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The Pilgrimage of the Life of Man

Englisht by John Lydgate, A.D. 1426, from the French of Guillaume De Deguileville, A.D. 1330, 1355. The Text Edited by F. J. Furnivall ... With Introduction, Notes, Glossary and Indexes by Katharine B. Locock

Lydgate, John (1370?-1451?)

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DE GUILLEVILLE'S PILGRIMAGE OF THE LIFE OF MAN

Prolog of the Translator, John Lydgate.

q Vi peregrinatis, hunc per librum docearis
Que bona uel dubia s[it fugienda] via.

[y] e worldly folk, avysë yow betymes
Wych in thys lyff [ne] ben [but as pylgrimes],
Lyk straungerys [fferë fro youre Cuntre]
Vnfraunchysed and [voyde off lyberte];
ffor schortly herë yovre poscessyon
ys yove to yow but for a schort sesoun,
Nor the tresovrë wych that ye possede
ys but thyng lent ho so kan takë hede,
ffor clerkys seyn how [that] al erthly thyng
Stowndëmel, and by vnwar chaungyng,
Whan folk lest wenë & noon hede ne take,
Her mayster oldë sodeynly for-sake.
Thyng myn to-day a-nother hath to-morwe;
That kam wyth Ioye departeth ay wyth sorwe;
And thyng ywonne wyth Ioyë and gladnesse,
Ay dysseuereth wyth wo and hevynesse.
No tresour here, wyth O man wyl abyde;
Who strengest halt ther rathest hyt wyl slyde;
ffortune ys lady with hyr double face,
Of every thyng that sodeynly doth pace;
Sche pryncesse ys of al worldly glorye,
And off al Ioyë that ys transytórye;
Sche ys off chere so varyaunt & dovble,
Hyr kalm ys euere meynt with wo & trovble,
And hyr sugre [ys] vnder-spreynt wyth galle:
Thys hyr vsage vn-to estatys alle,

To schewe fayrest whan sche ys most to drede;
Of hyh ne lowh sche taketh noon other hede,
ffor wych [let] no man vp-on hyr assure,
ffor sche ys lyke to the chavnteplure;
Wo after Ioye & after song wepyng,
Thys hyr cvstom in every maner thyng.
In on estate she neuere doth contyune.
Thys stormy quen, wych callyd ys Fortune
Hyr gyfftys allë in conclusion,
Be not but gyffytys off confusion.
ffor worthynesse in Armes nor vyctórye
Arn in effect but thingës transytórye
Nor hih conquest, nor domynacion,
Peplys to puttë in subieccyon.
It al schal passe as doth a somer flovr;
In thys world herë, holdyng no soiovr
No thyng abyt, shortly for to wryte,
Good lyff exepte, and only ovr meryte.

Trusteth ther-for, ye folk of euery age,
That yowre lyff her ys but a pylgrymage;
ffor lyk pylgrymes ye passë to & ffro,
Whos Ioye ys euere meynt A-mong with wo.
Al worldly blyssë, medlyd ys with stryff;
ffor ay the cöurs, of thys mortal lyff,
Euerych hovr doth to hys boundys drawe;
To al pylgrymës kynd hath set a lawe,
Eche day to Renne a party on ther way;
Oldë ner yong, ther may no man sey nay,
Lyk a Ryuer sterne, and of gret myght,
Ne restyth nat nouther [by] day nor nyght,
To holde hys cours as ledeth hym the streem,
Ryght so, pylgrymes to-ward Ierusaleem
Haste on her way in thys world, & echone
To-ward that cyte, or to Babylone.
Lyk ther merytes, & lyk to ther degres,
They be Receyved at on of thys cytees,
Ytakyn innë, so as they dysserve;
And deth, ay redy with hys dart to kerue,
Lyth in a-wayt, dredful off manacys,
To send palmerys to on off thys placys.

A-geyne whas strokë, helpeth no medycyne,
Salue, tryacle but grace only dyvyne,
ffolk to conveye to ther desyred place:
And many brygaunt the weye doth manace,
No man ys sur hym syluen to diffend;
Wherfore I rede, lat euery whyht a-mend
Hys lyff be tyme, whil he hath liberte.

And that folk may the Ryhtë weyë se
Best assuryd to-wardë ther passage,
Lat hem be-holde[n] in the pylgrymage,
Which callyd ys pylgrymage de movnde,
In the wych fful notably ys fovnde,
Lernyd, and tavht, who can well construe,
What folk schal take, & what they schal eschue.
In thys book, yf [that] they redë yerne,
Pylgrymës schal the verray trouthë lerne,—
yiff they sette ther trewë dyllygence
To vnderstondë clerly the sentence,—
What hyt menyth, & the moralyte;
Ther they may, as in a merovr, se
holsom thynges, & thynges full notable;
What ys prevyd, & what thyng ys dampnable,
What ys holsom, the sovlë for to save,
Whan the body ys leyd in hys grave.
And to knowë wych be cyteseyns,
Trewë burgeys, & ekë fraunkeleyns,
Wych in good lyff and vertu do excelle,
In Ierusaleem perpetually to duelle,
Whan the Iugge & Lord, that lyveth evere,
In hys doom assovnder shal dysseuere
Hys chosë shep, wasshe in the lambys blood,
Wych for mankyndë starff vpon the rood;
And putte the kydës to dampnacion,
wych ha noon part of Crystys passyon,
Endlesly there to lyve in peyne,
Where Lucyffer lyth bovnden in his cheyne.
ffro the wych, God euery man defende,
And grauntë gracë, our lyff here to mende,
To-ffor the ffyn of ovrë pylgrymage.
ffor, save hys grace, we ha noon avauntage,

No thyng is cleyme as be tytle of ryht,
But of mercy, wych ay lyth in hys myght,
Vn-to synnerys, that deye repentaunt,
To yive pardon off hys benynge graunt,
[The] Wych ys to hem, vn-to ther refut,
Proteccyon and truë sauff-conduit,
Hem to savë, that thay be nat lorn.

And thys book, the wych I spake off to-fforn,
I mene, the book Pylgrymage de Movnde,
Morall of vertu, of materys ful profovnde,
Maad & compylyd in the Frenchë tonge,
ffull notáble to be rad & songe.
To every pylgryme, vertuous of lyff,
The mater is so contemplatyff;
In all the book, ys not lost a word.

Thys consydred full wysly of my lord
Of Salysbury, the noble manly knyht,
Wych in Fravncë, for the kyngys Ryht,
In the werre hath meny day contunyd;
Whom God & gracë han ful wel ffortunyd
In thenpryses wych he hath vndertake;
Lyff and godes, for the kyngys sake,
Knyhtly Inpartyd thys prince vertuous;
Ay in the ende beyng victoryous,
Swych grace & Eur, God to hym hath sent,
Wych gaff me ffyrst in comavndement
Thys seydë book in Englysshe for to make,
As I koude, [al] only for hys sake.
Be-cause he woldë that men schold[e] se,
In ovre tonge, the grete moralyte
Wych in thys book ys seyde & comprehendyd,
That yt ne myhte (me semyth) be Amendyd;
The auctour, wych that dyde hyt ffyrst compyle,
So vertuously spent ther-on hys whyle.
And of entent to do my lord plesaunce,
In hys worschepë, for a remembravnce,
As I am bovnde for to be hys man,
I wyl translate hyt sothly as I kan,
After the lettre, in ordre effectuelly.
Thogh I not folwe the wordës by & by,

I schal not faillë teuchyng the substaunce,
Thogh on makyng I ha no suffysaunce;
ffor my wrytyng, in conclusion,
ys al yseyd vnder correcion.

And of the tyme playnly, & of the date
Whan I be-gan thys book to translate,
yt was a thovsand (by computacion)
Affter crystys incarnacion,
ffour hundryd ouer, nouther fer ne nere,
The surples ouer, syxe & twenty yere,
My lord that tymë beyng at Parys,
Wych gaff me charge, by hys dyscrete avys,
As I seyde erst, to settë myn entent
Vp-on thys book to be [ful] dyllygent,
And to be-gynne vp-on thys labour,
Allë folkys be-sechyng of ffavour,
That on thys book after-ward schal rede;
And that hym lyst nat to taken hede
To the makyng, but to the sentence;
ffor I am bareyn of all eloquence.
Ther-for I pray, what so that be seyde,
[Off gentyll]esse not to be evel apayde,
And my rudnessë helpyn to excuse,
ffor in metre I ha ne with me no muse:
Noon of the nyne that on Parnase duelle,
Nor she that ys [the] lady of the welle,
Calliopë, be sydë cytheron,
Gaff to my pennë, plente nor fuson̄
Of hyr licovr, whan thys work was [be]gonne.
Nor I drank no-wer of the sugryd tonne
Off Iubiter, couchyd in hys celer,
So strange I fonde to me hys boteler,
Off poetys [i]callyd Ganymede.

But to my labour now I woll me spede,
Prayng ech reder me to reconforte,
Benignëly my rudenesse to supporte.
ffor wherso be my thonk, I lese or wynne,
Wyth yowrë gracë thus I wyll be-gynne.

Here endyth the prologe off the translatour.

Her be-gynneth the prologue of the auctour.

fful ofte hyt happeth in certeyn
Off dremys,—the wych that men ha seyn
I nyhtys,—after, whan they wake,
fful lytel hede ther-of thay take,
Tyl effte agayn yt comyth to mynde,
That they the veray trouthë fynde,
Of euery thyng they sawe to-forn.
ffor, of remembrauncë the thorn
Pryketh here myndës with hys poynt,
That they hyt se fro poynt to poynt,
And fynde hyt verrayly yn dede,
Thogh a-fore they took noon hede.
Be yt of Ioye, be yt of sorow,
fful ofte a-pon the nexte morow
yt ys go clene out off her thouht,
Ther-of they ha so lytel rouht,
Tyl after they a-vyse hem wel;
And then thay fyndyth yt euerydel,
Dremys that they had a nyhte,
By maner of a dyrked syhte.
But yiff they makë longe delay,
To putte hem forth fro day to day,
Than, th[o]rogh foryetelnesse,
Thay kan there-of no thyng expresse,
ffor all ys out of myndë go.

And on A tyme hyt happyd so,
ffro Crystys berth a thousand yer,
Thre hondryd, by a-cowntys cler,
And over Ten, as I toke kepe,
Vp-on a nyht I lay & sclepe,
Drempte, (yf ye lyst to lere,)
A wonder dreme, in tyme yffere.
The wych, a-noon as I a-wook
Vp on the morow, a penne I took,
And wrote yt, yff ye lyst to wyte,
That I schold hyt nat foryete;
But freschly yn my mynde yt kepe,
Halff wakyng and halff a-slepe,

That I myht after, by leyser,
Correcte hyt when the day were cler,
By good avys, whan I took kepe,
Bet a-dawed out of my sclepe.

And thys consyderyd cuery dele,
Me sempte I haddë do ryht wel,
Yiff ther hadde, as tho to me,
ffallë noon contraryouste;
ffor al the wrytyng that I wrote
Was me be-raffte, and how I not,
Dyscured thurgh the world a brode,
As God woot wel, and thus yt stood.
Where-of I hadde as tho no shame,
ffor al I hald yt but a game;
ffor to that tyme fredam I hadde
To putte away, and eke to adde,
What that me lyst, lyk as I wende.
ffor ther was mychë thyng to mende,
To ordeyne, & to correcte,
And bet in order to directe;
ffor many a thyng, yt ys no nay,
Mot be prouyned, & kut a-way,
And yshape of newe entaylle,
In ordre dresse hyt, & yraylle,
As doth euery manere whyht,
That wol make a thyng a-ryht.
ffor he that bar my dreme a-way,
ffull lytel thouhte (yt ys no nay)
On my profyt in any wyse;
ffor shortly, as I kan devyse,
I myghte beter a mendyt yt,
Lyk as God hadde yeve me wyt,
Sool by my sylff, than I may now;
But all ys gone, I wot not how.
And eke yt ys so long a-go,
That thys dreem was take me fro,
I haue almost foryete yt al.
But not for-thy, yet I schal
Adde, & putte a-way also,
Where-as I se yt be to do;

I schal not leve in myne entent
To putte alway a-mendement,
As yt comyth to my knowynge,
Day be day yt rémembrynge.
And when that yt a-mendyd ys,
And se that nothyng be a mys,
By a lace I shal yt were,
And a-bowte my nekke yt bere,
Send yt forth to euery contre,
Wher-as to-fforn that yt hath be,
A-geyn my wyl & my plesaunce.

And thus for a Remembraunce,
Go fforth thow dreme! I sendë the
By all the placys wher thow hast be;
I send the to thy provynours,
By all the pathys & the tovrs,
ffor thow knowest the weyë wel,
And the passage euerydel.
On my be halff[e] thow not ffaylle
To dresse yt ewyn by entaylle,
Wher thow wer fferst, wych doth me greve,
And took of me no maner leve.
ffor wych I calle yt (thys the ffyn,)
No verray weyë off pylgrym.
By cavsë, wherso, by the lak,
On ffootë, nor on horsëbak,
Thow sholdest ha mad no Iourne,
But thow haddest hadde leve off me.
But ffor as myche as I in dede
Thynkë the with me to lede,
Whan I go, as thow schalt se,
To Ierusaleem, the cyte;
To wych weye, with-ovte more
I am excyted wonder sore:
Thys myn entent, thider to drawe,
And a-mong pylgrymes, thys a lawe,
That, as brother vn-to brother,
Euerych sholde a-byden other.
Thys sholde ben a trewe vsage
Off folkys in ther pylgrymage.

Doo tellë myn aventure cler,
How passyd syx and twenty yer,
Tellë vn-to on and all,
How that yt ys [to] me ffall,
In the Abbey off Chalys,
Whylom ffoundyd off Seyn Lewyys.

Here begynneth the pylgrym.

The seydë yer (ho lyst take kep)
I was avysed in my slep,
Excyted eke, and that a-noon,
To Ierusalem for to goon.
Gretly meved in my corage
ffor to do my pylgrymage,
And ther-to steryd inwardly.
And to tell the causë why,
Was, ffor me thouht I hadde a syht
With-Inne a merour large & bryht,
Off that hevenly ffayr cyte,
Wych representede vn-to me
Ther of holy the manere,
With Inne the glas ful bryht & cler.
And werrayly, as thouhtë me
yt excellyde off bewte
Al other in comparyson;
ffor God hym selff was the masown,
wych mad yt ffayr, at ys devys.
ffor werkman was ther noon so wys,
yt to conceyve in hys entent;
ffor al the weyës & paament
Wer ypavyd all off gold.
And in the sawter yt ys told,
How the ffyrst ffundacyon,
On hyllys off devocyon;
The masounry wrought ful clene,
Off quykë stonys bryht & schene,
Wyth a closour rovnd a-bowte

Off enmyes, ther was no dowte.
ffor Awngelles the wach y-kepte,
The wych, day nor nyht ne slepte,
Kepyng so strongly the entre,
That no wyht kam in that cyte,
But pylgrymes, day nor nyht.
That thyder wentyn evene ryht.

And ther were meny mansyovns,
Placys, and habytacyovns;
And ther was also al gladnesse,
Ioye with-ovten hewynesse.
And pleynly, who that haddë grace
ffor to entren in that place,
ffond, onto hys plesavnce,
Off Ioye al maner suffysavnce,
That eny hertë kan devyse.
And yet the entre on swych wyse
Was strongly kepte ffor komyng In;
ffor the Awngel cherubin,
Off the gate was cheff porter,
Havyng a swerd, fflawmyng as cler
As any ffyr, evene at the gate;
And who that wold, erly or late,
Passen the wal, he was yslawe.
Ther ne was noon other lawe,
Ne bet helpe, ne bet refut;
The vengaunc ay was execut.

In the passage thyder-ward,
The weyë was so streiht & hard,
ffor tyravntys, with ther felonye
And with ther mortel tormentrye,
Devyseden on ther entent
fful many wonderful torment,
Lyggyng awayt fro day to day,
To slen pylgrymes in ther way,
Makyng ful grete occysion

Off pylgrymes of grete Renovn,
Off men & wommen both yfere,
Whos martyrdom (as ye schal here,)
Was ful grevous to endure.
ffor somme of hem (I yow ensure,)
Wern out of here Skynnes flawe;
And sommë, by ful mortal lawe,
Wer hew (as bokys kan Remembre,)
Asonder, partyd euery membre,
Crucefyed, of blood al Red;
And many other lost hys hed.
Of somme, the bowelys wer out Rent,
And somme on hotë colys brent,
ffretyng salt cast in among,
ffor to make ther peynys strong
Myd the ffyry flawmys reed.
Somme boylyd in oylle and led,
And sorë bet, that yt was wonder;
Somme, sawyd evene assonder;
Somme, with wyldë hors ydrawe,
In dyffence of crystys lawe,
Thorgh-out the ffeld, her & yonder,
Tyl ther Ioyntës wente a-sonder:
Nerff and bon assonder Rent,
And ther Entraylles aforn hem brent.
The ffelouns wern on hem so felle,
That yt ys pyte for to telle;
And ther ys no man now a lyve
That kan the peynys halff descryve;
Nor a sermon ther-off make,
What they suffrede ffor the sake
Off Cryst Ihesu vn-to the deth,
ffor love, tyl they yald vp the breth,
Myd ther mortal peynys smerte.
ffor ther ys noon so hard on hert,
So despytous, nor so ffelon,
That he [ne] wolde ha compassyon,
Ben agrysed off pytee;
And specyally ffor to se
That they suffrede for no synne,

But only off entent to wynne
The love off Cryst; & ffor hys sake,
All they han vp-on hem take,
Seyng how, ffull long aforn,
Cryst to suffre was yborn,
And fforbar nat to be ded.
And sythen he that was her hed
Suffrede peynys, deth, & woo,
The membrys wolde endure also,
And ffolwe ther hed on al thyng,
As Seyn Gregoir in hys wretyng
Recordeth pleynly (who taketh hed)
Off allë chose, Cryst ys hed;
ffor wych, the membrys, as was due,
Affter ther hed lyst to sue,
Wych by example wente a-fore,
To whom thentre was not fforbore.
ffor swych as deydë ffor hys love,
By wyketys entrede in above,
Vp the gatë, hih aloffte,
Thogh ther passage was not soffte;
The porter lyst hem nat to lette.
And ther pencellys vp they sette
On cornerys, wher them thouhtë good,
Al steyned with ther ovnë blood.

And whan that I parceyved yt,
I conceyvede yn my wyt,
That who scholdë ther-with-Inne
Entre by fforce, he most yt wynne
By manhood only, and by vertu.
ffor, by record off Seyn Mathew,
The hevene (as by hys sentence,)
Wonnen ys by vyolence.
Crysostom Recordeth ek also,—
Who lyst taken hed ther-to,—
That gret vyolence & myght
yt ys, who that loke a-ryht,
A man be born in erth her downe,

And Ravisshe, lyk a champyon,
The noble hihe hevenly place,
By vertu only & by grace.
ffor vertu doth to a man assure
Thyng denyed by nature.

Thys to seyne, who lyst lere,
That vertu makyth a man conquere
The hih hevene in many wyse,
To wych kynde may not suffyse
To cleymë ther pocession,
But she be guyded by Reson,
Wych to vertu ys maystresse,
To lede hyr also, and to dresse
In hyr pylgrymage Ryght
Above the sterrys cler & bryht.

ffor other weye koude I not se,
To entre by in that cyte;
ffor cherubyn, erly and late,
Ay awaytynge at the gate,
Was redy euer, and ther stood,
Whos swerd was bloudyd with the blood
Off Crystys holy passyon
Whan he made our Redempcion,
Mankynde to restore a-gayn.
The wych wey, whan I hadde seyn,
I was a-stonyd in my syht.
But I was coumfortyd a-noon Ryht,
Whan I sawh the swerd mad blont
Off cherubin, the wych was wont
To brenne as any flawmbe bryht.
But now, the sharpnesse & the lyht
Was queynte, to do no more vengaunce,
By vertu off crystys gret suffravnce,
Wych schal no more for man be whet.

And ther I sawh a smal wyket
Ioynynge evene vp-on the gate;
And ther stood on, erly & late,
Lenynge, as I kovde espye,
Wych power hadde, & maystrye

ffor to opne & to shette,
To Receyven and to lette,
Pylgrymes that kam on ther weye;
And in hys hond he held a keye,—
Seyn Peter, me thouht by hys cher,—
That had off God pleyn power
To lete in ffolk wych he knew hable.
But ffyrst they most (thys no ffable,)
Dyspoyllen hem, & nakyd be;
ffor noman entrede that cyte
That clothyd was, nor myhte passe,
Wher he mor, or wer he lasse,
Or gret compact in any membre.
And than A-noon I gan Remembre
How Cryst sayde, in a certeyn place,
That yt was as hard to passe
In-to the hevene A reche man,—
Lych as he rehersë kan
By record off hys gospel,—
As yt was to a kamel
To passe throgh a nedlys Eye;
Wych ys a thyng (ho kan espye,)
As yt were an Inpossible,
And verrayly Incredyble.

Affter-ward (yt ys no ffayll)
Me thouhte I sawh a gret mervayle:
Vp-on Tours, dyuers estatys
Off doctours and off prelatys,
Showyng, as by contenavnce,
By speche, and by dallyavnce,
Techyng pylgrymës to knowe,
That wer yn the valë lowe,
How, with travayllë & peyne,
And how also they sholde atteyne
To make hem wyngës ffor to fle
Hih a-loffte to that cyte,
By wynges of exaumple good,
Yiff they ther lernyng vnderstood,
Wych they tauhte hem in ther lyff

By doctryne contemplatyff,
Outward schewyng, as by cher,
Ther love was to hem ful enter,
ffovndyd vp-on charyte.

Amongys wych I dedë se
Grete noumbre of thys Iacobins,
Off chanovns, & of Awstynys,
ffolkys ful diuers of maner,
Both temporal & seculer,
Off clerkys & relygyous,
And other ordrys vertuous.
Mendyvauntys ful nedy,
That day & nyht wer ryth besy
To gedre ffetherys, bryht & shene,
And make hem wynges ffor to fflen.
And gan A-noon, with al ther myght,
To soren vp, & take her fflyht
Hih in-to that ffayr cyte.
And hiher vp they dydë ffle,
Bove cherubin, that Avngel cler;
ffor they wer out of hys davnger,
By the techyng, and the doctrine,
And by exaumples ek dyvyne,
Wych ther maystres hadde hem tauht,
Wher-by they han the hevene kauht,
And ffounde ther-in gret avauntage
To fforthre hem in ther pylgrymage,
And how hem sylff they sholdë guyde.

And vp-on the tother syde,
Vnder the wal of the cyte,
I sawh, off gret auctorite,
ffolkys, wych dyde entende
To helpe her ffrendys to ascende,
By ful gret subtylyte,
To make hem entre the cyte;
And ther-to dyde her bysy cure,
By scalys throgh the strong closure;
And as me thouhte, A-mong echon,
That Seyn Benet in soth was on.

Wych, as I rehersë shal,
ffor to scale that hihe wal,
That was so myhty & so strong,
With hym brouht a ladder long,
In the wych men myhtë se
xij. greës off humylyte,
By wych, thor[o]gh deuocyon,
ffolk off hys relygyon
Ascendyd vp, gre by gre,
With-ovtë lette to that cyte,
And the ryht[ë] weye han take.
Monkys greyë, whyte, & blake,
Ascendyng vp with-outë ffeer.
And Seyn Fravnceys I sawh ek ther,
fful dyllygent, and ek bysy,
And (as me thouht) ful ffrendly
To ffolk of hys profession.

And ek in myn avysyon
I sawh ther cordys rovnd & long,
Al yffret with knottys strong,
Hard to ffele, and nothyng soffte.
And ffro the valey hih a-loffte
Vp-on the wal they dede hem caste,
And by the cordys held ham ffast,
Grypyng hem with gretë peyne,
Off entent they myghte atteyne
To gete vp to that hihe wal,
ffor to kepe hem ffrom a ffal,
Alway by the corde hem held.

And many A-nother I be-held,
Off dyuers ffolkys that vp ran,
Off whom the namys I not kan,
Nor how they dyde hem sylff assure,
Over the wallys to Recure
On echë party Round abovte;
ffor I in soth, that stood with-oute,
Myghte not be-holden al the paas,
But on the party that I was,
Wych was to me gret dysplesavnce.
But I dar seyen, in substaunce,

That ther was noon off no degre
Wych entre myhtë the cyte,
But lefft with-outë, lowë doun,
ffor al, hys sherpë & bordoun.

But thentent off hys vyage,
And ffyn ek off hys pylgrymage,
Wer set of hertë fynally
Ther tabyde perpetuelly
With ffeyth, hope, & charyte,
To lyve with rest on that cyte;
ffor other thyng, in hert & thouht,
To her desyre they woldë nouht.
ffor, as the phylisofre seyth,
(To whom men mosten yeven feyth)
That al ffolk, wherso they wende,
What they do, ys for som ende.

And for that skylë, more & more,
I was steryd wonder sore
ffor to takë my Iournee,
Lyk a pylgryme, to that cyte.
Off more Ioyë I nat kepte;
And, me thouht ek, as I slepte,
And in my dreem dyde ek mete,
That ellys I myghte ha no quyete.
And thus ful pensyff in my guyse,
A-noon I gan me to a-vyse,
And thouht in myn avysion,
I ffaillede a sherpe & bordon,
Wych al pylgrymes ouhte to have,
In ther wey, hem sylff to save.
And so the pylgrymes hadde echon
In ther vyage, but I allone.
They wer echon by-ffore purveyd,
Bet in ther wey to be conveyed

And I roos vp, and that a-noon,
And ffro myn hous gan out gon

Vp-on my wey, off wych I tolde;
Al be that I was long yholde,
Or I myhte makë my passage
To gynnen vp-on my pylgrymage.
Nyne monethes I was kept cloos,
Tyl at the last I vp Aroos,
Off entent forth to procede.
But than at erst I gan take hede
That, to myn entencioun,
I myghte ffynden a bordoun
And a sherpe, wych of vsage
ffolk han that gon on pylgrymage,
Nedful to me & necessarye.
ffor wych cause I dyde tarye
Or I myghte gynne my Iournee,
To holde my wey to that cyte;
ffor wych I went complaynyng,
Out off my sylff tryst & wepyng,
Cerchyng toforn & ek behynde,
Sherpe & bordoun for to fynde.

And whil I dyde my besynesse,
A lady of ful gret ffayrnesse
And gret noblesse, (soth to say,)
I dyde mete vp-on the way.
ffor God wold, (I yow be-hete,)
Sone that I sholde hyr mete,
Off gracë for myn ownë prowh,
Wher-off I haddë Ioye ynowh,
And in hertë gret gladnesse.
ffor she, as by lyklynesse,
Was douhter of som Emperour,
Somme myghty kyng, or gouernour;
Or off that lord that guyeth al,
Wych ys of power most royal.

And thys lady gracyous,
Most debonayre, & vertuous,
Was yclad, by gret delyt,
In a surcote al off whyt,
With a Tyssu gyrt off grene.
And Endlong, ful bryht & shene,

She hadde a charbouncle ston,
That Round abowte hyr body shon;
Was noon so reche, as I was war.
And on hyr brest A nouche she bar,
I trowe that nowher was no bet.
And in the Awmaylle ther was sette
Passyngly a rechë sterre,
Wych that cast hys bemys ferre
Round abovten al the place,
Ther was swych haboundaunce off grace.
Out of whos bosoom, mylde ynowh,
Ther kam a dowë whyt as snowh,
With hys wyngës splayng oute,
Plauynge rovnd hyr hond aboute.

Thys lady, of whom I ha told,
Hadde on hyr hed a crowne of gold,
Wrouht of sterrys shene & bryht,
That cast aboute a ful cler lyht.
He was ful myghty, (who taketh hede,)
That sette yt fyrst vp on hyr hed;
And made yt ffyrst by gret Avys
Off gret Richesse and gretë prys.

Thys lady, that I spak of here,
Was curteys & of noble chere,
And wonderly of gret vertu.
And fyrst she gan me to salue
In goodly wyse, axynge of me,

What maner thyng yt myghtë be,
Or causë why, I sholde hyr lere,
That I made so hevy chere;
Or why that I was ay wepyng,
ffor lak of eny maner thyng.’
Wher-of, when I gan takë hede,
I ffyll yn-to a maner drede,
ffor vnkonnynge and lewdënesse,
That sche, of so gret noblesse,
Dysdeynede not in hyr degre
To speke to on so pore as me;
But yiff yt were, so as I gesse,

Al only of hyr gentyllesse;
ffor gladly, wher ys most bevte,
Ther ys grettest hvmylyte,
And that ys verrayly the sygne,
Swych ar most goodly & benygne.
An appyl tre, with frut most lade,
To folk that stonden in the shade,
Mor lowly doth hys braunchys loute
Than A nother tre with-oute;
ffor wher haboundeth most goodnesse,
Ther ys ay most of mekënesse.
Noon so gret tokene of beute,
As ys parfyt humylyte.
Who wanteth hyr in hys banere,
Hath not vertu hool & entere.

And affter thys I gan abrayde,
And to hyrë thus I sayde,
“How to gon, I castë me,
To Ierusaleem the cyte,
ffayllyng (to myn entencion)
Both a sherpe & a bordon,
ffor wych I went, yt ys no doute,
ffor to seke ham Round aboute,
Yiff I myhte any fynde or se.”

Grace dieu:
‘Now vndyrstondë,’ than quod she,
‘Yff thow lyst hawe of hem tydyng,
Thow mostest, ouer alle thyng
To thyn entent, as thow shalt se,
ffor thy profyt, kom, folwe me.
And yt is gretly to thy prowh
That thow hast me fovndë now,
By whos helpë thow schalt spede,
To ffynden al that the shal nede.’

The pylgrym:

Than quod I, “my lady dere,
I pray yow that ye wyl me lere
Your name & your condycioun,
Your contre, & yovr Regyoun;
ffor yt ful plesaunt wer to me,

To wytë pleynly what ye be.”
And she answerde ful mekly,
‘Tak hed to me now feythfully:
I am the douhter off themperovr,
Wych ys the lord and governour
Off euery lond and regyoun;
And he hath sent me hyder doun,
Here in-to this lowh contre,
Off entent, as thow shalt se,
To gete hym frendys, & conquere
Round a-bouten euery wher:
Nat that he hath to hem no nede,
But only (who kan taken hede,)
That he haveth gret plesaunce,
To haue of folkys ácqueyntavnce,
ffor ther profyt, more than for hys;
And thus yt stant & thus yt ys.

‘Thow sest my noble ryche array,
And how that I am fresshe & gay,
fful ryally and wel beseyn,
Nothyng in wast, nouther in veyn;
Thys charboncle, nor thys sterrys clere,
ffressher wer neuer seyn yfere;
Nor, I trowë, noon so fayre,
Whos bewte may nat apayre.

ffor to pylgrymes, day & nyht,
I enlumyne, & yive lyht
To al pylgrymës in ther way,
As wel in dyrknesse as be day,
So they lyst rewardë me,
And lyst that I her guydë be.
And yiff they erryn in her weye,
Ageyn I kan hem wel conveye;
I wyl hem helpen & Redresse;
ffor I am she, in sothfastnesse,
Whom thow owest seke of ryht,
In straungë lond with al thy myght.

‘I yive lyht to folk echon̄
That out of hyr weyë gon,
And releue hem, on & alle;

Leffte vp folkys that be falle,
ffrom al mysheff & from al blame,
And Grace dieu, that ys my name,
fful nedful in ech contre.

‘And by thys dowe wych thow dost se,
Wych I bere with wyngës fayre,
Humble, benygne, & debonayre,
I am tookenyd, who lyst seke,
With hyr goodly Eyen meke.
And so thow shalt me call in dede,
Whan thow hast on-to me nede,—
And that shal be ful offtë sythe,
That I may my power kythe,—
Telpe the in thy pylgrymage.
ffor fynaly in thy vyage,
As thow gost to that cyte,
Thow shalt hawe offte aduersyte,
Gret mescheff and encombraunce,
Empechementys & dysturbaunce,
Wych thow mayst nat in no degre
Passe nor endure with-outë me,
Nor that cyte never atteyne,
(Thogh thow euer do thy peyne,)
With-oute that I thy guydë be.

‘Al-be that in-to that cyte
Thow hast seyn entren meny on,
Nakyd, in-to that cyte gon
Somme by ther sotel engyn,
And somme also by cherubin.
But what so euere they koude don,
Ther was neuer receyved noon
(ffor outht they koude hem sylff avaunce,)
But only thorgh myn ácqueyntaunce.
Lo, her ys al: avysë the
Yiff thow lyst acqueynted be
With me: tel on thy fantasye,
And the trowthë nat denye.’

The pylgryme:

“Ma dame, for Goddys sake, I praye,
Nat to leue me on the weye

With-oute yowr helpe & your favour;
ffor in thys weyë, your socour
Ys to me most necessarie
To forthre, that I nat ne tarye;
Thankyng to your hyh goodnesse,
That ye kam of gentellesse,
ffyrst vn-to me for my forthryng,
Ther nedede me noon other thyng.”

Tho hyr lyst no lenger byde,
But took me in the samë tyde,
And made me with hyr for to gon
To an hous of hers a-noon,
Wher I sholdë fynde, in dede,
Al thyng that I hadde of nede.

She was hyr sylff (yn sothnesse)
Off thylk hous cheff founderesse,
ffor on hyr word yt was fyrst groundyd,
And by hyr wysdom bylt and fovndyd;
The yerys of the masownry
Thryttene hundred & thrytty.
And ffor the fayrnesse & bewte
I hadde gret wyl that hous to se;
I-baysshed, for yt was so fayr;
ffor yt heng hih vp in the hayr:
Twen hevene & Erthe stood the place,
As yt hadde (only by grace)
ffrom the hevene descendyd doun.
So stood that hevenly mancyoun,
With steplys & with toures hihe,
ffresshely arrayed to the Eye,
As, a placë most royal,
Above al other pryncypal;
Wych stood vp on a ffayr River,
The water ther-of holsom & cler;
But ther nas passage in that place,
Nor shepe wherby men myghte passe.

The pylgrym:
ffor wych to Gracë Dieu I sayde,
And, to hyr thus I abrayde,

“Madame, me semeth in my thouht
That we ben in perel brouht,
ffor I kan sen no passage
To passe by, nor avauntage.”

Grace dieu:
‘Off me, dred the never a del,
ffor thow shalt passë fayre & wel.’

The pylgrym:
“I kan not swymmen, yt stondeth so,
Wherfor I not what I may do.
And yiff I entre, I am in doute
But euer I shold komen oute;
ffor wych, tentrë I stonde in drede,
I have of helpe so gretë nede.”

Grace dieu argueth:

‘What menyth thys? what may thys be,
That thow art now, as semeth me,
So sore a-drad of thys Ryver,
Wych ys but lytë, smothe & cler?
Why artow ferful of thys streem?
And art toward Ierusaleem,
And mustest of necessyte
Passen ferst the gretë see,
Or thow kome ther. lo, her ys al,
And dredyst now thys Ryuer smal!
And most kouthe ys thys passage
To chyldre that be yonge of age,
And offter han thys ryver wonne
Than folk that ben on age ronne.
And the passage ys most kouthe
To chyldren in ther tender youth,
ffor yt, in soth, ys fyrst passage
Off euerych good pylgrymage;
ffor other weyë ys ther noon
To Ierusaleem by to goon,
But yiff yt be by cherubin.
And yet somme ha ther entryd In,
That wer nat wasshe in thys Ryuer,
Nor bathyd in the stremys cler.
Wych to the ys not contrárye,

‘But thys to the ys necessárie,
Consydred (shortly to expresse)
The gretë fylth and vnclennesse,
The ordure and the dong also,
Off thylkë hous thow komë fro,
Wher .ix. monethes thow hast be.
ffor wych yt nedeth vn-to the
To wasshe the her, yiff thow take hede,
Thys my consayl & my Red:
To passe thys Ryuer of clennesse
Yt ys to thee most sykernesse.
And al I schal the telle A thyng:
Ther passede onys her a kyng,
ffyrst assuryng the passage
Vn-to euery maner age;
He made the pas hym sylff alone,
And yet in hem was fylthë non.
To wasshen hym yt was no nede,
But that hym lyst, of lowlyhede,
Schewe example by hys grace
How other folkys sholdë passe
Over by the samë went.

Wherfore tel me thyn entent,
Yiff thow thys Ryuer lyst atteyne;
And I shal A-noon ordeyne
A sergaunt of myn in specyal;
Wych offycer the helpë shal
ffor to passe the water cler,
And wardeyn ys of the Ryuer.
He shal the wasshe, he shal the bathe,
And make the passe the morë rathe.
And, to put the out of doute,
He shal crosse the round aboute,
Make the sur, as thow shalt se,
ffrom al tempestys of the se,
Tescape the wawe of euery streem,
And make the wynne Ierusaleem
By conquest; & fynally—
That thow shalt drede noon emny
Wher so thow wende, Est or West—

‘Sette A cross vp-on thy brest,
Be-hynde also, and on thyn hed,
Ageyn al mescheff and al dred.
And off entent, as thow shalt se,
He shal also enoyntë the
Lych as sholde a Champyon,
That thow ha no occasyon
In thy passagë, nor no nede
No maner emny for to drede,
Sette hem echon at no prys.
Now her-vp-on say thyn avys.’

The pylgrym:
“I am wel payd that yt be do.
Yiff resoun accorde wel ther-to.
But fyrst I wolde som causë se,
What nedeth yt to wasshë me,
Or bathë, when yt ys no nede;
ffor I am clenë wasshe in dede
ffrom al felth and vnclennesse.
And ouer more, so as I gesse,
I am of yerys no thyng old;
The water also of kyndë cold,
Wych to entre, as semeth me,
I sholde in grete perel be;
And clenner than I am thys tyde,
I sholde not be vp-on no syde.”

Grace dieu speketh:
‘Herkene,’ quod she; ‘to voyde al doute,
Though thow be clene ynowh with-oute,
Thow art with-innë no thyng so;
ffor cause I shal the tellë, lo!
Thow art soyled in especyal
Off the synne orygynal,
Off fader & moder ek also,
Thorgh vnclennesse of bothë two,
Spottyd of nature, as ther hayr;
Wher-of thow mayst nat be made fayr,
But thow be wasshe, as I the telle,

In thys Ryuer or thys welle.
And yet thow most have helpe of me
Yiff thow sholdyst clenë be;
ffor I mot fyrst my syluen dresse
The bathë halwen, & yblesse,
And than yt shal ynowh suffise
To make the clene in allë wyse:
ffor the wasshyng mad out-ward
Ys but tookene (who taketh Reward)
Off al clennessë forth with-Inne;
At wych fyrst thow most be-gynne.’

The pylgrym:
“Madamë, so hyt nat dysplese,
I can as yet no thyng in ese,
And I shal tellë yow wher-fore
My dovte [is] now mor than before,
And gretter in conclusyoun,
But ye make exposicioun,
And bet declare yt to my mynde,
Or ellys my profyt ys be-hynde.”

Grace dieu:

‘ffyrst, whan God the world be-gan,
And after hadde makyd man,
And womman for to be hys fere,
Thy forme fadrys, as thow shalt lere,
God, of hys gret curteysye,
To hem dydë suyche gentrye
As to the I shal devyse.
He gaff to hem so gret ffraunchyse,
Talyved euere, thys no lesyng,
In elthe with-outë languysshyng,
Lusty & fressh in o degre,
Neuer tave had necessyte
Off deyyng; and gaff hem in sothnesse,
Lyberte, & Ryhtwyse nesse,
ffredam of wyl & equyte;
And that they sholdë ryghtful be,
And ther-vp-on, ay done her cure
To ben Egal by mesure;
The body to the soule obeye

‘In euery maner skylful weye,
And bern to hym subieccion;
So that alway, on-to resoun,
fforeyn strengthys her doun lowe,
Vpward sholde her sowerayn knowe,
And lest worthy of dygnyte,
Vn-to most worthy of degre
Obeyë sholde by Reuerence:
Thys was of ryght fyrst the sentence;
Shewe of lewdnesse ay a sygne,
The lasse of prys to the most dygne.

‘Off divynë purvyaunce
Thys was fyrst the ordynaunce,
That man shold euer ha be in blysse,
And al that whyle, of no thyng mysse;
Euer ha be fre, & never thral.
By ryhtwysnesse orygynal,
God gaff oure fadrys ous be-forn,
Yiff they ne hadde her fredom lorn,
ffor catel and for ther herytage
Ta last in euery maner age,
Ben herytavnce, fro gre to gre,
Off ryht to ther posteryte:
Thys to seyne, who kan take hed
To al that folwed of ther sed
ffor euermore: & soth yt ys,
Yiff they hadde not do a-mys.

‘But whan they gan to God trespace,
They lost ther fredam and ther grace,
Lyff also, and liberte,
And hooly ther auctoryte,
Off wych thow hast herd me seye,
ffor wych offencë they most deye:
Tho, al thyngys in sentence
Drowh fro man obedyence.
Who dysobeyth hys sovereyn,
Off ryht mot folwen in certeyn
That he shal dysobeyed be
Off lower thynges of degre,
Wych wer soget to hys servyse

‘Or he trespacede in any wyse.
ffor vn-to God, sothly to seye,
Whan Adam fyrst gan dysobeye,
Yt was Ryhtful, by kyndly lawe,
That to hym shold be with-drawe
All maner obéyssavnce
Off thynges vnder hys gouernaunce,
Wych he hadde in subieccyon,
Only for hys rebellyon.

‘And, yiff thow be Resounable,
An exaumple ful notable
I shal vn-to the declare
Openly, & no thyng spare,
Yiff thow lysten, taken hed ther-to:

‘I suppose yt falleth so:
The kyng hath in hys court a knyht
Whom he loueth with al hys myht,
And, for cause that he tryst hym wel,
He yeveth to hym a ffayr castel,—
Wallyd strong with hihë tours
ffrom al assaut of wynd & shours,—
And to hys heyrës, to pocessede;
And ther-vp-on maketh hem a dede,
Euere by successyon
Ther-of to have pocessyon
ffor eueremorë, to o word,
Whyl he ys trewë to hys lord,
Voyde of al rebellyon.
Thys was the condycion:
But he offendeth, so may falle,
Than he & hys chyldren alle,
The castel lese with-outë grace
Thorgh ther fadrys gret trespace:
The chyldren han the gylt abouht,—
Al-be that they offendyde nouht—
Thorgh ther fadrys gylt, allas;
And thus peraunter stant the cas:
And lyk in cas semblable at al,
Ryhtwysnesse orygynal—
‘Orygynal’ ys for to seyn

‘Pleynly, yi I shal not feyne,
A gynnyng wych fro God kam,
And was fyrst yoven to Adam
And vn-to Eue hys wyff also,
Wych they lostë, bothë two
Only for ther Rebellyon,
Whos ryht was by condycon,
Wherthrogh that ther posteryte
ffully ha lost ther lyberte.
(Posteryte, playnly in dede,
Ys folwyng doun of a kynrede
Lynealy, fro gre to gre.)
And thus, touchyng ther lyberte,
ffor dysobeyng they ha lorn
Off her fadrys hem to-forn;
Only throgh ther dysobeisaunce
They ha lost ther enherytaunce,
Wych they may not inheryte;
Wher-of ther fadrys ben to wyyte.

‘ffor nadde be ther transgressyon,—
Transgressyoun ys for to say
A goyyng fro the ryht[ë] way,
Or shortly, in sentement,
Brekyng off a comaundement—
Ther chyldren shold, by reson,
Ha cleymyd yt of verray ryht.
Wher-for, yiff thow lefft vp thy syth,
And lyst conceyven everydel,
Thow mayst parceyvë fayr & wel
Thow art spottyd in party
Off that thy ffadrys wer gylty;
So that thy fylth ys causyd al
Only of synne orygynal,
Wych that clerkys in sentence
Calle wantyng, or carence
Off orygynal ryhtwysnesse,
Wych thow oughtest (I dar expresse,)
Ellys haue hadde of equyte

‘By tytle of posteryte.’

The pylgrym:
“Ma damë, (lyk as ye shal fynde,)
I am a-stonyd in my mynde
Off your wordys ful gretly,
Wych ne sue nat kyndely.
ffor fyrst, as ye han told to me
That I mostë wasshë be,
To casten out myn vnclennesse,—
The wychë fylth, as ye expresse
And namen yt in especyal
‘Spot or synne orygynal,’
Wych ys only, by your sentence,
No-thyng but wantyng or absence
Off ryhtwysnesse—thus sey ye;
And in good feyth, as semeth me,
Wasshyng no thyng may a-vaylle
To do a-way thyng that doth faylle;
Yt wer bet cordyng to reson
To make restytucyon.”

Grace dieu answerde:

‘Certys, yt ys soth that ye seye.
But to o thyng take hede, I praye:
Who that haveth not the bewte
Wych he shold han of duete,
Voyde of fylth then ys he nouht;
The wych, yif yt be truly souht,
May be of felth a be-gynnyng,
Gret cause also, & gret norysshyng.
As by exaumple thus I pose:

‘Yiff a man ffayllede a noose
Wych he outh haue of Resoun,
Yt wer, to myn oppynyoun,
A gret defaute (I the ensure,)
Off bewte; & a gret ordure
Ther must sue, yt ys no nay:
And yiff the noose wer kut a-way,
The bewte of a manhys face
Yt wolde gretly yt dyfface.
Semblably, in especyal,

‘Yiff Ryhtwysnesse orygynal
Thow wante, wych thow sholdest haue,
I myghte pryve, so God me save
And conclude with-outë wene,
Off som fylthe thow wer vnclene.
I dar yt seyn, and wel expresse,
Namly whan thow in vnclennesse
Off flesshly lust wer fyrst be-gete,
Wych shold not be for-gete;
ffor fleshly lust (in sentence)
ycallyd ys concupyscence.
As thus consydre myn entent;
Whan soule and flessh to-gadre assent
To don any gret offence,
Than yt ys concupyscence,
And nouther party by dyffence
Lyst not makë résistence,
As they shold of equyte,
Wher-thorgh ther fayrnesse & bewte
Dyffacyd ys of bothë tweyne.
And euene lyk (in wordys playne)
Thoffencë long or thow wer borne,
Off thy fadrys her-to-forn,
Hath lost (yiff thow koudest se)
Thi gretë fredam & bewte;
And ther trespace, (yiff thow lyst lere,)
Ther lynage beyth yt al to dere.’

The pylgrym:
“With al myn hertë now I pray
O thyng that ye wyl me seye:
yff thys wasshyng, with-outë more,
May Restablysshe or restore
The ryhtwysnesse wych, day & nyht,
I ouhte haue hadde of verray ryht;
And yiff thys wasshyng (in sentence)
May A-nulle concupyscence?”

Grace dieu:

‘Teuchyng that we have on honde,
Thow must pleynly vnderstonde
A thyng wych I the tellë shal.

‘Ryghtvysnesse orygynal,
Thow shalt yt neuer haue A-geyn;
But truste, & be ryght wel certeyn,
That after thow be wasshë clene,
The fylthe ther-of, (thus I mene)
Thy wasshyng shal yt sette A-syde,
But concupyscence shal abyde.

‘Take the wordys as I the telle;
But yiff thow wylt, I shal ay dwelle
With the, to helpe the ay at nede,
That thow mayst in verray dede
Maken myghty résystence
Ageynys thy concupyssence,
Wych shal the derë neveradel
Yiff so be thow bere the wel.
And, but I seyë thy wasshyng,
I myhte the helpyn yn no thyng;
ffor the wasshyng (I the ensure)
Doth away al the ordure
Off al that kepen duëly
Ther maryage, and feythfully;
ffor wych, to the ys profytable
Thys wasshyng, & gretly vayllable.
Thy ffader, thy moder ek also,
Wer wasshyn ther-in, bothë two,
Whan they wer born; & so shalt thow,
Syth yt ys syttyng for thy prow:
That thow hem sue, yt ys Resoun.’

The pylgrym:
“I haue,” quod he, “suspecyoun
Off ther wasshyng now sodenly.
Yiff they wer wasshë duëly
Off ther synne orygynal,
Me semeth yt sholde folwe in al,
Syth I am gete of ther kynrede,
I sholde go quyt (who taketh hede,)
Off orygynal in euery thyng,
Thorgh vertu ferst of ther wasshyng.”

Grace dieu:

‘Than,’ quod she to me a-gayn,

‘Tak hed, whan men sowen greyn,
The huske, the chaff (yt ys no nay,)
Mot fyrst be clenë putt a-way,
Er yt be throwe vp-on the lond,
And sowe a-brood with manhys hond,
Naked and pur, yff thow take hede.
And after-ward, whan yt doth seede,
Vpon the tyme of hys Rypyng
And the seson of gadryng,
Men fynde a-geyn the samë corn,
Huskyd as yt was be-forn,
And ther-to clothyd newe a-geyn.

‘By wych exaumple, in certeyn,
Thogh thy fadyrs were, by grace,
Off ther orygynal trespace
purgyd clene, & frely quyt,
The caffë and the strowh abyt,
Reneweth ay & euer shal,
Off the synne orygynal,
Vpon the greyn, wych of hem spryngeth,
The huske alway with hem they bryngeth.
Alle folkys, as thow shalt lere,
That kyndely be sowen here
In thys world, fro day to day,
The husk with hem abyt alway,
And seueryth nat in no manere
Tyl they be wasshe in the Ryuere:
Wherfor (by short conclusyoun,)
They nede echon purgacyoun.’

The pylgrym:

Thanne me sempte yt was but veyn,
Mor for me to speke a-geyn,
Or makë replycacyoun
Ageynys her oppynyoun.
Off hevynesse I weptë sore;
ffor tho I koudë do no more,
I was so whapyd & amaat,
Tyl at the last an aduocaat

Kam to me tho in my nede,
With-outë gerdoun other mede.
And, for I hadde of spechë lak,
Wonderly goodly for me he spak;
Profrede for to help of grace
To makë me the Ryuer passe,
And that I myght ouer gon,
And that I wer ek wasshe a-noon,
In al that euer he coude or myghte;
And Guyllyam ffor-Sothly he hyhte:
Hys surname I nat ne knew.
And thus he spak to Gracë Dieu:
“Myn almesse, with your grace,
I wyl fulfyllen in thys place;
And yiff ye wyl, I callë shal
Off your hous the offycyal
(ffor yt ys now ryht good sesoun
Affter your oppynyoun)
That he make, by your byddyng,
Of thys pylgrym the wasshyng,
Wher-of ye han so mych sayd.”
Quod she, ‘I am ryht wel apayd.’

And ther-with-al, benygne of look,
The aduocaat a-noon me took
Of charyte, by gret plesaunce,
Affter the custom & vsaunce,
And madë callë fyrst of al
To helpyn hym the offycyal;
Bad hym also, among hem alle,
After hys namë me to calle,
That he shold ek don hys dever
To helpe me passë the Ryver,
That I wer wasshen A-noon ryht.
And he so dyde with al hys myght;
And many thynges, as he abrayde,
Over me, me thouhte he sayde;
Wordys that hadde gret vertu,
As he was tauht of Gracë Dieu;
Wher-thorgh, me thouht, & that a-noon,

That I sawh ther, fro me goon,
A foul that was of colour blak;
And in hys lydene thus he spak,
Siyyng, men herd hym euery cost,—
‘I-wys,’ quod he, ‘I haue al lost;
And fro me now ys taken al
By thys ylke offycyal.’

The pylgrym:

He hath my clothys fro me Rauht,
And thre tyme he hath me kauht,
And in the ryuer plongyd me,
Crossyd, (as men myhte se,)
Enoynted in the stremës colde,
Lyk as Gracë Dieu me tolde:
I fonde she lyede neuer a del.

And whan that I was fayre & wel,
The Ryuer passyd than A-noon,
And thavocaat ek was gon,
Wych only of gent[e]rye
Hadde don to me gret curteysye
That shal never out of mvnde

Than Gracë Dieu most good & kynde,
Ladde me forth on my repayre
To a place ryht inly fayr;
And neuer she madë me to-fore
So goodë cher syth I was bore,
Nor wás so benygne of hyr port,
Vn-to me to don confort.
‘Now syth,’ quod she, ‘that yt ys sene,
Thow art wasshe, & made al clene,
And art passyd the ryuer
With-outë pereyl or daunger,
Thyn Enmy fled Out of thy brest,
Wher he aforn hadde made hys nest,
I shal the shewe of gret delyt
fful many thyng for thy profyt,
Yff thow ha lust to lerne of me
Thynges that I shal techë the,

‘And vnderstond hem by & by.’

And tho befyl ther sodeynly
A wonder thyng (thus stood the cas,)
Wher-of I astonyd was;—
And yet for-thy I shal not spare,
Ryht as yt fyl, for to declare,
Whan I se tyme & best sesoun
Touchyng my sherpe and my bordoun:
Whan I ha leyser, trusteth wel,
I shal yow tellyn euerydel.
But, or I dyde further passe,—
I sawe Amyddys of that place
A sygne of Tav wych ther stood,
And yt was al be-spreynt with blood.
And ek, as I koude vnderstond,
I sawe be sydes a mayster stond,
Off ryght gret auctoryte,
And semptë that he sholdë be
Lyk a vyker douteles
Off Aaron & of Moyses.
And pleynly tho (as I be-held,)
In hys hond a staff he held,
Crooked be-forn (I took good hed;)
And hornyd also was hys hed.
Hys garnement, by gret delyt,
Was of lynë cloth al whyt,
Off the wych, ful wel I wote,
That the prophete whylom wrot,
Ezechyel, who lyst to look,
The nynthe chapytle off hys book:

Ordre off confyrmacioun

Wych, with the sygne of gret vertu
Markyde manye with Tav
Myd of her forhed, on by on,
And sayde to hem euerychon,
‘I crosse yow, and conferme also
With thys that ye take hed ther-to,
That ye may be, fro day to day,
Good pylgrymës in your way;

ffor thys to yow, tokne & sygne
That God shal be to yow benygne,
That ye shal not venquysshed be
Off your Enmyes in no degre.’

And with thys sygne of gret vertu
I was markyd off Grace Dieu
Myd my forhed, brede & lengthe.
Wher-by I kauhte ful gret strengthe,
And Receyvede ther by Ryht,
Vertu, force, & gostly myght,
To forthre me in verray dede
Off al that euer I haddë nede.
Not nede as I hadde be-fore
Thorgh the Ryuer or I was bore;
Yt was not so gret necessyte
But covenable congreuyte.

Ordre off the laste vnccioun.

Affter al thys, I hadde a syht
Off the mayster, wych of Ryht
Made the holsom oynement,
And after took yt of entent
To the sayde offycyal,
And gaff to hym thys charg with-al:
‘Have her,’ quod he, ‘ful goodly
Thre oynementys most worthy;
The wych now to the I take
Only for pylgrymës sake,
Swych as in ther oppynyouns
Wyl be myghty champyouns
ffor to holde strong bataylle
Whan ther Enmyes hem assaylle.

‘Thow shold do thy bysy peyne
Tenoynte hem with the fyrstë tweyne,
And kep the thrydde with-outë more
ffor folkys that byth woundyd sore,
And swyche as lyggë languysshyng
On ther beddys, almost deyng,
And of ther lyff ha no dysport:
Thow shalt a-noon don hem counfort;

‘Enoynte hym in especyal
As ther leche spryrytual,
Wher thow sest that yt be nede;
And ffeythfully, (yf thow take hede,)
Pylgrymes that travayll in ther way,
Wych passen her fro day to day,
And often in ther passage erre,
And assayllyd byth with werre;
Yt fayllyth not, sory or blythe,
But they be wondyd offtë sythe,
And grevyd with many áventure,
ffro deth that they may not recure;
And at ther ende, thys no faylle,
Whan that deth doth hem assaylle,
They gretly nede thys oynement;
And for thys skyle, in myn entent
I haue take yt in-to thy ward,
Al syke folkys to Reward,
Tenoyntë hem whan they haue nede:
And other oynementys in-dede
I ha reservyd to my kepyng,
Tenoyntë with a newë kyng
By the vykerys of Moyses,
The wych yt makë dout[e]les,
At duë tymë certeynly
By ther power as wel as I.
ffor sykë folkys euerychon,
And for lechys, as thow art on,
Wych sholdest alway be bysy,
Wel awaytynge & redy,
At the tablys wher we sytte
Whan we etyn, & not flytte;
ffor the tav T, taken hed,
Wych thow makest in the forhed.

‘But I wyth-holdë to ward me
Off custom & of duëte,
The fynal execucyoun,
The vse & mynystracyoun
Off confermyng in the ende:
Take hed now that thow not offende.’

And whil they held ther parlementys
And spak ek of ther oynementys,
Ther kam to hem of gret manere
A maydë mek, & humble of chere,
Wych that of entencyoun
Descendede from hyr tour a-doun.

Than Grace Dieu spak vn-to me,
‘lo, sestow nat yonder,’ quod she,
‘Resoun, by hyr sylff allone,
Wych cast hyr for to speke A-noon
To thys folk that thow sest here?’
And she, demur and sad of chere,
Sayde to hem hyre fantasye
With-outen eny flatrye

Resoun spak thus:

‘Syrs,’ quod she, in goodly wyse,
‘That stonden here, & thus devyse
Off Enoyntynge & oynementys,
And ther-of hold your parlementys,
I pray yow that ye nat dysdeyne
To herkne off me wordys tweyne,
Wych to tellyn I purpose,
And a-noon to yow vnclose:
Oynemente ys a sootë thyng,
And ryht vertuous in werkyng,
To woundys cloos, & ope also,
Yiff yt be sofftly leyd therto
Both wyth hand and instrument;
ffor lechys sholden off entent
Soffte handle the soor to seke,
Yt fyt hem wel to be meke;
To whom a-cordeth no Rudnesse;
They sholde avoydë boystousnesse.
Woundyd folk desyren offte
Off lechys to ben handlyd soffte;

‘Rudnesse hem doth mor damage
Then the oynement avauntage;
Harmeth offtë tymës more
To swyche as that be woundyd sore:
I calle hem rude, that be felouns,
ffers & cruel as be lyouns;
That wyl, thorgh ther cruelte,
On every thyng a-vengyd be;
Sparë ne for-bere ryht nouht,
They be so vengable in ther thouht.
Swych be no goode surgyens,
Lechys, nor physycyens,
Sykë ffolkys to restore;
ffor the woundys they hurte more
Thorgh Rudnesse in ther entent;
ffor they mynystre ther oynement
To boystously, & no thing soffte;
Wher-thorgh they hurte & slen ful offte,
Wych affter may nat be amendyd.
And for thys skyle I am descendyd,
Kome to yow in sothfastnesse,
That ye in yow ha no Rudnesse,
Cruelte, nor felonye,
Wych ar douhtrys to envye.

‘Beth pytous vn-to folkys woundyd,
Tyl ye han her sorys soundyd,
Debonayre & mercyáble,
Sofftë, goodly, & tretáble.
Thanne, in soth, yt may nat fayll
That your oynementys shal avayll
To sykë folke on euery syde,
That for ther hele on yow abyde.
Remembreth yow vp-on thys poynt,
How ye wer whylom ek enoynt
To bekome mor debonayre;
Nat to be cruel nor contrayre,
But teschewe al ffelonye,
And tavoyde malencolye;
And no vengaunce for to take,
But forgyue for Goddys sake;

‘Al old Rancour for to lete:
ffor, by record off the prophete
In hys Sawys that ben olde.
God hath to hym sylff with-holde
Vengaunce to hys Iugement;
And ther-fore, who that of entent
Wyl wrastle ageyn yt, this the cheff
He shall not faylle to han mescheff.’

Whanne Resoun hadde hyr talë told,
The Vyker, that semptë wonder olde,
Off whom I tolde yow nat in vayn
Moyses
Axed of Resoun thus agayn:
‘I pray yow that ye nat ne spare,
The truthë clerly to declare,
The moralyte to obserue,
Wherof sholde myn hornys serve?
Thys staff ek, with the sharpë poynt,
Telleth me fro poynt to poynt,
Be they nat maad, by good resoun,
For punysshynge and Correccioun;
Myn hornys, for to takë wrak
On shrewës, & to putte abak?
And off my staff ek, with the prykke,
Chastysen folkys that be wykke,
Rather than lyk as ye me tolde
Her a-forn, how that I sholde
Enoynte hem with the oynement?
Wher-vp-on seyth your entent.’

Resoun Answereth:

‘My fayrë frend,’ quod tho Resoun,
‘Tak hed in thy dyscrecioun;

‘Vnderstond me euery del:
I wotë what thow menest wel,
And knowë platly thy menyng.
Mesure ys good in euery thyng:
Thogh thyn hornys & pyk also
Be yovë to the, bothë two,
ffor Punysshyng & for chastysyng
Off folkys Rebel in werchyng;
Yet fyrst thow sholdest hem dyrecte,
And with fayrnesse hem correcte,—
Swych as thow sey, day by day,
Erryn fro the hih Ryhte way;—
And yiff thow founde hem obstynat,
That longeth yt to thyn estat
To punysshen hym by thyn offyce,
And vp-on hem don ek iustyce
Egally for ther offence:
The lawe yiweth the lycence.

‘But ferst thow sholdest trete hem fayre,
Be goodly ek, and debonayre,
And don alway ful gret labour
To shewe swetnesse afor Rygour.
And thogh the prykke of Rygour be
ffor chastysyng y-yove to the,
Be alway war, touchyng ryht:
Whan thow chastysest any whyht,
Do yt neuer by suych duresse
But yt be meynt ay with suetnesse;
Medle with-al the vnccyoun
Off pyte and compassyoun.

‘In thyn entent to be mor clene,
Thogh thyn hornys be sharp & kene
To punysshe folk by ryhtwysnesse,
Thow sholdest ay the poynt so dresse
In thy Rygour of equyte,
Euere in hert to han pyte
On hem that thow hast iustesyed.
Let mercy with ryht be so alyed,
And thynk how many day to-forn,
Or thow haddest any horn,

‘Thow wer Eenoynt: thynk ther vp-on
Lat yt not fro thy myndë gon
Which thing, whan thow dost aduerte,
Yt shall nesshe ful wel thyn herte
Whan yt is harde or out of Ioynt,
To ponysshe or smytë with the poynt,
Or with thyn hornes to hurtle sore:
Ha this in myndë euer more,
To medle mercy with equyte.

‘Remembre also ful wel, and se
That he, of whom thow art vyker,
And chose to be hys offycer,
Was humble, meke, & debonayre,
Charytable, & nat contrayre:
Of whom thow shalt exaumple take,
To-forn or thow thy domys make.
Hornyd he was by apparence,
Nat vsyng hem by vyolence:
Thys was that holy Moyses
That ladde al Israel in pees
Myddys thorgh the largë see;
And with hys yerdë, thys was he
That passedë the floodys raage,
And made hem haue good passage.

‘Vnderstondeth thys lessoun,
Ye that han in subieccioun
Peplys vnder your prelacye,
To lerne how ye shal hem guye.
Thogh ye be hornyd to syth outward,
Shewe as they wer styff & hard,
Lat hem nat growen in your herte
To make your shep to sorë smerte.
Thogh ye shewe out-ward dredful,
Beth in your hertys mercyful,

‘Dyssymule, and mak in swych caas
Off Elenchorum a fallaas.
(Elenchus ys a syllogysme,
Or by fallaas, a Sophisme,
Thyng that hath on Apparence
With-outen eny Existence;
Or an argument in shewynge
Wych in effect hath no beynge
Affter the thyng that yt doth shewe.)

