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Whan Gracë Dieu off hyr bounte,
Thys talë hadde ytold to me,
To-forn as ye han herd devysed,
With gret desyr I was supprysed
In my thouht & my coráge,
And hungrede for myn ávauntage,
In hope tave had the bettre sped
ffor to haue Etyn off that bred.
The Pylgrym prayede.
“Ma dame,” quod he, & gan hym meke,
“Humblely I yow be-seke,
Me to graunte, to myn encres,
Off the Releff off Moyses,
My voyded hertë to fulfylle,
Wych so longe (a-geyn my wylle,
As ye wel knowe,) hath voydë be,
And neuere ne hadde hys ful sawlee.
ffor, to thys tyme neuere yit
I nat conceyvede in my wyt
Wher-with yt myghte fulfylled be;
ffor wych, I pray yow, graunteth me.”

Grace Dieu Answerde
‘Certys,’ quod she, ‘thy requeste,
I holde yt ys nat dyshoneste;
ffor thys bred ys necessarye
To allë folk wych lyst nat tarye
In ther vyage, thus semeth me.
ffor, or thow come to that cyte
Whyder thow castest for to gon,
By many weyës mo than on,
Thow shalt be troublyd (yt ys no dred)
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‘Yiff thow haue nat off thys bred,
Al thy sorwes for tapese,
Thow art lyk to haue dysesse,
And in thy weyë gret offence;
ffor wych thow shalt ha lycence
To take thys bred, & ek conge.
‘But fyrst, off ryht & equyte,
Toward thys bred or that thow drawe,
(As yt ys wryten in my lawe;)
Thow must ha fyrst, pocessïoun
Off a sherpe & a bordoun,
As thow to-forn Requeryst me
In lowly wyse to graunte hem the.
‘And I answerdë the ageyn,
And the be-hihte ek (in certeyn,)
That in myn hows ther was plente
Off bothë tweyne: thus told I the.
And tolde the, on the tother syde,
That I sholde for the provyde,
To shewë the, in my depoos,
Thynges that wer with-Innë cloos,
Wych I ha shewyd but to fewe;
But vn-to the I shal hem shewe.
And somme off hem secrely
I ha the shewyd in party,
And am ay redy (as I tolde)
Thy couenauntës for to holde
With-outen al collusïoun.
‘And towchyng shyrpe & bordoun,
Thow shalt hem haue (as I be-hihte)
Deluyered in thyn ownë sighte.
And after that, (yt ys no drede,)
Thow shalt nowe put ther-in thy bred
With-Inne thy shryppe, as yt ys ryht;
And affter that, thow shalt ha myght,
fforth vp-on thy way, by grace,
As A pylgrym for to passe.

The pylgryme answerid:
“Ma dame,” quod he, with gret meknesse,
164

“I thanke vn-to your worthynesse;
ffor my desyr & my wysshynges
Resten fully in thys thynges.
I wolde, with-outë wordys mo,
Have hem fayn, & ben ago.”
Thanne thys lady, off hyr grace,
Laddë me in-to a place
In wyche (who kan reportë wel)
Was ful many a ffayr Iowel,
Vp-on wyche myn Eye I leyde;
And Euene thus to me she seyde:

Grace dieu spake:
‘Lefft vp thyn Eye, be-hold & se,
And tak good heed now vn-to me!
‘ffyrst, thys skryppe & thys bordoun
Haven thys condycyoun,
That thow in soth may them nat se,
But yiff so falle, thyn eyen be
Set ther as thyn Erys stonde.
And therfor thow shalt vnderstonde,
Yiff thow hem seye A-noon now ryht
With thyn Eyen cler & bryht,
Wher as they be, now trustë wel
They sholde the plesë neueradel.
Wherfor I shal (yiff that I may)
Bothe thyn Eyen take away,
And hem out off her placë fette;
And in thyn Erys I shal hem sette,
That thow mayst, at lyberte,
Skryppe & bordoun bettre se.’

the pylgryme marvelethe:
“Madame,” quod I, “what lyst ye seyn?
Me thynketh that ye speke in veyn:
Ye speke off thyng that me wer loth,
And make myn hertë wonder wroth,
And yive to me occasïoun
To leuë skryppe & ek bordoun,
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“And to for-sakë bothë tweyne.
And syker (yiff I shal nat feyne,)
I hadde leuere to do so,
Than to endure so gretë wo,
ffor taperë monstruous,
Or shewe me-sylff so odius;
Or that ye sholde (I yow ensure,)
So me transforme or dysfygure.”

grace dieu spake:
‘Vnderstond,’ quod she, ‘a lyte
In thys mater, my sylff taquyte,
Off wych I shal the tellë more.
‘Yt ys not yet ygon ful yore
(Yiff thow remembre, & lyst tak hed,)
Whan thow doutest the off thys bred,
And haddest merveil (ek parde,)
By what Resoun yt myghtë be,
Whan thyn hertë stood in doute
That so mychë folk aboute
Hadde in thys bred ful suffysaunce,
And ful repast to ther plesaunce,
That al thy wyttys, in no wyse
Koudë techë the the guyse
Of thys vnkouthë pryvyte;
And, ne hadde thy Erys be,
(Yiff thow Remembre thè ryht wel,)
Thow haddest knowen neueradel.
‘For yiff yt be a-ryht conceyved,
Alle thy wyttys wer deceyved,
And lyede pleynly vn-to the,
What they felte or dydë se,
Saue the trouth (& thus yt stood)
With thyn Eryng stylle a-bood.
‘Wherfore I muste (of verray ryht,)
Translate thyn Eyen & thy syht,
Thyder wher thyn Erys stonde.
And (as thow shalt wel vnderstonde,)
Thyn Erys muste haue Eyën clere
Taparceyvë, in thys matere,
And to conceyven euery thyng.
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‘ffor, trustë me wel, that Eryng
Wel dysposyd, voyde of slowthe,
Kan the tellë best the trouthe,
In thyngës wych that ben dotous,
Wonderful & merveyllous.
‘ffor wych thyng, I wyll nat lette,
Ther thyn Eyen for to sette,
With hem to sharpë mor thy wyt;
ffor thow seyst nat clerly yit,
As thow ouhtest in thyn mynde.
Thow trustest vp-on fourë blynde.
On whom trowynge, (trustë me,)
Thow art ful blynde, & mayst nat se.
‘But yt be-houeth, that clerly
Thow mustest sen, & openly,
Or thow haue pocessïoun
Outher of skryppe or off bordoun.
ffor thow shalt hem nat possede,
Nor bern hem out (yt ys no drede,)
Out off myn hous, in no manere,
(Sherpe or bordoun bothe yfere)
Tyl thow knowe (with-outë slowthe)
Verrayly the pleynë trouthe
Off al that hath be told to the
Touchynge thys bred; now truste to me,
And wene nat,—in no maner wyse,
As I shal to the devyse,—
That I no-thyng off volunte
Seye thys wordys to temptë the
A-skawnce: I woldë A-geyns ryht
With-drawe that I ha the be-hyht:
To the, my promys I wyl kepe;
ffor neuere, vakyng nor a-slepe,
(As I ryht wel rehersë kan,)
I deceyved neuere man
Off thyng that longede vn-to me.
‘And ther-fore doutë no-thyng the,
That I wyl to no strangë fourme,
The diffacen, nor dysfourme;
ffor platly (in conclusïoun)
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‘Yt lyth in thyn elleccïoun,
And in thy fre choys yt shal be,
ffor to chesyn, as for me
To settyn thyn eyen her or there.
‘And for my party, thow shalt lere
Yiff thow in me haue swychë tryst,
ffor to Remeue hem wher me lyst,
As for onys to assaye,
Yiff I ther-wyth nat the dysmaye,
But do yt for thyn ávauntage,
The ther nat pleyne on no damage.’

The pilgrim axithe:
“Wher-off serueth (touchyng thys thyng)
Clernesse off myn vnderstondyng,
Wych clerkys calle (in sentement)
Intellect or entendëment,
Wych hath Eyen (I dar seyn so,)
As manye (or an hundryd mo)
As hadde Argus of yore agoon,
Yit in hys Erys hadde he noon,
In bookys olde ye may well se.
“I hope yt stant nat so with me,
That good avys shal me so faylle,
Nor no Rudnessë so masaylle.
Me thynketh pleynly (as I tolde)
But that myn vnderstondyng sholde
Techyn me the trouth al pleyn,
And ther-to hauë no dysdeyne,
Me tenfourme of al thys thyng,
With-outen any remowyng
Off the Eyën in myn hed
Into myn Eryn (who kan tak hed);
Wych wer in soth An vnkouth syht,
And gret merveyl to euery whyht.”

Grace Dieu Answerde
Quod grace dieu, ‘tak hed, & se,
Thyn vnderstondyng (trustë me)
Wolde in soth ha no dysdeyne
To techë the the trouthë pleyn.
But thow mayst trustë me ryht wel:
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‘He vnderstondeth neueradel
Off thys matere that we off talke,
He goth be-syde, & maketh a balke,—
To sen clerly thexcellence,
The valu and the magnyfycence
Off that we holde our parlement,
He ys so feble & indygent
ffor lak off knowyng (in sothnesse),
He ys [so] fallen in dyrkënesse,
That he knoweth her-of ryht nouht,
Truste me well, (yiff yt be souht,)
The verray trouthe, (so god me saue).
‘And ther thow seyst, he sholde ek haue
An hundryd eyën, & yet mo,
Thow shalt wel wyte yt ys nat so,
Nor that yt ys a thyng credyble,
Nor off hys lookys wych be possyble,
Wych he hath by successyouns;
I sey nat off thentencyouns
Wych thow hast in many wyse;
ffor than (shortly to devyse)
In swych caas thow seydest wel,
And elles platly thow shalt fel
Thow wentyst foule out off the weye.
‘ffor he hath only but on Eye,
That Symply seth & vnderstondeth,
And thyngës wych he vnderstondeth
Lyk to hys syht, as they doth deme,
He byt, & kan no ferther deme.
Swych thyng as longeth to hym off ryht,
ffor to be demyd by the syht,
He receyveth to hys presence;
And thannë thyn Intelligence,
Also ffer as he doth se,
He Gyveth hys doom in that degre:
On thyng nat seyn, he kan nat muse;
But al swych thyng he doth refuse,
And sent yt forth (pleynly to seyn),
Outward, ther as yt kam a-geyn.
ffor lak, he kan no ferther se,
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‘Thorgh hys ffoltysshe vanyte.’

The pilgrym axithe:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “ful gladly
I wolde wyten certeynly,
Clerly to be put out off doute,
What ys he that wych sendeth oute,
And what ys he (ek in certeyn)
That Reporteth hem A-geyn
Tydynges erly & ek late;
And yiff ther be ek any gate
A-twen the brynger and hym that sent;
I woldë fayn in myn Entent
Off yow haue Informacyoun,
And clerly dyffynycyoun.”

Grace Dieu Answerthe
‘Certys,’ quod sche, ‘by thyn askyng
Thow shalt neuere knowe no thyng
As I be-leuë, in substaunce.
‘Thow herdyst whylom, how dame penaunce
Made a declaracïoun
Off vj. gatys, in hyr sarmoun.
And fyve off hem, she saydë blyue,
That they wer the wyttys fyue;
By wych gatys she dyde assure,
That al fylthës & al ordure
Entrede in, in sondry wyse,
(As thow herdyst hyre devyse,)
Whan they wer open, & nat cloos.
The wych gatys, to my purpos
I wyl now take in specyal
With-outë preiudice at al.
‘ffor thys gatys, I calle “porterys,”
“Bryngerys-in & massagerys”
Off echë thyng, & sayd with-oute,
But yiff yt falle with-outë doute,
Certeyn Secretys, wych that be
Hyd & ydon in pryvyte.
Thys gatys I calle the “passages,
Wherby in passen the massages.”
‘Thys to seyne (vnderstond me wel;
170

‘Conceyve my speche euerydel:)
Eye ys the gate, lookyng porter;
Nose, the dore & massager
Who kan parceyve ys smellyng;
And semblably in euery thyng,
Euene lyk yt doth be-falle
Off thyn other wyttys alle,
Thanne whan that lokyng is porter
Off the Eye, & massager.
‘And I wyl here by & by
Speke off the Eyë specyally,
And lete the tother passe & gon.
‘Now herkne, & thow shalt here A-noon
As I sayde rathe vn-to the,
Lokyng, with wych men do se,
Vn-to the Eye ys porter
(As thow well wost) & massager;
And whan that he seth thyngës newe,
ffresshe & lusty of ther hewe,
ffayr or foul, wher-so yt be,
He bydeth nat in no degre,
Nouther slepeth nor resteth nouht,
But, as swyfft as any thouht,—
Thorgh hys bysy dyllygence,
A-noon, (as he hath licence
Off the wyttys callyd comwne,—
Thanne hys offyce to contune,)
He maketh a demonstracioun,
Report & ful relacyoun,
ffyrst off all, to fantasye.
‘Thanne ffantasye doth hyr hye
To Go forth to Entendëment,
To yive a trewë Iugement
Off report that he hath brouht,
Iustly to deme, & errë nouht,
Be yt off thyngës newe or old.
‘Now telle I the, as I ha told
Amongys al thy doomys stronge;
Yiff the thyng vn-to hym longe,
Thanne he (in conclusïoun)
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‘Wyl yt demyn off Resoun.
And ther-vp-on ek détermyne,
And in hast hys doomys fyne,
Whan he hath cerchyd yt & sought.
‘& yiff to hym yt longeth novht,
By hem that brouhte yt (in certeyn),
In haste he sent yt forth ageyn;
The Messagerys (Erly and late)
Conveye yt by the samë gate
By wych yt kam: lo, her ys al.
‘And mor to the I tellë shal;
(Reporte me wel at allë tymes;)
The skryppe that longeth to pylgrymes,
(I mene, off pylgrymes in specyal,
Swyche as be goodë founde at al,)
Whan they hem skryppen euerychon,
They fyrst vn-to the gatë gon
Off the Ere, & off Eryng;
And ther, with-oute mor taryyng,
Hem sylff redy for to make,
ffyrst, the porter they awake
Yiff that he slepe; and than A-noon,
By thylkë gatë, in they gon.
‘Off other gatys (I ensure)
They do no fors, nor ha no cure;
ffor heryng ther ys cheff porter;
And he goth forth as massager,
ffyrst to wyttys that be comwne;
And, or that they ther-on comwne,
They make a demonstracyoun
Cler, & ful relacïoun,
To fantasye, wher as she Syt.
‘And no lenger she abyt,
But to the gretë Iuge she goth
(Wherso that he be glad or wroth);
She sheweth platly hyr entent
Vn-to thys Iuge, Entendëment.
And whan that he hath musyd longe
Theron, in hys doomys stronge,
And he, for lak off knowelychyng,
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‘ffeleth ther-in no maner thyng,
Thanne off Folye, he chek maat,
Awhapyd and dysconsolat,
Sent yt ageyn (yt stondeth so)
By thylkë gate that yt kam fro;
ffor he (shortly, in sentement)
Koude gyue noon other Iugëment,
ffor al hys wyttys wer a-gon,
Saue that Eryng (among echon)
Kam a-noon to hys refuge,
ffor to deme & be a Iuge,
As yt longede off verray ryht.
‘ffor smellyng, Tastyng, touch, & Syht,
They wer deceyved, euerychon;
And for to knowe the trouthe a-noon,
And a trewë doom to make,
A man mustë the Eyën take,
And to the Erys hem translate,
Wych off Eryng ys the gate;
And ther, whan they be set aryht,
They shal be cleryd so off syht
To demë trouthe, and no-thyng erre,
Bryht as any sonne or sterre.’

The pylgrym answereth:
“What euer,” quod I, “that ye han sayd,
Ther-off I am ryht wel a-payd.
I ha consydred euerydel
That ye to-forn ha seyd ryht wel;
ffor wych, ma dame, (as ye best se,)
I wylë that myn Eyen be
With-Inne myn Erys set a-noon,
Or ye any ferther gon.
ffor I ha conceyved in my thouht,
That to me, ful lyte or nouht
My pylgrymagë sholde avaylle,
Yiff so that I dydë ffaylle
To haue a Skryppë or Burdon̄.”
And tho to myn Entencïon̄
(Lyche as to yow I toldë Late )
Myn Eyen two she gan translate
173

In-to myn Eryn, ther they stood.
And for she sawh that yt was good,
An huchche she gan a-noon vn-shette;
And out a-noon ther-off she fette
(Lyk to myn oppynyoun)
Bothe a skryppe & a bordoun.
Off wych thyngës, a-noon I
Gan to merveille ful gretly,
With myn Erys (as she me tolde)
Whan that I gan hem be-holde:
The skryppë mad & shapë clene,
By A gyrdel heng off grene,
The wych was (as I vnderstood)
Spreynt with dropys off red blood,
Wheroff I was abaisshed sore.
And over that, I sawh yet more:
Vpon the samë gyrdle stronge,
Off syluer, smalë bellys honge,
Twelue in noumbre, & no mo,
Wel enamellyd; & also
Ech off hem (I yow ensure)
Haddë a dyuers Scrypture,
The lettrys large & curyous;
And in the ffyrste was wryten thus:
“God the ffader,” fful wel ywrouht,
That heuene and erthë made off nouht,
And made ek man to hys lyknesse,
Off hys grace & hys goodnesse.
And ferthermor (yiff I shal telle)
Was wryten in the nextë belle:
“God the Sone, off wysdam most.”
In the thrydde, “God the Holygost.”
And they wer mad so wel, echon,
Semynge to me they were al on;
And with-Inne I dydë se
A claper that seruede hem all thre.
In the fourthe was wryte & graue,
How goddys sonë, man to saue,
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Cryst ihesu, descended doun
ffrom that hevenly mansyoun
In-to the Erthe, & be-kam man;
And (as I rehersë kan,)
Off the holy gost conceyved,
Porely in thys world receyved,
Born off A maydë pur & ffre,
Ay flouryng in vyrgynyte,
Wych allë wemmen dyde excelle.
And wryten in the fyffthë belle,
Graue in ordre, by & by,
Was hys gretë tormentry,
And ek how he was crucyfyed,
And how that he for man hath dyed,
And suffryd ful gret passïoun,
To maken hys redempcyoun,
With many woundys ful terryble,
And rebukys ful penyble,
Mankynde only for to save;
Take fro the croos, put in hys graue,
Affter al hys peyne & wo.
And in the .vj. was wryte also,
(Wrouht, yt myghte nat be amendyd,)
How he to hellë ys descendyd,
Hys frendys ther to fette a-way,
Wych hadde be there so many a day
To bryngë hem to paradys.
And in the .vij. (by gret avys)
Was wryte hys resureccïoun;
In the viij., hys Ascencioun
Vp to the hihë heuene ageyn,
With hys fader (in certeyn)
To sytten there on the ryht syde,
With hym perpetuelly tabyde,
Ther to demen quyk & dede,
Euery man affter hys dede.
Also (yiff ye lyst to wyte,)
In the nynthë ther was wryte
(Graue off hym that dyde yt werche,)
Crystys spousë, hooly cherche,
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With al hys dyuers paramentys,
And all the .vij. sacramentys.
And in the Tenthë, men myhte se
The Oonyng and the vnyte
Off seyntys, the comunyoun,
Ordeyned for manhys refeccyoun,
And off synnës Indulgence
By baptesme & by penytence.
And in the .xj. (be wel certeyn,)
Was the Rysyng vp A-geyn
Off all man-kynde, bothe hih & lowe,
Whan gabryel hys horn shal blowe,
To calle all ffolkys off entent
To komë to the Iugëment.
Body & sowle (as ye shal lere)
Bothë knet Ageyn yfere,
Shal ther come to audience,
ffor to heryn the sentence;
And thyder haven ther Repayr
To-for the Iuge hih in the hayr,
Goode & badde: thus stant the caas.
And in the .xij., grauen ther was
Only, off goodë, the guerdoun,
And off wykked, punycyoun,
Swych as dydë no penaunce,
Nor ne hadde no répentaunce
To make amendys, I yow ensure.
Loo, her, hooly the scrypture
Off the syluer bellys clere,
And off the namel ek yfere.
Now shall I tellen the ffacioun
And the maner off the bordoun,
Wych was (yiff ye lyst to lere)
Wrouht & mad in thys manere:
Yt was ymad bothe strong & lyht,
Long also, & evene vpryht;
Off dryë wode (yiff yt be souht)
Wyche neuere ne roteth nouht,
Nor neuere perissheth, (in certeyn,)
Nouther for ffyr, nor ffor no reyn.
176

Yt was ywrouht & mad so wel;
And a-boue, a Round poomel
Off a merrour, that shon ful bryht,
And gaff envyroun a gret lyht,
In the wych, men myghtë se
ffer ffrom hem al the contre
Rounde aboute hem Envyroun.
ffor ther ne was no regyoun
So ffer from yt, by no dystaunce,
(To Reknen euery cyrcumstaunce)
But men myghte sen yt euerydel,
And beholde yt ffayre & wel.
And in that myrour dyde I se
The maner hool off the cyte
To the wych I was so bent
ffor to gon, in myn entent.
ffor wych (in myn oppynyoun)
I preysede gretly the Bordoun,
And louyd also wel the bet.
& lower doun ek ther was set
A-nother poomel, wych off makyng
Was lasse & Round, (to my seemyng,)
Maad off a charboncle ston,
The wych as any sonnë shoon,
Thorgh al the contre shadde hys lyht
(Yt was so Oryent and so bryht)
An hugë compas round a-boute.
And whan she hadde ytaken oute
Thys two Iowellys ffayr & ryche,
I trowë nowher wer noon lyche,
Grace dieu (fayre mot hyr falle!)
In goodly wysë gan me calle.

Grace dieu speketh:
Thys lady goodly spak to me,
‘Kom ner, my sone; tak hed & se;
Loo her (yiff I shal nat feyne)
Thylkë Rychë Gyfftys tweyne
Wych I be-hihte whylom to the;
And thow shalt nat deceyved be.
‘Loo her A skryppe & a Bordoun,
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‘The wych (off hool entencyoun)
I gyve to the, now kep hem wel!
Considre the maner everydel,
How they be ryht necessarye
To forthre the, (thow shalt nat tarye,)
To helpë the in thy vyage,
And to spede thy pylgrymage.
Thow shalt off hem have ay gret nede,
Yiff thow lyst thy Iourne spede,
Nedful to pylgrymës alle;
And “feyth,” thy Skryppë thow shalt calle;
Wyth-outë wych, may nat be
Brouht aboutë no Iournee
Nor vyáge that may a-vaylle.
ffor, thy bred & thy vytaylle,
Ther-in thow shalt alway concerve,
And allë tymes thow shalt observe
Thys skryppë wel in thy bandoun,
In euery cyte & euery Toun,
In al thy mostë feythful wyse,
And also for to auctoryse.
‘Touchyng thys Skryppë callyd “ffeyth,”
Herkne what thapostel seyth
In a pystel that he endyteth,
And to the Romayns pleynly wryteth:
“The ryht-ful man, with-outë stryff,
By thys skryppë lat hys lyff;”
Thys to seyne, that ffeyth off ryht
Yiveth lyff to euery maner whyht;
As Abachuch that hooly man,
In hys wrytyng rehersë kan,
The secounde chapytle off hys book,
Who so lyst lyfft vp hys look.
‘And thys skryppe (with-outë wene,)
Off hys colour mot be grene;
Wych colour (who so look a-ryht)
Doth gret comfort to the syht;
178

‘Sharpeth the Eye, (yt ys no dred,)
And so doth ffeyth, (who taketh hed;)
Yt maketh pylgrymes glad & lyht,
With hem abydyng day & nyht;
And in ther weye (I dar reporte,)
Gretly doth hem Reconforte.
ffor good pylgrymës euerychon,
On pylgrymagë wher they gon,
Only ffeyth doth hem sustene,
By exaumple, as the grene,
The gentyl colour glad & lyht,
Yiveth clernesse to the syht.
‘Whan the grenë al with-oute
Ys spreynt with dropys Round aboute
Off red blood (who kan entende),
Than the syht yt doth amende
fful gretly, I dar wel seyn;
ffor ther ys dropë noon certeyn,
But yt ys worth, & off mor prys
To pylgrymës that be wys,
Than outher perle or margaryte.
And (as I dar ryht wel endyte,)
Yt is mor Ryche & precyous,
Mor off valu & vertuous,
The bloody dropys, whan they be spreynt
Vp-on the grenë, & ymeynt,
To make a man mor strong & lyht,
And tafforcë with hys syht,
Than any other Rychë ston
ffor to rekne hem euerichon,
‘The grene ys good in specyal
Whan the rede ys meynt with-al
Off blood; for pleynly the Rednesse
Wych that was shad in clennesse
Off gloryous martyrs longe agon,
That spente her blood, & lefftë noon,
But suffrede al the vyolence,
And the mortal ek sentence
Off Tyrauntys Tyranye,
179

‘And sparede nat platly to dye,
(Ther legende so wryt & seyth)
ffor to dyffendë crystys ffeyth;
ffor wych, vp-on thys skryppe off grene,
The bloody dropys ther ysene,
Shewyn (in conclusïoun)
Ther martyrdam, ther passïoun,
Off ther ownë volunte,
Only to yiven vn-to the
Verrayly an exaumplayre
(Wherso-euere thow repayre)
To suffre deth for crystys sake,
Rather than thow shust forsake
Thy skryppe in any maner wyse,
Off wych thow hast herd me devyse.
‘ffor seyntys wych that suffrede so,
I wot ryht wel that they be go
To paradys, & Entryd in;
ffor the swerd off cherubin,
Wych whilom at the gatë stood,
Ys so blontyd with her blood,
That yt ys (I dar wel seyn)
In the skawberk vp ageyn.
‘But now-a-dayës it stant so,
Hooly seyntys ben all a-go,
That wer so myghty & so strong,
And draddë nat to suffre a wrong
ffor the ffeyth, yt to dyffende,
Her lyff, her blood, ther-on to spende;
Redy they wern, & that a-noon;
But now, annethe ther ys nat on
That wyl hym putte in Iupartye,
Crystys feyth to magnefye,
Nor makë myghty résystence
Ageyn Tyrauntys by dyffence.
‘Yet somme boste & spekë grete
Whan they be fumous, ful off heete,
And han yheete & dronke at large,
Her bely stuffyd as a barge:
Than they, for our feythys sake,
180

‘Wyl crystys croos vp-on hem take;
And, as champyouns, thanne they seyth
That they wyl fyhtë for our ffeyth.
But whan yt kometh vn-to nede,
Al that théy spak touchyng dede,
Yt ys for nouht, I dar wel seyn;
And thus ther bost ys but in veyn;
By ther wordys they wyl nat dwelle.
‘But by old tyme, I shal the telle,
Whan I the skryppe gan fyrst devyse,
Yt was al in a-nother wyse,
With-outë bellys, symplely;
Than suffysede, stedefastly
To louë god, our créatour,
And hym to serue with gret honour.
‘But affter roos vp heresyes,
Oppynyouns & fantasyes,
The ffeythë falsly for to greue;
And ther gan euery man to leue
On god affter hys ownë lust,
And settë pleynly Al ther trust
Affter ther ownë ffantasye;
Off wych (yiff I shal nat lye)
Somme wer callyd “Arryens,”
And somme also “pellagyens,”
With ther oppynyouns newe;
And other sectys ful vntrewe,
The feyth off cryst for to werreye,
And lyst nat to the cherche obeye,
Thorgh ther false oppynyouns,
Concludyng by collusïouns
Off falshed shewyng many sygne,
Ageyn thy skryppë to malygne,
Ther-vp-on to be a-wreke;
Off whom me lyst no mor to speke.
‘But my speche I wyl restreyne;
ffor wych cause, folk dyde hyr peyne,
And prelatys off the cherche,
Ageyn ther malys for to werche,
Makyng in especyal
181

‘Senys & counsaylles general,
Off prouydence & gret avys,
ffor to wythstondë ther malys,
And ther errours to putte a-way,
That contynuede many a day,
To reformë the bewte
Off the cherche by vnyte,
I mene, by vnyte in substaunce
Off our ffeyth and our creaunce,
In ther hool Entencyoun;
To makë Restytucyoun,
By ther dyllygent labour,
Off that was broke by ther Errour,
That with-Innë nor with-oute
Yt sholde no mor be put in doute.
‘And for that skyle, & no thyng ellys,
They souhten out the .xii. bellys
That I off spak, & I the telle:
They settë lettrys in ech belle,
And articles off our creaunce,
By thapostolys Ordynaunce;
The wych wer mad (with-outë stryff)
In hooly cherchë prymytyff.
‘And in the Skryppe (tak hed to me)
Off wychë now I tellë the
(Off entent ful pur & clene),
The bellys, mad off syluer shene,
They hengen hem, as thow mayst se,
Wych thow howest (off duëte)
Offtë sythës here hem Rynge,
Off entente only to brynge
Ther sown vn-to thy rémembraunce,
And how thow shalt, in thy creaunce,
Leve in god ay stedefastly.
‘And for that skyle, contynuelly
In thyn Erys the tawake,
Thy bellys shal a chymbyng make,
Day be day (in sothfastnesse)
To techë thè the stedefastnesse
Off the feyth, thy-sylff to Saue.
182

‘And the nedeth nat to haue
Noon other horlege, day nor nyht,
ffor to smyte thyn hourys ryht,
Yiff thow ther strokys trewly tellys,
.xij. hourys and .xij. bellys;
And ek also graue in the lettre
.xij. Artycles, to go the bettre,
Wych shal echon yfoundë be
Wyth-Inne thy skryppe, to techë the,
And tenforme the wel ynowh.
‘But thow hast be somwhat slowh,
In thyn herte to taken hede,
Ther scrypturë for to Rede;
I menë thus, thy sylff to saue,
The Scrypture in the bellys graue;
Yet, by ther chymyng (in substaunce),
Thow sholdest ay ha rémembraunce
Vp-on thy skryppë callyd “ffeyth,”
‘And thynk ek what Thapostel seyth:
To the Romeyns he endyteth,
Pleynly seyth, and thus he wryteth:
“That thys bellys, in ther chymynge,
And by noyse off ther sownynge,
Parfytly they brynge in feyth
To the Erys; and thus he seyth:
“Wher thyn Eyen be set most clere,
The verray trewë sown to here,
Abydyngë, nat transytórye,
To excyten thy Memórye,
Thy pylgrymagë to Acheve,
How thow shalt ffyrst, in god be-leue;
Wych doth nat ynowh suffyse,
Wyth-outë that I shal devyse.
‘ffor yt be-houeth ek herto,
That thow mustest beleue also
Stedefastly (yt ys no dred),
That thys wyn & ek thys bred
Be chaungyd in-to flesshe & blood.
183

‘And her-with-al yt ys ek good,
Be-leue O god in Trynyte,
Thre personys in vnyte.
And, thy ffeyth mor strong to make,
Thow shalt a good exaumple take
Off thylkë syluer bellys thre,
To wych, in Tookne off Vnyte,
A claper serueth in chymyng,
Wych declareth in sownyng,
“Ther ys but o god, & no mo.”
‘And tak Alway good hed her-to,
ffro thys, that thy ffeyth nat varye,
Who-euere sowne the contrarye.
And truste wel how the partycles
And the Remnaunt off Artycles
Of all the tother, (who kan entende)
Euerychon, her-on depende.
‘Now take thy Skryppe, & go thy way,
And thynk her-on ryht wel alway;
And forget nat (yong nor old,)
No thyng that I ha the told,
Wryt in thyn herte as in a book.’

[The Pilgrim.]
And off hyr hand the Skryppe I took;
But she, only off hyr goodnesse,
The skryppe aboutë me gan dresse,—
Thys Gracë dieu, ful manerly,—
And Tapoynte yt ffetysly,
Ouer my shuldere she yt caste,
And be-gan to bookele yt faste,
In travers wyse, yt tenbrasse,
She gan the gerdel to compasse;
Made the pendant, that was long,
To be knet & fastnyd strong,
That the Tongë thorgh gan perce.
And than to me she gan reherse
A scrypture off ysaye
Remembryd in hys prophesye,
The .ii. chapytle ye may se,
Gracë dieu seyng to me:

184

Grace dieu:
‘ffyrst, thow shalt haue ffor Sykernesse
A gyrdel off Ryghtwysnesse,
To restreyne al lecherye.
And, for to makë also dye
Al fflesshly lustys euerychon,
I shal the gyrde (& that a-noon,)
Wyth thys skryppe, wych thow shalt bere
The to dyffende (that no thyng deere)
On pylgrymage, wherso thow go.’
And thanne she took a wryt also
Out off hyr huchche, & rauht yt me.
‘In thys wryt, thow mayst,’ quod she,
‘Be-holdë the descrypcïoun,
The maner hool, and the fasoun
Off the skryppe that I the took;
And offtë cast ther-on thy look
ffro day to day, the bet to spede;
And offtë sythe that thow yt rede,
The copë pleynly, & scripture,
The wych ys mad (I the ensure)
In latyn only, off entent
To yive to thè entendëment,
And to clerkys that kan lettrure,
And vnderstonde hem in Scrypture,
That they may, both hih & lowe,
The maner off thy Skryppë knowe,
To folwe the ffeyth off crystys secte;
To hem thys latyn I dyrecte.

[_]

There now follows a Latin poem of 43 stanzas, each stanza of 12 lines, which has been omitted. This is not contained in the MS.

190

[The Pilgrim.]
Wyth thys skryppe whan I was bounde,
Glad I was, & ful Jocounde;
And than I gan a-noon enquere,
Prayede she wolde vn-to me lere.
(Lyst that ther wer any lak)
Off the gyrdel that she off spak,
That I myghte vnderstonde aryht
The thyng that she hadde me behyht.

Grace dieu:
Quod Grace dieu, ‘touchyng al thys,
Off thy gyrdel & my promys,
Thow sholdest (off good entencioun)
ffyrst yaxyd A Bordoun,
The to sustenë nyht & day,
And supporte the on thy way
Wherso that thow go or walke.
And affter, I caste me to talke
With the, and pleynly ek expresse
Off the gyrdel off ryhtwysnesse.
191

‘But ffyrst tak hed off the Bordoun,
How yt ys good in ech sesoun,
ffor he nat falleth comounly
That leneth ther on stedefastly.
ffor wych thow shalt (as yt ys ryht,)
With al thy fforce & al thy myght,
Ther-on reste, what so be-falle.
And trewly thow shalt nat falle,
What perillous passage that thow go,
As longe as thow takest hed ther-to,
And, tavoyde away dyspeyr,
Wherso thow gost in foul or ffayr,
Or what fortunë the be-falle.
“Good hope” alway thow shalt yt calle:
Thys the name off thy Bordoun,
Off trust & trewe affeccïoun,
Wych ys callyd Esperaunce,
Affter the speche vsyd in fraunce,
And the maner off that languáge.
‘And looke alway, in thy passáge,
That thow holde the wel ther-by,
And ther-on restë feythfully
In peryllous pathys wher thow wende.
And by the pomellys at the Ende,
Holde the strongly, I the rede,
ffor they shal, in al thy nede
Sustenë the, thow fallë nouht,
‘The hiher pomel (yiff yt be souht)
Ys ihesu cryst: haue hym in mynde;
And in scrypture (as thow shalt fynde.)
He ys the morour cler & bryht,
With-outë spot, (bothe day & nyht,)
In the wyche, a man, by grace,
May beholde hys ownë fface,
In wych merour (as I tolde)
Al the world ouhtë be-holde.
In wych also men may fynde
Allë thynges wrouht be kynde.
Reste vp-on hym with herte and thouht,
And go surly, & dred the nouht;
192

And to hys helpë alway calle,
And trustë wel thow shalt nat falle.
‘The tother pomel lowere doun,
Wych (with-oute comparisoun,
Yiff I shal the trouthë telle)
Ys the Mayde that doth excelle
Al other off bewte & bounte;
ffor she, in hyr vyrgynyte,
Bar a chyld in thys world here,
Mayde & moder bothe yfere,
The Charbouncle most cler off lyht,
Chasynge away dyrknesse off nyht,
And al thys world doth énlwmyne;
The ffresshë bemys so clerly shyne.
Al that go mys in ther passáge,
Or erryn in ther pylgrymáge;
Or ffolk that gon out off her way,
(As wel be nyhtë as be day,
I dar afferme yt in certeyn)
She maketh hem to resorte ageyn
Vn-to the ryhtë weye a-noon:
ffor to pylgrymës euerychon
She ys the trewë Gyderesse;
And ther socour in al dyrknesse;
And yiff they slydre, or fallë doun,
Thys Emperesse off most renoun,
Only off mercy, doth hem releue,
That no thyng ne may hem greue
In ther passagë nyh nor ferre,
For she ys the loodë sterre,
With her bryhtë bemys clere,
To al pylgrymes in thys lyff here,
That han to hyre affectyoun.
‘And for that skyle, in thys bordoun,
In thys pomel (yiff thow kanst knowe)
She ys yset her doun alowe
By an Arche ymad off newe:
No charbouncle so bryht off hewe,
Nor noon other precyous ston,
Rekne the .xij. euerychon.
193

‘And in thys bordoun, lookë wel
How she ys set for a pomel,
Pylgrymes to saue, they be nat lorn,
Wher-as ther was but On to-forn.
‘But thys pomel most bryht & shene,
Pylgrymës only to sustene,
Ys set in ful goodely wyse;
ffor ellys myghtë nat suffyse
The tother, but she wer ther also,
Hem to supporte, wher-so they go.
ffor she ys mene, (& that ful offte,)
To the pomel hih a-loffte:
Thys to seyne, thys heuenely quene,
To hyr sone ys euere a mene;
Coumfort most princypal & cheff
Tal pylgrymes in ther myscheff,
Hem to supporte, who taketh hede.
‘And therfore whan thou hauest nede,
Trust on hyre, & neuere varye,
ffor she ys most necessarye
To holde hem vp in ther passage,
Wher they ben old or yong off age.
Leue on hyre, what so befalle,
& in thy way thow shalt nat falle,
Yiff that thow in eche sesoun
Haue in hyre affeccïoun,
Thow mayst nat stomble nouther slydre
Whan thys pomellys ben to-gydre;
She ys the pomel set mor lowe,
By whose helpe, (as thow shalt knowe,
And as I shal the trewly teche,)
To the hiher thow shalt wel reche;
Bothë wrouht off Stonys clere:
And yiff thow loue on bothe yfere,
Thow mayst trust, thorgh ther myght,
Thow shalt nat falle, but gon vp ryht.
‘Wherfor, for thy sauacyoun,
Hold the wel by thys Bordoun
Wych ys mad ful stronge, to laste;
And therfor, therby hold thé faste;
194

Trust on yt & nat ne feyne;
ffor thys pomellys bothë tweyne
Ben so noble and ffayr off syht,
So glad, so coumfortable & bryht,
And lyk thy skryppe (I the ensure,)
Thow shalt ffor ech haue a scrypture
Yiff thow kanst hem vnderstond:
Lo, haue hem here now in thyn hond;
And consydre & loke hem wel:
The ffyrst toucheth the pomel,
Yset a-lofftë most cheffly;
And the tother, wryt ther-by,
(Shortly, for thow shalt nat tarye)
Longeth to the Secoundarye.

[_]

[St.] Pater Creator Omnium [& cetera, whiche should folowe.

[_]

There now follows a Latin poem of 37 stanzas, each stanza of 12 lines, which has been omitted. This is not contained in the MS.

201

[The Pilgrim.]
Affter, (shortly to expresse)
Gracë dieu, off hir goodnesse,
Off the skryppe and the bordoun
Putte me in pocessïoun;
And I thouhte a-noon ryht tho
That I was redy for to go
Vp-on my way, but trew(ë)ly
I ne was no thyng redy,
Lyk as I wende; ffor vn-to me
Ther as I stood, ryht thus sayde she.

Grace dieu sayd
‘The tyme ys good and couenáble
(As I ha sayd), and acceptáble,
That I my promys and my graunt,
Holde vn-to thé, & my couenaunt,
As I be-hihte: tak hed her-to.
And thow requeryst yt also,
To be gyrt (for sykernesse)
With a gyrdel off ryhtwysnesse,
202

‘Thy reynys strongly for to streyne,
fflesshly lustys to refreyne.
‘No man hath power (trustë me)
ffor to gon at liberte,
But he be gyrt ryht myghtyly.
Therfor, (off purpos feythfully),
The tassure in wele and wo,
I wyl the gyrde, or that thow go,
So that thow (in thyn entente)
Off fre wyl lyst to assente,
To be thus gyrt; and ellys nouht,
Now sey, as lyth ryht in thy thouht.’

The pilgrime:
“Ma dame,” quod I in lowly wyse,
“Al that euere ye deuyse,
I wyl ther-off no thyng refuse,
Nor ther-vp-on no lenger muse;
But off thys thyng, with al my myght
I yow requere off verray ryht.”

Grace dieu:
‘ffyrst, to make thy syluen strong,
To be myghty a-geyn al wrong,
Yt be-houeth, in thy diffence,
ffor to makë resistence,
That thow hauë strong armure.
And ffyrst, (thy syluen to assure,)
Next thy body shal be set
A purpoynt or a doublet,
On wych thow shalt fful myghtyly
Be gyrt and streyned ryht strongly
203

‘With a gyrdel off Ryhtwysnesse,
Ther-on thyn armure for to dresse.’

The pylgrym.
“Certys,” quod I, “yiff ye lyst se,
Yt wer contrarye vn-to me
To gon armyd in my vyáge;
Yt woldë lette my pylgrymáge,
And don to me ful gret grevaunce;
ffor I hadde neuere yet vsaunce
Nor in custom, trustë me,
Al my lyue, armyd to be:
I knewe ther-off nothyng the guyse.
To me yt doth ynouh suffyse,
To be gyrt (in sothfastnesse)
With a gyrdel off ryhtwysnesse.”
But than thys lady off gret uertu,
Wych ys callyd Grace Dieu,
In-ta chaumbre ful secre
Entrede; and than she callyd me.

Grace Dieu:
“Kom ner,” quod she, “and ha no drede;
Look vp an hih, & tak good heede.
Vpon thys perche, the harneys se,
Wher-with that thow wylt armyd be,
Pertynent to thy vyáge
And nedful to thy pylgrimage.”
Ther saw I helmys and haberiouns
Plate and maylle, for champyouns
204

Gorgetys ageyn al vyolence,
And Iakkys stuffyd, off diffence;
Targetys and sheldys, large & longe,
And pavys also that wer stronge,
ffor folk to makë résistence,
Tallë that wolde hem don offence.

The pylgrym
Than quod I, “as in bataylle,
What enmy shal me assaylle
Or a-geyn me make affray,
To distourble me in my way?”

Grace dieu
‘Wenystow thy sylff tassure,
ffor to gon with-oute armure
To Ierusaleem, & nat fynde
Brygauntys to-forn And ek be-hynde,
Daungerys grete, & encoumbraunces,
Empechementys & meshauncys?
Thevys and mardrerys ay lyggynge
Vp-on the weye, euere espyynge,
Thow shalt ffynde, so gret plente,
That thow off hem shalt wery be,
Ther assautys to endure.
Wherfore the nedeth strong armure,
Myghtyly hem to with-stonde.
And for thy profyt, y wyl ffounde,
With harneys to arrayen the,
That thow shalt nat afferyd be.’

The pylgrym
“Ma dame,” quod I, “syth ye wyl so,
Armyd algatys that I go,
Shew me what armure I shal were,
And what wepenys I shal bere;
And how I shal me armen wel,
And the maner euerydel.”
205

Thanne, off merveyllous fasoun,
She took to me a Gambisoun,
A maner harneys that I knewe nouht:
And behynde, ther-on was wrouht
A ful strong styh off fynë stel,
ffor to receyuë strookys wel
Off the hamer, whan euere yt smyte,
That yt shal hurtë but a lyte.
Than quod Grace Dieu to me:
‘Thys Gambesoun wych thow dost se,
Ys so wrouht, (who taketh hede,)
ffor ta-woyde a man fro drede;
That, from cartage in-to Inde,
Men myghtë nat a bettre fynde;
ffor (as thow shalt wel vnderstonde,)
Thogh a man hadde foot nor hond,
And were vn-to a stakë bounde,
Hys foomen aboutë rounde,
Yiff he hadde on thys garnëment,
And clad ther-in (off good entent),
He myghte nat ouerkomen be,
But fynally, in surete,
With gret worshepe & gret glorie,
Off hys Enmyes han vyctorye.
‘And yet thys garnement, (I dar swere,
Who that euere doth yt were,)
Hath most Ioye & plesaunce
In thyng that ys to folk penaunce,
ffor hys proffyt & avauntage,—
Som folk holde yt gret damage;—
ffor pacience (in conclusïoun)
Haueth thys condicïoun,
(ffor to descryve and spek in pleyn
Off pacience the trewë greyn,)
I menë, to hys ávauntage
ffructefyeth with fforage:
206

Tempest fulfylleth hys garnerys,
And pestylencë hys celerys;
Hys sofftest beddë, (in sothnesse,)
Ys ymakyd off hardnesse.
In peyne and wo, ys hys delyt,
And in suffraunce, ys hys respyt;
Hys deyntes stonde in poverte,
Hys solace in aduersyte;
And fastyng (in conclusïoun)
Ys hys recreacïoun.
He wexeth fat by abstynence,
And gruchcheth for no vyolence;
Peyne and tribulacyoun
Ben to hym consolacïoun;
And the mor he feleth peyne
The mor he ys (in certeyne)
Hardyd in hertë by constaunce,
With the Stel off iust suffraunce.
‘And for that pacïence, with wo
Ys ypryked and punysshed, so
By verray trewe examynyng,
As a purpoynt with sawyng
By long examynacïoun,
Therfore thys armure Gambisoun,
(Who consydreth fro poynt to poynt)
Ys ycallyd a purpoynt
With-outë prykyng (in substaunce,)
And punysshyng, with gret suffraunce,
In mescheff and aduersyte
He taketh al hys dygnyte;
And theroff (in conclusïoun)
He receyueth hys Renoun,
Thys armure most merveyllous,
In al diffence most gracïous.
‘And therfor (shortly in sentence)
The name ther-off ys pacïence,
The wych, in euery aventure,
Ys ymakyd for tendure,
Peyne and tribulacïoun,
Voyde off al rebellïoun:
207

‘Ryht as a styth forgyd off Stel
ffeleth the strokys neueradel
Off thys ffethris Smothe & soffte,
Thogh men ther-on smyten offte,
So pacyence (in hyr werkyng)
Maketh neuere no gruchchyng
Off no thyng she doth endure.
‘And therfore, (I yow ensure,)
With thys Gambisoun, Cryst ihesus,
That paciente lord, most vertuous,
Was yclad (yiff ye lyst se)
Whan he heng vp-on a tre,
And with hys blood, mankynde hath bouht,
Suffrede deth, and gruchchede nouht,
Nor spak no word in hys penaunce;
But, thorgh hys myghty gret suffraunce,
He was bete and hamryd wyth,
As a plate vp-on a styth,
The forgyd Monye for Raunsoun
To maken our redempcïoun:
The cruel Smythës, off Rancour
Sparede nat for no labour
Til they hadde hym forgyd wel,
Tryed hym out as any stel:
In wych metal ther was no lak;
And ay they forgede on hys bak;
And paciently he dede endure;
He armyd was in swych armure
Wyth the Armys off pacïence.
‘And therfore, in thy dyffence,
That thow suffre no dyffame,
Tak a purpoynt off the same,
Wherso thow go, in see or lond:
Haue yt here redy to thyn hond;
Next thy body, lat yt be set,
In stedë off a strong doublet;
ffor next thy cors yiff thow yt were,
All thyn Armure thow shalt bere
Mor esely; & ha no wonder,
Yiff pacïence be trewly vnder.

208

The pylgrym.
A-noon affter (by hyr assent)
I dyde vp-on thys garnement.
The wych was hevy for to beere,
And ryht komerous ek to were;
Grevous also, and streith to lace,
And ryht peynful to enbrace;
And, for the peyne, I gan abreyde,
And to gracë dieu I seyde:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “thys purpoynt
Was nat shape fro poynt to poynt
To my plesaunce, I yow ensure;
ffor I may nat wel endure
To bern yt pleynly at myn ese:
The shap ther-off ne doth nat plese
To me, pleynly; nor the ffasoun
Accordeth to myn oppynyoun.”

