F. Sem.
  • ‘What, sir?’
Amour.
  • ‘Falsnesse, that apert is;
  • Than dredist thou not god?’
F. Sem.
    • ‘No, certis: Skeat1899: 6800
    • For selde in greet thing shal he spede
    • In this world, that god wol drede.
    • For folk that hem to vertu yiven ,
    • And truly on her owne liven,
    • And hem in goodnesse ay contene, Skeat1899: 6805
    • On hem is litel thrift y-sene ;
    • Such folk drinken gret misese;
    • That lyf [ne] may me never plese.
    • But see what gold han usurers,
    • And silver eek in [hir] garners, [ ] Skeat1899: 6810
    • Taylagiers, and these monyours, [ ]
    • Bailifs, bedels, provost, countours;
    • These liven wel nygh by ravyne;
    • The smale puple hem mote enclyne, [ ]
    • And they as wolves wol hem eten. Skeat1899: 6815
    • Upon the pore folk they geten
    • Ful moche of that they spende or kepe;
    • Nis none of hem that he nil strepe,
    • And wryen him-self wel atte fulle; [ ]
    • Withoute scalding they hem pulle. [ ] Skeat1899: 6820
    • The stronge the feble overgoth;
    • But I, that were my simple cloth,
    • Robbe bothe robbed and robbours ,
    • And gyle gyled and gylours. [ ]
    • By my treget, I gadre and threste Skeat1899: 6825
    • The greet tresour into my cheste,
    • That lyth with me so faste bounde
    • Myn highe paleys do I founde,
    • And my delytes I fulfille
    • With wyne at feestes at my wille, Skeat1899: 6830
    • And tables fulle of entremees; [ ]
    • I wol no lyf, but ese and pees,
    • And winne gold to spende also.
    • For whan the grete bagge is go, [ ]
    • It cometh right with my Iapes. Skeat1899: 6835
    • Make I not wel tumble myn apes?
    • To winne is alwey myn entent;
    • My purchas is better than my rent; [ ]
    • For though I shulde beten be,
    • Over-al I entremete me; Skeat1899: 6840
    • Withoute me may no wight dure.
    • I walke soules for to cure.
    • Of al the worlde cure have I
    • In brede and lengthe; boldely
    • I wol bothe preche and eek counceilen; Skeat1899: 6845
    • With hondis wille I not traveilen,
    • For of the pope I have the bulle;
    • I ne holde not my wittes dulle.
    • I wol not stinten, in my lyve, Skeat1899: 6849
    • These emperouris for to shryve,
    • Or kyngis, dukis, and lordis grete;
    • But pore folk al quyte I lete.
    • I love no such shryving, pardee,
    • But it for other cause be.
    • I rekke not of pore men, Skeat1899: 6855
    • Hir astate is not worth an hen.
    • Where fyndest thou a swinker of labour
    • Have me unto his confessour?
    • But emperesses, and duchesses,
    • Thise quenes, and eek [thise] countesses, Skeat1899: 6860
    • Thise abbesses, and eek Bigyns, [ ]
    • These grete ladyes palasyns, [ ]
    • These Ioly knightes, and baillyves,
    • Thise nonnes, and thise burgeis wyves,
    • That riche been, and eek plesing, Skeat1899: 6865
    • And thise maidens welfaring,
    • Wher-so they clad or naked be,
    • Uncounceiled goth ther noon fro me.
    • And, for her soules savetee,
    • At lord and lady, and hir meynee, Skeat1899: 6870
    • I axe, whan they hem to me shryve,
    • The propretee of al hir lyve,
    • And make hem trowe, bothe meest and leest,
    • Hir paroch-prest nis but a beest
    • Ayens me and my company, [ ] Skeat1899: 6875
    • That shrewis been as greet as I;
    • For whiche I wol not hyde in hold
    • No privetee that me is told,
    • That I by word or signe, y-wis,
    • [Nil] make hem knowe what it is, Skeat1899: 6880
    • And they wolen also tellen me;
    • They hele fro me no privitee.
    • And for to make yow hem perceyven,
    • That usen folk thus to disceyven,
    • I wol you seyn, withouten drede, Skeat1899: 6885
    • What men may in the gospel rede
    • Of Seynt Mathew, the gospelere, [ ]
    • That seith, as I shal you sey here.
    • ‘Upon the chaire of Moyses—
    • Thus is it glosed, douteles : Skeat1899: 6890
    • That is the olde testament,
    • For therby is the chaire ment—
    • Sitte Scribes and Pharisen;—
    • That is to seyn, the cursid men
    • Whiche that we ypocritis calle— Skeat1899: 6895
    • Doth that they preche, I rede you alle,
    • But doth not as they don a del,
    • That been not wery to seye wel,
    • But to do wel, no wille have they;
    • And they wolde binde on folk alwey, Skeat1899: 6900
    • That ben to [be] begyled able,
    • Burdens that ben importable;
    • On folkes shuldres thinges they couchen
    • That they nil with her fingres touchen.’
Amour.
  • ‘And why wol they not touche it?’
F. Sem.
    • ‘Why? Skeat1899: 6905
    • For hem ne list not, sikirly;
    • For sadde burdens that men taken
    • Make folkes shuldres aken.
    • And if they do ought that good be,
    • That is for folk it shulde see: Skeat1899: 6910
    • Her burdens larger maken they, [ ]
    • And make hir hemmes wyde alwey, [ ]
    • And loven setes at the table,
    • The firste and most honourable;
    • And for to han the first chaieris Skeat1899: 6915
    • In synagoges, to hem ful dere is;
    • And willen that folk hem loute and grete,
    • Whan that they passen thurgh the strete,
    • And wolen be cleped “Maister” also.
    • But they ne shulde not willen so; Skeat1899: 6920
    • The gospel is ther-ageyns, I gesse:
    • That sheweth wel hir wikkidnesse.
    • ‘Another custom use we:—
    • Of hem that wol ayens us be,
    • We hate hem deedly everichoon, Skeat1899: 6925
    • And we wol werrey hem, as oon.
    • Him that oon hatith, hate we alle,
    • And coniecte how to doon him falle.
    • And if we seen him winne honour,
    • Richesse or preys, thurgh his valour, Skeat1899: 6930
    • Provende, rent, or dignitee,
    • Ful fast, y-wis, compassen we
    • By what ladder he is clomben so;
    • And for to maken him doun to go,
    • With traisoun we wole him defame, Skeat1899: 6935
    • And doon him lese his gode name.
    • Thus from his ladder we him take,
    • And thus his freendis foes we make;
    • But word ne wite shal he noon,
    • Til alle his freendis been his foon. Skeat1899: 6940
    • For if we dide it openly,
    • We might have blame redily;
    • For hadde he wist of our malyce,
    • He hadde him kept, but he were nyce.
    • ‘Another is this, that, if so falle Skeat1899: 6945
    • That ther be oon among us alle
    • That doth a good turn, out of drede,
    • We seyn it is our alder dede. [ ]
    • Ye , sikerly, though he it feyned,
    • Or that him list, or that him deyned Skeat1899: 6950
    • A man thurgh him avaunced be;
    • Therof alle parceners be we, [ ]
    • And tellen folk, wher-so we go,
    • That man thurgh us is sprongen so.
    • And for to have of men preysing, Skeat1899: 6955
    • We purchace, thurgh our flatering,
    • Of riche men, of gret poustee,
    • Lettres, to witnesse our bountee;
    • So that man weneth, that may us see,
    • That alle vertu in us be. Skeat1899: 6960
    • And alwey pore we us feyne;
    • But how so that we begge or pleyne,
    • We ben the folk, without lesing,
    • That al thing have without having. [ ]
    • Thus be we dred of the puple, y-wis. Skeat1899: 6965
    • And gladly my purpos is this:—
    • I dele with no wight, but he
    • Have gold and tresour gret plentee;
    • Hir acqueyntaunce wel love I;
    • This is moche my desyr, shortly. Skeat1899: 6970
    • I entremete me of brocages, [ ]
    • I make pees and mariages,
    • I am gladly executour,
    • And many tymes procuratour ;
    • I am somtyme messager; Skeat1899: 6975
    • That falleth not to my mister. [ ]
    • And many tymes I make enquestes;
    • For me that office not honest is;
    • To dele with other mennes thing,
    • That is to me a gret lyking. Skeat1899: 6980
    • And if that ye have ought to do
    • In place that I repeire to,
    • I shal it speden thurgh my wit,
    • As sone as ye have told me it.
    • So that ye serve me to pay, Skeat1899: 6985
    • My servyse shal be your alway.
    • But who-so wol chastyse me,
    • Anoon my love lost hath he;
    • For I love no man in no gyse,
    • That wol me repreve or chastyse; Skeat1899: 6990
    • But I wolde al folk undirtake,
    • And of no wight no teching take;
    • For I, that other folk chastye,
    • Wol not be taught fro my folye.
    • ‘I love noon hermitage more; Skeat1899: 6995
    • Alle desertes, and holtes hore,
    • And grete wodes everichoon,
    • I lete hem to the Baptist Iohan.
    • I quethe him quyte, and him relesse
    • Of Egipt al the wildirnesse; [ ] Skeat1899: 7000
    • To fer were alle my mansiouns
    • Fro alle citees and goode tounes.
    • My paleis and myn hous make I
    • There men may renne in openly,
    • And sey that I the world forsake. Skeat1899: 7005
    • But al amidde I bilde and make
    • My hous, and swimme and pley therinne
    • Bet than a fish doth with his finne.
    • ‘Of Antecristes men am I,
    • Of whiche that Crist seith openly, Skeat1899: 7010
    • They have abit of holinesse,
    • 7012. After this line, both in Th. and G. , come ll. 7109-7158.

