The Minor Poems of John Lydgate :: :: University of Virginia Library

Who will been holle & kepe hym from sekenesse
And resiste the strok of pestilence,
Lat hym be glad, & voide al hevynesse,
Flee wikkyd heires, eschew the presence.
Off infect placys, causyng the violence;
Drynk good wyn, & holsom meetis take,
Smelle swote thyng[es] & for his deffence
Walk in cleene heir, eschew[e] mystis blake.

2

With voide stomak outward the nat dresse.
Risyng erly, with fyr have assistence,
Delite in gardeyns for ther gret swetnesse,
To be weele claad do thi dilygence.
Keep welle thi-silf from incontynence,
In stiwes, bathis, no soiour that thou make,
Opnyng of humours this doth gret offence,
Walke in cleene heir, eschewe mystis blake.

3

Ete nat gret flessh for no greedynesse,
And fro frutes hold thyn abstynence,
Poletis & chekenys for ther tendirnesse
Ete hem with sauce, and spar nat for dispence,
Verious, vynegre, & thynfluence
Of holsom spices, I dar vndirtake,
The morwe sleep, callid gyldene in sentence,
Gretly helpith ayeen the mystis blake.

703

[THE DIETARY.]

4

For helthe of body keep fro cold thyn hed,
Ete no rawe mete, take good heed herto,
Drynk holsom wyn, feede the on lyht bred,
With an appetite ryse from thi mete also,
With women aged flesshly have na a do,
Vpon thy sleep drynk neuyr of thi cuppe,
Glad toward bedde and at morwe, bothe too,
And vse nevir late for to suppe.

5

Leveyn bred, the past itempred cleene,
And weel decoct made of good whete flour,
Day & half old in tast it shal be seene,
And eschew excesse of labour.
Walk in gardeyns sote of ther savour,
Temperatly, and take also good keep,
Gorge vpon gorge is cause of gret langour,
And in especial flee meridian sleep.

6

In thi drynkis put cleene sawge & rewe,
Bothe be good & holsom of natur,
And phisik seith, the rose flour-is dewe,
And Ypocras recordith in scriptur
Good wyn is holsom to euery creatur
Take in mesur, with v. addiciouns,
Strong, fressh, & cold, off tarage, & verdur,
Most comendid a-mong al naciouns.

7

Shortly for helth vse this pollicie:
Voide awey al surfete & excesse,
Abstynence ageyns glotonye,
Reer sopers & froward drounk[e]nesse,
Gapyng, yixnyng, & noddyng hevynesse,
Embassetours afforn sent for the best,
Nase routyng, slombryng & ydilnesse,
Bit agid men betymes go to rest.

704

8

A repleet stomak causith gret damage,
Gronyng, grucchyng, walkyng at mydnyth,
Bothe in folkis old & yong of age;
A litill sopeer at morwe makith men liht,
Ther be thre lechees consarue a mannys myht,
First a glad hert, he carith lite or nouht,
Temperat diet, holsom for every wiht,
And best of all, for no thyng take no thouht.

9

Care a-way is a good medycyne,
Digest afforn, preparat with gladnesse,
An holsom dia distyllyng from the vyn
Of Bachus gardeyn corages to redresse,
Aurum potabile, in hoot or cold seekenesse,
Hard to be bouht for folk in poverte,
Watir growell, wacheth of grennesse,
Abatith the brennyng of ther infirmyte.

10

Greedi souper & drynkyng late at eve
Causith of fflewme gret superfluyte;
Colre adust doth the stomak greve,
Malencolik a froward gest, parde!
Off mykil or litel cometh al infirmyte,
Attween thes too for lak of governaunce,
Dryve out a mene, excesse or scarsete,
Set thi botaill vpon temperaunce.

11

I mene as thus, for any froward delite
Yiff ther falle a lust of fals excesse,
That wold agrotye thi natural appetite,
Thi digestioun with surfetis to oppresse,
Of hoot or colde, be war that non accesse
Nor vncouth agew vnwarely the assaile,
Moderat diet ageyns al seekenesse,
Is best phisicien to mesur thyn entraile.

12

All this processe concludith vp[on] tyme,
Temperat diet kyndly digestioun,

705

The golden sleep braidyng vpon pryme,
Naturall appetite abydyng his sesoun,
Foode accordyng to the complexioun,
Stondyng on iiij, flewme or malencolie,
Sanguey colre so conveid bi resoun,
Voidyng al trouble of froward maladie.

13

And yiff so be leechis doth the faile,
Than take good heed to vse thynges thre,
Temperat diet, temperat travaile,
Nat malencolius for non adversite,
Meeke in trouble, glad in pouerte,
Riche with litel, content with suffisaunce,
Nevir grucchyng, mery lik thi degre,
Yiff phisik lak, make this thi gouernance.

14

To euery tale soone yif not credence,
Be nat to hasty nor sodeynli vengeable,
To poore folk do no violence,
Curteis of language, of fedyng mesurable,
On sondry metis not gredy atte table,
In feedyng gentil, prudent in daliaunce,
Cloos of tungge, of word nat deceivable,
To sei the best set alwey thi plesaunce.

15

Have in hate mouthis that be double,
Suffre at thi table no detraccioun;
Have despite of folk that sow[e] trouble
Of fals rounners & adulacioun,
Withynne thi coort suffre no divisioun,
Which in thyn housold shal cause gret encrece,
Of al weelfare, prosperite, & foisoun
With thi neihbore live in rest & pes.

16

Be clenly claad aftir thyn estat,
Passe nat thi boundis, keep thi promys blive,
With thre folk be nat at debate,
First with thi bettir be war for to stryve,
Ageyn thi felaw no quarell do contryve,

706

With thi soget to fihten it were shame,
Wher[for] I counsel pursewe al thi lyve
To live in pes & gete the a good name.

17

Fire at morwe & toward bed at eve,
Ageyn mystis blake & heir of pestilence,
Be-tyme at messe thou shalt the bettir cheeve,
First at thi risyng to God do reverence,
Visite the poore with enteer diligence,
On al nedy have pite & compassioun,
And God shal sende the grace & influence
The tenchrece, & thi possessioun.

18

Suffre no surfetis in thyn hous at nyht,
War of rer sopers & of gret excesse,
Of noddyng hedis & of candil liht,
Off slouthe on morwe, & slombryng ydilnesse,
Which of al vices is cheeff port[e]resse,
Voide al dronklew[e] liers & letchours,
Of all vnthryft exile the cheeff maistresse,
That is to say dees pleiers & hasardours.