Grace dieu
Quod Gracë dieu, ‘thys garnëment
Ys wel shape to myn entent,
Thogh yt be nat to thy plesaunce;
ffor thy body, in substaunce
Ys so ffaat, so gret and large,
And ouerlade with gretë charge,
That yt may nat be enbrachyd
Aboutë the, nor wel ylacyd,
And yet the faute, to myn entent,
Ys nat in the garnëment,
But only founde in thy gretnesse,
And in thy boystous frowardnesse,
That thow mayst vp-on thy bak
Sustene yt, but thow fynde a lak;
And al the faute ys founde in the,
Off wylful contrariouste.
‘But, thyn errour to reforme,
Thow must thy-sylff mekly confourme.
209

‘To thys garnëment, trustë me,
And nat the garnement vn-to the;
And put away the gret outrage,
The ffaatnesse and the surplusage
That ys in the, and the gretnesse;
And the confourmë by meknesse
To thys purpoynt, that yt may be
Accordynde & egal vn-to the,
In euery party wel syttynge.
‘And thogh that yt, as in semynge,
Be nat, at the prymë fface,
Euenly shapë the tenbrace
Yet affter-ward, vn-to thyn ese
Yt shal be syttynge, & wel plese;
ffor thyng that greueth the to-day
Shal be to-morwe vn-to thy pay;
Yt may so fall, off áuenture;
‘And therfore al-way the assure
In thys garnement for diffence,
Wych ys callyd pacyence,
With whos power, (now vnderstonde,)
All assautys thow shalt with-stonde.
‘ffor wrong despyt & al desdeyn
That any man kan to the seyn,
Outher off pryde or surquedye,
Repreff or any vyllenye,
Venge the nat nor do no wrak,
But looke a-noon thow tournë bak;
Lawhe and be glad, & sey ryht nouht,
And be nat troublyd in thy thouht.
‘And off me thys wysdam lere,
Berkyng off houndys for to here,
Yt may to the, by good suffraunce,
Nouther damage nor do greuaunce.
Ageyn assautys off al swych wrak,
Lat the Styth set at thy bak,
And thy purpoynt off pacience,
Myghtyly stonde at dyffence:
And with thys tweynë, trustë me,
Al maner off aduersite
210

‘Thow shalt venquisshe & ber doun;
And, lyk a myghty champyoun,
Thow shalt with laurer crownyd be,
By suffraunce off aduersyte.
As by record ful longe a-gon
Wer thys martrys euerychon,
Wych that wer in euery poynt
Strongly armyd in the purpoynt
Off paciencë, to sustene
The strok, when they wer leyd atwene
The hamer and the Styth also,
And a-twyxë bothë two,
The grene laurer off victorie,
And the crowne ek off her glorye,
Yforgyd wer, (who taketh hede)
ffor guerdoun off ther eternal mede.
‘And therfore I consayllë the,
With thys purpoynt that thow be,—
Wych ys callyd pacyence,—
Armyd ffyrst for thy diffence.
Thys my consayl; & thus I rede,
Be cause only thow shalt ha nede,
As for thy cheff proteccïoun
Ageyn al trybulacyoun
Off false brygauntys that shal lye
Vp-on the waye, the tespye.’

The pylgrym.
“Certys,” quod I, “yt stondeth so,
That I wot nat what I may do
Touchynge your consayl, by no waye;
But at the lest, I shal assaye
Me taraye, in my dyffence,
With your purpoynt off pacience.”

Grace dieu.
Quod Gracë dieu, “thow must also,
Or thow in armys haue a-do,
Vp-on thy purpoynt ‘pacyence’
Haue a-boue, in thy diffence,
The haberioun wych hangeth yonder,
So inly ffayr, that yt ys wonder;
211

‘fforgyd off old (yt ys no faylle)
ffor to entren in bataylle,
Wyth Deth to ffyhte, & his meynee;
Thys to seyne, (yiff thow kanst se,)
Ageyn al peynys and tourmentys
And hys dredful tournementys,
Replevysshëd with mortal Rage.
Deth ys a best most sauage;
He chaungeth purpoos and devyses;
And al thys vnkouth sondry guyses,
Wyt off man and al Resoun:
ffor he let fallen hys bordoun,
Hys Maas, & ek hys dredful spere,
He hurteth nyh, & ek affere,
And spareth noon off no degre
How hih they syttyn in her Se,
ffor rychesse nor for puïssaunce.
‘But who wyl haven assuraunce
Ageyn deth, as a champyoun,
Lat hym haue on thys haberioun;
And off deth, in al hys nede,
He shal ha no maner drede;
Off hys assautys nor hys wrak,
Nor for hym onys tourne abak,
Whil he hath on thys garnëment
The wych was forgyd (off entent)
Off the most myghty armvrer,
Wych syt aboue the sterrys cler,
That forgede Sonne & mone also,
And made hem in her cours to go.
And no man may be armyd wel
In platë, mayl, nor in stel.
Nor sur for hys savacïoun,
But he haue on thys haberioun,
Wych callyd ys off verray ryht,
‘ffortitudo’ most off myght.
ffor, ‘fforce’ ys callyd thys vertu,
Wyth wych seruauntys off cryst ihesu
Wer Armyd, the myghty champiouns
That made hem hardy as lyouns
212

‘In batayll & in tournementys,
And constaunt euere in ther ententys
Vn-to the deth, & no thyng dradde,
Vp-on ther body whan they hadde
Thys haberioun ycallyd ‘force,’
Wher-wyth they dyde hem-sylff afforce,
To putte hem forth, & nat with-drawe,
In dyffence off crystys lawe,
Thorgh ther prowesse & hyh renoun.
‘And sothfastly thys haberioun,
(Who that euere doth yt were,)
Off daggere, dart, Swerd nor spere,
Shoot of Arwe nor off quarel,
(Thogh they be groundë sharpe off stel,)
They shal nat perce thorgh the maylle,
ffor the Ryngës (thys no ffaylle)
Wer Ryuettyd so myghtyly
Clenchyd and nayled so strongly;
The yren werke was ek so good,
Annelyd & tempryd with the blood
That ran out off her wondys kene,
Thys made hem manly to sustene
Thassaut off brygauntys nyht & day,
That lay for pylgrymes on the way,
By vertu off thys haberioun.
‘And therfore (off entencyoun,)
By my counsayl, sey nat nay
To putte yt on, & yt tassay,
Aboue thy purpoynt ‘pacyence’;
ffor, yiff fforcë (by my sentence)
Vp-on the tother be wel set,
Thow shalt ffyhtë wel the bet
(I dar wel seyn) wherso thow go:
Now lat se what thow seyst her-to.”

The pylgrym.
“Ma dame,” (to speke in wordys ffewe,)
“I pray yow that ye wyl me shewe,
And to do youre bysy cure
That I may se al the armure
Wych I shal were in thys vyáge,
213

And yiff I ffyndë avauntage
In tharneys ye praysë so,
I wyl accordë wel ther-to.”
Thanne she a-noon hath forth brouht
The haberioun, fful wel ywrouht,
Off wych to-forn I ha yow told;
And, to make me strong & bold,
Out off hyr tresour ek she ffette
An Elm, A Gorger, A Targette,
Glovys off plate, A swerd also,
And thanne she spak & seydë, loo,

Grace dieu.
‘Off thys harneys, take good heede,
And trustë wel thow mustest nede
Haue hem vp-on, (As by my lore,)
Or thow shalt repentë sore;
ffor they only to the suffyse,
Yiff thow the gouerne lyk the wyse.
And to my doctryne lyst attende,
Lyk a man, the to dyffende
Ageyn hem that wyl do thé wrong.
‘And yiff I hadde the ffoundë strong,
I hadde the yovë bet armure;
But I ha don my bysy cure
Yt to conseruë, ffor the prowh
Off folk that be mor strong than thow.
‘An helm tavoydë thé fro dred,
Thow shalt ha ffyrst vp-on thyn hed,
Thé to preserue, erly and late;
And a gorger mad off plate;
And affter thys [i]forgyd ffayre,
Glovys off plate, a myghty payre,
Set vp-on thyn hondys tweyne.
ffor ellys (yiff I shal nat ffeyne)
Wyth-outen hem (as thynketh me,)
Thow myghtest nat wel armyd be.
‘And, to declaren in substaunce,
Thyn helm ys callyd ‘Attempraunce,’
214

‘By wych aforn thow shalt wel se,
Herkne and smel, at lyberte,
Thynges to-forn or that they falle,
And cast a-forn, meschevys alle,
That no thyng vnwarly greue.
ffor Attemprauncë (who lyst preue)
Haueth thys condycïoun,
Only off high dyscrecyoun
Kepeth theye cloos and secre
That yt haue no lyberte
To opne, (who-so lyst to lere,)
But whan tyme yt doth requere,
That fooly nor no vanyte
Be nat to largë nor to fre,
‘ffor yiff thys helm be mad a-ryht,
Yt shal nat haue to large a syht,
Lyst som Arwe, sharpe y-grounde,
Entre myghte, & gyue a wounde.
And at the Erys ek also
Thow mustest taken hed therto,
That yt be nat to large off space,
Lyst that by the samë place
Entrede (by collusyoun)
Som noyse off fals detraccïoun,
Or som fooltyssh dalyaunce,
Gruchchyng, or noyous perturbaunce.
‘ffor thys helm, surer than Stel,
Stoppeth the Erys ay so wel
By prudent cyrcumspeccyoun
That Dartys off Detraccyoun
(Grounde and fyled for to smerte)
Haue noon entre to the herte,
Wych be gretly for to drede
Whan they, off fals neyhebourhede,
Ben yforgyd off malys,
And ysquaryd by fals devys.
ffor ther ys noon mor dredful shour
Than off a shrewede neyhëbour;
ffor, with ther dartys, swychë konne
Hurtë wers than bowe or gonne:
215

‘Ageyn whos mortal meshaunce,
Thys helm callyd ‘attempraunce’
Ys nedful, in thy dyffence,
for to makë résistence
At Nase, at Ere, & at the Syht,
That yt hem kepe & close a-ryht.
ffor thys helm, for assuraunce,
Wych ys callyd ‘attempraunce’
As worthy & noble off fame,
Seyn poul gaff ther-ton a name,
And callyd yt (for gret delyht)
‘The helm off helthe & off profyt,’
And commaundede men take hed
ffor to sette yt on ther hed
As for ther cheff Savacïoun.
‘And a Gorger, lower doun,
He bad (as for mor sykernesse)
They sholde make off sobyrnesse;
ffor sobyrnesse, with attempraunce,
Haueth alway állyaunce;
ffor bothe they ben off on allye,
Ay to refreynë glotonye.
And trusteth wel, (with-outë faylle,)
Thys Armure hath a double maylle;
And ellys (pleynly I ensure,)
Yt wer to feble to endure.
‘And yiff thow lyst the cause espye,
Ys thys, only, for glotonye
Hath in hym sylff, off frowardnesse,
A dowble maner off woodnesse;
Woodnesse off Tast & fals delyt,
Havynge to mesour no respyt;
And outrage ek off dalyaunce,
ffor lakkyng off Attemperaunce.
‘And fyrst, he doth hym sylff most wo,
And sleth hys neyhëbours also,
Whan the claper ys out Ronge,
With the venym off hys Tonge,
Whan he hym teryth & to-rent.
ffor ther ys addere, nor serpent
216

‘So dredful, nor malycyous,
As ys A Tongë venymous;
No tryacle may the venym saue.
Ther-fore yt ys ful good to have—
Ageyn hys mortal cursydnesse,—
A Gorger off Sobyrnesse,
The wych Armure ys profytable
To allë folkys worshepable.
‘Lat no man with hys tongë byte,
Nor with hys wordys falsly smyte,
Malycyously to makë wrak
Off hys neyhebour, at the bak;
ffor who so doth, he ys nat wys.
‘And Seyn Wylliam off Chalys,—
A man off gret abstynence,
Wych neuere dyde offence,
(As hys lyff platly doth teche,)—
In hys Tonge nor in hys speche,—
ffor ay he dyde hys bysy peyne,
Wykkede tongys to refreyne.
And mys-spekerys, thorgh outrage,
That with her Tongë fyl in rage,
He brydlede hem, & dyde hem wreste,
What-euere they herde, to sey the beste.
Off whom ys good exaumple take,
And off hys lyff a Merour make,
That euere hadde in cóndycioun
To herë no detraccïoun
In hys presencë, nyh nor fere,
Neuere to lestene bakbytere.
And therfor, (as I shal devyse,)
Arme the in the samë wyse
Tavoyden (shortly in sentence)
Al bakbyterys fro thy presence,
And al maner detraccïoun.
Wher thow hast domynacïoun.
‘The nexte armurë, the to saue,
Vp-on thyn hondys thow shalt haue:
A peyre off glouys forgyd wel,
Surere than yren outher stel,
217

‘Allë vyces to restreyne;
Tharmure off thyn handys tweyne,
A-geyn the lust off fals touchyng,
Tast, or any dyshonest thyng
To ffele or touchë, as by wrong.
‘ffor to make the syluë strong,
Thow shalt thy counsayl take off me,
Vp-on thyn handys, armyd to be
With a peyre off glouys sure.
And the name off that armure,
The thryddë part off attempraunce,
Wych ys callyd in substaunce
(The taforce in thy dyffence)
The noble uertu ‘contynence.’
Wych vertu, seyd in syngulerte,
Ys egal to pluralyte.
ffor thys vertu (yiff yt be souht)
By hym-sylff allone ys nouht
ffor honest wyl, conioynt with dede
In clennessë, ys worthy mede,
A-geyn al fflesshly ffreëlte
To arme A man in chastyte.
‘Nouther off hem (who kan se)
May withouten other be,
No mor than (yiff I shal nat ffeyne)
With-oute noumbre off glouys tweyne,
No man ys suryd for diffence,
ffor to makë résistence.
But whan that wyl & tast also
Ben accordyd, bothë two,
Off honeste, nat to trespáce,
Thogh they hadde fredám & space,
And also opportunyte
To don A-mys at lyberte,
Than semeth yt (yiff thow take hede)
He wer worthy ful gret mede;
As was Seyn Bernard, that holy man,
The wych (as I rehersë kan)
Was wel armyd on owther hond,
Whan he off a-venture ffond
218

‘(He ther-off no thyng wytynge,)
A womman in hys bedde lyggynge
Nakyd, ful off lustyhede,
And plesynge off hyr port in dede,
Wych gaff hym gret occasioun,
Wyth toknys off temptacïoun,
Thorgh hyr port off whommanhede.
But he thér-off took noon hede;
ffor she ne myghte hym nat excite,
In hyr bewte to delyt;
He took off hyrë no reward,
ffor to tournë to hyr ward;
ffor, surere than any stel,
Hys handys wern yarmyd wel,
That, whan he sholde haue A-do,
ffro Touch & Tast he kepte hym so
That she myghte hym nat dyllude.
Wher-vp-on, she gan conclude,
And affermede off hym a-noon,
That outher off yren or off ston
He was ymad, & lyk no man:
And thus he the palmë wan
Off chastyte; and she A-noon,
Shamyd & cónfus, ys a-goon;
And he with victoire a-bood stylle.
‘And therfor (as by my wylle)
Thow shalt thé Armen (& nat feyne)
Wyth swych a payrë Glouys tweyne.
‘ffor the also I shal prouyde
Tave A swerd ek by thy syde;
(A bettre was ther neuere founde,
Off stel forgyd, whet nor Grounde,)
Wychë shal ynowh suffyse
Thé to dyffendë many wyse,
Yiff any Enmy thé assaylle
(Outher in skarmussh outher bataylle,)
I the ensure, in al thy nede,
Whyl thow hast yt, thow shalt nat drede
Off noon Enmy, nor no dystresse,
The name off wych ys ‘Ryhtwysnesse.’
219

‘A bettre swerd was neuere wrouht,
Off princë nor off kyng ybouht;
ffor the swerd off goode Oger,
Off Rowland nor off Olyuer,
Was nat (for to reknen al)
Off valu, to thys swerd egal,
So trusty nor so vertuous,
To ffolk in vertu coragous.
ffor thys swerd haueth so gret myht,
To ryche and povre for to do ryht,
And thorgh hys vertuous werkyng
Yiveth euery man hys ownë thyng:
A swerd mad for an Emperour,
And for euery gouernour,
And al that hauen regencie
A-boue other, or maystrye,
Therby to gouerne ther meyne
And ther sogetys in equyte,
That noon do to other wrong
(Thogh he be myghty outher strong,)
By fforcë nor by vyolence,
Hys neyhbour to don offence.
‘ffor thys swerd, in euery place,
Allë wrongys doth mAnace,
And techeth A manhys body wel,
Not to be stordy nor rebel;
A-geyn the Spyryt, no thyng to seye,
But to be soget, and obeye;
And techeth A manhys herte off ryht,
To louë god with al hys myght,
A-boue al other Erthly thyng,
As hym that ys most myghty kyng;
Eschewë ffraude, deceyt & guyle;
And that, by couert off no whyle,
He, in hys affeccïoun,
Off wyl nor off entencioun
Ne do no maner tyranye,
Oppressyoun nor robberye;
And cheffly, that euery maner wyht
Gouerne and rule hym sylff aryht,
220

‘Vyces putte in subieccïoun,
That vertu ha domynacïoun
The fflesshë felly to chastyse,
Yiff yt rebelle in any wyse
To be to sturdy or to bold,
As seyn Benyth dyde off old,
Gyrt with the swerd off Ryghtwysnesse,
Whan he dyde hys flessh oppresse
As a myghty champyoun:
With-stondyng hys temptacïoun.
As regent and gouernour,
He made the spyryt Emperour,
Smot the flessh, by gret duresse,
With the swerd off Ryhtwysnesse;
Punysshede hym so cruelly,
With-outë respyt or mercy,
Almost euene to the deth,
In poynt to yeldyn vp the breth;
Tyl he, lyk a manly man,
With thys swerd the laurer waan.
Hys fflesshe rebél, he gan to daunte,
And his myght vp-on him haunte,
Ther yt was inobedyent.
To ben at hys comaundement,
So lowly to hym, & so mek.
‘The wychë swerd thow shalt bern ek
On pylgrymage, wher thow shalt gon,
Ageyn thyn Enmyes euerychon,
Thy prevy enmyes (thus I mene,)
Hard and greuous to sustene;
ffor ther be noon so peryllous,
So dredful nor so dangerous,
As ben thylke Enmyes in secre,
Wych off thy sylff ycausyd be,
And grucche ageyn thé nyh & ferre,
With the Spyryt to holde a werre.
‘But or that thow thys baret ffyne,
And or that froward wyl enclyne,
Thyn hertë makë to assente,
Loke thow chaungë thyn entente,
221

‘Synsualyte to oppresse
With thys swerd off Ryghtwysnesse:
Daunte alway hys rebellïoun,
And brynge hym to subieccïoun;
Lat nat thy flesshe ha the maystrye,
But mak hym lowly bowe & plye
To the spyryt in euerythyng;
And lat thy resoun, as lord and kyng,
(By tytle off domynacïoun,)
The flessh haue in subieccïoun.
Than nedeth yt no mor to muse;
Thys swerd off ryht thow dost wel vse,
Thy sylff to gouernen & to saue.
‘And thys swerd also shal haue
(To kepe yt clene in hys degre)
A skawberk off humylyte,
Wher-innë, (for most ávauntage)
Thy swerd shal haue hys herbergage;
Only to teche & sygnefye,
That eche good werk (who kan espye,)
May lytë vaylle, but yiff yt be
Closyd vnder humylyte.
‘Thys skauberk (in especyal)
Ys makyd off A skyn mortal:
Thys to seyne, (who so kan se,)
Al Erthly folkys that her be
(Off ech estate both yong & old,)
Shal deyen, as I ha the told.
Ha thys ay in thy mynde & thouht,
And lat thy skawberk ther-off be wrouht;
And ther-vp-on conclude, and se
To namen yt ‘Humylyte.’
‘ffor ther ys noon so proud alyue,
A-geyns deth that may wel stryue;
And who that hath ay deth in mynde,
Som whyle I trowë, he shal fynde
To knowe hys ounë ffreelte,
A skawberk off humylyte.
‘And, to purpos, I tellë kan
How that onys a pubplycan
222

And a pharise also,
Kam to the temple bothë two.
The ton hym sylff gan iustefye,
And off pryde to magnefye,
That he was lyk non other whiht;
And bostede in hys ounë syht,
He was hooly in hih degre:
Thus sayde the proudë pharysee;
And off pryde he fyrst be-gan
To despyse the pubplykan;
Sayde, ‘he was to hym nat hable
Off meryt, nor comparáble
‘Off whos pryde, afferme I dar,
That he thys swerd to proudly bar,
Havynge nat (who lyst to se)
The skawberk off humylyte,
He lyst nat Se, no thyng at al,
That ha was a man mortal;
But off hih presumptuousnesse
He shewede out hys Ryghtwysnesse,
Gan to boste, & cryë lowde.
‘And so don al thys folkys proude,
To gete hem fame by veyn glorye,
And putte her namys in memórye.
But thow ne shalt no thyng do so,
But let thy Swerd (tak hed her-to)
(The Swerd, I mene, of Ryghtwysnesse,
ffor any maner holynesse,)
Cloos with-Inne (wher so thow be,)
The skawberk off humylyte.
‘ffor what deme off dyscrecïoun
A-vaylleth any perfeccioun—
Abstynaunce, outher penaunce,
Or any vertu, in substaunce—
But yiff they ygroundyd be
On lownesse and humylyte,
Ground and rote off eche good werk.
And put thy Swerd in the skawberk
Off meknesse & lavlyhede.
‘And affter that, tak good heede
223

‘(As a man no thyng afferd)
The to gyrdë with thys swerd,
Thys noble swyrd off ryghtwysnesse
In the skawberk off meknesse.
‘And thy gyrdel ek shal be—
With wych thow shalt ygyrden the—
The gyrdel off ‘perseueraunce’;
The Bokle callyd ek ‘constaunce’;
That whan the tong ys onys Inne,
They shal neuere parte A-twynne,
But perpetuelly endure
To kepe the cloos in thyn Armure,
That they departe nat assonder.
And yiff they dyde, yt wer gret wonder;
ffor perseueraunce (I dar seye)
Ys the verray parfyt keye
And lok also (I dar assure)
Off perfeccioun off armure.
‘And therfore alway do thy peyne
ffor to fastne wel thys tweyne,
The gyrdel off perseueraunce
With the Bookle off constaunce;
And than thy Swerd, longe tabyde,
Ys wel gyrt vn-to thy syde:
Ha thys wel in mynde, I charge.
‘Now wyl I spekyn off thy Targe,
The wych in soth (who kan entende,)
Schal thyn Armure wel A-mende,
And kepe yt, (lyk as yt ys wrouht,)
In vertu that yt A-peyrë nouht.
The wych vp-on thy brest to-fore,
Off custom euere shal be bore,
As cheff thyng for thy dyffence:
The name off wych shal be ‘prudence’;
A Targe most worthy off Renoun.
ffor, whilom, Kyng Salamoun
Bar ay thys targe in hys entent,
ffor to do ryhtful Iugëment,
Rychere to hym (Erly & late)
Than off gold to .ij. hondryd plate,
224

‘And mor off valu (as yt ys told)
Than al the sheldys mad off gold,
Wych in hys temple (out off doute)
He madë hangë round a-boute.
‘ffor, by thys targë off prudence,
He haddë so gret excellence
Of worshepe, & so gret honour,
As he that was off wysdom flour.
Whil he was gouernyd by prudence,
Endurede hys magnyfycence;
And whan that prudence was a-go,
Hys worshype wente a-way also.
Hys sheldys off gold, ek euerychon,
A dyeu whan prudence was a-gon.
ffor prudence, the shyld I calle,
Off fyue hundryd the best off alle,
ffor to rekne hym, on by on;
And, to kepe a man ffrom hys fon,
Ys noon so myghty off vertu,
Nor equyualent off valu.
‘Wherfor, whil thow art at large,
Looke thow haue vp-on, thys targe,
Wherso thow entre in batayll,
Whan thyn Emnyes the assaylle,
To force thy quarel & a-mende,
Ber vp, & wel thy-sylff dyffende
At alle assautys fer & ner,
In maner off a bokëler.
ffor gonnys, dartys, & quarel,
Shrowdë the ther-vnder wel;
Be no coward, But wysly bolde.
‘And now I haue the pleynly tolde
Off thyn armure, (yiff thow tak hede,)
Wher-off thow shalt haue ay most nede,
With-outen many wordys mo:
Now be avysed what thow wylt do.’

The pylgrym.
“Certys,” quod I, “ther ys no more;
225

“But I am astonyd sore
Off o thyng wych cometh to mynde,
Wych that ye ha lefft be-hynde:
Thys to seyne, off al armure
Ye han me makyd strong & sure,
Saue my leggys & ffeet also:
Ye haue no thyng yseyn ther-to,
Nor ryht nouht for hem ordeyned;
The wych ouhtë be compleyned;
ffor folk off hih dyscrecïons
Speke fyrst off Savacïons,
Off greevys, & kusshewys ek also,
Whan that men shal haue a-doo;
But ye (by short conclusïoun)
Make ther-off no mencyoun.
“But, for to tellë yow my thouht,
ffor my party, I rechchë nouht;
ffor, in spede off my vyage,
Yt were to me noon ávauntage,
Yiff I sholdë gon at large,
ffor to bere so gret a charge.”

Grace dieu axete
‘Sawh thow euere (so god the blesse!)
In forest or in wyldernesse
(Tel on, yiff yt cometh to mynde)
Huntyng for hert outher for ynde,
Chasyng for Rayndeer or for Roo,
Huntyng for buk outher for do?’

The pylgrym answereth
“Trewly,” quod I, “to speke in pleyn,
Somtyme, huntyng haue I seyn.”

Grace dieu
‘Thanne,’ quod she, ‘I the comaunde,
Answere vn-to thys demaunde:
Bestys that ben in wyldernesse,
Whan huntys don ther besynesse
To chacen hem, and kachche her pray,
What ys that thyng that best may
Helpen bestys in ther defence,
ffor teschewe the vyolence
226

‘Off houndys in swych sodeyn iape,
ffrely fro the deth to skape?’

The pylgrym
“Trew[e]ly, vn-to my Syht,
To hem, best help ys the flyht.”

Grace dieu
‘Thanne, yiff they hadde vp-on Armure,
On ther leggys, (hem sylff tassure)
Outher off platë, maylle, or stel,
ffro byt off houndys to kepe hem wel,
Answere ageyn, shortly to me,
Sholde they be swyfft, away to fle?’

The pylgrym
“Certys,” quod I, “I wot ryht wel,
Yt sholde hem furthre neueradel
So to ben armyd, (as I gesse,)
But rather hyndren ther Swyfftnesse.”

Grace dieu
‘Now her-vp-on tak hed to me,
Conceyue what I shal tellë the:
In thy passage, ther thow shalt pace,
Yt ys holde a perylous place;
And I the putte in ful surnesse,
Ther lyth A mortal hunteresse,
In a-wayt to hyndre the,
Wyth gret noumbre off hyr meyne,
Gretly to drede, & daungerous;
The name off whom ys dame Venus,
And hyr sone callyd Cupide,
The blyndë lord, waytynge asyde
With hys Arwes fyled kene,
To thé ful dredful to sustene.
‘And thys lady doth euere espye,
With huntys in hyr companye,
Most perillous to hurte & wounde,
Al pylgrymës to confounde.
ffor ther ys huntë nor foster
That chaceth ay the wyldë deer,
Nor other bestys that byth Saváge,
That may be lykned to the rage
227

‘Off dame Venus: wherfor tak hede
How gretly she ys to drede.
‘And yiff thow kanst the trouthe espye,
Venus ys sayd off venerye;
ffor she ys the hunteresse
Wych euere doth hyr bysynesse
To take pylgrimës by som treyne,
And tenbracen in hyr cheyne,
And with hyr ffyry brond also
ffor to don hem peyne & wo,
And ther passagë for tassaylle.
‘And fynally, in thys bataylle
Ther geyneth power noon, nor myht,
Nor other rescus but the fflyht,
ffor flyht ys only best diffence;
And ffor to makë résistence
A-geyn hyr dredful mortal werre,
The ffyht with hyre ys best a-ferre.
‘ffor yiff A man be rekkëles
ffor to putte hym sylff in pres,
ffarwel dyffence off al Armure!
Ther folwe shal dyscoumfyture
On the party that doth a-byde;
ffor Venus & hyr sone cupyde,
In ther conquest han vyctorye,
And in ther werrys, ffals veyn glorye,
Whan folkys at dyffencë stonde
To fyhtë with hem hand off honde;
‘And for thys skyle, thow sholdest be lyht
ffor to take thé to the flyht;
Whan thow hast nede, (take yt in mynde,)
Legharneys ys lefft be-hynde,
That thow mayst, at lyberte,
Hyr dartys and hyr brondys fle.
‘Whan thow hyr seyst, mak no dyffence,
Nor noon other résistence,
But eschewë place & syht,
And alway tak the to the flyht.
Tourne thy bak, & she wyl go;
And yiff thow flest, she fleth also.
228

‘A-geyn whos malys and envye,
fflyht ys the bestë remedye
Off al other (yiff yt be souht);
Other harneys the nedeth nouht
Vp-on thy leggys (trustë me,)
ffor no maner necessyte,
With Venus to holde chaumpartye.’
And whan I sawh, & gan espye,
And vnderstood hyr wonder wel
Touchynge tharmurë euerydel
Wych she haddë for me brouht,
I gan assaye, and taryede nouht
Me tarmë fro poynt to poynt;
But me lykede nat my purpoynt:
I fond ther-in so gret a lak,
Yt heng so heuy on my bak,
I woldë fayn haue lett yt be;
But lyst that she were wroth with me,
I suffrede; &, in cónclusioun,
Ther-on dyde the haberioun
Wych she me tok, ful bryht & clere.
And affter that, the double Gorger,—
To hyr byddynge I took swych hede;—
And thanne the helm vp-on myn hed,
Mad ful strong, and forgyd wel;
Next, my glovys, ffynere than stel,
And gyrte me with my swerd ryht tho.
And alderlast, I took also
My targe, that callyd was ‘prudence,’
And hengyd yt on in my dyffence
Round a-boute my nekke a-noon.
And platly, whan I hadde al don
Lyk as she bade, with myn harneys,
I felte ther-off so gret a peys,
That I myghtë nat endure
The greuous wheyhte off myn armure,
That for dystressë I a brayde,
And to gracë dieu I sayde:

The pylgrym
229

“Ma dame,” quod I, “ne greff yow nouht
Thogh I dyscure to yow my thouht;
And lat yt yow no thyng dysplese,
Thogh I declare myn gret vnhese,
And disclose yow my mescheff;
Thys armure doth me so gret greff,
So gret annoy & dysplesaunce,
That I ne may me nat a-vaunce
Vp-on my way nor my Iourne,
Swych hevynesse encoumbreth me.
“Myn helm hath rafft me my syyng
And take a-way ek myn heryng;
And most off al dyspleseth me,
I se nat that I woldë se.
And also, (yiff ye lyst to lere,)
Thyng that I wolde, I may nat here;
And smelle also I may no thyng
That sholdë be to my lykyng.
“Thys gorger (ek as ye may se,)
Gret encoumbraunce doth to me,
And strangleth me almost vp ryht,
That I may nat speke a-ryht,
I fele so gret a passïoun:
And (for short conclusïoun)
Thys armure may me nat profyte,
In wych I do me nat delyte.
“Thys glouys byndë me so sore,
That I may weryn hem no more,
With her pynchyng to be bounde,
Myn handys ben so tendre and Rounde;
And al the remnaunt (I ensure)
That ye gaff me, off armure,
Me streyneth so on euery syde,
That I may nat ther-with a-byde.
“I ha to yow told al the caas;
I am nat strengere than dauyd was,
Wych hadde so mychë suffysaunce;
But, for cause off dysusaunce
In hys youthe whan he was tendre,
And off makyng smal & sklendre,
230

“(In the byble ye may se,)
Hym lyst nat Armyd for to be
Whan that he (thus stood the caas,)
Sholdë fyhte with Golyas,
Swych Armure he hath forsake;
Off whom I wyle exaumple take,
ffor my party, to go lyht,
To ben ay redy to the flyht,
Whan that Venus (by bataylle,)
On the weye me wyl assaylle,
Al thys armure I wyl leue,
Be-causë that they do me greue,
Off purpos (lyk as ye shal se)
That I may the bettre fle,
Lyst I stode in Iupartye
Whan Venus me dyde espye,
Wych ys the peryllous hunteresse,
Pylgrymes to putten in dystresse.”

Grace dieu
‘Yt nedeth her-on no mor to muse,—
By cause thow dost thy sylff excuse,—
How armure doth to thé grevaunce;
ffor he that hath no suffysaunce
Wyth-Inne hym-sylff tendurë peyne,
Off lytel thyng he wyl compleyne,
And a lytel charge refuse.
‘But shortly, yiff thow koudest vse
Thys Armure, yt sholde semë lyht,
And nat lette thé in thy flyht;
ffor thys armure ys nat heuy
To hertys stronge, that be myghty
To endure, and bydë longe
Vp-on heuy chargys stronge.
‘But thow hast excusyd the,
That thow wylt nat Armyd be,
But go lyht, bothe fer & ner,
And therfore thow shalt han A Somer
To karyen-in thyn harneys al,
Wych in soth shal be but smal,
231

‘To trusse yt in, whan thow hast nede,
And with thé thow shalt yt lede,—
Lyst sodeynly, in bataylle,
Any man the wolde assaylle,—
Lyte and lyte to vsë the,
Euere a-mong, armyd to be.
‘And for thow hast made mencïoun,
Off dauyd the noble champyoun,—
That he wold noon Armys bere,—
Wych slowh the Lyon & the Beere;
But touchyng the samë fourme
Thow mayst the neuere to hym confourme,
But yiff thy body thow applye
ffor to fyhte a-geyn Golye
With thy staff & with thy slynge;
And with the also that thow brynge
In thy skryppë stonys fyue,
With the geaunt for to stryue,
As dauyd dyde, thorgh hys renoun,
Whan he hym slowh & beet a-doun.’

The pylgrym
“Ma dame, certys,” tho quod I,
“That ye me graunt so gracyously
To be armyd as dauyd was
Whan he fauht with Golyas,
I thankë yow with al myn myght,
And yow be-sechë a-noon ryht
That I may be armyd so,
Whan-euere that I shal haue a-do.
Other Armure ne wyl I noon,
On pylgrimage whan I shal gon;
But that ye lyst to do your peyne
A Somer, fyrst[ë] to ordeyne,
And ther-wyth (as ye haue be-hyht)
Stonys & slyngë a-noon ryht.
But fyrst I shal dysArmë me
Off thys Armure, as ye shal Se.”
And so I dyde; & castë doun
Purpoynt, helm and haberioun,
Glouys & swerd, I yow ensure,
232

And fynally, al myn armure;
Wheroff me thouhte I was wel esyd.
But Gracë dieu was nat wel plesyd
(Shortly) off my gouernaunce,
But took yt parcel in greuaunce,
And fro me she gan declyne,
And entrede in, in hyr courtyne.
And disarmyd I a-bood,
And fulle nakyd so I stood,
And ffel in-to A maner Rage
Off dysconfort, in my corage.
The lak vpon me sylff I leyde;
And thus vn-to my sylff I seyde:
“Allas!” quod I, “what shal I do,
Now gracë dieu ys go me fro?
I stonde in gret dysioynt, certeyn,
But vn-to me she kome a-geyn,
Wych armede me ful ryally,
And apparayllede Richëly,
Lyk taknyht that sholde assaylle
Hys Enmyës in bataylle.
But I was nat worthy ther-to,
That she sholdë ha do So,
Off neclygence and ffreelte
Now I haue dyspoylled me,
Destytut on euery syde.
“And trewly now I most a-byde,
As a shepperde (who taketh kep,)
With dauyd for to kepë shep,
With staff & slyngë, as dyde he,
I trowe yt wyl noon other be.
Gracë dieu so me be-hyhte
Whan that I stood in hyr syhte,
Dysarmyd my body, euerydel,
Wher-off she lykede no thyng wel;
But pleynly, off my gouernaunce,
Me sempte she haddë dysplesaunce.”
And whil I stood in swych dysioynt,
233

And was brouht vn-to the poynt
Off heuynesse in my corage,
Tryst & mornyng off visage,
Gracë dïeu cam a-geyn
And thus she gan vn-to me seyn:

Grace dieu
‘Thow shalt no thyng do,’ quod she,
‘But at thyn ownë lyberte:
Thyn armure thow hast cast a-way,
And stondyst now in gret affray,
Venquisshed (in conclusïoun),
With-outë strook yput adoun,
And fallen in gret febylnesse;
Wher-for behoueth besynesse,
And also ful gret dyllygence.
‘Thy gret harmys to Recompense,
Thow must be wasshe & bathyd offte,
And couchyd in a bed ful soffte,
Ther-in thy syluen to dysporte,
And han a leche, the to coumforte,
Thy synwes harde to mollefye
With oynementys, to make hem plye.
Tel on A-noon; let for no slouthe;
Her-off, yiff I sey thé the trouth.’

The pylgrym
“Ma dame,” quod I, “yt ys no les;
Off my peynës to haue reles,
I woldë fayn (trusteth me)
Off my disesses holpen be.
The maner (yiff ye koude espye)
ffor to shape a remedye;
ffor, be my trouthe, I yow ensure,
That I may no lenger dure
To suffre mor, (taketh good hed,)
But that I muste pleynly be ded:
With-Inne my-sylff, many wyse,
Off labour I fele so gret feyntyse.”

Grace dieu
Quod Gracë dieu a-noon to me:
‘I haue espyed wel, and Se:
234

‘But I dyde my bysynesse
To taken hed to thy syknesse,
The to helpyn & releue
Off thyng that doth thyn hertë greue.
I wot ryht wel (yt ys no nay)
Thow sholdest gon a peryllous way.
‘But fyrst tak hed, & be wel war,
The stonys wych that dauyd bar,
Wyth the wych he slewe Golye,
And haddë off hym the mystrye,
The samë stonys, I ha longe
Kept hem bounde wonder stronge
With-Inne a purs (shortly to seye),
Off entent, with hem to pleye
With maydenys wych on me a-byde,
Euere a-waytynge on my syde,
At the martews, the gentyl play
Vsyd in frauncë many day:
The wych stonys, the to saue,
I purpóse that thow shalt haue,
As dauyd hadde, in hys dyffence,
ffor to makë résistence
A-geyn the geaunt Golyat,
Vn-to hym to seyn ‘chek maat,’
Whan that euere in bataylle
He cast hym proudly the tassaylle.’
And a-noon she dyde hyr peyne
To takë with hyr handys tweyne
Out off a pours, stonys fyue;
That neuere yet, in al my lyue,
I ne sawh nat to my syht
No maner ston so cler nor bryht.
And in al hast, thys lady fre,
Wyth hyr hond she took hem me:
Wych I receyuede ful lowly,
235

And in my skryppë sykerly,
I putte hem up, on by on.
But she to-forn, off euerychon,
Sche made a declaracïoun
And ful cler exposicïoun;
In whos speche ther was no lak;
And euene thus to me she spak:

Grace Dieu
‘Thow shalt,’ quod she, ‘yt ys no fayl,
Offten entren in bataylle,
With thy foomen for to stryue,
And han a werrë al thy lyue
With the Geaunt Golyas,
Wych hath be-set ech maner pas
Wher thow shalt passe in thy vyage,
As thow gost on pylgrymage.
Whos Ioyë ys (who kan conceyue,)
All pylgrymës to deceyue;
Vp-on the wey lyth, hem tespye,
As doth the hyrayne for the fflye.
‘And as she hyr net kan spynne,
Tyl that she the flyë wynne,
And by hyr sleythë kan hem take,
Ryht so hys trappys he doth make,
Alle pylgrymës to enbrace,
Wher they walke in any place,
ffalsly to take on hem vengaunce,
With hys deceytys off plesaunce,
And flesshly lustys off delyt
fful plesaunt to the appetyt.
‘With worldly rychesses, & veyn glorye
Off goodys that ben transitorye,
Off hem he maketh a sotyl net;
And whan he hath yt vp ful knet,
Ther-with he doth hys besy peyne,
Pylgrymes to bryngen in A treyne.
Hem cachchynge (or they kan espye)
As the hereyne doth the fflye,
By ápparence ful ágrëáble,
Thys ffalsë geaunt déceyuáble,
236

‘Lyk the bacyn that ys brennynge,
And sheweth ffayr as in shynynge;
Yet nat for-thy, thogh yt be bryht,
The Beere yt reueth off hys syht,
And maketh hym blynd, he may nat se.
‘Ryght so, worldly prosperyte,
fflesshly lust & fals plesaunce,
Causen folk, by déceyvaunce,
ffor to be blynd, & lese her syht.
‘Wher-for with-stond with al thy myht
The power of thys proud Golye.
Al fflesshly lustys ek defye;
And off the world ek, tak noon hede,
Wych deceyueth a man at nede.
‘And yiff thow wylt don affter me,
I shal a-noon her techyn the,
Lych a myghty champyoun
To venquysshe al temptacïoun
Off the world, Golye, & the fflessh.
‘Looke ffyrst that thow be fressh,
Lyk to dauyd off corage,
Manly off hertë, wys & sage
A-geyn thyn Enmyes for to stryue;
And euere have redy, stonys ffyue,
To caste hem (off entencïoun)
A-geyn[ë]s al Temptacïoun,
Loke thow be redy, euere in on.
‘The namë off thy ffyrstë ston
Ys the mynde most off vertu,
Off the deth off cryst ihesu;
How that he sprad on the rood,
ffor mankynde, hys ownë blood;
The peple ther-with to beyn a-geyn,
Wych that Golyas hadde slayn.
Thys, the precyous ruby Ryche,
In al thys world ther ys noon lyche;
Wych receyuede hys rednesse
237

‘Off crystys blood, & hys rychesse.
‘Dye thyn herte (as yt ys good,)
In the syluë samë blood;
Ha ther-in feyth & stedefastnesse;
Than artow strong (in sothnesse)
Ageyn golye & al hys myght,
ffor to venquysshe hym by ffiht:
Thy mynde ha ther-on, euere in oon.
‘And the nextë Rychë Ston,
In noumbre callyd the secounde,
Wych wyth al gracë doth habounde,
Off vertu hath most suffysaunce,
And ys callyd Remembraunce
Off that mayde & moder fre,
Y-chosen off the dëyte
fful many hundryd yer to-forn,
Or she was off hyr modern born).
Thys, the precyouse margaryte
Off hevenly dewh & dropys whyte,
Sprang in a Cokyl bryht & shene,
ffor tavoyden al our tene,
Whos gracë, thorgh the world doth shyne:
Lat hyre thyn hertë enlwmyne,
And a-dewhen with hyr grace;
And neuere dred the (in no place)
But thow shalt han the maystrye
Off the devel and off golye.
‘The thrydde ston ys ‘Memorye
Off the perdurable glorye,’
And off the hihë blysse in heuene
A-boue the planetys allë seuene:
Thys, the blyssyd saphyr trewe,
Al-to-gidre off hevenly hewe,
Wych recounforteth most the syht
Wyth hys counfortable lyht:
Kep hyt for thyn ownë stoor,
ffor yt saueth euery soor;
Yt sleth bochches & ffelouns,
Destroyeth venym & poyssouns;
And off colour yt ys ynde:
238

‘Lat yt neuer out off thy mynde.
‘Azure thyn hertë ther-wyth-al;
And loue yt yn especyal,
As for thy cheff pocessïoun;
And thanke (off hih affeccïoun)
To god only, wych off grace
Hath ordeyned swych a place
ffor his chosë chyldre dere,
The wychë, as champïouns here,
ffyhten wyth golye day be day,
And overkome hym in ther way;
Pylgrymes that passen many Rewm
Toward hevenly Jerusaleem.
‘The ffourthë ston ys callyd ‘Mynde’:
Be-war that yt be nat be-hynde.
Haue yt in thy memoryal
Mynde off the peynys infernal,
Wych ys gretly for to drede,
Wyth hys flawmy fyrys rede.
Redy (ther ys noon other wente,)
Thys synnérys to tormente
Eternally, for ther penaunce,
That deyë wyth-out répentaunce;
‘But, off that lord grettest off myght,
Whos mercy euer passeth ryht,
Off synnerys desyreth nat the deth;
ffor he doth mercy or that he sleth;
Loth, swych folkys to tormente,
That off herte hem wyl repente.
‘But yet haue alway in thy thouht,
(And look that thou for-gete yt nouht,)
To haue thy mynde, euere a-mong,
Up-on thys mortal peynys strong.
‘And the name of thys dredful stone
Ys ycallyd Albeston,
Wych, whan yt receyueth ffyr,
To hete yt hath so gret desyr,
That whan wyth ffyr yt ys ymeynt,
Affter, neuere yt wyl be queynt.
‘Haue on thys ston ay mencyoun,
239

‘And in eche temptacyoun,
Latt love off God, and drede off peyne,
Fro dedly Synnë the Restreyne.
And yiff thow hast her-Inne memórye,
Off Golye thow hast the vyctórye.
‘The ffyffthë ston (I the ensure)
That thow shalt han, ys ‘scrypture’
Hooly wryt, & thus I mene,
The Emerawd that ys so grene,
A rychë ston, off gret counfort,
That to the eye doth most dysport,
And, thorgh hys myght & hys puissaunce,
Voydeth a-way al grevaunce
ffrom an eyë fer & ner,
And maketh A manhys syhtë cler,
Clenseth a-way al ordure,
The gownde, & euery thyng vnpure.
‘Now haue I told the, by & by,
Off thys stonys coryously,
Wych that ben in noumbre fyue:
Put hem in thy skryppë blyue,
Caste hem ay whan thow hast nede;
And specyally (as I the rede)
Caste hem euere in ech sesoun
A-geyns al temptacyoun,
Ech affter other, in thy dyffence;
And mak alway strong résystence,
Spendynge thys stonys, on by on;
And I ensurë the a-noon,
Thow shalt nat faylle (yiff thow be wys,)
Off vyctorye to gete a prys.’

The pylgrym
Than quod I to hyre a-geyn,
“Thys fyue stonys (in certeyn)
Ben ryht good & gracïous,
& at assay ryht vertuous;
But I merueylle, syth ye be wys,
Why that ye, in your a-vys,
Lykne my Mouth un-to a slynge;
ffor I kan nat aboutë brynge,
240

“Nor deuyse, how that I schal
To castë stonys ther-wyth-al,
To helpe my sylff ageyn my ffon;
ffor custoom hadde I neuere noon,
God knowéth wel, nyh nor ferre,
Me to gouerne in swych a werre.”

Grace dieu.
Quod she, ‘Kanstow nat espye?
Who kan wysdom, he kan folye;
And who that knoweth ek goodnesse,
Parcel he knoweth off shrewdnesse;
ffor ryhtwysnesse, & also wrong,
Entermedlen euere a-mong;
And in an herte (yiff yt be souht)
Ther tourneth many a dyuers thouht,
Lyk a corde (yt ys no doute),
Wyth-Inne yt tourneth ofte aboute;
And off two cordys, they a-corde
Offtë for to make a corde.
‘ffor Cordys be sayd (who kan aduerte,)
Off offtë tournynges in an herte;
And wyth twynnyng, (in certeyne,)
A cord ys ymad off tweyne.
‘And thus thow shalt aboutë brynge,
Off thy thouht to make a slynge,
Ther-in to puttë stonys ffyue,
Ageyn thyn enmyes for to stryue,
To cast hem in thys mortal werre,
Wer-so thow lyketh, nyh or ferre.
‘ffor, slynge ys noon, (thys no doute,)
That may tourne so offte aboute
As may thy thouht (be wel certeyn);
ffor bothe on hylle, on vale & pleyn,
Yt tourneth her, yt tourneth yonder,
So offtë sythe, that yt ys wonder,
ffer or ner, ryht at thy lust,
On whos abood, yt ys no trust.
But, yit I redë, tak good kep
(Lyk thys Erdys that kepe shep)
Thy slynge and stonys to kepë wel,
241

And that thow err, neueradel.”