    • And liven in such wikkednesse.
    • Outward, lambren semen we,
    • Fulle of goodnesse and of pitee,
    • And inward we, withouten fable, Skeat1899: 7015
    • Ben gredy wolves ravisable. [ ]
    • We enviroune bothe londe and see; [ ]
    • With al the world werreyen we; [ ]
    • We wol ordeyne of alle thing,
    • Of folkes good, and her living. Skeat1899: 7020
    • ‘If ther be castel or citee
    • Wherin that any bougerons be, [ ]
    • Although that they of Milayne were,
    • For ther-of ben they blamed there:
    • Or if a wight, out of mesure, Skeat1899: 7025
    • Wolde lene his gold, and take usure,
    • For that he is so coveitous:
    • Or if he be to leccherous,
    • Or [thefe, or] haunte simonye; [ ]
    • Or provost, ful of trecherye, Skeat1899: 7030
    • Or prelat, living Iolily,
    • Or prest that halt his quene him by;
    • Or olde hores hostilers,
    • Or other bawdes or bordillers,
    • Or elles blamed of any vyce, Skeat1899: 7035
    • Of whiche men shulden doon Iustyce:
    • By alle the seyntes that we pray,
    • But they defende hem with lamprey, [ ]
    • With luce, with elis, with samons,
    • With tendre gees, and with capons, Skeat1899: 7040
    • With tartes, or with cheses fat,
    • With deynte flawnes, brode and flat,
    • With caleweys, or with pullaille, [ ]
    • With coninges, or with fyn vitaille, [ ]
    • That we, undir our clothes wyde, Skeat1899: 7045
    • Maken thurgh our golet glyde:
    • Or but he wol do come in haste
    • Roo-venisoun, [y]-bake in paste:
    • Whether so that he loure or groine, [ ]
    • He shal have of a corde a loigne, [ ] Skeat1899: 7050
    • With whiche men shal him binde and lede,
    • To brenne him for his sinful dede,
    • That men shulle here him crye and rore
    • A myle-wey aboute, and more.
    • Or elles he shal in prisoun dye, Skeat1899: 7055
    • But-if he wol [our] frendship bye,
    • Or smerten that that he hath do, [ ]
    • More than his gilt amounteth to.
    • But, and he couthe thurgh his sleight
    • Do maken up a tour of height , Skeat1899: 7060
    • Nought roughte I whether of stone or tree,
    • Or erthe, or turves though it be,
    • Though it were of no vounde stone, [ ]
    • Wrought with squyre and scantilone,
    • So that the tour were stuffed wel Skeat1899: 7065
    • With alle richesse temporel;
    • And thanne, that he wolde updresse
    • Engyns, bothe more and lesse,
    • To caste at us, by every syde—
    • To bere his goode name wyde— Skeat1899: 7070
    • Such sleightes [as] I shal yow nevene, [ ]
    • Barelles of wyne, by sixe or sevene,
    • Or gold in sakkes gret plente,
    • He shulde sone delivered be.
    • And if he have noon sich pitaunces, Skeat1899: 7075
    • Late him study in equipolences, [ ]
    • And lete lyes and fallaces,
    • If that he wolde deserve our graces;
    • Or we shal bere him such witnesse
    • Of sinne, and of his wrecchidnesse, Skeat1899: 7080
    • And doon his loos so wyde renne,
    • That al quik we shulde him brenne,
    • Or elles yeve him suche penaunce,
    • That is wel wors than the pitaunce.
    • ‘For thou shalt never, for nothing, Skeat1899: 7085
    • Con knowen aright by her clothing
    • The traitours fulle of trecherye, [ ]
    • But thou her werkis can aspye.
    • And ne hadde the good keping be [ ]
    • Whylom of the universitee, Skeat1899: 7090
    • That kepeth the key of Cristendome,
    • [They] had been turmented , alle and some. [ ]
    • Suche been the stinking [fals] prophetis; [ ]
    • Nis non of hem, that good prophete is;
    • For they, thurgh wikked entencioun, Skeat1899: 7095
    • The yeer of the incarnacioun
    • A thousand and two hundred yeer,
    • Fyve and fifty, ferther ne ner,
    • Broughten a book, with sory grace,
    • To yeven ensample in comune place, Skeat1899: 7100
    • That seide thus, though it were fable:—
    • “This is the Gospel Perdurable, [ ]
    • That fro the Holy Goost is sent.”
    • Wel were it worth to ben [y]-brent .
    • Entitled was in such manere Skeat1899: 7105
    • This book, of which I telle here.
    • Ther nas no wight in al Parys,
    • Biforn Our Lady, at parvys, [ ]
    • That [he] ne mighte bye the book ,
    • To copy, if him talent took . Skeat1899: 7110
    • Ther might he see, by greet tresoun,
    • Ful many fals comparisoun:—
    • “As moche as, thurgh his grete might, [ ]
    • Be it of hete, or of light,
    • The sunne sourmounteth the mone, Skeat1899: 7115
    • That troubler is, and chaungeth sone, [ ]
    • And the note-kernel the shelle—
    • (I scorne nat that I yow telle)—
    • Right so, withouten any gyle,
    • Sourmounteth this noble Evangyle Skeat1899: 7120
    • The word of any evangelist.”
    • And to her title they token Christ;
    • And many such comparisoun,
    • Of which I make no mencioun,
    • Might men in that boke finde, Skeat1899: 7125
    • Who-so coude of hem have minde.
    • ‘The universitee, that tho was aslepe,
    • Gan for to braide, and taken kepe;
    • And at the noys the heed up-caste,
    • Ne never sithen slepte it faste, Skeat1899: 7130
    • But up it sterte, and armes took
    • Ayens this fals horrible book,
    • Al redy bateil for to make,
    • And to the Iuge the book to take.
    • But they that broughten the book there Skeat1899: 7135
    • Hente it anoon awey, for fere;
    • They nolde shewe it more a del,
    • But thenne it kepte, and kepen wil,
    • Til such a tyme that they may see
    • That they so stronge woxen be, Skeat1899: 7140
    • That no wight may hem wel withstonde;
    • For by that book they durst not stonde.
    • Away they gonne it for to bere,
    • For they ne du ste not answere
    • By exposicioun ne glose Skeat1899: 7145
    • To that that clerkis wole appose
    • Ayens the cursednesse, y-wis,
    • That in that boke writen is.
    • Now wot I not, ne I can not see
    • What maner ende that there shal be Skeat1899: 7150
    • Of al this [boke that they hyde;
    • But yit algate they shal abyde [ ]
    • Til that they may it bet defende;
    • This trowe I best, wol be hir ende.
    • ‘Thus Antecrist abyden we, Skeat1899: 7155
    • For we ben alle of his meynee;
    • And what man that wol not be so,
    • Right sone he shal his lyf forgo.
    • 7159. Both vpon. Before this line G. and Th. wrongly insert ll. 7013-7110, 7209-7304. 7164. Th. booke; G. book.

