The compleynt of Mars.

Title. In F. Ar. Ju; T. Complaint of mars.

  • The Proem of the Compleynt.

  • ¶ The ordre of compleynt requireth skilfully, [ ] Skeat1899: 155
  • That if a wight shal pleyne pitously,
  • There mot be cause wherfor that men pleyne ;
  • Or men may deme he pleyneth folily
  • And causeles; alas! that am not I!
  • Wherfor the ground and cause of al my peyne , Skeat1899: 160
  • So as my troubled wit may hit ateyne ,
  • I wol reherse; not for to have redresse,
  • But to declare my ground of hevinesse.
  • Devotion.

    • ¶ The firste tyme, alas! that I was wroght, [ ]
    • And for certeyn effectes hider broght Skeat1899: 165
    • By him that lordeth ech intelligence,
    • I yaf my trewe servise and my thought,
    • For evermore—how dere I have hit boght!—
    • To hir, that is of so gret excellence ,
    • That what wight that first sheweth his presence, [ ] Skeat1899: 170
    • When she is wroth and taketh of him no cure,
    • He may not longe in Ioye of love endure.
    • This is no feyned mater that I telle;
    • My lady is the verrey sours and welle
    • Of beaute, lust, fredom , and gentilnesse, Skeat1899: 175
    • Of riche aray—how dere men hit selle!— [ ]
    • Of al disport in which men frendly dwelle,
    • Of love and pley, and of benigne humblesse,
    • Of soune of instruments of al swetnesse;
    • And therto so wel fortuned and thewed,
    • That through the world hir goodnesse is y-shewed.
  • A Lady in fear and woe.

    • ¶ To whom shal I than pleyne of my distresse? [ ]
    • Who may me helpe, who may my harm redresse?
    • Shal I compleyne unto my lady free?
    • Nay, certes! for she hath such hevinesse,
    • For fere and eek for wo, that, as I gesse, Skeat1899: 195
    • In litil tyme hit wol hir bane be.
    • But were she sauf , hit wer no fors of me. [ ]
    • Alas! that ever lovers mote endure,
    • For love, so many a perilous aventure!
  • Instability of Happiness.

    • And thogh he made a lover love a thing,
    • And maketh hit seme stedfast and during,
    • Yet putteth he in hit such misaventure, [ ]
    • That reste nis ther noon in his yeving. Skeat1899: 230
    • And that is wonder, that so Iust a king
    • Doth such hardnesse to his creature.
    • Thus, whether love breke or elles dure,
    • Algates he that hath with love to done
    • Hath ofter wo then changed is the mone. Skeat1899: 235
    • Hit semeth he hath to lovers enmite ,
    • And lyk a fissher, as men alday may see,
    • Baiteth his angle-hook with som plesaunce,
    • Til mony a fish is wood til that he be
    • Sesed ther-with; and then at erst hath he Skeat1899: 240
    • Al his desyr , and ther-with al mischaunce;
    • And thogh the lyne breke, he hath penaunce;
    • For with the hoke he wounded is so sore,
    • That he his wages hath for ever-more.
  • The Brooch of Thebes.

    • And whan hit was fro his possessioun,
    • Than had he double wo and passioun Skeat1899: 255
    • For he so fair a tresor had forgo;
    • But yet this broche, as in conclusioun,
    • Was not the cause of this confusioun;
    • But he that wroghte hit enfortuned hit so, [ ]
    • That every wight that had hit shuld have wo; Skeat1899: 260
    • And therfor in the worcher was the vyce,
    • And in the covetour that was so nyce. [ ]
    • So fareth hit by lovers and by me;
    • For thogh my lady have so gret beaute,
    • That I was mad til I had gete hir grace, Skeat1899: 265
    • She was not cause of myn adversite,
    • But he that wroghte hir, also mot I thee,
    • That putte suche a beaute in hir face,
    • That made me to covete and purchace
    • Myn owne deth ; him wyte I that I dye, [ ] Skeat1899: 270
    • And myn unwit , that ever I clomb so hye.
  • An Appeal for Sympathy.

    • And ye, my ladies, that ben trewe and stable,
    • By way of kinde, ye oghten to be able
    • To have pite of folk that be in peyne :
    • Now have ye cause to clothe yow in sable;
    • Sith that your emperice , the honorable, Skeat1899: 285
    • Is desolat, wel oghte ye to pleyne;
    • Now shuld your holy teres falle and reyne.
    • Alas! your honour and your emperice ,
    • Nigh deed for drede, ne can hir not chevise.
    • Compleyneth eek , ye lovers, al in-fere, Skeat1899: 290
    • For hir that, with unfeyned humble chere,
    • Was ever redy to do yow socour;
    • Compleyneth hir that ever hath had yow dere; [ ]
    • Compleyneth beaute, fredom, and manere;
    • Compleyneth hir that endeth your labour; Skeat1899: 295
    • Compleyneth thilke ensample of al honour,
    • That never dide but al gentilesse;
    • Kytheth therfor on hir som kindenesse.’ [ ] Skeat1899: 298

V.: THE PARLEMENT OF FOULES.

The authorities are: F. (Fairfax 16); Gg. (Gg. 4. 27, Cambridge Univ. Library); Trin. (Trinity Coll. Camb. R. 3. 19); Cx. (Caxton’s edition); Harl. (Harleian 7333); O. (St. John’s Coll. Oxford); Ff. (Ff. 1. 6, Cambridge Univ. Library); occasionally Tn. (Tanner 346); D. (Digby 181); and others. I follow F. mainly, corrected by Gg. ( and others ); and note all variations from F. of any consequence.

Title; Gg. has —Here begynyth the p ar lement of Foulys; D. The p ar lement of Fowlis.

  • The Proem.

