,", "Was al y-chaunged in another kinde.", "The pleye, the laughtre men was wont to finde", "On hir, and eek hir Ioyes everychone,", "Ben fled, and thus lyth now Criseyde allone.", "", "Aboute hir eyen two a purpre ring", "Bi-trent, in sothfast tokninge of hir peyne,", "That to biholde it was a dedly thing,", "For which Pandare mighte not restreyne", "The teres from his eyen for to reyne.", "But nathelees, as he best mighte, he seyde", "From Troilus thise wordes to Criseyde.", "", "`Lo, nece, I trowe ye han herd al how", "The king, with othere lordes, for the beste,", "Hath mad eschaunge of Antenor and yow,", "That cause is of this sorwe and this unreste.", "But how this cas doth Troilus moleste,", "That may non erthely mannes tonge seye;", "For verray wo his wit is al aweye.", "", "`For which we han so sorwed, he and I,", "That in-to litel bothe it hadde us slawe;", "But thurgh my conseil this day, fynally,", "He somwhat is fro weping now with-drawe.", "And semeth me that he desyreth fawe", "With yow to been al night, for to devyse", "Remede in this, if ther were any wyse.", "", "`This, short and pleyne, theffect of my message,", "As ferforth as my wit can comprehende.", "For ye, that been of torment in swich rage,", "May to no long prologe as now entende;", "And her-upon ye may answere him sende.", "And, for the love of god, my nece dere,", "So leef this wo er Troilus be here.'", "", "`Gret is my wo,' quod she, and sighte sore,", "As she that feleth dedly sharp distresse;", "`But yet to me his sorwe is muchel more,", "That love him bet than he him-self, I gesse.", "Allas! For me hath he swich hevinesse?", "Can he for me so pitously compleyne?", "Y-wis, his sorwe doubleth al my peyne.", "", "`Grevous to me, god wot, is for to twinne,'", "Quod she, `but yet it hardere is to me", "To seen that sorwe which that he is inne;", "For wel wot I, it wol my bane be;", "And deye I wol in certayn,' tho quod she;", "`But bidde him come, er deeth, that thus me threteth,", "Dryve out that goost which in myn herte beteth.'", "", "Thise wordes seyd, she on hir armes two", "Fil gruf, and gan to wepe pitously.", "Quod Pandarus, `Allas! Why do ye so,", "Syn wel ye woot the tyme is faste by,", "That he shal come? Arys up hastely,", "That he yow nat biwopen thus ne finde,", "But ye wol have him wood out of his minde!", "", "`For wiste he that ye ferde in this manere,", "He wolde him-selve slee; and if I wende", "To han this fare, he sholde not come here", "For al the good that Pryam may despende.", "For to what fyn he wolde anoon pretende,", "That knowe I wel; and for-thy yet I seye,", "So leef this sorwe, or platly he wol deye.", "", "`And shapeth yow his sorwe for to abregge,", "And nought encresse, leve nece swete;", "Beth rather to him cause of flat than egge,", "And with som wysdom ye his sorwes bete.", "What helpeth it to wepen ful a strete,", "Or though ye bothe in salte teres dreynte?", "Bet is a tyme of cure ay than of pleynte.", "", "`I mene thus; whan I him hider bringe,", "Sin ye ben wyse, and bothe of oon assent,", "So shapeth how distourbe your goinge,", "Or come ayen, sone after ye be went.", "Wommen ben wyse in short avysement;", "And lat sen how your wit shal now avayle;", "And what that I may helpe, it shal not fayle.'", "", "`Go,' quod Criseyde, `and uncle, trewely,", "I shal don al my might, me to restreyne", "From weping in his sighte, and bisily,", "Him for to glade, I shal don al my peyne,", "And in myn herte seken every veyne;", "If to this soor ther may be founden salve,", "It shal not lakken, certain, on myn halve.'", "", "Goth Pandarus, and Troilus he soughte,", "Til in a temple he fond him allone,", "As he that of his lyf no lenger roughte;", "But to the pitouse goddes everichone", "Ful tendrely he preyde, and made his mone,", "To doon him sone out of this world to pace;", "For wel he thoughte ther was non other grace.", "", "And shortly, al the sothe for to seye,", "He was so fallen in despeyr that day,", "That outrely he shoop him for to deye.", "For right thus was his argument alwey:", "He seyde, he nas but loren, waylawey!", "`For al that comth, comth by necessitee;", "Thus to be lorn, it is my destinee.", "", "`For certaynly, this wot I wel,' he seyde,", "`That for-sight of divyne purveyaunce", "Hath seyn alwey me to for-gon Criseyde,", "Sin god seeth every thing, out of doutaunce,", "And hem disponeth, thourgh his ordenaunce,", "In hir merytes sothly for to be,", "As they shul comen by predestinee.", "", "`But nathelees, allas! Whom shal I leve?", "For ther ben grete clerkes many oon,", "That destinee thorugh argumentes preve;", "And som men seyn that nedely ther is noon;", "But that free chois is yeven us everichoon.", "O, welaway! So sleye arn clerkes olde,", "That I not whos opinion I may holde.", "", "`For som men seyn, if god seth al biforn,", "Ne god may not deceyved ben, pardee,", "Than moot it fallen, though men hadde it sworn,", "That purveyaunce hath seyn bifore to be.", "Wherfor I seye, that from eterne if he", "Hath wist biforn our thought eek as our dede,", "We have no free chois, as these clerkes rede.", "", "`For other thought nor other dede also", "Might never be, but swich as purveyaunce,", "Which may not ben deceyved never-mo,", "Hath feled biforn, with-outen ignoraunce.", "For if ther mighte been a variaunce", "To wrythen out fro goddes purveyinge,", "Ther nere no prescience of thing cominge;", "", "`But it were rather an opinioun", "Uncerteyn, and no stedfast forseinge;", "And certes, that were an abusioun,", "That god shuld han no parfit cleer witinge", "More than we men that han doutous weninge.", "But swich an errour up-on god to gesse", "Were fals and foul, and wikked corsednesse.", "", "`Eek this is an opinioun of somme", "That han hir top ful heighe and smothe y-shore;", "They seyn right thus, that thing is not to come", "For that the prescience hath seyn bifore", "That it shal come; but they seyn that therfore", "That it shal come, therfore the purveyaunce", "Wot it biforn with-outen ignoraunce;", "", "`And in this manere this necessitee", "Retorneth in his part contrarie agayn.", "For needfully bihoveth it not to be", "That thilke thinges fallen in certayn", "That ben purveyed; but nedely, as they seyn,", "Bihoveth it that thinges, whiche that falle,", "That they in certayn ben purveyed alle.", "", "`I mene as though I laboured me in this,", "To enqueren which thing cause of which thing be;", "As whether that the prescience of god is", "The certayn cause of the necessitee", "Of thinges that to comen been, pardee;", "Or if necessitee of thing cominge", "Be cause certeyn of the purveyinge.", "", "`But now ne enforce I me nat in shewinge", "How the ordre of causes stant; but wel wot I,", "That it bihoveth that the bifallinge", "Of thinges wist biforen certeynly", "Be necessarie, al seme it not ther-by", "That prescience put falling necessaire", "To thing to come, al falle it foule or faire.", "", "`For if ther sit a man yond on a see,", "Than by necessitee bihoveth it", "That, certes, thyn opinioun soth be,", "That wenest or coniectest that he sit;", "And ferther-over now ayenward yit,", "Lo, right so it is of the part contrarie,", "As thus; (now herkne, for I wol not tarie):", "", "`I seye, that if the opinioun of thee", "Be sooth, for that he sit, than seye I this,", "That he mot sitten by necessitee;", "And thus necessitee in either is.", "For in him nede of sittinge is, y-wis,", "And in thee nede of sooth; and thus, forsothe,", "Ther moot necessitee ben in yow bothe.", "", "`But thou mayst seyn, the man sit not therfore,", "That thyn opinioun of sitting soth is;", "But rather, for the man sit ther bifore,", "Therfore is thyn opinioun sooth, y-wis.", "And I seye, though the cause of sooth of this", "Comth of his sitting, yet necessitee", "Is entrechaunged, bothe in him and thee.", "", "`Thus on this same wyse, out of doutaunce,", "I may wel maken, as it semeth me,", "My resoninge of goddes purveyaunce,", "And of the thinges that to comen be;", "By whiche reson men may wel y-see,", "That thilke thinges that in erthe falle,", "That by necessitee they comen alle.", "", "`For al-though that, for thing shal come, y-wis,", "Therfore is it purveyed, certaynly,", "Nat that it comth for it purveyed is:", "Yet nathelees, bihoveth it nedfully,", "That thing to come be purveyed, trewely;", "Or elles, thinges that purveyed be,", "That they bityden by necessitee.", "", "`And this suffyseth right y-now, certeyn,", "For to destroye our free chois every del. --", "But now is this abusion, to seyn,", "That fallinge of the thinges temporel", "Is cause of goddes prescience eternel.", "Now trewely, that is a fals sentence,", "That thing to come sholde cause his prescience.", "", "`What mighte I wene, and I hadde swich a thought,", "But that god purveyth thing that is to come", "For that it is to come, and elles nought?", "So mighte I wene that thinges alle and some,", "That whylom been bifalle and over-come,", "Ben cause of thilke sovereyn purveyaunce,", "That for-wot al with-outen ignoraunce.", "", "`And over al this, yet seye I more herto,", "That right as whan I woot ther is a thing,", "Y-wis, that thing mot nedefully be so;", "Eek right so, whan I woot a thing coming,", "So mot it come; and thus the bifalling", "Of thinges that ben wist bifore the tyde,", "They mowe not been eschewed on no syde.'", "", "Than seyde he thus, `Almighty Iove in trone,", "That wost of al this thing the soothfastnesse,", "Rewe on my sorwe, or do me deye sone,", "Or bring Criseyde and me fro this distresse.'", "And whyl he was in al this hevinesse,", "Disputinge with him-self in this matere,", "Com Pandare in, and seyde as ye may here.", "", "`O mighty god,' quod Pandarus, `in trone,", "Ey! Who seigh ever a wys man faren so?", "Why, Troilus, what thenkestow to done?", "Hastow swich lust to been thyn owene fo?", "What, parde, yet is not Criseyde a-go!", "Why list thee so thy-self for-doon for drede,", "That in thyn heed thyn eyen semen dede?", "", "`Hastow not lived many a yeer biforn", "With-outen hir, and ferd ful wel at ese?", "Artow for hir and for non other born?", "Hath kinde thee wroughte al-only hir to plese?", "Lat be, and thenk right thus in thy disese.", "That, in the dees right as ther fallen chaunces,", "Right so in love, ther come and goon plesaunces.", "", "`And yet this is a wonder most of alle,", "Why thou thus sorwest, sin thou nost not yit,", "Touching hir goinge, how that it shal falle,", "Ne if she can hir-self distorben it.", "Thou hast not yet assayed al hir wit.", "A man may al by tyme his nekke bede", "Whan it shal of, and sorwen at the nede.", "", "`For-thy take hede of that that I shal seye;", "I have with hir y-spoke and longe y-be,", "So as accorded was bitwixe us tweye.", "And ever-mor me thinketh thus, that she", "Hath som-what in hir hertes prevetee,", "Wher-with she can, if I shal right arede,", "Distorbe al this, of which thou art in drede.", "", "`For which my counseil is, whan it is night,", "Thou to hir go, and make of this an ende;", "And blisful Iuno, thourgh hir grete mighte,", "Shal, as I hope, hir grace un-to us sende.", "Myn herte seyth, \"Certeyn, she shal not wende;\"", "And for-thy put thyn herte a whyle in reste;", "And hold this purpos, for it is the beste.'", "", "This Troilus answerde, and sighte sore,", "`Thou seyst right wel, and I wil do right so;'", "And what him liste, he seyde un-to it more.", "And whan that it was tyme for to go,", "Ful prevely him-self, with-outen mo,", "Un-to hir com, as he was wont to done;", "And how they wroughte, I shal yow telle sone.", "", "Soth is, that whan they gonne first to mete,", "So gan the peyne hir hertes for to twiste,", "That neither of hem other mighte grete,", "But hem in armes toke and after kiste.", "The lasse wofulle of hem bothe niste", "Wher that he was, ne mighte o word out-bringe,", "As I seyde erst, for wo and for sobbinge.", "", "Tho woful teres that they leten falle", "As bittre weren, out of teres kinde,", "For peyne, as is ligne aloes or galle.", "So bittre teres weep nought, as I finde,", "The woful Myrra through the bark and rinde.", "That in this world ther nis so hard an herte,", "That nolde han rewed on hir peynes smerte.", "", "But whan hir woful wery gostes tweyne", "Retorned been ther-as hem oughte dwelle,", "And that som-what to wayken gan the peyne", "By lengthe of pleynte, and ebben gan the welle", "Of hire teres, and the herte unswelle,", "With broken voys, al hoors for-shright, Criseyde", "To Troilus thise ilke wordes seyde:", "", "`O Iove, I deye, and mercy I beseche!", "Help, Troilus!' And ther-with-al hir face", "Upon his brest she leyde, and loste speche;", "Hir woful spirit from his propre place,", "Right with the word, alwey up poynt to pace.", "And thus she lyth with hewes pale and grene,", "That whylom fresh and fairest was to sene.", "", "This Troilus, that on hir gan biholde,", "Clepinge hir name, (and she lay as for deed,", "With-oute answere, and felte hir limes colde,", "Hir eyen throwen upward to hir heed),", "This sorwful man can now noon other reed,", "But ofte tyme hir colde mouth he kiste;", "Wher him was wo, god and him-self it wiste!", "", "He rist him up, and long streight he hir leyde;", "For signe of lyf, for ought he can or may,", "Can he noon finde in no-thing on Criseyde,", "For which his song ful ofte is `weylaway!'", "But whan he saugh that specheles she lay,", "With sorwful voys and herte of blisse al bare,", "He seyde how she was fro this world y-fare!", "", "So after that he longe hadde hir compleyned,", "His hondes wrong, and seyde that was to seye,", "And with his teres salte hir brest bireyned,", "He gan tho teris wypen of ful dreye,", "And pitously gan for the soule preye,", "And seyde, `O lord, that set art in thy trone,", "Rewe eek on me, for I shal folwe hir sone!'", "", "She cold was and with-outen sentement,", "For aught he woot, for breeth ne felte he noon;", "And this was him a preignant argument", "That she was forth out of this world agoon;", "And whan he seigh ther was non other woon,", "He gan hir limes dresse in swich manere", "As men don hem that shul be leyd on bere.", "", "And after this, with sterne and cruel herte,", "His swerd a-noon out of his shethe he twighte,", "Him-self to sleen, how sore that him smerte,", "So that his sowle hir sowle folwen mighte,", "Ther-as the doom of Mynos wolde it dighte;", "Sin love and cruel Fortune it ne wolde,", "That in this world he lenger liven sholde.", "", "Thanne seyde he thus, fulfild of heigh desdayn,", "`O cruel Iove, and thou, Fortune adverse,", "This al and som, that falsly have ye slayn", "Criseyde, and sin ye may do me no werse,", "Fy on your might and werkes so diverse!", "Thus cowardly ye shul me never winne;", "Ther shal no deeth me fro my lady twinne.", "", "`For I this world, sin ye han slayn hir thus,", "Wol lete, and folowe hir spirit lowe or hye;", "Shal never lover seyn that Troilus", "Dar not, for fere, with his lady dye;", "For certeyn, I wol bere hir companye.", "But