    • We wol a puple on him areyse,
    • And thurgh our gyle doon him seise, Skeat1899: 7160
    • And him on sharpe speris ryve,
    • Or other-weyes bringe him fro lyve,
    • But-if that he wol folowe, y-wis,
    • That in our boke writen is.
    • Thus moche wol our book signifye, Skeat1899: 7165
    • That whyl [that] Peter hath maistrye,
    • May never Iohan shewe wel his might.
    • ‘Now have I you declared right
    • The mening of the bark and rinde
    • That makith the entenciouns blinde. Skeat1899: 7170
    • But now at erst I wol biginne
    • To expowne you the pith withinne:—
    • 7173, 4. Supplied by conjecture; F. Par Pierre voil le Pape entendre.

    • [And first, by Peter, as I wene, [ ]
    • The Pope himself we wolden mene,]
    • And [eek] the seculers comprehende, Skeat1899: 7175
    • That Cristes lawe wol defende,
    • And shulde it kepen and mayntenen
    • Ayeines hem that al sustenen, [ ]
    • And falsly to the puple techen.
    • [And] Iohan bitokeneth hem [that] prechen, Skeat1899: 7180
    • That ther nis lawe covenable
    • But thilke Gospel Perdurable,
    • That fro the Holy Gost was sent
    • To turne folk that been miswent.
    • The strengthe of Iohan they undirstonde Skeat1899: 7185
    • The grace in which, they seye, they stonde,
    • That doth the sinful folk converte,
    • And hem to Iesus Crist reverte.
    • ‘Ful many another horriblete
    • May men in that boke see, Skeat1899: 7190
    • That ben comaunded, douteles,
    • Ayens the lawe of Rome expres;
    • And alle with Antecrist they holden,
    • As men may in the book biholden.
    • And than comaunden they to sleen Skeat1899: 7195
    • Alle tho that with Peter been;
    • But they shal nevere have that might, [ ]
    • And, god toforn, for stryf to fight,
    • That they ne shal y-nough [men] finde
    • That Peters lawe shal have in minde, Skeat1899: 7200
    • And ever holde, and so mayntene,
    • That at the last it shal be sene
    • That they shal alle come therto,
    • For ought that they can speke or do.
    • And thilke lawe shal not stonde, Skeat1899: 7205
    • That they by Iohan have undirstonde;
    • But, maugre hem, it shal adoun,
    • And been brought to confusioun.
    • 7209. See note to l. 7159.