The pylgrym:
“Allas,” quod I, “what may thys be,
That, off my foly nycete,
I am be-kome an Erdë man,—
And noon other crafft ne kan,—
A rud shepperde, thorgh my folye,
And ha for-sakë chyualrye,
Armys that longen to a knyht,
Ther-off complaynynge day & nyht.
And syker, so I may ryht wel,
Whan I consydre euerydel
Hou dauyd (who lyst taken kep)
Was fyrst an Erde, & keptë shep;
But, thorgh hys manly gouernaunce,
Hym-sylff affter he dyde avaunce
To be callyd a myghty kyng,
Thorgh hys vertuous lyuyng,
And wyth al thys, a famous knyht.
Wherfor, I pray yow anoon ryht,
Lyk your hest, doth your deuer
To ordeyne me a somer,
Myn harneys ther-in for to karye;
And her-vp-on that ye nat tarye,
But in al hast that ye me spede,
That whan yt falleth I ha nede,
Myn armure be nat fer me ffro,
Whan that I ha nede ther-to.”

Grace dieu:
Quod grace dieu anoon to me,
‘Thow hast abydynge ay wyth the
A seruant and a chaumberere,
Wych in soth, (as thow shalt lere,)
Lesyth hyr tyme, & doth ryht nouht,
A Damyselle: lat hyr be souht,
To trusse thyn harneys euerydel.
ffor yiff hyr lyst, she kan ryht wel
(I haue off hyre no maner doute,)
Trusse, and bern yt ek a-boute,
And folwe the owher so thou go;
242

‘And by my counsayl, lat her so,
Syth that she kan do hyr deuer,
Bothe be thy seruant & somer.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” (to speke feythfully,)
“I ha noon sywch wyth me,” quod I.

Grace dieu:
‘Certys,’ quod she, ‘thou hast swych on;
I shal hyr shewe to the a-noon,
Yiff in thy sylff ther be no lak:
Looke be-hynden at thy bak!’

The pylgrym:
And so I dydë,—lyk as she
The samë tyme comaundyd me,—
Be-held bakward, & saw sywch on;
Wheroff astonyd I was a-noon,
And fyl in-to a ful gret doute,
Be-cause, whan I be-held aboute,
I sawh that eyen hadde she noon,
Ne mor than hath a stok or ston;
Wych was to me a thyng hydous;
She semptë, a best monstruows,
Outward, by hyr contenaunce.
But tho I hadde a rémembraunce
How Gracë dieu hadde don to me
Touchynge myn eyen, wyth wych I se,
Wyth them to make me se the bet,
In myn erys whan they wer set,
By hyr ounë puruyaunce;
Wher-off havyng a rémembraunce,
I gan consydre & lokë wel
Hyr shap & maner euerydel.
Tyl at the laste, I dydë fynde
In hyr haterel, fer be-hynde,
Tweyne Eyen fful cler & bryht;
Wych was to me a wonder syht.
And on thys thyng gretly musynge,
To grace dieu my-sylff tournynge,
Sodeynly I tho abrayde,
And, astonyd, to hyre I sayde:

243

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” quod I, (“yiff ye lyst lere,)
I ha founde a chaumberere,
Me suyng at my bak be-hynde,
Off whom I hadde to-forn no mynde
Nor no maner rémembraunce;
And syker, I ha no gret plesaunce
Off hyr offyce nor hyr seruise;
Causë why, I shal devyse:
Me semeth she ys vngracyous,
Counterfeet & monstruous:
And as me semeth in my syht,
She ne kan nat, halff a-ryht,
Wyth me trussen myn armure,
Nouther kepe myn harneys sure.”

Grace dieu:
‘Certys,’ quod Gracë dieu ryht tho,
‘I wot my sylff yt ys nat so:
She kan hem trussë most trewly,
And beren also sykerly.
Wherfor, in thyn oppynyoun,
Tyl thow haue occasïoun
Or som cause, dyspreyse hyr nouht;
ffor whan the trouthe ys clerly souht,
Thow shalt knowë wel that she
Ys ful necéssarye to the,
Yiff thow lyst maken prouydence
Off any konnyng or scyence,
Yt to concevue wyth-outë lak,
‘By cause hyr Eyen stonden bak,
Yt ys a sygne (as thow shalt lere)
That she is a tresourere
Off konnyng & of sciencys,
And off all Experyencys
That be commyttyd to hyr garde;
Yiff thow konne a-ryht rewarde,
Thyngis passyd, thow shalt fynde
Sche kepeth hem closyd in hyr mynde,
Sorë shet wyth lok & keye,
That they go nat lyhtly awey.
244

‘Al thyngës off antyquyte,
Storyes that auctorysèd be,
And thyngës digne off Rémembraunce,
And al the oldë gouernaunce
Wych a-for thys hath be do,
She kan devysë, no whyht so,
Fresshly renewyd in hyr thouht.
‘And yet, to-forn, she seth ryht nouht,
Nor a-parceyueth no maner thyng
Off that shal folwe in hyr seyyng,
Off wysdam, Armys, nor vyctorye.
And hyr name ys “memorye”;
And so thow shalt off Ryght hyr calle
Her-affter-ward, what euer falle.
And wherso that thou wake or slepe,
Tak hyr thyn armure for to kepe;
And she wyl makë no daunger,
But the to serue, & don hyr deuer.”

The pylgrym to memoyre.
Than quod I to thys chaumberere:
“Wych that han your eyen clere,
Only be-hynde (yiff yt be souht)
& to-forn ne se ryht nouht,—
ffor off thynges that passyd be,
Ys your chargë for to se;
And I to-forn shal taken hede:—
But I stonde in a maner drede,
In what wyse ye shal sustene
To remembre, (thus I mene,)
Or so gret a charge to bere,
Off thyngës out off myndë feere,
Hem to reporte, wyth-outë blame;
But, for ye han so good a name,
And, to bere, ben ek couenable,
Strong also & seruysable;
To yow thys armure I commytte,
Out off your garde that they nat flytte.”
And she tooke [hem] ful lowly
In-to hyr kepyng fynally,
245

And in hyr tresour vp hem layde.
And Gracë dieu than to me sayde:

Grace dieu:
Quod she a-noon, ‘tak hed her-to!
Now artow redy for to go
As a pylgrym on thy Iournee
To Ierusaleem the cyte;
Redy in al (yt ys no drede),
Save off o thyng thow hast nede,
Only off bred, (wyth-outë more,)
Ther-wyth thy skryppë to astore:
Off wych bred I ha the told.
‘But I the rede, be nat to bold
To takë noon (in no degre,)
Wyth-outen lycence or conge
Off the ladyes (in substaunce)
Wych ha that bred in gouernaunce.
And alderfyrst: thow ek observe,
That thow konne yt wel dysserve,
And thy sylff, aforn to make
To be worthy yt to take
Off the ladyes, benygne off cherys,
Wych ther be set ffor awmenerys:
With-oute hem, put the nat in pres.’
Thanne wente I to Moyses,
Hym be-souhte, to my good sped,
ffor to youe me off that bred.
And he me gaff yt ful goodly;
And in my skryppë, a-noon I
Putte that bred most off vertu.
Thanne to me spak Gracë dieu:

Grace dieu:
Quod Gracë dieu to me tho blythe,
‘By my counsayl, offtë sythe
Lok ther-to that thow tak hede
Whan thow shalt etyn off thys bred,
Thy syluen gostly to dysporte,
And thyn herte to récounforte,
Therby tarme thy sylff ryht wel,
Bet than in Iren or in stel;
246

‘Therby to han experyence
ffor to makë résistence
Ageyn al thy mortal ffon.
‘But herkene vn-to me A-noon:
Conceyuë (for conclusïoun)
Yt ys a gret confusïoun
To the (yiff thow lyst to lere,)
That she wych ys thy chaumberere
Sholde, affter the, thyn armys bere;
And thow thy-sylff darst hem nat were,
Nor wyth thy fynger touche hem nouht,
Swych dred & fer ys in thy thouht,
Thow braydest on a koward knyht,
Resemblynge hem that dar nat ffyht:
I holde hem nat goode werryours,
Manly knyhtes, nor conquerours,
That hange her sheldys vp on the wal,
To make a mowstre in specyal,
Outward by, as by apparence,
ffor to shewe the excellence
Off ther rychesse by fressh array;
And ther bodyes, nyht nor day,
Nor them sylff, dar nat a-vaunce
To handle nouther swerd nor launce;
But outward shewyn ffressh peyntures
Off dyuers bestys and ffygures,
Lyk to manly champyouns,
As they wolden slen lyouns
In dyffence off ther contre.
And yet, par cas, yt may so be,
Ther bodyes strongëly tassure,
They stuffe her somerys wyth armure,
Wych ay hem folweth at the bak,
That in shewyng ther be no lak;
And for al that, (who taketh hede)
And yt kome vn-to the nede,
(I mene, as off a mortal werre,)
They woldë hem sylff holde afferre,
To preue her manhood & hyr myght.
‘But I holde hym a manly knyght,
247

‘Wych off hys harneys (fer & ner)
Ys hym syluen the somer,
And bereth hys armure on hys bak,
On hys Enmyes to takë wrak;
And in hys harneys, day & nyht
Ys foundë redy, lyk a knyht,
Off prouydence hym sylff to kepe,
And ther-in, day and nyht doth slepe,
Redy to sende hym wyth hys hond,
Namly, whan he ys in a lond
Wher the werre ys ay mortal,
‘And truste wel in especyal,
That the land & the contre
Toward Ierusalem the cyte,
Thow mayst nat passe yt, fer nor ner,
Wyth-oute pereil & gret daunger.
Yt ys ay ful off Ennemyes,
Off brygauntys, & fals espyes,
And off ffomen fful despytous.
‘And in thys passage perillous,
Me semeth (in no maner wyse,)
That yt may to the suffyse,
Thy stonys platly, nor thy staff slynge,
(Wych wyth the that thow dost brynge),
But yiff thow do thy deuer,
To haue wyth the thy Somer,
To ber thy armys on thy bak,
Bet than in bowgys or cloth sak.
‘Yt wer a gret derysïoun
To the, and gret confusïoun,
Yiff thy chaumbrere sholde hem brynge,
And thow, for lak off fforseyynge,
Stoode thy syllff disconsolaat,
Dysarmyd, nakyd, & chek-maat,
Consydred that thy chaumberere
Ys lasse off myght & off powere
Than thow thy-sylff[ë] sholdest be,
Yiff thow be gouernyd by equyte.’

The pylgrym:
“Certeys ye seyn ryht wel at al.
248

“But I wolde in especyal
Wyten how yt myghtë be,
Or whehr the fautë wer in me,
The causë platly of thys cas,
That I so sone dysarmyd was;
And why I myghtë nat endure
The hevynesse off myn armure.”

Grace dieu:
‘Hastow,’ quod she, ‘no Rémembraunce,
How I the toldë, in substaunce,
Thow wer to fat, and to lykynge,
To gret and large (as by semynge,)
The to putte in áventure
So hevy armure to endure?’

The pylgrym:
“I wel remembre,” so ye sayde,
And thys defautys on me ye layde;
And yet ye sayde to me no wrong;
But now I ffele my sylff mor strong
To ben armyd, off good entente,
Yiff so be that ye assente.”

Grace dieu:
‘Wostow what thow art?’ quod she:
‘Yiff thow be On, declare to me;
Yiff thow be double outher tweyne,
Tel me A-noon & nat ne feyne.
Lat ther be no varyaunce
Wher thow hauë gouernaunce
Off any maner other wyht
Than off thy sylff: tel on now ryht.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “yiff ye lyst se,
Off thys thyng ye axë me,
(Yiff ye lyst pleynly to concerne,)
I haue no mo for to gouerne
But mysylff, nor to comaunde.
I haue merveyl off your demaunde;
What ye mene, off this questyoun
Wyth-oute a declaracyoun.”

Grace dieu:
249

‘Yiff vn-to me good audyence,
And also do thy dyllygence
Terkne a-noon what I shal say;
And thy sylff shalt nat seyn nay;
But I shal preue the contrayre,
That thou hast an aduersayre,
And On ek off thy mostë foon,
Whom that thow off yore agon
Hast yhad in gouernaunce,
And dost ful bysy áttendaunce
ffor to cherysshe day & nyght,
Wyth al thy power, and thy myght;
A dayës, for to fede hym offte,
And a nyht, to leyn hym soffte;
Wyth metys most delycyous,
And, wyth deyntës outragous,
Thow dost ful besy áttendaunce
To ffostren hym to hys plesaunce.
‘What-euere cost ther-on be spent,
Thow takest noon heed in thyn entent,
But al hys lustys to obeye.
‘And yet I dar afferme & seye,
He was ordeyned for to be
Soget & seruaunt vn-to the,
And tabyde in thy servyse.
‘But now ys tournyd al that guyse,
Pleynly, yiff thow lyst to se;
ffor he hath now the souereynte,
Lordshepe & domynacïoun,
That ffyrst was in subieccïoun.
And to concluden, at O word,
Thow art soget, & he ys lord;
And yet he was delyvered the,
Thy seruaunt euere to ha be;
But he ys now thy most enmy,
And doth hys power outterly,
Euere in on, the to werreye,
And day & nyght to dysobeye,
And for thy lustys ay to varye,
Vn-to the to be contrárye,
250

‘Nat-wyth-stondynge the dyllygence,
The costys & the gret expense
That thow dost hym for to plese,
And hys Gredynesse tapese:
Thow beyst hym many fressh Iowel,
And sparest nat off thy catel
To beyn hym knyuës & tablettys,
Rychë gyrdelys & corsettys,
Clothes off sylk & off skarlet,
Embrawdyd, & wyth perlys ffret:
Al hys desyrs thow pursues,
Somwhyle to lede hym to the stewes,
To wasshe & bathe hym tendyrly,
And to leyn hym sofftely
On ffether beddys, mad ful wel,
ffor to slepe hys vndermel;
And afterward to kembe hys hed:
Wyth wynës also, whyt & red,
Wyth maluesyn & ypocras,
Thow dost to hym ful gret solas,
And art mor bysy hym to queme
Than thy-sylff, I dar wel deme.
‘As a norysshe on hyr enfaunt,
Thow art euere áttendaunt
To ffostren hym, lyk hys delyt,
And to serue hys appetyt;
And shortly, whan thow hast al do,
Thow hast noon so mortal ffo;
ffor the, to trayshe wyth al hys myht,
He lyth a waytynge day & nyht;
And hys ffamylyaryte
Ys ful noyous vn-to the.
ffor Enmy noon ys so perillous,
So dredful, nor contágyous,
In al the erthë, fer nor ner,
As an enmy ffamylyer,
Nor so gretly to be drad
Off ffolkys that be wyse & sad.
‘And yiff thow lyst to lern off me,
Tak good hed; for thys ys he
251

‘Wych wolde nat suffre the to lere,
Noon Armys nor noon harneys were,
The to dyffende fro thyn enmyes,
Brygauntys and other false espyes;
And shortly (yiff I shal nat tarye)
He ys thy gretest aduersarye
That thow hast, & most to drede:
Be war therfor, & tak bet hede.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “yiff ye lyst se,
I merveylle what he sholdë be,
He that ye accuse and blame,
And put on hym so gret dyffame,
How that he sholdë, day & nyht,
Be bysy (as ffer as he hath myght)
To traisshe me, as a fals tractour,
And to my worshype & honour
Don any derogacioun
By swych compassyd fals traisoun.
“I pray yow for to tellen me
What maner whyht he sholdë be.
Telleth me ek whar he was born,
And warneth me off hym to-forn;
Telleth hys name & hys fygure,
That I may my sylff assure
Ageyn hys mortal Enmyte,
That I myghte avengyd be.
And, by my trouthe, a-noon I shal
Dysmembren hym on pecys smal,
Quyk on the Erthe, what-euere he be,
And ye hys namë tellen me.
And yet thys vengaunce, in no wyse
Myghtë nat ynowh suffyse,
Thogh al quyk (to myn entente)
I dysmembrede hym ther he wente.”

Grace dieu:
‘Certys,’ quod she, ‘thow seyst ryht wel:
But, & thow wylt wyten euerydel,
And conceyve ek in thy thouht,
Ne wer thy-sylff, he wer ryht nouht,
252

‘Nor, wyth-outë the, certeyn,
He ne wer nat but in veyn;
ffor ffolkys, nouther yong nor olde,
Sholdë nat on hym be-holde,
But haue hym in despyt, certeyn,
In répreff, & in gret desdeyn,
(Ne wer thy sylff, I the ensure,)
ffor but a lyknesse off ordure,
And a statue off slyym vnclene,
(Vnderstond wel what I mene,)
Donge & putrefaccïoun,
A Kareyn off corrupcyoun:
Thow shalt yt fynde (in wordys fewe,)
As openly I shal the shewe,
Whan thow gynnest thy passage.
And, for thyn owne ávauntage,
I wyl go wyth the off entent,
And, holdyng our parlement,
Thow & I, to-gydre yffere,
What that he ys, I shal the lere.’

ye pilgrime
“Go we,” quod I “I am wel payd
Off al that euere ye ha sayd;
But specyaly I yow requere
That ye & I may gon yfere,
And departë nat our way;
And that ye wyl me goodly say
(Lyk to your oppynyoun)
The maner & condicïoun
Off myn enmy, & off me,
Whil that we to-gydre be,
No whyht but ye & I yfere,—
Exceptë that my chaumberere
Wyth me haveth myn armure;—
And my syluen mor tassure,
That in hyre ther be no lak,
Me folweth alway at the bak.”

Grace Dieu.
Quod gracë dieu, ‘ffor to declare
Thyn Enmy pleynly, & nat spare,
253

‘He ys foul & ek terryble
Lothsom also, & Odyble,
Off condycyoun ful dyuers,
Right contrayrë & peruers;
Was engendryd (I dar assure)
And brouht forth, as by nature,
Off woormys that in erthë krepe,
And lyggen in the soil ful depe.
He ys a worme, & shal also
Be wormys mete; tak hed her-to!
Off wormys (in especyal)
He took hys orygynal;
And in-to wormys he shal tourne,
And wyth wormys ek soiourne;
In the erthë putrefye;
And wormys shal hym ek defye,
Torne hym to foul corrupcyoun:
Swych ys hys condycïoun.
‘And nat for-thy (tak hed & se,)
Euery nyht he lyth wyth the
A-bedde; and trustë ek trewly,
Ye partë neuere company.
And vn-to the yt ys gret shame,
And a maner off dyffame
To the, & gret confusïoun;
Affter hys replecyoun,
He may nat purge hym on no syde
But thow hym lede, & be hys guyde;
In chaumbre, goyng to pryvee,
Hys chaumberleyn thow mustest be:
Wyth-outë the (yt stondeth so)
That he sothly may no-thyng do:
Thow art hys pyler & hys potent;
And ellys he were Inpotent,
Blynde, & lamë doutëles,
Deff, and also spechëles,
And óff no reputacïoun,
Ne wer thy supportacïoun.
‘And yet to speke in general,
He kan to the no thank at al:
254

‘Hys froward conuersacyoun
Ys off swych condycioun.’

Ye pilgrime.
“Ma dame,” quod I, “al that ye seyn,
I vnderstonde yt wel certeyn;
But I merveyllë ful gretly
That ye lyst nat to me pleynly
Makë ful relacyoun,
And clerly demonstracïoun,
Wyth toknys bothen hih & lowe,
Attonys that I myghte hym knowe;
ffor thanne, nouther nyht nor day
Ther sholde be makyd no delay,
Wyth-outë respyt or pyte
But that I sholde a-vengyd be
(Wyth-outë súpport or favóur)
By cruel deth, on that traytour.”

Grace Dieu.
“Nat-wyth-stondynge hys offence,
To slen hym thow hast no lycence;
That may be suffryd in no wyse.
But thow mayst hym wel chastyse
And correctë by due peyne,
And fro vycys hym restreyne.
And, whan that he doth forfete,
As a mayster thow shalt hym bete,
And correcte hym by travaylle,—
Nat as a tyraunt by battaylle,
By cruel Rygour nor vengaunce,—
But reforme hym by penaunce,
At-wyxe the yok off loue & drede.
ffor (yiff thow lyst to taken hede,)
Penaunce ys hys cheff maystresse,
Hym to chastyse & to redresse:
She shal, off al dyffaute & blame,
Refreynen hym, & make hym tame,
Off dyscrecioun wel a-vysed.
And whan she hath hym wel ch stysed,
She shal (as thow shalt vnderstond,)
Make hym redy to thyn hond,
255

As A seruaunt, the to serue,
Lyk a sergaunt, to obserue
Lowly, what thow byst hym do,
And nat sey nay, nor go ther-fro,
But be at thy comaundëment.
‘Thys sholdest thow, off good entent,
(Lyk vn-to an holsom leche,)
Rather desyre, than any wreche.
ffor (yiff thow look wyth Eyen cler,)
He stondeth nat vnder daunger
Off dethe to the, no maner wyse;
ffor thow art boundë to deuyse
Hys goostly elthë & wel-ffare;
And ouer thys, nat for to spare,
(Wherso that he wake or slepe)
ffrom al pereyl hym to kepe,
Wherso that thow be dul or ffressh;
ffor thys, thy Body & thy fflessh,
He that I mene, the syluë same,
Off hym I kan noon other name.”

The Pylgryme.
“Ma dame,” quod I, “what may thys be?
Whether dreme I, other ellys ye?
ffor (as fer as I kan espye,)
I merveylle off your fantasye,
Or by what weye ye woldë gon.
Ys nat my body & I al on?
I trowë yis; & ellys wonder,
Or how myhte we be assonder?
Ys he a-nother than am I?
I pray yow, tel me ffeythfully,
(And me declareth the sothnesse
Wyth-outen any dowbylnesse,)
What that ye menë verrayly;
ffor her ys no whyht but ye & I,
Except only my chaumberere,
Wych that folweth us ryht here.
“A-noon to me doth sygnefye,
Wher yt be trouth or fayrye
That we shold ben on or tweyne:
256

“Tel on a noon, & doth nat ffeyne.”

Grace Dieu.
Quod Grace dieu: ‘out off my mouth
Wentë neuere north nor south,
Est, nor west, nó lesyng,
Illusyoun, nor fals dremyng.
But I axe a questyoun:
Answere ther-to by good resoun:
‘Yiff thow were now in a place
fful off merthe & off solace,
Wyth mete & drynke, at good ese,
And wyth al thys, the to plese,
Haddyst thy comaundëmentys
Off hallys, chaumbrys, & gaye Tentys,
Sofftë beddys, dysport & play,
And euery thyng vn-to thy pay,
Havyng no lak vp-on no syde;
Yiff thow myghtest ther abyde
At thy choys ffrely alway,
Woldestow gladly parte a-way,
Or ellys stylle abydë there?
Tel on boldly, & ha no ffere.’

Ye pilgrim
“Ma dame,” quod I, “dysplese yow nouht;
I sey ryht as lyth in my thouht:
Myn hertys esë for to swe,
I wolde abyde (& nat remewe,)
ffor myn ese, euere in on,
Rather than thenys for to gon;
ffor yt ys profytable tabyde
Wher that a man, on euery syde
ffyndeth vn-to hys plesaunce
Soiour, wyth-outë varyaunce.’

Grace Dieu.
‘Ys that verrayly,’ quod she,
‘Soth that thow hast sayd to me?
I vnderstonde, by thy language,
Thow woldest leue thy pylgrymage,
And platly settyn hyt a-syde,
Only for reste, & ther a-byde.’

257

The Pylgryme.
“Ma dame,” quod I, “for my dysport,
Wher I fond esë & counfort,
I wolde abyde a whylë there,
Tyl I sawh tyme & good leyser.”

Grace dieu.
To me she sayde a-noon ryht than:
‘O wrechche! o thow vnhappy man!
Tak hed, & be mor éntentyff,
How herë, in thys mortal lyff,
Thogh that a man renne euermore,
He may neuere hast hym to sore
To kome to tymely to that place.
‘I puttë caas, that he ha space
fforth to procedë, day be day,
At good leyser vp-on hys way.
Her-vp-on I axë the,
Yiff thow haddyst lyberte,
Ioyë, merthe, & al soláce,
Woldestow fro thylkë place,
Yiff thow haddyst fre chois at wylle
Remewen, or a-bydë stylle?’

Ye pilgrime
“Allas!” quod I, “what may I seyn?
I kan nat wel answere a-geyn.
But o thyng I wot ryht wel;
The cyrcumstancys euerydel
Consydryd vp-on euery syde,
Par cas, rather I sholde abyde,
Than ben to hasty to procede,
Tyl I sawh I mustë nede
Goon forth off necessyte:
In caas than wolde I hastë me.”

Grace Dieu:
Quod Grace dieu thanne vn-to me:
‘By thyn answere, I do wel se
That thyn entencyoun ys trouble,
And thy wyl ys also double;
Thy inward thouht ek varyáble,
Thy purpos dyuers & vnstable,
258

‘Consydryd vp-on outher syde,
How som whyle thow wylt abyde,
And a-nother tyme also,
Thow art in wyl forth for to go;
Now in travaylle, now in reste,
And offte thow thynkest, for the beste,
Stylle in a placë to soiourne;
And sodeynly thy wyl doth tourne,
ffor to holdë thy passage;
Thy purpos double off vysage,
Constreynèd by a dyuers lawe,
Now forth, & now yt doth wyth-drawe;
Selde or neuere off O thouht;
The toon wyle, & the tother nouht.”

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “lyk as ye seyn,
fful trewe I ffele yt, in certeyn.”

Grace dieu:
Than quod she; “lat nat the greue
Vp-on thy wordys; thogh I preue,
And thogh I make an Argument,
That thow art double in thyn entent,
Alway nat on, in certeyne,
But partyd oftë in-to tweyne.
ffor yt ys knowe, off yore agon,
That two wyllys be nat on,
Wych be seueryd in o thouht,
And off entent acordë nouht.
ffor, how myghtë they accorde,
Whan they drawe nat by o corde?
Thys knoweth euery maner whyht,
That hath off Resoun any syht.”

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” quod I “I yow be-seche,
Clerly that ye wyl me teche
What that I am; wych seyn that I
Am nat the same that my body.
What am I thanne? thys wolde I se,
Yiff ye lyst enfourmen me:
Ther wer no thyng to me so leff,
259

“As knowe her-off A trewë preff.”

Grace dieu:
Quod gracë dieu: ‘yt semeth wel,
Thow hast nat lernyd euerydel
Thyngys nouther hih nor lowe,
Syth thy sylff thow kanst nat knowe;
The wych, a-boue al other thyng
Ys the bestë knowelychyng
That man may han in thys lyff here.
‘And, yiff thow lyst platly lere,
To knowe thy sylff ys bet knowyng
Than to be Emperour outher kyng,
Or for to knowen al scyénces,
Practykes, & experyences;
Or to han al the rychesse
Off thys world (in sothfastnesse),
Or the tresour euerydel,
But syth thow knowest nat ryht wel
Thy sylff, as thow sholdest knowe,
(Wyth cyrcumstauncys hih & lowe,)
Me semeth (as in myn avys,)
Taxe and lernë, thow art wys.
And I shal telle the feythfully
In thys materë, trewëly,
What that I fele in myn entent
Shortly, as in sentement:
‘The Body, fyrst, (be nat in doute,)
Off wych I spak closyd' wyth-owte,
Whan yt ys fro thë segregat,
Dysseueryd & separat,
Thanne off the, (I dar wel seyn
And afferme yt in certeyn)
Off god thow art the portrature,
Thymage also, and ffygure;
And off nouht (yiff thow kanst se)
He ffourmede & he madë the,
(That lord ffyrst, in thy creaunce,)
To hys ownë résemblaunce
And ymage, wych off lyknesse
Most dygne, & worthy off noblesse,
260

‘A prent (to speke off dygnyte)
He myghte nat ha set on the
Mor worthy, nor mor notáble,
Than to hym sylff résembláble.
He gaff to the, off hys goodnesse,
Cler syht off Resoun, & ffayrnesse,
And off nature to be mor lyht
Than any ffoul that ffleth in flyht,
And neuere to deyen, ek wyth-al,
ffor he made the Immortal,
Permanent, & euere stable.
And tadwellyd Immutáble,
Yiff thow nat haddyst, off entent,
fforfetyd hys comaundëment;
Than haddystow, thorgh thy Renoun,
Excellyd in comparysoun:
Comparysoun myghte noon ha be
To thy noblesse & dygnete,
Off hewene nor Erthë, in certeyn,
Nor (to declare & speke in pleyn,)
Bryd, nor other crëature,
Except off angelys the nature.
‘God ys thy ffader, (tak hed her-to)
And, thow art hys sone also,
Most excellynge off kynrede
That euere was (wyth-outë drede),
Most noble, & off grettest style;
ffor off Thomas de guillevyle
Thow art nat sone on that party
I dar afferme, & seyn trewly,
Who-euere gruchche, or makë stryff
That he nat hadde, in al hys lyff.
To seke, in al hys nacyoun,
No sone off swych condycyoun,
Douhter nouther (yt ys no fable,)
Off kynredë so notáble.
But, off Engendrure bodyly,
Thow haddest off hym thy body,
Wych kam off hym by nature:
The wych body (I kan assure)
261

‘Ys to the (tak hed her-to,)
Thyn Enmy & thy grettest foo,
‘On that party (yiff thow lyst se,)
Roos fyrst the gretë Enmyte;
Nature hath yt so ordeyned;
But yt thorgh vertu be restreyned.
For the ffrut (what-euere yt be)
Bereth the tarage off the tre
That yt kam fro (I dar assure);
ffor yt were ageyn nature,
A Thorn to bern a Fyggë soote;
The bud hath tarage off the roote,
Lyk as an appyl or a pere,
Thogh yt be born, neuere so fere,
Yt savoureth (whan that al ys do,)
Off the Tre that yt kam fro.
‘And semblably haue in mynde,
Manys body, as be kynde,
As off hym sylff (be wel certeyn),
May ber no ffrut but foul & veyn
Ordure & corrupcïoun,
Slym & putrefaccïoun.
‘But yiff thy gynnyng be wel souht,
Off swych fylthë thow kome nouht:
ffor fyrst, in thy creacïoun
Thow haddyst no produccïoun
(Yiff I shal declaren al)
Off no man that was mortal.
Thy makynge may nat be amendyd,
ffor off god thou art descended;
And pleynly (yiff thou vnderstondys,)
God made neuere wyth hys hondys
Her in erthe (what sholde I feyne)
Off mankyndë mo than tweyne;
Vn-to wyche (wyth-outë wheer)
He commyttede hys power,
And gaff to hem an exaumplayre,
Other, lyk hem, to makë fayre,
Lyk thexamples in general,
To hym reseruynge in specyal
262

‘Off spyrytys (in conclusïoun)
Thordynaunce & the ffasown,
Off wych he woldë (as by skyl)
Noon other medle, by hys wyl.
‘And her-vp-on (yiff thow lyst se,)
The samë lord, he madë the
Off hys goodnesse, for thy prowh;
And in the body wher thow art now,
He the putte (as I dar telle),
Ther a whylë for to dwelle,
And ther tabyde (thys, the cheff)
For tassayë the by preff;
And by thy port also dyscerne
How thow sholdest the gouerne
Prudently, both fer & ner;
And yiff thow dydest thy dever
To dyffendë thy party,
Yiff he wolde holdë chaumpartye
Ageyn[y]s the in any wyse.
ffor, (as I shal to the devyse,)
Atwyxë yow (yt ys no faylle)
Ther ys werre & strong bataylle,
And contynuelly ther shal be,
But so falle, thow yeldë the,
And putte the in subieccïoun
Thorgh hys fals collusïoun,
By hys deceyt & flaterye
Evere to hauë the maystrye
Over the (in cónclusïoun)
Whyl he hath domynacïoun.
‘But yiff that thow (as yt ys ryht,)
Dyscounfyte hym by verray myghte,
And by forcë ber hym doun
Lyk a myghty champyoun,
Than shal-tow (bothë fer & ner,)
Over hym han ful power,
That he shal neuere, for no quarelle,
Ageyn[y]s the, dor rebelle,
To Interuptë thyn entente.
‘And trewly, but thy sylff assente
263

‘He shal neuere be so bold,
The to wythstonde, as I ha told.
‘He ys Dalyda, thow art Sampsoun;
Thow art strong (as by resoun),
Sturdy on thy feet to stonde:
Suffre hym nat, the to wyth-stonde,
Nor over the to han maystrye
ffor no glosyng nor flatrye.
‘And yiff thou takë hed ther-to,
She ne kan nat ellys do;
But wyth flatrye & deceyt,
Nyht & day lyn in a-wayt,
And swych wach on the doth make,
To make thyn enmyes the to take
At mescheff, whan they may the fynde.
And yiff thow wylt, sche shal the bynde.
Sher thyn heer whyl thow dost slepe,
But thow konne thy-syluen kepe.
And overmor, I the ensure,
Thy counsayl al she wyl dyscure,
And thy secretys euerichon,
To phylystees that be thy ffoon.
Other frenshepe, trustë me,
She hath pleynly noon to the.
‘Now ches, & to my speche entende,
How thow wylt thy syllf dyffende;
Be nat to thy confusïoun
Deceyued as whylom was Sampsoun.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” to gracë dieu quod I,
“I merveyllë ful gretëly;
ffor pleynly (as yt doth me seme)
Outher I slepë or I dreme
That ye, a-mong your wordys alle,
Lyst a ‘Spyryt’ me to calle,
Wych wyth my body do abyde,
Wher-so that I go or ryde;
And seyn, I am to cler seyng;
And me semeth I se no thyng.
And ek I take good hed her-to,
264

“How ye afferme, & seyn also,
That my body, wych seth so wel,
How that he seth neueradel,
But ys as blynd as ys a ston.
And your wordys euerychon
Ben so vnkouth & merveyllous,
And to my wyt so daungerous,
That they faren, whan I hem here,
As a flee were in myn Ere;
I am astonyd so outterly.
I pray you tel me mor clerly,
That I may wytë (by som mene)
Off al thys thyng, what that ye mene.”

Grace dieu:
‘Tak hed,’ quod she, ‘yiff thow konne,
And se somwhylë how the sonne,
Wyth hys bemys bright & clere,
Most ffressh in hys mydday spere,
The samë tyme, vnder a cloude,
Offtë sythe he doth hym schrowude,
That men may nat be-holde & se
The bryhtënesse off hys bewte.
Wher-vp-on, I the comaunde
To answere to thys demaunde:
Whan the sonne ys closyd so
That hys clernesse ys ago,
Tel on, & Answere, yiff thow may,
Off what thyng causyd ys the day.’

The pylgrym:
“To tellë shortly in a clause:
Off day, ther ys noon other cause
But phebus, as I kan espye.
Thogh hys bemys, vnder skye
Ben hyd, yet yt ys no doute,
Al the lyht that sheweth oute,
Ys ycausyd euerydel
Off the sonne (who lokë wel);
Thorgh a skye hys lyht doth passe,
To shewe yt forth in euery place.
And shortly ellys (yt ys no nay)
265

“Wyth-oute hys lyht, ther wer no day.”

Grace dieu:
Quod Gracë dieu: ‘answere me;
How maystow parceyue or se,
Or in any wyse espye
Hys bryhte bemys thorgh a skye?’

The pylgrym:
“Ryht so,” quod I, “as thorgh a verre,
Men sen hys bemys shyne a-ferre,
Or as men sen off ffyr the lyht,
Thorgh a lanterne cler & bryht.”

Grace dieu:
Quod Gracë dieu a-noon to me:
‘What thow hast sayd, tak hed,’ quod she,
‘And vnderstond ffyrst in thy syht,
By the sonne that shyneth bryht,
Thy soulë cler, in espécyal,
Wyth-Inne thy body wych ys mortal.
Off thys mater we haue an honde,
Ther-by thy soule I vnderstonde.
‘Thy body (yiff thow kanst espye)
Vs dyrk, as ys a clowdy skye;
And lyk also (who kan dyscerne)
To a smoky, blak lanterne.
And nat for-thy (I dar expresse)
Men may sen, thorgh the bryhtnesse
Off the soule (yt ys no doute),
And the clernesse, fer wyth-oute.
Clerkys recorde yt in ther skolys;
And other wene, that be but ffolys,
In ther foltyssh fals demyng,
That al the cler enlwmynyng
Wher-off that porë skyë (lo,)
Wher-wyth the sowle ys shrowdyd so,
Eclypsyd off hys fayr bryhtnesse.
And ne were the gret dyrknesse
Off thys skye (who loke a-ryht),
The sowle sholde han so cler a syht
At o look, fro the oryent
To sen in-to the occident.
266

‘ffor off the body (trustë me)
The Eyen, no verray eyen be,
But lyk to glas, (I dar wel seyn),
Wher-thorgh the clerë soule ys seyn,
And outward (wyth hys bemys bryht)
Yiveth ther-to clernesse and lyht.
ffor the sowle, (who taketh hede,)
Off bodyly eyen hath no nede,
No mor than, in semblable caas,
The bryhtë sonne hath off the glas,
Nouther byforn, nouther be-hynde.
‘And conceyue also in thy mynde,
That Eyen wych ben espyrytual,
Wyth-oute spectácle or ffenestral,
Sen off hem syllf mor parfytly,
fferther perce, & mor clerly,
Than whan the bodyly dyrknesse,
The gostly eyë doth oppresse.
ffor gostly Eyen sen wel the bet,
Whan yt ys so they be nat let
Wyth bodyly Eyen that ben outward,
And han to no-thyng ther reward,
But to thynges off veynglorye,
That be passynge & transytórye,
Dyrked wyth a worldly skye.
‘And whylom blyndë was Tobye
Off bodyly eyen, as wyth-oute;
But inwardly (yt ys no doute)
He was nat blynded off hys syht,
But hadde hys eyen cler & bryht;
I mene, the Eyen off hys mynde;
ffor by tho Eyen (as I ffynde)
He tauhte hys sone, & clerly tolde
The weyë that he sholdë holde
In hys passagë, & nouht erre.
Hys Eyen wer cler as any sterre,
Off hys mynde, wych made hym se;
And ellys yt myghte neuere ha be,
Off hys inward inspeccyoun,
To yove him swych instruccyoun
267

‘How he sholdë hym gouerne,
Wyth-oute the siht wych ys eterne,
I menë, the siht spyrytual,
Wych ys gostly & eternal.
‘That syhte, by agë wasteth nouht;
And (yiff the trouthë be wel souht,)
Thy bodyly eyen (trustë me,)
Wyth hem thow mayst no thyng yse.
The soule seth al by cler lookyng,
And the body seth nothyng;
Blynd wyth-Innen & wyth-oute.
And ner the soule, (yt ys no doute,)
Seyng cler he shold ha noon,
Na mor than hath the coldë ston.
‘And as yt ys towchyng syht,
Evene so (who looke a-ryht)
Yt ys off al thy wyttys fyue;
ffor who seyth nay, or geyn yt stryue,
Euerych off hem, in sentement,
Ys but a maner instrument,
The wych, touchyng ther werkyng,
Off thé they receyve euery thyng;
ffor, wyth-outen helpe off the,
They no thyng here, they no thyng se,
Nor no thyng thay may reporte.
And yiff thow dyst hem nat supporte,
And sustenyst wyth thy myghte,
Eryng, Smellyng, Touch & Syht,
Thy body wer nat euerydel
But a verray foul dongel,
Impotent, and feble also,
Outher to mevyn or to go.’

The pylgrym:
“Thanne, wyth your supportacïoun,
I axe off you thys questyoun;
And ffryst off all I thus begynne:
‘How may the sowle that ys wyth-inne,
Ber the body that ys wyth-oute?’
To me assoylleth fyrst thys doute;
ffor yt semeth mor Reson,
268

“(As to my oppynyoun,)
The body outward (thus I mene)
Sholde the soule inward sustene.
Yiff ye grante to speke at large,
Thyng that conteneth, berth the charge,
And bereth vp al, to myn entent:
And thyng, wyth-Inne that ys content,
That thyng ys born, as semeth me.
And her-vp-on I woldë se,
Syth that ye ben prudent & wys,
A good answere, by your avys.”

Grace dieu:
‘Vp-on thy questioun to conclude
An answere, as by symylytude:
Conceyuë fyrst in thyn entent,
Thy clothyng & thy vestyment.
Contene thy boady euerydel
Wyth-Innen: yiff thow loke wel,
Thy body closyd ys wyth-Inne;
And but yiff thow fro resoun twynne,
Thow wylt nat geyn-seyn vn-to me,
Thow beryst thy clothys, & they nat the,
And fully ben in thy depoos;
And yet thow art wyth-Inne hem cloos;
And, (yiff thow clerly kanst dyscerne,)
At thy lust dost hem gouerne;
And (to seyn shortly in substaunce,)
Thow hast off hem the gouernaunce.’

The pylgrym:
“And ys yt lyk, ma dame,” quod I,
“In al, off me & my body?”

Grace dieu:
‘To yive thé mor cler evydence,
I putte a maner dyfference;
Leff the chaff, & tak the corn:
The sowle bereth, & ys born.
ffor, ffyrst, the sowle pryncypally
Susteneth & bereth the body;
And parcel-lyk (to thyn entent)
The body bereth by accident
269

‘The sowlë, but her-on reporte,
The myghte, the vertu, ay resorte
Off the body, in certeyn,
Evere vn-to the sowle ageyn.
‘And evydence her-on to make:
Thow mayst a cler exaumple take,
Yiff thow euere dydest se
Any shyp a-myd the see,
(Shortly declaryng, at a word,)
The maryner wyth-Inne the bord
Ledeth the shyp, (tak hed her-to,)
And ys hym sylff ylad also.
Tak here Exaumple, & be wel sad,
But he yt ladde, he wer nat lad.
‘Semblably, by exaumple cler,
Thy sawlë ys cheff maryner,
Ledere & govérneresse
Off thy body, in sothnesse:
She ledeth hym ay too & too,
And ys hyr syllf ylad also.
ffor, at hyr lust & hyr talent,
She, by hyr ownë fre assent,
Ledeth the body, as yt ys skyl.
ffor the body, but by hyr wyl,
Hath no power, (yt ys no drede)
No syde, the sowlë for to lede.
‘And therfor, do thy besy peyne,
Havynge the body in thy demeyne,
To lede hym so, & he ek the,
In thys dredful worldly see,
fful off wyndys & Tempest,
And wawës boyllynge Est & west,
That, by assent, here in your live,
At goode hauene ye may aryve,
And at good port, whan cruel deth
Schal make hym yelden vp the breth.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma damë, sothly, I do lere,
By your wordys that I here,
To forthre me, & nat to tarye.
270

“Yt wer to me ryht necessarye,
That off your grace ye woldë blyue,
Out off my shyp makë maryue;
I menë thus, ma dame, that ye
Wolde in al haste dyspoyllë me
Off my body, wych ys greuous,
Hevy, gret, & ponderous,
That I myghte off hym a-noon ryht
Haue knowelychyng & ek a syht
Mor cler, to make me vnderstonde
The mater that we haue an honde,
To sen hym, how he ys compassyd,
Wych hath so offte to me trespassyd;
And yet he wyl nat, for myn ese,
Hys Rancour a-geyns me appese.
‘But yet I pray yow feythfully,
To don your deuer ffynally,
That I may sen hym (& nat ellys),
Wher he be swych as ye me tellys;
ffor I nat vnderstond ywys,
What ye ha sayd, nor what he ys.”

Grace dieu:
‘I may ryht wel be-leve,’ quod she,
‘Thys thyng so vnkouth & secre,
That thow art dyrkyd in thy syht,
Yt to consydre & sen a-ryht.
And the cause why thow art let
Ys, for thy body hath so shet
Thy gostly Eyen (in substaunce)
Wyth a clowde off ygnoraunce,
And dyrked wyth a mysty skye,
That thow mayst nat wel espye
The secrenessë, yong nor Old.
And as to-forn I ha the told,
Other obstácle ys ther noon
But thy body, blynd as a ston;
He dyrketh so thyn Inward syht.
But for thy sake, a-noon ryht
I schal assayen & provyde,
Thy body for to leyn asyde,
271

‘ffro the take yt, yiff I kan,
That thow mayst conceyvë than
Off hym hooly the gouernaunce,
And what he ys, as in substaunce.
But thow mustest, in certeyn,
Affter, sone, resorte ageyn
To thyn oldë dwellyng place,
Tyl that deth, a certeyn space,
Schall the dyspoylle, and makë twynne
ffro the body that thow art Inne.’

The Pylgryme:
And Gracë dieu a-noon me took,
(I not, wher that I slepte or wook,)
& made (for short conclusïoun,)
My body for to falle a-doun.
And affter that, a-noon ryht
Me semptë that I took my flyht,
And was ravisshed in-to the hayr,
A place delytable & ffayr.
And me thouht ek, in my syht,
I was nat hevy, but verray lyht,
And my beholdyng was so cler,
That I sawh bothë fer & ner,
Hih & lowe, & oueral.
And I was ryht glad wyth-al;
Al was wel, to my plesaunce,
Save a maner dysplesaunce
I hadde off O thyng, in certeyn,
That I muste go dwelle ageyn
Wyth-Inne my body, wych that lay
Lyk an hevy lompe off clay;
Wych to me was no forthryng,
But perturbaunce, & gret lettyng,
Thyder to resorte off newe.
Tho wyst I wel that al was trewe
That gracë dieu hade seyd to me.
And thanne I wentë for to se
Wher the body slepte or nouht.
And whan I haddë longë souht,
272

Tastyd hys pows in certeyne,
And gropyd euery nerff & veyne,
And fond in hym no breth at al,
But ded & cold as a ston wal.
And whan I dyde al thys espye,
Hys gouernaunce I gan defye.

Grace dieu:
Tho gracë dieu spak vn-to me,
‘Lifft vy thyn Eyen, beholde & se,
Yiff thow konnë now clerly;
Knowe in erthe thy gret enmy,
He that wolde nat suffre the bere
Noon Armys, nor noon harneys were,
Causynge, thow myghtest nat endure,
Vp-on thy bak to bere Armure,
The to dyffende fro thyn Enmyes,
ffro brygauntys & false espyes,
Wych the werreyen euermore.
Off hym, I ha the told be fore,
That yt ouhte ynowh suffise;
Yet, as I shal to the devyse,
Thow mayst nat chesyn, in certeyn,
Wyth-Innen hym to entre Ageyn,
Retrussen hym, & ek recharge
(Bothe in streyth & ek in large)
Bern hym wyth the in thy vyage,
Whyder thow gost on pylgrymage.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma damë, myn entencïoun
Was now, & my deuocïoun,
Off newë to haue Armyd me,
Assayed yiff yt wolde ha be,
That I myghte ha bor Armure,
My sylff the bettre to assure;
ffor, as now, to my semyng,
They be nat hevy, no maner thyng,
Nor lyk the cónceyt off my thouht;
They weyë but a thyng off nouht.”

Grace dieu:
‘Certys,’ quod she, ‘no mor they doth;
273

‘And therfore thow seyst ful soth.
But thow shalt vnderstondë me
Yiff thow dyst now armen the,
And woldest now a-noon begynne
In the poynt that thou art Inne,
Thy meryte to reknen al,
Nor thy decert, ne wer but smal;
ffor thyn Armure thow must vse,
And feythfully yt nat refuse,
Whan thow art entryd (thys the cheff,)
Thy body that lyth now blynd & deff,
Doom also, and insensyble,
Wych mustë wyth the be penyble,
Sustene also, & be suffráble.
ffor he wyl also be partáble
Off thy merytès & guerdouns,
As he was off thy passïouns:
Your decertys shal be al on.
Wherfore, enhastë the a-noon,
In-to hym for to retourne,
Ther a whylë to soiourne
Wyth hym, as thow hast don toforn.
And, that your tymë be nat lorn,
Than off assent & wyl entere,
Wyl he be to-gydre yffere,
Enarmë yow, & make yow strong
ffor to wythstondyn euery wrong.’
And whan she hadde al to me sayd,
Wher I was wel or evele a-payd,
I sawh ther was noon other geyn;
I was retrussyd, & a-geyn
Wyth the body that I kam fro;
And certeynly me thouhtë tho,
I was nakyd, and al bare
Off al my Ioye & my wel-fare;
ffor al was gon in O moment.
And tho I hadde ageyn Talent
(Me sempte yt myghte nat be forbore)
To louë, as I dide affore;
& holy vn-to hys entente,
274

Me thouhte I gan a-noon assente,
ffully tokeyen hys plesaunce.
Thus aparceyvnge my woful chaunce,
Clerly sawh wyth-Innë me,
That I sholde deceyved be,
Lyk as I was off yore agon.
And tho I gan to wepe a-noon,
Sihe & sorwe, & seyn “allas!
What shal I don now in thys cas?
Or to what party in certeyne
Shal I drawen off thys tweyne?”