And ther-fore, in wordës fewe,
To the purpos vallyáble,
An exaumple ful notáble
To folk that be not rekkeles,
Putteth Arystotyles:
In Elenchis thow mayst rede
He byddeth for to take in dede
A Boelys galle, & ther-with-al
On bord, on cloth, or on a wal
Portreye or peynte, as I ha told,
And yt wyl resemble gold
By apparence vn-to the syht,
Yiff yt be vernysshed cler & bryht.

And sothly, who that lokë wel,
Off gold ther ys neuer a del,
But apparencë, to deceyue
ffolkys that kan not vel parceyve
The feyntë colour in hys kynde.

By wych exaumple han in mynde,
Thogh thow be hornyd on thyn hed,
To shewe outward a tookne of drede
Vn-to folk that be contrayre,
Yet ay be inward debonayre.

‘Tak exaumple off thy staff
Wych Grace Dieu vn-to the gaff:
Thogh the poynt be sharp & kene,
Yt ys vpward, pleyn, smothe & clene;
The myddys ryht as any lyne,
Abouë, crokyd to enclyne;
Sygnefyyng vn-to the

‘Whan thou punysshest by Equyte
That ther-with-alle thow ha mekenesse
Al-way to drawë by sofftenesse
Thy shepe that gon out of the way,
Rather by ffayrenesse than affray.
Whan they retornen home ageyn,
Lat ay thy Charyte be seyn,
That yt surmounte thy rygour.
Remembre alle-way at ther Retour
Above al maner other thyng,
Vp-on ther elthe & ámendyng;
Schew hem euer of loue a sygne,
And in thy drauht be ay benygne,
Voyde of rancour & felonye;
Than dostow trewly occupye
The staff wych thou hast on honde.

‘ffor thow shalt well vnderstonde
Yt tokeneth (who that kan concerne,)
That thow shalt ther-with governe
The peplys (I dar wel specefye,)
Commyttyd to thy prelacye;
Mak hem passe (thys thy charge,)
The Ryuer of thys world ful large.
Thy staff, to ther a-vauntage
Shal conduite ther passage;
ffychche the pyk profound & depe
In-to the wawes, hem to kepe.

‘And with al thys, thow most take hede
Off plank or breggë, yiff they nede:
Yiff they ffayll, thow shalt on make,
As thow art boundë for her sake;
And for that cause, folkys alle,
Pontifex they doth the calle,
Makyng a breggë, thys to seyne,
The passage that they may atteyne.
Vnderstond wel thys lessoun
Lyke myn informacyoun;

Yet ouermore I shal the teche,

‘Yiff thow take hed to my speche,
Touchyng thyn hornys bothë two,
Thy staff ek, with the pyk also.

Whylom her ther dydë dwelle
Thornyd best wych lyeth in helle,
Makynge here hys mansion
And longe held her pocessyon,
Lordshepe ek & gouernaunce,
Wych was gret dysplesaunce
To Grace Dieu, that he so sholde
Abyden her, as I the tolde.
And Tavoyden fro thys place
Thys hornyd best, and tenchase,
She callede the, lyk as I fynde,—
I trow thow haue yt wel in mynde,—
Gaff the hornys in sentence
With hym to stonden at diffence.
The staff also, wych I off telle,
Sche took to the, hym to expelle;
Armede the of entencioun
(Lyk tamyghty champyoun,)
With thys hornys that I of spak,
On thys beste to takë wrak,
To make hym fro thys hous to fle,
By power that she gaff to the:
The vntrewe false enherytour,
That was her lord & gouernour,
And long tyme pocessyowner,
Tyl thow dydest thy dever,
As Grace Dieu the tauhte a-ryht,
To putte hym out by verray myght,
Thorgh hurtlyng of thyn hornys tweyne;
And dyst also thy bysy peyne,
With thy staff to make hym flee,
Maugre hys myght & hys powste.

Thogh he were sory to departe,
Thow dyst that Feloun so coarte,
That here he durst[e] nat abyde.

‘And eke vpon that other syde,
The two Labellys, large and longe,
Hangynge by thyn hornys stronge,
Ar Fygure of the conqueste
That thow madest on thys beste,
And of the Clensynge of thys place,
Wasshe & swept only by grace,
I mene fyrst at the halwyng,
yt makyng hooly by blessyng,
Lyk a myghty champyoun
In the dedycacyoun;
Wych for to don, as yt ys skyl,
Off Gracë Dieu thys ys the wyl:
That thow be armyd offtë sythe,
As a vyctor, thy myght to kythe,
That thylkë best most contrayre
Be neuer hardy to repayre,
Nor yt tassaylle by no wrong,
Whan he seth thyn armour strong;
Wych ar sygnes in substaunce
Ay to be put in remembraunce,
How thow hast venquysshed & fordon
Thylke vntrewë fals felon,
Bete & oppressyd fynally;
And that thow mayst ben ay redy,
ffressh & newe ay to bataylle
Ageyns all that wyl assaylle,
At allë tyme & ech sesoun,
Off Grace Dieu the mansyoun,
Or yt dyspoylle in any wyse,
Robbe or reue yt in ther guyse,
By sleythe, falshed, or any whyle,
Grace Dieu ffor to exile

‘By dyuers extorsyons
Of dymes or Subvencions,
or taylladges [i]ffoundë newe,
By Exaccïons full vntrewe:
Yiff thow yt suffre, ffer or ner,
Thow dost not trewly thy deuer,
Whan thow fyndest or dost espye
Sotyl weyës ffor flatrye
To spoylle of Gracë Dieu the hous
By any tytles ravynous,
Thow dost to hyre no plesaunce,
But gret A-noye & dystourbaunce.
I say, as yt lyth in my thouht,
Platly the trouthe, & spare yt nouht:

Thyn hornys hih vp on thyn hed,
Nor thy staff, (yt ys no dred,
I dar pleynly specefye,)
Ar but tooknes of mokerye,
Lych hornys of a lytell snayl,
Wych seruë for noon avayl,
But for a lytel strawh wyl shrynke:
Her-vp-on thow sholdest thynke.

‘Swych hornys hadde nat Seyn Thomas,
That kepte the entre & the paas
ful myghtyly ageyn the kyng,
And wolde suffre for no thyng
Hym to entren in-to thys hous;
But, as a champyoun vertuous,
Kepte the fredam & fraunchyse,
And suffrede in no maner wyse
The house of Grace Dieu at al
ffor to serue, nor to be thral:
Rather he ches to dey & sterue
Than suffre that yt sholdë serue,
Thys holy bysshop Seyn Thomas.

Seynt Ambrose in the samë caas

Deffendyd myghtyly also
Hys hous, lyk as he sholdë do,
Ageyn the sturdy Emperour,
By dyllygence and grete labour;
Tolde hym that he shuldë kepe
Oonly hys Temperall Lordshepe,
Hys paleys & hys mansyouns,
Hys cytes, castelles & hys touns;
The Revennues ther-off ytake,
And ther-with-al, murye hym make;
Wych ouhte ynowh to hym suffyse,
And entermet hym in no wyse
Touchyng Cristys herytage;
And sayde, for al hys fellë rage,
That he woldë rather deye
Than suffre in any maner weye
Durynge hys tyme, short or long,
He sholde ther-to done any wrong.
Thys folk, to myn oppynyoun,
Vsede ther hornys by Resoun,
As I to the ha told ryht now.
And, by exaumple, so sholdyst thow
Bar thyn hornys for dyffence,
And suffre that no vyolence
Were ydon vn-to thy spouse
Wych ys so ffayr & vertuouse,
Weddyd to the by iuste weddyng:
I take record of the ryng,
On thy fynger that thow dost vse;
Therfor thow mayst the nat excuse
Off the yerde nor the wond
Wych thow beryst in thyn hond,
To seyn manly to Pharao,
(As of ryht thow sholdest do,)
To suffre thy folkys to go fre,
As they ouht of lyberte;
Nat to greue hem, nor oppresse,
Nor constreyne hem by duresse.

Than sholdestow (yt ys no les,)
Be trewely callyd Moyses,

Ryht agreable by vertu
Vn-to that lady, Grace Dieu,
And of servyse acceptable
To that lady worshepable.’

In thys whyle that dame Resoun
Hadde comunycacyoun
Wyth Moyses, ryht ther with-al
The forseyde offycyal
Ys with hys oynementys gon,
And putte hem in warde a-noon:
That they wer sauff, I dar wel seye,
Closyd vnder look & keye.

Ordre off maryage:

And tho, myn Eye as I vp caste,
I sawe komen wonder faste
A pylgrym al sodeynly,
Holdyng hys weye fynally,
(As me thouht in hys entent),
Drawynge in-to the oryent;
And euene in the opposyt
I sawe ek kome by gret delyt
A womman, wych that was also
A pylgrym ek; & bothë two,
Her wey took in especyal
To-wardys the offycyal;
Sayde vn-to hym, they bothe a-noon,
How they wolde to-gyder gon
On pylgrymage in ther degre
To Ierusaleem, the Cytee,
‘So ye teche vs, and dysserne
How that we shall vs gouerne,
To be sur, in oure passage,
To ffulfylle our pylgrymage.’

Thanne anoon Thoffycyal,
Whan he knew ther menyng al,
Tolde hem, yiff they woldë gon,

They most of hertë be al on,
Tweyne in on, & on in tweyne,
Both in Ioye & ek in peyne;
And so to-gydre ay perseuere,
Tyl that deth make hem dysseuere.
Seyde ek to hem, ‘look that ye
In trouthë, & in stablete
Yee loue to-gydre as ye sholde,
Whether ye be yong or olde;
And that your trouthe on outher syde
Perpetuelly in on a-byde,
To your last, that yt endure:

And that ye shal to me Assure
Both be feyth & ek by oth;
And beth wel war, for leff or loth,
That ye, for no varyaunce,
Ne brekë nat your ássuraunce;
ffor yiff ye don, ye be forsworn;
And ek I warnë yow to-forn,
Yiff that ye don in dede or thouht,
fful lytel shal a-vaylle, or nouht,
Than vn-to yow your vyage,
Your labour, nor your pylgrymage.
Yt wer wel bet, to myn entent,
That ech of yow allonë went,
Sool by hym sylff, and nat trespace,
Than be founde on any place
Vntrewë to hys companye;
ffor, gret forfet & folye
Yt ys, a man for to be founde
Vntrewe to hym that he ys bounde.

But yiff your wyl of both yffeere
Be parfyt, hool, & ek entere
To gon to-gydre, (lat now se,)
On pylgrymage to that cyte,
Whyder to gon I caste also,
Ye most suerne her, bothë two,
On euery part, for old or newe,
That ech to other shal be trewe,
So tenduren, al your lyff,

‘With-outen werre or any stryff;
Off on hert & entencyon,
Neuere to make dyuysyon,
Nor departyng causeles,
With-oute assent of Moysees.’

Affter al thys, A-noon ryht
I sawh hem bothë trouthë plyht,
Hand in hand yboundë faste;
Euere, whyl ther lyff may laste,
So to continuen & endure,
Ther feyth by oth they dyde assure,
ffor euermor: lo her ys al.

And thanne A-noon the offycyal
Ys retournyd in certeyn
Hoom to Moyses ageyn,
Wych stood of entencioun
To here the talkyng of Resoun.
Ther-to he sette al hys entent;
But at the last ther parlement
Yendyd ys, for so gret pres
Kam a-doun to Moyses,
Requeryng hym in humble wyse
To graunten hem somme seruyse
In hys hous, off gentyllesse.
And he full goodly gan hym dresse,
As I conceyved with my look,
And a peyre of sherys took,
Merkede hem (I took good heed,)
On foure parteys of ther hed;
And affter that, vp-on the crowne,
To-forn hym as they knelë doun,
Seyng to hem stondyng a-part,
‘That God shal be the hoolë part
Pleynly of ther enherytaunce,
As ther Rychesse & suffysaunce:
Ther-of they may be wel certeyn.’

Resoun ageyn:

And thanne Reson effte ageyn,
(Lych as I shal yow devyse,)
Gan to spekyn in thys wyse:
‘Syrs, taketh hed,’ a-noon quod she,
‘Som whyle, as semeth vn-to me,
Yt ys wysdom, ryht, & no wrong,
To feynë foly euere a-mong,
Thogh ye now, also God me saue,
Ben yclypyd & yshaue
Vp-on your hedys euerychon,
Wych thyng ys dempte of many on
fful gret vnwyt & gret ffolye
Off malys & malencolye;
They demë so malycyously,
But trewly so do nat I.
ffor as in myn oppynyon
I deme yt gret dyscreccion,
And ful gret wyt that ye ha do,
And for that skyle taketh hede ther-to.

To be yourës, of entent,
Hooly to yow I me present
As your paramoire entere;
And who-so-euere (as ye shal lere,)
Gruchche, or haue envye ther-to,
Al-way forth I wyl be so.
ffor trusteth wel, that I am she
By whom that ye yknowë be
ffrom other bestys—lo her ys al—
And seueryd in especyal.

And pleynly, ek, I kan yow telle,
Al the whyl that I dwelle
With yow, A-mongys hyh & lowe,
ffor verray men ye shal be knowe,
Thorgh wysdom & thorgh prouydence,
And haue A verray dyfference
ffrom other bestys to dyscerne
How ye shal your sylff gouerne.
Al the whyle that ye me holde
With yow tabyde, as I tolde,

‘Ye shal be men, & ellys nauht;
And yiff the trouthë be wel souht,
Whan that I am fro yow gon,
Ye may avaunte (& that a-noon,)
That ye be (thys, no fable)
Bestys & vnresownable,
Dyspurveyed of al Resoun,
And voyde of al dyscreccioun;
For yiff ye wantë shortly me,
Yee may neuere in no degre
(Though yee euere do youre peyne,)
Worshipe, off youre sylff atteyne
Nor clymbë to no gret honour
But yiff ye han of me socour;
Thogh ye be lordys of estat,
Proud of your port, & eke ellat,
Lytel to yow, al may avaylle
With-outë me, yt ys no faylle,
ffor to make your Iugementys,
Syllogysmes, or Argumentys,
Or of Wysdam any thyng;
With-outë me, thys no lesyng,
Ye shal ha no conclusyon,
But fynally confusyon.

ffor wych I castë me to telle
How ye shal ha, yiff ye lyst dwelle,
The loue of me on euery syde:
Ye most ay be, & so abyde,
That ye in yow ha sobyrnesse,
And voydë fro yow dronkenesse
And hyr suster glotonye,
Wraththë, Ire & ffelonye;
ffor wher-so-euere that they be,
They makë me a-way to fle;
ffor wher they make her mansyoun,
I leve that habytacyoun.
Venus thenys doth me chase,

‘And voydeth me out of that place,
As yt ys sayd & told ful wel—
Who lyst loken euerydel,—
With-outen any maner glose,
In the Romaunce of the Roose.

Wherfor I pray yow euerychon,
ffor to kepe yow, on by on,
ffro thys vyces that I ha told,
And from al other, yong and old;
ffor my loue that ye hem fflee,
Yiff ye lysten han frenshepe of me.

ffor, but ye yow fro vyces kepe,
Ye shal lesë the frenshepe
Platly of me, as I yow tolde.
And ffynally, I nat ne holde
Hym for my frend, (knowe thys ryht wel,)
That yiveth hys body euerydel
Vn-to vyces, euere in oon.

And two wordys, or that ye gon,
Shortly to yow, & nat ne spare,
Openly I wyl declare
Tookne of your crowne, cloos with-Inne,
And at the cercle fyrst begynne.
I mene the closure fer with-oute
That ys cerclyd round a-boute
As A castel or strong doungoun,
Or lyk a gardyn, wych envyroun
Ys closyd with a myghty wal;
The wych (who consydreth al,)
With-Inne ys ope, to sygnefye,
That ye to God sholde hool aplye
Your hertys, to hym so enterly
That noon affeccion worldly,
Nor erthly thyng, ha noon entre.
ffor, lerneth thys shortly of me:
Your Cercle round aboute the hed
Sholde kepe (yt ys no dred,)
Off your hertys the closure,
To voyde away al worldly cure
Out of your affeccyon,

And shewen (in conclusyon)
That ye have the world for-sake,
And of herte youre-sylff ytake
Hooly to God, off wyl entere;
For ye ne may not bothe yffere
Serve God, and the worlde also,
And be trewe in bothë two:
The toon, a-syde most be layd.

‘And thynk also what ye ha sayd.
God ys for our avauntage,
Our party, & our herytage,
Whom we ha chose with al our myght
ffor to seruë day & nyht.
By wych word, so God me saue,
Me thynketh ye sholde no Ioye haue
Of thys worldys veyn plesaunce,
Wych ys so ful off varyaunce,
So ful of chang & dovbylnesse;
ffor now, to oon he yyveth Rychesse,
Robbeth a-nother, as ye may se,
And cast hym in-to pouerte;
And somme he yiveth neueradel:
Wherfore loke ye kepë wel
The part off your elleccyoun,
Off herte & hool entencioun,
That ye ha chose, yiff ye be wyse,
Wych ouhte ynowgh to yow suffyse;
ffor, as in comparyson),
Yt passeth al pocessyon.

Lat your tonsurys, round at al
Close your hertys as a wal;
And that yt go so round aboute
ffor to sette the world with-oute,
And yt dysseuere in al thyng,
And your party so departyng,
That ye be shorn so as ye sholde
As chosë shepe of Crystys folde,

Lyk to bestys resounnable.
Thanne of ryght (yt ys no fable)
Your shepperde, that taketh of yow kepe,
Schal receyuen off hys shep
The flees somwhyle for hys travaylle;
But he shal nat so yow assaylle,
To flen yow fro yowr skyn al bare;
In swychë cas he mostë spare;
ffor he therto hath no lycence,
To yow to don swych vyolence.
He shal yow shern duely in dede,
Nat out of mesour, but for nede,
Take hys part hym to sustene;
And for that skylë, thus I mene,
That he shal no vengeaunce make:
Therfore he hath the sherys take,
And nat the knyff, to Robbe & slen,
And folk out of her skyn to fflen;
But cherysshe hem rather by fauour
Than oppresse hem by Rygour:
Thus sholde euery shepperde do,
Resoun algatë techeth so.’

And whan thys lady, dame Resoun,
Hadde y-endyd hyr sermoun,
Ther kam folk in sondry wyses,
That a-bood to han servyses,

Ordre off Colyt:

Made ther requeste to Moyses;
And he, Amongys al the pres
Assygnede sondry offycerys.
And somme off hem he made hussherys,
And somme also he ordeynys
To haue offyce off chaumberleyns;
And sergauntys he made also,
To whos offyce yt longeth to,
The Enmy to putte away,
Out of bodyes nyht & day,

Wher that euere by bataylle
He ys hardy ffor to assaylle.

Moses eke, who lyst take hede,
Ordeyned Lystres for to rede,
Myd the palys for to stonde,
To makë folke to vnderstonde
The lawë, by ful gret avys,
As longeth vn-to her offys.
And sommë, as I kan beholde,
He made kandelys for to holde,
And torchys for to yivë lyht;
By ther offyce, as yt was ryht,
Thay held hem, as I toforn ha sayd,
To-for the table, whan yt was layd;

For sone he sholde to dyner gon.
And vnto other he took a-noon
Hys syluer cuppe gylt richëly,
And bad hem maken yt redy
To seruen hym the samë tyme.
And some also, on ther lyfft syde,
Vp-on ther shulderys, he made weere
A Tookne off Cryst, & yt to bere,
That they sholde in especyal
Awayte vp-on thoffycyal,
As trewe seruauntys off entent,
And be mynystres dyllygent,
ffeythful, humble, & covenable
ffor to serue hym at the table.

And than they gan, by good avys,
Euerych to don hys owne offys,
And dyden ek ther bysy cure
To leyn the boordys, & to cure
With napry ful couenable.
And somme sette vp-on the table
(Lyk ther offyce) wyn & bred;
And somme also (I took good hed,)
Lyst the wyn wer to strong,
Putte in water ther a-mong:

ffor yt was somwhat passyd pryme,

Vp-on the hour off dyner tyme.

But Moyses, to-for dyner,
Caste hym fyrst, with ful sad cher,
To delyuer hym that abood.

And somme that aforn hym stood,
He made hem offycerys newe,
ffor to serwen and be trewe
With-Inne hys hous, in specyal
To wayte vp-on the offycyal,
And to helpe hym in hys nede;
ffor who that wysly taketh hede,
May se wel that thoffycyal
May nat allone gouernen al,
But he haue helpe, swych as hym ouhte.

Now shal I tellë how he wrouhte:
Thys Moyses, among hem all,
ffyrst he gan ful lowdë calle
Grace dieu, al be that she
Was fastë by, wych, in hyr se
Sat vp in hyr trone on hyh;
Sche was nat ffer, but wonder nyh,
And took good heed of euery thyng.
(And al thys whyle beholdyng,
I sat at hyr ffeet doun lowe.)
And whan she sawe & gan knowe
That she was callyd among echon,
She taryeth nat, but kam anoon
To Moyses ful evene & ryght;
And vn-to hym, with alle hir myght,
She shewed hir-selff most frendely,
Wher-off he gan waxen hardy
Whan she was kome, and thowhte he was
Myghty & mor strong in thys caas
To fulfyllen hys entent,
Wych I, by good avysement,
Shal vn-to yow shortly here

Rehersen, yiff ye lyste to here.

And Moyses, A-noon ryght than,
Thus to werkyn he be-gan:
Ther handys fyrst, as ye shal lere,
Enoyntede, and closede hem yfere,
‘And took to hem ful cler & bryht
A swerd, the wych, vn-to my syht,
Was thylkë same that Cherubyn
Whylom held at Thentryng In
At Paradys, who lyst to look;
And keyës ek to hem he took,
To kepe hem wel in ther entent.

And al thys whyle was ther present
Grace Dieu, I took good heede,
To helpyn hem the bet to spede.
Whom Moyses took hem also,
And sayde, (I took good hed ther-to,)
‘Syrs,’ quod he, ‘most off vertu,
Seth her to-for yow, Grace Dieu
I gyve hyr yow for morë grace,
That she may, in euery place,
At allë tymës with yow be,
Yiff yt be-falle sothly that ye
Receyue hyre, as ye ouhtë do,
With Ioyë & glad herte also,
And kepe hyr with yow day be day,
That she neuere parte a-way.’

And whan I herde al thys yfere,
I wex abaysshed in my chere;
Seyde vn-to my sylff ryht tho,
“Allas, now, what shal I do?
Grace Dieu, I ha lost al;
ffor I se how Thoffycyal
Hath yowen hyre fro me away
On thys syluë samë day,
Vn-to thys hornyd folk in sothe,

And with hem, fro me she goth.
Wherfor now I kan nat se
Who shal delyueren vnto me
Sherpe or bordoun to my vyage,
To helpe me in my pylgrymage,
Wych she me hyhte thys other day.”

But thanne A-noon I took my way
To-wardys hyre lyne Ryght,
And Thoughtë pleynly that I myghte
Seyn to hyre my fantasye,
And my matere specefye;
ffor sythe the tyme, ffer nor ner,
That I was wasshe in the Ryver
By hyre Aduocat, fayre & wel,
I spak not with hyre neuere a del.
And in the tyme off my wasshyng,
The aduocat, by hyr byddyng,
Spak for me in goodly wyse,
As ye to-forn han herd devyse.
Wher-fore I thouhte I wolde assaye
To speke to hire, & not delaye:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “and yt yow plese,
I am falle in gret dysesse,
And dyscomforted in myn herte,
Whan I consydre and aduerte,
That Moyses gaff yow a-way;
Which Gyfft ys no thyng to my pay;
For yiff I wante yow, in certeyn
My pylgrymage ys but in veyn.”

Grace Dieu answereth:

Quod Grace Dieu, ‘yiff thow take hede,
Thow hast verrayly in dede
fforyete al that I ha the told.
Wostow nat wel, to yong & old,
That I wyl profyte what I may
To all that go the ryhtë way;
So that euery pylgrym shal
At allë tymes (lo her ys al)

Me fynde redy, euere in on,
In ther weye with hem to gon,
To conveye hem, whan they ha nede.

‘What! wenystow me to possede
Thy sylff allonë, quyt & clene?
Thow art a fool, yiff thow yt wene!
The comoun profyt, fer & ner,
Ys mor than profyt synguler
To be preferryd, as I the telle.
Sestow nat how a comoun welle
Mor avaylleth (who looke wel,)
Than doth A-nother seuerel?
ffor, at a commoun welle, of ryht
May fettë water euery whyht,
Her thrust to staunchen & apese,
And drawe yt at her ownë ese.
Wher-as, a wellë cloos aboute,
Wych for-barreth folk with-oute,
That no man neyë dar no ner,
Lyst they fellyn in daunger.

‘And to purpos to expresse,
I am welle of al goodnesse;
Nat holdë cloos vn-to no wyht,
But vn-to alle (of verray ryht)
I am comwne and plentevous,
And to profyte desyrous
To goode pylgrymes euerychon,
To forthre hem wherso they gon.

‘And thogh I be comoun to alle
That vn-to myn helpë calle,
Thow mayst knowe & trustë wel
Thow hast nat lost me neueradel;
ffor ay with the I wyl abyde,
And neuere partë fro thy syde:
As longe as thow hast thè cast
To ben a pylgrym stedëfast,
So long thow shalt nat off me faylle
To helpe in what I may avaylle.’

Affter al thys, I confort took,
That Grace Dieu me nat for-sook,

But me coumfortede off hyr grace.

And tho ryht in the syluë place
I sawh Anoon, Dame Resoun
Ascende to makë A Sarmoun
In ta pulpet that ther stood.

‘Syrs,’ quod she, ‘yt wer ryht good
ffor your profyt, (yt ys no drede,)
Off my sarmoun to taken hede.
Ther was a swerd, yt ys no nay,
Delyuered yow thys samë day,
fforgyd sythë go ful longe,
To kepë thentre wonder stronge,
And the passage of Paradys.
At which tyme was noon so wys
That entre myghte, ner comen In,
But yiff it were by Cherubyn,
Which at the gate was cheff porter,
Holdynge that swerd ful bryht & cler,
Folkys for to kepen oute.

‘And this swerd, yt ys no doute,
Was to ffoolys ful peryllous,
Swych as wern malycyous;
ffor they ther-by wer made afferd,
And ypunysshed by that swerd.
Lyk ther gyltys & trespace
Thys swerd alway dyde hem manace.
The wych swerd (who that kan se,)
Ordeyned ys for thyngys thre:
To punysshe folk as they dysserue,
Poynt & egge, to hurte & kerue,
And with the platte, among to spare,
That ryht fro mercy be nat bare.

‘The poynt yiveth fyrst entendement
That neuere no fynal Iugement,
Nor hasty execucyoun,
Be yove with-oute dyscrecioun,
In causys nouther hih nor lowe

Namly wher they be nat knowe:
ffor he ys a fool, & ffoul hardy,
That, off wenyng & surquedy,
Hasty ys, hym sylff tavaunce,
Off Ire for to do vengaunce,
Or demen by suspecyon
With-oute examynacyon.

‘Swyche, I dar wel specefye,
Do nat trewly occupye
The swerd of ryghtful Iugëment.
Thorgh ygnoraunce they be so blent,
And, as a blynde man, so they werke,
Stumblynge alway in the derke.
Good from evel they kan not chese,
Nor whot nat wher to saue or lese:
Redy to hyndren & to deere,
Swychë sholde no swerdys beere,
That kan not knowen evel fro good,
Nor whan ys tyme of letyng blood;
Nor, kan nat dyscerne A-ryght—
ffor ygnorance & lak off syht—
At-wexen helthe & malladye;
Nor, a-twen the meselrye
Grettest, smallest, and the mene;
He kan no dyfference atwene
Newë syknesse nor the olde.

‘But euery trewë Iugë sholde
Weyen Iustly in ballannce,
Consydren euery cyrcumstaunce
Off trespacys by avysëment,
Or he yive any Iugëment.

‘ffor thys word Glayve, (in sentence,)
By record off Ianuence
(Thys was nat ful yere agon)
In hys book Catholicon
Seyth, Glayve in French, (& wryteth thus,)

Ys in Latyn Guladius,
Sayd of gula, (as he put,)
ffor that yt a-sonder kut
The throte off a man a two:
Thys Ianuence recordeth so;
ffor throte yn Ynglyssh, (thys the ffyn,)
Ys callyd Gula in Latyn,
Wher-off Glayvë took hys name.
Grameryens sëyn the same,
For yt a-sondyr doth deuyde
The partyes layde on euery syde,
Wher, save Right, ys no refuge.

‘But first, every Rightful Iuge
Sholde, by good avysëment,
Or he gesse eny Iugëment,
Discerne to-forn (with al hys myght),
Seke and enqueryn out the ryght
Off outher part in hys presence,
Nat ben to hasty off sentence,
Nor off hys doomys in no wyse.

Also to yow I shal devyse,
Wheroff the tweynë eggys serue,
Off thys swerd, that kutte & kerue:
ffor on allonë in no wyse
By hym sylff may nat suffyse;
ffor yiff yowr swerde forgyd off steel
Be to-forn ypoynted wel,
And sharpyd by dyscrecioun,
Ye moste (off ryght & good resoun)
Ther-with-al haue ryghtwysnesse,
Vyces to reforme and dresse,
On your sogectys (euere among,)

Hem to correcte whan they do wrong.
ffor vp-on trespacys & mysdede
Ye ha lycence (yt ys no drede,)
ffor to do correccyoun
And couenable punycioun,
Egal, as folk ha dysservyd,
Except casys that be reservyd
And with-holdë (soth to seyne,)
To hym that hath the hornys tweyne:
They be except vn-to hys hand.

‘And thus departyd ys your land
In double party, (thys no doute:)
The Ton, the body ys with-oute,
fflesshly, & redy vn-to synne;
But the thother man with-inne
Ys the soule & the spyryt,
Wych in goodnesse hath most delyt.
Thys the land, loke wel therto,
That ye shal departe at two,
Atwyxë bothë, thogh that neuere,
Whyl they lyuë, may dysseuere.

‘And to thys tweynë, ansuerynge
Ys thys swerd double-kervynge;
Wher-with ye shal your wyt applye,
Sowle & body to Iustefye,
Whan ye sen yt be to do;
As thus tak hed, I menë so:
The Body, ffro hys synnes grete,
Duely punysshe in cold & hete,
Yive hym peyne, and ek penaunce,
Consydred euery cyrcumstaunce:
Travaylle, whan he ys to rage,
Sende hym out on pylgrymage;
Charge hym with fastyng & wakyng;
So that alway answerynge
The penaunce be to the trespace,
Off equyte that yt not passe:

Thus ye shal do, yiff ye be wyse.

‘But in a-nother maner wyse
Punysshen the spyryt ye shal also;
As thus: taketh good hed ther-to:
In dyuers caas ye mot consydre,
And peysen euery thyng to-gydre:
Yiff he be proud or obstynat,
Dysobeyynge or ellaat,
Hys trespace to amende,
And ne lyst nat to entende
To be redressed by meeknesse,
And, thorgh pryde or Frowardnesse,
Wyl takë no correccïon.
Than may yow (in conclusyon)
Tornen (to maken hym afferd,)
The tother party off the swerd,
Wych ys sharp, & whet ful kene,
To wonde, & hurte, & parte atwene,
And ful mortally to byte:
Spareth nat ther-with to smyte,
Lyk as ye may, by your power.

‘Wherfor doth iustly your dever
To smyte & hurte, for punysshyng,
By the sharpe strook of cursyng;
ffor wounde nor hurte ys noon so fel
Nor noon so mortal nor cruel
Nor mor peryllous to be drad;
ffor Remedy may noone be had,
Nouther salue, That soor to sownde
But by hym that gaff the wounde,
Or by A-nother (in certeyn)
That ys a-bove, mor souereyn,
Wych hath an hand, power, & myght,
Hym to recure, (of verray ryght,)
Serche the soor with-Inne & oute.
Wherfore he sholde gretly doute,

That so ys hurt, as I ha told,
Wherso be he yong or old.

Exaumple off the pereyl off cursyng.

And to purpos in especyal:
Yt fyl that oon offycyal
In-to a gardyn onys wente,
To gadre cheryes off entente,
The fayrest that he koudë se,
And clamb ful hih vp on A tre.
But shortly, in hys comyng doun,
Yt ffyl thus, (in conclusyon,)
That a braunche hys surplys hente,
And the cloth a-sonder Rente,
Wher-of in hert he wex ful wroth;
And, or he any ferther goth,
Thus he seyde vn-to the tre,
“Now,” quod he, “cursyd mote thow be!”
And wente hym forth, fer nor ner,
Tyl vn-to the nextë yer,
To gadre cheryssh he kam a-geyn,
And found the tre drye & bareyn.
Off wych thyng he wex al sad,
And in hys hertë no thyng glad,
Whan he remembrede how that he
Hadde a-forn cursyd that Tre.
Wher-of he repenteth sore,
And, with-outen any more
He seyde, (or he ferther wente,)
“I the assoylle, in myn entente.
God wot, I mentë no thyng so,
So gretë vengaunce to ha do:
I ha mysdon; for-gyue yt me,
ffor the dyffaute was nat in the.
My-sylff, I may the Rentyng whyte,
I knowe yt wel, & the aquyte.”
And after the absolucyon
Yt bar cheryes gret Foyson,

Laden with frut fynaly,
ffor tweyne, yt bar almost twenty;
And heet hys fullë with glad cher,
Affter, euere, fro yer to yer;
And neuere forgate, in hys lyvyng,
The sentencë off hys cursyng;
ffor swych thyng, so as semeth me,
Shulde nat lightly forgetyn be.

‘ffor they be foolys, in certeyn,
That Reklesly of cursyng seyn,
How that a man that cursyd be,
That afferme of skorn, that he
Hath hetyn hys sawle of whytë bred.
Off curs they take so lytel heed,
Havyng no Reward, Thorgh ther synne,
How the soule that ys with-Inne
Ys off gostly frut, certeyn,
Wonder drye, and ek bareyn,
By the swerd of curs confoundyd,
And so mortally ywoundyd,
That yt may profyt neuer a dele
To berë frut (who lokë wel,)
Of vertu, (I yow ensure,)
ffor that yt lakketh moysture
Off grace, wherby, (who kan espye,)
Al vertuës fructefye.

‘ffor wych, folk sholdë taken hede,
The swerd of cursynge for to drede.
I menë as thus specyally,
Whan ther ys causë iustly why,
And he that doth yt, hath power
To execute yt fer & ner,
By ordynarye auctoryte.
But yet to-forn (yt semeth me)
He sholde consydren (in hys syth)
Whan that he smyte, he smyte of ryht,
And that hys causë be notáble
Or he procede to be vengable.
ffor, I telle yow sykerly,
No man ne smyteth duelly,

With the sharpë for to kerue,
But he to-forn ful wel obserue
That he ferst with the platte assay,
In goodly wysë, what he may,
Al that ys mys, for to redresse:
ffor by the platte, I ther expresse
Off thys swerd, and specefye,
Prudent a-wys in prelacye,
With good & trewe avysëment.

‘And fyrst, that he, in good entent,
By trewë Ammonycyon
And fructuous predicacyon,
Or he smyte by violence,
To letë passë the sentence,
The evele to smyten in sparynge,
And spare hem also in smytynge.
Thys was of Ihesu the doctryne,
In whom lyth al the medycyne
Off deth, whan men be woundyd so.

‘And taketh alway heed her-to,
To vse the plattë, nyh & ferre,
Whan ye se your sogettys erre,
Alder-fyrst; I menë thus,
With doctrynë vertuous
Techë, preche, & so begynne
ffor to make hem leve ther synne.

Yiff ye may folkys so recure
That be woundyd, I yow ensure,
Ther grevous woundys to allegge,
Bet ys the plattë than the egge.
ffor echë leche that wel kan werche,
Namly lechys of the cherche,
That han manhys sowle in cure
With plat they sholdë fyrst recure,
Rather than with the sharpë wounde,

By ther charge, as they ar bounde.

‘Now haue ye herde & ye lyst se
How ye shal vsen allë thre,
The plat, the sharpe, & eke the poynt,
I haue yow told, fro poynt to poynt;
And rehersyd ek also
In divers caas how ye shal do;
Somtyme Iugë by vengaunce,
Somme punysshë by penaunce,
Entrete sommë with ffayrnesse,
Somme chastysë with sharpnesse,
And for that skyle, the swerd, ywys,
Ys y-callyd Versatylis;
Wych ys to seyn, (oute of doute,)
A thyng that men mowe torne abowte,
Now the platte, (who kan take hede,)
And the sharpe, whan yt ys nede.

‘And for thys skyles, off resoun
Yt ys yput in your bandoun,
Ay to be redy, (as yt ys skyle,)
ffor to tourne yt at your wyl.
Ther-to ye han power & myght,
As the caas wyl suffre off ryht,
Off verray trouthe & equyte.

‘And for that skylë, sothly ye,
That in yow ther be no blame,
Therfor ye trewly ber the name
Cherubin, fful of scyence
And off dyvynë sapyence,
ffor mysterye that ys ther-In.

‘ffor yiff ye wer nat Cherubin,
Thys to seyne, in your werkyng
Yiff ye ne haue nat ful konnyng,
Ye myghte do ful gret outrage,
Ryght gret harme, & gret damage;
In stede off the platte & pleyn,
Tournen the sharpë egge in veyn
Correcte a causë grene & newe,
Deme, or ye the trouthë knewe,
Off hast, with-outë good a-vys,

Wych ys contrayre to your offys.
ffor in the hand (yif yt be souht,)
Off a fool that kan ryght nowht,
A swerd ne sholdë nat be take,
Ryghtful doomys for to make;
And in the hand off men yrous,
To take a swerd ys peryllous.
ffor thys swerd (yiff ye takë hede,)
Was bryht brennyng as the glede
On euery part & euery syde,
With flawme perpetuelly tabyde,
To yow ytake, (take hed ther-to,)
Off Grace Dieu nat longe ago.
And cause why, of the brennyng,
Yiff ye lyst to have knowelichyng,
Was, that ye sholde, lyk your degre
Ben ay in love & charyte;
ffor loue brennyng in your desyr
Ys shewyd by the bryghtë fyr;
And so to speke, in wordys fewe,
Ye sholde alway your syluen shewe

Wyth cherysshyng ffyr of plesaunce;
ffor, yt wer a great meschaunce
Yff Ire, in stede of charyte,
Brent your hertys, (as semeth me.)
Swych ragë ffyr (shortly to telle,)
Was kyndlyd ffyrst, and kam from helle,
And to your swerd, I dar Recorde,
Noon swych fyr may nat accorde.

‘Now haue I told (ye sen yt wel,)
Touchyng thys swerd euerydel;
Why ye yt bere, & skylë why.
ffor ye be porterys verrayly
Off the rewme of Paradys,
Lych cherubin, prudent & wys.
And the keyes ye han also
To shette the gatys, & vndo;

With-outë yow ther entreth noon,
Nor may in at the gaatys gon,
With-Inne to haue hys mansyoun.

‘Seyn Peter (of entencyoun)
Hath mad yow (yiff ye vnderstonde,)
Hys vnderlegatys, ther to stonde,
To kepe the passage & entre;
And at the gatë for to se
Trussellys, ffardellys, in that place.
Or any marchaunt in may passe,
He mvste vntrusse hem & vnbynde,
That no thyng be lefft be-hynde.
How sore aforn that they yt close,
ye muste hem make yt to vnclose
By trewë reuelacyon
And enter confessyon.

‘Wherfor tak kep, & beth ryht wys,
And seth to-forn, by good a-vys,
The swerd, the keyës ek also,
How ye ha take hem bothë two;
And lat noon passë, (loketh wel,)
But he vnclosë hys fardel.
And also that ye wel provyde
To cerche hem wel on euery syde,
Thys synful folk, with pakkys large.
Beth besy ay, hem to dyscharge;
And weyeth wysly in balaunce,
Consydryng euery circumstaunce,
By good delyberacyon
Demynge, in your dyscrecyon,
Your verray name, & what ye hihte.
And consydreth in your syhte,
To dyscerne, in euery place,
Affter the gylt & the trespace,
To chargë synnerys, & constreyne,
Mekly for to suffre peyne,
And enioyne hem ther penaunce.

‘And whan ye sen ther répentaunce
Ye may to swych, erly & late,
Opne duëly the gate

Off Paradys, of verray ryht,
By iustë tytle, thorgh your myght.

‘Lo, her the sygnyfycacion,
And trewë demonstracion
Off swerd & keyës, bothe yfere,
Shortly, (yiff ye lyst to lere,)
I ouerpasse & late yt gon,
By-causë folkys many on
Han her-to-forn (who lokë wel,)
Declaryd the mater euerydel,
And what they tokne in ther wrytyng:
Consydreth thys in euery thyng;
Looke that ye yow nat excuse
Your offyce trewly for to vse,
So as ye ouhtë dyscretly.’

[The Pilgrim.]

And whan that Resoun fynally
Hadde told hyr tale, I herde al wel,
And consydred euerydel,
Talent I hadde, & gret desyr
To haue that swerdë, bryht as ffyr,
And the keyës eke y-ffere,
Off entent (as ye shal here,)
That I myghte ben an huissher,
Or at the gate a porter,
The passage to kepe of ryht
Ther-on tawaytë day & nyht:
This fantasye fyl in my thouht;
But, God wot, I wystë nouht,
Nor knewe ful lytel (at the leste),
What was the ffyn of my requeste,
Nor took but lytel heed ther-to.

And offtë tyme yt falleth so,
That A man hath wyl ta thyng

Wych neuere ys brouht to noon endyng,
As men may offtë sythës se.
ffor yiff the sonys of zebedee
Hadde madd ther askyng ryhtfully
They hadde ben herd ful hastyly:
Off ther askyng, (as ye may lere,)
And off al that they gan requere,
Yt was ytornyd other wyse
Than they, aforën, gan devyse:
In the gospel ye may yt se

And evene lyk yt ffyl of me,
Whan I to Moyses gan gon,
Besechyng hym that he, A-noon
Woldë graunte, lyk myn askyng,
The swerd and keyes to my kepyng,
Off hem frely to haue vsage,
ffor to kepen the passage.

But whan that he had herd me wel,
He fulfyllede neuereadel
Lych the purpos of myn askyng,
Nor thentent off my thynkyng:
The swerd he took me in myn hond,
But (as ye shal vnderstond,)
Commyttyd so to my depoos
That yt was alway styllë cloos
In the skawberk, as I ha sayd,
Wheroff I was nat wel apayyd.
The keyës also, stronge & wel
Bounde & closyd vnder seel;
And al was don off hih prudence,
That I sholde hauë no lycence
To vsen hem at lyberte,
But yiff I hadde auctoryte
ffrom hem that hadden al the charge.
ffor yiff I vsede hem at large
Mor than my power was or ys,
As I was tauht, I dyde amys.
Wher-off I was, ay mor & more
Abaysshed, & astonyd sore,
And specyally (to speke in pleyn,)

That I to-forn haddë nat seyn
Som other folk yboundë so,
In cas semblable as I was tho;
Thynkyng (in myn entencyoun)
That I woldë to Resoun
Holden my way, off hyre tenquere,
And the causë iustly lere
Off al thys thyng, for mor certeyn;
And thus she Answerde me ageyn:

Resoun Answerd:

‘My ffayrë ffrend,’ a-noon quod she,
‘Lych as I consydre & se,
Thy wyt ys blont & dul som del,
That thow mayst nat se ryht wel;
And thogh thow haue at skolë be,
Thow hast nat ther (as semeth me,)
Lernyd gret wyt, nor bore a-way;
And specyaly (I dar wel say,)
Thow hast nat lernyd, for al thy wyt,
predicamentum ad aliquid.
ffor thys predicament, sothly,
Hath hys beholdyng (fynaly)
Vnto som other maner thyng
Than to hym sylff, as in werkyng
Makyng (in conclusïon,)
Hys ground & hys fundacyon
Vp-on A-nother grounde, in soth:
Thys predicament alway so doth.
ffor what he hath (tak heed, my brother,)
Nat off hym-sylff, but off a-nother
He taketh yt, to be mor strong,
And to no whiht ne doth no wrong.

‘And bere a-way thys in thy thouht,
That yt were ytold for nouht,
But he hys power (to speke in pleyn,)
Tooke off A-nother (in certeyn);
ffor off hym sylff yt may not be.
Exaumple I wyl now lernë the

That with thyn eynë mor clerly
Thow mayst be-holde yt openly.

‘Whan God Almyghty (yiff yt be souht,)
Al thys world hadde maad off nouht,
(As clerkys wel rehersë kan,)
To-forn or he had makyd man,
(Tak hed & lokë prudently,)
He was ycallyd but God only,
Yiff Genesis ne lyë nouht.
But A-noon as man was wrouht,
(Tak hed & markë wel thys word,)
Than was he callyd God & Lord,
In tookne, (who that kan obserue,)
He made a seruaunt hym to serue,
Tho was he Lord, havynge lordshepe.
And yet (who that taketh kepe,)
Hys lordshepe was nat mor at al
As ben thys lordys temporal,
Gretter off domynacyon
Whan they han in subieccyon
Peplys at her lust to-beye:
ffolk ar wont than to seye,
That ther seruauntys & meyne
Yiveth them power & powstee;
So that (in conclusïon,)
Ther myght & domynacyon,
Off ther sogettys fyrst doth sprynge,
And ys engendryd in werkyng.
ffor yiff ther sogettys wer put away,
Ther lordshepe (I dar wel say,)
Sholde faylle, & ther power;
And sogettys, wych they haven her
To serven hem, and to obeye,
Sholde ek fayll, I dar wel seye;
ffor lordshepe pleynly ther wer noon,
Yiff ther seruauntys wer agon.
The name off servaunt ek also,
Yiff that lordshepe wer ago,
Muste ek faylle, as thow mayst se;
ffor nouther party may nat be

With-outen other (yt ys no drede).

‘By wych exaumple (who taketh hede,)
Lordshepe ys sayd especyally
Off seruauntys; & ek trwly
Seruauntys also namyd be
Off lordshepe, in ther degre.
And thus ys sayd, (haue thys ther-wyth,)
Predicamentum ad aliquid.
ffor eche off other hath gynnyng,
And ys on other dependyng.
Whan the Ton ys, than ys the tother;
ffor yt ne may nat be noon other;
Whan the Ton faylleth, ek also
They muste ffayllë bothë two.

Vnderstond wel thys lesson,
How thou art in subieccyon;
Consydre how thow art ysett
Vnder a-nother, and soget
To hym, and mvstest hym obeye
Wych hath also (I dar well saye)
Vpon the(e) Iurediccyon,
Power & domynacyon,
As thy souereyn, what-euere he be.

‘But o thyng deceyveth the:
Thow hast no sogetys as hath he;
ffor wych thyng (consydre & se,)
Thow fayllest & art put a-bak.
And in swych caas, thow hast gret lak
To haue the swerd, bryht and cler,
Commyttyd vn-to thy power,
Out of the skawberk, yt to vse.
Yt wer but veyn for the to muse
Ther-vp-on, or gruchche ageyn.

‘The keyës also in certeyn,
Thow mayst nat han hem, nor possede
But vnder seel, (yt ys no dred.)
The swerd also, (yt ys no dovte,)
Yiff that yt wer drawen oute,

Thow sholdest ther-with do ryht nouht.
ffor yiff the trouthë be wel souht,
Thow hast yt nouht in thy demeyne
No thyng for to part at-weyne,
Nouther to keruë nor to smyte.
And shortly, (yiff I shal endyte,)
Bet wer to the, Touchyng swych werk,
To kepe yt cloos in the skauberk
Than folyly thy-sylff to bolde,
Out off the skauberk yt to holde;
ffor ffolkys woldë deme off ryht,
Ther-off whan they hadde a syht,
Yt wer no wysdom, but foly,
And a maner Surquedy,
Whan they be-heldë euerydel,
The keyes nat closyd vnder seel,
Syth thow (with-outen any glose,)
Mayst nouther shettë nor vnclose,
Yt longeth nat to thyn offys.

‘ffor wych, lernë to be wys,
And se how they wer taken cloos,
And vnder seel in thy depoos,
Knet & boundë faste & strong,
That thow with hem ne do no wrong.
Thy power ferther doth nat strecche,
Wher-off thow sholdest no thyng rechche,
Yiff thow wer wys, as semeth me.

‘And Tak also good heed, & se,
Off al that I to-forn ha sayd:
Thow sholdest be ryht wel a-payd
Off thy power, & nat ne stryve,
Thogh thow neuere in al thy lyve
Haddest no lordshepe mor at al.
And for to speke in specyal,
Yt ouhte ynowh to the suffyse,
As I shal to the devyse,
Thy-sylff for to gouerne a-ryht,
Dyschargyd off euery other whyht.
Than artow prudent, doutëles;
And for thys skylë, Moyses,—

‘Wych in hys tyme was wys & old,—
Took hem to the, as I ha told,
To fyn only (to speke in pleyn)
That he, as lord & souereyn,
May, whan hym lyst, as thow shalt lere,
Whan that tyme doth yt requere,
The keyës closyd vnder sel,
He may to the vnbyndë wel;
The swerd also, by tytle of lawe,
Makë that thow shalt yt drawe
Out off the skauberk, fer nor ner,
Lych as thow hast off hym power,
Sogett alway to hys sentence
And as the caas graunteth lycence.
Hys power he may commytte
To the, ffro wych thow mayst nat flytte.
ffor as I shal to the devyse,
Yiff thow dydyst other wyse
Thow sholdest offende ful gretly,
Pereyl off deth except only,
Wych ys a cause evydent
That thow mayst wel (& nat be shent,)
The swerd ydrawe, (tak hed her-to,)
And the keyes vnbynde also.
ffor nede & gret necessyte
Lycence grauntyd vnto the
Plentevously, & ek vsage,
Consydryd with the surplusage,
Pre-supposyd ther be no whyht
To whom the offyce sholde of ryht
Appertene off duete.
I menë thus,—tak hede & se;
Marke yt wel in thyn entent,—
That he be nat ther present
Wych halt the swerd (now vnderstond,)
Bare & nakyd in hys hond,
And the keyes vnbounde also,
Off ryht, as he ouhtë do,
Thys he that haueth pleyn power,
(Who kan looke with eyen cler,)

And haueth Iurediccyon
Above, & domynacion,
And ys the ryght ful relatyff,
To whom, with-outë noyse or stryff,
Thow art soget, & vnder put
To hym allone: & trewly, but
Thow hym obeye, thow art Coupable;
ffor yiff thow, in cas semblable,
Haddest sogettys vnder the,
Thow myhtest wel (lyk thy degre,)
Don as he doth in allë thyng,
And fulfyllë in werkyng.
Thanne folwede yt a-noon forth-wyth,
Thy power wer Ad aliquid;
But thow hast noon, (as semeth me,)
Wheroff thow ouhtest glad to be,
And in thyn hertë ful Ioyous.’

The pylgrym argueth:
‘Ma dame,’ quod I, ‘most vertuous,
(Yiff ye lyst to herë me,)
I have seyn, & alday se,
Som folkys (in conclusyon)
That hadden in subieccïon)
Sogetys noon, nor gouernance,
And yet they dyde hem sylff avaunce,
And wer ther-off no thyng afferd,
Nakyd for to bere the swerd.
To whom also yt ys wel founde
That the keyës wer nat bounde,
But redy euere (beth wel certeyn,)
Tvnshetten & to shette ageyn
Lokkys echon (yt ys wel wyst,)
And entrede whan that euere hem lyst.
At allë tyme they be redy,
Shette and vnshette hardyly.
The cause to me vn-knowen ys;
And yet I dar affermë thys,
They ha no mor power than I;
ffor wych they han, al sodeynly,

Astonyd myn oppynyoun.
ffor yiff ther be Relacyoun
Yfoundë there, I dar wel say
That yt ys ystole a-way.’

Resoun Answereth.

Resoun answerde ageyn to me:
‘Take heed and vnderstond,’ quod she,
‘The Formere off the high hevene,
And maker off the Sterres Sevene
Hath so ordeyned allë thynges,
That they shal, in her meuynges,
Holden ther cours swyfft or soffte,
Lyk as the bodyes hih a-loffte,
Lyst ordeynë, (who kan knowe,)
So that erthly thyngës lowe
Receyvë dysposicyons
Off hem, & ek impressiouns,
To be gouernyd (in sentence)
Affter the hevenly influence,
Dyversly, ech in hys kynde,
Who the causys kan out fynde
Off ther dyuers mocyouns
Thorgh naturel Inclynaciouns.

Yet for al thys, yt lettyth nouht,
But that the Lord, wych al hath wrouht,
Hath lordshepë sovereyne,
What hym lyketh to ordeyne,
As the Lord most pryncypal
With-outen any mene at al:
In heuene, Erthe, or in the se,
So as hym lyst, yt mustë be.
Off hevenly bodyes cyrculer,
He stant no thyng in ther daunger;
But he may do, thys myghty kyng,
What-euere hym lyst, in hys werkyng,
hih a-loffte, & her don lowe,
Thogh the hevene no-thyng knowe
The Influence of hys power,
Wych ys so myghty & entér,
That no whyht may yt comprehende

‘How fer hys power doth extende,
Was neuere yet noon so gret clerk.

‘And thogh the heuene, touchyng his wark
Hadde any maner knowelychyng
To comprehendyn hys werkyng,
Yt sholdë nat so hardy be
To gruchche ageyn hys deyete.
But I speke in wordys pleyn,
Humblely with Davyd seyn
Touchyng hys myght wych doth excelle,
‘Lat the heuene hys glorie telle,
Hys laude, hys honour, & preysyng,
And yive worshepe to hys werkyng.
And also (in hys best entent)
Lat also the fyrmament
Hys handwerk devoutly preyse,
And day-by-day hys honour Reyse
In laude & prys ful many fold.’

‘But causë why that I ha told
Thys thyng to the thus, by-&-by,
I shal reherse the cause her why.
The hihë hornyd, most holy,
Callyd in erthë comounly
Off God the chosë cheff vyker,
And hys placë kepeth her,
And doth yt pleynly occupye,—
The wych, no man wyl denye;—
Yet thogh thys vyker, aboue echon
Haue power off yore agon,
Aboven euerych other whyht,
And wolde the cours (of verray ryht)
Off hys myghty excellence
Wher doun shad by influence
To other lowere of degre
Commytted from hys souereyn se,
Whom he ordeyneth her & yonder
By commyssyon to be vnder
Hys high power by Ordynaunce
For to haven Governaunce
(Who that kan the trouthë seke)

‘To bere the swerd, and keyës eke,
So that by her dyscrecion
And prudent mediacyon
All thynge vnder ther myghte
Wer gouernyd wel by Ryht,
Wych to hem dooth apertene
Vnder entent pur & clene,
Affter the bond off ther offys.

‘But nat for-thy, yet for al thys,
Ther ys no causë but that he
Wych that hath the souereynte,
The cheff vyker above echon,
Off verray ryght, & other noon,
Ys curat (in conclusïoun,
With-oute al mediacïoun,)
Ouer crystys folkys alle.
Yt may noon other-wysë falle,
Off verray ryght, I the ensure.
Al-be that he, vnder hys cure
Haue set by hy commyssyon,
Somme folkys of relygyon,
Hys offys to excersyce
Vnder hym in sondry wyse;
Hem establysshed, with power large,
ffor to helpe hym ber hys charge;
In hys name, or elles nouht
ffor what they do, or what ys wrouht,
ffro hym the power ys descendyd,
The wrong by hym mot be amendyd,
Yiff ther be any in ther werkyng.

‘And therfore, touchyng thys thyng,
(To seyn shortly, & nat tarye,)
They be nat but ordynarye,
Commyttyd, ther offys for to do,
Thogh thow sest hem bothë two
Ber swerd And keyës in ther hond
Naked & vnclosyd; yet vnderstond,
They ha nat stole hem, fer nor ner,
ffor they haddë pleyn power
Off the vyker pryncypal,

‘Wych aboue gouerneth al,
That gaff to hem ther power with
Predicamentum ad aliquid.
They tooke yt (who consydereth al)
Off hys gyffte in especyal;
And whan hym lyst, (yt ys no nay)
He may ageyn take yt away,
Whan that he seth tyme & place.
ffor thyng that grauntyd ys off grace
May be Restreyned efft ageyn
In many caas, be wel certeyn.
And thogh thow haue no swyche power,
Thow sholdest, with al thyn herte enter,
To Ihesu Cryst, in thyn entent,
Thanke of that he hath the sent;
fferther nat medle than thyn offys;
ffor I holde, he ys nat wys,
That in medlyng ys mor large
Than the boundys of hys charge.’

Off the Sacrament off the Awhter:

And whan thys lady, Dame Reson,
Touchyng myn oppynyon,
Hadde declaryd vnto me,
Ryht forth-with I dydë se,
(As I be-held tho douteles,)
That the hornyd Moyses
Shope hym Ryght as any lyne
To make redy & go dyne,
And hys mete ek redy make.
And tho, good heed I gan take
How hys mete (pleynly to deme,)
Was other than yt dydë seme;
And off ó thyng, as I took heed,
Ther was no thyng but wyn & bred,
The wych wer nat to hys entent;
ffor tho he haddë gret talent
To etyn fflesshe, in hys delyt,
And blood ek in hys appetyt,
ffor to dyfface the oldë lawe,
And the Ryytys ther-off with-drawe;

Wych lawe (as I vnderstood,)
Bad men they sholde ete no blood.
But Moyses—in hys entent,
Contrayre to that comandement,
To helpyn hym Among hem alle,—
Grace Dieu be-gan to calle;
And she kam forth A-noon ryht.

And ther I sawh a wonder syht,
Mor merveyllous than euere aforn
I hadde seyn syth I was born.
ffor ther I sawh, (as I took heed,)
In-to Rawh fflesshë, tornyd bred;
Grace Dieu ordeynede yt so.
And wyn (I took good heed ther-to,)
Was tornyd ek in-to Red blood.
The wych (so as I vnderstood,)
Sempte of a lambe, as thouhtë me.
And, as A man curteys & fre,
Hys offycerys he gan calle,
And bad they sholdë komen alle
Vn-to dyner; & ek hem tolde
The maner hooly how they sholde
Han myght & power enterly
ffor to maken al redy
The dyner al so wel as he,
At duë tyme, in ther degre.

And as they weryn at dyner,
To hem he gaff pleynly power
To maken (in conclusïon)
That merveyllous mutacion,
Bred in-to flesshe, wyn in-to blood.
And off that foode (I vnder-stood)
He Gaff to etyn to hem alle
(Wych to-forn he dydë calle,)
Thys newë metë most vnkouth,
Mynystrng yt in-to ther mouth.
With hem, hym-sylff he heet also,
And of the blood he drank ther-to.
I sawh yt with myn Eyen cler.

But swych a merveyllous dyner
Ne was neuere a-forn yseyn,
Nor neuere (that I herdë seyn,)
Ne was no swych mutacyon,
Nor off so wonderful Renoun.

But whan I hadde be-holden al,
I tornede me A-noon with-al
To-ward that lady dame Resoun,
Makynge to hyr thys questyoun:

The pylgrym:
‘Ma dame,’ quod I, ‘I yow preye
That ye to me lyst to seye:
What semeth yow, telle on pleynly.’

Resoun koude nat answere.
‘Certys,’ quod she, ‘that wyl not I,
ffor ther-of I kan no thyng;
Yt passeth myn vnderstandyng,
My wyt also, & ek my mynde.
To sen, myn Eyen ben to blynde;
I se no mor ther-off then thow;
And I am so astonyd now,
Mor than euere I was a-fore,
Syth tymë that I was bore.
ffor yiff that she (I dar wel say)
Hadde ymakyd off an Ay
A bryd with ffethres for the flyht,
Or that she haddë, thorgh hyr myght,
Off a lytel barly greyn
Makyd an Er large & pleyn,
Thys ylkede Ornede Moyses,
I wolde han be stylle & in pes,
And ther-off han take noon heed.
But [s]he hath mad Rauwh fflessh of bred,
Wherof I am falle in rage.
And also of that beuerage,
That [s]he hath tornyd wyn to blood,
My sylff beholdyng, ther I stood,
Ageyn the custom of nature.
And trew[ë]ly, I the ensure,
That I shal no lenger dwelle,

But to Nature the trouthë telle,
And sendyn hyre to be A-wreke
To Grace Dieu, with hyr to speke,
With cher boystous, wordys nat ffayre,
Vnto whom she ys contrayre.
ffor she hath, (yiff I shal not lye,)
Off pryde only, & surquedye,
Lyft the custom & vsage,
And off nature the passage
Transcendyd pleynly, & the boundys;
And in dede, ek yt founde ys
That she hath, of force & myght,
Broke hyr franchyse & hyr ryht.’

The Pylgrym:

And whan Resoun hadde told me thys,
Sche A-noon retournyd ys
In-to hyr tour vp hih ageyn.

And thanne A-noon, vp-on the pleyn
I sawh a lady off gret age,
The wych gan holden hyr passage
Towardys Gracë Dieu in soth,
And off hyr port I-rous & wroth,
And hyr handys ek of pryde
Sturdyly she sette a syde.
Hyr Eyen ek (I took good hede,)
Brennyng bryht as any glede;
Wonder large off hyr feature,
Trowynge that she was Nature:
And so she was, thys lady old,
ffor Resoun hadde vn-to me told
Hyr maner and condycioun.
And, to myn inspeccïoun,
Sche was redy for to stryve,
ffor Anger dyde hyr hertë Ryve
Atweyne, in purpos for to chyde;
Hyr handys set vnder hyr syde.

And vn-to Gracë Dieu A-noon
Thys oldë lady ys forth gon;
And Rudly fyrst she gan abrayde,
And vn-to Gracë Dieu she sayde:

‘Dame,’ quod she Right of Entent
‘As yee stonden her present,
Wher-so that yee be leeff or loth,
With youre gouérnaunce I am wroth,
That ye be bold, in any wyse
ffor to medle of my fraunchyse.
And I am kome, as ye may se,
To dyffende my lyberte.
Vn-to yow yt ys nat due
My ordynauncys to remeue.
Record I take off allë wyse,
Yt outhe ynowgh to yow suffyse
The party that ye han ytake,
And no maystryës for to make
In the boundys that I kepe.

‘ffor, thogh ye han the lordshepe
Off the heuene & euery spere,
And off the sterrys bryht & clere,
And off the planetys hih a-loffte,
Somme swyfft & sommë soffte
Holdyng ther cours & ther mevyng,
And as ye lyst in allë thyng
They stonden all in your demeyne,
Ther cours, as ye lyst, ordeyne.
Ouer hem ye han the souereynte;
And yiff I woldë medle me
Towchyng ther cours, or how they goth,
With me ye woldë be ful wroth,
And my presumpcïon despyse.
And I, ryht in the syluë wyse,
Yiff ye medlede wrongfully
Touchyng the boundys of my party,
Ther to cleyme off me lordshepe,
My fredam I woldë kepe.
Rather than suffren any wrong,
I woldë deye, thogh ye be strong;

‘Trusteth thys ryght wel at al.

‘And declare to yow I shal,
Now that ye & I be met,
The trewë boundys that be set
Atwyxe vs tweyne, syth go ful long,
That noon to other do no wrong;
Wych to yow I shal devyse,
And declarë the fraunchyse
Off outher part, yiff ye lyst lere,
That noon ne medle, fer nor nere,
To have lordshepe off othrys ryht,
Nouther by forcë nor by myght.