    • But I wol stinte of this matere,
    • For it is wonder long to here; Skeat1899: 7210
    • But hadde that ilke book endured,
    • Of better estate I were ensured;
    • And freendis have I yit, pardee,
    • That han me set in greet degree.
    • ‘Of all this world is emperour Skeat1899: 7215
    • Gyle my fader, the trechour,
    • And emperesse my moder is, [ ]
    • Maugre the Holy Gost, y-wis.
    • Our mighty linage and our route
    • Regneth in every regne aboute; Skeat1899: 7220
    • And wel is worth we [maistres] be,
    • For al this world governe we,
    • And can the folk so wel disceyve,
    • That noon our gyle can perceyve;
    • And though they doon, they dar not saye; Skeat1899: 7225
    • The sothe dar no wight biwreye.
    • But he in Cristis wrath him ledeth, [ ]
    • That more than Crist my bretheren dredeth.
    • He nis no ful good champioun,
    • That dredith such similacioun; Skeat1899: 7230
    • Nor that for peyne wole refusen
    • Us to correcten and accusen.
    • He wol not entremete by right,
    • Ne have god in his eye-sight ,
    • And therfore god shal him punyce; Skeat1899: 7235
    • But me ne rekketh of no vyce,
    • Sithen men us loven comunably,
    • And holden us for so worthy,
    • That we may folk repreve echoon,
    • And we nil have repref of noon. Skeat1899: 7240
    • Whom shulden folk worshipen so
    • But us, that stinten never mo
    • To patren whyl that folk us see, [ ]
    • Though it not so bihinde hem be?
    • ‘And where is more wood folye, Skeat1899: 7245
    • Than to enhaunce chivalrye,
    • And love noble men and gay,
    • That Ioly clothis weren alway?
    • If they be sich folk as they semen,
    • So clene, as men her clothis demen, Skeat1899: 7250
    • And that her wordis folowe her dede,
    • It is gret pite, out of drede,
    • For they wol be noon ypocritis!
    • Of hem , me thinketh [it] gret spite is;
    • I can not love hem on no syde. Skeat1899: 7255
    • But Beggers with these hodes wyde, [ ]
    • With sleighe and pale faces lene,
    • And greye clothis not ful clene,
    • But fretted ful of tatarwagges, [ ]
    • And highe shoes, knopped with dagges, [ ] Skeat1899: 7260
    • That frouncen lyke a quaile-pype, [ ]
    • Or botes riveling as a gype; [ ]
    • To such folk as I you devyse
    • Shuld princes and these lordes wyse
    • Take alle her londes and her thinges, [ ] Skeat1899: 7265
    • Bothe werre and pees, in governinges;
    • To such folk shulde a prince him yive,
    • That wolde his lyf in honour live.
    • And if they be not as they seme,
    • That serven thus the world to queme, Skeat1899: 7270
    • There wolde I dwelle, to disceyve
    • The folk, for they shal not perceyve.
    • ‘But I ne speke in no such wyse,
    • That men shulde humble abit dispyse,
    • So that no pryde ther-under be. Skeat1899: 7275
    • No man shulde hate, as thinketh me,
    • The pore man in sich clothing.
    • But god ne preiseth him no-thing,
    • That seith he hath the world forsake,
    • And hath to worldly glorie him take, Skeat1899: 7280
    • And wol of siche delyces use;
    • Who may that Begger wel excuse? [ ]
    • That papelard, that him yeldeth so, [ ]
    • And wol to worldly ese go,
    • And seith that he the world hath left, Skeat1899: 7285
    • And gredily it grypeth eft,
    • He is the hound, shame is to seyn,
    • That to his casting goth ageyn. [ ]
    • ‘But unto you dar I not lye:
    • But mighte I felen or aspye, Skeat1899: 7290
    • That ye perceyved it no-thing,
    • Ye shulden have a stark lesing
    • Right in your hond thus, to biginne,
    • I nolde it lette for no sinne.’
    • The god lough at the wonder tho, Skeat1899: 7295
    • And every wight gan laughe also,
    • And seide:—‘Lo here a man aright
    • For to be trusty to every wight!’
    • ‘Fals Semblant,’ quod Love, ‘sey to me,
    • Sith I thus have avaunced thee, Skeat1899: 7300
    • That in my court is thy dwelling,
    • And of ribaudes shalt be my king, [ ]
    • Wolt thou wel holden my forwardis ?’
F. Sem.
  • ‘Ye, sir, from hennes forewardis;
  • Hadde never your fader herebiforn Skeat1899: 7305
  • Servaunt so trewe, sith he was born.’
Amour.
F. Sem.
    • ‘Sir, put you in that aventure;
    • For though ye borowes take of me,
    • The sikerer shal ye never be Skeat1899: 7310
    • For ostages, ne sikirnesse,
    • Or chartres, for to bere witnesse.
    • I take your-self to record here,
    • That men ne may, in no manere,
    • Teren the wolf out of his hyde, Skeat1899: 7315
    • Til he be [flayn] , bak and syde, [ ]
    • Though men him bete and al defyle ;
    • What? wene ye that I wole bigyle?
    • For I am clothed mekely,
    • Ther-under is al my trechery; Skeat1899: 7320
    • Myn herte chaungeth never the mo
    • For noon abit, in which I go.
    • Though I have chere of simplenesse,
    • I am not weary of shrewednesse. [ ]
    • My lemman, Streyned-Abstinence, [ ] Skeat1899: 7325
    • Hath mister of my purveaunce;
    • She hadde ful longe ago be deed,
    • Nere my councel and my reed;
    • Lete hir allone, and you and me.’
    • And Love answerde, ‘I truste thee Skeat1899: 7330
    • Withoute borowe, for I wol noon.’
    • And Fals-Semblant, the theef, anoon,
    • Right in that ilke same place,
    • That hadde of tresoun al his face
    • Right blak withinne, and whyt withoute, Skeat1899: 7335
    • Thanketh him, gan on his knees loute.
    • Than was ther nought, but ‘Every man
    • Now to assaut, that sailen can,’
    • Quod Love, ‘and that ful hardily.’
    • Than armed they hem communly Skeat1899: 7340
    • Of sich armour as to hem fel.
    • Whan they were armed, fers and fel,
    • They wente hem forth, alle in a route,
    • And set the castel al aboute;
    • They wil nought away, for no drede, Skeat1899: 7345
    • Til it so be that they ben dede,
    • Or til they have the castel take.
    • And foure batels they gan make, [ ]
    • And parted hem in foure anoon,
    • And toke her way, and forth they goon, Skeat1899: 7350
    • The foure gates for to assaile,
    • Of whiche the kepers wol not faile;
    • For they ben neither syke ne dede,
    • But hardy folk, and stronge in dede.
    • Now wole I seyn the countenaunce Skeat1899: 7355
    • Of Fals-Semblant, and Abstinaunce,
    • That ben to Wikkid-Tonge went.
    • But first they helde her parlement,
    • Whether it to done were
    • To maken hem be knowen there, Skeat1899: 7360
    • Or elles walken forth disgysed.
    • But at the laste they devysed,
    • That they wold goon in tapinage, [ ]
    • As it were in a pilgrimage,
    • Lyk good and holy folk unfeyned. Skeat1899: 7365
    • And Dame Abstinence-Streyned
    • Took on a robe of camelyne, [ ]
    • And gan hir graithe as a Begyne .
    • A large coverchief of threde
    • She wrapped al aboute hir hede, Skeat1899: 7370
    • But she forgat not hir sautere ;
    • A peire of bedis eek she bere [ ]
    • Upon a lace, al of whyt threde,
    • On which that she hir bedes bede; [ ]
    • But she ne boughte hem never a del, Skeat1899: 7375
    • For they were geven her, I wot wel,
    • God wot, of a ful holy frere,
    • That seide he was hir fader dere,
    • To whom she hadde ofter went
    • Than any frere of his covent. Skeat1899: 7380
    • And he visyted hir also,
    • And many a sermoun seide hir to;
    • He nolde lette, for man on lyve,
    • That he ne wolde hir ofte shryve.
    • 7385-7576. From Th. ; lost in G.

