The seuin Seages Translatit out of prois in Scottis meter be Iohne Rolland in Dalkeith, with ane Moralitie efter euerie Doctouris Tale, and siclike efter the Emprice Tale, togidder with ane louing and laude to euerie Doctour efter his awin Tale, & ane Exclamation and outcrying vpon the Empreouris wife efter hir fals contrusit Tale ... Edited, with introduction, notes, and glossary, by Geo. F. Black |
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How the Empreour committit and delyuerit his
Sone to the seuin Doctouris of Rome to leir. |
 | The seuin Seages |  |
How the Empreour committit and delyuerit his Sone to the seuin Doctouris of Rome to leir.
This Empreour vpon a tyme he lay
Intill his bed, and to him self culd say
I haue na barnis bot ane Sone to my air,
I think it best that he war put to lair,
Sen he is ȝoung, and into tender age
To leir wisdome he wil tak mair curage
Efter my deith, this Realme that he may gyde
This I think best in tyme for to prouyde.
Sa on the morne he cryit efter his clais,
And in dew tyme but mair abaid vprais.
Gart call his Lords, and counsall till him sone,
In this mater quhat thay thocht to be done.
Schawing to thame at lenth the haill mater
To his Lady quhat he had promeist air
Thay answerit all, my Lord thair is in Rome
Seuin wysest men that is in Cristindome,
Quhilkis in learning all vther thay preuaill
In all wisdome, and Science Liberaill
Thay ar but dout the seid of Salomon,
For to discus Problewm or ȝit Questioun.
Lat ane Message to thame be send but mair
Delyuer thame ȝour Sone vnto the lair
Of thair counsall the Empreour was content,
For thir Doctours ane Message sone was sent,
Vnder his Seill, and als his awin hand writ
To the Doctouris he had deliuer it.
Sa sone as thay the letters all had red
To thair veyage but tary sone thame sped
Quhen thay come to the Empreours presence
Thay salust him with laude and reuerence,
On thair best wise, as to thame culd effeir
He said to thame ȝe ar all welcum heir.
I speir at ȝow haue ȝe ony knawlege
Quhairfoir I send to ȝow seuin my Message.
Thay answerit him, the caus na way we knaw
Quhill yt ȝour grace will witchaif for to schaw
Zour graces will quhen ȝe haue schawin vs to
That to fulfill, our power we sall do.
To quhome he said, I thank ȝow Maisters all
Now vnto ȝow my erand schaw I sall.
Ane Sone alone, na ma barnis I haue,
Nor all my time na ma God to me gaue:
Appeirandlie he is to be mine air,
Thairfoir I wald he war put to the lair:
To cunning men for to haue thair doctrine,
And in ȝouth heid be vnder Discipline,
To that effect, efter my fatall det
Into my place with honour he be set,
To reule his Realme with wisdome and Iustice
Quhilk in ane Prince suld euer ring alwayis.
Thairfoir I wald ȝe seuin suld him ressaue,
And him to leirne, and into gyding haue,
And ȝe sall be rewardit weill thairfoir,
Sa haill and feir agane ȝe him restoir.
Thay thankit him all seuin with reuerence,
That he to thame of his Sone gaue credence.
Intill his bed, and to him self culd say
I haue na barnis bot ane Sone to my air,
I think it best that he war put to lair,
Sen he is ȝoung, and into tender age
To leir wisdome he wil tak mair curage
Efter my deith, this Realme that he may gyde
This I think best in tyme for to prouyde.
Sa on the morne he cryit efter his clais,
And in dew tyme but mair abaid vprais.
Gart call his Lords, and counsall till him sone,
In this mater quhat thay thocht to be done.
Schawing to thame at lenth the haill mater
To his Lady quhat he had promeist air
Thay answerit all, my Lord thair is in Rome
16
Quhilkis in learning all vther thay preuaill
In all wisdome, and Science Liberaill
Thay ar but dout the seid of Salomon,
For to discus Problewm or ȝit Questioun.
Lat ane Message to thame be send but mair
Delyuer thame ȝour Sone vnto the lair
Of thair counsall the Empreour was content,
For thir Doctours ane Message sone was sent,
Vnder his Seill, and als his awin hand writ
To the Doctouris he had deliuer it.
Sa sone as thay the letters all had red
To thair veyage but tary sone thame sped
Quhen thay come to the Empreours presence
Thay salust him with laude and reuerence,
On thair best wise, as to thame culd effeir
He said to thame ȝe ar all welcum heir.