19

Aftir mete bewar, make no sleepe,
Hed, foote & stomak preserve ay from colde,
Be nat to pensiff, of thouht take no keepe,
Aftir thi rent mayntene thyn housold.
Suffir in tyme, in thi riht be bold,
Swer non othis, no man to be-gyle,
In youthe be lust[i], sad whan thou art old,
No wordly ioie lastith her but a while.

20

Dyne nat at morwe before thyn appetite,
Cleer heir & walkyng makith good digestioun,
Tween mele drynk nat for no froward delite,
But thrust or travail geve the occasioun,
Over salt metis do gret oppressioun
To feeble stomakis whan thei can nat refreyn
For thynges contrarie to ther complexioun,
Off gredy handis the stomak hath gret peyn.

707

21

Thus in too thyngis stondith al the welthe
Of sowle & bodi, who so list hem sewe,
Moderat foode yeueth to man his helthe,
And all surfetis doth fro hym remewe,
And charite to the sowle is dewe;
This receiht bouht is of non appotecarie,
Off Maister Antony, nor of Maister Hewe;
To all indifferent richest dietarie!

Explicit.

49. DUODECIM ABUSIONES.

[_]

[From Wynkyn de Worde's first print of The Temple of Glas.]

Rex sine sapiencia.
Dominus sine consilio.
Miles sine probitate.
Diues sine elemosina.
Senex sine religione.
Pauper superbus.
Episcopus sine doctrina.
Mulier sine castitate.
Iudex sine iusticia.
Populus sine lege.
Seruus sine timore.
Adolescens sine obediencia.

1

Goo forth, Kyng, reule the by sapyence;
Bysshop, be able to mynystre doctryne;
Lord, to treu counceyle yeue audyence;
Womanhed, to chastyte euer enclyne;
Knyght, lete thy dedes worshyp determyne;
Be rightuous, Iuge, in sauyng [of] thy name;
Ryche, doo almes, lest thou lese blys with shame.

2

People, obeye your kyng and the lawe;
Age, be thou ruled by good religyon;
True Seruaunt, be dredfull & kepe the vnder awe,
And thou, Poure, fye on presumpcyon;
Inobedyence to yougth is vtter destruccyon,
Remembre you how God hath sette you, lo!
And doo your parte, as ye ar ordeynd to.

708

50. FOUR THINGS THAT MAKE A MAN A FOOL, AND OTHER SAYINGS OF DAN IOHAN.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Coll. Camb., R. 3. 20, pp. 8 and 9.]

I. A seying of Daun Iohan.

Þer beoþe foure thinges þat makeþ man a fool.
Honnour first puteþe him in oultrage
And aldernexst solytarye and sool.
Þe secound is vnweldy crooked aage,
Wymmen also bring men in dotage,
And mighty wyne in many dyuers wyse
Distempren folk wheche beon holden wyse.

yit of þe same.

Þer beon foure thinges causing gret folye.
Honnour first and vnweldy aage;
Wymmen and wyne, I dare eeke specefye,
Make wyse men fallen in dotage
Wherfore, by counseyle of phylosofres saage,
In gret honnour, lerne þis of me,
With þyne estate haue humylytee.

[_]

The second part of this poem is in Latin and has thus been omitted.

709

III. Another Version of the Four Things.

[_]

[MS. Bodl. Fairfax 16, leaf 195.]

Quatuor infatuant, honor, etas, femina, vinum.

Wurship, women, wyne, vnweldy age
Maken men to fonne for lakke of ther resoun;
Elde causeth dulnesse and dotage;
Worship causeth chaunge of condicioun;
Excesse of wyne blyndeth discrecioun;
And bookes alle, that poetes wroot and radde,
Seyn women moste maken men to madde.

[Ye wilbe shent, Dane Iohan Lidegate for your triew seyeng.]

IV. On Worldly Worship.

[_]

[MS. B.M. Adds. 34360, leaf 77.]

Worldly worship is ioye transitory,
Vnsure assuraunce, highnes declinable,
Vaynegloryous gladnes, flatery proditory,
Disceyt disceyvous ful dissymulable,
To mannys soule most preiudiciable,
In whiche who hym most surely assurith
In most vnsuerte perilously endurith.

Verbum Magistri I. Lidgate. quasi honor mundi.

710

V. Balade de Bone Counseyle.

[_]

[MS. Trin. Col. Camb., R. 3. 20, p 48.]

Yif hit befalle, þat God þee list visyte
With any tourment or aduersytee,
Thank first þe Lord; and, þy-self to qwyte,
Vpon souffraunce and humylytee
Founde þou þy qwarell, whateuer þat it be.
Make þy defence,—and þou shalt haue no losse—
Þe remembraunce of Cryst and of His Crosse.

51. THE KINGS OF ENGLAND SITHEN WILLIAM CONQUEROR.

(A REVISED VERSION, WITH STANZAS ALSO FOR EARLIER KINGS.)

[_]

[MS. B.M. Harley 372, leaves 51–53, back.]

1

Kyng Alffrede.

Froom tyme of Brute, auctours do specefye,
Two hundrid & fowr & twenty be succession
Kynges regned, til tyme þe monarchie
Deuouht Alffrede took pocession,

224 Kings between Brutus and Alfred.

To Hooly Chirche which had gret deuocion
In .vj. parties his goodes dide deuyde,
Regned .xxixte. yeer is beried at Hyde.

2

Next in ordre bi succession

Edward seniour.

Edward seniour, his sone, crownyd kyng,
Which toward God had gret deuocion,
Repared chirches of newe and old byldyng,
Large in exspence, Argus in iustifying,
Four & twenty yer he bar his crown in deede,
Beried at Seynt Swythynes, þe cronycle ye may reede.

711

3

Aftyr this Edward, be trewe enheritaunce
His sone Athelstan was crownyd, as I fynde,

Kyng Athelstan.

Whoos noble fame put in remembraunce
Of Mydilton and Mechelneye the abbeys byldyng,
Gaf greet pocessions to chirches as maad is mynde,
Ful .xvje. yeer reygnd, & had good rest,
At Malmysbury list buried in his chest.

4

His brothre Edmond, whan Ethelstan was ded,

Kyng Edmond.