Grace dieu:
Quod grace dieu, ‘what may thys be?
Why wepystow? what eyleth the,
So thy syluen to dyscounforte?
ffor trewly (as I kan reporte,)
Wepyng & tendre terys grene,
Only to wommen appartene,
Whan sodeynly they falle in rage,
And nat to men off strong corage.’

The pylgrym:
“Certys,” quod I “I may wel wepe;
ffor, (yiff ye lyst to taken kepe,)
My Ioye, my myrthe & my plesaunce,
Myn Elthe, & al my suffysaunce,
Sodeynly me han forsake.
I may compleyne, & sorwe make,
ffor, whylom, aboue the skye
I was wont to fle ful hihe,
And hadde also ful glad repayre
Wyth bryddys fleyng in the hayr,
In my most lusty fressh sesoun;
But now I am avaylyd down,
I fynde (by gret aduersyte)
Al that ys contrayre vn-to me.
I am venquisshed, I am bor doun,
My vertu (in conclusïoun)
Hath lost hys myht, hys excellence;
ffor now, ther ys no résystence
On my party (as yt ys founde);
275

“ffor, off the body, wher I am bounde,
Ys hool my force, & al my myght,
(Wych ys ageyn al skyle & ryht,)
And buryed quyk, (yt stondeth so,)
I Am in erthe, wher-euere I go;
(Thys verray Ernest, & no Iape,)
Cheyned, ryht as ys An Ape,
Vn-to a clog, & must yt swe,
And fro thenys may nat remewe;
ffor my body, gret & large,
Ys the Clog that me doth charge,
Wych letteth, wyth hys gretë wheyhte,
That I may nat flen an hyhte;
ffor euere, wyth hys mortal lawe,
Doun to therthe he doth me drawe.
“I trowë (shortly in sentence)
The word ywrete in sapyence
Was whilom seyd off me ywys,
Who kan take hed; and yt ys thys:
‘A body corrupt (yt ys no nay)
Greveth the soulë nyht & day,
Kepeth hym in captyvyte;
Yt may nat gon at lyberte,
Nouther wakynge nor a-slepe;’
ffor wych, certys, I may wel wepe,
And seyn ‘allas,’ & sory be,
Off my grete aduersyte.”

Grace dieu:
‘Than haue in mynde, for any slouthe,
That vn-to the I toldë trouthe.’

The pylgrym:
“Your wordys alle I do aduerte,
& thankë you wyth al myn herte.
Off hem I am ryht wel apayd;
ffor al that euere ye han sayd
Ys verray soth, & no lesyng,
“But I be-seche yow off O thyng,
Yiff I durste you compelle,
O word that ye lyst me telle:
What ys the cause (declareth why,)
276

“That he ys mor strong than I;
Or why am I not (telleth me),
As strong or myghty as ys he?”

Grace dieu:
‘Yiff the roote be wel out souht,
Strengere than thow, thát ys he nouht.
But her-vp-on now herkne me:
Thow mayst nat, in no degre,
Hym venquisshe (in conclusïoun),
Oppressyn hym, & bere hym doun
So myghtyly in hys contre,
As thow sholdest, yiff that he
Hadde hys conuersacioun
Wher thow hast domynacïoun.
‘In hys contre he doth now dwelle.
Therfor shortly, I the telle,
He hath the gretter ávauntage;
And yt ys sayd off ffolkys Sage,
And a prouerbe wryte off old,
How that euery whyht ys bold
Vy-on hys owne (erly & late),
At the dongel at hys gate;
Strong to makë résystence.
& men sen by experyence,
Ech man mor myghty off hys hond,
Whan he ys in hys ownë lond:
Thys doth hym trusten, & be bold.
‘But for al thys that I ha told,
Tak hed in no maner wyse,
Ne let nat, for no cowardyse,
Hym tasaayllë ffer nor ner;
ffor yiff thow konne, at the cheker,
Thy drawhtys drawë, & wel pleye,
Make hym lowly to obeye
Vp-on hys dongel, in hys estat,
Ther, to hym to seyn ‘chek maat;’
Thys maat shal be, thorgh thy puissaunce,
To holde hym vnder gouernaunce.
And lyst that he do noon offence,
Kepe hym lowe wyth abstynence,
277

‘Voyde hym fro replecyoun,
And governe hym so, by Resoun,
Off mete and drynk, only that he
Ne do no superfluyte.
Lat hym lytel Ete or drynke;
Mak hym labour & ek swynke;
Lytel slepe, & gret wakyng;
Dyscyplynes & ek betyng,
Yiff to hym in many wyse.
‘And thus thow shalt hym best chastyse:
Devout wepyng wyth orisouns,
And hooly medytacyouns,
Wyth Instrumentys off penaunce,
Shal off thy causë do vengaunce,
Best iustefyë thy party;
And they shal make the fynally
(Wyth-outë contradiccïoun)
To haue hym in subieccïoun;
And, for thyn encres off glorye,
Yiue the renoun & vyttórye
Whyl thow so dost, nyght & day,
And he shal neuere dor seyn nay.
‘And to fforther thyn entent,
Lat vs tweynë, by assent,
Gon vn-to an hyl off sond,
Wych stant her al-most at the hond:
A soffte pas, lat vs go walke.’

Verba Peregrini:
And as we wentë & gon talke,
A sondy hyl she gan me shewe;
And thus she sayde, on wordys fewe:

[Grace Dieu]:
‘Leffte vp thyn eye a-noon,’ quod she,
‘And ffyrst off al, be-holde & se
How that an Amptë, a best smal,
Wyth hertë, body, myght & al,
To nouht elles doth entende,
But on thys hyllë vp tascende,
And, in hyr paas & clymbyng soffte,
She ys bor doun, & let ful offte
278

‘Wyth powdry sondys out off noumbre,
Wych hyr passagë so encoumbre,
And hyr desyre ek restreyne,
That she may nat fully atteyne
The hyest party off the hyl,
ffor she ys let ageyn hyr wyl.
And thogh she peyne hyr nyht & day,
Evere the soond lyth in hyr way,
Overwhelmeth, & bereth hyr doun,
Contrayre to hyr entencïoun,
Yt ys so sotyl, drye & smal,
And wonder brotyl ek wyth-al,
That, by reuolucïoun,
Yt rebateth & bereth doun
Thys lytel beste that I off telle.
‘But for al that, she wyl nat dwelle
In the valë cast doun lowe,
Ther tabyden any throwe;
But hyre afforceth a-noon ryht
To remounte wyth al hyr myght,
Hyr sylff afforcynge, newe & newe,
Euere hyr labour to renewe,
(Lyk a myghty champyoun)
Thogh she wer offte avalyd doun.’
But at the laste, thorgh hyr labour,
I sawh hyr, lyk a conquerour,
Wyth hyr travaylle renewyd offte
Gete vp on the hyl a-loffte;
And ne woldë neuere lete
Tyl yt was conqueryd in quyete;
And thanne off ryht, as for hyr beste
Vp-on the cop she dydë reste.

Grace Dieu:
Quod grace dieu tho vn-to me:
‘Her, thow mayst beholde & se
(Yiff thow lyst to loke a-ryht)
The forcys (platly) & the myght
Bothe off thy body & off the;
And in a pleyn Exaumple se
279

‘Off thamptë, wych ys doun [i]falle
Among the brotyl sondys alle.
Yiff he, at euery fallyng doun,
Hadde lost hys myght & hys renoun
ffor to recure the hylle a-geyn,
Thanne al hys labour were in weyn;
But, for on dysconfyture
He wyl nat cessyn to recure
That he hath lost, (as by hys wyl,)
Tyl he be hihe vp on the hyl.
‘And yiff thow clerly vnderstond,
Thy body ys the hyl off sond,
The wychë, thorgh hys brotylnesse,
And powdrys of vnstabylnesse,
Ys redy (off entencïoun,)
Evere to make the fallë doun,
And to dyrken (off entent,)
The eye off thyn entendëment
To kepe the in the valë lowe.
‘And whan he may espye or knowe
That thow, in any maner wyse,
Woldest on the hyl aryse,
Wyth sondry reuolucïouns
Off dyuers temptacïouns
He travayleth (thys, no tale)
Lowe to holde the, in the vale,
Wyth hys sturdy vyolence,
But thow makë résistence
Be tymës & at primë face
Whan he begynneth to manace.
‘And to wythstonde hys fellë myghte,
At the gynnyng thow must be lyhte,
Mawgre hym, wyth herte & wyl,
ffor to gete vp on the hyl;
And thy Iourne nat to tarye,
Ther ys no bettre exaumplarye
Than thamptë (yiff thow tak hede)
Vp-ward the hyl thy sylff to spede.’
‘Remembre, in thyn entencyoun
The precept off kyng salomoun,
280

‘Wych, in hys book of sapyence,
Comaundede (shortly in sentence)
And bad men taken hed her-to,
To the Amptë ffor to go,
Tavoydë slouthë, cheff noryce
And moder vn-to euery vyce.
‘Salomoun vnderstood & ffond
The pereyl off thys hyl off sond
In hys tyme, & ek ther-to,
The nature off the Ampte also;
Ther-off, whan he wrot in hys book,
& good hed also he took
To thampte in sothfastnesse,
Whan he bad voyde al ydelnesse.
‘Be war, therfore, off sleuthe, I rede
And euere among, tak good heede
Off hys sleyhty falsë whyles,
Off hys treynës & hys guyles.
Voyde hym fro the by the roote;
Kep hym lowehe vnder foote;
Hys powdry sondys, trede hem doun,
The sondys off al Temptacyoun,
(Whos noumbre no man may acounte.)
Wych wyl nat suffre the to mounte
Vp on the hyl, to reste a-loffte,
They wyl lettë the so offte,
Or thow mayst ha ful vyctorye.
‘And haue alway in memorye,
Thys sondy hyl ys thy body,
Wych letteth the (as most Enemy,)
That thow mayst nat in vertu ryse.
‘But alderfyrst thow must despyse
Slouthe, as I shal the lere;
Than by ese thow shalt conquere,
Wyth Thampte, (in certeyn space)
To clymbe aboue the hyl by grace.
‘And haue alway wel in mynde,
That thow shalt thyn enemy ffynde
Slowh & ful off slogardye,
Longe a beddë for to lye,
281

‘Slombrynge euere, & neclygent,
And contrayre to thyn entent,
Ay awaytynge (lyk as espye)
To bryngë the in Iupartye.
Truste hym nat! ne, for no chaunce,
Have in hym noon affyaunce
ffor no ffavour nor flatrye;
ffor I dar pleynly certefye,
Yiff thow obeye hym nyh or ferre,
Than he wyl be-gynne a werre
A-geyn[y]s the, most peryllous,
Most dredful & contagyous,
(Be yt be nyhte, outher be day)
To disturble on thy way,
Wyth al hys power he wyl ffonde.
And thus thow mayst wel vnderstonde,
To knowe & wytë fynally
Who ys thy mortal ennemy.
‘Now go thy way, for yt stant so,
That I mot nedys fro the go;
I may no lengre, on thy weye
Ledyn the, nor mor conveye.
I haue abyden longe ynowh:
I muste, ffro the, gon hennys nough;
ffor a gret while (to thyn entent)
I haue holde a parlement
Wyth the, & her-to ben thy guyde.
ffarwel! for I may nat abyde.’

The Pylgryme.
“Ma dame,” quod I a-noon right tho,
“Certys, yiff ye go me fro,
I am but lost; recure ys noon,
Al so sone as ye ar gon.”

Grace Dieu.
Quod gracë Dieu, ‘I wot that wel;
But I wyl that thow knowe, & ffel,
What I shal seyn the in substaunce.
Som folk ha feyth, & gret ffyaunce
In dyuers ffrendys; & off gret trust,
Sette their hope & hertys lust
282

‘As they sholde hem neuer ffaylle,
Wych offte ful lytel may avaylle.
They wene ful offte, in ther degre,
By hem for to supportyd be,
Yiff they hadde, in any place,
Outher offendyd or do trespace.
‘But towchyng thys, I wyl thow se,
Her-in ne trustë nat in me,
Yiff thow offende, nor do nat wel,
I wyl sustene the neueradel,
Nor supporte the nat ywys,
To ffyn thow sholdest don amys,
Nor ber the vp agen[y]s ryht.
For off thyn eye, nor off thy syht,
I wyl no tyme be seyn off the,
But whan yt lyketh vn-to me,
And whan yt ys to my plesaunce,
Vp-on thy goodë gouernaunce,
Than, whan me lyst, I kome a-noon.
‘ffor, I haue a certeyn ston
Wherthorgh (trewe as any byble,)
I kan me makyn invysible
Whan that me lyst, a-noon ryht,
And hyden me out off thy siht,
And shrowden me, bothe Est & west,
Whan thow wenyst to han me best,
fful ffer ffro the, in áventure:
And therfor, thus in me assure,
Whan thow dost wel, I am present;
And yiff thow erre in thyn entent,
ffarwel, a-noon I am ago.
And now I mustë parte also,
(Wherso thow be glad or lyht,)
As for a while out off thy siht.’
And ryght a-noon, as she hath sayd.
God wot, I was ful evele apayd
Off hyr departynge; in myn herte
Yt madë me ful sorë smerte;
Me lyst nat lawhë neueradel,
ffor me lykede no thyng wel
283

Hyr departyng nor absence;
They dyde to me so gret offence.
& yet for-thy, yt ys no nay,
fforth I wente vp-on my way
Wych that I afor be-gan.
And in my mynde a-noon yt ran,
To calle memóyre vn-to me,
That she sholdë redy be
Tawayte vn-to me, & don hyr cure
To brynge myn harneys & armure;
And bad she sholde for-gete hem nouht:
And affter me she hath hem brouht,
So as I had lyst in my way,
I fylle in any sodeyn ffray;
And trew[e]ly (yt ys no drede)
I hadde off hem inly gret nede;
ffor I fond gret Encoumbrementys;
By peryllous weyès & by wentys
I hadde had gret aduersyte,
And offte also in perel be,
Hadde nat myn harneys & armure
Don to me ful gret socour.
Yet offtë, thorgh my slouthe, allas,
I stood in many peryllous caas;
But yiff I hadde wel armyd be,
I haddë nat (in no degre)
Suffryd so myche, yt ys no nay.
But tho beffyl vp-on my way,
As I wente a paas forth pleyn,
I mette a cherl, a gret vyleyn,
Wych in the way a-gayn me wente,
Wyth hys browhës fersly bente:
Hys look, hys cher, al for the wrak,
And a gret staff on hys bak,
Clobbyd, & boystous ffor to se,
& was yhewe out off A tre
Callyd in ffrench A cornowler.
And whan thys cherl gan neyhen ner,
As yt sempte, by hys passáge,
He wentë nat on pylgymage,
284

Nor was no pylgrym in certeyn.
But whan we mette, thus he gan seyn:

The rude Cherl.
‘What may thys be?’ quod he a-noon;
‘Whyder shal thys pylgrym gon?
To what cost ys hys vyage?
Or whyther goth he on pylgrymage?
ffor he semeth (yt ys no nay)
To ben a pylgrym, by hys array.
But he get no bettre grace,
Or he passe out of thys place;
He shal ffyrst (in cónclusioun)
Answere to my questioun.’
Wheroff I wex abaysshed tho,
Whan I herde hym spekyn so:
I draddë, by hys fers vysage,
That he, in hys sodeyn rage,
By hys lookys & hys chere
As he gan a-prochen nere,
That he wolde assayllen me:

The Pylgrym.
But, lowly, in my degre
I axedë hym what he wold;
And platly vn-to hym I tolde,
(As me sempte no thyng amys,)
I axede no-thyng that was hys.
I seyde, ‘I wente on pylgrimage;
Prayynge hym that my passage
He sholde nat lette in no degre,
Syth the weye was large & ffre.’

The Rwde Vyleyn.
Thys boystous, sturdy, ffers vyleyn,
To me answerdë thus ageyn,
(Off whom to-forn I ha yow told)
‘How artow hardy; how artow bold,
ffor to go for-by thys place,
The lawe and statutys for to passe,
Or to do swych dysplesaunce
285

‘Ageyn the kyngys ordynaunce;
Or to vsurpe by vyolence
A-geyn the precept & dyffence
Off the kyng, wych yore agon
Bad pylgrymes euerychon,
Nat bern, off no presumpcïoun,
Nouther skryppë nor bordoun?
And thow, off foly gouernaunce,
Dost ageyn hys ordynaunce;
And thow hast (sothly for to seyne,)
Offendyd hym in bothë tweyne.
Wherevp-on, answere to me,
How thow durstest hardy be
ffor to don so gret offence
Ageyn hys royal excellence!’
And trewly, in thys sodeyn caas
I gret[e]ly astonyd was,
And, for fer, be-gan to quake,
What Answere I sholdë make
Vn-to hys vnkouthe opposaylle,
Wych for my party myghte avaylle.
And whyl I stood astonyd so,
At my bak I sawh riht tho
Kome, for my proteccïoun,
A lady that callyd was Resoun,
Wych cryede lowdë vn-to me,
And bad ‘I sholde in no degre,
In no wyse, answere ageyn,
ffor my part, to that vyleyn;
ffor she was, by commaundëment
Off Gracë dieu, vn-to me sent,
ffor my party to speke & plete,
And answere hym in al hys heete,
To hym that stood thus in my way.’
And she ne madë no delay
Thys lady Resoun, but abrayde,
And to the cherl right thus she sayde:

Resone.
‘Sey, thow cherl,’ a-noon quod she,
‘What ys thy charge? declarë me!
286

‘Thow semyst froward & pervers,
Off thy port, straunge & dyvers.
Thow semyst (as I kan devyse,)
A repman, for thyn vnkouth guyse,
Or A mowhere wyth thy sythe;
Or, to dyscryvë the now blythe,
I trowe thow art som ffals espye;
But the trouthë nat denye;
Tel me thy namë; sparë nouht!
And tel me wher thow hast ek souht
The boystous staff vp-on thy bak,
Wher-in I ffyndë ful gret lak;
ffor yt ys nat accordynge,
But ffroward, pleynly, in semynge,
As fer as I rehersë kan,
To euery wel gouérnyd man.’
Thys cherl, lenyng vpon hys staff,
To resoun, thys answere he gaff:

The Cherl.
Thys cherl, by maner off dysdeyne,
Vn-to resoun thus gan seyne:
‘I trowe,’ quod he, ‘by lyklynesse
Thow art chosë som mayresse,
Or wexe off newe so fortunat
To be som lady off gret estat;
But, for al thy presumcïoun
I wolde se thy commyssïoun,
(ffor al thy port & strangë guise,)
Thy ffredam also, & ffraunchyse;
Lyst affterward thow falle in blame.
Shewe hem to me, & tel thy name;
ffor, by noon other menë weye,
I wyl no thyng vn-to the seye,
Nor the answerë, trustë me,
To lete hym gon at lyberte.’

[Resoun]
Thannë, resoun, nat to hasty,
But by leyser ful prudéntly
Toward hym castynge hyr look,
287

‘Out off a Coffyn a lettre took;
To hym sayde, & spak but lowe,
I wyl that thow my power knowe:
Haue her ther-off inspeccyoun,
And se her my commyssïoun.
And whan thow hast yt rad & seyn,
Thow shalt wel knowen, in certeyn,
Why I am kome, wyth-outë blame,
My power also, & my name.’

The Vyleyn.
Quod he, wych koude no curteysye,
‘I koudë neuere yet clergye.
And yiff thy power shal be wyst,
Red yt thy sylff, yiff that the lyst.’
And she yt raddë wyth good wylle:
The cherl was coy & stood ful stylle.
And whan that he hyr power seth,
Grucchynge, he gruntë wyth hys teth,
Hys gretë malys for to kythe,
And shook hys berd fful offtë sythe;
Gan to groynë mor & more,
And off despyt to gruchchë sore,
Whan she hath maad, ope & cler,
Al theffect off hyr power,
ffro poynt to poynt, vp-on a rowe.
And yiff ye lyst pleynly to knowe,
Loo, her, by declaracïoun,
Hyr power & commyssioun:

The Comision of Reason.
‘Gracë dieu, by whos gouernaunce,
By whos myght & whos puissaunce,
Kyngës in euery regïoun,
Prynces & lordys off renoun,
Ben gouernyd in ther estatys,
(Bothe Temporal, & ek prelatys,)
To Our cosyn, dame Resoun,
Off fame worthy, & off renoun,
Whom al our court doth magnefye
As to the nexte off our allye,—
Elthe, Ioye, & contynuance,
288

‘Worshepe, & long perséueraunce,
Wyth power, by our commyssïoun,
For to don execucyoun,
Redres, & amendëment,
Off fawtys wych in our parlement
Be compleynyd on, day by day,
Off pylgrymes wych passen by the way,
Voyde off guile & al deceyt,—
How on lyth falsly in a-wayt,
Hem to dysturble, robbe & reue,
And in her passage hem to greue;
A cherl ffroward & daungerous,
Off cher & port malycyous,
And ay pervers in hys entent,
Whose name ys ‘rud Entendëment’
Wych lyth awaytyng, by gret mescheff,
By hihë weyës, lyk a theff;
Day & nyht, gret wach doth make,
Cely pylgrymes for to take,
To robbe hem (off entencyoun)
Off ther skryppys, & bordoun,
And stuff that they han wyth hem lad.
‘And thys cherl, to be mor drad,
And supportyd on ech syde,
Hath ytake a maas off pryde,
A staff off ffals extorcïoun,
Callyd by Rebellïoun
(Trewly for to specefye)
‘The staff off obstynacye,’
Grauntyd off prydë, by assent,
Vn-to rud Entendëment.
‘And thus thys .iii. confederat,
Causen a ful gret debaat
And a perillous mortal stryff
To pylgrymes in thys present lyff,
Ther weyës, when they ha wyth-set.
‘And trewly now, thys iii be met,
I kan no bet amendëment,
But that Rud Entendëment
Be somownyd to appere,
289

‘By som maner offycere
Off youres, ageyn a certeyn day,
Wyth-oute prolongyng or dellay.’
And her-vp-on, by maundëment,
We haue youe a comaundëment
That thys cherl hym nat excuse,
Nor your maundement nat refuse,
But kome to stonde at Iugëment,
A day assygned competent.
‘And to don execucïoun,
Lych to your commyssïoun,
Vp-on thys cherl, for hys trespace.
Letteth nat, nor doth no grace,
But yow auengeth on that wrechche,
Lyk as your power forth doth strechche.
ffor in thys caas most necessarye,
We makë yow our commyssarye,
On our byhalue, wyth al your myght,
To executen & to don ryht
Wher ye sen that most ys nede.
‘Lo her ys al, taketh good heede
To vnderstonden your power.
The daate countyd, a thowsand yer,
Thre hundryd over, thrytty & on,
Wryte & asselyd nat yore agon,
And sent by ful commyssïoun,
Vn-to thys lady dame Resoun.’
The wychë, whan she haddë rad,
Off contenaunce demewr & saad
She abrayde by good avysëment
And sayde to Rud Entendëment

Resoun:
‘By euydence, notáble & cler,
Thow hast,’ quod she, ‘herd my power:
I ha declaryd yt vn-to the.
Now gyff answere ageyn to me!

Rude Intendement:
‘And what artow,’ a-noon quod he,
‘Touchyng thy power, lat me se!’

Resoun:
290

‘Hastow nat herd me Rad yt al,
And told ek in especyal,
Record by my commyssïoun,
That I am callyd ‘dame Resoun’?
I trowe thy wyt ys fer the fro;
Or I deme yt stondeth so
Thow louest somwher paramours,
Or besy art to maken tours
Or castellys, by gret devys,
Therby to geten the A prys.”

Rude Entendement:
‘I hauë,’ quod he, ‘vp & doun
Herknyd thy commyssïoun,
And vnderstonde yt euerydel;
And therby I se ful wel
That thy name ys ek ‘Resoun.’
‘But a replicacïoun
I wyl make vp-on thy name,
Wych ys hyndred by dyffame;
ffor that name sykerly
Ys dyffamyd ful gretly;
Wherfore I myghte nat for-bere
ffor to axe what thow were,
To knowe thy power & thy myght:
Me sempte her-in I haddë ryht.’

Resoun:
‘Seystow,’ quod she, ‘that my name
Ys a namë off dyffame
Or dysclaundryd? lat me se
How or where that myghtë be.’

Rude Entendement:
‘Certys,’ quod he, ‘yiff thow lyst here,
The placë wel I shal the lere;
I wyl nat spare, but platly telle:
Thow art dyffamyd at the melle,
And disclaundryd off ffals mesour,
By robberye off mele & flour
291

‘The peple present, them be-forn,
Stelynge ther greyn & ek ther corn.’

Reson:
‘Record off ffolkys that be sage,
‘Sclaundere ys no vasselage;’
And phylosofres ek expresse,
‘To sclaundere, ys no worthynesse,
Nor dyffamës, forth to telle.’
‘And as touchyng off the melle,
Thow myghtest ther peráventure
Seen & be-holden A mesure
Wych (by folkys oppynyoun,)
Bereth the name off ‘Resoun.’
And wyle that folkys so yt calle,
To shrowde hys falshede, & tapalle,
But for al that, (yt ys no drede,
Who that wysly taketh hede,)
Thogh yt bere name off Resoun,
Yt ys but fals decepcïoun,
Vnder a colour off ffals laude,
ffor to hyden deceyt & fraude.
‘A-Twyxe a name, & éxistence,
Men mvt sette a dyfference;
ffor vnder name off sothfastnesse,
Offte ys wrouht ful gret falsnesse;
And vnder honest couerture,
Offte ys hyd ful gret ordure.
In many a place yt ys ek seyn,
That pompë, pryde, and fals dysdeyn,
Courtyned wyth humylyte,
Assenden to grete dygnyte;
But feyned symplesse, out off doute,
At the laste yt breketh oute.
‘Ech vyce ek (in conclusïoun)
Haueth thys condycyoun,
To shewen out an exaumplayre
Off vertu, wych that ys contrayre
To hym by fals ápparence,
To yive a maner evydence
To blynde the peplys, by shewyng
292

‘Off that they ffayllen in beyng,
That men sholden off hem deme
They wer swych lyk as they seme
Outward, as by ther feyned cher.
‘But vertu, that stondeth euere cler,
Wyth couerture off no veyn laude,
Ys nat dyffacyd by no ffraude;
And thogh that vyces, by fals ffame,
Off vertu som tyme haue A name,
Cler vertu (who so loke wel)
Therby ys spottyd neueradel,
But shyneth clerere & mor bryht,
That falsnesse may nat cloude hys lyht;
But in hys bryhtnesse doth endure.
‘And thogh that I, off fals mesure
(To shrowde yt by decepcyoun,)
Am I-callyd ther Resoun
At the Melle, by fals diffame,
My sylff ther-off am nat to blame;
But rather sholde, (in many wyse,)
Off prudent folkys that be wyse,
Receyve worshepe & hihe renoun,
Lych my name, callyd Resoun.
‘ffor Resoun, platly, nyhe nor ferre,
By no falsnessë may nat erre.
The name off vertu helpeth nouht
Vertu voyde out off the thouht;
And vertu wyl hym-sylff nat shrowde
Wyth dyrknesse off no mysty cloude,
But shewe hym-sylff fforth openly:
My name ys Resoun, & swych am I.’

Rude Intendiment:
‘Syker,’ quod rude Entendëment,
‘Wenystow I be so blent
That I knowe no maner thyng
Off thy sotyl Argwyng?
‘I knowe kanvas, I knowe sylk,
I knowe the flye dreynt in the mylk,
I knowe A mesour, fful & halff,
I knowe the kowh & ek the kalff,
293

‘Affter that men by name hem calle,
And dyfference off bestys alle.
‘I knowe the name off thys & that,
I knowe an hound, I knowe a caat,
And off bothe I knowë how,
That nouther off hem ys calff nor kow:
I knowe ther namys euerychon:
Ther namys & they ben al on.
And I dar seyn wyth-outë blame,
Gladly euere, affter the name
ffolweth the condicïoun.
‘Wherfor I sey thow art Resoun:
And how resoun ys ek thy name,
A namë sclaundryd by dyffame;
And as I told the her-to-forn,
‘Syth that Resoun stal the corn,
Than was the corn stolen by the:’
Yt may noon other wysë be,
But euene lyk as I the telle,
That al the water off the melle
(Wych maketh yt tourne round aboute,)
May nat suffyse (yt ys no doute)
To wasshe away the gret dyffame,
Nor the disclaundre off thy name.
Thow mayst, by fals collusioun,
ffynde an excusacioun
To putte yt fro the euerydel;
But her-vp-on, trust me ryht wel,
ffor sotylte, nor no queyntyse,
I vnderstonde noon other wyse
Touchyng thy name, nor neuer shal,
Than I ha told: lo, her ys al!’

Resoun:
‘By thy wordys, yt doth sue,
fful sotylly thow kanst argue;
And thy premysses for to make,
fful ffayre exaumples thow kanst take,
By sotyl declaracïouns
To preuë thy conclusïouns,
Thyn entent to bryngen Inne.
294

‘Yt were ful hard off the to wynne,
Or to getyn ávauntage;
Thow art so prudent & so sage,
And dost in wysdam so excelle.
‘But I pray the for to telle,
What ys thy name, Est or west,
By wych thow art knowë best:
As I conceyue in my entent,
Artow nat rude Entendëment?’

Rude Entendement:
Quod rudentendement ryht tho,
‘Thogh that men me callë so
By my name, (what so they mene,)
I am nat swych lyk as they wene;
ffor yt may pleynly so befalle,
That somme off hem that so me calle,
Yiff they consydre by & by,
They be mór Rud than am I,
And mor ek insuffycyent
Off konnyng, as by Iugëment.’

Resoun:
Quod resoun thanne, ful sad off cher,
‘Touchyng that thow hast sayd her,
Yt doth ynowh to me suffyse;
But, I merveille in what wyse,
Why or wharfore, so by deceyt
That thow lyggest in a-wayt
Vp-on the weyes (yt ys no faylle)
Pylgrymes only to assaylle,
In cytes, borwes, & in touns,
ffor to reue hem ther bordouns;
Her skryppes ek to take away,
As they walkë by the way.
‘Tel on platly, & nat spare;
But thy power ffyrst declare,
How thow art bold, & hast no ryht
So toffendyn in the siht
Off gracë dieu, (as I ha sayd,)
Wych ys, sothly, evele apayd,
And taketh gretly in greuaunce
295

‘The maner off thy gouernaunce.’

Rude Entendement:
‘Yiff thow wylt a whylë dwelle,
The causë pleynly I shal telle.
In the gospel, yt ys rad
How the kyng hym syluen bad,
‘No man to bern out off hys toun,
Nouther skryppë nor bordoun.’
And platly, for to kepe hys lawe,
I wyl nat feynë nor wyth-drawe,
But, off hool entencïoun,
Be-reuë skryppe & ek bordoun
ffro pylgrymès, wher they passe:
They gete off me noon other grace.’

Resoun:
‘Touchynge thyn oppynyoun
Off the skryppe & the bordoun,
(Yiff yt be clerly comprehendyd,)
Thogh they somtyme wer dyffendyd,
That dyffence ys now wyth-drawe,
And they be suffryd by the lawe,
That pylgrymës (nyh & ferre)
In pylgrymáges may hem bere,
Hem to sustene in ther walkyng;
ffor noon vnworshepe to a kyng,
Thogh somwhyle, syth hé hath myghte,
Chaunge hys lawes off verray ryht.
‘And cause off chaungyng (in certeyn)
Off thys lawe I shal the seyn:
Who that hath Achevyd wel
Hys pylgrymagë, euerydel,
Yt nedeth hym nat (who kan se)
Longer a pylgrym for to be.
Therfor (tak good hed to thys!)
A man no lenger pylgrym ys,
Than he hath skryppe & bordoun;
ffor bothen (in conclusïoun)
Ne seruë to noon ávauntage,
Whan men ha don ther pylgrymage.
‘And Cryst Ihesu ys Terme and Fyne
296

‘Wheder that euery goode Pylgryme
Tendyth in his pylgrymage
And who that hath swych avauntage
To kome to hym, he may sey wel
That he hath endyd euerydel
Hys pylgrymage, & ffaylleth nouht
To kome to that that he hath souht.
Thus thapostles, On by on,
Komë to hym euerychon,
Travayllyngë nyht & day:
As parfyt pylgrymes in ther way,
By choys & by elleccïoun
And also by vocacïoun
They kam to hym, (yt ys no nay)
And thanne to hem he gan say,
Bad hem, ‘in cyte nor in town,
Nouther ber skryppë nor bordoun.’
And they, in euery maner thyng,
Lowly obeydë hys byddyng.
‘But to-forn he sholdë deye,
That precept he gan modefye
To hys dysciples, (as I rede,)
ffor he sawh they sholde ha nede,
Affter hys deth, whan he wer gon;
Therfor he bad hem euerychon,
Vn-to her proteccïoun
To haue a skryppe & a bordoun.
‘Radeth luk the gospeler,
Wher the text ys pleyn & cler:
He byddeth (who kan loke wel)
‘That who that haveth a sachel,
Lat hym (to hys dyffencioun,)
Take a skryppe & a bordoun,
And a staff vp-on to reste,
ffor ye shal fynde yt for the beste;
Swych thynges ben vn-to yow due,
Affter me yiff ye shal sue,
And folwen my gouernaunce;
And ye shal hauen suffysaunce
Off bredë, wherso that ye be,
297

‘Tyl tymë that ye kome to me,
In your nede yow to releue.’
‘Wher-vp-on I may wel preue,
That yt ys at allë tymes
Permyssyble to pylgrymes
To bern A skryppe & ek a staff;
ffor ther mayster, lycence hem gaff;
Record the byble, yiff yt be souht.
‘Wherfor, medle the ryht nouht
Tarest pylgrymes by vyolence,
ffor they han ther-to lycence,
Mawgre thy malys & thy myghte;
ffor ther congè shal off ryht
Laste to hem in ther vyáge,
Tyl they ha don her pylgrymage.’

Rude Entendement:
‘The wordys that thow dost specefye,
Ar but wordys off mokarye;
ffor yiff so stood, thys myghty kyng
Hadde dyffendyd any thyng
That he hadde ordeyned or ysayd,
Off the textys that thow hast layd,
They sholde ha be (who lyst to look,)
Yracyd clene out off the book,
Lych vn-to hys ordynaunce,
Wyth-outen any varyaunce.’

Resoun:
‘That ys nat so,’ a-noon quod she,
‘ffor, off ryht & equyte,
Ech thyng (shortly for to ryme,)
Mustë duely haue hys tyme:—
I dar afferme that yt ys soth,
What men seyn, or what men doth;—
Consydred wel, by cler seyng,
The Trewë cause off euery thyng,
Thenchesoun & mutacïouns,
The dedys & narracïouns
Off allë thyng, (who lokë wel);
And cause also why the gospel
Ys mor plesynge to the siht—
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‘To folk that vnderstonde a-ryht—
Than to swych, wych in ther thouht
Vnderstonde ther-off ryht nouht;
Euene lyk (& thus I mene)
As in A medwe ffressh & grene,
Wher as folkys do repayre,
The mor that ther be flourys fayre,
Lusty, soote, & fressh off hewe,
Spredynge a-brood wyth bawmë newe,
ffolkys, the mo (I dar endyte)
To loke ther-on hem-sylff delyte.’

Rude Entendement:
Thys cherl, boystous in hys entent,
Callyd ‘Rud Entendëment,’
ffroward in hys oppynyoun,
Abrayde a-non vn-to Resoun.
Quod he felly, to ben a-wreke,
‘Yt ar but fantasmes that ye speke;
ffor, pleynly, as thynketh me,
‘ffalsnesse,’ ye namen now bewte.
Off trouthe also (yt ys no drede,)
Ye lyst take no maner hede.
Do her-vp-on what euer ye kan,
ffor I wyl holde that I be-gan.’

Resoun:
‘Certys,’ quod Resoun, ‘a-noon ryht tho,
Thow ne shalt no thyng do so;
But (for short conclusïoun)
Thow shalt ley thy staff a-doun;
Thow hast lenyd ther-on to longe,
Thorgh oppynyouns ffals & wronge;
And folyly, affter thy lust,
Ther-in to mychë set thy trust,
ffor by thys staffë (lyst to me,)
In the byble as thow mayst se,
Nabaal & kyng Pharaoun
Wer brouht vn-to confusïoun:
They lynede so longe vp-on that staff
Wych that pryde vn-to hem gaff,
The staff callyd ‘obstynacye,’
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‘That, thorgh ther pompous surquedye,
Ther ownë deth (for lak off grace,)
They dydë wylfully purchace;
ffor they were pompous & Ellat,
And in ther hertys indurat,
Ek obstynat in ther entent,
Only for Rud Entendëment;
Was to her gretë dysavayl,
The pryncypal off ther counsayl.
‘ffor thys cherl, ffroward & ffel,
Made hem for to be rebel,
And voyden (shortly in sentence)
The vertu off obedience;
Ek ouermor (as thow shalt se,)
Yiff Rud Entendement naddë be,
The Iewës (in conclusïoun)
Hadde lefft ther oppynyoun,
And ther heresyes wyth-drawe,
And tournyd hem to crystys lawe;
And, in ther conversïoun,
Take the skryppe & the bordoun,
And lyk pylgrymès hem gouérnyd,
And ful clerly ek dyscernyd,
Wych now he dyrked vnder skye,
Only for ther obstynacye.
‘That staff, I rede the to ley doun,
And leff thy Rude oppynyoun;
And leue ther-on no mor at al,
Lyst at the laste thow haue a ffal.’

Rud Entendement:
Quod Rud entendement to Resoun:
‘Thy proverbys, nor thy sermoun,
Nor al that euere thow dost me rede,
I take ther-off no maner hede,
ffor al thy peynted wordys swete,
My staff in soth I wyl nat lete;
But as me thynketh for the beste,
Ther-vp-on I wyl me reste,
Wher-euere I walkë by the weye,
And in ryht nouht to the obeye,
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‘Holden myn owne, as yt ys ryht,
Mawgre thy power & thy myght.’

Resoun:
Quod Resoun; ‘thanne I se ful wel,
And aparceyuë euerydel,
By thy wordys Rude & pleyn,
That yt were to me but veyn,
Mor to talke off thys matere
To the, wych that lyst nat here,
Nor accorde to myn Entent;
But, at the gretë Iugëment
Wher tassyses shal be holde,
Al couert falsenesse to vnfolde,
I somowne the, ther tappere,
To Answere in thys matere!
Looke thow be ther, thylkë day,
Wyth-oute prolongyng or delay.’
Affter al thys, (as ye shal se,)
Resoun kam ageyn to me,
And bad me go forth on my way,
And ha no dred, nyht nor day
Off thys Rud Entendëment;

(Resoun.)
‘ffor fynally, (in sentement,)
Wyth-inne an hevy styth off stel,
A ffethre sholde entre as wel
As any doctryne (yt ys no dred)
Sholde entre in-to hys hed.
‘ffor thys Rud entendëment
Ys wyth Rudnesse so yblent,
That dyamaunt, I trowe, ys noon,
Nor noon other maner ston
So indurat, to mollefye,
As he; for ffals obstynacye
Hath blendyd hym by hyr decyt,
That wher he cachcheth a conceyt,
Ther-vp-on he wyl ay holde,
ffor all the skylës that I tolde;
Nor resoun that I koudë seyn,
Al was but lost, and sayd in veyn;
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‘In hys Rudnesse he kepte hym cloos,
And wyl nat chaungen hys purpos.
‘Wherfor go forth, & ha no drede,
Nor tak off hym no maner hede;
But hold thy weyë forth as blyue;
ffor, wyth a cherl to stonde & stryue,
Yt woldë nat but lyte avaylle:
Lat hym wyth hys wyndes saylle,
ffrowardly ageyn the strem,
Whil thow gost to Ierusaleem.
Be off hym no thyng afferd,
Thogh he shake on thè hys berd;
Lat hym gruchche, & mowhës make,
And his Chyn vp-on thè shake,
Wexe ek palë for envye
And on hys staff ‘obstynacye’
Lat hym reste, & stondë stylle:
Hold thow thy way ay forth at wylle!’

The pylgrym.
“Ma dame,” quod I, “yt stondeth so,
I wot nat what ys best to do,
But ye, off your benygnyte,
Lyst for to conveyë me
And ben my guyde vp-on the way,
Me to gouernë nyht & day,
Tyl I kome to that cyte
Wych I castë for to se.
ffor, wyth-outë yow, certeyn
My labour ys nat but in veyn:
Yt ys so peryllous a passage,
That I shal ffynde in my vyage
Many anoyes, mo than on,
I kan nat rekne hem euerychon;
Pereilles that on the weyë lye;
But yiff I haddë companye
Off yow, yt wolde ynowh suffyse
Me to supporte in many wyse.”

Resoun:
Quod Resoun thanne a-noon to me,
‘fful wel I myghtë gon wyth the,
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‘And nat departe out off thy siht
Al the whyle that thow gost ryht,
And holdest forth the evene way;
But offtë sithe (yt ys no nay)
Ther shal a-twen vs (who espyes,)
Arysë two fful vnkouth skyes,
Wonder blak off ther colours,
Off smoky mystës & vapours,
That somwhylë, off dyrknesse
And off the owgly ffoul thyknesse,
Off sondry chaunges that shal be,
Thow shalt lese the syht off me.
‘And somtyme, ful glad off chere,
Thow shalt se me ffressh & cler,
Affter the weye that thow dost holde,
Lyk to-forn, as I the tolde.
ffor thow holdest the weyë ryht,
Thow shalt se me cler & bryht.
‘And fynally, yiff thow go wrong,
I wyl me hyden (euere among,)
Out off thy syht, & shrowden me
That thow shalt me nowher se.
‘Wherfor, off me whan thow hast nede,
Sek me no ferther (as I rede)
Her nor ther, vp-on no syde,
But wher thy syluen dost abyde.
Yiff thow me seke ther duëly,
Thow shalt me fynden ay redy.
‘Now, on thy Iourne, forth the spede
Syth to tarye thow hast no nede.’

Ye pilgrime.
Off hyre answere I wex al sad,
Yet forth I wente, as she me bad,
Remewynge me fro that place,
Me recomaundynge to hyr grace;
And praydë god ful Enterly
Me to conveyë sykerly,
Wyth-outen any dysturbaunce,
And me to sauen fro myschaunce,
To be my guyde, & wysshen me
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ffor to kome to the cyte
Whyder to gon, tho I me caste.
And forth I wentë wonder faste,
Wyth my bordoun in myn hond;
And in the weye a-noon I fond
A damysele off queynte array,
Wych me mette vp-on the way.
And lyke a dowue (as thoughtë me)
She was ffetheryd for to fle;
And on her leggys bothë two,
Lyk a dowve she was also,
And endownyd soffte & ffayr,
Smothe as gossomer in the hayr.
And trewly (as I koude espye)
Me sempte thys mayden off ffolye,
Now her, now ther, ageyn a wal
That she pleyede at the bal,
Rennynge alway vp & doun.
And thanne I hadde affeccïoun
To wyten pleynly & enquere
Hyr name, and what she dydë there.

The pylgrym:
“Damysele,” a-noon quod I,
“I merveyllë ful gretly
Off your ffethres ffressh & shene,
What they tokne or what they mene;
And that ye ben endowned so
Vp-on your leggys bothë two;
ffor, syth tyme that I was born,
I sawhë neuere her-to-fforn
Noon yffetheryd, saufflly only ye:
ffor, by lyknesse, ye may fle
Whan that ye lyst, hih & lowe;
And ffayn ther-fore, I woldë knowe,
(Yiff ye lyst to specefye)
What your ffetherys sygnefye;
And your endownyng, vp & doun,
I wolde ther-off ha som resoun;
And or ye any ferther go,
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Your name I woldë wyte also.”

The ffetherede:
‘Certys,’ quod she, ‘whan thow dost knowe
The causë pleynly (hih & lowe)
Wheroff I serue, sothly in dede
Thow shalt off me han ful gret drede.’

The pylgrym:
“Ye ben trewly (as semeth me)
So ffressh and vnkouth for to se,
Se lusty ek off port & chere,
That no man myghtë beyn to dere,
Off yow to han possessïoun:
And me semeth off resoun,
(By lyklynesse, as I kan ffel,)
A man myghte nat louë to wel
Your persone, by lyklyhede.
And as touchynge any drede
That men sholde han off you, certeyn,
Me semeth swych dred wer but in veyn.”

The ffetherede:
‘Thow seyst fful soth, & ryght trewly:
Who me vseth prudently,
And nat outrageth in no wyse,
But hym gouérneth lyk the wyse,
Swych, fro pereyl may wel eskape.
And trust her-on, (yt ys no jape,)
My gouernaunce (who kan espye),
Ther-in ys foundë no ffolye;
And yet off custom, at the laste,
In gretë pereyll, ffolk I caste,
(As yt ys fful offtë seyn)
And longe or they may ryse ageyn.
‘And my name ys ek fful kouthe,
ffor I am ycallyd ‘youthe’;
I passë bothe thorgh thynne & thykke,
And I kan wynse ageyn the prykke,
As wyldë coltys in Arras,
Or as bayard out off the tras,
Tyl I a lassh haue off the whyppe;
ffor now I renne, & now I skyppe,
305

‘And now I lepë Iouy pe;
Now I sterte, & now I ffle.
Selde abydyng in O thouht,
Al daungerous I sette at nouht,
Wyth wyldënesse I go to scole;
Now I sprynge, now I carole;
I tryppe, I cryë, synge & daunce,
And euere ful off varyaunce,
And fful selde abyde in On.
I wrastle, & I caste the ston;
I brekë bothen hegge & wal,
And clymbë treës oueral
In gardyns wher the ffrut ys good.
And who that euere be wroth or wood,
I ne take no maner hede.
‘Sestow nat wel, in verray dede,
By my ffethrys cler & bryht,
Vp-on my ffeet, how I am lyht,
And as swyfft (sothly to tel)
As whylom was Asael.
But the byble doth vs lere
He bouhte hys swyfftnesse al to dere;
And offtë sythës, out off noumbre,
To gret swyfftnessë doth encoumbre,
As oldë storyes tellë kaan;
ffor bet ys yt, on wysëman
Slowh off ffootë, wyth prudence,
Than ffoure other (in sentence)
Lyht off ffoote, wyth hyr ffolye,
Wych hem syluen kan nat guye,
Nor by wysdom kan nat werche,
‘Wherffor somtyme holy cherche
Whylom made an ordynaunce,
That no man sholde ha gouernaunce
In hys bowndys (yt ys no drede)
But yiff he haddë ffeet off led,
In gret sadnesse to endure.
‘But off al thys I do no cure;
I wyl be ffethryd, & go ffle,
And among, go sportë me;
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‘Pleye at the cloos, among, I shal,
And somwhyle Rennyn at the bal
Wyth a Staff mad lyk an hook;
And I wyl han a kampyng crook;
ffor I desyre, in my depos,
ffor to han noon other croos.
‘And among, I wyl nat spare
To hunte for hert, ffor buk & hare;
Somtyme ffysshe, & cachchë ffowlys,
And somtyme pleyen at the bowlys;
Among, shetyn at bessellys,
And affter pleyn at the merellys,
Now at the dees, in my yong age,
Bothe at hassard & passage;
Now at the ches, now at the tablys,
Rede no storyes but on ffablys,
On thyng that ys nat worth a lek;
Pleye at the keylës & the quek;
Somwhyle my wyttys I applye
To herë song & menstralcye,
And pleye on dyuers Instrumentys:
And the ffyn of myn entent ys
To folwe the lust off my coráge,
And to spendë my yonge age
In merthe only, & in soláce,
ffolwe my lustys in ech pláce;
Ther-to hooly I me enclyne,
Rather than to han doctryne
Off ffader, moder, thogh they be wyse,
Al ther techyng I despyse;
And in no thyng ys set my cure,
But my lustys to procure.’