    • For al be that I knowe not love in dede, [ ]
    • Ne wot how that he quyteth folk hir hyre,
    • Yet happeth me ful ofte in bokes rede Skeat1899: 10
    • Of his miracles, and his cruel yre;
    • Ther rede I wel he wol be lord and syre,
    • I dar not seyn, his strokes been so sore,
    • But God save swich a lord! I can no more.
    • Of usage, what for luste what for lore, [ ] Skeat1899: 15
    • On bokes rede I ofte, as I yow tolde.
    • But wherfor that I speke al this? not yore
    • Agon, hit happed me for to beholde
    • Upon a boke, was write with lettres olde;
    • And ther-upon, a certeyn thing to lerne, Skeat1899: 20
    • The longe day ful faste I radde and yerne.
    • For out of olde feldes, as men seith , [ ]
    • Cometh al this newe corn fro yeer to yere;
    • And out of olde bokes, in good feith ,
    • Cometh al this newe science that men lere. Skeat1899: 25
    • But now to purpos as of this matere—
    • To rede forth hit gan me so delyte,
    • That al the day me thoughte but a lyte.
    • First telleth hit, whan Scipioun was come [ ]
    • In Afrik , how he mette Massinisse,
    • That him for Ioye in armes hath y nome.
    • Than telleth [hit] hir speche and al the blisse
    • That was betwix hem, til the day gan misse; Skeat1899: 40
    • And how his auncestre, African so dere,
    • Gan in his slepe that night to him appere.
    • Than asked he, if folk that heer be dede [ ] Skeat1899: 50
    • Have lyf and dwelling in another place;
    • And African seyde, ‘ye, withoute drede,’
    • And that our present worldes lyves space
    • Nis but a maner deth, what wey we trace,
    • And rightful folk shal go , after they dye, Skeat1899: 55
    • To heven; and shewed him the galaxye . [ ]
    • Than shewed he him the litel erthe, that heer is, [ ]
    • At regard of the hevenes quantite;
    • And after shewed he him the nyne speres, [ ]
    • And after that the melodye herde he Skeat1899: 60
    • That cometh of thilke speres thryes three, [ ]
    • That welle is of musyke and melodye
    • In this world heer, and cause of armonye.
    • Than prayde him Scipioun to telle him al [ ]
    • The wey to come un-to that hevene blisse;
    • And he seyde, ‘know thy-self first immortal ,
    • And loke ay besily thou werke and wisse
    • To comun profit, and thou shalt nat misse Skeat1899: 75
    • To comen swiftly to that place dere,
    • That ful of blisse is and of soules clere.
    • The day gan failen , and the derke night, [ ] Skeat1899: 85
    • That reveth bestes from hir besinesse,
    • Berafte me my book for lakke of light,
    • And to my bedde I gan me for to dresse,
    • Fulfild of thought and besy hevinesse;
    • For bothe I hadde thing which that I nolde, [ ] Skeat1899: 90
    • Aud eek I ne hadde that thing that I wolde. [ ]
    • But fynally my spirit, at the laste,
    • For-wery of my labour al the day,
    • Took rest, that made me to slepe faste,
    • And in my slepe I mette, as I lay, Skeat1899: 95
    • How African , right in that selfe aray
    • That Scipioun him saw before that tyde,
    • Was comen, and stood right at my beddes syde.
    • The wery hunter, slepinge in his bed, [ ]
    • To wode ayein his minde goth anoon; Skeat1899: 100
    • The Iuge dremeth how his plees ben sped;
    • The carter dremeth how his cartes goon;
    • The riche, of gold; the knight fight with his foon,
    • The seke met he drinketh of the tonne;
    • The lover met he hath his lady wonne. Skeat1899: 105
    • Citherea! thou blisful lady swete, [ ]
    • That with thy fyr-brand dauntest whom thee lest, [ ]
    • And madest me this sweven for to mete, Skeat1899: 115
    • Be thou my help in this, for thou mayst best;
    • As wisly as I saw thee north-north-west, [ ]
    • When I began my sweven for to wryte,
    • So yif me might to ryme hit and endyte!
  • The Story.