    • And with so gret devocion Skeat1899: 7385
    • They maden her confession,
    • That they had ofte, for the nones,
    • Two hedes in one hood at ones. [ ]
    • Of fair shape I devyse her thee,
    • But pale of face somtyme was she; Skeat1899: 7390
    • That false traitouresse untrewe
    • Was lyk that salowe hors of hewe, [ ]
    • That in the Apocalips is shewed,
    • That signifyeth tho folk beshrewed,
    • That been al ful of trecherye, Skeat1899: 7395
    • And pale, thurgh hypocrisye;
    • For on that hors no colour is,
    • But only deed and pale, y-wis.
    • Of suche a colour enlangoured
    • Was Abstinence, y-wis, coloured; Skeat1899: 7400
    • Of her estat she her repented,
    • As her visage represented.
    • She had a burdoun al of Thefte, [ ]
    • That Gyle had yeve her of his yefte;
    • And a scrippe of Fainte Distresse, Skeat1899: 7405
    • That ful was of elengenesse, [ ]
    • And forth she walked sobrely:
    • And False-Semblant saynt, ie vous die, [ ]
    • [Had] , as it were for such mistere,
    • Don on the cope of a frere, Skeat1899: 7410
    • With chere simple, and ful pitous;
    • His looking was not disdeinous,
    • Ne proud, but meke and ful pesible.
    • About his nekke he bar a bible,
    • And squierly forth gan he gon; Skeat1899: 7415
    • And, for to reste his limmes upon,
    • He had of Treson a potente;
    • As he were feble, his way he wente.
    • But in his sleve he gan to thringe
    • A rasour sharp, and wel bytinge,
    • That was forged in a forge, Skeat1899: 7421
    • Which that men clepen Coupegorge. [ ]
    • So longe forth hir way they nomen,
    • Til they to Wicked-Tonge comen,
    • That at his gate was sitting, Skeat1899: 7425
    • And saw folk in the way passing.
    • The pilgrimes saw he faste by,
    • That beren hem ful mekely,
    • And humblely they with him mette.
    • Dame Abstinence first him grette, Skeat1899: 7430
    • And sith him False-Semblant salued,
    • And he hem; but he not remued ,
    • For he ne dredde hem not a-del.
    • For when he saw hir faces wel,
    • Alway in herte him thoughte so, Skeat1899: 7435
    • He shulde knowe hem bothe two;
    • For wel he knew Dame Abstinaunce [ ]
    • But he ne knew not Constreynaunce.
    • He knew nat that she was constrayned,
    • Ne of her theves lyfe feyned, Skeat1899: 7440
    • But wende she com of wil al free;
    • But she com in another degree;
    • And if of good wil she began,
    • That wil was failed her [as] than.
    • And Fals-Semblant had he seyn als, Skeat1899: 7445
    • But he knew nat that he was fals.
    • Yet fals was he, but his falsnesse
    • Ne coude he not espye, nor gesse;
    • For semblant was so slye wrought,
    • That falsnesse he ne espyed nought. Skeat1899: 7450
    • But haddest thou knowen him beforn,
    • Thou woldest on a boke have sworn,
    • Whan thou him saugh in thilke aray
    • That he, that whylom was so gay,
    • And of the daunce Ioly Robin, [ ] Skeat1899: 7455
    • Was tho become a Iacobin. [ ]
    • But sothely, what so men him calle,
    • Freres Prechours been good men alle;
    • Hir order wickedly they beren, [ ]
    • Suche minstrelles if [that] they weren. Skeat1899: 7460
    • So been Augustins and Cordileres, [ ]
    • And Carmes, and eek Sakked Freres,
    • And alle freres, shodde and bare,
    • (Though some of hem ben grete and square)
    • Ful holy men, as I hem deme; Skeat1899: 7465
    • Everich of hem wolde good man seme.
    • But shalt thou never of apparence [ ]
    • Seen conclude good consequence
    • In none argument, y-wis,
    • If existence al failed is. Skeat1899: 7470
    • For men may finde alway sophyme
    • The consequence to envenyme ,
    • Who-so that hath the subteltee
    • The double sentence for to see.
    • Whan the pilgrymes commen were Skeat1899: 7475
    • To Wicked-Tonge, that dwelled there,
    • Hir harneis nigh hem was algate;
    • By Wicked-Tonge adoun they sate,
    • That bad hem ner him for to come,
    • And of tydinges telle him some, Skeat1899: 7480
    • And sayde hem:—‘What cas maketh yow
    • To come into this place now?’
    • ‘Sir,’ seyde Strained-Abstinaunce,
    • ‘We, for to drye our penaunce,
    • With hertes pitous and devoute, Skeat1899: 7485
    • Are commen, as pilgrimes gon aboute;
    • Wel nigh on fote alway we go;
    • Ful dusty been our heles two;
    • And thus bothe we ben sent
    • Thurghout this world that is miswent, Skeat1899: 7490
    • To yeve ensample, and preche also.
    • To fisshen sinful men we go, [ ]
    • For other fisshing ne fisshe we.
    • And, sir, for that charitee,
    • As we be wont, herberwe we crave, Skeat1899: 7495
    • Your lyf to amende; Crist it save!
    • And, so it shulde you nat displese,
    • We wolden, if it were your ese,
    • A short sermoun unto you seyn.’
    • And Wikked-Tonge answerde ageyn, Skeat1899: 7500
    • ‘The hous,’ quod he, ‘such as ye see,
    • Shal nat be warned you for me,
    • Sey what you list, and I wol here.’
    • ‘Graunt mercy, swete sire dere!’
    • Quod alderfirst Dame Abstinence, Skeat1899: 7505
    • And thus began she hir sentence:
Const. Abstinence.
    • ‘Sir, the first vertue, certeyn,
    • The gretest, and most sovereyn
    • That may be founde in any man,
    • For having, or for wit he can, Skeat1899: 7510
    • That is, his tonge to refreyne;
    • Therto ought every wight him peyne.
    • For it is better stille be
    • Than for to speken harm, pardee!
    • And he that herkeneth it gladly, Skeat1899: 7515
    • He is no good man, sikerly.
    • And, sir, aboven al other sinne,
    • In that art thou most gilty inne.
    • Thou spake a Iape not long ago,
    • (And, sir, that was right yvel do) [ ] Skeat1899: 7520
    • Of a yong man that here repaired,
    • And never yet this place apaired.
    • Thou seydest he awaited nothing
    • But to disceyve Fair-Welcoming.
    • Ye seyde nothing sooth of that; Skeat1899: 7525
    • But, sir, ye lye; I tell you plat;
    • He ne cometh no more, ne goth, pardee!
    • I trow ye shal him never see.
    • Fair-Welcoming in prison is,
    • That ofte hath pleyed with you, er this, Skeat1899: 7530
    • The fairest games that he coude,
    • Withoute filthe, stille or loude;
    • Now dar [he] nat [him]self solace.
    • Ye han also the man do chace, [ ]
    • That he dar neither come ne go. Skeat1899: 7535
    • What meveth you to hate him so
    • But properly your wikked thought,
    • That many a fals lesing hath thought? [ ]
    • That meveth your foole eloquence,
    • That iangleth ever in audience, Skeat1899: 7540
    • And on the folk areyseth blame,
    • And doth hem dishonour and shame,
    • For thing that may have no preving,
    • But lyklinesse, and contriving.
    • For I dar seyn, that Reson demeth, Skeat1899: 7545
    • It is not al sooth thing that semeth,
    • And it is sinne to controve
    • Thing that is [for] to reprove;
    • This wot ye wel; and, sir, therefore
    • Ye arn to blame [wel] the more. Skeat1899: 7550
    • And, nathelesse, he rekketh lyte;
    • He yeveth nat now thereof a myte;
    • For if he thoughte harm , parfay,
    • He wolde come and gon al day;
    • He coude him-selfe nat abstene. Skeat1899: 7555
    • Now cometh he nat, and that is sene,
    • For he ne taketh of it no cure,
    • But-if it be through aventure,
    • And lasse than other folk, algate.
    • And thou here watchest at the gate, Skeat1899: 7560
    • With spere in thyne arest alway;
    • There muse, musard, al the day. [ ]
    • Thou wakest night and day for thought;
    • Y-wis, thy traveyl is for nought.
    • And Ielousye, withouten faile, Skeat1899: 7565
    • Shal never quyte thee thy travaile.
    • And scathe is, that Fair-Welcoming,
    • Withouten any trespassing,
    • Shal wrongfully in prison be,
    • Ther wepeth and languissheth he. Skeat1899: 7570
    • And though thou never yet, y-wis,
    • Agiltest man no more but this,
    • (Take not a-greef) it were worthy [ ]
    • To putte thee out of this baily,
    • And afterward in prison lye, Skeat1899: 7575
    • And fettre thee til that thou dye;
    • 7577. G. begins again.