I speir at ȝow haue ȝe ony knawlege
Quhairfoir I send to ȝow seuin my Message.
Thay answerit him, the caus na way we knaw
Quhill yt ȝour grace will witchaif for to schaw
Zour graces will quhen ȝe haue schawin vs to
That to fulfill, our power we sall do.
To quhome he said, I thank ȝow Maisters all
Now vnto ȝow my erand schaw I sall.
Ane Sone alone, na ma barnis I haue,
Nor all my time na ma God to me gaue:
Appeirandlie he is to be mine air,
Thairfoir I wald he war put to the lair:
To cunning men for to haue thair doctrine,
And in ȝouth heid be vnder Discipline,
To that effect, efter my fatall det
Into my place with honour he be set,
To reule his Realme with wisdome and Iustice
Quhilk in ane Prince suld euer ring alwayis.
17
And him to leirne, and into gyding haue,
And ȝe sall be rewardit weill thairfoir,
Sa haill and feir agane ȝe him restoir.
Thay thankit him all seuin with reuerence,
That he to thame of his Sone gaue credence.
Bot the first Maister callit Pantyllas
Began and said, becaus he eldest was,
My Lord I sall, and pleis ȝour Nobill grace
Caus ȝour ane Sone within seuin ȝeiris space,
Be als cunning in all the seuin Science,
Of wit, wisdome, and all Intelligence
As I, and all my marrowis that heir standis
Or ony man, within ȝour boundis and landis
Sa that ȝe will deliuer him to me,
This sall I do in pane of honestie.
Began and said, becaus he eldest was,
My Lord I sall, and pleis ȝour Nobill grace
Caus ȝour ane Sone within seuin ȝeiris space,
Be als cunning in all the seuin Science,
Of wit, wisdome, and all Intelligence
As I, and all my marrowis that heir standis
Or ony man, within ȝour boundis and landis
Sa that ȝe will deliuer him to me,
This sall I do in pane of honestie.
The secund Maister namit Lentalus,
Thir wordis said vnto the Empreour thus.
And pleis ȝour grace deliuer him to me
Within sex ȝeiris he sall haue mair Clergie,
Mair cunning craft in all the seuin Science
Nor I and all that now is in presence.
And as ȝe knaw I haue seruit ȝour grace
Sen I was man, in all my lyfis space.
And for rewaird I seik na vther thing
Bot ȝour ane Sone to haue in gouerning.
Thir wordis said vnto the Empreour thus.
And pleis ȝour grace deliuer him to me
Within sex ȝeiris he sall haue mair Clergie,
Mair cunning craft in all the seuin Science
Nor I and all that now is in presence.
And as ȝe knaw I haue seruit ȝour grace
Sen I was man, in all my lyfis space.
And for rewaird I seik na vther thing
Bot ȝour ane Sone to haue in gouerning.
Than spak the thrid yt namit was Craton
With ȝour gude grace I saillit the sey vpon,
In greit perrellis, and dangerous weilfair
And of ȝour grace rewaird I seik na mair,
To be sa gude, to me deliuer wald
Zour onlie Sone in gouernance to hald,
And I promeis that within ȝeiris fiue
He sall be mair cunning and Scientiue,
Nor I, and all my marrowis heir about
Vnto ȝour grace this I sall do but dout.
With ȝour gude grace I saillit the sey vpon,
In greit perrellis, and dangerous weilfair
And of ȝour grace rewaird I seik na mair,
To be sa gude, to me deliuer wald
Zour onlie Sone in gouernance to hald,
And I promeis that within ȝeiris fiue
He sall be mair cunning and Scientiue,
Nor I, and all my marrowis heir about
Vnto ȝour grace this I sall do but dout.
18
Than spak the fourt to name hecht Malquydrak
And pleis ȝour grace my seruice for to tak
In gude sessoun, in thankis and plesouris
For I my self, and my Progenitouris
Hes seruit ȝow, and ȝours our lyfis space
And na rewaird desire I of ȝour grace
Bot to witchaif on me sa greit credence,
As for to leir ȝour Sone perfite Science:
And for to be of cunning mair perfite
Nor I, and all my marrowis can Indite.
This sall he do within nixt ȝeiris four.
Or I Science and cunning sall gif ouir.