    • This forseid African me hente anoon, [ ] Skeat1899: 120
    • And forth with him unto a gate broghte
    • Right of a parke, walled with grene stoon; [ ]
    • And over the gate, with lettres large y-wroghte, [ ]
    • Ther weren vers y-writen , as me thoghte,
    • On eyther halfe, of ful gret difference, [ ] Skeat1899: 125
    • Of which I shal yow sey the pleyn sentence.
    • ‘Thorgh me men goon in-to that blisful place [ ]
    • Of hertes hele and dedly woundes cure;
    • Thorgh me men goon unto the welle of Grace,
    • Ther grene and lusty May shal ever endure; Skeat1899: 130
    • This is the wey to al good aventure;
    • Be glad, thou reder, and thy sorwe of-caste,
    • Al open am I; passe in, and hy the faste!’ [ ]
    • ‘Thorgh me men goon,’ than spak that other syde,
    • ‘Unto the mortal strokes of the spere, Skeat1899: 135
    • Of which Disdayn and Daunger is the gyde,
    • Ther tree shal never fruyt ne leves bere.
    • This streem you ledeth to the sorwful were,
    • Ther as the fish in prison is al drye;
    • Theschewing is only the remedye.’ [ ] Skeat1899: 140
    • Thise vers of gold and blak y-writen were, [ ]
    • The whiche I gan a stounde to beholde, [ ]
    • For with that oon encresed ay my fere, [ ]
    • And with that other gan myn herte bolde ;
    • That oon me hette, that other did me colde, Skeat1899: 145
    • No wit had I, for errour, for to chese,
    • To entre or flee, or me to save or lese.
    • Right as, betwixen adamauntes two [ ]
    • Of even might, a pece of iren y-set ,
    • That hath no might to meve to ne fro— Skeat1899: 150
    • For what that on may hale, that other let—
    • Ferde I, that niste whether me was bet,
    • To entre or leve, til African my gyde
    • Me hente, and shoof in at the gates wyde,
    • And seyde, ‘hit stondeth writen in thy face, Skeat1899: 155
    • Thyn errour, though thou telle it not to me; [ ]
    • But dred thee nat to come in-to this place,
    • For this wryting is no-thing ment by thee, [ ]
    • Ne by noon, but he Loves servant be; [ ]
    • For thou of love hast lost thy tast , I gesse, Skeat1899: 160
    • As seek man hath of swete and bitternesse.
    • But natheles, al-though that thou be dulle,
    • Yit that thou canst not do, yit mayst thou see; [ ]
    • For many a man that may not stonde a pulle,
    • Yit lyketh him at the wrastling for to be, Skeat1899: 165
    • And demeth yit wher he do bet or he;
    • And if thou haddest cunning for tendyte ,
    • I shal thee shewen mater of to wryte.’
    • A garden saw I, ful of blosmy bowes, [ ]
    • Upon a river, in a grene mede,
    • Ther as that swetnesse evermore y-now is, [ ] Skeat1899: 185
    • With floures whyte, blewe, yelowe, and rede;
    • And colde welle-stremes, no-thing dede,
    • That swommen ful of smale fisshes lighte,
    • With finnes rede and scales silver-brighte.
    • On every bough the briddes herde I singe, Skeat1899: 190
    • With voys of aungel in hir armonye,
    • Som besyed hem hir briddes forth to bringe;
    • The litel conyes to hir pley gunne hye,
    • And further al aboute I gan espye
    • The dredful roo, the buk, the hert and hinde, Skeat1899: 195
    • Squerels , and bestes smale of gentil kinde.
    • Of instruments of strenges in acord
    • Herde I so pleye a ravisshing swetnesse,
    • That god, that maker is of al and lord,
    • Ne herde never better, as I gesse; Skeat1899: 200
    • Therwith a wind, unnethe hit might be lesse,
    • Made in the leves grene a noise softe
    • Acordant to the foules songe on-lofte.
    • The air of that place so attempre was
    • That never was grevaunce of hoot ne cold; Skeat1899: 205
    • Ther wex eek every holsom spyce and gras,
    • Ne no man may ther wexe seek ne old;
    • Yet was ther Ioye more a thousand fold
    • Then man can telle; ne never wolde it nighte,
    • But ay cleer day to any mannes sighte. Skeat1899: 210
    • Under a tree, besyde a welle, I say
    • Cupyde our lord his arwes forge and fyle;
    • And at his fete his bowe al redy lay,
    • And wel his doghter tempred al the whyle [ ]
    • The hedes in the welle, and with hir wyle Skeat1899: 215
    • She couched hem after as they shulde serve, [ ]
    • Som for to slee, and som to wounde and kerve. [ ]
    • Tho was I war of Plesaunce anon-right, [ ]
    • And of Aray, and Lust, and Curtesye;
    • And of the Craft that can and hath the might Skeat1899: 220
    • To doon by force a wight to do folye—
    • Disfigurat was she, I nil not lye;
    • And by him-self, under an oke, I gesse,
    • Sawe I Delyt, that stood with Gentilnesse.
    • Before the temple-dore ful soberly
    • Dame Pees sat, with a curteyn in hir hond: Skeat1899: 240
    • And hir besyde , wonder discretly,
    • Dame Pacience sitting ther I fond
    • With face pale, upon an hille of sond; [ ]
    • And alder-next, within and eek with-oute,
    • Behest and Art, and of hir folke a route. [ ] Skeat1899: 245
    • Within the temple, of syghes hote as fyr [ ]
    • I herde a swogh that gan aboute renne;
    • Which syghes were engendred with desyr,
    • That maden every auter for to brenne
    • Of newe flaume ; and wel aspyed I thenne Skeat1899: 250
    • That al the cause of sorwes that they drye
    • Com of the bitter goddesse Ialousye.
    • The god Priapus saw I, as I wente,
    • Within the temple, in soverayn place stonde,
    • In swich aray as whan the asse him shente [ ] Skeat1899: 255
    • With crye by night, and with his ceptre in honde;
    • Ful besily men gunne assaye and fonde
    • Upon his hede to sette, of sondry hewe,
    • Garlondes ful of fresshe floures newe.
    • And in a privee corner, in disporte, Skeat1899: 260
    • Fond I Venus and hir porter Richesse, [ ]
    • That was ful noble and hauteyn of hir porte;
    • Derk was that place, but afterward lightnesse
    • I saw a lyte, unnethe hit might be lesse,
    • And on a bed of golde she lay to reste, Skeat1899: 265
    • Til that the hote sonne gan to weste.
    • Hir gilte heres with a golden threde [ ]
    • Y-bounden were, untressed as she lay,
    • And naked fro the breste unto the hede
    • Men might hir see; and, sothly for to say, Skeat1899: 270
    • The remenant wel kevered to my pay
    • Right with a subtil kerchef of Valence, [ ]
    • Ther was no thikker cloth of no defence.
    • The place yaf a thousand savours swote,
    • And Bachus , god of wyn , sat hir besyde, [ ] Skeat1899: 275
    • And Ceres next, that doth of hunger bote;
    • And, as I seide, amiddes lay Cipryde , [ ]
    • To whom on knees two yonge folkes cryde
    • To ben hir help; but thus I leet hir lye,
    • And ferther in the temple I gan espye Skeat1899: 280
    • That, in dispyte of Diane the chaste, [ ]
    • Ful many a bowe y-broke heng on the wal [ ]
    • Of maydens, suche as gunne hir tymes waste [ ]
    • In hir servyse; and peynted over al
    • Of many a story, of which I touche shal Skeat1899: 285
    • A fewe, as of Calixte and Athalaunte, [ ]
    • And many a mayde, of which the name I wante; [ ]
    • Semyramus , Candace, and Ercules, [ ]
    • Biblis, Dido, Tisbe and Piramus,
    • Tristram, Isoude, Paris, and Achilles, Skeat1899: 290
    • Eleyne, Cleopatre, and Troilus,
    • Silla, and eek the moder of Romulus— [ ]
    • Alle these were peynted on that other syde,
    • And al hir love, and in what plyte they dyde.
    • Whan I was come ayen into the place Skeat1899: 295
    • That I of spak, that was so swote and grene, [ ]
    • Forth welk I tho, my-selven to solace.
    • Tho was I war wher that ther sat a quene [ ]
    • That, as of light the somer-sonne shene
    • Passeth the sterre, right so over mesure Skeat1899: 300
    • She fairer was than any creature.
    • And in a launde, upon an hille of floures,
    • Was set this noble goddesse Nature ;
    • Of braunches were hir halles and hir boures,
    • Y-wrought after hir craft and hir mesure; Skeat1899: 305
    • Ne ther nas foul that cometh of engendrure,
    • That they ne were prest in hir presence,
    • To take hir doom and yeve hir audience.
    • For this was on seynt Valentynes day, [ ]
    • Whan every foul cometh ther to chese his make, Skeat1899: 310
    • Of every kinde, that men thenke may;
    • And that so huge a noyse gan they make,
    • That erthe and see , and tree, and every lake
    • So ful was, that unnethe was ther space
    • For me to stonde, so ful was al the place. Skeat1899: 315
    • And right as Aleyn , in the Pleynt of Kinde, [ ]
    • Devyseth Nature of aray and face,
    • In swich aray men mighten hir ther finde.
    • This noble emperesse, ful of grace,