‘And yiff ye lyst to lerne yt sone,
The cercle off the coldë moone,
Atwyxen yow & me for evere
The boundys trewly doth dysseuere,
And yiveth to euerych hys party;
Yiff ye lyst look Ryghtfully
As I shal declare now:
The hiher part longeth to yow,
Wher ys your lordshepe & your myght,
And ye may ther (off verray ryght)
Maken thyngës fresshe of hewe,
And whan ye lyst, transforme hem newe;
Your power ys so vertuous;
ffor thogh ye madë dame Venus
A best with hornys sharpe & hard,
I wolde ther-to ha no Reward.
And thogh that ye, (yt ys no fayl,)
Off Mercuryë made a snayl
I woldë me nat putte in pres
To gruchche, but kepe me stylle in pes;
ffor ther I cleyme no maner ryht.

‘But her by-nethe, ys al my myght;
Off ellementys I am maystresse,
Lady also & pryncesse
Off wyndys and inpressyouns,
And makë transmutacyouns,
Many wonder varyance.

‘ffor I ha the gouernaunce
Off fyr, of heyr, (as ye may se,)
Off erthe, and off the largë se,
Off ther accord & ther debate;
I leue no thyng in on estat,
But makë eche thyng, by declyn,
ffor to drawë to hys ffyn.
I make alday thyngës newe
The olde, refresshyng off her hewe.
The erthe I clothë, yer by yer,
And refresshe hym off hys cher
Wyth many colour of delyte,
Blewh & grenë, Red & whyt,
At prymë temps, with many a flour.
And al the soyl, thorgh my fauour
Ys clad of newe; medwe & pleyn
And hillës hih, ek spyce & greyn
I makë to enspyre soote,
And do the bawme, out of the Rote
In-to the crop a-ryse & sprynge.

‘And in-to trëes ek I brynge
Ther lusty blosmys whyte & rede;
And in ther braunchys ek I sprede
A-brood myn fresshë vestymentys,
And with myn vnkouth paramentys
I clothë ham wyth buddys glade,
Wych, with wynter, dede I made,
Thorgh constreynt of hys coldys kene,
Tornyng to russet al the grene
With fretyng of hys bytter cold.

‘But al that wynter maketh old,
And with hyr stormys doth desteyne,
I make yt fresshe & yong ageyn;
The bromys with ther golden floure,
That wynter madë (with hys shour)
Nakyd and bare, dedly of hewe,
With levys I kan cloth hem newe;
And off the feld the lyllyes ffayre,
And off herbys many a payre,
That wynter slowh with hys constreynt,

‘And made hem of ther colour ffeynt,
ffor no cost, me lyst not spare,
But ther Rychesse I do repare,—
Whan hete off cold hath the victorye,—
That Salomon in al hys glorye
Was nat clad (I dar wel sey)
Halff so freschly as ben they;
Nor hys robës wer nat lyche
Off colour to the busshes Ryche,
Wych be clad in my lyffree,
ffro yer to yer, as ye may se.

‘And who that taketh hed ther-to,
Al thyng that men se me do,
I do by leyser, by and by:
I am nat Rakel nor hasty;
I hate, in myn oppynyouns,
Al sodeyn mutacyouns;
My werkys be the bettre wrouht,
Be causë that I hastë nouht:
I take recórd of dame Reson.

‘And also ek in no seson
I slepë nouther day nor nyht;
ffor, of custom & of ryht,
I hate al maner ydelnesse,
Ouer al wher I am maystresse.
I am nat slowh, thorgh-out the yer,
To do my werk & my dever
Affter my power & konnyng;
And I make, with my werkyng,
Man & womman to speke a-ryht
Euery language, thorgh my myght;
ffovlys to flen, I teche also,
And euery bestë for to go;
ffysshes to swymmen in the see,

‘And I make ek (as ye may se,)
Serpentys on the grovnd to krepe;
And allë greynës ek I kepe,
Make hem groven in ther guyse,
And al ther sesouns I devyse.
And yiff I shal the trouthe expresse,
I am lady & maystresse
Off al the Erthë, who lyst knowe.

‘But ye wolden holden lowe
My power, (yt ys no doute,)
Yiff ye myghte yt brynge a-boute,
fful wrongfully, ageyn al ryht,
And apallen ek my myght
At your fre choys; thys the ffyn;
Tourne vnkyndëly my wyn
In-to blcod, folk for to drynke;
The wychë doth me sore a-thynke,
And fret myn hertë so with rage
That ye do me swych outrage,
So nyh vn-to myn herte yt sytte:
And yt passeth ek my wyt,
Your governaunce in thys matere.

‘Touchyng bred, ye shal wel lere,
(To speken in especyal,)
I am not so wroth with-al,
Nor gruchche (in myn oppynyoun)
Off thylkë mutacïoun,
Be cause that I (who taketh hed,)
Medlede neuere to makë bred,
Croste nor kromë, al my lyve.
But I dar afferme her blyve,
Thogh I neuere madë looff,
The mater that yt ys made off
Kometh fro my corn & greyne;
And I delyuered hem, certeyn,
Vn-to Crafft, wych I assure
Ys soget vn-to Nature.
Thogh she yt made by hyr engyn,
The mater ffyrst was pleynly myn,
And kam fro me, yt ys no drede.

‘But that ye han thus turnyd bred
In-to Rawh fflesshe at your dyner,
In preiudyce off my power,
To forbarre me of my ryht,—
Wher hadde ye power outher myght
To werkë so ageyn my lore?
I may suffren yt no more.
I ha forboor yow many day,
And suffryd ek (yt ys no nay,)
Wrongys that ye ha do to me.
I not by whos auctoryte,
That ye, by your gouernauncys,
My custommys & myn ordynauncys—
Ageyn Resoun and al skyl—
Ye han ytournyd at your wyl.
I haue hem wel in Rémembraunce,
With euery maner cyrcumstaunce.

‘ffyrst, contrayre to myn entent,
The busshe affyre, & nat brent,
How ye yt made ful longe ago.
And I remembre wel also
Off Aaron & of Moyses,
How that ye, ageyn my pes,
Ther yerdys, bothë old & drye,
Ye maden, thorgh your maystrye,
The Toon a serpent (ys yt nat so?)
In presence of Kyng Pharaoo;
The tother, ye made wexe al grene
With frut & levys, (thus I mene,)
Budde and blosme, with many flour,
To myn vnworshepe & dyshonour,
Ageyns nature, at the leste.
And ye tournede, at the feste
Off on callyd Architeclyn,
Water also in-to good wyn.
And also many A-nother thyng,
Thorgh your wonderful werkyng
Ye han ywrouht ageynys kynde.

‘And o thyng cometh now to mynde,
Wherwyth ye dyde myn hertë tene,

‘That ye made a maydë clene
To bere a chyld, by your art,
And of man hadde neuere part.
To me ye dide to gret A wrong;
And I ha suffryd al to long
That ye, a-mong thys werkys alle,
Lyst me nat to consayl calle.
Wher-of, whan I dide aduerte,
I hadde gret sorwen yn myn herte;
Thogh I made no noyse at al,
I gruchchede in especyal
A-geyn your werkys wonder stronge:
A man may suffren al to longe,
As I ha don, or that he speke;
And abyde or he be wreke;
Slepe to long, or he a-wake;
Suffren, or he vengaunce take;
And I ha ben to longe in pes,
And in maner Rekkëles
To suffre wrong, & took noon hede
Off al that ye ha done in dede.

‘And now ye ben ykome ageyn,
Off entent to make in veyn
Newë thyngës men may se,
Only to excytë me
Ageyns yow, both nyh & ferre,
To be wroth, & gynne a werre,
And to be with yow at debat.
And, ne wer the gret estat
That ye be off, trusteth me wel,
I wolde sparë neueradel
Yow to werreye & oppresse,
That ye ha swych hardynesse
ffor to chaungen myn vságes,
And lyst nat, thorgh your gret outráges,
Off equyte, to myn avayl,
ffor to calle me to counsayl,
Wher-off I am riht wele apayd.’

And whan Naturë hadde al sayd,
Gracë dieu ful sobyrly,

(That herde hyr talë by and by,)
Nat hastyly, but by mesure,
Thus Answerdë to Nature:

Grace Dieu answerde:

‘Ye ben,’ quod she, ‘to cruel,
To hasty also, and to fel
Ageyns me, in your language.
ffor ye speke by gret outrage
Proudly to me, & ha no feere,
Lych sothly as thog ye were
In party dronken of your wynes
Wych that groweth on your vynes.
Ye resemble by your mood
And by your port, as ye wer wood.
And for ouht that I kan se,
Ye be sottyd (thus semeth me)
Off newe, & I wot nat how.

‘Remembreth what ye spake ryht now,
And how ye sayde to me pleynly,
‘That ye wer nat to hasty
In your werkys, fer nor ner;
But that ye wrouht al be leyser,
And in your werkys dyde tarye.’
And I se now the contrarye
In your persone folyly.
ffor ye to me, ful nycëly,
Al that euere ye dide expresse,
Was ysayd off hastynesse,
With-outen any gret avys,
Lyk as thogh ye wer nat wys;
Your wordys nat in ordre set,
Rancour, your Resoun hath so let.
And, trewly, naddë be
That I concevede, & dyde se
Your sodeyn Ire & your Rancour,
And also for myn owne honour,
I hadde yow voyded A-noon ryht,
And booden yow gon out of syht.
But folkys wych that ben Irous,
Hasty & malyncólyous,

‘Other folk, that wysë bene,
Mot forbern hem in her tene,
Be-cause they kan hem nat gouerne;
And ek for they kan nat dyscerne
A thyng clerly in ther entent.
ffor ther trouble, entendement
Ys with Ire yblynded so,
That they wot nat what they do.
To sen a trouthe, they nat entende,
ffor they kan nat comprehende,
Thorgh ther obstynat blyndnesse,
No thyng but off wylfulnesse:
It stondeth thus, I dar assure.

‘But tel me now, damë Nature,
Touchyng that ye, her in thys place,
Rebukë me off my trespace,
And vndernemen and repreve,
And outragously your-sylven greue
Off offencys I scholde ha do;
And affermen ek also,
Your fraunchysë to avaylle
Off boundys & off botaylle:
I menë thus, of boundys set,
By mesour tryed out & met
A-twyxe the ryht of yow & me,
And seyn, ‘A-geyn your lyberte
That I dydë gret offence
To entre, & hadde no lycence,
In-to your gardyn al to sone,
Vnder the cercle off the moone,
Wych to yow allone ys fre.’
I pray yow, answere ageyn to me,
(Say the trouthe, so God the saue!)
Off whom holde ye that ye haue,
Your lordshépe & euery del?
Ye Resemble (who lokë wel,)
Vn-to the wyldë swyn savage,
Wych that renneth in hys rage
In the woodys large & grene,
And ne kan no ferther sene

‘But to the frut that he hath founde,
And the Acornys on the grounde,
ffor to fille hys hongry mawe.
ffor he, in hys swynys lawe,
Off hys rudnesse bestyal,
Ne kan no ferther se at al
Toward the hevene, nor the tre
Wher he receyveth hys plente,
That bar the frut for hys repast,
Al that ys from hys myndë past;
ffor to the acorn al only,
And to hys ffoodë fynally
Ys set hys herte & al hys thouht;
ffor he in soth ne recchet nouht
Off alle the surplus neueradel.

‘And trew[ë]ly ye may ryht wel
Vn-to thys swyn resembled be,
Wych kan not be-holde or se,
Nor of malys, nor dysdeyn,
Lyst nat knowen in certeyn
Off whom ye han al your power
With-Inne your boundys, fer or ner.
With-outë me ye ha no thyng;
Nor al your crafft nor your werkyng,
With-outë me may nat avaylle.
Yovr werkys alle I sowbpowaylle,
And hem supporte, yif ye ha mynde.

‘Vndoth your Eyën dyrk & blynde,
The Eyen of yovr entendëment;
And, by good avysëment,
The lyddys off your Eye vncloseth!
Knoweth wel (and nat supposeth)
I am lady, hool & entere;
And ye be but my chamberere:
Thys shal ye fynde al openly
Yiff ye looke avysëly.
Leve your wordys hih aloffte,
And lerneth for to spekë soffte,
And Renounceth al your rage;
ffor ye sholde me don homage

100

‘(Off Iustyce and equyte),
ffor thát ye holde, ye holde of me.
ffor long agon, a gret partye,
I gaff to yow (of curteysye)
To occupye your sylff alway,
Off entent that, nyht nor day,
That ye sholde nat ydel be,
And that ye sholde, a-geyn to me
Yelde accountys off euery thyng
Touchyng the fyn of your werkyng,
As a chamberere (in sothnesse)
Sholde vnto hire mayst[e]resse.
And therfore, yiff ye wer wys,
Ye sholdë nat in your avys
Speke of boundys in no degre
Set be-twyxë yow & me.
The boundys cónstreyne your party;
But, for al that, I go frely
Wher that me lyst, at lyberte:
They boundë yow, & no thyng me;
Close yow out, that ye nat passe;
But I go fre in euery place;
In heuene, in erthe, & in the se
I boundë yow, & ye not me.
Wer yt offendë yow or greue,
I take of yow no maner leue,
To go & medle wher I shal:
Ye ha no thyng to do with al.

‘I do ryht nouht in my werkyng
But as yt ys ryht wel syttyng
Off equyte & ryhtwysnesse.
ffor she that ys a mayst[e]resse
Muste haue a seruaunt hyr to-beye:
I trowe ye kan yt not with-seye.
And ye ouht to know ek wel
That ye ha power neueradel
With-outë me, on no party.
I wyl shewë good skyle why,
Vp-on the wordys that ye ha sayd,
So ye wyl nat ben euele apayd.

101

Ye seyde, ‘the mevyng of the hevene
And the planetys allë seuene
Longen to me pleynly in al;
And how ther cours celestyal,
I haue yt hol in gouernaunce;
And how that I, at my plesaunce
Tourne the hevene Round abowte.

‘Thanne I axe of yow thys doute:
Yiff I now made a newë pley,
ffor to take the sonne away
Doun fro the heuene a-noon ryht,
That no man of hym hadde a syht
Thys hundryd yer, in no manere,
Nor that hys bryhtë bemys clere
Ne wer nat seyn: answere here-to,
What maner thyngës myghte ye do?
Or wheroff sholde ye ha socour,
To brynge forth outher herbe or flour?
Or fostre your sedys, blosme, or greyn?
Or with newë grene a-gayn
Clothen the busshes in ther maner
As ye ar wont fro yer to yer,
By yerly reuolucïouns?

‘And touchyng generacïouns,
What power ha ye ouht to do,
Yiff the sonnë wer ago?
Al sholde faylle, yt ys no nay.
And sythë go ful many a day,
The paynym Arystotyles,
Wrot & expressede douteles,
That was so noble & prudent,
Preveth ful wel by argument,
By trouth also, & good Reson,
That al generacyon
Ys susteyned by the sonne.
Whan the skyës dyrke & donne
Ben devoyded a-way clene,
With hys bemys bryht & shene,
That on erthe wer no bryhtnesse,
I take your clerk vn-to wytnesse,

102

‘Arystotyle, in thys debaat,
ffor to ben myn aduocaat
A-geyns yow in thys matere.
ffor your power al yfere
Wer lost & gon (shortly to fyne,)
Yiff no sonne ne dydë shyne.
ffor your power wer al shent,
Yiff the Roundë fyrmament,
The planétys, & ech spere,
And the bryhtë sterrys clere,
Yiff I hem maade to cesse echon,
Than wer your power clene agon,
A-batyd, & set a-syde.
Wher-vp-on, lat be your pryde,
And gruchchet nat ageyn[e]s me,
Syth I ha the sovereynte,
Lordshepe, & domynacïoun.

‘And yt wer abusyoun—
Lych as wryteth Ysaye,
And in hys book doth specefye,
A gret despyt (both fer & ner)—
Yiff a-geyn the carpenter
The Ex wer bold, by surquedye,
ffor to holden chauntpartye.
Yt wer a thyng ageyn[e]s kynde,
In Holy Wryt as ye shal fynde,
And a thyng off gret dysdeyne,
And yiff the pot sholde also seyn
To the potter that hym wrouhte,
And hys forme a-boutë brouhte,
Yiff he pleynede off hys makyng,
Touchyng hys fason and werkyng,
Yt wer a thyng nat covenable.

‘And evene lyk in cas semblable
Ye argue ageyn[e]s me,
Wych in effect nat ellys be
(ffor al your sotel argument)
But myn handwerk & instrument,
Wych I ha mad to helpen me,
Nat off no necessyte,

103

‘That I off yow (yiff ye take hede,)
Sholde haue any maner nede
Among my gretë werkys alle,
But only whan me lyst yow calle.

‘And many a thyng I haue ek wrouht,
To wych I ne callede yow nouht.
Yt nedede nat the caas so stood:
And I shal chaungë wyn to blood
With-oute your counsayl or your red,
And in-to Rawh flessh, ek whyt bred,
And brown also, whan that me lyst,
Thogh off yow yt be nat wyst.

‘The cause ys, in conclusïoun,
Off thys ylke mutacïoun,
At myn ownë lust yt dresse;
And ellys ne wer I no maystresse,
But yiff I haddë lyberte
To don al thyng that lyketh me
With-outë labour at myn ese,
Wych sholdë yow nat dysplese,
Thogh I do thyng (tak hed her-to,)
Wych your-sylff ne may nat do;
Therof ye sholden ha dysport,
And in your hertë gret coumfort,
As of the bussh, wych to the syht
Sempte as yt hadde brent ful bryht,
And brent nat, as I ha sayd;
Wher-of ye sholde be wel apayd,
And thank me of entencïoun
Only for the savacïoun,
Rather than chyde, or lowdë crye
Off rancour & maléncolye,
Off hast to be so Rekkëles.

‘And off the yerd of Moyses
And off Aaron, wher-on ye pleyne;
And off that Maydë souereyne,
Mayde & moder in clennesse,
Off chastyte the cheff pryncesse,
Wych bar a chylde in verray dede,
And kept alway hyr maydenhede;

104

‘And off the water tornyd to wyn
At the fest off Archityclyn:
Al thys I wrouhtë, thorgh my myht,
With-oute preiudyce of your ryht;
Wher-off ye sholde ha gret gladnesse,
And nat gruchche for hevynesse
Touchyng al thys, in no manere.
ffor alway a good chaumberere
Sholdë be ryht glad in herte
Whan she seye, or dyde aduerte
The fayrë werkys (in sothnesse)
Off hyr lady or maystresse,
Pryncypally (who lokë wel,)
Whan that she leseth neueradel
Off hyr ffraunchyse in no degre.
ffor euere mot preferryd be
The comoun good in general.
Goodys that ben éspecyal,
The comoun good, in soth I calle
That doth profyte to folkys alle,
Especyally in al vertu.’

And whan thys lady, Gracë dieu,
Had al sayd, I yow ensure,
A-noon thys lady, dame Nature,
Whan she had herd hyr tale a long,
Knowyng that she hádde do wrong,
And hyr compleynte (to specefye,)
Was ygroundyd on folye,
fful humblely in hyr degre
She ffyl a-noon vp-on hyr kne.

Nature cryede mercy.

The fyrstë word that she gan seye,
Nature, off mercy gan hyr preye,
And with humble cher & fface
She confessede hyr trespace;
And to hyr sayde most mekëly,
‘Ma dame,’ quod she, ‘ful folyly
I have govérnyd me to yow,

105

And ful vngoodly spokë now,
Wher-off I repentë sore.
And certys, I ne shal no more
Offendë yow in no manere,
Nouther in spechë nor in chere;
So that, of mercy & pyte,
Ye wyl as now forgyve yt me,
That I ha don al outterly;
And that ye wyl, so gracyously,
Off alle that euere me asterte,
No thyng reservyn in your herte,
Only off your benygnë grace,
But clene forgetë my trespace.’
Grace Dieu answereth:

‘Certys,’ quod Gracë dieu ryht tho,
‘I wyl gladly that yt be so;
But taketh hed of that I seye,
In peyne of lesyng of your eye,
That ye neuere, in al your lyff,
Be nat hardy for to stryve
A-geyn my workys in no wyse;
Nor that ye no thyng despyse
What-euere I do, for al your wyt;
ffor I ne wyl nat suffren yt,
But werke alway (as yt ys skyl)
With-outë yow, affter my wyl.’

And whan thys parlement was do,
As ye han herd, atwen hem two,
And Moyses ek dyned hadde
With hys seruantys good & badde,
He made A-noon (thys, the cheff,)
ffor to departë the releff:
Hys Awmener yt hadde in charge,
And bad to yive yt forth ful large
To pylgrymes, wych day be day
Travayllede forth vp-on her way;
Off the wych, as thouhtë me
Ther was gret noumbre & plente.

But, or that he gaff any thyng
Off the releff in partyng

106

Vn-to any maner whyht,
Out off a chaumbre, a-noon ryht,
I sawh two ladyes kome yfere,
Wych, of port & of manere
And off wommanly plesaunce,
Hadden ful gret suffysaunce;
And curteysly amyd the pres,
Atwen the peple and Moyses,
They putten hem, thys ylkë two.

And she that wente a-forn ryht tho,
(As yt sempte vn-to my wyt),
Held in hyr hand a lytel wryt
Vnclosyd vn-to my reward,
As ye shall heryn affterward,
Yiff ye lyst a whylë dwelle.

But off the tother I shal fyrst telle,
Wych in hyr hond, (as I be-helde
The samë tyme) an hamer helde.
And in hyr other hand with-al,
She held a yerde, sclender & smal,
To skouren chyldern, & chastyse.
And also,—as I shal devyse,
Vn-to my syht a thyng vnkouth,—
She held a bysme in hyr mouth
Atwyxe hyr teth, (yt ys no fayl,)
Wher-off I haddë gret mervayl.
Yet she yt helde so cvrteysly
That no man woldë deme ther-by
That she was neuere the lassë wys.
But yiff a-nother (to my devys,)
Hadde holde yt so as dydë she,
Men wolde ha sayd, she haddë be
Out of hyr wyt, or ellys falle
In-to rage. And fyrst of alle
Thys lady wysly dyde abrayde
To pylgrymes, & thus she sayde:
(The bysme lette hyr neueradel

107

But that she myght spekë wel:)
‘Syrs,’ quod she, ‘I wot ryht wel
That ye consydren euerydel
My gouernaunce & myn aray.
But I wot wel, (yt ys no nay,)
Ye nat aduerten in substaunce
Touchynge al my gouernaunce.
I trowe ye kan nat al espye
What thyng yt doth sygnefye.
But, kometh ner to me echon,
And I shal declare A-noon
To yow the maner by & by,
And yt exponë feythfully,
Off the trouthe my sylff taquyte.

‘I am the ffayre, louyd but lyte;
Off my port, demur And sad,
Debonayre, & gretly drad
Off felë folkys that me se.
And trew[e]ly I am ek she
Now-a-dayës lytel preysyd,
And yet ful worthy to be reysed
Off prys, to folkys that be dygne;
Rygerous & ful benygne
To allë that be vertuous;
Happy also, and ryht Ewrous,
The gracyouse, of smal plesaunce,
I am callyd Dame Penaunce.
The cheff wardeyn (who lyst se,)
Off thylkë ylë most secre;
The wych (who espyë kan,)
Ys yhyd with-Inne a man.
I make yt clene (I yow ensure,)
Off allë fylthe & al ordure,
Or ther-yn entre any whyht.
Therfore I bere, off verray ryht,
Thys bysme; Thys hamer, ek ther-to,
And thys lytel yerde also,
On al felthës to be wreke.
With thys hamer I brose & breke,
Lyk to my condycyoun

108

‘With anguissh and contricïoun,
Hertys that be obstynat
With synnës olde, ek indurat,
And fulfyllyd with vnclennesse,
I do alway my bysynesse
To make hem souple, nesshe, and tendre,
And off her gretë bollyng, sclender;
Also for to wake and wepe,
Sorwe & pleyne with syhës depe,
ffor ther synnës waymentynge.

And as a Chyldë with betynge
By exaumple (as ye se offte,)
Maketh his hardë appyl soffte
With offtë smytyng off hys ffyst,
Tyl yt be tendre as hym lyst,
And that the lycour ysseth oute,
Ryght so fare I, yt ys no doute:
I smytë hertys vp & doun,
And make hem, by contrycïoun,
Wyth saltë terys (thys the cas,)
To sorwe, crye, & seyn, allas
That they euere dyde Amys!
Ye shal yt fynde, & thus yt ys,
Off ther trespácys they repente,
And seyn, in al ther beste entente,
‘A, Lord God! now, off thy grace,
How shal I han off my trespace
Allegëment, with-outë the,
But thow graunte, off thy pyte,
That I may, al outterly,
Off my Gyltës ha mercy,
So that I do no mor Amys?
Now, goodë Lord, thow grauntë thys!’
Thus I maken hem cryen offte.

‘And with thys hamer I madë soffte
Seyn Petrys herte, & yt to-brak,
That yt wente al vn-to wrak,
Wych ffyrst was hard as any ston.
But I made yt nesshe A-noon
Whan he hys mayster fyrst forsook.

109

‘But whan that I the hamer took,
I smet hym so with répentaunce,
And made hym nesshë with penaunce,
That the Iews, off hys wepyng
Yssede out in cómpleynyng
Of verray sorwe & bytternesse,
He felt ther-off so gret dystresse
In hys greuous hertly peyne.

‘And also Mary Mawgdeleyne,
With thys hamer I smot so
That hyr herte I rooff a-two,
Wych was ful hard with synnës old.
But with strokys manyfold
I made hyr tendre, (yt ys no doute,)
That the terys yssede oute,
Out off hyr brest, so gret plente,
That men myghte the lycour se
By hyr chekys renne a-down
Off verray sorwe, so gret foysown,
That, in hyr bytter sorwës kene,
She was wasshe with-al so clene,
And so inly purefyëd,
That ther was no felthe espyed
Off synne with-Inne hyr tendre herte.
ffor, whan the bytter terys smerte
Off hyr wepyng wer Ronnë down
Thorgh sorwe & gret contrycïoun,
I took vn-to hem so gret kepe,
That I hem gadrede on an hepe,
That ordure lefftë noon be-hynde.
And I to-gydre dyde ham bynde—
Al that euere they wrouhte a-wrong,—
And make ther-off a lyë strong,
That ther-with-al (I yow ensure,)
I wasshe a-way al ordure.
ffor who so lyst consydre & se,
So gret a synnë may non be,
But that the lye off répentyng
Doth yt a-way in wasshyng,
And maketh yt clene euerydel,

110

‘Yiff yt ther-in be wasshë wel.
And for thys skyle, in my wasshyng,
I am vn-to the myghty kyng
Callyd sothly the ‘lavendere,’
And also ek hys ‘chaumberere,’
In thys offyces bothë two,

‘Now vnderstondeth ek also,
That thys hamer I ber with me
ffor thys skyle, as ye shal se,
Yt fareth, by a synful man,
(Who so vnderstondë kan,)
As by A Pot (in sothfastnesse)
That ys ful of vnclennesse,
Verray stynkyng & horryble,
And to smellë ful odyble,
Wych may nat wel devoyded be,
ffor-as-myche (as ye wel se)
The fylthe ys hardyd so with-Inne,
That yt wyl not lyhtly twynne,—
Off old gadryng ful indurat,
And in maner obstynat,—
To be made clene in any wyse.
But than anoon I kan devyse
Myn hamer myghtly tavale,
And breke the pot in pecys smale;
And on the felthë to be wreke;
On smalë sherdys I it breke.

‘And fyrst off allë I begynne
To drawe the felthë hyd with-Inne
Out, to make yt shede a-brood,
Wych with-Inne so long a-bood,
And al the ordure ek with-al.
And yiff I broke yt nat so smal
On pecys vp-on euery syde,
The fylthe with-Innë wolde abyde,
And mor & mor ay wexyn hard.

‘Now vnderstond, & hath reward
To thys doctryne & thys lesson
Touchyng verray contrycioun,
Ye that desyre of herte & thought

111

‘To lerne yt, & for-gete yt nouht.
Thynketh, ye folkys that be wyse,
That yt doth nat ynowh suffyse
A man, in Groos (as ye shal lere,)
To gadre hys synnës all yffere;
But, lyk the pot, he most hem breke,
And no thyng in the asshes reke.
I mene as thus: conceyveth al,
Thogh that a pot be brokë smal
On sherdys & on pecys ek,
Yet al yt ys nat worth a lek,
But euery sherd be cerchyd wel
Touchynge hys ordure euerydel,
And yscrapyd clene a-way,
Ye mot hem breke in gret affray,
That felthë noon ther-in abyde;
ffor wych ye mostë wel provyde
With sobbynge & with syhës depe
And saltë terys that ye wepe,
And other peynys sharpe & smerte;
Thynkynge thus with-Inne your herte;
‘Thow dyst offende on swych a day,
Where yt Sonday or Monday;
Than dystow thylkë gretë synne;
And swych an hour thow dyst begynne,
Havyng off God no dred nor fere.
Thys was gret; that was grettere.
And thus thow dyst, thylkë tyme,
Wher yt at Eve, wher yt at pryme,
And to don evel, were offtë blythe,
And that thow dyst so offtë sythe.
And rekne by & by yffere
The cyrcumstauncys & the manere;
Torne & cast ek, vp so doun,
Wher that thy Temptacïoun
Was gret or smal; acounte al thys,
And thynkë whan thow dyst amys,
Yiff a-forn thy great offence
Thow madest any résystence,
And wher thow wrastlyst any thyng

112

‘To with-stonden in werkyng
Thy temptacioun, gret or smal;
Or wher thow (in especyal)
In thy wrastlyng dist purchace
Thy temptacioun to enchace;
Or wher that thow, for shame or drede,
Lettyst for to do the dede;
Or wher thow settest drede asyde,
And on the dedë dist abyde
Tyl thow haddest do thy lust,
And after that lefftyst the rust
To kankren in thy conscïence,
In aggreggyng of thyn offence:
Al thys mote be of duë ryht
Consydred wel off euery whyht.

‘And thys the maner (who loke wel,)
To breke in pecys euerydel
The vessell off thy gret offence
With-Inne thy ownë conscience:
Smyt yt with the hamer sore,
Tyl yt on pecys mor & more
Be mad by pleyn contricïon,
By swych consyderacïon
That ther abydë fylthë noon.

‘And thus I werke alway in on,
With thys hamer that I holde,
Al vnclennesse to vnfolde;
I breke al doun, & sparë nouht
Off no thyng that ys done or thouht,
Tyl that trewe purgacïoun
Be makyd by contricïoun.

‘But yet a lytel word, I praye
That I mot vn-to yow seye,
Off thys oldë pot texpresse,
Wych ay ys ful of vnclennesse,
Off whos ordure, gadyrd off old,
With-Inne yt sylff, as I ha told,
Engendryd ys a werm (in soth,)
Wych ful gretë damage doth
By long processe, yiff yt abyde.

113

‘ffor thys worm, hym-sylff doth hyde
With-Inne thys pot ful couertly,
That no man may wel espy
Off hys engendryng, fer nor ner;
Nor of hys norysshyng the maner.
Thys, the werm of conscïence,
Wych hath hys teht by vyolence
Hardere (who that lookë wel,)
Than outher Iron outher stel;
Wonder cruel, ay fretynge,
And ryht perillous in percynge,
So fer forth (yt ys no drede,)
But he be slayn in verray dede,
Thys mortal werm wyl neuere fyne,
Vp-on hys mayster for to myne,
And gnawe vp-on hym day & nyht,
Tyl he ha slay hym thorgh hys myght,
Thorgh hys dredful vyolence.

‘But for to makë résistence,
Ageyn thys werm, hym to with-stand,
I ber thys hamer in myn hand,
And smyte a-pon hym ay so sore,
And spare hym nat, but mor & more
I ley vpon hym, to be wroke.
And thys ys whan the pot ys broke
On pecys smalë, vp & doun,
By verray trewe contricïoun.
ffor yiff yt wer nat broke aright,
Myn hamer sholdë ha no myght:
Thys the Fyn, shortly to seye,
To slen hym nor to make hym deye.
Wherfor ye mostë suffre wel
That I breke hym euerydel
On pecys smale, the werm to presse,
Tavoyde away al vnclennesse.
And on thys werm, (yiff ye lyst se,)
Thus I shal avengyd be;
Make hym lowly to obeye,
That he of verray forcë deye
To-for yow in your ownë syht.

114

‘And thus, yiff ye take hede a-ryht,
Thys the sygnyfycacïoun
And verray exposicïoun
Off thys hamer that ye her se;
The wych ys namyd, ek off me,
(Trewly, in conclusyoun,)
Nat ellys but contrycïoun.

‘Swynge vp-on, yiff ye lyst lere,
Off the bysme ye shall here,
Wych, myd my teth, day by day,
With-Inne my mouth I bere alway,
As I to-forn ha told yow here;
And how I am the Chaumberere
Off hym that ys most myghty kyng.
And thys bysme ys wel syttyng
To hyre that ys a chaumberere.
But yt may happë, the manere
Ys vn-to yow a thyng vnkouth,
That I yt holde thus in my mouth.
But yiff I madë mencyoun
Off the Exposycïoun,
Ye knowë wel, (yt ys no doute,)
That who that euere shal casten oute
Any felthe or vnclennesse,
Out off a placë, he most dresse
The bysme wysly to and fro,
That he nat be-sydë go;
But that he hauë ay in mynde,
That felthë noon be leffte be-hynde,
Lyst, in the purgacïoun,
Men myghten han suspecyoun
That any maner vnclennesse,—
Thorgh slouthë or foryetylnesse,—
Wer lefft be-syden, her or ther,
In any Angle or Corner,
ffor the bysme was nat redy
To swepë clenë by & by.
ffor, by swych occasïoun,
Ther myghte, of felthë gret foisoun
Be couert, as yt happeth offte,

115

On hepys reysyd hih a-loffte
In som Angle, Est or West,
The wych thyng wer nat honest.

‘And to purpos off thys matere,
In holy wryt, (as ye shal here,)
I have y-rad ful yore Agon
Off dyvers gatys mo than on,
And sondry namys, (who taketh hede)
They haddë sothly as I rede,
Gaate off the welle, men dyde on calle;
And a-nother, A-mong alle,
As the byble kan yow telle,
Namyd was the gate of helle.
And A-nother I kan nevene,
Callyd was the Gate off hevene;
And a-nother gate ther was,
That was callyd the gate off bras,
And also ek, to lastë long,
Ther was a gate of Iren strong.
But A-mong hem euerychon
Neëmye speketh of on,
And callyd ys in scripture
The gate off felthe & ordure,
To voyden (In conclusïoun)
Alle the fylthës of the Toun;
Out by that gatë, day be day,
Alle the donge to lede away,
That no maner corupcyoun
Nengendre nat with-Inne the Toun.
And bet yt ys, as thynketh me,
That thylkë place defoulyd be,
Than al the cyte wer encoumbryd
Wyth ffylthës, wych may nat be noumbryd
Wych euery day encresse off newe,
And mor & mor ay do renewe.

‘But wher that I am chaumberere,
And abyde, (as ye shal lere,)
ffor to do my besynesse,

116

And Gracë Dieu ys ek maystresse,
That ther be .vj. Gatys large,
Wych to kepe, ys a gret charge,
As I shal to yow descryue.

‘And off thys syxë, ther be fyve
By wych al maner vnclennesse,
ffylthe, ordure, and wrechchydnesse
Entreth in, erly & late.
Off wych fyve, the fyrstë gate
Ys callyd the gate off smellyng,
The tother the gate off heryng,
The tother of Touch, the fourthe of tast,
The ffyffthe (wych I rekne last,)
Callyd ys the gate off syht.
And by thys fyvë, day & nyht,
Entreth in-to that mansïoun
Al felthe & al corrupcyoun
And al ordure (yt ys no doute),
The wychë may nat comen oute
Ageyn by hym in no manere,
And therfore, As a chaumberere,
The syxtë gate I stonde & kepe,
And with my bysme fastë swepe,
Do my peyne & besynesse
Tavoyde away al vnclennesse.

‘ffor thys syxtë gate, in soth,
Gret helthe & gret profyt doth;
ffor yt maketh purgacioun
Off al maner corrupcioun;
And al fylthës round aboute,
By that gate men putten oute.
Who that wyl with-Innë be
Clene off al dishoneste,
To purge hym clene, as he best kan.
Thys gate ys callyd ‘the mouth off man,’
Most profytable off euerychon,
for allë fylthës ther-out gon,
Evene as they wer done in dede;
No thyng concelyd for no drede,
But seyd vn-to hys cónfessour,

117

With dyllygence & gret labour,
With terys and lamentacïoun.

‘And I ha most affecïoun,
At thys gatë to abyde;
To make yt fayr on euery syde,
I purge, I swepe, I make yt clene,
ffor fylthë noon I may sustene
Ther tabyde, in no manere.
And whyl that I am chaumberere
To Gracë Dieu, my maystresse,
I wyl kepen in clennesse
Hir dwellyng & hyr mansïoun
ffrom al manere corrupcïoun.
And my bysme, that al thys doth,
Ys myn ownë Tonge, in soth,
Wher-with I swepe & make al wel.
That felthe abydë neueradel,
Hih nor lowh, in no maner,
I cerche eche Angle & ech corner;
Euery hoolë, gret & smal,
I remewe, in éspecial,
Clene with-outen & with-Inne,
The fylthe of euery maner synne;
Caste hem out, & sparë nouht.
And ther ys no corner vnsouht,
But that I go to euery place;
Now her, now ther, aboute I trace,
By verray pleyn confessïoun,
With-oute fraude or decepcïoun,
Ther may no thyng me skapë fro,
ffor Gracë Dieu wyl yt be so.
ffor she ne wyl no-wher abyde,
But yt be clene on euery syde;
Whos chaumbre & whos mansïoun,
Dwellyng, & habytacïoun
Ys trewly, (with-oute offence,)
Verray clenë conscïence;
And ther she wyl abyden ay,
Whan all fythës be put a-way,
And that yt be clene & entere.

118

‘Now, haue I told yow the maner
Off my bysmë verrayly,
And declaryd also, how I
Make ther-with confessyoun
By certeyn exposicïoun
As ye han herd her by & by.

‘But I shal tellë now shortly
Vn-to yow a lytel tale,
Why I bere thys yerdys smale:

I am off scolys a maystresse,
Chyldren, in ther wantownesse,
Affter ther gyltys to chastyse,
That wyl not lernë to be wyse;
I menë thus, whan they trespáce
Boldëly, a-for my face,
Off age thogh they be xx yer,
Outher an hundryd, fer or ner,
Men may ful wel hem ‘childre’ calle,
ffolk that ben in synnë falle:
And hooly wryt,—Red Y-saye,
In hys wrytynge,—doth specefye
A chyld an hundryd wynter old,—
(In hys wrytyng yt ys told,)
Swych a chyld a-cursyd ys;—
And therfore, whan they don Amys,
In a-wayt y lygge alway
To wyten whether, ye or nay,
Myn hamer hem touchyd any thyng,
Or whether they, in ther purgyng,
Vn-to my bysme submyttyd be,
Off lownesse and humylyte,
That they be swept clenly at al,
And that the hamer brekë smal
ffyrst by trewe contricyoun
And verray iuste confessïoun.
Thanne A-noon myn yerde I take;
And amendys for to make
By répentaunce, in diuers wyse,
With my yerde I ham chastyse,
Putte hem to penaunce of entent

119

‘To brynge hem to amendëment,
And to haue in rémembraunce
Ther oldë synnys in substaunce;
And whan they thynke on ther trespas
fful offtë sythe to seyn ‘allas,
That they so sonë dyde assente!’
And than they seyn, ‘I me repente,
O, Lord God, of my mysdede,
Off al fals lust & flesshlyhede.
But thow that art my Creatour,
I am A-knowë myn errour,
And axe off thè forgyff(ë)nesse,
Makyng be-hest in sothënesse
Neuer her-after for to be
Hardy for toffendë the.’
Thus I make hem, with gret peyne,
Oon hour to wepyn & compleyne;
Another hour, by largesse,
ffor to geven gret almesse
To porë folk that bé nedy.

‘Another tymë also I
Make hem go on pylgrymage,
Barfoot, by many streiht passage;
I make hem fastë, preye, & wake,
And to were (for Crystys sake,)
On ther bodyës ful offte
Sharpë heyrës, no thyng soffte.
And thus my smertë yerde I vse,
Allë synnës to refuse,
And do with-al correccïoun,
Only off entencïoun,
That the remors of noon offence
Abydë in ther conscïence,
Nor retournë ther ageyn.
ffor I wyl be wel certeyn
That oldë synnës punysshed be
Off Ryghtwysnesse & equyte;
ffor, with-oute punycyoun,
Passeth no transgressïoun;
ffor, who to synnë doth assente,

120

‘Moste afftér-ward hym repente;
And havë duë répentaunce
And vnderfongyn hys penaunce
ffor hys synnës newe & old.
And ther-fore, thys yerde I holde,
Wych namyd ys (of iuste resoun,)
Trewë satysfaccyoun.

‘And sothly, (yiff I shal nat feyne,)
Satysfaccyoun ys to seyne,
Asseth that ys mad for synne,
And that a man haue with-Inne
As myche sorwe & répentaunce,
As he haddë fyrst plesaunce,
Lyk to hys flesshly appetyt,
Or in hys synnë fals delyt.
Off equyte & good resoun.

‘Now haue I made yow A sarmoun
Off my name & myn offys,
And told the cause (yiff ye be wys,)
Off my komyng A-mong thys pres,
A-twyxë yow & Moyses,
And sette me ek (yt ys no fable,)
Evene Aforn hys ownë table,
In myn entent, & thys the cheff,
Be cause ye Axen the releff
Off hys dyner, on & alle
And ther-affter fastë calle,
With wonderful gret bysynesse.

‘But vn-to yow I shal expresse
The causë off my stondyng here
Yiff yt lykë yow to lere.
I am my-sylff the porteresse,
(Maad off verray Ryghtwysnesse,)
Off the releff that ye sen her,
And the trewë chaunceler,
That noon of hih nor lowh degre,
Kome no ner with-outë me,
ffor thanne ye dydë gret offence.
ffor thys releff, in éxistence
Sholde be yovë for no thyng

121

‘To swyche as ben in ther lyvyng,
ffoolys nor trwauntys in no wyse;
ffor, as I shal to yow devyse,
Thys releff ys the trewë ffoode,
Ordeyned for hem that be goode;
Inwardly in ther hertys brent,
And in the loue off God fervent,
To hooly pylgrymes, day be day
That gon the verray ryhtë way,
And off verray travayllynge
Ben also syk & languysshynge,
And hunger han to be recuryd.
To swych thys releff ys assuryd,
That kan yt hetyn deuoutly,
To resseyue only ther-by
Parfyt Elthe in ther entent,
And gostly ek allegëment,
And contynue ther pylgrymage,
Day be day, in ther vyage,
As pylgrymës sholdë konne,
The weyë wych they ha be gonne,
Off trewë menyng, no-thyng feyned:
To swych thys releff was ordeyned
Off Cryst Ihesu at the souper
Whan hys Apostlys sat ful ner.
He brak & partyd yt to ech on,
Wher as they setyn on by on,
The Grete Thursday at hys maundë,
Off hys largesse & gret bountee,
Whan he sat with hem at the cene,
Gostly to swych as he knewe clene.
To swych, he gaff hem alderlast
Hys owne boody for cheff repast,
As the cheff cherysshynge foode
To allë folkys that be goode.

‘And peplys off hih & lowh degre
Thorgh-out the world sustenyd be,
And therby han ther sustenaunce,
In al vertu hem-sylff tavaunce.
The wyche I kepë ful streihtly

122

‘In myn entent, that fynally
Yt be nat touchyd of no whyht,
But he to-forn (as yt ys right,)
Be with my yerdë fyrst chastysed,
And also (as I ha devysed,)
With myn hamer broke a-two,
And with my bysmë swept also;
That he be purgyd al aboute,
Bothe with-Innen & with-oute:
Lat euery man be war & wys
To werkyn affter my devys,
Whether that he be yong or old.’

And whan thys lady hadde al told,
And yt declaryd (al yfere)
Off hyr offycë the manere,

The tother lady that stood hyr by,
Gan pressë forth, & was redy
(Lych as ye shal vnderstond,)
With the scrypture in hyr hond,
Off the wych to-forn I tolde;
And hyr lettre she gan vnfolde,
And in opyn audyence
Thus she seydë in sentence.
‘Syrs,’ quod she, ‘yiff ye lyst lere,
Ye han herd al the manere
How thys lady, Dame Penaunce,
Hath declaryd in substaunce
To yow hyr offyce by & by.
And, by your leuë, now wyl I,—
In hope I may your thank dysserue,—
Declarë wher-off that I serue,
Off myn offyce & my degre.

‘I wyl ye wyte, that I am she
That neuere haddë yet delyt
To haue no persone in despyt,
Hih nor lowh, in no degre;
ffor al my Ioye, wherso I be,
As fer forth as I ha myght,
Ys to forthren euery wyht.
And neuere yet, for no greuaunce,

123

‘On no man I took vengaunce.
Myn Enemyes also I fforbere;
And myn Entent ys nat to dere
To no persone nor to no man,
As fer forth as euere I kan.
I am modre off al vertue;
And I am she (as yt ys due,)
That clothë folk wych nakyd be;
And of mercy & of pyte
I made Seyn Martyn, yore agon,
(Al-be that he hadde but on,)
Hys mantél to kutte A tweyne,
And dyde al hys bysy peyne
To clothe the poore, wych nakyd stood
Myd off the gate, devoyde of good.
I am noryce of al nedy,
And I herberwe comounly
Al pylgrymës in ther nede;
And I am she (yt ys no drede,)
That ffele as mychë harm in me
Off other folkys aduersyte,
As they hem-sylff that yt endure.
And al my goodys (I ensure,)
Be comoun vnto euery whyht,
Whan they ha nede, as yt ys ryht.

‘Seyn Poul sayd ek, in hys wrytyng,
Off vertu he hadde no thyng,
With-outë that he haddë me;
And that he myghte in no degre
With-outë me do no good dede.
And trew(ë)ly (who taketh hede,)
No good dede nor good entent
Ys worth, but yiff I be present,
Among estatys hih nor lowe.

‘And yiff ye lyst my namë knowe,
I am callyd dame Charyte,
That hauë al folk in cherte.

124

‘And other, that folk haue in despyt,
Hem to cherysshe, ys my delyt;
I ffeedë folk that hongry be,
And parte with hem off my plente;
And vysete hem that lyggen seke,
And dwelle with folkys that be meke;
And for no cost I do not spare,
To be glad off the welfare
Off euery other maner whyht,
As off myn owne of verray ryht.

‘I am she that paciently
Kan suffren, & benygnëly
Allë sorwës wel apese.
And I am she that kan done ese,
Al hevynesses to recure.
And I am she that set no cure
Off grucchyng nor detraccïoun;
ffor thys ys my condicïoun,
Harm to spekë neueradel,
But, off ech man to sey wel,
Wych I holde a gret vertu.

And yiff he haue off Cryst Ihesu
Any maner Rémembraunce,
I made hym for to ha plesaunce
Off mercy, as I rehersë kan,
ffor louë to be-kome A man,
And taken your humanyte,
And suffren, by humylyte,
Deth for your sake, & passïoun;
Made hym fro hevene kome A-doun,
And suffren ek (as yt ys founde,)
To a pyler to be bovnde,
And tendure (that Lord most fre,)
With sharpë thornys crownyd be,
And sprede hys Armys on the rood,
And for your sakë shede hys blood;
And to a croos to be ek nayled,
And doun therby hys blood yraylled
To-forn, be-hynde, & euery cost,
And to his Fader yelde hys goste,

125

In to his hand hys spyryt take.

‘Al thys I made hym, for your sake,
Tenduren off entencïoun,
To makë your redempcïoun
That wer for synnë lost echon.
And to helle I made hym gon,
To fette hem out that ley ther bounde,
The devell power to confounde,
Wych hadde grevyd man so sore.

‘And I shal telle yow euermore,
How thys kyng most souereyne,
To-forn hys passïoun & peyne,
And hys tormentys wonder stronge,
Or he the deth sholde vnderfonge,
He fforgate nat off entent
ffor to make hys testament.
The formë ther-off to endyte,
He calledë me yt to wryte:
ffor to make the formë bettre,
My sylff wrot yt, euery lettre
And namyd yt (yt ys no les,)
‘The trewë testament off pes.’
Wych to-for yow alle I brynge,
That ye may ha knowelychynge
What maner thyng ther-on doth sue,
And what to yow ther-off ys due,
I wyl yow reden the sentence,
Yiff ye wyl yiven audyence.
Lo thys yt ys, herkneth echon,
As I shal her rehers A-noon.

The testament off Cryst Ihesu.

I, Ihesu, sone of Marye,
Wych namyd am (with-outë lye)
Trouthe, Sothfast lyff, & weye,
Now to-forn or that I deye,
The deth off whom ys ful certeyne,
And how I shal endurë peyne;
But to-forn, of good entent
I wyl mak my testament.

‘And fyrst off allë, wylfully

126

I be-quethë enterly
My soule vn-to my Fader dere,
That syt above the sterrys clere,
Yt to kepen & conveye,
And to governe yt in the weye
Whan yt shal descendë doun
In-to the dyrkë mansyoun
Off the foulë pyt of helle,
Wher as fendys euere dwelle,
My frendys ther to fette a-way,
Wych ha be ther se many day,
To delyvere hem out off wo.

‘And my body, I quethe also
To the sepulkre, for dayës thre,
Wych Ioseph hath mad for me.
Wych Body I leve also
To trewe pylgrymës that her go,
As thyng that most may hem avaylle
Hem to releue in ther travaylle;
As cheff Repast, hem to sustene
In ther vyage ageyn al tene.
Myn herte I quethe (ek of entent,)
To all that my comaundëment
Kepe, to ther power feythfully,
And my statútys enterly.

‘My Moder, I leue to Seyn Iohan,
To be a-vaytyng euere in on
Vp-on hyre, in al the smerte
That she shal felyn at hyr herte,
Whan she me seth in gret mescheff,
Lad to my deth-ward as a theff;
Wych shal thorgh hyr hertë blyve,
Sharper than any swerd y-Ryve,
And maken hyre in Terys drowne,
And offtë sythës for to swowne
Off verray moderly pyte:
But than shal Iohan hyr socour be
In hyr lamentacïouns,
ffor trouble off my passïouns,
To coumforte hyre in al hyr wo.

127

‘And to Seyn Iohan I leve also,
That he may han perséueraunce
To sen me in my gret suffraunce;
ffor, he ys my frend certeyn,
And so am I to hym ageyn
ffrendly, off verray kyndënesse,
Wych ys not meynt with doubylnesse.

‘My blood, I quethe ek for Raunsoun
To al that haue compassïoun
Off my deth, & ek of me,
And off the grete aduersyte
That I endurë for her sake.
To allë swych my blood I take,
That kepe hem clenë out off synne,
Therby that they may hevene wynne
Ageyn al persecucyoun
Off the ffendys temptacïoun;
Ageyn hys myght hem to provyde,
The largë wonde vp-on my syde
Al hope, I geue hem to refut.

‘To with-stonde hys fellë sut,
As champyouns with hym to stryve,
My wondys I geue hem alle fyve;
The grete karectys, brood & Reede,
To plete for hem whan they ha nede,
I make ther vocat of my blood;
And thogh ther causë be nat good,
With synne Apeyred, & trespace,
Ther-by that they may getë grace,
Only of mercy & pyte
Reconcyled ageyn to me,
A-noon, as they ha répentaunce,
And Amende hem by penaunce,
And preye to me in ther dystresse,
ffor to graunte hem forgyffnesse.

‘And to save hem fro meschaunce,
I makë ek an ordynavnce
Lawës to be rad & songe,
Compyled off myn ownë tonge,
Wych I be-quethe to yong & olde,

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‘To plete for hem, & pleës holde
To-for myn ownë Ffader dere,
In al ther nedys fer & nere,
Ther to ben her aduocat.
And (tavoyden al debat,)
I shal for hem be swych a mene,
Off synne to putte away the tene,
The tenys off eternal wo.

‘And my pes, I gyue also
To al the world in hábondaunce,
Wherby they may hem sylff avaunce
And ffraunchysen at the beste,
Therby euere to lyve in reste,
In perfyt Ioyë ay tabounde,
Yiff the ffautë be nat founde
In them sylff, for lak off grace
Yt to refuse for ther trespace:
ffor, in pes ay to perséuere,
So ffayr a gyfftë gaff I neuere,
My sylff except, vn-to no man,
Syth tymë that the world be-gan.
ffor who consydreth, & loke wel,
Pes ys the parfyt Iowel
That al Rychessë doth transcende.
Verray pes doth ek amende
Al vertues that men kan nevene;
And pees was fyrst wrought in heuene,
Off thylkë souereyn Carpenter
That syt aboue the sterrys cler,
That forgyd fyrst, (who lyst look,)
With-outen any noyse or strook:
Strook nor noyse maken no pes,
But they yt brekë doutëles.

‘Wherfore, As semeth vn-to me,
Yt ys good that the exaumple be
Off pes yput in Rémembraunce,
Wych ys the ground off al plesaunce.
And off thys pes, by good Reson,
That ther be shewyd a patrovn,
To knowe the verray exaumpleyre,

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And tavoyden hys contrayre.
Verryly in portrature
Ye shal sen her the ffygure.
The portrature off pes to make,

‘ffyrst ye shal a squyre take,
A Squyre off a carpenter;
And ye shal vsë thys maner:
ffyrst, to done your bysynesse,
The Ton ende vp-ward to dresse
Hih a-lofftë, ryht as lyne;
And ferthermor to détermyne,
The tother endë lower doun,
So that (in conclusïoun)
The Angle corner in your syht,
Wych Ioyneth the Endys lynë ryht;
In wych corner (yiff ye lyst wyte,)
Ther ys in soth An ‘A’ ywryte.
Than lynealy, yiff ye descende
Doun vn-to the lower ende,
Ye shal fyndë wryte A, ‘P,’
And alderhyest ye shal se
In that ende An ‘X’ yset;
And whan thys lettrys ben yknet,
Ioyned in on, who kan espye,
Parfyt pes they sygnyfye.
And overmor, thys lettrys thre
Ar tooknys, that in vnyte
He sholde ha verray loue & pes,
With thre thyngës doutëles.
He that hath pocessïoun
Off thys Iowel, most off Renoun,
And he to whom Cryst hath yt take,
Sholdë kepë for hys sake
Pes with euery maner whyht.

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‘And fyrst above, as yt ys ryht,
Wher as the .X. condygnëly
Ys set a-loffte, as most worthy;
By wych (yiff yt be espyed,)
I am trewly sygnyfyed,
In tookne that noon be rekkëles,
ffyrst to hauë parfyt pes
With God & me, wych byth al on,
And may neuere assonder gon;
And also (as I shal devyse,)
That he (in no maner wyse)
Ne do no thyng in no degre
Wych that sholde dysplesë me:
And yiff yt happe, off neclygence,
A-geyn me that he do offence,
In allë haste that he hym peyne
To with-drawe hym and Restreyne
ffrom alle evellys, for my sake
And that he amendys make,
Hys trespasse to ben a-knowe.

‘And in the corner that stent lowe,
Wher as ye sen An ‘A’ stonde,
Ther-by pleynly ys vnderstonde
The sowle off man, with whom ech whyht
Sholde ha pes, of verray ryht.
So that in a manhys thouht
Synderesis ne gruchchë nouht,—
(Synderesys, to speke in pleyn,
Ys as mychë for to seyn,
By notable descripcïoun,
The hiher party of Resoun;
Wherby A man shal best discerne
Hys conscïencë to governe,)—
Thorgh no trespace nor offence,
By no Remors off conscïence;
Lat euery man tak hed her-to,
And with your neyhëbour also

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‘Ye most ha pes & vnyte,
Sych ys ytokenyd by the .p.
And ys yset fyrst off echon.

‘And that ye sholdë be al on,
Thexaumple techeth yow ful wel,
(Yiff ye consydren euerydel,)
How ye bothen, in O lyne
Stonde, & may yt not declyne.
Lyneally, yt ys noon other,
As brother verrayly to brother,
Nature wyl that yt so be,
Hih and lowh, off o degre,
Bothë tweyne ymade lyche;
The porë man & ek the ryche,
At the gynnyng, as ye shal lere,
Al forgyd wern of O matere,
Touchyng ther ffyrste orygynal,
And bothë tweynë be mortal;
The Ton, the tother, in certeyne
They be but wermës bothë tweyne,
And they ne kan hem sylffe nat kepe,
But that they shall to erthë krepe;
When that deth doth hem assaylle.

‘ffor what ys worth, or may avaylle,
A feloun herte or hardynesse,
Daunger, despyt or sturdynesse,
Nat may socoure vp-on no syde,
Ther deynous port, ther gretë pryde,
Yt may hem done noon avauntage,
ffor al shal passe By o passage,
And by on hole off gret streihtnesse;
Powerte & ek rychesse,
Al goth O way, bothe gret & smal;
Excepcïoun ys noon at al,
To helpyn in thys streihtë nede.

‘Wherfor euery man take hede,
Thorgh pryde to be nat rekkëles,
Thys rychë Iowel callyd pes,
To kepe yt wel, & lese yt nouht.

‘And euery man, in herte & thouht

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‘Do hys dyllygent labóur,
To ha pes with hys neihëbour,
As roote off al perfeccioun,
Vp to parforme the patroun
Off vnyte & sothfast pes,
Tendure & lasten endëles;
So as yt ouht, off iust resoun,
As tookne off the tabellyoun,
With wych, in pes and vnyte,
Al testamentys sholdë be
Sygned & markyd comounly,
And ek confermyd openly.

‘And tovchyng her thys wryt present,
Callyd of Cryst the testament,
With tookne off tabellioun,
I markë off entencyoun
To last in pes & vnyte.’

And whan thys lady Charyte
Hadde Radd and yoven off Entent
The pes off Cristes Testament
To allë folkys that were there,
Chargynge hem, off herte entere,
Affter the fformë euerydel,
Al ther lyve to kepe yt wel,—
Anoon a-geyn, as ye shal se,
Thys fayrë lady Charyte
Hyr talë ganne al openly,
Sayynge thus benygnëly.

Charyte speketh hyr ageyn.

‘Syrs,’ quod she, ‘ye haue herd al
By thys lettre (in specyal)
Wych I ha rad in your presence
Openly in audyence,
How Cryst Ihesu, off hys goodnesse,
And off hys gretë kyndënesse,
Out off thys world whan he sholde gon,
Gaff hys pes, to yow echon,

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‘With many gyfftys off gret prys,
Wych ye shal kepe, yiff ye be wys,
As I ha told in ech estat;
ffor pes devoydeth al debat,
Wher yt abydeth parfytly.

‘But I shal telle the causë why
That I me puttë fyrst in pres
Atwyxë yow & Moyses,
And the table wher as he stood.
ffor me-thouht yt was nat good
That noon off yow, in no degre,
Sholde a-proche with-outë me
To claymë part (thys, the cheff)
At hys table, off the releff
But I my-sylff wer ther present.

‘And ek the saydë testament,
That I ha told off in substaunce,
And yiff ye haue in remembraunce
Dame Penaunnce yow toldë so,
Yiff ye took good hed ther-to,
With-outen hyrë, thys the ende
Ye be nat hable for to wende
To the table off Moyses.
And but ye haue ek parfyt pes
With yow echon, & also me
Wych am ynamyd Charyte,
Ye be vnworthy & vnhable
To ha the releff off hys table.
ffor yt were a presumpcïoun,
And a gret transgressïoun,
To neyhen ner, or to be bold,
Or to clayme (as I ha told)
Off that releff most specyal,
Wher-off ech part ys on & al,—
Ther ys ther-in no dyfference;—
And therfor, lat be noon offence
In yow, vp-on no maner syde,
But that aforn ye yow provyde,
As I the charge haue on yow leyde.’

And whan Charyte hadde al sayde,

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And mad a ful conclusioun
Off hyr speche & hyr sarmoun,
Pylgrymes hem puttë fast in pres
To-ward the table off Moyses;
Conveyed ech in ther degre
With parfyt pes and Charyte,
And with verray répentaunce,
Confessïoun, & ek penaunce.
Pylgrymës alle off good entente,
To Moyses they hem presente,
As they myghte hem redy make,
And, the releff off hym take
fful devoutly off assent.

And Gracë Dieu was ay present
Whan they, with gret deuocyoun,
Took yt in ther entencyoun,
And with a clenë conscience.
But I sawh ther in presence,
Somme pressen to the table
That wer vnworthy & vnhable;
Wych held hem-sylff fer out asyde,
And fro Charyte gan hem hyde,
And fledde also fro dame Penaunce;
And yet hem-sylff they gan A-vaunce,
Off boldënesse al shamëles,
ffor to receyve off Moyses
The releff, wher as he stood.
The wychë thouhtë nat but good;
ffor he, off clene affeccïoun,
Gaff yt with-oute excepcïoun
(Off the plente that he hadde,)
To pylgrymës good & badde,
ffor he noon hede ne dydë take.
But they retournede foul and blake,
I menë, swych that of boldnesse
Tokë yt nat in clennesse,
As they ouht ha done off ryht;
Swych wer foul & blake of syht
Lychë to a colyers sak.

ffor in hem-sylff was all the lak

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That they semede so odyble,
Stynkynge also, & horryble,
Hungry, thorgh ther gret offence,
& nedy in ther conscïence;
And, for lak off good entent,
Wer also ful indygent,
And voyde ek off al gostly foode.

‘But sothly, thylkë that wer goode,
And goostly tooke ther ffedyng,
They wer fulfylled in all thyng
Off that releff most in substaunce,
And ther-in hadde al suffysaunce,
Replevysshyd in herte & thouht,
Off other thyng them nedede nouht.
The goode pylgrymës thouhtë so,
That they wer Redy for to go
(Thorgh suffysaunce off that repast)
ffro the table whan they wer past,
And, to-forn allë, as they koude,
ffor verray Ioye they seydë loude,
That they wolde noon other thyng,
Hem to sustene in ther lyvyng,
And to deffende hem fro damage
As they wente on pylgrymage
As pylgrymës good and sadde.

But mervayl of O thyng I hadde
With-Inne my sylff, & gretë doute
That swych A meyne & a route
As was ther, to putte a preff,
Was fulfyllyd off the releff,
The wych was (as thouhtë me,)
So verray smal in quantyte.
Wher-off I gan wondre sore,
And merveyllë mor & more,
And thoghtë, thogh ther haddë be
Ten so myche in quantyte
Off releff lefft at the tahle,
Me semptë that I hadde be hable
At O dyner, my-sylff ryht wel,
To have hete yt euerydel,

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And yet nat had (to my plesaunce)
Halff A repast of suffysaunce.
And yet, the pylgrymes euerychon
Sayde & affermede, On by on,
That they fonde swych fulsomnesse,
And so plentuous largesse
As they yt tooke by good leyser
At that merveyllous dyner,
That to euerych (in ther guyse)
A lytel dyde ynowh suffyse.
And euerych (in especial)
Was ther fulfyllyd with ryht smal
Ther-with, myghty mad, & stronge.

Wher-vp-on I gan ful longe,
And thouhte (A-mong hem euerychon)
Myn vnderstondyng was agon
ffor lak off wyt in gret dystresse,
And forcloudyd with dyrknesse.
Reson was hyd, so semptë me,
That I kowde hyr nowher se;
In al that place, I sawh nat tho,
No whyht I myhtë speke vn-to,
Save Gracë Dieu, wych ther abood,
And to-for the Table stood
Off Moyses; & off entente,
Vn-to hyre a-noon I wente.

