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 |  |
Grace dieu:
‘Now vndyrstondë,’ than quod she,
‘Yff thow lyst hawe of hem tydyng,
Thow mostest, ouer alle thyng
To thyn entent, as thow shalt se,
ffor thy profyt, kom, folwe me.
And yt is gretly to thy prowh
That thow hast me fovndë now,
By whos helpë thow schalt spede,
To ffynden al that the shal nede.’
The pylgrym:
The pylgryme:
The pylgrym:
ffor wych to Gracë Dieu I sayde,
And, to hyr thus I abrayde,
“Madame, me semeth in my thouht
That we ben in perel brouht,
ffor I kan sen no passage
To passe by, nor avauntage.”
Grace dieu:
‘Off me, dred the never a del,
ffor thow shalt passë fayre & wel.’
The pylgrym:
“I kan not swymmen, yt stondeth so,
Wherfor I not what I may do.
And yiff I entre, I am in doute
But euer I shold komen oute;
ffor wych, tentrë I stonde in drede,
I have of helpe so gretë nede.”
Grace dieu argueth:
The pylgrym:
“I am wel payd that yt be do.
Yiff resoun accorde wel ther-to.
But fyrst I wolde som causë se,
What nedeth yt to wasshë me,
Or bathë, when yt ys no nede;
ffor I am clenë wasshe in dede
ffrom al felth and vnclennesse.
And ouer more, so as I gesse,
I am of yerys no thyng old;
The water also of kyndë cold,
Wych to entre, as semeth me,
I sholde in grete perel be;
And clenner than I am thys tyde,
I sholde not be vp-on no syde.”
Grace dieu speketh:
‘Herkene,’ quod she; ‘to voyde al doute,
Though thow be clene ynowh with-oute,
Thow art with-innë no thyng so;
ffor cause I shal the tellë, lo!
Thow art soyled in especyal
Off the synne orygynal,
Off fader & moder ek also,
Thorgh vnclennesse of bothë two,
Spottyd of nature, as ther hayr;
Wher-of thow mayst nat be made fayr,
But thow be wasshe, as I the telle,
In thys Ryuer or thys welle.
And yet thow most have helpe of me
Yiff thow sholdyst clenë be;
ffor I mot fyrst my syluen dresse
The bathë halwen, & yblesse,
And than yt shal ynowh suffise
To make the clene in allë wyse:
ffor the wasshyng mad out-ward
Ys but tookene (who taketh Reward)
Off al clennessë forth with-Inne;
At wych fyrst thow most be-gynne.’
The pylgrym:
“Madamë, so hyt nat dysplese,
I can as yet no thyng in ese,
And I shal tellë yow wher-fore
My dovte [is] now mor than before,
And gretter in conclusyoun,
But ye make exposicioun,
And bet declare yt to my mynde,
Or ellys my profyt ys be-hynde.”
Grace dieu:
The pylgrym:
“Ma damë, (lyk as ye shal fynde,)
I am a-stonyd in my mynde
Off your wordys ful gretly,
Wych ne sue nat kyndely.
ffor fyrst, as ye han told to me
That I mostë wasshë be,
To casten out myn vnclennesse,—
The wychë fylth, as ye expresse
And namen yt in especyal
‘Spot or synne orygynal,’
Wych ys only, by your sentence,
No-thyng but wantyng or absence
Off ryhtwysnesse—thus sey ye;
And in good feyth, as semeth me,
Wasshyng no thyng may a-vaylle
To do a-way thyng that doth faylle;
Yt wer bet cordyng to reson
To make restytucyon.”
Grace dieu answerde:
The pylgrym:
“With al myn hertë now I pray
O thyng that ye wyl me seye:
yff thys wasshyng, with-outë more,
May Restablysshe or restore
The ryhtwysnesse wych, day & nyht,
I ouhte haue hadde of verray ryht;
And yiff thys wasshyng (in sentence)
May A-nulle concupyscence?”
Grace dieu:
The pylgrym:
“I haue,” quod he, “suspecyoun
Off ther wasshyng now sodenly.
Yiff they wer wasshë duëly
Off ther synne orygynal,
Me semeth yt sholde folwe in al,
Syth I am gete of ther kynrede,
I sholde go quyt (who taketh hede,)
Off orygynal in euery thyng,
Thorgh vertu ferst of ther wasshyng.”
Grace dieu:
The pylgrym:
The pylgrym:
Resoun spak thus:
Resoun Answereth:
Resoun ageyn:
Grace Dieu answereth:
[The Pilgrim.]
Resoun Answerd:
The pylgrym argueth:
‘Ma dame,’ quod I, ‘most vertuous,
(Yiff ye lyst to herë me,)
I have seyn, & alday se,
Som folkys (in conclusyon)
That hadden in subieccïon)
Sogetys noon, nor gouernance,
And yet they dyde hem sylff avaunce,
And wer ther-off no thyng afferd,
Nakyd for to bere the swerd.
To whom also yt ys wel founde
That the keyës wer nat bounde,
But redy euere (beth wel certeyn,)
Tvnshetten & to shette ageyn
Lokkys echon (yt ys wel wyst,)
And entrede whan that euere hem lyst.
At allë tyme they be redy,
Shette and vnshette hardyly.
The cause to me vn-knowen ys;
And yet I dar affermë thys,
They ha no mor power than I;
ffor wych they han, al sodeynly,
Astonyd myn oppynyoun.
ffor yiff ther be Relacyoun
Yfoundë there, I dar wel say
That yt ys ystole a-way.’
Resoun Answereth.
The pylgrym:
‘Ma dame,’ quod I, ‘I yow preye
That ye to me lyst to seye:
What semeth yow, telle on pleynly.’
Resoun koude nat answere.
‘Certys,’ quod she, ‘that wyl not I,
ffor ther-of I kan no thyng;
Yt passeth myn vnderstandyng,
My wyt also, & ek my mynde.
To sen, myn Eyen ben to blynde;
I se no mor ther-off then thow;
And I am so astonyd now,
Mor than euere I was a-fore,
Syth tymë that I was bore.
ffor yiff that she (I dar wel say)
Hadde ymakyd off an Ay
A bryd with ffethres for the flyht,
Or that she haddë, thorgh hyr myght,
Off a lytel barly greyn
Makyd an Er large & pleyn,
Thys ylkede Ornede Moyses,
I wolde han be stylle & in pes,
And ther-off han take noon heed.
But [s]he hath mad Rauwh fflessh of bred,
Wherof I am falle in rage.
And also of that beuerage,
That [s]he hath tornyd wyn to blood,
My sylff beholdyng, ther I stood,
Ageyn the custom of nature.
And trew[ë]ly, I the ensure,
That I shal no lenger dwelle,
But to Nature the trouthë telle,
And sendyn hyre to be A-wreke
To Grace Dieu, with hyr to speke,
With cher boystous, wordys nat ffayre,
Vnto whom she ys contrayre.
ffor she hath, (yiff I shal not lye,)
Off pryde only, & surquedye,
Lyft the custom & vsage,
And off nature the passage
Transcendyd pleynly, & the boundys;
And in dede, ek yt founde ys
That she hath, of force & myght,
Broke hyr franchyse & hyr ryht.’
The Pylgrym:
Grace Dieu answerde:
‘Now vndyrstondë,’ than quod she,
‘Yff thow lyst hawe of hem tydyng,
Thow mostest, ouer alle thyng
To thyn entent, as thow shalt se,
ffor thy profyt, kom, folwe me.
And yt is gretly to thy prowh
That thow hast me fovndë now,
By whos helpë thow schalt spede,
To ffynden al that the shal nede.’
The pylgrym:
Than quod I, “my lady dere,
I pray yow that ye wyl me lere
Your name & your condycioun,
Your contre, & yovr Regyoun;
ffor yt ful plesaunt wer to me,
To wytë pleynly what ye be.”
And she answerde ful mekly,
‘Tak hed to me now feythfully:
I am the douhter off themperovr,
Wych ys the lord and governour
Off euery lond and regyoun;
And he hath sent me hyder doun,
Here in-to this lowh contre,
Off entent, as thow shalt se,
To gete hym frendys, & conquere
Round a-bouten euery wher:
Nat that he hath to hem no nede,
But only (who kan taken hede,)
That he haveth gret plesaunce,
To haue of folkys ácqueyntavnce,
ffor ther profyt, more than for hys;
And thus yt stant & thus yt ys.
I pray yow that ye wyl me lere
Your name & your condycioun,
Your contre, & yovr Regyoun;
ffor yt ful plesaunt wer to me,
21
And she answerde ful mekly,
‘Tak hed to me now feythfully:
I am the douhter off themperovr,
Wych ys the lord and governour
Off euery lond and regyoun;
And he hath sent me hyder doun,
Here in-to this lowh contre,
Off entent, as thow shalt se,
To gete hym frendys, & conquere
Round a-bouten euery wher:
Nat that he hath to hem no nede,
But only (who kan taken hede,)
That he haveth gret plesaunce,
To haue of folkys ácqueyntavnce,
ffor ther profyt, more than for hys;
And thus yt stant & thus yt ys.
‘Thow sest my noble ryche array,
And how that I am fresshe & gay,
fful ryally and wel beseyn,
Nothyng in wast, nouther in veyn;
Thys charboncle, nor thys sterrys clere,
ffressher wer neuer seyn yfere;
Nor, I trowë, noon so fayre,
Whos bewte may nat apayre.
And how that I am fresshe & gay,
fful ryally and wel beseyn,
Nothyng in wast, nouther in veyn;
Thys charboncle, nor thys sterrys clere,
ffressher wer neuer seyn yfere;
Nor, I trowë, noon so fayre,
Whos bewte may nat apayre.
ffor to pylgrymes, day & nyht,
I enlumyne, & yive lyht
To al pylgrymës in ther way,
As wel in dyrknesse as be day,
So they lyst rewardë me,
And lyst that I her guydë be.
And yiff they erryn in her weye,
Ageyn I kan hem wel conveye;
I wyl hem helpen & Redresse;
ffor I am she, in sothfastnesse,
Whom thow owest seke of ryht,
In straungë lond with al thy myght.
I enlumyne, & yive lyht
To al pylgrymës in ther way,
As wel in dyrknesse as be day,
So they lyst rewardë me,
And lyst that I her guydë be.
And yiff they erryn in her weye,
Ageyn I kan hem wel conveye;
I wyl hem helpen & Redresse;
ffor I am she, in sothfastnesse,
Whom thow owest seke of ryht,
In straungë lond with al thy myght.
‘I yive lyht to folk echon̄
That out of hyr weyë gon,
And releue hem, on & alle;
Leffte vp folkys that be falle,
ffrom al mysheff & from al blame,
And Grace dieu, that ys my name,
fful nedful in ech contre.
That out of hyr weyë gon,
And releue hem, on & alle;
22
ffrom al mysheff & from al blame,
And Grace dieu, that ys my name,
fful nedful in ech contre.
‘And by thys dowe wych thow dost se,
Wych I bere with wyngës fayre,
Humble, benygne, & debonayre,
I am tookenyd, who lyst seke,
With hyr goodly Eyen meke.
And so thow shalt me call in dede,
Whan thow hast on-to me nede,—
And that shal be ful offtë sythe,
That I may my power kythe,—
Telpe the in thy pylgrymage.
ffor fynaly in thy vyage,
As thow gost to that cyte,
Thow shalt hawe offte aduersyte,
Gret mescheff and encombraunce,
Empechementys & dysturbaunce,
Wych thow mayst nat in no degre
Passe nor endure with-outë me,
Nor that cyte never atteyne,
(Thogh thow euer do thy peyne,)
With-oute that I thy guydë be.
Wych I bere with wyngës fayre,
Humble, benygne, & debonayre,
I am tookenyd, who lyst seke,
With hyr goodly Eyen meke.
And so thow shalt me call in dede,
Whan thow hast on-to me nede,—
And that shal be ful offtë sythe,
That I may my power kythe,—
Telpe the in thy pylgrymage.
ffor fynaly in thy vyage,
As thow gost to that cyte,
Thow shalt hawe offte aduersyte,
Gret mescheff and encombraunce,
Empechementys & dysturbaunce,
Wych thow mayst nat in no degre
Passe nor endure with-outë me,
Nor that cyte never atteyne,
(Thogh thow euer do thy peyne,)
With-oute that I thy guydë be.
‘Al-be that in-to that cyte
Thow hast seyn entren meny on,
Nakyd, in-to that cyte gon
Somme by ther sotel engyn,
And somme also by cherubin.
But what so euere they koude don,
Ther was neuer receyved noon
(ffor outht they koude hem sylff avaunce,)
But only thorgh myn ácqueyntaunce.
Lo, her ys al: avysë the
Yiff thow lyst acqueynted be
With me: tel on thy fantasye,
And the trowthë nat denye.’
Thow hast seyn entren meny on,
Nakyd, in-to that cyte gon
Somme by ther sotel engyn,
And somme also by cherubin.
But what so euere they koude don,
Ther was neuer receyved noon
(ffor outht they koude hem sylff avaunce,)
But only thorgh myn ácqueyntaunce.
Lo, her ys al: avysë the
Yiff thow lyst acqueynted be
With me: tel on thy fantasye,
And the trowthë nat denye.’
The pylgryme:
“Ma dame, for Goddys sake, I praye,
Nat to leue me on the weye
With-oute yowr helpe & your favour;
ffor in thys weyë, your socour
Ys to me most necessarie
To forthre, that I nat ne tarye;
Thankyng to your hyh goodnesse,
That ye kam of gentellesse,
ffyrst vn-to me for my forthryng,
Ther nedede me noon other thyng.”
Nat to leue me on the weye
23
ffor in thys weyë, your socour
Ys to me most necessarie
To forthre, that I nat ne tarye;
Thankyng to your hyh goodnesse,
That ye kam of gentellesse,
ffyrst vn-to me for my forthryng,
Ther nedede me noon other thyng.”
Tho hyr lyst no lenger byde,
But took me in the samë tyde,
And made me with hyr for to gon
To an hous of hers a-noon,
Wher I sholdë fynde, in dede,
Al thyng that I hadde of nede.
But took me in the samë tyde,
And made me with hyr for to gon
To an hous of hers a-noon,
Wher I sholdë fynde, in dede,
Al thyng that I hadde of nede.
She was hyr sylff (yn sothnesse)
Off thylk hous cheff founderesse,
ffor on hyr word yt was fyrst groundyd,
And by hyr wysdom bylt and fovndyd;
The yerys of the masownry
Thryttene hundred & thrytty.
And ffor the fayrnesse & bewte
I hadde gret wyl that hous to se;
I-baysshed, for yt was so fayr;
ffor yt heng hih vp in the hayr:
Twen hevene & Erthe stood the place,
As yt hadde (only by grace)
ffrom the hevene descendyd doun.
So stood that hevenly mancyoun,
With steplys & with toures hihe,
ffresshely arrayed to the Eye,
As, a placë most royal,
Above al other pryncypal;
Wych stood vp on a ffayr River,
The water ther-of holsom & cler;
But ther nas passage in that place,
Nor shepe wherby men myghte passe.
Off thylk hous cheff founderesse,
ffor on hyr word yt was fyrst groundyd,
And by hyr wysdom bylt and fovndyd;
The yerys of the masownry
Thryttene hundred & thrytty.
And ffor the fayrnesse & bewte
I hadde gret wyl that hous to se;
I-baysshed, for yt was so fayr;
ffor yt heng hih vp in the hayr:
Twen hevene & Erthe stood the place,
As yt hadde (only by grace)
ffrom the hevene descendyd doun.
So stood that hevenly mancyoun,
With steplys & with toures hihe,
ffresshely arrayed to the Eye,
As, a placë most royal,
Above al other pryncypal;
Wych stood vp on a ffayr River,
The water ther-of holsom & cler;
But ther nas passage in that place,
Nor shepe wherby men myghte passe.
The pylgrym:
ffor wych to Gracë Dieu I sayde,
And, to hyr thus I abrayde,
24
That we ben in perel brouht,
ffor I kan sen no passage
To passe by, nor avauntage.”
Grace dieu:
‘Off me, dred the never a del,
ffor thow shalt passë fayre & wel.’
The pylgrym:
“I kan not swymmen, yt stondeth so,
Wherfor I not what I may do.
And yiff I entre, I am in doute
But euer I shold komen oute;
ffor wych, tentrë I stonde in drede,
I have of helpe so gretë nede.”
Grace dieu argueth:
‘What menyth thys? what may thys be,
That thow art now, as semeth me,
So sore a-drad of thys Ryver,
Wych ys but lytë, smothe & cler?
Why artow ferful of thys streem?
And art toward Ierusaleem,
And mustest of necessyte
Passen ferst the gretë see,
Or thow kome ther. lo, her ys al,
And dredyst now thys Ryuer smal!
And most kouthe ys thys passage
To chyldre that be yonge of age,
And offter han thys ryver wonne
Than folk that ben on age ronne.
And the passage ys most kouthe
To chyldren in ther tender youth,
ffor yt, in soth, ys fyrst passage
Off euerych good pylgrymage;
ffor other weyë ys ther noon
To Ierusaleem by to goon,
But yiff yt be by cherubin.
And yet somme ha ther entryd In,
That wer nat wasshe in thys Ryuer,
Nor bathyd in the stremys cler.
Wych to the ys not contrárye,
‘But thys to the ys necessárie,
Consydred (shortly to expresse)
The gretë fylth and vnclennesse,
The ordure and the dong also,
Off thylkë hous thow komë fro,
Wher .ix. monethes thow hast be.
ffor wych yt nedeth vn-to the
To wasshe the her, yiff thow take hede,
Thys my consayl & my Red:
To passe thys Ryuer of clennesse
Yt ys to thee most sykernesse.
And al I schal the telle A thyng:
Ther passede onys her a kyng,
ffyrst assuryng the passage
Vn-to euery maner age;
He made the pas hym sylff alone,
And yet in hem was fylthë non.
To wasshen hym yt was no nede,
But that hym lyst, of lowlyhede,
Schewe example by hys grace
How other folkys sholdë passe
Over by the samë went.
That thow art now, as semeth me,
So sore a-drad of thys Ryver,
Wych ys but lytë, smothe & cler?
Why artow ferful of thys streem?
And art toward Ierusaleem,
And mustest of necessyte
Passen ferst the gretë see,
Or thow kome ther. lo, her ys al,
And dredyst now thys Ryuer smal!
And most kouthe ys thys passage
To chyldre that be yonge of age,
And offter han thys ryver wonne
Than folk that ben on age ronne.
And the passage ys most kouthe
To chyldren in ther tender youth,
ffor yt, in soth, ys fyrst passage
Off euerych good pylgrymage;
ffor other weyë ys ther noon
To Ierusaleem by to goon,
But yiff yt be by cherubin.
And yet somme ha ther entryd In,
That wer nat wasshe in thys Ryuer,
Nor bathyd in the stremys cler.
Wych to the ys not contrárye,
25
Consydred (shortly to expresse)
The gretë fylth and vnclennesse,
The ordure and the dong also,
Off thylkë hous thow komë fro,
Wher .ix. monethes thow hast be.
ffor wych yt nedeth vn-to the
To wasshe the her, yiff thow take hede,
Thys my consayl & my Red:
To passe thys Ryuer of clennesse
Yt ys to thee most sykernesse.
And al I schal the telle A thyng:
Ther passede onys her a kyng,
ffyrst assuryng the passage
Vn-to euery maner age;
He made the pas hym sylff alone,
And yet in hem was fylthë non.
To wasshen hym yt was no nede,
But that hym lyst, of lowlyhede,
Schewe example by hys grace
How other folkys sholdë passe
Over by the samë went.
Wherfore tel me thyn entent,
Yiff thow thys Ryuer lyst atteyne;
And I shal A-noon ordeyne
A sergaunt of myn in specyal;
Wych offycer the helpë shal
ffor to passe the water cler,
And wardeyn ys of the Ryuer.
He shal the wasshe, he shal the bathe,
And make the passe the morë rathe.
And, to put the out of doute,
He shal crosse the round aboute,
Make the sur, as thow shalt se,
ffrom al tempestys of the se,
Tescape the wawe of euery streem,
And make the wynne Ierusaleem
By conquest; & fynally—
That thow shalt drede noon emny
Wher so thow wende, Est or West—
‘Sette A cross vp-on thy brest,
Be-hynde also, and on thyn hed,
Ageyn al mescheff and al dred.
And off entent, as thow shalt se,
He shal also enoyntë the
Lych as sholde a Champyon,
That thow ha no occasyon
In thy passagë, nor no nede
No maner emny for to drede,
Sette hem echon at no prys.
Now her-vp-on say thyn avys.’
Yiff thow thys Ryuer lyst atteyne;
And I shal A-noon ordeyne
A sergaunt of myn in specyal;
Wych offycer the helpë shal
ffor to passe the water cler,
And wardeyn ys of the Ryuer.
He shal the wasshe, he shal the bathe,
And make the passe the morë rathe.
And, to put the out of doute,
He shal crosse the round aboute,
Make the sur, as thow shalt se,
ffrom al tempestys of the se,
Tescape the wawe of euery streem,
And make the wynne Ierusaleem
By conquest; & fynally—
That thow shalt drede noon emny
Wher so thow wende, Est or West—
26
Be-hynde also, and on thyn hed,
Ageyn al mescheff and al dred.
And off entent, as thow shalt se,
He shal also enoyntë the
Lych as sholde a Champyon,
That thow ha no occasyon
In thy passagë, nor no nede
No maner emny for to drede,
Sette hem echon at no prys.
Now her-vp-on say thyn avys.’
The pylgrym:
“I am wel payd that yt be do.
Yiff resoun accorde wel ther-to.
But fyrst I wolde som causë se,
What nedeth yt to wasshë me,
Or bathë, when yt ys no nede;
ffor I am clenë wasshe in dede
ffrom al felth and vnclennesse.
And ouer more, so as I gesse,
I am of yerys no thyng old;
The water also of kyndë cold,
Wych to entre, as semeth me,
I sholde in grete perel be;
And clenner than I am thys tyde,
I sholde not be vp-on no syde.”
Grace dieu speketh:
‘Herkene,’ quod she; ‘to voyde al doute,
Though thow be clene ynowh with-oute,
Thow art with-innë no thyng so;
ffor cause I shal the tellë, lo!
Thow art soyled in especyal
Off the synne orygynal,
Off fader & moder ek also,
Thorgh vnclennesse of bothë two,
Spottyd of nature, as ther hayr;
Wher-of thow mayst nat be made fayr,
But thow be wasshe, as I the telle,
27
And yet thow most have helpe of me
Yiff thow sholdyst clenë be;
ffor I mot fyrst my syluen dresse
The bathë halwen, & yblesse,
And than yt shal ynowh suffise
To make the clene in allë wyse:
ffor the wasshyng mad out-ward
Ys but tookene (who taketh Reward)
Off al clennessë forth with-Inne;
At wych fyrst thow most be-gynne.’
The pylgrym:
“Madamë, so hyt nat dysplese,
I can as yet no thyng in ese,
And I shal tellë yow wher-fore
My dovte [is] now mor than before,
And gretter in conclusyoun,
But ye make exposicioun,
And bet declare yt to my mynde,
Or ellys my profyt ys be-hynde.”
Grace dieu:
‘ffyrst, whan God the world be-gan,
And after hadde makyd man,
And womman for to be hys fere,
Thy forme fadrys, as thow shalt lere,
God, of hys gret curteysye,
To hem dydë suyche gentrye
As to the I shal devyse.
He gaff to hem so gret ffraunchyse,
Talyved euere, thys no lesyng,
In elthe with-outë languysshyng,
Lusty & fressh in o degre,
Neuer tave had necessyte
Off deyyng; and gaff hem in sothnesse,
Lyberte, & Ryhtwyse nesse,
ffredam of wyl & equyte;
And that they sholdë ryghtful be,
And ther-vp-on, ay done her cure
To ben Egal by mesure;
The body to the soule obeye
‘In euery maner skylful weye,
And bern to hym subieccion;
So that alway, on-to resoun,
fforeyn strengthys her doun lowe,
Vpward sholde her sowerayn knowe,
And lest worthy of dygnyte,
Vn-to most worthy of degre
Obeyë sholde by Reuerence:
Thys was of ryght fyrst the sentence;
Shewe of lewdnesse ay a sygne,
The lasse of prys to the most dygne.
And after hadde makyd man,
And womman for to be hys fere,
Thy forme fadrys, as thow shalt lere,
God, of hys gret curteysye,
To hem dydë suyche gentrye
As to the I shal devyse.
He gaff to hem so gret ffraunchyse,
Talyved euere, thys no lesyng,
In elthe with-outë languysshyng,
Lusty & fressh in o degre,
Neuer tave had necessyte
Off deyyng; and gaff hem in sothnesse,
Lyberte, & Ryhtwyse nesse,
ffredam of wyl & equyte;
And that they sholdë ryghtful be,
And ther-vp-on, ay done her cure
To ben Egal by mesure;
The body to the soule obeye
28
And bern to hym subieccion;
So that alway, on-to resoun,
fforeyn strengthys her doun lowe,
Vpward sholde her sowerayn knowe,
And lest worthy of dygnyte,
Vn-to most worthy of degre
Obeyë sholde by Reuerence:
Thys was of ryght fyrst the sentence;
Shewe of lewdnesse ay a sygne,
The lasse of prys to the most dygne.
‘Off divynë purvyaunce
Thys was fyrst the ordynaunce,
That man shold euer ha be in blysse,
And al that whyle, of no thyng mysse;
Euer ha be fre, & never thral.
By ryhtwysnesse orygynal,
God gaff oure fadrys ous be-forn,
Yiff they ne hadde her fredom lorn,
ffor catel and for ther herytage
Ta last in euery maner age,
Ben herytavnce, fro gre to gre,
Off ryht to ther posteryte:
Thys to seyne, who kan take hed
To al that folwed of ther sed
ffor euermore: & soth yt ys,
Yiff they hadde not do a-mys.
Thys was fyrst the ordynaunce,
That man shold euer ha be in blysse,
And al that whyle, of no thyng mysse;
Euer ha be fre, & never thral.
By ryhtwysnesse orygynal,
God gaff oure fadrys ous be-forn,
Yiff they ne hadde her fredom lorn,
ffor catel and for ther herytage
Ta last in euery maner age,
Ben herytavnce, fro gre to gre,
Off ryht to ther posteryte:
Thys to seyne, who kan take hed
To al that folwed of ther sed
ffor euermore: & soth yt ys,
Yiff they hadde not do a-mys.
‘But whan they gan to God trespace,
They lost ther fredam and ther grace,
Lyff also, and liberte,
And hooly ther auctoryte,
Off wych thow hast herd me seye,
ffor wych offencë they most deye:
Tho, al thyngys in sentence
Drowh fro man obedyence.
Who dysobeyth hys sovereyn,
Off ryht mot folwen in certeyn
That he shal dysobeyed be
Off lower thynges of degre,
Wych wer soget to hys servyse
‘Or he trespacede in any wyse.
ffor vn-to God, sothly to seye,
Whan Adam fyrst gan dysobeye,
Yt was Ryhtful, by kyndly lawe,
That to hym shold be with-drawe
All maner obéyssavnce
Off thynges vnder hys gouernaunce,
Wych he hadde in subieccyon,
Only for hys rebellyon.
They lost ther fredam and ther grace,
Lyff also, and liberte,
And hooly ther auctoryte,
Off wych thow hast herd me seye,
ffor wych offencë they most deye:
Tho, al thyngys in sentence
Drowh fro man obedyence.
Who dysobeyth hys sovereyn,
Off ryht mot folwen in certeyn
That he shal dysobeyed be
Off lower thynges of degre,
Wych wer soget to hys servyse
29
ffor vn-to God, sothly to seye,
Whan Adam fyrst gan dysobeye,
Yt was Ryhtful, by kyndly lawe,
That to hym shold be with-drawe
All maner obéyssavnce
Off thynges vnder hys gouernaunce,
Wych he hadde in subieccyon,
Only for hys rebellyon.