    • Bad every foul to take his owne place, Skeat1899: 320
    • As they were wont alwey fro yeer to yere,
    • Seynt Valentynes day, to stonden there.
    • That is to sey, the foules of ravyne [ ]
    • Were hyest set; and than the foules smale,
    • That eten as hem nature wolde enclyne, Skeat1899: 325
    • As worm, or thing of whiche I telle no tale;
    • But water-foul sat lowest in the dale ;
    • And foul that liveth by seed sat on the grene,
    • And that so fele, that wonder was to sene.
    • Ther mighte men the royal egle finde, [ ] Skeat1899: 330
    • That with his sharpe look perceth the sonne; [ ]
    • And other egles of a lower kinde, [ ]
    • Of which that clerkes wel devysen conne.
    • Ther was the tyraunt with his fethres donne [ ]
    • And greye, I mene the goshauk, that doth pyne Skeat1899: 335
    • To briddes for his outrageous ravyne.
    • The gentil faucon, that with his feet distreyneth [ ]
    • The kinges hond; the hardy sperhauk eke ,
    • The quayles foo; the merlion that peyneth [ ]
    • Him-self ful ofte, the larke for to seke; Skeat1899: 340
    • Ther was the douve, with hir eyen meke;
    • The Ialous swan, ayens his deth that singeth; [ ]
    • The oule eek, that of dethe the bode bringeth; [ ]
    • What shulde I seyn? of foules every kinde Skeat1899: 365
    • That in this worlde han fethres and stature,
    • Men mighten in that place assembled finde
    • Before the noble goddesse Nature .
    • And everich of hem did his besy cure
    • Benignely to chese or for to take, Skeat1899: 370
    • By hir acord, his formel or his make. [ ]
    • But to the poynt—Nature held on hir honde
    • A formel egle, of shap the gentileste
    • That ever she among hir werkes fonde ,
    • The most benigne and the goodlieste; Skeat1899: 375
    • In hir was every vertu at his reste,
    • So ferforth, that Nature hir-self had blisse
    • To loke on hir, and ofte hir bek to kisse.
    • Nature, the vicaire of thalmyghty lorde, [ ]
    • That hoot, cold, hevy, light, [and] moist and dreye [ ] Skeat1899: 380
    • Hath knit by even noumbre of acorde,
    • In esy vois began to speke and seye,
    • ‘Foules, tak hede of my sentence, I preye,
    • And, for your ese , in furthering of your nede,
    • As faste as I may speke, I wol me spede. Skeat1899: 385
    • Ye know wel how , seynt Valentynes day, [ ]
    • By my statut and through my governaunce,
    • Ye come for to chese—and flee your way— [ ]
    • Your makes, as I prik yow with plesaunce.
    • But natheles, my rightful ordenaunce Skeat1899: 390
    • May I not lete , for al this world to winne,
    • That he that most is worthy shal beginne.
    • The tercel egle, as that ye knowen wel ,
    • The foul royal above yow in degree,
    • The wyse and worthy, secree, trewe as stel , Skeat1899: 395
    • The which I formed have , as ye may see,
    • In every part as hit best lyketh me,
    • Hit nedeth noght his shap yow to devyse,
    • He shal first chese and speken in his gyse.
    • And after him, by order shul ye chese, Skeat1899: 400
    • After your kinde, everich as yow lyketh,
    • And, as your hap is, shul ye winne or lese;
    • But which of yow that love most entryketh,
    • God sende him hir that sorest for him syketh.’
    • And therwith-al the tercel gan she calle, Skeat1899: 405
    • And seyde, ‘my sone, the choys is to thee falle.
    • But natheles, in this condicioun
    • Mot be the choys of everich that is here,
    • That she agree to his eleccioun,
    • Who-so he be that shulde been hir fere; Skeat1899: 410
    • This is our usage alwey, fro yeer to yere ; [ ]
    • And who so may at this time have his grace,
    • In blisful tyme he com in-to this place.’ [ ]
    • With hed enclyned and with ful humble chere
    • This royal tercel spak and taried nought; Skeat1899: 415
    • ‘Unto my sovereyn lady, and noght my fere,
    • I chese, and chese with wille and herte and thought, [ ]
    • The formel on your hond so wel y-wrought,
    • Whos I am al and ever wol hir serve,
    • Do what hir list, to do me live or sterve. Skeat1899: 420
    • Beseching hir of mercy and of grace, [ ]
    • As she that is my lady sovereyne;
    • Or let me dye present in this place.
    • For certes, long may I not live in peyne;
    • For in myn herte is corven every veyne; Skeat1899: 425
    • Having reward only to my trouthe,
    • My dere herte, have on my wo som routhe.
    • And if that I to hir be founde untrewe,
    • Disobeysaunt, or wilful negligent,
    • Avauntour, or in proces love a newe, Skeat1899: 430
    • I pray to you this be my Iugement,
    • That with these foules I be al to-rent,
    • That ilke day that ever she me finde
    • To hir untrewe, or in my gilte unkinde.
    • And sin that noon loveth hir so wel as I, [ ] Skeat1899: 435
    • Al be she never of love me behette,
    • Than oghte she be myn thourgh hir mercy,
    • For other bond can I noon on hir knette .
    • For never, for no wo, ne shal I lette
    • To serven hir, how fer so that she wende; Skeat1899: 440
    • Sey what yow list, my tale is at an ende.’
    • Right as the fresshe, rede rose newe
    • Ayen the somer-sonne coloured is,
    • Right so for shame al wexen gan the hewe
    • Of this formel, whan she herde al this; Skeat1899: 445
    • She neyther answerde ‘wel,’ ne seyde amis,
    • So sore abasshed was she, til that Nature
    • Seyde, ‘doghter, drede yow noght, I yow assure.’
    • Another tercel egle spak anoon
    • Of lower kinde, and seyde, ‘that shal not be; Skeat1899: 450
    • I love hir bet than ye do, by seynt Iohn,
    • Or atte leste I love hir as wel as ye;
    • And lenger have served hir, in my degree,
    • And if she shulde have loved for long loving,
    • To me allone had been the guerdoning. Skeat1899: 455
    • I dar eek seye, if she me finde fals,
    • Unkinde, Iangler, or rebel any wyse,
    • Or Ialous, do me hongen by the hals!
    • And but I bere me in hir servyse
    • As wel as that my wit can me suffyse, Skeat1899: 460
    • Fro poynt to poynt, hir honour for to save,
    • Tak she my lyf, and al the good I have.’
    • The thridde tercel egle answerde tho,
    • ‘Now, sirs, ye seen the litel leyser here; [ ]
    • For every foul cryeth out to been a-go Skeat1899: 465
    • Forth with his make, or with his lady dere;
    • And eek Nature hir-self ne wol nought here,
    • For tarying here, noght half that I wolde seye;
    • And but I speke, I mot for sorwe deye.
    • Of long servyse avaunte I me no-thing, Skeat1899: 470
    • But as possible is me to dye to-day [ ]
    • For wo, as he that hath ben languisshing
    • Thise twenty winter , and wel happen may
    • A man may serven bet and more to pay
    • In half a yere, al-though hit were no more, Skeat1899: 475
    • Than som man doth that hath served ful yore. [ ]
    • I ne say not this by me, for I ne can
    • Do no servyse that may my lady plese;
    • But I dar seyn , I am hir trewest man
    • As to my dome, and feynest wolde hir ese ; Skeat1899: 480
    • At shorte wordes, til that deth me sese,
    • I wol ben hires , whether I wake or winke, [ ]
    • And trewe in al that herte may bethinke.’
    • Of al my lyf, sin that day I was born,
    • So gentil plee in love or other thing [ ] Skeat1899: 485
    • Ne herde never no man me beforn,
    • Who-[so] that hadde leyser and cunning
    • For to reherse hir chere and hir speking;
    • And from the morwe gan this speche laste
    • Til dounward drow the sonne wonder faste. Skeat1899: 490
    • The noyse of foules for to ben delivered
    • So loude rong, ‘have doon and let us wende!’
    • That wel wende I the wode had al to-shivered.
    • ‘Come of!’ they cryde, ‘allas! ye wil us shende!
    • Whan shal your cursed pleding have an ende? Skeat1899: 495
    • How shulde a Iuge eyther party leve,
    • For yee or nay, with-outen any preve?’
    • The goos, the cokkow, and the doke also
    • So cryden ‘kek, kek!’ ‘kukkow!’ ‘quek, quek!’ hye, [ ]
    • That thorgh myn eres the noyse wente tho. Skeat1899: 500
    • The goos seyde , ‘al this nis not worth a flye!
    • But I can shape hereof a remedye,
    • And I wol sey my verdit faire and swythe
    • For water-foul, who-so be wrooth or blythe.’ [ ]
    • I am a seed-foul, oon the unworthieste,
    • That wot I wel, and litel of kunninge;
    • But bet is that a wightes tonge reste
    • Than entremeten him of such doinge Skeat1899: 515
    • Of which he neyther rede can nor singe.
    • And who-so doth , ful foule himself acloyeth,
    • For office uncommitted ofte anoyeth.’ [ ]
