The compleynt of Anelida the quene upon fals Arcite.

Title. So in F. ( but misspelt Analida); B. The complaynt of feyre Anelida on fals Arcyte; D. Litera Annelide Regine.

  • ( Strophe. )

    • 1.
    • I wot my-self as wel as any wight; [ ] Skeat1899: 220
    • For I loved oon with al my herte and might
    • More then my-self, an hundred thousand sythe, [ ]
    • And called him my hertes lyf , my knight,
    • And was al his, as fer as hit was right;
    • And whan that he was glad, than was I blythe, Skeat1899: 225
    • And his disese was my deeth as swythe;
    • And he ayein his trouthe me had plight
    • For ever-more, his lady me to kythe.
    • 2.
    • Now is he fals, alas ! and causeles,
    • And of my wo he is so routheles, Skeat1899: 230
    • That with a worde him list not ones deyne
    • To bring ayein my sorowful herte in pees ,
    • For he is caught up in a-nother lees .
    • Right as him list, he laugheth at my peyne,
    • And I ne can myn herte not restreyne, Skeat1899: 235
    • That I ne love him alwey, never-the-les;
    • And of al this I not to whom me pleyne. [ ]
    • 3.
    • And shal I pleyne —alas! the harde stounde—
    • Un-to my foo that yaf my herte a wounde,
    • And yet desyreth that myn harm be more? Skeat1899: 240
    • Nay, certes ! ferther wol I never founde [ ]
    • Non other help , my sores for to sounde.
    • My desteny hath shapen it ful yore; [ ]
    • I wil non other medecyne ne lore;
    • I wil ben ay ther I was ones bounde, Skeat1899: 245
    • That I have seid , be seid for ever-more!
    • 4.
    • Alas! wher is become your gentilesse! [ ]
    • Your wordes ful of plesaunce and humblesse?
    • Your observaunces in so low manere,
    • And your awayting and your besinesse Skeat1899: 250
    • Upon me, that ye calden your maistresse,
    • Your sovereyn lady in this worlde here?
    • Alas! and is ther nother word ne chere
    • Ye vouchesauf upon myn hevinesse?
    • Alas! your love, I bye hit al to dere. Skeat1899: 255
  • Conclusion.

  • Than ende I thus, sith I may do no more, [ ]
  • I yeve hit up for now and ever-more;
  • For I shal never eft putten in balaunce [ ]
  • My sekernes, ne lerne of love the lore. Skeat1899: 345
  • But as the swan, I have herd seyd ful yore, [ ]
  • Ayeins his deth shal singe in his penaunce,
  • So singe I here my destiny or chaunce,
  • How that Arcite Anelida so sore
  • Hath thirled with the poynt of remembraunce! [ ] Skeat1899: 350

( Unfinished. )

VIII.: CHAUCERS WORDES UNTO ADAM, HIS OWNE SCRIVEYN.

From T. (= MS. R. 3. 20 in Trin. Coll. Library, Cambridge). It also occurs in Stowe’s edition (1561).

Title; T. has —Chauciers wordes .a. Geffrey vn-to Adame his owen scryveyne; Stowe has —Chaucers woordes vnto his owne Scriuener.

IX.: THE FORMER AGE.

From MS. I (= Ii. 3. 21, Camb. Univ. Library); also in Hh (= Hh. 4. 12, Camb. Univ. Library). I note every variation from I.

Finit Etas prima. Chaucers.

X.: FORTUNE.

Balades de visage sanz peinture.

The spelling is conformed to that of the preceding poems; the alterations though numerous are slight; as y for i, au for aw, c. The text mainly follows MS. I. (= Ii. 3. 21, Camb. Univ. Library). Other MSS. are A. (Ashmole 59); T. (Trin. Coll. Camb.); F. (Fairfax 16); B. (Bodley 638); H. (Harl. 2251).

  • I. Le Pleintif countre Fortune.