‘And, yiff thow be Resounable,
An exaumple ful notable
I shal vn-to the declare
Openly, & no thyng spare,
Yiff thow lysten, taken hed ther-to:
An exaumple ful notable
I shal vn-to the declare
Openly, & no thyng spare,
Yiff thow lysten, taken hed ther-to:
‘I suppose yt falleth so:
The kyng hath in hys court a knyht
Whom he loueth with al hys myht,
And, for cause that he tryst hym wel,
He yeveth to hym a ffayr castel,—
Wallyd strong with hihë tours
ffrom al assaut of wynd & shours,—
And to hys heyrës, to pocessede;
And ther-vp-on maketh hem a dede,
Euere by successyon
Ther-of to have pocessyon
ffor eueremorë, to o word,
Whyl he ys trewë to hys lord,
Voyde of al rebellyon.
Thys was the condycion:
But he offendeth, so may falle,
Than he & hys chyldren alle,
The castel lese with-outë grace
Thorgh ther fadrys gret trespace:
The chyldren han the gylt abouht,—
Al-be that they offendyde nouht—
Thorgh ther fadrys gylt, allas;
And thus peraunter stant the cas:
And lyk in cas semblable at al,
Ryhtwysnesse orygynal—
‘Orygynal’ ys for to seyn
‘Pleynly, yi I shal not feyne,
A gynnyng wych fro God kam,
And was fyrst yoven to Adam
And vn-to Eue hys wyff also,
Wych they lostë, bothë two
Only for ther Rebellyon,
Whos ryht was by condycon,
Wherthrogh that ther posteryte
ffully ha lost ther lyberte.
(Posteryte, playnly in dede,
Ys folwyng doun of a kynrede
Lynealy, fro gre to gre.)
And thus, touchyng ther lyberte,
ffor dysobeyng they ha lorn
Off her fadrys hem to-forn;
Only throgh ther dysobeisaunce
They ha lost ther enherytaunce,
Wych they may not inheryte;
Wher-of ther fadrys ben to wyyte.
The kyng hath in hys court a knyht
Whom he loueth with al hys myht,
And, for cause that he tryst hym wel,
He yeveth to hym a ffayr castel,—
Wallyd strong with hihë tours
ffrom al assaut of wynd & shours,—
And to hys heyrës, to pocessede;
And ther-vp-on maketh hem a dede,
Euere by successyon
Ther-of to have pocessyon
ffor eueremorë, to o word,
Whyl he ys trewë to hys lord,
Voyde of al rebellyon.
Thys was the condycion:
But he offendeth, so may falle,
Than he & hys chyldren alle,
The castel lese with-outë grace
Thorgh ther fadrys gret trespace:
The chyldren han the gylt abouht,—
Al-be that they offendyde nouht—
Thorgh ther fadrys gylt, allas;
And thus peraunter stant the cas:
And lyk in cas semblable at al,
Ryhtwysnesse orygynal—
‘Orygynal’ ys for to seyn
30
A gynnyng wych fro God kam,
And was fyrst yoven to Adam
And vn-to Eue hys wyff also,
Wych they lostë, bothë two
Only for ther Rebellyon,
Whos ryht was by condycon,
Wherthrogh that ther posteryte
ffully ha lost ther lyberte.
(Posteryte, playnly in dede,
Ys folwyng doun of a kynrede
Lynealy, fro gre to gre.)
And thus, touchyng ther lyberte,
ffor dysobeyng they ha lorn
Off her fadrys hem to-forn;
Only throgh ther dysobeisaunce
They ha lost ther enherytaunce,
Wych they may not inheryte;
Wher-of ther fadrys ben to wyyte.
‘ffor nadde be ther transgressyon,—
Transgressyoun ys for to say
A goyyng fro the ryht[ë] way,
Or shortly, in sentement,
Brekyng off a comaundement—
Ther chyldren shold, by reson,
Ha cleymyd yt of verray ryht.
Wher-for, yiff thow lefft vp thy syth,
And lyst conceyven everydel,
Thow mayst parceyvë fayr & wel
Thow art spottyd in party
Off that thy ffadrys wer gylty;
So that thy fylth ys causyd al
Only of synne orygynal,
Wych that clerkys in sentence
Calle wantyng, or carence
Off orygynal ryhtwysnesse,
Wych thow oughtest (I dar expresse,)
Ellys haue hadde of equyte
‘By tytle of posteryte.’
Transgressyoun ys for to say
A goyyng fro the ryht[ë] way,
Or shortly, in sentement,
Brekyng off a comaundement—
Ther chyldren shold, by reson,
Ha cleymyd yt of verray ryht.
Wher-for, yiff thow lefft vp thy syth,
And lyst conceyven everydel,
Thow mayst parceyvë fayr & wel
Thow art spottyd in party
Off that thy ffadrys wer gylty;
So that thy fylth ys causyd al
Only of synne orygynal,
Wych that clerkys in sentence
Calle wantyng, or carence
Off orygynal ryhtwysnesse,
Wych thow oughtest (I dar expresse,)
Ellys haue hadde of equyte
31
The pylgrym:
“Ma damë, (lyk as ye shal fynde,)
I am a-stonyd in my mynde
Off your wordys ful gretly,
Wych ne sue nat kyndely.
ffor fyrst, as ye han told to me
That I mostë wasshë be,
To casten out myn vnclennesse,—
The wychë fylth, as ye expresse
And namen yt in especyal
‘Spot or synne orygynal,’
Wych ys only, by your sentence,
No-thyng but wantyng or absence
Off ryhtwysnesse—thus sey ye;
And in good feyth, as semeth me,
Wasshyng no thyng may a-vaylle
To do a-way thyng that doth faylle;
Yt wer bet cordyng to reson
To make restytucyon.”
Grace dieu answerde:
‘Certys, yt ys soth that ye seye.
But to o thyng take hede, I praye:
Who that haveth not the bewte
Wych he shold han of duete,
Voyde of fylth then ys he nouht;
The wych, yif yt be truly souht,
May be of felth a be-gynnyng,
Gret cause also, & gret norysshyng.
As by exaumple thus I pose:
But to o thyng take hede, I praye:
Who that haveth not the bewte
Wych he shold han of duete,
Voyde of fylth then ys he nouht;
The wych, yif yt be truly souht,
May be of felth a be-gynnyng,
Gret cause also, & gret norysshyng.
As by exaumple thus I pose:
‘Yiff a man ffayllede a noose
Wych he outh haue of Resoun,
Yt wer, to myn oppynyoun,
A gret defaute (I the ensure,)
Off bewte; & a gret ordure
Ther must sue, yt ys no nay:
And yiff the noose wer kut a-way,
The bewte of a manhys face
Yt wolde gretly yt dyfface.
Semblably, in especyal,
‘Yiff Ryhtwysnesse orygynal
Thow wante, wych thow sholdest haue,
I myghte pryve, so God me save
And conclude with-outë wene,
Off som fylthe thow wer vnclene.
I dar yt seyn, and wel expresse,
Namly whan thow in vnclennesse
Off flesshly lust wer fyrst be-gete,
Wych shold not be for-gete;
ffor fleshly lust (in sentence)
ycallyd ys concupyscence.
As thus consydre myn entent;
Whan soule and flessh to-gadre assent
To don any gret offence,
Than yt ys concupyscence,
And nouther party by dyffence
Lyst not makë résistence,
As they shold of equyte,
Wher-thorgh ther fayrnesse & bewte
Dyffacyd ys of bothë tweyne.
And euene lyk (in wordys playne)
Thoffencë long or thow wer borne,
Off thy fadrys her-to-forn,
Hath lost (yiff thow koudest se)
Thi gretë fredam & bewte;
And ther trespace, (yiff thow lyst lere,)
Ther lynage beyth yt al to dere.’
Wych he outh haue of Resoun,
Yt wer, to myn oppynyoun,
A gret defaute (I the ensure,)
Off bewte; & a gret ordure
Ther must sue, yt ys no nay:
And yiff the noose wer kut a-way,
The bewte of a manhys face
Yt wolde gretly yt dyfface.
Semblably, in especyal,
32
Thow wante, wych thow sholdest haue,
I myghte pryve, so God me save
And conclude with-outë wene,
Off som fylthe thow wer vnclene.
I dar yt seyn, and wel expresse,
Namly whan thow in vnclennesse
Off flesshly lust wer fyrst be-gete,
Wych shold not be for-gete;
ffor fleshly lust (in sentence)
ycallyd ys concupyscence.
As thus consydre myn entent;
Whan soule and flessh to-gadre assent
To don any gret offence,
Than yt ys concupyscence,
And nouther party by dyffence
Lyst not makë résistence,
As they shold of equyte,
Wher-thorgh ther fayrnesse & bewte
Dyffacyd ys of bothë tweyne.
And euene lyk (in wordys playne)
Thoffencë long or thow wer borne,
Off thy fadrys her-to-forn,
Hath lost (yiff thow koudest se)
Thi gretë fredam & bewte;
And ther trespace, (yiff thow lyst lere,)
Ther lynage beyth yt al to dere.’
The pylgrym:
“With al myn hertë now I pray
O thyng that ye wyl me seye:
yff thys wasshyng, with-outë more,
May Restablysshe or restore
The ryhtwysnesse wych, day & nyht,
I ouhte haue hadde of verray ryht;
And yiff thys wasshyng (in sentence)
May A-nulle concupyscence?”
Grace dieu:
‘Teuchyng that we have on honde,
Thow must pleynly vnderstonde
A thyng wych I the tellë shal.
‘Ryghtvysnesse orygynal,
Thow shalt yt neuer haue A-geyn;
But truste, & be ryght wel certeyn,
That after thow be wasshë clene,
The fylthe ther-of, (thus I mene)
Thy wasshyng shal yt sette A-syde,
But concupyscence shal abyde.
Thow must pleynly vnderstonde
A thyng wych I the tellë shal.
33
Thow shalt yt neuer haue A-geyn;
But truste, & be ryght wel certeyn,
That after thow be wasshë clene,
The fylthe ther-of, (thus I mene)
Thy wasshyng shal yt sette A-syde,
But concupyscence shal abyde.
‘Take the wordys as I the telle;
But yiff thow wylt, I shal ay dwelle
With the, to helpe the ay at nede,
That thow mayst in verray dede
Maken myghty résystence
Ageynys thy concupyssence,
Wych shal the derë neveradel
Yiff so be thow bere the wel.
And, but I seyë thy wasshyng,
I myhte the helpyn yn no thyng;
ffor the wasshyng (I the ensure)
Doth away al the ordure
Off al that kepen duëly
Ther maryage, and feythfully;
ffor wych, to the ys profytable
Thys wasshyng, & gretly vayllable.
Thy ffader, thy moder ek also,
Wer wasshyn ther-in, bothë two,
Whan they wer born; & so shalt thow,
Syth yt ys syttyng for thy prow:
That thow hem sue, yt ys Resoun.’
But yiff thow wylt, I shal ay dwelle
With the, to helpe the ay at nede,
That thow mayst in verray dede
Maken myghty résystence
Ageynys thy concupyssence,
Wych shal the derë neveradel
Yiff so be thow bere the wel.
And, but I seyë thy wasshyng,
I myhte the helpyn yn no thyng;
ffor the wasshyng (I the ensure)
Doth away al the ordure
Off al that kepen duëly
Ther maryage, and feythfully;
ffor wych, to the ys profytable
Thys wasshyng, & gretly vayllable.
Thy ffader, thy moder ek also,
Wer wasshyn ther-in, bothë two,
Whan they wer born; & so shalt thow,
Syth yt ys syttyng for thy prow:
That thow hem sue, yt ys Resoun.’
The pylgrym:
“I haue,” quod he, “suspecyoun
Off ther wasshyng now sodenly.
Yiff they wer wasshë duëly
Off ther synne orygynal,
Me semeth yt sholde folwe in al,
Syth I am gete of ther kynrede,
I sholde go quyt (who taketh hede,)
Off orygynal in euery thyng,
Thorgh vertu ferst of ther wasshyng.”
Grace dieu:
‘Than,’ quod she to me a-gayn,
‘Tak hed, whan men sowen greyn,
The huske, the chaff (yt ys no nay,)
Mot fyrst be clenë putt a-way,
Er yt be throwe vp-on the lond,
And sowe a-brood with manhys hond,
Naked and pur, yff thow take hede.
And after-ward, whan yt doth seede,
Vpon the tyme of hys Rypyng
And the seson of gadryng,
Men fynde a-geyn the samë corn,
Huskyd as yt was be-forn,
And ther-to clothyd newe a-geyn.
34
The huske, the chaff (yt ys no nay,)
Mot fyrst be clenë putt a-way,
Er yt be throwe vp-on the lond,
And sowe a-brood with manhys hond,
Naked and pur, yff thow take hede.
And after-ward, whan yt doth seede,
Vpon the tyme of hys Rypyng
And the seson of gadryng,
Men fynde a-geyn the samë corn,
Huskyd as yt was be-forn,
And ther-to clothyd newe a-geyn.
‘By wych exaumple, in certeyn,
Thogh thy fadyrs were, by grace,
Off ther orygynal trespace
purgyd clene, & frely quyt,
The caffë and the strowh abyt,
Reneweth ay & euer shal,
Off the synne orygynal,
Vpon the greyn, wych of hem spryngeth,
The huske alway with hem they bryngeth.
Alle folkys, as thow shalt lere,
That kyndely be sowen here
In thys world, fro day to day,
The husk with hem abyt alway,
And seueryth nat in no manere
Tyl they be wasshe in the Ryuere:
Wherfor (by short conclusyoun,)
They nede echon purgacyoun.’
Thogh thy fadyrs were, by grace,
Off ther orygynal trespace
purgyd clene, & frely quyt,
The caffë and the strowh abyt,
Reneweth ay & euer shal,
Off the synne orygynal,
Vpon the greyn, wych of hem spryngeth,
The huske alway with hem they bryngeth.
Alle folkys, as thow shalt lere,
That kyndely be sowen here
In thys world, fro day to day,
The husk with hem abyt alway,
And seueryth nat in no manere
Tyl they be wasshe in the Ryuere:
Wherfor (by short conclusyoun,)
They nede echon purgacyoun.’
The pylgrym:
Thanne me sempte yt was but veyn,
Mor for me to speke a-geyn,
Or makë replycacyoun
Ageynys her oppynyoun.
Off hevynesse I weptë sore;
ffor tho I koudë do no more,
I was so whapyd & amaat,
Tyl at the last an aduocaat
Kam to me tho in my nede,
With-outë gerdoun other mede.
And, for I hadde of spechë lak,
Wonderly goodly for me he spak;
Profrede for to help of grace
To makë me the Ryuer passe,
And that I myght ouer gon,
And that I wer ek wasshe a-noon,
In al that euer he coude or myghte;
And Guyllyam ffor-Sothly he hyhte:
Hys surname I nat ne knew.
And thus he spak to Gracë Dieu:
“Myn almesse, with your grace,
I wyl fulfyllen in thys place;
And yiff ye wyl, I callë shal
Off your hous the offycyal
(ffor yt ys now ryht good sesoun
Affter your oppynyoun)
That he make, by your byddyng,
Of thys pylgrym the wasshyng,
Wher-of ye han so mych sayd.”
Quod she, ‘I am ryht wel apayd.’
Mor for me to speke a-geyn,
Or makë replycacyoun
Ageynys her oppynyoun.
Off hevynesse I weptë sore;
ffor tho I koudë do no more,
I was so whapyd & amaat,
Tyl at the last an aduocaat
35
With-outë gerdoun other mede.
And, for I hadde of spechë lak,
Wonderly goodly for me he spak;
Profrede for to help of grace
To makë me the Ryuer passe,
And that I myght ouer gon,
And that I wer ek wasshe a-noon,
In al that euer he coude or myghte;
And Guyllyam ffor-Sothly he hyhte:
Hys surname I nat ne knew.
And thus he spak to Gracë Dieu:
“Myn almesse, with your grace,
I wyl fulfyllen in thys place;
And yiff ye wyl, I callë shal
Off your hous the offycyal
(ffor yt ys now ryht good sesoun
Affter your oppynyoun)
That he make, by your byddyng,
Of thys pylgrym the wasshyng,
Wher-of ye han so mych sayd.”
Quod she, ‘I am ryht wel apayd.’
And ther-with-al, benygne of look,
The aduocaat a-noon me took
Of charyte, by gret plesaunce,
Affter the custom & vsaunce,
And madë callë fyrst of al
To helpyn hym the offycyal;
Bad hym also, among hem alle,
After hys namë me to calle,
That he shold ek don hys dever
To helpe me passë the Ryver,
That I wer wasshen A-noon ryht.
And he so dyde with al hys myght;
And many thynges, as he abrayde,
Over me, me thouhte he sayde;
Wordys that hadde gret vertu,
As he was tauht of Gracë Dieu;
Wher-thorgh, me thouht, & that a-noon,
That I sawh ther, fro me goon,
A foul that was of colour blak;
And in hys lydene thus he spak,
Siyyng, men herd hym euery cost,—
‘I-wys,’ quod he, ‘I haue al lost;
And fro me now ys taken al
By thys ylke offycyal.’
The aduocaat a-noon me took
Of charyte, by gret plesaunce,
Affter the custom & vsaunce,
And madë callë fyrst of al
To helpyn hym the offycyal;
Bad hym also, among hem alle,
After hys namë me to calle,
That he shold ek don hys dever
To helpe me passë the Ryver,
That I wer wasshen A-noon ryht.
And he so dyde with al hys myght;
And many thynges, as he abrayde,
Over me, me thouhte he sayde;
Wordys that hadde gret vertu,
As he was tauht of Gracë Dieu;
Wher-thorgh, me thouht, & that a-noon,
36
A foul that was of colour blak;
And in hys lydene thus he spak,
Siyyng, men herd hym euery cost,—
‘I-wys,’ quod he, ‘I haue al lost;
And fro me now ys taken al
By thys ylke offycyal.’
The pylgrym:
He hath my clothys fro me Rauht,
And thre tyme he hath me kauht,
And in the ryuer plongyd me,
Crossyd, (as men myhte se,)
Enoynted in the stremës colde,
Lyk as Gracë Dieu me tolde:
I fonde she lyede neuer a del.
And thre tyme he hath me kauht,
And in the ryuer plongyd me,
Crossyd, (as men myhte se,)
Enoynted in the stremës colde,
Lyk as Gracë Dieu me tolde:
I fonde she lyede neuer a del.
And whan that I was fayre & wel,
The Ryuer passyd than A-noon,
And thavocaat ek was gon,
Wych only of gent[e]rye
Hadde don to me gret curteysye
That shal never out of mvnde
The Ryuer passyd than A-noon,
And thavocaat ek was gon,
Wych only of gent[e]rye
Hadde don to me gret curteysye
That shal never out of mvnde
Than Gracë Dieu most good & kynde,
Ladde me forth on my repayre
To a place ryht inly fayr;
And neuer she madë me to-fore
So goodë cher syth I was bore,
Nor wás so benygne of hyr port,
Vn-to me to don confort.
‘Now syth,’ quod she, ‘that yt ys sene,
Thow art wasshe, & made al clene,
And art passyd the ryuer
With-outë pereyl or daunger,
Thyn Enmy fled Out of thy brest,
Wher he aforn hadde made hys nest,
I shal the shewe of gret delyt
fful many thyng for thy profyt,
Yff thow ha lust to lerne of me
Thynges that I shal techë the,
‘And vnderstond hem by & by.’
Ladde me forth on my repayre
To a place ryht inly fayr;
And neuer she madë me to-fore
So goodë cher syth I was bore,
Nor wás so benygne of hyr port,
Vn-to me to don confort.
‘Now syth,’ quod she, ‘that yt ys sene,
Thow art wasshe, & made al clene,
And art passyd the ryuer
With-outë pereyl or daunger,
Thyn Enmy fled Out of thy brest,
Wher he aforn hadde made hys nest,
I shal the shewe of gret delyt
fful many thyng for thy profyt,
Yff thow ha lust to lerne of me
Thynges that I shal techë the,
37
And tho befyl ther sodeynly
A wonder thyng (thus stood the cas,)
Wher-of I astonyd was;—
And yet for-thy I shal not spare,
Ryht as yt fyl, for to declare,
Whan I se tyme & best sesoun
Touchyng my sherpe and my bordoun:
Whan I ha leyser, trusteth wel,
I shal yow tellyn euerydel.
But, or I dyde further passe,—
I sawe Amyddys of that place
A sygne of Tav wych ther stood,
And yt was al be-spreynt with blood.
And ek, as I koude vnderstond,
I sawe be sydes a mayster stond,
Off ryght gret auctoryte,
And semptë that he sholdë be
Lyk a vyker douteles
Off Aaron & of Moyses.
And pleynly tho (as I be-held,)
In hys hond a staff he held,
Crooked be-forn (I took good hed;)
And hornyd also was hys hed.
Hys garnement, by gret delyt,
Was of lynë cloth al whyt,
Off the wych, ful wel I wote,
That the prophete whylom wrot,
Ezechyel, who lyst to look,
The nynthe chapytle off hys book:
A wonder thyng (thus stood the cas,)
Wher-of I astonyd was;—
And yet for-thy I shal not spare,
Ryht as yt fyl, for to declare,
Whan I se tyme & best sesoun
Touchyng my sherpe and my bordoun:
Whan I ha leyser, trusteth wel,
I shal yow tellyn euerydel.
But, or I dyde further passe,—
I sawe Amyddys of that place
A sygne of Tav wych ther stood,
And yt was al be-spreynt with blood.
And ek, as I koude vnderstond,
I sawe be sydes a mayster stond,
Off ryght gret auctoryte,
And semptë that he sholdë be
Lyk a vyker douteles
Off Aaron & of Moyses.
And pleynly tho (as I be-held,)
In hys hond a staff he held,
Crooked be-forn (I took good hed;)
And hornyd also was hys hed.
Hys garnement, by gret delyt,
Was of lynë cloth al whyt,
Off the wych, ful wel I wote,
That the prophete whylom wrot,
Ezechyel, who lyst to look,
The nynthe chapytle off hys book:
Ordre off confyrmacioun
Wych, with the sygne of gret vertu
Markyde manye with Tav
Myd of her forhed, on by on,
And sayde to hem euerychon,
‘I crosse yow, and conferme also
With thys that ye take hed ther-to,
That ye may be, fro day to day,
Good pylgrymës in your way;
ffor thys to yow, tokne & sygne
That God shal be to yow benygne,
That ye shal not venquysshed be
Off your Enmyes in no degre.’
Markyde manye with Tav
Myd of her forhed, on by on,
And sayde to hem euerychon,
‘I crosse yow, and conferme also
With thys that ye take hed ther-to,
That ye may be, fro day to day,
Good pylgrymës in your way;
38
That God shal be to yow benygne,
That ye shal not venquysshed be
Off your Enmyes in no degre.’
And with thys sygne of gret vertu
I was markyd off Grace Dieu
Myd my forhed, brede & lengthe.
Wher-by I kauhte ful gret strengthe,
And Receyvede ther by Ryht,
Vertu, force, & gostly myght,
To forthre me in verray dede
Off al that euer I haddë nede.
Not nede as I hadde be-fore
Thorgh the Ryuer or I was bore;
Yt was not so gret necessyte
But covenable congreuyte.
I was markyd off Grace Dieu
Myd my forhed, brede & lengthe.
Wher-by I kauhte ful gret strengthe,
And Receyvede ther by Ryht,
Vertu, force, & gostly myght,
To forthre me in verray dede
Off al that euer I haddë nede.
Not nede as I hadde be-fore
Thorgh the Ryuer or I was bore;
Yt was not so gret necessyte
But covenable congreuyte.
Ordre off the laste vnccioun.
Affter al thys, I hadde a syht
Off the mayster, wych of Ryht
Made the holsom oynement,
And after took yt of entent
To the sayde offycyal,
And gaff to hym thys charg with-al:
‘Have her,’ quod he, ‘ful goodly
Thre oynementys most worthy;
The wych now to the I take
Only for pylgrymës sake,
Swych as in ther oppynyouns
Wyl be myghty champyouns
ffor to holde strong bataylle
Whan ther Enmyes hem assaylle.
Off the mayster, wych of Ryht
Made the holsom oynement,
And after took yt of entent
To the sayde offycyal,
And gaff to hym thys charg with-al:
‘Have her,’ quod he, ‘ful goodly
Thre oynementys most worthy;
The wych now to the I take
Only for pylgrymës sake,
Swych as in ther oppynyouns
Wyl be myghty champyouns
ffor to holde strong bataylle
Whan ther Enmyes hem assaylle.
‘Thow shold do thy bysy peyne
Tenoynte hem with the fyrstë tweyne,
And kep the thrydde with-outë more
ffor folkys that byth woundyd sore,
And swyche as lyggë languysshyng
On ther beddys, almost deyng,
And of ther lyff ha no dysport:
Thow shalt a-noon don hem counfort;
‘Enoynte hym in especyal
As ther leche spryrytual,
Wher thow sest that yt be nede;
And ffeythfully, (yf thow take hede,)
Pylgrymes that travayll in ther way,
Wych passen her fro day to day,
And often in ther passage erre,
And assayllyd byth with werre;
Yt fayllyth not, sory or blythe,
But they be wondyd offtë sythe,
And grevyd with many áventure,
ffro deth that they may not recure;
And at ther ende, thys no faylle,
Whan that deth doth hem assaylle,
They gretly nede thys oynement;
And for thys skyle, in myn entent
I haue take yt in-to thy ward,
Al syke folkys to Reward,
Tenoyntë hem whan they haue nede:
And other oynementys in-dede
I ha reservyd to my kepyng,
Tenoyntë with a newë kyng
By the vykerys of Moyses,
The wych yt makë dout[e]les,
At duë tymë certeynly
By ther power as wel as I.
ffor sykë folkys euerychon,
And for lechys, as thow art on,
Wych sholdest alway be bysy,
Wel awaytynge & redy,
At the tablys wher we sytte
Whan we etyn, & not flytte;
ffor the tav T, taken hed,
Wych thow makest in the forhed.
Tenoynte hem with the fyrstë tweyne,
And kep the thrydde with-outë more
ffor folkys that byth woundyd sore,
And swyche as lyggë languysshyng
On ther beddys, almost deyng,
And of ther lyff ha no dysport:
Thow shalt a-noon don hem counfort;
39
As ther leche spryrytual,
Wher thow sest that yt be nede;
And ffeythfully, (yf thow take hede,)
Pylgrymes that travayll in ther way,
Wych passen her fro day to day,
And often in ther passage erre,
And assayllyd byth with werre;
Yt fayllyth not, sory or blythe,
But they be wondyd offtë sythe,
And grevyd with many áventure,
ffro deth that they may not recure;
And at ther ende, thys no faylle,
Whan that deth doth hem assaylle,
They gretly nede thys oynement;
And for thys skyle, in myn entent
I haue take yt in-to thy ward,
Al syke folkys to Reward,
Tenoyntë hem whan they haue nede:
And other oynementys in-dede
I ha reservyd to my kepyng,
Tenoyntë with a newë kyng
By the vykerys of Moyses,
The wych yt makë dout[e]les,
At duë tymë certeynly
By ther power as wel as I.
ffor sykë folkys euerychon,
And for lechys, as thow art on,
Wych sholdest alway be bysy,
Wel awaytynge & redy,
At the tablys wher we sytte
Whan we etyn, & not flytte;
ffor the tav T, taken hed,
Wych thow makest in the forhed.
‘But I wyth-holdë to ward me
Off custom & of duëte,
The fynal execucyoun,
The vse & mynystracyoun
Off confermyng in the ende:
Take hed now that thow not offende.’
Off custom & of duëte,
The fynal execucyoun,
The vse & mynystracyoun
Off confermyng in the ende:
Take hed now that thow not offende.’
40
And whil they held ther parlementys
And spak ek of ther oynementys,
Ther kam to hem of gret manere
A maydë mek, & humble of chere,
Wych that of entencyoun
Descendede from hyr tour a-doun.
And spak ek of ther oynementys,
Ther kam to hem of gret manere
A maydë mek, & humble of chere,
Wych that of entencyoun
Descendede from hyr tour a-doun.