Meke and prudent, louyng good consayl,
Be riht title þe crowne took on hed,
Contynwed vj. yeer in sorouh & gret trauayl,
Lyncoln, Notyngham, Leycetyr to his avail
Gat bi conquest, mawgre the Danys myhtily;
Cronycle[s] witnesse, is buried at Glastonbury.

5

Aftyr Edmond, as seith myn auctour,
His brothir Edreed to make allyaunce,

Kyng Edreed.

Regned .ix. yeer, bar gret fauour,
& for gracious gostly gouernaunce
In his deying, as maad is remembraunce,
Heryng Seynt Dunstan aungelis song on hih,
Edreed restith in pesable memory.

6

Next to Edreed regned Kyng Edwyne

Kyng Edwyne.

Straunge of condicions, as bookys speceffye,
Sone to Edmond descendyng doun be lyne,
Exiled Seyn Dunstan of furyous tyrannye,
The .vijte. kyng sith gan the monarchye;
Bar the Crown fully .iiij. yeer
Buried at Wynchestr, þus seith the Cronycleer.

7

Brothir to Edwyne was Edgar, as I reede,

Kyng Edgar.

At whoos birth aungellys with melodious song
Song on hih, as auctours write in deede,
“Bi the birthe of Edgar pees be you among,”
In tyme of Dunstan, bore to Yngelond,
Regned .xvje. yeer, riht enherytour,
Buried at Glastonbury as seith myn auctour.

712

8

Kyng Edward.

Next peaseable Edgar regned his son Edward,
Be trewe title get in mariage,
His stepmodyr, to hym ful froward,
Wolde haue prefferrid hir sone of tendre age,
Did hir cure in werk & eek language,
Regned .iiij. yeer as cronycles determyne,
At Shafftysbury lith buried in his shryne.

9

Aftyr kyng & martir Edward did succede

Kyng Egelreed.

Egelredus breeffly to expresse,
xxviijte yeer bar his crown in deede,
Lik as cronycles clerly ber witnesse,
Lith at Westmenstyr, lyued ay in gret distresse,
Affter the prophecye of Seyn Dunstan, as I reed,
Deth for moordre fynally was his meed.

10

Aftyr þe deth, as maad is mynde,
Of Egelredus fil greet dyvision,
Lordis purposid to destroye þat kynde;
The Londonerys, hauy[ng] contrary disposicion
With summe estatis which of discrecion

Kyng Edmond.

Took his sone Edmond with therynside
Excludyng Knute to regne did hym prouyde.

11

Kyng Knute.

Aftyr Edmond Knute took þe monarchye
Regned .xix. yeer, bar gret fauour,
A Dane of byrthe, exiled al the lye
Of his predecessours þat noon enheritour,
In this region shulde be successour:
The lond consentyng to hym be flaterye,
Lithe at Wynchestre in þe old monasterye.

12

Harald Harfoot.

Harald Harfoot, afftyr Knute was ded,
V. yeer regnyd bi succession;
With besy trauaille the crown bar on his hed,
In greet contraversye took pocession
Of his reem, as maad is mencion;
His brothre spyryng þe crowne to possede,
Buried at Westmynster, þe cronycle ye may reed.

713

13

Hardekanut, wondyrful vengable,

Hardekanut.

Of his regne deyde þe second yeer,
Ageyn nature as tirant vntretable
Reysed þe body, as seith the Cronycleer,
Of his brothre thoruh extort poweer,
Throwh it in Tempse; at Westmenster buryed was,
Afftyr in þe chyrch-yeerd of Danys so stood þe cas.

14

Of Egelredus retournyth ageyn þe lyne
Blissed Edward entrith trewe enherytour

Seynt Edward.

xxiiijte yeer as mayde & pure virgyne,
Bar þe crowne, regned & had grete labour,
To his suggettis releef and cheef socour,
Lith at Westmenster in his noble shryne,
Werkyng myracles thoruh grace þat is dyuyne.

15

Duk Harald afftyr this was kyng,

Kyng Haralde.

Regned a while in gret glorye,
Boold and hardy, wyly in werkyng,
Had greet fortune, tyl out of Normandye
Cam William Conquerour with a fair meynye,
Mette in þe feeld & to-gidre ranne,
Woundid to þe deth, buried at Waltham.

16

This myghti William Duk of Normandie,

William Conquerour.

As bookis olde make mencion,
Bi iust title and bi his chyualrie
Maad kyng bi conquest of Brutis Albion,
Put out Haralde, took possession,
Bar his crown ful xxj yeer,
Buried at Cane, thus seith þe cronycleer.

17

Nexte in ordre bi succession
William Rufus his son, crownyd kyng,

Kyng William Ruffus.

Which to Godward had no deuocion,
Destroied cherchis of newe & olde beeldyng
To make a forest plesant for huntyng,

714

xiiij yeer bar his crown in deede,
Buried at Wynchestir, þe cronycle ye may reede.

18

Kyng Herry .j.e.

His brothir next, callid þe first Herry,
Was at London crownyd, as I fynde,
Whos brodir Roberd, Duk of Normandy,
Gan hym werreye, the cronycle makith mynde,
Reconciled, al rancour set behynde,
Ful xxxi[ij], bi recorde of writyng,
[Yeres] he regned; buried at Redyng.

19

Kyng Stevyn.

His cosyn Stephan, whan first Herry was ded,
Toward Ynglond gan to crosse his sail.
Therchebisshopp sett vpon his hed
A rich crown, beyng of his conseil;
xix yeer with soruh and gret trauail,
He bar his crown, hadde neuer rest,
At Feuersham lith buried in a chest.

20

Kyng Herre .ij.de.

Herry the Second, son of themperesse,
Was crowned next a ful manly knyht
As bookes olde pleynly do expresse,
This forseide Herre bi froward force & myht
Slouh Seyn Thomas, for Hooly Cherchis right,
Yeeres .xxxv. regned, as it is made mynde,
At Fount Euerard lith buried as I fynde.

21

Kyng Richard .j.e.

Richard his son, next bi succession,
First of that name, strong, hardy, & notable,
Was crownyd kyng, callid Cuer de Leon,
With Sarsyn hedys seruyd at his table,
Slayn at Chalus bi deth lamentable,
The space regned fully of .ix. yeer,
His hert buried at Rone at hih auter.

22

Kyng Iohn.