    • For thou shalt for this sinne dwelle [ ]
    • Right in the devils ers of helle,
    • But-if that thou repente thee.’
    • ‘Ma fay, thou lyest falsly!’ quod he. Skeat1899: 7580
    • ‘What? welcome with mischaunce now! [ ]
    • Have I therfore herbered you
    • To seye me shame, and eek reprove?
    • With sory happe, to your bihove,
    • Am I to-day your herbergere ! Skeat1899: 7585
    • Go, herber you elleswhere than here,
    • That han a lyer called me!
    • Two tregetours art thou and he, [ ]
    • That in myn hous do me this shame,
    • And for my soth-sawe ye me blame. Skeat1899: 7590
    • Is this the sermoun that ye make?
    • To alle the develles I me take,
    • Or elles, god, thou me confounde!
    • But er men diden this castel founde,
    • It passeth not ten dayes or twelve, Skeat1899: 7595
    • But it was told right to my-selve,
    • And as they seide, right so tolde I,
    • He kiste the Rose privily!
    • Thus seide I now, and have seid yore;
    • I not wher he dide any more. Skeat1899: 7600
    • Why shulde men sey me such a thing,
    • If it hadde been gabbing?
    • Right so seide I, and wol seye yit;
    • I trowe, I lyed not of it;
    • And with my bemes I wol blowe [ ] Skeat1899: 7605
    • To alle neighboris a-rowe,
    • How he hath bothe comen and gon.’
    • Tho spak Fals-Semblant right anon,
    • ‘Al is not gospel, out of doute,
    • That men seyn in the toune a-boute; Skeat1899: 7610
    • Ley no deef ere to my speaking;
    • I swere yow, sir, it is gabbing!
    • I trowe ye wot wel certeynly,
    • That no man loveth him tenderly
    • That seith him harm, if he wot it, Skeat1899: 7615
    • Al be he never so pore of wit.
    • And sooth is also sikerly,
    • (This knowe ye, sir, as wel as I),
    • That lovers gladly wol visyten
    • The places ther hir loves habyten. Skeat1899: 7620
    • This man you loveth and eek honoureth;
    • This man to serve you laboureth;
    • And clepeth you his freend so dere,
    • And this man maketh you good chere,
    • And every-wher that [he] you meteth, Skeat1899: 7625
    • He you saleweth , and he you greteth.
    • He preseth not so ofte, that ye
    • Ought of his come encombred be; [ ]
    • Ther presen other folk on yow
    • Ful ofter than [that] he doth now. Skeat1899: 7630
    • And if his herte him streyned so
    • Unto the Rose for to go,
    • Ye shulde him seen so ofte nede, [ ]
    • That ye shulde take him with the dede.
    • He coude his coming not forbere, Skeat1899: 7635
    • Though ye him thrilled with a spere;
    • It nere not thanne as it is now.
    • But trusteth wel, I swere it yow,
    • That it is clene out of his thought.
    • Sir, certes, he ne thenketh it nought; Skeat1899: 7640
    • No more ne doth Fair-Welcoming,
    • That sore abyeth al this thing.
    • And if they were of oon assent,
    • Ful sone were the Rose hent;
    • The maugre youres wolde be. [ ] Skeat1899: 7645
    • And sir, of o thing herkeneth me:—
    • Sith ye this man, that loveth yow,
    • Han seid such harm and shame now,
    • Witeth wel, if he gessed it,
    • Ye may wel demen in your wit, Skeat1899: 7650
    • He nolde no-thing love you so,
    • Ne callen you his freend also,
    • But night and day he [wolde] wake,
    • The castel to destroye and take,
    • If it were sooth as ye devyse; Skeat1899: 7655
    • Or som man in som maner wyse
    • Might it warne him everydel,
    • Or by him-self perceyven wel;
    • For sith he might not come and gon
    • As he was whylom wont to don, Skeat1899: 7660
    • He might it sone wite and see;
    • But now al other-wyse [doth] he.
    • Than have [ye] , sir, al-outerly
    • Deserved helle, and Iolyly [ ]
    • The deth of helle douteles, [ ] Skeat1899: 7665
    • That thrallen folk so gilteles .’
    • Fals-Semblant proveth so this thing
    • That he can noon answering,
    • And seeth alwey such apparaunce,
    • That nygh he fel in repentaunce, Skeat1899: 7670
    • And seide him:—‘Sir, it may wel be.
    • Semblant, a good man semen ye;
    • And, Abstinence, ful wyse ye seme;
    • Of o talent you bothe I deme.
    • What counceil wole ye to me yeven?’ Skeat1899: 7675
F. Sem.
  • ‘Right here anoon thou shalt be shriven,
  • And sey thy sinne withoute more;
  • Of this shalt thou repente sore;
  • For I am preest, and have poustee
  • To shryve folk of most dignitee [ ] Skeat1899: 7680
  • That been, as wyde as world may dure.
  • Of al this world I have the cure, [ ]
  • And that had never yit persoun,
  • No vicarie of no maner toun.
  • And, god wot, I have of thee Skeat1899: 7685
  • A thousand tymes more pitee
  • Than hath thy preest parochial,
  • Though he thy freend be special.
  • I have avauntage, in o wyse,
  • That your prelates ben not so wyse Skeat1899: 7690
  • Ne half so lettred as am I.
  • I am licenced boldely
  • In divinitee to rede , [ ]
  • 7694-8. From Th.