The pylgrym:
“Trewly,” quod I a-noon ryht tho,
“Woldë god yt stoodë so
That ye wer mevyd, & that a-noon,
To passe the way that I shal gon.”

Yowthe:
‘Whyder-ward (tel on, lat se,)
Wyltow holden thy Iourne?’

307

The pylgrym:
“To Ierusalem, the ryhtë way
I wyl holde, yiff that I may.”

Yowthe:
Quod yowthe, ‘ther ys no mor to seye;
A whylë I wyl the conveye.’

The pylgrym:
“Kan ye techë me a-noon
The ryhtë way how I shal gon?”

Yowthe:
‘ffor soth,’ quod yowthë, ‘nat ryht wel,
But we shal faylle neueradel;
ffor we shal ffyndë wel certeyn
Som whyht that shal the trouthë seyn,
And the ryhtë weye vs lere.’
And whyl that we spak thus yffere,
So as yowthe gan me conveye,
Me thouthe I sawh a fforkyd weye
Partyng at an heg on tweyne,
Thykke and thornyssh in certeyne;
And hadde nat the heg ybe,
The samë way, as semptë me,
By the which I sholde ha gon,
Hadde in sothnesse ben but on;
But the heg wych stood atwen,
Departyd yt (men myghtë sen),
And the passage ek devyde:
The ton was set on the ryht syde;
The tother path (I gan be-holde)
On the lefft party gon holde.
And on the lefft hand I sawh a-noon
A damysele sytte on a ston;
Hyr on hand on hyr brest was layd,
And in the tother (as I abrayd)
She held a glouë vantounly,
And tournyd yt fful ffetysly
Aboute hyr ffyngres vp & doun.
And shortly in conclusïoun,
By maner off hyr gouernaunce
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I sawh, & by hyr contenaunce,
A womman (as by lyklynesse)
But off lytel bysynesse,
By hyr labour, ouht to wynne:
Hyr lyst nat cardë nouther spynne,
Nor, to getyn hyr dyspence,
Do no maner dyllygence.
On whos ryht hand I sawh on sytte
Sobyrly, & lyst nat fflytte,
But kept hym covert in the shade;
And oldë nattys ageyn he made,
Wych, ffor no labour woldë spare,
But besy was hem to repare;
And off hym thus stood the caas.
fful gretly I astonyd was,
Thynkynge hys labour was in veyn;
He made, & hem vnmade ageyn;
Wher-in me sempte a ful gret lak:
And ffyrst off al, to hym I spak:

The pylgrym:
“My ffrend,” quod I, “a-noon ryht here
I pray the that thow wost me lere
The bestë weye, & most certeyne,
Off thys ilkë weyës tweyne
Wych that lyen a-for my fface;
ffor neuere yet I dydë pace
By noon off hem, in al my lyff;
Wherffor tel me (& mak no stryff)
Wych ys the beste & most certeyn.”

The Natte-makere:
The natte-makere answerde ageyn:
‘Whyder castestow (in thy syht)
ffor to holde thy weyë ryht?’

The pylgrym:
“Syker,” quod I, “now herkne me
I woldë passe the gretë se,
And oversaylle the saltë strem,
To kome vn-to Ierusalem;
Off wych cyte, told longe aforn,
The bysshop was off maydë born.”

309

The Natte-makere:
‘Trewly, syr, wyth your grace,
I sytte no thyng in thys place
ffor to techë men the weye;
Nor, pylgrymës to conveye,
Yt ys no parcel off my charge;
But off thys tweynë weyës large,
As ffolk reporte in many lond,
That the weye on the lefft hond,
Wher-as the damysele doth sytte,
(And ne lyst nat for to fflytte,)
Ys a passage ful peryllous,
And to pylgrymës éncombrous.
And thys damyselë queynte,
Off malys doth neuere feynte
To callë pylgrymes nyht & day,
To make hem go the samë way,
Wher they do gret pereyl ffele,
Be they armyd neuere so wel.
‘But, trewly, by myn avys,
Swych pylgrymës as be wys,
They that ben in vertu strong,
Shal lete the way that ly[e]th wrong,
And tracen in hyr pylgrymage
On the ryht hand in ther vyage;
The wych, fful many on hath take,
And affterward hath yt for-sake,
Brooke thorgh the hegg by vyolence,
And ther-in don fful gret offence;
Toward the lefft path tournyd bak,
Tyl they ha fallyn on the wrak
Off ffalsë guydës: by the lore
Off me, her-off thow gest no more:
Wherso that thow wynne or lese,
Off thys two weyës thow mayst chese.’

The pylgrym ./
“Syre, I pray the off o thyng:
Touchyng thy labour in werchyng,
Tel me the causë (in certeyn)
Why makestow, & vndost ageyn
310

“Thy werk so offtë sythe a day?
The semeth trewly (I may say),
Ther-in (who consydreth al,)
Thy wyt ys verray dul & smal,
(As to myn oppynyoun)
Ydel, thyn occupacioun:
Yiveth to me an evydence
To yivë to the no credence
To no thyng that thow hast me sayd;
And though that thow be euele apayd,
I shal seyn trouthe, as semeth me:
Yt wer merveyl thow sholdest the
So symple a crafft on the to take,
To makë nattys, & vnmake;
The wychë crafft (whan al ys souht)
Ys so pore, yt wynneth nouht.”

The nat-makere:
‘Touchyng my crafft, wych I vse,
To the I may me thus excuse:
Thogh yt be symple, & pore off name,
Therfor thow sholdest me nat blame:
Swych as I kan, swych I acheue:
Thys, no cause me to repreue,
Nor to rebuke off no ffolye.
‘Yiff ye aduerten prudently,
Euery man hath nat a fforge,
Crownys off gold, in for to forge;
Nor ffolkys allë, yong nor old,
Kan nat the crafft to chaungë gold;
Nor alle may nat be Iowelerys:
Ech crafft hath hys offycerys:
Nor alle ffolk may nat noblys telle;
Nor alle ffolk may nat Rubyes selle;
ffor konnyng thanne wer off no prys,
Yiff ech man were alychë wys.
‘Lerne ek off me, thys sentence,
Ther muste be a dyfference
(Pleynly yiff thow lyst to knowe,)
Off Estatys hih & lowe,
And off crafftys ek also.
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‘And tak also good heed herto,
Yiff all ffolk in a Regioun
Hadden On occupacioun
In the Rychest crafft of alle,
Demë thanne what sholdë falle:
Thanne al ylyche (yiff thow tok hed)
The ffoot as good as ys the hed;
A knaue also, by hys werkyng,
Sholde ben Egal wyth the kyng;
The wych (who wysly kan espye,)
Ne wer no maner polycye,
But rather a confusïoun
In euery maner Regïoun.
‘Wherfor, in Townys & cytes,
Lat men lyuen lyk her degres:
Wysë ffolk that kan dyscerne,
Lat hem by wysdam so governe
That no man ne haue no wrong;
And swych as myghty ben, & strong,
Wyth myghte lat hem the lond dyffende;
And clerkys to ther studye entende;
And labourerys, lat hem werche;
And spyrytual ffolk off the cherche,
Lat ther occupacïoun
Ben in contemplacïoun,
In deuocioun & prayere;
Voyde hem ffrom offyce seculer;
Lat hem go lyuë lyk ther bond;
And swyche ffolk as tyle the lond,
Lat hem do trewly ther labour,
Bothe in drouht & ek in shour;
ffor trewly (yiff I rekne shal)
Carte & plowh, they ber vp al
The clergye & the cheualrye.
‘And overmor, ffor my partye,
Thogh my crafft (in cónclusioun)
Be off no reputacïoun,
Swych as I kan, swych I ha wrouht;
And therfore rebuke me nouht;
ffor crafftys vsyd in pouerte
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‘May nat alle refusyd be:
Crafftys poore be necessarye;
And ffor me, lyst the nat to tarye,
Euery crafft (& thus I mene)
Mut gouerne other, & sustene,
So yt be don wyth-outë slouthe,
And duëly ywrouht in trouthe;
And thus thow shalt my wordys take.
And thogh that I make & vnmake,
Blame me nat, ffor (in sothnesse)
I do yt to voyden ydelnesse.
‘And yiff I, lyk thyn oppynyoun,
Koude other occupacïoun,
I wolde yt done, be wel certeyn,
And nat vnmake thys natte ageyn,
ffor wych thow dost repreuë me.
And her, O thyng I axe off the:
What ys the causë (ffer or ner)
That a swerd burnysshed cler,
Somwhyle rusteth, as thow mayst se,
Leseth hys bryhtnesse & bewte?’

The pylgrym:
“Touchyng thyn askyng, in certeyn,
Me to answere, yt wer but weyn;
Thow hast thy sylff (who kan ffel,)
The cause ytold, pleynly & wel.”

The Natte-makere:
‘So as a swerd (I dar expresse,)
Yffadyd ys off hys bryhtnesse,
And off hys clernesse ek also,
Whan men take noon hed ther-to,
But rusteth & ffareth al amys,
Ryght so a man that ydel ys,
& kan hym sylff nat occupye,
(By resemblaunce thow mayst espye,)
In-to hys sowle (thus I be-gynne)
The rust off vyces or off synne
Doth a-way (wyth-outë gesse)
Off allë vertu the clernesse;
But excercysë (in sentence)
313

‘And contynual dyllygence,
Born vp wyth vertuous labour,
Ys bet than any ffoorbysshour
Ageyn the rust off ydelnesse,
Off vertu to gyue perfyt clernesse.’

The pylgrym:
“Now, gentyl ffrend,” a-noon quod I,
“Tel me thy namë trew[ë]ly,
Wych art so wys off answerynge:
Tel on, & mak no mor taryynge.”

The Natte-makere:
‘To telle the trouthë verrayly,
Yt befalleth comounly
(As clerkys wrytë, that be sad,)
Whan a man ys ffebly clad,
And outward hath noon ápparence,
Phylysophres (in ther sentence)
And Ek poetys that wer wys,
They seyn swych on ys off no prys
Nor off no reputacïoun
Affter the worldys oppynyoun.
And thys comounly the language
That thylkë ffolkys be most sage,
And wysest holden (in certeyn),
That be ffressh, & wel beseyn,
And kan make hem syluen gay
Wyth ryche fforewrys & array,
And devyses most vnkouth,
Swych ffolk, in euery manhys mouth,
Be wysest holde in thys world here.
‘And ouermor, as ye shal lere,
Thogh a man wer neuere so wys,
And haddë lernyd at Parys,
Thys thryrty yer at scolë be
In that noble vnyuersyte,
And haddë ful experyence
Off euery wysdom & scyence,
& koude exponen euery doute,
And wer but porely clad wyth-oute,
Men woldë deme most comounly
314

‘That hys wysdom wer ffoly,
And that he wer a fool at al
By oypynyoun general:
So they reherse in ther sentence;
ffor wysdom now, & sapyence,
Practyk off phylosofye,
Off arsmetryk & gemetrye,
Off Astronómye & musyk,
And experyence off physyk,
Ys ffled now fro vnyuersytes,
And dwelleth in borwes & cytes
Wyth folk that wel arrayed be
At the eye, as men may se.
‘And ffarwel konnyng, now euery day,
Wher ther ys no ffressh array!
Wyth-oute array, konnyng, farwel!
Wherfor I merveylle neueradel
Thogh thow me settyst at no prys,
Nor thogh thow holdest me nat wys,
By cause my ray ys al to-rent.
And yet, by good avysëment,
Yiff thow lokë wel aboute,
I am he (yt ys no doute,)
Who so lyst to taken hed,)
That yiue to allë folk ther bred,
Or shortly (ellys for to seye)
They sholde ellys for hunger deye,
Ne werë I & my werchyng;
Ye, bothe adam & hys off-spryng.
Hadde I nat be, (yt ys no ffaylle,)
What myghte the gret shyp avaylle
Off Noe (in conclusïoun)
Nor al hys generacïoun?
‘And, ffor to speke in general,
I sustene & ber vp al,
& yt ys I, ech hour & space,
That makth the tymë shortly pace
Wyth-oute anoy or pérturbaunce;
ffor I am he, by rémembraunce,
Syth adam the Appyl heet,
315

‘Wych wyth labour & wyth swet
Haue youë ffoodë & pasture
To euery levyng creäture,
Bothe to best & ek to man,
Syth tymë that the world be-gan
Wher-off I am no thyng to blame.
And my verray ryhtë name
Ys (wyth-oute mor sarmon)
“Labour & Occupacioun.”
‘I rechchë nat, whan al ys do,
Wych thow me calle off bothë two;
And folkys alle that stonde in grace,
By me vn-to the cyte pace
The ryhtë way wyth-outë lak.
And for that ffyrst to me thow spak,
The ryhtë way, thé to lere,
Off thys two weyës that ben here,
And I ha told the myn avys,
Now ches the beste, syth thow art wys.’

The pylgrym:
And than a-noon, as ye shal here,
Whyl we spak togydre yffere,
My body (for hys gret plesaunce)
Gat hym wyth youthë ácqueyntaunce,
& bothë, voyded off dyscord,
Wher yfalle off on accord.
“And Yowthe (off wych aforn I sayde)
Vn-to me thus gan abrayde:
‘Yt wer syttynge (as semeth me)
And accordynge to thy degre,
To gon and getyn áqueyntaunce,
And, to haue som dalyaunce,
The bet thy sylff ffor to provyde
Wyth hyr that syt on the lefft syde,
Thylkë damysele, I mene,
Which ys so goodly on to sene,
And to hyr doctryne yiue som feyth.
And thow mayst sen how that she leyth
Vnder hyr armole, hyr on hond;
And (yiff thow kanst wel vnderstond)
316

‘In the tother hond (parde)
A Gloue she halt, as thow mayst se.
Go to hyre, & do thy cure;
And I trowe, off aventure,
She wyl the teche, & pleynly seyn
The weyë wych ys most certeyn,
Bet than thys cherl that sytteth here,
Swart and owgly off hys chere,
Wych ys a verray tormentour
To puttë ffolkys to labour,
And may to the no thyng avaylle,
But vexyn the wyth gret travaylle.’
And by hys consayl (off entente)
Vn-to hyre a-noon I wente;
And ffyrst, as me thouhte yt due,
I gan hyr goodly to salue.
And she, devoyde off al dysdeyne,
Mekly saluede me ageyn.
And alderfyrst (shortly to seye)
Humblely I gan hyr preye
That she wolde, off coortesysye,
Govorne me also, & guye,
Techë me, & sey nat nay,
In my vyáge the ryhtë way,
By wych pylgrymës euerychon
To Ierusalem wer wont to gon.”

The damysele:
‘Certys,’ quod she, off cher benygne,
‘I ne knowe noon other sygne
Nor other tookne, in thys passáge,
Off ffolk that gon on pylgrymage;
But I knowe (be wel certeyn)
Yiff I shál the trouthë seyn,
On hors, on foote, in general,
Thys the weyë most royal,
Callyd the kyngës hihë weye.
And her-wyth-al, I dar wel seye
Yt ys most esy off passáge
To ffolkys old & yong off age,
Smothe & pleyn, (yt ys no nay,)
317

‘And most yvsyd nyht & day;
And by thys ylkë samë weye,
Gladly ffolkys I conveye,
Swych as louë paramours,
To ward the voode, to gadre fflours,
Soote rosys & vyolettys,
Ther-off to make hem chapel ettys,
And other fflourys to her plesaunce.
‘And in thys weye I teche hem daunce;
And also, ffor ther lady sake,
Endyte lettrys, & songys make
Vp-on the gladë somerys dayes,
Balladys, Roundelays, vyrelayes.
I teche hem ek, (lyk ther ententys,)
To pleye on sondry Instrumentys,
On harpe, lut, & on gyterne,
And to revelle at tavérne,
Wyth al merthe & mellodye,
On rebube and on symphonye;
To spendë al the day in ffablys,
Pleye at the ches, pley at the tablys,
At treygobet & tregetrye,
In karyyng & in Iogolory:
And to al swych maner play,
Thys the verray ryhtë way.’

The pylgrym:
“Trew[ë]ly, to my plesaunce,
ffor your noble dalyaunce
I wolde (off good entencïoun)
Knowë your condycyoun;
Youre Name also, yiff that ye
Lyst goodly to telle hem me.”

The damysele:
‘Yiff thow wylt abyde a throwe,
My name and al, thow shalt wel knowe:
I am a poopet, in sothnesse,
Douhter to Dame Ydelnesse,
Set her, by hyr ordynaunce.
And al my joye & my plesaunce
Ys, by hyr wyl that her me sette,
318

‘My glovys streythly on to sette:
I take off no-thyng ellës hed,
But, offte a day, kombe myn hed,
Prye ech hour in a merour,—
God wot, that ys most my labour,—
Wake a nyhtys, slepe a day,
And specyally the haly day
I studye among (thys the caas)
In Elenches off ffallas,
Out to ffyndë thyngës newe,
To makë ffablys semë trewe;
And, above al other thynges,
On romauncys ffondyd on lesynges,
Ther-in ys my studye most.
‘And I am ek, in euery cost,
Paramour to thy body,
Yt to cherysshe in al ffolye.
And wherso that thow slepe or wake,
Labour, I makë the forsake;
And by my wyl (ek in certeyne)
Thow shalt dure no maner peyne,
But lyon, sewen, & make a-vaunt,
And muryely pleyen the Galawnt.
‘I make ffolk, vp-on ther hed,
To were chaplettys off whyht & red,
Pyke her nayllës, wernays take,
And al travayllë to forsake,
Studye ffor to ffynde off newe,
Devyses mad off many an hewe,
ffolk to make hem ffressh & gay,
And hem dysguyse in ther array:
Thys myn offys, yer by yere.
‘Now ches a-noon, whyl thow art here,
Wychë weyë thow wylt take;
And wherso that thow slepe or wake,
Thow shalt lerne a thyng off me:
Thys samë weye wych thow dost se,
Ys large & pleyn, esy to pace;
The tother, streiht, & hard to trace,
And ffewë ffolkys go ther-by:
319

‘Thys, mor plesaunt & redy.
Now, syth thow hast dyscrecïoun
Mak thy sylff Elleccyoun.’

The pylgrym:
“Trew[ë]ly,” quod I a-noon,
“Thys two weyës wer but on,
Ne wer only (as ye may sen)
Thys ylkë heegg that stant betwen.
Wherfor I pray that ye nat lette,
To tellë who the heggg her sette.”

Ydelnesse:
‘Touchyng thys heg that stondeth here,
Yt was maad (yiff thow lyst lere,)
Off a gret turmenteresse
Wych doth to ffolk fful gret dystresse;
And she maketh pylgrymës alle,
Penytence, hyr sylff to calle.
Who hath wyth hyre Aqueyntaunce,
Muste endurë gret penaunce:
Hatfful she ys off cher & fface
To alle that by thys weyë pace,—
I mene, the weye that I am Inne;—
But who that lyst ffro me to twynne,
And the tother weyë take,
I dar pleynly vndertake,
On leg, on ffoot, on too & hele,
He shal fful sharpë thornys ffele,
Gret prykyng, I the ensure,
And sharp, wyth-outen al mesure,
ffor they be sharpe, & no-thyng soffte.
‘And thys lady kometh fful offte
(I mene thys lady dame Penaunce
Wyth whom I ha noon ácqueyntaunce);
To thys heg she kometh al day,
Maketh yerdys, & goth hyr way,
Besmys also, sotyl & queynte.
And day nor nyht she doth nat ffeynte
To make ay newe in hyr werkynge,
Instrumentys ffor chástysynge
Off synnë, by gret ordynaunce,
320

‘Thys same lady, Dame Penaunce;
And in hyr occupacïoun
ffolk haue but smal affeccïoun.
I ha the tolde off hyre to-fforn,
Off instrumentys that she hath born,
Off Bysme, off hamer, off thyngës mo.’
And thanne I thouhte I woldë go
By the path & by the weye
By wych the man gan me conveye,
That made the nattys in certeyn,
Vnmade & made hem effte ageyn.
And, lyk as tauhtë me my guyde,
I drewh toward the ryhtë syde
And in that weyë lyst nat tarye;
But youthe a-noon, to me contrárye,
fful besy was me ffor ta let;
Seyde the tother way was bet,
Morë hawntyd, the passáge,
Off ffolk that gon on pylgrymage.
And fforth the samë weye I helde,
Tyl that a-fforn me I be-held,
Reysed on hihte, a lytel wal,
Two posternys & a gatë smal;
And mid the gaate a lady stood,
That was bothë ffayr & good,
(I pray god, ffayrë mot hyr ffalle!
And vertu moral men hyr calle.
And she A-noon, off hyr goodnesse,
Off bounte and off gentyllesse,
(As she that lyst to be my guyde,)
Bad, I sholde on the tother syde
Declynë nouther to nor ffro,
But by the samë gatë go
Wher as she stoodë, lyuë ryht,
And I conceyvede in my syht,
And fful clerly gan dyscerne
On owther party a posterne,
And sawh that they were éncoumbrous
To passë by, & daungerous:
Bothe I leffte (as was my ffaate),
321

And lynë ryht vn-to the gaate
The weye I held, by hyr byddynge,
Wher as she stood hyr sylff lenyng.

The pylgrym:
And lyst she ffounde in me som lak,
Vn-to hyre ryht thus I spak:
“Ma dame,” quod I “I stonde in wher
Touchynge thys weyës that ben her;
I not off hem wych I shal holde.”
And she to me fful goodly tolde
And specyally gan chargë me,
The fforeyn posternys ffor to ffle;

[Vertu Moral]
‘And do thy power and thy myght
To holde the weyë that goth ryht,
The weye (I menë) ryht as lyne,
Wher I stonde, & nat declyne
On nouther party, nyht nor day,
Also ffer fforth as thow may.’
She sayd ek, as I vnderstood,
That ‘he ys an archer good
Wych ffaylleth nat hym-sylff taquyte,
Alway the markë ffor to smyte;
And no man blamen hym ne may,
Thogh he hytte yt nat alway:
So he do trewly hys deuer,
Wyth hys arme to smyte yt ner
In al hys bestë ffeythfful wyse,
Yt doth ynowh to hym suffyse
That in hys drawyng he nat ffeyne.
And therfor do thy besy peyne
Aforn, thy sylff so to provyde,
Teschewe the weyes that gon asyde;
Hold the myd, in especyal.
‘ffor I am callyd ‘vertu moral,
Polytyk, & general’;
And myn offyce her-wyth-al
I contene (as clerkys shewes)
Al the pathys to goodë thewes,
322

The ryhtë way, & ther degres;
‘And yet I haue extremytes
(Who kan looke on ech a syde,)
The wych I wolde fro me devyde,
As fferfforth as I kan or may
Severyn hem, and caste a-way,
ffor causë they be vycyous
In my syht, & ryht greuous.
‘ffor thyse extremytees, in soth,
ffarn ryht as a kanker doth,
I mene the werm (who lyst se)
That ffreteth the hertë off a tre,
And, wyth hys ffret & wyth hys rage,
Doth to tymber gret damage.
Yiff thylkë werm (yt ys no nay)
Be nat the rather kut away
And dysseveryd ffrom hys place,
The tre so sore he wyl manace
Vp to the croppë fro the roote,
That affterward ther ys no bote,
As men may sen in many tres.
‘And semblaly thextremytes
The posternys that be fforeyne,
Wych that ben in noumbre tweyne,
I haue hem fro me put a-way
Wyth-outë ffauor or delay,
Off entent that, in thys place,
Pylgrymës noon shal by hem pace,
That wyl ouer the gretë see
To Ierusalem the cyte;
ffor yiff they wente by that passage,
Yt wer pereyl & gret damage.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma damë, wyth your reuerence,
I woldë se som evydence,
Yiff yt wer possyble, me to knowe
By som exaumple (hih or lowe,)
How thys vyces (som or alle,)
Lyk to kanker, ye hem calle.”

Vertu moral:
323

‘Semblably as dyuers tres,
Kankres han in ther degres,
Ryht so vertues (doutëles)
Han dyuers extremytes,
Kankres at outher ende,
That ffrete on hem wherso they wende.
‘Lo, her, Exaumple in especyal!
fforce ys a vertu Cardynal,
The wych hath a kanker double,
On outher party hym to trowble,
To dystroye hym nyht & day
Yiff they ne be nat kut a-way
Wonder peryllous to deuyse;
The ton ys callyd ‘Cowardyse’;
The tother (yiff I shal expresse)
Ycallyd ys ‘Foolhardynesse,’
Wych wyth fforce may nat abyde,
They be so ffer set out asyde,
ffer ffro fforce at two posternys.
But fforce so wysly hym gouernys
That he hath no thyng a-doo
Wyth noon of thys wermys two;
ffor in myd place (as I yow tolde)
fforce, off custom doth hym holde.
‘A-nother exaumple ye may se
Touchynge Lyberalyte,
Wych hath also (who kan dyscerne)
Set ffer ffrom hym at a posterne
The ffalsë werm off coveytyse,
Wych ys ycallyd Auaryse.
‘The tother Kanker (who lyst se)
Ys callyd Prodygalyte;
And a-twen thys wermys tweyne,
Myddë place (ffor mor certeyne)
Halt hym Lyberalyte.
Go, red Ethikes, wher thow shalt se
(Whan-so-euere that thow ha space)
Vertu set ay in myd place,
Wher as they most clerly shyne,
And many kankres wych on hem myne.
324

‘But goodë pylgrymes that ha grace,
Alway by the myddys pace;
Exaumple off whom b[y] nyht & day
Hold alway the menë way.
Lat moral vertu be thy guyde;
ffle posternys that stonde a side,
By whos pereyl (who taketh hede)
Many a pylgrym hath be ded.
‘And whyl that youthë (herkne me,)
ffressh and lusty abyt wyth the,
Yiff the to vertu ech hour and space;
ffor, whan youthe a-way doth pace
Wyth-outë vertu (trustë me,)
Yt ys ful hard (who that kan se,)
Vertu to wynne, whan youthe ys gon.
Who that in youthe lyst lernë noon,
ffor custoom take in tendre age,
(As seyn thys oldë ffolkys sage,)
Wyth-outë labour (thys no nay,)
Ys ful hard to parte away.’

The pylgrym.
“Ma dame,” quod I, “so mot I the,
I wendë sykerly ta be
In the ryhtë weye ywys;
But, certys, I ha gon amys,
ffor I ha chose (and thus yt stood)
Two euele weyës ffor on good:
I not what yt may sygnefye,
That I thus erre thorgh my ffolye.”

Vertu moral:
‘Ha no merveyl in thy siht;
flor ther ys weyë noon so ryht
That yt ne fforketh out asyde
By many pathys that yt devyde,
Wych causë ffolkys euere among,
fful offtë sythës to go wrong.
‘And many on that thow dost sen,
Ys nat ther-for A Geometryen
Wyth-In a compas (ha thys in mynde)
Thogh he konne out the centre fynde;
325

‘ffor verrayly (who kan devyse)
Yt ys founde out but in O wyse;
Yet ffolkys ffayllë dyuersly
To ffynde yt out by geometry.
An Archer eke, in thynne and thykke,
Faylleth som̄tyme off the prykke.
Whërfore, to ffynde the ryhtë weye,
Yt ys good, to god to preye.
Yet in prayere, bothe day & night,
The weyë goth nat alway ryht,
ffor, bothe in psalmys & in vers
Ther ben pathys fful dyuers,
And also ek in Orysouns,
Out forkyd by entencïouns;
As thus: who that kan aduerte:
The mouth dyuerseth ffro the herte;
But herte and mouth be bothen on:
By dyuers pathys, in soth, they gon;
And, (pleynly ffor to specefye,)
Somme preyë, by ypocrysye,
Off the peple to be seyn,
And ther prayer ys but in veyn;
Somme also preyë ffor Rychesse,
To wynnë worshepe & noblesse,
Tave encres & in worldly glorye,
And, ffor thyngës transytorye,
Worldly honour ffor to wynne,
Prayer ek mad in dedly synne,
ffor cruelte or ffor vengaunce,
Or, to brynge men to meschaunce:
Swych prayer hath no deuocyoun;
Yt ys nat worth a smal botoun,
‘Al thyse ar pathys fforkyd wrong
To make pylgrymës eueramong
To gon Amys in ther passáge.
‘And syth thow gost on pylgrymage,
Evere enquerë, nyht and day,
Tyl thow ha founde the ryhtë way;
Lat, in thyn askyng, be no slouthe
Tyl thow be brouht vn-to the trouthe.’
326

And so I gan to hyre doctryne
Myn erys besyly enclyne,
fful wel avysyng me ryht tho,
By wych posterne I sholdë go.
And whyl I gan be-thynkë me,
To-for my fface I dydë se
A body vp on a cross dystreyned,
And, as me thouhtë, gretly peyned,
To-fforn, a syde, and at the bak.
And to the body a spyryt spak,
The body crossyd lyk a roode,
The spyryt in the weyë stood;
The body ek (as thouhtë me,)
Myd the hegh, hong on a tre,
Hys wyttys crossyd, as ye shal here,
Mouth, handys, Eye & Ere;
The nase also, for smellyng,
Was crossyd ek, to my semyng.
And on the spyryt my look I layde,
And to hym ryht thus I sayde:

The pylgrym:
“I pray the, ffrend, tel me A-noon,
Or we any ferther gon,
What causeth the to stonden here:
I am abaysshyd off thy chere,
But thow (lyk myn affeccïoun)
Make a declaracïoun,”

Mortyfycacioun off the body:
‘I am a pylgrym (soth to seye,)
That wolde ha take the samë weye
fful yore agon, ne haddë be
Thys lord that hangeth vp on the tre:
ffro the weye on the tother syde
He brouhtë me, and was my guyde;
Me made (ther ys no mor to seye,)
Vn-to hys lust ffully tobeye,
And Tacomplysshe hys byddyng
Wyth-oute gruchchyng in euery thyng.
‘But trowly in thys passage
327

‘I hadde ffoundë gret damage,
Hadde nat the grace off god ybe;
And therfor, ffor tavengë me,
I ha the maner wel devysed,
Wherby that he ys her chastysed,
Wyth ffauour and the gouernaunce
Off a lady callyd Penaunce,
Wych, wyth hyr hamer (as thow mayst se,)
Smot the nayles in-to the tre,
Euene as I bad hyr do.
‘And thanne A-noon he was ago:
In-to thys heg he took the weye,
And thus I made hym to obeye
To my plesaunce in euery thyng,
So that no mater off wynsyng
Ys ffounde in hym in fflessh nor bon,
(To seke hys membrys euerychon,)
Gruchchyng, nor rebellïoun,
Nor no contradiccïoun.’

The pylgrym:
Thanne in the syluë samë place
He gan A-noon to tourne hys face,
And sayde (as ye shal here and se)
To the body vp on the Tre:

Mortyfycacioun off the body:
‘Hastow wel herd what I ha sayd?
Tel on! artow nat wel apayd
Me tobeyë wylfully
(As Resoun axeth skylfully)
Whan so that me lyst comaunde?
Answere anoon to my demaunde!’

The body answereth:
‘Certys,’ quod the body tho,
‘Algatë now yt standeth so,
I mustë, off necessyte
Yow obeyë, mawgre me.
But yiff I myghtë (thys no Iape,)
ffrom your boundys wel eskape,
In no thyng (shortly ffor to seye,)
To yow I wolde no mor obeye.’

328

The spyryt:
Than quod the spyryt, ‘syth yt ys so,
I shal the telle what I wyl do:
To kepe me (bothë ffer & ner)
ffrom al peryl & al daunger
That thow woldest don to me:
Thow shalt be stylle vp on thys Tre
Tyl thow, by ffeythful obeysaunce,
Be mek & humble to my plesaunce.
‘Yet shaltow nat ay her abyde;
ffor I shal gon, & be thy guyde;
And thow shalt (wyth-outë lak)
Wyth a croos vp-on thy bak,
Wyth spyryt off humylyte,
ffolwe, & bern yt affter me,
Off hool entent, in al vertu,
That thow mayst swën cryst ihesu,
Wych in hys gospel byt & seyth,
(To whom men musten yiven ffeyth,)
‘He ys nat worthy (thus seyth he)
Nor hable for to ffolwe me,
The wych, vp on hys shuldere,
Lyst, off dysdeyn, no croos to bere.’
He bar yt ffyrst hym sylff, certeyn,
Wyth-outë gruchchyng or dysdeyn
To shewe exaumple & sygne also,
That affter hym we sholdë go
Crossyd off entencïoun,
Remembrynge on hys passioun.’

The pylgrym to the spyryt:
To the spyryt tho quod I:
“Tel and declarë ffeythfully,
What nedede yt so many place
To crossen hym in hed & fface?
I pray the, techë me A-noon,
Or we any fferther gon.”

Mortyfycacioun off the body:
‘Yiff thow kanst vnderstondë wel,
To me was youen a castel
Whan I kam ffyrst to thys contre,
329

‘Off entent I sholdë be
Euere ther-in, & nat gon oute,
Te kepe me sur ffro euery doute
Whyl that I a pylgrym were,
That enmy noon me sholdë dere
By noon assaut, vp-on no syde,
Yiff I koude wysly provyde
ffor my sylff on euery part
ffro shot off quarel, or cast off dart,
Or ffro shetyng off croos bowes,
Outher at wyketys or wyndowys
Ylefft Open reklesly,
Off neclygence or ffooly,
And be nat dyffencyd wel
Wyth barrys off yren nor off stel,
Nor yclosyd by good devys,
Overthwertyd wyth no latys;
ffor wych, myn Enmyes many tyme,
(Bothe at eve and ek at prime)
Whan they open haue hem ffounde,
They han me hurt wyth many a wonde,
The wych fful sorë doth me greue.
‘But, off entent me to releue,
I haue ordeyned (by gret avys)
Barrys off yren & latys,
The ffenestrallys to Amende
In cross wyse, me to dyffende.
‘And ech pylgrym, in thys world here,
Haddë nedë ffor to lere
The fenestrallys off hys body,
ffor to crosse hem myghtyly,
And hem to kepe in surëte.
‘And no dyffence so good maybe,
As in croos wyse (yiff they be wys)
To close ther wyndowes wyth latys,
In remembraunce (ffor ther goode)
Off hym that heng vp on A roode.
‘And, to dyffende vs ffro daunger
Lat vs maken a baner
Off the croos, ffor our dyffence
330

‘Ageyn the dredful vyolence
And assaut off our enmyes.
‘And at ech wyket, ffor Espyes
At ffenestrallys & at cornerys,
Lat be hangen out banerys
Off the croos, and put hem oute,
Our Enmyes to sette in doute;
ffor yt ys a kouthë thyng,
Men drede the baner off a kyng;
As yt ys ffyguryd wonder wel
In the book off Ezechyel,
The .ix. capytle (who taketh hede),
Wher openly ye may rede
That, by the tookne off Tav,
The sygne was off so gret vertu,
That they that hadde yt (yt ys no drede)
Wel enprented in ther fforhed,
By the vertu (yt ys no jape)
ffro the deth they dyde Eskape:
They wer dyffencyd by thylke sygne,
That no whyht myghte ageyn hem malygne.
‘And, ffor to kepë thys castel,
I forgetë neueradel
To be mor myghty by vertu,
To marke my wyndowës wyth Tav,
The wyndowes off my wyttys ffyue,
Ageyn my ffoomen ffor to stryue,
That my ffoomen spyrytual
Entre nat by no ffenestrall.
‘Now, as thow lyst me to comaunde,
I haue answeryd to thy demaunde;
And my name (in conclusïoun)
Ys callyd Mortificacioun
Off the fflessh, or chástysyng,
Oppression, or ellys dawntyng.
‘Ches now, off thys namys alle,
By wych thát thow wylt me calle;
And god I praye, wyth al myn herte,
To grauntë me I may aduerte,
ffor wysdom or ffor ffolye,
331

Euere that I may yt mortefye.’
Thanne he made no mor delay,
But wentë fforth vp-on hys way;
The body affter hym gan gon,
And bar hys croos alway in on,
And was with hym ay Crucyffyed.
And whan I hadde al thys espyed,
In myn herte I was full wo,
That I myghtë nat do so
As off hem I do reporte;
And gretly gan me dyscomforte;
The pylgrym dysconfortyd.
And, ffor thys vnkouth woful caas,
fful offtë sythe I seyde ‘allas’
Vn-to my sylff, in cómpleynynge,
Wepte, and gan myn hondys wrynge;
And, in my dedly mortal wo,
Vn-to my sylff I seydë tho:
“Al that thow wendyst ha be toward,
Ys but a passage that goth bakward.
Thow gost nat as thow sholdest do.”
And to my body I seyde also:
“Allas! why naddestow ybe
Crucefyed vp on a tre?
Crossyd thy-syllf also be-tymes,
To ha go fforth wyth pylgrymes
On pylgrymage? allas the whyle!
Thy gretë slouthe wyl me be-guyle,
And don to me fful gret offence
Thorgh thy gretë neclygence,
Wych, yiff I hadde aforn espyed,
Thow sholdest ha be crucefyed
(Wyth-outë mercy or pyte)
Vn-to the deth vp-on A tre,
And born a croos vp-on thy bak.”
And whyl that I thus to hym spak,
Constreyned wyth fful gret dystresse,
Myd off al myn hevynesse,
Sodeynly (as ye shal here)
332

I sawh Gracë dieu appere,
The wych, in ful goodly wyse
Bad me that I sholde aryse;
Saydë to me, off hyr grace,
‘Her ys noon abydyng place
ffor to soiourne (yt ys no drede);
And also (yiff thow lyst take hede,)
Thow hast clerly had a syht
That thys pylgrym goth most right,
And mostë dydd hym-sylff avaunce
Thet on hys fflesshë tooke vengaunce,
I mene hym (yiff thow ha mynde)
The wych vp-on hys bak behynde
Bar hys croos, to do penaunce.
But thow, in al thy gouernaunce,
Art verray slowh, as I wel knowe,
That syttest at the erthë lowe,
And lyst no fferther fforth to gon.’
To whom I answerdë a-noon,
Sayde, in al myn hevynesse,
That yt was ffor ffebylnesse,
“I was nat off my wyl at large,
Nor strong to ber so gret a charge
As the pylgrym off whom we spak,
Wych bar hys croos vp-on hys bak.”

Grace dieu:
‘Lefft vp thyn eye, & lookë wel!
Sestow nat,’ quod she, ‘a whel
Large and round, & off gret myght?’
And I a-noon lefft vp my syht,
And sawh a whel (yt ys no doute)
By vyolencë tourne aboute
Contynuelly to-ffor my fface,
Myd the weye I sholdë pace.

The pylgrym:
And I answerde, touchyng thys whel,
“Ma dame,” quod I, “I se yt wel.”

Grace dieu:
‘Wel,’ quod she, ‘than tak good hed
333

‘In fforthryng off thyn ownë spede.
Thys whel ys (I the ensure)
A lyknesse and A ffygure,
And pleynly (yiff I shal nat tarye)
Vn-to the an exaumplarye,
The to gouerne in thy vyáge,
Yiff thow wylt in thy pylgrymage
Be wel exspleyted (in certeyn),
And ellys thy labour ys in veyn,
Lesynge thy travayll euerydel.
‘Tak hed,’ quod she, ‘how in thys whel
Ther ys wyth-inne (yiff thow kanst se)
A-nother off lasse quantyte,
Tornynge contrayre (by hys syyt)
To-ward the party opposyyt;
And off tymber, wrouht fful clene,
Hath .iiij. spookys yt to sustene,
Set vp-on an Extre large,
Off the sweygh to bere the charge.’
And sothly (as I koude espye)
Haddë nat ben A Boterflye
Ther-on tournyng round aboute,
I wolde ha dempte (wyth-outë doute)
Tournyng ech wyth-Innen other,
That yt haddë be noon other
But the samë syluë whel
Wych whylom Ezechyel
Sawh in hys avysïoun,
As hooly wryt maketh mencioun.

The pylgrym:
And off thys whel (pleynly to lere),
Off Grace dieu I gan enquere,
That she wolde (in conclusïoun,)
Make a declaracïoun.

Grace dieu:
Quod gracë dieu to me Anoon,
‘Yiff thow remembre, nat yore agon,
How thow off god (I the ensure)
Art thymage and creature.’

The pylgrym:
334

“Certys,” quod I, “in substaunce,
I ha thys wel in rémembraunce.”

Grace dieu:
‘Conceyue,’ quod she, ‘than, in thy syht,
Yt muste ffolue, off verray ryht,
Syth thow haddest, in allë thyng,
Off hym orygynal begynnyng,
And were off hym (yiff yt be souht)
In euery party maad & wrouht,
To hym, off verray ryht certeyn,
Thow must resorte & tourne ageyn,
As by mevyng natural,
Ageyn to thyn orygynal.
‘Tak exaumple pleyn & cler:
As by mevyng circuler
In hys tournyng by compasse
Ageyn resorteth to hys place
That he kam ffro whan he be-gan,
How ffer aboute that he ran;
And Trewly, in no mocyoun
Ys noon so gret perfeccïoun
As off a spyryt hym to releue,
Ageyn the body ffor to meue;
The wych (who lokë verrayly)
Ys to the spyryt most enmy;
Wych euere ys bysy, day be day,
To taryen hym vp-on hys way,
And (I dar wel afferme thys)
Meketh hym offte to gon amys.
And thogh thow go nat alway wel
Yet dyscounforte the neueradel;
Tak euere hed, yong and old,
Off thexaumple I ha the told;
Vp-on wych, yiff thow wylt dwelle,
Mor clerly I shal the telle.
‘Thys sayde whel (who kan espye)
That I off spak, doth sygnefye
Lust off the body, in hys mevyng,
Wych clerkys calle (in ther wrytyng
And name yt) Sensualyte;
335

‘The wych wyl nat brydled be,
But ffroward euere in hys entent,
Mevyng toward the occydent,
Evere in on, bothe day & nyht,
Wyth swych a swegh & swych a myght
That, wher the spyryt gruchche or mourne,
He maketh hym offtë to retourne
Wyth hym ageyn by vyolence,
Mawgre al hys résystence,
Al-thogh the spyryt (in hys entent)
Meueth toward the oryent,
Wych thenys kam. & yiff he sholde
Thyder ageyn, fful ffayn he wolde:
Toward the Est, in allë thyng,
He travaylleth in hys mevyng
Wych (be my red) shal neuere tarye,
But labour, & be contrarye
To the mevyng off the body,
And contynue vertuously
Bexaumple (as I dyde specefye
To the,) off the boterflye,
Wych ay ffro the occident
Tourneth toward the orient,
In hys labour hym to quyte,
Tyl he by vertu, lyte and lyte,
So longe ageyn the whel doth go,
Tyl the marke that he kam ffro,
Wyth gret labour he may atteyne.
‘And evene lych (in certeyne)
The planétys allë seuene
Holde her cours in the heuene,
Wych trewly, in ther mevynges,
Han fful many gret lettynges
By sondry retardacïouns,
And be contrayre mocyouns,
Or they may (yt ys no doute)
Ther cyrcuyt go round aboute;
And yet ther wyl and ther entent
Ys ay to-ward the oryent
ffro when they kam, (yt ys no fable);
336

‘And thyderward they be meveable,
To thylkë poynt to kome ageyn,
ffro wych they meuede ffyrst certeyn.
Off ther cours, thys thentent;
But the heuene and the ffyrmament
Wych clerkys calle (yiff ye lyst se)
In latyn Celum mobile,
Contrayre ffro the Oryent,
Draweth hem to the occident
Wyth hys sweygh (yt ys no nay,)
And taryeth hem mor in A day
Than they be mevyng cyrculer
May recuryn in A yer
Toward the Est in ther mevyng.
‘And yet they haue mor lettyng,
(Who the verray trouthë wyste,)
ffor, whan they travaylle to resyste
To the heuene callyd ‘mobyle’
In the Epicicles whan they be,
They make hem retrogradyent,
And cause hem in the ffyrmament
Ther tabydë stacionarye,
Out off ther cours ordynarye,
And sette hem in the excentrykes,
Wher thay be callyd Erratykes.
Retournyng nat (shortly to ryme,)
But by processe off long tyme.
‘And sythe, thys bodyes celestyal,
In ther mevyng natural,
Ben let thus in ther mocyouns,
And han swych retardacyouns
To ben hyndred in ther labour,
Or they may han ful recour
To the place they kam ffyrst fro;
Merveylle nat thogh yt be so
That thow be let in thy vyage,
And Encoumbryd, in thy passage,
Off Retardacïouns that falle,
Syth ‘Mycrocosme,’ men the calle;
And microcosme ys a word
337

Wych clerkys calle ‘the lassë world.’
And in thy way, haue in mynde;
Epicicles thow shalt ffynde,
‘Off Infortunyes fful dyuers,
Off sodeyn caas, fful peruers;
ffor thy lyff (yt ys no doute,)
Ys lyk a cercle that goth aboute,
Round and swyfft as any thouht,
Wych in hys course ne cesset nouht
Yiff he go ryht, and wel compace
Tyl he kome to hys restyng place,
Wych ys in god, yiff he wel go
Hys ownë place wych he kam ffro.
But yet, in al hys mocyoun,
He hath noon Exempcïoun;
ffor Epicicles (who hath reward)
Make the offtë go bakward
In thy cours, thè to tarye,
And to make thè stacyonarye,
Excentryked, day be day,
To make thè gon out off the way
Westward, vn-to the occident;
Whan thow sholdest gon to thoryent,
fful offtë sythe thow gost abak.
‘And the planetys that I off spak,
Also ek the Boterflye,
Vn-to thè Exemplefye
To don thy labour, and nat ffeyne,
And myghtyly thy sylff to peyne
In thy mevyng, that thow nat be
Ylet by sensualyte,
Wych on thy way doth gret greuaunce,
But yiff thow haue perséueraunce.
‘Yet in thy cours be alway strong:
By processe off tymë long,
Thow shalt retourne ageyn by grace
Vn-to thyn ownë duë place,
Reste in god, and ther abyde.
‘Thogh that thow be set asyde,
Thyder to atteynë soone,
338

‘Tak exaumple by the moone,
How he ys let ek in hys way,
Somtyme the spacë off A day;
But by hys labour (in certeyn)
He recureth yt ageyn,
Sothly with-Inne A moneth space
To resortë to hys place.
‘And yiff thow lyst tak hed her-to,
The sonne recureth ek also,
By his mevyng cyrculer,
Loos off a day with-Inne A yer.
‘Satourne, that syt so hyh and ffer,
And the planete Iubyter,
They takë pacyenly alway;
Thogh they be let som tyme a day,
They dysconforte hem neueradel,
ffor they recure ageyn fful wel
(By pacyénce and ábydyng)
Al that they suffre in ther mevyng;
Ther naturel cours (I yow ensure)
Pacyently they muste endure;
Yt nolde avaylle hem to be wroth;
ffor Satourn, aboute hys cours he goth
In Thrytty yer, and lassë nouht;
And Iubiter (yiff yt be souht),
By hys mevyng cyrculer,
Hys cours parformeth in xij yer;
They muste ha ther-to so gret space
Or they resortë to ther place.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame, with your grace and pes,
To me yt semeth doutëles,
My labour may me nat avaylle;
I do but lesë my travaylle:
Los off a day, lyk as ye seen,
I may nat recure ageyn;
I vnderstondë, ffer nor ner,
Almost the space off thrytty yer.
Allas! I am to ffer be-hynde:
What conforte thannë sholde I ffynde,
339

“So gret labour to endure,
My place ageyn ffor to recure.
Thogh day be day (in certeyne)
I dydë dyllygence and peyne
ffor to resorte, yt wyl nat be;
The cours off sensualyte,
To my desyr ys so ffroward,
To makë me to go bakward,
That by reuolucïoun
My tyme I lese, and my sesoun;
ffor, the mor I me constreyne
To do my labour and my peyne,
The mor to me she ys contrayre,
In my Iourne me to tarye;
And trewly I kan nat espye
What al thys doth sygnefye.”