The pylgrym askede.
‘Ma dame,’ quod I, ‘I ha gret nede
That ye wolde, off goodlyhede,
And off your gret excellence,
Shewen to me som evydence
How yt myghtë shewyd be,
That so lytel quantyte
Off thys releff (in any wyse)
Myghte of resoun ynowh suffyse
To so manye as ben here?
ffor, ma dame, (& ye lyst lere,)
Swych ten in quantyte
Wolde nat suffysen vn-to me

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At O dyner, to my delyt,
To fulfylle myn appetyt.’

Grace Dieu answerde,

‘I leue ryht wel,’ quod Gracë Dieu,
‘Touchyng thys merveillous vertu,
Thow hast gret nedë for to lere;
But herkene now, & ley to here,
I shal the techë verrayly
The pryvyteës, by & by,
Bothe by evydence & preff.

‘Thys ylkë vertuous releff,
Som whyle (who yt vnderstood)
ys ynamyd flesshe & blood,
And som tymë (tak good heed,)
Yt ys ycallyd wyn & bred,
Goostely mete & goostely foode;
To pylgrymës that be goode,
fflessh & blood yt ys no doute;
Bred & wyn shewyd with-oute,
Al be yt so (yt ys no dred,)
That yt to-forn was wyn and bred,
As thow knowest wel certeyn;
But Moyses (no thyng in veyn)
Vp-on hys table (as yt stood)
Hath tournyd yt to fflessh & blood.
Thys ys trewe, & verray soth;
Wher-off nature was ryht wroth;
Anger made hyr hertë ryve,
And ther-vp-on gan with me stryve:
She knewe no ferther (thys, the ffyn)
But that yt was ay bred & wyn.

‘Thow shalt wel knowë how that she
Sawh nat the gretë pryvyte,
ffor lakkyng off dyscrecyoun,
Off thys ylke mutacyoun,
But I the chargë ther I stonde,
That flessh & blood thow vnderstonde,
And so beleue yt verrayly,
And lat nat meue the outwardly,
Thogh that yt shewë outward so

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‘In touch & syhtë bothë two,
Also in tast & in smellynge
Lych bred & wyn Rescmb[e]lynge,
Outward, as by ápparence;
Trustë shortly in sentence,
Thy fowrë wyttys (lerne of me)
ffynally deceyved be;
Off verray foly they be blent,
That they ha noon Entendëment,
The trouthë trewly to conceyve;
Swych dyrknesse hem doth deceyve,
That the offyce of hem echon
Ys from hem fourë clenë agon,
ffor lak, pleynly, of knowelychyng.

‘But the fyffthe wyt off heryng—
Wych mor clerly in sentence
Haueth full intelligence—
He techyth the wyttys euerychon
Evydently what they shal don,—
The tast, the touch, & ek the syht,
Smellyng also (off verray ryht,)
Whan they ha lost ther knowelychyng,
The ffyffthe, that callyd ys Heryng,
Aparceved hath so wel,
That he knoweth euerydel
In thys matere what shal be don.
And thys was fyguryd longe a-gon,—
Red the Byble, yiff ye kan,—
In Ysaak, that oldë man,
Whan Esau (to hys entente,)
In-to the feld on huntyng wente,
And hys labour spente in veyn.
ffor longe or that he kam ageyn,
Iacob verrayly in dede,
Claddë in Esáwys wede,
With her vp-on hys hondys layd
(As hys moder hadde hym sayd,)
To Ysaak heldë hys passage,
And to hym brouhtë the potage
In ryht gret hast, (as he was tauht,)

139

And sayde, he hadde hys pray ykauht
In venery, amyd the feld.

‘But, Ysaak no thyng be-held,
ffor he was dyrkyd off hys syht,
And gretly feblyd off hys myght,
ffor Touch & smellyng wer agon;
And Ysaak wende euére in on,
That Esau haddë be present.
But Rebecca, off entent,
Sentë Iacob in hys name;
ffor in hyr herte she hadde a game,
Esau, to settë abak.

‘But thys oldë man Ysaak—
The patryark of gret vertu,—
Took Iacob for Esau,
In touch, in tast, & in smellyng,
In syghte also; but hys heryng
Was hym be-lefft, hool & entere.
And thus he sayde, as ye shal here:
‘The voys of Iacob semeth me;
Off Esau, the handys be;
I here Iacob speken wel;
But the handys that I fel,
The handys ben off Esau.’

‘Consydreth now how the vertu
Off Touch, & tast, smellyng, & syht
Haddë pleynly lost hys myght;
The force off heryng stylle a-bood;
With Isaak, ryht so yt stood.

By wych exaumple, tak good heed
ffor profyt off thyn ownë speed,
Off thys fygure that I ha told;
Lefft vp thyn eyen & be-hold:
Avaunce the nat, nor mak no bost,
ffor thy .iiij. wyttys thow hast lost.
Ther myght, ther force, ar fro the weyved;
Yiff thow truste hem, thow art deceyved;
ffor Tast nor touch in no degre,
Nor nó thyng that thow kanst se,
Nor thy smellyng (tak good hed,)

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Ne shewe to the but wyn & bred;
By ther engyn, hih nor lowe,
Thow ne shalt noon other knowe.

‘Thy ffourë wyttys set a-syde,
And lat heryng be thy guyde;
ffor, thys .iiij. in sothfastnesse
Kan nor may ber no wytnesse.
Wher-for thow mustest, for the beste,
Abyde on heryng, and ther reste;
ffully truste to hys sentence;
Yiff feyth to hym, & ful credence;
ffor heryng shal, with-outë slouthe,
Teche to the, the pleynë trouthe,
Ryght as yt ys, ne doute yt nouht.

‘And conceyue wel in thy thouht,
Thys releff (yiff thow kanst take hede,)
Ys pleynly nother wyn nor bred,
But the flessh (yiff feyth to me,)
That heng vp-on the roodë tre,
And, by force & verray strengthe,
On the croos was drawe alengthe,
fful streyhtly nayled on the rood;
And thys ys ek the verray blood,
On goode ffryday that he shadde,
Whan Iewës to the deth hym ladde,
Wher-off he was steyned reed.

Thow mayst also call yt bred,
Thys same releff, (with-outë stryff,)
The verray sothfast bred off lyff.
Wych susteneth (I the ensure,)
Al the world with hys pasture,
And yiveth to hem in substaunce
Verrayly ther sustenaunce.

And ek also (thys myn vsage,
Ther-off to han thys language,
Looke thow take good heed ther-to,)
I calle yt bred, & name yt so;
Wych, for manhys savacïoun,
ffro the heuene kam a-doun,
To ffedë man her verrayly.

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‘Yt ys the bred, ek, trewly
Wher-with Aungelys fedde ybe
In that hevenly souereyn se.
Thys bred, pylgrymës euerychon,
On pylgrymagë, (wher they gon,)
Or wher-so-euere that they were,
In ther sherpe they shold yt bere.

‘And thogh that thow (as semptë the,)
Sey yt but lyte of quantyte,
I chargë the, her a-noon ryht,
Trust in no wysë to thy syht,
Nor to thyn Eyen, wych ar blynde;
But haue alway wel thy mynde
To thyn heryng; & ther only
Tak thy doctryne fynally;
ffor, by heryng thow shalt lere
A thyng that I shal the tellyn here:

‘My frend, take good hed, & se.
Thow herdest latë Charyte
Maken to the a good sarmoun,
But (as in conclusïoun,)
Thys lady (yiff thow took good hed,)
Spak but lytel off thys bred
In hyr sarmoun (thus stood the caas);
And pleynly, thys the causë was;
ffor she hyr-sylff the menys souhte,
That she the greyn from hevene brouhte,
And made yt in the erthë lowe
Her be-nethë to be sowe;
But that erthe, (be wel certeyn,)
Wher as sowë was thys greyn,
Was nat labouryd (trust me wel,)
Mor yheryd neueradel;
Vnderstonde yt, yiff thow konne.
ffor, by hetë off the sonne,
That shyneth fro the heuene A-loffte
With hys attempre bemys soffte,
And the hevenly dewh most clene,
With hys syluer dropys shene,
(The wychë doth no thyng in veyn,)

142

‘Made to growen vp thys greyn,
Tyl yt was rype & ful off corn.

‘Than Charyte yt hath vp shorn,
And in a placë wonder straunge
She made yt leyn vp in hyr graunge,
Tyl the thressherys (with gret hete)
Hadde thys greyn ythrysshe & bete;
And after fannyd yt so clene
That ther was no chaff ysene,
And the strawh yleyd a-syde;
ffor ther ne myghtë nat a-byde
Husk nor chaff, but puryd greyn,
Nor, no thyng that was in veyn,
Al mad nakyd off entent,
Out off hys olde vestëment.

‘And whan yt was so ffer ywrouht,
Thys greyn was to the mellë brouht,
And groundë ther with ful gret peyne
A-twyxe the hardë stonys tweyne.
And yiff I shal the sothë telle,
The sëyl-yerdys off the melle,
Wych tournedë abouten offte,
Wer clad in cloth that was not soffte.

‘Tys melle ek (yiff thow canst espye,)
Wyth falsë wyndës off envye,
(Wher as yt stood vp-on the grounde,)
Tournede euere aboutë Round;
And the Grynstonys (that I off spak)
Mad ful hardë for the wrak,
Wer stonys off derysïouns;
Off skorn, & fals illusïouns,
The wych two (who kan aduerte)
Perceden ful nyh the herte.

‘And whan no thyng was lefft at al,
But that yt was ygroundë smal,
Charyte gan neyhen ner,
And wolde be-come a pasteler,
Lych a baker, (yt ys no drede,)
Off that flour to make her bred.
And hyr Ovene was of old

143

‘Verray hote, (& no-thyng cold,)
Wher-as she caste hyr for to bake.

‘And whan she gan hyr past to make,
Al tournede nat vn-to hyr pay,
Wher-off she haddë no desmay,
Off thylkë past wych that she wrouhte.
& A-noon she hyr be-thouhte
(Among, in al her besynesse,)
Off on that was a gret maystresse,
So sotyle off dyscrecyoun
Was nouther founde in borgh nor toun;
ffor what men thouhte, or wolde haue don,
She koude yt brynge about a-noon:
Lernyd she hadde, in hyr contre,
At scolys ther she haddë be.
Thogh al hyr konnyng wer nat wyst,
She koude haue mad, yiff that hyr lyst,
Al the world so large & Round,
And al the compas off the ground,
ffor tashet & closyd al
With-Inne a sotyl boyst, but smal;
And off An Ey with-Inne the shelle,
She koude also (I dar wel telle,)
Ha put an Oxë strong & large;
ffor yt was, no maner charge
To hyr gret magnyfycence;
And hyr name was Sapience.

‘And, for hyr gret sotyllyte,
Thys lady, callyd Charyte,
Prayede hyr, off goodlyhed,
ffor to helpë make thys bred
Off the fflour wych that she brouhte;
And also lowly hyr be-souhte
To tempre the past so sotylly,
That yt myghtë fynally,
Off Resemblaunce be but smal;
And that yt myghte suffyse at al
(By vertu, verrayly in dede)
Al thys worlde to fostre & fede,
That ech, off lowh & hih degre,

144

‘May, off lytel, ha plente.

‘And for thys causë ryht a-noon
Dame Charyte ys forth gon
Vn-to thys lady Sapience;
And with humble Reuerence,
As she sat in hyr Royal Se,
Lowly, thys lady Charyte
Prayede hyr good heed to take,
To helpë that thys bred wer bake.
And she goodly, and that a-noon,
fforth with Sapience ys gon;
And, as she koudë best deuyse,
Temprede yt in swych a wyse,
Made yt gret with-oute mesure,
To yive al folkys ther pasture,
Suffycyént to feden al,
Thogh to thy syht yt was but smal
Outward, as in résemblaunce,
Yet, by souereyn suffysaunce,
Closyd in a lytel space,
Ther was so gret plente of grace
To al the world, in hábondaunce,
Ther-in to fyndë suffysaunce.

‘Tak heed, & be nat neclygent
Off a-nother experyment
That ther was wrouht; tak ek good hede,
In the makyng off thys bred,
Yt was ywrouht so sotylly
That in euery smal party,
Severyd and ybroke asounder,
And departyd her & yonder,
Grettest & smal, Rekne echon
Wer lych off vertu, & al on;
Off O power & O manere
As whan yt was hool and entere.
The wychë thyng (I the ensure,)
Yplesede nat to dame Nature;
ffor she was wroth therfor with me,
And ther-on wolde ha vengyd be.
She knew ther-off no thyng at al,

145

‘ffor yt was hydde in especyal
ffrom hyr knowyng euerydel.
And also ek, ye wytë wel,
Offtë sythë Ryot & age
Puttë folkys in dotáge,
That they may not trouthë se.
And for she doutede hyr off me
To be blamyd in certeyn,
Yiff so were she kome a-geyn,
Or put a-bak fro hyr entent,
Ther-fore she hath hyr clerk now sent,
Arystotyles the wyse,
In dyffence off hyr fraunchyse,
To thys lady Sapyence.

‘And whan he kam to hyr presence,
As hym thouhtë fyrst was due,
Goodly he gan hyr to salue;
Affter, demeur & sad off chere,
To hyre he sayde in thys manere:

Arystotyles dyde hys massage in thys manere:

‘Ma dame,’ quod he, ‘in-to thys place,
Vnder súpport off your grace,
Nature hath me hyder sent,
To declare yow (off entent)
Your dyffautës, by & by;
And to shewe the causë why
Off my komyng, ys thys, that ye
Han to-brook (as semeth me)
Off nature the ordynaunce,
And don to hyrë gret grevaunce,
Wych pleseth me neueradel,
Al be yt so, I love yow wel.

‘Ye knowe (off your dyscrecyoun,
Off trouthe ek, yt ys no Resoun,
Who so cleerly looke & wel,)
That an hous or a vessél
Sholde be lasse, & her ygynne,

146

‘Than that thyng wych ys with-Inne.
And yiff I made to your entent,
By ápparence off Argument,
As thus, that I woldë preve,
(ffor to makë folk be-leve,)
That a paleys huge & large,
Or A menstre off gret charge,
That yt wer but A Turneys smal.
Clerkys wolde (in especyal)
Seyn yt wer but mekerye,
Or A maner sophystrye,
Shewyd, as yt wer for game;
And ye your sylff ha do the same.
(Yiff ye lyst to be avysed,)
In thys bred wych ys desguysed;
ffor the foode & the pasture,
That ys withinne (as ye assure,)
Gyveth ful repast spyrytual
To al the world in general,
So ffer the vertu doth extende;
And yet, that thyng to comprehende,
Al the erthë, in no wyse,
Nor the hevene, mowh nat suffyse,
That thyng ye (in especyal)
Han closyd in a cloystre smal,
Who kan mesure yt, or compasse,
And shet yt in a lytel space?
And swych .xiiij.e (on see or land)
I myghte wel holden in myn hand!
I trowe your sylff kan nat sey nay;
And for no fauour I ne may
Suffre no lenger (in certeyn,)
But that I mustë yow with-seyn,
And declare, wher as ye ffaylle,
(And yt ys no grete merveylle,
Who-so lyst goode heed to take)
Thogh naturë dyde awake,

147

‘And ther-vpon gaff yow an hete,
Yow to with-stonde & conterplete,
Touchyng hyr ryht in specyal.

‘And thys greueth me most at al,
That my Maxime ápryved,
Ye in dede han yt reprevyd;
And (to speke in wordys pleyn,)
Neuere in my lyff herde I seyn—
In-no scolys, her nor there,—
But that “on al” (what euere yt were,)
Mot be gretter than hys party.
But ye han makyd wrongfully,
(I wot nat by what maner scole,)
The part Egal to the hoole,
With-outen any difference!
Wych I holde a gret offence
Ageyn nature, in verray soth.
And no wonder thogh she be wroth,
And laboure for Amendëment.
And for thys skyle she hath me sent
To your presence, only to here
What ye wyl seyn in thys matere.’

Sapyence answerde.

A-noon thys lady Sapience.
(Whan she hadde herdë in sentence
The wordys of Arystotyles)
She stynte a whyle, & was in pes.
But at the lastë she abreyde,
And vn-to hym ryht thus she seyde:
‘My frend,’ quod she, ‘I do wel se
Off trowthë that thow lovest me,
And dost me calle, off herte entere,
“Thyn ounë souereyn lady dere;”
In wych thow hast ylost no thyng
But yfounde ful grete Fortheryng.
Wherfor thow shuldest, lyke the wyse,

148

‘Prudeently thy-sylff avyse,
Thynke aforn, & ek beholde,
How that whylom I dyddë holde
Two scolys off ful gret Renoun;
And bothen (in conclusïoun,)
Wer vnder my gouernaunce.
And the, in konnyng to avaunce,
I tauhtë many thyngës newe—
Record thy sylff yiff thow be trewe.—
And (to speke in wordys fewe,)
Grete merveillës didë shewe.
And in on off thys scolys tweyne,
My scoler mostë souereyn,
ffyrst of echon (I the ensure,)
Was hyr-sylff, damë Nature.

‘And as thy-sylff ful wel yt knewe,
I tauhte hyr many thyngës newe;
ffyrst, by Crafft off hyr werkynge
To make the fresshë flourys sprynge,
Buddys, greyns, & flourettys,
The flour delys, the violettys,
The rosys also, fresshe off hewe,
And many other craftys newe,
As men may se (who taketh hede,)
Wych to reherse, yt ys no nede,
I tauhte hyr al, & thyngës mo.

‘And in my other scole also,
Wych, thy sylff lyst to sue,
I tauhtë folkys to argue
Pro & contra, yong & olde,
And wych wey they sholden holde
To preven out the sothfastnesse
Off every thyng, fro the falsnesse;
Betwyxen good & evel dyscerne.
And I maade ek (who kan concerne)
Lawes off Cyvile and Canon̄;
And ther, (in myn Entencion)

149

‘Myn eldest douhter, moste Entere,
Ther I settë, folk to lere,
Wych that callyd ys “Syence,”
Sotylle, and off gret excellence;
And ther she helde hyr parlementys,
And formede many argumentys,
As she that was deuoyde off slouthe.
ffor loue off whom (thys the trouthe,)
Thow kam to skole; & for hyr sake
Nyht & day thow dydest wake,
Tyl, for thyn owne Avauntage
Ye wer coniunat by maryage,
Wherby I madë the so wys,
That thow be-kam myn aprentys.
And thanne, off gret affeccyoun,
I madë reuelacïoun
To the, Amongys my werkynges
Off naturys secrë thynges;
To knowe the clerë fro the derke;
Nat that thy syluen sholdest werke
No thyng that longeth to hyr art,
But that thow sholdest (for thy part)
The causes knowen by & by,
And ther-on demene fynally
The trouthë pleynly, & no more.

‘And for that skylë gon ful yore,
In guerdon of thy gret labour,
I callede the my “paramour.”
And syth thow hast, vnder my cure,
Dwellyd so longë with Nature,
And seyn so many fayrë thynges,
And so many vnkouth werkynges
With-Inne my scole, of gret fauour,
Thogh thow seye in me Errour,
Thow sholdest, off thy Curtesy,
ffor-bere me more pacyently,
Yiff thow lovedest, and wer kynde.

150

‘And thow sholdest haue in mynde,
And remembren (off good Resoun,)
How onys a myghty champyoun,
That koude the crafft off fyhtyng wel,
Tauhte hys konnyng euerydel
To a poore man hym besyde,
And lyst ther-off no thyng to hyde;
And for hys mede he took no thyng,
Off curteysye, for hys konnyng.

‘But affterward, the case stood so
That they sholdë bothë two,—
At Requeste off dukys tweyne,
A certeryn quarll to dareyne,—
Mete in a feld: & so they mette;
And as they gan vp-on to sette,
Euerych other to assaylle,
He that was wysest in bataylle,
Off wysdam & dyscrecyoun,—
I mene the maister Champyoun,
That was avysee, & mor wys—
Sayde A-noon to hys prentys,
“Yt ys no ryht, wher-for I pleyne,
On, to fyhtë ageyns tweyne.
Ye be tweyne, I am but On.”
And Thaprentys thanne Anoon,
As he bakward cast hys look,
The tother Rauhte hym swych a strook
That he fyl ded, & al was done:
And thanne the mayster sayde Anoon,
“My prentys hath nat lernyd al,
ffor I kepte in especyal
A poynt, tyl that I haddë nede.”

‘And thus, yiff thow kanst taken hede,’
(Quod this Lady Sapience)
‘I taughte neuere al my Science
To the, as I rehersë shal.
What, wenystow to knowen al?

151

‘For vn-to the, nat ne syt
ffor to knowen al my wyt;
Thow dyst yt neuere yet dysserue.
Som-what to me I wyll reserue,
To be mor strong in bataylle,
Lyst thow woldest me assaylle
With thy sotyl sophystrye,
To don to me a vyllonye
With argumentys off fallaas,
Sout out in som maner caas,
By fraude or by decepcyoun
ffor lakkyng off dyscrecyoun.

‘But tel me now A-noon, I preye,
And the Trouthë nat geyn-seye,
Yiff I gaff a purs to the,
Ryght fayr & ryche vp-on to se,
And wentyst forth with-al A-noon;
And sodeynly, whan thow wer gon,
Par caas thow founde ther-in as blyue
Off gold thre pecys, outher fyve
Outher .vj., whan thow hast souht,
Tel on, as yt lyth in thy thouht,
Wer yt deceyt or sophystrye,
Or myghtestow off gent(e)rye
Seyn I hadde deceyved the?
Answere ageyn; tel on! lat se!’

Arystotylles Answerde:

‘Certys,’ quod he, ‘me lyst nat lye,
Yt were no maner sophystrye,
But A tookne off gentyllesse;
And also (pleynly to expresse,)
A sygne (as I kan devyse,)
Off honour, love, & gret fraunchyse.’

Sapyence speketh:

‘Certys,’ quod she to hym ryht tho,
‘Thys bred I haue ymadd ryht so,
So sotyl ek, yt ys no doute,
But I ha not shewyd with-oute

152

‘The grete Tresour wych verrayly
Ys shet with-Innë secrëly,
Porë folkys for to fede,
Ay, whan they ther-off ha nede;
And specyally to hem that be
ffrendys vn-to charyte,
Wych in ther passage, nyht & day
Holden ay the ryhtë way.
Allë swych (yt ys no dred)
Shal be sustenyd with thys bred,
And haue ther ful repast with-Inne,
Swych as be nat infect with synne.
And Over-mor, (yiff thow take hed,)
Yiff the valu off thys bred
Were yshewyd al with-oute,
Men sholdë nat (yt ys no doute,)
Haue no maner hardynesse
ffor taproche, in sothfastnesse;
But rather, for verray feere,
Go, seke her bred ellys where,
To ther sustentacïoun.

‘But her ys no decepcyoun,
But curteisye & gret bounte,
Honour & lyberalyte;
ffor, to speke in wordys fewe,
But yiff I dyde with-outë shewe
A gretë thyng by ápparence,
The wychë, as in existence,
Were nat with-Inne, (who lyst se,)
But verray smal off quantyte,
Thou myyghtest than[ë] me repreve,
And by argumentys preve
Ageyn me (in conclusyoun)
A maner off decepcyoun,
And blamë me in many wyse.

‘And yet to the I shal devyse
Another Answere, wych to the
Shal suffyse, yiff thow lyst se.
I Holde yt no deceyt at al,
Thogh to the Eye it shewë smal,

153

‘And with-Inne be gret & large.
Wher-vp-on, her I the charge
That thow be-leue yt stedefastly,
And put no doute, but fermëly
Truste ay so, off herte & thouht;
And lokë thow denye yt nought,
But her-on feythfully abyde.
ffor yiff that I (on any syde)
Hadde yt mad in other wyse,
Than thow a-forn hast herd devyse,
I haddë, thorgh my neclygence,
Ther-in don ful gret offence.

‘But tel me now A-noon, I preye,
And sparë nat, platly to seye
As thow semest in thys matere,
Wych hast repreuyd me so here,
Off myche thyng, nat yore agon,
Trowest thow answere A-noon,
That nat a-cordeth with resoun.
A vessel, hows, or mansïoun
May be lasse (& her I gynne)
Than the thyng that ys with-Inne.

‘But ffyrst I axe, to voyde al stryff,
Sawh thow euere, in al thy lyff,
Off manhys herte the quantyte?
Answere A-geyn; tel on, lat se!’

Arystotyles Answereth:

‘Certys,’ quod he, & that ful blyth,
‘I haue yt seyn ful offtë syth.’

Sapyence axeth:

‘Thanne,’ quod she, with-outë slouthe,
‘Declare to me the verray trowthe;
Syth thow halst thy sylff so wys,
How gret ys yt, to thyn avys.’

Arystotyles answereth:

‘Sothly,’ quod he, ‘I dar expresse,
As touchyng the gretnesse,
Yt ys but smal vn-to the sihte;
ffor ther-with-al, vnnethë myghte,
An hungry kyte (& do no wast,)

154

‘Ther-off han a ful repast,
To staunche hys hunger (for gret nede,)
At the ffulle hym-sylff to ffede.’

Sapyence axeth:

Quod Sapyence to hym ageyn,
‘Than axe I the (no thyng in veyn,)
Yiff thow knowe auht, answere to me,
The inward gret capacyte
Off an herte, wych ys so smal;
And yiff yt myghte (to reknen al,)
Be fully fed in any wyse;
Or what thyng myghte to yt suffyse
To appese hys gret delyt,
Or staunche hys gredy appetyt.’

Arystotyles answerd:

‘Certys,’ quod Aristotiles,
‘I dar affermë doutëles,
Ther ys no thyng that I kan se,
That may Gyvë ful sawlë
(Who that wysely kan aduerte,)
ffor to staunche a gredy herte,
Nat alle the world, yt to fulfyl,
Thogh yt were hooly at hys wyl.’

Sapience argueth:

Thanne her-vp-on quod Sapience,
‘Yt behoueth in sentence,
That the fulfyllyng in substaunce
To the fulle haue suffysaunce;
Or ellys yt mot nedys be
That the wlgar auctoryte,
Wych for thy party thow hast leyd,
Prevyd by argument & seyd,
In al the world, thow toldest me,
Ther may no placë voydë be;
And yiff that woyde wer any thyng,
Yt sholde folwe, off thy seyyng,
That yt muste fulfylled be;

155

‘Or ellys off necessyte
Yt muste algatys voyde a-byde:
Thy sentence me lyst nat hyde.’

Arystotyles Answerde:

‘Touchyng,’ quod he, ‘that I ha sayd,
So ye be nat evele apayd,
I wyl afferme the same yit,
I wendë trewly to my wyt.
ffor to speke in wordys pleyn,
That O gret Good most souereyn
Sholde (but yiff my wyt be dul,)
Make a thyng ffor to be ful.’

Sapyence speketh:

‘ffor-soth,’ quod she, ‘thow seyst ryht wel,
And ther-in erryst neueradel.
But yt behoueth (yf thow kanst se,)
That yt mot nedyes gretter be
Than al the world ys off gretnesse;
And than mot folwen in sothnesse,
(Vnderstond, & herkne me,)
That yiff that thyng sholde closyd be
With-Inne the world, (yt ys no drede,)
On som party yt muste excede,
(I dar ryht wel the trouth expresse,)
Or overgon yt for gretnesse.’

Arystotyles:

‘Certys,’ quod he, ‘I may nat wel
In thys with-sey yow neueradel.’

Sapyence argueth:

‘Than her-vp-on,’ a-noon quod she,
‘In any wyse how myght yt be,
That thys world, so gret in al,
With[in] an herte that ys so smal
Myghte be put, or closyd be?
ffor thannë, off necessyte
Mot nedys folwen, & off Resoun,
The hous or thabitacïoun
Mot be lasse (a preff to wynne,)
Than the thyng yput with-Inne.
Wher vp[on], conclude I may

156

‘That al thy wordys (yt ys no nay,)
Be repreuáble founde in dede,
And verray fals, yiff thow take hede.

‘Also to the I shal devyse
A preff in a-nother wyse,
By open demonstracyouns.
Hastow nat ben in thilkë touns,
Rome, and Athenys ek also,
And soiournèd in bothë two,
fful many a yer in bothë leyn,
The maner & the gretnesse seyn,
And be-holde ther gouernaunce?
Now yiff thow haue in Rémembraunce
By cler report off outher toun,
Tel me thyn Oppynyoun,
What space of land they do contene,
And yiff thy wyth may eke sustene,
I chargë the that thow me telle
What noumbre off clerkys ther-in duelle,
Off ther estate and ther degres,
And the gretnesse of ther cytes.’

Arystotyles answerede:

‘Certys,’ quod he, ‘to sey the sothe,
They be gret and largë bothe,
Round off compas, & ryht wyde,
And many scolerys ther a-byde,
And many a-nother craffty man,
As I ful wel Remembre kan.’

Sapience Axeth:

Quod Sapience, ‘than pray I the,
O thyng that thow tellë me;
Touchyng ther makyng and byldynges.
Yiff thow hast al thys gretë thynges
Reportyd wel, on euery syde,
Wher hastow put hem to abyde?’

Aristotiles answerde:

Quod he, ‘with support off your grace,
I kan telle noon other place,

157

‘(ffor to speke in wordys pleyne,)
Wher I ha put tho townys tweyne,
So renomyd & flourynge in glorye,
Saue only in my memórye!’

Sapyence:

‘Now sothly,’ quod Sapience,
Thow hast shewyd thy sentence
To me ful pleynly & ryht wel;
And declaryd yt euerydel
In wordys wyse, & nat rude.
And her-vp-on thow shalt conclude,
(Yiff prudently thow lyst take heed,)
Yiff thy memórye be in thyn hed,
Thow seyst yt ys in lassë space
(Who so lyst a-ryht compasse,)
Than ys thyn hed, on outher syde,
Wher thy Memórye doth a-byde.

‘Also ek, in wordys fewe,
A-nother exaumple I wyl shewe,
Wych I to the rehersë shal
Off thyn Eyë by the bal:
Yiff thow ther-to kanst loke a-ryht,
Yt ys but smal vn-to the syht,
And conteneth lytle space;
And yet the gretnesse off thy face
A-bydeth there, (yiff thow list lere)
Swych as yt ys, hool & entere
In Roundnesse off that lytle bour.

‘Tak hed also off A merour,
Or ellys off a lytel glas.
To purpos in the samë cas,
Wher thow mayst ek thy facë se
Off what gretnesse that yt be!

‘And yiff thow wylt in bettre wyse,
Vn-to the, that I devyse
To assoyl thyn Argument
ffynally to myn entent,
That seyst I sholde ha falshed the,
And repryved thy Maximë,
Whan I seyde, yiff thow take heed,

158

‘That euery party off thys bred
Off vertu, in especyal,
I make as gret as I do al,
Thogh yt be broke on many a part.

‘And tak Exaumple (for al thyn art)
Off A merour, fyrst hool at al:
Thogh yt be brooke on pecys smal,
In echë part and quantyte
Thow mayst as wel thy facë se
As toforne, (yiff thou lyst lere)
Whan yt was fyrst hool and entere

Aristotiles Axeth:

‘Now, myne ownë lady dere,
I pray yow, (towchyng thys matere,)
Wych be so sotyl in konnyng,
Telleth me, touchyng thys thyng,
Vnderstonde ye “localiter,”
Or ellys “virtualiter?”
Lat thys thyngës ben yset,
To-gydre bounden & yknet;
In boundys closyd so strongly
That I ther-on may feythfully
Gyve answere, as yt ys skylle,
Or close my mouth, & so be stylle.’

Sapience Answereth:

‘I vnderstondë nat,’ quod she,
‘“Localiter,” as thow shalt se;
Thys to seynë, with thy grace.
He occupieth ther no place.
Somme vnderstondë certeynly
That he ys ther vertuously;
Somme seyn “ymaginatiue,”
And somme “representatiue,”
On ther oppynyouns, as they dwelle.
And this exaumplys I the telle,
To yive the ful avysëment
How thow mayst, in thyn entent,
Conceyve, that halst thy sylff so wys,
And to yive the, good avys,
How a cloystre off smal mesure

159

‘May comprehendë gret pasture;
And, as gretë thyngës set
In smalë bondys may be knet.

‘And evene so, yiff thow take hed,
Vnder lyknesse off thys breed.
The grettest good most sovereyn̄
Ys ther closyd in certeyn;
Nat only “ymaginatiue,”
Nouther “Representatiue,”
(Vnderstond now wel my lore,)
Nor “Virtualiter” with-outë more;
But ther yt ys put sothfastly,
(Yiff thow lyst lerne ffeythfully,)
Bothen “Corporaliter”
And also ek “Realiter;”
Bothe “Presencialiter”
And also ek “Veraciter;”
With-oute al symulacioun,
Deceyt, or any Ficcioun—
And off thys puttyng, the causë why
I haue declaryd in party.

‘ffyrst, yiff thow consydrest al,
ffor an hertë that ys smal,
I ha the bred mad smal also,
(Yiff thow take good hed her-to.)
And for hys gret capacyte,
The good that hath most sovereynte,
I haue ther-in put (certeyn)
The good that ys most souereyn:
Gret vnto gret, smal vn-to smal,
Wych ys Answeryng in al,
And corespondent by mesure.
ffor affter that (I the ensure,)
That an herte be gret or smal,
Ryht so, in especyal,
Answeryng, by mesure,
Ryght so ys madë the pasture;
A smal hertë (tak good hede,)
ffyndeth also smal the bred.

‘Consydre & se the maner howh:

160

‘Yiff he desyre to haue ynowh,
He shal ther ffyndë (Trustë me)
Suffysauncë to hys sawlë,
Hym to fulfyllen at hys Ese,
And hys desyrys to appese.
And, as I rehersë shal,
Her ys noon offence at al,
Nouther vn-to yong nor old.

‘And for thys cause that I ha told,
The hous ys lasse, with-outë wene,
Than thylkë thyng yt doth contene;
And lasse (for short conclusïoun,)
Ys the habytacyoun
Than the good (I dar wel telle)
Wych with-Inne the hows doth dwelle.

‘And I suppose (tak also hed,)
That vn-to the, by lyklyhed
I haddë don, in my werkynge,
Som thyng wych wer nat syttynge,
Off wych thow wer nat plesyd wel.
And ek (to Reknen euerydel,)
That I ha told the in substaunce,
Thogh yt wer nat to thy plesaunce,
I ouhte off Reson, nor off skyl,
Answeryng no-thyng but at my wyl,
Off ryht nouht, (as semeth me,)
Nor take no maner hed to the
Off no-thyng that thow hast me souht.

‘And, par cas, yiff I hadde wrouht
Some vnkouth thyng that wer notáble
By Aventure, or profytáble
Mor than any other whyht,
Wych wer merveillous to syht,
I ouhtë nat, as thynketh me,
Off no wyht apechyd be;
Consydred how (in sothfastnesse)
That I am namyd a “maystresse,”
Wych ouhte suffysen vn-to the:

161

‘Thow gest as now no mor of me:
Tak thys now in especyal.

‘As for Answere to the, fynal,
Lo, her ys al, in wordys pleyn:—
Go now, & retourne home ageyn
To Nature (in conclusïoun),
To mak to hyre relacïoun,
As she that ys (shortly to fyne,)
A symple scoler clepd off myne;
And also (yiff thow lyst to lere,)
But off Grace my chaumberere.

‘And syker, I wyll that yt be wyst,
I wyl do what-euere me lyst,
Wherso yt plesë outher greve,
And take off hyre no maner leve;
And don what euere lyketh me,
Only for loue off Charyte;
What euere hyre lyst, that shal be do:
My wyl ys that yt shal be so.
ffor what-so that hyr lyst devyse,
In al my bestë ffeythfull wyse
I shal consente (& tarye nouht,)
To al that euere she wyl ha wrouht,
In specyal & in general.’

And whan that he hadde herknyd al,
Thys Aristotile gan abraide,
And humblely to hyre he seyde:

Aristotle meked hym selffe.

‘Sothly,’ quod he, ‘I se ryht wel
Yt may avaylle neueradel
(ffor ouht that I kan espye,)
With yow to holden chaumpartye,
Or Argue al the longë day:
Yt ys best that I go my way.
Do what yow lyst, ffer or ner,
Your myght ys grete, and your power;
What-so ye lyst, ye may well don̄.’

162

‘And thus thys mayster ys a-gon,
And dydë ek hys bysy cure,
ffor to tellen to Nature
Off hys exployts and off hys sped.
And a-noon, as she took heed,
She gan to gruchen in hyr thouht;
But whan she sawh yt wayllede nouht,
Mor to maken résistence,
She suffrede al in pacïence.’
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)

163

‘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,

165

“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.

166

‘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)

167

‘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:

168

‘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,

169

‘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)

171

‘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,

172

‘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,

174

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,

175

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,

177

‘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,

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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

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‘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,

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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;

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‘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)

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“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

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‘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,

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“(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.

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“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,

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‘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

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‘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

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‘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,

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‘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

303

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;

306

‘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

308

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.”

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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.

311

‘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

312

‘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.’

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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

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‘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,

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‘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

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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,

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‘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.

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“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:—

[Mary, be our Refuge in Tribulation! 4 verses of 8 lines each, abab, bcbc.]
[_]

Here the translation of St. Bernard's Latin Homily has been omitted, except the 4 verses of Mary, Be Our Refuge in Tribulation.

1

O blyssed maydë fflour off alle goodnesse,
On alle Synfull ha Mercy and pyte;
Thynke how Synnerys in verray sothefastnesse
were Causë ffirst (who so [that] lyst se,)
That ffolkys shuldë blyssyd callyn the,
Only ordeyned ffor ther Savacïon;
Now, goode lady off thy benygnyte
Be oure Refuge In Trybulacïon

2

Quene off hevene off helle ek Emperesse,
Loodë Sterre ycalled off the See
To Marynerys that Erryn in dyrknesse,
Thow art ther Comforte in Alle aduersyte.

455

Thy lyght, ffro Tempest maketh hem go ffre,
And vp taryve thurgh thy proteccïon,
At the havene off alle ffelycyte,
And ffor tescape Eche Trybulacion.

3

O holy Sterrë ffyx in stabylnesse,
With-oute Eclypsyng Or Mutabylyte,
Ylychë Clerë shynyng in bryghtnesse,
In whom the Sonne sent ffro the deyete,
lyste ffor to takë Oure humanyte,
Off Mankynde to make Redempcïon,
That thow shuldest O mayde, O Moder ffre,
Be Oure Reffuge In Trybulacïon!

Lenvoye.

Pryncesse, excellyng off myght and worthynesse
Alle Crëaturys as in dygnyte
Myn hertys body my worldly Cheff goddesse,
Pray thy Sonne ta mercy vp-on me.
Syth in alle méscheff to thy grace I ffle
Reffute to ffynde And Consolacïon.
And syth my trust ys Only Sette in the,
Be my Reffuge in Trybulacïon.

Explicit.

457

And whyle I made my prayere,
The Owgly Smyth as ye shall here
y-callyd Trybulacïoun,
Whan She herde myn Orysoun,
And Saugh by nōōn̄ Occasyoun
I wolde nat leue my Bordoun
Nor my Skryppe ffor no manace;
And sawh how In the samë place
I haddë Chose to myn Entent
Reffuge that was Suffycyent,
In alle Trouble and dysese,
Myn hertly Sorwys to apese,
And stynte alle myn Aduersyte,
Anōōn̄ she seydë thus to me:
Trybulacion.

‘I am,’ quod she ‘lyk off manere
To thylkë wynde (as thow shalt here,)
That with his blast maketh fful offte
The levys Ryse and fflen aloffte
Toward the Skyes hyh in the heyr.
Thus haue I causyd thy Repeyr
Thurgh my Trowble pryked the,
Vn-to Reffuge ffor to ffle.

‘Caste thy look toward the hevene
ffer abowe the Sterrys Sevene
In thy Contemplacïon
That wer but as a leff her doun,
ffor-welkyd and caste a-way,
Wych by the ground ful lowë lay,
But, thorgh my commyssïoun,
I ha tournd the vp-se-doun,
And many a-nother ek also,
With my trouble and with my wo;
And with my toongës I hem chace,
Ageyn the lord whan they trespace,
That I cause hem for to ffle
To god, on hem to han pyte.

‘And somme I have ek causyd offte
To fflen vn-to the sterre aloffte,
To whom thow fleddyst with gret labour,

458

‘ffor to have off hyre, socour,
Confort and consolacïoun,
Ageyn al tribulacïoun;
Wher-in thow erryst neueradel,
But wrouhtest prudently and wel.

‘Kep the wel in hyr presence,
ffor, by verray experyence,
As sone as thow art from hyr go,
I shal nat longë be the fro,
By vertu off my commyssïoun,
ffor to don execucïoun,
As I ha don to many on;
With my toongës made hem gon,
That wer out off the weyë ferre,
Resorte ageyn vn-to that sterre,
Ther to haue proteccïoun
In euery trybulacïoun.

‘And thus I kan, in many wyse,
With my yerdë wel chastyse
Swych folkys as be dyssolut,
And chace at hem in my pursut,
Namly, folk predestynaat,
And swych as be preordynaat
To kome vn-to savacïoun,
That kan in trybulacioun
Suffren, and have pacyence.

‘And yiff that thow, for thyn offence,
Hast her-to-forn haad nede off me,
And, in partye, I ha to thè
Parcel declaryd off myn offys,
As thow mayst fele (yiff thow be wys)
With-outen any gret owtrage
Don to the, or gret damage,
With-outen many wordys mo,
A dieu! farwel! for I wyl go.
And be war, in thy passage,
That thow do wel thy pylgrymage,
And in thy way be iust and stable,
Lych a pylgrym good and hable.’

The Pylgrym:

459

And as I stood allone, al sool,
Gan compleyne, and makë dool,
Havyng no thyng vp-on to reste,
Saue (as me semptë for the beste)
I lenede me on my bordoun;
ffor thogh that Trybulacïoun
Wer departyd in certeyn,
She sayde she woldë kome ageyn.

But I (wherso I wooke or slepte,)
With my refuge, ay I me kepte,
To have, by hyre, proteccïoun
Ageyn ech trybulacïoun,
But for that I, by gret owtrage,
Was off my port, wylde and savage,
Dyuers off my condycïoun,

And al day turnynge vp and doun,
fful off chaung and doubylnesse,
Havyng in me no stabylnesse.

And whyl I wentë thus musynge,
With-Inne my sylff ymagynynge,
I ffyl a-noon, in my passage,
In-to a woodë ful savage;
Me thouhte the weyë peryllous,
And by to passë, Encombrous;
I knew nat what was best to done,
ffor, in a woode, a man may soone
Lese his weye, and gon amys,
Or he be war; and thus yt ys,
As pylgrymes knowë wel echon,
That on pylgrymagë gon:
Passage they fynde, narwh and streyth;
Brygauntys lyn ek in a-wayt,
And wylde bestys many on,
Tassayllë pylgrymes, wher they gon:
ffolk expert, the trouthë knowe.

And in a valey that stood lowe,
I sawh on stonden in my way,
Old and owgly, off array
Dysguysed wonder queyntëly,
Off port and chere ryht vngoodly,

460

Semyng to me (yt ys no faylle)
That she woldë me assaylle;
Yt semptë so, as by hyr cher;
And al my lyff, fer or ner,
Radde I neuer, in book nor geste,
Off so merveyllous a beste;
Nat in the Book off Danyel,
Nouther in Ezechyel,
Nor in Thapocalyps off Iohan,
Swych a bestë fond I noon.

I was abaysshed a-noon ryht,
Whan fyrst off hyre I hadde a syht;
In hyre I fond so many a lak:
ffyrst, she hadde a brookë bak,
Corbyd and haltyng, bothë two;
Off rowh frese, she hadde also
A garnëment shape lyk a sak,
Wych she werede vp-on hyr bak:
Gret noumbre ther-on I tolde,
Off cloutys and off pachchys olde.

Aboute hyr necke, I sawh ek wel,
That ther heng a gret sachel;
She shop hyr no-thyng for the flyht;
ffor, that poket (to my syht,)
She felde yt ful (in éspecyal)
Off Coper, yren, and off metal.

And as yt sempte to me also,
Hyr ownë tonge halp wel ther-to,
Wych heng out at hyr mouth ful long.

And aboute hyr neckë strong,
Thys lady, with hyr corbyd bak,
Was y-moselyd with that sak,
Sowyd sore, that nyht nor day
Yt myghte nat wel falle A-way.

In noumbre she hadde (I gan beholde)
Syxë handys, for I hem tolde;
And tweyne (to myn Inspeccïoun)
Wer the pawmys off A gryffoun.

And I beheld the samë whyle,
In On hand she held a ffyle,

461

fforgyd off ful myghty stel;
And (as fer as I koude fel,)
The ffylë was ymad and ment
To ffylë brydles, off entent.

Touchynge hyr other gouernaunce,
She held also a gret ballaunce,
Only off purpos (yiff she konne,)
To peyse the sodyak and the sonne,
And caste hem in the wynd in veyn,
And neuere to callyn hem ageyn:

A largë dyssh, ek I beheld,
In hyr hand how that she held.

And in hyr ffyffthe hand a kroket;
And on hyr hed a gret mawmet.

Hyr syxthë hand she gan to launche
Lowë doun vn-to hyr haunche,
Wych causë was (vn-to my syht)
She haltede, and wentë nat vp-ryht,
Lyk as a crepyl, with potente;
Evene me thouhtë so she wente.
And, by maner off bataylle,
Thys vekkë gan me to assaylle,
Off malys and inyquyte,
And felly saydë thus to me:

The old Avarice:

‘I swer to the, by my mawmet
Wych vp-on myn hed ys set,
In whom ys holy my plesaunce,
My trust pleynly, and my creaunce,
I have abyde vp-on thys way
Tawayte on thè ful many a day.

‘Ley doun thy skryppe and thy bordoun,
And do homage to my Mahown!
ffor yt ys he (thow shalt wel knowe)
By whom that I, off hih and lowe
Allowyd am, and off gret prys.

462

Yholdë prudent, and ryht wys.
ffor no man hath, with-outë me,
Worshepe nor no dygnyte;
In hih estat ys no whyht Set,
But thorgh favour off my mawmet,
To whom thow mvst submyttë the,
Or thow shalt deye; so mot I the!’

Pilgrim:
“ffyrst, thow mvst declarë me
Thy power and thyn Auctoryte,
Thow oldë, ryvelyd off vysage,
Thy kynrede, and thy lynáge,
Thy contre and thy nacïoun,
And also off what regïoun
That thow art born, (I wyl ffyrst knowe,)
With bak and chynë courbyd lowe;
The maner ek off thy mawmet,
Shapë lyk a marmoset:
Tel me hys condicïoun;
ffor me thynketh yt no resoun
Off equyte, nor by no ryht,
Syth he ys dowmb, and blynd off syht,
I that am born off good lynage,
Sholde vn-to hym do now homage.”

Avarice:
‘Syth thow wylt fyrst yse,
And what my namë sholdë be,
I wyl, as now, no thyng spare;
But the trouthe to thè declare,
That thow shalt (with-oute offence)
Yive to me the mor credence.

‘Yiff thow lyst the trouthë se,
Kom on a-noon, and folwe me,
And thow shalt (yiff thow kanst espye)
Herë me ful lowdë crye;
ffor I shall sen, duryng my lyff,
The vale off sorwen and off stryff,
The woful Interieccïoun
Most ful off lamentacïoun.’
Pilgrim:

463

And trewëly (I took good kep,)
She wente vp to a fosse kaue dep;
And ther she bad me lokë doun;
Wher I hadde inspeccïoun
Off an abbey, wych euerydel
(As I beheld the maner wel)
Was foundyd besyden a cheker,
Squar as ys a Tabler.
And I beheld also with-al,
Ther wer esches, bothe gret and smal,
fful wel ywrouht in allë thynges.

Ther sawh I rookys and ek kynges,
And knyhtys (ek in verray soth)
Drawen, as a ffers y-doth
In travers wysë, by bataylle,
Euerych other gan assaylle
Wyth sharpë swerdys, thus thauhtë me,
A dysguysë thyng to se;
ffor at the ches, in al my lyff,
Sawh I neuere swych a stryff,
Nor so fers A contenaunce;
ffor everyche gan hym sylff avaunce,
Whan ther bataylle was ado,
To make hem redy for to go
To that abbay ther besyde,
And, be surquedye and pryde,
Ther to forreye, what they may,
Robbe and spoylle, and ber a-way,
And revë hem off ther rychesse,
And brouhten hem in swych dystresse,
That no thyng leffte to ther refut,
But made al bare and destytut.

Whan I hadde al thys yseyn,
How al was makyd wast and pleyn,
Quod I, “what thyng meneth thys,
That thys cherche destroyed ys?
Thys ys (to myn oppynyoun)
The woful Interieccïoun,
Wher-off pleynly (me semeth so)

464

Euerych wyse man sholde ha wo,
And compleyne (I the ensure)
Thys vnhappy áventure.”

Avarice:

‘Wher thow be wel or evele apayd,
Lo her ys al that I ha sayd.
Thys mescheff (yiff thow kanst yt se)
Ys ydon and wrouht by me,
And acomplysshed vp in dede,
Al-thogh that yt be no nede;
Wher-off, in hys prophesye,
The nobyle prophete Ieremye
(As he that lyst no thyng to feyne)
Weptë sore, and gan compleyne:
‘Allas!’ quod he, ‘how the pryncesse,
Off folkys allë cheff maystresse,
Ys trybutarye, and bor doun,
And brouhte in-to subieccïoun!’

‘The prophete wyste aforn ryht wel,
That I sholde causen euerydel
Thys gretë desolacïon
And thys habomynacïon.
I and myne (yiff yt be souht)
Have thys gretë mescheff wrouht.

‘Thys the custom (in substaunce),
Holy the maner and vsaunce,
Off al that to my scolë go,
By my doctrynë to do so,
And so to werke, by my techyng;
ffor ther ys nouther rook nor kyng,
But ech off hem (for ther part)
Sorë studyen in that art,
Euerych off hem to fynde a waye,
How they may to me obeye.
Thow mayst me leve in sykernesse;
Ther ownë werkys ber wytnesse.’

Pilgrim:
“I may nat levyn (fer nor ner)
Thow sholdest han so gret power,
Wych that art so poryly

465

“Arrayed, and so dysguesyly;
Halt and lame, (as semeth me)
Brokë-bakkyd, and foul to se.
And with al thys (I the ensure),
A verray monstre in nature,
(Who lyst looke, he shal yt fynde,)
And engendryd a-geyn kynde.
How sholdystow, with al thys thynges,
Ouer erlys, dukys, kynges,
Have power or domynacïon
To brynge hem in subieccïon,
Sythen they, by gret noblesse,
Haven off kyndë swych fayrnesse,
And brouht forth by engendrure,
Kyndëly, as by nature?”

Avarice:

‘Yiff thow wylt a whylë dwelle,
A good exaumple I shal the telle,
Reporte me wel in euery thyng:

‘Ther was onys a myghty kyng,
Wych that hadde, to hys plesaunce,
A lady in hys governaunce,
Whom that he louede paramour,
And took to hyre al hys tresour,
Good and Iowelles euerydel,
Be-cause that he louede hyr so wel.
And shortly, thus with hym stood,
She gouérnede al hys good,
Whos name was Lyberalyte:
She was benygnë, large and fre,
Wych, in euery regïoun,
Hadde gret fame and gret Renoun.
And she dyde euere hyr labour,
So to dyspendyn hys tresour,
That hys worshepe on euery syde
Gan encrece and spredë wyde;
Gat hym honour and gret ffame,
And with al thys, a ryht good name.

‘The story doth also specefye,
She made hys goodys multeplye,

466

‘And causede also, how that he
Was wel belovyd in hys contre;
ffor love excellyth in worthynesse
Euery tresour and rychesse.

‘But whan that I thys dyde espye,
I hadde ther-off ful gret envye,
And caste to fynde occasïoun
ffor to tourne al vp-so-doun.
I gan taproche the court ful ner,
A-queyntede me with the porter
And with thoffycerys euerychon;
And in-to chaumbre I kam a-noon,
Wher as the kyng a beddë lay.
Whyl he slepte, I stal away
(Throgh my sleyhte in prevyte,)
Hys paramour Lyberalyte;
And or the kyng yt koude espye,
Benchauntëment And sorcerye
I gan at hyrë so enchace,
That she was voyded fro that place;
And, by fals collusïoun,
I shet hyre in a strong prysoun,
Wher I ha cast, (shortly to telle,)
Whyl that I lyve, she shal ther dwelle;
And in hyr stedë (off entente,)
To bedde vn-to the kyng I wente,
Whyl that he sleptë vnwarly.

‘And whan he wook al sodeynly,
In stede off Lyberalyte,
In hys Armys he took me;
At wych tyme, by sorcerye,
I blentë so the kyngës Eye,
That I be-kam hys paramour,
And hadde in guarde al hys tresour.
Wherso that he wook or slep,
Off hys worshepe I took no kep;
Hys honour, gold, hys goodë fame,
Al I tournede yt to shame;
ffor he ne myghte (who-so me knewe)
ffynde noon offycere mor vntrewe.

467

‘I am the samë (thys the cas,)
Off whom that whylom wrot Esdras,
Apemenen, wych, hyr sylff al sool,
Made the kyng so gret a fool:
Whan she was hevy, he was sad;
Whan she lowh, than he was glad;
She took hys crowne, and leyd yt doun,
And he, by lowh subieccïoun,
Al hyr lustys dyde obeye,
ffor he durste hyr nat with-seye:
Thus yt stood, and thus yt was,
As thow shalt fynden in Esdras.

‘By wych exaumple, thow mayst se
That yt fareth thus by me;
ffor I kan, by my werkynges,
Deceyuë prynces and ek kynges;
And al the meyne off the cheker,
I kan make off herte enter,
To robben abbeys euerychon,
And to dyspoylle hem, on by on,
With-outen any compassïoun.

‘And touchyng ek my nacïoun,
And my name (yiff I shal telle,)
I was engendryd fyrst in helle;
And ther the pryncë Sathanas
(Yiff thow wylt wyte,) my fader was;
And in that Valey Infernal
I was begete: lo her ys al.

‘And my name ek to devyse,
I am callyd Covetyse
(Off verray ryht, and nat off wrong,)
And Avaryce, somwhyle Among;
But Coveytysë, men calle me
Off verray ryht and equyte,
Whan I am mevyd in my blood
To coueyte other mennys good.
And Avarycë men me calle,
Whan that I fro folkys alle
Kepe al that euere I getë kan,
And wyl departë with no man,

468

‘Wher they be wel or evele apayed.

‘And that I am thus evele arrayed,
I do yt only off entent
That my gold ne be nat spent,
On clothys wastyd, nor my good.
And levere me were, bothe gowne and hood
Wer with wermys day be day
Conswmyd, and yffret a-way,
Than porë folk (so god me spede,)
Sholdë were hem in ther nede;
ffor I caste me nat at al,
Neuere for to be lyberal
Whyl I may walken on the ground;
ffor I resemble vn-to that hound
Wych lyggeth in a stak off hay,
Groynynge al the longë day,
Wyl suffre no beste ther-to to gon,
And yet hym sylff wyl etë noon.

‘Myn handys off merveyllous fasoun,
Lyk the pawmys off a gryffoun,
Be mad (wher-so I slepe or wake,)
Nat to yive, but for to take.
To axe me good, wer gret foly;
ffor thys my purpos, (fynaly,
And as me semeth for the beste)
To shette my gold vp in my cheste:
Thys al myn hool entencïon,
Offys and occupacïon.
Al good, wher yt be grene or rype,
I kan wel glenyn, I kan wel grype,
Bothe to-forn and at the bak:
What I may gete, goth in-to sak,
Off entent (be wel certeyn)
Neuere to taken yt out ageyn.

‘My wyl ys euere vnstaunchable,
And my desyr in-sacyable;
My thouht nor myn affeccïoun
Ha neuere ful replecïoun.
I am the swolwh (who lyst to se)
Wych that in the saltë see,

469

‘Al that euere goth forth by,
He devoureth yt Outterly,
And neuere ne sent no thyng ageyn.
Tawayte ther affter wer but veyn,
ffor shortly, he devoureth al,
Coper, yren, and metal;
Al that peyseth or yiveth soun,
To the botmë yt goth doun,
To gretter wrak than on a rok.

‘And as an Ape vn-to a blok
Or to a clog, tyed with a cheyne,
Ryht so I do my bysy peyne;
I teye my sylff (by gret dystresso)
And byndë me to my rychesse;
I bynde yt nat; yt byndeth me,
That I am bonde, and nothyng fre,
ffor to have theroff plesaunce.
ffor lak only off suffysaunce,
I am so teyd (I may nat skape,)
With a clog, ryht as an Ape,
Wych in soth so letteth me,
That I ha no lyberte
To gon at largë hih nor lowe.

‘And yiff thow lyst also to knowe
What my vj handys be,
I shal declare a-noon to the,
And make a demonstracïon:
I Gryppe and streyne lyk a Gryffoun,
And faste I holdë ther-with-al
Coper, yren, and ech metal;
Streyhtly kepe yt in myn hond,
Bothe in water and on lond.
And thow aforn dyst neuere se
So cursyd handys as they be;
Enarmyd abouten Envyroun
With the pawmys off a Gryffoun.

‘The fyrstë hand (for to dyffyne)
By ryht ycallyd ys ‘Ravyne,’
That sheweth Gentyl outward alway,
Tyl that he may cachche hys pray;

470

‘Dyspoylleth pylgrymes est and west,
Bothe in woode and in fforest,
With-outen any excepcïon:
Thys ys my condycïon,
To robbe and reue with al my myght.

‘I cleymë al thyng myn off ryht;
Myn hand ys lyk vnto a kyte:
I takë chykenys that be lyte;
Wher I ham fyndë, fer or ner,
I ber hem hoom to my dyner.
Gret robbery, on folk I make;
Hors and cartë, bothe I take,
With porvyaunce and wyth vytaylle.
And off malys I wyl nat faylle:
Yiff a pore man haue a kowh,
Oxe or mare that draweth hys plowh,
I make hem selle hem by duresse,
ffor to staunche my gredynesse,
Wher any swych I kan espye.
And as an yreyne sowketh the flye,
And hyr entroyllës draweth oute,
Evene lyk I renne aboute,
And cesse nat, whan I ha be-gonne,
Tyl that I my pray ha wonne.

‘The tother hand, to do gret wrak,
Ys set behynden at the bak,
That no man ne sholde espye
The maner off my roberye.
So secretly I kan yt vse,
Outward my falsnesse to exeuse.
Thys hand ful hih vp-on A tre
Maketh many on enhangyd be;
And with hys ffeet (wych ys nat fayr,)
ffor to waggen in the hayr
fful hih a-loffte, yt ys no dred.

‘Thys hand, fro many manhys hed,
Causeth the Erys be kut away;
And thys hand, fro day to day,
Ys the hand off gret dyffame,
Callyd Cuttëpurs by name,

471

‘Wych hath a knyff ful sharp of egge,
And yet he dar no glovys begge;
ffor, to vse hys robbery
Off the glovere openly,
He kepeth hym cloos, al out off syht,
And vseth for to walke a nyht
In narwe lanys, vp and doun.
Whan that the monë ys go doun,
Than he maketh hys ordynaunce
(By gret mescheff and gret meschaunce)
ffor to vse ther brybery,
And for to havnte ther robbery:
On no thyng ellys they sette her thouht,
ffor off hyr owne they ha ryht nouht.

‘Thys hand, by force, ageyn al ryht,
Breketh vp howsys toward nyht,
Bothe in bowrys and in hallys,
And maketh hoolys thorgh the wallys.

‘Thys hand kan dygge and makë mynys;
Thys hand kan Royne also florynes;
Thys hand ful selde hath any reste;
Thys hand kan brake Cofer and cheste;
Thys hand, (in cold and ek in hete,)
Kan falsly selys counterfete,
And the prent ther-off y-graue;
And thys hand wyl also haue
(By som Engyn, or sleyhtë weye)
Vn-to euery look a keye.

‘Thys hand kan forge (I vndertake)
ffals monye, and the prent make.
Thys hand in frenshe (I dar expresse)
Ys callyd ‘Poitevyneresse,’
ffor yt forgeth (thys the ffyn)
A monye callyd Poytevyn,
Wych ys in valu (by a-countyng)
fful skarsly worth halff a fferthyng.

‘Thys hand ek falsly beyth and sylleth;

472

‘And in reknynge, thys hand mystelleth.
Thys hand also (yt ys no drede)
Kan spoyllë folk whan they be dede.
Thys hand kan al the nyht wachche,
And ful streythly glene and kachche,
And rendyn vp (yt ys no nay,)
Al that euere lyth in hys way.

‘Thys hand, thogh men haddë sworn,
Kan robbe and bern away the corn
Out off bernys and garnerys;
Thys hand kan ferette in konnyngherys
Be nyhtë tymë, whan men slepe;
Thys hand, by holys kan in crepe,
And bern a-way what he may fynde,
And lyst to leue nothyng behynde;
Thys hand maketh ydel offycerys
And many falsë labourerys.
Thys hand (ageyns al resoun)
Doth many gret extorsïoun
In euery lond and ech contre,
Worthy enhangyd for to be,
Yiff the falsnesse wer yknowe
That he doth, bothe hyh and lowe;
ffor thys hand wyl neuere spare
Porë folk, to make hem bare
And nakyd (off entencïon)
ffrom al ther pocessïoun.

‘My thryddë hand, mad by gret wyle
With the wych I ber the ffyle,
I shal, as kometh to remembraunce,
Declarë to the (in substaunce)
What thyng yt doth specefye.
And the trouthe doth sygnefye,
Thys hand ys wrouht ageyn nature,
Wych euere doth hys besy cure
Alway (off entent vntrewe)
To forgë money newe and newe,
Other folkys gold dystresse,
And hys ownë to encresse,
By som fals collusïoun.

473

‘And euere in hys entencïoun
He ffynt out weyës sotylly
ffor tencresse hym-sylff ther-by;
By maner off enchauntement
He ffyndeth out (in hys entent)
To tournë, by hys sotylte,
A Tourneys to A parysee;
By hys engyn, wyl vndertake,
Off fyyë, syxë for to make.

‘Thys hand kan also (in certeyn)
In gernerys shette vp hys greyn,
Abydynge (with an hevy chere)
Tyl ther kome A derë yere,
At avauntage yt to selle,
And the pans ful streyhtly telle,
Vsynge ther-in ful many a whyle.

‘And thys hand that halt the ffyle,
Wasteth bothë gret and smal,
Consumeth and devoureth al,
Off porë folkys, the substaunce:
I pray god yive hym evele chaunce;
ffor nothyng may thys fyle endure.

‘Thys hand ycallyd ys ‘Vsure,’
Vsyd in ful many place,
Wych ys to god a gret trespace,
Bothe at marketys and at ffayres.
And also provostys and ek mayres
In tounës, borwys and cytes—
ffolk off hyh and lowh degres—
Echon they may nat hem excuse
But that somme off hem yt vse.’

Pilgrim:
“Declarë to me (in substaunce,)
Wher-off serueth thy balaunche.
I trowe thow wylt ther-in ryht sone
Peysë ther-in bothe sonne and mone,
The sterrys ek, or thow ha do,
And the zodyak also.”

