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 |
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 | The Pilgrimage of the Life of Man |  |
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,
“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:
The Pilgrim:
[Astrology.]
[The Pilgrim:]
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]:
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,
“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:
[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:
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:
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]:
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,
“Tel on ffyrst, what ys thy name.”
Dame Idolatrye:
The Pylgryme:
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:
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:
Sorcerye:
The Pylgryme:
“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,)
“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,
‘(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:
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:
[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.]
Gladnesse off the World:
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:
The Pylgryme:
[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,
‘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:
The Pylgrym:
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:
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,
“But yiff ther werë mor plente.”
Grace Dieu Answerith:
[Grace Dieu]:
Quod Grace Dieu A-noon to me,
‘Now thow hast ynowh plente
Off water, (I dar vndertake,)
Suffysauntly a bath to make;
‘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]:
Now Grace Dieu spekyth:
The Pylgryme:
Grace dieu answerith:
The Pylgryme:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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,
‘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:
Agyographe:
‘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:
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:
[The Pilgrim:]
Agyographe:
‘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:
fflaterye:
The Pylgryme:
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]:
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
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.
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,
‘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.
Off hevenly transmutacïouns
He ffond al out, by gret labour;
Wher-ffore, worshep and gret honour,
536
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.
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 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.
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,
‘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.
How myhte yt falle, or elles be,
537
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?
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.
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.
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.
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 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,
‘Affter the sterrys hem assure
In good, or in Evele Aventure;
Wych hourys ben happy And Ewrous,
And wych also malicïous.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.’
Wychë party thow wylt holde,
And make a demonstracïoun
Affter thyn oppynyoun;
And as thow hast her-in creaunce,
Outher ffeyth or affyaunce.’
540
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.
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.
“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.
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
“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?
How that Venus hath the told
The tyme assygnëd, whan that she
Shal, next, conyoyned be
541
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.”
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.
‘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,
‘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.
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
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.’
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.
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
“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.
Off planetys and the fyrmament,
And off sterrys the mocïoun,
Yiff they hadde commyssïoun
543
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 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;
“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.
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
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.
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.
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,
“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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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,)
“He parteth, as yt ys hys wyl.
And, off hys grace and hys mercy,
All folkys ha suffysaunce,
Plente ynowh, and hábondaunce;
ffor, off hys grace (as yt ys skyl,)
546
“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.
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.
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);
“ffor they sholde a-vayllë nouht,
Nor to mankynde do no good.
Yiff thy resouns wer certeyn,
The sacramentys wer in veyn
In thys cas (yiff yt be souht);
547
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!
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:
“Wherfor thy resouns be but veyn.
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
“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.
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 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.
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,
“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.
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
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 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.
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).
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.
Off sterrys dysposicïoun,
Was thys blyndnesse to hym sent.
“And davyd seyth ‘the fyrmament
Was ordeyned, at O word,
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.
Was ordeyned, at O word,
550
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.”
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:
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,
“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.
Touchyng that the hevene doth.
In erthe, ther sholdë non greyns sprynge,
551
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.
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.
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?”
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
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.
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.’
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.
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,
‘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.’
ffor, awhyle yiff thow wylt dwelle,
553
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.
‘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
‘On every thyng, and ech demaunde,
Lyk as my ffygures me comaunde.’
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
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.
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,
Wych that callyd ys ‘Cyrces.’”
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
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 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.
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:
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
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.
And ther I ffond On syttyng
556
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.
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
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.
‘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.
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,
‘And helpe hym, that he myghtë spede,
To forthre hym in hys gret nede,
Syth he in hym doth so affye.
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
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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
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 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;
“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.
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
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.
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.”
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
‘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 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.
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)
‘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.
My namë ys ‘Bythálassus,’
Wych ys to seynë, (who lyst se)
562
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.
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.
(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.’
I kan make ek apparéncys
Whan that me lyst, ful many On,
Yiff I sholde telle hem euerychon.’
The Pylgryme:
563
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
(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
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.
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
“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.
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
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.
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.
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,
“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.
Affter the caas off thy seyyng.
That swyche toknys outward shewyng,
ffygures or lyneacïouus,
567
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 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.
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,)
“The tooknys outward told hym so,
By Open demonstracïoun.
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
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.
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.
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.”
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,
And knew, as tho, no refuge,
Confort nor consolacïoun.
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
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:
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.
‘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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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;
‘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.
571
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.’
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,)
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.
(Bothe behyndë and beforn,)
572
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;
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.
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.
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 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.
And thys bestë ful savage,
Lyk a man off hys vysage,
Spak to me fful curteysly;
And thus he saydë muryely;
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
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.
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.
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.’
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
“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.
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,
‘Wher thow hys treynës kanst eskape.’
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
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.”
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.
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.
(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,
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.
Off thys Youthe that I off spak,
I eskapede from hyr wrak,
578
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.
“Was neuere pylgrym in swych poynt,
Trewly, nor in swych disioynt.
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
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.
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 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,)
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.
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
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.
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
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-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.’
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.
“And, for the confort that ye ha do
To me, off mercy mor than ryht,
I thankë yow wyth al my myght.”
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
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.
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;
‘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.
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
(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.
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.’
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
Grace Dieu Answerith:
Quod she to me (as in substaunce),
‘Thow hast off water suffysaunce.’
‘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.
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.
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.
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
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).
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:
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?
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?
‘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.’
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
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.
“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.”
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.
‘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,
‘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.’
Som knyghttely deede off hygh prowesse
Accomplyschid, thorough thi myght,
To bere recorde thow art a knyght,
587
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 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.”
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
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:
‘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.
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
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.
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.
‘And sythen thow haueste lyberte
ffor to entren or go ffre,
Cheese amonge these towres alle,
At whiche gatë thow wolte calle.
To whichë castel thow wolt drawe;
And in my schippe, they ben echon
Bylte fful ffayre, off lyme and stoon.
590
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.
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.’
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.
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.
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;
‘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.
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
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.’
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.”
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.
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,
And hir name was Charite.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.”
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
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.
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.
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.
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.’
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
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.
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.’
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.
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.
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
‘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.
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,
‘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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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,
‘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.’
Sette asyde alle fflaterye!
But now, allas, it stondyth so,
They be disseyuëd by Eccho;
And ther sogetes, in many cost,
600
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.”
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.
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,
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.
The same merour I caste ageyn,
601
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.
‘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.
| The Pilgrimage of the Life of Man | |