    • Nature, which that alway had an ere
    • To murmour of the lewednes behinde , Skeat1899: 520
    • With facound voys seide, ‘hold your tonges there!
    • And I shal sone, I hope, a counseyl finde
    • You to delivere , and fro this noyse unbinde;
    • I Iuge , of every folk men shal oon calle [ ]
    • To seyn the verdit for you foules alle.’ Skeat1899: 525
    • Assented were to this conclusioun
    • The briddes alle; and foules of ravyne
    • Han chosen first, by pleyn eleccioun,
    • The tercelet of the faucon, to diffyne
    • Al hir sentence, and as him list , termyne; Skeat1899: 530
    • And to Nature him gonnen to presente,
    • And she accepteth him with glad entente.
    • The tercelet seide than in this manere:
    • ‘Ful hard were hit to preve hit by resoun
    • Who loveth best this gentil formel here; Skeat1899: 535
    • For everich hath swich replicacioun,
    • That noon by skilles may be broght a-doun;
    • I can not seen that arguments avayle;
    • Than semeth hit ther moste be batayle.’
    • ‘Al redy!’ quod these egles tercels tho. Skeat1899: 540
    • ‘Nay, sirs!’ quod he, ‘if that I dorste it seye,
    • Ye doon me wrong, my tale is not y-do!
    • For sirs, ne taketh noght a-gref, I preye,
    • It may noght gon , as ye wolde, in this weye;
    • Oure is the voys that han the charge in honde, [ ] Skeat1899: 545
    • And to the Iuges dome ye moten stonde;
    • And therfor pees! I seye, as to my wit,
    • Me wolde thinke how that the worthieste
    • Of knighthode, and lengest hath used hit,
    • Moste of estat, of blode the gentileste, Skeat1899: 550
    • Were sittingest for hir, if that hir leste;
    • And of these three she wot hir-self, I trowe,
    • Which that he be, for hit is light to knowe.’
    • The water-foules han her hedes leyd
    • Togeder, and of short avysement, Skeat1899: 555
    • Whan everich had his large golee seyd, [ ]
    • They seyden sothly, al by oon assent,
    • How that ‘the goos, with hir facounde gent,
    • That so desyreth to pronounce our nede,
    • Shal telle our tale,’ and preyde ‘god hir spede.’ Skeat1899: 560
    • And for these water-foules tho began
    • The goos to speke, and in hir cakelinge
    • She seyde, ‘pees! now tak kepe every man,
    • And herkeneth which a reson I shal bringe ; [ ]
    • My wit is sharp, I love no taryinge; Skeat1899: 565
    • I seye, I rede him, though he were my brother,
    • But she wol love him, lat him love another!’
    • ‘Lo here! a parfit reson of a goos!’ [ ]
    • Quod the sperhauk; ‘never mot she thee!
    • Lo, swich hit is to have a tonge loos! Skeat1899: 570
    • Now parde, fool, yet were hit bet for thee
    • Have holde thy pees, than shewed thy nycete! [ ]
    • Hit lyth not in his wit nor in his wille,
    • But sooth is seyd, “a fool can noght be stille.” ’ [ ]
    • The laughter aroos of gentil foules alle, Skeat1899: 575
    • And right anoon the seed-foul chosen hadde
    • The turtel trewe, and gunne hir to hem calle,
    • And preyden hir to seye the sothe sadde [ ]
    • Of this matere, and asked what she radde;
    • And she answerde, that pleynly hir entente Skeat1899: 580
    • She wolde shewe, and sothly what she mente.
    • ‘Nay, god forbede a lover shulde chaunge!’
    • The turtel seyde, and wex for shame al reed;
    • ‘Thogh that his lady ever-more be straunge,
    • Yet let him serve hir ever, til he be deed; Skeat1899: 585
    • For sothe, I preyse noght the gooses reed;
    • For thogh she deyed, I wolde non other make,
    • I wol ben hires , til that the deth me take.’
    • ‘Wel bourded!’ quod the doke , ‘by my hat!
    • That men shulde alwey loven, causeles, Skeat1899: 590
    • Who can a reson finde or wit in that?
    • Daunceth he mury that is mirtheles?
    • Who shulde recche of that is reccheles?
    • Ye, quek!’ yit quod the doke, ful wel and faire,
    • ‘There been mo sterres, god wot, than a paire!’ [ ] Skeat1899: 595
    • ‘Now fy, cherl!’ quod the gentil tercelet,
    • ‘Out of the dunghil com that word ful right,
    • Thou canst noght see which thing is wel be-set:
    • Thou farest by love as oules doon by light, [ ]
    • The day hem blent, ful wel they see by night; Skeat1899: 600
    • Thy kind is of so lowe a wrechednesse,
    • That what love is, thou canst nat see ne gesse.’
    • Tho gan the cukkow putte him forth in prees [ ]
    • For foul that eteth worm, and seide blyve,
    • ‘So I,’ quod he, ‘may have my make in pees, Skeat1899: 605
    • I recche not how longe that ye stryve;
    • Lat ech of hem be soleyn al hir lyve,
    • This is my reed, sin they may not acorde;
    • This shorte lesson nedeth noght recorde.’
    • ‘Ye! have the glotoun fild ynogh his paunche, [ ] Skeat1899: 610
    • Than are we wel!’ seyde the merlioun ;
    • ‘Thou mordrer of the heysugge on the braunche [ ]
    • That broghte thee forth, thou [rewthelees] glotoun! [ ]
    • Live thou soleyn, wormes corrupcioun! [ ]
    • For no fors is of lakke of thy nature; [ ] Skeat1899: 615
    • Go, lewed be thou, whyl the world may dure!’ [ ]
    • ‘Now pees,’ quod Nature, ‘I comaunde here;
    • For I have herd al your opinioun,
    • And in effect yet be we never the nere;
    • But fynally, this is my conclusioun, [ ] Skeat1899: 620
    • That she hir-self shal han the eleccioun
    • Of whom hir list, who-so be wrooth or blythe,
    • Him that she cheest , he shal hir have as swythe. [ ]
    • For sith hit may not here discussed be
    • Who loveth hir best, as seide the tercelet, Skeat1899: 625
    • Than wol I doon hir this favour , that she [ ]
    • Shal have right him on whom hir herte is set,
    • And he hir that his herte hath on hir knet.
    • This Iuge I, Nature, for I may not lyë;
    • To noon estat I have non other . [ ] Skeat1899: 630
    • But as for counseyl for to chese a make,
    • If hit were reson, certes, than wolde I
    • Counseyle yow the royal tercel take, [ ]
    • As seide the tercelet ful skilfully,
    • As for the gentilest and most worthy, Skeat1899: 635
    • Which I have wroght so wel to my plesaunce;
    • That to yow oghte been a suffisaunce.’
    • ‘I graunte it you,’ quod she; and right anoon Skeat1899: 645
    • This formel egle spak in this degree,
    • ‘Almighty quene, unto this yeer be doon
    • I aske respit for to avysen me.
    • And after that to have my choys al free;
    • This al and som, that I wolde speke and seye; Skeat1899: 650
    • Ye gete no more, al-though ye do me deye.
    • I wol noght serven Venus ne Cupyde
    • For sothe as yet, by no manere wey.’ [ ]
    • ‘Now sin it may non other wyse betyde,’
    • Quod tho Nature, ‘here is no more to sey; Skeat1899: 655
    • Than wolde I that these foules were a-wey
    • Ech with his make, for tarying lenger here’— [ ]
    • And seyde hem thus, as ye shul after here.
    • ‘To you speke I, ye tercelets ,’ quod Nature,
    • ‘Beth of good herte and serveth, alle three; Skeat1899: 660
    • A yeer is not so longe to endure,
    • And ech of yow peyne him, in his degree,
    • For to do wel; for, god wot, quit is she
    • Fro yow this yeer; what after so befalle, [ ]
    • This entremes is dressed for you alle.’ Skeat1899: 665
    • And whan this werk al broght was to an ende,
    • To every foule Nature yaf his make
    • By even acorde, and on hir wey they wende.
    • A ! lord! the blisse and Ioye that they make!
    • For ech of hem gan other in winges take, [ ] Skeat1899: 670
    • And with hir nekkes ech gan other winde,
    • Thanking alwey the noble goddesse of kinde.
    • But first were chosen foules for to singe,
    • As yeer by yere was alwey hir usaunce
    • To singe a roundel at hir departinge, [ ] Skeat1899: 675
    • To do Nature honour and plesaunce.
    • The note, I trowe, maked was in Fraunce; [ ]
    • The wordes wer swich as ye may heer finde,
    • The nexte vers, as I now have in minde.
    • Qui bien aime a tard oublie.
    • Now welcom somer, with thy sonne softe, Skeat1899: 680
    • That hast this wintres weders over-shake,
    • And driven awey the longe nightes blake!
    • Seynt Valentyn, that art ful hy on-lofte;— [ ]
    • Thus singen smale foules for thy sake—
    • Now welcom somer, with thy sonne softe, Skeat1899: 685
    • That hast this wintres weders over-shake.
    • And with the showting , whan hir song was do, [ ]
    • That foules maden at hir flight a-way,
    • I wook, and other bokes took me to Skeat1899: 695
    • To rede upon, and yet I rede alway;
    • I hope, y-wis, to rede so som day
    • That I shal mete som thing for to fare
    • The bet; and thus to rede I nil not spare. Skeat1899: 699