    • This wrecched worldes transmutacioun, [ ]
    • As wele or wo, now povre and now honour, [ ]
    • With-outen ordre or wys discrecioun
    • Governed is by Fortunes errour;
    • But natheles, the lak of hir favour Skeat1899: 5
    • Ne may nat don me singen, though I dye,
    • Iay tout perdu mon temps et mon labour: [ ]
    • For fynally , Fortune, I thee defye !
    • Yit is me left the light of my resoun, [ ]
    • To knowen frend fro fo in thy mirour. Skeat1899: 10
    • So muche hath yit thy whirling up and doun
    • Y-taught me for to knowen in an hour.
    • But trewely, no force of thy reddour [ ]
    • To him that over him-self hath the maystrye!
    • My suffisaunce shal be my socour: Skeat1899: 15
    • For fynally, Fortune, I thee defye!
  • II. La respounse de Fortune au Pleintif.

    • No man is wrecched, but him-self hit wene, [ ] Skeat1899: 25
    • And he that hath him-self hath suffisaunce.
    • Why seystow thanne I am to thee so kene,
    • That hast thy-self out of my governaunce? [ ]
    • Sey thus: ‘Graunt mercy of thyn haboundaunce [ ]
    • That thou hast lent or this.’ Why wolt thou stryve ? Skeat1899: 30
    • What wostow yit, how I thee wol avaunce? [ ]
    • And eek thou hast thy beste frend alyve! [ ]
    • I have thee taught divisioun bi-twene
    • Frend of effect, and frend of countenaunce; [ ]
    • Thee nedeth nat the galle of noon hyene, [ ] Skeat1899: 35
    • That cureth eyen derke fro hir penaunce;
    • Now seestow cleer, that were in ignoraunce.
    • Yit halt thyn ancre, and yit thou mayst arryve [ ]
    • Ther bountee berth the keye of my substaunce: [ ]
    • And eek thou hast thy beste frend alyve. Skeat1899: 40
    • How many have I refused to sustene,
    • Sin I thee fostred have in thy plesaunce!
    • Woltow than make a statut on thy quene [ ]
    • That I shal been ay at thyn ordinaunce?
    • Thou born art in my regne of variaunce, Skeat1899: 45
    • Aboute the wheel with other most thou dryve. [ ]
    • My lore is bet than wikke is thy grevaunce, [ ]
    • And eek thou hast thy beste frend alyve.
  • III. La respounse du Pleintif countre Fortune.

    • Thy lore I dampne , hit is adversitee. [ ]
    • My frend maystow nat reven, blind goddesse! [ ] Skeat1899: 50
    • That I thy frendes knowe, I thanke hit thee. [ ]
    • Tak hem agayn, lat hem go lye on presse! [ ]
    • The negardye in keping hir richesse [ ]
    • Prenostik is thou wolt hir tour assayle;
    • Wikke appetyt comth ay before seknesse: Skeat1899: 55
    • In general, this reule may nat fayle. [ ]
    • La respounse de Fortune countre le Pleintif.

    • Thou pinchest at my mutabilitee, [ ]
    • For I thee lente a drope of my richesse,
    • And now me lyketh to with-drawe me.
    • Why sholdestow my realtee oppresse ? Skeat1899: 60
    • The see may ebbe and flowen more or lesse;
    • The welkne hath might to shyne, reyne, or hayle;
    • Right so mot I kythen my brotelnesse .
    • In general, this reule may nat fayle.
    • Lo, thexecucion of the magestee [ ] Skeat1899: 65
    • That al purveyeth of his rightwisnesse, [ ]
    • That same thing ‘Fortune’ clepen ye,
    • Ye blinde bestes, ful of lewednesse! [ ]
    • The hevene hath propretee of sikernesse,
    • This world hath ever resteles travayle; Skeat1899: 70
    • Thy laste day is ende of myn intresse : [ ]
    • In general, this reule may nat fayle. [ ]
    • Lenvoy de Fortune.

    • Princes, I prey you of your gentilesse ,
    • Lat nat this man on me thus crye and pleyne,
    • And I shal quyte you your bisinesse [ ] Skeat1899: 75
    • 76. In I. only; the rest omit this line.

    • At my requeste, as three of you or tweyne;
    • And , but you list releve him of his peyne, [ ]
    • Preyeth his beste frend, of his noblesse,
    • That to som beter estat he may atteyne. Skeat1899: 79

Explicit.