And pleis ȝour grace my seruice for to tak
In gude sessoun, in thankis and plesouris
For I my self, and my Progenitouris
Hes seruit ȝow, and ȝours our lyfis space
And na rewaird desire I of ȝour grace
Bot to witchaif on me sa greit credence,
As for to leir ȝour Sone perfite Science:
And for to be of cunning mair perfite
Nor I, and all my marrowis can Indite.
This sall he do within nixt ȝeiris four.
Or I Science and cunning sall gif ouir.
Thā spak the fyft, Iosephus hecht his name
Lord I am auld, and neuer vndefame
On ȝour counsall, and hes bene mony ȝeir,
Wald ȝe leif me ȝour ane Sone for to leir
I sall him teiche bot dout in ȝeiris thre
Als greit cunning, and als perfite Clergie
As I my self, and all my marrowis can,
Or ellis ȝe sall call me na honest man.
Na mair rewaird of ȝour grace I desire
Thocht all my life I haue seruit ȝour Impire.
Lord I am auld, and neuer vndefame
On ȝour counsall, and hes bene mony ȝeir,
Wald ȝe leif me ȝour ane Sone for to leir
I sall him teiche bot dout in ȝeiris thre
Als greit cunning, and als perfite Clergie
As I my self, and all my marrowis can,
Or ellis ȝe sall call me na honest man.
Na mair rewaird of ȝour grace I desire
Thocht all my life I haue seruit ȝour Impire.
Than spak the sext was namit Cleophas
Ane Nobill man, and cunning Clerk he was,
And said siclike as the laif said befoir,
Of ȝour gude grace rewaird I seik no moir
Bot ȝour ane Sone to haue in gouerning
Informe and teiche, and into Science bring
In cunning he salbe within twa ȝeir
That he sall haue na peregall nor peir.
Na mair rewaird at ȝow now ask will I
Quhilk ȝour gude grace I traist will not deny
Ane Nobill man, and cunning Clerk he was,
And said siclike as the laif said befoir,
Of ȝour gude grace rewaird I seik no moir
Bot ȝour ane Sone to haue in gouerning
Informe and teiche, and into Science bring
In cunning he salbe within twa ȝeir
That he sall haue na peregall nor peir.
Na mair rewaird at ȝow now ask will I
Quhilk ȝour gude grace I traist will not deny
Than said the seuint greit Maister & doctour,
Vnto ȝour grace I will do sic plesour,
Giue me ȝour Sone in credence and gyding
Within ane ȝeir I sall him giue leirning,
Sa profoundlie in all the Science seuin,
And of all Science vnderneth the heuin:
That in wisdome he sall haue na compair
Vnto ȝour grace this schortlie I declair.
For giftis of golde, nor geir I not regaird
Nor for labouris I couet na rewaird
Bot ȝour gude will, quhē the ȝeir is furth gane
The Empreour hard, and thākit thame Ilkane
And said I am Indettit to ȝow all
Vnrecompansit nane of ȝow thair be sall.
Bot not the les sen I find ȝow sa kynd
And wt gude willis hes schawin me ȝour mynd
Gif I suld him commit til ane of ȝow
Than all the rest micht weill beleue and trow
That to that ane I had mair affectioun
Than to the rest, quhilk suld caus discentioun:
Discord, Inuy, and also variance,
Quhilk in na sort amang sic men suld chance.
Thairfoir to ȝow coniunctlie all in ane
Heir I commit my Sone Dioclesiane.
My afald barne, and eik my onlie Air,
With ȝow to be Instructit weill in lair.
And him to gyde in alkin honest sort,
Quhylis to wisdome, and quhylis to game & sport:
As ȝe will answer Ilk ane vnto me,
In pane of credence and of ȝour honestie.
For be he weill, euin sa I think my sell
Do as ȝe pleis, as now na mair I tell.
Vnto ȝour grace I will do sic plesour,
Giue me ȝour Sone in credence and gyding
Within ane ȝeir I sall him giue leirning,
19
And of all Science vnderneth the heuin:
That in wisdome he sall haue na compair
Vnto ȝour grace this schortlie I declair.
For giftis of golde, nor geir I not regaird
Nor for labouris I couet na rewaird
Bot ȝour gude will, quhē the ȝeir is furth gane
The Empreour hard, and thākit thame Ilkane
And said I am Indettit to ȝow all
Vnrecompansit nane of ȝow thair be sall.
Bot not the les sen I find ȝow sa kynd
And wt gude willis hes schawin me ȝour mynd
Gif I suld him commit til ane of ȝow
Than all the rest micht weill beleue and trow
That to that ane I had mair affectioun
Than to the rest, quhilk suld caus discentioun:
Discord, Inuy, and also variance,
Quhilk in na sort amang sic men suld chance.