sin ye wol not suffre us liven here,", "Yet suffreth that our soules ben y-fere.", "", "`And thou, citee, whiche that I leve in wo,", "And thou, Pryam, and bretheren al y-fere,", "And thou, my moder, farwel! For I go;", "And Attropos, make redy thou my bere!", "And thou, Criseyde, o swete herte dere,", "Receyve now my spirit!' wolde he seye,", "With swerd at herte, al redy for to deye", "", "But as god wolde, of swough ther-with she abreyde,", "And gan to syke, and `Troilus' she cryde;", "And he answerde, `Lady myn Criseyde,", "Live ye yet?' and leet his swerd doun glyde.", "`Ye, herte myn, that thanked be Cupyde!'", "Quod she, and ther-with-al she sore sighte;", "And he bigan to glade hir as he mighte;", "", "Took hir in armes two, and kiste hir ofte,", "And hir to glade he dide al his entente;", "For which hir goost, that flikered ay on-lofte,", "In-to hir woful herte ayein it wente.", "But at the laste, as that hir eyen glente", "A-syde, anoon she gan his swerd aspye,", "As it lay bare, and gan for fere crye,", "", "And asked him, why he it hadde out-drawe?", "And Troilus anoon the cause hir tolde,", "And how himself ther-with he wolde have slawe.", "For which Criseyde up-on him gan biholde,", "And gan him in hir armes faste folde,", "And seyde, `O mercy, god, lo, which a dede!", "Allas! How neigh we were bothe dede!", "", "`Thanne if I ne hadde spoken, as grace was,", "Ye wolde han slayn your-self anoon?' quod she.", "`Ye, douteless;' and she answerde, `Allas!", "For, by that ilke lord that made me,", "I nolde a forlong wey on-lyve han be,", "After your deeth, to han been crouned quene", "Of al the lond the sonne on shyneth shene.", "", "`But with this selve swerd, which that here is,", "My-selve I wolde han slayn!' -- quod she tho;", "`But ho, for we han right y-now of this,", "And late us ryse and streight to bedde go", "And there lat ys speken of oure wo.", "For, by the morter which that I see brenne,", "Knowe I ful wel that day is not fer henne.'", "", "Whan they were in hir bedde, in armes folde,", "Nought was it lyk tho nightes here-biforn;", "For pitously ech other gan biholde,", "As they that hadden al hir blisse y-lorn,", "Biwaylinge ay the day that they were born.", "Til at the last this sorwful wight Criseyde", "To Troilus these ilke wordes seyde: --", "", "`Lo, herte myn, wel wot ye this,' quod she,", "`That if a wight alwey his wo compleyne,", "And seketh nought how holpen for to be,", "It nis but folye and encrees of peyne;", "And sin that here assembled be we tweyne", "To finde bote of wo that we ben inne,", "It were al tyme sone to biginne.", "", "`I am a womman, as ful wel ye woot,", "And as I am avysed sodeynly,", "So wol I telle yow, whyl it is hoot.", "Me thinketh thus, that nouther ye nor I", "Oughte half this wo to make skilfully.", "For there is art y-now for to redresse", "That yet is mis, and sleen this hevinesse.", "", "`Sooth is, the wo, the whiche that we ben inne,", "For ought I woot, for no-thing elles is", "But for the cause that we sholden twinne.", "Considered al, ther nis no-more amis.", "But what is thanne a remede un-to this,", "But that we shape us sone for to mete?", "This al and som, my dere herte swete.", "", "`Now that I shal wel bringen it aboute", "To come ayein, sone after that I go,", "Ther-of am I no maner thing in doute.", "For dredeles, with-inne a wouke or two,", "I shal ben here; and, that it may be so", "By alle right, and in a wordes fewe,", "I shal yow wel an heep of weyes shewe.", "", "`For which I wol not make long sermoun,", "For tyme y-lost may not recovered be;", "But I wol gon to my conclusioun,", "And to the beste, in ought that I can see.", "And, for the love of god, for-yeve it me", "If I speke ought ayein your hertes reste;", "For trewely, I speke it for the beste;", "", "`Makinge alwey a protestacioun,", "That now these wordes, whiche that I shal seye,", "Nis but to shewe yow my mocioun,", "To finde un-to our helpe the beste weye;", "And taketh it non other wyse, I preye.", "For in effect what-so ye me comaunde,", "That wol I doon, for that is no demaunde.", "", "`Now herkneth this, ye han wel understonde,", "My goinge graunted is by parlement", "So ferforth, that it may not be with-stonde", "For al this world, as by my Iugement.", "And sin ther helpeth noon avysement", "To letten it, lat it passe out of minde;", "And lat us shape a bettre wey to finde.", "", "`The sothe is, that the twinninge of us tweyne", "Wol us disese and cruelliche anoye.", "But him bihoveth som-tyme han a peyne,", "That serveth love, if that he wol have Ioye.", "And sin I shal no ferthere out of Troye", "Than I may ryde ayein on half a morwe,", "It oughte lesse causen us to sorwe.", "", "`So as I shal not so ben hid in muwe,", "That day by day, myn owene herte dere,", "Sin wel ye woot that it is now a trewe,", "Ye shal ful wel al myn estat y-here.", "And er that truwe is doon, I shal ben here,", "And thanne have ye bothe Antenor y-wonne", "And me also; beth glad now, if ye conne;", "", "`And thenk right thus, \"Criseyde is now agoon,", "But what! She shal come hastely ayeyn;\"", "And whanne, allas? By god, lo, right anoon,", "Er dayes ten, this dar I saufly seyn.", "And thanne at erste shul we been so fayn,", "So as we shulle to-gederes ever dwelle,", "That al this world ne mighte our blisse telle.", "", "`I see that ofte, ther-as we ben now,", "That for the beste, our counseil for to hyde,", "Ye speke not with me, nor I with yow", "In fourtenight; ne see yow go ne ryde.", "May ye not ten dayes thanne abyde,", "For myn honour, in swich an aventure?", "Y-wis, ye mowen elles lite endure!", "", "`Ye knowe eek how that al my kin is here,", "But-if that onliche it my fader be;", "And eek myn othere thinges alle y-fere,", "And nameliche, my dere herte, ye,", "Whom that I nolde leven for to see", "For al this world, as wyd as it hath space;", "Or elles, see ich never Ioves face!", "", "`Why trowe ye my fader in this wyse", "Coveiteth so to see me, but for drede", "Lest in this toun that folkes me dispyse", "By-cause of him, for his unhappy dede?", "What woot my fader what lyf that I lede?", "For if he wiste in Troye how wel I fare,", "Us neded for my wending nought to care.", "", "`Ye seen that every day eek, more and more,", "Men trete of pees; and it supposed is,", "That men the quene Eleyne shal restore,", "And Grekes us restore that is mis.", "So though ther nere comfort noon but this,", "That men purposen pees on every syde,", "Ye may the bettre at ese of herte abyde.", "", "`For if that it be pees, myn herte dere,", "The nature of the pees mot nedes dryve", "That men moste entrecomunen y-fere,", "And to and fro eek ryde and gon as blyve", "Alday as thikke as been flen from an hyve;", "And every wight han libertee to bleve", "Where-as him list the bet, with-outen leve.", "", "`And though so be that pees ther may be noon,", "Yet hider, though ther never pees ne were,", "I moste come; for whider sholde I goon,", "Or how mischaunce sholde I dwelle there", "Among tho men of armes ever in fere?", "For which, as wisly god my soule rede,", "I can not seen wher-of ye sholden drede.", "", "`Have here another wey, if it so be", "That al this thing ne may yow not suffyse.", "My fader, as ye knowen wel, pardee,", "Is old, and elde is ful of coveityse,", "And I right now have founden al the gyse,", "With-oute net, wher-with I shal him hente;", "And herkeneth how, if that ye wole assente.", "", "`Lo, Troilus, men seyn that hard it is", "The wolf ful, and the wether hool to have;", "This is to seyn, that men ful ofte, y-wis,", "Mot spenden part, the remenant for to save.", "For ay with gold men may the herte grave", "Of him that set is up-on coveityse;", "And how I mene, I shal it yow devyse.", "", "`The moeble which that I have in this toun", "Un-to my fader shal I take, and seye,", "That right for trust and for savacioun", "It sent is from a freend of his or tweye,", "The whiche freendes ferventliche him preye", "To senden after more, and that in hye,", "Whyl that this toun stant thus in Iupartye.", "", "`And that shal been an huge quantitee,", "Thus shal I seyn, but, lest it folk aspyde,", "This may be sent by no wight but by me;", "I shal eek shewen him, if pees bityde,", "What frendes that ich have on every syde", "Toward the court, to doon the wrathe pace", "Of Priamus, and doon him stonde in grace.", "", "`So what for o thing and for other, swete,", "I shal him so enchaunten with my sawes,", "That right in hevene his sowle is, shal he mete!", "For al Appollo, or his clerkes lawes,", "Or calculinge avayleth nought three hawes;", "Desyr of gold shal so his sowle blende,", "That, as me lyst, I shal wel make an ende.", "", "`And if he wolde ought by his sort it preve", "If that I lye, in certayn I shal fonde", "Distorben him, and plukke him by the sleve,", "Makinge his sort, and beren him on honde,", "He hath not wel the goddes understonde.", "For goddes speken in amphibologyes,", "And, for o sooth they tellen twenty lyes.", "", "`Eek drede fond first goddes, I suppose,", "Thus shal I seyn, and that his cowarde herte", "Made him amis the goddes text to glose,", "Whan he for ferde out of his Delphos sterte.", "And but I make him sone to converte,", "And doon my reed with-inne a day or tweye,", "I wol to yow oblige me to deye.'", "", "And treweliche, as writen wel I finde,", "That al this thing was seyd of good entente;", "And that hir herte trewe was and kinde", "Towardes him, and spak right as she mente,", "And that she starf for wo neigh, whan she wente,", "And was in purpos ever to be trewe;", "Thus writen they that of hir werkes knewe.", "", "This Troilus, with herte and eres spradde,", "Herde al this thing devysen to and fro;", "And verraylich him semed that he hadde", "The selve wit; but yet to lete hir go", "His herte misforyaf him ever-mo.", "But fynally, he gan his herte wreste", "To trusten hir, and took it for the beste.", "", "For which the grete furie of his penaunce", "Was queynt with hope, and ther-with hem bitwene", "Bigan for Ioye the amorouse daunce.", "And as the briddes, whan the sonne is shene,", "Delyten in hir song in leves grene,", "Right so the wordes that they spake y-fere", "Delyted hem, and made hir hertes clere.", "", "But natheles, the wending of Criseyde,", "For al this world, may nought out of his minde;", "For which ful ofte he pitously hir preyde,", "That of hir heste he might hir trewe finde,", "And seyde hire, `Certes, if ye be unkinde,", "And but ye come at day set in-to Troye,", "Ne shal I never have hele, honour, ne Ioye.", "", "`For al-so sooth as sonne up-rist on morwe,", "And, god! So wisly thou me, woful wrecche,", "To reste bringe out of this cruel sorwe,", "I wol my-selven slee if that ye drecche.", "But of my deeth though litel be to recche,", "Yet, er that ye me cause so to smerte,", "Dwel rather here, myn owene swete herte!", "", "`For trewely, myn owene lady dere,", "Tho sleightes yet that I have herd yow stere", "Ful shaply been to failen alle y-fere.", "For thus men seyn, \"That oon thenketh the bere,", "But al another thenketh his ledere.\"", "Your sire is wys, and seyd is, out of drede,", "\"Men may the wyse at-renne, and not at-rede.\"", "", "`It is ful hard to halten unespyed", "Bifore a crepul, for he can the craft;", "Your fader is in sleighte as Argus yed;", "For al be that his moeble is him biraft,", "His olde sleighte is yet so with him laft,", "Ye shal not blende him for your womanhede,", "Ne feyne a-right, and that is al my drede.", "", "`I noot if pees shal ever-mo bityde;", "But, pees or no, for ernest ne for game,", "I woot, sin Calkas on the Grekis syde", "Hath ones been, and lost so foule his name,", "He dar no more come here ayein for shame;", "For which that weye, for ought I can espye,", "To trusten on, nis but a fantasye.", "", "`Ye shal eek seen, your fader shal yow glose", "To been a wyf, and as he can wel preche,", "He shal som Grek so preyse and wel alose,", "That ravisshen he shal yow with his speche,", "Or do yow doon by force as he shal teche.", "And Troilus, of whom ye nil han routhe,", "Shal causeles so sterven in his trouthe!", "", "`And over al this, your fader shal despyse", "Us alle, and seyn this citee nis but lorn;", "And that thassege never shal aryse,", "For-why the Grekes han it alle sworn", "Til we be slayn, and doun our walles torn.", "And thus he shal yow with his wordes fere,", "That ay drede I, that ye wol bleve there.", "", "`Ye shul eek seen so many a lusty knight", "A-mong the Grekes, ful of worthinesse,", "And eche of hem with herte, wit, and might", "To plesen yow don al his besinesse,", "That ye shul dullen of the rudenesse", "Of us sely Troianes, but-if routhe", "Remorde yow, or vertue of your trouthe.", "", "`And this to me so grevous is to thinke,", "That fro my brest it wol my soule rende;", "Ne dredeles, in me ther may not sinke", "A good opinioun, if that ye wende;", "For-why your faderes sleighte wol us shende.", "And if ye goon, as I have told yow yore,", "So thenk I nam but deed, with-oute more.", "", "`For which, with humble, trewe, and pitous herte,", "A thousand tymes mercy I yow preye;", "So reweth on myn aspre peynes smerte,", "And doth somwhat, as that I shal yow seye,", "And lat us stele away bitwixe us tweye;", "And thenk that folye is, whan man may chese,", "For accident his substaunce ay to lese.", "", "`I mene this, that sin we mowe er day", "Wel stele away, and been to-gider so,", "What wit were it to putten in assay,", "In cas ye sholden to your fader go,", "If that ye mighte come ayein or no?", "Thus mene I, that it were a gret folye", "To putte that sikernesse in Iupertye.", "", "`And vulgarly to speken of substaunce", "Of tresour, may we bothe with us lede", "Y-nough to live in honour and plesaunce,", "Til in-to tyme that we shal ben dede;", "And thus we may eschewen al this drede.", "For everich other wey ye can recorde,", "Myn herte, y-wis, may not ther-with acorde.", "", "`And hardily, ne dredeth no poverte,", "For I have kin and freendes elles-where", "That, though we comen in oure bare sherte,", "Us sholde neither lakke gold ne gere,", "But been honured whyl we dwelten there.", "And go we anoon, for, as in myn entente,", "This is the beste, if that ye wole assente.'", "", "Criseyde, with a syk, right in this wyse", "Answerde, `Y-wis, my dere herte trewe,", "We may wel stele away, as ye devyse,", "And finde swich unthrifty weyes newe;", "But afterward, ful sore it wol us rewe.", "And help me god so at my moste nede", "As causeles ye suffren al this drede!", "", "`For thilke day that I for cherisshinge", "Or drede of fader, or of other wight,", "Or for estat, delyt, or for weddinge,", "Be fals to yow, my Troilus, my knight,", "Saturnes doughter, Iuno, thorugh hir might,", "As wood as Athamante do me dwelle", "Eternaly in Stix, the put of helle!", "", "`And this on every god celestial", "I swere it yow; and eek on eche goddesse,", "On every Nymphe and deite infernal,", "On Satiry and Fauny more and lesse,", "That halve goddes been of