Next Kyng Richard regned his brothir Iohn,
Aftir sone entrid in-to Fraunce,
Lost al Ange and Normandye a-noon,

715

This londe entirdited bi his gouernaunce,
And as it is put in remembraunce
xviij yeer kyng of this region,
Lith at Wircester deied of poyson.

23

Herry the iijde his sone, of ix yeer age,

Kyng Herry iijde.

Was at Gloucester crowned, as I reed;
Long werr he hadde with his baronage,
Gretly delited in almesse-deed,
lxj yeer he regned heer in deede
Buried at Westmynster, bi record of writyng,
Day of Seynt Edmond, marter, maid, & kyng.

24

Edward the First, with the shankes long,

Kyng Edward .j.e.

Was aftir crowned that was so good a knyht,
Wan Scotlond, maugre the Scottis strong,
And all Walys despyt of al ther myht;
Duryng his lyff meyntened trouth & riht,
xxxv yeer he was heer kyng,
Lith at Westmynster this trouth and no lesyng.

25

Edward his sone, callid Carnarvan,

Kyng Edward Carnarvan.

Succedyng aftir to make his alliaunce,
As the cronycle weel reherse can
Weddid the douhtir of the kyng of Fraunce,
On Thomas Lancaster bi deth he took vengaunce;
xix yeer heelde heer his regalye,
Buried at Gloucestr, bookis specifye.

26

The iijde Edward, born at Wyndesor,

Kyng Edward .iijde.

Which in knyhthode had so gret a pris,
Enheritour of Fraunce withoute mor
Bar on his armys quartle iij flour delis,
And he gat Caleis bi his prudent devis,
Regned in Ynglond lj yeer,
Lith at Westmynstre, thus seith the cronycler.

716

27

Kyng Richard .ijde.

Sone of Prynce Edward, Richard the Secound,
In whos tyme was pes and gret plente,
Weddid Queen Anne of Bewme, as it is found,
Isabell aftir of Fraunce, who list see,
xxij yeer he regned heer, parde;
At Langley buried first, so stood the cas,
Aftir to Westmynster his body caried was.

28

Kyng Herre .iiijte.

Herry the iiijte next crowned, in certeyn,
A famous knyht and of greet seemlynesse,
From his exil whan he cam hoom ageyn,
Trauailed aftir with werr & gret siknesse;
xiiij yeer he regned, in sothnesse,
Lith at Cantirbury in that hooly place.
God of His mercy, do his soule grace.

29

Kyng Herre .vte.

The Fifte Herry, of knyhthod lood[e]sterr,
Wis and riht manly, pleynly to termyne,
Riht fortunat preevid in pes & werr,
Gretly expert in marcial disciplyne,
Able to stonde among the Worthi Nyne!
Regned x yeer, who so list han rewarde,
Lith at Westmynster nat ferr fro Seynt Edwarde.

30

Kyng Herre .vjte.

The Sext Herry, brouht foorth in al vertu,
Bi iust title, born bi enheritaunce.
Afforn provided, bi grace of Crist Ihesu,
To wer too crownys in Yngland & in Fraunce,
To whom God hath yovyn souereyn suffisaunce
Of vertuous liff, and chose hym for his knyht,
Long to reioissh and regne heer in his riht.

Explicit.

723

52. A TRETISE FOR LAUANDRES.

[_]

[Cambridge University Library MS., Ff. 1. 6, leaf 141.]

(1)

Yee maisteresses myne, and clenly chamberys,
That haue to doe with my Ladis atyere
Atendythe ay as honest officers,
Sith youre fee, youre wages, and youre hyre
Is duly paide, than sette youre desyre
How to doo youre godely obseruaunce,
Wayt all be well & that may you avaunce.

(2)

Loke well youre lawne, youre homple, & youre Lake
Plesaunce, Reyns, & eke the fin Champeyn,
Ye washe cleyn fro mole, and spottes blake,
That wyn, nor oyle, nor yit non inke distyen
Keuerchif or cloth aboute youre souerayn.
Bot wasshe hem clene, & yf ye lust to lere,
How ye schall doo thes verses techen here.

(3)

Vinum lacte lava oleumque licore fabarum
Incaustum vino cetera mundat aqua.

(4)

Of wyn away the moles may ye wesshe,
In mylk whyt; the fletyng oyly spott
Wyth lye of beenes make hit clene & fresshe.
Wasshe with wyn the feruent inkes blot,
All oder thynges clensed well, ye wot,
Wyth water cler, is purged & made clene,
But thes thre clense, wyn, mylkes, and beene.

724

53. THE NINE PROPERTIES OF WINE.

[_]

[MS. B.M. Adds. 29729, leaf 16.]

The ix. properties of wyne per Iohanem Lidgate.

Wyne of nature hathe properties nyne,
Comfortythe coragis, clarifiethe the syght,
Gladdeth the herte this lycor most devyne,
Hetythe the stomake of his natural myght,
Sharpithe wittis, gevith hardines in fight,
Clensyth wounds, engendrithe gentyll blode;
Licor of licor, at festis makyth men lyght,
Scoureth þe palat, through fyne þe color good.

The nyne properties of wyne per Iohanem Lidgate.

54. A PAGEANT OF KNOWLEDGE.

[_]

[MS. Trinity R. 3. 21, leaves 287, back, to 289, back.]

Septem sunt gradus magnatum.

Thys world ys born vp by astates seuyn,
Prynce[s] ordeynyd to susteyn [þe] ryght,
Prestes to pray, þe iustyces to deme euyn,
Marchauntes in sellyng to do trouþe in weyght,
For comon profyte fyght[e] shal þe knyght,
Plowman in tylþe, þe laborer in trauayll.
Artyfycers diligent day and nyght.
The ryche her almes to parte with þe porayll.

725

Officia dictorum magnatum.

Pryncys. To vs longeþ prestys to gouerne,
Presthode And we be bounde to lyue in parfytnes.
Iuges. Betwene ryght & wrong our office doþ dyscerne.
Merchantes. In bying & sellyng we shall do no falsnes.
Knyghthode. We shull defende trouþe & ryghtwysnes.
Plowman. Our occupacion to tyll & sowe þe lond,
Werkemen. And by our labour we voyden idylnes.
Rycheman. We delyuer our almes with our hond.

Explicit.

Septem Pagine sequntur sapiencie.

Prima de Prudencia.