Grace dieu:
Quod gracë dieu fful sobyrly,
‘I speke nat off a day only,
But in an hour (yiff thow kanst se)
Yt may happë so to be,
How that A man in A moment
May slen hym sylff, off entent
Or casuely, on se or lond,
Lese a membre, ffoot or hond,
Wych he shal, peraventure,
In thrytty yer, nat recure
Ageyn, so myghtë ben the cas,
To refourme yt as yt was.
‘And semblably to be-guynne,
Yiff thow ha don a dedly synne.
Wheroff the strook the soulë sleyth,
And offte ys cause off cruel deth;
ffor swerd ys noon, nor sperë, founde,
So peryllous to mayme and wonde
As dedly synne, (to reknen al,)
The wych ycallyd ys ‘mortal’,
Be-cause hys hurtys ffynally
Ben in effect verray dedly.
‘And yiff thow sle thy-syluen so
340

‘With dedly synne, as sommë do,
And myghtest nat in Thrytty yer
Ben hool and sownd, but stonde in wher
Touchyng thy sauacïoun,
Yet, as to myn oppynyoun,
Thow sholdest nat thy sylff dyspeyre,
Thy mortal syknesse to apeyre,
Nor thy syluen dysconforte,
But inwardly thè Reconforte,
And specialy in O thyng
Thanke ihesu, that blyssyd kyng
Lyst suffre dethë ffor thy sake,
Thy deedly wondys, hool to make;
With-oute whos dethë, I ensure,
Thow myghtest nat to lyff recure,
Nor, thy gretë loos (certeyn),
With-oute hys dethë wynne ageyn;
ffor hys hooly passïoun
Ys salue and fful sauacïoun
To ffolk that haven in constaunce
Off her synnës répentaunce;
ffor penaunce ys so vertuous
And acceptable to cryst ihesus,
That who that doth yt hertyly,
Off hys synnes hath remedy.’

The pylgrym:
To gracë dieu quod I ryht tho,
“Ma dame, in soth yt stondeth so,
Your exaumples by rehersaylle
May to me fful lyte avaylle,
ffor they be nat (who lookë wel)
Vn-to purpos neueradel.
“ffor the planetys hih in heuene,
In ther mevyng, allë seuene,
How so they in her cours be let,
Yet ther Termys ben yset,
And ther boundys, (in certeyn,)
What tyme they shal resorte ageyn,
By terme and lymytacïoun,
With-oute any transgressïoun;
341

“Off ther tyme they may nat erre,
As yt ys set, nyh nor fferre,
But that they shal, at certeyn space,
Retournë to her duë place,
At ther tyme, whan-euere yt be.
“But yt stant nat so with me,
No thyng at al, off my retour;
And causë why, ffor myn Errour
Hath no lymytacïouns;
ffor I, thorgh my transgressïouns,
So long tyme ther-in soiourne,
That I shal neuere ageyn Retourne
To entre the place that I kam ffro.
“Touchynge the boterflye also,
Therby, to myn oppynyoun,
I ha noon informacïoun
As off hys mevyng on the whel;
ffor, at hys lust, (who lokë wel)
He may go slowh, he may go lyht,
He hath .iiij. wyngës ffor the fflyht;
And whan he seth yt may avaylle,
He may chese, in hys travaylle,
At hys lust, abyde and reste
By good leyser, ffor the beste:
Al thys consydred prudently,
I dar wel seyn, so may nat I.”

Grace dieu:
‘Myn exaumples, trewly,’ quod she,
‘May to purpos taken be,
Yiff thow aduertë wel ther-to;
ffor, set thys cas,—that yt be so
That thys planetys, in her mevyng,
May nat erre no maner thyng,
Nouther ffaylle, but in certeyn
To ther places retourne ageyn
ffro whenys they kam, On and alle;
Yet somme off hem, I sey, may ffalle
As yt be-ffyl, the trouthë wyst,
Whan seyn Iohan the ewangelyst
Sawh, among the sterrys alle,
342

‘How On ffrom heuene dydë ffalle—
Lyk a brond off ffyr with levene—
Doun to the Erthe ffro the heuene;
The wychë sterre, I dar wel seyn,
Retournede neuere yet ageyn
Thyder ffro whens he dydë ffalle;
And ‘Absinthium’ men hym calle,
Be causë he doth sygnefye,
Thorgh hys pryde and ffals envye,
The bryhte aungel that ffel so ffer,—
I mene the Aungel Lucyfer—
ffro the heuene in-to dyrknesse;
And he hath ek mor bytternesse
Than any woormood growyng here.
And, Trewly, yiff thow lyst lere,
That he whylom (thus stood the caas,)
Bryhter than any sterrë was:
Truste me wel, and be certeyn
That he shal neuere Retourne ageyn
To the place that he kam ffro.
‘But off thè, yt stant nat so;
And ffyrst, by thys exaumple layd
To conferme that I ha sayd:
Thogh thow a-mong, in thyn entent,
ffalle doun ffro the ffyrmament
Off verray ffeyth, doun ffro so fer
With the Angel lucyfer,
And thy ffal and thy soiourn
Were with-outë mor retourn,
That thow sholdest ay and euere
In thyn errour so perséuere,
And woldest nat thy sylff avaunce,
Thè tamende by répentaunce,
Than, thorgh thyn erroure and ffolye,
Thow stoode in gret Iupartye
To kome ageyn to thyn degre.
‘But yiff thow woldest amende the,
And off herte and hool entente
Resorte ageyn, and thè repente
Off al that euere thow hast mysdo,
343

‘Thow sholdest neuere haue erryd so,
But that thow sholdest (trustë me)
fful wel ageyn receyved be;
And with al thys, only by grace,
Restoryd to thy ffyrstë place:
Ther-to thow sholdest ha no let,
Thy terme, thy boundys, ben so set,
And markys ffor thy savacyoun
Only by crystys passïoun:
Truste me wel, and thus yt ys,
They wyl nat suffre the gon Amys,
Whyl thow thè holdest by resoun
Wyth-Inne thy lymytacïoun,
Nat to Erryn, nyh nor ffer;
But so ne may nat lucyfer,
ffor he muste abyde and dwelle
With-oute Retournë, styll in helle;
He may haue noon other graunt.
And thys Exaumple ys suffysaunt
Off the planetys told off me,
In thy passáge tenformen the.
‘And fferther-morë, the to guye
Touchynge also the boterflye,
Off wych Exaumple, in thyn Avys,
Thow settyst ther-off but lytel prys;
But yiff thy wyt, off Resoun seth,
The .iiij. wynges with wych he ffleth,
And hys ffeet ek (tak hed ther-to)
Make hym on the whel to go
At leyser, hym sylff to spede.
By wych exaumple (as I rede)
Thow shalt hym folwe in sondry wyse;
And ffyrst off allë, the avyse
How thys whel hath (yt ys no doute,)
.iiij. spokys strechchyd oute,
Vp-on wych, ffor thy beste,
Thow mayst wel thyn syluen reste,
And by esë, soffte and soffte
Clymben tyl thow kome aloffte.
‘Thys spokys .iiij. off most vertu
344

‘Ben in the croos off cryst ihesu,
The wychë ben yset fful wel
With-Inne in the myddel whel,
Off wychë, with hys eyen bryhte,
Ezechiel hadde a syhte:
Hys prophesyë doth vs lere,
To hym a whel ther dyde appere,
Wych hym thouhte (in sondry placys)
By semyng haddë .iiij. ffacys,
ffor to shewyn in ffygure
Auctorysed by scrypture
(Yiff thow lyst to haue in mynde)
.iiij. helpys thow mayst fynde
In crystys cros, (yiff thow take hede,)
In thy Iournè thè to spede;
Wych .iiij. shal thè solace,
Make thè to thy ffyrstë place
ffor to retourne the weyë-ryht.
‘As longe as thow hast a syht
To .iiij. partyes off crystis cros,
Ne drede the neuere off no los,
Nor off hyndryng in thy vyage.
And looke, in thy pylgrymage,
Wher-so-euere thow repayre,
Ther-off to take thyn exaumplayre,
ffor thow mayst no bettre do.’
And whan she haddë sayd me so,
Thys Gracë dieu, affter a-noon,
ffarwel, fro me, she was a-gon
Al sodeynly out off my syht.
But thanne, off cher fful glad and lyht,

Youthe
And with hyr ffresshë ffethrys ffayre,
Youthë gan to me repayre,
And to me sayde in hyr manere:
‘Thow art a ffool! what dostow here?
Tak good hed to my sentence!
Thow art mad, to yive credence,
To leue and herknen euerytale
Or syngyng off the nyhtyngale;
345

‘Ther-in ys no melody,
Whos song ys euere ‘Occy, occy,’
Wych ys to seyne, whan she hath do,
“Go sle thy sylff!” she meneth so.
Leff al thys thyng, and go with me;
ffor, thys weye wych thow dost se,
Ys penyble and éncombrous,
Dredful also, and envyous;
Thy myght, thy power, ben ago;
Thy body ys wery ek also;
The weye wyl makë the to tarye,
ffor yt ys ffroward and contrárye,
And ffer also ffro thyn entente;
And I ther-to wyl nat assente.
‘And in fforthryng ek off the
I wyl nat go, but I wyl ffle;
ffor thow and I shal han repayr,
Nat on the ground, But in the hayr,
Wher thow shalt fynde no maner lak;
ffor I wyl trusse thè on my bak,
Ber thè fforth (yt shal nat ffaylle)
That thow shalt felë no trawaylle
In thy vyagë, but ful soffte
I shal ber thè hih a-loffte,
That thow mayst sen aboutë Round,
The se, the heyr, and al the ground;
And al that euere ffolkys do,
Thow shalt be-holde and sen also.’

The pylgrym:
“Yst in thy power, answere me,
Thus to ber me, and to ffle?”

Youthe:
‘Ther-to I hauë suffysaunce,
So yt be to thy plesaunce;
And that thow shalt knowe agon,
Skyp on my bak, and lat vs gon,
And in effect thow shalt wel se
How that I shal helpyn the.’
And I, with-outë mor abood,
346

Clamb on hyr bak wher-as she stood.
To hyre yt was no grevaunce;
ffor, as lyhtly (in substaunce)
I was take vp in-to lyte,
As a chykne off a kyte,
Al sodeynly, or I was war;
And on hyr bak, fforth she me bar
Vn-to the hegh, and was my guyde
Stretth vn-to the tother syde.
And to that weye she hath me born
Wych that I hadde lefft to-forn,
And held to me ful wel forward;
But gret encombraunce affterward
Ther-off ys ffallen vn-to me,
And fful gret aduersyte,
Wych I shal tellyn in substaunce,
As they kome to rémembraunce.
Whan I was passyd the hegh allas,
ffynally thys was the caas:
Yowthe me brouht (and thus yt stood,)
In-to a weyë large and brood,
And sayde she wolde, off al that day,
No ferther ber me on my way.
And so, wher yt were sour or soote,
She trew me doun. I wente on foote
Ay be that hegh, doun costeyynge.
“And, with-outë long taryynge,
In the weye that she me sette,
An Oldë wekke a-noon I mette,
Hydous and owgly off hyr look;
And off hyr shap, good hed I took;
Hyr Eyen royllynge in hyr hed,
Hyr fface colouryd was lyk led,
Hyr noosë heng doun to hyr chyn,
Hyr mouth fful large, and ek ther-in
With hyr teth (as I beheld,)
A fful large sak she held;
Ther-in a tonge she held also,
And Rampawntly she gan to go
Vn-to me-ward, off cruelte,
347

Lych as she wolde ha stranglyd me;
Gan hyr handys to me strecche,
And felly sayde ‘Arrew, thow wrechche!
Thow skapyst nat:’ she swor, seyn george,
She wolde me stranglyn by the Gorge:
Thus yt sempte, as by hyr cher;
And I hadde-on no gorger
In my dyffence, but drowh abak,
And vn-to hyre ryht thus I spak:

The pylgrym:
“What artow,” a-noon quod I,
“That komyst so dyspytously,
Thow Oldë wekkë, with meschaunce,
ffroward off look and contynaunce;
and al that euere I se on the,
fful gretly dyspleseth me.”

Glotonye:
‘I am,’ quod she, ‘as thow shalt lere,
Off Epicuris chyldre dere,
Verray moder and maystresse,
And off that sorte gouérneresse:
I gouerne hem, (thus stant the cas,)
Who that euere her ffader was.’

The pylgrym:
“fful ffayn,” quod I “I woldë se
What Epicuriens sholdë be.”

Glotonye:
‘They be (ffor short conclusioun)
A sect off thys condicïoun,
Wych holde, and lernë thys off me,
That perfyt ffelycyte
Ys, that a man lyk hys delyt,
ffolwe alway hys appetyt;
Ther Sak, ther wombe, (I vndertake,)
Off hem ther goddys they do make;
Ther Ioye and al ther bysynesse
Ys only set in lykerousnesse;
ffor, thys Sect alway most thynkes
On dyuers metys and on drynkes:
348

‘To thys Sect yt ys endwed,
With rost somwhyle, and with stewyd,
To be seruyd, and metys bake,
Now to ffrye, now steykës make,
And many other soteltes.
And dyuers ffoundyn out deyntes;
ffor al thys sect, I the ensure,
Be nat cóntent that nature
Yservyd be with suffysaunce;
But ther Ioye and ther plesaunce
Stant in superfluyte;
And hooly ther ffelycyte
(Affter ther oppynyoun)
Ys in delectacyoun.’

The pylgrym:
“What ys thy name? tel on,” quod I.

Glotonye:
And she Answerd redyly,
‘To sey trouthe, and nat to lye,
My name in soth ys ‘Glotonye.’
My sak, I ffelle vp to the brynke,
And neuere I sparë ffor to drynke,
fful offtë whan I ha no nede;
And I allone (yt ys no drede)
fful offtë sythe, off lykerousnesse,
ffylle my paunche, off gredynesse,
With as mychë (trew(ë)ly)
As .iij. men myghtë lyuë by,
Swyche as hauen indygence;
ffor, in Ryot and dyspence,
In wast, in reuel and outráges,
Spent in gelees and potáges,
And dyuers drynkës ffor solas,
Romney, clarre, ypocras,
In malvesyn, and in Osey,
The longë nyht I daunce and pley,
And cessë nat to drynke alway;
Go to bedde whan yt ys day;
And sommë clerkys a-mong alle,
‘Castrimargia’ me calle.’

349

The Pylgrym:
“Declarë me, and nat ne ffeyne,
What ‘castrimargia’ ys to seyne.”

Glotonye:
‘“Castrimargia,” ys ploungyn doun
Off mussellys by submercioun;
Wyth-outë chawyng, doun they launche,
Devouryd hool in-to the pawnche;
And ther they be so depe ydreynt,
In the mawe to-gydre meynt,
That my sak, by submercioun,
Ys offtë tournyd vp so doun.
Whan yt ys fful and overleyn,
Yt goth out by the gorge ageyn;
Over bord, al goth to wrak;
And thus I voyde among my sak;
The Tempest draweth doun the sayl.
‘I make tracys, as doth a snayl,
With drawlyng on my mokadour,
And efft ageyn do my labour
(As an vngry wolff, certeyn,)
ffor to ffylle my pook ageyn.
‘I may resemble wel to Bel,
Off whom that speketh Danyel,
The ydole that devourede al:
My bely round, and no thyng smal,
And with my nosë long and round,
I trace affter, as doth an hound,
To ffynde the ffwet wher mete ys good;
And, by the goolet off myn hood
The bestë goth; yiff that I may,
Thys lyff I letë nyht and day.’

The pylgrym:
“Yet off a thyng I pray the,
That thow woldest tellyn me:
Yiff thow thè ffyllest (in thyn avys)
Off metys that ben off lytel prys,
As off benys or brownë bred,
(Kome ther any in thyn hed,)
Thyn appetyt for to staunche,
350

“Swych hardë metys in thy pawnche?”

Glotonye:
Quod she, ‘thow shalt ful wel espye,
The custom ys off glotonye,
As wel (yiff I shal expresse,)
In gretë metys to don excesse,
(Who the trouthë wel espyes,)
As wel as in delýcacyes;
ffor men as wel may doun outráges
With benë bred and swyd potáge,
Excesse and superfluyte,
Als wel as in curyouste:
The mete nat causeth the excesse,
But the ffretyng gredynesse,
They maketh only the Glotoun,
And nat the mete in no sesoun:
Tast, that ys the pryncypal,
And lust ther-off, that causeth al.’

The pylgrm:
Than quod I “I pray the,
What thyng ys ‘Tast’? declarë me.”

Glotonye:
‘Yiff I to the declarë shal,
Therby inward passeth al;
And ther-in ek myn appetyt
Hath specially al hys delyt;
Yt ys the mouth off my sachel,
Whérby passeth euerydel;
By that golet, large and strong,
Off mesour nat .iij. Enchë long;
I wolde, ffor delectacïoun,
That yt were (off hys ffacoun,)
Long as ys a kranys nekke;
Thanne I nolde off nothyng wrekke,
But only (yiff I shal telle)
With fattë mussellys yt to ffelle,
With lard, and collopys wel yfryed;
How hard they were to be defyed,
I woldë ther wer ffounde no lak
In the stuffyng off my sak,
351

‘Wych that hath a double mouth,
To receyuë north and sowth,
Al deyntes that may be founde;
ffattë mussellys large and Rounde,
I threste hem in fful lykerously.
‘And yet myn Eyen be mor gredy,
Mor desyrous to do gret wast
Than ys my sak outher my tast:
To ther desyre, in no wyse
Nothyng may ynowh suffyse;
Myn Eyen, thorgh none suffysaunce,
Don to my stomak gret grevaunce,
Mor peryllous than swyrd or knyff,
ffor to shorte a manhys lyff;
And ffynally, (who that kan se,)
Excesse and superfluyte
Slen mo men, nyh and ffere,
Than outher swerd, dagger or spere.’

The pylgrym:
“Syth excesse and swych outráge
Don to the so gret damáge,
Off mussellys smale and grete,
Why lystow with hem surfeete,
Syth thow concludest (in sentence)
In surfet ys gret pestylence?”

Glotonye:
‘With-Inne my mouth (as thow shalt lere,)
I bere A touch, (yiff thow wylt here,)
A Touch off gret infeccïoun
The wychë, by corrupcïoun,
Wher that euere he haue repeyr,
He infecteth al the heyr,
And sleth mo ffolk by vyolence
Than any other pestylence.
‘That touch, by touchyng redyly,
Ys mad so sharpe and so gredy
By touch off metys delycat,
Thanne he to Resoun obstynat,
Mut, with hys touch, touchyn som whyht,
Or ellys wolde he, a-noon ryht,
352

‘Wexyn wod, or by outrage
Sodeynly ffalle in-to a rage,
Thè to touche, as yt ys due;
The tother touch ay doth hym sue;
And semblably, (who lyst to se,)
Ryht thus ffareth tast by me,
Wych lytel rechchet off my profyt,
So that he haue hys owne delyt.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “what euere ffalle,
What shal I thys Touch ycalle?”

Glotonye:
‘Thow shalt calle hym, ffer and ner,
The ffleynge massager,
Off wyngës swyft, wych wyl nat dwelle,
Euery thyng out for to telle:
Al that euere ys in the herte,
Ther shal no thyng besyde asterte;
And most, a-mong thys ffolkys alle,
A shrewdë neihbour, men hym calle;
Or a clyket fful mortal,
Wych opneth and vncloseth al.
‘And hys condicioun ek ys thys,
Gladly euere to seyn Amys;
And most he doth hym sylff applye
ffor to spekë vyllenye,
And ther-vp-on tabydë longe.
Whan he hath dronkë wynës stronge,
And with deyntes ffeld hys sak,
Thannë al thyng goth to wrak,
What he touchet, I ensure,
So ffer he goth out off mesure.’

The pylgrym:
“What ar they, off her tongys large,
That with wyn hem overcharge?”

Glotonye:
‘Ther-in ys most hys appetyt,
And ther-in he hath most delyt.
By hym I am out off mesure
Brouht, that I may nat endure;
353

‘Offt by hym I ffalle in blame,
In gret dyshonour and dyffame;
ffor he me gaff (who lokë wel)
Thys sak also, and thys phonel
Wyth wych my wynës I vp tonne.
And whan that I haue onys gonne
To tonnen vp, (as thow mayst se,)
I take ther-off so gret plente,
Swych háboundaunce and swych foysoun,
That I lese wyt and resoun,
Dyscrecïoun, wysdam and mynde,
That I kan no weyë ffynde
To gon vn-to myn ownë hous,
Mad and dronke, as ys A mous.
‘Than spek I nat but Ribaudye,
Outrage and gret vyllenye;
I haue noon other Elloquence;
ffor than I do no reuerence,
Nouther to god, (in no manere,)
Nor to hys ownë moder dere;
ffor yiff I shal the trouthe expresse,
Whan I am ffalle in dronkenesse,
My tongë than I gynne to broche,
That, yiff Resoun wolde aproche,
I bydde hym shortly (thys no nay,)
To take hys leue, and gon hys way.
And also in my dronkenesse
I sey the same to Ryhtwysnesse;
ffor thogh prudence and equyte,
Sapyence And veryte,
Hadden with me tho to done,
They sholde be put abak fful sone.
‘With sobyrnesse, nor áttempraunce,
I wyl haue noon ácqueyntaunce:
They be no thyng off myn allye;
I haue off hem but moquerye;
ffor, wher dronkenesse ys guyde,
Ech vertu ys set asyde;
And whan with wyn ful ys myn horn,
I am ffers as an vnycorn;
354

‘ffor, than bothe, in wrong and ryht,
I wyl stryue with euery whyht,
Tak vp quarellys, and dyffame,
Sette on euery whyht a blame,
And, lyk a bole, (yt ys no dred,)
Myn Eyen Rollyn in myn hed;
Lyk a botore, I haue also
Two wombys whan I haue A-do.’

The pylgrym:
“Expownë me, ánd nat ffeyne,
Hastow verrayly wombys tweyne?”

Glotonye:
‘Trewly,’ quod glotonye to me,
‘I haue tweyne, as thow mayst se,
Wych ben ful nyh (who kan espye,)
Off the kynrede and allye
Off Venus; ffor lykerousnesse
Off welfare, and gret excesse,
Engendre and cause naturelly
fflesshly lust and lechery.
‘And the ffyrst off thys kynrede
Ys callyd (who that taketh hede)
Off som ffolkys ‘Dronkenesse,’
And the tother ‘Gredynesse’
Off sondry metys and deyntes;
And bothë two, in ther degres,
Wyl ther placys occupye,
Drynke and etë by envye.
Evere ther glotons appetyt
Ys so ful off ffals delyt,
So gredy and so vnstaunchable,
Ther Etyk ys so importable;
Now I ete, and now I drynke;
Tyl I be ful vp to the brynke,
I do alway my besy peyne.
And trew(e)ly thys wombys tweyne,
Wych al devoure, and neuere slake,
Makë Venus to a-wake
Out off hyr slep, (lyk as I sayde,)
And causeth hyre fful offte abrayde.
355

‘And for that I am glotonye,
I dar trewly specefye
How Venus (yt ys no ffayl)
Euere me sueth at the tayl;
We departë seld or neuere,
ffor we be to-gydre euere;
She wyl nat partë, yiff she may.
‘And whom that I, be nyht or day,
Areste, or makë to abyde,
Wher-so that he go or ryde,
I brynge hym off entencïoun
To ben vnder subiectïoun
Off Venus; for she and I
Confedryd ben so trew[e]ly,
That ffolkys vnder my demeyne,—
Swych as be lacyd in my cheyne,
Or sesyd, (ther ys no mor to seye,)—
Vn-to hyre they muste obeye.’

The pylgrym:
“I praye, declare a-noon to me,
What thyng thys Venus sholdë be.”

Glotonye:
Quod glotonye, ‘with-outë glose,
Thow shalt off hyrë (I suppose)
Hyryn tydynges A-noon ryht,
Off hyr power and off hyr myght;
And thannë, yiff thow wylt enquere,
What she ys, she wyl the lere.’
And, whyl I stood musynge thus,
I sawh a-noon wher that Venus
Kam rydynge on a swyn saváge,
And in hyr hand, a ffals vyságe
I sawh hyr bern, fful brood and large,
To-fforn hyr Eyen, lyk A targe.
And thys Venus trew(e)ly
Was Arrayëd queyntëly;
ffor hyr clothys and hyr array
Defoulyd wern with donge and clay,
ffor wych (in euery maner place)
She gan shroude and hyde hyr fface
356

Vnder hyr hood, so couertly
That no man ne myghte espy
The maner off hyr gouernaunce
Outward by hyr contenaunce,
ffor hyr ffacë was nat bare;
And, to me-ward as she gan ffare,
With a sharp dart wych she bar
She smette me, or I was war,
(Longë or I koude aduerte,)
Thorgh the Eye vn-to the herte.
Myn Elm was lefft behynde, allas!
My ffacë bare (thys was the cas);
Ageyn Venus vyolence,
I hadde as tho no bet dyffence.

The pylgrym:
“O, thow Olde! what hastow do,
Vnwarly me to smytë so?”

Olde venus:
‘Reporte off me, and sey ryht thus,
That I am callyd Dame venus.
My dwellyng and my mancïoun
(To me Ordeynèd off Resoun)
Ys in the Reynys most certeyn,—
Ther wyl no clerk ageyns thys seyn;—
I chace a-way al chastyte,
And, werray vyrgynyte:
Vyrgynyte, whylom off ryht,
To the Aungellys cler and bryht
Was suster, and ther nexte allye;
But now (yiff I shal nat lye
Touchyng parfyt vyrgynyte,)
Wher that euere she may me se,
She halt hyr nose, and wol be go,
Vp-on hyre I stynkë so;
To hyre I am so gret Enmy,
That, but she haddë ffynally
ffled ffor hyr savacyoun
Whylom in-to Religïoun,—
She hadde (with-outë mor refut,)
357

‘Be slayn, and dede by my pursuit—
Wher the castel ys so strong,
That I may do to hyre no wronge,
Nor the fforteressë wynne,
As longe as she halt hyr with-Inne;
But yiff so be (yt ys no doute)
That she go a-brood with-oute
At large, and haue hyr lyberte,—
As Dina wentë for to se
Wommen off that regïoun,
(As holy wryt maketh mencioun)
Iacobys douhter (thys the cas)
And she a-noon dyffoulyd was,
And the slaundre gret arose,
Be-cause she kepte hyr sylff nat cloos.
‘Ek I ne haue noon ávauntage
ffor to harme nor do damage—
Nat the valu off An Oystre—
Whyl chastyte kepeth hys cloystre,
And goth nat out in no maner,
Than ffarvel al my power.’

The pylgrym:
“Tel on a-noon, and nat ne ffeyne,
What ys thoffencë off thys tweyne,
Off maydenhed or chastyte?
What wrong han they don to the,
That thow hem hatest in thy thouht?
Declare in hast, and tarye nouht.”

Venus:
‘ffyrst, vnderstonde and herkne me,
That neuere yet Vyrgynyte
Woldë in no place abyde,
But I wer out, and set asyde:
To hyre I am abhomynáble,
Contraryous and dyffamáble;
I stynke on hyre, wher euere she be.
‘And ek hyr suster Chastyte,
Wher euere that she me espy,
She ffleth hyr way, and cryeth “ffy!”
ffor wher yt thowhe, or elles ffrese,
358

‘Leuere she hadde hyr mantel lese,
Than abyden in the place
Wher that she may se my fface.
‘She madë Ioseph, by gret stryff,
fflen ffro Putyffarys wyff,
Lefft hys mantel, and also
A-noon ffrom hyre he was a-go;
ffor chastyte (by oppynyoun,)
Haueth thys condycïoun,
That she sauff ne wyl nat vouche,
In no wysë me to touche.
‘And whan that I hyr maner se,
That yt wyl noon other be,
Than I am besy, be dyffame,
ffor to putte on hyre a blame,—
By som sclaundre ffalsly ffounde,—
Hyr goodë namë to confounde,
By swych ffolk (shortly to telle)
That ar wont with me to dwelle,
And tabyden in myn hous,
Off condicioun vycyous,
That ar glad ay to myssaye,
And chastyte ffor to werraye,
As yt sheweth (with-outë glose)
In my Romaunce off the Rose;
Make hyr name to ben appallyd,
And Faulssemblant to be callyd:
In that book by my notárye,
Wych to hyr name ys ffull contrárye.
And causë why that I do thus
Geyn chastyte fful vertuous,
Ys ffynally (yiff thow lyst se),
She wyl no queyntaunce han with me.’

The pylgrym:
“Wherfor seystow in any wyse,
And wrongfully lyst to devyse
Mong thyn Errours, on and alle,
Thys Romauncë thyn to calle?
Thy part ther-off ys neueradel;
ffor I knowe that man fful wel
359

“With euery maner cyrcumstaunce,
Wych that madë that Romaunce.”

Venus:
‘Thys Romaunce (in cónclusioun),
I may calle yt off Resoun
Myn ownë book, (whan al ys do,)
And I my sylff made yt also;
And yiff that thow consydre wel,
Gynnynge, ende, and euerydel,
He speketh ther (yiff thow kanst se)
Off nat ellys but off me,
Except only (yt ys no doute)
My clerk, my skryveyn, racede oute
Off strangë ffeldys as I be-held,
And sewh yt in A-nother ffeld,
ffolkys wenynge (yt ys no dred)
That he hadde sowhe the samë sed
Vp-on hys ownë lond certeyn.
‘But to declare the trouthë pleyn,
He dyde nat so, no thyng at al,
In straungë feldys, for he yt stal,
(Al be yt so by fful gret lak,)
He put al in hys ownë sak
Be-causë only (who kan ffele)
He caste the trouthë to concele;
Off surquedye, (yt ys no nay,)
Wolde ha born yt with hym away,
Al be, sothly, (who haue a syht)
He hadde ther-to no maner ryht;
‘But affterward he was ascryed
By a normaund, and espyed,
Wych loude cryede, and made A soun,
Yt was no ryht nor no Resoun
Off other ffolkys gadryng
To make hys berthene by stelyng.
But for al that, forth he wente,
Nouht abaysshed in hys entente,
But boldëly, or I was war,
fforth with hym hys stelthe he bar,
Ympyd yt in in my romaunce,
360

‘Wych was to me gret dysplesaunce;
ffor my wyl was, that he no thyng
Sholde ha set in hys wrytyng,
No thyng (as to myn entent,)
But yt wer to me pertynent,
Or accordynge to my matere,
Or at the leste (as ye shal here),
That he hadde set in no mor
But that was off hys ownë stor:
He was askryed off hys ffolye
Off On yborn in Normaundye;
ffor wych, neuer affter (by couenaunt)
He louede neuere no Normaund:
The Romaunce kan yt wel declare,
In wych he wrot (and lyst nat spare,)
That Male-bouche (yt ys no lye)
ffledde ffyrst out off Normaundye;
Wher-off he made a strong lesyng,
Lyede also in hys wrytyng,
Off relygious, euele to speke,
And vp-on hem to ben a-wreke,
To my ffauour (as ye may se)
Be-cause I púrsue chastyte.’

The pylgrym:
“Than may I ryht wel certeyn
Afferme, that thow and thy skryveyn
Ben replevysshed (who kan se)
Off malys and inyquyte;
ffor who-so, thogh he wer my brother,
Wyl gladly seyn evel off A-nother
I may off hym seyn (Est and south,)
That he haueth no good mouth;
ffor with hys tonge (who that touche,)
He may be callyd ‘Malë bouche.’
Wherfor trewly thy skryveyn
Hihte ‘Malë bouche,’ I dar wel seyn,
Whan he (voyde off al ffavour)
Gan appellë hys neyhbour,
Only for he dyde hym ascrye,
To seyn the trouthe, and lyst nat lye.
361

“And thow (who taketh hed ther-to)
Hast a wykked mouth also,
Wych, off thyn Inyquyte,
Hast lyed vp-on Chastyte,
To makë goodë ffolk hyr haate,
And ageyn hyr to debate.”

Venus:
‘Thow seyst soth, (yt ys no drede,)
But thow shalt wyte (in verray dede)
My condicioun ys to lye;
And pleynly, (yiff thow konne espye)
Be ryht wel war alway off me;
With lyyng I shal deceyuë the.’

The pylgrym:
“Tel on to me the causë why;
Why hastow smet me vnwarly?”

Venus:
‘What trowestow for to go ffre
Whyl that I am so nyh by the?
Nay, nay! that may nat be-falle.
Thow knowest nat thassautys alle
Off my werk, nor the manere,
But by processe thow shalt lere;
Wherso-euere that I assaylle,
Off my pray I wyl nat ffaylle;
And wher I hurtë with my darte,
Yt ys ful hard ffor to departe
With-outen harm ffro my daunger,
Whom-euere I markë, ffer or ner,
I dar yt swern (in verray sothe)
By myn hed ykempt so smothe.’

The pylgrym:
“Syth thow art kempt so sotylly
And arrayed so ffresshëly,
As thow sayst in thyn language,
Why hydestow thy vysage
That I may nat clerly yt se?
ffor som deceyt I trowe yt be.”

Venus:
‘Wher-euere that I repayr,
362

‘Trustë wel, I am nat ffayr;
And yiff I haddë gret fayrnesse,
I wolde nat hyde yt in dyrknesse.
And thogh that I be kempt ryht wel,
Yt ne sueth neueradel
That I am ffayr, for in array,
Thogh that I be queynte and gay,
I am ryht foul for to beholde;
My chekys Rympled and ryht Olde,
And ful hydous, (yt ys no nay)
And mor horryble than I dar say.
‘And ther-for be ryht wel certeyn,
I hyde me that I be nat seyn,
And holde me euere in placys dyrke,
Go by cornerys that be myrke;
And I ne haue no maner syth
At mydday whan the sonne ys bryht
In hys spere ful hih aloffte;
And I me putte in pereil offte,
Yiff thow knewë my passáges,
Placys off my gret outráges
Wych I vsë, trustë me,
Ther-off thow woldest astonyd be:
‘I Ryde vp-on A cursyd hors,
I trowë nowher be no wors;
ffor placys that be most peryllous,
Most horryble and hydous,
Most dredful and most vnsure,
Ther I loggë, off nature:
Thys my custom, day be day,
As a sowhe, in donge and clay,
Ther ys my lust most to dwelle;
I am mor ffoul than I kan telle:
Ryht foul I am in abstracto:
But yet mor ffoul in Concreto
I am holde, a thowsand ffold;
And, therfor, as I ha told,
I ber thys wonderful peynture,
Thys ffalse vysagë, thys ffigure,
Off entent, in euery place,
363

‘ffor to shrowde ther-with my fface,
And my ffeturys ffor to hyde,
That men espyen in no syde
My scornyng nor my mokerye,—
In ffrench ycallyd ‘Farderye’
And in ynglyssh, off old wrytyng,
Ys ynamyd ek ‘poppyng’—
Wych, whan ffolkys ffall in age,
Maketh Ryvelys in the vysage,
And large ffrowncys I ensure.
‘And, also, ageyn nature,
I makë ffolkys ffor to deme
By crafft outward, my sylff to seme
ffayrere than euere that I was,
To looke in merour or in glas.
‘Also my condicïoun
Ys to walkyn vp and doun,
Now in towne, now in the ffeld;
In O place I abydë seld,
But yt be by swych a fortune
Wher my lust I may parfourme;
I menë, placys off dyffame,
Wych, to réherse, ys gret shame;
Wher-off my clerk, off whom I tolde,
Hath yseyd lyk as he wolde,
Spekynge ful outragously,
And gaff Exaumple ffynally
ffor to speke off dyshoneste,
Off entent (as thow mayst se)
Out off my slep me to awake,
In a-wayt, I sholdë take
Pylgrymes that walkë by the way,
Hem tareste, and make affray,
Off fforcë doun hem bowe hyr chyne,
And tobeyë my doctryne.
‘He wendë I hadde ben a-slepe;
But the weyës I do kepe
Nyht and day, (yt ys no les;)
And I am nat rekkëles,
But hem areste in euery place,
364

‘Wher-so-euere that they pace;
Ther skapeth noon, day nor nyht,
But yiff yt be only by fflyht;
I may nat ffayllë, ffer nor ner,
Yiff myn offycerys done ther dever.’

The pylgrym:
Thanne quod I “I pray the
Lat me sen hem, what they be;
But I leue, in myn entent,
That they be nat her present.”

Venus:
‘ffor sothe, I haue hem her with me,
But I wil nat shewe hem the;
Yet neuertheles, yiff thow wylt dwelle,
The namys off hem I shal telle:
The ffyrstë callyd ys ‘raptus,’
The tother ‘stuprum,’ And next, ‘Incestus,’
The ffourthë, ‘Adulterium,’
The ffyffthë, ‘Fornicacioun.’
‘Raptus ffor-soth (by déscryvyng,)
Ys ycallyd ‘Ravysshyng
Off wommen’ (who so taketh hede),
A Synne gretly for to drede.
‘And stuprum (with-outë wene,)
Ys off maydenys that be clene.
“Incestus’ ys a synne in dede,
A man to taken hys kynrede.
‘The ffourthë ys ‘avout[e]rye’
With wyvës by ffoul lecherye.
‘Another ther ys, wych for me
Shal nat here rehersyd be,
Nor told, in no maner wyse,
Wych houeth ynowh to suffyse;
And yt shal nat ffor me be wyst,
Vnderstond yt as ye lyst.
‘Ech by hym sylff ys vycyous,
And to vse, fful perillous;
I wyl nat telle hem out at al.
But to swych (in especyal)
As dwellë with me, yong and old,
365

‘And be with-holde in myn houshold;
Yet I dar make descripcïoun;
They be ffoul off condicïoun,
Off shap, off ffourme, I the ensure,
And ryht lothsom off ffygure.
‘With hem I markë many On,
Pylgrymes that by the weyë gon;
Thè may skapen on no syde.
‘And be ek war, yiff thow abyde,
A-mong other, I shal thè smyte,
In abydyng yiff thow delyte;
Or thow must be in thy ffleyng,
Swyfft as A tygre in rennyng,
But, ffor ál that, I dar say,
I shal nat fayllen off my pray,
ffor al thy fflyht. whyl glotonye
Hath power thè ffor to guye,
Al kommeth to my subieccïoun,
Wher she hath domynacïoun.’

The pylgrym:
“I may yive credence wel her-to,
ffor glotonye me toldë so,
That thow or she, selde or neuere,
Lyst a-sonder to dysseuere.
But, as ffer as I kan lere,
Ye ben to-gydre ay yffere:
She causeth ffyrst, in substaunce,
That I off thè haue ácqueyntaunce.”
Thanne glotonye fful redyly
Answerdë, that was fastë by,

Glotonye:
‘Yiff thow me callë, in sothnesse,
Lyk as I am, A Bocheresse,
Or in ffrench (who lokë wel)
I am callyd a ‘Makerel,’
Whos offyce (to specefye,)
Ys in ynglysshe ‘bauderye;’
And lernë, (ffor conclusïoun,)
That ys verrayly my surnoun;
ffor, (the soth yiff I shal telle,)
366

‘Quyk flessh I vsë for to selle;
And yet (who vnderstondeth me)
I ha lernyd wel to sle
Mo bestys (in conclusïoun)
Than .iij. Bocherys in som toun.
But what fflessh euere that I selle,
Mor money at the stalle I telle,—
Double (yiff I shal sey soth,)—
Than any other bocher doth;
ffor wych, my namë t[o] expresse
Thow mayst me calle a ‘bocheresse’
Or a bawde, and no thyng lye,
That selleth fflessh by bauderye.
‘I am no ffyssh (who lokë wel)
Thogh I be callyd A ‘makerel,’
Wych in ffrauncë ys a name
Off gret sclaundre and diffame;
And I shal lerne thè, parcel
Off my crafft to knowe somdel:
I haue abyde in soth to longe,
Thogh my powerys be wonder stronge.’

Venus:
‘Sothly,’ quod Venus, ‘thow seyst wel;
But ne dred thè neueradel,
ffor, by the wordys that thow hast told,
Wé han ón hym fful good hold,
Wych shal tournë to no Iape;
ffor he may nat our handys skape,
Nor, out off our daunger gon.’

The Pilgrim:
And by the throtë thanne anoon
Glotonye held me so ffaste,
To grounde almost that she me caste.
And Venus gan to neyen ner,
And, fful dredful off hyr cher,
Gan ley to hand, me to confounde.
And they han me so sore bounde,
Hand and ffoot, and leggys to,
I myghte nat meuë, to nor ffro;
That I dar afferme (and seyn,
367

Who hadde al the maner seyn,)
I was lyk (he myghte ha told)
Tacalff wych sholdë ha be sold
In som market ffastë by,
On stallys in the bochery.
In swych dysioynt they laddë me,
Myn Eyen cloos, I myghte nat se;
And for they wolde nat off me ffayl,
They bond me to a swynës tayl,
I mene, the swyn off dame Venus,
fful dredfful and fful contagyous,
The wychë (by fful mortal lawe)
At hys tayl gan me to drawe,
And to brynge me vp on the wrak,
Thys ylkë two that I off spak,
Venus, and ek Glotonye,
To shewe on me ther tyrantrye,
Gan bete on me, and bonchë sore.
And affter thys, they dydë more;
They Robbede me off my treasour;
And ffor that I ffond no socour
A-geyn ther myght, (as I ha told,)
Bothe my syluer and my gold;
And nakyd they wolde ha spoyled me,
Naddë sothly O thyng be:
They sawh on komen ffastë by,
Vnwar, with a gret company;
And pleynly (as I koudë deme,)
A pylgrym he dydë seme,
And a gret lord (yt ys no nay)
By lyklyhed off hys array.

Venus:
Quod Venus thannë, ‘by my wylle,
Lat hym lyn a whylë stylle,
Tyl we may, ffrom al daunger,
Spoyllen hym at bet leyser.
‘Her kometh on, me semeth now,
Wych ys mor lykly ffor our prow,
Wham we tweynë wyl nat ffaylle
368

‘ffor to spoyllen and assaylle;
We wyl vs bothë putte in pres.’

[The Pilgrim:]
And whyl they leffte me thus in pes,
I koudë makë no declyn;
So euere in On the cruel swyn
Me drowh out off the hihë way
Among the donge, among the clay,
At hys tayl, me to confounde,
To wych I was so sorë bounde.
And whil I lay thus in dystresse,
A-noon I gan myn Eyen dresse
To be-holde how thylkë tweyne
Wer dyllygent, and dyde her peyne,
The lord tassaylle, that I off spak;
And made hym fyrst, fro horsë bak,
Maugre hys myght, to lyhtë doun;
ffor, mercy nor remyssyoun
Ther was noon, on no party;
They hym beete fful cruelly;
And by the throtë they hym took,
And pullyd hym so that he shook,
Leyde hym lowë doun to grounde;
And hys Eyen so they bounde,
That he lostë look and syht,
Hys force, hys power, and hys myght.
And affter that, thogh he wer strong,
They gan strechche hym forth along,
On a barhyde off A Somer,
Lyk a beste off A bocher,
Voyde off pyte and off shame.
And for he was a man off name
(Semynge, by hys contenaunce,)
Therfor they tookë mor vengaunce
Vp-on hym, and bounde hym sore;
And Venus swyn, with brustlys hoore,
Drowh hym forth On the bar hyde
Endëlong and ek a-syde,
By brookys and by sloos fowle,
369

A-mong the clay they hym dyffoule;
On hym they werë so cruel,
The bar hyde halp neuéradel;
ffor thys oldë wekkys tweyne
Gan hym cerche, and ek constreyne;
In euery place they han hym souht;
They took hys good, they leffte hym nouht,
And to hym dydë gret disesse.
And to me yt was noon ese
To beholdyn and to se
Ther tyranye, ther cruelte;
And trew(ë)ly yt sat me sore,
That the folk I spak off yore
Halp nat hyr lord, but hym forsook,
And, noon hed off hym they took,
But in hys mescheff lefft hym sool;
And lyk as he hadde ben a ffool,
They scorned hym, and haddë game,
And gan lawhen at hys shame;
They halp hym nouht, but leet hym be
In hys grete aduersyte,
Markede hym in hys mescheff,
Ther he lay bounden as a theff,
Scornynge at hys bak behynde.
And swych folkys men may fynde
In many place (yiff yt be souht);
Whan a man ys to mescheff brouht,
And falle in-to aduersyte,
fful fewë frendys than hath he;
At mescheff, they hym for-sake,
And but a Iape off hym they make,
Al be yt so, that they beforn
Wer supported and vp born
By hys lordshepe, in ther degre.
Whan he stood in prosperyte,
Than they woldë make hem strong,
To stonde with hym in ryht and wrong,
With false behestys (as I ha told,)
In al hys werkys make hym bold,
370

That they wolde with hym abyde
ffor lyff or deth, on euery syde;
But fynally, whan al ys do,
I ha wyst lordys deceyved so
In dyvers contres, mo than on,
Whan ther ffrenshepys wer agon.
Lat no man trusten on ffortune,
Wych selde, in on, lyst to contune.
And thus thys man, brouht to the poynt,
Stood allone in swych dysioynt,
And in gret mescheff, as dyde I;
ffor, Venus and Glotony
In swych mescheff hadde hym brouht,
That off hys lyff he rouhtë nouht,
ffor hys grete aduersyte.
But than I gan remembre me
As I lay bounden in the place,
I wolde assayen ffor to pace
The hegh, that was so thykke and strong,
Off wych I tolde, nat go fful long;
And for mor ese and sofftënesse,
I thouhte I wolde my syluen dresse
To the path on the tother syde;
ffor, wher as tho I dyde abyde,
Me sempte the placë peryllous,
Bothë dredful and dotous.
I gan a-noon to neyhen ner
To-ward the hegh, and her and ther
I gan consydren in my mynde,
Yiff I myghte an hoolë ffynde
To pacë by, that wer nat thykke
fful off thornys me to prykke.
Al thys I gan consydre and se,
Swych routhe I haddë, and pyte,
A-mong the sharpë busshys alle,
That my body sholdë falle
In any daunger or damáge,
Yiff I passedë that passáge;
Praydë god, for hys pyte,
ffrom swych harm to saven me;
371

ffor I stood in fful gret dred,
Lyk a bryd that kan no Red,
Wych, in hyr gret mortal ffer,
Loketh her, and loketh ther,
And for dred begynneth quake,
Whan she ys in the panter take,
Or engluyd with bryd-lym,
Al hyr ffethrys fful off slym,
Or vnwarly, in heth or holt,
Ys y-slayn with arwe or bolt,
Whil she ys besy to escape,
The ffoulere kan hyr so be-Iape.
Ryght so fferd I, al out off Ioynt,
Brouht vn-to the samë poynt;
But ‘who that wyl nat whan he may,
He ys a fool, (yt ys no nay,)
And he ne shal nat whan he wolde.’
ffor whyl I stood and gan be-holde
Now her now ther, and for ffer shake,
Vnwarly, by the ffeet ytake,
I was bounden, and forth lad,
That for fer I was nyh mad,
And knew nat what was best to do;
But, amyd off al my wo,
I sawh a wekke, Old and hydous,
Off look and cher ryht monstrous,
Pyled and seynt as any kaat,
And moosy-heryd as a raat.
And thys wekke (as I was war)
Vnder hyr Arm, an Ax she bar,
Lych a bocher that wyl slen
Grete bestys, and affter ffleen,
And sythen put hem to larder.
Lyk swych a womman was hyr cher;
ffor bestys at ther ffeet be-hynde,
With a corde she dydë bynde,
And cordys ek (as I was war)
Gret plente, on hyr Arm she bar,
And affter, with hyr ownë hond,
372

Strongly by the ffeet me bond;
In the knotte ther was no lak;
And thannë thus to hyr I spak:

Pilgrym
“O, thow Oldë Ryvelede whyht!
ffoul and owgly off thy syht!
Why artow, off thy cruelte,
Kome vnwarly thus on me,
ffals, and a traytour in werkyng,
And spak no word in thy komyng?
I wot, by tooknes off thy fface,
Thow kam neuere out off no good place,
Nor, thogh thow haddest the Reuers sworn,
I wot that thow wer neuer born
Off no good moder, out off drede.
And as touchynge thy kynrede,
Be thyn array (yt semeth wel)
I shold yt preysen neueradel.
ffle fforth thy way, and cast the bondys
That thow beryst, out off thyn hondys.”