Than Grace Dieu spak vn-to me,
‘lo, sestow nat yonder,’ quod she,
‘Resoun, by hyr sylff allone,
Wych cast hyr for to speke A-noon
To thys folk that thow sest here?’
And she, demur and sad of chere,
Sayde to hem hyre fantasye
With-outen eny flatrye
‘lo, sestow nat yonder,’ quod she,
‘Resoun, by hyr sylff allone,
Wych cast hyr for to speke A-noon
To thys folk that thow sest here?’
And she, demur and sad of chere,
Sayde to hem hyre fantasye
With-outen eny flatrye
Resoun spak thus:
‘Syrs,’ quod she, in goodly wyse,
‘That stonden here, & thus devyse
Off Enoyntynge & oynementys,
And ther-of hold your parlementys,
I pray yow that ye nat dysdeyne
To herkne off me wordys tweyne,
Wych to tellyn I purpose,
And a-noon to yow vnclose:
Oynemente ys a sootë thyng,
And ryht vertuous in werkyng,
To woundys cloos, & ope also,
Yiff yt be sofftly leyd therto
Both wyth hand and instrument;
ffor lechys sholden off entent
Soffte handle the soor to seke,
Yt fyt hem wel to be meke;
To whom a-cordeth no Rudnesse;
They sholde avoydë boystousnesse.
Woundyd folk desyren offte
Off lechys to ben handlyd soffte;
‘Rudnesse hem doth mor damage
Then the oynement avauntage;
Harmeth offtë tymës more
To swyche as that be woundyd sore:
I calle hem rude, that be felouns,
ffers & cruel as be lyouns;
That wyl, thorgh ther cruelte,
On every thyng a-vengyd be;
Sparë ne for-bere ryht nouht,
They be so vengable in ther thouht.
Swych be no goode surgyens,
Lechys, nor physycyens,
Sykë ffolkys to restore;
ffor the woundys they hurte more
Thorgh Rudnesse in ther entent;
ffor they mynystre ther oynement
To boystously, & no thing soffte;
Wher-thorgh they hurte & slen ful offte,
Wych affter may nat be amendyd.
And for thys skyle I am descendyd,
Kome to yow in sothfastnesse,
That ye in yow ha no Rudnesse,
Cruelte, nor felonye,
Wych ar douhtrys to envye.
‘That stonden here, & thus devyse
Off Enoyntynge & oynementys,
And ther-of hold your parlementys,
I pray yow that ye nat dysdeyne
To herkne off me wordys tweyne,
Wych to tellyn I purpose,
And a-noon to yow vnclose:
Oynemente ys a sootë thyng,
And ryht vertuous in werkyng,
To woundys cloos, & ope also,
Yiff yt be sofftly leyd therto
Both wyth hand and instrument;
ffor lechys sholden off entent
Soffte handle the soor to seke,
Yt fyt hem wel to be meke;
To whom a-cordeth no Rudnesse;
They sholde avoydë boystousnesse.
Woundyd folk desyren offte
Off lechys to ben handlyd soffte;
41
Then the oynement avauntage;
Harmeth offtë tymës more
To swyche as that be woundyd sore:
I calle hem rude, that be felouns,
ffers & cruel as be lyouns;
That wyl, thorgh ther cruelte,
On every thyng a-vengyd be;
Sparë ne for-bere ryht nouht,
They be so vengable in ther thouht.
Swych be no goode surgyens,
Lechys, nor physycyens,
Sykë ffolkys to restore;
ffor the woundys they hurte more
Thorgh Rudnesse in ther entent;
ffor they mynystre ther oynement
To boystously, & no thing soffte;
Wher-thorgh they hurte & slen ful offte,
Wych affter may nat be amendyd.
And for thys skyle I am descendyd,
Kome to yow in sothfastnesse,
That ye in yow ha no Rudnesse,
Cruelte, nor felonye,
Wych ar douhtrys to envye.
‘Beth pytous vn-to folkys woundyd,
Tyl ye han her sorys soundyd,
Debonayre & mercyáble,
Sofftë, goodly, & tretáble.
Thanne, in soth, yt may nat fayll
That your oynementys shal avayll
To sykë folke on euery syde,
That for ther hele on yow abyde.
Remembreth yow vp-on thys poynt,
How ye wer whylom ek enoynt
To bekome mor debonayre;
Nat to be cruel nor contrayre,
But teschewe al ffelonye,
And tavoyde malencolye;
And no vengaunce for to take,
But forgyue for Goddys sake;
‘Al old Rancour for to lete:
ffor, by record off the prophete
In hys Sawys that ben olde.
God hath to hym sylff with-holde
Vengaunce to hys Iugement;
And ther-fore, who that of entent
Wyl wrastle ageyn yt, this the cheff
He shall not faylle to han mescheff.’
Tyl ye han her sorys soundyd,
Debonayre & mercyáble,
Sofftë, goodly, & tretáble.
Thanne, in soth, yt may nat fayll
That your oynementys shal avayll
To sykë folke on euery syde,
That for ther hele on yow abyde.
Remembreth yow vp-on thys poynt,
How ye wer whylom ek enoynt
To bekome mor debonayre;
Nat to be cruel nor contrayre,
But teschewe al ffelonye,
And tavoyde malencolye;
And no vengaunce for to take,
But forgyue for Goddys sake;
42
ffor, by record off the prophete
In hys Sawys that ben olde.
God hath to hym sylff with-holde
Vengaunce to hys Iugement;
And ther-fore, who that of entent
Wyl wrastle ageyn yt, this the cheff
He shall not faylle to han mescheff.’
Whanne Resoun hadde hyr talë told,
The Vyker, that semptë wonder olde,
Off whom I tolde yow nat in vayn
Moyses
Axed of Resoun thus agayn:
‘I pray yow that ye nat ne spare,
The truthë clerly to declare,
The moralyte to obserue,
Wherof sholde myn hornys serve?
Thys staff ek, with the sharpë poynt,
Telleth me fro poynt to poynt,
Be they nat maad, by good resoun,
For punysshynge and Correccioun;
Myn hornys, for to takë wrak
On shrewës, & to putte abak?
And off my staff ek, with the prykke,
Chastysen folkys that be wykke,
Rather than lyk as ye me tolde
Her a-forn, how that I sholde
Enoynte hem with the oynement?
Wher-vp-on seyth your entent.’
The Vyker, that semptë wonder olde,
Off whom I tolde yow nat in vayn
Moyses
Axed of Resoun thus agayn:
‘I pray yow that ye nat ne spare,
The truthë clerly to declare,
The moralyte to obserue,
Wherof sholde myn hornys serve?
Thys staff ek, with the sharpë poynt,
Telleth me fro poynt to poynt,
Be they nat maad, by good resoun,
For punysshynge and Correccioun;
Myn hornys, for to takë wrak
On shrewës, & to putte abak?
And off my staff ek, with the prykke,
Chastysen folkys that be wykke,
Rather than lyk as ye me tolde
Her a-forn, how that I sholde
Enoynte hem with the oynement?
Wher-vp-on seyth your entent.’
Resoun Answereth:
‘My fayrë frend,’ quod tho Resoun,
‘Tak hed in thy dyscrecioun;
‘Vnderstond me euery del:
I wotë what thow menest wel,
And knowë platly thy menyng.
Mesure ys good in euery thyng:
Thogh thyn hornys & pyk also
Be yovë to the, bothë two,
ffor Punysshyng & for chastysyng
Off folkys Rebel in werchyng;
Yet fyrst thow sholdest hem dyrecte,
And with fayrnesse hem correcte,—
Swych as thow sey, day by day,
Erryn fro the hih Ryhte way;—
And yiff thow founde hem obstynat,
That longeth yt to thyn estat
To punysshen hym by thyn offyce,
And vp-on hem don ek iustyce
Egally for ther offence:
The lawe yiweth the lycence.
‘Tak hed in thy dyscrecioun;
43
I wotë what thow menest wel,
And knowë platly thy menyng.
Mesure ys good in euery thyng:
Thogh thyn hornys & pyk also
Be yovë to the, bothë two,
ffor Punysshyng & for chastysyng
Off folkys Rebel in werchyng;
Yet fyrst thow sholdest hem dyrecte,
And with fayrnesse hem correcte,—
Swych as thow sey, day by day,
Erryn fro the hih Ryhte way;—
And yiff thow founde hem obstynat,
That longeth yt to thyn estat
To punysshen hym by thyn offyce,
And vp-on hem don ek iustyce
Egally for ther offence:
The lawe yiweth the lycence.
‘But ferst thow sholdest trete hem fayre,
Be goodly ek, and debonayre,
And don alway ful gret labour
To shewe swetnesse afor Rygour.
And thogh the prykke of Rygour be
ffor chastysyng y-yove to the,
Be alway war, touchyng ryht:
Whan thow chastysest any whyht,
Do yt neuer by suych duresse
But yt be meynt ay with suetnesse;
Medle with-al the vnccyoun
Off pyte and compassyoun.
Be goodly ek, and debonayre,
And don alway ful gret labour
To shewe swetnesse afor Rygour.
And thogh the prykke of Rygour be
ffor chastysyng y-yove to the,
Be alway war, touchyng ryht:
Whan thow chastysest any whyht,
Do yt neuer by suych duresse
But yt be meynt ay with suetnesse;
Medle with-al the vnccyoun
Off pyte and compassyoun.
‘In thyn entent to be mor clene,
Thogh thyn hornys be sharp & kene
To punysshe folk by ryhtwysnesse,
Thow sholdest ay the poynt so dresse
In thy Rygour of equyte,
Euere in hert to han pyte
On hem that thow hast iustesyed.
Let mercy with ryht be so alyed,
And thynk how many day to-forn,
Or thow haddest any horn,
‘Thow wer Eenoynt: thynk ther vp-on
Lat yt not fro thy myndë gon
Which thing, whan thow dost aduerte,
Yt shall nesshe ful wel thyn herte
Whan yt is harde or out of Ioynt,
To ponysshe or smytë with the poynt,
Or with thyn hornes to hurtle sore:
Ha this in myndë euer more,
To medle mercy with equyte.
Thogh thyn hornys be sharp & kene
To punysshe folk by ryhtwysnesse,
Thow sholdest ay the poynt so dresse
In thy Rygour of equyte,
Euere in hert to han pyte
On hem that thow hast iustesyed.
Let mercy with ryht be so alyed,
And thynk how many day to-forn,
Or thow haddest any horn,
44
Lat yt not fro thy myndë gon
Which thing, whan thow dost aduerte,
Yt shall nesshe ful wel thyn herte
Whan yt is harde or out of Ioynt,
To ponysshe or smytë with the poynt,
Or with thyn hornes to hurtle sore:
Ha this in myndë euer more,
To medle mercy with equyte.
‘Remembre also ful wel, and se
That he, of whom thow art vyker,
And chose to be hys offycer,
Was humble, meke, & debonayre,
Charytable, & nat contrayre:
Of whom thow shalt exaumple take,
To-forn or thow thy domys make.
Hornyd he was by apparence,
Nat vsyng hem by vyolence:
Thys was that holy Moyses
That ladde al Israel in pees
Myddys thorgh the largë see;
And with hys yerdë, thys was he
That passedë the floodys raage,
And made hem haue good passage.
That he, of whom thow art vyker,
And chose to be hys offycer,
Was humble, meke, & debonayre,
Charytable, & nat contrayre:
Of whom thow shalt exaumple take,
To-forn or thow thy domys make.
Hornyd he was by apparence,
Nat vsyng hem by vyolence:
Thys was that holy Moyses
That ladde al Israel in pees
Myddys thorgh the largë see;
And with hys yerdë, thys was he
That passedë the floodys raage,
And made hem haue good passage.
‘Vnderstondeth thys lessoun,
Ye that han in subieccioun
Peplys vnder your prelacye,
To lerne how ye shal hem guye.
Thogh ye be hornyd to syth outward,
Shewe as they wer styff & hard,
Lat hem nat growen in your herte
To make your shep to sorë smerte.
Thogh ye shewe out-ward dredful,
Beth in your hertys mercyful,
‘Dyssymule, and mak in swych caas
Off Elenchorum a fallaas.
(Elenchus ys a syllogysme,
Or by fallaas, a Sophisme,
Thyng that hath on Apparence
With-outen eny Existence;
Or an argument in shewynge
Wych in effect hath no beynge
Affter the thyng that yt doth shewe.)
Ye that han in subieccioun
Peplys vnder your prelacye,
To lerne how ye shal hem guye.
Thogh ye be hornyd to syth outward,
Shewe as they wer styff & hard,
Lat hem nat growen in your herte
To make your shep to sorë smerte.
Thogh ye shewe out-ward dredful,
Beth in your hertys mercyful,
45
Off Elenchorum a fallaas.
(Elenchus ys a syllogysme,
Or by fallaas, a Sophisme,
Thyng that hath on Apparence
With-outen eny Existence;
Or an argument in shewynge
Wych in effect hath no beynge
Affter the thyng that yt doth shewe.)
And ther-fore, in wordës fewe,
To the purpos vallyáble,
An exaumple ful notáble
To folk that be not rekkeles,
Putteth Arystotyles:
In Elenchis thow mayst rede
He byddeth for to take in dede
A Boelys galle, & ther-with-al
On bord, on cloth, or on a wal
Portreye or peynte, as I ha told,
And yt wyl resemble gold
By apparence vn-to the syht,
Yiff yt be vernysshed cler & bryht.
To the purpos vallyáble,
An exaumple ful notáble
To folk that be not rekkeles,
Putteth Arystotyles:
In Elenchis thow mayst rede
He byddeth for to take in dede
A Boelys galle, & ther-with-al
On bord, on cloth, or on a wal
Portreye or peynte, as I ha told,
And yt wyl resemble gold
By apparence vn-to the syht,
Yiff yt be vernysshed cler & bryht.
And sothly, who that lokë wel,
Off gold ther ys neuer a del,
But apparencë, to deceyue
ffolkys that kan not vel parceyve
The feyntë colour in hys kynde.
Off gold ther ys neuer a del,
But apparencë, to deceyue
ffolkys that kan not vel parceyve
The feyntë colour in hys kynde.
By wych exaumple han in mynde,
Thogh thow be hornyd on thyn hed,
To shewe outward a tookne of drede
Vn-to folk that be contrayre,
Yet ay be inward debonayre.
Thogh thow be hornyd on thyn hed,
To shewe outward a tookne of drede
Vn-to folk that be contrayre,
Yet ay be inward debonayre.
‘Tak exaumple off thy staff
Wych Grace Dieu vn-to the gaff:
Thogh the poynt be sharp & kene,
Yt ys vpward, pleyn, smothe & clene;
The myddys ryht as any lyne,
Abouë, crokyd to enclyne;
Sygnefyyng vn-to the
‘Whan thou punysshest by Equyte
That ther-with-alle thow ha mekenesse
Al-way to drawë by sofftenesse
Thy shepe that gon out of the way,
Rather by ffayrenesse than affray.
Whan they retornen home ageyn,
Lat ay thy Charyte be seyn,
That yt surmounte thy rygour.
Remembre alle-way at ther Retour
Above al maner other thyng,
Vp-on ther elthe & ámendyng;
Schew hem euer of loue a sygne,
And in thy drauht be ay benygne,
Voyde of rancour & felonye;
Than dostow trewly occupye
The staff wych thou hast on honde.
Wych Grace Dieu vn-to the gaff:
Thogh the poynt be sharp & kene,
Yt ys vpward, pleyn, smothe & clene;
The myddys ryht as any lyne,
Abouë, crokyd to enclyne;
Sygnefyyng vn-to the
46
That ther-with-alle thow ha mekenesse
Al-way to drawë by sofftenesse
Thy shepe that gon out of the way,
Rather by ffayrenesse than affray.
Whan they retornen home ageyn,
Lat ay thy Charyte be seyn,
That yt surmounte thy rygour.
Remembre alle-way at ther Retour
Above al maner other thyng,
Vp-on ther elthe & ámendyng;
Schew hem euer of loue a sygne,
And in thy drauht be ay benygne,
Voyde of rancour & felonye;
Than dostow trewly occupye
The staff wych thou hast on honde.
‘ffor thow shalt well vnderstonde
Yt tokeneth (who that kan concerne,)
That thow shalt ther-with governe
The peplys (I dar wel specefye,)
Commyttyd to thy prelacye;
Mak hem passe (thys thy charge,)
The Ryuer of thys world ful large.
Thy staff, to ther a-vauntage
Shal conduite ther passage;
ffychche the pyk profound & depe
In-to the wawes, hem to kepe.
Yt tokeneth (who that kan concerne,)
That thow shalt ther-with governe
The peplys (I dar wel specefye,)
Commyttyd to thy prelacye;
Mak hem passe (thys thy charge,)
The Ryuer of thys world ful large.
Thy staff, to ther a-vauntage
Shal conduite ther passage;
ffychche the pyk profound & depe
In-to the wawes, hem to kepe.
‘And with al thys, thow most take hede
Off plank or breggë, yiff they nede:
Yiff they ffayll, thow shalt on make,
As thow art boundë for her sake;
And for that cause, folkys alle,
Pontifex they doth the calle,
Makyng a breggë, thys to seyne,
The passage that they may atteyne.
Vnderstond wel thys lessoun
Lyke myn informacyoun;
Off plank or breggë, yiff they nede:
Yiff they ffayll, thow shalt on make,
As thow art boundë for her sake;
And for that cause, folkys alle,
Pontifex they doth the calle,
Makyng a breggë, thys to seyne,
The passage that they may atteyne.
Vnderstond wel thys lessoun
Lyke myn informacyoun;
Yet ouermore I shal the teche,
‘Yiff thow take hed to my speche,
Touchyng thyn hornys bothë two,
Thy staff ek, with the pyk also.
47
Touchyng thyn hornys bothë two,
Thy staff ek, with the pyk also.
Whylom her ther dydë dwelle
Thornyd best wych lyeth in helle,
Makynge here hys mansion
And longe held her pocessyon,
Lordshepe ek & gouernaunce,
Wych was gret dysplesaunce
To Grace Dieu, that he so sholde
Abyden her, as I the tolde.
And Tavoyden fro thys place
Thys hornyd best, and tenchase,
She callede the, lyk as I fynde,—
I trow thow haue yt wel in mynde,—
Gaff the hornys in sentence
With hym to stonden at diffence.
The staff also, wych I off telle,
Sche took to the, hym to expelle;
Armede the of entencioun
(Lyk tamyghty champyoun,)
With thys hornys that I of spak,
On thys beste to takë wrak,
To make hym fro thys hous to fle,
By power that she gaff to the:
The vntrewe false enherytour,
That was her lord & gouernour,
And long tyme pocessyowner,
Tyl thow dydest thy dever,
As Grace Dieu the tauhte a-ryht,
To putte hym out by verray myght,
Thorgh hurtlyng of thyn hornys tweyne;
And dyst also thy bysy peyne,
With thy staff to make hym flee,
Maugre hys myght & hys powste.
Thogh he were sory to departe,
Thow dyst that Feloun so coarte,
That here he durst[e] nat abyde.
Thornyd best wych lyeth in helle,
Makynge here hys mansion
And longe held her pocessyon,
Lordshepe ek & gouernaunce,
Wych was gret dysplesaunce
To Grace Dieu, that he so sholde
Abyden her, as I the tolde.
And Tavoyden fro thys place
Thys hornyd best, and tenchase,
She callede the, lyk as I fynde,—
I trow thow haue yt wel in mynde,—
Gaff the hornys in sentence
With hym to stonden at diffence.
The staff also, wych I off telle,
Sche took to the, hym to expelle;
Armede the of entencioun
(Lyk tamyghty champyoun,)
With thys hornys that I of spak,
On thys beste to takë wrak,
To make hym fro thys hous to fle,
By power that she gaff to the:
The vntrewe false enherytour,
That was her lord & gouernour,
And long tyme pocessyowner,
Tyl thow dydest thy dever,
As Grace Dieu the tauhte a-ryht,
To putte hym out by verray myght,
Thorgh hurtlyng of thyn hornys tweyne;
And dyst also thy bysy peyne,
With thy staff to make hym flee,
Maugre hys myght & hys powste.
48
Thow dyst that Feloun so coarte,
That here he durst[e] nat abyde.
‘And eke vpon that other syde,
The two Labellys, large and longe,
Hangynge by thyn hornys stronge,
Ar Fygure of the conqueste
That thow madest on thys beste,
And of the Clensynge of thys place,
Wasshe & swept only by grace,
I mene fyrst at the halwyng,
yt makyng hooly by blessyng,
Lyk a myghty champyoun
In the dedycacyoun;
Wych for to don, as yt ys skyl,
Off Gracë Dieu thys ys the wyl:
That thow be armyd offtë sythe,
As a vyctor, thy myght to kythe,
That thylkë best most contrayre
Be neuer hardy to repayre,
Nor yt tassaylle by no wrong,
Whan he seth thyn armour strong;
Wych ar sygnes in substaunce
Ay to be put in remembraunce,
How thow hast venquysshed & fordon
Thylke vntrewë fals felon,
Bete & oppressyd fynally;
And that thow mayst ben ay redy,
ffressh & newe ay to bataylle
Ageyns all that wyl assaylle,
At allë tyme & ech sesoun,
Off Grace Dieu the mansyoun,
Or yt dyspoylle in any wyse,
Robbe or reue yt in ther guyse,
By sleythe, falshed, or any whyle,
Grace Dieu ffor to exile
‘By dyuers extorsyons
Of dymes or Subvencions,
or taylladges [i]ffoundë newe,
By Exaccïons full vntrewe:
Yiff thow yt suffre, ffer or ner,
Thow dost not trewly thy deuer,
Whan thow fyndest or dost espye
Sotyl weyës ffor flatrye
To spoylle of Gracë Dieu the hous
By any tytles ravynous,
Thow dost to hyre no plesaunce,
But gret A-noye & dystourbaunce.
I say, as yt lyth in my thouht,
Platly the trouthe, & spare yt nouht:
The two Labellys, large and longe,
Hangynge by thyn hornys stronge,
Ar Fygure of the conqueste
That thow madest on thys beste,
And of the Clensynge of thys place,
Wasshe & swept only by grace,
I mene fyrst at the halwyng,
yt makyng hooly by blessyng,
Lyk a myghty champyoun
In the dedycacyoun;
Wych for to don, as yt ys skyl,
Off Gracë Dieu thys ys the wyl:
That thow be armyd offtë sythe,
As a vyctor, thy myght to kythe,
That thylkë best most contrayre
Be neuer hardy to repayre,
Nor yt tassaylle by no wrong,
Whan he seth thyn armour strong;
Wych ar sygnes in substaunce
Ay to be put in remembraunce,
How thow hast venquysshed & fordon
Thylke vntrewë fals felon,
Bete & oppressyd fynally;
And that thow mayst ben ay redy,
ffressh & newe ay to bataylle
Ageyns all that wyl assaylle,
At allë tyme & ech sesoun,
Off Grace Dieu the mansyoun,
Or yt dyspoylle in any wyse,
Robbe or reue yt in ther guyse,
By sleythe, falshed, or any whyle,
Grace Dieu ffor to exile
49
Of dymes or Subvencions,
or taylladges [i]ffoundë newe,
By Exaccïons full vntrewe:
Yiff thow yt suffre, ffer or ner,
Thow dost not trewly thy deuer,
Whan thow fyndest or dost espye
Sotyl weyës ffor flatrye
To spoylle of Gracë Dieu the hous
By any tytles ravynous,
Thow dost to hyre no plesaunce,
But gret A-noye & dystourbaunce.
I say, as yt lyth in my thouht,
Platly the trouthe, & spare yt nouht:
Thyn hornys hih vp on thyn hed,
Nor thy staff, (yt ys no dred,
I dar pleynly specefye,)
Ar but tooknes of mokerye,
Lych hornys of a lytell snayl,
Wych seruë for noon avayl,
But for a lytel strawh wyl shrynke:
Her-vp-on thow sholdest thynke.
Nor thy staff, (yt ys no dred,
I dar pleynly specefye,)
Ar but tooknes of mokerye,
Lych hornys of a lytell snayl,
Wych seruë for noon avayl,
But for a lytel strawh wyl shrynke:
Her-vp-on thow sholdest thynke.
‘Swych hornys hadde nat Seyn Thomas,
That kepte the entre & the paas
ful myghtyly ageyn the kyng,
And wolde suffre for no thyng
Hym to entren in-to thys hous;
But, as a champyoun vertuous,
Kepte the fredam & fraunchyse,
And suffrede in no maner wyse
The house of Grace Dieu at al
ffor to serue, nor to be thral:
Rather he ches to dey & sterue
Than suffre that yt sholdë serue,
Thys holy bysshop Seyn Thomas.
That kepte the entre & the paas
ful myghtyly ageyn the kyng,
And wolde suffre for no thyng
Hym to entren in-to thys hous;
But, as a champyoun vertuous,
Kepte the fredam & fraunchyse,
And suffrede in no maner wyse
The house of Grace Dieu at al
ffor to serue, nor to be thral:
Rather he ches to dey & sterue
Than suffre that yt sholdë serue,
Thys holy bysshop Seyn Thomas.
Seynt Ambrose in the samë caas
Deffendyd myghtyly also
Hys hous, lyk as he sholdë do,
Ageyn the sturdy Emperour,
By dyllygence and grete labour;
Tolde hym that he shuldë kepe
Oonly hys Temperall Lordshepe,
Hys paleys & hys mansyouns,
Hys cytes, castelles & hys touns;
The Revennues ther-off ytake,
And ther-with-al, murye hym make;
Wych ouhte ynowh to hym suffyse,
And entermet hym in no wyse
Touchyng Cristys herytage;
And sayde, for al hys fellë rage,
That he woldë rather deye
Than suffre in any maner weye
Durynge hys tyme, short or long,
He sholde ther-to done any wrong.
Thys folk, to myn oppynyoun,
Vsede ther hornys by Resoun,
As I to the ha told ryht now.
And, by exaumple, so sholdyst thow
Bar thyn hornys for dyffence,
And suffre that no vyolence
Were ydon vn-to thy spouse
Wych ys so ffayr & vertuouse,
Weddyd to the by iuste weddyng:
I take record of the ryng,
On thy fynger that thow dost vse;
Therfor thow mayst the nat excuse
Off the yerde nor the wond
Wych thow beryst in thyn hond,
To seyn manly to Pharao,
(As of ryht thow sholdest do,)
To suffre thy folkys to go fre,
As they ouht of lyberte;
Nat to greue hem, nor oppresse,
Nor constreyne hem by duresse.
50
Hys hous, lyk as he sholdë do,
Ageyn the sturdy Emperour,
By dyllygence and grete labour;
Tolde hym that he shuldë kepe
Oonly hys Temperall Lordshepe,
Hys paleys & hys mansyouns,
Hys cytes, castelles & hys touns;
The Revennues ther-off ytake,
And ther-with-al, murye hym make;
Wych ouhte ynowh to hym suffyse,
And entermet hym in no wyse
Touchyng Cristys herytage;
And sayde, for al hys fellë rage,
That he woldë rather deye
Than suffre in any maner weye
Durynge hys tyme, short or long,
He sholde ther-to done any wrong.
Thys folk, to myn oppynyoun,
Vsede ther hornys by Resoun,
As I to the ha told ryht now.
And, by exaumple, so sholdyst thow
Bar thyn hornys for dyffence,
And suffre that no vyolence
Were ydon vn-to thy spouse
Wych ys so ffayr & vertuouse,
Weddyd to the by iuste weddyng:
I take record of the ryng,
On thy fynger that thow dost vse;
Therfor thow mayst the nat excuse
Off the yerde nor the wond
Wych thow beryst in thyn hond,
To seyn manly to Pharao,
(As of ryht thow sholdest do,)
To suffre thy folkys to go fre,
As they ouht of lyberte;
Nat to greue hem, nor oppresse,
Nor constreyne hem by duresse.
Than sholdestow (yt ys no les,)
Be trewely callyd Moyses,
Ryht agreable by vertu
Vn-to that lady, Grace Dieu,
And of servyse acceptable
To that lady worshepable.’
Be trewely callyd Moyses,
51
Vn-to that lady, Grace Dieu,
And of servyse acceptable
To that lady worshepable.’