wildernesse;", "And Attropos my threed of lyf to-breste", "If I be fals; now trowe me if thow leste!", "", "`And thou, Simoys, that as an arwe clere", "Thorugh Troye rennest ay downward to the see,", "Ber witnesse of this word that seyd is here,", "That thilke day that ich untrewe be", "To Troilus, myn owene herte free,", "That thou retorne bakwarde to thy welle,", "And I with body and soule sinke in helle!", "", "`But that ye speke, awey thus for to go", "And leten alle your freendes, god for-bede,", "For any womman, that ye sholden so,", "And namely, sin Troye hath now swich nede", "Of help; and eek of o thing taketh hede,", "If this were wist, my lif laye in balaunce,", "And your honour; god shilde us fro mischaunce!", "", "`And if so be that pees her-after take,", "As alday happeth, after anger, game,", "Why, lord! The sorwe and wo ye wolden make,", "That ye ne dorste come ayein for shame!", "And er that ye Iuparten so your name,", "Beth nought to hasty in this hote fare;", "For hasty man ne wanteth never care.", "", "`What trowe ye the peple eek al aboute", "Wolde of it seye? It is ful light to arede.", "They wolden seye, and swere it, out of doute,", "That love ne droof yow nought to doon this dede,", "But lust voluptuous and coward drede.", "Thus were al lost, y-wis, myn herte dere,", "Your honour, which that now shyneth so clere.", "", "`And also thenketh on myn honestee,", "That floureth yet, how foule I sholde it shende,", "And with what filthe it spotted sholde be,", "If in this forme I sholde with yow wende.", "Ne though I livede un-to the worldes ende,", "My name sholde I never ayeinward winne;", "Thus were I lost, and that were routhe and sinne.", "", "`And for-thy slee with reson al this hete;", "Men seyn, \"The suffraunt overcometh,\" pardee;", "Eek \"Who-so wol han leef, he lief mot lete;\"", "Thus maketh vertue of necessitee", "By pacience, and thenk that lord is he", "Of fortune ay, that nought wol of hir recche;", "And she ne daunteth no wight but a wrecche.", "", "`And trusteth this, that certes, herte swete,", "Er Phebus suster, Lucina the shene,", "The Leoun passe out of this Ariete,", "I wol ben here, with-outen any wene.", "I mene, as helpe me Iuno, hevenes quene,", "The tenthe day, but-if that deeth me assayle,", "I wol yow seen with-outen any fayle.'", "", "`And now, so this be sooth,' quod Troilus,", "`I shal wel suffre un-to the tenthe day,", "Sin that I see that nede it moot be thus.", "But, for the love of god, if it be may,", "So lat us stele prively away;", "For ever in oon, as for to live in reste,", "Myn herte seyth that it wol been the beste.'", "", "`O mercy, god, what lyf is this?' quod she;", "`Allas, ye slee me thus for verray tene!", "I see wel now that ye mistrusten me;", "For by your wordes it is wel y-sene.", "Now, for the love of Cynthia the shene,", "Mistrust me not thus causeles, for routhe;", "Sin to be trewe I have yow plight my trouthe.", "", "`And thenketh wel, that som tyme it is wit", "To spende a tyme, a tyme for to winne;", "Ne, pardee, lorn am I nought fro yow yit,", "Though that we been a day or two a-twinne.", "Dryf out the fantasyes yow with-inne;", "And trusteth me, and leveth eek your sorwe,", "Or here my trouthe, I wol not live til morwe.", "", "`For if ye wiste how sore it doth me smerte,", "Ye wolde cesse of this; for god, thou wost,", "The pure spirit wepeth in myn herte,", "To see yow wepen that I love most,", "And that I moot gon to the Grekes ost.", "Ye, nere it that I wiste remedye", "To come ayein, right here I wolde dye!", "", "`But certes, I am not so nyce a wight", "That I ne can imaginen a wey", "To come ayein that day that I have hight.", "For who may holde thing that wol a-way?", "My fader nought, for al his queynte pley.", "And by my thrift, my wending out of Troye", "Another day shal torne us alle to Ioye.", "", "`For-thy, with al myn herte I yow beseke,", "If that yow list don ought for my preyere,", "And for the love which that I love yow eke,", "That er that I departe fro yow here,", "That of so good a comfort and a chere", "I may you seen, that ye may bringe at reste", "Myn herte, which that is at point to breste.", "", "`And over al this I pray yow,' quod she tho,", "`Myn owene hertes soothfast suffisaunce,", "Sin I am thyn al hool, with-outen mo,", "That whyl that I am absent, no plesaunce", "Of othere do me fro your remembraunce.", "For I am ever a-gast, for-why men rede,", "That \"love is thing ay ful of bisy drede.\"", "", "`For in this world ther liveth lady noon,", "If that ye were untrewe, as god defende!", "That so bitraysed were or wo bigoon", "As I, that alle trouthe in yow entende.", "And douteles, if that ich other wende,", "I nere but deed; and er ye cause finde,", "For goddes love, so beth me not unkinde.'", "", "To this answerde Troilus and seyde,", "`Now god, to whom ther nis no cause y-wrye,", "Me glade, as wis I never un-to Criseyde,", "Sin thilke day I saw hir first with ye,", "Was fals, ne never shal til that I dye.", "At shorte wordes, wel ye may me leve;", "I can no more, it shal be founde at preve.'", "", "`Graunt mercy, goode myn, y-wis,' quod she,", "`And blisful Venus lat me never sterve", "Er I may stonde of plesaunce in degree", "To quyte him wel, that so wel can deserve;", "And whyl that god my wit wol me conserve,", "I shal so doon, so trewe I have yow founde,", "That ay honour to me-ward shal rebounde.", "", "`For trusteth wel, that your estat royal", "Ne veyn delyt, nor only worthinesse", "Of yow in werre, or torney marcial,", "Ne pompe, array, nobley, or eek richesse,", "Ne made me to rewe on your distresse;", "But moral vertue, grounded upon trouthe,", "That was the cause I first hadde on yow routhe!", "", "`Eek gentil herte and manhod that ye hadde,", "And that ye hadde, as me thoughte, in despyt", "Every thing that souned in-to badde,", "As rudenesse and poeplish appetyt;", "And that your reson brydled your delyt,", "This made, aboven every creature,", "That I was your, and shal, whyl I may dure.", "", "`And this may lengthe of yeres not for-do,", "Ne remuable fortune deface;", "But Iuppiter, that of his might may do", "The sorwful to be glad, so yeve us grace,", "Er nightes ten, to meten in this place,", "So that it may your herte and myn suffyse;", "And fareth now wel, for tyme is that ye ryse.'", "", "And after that they longe y-pleyned hadde,", "And ofte y-kist, and streite in armes folde,", "The day gan ryse, and Troilus him cladde,", "And rewfulliche his lady gan biholde,", "As he that felte dethes cares colde,", "And to hir grace he gan him recomaunde;", "Wher him was wo, this holde I no demaunde.", "", "For mannes heed imaginen ne can,", "Ne entendement considere, ne tonge telle", "The cruel peynes of this sorwful man,", "That passen every torment doun in helle.", "For whan he saugh that she ne mighte dwelle,", "Which that his soule out of his herte rente,", "With-outen more, out of the chaumbre he wente.", "" ], "linecount": "1949" }, { "title": "Troilus and Criseyde: Book V", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "", "Aprochen gan the fatal destinee", "That Ioves hath in disposicioun,", "And to yow, angry Parcas, sustren three,", "Committeth, to don execucioun;", "For which Criseyde moste out of the toun,", "And Troilus shal dwelle forth in pyne", "Til Lachesis his threed no lenger twyne. --", "", "The golden-tressed Phebus heighe on-lofte", "Thryes hadde alle with his bemes shene", "The snowes molte, and Zephirus as ofte", "Y-brought ayein the tendre leves grene,", "Sin that the sone of Ecuba the quene", "Bigan to love hir first, for whom his sorwe", "Was al, that she departe sholde a-morwe.", "", "Ful redy was at pryme Dyomede,", "Criseyde un-to the Grekes ost to lede,", "For sorwe of which she felt hir herte blede,", "As she that niste what was best to rede.", "And trewely, as men in bokes rede,", "Men wiste never womman han the care,", "Ne was so looth out of a toun to fare.", "", "This Troilus, with-outen reed or lore,", "As man that hath his Ioyes eek forlore,", "Was waytinge on his lady ever-more", "As she that was the soothfast crop and more", "Of al his lust, or Ioyes here-tofore.", "But Troilus, now farewel al thy Ioye,", "For shaltow never seen hir eft in Troye!", "", "Soth is, that whyl he bood in this manere,", "He gan his wo ful manly for to hyde.", "That wel unnethe it seen was in his chere;", "But at the yate ther she sholde oute ryde", "With certeyn folk, he hoved hir tabyde,", "So wo bigoon, al wolde he nought him pleyne,", "That on his hors unnethe he sat for peyne.", "", "For ire he quook, so gan his herte gnawe,", "Whan Diomede on horse gan him dresse,", "And seyde un-to him-self this ilke sawe,", "`Allas,' quod he, `thus foul a wrecchednesse", "Why suffre ich it, why nil ich it redresse?", "Were it not bet at ones for to dye", "Than ever-more in langour thus to drye?", "", "`Why nil I make at ones riche and pore", "To have y-nough to done, er that she go?", "Why nil I bringe al Troye upon a rore?", "Why nil I sleen this Diomede also?", "Why nil I rather with a man or two", "Stele hir a-way? Why wol I this endure?", "Why nil I helpen to myn owene cure?'", "", "But why he nolde doon so fel a dede,", "That shal I seyn, and why him liste it spare;", "He hadde in herte alweyes a maner drede,", "Lest that Criseyde, in rumour of this fare,", "Sholde han ben slayn; lo, this was al his care.", "And ellis, certeyn, as I seyde yore,", "He hadde it doon, with-outen wordes more.", "", "Criseyde, whan she redy was to ryde,", "Ful sorwfully she sighte, and seyde `Allas!'", "But forth she moot, for ought that may bityde,", "And forth she rit ful sorwfully a pas.", "Ther nis non other remedie in this cas.", "What wonder is though that hir sore smerte,", "Whan she forgoth hir owene swete herte?", "", "This Troilus, in wyse of curteisye,", "With hauke on hond, and with an huge route", "Of knightes, rood and dide hir companye,", "Passinge al the valey fer with-oute,", "And ferther wolde han riden, out of doute,", "Ful fayn, and wo was him to goon so sone;", "But torne he moste, and it was eek to done.", "", "And right with that was Antenor y-come", "Out of the Grekes ost, and every wight", "Was of it glad, and seyde he was wel-come.", "And Troilus, al nere his herte light,", "He peyned him with al his fulle might", "Him to with-holde of wepinge at the leste,", "And Antenor he kiste, and made feste.", "", "And ther-with-al he moste his leve take,", "And caste his eye upon hir pitously,", "And neer he rood, his cause for to make,", "To take hir by the honde al sobrely.", "And lord! So she gan wepen tendrely!", "And he ful softe and sleighly gan hir seye,", "`Now hold your day, and dooth me not to deye.'", "", "With that his courser torned he a-boute", "With face pale, and un-to Diomede", "No word he spak, ne noon of al his route;", "Of which the sone of Tydeus took hede,", "As he that coude more than the crede", "In swich a craft, and by the reyne hir hente;", "And Troilus to Troye homwarde he wente.", "", "This Diomede, that ladde hir by the brydel,", "Whan that he saw the folk of Troye aweye,", "Thoughte, `Al my labour shal not been on ydel,", "If that I may, for somwhat shal I seye,", "For at the worste it may yet shorte our weye.", "I have herd seyd, eek tymes twyes twelve,", "\"He is a fool that wol for-yete him-selve.\"'", "", "But natheles this thoughte he wel ynough,", "`That certaynly I am aboute nought,", "If that I speke of love, or make it tough;", "For douteles, if she have in hir thought", "Him that I gesse, he may not been y-brought", "So sone awey; but I shal finde a mene,", "That she not wite as yet shal what I mene.'", "", "This Diomede, as he that coude his good,", "Whan this was doon, gan fallen forth in speche", "Of this and that, and asked why she stood", "In swich disese, and gan hir eek biseche,", "That if that he encrese mighte or eche", "With any thing hir ese, that she sholde", "Comaunde it him, and seyde he doon it wolde.", "", "For trewely he swoor hir, as a knight,", "That ther nas thing with whiche he mighte hir plese,", "That he nolde doon his peyne and al his might", "To doon it, for to doon hir herte an ese.", "And preyede hir, she wolde hir sorwe apese,", "And seyde, `Y-wis, we Grekes con have Ioye", "To honouren yow, as wel as folk of Troye.'", "", "He seyde eek thus, `I woot, yow thinketh straunge,", "No wonder is, for it is to yow newe,", "Thaqueintaunce of these Troianis to chaunge,", "For folk of Grece, that ye never knewe.", "But wolde never god but-if as trewe", "A Greek ye shulde among us alle finde", "As any Troian is, and eek as kinde.", "", "`And by the cause I swoor yow right, lo, now,", "To been your freend, and helply, to my might,", "And for that more aqueintaunce eek of yow", "Have ich had than another straunger wight,", "So fro this forth, I pray yow, day and night,", "Comaundeth me, how sore that me smerte,", "To doon al that may lyke un-to your herte;", "", "`And that ye me wolde as your brother trete,", "And taketh not my frendship in despyt;", "And though your sorwes be for thinges grete,", "Noot I not why, but out of more respyt,", "Myn herte hath for to amende it greet delyt.", "And if I may your harmes not redresse,", "I am right sory for your hevinesse,", "", "`And though ye Troians with us Grekes wrothe", "Han many a day be, alwey yet, pardee,", "O god of love in sooth we serven bothe.", "And, for the love of god, my lady free,", "Whom so ye hate, as beth not wroth with me.", "For trewely, ther can no wight yow serve,", "That half so looth your wraththe wolde deserve.", "", "`And nere it that we been so neigh the tente", "Of Calkas, which that seen us bothe may,", "I wolde of this yow telle al myn entente;", "But this enseled til another day.", "Yeve me your hond, I am, and shal ben ay,", "God help me so, whyl that my lyf may dure,", "Your owene aboven every creature.", "", "`Thus seyde I never er now to womman born;", "For god myn herte as wisly glade so,", "I lovede never womman here-biforn", "As paramours, ne never shal no mo.", "And, for the love of god, beth not my fo;", "Al can I not to yow, my lady dere,", "Compleyne aright, for I am yet to lere.", "", "`And wondreth not, myn owene lady bright,", "Though that I speke of love to you thus blyve;", "For I have herd or this of many a wight,", "Hath loved thing he never saugh his lyve.", "Eek I am not of power for to stryve", "Ayens the god of love, but him obeye", "I wol alwey, and mercy I yow preye.", "", "`Ther been so worthy knightes in this place,", "And ye so fair, that everich of hem alle", "Wol peynen him to stonden in your grace.", "But mighte me so fair a grace falle,", "That ye me for your servaunt wolde calle,", "So lowly ne so trewely you serve", "Nil noon of hem, as I shal, til I sterve.'", "", "Criseide un-to that purpos lyte answerde,", "As she that was with sorwe oppressed so", "That, in effect, she nought his tales herde,", "But here and there, now here a word or two.", "Hir thoughte hir sorwful herte brast a-two.", "For whan