[Sloth]:
Quod she, (as in conclusïoun)
‘I am no Gerfawk nor fawcoun,
Nouther sparhawk nor Emerlyoun,
Nor lyk to thyn oppynyoun;
Ches nor bellys, nyh nor ffere,
To be bounde I wyl nat bere;
ffor, al ffre, with-outë charge,
My lust ys for to gon at large.

Slouthe.
‘Trust me wel, bothe hih and lowe,
By ffeyth that I my ffader howe,
Thow shalt nat (whan al ys do,)
ffro my daunger escapë so;
But thow shalt, for al thy pryde,
Ben arestyd, and abyde,
Be causë thow hast ben so bold
To callë me ‘stynkynge and old;’
And causëles thus blamyd me,
Wych haue in many a placë be,
373

‘In somer and in wynter shours,
In chaumbrys off thys Emperours,
Off kynges, dukys, (who lyst sek,)
And off gretë bysshopys ek,
Off abbotys, pryours, and prelatys,
And many other grete estatys,
Wych neuer was (to ther semynge)
Callyd Oldë nor stynkynge,
Wher-off I wyl avengë me;
But yiff thow the strenger be,
Aud mor off power, than am I.
I shal the venquysshe cruelly.’

The Pylgrym:
Than off hyre I gan enquere,
That she wolde me pleynly lere,
and declare, by short avys,
Bothe hyr name and hyr offys.

Slouthe:
‘The trouthë,’ yiff I shal the telle,
‘With a mayster I do dwelle.
ffel and vnkouth off hys cher,
And ys off hellë cheff Boocher;
And with thys corde (yt ys no drede)
Al pylgrymes to hym I lede,
As thys Bocherys don a beste.
Swych as I may in soth areste,
I bynde hem by the feet echon;
And I ha lad hym many on,
And yet I hopë that I shal,
And thy sylff in especïal;
Trustë wel, for haste nor rape,
Thow shalt not fro my daunger skape.
‘But ffyrst off all I shal me spede,
To thylkë placë thé to lede;
ffor I am she (my name ys spronge)
That lye a bedde with ffolkys yonge,
And make hem tournë to and ffro;
I close her Eyen bothë two,
I make hem slepë, dreme and slombre,
Yongë folkys out off noumbre;
374

‘I make the Maryner fful ffast
Lyn and slepe vnder the mast,
Tyl hys vessel, by som cost,
Be ydrownyd and ylost;
I brekë al hys gouernaylle,
By costys, wher as he doth saylle;
And myd off many straungë se,
The wrak ys maad only by me.
ffor lak, in soth, off governaunce,
I cause that al goth to meschaunce,
Ther loodmanage, ther sttuff, ther wynes.
‘I cause also that, in gardynys,
(Who so lyst to looke aboute,)
That bremblys, netlys, fful gret route,
Wexe and encresse round a rowe,
And many weedys that be nat sowe;
And for tamende hem, day be day,
I putte yt euere in-to delay;
ffor I lernede, syth go fful long,
The maner off the Rauenys song,
Wych by delay (thys the cas)
Ys wont to syngë ay ‘craas, craas;’
That song I kepe wel in my thouht,
Thys lessoun, I forgete yt nouht;
My custom ys ek, what I may,
Al thyng to puttyn in delay;
And, myn vságe off Oldë daate,
What I shal done, to don yt late;
Wherfor off ryght (to seyn the trouthe)
My namë ys ycallyd ‘slouthe’;
ffor I am slowh and éncombrows,
Haltynge also, and Gotows,
Off my lymës crampysshynge,
Maymed ek in my goynge,
Coorbyd, lyk ffolkys that ben Old,
And afowndryd ay with cold;
On ech whedyr, I puttë blame,
And, ther-fóre, Slouthe ys my name,
Off custom callyd ‘Ydelnesse.’
‘Thow mayst me calle ek ‘hevynesse,’
375

‘ffor what thyng euer that I se,
Shortly yt dyspleseth me,
And, ther-off no tale I telle,
ffor, I am the samë Melle
That tourneth ay and grynt ryht nouht,
Save waste vp-on myn ownë thouht;
With Envye my sylff I were,
And ther-for, thys ax I bere;
Off wych Ax the name ys ryff,
‘Werynesse off A manhys lyff,’
As thus, for verray slogardy,
A man for slouthë ys wery.
‘Thys Ax (the byble wyl nat lye)
Made the prophetë Helye,
Whan he ffledde out off Bersabee,
Twyës slumbre vnder a tre
Callyd Iunypre, wher he slep;
But an Aungel (or he took kep)
Pookede hym, and made hym ryse.
‘Wyth thys Ax, in the samë wyse,
Clerkys I do ther restë take
At ther book, whan they sholde wake,
The pelwe to lyn vnder ther hed,
ffor slouthë hevyere than led,
And ffor they be soget to me,—
The trowthe theroff thow mayst se,—
Be no ropys mad at Clervaws
(ffor they wer makyd at Nervaws)
The ton off hem (to seyë trouthe)
By namë ys ycallyd ‘Slouthe,’
And the tother (in sentence)
Ys ynamyd ‘Neclygence,’
Strong to bynden and enbrace,
And ther hertys for to lace;
Wyth wych, throtys, sore I bynde,
That they ha nouther wyl nor mynde,
But for neclygencë spare,
To the prest for to declare
Ther trespace by deuocyoun
Lowly in confessïoun.
376

‘I ber ek other cordys ffyve;
And ther namys to descryue:
‘The fyrst ys ‘hope off longë lyff,’
Wych in thys world ys now fful ryff,
That causeth men, for lak off grace,
To trustë that thé shal ha space
Longe ynowh, to telle ther errour,
Ther synnë ek, to ther confessour.
‘The secunde ys (who lyst take hed,)
Off clerkys callyd ‘ffoly dred,’
Wych, off ffoly, maketh hem spare,
The trouthë, outward to declare,
Ther synnës clerly to dyscure.
‘And they be lyk (I dar ensure)
To bryddys ffleyng in the hayr,
Wych dar nat haven ther repayr,
To touchë nouther corn nor greyn,
Be cause only that they ha seyn
A Shewelys enarmyd in the ffeld
With bowe ay bent, with spere or sheld,
To ffleyen hem fro ther pasture,—
Wych ys but A ded ffygure,
An apparence, and noon harm doth;
The wych resembleth wel (in soth)
To a prest, in hys estaat,
A cónfessour or a curaat,
Swych as han Iurediccïoun
ffor to here confessïoun;
And trewly, what they here or se,
They muste be mwët and secre,
Ther tonge may tellyn out no thyng;
ffor they be dowmb in ther spekyng,
As an ymage wrouht off Tre or ston;
Ouht to seyn, power ha they noon;
They may here, but no thyng declare;
ffor wych, folk sholdë no-thyng spare
To tellyn out ther synnes and offence
To ther curatys wyth humble reuerence,
And gaste hem nouht by noon oppynyoun
377

‘To shewyn pleynly ther confessïoun;
ffor goode prestys (who so taketh hed)
In ther kepyng haven greyn and bred,
Bred off lyff, sed ek off scyence,
And goostly ffoode ek off elloquence,
Hys sogetys fructuously to ffeede
With doctrine whan that they ha nede.
‘The thrydde Corde ys ycallyd ‘Shame,’
Causynge A man, he dar nat attame
To tellyn out hys ffautys, nor expresse,
Only for dred and ffor shamfastnesse.
‘The ffourthe corde callyd ‘Papyllardie,’
Wych ys a maner off ypocrysie;
Wolde ben holden mor hooly than he ys,
Dar nat telle (whan he hath don amys)
Hys grete ffautys in confessioun
Lyst hys curat kauth oppynyoun
Ageyns hym, ffor hys gret offence;
Vnder colour off feyned Innocence,
Kepeth cloos, and doth the trouthë spare,
Tyl he ffalle in the dewellys snare,
ffor shamfastnesse in confessioun.
‘The ffyffte corde ys ‘Desperacioun’:
Thys the Corde, pleynly, and the laas,
Wyth wych whilom hangyd was Iudas
Whan he hadde traysshed cryst ihesu;
Wych corde ys ffer ffrom all vertu,
Off vyces werst (shortly for to telle);
ffor he that ys hangeman off helle,
With the corde off desperacioun
Hangeth all (in conclusioun)
ffolk endurat in ther entente,
That dysespeyre, and wyl nat repente,
Neuer in thys world whyl they ben alyve.
‘And with thys cordys, that be in noumbre ffyve,
I shal don al my besy peyne,
Yiff that I may, thy throte to restreyne,
Hale the fforth, and no lenger dwelle
By the way wych ledeth vn-to helle.’

[The Pilgrim]:
378

And affter thys, by hyr grete sleyhte,
And hyr Ax that was so gret off wheyhte,
Lyk a theff And A ffals ffeloun,
She smot m̄e so that I fyl a-doun;
ffor I ne hadde power nouther myght,
On my ffeet for to stonde vp ryht.
And affter that, ful sore she me bond
With the cordys that were in hyr hond:
Over myn throte, ffyrst she gan hem caste,
And knette hem affter wonder streight and ffaste;
And ffro the hegh, by hyr mortal lawe,
Cruelly she gan me for to drawe,
Wher-off I felte gret anoy and greff,
Lyk taffalle in-to gret mescheff
And gret dystresse, only nadde be
A whyht dowhe, wych that I sawh fle
To-ward hegh, wych my cordys brak,
And Ellys hadde I sothly go to wrak;
But she was sent vn-to me by grace,
Me to socoure in the samë place.
And whan I sawh that I was vnbounde,
The cordys brak, that wer gret and rounde,
Vp on my ffeet I gan me for to dresse;
And as I myghte (for verray werynesse),
To-ward the hegh I wende ha gon ful ryht;
But ther I sawh, fful owgly off ther syht,
Two that wern to me ful contrayre,
And to my purpos gretly aduersayre,
At the pendant off an hyl doun lowe;
And on off hem (as I koude knowe)
In my beholdyng (lyk as I was war)
Vp-on hyr nekke, she the tother bar;
And she that was vp-on the bak yborn,
Was gretly bolle and yswolle aforn,
And in hyr hand she bar a staff fful round,
Wych whilom Grew on A werray ground.
And off hyr look (in myn inspeccyoun)
She was lyk to a ffers lyoun,
379

And hornyd ek as an vnycorn;
And in hyr hand also she bar an horn,
And lyk a skryppe (ek afferme I dar)
A peyre belwys aboute hyr nekke she bar;
And she hadde On (as was hyr delyt)
On hyr shuldres, A mantel large off whyt,
A peyre off spores poynted (soth to say)
Lyk the bek off a somer Iay,
Shewyng out that she was maystresse
Vn-to hyre that was hyr porteresse,
I mene, tholde that bar hyre on hyr bak,
Whos clothyng was shapyn lyk a sak.
But she that rood, off whom I tolde,
Maade the tother lede hyr wher she wolde;
And she that bar, (ye shal vnderstonde,)
Held a large merour in hyr hond,
Hyr owgly ffeturys to beholde and se.
And than I gan a-noon to remembre me,
Seyde, “allas! what hap haue I, or grace!
All they that I mete in thys place,
Ben olde, echon, to-forn and ek be-hynde;
I am gretly astonyd in my mynde;
They wyl me slen, thorgh som dysaventure,
Or me Outrage, I shal yt nat recure;”
ffor she that rood vp-on the olde a-forn,
I herde a-ffer, how she blew hyr horn,
And ffaste gan affter me to ryde,
To me sayde, as I stood a syde,

The Olde Pride:
‘Yeld the!’ quod she in al hast to me,
Or thow shalt deye; yt wyl noon other be.”

The Pylgrym:
“What artow,” quod I to that olde;
“Wenystow I so sone sholde
Yelde me, and knowë nat thy name,
With-outë mor? in soth I wer to blame;
Thyn offyce ek, and also thy power,
Or that I me yelde prysowner.”

Pride:
‘Vnderstond wel ffyrst, and se,
380

‘And wyte yt wel, that I am she
Off all Olde sothly the Eldest:
Whylom, in hevene I hadde a nest;
And ther I was Eyred and yleyd,
And engendryd ek (as yt ys seyd),
Thogh yt be hih, and hennys ffer.
‘My ffader was ynamyd Lucyfer;
Off bryd ther was neuer (in-to thys day)
In bussh nor braunche leyd swych an Ey;
ffor affter tyme that I Eyred was,
Wyth thys belwys (trewly thys the caas)
I blewe ther so horryble a blast,
That my ffader was a-noon doun cast
ffrom that hih hevenly mansioun,
In-to helle cast fful lowë doun:
To-fforn he was a bryd ful cler and bryht,
And passyngly ffayr vnto the syght,
Noble, gentyl, and also ek mor cler
Than Phebus ys in hys mydday sper;
But now he ys blak, and mor horryble
Than any deth, also mor terryble.
‘And shortly ek (in conclusioun)
With my ffader I was also cast doun,
In-to thys Erthë doun ful lowe;
And ther I sawh and dydë knowe
On ymad ful fressh off fface,
ffor to restore a-geyn my place;
The wych, whan I dyde espye,
At hym I haddë gret envye,
And castë that I wolde assay
ffor to lette hym off hys way.
And with-Inne a lytel throwe,
I took my belwys, and gan blowe,
And made on hym so fel a suit,
I made hym Etyn off the frut
Wych was dyffendyd hym (certeyn)
Off hys lord, cheff and souereyn;
Wher-for he was (after my devys,)
Affter chacyd out off paradys;
Ther he loste hys avauntage.
381

‘Thus wrouht I ffyrst in my yong age:
And day be day I ne cessede nouht
Tyl I hadde gret harmys wrouht;
ffor yt am I, both nyh and ferre,
That make A-mong gret lordys, werre;
I cause al dissencïouns,
Dyscord and indygnacïouns,
And make hem, by ful gret envye,
Everych other to dyffye;
ffor I am leder and maystresse,
Cheventayne and guyderesse,
Bothe off werre and off bataylle.
I make off platë and of maylle
Many devyses, mo than on;
And to rekne hem euerychon,
Yt woldë doun but lytel good.
‘I causede ffyrst, shedyng off blood;
I ffond vp fyrst, devyses newe,
Rayës off many sondry hewe;
Off short, off long, I ffond the guyse;
Now streight, now large, I kan devyse,
That men sholde, for syngulerte,
Beholde and lokyn vp-on me.
I wolde be holden ay sanz per,
And by my syluen synguler;
I wolde also that, off degre,
Ther wer noon other lyk to me;
Yiff any dydë me resemble,
Myn hertë wolde for Ire tremble,
Ryve atwo almost for tene.
‘What euere I sey, I wyl sustene,
Be yt wrong or be yt ryht;
And I wyl ek, off verray myght,
Be cheff mayster aboue echon:
Other doctryne kepe I noon.
‘I hate also, in myn entent,
Good consayl and avysëment,
And overmor, thus ys yt,
I preyse noon other manhys wyt,
But myn owne, what so be-falle,
382

‘ffor that I holdë best off alle;
And me semeth that I kan
Mor than any other man;
Ther-with I am ek best apayd,
No thyng ys wel doun nor wel sayd,
By noon off hih nor lowh degre,
But yiff yt be only by me
Gouernyd al, to my delyt;
And ek I wolde ha gret despyt,
ffor bothe in hopen and in cloos
I wolde be preysed, and ha the loos;
ffor I wolde no man wer preysed,
Worshepyd, nor hys honour reysed,
But I allonë, mor ne lasse;
ffor I holde ech man an Asse
Saue I, wych, a-boue ech on,
Am worthy to haue the prys allone.
‘And sothly yet, whan men me preyse,
Or with laude myn honour reyse,
Outward I do yt al denye,
And sey ‘yt ys but mokerye
That they so lyst my prys avaunce;
I sey I ha no suffysaunce
Lyk to her oppynyoun,
To haue swych commendacïoun:’
And al thys thyngës I expresse,
To shewe a maner of meknesse
Outward, as by ápparence,
Thogh ther be noon in éxistence.
I with-seye hem, and swere soore,
Off entent that, mor and more
They sholde myn honour magnefye
To-for the peple by flaterye,
Taferme off me, bothe fer and ner,
That my wyt ys synguler.
‘And whan I herë ther flatrynges,
Ther gretë bost, ther whystlynges,
ffor verray Ioy I hoppe and daunce,
I ha ther-in so gret plesaunce,
That, lyk a bladder, in ech cost
383

‘I wex swollë with ther bost,
And thynke my place and my degre
Muste gretly enhaunsyd be,
And thynke yt sytteth wel to me
Tave a cheyre off dygnyte,
Lyk as I were a gret pryncesse,
A lady, or A gret duchesse,
Worthy for to were A Crowne.
‘And whan I se Round envyroune,
ffolk me Obeye on euery part,
I resemble a ffers lyppart;
Off port, off cher, I-rous and ffel,
And off my lookys ryht cruel
I be-holde on hem so rowe,
And gynne to lefften vp the browe
Off verray Indygnacïoun,
Off contenaunce lyk a lyoun,
As thogh I myghte the skyës bynd:
Al ys but smoke, al ys but wynd,
Lyk a bladdere that ys blowe,
Wych, with-Inne a lytel throwe,
Pryke yt with a poynt, a-noon,
And ffarwel, al the wynd ys gon,
That men ther-off may no thyng se.
‘And lyk as foom amyd the se
Ys reysed hihë with a wawe,
And sodeynly ys efft with-drawe,
Thát men sen ther-off ryht nowht,
Ryght so the wawës off my thouht,
By prydë reysed hih a-loffte,
With vnwar wynd be chaungyd offte.
‘Ech manhys ffawtys besydë me,
Saue myn owne, I kan wel se;
But I parceyuë neueradel
Off no thyng that they do wel.
‘To allë scornerys, in sothnesse,
I am lady and maystresse;
And off the castel off landown,
That off scornyng hath cheff renoun,
By Oldë tyme (as men may sen)
384

‘I was som tyme crownyd quen.
But the prophete ysaye,
Whan he dydë me espye,
He cursyde (off ful yore ago,)
Bothe my crowne and me also.
‘My name ys, ‘that wyl feynte
Euere to be nyce and queynte’;
And I am she (yt ys no dred)
That ber an horn in my forhed,
Wych ys ycallyd ‘Cruelte,’
To hurtë folk aboutë me:
Off verray surquedy and pryde,
I smyte and wynse on euery syde;
Prest nor clerk, I wyl noon spare;
And wyth my syluen thus I ffare,
Mor cruel, in my ffellë rage,
Than a Boole wylde and savage,
Wych rent a-doun bothe roote and rynd.
‘I ber thys belwes fful off wynd,
I ber thys sporys, I ber thys staff,
Wych that my ffader to me gaff;
I bere thys horn (who lookë wel),
I were also a whyt mantel,
To close ther vnder (vp and doun)
Al my guyle and my tresoun.
‘ffro tymë long, out off memoyre,
Thys belwes callyd ben ‘veyngloyre,’
Ther-with to quyke the ffyr ageyn,
To makë ffoolys in certeyn,
Thogh they be blak as cole or get,
Off me whan they ha kauht an het,
To semyn in ther ownë syht
That they in vertu shynen bryht,
Bryhter than Any other man
That was syth the world be-gan,
Or any that they alyvë knowe.
‘Thys Belwes I made whilom Blowe
In the fforge, with gret bostyng,
Off Nabugodonosor the kyng,
That bostede in hys regioun
385

‘That the cyte off Babiloun
Wyth al hys gretë Ryalte,
Wyth al hys fforce and hys bewte,
Was bylt and mad by hym only:
Thys was hys bost; and ffynally
With thys belwes I made a levene,
The fflawme touchyde nyh the heuene,
But affterward yt gan abate,
Yt lasteth nat by no long date.
‘And as gret wynd (who lyst to se)
Smyt al the ffrut doun off A tre,
Brawnche and bowh, and levys fayre,
And ther bewte doth apayre,
Ryght so the wynd off veyn glorye—
Be yt off conquest or vyctórye,
Or off what vertu that yt be—
Yt bloweth yt doun (as men may se),
Worshep, honour, Rénoun, ffame—
Ther ys in bostyng so gret blame.
ffor bryddes that flen in the hayr,
And hyest makë ther repayr,
Thys wynd kan maken hem avale,
Talyhtë lowe doun in the vale.
‘Hastow, a-for-tyme, nat herd sayd,
How for an Exaumple ys layd,
That a Reuene, Or north or souht,
Bar a chese with-Inne hyr mouht
As she fley ouer a ffeld;
The wychë, whan the ffox beheld,
Thoghtë that he wolde yt haue;
Sayde, ‘Ravene, god yow saue,
And kepë yow fro al meschaunce!
Prayynge yow, for my plesaunce,
That ye lyst, at my prayere,
Wyth your notys fressh and clere
Syngen som song off gentyllesse,
And your goodly throte vp dresse,
Wych ys so fful off melodye
And off hevenly Armonye;
for trewly, as I kan dyscerne,
386

Ther ys harpë nor gyterne,
Symphonyë, nouther crowde,
Whan ye lyst to syngë lowde,
Ys to me so gracyous,
So swete, nor melodius
As ys your song with notys clere;
And I am komen ffor to here,
Off entent, in-to thys place,
A lytel motet with your grace.’
‘And whan the Ravene hadde herknyd wel
The ffoxys spechë euerydel,—
As she that koudë nat espye
Hys tresoun nor hys fflaterye,—
ffor to synge she dyde hyr peyne,
And gan hyr throtë for to streyne,
And ther-with maade an owgly soun,
Ther whyles the chesë fyl a-doun,
And the ffox, lyk hys entente,
Took the chese, and forth he wente.
‘And thys deceyt (yiff yt be souht,)
Was only by my bylwes wrouht,
With falsë wynd off trecherye,
Thorgh the blast off fflaterye,
The wych, with hys sugryd galle,
Euery vertu doth appalle
And bet yt doun on every syde.
‘Ther-for lat no man abyde
The wyndes, that ben so peryllous,
Off thys belwys contagyous;
Lat ech man, (in especyal,)
Consydren that he ys mortal,
And thynkë that swych wynd in-dede
Bloweth But on asshes dede,
That wyl with lytel blast a-ryse,
And dysparpyle in many wyse;
And affter swych dyspersïoun
Al goth in-to perdicïoun.
‘Thys belwes ek (yt ys no drede)
Causeth (who-so taketh hede)
Bombardys and cornemusys,
387

‘Thys ffloutys ek, with sotyl musys,
And thys shallys loudë crye,
And al swych other menstralcye,
With ther blastys off bobbaunce,
Don offtë tymë gret grevaunce;
ffor, wyth ther wyndës off gret myght,
They quenche, off vertu al the lyht;
They blowe many a blast in veyn,
They seuere the chaff fer fro the greyn.
‘Thys wynd also, (as ye shal lere,)
Whan yt taboureth in myn Ere,
And with hys blast hath ther repayr,
Bereth me An hand that I am ffayr,
Noble also, and ryht myghty,
Curteys, wys, and ful worthy,
With swychë wyndës cryyng lowd.
A-noon I gynnë wexen proud;
But whan ther wynd ys ouergon,
ffrut ther-off ne kometh noon;
Al ys but wynd (yt ys no doute,)
Turnynge as offtë sythe aboute
As phanë doth, or wheder-cok.
‘And my Tayl, lych a pocok,
Offtë sythe on heihte I reyse,
With swych wynd, whan men me preyse.
And whan I ha swych prys ywonne,
I swollë, gret as any tonne,
Lyk to brestyn for swollyng;
Ne wer I hadde som áventyng
To makë the wynd fro me twynne,
Wych ys closyd me with-Inne,
Me semeth ellys al wer lorn.
‘And, therfore I bere thys horn,
Wych that callyd ys ‘bostyng,’
Or voydë pownche, by som lesyng.
And trewly, with myn hydous blast,
All the bestys I make a-gast,
Off my contre, for verray drede,
Make hem to lefft vp hyr hed.
‘And offtë tyme I boste also
388

‘Off thyng wher neuer I hadde a-do,
My sylff avaunce, off thys and that,
Off thynges wych I neuer kam at.
‘I boste also off my lynage,
That I am kome off hih parage,
Born in An hous off gret renoun;
That I ha gret pocessïoun,
And that I kan ful many a thyng,
And am aqueynted with the kyng.
‘I booste and blowë offte A day,
Whan that I ha take my pray,
Or whan that I, (lyk myn awys,)
Ha done a thyng off any prys,
Achevyd, by my gret labour,
Thyng resownynge to honour;
Consayl ther-off I kan noon make;
Vp with my tayl, my ffethrys shake,
As, whan an henne hath layd an Ay,
Kakleth affter, al the day;
Whan I do wel any thyng,
I cesse neuere off kakelyng,
But telle yt forth in euery cost;
I blowe myn horn, and makë bost;
I sey ‘Tru tru,’ and blowe my ffame,
As hontys whan they fyndë game.
Ryht so, whan that I do wel,
Avauntyng I tell yt euerydel,
And axe also off surquedy,
‘Hath any man do so, but I,
Outher off hih or lowh degre?’
‘And, but ech man herkne me,
(Wher yt to hem be leff or loth,)
With hem in soth I am ryht wroth,
Be yt wrong, or be yt ryght.
And I wyl here noon other whyht,
But so be I be herd to-forn,
Whan that euere I blowe myn horn.
‘And thus thow mayst wel knowen how
I resemble the Cookkoow,
Wych vp-on o lay halt so long,
389

‘And kan synge noon other song.
‘And avawntyng (who taketh hed)
Ys sayd off wynd (yt ys no dred)
Wych ys voyde off al prudence
In shewyng out off hys sentence;
And on ech thyng (in hys entent)
He wyl make an Argument,
Sustene hys part and make yt strong,
Wher that yt be ryht or wrong,
Sette a prys and sette A lak,
And preue also that whyht ys blak;
And who-euere ageyn hym stryue,
He wyl ffyhtë with hym blyue,
And, holdyng hys oppynyoun,
Make a noyse and a gret soun
ffor to supporten hys entent,
Lyk as yt wer a thonder dent.
‘Somtyme he wyl, off surquedye,
ffastyng, gretly magnefye,
And prechyn ek (by gret bobbaunce)
Off abstynence and off penaunce;
And yiff hys pawnchë be nat fful,
Wynd and wordys rud and dul
Yssen out fful gret plente,
To make al folkys that hym se,
Vp-on hym to stare and muse
And to here hys Cornemose:
Swych hornys (who that vnderstoode)
Ar wont to make noon huntys goode;
Hys hornys he bloweth al the day,
And Iangleth euere lyk a Iay,
A bryd that callyd ys ‘Agaas,’
Wych wyl suffren in no caas
No bryd aboute hyr nest to make,
With noyse she doth hym so a-wake.
‘Thus allë ffolk that here hys bost
Wyl eschewe (in euery cost)
Off swych a bostour that kan lye,
The dalyaunce and the companye.
‘And off my spores, to specefye
390

‘What they tookne or signefye,
Thow shalt wyte (and thow abyde)
That offte I shapë for to ryde,
And am ful loth, in cold or heet,
ffor to gon vp-on my ffeet,
Yiff that myn hors be fastë by,
And al myn harneys be redy.
‘On off my sporës (in sentence)
Ys callyd ‘Inobedyence;’
The tother (in conclusïoun)
Callyd ys ‘Rebellïoun.’
‘The ffyrstë madë, (by my sut,)
Adam to Etyn off the ffrut
That was forboode to hym afforn;
But thys spore, sharpere than thorn,
Maade hym stedefastly beleue
The counsayl and the reed of Eue,
Aforn ytake out off hys syde;
But to the frut she was hys guyde.
‘The tother sporë, hadde also
Vp-on hys Ele, kyng Pharao,—
Whylom a kyng off gret renoun,
And hadde in hys subieccïoun
(As the byble kan wel tel)
Al the peple off Israel,
And in thraldam and seruage,—
In hys woodnesse and hys rage
Wolde nat graunte hem lyberte
To gon out off hys contre
(In hooly wryt, as yt ys ryff);
And, for thys Pharao held stryff
Ageyn mor myghty than he was,
ffynally (thus stood the caas,)
By the spore off Rebellyoun
He was brouht to confusioun.
‘Hard ys to sporne ageyn an hal,
Or a crokke a-geyn a wal;
Swych wynsyng, thorgh hys foly,
Ageyn the lord most myghty,
Made hym, that he was atteynt,
391

‘And myddes off the see ydreynt.
‘He was a ffool, (yt ys no faylle,)
The grete mayster for tassaylle,
That ys lord most souerayne;
But pryde that tymë held hys reyne,
Off malys and off surquedye,
ffor to trusten and affye
In thys spore that I off spak,
Tyl he fyl vp-on the wrak.
‘Now wyl I speken off the staff
Wych that prydë to me gaff,
And I, to my proteccïoun,
Bar yt in-stede off a bordoun,
And ther-vp-on (for my beste)
Off custoom I lene and reste;
And who that wolde yt take a-way,
With hym I woldë makë ffray;
I wyl leue yt for no techyng
ffor no counsayl nor no prechyng,
But, obstynat in myn entent,
I voyde resoun and argument;
ffor with thys staff (who kan entende)
Myn offencys I dyffende.
‘ffor thys staff, (in sentement,)
Whylom Rud entendement,
The cherl, held by rebellioun,
Whan he dysputede with Resoun,
And callyd ys ‘Obstynacye’,
On wyche (the byble wyl nat lye)
Lenede whilom kyng Saul,
Whan he (off Resoun rud and dul,)
Was reprevyd off Samuel,
A prophete in Ysrael,
ffor the grete vnleful pray
That he took vp-on a day
In Amalech, most Rychë thynges,
As, in the ffyrste book off kynges,
Makyd ys cler mencyoun.
‘And I, for my rebellïoun,
Hatyd am in many wyse,
392

‘Off allë folkys that be wyse;
And ek, thorgh myn Inquyte,
I am cheff cause, and makë ffle
Gracë dieu; to-for my fface
She may byden in no place:—
Wher-as I am, she duelleth nouht.
‘And ek also (yiff yt be souht)
I causë paynymes, euerychon,
ffrom ther Errour they may nat gon,
Ydolatryë to for-sake,
And the ffeyth of cryst to take,
ffrom ther errour hem with-drawe,
And to kome to crystys lawe;
They be blynded so by me,
And Indurat, they may nat se
To cónuerte as they sholdë do.
‘And the Iewës ek also
I nyl stynte, nor cessë nouht,
Tyl off entent I haue hem brouht
To ther ffynal perdycïoun
And to ther dampnacïoun:
I debarre hem from al grace,
That the hegh they may nat pace;
The hegh, I menë, off penaunce,
Ther-by to kome to répentaunce:
I sterte aforn hem (in certeyn)
And make hem for to tourne ageyn,
ffor to wynse and dysobeye,
And to tourne A-nother weye.
‘Ek to the, I wyl nat spare,
Off my Mantel to declare,
Wych ys fayr by ápparence,
And haueth ek gret excellence,
Both off shap and off bewte
Owtward (who that lyst to se),
ffor couere (yt ys no doute)
Al the fowle that ys wyth-oute,
As Snowh (who that lokë wel)
Maketh whyht a ffoul dongel;
And lyk also as fressh peynture
393

‘Maketh fayr a sepulture
On euery party, syde and brynke,
With-Innë thogh yt ffoulë stynke
Off karyen and off rootë boonys;
So thys mantel (for the noonys)
Maketh me (in my repayr)
Outward for to semyn ffayr,
Parfyt, and off gret holynesse.
‘But, yiff Outward my foulnesse
Wer open shewed to the syht,
I sholde be ffoul, and no thyng bryht:
My mantel overspredeth al;
But who that (in especyal)
Inwardly knewë herte and thouht,
Blowh, and he shal fyndë nouht;
Wherfor, by descripcïoun,
I bere the sygnyficacïoun
In résemblancë, and am lych
Taffoul callyd an Ostrych,
Off whom the nature euerydel
Ys vnderstonde by my mantel.
‘Thys ffoul hath fethres fressh to se,
ffayrë wynges, and may nat ffle,
Nor fro the erthe (in hys repayr)
He may nat soore in-to the heyr;
Yet men wolde demyn, off resoun,
And wene in ther oppynyoun,
By ápparencë, to ther syht,
That he wer hable to the fflyht;
But he ffleth nat, whan al ys do.
‘And by myn habyt ek also
Men myghtë deme ther-by in al
That I were celestyal,
Goostly and contemplatyff,
Parfyt, and hooly off my lyff,
Hable to fflen vp to heuene,
ffer aboue the sterrys seuene;
And how my conuersacïoun
Wer nat in erthë lowë doun;
But who the trouthë kan wel se,
394

‘I nouther kan, nor may nat fle;
I ber thys mantel but for ffraude,
Off ffolk outward to haue A laude;
And the name to specefye,
Callyd ys ‘ypocrysye,’
Therby outward a prys to wynne.
‘And the forour wych ys with-Inne,
Off fox skynnës euerydel;
Al be that, outward, my mantel
Ys ywoven (by gret delyt)
Off shepys wollë, soffte and whyt,
I were yt on (soth to seye)
By fawssemblaunt whan I preye;
And who lyst knowë verrayly,
Many men vse yt mo than I,
Wrappe hem ther-in, in ther nede,
In hope the bettre for to spede.
‘I covere slouthe vnder meknesse,
And gretë ffelthe vnder fayrnesse;
Sey (whan rathest I wyl greue)
Sanctificetur in my be-leve;
‘And as the ffox (yt ys no dred)
Maade hym oonys as he wer ded,
And off fals fraude, (yt ys no nay,)
Myddës off the way he lay,
Ded only by résemblaunce
Outward, by cher and contenaunce;
Thus he feynede ful falsly,
Seynge a cartë passë by
fful off haryng (ther yt wente);
And the cartere vp hym hente;
In-to the carte a-non hym threwh,
ffor he in soth noon other knewh.
And whyl the carter forth hym ledde,
On the haryng the fox hym fedde;
He heet hys felle, and wente hys way.
‘And euene lyk, fro day to day,
Vnder thys mantel I me wrye,
Wych callyd ys ‘ypocrysye,’
By wych (erly, and ek ful laat,)
395

‘I ha be brouht to hih estaat
fful offtë sythe, (as men may se)
And reysed vn-to hih degre.
‘But yiff thys mantel wer asyde,
Vnder wych I do me hyde,
Off ffolk (that vnderstondë wel)
I shold be preysed neueradel;
For ffolkys wolden at me chace,
Hunte at me in euery place,
Sette on me ful many a lak.
‘And she that bereth me on hyr bak,
I shal the maner off hyr telle,
Yiff thow wylt a whylë dwelle.’

The Pylgrym asketh:
Thanne quod I, or she was war,
Vn-to the oldë that hyr bar:
“Certys, in myn oppynyoun,
Off lytel reputacïoun,
Nor off no prys, thow sholdest be,
Be thyn offyce, (as semeth me,)
To bern A best so cruel,
Vp-on thy bak, Irous and fel.”

The Olde Answerde:
‘I am she that ful wel kan
Scorne and mokkë many A man;
And to myn offyce, yt ys due,
ffolkys lowly to salue.
‘Lordys that ben off gret estaat,
On hem I wayte, Erly and late;
In wrong and ryght, I kan hem plese,
And pleynly to ther hertys ese,
fful gret plesaunce I kan do;
My song to hem ys ‘placebo,’
And they ful wel vp-on me leve,
I seyë nat that sholde hem greue;
And thogh they kan me nat espye,
Vn-to hem I kan wel lye.
‘And my crafft I thus devyse:
I sey to ffoolys, they be wyse,
And to folk that ben hasty,
396

‘I affermë boldëly
They be mesúrable and ffre,
And off ther port fful áttempre.
‘I sey also (off ffals entent,)
To ffolkys that be neclygent,
That they in vertu be besy;
And to tyrauntys, ful boldëly
I afferme, and sey hem thus,
That they off hertë be pytous;
I swere yt, for to make hem sure.
‘And placys ful off old ordure,
I kan strowhe with Rosshys grene,
That ther ys no ffelthë sene.
And I kan sette (or folk take hed)
A Coyffe vp-on a skallyd heed:
Thys myn offyce, and noon other;
‘And at the kyngës hous, my brother,
I am welkomyd off euery man,
So wel to hem I plesë kan,
ffor in that court ys no gestour,
I yow ensure, nor tregetour,
That doth to hem so gret plesaunce
As I do with my dallyaunce,
They han in me so gret delyt.
‘Yet for al that, myn appetyt
Ys to deceyue hem, grene and rype;
So swetly with my ffloute I pype,
My song ys swettere, hem tagree,
Than off meremaydenys in the se,
Wych, with ther notys that they sowne,
Causë folkys for to drowne
With ther sootë mellodye.
‘My ryhtë namë ys ‘Flatrye,’
Callyd ‘cosyn to Tresoun,’
And by dyssent off lynë doun
Eldest douhter off Falsnesse,
Cheff noryce off Wykkednesse;
And all thys oldë ffolk (certeyn)
Her-to-fforn that thow hast seyn,
I excepte off hem neuere on,
397

‘I haue hem fostryd euerychon
With my mylk, on and alle,
In tast lyk sugre; but the galle
Ys hyd, they may yt nat espye.
‘And, with my mylk off fflaterye
I was noryce, and ek guyde,
In especyal vn-to Pryde,
Vn-to whom, in sothfastnesse,
I am verray porteresse.
And, that in me ther be no lak,
I bere hyre euere vp-on my bak,
And ellys she, in sowre and soote,
She sholde shortly gon on fote.’

The Pylgrym:
Thanne quod I, “answere to me;
Thylke merour wych I se,
Wych thow beryst, ther-in to prye,
Tel on, what yt doth sygnefye!”

Flatrye:
‘Herdestow neuere her-to-forn
Tellyn, how the vnycorn,
Off hys nature, how that he
fforgeteth al hys cruelte,
And no maner harm ne doth,
Whan that he be-halt (in soth)
Hys ownë hed, and hath a syht
Ther-off, with-Inne a merour bryht?’

The Pylgrym:
“I haue herd sayd,” quod I, “ryht wel
Ther-off the maner euerydel.”

Flatrye:
Than quod she, ‘I wyl nat spare,
Off Resoun, Prydë to compare
To the vnycorn (off ryht),
The wych, whan he hath a syht
Off hym sylff in A merour,
And beholdeth the rygour
Off hys port, he bereth hym ffayre,
And gynneth wexyn debonayre.
And thys merour (in substaunce)
398

‘Ys ycallyd ‘Accordaunce,’
Resownyng ay (be wel certeyn)
To al that prydë lyst to seyn,
To holde wyth hym in ech degre,
With-outen al contraryouste;
ffor whyl that folk hys wordys preyse,
And on heyhte hys honour reyse,
Al that whyle (in sykernesse)
Prydë leueth hys ffersnesse,
And ellys, lyk an vnycorn,
He wolde hurtle with his horn,
That no thyng, on se nor londe,
Sholde hys cruelte with-stonde.
‘And for thys cause, to my socour,
I ber with me thys merour,
ffro hys sawës nat dyscorde;
What-euere he seyth, I accorde
And assente ay wel ther-to.
‘Who vnderstant, I am Echcho
Among the rokkys wylde and rage,
Wych answere to euery age:
To yong and old, what so they seyn,
I answere the same ageyn,
In ryght and wrong, to ther menyng,
And contrarye hem in no thyng.’

[The Pilgrim:]
And whyl that I held companye
And dalyaunce with fflatrye,
Heryng the maner and the guyse
Off hyr deceyt in many wyse,
I sawh an old on, ful hydous,
Off look and cher ryht outragous,
Off whom ful sore I draddë me;
And in hyr Eyen I dyde se
Tweynë sperys sharp and kene;
And she glood vp-on the grene,
(Me sempte, by good avysëment)
On allë foure, lyk a serpent,
Megre and lene, off chere and look;
And for verray Ire she shook,
399

Dreye as a bast, voyde off blood,
Hyr fflessh wastyd, (and thus yt stood,)
Men myghtë sen bothe nerffe and bon,
And hyr Ioyntës euerychon.
Other tweyne (I was wel war,)
I sawh, that on hyr bak she bar,
Wonder dredful and horryble,
And to beholdë ful terryble:
On off hem (by gret outrage)
Veylled was in hyr vysage,
That men ne sholde hyr facë se,
Nor hyr port in no degre;
Hyr lokkys wern ryht Rud and badde;
In hyr ryht hand A knyff she hadde,
And in hyr lyfft (as semptë me)
A boyst with oynementys had she;
But hyr knyff, stel sharp and kene,
Was hyd, that no man myghte yt sen,
Be-hynde hyr bak ful couertly.
The tother vekke, that rood on hih,
Hadde in hyr hand a swerd also,
And (as I took good hed ther-to)
Endëlong yt was yset,
fful off Eerys, and y-ffret
Off swych folkys as wer wood.
The toon Ende, (thus yt stood,)
She yt held with-Inne hyr mouth,
Wych was a thyng ful vnkouth.
And ther-with-al, she, euere in on,
ffastë gnew vp-on a bon;
And (bettre hede ek as I took,)
She hadde also a long flessh-hook,
Double-fforkyd at the ende,
Sharp and krokyd for to rende.

The Pylgrym:
Thys thyngës whan I gan beholde,
Off the wych aforn I tolde,
I abrayd with al my peyne;
And off hyre that bar the tweyne
400

Vp-on hyr bak I gan enquere,
That she lyst me for to lere,
And declaren vn-to me
Wheroff they seruede allë thre,
And off that owgly companye
They wolde her namys specefye.

Envye Answerde:
‘I merveylle nat,’ ywys, quod she,
‘Thogh [that] thow abaysshed be;
ffor the trouthe, yiff I shal seye,
We woldë makë the to deye
Or thow sholdest yt espye.
‘ffor I am callyd ‘Fals Envye,’
Douhter to Pryde: whylom I was
Conceyved whan that Sathanas
By hys cursyd moder lay,
Sythë go fful many a day;
And trustly, thogh I be nat ffayr,
I am hys douhter and hys hayr,
Who so lyst seke out the lyne.
‘And shortly to determyne,
Who so that consydre wel,
Ther ys strengthë nor castel,
Nouther cyte, borgh nor toun,
But that I, by fals tresoun,
Haue hem tournyd vp so doun
By slauhtre and gret occisïoun.
And haue her-off the lassë wonder,
Whan I devydede hem assonder.
‘I am that beste (who taketh kep)
That devowrede whilom Ioseph,
ffor whom Iacob, in gret peyne,
Gan to sorwen and compleyne,
Saydë, in hys mortal rage,
How a bestë most savage
Hadde hys chyld falsly devowryd,
Wher-off he myghte nat be socóuryd;
He ffelte yt at hys hertë roote.
‘And vn-to me ys nothyng soote
(The trouthë yiff I shal expresse,)
401

‘But other folkys bytternesse;
And whan I se ffolk lene and bare,
That ys my norysshyng and welffare;
And thus with me the gamë goth:
Gladdest I am, whan folk ar wroth;
Thér meschéff (I yow ensure)
Ys my fedyng and pasture;
The mylk off other menhys greff,
Off my fostryng ys most cheff;
And yiff I hadde ther-off plente,
I sholde be faat in my degre,
And for I ha nat myn Entent
Off plente, therfor, I am shent;
I wexë megre, pale and lene,
Dyscolouryd, off verray tene,
As I sholde yelde vp the breth;
And no thyng so sone me sleth
At allë tymes, as whan I se
Other folk in prosperyte;
And ther habundaunce in good,
That dryeth and sowketh vp my blood.
(The trouthë, yIff I shal yow teche)
Evene lyk an horsë leche.
‘And I dar seyn, (in myn avys,)
Yiff that I were in paradys,
I sholdë deye, and nat abyde,
To beholde, on euery syde,
The Ioye and the ffelycyte
Off hem that ben in that contre;
To me yt sholde be gretë wrong,
ffor to duellyn hem among;
Yt wolde myn herte assonder rende;
And platly, to the worldys ende,
I dar wel conferme and seye,
I, envye, shal neuere deye,
Nor in no cas yelde vp the breth;
ffor he that ys ycallyd ‘deth,’
Thorgh-out the worldë, fynally,
Shal be ded as sone as I.
‘I am that beste serpentyne,
402

‘Wych, off entent, my sylff enclyne,
With allë folkys to debaate;
And allë ffolkys ek I haate;
I loue no thyng (thys the cas)
Hih nor lowe, hault nor baas,
In hevene, erthe, nor in the se;
I ha despyt off charyte,
And ek also, in every cost,
I werreye the holy gost;
And with thys sperys (in certeyne)
Set with-Inne myn Eyen tweyne,
I werreye euery maner whyht;
I taake noon heed off wrong nor ryht,
Reward off no man alyue.
‘And the namys to descryue,
Off thys sperys that I tolde,
Wych that thow dost [in me] beholde:
The Ton ys namyd (Trustë me)
‘Wraththe off the prosperyte
Off other ffolkys me besyde,
Wher that euer I go or ryde;’
The tother callyd ys off me,
‘Ioye off ffolkys aduersyte:’
Yt maketh me glad, and nothyng dul;
And with the ffyrstë spere, kyng Saul,
He afforcede hym-sylff ther-with,
ffor taslayn kyng Davyd;
Hanger fret on hym so sore,
Whan he herde the prys was more
Off Davyd than off hym-sylff, allas!
Off envye (and thus yt was)
He hadde so inly gret dysdeyn,
So gret despyt (ek in certeyn)
That he ne myghtë (I ensure)
In hys herte the wo endure.
‘The tother spere off wych I spak
Ther-with was taken fful gret wrak,
ffor ther-with, (who that lyst aduerte,)
Cryst was percyd to the herte
By the hand off Longius
403

‘(As the gospel telleth vs)
Affter hys grevous passioun.
‘And yet (as in conclusioun)
Whan he drank Eysel and galle,
Scornyng off the Iewës alle,
Ther mowyng and derysïoun
Was to hym gretter passïoun
In hys suffryng, or he was ded,
Than was the sharpë sperys hed,
Wych, A-mong hys peynes smerte,
Rooff that lord vn-to the herte.
‘And thys sperys bothë two,
Yplauntyd ben (tak hed her-to)
Myd off myn herte and off my thouhte,
And fro me departë nouht;
And fro myn eyen (yt ys no doute)
Thys two sperys kam fyrst oute;
And ther (yiff I shal nat feyne)
They be set lyk hornës tweyne,
And Round abouten envyroun
They envenyme as poysoun.
‘Myn eyen ben off kyndë lyk
The Eyen off a basylyk,
Wych, with a sodeyn look, men sleyth,
And maketh hem yeldyn vp the breth;
And who that dwelleth nyh by me,
He deyeth A-noon as I hym se;
Ther may no man hym-sylff for-bere,
But my two douhtres that I bere.
‘Yiff thow lyst a whylë dwelle,
At bet leyser they may the telle
Than may I, (on euery syde)
Be causë only that they ryde
Vp-on my bak, at ese and reste;
flor they ha leyser at the beste,
(Who taketh hed) mor than haue I;
Therfore oppose hem by and by,
What I am, bothe fer and ner,
And they wyl telle the my maner.’

The Pylgrym:
404

And fyrst off allë, tho I spak
To hyre that sat vp-on the bak
Off Envye, formest off alle,
Bytter off look as any galle,
As she haddë ben in rage,
Shrowdyd to-forn al hyr vysage,
Requerynge hyre nat to spare,
What she was, for to declare.