In thys whyle that dame Resoun
Hadde comunycacyoun
Wyth Moyses, ryht ther with-al
The forseyde offycyal
Ys with hys oynementys gon,
And putte hem in warde a-noon:
That they wer sauff, I dar wel seye,
Closyd vnder look & keye.
Hadde comunycacyoun
Wyth Moyses, ryht ther with-al
The forseyde offycyal
Ys with hys oynementys gon,
And putte hem in warde a-noon:
That they wer sauff, I dar wel seye,
Closyd vnder look & keye.
Ordre off maryage:
And tho, myn Eye as I vp caste,
I sawe komen wonder faste
A pylgrym al sodeynly,
Holdyng hys weye fynally,
(As me thouht in hys entent),
Drawynge in-to the oryent;
And euene in the opposyt
I sawe ek kome by gret delyt
A womman, wych that was also
A pylgrym ek; & bothë two,
Her wey took in especyal
To-wardys the offycyal;
Sayde vn-to hym, they bothe a-noon,
How they wolde to-gyder gon
On pylgrymage in ther degre
To Ierusaleem, the Cytee,
‘So ye teche vs, and dysserne
How that we shall vs gouerne,
To be sur, in oure passage,
To ffulfylle our pylgrymage.’
I sawe komen wonder faste
A pylgrym al sodeynly,
Holdyng hys weye fynally,
(As me thouht in hys entent),
Drawynge in-to the oryent;
And euene in the opposyt
I sawe ek kome by gret delyt
A womman, wych that was also
A pylgrym ek; & bothë two,
Her wey took in especyal
To-wardys the offycyal;
Sayde vn-to hym, they bothe a-noon,
How they wolde to-gyder gon
On pylgrymage in ther degre
To Ierusaleem, the Cytee,
‘So ye teche vs, and dysserne
How that we shall vs gouerne,
To be sur, in oure passage,
To ffulfylle our pylgrymage.’
Thanne anoon Thoffycyal,
Whan he knew ther menyng al,
Tolde hem, yiff they woldë gon,
They most of hertë be al on,
Tweyne in on, & on in tweyne,
Both in Ioye & ek in peyne;
And so to-gydre ay perseuere,
Tyl that deth make hem dysseuere.
Seyde ek to hem, ‘look that ye
In trouthë, & in stablete
Yee loue to-gydre as ye sholde,
Whether ye be yong or olde;
And that your trouthe on outher syde
Perpetuelly in on a-byde,
To your last, that yt endure:
Whan he knew ther menyng al,
Tolde hem, yiff they woldë gon,
52
Tweyne in on, & on in tweyne,
Both in Ioye & ek in peyne;
And so to-gydre ay perseuere,
Tyl that deth make hem dysseuere.
Seyde ek to hem, ‘look that ye
In trouthë, & in stablete
Yee loue to-gydre as ye sholde,
Whether ye be yong or olde;
And that your trouthe on outher syde
Perpetuelly in on a-byde,
To your last, that yt endure:
And that ye shal to me Assure
Both be feyth & ek by oth;
And beth wel war, for leff or loth,
That ye, for no varyaunce,
Ne brekë nat your ássuraunce;
ffor yiff ye don, ye be forsworn;
And ek I warnë yow to-forn,
Yiff that ye don in dede or thouht,
fful lytel shal a-vaylle, or nouht,
Than vn-to yow your vyage,
Your labour, nor your pylgrymage.
Yt wer wel bet, to myn entent,
That ech of yow allonë went,
Sool by hym sylff, and nat trespace,
Than be founde on any place
Vntrewë to hys companye;
ffor, gret forfet & folye
Yt ys, a man for to be founde
Vntrewe to hym that he ys bounde.
Both be feyth & ek by oth;
And beth wel war, for leff or loth,
That ye, for no varyaunce,
Ne brekë nat your ássuraunce;
ffor yiff ye don, ye be forsworn;
And ek I warnë yow to-forn,
Yiff that ye don in dede or thouht,
fful lytel shal a-vaylle, or nouht,
Than vn-to yow your vyage,
Your labour, nor your pylgrymage.
Yt wer wel bet, to myn entent,
That ech of yow allonë went,
Sool by hym sylff, and nat trespace,
Than be founde on any place
Vntrewë to hys companye;
ffor, gret forfet & folye
Yt ys, a man for to be founde
Vntrewe to hym that he ys bounde.
But yiff your wyl of both yffeere
Be parfyt, hool, & ek entere
To gon to-gydre, (lat now se,)
On pylgrymage to that cyte,
Whyder to gon I caste also,
Ye most suerne her, bothë two,
On euery part, for old or newe,
That ech to other shal be trewe,
So tenduren, al your lyff,
‘With-outen werre or any stryff;
Off on hert & entencyon,
Neuere to make dyuysyon,
Nor departyng causeles,
With-oute assent of Moysees.’
Be parfyt, hool, & ek entere
To gon to-gydre, (lat now se,)
On pylgrymage to that cyte,
Whyder to gon I caste also,
Ye most suerne her, bothë two,
On euery part, for old or newe,
That ech to other shal be trewe,
So tenduren, al your lyff,
53
Off on hert & entencyon,
Neuere to make dyuysyon,
Nor departyng causeles,
With-oute assent of Moysees.’
Affter al thys, A-noon ryht
I sawh hem bothë trouthë plyht,
Hand in hand yboundë faste;
Euere, whyl ther lyff may laste,
So to continuen & endure,
Ther feyth by oth they dyde assure,
ffor euermor: lo her ys al.
I sawh hem bothë trouthë plyht,
Hand in hand yboundë faste;
Euere, whyl ther lyff may laste,
So to continuen & endure,
Ther feyth by oth they dyde assure,
ffor euermor: lo her ys al.
And thanne A-noon the offycyal
Ys retournyd in certeyn
Hoom to Moyses ageyn,
Wych stood of entencioun
To here the talkyng of Resoun.
Ther-to he sette al hys entent;
But at the last ther parlement
Yendyd ys, for so gret pres
Kam a-doun to Moyses,
Requeryng hym in humble wyse
To graunten hem somme seruyse
In hys hous, off gentyllesse.
And he full goodly gan hym dresse,
As I conceyved with my look,
And a peyre of sherys took,
Merkede hem (I took good heed,)
On foure parteys of ther hed;
And affter that, vp-on the crowne,
To-forn hym as they knelë doun,
Seyng to hem stondyng a-part,
‘That God shal be the hoolë part
Pleynly of ther enherytaunce,
As ther Rychesse & suffysaunce:
Ther-of they may be wel certeyn.’
Ys retournyd in certeyn
Hoom to Moyses ageyn,
Wych stood of entencioun
To here the talkyng of Resoun.
Ther-to he sette al hys entent;
But at the last ther parlement
Yendyd ys, for so gret pres
Kam a-doun to Moyses,
Requeryng hym in humble wyse
To graunten hem somme seruyse
In hys hous, off gentyllesse.
And he full goodly gan hym dresse,
As I conceyved with my look,
And a peyre of sherys took,
Merkede hem (I took good heed,)
On foure parteys of ther hed;
And affter that, vp-on the crowne,
To-forn hym as they knelë doun,
Seyng to hem stondyng a-part,
‘That God shal be the hoolë part
Pleynly of ther enherytaunce,
As ther Rychesse & suffysaunce:
Ther-of they may be wel certeyn.’
54
And thanne Reson effte ageyn,
(Lych as I shal yow devyse,)
Gan to spekyn in thys wyse:
‘Syrs, taketh hed,’ a-noon quod she,
‘Som whyle, as semeth vn-to me,
Yt ys wysdom, ryht, & no wrong,
To feynë foly euere a-mong,
Thogh ye now, also God me saue,
Ben yclypyd & yshaue
Vp-on your hedys euerychon,
Wych thyng ys dempte of many on
fful gret vnwyt & gret ffolye
Off malys & malencolye;
They demë so malycyously,
But trewly so do nat I.
ffor as in myn oppynyon
I deme yt gret dyscreccion,
And ful gret wyt that ye ha do,
And for that skyle taketh hede ther-to.
(Lych as I shal yow devyse,)
Gan to spekyn in thys wyse:
‘Syrs, taketh hed,’ a-noon quod she,
‘Som whyle, as semeth vn-to me,
Yt ys wysdom, ryht, & no wrong,
To feynë foly euere a-mong,
Thogh ye now, also God me saue,
Ben yclypyd & yshaue
Vp-on your hedys euerychon,
Wych thyng ys dempte of many on
fful gret vnwyt & gret ffolye
Off malys & malencolye;
They demë so malycyously,
But trewly so do nat I.
ffor as in myn oppynyon
I deme yt gret dyscreccion,
And ful gret wyt that ye ha do,
And for that skyle taketh hede ther-to.
To be yourës, of entent,
Hooly to yow I me present
As your paramoire entere;
And who-so-euere (as ye shal lere,)
Gruchche, or haue envye ther-to,
Al-way forth I wyl be so.
ffor trusteth wel, that I am she
By whom that ye yknowë be
ffrom other bestys—lo her ys al—
And seueryd in especyal.
Hooly to yow I me present
As your paramoire entere;
And who-so-euere (as ye shal lere,)
Gruchche, or haue envye ther-to,
Al-way forth I wyl be so.
ffor trusteth wel, that I am she
By whom that ye yknowë be
ffrom other bestys—lo her ys al—
And seueryd in especyal.
And pleynly, ek, I kan yow telle,
Al the whyl that I dwelle
With yow, A-mongys hyh & lowe,
ffor verray men ye shal be knowe,
Thorgh wysdom & thorgh prouydence,
And haue A verray dyfference
ffrom other bestys to dyscerne
How ye shal your sylff gouerne.
Al the whyle that ye me holde
With yow tabyde, as I tolde,
‘Ye shal be men, & ellys nauht;
And yiff the trouthë be wel souht,
Whan that I am fro yow gon,
Ye may avaunte (& that a-noon,)
That ye be (thys, no fable)
Bestys & vnresownable,
Dyspurveyed of al Resoun,
And voyde of al dyscreccioun;
For yiff ye wantë shortly me,
Yee may neuere in no degre
(Though yee euere do youre peyne,)
Worshipe, off youre sylff atteyne
Nor clymbë to no gret honour
But yiff ye han of me socour;
Thogh ye be lordys of estat,
Proud of your port, & eke ellat,
Lytel to yow, al may avaylle
With-outë me, yt ys no faylle,
ffor to make your Iugementys,
Syllogysmes, or Argumentys,
Or of Wysdam any thyng;
With-outë me, thys no lesyng,
Ye shal ha no conclusyon,
But fynally confusyon.
Al the whyl that I dwelle
With yow, A-mongys hyh & lowe,
ffor verray men ye shal be knowe,
Thorgh wysdom & thorgh prouydence,
And haue A verray dyfference
ffrom other bestys to dyscerne
How ye shal your sylff gouerne.
Al the whyle that ye me holde
With yow tabyde, as I tolde,
55
And yiff the trouthë be wel souht,
Whan that I am fro yow gon,
Ye may avaunte (& that a-noon,)
That ye be (thys, no fable)
Bestys & vnresownable,
Dyspurveyed of al Resoun,
And voyde of al dyscreccioun;
For yiff ye wantë shortly me,
Yee may neuere in no degre
(Though yee euere do youre peyne,)
Worshipe, off youre sylff atteyne
Nor clymbë to no gret honour
But yiff ye han of me socour;
Thogh ye be lordys of estat,
Proud of your port, & eke ellat,
Lytel to yow, al may avaylle
With-outë me, yt ys no faylle,
ffor to make your Iugementys,
Syllogysmes, or Argumentys,
Or of Wysdam any thyng;
With-outë me, thys no lesyng,
Ye shal ha no conclusyon,
But fynally confusyon.
ffor wych I castë me to telle
How ye shal ha, yiff ye lyst dwelle,
The loue of me on euery syde:
Ye most ay be, & so abyde,
That ye in yow ha sobyrnesse,
And voydë fro yow dronkenesse
And hyr suster glotonye,
Wraththë, Ire & ffelonye;
ffor wher-so-euere that they be,
They makë me a-way to fle;
ffor wher they make her mansyoun,
I leve that habytacyoun.
Venus thenys doth me chase,
‘And voydeth me out of that place,
As yt ys sayd & told ful wel—
Who lyst loken euerydel,—
With-outen any maner glose,
In the Romaunce of the Roose.
How ye shal ha, yiff ye lyst dwelle,
The loue of me on euery syde:
Ye most ay be, & so abyde,
That ye in yow ha sobyrnesse,
And voydë fro yow dronkenesse
And hyr suster glotonye,
Wraththë, Ire & ffelonye;
ffor wher-so-euere that they be,
They makë me a-way to fle;
ffor wher they make her mansyoun,
I leve that habytacyoun.
Venus thenys doth me chase,
56
As yt ys sayd & told ful wel—
Who lyst loken euerydel,—
With-outen any maner glose,
In the Romaunce of the Roose.
Wherfor I pray yow euerychon,
ffor to kepe yow, on by on,
ffro thys vyces that I ha told,
And from al other, yong and old;
ffor my loue that ye hem fflee,
Yiff ye lysten han frenshepe of me.
ffor to kepe yow, on by on,
ffro thys vyces that I ha told,
And from al other, yong and old;
ffor my loue that ye hem fflee,
Yiff ye lysten han frenshepe of me.
ffor, but ye yow fro vyces kepe,
Ye shal lesë the frenshepe
Platly of me, as I yow tolde.
And ffynally, I nat ne holde
Hym for my frend, (knowe thys ryht wel,)
That yiveth hys body euerydel
Vn-to vyces, euere in oon.
Ye shal lesë the frenshepe
Platly of me, as I yow tolde.
And ffynally, I nat ne holde
Hym for my frend, (knowe thys ryht wel,)
That yiveth hys body euerydel
Vn-to vyces, euere in oon.
And two wordys, or that ye gon,
Shortly to yow, & nat ne spare,
Openly I wyl declare
Tookne of your crowne, cloos with-Inne,
And at the cercle fyrst begynne.
I mene the closure fer with-oute
That ys cerclyd round a-boute
As A castel or strong doungoun,
Or lyk a gardyn, wych envyroun
Ys closyd with a myghty wal;
The wych (who consydreth al,)
With-Inne ys ope, to sygnefye,
That ye to God sholde hool aplye
Your hertys, to hym so enterly
That noon affeccion worldly,
Nor erthly thyng, ha noon entre.
ffor, lerneth thys shortly of me:
Your Cercle round aboute the hed
Sholde kepe (yt ys no dred,)
Off your hertys the closure,
To voyde away al worldly cure
Out of your affeccyon,
And shewen (in conclusyon)
That ye have the world for-sake,
And of herte youre-sylff ytake
Hooly to God, off wyl entere;
For ye ne may not bothe yffere
Serve God, and the worlde also,
And be trewe in bothë two:
The toon, a-syde most be layd.
Shortly to yow, & nat ne spare,
Openly I wyl declare
Tookne of your crowne, cloos with-Inne,
And at the cercle fyrst begynne.
I mene the closure fer with-oute
That ys cerclyd round a-boute
As A castel or strong doungoun,
Or lyk a gardyn, wych envyroun
Ys closyd with a myghty wal;
The wych (who consydreth al,)
With-Inne ys ope, to sygnefye,
That ye to God sholde hool aplye
Your hertys, to hym so enterly
That noon affeccion worldly,
Nor erthly thyng, ha noon entre.
ffor, lerneth thys shortly of me:
Your Cercle round aboute the hed
Sholde kepe (yt ys no dred,)
Off your hertys the closure,
To voyde away al worldly cure
Out of your affeccyon,
57
That ye have the world for-sake,
And of herte youre-sylff ytake
Hooly to God, off wyl entere;
For ye ne may not bothe yffere
Serve God, and the worlde also,
And be trewe in bothë two:
The toon, a-syde most be layd.
‘And thynk also what ye ha sayd.
God ys for our avauntage,
Our party, & our herytage,
Whom we ha chose with al our myght
ffor to seruë day & nyht.
By wych word, so God me saue,
Me thynketh ye sholde no Ioye haue
Of thys worldys veyn plesaunce,
Wych ys so ful off varyaunce,
So ful of chang & dovbylnesse;
ffor now, to oon he yyveth Rychesse,
Robbeth a-nother, as ye may se,
And cast hym in-to pouerte;
And somme he yiveth neueradel:
Wherfore loke ye kepë wel
The part off your elleccyoun,
Off herte & hool entencioun,
That ye ha chose, yiff ye be wyse,
Wych ouhte ynowgh to yow suffyse;
ffor, as in comparyson),
Yt passeth al pocessyon.
God ys for our avauntage,
Our party, & our herytage,
Whom we ha chose with al our myght
ffor to seruë day & nyht.
By wych word, so God me saue,
Me thynketh ye sholde no Ioye haue
Of thys worldys veyn plesaunce,
Wych ys so ful off varyaunce,
So ful of chang & dovbylnesse;
ffor now, to oon he yyveth Rychesse,
Robbeth a-nother, as ye may se,
And cast hym in-to pouerte;
And somme he yiveth neueradel:
Wherfore loke ye kepë wel
The part off your elleccyoun,
Off herte & hool entencioun,
That ye ha chose, yiff ye be wyse,
Wych ouhte ynowgh to yow suffyse;
ffor, as in comparyson),
Yt passeth al pocessyon.
Lat your tonsurys, round at al
Close your hertys as a wal;
And that yt go so round aboute
ffor to sette the world with-oute,
And yt dysseuere in al thyng,
And your party so departyng,
That ye be shorn so as ye sholde
As chosë shepe of Crystys folde,
Lyk to bestys resounnable.
Thanne of ryght (yt ys no fable)
Your shepperde, that taketh of yow kepe,
Schal receyuen off hys shep
The flees somwhyle for hys travaylle;
But he shal nat so yow assaylle,
To flen yow fro yowr skyn al bare;
In swychë cas he mostë spare;
ffor he therto hath no lycence,
To yow to don swych vyolence.
He shal yow shern duely in dede,
Nat out of mesour, but for nede,
Take hys part hym to sustene;
And for that skylë, thus I mene,
That he shal no vengeaunce make:
Therfore he hath the sherys take,
And nat the knyff, to Robbe & slen,
And folk out of her skyn to fflen;
But cherysshe hem rather by fauour
Than oppresse hem by Rygour:
Thus sholde euery shepperde do,
Resoun algatë techeth so.’
Close your hertys as a wal;
And that yt go so round aboute
ffor to sette the world with-oute,
And yt dysseuere in al thyng,
And your party so departyng,
That ye be shorn so as ye sholde
As chosë shepe of Crystys folde,
58
Thanne of ryght (yt ys no fable)
Your shepperde, that taketh of yow kepe,
Schal receyuen off hys shep
The flees somwhyle for hys travaylle;
But he shal nat so yow assaylle,
To flen yow fro yowr skyn al bare;
In swychë cas he mostë spare;
ffor he therto hath no lycence,
To yow to don swych vyolence.
He shal yow shern duely in dede,
Nat out of mesour, but for nede,
Take hys part hym to sustene;
And for that skylë, thus I mene,
That he shal no vengeaunce make:
Therfore he hath the sherys take,
And nat the knyff, to Robbe & slen,
And folk out of her skyn to fflen;
But cherysshe hem rather by fauour
Than oppresse hem by Rygour:
Thus sholde euery shepperde do,
Resoun algatë techeth so.’
And whan thys lady, dame Resoun,
Hadde y-endyd hyr sermoun,
Ther kam folk in sondry wyses,
That a-bood to han servyses,
Hadde y-endyd hyr sermoun,
Ther kam folk in sondry wyses,
That a-bood to han servyses,
Ordre off Colyt:
Made ther requeste to Moyses;
And he, Amongys al the pres
Assygnede sondry offycerys.
And somme off hem he made hussherys,
And somme also he ordeynys
To haue offyce off chaumberleyns;
And sergauntys he made also,
To whos offyce yt longeth to,
The Enmy to putte away,
Out of bodyes nyht & day,
Wher that euere by bataylle
He ys hardy ffor to assaylle.
And he, Amongys al the pres
Assygnede sondry offycerys.
And somme off hem he made hussherys,
And somme also he ordeynys
To haue offyce off chaumberleyns;
And sergauntys he made also,
To whos offyce yt longeth to,
The Enmy to putte away,
Out of bodyes nyht & day,
59
He ys hardy ffor to assaylle.
Moses eke, who lyst take hede,
Ordeyned Lystres for to rede,
Myd the palys for to stonde,
To makë folke to vnderstonde
The lawë, by ful gret avys,
As longeth vn-to her offys.
And sommë, as I kan beholde,
He made kandelys for to holde,
And torchys for to yivë lyht;
By ther offyce, as yt was ryht,
Thay held hem, as I toforn ha sayd,
To-for the table, whan yt was layd;
Ordeyned Lystres for to rede,
Myd the palys for to stonde,
To makë folke to vnderstonde
The lawë, by ful gret avys,
As longeth vn-to her offys.
And sommë, as I kan beholde,
He made kandelys for to holde,
And torchys for to yivë lyht;
By ther offyce, as yt was ryht,
Thay held hem, as I toforn ha sayd,
To-for the table, whan yt was layd;
For sone he sholde to dyner gon.
And vnto other he took a-noon
Hys syluer cuppe gylt richëly,
And bad hem maken yt redy
To seruen hym the samë tyme.
And some also, on ther lyfft syde,
Vp-on ther shulderys, he made weere
A Tookne off Cryst, & yt to bere,
That they sholde in especyal
Awayte vp-on thoffycyal,
As trewe seruauntys off entent,
And be mynystres dyllygent,
ffeythful, humble, & covenable
ffor to serue hym at the table.
And vnto other he took a-noon
Hys syluer cuppe gylt richëly,
And bad hem maken yt redy
To seruen hym the samë tyme.
And some also, on ther lyfft syde,
Vp-on ther shulderys, he made weere
A Tookne off Cryst, & yt to bere,
That they sholde in especyal
Awayte vp-on thoffycyal,
As trewe seruauntys off entent,
And be mynystres dyllygent,
ffeythful, humble, & covenable
ffor to serue hym at the table.
And than they gan, by good avys,
Euerych to don hys owne offys,
And dyden ek ther bysy cure
To leyn the boordys, & to cure
With napry ful couenable.
And somme sette vp-on the table
(Lyk ther offyce) wyn & bred;
And somme also (I took good hed,)
Lyst the wyn wer to strong,
Putte in water ther a-mong:
Euerych to don hys owne offys,
And dyden ek ther bysy cure
To leyn the boordys, & to cure
With napry ful couenable.
And somme sette vp-on the table
(Lyk ther offyce) wyn & bred;
And somme also (I took good hed,)
Lyst the wyn wer to strong,
Putte in water ther a-mong:
ffor yt was somwhat passyd pryme,
Vp-on the hour off dyner tyme.
60
But Moyses, to-for dyner,
Caste hym fyrst, with ful sad cher,
To delyuer hym that abood.
Caste hym fyrst, with ful sad cher,
To delyuer hym that abood.
And somme that aforn hym stood,
He made hem offycerys newe,
ffor to serwen and be trewe
With-Inne hys hous, in specyal
To wayte vp-on the offycyal,
And to helpe hym in hys nede;
ffor who that wysly taketh hede,
May se wel that thoffycyal
May nat allone gouernen al,
But he haue helpe, swych as hym ouhte.
He made hem offycerys newe,
ffor to serwen and be trewe
With-Inne hys hous, in specyal
To wayte vp-on the offycyal,
And to helpe hym in hys nede;
ffor who that wysly taketh hede,
May se wel that thoffycyal
May nat allone gouernen al,
But he haue helpe, swych as hym ouhte.
Now shal I tellë how he wrouhte:
Thys Moyses, among hem all,
ffyrst he gan ful lowdë calle
Grace dieu, al be that she
Was fastë by, wych, in hyr se
Sat vp in hyr trone on hyh;
Sche was nat ffer, but wonder nyh,
And took good heed of euery thyng.
(And al thys whyle beholdyng,
I sat at hyr ffeet doun lowe.)
And whan she sawe & gan knowe
That she was callyd among echon,
She taryeth nat, but kam anoon
To Moyses ful evene & ryght;
And vn-to hym, with alle hir myght,
She shewed hir-selff most frendely,
Wher-off he gan waxen hardy
Whan she was kome, and thowhte he was
Myghty & mor strong in thys caas
To fulfyllen hys entent,
Wych I, by good avysement,
Shal vn-to yow shortly here
Rehersen, yiff ye lyste to here.
Thys Moyses, among hem all,
ffyrst he gan ful lowdë calle
Grace dieu, al be that she
Was fastë by, wych, in hyr se
Sat vp in hyr trone on hyh;
Sche was nat ffer, but wonder nyh,
And took good heed of euery thyng.
(And al thys whyle beholdyng,
I sat at hyr ffeet doun lowe.)
And whan she sawe & gan knowe
That she was callyd among echon,
She taryeth nat, but kam anoon
To Moyses ful evene & ryght;
And vn-to hym, with alle hir myght,
She shewed hir-selff most frendely,
Wher-off he gan waxen hardy
Whan she was kome, and thowhte he was
Myghty & mor strong in thys caas
To fulfyllen hys entent,
Wych I, by good avysement,
Shal vn-to yow shortly here
61
And Moyses, A-noon ryght than,
Thus to werkyn he be-gan:
Ther handys fyrst, as ye shal lere,
Enoyntede, and closede hem yfere,
‘And took to hem ful cler & bryht
A swerd, the wych, vn-to my syht,
Was thylkë same that Cherubyn
Whylom held at Thentryng In
At Paradys, who lyst to look;
And keyës ek to hem he took,
To kepe hem wel in ther entent.
Thus to werkyn he be-gan:
Ther handys fyrst, as ye shal lere,
Enoyntede, and closede hem yfere,
‘And took to hem ful cler & bryht
A swerd, the wych, vn-to my syht,
Was thylkë same that Cherubyn
Whylom held at Thentryng In
At Paradys, who lyst to look;
And keyës ek to hem he took,
To kepe hem wel in ther entent.
And al thys whyle was ther present
Grace Dieu, I took good heede,
To helpyn hem the bet to spede.
Whom Moyses took hem also,
And sayde, (I took good hed ther-to,)
‘Syrs,’ quod he, ‘most off vertu,
Seth her to-for yow, Grace Dieu
I gyve hyr yow for morë grace,
That she may, in euery place,
At allë tymës with yow be,
Yiff yt be-falle sothly that ye
Receyue hyre, as ye ouhtë do,
With Ioyë & glad herte also,
And kepe hyr with yow day be day,
That she neuere parte a-way.’
Grace Dieu, I took good heede,
To helpyn hem the bet to spede.
Whom Moyses took hem also,
And sayde, (I took good hed ther-to,)
‘Syrs,’ quod he, ‘most off vertu,
Seth her to-for yow, Grace Dieu
I gyve hyr yow for morë grace,
That she may, in euery place,
At allë tymës with yow be,
Yiff yt be-falle sothly that ye
Receyue hyre, as ye ouhtë do,
With Ioyë & glad herte also,
And kepe hyr with yow day be day,
That she neuere parte a-way.’
And whan I herde al thys yfere,
I wex abaysshed in my chere;
Seyde vn-to my sylff ryht tho,
“Allas, now, what shal I do?
Grace Dieu, I ha lost al;
ffor I se how Thoffycyal
Hath yowen hyre fro me away
On thys syluë samë day,
Vn-to thys hornyd folk in sothe,
And with hem, fro me she goth.
Wherfor now I kan nat se
Who shal delyueren vnto me
Sherpe or bordoun to my vyage,
To helpe me in my pylgrymage,
Wych she me hyhte thys other day.”
I wex abaysshed in my chere;
Seyde vn-to my sylff ryht tho,
“Allas, now, what shal I do?
Grace Dieu, I ha lost al;
ffor I se how Thoffycyal
Hath yowen hyre fro me away
On thys syluë samë day,
Vn-to thys hornyd folk in sothe,
62
Wherfor now I kan nat se
Who shal delyueren vnto me
Sherpe or bordoun to my vyage,
To helpe me in my pylgrymage,
Wych she me hyhte thys other day.”