XI.: MERCILES BEAUTE: A TRIPLE ROUNDEL.

This excellent text is from P. (MS. Pepys 2006, p. 390). I note all variations from the MS.

  • III. Escape.

    • Sin I fro Love escaped am so fat, [ ]
    • I never thenk to ben in his prison lene; [ ]
    • Sin I am free , I counte him not a bene.
    • Love hath my name y-strike out of his sclat,
    • And he is strike out of my bokes clene Skeat1899: 35
    • For ever-mo; [ther] is non other mene.
    • Sin I fro Love escaped am so fat,
    • I never thenk to ben in his prison lene;
    • Sin I am free, I counte him not a bene. Skeat1899: 39

Explicit.

XII.: TO ROSEMOUNDE. A BALADE.

From MS. Rawl. Poet. 163, leaf 114.

No title in the MS.

Readings.

Tregentil. Chaucer.

XIII.: TRUTH.

Title. Gg. has —Balade de bone conseyl; F. has —Balade.

The MSS. are At. (Addit. 10340, Brit. Museum); Gg. (Camb. Univ. Library, Gg. 4. 27); E. (Ellesmere MS.); Ct. (Cotton, Cleop. D. 7); T. (Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 20); F. (Fairfax 16); and others. The text is founded on E.

Explicit Le bon counseill de G. Chaucer.

XIV.: GENTILESSE.

Title; so in Harl., but spelt Chaucier; T. has —Balade by Chaucier.

The MSS. are A. (Ashmole 59); T. (Trin. Coll. R. 3. 20); Harl. (Harl. 7333); Ct. (Cotton, Cleopatra D. 7); Ha. (Harl. 7578); Add. (Additional 22139, Brit. Museum). Also Cx. (Caxton’s printed edition). I follow chiefly the last of these, and note variations.

XV.: LAK OF STEDFASTNESSE.

The MSS are: Harl. (Harl. 7333); T. (Trin. Coll. R. 3. 20); Ct. (Cotton, Cleop. D. 7); F. (Fairfax 16); Add. (Addit. 22139); Bann. (Bannatyne); and others. Th. = Thynne (1532). I follow Ct. chiefly. The title Balade is in F.

Title. T. Lenvoye to Kyng Richard; F. Harl. Th. Lenvoy.

Explicit.

XVI.: LENVOY DE CHAUCER A SCOGAN.

Title: so in F. and P.; Gg. has —Litera directa de Scogon per G. C.

The MSS. are: Gg. (Camb. Univ. Library, Gg. 4. 27); F. (Fairfax 16); P. (Pepys 2006). Th. = Thynne (1532). I follow F. mainly.

N.B. All have —.i. a Windesore, and — .i. a Grenewich opposite ll. 43, 45.

  • Scogan, that knelest at the stremes heed [ ]
  • Of grace, of alle honour and worthinesse,
  • In thende of which streme I am dul as deed , Skeat1899: 45
  • Forgete in solitarie wildernesse;
  • Yet, Scogan, thenke on Tullius kindenesse, [ ]
  • Minne thy frend, ther it may fructifye!
  • Far-wel , and lok thou never eft Love defye ! Skeat1899: 49

XVII.: LENVOY DE CHAUCER A BUKTON.

Title: so in MS. Fairfax 16. Second Title from Ju.

The authorities are: F. (Fairfax 16); Th. (Thynne’s edition, 1532); and a printed copy by Julian Notary (Ju.). I follow F. mainly.

Explicit.

XVIII.: THE COMPLEYNT OF VENUS.

  • I. ( The Lover’s worthiness. )

  • Title: so in F. Ff. Ar.; see Notes.

    The MSS. are: T. (Trin. Coll. Cambridge, R. 3. 20); A. (Ashmole 59); Tn. (MS. Tanner 346); F. (Fairfax 16); Ff. (MS. Ff. 1. 6. Camb. Univ. Library); Ar. (Arch. Seld. P. 24); P. (Pepys 2006); etc. Th. = Thynne (1532). I follow F. mainly.