Thynges passyd remembre & well dyuyde,
Thynges present consider & well gouerne,
For þynges commyng prudently prouyde,
Peyse matyrs or þou deme or dyscerne,
[Lat right in causes holde the lantern,]
Twene frende & foo stond euyn, & be egall,
And for no mede be nat parciall.

Secunda de Iusticia.

Furst in þy mesure loke þer be no lak,
Of þy weyghtes hold iustly þe balaunce,
Be trew in rekenyng, set no som abak,
And in þy worde lat be no variaunce;
Of chere be sad, demure of gouernaunce,
Set folk at rest, & apese all trouble,
Beware of flaterers & of tongys double.

Tercia de Temperancia.

By sapience tempre þou þy corage,
Of hasty ire daunt þe passion;
Dyffer vengeance tyll þy wraþe aswage,
Reuerence þe good for þeyr condicion;
Punyssh pacyently þe transgression

726

Of men disrewlyd, redressyng errour,
Mercy preferryng or þou do rygour.

Quarta de Discrecione.

Discrecion, modyr & pryncesse,
Of all vertues to gouerne hem & gye,
And elumyneþ with lyght of hygh noblesse
Crownes of kynges, hold vp þeyr regaly,
Conserueþ reames, by prudent polycy,
Causeþ prouinces & euery gret cyte
To contynew in long prosperyte.

Quinta de Racione.

Thys emperesse, verrey celestiall,
Most aungelyk of contenaunce and chere,
To rewle man he be nat bestiall,
God yaue hym reson, hys owne doughter dere,
Princesse of princesses, most souereyn & entere,
To brydell in man þe froward volunte
That he not err by sensualyte.

Sexta de Placencia & Bona Voluntate.

Thys fayre lady, whyche callyd ys Plesaunce,
And eke Good Wyll, her owne doughter dere,
Beseke all folk, aftyr theyr suffysaunce,
With all þeyr hert, to make ryght good chere,
With suche disport as þey fynde[n] here,
And þat hem lyst benygnely aduertyse,
Who þat ys welcom haþe all þat may suffyse.

Septima de Fasetia & Nurturia.

Thys goodly lady callyd Curtesy,
And her sustyr, whos name ys Nurture,
By þeyr offyce longyng to gentry
Lowly requyryd to euery creature,
As ferre as myght & power may endure,

727

With hoole hert[e], body, wyll, & mynde,
To be content with suche as þey here fynde.

Explicit.

The fynders of the vij. sciences artificiall.

I]ubal was fadyr & fynder of song,
Of consonantes, and of armony,
By noyse & strooke of hamors þat were strong.
Fro Iubal came furst þe melody
Of sugryd musyk, and of mynstralsy,
So procedyng down fro man to man
Practyke of concorde, as I haue told, began.

Saturne.

Saturne taught furst þe tylþe of londe,
Hys doughter Ceres made men ere & sowe,
The goldyn worde he compassyd with his honde,
Of sede and grayne þe difference to knowe,
Of trees, herbes, growyng hygh & lowe;
Somer seson, þere bawme aboue moste swote,
And in cold wynter þer vertu in the rote.

Mars.

Though myghty Mars be callyd god of werres,
Prudent Pallas founde out furst armure,
Thys godde, þys goddes, syt among þe sterres,
Tubalcaym of stele founde þe temprure,
Forgyd plates, long[e] to endure,
And þus these iij., by marciall apparayll,
Be callyd in bokes patrones of batayll.

Minerua.

Crafte of wolles & of cloth weuyng
Founde Minerua, of spynnyng chief goddesse;
And Delbora of lynen cloþe makyng
The practyke sought, bokes bere wytnesse;
In all suche craft was a chief masteresse;

728

But Semiranus, as bokes specyfy,
Fonde out furst breche, myn auctor lyst nat ly.

Diana.

Lo, here Diana, princesse of venery,
In forest walkyng lyke an hunteresse,
Hauyng her paleyce ferre aboue the sky,
Callyd Lucina there shewyng her bryghtnes,
Of huntyng, hawkyng, fysshyng, chefe goddesse,
Euery moneþ her cours she doþe renew,
Now full, now wane, now bryght, now pale of hewe.

Mercurius.

Mercury, callyd for mannys gret auayle
God of eloquence, and merchandyse;
Argon fond furst craft of shyp & sayle,
And Neptunus þe saylyng gan deuyse
To passe þe see, in many sondry wyse,
Whyche to merchauntes ys full necessary,
Theyr stuff, theyr bales, fro londe to londe to cary.

Phebus.

Phebus fond furst craft of medicine,
By touche of pounce, veyne, & inspeccions.
Esculapius taught þe doctrine
To knowe þe qualytees of .iiij. compleccions,
Of letuaryes, drogges, & pocions;
And among all þere ys noþyng more mete
To helthe of man þen temperat diete.

Explicit.

The .vij. sciences callyd lyberall.

O]f seuyn sciences, callyd lyberall,
Gramer techeþ congruite & wrytyng,
Philosophy in especiall
Telleþ natures of euery maner thyng,
Ars metryk craft of proporcionyng,

729

Musyk concord, rethoryk eloquence,
Astronomy by diurnall meuyng
The world gouerneth, by heuynly influence.

Auctors of seuyn sciences.

Auctor of gramer was whilom Precian,
Ewclyd excellyd in craft of geometry,
Tully in rethoryk was a famous man,
Hermogines fadyr of phylosophy,
Boys wrote of musyk & of melody,
Of methephysyk wrote Aristotyles,
Albimazar of astronomy,
Founders of sciences & vertuos encrese.

Explicit.

The Dysposicion of the .vij. planettes.

S]aturne disposeþ a man to melancoly,
Iubiter reyseþ man to gret nobles,
And sturdy Mars to stryfe werre & enuy,
Phebus to wysdom & to hygh prowes,
Mercurius to be changeable & dowbylnes,
The moone mutable, now glad, & now drypyng,
And Gere Venus, full of new fangylnes,
Makyn men vnstable here in her lyuyng.

Explicit.

The dysposicion of the xij. sygnes.

20

A]ries ys hoot, & also coleryk
And in þe hede kepeþ hys dominacion;
Taurus in þe þrote, be man hoole or seke,
That part haþ he in supportacion;
Geminus eke by reuelucion
Haþe in armes hys influence & werkyng,
How shuld a man þan be stedfast of lyuyng?