But thanne A-noon I took my way
To-wardys hyre lyne Ryght,
And Thoughtë pleynly that I myghte
Seyn to hyre my fantasye,
And my matere specefye;
ffor sythe the tyme, ffer nor ner,
That I was wasshe in the Ryver
By hyre Aduocat, fayre & wel,
I spak not with hyre neuere a del.
And in the tyme off my wasshyng,
The aduocat, by hyr byddyng,
Spak for me in goodly wyse,
As ye to-forn han herd devyse.
Wher-fore I thouhte I wolde assaye
To speke to hire, & not delaye:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “and yt yow plese,
I am falle in gret dysesse,
And dyscomforted in myn herte,
Whan I consydre and aduerte,
That Moyses gaff yow a-way;
Which Gyfft ys no thyng to my pay;
For yiff I wante yow, in certeyn
My pylgrymage ys but in veyn.”
To-wardys hyre lyne Ryght,
And Thoughtë pleynly that I myghte
Seyn to hyre my fantasye,
And my matere specefye;
ffor sythe the tyme, ffer nor ner,
That I was wasshe in the Ryver
By hyre Aduocat, fayre & wel,
I spak not with hyre neuere a del.
And in the tyme off my wasshyng,
The aduocat, by hyr byddyng,
Spak for me in goodly wyse,
As ye to-forn han herd devyse.
Wher-fore I thouhte I wolde assaye
To speke to hire, & not delaye:
“Ma dame,” quod I, “and yt yow plese,
I am falle in gret dysesse,
And dyscomforted in myn herte,
Whan I consydre and aduerte,
That Moyses gaff yow a-way;
Which Gyfft ys no thyng to my pay;
For yiff I wante yow, in certeyn
My pylgrymage ys but in veyn.”
Grace Dieu answereth:
Quod Grace Dieu, ‘yiff thow take hede,
Thow hast verrayly in dede
fforyete al that I ha the told.
Wostow nat wel, to yong & old,
That I wyl profyte what I may
To all that go the ryhtë way;
So that euery pylgrym shal
At allë tymes (lo her ys al)
Me fynde redy, euere in on,
In ther weye with hem to gon,
To conveye hem, whan they ha nede.
Thow hast verrayly in dede
fforyete al that I ha the told.
Wostow nat wel, to yong & old,
That I wyl profyte what I may
To all that go the ryhtë way;
So that euery pylgrym shal
At allë tymes (lo her ys al)
63
In ther weye with hem to gon,
To conveye hem, whan they ha nede.
‘What! wenystow me to possede
Thy sylff allonë, quyt & clene?
Thow art a fool, yiff thow yt wene!
The comoun profyt, fer & ner,
Ys mor than profyt synguler
To be preferryd, as I the telle.
Sestow nat how a comoun welle
Mor avaylleth (who looke wel,)
Than doth A-nother seuerel?
ffor, at a commoun welle, of ryht
May fettë water euery whyht,
Her thrust to staunchen & apese,
And drawe yt at her ownë ese.
Wher-as, a wellë cloos aboute,
Wych for-barreth folk with-oute,
That no man neyë dar no ner,
Lyst they fellyn in daunger.
Thy sylff allonë, quyt & clene?
Thow art a fool, yiff thow yt wene!
The comoun profyt, fer & ner,
Ys mor than profyt synguler
To be preferryd, as I the telle.
Sestow nat how a comoun welle
Mor avaylleth (who looke wel,)
Than doth A-nother seuerel?
ffor, at a commoun welle, of ryht
May fettë water euery whyht,
Her thrust to staunchen & apese,
And drawe yt at her ownë ese.
Wher-as, a wellë cloos aboute,
Wych for-barreth folk with-oute,
That no man neyë dar no ner,
Lyst they fellyn in daunger.
‘And to purpos to expresse,
I am welle of al goodnesse;
Nat holdë cloos vn-to no wyht,
But vn-to alle (of verray ryht)
I am comwne and plentevous,
And to profyte desyrous
To goode pylgrymes euerychon,
To forthre hem wherso they gon.
I am welle of al goodnesse;
Nat holdë cloos vn-to no wyht,
But vn-to alle (of verray ryht)
I am comwne and plentevous,
And to profyte desyrous
To goode pylgrymes euerychon,
To forthre hem wherso they gon.
‘And thogh I be comoun to alle
That vn-to myn helpë calle,
Thow mayst knowe & trustë wel
Thow hast nat lost me neueradel;
ffor ay with the I wyl abyde,
And neuere partë fro thy syde:
As longe as thow hast thè cast
To ben a pylgrym stedëfast,
So long thow shalt nat off me faylle
To helpe in what I may avaylle.’
That vn-to myn helpë calle,
Thow mayst knowe & trustë wel
Thow hast nat lost me neueradel;
ffor ay with the I wyl abyde,
And neuere partë fro thy syde:
As longe as thow hast thè cast
To ben a pylgrym stedëfast,
So long thow shalt nat off me faylle
To helpe in what I may avaylle.’
Affter al thys, I confort took,
That Grace Dieu me nat for-sook,
But me coumfortede off hyr grace.
That Grace Dieu me nat for-sook,
64
And tho ryht in the syluë place
I sawh Anoon, Dame Resoun
Ascende to makë A Sarmoun
In ta pulpet that ther stood.
I sawh Anoon, Dame Resoun
Ascende to makë A Sarmoun
In ta pulpet that ther stood.
‘Syrs,’ quod she, ‘yt wer ryht good
ffor your profyt, (yt ys no drede,)
Off my sarmoun to taken hede.
Ther was a swerd, yt ys no nay,
Delyuered yow thys samë day,
fforgyd sythë go ful longe,
To kepë thentre wonder stronge,
And the passage of Paradys.
At which tyme was noon so wys
That entre myghte, ner comen In,
But yiff it were by Cherubyn,
Which at the gate was cheff porter,
Holdynge that swerd ful bryht & cler,
Folkys for to kepen oute.
ffor your profyt, (yt ys no drede,)
Off my sarmoun to taken hede.
Ther was a swerd, yt ys no nay,
Delyuered yow thys samë day,
fforgyd sythë go ful longe,
To kepë thentre wonder stronge,
And the passage of Paradys.
At which tyme was noon so wys
That entre myghte, ner comen In,
But yiff it were by Cherubyn,
Which at the gate was cheff porter,
Holdynge that swerd ful bryht & cler,
Folkys for to kepen oute.
‘And this swerd, yt ys no doute,
Was to ffoolys ful peryllous,
Swych as wern malycyous;
ffor they ther-by wer made afferd,
And ypunysshed by that swerd.
Lyk ther gyltys & trespace
Thys swerd alway dyde hem manace.
The wych swerd (who that kan se,)
Ordeyned ys for thyngys thre:
To punysshe folk as they dysserue,
Poynt & egge, to hurte & kerue,
And with the platte, among to spare,
That ryht fro mercy be nat bare.
Was to ffoolys ful peryllous,
Swych as wern malycyous;
ffor they ther-by wer made afferd,
And ypunysshed by that swerd.
Lyk ther gyltys & trespace
Thys swerd alway dyde hem manace.
The wych swerd (who that kan se,)
Ordeyned ys for thyngys thre:
To punysshe folk as they dysserue,
Poynt & egge, to hurte & kerue,
And with the platte, among to spare,
That ryht fro mercy be nat bare.
‘The poynt yiveth fyrst entendement
That neuere no fynal Iugement,
Nor hasty execucyoun,
Be yove with-oute dyscrecioun,
In causys nouther hih nor lowe
Namly wher they be nat knowe:
ffor he ys a fool, & ffoul hardy,
That, off wenyng & surquedy,
Hasty ys, hym sylff tavaunce,
Off Ire for to do vengaunce,
Or demen by suspecyon
With-oute examynacyon.
That neuere no fynal Iugement,
Nor hasty execucyoun,
Be yove with-oute dyscrecioun,
In causys nouther hih nor lowe
65
ffor he ys a fool, & ffoul hardy,
That, off wenyng & surquedy,
Hasty ys, hym sylff tavaunce,
Off Ire for to do vengaunce,
Or demen by suspecyon
With-oute examynacyon.
‘Swyche, I dar wel specefye,
Do nat trewly occupye
The swerd of ryghtful Iugëment.
Thorgh ygnoraunce they be so blent,
And, as a blynde man, so they werke,
Stumblynge alway in the derke.
Good from evel they kan not chese,
Nor whot nat wher to saue or lese:
Redy to hyndren & to deere,
Swychë sholde no swerdys beere,
That kan not knowen evel fro good,
Nor whan ys tyme of letyng blood;
Nor, kan nat dyscerne A-ryght—
ffor ygnorance & lak off syht—
At-wexen helthe & malladye;
Nor, a-twen the meselrye
Grettest, smallest, and the mene;
He kan no dyfference atwene
Newë syknesse nor the olde.
Do nat trewly occupye
The swerd of ryghtful Iugëment.
Thorgh ygnoraunce they be so blent,
And, as a blynde man, so they werke,
Stumblynge alway in the derke.
Good from evel they kan not chese,
Nor whot nat wher to saue or lese:
Redy to hyndren & to deere,
Swychë sholde no swerdys beere,
That kan not knowen evel fro good,
Nor whan ys tyme of letyng blood;
Nor, kan nat dyscerne A-ryght—
ffor ygnorance & lak off syht—
At-wexen helthe & malladye;
Nor, a-twen the meselrye
Grettest, smallest, and the mene;
He kan no dyfference atwene
Newë syknesse nor the olde.
‘But euery trewë Iugë sholde
Weyen Iustly in ballannce,
Consydren euery cyrcumstaunce
Off trespacys by avysëment,
Or he yive any Iugëment.
Weyen Iustly in ballannce,
Consydren euery cyrcumstaunce
Off trespacys by avysëment,
Or he yive any Iugëment.
‘ffor thys word Glayve, (in sentence,)
By record off Ianuence
(Thys was nat ful yere agon)
In hys book Catholicon
Seyth, Glayve in French, (& wryteth thus,)
Ys in Latyn Guladius,
Sayd of gula, (as he put,)
ffor that yt a-sonder kut
The throte off a man a two:
Thys Ianuence recordeth so;
ffor throte yn Ynglyssh, (thys the ffyn,)
Ys callyd Gula in Latyn,
Wher-off Glayvë took hys name.
Grameryens sëyn the same,
For yt a-sondyr doth deuyde
The partyes layde on euery syde,
Wher, save Right, ys no refuge.
By record off Ianuence
(Thys was nat ful yere agon)
In hys book Catholicon
Seyth, Glayve in French, (& wryteth thus,)
66
Sayd of gula, (as he put,)
ffor that yt a-sonder kut
The throte off a man a two:
Thys Ianuence recordeth so;
ffor throte yn Ynglyssh, (thys the ffyn,)
Ys callyd Gula in Latyn,
Wher-off Glayvë took hys name.
Grameryens sëyn the same,
For yt a-sondyr doth deuyde
The partyes layde on euery syde,
Wher, save Right, ys no refuge.
‘But first, every Rightful Iuge
Sholde, by good avysëment,
Or he gesse eny Iugëment,
Discerne to-forn (with al hys myght),
Seke and enqueryn out the ryght
Off outher part in hys presence,
Nat ben to hasty off sentence,
Nor off hys doomys in no wyse.
Sholde, by good avysëment,
Or he gesse eny Iugëment,
Discerne to-forn (with al hys myght),
Seke and enqueryn out the ryght
Off outher part in hys presence,
Nat ben to hasty off sentence,
Nor off hys doomys in no wyse.
Also to yow I shal devyse,
Wheroff the tweynë eggys serue,
Off thys swerd, that kutte & kerue:
ffor on allonë in no wyse
By hym sylff may nat suffyse;
ffor yiff yowr swerde forgyd off steel
Be to-forn ypoynted wel,
And sharpyd by dyscrecioun,
Ye moste (off ryght & good resoun)
Ther-with-al haue ryghtwysnesse,
Vyces to reforme and dresse,
On your sogectys (euere among,)
Hem to correcte whan they do wrong.
ffor vp-on trespacys & mysdede
Ye ha lycence (yt ys no drede,)
ffor to do correccyoun
And couenable punycioun,
Egal, as folk ha dysservyd,
Except casys that be reservyd
And with-holdë (soth to seyne,)
To hym that hath the hornys tweyne:
They be except vn-to hys hand.
Wheroff the tweynë eggys serue,
Off thys swerd, that kutte & kerue:
ffor on allonë in no wyse
By hym sylff may nat suffyse;
ffor yiff yowr swerde forgyd off steel
Be to-forn ypoynted wel,
And sharpyd by dyscrecioun,
Ye moste (off ryght & good resoun)
Ther-with-al haue ryghtwysnesse,
Vyces to reforme and dresse,
On your sogectys (euere among,)
67
ffor vp-on trespacys & mysdede
Ye ha lycence (yt ys no drede,)
ffor to do correccyoun
And couenable punycioun,
Egal, as folk ha dysservyd,
Except casys that be reservyd
And with-holdë (soth to seyne,)
To hym that hath the hornys tweyne:
They be except vn-to hys hand.
‘And thus departyd ys your land
In double party, (thys no doute:)
The Ton, the body ys with-oute,
fflesshly, & redy vn-to synne;
But the thother man with-inne
Ys the soule & the spyryt,
Wych in goodnesse hath most delyt.
Thys the land, loke wel therto,
That ye shal departe at two,
Atwyxë bothë, thogh that neuere,
Whyl they lyuë, may dysseuere.
In double party, (thys no doute:)
The Ton, the body ys with-oute,
fflesshly, & redy vn-to synne;
But the thother man with-inne
Ys the soule & the spyryt,
Wych in goodnesse hath most delyt.
Thys the land, loke wel therto,
That ye shal departe at two,
Atwyxë bothë, thogh that neuere,
Whyl they lyuë, may dysseuere.
‘And to thys tweynë, ansuerynge
Ys thys swerd double-kervynge;
Wher-with ye shal your wyt applye,
Sowle & body to Iustefye,
Whan ye sen yt be to do;
As thus tak hed, I menë so:
The Body, ffro hys synnes grete,
Duely punysshe in cold & hete,
Yive hym peyne, and ek penaunce,
Consydred euery cyrcumstaunce:
Travaylle, whan he ys to rage,
Sende hym out on pylgrymage;
Charge hym with fastyng & wakyng;
So that alway answerynge
The penaunce be to the trespace,
Off equyte that yt not passe:
Ys thys swerd double-kervynge;
Wher-with ye shal your wyt applye,
Sowle & body to Iustefye,
Whan ye sen yt be to do;
As thus tak hed, I menë so:
The Body, ffro hys synnes grete,
Duely punysshe in cold & hete,
Yive hym peyne, and ek penaunce,
Consydred euery cyrcumstaunce:
Travaylle, whan he ys to rage,
Sende hym out on pylgrymage;
Charge hym with fastyng & wakyng;
So that alway answerynge
The penaunce be to the trespace,
Off equyte that yt not passe:
Thus ye shal do, yiff ye be wyse.
68
‘But in a-nother maner wyse
Punysshen the spyryt ye shal also;
As thus: taketh good hed ther-to:
In dyuers caas ye mot consydre,
And peysen euery thyng to-gydre:
Yiff he be proud or obstynat,
Dysobeyynge or ellaat,
Hys trespace to amende,
And ne lyst nat to entende
To be redressed by meeknesse,
And, thorgh pryde or Frowardnesse,
Wyl takë no correccïon.
Than may yow (in conclusyon)
Tornen (to maken hym afferd,)
The tother party off the swerd,
Wych ys sharp, & whet ful kene,
To wonde, & hurte, & parte atwene,
And ful mortally to byte:
Spareth nat ther-with to smyte,
Lyk as ye may, by your power.
Punysshen the spyryt ye shal also;
As thus: taketh good hed ther-to:
In dyuers caas ye mot consydre,
And peysen euery thyng to-gydre:
Yiff he be proud or obstynat,
Dysobeyynge or ellaat,
Hys trespace to amende,
And ne lyst nat to entende
To be redressed by meeknesse,
And, thorgh pryde or Frowardnesse,
Wyl takë no correccïon.
Than may yow (in conclusyon)
Tornen (to maken hym afferd,)
The tother party off the swerd,
Wych ys sharp, & whet ful kene,
To wonde, & hurte, & parte atwene,
And ful mortally to byte:
Spareth nat ther-with to smyte,
Lyk as ye may, by your power.
‘Wherfor doth iustly your dever
To smyte & hurte, for punysshyng,
By the sharpe strook of cursyng;
ffor wounde nor hurte ys noon so fel
Nor noon so mortal nor cruel
Nor mor peryllous to be drad;
ffor Remedy may noone be had,
Nouther salue, That soor to sownde
But by hym that gaff the wounde,
Or by A-nother (in certeyn)
That ys a-bove, mor souereyn,
Wych hath an hand, power, & myght,
Hym to recure, (of verray ryght,)
Serche the soor with-Inne & oute.
Wherfore he sholde gretly doute,
That so ys hurt, as I ha told,
Wherso be he yong or old.
To smyte & hurte, for punysshyng,
By the sharpe strook of cursyng;
ffor wounde nor hurte ys noon so fel
Nor noon so mortal nor cruel
Nor mor peryllous to be drad;
ffor Remedy may noone be had,
Nouther salue, That soor to sownde
But by hym that gaff the wounde,
Or by A-nother (in certeyn)
That ys a-bove, mor souereyn,
Wych hath an hand, power, & myght,
Hym to recure, (of verray ryght,)
Serche the soor with-Inne & oute.
Wherfore he sholde gretly doute,
69
Wherso be he yong or old.
Exaumple off the pereyl off cursyng.
And to purpos in especyal:
Yt fyl that oon offycyal
In-to a gardyn onys wente,
To gadre cheryes off entente,
The fayrest that he koudë se,
And clamb ful hih vp on A tre.
But shortly, in hys comyng doun,
Yt ffyl thus, (in conclusyon,)
That a braunche hys surplys hente,
And the cloth a-sonder Rente,
Wher-of in hert he wex ful wroth;
And, or he any ferther goth,
Thus he seyde vn-to the tre,
“Now,” quod he, “cursyd mote thow be!”
And wente hym forth, fer nor ner,
Tyl vn-to the nextë yer,
To gadre cheryssh he kam a-geyn,
And found the tre drye & bareyn.
Off wych thyng he wex al sad,
And in hys hertë no thyng glad,
Whan he remembrede how that he
Hadde a-forn cursyd that Tre.
Wher-of he repenteth sore,
And, with-outen any more
He seyde, (or he ferther wente,)
“I the assoylle, in myn entente.
God wot, I mentë no thyng so,
So gretë vengaunce to ha do:
I ha mysdon; for-gyue yt me,
ffor the dyffaute was nat in the.
My-sylff, I may the Rentyng whyte,
I knowe yt wel, & the aquyte.”
And after the absolucyon
Yt bar cheryes gret Foyson,
Laden with frut fynaly,
ffor tweyne, yt bar almost twenty;
And heet hys fullë with glad cher,
Affter, euere, fro yer to yer;
And neuere forgate, in hys lyvyng,
The sentencë off hys cursyng;
ffor swych thyng, so as semeth me,
Shulde nat lightly forgetyn be.
Yt fyl that oon offycyal
In-to a gardyn onys wente,
To gadre cheryes off entente,
The fayrest that he koudë se,
And clamb ful hih vp on A tre.
But shortly, in hys comyng doun,
Yt ffyl thus, (in conclusyon,)
That a braunche hys surplys hente,
And the cloth a-sonder Rente,
Wher-of in hert he wex ful wroth;
And, or he any ferther goth,
Thus he seyde vn-to the tre,
“Now,” quod he, “cursyd mote thow be!”
And wente hym forth, fer nor ner,
Tyl vn-to the nextë yer,
To gadre cheryssh he kam a-geyn,
And found the tre drye & bareyn.
Off wych thyng he wex al sad,
And in hys hertë no thyng glad,
Whan he remembrede how that he
Hadde a-forn cursyd that Tre.
Wher-of he repenteth sore,
And, with-outen any more
He seyde, (or he ferther wente,)
“I the assoylle, in myn entente.
God wot, I mentë no thyng so,
So gretë vengaunce to ha do:
I ha mysdon; for-gyue yt me,
ffor the dyffaute was nat in the.
My-sylff, I may the Rentyng whyte,
I knowe yt wel, & the aquyte.”
And after the absolucyon
Yt bar cheryes gret Foyson,
70
ffor tweyne, yt bar almost twenty;
And heet hys fullë with glad cher,
Affter, euere, fro yer to yer;
And neuere forgate, in hys lyvyng,
The sentencë off hys cursyng;
ffor swych thyng, so as semeth me,
Shulde nat lightly forgetyn be.
‘ffor they be foolys, in certeyn,
That Reklesly of cursyng seyn,
How that a man that cursyd be,
That afferme of skorn, that he
Hath hetyn hys sawle of whytë bred.
Off curs they take so lytel heed,
Havyng no Reward, Thorgh ther synne,
How the soule that ys with-Inne
Ys off gostly frut, certeyn,
Wonder drye, and ek bareyn,
By the swerd of curs confoundyd,
And so mortally ywoundyd,
That yt may profyt neuer a dele
To berë frut (who lokë wel,)
Of vertu, (I yow ensure,)
ffor that yt lakketh moysture
Off grace, wherby, (who kan espye,)
Al vertuës fructefye.
That Reklesly of cursyng seyn,
How that a man that cursyd be,
That afferme of skorn, that he
Hath hetyn hys sawle of whytë bred.
Off curs they take so lytel heed,
Havyng no Reward, Thorgh ther synne,
How the soule that ys with-Inne
Ys off gostly frut, certeyn,
Wonder drye, and ek bareyn,
By the swerd of curs confoundyd,
And so mortally ywoundyd,
That yt may profyt neuer a dele
To berë frut (who lokë wel,)
Of vertu, (I yow ensure,)
ffor that yt lakketh moysture
Off grace, wherby, (who kan espye,)
Al vertuës fructefye.
‘ffor wych, folk sholdë taken hede,
The swerd of cursynge for to drede.
I menë as thus specyally,
Whan ther ys causë iustly why,
And he that doth yt, hath power
To execute yt fer & ner,
By ordynarye auctoryte.
But yet to-forn (yt semeth me)
He sholde consydren (in hys syth)
Whan that he smyte, he smyte of ryht,
And that hys causë be notáble
Or he procede to be vengable.
ffor, I telle yow sykerly,
No man ne smyteth duelly,
With the sharpë for to kerue,
But he to-forn ful wel obserue
That he ferst with the platte assay,
In goodly wysë, what he may,
Al that ys mys, for to redresse:
ffor by the platte, I ther expresse
Off thys swerd, and specefye,
Prudent a-wys in prelacye,
With good & trewe avysëment.
The swerd of cursynge for to drede.
I menë as thus specyally,
Whan ther ys causë iustly why,
And he that doth yt, hath power
To execute yt fer & ner,
By ordynarye auctoryte.
But yet to-forn (yt semeth me)
He sholde consydren (in hys syth)
Whan that he smyte, he smyte of ryht,
And that hys causë be notáble
Or he procede to be vengable.
ffor, I telle yow sykerly,
No man ne smyteth duelly,
71
But he to-forn ful wel obserue
That he ferst with the platte assay,
In goodly wysë, what he may,
Al that ys mys, for to redresse:
ffor by the platte, I ther expresse
Off thys swerd, and specefye,
Prudent a-wys in prelacye,
With good & trewe avysëment.
‘And fyrst, that he, in good entent,
By trewë Ammonycyon
And fructuous predicacyon,
Or he smyte by violence,
To letë passë the sentence,
The evele to smyten in sparynge,
And spare hem also in smytynge.
Thys was of Ihesu the doctryne,
In whom lyth al the medycyne
Off deth, whan men be woundyd so.
By trewë Ammonycyon
And fructuous predicacyon,
Or he smyte by violence,
To letë passë the sentence,
The evele to smyten in sparynge,
And spare hem also in smytynge.
Thys was of Ihesu the doctryne,
In whom lyth al the medycyne
Off deth, whan men be woundyd so.
‘And taketh alway heed her-to,
To vse the plattë, nyh & ferre,
Whan ye se your sogettys erre,
Alder-fyrst; I menë thus,
With doctrynë vertuous
Techë, preche, & so begynne
ffor to make hem leve ther synne.
To vse the plattë, nyh & ferre,
Whan ye se your sogettys erre,
Alder-fyrst; I menë thus,
With doctrynë vertuous
Techë, preche, & so begynne
ffor to make hem leve ther synne.
Yiff ye may folkys so recure
That be woundyd, I yow ensure,
Ther grevous woundys to allegge,
Bet ys the plattë than the egge.
ffor echë leche that wel kan werche,
Namly lechys of the cherche,
That han manhys sowle in cure
With plat they sholdë fyrst recure,
Rather than with the sharpë wounde,
By ther charge, as they ar bounde.
That be woundyd, I yow ensure,
Ther grevous woundys to allegge,
Bet ys the plattë than the egge.
ffor echë leche that wel kan werche,
Namly lechys of the cherche,
That han manhys sowle in cure
With plat they sholdë fyrst recure,
Rather than with the sharpë wounde,
72
‘Now haue ye herde & ye lyst se
How ye shal vsen allë thre,
The plat, the sharpe, & eke the poynt,
I haue yow told, fro poynt to poynt;
And rehersyd ek also
In divers caas how ye shal do;
Somtyme Iugë by vengaunce,
Somme punysshë by penaunce,
Entrete sommë with ffayrnesse,
Somme chastysë with sharpnesse,
And for that skyle, the swerd, ywys,
Ys y-callyd Versatylis;
Wych ys to seyn, (oute of doute,)
A thyng that men mowe torne abowte,
Now the platte, (who kan take hede,)
And the sharpe, whan yt ys nede.
How ye shal vsen allë thre,
The plat, the sharpe, & eke the poynt,
I haue yow told, fro poynt to poynt;
And rehersyd ek also
In divers caas how ye shal do;
Somtyme Iugë by vengaunce,
Somme punysshë by penaunce,
Entrete sommë with ffayrnesse,
Somme chastysë with sharpnesse,
And for that skyle, the swerd, ywys,
Ys y-callyd Versatylis;
Wych ys to seyn, (oute of doute,)
A thyng that men mowe torne abowte,
Now the platte, (who kan take hede,)
And the sharpe, whan yt ys nede.
‘And for thys skyles, off resoun
Yt ys yput in your bandoun,
Ay to be redy, (as yt ys skyle,)
ffor to tourne yt at your wyl.
Ther-to ye han power & myght,
As the caas wyl suffre off ryht,
Off verray trouthe & equyte.
Yt ys yput in your bandoun,
Ay to be redy, (as yt ys skyle,)
ffor to tourne yt at your wyl.
Ther-to ye han power & myght,
As the caas wyl suffre off ryht,
Off verray trouthe & equyte.
‘And for that skylë, sothly ye,
That in yow ther be no blame,
Therfor ye trewly ber the name
Cherubin, fful of scyence
And off dyvynë sapyence,
ffor mysterye that ys ther-In.
That in yow ther be no blame,
Therfor ye trewly ber the name
Cherubin, fful of scyence
And off dyvynë sapyence,
ffor mysterye that ys ther-In.
‘ffor yiff ye wer nat Cherubin,
Thys to seyne, in your werkyng
Yiff ye ne haue nat ful konnyng,
Ye myghte do ful gret outrage,
Ryght gret harme, & gret damage;
In stede off the platte & pleyn,
Tournen the sharpë egge in veyn
Correcte a causë grene & newe,
Deme, or ye the trouthë knewe,
Off hast, with-outë good a-vys,
Wych ys contrayre to your offys.
ffor in the hand (yif yt be souht,)
Off a fool that kan ryght nowht,
A swerd ne sholdë nat be take,
Ryghtful doomys for to make;
And in the hand off men yrous,
To take a swerd ys peryllous.
ffor thys swerd (yiff ye takë hede,)
Was bryht brennyng as the glede
On euery part & euery syde,
With flawme perpetuelly tabyde,
To yow ytake, (take hed ther-to,)
Off Grace Dieu nat longe ago.