    • Ther nis so hy comfort to my plesaunce, [ ]
    • Whan that I am in any hevinesse,
    • As for to have leyser of remembraunce
    • Upon the manhod and the worthinesse,
    • Upon the trouthe, and on the stedfastnesse Skeat1899: 5
    • Of him whos I am al, whyl I may dure;
    • Ther oghte blame me no creature,
    • For every wight preiseth his gentilesse.
    • And not-withstanding al his suffisaunce,
    • His gentil herte is of so greet humblesse
    • To me in worde, in werke , in contenaunce,
    • And me to serve is al his besinesse, Skeat1899: 20
    • That I am set in verrey sikernesse .
    • Thus oghte I blesse wel myn aventure, [ ]
    • Sith that him list me serven and honoure; [ ]
    • For every wight preiseth his gentilesse.
  • I.

    • Il n’est confort que tant de biens me face,
    • Quant je ne puis a ma dame parler,
    • Comme d’avoir temps, loisir et espace
    • De longuement en sa valour penser,
    • Et [de] ses doulz fais femenins recorder Skeat1899: 5
    • Dedens mon cuer. C’est ma vie, par m’ame,
    • Ne je ne truis nul homme qui me blasme,
    • Car chascun a joye de li loer.
    • Il a en li bonté, beauté et grace,
    • Plus que nulz homs ne saroit deviser. Skeat1899: 10
    • C’est grant ëur quant en si pou de place
    • Dieux a voulu tous les biens assembler.
    • Honneur la vuelt sur toutes honnorer.
    • Oncques ne vi si [douce et] plaisant dame
    • De toutes gens avoir si noble femme; Skeat1899: 15
    • Car chascun a joye de li loer.
    • Ou qu’elle soit, bien fait et mal efface.
    • Moult bien li siet le rire et le jouer.
    • Son cuer esbat et les autres soulace
    • Si liement qu’on ne l’en doit blasmer. Skeat1899: 20
    • De li veoir ne se puet nulz lasser.
    • Son regart vault tous les biens d’un royaume.
    • Il semble bien qu’elle est tres noble femme,
    • Car chascun a joye de li loer.
  • II.

    • Certes, Amours, c’est chose convenable Skeat1899: 25
    • Que voz grans biens [vous] faciez comparer:
    • Veillier ou lit et jeuner a la table,
    • Rire plourant et en plaignant chanter,
    • Baissier les yeux quant on doit regarder,
    • Souvent changier couleur et contenance, Skeat1899: 30
    • Plaindre en dormant et songier a la dance
    • Tout a rebours de ce qu’on vuelt trouver.
    • Jalousie, c’est l’amer du deable;
    • Elle vuelt tout veoir et escouter,
    • Ne nulz ne fait chose si raisonnable Skeat1899: 35
    • Que tout a mal ne le vueille tourner.
    • Amours, ainsi fault voz dons acheter,
    • Et vous donnez souvent sanz ordonnance
    • Assez douleur et petit de plaisance,
    • Tout a rebours de ce qu’on vuelt trouver. Skeat1899: 40
    • Pour un court temps le gieu est agreable;
    • Mais trop par est encombreux a user,
    • Et, ja soit il a dames honnorable,
    • A leurs amis est trop grief a porter.
    • Toudiz convient souffrir et endurer, Skeat1899: 45
    • Sans nul certain languir en esperance,
    • Et recevoir mainte male meschance,
    • Tout a rebours de ce qu’on vuelt trouver.
  • III.

    • Amours, sachiez que pas ne le vueil dire
    • Pour moy getter hors des amoureux las; Skeat1899: 50
    • Car j’ay porté si long temps mon martire
    • Que mon vivant ne le guerpiray pas.
    • Il me souffist d’avoir tant de soulas
    • Que veoir puisse la [belle et] gracieuse;
    • Combien qu’el est [en]vers moy dangereuse, Skeat1899: 55
    • De li servir ne serai jamaiz las.
    • Certes, Amours, quant bien droit [je] remire
    • Les haulx estas, les moyens et les bas,
    • Vous m’avez fait de tous les bons eslire,
    • A mon avis, le meilleur, en tous cas. Skeat1899: 60
    • Or aime, cuer, ainsy que tu pourras;
    • Car ja n’aras paine si doulereuse,
    • Pour ma dame, que ne me soit joieuse;
    • De li servir ne seray jamaiz las.
    • Cuer, il te doit assez plus que souffire Skeat1899: 65
    • D’avoir choisy ce[lle] que choisi as.
    • Ne quiers [or] plus royaume ne empire,
    • Car si bonne jamaiz ne trouveras,
    • Ne si belle par mes yeux ne verras:
    • C’est jeunesce sachant et savoureuse. Skeat1899: 70
    • Ja soit elle de m’amour desdaigneuse,
    • De li servir ne seray jamaiz las.