  • And to confessen, out of drede. [ ]
  • If ye wol you now confesse, Skeat1899: 7695
  • And leve your sinnes more and lesse,
  • Without abood , knele doun anon,
  • And you shal have absolucion.’ Skeat1899: 7698

Explicit.

THE MINOR POEMS.

I.: AN A. B. C.

The MSS. used to form this text are: C. = MS. Ff. 5. 30 in the Camb. Univ. Library; Jo. = MS. G. 21, in St. John’s College, Cambridge; Gl. = Glasgow MS. Q. 2. 25; L. = MS. Laud 740, in the Bodleian Library; Gg. = MS. Gg. 4. 27 in the Camb. Univ. Library; F. = MS. Fairfax 16, in the Bodleian Library; B = MS. Bodley 638; Sion = Sion Coll. MS. The text closely follows the first of these; and all variations from it are recorded ( except sometimes i for y, and y for i).

Explicit carmen.

    • A toy du monde le refui,
    • Vierge glorieuse, m’en fui
    • Tout confus, ne puis miex faire;
    • A toy me tien, a toy m’apuy.
    • Relieve moy, abatu suy:
    • Vaincu m’a mon aversaire.
    • Puis qu’en toy ont tous repaire
    • Bien me doy vers toy retraire
    • Avant que j’aie plus d’annuy.
    • N’est pas luite necessaire Skeat1899: 10
    • A moy, se tu, debonnayre,
    • Ne me sequeurs comme a autrui.
    • Bien voy que par toy confortés
    • Sera mes cuers desconfortés,
    • Quer tu es de salu porte.
    • Se je me suis mal tresportez
    • Par .vij. larrons, pechiés mortez,
    • Et erre par voie torte,
    • Esperance me conforte
    • Qui à toy hui me raporte Skeat1899: 20
    • A ce que soie deportez.
    • Ma povre arme je t’aporte:
    • Sauve la: ne vaut que morte;
    • En li sont tous biens avortez.
    • Contre moy font une accion
    • Ma vergoigne et confusion,
    • Que devant toy ne doy venir
    • Pour ma très grant transgression.
    • Rayson et desperacion
    • Contre moy veulent maintenir; Skeat1899: 30
    • Mès pour ce que veil plait fenir,
    • Devant toy les fès convenir
    • En faisant replicacion.
    • C’est que je di appartenir
    • A toy du tout et convenir
    • Pitié et miseracion.
    • Dame es de misericorde
    • Par qui Diex bien se recorde
    • A sa gent estre racordé.
    • Par toy vint pes et concorde, Skeat1899: 40
    • Et fu pour oster discorde
    • L’arc de justice descordé;
    • Et pour ce me sui acordé
    • Toi mercier et concordé,
    • Pour ce que ostas la corde;
    • Quar, ainsi com j’ay recordé,
    • S’encore fust l’arc encordé
    • Comparé l’eust ma vie orde.
    • En toy ay m’esperance eü
    • Quant a merci m’as receü Skeat1899: 50
    • Autre foys en mainte guise,
    • Du bien qui ou ciel fu creü
    • As ravivé et repeü
    • M’ame qui estoit occise.
    • Las! mès quant la grant assise
    • Sera, se n’y es assise
    • Pour moy mal y seray veü.
    • De bien n’ay nulle reprise.
    • Las m’en clain quant bien m’avise,
    • Souvent en doy dire heü! Skeat1899: 60
    • Fuiant m’en viens a ta tente
    • Moy mucier pour la tormente
    • Qui ou monde me tempeste.
    • Pour mon pechié ne t’absente,
    • A moy garder met t’entente,
    • A mon besoing soiez preste.
    • Se lonc temps j’ay esté beste
    • A ce, Vierge, je m’arreste
    • Que de ta grace me sente.
    • Si te fais aussi requeste Skeat1899: 70
    • Que ta pitié nu me veste,
    • Car je n’ay nulle autre rente.
    • Glorieuse vierge mere
    • Qui a nul onques amere
    • Ne fus en terre ne en mer,
    • Ta douceur ores m’apere
    • Et ne sueffres que mon pere
    • De devant li me jecte puer.
    • Se devant li tout vuit j’apper,
    • Et par moy ne puis eschapper Skeat1899: 80
    • Que ma faute ne compere.
    • Tu devant li pour moy te per
    • En li moustrant que, s’a li per
    • Ne sui, si est il mon frere.
    • Homme voult par sa plaisance
    • Devenir, pour aliance
    • Avoir a humain lignage.
    • Avec li crut dès enfance
    • Pitié dont j’ai esperance
    • Avoir eu en mon usage. Skeat1899: 90
    • Elle fu mise a forage
    • Quant au cuer lui vint mesage
    • Du cruel fer de la lance.
    • Ne puet estre, se sui sage,
    • Que je n’en aie avantage,
    • Se tu veus et abondance.
    • Ie ne truis par nulle voie
    • Ou mon salut si bien voie
    • Com, après Dieu, en toy le voy;
    • Quar quant aucun se desvoie, Skeat1899: 100
    • A ce que tost se ravoie,
    • De ta pitié li fais convoy.
    • Tu li fès lessier son desroy
    • Et li refaiz sa pais au roy,
    • Et remez en droite voie.
    • Moult est donc cil en bon arroy,
    • En bon atour, en bon conroy
    • Que ta grace si conroie.
    • Kalendier sont enluminé
    • Et autre livre enteriné Skeat1899: 110
    • Quant ton non les enlumine.
    • A tout meschief ont resiné
    • Ceus qui se sont acheminé
    • A toy pour leur medicine.
    • A moy donc, virge, t’encline,
    • Car a toy je m’achemine
    • Pour estre bien mediciné;
    • Ne sueffre que de gaïnne
    • Isse justice devine
    • Par quoy je soye exterminé. Skeat1899: 120
    • La douceur de toy pourtraire
    • Je ne puis, a qui retraire
    • Doit ton filz de ton sanc estrait;
    • Pour ce a toy m’ay volu traire
    • Afin que contre moy traire
    • Ne le sueuffres nul cruel trait.
    • Je recongnois bien mon mesfait
    • Et qu’au colier j’ai souvent trait
    • Dont l’en me devroit detraire;
    • Mez se tu veus tu as l’entrait Skeat1899: 130
    • Par quoy tantost sera retrait
    • Le mehain qui m’est contraire.
    • Moyses vit en figure
    • Que tu, vierge nete et pure,
    • Jesu le filz Dieu conceüs:
    • Un bysson contre nature
    • Vit qui ardoit sans arsure.
    • C’es tu, n’en suis point deceüs,
    • Dex est li feus qu’en toy eüs;
    • Et tu, buisson des recreüz Skeat1899: 140
    • Es, pour tremper leur ardure.
    • A ce veoir, vierge, veüs
    • Soie par toy et receüs,
    • Oste chaussement d’ordure.
    • Noble princesse du monde
    • Qui n’as ne per ne seconde
    • En royaume n’en enpire,
    • De toy vient, de toy redonde
    • Tout le bien qui nous abonde,
    • N’avons autre tirelire. Skeat1899: 150
    • En toy tout povre homme espire
    • Et de toy son salu tire,
    • Et en toy seule se fonde.
    • Ne puet nul penser ne dire,
    • Nul pourtraire ne escrire
    • Ta bonté comme est parfonde.
    • O Lumiere des non voians
    • Et vrai repos des recreans
    • Et de tout bien tresoriere,
    • A toy sont toutez gens beans Skeat1899: 160
    • Qui en la foy sont bien creans
    • Et en toy ont foy entiere;
    • A nul onques ne fus fiere,
    • Ains toy deïs chamberiere
    • Quant en toy vint li grans geans.
    • Or es de Dieu chanceliere
    • Et de graces aumosniere
    • Et confort a tous recreans.
    • Pris m’est volenté d’enquerre
    • Pour savoir que Diex vint querre Skeat1899: 170
    • Quant en toy se vint enserrer;
    • En toy devint vers de terre;
    • Ne cuit pas que fust pour guerre
    • Ne pour moy jus aterrer.
    • Vierge, se ne me sens errer,
    • D’armes ne me faut point ferrer
    • Fors sans plus de li requerre.
    • Quant pour moy se vint enterrer,
    • Se il ne se veut desterrer
    • Encor puis s’amour acquerre. Skeat1899: 180
    • Quant pourpensé après me sui
    • Qu’ay offendu et toy et lui,
    • Et qu’a mal est m’ame duite,
    • Que, fors pechié, en moi n’estui,
    • Et que mal hyer et pis m’est hui,
    • Tost après si me ranvite,
    • Vierge douce, se pren fuite,
    • Se je fui a la poursuite,
    • Ou fuiray, qu’a mon refui?
    • S’a nul bien je ne m’affruite Skeat1899: 190
    • Et mas sui avant que luite,
    • Plus grief encore en est l’anuy.
    • Reprens moy, mere, et chastie
    • Quar mon pere n’ose mie
    • Attendre a mon chastiement.
    • Son chastoy si fiert a hie;
    • Rien n’ataint que tout n’esmie
    • Quant il veut prendre vengement.
    • Mere, bien doi tel batement
    • Douter, quar en empirement Skeat1899: 200
    • A tous jours esté ma vie.
    • A toy dont soit le jugement,
    • Car de pitié as l’oingnement,
    • Mès que merci l’en te prie.
    • Sans toy nul bien ne foysonne
    • Et sans toy Diex riens ne donne,
    • Quar de tout t’a fet maistresse.
    • Quant tu veus trestout pardonne;
    • Et par toy est mise bonne
    • A justice la mairesse; Skeat1899: 210
    • N’est royne ne princesse
    • Pour qui nul ainsi se cesse
    • Et de droit se dessaisonne.
    • Du monde es gouverneresse,
    • Et du ciel ordeneresse;
    • Sans reson n’as pas couronne.
    • Temple saint ou Dieu habite
    • Dont privé sont li herite
    • Et a tous jours desherité,
    • A toy vieng, de toy me herite, Skeat1899: 220
    • Reçoif moy par ta merite
    • Quar de toy n’ay point hesité.
    • Et se je me sui herité
    • Des espines d’iniquité
    • Pour quoy terre fu maudite,
    • Las m’en clain en verité,
    • Car a ce fait m’a excité
    • L’ame qui n’en est pas quite.
    • Vierge de noble et haut atour,
    • Qui au chastel et a la tour Skeat1899: 230
    • De paradis nous atournes,
    • Atourne moy ens et entour
    • De tel atour que au retour
    • De ta grace me retournes,
    • Se vil sui, si me raournes.
    • A toy vieng, ne te destournes,
    • Quer au besoing es mon destour.
    • Sequeur moy, point ne sejournes,
    • Ou tu a la court m’ajournes,
    • Ou ta pitié fait son sejour. Skeat1899: 240
  • 161. C. Xp̄c (= Gk. χρς).