Thairfoir to ȝow coniunctlie all in ane
Heir I commit my Sone Dioclesiane.
My afald barne, and eik my onlie Air,
With ȝow to be Instructit weill in lair.
And him to gyde in alkin honest sort,
Quhylis to wisdome, and quhylis to game & sport:
As ȝe will answer Ilk ane vnto me,
In pane of credence and of ȝour honestie.
For be he weill, euin sa I think my sell
Do as ȝe pleis, as now na mair I tell.
Thir dyng Doctours the sweit langage heiring
Of thair gude Lord, and alswa persauing
The greit credence, and siclyke the kyndnes
That he had schawin vnto thair sempilnes.
Thay thankit him Ilk ane vpon thair kneis,
Man efter man, all seuin in thair degreis.
Sayand to him, that his grace suld be sure
Of thair laubours greit diligence and cure.
The Empreour tuke his Sone be the hand,
And bad that he, at thair bidding suld stand.
And in na sort that he suld thame offend
Vnto the time agane he for him send.
And sa at schort the barne delyuerit he,
Quhome thay ressauit with all humilitie.
This being done, Ilk ane thay tuke gude nicht
To Romes Court the way thay held on richt.
Thir seuin Maisters thair veyage passing on,
Ane of thame said, quhilk namit was Craton
To his fellowis, sayand my brether deir
Sen we this Chylde in Gouerning hes heir,
I think not best to Romes toun that we ryde
Gif we list weill this barne gouerne and gyde:
For diuers causis and Impediments,
That may occur be Inconuenients.
Tysting the Chylde to mony sport and play
And to neglect his studie day by day.
For fra greit men get knawledge quhat he be,
Thay will couet daylie his companie,
Sa fra studie he salbe ay abstractit,
And we all seuin with greit displesure lackit.
The vther sex said all with ane consent
His counsall was gude and conuenient,
And was said to the purpois by and by,
And with gude will to the same wald apply.
This to eschew, I wald remeid was found
For weill I knaw within ane lytill ground
To buylde vpon, thair is ane proper place,
Quhilk to vs all war plesure and solace.
Fra Romes toun bot thre myles distant,
Quhat thing we neid, we myster not to want.
Lat vs yair mak ane hous baith rowme & squair
Quhair at quyet the child may leirne his lair
We sal gar paynt vpon the wallis about
The seuin Science, with greit Storyis all out,
Sa that this Childe may se vesie and luke,
And tak doctrine, asweill as in his buke.
This Counsall than applesit thame euer ilkane
The hous was biggit sone of lyme and stane,
And weill compleit, as it best culd effeir,
Quhairin thay all, studyit the seuin ȝeir.
Quhilk bene outrun, and all compleit togidder
The seuin Maisters amang thame did cōsidder
That thay wald all exame Dioclesiane,
Fra that thair terme of the seuin ȝeir was gane,
Gif that he was expert into Science,
Considdering thay had done Diligence.
Pantillas said, I can not tell trewlie
How our Scoller examit weill salbe.
Than said Craton I sall that weill deuise,
Into his bed on sleiping quhen he lyis.
Vnder Ilk nuik of his bed we sall lay
Ane Oliue leif, than quhen approches day,
Gif he persauis sone efter his walking
That his bed is remouit ony thing,
Than we may knaw be our Intelligence
He is repleit of all the seuin Science.
This being done, airlie in the morning
The Childe walknit befoir the Sone rysing,
And lyftit vp his Ene vnto the sky
And to the rufe of the hous feruently,
Baith to and fra, schairplie casting his Ene
On sic fassoun befoir thay had not sene.
The seuin Maisteris persauing perfitelie
How his Ingyne was raisit sa quicklie:
Thay said quhairfoir luk ȝe sa fast about?
Quhat mouis ȝow, or quhat haue ȝe in dout?
Schaw vs in plaine we sall caus to amend it
Gif ony thing hes ȝow in hart offendit.
Na maruell haue my gude Maisters (said he)
For I am brocht in ane greit fantasie,
Quhilk hes me maid richt fleit and als affeird,
For in my sleip to me I thocht appeird:
That the ruif tre of all this haill Maissoun,
Vnto the eird was quyte declynit doun.