21

Cancer haþe the brest in hys demayne,
Of the hert lordshyp haþe þe Lyon,

730

Virgo þe gouernaunce haþe of twayne,
Of nouell & wombe, & Libra lower downe.
The membres of man gouerneþ þe Scorpioun,
By thys reson the philosofyrs seyng
Ys that man cannat be stedfast in lyuyng.

22

Of all the sygnes rekenyd here-to-forn,
The thyes of man gouerneþ þe Sagyttary
And knees & legges haþe þe Capricorn,
Eke þe calfe downeward perteyneþ to Aquary
And fro þe feete, I wyll nat long[er] tary,
Piscis haþ theym in hys kepyng;
Howe shuld a man þan be stedefast of lyuyng?

Explicit.

[Iohn Lidgat: Stow.]

The disposicion of þe iiij. elementes.

23

T]he world so wyde, the ayre so remeuable,
The ȝely man so lytell of stature,
The greue & þe ground of cloþyng so mutable,
The fyre so hote & subtyle of nature,
Watyr neuer in oon, what creature
Made of þese .iiij., whyche be so flyttyng
May stable be, here in hyr lyuyng?

24

Man of þe erþe haþe slouþe & heuynes,
Flux and reflux by water made vnstable,
Kyndely of ayre he haþ also swetnes,
Be fyre made hasty, wode, & not tretable;
To erþe ayene, by processe comparable,
Selde or neuer in oon poynt abydyng,
Howe shuld he þan be stable in lyuyng?

25

Fyre resolueth erthe to be watery,
And watery þynges fyre turneþ in eyre,
Makeþ harde þynges nesshe, and fyre eke naturall[y]
Makeþ nesshe þynges harde by his soden repeyr,
Though harde he ys þat shone bryght & feyre,

731

Whyche element haþe in man gret workyng,
How shuld he þan be stable in lyuyng?

26

Ayre of kynde yeueþ inspiracion
To mannys hert þyng most temperatyf,
And kyndly hete yeueþ respiracion,
Of subtyll, rare, & a gret medegatyf,
To tempre þe spyrytes by vertew vegetatyf;
And syþ þat ayre in man ys þus meuyng,
How shuld he þan be stedfast of lyuyng?

27

Watyr somwhyle ys congeylyd to crystall,
Colde & moyst as of hys nature,
Now ebbeþ, now floweþ, whyche in speciall
The myght of þe mone doþe her course recure,
And syþ þys element by recorde of scripture,
Ys oon of þe .iiij, compact of our makyng,
I wold enquere, what maner creature,
Made of þese .iiij, were stedfast of lyuyng?

Explicit.

[Iohn Lidgatt: Stow.]

The disposicion of þe iiij. complexyons.

28

T]he sanguyne man of blood haþe hardynes,
Wrought to be louyng, large of dyspence,
The fleumatyk man slow, oppressyd with dulnes,
Whyte of vysage, rude of elloquence,
And syþ þer ys in man suche difference,
By complexions diuersely workyng,
Answere herto, concludyng þys sentence,
How þat man myght be stedfast of lyuyng.

29

The coleryk man, subtyle & dysseuable,
Sclender, lene, & cytryne of hys colour,
Wroþe sodenly, wood, & nat tretable,
And full of envy, malyce, & rancour,
Dry, þursty, & a gret wastour,

732

Dysposyd to many a sondry thyng,
With pompe & bost hasty to do rygour,
Ben soche men stable here in þeyr lyuyng?

30

Melancolyk of hys complexioun,
Dysposyd of kynde for to be fraudulent,
Malicious, froward, & be decepcioun
Forgyng discordes, double of hys entent;
Whyche þynges peysyd by good avysement,
I dar conclude, as to my felyng,
By confirmacion as in sentement,
Few men byn here stabyll in her lyuyng.

Explicit.

[Iohn Lydgatt: Stow.]

The dysposicion of þe .iiij. tymes of þe yere.

31

M]an haþ in somer drynesse & hete,
In theyr bok as auctors lyst expresse,
And when Phebus entreþ þe Ariete
Dygest humours vpward done hem dresse,
Porys opyn þat seson, of swetnesse
And exaltacions, diuerse wyrkyng,
How shuld man [þan] be stable in lyuyng?

32

Autumpne to Veer foundyn ys contrary,
As Galien seyþ in all hys qualytees,
Disposyng a man þat season to vary,
To many vncouþe straunge infirmitees,
Of canyculer dayes takyng þe propertees,
By reuelacion of manyfold changyng,
How shuld man þan be stable in lyuyng?

33

Man haþe in wynter in þis present lyfe,
By dysposicion, colde and humylyte,
Whyche season ys to fleume nutrytyfe,
Spoyleþ herbe and tre of þer fresshe beaute,
Closeþ, constreyneþ, the poores, men may se,
Causeþ kyndly hete, inwarde to be wyrkyng,
How shuld man þen be stable in lyuyng?

733

34

By Veere man haþe hete and eke moystour,
A-twene boþe a man[er] of temperaunce,
On whyche tweyne gret lust he doþ recouer,
Yef colde not put hym in dystemperaunce.
Thus meynt with drede ys mannys gouernance,
Ay in no certeyn, by recorde of wrytyng,
Howe shuld he than be stable in lyuyng?

Explicit.

The Dysposicion of þe World.

[by Lydgatt: Stow.]

T]he monþes vary, eueryche haþ his sygne
And harde hit ys all wedyrs for to know,
The tyme somewhyle ys gracious & benygne,
And vppon hilles and valeys þat ben low
The iiij. wyndes contrariosly do blow
In every storme man ys here abydyng,
Som to release, & som to overthrow,
How shuld man þan be stedfast of lyuyng?

36

The worldly answer, fortune transmutable,
Trust of lordshyp a feynt sekernes,
Euery seson varyeth, frendshyp ys vnstable,
Now myrthe, now sorow, now hele, now sekenes,
Now ebbe of pouert, now flodys of ryches,
All stont in chaunge, now losse, now wynnyng,
Tempest in see & wyndes sturdynes
Makeþ men vnstable & ferefull of lyuyng.

37

Tytan somwhyle fresshly doþe appere,
Then commeþ a storme & doþ hys lyght deface,
The soile of somer with floures glad of chere
Wynters rasure doþe all awey rase;
All erþely þynges sodenly do passe
Whyche may haue here no seker abydyng,
Eke all astates false fortune doth manase,
How shuld a man þan be stedfast of lyuyng?