she gan hir fader fer aspye,", "Wel neigh doun of hir hors she gan to sye.", "", "But natheles she thonked Diomede", "Of al his travaile, and his goode chere,", "And that him liste his friendship hir to bede;", "And she accepteth it in good manere,", "And wolde do fayn that is him leef and dere;", "And trusten him she wolde, and wel she mighte,", "As seyde she, and from hir hors she alighte.", "", "Hir fader hath hir in his armes nome,", "And tweynty tyme he kiste his doughter swete,", "And seyde, `O dere doughter myn, wel-come!'", "She seyde eek, she was fayn with him to mete,", "And stood forth mewet, milde, and mansuete.", "But here I leve hir with hir fader dwelle,", "And forth I wol of Troilus yow telle.", "", "To Troye is come this woful Troilus,", "In sorwe aboven alle sorwes smerte,", "With felon look, and face dispitous.", "Tho sodeinly doun from his hors he sterte,", "And thorugh his paleys, with a swollen herte,", "To chambre he wente; of no-thing took he hede,", "Ne noon to him dar speke a word for drede.", "", "And there his sorwes that he spared hadde", "He yaf an issue large, and `Deeth!' he cryde;", "And in his throwes frenetyk and madde", "He cursed Iove, Appollo, and eek Cupyde,", "He cursed Ceres, Bacus, and Cipryde,", "His burthe, him-self, his fate, and eek nature,", "And, save his lady, every creature.", "", "To bedde he goth, and weyleth there and torneth", "In furie, as dooth he, Ixion in helle;", "And in this wyse he neigh til day soiorneth.", "But tho bigan his herte a lyte unswelle", "Thorugh teres which that gonnen up to welle;", "And pitously he cryde up-on Criseyde,", "And to him-self right thus he spak, and seyde: --", "", "`Wher is myn owene lady lief and dere,", "Wher is hir whyte brest, wher is it, where?", "Wher ben hir armes and hir eyen clere,", "That yesternight this tyme with me were?", "Now may I wepe allone many a tere,", "And graspe aboute I may, but in this place,", "Save a pilowe, I finde nought tenbrace.", "", "`How shal I do? Whan shal she com ayeyn?", "I noot, allas! Why leet ich hir to go?", "As wolde god, ich hadde as tho be sleyn!", "O herte myn, Criseyde, O swete fo!", "O lady myn, that I love and no mo!", "To whom for ever-mo myn herte I dowe;", "See how I deye, ye nil me not rescowe!", "", "`Who seeth yow now, my righte lode-sterre?", "Who sit right now or stant in your presence?", "Who can conforten now your hertes werre?", "Now I am gon, whom yeve ye audience?", "Who speketh for me right now in myn absence?", "Allas, no wight; and that is al my care;", "For wel wot I, as yvel as I ye fare.", "", "`How sholde I thus ten dayes ful endure,", "Whan I the firste night have al this tene?", "How shal she doon eek, sorwful creature?", "For tendernesse, how shal she this sustene,", "Swich wo for me? O pitous, pale, and grene", "Shal been your fresshe wommanliche face", "For langour, er ye torne un-to this place.'", "", "And whan he fil in any slomeringes,", "Anoon biginne he sholde for to grone,", "And dremen of the dredfulleste thinges", "That mighte been; as, mete he were allone", "In place horrible, makinge ay his mone,", "Or meten that he was amonges alle", "His enemys, and in hir hondes falle.", "", "And ther-with-al his body sholde sterte,", "And with the stert al sodeinliche awake,", "And swich a tremour fele aboute his herte,", "That of the feer his body sholde quake;", "And there-with-al he sholde a noyse make,", "And seme as though he sholde falle depe", "From heighe a-lofte; and than he wolde wepe,", "", "And rewen on him-self so pitously,", "That wonder was to here his fantasye.", "Another tyme he sholde mightily", "Conforte him-self, and seyn it was folye,", "So causeles swich drede for to drye,", "And eft biginne his aspre sorwes newe,", "That every man mighte on his sorwes rewe.", "", "Who coude telle aright or ful discryve", "His wo, his pleynt, his langour, and his pyne?", "Nought al the men that han or been on-lyve.", "Thou, redere, mayst thy-self ful wel devyne", "That swich a wo my wit can not defyne.", "On ydel for to wryte it sholde I swinke,", "Whan that my wit is wery it to thinke.", "", "On hevene yet the sterres were sene,", "Al-though ful pale y-waxen was the mone;", "And whyten gan the orisonte shene", "Al estward, as it woned is for to done.", "And Phebus with his rosy carte sone", "Gan after that to dresse him up to fare,", "Whan Troilus hath sent after Pandare.", "", "This Pandare, that of al the day biforn", "Ne mighte han comen Troilus to see,", "Al-though he on his heed it hadde y-sworn,", "For with the king Pryam alday was he,", "So that it lay not in his libertee", "No-wher to gon, but on the morwe he wente", "To Troilus, whan that he for him sente.", "", "For in his herte he coude wel devyne,", "That Troilus al night for sorwe wook;", "And that he wolde telle him of his pyne,", "This knew he wel y-nough, with-oute book.", "For which to chaumbre streight the wey he took,", "And Troilus tho sobreliche he grette,", "And on the bed ful sone he gan him sette.", "", "`My Pandarus,' quod Troilus, `the sorwe", "Which that I drye, I may not longe endure.", "I trowe I shal not liven til to-morwe;", "For whiche I wolde alwey, on aventure,", "To thee devysen of my sepulture", "The forme, and of my moeble thou dispone", "Right as thee semeth best is for to done.", "", "`But of the fyr and flaumbe funeral", "In whiche my body brenne shal to glede,", "And of the feste and pleyes palestral", "At my vigile, I prey thee tak good hede", "That be wel; and offre Mars my stede,", "My swerd, myn helm, and, leve brother dere,", "My sheld to Pallas yef, that shyneth clere.", "", "`The poudre in which myn herte y-brend shal torne,", "That preye I thee thou take and it conserve", "In a vessel, that men clepeth an urne,", "Of gold, and to my lady that I serve,", "For love of whom thus pitously I sterve,", "So yeve it hir, and do me this plesaunce,", "To preye hir kepe it for a remembraunce.", "", "`For wel I fele, by my maladye,", "And by my dremes now and yore ago,", "Al certeinly, that I mot nedes dye.", "The owle eek, which that hight Ascaphilo,", "Hath after me shright alle thise nightes two.", "And, god Mercurie! Of me now, woful wrecche,", "The soule gyde, and, whan thee list, it fecche!'", "", "Pandare answerde, and seyde, `Troilus,", "My dere freend, as I have told thee yore,", "That it is folye for to sorwen thus,", "And causeles, for whiche I can no-more.", "But who-so wol not trowen reed ne lore,", "I can not seen in him no remedye,", "But lete him worthen with his fantasye.", "", "`But Troilus, I pray thee tel me now,", "If that thou trowe, er this, that any wight", "Hath loved paramours as wel as thou?", "Ye, god wot, and fro many a worthy knight", "Hath his lady goon a fourtenight,", "And he not yet made halvendel the fare.", "What nede is thee to maken al this care?", "", "`Sin day by day thou mayst thy-selven see", "That from his love, or elles from his wyf,", "A man mot twinnen of necessitee,", "Ye, though he love hir as his owene lyf;", "Yet nil he with him-self thus maken stryf.", "For wel thow wost, my leve brother dere,", "That alwey freendes may nought been y-fere.", "", "`How doon this folk that seen hir loves wedded", "By freendes might, as it bi-tit ful ofte,", "And seen hem in hir spouses bed y-bedded?", "God woot, they take it wysly, faire and softe.", "For-why good hope halt up hir herte on-lofte,", "And for they can a tyme of sorwe endure;", "As tyme hem hurt, a tyme doth hem cure.", "", "`So sholdestow endure, and late slyde", "The tyme, and fonde to ben glad and light.", "Ten dayes nis so longe not tabyde.", "And sin she thee to comen hath bihight,", "She nil hir hestes breken for no wight.", "For dred thee not that she nil finden weye", "To come ayein, my lyf that dorste I leye.", "", "`Thy swevenes eek and al swich fantasye", "Dryf out, and lat hem faren to mischaunce;", "For they procede of thy malencolye,", "That doth thee fele in sleep al this penaunce.", "A straw for alle swevenes signifiaunce!", "God helpe me so, I counte hem not a bene,", "Ther woot no man aright what dremes mene.", "", "`For prestes of the temple tellen this,", "That dremes been the revelaciouns", "Of goddes, and as wel they telle, y-wis,", "That they ben infernals illusiouns;", "And leches seyn, that of complexiouns", "Proceden they, or fast, or glotonye.", "Who woot in sooth thus what they signifye?", "", "`Eek othere seyn that thorugh impressiouns,", "As if a wight hath faste a thing in minde,", "That ther-of cometh swiche avisiouns;", "And othere seyn, as they in bokes finde,", "That, after tymes of the yeer by kinde,", "Men dreme, and that theffect goth by the mone;", "But leve no dreem, for it is nought to done.", "", "`Wel worth of dremes ay thise olde wyves,", "And treweliche eek augurie of thise foules;", "For fere of which men wenen lese her lyves,", "As ravenes qualm, or shryking of thise oules.", "To trowen on it bothe fals and foul is.", "Allas, allas, so noble a creature", "As is a man, shal drede swich ordure!", "", "`For which with al myn herte I thee beseche,", "Un-to thy-self that al this thou foryive;", "And rys up now with-oute more speche,", "And lat us caste how forth may best be drive", "This tyme, and eek how freshly we may live", "Whan that she cometh, the which shal be right sone;", "God help me so, the beste is thus to done.", "", "`Rys, lat us speke of lusty lyf in Troye", "That we han lad, and forth the tyme dryve;", "And eek of tyme cominge us reioye,", "That bringen shal our blisse now so blyve;", "And langour of these twyes dayes fyve", "We shal ther-with so foryete or oppresse,", "That wel unnethe it doon shal us duresse.", "", "`This toun is ful of lordes al aboute,", "And trewes lasten al this mene whyle.", "Go we pleye us in som lusty route", "To Sarpedon, not hennes but a myle.", "And thus thou shalt the tyme wel bigyle,", "And dryve it forth un-to that blisful morwe,", "That thou hir see, that cause is of thy sorwe.", "", "`Now rys, my dere brother Troilus;", "For certes, it noon honour is to thee", "To wepe, and in thy bedde to iouken thus.", "For trewely, of o thing trust to me,", "If thou thus ligge a day, or two, or three,", "The folk wol wene that thou, for cowardyse,", "Thee feynest syk, and that thou darst not ryse.'", "", "This Troilus answerde, `O brother dere,", "This knowen folk that han y-suffred peyne,", "That though he wepe and make sorwful chere,", "That feleth harm and smert in every veyne,", "No wonder is; and though I ever pleyne,", "Or alwey wepe, I am no-thing to blame,", "Sin I have lost the cause of al my game.", "", "`But sin of fyne force I moot aryse,", "I shal aryse as sone as ever I may;", "And god, to whom myn herte I sacrifyse,", "So sende us hastely the tenthe day!", "For was ther never fowl so fayn of May,", "As I shal been, whan that she cometh in Troye,", "That cause is of my torment and my Ioye.", "", "`But whider is thy reed,' quod Troilus,", "`That we may pleye us best in al this toun?'", "`Bi god, my conseil is,' quod Pandarus,", "`To ryde and pleye us with king Sarpedoun.'", "So longe of this they speken up and doun,", "Til Troilus gan at the laste assente", "To ryse, and forth to Sarpedoun they wente.", "", "This Sarpedoun, as he that honourable", "Was ever his lyve, and ful of heigh prowesse,", "With al that mighte y-served been on table,", "That deyntee was, al coste it greet richesse,", "He fedde hem day by day, that swich noblesse,", "As seyden bothe the moste and eek the leste,", "Was never er that day wist at any feste.", "", "Nor in this world ther is non instrument", "Delicious, through wind, or touche, of corde,", "As fer as any wight hath ever y-went,", "That tonge telle or herte may recorde,", "That at that feste it nas wel herd acorde;", "Ne of ladies eek so fayr a companye", "On daunce, er tho, was never y-seyn with ye.", "", "But what avayleth this to Troilus,", "That for his sorwe no-thing of it roughte?", "For ever in oon his herte pietous", "Ful bisily Criseyde his lady soughte.", "On hir was ever al that his herte thoughte,", "Now this, now that, so faste imagininge,", "That glade, y-wis, can him no festeyinge.", "", "These ladies eek that at this feste been,", "Sin that he saw his lady was a-weye,", "It was his sorwe upon hem for to seen,", "Or for to here on instrumentz so pleye.", "For she, that of his herte berth the keye,", "Was absent, lo, this was his fantasye,", "That no wight sholde make melodye.", "", "Nor ther nas houre in al the day or night,", "Whan he was ther-as no wight mighte him here,", "That he ne seyde, `O lufsom lady bright,", "How have ye faren, sin that ye were here?", "Wel-come, y-wis, myn owene lady dere.'", "But welaway, al this nas but a mase;", "Fortune his howve entended bet to glase.", "", "The lettres eek, that she of olde tyme", "Hadde him y-sent, he wolde allone rede,", "An hundred sythe, a-twixen noon and pryme;", "Refiguringe hir shap, hir womanhede,", "With-inne his herte, and every word and dede", "That passed was, and thus he droof to an ende", "The ferthe day, and seyde, he wolde wende.", "", "And seyde, `Leve brother Pandarus,", "Intendestow that we shal here bleve", "Til Sarpedoun wol forth congeyen us?", "Yet were it fairer that we toke our leve.", "For goddes love, lat us now sone at eve", "Our leve take, and homward lat us torne;", "For trewely, I nil not thus soiourne.'", "", "Pandare answerde, `Be we comen hider", "To fecchen fyr, and rennen hoom ayeyn?", "God helpe me so, I can not tellen whider", "We mighten goon, if I shal soothly seyn,", "Ther any wight is of us more fayn", "Than Sarpedoun; and if we hennes hye", "Thus sodeinly, I holde it vilanye.", "", "`Sin that we seyden that we wolde bleve", "With him a wouke; and now, thus sodeinly,", "The ferthe day to take of him oure leve,", "He wolde wondren on it, trewely!", "Lat us holde forth our purpos fermely;", "And sin that ye bihighten him to byde,", "Hold forward now, and after lat us ryde.'", "", "Thus Pandarus, with alle peyne and wo,", "Made him to dwelle; and at the woukes ende,", "Of Sarpedoun they toke hir leve tho,", "And on hir wey they spedden hem to wende.", "Quod Troilus, `Now god me grace sende,", "That I may finden, at myn hom-cominge,", "Criseyde comen!' And ther-with gan he singe.", "", "`Ye, hasel-wode!' thoughte this Pandare,", "And to him-self ful softely he seyde,", "`God woot, refreyden may this hote fare,", "Er Calkas sende Troilus Criseyde!'", "But natheles, he Iaped thus, and seyde,", "And swor, y-wis, his herte him wel bihighte,", "She wolde come as sone as ever she mighte.", "", "Whan they un-to the paleys were y-comen", "Of Troilus, they doun of hors alighte,", "And to the chambre hir wey than han they nomen.", "And in-to tyme that it gan to nighte,", "They spaken of Crysede the brighte.", "And after this, whan that hem bothe leste,", "They spedde hem fro the soper un-to reste.", "", "On morwe, as sone as day bigan to clere,", "This Troilus gan of his sleep tabrayde,", "And to Pandare, his owene brother dere,", "`For love of god,' ful pitously he seyde,", "`As go we seen the paleys of Criseyde;", "For sin we yet may have namore feste,", "So lat us seen hir paleys at the leste.'", "", "And ther-with-al, his meyne for to blende,", "A cause he fond in toune for to go,", "And to Criseydes hous they gonnen wende.", "But lord! This sely Troilus was wo!", "Him thoughte his sorweful herte braste a-two.", "For whan he saugh hir dores sperred alle,", "Wel neigh for sorwe a-doun he gan to falle.", "", "Therwith, whan he was war and gan biholde", "How shet was every windowe of the place,", "As frost, him thoughte, his herte gan to colde;", "For which with chaunged deedlich pale face,", "With-outen word, he forth bigan to pace;", "And, as god wolde, he gan so faste ryde,", "That no wight of his contenance aspyde.", "", "Than seyde he thus; `O paleys desolat,", "O hous, of houses whylom best y-hight,", "O paleys empty and disconsolat,", "O thou lanterne, of which queynt is the light,", "O paleys, whylom day, that now art night,", "Wel oughtestow to falle, and I to dye,", "Sin she is went that wont was us to gye!", "", "`O paleys, whylom croune of houses alle,", "Enlumined with sonne of alle blisse!", "O ring, fro which the ruby is out-falle,", "O cause of wo, that cause hast been of lisse!", "Yet, sin I may no bet, fayn wolde I kisse", "Thy colde dores, dorste I for this route;", "And fare-wel shryne, of which the seynt is oute!'", "", "Ther-with he caste on Pandarus his ye", "With chaunged face, and pitous to biholde;", "And whan he mighte his tyme aright aspye,", "Ay as he rood, to Pandarus he tolde", "His newe sorwe, and eek his Ioyes olde,", "So pitously and with so dede an hewe,", "That every wight mighte on his sorwe rewe.", "", "Fro thennesforth he rydeth up and doun,", "And every thing com him to remembraunce", "As he rood forbi places of the toun", "In whiche he whylom hadde al his plesaunce.", "`Lo, yond saugh I myn owene lady daunce;", "And in that temple, with hir eyen clere,", "Me coughte first my righte lady dere.", "", "`And yonder have I herd ful lustily", "My dere herte laugh, and yonder pleye", "Saugh I hir ones eek ful blisfully.", "And yonder ones to me gan she seye,", "\"Now goode swete, love me wel, I preye.