Avarice:

‘Lerne, and vnderstond me wel,

474

‘And I shal telle the euerydel:
Gracë dieu, ful yore agon,
Among the planetys euerychon,
(As clerkys wel rehersë konne,)
In the zodyak sette a sonne,
ffor to shede hys bemys bryht,
And to mynystre hys cler lyht
Indyfferently (I the ensure)
Vn-to euery crëature,
And to be comoun, ther-with-al,
To al the world in general;
To make the Erthe with frut habounde,
That ther wer no dyffautë founde.

‘Whér-off (yiff I shal nat lye)
I hadde in herte ful gret envye;
ffor, yt wente nat as I wolde;
ffor, my wyl were, that yt sholde
Vn-to my lust appropryd be,
By exaumple as thow shalt se.

‘ffyrst, ageyn[e]s al resoun,
I wolde, by vsurpacïoun,
ffro poynt to poynt in ech degre,
The zodyak sholde obeyë me,
Sonne and mone (ageyns alle skyll),
Wynd and wether were at my wyll;
Al put in my governaunce,
Yt to weye in my ballaunce.

‘Al thys thyng (as thow shalt se)
I vsurpe yt vp-on me:
The yer, I weye yt in ballaunce,
And selle [yt] ek at my plesaunce;
I selle the wyke, I selle the day,
(To wych no man dar seyë nay)
Somtyme by twelue and by thryttene,
By twenty ek, and by nyntene;
And in a yer (who kan yt telle)
The pound for xxty pans I selle;
The moneth also, by reknyng,
I selle for ix. or .x. shyllyng;
The wyke also for vj. or fyve,

475

‘At a-counte that we nat stryve
Affter the somme, whan al ys do,
That my loonë kometh to;
And lyk as euery man doth take,
Ther-on my reknyng I do make.’

Pilgrim:
Than, quod I anon, “lat se
Touchyng that I shal axen the;
I wolde ther-on have thy devys:
Her ys a woode off lytel prys,
Wych a woodeman selleth me;
And in the salë, thus seyth he,
‘ffor .xxx.ty shyllyng I wyl yt selle,
So that a-noon (as I shal telle)
That thow to me, (lych myn entent,)
Makë to me thys payëment
With-outen any mor delay.
But yiff I graunte a lenger day,
As thus, tabyde a yerys space,
Thanne I wyl (withoutë grace)
Have fourty shyllyng (by iuste reknyng)
By-cause off myn ábydyng:’
Vp-on thys caas I woldë se
Whér lyk (as yt semeth the)
The sellere off the wych I telle,
Outher peysseth or doth selle
The tyme, outher the zodyak,
Off the wyche to-forn we spak.”

Avarice:

‘Touchyng thys thyng, now herkne me,
And I shal answerren vn-to the:
Thys cas (yiff thow lyst to lere,)
Ys vnderstonde in twey manere:
Par cas som man, (as thow shalt se,)
Off nede and off necessyte,
Hys woode, that were by good reknyng
Worth off valu syxty shyllyng,
ffor verray nede and indygence,
Off bothe to makë recompense,
ffor fourty shyllyng doth yt selle;

476

The causë pleynly for to telle,
He muste haue redy payëment.
Thys marchaunt (to my Iugëment,
Who-so off resoun lookë wel)
The tymë selleth neueradel;

‘But that marchaunt (with-outë wher,)
That abydeth al a yer,
Off hym the cas stant other wyse,
As I shal to the devyse:
By Oldë tymë (lyst my tale,)
Chapmen that made off woodë sale,
They made her sale (who taketh hede)
By A mesour off lengthe and brede;
And to the byggere they wolde seyn:
‘Yiff thow wylt my woddë beyn,
At O word, (so god me saue!)
At swych a prys thow shalt yt haue,
So that my payement be leyd doun
With-outen mor dylacïon.
And yiff thow byde a yerys day
Off my payment by dillay,
I shal the telle by short avys,
I wyl yt sette at hiher prys;
ffor yiff that I A yer abyde,
My wodë shal on euery syde
Wexe and encresse (I the ensure),
And multeplyen off nature.’

‘And yiff the marchaunt, in bargeynyng,
Telle hym thus in hys sellyng,
To-forn, or that the wode be bouht,
The tyme in soth he selleth nouht,
Nouther weyeth yt in ballaunce;
But yiff the wode (par cas or chaunce)
Wer yhewe, or feld a-doun
Tó-for ther convencïon,
Wych affterward (wo kan espye)
May nat encresse nor multeplye;
Yiff he sette the sale vp sore,
As thus to sellyn yt for more,
By cause off bydyng off A yer,—

477

‘Than I suppose (with-outë wer,)
He peyseth (as I rehersë shal,)
Hys long abydyng tyme and al.

‘But whan the wode may multeplye,
Wexe and encressen at the Eye,
Than thencres and wexyng al
Ys mesuryd in espécyal,
And yweyed in ballaunce,
Who loketh euery cyrcumstaunce.

‘Now shal I make descrypcïon,
And a cler declaracïon
(Yiff thow kanst wel vnderstond):
Thys dyssh that I holde in myn hond,
(In ffrenche callyd ‘Coquynerye’
And in ynglyssh ‘Trwandrye,’)
Thys hand I vse in bryberye,
In beggyng and in lasyngrye.
At euery dore I axe and craue,
My sustenauncë for to haue,
And offtë sythe (yt ys no dred)
I put vp many a lompe off bred
In-to my sak, (so mot I the,)
And kepe yt tyl yt mowlyd be,
That yt may nothyng avaylle.

‘And euery man I kan asaylle
With myn Importáble cry,
I sparë noon that goth forby;
And thus I axë my purchace.
And I wyl payen in no place,
What vytaylle euere that I spende;
And to nothyng I do entende,
But for to axen and to crye;
And al labour I do defye;
I wyl nat travaylle in no wyse;
I kan my sylff so wel desguyse
With my mantel al-to-rent,
That the peple ys verray blent
With my fals illusïoun
And feyned symulacïoun.

‘I crye and coniure al the day

478

‘On pylgrymes that passe by the way,
As I wer fallyn in A rage;
And wer that folk ha most passage,
Ther I kan sytte in gret dystresse,
And crye on hem for ther almesse
With a pytous feyned face.
And, in hem to fyndë grace,
I feyne ful many a mallady,
As I wer in A dropësy,
Or sodeynly podagre falle;
And alway, affter good I calle;
I feyne me blynd, I feyne me lame;
And for to lye, I ha no shame;
I crye with bak ycorbyd doun,
And makë many a pytous soun.
And thogh I fele no maner peyne,
I kan ful wel a causë feyne,
That I am falle in indygence,
ffor to beggyn my dyspence.

‘And yiff that folk ne yiff me nouht,
Than with a gruchchynge hevy thouht
I curse hem in-to hellë pet.
Myn herte on malys ys so set,
On all I wolde avengyd be,
That wyl no pyte han off me.

‘Thys ys the hand off faussemblaunce;
And with thys hand, I kan avaunce
Alle thys trwauntys euerychon
Wych that on my dauncë gon,
That, by her offyce and her name,
ffor to axë, haue no shame:
Brybours that gon vp and doun,
Devoyde off occupacïoun,
And lyst hem sylff nothyng avaunce,
To travaylle for ther sustenaunce,
As thow mayst sen ful many On
That aboute the world so gon.

‘Somme axë bred, somme axë chese;
And for that they wer loth to lese,
Somme axe clothys and cootys olde;

479

‘And some off hem arn ek ful bolde,
Off dyvers housys to axe a rente,
Wych on the byldyng neuere spente,
As menstrallys and Tregetours,
And other feyned sowdyours,
That with patentys aboutë gon;
And among hem euerychon,
I holde thys falsë pardownerys.
I will nat spekyn of no ffrerys,
whiche, in every regïon,
ar bound by theyr professyon
vnto wilfull poverte.
wherfore they haven lyberte
to beggen, as them selff affyrm,
and on this text they them confyrm:
Christ axyd, when he was her[e] man,
water of the Samaritan—
I mene, the woman at the well—
in erthë, when he dyd her[e] dwell;
wherfore, befull [it] is to frerys,
sythe they be no processionerys,
to get theyr lyvelode wher they may.

‘To ther beggyng I say nat nay,
so that they fayn[ë] not in dede
to axë nat, but for veray nede,
thayr trewë sustentacïon,
without all symulatïon,
that wilfully men to them profrys;
nat to shit vp gold in coffers,
nor to setten ther labowr
to gathar and hepe gret tresure.

‘as to myn opynyon,
I hold it no perfectïon,
thowghe that my dyshe & my sachell
can techen them the craft [ful] well;
for bothë two (in sothfastnes)
be gret[ë] tookens of falsnes;
and who that evar dothe them vse,
I ne can them nat excuse,
bothe of hyghe and low degre,

480

‘but they be servants vnto me.

‘And also, yf thow lyst to loke,
touchynge myn hand eke with the crooke,
I will the tell, or I ha do,
in what wyse I cam therto:
thou shalt know[ë] certaynly,
that Symon Magus and Gyosy,
bothë twayn, in theyr entent,
made ther-of to me present.
but the crooke, by óblacion,
was gyven tó me of Symon.

‘and yf I shall the truthe atame,
the fryst[ë] letter of his name
is an .s. (who takythe hede,)
of shape y-krokyd in the hed;
and of his name (be well certeyn)
it is chefe capytall & cheftayn.
thow wost full well thy selfe, ywys,
that every .s. y-crokyd is,
lyche a crose highe in the top,
lyche the staffe of a byshope,
or of an abot, wher it be,
thow mayst example ther-of se.

‘and of an abbey, in sothnesse,
I am callyd an abbesse.
whiche abbey, by gret vyllenye,
ys [y]callyd symonye.
and as myn hand her with this hook,
of the .s. his nam[ë] tooke,
ryght so, in conclusïon,
symonye cam of symon.

‘and fyrst thow shalt well vnderstond,
that by falsnes of this hond,
most horryble and odyous,
was brought fyrst in-to christis hous
the falsë vyce of symonye.
and by his feyned trecherye,
by his sleyhte, and by his gyn,
at the dore he cam not in;
but at some travas, lych a theffe,

481

‘wher he dothe full gret myschefe;
for wher so evar he dothe aproche,
with this staffe he can a-croche
the herts of folks by covetyse,
and ordeynythe in full cursyd wyse
sheppards to kepë christis shepe,
whiche of theyr offyse toke no kepe.

‘an herd man is [y]sayd, in dede,
only, for he shuld[ë] fede
his shepe with spyrituall doctryn;
but they draw by an othar lyn:
they may be callyd, for ther werkynge,
pastours only of fedynge.
they fede them selff with háboundaunce,
and let ther shepe go to myschaunce;
I trow it is full well ysene,
them selfe be fatt, ther shepe be lene.
I trow, the most[ë] part of all,
men shuld them rather wolv[ë]s call
than trwë herd[ë]s; yong and old,
they come to robb[ë] christis fold;
they shuld ther shepe from wolv[ë]s were;
the wool, the mylke, a-way they bere.
I can not se wher-of they serue,
that lat ther shepe at meschefe starue,
and put them selffe in gret defame.

‘and they would ekë makë lame
gracë dieu of cursydnesse,
lyke as I shall a-non exprese,
ffrom the trone of hir mageste,
by gyfte of temporalite:
his fals office I can well tell;
he can now byen, he can now sell,
by bound[ë]s of collusyon;
and all comythe in by syr symon.

‘yet at the last it shall be found
that gracë dïeu is nat bound,
nor, hathe not lost hir fraunchise
by none suche fals[ë] marchandyse,
as comythe in by symony,

482

‘nor couetyse of Gyësy.

‘this hand also with his crochet,
in swyche a maner is yset
to sell and byen this gret vertwe
whiche is callyd gracë dieu;
but, kyndly to specify,
the byggyng is callyd symony,
and the sellyng in certeyn,
(for to speke in wordës pleyn,)
they that it sell, for gret or lyt,
bene y-callyd Gyësite;
but symony, (who can entend,)
dothe bothe nam[ë]s comprehend;
and all that woldë thus enchace
gracë dieu out of hir place,
to sellen hir for gold & good,
they be mad, or el[le]s wood;
and resemblen (in swiche cas,
I dare affirm,) vnto Iudas,
that ihesu christ for mony sold
full fallsly, and the panns he told.

‘and suche folke (as thynkythe me)
wers than iudas, yet thay be;
for the pennis that iudas toke,
aftarward he it forsoke,
and restoryd it agayn;
but this folke, be well certeyn,
will for no predicatïon
nevar make restitucïon,
and cawsë why, (who lokythe well,)
is only this, for the sachell
whiche hangythe fro my nekë doune,
of nature and condicïoun:

‘what-evar into my sake ther gothe,
(who that evar be lesse or lothe,)
it will nevar ysswe out ageyn;
the entre is bothe large and pleyne,
and the mouthe to gon in by
is evar open at the entry.
but to comyn out, that wyll nat be

483

‘by no maner of sotelte;
the way is narow & streyght certeyn,
for to comyn out ageyn,
lyke a wyle in a ryver,
to cache the fysche bothe fer and nere;
the entre large the comynge out
is so strayt, it stant in dout.

‘A-nothar hand I have also,
with whiche I werkë mychë wo
by a maner of roberye:
and it is callyd ‘trecherye,’
withe the whiche, (who can conceyve,)
full many folk[ës] I deceve.
vndar colour of ryghtwysnes,
I do to folke full gret falsnes,
that be symple and inocent.
withe my frawd they be so blent
in marchandysë that I vse,
I can my selffe nat well excuse.

‘in deceyt stant my labowr,
by fals weyght and fals mesure:
by largë mesure I can byen,
and streight mesure I sell ageyn;
in byggyng I wyll ha trwe wayt,
but in my salle I do gret slayt,
bothe in peys and in balance.

‘with sobar cher and countenance
my chaffér I can well sell,
and to symple folke I tell
that it is bettar than it is,
and wittyngly I do a-mys
touchynge the pris, how that it gothe,
and falsly swere many an othe,
sober all-way, and sad of chere.

‘and whan that I am a drapere,
I hange out courteyns in the lyght,
for to blyndë folkës syght,
that men may not sen at ye full
nothar the colowr nor the wull;
set it at hyghë pris therto,

484

and swere I myght ha sold it so
the last[ë] day, to a chapman:
thus I begyll many a man

withe this hand of whiche I tell,
bothë when I by and sell.

‘this hand myght nat well be worse:
some tyme ther-with I can sell horse,
and lyke a falce coursar, I can
with othis deceyue many a man.

‘som tyme by borows and by towns
I walke about[en] with pardons,
with reliks, and dedë bones,
closyd vndar glase and stons:
I shew them vndar sell and bull,
and thus the pore people I pull,
of ther sylvar I make them quite,
in falsnes I ha so gret delyght.

‘to abbeys eke I can wel gon,
stell ymagis of tre and stone,
thowghe they ben old, & paynt them newe,
and make them semë freshe of hewe,
with colours bothë whit and redd;
and at theyr brestis and at ther hedd
I set berryls and crystall;
vndar, I make an hole full smale;
I put in oylë, wyne, and blood,
and melke also, to get[ten] good;
make the lycour round about,
at small holes to rennyn out,
as it were done by myracle,
that ther nis balme nor triacle
in this world, so ryche of prys,
of foltyshe people that ben nat wys.

‘I set eke out swyche ymagis,
in stret[i]s and at hermytagis,
and in subbarbys at many a towne,
with bullis fret full of pardon;
byshops seles be nat behynd:
and thus I makë folk[ë]s blynd,
by my sleyght and by my guyle.

485

‘and yet I vse a-nothar whyle:
I go to faytours of entent,
and make them eke of myn assent,
and, by fals colusyon,
and cursyd dissymulatïon,
I menë suche as ha no shame,
to fayne them selffe bothe blynd and lame,
crokyd, halt, and dome with all,
on euery leg a gret mormall,
full of plastars old and new,
to make the people on them rew.

‘and, for more decepcïon,
I make them to be leyd a-doun,

to-forn the ymagys down to ly,
and for helthë lowd[ë] cry,
ther to have amendëment.
and they and I of one assent,
I lyft them vp my selfe anon,
and make them on ther fet to gon
with-outen eny more obstácle,
as all wér wrowght by myrácle.

‘the people, takynge none hede therto,
supposythe pleynly that it wer so;
with offerynge and with pilgrimágis
come full oft to suche ymágis,
for to done ther óbservaunce:
and thus I can my selffe avaunce
as othár loséngars can,
with good that is full falsly won,
whiche that the people obeyethe full sore.
but of this thynge, as now no more
I wyll nat makë réhersall.

‘& for this hand may myche avayle
to profet me bothe day and nyght,
I take none hede of wronge or ryght,
thowghe it to folks do gret domage,
whill I ther-in fynd ádvauntage.
it hathe of falshed many a braunche,
and why? I put it to my haunche,
and to my tonge reyse it agayne:

486

‘the cawse I woll vnto thè sayne:
myn haunchë is callyd lesynge,
and my tongë forswerynge;
and, to this twayn, trechery
is famylyar, and of aly,
and to them bothe, of kyndly lawe,
of custome she will evar drawe.
wher they ben old or yong of age,
they be echon of o lynage,
and, by hyrë, fyrst, certeyne,
myne haunchë cawhtë this spaven.

‘she made my tongë fyrst taplye
to fynd out lesynge, and to ly;
and of lyenge I made to-forne,
was forswerynge fyrst yborn;
for wher that evar forsweryng be,
lesynge is nyhe, as men may se;
and wher-so-evar that they go,
barret is nat fer them fro;
all thre bene of on accord,
with truthe evar-more at dyscord.’

pilgrim:
“Tell on, I pray, let me se
in what wysë may this be;
thow callyst thy tonge ‘forswerynge,’
and thyn haunche also ‘lyenge,’
whiche is so halt and corbyd doun);
tell me here-on some reson.”

Avarice:

quod avaricë, ‘lay to ere,
and anon thow shalt well here,
how that I this othar day
mett with truthe vp-on the way;
withe her was also equite,
and bothë tweyn, I dyd se.
of them, as I tokë hede,
how they begged bothe ther bred;
they were so poorë bothë two,
for theyr frynd[ë]s wer all go.
and yf I shall the truthë showe,

487

‘this day they ha but frynd[ë]s fewe,
ne non) ne shal, yf that I may.

‘and when I met them on the way,
I gan to turne the bake full sone;
with them I had no thynge to done;
for me sempte, to my plesaunce,
they myght me no thynge avaunce,
nor no profit done to me.
therfore from them I gan to fle
over the feld[ë]s as they lay,
and I ne cept none hyghë way,
but forthe, lyke myn opinïon.
as I rann, I fell doune;
and with that fall ther was no gayne,
but that I cawht a great spavayne
vpon my lege, whiche madë me
for to halt, as thow mayst se;
and sothly yet, (who lokë well,)
to halt, I hate it nevar a dell.
for when with haltynge I am dull,
it makythe my sake to be more full;
haltynge dothe me more avaunce;
therby I makë chevysaunce,
for in haltynge is no synne;
who dothe vpryght, may nothynge wynn;
haltynge me wynnythe many a grote,
it maketh me hatter than my cote,
that I must my tunge in sothe
cast out as a doggë dothe.

‘and than full offe it falleth so,
that to the kyng[ë]s court I goo,
and am ther, of no man afferyd.
and whan I have the lawës leryd,
and am come to hyghe estat,
than I become an advocat,
and makë folk[ë]s to me drawe,
swyche as hav to don with lawe.

‘but first I swere, with-out[en] doute,
my tunge I shall nat puten oute,
for ryght ne wronge, ne for no thynge,

488

‘but wher I se ryght gret wynnynge.

‘on that party evar I hold,
lyche a balaunce of whiche y told,
whose tungë draweth to that cost,
wher the weyht gothe dounë most:
to that party he wyll nat fyne
the balauncë to enclyne.
and so fare I when I begyne,
to holden ther I may most wyne.

‘whan folke me pray with all ther myght
for to help them in theyr ryght,
wher the cawse be grene or rype,
a-non as I the money grype,
than I dare swaryn, by bone & blood,
that theyr cawse is trwe and good,
thoughe I know the contrary.
and than anon I wyll not tary,
for gold and sylvar evar amonge,
to makë ryght, thowghe it be wronge;
for I can make, vnto hir syght,
ryght of wronge, and wrong of ryght;
tourne the matere vp se doune,
and preue it out by good reson,
that in the case there is no lake:
and all I do, to fyll my sake
withe gold and othar men[në]s good,
how evar aforne the casë stode.

‘thus haue I told the by resonne,
and mad a demonstracïon,
why that my tonge (by dyscryvynge)
is [y]callyd ‘forswerynge.’
and withe lesyngs, (who lyst know,)
vp and downe it is y-sowe;
to falshed I do most avauntage,
and to truthë gretyst damage.
and in this plyht, as I the told,
ever my purpos I shall hold,
that yf the lawe ne chaungë nought,
I will be fals of word and thought,
in every place, wher evar I be,

489

‘that no man shall levë me:
now I ha told the of my sake.

‘touchinge the bonche vpon my bake,
I wyll to the now specifye
what thynge it dothe signefye.
this is the boch gret and hydous,
with whiche this folke relygïous
bene ybonchyd, full many on;—
som, I say, nat everychon,
suche as by transgressyon
kepe not theyr professyon,
as they be bound by theyr degre.

‘and by example, (as thow mayst se,)
so as a boche or a fellon
ar cawsyd of corruptïon
of wyckyd humours & corrupt blood,
of colore adust, fervent and wood,
and othar suparfluyte;
ryght so, ryches and gret plente
ar cawsë that a rychë man,
as the gospell rehers[ë] can,
May in-to heven have none entre,
But euen lyke as ye may se,
A camell may hym-silffe applye
To passen thorugh a nedelyes eye,
Whiche is a thyng not credible,
But a maner impossible,
Thys beste is so encomerous,
Off bak corbyd and tortuous,
And so to passë, no thyng able.

‘And euene lyk in caas sembláble,
ffolkis off relygyoun,
Bounde by ther professyoun
ffor to lyue in pouerte
Off ther ownë volunte,
And to pouert hem silffe proffesse,
Ȝeue they be bocchyd with richesse,
To gadre vp good in ther bandoun,
Tresoure, and greet pocescyoun;

490

‘ffor hard it is ffor hem to trace,
Or by so smal an hoole to passe
Vp to that heuenly mansyoun,
To cleyme there habytacyoun.

This lytle hoolë (who kan se,)
Bytokeneth willefful pouerte,
Receyued with-outen eny stryffe;
ffor, pore we kam in-to this lyffe,
And nakyd, (who taketh heede ther-to,)
Out off this lyffe we schal eke go.

‘Wherffore late ffolkis good heede take,
(Swyche as han this world fforsake,)
Hem to preserue by holynesse
ffrom the bocche off ffalse richesse,
Whiche is a thyng (who kan discerne)
That wyl closë the posterne
Of Paradys and the entre,
And stope the hole off pouerte,
Whiche is, to parffyte ffolke, the gate
To lete hem in, erly and late,
Alle that ben ffounden vertuous
In ffolkis eke relygyous.

Properte.

‘This bocche is callyd ‘Properte,’
Whiche is afferd off Pouerte;
ffor pouerte (as clerkys teche)
Is bothë medicyne and leche
To launche the bocche off Properte,
And voyde alle superfluyte,
And the bollynge in echë syde.

‘But Properte dar not Abyde
To suffre Pouerte hym to kerue,
Leste off the wounde he schulyë sterue
Leuere he hathe, in peyne tendure,
Than pouerte schulde his bocche recure;
ffor he is dredefful, and eke arwh,
To passe an hole that is so narwh
As hym semyth in his devys,
Outher to heven or paradys:
His herte is no thyng ther-on set.

491

‘Now wole I speke off my mawmet.

The Mawmet:

‘And off myn ydol that is so oold,
Made off siluer and off gold,
In the whiche (I the ensure)
Is the ymage and the ffygure
And the prynte (as thou mayste see)
Off the lord off the contre.
This is the god whiche, by depos,
Loueth to be schutte in hucches clos.

Somwhyle, that men may hym not knowe,
He wole hym hyde in erthë lowe.

‘This god kan makë ffolkys blynde,
That to his óbseruaunce hem bynde;
And causith hem, ageyn resoun,
To caste her lokës lowë down
In-to the erthe, ageyne nature,
Hem-silffe so mykel they assure
In eerthely tresoure, whiche at o day
Schal vnwarely passe away;
ffor lawe in erthe, on euery syde,
Lyche a mollë they abyde;
In erthe is hoolly ther labour;
In erthe ys also ther tresour;
Erthe is ther Ioye and ther plesaunce;
No thyng but erthe may hem avaunce;
Gold and seluer makyth hem nygh wood;
Gold is ther god, gold is ther good;
I worschipe gold and my tresour
As ffor my god and savyour;
Saue gold, noon other god I haue.

‘I thenke not how I schal be grave
In eerthë lowe, ther to be ffreete,
Corupcyoun and wormës mete,
Hydous, stynkynge, and horryble,
And to loke vp-on, odyble:
What may my gold thanne me avayle,
Whanne wormes han with me batayle?
But here, while I haue lyberte,

492

‘This thyng to-fforne I kan no se,
ffor in no thyng I kan affye,
But gold and good to multeplye.
Gold is my god and my Mawmet;

And al on gold myne herte is sette;
ffor golde, I dyde fful greet offence,
In colys to rostë seynt Laurence.
For he, off pite (thus it stood)
Ȝaue the tresoure and the good
Off holy churchë ffor almesse,
To pore ffolkis he ffonde in distresse.

‘But I, in myne oppynyoun,
am not off that condicioun:
To getë good is my laboure,
And to awmentë my tresoure,
And (as it is to ffolke fful kouthe,)
More in agë thanne in ȝouthe,
Som tyme with lesynges and with ffablys,
Som tyme at chesse, som tyme at tablys,
At merels and the botevaunt,
At hasard and at [the] devaunt,
And at these pleyës euerychon,
My mawmet I worschipe euere in oon.

ffor, wher-so it be vyce or synne,
I do no thyng but ffor to wynne;
To good is al-way my repayre.

‘And, ffor my Mawmet is so ffayre,
And ffulffylled off alle plesaunce,
Do ther-to som óbseruaunce,
And knele anoon vpon thy kne,
Lowely to his dëyte.
ffor, but thow do with-out[ë] more,
Thow schalt abyggen it fful sore;
And I schal ellys verrey the;
Thow geteste no lenger trewys off me.’

The Pylgryme:
And whilë sche gan me assayle
fful cruelly, as by batayle,
Alle sodeynely I dydë sen,

493

How that ȝouthë wente atwen,
Bytwyxen Avarise and me,
Cryed trewys, and bad let be.

Than ȝouthe spak:
‘Do to hym no vyolence,
ffor I am komen in his diffence,
Ageynse the to make hym stronge.
Thow schalt to hym do now no wronge,
(Thow thow be cruel off entent,)
While that I am here present.’

Auaryce:

‘Ȝeue thow ne were not ffastë by,
Thow myghtteste trustë ffynaly,
That I ffor no thyng woldë lette,
But that I schulde vp-on hym sette.

Thy komynge is not to my pay;
Thow haste me lettyd off my pray;
ffor the whiche, I am fful wo;
But now to hym I may nat do,
ffor to ffulffillë my talent,
While thow art with hym present.
But go thi way, and late hym be,
And anoon thow schalt wel se,
I schal hem cacchen in a trappe,
And aresten by the lappe,
That he schal not skape away
ffro my daungere, ȝeue I may.’

The Pylgryme:

And whanne that I was at my large,
And thought I woldë me discharge,
ffrom allë daunger to go ffre,
ffrom Auaryce at lyberte,
Thorough helpe and ffavour (in this cas)
Off ȝouthë that my guydë was,
I wolde, as tho, no lenger byde,
But in-tawodë there bysyde
I entryd, whiche stood ffastë by.
And as I wente, alle sodeynely
I herde oon wonder lowdë crye,

494

And afftir me gan ffaste hym hye,
As he hádde ben in a rage.
And so straunge was his langage,
That I ne vnderstood hym nought;
ffor I conceyued in my thought,
How he that affter me gan gon:
ffrenche nor Latyn he spak noon.
And in his hand (I was wel war,)
A nakyd swerde how that he bar,
fful scharpë growndë ffor to byte,
And redy as he woldë smyte,
And bade, I schulde me ffastë dresse,
Kome to speke with his Maystresse.

Amydde the way, vpon a lond,
With-in a cercle I hym ffond,

With-in whiche (so god me save,)
I sawgh fful many a ffygure grave,
fful meruelous, as in workynge;
And he bare armys off A kynge,
A Boxë, lyche a Messangere.
And trewely, as I neyghed nere,
By sygnës that I dydë se,
I wendë so that he hadde be,
Hopynge the bette, at lyberte,
ffrom al daunger to skapë ffre:

To whom I spake fful boldëly,
And seyde, “I merveyl ryght greetly
That thow byddeste me ffaste dresse
ffor to kome to thi maystresse;
And by no tokene that I kan se,
I wote not what sche schuldë be;
ffor whiche, I preye the not to spare,
Off hir the maner to declare.”

And he to me in wordës ffewe,
With his ffynger gan me schewe
fful ffastë by, a mansyoun),
Ryght vp, lyche a pávyloun;
And on the pomel (who lyste knowe)
Wonder hygh ther sate a krowe,

495

His whynges splayynge to and ffro;
And with the noyse he madë tho,
The messangere gan newe abreyde,
And vn-to me ryght thus he seyde:

The Messangere:

‘Byhoolde ȝone habytacyoun
And the hyghë pávylloun:
In that place (I dar expresse)
There abydith my maystresse,
Whiche cessith, nowther nyght nor day,
To teche hir scolers what sche may,
fful many wonderfful lessouns,
And many dyuerse cónclusyouns.

‘And, therffore, I callyd the,
That thow scholdeste the maner se
Off hir scole, and knowe it offte.
And ffor this skele, the crowe aloffte
Is sette, (ȝeue thow kanste espye,)
Afftir hir scolerys ffor to crye;
That fforby passe, bothe este and west;
Thereffore sche hath made there hir nest.’

The pylgryme:
“Certis me semyth it were ffolye
To komë there, or go fforby,
But ȝeue I knewë (in sentence)
What doctryne or what science,
To hir scolers sche dothe teche.
Thereffore, opunly in thy speche,
Declarë what it schuldë be,
Or ellys I wole not go with the.”

The Messangere:

‘A yerë,’ quod he, ‘and no mo,
ther I had to scolë go;

Couetysë, off entente,
To that scolë sche me sente;
And sothely, as it semyth me,
So I trowe sche dydë the.’

The Pylgryme:
“Certeynely that is not so;
Though sche and I (bothë two)

496

“Hadde I-ffere longe dalyaunce,
Sche made no maner off rémembraunce
Off this scole, in no degre,
Off whiche thow spekist off to me.”

The messangere:

‘Than I dar seyn (as thow schalt ffynde)
That it was, out off hyre mynde;
ffor at this scole ther comyth no wyght
ffor to leernë, day nor nyght,
But ȝeue that he, ffirste, (off entent,)
Be ffro covetyse I-sent.

‘Ȝit off this scole, (ȝeue thow wylte dwelle,)
The maner, I schal the telle:

ffirste, whanne I was heder sent,
I wolde, by som experiment,
Or by som schorte conclusyoun,
Haue preued out my lessoun;
ffor speculatyff and the practyk
Off this scolë be not lyk;
ffor speculátyff (in sentence)
With-outen good experience,
Avaylith lytle or ellis nought,
How longe euere that it be sought.

Now take heede, and thow schalt se
I wolde hauë dygnyte,
Or som other greet tresour,
And ther-on settë my labour;
And woldë knowe, to this estat
Wher I schal be ffortunat.

ffirste, with my swerd, vp-on the ground
I make a cercle large and round,
With karectis and with ffygures,
And knowë not the áventures,
Nor the dirkenesse hydde with-Inne,
Off the karectis, whanne I gynne
To emprynte: al they be sene,
I wotë neuere what they mene;

Saue I conyecte yt may so be,
That spiritis scholde obeye to me,

497

‘By my invocacyouns
To answere to my questyouns,
Swyche sperytis as I kalle;
And ȝit I knowe noon off hem alle,
Saue off entente, as thow mayste se,
That they schuldë grauntë me
Som maner gyffte, or som gerdoun,
Concernynge myn oppynyoun,
By vertu off the cercle round,
And Carectis graven in the ground,
By schewynge or by ápparence,
Affter that I ȝeue credence.’

The pylgryme:

“Alle that thow doste specyffye,
Is but ffalsehed and ffantesye
And cursyd ymagynacyoun,
Brouth in ffirste by Illusïoun.

“This scole is nought, in sotheffastenesse,
Whos doctryne is but cursydnesse.
The scolers there-off, I holde hem wood;
Swyche spiritis may don to the no good;
And ȝeue thow koudeste the trouthe entende,
Harme they may, but not amende:
They wole wyrke in thi damáge,
But no thyng to thyne ávauntage,
Who that kan lokë wel aboute.

“Also thi siluen stante in doute
Where-off thi cercle scholdë serue;
And thyngës that thow doste obserue,
Alle is but ffoly and mysbyleve,
Towchynge the spiritis, thow mayste wel leve;
ffor the they wyl no thynge do wel,
ffor they the louen neuere a del.”

The Messangere:
‘I Dar afferme (with-outë slouthe)
In party that thow haste seyde trouthe,
Excepte oonly (it is no nay)
In many thynges they helpë may,
A man greetly to magnyffye,
Encresse also, and multeplye,

498

Whanne they be cónstreyned to do so,
And haue no power to go ther-ffro,
Comaunded to swyche óbseruaunce
By hym that hathe the gouernaunce
I mene the kyng, to whom, eche weye,
Mawgre ther myght, they muste obeye.’

The Pylgryme:
“I conceyue, and se wel here,
Thow art the kyngës messangere,
By the armes that thow dost were,
And by the sygnes I se the bere;
But makë demonstracyoun
To me off thi comyssyoun,
By what power or by what peyne
Thát thow mayste hem so constreyne.”

The Messangere:
‘Commyssyoun I haue neuere on;
And trewely I dar axë non;
And though I dyde (as thow schalt se)
He woldë grauntë noon to me.’

The Pylgryme:
“Thanne wote I wel, (ȝeue it be sought,)
ffor the, that they wole do ryght nought.”

The Messangere:
‘Here vp-on, what so ȝe seye,
Wotë wel they wole obeye
Pleynely vnto my byddynge;
ffor they wene that, off the kynge
I haddë fful auctorite,
Commyssyoun and fful pouste,
To maken them, lyche myn entent,
To óbeye my comaundëment
By vertu off myn orysoun,
Karectys and coniurysoun;
ffor drede off whiche, (be wel certeyn,)
I knowe they dar me not with-seyn.’

The Pilgryme:

“Wher thow be wel or yuel apayd,
Take good heed what thow haste sayd:
Thow haste ben ffalse in thi workyng,

499

“And wrongely don vn-to thi kyng;
Wher-ffore thow shalt I-ponysshed be
ffor thi greet Inequyte,
To make spiritys the to obeye,
And swychë charges on hem leye
By disseyte and ffalse tresoun,
And, haste no commyssïoun
ffor the to schewe on see nor lond,
And haste I-made eke, with thyn hand,
Karectis and cercle round,
And compassid it vp-on the ground;
And art so blynd, thow kanste not seen,
On no party, what they mene.

“And swyche karectis (I dar wel telle)
Be markis off the deuel off helle,
ffirste ordeyned (who kan conceyue)
Innocentis to disceyue.
And thow mayste also (trustë me)
There-with thow schalt dysseyued be;
ffor this selis, thow schalt ffynde,
Constreynë the, and sorë bynde
By a maner állyaunce
To do the deuel swyche óbseruaunce
Made to thi conffusïoun,
As bonde or oblygacyoun;
By whiche he wole (off verrey myght)
Cleymë the his man off ryght;
By swyche a tytle, make hym stronge.

“And to spiritis thow doste greet wronge,
Hem to constreyne in thi workynge
To brynge thé other mennës thynge,
(Be it by day, be it by nyght,)
Vn-to whiche thow haste no ryght;
Where-in thow art greetly to blame,
To bydde hem in the kyngës name
Or constreyne hem, ageyne resoun,
By karecte or by comyssyoun,
To robbe or steele, to thi ffavour,
Off other ffolkës ther tresour,
By verrey fforce, ageynë ryght.

500

“And ȝeue thow loke aboutë ryght,
To the kyng, vsynge this vice,
Thow doste fful greet preivdice
Ageyne his lawefful ordynaunce,
Where it is boden (in substaunce)
And dyffendid, (who kan espye,)
Alle maner theffte and robrye,
In peyne off deth: take heede her-to,
And with-drawe thyne hand ther-ffro
With al thi myght and al thy peyne.
Thow standeste in daunger atwene tweyne;
Outher off God or off Sathan
Thow art off the leegë man;
And therffore, ffor to lyue in reste,
Leeue the worste, and cheese the beste;
ffor (schortly I schal devyse,)
Thow schalt be quytte lyke thi servyse,
In hellë with dampnacyoun,
Or heuene, to thi savacïoun.”

The Messangere:

‘Of thy wordës I take hede,
They puttë me in fful greet drede:
But, o thyng comfforteth me,
Whanne that I considere and se
There is so greet a companye,
Me to susteyne in my ffolye,
Off ffolkis that to-fforne haue be
Off wonder greet autoryte,
As whylom was kyng Salamoun,
And Virgyle, off greet renoun,
Cypryan and Albalart,
And many an-other in this art,
Maystres by experyence,
And hadde also ther-to lycence
(With-outen eny noyse or stryffe,)
ffor to vse it al her lyffe.

‘And this ilkë craffte also
(Who that takyth heed ther-to,)
Is not in rewarde so perillous,
Dredefful, nor superstycïous,

501

‘As som crafftis that haue be do
With sacriffyce, and eke also
With óbseruáunces, vpon mownteynes,
In desérte, and eke in pleynes,
And in placis fful savage,
Solytarye, and fful off rage,
That, alle the maner ffor to noumbre,
It wolde a man greetly encombre,
As thow schalt se and knowe anon
Ȝeue thow lyste with me to gon;
And ffynally, thi pas to dresse
To hir that is the cheff maystresse
Off alle this thyng that I haue tolde,
That, ȝeue thow be hardy and bolde
ffor to proche to hir presence,
Thow schalt haue fful experyence.’

The Pylgryme:

“That euere I schuldë this thyng se,
God, off his grace, dyffendë me;
And he be my proteccyoun
Fro thylkë habytacyoun!
ffor, by opene evidence,
And by recorde off thi sentence,
Thilkë place, with-outë wene,
To good it doth no-thyng partene;
ffor, by the crowe that sytte aloffte,
Makyth noyse and cryeth offte,
It schewith wel how thylkë place
Is devoyde, and ffer ffro grace,
And longeth (as I rehersë kan)
To the Deuel and to Sathan;
ffor, save the Deuel, noon other wyght
Hathe power there, off verray ryght.
Therffore I wole me holden heere,
And to that placë kome noon nere;
And trewëly, (to my devys,)
Thi-silff also (ȝeue thow be wys,)
Thow schalt wysely with-drawë the,
And abydë here with me
ffor thyne ownë ávauntage,

502

“Leste it turne to thi damage;
ffor, who gothe to that mancyoun,
Gothe streytte to his destruccyoun,
As ther haue do fful many oon,
Whiche here-to-fforne haue theder gon,
Resemblynge (as I kan devyse)
To hym that was the Duke of Fryse,
Whiche, whanne he shuld ha be baptisyd,
(In storye as it ys devysed,
And as bokës kan wel telle,)
His o ffoot was putte in the welle,
To haue receyved cristis lawe,
But he in haste gan it with-drawe;

For hym thought he herde a cry,
That affermed certeynely,
ffor synne and ffor Inyquyte,
How mo ffolke schuldë dampned be
At the day off Iugëment,
Gon to helle, there to be brent,
Ȝe mo (as in comparisoun)
Thanne ffolk ffor ther savacyoun
Scholde that day receyued be,
To dwelle in heuene, that ffayre cyte.

But this duke, hym-silff to encombre,
Seyde with the gretteste nowmbre,
And woldë go, thorough his ffolye,
And with hem holdë companye,
There-with affermynge, in his thought,
That, off baptysme, he sette nought.
ffor whiche, me semeth it were ffolye,
The to halden companye
With swyche ffolke in thyn entent,
Off whiche affter thow schalt repente.

“ffor I suppose that Salamoun
(Off whom thow madest mencyoun)
Wher in-ffectte, or hadde his parte,
In his dayës, off swyche arte,
As som ffolk seyne, (who kan entende,)
That hym-silffe he dyde amende

503

“Off that and many another thyng,
To-ffore the hour off his deiyng,
And resceyued was to grace,
And hath in heuene a dwellynge place.

And semblabely, the tother man,
The gretë clerke callyd Cypryan,
To-fforne his deth, lyste to fforsake
This craffte, and ffor Crystis sake,
Suffred (as made is mencyoun)
Martirdam and passyoun,
And is in heuene stelleffyed,
And with seyntis gloreffyed.

Take heede to hem, by reed off me,
And not to hem that dampned be.
Thenke on hem that ben in blysse;
And where as thow haste don amysse,
With-drawe thy ffoot, and do penaunce,
And haue in hertë répentaunce.”

The Messangere:

‘Certys,’ quod he (‘ȝeue thow lyste se,)
That thow seyste, ne may not be.
Though thyne argumente be stronge,
At that scole I haue ben longe,
And fful wel lernëd my lessoun;
And by sodeyne departysoun,
(Who takyth heede, it is no nay,)
So sone I may not part away,
As I kan not (in myne entente)
ffynde in myne hertë to repente,
Nor to departe vp-on no syde;
I am with-hoolde; I muste abyde,
With other scolers mo than oon,
Whiche that there to scolë goon,
As ffolke may sen ther, gret ffoysoun.

‘And eke my skrippe and my bordoun
Ben I-leffte in that hostage,
And lyne in maner off morgage;
And I ne may not hem recure;
And also (as I the ensure)
I gyue no forcë, in certeyn,

504

‘Though I neuere hem haue ageyn.’

The Pylgryme:

And whanne that I these wordës herde,
In maner trewëly I fferde
As though I hadde astonyed be;
And, as it semed vn-to me,
I stood in a perélous cas.
And therffore I abasched was,
And sawe no bette reffute to me,
But ffro that placë ffor to ffle;
ffor he (schortely, in sentence)
To whome I neuere dyde offence,
Me to bryngen in-to distresse,
Gan to callen his maystresse
To kome vpon me in greet rape,
That I schulde hir not escape.

And sche, off ffalse entencyoun,
Kam out off hir pávilloun
Affter me, that I wente abak,
Hydous off look, oolde and blak,
Off whom I greetly was afferd.

In the mydde off a book, sche heelde a swerd;
Other scawberk hadde sche noon;
And, as I byhelde anoon,
Sche hadde (in sothe, as thoughtë me)
Largë whyngës ffor to ffle.

And, by a maner ffelonye,
Sche gan loudë ffor to crye;
And, me manasynge off pryde,
Bad me that I schulde abyde;
And ellis, mawgrey al my myght,
I schulde not skape out off hir syght
Til I haddë in partye
Somwhat seyne off hir maystrye.

And towarde me hir look sche caste,
And gan to come vp-on fful ffaste;
But as sche kam, it semptë me,
That sche sate hygh vp-on a tre,
And pleynely gan to speceffye,
Hir namë was ‘Nygrómauncye,’

505

Whiche, by my craffte (in substaunce)
Kan ffolke encresse, and wel avaunce,
That ben in my subieccyoun
And lyste to leernë my lessoun.
This ilkë book that thou wolte se,
Is I-callyd Mors Anime,
Whiche is in englysche (ffor to seyn,)
‘Dethe off the sowlë,’ in certeyn.

And this nakyd swerd whiche I hoolde,
(As thow mayste thi silffe byholde,)
There-with (ffor schorte conclusyoun,)
Whanne thow haste herdë my lessoun,
There-with thow schalt yslaynë be.

And thus sche gan manassë me,
Where-off I stood in fful greet drede;
But off grace, (as I toke hede)
A whitë dowuë I dyde se
ffleen sodeynely towardës me;
But with me, where as I stood,
Sche ne made no lenger abood.
And I ne made no greet delay,
But wentë fforthe vp-on my way;
And I mette (or I was war)
An oolde oon, whiche that ffagot bar
Vpon hir bak, and eke therto,
In hir hand sche heelde also
A peyrë cysours scharpe I-grownde.
And, to me-ward as sche was bounde,
Sche bad (ffor schorte conclusyoun)
ffor to leye my skryppe adoun;
And gan vp-on me ffor to ffrowne,
Lowdë cryed, hir lyste not rowne:

Heresye:
‘For but thow leyë here adoun,
I schal, to thi conffusyoun,
Schape thi skryppe off newe array,
ffor it is not to my pay;

506

‘I schal it kutte in other wyse,
Lyche as my-syluen lyste devyse.’

The Pylgryme:
“Thow ooldë vekke, as semeth me,
That thow mayste not clerely se;
Wherffore me lyste, by thi byddynge,
ffor to do no maner thyng,
But ȝeue to-fforne I knowe and se
Thy powere and thyn autorite;
Thy worke also, and thyne office,
I wole ffirste knowe in myn avyce.”

Heresie:

‘For pleynëly, off lasse and more,
Evene afftir my ffadris lore,
I wole (off bothë ffalse and trewe,)
The skrippës kutte and schapë newe,
Off pylgrymës greet and smale,
Kutte hem alle on pecys smale;
ffor it was I, my-silffe allon,
That schope the skryppës ȝore agon;
ffirste, off this Pellagyens,
And also off these Arryens,
And off other sectys newe,
ffoundë ffalsë, and vntrewe,
As ooldë bokës speciffye;
ffor I am callyd ‘Heresye,’
The whiche do alwey my labour
To bryngë ffolke in greet errour,
That ffolwe my condissiouns;
Only by ffalse oppynyouns,
Make her hertis to declyne
ffro the trouthe off Iuste doctryne,
And cause hem ffor to don ther cure,
And amys to expowne hooly scripture.

‘And, trewëly, naddë bene
The greetë counceyle at Nycene,
Ordeyned by greet Constantyn,
And nadde ben also Augustyn

507

‘And many other greet doctours
ffor to anullë myn errours,
The skryppes off holy churche echon,
I hadde ffor-don (fful ȝore agoon,)
Off pylgrymes that passe by the way,
Sythen goon fful many a day.

‘And ȝit I schal, what so byffalle,
Assaylë thé amonge hem alle,
And myn ooldë purpos holde,
In ffyre, though that I brennë schulde,
I wole my wyttës alle applye,
Hardyd with obstýnacye,
Contynue til the ffyre be hoot;
Therffore I berë this ffagot.

‘And ffirste, thow schalt me not escape,
But newe I wole thy skryppës schape,
Or ellis I dar vndirtake
Thát thow schalt it here fforsake,
And leve it with me vtterly:
My ffader is here ffastë by,
Whiche hathe power (as thow mayste se)
And bothë vp-on londe and see,
Thow schalt not skape hym (in certeyne,)
But with daunger and greet peyne.’

The Pylgryme:

Myne eyen tho I gan vnffolde,
And anoon I gan byholde
In the weyë me byfforne,
An huntë stoodë with his horne,
Off chere and lookë ryght pervers.
And the passage, in travers,
With cordes he gan it ouere-leyne,
ffrette with nettys alle the pleyne.

And he brought in his companye
The ffalsë vekkë Heresye.
And, that men schulde hym wel knowe,
His horne he gan fful lowdë blowe;
As it were to catche his pray,
Ryght so he blewë on the way,

508

Bad his doughter Heresye,
The passage so to kepe and guye,
That I scholde not, in no syde,
ffrom ther damage my sylffe provyde.
And trewëly (as I haue sayd)
The nettys were so narewe layd,
On lond, on water, and in the hayr,
That I myght haue no repayr
To passë ffreely that passáge.
It was so fful off mortal rage,
Off daunger and adversite,
That, but yiff I amydde the see
Durstë swymme, ther was no way
ffor me to passë, nyght nor day.

And there he dyde also malygne
To leyne out nettys, and assigne,
There to stoppen my passáge;
So that I ffonde noon ávauntage,
ffrom his dawngere to declyne;
ffor many an hook and many a lyne
Were caste in-to that peryllous se,
Off entente to letten me;

That, mawgre alle my fforce and myght,
But ȝeue I kowdë swymme aryght
Amonge the wawys ffeerse and ffelle,
I muste vndir his dawnger dwelle.

But ffirste, while he his trappys leyde,
Vnto the huntë thus I sayde:

The Pylgryme:
“Hvntë,” quod I, “telle me now,
What maner officere arthow,
Whiche [thus] lyggeste on the way,
Vnlaweffully to cacchë pray,
Thus to makë thyne arestis,
Namely on the kyngës beestis?
I trowe thow haueste no lycence
ffor to don so greet offence;
I dar afferme (eerly and late),
Swyche hunters, the kyng doth hate;

509

“And it semyth, by thi manere,
Off his, thow art noon officere.”

The hunte:
Qvod he, ‘what makystetow swyche stryff?
Thow art wonder Inquysytyff,
Besy also, by argument,
To hoolde with me a parlement,
By langáge, and longe pletyng;
ffor, though I longe not to the kyng,
(And thow conceyue aryght I-wys,)
Som tyme I was oon off his;
And though I hauë no congé
Off hym, to hunte in this contré,
He suffryth me here, in this place,
At his beestis ffor to chace,
And assaute on hem to make.
And whanne that I by fforce hem take,
Be it by day, be it by nyght,
I cleyme hem to ben myn off ryght.’

The Pylgryme:

And while I herde alle his resouns
And ffrowarde oppynyouns,
Myne herte abaschyd, gan to colde,
Namely whanne I gan byholde
Pylgrymes, by greet aduersite,
fful many oon swymme in the see;
And they were clothyd euerychon.
And som off hem, I sawe anoon,
Ther ffeet reversed vp so doun;
And som (in myn inspeccyoun)
Swommë fforth fful euene and ryght;
And som hadde whyngës ffor the fflyght,
That afforcyd hem silff fful offte
For to fflowe fful hygh alloffte.
And though ther purpos was so sette,
The see hath hem fful offtë lette;

Somme, by the ffeet were boundë stronge
With knottys, off herbis longe;
And somme, with wawës wood and rage,

510

Were ysmytt in ther vysage,
That they losten look and syght,
And ffeble were off fforce and myght:
And, by dyuerse ápparaylle,
The ragë so gan hem assayle,
In many another dyuerse wyse,
Mo than I may as now devyse.

The Hunte:
‘I do fful wel,’ quod he, ‘espye
Where-on thow castyste so thyne eye.
ffor alle thy wylës and thi Iape,
Thow schalt not so ffro me eskape;
I schal the cacchë by som crook;
I haue leyde ffor the, las and hook,
As thow mayste thy-syluen se:
Thow schalt not skapen by this see.’

The Pylgryme:
“Telle me anoon, and lyë nought,
As it lythe, ryght in thy thought,
These pylgrymes allë that I se,
Who hathe thus putte hem in thys see?”

The hunte:

‘Is not this,’ quod he anoon,
‘An hyghë way ffor ffolke to goon
Therby, alle day in ther vyage,
Swyche as goon on pilgrymage?
I hadde not ellis (as I haue seyde)
Myne hookys and my nettys leyde,
To cacchen allë in this place
ffolke that fforby here do pace;
ffor this greetë largë see
Whichë that thow here doste se,
It is the world, ay fful off trowble,
fful off many wawys dowble,
And fful off woo and greet torment,
In whiche fful many a man is schent,
With bellewys blowe on euery syde,
Which that myne ownë douhter, Pryde,
Is wontë, with hir ffor to bere,
Good pylgrymës ffor to dere.

511

‘And many a pylgryme thow mayste se
Swymme in this perélous see:
Sómme off hem, (whiche is not ffeyre,)
Ther ffeet han vpwarde in the ayre;
And allë swyche (ȝeue thow lyste se)
Ben thylkë ffolke that charged be
With the sak off couetyse,
And ouere-lade in many wyse,
That they, to swymmë be not able,
Ther burthen is so Importáble;
Whiche, by ffalse affeccyoun,
Ploungith her heedës low a-down
Vnder the wawys off this world here,
That they may not (in no manere)
Swymmë, ffor the hevynesse
That they bere, off greet rychesse.

Other ther ben that swymmen ryght,
And haue eke wyngës ffor the fflyght;
And tho ben ffolkis whiche, in this lyffe,
In hertë ben contemplatyffe,
In wordely thyng haue no plesaunce,
Save in ther barë sustenaunce:
In this world, ther Ioye is nought;
ffor alle ther herte and alle ther thought,
And ffynal truste off ther workynge,
Is sette vp-on the heuenly kynge.

‘But ffor alle that, (I the assure,)
In this see they muste endure
Bodily, by greet penaunce,
In hevene hem sylffë to avaunce.
And, ffor the love off crist ihesu,
They make hem whyngës off vertu,
To ffleen (by clene affeccyoun)
To the heuenly mansyoun;
Whiche greetly displesith me,
Theder whanne I se hem ffle.

Swychë ffolke resemblen alle
Vn-to a bryd that clerkes calle
Ortigometra in ther bokys;
And this bryd caste his lokys

512

‘To-fforne hym prudently, to se
Whanne he schal swymmë in the see:
This ffoul hath whyngës ffor the fflyght,
Be he anoon off kyndely ryght.
Whanne he is wery off travayle,
And that his ffederes do hym ffayle,
Anoon (off his condiscyoun)
In-to the water he fallith doun,
And thanne to swymmë wole not ffayle:
Off his o whynge, he makith a ssayle,
Amonge the sturdy wawys alle
To kepe hym silffe, that he not ffalle,
Til he resume ageyne his myght,
Off acustom, to take his fflyght.
Thus stoundëmel ȝe may hym se,
Som tymë swymme, som tymë fflee,
In bokys as it is I-ffounde.

‘But they that hauë ffeet I-bounde
With herbës and with wedës greene,
That they may not aryght sustene,
Nowther to swymmë nor to fflee,
They be so bounden in the see
Off wordely delectacyoun
In ther inwarde affeccyoun;
ffor alle ther hool ffelicyte
Is sette in veyne prosperite
Off the world, and in rychesse,
fful off chaunge and dowblenesse,
With whiche they be so sorë bounde,
That her soulis yt wole conffounde;
ffor they haue power none, nor myght,
Nowther to swymme nor ffleen aryght;
So sore the world doth hem constreyne,
That it were to hem greet peyne,
Her hertis ffro the world to vnbynde.

‘And som also be makyd blynde,
Ther eyen cloos, they may not se,
ffor to considere the vanyte
Off this worldis ffalse veyneglorye,
Euere vnsure and transitorye,

513

‘And fful off mvtabylyte,
Whiche schewith to hem fful greet bewete
By a maner off ápparence,
But it is ffalse in éxistence;
That is fful ffoule, dothe schewë ffayre,
Lyche a ffloure that dothe vnapayre
Whanne it is plukkyd and leyde lowe,
Or with som sodeyne wynde I-blowe.
Whiche bewete (as wryte Salamoun)
Is but a ffalse decepcyoun;
And ffolkis that beth there-with blente,
Or they be war, beth offtë schente,
ffor lak ther eyen be not clere.

‘Eke som ther swymmes (as ȝe may leere)
With hand and armys strecchyd out;
Swyche as parte her good aboute
To porë ffolkis that haue neede;
And swyche vnbynde her ffeet, in deede,
ffrom wordely delectacyoun,
And off devoute entencyoun,
By councel off her cónffessour,
Vnbynde her ffeet, by greet labour,
ffor to goon in there vyáges,
Barffote, to sekë pilgrymáges;
Off ther synnës to haue pardoun,
fforȝeuenesse and remyssyoun,
Whanne ther menynge trewëly
Is voyde ffrom al ypocrysy.

And thus as now (withoutë slouthe)
To the I hauë tolde the trouthe.

‘And trewely ȝit, ouere alle thyng,
I hatë trowthe in my workyng;
And off malys, bothe day and nyght,
Werrey trouthe with al my myght.

‘By namë, callyd I am Sathan;
The whiche, as ffer as euere I kan,
I worke, in myne entencyoun,
ffor to cacche, in my bandoun,
Alle pylgrymes (as thow mayst se,)
That swymmen in the wawy see

514

‘Off this world, fful off disseyte.

‘And euere I lye in greet awayte,
And no moment I ne ffyne
ffor to leyne out hook and lyne.

‘My lyne (by demonstracyoun)
I-callyd is Temptacyoun;
And whanne that ffolke (in ther entente)
Off herte and wylle ther-to concente,
Thanne on myn hook (by ffalse awayte,)
They ben I-cacchyd with the bayte;
And thannë, by fful mortal lawe,
Tó my bandoun, I hem drawe.

‘I leye out nettës nyght and day,
In water and lond, to cacche my pray.

‘With nettys, I haue eke my repayre
ffor bryddes that ffleen eke in the hayre,
ffor to make hem ffalle adown
ffrom ther contemplacyown.
And, thus ffolkys to bygyle,
I am a ffoulere eke som whyle;
ffor alle that hygh or lowë goon,
I makë nettis ffor euerychoon,
(In myne entente, it is no drede),
To cacche hem, outher by ffoot or hede,
As an vreyne wewyth a calle,
To makë fflyes there-in to ffalle.

‘But I ne may not do no wronge
To ffolke that ben in vertu stronge.
I venquysche (nouther nygh nor fferre)
No man that halte ageyne me werre;
And ffeble is my vyolence,
Whanne ther is manly résystence.

And ȝit I haue a thowsande treynes,
And as many laas and cheynes,
With whiche I compasse, day by day,
To lettë pylgrymes on ther way;
ffor I, by ffalse illusyoun
And by dyssumylacyoun,
Kan me transfformë (anoon ryght,)
To lykenesse off an aungel bryght;

515

‘Take off hym the résemblaunce,
The vesage and the contenaunce,
So to disseyuen, in couert;
And to an heremyte in desert;
I dyde oonës so appere,
fful off ffetheres bryght and clere,
And toke on me the message
Off an aungel, by my vysage,
And bad vn-to that hooly man
To kepe hym warly ffrom Sathan,
ffor he was schapen, by batayle,
The nexte morewe, hym to assayle;
And tolde hym also, (ffynally,
ffor to disceyve hym sotylly,)
He woldë takë, (in sothenesse,)
Off hys ffader the lyknesse,
Bothe vesage and contenaunce,
The maner and the résemblaunce.

‘And bad the heremyte anoon ryght
To fforce hym, at the ffirstë syght,
To smyte hym ffirste, with knyffe or swerde,
And no thyng to ben afferde
With al his myghtty vyolence,
Whanne he cam ffirste to his presence.

And so, vpon the nextë morewe,
ffor to encresse his dool and sorewe,
I made his ffader hym vesyte;
And anoon, this seyde heremyte,
This Innocent, thys cely man,
Wenynge hit haddë be Sathan,
Vp sterte anoon, and toke a knyff,
And raffte his ffader off his lyff,
That he to groundë ffel downe deed.

‘And thus I kan (who takyth heed)
A thousande weyës, ffolke dysceyue,
Or they my treynës kan conceyue.
And therffore, be wel war off me,
ffor I caste eke dysseyuë the;
Ȝeue I at largë may the ffynde,

516

‘In my laas I schal the bynde;

ffor, as seynt Petre lyste endyte,
And in his pystelys ffor to wryte,
I go and serchë, day and nyght,
With alle my fforce, with al my myght,
Lyche a ravenous lyoun,
ffor to devoure, vp and doun,
Allë ffolkys, ȝonge and oolde,
That lambre be off cristis ffoolde.
I haue off hem, fful ȝore agoon,
Off hem devoured many oon;
Strangelyd mo than I kan telle;
And that were to longe to dwelle,
ffor to rekene hem alle in nowmbre,
Thousandis mo than I kan nowmbre;
And trewely, in two hundred ȝer,
I koude not tellë the maner
Off alle my treynës by and by.

‘And I warne the outerly,
Thow schalt not lyghttely (ȝeue I may,)
ffro my daunger skape away.’

The Pylgryme:

“Wher thow be wel or yuel apayd
In the wordes that thow haste sayd,
I haue ffounden a greet dyffence,
To make ageyne thé, résistence,
And conceyued it in my thought.
Blowe thyne horne, and sparë nought,
ffor thow schalt ffayle (ȝeue that I may)
To make off me schortely thi pray.”

And to be more stronge in vertu,
With the crosse off crist ihesu,
And off his gracë moste benygne,
I gan me crossen, and eke sygne,
ffor to assurë my passage
Ageyne his laas so fful off rage.

And by my crossynge, I anoon
Gan to passe hem euerichoon;
They hadde no power ffor to laste;
ffor, by the vertu, they to-braste;

517

And I anoon gan ffastë fflee,
And wolde haue taken anoon the see;
But, longe or I entter myght,
Whan Sathan off me hadde a syght,
He gan to crye (so stood the cas)
‘Out and harow! allas, allas!’

Sathan the hunte weymentith And tormentyth with hym silffe.

‘Vnhappy, and fful off meschaunce
I was, whanne I dyde me avaunce
In any wysë ffor to teche
Vertu, or trowthë ffor to preche;
ffor, it longeth not to me
To techë trouthe in no degre;
But, off ffortune it happë so,
That I be cónstreynëd ther-to,
By vertu off som orysoun
Or by som conyurisoun,
That greetë clerkës me compelle,
The verrey trowthë ffor to telle,
Mawgrey my wylle, off many a thyng,
By vertu off the greetë kyng.
ffor ellys (who that kan espye)
My purpos is, euere ffor to lye,
And haue disseyued fful many a man,
Ryght as dydë Iulyan.

‘Though I were by hym constreyned,
And by his charmës greetly peyned,
Ȝit at the laste, whanne I abrayde,
I lyëd, alle that euere I sayde.
And now I oughte a-cursyd be,
Whanne that I gan medle me
To seyne a trouthe agaynës kynde,
Sethen men, in me may noon ffynde;
There-off I répente me fful sore,
With trowthë, medle I wole no more.’

The Pylgryme answerth to Satan:

“O Sathan, thi displesaunce
Was to me fful greet plesaunce,

518

“Releuynge me off my distresse.”
I took there-off greet hardynesse,
Made as tho no lenger lette,
I spared nowther hook nor nette,
But, trustynge (in conclusyoun)
Vp-on my skrippe and my burdoun,
And there-vp-on I bylened me
Whanne I entryd in-to the see;
And, in swymmynge to be more stable,
Me thought my skryppë proffitable
To kepe me sure in herte and thought,
In my way, that I errëd nought.

Trewely, in this dredefful see,
Is greet myscheeff and aduersyte:
Many a perel (I ȝou ensure,)
And many a straungë áventure
I ffeltë tho in my passage,
Off wawys and off rokkis rage,
And many a tempeste (in certeyn)
Off thondrynge, lyghtnynge, and off reyn,
And other perels that be-ffelle,
That, ȝeue I schulde hem allë telle,
Or the myschévës alle endyte,
They were to longë for to wryte.

But while that I, in my passáge,
Byheelde the see, sterne and saváge,
Me thought I sawe bysydë me,
That there stood a greenë tre;
And I was glad alle thilkë while,
Wenynge there hadde ben an yle,
In hopë that I schuldë londe,
Hastely, vp at som stronde,
Whiche was to me fful greet plesaunce.