And sine again in twinkling of our Eyis,
It was vpliftit ane hundreth thousand greis,
Quhilk put me in ane felloun fray but dout,
Than his Maisters Ilk ane him round about,
Persauit weill be gude Experience
He was fulfillit of all the seuin Science.
Gif he haue dayis and in gude companie
Ane man of wit, and wisdome he salbe,
That in the warld sall nane be till him peir,
Sa at this tyme we leif this ȝoung Childe heir.
Of thair gude Lord, and alswa persauing
The greit credence, and siclyke the kyndnes
That he had schawin vnto thair sempilnes.
Thay thankit him Ilk ane vpon thair kneis,
Man efter man, all seuin in thair degreis.
Sayand to him, that his grace suld be sure
Of thair laubours greit diligence and cure.
20
And bad that he, at thair bidding suld stand.
And in na sort that he suld thame offend
Vnto the time agane he for him send.
And sa at schort the barne delyuerit he,
Quhome thay ressauit with all humilitie.
This being done, Ilk ane thay tuke gude nicht
To Romes Court the way thay held on richt.
Thir seuin Maisters thair veyage passing on,
Ane of thame said, quhilk namit was Craton
To his fellowis, sayand my brether deir
Sen we this Chylde in Gouerning hes heir,
I think not best to Romes toun that we ryde
Gif we list weill this barne gouerne and gyde:
For diuers causis and Impediments,
That may occur be Inconuenients.
Tysting the Chylde to mony sport and play
And to neglect his studie day by day.
For fra greit men get knawledge quhat he be,
Thay will couet daylie his companie,
Sa fra studie he salbe ay abstractit,
And we all seuin with greit displesure lackit.
The vther sex said all with ane consent
His counsall was gude and conuenient,
And was said to the purpois by and by,
And with gude will to the same wald apply.
This to eschew, I wald remeid was found
For weill I knaw within ane lytill ground
To buylde vpon, thair is ane proper place,
Quhilk to vs all war plesure and solace.
Fra Romes toun bot thre myles distant,
Quhat thing we neid, we myster not to want.
Lat vs yair mak ane hous baith rowme & squair
Quhair at quyet the child may leirne his lair
We sal gar paynt vpon the wallis about
21
Sa that this Childe may se vesie and luke,
And tak doctrine, asweill as in his buke.
This Counsall than applesit thame euer ilkane
The hous was biggit sone of lyme and stane,
And weill compleit, as it best culd effeir,
Quhairin thay all, studyit the seuin ȝeir.
Quhilk bene outrun, and all compleit togidder
The seuin Maisters amang thame did cōsidder
That thay wald all exame Dioclesiane,
Fra that thair terme of the seuin ȝeir was gane,
Gif that he was expert into Science,
Considdering thay had done Diligence.
Pantillas said, I can not tell trewlie
How our Scoller examit weill salbe.
Than said Craton I sall that weill deuise,
Into his bed on sleiping quhen he lyis.
Vnder Ilk nuik of his bed we sall lay
Ane Oliue leif, than quhen approches day,
Gif he persauis sone efter his walking
That his bed is remouit ony thing,
Than we may knaw be our Intelligence
He is repleit of all the seuin Science.
This being done, airlie in the morning
The Childe walknit befoir the Sone rysing,
And lyftit vp his Ene vnto the sky
And to the rufe of the hous feruently,
Baith to and fra, schairplie casting his Ene
On sic fassoun befoir thay had not sene.
The seuin Maisteris persauing perfitelie
How his Ingyne was raisit sa quicklie:
Thay said quhairfoir luk ȝe sa fast about?
Quhat mouis ȝow, or quhat haue ȝe in dout?
Schaw vs in plaine we sall caus to amend it
Gif ony thing hes ȝow in hart offendit.
Na maruell haue my gude Maisters (said he)
22
Quhilk hes me maid richt fleit and als affeird,
For in my sleip to me I thocht appeird:
That the ruif tre of all this haill Maissoun,
Vnto the eird was quyte declynit doun.
And sine again in twinkling of our Eyis,
It was vpliftit ane hundreth thousand greis,
Quhilk put me in ane felloun fray but dout,
Than his Maisters Ilk ane him round about,
Persauit weill be gude Experience
He was fulfillit of all the seuin Science.
Gif he haue dayis and in gude companie
Ane man of wit, and wisdome he salbe,
That in the warld sall nane be till him peir,
Sa at this tyme we leif this ȝoung Childe heir.
| The seuin Seages | |