Tresoun Answerde:
Quod she, for short conclusioun,
‘Yiff thow lyst knowe, I am Tresoun;
And yiff that ffolkys knewen me,
My fellashepe they woldë ffle,
Eschewe yt, but he wer a ffool,
Lete me abyde allone, al sool,
Off me, so peryllous ys the suit.
‘ffor thorgh me ys execut,
Off my moder callyd Envye,
Al the malys (who kan espye),
Hyr wyl, hyr lust, and hyr lykyng,
And hyr venym in euery thyng.
And, for hyr-sylff may nat fulfylle
Al hyr malys at hyr wylle,
Ther-for, off gret Inyquyte,
ffyrst to scole she settë me,
Bad, I sholde myn hertë caste
To practyse and lernë faste,
ffynde a way, by sommë vyce
Tácomplýsshen hyr malyce,
Hyr cursyd fals affeccïoun
To putte in execucïoun.
‘And I wyl tellyn (off entente)
ffyrst wher I to scolë wente;
Off wychë scolë (thys the caas),
Myn ownë ffader mayster was;
Wych tauhte my suster fyrst to frete,
And the fflessh off men to ete,
As yt werë, for the noonys,
Gnawe and Ronnge hem to the boonys.
‘Whan he me sawh the samë whyle,
405

“Kome ner,’ quod he, ‘for vn-to gnyle
I se (by cler inspeccïoun)
Ys hool thy dysposicïoun;
To lerne and practyse in malyce
And in every other vyce,
Thow art off wyt and konnyng hable
To be fals and déceyváble.
Be fals inward, and outward sad,
And ther-off I wyl be glad
Wherso-euere that we gon.’
‘And with that word he took A-noon
Vn-to me, by gret corage,
Out off a Boyst, a fals vysage,
Took yt me ful couertly.
A knyff ek, wych fful prevyly
I am wont to bere with me,
Hyd, that ffolk ne may yt se.
‘Than my fader gan abrayde,
And to me ryht thus he sayde,
‘Douhter,’ quod he, ‘tak good hede:
Yiff the fowlere ay in dede
Shewede hys gynnës and hys snarys
To thrustelys and to ffeldë-ffaarys,
Hys lymtwyggës, hys panterys,
And hys nettys by reverys,
Bryddes, ffor al hys gretë peyne,
Ther-to woldë neuer atteyne,
But hem eschewe with al her myght,
Beete her wyngës, take her fflyht,
Hys trappës all, a-noon for-sake;
ffor wych, douhter, whan thow wylt make
Any tresoun or compace,
Shew outward an humble face;
Thogh thyn herte be venymous,
And off malys outragous,
(Tak hed her-to, my douhter dere,)
Outward, alway shew good chere;
And, to hyde thy vyolence,
Looke thow be, by ápparence,
Sootyl off port and off manere,
406

‘And plesaunt alway off thy chere.
‘Do as doth the scorpyoun,
Wych by symulacïoun
Outward (as by résemblaunce)
Ys Amyable off contenaunce,
And at the bak (or folk take hede,)
With styngyng causeth folk to blede.
‘And ther-for, off entencïoun,
That thow sue hys condicïoun,
I ha the yoven (off entent)
A Boyst her, with an oynement.
Vnder couert, to gynne a stryff,
I ha the taken a sharp knyff,
And also, for mor ávauntage,
In-to thy hand a fals vysage;
And with thys .iiij. (who reknë kan)
Ther hath perysshed many A man;
ffor in Regum, ye may se
That Ioab (thorgh hys cruelte,
As yt ys kouthe, ageyn al ryht)
Slowh Amasa, A worthy knyht.
‘Ek whilom in the samë caas
Stood the traytour callyd Iudas,
Whan he traysshed cryst ihesu
(That blyssyd lord, off most vertu)
To the Iewes fful yore agon.
And thow mayst Redyn, off tryphon
The ffals tresoun, many weyes,
In the book off Machabeyes.
‘And al thys tresouns wrouht off Old,
Vn-to the I haue hem told,
To thyn offyce, as yt ys due,
Off entent that thow hem sue;
And that thow mayst hem wel reporte,
Thyn ownë moder to counforte,
ffor to helpyn hyr ffulfylle
The surplus off hyr ownë wylle,
And lat thy couert venym byte.
‘Sparë nat also to smyte
Wyth thys knyff, cloos and secre,
407

‘Whan thow hast opportunyte;
And loke that thow be dyllygent,
Wyth thy plesaunt vnyment
Tenoyntë-wyth thy vysage,
That men sen nat thyn outrage;
Be war that yt be nat apert;
Kep al thy venym in covert,
Ellys thow dost nat worth a lek.
‘Shew the outward, ay humble and mek,
Contrayre to that thow art with-Inne,
Whan any tresoun thow wylt gynne;
And looke thow takë hed ful offte,
With thy wordys smothe and soffte,
And with thy speche off fflaterye,
To blerë many a lordys Eye;
ffor, with enoyntyng off swych thynges,
Lordys, prynces, and ek kynges,
Other many dyuers estatys,
Bothë bysshopys and prelatys,
Ha ben ther-with deceyved offte.
‘But, for the oynement ys soffte,
They han echon (in ther entent,)
Savour in that oynëment;
They desyre, for ther plesaunce,
That ffolkys in ther dallyaunce
Sey no thyng that hem dysplese,
But al that may be to hem ese,
Wher-so that yt be ryht or wrong.
‘Ther-for, my douhter, euer among,
Sparë nat Ay to be bold;
But that thow (as I ha told)
In thy speche and thy language,
With a fflatryng ffals vysage,
Enoynt hem with thys Oynëment.
And whan thow hast hem ther-with blent,
With tresoun coveryd in thy thouht,
Smyt with the knyff, and sparë nouht,
With swych malys and cruelte,
That they may neuer recuryd be.
‘And whan my ffader, gon ful yore,
408

‘Hadde in scole tauht me thys loore,
Than was I lefft vp on A sak.
Hih vp on my moder bak,
As thow sest, ther-on to Ryde,
And she ageyn to be my guyde.
‘And trewly, yiff I shal expresse,
I am bekome A gret maystresse
ffro poynt to poynt, as thow mayst se,
Off that my ffader tauhtë me,
Bothe off spechë and language,
And to shewe a fals vysage
Whan that me lyst in myn entent;
And also with the oynëment
Off wych I tolde nat longe ago,
And with the knyff yhyd also
Vnder my cloke: off fals tresoun
I ha lernyd my lessoun,
And reporte yt in my mynde.
‘I kan byte also be-hynde
With my sharpë toth fful wel,
And yet ne berkë neueradel.
I kan Enoynten euery Ioynt,
And affter, with my knyvës poynt,
Whan me lyst to makë wrak,
I kan wel smyten at the bak
With my tresoun ffraudulent;
ffor I resemble the serpent,
Wych, vnder herbys fressh and soote,
Ys wont to daren by the roote,
Coueryd with many a lusty fflour.
‘But ther ne may be no socour
Ageyn my styngyng, in no degre,
Whan I haue opportunyte.
And vnder colour, by deceyt,
I lygge euermor in awayt,
Simple and coy, off port ful lowe,
That men my tresoun may nat knowe,
Who-so-euere kometh or goth.
‘Men ne knowë alway cloth,
Thogh the colour fresshly shynes;
409

‘Nor men ne deme nat alway wynes;
Thogh they blosme or buddë fayre,
Som wynd or ffrost may yt apayre,
Or som tempest with hys rage,
To-for the tyme off the ventage:
By exaumple, ys offtë sene,
Som whilwh ful off levys grene,
Wych hath ful many werm with-Inne,
That fro the hertë wyl nat twynne
Tyl they conswme yt euerydel,—
The trouthe her-off ys prevyd wel,—
And I resemble (who kan se)
Vn-to the syluë samë Tre.
I am the brygge, the planc also,
That vnwarly wyl breke atwo
Whan men ther-on han most her tryst;
My tresoun neuer toforn ys wyst.
‘To leue on me, yt ys gret ffolye,
ffor I dar pleynly specefye,—
Tak hed, for yt ys no Iape,—
Yt ys ful hard a man tescape,
Outher by wyt or by resoun,
ffro my nettys off tresoun,
As longe as I haue ávauntage
ffor to bere thys ffals vysage
With me euer, off entencioun,
ffor I am callyd dame Tresoun,
Wych, by the crafft that I wel kan,
Have be-traysshed many a man,
What with fflatrye and with ffables.
‘I pley nouther at ches nor tables;
And yiff yt happë (ffer or ner)
That I pley at the cheker,
Outher with hih or lowh estat,
To hem ful offte I sey ‘chek mat’
Whan they wene (in ther degre)
Best assuryd for to be;
flor, by sleyhte off my drawyng,
I ouerkome bothe Rook and kyng;
ffro myn Engyn ther skapeth noon.
410

‘Also, off fful yore agon,
Thogh thow kanst yt nat espye,
My moder, that callyd ys Envye,
Hath had to the in thouht and dede
Gret emnyte and gret hatrede;
Wher-vp-on, she hath to me
Yove in charg to takë the,
And comaundyd, by hyr leue,
Off thy lyff the to be-reue,
And to don myn hool entente,
Ded, to hyre, the to presente;
And that thys thyng be do in rape.
‘And therfor thow shalt nat eskape;
Thow stondest in so hard a caas
That the bysshop seyn Nycholas,
ffro deth ne shal nat helpyn the,
That whilom Reysede clerkys thre
ffro deth to lyve (men wryten so);
But he hath no thyng now a-do,
The to socoure in no degre,
Ageyn my myght to helpyn the.’
And with that word (yt ys no ffaylle)
She be-gan me to assaylle
fful mortally off look and cher,
And gan aproche and neyhen ner,
Made a maner contenaunce
ffor to smyte by résemblaunce,
Tyl the tother ffoul and old
That stood be-sydë stout and bold,
With-drouh hyr hand, and off fals guyle
Bad hyre to abyde a whyle:

Detraccioun:
‘Suster,’ quod she, ‘be nat hastyff!
Lat hym a whylë haue hys lyff,
And abyde a lytë throwe
Tyl that he my namë knowe;
And thannë ye, and I also,
Shal assaylle hym bothë two
So mortally, that he shal deye,
And eskape no maner weye.
411

‘ffor, but I (in myn entent)
Wher at hys deth with yow present,
Myn hertë wolde assonder Ryue.
And ye shal sen (her, as blyue)
Our bothen Awntë callyd Pryde,
Off vyces allë lord and guyde:
But yiff he were with vs also,
He sholdë deye for verray wo.
And he hath power most, and myght;
And the cause, off verray ryht
To hym parteneth touchyng deth;
Ther-for, or any man hym sleth,
Lat yt be don bassent off Pryde,
And we shal stondë by hys syde.’

Traysoun:
Quod traysoun, ‘I assentë wel
That we werkyn euerydel
As ye ha sayd to-forn, and cast;
But I wolde ha yt done in hast,
That in vs ther wer no lak.’
Than she that sat vp-on the bak,
Ryght hydous off enspeccïoun,
I mene sothly, Detraccïoun
Abraydë, off gret cruelte,
And saydë thus in hast to me:

Detraccioun:
‘How artow,’ quod she, ‘so hardy
To bern a staff so boldëly?
I haatë stavys euerychon,
Off pylgrymës, whan they gon
On pylgrymagë wher they wende,
Whan they be crossyd At the ende.
In hem I ffynde alway som lak,
And berke at hem behynde her bak
Thogh to-forn I be plesaunt,
And resemble Faulz-semblaunt,
Wych hateth the and other mo;
So doth my moder ek also,
Whos hertë doth for Anger ryve.
‘And whyl that thow art her alyve
412

‘We shal the Etyn, fflessh and bon;
Other grace thow getyst noon
Off vs, thogh thow makë stryff;
ffor thow sawh neuere, in al thy lyff,
Nor ne koudest yet espye,
Houndys in the bocherye
Mor gredy, rawh flessh to ete,
Than I am now, the to ffrete;
ffor my throte ys al blody,
Lych a wolff that ys gredy,
Shep in a folde for to strangle,
And to devoure hem in som Angle.
‘Stynkynge kareyn, her and ther,
Ys my foodë most enter;
In hyllys and in valys lowe,
Lyk a Raven or lyk a crowe,
On swych mosselles most I thynke,
And ha best savour whan they stynke.
Myn appetyt, yt ys so kene
I loue no flessh whan yt ys clene;
Yt mvt stynken north and south,
Or yt kome with-Inne my mouth;
And al the felthë that men seth,
Ys fyrst gnawen in my teth,
And ychawyd vp and doun:
My mayster tauhte me thys lessoun,
Whan that I to scolë wente,
To recorde yt in myn entente.’

The Pylgryme:
“I trowe thow koudest forge a-ryht
Yiff thow foundë day or nyht
Mater or cause to forgë by;
But I supposë verrayly,
No smyth ne may forgë wel
An Ax off yren nor off stel;
But yiff he hadde on off the tweyne
Thogh he euere dyde hys peyne,
He sholde nat fynde the maner how;
No mor (I suppose) ne kanstow.”

Detraccioun:
413

‘Trewly yiff thow lyst lere,
I kan ffynde ynowh matere:
I am so prudent and so wys;
Good, I kan tourne in-to malys;
Trewë menyng and goodnesse,
I chaunge in-to wykkednesse.
‘ffor me, I make ay som resoun
By fals Interpretacïoun,
What good werk I se men do.
Wyn in-to water I chaunge also;
I tourne ek by collusïoun
Tryacle to venym and poysoun.
Applys ffayre I kan enpayre,
Thogh they be bothe good and ffayre;
Worshepe I tourne in-to dyffame;
On folkys goode, I putte ay blame;
Ther goodë name, in halle and boure,
As Rawh fflessh I kan devoure.’

The Pylgryme:
“Her-vp-on I pray the,
Thy namë that thow tellë me.”

Detraccioun:
‘To make a short descripcïoun,
I am callyd ‘Detraccïoun’;
Thys the sentence off my lawe:
With my teth I rende and gnawe.
Off folkys fflessh, by gret avys,
I makë mortrews and colys
Vn-to my moder callyd Envye.
Whan she hath any malladye,
I make hyr sowpe yt vp a-noon,
Whan I ha grounde both flessh and bon.
‘She me made gouérneresse
Off hyr kychene, and maysteresse:
Ther kometh no mete in hyr syhte
But yiff that I to-forn yt dyhte;
And hyr thank for to dysserue,
Off straungë mes I kan hyr serue,
With ffarsyd Erys fful off poysoun
Put on A spytë by traysoun.
414

‘Swettere than samoun outher karp,
My tongë ys, that spytë sharp
Wych hath the offyce and the charge
ffor to make a woundë large;
Yt kerueth sharpë, and mor narwe
Than any quarel or hookyd arwe,
Thogh the bowe be strongë bent
ffro the place that yt ys sent:
Wyth wych fful many a man ys kut.
‘And on thys spyte, the Erys be put,
Off folk that yiven audyence,
ffor to heryn the sentence
And thabomynable sown
Off sklaundre and off detraccioun,
ffor to lestene hem fer or ner.
And thus I Am maad hasteler
ffor to do my bysynesse,
To serue my moder in hyr syknesse.’

The Pylgryme:
“Wherfor,” quod I, “berstow that Crook,
Dowble-forkyd as a flessh-hook?”

Detraccioun:
‘Tak hed,’ quod [s]he, ‘and thow shalt se
How that I werke in my degre:
ffyrst off all (yiff thow lyst lere),
Whan I percyd haue an Ere
Thorgh-out, and fyndë no dyffence,
Than I do my dyllygence,
With my flesshhook to a-proche;
And ther-with-al I do acroche,
Rende away, with som fals blame,
The Renoun and the goodë name
Off folkë, thogh ther be no preff;
ffor I am wers than ys a theff,
Wych day and nyht doth hys labour,
ffro men to stelyn ther tresour.
‘But I stele off entencïoun
Ther goodë fame and ther renoun,
Wych (shortly for to specefye)
Ys wors than any roberye.’

415

The Pylgryme:
“Than, record off thyn ownë mouth,
Thow art a theff, both north and souht;
ffor a good name (I dar expresse)
Ys bet than gold or gret rychesse.”

Detraccioun:
‘Thow mayst wel seyn yt off Resoun;
ffor, as the wysë Salomoun
In hys proverbys bereth wytnesse,
That gold, tresour, and gret Rychesse,
A good name doth wel al surmounte,
Who that lyst a-ryht acounte.
‘And her-vp-on I make A preff,
That ther ys noon so perillous theff
As he that steleth a-way the ffame,
The rénoun, and the goodë name
Off a man in hys contre,
Off malys and Inyquyte;
ffor swych A theff (be wel certeyn)
May yt nat restore ageyn;
And with-oute Restitucïon̄
Shall I neuere ha fful pardon̄;
I shall be asshamyd sore,
His goodë Namë to Restore,
That I hadde onys sayde certeyn,
For to Revoke my worde ageyn.
Myn Awnte (I wot ryht wel also)
Woldë nat accorde ther-to.’

The Pylgrym:
“I woldë wyte what thow dost than,
Whan thow hast Robbyd thus A man
Off hys honour and goodë ffame:
What dostow thannë with hys name?”

Detraccioun:
‘I wyl answere to thy demaunde:
I maake a maner off vyaunde
Off that namë doutëles;
And next, affter the fyrstë mes,
Wyth swych A Coolys I hyr serue,
Ellys she sholde for hunger sterue:
416

‘Thys secounde cours (yt ys no dred,)
Doth gret good vn-to hyr hed;
Whan she hath sowpyd that potage,
Off verray custoom and vsage;
ffor wych I am mad ‘cusyner,’
And for hyr mouth, ‘cheff potager.”

The Pylgryme:
“ffor auht that I espyë kan
Sythe tymë that the world began,
I sawh neuer, nor fond or now,
A wersë best than art thow.”

Detraccioun:
‘Al ys trewe that thow dost telle,
ffor I am wers than any helle;
ffor trewly hellë hath no myght
To don harm to Any whyht
But to the ffolk that he hath bounde.
‘But I kan hurte, and make a wounde,
Nat only to folk present,
But vn-to hem that ben absent.
Helle ek (as I tellë kan,)
May damáge noon hooly man;
ffor thogh in hellë wer seyn Iohn,
Off peynë sholde he ffelyn noon,
ffor hys parfyt hoolynesse
Sholdë lyhte al ther dyrknesse,
And quenche also (yt ys no drede)
The brennynge ek off euery glede.
‘But I kan hurtë (trustë me,)
An hundryd myle by-yowndë se.
ffro my wondyng, (thys no iape)
By absence no man may eskape.
Afftere, I hurte in absence
Mor Grevously than in presence,
Goodë folk as wel as badde,
That to-forn good rénoun hadde.
‘Trust ek wel (yiff thow lyst knowe)
Yiff seyn Iohn were in erthë lowe,—
That hadde for hys perfectyoun
And holynesse, so gret Renoun,—
417

‘ffor all hys vertues good and fayre,
Yet I koude hys name apayre
By ffals report, and that ful blyue;
ffor ther ys noon so good alyve,
Nor neuere was, in-to thys day,
But that I koudë fynde a way,
Hys namë and hys vertues alle,
ffor tapeyre hem or apalle,
By som fals wynd reysed aloffte;
And so I hauë don ful offte;
Swych ys my condicïoun
Wych callyd am ‘Detraccïoun.”

The Pylgrym:
And whan I longë lestnyd hadde,
Gretly in my herte I dradde;
And, to with-stonde hys cruelte,
I castë for to armen me,
Lyst that thys thre wolde a-noon,
By assent vp-on me gon,
Affter that Detraccïoun
Hadde maade an ende off hyr sarmoun,
With-outen any mor abood;
ffor they round aboutë stood,
Echon redy me tassaylle
Mortally, as by bataylle.
ffyrst I lookede me be-hynde,
And gan enqueryn off my mynde,
To taken me my swerd in haste,
Or I eny ferther paste;
Gaff also to hyre in charge,
ffor to taken me my targe;
ffor shortly, leyser hadde I noon,
Other Armure to done vp-on.
And, lyk to my comaundement,
She took hem me off good entent,
In hope they sholdë me avaylle.
And I be-gan hem to asaaylle,
Sette vp-on, to my power.
And they, malycyous off cher,
Seynge I woldë me dyffende
418

Gan Att onys on me descende
Lykly tahaue had the bet off me,
Haddë nat the whyhte dowe be,
Wych, me to coumforte in my dred,
Alyhte adoun vp-on myn hed,
And goodly gan me to coumforte,
Makyng myn Emnyes to resorte
ffor verray ffer, and stonde asyde,
That they durstë nat abyde
But off maalys cryede out,
And, on me gan make a shout,
Swoor (I haue yt wel in mynde,)
Yiff they myghten euere fynde
Me at large, by any way,
Whan Grace Dieu wer gon away
They woldë (thorgh her cruelte)
Vp-on me avengyd be.
And how yt ffyl, I wyl nat spare,
Vn-to yow for to declare.
Off me trewly, thus stood the caas:
Whan that I delyuered was
Off my dedly mortal foon,
Yt fyl so, and that a-noon,
The whytë dowe had take hyr flyght.
And was agon out off my syht
Vn-to hyr lady Grace dieu,
Wych that hath so gret vertu.
Thanne off me, thus yt be-fyl.
As I wente toward an hyl,
With on I mette, hydous and wykke,
And al hys body Armyd thykke
With hallys that wer sharp and kene:
And as I koudë deme and sene,
Lyk a skyn off an yrchown
He was arrayëd vp and doun,
Ygyrt with a brood fawchon;
In euery hand a callyoun,
Out off wyche (yt ys no doute)
The redë fyr gan sparklyn oute;
419

And yt sempte by hys vysage
That he was ffallyn in A rage;
And in hys mouth A sawe off stel
He bar, that was endentyd wel
With teth ffyled for to byte;
And lyk as thogh he woldë smyte,
He caste hys look vn-to me-ward.
And whan I took ther-to Reward,
Aud off hys port gan haue a syhte,
I Axede hym what that he hihte.

Wrathe:
‘Tak thys,’ quod he, ‘in wordys fewe:
I am komë for to shewe
To the (off hol entencïoun)
ffully myn occupacïoun,
As thow shalt wyte with-Inne A throwe.
And yiff thow lyst my namë knowe,
I am the oldë, most owgly,
Skynned rowh and yrchownly;
Myn heer vntressyd and vndyht,
And in Ordre nat kempt A-ryht,
Douhter to that Rowhe yrchoun
Wych euere (in hyr entencïoun)
Ys to vertu grettest Enmy;
With whos prykkës mortally
She hath hyr sylff Enarmyd me,
To shewe outward my cruelte.
And who-euere to me aproche,
A-noon I marke hym with my broche,
Perce hym thorgh, by gret vengaunce:
ffor thys my Ioye and most plesaunce,
Voyde off mercy and al pyte,
Euere for tavengyd be
On all that do me any wrong;
ffor off power I am mor strong,
That god only, off hys suffraunce,
Hath in myn hand yput vengaunce
And fully execucïoun,
By lettre and by commyssïoun:
420

‘ffor wych I am (in myn Entent)
Deyngnows and inpacyent,
Mor sharp (behynden and beforn,)
Than brembel, or any maner thorn.
And who that lyst to close hys vynes,
Or Round abouten hys gardynes
With my sharpnesse cloos aboute,
He sholde ha no maner doute
Off entryng in, nor off no ffon;
ffor hegh so sharp ys makyd noon
So strongë wrouht, nor so myghty,
That ys drad so myche as I,
Nor so despytous by to pace.
‘My namë callyd in ech place
Ys thys, ‘Noli me tangere’;
ffor I haue ‘carmen et ve’;
Thys to seyne, (yiff yt be souht)
Be war that thow touche me nouht.
With me I haue (Eve and morwe)
Lamentacioun, dool and sorwe;
ffor I, devoyde off al Resoun,
Wyl cachche A-noon occasïoun
(Thogh that ther no causë be)
A-noon for to avengë me
I putte al folk in swych affray.
‘And as a Bakkë at mydday
ffleth, and yet may se no syht
Thogh that the sonnë shynë bryht,
Ryght so, off malys and off pryde,
Wherso-euere that I abyde,
I blyndë ffolkys off al Resoun,
And, for lak off déscrecioun,
I cause hem that they may nat se
But bestyally in ther degre.
I trouble hem (in especyal)
That they be verray bestyal;
I make hem lookë pale and megre,
Yive hem vergows and vynégre
To encresse her trouble and wo,
And yive hem other sawtys mo;
421

‘Mor to folkys colleryk
Than to folkys fflewmatyk.
‘I make also (as I wel kan)
In the ffyrmament off a man
Whom that phylosoffres Alle
‘The lasse world’ a man they calle
In ther bookys (so they wryte);
And in that world I kan excyte
The wyndës off dyssencïoun
And thondrys off rebellïoun.
‘I dyrke (with-oute Awysëment)
Ther wyt and ther entendement,
And clypse also ther Resoun
(ffor lakkyng off dyscrecïoun),
And cause hem to ben despytous,
Vengable and malencolious,
I am so verray serpentyne.
‘Whan Ire doth myn hertë myne,
I am so venymows (in soth),
I bolle as any crepawd doth;
I makë blast, I blowe and yelpe;
I am the bychchë gret with whelpe,
That whelpeth kenetys off meschaunce,
Euere redy to do vengaunce.
In loue, I kan ha no swetnesse,
ffor, I hauë mor sharpnesse
Than outher brambel, bussh or brere.
‘And I am ek (as thow shalt lere)
Whan I am steryd in my blood,
Mor sowr and bytter than wormood;
Ne wer vengaunce, I wer but lorn,
ffor, I am the sharpë thorn
Off wych (by descripcïoun)
Iudicum maketh mencïoun,
Off wych the ffyr sprang out A-noon,
And brente the cedrys euerychon.
ffor who ne toucheth, in myn Ire,
With Anger I renne anoon affyre,
Whan any wynd at me doth blowe,
Men may yt by the smokë knowe.
422

‘I hurtle thys hardë stoonys tweyne,
Smytë fyr with al my peyne;
Make the sparklys out to gon;
And yiff I hadde ynowh bronstoon,
I sholde (off malys, in my werkyng,)
Sette affyre al maner thyng
With-outë mercy or respyt.
‘On off thys stonys ys ‘Despyt’
Ycallyd the tother hyhte ‘Stryff’:
With wychë tweynë, al my lyff
I haue, in hih and lowe estaat,
Mad folkys offten at debaat;
And off thys two, by mortal lawe,
Whylom forgyd was thys sawe,
The wych, (As thow mayst beholde)
With-In my sharpë teth I holde;
And in the forgyng, ek ther-with
The hamer Stryff, despyt the Styth.
‘And the yren (by sentence)
Callyd was ‘Inpacyence’
Wych was dolven out off helle,
Wher that blakë ffendys dwelle.
And (yiff thow lyst sen al the caas,)
Thus the sawe endentyd was,
And al teth set by and by
Wrouht by me ful crafftyly.
‘ffyrst (as I shal her expresse,)
A lady callyd ‘Ryghtwysnesse,’
Smyth and also forgeresse
Off al vertues, rekne echon,
Hyr sylff hem forgeth, on by on;
And she hath (in conclusïoun,)
A ffyle callyd ‘Correccïoun’
With wych (thogh yt be nat soote)
She ffyleth synnës to the roote,
That no Rust (I the ensure)
May ther kankren nor endure,
She skoureth yt a-way so clene,
That noon ordure may be sene.
423

‘And yet she hath assayed offte,
With hyr ffylë (no thyng soffte)
Vp-on my cursyd yren hard,
Rebel, rusty, and froward,
ffor to do the rust a-way.
And as she fylede day be day
Vp-on myn yren, rowh and old,
Ther-off she made (as I ha told)
Thys sharpë sawe (in verray dede)
Wych that callyd ys ‘Hatrede.’
And wyth thys sawe (tak hed her-to)
Ys I-sawhe and kut a two,
Parfyt loue and vnyte,
Concord and ffraternyte;
Off charyte and állyaunce
Maad also dysseueraunce;
Yt cut a two ech vertu.
‘In Iacob and Esav
Thow mayst sen a pleyn fygure
Yiff thow rede the scrypture:
Thys sawhe made hem gon assonder,
The Ton her, the tother yonder;
And longë tyme assonder were.
‘And thys sawhe also I bere
(As thow sest) her in my mouth
Wher-euere I go, both Est and south,
Off entent (be wel certeyn)
Whan-euere I pray, or sholdë seyn
My pater noster nyht or day,
Thanne I sawhe my-sylff a-way
ffrom the hooly trynyte:
I preve yt thus, (as thow mayst se,)
I pray god (off entencïoun)
Off my synnës to han pardoun,
Evene lyk to my socour
So I forgyve my neihhëbour.
In my prayere ek I sette,
That he forgyuë me my dette
As I forgyvë folk thoffence
That to me dyde vyolence;
424

‘And to conclude, (yiff yt be souht,)
I forgyve her-off ryht nouht;
Than muste yt folwe (off equyte)
My prayere ys ageyn[e]s me:
To-ward my-sylff (by mortal lawe)
Wrongly I tourne thys ylkë sawe
In the wych ys no profyt,
Worshepe, honour, but fals delyt,
But gret damage and harm ful offte.
‘And he that sholdë stonde aloffte,
Holdynge thys sawhë (thys the caas,)
He ys be-nethe, and stont most baas;
In signe wheroff, (who lyst knowe,)
Sathanas, he ys most lowe,
Wych fyrst off allë bar thys sawe.
‘My fawchoun ek, whan I yt drawe,
Wych that hangeth by my syde
Ther-with offte I kan provyde
To maken (off Entencïoun)
Knyhtys off my condicioun;
Swych I mene, in ther degre,
As thys mordererys be.
Ther-wyth I gyrde hem euerychon,
Off wychë Bárrabas was On,
As he that was an homycyde.
‘And looke ek on the tother syde,
Tyrauntys wer gyrt with thys fawchoun
Whan they (with ful gret passïoun)
Slowhe thapostellys ek also,
And holy martyrs bothë two
Swych tyrauntys, in ther rage,
Lyk to bestys most saváge
Tournyd were fro ther Resoun,
Wors than Beere, boor or lyoun,
Wych that dwelle in wyldernesse.
‘And ryhtful kyngës, in sothnesse,
Sholde hunte hem out, and at hem chace,
Wher they dwelle in Any place,
Both beforn and ek behynde,
Rather than outher hert or hynde.
425

‘Ther-for, with-outë wordys mo,
Be Avysed what thow wylt do;
Yiff thow wylt stonden at dyffence,
Ageyn me maken résystence
With thy swerd, and with thy targe,
Wych that ys so brood and large:
Off hem I haue no maner doute,
Be causë thow art nat with-oute,
The to dyffende, fro poynt to poynt,
Clad a-bove with a purpoynt;
And I shal ek (yt ys no drede)
Hauë helpe, yiff yt be nede,
Ageyns the to do vengaunce
The to bryngen to outraunce.’

The pilgrym:
“Be war, touche me nat,” quod I;
“ffor yiff thow do, (fynally,)
I am cast, in my dyffence,
ffor to makë résystence
As longë as me lasteth breth;
fful myghtyly vn-to the deth,
I shal nat spare, (yt ys no faylle).”
And ffyrst he gan me thus assaylle;
Hys callyouns to-gydre he smoot
Tyl they gan to wexen hoot,
And ther-with he gan loudë crye.
And than at erst I gan espye;
ffro the hyl descendyng doun,
Kam with hym ‘Trybulacioun,’
Off stature gret and large
With-outë sheld or any targe.
To me-ward she gan hyr dresse.
In hyr hand, (by gret duresse,)
A gret hamer I beheld;
And in the tother hand she held
A peyre off pynsouns ek ther-wyth;
And A Barmfel off A smyth,
At hyr brest she hadde vp-bounde.

Tribulacion:
Quod she to me, ‘thow art wel founde.
426

‘Thow knowest (I trowe, in thyn entent)
That Ire hath me to the sent:
Thys sawe shal me ber record;
ffor he and I ben off accord;
Mawgre thy myght, thow mvst ley doun
Her, affor me, thy Bordoun.
‘Thow hast nat On, in thy dyffence,
No Gambysoun off pacyence,
For off thy targe and off thy swerd
I am in no wyse afferd;
They may no thyng avayllë the,
ffor to ffyhte ageynës me.’

the pilgrym:
“Touchyng thy name, me lyst nat lere;
But off the I wolde enquere,
Wher-off thyn Instreumentys thre
Servyn, that thow beryst with the.”

tribulacion:
‘Myn instrumentys (in wordys ffewe)
Declare openly, and shewe
(Shortly in conclusïoun)
What ys myn occupacïoun.
Me wanteth nothyng but a styth,
But I sholdë, lyk a smyth,
fforge A-noon (with-outë stryff)
Vn-to the A crowne off lyff.
But, for cause (yiff thow ha mynde)
That thy Styth ys lefft behynde
Off neclygence, ther thow gost,
Thow stanst in pereyl to be lost.
And for thy styth ys now away,
I shal the smyten, yiff I may;
Than thow shalt, with-Inne A trowe,
My konnyng and my crafft wel knowe.
‘I am gold-smyth (in sothnesse)
Off hevene, and the forgeresse
Wych in erthe (by gret avys)
fforge the crownys off paradys;
ffor with myn hamer, mor and more
I batre the metal wonder sore,
427

‘ffor to prevë wel the metal
That yt be foundë good at al,
By assay, bothe ffer and ner.
And in A ffurneys bryht and cler,
To preve yt good, (as I the tolde)
With my Toongys I yt holde
fful offtë sythe, and spare yt nouht.
And whan I ha the trouthe out souht,
And ffyndë that ther be no let,
Yiff yt be good, I make yt bet.
Yiff yt be wykkë, (trustë me,)
I make yt wors (as ffolk may se).
‘Myn hamer, by descrypcïoun,
Ys callyd ‘persecucioun,’
Wych doth to ffolk ful gret offence:
Whan the doublet off pacyence
Ys devoyded from her bak,
Than go, farewel, al goth to wrak;
Ther manhood and ther renoun
Al tourneth to confusïoun.
‘Iob, whilom by pacyence,
Hadde yt On in hys dyffence,
And other seyntys, fer and ner
Rehersyd in our kalender.
‘My toongës (as I shal expresse)
Ben ycallyd ek ‘Dystresse,’
Wych that werkyn to an herte
fful gret anguissh and gret smerte;
And in a pressour off gret peyne
They kan ful offte A man dystreyne
Bothe with-outen and with-Inne,
As gold ffoyl ybetyn thynne.
Swych pressyng (who kan espye)
Causeth, from a manhys Eye,
The saltë terys dystyllë doun,
Makynge A demonstracïoun,
And an evydent massage
Off sorwe in herte and gretë rage
‘Thys Barmfel also that I were,
And a-ffor my brest yt bere,
428

‘Callyd ys by ryhtful name
‘Confusioun’ or ellys ‘Shame’;
As thus (for to specefye)
Whan I do swych tormentrye
With my bytter peynys strong—
Be yt ryht or ellys wrong—
To don execucïoun
Outher be cyvyle or kanoun;
The shame ther-off, and the outrage,
Shewyd ys in the vysage;
And most he hath occasïoun,
That most hath persecucïoun.
‘And I shal preue A-noon by the,
Yiff thow konne ashamyd be.
I shal assayë for to smyte
Vp-on thy bak, my sylff taquyte
ffor to fulffyllë the talent
That Ire hath in hys entent
Enclosyd by ful mortal lawe.
ffor whyle that Ire bereth the sawe,
Thow shalt, by persecucïoun,
Outher breste, or make a soun
Outward, as by som gruchchyng,
Or by som noyse in cómpleynyng:
A voydë vessel, pype, or tonne,
Whan the lycour ys out Ronne,
Who smyt thér-on vp or doun,
Yt maketh outward a gret soun,
Mor than to-forn, whan yt was ful;
And therfóre, who that ys dul
And voyde off vertu (douteles)
By pacyence kan ha no pes,
Whan he, by trybulacïoun,
Suffreth persecucïoun,
Wrong, or any maner wo:
Adonay me toldë so,
Whan she me madë fyrst a smyth,
ffor to forge vp-on hyr Styth.’

the pilgrym:
“Yiff thow be makyd by offys
429

“(As thow seyst) smyth off paradys,
Mak me no dylacïoun,
But shewe me thy commyssioun,
Thy power also, and thy myght,
That I may sen hem A-non ryht.
ffor, but I se hem, trustë me,
I wyl in no thyng leuë the
Off al that euere thow hast me told.”
And she, out off A box ful old,
Took out A Commyssïoun,
And sayde, lyk hyre entencïoun:

Tribulacion:
‘Se thys,’ quod she, ‘and rede yt wel,
And looke yt ouer Euerydel,
And ther-vp-on the wel avyse.
Yiff that it may nat suffyse,
I shal the shewe A-nother to,
Wych I haue with me also:
Red hem bothe, and thow shalt se
My power and Auctoryte.’

the pilgrym:
And whan they wern vn-to me take,
A-noon I gan me redy make,
Redde hem bothë two yffere;
And fynally, yiff ye lyst here,
And to me yiven Audyence,
This was the fyrste, as in sentence.

The comisyon & power gyven to tribulation:
‘Adonay, the myghty kyng
Wych ys lord off euery thyng,
Emperour off Ryghtwysnesse,
Whos power (in sykernesse)
Neuere eclypsyth off hys lyht,
But shyneth euere ylychë bryht,
As he that lord ys off nature,
And euer in On shal so endure,
As off power and off Renoun,
Elthe to trybulacioun!
430

‘We haue vnderstondë late,
Tydynges nat ful old off date,
How the Stepmoder off vertu,
And ful enmy to cryst ihesu,
Wych callyd ys ‘Prosperyte,’
Ageyn al ryht, thorgh hyr powste,
Hath Our sawdyours assaylled,
Set on hem, and nat yfaylled,
By maner off collusïoun
Drawe her hoodys lowë doun
Ouer ther face, by swych degre
That they be blynd, and may nat se,
(Wych ys ful hard for to recure,)
And be-rafft hem ther Armure;
Only off fals presumpcïoun,
With-outë restytucïoun,
Take away ther Garnysouns,
The castelys also and the Touns
Wych that longede off equyte
Vn-to Gracë dieu and me.
‘But now off newe, (yt ys no nay,)
ffrom vs she hath hem take away,
With-oute forberyng or favour
Dyspoylled vs off Our tresour,
And, in our tours strong and Old,
Vesellys off syluer and off gold,
Take hem a-way by Tyranye,
Bextorsïoun and roberye;
I menë most, in éspecial,
Ther goodys that were Espyrytual;
Swych goostly goodys euerychon
Ben yrobbyd And agon;
And thorgh hyr Ravyne and robbyng,
She hath lefft ful nyh no thyng.
ffor wych, we lyst no lenger tarye,
But vn-to the, Our secretarye
And Our sergaunt in thys caas,
(Wych off custom berst our maas)
We (wyth al our hool entent,)
Sende vn-to the A Maundement,
431

‘And commytten our power,
ffor to cerchë ffer and ner,
Hows by hows, wher-euere he be,
To sekyn out Prosperyte.
‘And that thow, in al wyse
Be bysy, hym for to chastyse,
That he no mor, by no quarelle,
Be hardy, ageyn vs to rebelle;
Holde hym euere so lowë doun,
Chargyng, by thys commyssïoun,
That allë tho that thow mayst fynde
(I menë, hem that be mad blynde
Bassaut off thys Prosperyte)
Tourne her hoodys, and make hem se;
Chástyse hem, (in thyn entent,)
And byd hem take avysëment,
ffyrst, her Eyen to vnclose,
And so her hertys to dyspose,
ffor to looken vp ful offte
To the hevene hih aloffte;
And hem syluen mor tassure,
Take ageyn ther olde Armure
Vn-to hem, bothe plate and maylle,
(Lyst ther enmyes hem assaylle,)
Wych they ha broke, and lost in veyn;
Lat hem reforge hem newe ageyn.
‘Grauntë to swych euerychon,
Crownys with many A rychë ston,
I mene, to hem that, off assent,
Obeye vn-to thy maundëment.
‘And for thys skyle, (in sykernesse,)
We have maad the Forgeresse
And Goldsmyth off our hevenly tour,
ffor to don ay thy labour,
To al that suffre as Champyons,
ffor to forge hem rychë crownys,
Wher-so they suffre, on se or lond,
‘And sese also in-to thyn hond,
Solace and play in ech cyte,
And al swych worldly vanyte,
432

‘And Ioyës that ben transytórye,
Revel, and al worldly glorye.
And wher thow mayst hem sen or knowe,
Burye hem in the Erthë lowe;
Oppresse hem with thy sharpë shours,
ffor they deceyve our sawdyours.
‘And we thé grauntë ful power
Duely to don thy dever;
To sen our vessellys euerychon,
Wher that they be voyde or noon,
fful off good or wykkednesse,
To knowë do thy besynesse.
Touche hem with Trybulacioun;
And yiff they Gruchche, or makë soun,
Yt ys a tookne vn-to the
Off good, that they yvoyded be.
And yiff thow se by thy touchyng
That they resowne no maner thyng,
Hyt ys an opne Evydence
Off gruchchyng ther ys nōōn Offence;
For we Charge the day by day,
Cerche hem wel And make assay.
‘And who off hyh or lowh degre
That lowly wyl obey[en] the,
For hys suffraunce and lowlyhede
He shal be Crownyd For hys mede
In oure Court Celestyall.
Loo! off thy power thys ys All,
Charge to done Execucion,
And Fyn off oure Commyssion̄,
Yove and wryte (who lokë wel,)
Vnder oure ownë pryve sel
Vp-on the day (by goode avys)
Whan Adam Out off Paradys
Exyled was (as thow mayst se)
With alle hys hool Posteryte,
433

‘For ther was nōōn Excepcion.
‘And the tother Commyssion̄
That I off spak I shall the shewe;
And yt ys thys In wordys Fewe:
Thamyral off the gretë See,
Fulle off Wawes (as men may se,)
Which that callyd ys Sathan—
Grettest Enmy vn-to Man,
Foo to Adam and hys Lynage,
For topresse hem with hys Raage,
Kyng of alle Inyquyte,
And Tormentour off Equyte,
By wronge and Persecucion,
Elthë to Trybulacioun,
Swych as we may to hym sende
For tapeyre and nat Tamende,—
We haue syttyng In oure Dongoun,
Knowyng by clere Relacioun
That the Sergeauntys Fynally
Off the myghty kyng Adonay
Ageyn oure power haue ytake,
And ther-vp-on hem Redy make
With vs For to haue a-do,
And wynne the place that we kam Fro,
And hem purpose in that Cyte
Ther For to Receyved be;
And, lyke as myghty Champyouns,
Made hem Skryppes and Bordouns,
Seyn that they in ther vyage,
Wyl thedyr gōōn On pylgrymage,
Euerych off hem In ther degre.
‘Wher-vp-on we chargë the,
Sende to thé oure Maundement,
Thé yevnge In Commaundement,
That thow shalt kepë the Passage,
To lette hem in ther Pylgrymage;
Espye hem out in euery place,
Smyte hem or that thow Manace;
Oppresse hem with thy vyolence
Abowë Iobys Pacyence,
434

Which tooke away hys Temperalte,
He nat gruchchynge In no degre.
Travaylle In thyn Entencion
To Reve hem Skryppë and Bordon̄;
Atte the herte do hem sorwe and wo;
And with thy Toongès pynche hem so
On euery halff that thow nat Fayle
To Rende out Bovel and Entraylle;
As the Bowelles off Iudas,
Streyne hem In the samë caas,
That they be grete Adversyte
May hange hem selff vp on a Tree,
And on thys caas both ferr and ner,
To the we grauntë Full power,
As by oure Commyssioun
Wretyn In oure derke Dongoun,
The samë tyme whan Cryst Ihesu
Vp on the Cros by hys vertu
Graunted the Theeff For a grete prys,
To Entren In-to Paradys!’

The Pylgrym:
“And whan I hadde hem bothë seyn,
I tooke hem vn-to hym ageyn,
Axede hym anōōn̄ Right tho
Yiff he wolde vse hem bothë twoo
Lykë Frely In Werkynge,
Syth thei Fyn off ther menynge
Concludë nat In oo Sentence;
For, as grete ys the dyfference
Atwene hem tweynë by Obstácle,
As bytwene venym and Tryacle.”

Trybulacion:
‘When I ha take on thè the wrak,
And strongely Forgyd on thy Bak,
Than shaltow by Elleccïoun
Haue Choys to which Commyssioun
Thow wylt thè take and ther abyde.
For ȝiff that thow on yche a syde
Seyst ryght nought In thy dyffence,
But suffrest alle In Pacyence
435

‘With-oute Murmure or any Soun,
But off hoole Entencïoun
When thow Felyst dool or Smerte,
Thankest god with alle thyn herte,
Than maystow wytte and Fully knowe
That my power hyh and lowe
Is taken In Conclusïoun
Off the Fyrst Commyssioun.
‘But yiff yt falle be wel certeyn,
That thow stryve or gruchche ageyn
In thy sylff by vyolence
Arryuest For Impacyence,
And besy art yt to with-stonde,
Thankest nat god ek off hys sonde,
But Fyndest somme Fals Occasyoun
To lese thy Skryppe and thy Bordoun,
Castest hem wylfully a-way,
As whylom dydd (yt ys no nay)
By grete mescheef Theophilus.
And semblably yiff thow do thus,
Than ys my Commyssioun
Yove to thy dampnacioun
By the power off Sathan,
Which For to deceyvë Man,
Travaylleth ay to make hym lese.
‘Wher-Fore thow mayst off bothë chese,
And haste ek Fre Elleccïoun,
Which off Eche Commyssïoun
I shall vse ageyn[e]s the.
For I ha no Lyberte,
But evene lyke as I thè Fynde,
Thè to Cónstreyne or vnbynde,
Affter thy Condicïoun
To vsen Eche Commyssïoun.
My power ys In allë Rewmys,
Lyke vn-to the Sonnë Bemys,
Shynynge most hoote the Sommerys day,
On Foulë Erthe and tendre Clay,
Hys grete heete maketh hem anōōn
To wexe as harde as eny Stoon.
436

‘But wex and Talwh yt doth Relente.
And evene thus In myn Entente,
Lyke Folkys Dysposicïoun
Is myn Operacïon;
And thus vsynge myn Sergawntry,
I kan werkë dyuersly;
Wher-ffore I rede be war off me,
For I anōōn shal smytë the.’

The Pylgrym:
And Iustly Covenaunt he held:
He smoot me so that Spere and Sheld
Fro me Fyllen doun to grounde,
Hys Strokys wern̄ so Fel and Rounde.
And trewly For my grete dystresse,
Ire kaughte a grete gladnesse,
And wolde to my confusïoun,
Ha wounded me with hys Fawchoun;
But Trybulacion stoode be syde,
And badde he shulde a whyle abyde,
Medle off hym as yitt no more;
‘ffor I shall ffyrst my sylff, so sore,
Done on hym so grete vengaunce,
So grete anoy and dystourbance,
With my Toongës streyne hym so,
And batre hym On the bak ther-to
With myn hamer large and longe,
That hath an heed yfforged stronge,
To chastyse hym in swych manere
Ther-by that he shall wel lere,
As be my Comyssyoun
That I am Trybulacïoun.’
And ffelly thus to Ire he spak,
And euere batrynge on my bak,
With his Toongës gan me streyne
That me semptë ffor the peyne,
I was pressyd In a pressour,
Voyde off helpe and alle sokour,
Compleynyng ffor my grete penaunce,
Tyl yt ffel In my Rémembrance,
And hadde vnto a worde Rewarde
437

That I radde onys off seynt Bernard,
How, in alle greff and alle meschaunce,
In euery mescheff and penaunce,
Helpe and Refuyt ffor to ffynde,
That a Man shulde haue his mynde,
Off herte also ffully Repayre
To hyr that ffayrest ys off ffayre,
Which, thurgh hyr humylyte,
Was Moder and a Maydë ffree,
Whos helpë neuere was behynde
To hem that lyst haue hyr in mynde:
She kan helpe hem In her Nede
Best off alle her Iournë spede.
ffor which, with alle myn herte Entere,
To her I makë my prayer,
And sey to hyr with humble Chere,
The wordys which that ffolwen here,
Which Seynt Bernard fful longe ago
In latyn wrote hem eke also:—

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