\"", "And yond so goodly gan she me biholde,", "That to the deeth myn herte is to hir holde.", "", "`And at that corner, in the yonder hous,", "Herde I myn alderlevest lady dere", "So wommanly, with voys melodious,", "Singen so wel, so goodly, and so clere,", "That in my soule yet me thinketh I here", "The blisful soun; and, in that yonder place,", "My lady first me took un-to hir grace.'", "", "Thanne thoughte he thus, `O blisful lord Cupyde,", "Whanne I the proces have in my memorie,", "How thou me hast wereyed on every syde,", "Men might a book make of it, lyk a storie.", "What nede is thee to seke on me victorie,", "Sin I am thyn, and hoolly at thy wille?", "What Ioye hastow thyn owene folk to spille?", "", "`Wel hastow, lord, y-wroke on me thyn ire,", "Thou mighty god, and dredful for to greve!", "Now mercy, lord, thou wost wel I desire", "Thy grace most, of alle lustes leve,", "And live and deye I wol in thy bileve,", "For which I naxe in guerdon but a bone,", "That thou Criseyde ayein me sende sone.", "", "`Distreyne hir herte as faste to retorne", "As thou dost myn to longen hir to see;", "Than woot I wel, that she nil nought soiorne.", "Now, blisful lord, so cruel thou ne be", "Un-to the blood of Troye, I preye thee,", "As Iuno was un-to the blood Thebane,", "For which the folk of Thebes caughte hir bane.'", "", "And after this he to the yates wente", "Ther-as Criseyde out-rood a ful good paas,", "And up and doun ther made he many a wente,", "And to him-self ful ofte he seyde `Allas!", "From hennes rood my blisse and my solas!", "As wolde blisful god now, for his Ioye,", "I mighte hir seen ayein come in-to Troye!", "", "`And to the yonder hille I gan hir gyde,", "Allas! And there I took of hir my leve!", "And yond I saugh hir to hir fader ryde,", "For sorwe of which myn herte shal to-cleve.", "And hider hoom I com whan it was eve;", "And here I dwelle out-cast from alle Ioye,", "And shal, til I may seen hir eft in Troye.'", "", "And of him-self imagened he ofte", "To ben defet, and pale, and waxen lesse", "Than he was wont, and that men seyden softe,", "`What may it be? Who can the sothe gesse", "Why Troilus hath al this hevinesse?'", "And al this nas but his malencolye,", "That he hadde of him-self swich fantasye.", "", "Another tyme imaginen he wolde", "That every wight that wente by the weye", "Had of him routhe, and that they seyen sholde,", "`I am right sory Troilus wole deye.'", "And thus he droof a day yet forth or tweye.", "As ye have herd, swich lyf right gan he lede,", "As he that stood bitwixen hope and drede.", "", "For which him lyked in his songes shewe", "Thencheson of his wo, as he best mighte,", "And made a song of wordes but a fewe,", "Somwhat his woful herte for to lighte.", "And whan he was from every mannes sighte,", "With softe voys he, of his lady dere,", "That was absent, gan singe as ye may here.", "", "`O sterre, of which I lost have al the light,", "With herte soor wel oughte I to bewayle,", "That ever derk in torment, night by night,", "Toward my deeth with wind in stere I sayle;", "For which the tenthe night if that I fayle", "The gyding of thy bemes brighte an houre,", "My ship and me Caribdis wole devoure.'", "", "This song whan he thus songen hadde, sone", "He fil ayein in-to his sykes olde;", "And every night, as was his wone to done,", "He stood the brighte mone to beholde,", "And al his sorwe he to the mone tolde;", "And seyde, `Y-wis, whan thou art horned newe,", "I shal be glad, if al the world be trewe!", "", "`I saugh thyn hornes olde eek by the morwe,", "Whan hennes rood my righte lady dere,", "That cause is of my torment and my sorwe;", "For whiche, O brighte Lucina the clere,", "For love of god, ren faste aboute thy spere!", "For whan thyn hornes newe ginne springe,", "Than shal she come, that may my blisse bringe!'", "", "The day is more, and lenger every night,", "Than they be wont to be, him thoughte tho;", "And that the sonne wente his course unright", "By lenger wey than it was wont to go;", "And seyde, `Y-wis, me dredeth ever-mo,", "The sonnes sone, Pheton, be on-lyve,", "And that his fadres cart amis he dryve.'", "", "Upon the walles faste eek wolde he walke,", "And on the Grekes ost he wolde see,", "And to him-self right thus he wolde talke,", "`Lo, yonder is myn owene lady free,", "Or elles yonder, ther tho tentes be!", "And thennes comth this eyr, that is so sote,", "That in my soule I fele it doth me bote.", "", "`And hardely this wind, that more and more", "Thus stoundemele encreseth in my face,", "Is of my ladyes depe sykes sore.", "I preve it thus, for in non othere place", "Of al this toun, save onliche in this space,", "Fele I no wind that souneth so lyk peyne;", "It seyth, \"Allas! Why twinned be we tweyne?\"'", "", "This longe tyme he dryveth forth right thus,", "Til fully passed was the nynthe night;", "And ay bi-syde him was this Pandarus,", "That bisily dide alle his fulle might", "Him to comforte, and make his herte light;", "Yevinge him hope alwey, the tenthe morwe", "That she shal come, and stinten al his sorwe.", "", "Up-on that other syde eek was Criseyde,", "With wommen fewe, among the Grekes stronge;", "For which ful ofte a day `Allas,' she seyde,", "`That I was born! Wel may myn herte longe", "After my deeth; for now live I to longe!", "Allas! And I ne may it not amende;", "For now is wors than ever yet I wende.", "", "`My fader nil for no-thing do me grace", "To goon ayein, for nought I can him queme;", "And if so be that I my terme passe,", "My Troilus shal in his herte deme", "That I am fals, and so it may wel seme.", "Thus shal I have unthank on every syde;", "That I was born, so weylaway the tyde!", "", "`And if that I me putte in Iupartye,", "To stele awey by nighte, and it bifalle", "That I be caught, I shal be holde a spye;", "Or elles, lo, this drede I most of alle,", "If in the hondes of som wrecche I falle,", "I am but lost, al be myn herte trewe;", "Now mighty god, thou on my sorwe rewe!'", "", "Ful pale y-waxen was hir brighte face,", "Hir limes lene, as she that al the day", "Stood whan she dorste, and loked on the place", "Ther she was born, and ther she dwelt hadde ay.", "And al the night wepinge, allas! she lay.", "And thus despeired, out of alle cure,", "She ladde hir lyf, this woful creature.", "", "Ful ofte a day she sighte eek for destresse,", "And in hir-self she wente ay portrayinge", "Of Troilus the grete worthinesse,", "And alle his goodly wordes recordinge", "Sin first that day hir love bigan to springe.", "And thus she sette hir woful herte a-fyre", "Through remembraunce of that she gan desyre.", "", "In al this world ther nis so cruel herte", "That hir hadde herd compleynen in hir sorwe,", "That nolde han wopen for hir peynes smerte,", "So tendrely she weep, bothe eve and morwe.", "Hir nedede no teres for to borwe.", "And this was yet the worste of al hir peyne,", "Ther was no wight to whom she dorste hir pleyne.", "", "Ful rewfully she loked up-on Troye,", "Biheld the toures heighe and eek the halles;", "`Allas!' quod she, `The plesaunce and the Ioye", "The whiche that now al torned in-to galle is,", "Have I had ofte with-inne yonder walles!", "O Troilus, what dostow now,' she seyde;", "`Lord! Whether yet thou thenke up-on Criseyde?", "", "`Allas! I ne hadde trowed on your lore,", "And went with yow, as ye me radde er this!", "Thanne hadde I now not syked half so sore.", "Who mighte han seyd, that I had doon a-mis", "To stele awey with swich on as he is?", "But al to late cometh the letuarie,", "Whan men the cors un-to the grave carie.", "", "`To late is now to speke of this matere;", "Prudence, allas! Oon of thyn eyen three", "Me lakked alwey, er that I come here;", "On tyme y-passed, wel remembred me;", "And present tyme eek coude I wel y-see.", "But futur tyme, er I was in the snare,", "Coude I not seen; that causeth now my care.", "", "`But natheles, bityde what bityde,", "I shal to-morwe at night, by est or weste,", "Out of this ost stele on som maner syde,", "And go with Troilus wher-as him leste.", "This purpos wol I holde, and this is beste.", "No fors of wikked tonges Ianglerye,", "For ever on love han wrecches had envye.", "", "`For who-so wole of every word take hede,", "Or rewlen him by every wightes wit,", "Ne shal he never thryven, out of drede.", "For that that som men blamen ever yit,", "Lo, other maner folk commenden it.", "And as for me, for al swich variaunce,", "Felicitee clepe I my suffisaunce.", "", "`For which, with-outen any wordes mo,", "To Troye I wol, as for conclusioun.'", "But god it wot, er fully monthes two,", "She was ful fer fro that entencioun.", "For bothe Troilus and Troye toun", "Shal knotteles through-out hir herte slyde;", "For she wol take a purpos for tabyde.", "", "This Diomede, of whom yow telle I gan,", "Goth now, with-inne him-self ay arguinge", "With al the sleighte and al that ever he can,", "How he may best, with shortest taryinge,", "In-to his net Criseydes herte bringe.", "To this entente he coude never fyne;", "To fisshen hir, he leyde out hook and lyne.", "", "But natheles, wel in his herte he thoughte,", "That she nas nat with-oute a love in Troye,", "For never, sithen he hir thennes broughte,", "Ne coude he seen her laughe or make Ioye.", "He nist how best hir herte for tacoye.", "`But for to assaye,' he seyde, `it nought ne greveth;", "For he that nought nassayeth, nought nacheveth.'", "", "Yet seide he to him-self upon a night,", "`Now am I not a fool, that woot wel how", "Hir wo for love is of another wight,", "And here-up-on to goon assaye hir now?", "I may wel wite, it nil not been my prow.", "For wyse folk in bokes it expresse,", "\"Men shal not wowe a wight in hevinesse.\"", "", "`But who-so mighte winnen swich a flour", "From him, for whom she morneth night and day,", "He mighte seyn, he were a conquerour.'", "And right anoon, as he that bold was ay,", "Thoughte in his herte, `Happe how happe may,", "Al sholde I deye, I wole hir herte seche;", "I shal no more lesen but my speche.'", "", "This Diomede, as bokes us declare,", "Was in his nedes prest and corageous;", "With sterne voys and mighty limes square,", "Hardy, testif, strong, and chevalrous", "Of dedes, lyk his fader Tideus.", "And som men seyn, he was of tunge large;", "And heir he was of Calidoine and Arge.", "", "Criseyde mene was of hir stature,", "Ther-to of shap, of face, and eek of chere,", "Ther mighte been no fairer creature.", "And ofte tyme this was hir manere,", "To gon y-tressed with hir heres clere", "Doun by hir coler at hir bak bihinde,", "Which with a threde of gold she wolde binde.", "", "And, save hir browes ioyneden y-fere,", "Ther nas no lak, in ought I can espyen;", "But for to speken of hir eyen clere,", "Lo, trewely, they writen that hir syen,", "That Paradys stood formed in hir yen.", "And with hir riche beautee ever-more", "Strof love in hir, ay which of hem was more.", "", "She sobre was, eek simple, and wys with-al,", "The beste y-norisshed eek that mighte be,", "And goodly of hir speche in general,", "Charitable, estatliche, lusty, and free;", "Ne never-mo ne lakkede hir pitee;", "Tendre-herted, slydinge of corage;", "But trewely, I can not telle hir age.", "", "And Troilus wel waxen was in highte,", "And complet formed by proporcioun", "So wel, that kinde it not amenden mighte;", "Yong, fresshe, strong, and hardy as lyoun;", "Trewe as steel in ech condicioun;", "On of the beste enteched creature,", "That is, or shal, whyl that the world may dure.", "", "And certainly in storie it is y-founde,", "That Troilus was never un-to no wight,", "As in his tyme, in no degree secounde", "In durring don that longeth to a knight.", "Al mighte a geaunt passen him of might,", "His herte ay with the firste and with the beste", "Stood paregal, to durre don that him leste.", "", "But for to tellen forth of Diomede: --", "It fil that after, on the tenthe day,", "Sin that Criseyde out of the citee yede,", "This Diomede, as fresshe as braunche in May,", "Com to the tente ther-as Calkas lay,", "And feyned him with Calkas han to done;", "But what he mente, I shal yow telle sone.", "", "Criseyde, at shorte wordes for to telle,", "Welcomed him, and doun by hir him sette;", "And he was ethe y-nough to maken dwelle.", "And after this, with-outen longe lette,", "The spyces and the wyn men forth hem fette;", "And forth they speke of this and that y-fere,", "As freendes doon, of which som shal ye here.", "", "He gan first fallen of the werre in speche", "Bitwixe hem and the folk of Troye toun;", "And of thassege he gan hir eek byseche,", "To telle him what was hir opinioun.", "Fro that demaunde he so descendeth doun", "To asken hir, if that hir straunge thoughte", "The Grekes gyse, and werkes that they wroughte?", "", "And why hir fader tarieth so longe", "To