Explicit tractatus de congregacione Volucrum die sancti Valentini.

Colophon. So in F; Gg. has —Explicit parliamentum Auium in die sancti Valentini tentum, secundum Galfridum Chaucer; Ff. has —Explicit Parliamentum Auium; MS. Arch. Seld. B. 24 has —Here endis the parliament of foulis; Quod Galfride Chaucere; the Longleat MS. has —Here endith the Parlement of foules.

VI.: A COMPLEINT TO HIS LADY.

Of these fragments there are but two MS. copies, viz. in Shirley’s MS. Harl. 78, here called ‘Sh.’ and in Ph. = MS. Phil. 9053, in which ( as in Ed. = ed. 1561) it is written in continuation of the Complaint unto Pity. Ph. is copied from Sh. The spelling is bad, and I alter it throughout.

  • I. ( In seven-line stanzas. )

    • The longe night , whan every creature [ ]
    • Shulde have hir rest in somwhat, as by kinde,
    • Or elles ne may hir lyf nat long endure, [ ]
    • Hit falleth most in-to my woful minde
    • How I so fer have broght my-self behinde, Skeat1899: 5
    • That, sauf the deeth, ther may no-thing me lisse,
    • So desespaired I am from alle blisse. [ ]
    • This same thoght me lasteth til the morwe, [ ]
    • And from the morwe forth til hit be eve;
    • Ther nedeth me no care for to borwe, Skeat1899: 10
    • For bothe I have good leyser and good leve;
    • Ther is no wight that wol me wo bereve
    • To wepe y-nogh, and wailen al my fille;
    • The sore spark of peyne doth me spille. [ ]
  • II. ( In Terza Rima; imperfect. )

  • 15. It seems necessary to repeat this line in order to start the series of rimes.

  • [The sore spark of peyne doth me spille;] Skeat1899: 15
  • This Love hath [eek] me set in swich a place [ ]
  • That my desyr [he] never wol fulfille; [ ]
  • For neither pitee, mercy, neither grace
  • Can I nat finde; and [fro] my sorwful herte, [ ]
  • For to be deed, I can hit nat arace. Skeat1899: 20
  • The more I love, the more she doth me smerte;
  • Through which I see, with-oute remedye,
  • That from the deeth I may no wyse asterte;
  • 24. Supplied to complete the rime from Compl. Mars, 189.