And cause why, of the brennyng,
Yiff ye lyst to have knowelichyng,
Was, that ye sholde, lyk your degre
Ben ay in love & charyte;
ffor loue brennyng in your desyr
Ys shewyd by the bryghtë fyr;
And so to speke, in wordys fewe,
Ye sholde alway your syluen shewe
Thys to seyne, in your werkyng
Yiff ye ne haue nat ful konnyng,
Ye myghte do ful gret outrage,
Ryght gret harme, & gret damage;
In stede off the platte & pleyn,
Tournen the sharpë egge in veyn
Correcte a causë grene & newe,
Deme, or ye the trouthë knewe,
Off hast, with-outë good a-vys,
73
ffor in the hand (yif yt be souht,)
Off a fool that kan ryght nowht,
A swerd ne sholdë nat be take,
Ryghtful doomys for to make;
And in the hand off men yrous,
To take a swerd ys peryllous.
ffor thys swerd (yiff ye takë hede,)
Was bryht brennyng as the glede
On euery part & euery syde,
With flawme perpetuelly tabyde,
To yow ytake, (take hed ther-to,)
Off Grace Dieu nat longe ago.
And cause why, of the brennyng,
Yiff ye lyst to have knowelichyng,
Was, that ye sholde, lyk your degre
Ben ay in love & charyte;
ffor loue brennyng in your desyr
Ys shewyd by the bryghtë fyr;
And so to speke, in wordys fewe,
Ye sholde alway your syluen shewe
Wyth cherysshyng ffyr of plesaunce;
ffor, yt wer a great meschaunce
Yff Ire, in stede of charyte,
Brent your hertys, (as semeth me.)
Swych ragë ffyr (shortly to telle,)
Was kyndlyd ffyrst, and kam from helle,
And to your swerd, I dar Recorde,
Noon swych fyr may nat accorde.
ffor, yt wer a great meschaunce
Yff Ire, in stede of charyte,
Brent your hertys, (as semeth me.)
Swych ragë ffyr (shortly to telle,)
Was kyndlyd ffyrst, and kam from helle,
And to your swerd, I dar Recorde,
Noon swych fyr may nat accorde.
‘Now haue I told (ye sen yt wel,)
Touchyng thys swerd euerydel;
Why ye yt bere, & skylë why.
ffor ye be porterys verrayly
Off the rewme of Paradys,
Lych cherubin, prudent & wys.
And the keyes ye han also
To shette the gatys, & vndo;
With-outë yow ther entreth noon,
Nor may in at the gaatys gon,
With-Inne to haue hys mansyoun.
Touchyng thys swerd euerydel;
Why ye yt bere, & skylë why.
ffor ye be porterys verrayly
Off the rewme of Paradys,
Lych cherubin, prudent & wys.
And the keyes ye han also
To shette the gatys, & vndo;
74
Nor may in at the gaatys gon,
With-Inne to haue hys mansyoun.
‘Seyn Peter (of entencyoun)
Hath mad yow (yiff ye vnderstonde,)
Hys vnderlegatys, ther to stonde,
To kepe the passage & entre;
And at the gatë for to se
Trussellys, ffardellys, in that place.
Or any marchaunt in may passe,
He mvste vntrusse hem & vnbynde,
That no thyng be lefft be-hynde.
How sore aforn that they yt close,
ye muste hem make yt to vnclose
By trewë reuelacyon
And enter confessyon.
Hath mad yow (yiff ye vnderstonde,)
Hys vnderlegatys, ther to stonde,
To kepe the passage & entre;
And at the gatë for to se
Trussellys, ffardellys, in that place.
Or any marchaunt in may passe,
He mvste vntrusse hem & vnbynde,
That no thyng be lefft be-hynde.
How sore aforn that they yt close,
ye muste hem make yt to vnclose
By trewë reuelacyon
And enter confessyon.
‘Wherfor tak kep, & beth ryht wys,
And seth to-forn, by good a-vys,
The swerd, the keyës ek also,
How ye ha take hem bothë two;
And lat noon passë, (loketh wel,)
But he vnclosë hys fardel.
And also that ye wel provyde
To cerche hem wel on euery syde,
Thys synful folk, with pakkys large.
Beth besy ay, hem to dyscharge;
And weyeth wysly in balaunce,
Consydryng euery circumstaunce,
By good delyberacyon
Demynge, in your dyscrecyon,
Your verray name, & what ye hihte.
And consydreth in your syhte,
To dyscerne, in euery place,
Affter the gylt & the trespace,
To chargë synnerys, & constreyne,
Mekly for to suffre peyne,
And enioyne hem ther penaunce.
And seth to-forn, by good a-vys,
The swerd, the keyës ek also,
How ye ha take hem bothë two;
And lat noon passë, (loketh wel,)
But he vnclosë hys fardel.
And also that ye wel provyde
To cerche hem wel on euery syde,
Thys synful folk, with pakkys large.
Beth besy ay, hem to dyscharge;
And weyeth wysly in balaunce,
Consydryng euery circumstaunce,
By good delyberacyon
Demynge, in your dyscrecyon,
Your verray name, & what ye hihte.
And consydreth in your syhte,
To dyscerne, in euery place,
Affter the gylt & the trespace,
To chargë synnerys, & constreyne,
Mekly for to suffre peyne,
And enioyne hem ther penaunce.
‘And whan ye sen ther répentaunce
Ye may to swych, erly & late,
Opne duëly the gate
Off Paradys, of verray ryht,
By iustë tytle, thorgh your myght.
Ye may to swych, erly & late,
Opne duëly the gate
75
By iustë tytle, thorgh your myght.
‘Lo, her the sygnyfycacion,
And trewë demonstracion
Off swerd & keyës, bothe yfere,
Shortly, (yiff ye lyst to lere,)
I ouerpasse & late yt gon,
By-causë folkys many on
Han her-to-forn (who lokë wel,)
Declaryd the mater euerydel,
And what they tokne in ther wrytyng:
Consydreth thys in euery thyng;
Looke that ye yow nat excuse
Your offyce trewly for to vse,
So as ye ouhtë dyscretly.’
And trewë demonstracion
Off swerd & keyës, bothe yfere,
Shortly, (yiff ye lyst to lere,)
I ouerpasse & late yt gon,
By-causë folkys many on
Han her-to-forn (who lokë wel,)
Declaryd the mater euerydel,
And what they tokne in ther wrytyng:
Consydreth thys in euery thyng;
Looke that ye yow nat excuse
Your offyce trewly for to vse,
So as ye ouhtë dyscretly.’
[The Pilgrim.]
And whan that Resoun fynally
Hadde told hyr tale, I herde al wel,
And consydred euerydel,
Talent I hadde, & gret desyr
To haue that swerdë, bryht as ffyr,
And the keyës eke y-ffere,
Off entent (as ye shal here,)
That I myghte ben an huissher,
Or at the gate a porter,
The passage to kepe of ryht
Ther-on tawaytë day & nyht:
This fantasye fyl in my thouht;
But, God wot, I wystë nouht,
Nor knewe ful lytel (at the leste),
What was the ffyn of my requeste,
Nor took but lytel heed ther-to.
Hadde told hyr tale, I herde al wel,
And consydred euerydel,
Talent I hadde, & gret desyr
To haue that swerdë, bryht as ffyr,
And the keyës eke y-ffere,
Off entent (as ye shal here,)
That I myghte ben an huissher,
Or at the gate a porter,
The passage to kepe of ryht
Ther-on tawaytë day & nyht:
This fantasye fyl in my thouht;
But, God wot, I wystë nouht,
Nor knewe ful lytel (at the leste),
What was the ffyn of my requeste,
Nor took but lytel heed ther-to.
And offtë tyme yt falleth so,
That A man hath wyl ta thyng
Wych neuere ys brouht to noon endyng,
As men may offtë sythës se.
ffor yiff the sonys of zebedee
Hadde madd ther askyng ryhtfully
They hadde ben herd ful hastyly:
Off ther askyng, (as ye may lere,)
And off al that they gan requere,
Yt was ytornyd other wyse
Than they, aforën, gan devyse:
In the gospel ye may yt se
That A man hath wyl ta thyng
76
As men may offtë sythës se.
ffor yiff the sonys of zebedee
Hadde madd ther askyng ryhtfully
They hadde ben herd ful hastyly:
Off ther askyng, (as ye may lere,)
And off al that they gan requere,
Yt was ytornyd other wyse
Than they, aforën, gan devyse:
In the gospel ye may yt se
And evene lyk yt ffyl of me,
Whan I to Moyses gan gon,
Besechyng hym that he, A-noon
Woldë graunte, lyk myn askyng,
The swerd and keyes to my kepyng,
Off hem frely to haue vsage,
ffor to kepen the passage.
Whan I to Moyses gan gon,
Besechyng hym that he, A-noon
Woldë graunte, lyk myn askyng,
The swerd and keyes to my kepyng,
Off hem frely to haue vsage,
ffor to kepen the passage.
But whan that he had herd me wel,
He fulfyllede neuereadel
Lych the purpos of myn askyng,
Nor thentent off my thynkyng:
The swerd he took me in myn hond,
But (as ye shal vnderstond,)
Commyttyd so to my depoos
That yt was alway styllë cloos
In the skawberk, as I ha sayd,
Wheroff I was nat wel apayyd.
The keyës also, stronge & wel
Bounde & closyd vnder seel;
And al was don off hih prudence,
That I sholde hauë no lycence
To vsen hem at lyberte,
But yiff I hadde auctoryte
ffrom hem that hadden al the charge.
ffor yiff I vsede hem at large
Mor than my power was or ys,
As I was tauht, I dyde amys.
Wher-off I was, ay mor & more
Abaysshed, & astonyd sore,
And specyally (to speke in pleyn,)
That I to-forn haddë nat seyn
Som other folk yboundë so,
In cas semblable as I was tho;
Thynkyng (in myn entencyoun)
That I woldë to Resoun
Holden my way, off hyre tenquere,
And the causë iustly lere
Off al thys thyng, for mor certeyn;
And thus she Answerde me ageyn:
He fulfyllede neuereadel
Lych the purpos of myn askyng,
Nor thentent off my thynkyng:
The swerd he took me in myn hond,
But (as ye shal vnderstond,)
Commyttyd so to my depoos
That yt was alway styllë cloos
In the skawberk, as I ha sayd,
Wheroff I was nat wel apayyd.
The keyës also, stronge & wel
Bounde & closyd vnder seel;
And al was don off hih prudence,
That I sholde hauë no lycence
To vsen hem at lyberte,
But yiff I hadde auctoryte
ffrom hem that hadden al the charge.
ffor yiff I vsede hem at large
Mor than my power was or ys,
As I was tauht, I dyde amys.
Wher-off I was, ay mor & more
Abaysshed, & astonyd sore,
And specyally (to speke in pleyn,)
77
Som other folk yboundë so,
In cas semblable as I was tho;
Thynkyng (in myn entencyoun)
That I woldë to Resoun
Holden my way, off hyre tenquere,
And the causë iustly lere
Off al thys thyng, for mor certeyn;
And thus she Answerde me ageyn:
Resoun Answerd:
‘My ffayrë ffrend,’ a-noon quod she,
‘Lych as I consydre & se,
Thy wyt ys blont & dul som del,
That thow mayst nat se ryht wel;
And thogh thow haue at skolë be,
Thow hast nat ther (as semeth me,)
Lernyd gret wyt, nor bore a-way;
And specyaly (I dar wel say,)
Thow hast nat lernyd, for al thy wyt,
predicamentum ad aliquid.
ffor thys predicament, sothly,
Hath hys beholdyng (fynaly)
Vnto som other maner thyng
Than to hym sylff, as in werkyng
Makyng (in conclusïon,)
Hys ground & hys fundacyon
Vp-on A-nother grounde, in soth:
Thys predicament alway so doth.
ffor what he hath (tak heed, my brother,)
Nat off hym-sylff, but off a-nother
He taketh yt, to be mor strong,
And to no whiht ne doth no wrong.
‘Lych as I consydre & se,
Thy wyt ys blont & dul som del,
That thow mayst nat se ryht wel;
And thogh thow haue at skolë be,
Thow hast nat ther (as semeth me,)
Lernyd gret wyt, nor bore a-way;
And specyaly (I dar wel say,)
Thow hast nat lernyd, for al thy wyt,
predicamentum ad aliquid.
ffor thys predicament, sothly,
Hath hys beholdyng (fynaly)
Vnto som other maner thyng
Than to hym sylff, as in werkyng
Makyng (in conclusïon,)
Hys ground & hys fundacyon
Vp-on A-nother grounde, in soth:
Thys predicament alway so doth.
ffor what he hath (tak heed, my brother,)
Nat off hym-sylff, but off a-nother
He taketh yt, to be mor strong,
And to no whiht ne doth no wrong.
‘And bere a-way thys in thy thouht,
That yt were ytold for nouht,
But he hys power (to speke in pleyn,)
Tooke off A-nother (in certeyn);
ffor off hym sylff yt may not be.
Exaumple I wyl now lernë the
That with thyn eynë mor clerly
Thow mayst be-holde yt openly.
That yt were ytold for nouht,
But he hys power (to speke in pleyn,)
Tooke off A-nother (in certeyn);
ffor off hym sylff yt may not be.
Exaumple I wyl now lernë the
78
Thow mayst be-holde yt openly.
‘Whan God Almyghty (yiff yt be souht,)
Al thys world hadde maad off nouht,
(As clerkys wel rehersë kan,)
To-forn or he had makyd man,
(Tak hed & lokë prudently,)
He was ycallyd but God only,
Yiff Genesis ne lyë nouht.
But A-noon as man was wrouht,
(Tak hed & markë wel thys word,)
Than was he callyd God & Lord,
In tookne, (who that kan obserue,)
He made a seruaunt hym to serue,
Tho was he Lord, havynge lordshepe.
And yet (who that taketh kepe,)
Hys lordshepe was nat mor at al
As ben thys lordys temporal,
Gretter off domynacyon
Whan they han in subieccyon
Peplys at her lust to-beye:
ffolk ar wont than to seye,
That ther seruauntys & meyne
Yiveth them power & powstee;
So that (in conclusïon,)
Ther myght & domynacyon,
Off ther sogettys fyrst doth sprynge,
And ys engendryd in werkyng.
ffor yiff ther sogettys wer put away,
Ther lordshepe (I dar wel say,)
Sholde faylle, & ther power;
And sogettys, wych they haven her
To serven hem, and to obeye,
Sholde ek fayll, I dar wel seye;
ffor lordshepe pleynly ther wer noon,
Yiff ther seruauntys wer agon.
The name off servaunt ek also,
Yiff that lordshepe wer ago,
Muste ek faylle, as thow mayst se;
ffor nouther party may nat be
With-outen other (yt ys no drede).
Al thys world hadde maad off nouht,
(As clerkys wel rehersë kan,)
To-forn or he had makyd man,
(Tak hed & lokë prudently,)
He was ycallyd but God only,
Yiff Genesis ne lyë nouht.
But A-noon as man was wrouht,
(Tak hed & markë wel thys word,)
Than was he callyd God & Lord,
In tookne, (who that kan obserue,)
He made a seruaunt hym to serue,
Tho was he Lord, havynge lordshepe.
And yet (who that taketh kepe,)
Hys lordshepe was nat mor at al
As ben thys lordys temporal,
Gretter off domynacyon
Whan they han in subieccyon
Peplys at her lust to-beye:
ffolk ar wont than to seye,
That ther seruauntys & meyne
Yiveth them power & powstee;
So that (in conclusïon,)
Ther myght & domynacyon,
Off ther sogettys fyrst doth sprynge,
And ys engendryd in werkyng.
ffor yiff ther sogettys wer put away,
Ther lordshepe (I dar wel say,)
Sholde faylle, & ther power;
And sogettys, wych they haven her
To serven hem, and to obeye,
Sholde ek fayll, I dar wel seye;
ffor lordshepe pleynly ther wer noon,
Yiff ther seruauntys wer agon.
The name off servaunt ek also,
Yiff that lordshepe wer ago,
Muste ek faylle, as thow mayst se;
ffor nouther party may nat be
79
‘By wych exaumple (who taketh hede,)
Lordshepe ys sayd especyally
Off seruauntys; & ek trwly
Seruauntys also namyd be
Off lordshepe, in ther degre.
And thus ys sayd, (haue thys ther-wyth,)
Predicamentum ad aliquid.
ffor eche off other hath gynnyng,
And ys on other dependyng.
Whan the Ton ys, than ys the tother;
ffor yt ne may nat be noon other;
Whan the Ton faylleth, ek also
They muste ffayllë bothë two.
Lordshepe ys sayd especyally
Off seruauntys; & ek trwly
Seruauntys also namyd be
Off lordshepe, in ther degre.
And thus ys sayd, (haue thys ther-wyth,)
Predicamentum ad aliquid.
ffor eche off other hath gynnyng,
And ys on other dependyng.
Whan the Ton ys, than ys the tother;
ffor yt ne may nat be noon other;
Whan the Ton faylleth, ek also
They muste ffayllë bothë two.
Vnderstond wel thys lesson,
How thou art in subieccyon;
Consydre how thow art ysett
Vnder a-nother, and soget
To hym, and mvstest hym obeye
Wych hath also (I dar well saye)
Vpon the(e) Iurediccyon,
Power & domynacyon,
As thy souereyn, what-euere he be.
How thou art in subieccyon;
Consydre how thow art ysett
Vnder a-nother, and soget
To hym, and mvstest hym obeye
Wych hath also (I dar well saye)
Vpon the(e) Iurediccyon,
Power & domynacyon,
As thy souereyn, what-euere he be.
‘But o thyng deceyveth the:
Thow hast no sogetys as hath he;
ffor wych thyng (consydre & se,)
Thow fayllest & art put a-bak.
And in swych caas, thow hast gret lak
To haue the swerd, bryht and cler,
Commyttyd vn-to thy power,
Out of the skawberk, yt to vse.
Yt wer but veyn for the to muse
Ther-vp-on, or gruchche ageyn.
Thow hast no sogetys as hath he;
ffor wych thyng (consydre & se,)
Thow fayllest & art put a-bak.
And in swych caas, thow hast gret lak
To haue the swerd, bryht and cler,
Commyttyd vn-to thy power,
Out of the skawberk, yt to vse.
Yt wer but veyn for the to muse
Ther-vp-on, or gruchche ageyn.
‘The keyës also in certeyn,
Thow mayst nat han hem, nor possede
But vnder seel, (yt ys no dred.)
The swerd also, (yt ys no dovte,)
Yiff that yt wer drawen oute,
Thow sholdest ther-with do ryht nouht.
ffor yiff the trouthë be wel souht,
Thow hast yt nouht in thy demeyne
No thyng for to part at-weyne,
Nouther to keruë nor to smyte.
And shortly, (yiff I shal endyte,)
Bet wer to the, Touchyng swych werk,
To kepe yt cloos in the skauberk
Than folyly thy-sylff to bolde,
Out off the skauberk yt to holde;
ffor ffolkys woldë deme off ryht,
Ther-off whan they hadde a syht,
Yt wer no wysdom, but foly,
And a maner Surquedy,
Whan they be-heldë euerydel,
The keyes nat closyd vnder seel,
Syth thow (with-outen any glose,)
Mayst nouther shettë nor vnclose,
Yt longeth nat to thyn offys.
Thow mayst nat han hem, nor possede
But vnder seel, (yt ys no dred.)
The swerd also, (yt ys no dovte,)
Yiff that yt wer drawen oute,
80
ffor yiff the trouthë be wel souht,
Thow hast yt nouht in thy demeyne
No thyng for to part at-weyne,
Nouther to keruë nor to smyte.
And shortly, (yiff I shal endyte,)
Bet wer to the, Touchyng swych werk,
To kepe yt cloos in the skauberk
Than folyly thy-sylff to bolde,
Out off the skauberk yt to holde;
ffor ffolkys woldë deme off ryht,
Ther-off whan they hadde a syht,
Yt wer no wysdom, but foly,
And a maner Surquedy,
Whan they be-heldë euerydel,
The keyes nat closyd vnder seel,
Syth thow (with-outen any glose,)
Mayst nouther shettë nor vnclose,
Yt longeth nat to thyn offys.
‘ffor wych, lernë to be wys,
And se how they wer taken cloos,
And vnder seel in thy depoos,
Knet & boundë faste & strong,
That thow with hem ne do no wrong.
Thy power ferther doth nat strecche,
Wher-off thow sholdest no thyng rechche,
Yiff thow wer wys, as semeth me.
And se how they wer taken cloos,
And vnder seel in thy depoos,
Knet & boundë faste & strong,
That thow with hem ne do no wrong.
Thy power ferther doth nat strecche,
Wher-off thow sholdest no thyng rechche,
Yiff thow wer wys, as semeth me.
‘And Tak also good heed, & se,
Off al that I to-forn ha sayd:
Thow sholdest be ryht wel a-payd
Off thy power, & nat ne stryve,
Thogh thow neuere in al thy lyve
Haddest no lordshepe mor at al.
And for to speke in specyal,
Yt ouhte ynowh to the suffyse,
As I shal to the devyse,
Thy-sylff for to gouerne a-ryht,
Dyschargyd off euery other whyht.
Than artow prudent, doutëles;
And for thys skylë, Moyses,—
‘Wych in hys tyme was wys & old,—
Took hem to the, as I ha told,
To fyn only (to speke in pleyn)
That he, as lord & souereyn,
May, whan hym lyst, as thow shalt lere,
Whan that tyme doth yt requere,
The keyës closyd vnder sel,
He may to the vnbyndë wel;
The swerd also, by tytle of lawe,
Makë that thow shalt yt drawe
Out off the skauberk, fer nor ner,
Lych as thow hast off hym power,
Sogett alway to hys sentence
And as the caas graunteth lycence.
Hys power he may commytte
To the, ffro wych thow mayst nat flytte.
ffor as I shal to the devyse,
Yiff thow dydyst other wyse
Thow sholdest offende ful gretly,
Pereyl off deth except only,
Wych ys a cause evydent
That thow mayst wel (& nat be shent,)
The swerd ydrawe, (tak hed her-to,)
And the keyes vnbynde also.
ffor nede & gret necessyte
Lycence grauntyd vnto the
Plentevously, & ek vsage,
Consydryd with the surplusage,
Pre-supposyd ther be no whyht
To whom the offyce sholde of ryht
Appertene off duete.
I menë thus,—tak hede & se;
Marke yt wel in thyn entent,—
That he be nat ther present
Wych halt the swerd (now vnderstond,)
Bare & nakyd in hys hond,
And the keyes vnbounde also,
Off ryht, as he ouhtë do,
Thys he that haueth pleyn power,
(Who kan looke with eyen cler,)
And haueth Iurediccyon
Above, & domynacion,
And ys the ryght ful relatyff,
To whom, with-outë noyse or stryff,
Thow art soget, & vnder put
To hym allone: & trewly, but
Thow hym obeye, thow art Coupable;
ffor yiff thow, in cas semblable,
Haddest sogettys vnder the,
Thow myhtest wel (lyk thy degre,)
Don as he doth in allë thyng,
And fulfyllë in werkyng.
Thanne folwede yt a-noon forth-wyth,
Thy power wer Ad aliquid;
But thow hast noon, (as semeth me,)
Wheroff thow ouhtest glad to be,
And in thyn hertë ful Ioyous.’
Off al that I to-forn ha sayd:
Thow sholdest be ryht wel a-payd
Off thy power, & nat ne stryve,
Thogh thow neuere in al thy lyve
Haddest no lordshepe mor at al.
And for to speke in specyal,
Yt ouhte ynowh to the suffyse,
As I shal to the devyse,
Thy-sylff for to gouerne a-ryht,
Dyschargyd off euery other whyht.
Than artow prudent, doutëles;
And for thys skylë, Moyses,—
81
Took hem to the, as I ha told,
To fyn only (to speke in pleyn)
That he, as lord & souereyn,
May, whan hym lyst, as thow shalt lere,
Whan that tyme doth yt requere,
The keyës closyd vnder sel,
He may to the vnbyndë wel;
The swerd also, by tytle of lawe,
Makë that thow shalt yt drawe
Out off the skauberk, fer nor ner,
Lych as thow hast off hym power,
Sogett alway to hys sentence
And as the caas graunteth lycence.
Hys power he may commytte
To the, ffro wych thow mayst nat flytte.
ffor as I shal to the devyse,
Yiff thow dydyst other wyse
Thow sholdest offende ful gretly,
Pereyl off deth except only,
Wych ys a cause evydent
That thow mayst wel (& nat be shent,)
The swerd ydrawe, (tak hed her-to,)
And the keyes vnbynde also.
ffor nede & gret necessyte
Lycence grauntyd vnto the
Plentevously, & ek vsage,
Consydryd with the surplusage,
Pre-supposyd ther be no whyht
To whom the offyce sholde of ryht
Appertene off duete.
I menë thus,—tak hede & se;
Marke yt wel in thyn entent,—
That he be nat ther present
Wych halt the swerd (now vnderstond,)
Bare & nakyd in hys hond,
And the keyes vnbounde also,
Off ryht, as he ouhtë do,
Thys he that haueth pleyn power,
(Who kan looke with eyen cler,)
82
Above, & domynacion,
And ys the ryght ful relatyff,
To whom, with-outë noyse or stryff,
Thow art soget, & vnder put
To hym allone: & trewly, but
Thow hym obeye, thow art Coupable;
ffor yiff thow, in cas semblable,
Haddest sogettys vnder the,
Thow myhtest wel (lyk thy degre,)
Don as he doth in allë thyng,
And fulfyllë in werkyng.
Thanne folwede yt a-noon forth-wyth,
Thy power wer Ad aliquid;
But thow hast noon, (as semeth me,)
Wheroff thow ouhtest glad to be,
And in thyn hertë ful Ioyous.’
The pylgrym argueth:
‘Ma dame,’ quod I, ‘most vertuous,
(Yiff ye lyst to herë me,)
I have seyn, & alday se,
Som folkys (in conclusyon)
That hadden in subieccïon)
Sogetys noon, nor gouernance,
And yet they dyde hem sylff avaunce,
And wer ther-off no thyng afferd,
Nakyd for to bere the swerd.
To whom also yt ys wel founde
That the keyës wer nat bounde,
But redy euere (beth wel certeyn,)
Tvnshetten & to shette ageyn
Lokkys echon (yt ys wel wyst,)
And entrede whan that euere hem lyst.
At allë tyme they be redy,
Shette and vnshette hardyly.
The cause to me vn-knowen ys;
And yet I dar affermë thys,
They ha no mor power than I;
ffor wych they han, al sodeynly,
83
ffor yiff ther be Relacyoun
Yfoundë there, I dar wel say
That yt ys ystole a-way.’
Resoun Answereth.
Resoun answerde ageyn to me:
‘Take heed and vnderstond,’ quod she,
‘The Formere off the high hevene,
And maker off the Sterres Sevene
Hath so ordeyned allë thynges,
That they shal, in her meuynges,
Holden ther cours swyfft or soffte,
Lyk as the bodyes hih a-loffte,
Lyst ordeynë, (who kan knowe,)
So that erthly thyngës lowe
Receyvë dysposicyons
Off hem, & ek impressiouns,
To be gouernyd (in sentence)
Affter the hevenly influence,
Dyversly, ech in hys kynde,
Who the causys kan out fynde
Off ther dyuers mocyouns
Thorgh naturel Inclynaciouns.
‘Take heed and vnderstond,’ quod she,
‘The Formere off the high hevene,
And maker off the Sterres Sevene
Hath so ordeyned allë thynges,
That they shal, in her meuynges,
Holden ther cours swyfft or soffte,
Lyk as the bodyes hih a-loffte,
Lyst ordeynë, (who kan knowe,)
So that erthly thyngës lowe
Receyvë dysposicyons
Off hem, & ek impressiouns,
To be gouernyd (in sentence)
Affter the hevenly influence,
Dyversly, ech in hys kynde,
Who the causys kan out fynde
Off ther dyuers mocyouns
Thorgh naturel Inclynaciouns.