wedden hir un-to som worthy wight?", "Criseyde, that was in hir peynes stronge", "For love of Troilus, hir owene knight,", "As fer-forth as she conning hadde or might,", "Answerde him tho; but, as of his entente,", "It semed not she wiste what he mente.", "", "But natheles, this ilke Diomede", "Gan in him-self assure, and thus he seyde,", "`If ich aright have taken of yow hede,", "Me thinketh thus, O lady myn, Criseyde,", "That sin I first hond on your brydel leyde,", "Whan ye out come of Troye by the morwe,", "Ne coude I never seen yow but in sorwe.", "", "`Can I not seyn what may the cause be", "But-if for love of som Troyan it were,", "The which right sore wolde athinken me", "That ye, for any wight that dwelleth there,", "Sholden spille a quarter of a tere,", "Or pitously your-selven so bigyle;", "For dredelees, it is nought worth the whyle.", "", "`The folk of Troye, as who seyth, alle and some", "In preson been, as ye your-selven see;", "Nor thennes shal not oon on-lyve come", "For al the gold bitwixen sonne and see.", "Trusteth wel, and understondeth me.", "Ther shal not oon to mercy goon on-lyve,", "Al were he lord of worldes twyes fyve!", "", "`Swich wreche on hem, for fecching of Eleyne,", "Ther shal be take, er that we hennes wende,", "That Manes, which that goddes ben of peyne,", "Shal been agast that Grekes wol hem shende.", "And men shul drede, un-to the worldes ende,", "From hennes-forth to ravisshe any quene,", "So cruel shal our wreche on hem be sene.", "", "`And but-if Calkas lede us with ambages,", "That is to seyn, with double wordes slye,", "Swich as men clepe a \"word with two visages,\"", "Ye shal wel knowen that I nought ne lye,", "And al this thing right seen it with your ye,", "And that anoon; ye nil not trowe how sone;", "Now taketh heed, for it is for to done.", "", "`What wene ye your wyse fader wolde", "Han yeven Antenor for yow anoon,", "If he ne wiste that the citee sholde", "Destroyed been? Why, nay, so mote I goon!", "He knew ful wel ther shal not scapen oon", "That Troyan is; and for the grete fere,", "He dorste not, ye dwelte lenger there.", "", "`What wole ye more, lufsom lady dere?", "Lat Troye and Troyan fro your herte pace!", "Dryf out that bittre hope, and make good chere,", "And clepe ayein the beautee of your face,", "That ye with salte teres so deface.", "For Troye is brought in swich a Iupartye,", "That, it to save, is now no remedye.", "", "`And thenketh wel, ye shal in Grekes finde,", "A more parfit love, er it be night,", "Than any Troian is, and more kinde,", "And bet to serven yow wol doon his might.", "And if ye vouche sauf, my lady bright,", "I wol ben he to serven yow my-selve,", "Yee, lever than he lord of Greces twelve!'", "", "And with that word he gan to waxen reed,", "And in his speche a litel wight he quook,", "And caste a-syde a litel wight his heed,", "And stinte a whyle; and afterward awook,", "And sobreliche on hir he threw his look,", "And seyde, `I am, al be it yow no Ioye,", "As gentil man as any wight in Troye.", "", "`For if my fader Tydeus,' he seyde,", "`Y-lived hadde, I hadde been, er this,", "Of Calidoine and Arge a king, Criseyde!", "And so hope I that I shal yet, y-wis.", "But he was slayn, allas! The more harm is,", "Unhappily at Thebes al to rathe,", "Polymites and many a man to scathe.", "", "`But herte myn, sin that I am your man,", "And been the ferste of whom I seche grace,", "To serven you as hertely as I can,", "And ever shal, whyl I to live have space,", "So, er that I departe out of this place,", "Ye wol me graunte, that I may to-morwe,", "At bettre leyser, telle yow my sorwe.'", "", "What shold I telle his wordes that he seyde?", "He spak y-now, for o day at the meste;", "It preveth wel, he spak so that Criseyde", "Graunted, on the morwe, at his requeste,", "For to speken with him at the leste,", "So that he nolde speke of swich matere;", "And thus to him she seyde, as ye may here:", "", "As she that hadde hir herte on Troilus", "So faste, that ther may it noon arace;", "And straungely she spak, and seyde thus;", "`O Diomede, I love that ilke place", "Ther I was born; and Ioves, for his grace,", "Delivere it sone of al that doth it care!", "God, for thy might, so leve it wel to fare!", "", "`That Grekes wolde hir wraththe on Troye wreke,", "If that they mighte, I knowe it wel, y-wis.", "But it shal not bifallen as ye speke;", "And god to-forn, and ferther over this,", "I wot my fader wys and redy is;", "And that he me hath bought, as ye me tolde,", "So dere, I am the more un-to him holde.", "", "`That Grekes been of heigh condicioun,", "I woot eek wel; but certein, men shal finde", "As worthy folk with-inne Troye toun,", "As conning, and as parfit and as kinde,", "As been bitwixen Orcades and Inde.", "And that ye coude wel your lady serve,", "I trowe eek wel, hir thank for to deserve.", "", "`But as to speke of love, y-wis,' she seyde,", "`I hadde a lord, to whom I wedded was,", "The whos myn herte al was, til that he deyde;", "And other love, as helpe me now Pallas,", "Ther in myn herte nis, ne nevere was.", "And that ye been of noble and heigh kinrede,", "I have wel herd it tellen, out of drede.", "", "`And that doth me to han so gret a wonder,", "That ye wol scornen any womman so.", "Eek, god wot, love and I be fer a-sonder!", "I am disposed bet, so mote I go,", "Un-to my deeth, to pleyne and maken wo.", "What I shal after doon, I can not seye;", "But trewely, as yet me list not pleye.", "", "`Myn herte is now in tribulacioun,", "And ye in armes bisy, day by day.", "Here-after, whan ye wonnen han the toun,", "Paraunter, thanne so it happen may,", "That whan I see that I never er say,", "Than wole I werke that I never wroughte!", "This word to yow y-nough suffysen oughte.", "", "`To-morwe eek wol I speken with yow fayn,", "So that ye touchen nought of this matere.", "And whan yow list, ye may come here ayeyn;", "And, er ye gon, thus muche I seye yow here;", "As help me Pallas with hir heres clere,", "If that I sholde of any Greek han routhe,", "It sholde be your-selven, by my trouthe!", "", "`I sey not therfore that I wol yow love,", "Ne I sey not nay, but in conclusioun,", "I mene wel, by god that sit above:' --", "And ther-with-al she caste hir eyen doun,", "And gan to syke, and seyde, `O Troye toun,", "Yet bidde I god, in quiete and in reste", "I may yow seen, or do myn herte breste.'", "", "But in effect, and shortly for to seye,", "This Diomede al freshly newe ayeyn", "Gan pressen on, and faste hir mercy preye;", "And after this, the sothe for to seyn,", "Hir glove he took, of which he was ful fayn.", "And fynally, whan it was waxen eve,", "And al was wel, he roos and took his leve.", "", "The brighte Venus folwede and ay taughte", "The wey, ther brode Phebus doun alighte;", "And Cynthea hir char-hors over-raughte", "To whirle out of the Lyon, if she mighte;", "And Signifer his candelse shewed brighte,", "Whan that Criseyde un-to hir bedde wente", "In-with hir fadres faire brighte tente.", "", "Retorning in hir soule ay up and doun", "The wordes of this sodein Diomede,", "His greet estat, and peril of the toun,", "And that she was allone and hadde nede", "Of freendes help; and thus bigan to brede", "The cause why, the sothe for to telle,", "That she tok fully purpos for to dwelle.", "", "The morwe com, and goostly for to speke,", "This Diomede is come un-to Criseyde,", "And shortly, lest that ye my tale breke,", "So wel he for him-selve spak and seyde,", "That alle hir sykes sore adoun he leyde.", "And fynally, the sothe for to seyne,", "He refte hir of the grete of al hir peyne.", "", "And after this the story telleth us,", "That she him yaf the faire baye stede,", "The which he ones wan of Troilus;", "And eek a broche (and that was litel nede)", "That Troilus was, she yaf this Diomede.", "And eek, the bet from sorwe him to releve,", "She made him were a pencel of hir sleve.", "", "I finde eek in stories elles-where,", "Whan through the body hurt was Diomede", "Of Troilus, tho weep she many a tere,", "Whan that she saugh his wyde woundes blede;", "And that she took to kepen him good hede,", "And for to hele him of his sorwes smerte.", "Men seyn, I not, that she yaf him hir herte.", "", "But trewely, the story telleth us,", "Ther made never womman more wo", "Than she, whan that she falsed Troilus.", "She seyde, `Allas! For now is clene a-go", "My name of trouthe in love, for ever-mo!", "For I have falsed oon, the gentileste", "That ever was, and oon the worthieste!", "", "`Allas, of me, un-to the worldes ende,", "Shal neither been y-writen nor y-songe", "No good word, for thise bokes wol me shende.", "O, rolled shal I been on many a tonge;", "Through-out the world my belle shal be ronge;", "And wommen most wol hate me of alle.", "Allas, that swich a cas me sholde falle!", "", "`They wol seyn, in as muche as in me is,", "I have hem don dishonour, weylawey!", "Al be I not the first that dide amis,", "What helpeth that to do my blame awey?", "But sin I see there is no bettre way,", "And that to late is now for me to rewe,", "To Diomede algate I wol be trewe.", "", "`But Troilus, sin I no better may,", "And sin that thus departen ye and I,", "Yet preye I god, so yeve yow right good day", "As for the gentileste, trewely,", "That ever I say, to serven feithfully,", "And best can ay his lady honour kepe:' --", "And with that word she brast anon to wepe.", "", "`And certes yow ne haten shal I never,", "And freendes love, that shal ye han of me,", "And my good word, al mighte I liven ever.", "And, trewely, I wolde sory be", "For to seen yow in adversitee.", "And giltelees, I woot wel, I yow leve;", "But al shal passe; and thus take I my leve.'", "", "But trewely, how longe it was bitwene,", "That she for-sook him for this Diomede,", "Ther is non auctor telleth it, I wene.", "Take every man now to his bokes hede;", "He shal no terme finden, out of drede.", "For though that he bigan to wowe hir sone,", "Er he hir wan, yet was ther more to done.", "", "Ne me ne list this sely womman chyde", "Ferther than the story wol devyse.", "Hir name, allas! Is publisshed so wyde,", "That for hir gilt it oughte y-noe suffyse.", "And if I mighte excuse hir any wyse,", "For she so sory was for hir untrouthe,", "Y-wis, I wolde excuse hir yet for routhe.", "", "This Troilus, as I biforn have told,", "Thus dryveth forth, as wel as he hath might.", "But often was his herte hoot and cold,", "And namely, that ilke nynthe night,", "Which on the morwe she hadde him byhight", "To come ayein: god wot, ful litel reste", "Hadde he that night; no-thing to slepe him leste.", "", "The laurer-crouned Phebus, with his hete,", "Gan, in his course ay upward as he wente,", "To warmen of the est see the wawes wete,", "And Nisus doughter song with fresh entente,", "Whan Troilus his Pandare after sente;", "And on the walles of the toun they pleyde,", "To loke if they can seen ought of Criseyde.", "", "Til it was noon, they stoden for to see", "Who that ther come; and every maner wight,", "That cam fro fer, they seyden it was she,", "Til that they coude knowen him a-right.", "Now was his herte dul, now was it light;", "And thus by-iaped stonden for to stare", "Aboute nought, this Troilus and Pandare.", "", "To Pandarus this Troilus tho seyde,", "`For ought I wot, bi-for noon, sikerly,", "In-to this toun ne comth nought here Criseyde.", "She hath y-now to done, hardily,", "To winnen from hir fader, so trowe I;", "Hir olde fader wol yet make hir dyne", "Er that she go; god yeve his herte pyne!'", "", "Pandare answerde, `It may wel be, certeyn;", "And for-thy lat us dyne, I thee biseche;", "And after noon than maystw thou come ayeyn.'", "And hoom they go, with-oute more speche;", "And comen ayein, but longe may they seche", "Er that they finde that they after cape;", "Fortune hem bothe thenketh for to Iape.", "", "Quod Troilus, `I see wel now, that she", "Is taried with hir olde fader so,", "That er she come, it wole neigh even be.", "Com forth, I wol un-to the yate go.", "Thise portours been unkonninge ever-mo;", "And I wol doon hem holden up the yate", "As nought ne were, al-though she come late.'", "", "The day goth faste, and after that comth eve,", "And yet com nought to Troilus Criseyde.", "He loketh forth by hegge, by tree, by greve,", "And fer his heed over the wal he leyde.", "And at the laste he torned him, and seyde.", "`By god, I woot hir mening now, Pandare!", "Al-most, y-wis, al newe was my care.", "", "`Now douteles, this lady can hir good;", "I woot, she meneth ryden prively.", "I comende hir wysdom, by myn hood!", "She wol not maken peple nycely", "Gaure on hir, whan she comth; but softely", "By nighte in-to the toun she thenketh ryde.", "And, dere brother, thenk not longe to abyde.", "", "`We han nought elles for to don, y-wis.", "And Pandarus, now woltow trowen me?", "Have here my trouthe, I see hir! Yond she is.", "Heve up thyn eyen, man! Maystow not see?'", "Pandare answerde, `Nay, so mote I thee!", "Al wrong, by god; what seystow, man, wher art?", "That I see yond nis but a fare-cart.'", "", "`Allas, thou seist right sooth,' quod Troilus;", "`But, hardely, it is not al for nought", "That in myn herte I now reioyse thus.", "It is ayein som good I have a thought.", "Noot I not how, but sin that I was wrought,", "Ne felte I swich a confort, dar I seye;", "She comth to-night, my lyf, that dorste I leye!'", "", "Pandare answerde, `It may be wel, y-nough';", "And held with him of al that ever he seyde;", "But in his herte he thoughte, and softe lough,", "And to him-self ful sobrely he seyde:", "`From hasel-wode, ther Ioly Robin pleyde,", "Shal come al that thou abydest here;", "Ye, fare-wel al the snow of ferne yere!'", "", "The wardein of the yates gan to calle", "The folk which that with-oute the yates were,", "And bad hem dryven in hir bestes alle,", "Or al the night they moste bleven there.", "And fer with-in the night, with many a tere,", "This Troilus gan hoomward for to ryde;", "For wel he seeth it helpeth nought tabyde.", "", "But natheles, he gladded him in this;", "He thoughte he misacounted hadde his day,", "And seyde, `I understonde have al a-mis.", "For thilke night I last Criseyde say,", "She seyde, \"I shal ben here, if that I may,", "Er that the mone, O dere herte swete!", "The Lyon passe, out of this Ariete.