And as I gan my silffe avaunce,
And thederward gan ffastë hye,
Anoon my sylffe I dyde aspye
(Whanne that I gan lokë wel)
That I was caste vp-on a whel,
Off whiche to-fforne I sawgh no thynge;

519

ffor the ffloodes, in ther fflowynge,
Hadde with his wawës euerydel
Ouere-fflowyd so that whel,
That I toke no heede there-at,
Tyl sodeynely there-on I sat.
And wyldëly the wawys smette
Vp-on this whel, ay as they mette;

And euere round, (as thoughtë me,)
This whel wente aboute the tre,
Where-off, I astonyed was,
Whanne I sawe this sodeyne caas.
Vp on whichë tre anoon,
I sawgh nestys fful many oon;
And bryddës (that I koudë knowe,)
Sommë hyh, and sommë lowe,
Ther nestis made (I toke good hede)
Grete and smale (it is no drede).

And I demëd, in certeyne,
That this tre haddë hoolys tweyne;
And on the hygher hoole aloffte,
I sawe an hand putte out fful offte.
And this hand (as to my look)
To the nestis put up an hook,
And (as to myne inspeccyoun)
Was besy to pulle the nestis doun.

And as I stode a lytel throwe
At the hoole that stood moste lowe,
I sawgh heedës lokynge oute
Towarde the braunches rounde aboute,
In purpos (ȝeue it myght haue be)
To clymbe vp hyghë on that tre:
They wolde haue take it ffayne in honde.

And there I sawe a lady stonde
Amonge the wyldë wawys trowble,
Vp-on a whel dyuerse and dowble.
Departyd was her garnemente,
Halffe hool, and haluendel was rente;
The to party, as snow was white
To loke vp-on, off greet delyte;
The tother party (ás thought me)

520

Was ffoule and owgely on to se.

And hir vysage eke also
Was departyd euene a two;
The to party was amyable,
And to byholdë délytable,
Bothe off porte and off manere,
Glad and lawynge off hir chere;

The tother syde, hydous and old,
Whiche was ryuelyd many ffold;
And on hir schuldres rownd and square,
A crokyd staffe in sothe sche bare.

And whanne I gan al this aduerte,
Dyscomffórtyd in myn herte

Thanne was I, greetly agaste;
And my burdoun I heelde ryghte ffaste,
And dyde also greetly my peyne
To grype it with myne handës tweyne;
And seyde, (off sodeyne moscyoun,)
“Bordoun,” quod I, “bordoun, bordoun!
But thow me helpë in this caas,
I may wepe and seyne ‘allas,’
My peynës ben so scharpe and kene.
And but thow helpë to sustene
Myne nownpowere and inpotence,
That I may stonden at dyffence
Vp-on my ffeet, and that anoon,
ffare-wel! my Ioye is alle agoon!”

But tho, thorough helpe off my bordoun,
I roos vp as a champyoun.

But whanne this lady dyde espye
That I was vp, sche gan to hye
ffor to haue putte me doun ageyn;
And I trowe ryght wel certeyn,
That, but I haddë spoken ffayre,
And off my porte be debonayre,
I hadde ben to ffeble off myght,
Vp-on my ffeet to stonde vp ryght.

Bvt I abrayde, and bade in deede
that sche scholdë taken heede

521

To thilkë party that was ffayre
Off hir, and putte me ffro dispayre,
And schewë, lyke hir contenaunce,
Som counfforte or som plesaunce;
And that sche wolde expownë me
What lady that sche schuldë be,
Hir name, hir power, euerydel,
Bothe off hir and off hir whel,
And off the tre, and off the croppe,
And off the nestis in the coppe,
And do to me som ávauntage,
To ffurthre me in my vyage.

ffortune:

‘In me (schortely to expresse)
There is no maner stablenesse;
ffor, (be hereoff ryght wel certeyn,)
Alle that I worke, is vncerteyn;
Lyke my dowble contenaunce,
I am so fful off variaunce.
Therffore, to axe how I me guye,
It is no wysdam, but ffolye;
I worke no thyng in certeynte,
But fful off greet duplycyte.
I am what-euere I do provyde;
ffor I lawe on the ryghtë syde,
And schewe a cher off greet delyte
On the party that I am white.
Thanne men me callë ‘glad ffortune’;
But, no while I do contune;
ffor, longe or ffolke may aparceyue,
I kan hem sodeynely disseyue,
And make her Ioyë go to wrak
Wyth ffroward mowhës at the bak.

‘Than y, lykned to the moone,
ffolk wyl chaunge my namë sone;
And fro my whel whan they are falle,

522

“Infortunë’ they me calle.
To ffolk vnworthy, and nat dygne,
I am somwhylë most benygne,
Lyggynge awayt in euery cost,
Off ffolk whom that I cherysshe most.
And who that on me set hys lust,
I kan deceyve hym off hys trust.
Tak hed pleynly, and thow shalt se
A pleyn exaumple off thys tre,
How thys tre (at O word)
May be resemblyd to the world.

‘ffyrst, in thys world be grete estatys,
Off kyngës, prynces, and off prelátys,
Wych in thys erthë chaungen offte.
And the nestys hyh aloffte
Ben degrëes off lordshepe,
That so offte on heihtë lepe,
Bothe off hyh and lowh degre.

‘And they that al by-nethë be,
Loke vp-ward, and al day gaze,
As yt wer vp-on A maze:
Tho be they, that so offte
Desyre for to clymbe aloffte
To hih estat and hih degre,
ffrom ther estaat off pouerte.

‘Somme off hem may longe abyde,
ffor I sette hem offte asyde;
Wych thyng to hym ys no thyng soote,
Whan they be longe pút vnder ffoote
Thorgh my double varyaunce.
And sommë kan han suffysaunce,
And ben ryht glad in ther entent
Off the lytel that god hath sent;
They ha no care for ther dyspence.
And somme haue euere Indygence,
And kan with no thyng be content,
With coveytyse they be so blent,
Wych, for ther ounë wrechchydnesse,
Lyve euere in pouert and dystresse.

‘Touchyng my whel (yt ys no doute,)

523

‘Wych tourneth euere round aboute,
Ther may no man aloffte Abyde
But yiff so be I be hys guyde.
Yt turneth euere to and ffro;
The pley ther-off ys meynt with wo;
The wychë whel (who that kan se,)
Ys a pereyl off the se,
On, the grettest off echon,
ffor to rekne hem on by on;
And, thys phylisoffres alle,
‘Karybdis’ lyst yt for to calle,
Yt devoureth so many A man,
Ye, mo than I rehersë kan.’

The Pylgrym:
“Touchyng thy staff, tel on, lat se
What maner tookne yt may be,
That yt corbyd lych and Crook,
And mad in maner off an hook.”

Dame Fortune:
‘With thys Crook, by gret vengaunce,
ffolk, that to soon I dyde avaunce,
Thorgh my transmutacïoun,
Al sodeynly I rende hem doun,
That sat in chayerys hih aloffte;
To whom ther fal ys no thyng soffte.
Reyse vp ageyn al sodeynly
Other that be nothyng worthy,
And cause ek sommë (Est and west)
ffor to bylde fful hih ther nest
And ther habytcïoun;
Somtyme, off wyl, nat off resoun,
I take noon hed off no degre,
But only off my volunte.’

The Pylgryme:
“fful ffayn I wolde ek vnderstonde
The menyng also off the hond,
At the hoolë hyh aloffte,
That reyseth vp his crook so offte,
The nestys for to rende a-doun:
Tel me thexposicïoun.”

524

Dame Fortune:

‘The nestys hih vp-on the tre,
That ben hyest off degre,
Ben they off ryht and good resoun
That entre by successïoun,
As kynges, by iust enherytaunce,
Whom that trouthë lyst avaunce
Only by lyneal dyscent,
Hys lyges echon off assent;
Or, for lak off successïoun,
Swyche as by elleccïoun
Ben reysed vp to hih degre,
As many princes and lordys be.

‘Thogh I to hem have envye,
To reve hem off ther Regalye,
Yet, thogh I ther-to haue no myght
ffor to robbe hem off ther ryht,
Yet (who lyst looke with Eyen cler)
They be ful offte in my daunger;
ffor they may nat assuryd be
Ageyn my mutabylyte,
Nor ageyn my mortal stryff;
ffor offtë sythe they lese her lyff
By compassyng off ffals Tresoun,
By mordre also, and poysoun.
And trewly, al thys frowardnesse
Ys tookned by the crookydnesse
Off my staff and off my crok,
Wrong at the ende, as ys an hook.

‘And whan I loke with Eyen cler,
Lawhe on ffolk, and make hem cher,
Thanne lygge I rathest in a-wayt,
ffor to don hem som deceyt.

‘Lo, her ys al; go forth thy way;
And trustë wel, yiff that I may,
What weye euere that thow go,
Or thy pylgrymage be do,—
Tourne yt to sour, outher to swete,—
Onys I shal yet with the mete.’

Fortune is walkyd.

525

And ffortune wente her way A-noon.

And also sone as she was gon,
I stood in dred and in gret doute
Vp-on hyr whel turnynge aboute,
Tyl that, by reuolucïoun,
I was cast fful lowe A-doun,
By power off that double quene;
ffor, I myghte me nat sustene,
In iupartye and in gret dred,
Wysshynge that I hadde be ded.

And in trouble and gret peyne,
Thanne I gan my sylff compleyne,
Dysconsolaat off al vertu,
Only for lak off Gracë Dieu,
That was whylom to me ffrendly,
Whom I ha lost thorgh my foly,
Wher-off I felte ful gret offence,
That I forsook so penytence,
Only (allas!) for lak off grace,
By hyr sharpë heggh to passe,
Wher I myhte have had socours,
And medycyne to myn Errours,
By hyr spyrytual doctryne
ffro the wyche I dyde enclyne.
Allas, my woful aventure,
That I lefftë myn Armure
Behyndë me, allas, in veyn!

But yiff I myhte hem gete ageyn,
I sholdë lyue bettre in pes,
And nó mor ben so rekëles;
But, allas my woful ffaate!
I make my cómpleynt al to late;
ffor I stonde in Iupartye
Only off deth, thorgh my ffolye.
Allas! what may I now best werche?
O sacramentys off the cherche,
I hope by gracë wel certeyn,
I receyvede yow nat in veyn;
But now, allas, that I am falle,
I ha lost yow, on and alle,

526

And ha no sustentacïoun
In my skryppe nor my bordoun,
Wher-on that I may lenë me,
Toward Ierusalem the cyte.

And thogh al day I studye and muse,
How shal I my sylff excuse,
Or what answere shal I make,
Off al that I ha vndertake,
And behihte in my corage,
To fulfyllë my vyage,
What fyrst I hadde inspeccïoun
Off that noble Royal toun,
Wyth-Inne A merour, shene and bryht,
Wych gaff to me so cler a lyht,
That ther-wyth-al I was a-noon
Ravysshëd, thyder for to gon;
But I may syngë ‘weyllaway’;
I am arestyd on the way,
And dystourblyd her, wepynge.

And whyl I lay thus cómpleynynge,
And knewh non helpë nor respyt,
A-noon ther kam A dowë whyht
Towardys me, by goddys wylle,
And brouhtë me a lytel bylle,
And vndyde yt in my syht;
And affter that she took hyr flyht,
And, fro me gan passe away.

And I, with-outë mor delay,
Gan the byllë to vnfolde;
And ther-in I gan beholde,
How Gracë dieu, to myn avayl,
In that bylle gaff me counsayl,
‘That I sholde, ful humblëly
Knelynge on my knes, deuoutly
Saluë, with fful good avys,
The blyssede quen off paradys,
Wych bar, for Our savacïon,

527

The ffrut off Our redempcïon.
And the ffourme off thys prayere
Ys ywrete, as ye shal here,
In Ordre pleynly (who kan se)
By maner off An .A. b. c.;
And ye may knowe yt sone, and rede,
And seyn yt whan that ye ha nede.

the translator:

And touchynge the translacioun
Off thys noble Orysoun,
Whylom (yiff I shal nat feyne)
The noble poete off Breteyne,
My mayster Chaucer, in hys tyme,
Affter the Frenche he dyde yt ryme,
Word by word, as in substaunce,
Ryght as yt ys ymad in Fraunce,
fful devoutly, in sentence,
In worshepe, and in reuerence
Off that noble hevenly quene,
Bothe moder and a maydë clene.

And sythe, he dyde yt vndertake,
ffor to translate yt ffor hyr sake,
I pray thys [Quene] that ys the beste,
ffor to brynge hys soule at reste,
That he may, thorgh hir prayere,
Aboue the sterrys bryht and clere,
Off hyr mercy and hyr grace
Apere afforn hyr sonys fface,
Wyth seyntys euere, for A memórye,
Eternally to regne in glorye.

And ffor memoyre off that poete,
Wyth al hys rethorykës swete,
That was the ffyrste in any age
That amendede our langage;
Therfore, as I am bounde off dette,
In thys book I wyl hym sette,
And ympen thys Oryson̄
Affter hys translacïon,
My purpós to détermyne,
That yt shal énlwmyne

528

Thys lytyl book, Rud off makyng,
Wyth som clause off hys wrytyng.

And as he made thys Orysoun
Off ful devout entencïoun,
And by maner off a prayere,
Ryht so I wyl yt settyn here,
That men may knowe and pleynly se
Off Our lady the .A. b. c.

[_]

There now follows a poem of 23 stanzas, each stanza of 8 lines, which has been omitted. This is not contained in the MS.

533

Whan I, wyth good deuocïoun,
Haddë sayd thys Orysoun,
Off the ffloodys the gretë Rage
Ganne somwhat to a-swage,

534

And the wyndes, for myn ese,
Gan in party to apese.
The whel I lefftë, off ffortune,
Wych selde in Onë doth contune;
I swam forth, in ful gret ffer;
I knew no wayë, her ne ther;
Tyl at the laste, off grace, I fond
A verray lytel hyl off sond,
And thyderward I gan me dresse,
To restë me for werynesse.
And there, in soth, A-noon I ffond
A lady wrytynge in the sond,
Lokynge toward the ffyrmament
Thorgh a lytel instrument.
A-nother lady I sawh ek ther,
That lenede hyre on A red sper:
I myhtë nat beholde her wel,
ffor I sawh but the halvendel
Off hyr body, nor hyr fasown;
And (as to myn inspeccïoun,)
In hyr hand she held a spere,
Lokynge vp on the sterrys clere.
And doun I sat, and gan beholde
Thys .ij. ladyes off wych I tolde;
ffor I was wery off travaylle.
And yiff yt myhtë me avaylle,
I dyde also my besy peyne
To sen the maner off hem tweyne.
And to hyrë (A-noon ryht,)
That was but halff On in my syht,
I sayde a-non as ye shal here,
Somwhat abaysshed off my chere:
[The Pilgrim:]
“Tel on,” quod I, “lat me se;
Be ther swych monstres in thys Se
Abydynge, lyk as ye do seme?
ffor I kan noon other deme,
But, monstres that ye sholdë be,
By sygnës outward that I se.
Yiff thow mayst spekë, nat ne spare,

535

“The trouthe to me for to declare.”

Astrology:
Quod she, ‘I may spekë wel,
And I ha lost ek neueradel
Off my spechë nor language.
And thogh I shewe to thy vysage,
My-sylff, but halff on, in thy syht,
Wych halff (who so loke a-ryht)
Ys ryht noble and honurable,
And also ryht Auctórysable.’

Pilgrime:
“Touchyng thys halff, tel on clerly,
What maner thyng ye mene ther-by.
The tother part, what sholde yt be,
Wych as now I may nat se?”

Astrology:

‘Certys, (thogh thow yt nat espye,)
She ys callyd Astronomye,
Wych ys wont to wake a-nyht,
To loke vp on the sterrys bryht.
Off whom, whylom thus stood the cas:
In Egypt ffyrst she norysshed was,
Of thylkë noble prudent kyng
Wych excellede in konnyng,
And was callyd (as thow mayst se)
The noble wysë Tholomee,
(So thys clerkys Olde hym calle,)
That ffond the cours off sterrys alle,
Mevynge in ther bryhtë sperys,
Bothe be dayës and by yerys;
How that they mevë, long or sone,
And the cours off sonne and mone;
ffond out the eclypses (by resoun)
In the tayl off the dragoun,
Or in the hed (with-outë lake);
The cours ek off the zodyake.

‘And many mo conclusïouns
Off hevenly transmutacïouns
He ffond al out, by gret labour;
Wher-ffore, worshep and gret honour,

536

‘Thys worthy kyng gat in hys tyme,
Wych wer to long for me to ryme.
The causes and theffectys alle,
Wych off her mevyng sholdë falle
By ther mevyng, (with-outë lak:)
Thys ys the halff that I off spak;
And, al thys ys my partye,
Wych I calle Astronomye.

‘I sey also (yiff thow take hed,)
That ther be (yt ys no dred)
Many constellacïouns
And many varyacïouns;
And lyk affter ther dyfferences,
They yive in erthë influénces,
Many dysposicïouns
And dyvers operacïouns.

‘And yiff I durstë speke in pleyn,
And the trouthe apertly seyn,
I wolde affermen vn-to the,
To calle al thys ‘Necessyte,’
Or name yt ‘Dysposicïoun,’
Or ‘Naturel Domynyoun.’
And therfor, toucyhng al thys Art,
Namyd for the tother part,
I am callyd ‘Astrologye;’
The tother part, ‘Astronomye.’

‘And be-cause I tellë more
Than Astronómye dyde off yore,
Off ffolk to me-ward envyous,
Calle me ‘superstycyous,’
Be-cause off the dyfference,
That I glosë the scyence,
And expoune it (fer & nere)
Ryht as me lyst, on my manere;
And after myne opinioun,
Expounë the conclusyons,
And preve them out, fro day to day,
Who that euere ther-to seyth nay.

‘ffor, I pray the, lat now se,
How myhte yt falle, or elles be,

537

‘ffor to deme yt off resoun
By cler demonstracïoun,
Her in thys world, (by good avys,)
On ys a fool, A-nother wys;
Thys man glad, that man Irous;
He lovynge, he envyous;
On, ffrownyng, lokyng nat ffayre;
A-nother, off cher ys debonayre;
A-nother, off port ys gracyous;
A-nother, contrayre and déspytous;
On, stedefast, A-nother vnstable;
A-nother, in louë varyable.
On wyl do ryht, A-nother wrong;
Thys man ys ffeble, that man ys strong,
Thys man pensyff, that man ys sad,
He thys ys wroth, he that ys glad;
Thys man hasty in werkynge,
Another ys soffte and Abydynge;
Thys man ys hevy, that man ys lyht;
Thys goth be day, that man be nyht;
On vseth trouthe, he trecherye,
And to stele by Roberye.
O man ys trewe, A-nother ffals,
And somme Arn hangyd by the hals;
And (who lyst loken her-wyth-al,)
O man ys gret, A-nother smal;
Som man loueth wysdam and scyence;
Som man, ryot and dyspence;
Som man ys large, som man ys hard;
Som man ys ek a gret nygard;
He thys A coward, he that ys bold;
And som man halt a good houshold;
And somme, off hertly indygence,
Ar fful streyhte off ther dyspence;
And som man, durynge al hys lyff,
Kan nat lyvë but in stryff.

‘Wher-off komen al thys dyfferencys,
But off hevenly influencys,
By gouernaunce (who loketh al)
Off the bodyes celestyal?

538

‘And I dar also specefye,
As the planetys dyversefye
Abouë, (who so koudë knowe,)
So the bodyes her doun lowe
(Affter myn oppynyoun)
ffolwe ther constellacïoun.
ffor, thys philisoffres alle,
The ‘secounde causys’ dyde hem calle:
Affter ther name (in wordys ffewe)
Ther effectys they must shewe,
Or elles I wolde boldly seyn,
They tooke ther namë but in veyn.

‘The creatour, at begynnyng,
Whan he hem made in hys werkyng,
He gaff hem power, (clerkës ffynde)
Euerych to werkyn in hys kynde,
And for to mevë to som ffyn.

‘And as the doctour seynt Awstyn
Recordeth shortly in sentence,
The lord, off hys magnyfycence,
Suffreth hem, (who-euere muse)
Affter ther kynde her cours to vse.

‘And damë Fortune ek also,
And hyr Karybdis bothë two,
With al hyr domynacïoun,
Stant vnder subieccïoun
Off the hevene, off verray ryht,
Al hyr power and hyr myght
Ys youe to hyre at certeyn tymes,
Bothe at Eve and ek at prymes,
To executen hyr power
Vnder the sterrys bryht and cler:
Bothe hyr dedys infortunat,
And ek hyr werkys ffortunat,
Bothe to lawhen and to wepe.

‘And, men muste her houres kepe,
To rekne al the dayës sevene
Affter the mevyng off the hevene;
Wych be goode, And wych contrayre,
Wych amende, and wych a-payre,

539

‘Affter the sterrys hem assure
In good, or in Evele Aventure;
Wych hourys ben happy And Ewrous,
And wych also malicïous.

‘And shortly, (who consydreth al)
Affter the bodyes celestyal,
Lych as they her cours done holde,
And the Stocyenës wolde
Holden with me, (yiff they wer here,)
In ther bookys as they lere.

‘And Mathesis wolde conferme
Al that euere I afferme,
Make a confyrmacïoun
Vp-on myn oppynyoun,
By ther Argumentës cler.
And the poete ek, Homer,
Whylom merour off elloquence,
Contentyth ek to thys sentence:
He seyth in hys wrytyng thus:
At rysyng vp off Phebus,
That whan hys bemys y-reysed be,
He yiveth ech man volunte
And wyl (ther kan no man sey nay,)
How he shal gouerne hym that day.

‘And affter Phebus ordynaunce,
Somme ha sorwe, and som plesaunce;
Thys poete (in conclusïoun)
Leueth on thys oppynyoun:
And what-so other folkys do,
I leue ther-on my sylff also;
And my levyng that thow sest here,
Yfoundyd ys on a red sper;
And yiff thow kanst yt wel espye,
My leuyng doth so sygnefye.

‘Now tel on, and thyn hertë bolde,
Wychë party thow wylt holde,
And make a demonstracïoun
Affter thyn oppynyoun;
And as thow hast her-in creaunce,
Outher ffeyth or affyaunce.’

540

The Pilgrim:

Whan I herde hyr wordys alle,
Off look and cher I gan to palle,
And wex abaysshed mor and more,
And be-gan to syhë sore;
Thoghte in myn herte, off gretë ffer,
I was nat passyd al daunger
As yet, in thys streyth passage;
Thouhte also, (so god me rede!)
That I haddë ful gret nede,
Touchynge thys oppynyoun,
To axë counsayl off Resoun.

I answerde to that party:
“Thow spekyst,” quod I, “ful largely.
God grauntë me (to myn entent)
In thys mater A-vysëment,
My wordys so, for texpresse,
That ffynally I may represse
Thyn errours and thyn ffolye,
Groundyd on Astrologye,
Wych ne be nat vertuous,
ffor they be superstycïous.

“Yt semeth as thow haddest ben
Hih in the hevene, for to sen
Al aboutë, nyh and fferre,
And axyd ther, off euery sterre,
Ther coursys and ther mocïouns
And ther reuolucïouns,
And dyscuryd ther secres
To the, and al ther pryvytes,
Wych ar good, wych ar malygne,
Whan they shal entren any sygne,
Or entren any mancïoun,
Ther to haue domynyoun.

“I trowe, thow wylt thé makyn bold,
How that Venus hath the told
The tyme assygnëd, whan that she
Shal, next, conyoyned be

541

“And declaryd to the the day
Whan that she shal parte away
ffro mars, that ys hyr ownë knyht:
In hevene thow haddyst her-off a syht.
Wher wer thow euere so pryve,
Or with the sterrys so secre,
To knowe the power and the myght
That god hath yove to hem off ryht?

“I dar affermen her a-noon,
Sterrys and planetys, euerychon,
Be soget to hys power royal
And to hys ryht Imperyal.
What-so-euere thow kanst allegge,
They ha noon other pryvylegge,
ffraunchysë nor commyssïoun,
But vnder hys domynacïoun;
And vn-to that (I dar wel seye)
Alle the planetys muste obeye,
And fro that ordre neuere varye,
Who-euere affermë the contrárye.”

[Astrology.]

Quod she a-noon ageyn to me,
‘Neuer in my lyff ne dyde I se
No pryvylege (touchyng thys thyng)
Yove to the sterrys in ther mevyng;
Nor, in the heuene so hih and fferre,
I spak neuere with no sterre;
Nor I nat knowë ther secres,
Ther mevyng, nor ther pryvytes,
Nor how ther cours aboff ys lad,
But as I haue in bookys rad,
And ther conceyved by wrytyng,
Bothe off her cours and ther mevyng.

‘And also long experyence
Hath yove to me ther-off scyence;
Ek oldë clerkës her-to-fforn—
That wer ful longe or thow wer born—
Yt dyde ynowh to hem suffyse,
To knowe the maner and the guyse
Off grete effectys off the hevene,

542

‘And off the planetys allë sevene.
Ther-in, ful myche they sette her lust,
And ther-in was fynally her trust,
As they by wrytyng specefye.

‘And I ful gretly ek affye
In the hevenly mocïouns
And in ther reuolucïouns,
Conceyvynge that, by ther mevyng,
That, alone the myhty kyng,
Ys no party (fer nor ner)
The mor excludyd fro hys power,
Nor exempt in no degre
ffrom hys imperyal powste;
But semblably (and thys ys soth)
As a kyng off custom doth,
Off hys myght and hih renoun
Graunteth a commyssïoun
ffor a space, or al ther lyves,
To hys provóstys or bayllyves;
Yet for al that, in no manere
He restreyneth nat hys powere.’

[The Pilgrim:]

“Thyn answere, I conceyve yt wel,
Wych may suffysë neueradel,
No mor than may a redë sper
Suffyse off myght, nor off power
(Who-so the trouthe espyë konne)
To endure to bern A tonne.
ffor yiff the kyng (shortly to devyse)
Hadde yove hys power in swych wyse
To hys provóstys, and ek also
To hys baylyvës, bothë two,
And hadde hem mad ther-off certeyn,
And myghte yt nat repelle ageyn,
Thanne he were (to our purpos)
Dysbarryd, and from hys power clos.

“And evene lyk (to our entent)
Off planetys and the fyrmament,
And off sterrys the mocïoun,
Yiff they hadde commyssïoun

543

“Vp-on al thyng, hih and lowe,
Her in erthë that men knowe,
Bothe to shette and ek vnclose,
And as hym lyst, ffor to dyspose
At ther ownë volunte,
That yt myhte noon other be,
But as the hevene (in substaunce)
Lyst to tourne the ordynaunce;
Than muste ther power (who kan se)
Be fallen off necessyte,
As the sterrys wolde ordeyne:
The kyng ne myght yt nat restreyne;
ffor he, off verray volunte,
Hath wyth-drawen hys powste.
Thus thow woldest hym exclude,
And by thy wordys ek conclude,
That allë thyngës that her be,
Sholde fallë off necessyte,
Wherby (who that kan dyscerne)
The lord that al hath to gouerne,
Sholde, by hys commyssïoun,
Restreyne hys domynacïoun,
Wych ys A maner impossible,
And as to me, no thyng credyble,
What-euere her-on thow lyst to seyn.

“But I wyl answere the ageyn,
Touchyng the hevenly mocïouns,
Ther power and ther commyssïouns,
Ther influencys and ther mevyng:
Al thys, they haue yt off the kyng
And off the lord (who kan concerne)
That hevene and erthë doth gouerne.
And trewly, in A-nother wyse
Than thy sylff dost her devyse.

“Touchyng ther power, (tak good heede,
In Genesis thow mayst yt rede;)
He ordeynede sterrys for to shyne,
To yivë lyht, and enlwmyne,
And to the world, by ther bryhtnesse,
To yivë coumfort and clernesse;

544

“And to dyscerne, (who loke a-ryht)
To knowe the dayës wel fro nyht,
He sette hem ther (by certeyn lynes)
As for markys and for sygnes:
Lat the byble wel be souht,
And other thyng thow fyndest nouht.

“Off the power that he hem sette,
Ther-off he wyle no thyng hem lette;
But shortly, al ther gouernaunce
Abydeth vnder hys puissaunce;
He byndythe, and vnbynt also;
What euere hym lyst, that mot be do;
And O word that her ys sayd,
(And ful notáble to be layd,
To be put in rémembraunce,
My conclusioun to Avaunce,)
That the sterrys ffer above,
Wér only ffor sygnës yove,
That thyngës (who so lyst to se)
Wyth hem sholdë markyd be.

“And who that euere ageyn malygnes,
They be but markys, nor but sygnes
Off thylkë lord celestyal,
That syt above, and rewleth al,
Sterrys and constellacïouns.

“And as in cytes and in townys,
Maystres off dyvers crafftys
Hang out, on polys and on rafftys,
Dyuers sygnys hih and lowe,
Wher-by that men ther crafft may knowe;—
As somme off hem hang out lyouns,
Somme Eglys and gryffouns,
Peynted on bordys and on stagys,
Dyuers Armys and ymáges
(In cytes mo than .ix. or ten,)
Wherby men knowe thys craffty men;
But wher-so-euere they hangyd be,
Hih aloffte, that men may se,
He wer A ffool, and nothyng sage,
That woldë deme in hys corage,

545

“That thys markys, on pool or rafft,
Kan no thyng medlen off the crafft,
Nor helpe ther-to, (yt ys no ffayl,)
Nor to the craffty men avayl.

“And at tavernys (with-outë wene)
Thys tooknys nor thys bowys grene,
Thogh they shewë ffressh and ffayre,
The wyn they mende nat, nor apeyre,
Nor medle no thyng (thys the ffyn)
Off the sale nor off the wyn,
Nór hath nothyng to govérne,
Off the celer nor taverne:
By hem ys no thyng do nor let;
They bé ther, but for markys set.

“And semblably, to Our entent,
The sterrys and the ffyrmament,
Planetys and constellacïouns,
Cerclys, sygnes, nor mansïouns,
Ar (to speke in wordys ffewe)
No-thyng but markys, for to shewe
Off the workman, and off the lord
That made al thyng with A word.

“In erthe, ther ys no taverner,
That couchyd hath in hys celer
So many wynës red nor whyht,
Nor other drynkës off delyt,
As thys lord hath Beveráges
Off Grace, y-mad ffor sondry ages.
And off al thys, (who lyst to se,)
The sterrys, no-thyng but toknys be,
That al our goodys, her doun lowe,
Kome fro that lord (who lyst to knowe);
And alle the gyfftys ek off grace
Descendë from that hevenly place.

“He partyth hys gyfftys dyversly,
And, off hys grace and hys mercy,
All folkys ha suffysaunce,
Plente ynowh, and hábondaunce;
ffor, off hys grace (as yt ys skyl,)

546

“He parteth, as yt ys hys wyl.

“Therfor lat gracë be thy guyde,
And al thy resouns set asyde;
And wenë nat, in thyn entent,
The sterrys nor the ffyrmament
Ha no vertu (with-outë glose)
Good or evel, for to dyspose,
But as the lord celestyal
Ordeyneth, that govérneth al.
Wher-for, beholde and loke a-ryht,
And deme off resoun in thy syht,
And be with me nat evele apayd.

“Yiff yt wer soth that thow hast sayd,
Yt wer as good (thys, the cheff)
To ben a robbere and a theff,
(By the resouns that thow gan,)
As for to ben A trewë man,
ffolwynge, off necessyte,
That yt myhte noon other be;
The sterrys, the hevene, bothë two,
Han ordeyned yt mot be so
By ther hevenly influence,
Wyth-outen any résystence.
Why sholde A theff than punysshed be,
That fro robbry may nat ffle;
Or A trewe man, by resoun,
Vertuous off condycïoun,
Mawgre hys wyl and al hys myht,
Escheweth wrong, and doth al ryht.
Touchyng hys meryte nor gerdoun,
He noon dysserveth, off resoun,
ffor the sterrys euerydel
Ben only cause that he doth wel.
Wher-vp-on (who-so taketh hede)
Bothë sholde haue ylychë mede,
Good or harm, wher-so thé werche.

“And also off al hooly cherche,
Yiff thy resouns wer certeyn,
The sacramentys wer in veyn
In thys cas (yiff yt be souht);

547

“ffor they sholde a-vayllë nouht,
Nor to mankynde do no good.

“And Cryst Ihesu, that shadde hys blood,
Only mankynde for to save,
What effectë sholdë haue
Hys peyne or gretë passïoun,
To brynge vs to savacïoun,
Yiff no man myghte don evel nor good,
But evene so as the hevene stood?
Ther wer noon helpë nor socour;
The wych wer a gret errour,
A man to leve in any wyse
So as thow dost her devyse;
ffro wych, I pray god me preserue!

“Thow seyst also, men sholde obserue
Houres and constellacïouns
ffor sondry operacïouns;
The ascendent, consydre and se,
Off a manhys natyvyte,
To ffynde the dysposicïoun
Off A manhys condycïoun,
To good or evel, be kyndely lawe
Off nature, he sholdë drawe;
The wychë (who the trouthe espyes)
Ar but fables, and ful off lyes;
ffor men ha seyn her-to-fforn,
Two chyldren in O moment born,
The ton ryht good and fortunat,
And the tother infortunat;
And men ha seyn ek at O tyme,
(Bothe at Evyn and at pryme,)
Twey men that a crafft wel konne:
At On hour they ha be-gonne;
The ton Off hem ful wel hath wrouht,
and the tother hath do ryht nouht.
And tweyne, on hour (who kan espye)
Han bothe had O malladye:
The ton was mad hol by nature,
The tother myghtë nat endure,
But hath deyed, in certeyn:

548

“Wherfor thy resouns be but veyn.

“Or telle me also a resoun
Touchynge thyn oppynyoun:
An hundryd thousand men assaylle
Euerych other in bataylle;
Wher-off kometh ther destyne,
That they ben alle at o Iourne,
And yet par cas (yt ys no nay)
They wer nat alle born) on o day,
Nor they nat entre, nyh nor ferre,
All at tonys in-to that werre;
And yet, by Martys mortal lawe,
Euerychon they ben yslawe:
Tel the cause what may thys be,
And spek no mor off destyne.

“Yet som folk ben ordynat,
And also predestynat,
Prescryt to-forn to Ioye and blysse,
Off the wych som other mysse,
Swych as (in conclusïoun)
Gon vn-to dampnacïoun).

“And, trewly (yt ys no dred)
The cause ys nat (who taketh hed,)
The dyvynë prescyence;
But the gretë dyfference
Ys causyd off good and off badde,
Affter the lyff that they her ladde.
And in this world (bothe ffer and ner,)
As they rowede in the Ryuer,
Somme to Ioye, somme to peyne,
ffro synne as they hem-sylff restreyne;
The goodë to savacïoun,
The evele vn-to dampnacïoun,
Constreyned no-thyng by destyne,
But by ffre wyl and lyberte.

“Thogh god knewe al thys thyng to-forn,
Many day or they wer born,
Hys knowyng nor hys prescyence,
Vn-to man doth noon offence.
ffredam ys yove to hem to chese,

549

“Whether hym lyst to wynne or lese;
ffor, knowyng (who that lookë wel)
Off god, ne causeth neueradel
Wher them lyst, off bothë tweyne,
To gon to Ioye, outher to peyne.

“And, ther-for, do by my lore,
And off destyne spek no more;
ffor the planetys euerychon,
And the sygnës, on by On,
And euery sterre, in hys degre,
Mevyn by the volunte
Off the lord that syt aloffte.

“And also (as yt falleth offte)
ffolkys that in thys world her be,
(At the Eye as thow mayst se,)
Somme be lame, and feble off myght;
And sommë strong, and gon vp-ryht,
And many welde hem sylff ryht wel;
But, off the sterrys neueradel,
Nor off the hevenly influence,
Strengthë, myght, nor impotence,
Be nat causyd (on no syde)
But as the lord lyst to provyde.

“No man blynd, nor no man lame
Born—the gospel seyth the same;—
ffor whan cryst, in swych A cas,
Off the Iewys axyd was,
(As in Iohan ye may fynde,)
Why the blynde man was bor blynde,
He told hem pleynly at A word,
‘To preve the workys off the lord,
And hys dedys by myrácle,
With-outen any mor obstácle;’
And other causë was ther noon,
As seyth the gospel off seyn Iohn).

“And nothyng thorgh the mocïoun
Off sterrys dysposicïoun,
Was thys blyndnesse to hym sent.

“And davyd seyth ‘the fyrmament
Was ordeyned, at O word,

550

To telle the werkys off the lord.
The sterrys, he makyd for to shyne,
Vp-on the Erthë tenlwmyne;
Hih in hevene to abyde,
A-sonder only to devyde
The day and ek the dyrkë nyht.

“And in hys Centyloge a-ryht,
The gretë clerk, kyng Tholome,
Affermeth ther (who lyst to se);
He seyth (As I rehersë kan)
That in erthe A wysë man
Haueth domynacïoun
Above ech constellacïoun.”

And affter he hadde herd me seyn,
Thus he answerde me ageyn:

Astrologye:
‘Affter thy wordys rehersyd here,
The heuene, with hys sterrys clere,
Sholdë hauen, in substaunce,
But lytel power or puissaunce,
And sholde also, by thy devys,
Ben also off lassë prys
Than ys the erthë, her doun lowe,
With greynys and with sedys sowe;
ffor the Erthe, wher-on we gon,
Bryngeth fforth ffruitës many On,—
Euerych grouynge in hys kynde,—
And flourys fayre, as thow mayst fynde;
And yet, for al hys gret ffayrnesse,
The hevene haueth mor noblesse
Than hathe therthe in hys degre,
By many effects, as man may se;
And it also more necessary.
And shortly, (for me lyst nat tarye,)
In hevenly myght and puissaunce,
The erthe hath al hys governaunce.’

[The Pilgrim]:

“In som thyng thow seyst ful soth,
Touchyng that the hevene doth.
In erthe, ther sholdë non greyns sprynge,

551

“Nor ffruitys non yt sholde forth brynge,
Ne wer the hevene (wyth hys myght)
Gaff ther-to, coumfort and lyht;
ffor the hevene, thorgh hys bryhtnesse,
Thorgh hys hete, and hys clernesse,
Causeth in erthë many a payre
fflourys and ffruit to spryngë fayre,
And yiveth ther-to (as thow mayst se)
fful grete gyfftys off bewte,
Lych as the lord off most renoun
Hath yove hem by commyssïoun.

“But hys power, nor hys powste,
Ne strechchet nat (who lyst to se,
Neuere sythe the world by-gan,)
Touchynge the gouernaunce off man.

ffor man hath choys and volunte,
ffredam also, and lyberte.
Hevene ne sterrys, bothë two,
Ther-with haue no-thyng to do,
Nor neuer aforn, power hadde,
To cause hym to don good or badde.

“But whan I mette ffyrst with the,
Off O thyng thow spak to me,
Touchyng thy tother halff partye
Wych callyd ys ‘Astronomye.’
Tel me a-noon, and have y-do,
Ys she ffer now fro the go?
Wher ys hyr habytacïoun,
Hyr dwellyng, or hyr mancïoun?”

Astrologie:
‘Wher that she be, her or yonder,
We ne be nat ffer asonder,
ffor vnder hyre proteccïouns
I makë dyvynacïouns;
And by hyr power grauntyd me,
I have scolerys two or thre,
Wych that on me euere abyde,
And departe nat fro my syde.’

Pilgrim:
“Tel on a-noon, I pray the,

552

“Declare her namys here to me,
And thy-sylff no-thyng excuse,
Wher thow dost swych crafftës vse;
ffor syth thow seyst so nyh they be,
With al myn herte I wolde hem se.”

Astrologie:

‘ffor to ffulfyllë thy desyr:
The ffyrstë place ys in the ffyre;
And my scoler, ffyrst off echon,
Wher-so-euere that we gon,
(I kan hyr in no wyse excuse,)
In that place she doth yt vse.
And she (as I shal specefye)
Callyd ys ‘Pyromancye’:
ffro thennys she may nat wel dysseuere;
And in the ffyr she dwelleth euere;
And therby (in conclusïoun)
She maketh hyr dyvynacïoun,
Be yt ffoul or be yt ffayr.

‘My secounde scoler in the hayr
Pleynly, affter my doctryne,
At allë tymës doth devyne;
And therfor (yiff thow konne espye,)
Hyr name ys callyd ‘Aermancye.’

‘The thrydde ys off fful gret renoun,
And hath hyr habytacïoun
In the se (who kan dyscerne);
Whom Neptunus doth gouerne;
By whom (the story telleth thus)
The myghty man Neptanabus,
ffader to Alysaundre the kyng,
Wrouht fful many A dyuers thyng;
And in the water and in the se
Was al hys crafft, as thow mayst se.
Ther-fore (me lyst nat for to lye,)
Yt ys callyd Ydromancye,
By water (in conclusïoun),
Augurye or dyvynacïoun.

‘The ffourthë, (yt nedeth nat telle,)
ffor, awhyle yiff thow wylt dwelle,

553

‘Thow shalt A-noon, her in presence
Sen ther, off experyence,
ffor yt ys wrouht by manhys hond,
Somwhyle in erthë and in sond:
Ther-fore (shortly to specefye)
Yt ys callyd Geomancye.’

[The Pilgrim]:
Than quod I, “tel on to me,
What be the poyntys that I se:
Declare to me, and nat ne ffaylle,
What may they helpyn or A-vaylle.”

Geomanc[y]e:

‘Be-twyxen ernest and ek game,
‘Geomancye,’ her ys my name.
Astrologye ys my maystresse,
That dyde my name to thé expresse;
To whos doctryne and whos sentence
I yivë ffeyth and fful credence;
And by thys poyntys, I kan knowe
Whan ys tyme to Ere and sowe;
And wher, thys nextë yer certeyn,
Ther shal be plente off frut and greyn.
And I kan tellë, nyh and fferre,
Bothe off pes and ek off werre;
And in effect, I wyl nat ffaylle
To telle the ffyn off a bataylle.
And, that I lese nat my labour,
I take the tyme and ek the hour
Whan that I my werk begynne,
Who shal lesyn, or who shal wynne,
Or who shal ffaylle off hys plesaunce;
ffor thys poyntȝ ha résemblaunce
To the sygnës in the hevene,
And to the planetys allë .vij.

‘And, I taake also good heed
To the tayl and to the hed,
Hih a loffte, off the dragoun,
Whan I ffourme my questyoun,
Wher-on, by hevenly influence,
I yivë trewe and iust sentence

554

‘On every thyng, and ech demaunde,
Lyk as my ffygures me comaunde.’

Pilgrym:
“Tel fforth to me euerydel,
Wher-off serveth that tuel.”

Geomancy:
‘I looke thorgh (off hool entent)
Vp-ward to the ffyrmament,
To han, vn-to my questïoun,
A maner dysposicïoun,
Or that I my ffygur sue,
How the hevene doth influe.

Pilgryme:

“Now I telle the Outterly,
That thow art ryht vnhappy,
And dygne (to myn oppynyoun)
Off shame and off confusïoun,
That, so myche off thy ffolye
Trustest in astrologye,
Wenyng, at thy comaundëment,
ffor to make the ffyrmament
As thow lyst, ryht at thyn hond,
ffor to descende vp-on the sond,
By influence avale a-doun
By causë off thy questïoun;
Wenynge ta fond Out a weye
That the hevene thé sholde obeye.

“In thyn hed ys no resoun,
Clernesse nor dyscrecïoun;
Thy crafft and thow be peryllous
To symple ffolkys vertuous,
To brynge hem in mysgouernaunce.
I praye god, saue me fro meschaunce,
And ffro thy gret Inyquyte!
Go hens, that I no mor thé se!
I drede me gretly in my thouht,
That I am in pereyl brouht;
Namly in thys dredful se,
I trowë sothly that I be
ffalle on a pereyl doutëles,

555

Wych that callyd ys ‘Cyrces.’”

Thys tweynë loudë gan to crye,
And gan vn-to me specefye
That I was falle vp-on Cyrces,
And that I sholdë (doutëles,
By no treyne nor by no Iape)
ffrom ther daunger nat escape.
And I, for dred, gan hastë me
Streyht ageyn vn-to the se,
And leffte hem bothe on An ylond,
Makynge ther poyntys in the sond.

And thanne I gan to bydde and preye,
That god wolde helpe me on my weye,
ffrom allë stormys in my passage,
And also fro the gret outrage
Off wyndës wych that, hih and lowe,
Sternëly at me gan blowe.

And in the samë syluë whyle,
I sawh apere a lytel yle,
Wher-off I haddë gret gladnesse;
And thyderward I gan me dresse;
Rauhte so ffer vp with myn hond,
That, off grace, I kam to lond.
And ther I sawh, off cher fful bold,
A vekkë, hydous and ryht old,
And wonder Ougly off hyr chere;
Hyr handys she beet also yffere;
And hyr lawhyng to determyne,
Lych an hors she gan to wyne.
And I, my look vp-on hyr leyde,
And evene thus to hyre I seyde:

The Pylgryme:
“O thow most ffoul in béholdyng,
Tel on the cause off thy lawhyng!”

Ydolatrie:
‘Kom On, and entre in with me,
And the causë thow shalt se.’

[The Pilgrim]:

And I entrede by hyr byddyng;
And ther I ffond On syttyng

556

In A chayer, an ymage,
Ryht ffoul off look and off vysage:
He sat crownyd lyk a kyng,
In hys hond a swerd holdyng;
Vp-on hys shuldrys brood and large
Me thouhtë that he had a targe,
Wyth blakë fflyës al depeynt:
Yreynës wern A-mong hem meynt;
And (wych that ys ful foul to nevene)
Ther was a maner off smoky levene
Wych the ydole dyde embrace.
And round abouten in the place,
Yt was fful (I yow ensure)
Off bryddës dunge and foul ordure.

To-for thys mawmet (in certeyn)
I sawh knelyn a vyleyn,
With powdrys and with fumys blake,
Sacryfysë for to make
To thys ydole, with hys sheld.
And he that knelede (as I be-held)
Was (to myn Oppynyoun)
A Carpenter or a masoun.

Idolatrye:
Thanne thys dame Ydolatrye,
ffoul and horryble off look and Eye,
‘Behold,’ quod she, ‘and lookë wel,
And se the maner euerydel
How I ha Ioye and gret gladnesse
To sen thys cherl, by gret humblesse,
Toward thys mawmet hym-sylff tavaunce,
Don worshepe, and óbseruaunce;
And I abydë, for to se
That thow shalt knele vp-on thy kne,
To-fforn hym, by devocïoun.
fforsake thy skryppe and thy bordoun;
And, to hys myghty excellence,
Don worshepe and reuerence.’

The Pylgryme:
Lyst for thys thyng I ffyl in blame,

557

“Tel on ffyrst, what ys thy name.”

Dame Idolatrye:

‘Ydolatrye I am,’ quod she,
‘And off ffolkes that be ffre,
Thys my custom and vságe
ffor to brynge hem in seruage.
And I kan, by collusïoun,
Tourne al estatys vp-so-doun,
And settë (thogh ffolk hadde yt sworn,)
That ys bakward, to go beforn.
To dyfface, ys my labour,
The kyngës worshepe and honour,
And al that to my sylff applye.
ffor I am callyd ‘Ydolatrye,’
The wychë (who wel lokë kan)
ffrend and douhter to Sathan;
ffor Sathan (shortly for to telle)
In mawmetys I make hym dwelle.

‘By thys cherl vp-on hys kne,
Her thow mayst exaumple se,
How he, wyth al hys dyllygence,
Doth hym honour and reuerence,
Wenynge, by hys ápparaylle,
The mawmet myhte to hym avaylle.
ffor Sathan,—that ys cloos with-Inne,
To Infecte hys soule wyth synne,
And hys wyttys to entrouble,—
Yiveth an answere wych ys double,
Wych hath (to marren hys entent,)
A maner off double entendëment,
And leueth hym euere in none-certeyn,
Or kepeth hym Muët off dysdeyn;
And hys réqueste doth refuse,
To make the fool more for to muse,
Lose hys tyme, off wylfulnesse.

‘And yet, in al hys wrechchydnesse,
Efft he doth hys dyllygence,
With smoke and ffyr hym to encense,
Prayeth hys Mawmet nat to faylle,
To yive Answere, and hym consaylle,

558

‘And helpe hym, that he myghtë spede,
To forthre hym in hys gret nede,
Syth he in hym doth so affye.

‘Se how thys fool, off hys ffolye,
Seth how hys Mawmet, ffoul off chere,
Herys hath, and may nat here;
And syttynge also in hys se,
Eyen hath, and may nat se;
But ys as dowmb as stok or ston;
And hath ffet, and may nat gon,
Nor from hys chayer, a foot remewe,
Thogh al the world hym woldë sue.

‘Hys swerd, hys targë, in bataylle
May to hym ryht nouht avaylle;
ffor he ys ded, as ston or tre.
And trewly (so as thynketh me,)
Who doth to swych on, reverence,
Requerynge hys benyvolence,
He ys (for short conclusïoun)
A fool, in myn oppynyoun.

‘And for to touchyn hym mor ner,
The samë syluë carpenter
Dyde a-forn hys bysy peyne
To forge hym, wyth hys handys tweyne,
And make hym ffyrst off swych entaylle,
And wot he may nothyng avaylle
To helpe hym, whan that al ys do.
They ben A-coursyd, bothë two:
And thys the cause (wyth-outë more)
ffyrst why that I lowh so sore.’

The Pylgryme:

Yet nat-wyth-stondyng, off entente,
To the cherl A-noon I wente,
Bad hym a-ryse, and that a-noon,
And that he sholdë thenys gon,
And leue hys fals oppynyoun,
Go take hys skryppe and hys bordoun,
And, off hertë ful mekly,
Gon and crye the kyng, mercy
Off the gylt and the trespáce

559

That he hadde don in that place,
And that hys hertë was so set
To worshepë A Marmoset,
Wych to helpë, (fer nor ner,)
Hath no puissaunce nor power.

Wher-off (with-outë mor respyt,)
The Cherl in herte hadde gret despyt,
And felly gan a-geyn abrayde,
And vn-to me ryht thus he sayde:

The Vyleyne:
‘How darstow me her repreue,
Or thyn hertë so to greue,
To sen me don swych óbseruaunce
With al myn hoolë affyaunce,
To thys ydólës set on stages,
Syth pylgrymes, in ther passáges
Honowre and worshepe, euerychon,
Ymages off tymber and off ston;
And crystene peple, ful nyh alle,
On ther knes to-forn hem falle;
And, whan al to-gydre ys souht,
They may helpë yow ryht nowht,
Nor done to yow noon ávauntage,
No mor than her, may myn ymage.’

The Pylgryme:

“That thow woldest her conclude,
Thy resouns ar but rude.
ffor, sothly, we nothyng laboure
The ymáges to honoure,
Stook nor ston, nor that men peyntes;
But we honoure the holy seyntes
Off whom they beryn the lyknesse,
In our myndë, to enpresse,
By clerë demonstracïouns,
Ther martyrdam, ther passïouns,
Ther holy lyff, ther myracles
Wych ben to vs but spectacles,
And as merours, that represente
Ther trewe menyng and ther entente,
Ther gretë labour and vyctórye;

560

“That we sholdë ha memórye,
By hem, a kalender to make,
What they suffrede for crystes sake,
Patryarchës and prophétys,
Wych in hevene haue now her setys;
The passïoun off cryst hym-sylue,
And off hys apostelys twelue,
And off martyrs that wer vyctours;
The pacyënce off cónfessours,
And off maydenes, in ther degre,
That deydë in vyrgynyte,
As clerkys in ther lyvës ffynde.

“Ymáges présente to Our mynde,
And to vs, clerly expresse,
Off her lyvyng the holynesse;
And for thys skyle, (with-outë let)
Ymages in cherches ben vp set;
And vn-to folkys many On,
fful gret profyt also they done,
Namly, to swych (I yow ensure)
That ne kan, no lettrure;
ffor, on ymáges whan they lookys,
Ther they rede, as in ther bookys,
What they ouhte off ryht to sue,
And also what they shal eschewe,
Ther they may yt clerly lere.

“But off thy mawmet, I wolde here,
Wych may thé no thyng socoure,
Why thow sholdest hym honoure.
ffor (who that any resoun kan,)
With-Inne, enclosyd ys Sathan,
And ther hym-sylff hath mad a se,
The prynce off al inyquyte,
The wychë (shortly for tendyte,)
fful mortally he shal the quyte,
Whan he seth tyme, and best leyser.
And therfor, now, whyl thow art her,
Off thy Mawmet for to telle,
Sey on; for I ne may nat dwelle.”

561

The Vyleyn:
‘Thow gest no mor, as now, for me;
But off O thyng I warnë the;
Yiff thow in thys place abyde,
Myn ax shal thorgh thy nekkë glyde,
But yiff thow do to myn Imáge,
Lowly worshepe and homáge.
Ches yiff the lyst, and lat me se,
ffor thow gest no mor off me.’

The Pylgryme:

Than I stood in fful gret doute.
And as I tournede me aboute,
Myd off thys Ile that I off tolde,
And euery party gan beholde,
Myd off thys se, lookyng ech way
How I myhte eskape a-way;
And to-for myn Eye I fond
A Maryssh, or elles a merssh lond,
That peryllous was, and ful profounde,
And off ffylthës ryht habounde.

And thyder-ward as I gan hye
A vekkë Old me dyde espye,
Komyng with an owgly cher;
Vp-on hyr hed, a gret paner;
In hyr ryht hand (as I was war,)
An hand kut off, me sempte she bar.
And, or any hede I took,
She kauhte me with a crokyd hooke.
And as she gan me fastë holde,
I axede hyre what that she wolde,
And make a declaracïoun
Off name and off condycïoun.

Sorcerye:

Quod she: ‘vnderstond me thus;
My namë ys ‘Bythálassus,’
Wych ys to seynë, (who lyst se)

562

‘A ffamous pereyl off the se,
In wych (wyth-outen any grace)
Allë ffolk that forby pace,
And allë tho that thorgh me gon,
I make hem perysshen, euerychon.

‘And also ek touchyng my name,
I am callyd (by gret dyffame,
As som ffolkys specefye,)
‘Sortylege or Sorcerye.’
Many folkys thus me calle;
And yet they hatë me nat alle;
I am be-lovyd, bothe ffer and ner.

‘And I ber ek in thys paner
(Who that with-Innë lyst to seke)
Many knyves and hoodys ek,
Dyvers wrytës and ymáges,
Oynementys and herbáges,
Gadryd in constellacïouns;
ffor I obseruë my sesouns,
and make off hem elleccyoun
afftir myne oppynyoun.
And ‘Maleffycë’, folkes alle,
Off ryght, they shuldë me so calle.
I have ful many evel vságes
Off drynkës and off beveráges,
Wherby I makë (her and yonder,)
ffrendys for to parte assonder;
ffor, with fals coniurysouns
And with myn incantacïouns,
And many dyuers enchauntëment,
Sondry folk ben offtë shent.
And, with dyuers crafftys ek,
I kan makë men ful sek;
And somme also ful cursydly
ffor to deyë sodeynly.

‘And, in lordys ek preséncys,
I kan make ek apparéncys
Whan that me lyst, ful many On,
Yiff I sholde telle hem euerychon.’

The Pylgryme:

563

“Tel on, (with-outë mor taryng,)
Wher lernystow al thy konnyng.”

Sorcerye:
‘Sothly, (as I rehersë kan,)
I lernede my konnyng off Sathan,
Wych halt hys scole nat hennys ffer,
And hath ydon ful many A yer.
And to that scolë kome and gon,
Off scolerys ful many on;
And he, aboue al maner thyng,
Ys ful glad off ther komyng.
And off that Art, in many wyse,
Ther, I ha lernyd the guyse.
And offtë sythe (yiff thow lyst se,)
Ther, wyth othor scolerys be.’

The Pylgryme:
“Tel on (and make no mor lettynge)
What gaff thow hym for thy kunnynge?”

Sorcerye:
‘The trouthë, yiff I tellë shal,
My soule I gaff hym, hool and al,
And forsook (by chaffaryng)
The werkys off the myghty kyng.
And who that euere wyl do so,
And to that scole approche vn-to,
He may (yiff that I shal nat lye,)
ffyndë ther swych mercerye.’

The Pylgryme:
“Thow hast (as I shal devyse,)
Mad a shrewdë marchaundyse,
To yeue A thyng off gret noblesse,
Excellyng ek in worthynesse,
And also off so gret vertu,
ffor a thyng off no valu,
And (off trouthe and off resoun)
Most wyl off reputacïoun;
ffor the wych, (I dar wel telle,)

564

“In gretë pereyl thow dost dwelle,
(Off verray soth, And off no Iape,)
Neuere lykly to eskape.”

Sorcerye:
‘Al thy seyyng, euerydel,
I wot my-sylff that, wonder wel;
ffor I stonde in swych meschaunce
That I ha no répentaunce;
I am so ffer ybrouht with-Inne,
And engluyd so with synne,
So clevynge vp-on myn errour,
That I truste on no socour;
ffor thogh I sholdë go to helle,
I wyl nat go ffro that I telle.’

The Pylgryme:
“Declare to me, and haue Ido,
Where-off seruith that hand also
whiche thow holdyst now so ffaste:
Thys thyng, expowne to me in hast.”

Sorcerye:
Quod she to me ageyn a-noon;
‘Máthesis, fful yore agon,
Gaff yt to me (by gret outráge,)
And also ek an hool vyságe,
Wych that I haue in my depoos,
Her, with-Inne my paner cloos.
Yt ys ycallyd ‘Physonomye,’
And thys hand ‘Cyromancye,’
To telle the dysposicïouns
Off ffolk, and ther condycïouns.’

The Pylgryme:
“Tel on! expowne that thyng to me,
In what wysë that myhte be,
Or that thow and I dysseuere;
ffor, at that scole I was neuere.”

Sorcerye:
‘Herdystow neuere (off áventure)
That a man, in scrypture,
Off thys phylosofres alle,
How ‘Mycrocosme’ they hym calle,

565

‘(Shortly to tellen, at O word)
Nat ellys but ‘the lassë world’?’

The Pylgryme:
“I haue herd yt in scolys offte,
Ther yrad, bothe loude and soffte.”

Sorcerye:
‘Thyn Answere mvt be verrefyed;
Thys lassë world ys stellefyed
Lych hevene, and as the ffyrmament,
Ther-off to make A Iugëment,—
Vnderstonde by bothë two,
The vysage and the hand also,—
Vp-on wych, by trewë syht,
Men may yive a doom A-ryht,
Tellë the condycïouns
By dyvers lyneacïouns
Wych ther be set (I the ensure,)
Ryht as sterrys off nature.

The Pylgryme:

“To thy wordys I may accorde
In party, and nat dyscorde,
That a man whom we nevene
Ys ysterryd as the hevene;
But her-vp-on, in substaunce,
Thow puttest nat in rémembraunce,
Namynge thylkë lyneaciouns,
By namys off constellaciouns;
ffor trewëly (who kan remembre)
The body off man, and euery membre,
Ben off erthë, in certeyn,
And to erthe shal tourne ageyn.

“And, affter philisofres talys,
Ther ben hyllës, ther ben walës,
Medwes, ryvers, bothë two,
Wyldë bestys ek also,
And gretë ffeldys men may sen,
And pathes that hem departeth a-twen,
And places also off desert,
Sommë open, somme couert:
Thys be the lyneacïouns

566

“Y-namyd constellacïouns,
In the handys and the vysage,
Wherby, clerkys that be sage,
Affter thyn oppynyoun,
Makë dyvynacïoun,
And declare to the and me
(Who that kan beholde and se)
A manhys dysposicïoun.

“But al thys, in conclusïoun;
To devynë, by swych thynges,
Ar but fables and lesynges.
ffor, (yiff thow wylt trewly nevene,)
In A man, ther ys noon hevene,
(ffor to name yt trewëly.)
But hys sowlë al only.
What so euere ther-off thow telles,
That ys hys hevene, and nothyng ellys:
Thus clerkys seyn, that trouthë konne.
And, off thys, the bryhtë sonne
Namyd ys (in sentement)
Intellect or entendëment.’
The monë (in conclusïoun)
Ys ycallyd hys resoun,
Hys vertues, and goodë thewes.

“And good exaumple that he shewes,
Tho ben the sterrys bryht and clere,
Wych that in thys heuene apere.
And hooly clerkys, in bookys kan,
‘The lassë world’ thus calle A man.
And who that hath most holynesse
In vertu, haveth most bryhtnesse:
Wych sterrys make a man at al
To be callyd ‘celestyal,’
And concluden (off Resoun,)
Hevenly dysposicïoun.
Thys the trowthe, with-outë glose.

“And lyk thy wordys, I suppose,
Affter the caas off thy seyyng.
That swyche toknys outward shewyng,
ffygures or lyneacïouus,

567

“Shewede the condycïouns,
And outward made ther-on A skyl
Off governaunce towchyng hys wyl,
Off folkys inclinacïouns,—
Yt ar but fals fundacïouns,
(Ther-vp-on, who lyst to se,)
To conclude necessyte,
That yt muste be so off ryht.

“ffor tooknys, in A manhys syht,
And sygnës (bothe at eve and prime,)
Deceyve and faylle ful offtë tyme,
To folk that looke with eyen cler.
Ryght as, off A tauerner,
The grenë bussh that hangeth out,
Ys a sygne (yt ys no doute,)
Outward, folkys for to telle,
That with-Inne ys wyn to sell.
And for al that, (I the ensure)
Yt may falle off áventure,
ffor alle the bowes, rekne echon,
That, with-Inne, wyn ys ther noon.

“And Evene (to purpos off thys cas,)
Yt ffyl thus off Ypocras,
The phylysofre ful famous,
Ryht prudent and vertuous,
Off whom the ffygur and ymáge
And tooknys alle off hys vyságe,
Wer ybrouht to Phylemoun,
A phylisofre off gret renoun,
ffor to descryue hem by and by,
And to concluden naturelly
Al the inclynacïouns
And also the condicïouns
Off Ypocras, that was so wys.

“And Philemoun (by short avys)
Concludede (as in sentement)
That he was incontynent,
And off hys lyvyng vycyous,
And naturely ek lecherous.
ffor (whan he took good heed ther-to,)

568

“The tooknys outward told hym so,
By Open demonstracïoun.

“But ypocras, (off good resoun)
By vertu only, dyde hys peyne,
Alle the sygnës to restreyne,
ffor-dyde hys inclynacïoun
Wyth a brydel off resoun;
And wyth hys fflessh held swych a stryff,
That he was vertuous off lyff.

“The tooknys (who so lyst to se)
Causede noon necessyte;
ffor, thogh they gaff an ápparence,
They wer fals in éxistence,
And maden a ful strong lesyng
To Phylemoun in hys demyng.

“Wher-for, lernë thys off me;
Lat thy ffantasyës be,
ffor to bryngë folk in rage,
Both off thyn hand and thy vyságe,
And also ek off thy paner
Wychë that thow shewest her.
ffor they be superstycious,
Cursyd, and ryht contagyous;
And therfor, by the rede off me,
A-noon let cast hem in the Se.”

And in thys poynt, good hed I took,
And brak loos oute off hys hook;
And, wyth-outë mor delay,
Wentë forth vp-on my way,
Tyl at the laste I gan Aproche
ffastë by vn-to A roche.
And I a-noon (off goode entente)
Ther-vp-on, a-noon I wente.
And to thys rochë large and squar,
The se kam doun, or I was war,
And besette me round aboute;
Wher-off I stood in ful gret doute,
And hadde in hertë fful gret wo,
Whan I was besegyd so
Wyth the floodys sterne and huge,

569

And knew, as tho, no refuge,
Confort nor consolacïoun.