Yet for al thys, yt lettyth nouht,
But that the Lord, wych al hath wrouht,
Hath lordshepë sovereyne,
What hym lyketh to ordeyne,
As the Lord most pryncypal
With-outen any mene at al:
In heuene, Erthe, or in the se,
So as hym lyst, yt mustë be.
Off hevenly bodyes cyrculer,
He stant no thyng in ther daunger;
But he may do, thys myghty kyng,
What-euere hym lyst, in hys werkyng,
hih a-loffte, & her don lowe,
Thogh the hevene no-thyng knowe
The Influence of hys power,
Wych ys so myghty & entér,
That no whyht may yt comprehende
‘How fer hys power doth extende,
Was neuere yet noon so gret clerk.
But that the Lord, wych al hath wrouht,
Hath lordshepë sovereyne,
What hym lyketh to ordeyne,
As the Lord most pryncypal
With-outen any mene at al:
In heuene, Erthe, or in the se,
So as hym lyst, yt mustë be.
Off hevenly bodyes cyrculer,
He stant no thyng in ther daunger;
But he may do, thys myghty kyng,
What-euere hym lyst, in hys werkyng,
hih a-loffte, & her don lowe,
Thogh the hevene no-thyng knowe
The Influence of hys power,
Wych ys so myghty & entér,
That no whyht may yt comprehende
84
Was neuere yet noon so gret clerk.
‘And thogh the heuene, touchyng his wark
Hadde any maner knowelychyng
To comprehendyn hys werkyng,
Yt sholdë nat so hardy be
To gruchche ageyn hys deyete.
But I speke in wordys pleyn,
Humblely with Davyd seyn
Touchyng hys myght wych doth excelle,
‘Lat the heuene hys glorie telle,
Hys laude, hys honour, & preysyng,
And yive worshepe to hys werkyng.
And also (in hys best entent)
Lat also the fyrmament
Hys handwerk devoutly preyse,
And day-by-day hys honour Reyse
In laude & prys ful many fold.’
Hadde any maner knowelychyng
To comprehendyn hys werkyng,
Yt sholdë nat so hardy be
To gruchche ageyn hys deyete.
But I speke in wordys pleyn,
Humblely with Davyd seyn
Touchyng hys myght wych doth excelle,
‘Lat the heuene hys glorie telle,
Hys laude, hys honour, & preysyng,
And yive worshepe to hys werkyng.
And also (in hys best entent)
Lat also the fyrmament
Hys handwerk devoutly preyse,
And day-by-day hys honour Reyse
In laude & prys ful many fold.’
‘But causë why that I ha told
Thys thyng to the thus, by-&-by,
I shal reherse the cause her why.
The hihë hornyd, most holy,
Callyd in erthë comounly
Off God the chosë cheff vyker,
And hys placë kepeth her,
And doth yt pleynly occupye,—
The wych, no man wyl denye;—
Yet thogh thys vyker, aboue echon
Haue power off yore agon,
Aboven euerych other whyht,
And wolde the cours (of verray ryht)
Off hys myghty excellence
Wher doun shad by influence
To other lowere of degre
Commytted from hys souereyn se,
Whom he ordeyneth her & yonder
By commyssyon to be vnder
Hys high power by Ordynaunce
For to haven Governaunce
(Who that kan the trouthë seke)
‘To bere the swerd, and keyës eke,
So that by her dyscrecion
And prudent mediacyon
All thynge vnder ther myghte
Wer gouernyd wel by Ryht,
Wych to hem dooth apertene
Vnder entent pur & clene,
Affter the bond off ther offys.
Thys thyng to the thus, by-&-by,
I shal reherse the cause her why.
The hihë hornyd, most holy,
Callyd in erthë comounly
Off God the chosë cheff vyker,
And hys placë kepeth her,
And doth yt pleynly occupye,—
The wych, no man wyl denye;—
Yet thogh thys vyker, aboue echon
Haue power off yore agon,
Aboven euerych other whyht,
And wolde the cours (of verray ryht)
Off hys myghty excellence
Wher doun shad by influence
To other lowere of degre
Commytted from hys souereyn se,
Whom he ordeyneth her & yonder
By commyssyon to be vnder
Hys high power by Ordynaunce
For to haven Governaunce
(Who that kan the trouthë seke)
85
So that by her dyscrecion
And prudent mediacyon
All thynge vnder ther myghte
Wer gouernyd wel by Ryht,
Wych to hem dooth apertene
Vnder entent pur & clene,
Affter the bond off ther offys.
‘But nat for-thy, yet for al thys,
Ther ys no causë but that he
Wych that hath the souereynte,
The cheff vyker above echon,
Off verray ryght, & other noon,
Ys curat (in conclusïoun,
With-oute al mediacïoun,)
Ouer crystys folkys alle.
Yt may noon other-wysë falle,
Off verray ryght, I the ensure.
Al-be that he, vnder hys cure
Haue set by hy commyssyon,
Somme folkys of relygyon,
Hys offys to excersyce
Vnder hym in sondry wyse;
Hem establysshed, with power large,
ffor to helpe hym ber hys charge;
In hys name, or elles nouht
ffor what they do, or what ys wrouht,
ffro hym the power ys descendyd,
The wrong by hym mot be amendyd,
Yiff ther be any in ther werkyng.
Ther ys no causë but that he
Wych that hath the souereynte,
The cheff vyker above echon,
Off verray ryght, & other noon,
Ys curat (in conclusïoun,
With-oute al mediacïoun,)
Ouer crystys folkys alle.
Yt may noon other-wysë falle,
Off verray ryght, I the ensure.
Al-be that he, vnder hys cure
Haue set by hy commyssyon,
Somme folkys of relygyon,
Hys offys to excersyce
Vnder hym in sondry wyse;
Hem establysshed, with power large,
ffor to helpe hym ber hys charge;
In hys name, or elles nouht
ffor what they do, or what ys wrouht,
ffro hym the power ys descendyd,
The wrong by hym mot be amendyd,
Yiff ther be any in ther werkyng.
‘And therfore, touchyng thys thyng,
(To seyn shortly, & nat tarye,)
They be nat but ordynarye,
Commyttyd, ther offys for to do,
Thogh thow sest hem bothë two
Ber swerd And keyës in ther hond
Naked & vnclosyd; yet vnderstond,
They ha nat stole hem, fer nor ner,
ffor they haddë pleyn power
Off the vyker pryncypal,
‘Wych aboue gouerneth al,
That gaff to hem ther power with
Predicamentum ad aliquid.
They tooke yt (who consydereth al)
Off hys gyffte in especyal;
And whan hym lyst, (yt ys no nay)
He may ageyn take yt away,
Whan that he seth tyme & place.
ffor thyng that grauntyd ys off grace
May be Restreyned efft ageyn
In many caas, be wel certeyn.
And thogh thow haue no swyche power,
Thow sholdest, with al thyn herte enter,
To Ihesu Cryst, in thyn entent,
Thanke of that he hath the sent;
fferther nat medle than thyn offys;
ffor I holde, he ys nat wys,
That in medlyng ys mor large
Than the boundys of hys charge.’
(To seyn shortly, & nat tarye,)
They be nat but ordynarye,
Commyttyd, ther offys for to do,
Thogh thow sest hem bothë two
Ber swerd And keyës in ther hond
Naked & vnclosyd; yet vnderstond,
They ha nat stole hem, fer nor ner,
ffor they haddë pleyn power
Off the vyker pryncypal,
86
That gaff to hem ther power with
Predicamentum ad aliquid.
They tooke yt (who consydereth al)
Off hys gyffte in especyal;
And whan hym lyst, (yt ys no nay)
He may ageyn take yt away,
Whan that he seth tyme & place.
ffor thyng that grauntyd ys off grace
May be Restreyned efft ageyn
In many caas, be wel certeyn.
And thogh thow haue no swyche power,
Thow sholdest, with al thyn herte enter,
To Ihesu Cryst, in thyn entent,
Thanke of that he hath the sent;
fferther nat medle than thyn offys;
ffor I holde, he ys nat wys,
That in medlyng ys mor large
Than the boundys of hys charge.’
Off the Sacrament off the Awhter:
And whan thys lady, Dame Reson,
Touchyng myn oppynyon,
Hadde declaryd vnto me,
Ryht forth-with I dydë se,
(As I be-held tho douteles,)
That the hornyd Moyses
Shope hym Ryght as any lyne
To make redy & go dyne,
And hys mete ek redy make.
And tho, good heed I gan take
How hys mete (pleynly to deme,)
Was other than yt dydë seme;
And off ó thyng, as I took heed,
Ther was no thyng but wyn & bred,
The wych wer nat to hys entent;
ffor tho he haddë gret talent
To etyn fflesshe, in hys delyt,
And blood ek in hys appetyt,
ffor to dyfface the oldë lawe,
And the Ryytys ther-off with-drawe;
Wych lawe (as I vnderstood,)
Bad men they sholde ete no blood.
But Moyses—in hys entent,
Contrayre to that comandement,
To helpyn hym Among hem alle,—
Grace Dieu be-gan to calle;
And she kam forth A-noon ryht.
Touchyng myn oppynyon,
Hadde declaryd vnto me,
Ryht forth-with I dydë se,
(As I be-held tho douteles,)
That the hornyd Moyses
Shope hym Ryght as any lyne
To make redy & go dyne,
And hys mete ek redy make.
And tho, good heed I gan take
How hys mete (pleynly to deme,)
Was other than yt dydë seme;
And off ó thyng, as I took heed,
Ther was no thyng but wyn & bred,
The wych wer nat to hys entent;
ffor tho he haddë gret talent
To etyn fflesshe, in hys delyt,
And blood ek in hys appetyt,
ffor to dyfface the oldë lawe,
And the Ryytys ther-off with-drawe;
87
Bad men they sholde ete no blood.
But Moyses—in hys entent,
Contrayre to that comandement,
To helpyn hym Among hem alle,—
Grace Dieu be-gan to calle;
And she kam forth A-noon ryht.
And ther I sawh a wonder syht,
Mor merveyllous than euere aforn
I hadde seyn syth I was born.
ffor ther I sawh, (as I took heed,)
In-to Rawh fflesshë, tornyd bred;
Grace Dieu ordeynede yt so.
And wyn (I took good heed ther-to,)
Was tornyd ek in-to Red blood.
The wych (so as I vnderstood,)
Sempte of a lambe, as thouhtë me.
And, as A man curteys & fre,
Hys offycerys he gan calle,
And bad they sholdë komen alle
Vn-to dyner; & ek hem tolde
The maner hooly how they sholde
Han myght & power enterly
ffor to maken al redy
The dyner al so wel as he,
At duë tyme, in ther degre.
Mor merveyllous than euere aforn
I hadde seyn syth I was born.
ffor ther I sawh, (as I took heed,)
In-to Rawh fflesshë, tornyd bred;
Grace Dieu ordeynede yt so.
And wyn (I took good heed ther-to,)
Was tornyd ek in-to Red blood.
The wych (so as I vnderstood,)
Sempte of a lambe, as thouhtë me.
And, as A man curteys & fre,
Hys offycerys he gan calle,
And bad they sholdë komen alle
Vn-to dyner; & ek hem tolde
The maner hooly how they sholde
Han myght & power enterly
ffor to maken al redy
The dyner al so wel as he,
At duë tyme, in ther degre.
And as they weryn at dyner,
To hem he gaff pleynly power
To maken (in conclusïon)
That merveyllous mutacion,
Bred in-to flesshe, wyn in-to blood.
And off that foode (I vnder-stood)
He Gaff to etyn to hem alle
(Wych to-forn he dydë calle,)
Thys newë metë most vnkouth,
Mynystrng yt in-to ther mouth.
With hem, hym-sylff he heet also,
And of the blood he drank ther-to.
I sawh yt with myn Eyen cler.
But swych a merveyllous dyner
Ne was neuere a-forn yseyn,
Nor neuere (that I herdë seyn,)
Ne was no swych mutacyon,
Nor off so wonderful Renoun.
To hem he gaff pleynly power
To maken (in conclusïon)
That merveyllous mutacion,
Bred in-to flesshe, wyn in-to blood.
And off that foode (I vnder-stood)
He Gaff to etyn to hem alle
(Wych to-forn he dydë calle,)
Thys newë metë most vnkouth,
Mynystrng yt in-to ther mouth.
With hem, hym-sylff he heet also,
And of the blood he drank ther-to.
I sawh yt with myn Eyen cler.
88
Ne was neuere a-forn yseyn,
Nor neuere (that I herdë seyn,)
Ne was no swych mutacyon,
Nor off so wonderful Renoun.
But whan I hadde be-holden al,
I tornede me A-noon with-al
To-ward that lady dame Resoun,
Makynge to hyr thys questyoun:
I tornede me A-noon with-al
To-ward that lady dame Resoun,
Makynge to hyr thys questyoun:
The pylgrym:
‘Ma dame,’ quod I, ‘I yow preye
That ye to me lyst to seye:
What semeth yow, telle on pleynly.’
Resoun koude nat answere.
‘Certys,’ quod she, ‘that wyl not I,
ffor ther-of I kan no thyng;
Yt passeth myn vnderstandyng,
My wyt also, & ek my mynde.
To sen, myn Eyen ben to blynde;
I se no mor ther-off then thow;
And I am so astonyd now,
Mor than euere I was a-fore,
Syth tymë that I was bore.
ffor yiff that she (I dar wel say)
Hadde ymakyd off an Ay
A bryd with ffethres for the flyht,
Or that she haddë, thorgh hyr myght,
Off a lytel barly greyn
Makyd an Er large & pleyn,
Thys ylkede Ornede Moyses,
I wolde han be stylle & in pes,
And ther-off han take noon heed.
But [s]he hath mad Rauwh fflessh of bred,
Wherof I am falle in rage.
And also of that beuerage,
That [s]he hath tornyd wyn to blood,
My sylff beholdyng, ther I stood,
Ageyn the custom of nature.
And trew[ë]ly, I the ensure,
That I shal no lenger dwelle,
89
And sendyn hyre to be A-wreke
To Grace Dieu, with hyr to speke,
With cher boystous, wordys nat ffayre,
Vnto whom she ys contrayre.
ffor she hath, (yiff I shal not lye,)
Off pryde only, & surquedye,
Lyft the custom & vsage,
And off nature the passage
Transcendyd pleynly, & the boundys;
And in dede, ek yt founde ys
That she hath, of force & myght,
Broke hyr franchyse & hyr ryht.’
The Pylgrym:
And whan Resoun hadde told me thys,
Sche A-noon retournyd ys
In-to hyr tour vp hih ageyn.
Sche A-noon retournyd ys
In-to hyr tour vp hih ageyn.
And thanne A-noon, vp-on the pleyn
I sawh a lady off gret age,
The wych gan holden hyr passage
Towardys Gracë Dieu in soth,
And off hyr port I-rous & wroth,
And hyr handys ek of pryde
Sturdyly she sette a syde.
Hyr Eyen ek (I took good hede,)
Brennyng bryht as any glede;
Wonder large off hyr feature,
Trowynge that she was Nature:
And so she was, thys lady old,
ffor Resoun hadde vn-to me told
Hyr maner and condycioun.
And, to myn inspeccïoun,
Sche was redy for to stryve,
ffor Anger dyde hyr hertë Ryve
Atweyne, in purpos for to chyde;
Hyr handys set vnder hyr syde.
I sawh a lady off gret age,
The wych gan holden hyr passage
Towardys Gracë Dieu in soth,
And off hyr port I-rous & wroth,
And hyr handys ek of pryde
Sturdyly she sette a syde.
Hyr Eyen ek (I took good hede,)
Brennyng bryht as any glede;
Wonder large off hyr feature,
Trowynge that she was Nature:
And so she was, thys lady old,
ffor Resoun hadde vn-to me told
Hyr maner and condycioun.
And, to myn inspeccïoun,
Sche was redy for to stryve,
ffor Anger dyde hyr hertë Ryve
Atweyne, in purpos for to chyde;
Hyr handys set vnder hyr syde.
And vn-to Gracë Dieu A-noon
Thys oldë lady ys forth gon;
And Rudly fyrst she gan abrayde,
And vn-to Gracë Dieu she sayde:
‘Dame,’ quod she Right of Entent
‘As yee stonden her present,
Wher-so that yee be leeff or loth,
With youre gouérnaunce I am wroth,
That ye be bold, in any wyse
ffor to medle of my fraunchyse.
And I am kome, as ye may se,
To dyffende my lyberte.
Vn-to yow yt ys nat due
My ordynauncys to remeue.
Record I take off allë wyse,
Yt outhe ynowgh to yow suffyse
The party that ye han ytake,
And no maystryës for to make
In the boundys that I kepe.
Thys oldë lady ys forth gon;
And Rudly fyrst she gan abrayde,
And vn-to Gracë Dieu she sayde:
90
‘As yee stonden her present,
Wher-so that yee be leeff or loth,
With youre gouérnaunce I am wroth,
That ye be bold, in any wyse
ffor to medle of my fraunchyse.
And I am kome, as ye may se,
To dyffende my lyberte.
Vn-to yow yt ys nat due
My ordynauncys to remeue.
Record I take off allë wyse,
Yt outhe ynowgh to yow suffyse
The party that ye han ytake,
And no maystryës for to make
In the boundys that I kepe.
‘ffor, thogh ye han the lordshepe
Off the heuene & euery spere,
And off the sterrys bryht & clere,
And off the planetys hih a-loffte,
Somme swyfft & sommë soffte
Holdyng ther cours & ther mevyng,
And as ye lyst in allë thyng
They stonden all in your demeyne,
Ther cours, as ye lyst, ordeyne.
Ouer hem ye han the souereynte;
And yiff I woldë medle me
Towchyng ther cours, or how they goth,
With me ye woldë be ful wroth,
And my presumpcïon despyse.
And I, ryht in the syluë wyse,
Yiff ye medlede wrongfully
Touchyng the boundys of my party,
Ther to cleyme off me lordshepe,
My fredam I woldë kepe.
Rather than suffren any wrong,
I woldë deye, thogh ye be strong;
‘Trusteth thys ryght wel at al.
Off the heuene & euery spere,
And off the sterrys bryht & clere,
And off the planetys hih a-loffte,
Somme swyfft & sommë soffte
Holdyng ther cours & ther mevyng,
And as ye lyst in allë thyng
They stonden all in your demeyne,
Ther cours, as ye lyst, ordeyne.
Ouer hem ye han the souereynte;
And yiff I woldë medle me
Towchyng ther cours, or how they goth,
With me ye woldë be ful wroth,
And my presumpcïon despyse.
And I, ryht in the syluë wyse,
Yiff ye medlede wrongfully
Touchyng the boundys of my party,
Ther to cleyme off me lordshepe,
My fredam I woldë kepe.
Rather than suffren any wrong,
I woldë deye, thogh ye be strong;
91
‘And declare to yow I shal,
Now that ye & I be met,
The trewë boundys that be set
Atwyxe vs tweyne, syth go ful long,
That noon to other do no wrong;
Wych to yow I shal devyse,
And declarë the fraunchyse
Off outher part, yiff ye lyst lere,
That noon ne medle, fer nor nere,
To have lordshepe off othrys ryht,
Nouther by forcë nor by myght.
Now that ye & I be met,
The trewë boundys that be set
Atwyxe vs tweyne, syth go ful long,
That noon to other do no wrong;
Wych to yow I shal devyse,
And declarë the fraunchyse
Off outher part, yiff ye lyst lere,
That noon ne medle, fer nor nere,
To have lordshepe off othrys ryht,
Nouther by forcë nor by myght.
‘And yiff ye lyst to lerne yt sone,
The cercle off the coldë moone,
Atwyxen yow & me for evere
The boundys trewly doth dysseuere,
And yiveth to euerych hys party;
Yiff ye lyst look Ryghtfully
As I shal declare now:
The hiher part longeth to yow,
Wher ys your lordshepe & your myght,
And ye may ther (off verray ryght)
Maken thyngës fresshe of hewe,
And whan ye lyst, transforme hem newe;
Your power ys so vertuous;
ffor thogh ye madë dame Venus
A best with hornys sharpe & hard,
I wolde ther-to ha no Reward.
And thogh that ye, (yt ys no fayl,)
Off Mercuryë made a snayl
I woldë me nat putte in pres
To gruchche, but kepe me stylle in pes;
ffor ther I cleyme no maner ryht.
The cercle off the coldë moone,
Atwyxen yow & me for evere
The boundys trewly doth dysseuere,
And yiveth to euerych hys party;
Yiff ye lyst look Ryghtfully
As I shal declare now:
The hiher part longeth to yow,
Wher ys your lordshepe & your myght,
And ye may ther (off verray ryght)
Maken thyngës fresshe of hewe,
And whan ye lyst, transforme hem newe;
Your power ys so vertuous;
ffor thogh ye madë dame Venus
A best with hornys sharpe & hard,
I wolde ther-to ha no Reward.
And thogh that ye, (yt ys no fayl,)
Off Mercuryë made a snayl
I woldë me nat putte in pres
To gruchche, but kepe me stylle in pes;
ffor ther I cleyme no maner ryht.
‘But her by-nethe, ys al my myght;
Off ellementys I am maystresse,
Lady also & pryncesse
Off wyndys and inpressyouns,
And makë transmutacyouns,
Many wonder varyance.
‘ffor I ha the gouernaunce
Off fyr, of heyr, (as ye may se,)
Off erthe, and off the largë se,
Off ther accord & ther debate;
I leue no thyng in on estat,
But makë eche thyng, by declyn,
ffor to drawë to hys ffyn.
I make alday thyngës newe
The olde, refresshyng off her hewe.
The erthe I clothë, yer by yer,
And refresshe hym off hys cher
Wyth many colour of delyte,
Blewh & grenë, Red & whyt,
At prymë temps, with many a flour.
And al the soyl, thorgh my fauour
Ys clad of newe; medwe & pleyn
And hillës hih, ek spyce & greyn
I makë to enspyre soote,
And do the bawme, out of the Rote
In-to the crop a-ryse & sprynge.
Off ellementys I am maystresse,
Lady also & pryncesse
Off wyndys and inpressyouns,
And makë transmutacyouns,
Many wonder varyance.
92
Off fyr, of heyr, (as ye may se,)
Off erthe, and off the largë se,
Off ther accord & ther debate;
I leue no thyng in on estat,
But makë eche thyng, by declyn,
ffor to drawë to hys ffyn.
I make alday thyngës newe
The olde, refresshyng off her hewe.
The erthe I clothë, yer by yer,
And refresshe hym off hys cher
Wyth many colour of delyte,
Blewh & grenë, Red & whyt,
At prymë temps, with many a flour.
And al the soyl, thorgh my fauour
Ys clad of newe; medwe & pleyn
And hillës hih, ek spyce & greyn
I makë to enspyre soote,
And do the bawme, out of the Rote
In-to the crop a-ryse & sprynge.
‘And in-to trëes ek I brynge
Ther lusty blosmys whyte & rede;
And in ther braunchys ek I sprede
A-brood myn fresshë vestymentys,
And with myn vnkouth paramentys
I clothë ham wyth buddys glade,
Wych, with wynter, dede I made,
Thorgh constreynt of hys coldys kene,
Tornyng to russet al the grene
With fretyng of hys bytter cold.
Ther lusty blosmys whyte & rede;
And in ther braunchys ek I sprede
A-brood myn fresshë vestymentys,
And with myn vnkouth paramentys
I clothë ham wyth buddys glade,
Wych, with wynter, dede I made,
Thorgh constreynt of hys coldys kene,
Tornyng to russet al the grene
With fretyng of hys bytter cold.
‘But al that wynter maketh old,
And with hyr stormys doth desteyne,
I make yt fresshe & yong ageyn;
The bromys with ther golden floure,
That wynter madë (with hys shour)
Nakyd and bare, dedly of hewe,
With levys I kan cloth hem newe;
And off the feld the lyllyes ffayre,
And off herbys many a payre,
That wynter slowh with hys constreynt,
‘And made hem of ther colour ffeynt,
ffor no cost, me lyst not spare,
But ther Rychesse I do repare,—
Whan hete off cold hath the victorye,—
That Salomon in al hys glorye
Was nat clad (I dar wel sey)
Halff so freschly as ben they;
Nor hys robës wer nat lyche
Off colour to the busshes Ryche,
Wych be clad in my lyffree,
ffro yer to yer, as ye may se.
And with hyr stormys doth desteyne,
I make yt fresshe & yong ageyn;
The bromys with ther golden floure,
That wynter madë (with hys shour)
Nakyd and bare, dedly of hewe,
With levys I kan cloth hem newe;
And off the feld the lyllyes ffayre,
And off herbys many a payre,
That wynter slowh with hys constreynt,
93
ffor no cost, me lyst not spare,
But ther Rychesse I do repare,—
Whan hete off cold hath the victorye,—
That Salomon in al hys glorye
Was nat clad (I dar wel sey)
Halff so freschly as ben they;
Nor hys robës wer nat lyche
Off colour to the busshes Ryche,
Wych be clad in my lyffree,
ffro yer to yer, as ye may se.
‘And who that taketh hed ther-to,
Al thyng that men se me do,
I do by leyser, by and by:
I am nat Rakel nor hasty;
I hate, in myn oppynyouns,
Al sodeyn mutacyouns;
My werkys be the bettre wrouht,
Be causë that I hastë nouht:
I take recórd of dame Reson.
Al thyng that men se me do,
I do by leyser, by and by:
I am nat Rakel nor hasty;
I hate, in myn oppynyouns,
Al sodeyn mutacyouns;
My werkys be the bettre wrouht,
Be causë that I hastë nouht:
I take recórd of dame Reson.
‘And also ek in no seson
I slepë nouther day nor nyht;
ffor, of custom & of ryht,
I hate al maner ydelnesse,
Ouer al wher I am maystresse.
I am nat slowh, thorgh-out the yer,
To do my werk & my dever
Affter my power & konnyng;
And I make, with my werkyng,
Man & womman to speke a-ryht
Euery language, thorgh my myght;
ffovlys to flen, I teche also,
And euery bestë for to go;
ffysshes to swymmen in the see,
‘And I make ek (as ye may se,)
Serpentys on the grovnd to krepe;
And allë greynës ek I kepe,
Make hem groven in ther guyse,
And al ther sesouns I devyse.
And yiff I shal the trouthe expresse,
I am lady & maystresse
Off al the Erthë, who lyst knowe.
I slepë nouther day nor nyht;
ffor, of custom & of ryht,
I hate al maner ydelnesse,
Ouer al wher I am maystresse.
I am nat slowh, thorgh-out the yer,
To do my werk & my dever
Affter my power & konnyng;
And I make, with my werkyng,
Man & womman to speke a-ryht
Euery language, thorgh my myght;
ffovlys to flen, I teche also,
And euery bestë for to go;
ffysshes to swymmen in the see,
94
Serpentys on the grovnd to krepe;
And allë greynës ek I kepe,
Make hem groven in ther guyse,
And al ther sesouns I devyse.
And yiff I shal the trouthe expresse,
I am lady & maystresse
Off al the Erthë, who lyst knowe.
‘But ye wolden holden lowe
My power, (yt ys no doute,)
Yiff ye myghte yt brynge a-boute,
fful wrongfully, ageyn al ryht,
And apallen ek my myght
At your fre choys; thys the ffyn;
Tourne vnkyndëly my wyn
In-to blcod, folk for to drynke;
The wychë doth me sore a-thynke,
And fret myn hertë so with rage
That ye do me swych outrage,
So nyh vn-to myn herte yt sytte:
And yt passeth ek my wyt,
Your governaunce in thys matere.
My power, (yt ys no doute,)
Yiff ye myghte yt brynge a-boute,
fful wrongfully, ageyn al ryht,
And apallen ek my myght
At your fre choys; thys the ffyn;
Tourne vnkyndëly my wyn
In-to blcod, folk for to drynke;
The wychë doth me sore a-thynke,
And fret myn hertë so with rage
That ye do me swych outrage,
So nyh vn-to myn herte yt sytte:
And yt passeth ek my wyt,
Your governaunce in thys matere.