\"", "", "`For which she may yet holde al hir biheste.'", "And on the morwe un-to the yate he wente,", "And up and down, by west and eek by este,", "Up-on the walles made he many a wente.", "But al for nought; his hope alwey him blente;", "For which at night, in sorwe and sykes sore,", "He wente him hoom, with-outen any more.", "", "This hope al clene out of his herte fledde,", "He nath wher-on now lenger for to honge;", "But for the peyne him thoughte his herte bledde,", "So were his throwes sharpe and wonder stronge.", "For when he saugh that she abood so longe,", "He niste what he iuggen of it mighte,", "Sin she hath broken that she him bihighte.", "", "The thridde, ferthe, fifte, sixte day", "After tho dayes ten, of which I tolde,", "Bitwixen hope and drede his herte lay,", "Yet som-what trustinge on hir hestes olde.", "But whan he saugh she nolde hir terme holde,", "He can now seen non other remedye,", "But for to shape him sone for to dye.", "", "Ther-with the wikked spirit, god us blesse,", "Which that men clepeth wode Ialousye,", "Gan in him crepe, in al this hevinesse;", "For which, by-cause he wolde sone dye,", "He ne eet ne dronk, for his malencolye,", "And eek from every companye he fledde;", "This was the lyf that al the tyme he ledde.", "", "He so defet was, that no maner man", "Unneth mighte him knowe ther he wente;", "So was he lene, and ther-to pale and wan,", "And feble, that he walketh by potente;", "And with his ire he thus himselven shente.", "But who-so axed him wher-of him smerte,", "He seyde, his harm was al aboute his herte.", "", "Pryam ful ofte, and eek his moder dere,", "His bretheren and his sustren gonne him freyne", "Why he so sorwful was in al his chere,", "And what thing was the cause of al his peyne?", "But al for nought; he nolde his cause pleyne,", "But seyde, he felte a grevous maladye", "A-boute his herte, and fayn he wolde dye.", "", "So on a day he leyde him doun to slepe,", "And so bifel that in his sleep him thoughte,", "That in a forest faste he welk to wepe", "For love of hir that him these peynes wroughte;", "And up and doun as he the forest soughte,", "He mette he saugh a boor with tuskes grete,", "That sleep ayein the brighte sonnes hete.", "", "And by this boor, faste in his armes folde,", "Lay kissing ay his lady bright Criseyde:", "For sorwe of which, whan he it gan biholde,", "And for despyt, out of his slepe he breyde,", "And loude he cryde on Pandarus, and seyde,", "`O Pandarus, now knowe I crop and rote!", "I nam but deed; ther nis non other bote!", "", "`My lady bright Criseyde hath me bitrayed,", "In whom I trusted most of any wight,", "She elles-where hath now hir herte apayed;", "The blisful goddes, through hir grete might,", "Han in my dreem y-shewed it ful right.", "Thus in my dreem Criseyde I have biholde' --", "And al this thing to Pandarus he tolde.", "", "`O my Criseyde, allas! What subtiltee.", "What newe lust, what beautee, what science,", "What wratthe of iuste cause have ye to me?", "What gilt of me, what fel experience", "Hath fro me raft, allas! Thyn advertence?", "O trust, O feyth, O depe aseuraunce,", "Who hath me reft Criseyde, al my plesaunce?", "", "`Allas! Why leet I you from hennes go,", "For which wel neigh out of my wit I breyde?", "Who shal now trowe on any othes mo?", "God wot I wende, O lady bright, Criseyde,", "That every word was gospel that ye seyde!", "But who may bet bigylen, yf him liste,", "Than he on whom men weneth best to triste?", "", "`What shal I doon, my Pandarus, allas!", "I fele now so sharpe a newe peyne,", "Sin that ther is no remedie in this cas,", "That bet were it I with myn hondes tweyne", "My-selven slow, than alwey thus to pleyne.", "For through my deeth my wo sholde han an ende,", "Ther every day with lyf my-self I shende.'", "", "Pandare answerde and seyde, `Allas the whyle", "That I was born; have I not seyd er this,", "That dremes many a maner man bigyle?", "And why? For folk expounden hem a-mis.", "How darstow seyn that fals thy lady is,", "For any dreem, right for thyn owene drede?", "Lat be this thought, thou canst no dremes rede.", "", "`Paraunter, ther thou dremest of this boor,", "It may so be that it may signifye", "Hir fader, which that old is and eek hoor,", "Ayein the sonne lyth, on poynt to dye,", "And she for sorwe ginneth wepe and crye,", "And kisseth him, ther he lyth on the grounde;", "Thus shuldestow thy dreem a-right expounde.'", "", "`How mighte I thanne do?' quod Troilus,", "`To knowe of this, ye, were it never so lyte?'", "`Now seystow wysly,' quod this Pandarus,", "`My reed is this, sin thou canst wel endyte,", "That hastely a lettre thou hir wryte,", "Thorugh which thou shalt wel bringen it aboute,", "To knowe a sooth of that thou art in doute.", "", "`And see now why; for this I dar wel seyn,", "That if so is that she untrewe be,", "I can not trowe that she wol wryte ayeyn.", "And if she wryte, thou shalt ful sone see,", "As whether she hath any libertee", "To come ayein, or ellis in som clause,", "If she be let, she wol assigne a cause.", "", "`Thou hast not writen hir sin that she wente,", "Nor she to thee, and this I dorste leye,", "Ther may swich cause been in hir entente,", "That hardely thou wolt thy-selven seye,", "That hir a-bood the beste is for yow tweye.", "Now wryte hir thanne, and thou shalt fele sone", "A sothe of al; ther is no more to done.'", "", "Acorded been to this conclusioun,", "And that anoon, these ilke lordes two;", "And hastely sit Troilus adoun,", "And rolleth in his herte to and fro,", "How he may best discryven hir his wo.", "And to Criseyde, his owene lady dere,", "He wroot right thus, and seyde as ye may here.", "", "`Right fresshe flour, whos I have been and shal,", "With-outen part of elles-where servyse,", "With herte, body, lyf, lust, thought, and al;", "I, woful wight, in every humble wyse", "That tonge telle or herte may devyse,", "As ofte as matere occupyeth place,", "Me recomaunde un-to your noble grace.", "", "`Lyketh it yow to witen, swete herte,", "As ye wel knowe how longe tyme agoon", "That ye me lefte in aspre peynes smerte,", "Whan that ye wente, of which yet bote noon", "Have I non had, but ever wers bigoon", "Fro day to day am I, and so mot dwelle,", "While it yow list, of wele and wo my welle.", "", "`For which to yow, with dredful herte trewe,", "I wryte, as he that sorwe dryfth to wryte,", "My wo, that every houre encreseth newe,", "Compleyninge as I dar or can endyte.", "And that defaced is, that may ye wyte", "The teres, which that fro myn eyen reyne,", "That wolde speke, if that they coude, and pleyne.", "", "`Yow first biseche I, that your eyen clere", "To look on this defouled ye not holde;", "And over al this, that ye, my lady dere,", "Wol vouche-sauf this lettre to biholde.", "And by the cause eek of my cares colde,", "That sleeth my wit, if ought amis me asterte,", "For-yeve it me, myn owene swete herte.", "", "`If any servant dorste or oughte of right", "Up-on his lady pitously compleyne,", "Than wene I, that ich oughte be that wight,", "Considered this, that ye these monthes tweyne", "Han taried, ther ye seyden, sooth to seyne,", "But dayes ten ye nolde in ost soiourne,", "But in two monthes yet ye not retourne.", "", "`But for-as-muche as me mot nedes lyke", "Al that yow list, I dar not pleyne more,", "But humbely with sorwful sykes syke;", "Yow wryte ich myn unresty sorwes sore,", "Fro day to day desyring ever-more", "To knowen fully, if your wil it were,", "How ye han ferd and doon, whyl ye be there.", "", "`The whos wel-fare and hele eek god encresse", "In honour swich, that upward in degree", "It growe alwey, so that it never cesse;", "Right as your herte ay can, my lady free,", "Devyse, I prey to god so mote it be.", "And graunte it that ye sone up-on me rewe", "As wisly as in al I am yow trewe.", "", "`And if yow lyketh knowen of the fare", "Of me, whos wo ther may no wight discryve,", "I can no more but, cheste of every care,", "At wrytinge of this lettre I was on-lyve,", "Al redy out my woful gost to dryve;", "Which I delaye, and holde him yet in honde,", "Upon the sight of matere of your sonde.", "", "`Myn eyen two, in veyn with which I see,", "Of sorweful teres salte arn waxen welles;", "My song, in pleynte of myn adversitee;", "My good, in harm; myn ese eek waxen helle is.", "My Ioye, in wo; I can sey yow nought elles,", "But turned is, for which my lyf I warie,", "Everich Ioye or ese in his contrarie.", "", "`Which with your cominge hoom ayein to Troye", "Ye may redresse, and, more a thousand sythe", "Than ever ich hadde, encressen in me Ioye.", "For was ther never herte yet so blythe", "To han his lyf, as I shal been as swythe", "As I yow see; and, though no maner routhe", "Commeve yow, yet thinketh on your trouthe.", "", "`And if so be my gilt hath deeth deserved,", "Or if yow list no more up-on me see,", "In guerdon yet of that I have you served,", "Biseche I yow, myn hertes lady free,", "That here-upon ye wolden wryte me,", "For love of god, my righte lode-sterre,", "Ther deeth may make an ende of al my werre.", "", "`If other cause aught doth yow for to dwelle,", "That with your lettre ye me recomforte;", "For though to me your absence is an helle,", "With pacience I wol my wo comporte,", "And with your lettre of hope I wol desporte.", "Now wryteth, swete, and lat me thus not pleyne;", "With hope, or deeth, delivereth me fro peyne.", "", "`Y-wis, myn owene dere herte trewe,", "I woot that, whan ye next up-on me see,", "So lost have I myn hele and eek myn hewe,", "Criseyde shal nought conne knowe me!", "Y-wis, myn hertes day, my lady free,", "So thursteth ay myn herte to biholde", "Your beautee, that my lyf unnethe I holde.", "", "`I sey no more, al have I for to seye", "To you wel more than I telle may;", "But whether that ye do me live or deye,", "Yet pray I god, so yeve yow right good day.", "And fareth wel, goodly fayre fresshe may,", "As ye that lyf or deeth me may comaunde;", "And to your trouthe ay I me recomaunde", "", "`With hele swich that, but ye yeven me", "The same hele, I shal noon hele have.", "In you lyth, whan yow liste that it so be,", "The day in which me clothen shal my grave.", "In yow my lyf, in yow might for to save", "Me from disese of alle peynes smerte;", "And fare now wel, myn owene swete herte!", "Le vostre T.'", "", "This lettre forth was sent un-to Criseyde,", "Of which hir answere in effect was this;", "Ful pitously she wroot ayein, and seyde,", "That also sone as that she might, y-wis,", "She wolde come, and mende al that was mis.", "And fynally she wroot and seyde him thanne,", "She wolde come, ye, but she niste whenne.", "", "But in hir lettre made she swich festes,", "That wonder was, and swereth she loveth him best,", "Of which he fond but botmelees bihestes.", "But Troilus, thou mayst now, est or west,", "Pype in an ivy leef, if that thee lest;", "Thus gooth the world; god shilde us fro mischaunce,", "And every wight that meneth trouthe avaunce!", "", "Encresen gan the wo fro day to night", "Of Troilus, for taryinge of Criseyde;", "And lessen gan his hope and eek his might,", "For which al doun he in his bed him leyde;", "He ne eet, ne dronk, ne sleep, ne word he seyde,", "Imagininge ay that she was unkinde;", "For which wel neigh he wex out of his minde.", "", "This dreem, of which I told have eek biforn,", "May never come out of his remembraunce;", "He thoughte ay wel he hadde his lady lorn,", "And that Ioves, of his purveyaunce,", "Him shewed hadde in sleep the signifiaunce", "Of hir untrouthe and his disaventure,", "And that the boor was shewed him in figure.", "", "For which he for Sibille his suster sente,", "That called was Cassandre eek al aboute;", "And al his dreem he tolde hir er he stente,", "And hir bisoughte assoilen him the doute", "Of the stronge boor, with tuskes stoute;", "And fynally, with-inne a litel stounde,", "Cassandre him gan right thus his dreem expounde.", "", "She gan first smyle, and seyde, `O brother dere,", "If thou a sooth of this desyrest knowe,", "Thou most a fewe of olde stories here,", "To purpos, how that fortune over-throwe", "Hath lordes olde; through which, with-inne a throwe,", "Thou wel this boor shalt knowe, and of what kinde", "He comen is, as men in bokes finde.", "", "`Diane, which that wrooth was and in ire", "For Grekes nolde doon hir sacrifyse,", "Ne encens up-on hir auter sette a-fyre,", "She, for that Grekes gonne hir so dispyse,", "Wrak hir in a wonder cruel wyse.", "For with a boor as greet as oxe in stalle", "She made up frete hir corn and vynes alle.", "", "`To slee this boor was al the contree reysed,", "A-monges which ther com, this boor to see,", "A mayde, oon of this world the best y-preysed;", "And Meleagre, lord of that contree,", "He lovede so this fresshe mayden free", "That with his manhod, er he wolde stente,", "This boor he slow, and hir the heed he sente;", "", "`Of which, as olde bokes tellen us,", "Ther roos a contek and a greet envye;", "And of this lord descended Tydeus", "By ligne, or elles olde bokes lye;", "But how this Meleagre gan to dye", "Thorugh his moder, wol I yow not telle,", "For al to long it were for to dwelle.'", "", "[Argument of the 12 Books of Statius' \"Thebais\"]", "", "Associat profugum Tideo primus Polimitem;", "Tidea legatum docet insidiasque secundus;", "Tercius Hemoniden canit et vates latitantes;", "Quartus habet reges ineuntes prelia septem;", "Mox furie Lenne quinto narratur et anguis;", "Archimori bustum sexto ludique leguntur;", "Dat Graios Thebes et vatem septimus vmbria;", "Octauo cecidit Tideus, spes, vita Pelasgia;", "Ypomedon nono moritur cum Parthonopeo;", "Fulmine percussus, decimo Capaneus superatur;", "Vndecimo sese perimunt per vulnera fratres;", "Argiuam flentem narrat duodenus et igneum.", "", "She tolde eek how Tydeus, er she stente,", "Un-to the stronge citee of Thebes,", "To cleyme kingdom of the citee, wente,", "For his felawe, daun Polymites,", "Of which the brother, daun Ethyocles,", "Ful wrongfully of Thebes held the strengthe;", "This tolde she by proces, al by lengthe.", "", "She tolde eek how Hemonides asterte,", "Whan Tydeus slough fifty knightes stoute.", "She tolde eek al the prophesyes by herte,", "And how that sevene kinges, with hir route,", "Bisegeden the citee al aboute;", "And of the holy serpent, and the welle,", "And of the furies, al she gan him telle.", "", "Of Archimoris buryinge and the pleyes,", "And how Amphiorax fil through the grounde,", "How Tydeus was slayn, lord of Argeyes,", "And how Ypomedoun in litel stounde", "Was dreynt, and deed Parthonope of wounde;", "And also how Cappaneus the proude", "With thonder-dint was slayn, that cryde loude.", "", "She gan eek telle him how that either brother,", "Ethyocles and Polimyte also,", "At a scarmyche, eche of hem slough other,", "And of Argyves wepinge and hir wo;", "And how the town was brent she tolde eek tho.", "And so descendeth doun from gestes olde", "To Diomede, and thus she spak and tolde.", "", "`This ilke boor bitokneth Diomede,", "Tydeus sone, that doun descended is", "Fro Meleagre, that made the boor to blede.", "And thy lady, wher-so she be, y-wis,", "This Diomede hir herte hath, and she his.", "Weep if thou wolt, or leef; for, out of doute,", "This Diomede is inne, and thou art oute.'", "", "`Thou seyst nat sooth,' quod he, `thou sorceresse,", "With al thy false goost of prophesye!", "Thou wenest been a greet devyneresse;", "Now seestow not this fool of fantasye", "Peyneth hir on ladyes for to lye?", "Awey!' quod he. `Ther Ioves yeve thee sorwe!", "Thou shalt be fals, paraunter, yet to-morwe!", "", "`As wel thou mightest lyen on Alceste,", "That was of creatures, but men lye,", "That ever weren, kindest and the beste.", "For whanne hir housbonde was in Iupartye", "To