734

38

Beholde & see þe transmutacion,
Howe þe seson of grene lusty age,
Force of Iuuentus, strong, hardy as a lyoun,
Tyme of manhode, wysdom, sad of corage,
And howe Decrepitus turnyth to dotage,
Cast all in a balance, & foryete noþyng,
And thow shalt fynd þis lyfe a pylgremage,
In whyche þer ys no stedfast abydyng.

39

Then lyft vp thyne ey vnto [þe] heuyn,
And pray þy Lord, whyche ys eternall,
That syt so ferr aboue þe sterres seuyn,
In hys p[a]lace most imperyall,
To graunt þe grace, here in þys lyfe mortall,
Contricion, shryft, & howsyll at þy departyng,
And, er þou passe hens, remyssion finall
Towarde þe lyfe, where ioy ys euerlastyng.

Explicit.

Amen.

[Iohn Lydgat: Stow.]

54B. A PAGEANT OF KNOWLEDGE, ANOTHER VERSION OF THE LAST PART.

[_]

[MS. Harley 2255; leaves 14–17.]

1

The world so wyd, the hair so remevable,
The cely man so litel of stature,
The greve and the ground of clothyng so mutable,
The fyr so hoot and sotil of nature,
The watir nevir in oon, what creature
Maad of thes foure that been thus flettyng,
Miht of resoun perseueren by any cure,
Or stedfast been heer in his livyng.

735

2

Man hath of erthe slowthe and hevynesse,
Flux and refflux by watir made unstable,
Kyndly of hayr he hath also swiftnesse,
By fyr maad hasty, wood, and nat tretable;
To erthe ageyn by processe corumpable,
Seelde or nevir in o point abydyng,
Now glad, now hevy, now froward, now tretable,
How shuld he than be stedfast of lyvyng?

3

Off erthe he hath ioyntes, flessh, and boonys,
And of watir ful manyfold humours,
Hayr in his arters disposyd for the noonys,
Fir in his herte, by record of auctours;
Complexionat of sondryfold colours,
Now briht as Phebus, now reyn, and now shynyng,
Now silver dewh, now fressh with April flours,
How shuld man than be stedfast of lyvyng?

4

With Ver he hath drynesse and moisture,
Attwen bothe bamaner attemperaunce,
In which tweyne deliteth hym nature,
Yiff coold nat put hym in distemperaunce;
Thus meynt with dreed is mannys gouernaunce,
Ay in invncerteyn, by record of writyng,
Now wood, now sobre, now prudent in daliaunce,
How shuld man than be stedfast in livyng?

5

Man hath with somyr drynesse and heete,
In ther bookys as auctours lyst expresse,
Whan Phebus entrith in the Ariete,
Digest humours vpward doon hem dresse,
Poorys opnyng, that sesoun of swetnesse!
With exalaciouns and mystis descendyng,
Titan to erly whan he his cours doth dresse,
Of his briht shynyng no stedfast abyding.

6

Autumpne to Ver foundyn is contrary,
Galien seith in al ther qualitees,
Disposyng man that sesoun doth so vary,

736

To many vnkouth straunge infirmytees,
Of canyculer dayes takyng the propirtees,
By revolucioun of manyfold chaungyng,
In spiritual state temperal comowneeres,
How shuld he than be stedfast of livyng?

7

Man hath with wyntir in this present lyff,
By disposicioun cold and humydite,
Which sesoun is to flewme nutritiff,
Spoleth tre and herbe of al ther fressh bewte;
The dayes-eye drepith, leesith hir liberte,
Poores constreyned no roseer out shewyng,
Fresshnesse of corages that sesoun makith ffle,
How shuld man than be stedfast of livyng?

8

Fyr resoluethe erthe by watry,
And watry thynges fyr turneth into hayr,
Makith hard thyng neisshe and also naturally,
Neisshe thyng hard by his sodeyn repair;
Thowith hard yis that shoon as cristal fayr,
Which element hath in man ful greet werkyng,
Feith, hope, and charite shal outraye al dispayr,
Thouh alle men be nat stedfast of lyvyng,

9

Ayer of nature yevith inspiracioun,
To mannys herte thyng moost temperatiff,
Off kyndly heete gevyth respiracioun,
Sotil, rare, and a gret mytigatiff,
To tempre the spiritis by vertu vegetatiff;
And sith that hayr in man is thus meevyng,
By manyfoold sawt he troublyd in his liff,
How shuld man than be stedfast in livyng?

10

Watir somwhile is congelyd to cristall,
Coold and moist, as of his nature,
Now ebbith, fflowith, which, in especiall,
Miht of the moone doth hir cours recure;
And sith that element, by record of Scripture,

737

Was oon of foure compact in our makyng,
I wold enqueer what maneer creature
Maad of thes foure were stedfast of living?

11

The sangueyn man of blood hath hardynesse,
Wrouht to be lovyng, large of his dispence,
The fflewmatyk slowh, oppressyd with dolnesse,
Whit of visage, rude of elloquence;
And sith ther is in man suche difference
Of complexiouns dyversly werkyng,
Answer heerto concludyng in sentence,
How that he myhte be stable of his livyng.

12

The coleryk man sotil and deceyuable,
Slendir, leene, and citryn of colour,
Wroth sodeynly, wood and nat tretable.
Ay ful of yre, of malys, and rancour,
Drye and adust and a gret wastour,
And disposyd to many sondry thyng,
With pompe and boost hasty to do rigour,
Been such men stable heer in ther livyng?

13

Malencolik of his complexioun,
Dispoosid of kynde for to be fraudelent,
Malicious, froward, and by decepcioun,
Which thynges peysed by good avisement,
Forgyng discordes double of his entent;
I dar conclude as to my feelyng,
By confirmacioun as in sentement,
Fewe men be stable heer in ther livyng.

14

Satourn disposith to malencolye,
Iubiter reiseth men to hih noblesse,
And sturdy Mars to striff, werre, and envye,
Phebus to wysdam and to hih prowesse,
Mercurius to chaung and doubilnesse,
The moone mutable, now glad, and now drepyng,
And gery Venus, ful of newfangilnesse,
Makith man vnstable heer in this livyng.