And sodeynly I sawh kome doun
A wonder Old enchaunteresse,
And to me-ward she gan hyr dresse.
And I sawh wel ek ther I stood,
On the wawës how she rood,
Off look and cherë fful pervers;
And howndys manye and dyvers
She hadde, behynde and ek beforn;
And myghtyly she blewh an horn,
Made hyr houndys a gret route,
ffor tassaylle me round aboute.
And as I stood vp-on the wrak,
Evene thus to me she spak:

Scilla, (or) Conspiraccioun:
Quod she, ‘thow must descende a-doun,
ffor ther geyneth no raunsoun
But that thow shalt devourëd be
Off thys houndys, that thow dost se.’

The Pylgryme:
“Certys,” quod I, “yt is no nay,
I stonde in a perillous way;
But, I praye the, in thys rage,
Let me nat off my passage,
Nor bryng me nat in no dyffame
Tyl that thow ha told thy name,
And shewyd, by relacïoun,
Thy maner, and thy condycïoun.”

Scilla, Conspiracyoun:

‘My name (for short conclusïoun)
Ys callyd ‘Conspiracïoun,’
Or ellys (what so euere falle,)
‘Scilla’ ek thow mayst me calle;
And am ek (yiff thow lyst se)
On off the pereilles off the se.

570

‘I chace at hem that ther-in Rowe,
And make the fellë floodys flowe,
ffolkys for to putte in doute,
Do myn houndys, ful gret route,
Berkyn, and gret noysë make;
And gretë bestys for to take
With-outë noysë or berkyng:
Wonder grevous ys ther bytyng.
I couple hem with myn owne hondys,
And gretë hothës ben the bondys
Wyth wych I make ther állyaunce,
Bothe by feyth and ássuraunce.

‘Wyth the noysë that they make,
Pylgrymes offte they don a-wake;
And thogh they berke nat On A man,
fful mortally they byten kan;
And thogh they byten by greet sleyhte,
Ther berkyng ys no thyng on heyhte;
Ther fraude ys do so couertlye,
That no man may yt espye;
ffor, vnder colour, (in sothnesse,)
They wyl ha thank for her falsnesse.

‘And, to purpos off thys thyng,
Yt ffyl onys, that a kyng,
A-geyn a-nother kyng nat ferre,
Off purpos held A mortal werre;
And with the meyne that they with-held,
Bothe they kam in-to the ffeld.

‘The ffyrstë kyng that I off telle,
With knyhtys that aboute hym dwelle,
On whom he trustede as hys lyff,
Gan fyrst asayllen in thys stryff;
But for al that, I, with my wyle,
Thus I dyde the kyng begyle:
I made hys knyhtys, the day to-forn,
Vn-to hym for to be sworn,
Ther-vp-on her lyff to spende,
That they sholde hym wel dyffende,
And knyhtly gouerne the bataylle.

‘But at the poynt, they dyde hym faylle;

571

‘They entren in with manly chere;
And whan they gan assemble yfere,
Off purpos, thys knyhtys euerychon,
Wer y-yolden, On by On,
By sleyhte and by collusïoun,
To make hym payë ther raunsoun.
Wherfor, the samë kyng, allas,
Was deceyved in thys caas;
With shame and gret confusïoun
Drowh bak vn-to hys pavyllïoun,
Supposynge, in hys drede,
That thys knyhtys off manhede
Hadde be take in that dystresse,
Off manhood and off hih prowesse.
And therfor, touchyng ther raunsoun,
The kyng made ther redempcïoun.
And whan that they kam to hys syht,
He thankede hem with al hys myght,
Demynge, off manhood, for hys sake,
That they hadde, echon be take,
And lovede hem morë than beforn,
Be-cause they han hem so wel born:
But al was fals decepcïoun,
Contrayre to hys oppynyoun.

‘and swychë houndys doutëles,
God wot, I ha mo than a les;
Off hem, plente and gret foysoun,
ffor to cachche me venysoun,
Off ffattë bestys, hih off gres,
With howndys that be nat Rekkëles,
To chachche, and bryngë what they may,
Hoom to my larder, day be day.
Swych houndys, myn horn wel knowe,
And they wyl komë whan I blowe,
And fawne also whan they me seth.
And thow most fele ther sharpë teth;
And trustë wele, they shal nat faylle,
In al hast, the tassaylle.’

And wyth the blowyng off hyr horn,
(Bothe behyndë and beforn,)

572

As cruelly as the houndys kan,
Vp-on me echon they ran,
And gan assaylle me mortally:
They berke, they bytë, ryht felly,
And to me dydë ful gret wrong,
The gretë lemerys wer so strong.

And haddë nat the floodys be,
That drowh ageyn in-to the See,
And ek Scilla (of whom I tolde,)
With hyr Eyen ffoul and Olde,
Caste hyr look on me A-non,
And saydë that she mustë gon
Bakward, and hyr-sylff with-drawe
Wyth the flood and wyth the wawe;

[Scylla or Conspiration.]
‘But ffyrst,’ quod she, ‘ha thys in mynde,
A-nother tyme, yiff I the ffynde,
Trustë fully, I shal be
Bet avengyd vp-on the.’

[The Pilgrim.]

And whan hyr houndys and she wer gon,
I leffte behynden al allon,
Al to-torn and rent with wondys
Thorgh bytyng off hyr cruel houndys,
Wyth gret sorwe and passïoun,
In torment and affliccïoun;
And me remembryng in certeyn,
That yiff the floodys kome ageyn,
She sholde, tencressë with my wo.
Kome ageyn hyr-sylff also;
Therfore, to fflen out off hyr syhte,
In the bestë wyse I myghte.
I dyde my labour and my cure,
In hope my syluen to assure,
Yiff I myhte, by hap or grace,
To drawë to som other place.

573

And whyl I lay thus in A trance,
In gret Anoy and pérturbaunce,
I herde a voys mellodyus,
Wonder soote and gracyous,
Wych was to me ful gret plesaunce;
ffor I forgat al my grevaunce,
My dool and al my passïoun,
Wyth mellodye off thylkë soun.

But as I stood thus in a wher,
And drowhë me toward the ryver,
A Tour I sawh, wylde and savage,
And squar abouten, off passage,
Wych haddë Roundë ffenestrallys,
Percyd thorgh, vp-on the wallys;
At wyche hoolys, (out off doute,)
Smoke and flawmë passede oute;
And yet thys tour (who lokë wel,)
Tournede abouten as a whel
Vp-on the fflodys Envyroun,
Wyth the wawës vp and doun.
Somwhyle (as I koudë knowe)
The hiest party was most lowe;
And also (ek I sawh ful offte)
The lowest party set aloffte;
And thus, by transmutacïoun,
Yt turnede alway vp so doun.

And in thys whyle, euer Among,
I herdë a melodyous song,
Off On (as I koude vnderstond,)
That ber a phetele in hys hond;
And thys menstral (soth to seyne)
Was departyd evene a tweyne:
ffrom the myddel vp, A man,
Donward (as I rehersë kan)
A bryd wynged merveyllously,
Wyth pawnys streynynge mortally.

574

And thys bestë ful savage,
Lyk a man off hys vysage,
Spak to me fful curteysly;
And thus he saydë muryely;

Gladnesse off the World:

‘Tel on to me (and sey nat nay,)
What maner solace, or what play
Lovest thow best: tel on, lat se,
And I shal pleyn to-forë the;
ffor I kan (lych to thyn entent)
Pleye on euery instrument;
And, for to makë lordys cher,
Bothe at ches and the cheker,
The drawhtes ther-off, ful wel I kan,
Ye bet than any other man.
And whan that ylkë play ys do,
ffor shepperdys I kan also,
At the merellys, best off alle,
Whan so that they lyst me calle,
Pype and taboure in the strete,
Wyth lusty folkys whan I mete.

‘At weddynges, to do plesaunce,
I kan karole wel, and daunce;
In euery play I do excelle.
And yt wer to long to telle
The dysportys and the playes
That I vse on somer dayes:
My Ioye ys al in merthe and game;
And ‘Worrldly Play,’ that ys my name.

‘Men may me calle (off equyte)
A Mermayden off the se,
That synge off custom, ay gladdest,
To-forn a storm and a tempest,
To make ek folk (thys my labour,)
To forgetë ther creatour;
And folk in my subieccïoun,
I brynge hem to destruccïoun.’

575

The Pylgryme:
“Thogh thow be-gynnë in gladnesse,
Thow endest euere in wrechchydnesse;
Ellys I wolde, for my plesaunce,
Wyth the haven áqueyntaunce.
I pray the, put me out off doute
Off thys tour turnynge aboute;
What maner thyng that yt may be,
ffyrst off alle, that wolde I se.”

Wordely Gladnesse:
‘ffyrst, (yiff thow lyst to se,)
The grete Amýral off the see,
Wych that callyd ys Sathan,
Thys tour sothly he began;
ffor he fyrst (off entencïoun)
Made ther hys habytacïoun.
And other shyp ne hath he noon,
Among the floodys for to gon,
In the wyche, by gret deceyt,
He lyth euere in a-wayt,
Wyth pylgrymes to holdë stryff,
And to make hem lese her lyff.
He seth, bothe by hyl and vale,
Thorough thylkë hoolys smale,
By what weyë that they gon;
(Amongys wychë, thow art on,)
And, to deceyve hem in her weye,
Her he maketh me sytte, and pleye
With sootë song and armonye,
Alle pylgrymës to espye.
Yt behoueth the taproche,
Or that thow go ner to that roche.’

The Pylgryme:
“Expownë fyrst-lyk my desyr;
Wherfor serueth the smoky ffyr
That ysseth at the hoolys oute,
In thylkë tour round aboute:
Wych thyng, fyrst to me declare;
And thanne to pleye, I shal nat spare.”

Worldly Gladnesse:

576

‘Sathan, devoyded off al grace,
Haveth ther hys dwellyng place.
In thylkë dyrkë ffyr, (nat bryht,)
Ther he lyht, bothe daye and nyht;
And A-mong the smokys blake,
Ther he gan hys bed to make.
And wyth that ffyr despytous,
He maketh folkys amerous;
And with the flawme he kan enbrace,
ffolkys hertys to han solace
In worldly Ioyë (at A word)
Mor than in ther sovereyn lord.

‘The folkys wych, in ther desyr,
That nyht and day brenne in thys ffyr,
Ar thylkë ffolkys (fynally)
Wych that brenne so fervently,
Worldly goodys, whan they be-gynne,
To encressyn and to wynne,
Gret tresour to multeplye;
In the wych they mor affye
Inwardly, in ther entent,
Than in the lord, that al hath sent.
fflowynge and ebbynge in thys se,
Som tyme with gret prosperyte,
Somwhyle, whan the tourn doth varye,
The world they fynde to hem contrárye;
Al goth to wrak; they may nat chese;
And thogh so fallë that they lese,
And fynde ffortune in nowncerteyn,
Yet they wylle hem awntre ageyn
To sayllen in thys perillous see,
So ful off mutabylyte;
ffor the hootë smoky ffyr
Neuere quencheth, in her desyr.
And by his sleyhtys, thus Sathan,
He hath deceyvyd many A man.
Let now se, and make no Iape,

577

‘Wher thow hys treynës kanst eskape.’

The Pylgryme:

“Wyth-Outë long processe to make,
Hys tour and hym, her I forsake;
And, (shortëly to specefye,)
Swychë pleyës I defye,
Wych bryng a man in sorwe and shame.
But yiff that any other game
Thow kanst, I wyl abyde and se
The maner, how yt lyketh me.”

And thys menstral than a-noon
Maade hys ffythele for to gon,
And song wyth-al fful lustyly.
And wyth hys syngyng, sodeynly
To me he gan to tourne hys tayl;
And wyth hys pawnys, sharp as A nayl,
By the Arm he gan me streyne:
Mawgre my myght and al my peyne,
Horrybely he castë me
Amyddës off the gretë se,
Among the wawës, ffer be southe.

And naddë ben that tymë, Youthe,
(Off wych I thouhtë no thyng tho,
ffor she was ffled, off yore ago,)
I suppose that I hadde be
Perysshed Amyddys off the se.
But Youthë than, in hyr Retour,
Was to myn helpë gret socour;
ffor Youthë, in the samë place,
The Merëmayden gan enbrace,
That redy was, off cruelte,
Thylke tymë to ha stranglyd me,
And don to me gret vyolence.

But, for Ioye off the presence
Off thys Youthe that I off spak,
I eskapede from hyr wrak,

578

And hadde myn Arm ageyn at large;
And (with-outë shyp or barge,)
I gan swymme, with-Inne a whyle,
Ageyn vn-to that samë yle
ffro the wych that I kam ffro.

Whan the merëmayde was go—
I mene, thys worldys fals solace,
That gan so sore at me to chace;—
But lyst she sholde ha taken me,
I swam ful faste amyd the se;
ffor dred off hyre, I was in were.
But Youthe and she, to-gydre yfere,
fful gret Ioye they gan to make;
And thus hath Yowthë me forsake;
ffor than I loste hyr in certeyn,
That she to me kam neuer ageyn.
And doun I sat, ffor werynesse,
And gan compleyne in gret dystresse:
“Allas,” quod I, (myd off my wo,)
“Allas, allas! what shal I do?
How shal I, wrechche, eskape a-way
Out off thys ylë? weyllavay!
ffor, by .v. Enchaunteresses,
I am brouht in gret dystressys,
And in gret pereyl, doutëles:
ffor Scilla ffyrst, and ek Cyrces,
Han causyd me to gon A-mys;
Syrénes, and Karibdis,
And Bythalassus, werst of alle,
Ben attonys on me falle;
And, mortally me to be-guyle,
They han me brouht in-to thys Ile,
Long in sorwe to soiourne,
And kan non other wey retourne,
To ffyndë socour in thys cas.
I may wel sorwe and seyn allas!
Out off my wey, in nouncerteyn,
And kan no mene to kome Ageyn.

579

“Was neuere pylgrym in swych poynt,
Trewly, nor in swych disioynt.

“Now, goodë god, off thy grete grace,
Be my socour in thys place!
ffor thow, for my savacïoun,
Art the pomel off my bordoun.
To the, as for my cheff coumfort,
In thys nede I ha resort,
To brynge me, throgh thy gretë myght,
In-to the weye I may go ryht,
And ben supportyd (fer and ner)
Wyth that charbouncle bryht and cler,
Wych that, wyth hys bemys bryht,
Yiveth vn-to my bordoun lyht.

“Now parte with me, off thy clernesse,
And bryng me Out off my dystresse,
Out off thys dedly mortal rage!
ffor, syth tyme off my tendre age,
My trust, ánd myn áffyaunce,
My Ioye, and al my suffisaunce,
Al hooly hath ben in the,
Ageyns al aduersyte,
In euery peyne and ech labour,
To fynden confort and socour.
And now I stonde in so gret drede,
Helpe me in thys gretë nede!”

And whyl I gan me thus compleyne,
Evene A-myd off al my peyne,
I sawh, A-myddys off the se,
A shypë saylle towardys me;
And evene above, vp on the mast
(Wherfor I was the lasse A-gast,)
I sawh a croos stonde, (and nat flytte,)
And ther-vp-on, A dowë sytte,
Whyt as any mylk or snowh,
Wheroff I haddë Ioye ynowh.
And in thys shyp (a-geyn al shours,)

580

Ther wer castellys, and ek tours,
Wonder dyvers mansïouns,
And sondry habytacïouns,
(By resemblaunce and semyng,)
Lych the loggyng off A Kyng:
And as I took good hed ther-at,
Al my sorwes I for-gaat;
Namly, syttyng on A roche, Arystoteles
Whan I sawh the shyp aproche
Toward the Ile war I abood,
Wych dydë to me ful gret good;
Namly, whan yt kam so faste,
And began ther, Anker caste.

Out off wych ther ys descendyd,
On, that myhte nat ben amendyd,
I mene, the lady off most vertu,
Wych was callyd Gracë Dieu.
And ffyrst, whan that I dyde hyr se,
I ffyl a-doun vp-on my kne,
Prayede hyr helpen in thys nede,
To me that stood in so gret drede,
Out off thys Ile, only by grace,
To helpyn that I myhtë pace.

[Grace Dieu]:
‘What ys al thys?’ A-noon quod she;
‘Whens komestow? wher hastow be?
fful longe (as thow shalt vnderstond)
I ha thè souht, On se and lond,
God woot, in ful good entent;
And yt wer mor convenyent
That thow sholdest, affter me
Ha souht, wher that I haddë be.
But tel me, or thow go asyde,
Castestow, her for tabyde,

581

‘Or to restyn any whyle
Wyth-Inne thys dredful peryllous yle?’

Pilgrim:
“Certys, I stoonde in gretë where
Off that I am aryved here;
I whot nat be what áventure.
And trewëly I yow ensure,
Tabyden her ys no plesaunce,
But a-nooy, and gret grevaunce;
And fayn I wolde (wyth al my myght)
Kome to the weyë that goth ryht;
And, Out off thys Ilë go,
So fful off sorwen and off wo.”

Grace Dieu:

‘Thanne I castë, for thy sake,
In-to my shyp, thé for to take,
Only off mercy and pyte.
Entre in, and I shal lede the
(Wyth-outen any mor delay,)
In-to A mor surer way:
That lynë ryht shal ledë the
To the place and the cyte
Wych thow hast (with herte and thouht,)
Long tyme, as a pylgrym, souht.

‘In myd weye thow must abyde,
And nat tourne on nouther syde.
And, redyly thy-sylff tavaunce,
Thow shalt fyndë dame Penaunce,
Whom thow lefftest folyly;
And therfor wentystow wrongly:
Wyth hyre thow woldest nat soiourne;
But thow shalt ageyn retourne
Toward the heggh off hyr plauntyng,
And seyen to hyre thy felyng.’

The Pylgrym:

“Ma dame,” quod I, “that ys my wyl;
ffor (off resoun and off skyl)
Ech pylgrym sholdë (what he may,)
Desyre to gon the shortest way;
Yt wer goodly to do so.

582

“And, for the confort that ye ha do
To me, off mercy mor than ryht,
I thankë yow wyth al my myght.”

And than thys lady, off hyr grace,
Brouhtë me vn-to a place
Wych, syth tyme that I was born,
I haddë neuere seyn to-forn;
And thyder she made me to gon
To a roche off hardë ston
And, At an eyë, ther ran oute
Dropys off water al aboute:
The dropys wer (to my semyng)
Lych saltë terys off wepyng;
And in-ta cisterne ther besyde,
The dropys gonnë for to glyde.

Grace Dieu:
‘ffyrst,’ quod Gracë Dieu to me,
‘In thys vessel that thow dost se,
Wyth water off the hardë ston
Thow must be bathyd, and that A-noon;
Wych shal helpe, and be refuge
To hele thy wondys large and huge;
ffor in my shyp thow entryst nouht,
Tyl thy woundys be clenë souht.’

The Pylgrym:
“I pray yow to declarë me,
Thys Eye, with dropys, that I se;
That ȝe woldë specefye
What thyng that yt doth sygnefye.”

Grace Dieu answerith:

‘Thys roche (yiff thow wylt wyt A-non)
Wych ys hard as any ston,
Ar the hertys, in ech estaat,
Off folkys wych ben Indurat
To knowe ther errour and ther synne,
In wych that they be fallyn Inne;

583

‘Tyl I som whylë lyst to se
(Only off mercy and pyte,)
To tourne her herte, hard as a ston,
And make the water out to gon,
At ther eye to rennë doun
By sorwe and by contricïoun.

‘The saltë terys han ther her cours:
Ryht as a wellë hath hys sours
Vpward, with water quyk and cler,
And renneth in-ta gret ryver,
Ryht so, by dystyllacïoun
The crystal terys descendë doun,
Whan folk for ther synnës wepe.

‘And swychë dropys I do kepe,
And the water euerydel,
To make A bath, in a vessel,
ffor wondyd folk that felë peyne
In conscience, and sorë pleyne,
Tyl they for elthe and surëte,
Wyth thys bath ywasshen be;
ffor yt recureth euery wonde,
Callyd ‘bapteme the secounde,’
That doth a-way al grevaunce.
Wyth wych water, dame Penaunce
Maketh a lye (I the ensure,)
To wasshen a-way al ordure;
In wychë bathë (in certeyne)
The hooly womman Mawdeleyne
Ywasshen was, tak hed her-to.
Thapostel Peter ek also,
And many mo than I may telle,
Wer ywasshen in thys welle;
And so shaltow, by red off me,
Yiff thow lyst to purgyd be.’

The Pylgryme:
“Ma dame, (yiff that ye lyst to se,)
Thys vessel (as semeth vn-to me,)
Ys nat halff fful; and Trewëly
Therfore I dredë fynally
That I may nat bathyd be,

584

“But yiff ther werë mor plente.”

Grace Dieu Answerith:

Quod she to me (as in substaunce),
‘Thow hast off water suffysaunce.’

She saydë soth, as I wel ffond,
And puttë forth A-noon hyr hond
Toward hyr shyp off gret delyt.
And thanne a-noon, a dowë whyt
Retournyd ys at hyr callyng,
And kam to hyre A-noon fleyng.
In hyr beek she brouht A wond,
Wych Gracë Dieu took in hyr hond;
And thanne the dowë (in certeyn)
ffley vn-to the shyp a-geyn.

Thys yerdë semptë (doutëles)
Lyk to the yerde off Moyses,
Wyth wych (the byble seyth apert,)
The ston he smettë, in desert;
And with the water that out ran,
Off Israel, bothe beste and man,
Drank ynowh in hábondaunce,
Ther was so hugë suffysaunce.

And trewly, as to myn entent,
By sygnës that wer evydent,
Wyth the samë yerde a-noon,
Gracë Dieu smette on the ston.
And thanne the rochë, Rowh and hard,
(I hadde ther-to ful good reward)
At an eye (yt ys no doute)
The water gan to ronnen oute
In-to the vessel that I off spak,
That off plente ther was no lak.

[Grace Dieu]:
Quod Grace Dieu A-noon to me,
‘Now thow hast ynowh plente
Off water, (I dar vndertake,)
Suffysauntly a bath to make;

585

‘And mor holsom yt ys to the,
Be-cause the water (as thow mayst se,)
Ys lewk: therfor yt ys mor hable,
And to bathys mor coumfortable.’

[The Pilgrim]:

And Gracë dieu me bad A-noon,
In-to the bath I sholdë gon.
And in I wente A-noon, by grace,
And ther a-bood but lytel space;
ffor (to rehersyn euerydel)
The bath lykéde me nat ryht wel:
I gan feynte on euery syde,
Wher-fore I myhtë nat abyde
In that bath to stondë stable;
ffor, I was nat résembláble
To kyng Davyd in my bathyng,
Wych, wyth the terys off hys wepyng,
Wyssh hys bed-strawh euerydel,
Hys bed also, (who lokë wel).

And off the bath whan I was go,
Gracë Dieu A-non kam to:

Now Grace Dieu spekyth:

Quod she, ‘wenystow to be
Al hool off thyn infyrmyte,
And off thyn wondys euerychon,
That so sonë art out gon,
Out off thys ylkë holsom welle,
And lyst nat ther no lenger dwelle?

‘What woldestow ha sayd to me,
Yiff I haddë wrappyd the,
Nakyd, cast the vp and doun
In thornys for thy savacïoun,
Ther ta suffryd sharp prykyng;
Or, A-mong netlys fful bytyng,
Bak and brest, and euery syde;
Whan thow myghtest nat abyde
In sofftë water, by suffraunce,
Thy-sylff in Elthë to avaunce?

586

‘Tel vn-to me the maner how,
What wysë thow shalt entre now
In-to my shyp, wher dame Penaunce
Haueth al the gouernaunce,
Bothe to bynden and vnbynde?
I trowe thow wylt abyde behynde,
And make her-off a long delay,
And I shal seylle forth on my way.’

The Pylgryme:

“Madame,” thanne a-noon quod I,
“Haueth on me pyte and mercy!
With-in ȝoure schippe, so doth provyde,
By-hyndë that I not abyde.
To trowthë, ȝeue ȝe lyste entende,
With-in ȝoure schippe I schal amende,
And redresse also (I-wys,)
Alle that I haue don amys.

Considerith also in ȝoure syght,
That in batayle, a manly knyght,
(By exaumple, as it is ffounde)
Whanne he hathe kaught eny wounde,
Not-withstondynge his langour,
It encresith his vygoor,
Makith hym, off cher and off vysage,
The more hardy off corage,
Grete emprysë vndertake,
ffor drede off deth, hem not fforsake.”

Grace dieu answerith:

Qvod grace dieu anoon ryght,
‘Byholde and se a noble knyght,
Makynge thyne owne chaumberer,
To bere thyne armure as a sqvyer,
Whiche mayste not thy silff assure
ffor to berne hem, nor endure.

‘I woldë seen, to-ffore wytnesse,
Som knyghttely deede off hygh prowesse
Accomplyschid, thorough thi myght,
To bere recorde thow art a knyght,

587

‘By armës prevëd in som coste.
Thow art no thyng but wynde and boste,
Byhotynge myche, whan al is wrought,
And in deedë doste ryght nought.’

The Pylgryme:

“Madame,” quod I, “yt is no ffayle,
I schal amendë with travayle;
And, I hope, vexacyoun
Schal ȝeue to me fful hygh renoun,
To conquere som excellence
By vse and longe experyence.

“I haue pleynely, in the see,
Nauffragus fful long I-be,
And suffred (bothe este and weste,)
Many perel and greet tempeste,
And ȝit I stonde in a deluge.
But ȝeue I haue off ȝou reffuge,
With-in ȝoure schippe me ffor to marke,
As Noe was with-in his arke,
I may not (schortëly to telle,)
Escape out off this ffloodës ffelle.”

Grace dieu answerith:
‘Be wel provyded in thi thought,
That thow behotë me ryght nought,
Ȝeue thow wolte my thanke disserue,
But that thow wolte trewely obserue;
ffor bette it is, not vndertake,
And avowys noon to make,
Than to make hem by assent,
And breke hem affter, off entent:
Swhiche avowës, loue I nought,
But they be made off herte and thought.
Wherffore, with-out eny slouthe,
Kepe thyne heeste to me, off trouthe.’

The Pylgryme:
“Wyth ȝoure supportacyoun,
It is myne entencyoun,
My promysse, bothë day and nyght,
To kepe yt, as I haue byhyght.”

Grace dieu answerith:

588

Thanne Grace dieu, with good chere,
Ladde me doun to the revere;
And there we han a schippe I-ffonde.
With greetë bondis it was bounde;
But the bondës sat not cloos;
The mostë parte off hem were loos;
The smalë osyers, here and ȝonder,
To-brakë thanne, and wente asonder,
The hopës ábout the vessel,
Bycause they were not boundë wel;
Ȝit the hoopes (it is no nay)
Were stronge I-nowgh at good assay;
Deffaute in hem was ffoundë noon;
But, ffor the osyers nygh echon
Were brokë ffyrste (as it is ffounde),
Wherffore the hoopys were vnbounde.

The Pylgryme:
“Madame,” quod I, “with-outë blame,
Off ȝoure schippe, telle me the name,
And who that scholde it wel gouerne;
ffor sothely, as I kan discerne,
The gouérnour, is not wys,
(As me thynket in myn avys,)
That lyste suffren (off ffolye)
The boondës breke so reklesselye
In myddës off the perelous see,
In whiche there is no surëte.”

Grace dieu answerith:

‘This schippe (as by discripcyoun)
I-callyd ys Relygyoun;
Whiche is bounde with circumstauncis,
And ffret with dyuerse óbseruauncis.
And while that it is boundë wel,
It may perysche neueradel;
But ȝongë ffolkës neclygent,
That entre this schippe off entent,
And, thorough ther mys-gouernauncis,
Kepë not the óbseruauncis
That were made by ffolkis olde,
ffor to breke hem ben fful bolde:

589

‘ffirstë, thosyérys smale,
Telle off hem but lytel tale,
Caste hem byhynden at her bak,
Where-thorwgh the schippe goth al to wrak:
Breke the smalë circumstauncis,
And ffare-wel the greete óbseruauncis!
ffor, ȝeue the smale comaundëmentis
Be not kepte in ther ententis,
The greetë (in conclusyoun)
Gon vn-to destruccyoun.
The smalë (bothe in colde and heete,)
Be wardeynës off the greete;
And ȝeue the smalë sothely ffayle,
Aryght this schippe ne may not sayle.
Breke the smalë here and ȝonder,
And the greete muste goon assonder.
Thus the schippe off religyoun
Gothe offte to distruccyoun.
So, woldë god, ther lyvynge
Were lykë now ther gynnynge,
The schippë scholde the better preve,
Ageyne al tempeste hym-silffe releve:
It were almesse, by the roode.

‘Ȝit I hoopë som are gode,
Swyche as to holynesse entende;
And who doth not, god hym amende!
God ȝeue hem gracë so to dresse
The maste vpward, by holynesse,
And that they may, to her avayle,
By gracë, so to crossë sayle,
That in the wynde be no debat
To make ther passage ffortunat;
That redely they may, and blyue,
At the hauene vp taryve,
Where Ioye and blysse (who kan disserne)
Is endelesly, and lyffe enterne.

Now cheese ffreely, affter my lawe,
To whichë castel thow wolt drawe;
And in my schippe, they ben echon
Bylte fful ffayre, off lyme and stoon.

590

‘And sythen thow haueste lyberte
ffor to entren or go ffre,
Cheese amonge these towres alle,
At whiche gatë thow wolte calle.

Ther ben the Cystews ffastë by;
And not fful ffer is eke Clwny.
Byholde ȝonder a Chartrehous,
An ordur that is full vertuous.
Thow mayste eke senë ffrere Prechours,
And other that callyd ben Menours;
Ordres off many other guyse,
Mo thanne as now I kan devyse:
Cheese at thyne ownë volunte,
In whiche off allë thow wolte be.

‘Alle they stonde in stable grownd,
To kepë, bothë saaff and sownd,
Body and soule, (it is no drede)
Who kepith his rule in verrey deede.
And these placis agrëáble,
Allë they ben dyffensáble
Ageyne the ffende and alle his myght,
That man assayleth day and nyght
In this mortal trowbely see,
ffulffilled with greet aduersyte.
And, therffore, ȝeue thow do wel,
Entre anoon in som castel,
There thow mayste (at a word)
Kepe the within schippës bord.
This wordely see (it is no ffayle)
Eche day off newe the schal assayle;
Wherffore I councel the to ffle,
Whyle thow haste myght and lyberte.’

The Pylgryme:
“Madame,” quod I, “whan al ys sought,
I haue chose (off herte and thought,)
Off Cystews, (in echë syde)
In that castel to abyde,
In-to that ffortresse I wole gon.”

Grace Dieu:

‘Entre my schyppe,’ quod sche, ‘anoon.’

591

And affter that, sche lyste not dwelle,
But gan hir hanker vp to pulle,
And in the see, fforthe bygan to sayle
Towarde the castel, ȝeue it wolde avayle,
Me to spede on my Iorne.

And at the laste, I ffonde a large entre;
But, off entente, stylle awhile I stood
Sool by my silffe, and at the gate abood.

The pylgryme:
“Porter,” quod I, in haste, “I preye the,
At this castel graunte me entre,
ffor Grace dieu hathe me hyder brought,
Off the entre that I ffayle not.”

The Porter answerith:
Qvod the porter anoon to me,
‘Ȝeue I knewë, and dyde se
That the kyng wolde it avowe,
Thyne entre I scholde alowe;
But the wyllë off the kyng
There-off I knowe no maner thyng.’

The Pylgryme:
“Telle me thanne, lyke myne entent,
Is the kyng hym-silffe present?”

The porter answerith:
‘Trustë wel, as thow schalt leere,
I wolde not ellis sytten heere:
It is a sygne (eerly and late,)
Whanne thow seeste me at the gate,
To telle (by good avysëment,)
The kyng hym-silffe ys here present.’

The Pylgryme:
“Telle me thy name, off gentillesse,
With-outen eny straungënesse.”

The Porter answerith:

‘And I schal telle the with-out schame:
Drede off god, that is my name;
Whiche is ground (with-out offence)
Off wysdam and Sapyence.
I voydë synne, and vyces chace,
That noon may entren in this place;

592

‘Nowther oolde nor ȝonge off age
Schal have heere noon herbergage;
ffor this staffe (ȝeue thow take heede)
With the greet parlom of leed,
Is I-callyd (in substaunce)
‘Off god almyghtty, the vengaunce;’
And there-with-al, in cruel wyse,
Allë synners I chastyse.

‘And with this ylkë sturdy Maas,
I putte hem out a fful greet paas;
ffor noon swyche (ȝeue thow lystë lere,)
Ben hardy to entre here.’

The Pylgryme:
“Syre, I praye the, oonly off grace,
I may entren in this place;
ffor myne entente and my menynge
Is to do servyse to the kyng.”

The Porter answerith:
‘Ȝeue I knewe that it were so,
With-outen many wordës mo
Thow scholdeste hauë graunte off me,
To entren at good lyberte.’

The Pylgryme:

“In other wysë neuere a del
Wole I not entren in this castel,
But ffor to do the kyng servyse.”

And thannë, in fful goodly wyse,
I was leten in off the porter:
Hym lyste to makë no daunger.

Aboute I wentë, byholdynge
Vp-on many a rychë thynge;
I sawe A cloystre and A dortour,
A chapytlehous and A ffreytour;
And there-with-al, a ffayre Hostrye,
And a largë ffermerye;
And, off God, thanke to dysserve,
ffayrë meynë I sawgh there serve.
And, I supposë ffor my beste,
There to herborewe and to reste,
On ther cam, and preyed me,

593

And hir name was Charite.

To pylgrymes, in goodly wyse,
Sche dyde moste trewely the servyse.
With chere benygne, and glad vysage,
Sche brought hem to ther herbergage;
And euere sche was moste ententyff,
With-outen noyse or eny stryff:
To seruë porë ffolkys alle,
That ffor helpë to hir calle,
Sche was besy euere more.
And in this book, not goon fful ȝore,
I spakë off hir, dowtëles,
ffor sche heelde the wrytte off pees,
Whanne Moyses, the byschop cheeff,
Gan departë the releeff
To pilgrymës (in substaunce)
To ȝeuen hem ther sustynaunce.

And thorough the cloystre, thanne anoon,
By the waye as I gan goon,
Off áventure in my repayre,
I mette a lady Inly ffayre,
Bothe off schappe and off stature;
And sche bare (I ȝou ensure)
In hir hand, a smal coffyn
Whiche was made off parchemyn.
A whitë dowve (it is no dowte)
Alle-way sewyd hir abowte.

The Pylgryme:
And as I lokyd heere and ther,
I stood in a maner wher,
What tokénës it myght be,
The thyngës that I dydë se;
Prayed hir in goodly wyse,
That sche wolde anoon devyse
There-off by exposicyoun,
A cleer sygnyffy cacyoun.

Lessoun declarith:
‘Trewely,’ quod sche, there as sche stood,
‘I ne thenke no thyng but good,

594

‘ffor I am Sowcelerere
Off this place, and Pytauncere.
I menystre the lyfflode
To the sowle, and eke the ffoode:
The herte I ffeede (the pawnchë nought,)
With fful many an hooly thought.
My ffoode is soote and cherischynge,
And ryght hoolsom in tastynge;
Whiche ffoode is delyuered me
By on whom that thow schalt se;
ffor sche is bothe A Mercer
Off this place, and cheeff Cloystrer.’

The Pylgryme:

Lyke the desyre whiche that I hadde,
To that lady sche me ladde;
Whiche (schortely to speceffye)
Plente hadde off Mercerye,
And moste delytable off syght,
Sche haddë Merours ffeyre and bryght.
But this lady merveyllous
Was off schappe suspécyous;
ffor I took good heede ther-to:
Sche departyd was on two;
That made hir body to devyde,
Wonder cleer on the ryght syde;
But (as I aspyen koude,)
Hir lyffte was schadewed with a clowde.

And whanne that I byheelde the guyse
Off alle hir queyntë marchaundyse,
“Madame,” quod I, “in certeyn,
Wonder ffayne I woldë beyn,
Somwhat off ȝoure thyngës heere,
Ȝeue so were ȝe woldë lere
To me (by schorte conclusïoun,)
Ȝoure name and ȝoure condicyoun.”

Agyographe:

595

‘I am,’ quod sche, ‘cheeff noryce
To allë ffolkes that ffleën vyce.
No cloyster is worthe (who looke aboute)
On no syde whan I am out.
I makë cloystris fferme and stable,
Worschipe-full and honowrable;
And my name (ȝeue thow lyste se,)
Is callyd Agyographe,
Whiche is to seyne (I the ensure,)
Off holy wrytynge the scripture.
And at ffeyrës and at ffeestis,
I reste in skynnës off dede bestis.’

The Pylgryme:
“Declarë me, and doth not ffeyne,
Why be ȝe partyd thus on tweyne:
The to parte, wonder ffayre off cheere,
Lusty, amyable, and cleere;
The tother party, wonder myrk,
Schrouded with a cloudë dyrk.”

Agyographe:

‘I was not,’ quod sche, ‘sothe to say,
Lyche thé, borne vp-on a day,
But by processe and leyser,
And by space off many a ȝer.

‘By ooldë tymë (stylle and loude,)
I was schadewed with a cloude,
And fful derkely kepte in cloos,
Tyl tymë that the sonne aroos—
I mene, the tyme that was to-fforn
That Cryst ihesu lyste to be born,—
Thilkë tyme, my party ryght,
Off a cleer skye kaught his lyght;
The whichë skye, proffetys seyde,
Was that blessed holy mayde,
Off Iesse bothë braunche and fflour,
That bare Ihesu, oure savïour.

‘That tymë, with his streemës clere,
ffirste my bryghttenesse dyde appere;
And alle derkenesse to termyne,
Only by grace whiche is devyne.

596

‘But the party off my vysage
Whiche is clowded with vmbrage,
Off cleernesse scholde haue no reporte,
But ȝeue he haddë his resorte
To that party, by vertu,
Off the cleernesse off crist ihesu;
Where-off, lakkynge dyscrescyoun,
Thow madeste a lymytacyoun,
Affermynge (by a maner slouthe,)
My dyrkë parte wher voyde off trouthe:
I mene as thus, (in sentement,)
That the ooldë testament
Were derke and cloudy off his syght,
Ȝeue that it ne took his lyght
(Claryffyed by entendëment)
Off the newë testament,
Whos schynynge (in conclusyoun)
Is cause off oure savacyoun.’

The Pylgryme:
“Expownë this with-outë glose,
And ȝe schal haue the ffyrstë rose
That I may ffynde (yt is no nay)
In the moneth of ffreschë may.”

Agyographe:

Qvod sche, ‘ȝeue I schal the telle,
Mercerye I haue to selle,
In boystës, sootë oynementis,
There-with to don allegementis
To ffolkes whiche that be not glade,
But discorded and mallade,
And hurte with perturbacyoun,
Off many trybulacyouns:
I haue knyues, phyllettys, callys,
At ffeestes to hangen vp on wallys;
Kombës (mo than nyne or ten,)
Bothe ffor horse and eke ffor men;
Merours also, large and brode,
And, ffor the syght, wonder gode;
Off hem I haue fful greet plente
ffor ffolke that hauen volunte

597

‘to Byholde hem-silffe ther-ynne,
Wher they be cleene, or ffoule of synne.

‘But, som ffolke hem-silffe byholde
ffor to hyde her ffylthës oolde,
Whiche ther bewete dothe apayre.
And sommë merrours schewen ffayre,
By apparence off bewte,
Though that ther be no bewte:
Alle these thynges (who takith kep)
I haue hem towched on an hep.
Ȝeue here be aught that may ȝou pleese,
Take it at thyne ownë eese.’

[The Pilgrim:]

In these thynges ffresche off delyte,
I sawgh there-in fful greet proffyte,
And also in her ácqueyntaunce,
Preyed hir to haue suffraunce,
To graunte me leyser, and good ese,
To seen what thyng me myghtë pleese.
And, by good inspeccyoun,
Haddë turned al vp so doun,
Ȝeue eny thyng I koude espye
Amonge alle hir mercerye.

Vp and down I dydë se
What thyng lyked beste to me;
But, amonge hir thyngës alle,
Vp-on a merour I was ffalle,
Whiche schewyd me, in his glas,
More ffayre in sothenesse than I was,
By ápparencë sodeynely
The merour lyed verily:
I knewe it wel in éxystence
And by oolde experyence.
Whan the trouthë was conceyved,
I wystë wel I was deceyved;
To hir sayde, (in myne avys,)
That to hir it was no prys
To schewen out swyche mercerye,
Off merours to make men to prye.

Agyographe:

598

‘I schewe no thyng, in sothe,’ quod sche,
‘But as it is in veryte.
I wole hoolden my byheste,
As ffolkës maken me requeste;
ffor, as ffer fforthe as I kan,
I wole deceyue no maner man;
The deceytës, ffeytheffully
I wole schewe hem opunly.
Merours ther ben in many wyse,
As Craffty ffolkës kan devyse,
Whiche schewen dyuerse vysages
And many wonderfful ymages,
Whiche to declare, I wole not dwelle:
Reede perspectyff, and that wole telle,
And schewen out the varyaunce
Off dyuerse ffacys, by démonstraunce.’

The Pylgryme:
And off a merour that I ffonde,
Whiche that I heelde in myn hande,
I preyed hir, with-outë schame,
To tellë me there-off the name.

Agyographe:

‘Hyt were good to hye and lowe,
That allë ffolkës scholdë knowe,
And there-off hadde a trewë syght,
Iustely what this merour hyght,
That ffolkës (ffor greet lak off lyght)
Were not deceyued in her syght.

This merour (by descripcyoun)
Is called Adulacyoun:
This is (withouten eny blame)
Veryly his ryghtë name;
ffor, take good heede, that fflateryng
Is engendred off lesyng:
Somme callen hir Placebo,
ffor sche kan maken an Eccho,
Answere euere ageyn the same,
Because that he wole haue no blame.
Though it be ageyne resoun,
There is no contradiccyoun,

599

‘ffor, bothe off newe, and ȝore agon,
ffolkës sothely (mo than on)
Han in Adulacyoun
ffounde fful greet decepcyoun:
Lordes (wherffore I seye ‘allas!’)
Han be dysseyued in this caas,
And, by advlacyoun
Brought to ther destruccyoun.

fflaterye:

‘For this custom hath fflaterye,
To seyne thus by loséngerye—
Whanne hym lykyth to bygyle,
ffalsely by his sotyl while,—
To hem that be moste vycyous,
How that they are vertuous;
And though they ben to vyces thral,
They seyne eke they be lyberal,
Though they be streyte and ravynous,
And greetë nygardes in her hous.
They callë ffame and hygh renoun,
Raveyne and ffalse extorcyoun.
Though they be ffooles, and off no prys,
They afferme that they are wys.

Who that trustith in swyche langage,
He is a ffool, and no thyng sage,
And ffolyly spente his labour,
That lokyth in any swyche merour;
And namëly, whanne al is do,
That he knowith it is not so.

‘Eche wyght knowe hym-syluen kan,
Bette thanne eny other man.
Leff, off fflaterye the sentence,
And ȝeue to trouthë fful credence;
Thow knoweste bet thi-silffe, (off ryght,)
Thanne doth eny other wyght.

‘Late lordës (whanne they kan espye,)
Sette asyde alle fflaterye!
But now, allas, it stondyth so,
They be disseyuëd by Eccho;
And ther sogetes, in many cost,

600

‘Ben by fflateryë lost,
And put in greet oppressyoun
And in greet tribulacyoun;
I mene, by swychë as be stronge,
To porë men ffor to do wronge,
And suppose, thorough ther greet myght,
That they may doon it off ryght;
fflaterers bere hem so on hande,
Whiche, day and nyght, aboute hem stonde,
And fful ffalsely hem counsayle
To dispoylë the porayle;
Seyn, the good is herys off ryght;
Whiche causith, in the peplys syght,
fful greet envye and greet haterede,
Whanne they be pressed with greet drede;
And causith, by swyche óppressynges,
Greetë rwmours and rysynges,
And, som while, rebellyoun
In many dyuerse regyoun;
ffor lak oonly off polosye
Off ffolke aboue, that scholde hem guye;
Causith, som while, schedynge off blood.
Wherffore this meroure, ȝeue it be good,
Take it to thi pocessyoun,
To haue there-in Inspeccyoun.’

The Pylgryme:

“Madame,” quod I, “ȝow not displeese,
This myroure schal do me noon eese:
For, wher-so that I leese or wynne,
I wole neuere looke there-Inne.”

But ryght anoon, myne happe it was
To loken in another glasse,
In the whiche (withouten wene)
I sawe my-sylff, ffoule and vncleene,
And to byholdë, ryght hydous,
Abhomynabel and vecyous.
Thilkë merour and that glas
Schewyd to me what I was.

Wherffore, off rancour and dysdeyn,
The same merour I caste ageyn,

601

With-out abood, in hir panere,
ffrowarde off look, and eke off chere,
And gan my bak awey to turne;
And therffore soore I gan to morne.

Agyographe:
‘Now I se wel, by thy contenaunce,
And also by thy gouernaunce,
Thow haste no luste to loke and se
In this merour (yt semyth me)
Callyd ‘the Merour off Concyence,’
Whiche schewith (by trewe experyence,
With-out Eccho or fflaterye,
Or eny other losengerye,)
Vn-to a man, what ymage
He bereth aboute, or what visage,
The portrature, ryght as it is,
And in what thyng he dothe amys,
And how he schal the bette entende,
Alle his ffylthës to amende.’

Lessown [the Subcellarer]:

Thanne quod the southe-Celerer:
‘Towchynge hir, the Mercer,
It is to hir, displesaunce,
That thow wolte not han áqueyntaunce
With hir, whiche sothëly myght be
fful greet proffyte vn-to the,
In what thow scholdeste haue ado.

‘And ȝeue I wyste thow woldeste so,
I wolde maken the to ben able.
Eche day to sytten at hir table;
With hir to be cómensal,
Off Cheerte in especyal.
And (ȝeue I schal the trouthë telle)
In howsholde with hir I dwelle,
And am to hir, off custom, ner.
‘And the name off this Mercer
I-callyd is ‘hooly scripture,’
Whiche ffor to leren, I do my cure,
In a vessyl off Parchemyn:—
Off ffee, I calle the offyce myn:—

602

‘In swyche a vessel, euery coost,
I bere it that they be not lost.
Therto I do my dylygence,
To kepe it ffrom alle vyolence;
ffor it may not (as thow doste se,)
In noon other vessel be,
To kepe it in savacyoun;
And my name is eke ‘Lessown,’
And ‘Studye,’ amonge these clerkës alle,
Whiche off bothe, thow lyste me calle.
‘And ffirstë, ȝeue thow haue plesaunce,
With me to hauen áqueyntaunce,
Thow schalt aqueyntyd ben anoon
With these ladyes euerychon,
Verreyly at thyne ownë lyst:
In my byheste haue ffully tryst,
ffor gracë off the hooly goost
Schal ffolewe the in euery coost,
Ryght as this whytë dowuë doth,
Ay sueth me, and that is soth,
Whiche schal the teche and tellen al
The secreës celestyal.
ffor, sche is off hevene (ffer and ner)
The verrey trewë messager.
Erly at morewe, and at eve
Estudyantys sche kan releve,
To ȝeue hem her reffeccyoun
By myne ad-mynystracyoun.’
Other two ladyes I sawe also;
To the chapitre that wentë tho;
The ton off hem, bar in hir hondis,
Cordës and eke strongë bondis;
The thother (in the samë while)
In hir mouthe sche bare a ffyle
Endentyd; the teth there-off were large;
And on hir breste, a fful brood targe.
The Pylgryme:
And or they ffurther myghtë goon,
I requyred hem anoon,
Te telle më (by good avys,)

603

Bothe ther names and ther offis.

Obedyence:

The lady that the boondys bar,
To me seyde (as I was war),
‘I am,’ quod sche, ‘(schortely to expresse),
Of this hous the cheeff pryoresse,
Nexte Gracë Dieu (in substaunce,)
I haue here the gouernaunce,
(Bothe byfforne and eke byhynde.)
And with these boondës eke I bynde,
(Wher-so that they be soure or swete,)
Off ffolkës bothë hand and ffete,
That they, in no wysë, doore
Passen by noon opene doore:
I holde hem in, lyke prisoners,
And off look and eke off cherys;
And my namë (in sentence)
Callyd is Obedyence.

‘My boondes and my lygamentys
Ben dyuerse comaundëmentys,
To holden in subieccyoun
ffolkës off relygyoun.

And off my ffylë to termyne,
It is I-called Dyscyplyne:
And that I (bothe northe and south)
Am wonte to bere it in my mouth,
Betokeneth reprehensyoun
Off ffolke, ffor her transgressyoun,
There-with I scoure in euery syde,
That ther may no ruste abyde,
Nowther ffylthe, ffor noon offence.

‘My targë callyd ys ‘Prudence:’
Euery thyng (I the ensure)
tó gouérne it by mesure.’

And, as I haddë good reward,
I sawgh oon in-to the ffreyterward
Goon a mesurable paas,
Wonder sobre off look and ffaas,
And no thyng dissolut off cher:
Armyd sche was with a gorger.

604

The Pylgryme:
Off whom I gan anoon enquere,
That sche woldë goodly leere
To me (by schorte conclusyoun)
Hir name and hir condissyoun;
And off the tablys cured echon,
And there-ate syttynge many on;
And also, as I dyde obserue,
Noon other ffolke at metë serve,
But ffolkes deedë euere more,
Where-off I wás abaschyd sore.

Abstynence:

‘I am,’ quod sche, ‘the Freytourer
Off this hous, and Botëler,
And mynystre the sustenaunce
To ffolkës, lyke to ther plesaunce.
I kepe hem hool, I kepe hem cleene,
By a mesurable meene,
That, surffét be not to blame.

‘Abstynence,’ that is my name;
And my gorger that thow doste se,
Is I-callyd ‘Sobrete,’
To kepe the gorge in sobrenesse,
ffrom sorffét, and al excesse.

‘And these ffolkës that ben deede,
Whiche that serue, (ȝeue thow take heede,)
Be thilkë ffolkës euerychon,
Whichë that, off ȝore agoon,
To-fforne her deth, off holynesse
And off verrey parffytenesse,
Madë the ffoundacyoun
Off ffolkys off relygyoun;
Endowyd hem with greet substaunce,
Ther-by to haue ther sustynaunce.

And ffor that skele (as I devyse)
They donë eche day her servyse,
And ben to hem eke servysable
Whanne they sytten at the table.

‘And ageyneward, sothe to seye,
The tother ffor hem wake and praye,

605

‘Bothe by day and eke by nyght,
As they are bounden, off dewe ryght,
To ther sowlis to don socowre,
And afftirward to the dortoure.’

[The Pilgrim]:

I wotë not wel what it mente,
I sawgh how tweynë ladyes wente:
The on off hem, (as I was war,)
In hir hand, a staff sche bar;
The tother, save a gambesoun,
Was nakyd (in myne inspeccyoun).

And sche that bare the staff, anon
ffro bed to bed sche is agon
Thorowgh-out the dortour (by and by),
And made the beddës fful clenly;
And with clothis cleene and white
Sche spradde hem ouer, by delyte,
That no thyng ne lay a wronge.

Sche that was nakyd, gan a songe,
Whiche (to putte in rémembraunce)
Was pleynely this, as in substaunce:

The ffyrste verse off the song:

‘I schal synge, with al my myght,
And so I howe, off verrey ryght.
I am nakyd, as ȝe may se;
By no thyng men may holden me;
Thowgh they me púrsue, day and nyght,
To hold[ë] me they have no myght.

The secunde verse:

‘A smalë posterne I may pace,
And, thorough thykke and thynnë trace;
ffor, thow that ffolkës dyde her peyne,
They may off me no thyng restreyne,
Affter, euere thow they chace.

The thryde verse:

‘I am ‘Wylleffull Pouerte;’
And, off myne ownë volunte,

606

‘I despysë alle rychesse;
Slepe in Ioye and sekyrnesse,
Nor thevës may not robbë me.’
The Pylgryme:
To hir, that so nakyd was,
I gan to hasten a greet paas;
Bysoughtte hir that sche noldë spare,
Hir name, to me ffor to declare.

Pouerte:
‘My name, ȝeue I schal tellë the,
I am ‘wyllefful Poverte;’
ffor, to swyche pouerte I haue me take,
And the world I haue fforsake,
Rychesse and alle pocessyoun,
Save oonly this Gambysoun,
Whiche is callyd ‘Pacyence.’
And therffore, with-out offence,
fforsake I haue the Temperal
ffor goodes that ben celestyall:
There is my rychesse and gerdoun,
My tresowre and my pocessyoun.’

The Pylgryme:
“I preyë the that thow not tarye:
Why is it callyd ‘voluntarye’?”

Pouerte:
‘Trystë this (it is no ffayle,)
Ther may no thyng a man avayle;
(What maner thyng that euere it be,)
But it be doon off volunte.
Kome fforthe, and se an exanplayre
Off poverte not voluntarye.’
And, with-outë more lettynge,
Sche Schewyd me oon, ffelle off lokynge:
Groynynge sche sat, ffrownynge and sad;
And off hir cheere sche was not glad.
‘Here thow mayste seen pouerte
Whiche is no thyng off volunte.
Thow mayste off hir anon enquere,
And the trouthe sche schal the leere.

The Pylgryme:

607

“Thow oolde,” quod I, “so ffoule off cheere,
What cause haste thow to abyden heere
Amonge this ffayrë companye
Off ladyes? I trowe thow art a spye.
Thow owghttyest not, with so ffoule a fface,
To abyden in so ffeyre a place.”

Pouerte Impacyent:

Qvod sche, ‘the trowthë ffor to kythe,
Thow haste seyne fful offtë sythe
With lordës, ladyes, (it is no doute,)
In her chawmbres rounde abowte
For to maken dyuerse Iapes,
Foxes rennen, and eke apes,
Dysporte and pleye on euery syde:
And semblably, here I abyde;
Where-off thow scholdest me not repreve;
ffor vn-to hem, no thyng I greve;
It dothe hem non dysávauntage,
ffor to my silffe is the damáge.

And ȝeue men me callen ‘Pouerte,’
And I take it not at gree
Thorough myne nowne Impacyence,
My grucchynge doth no wight offence,
(Who so takyth heede ther-to)
But to my silffe, and to no mo.
Off ffolkës off dyscressyoun,
I am had in derysyoun;
They holde off me but a Iape,
As a lord dothe off his ape.’

The Pylgryme:
“Hyt semyth, as by thy résemblaunce
And by thy owgely contenaunce,
By lyfftynge vp off thy mosel,
That thow pleyest the apë wel;
And that thow art the comune ape,
Afforë ffolke to pleye and Iape.”

Pouerte Impacyent:

608

‘That is thorough myne Impacyence,
And ffor lak off pacyence,
That makyth me in hertë swelle,
And, with greetë wyndës belle,
That dothe my lyppës hyghë reyse,
Whiche, no man ne schuldë preyse;
ffor it makyth a démonstraunce
Off an apys contenaunce.

‘I love no maner besynesse,
But oonly slouthe and ydelnesse.

‘Ryghtffully, thorough my dyssert,
I may ben callyd wel ‘Povert.’
Off good, I haue no maner thyng,
But as the bycchë, ay groynyng,
Wel worsë sothely than I seme;
Off euery thyng, the worst I deme.’

The Pylgryme:
A noon I laffte hir companye,
And gan me ffastë ffor to hye
To hir that, with hir lokës glade,
In the dortoure beddës made;
And curteysely I gan hir preye,
To me sche wolde hir namë seye.

Dame chastyte:

‘I am callyd by my name,
The ffeyre, with-outë spotte or blame,
That may, in no place endure
Where that ffylthe is, or ordure.
And of ffolkës that me se,
I am callyd Chastyte;
Off thys castel, chasteleyne,
Whiche, day and nyght, I do my peyne
ffor to kepen this castel
ffrom schotte off Gonne and of quarel.
And therffore I am armed wel,
Bette thanne in yren and steel;
Nyght and day is my laboure,
For to dyffendë euery toure,
Bothe erly and also late,
And on myne handys, I haue off plate,

609

‘A peyrë glouës, ffor dyffence,
I-callyd ‘Dowble Contynence,’
Myghty venus to rechace,
And to putte hir ffro that place,
That sche may hauë noon entre
ffor to assayilë chastyte,
Whiche schal, as a conquerour,)
Kepe and deffendë the dortour,

‘To alle my ffreendes, I wole socoure,
That with hertë me honowre,
Hem to kepe ffrom vnclennesse,
While I to hem am cheeff maystresse.’

The Pylgryme:

Afftir this, anoon I wente
In-to the mynstre (off good entente),
And, asyde castynge my syght,
I sawe a lady ffayre and bryght,
Sad off contenaunce and off cheere;
And sche bare, lyke a messangere,
A boyste; and anon ryght,
Toward the heuene sche took hir fflyght;
ffor (as I kowde byholde and se,)
Sche was whynged, ffor to sfle.

And trewely (as I koude espye,)
Sche ffleyë ffer aboue the skye.
And, as me thoughtë, longe and large,
Affor hir brest, sche bare a targe;
And (schortely as I kan reherse)
The sylvë heuene sche dydë perse.
And I thought (in sotheffastenesse)
Hir laboure and hir besynesse
Was ffor to maken (in certeyne)
Deedë men to ryse ageyne.

And I gan ffor to neyghë nere,
Preyëd hir (off herte entere)
To ȝeue me infformacyoun
Off name and of condyscyoun.

Prayere:

‘My namë, ȝeue thow lyste to here,
I am, off ffolke, callyd ‘Prayere’;

610

‘And lerne off me that (off resoun,)
Eche man is worthi the guerdoun
(Yf that trouthë be obserued,)
Lyke as he hath trewely deserued.
And echë wyght, ffor his good dede,
Is worthi to resseyue his mede,
Lyke his meryte, off equyte.

‘These deedë ffolk whiche thow doste se,
Ben they whiche, euery day suynge,
Ȝeuen lyuelode and fost[e]rynge
To lyvynge ffolkes that here-in dwelle:
In what wyse, I schal the telle.

Whanne they alyue were heere present,
They gaff off herte, in good entent,
Thorough ther parffyte holynesse,
In-to this hous fful greet almesse;
And, to ther sustentacyoun,
They madë the ffoundacyoun
Off this ylkë samë hous;
And ȝaff vnto relygyous
Meete and drynke (off good entent)
And lyuelodë competent;
Off purpos (sothë ffor to seye)
Thát they scholdë ffor hem preye.
And so they don, bothe day and nyght,
Off consuétude and off ryght.

‘Wherffore, callyd I am ‘Prayere,’
Whiche that am the messagere
That fflee to heuene with whyngës lyght,
ffer aboue the sterres bryght,
To-ffore the lord, to presente
Prayere made in good entente,
Lyche as these ffolkës haue in charge.

‘And the name eke off my Targe,
Is Fervente Contynuacyoun
Off preyere by devocyoun.

For there nys halpeny nor fferthyng,
But it requerith his guerdownyng
More trewely (ȝeue it be tolde)

611

‘Thanne the somme a thowsande ffolde,
In the lyffe that is eterne,
Off hym that eche thyng kan concerne,
Eternally lyvyng in glory.

‘Prayer abreggeth purgatóry,
And alleggeth (in certeyne,)
Of sowlës the greetë peyne,
And gyveth to hem remyssyoun.
Wher-ffore I am callyd ‘Orysoun,’
That do off ffolkës the message
To god, by fful swyffte passage.
The requestës I kan speede,
Off ffolke that preye in love and dreede,
And make the procuracyoun
Off Práyere and off Orysoun.

And with the kyng (take heede also,
Who hath any thyng ado
To expleyten his laboure)
I am cheveste procuratoure;
And euere my supplycacyoun,
Whanne it is grownded on resoun,
It is never, I dar devyse,
Not refusyd, in no wyse.

Wherffore, by the reed off me,
Ȝeue thow wolte gon to that Cyte,
I schal the schewe the ryghtë way,
And the passage (it is no nay)
Gladdely eke, ȝeue it may pleese.

‘And also, ffor to doon thè eese,
I schal the lene a mansyoun,
To make thyne habytacyoun:
It sytte wel, bothe to hygh and lowe,
Thy comynge ther afforne be knowe;
ffor who that schal haue there entre,
Knowe, to-ffornë, it muste be;
Nor nó man may haue there hostáge,
But I to-fforne do his message.

‘And off the theeff, in his hangynge,
Whanne he henge by the myghty kynge
Crist ihesu, vp-on the roode,

612

‘That deyed ffor oure alder goode;
Off whom the theeff fful humbely
Axed off that lord mercy;
The samë tyme, ffor his socoure,
I wente afforne enbassatoure,
And trewëly dyde his message,
And madë redy his passage,
That he myght resseyued be
In Paradys, that ffayre contre.

And semblabely, as by my reed,
By this exaumple take good heed,
That thow bé not putte in blame,
Thy-silffë, ffor to do thé schame.
Thow haste as greet neede, at a preeff,
I sothe, as haddë the seyde theeff.
And, to ffurther thy vyage,
I wole my silffe don thi message.’

The Pylgryme:

And thanne anoon, with humble cheere
I thankyd tho vnto Preyere,
And seyde, “my causë to amende,
That to-fforne I wolde hir sende,
ffor my reffute and my socoure,
ffor to ben my procuratoure.”

Anoon affter, in certeyne,
Whanne I hadde the placë seyne,
And, by cleer inspeccyoun,
Made my vysitacyoun,

And in my way as I gan go,
Within the placë to and ffro,
Of aventurë me by-fforn,
I sawgh one that blewe an horn,
And made a noysë wonder lowde.
And (as I espyen koude)
In organys and in sawtrye
She made a wonder melodye.

613

Whom I by-sought, off hardynesse,
To me, that sche wolde expresse,
(Off hir grace, in goodly wyse,)
Her office, and her servyse.

Latrya: [λατρεια, the state of a hired workman.]

‘Off this placë, ffolkes alle,
‘Latrya’ they me calle.
Myne offyce is moste in wakynge,
To kepe the gate aboute the kynge.
I wacchë thereon, day and nyght,
Do my fforse, and eke my myght,
ffor to lyne aye in awayt,
That there be ffounden no dysceyt.
Nowther behynde nor beforn;
ffor thanne anoon I blowe myn horn.

‘Who lythe to longe, I make hym ryse;
Slogardes allë, I chastise,
And to slouthe I do greet sorewe;
ffor, bothe at eeue and eke at morew,
I kepe the howrës off rysynge,
To do worschipe vnto the kynge.
Allë ffolkës vp I calle,
That no slomber on hem ffalle.

‘Myne horne is Invocacyoun
Off Deus in adiutorium:
I blowe myn horn toward mydnyght,
To reyse vp ffolkës anoon ryght;
I suffre hem not, off sleep to deye.
Myne orgones, I tempre ffor to pleye,
And vp-on hem I make a sown
With-outen Intermyssyown.

‘And trewely, alle my melodye
Is in songe off Persalmodye.
And, devoutely, in myne ententis,
I callë so myne Instrumentis;
ffor thylkë kyng that is most stronge,
Moste hym delytyth in swyche songe;
To hym it is moste pertynente,
Whanne it is songe off good entente,
In clennesse and in purete.’