dye him-self, but-if she wolde dye,", "She chees for him to dye and go to helle,", "And starf anoon, as us the bokes telle.'", "", "Cassandre goth, and he with cruel herte", "For-yat his wo, for angre of hir speche;", "And from his bed al sodeinly he sterte,", "As though al hool him hadde y-mad a leche.", "And day by day he gan enquere and seche", "A sooth of this, with al his fulle cure;", "And thus he dryeth forth his aventure.", "", "Fortune, whiche that permutacioun", "Of thinges hath, as it is hir committed", "Through purveyaunce and disposicioun", "Of heighe Iove, as regnes shal ben flitted", "Fro folk in folk, or whan they shal ben smitted,", "Gan pulle awey the fetheres brighte of Troye", "Fro day to day, til they ben bare of Ioye.", "", "Among al this, the fyn of the parodie", "Of Ector gan approchen wonder blyve;", "The fate wolde his soule sholde unbodie,", "And shapen hadde a mene it out to dryve;", "Ayeins which fate him helpeth not to stryve;", "But on a day to fighten gan he wende,", "At which, allas! He coughte his lyves ende.", "", "For which me thinketh every maner wight", "That haunteth armes oughte to biwayle", "The deeth of him that was so noble a knight;", "For as he drough a king by thaventayle,", "Unwar of this, Achilles through the mayle", "And through the body gan him for to ryve;", "And thus this worthy knight was brought of lyve.", "", "For whom, as olde bokes tellen us,", "Was mad swich wo, that tonge it may not telle;", "And namely, the sorwe of Troilus,", "That next him was of worthinesse welle.", "And in this wo gan Troilus to dwelle,", "That, what for sorwe, and love, and for unreste,", "Ful ofte a day he bad his herte breste.", "", "But natheles, though he gan him dispeyre,", "And dradde ay that his lady was untrewe,", "Yet ay on hir his herte gan repeyre.", "And as these loveres doon, he soughte ay newe", "To gete ayein Criseyde, bright of hewe.", "And in his herte he wente hir excusinge,", "That Calkas causede al hir taryinge.", "", "And ofte tyme he was in purpos grete", "Him-selven lyk a pilgrim to disgyse,", "To seen hir; but he may not contrefete", "To been unknowen of folk that weren wyse,", "Ne finde excuse aright that may suffyse,", "If he among the Grekes knowen were;", "For which he weep ful ofte many a tere.", "", "To hir he wroot yet ofte tyme al newe", "Ful pitously, he lefte it nought for slouthe,", "Biseching hir that, sin that he was trewe,", "She wolde come ayein and holde hir trouthe.", "For which Criseyde up-on a day, for routhe,", "I take it so, touchinge al this matere,", "Wrot him ayein, and seyde as ye may here.", "", "`Cupydes sone, ensample of goodlihede,", "O swerd of knighthod, sours of gentilesse!", "How might a wight in torment and in drede", "And helelees, yow sende as yet gladnesse?", "I hertelees, I syke, I in distresse;", "Sin ye with me, nor I with yow may dele,", "Yow neither sende ich herte may nor hele.", "", "`Your lettres ful, the papir al y-pleynted,", "Conceyved hath myn hertes pietee;", "I have eek seyn with teres al depeynted", "Your lettre, and how that ye requeren me", "To come ayein, which yet ne may not be.", "But why, lest that this lettre founden were,", "No mencioun ne make I now, for fere.", "", "`Grevous to me, god woot, is your unreste,", "Your haste, and that, the goddes ordenaunce,", "It semeth not ye take it for the beste.", "Nor other thing nis in your remembraunce,", "As thinketh me, but only your plesaunce.", "But beth not wrooth, and that I yow biseche;", "For that I tarie, is al for wikked speche.", "", "`For I have herd wel more than I wende,", "Touchinge us two, how thinges han y-stonde;", "Which I shal with dissimulinge amende.", "And beth nought wrooth, I have eek understonde,", "How ye ne doon but holden me in honde.", "But now no fors, I can not in yow gesse", "But alle trouthe and alle gentilesse.", "", "`Comen I wol, but yet in swich disioynte", "I stonde as now, that what yeer or what day", "That this shal be, that can I not apoynte.", "But in effect, I prey yow, as I may,", "Of your good word and of your frendship ay.", "For trewely, whyl that my lyf may dure,", "As for a freend, ye may in me assure.", "", "`Yet preye I yow on yvel ye ne take,", "That it is short which that I to yow wryte;", "I dar not, ther I am, wel lettres make,", "Ne never yet ne coude I wel endyte.", "Eek greet effect men wryte in place lite.", "Thentente is al, and nought the lettres space;", "And fareth now wel, god have you in his grace!", "La vostre C.'", "", "This Troilus this lettre thoughte al straunge,", "Whan he it saugh, and sorwefully he sighte;", "Him thoughte it lyk a kalendes of chaunge;", "But fynally, he ful ne trowen mighte", "That she ne wolde him holden that she highte;", "For with ful yvel wil list him to leve", "That loveth wel, in swich cas, though him greve.", "", "But natheles, men seyn that, at the laste,", "For any thing, men shal the sothe see;", "And swich a cas bitidde, and that as faste,", "That Troilus wel understood that she", "Nas not so kinde as that hir oughte be.", "And fynally, he woot now, out of doute,", "That al is lost that he hath been aboute.", "", "Stood on a day in his malencolye", "This Troilus, and in suspecioun", "Of hir for whom he wende for to dye.", "And so bifel, that through-out Troye toun,", "As was the gyse, y-bore was up and doun", "A maner cote-armure, as seyth the storie,", "Biforn Deiphebe, in signe of his victorie,", "", "The whiche cote, as telleth Lollius,", "Deiphebe it hadde y-rent from Diomede", "The same day; and whan this Troilus", "It saugh, he gan to taken of it hede,", "Avysing of the lengthe and of the brede,", "And al the werk; but as he gan biholde,", "Ful sodeinly his herte gan to colde,", "", "As he that on the coler fond with-inne", "A broche, that he Criseyde yaf that morwe", "That she from Troye moste nedes twinne,", "In remembraunce of him and of his sorwe;", "And she him leyde ayein hir feyth to borwe", "To kepe it ay; but now, ful wel he wiste,", "His lady nas no lenger on to triste.", "", "He gooth him hoom, and gan ful sone sende", "For Pandarus; and al this newe chaunce,", "And of this broche, he tolde him word and ende,", "Compleyninge of hir hertes variaunce,", "His longe love, his trouthe, and his penaunce;", "And after deeth, with-outen wordes more,", "Ful faste he cryde, his reste him to restore.", "", "Than spak he thus, `O lady myn Criseyde,", "Wher is your feyth, and wher is your biheste?", "Wher is your love, wher is your trouthe,' he seyde;", "`Of Diomede have ye now al this feste!", "Allas, I wolde have trowed at the leste.", "That, sin ye nolde in trouthe to me stonde,", "That ye thus nolde han holden me in honde!", "", "`Who shal now trowe on any othes mo?", "Allas, I never wolde han wend, er this,", "That ye, Criseyde, coude han chaunged so;", "Ne, but I hadde a-gilt and doon amis,", "So cruel wende I not your herte, y-wis,", "To slee me thus; allas, your name of trouthe", "Is now for-doon, and that is al my routhe.", "", "`Was ther non other broche yow liste lete", "To feffe with your newe love,' quod he,", "`But thilke broche that I, with teres wete,", "Yow yaf, as for a remembraunce of me?", "Non other cause, allas, ne hadde ye", "But for despyt, and eek for that ye mente", "Al-outrely to shewen your entente!", "", "`Through which I see that clene out of your minde", "Ye han me cast, and I ne can nor may,", "For al this world, with-in myn herte finde", "To unloven yow a quarter of a day!", "In cursed tyme I born was, weylaway!", "That ye, that doon me al this wo endure,", "Yet love I best of any creature.", "", "`Now god,' quod he, `me sende yet the grace", "That I may meten with this Diomede!", "And trewely, if I have might and space,", "Yet shal I make, I hope, his sydes blede.", "O god,' quod he, `that oughtest taken hede", "To fortheren trouthe, and wronges to punyce,", "Why niltow doon a vengeaunce of this vyce?", "", "`O Pandare, that in dremes for to triste", "Me blamed hast, and wont art oft up-breyde,", "Now maystow see thy-selve, if that thee liste,", "How trewe is now thy nece, bright Criseyde!", "In sondry formes, god it woot,' he seyde,", "`The goddes shewen bothe Ioye and tene", "In slepe, and by my dreme it is now sene.", "", "`And certaynly, with-oute more speche,", "From hennes-forth, as ferforth as I may,", "Myn owene deeth in armes wol I seche;", "I recche not how sone be the day!", "But trewely, Criseyde, swete may,", "Whom I have ay with al my might y-served,", "That ye thus doon, I have it nought deserved.'", "", "This Pandarus, that alle these thinges herde,", "And wiste wel he seyde a sooth of this,", "He nought a word ayein to him answerde;", "For sory of his frendes sorwe he is,", "And shamed, for his nece hath doon a-mis;", "And stant, astoned of these causes tweye,", "As stille as stoon; a word ne coude he seye.", "", "But at the laste thus he spak, and seyde,", "`My brother dere, I may thee do no-more.", "What shulde I seyn? I hate, y-wis, Criseyde!", "And, god wot, I wol hate hir evermore!", "And that thou me bisoughtest doon of yore,", "Havinge un-to myn honour ne my reste", "Right no reward, I dide al that thee leste.", "", "`If I dide ought that mighte lyken thee,", "It is me leef; and of this treson now,", "God woot, that it a sorwe is un-to me!", "And dredelees, for hertes ese of yow,", "Right fayn wolde I amende it, wiste I how.", "And fro this world, almighty god I preye,", "Delivere hir sone; I can no-more seye.'", "", "Gret was the sorwe and pleynt of Troilus;", "But forth hir cours fortune ay gan to holde.", "Criseyde loveth the sone of Tydeus,", "And Troilus mot wepe in cares colde.", "Swich is this world; who-so it can biholde,", "In eche estat is litel hertes reste;", "God leve us for to take it for the beste!", "", "In many cruel batayle, out of drede,", "Of Troilus, this ilke noble knight,", "As men may in these olde bokes rede,", "Was sene his knighthod and his grete might.", "And dredelees, his ire, day and night,", "Ful cruelly the Grekes ay aboughte;", "And alwey most this Diomede he soughte.", "", "And ofte tyme, I finde that they mette", "With blody strokes and with wordes grete,", "Assayinge how hir speres weren whette;", "And god it woot, with many a cruel hete", "Gan Troilus upon his helm to bete.", "But natheles, fortune it nought ne wolde,", "Of others hond that either deyen sholde. --", "", "And if I hadde y-taken for to wryte", "The armes of this ilke worthy man,", "Than wolde I of his batailles endyte.", "But for that I to wryte first bigan", "Of his love, I have seyd as that I can.", "His worthy dedes, who-so list hem here,", "Reed Dares, he can telle hem alle y-fere.", "", "Bisechinge every lady bright of hewe,", "And every gentil womman, what she be,", "That al be that Criseyde was untrewe,", "That for that gilt she be not wrooth with me.", "Ye may hir gilt in othere bokes see;", "And gladlier I wole wryten, if yow leste,", "Penolopees trouthe and good Alceste.", "", "Ne I sey not this al-only for these men,", "But most for wommen that bitraysed be", "Through false folk; god yeve hem sorwe, amen!", "That with hir grete wit and subtiltee", "Bitrayse yow! And this commeveth me", "To speke, and in effect yow alle I preye,", "Beth war of men, and herkeneth what I seye! --", "", "Go, litel book, go litel myn tragedie,", "Ther god thy maker yet, er that he dye,", "So sende might to make in som comedie!", "But litel book, no making thou nenvye,", "But subgit be to alle poesye;", "And kis the steppes, wher-as thou seest pace", "Virgile, Ovyde, Omer, Lucan, and Stace.", "", "And for ther is so greet diversitee", "In English and in wryting of our tonge,", "So preye I god that noon miswryte thee,", "Ne thee mismetre for defaute of tonge.", "And red wher-so thou be, or elles songe,", "That thou be understonde I god beseche!", "But yet to purpos of my rather speche. --", "", "The wraththe, as I began yow for to seye,", "Of Troilus, the Grekes boughten dere;", "For thousandes his hondes maden deye,", "As he that was with-outen any pere,", "Save Ector, in his tyme, as I can here.", "But weylawey, save only goddes wille,", "Dispitously him slough the fiers Achille.", "", "And whan that he was slayn in this manere,", "His lighte goost ful blisfully is went", "Up to the holownesse of the seventh spere,", "In convers letinge every element;", "And ther he saugh, with ful avysement,", "The erratik sterres, herkeninge armonye", "With sownes fulle of hevenish melodye.", "", "And doun from thennes faste he gan avyse", "This litel spot of erthe, that with the see", "Embraced is, and fully gan despyse", "This wrecched world, and held al vanitee", "To respect of the pleyn felicitee", "That is in hevene above; and at the laste,", "Ther he was slayn, his loking doun he caste;", "", "And in him-self he lough right at the wo", "Of hem that wepten for his deeth so faste;", "And dampned al our werk that folweth so", "The blinde lust, the which that may not laste,", "And sholden al our herte on hevene caste.", "And forth he wente, shortly for to telle,", "Ther as Mercurie sorted him to dwelle. --", "", "Swich fyn hath, lo, this Troilus for love,", "Swich fyn hath al his grete worthinesse;", "Swich fyn hath his estat real above,", "Swich fyn his lust, swich fyn hath his noblesse;", "Swich fyn hath false worldes brotelnesse.", "And thus bigan his lovinge of Criseyde,", "As I have told, and in this wyse he deyde.", "", "O yonge fresshe folkes, he or she,", "In which that love up groweth with your age,", "Repeyreth hoom from worldly vanitee,", "And of your herte up-casteth the visage", "To thilke god that after his image", "Yow made, and thinketh al nis but a fayre", "This world, that passeth sone as floures fayre.", "", "And loveth him, the which that right for love", "Upon a cros, our soules for to beye,", "First starf, and roos, and sit in hevene a-bove;", "For he nil falsen no wight, dar I seye,", "That wol his herte al hoolly on him leye.", "And sin he best to love is, and most meke,", "What nedeth feyned loves for to seke?", "", "Lo here, of Payens corsed olde rytes,", "Lo here, what alle hir goddes may availle;", "Lo here, these wrecched worldes appetytes;", "Lo here, the fyn and guerdon for travaille", "Of Iove, Appollo, of Mars, of swich rascaille!", "Lo here, the forme of olde clerkes speche", "In poetrye, if ye hir bokes seche. --", "", "O moral Gower, this book I directe", "To thee, and to the philosophical Strode,", "To vouchen sauf, ther nede is, to corecte,", "Of your benignitees and zeles gode.", "And to that sothfast Crist, that starf on rode,", "With al myn herte of mercy ever I preye;", "And to the lord right thus I speke and seye:", "", "Thou oon, and two, and three, eterne on-lyve,", "That regnest ay in three and two and oon,", "Uncircumscript, and al mayst circumscryve,", "Us from visible and invisible foon", "Defende; and to thy mercy, everichoon,", "So make us, Iesus, for thy grace digne,", "For love of mayde and moder thyn benigne! Amen." ], "linecount": "2153" } ]