  • [For this day in hir servise shal I dye]. [ ]
  • III. ( In Terza Rima; imperfect. )

  • 25. Supplied from Compl. Pite, 22, 17.

  • [Thus am I slain, with sorwes ful dyverse; Skeat1899: 25
  • 26. Supplied from Anelida, 307.

  • Ful longe agoon I oghte have taken hede].
  • Now sothly, what she hight I wol reherse;
  • Hir name is Bountee, set in womanhede,
  • Sadnesse in youthe, and Beautee prydelees,
  • And Plesaunce, under governaunce and drede; Skeat1899: 30
  • Hir surname eek is Faire Rewthelees,
  • The Wyse, y-knit un-to Good Aventure, [ ]
  • That, for I love hir , sleeth me giltelees.
  • Hir love I best, and shal, whyl I may dure,
  • Bet than my-self an hundred thousand deel, Skeat1899: 35 [ ]
  • Than al this worldes richesse or creature . [ ]
  • Now hath nat Lovë me bestowed weel
  • To lovë, ther I never shal have part?
  • Allas! right thus is turned me the wheel, [ ]
  • Thus am I slayn with loves fyry dart. Skeat1899: 40
  • I can but love hir best, my swete fo; [ ]
  • Love hath me taught no more of his art [ ]
  • But serve alwey, and stinte for no wo.
  • IV. ( In ten-line stanzas. )

    • [With]-in my trewe careful herte ther is [ ]
    • So moche wo, and [eek] so litel blis, Skeat1899: 45
    • That wo is me that ever I was bore;
    • For al that thing which I desyre I mis, [ ]
    • And al that ever I wolde nat, I-wis,
    • That finde I redy to me evermore;
    • 50. So in Anelida, 237.

    • And of al this I not to whom me pleyne. [ ] Skeat1899: 50
    • For she that mighte me out of this bringe [ ]
    • Ne reccheth nat whether I wepe or singe;
    • So litel rewthe hath she upon my peyne.
    • Allas! whan sleping-time is , than I wake,
    • Whan I shulde daunce, for fere than I quake; [ ] Skeat1899: 55
    • 56, 59. Both lines are missing; supplied from Anelida, 181, 182.

    • [Yow rekketh never wher I flete or sinke;] [ ]
    • This hevy lyf I lede for your sake,
    • Thogh ye ther-of in no wyse hede take,
    • [For on my wo yow deyneth not to thinke.]
    • My hertes lady, and hool my lyves quene! Skeat1899: 60
    • For trewly dorste I seye, as that I fele,
    • Me semeth that your swete herte of stele
    • Is whetted now ageynes me to kene. [ ]
    • My dere herte, and best beloved fo, [ ]
    • Why lyketh yow to do me al this wo, Skeat1899: 65
    • What have I doon that greveth yow, or sayd,
    • But for I serve and love yow and no mo?
    • And whylst I live, I wol do ever so;
    • And therfor, swete, ne beth nat evil apayd.
    • For so good and so fair as [that] ye be, Skeat1899: 70
    • Hit were [a] right gret wonder but ye hadde
    • Of alle servants, bothe goode and badde;
    • And leest worthy of alle hem, I am he. [ ]
    • For bothe I love, and eek dreed yow so sore,
    • And algates moot, and have doon yow, ful yore, Skeat1899: 85
    • That bet loved is noon, ne never shal; [ ]
    • And yit I wolde beseche yow of no more
    • But leveth wel, and be nat wrooth ther-fore, [ ]
    • And lat me serve yow forth; lo! this is al.
    • For I am nat so hardy ne so wood Skeat1899: 90
    • For to desire that ye shulde love me;
    • For wel I wot, allas! that may nat be;
    • I am so litel worthy, and ye so good.
    • For ye be oon the worthiest on-lyve,
    • And I the most unlykly for to thryve; Skeat1899: 95
    • Yit, for al this, [now] witeth ye right wele,
    • That ye ne shul me from your service dryve
    • That I nil ay, with alle my wittes fyve, [ ]
    • Serve yow trewly, what wo so that I fele.
    • For I am set on yow in swich manere [ ] Skeat1899: 100
    • That, thogh ye never wil upon me rewe,
    • I moste yow love, and ever been as trewe [ ]
    • As any can or may on-lyve [here]. [ ]
    • The more that I love yow, goodly free,
    • The lasse fynde I that ye loven me; Skeat1899: 105
    • Allas! whan shal that harde wit amende?
    • Wher is now al your wommanly pitee, [ ]
    • Your gentilesse and your debonairtee,
    • Wil ye no thing ther-of upon me spende?
    • And so hool, swete, as I am youres al, Skeat1899: 110
    • And so gret wil as I have yow to serve,
    • Now, certes, and ye lete me thus sterve,
    • Yit have ye wonne ther-on but a smal.
    • For, at my knowing, I do no-thing why,
    • And this I wol beseche yow hertely, Skeat1899: 115
    • That, ther ever ye finde, whyl ye live,
    • A trewer servant to yow than am I,
    • Leveth [me] thanne, and sleeth me hardely,
    • And I my deeth to you wol al forgive.
    • And if ye finde no trewer [man than me], Skeat1899: 120
    • [Why] will ye suffre than that I thus spille,
    • And for no maner gilt but my good wille?
    • As good wer thanne untrewe as trewe to be. [ ]
  • 124-133. Unique stanza, in Ph. only.

    • But I, my lyf and deeth, to yow obeye, [ ]
    • And with right buxom herte hoolly I preye, [ ] Skeat1899: 125
    • As [is] your moste plesure, so doth by me; [ ]
    • Wel lever is me lyken yow and deye
    • Than for to any thing or thinke or seye
    • That mighte yow offende in any tyme.
    • And therfor, swete, rewe on my peynes smerte, [ ] Skeat1899: 130
    • And of your grace granteth me som drope;
    • For elles may me laste ne blis ne hope,
    • Ne dwellen in my trouble careful herte. [ ]

VII.: ANELIDA AND ARCITE.

The compleynt of feire Anelida and fals Arcite.

The chief authorities are: Harl. (Harl. 7333); F. (Fairfax 16); Tn. (Tanner 346); D. (Digby 181); Cx. (Caxton’s edition); B. (Bodley 638); Lt. (Longleat MS.). Th. = Thynne’s ed. 1532. I follow F. mainly, correcting the spelling; and give selected variations. Title from F.; B. has boke for compleynt.

  • Proem.