    163. All the MSS. insert suffred after eek, caught from the line above; see note.

    • Xristus, ton filz, qui descendi
    • En terre et en la crois pendi,
    • Ot pour moy le costé fendu.
    • Sa grant rigour il destendi
    • Quant pour moy l’esperit rendi,
    • Son corps pendant et estendu;
    • Pour moy son sanc fu espandu.
    • Se ceci j’ai bien entendu
    • A mon salut bien entendi,
    • Et pour ce, se l’ay offendu Skeat1899: 250
    • Et il ne le m’a pas rendu,
    • Merci t’en rens, graces l’en di.
    • Ysaac le prefigura
    • Qui de sa mort rien ne cura
    • En obeïsant au pere.
    • Comme .j. aignel tout endura;
    • En endurant tout espura
    • Par crueuse mort amere.
    • O très douce vierge mere,
    • Par ce fait fai que se pere Skeat1899: 260
    • Par plour l’ame qui cuer dura;
    • Fai que grace si m’apere;
    • Et n’en soiez pas avere
    • Quar largement la mesura.
    • Zacharie de mon somme
    • Me exite, et si me somme
    • D’en toy ma merci atendre;
    • Fontaine patent te nomme
    • Pour laver pecheür homme:
    • C’est leçon bonne a aprendre. Skeat1899: 270
    • Se tu donc as le cuer tendre
    • Et m’offense n’est pas mendre
    • De cil qui menga la pomme,
    • Moy laver veillez entendre,
    • Moy garder et moy deffendre,
    • Que justice ne m’asomme.

II.: THE COMPLEYNTE UNTO PITE.

The MSS. are: Tn. (Tanner 346); F. (Fairfax 16); B. (Bodley 638); Sh. (Shirley’s MS., Harl. 78); Ff. (Ff. 1. 6, in Camb. Univ. Library); T., here used for Trin. (Trin. Coll. Camb. R. 3. 19); also Ha. (Harl. 7578). I follow F. mainly, noting all variations of importance.

Title; in B.

Here endeth the exclamacion of the Deth of Pyte.

III.: THE BOOK OF THE DUCHESSE.

The MSS. are: F. (Fairfax 16); Tn. (Tanner 346); B. (Bodley 638); the fourth authority is Th. (Thynne’s edition of 1532). I follow F. mainly, and note all but very trifling variations from it. B. usually agrees with F.

Title: in F.