XIX.: THE COMPLEINT OF CHAUCER TO HIS EMPTY PURSE.

The MSS. are: F. (Fairfax 16); Harl (Harl. 7333); Ff. (Camb. Univ. Library, Ff. 1. 6): P. (Pepys 2006); Add. (Addit. 22139); also Cx. (Caxton’s edition); Th. (Thynne, 1532). I follow F. mainly.

Title. So in Cx. ( but with Un-to for to); F. om. empty; P. La compleint de Chaucer a sa Bourse Voide.

XX.: PROVERBS.

The MSS. are: F. (Fairfax 16); Ha. (Harl. 7578); Ad. (Addit. 16165). I follow F. mainly. Title; in F. Ha.; Ad. Prouerbe.

APPENDIX.

[ The following Poems are also probably genuine; but are placed here for lack of external evidence. ]

XXI.: AGAINST WOMEN UNCONSTANT.

Title. None in Ct.; Balade in F.; ed. 1561 has —A Balade which Chaucer made agaynst woman unconstaunt.

The text is from Ct. (Cotton, Cleopatra D. 7); that in ed. 1561 is much the same, except in spelling. Another copy in F. (Fairfax 16). A third in Ha. (Harl. 7578); of less value.

Explicit.

XXII.: AN AMOROUS COMPLEINT. (COMPLEINT DAMOURS.)

In MS. Harl. 7333, fol. 133 b and 134. Title —And next folowyng begynnith an amerowse compleynte made at wyndesore in the laste May tofore Novembre ( sic ). Also in F. (Fairfax) and B. (Bodley 638); entitled Complaynt Damours. N. B. Unmarked readings are from Harl.

Explicit.

XXIII.: A BALADE OF COMPLEYNT.

In MS. Addit. 16165, fol. 256, back; headed Balade of compleynte.

NOTES TO THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE.

The French text, a portion of which is given in the lower part of pp. 93-164, is reprinted from Le Roman de la Rose, ed. Méon, Paris, 1814.

NOTES TO THE MINOR POEMS.

I.: An A B C.

This poem is a rather free translation of a similar poem by Guillaume de Deguileville, as pointed out in the Preface, p. 60. The original is quoted beneath the English text.

Explanations of the harder words should, in general, be sought for in the Glossarial Index, though a few are discussed in the Notes.

The language of this translation is, for the most part, so simple, that but few passages call for remark. I notice, however, a few points.

Chaucer has not adhered to the complex metre of the original, but uses a stanza of eight lines of five accents in place of de Deguileville’s stanza of twelve lines of four accents.

II.: The Compleynte unto Pite.

Title. In MS. B., the poem is entitled, ‘The Complaynte vnto Pyte,’ which is right. In MS. Trin., there is a colophon—‘Here endeth the exclamacioun of the Deth of Pyte’; see p. 276. In MS. Sh. (in Shirley’s handwriting) the poem is introduced with the following words—‘And nowe here filowing [ following ] begynnethe a complaint of Pitee, made by Geffray Chaucier the aureat Poete that euer was fonde in oure vulgare to-fore hees [ for thees?] dayes.’ The first stanza may be considered as forming a Proem; stanzas 2-8, the Story; and the rest, the Bill of Complaint. The title ‘A complaint of Pitee’ is not necessarily incorrect; for of may be taken in the sense of ‘concerning,’ precisely as in the case of ‘The Vision of Piers the Plowman.’ As to the connection of this poem with the Thebaid of Statius, see notes to ll. 57 and 92.