‘Touchyng bred, ye shal wel lere,
(To speken in especyal,)
I am not so wroth with-al,
Nor gruchche (in myn oppynyoun)
Off thylkë mutacïoun,
Be cause that I (who taketh hed,)
Medlede neuere to makë bred,
Croste nor kromë, al my lyve.
But I dar afferme her blyve,
Thogh I neuere madë looff,
The mater that yt ys made off
Kometh fro my corn & greyne;
And I delyuered hem, certeyn,
Vn-to Crafft, wych I assure
Ys soget vn-to Nature.
Thogh she yt made by hyr engyn,
The mater ffyrst was pleynly myn,
And kam fro me, yt ys no drede.
‘But that ye han thus turnyd bred
In-to Rawh fflesshe at your dyner,
In preiudyce off my power,
To forbarre me of my ryht,—
Wher hadde ye power outher myght
To werkë so ageyn my lore?
I may suffren yt no more.
I ha forboor yow many day,
And suffryd ek (yt ys no nay,)
Wrongys that ye ha do to me.
I not by whos auctoryte,
That ye, by your gouernauncys,
My custommys & myn ordynauncys—
Ageyn Resoun and al skyl—
Ye han ytournyd at your wyl.
I haue hem wel in Rémembraunce,
With euery maner cyrcumstaunce.
(To speken in especyal,)
I am not so wroth with-al,
Nor gruchche (in myn oppynyoun)
Off thylkë mutacïoun,
Be cause that I (who taketh hed,)
Medlede neuere to makë bred,
Croste nor kromë, al my lyve.
But I dar afferme her blyve,
Thogh I neuere madë looff,
The mater that yt ys made off
Kometh fro my corn & greyne;
And I delyuered hem, certeyn,
Vn-to Crafft, wych I assure
Ys soget vn-to Nature.
Thogh she yt made by hyr engyn,
The mater ffyrst was pleynly myn,
And kam fro me, yt ys no drede.
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In-to Rawh fflesshe at your dyner,
In preiudyce off my power,
To forbarre me of my ryht,—
Wher hadde ye power outher myght
To werkë so ageyn my lore?
I may suffren yt no more.
I ha forboor yow many day,
And suffryd ek (yt ys no nay,)
Wrongys that ye ha do to me.
I not by whos auctoryte,
That ye, by your gouernauncys,
My custommys & myn ordynauncys—
Ageyn Resoun and al skyl—
Ye han ytournyd at your wyl.
I haue hem wel in Rémembraunce,
With euery maner cyrcumstaunce.
‘ffyrst, contrayre to myn entent,
The busshe affyre, & nat brent,
How ye yt made ful longe ago.
And I remembre wel also
Off Aaron & of Moyses,
How that ye, ageyn my pes,
Ther yerdys, bothë old & drye,
Ye maden, thorgh your maystrye,
The Toon a serpent (ys yt nat so?)
In presence of Kyng Pharaoo;
The tother, ye made wexe al grene
With frut & levys, (thus I mene,)
Budde and blosme, with many flour,
To myn vnworshepe & dyshonour,
Ageyns nature, at the leste.
And ye tournede, at the feste
Off on callyd Architeclyn,
Water also in-to good wyn.
And also many A-nother thyng,
Thorgh your wonderful werkyng
Ye han ywrouht ageynys kynde.
The busshe affyre, & nat brent,
How ye yt made ful longe ago.
And I remembre wel also
Off Aaron & of Moyses,
How that ye, ageyn my pes,
Ther yerdys, bothë old & drye,
Ye maden, thorgh your maystrye,
The Toon a serpent (ys yt nat so?)
In presence of Kyng Pharaoo;
The tother, ye made wexe al grene
With frut & levys, (thus I mene,)
Budde and blosme, with many flour,
To myn vnworshepe & dyshonour,
Ageyns nature, at the leste.
And ye tournede, at the feste
Off on callyd Architeclyn,
Water also in-to good wyn.
And also many A-nother thyng,
Thorgh your wonderful werkyng
Ye han ywrouht ageynys kynde.
‘And o thyng cometh now to mynde,
Wherwyth ye dyde myn hertë tene,
‘That ye made a maydë clene
To bere a chyld, by your art,
And of man hadde neuere part.
To me ye dide to gret A wrong;
And I ha suffryd al to long
That ye, a-mong thys werkys alle,
Lyst me nat to consayl calle.
Wher-of, whan I dide aduerte,
I hadde gret sorwen yn myn herte;
Thogh I made no noyse at al,
I gruchchede in especyal
A-geyn your werkys wonder stronge:
A man may suffren al to longe,
As I ha don, or that he speke;
And abyde or he be wreke;
Slepe to long, or he a-wake;
Suffren, or he vengaunce take;
And I ha ben to longe in pes,
And in maner Rekkëles
To suffre wrong, & took noon hede
Off al that ye ha done in dede.
Wherwyth ye dyde myn hertë tene,
96
To bere a chyld, by your art,
And of man hadde neuere part.
To me ye dide to gret A wrong;
And I ha suffryd al to long
That ye, a-mong thys werkys alle,
Lyst me nat to consayl calle.
Wher-of, whan I dide aduerte,
I hadde gret sorwen yn myn herte;
Thogh I made no noyse at al,
I gruchchede in especyal
A-geyn your werkys wonder stronge:
A man may suffren al to longe,
As I ha don, or that he speke;
And abyde or he be wreke;
Slepe to long, or he a-wake;
Suffren, or he vengaunce take;
And I ha ben to longe in pes,
And in maner Rekkëles
To suffre wrong, & took noon hede
Off al that ye ha done in dede.
‘And now ye ben ykome ageyn,
Off entent to make in veyn
Newë thyngës men may se,
Only to excytë me
Ageyns yow, both nyh & ferre,
To be wroth, & gynne a werre,
And to be with yow at debat.
And, ne wer the gret estat
That ye be off, trusteth me wel,
I wolde sparë neueradel
Yow to werreye & oppresse,
That ye ha swych hardynesse
ffor to chaungen myn vságes,
And lyst nat, thorgh your gret outráges,
Off equyte, to myn avayl,
ffor to calle me to counsayl,
Wher-off I am riht wele apayd.’
Off entent to make in veyn
Newë thyngës men may se,
Only to excytë me
Ageyns yow, both nyh & ferre,
To be wroth, & gynne a werre,
And to be with yow at debat.
And, ne wer the gret estat
That ye be off, trusteth me wel,
I wolde sparë neueradel
Yow to werreye & oppresse,
That ye ha swych hardynesse
ffor to chaungen myn vságes,
And lyst nat, thorgh your gret outráges,
Off equyte, to myn avayl,
ffor to calle me to counsayl,
Wher-off I am riht wele apayd.’
And whan Naturë hadde al sayd,
Gracë dieu ful sobyrly,
(That herde hyr talë by and by,)
Nat hastyly, but by mesure,
Thus Answerdë to Nature:
Gracë dieu ful sobyrly,
97
Nat hastyly, but by mesure,
Thus Answerdë to Nature:
Grace Dieu answerde:
‘Ye ben,’ quod she, ‘to cruel,
To hasty also, and to fel
Ageyns me, in your language.
ffor ye speke by gret outrage
Proudly to me, & ha no feere,
Lych sothly as thog ye were
In party dronken of your wynes
Wych that groweth on your vynes.
Ye resemble by your mood
And by your port, as ye wer wood.
And for ouht that I kan se,
Ye be sottyd (thus semeth me)
Off newe, & I wot nat how.
To hasty also, and to fel
Ageyns me, in your language.
ffor ye speke by gret outrage
Proudly to me, & ha no feere,
Lych sothly as thog ye were
In party dronken of your wynes
Wych that groweth on your vynes.
Ye resemble by your mood
And by your port, as ye wer wood.
And for ouht that I kan se,
Ye be sottyd (thus semeth me)
Off newe, & I wot nat how.
‘Remembreth what ye spake ryht now,
And how ye sayde to me pleynly,
‘That ye wer nat to hasty
In your werkys, fer nor ner;
But that ye wrouht al be leyser,
And in your werkys dyde tarye.’
And I se now the contrarye
In your persone folyly.
ffor ye to me, ful nycëly,
Al that euere ye dide expresse,
Was ysayd off hastynesse,
With-outen any gret avys,
Lyk as thogh ye wer nat wys;
Your wordys nat in ordre set,
Rancour, your Resoun hath so let.
And, trewly, naddë be
That I concevede, & dyde se
Your sodeyn Ire & your Rancour,
And also for myn owne honour,
I hadde yow voyded A-noon ryht,
And booden yow gon out of syht.
But folkys wych that ben Irous,
Hasty & malyncólyous,
‘Other folk, that wysë bene,
Mot forbern hem in her tene,
Be-cause they kan hem nat gouerne;
And ek for they kan nat dyscerne
A thyng clerly in ther entent.
ffor ther trouble, entendement
Ys with Ire yblynded so,
That they wot nat what they do.
To sen a trouthe, they nat entende,
ffor they kan nat comprehende,
Thorgh ther obstynat blyndnesse,
No thyng but off wylfulnesse:
It stondeth thus, I dar assure.
And how ye sayde to me pleynly,
‘That ye wer nat to hasty
In your werkys, fer nor ner;
But that ye wrouht al be leyser,
And in your werkys dyde tarye.’
And I se now the contrarye
In your persone folyly.
ffor ye to me, ful nycëly,
Al that euere ye dide expresse,
Was ysayd off hastynesse,
With-outen any gret avys,
Lyk as thogh ye wer nat wys;
Your wordys nat in ordre set,
Rancour, your Resoun hath so let.
And, trewly, naddë be
That I concevede, & dyde se
Your sodeyn Ire & your Rancour,
And also for myn owne honour,
I hadde yow voyded A-noon ryht,
And booden yow gon out of syht.
But folkys wych that ben Irous,
Hasty & malyncólyous,
98
Mot forbern hem in her tene,
Be-cause they kan hem nat gouerne;
And ek for they kan nat dyscerne
A thyng clerly in ther entent.
ffor ther trouble, entendement
Ys with Ire yblynded so,
That they wot nat what they do.
To sen a trouthe, they nat entende,
ffor they kan nat comprehende,
Thorgh ther obstynat blyndnesse,
No thyng but off wylfulnesse:
It stondeth thus, I dar assure.
‘But tel me now, damë Nature,
Touchyng that ye, her in thys place,
Rebukë me off my trespace,
And vndernemen and repreve,
And outragously your-sylven greue
Off offencys I scholde ha do;
And affermen ek also,
Your fraunchysë to avaylle
Off boundys & off botaylle:
I menë thus, of boundys set,
By mesour tryed out & met
A-twyxe the ryht of yow & me,
And seyn, ‘A-geyn your lyberte
That I dydë gret offence
To entre, & hadde no lycence,
In-to your gardyn al to sone,
Vnder the cercle off the moone,
Wych to yow allone ys fre.’
I pray yow, answere ageyn to me,
(Say the trouthe, so God the saue!)
Off whom holde ye that ye haue,
Your lordshépe & euery del?
Ye Resemble (who lokë wel,)
Vn-to the wyldë swyn savage,
Wych that renneth in hys rage
In the woodys large & grene,
And ne kan no ferther sene
‘But to the frut that he hath founde,
And the Acornys on the grounde,
ffor to fille hys hongry mawe.
ffor he, in hys swynys lawe,
Off hys rudnesse bestyal,
Ne kan no ferther se at al
Toward the hevene, nor the tre
Wher he receyveth hys plente,
That bar the frut for hys repast,
Al that ys from hys myndë past;
ffor to the acorn al only,
And to hys ffoodë fynally
Ys set hys herte & al hys thouht;
ffor he in soth ne recchet nouht
Off alle the surplus neueradel.
Touchyng that ye, her in thys place,
Rebukë me off my trespace,
And vndernemen and repreve,
And outragously your-sylven greue
Off offencys I scholde ha do;
And affermen ek also,
Your fraunchysë to avaylle
Off boundys & off botaylle:
I menë thus, of boundys set,
By mesour tryed out & met
A-twyxe the ryht of yow & me,
And seyn, ‘A-geyn your lyberte
That I dydë gret offence
To entre, & hadde no lycence,
In-to your gardyn al to sone,
Vnder the cercle off the moone,
Wych to yow allone ys fre.’
I pray yow, answere ageyn to me,
(Say the trouthe, so God the saue!)
Off whom holde ye that ye haue,
Your lordshépe & euery del?
Ye Resemble (who lokë wel,)
Vn-to the wyldë swyn savage,
Wych that renneth in hys rage
In the woodys large & grene,
And ne kan no ferther sene
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And the Acornys on the grounde,
ffor to fille hys hongry mawe.
ffor he, in hys swynys lawe,
Off hys rudnesse bestyal,
Ne kan no ferther se at al
Toward the hevene, nor the tre
Wher he receyveth hys plente,
That bar the frut for hys repast,
Al that ys from hys myndë past;
ffor to the acorn al only,
And to hys ffoodë fynally
Ys set hys herte & al hys thouht;
ffor he in soth ne recchet nouht
Off alle the surplus neueradel.
‘And trew[ë]ly ye may ryht wel
Vn-to thys swyn resembled be,
Wych kan not be-holde or se,
Nor of malys, nor dysdeyn,
Lyst nat knowen in certeyn
Off whom ye han al your power
With-Inne your boundys, fer or ner.
With-outë me ye ha no thyng;
Nor al your crafft nor your werkyng,
With-outë me may nat avaylle.
Yovr werkys alle I sowbpowaylle,
And hem supporte, yif ye ha mynde.
Vn-to thys swyn resembled be,
Wych kan not be-holde or se,
Nor of malys, nor dysdeyn,
Lyst nat knowen in certeyn
Off whom ye han al your power
With-Inne your boundys, fer or ner.
With-outë me ye ha no thyng;
Nor al your crafft nor your werkyng,
With-outë me may nat avaylle.
Yovr werkys alle I sowbpowaylle,
And hem supporte, yif ye ha mynde.
‘Vndoth your Eyën dyrk & blynde,
The Eyen of yovr entendëment;
And, by good avysëment,
The lyddys off your Eye vncloseth!
Knoweth wel (and nat supposeth)
I am lady, hool & entere;
And ye be but my chamberere:
Thys shal ye fynde al openly
Yiff ye looke avysëly.
Leve your wordys hih aloffte,
And lerneth for to spekë soffte,
And Renounceth al your rage;
ffor ye sholde me don homage
‘(Off Iustyce and equyte),
ffor thát ye holde, ye holde of me.
ffor long agon, a gret partye,
I gaff to yow (of curteysye)
To occupye your sylff alway,
Off entent that, nyht nor day,
That ye sholde nat ydel be,
And that ye sholde, a-geyn to me
Yelde accountys off euery thyng
Touchyng the fyn of your werkyng,
As a chamberere (in sothnesse)
Sholde vnto hire mayst[e]resse.
And therfore, yiff ye wer wys,
Ye sholdë nat in your avys
Speke of boundys in no degre
Set be-twyxë yow & me.
The boundys cónstreyne your party;
But, for al that, I go frely
Wher that me lyst, at lyberte:
They boundë yow, & no thyng me;
Close yow out, that ye nat passe;
But I go fre in euery place;
In heuene, in erthe, & in the se
I boundë yow, & ye not me.
Wer yt offendë yow or greue,
I take of yow no maner leue,
To go & medle wher I shal:
Ye ha no thyng to do with al.
The Eyen of yovr entendëment;
And, by good avysëment,
The lyddys off your Eye vncloseth!
Knoweth wel (and nat supposeth)
I am lady, hool & entere;
And ye be but my chamberere:
Thys shal ye fynde al openly
Yiff ye looke avysëly.
Leve your wordys hih aloffte,
And lerneth for to spekë soffte,
And Renounceth al your rage;
ffor ye sholde me don homage
100
ffor thát ye holde, ye holde of me.
ffor long agon, a gret partye,
I gaff to yow (of curteysye)
To occupye your sylff alway,
Off entent that, nyht nor day,
That ye sholde nat ydel be,
And that ye sholde, a-geyn to me
Yelde accountys off euery thyng
Touchyng the fyn of your werkyng,
As a chamberere (in sothnesse)
Sholde vnto hire mayst[e]resse.
And therfore, yiff ye wer wys,
Ye sholdë nat in your avys
Speke of boundys in no degre
Set be-twyxë yow & me.
The boundys cónstreyne your party;
But, for al that, I go frely
Wher that me lyst, at lyberte:
They boundë yow, & no thyng me;
Close yow out, that ye nat passe;
But I go fre in euery place;
In heuene, in erthe, & in the se
I boundë yow, & ye not me.
Wer yt offendë yow or greue,
I take of yow no maner leue,
To go & medle wher I shal:
Ye ha no thyng to do with al.
‘I do ryht nouht in my werkyng
But as yt ys ryht wel syttyng
Off equyte & ryhtwysnesse.
ffor she that ys a mayst[e]resse
Muste haue a seruaunt hyr to-beye:
I trowe ye kan yt not with-seye.
And ye ouht to know ek wel
That ye ha power neueradel
With-outë me, on no party.
I wyl shewë good skyle why,
Vp-on the wordys that ye ha sayd,
So ye wyl nat ben euele apayd.
Ye seyde, ‘the mevyng of the hevene
And the planetys allë seuene
Longen to me pleynly in al;
And how ther cours celestyal,
I haue yt hol in gouernaunce;
And how that I, at my plesaunce
Tourne the hevene Round abowte.
But as yt ys ryht wel syttyng
Off equyte & ryhtwysnesse.
ffor she that ys a mayst[e]resse
Muste haue a seruaunt hyr to-beye:
I trowe ye kan yt not with-seye.
And ye ouht to know ek wel
That ye ha power neueradel
With-outë me, on no party.
I wyl shewë good skyle why,
Vp-on the wordys that ye ha sayd,
So ye wyl nat ben euele apayd.
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And the planetys allë seuene
Longen to me pleynly in al;
And how ther cours celestyal,
I haue yt hol in gouernaunce;
And how that I, at my plesaunce
Tourne the hevene Round abowte.
‘Thanne I axe of yow thys doute:
Yiff I now made a newë pley,
ffor to take the sonne away
Doun fro the heuene a-noon ryht,
That no man of hym hadde a syht
Thys hundryd yer, in no manere,
Nor that hys bryhtë bemys clere
Ne wer nat seyn: answere here-to,
What maner thyngës myghte ye do?
Or wheroff sholde ye ha socour,
To brynge forth outher herbe or flour?
Or fostre your sedys, blosme, or greyn?
Or with newë grene a-gayn
Clothen the busshes in ther maner
As ye ar wont fro yer to yer,
By yerly reuolucïouns?
Yiff I now made a newë pley,
ffor to take the sonne away
Doun fro the heuene a-noon ryht,
That no man of hym hadde a syht
Thys hundryd yer, in no manere,
Nor that hys bryhtë bemys clere
Ne wer nat seyn: answere here-to,
What maner thyngës myghte ye do?
Or wheroff sholde ye ha socour,
To brynge forth outher herbe or flour?
Or fostre your sedys, blosme, or greyn?
Or with newë grene a-gayn
Clothen the busshes in ther maner
As ye ar wont fro yer to yer,
By yerly reuolucïouns?
‘And touchyng generacïouns,
What power ha ye ouht to do,
Yiff the sonnë wer ago?
Al sholde faylle, yt ys no nay.
And sythë go ful many a day,
The paynym Arystotyles,
Wrot & expressede douteles,
That was so noble & prudent,
Preveth ful wel by argument,
By trouth also, & good Reson,
That al generacyon
Ys susteyned by the sonne.
Whan the skyës dyrke & donne
Ben devoyded a-way clene,
With hys bemys bryht & shene,
That on erthe wer no bryhtnesse,
I take your clerk vn-to wytnesse,
‘Arystotyle, in thys debaat,
ffor to ben myn aduocaat
A-geyns yow in thys matere.
ffor your power al yfere
Wer lost & gon (shortly to fyne,)
Yiff no sonne ne dydë shyne.
ffor your power wer al shent,
Yiff the Roundë fyrmament,
The planétys, & ech spere,
And the bryhtë sterrys clere,
Yiff I hem maade to cesse echon,
Than wer your power clene agon,
A-batyd, & set a-syde.
Wher-vp-on, lat be your pryde,
And gruchchet nat ageyn[e]s me,
Syth I ha the sovereynte,
Lordshepe, & domynacïoun.
What power ha ye ouht to do,
Yiff the sonnë wer ago?
Al sholde faylle, yt ys no nay.
And sythë go ful many a day,
The paynym Arystotyles,
Wrot & expressede douteles,
That was so noble & prudent,
Preveth ful wel by argument,
By trouth also, & good Reson,
That al generacyon
Ys susteyned by the sonne.
Whan the skyës dyrke & donne
Ben devoyded a-way clene,
With hys bemys bryht & shene,
That on erthe wer no bryhtnesse,
I take your clerk vn-to wytnesse,
102
ffor to ben myn aduocaat
A-geyns yow in thys matere.
ffor your power al yfere
Wer lost & gon (shortly to fyne,)
Yiff no sonne ne dydë shyne.
ffor your power wer al shent,
Yiff the Roundë fyrmament,
The planétys, & ech spere,
And the bryhtë sterrys clere,
Yiff I hem maade to cesse echon,
Than wer your power clene agon,
A-batyd, & set a-syde.
Wher-vp-on, lat be your pryde,
And gruchchet nat ageyn[e]s me,
Syth I ha the sovereynte,
Lordshepe, & domynacïoun.
‘And yt wer abusyoun—
Lych as wryteth Ysaye,
And in hys book doth specefye,
A gret despyt (both fer & ner)—
Yiff a-geyn the carpenter
The Ex wer bold, by surquedye,
ffor to holden chauntpartye.
Yt wer a thyng ageyn[e]s kynde,
In Holy Wryt as ye shal fynde,
And a thyng off gret dysdeyne,
And yiff the pot sholde also seyn
To the potter that hym wrouhte,
And hys forme a-boutë brouhte,
Yiff he pleynede off hys makyng,
Touchyng hys fason and werkyng,
Yt wer a thyng nat covenable.
Lych as wryteth Ysaye,
And in hys book doth specefye,
A gret despyt (both fer & ner)—
Yiff a-geyn the carpenter
The Ex wer bold, by surquedye,
ffor to holden chauntpartye.
Yt wer a thyng ageyn[e]s kynde,
In Holy Wryt as ye shal fynde,
And a thyng off gret dysdeyne,
And yiff the pot sholde also seyn
To the potter that hym wrouhte,
And hys forme a-boutë brouhte,
Yiff he pleynede off hys makyng,
Touchyng hys fason and werkyng,
Yt wer a thyng nat covenable.
‘And evene lyk in cas semblable
Ye argue ageyn[e]s me,
Wych in effect nat ellys be
(ffor al your sotel argument)
But myn handwerk & instrument,
Wych I ha mad to helpen me,
Nat off no necessyte,
‘That I off yow (yiff ye take hede,)
Sholde haue any maner nede
Among my gretë werkys alle,
But only whan me lyst yow calle.
Ye argue ageyn[e]s me,
Wych in effect nat ellys be
(ffor al your sotel argument)
But myn handwerk & instrument,
Wych I ha mad to helpen me,
Nat off no necessyte,
103
Sholde haue any maner nede
Among my gretë werkys alle,
But only whan me lyst yow calle.
‘And many a thyng I haue ek wrouht,
To wych I ne callede yow nouht.
Yt nedede nat the caas so stood:
And I shal chaungë wyn to blood
With-oute your counsayl or your red,
And in-to Rawh flessh, ek whyt bred,
And brown also, whan that me lyst,
Thogh off yow yt be nat wyst.
To wych I ne callede yow nouht.
Yt nedede nat the caas so stood:
And I shal chaungë wyn to blood
With-oute your counsayl or your red,
And in-to Rawh flessh, ek whyt bred,
And brown also, whan that me lyst,
Thogh off yow yt be nat wyst.
‘The cause ys, in conclusïoun,
Off thys ylke mutacïoun,
At myn ownë lust yt dresse;
And ellys ne wer I no maystresse,
But yiff I haddë lyberte
To don al thyng that lyketh me
With-outë labour at myn ese,
Wych sholdë yow nat dysplese,
Thogh I do thyng (tak hed her-to,)
Wych your-sylff ne may nat do;
Therof ye sholden ha dysport,
And in your hertë gret coumfort,
As of the bussh, wych to the syht
Sempte as yt hadde brent ful bryht,
And brent nat, as I ha sayd;
Wher-of ye sholde be wel apayd,
And thank me of entencïoun
Only for the savacïoun,
Rather than chyde, or lowdë crye
Off rancour & maléncolye,
Off hast to be so Rekkëles.
Off thys ylke mutacïoun,
At myn ownë lust yt dresse;
And ellys ne wer I no maystresse,
But yiff I haddë lyberte
To don al thyng that lyketh me
With-outë labour at myn ese,
Wych sholdë yow nat dysplese,
Thogh I do thyng (tak hed her-to,)
Wych your-sylff ne may nat do;
Therof ye sholden ha dysport,
And in your hertë gret coumfort,
As of the bussh, wych to the syht
Sempte as yt hadde brent ful bryht,
And brent nat, as I ha sayd;
Wher-of ye sholde be wel apayd,
And thank me of entencïoun
Only for the savacïoun,
Rather than chyde, or lowdë crye
Off rancour & maléncolye,
Off hast to be so Rekkëles.
‘And off the yerd of Moyses
And off Aaron, wher-on ye pleyne;
And off that Maydë souereyne,
Mayde & moder in clennesse,
Off chastyte the cheff pryncesse,
Wych bar a chylde in verray dede,
And kept alway hyr maydenhede;
‘And off the water tornyd to wyn
At the fest off Archityclyn:
Al thys I wrouhtë, thorgh my myht,
With-oute preiudyce of your ryht;
Wher-off ye sholde ha gret gladnesse,
And nat gruchche for hevynesse
Touchyng al thys, in no manere.
ffor alway a good chaumberere
Sholdë be ryht glad in herte
Whan she seye, or dyde aduerte
The fayrë werkys (in sothnesse)
Off hyr lady or maystresse,
Pryncypally (who lokë wel,)
Whan that she leseth neueradel
Off hyr ffraunchyse in no degre.
ffor euere mot preferryd be
The comoun good in general.
Goodys that ben éspecyal,
The comoun good, in soth I calle
That doth profyte to folkys alle,
Especyally in al vertu.’
And off Aaron, wher-on ye pleyne;
And off that Maydë souereyne,
Mayde & moder in clennesse,
Off chastyte the cheff pryncesse,
Wych bar a chylde in verray dede,
And kept alway hyr maydenhede;
104
At the fest off Archityclyn:
Al thys I wrouhtë, thorgh my myht,
With-oute preiudyce of your ryht;
Wher-off ye sholde ha gret gladnesse,
And nat gruchche for hevynesse
Touchyng al thys, in no manere.
ffor alway a good chaumberere
Sholdë be ryht glad in herte
Whan she seye, or dyde aduerte
The fayrë werkys (in sothnesse)
Off hyr lady or maystresse,
Pryncypally (who lokë wel,)
Whan that she leseth neueradel
Off hyr ffraunchyse in no degre.
ffor euere mot preferryd be
The comoun good in general.
Goodys that ben éspecyal,
The comoun good, in soth I calle
That doth profyte to folkys alle,
Especyally in al vertu.’
And whan thys lady, Gracë dieu,
Had al sayd, I yow ensure,
A-noon thys lady, dame Nature,
Whan she had herd hyr tale a long,
Knowyng that she hádde do wrong,
And hyr compleynte (to specefye,)
Was ygroundyd on folye,
fful humblely in hyr degre
She ffyl a-noon vp-on hyr kne.
Had al sayd, I yow ensure,
A-noon thys lady, dame Nature,
Whan she had herd hyr tale a long,
Knowyng that she hádde do wrong,
And hyr compleynte (to specefye,)
Was ygroundyd on folye,
fful humblely in hyr degre
She ffyl a-noon vp-on hyr kne.
Nature cryede mercy.
| The Pilgrimage of the Life of Man | |