    • Thou ferse god of armes, Mars the rede, [ ]
    • That in the frosty country called Trace, [ ]
    • Within thy grisly temple ful of drede
    • Honoured art, as patroun of that place!
    • With thy Bellona, Pallas, ful of grace, Skeat1899: 5
    • Be present, and my song continue and gye; [ ]
    • At my beginning thus to thee I crye.
    • For hit ful depe is sonken in my minde, [ ]
    • With pitous herte in English for tendyte
    • This olde storie, in Latin which I finde, Skeat1899: 10
    • Of quene Anelida and fals Arcite,
    • That elde, which that al can frete and byte,
    • As hit hath freten mony a noble storie,
    • Hath nigh devoured out of our memorie.
    • Be favorable eek, thou Polymnia , [ ] Skeat1899: 15
    • On Parnaso that, with thy sustres glade,
    • By Elicon, not fer from Cirrea , [ ]
    • Singest with vois memorial in the shade,
    • Under the laurer which that may not fade,
    • And do that I my ship to haven winne; [ ] Skeat1899: 20
    • First folow I Stace, and after him Corinne. [ ]
  • The Story.
    Iamque domos patrias, c.; Statii Thebais, xii. 519.

    • Beforn this duk, in signe of hy victorie, [ ]
    • The trompes come, and in his baner large [ ] Skeat1899: 30
    • The image of Mars; and, in token of glorie ,
    • Men mighten seen of tresor many a charge,
    • Many a bright helm, and many a spere and targe,
    • Many a fresh knight, and many a blisful route,
    • On hors, on fote, in al the felde aboute. Skeat1899: 35
    • And whan the olde Creon gan espye
    • How that the blood roial was broght adoun, Skeat1899: 65
    • He held the cite by his tirannye,
    • And did the gentils of that regioun
    • To been his frendes, and dwellen in the toun.
    • So what for love of him, and what for awe,
    • The noble folk wer to the toune y-drawe. Skeat1899: 70
    • Among al these, Anelida the quene [ ]
    • Of Ermony was in that toun dwellinge , [ ]
    • That fairer was then is the sonne shene;
    • Through-out the world so gan hir name springe,
    • That hir to seen had every wight lykinge ; Skeat1899: 75
    • For, as of trouthe, is ther noon hir liche,
    • Of al the women in this worlde riche.
    • What shuld I seyn? she loved Arcite so,
    • That, whan that he was absent any throwe ,
    • Anon hir thoghte hir herte brast a-two;
    • For in hir sight to hir he bar him lowe, Skeat1899: 95
    • So that she wende have al his herte y-knowe;
    • But he was fals; it nas but feyned chere,
    • As nedeth not to men such craft to lere. [ ]
    • But never-the-les ful mikel besinesse
    • Had he, er that he mighte his lady winne, Skeat1899: 100
    • And swoor he wolde dyen for distresse,
    • Or from his wit he seyde he wolde twinne.
    • Alas, the whyle! for hit was routhe and sinne,
    • That she upon his sorowes wolde rewe,
    • But no-thing thenketh the fals as doth the trewe. [ ] Skeat1899: 105
    • Hir fredom fond Arcite in swich manere,
    • That al was his that she hath, moche or lyte,
    • Ne to no creature made she chere
    • Ferther than that hit lyked to Arcite;
    • Ther was no lak with which he mighte hir wyte, Skeat1899: 110
    • She was so ferforth yeven him to plese,
    • That al that lyked him, hit did hir ese .
    • Ther nas to hir no maner lettre y-sent
    • That touched love, from any maner wight,
    • That she ne shewed hit him, er hit was brent; Skeat1899: 115
    • So pleyn she was, and did hir fulle might,
    • That she nil hyden nothing from hir knight,
    • Lest he of any untrouthe hir upbreyde;
    • Withouten bode his heste she obeyde. [ ]
    • Whan she shal ete, on him is so hir thoght,
    • That wel unnethe of mete took she keep; Skeat1899: 135
    • And whan that she was to hir reste broght,
    • On him she thoghte alwey til that she sleep ;
    • Whan he was absent, prevely she weep ;
    • Thus liveth fair Anelida the quene
    • For fals Arcite, that did hir al this tene. Skeat1899: 140
    • But never-the-les, gret wonder was hit noon
    • Thogh he wer fals, for hit is kinde of man,
    • Sith Lamek was, that is so longe agoon, Skeat1899: 150 [ ]
    • To been in love as fals as ever he can;
    • He was the firste fader that began
    • To loven two, and was in bigamye;
    • And he found tentes first, but-if men lye.
    • This fals Arcite sumwhat moste he feyne, Skeat1899: 155 [ ]
    • Whan he wex fals, to covere his traitorye,
    • Right as an hors, that can both byte and pleyne ; [ ]
    • For he bar hir on honde of trecherye,
    • And swoor he coude hir doublenesse espye,
    • And al was falsnes that she to him mente ; Skeat1899: 160
    • Thus swoor this theef , and forth his way he wente . [ ]
    • Alas! what herte might enduren hit, [ ]
    • For routhe or wo, hir sorow for to telle?
    • Or what man hath the cunning or the wit?
    • Or what man might with-in the chambre dwelle, Skeat1899: 165
    • If I to him rehersen shal the helle, [ ]
    • That suffreth fair Anelida the quene
    • For fals Arcite, that did hir al this tene?
    • And thus endureth, til that she was so mate [ ]
    • That she ne hath foot on which she may sustene; [ ]
    • But forth languisshing ever in this estate, [ ]
    • Of which Arcite hath nother routhe ne tene;
    • His herte was elles-where , newe and grene, [ ] Skeat1899: 180
    • That on hir wo ne deyneth him not to thinke,
    • Him rekketh never wher she flete or sinke. [ ]
    • His newe lady holdeth him so narowe [ ]
    • Up by the brydel , at the staves ende,
    • That every word , he dradde hit as an arowe; Skeat1899: 185
    • Hir daunger made him bothe bowe and bende,
    • And as hir liste , made him turne or wende;
    • For she ne graunted him in hir livinge
    • No grace, why that he hath lust to singe;
    • Ensample of this, ye thrifty wimmen alle,
    • Take here Anelida and fals Arcite,
    • That for hir liste him ‘ dere herte ’ calle,
    • And was so meek , therfor he loved hir lyte; Skeat1899: 200
    • The kinde of mannes herte is to delyte
    • In thing that straunge is, also god me save! [ ]
    • For what he may not gete, that wolde he have.
    • Now turne we to Anelida ageyn,
    • That pyneth day by day in languisshing; Skeat1899: 205
    • But whan she saw that hir ne gat no geyn, [ ]
    • Upon a day, ful sorowfully weping,
    • She caste hir for to make a compleyning,
    • And with hir owne honde she gan hit wryte;
    • And sente hit to hir Theban knight Arcite. Skeat1899: 210