738

15

The world vnsuyr, fortune transmutable,
Trust on lordship a feynt sekirnesse;
Ech sesoun varieth frenship oft vnstable,
Now glad, now hevy, now helthe, now syknesse;
An ebbe of pouert next floodys of richesse,
Al staunt on chaung, now los and now wynnyng;
Tempest on se, and wyndes sturdynesse
Make men vnstable and feerful of livyng.

16

Titan somwhile fresshly doth appeere,
Than comyth a storm and doth his liht difface,
The soyl in somyr with floures glad of cheere,
Wyntris rasour doth al away arrace;
Al erthly thyng sodeynly doth pace,
Which may haue heer no siker abydyng,
Eek alle estatys fals ffortune doth manace;
How shuld man than be stedfast of lyvyng?

17

Considre and see the transmutacioun,
How the sesoun of greene lusty age,
Force of iuventus, hardy as lioun,
Tyme of manhood, wisdam, sad corage,
And how decrepitus turneth to dotage,
Al cast in ballaunce, be war, forget nothyng,
And thu shalt fynde this lyff a pilgrymage,
In which ther is no stedfast abydyng.

18

Man! left vp thyn eye to the heuene,
And pray the Lord, which is eternal,
That sitt so ferre above the sterrys sevene,
In his paleys moost imperyal,
To graunt the grace heer in this liff mortal,
Contricioun, shrifft, hoosyl at thy partyng,
And, or thu passe, remyssioun fynal,
Toward that lyf wher ioye is ay lastyng!

Explicit Iohan Lydgate.

739

55. STANS PUER AD MENSAM.

[_]

[MS. Bodl. Laud. Misc. 683, leaves 62, back, to 65.]

Here gynneth stans puer ad mensam.

1

My dere sone, first þiselff enable
With al thyn herte to vertuous disciplyne
Affore thy souereyn stondyng at the table,
Dispose thy thouht affter my doctryne,
To al norture thy corage do inclyne.
First whane thou spekist be nat reklees,
Kepe feet & ffyngeris, hondis stille in pees.

2

Be symple of cheer, cast not thy look asyde,
Gase nat aboute, turnyng over all;
Ageyn the post lat nat thy bak abyde;
Make nat the merour also of the wall,
Pike nat thy nase, and in especyall

740

Be riht weell war, and set hit in thy thouht,
To-fore thy souereyn cracche ne rubbe nought.

3

Who speketh to the in ony maner plase,
Lombysshly cast nat thyn hed adoun,
But with sad cheer looke hym in fface;
Walke demurely by stretys in toun,
And advertyse of wisdam and resoun.
With dyssolute langage thou do noon offence
To-fore thy souereyn, while he is in presence.

4

Pare clene þi nailles, thyn hondis wasshe also
To-ffore mete, and whan thou doost aryse;
Sitte in that place thou art assigned to;
Prese not to hye in no maner wyse;
And [t]yl thou se affore the thy servyse,
Be nat to hasty vpon bred to bight
Of gredynesse lyst men þe wolde atwight.

5

Grennyng and mowes at þe table eschewe;
Crie nat to loude; kepe honestly silence;
Tenboce þi iowes with bred it is not dewe;

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With ful mouth speke nat, list thou do offence;
Drynk nat brydeled for haste nor necligencce;
Kepe clene þi lippes fro faat of flesshe or fessh;
Wipe fair thy spone, leue it nat in thy dissh.

6

Off brede i-beete no soppis that thou make;
To soupe loude it is ageyn gentylnesse;
With mouth enbrued þi cuppe thou nat tak;
In ale or wyne with hond leue no ffatnesse;
Foule nat þi napry for no reklesnesse,
Neuer at mete be war gynne no stryff;
Thy teeth also ne pike not with thy knyff.

7

Off honest myrth let be thy dalyaunce;
Swere none othis, speke no rebaudrye;
The beste morcellis, have this in remembraunce,
Hooll to thyselff alway do nat applye;
Parte with thy ffelawe, for that is cortesie:
Lade not þi trenchour with many remyssailis;
And fro blaknesse alwey kepe thy nayllis.

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8

Off curtesie it is ageyn the lawe,
With sounde dishonest for to do offence;
Of old surfetys abrayde nat þi ffelawe;
Toward þi souereyn have ay thyn aduertence;
Pley with no knyff, take heede to my sentence;
At mete and soper kepe þe stille and soffte;
Eek to and ffro meve not thy ffoot to offte.

9

Droppe nat þi brest with sauce ne with potage;
Brynge no knyves onscored to the table;
Fylle nat thy spone, lyst in the caryage
It went beside, wich wer nat comendable;
Be quyk and redy, meek and seruysable,
Weell awaytyng to ffulfylle anoon
What þi souereyn comaundeth the to doon.

10

And wherso be that thow dyne or suppe,
Of gentilnesse take salt with thy knyff;
And be weell war thow blowe nat in þi cuppe
Reuerence þi felaus, gynne with hem no stryff;
To thy power kepe pes all thy lyff.
Interupte nat, where so that thow wende,
No man his tale, tyl he haue maad an ende;

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11

With thy ffynger marke nat thy tale;
Be weel avised, namely in tender age,
To drynke in mesour bothe wyne and ale;
Be nat copious also of language;
As tyme requyreth, shewe out thy vysage,
To glad ne to sory, but atween tweyne,
For los or lucre or ony cas sodeyne.

12

Be meek in mesour, nat hasty, but tretable;
Ouer mekyll is nat worth in no thyng;
To childer longeth nat to be vengable,
Sone mevyd and sone fforgeuyng;
And as it is remembrid by old writyng,
Wratthe of children sone is overgoon,
Withe an appell partyes be maad at oon.

13

In childeris werre now myrthe, now debate,
In her quarell is no greet vyolence;
Now pley, now wepyng, selde in on estate;
To her pleyntes yeve no gret credence;
A rod refourmeth al her insolence;

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In her corage no rancour doth abyde;
Who spareth the yerde, al vertu set asyde.

Lenvoye.

Go, lytel bylle, bareyn of elloquence,
Pray yonge childer þat þe shall se or reede,
Thogh thou be compendious of sentence,
Of thy clauses for to taken heede,
Wich to al vertu shal her youthe leede.
Of the writyng, thogh ther be no date,
Yif ouht be mys,—in woord, sillable, or dede,—
Put al diffaute vpon Iohn Lydgate.

Explicit.