614

And while that Latrya spak to me,
I sawgh the lady, whiche in hir handys
Whiche I off spak, that bar the bondys,
Sad and demure off hir vysage.
To me sche takyth hir passage:

Obedyence:
‘Telle me,’ quod sche, ‘on euery part
Verely what that thou art,
And the truthë specifye,
Yf thou come ought as espye
Into this placë, to or ffro,
Or thou eny ffurther go.’

The Pylgryme:
“Madame,” quod I, “haue on me ruthe.
I am no spyë, in good trouthe;
My purpos is, and that anoon,
To Ierusalem ffor to goon.
And, the weyës as I sought,
Hedre grace dieu me brought
Only my wayë ffor tabrygge,
And to eschewe eche other brygge.”

Obedyence:
‘Tolde she the not (ȝeue thow haue mynde,)
Here-in that thow scholdest ffynde
Beddës harde, and no thyng soffte,
As it is I-prevëd offte
Off ffolke off euery maner age:
And heere is a fful hard passage.’

The Pylgryme:
“How harde euere that it be,
Trewely I schal it take at gre;
To gracë dieu, what that I kan,
Serue hir as hir trewë man.”

Obedyence:
‘Take heder thy ffeet and thyne hondes;’
I shall them bothë knett in bands.
thow shalt ha ges [lyke] a faucon,

615

‘only of entencïoun,
without eny contrariouste,
that [thou] shalt ylured be.’

Pilgrim:

she band me foot and hand also,
that to mevë to ne fro
I hadd no maner lyberte;
nor my tongë was not fre
for to speke, but by lycence;
nor in the seller, nor in the spence,
ete nor drynkë on no syde,
but lycens were my gyde.
And, for tacounte the terme entier,
the space of xxxix yere
I was bound of volunte,
to obedience (as ye may se),
as the statuts, fayn and well,
bound the folk of that castell.

and truly, in hert nor in thought,
my bondës greuyd me ryght nought;
but (as it comythe to rémembraunce)
ther befell a wondar chaunce:
the portar happede on a day
to ben fer out of the way;
the kynge was absent eke also;
and, in absence of bothë two,
(and the gatë was vnshet,)
ther cam in, withoutë let,
a thefe, that no man coude espye,
that was callyd Falls Envye:
hir two doughtars, the ton, ‘Treson’
called the tother, ‘Detractïon’:
with them (by gret cruelte)
Scilla, a monstre of the se,
and her hounds hir folowynge
with grete noyse and gret barkynge.

and this meyne, in the castell
madë noyse and gret revell:
In a lenton (who lyst se)
they made the ladyes for to fle

616

out of thilkë holy boundes.
and Scilla folowed with hir hounds,
gan at them sore enchace;
and Envy, thrughe all the place,
with hir doughters (out of doute,)
gan to seke me round about.
they were conspiryd allë thre
playnly to devoure me,
only by conspiracïon
of envie and detraccïon.

their felowship I forsoke;
and anon an horse I toke,
for to flyen, with all my myght,
to escape out of hir syght.
and truly, for no maner rape,
theyr treynës I myght not eskape.

quod Scilla then, (of gret despyt,)
‘he wenythe for to have respit,
and by his horse to bene socowryd,
that he shall nat ben devowryd
of vs by persecutïon.’
‘ye, for áll that,’ quod Treason,
‘as it is [vn]to vs dwe,
aftar hym we shall pursue.
what maner of horsse myght he have,
that from owr daunger shuld hym save?’

Scilla:

quod Scilla, ‘I shall well telle,
yf ye lyst a whilë dwelle:
this horse is cawlyd ‘Good Renowne,’
whiche hathe (in conclusyon)
fowr fette hym to susteyne;
and ellës (without eny wene)
he shuld (to his confusïon,)
at myscheffe halten even a-downe,
with thre, tweynë, or with one,
vpryght he shuld nevar gon,
but stomble aye, and gon a-myse.

‘the firstë fote of his horse is,
that he have no condicïon

617

‘sownynge to dyffamacïon,
this is to seyne, touchynge shame,
that he be voyde of dyffame.

‘The second, (to his ádvantáge,)
that he be borne out of serváge:
this to meane, that he, in all,
out of thraldome be lyberall.

‘The third, (withouten all outráge,)
to be borne in trwe mariáge.

‘the fourthe is, a foot full good,
of nature that he be nat wood,
nor that he, by no frolage,
be nat fallen into rage.

‘thesë fowre feet (in sothnesse),
of truthë all-way bere witnesse;
but we (by conspiratïoun)
shall maken hym alryght a-doune;
and, shortly, (to owr avayle),
here-on we shall haue a consayle.’

and, lyke to theyr opynyon,
fyrst ther spake Detractïon:
quod she, ‘I can a noble songe
that aye resownythe vnto wronge,
That Dan of Inuidia
ffiat coluber in via.

‘this songe I wot ryght welle,’ quod she,
‘was I-songen first for me.
to vse it, I am nat rekles,
I am the horned Cerastes,
whiche evar (as ferforthe as I may,)
trace ever the wrongë way.
and covertly, in my werkynge,
I vsë for to byte and stynge;
with tethe & tonge I do most wrake,
evar behynden at the bake.

‘the horsë of hym, in diffame,
so priveily I shall disceyve,
that he shall nat apparceyve.
I shall be falshed so prevyd,

618

‘to make hym halten in some syde;
whiche so sorë shall hym greve,
that he shall not mowe releve.’

‘Sothly,’ quod tho Treason,
‘that good was hir oppinion.’

and when she hadd hir talë do,
echon they accordyd well therto;
the houndës stoden at abaye
and gan barke, by gret affray.
and at[të] last, Detraccïon
made myn hors to falle a-doun,
and to halten in swyche wyse
that I myghtë nat a-ryse:
withe a tonge of a serpent
myne horse and I were bothë shent;
And doun at erthe, in gret affray,
amonge the houndës ther I lay.

and aftar (by great felonye)
I was assaylyd by Envye;
and with thre sperës sharpë ground,
she gave to me many a wound.
and of Scilla, the cruell hounds,
gaue me many mortall wounds;
I was to-torne with ther chas.
and than cam Treason with hir mas,
hevy as a clobbe of leed,
and ther-of set me on ye hede;
lege and arme she brake in twayne,
that yet I fell the gretë payne
of that ylkë mortall stryffe,
and shall felle it all my lyffe.

and whill I lay thus in a traunce
of grete anoye and grete grevaunce,
those oldë vekkës dispitious,
they me left in full gret drede,
wenynge that I had be dede.
and comfort, truly was ther none,
for all my fryndës werë gon:
in prison, lay Charite;

619

Mercy was hound, & eke Pitie,
whiche lykyd me nothyng well.
and Scilla cawsyd everydell;
for my sorow and my grevaunce
was to her full gret pleasaunce;
and it grevyd hir full sore
that I haddë harme no more;
and she (of indignatïon,)
made a quarell to Treason,
that she dyd no more vengaunce,
to encrese my wofull chaunce.

wherfore I (in myn entent)
I axyd a ryghtfull iugëment,
cast my gage tofore the kynge,
to have amende of all this thynge;
and, for this great transgressïon,
I made a-pele vppon Treson;
and complaynynge thus my wo,
I lay, and turnyd to and fro,
maymyd in so mortall wyse
that I myghtë nat aryse
on my fete, for gret destrese;
and vpreard my-selfe to drese.

I madë me a leg of tre
to rysen (yf it wold ha be);
and that leg (in my discese)
dede me after full gret ese;
for, to my gret confusïon,
lost I haddë my bordon;
I mist not wherë, in serteyn,
tyll Gracë Dieu it brought ageyn,
whiche that found it on a day
at the turnynge of a waye.

and in thes wofull áuentures,
as I anoynted my bresures,
complaynynge early on a morow,
as I lay, and madë sorowe,
when phebus, with his bemës bryght,
gilt the hyllës with his lyght,
to chase the mystës that were derke,

620

to me there come a full old clerke,
whom, sythë tyme that I was bore,
I had nevar sene tofore;
and his booke on me he layd,
and euen thus to me he sayd:

Ouidius:
quod he, ‘of true affectïon,
I ha gret compassyon
on thy sorowe and on thy doole,
that thow liggest here all soole
in grete myscheffe (as semethe me)
wher-of I haue full gret pyte.’

Pilgrim:
“for to put me in certeyne,
I pray the that thou woldest seyn
thy name openly to me,
that I myghtë thanken the.”

Ouidius:
‘of my name it stondethe thus;
I am callyd Ovydius,
whiche loue thee, more than thou canst wene:—
here-aftar it shall be sene.
and yf thow haddyst, her-to-forne,
in my tyme, in sothe be borne,
to thy consolatïon
I shold haue towght thee a lessonne,
whiche shuld ha be to thy plesaunce,
and shuld ha made thee in substaunce
ffull sufficiaunt, in many a thynge,
bothe in doctryne and in connynge.
but I am comë to denounce
a sertayn curse, & to pronounce,
on allë thilkë the sentence,
whiche vnto the ha don offence.
whiche sentence (in wordës fewe)
to the in latyn I shall shewe,
Terra sibi fruges & cetera /’

Pilgrim:

whan his vers weren all ysayd,
vnto hym thus I abrayd:

621

“that ye (of true affectïon,)
have on me compassyon,
on my doolle and on my smert.
I thankë yow with all myn hert;
but I ha no devosyon
In cursynge nor in malison;
I shall delay[e]n all cursynge,
tyll tymë that the myghty kynge,
by iugëment, eche thyng shall deme,
as vnto hym it shall but seme,
of ryghtwisenessë, to provide.”

and in this wise, the clerke Ovide
went his way, and leftë me
lyggynge in great adversitie;
and to expresse (in complaynynge)
my gretë sorow by writynge,
I will myn ownë namë shewe,
sette out by lettars on a rowe
at the gynnynge of this ditie
in eche ballad as ye may se,
of Frenche and Lattyn, bothe I-fere,
ryght anon as ye shall here.
hauythe me excusyd of my rudenesse,
thowghe I to you my name expresse:

[_]

There now follows a poem of 24 stanzas, each stanza of 8 lines, which has been omitted. This is not contained in the MS.

624

now I ha told myn ádventure
of all that evar I dyd endure,
of Scilla and her houndës fell,
and eke (as ye ha hard me tell)
of Envy and of Treason,
and of falce Detractïon.
how they ha wrought to my hyndrynge
In the absens of the kynge
and of his portar, in sertayne.

But when they were come home agayne,
and enteryd in-to the castell,
it lyked me ryght wonder well.
a-non I went to his presens,
and tolde hym of the gret offens
whiche that Scilla with hir hounds
had don to me within his bounds,
by the conspiracïon
of Envy and [of] Treason:
my wrong I dyd specifye.

the kynge a-non let make a crye,
that were-so-evar they myght be
found in towne or in citie,

625

that folkë shuld them sparë nought,
to his presens till they were brought.
for he cast hym, anone ryght,
on them to done iustice and ryght,
that they go no more at large;
and gave his porter eke in charge
forto shette the gatës sore,
that they entre there no more,
nor that they have ther no chere.

and then I saughe a messagere
wher the kynge of custome dwells,
In the castell ryngë bells,
for to maken ássemblé,
where the kynge set in his se,
of the ladyes that ther dwell,
(of whome to-forne ye have herd tell,)
that suffred gret oppressyon
of Envy and Detraccïon,
of Scillas houndës, by berkynge,
in th[e] absens of the kynge,
of their drede and mortall rage,
wher-of they suffred gret damage.

‘Madams,’ quod this messegere,
‘the kynge, most myghty of power,
whiche hathe, in great charitie,
(in effecte, as ye shall se,)
and purposethe in his entent,
he hathe be longe from yow absent,
(as ye know yowr-selffe full well,)
but of new, to this castell,
he is come for his pleasaunce;
and he hathe made an ordynaunce
and statutës full covenáble,
to yow echon ryght profytable,
commaundynge yow, echon, in dede,
that, hens-forthe, ye ha no drede
of your enemys, nor hevynesse,
but that yow do yowr besynesse
(as it is the kyngës will)
yowr office truly to fulffyll,

626

‘as ye dyd, when ye began,
and bettar, yf ye bettar can;
for the kynge (as ye shall se)
will on your foon avengid be:
to yow I ha no more to say.’

than the messengar went his way,
and thes ladys, by good advyse,
full truly dyd theyr offyse,
evereche, lyke to ther degre,
voyde of all contrariouste;
and (shortly for to devyse)
wher that truthë and iustice
be truly kept in any place,
I dare sayne ther abydythe grace;
And where the gatë is kept well,
of palays, maner, or castell,
that vycis may ha none entrie,
that place stant in suërte,
and eche thynge tournethe for the best;
for, ther is peace, and ther is rest,
and evar gladly, to theyr forthynge,
ther abyte the ryghtffull kynge;
and ther is suraunce & eke trust.

and afftar this, I had a lust,
cawght in my-selfe a great corage,
for to holden my passage,
and greatly gan my selffe delyght,
dyvers castells to vysyte,
for to consythar the maner
of euery maner offycer,
How euerych dede in his degre.

and it is good, a man to se
many thyngës, and to here,
for therby a man may lere
ful moche thynge outward by syght,
and take example to done right.

And whan I hadde ther-to lycence
I wente and dede my diligence
to visiten, and to se
ful many wonderful countre.

627

and ther I fond ful gret foysoun
Of many dyuers Religyoun;
and I saugh, of many oon,
The gretë bondës euerychon
broke, that shuld hem wel conserve,
yef they wold hem wel observe,
Kepe hem from al aduersite,
as here-to-forn ye dedë se,
Whan the smale wikres brak,
The hopës wenten al to wrak,
And many shippes for lak, allas,
Was yperysshed in the same cas,
and brought vnto confusïoun,
(toforn as is maad mensïoun)
for lak in their gouernaunces,
Nat kepyng their obseruaunces.

And her-vpon̄ I ferther wente
to senë more (in myn entente).
And withyne a litel space
I cam into a noble place;
and at the gate I saugh somers;
and on hem sittë, fressh of chers,
Aungels, of gret vertu;
and hafter hem, kam Gracë Dieu,
fresshly Ridyng in a char.

and the gate (I was wel war)
Of the castel stood vnshet.
and truëly, whan I had met
the Somers, I gan enquere
of oon, that he wold[ë] lere
goodly, and informë me,
whos the somers sholdë be,
Which hadde, vpon hir weye,
Aungels hem to conveye,
Only for to make hem strong.

The aungel:
‘To Grace Dieu,’ quod he, ‘they long.’

The pilgrym:
Quod I to oon that rood behynde,
“telle me wher I shal hir fynde.”

628

The Aungel:

Quod thaungel, ‘as it is due,
her, in hast, she shal vs sue.’

And in my way so I me bar,
that I fonde hir in hir char;
and a-mong hir folkës alle,
benignëly she gan me calle,
and bad I shold ek ha no fere
to tellë what I dedë there.

The pilgrym:
And I answeryd anon ryght,
how I wente to haue a syght
of sondry castelles (it is no doute,)
that in the countre stood aboute,
and of folkës gouernaunce,
that ther abood for her plesaunce.

Grace dieu:

Graciously, y-wys, quod she,
‘Now thou hast yfounden me
toforn or that I was ago.
but (withoutë wordës mo),
come and folwe on after me,
and many thyngës thou shalt se.’

and she ladde me, vp and doun,
by many diuerse mansïoun,
In cloystres, as wentë tho
Round about, to and fro:
ther I saugh vertues and ek vices,
and many dyuerse edifices.
I saugh ther places ruynous,
and to dwelle in perillous.

she shewed me, on our walkyng,
an oldë lady ther haltyng,
and (as by her contenaunce,)
She haddë ther gret gouernaunce:
she bar a Rewle of a masoun,
and pleyed by derysïoun,
and (as I coudë tho espie)
by a maner mokerye.

629

In hir hand (as I was war)
a gretë spoon also she bar;
and as she reysed it a-lofte,
to hir mouth she putte it ofte.
And also (as to my reward,)
hir hed was turned ek bakward,
that toforn (as I ha mynde,)
Was turned and ysette behynde.

[Grace Dieu]:

Quod Grace dieu a-noon to me,
‘at the eyë thou mayst se;
this hous (yef thou canst espye,)
whilom was by masounrye
bilt, and founded spiritually
by sent Benet, feithfully
by lyne and level of masoun,
thorugh gostly foundacïoun,
for which, whilom parmanable,
it was tabidë the mor stable.

‘conceyve also, (by my doctryne,)
thyng that is maad by rule and lyne,
In it self hath more beaute
tendure, and mor stabilite.
but whan the masoun was agoon,
the rulë wente, and that a-noon,
and the lynë stood nat faire
Whan the rulë gan apaire;
and thus the rule, and ek the lyne,
bothe attonës gan declyne.
and feithfully, in this castel,
the rulë was nat kept ryght wel;
for, sith the halt held this place,
al good rulë gan difface.
of vertu ek she is so bare,
the edifices to repare;
for the old fundacïoun,
She hath nat but derisïoun;
She reccheth nat what-euere falle;
thaugh the stoonës fallen alle,

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‘of vertu, bilden in the place;
for, save to play and to solace,
I dar sey she, in hir werkyng,
Intendeth to noon other thyng.’

The Pylgrym:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “to my semyng,
this placë first, in his bildyng,
(Who consydereth euerydel)
the masounry was nat maad wel,
Was not duely maad, nor stable,
Sith it is not parmanable.”

Grace Dieu:

‘Touchyng the bildyng, tak good heed:
the masounry, (it is no dreed,)
I dar ful wel thy-self assure,
it was maad for to endure,
and to haue last for many yer,
Save oonly the morter
Was not iustly (as I ha sayd)
stably among the stoonës layd,
ffounded vpon̄ true entent
more stedfastly than is cyment.

‘It was first maad of orisouns,
of fastyng and affliccïouns,
to holde the cloystre round about
by stablenesse, and not gon out
into the world, vagabound,
the edifices to confound;
but in their cloystres stille abyde
in mekënesse, and not in pryde,
Haue their frequentacïouns
in prayër and in orisouns;
erly on morwen to aryse,
in vertu to haue excercyse;
and at festës more and lasse,
oftë tymës syngë masse.

‘this was whilom, (I you ensure,)
of their morter, the temprure,
founded vppon charyte,
on concord and fraternyte,

631

‘In love and in perfeccïoun,
Voyde of al devisïoun,
In parfit pes and vnyte
of high and lowe in their degre,
for love only of crist ihesu.

‘And yef the morter, in his vertu,
had abide in stabilnesse,
Withouten eny doublenesse,
Lich the first fundacïoun,
The werkë nad not falle a-doun,
but stable stonde in his degre.

‘and now, echon ha liberte,
at þeir lust, to slepe and wake;
and noon other hed ne take
forto kepe their óbseruaunce:
and thus, for lak of gouernaunce,
Pes from hem, and vnyte,
Exilëd is, and charyte.

‘thát whilom gaff drynke and foode,
and vnto pore their lyvëloode,
oonly of mercy and pyte,
and, held hospitalyte;
and, of euery manere age,
gaf to pore folk herbegage,
such as thei seyen, in distresse,
in myschif, and in Seknesse.’

Pilgrim:
“Ma dame (and ye list take hede,)
Who hath nought, (it is no drede,)
may not parten his Almesse
to folk that Leven in distresse.”

Grace Dieu:

‘Thow seyst soth, (as thynketh me,)
but wher thou leggest pouerte,
whilom thei had suffisaunce,
plente ynowh, and hábundaunce,
whan thei worsheped in special
The myghty kyng that gaf hem al
suffisaunce in euery lond;
but now he hath withdrawe his hond

632

‘for their offences; this the fyn:
ther goodës drawen to declyn;
for thei be Rekles of livyng
forto serue that noble kyng;
and, for slouth and necligence,
they doon in o thyng gret offence.
ffor wher the lord (in his degre)
Duely shuld honnourëd be,
the place is not, with diligence,
Clenly kept with reuerence;
for beforn, and ek behynde,
Yraynes and webbës men may fynde;
and also ek, (yef thou take hede,)
Swalwes and othre bryddës brede;
and also ek (through al their boundes)
dong of doggës and ek of houndes,
nettles and wedës round aboute,
in cymyterys ful gret route,
lich a disert or places wilde,
wher no man hath lust to bilde,
Replevisshëd of al ordure,
as it were withouten cure;
and many oother dishonestës,
bestial in ther degres,
mor than I can here devyse.

‘ánd crist ihesus dede iustyse
on hem that in the temple solde:
becausë oonly thei were bolde
to done dishonnour to his hous,
he was in party Regerous,
As the gospel kan you telle;
he bett hem out with a flagelle,
That noon of hem durst abyde.

‘Wherfore this halte that here is guyde,
list nat, of hir frowardnesse,
suchë thyngës to redresse,
nor do seruyse in hir werkyng
for tentende vpon the kyng:
her look, hir cher, (as ye may se,)
is vpon worldly vanyte,

633

‘and al hir hertes besynesse,
rather than on holynesse;
for which the kyng (iustly and wel,
that considereth euerydel)
hem to quytë wil not cesse,
maketh their goodës to discresse;
and, for their pompe and their pryde,
Set her Richesse out a-syde,
ámenusyng their substance,
their tresour and their hábundance,
Which made hem first their lord forsake.

‘therfore he can it fro hem take
Whan-euere he list, who lokë wel;
ffor the Prophete Ezechel
Writeth, (who so taketh hede)
Idelnesse, plente of bred,
caused (in conclusïoun)
of Sodom the distruccïoun.’

Pilgrim:
“I pray yov, telle on a-noon ryght,
She that halteth in my syght,
What is hir name, and hir offys,
of whom ye sette so litel prys?”

Grace Dieu:

‘To make a playn discripcïoun,
She is called ‘Abusïoun,’
because, the good that god hath sent,
by hir thei ben wrongly dispent,
And ageyn his wul abused;
Wherof she may nat ben excused.

‘She halt a rule of a masoun,
only by fals collusïoun;
for, to the rule that she is bounde,
(Whan the trouth is sough[t] and founde,
Therto she haveth no reward,)
Hir hed ytourned is bakward;
Vnto the world she cast hir look,
Wich, vnder colour, she forsook.

‘hir spon also doth signefye
the foulë vice of Glotonye,

634

‘for, ageyn ryght and al Resoun,
by force and vsurpacïoun,
she hath forsake the vnyte
of fraternal antiquyte,
by perfeccïoun to contune
to haue hir goodës in comune.

‘but this fals Abusïoun,
only by vsurpacioun
In Religioun (who list se),
fonde out the vice of propurte,
Which is thyng most vicïous,
rennyng among religïous,
Which causeth ofte discord and stryf,
contrary to Thapostles lyf.

‘In propurte (ye may ther rede)
thei ne dide nothyng possede;
her good was comoun, in certeyn.
Wherfore the Spon that thou hast seyn?
ys callede ‘Syngularyte,’
thyng to possede in propurte;
to gedre the fattë (thus I mene,)
vnto hir self, and leve the lene:
As the Prophete Ezechiel,
to the sheperdes of Israel
Spak and wrot, ful yore a-go:
‘Sorwe be to you, and wo,
that ne take to nothyng hede,
but your silven forto fede;
not lik sheperdes of cristus hous;
but verray wolvës Ravinous,
liggyng awayt, bothe nyght and day,
forto devoure what thei may:
they takë bothë mylk and wolle;
and the fatte, away thei pulle
with the spoon of cruelte
ycalled Syngularyte,
thei Robbë pantener and purs,
and gete hem oftë Cristes cours.

‘ffor which cause, I, Abusïoun,
ám come of entencïoun

635

‘Such abusïouns to se,
and their superfluyte
to kutte away, which that thei vse,
and their goodes to ámenuse.

‘The Aungels han hem take away,
Which thou mettest this same day,
With gretë somers in sothnesse,
ledyng away the gret Richesse,
to parte it (of entencïoun)
to folk that in deuocïoun
lede her livës in comune,
and in deuocioun do contune;
such as in god gretly delyte,
fro good to bet alway profyte.

‘figure herof, ye may se,
how that by olde Antiquyte,
the bible ful wel can you tel,
how the childre of Israel
took of Egypt the Tresour
In recompense of her labour.
As for guerdoun, by dwëte
Whan they passed the redë Se,
they tooke in thyng by Robberye,
as clerkës list to specifye;
they barë with hem gret substaunce,
only by Goddës ordynaunce,
Egipciens (it is no drede)
Were not worthy it to possede.

‘and som folk deme off Resoun,
that folk that haue possessïoun,
and ben cursed of livyng,
It is leful (by their demyng)
forto spoylle hem duëly,
and yeve it hem that ben worthy.’

Pilgrim:
Touchyng that oppynyoun,
thus I answerd of Resoun:
“god ne doth nat thus alway,
who that conceyveth, day by day;
for ther ys many an vsurer

636

“in dyuers londës fer and ner,
that wynnë gold ful cursedly,
and it possede ful vnworthily,
how falsly that they come therto;
and god suffreth that it be so;
and yet, to pore they yeve no thyng,
though they be ryghtful of livyng.”

Grace Dieu:

‘As to thy conclusïoun,
ther is noon solucïoun:
god gaf neuere (fer nor ner,)
licence to noon vsurer,
that he shuld (I the ensure)
ben admytted to fals vsure.
god suffreth hem to han tresour,
gold, Richesse, and gret honour:
of al the tresour that they weld,
To hym they shal acountës yeld.
first, they it wan by violence,
of god hauyng no licence;
wherfor, to their Dampnacïoun,
he suffreth their pocessïoun,
as he haddë no reward;
but he wil punysshe hem afterward,
(though they for a while habound,)
the vice of Vsure to confound.

‘but goodës of religïous,
that was yeve in-to her hous
In ther first foundacïoun,
their tresour and possessïoun,
it was yove hem of almesse
for their gretë perfitnesse,
of entent that, day and nyght,
that they shold, with al their myght,
Worshepe god with grete honours,
and truely pray for their foundours.

‘and iustly, this condicïoun
is worth an obligacïoun.
that whan it falleth their fooly,
that thei not vsë duëly

637

‘their offices as thei sholde do,
to kepe ther obseruaunces also
(lich to their professïoun)
in prayer and deuocïoun,
god wil, of his ryghtful lawe,
to chastice hem, his hond with-drawe,
suffre her goodës to vnthryve,
but if thei amende hem blive;
yive it to hem that wil hym serue,
and his comandëmentes obserue.

‘herof ye may sen a figure
fful wel rehersed in scripture:
In Egipt whilom, how it fel,
Whan the childre of Israel
Wher ther in subieccïoun
al that ilkë regioun;
thorugh their travaill and labour,
was maad ryche of gret tresour;
but afterward (as ye may se)
Vij yeres of Sterylite
folwed on, (as ye may red,)
wherof Ioseph took good hed
long a-forn, of high prudence;
and þaugh his noble providence,
Ageyn the hunger, Echë syde,
ful prudently gan to provide,
and shop ther-fore a remedye,
(as Genesis doth specifye;)
for, thorugh the myght of goddës hond,
he sustened al the lond
from hunger and aduersite,
The vij yer of Sterilite.

‘but of al this gretë dede,
thei of Egipt took non hede,
to thanken (in especial)
the myghti lord that gaf hem al;
nor wolde suffre, in no wyse,
Israel do sacrifyse;
but held in subieccïoun,
out of the lond of promyssioun.

638

‘wherfore, merveille neuere a del,
thaugh god suffred Israel,
oonly of his ryghtwesnesse,
to robben hem of their Richesse,
and spoylen hem of their Tresour.
god gaf it hem for their labour,
And as for a mede in guerdoun,
Departyng from that Regioun.

‘They hadde disserued it of yore,
by gret labour that sat hem sore,
thorugh cónstreynt of Kyng Pharao,
which wolde not suffren hem to go,
Nor to departe in rest and pes,
for no massage of Moyses;
but put hem euere in delay,

‘and thus the lord can take a-way
Richesse of folkës vicïous,
and yive it hem that be vertuous;
As he hath done here in this place:
thou mayst beholde it with thy face.’

Pilgrim:
“Certes,” quod I with hevy cher,
“In other places mo than her
(to tellë shortly, and not tarye)
I ha beholde the contrary,
wher folk, by gret deuocïoun,
han kept their religïoun
ful streytly, in gret honeste,
that han falle in pouerte,
bothe of liflood and vesture,
that thei myghtë nat endure,
Mischef hath hem brought so lowe.
and fayn I wold the causë knowe,
why god wil suffre their grevaunce,
forto lakke their suffisaunce.”

Grace Dieu:

Quod Grace Dieu a-noon to me,
‘I wil herof answere the,
and make therof no gret delay;
but her cometh oon nov in our way,

639

‘and I wil first, of good resoun,
knowen his entencïoun;
or go thy self, by my biddyng,
And axe the cause of his comyng.’

And sodeynly, good hede I took;
and cast on syde on hym my look,
which, lich a dwerf, (this the caas,)
of his fetures shapen was.
a pyk of Iren, sharp and longe,
he held, that was of makyng strong.

Pilgrim:
And to me-ward his look he layde.
but first, to hym ryght thus I sayde.
“Telle on, thou dwerf, (ha no shame,)
To vs, thyn office and thy name.”

Sterelite:
‘I called am (yef thou list se)
Of folkës alle, ‘Sterility,’
which ha this hous maad ful bareyn,
bothe of frut and ek of greyn.
Ther good, their lond, (yef it be sought,)
I ha distruyed and brought to nought:
This my craft and myn offys;
and therfor (by gret avys)
to castë folk in pouerte,
I am called ‘Sterilite;’
foul and ougly of look and cher:
In Egypt I dwellëd vij yer.
wher I abyde, (be wel certeyn,)
I make the land to be bareyn.’

Grace Dieu:

Quod Gracë Dieu, ‘a litel space,
Go thy way out of this place;
and what-so-euere herafter falle,
whan me list, I shal the calle.’

And whan that tourned was his bak,
Gracë dieu thus to me spak:
‘touchyng the goodës, day be day,
which that I ha take away
fro this placë here present,

640

‘I dide [it] oonly of entent
that other folk shold it possede,
which (bothe in wark and ek in dede,)
lede her lyf in perfitnesse,
In vertu, and more holynesse
than thei which that her now be.

‘and touchyng that thou askest me,
Thou shalt haue answere therof noon.
but first, I chargë the to goon
to hir that is the Selerere
of this place that stondeth here;
aske hir (that thou mayst conceyve)
touchyng the good she doth receyve,
to telle the playnly al the guyse,
how it is spent, and in what wyse.
and, hir to knowe among hem alle,
‘Purveyauncë’ folk hir calle.
and whan she hath declared al,
thou shalt haue (in specïal)
of the demaunde (by good resoun)
a truë Declaracïoun,
as it accordeth and is dwe.

‘and forth my Somers I wil swe;
for, in this place, on no syde,
I caste me no lenger to abyde;
nor neuere (to speke in wordës playn)
hider to retourne agayn,
til the tyme that I may se
that vertu and honeste
Resortë by deuocïoun
Into thys Religïoun.’

And with that word, (as I was war,)
I saugh hir gon in-to hir char.
and in this while (of good entent,
lich to hir comandëment)
I wentë with a sobre chere,
forth vnto the celere[re].
and, my iourne to avaunce,
I knewe hir by hir contenaunce;
for (the trouthë to expresse)

641

She was of gret sobrenesse,
of gret reuerence and honeste,
and of gret maturyte;
saad of look, and ek of cher,
Egle-eyëd, bryght and cler.

[The Pilgrim]:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “of good entent,
Gracë Dieu hath to you sent,
that ye sholde (in wordës fewe)
the playnë trouthë to me shewe,
wher ye puttë the rychesse
that ye receyve, in sothfastnesse.”

Celerar:

And she that spak no word in vyyn,
to me answerd thus agayn;
‘al that I haue in my depos,
from hir ther shal nothyng be clos.
Kome forth in hast, and folwe me,
and thou shalt the trouthë se.’

and I cam after (for the best),
and she gan vnlokke a chest,
the whichë, whan I dedë se,
I gan gretly abasshë me,
for the huchche (it is no doute)
was ful of holës round aboute;
and at ech hole (as thoughtë me)
an hand put out, I didë se,
(who-so euere slepe or wake)
Redy to receyve and take.

Pilgrim:
I prayëd her, to specifye
what thyng it dedë signefye.

Celerar:
‘To telle, and voiden al deceyt,
this the place of the receyt
of goodës, which that, day and nyght,
kome to this place of verray ryght,
(forto speke in general,)
but this handes consumen al,
Spende and waste on euery syde,

642

‘that ther may no thyng abyde,
for to departë by almesse
to folk that liven in distresse.’

Pilgrim:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “as semeth me,
ye sholde, of ryght and equyte,
The handës kerve, and kutte away,
and stoppe the holës nyght and day.”

Provide[n]s Celerar:

Quod Providence anoon to me,
‘Thes, ben the handës thre,
which that thevës (by assent)
ar wont to vsen (of entent),
I menë, pyratys of the Se,
which bryngë folk in pouerte.

‘The first hand of allë thre,
ys called (lernë this of me,)
‘the hand of Dymës,’ by gadryng,
To gadre vp dymës for the kyng.

‘the tother hand, ful sorë pulles
gold for trentals and for bulles,
and dyuers subuencïouns
and grevous contribucïouns,
graunted (in especïal)
at Chipytres general.
the handës do no thyng, nor werche,
but waste the good of holy cherche.’

Pilgrim:
“What hand is that (telle on, let Se,)
Which hath an Eye (as thynketh me,)
Sett in the myddës of the hand?
for I saugh neuere (on Se nor land)
Such another her-toforn,
Sith the tyme that I was born.”

Providens:

‘Be nat astonyed, neuere a del!
this hand is (who so lokë wel,)
of our noble Visitour,
Which doth his peyne and his labour
to looke for lucre and fals guerdoun,

643

‘alway, for retribucïoun,
they caste her eyë for wynnyng,
and, ryght nought for ámendyng;
take (in their entencïouns,)
pans for procuracïouns.
ther entent, in no wyse,
ys sett on ryght nor on iustice.

‘ek other handës, mo than thre,
han cast vs in gret pouerte.’

[The Pilgrim:]

With that word, makyng no delay,
I took my leve and wente away.
I hadde no leve, (shortly to telle,)
but shop me hom to my castel.
And on my wayë, me be-fel,
I mette an olde oon in that tyde,
that to me kam on the left syde,
Of whos look I was affrayed:
hir handës partid, and displayed
vpward to a castel wal,
resemblyng (as me thought in al)
That hir entent was to ascende
vpon̄ the wal, or to descende.

a blak Ravoun (it is no doute,)
took his flyght ful round aboute,
Wher-so-euere that she went.
and I knewh nothyng what it ment;
But I caste, withynne a throwe,
playnly that I woldë knowe,
of al thys thyng som evidence;
and wente a-noon to hir presence.
and first of al, I gan enquere,
to telle me what she didë there;
of name and of condicïoun
Make a declaracïoun.

Apostacye:

Quod she, ‘yef thou konne espye,
I am called ‘Apostacye,’

644

‘which whilom, of entencïoun,
madë my professïoun,
In al my bestë feythful wyse,
for to ha do truely seruyse
duryng my lif, vnto the kyng
that is most myghty of werkyng.

‘I sette myn hand vnto the plough;
But I haue hym falsed ynough,
tourned the bak (as thou mayst se)
vnto wordly vanyte,
left myn homage, trouth and al,
and am kome doun ouere the wal
for vayn glorie (out of doute);
In many countre roune aboute,
of entent, for to purchaas
prosperite and vayn solas.

‘and yet ful ofte (in many caas,)
myn entent and purpos was,
fro worldly glorie, fals and vayn,
to haue tourned hom agayn,
and amended my livyng
In the seruyse of the kyng;
but truely (it is no nay)
the Ravoun was euere in my way.’

Pilgrim:
“Truely, and thou dedest wel,
thou sholdest lette neuere a del
for to delayë so thy paas.
thaugh that he crye on thé, ‘cras, cras,’
thou sholdest remembre thé among,
and take noon hede vnto his song.”

Apostasie:

‘The trouthë forto specifye,
I folwe, in myn Apostasye,
In my passage vp and doun,
the Ravenës condicïoun,
that whilom was of Noe sent
out of the arkë, of entent
to beholden how it stood,
of the deluge and the flood

645

‘boyllyng with many sturdy wawe;
Wher the water gan withdrawe.

‘but the Raven fond a kareyn;
therfore he cam not agayn.
and I stonde in the samë caas,
abyde, and synge alway ‘cras, cras,’
makyng many fals delayes,
and prolongë forth my dayes,
forto Resorten hom ageyn,
and spendë thus my tyme in veyn.’

Pilgrim:
“Thy werkës (yef I shal not tarye)
ben vnhappy and contrárye;
and thyn handës, bothë two,
ben yperced þorugh also.
greyn nor frut, vpon no syde,
In no wysë wyl abyde;
for shortly (who so list to sek)
al goth thorugh, and wasteth ek.
Who-so-euere the trouthe atame,
thy tonge is dampned, and ek lame,
that it may seyn noon orisoun,
nor make no supplicacïoun,
Which sholdë ben acceptable
vnto that kyng most honourable.
he is not plesed, (on noo syde,)
Whil in this staat thou dost abyde,
and hast no purpos to Retourne,
but in the world dost ay soiourne.”

Apostacie:
‘Truëly, to thy sentence
I may yevë ful credence;
for Seynt Poule hym-silfë saith,
(to whom, men must yevë fayth,
and ful belevë to his word,)
‘who is not withynne shippes bord,
stant in perail of Perysshyng,
and on the poynt of his drownyng,’
fel fer from his savacïoun,
ffor lakkyng of discrecïoun.

646

‘and I wot wel, for my partye,
I issed out thorugh my folye;
Wherfore I stonde in nonecerteyn,
yef I retourned hom ageyn,
wher I sholdë gracë haue,
therby my soulë for to save.’

Pilgrim:

“ne doute the nat to tourne ageyn,
but be therof ryght wel certeyn,
That of grace thou shalt not faille,
So that thou makë a stoupaille
of the hoolës that open be
in thyn handes (as thou maist se),
this to mene, in sentement,
that playn and hool be thyn entent,
grounded on perfeccïoun;
and that, by gret deuocïoun,
that thou make thyn hertë stable,
and of entent not variable.
look her-to on euery syde,
for I may no lenger abyde,
for, I castë me a-noon,
hom to my castel forto goon,
and by the nextë wayë wende,
and ther, vnto my livës ende,
abiden in the samë place,
lik as god wil yeve me grace.”

and whan I was kome hom ageyn,
of al that euere I had seyn,
I madë playn Relacïoun
to folk of that Religïoun;
and afterward (I you ensure,)
ther fel a wonder áventure,
the whichë, whan I dede aduerte,
yt liked nothyng to myn herte:
I saw tweyne oldë (by assent,)
Kome to me of oon entent,
Wonder dyuers of her cheres;
and bothë two wer massageres:
the toon of hem (I was wel war)

647

Vpon hir bak, a bed she bar;
The tother (if I shal not feyne)
bar also, patentës tweyne;
the toon also, in hir commyng,
gird with a baudrek, for wrastelyng:
In their comyng I fonde gret lak,
and evene thus to me they spak:

Age & Sicknes:
‘deth,’ quod they, ‘hath to thé sent
bothe vs tweynë, of entent,
pleynly to the to declare,
that hym self ne wil not spare
forto come to the anoon;
and bad, aforn we sholdë goon,
and done our fullë besynesse,
with al our myghte, the to opprese,
and not departe fro the at al,
til thou be cast, and haue a fal,
that he may, at his commyng,
fyndë the, by our workyng,
So awhapëd and amat,
that he may seyn to thé, ‘chek mat.’’

Pilgrim:
Quod I, “declareth vnto me,
ffirst of allë, what ye be.
I knowë not your gouernaunce;
With deth I ha non áqueyntaunce;
and yef that he be your maystresse,
I pray you, first, that ye expresse
your office, and your seruyse,
and your namës doth devyse.”

Age & Sicknes:

Quod they, ‘it wer not but in veyn,
With vs to stryve, or wynse ageyn;
for, ther is noon so hardy,
so wys, so Richë, so myghty,
that may, by forcë nor allye,
holden with vs Champartye.

‘for deth hath had, ful yore agoon,
lordshipe of folkës euerychoon;

648

‘for, who considereth allë thynges,
Drad more of lordës and of kynges
than of folkës (who list se)
which that duellen in pouerte.
for porë folk that lakkë bred,
desire ful oftë to ben ded.

‘and, yef thou aryght behold,
vnto deth thou art yhold,
that he, toforn hath to the sent;
for ofte, without avisëment
he cometh to folkës vnwarly,
and hem assailleth sodeynly,
though the contrary had sworn.
but, he hath vs sent to-forn,
as massagers to warnë the;
from his power thou mayst not fle;
and ech of vs (withoutë blame)
Shal declarë the his name.’

[Sekenesse:]

The firstë to me dede expresse:
quod she, ‘my name is Sekënesse.
helthe and I, but litel space
May abiden in O place.
we wrastlen ofte (as men may se);
som whilë she venquyssheth me,
and, som tymë, in certeyn,
I over-throwë hir ageyn,
make hir forto bowe hir chyne.
and, ne werë that medicyne
ys causë that she doth releve,
my sayllyng shold hir often greve.
but, maugre hir potacïouns
ánd dyuerse confeecïouns,
and other sondry lettuaryes
Makëd at the potycaryes,—
bothe emplastres drye and moystes,
and oynementës put in boystes,—
yet deth and I (who lyst espye)
Haue, at the lastë, the maystrye.

‘first I souke vp (for the nones)

649

‘the mary closëd in the bones,
and (wher that it be bad or good,)
waste the flessh, and drynke the blood;
And thus my silf, I cónsume al
the vertu that called is ‘vital’;
and at the last (who list knowe,)
ley hym in a bed ful lowe,
That deth may (withouten stryf)
a-noon bereve hym of his lyf.’

Pilgrim:
“Sothly, thou art no massagere,
to whom men sholdë makë chere.”

Secnes:

‘ffor sothë, yis, (who taketh hede,)
folk ar holde to me in dede;
for, sikë folkës to avaunce,
I make hem to ha répentaunce
Whan she was put out of mynde,
and therby, a menë fynde,
that folkës, by contricïoun,
may come to their savacïoun;
for proudest folkes, (as I gesse,)
I chastysë with Seknesse.

‘and first, I hauë gret delit,
from hem to take their appetit;
their .v. wittës and Resoun,
I be-reve hem, vp and doun,
make (as thou shalt vnderstonde,)
folk so feble, thei may not stonde.

‘and we be comë to thè blyve,
with thè to wrastlen and to stryve.’

Pilgrim:
“Or ye to me don eny shame,
let me first knowen the name
of the tother massager,
That loketh with so fel a cher.”

Sicknes:
‘I grauntë wel she shal the telle,
yef thou wilt a whilë duelle.’

Age:

650

Quod she, ‘of folkës that ben sage,
I am of custom callëd ‘Age,’
Contrarïous (as it is kouth)
to hir that is ycalled Youth,
which whilom had (thou myghtest se)
fresshë fetheres forto fle.
but Age hath plukked hem away,
that vnnethë gon I may;
my fet be now (who taketh hede)
hevy as they were of lede;
I may not gon, but with labour,
and yet of Deth I am corour,
knowe in Countres fer and ner.

‘And who that is a massager,
Wher he holdeth his passáge,
mut do truely his masságe,
and the trouthë telle of ryght.

‘I am vnweldy, ánd not lyght;
and (to speke in wordës fewe,)
myn empty skyn doth wel shewe
what that I am; and ouer more,
thou mayst se, by my lokkës hore,
and by ryvéls of my viságe,
How that I am called ‘Age,’
of whom, folkës that discerne,
may ful many thyngës lerne.

‘though that wasted be my blood,
I ha seyn bothe evel and good;
Preved (if I shal not feyne)
ende and gynnyng of bothe tweyne.
age, in konnyng doth excelle;
who muchë seth, can muchë telle:
no man in konnyng (this, the chef,)
withoutë syght may ha no pref.’

Pilgrim:
“To herë now, myn entent is,
what betokne thi patentës;
and after that, make no delay,
but take thy leve, and go thy way.”

Age:

651

‘wher-so it like the, or displese,
I wil abiden at myn eese,
And fro this placë not retourne,
but euere in on with thè soiourne.
I may not parte lyghtly a-way,
as Youthë dede this other day.
She thè forsook (in verray dede)
whan thou haddest to hir most nede;
she went hir way, and took hir flyght,
and fled a-noon out of thy syght;
caste hir neuere to come ageyn:
to looken after, wer but veyn.
but I, be leyser mut abyde,
tóward dethe to be thy guyde;
for, til deth come, I vndertake
that I shal the not forsake.

‘I haue doon my besy peyne.
to bryngë thé patentës tweyne,
oonly of fauour, for thy best;
ther-vp-on that thou mayst reste,
and of noon entencïoun
to takë fro the thy bordoun:
to the, bothë may availle.

‘and, for mor suer sowpewaille,
to the bordoun spiritual,
a staf is nedful, temporal:
Euerych of hem with-outë wene,
the tother must of ryght sustene;
for whan the tó part doun doth falle,
help of the tother he must calle,
yef hym list hym-self assure.
but thou ne shalt not wel endure
the felle assautës of vs tweyne;
for, we ne shal no lenger feyne,
but (for short conclusïoun)
ber thè to the Erthe a-doun.’

Pilgrim:
And bothë tweynë, with a brayd,
vpon̄ a bed they ha me layd,
for they wolde not of me faille,

652

ther tabyde, til deth assaille.
And in distresse and gret affray,
vpon̄ the bed whil I thus lay,
I myghtë tho no ferther gon,
to me a lady cam a-noon,
with ful many noble signe,
of cher and lok, ful benigne,
(I dar ryght wel record,)
Whos namë was ‘Myserycord;
oon of hir brestës opon̄ was,
to yeve me mylk in such a caas.
And also (as I was war,)
me semptë that a corde she bar,
to bynden hay (so thoughtë me).
and, of mercy and pyte,
to me that lay, like a wrecche,
She gan hir corde abrood to strecche;
And ful goodly, with that sygne,
to me she sayd with cher benygne:

Mysericord:
‘Rys a-noon, and suë me,
for by thy cher, I do wel se
that thou art feblyd of thy myght,
and thou list not her a-ryght;
Wherfore I wil the fostre and guye,
and lede the to the fermerye.’

Pilgrim:
Quod I, “that were ful glad to me.
But, for I wot not what ye be,
I pray you with ful humble cher,
your namë, that ye wil me lere.”

Misericord:

‘My namë, yef it be conceyved,
I ought wel to ben receyued,
for, whan Iuges, for offence
han yovëd hir sentence,
I do my peyne and my labour,
of Iustice and of Rigour
forto do remissïoun,

653

‘and make a mittigacïoun
(as folkës may ful wel discerne).

‘for whan the kyng that is eterne,
had yoven in sentëment
a ful dredful Iugëment
of Adam and the lynage,
forto deye for their outrage,
I cam to hym ful humblely,
and prayed hym ful benygnëly,
the myghty kyng celestial,
not forto distruyen al;
but that he wold, in his grevaunce,
modefyen his vengeaunce,
and to with-drawe his Iugëment.

‘and his bowë that was bent,
I made hym drawë of the corde,
and, for sygnës of concorde,
Sette it in the heven alofte;
and (as men may se ful ofte)
In tookne of pes, and not of wrak,
from vs he tourned hath his bak,
that, of his mercyáble lawe,
he may not the bowë drawe,
whan of mercy (as it is knowe)
toward hym-self he drough the bowe.

‘whan he, for our Inyquyte,
dyed vpon̄ the rodë tre,
he bought our gilt so sore.
and vnderstond, ouer more,
vp nor doun (who lokë wel)
he may not drawe it neuer a del.
for, of the bowë the discord,
vnderstondë by the cord:
I made hem so forto acorde,
that called am ‘Misericorde.’
for (yef thou dost wel vnderstond)
the stryng therof is in myn hond:
thou mayst behold it wel, and se;
for, of mercy and of pyte,
I drawe out wrecches from her charge,

654

‘and makë hem go loos at large.

‘therfore folkës alle acorde
to callë me ‘Miséricorde’;
of which (by declaracïoun)
to make an exposicïoun,
Misericordë, truëly
ys, on wrecches to han mercy.

‘thus my namë thou shalt knowe;
I drawe hem vp, whan they ben lowe.
the cordeler that waf the corde
of pes, vnyte, and concorde,
only on wrecches to han pyte,
hyr name was called ‘Charyte.’

‘and yef the corde wer broke a-sondre,
ther is nó man, (her nor yondre,)
though he euere dide his peyne,
that myghtë to the heven atteyne;
for, by this corde (as I the told)
allë Synners must hem hold,
and playnly clymben vp therby,
oonly of pyte and mercy.’

Pilgrim:
“lady, put me out of doute,
why ha ye now drawen oute
Oon of your brestës fayr and whyte
(which to behold, I me delyte,)
like as ye woldë be my bote,
wasshe me with your mylk most sote?”

Misericord:

‘Truely,’ quod she ‘(yef ye take hede,)
of my mylk thou hast mor nede
(yef the trouthe be iustly told)
than outher of siluer, outher of gold,
or of any precious ston,
forto rekne hem euerychon.
for this mylk which thou dost se,
ys called Mercy and Pyte,
allë Synners to sustene;
and to releve hem in their tene,
it bryngeth hem in rest and pees.

655

‘And, like as Aristotiles
writte, that mylk is nothyng elles
(as allë Philesophres telles)
but blood, by transmutacïoun
thorugh hete and lent decoccïoun,
tourned away from his rednesse
to perfectioun of whytenesse;
and (to speke in wordës playn)
this nomorë forto sayn,
that a man that ys irous,
froward and malencolious,
hath but red blood: and that rednesse
may neuere tournë to whitenesse
(as clerkës sayn,) but yef so be
it be decoct by charyte,
that his malicious appetit
be itourned into whit,
thorugh perfectïoun of hete
of charyte, that ys most swete,
Than the smoke of fals envye,
the fume eke of maléncolye,
fleth away, in rednesse,
chaunged clene into whitenesse.

‘and who that drynketh of this mylk—
mor sote and softe than any silk—
foryeveth (in a litel space)
ech offencë and trespace
that men ha gilt hym in his live;
hym list no more ageyn to stryve.

‘of such mylk, most of vertu,
gret plente haddë crist ihesu;
Shewed his brestis of pyte
whan he was hanged on a tre.
he suffred tho (it is no doute,)
the likour for to Renne aboute,
and for to shede it out yffere
than he was stonken with a spere,
the syde of his humanyte,
on alle synful to ha pyte,
for to wasshe away our vyce.

656

‘was neuere moder nor noryce
that gaf such mylkë her-to-fore
to hir child, whan it was bore.
his brestes, that be most fair and whyte,
most holy, and fresshest of delyte,
arn euere open to folkës alle.
his voycë, synners doth ek calle,
and bit hem in their hertë thenke,
of his sootë mylk to drynke:
‘for blod of ire is noon in me,
but mylk of mercy and pyte,’
which wassheth away al vengeaunce:
who hath this mylk, hath suffisaunce.

‘The Redë blood (as folk may se)
y-chaunged is, by charyte,
Into whyte mylk, hoolsom and good,
shaad for mankynd vpon the rood;
with the which, I fostred and fede
allë folkës that ha nede,
such as list, by on acorde,
for to be drawë with my corde,
to alle I am so mercyable,
to my fader, Résemblable,
and to my moder Charyte.

‘for whan that I may any se
In myschief, hunger, outher thurst,
hem to fede, it is my lust.
naked and nedy, that ben lothe,
I haue in custom hem to clothe;
And, gretly I me delyte,
folk in prisoun to visyte;
and ledë, with a glad visage,
pore folk to their herbegage;
And thei that deye in pouerte,
to burye hem, I délite me:
to suchë labour I entende;
al thyng amys, I do amende;
folkës sike and vnweldy,
of pyte only and mercy,
I serve hem in humylite.

657

‘And now I am ycome to the,
In al my bestë feythful wyse,
forto profre my seruyse.’

Pilgrim:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “as it is due,
my lust is gretly you to sue;
but, for my gretë febilnesse,
which me restreyneth by distresse,
And, þees massagers also
Causen that I may not go.
And if ye wold, of your goodnesse,
Doon your gretë besynesse
Thes massagers to putte away,
I wolde (withoutë mor delay)
folwe, in al my best entent,
to gon at your comandëment.”

Misericord:
‘Truely (nouther nygh nor ferre)
I may not voydë nor differre
the massagers from thy presence;
but I shal do my diligence,
with my cordë, thè tenbrace,
and to lede thè to the place
which called is the Fermerye.
the massagers her fastë by,
I ha no myght hem to coharte,
to maken hem fro thè departe.
til that deth hym-silf assaille,
tabiden on the, they wil not faylle.’

Pilgrim:
Than anoon Myserycorde
gan tenbrace me in hir corde.
and the oldë, bothë tweyne,
Were present, and dide her peyne
to brynge me to my bed anoon,
and list not from me fer to goon.
and therwith-al, ánoon ryght
I gan to feblen of my myght
mor and mor, erly and late,
til the porter at the gate

658

broughtë me two massagers,
benygne and goodly of her chers.

[The Porter:]

Quod the porter anoon to me:
‘I ha thè brought (yef thou lyst se)
two massagers (it is no nay)
which shal the teche the ryghtë way
to Ierusalem the cite;
for (bi tooknes that I se,)
I conceyve (on euery syde)
thou mayst her, no while abyde.
wherfore, to makë thy passage,
Send hem toforne, on thy massage,
that thou mayst, by thy sendyng,
be bet receyved at thi comyng,
withouten eny spot of blame.
and makë to hem, in thi name,
a maner of commyssïoun,
and ek a procuracïoun,
that they may, thorugh their werkyng,
be receyuëd of the kyng
thorugh fauour of their langage,
to taken vp their herbergage
In that cyte clestial,
wher the kyng is éternal.

‘thes ladyes namës to expresse,
they ben Prayer and Almesse;
And they ben redy, bothë tweyne,
In this caas to done her peyne.’

[The Pilgrim:]

“Truely,” quod I to the porter,
“I wolde, with al myn hert entier,
don almës of entencïoun;
but I ha noo pocessïoun,
nor nothyng in propurte,
but al thyng in communyte.
al propurte, I ha forsake,
And to pouerte me take,
Of myn ordre, in sothfastnesse.

“Wherfore, touchyng such almesse,

659

“I ha sothly no powere
to make of hir a massagere,
to takë herbergage for me
In that hevenly, chef cyte.
almës, and al such oother thynges,
mot ben of lordës and of kynges
Sent to-forn to that cyte,
Yef they wil wel receyved be,
ther to make her purveaunce,
terberwe hem to their plesaunce.

“for (who-so list the trouthë lere)
alle estates in this world here—
kyngës, prynces, bothë two,
Dukës, lordës ek also,—
Reekne hem allë, by and by,
and thei be pilgrymës as I:
let hem toforn pourveyë wel
forto take vp their hostel,
Sende her massagers to se
their herbergage in that cyte,
that, for lak of providence,
through slouth, or through necligence,
they be dispurveyed, at her comyng,
as Barlam telleth of a kyng,
which, of custom synguler,
Reyned neuere but a yer
In a lond; and this the ende,
than of forcë he must wende
Into an Ilond (in certeyn)
that was of vitaille ful bareyn;
and thus this kyng cam to meschaunce,
for laak oonly of pourveyaunce,
that he toforn, for his availle,
lyst to sendë no vitaille.
Ther was noon other menë wey;
for hunger, he must nedë deye.

“after whom, thus stood the cas,
that a-nother kyng ther was,
which shuldë for a yer succede;
but he was wys, and took good hede,

660

“whil he stood in háboundaunce,
forto make his purveyaunce,
to sendë, in the samë while,
vitaille into that bareyn Ile.
he was prudent, aforn to se,
to provide that Scarsete
sholde sodeynly hym not assaille:
wherfore, hé sent his vitaille
Into that yle that bareyn was.

“wherfore, let ech man in such caas,
sen aforn, in his resoun,
while he stant in pocessïoun
of his Rewme, by good avys
to sende aforn to paradys,
to taken vp, in that cyte,
herbergage lik his degre;
as whilom dedë seynt Lowys,
the holy kyng that was so wys:
Whil he hadde domynacïoun
thorugh-out al his Regïoun,
he ne was not necligent,
but sent aforn, of good entent,
his massagers and his corrours,
his vitaillers, his pourvéyours,
only for his ávauntage,
to taken vp his herbergage
In that ilkë noble Rewm,
called hevenly Ieurusalem;
wher he was, for a memórye,
Receyved forto regne in glorye,
that holy kyng contemplatif,
for the vertues of his lif,
his prayours and his orysouns,
his fastynges and deuocïouns,
his mercy meynt with ryghtwesnesse,
his compassiouns, his almesse,
of cherches his foundacïouns,
and other dyuers mansïouns
y-mad for folkës pore and blynde,
Which, neuére, shal out of mynde:

661

“alle thes vertues (in substaunce)
made aforn hym pourveyaunce;
took vp a paleys most Royal
In that cyte celestial,
for kyng Lowys, that holy man,
as his lif rehercë can,
wel bet than I can expresse.

“and for my part, touchyng almesse,
I may not make hir (fer nor ner)
forto be my massager:
She nys not pertynent to me,
which ha no thyng in propurte,
but by licence (in certeyn)
oonly of my souuereyn.

“wherfore (of entencïoun)
I shal make a commyssïoun
to oon that is prudent and sage,
to taken vp myn herbergage:
the name of whom is Prayer,
to go toforn as massager.”

Prayer:
Quod Prayer, ‘for thy best,
I wil fulfillë thy requeste
as forforth as I ha myght,
and as toforn I ha behyght.’

[The Pilgrim]:
And with that word, anoon Siknesese
bad hir hastë fast, and dresse,
withouten eny mor delay,
forto spede hir on hir way;
and without eny longer space,
for tavoyden anoon the place.

[Siknesse]:
Quod she, ‘it is now no sesoun
to maken a comyssïoun,
at this tymë, to prayere;
for, playnly (who list to lere,)
bothe at complyn and at pryme,
it hath be mad afore this tyme;
or ellës, herbergage to wynne,

662

‘It were to late now to begynne.’

Pilgrim:

“God me grauntë grace and mynde,
good herbergagë forto fynde;
for now I haue ynowh to do,
of veray cónstreynt and of wo,
to remembre on my siknesse.”

and with that word, ther gan in dresse
oon vpon my bed anoon,
the cruelist of al my foon;
of whom in soth, whan I took hede,
I lostë speche, of veray drede:
I myghtë make no questïoun
to axen hir condicïoun,
she was so dredful of hir chere:
a sithe she bar, and ek a bere;
sette hir foot vpon my brest,
for to maken on me arest.
but than a lady of gret vertu,
that was called Gracë dieu,
bad hir a wylë letë be,
whil that she spak a word to me.

Deathe:
‘Sey on, and tarye neuer a del;
for I may not abiden wel.
I haate soothly al taryyng;
and I ne love non ábidyng.
the cause is this, (who taketh hede)
I ha mo thyngës forto spede,
In other places mo than oon;
wherfore telle on, for I mot goon.’

[Grace Dieu]:

Gracë dieu, hir look she layde
Vp-on me, and thus she sayde:
‘thou stanst vpon a streyt passáge,
now as in thy pilgremáge.
Deth is present, as thou maist se,
fro the which, no man may fle.
she is of contynaunce odyble,

663

‘and of thyngës most terryble;
she is the ende of euery thyng;
and now she cast, at hir commyng,
thy lif playnly, as thou shalt knowe,
with hir sithë vp to mowe:
And afterward, this the fyn,
to puttë thè in hir coffyn;
and after, of entencïoun,
to yeve thè in pocessïoun
to wormës (as thou shalt ek knowe,)
that liggen in the erthë lowe;
the which (as I wel tellë can)
Is commón to euery man.

‘ther may no man, of no degre,
hygh nor lowh, his power fle.
ffor, lych as herbës and as floures,
that spryngen with sootë shoures
bothe in Aprill and in May,
and afterward (it is no nay,)
with a sythe (who list to knowe,)
they ben on erthë leyd ful lowe,
and far-wel then al their fresshnesse!
farwel her colour and grenesse!
It not appereth, her nor there,
the hootë Sonne maketh hem Sere;
Ther colours and their fressh aray,
al ys tourned into hay.

‘and, thou, that so longë be
Grene and lusty forto se,
Deth (his power for to kythe,)
wil abatyn with his sythe
thy grenesse, and ek also
parten thè on peces two,
The soule, the body, her and yonder,
and maken hem to parte assondre.
for, playnly, as thou shalt lere,
they may, as now, not gon yfere;
the soulë mustë go tofore,
and the body shal be bore,

664

‘In erthe to haue his mansïoun,
and tournë to corrupcïoun;
and afterward, be wel certeyn,
Ioyned with the soule ageyn,
and ben to-gidre eternally.

‘Now loke that thou be ful redy;
for yf ther be no lak in the,
thou shalt go streyht to the cyte
Of the kyngdom and the Rewm
that called ys Ierusalem,
to which thy pilgremage was sette.

‘thou art come to the wyket
(Which is gynnyng of thy labour,)
thow beheld in a myrrour,
whan thow were ful tendre of age,
at gynnyng of thy pilgrymage;
and therfor now thou art sette
at the boundes of the wyket,
I consaille the, first to crye
Vnto my Fadre for mercye,
behotyng the lady dame Penaunce,
yef thou ha not in suffisaunce
Don to her, whil thou wer here,
Iustly and truely thy devere;
thou art in wil, at thy partyng,
thorugh grace and mercy of the kyng,
that Regneth eternally in glorye,
It to fulfille in purgatorye;
ther tabiden in that place,
tyll the lord wil do thè grace,
of his mercy, at the laste.’

And, for the tymë cam on faste,
and my spechë gan to faille,
I thoughte it fooly for tasaille
Gracë dieu with questïouns,
with demandës or resouns.
And (as I coude ek wel discerne)
Deth abood at the posterne,
and gan to letë goon his sythe,
his cruel myght on me to kythe,

665

And gan so streytly me coharte,
That the soulë mot departe.
And, such a feer anoon me took,
Out of my slep that I a-wook.

University of Virginia Library

DE GUILLEVILLE'S PILGRIMAGE OF THE LIFE OF MAN

Prolog of the Translator, John Lydgate.

Her be-gynneth the prologue of the auctour.

Here begynneth the pylgrym.

The testament off Cryst Ihesu.

Arystotyles dyde hys massage in thys manere:

Sapyence answerde.

Arystotylles Answerde:

Sapyence speketh:

Arystotyles Answereth:

Sapyence axeth:

Arystotyles answereth:

Sapyence axeth:

Arystotyles answerd:

Sapience argueth:

Arystotyles Answerde:

Sapyence speketh:

Arystotyles:

Sapyence argueth:

Arystotyles answerede:

Sapience Axeth:

Aristotiles answerde:

Sapyence:

Aristotiles Axeth:

Sapience Answereth:

[Mary, be our Refuge in Tribulation! 4 verses of 8 lines each, abab, bcbc.][_] Here the translation of St. Bernard's Latin Homily has been omitted, except the 4 verses of Mary, Be Our Refuge in Tribulation.

1

2

3

Lenvoye.

The ffyrste verse off the song:

The secunde verse:

The thryde verse:

[Mary, be our Refuge in Tribulation! 4 verses of 8 lines each, abab, bcbc.]
[_]

Here the translation of St. Bernard's Latin Homily has been omitted, except the 4 verses of Mary, Be Our Refuge in Tribulation.