The seuin Seages Translatit out of prois in Scottis meter be Iohne Rolland in Dalkeith, with ane Moralitie efter euerie Doctouris Tale, and siclike efter the Emprice Tale, togidder with ane louing and laude to euerie Doctour efter his awin Tale, & ane Exclamation and outcrying vpon the Empreouris wife efter hir fals contrusit Tale ... Edited, with introduction, notes, and glossary, by Geo. F. Black |
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The Fourt Taill of the Emprice. |
 | The seuin Seages |  |
116
The Fourt Taill of the Emprice.
Qvhen the Emprice hard ye child ȝit on liue
Scho grat richt sair, & all hir hair did riue
Sayand allace, wa worth the time & hour
That I was wife vnto the Empreour.
Crying, murning, and ryfing doun hir face,
Quhill the greit noyis past out throw all ye place
The Empreour hard the murmure at the last,
Incontinent he to hir Chalmer past:
Inquirit the caus of all hir greit distres,
Scho curst the time that scho was maid empres
Wald God (said scho) quhē I come to thir parts
Howbeit that I had four and twentie harts
Within my bowk, that thay had all bene rent
In small pecis, or I war daylie schent.
On sic fassoun, as I am day be day,
Bot that ȝour grace sayis nouther ȝe nor nay.
Bot quhylis ȝe say but dout ȝour Sone sall die
And vther quhylis in greit dispyte of me,
Ze continew his life and takis na cure
Of my greit sturt, the greit schame and Iniure
He did to me, and als schame to ȝour sell.
Of this mater quhairto suld I mair tell:
For it is knawin out throw the haill countrie,
To quhat greit schame he purposit to brocht me
Bot ȝe throw sleuth dillis doū & latis ouirdriue
Sa day be day ȝour Sone is ȝit on liue.
The Empreour said I pray ȝow stand content
And without dout the morne Incontinent,
He sall haue Law, without ony remeid,
To be hangit on Gallous to the deid.
Bot ȝisterday it was a principall caus,
That he thoillit not the Iudgement & the lawis
Was for a Taill that the Maister me tald
Zea, than (said scho) that is ye thing thay wald
Prolong the time, lipning the Court sall change
Gif ȝe do sa, that is ane mater strange.
For thair fair wordis gude Iustice for to brek,
Sa vnto GOD ȝe haue ane small respek.
Bot I feir sair ȝe with ȝour Maisters seuin,
It sall ȝow chance the same exampill euin
As anis it chancit into this same Cietie,
Ane Empreour and seuin Maisteris had he:
Quhome to he gaue credence baith day & nicht,
Thay him begyld with thair fals fraud & slicht.
The Empreour said, that taill I pray ȝow tell
With the Maisters and Empreour how it fell.
Scho said quhairto, or to quhat fect suld I
Tell ony taill, quhen it is not set by,
For ȝisterday ane taill to ȝow I schew,
Quhilk in the self was verray Iust and trew
For ȝour honour and profite I it tald,
Thairon to think, ȝit on na wyse ȝe wald.
For ȝour honour and profite quhat I will say,
Vpon the morne the Maisters dois away,
And with thair taillis daylie turnis vp side doū
Quhilk is but dout for ȝour distructioun.
As in this taill that I sall tell to ȝow,
And pleis ȝour grace, for treuth ȝe sall it trow.
He said Madame hartlie I ȝow require,
I pray ȝow tell, for it is my desire.
That be the same I may the warrar be,
And to eschew falset and subteltie.
Thocht I delay my Sonis saik for ane day,
It not anserris nor clenelie takis away.
I sall it schaw (quod scho) be it ȝour will,
Sa ȝe will giue gude thocht and minde thairtil.
Quod he tell on, and I sall heir it than,
And sa at schort hir taill thus gaitis began.
Scho grat richt sair, & all hir hair did riue
Sayand allace, wa worth the time & hour
That I was wife vnto the Empreour.
Crying, murning, and ryfing doun hir face,
Quhill the greit noyis past out throw all ye place
The Empreour hard the murmure at the last,
Incontinent he to hir Chalmer past:
Inquirit the caus of all hir greit distres,
Scho curst the time that scho was maid empres
Wald God (said scho) quhē I come to thir parts
Howbeit that I had four and twentie harts
Within my bowk, that thay had all bene rent
In small pecis, or I war daylie schent.
On sic fassoun, as I am day be day,
Bot that ȝour grace sayis nouther ȝe nor nay.
Bot quhylis ȝe say but dout ȝour Sone sall die
And vther quhylis in greit dispyte of me,
Ze continew his life and takis na cure
Of my greit sturt, the greit schame and Iniure
He did to me, and als schame to ȝour sell.
Of this mater quhairto suld I mair tell:
For it is knawin out throw the haill countrie,
To quhat greit schame he purposit to brocht me
Bot ȝe throw sleuth dillis doū & latis ouirdriue
Sa day be day ȝour Sone is ȝit on liue.
The Empreour said I pray ȝow stand content
And without dout the morne Incontinent,
He sall haue Law, without ony remeid,
To be hangit on Gallous to the deid.
Bot ȝisterday it was a principall caus,
That he thoillit not the Iudgement & the lawis
117
Zea, than (said scho) that is ye thing thay wald
Prolong the time, lipning the Court sall change
Gif ȝe do sa, that is ane mater strange.
For thair fair wordis gude Iustice for to brek,
Sa vnto GOD ȝe haue ane small respek.
Bot I feir sair ȝe with ȝour Maisters seuin,
It sall ȝow chance the same exampill euin
As anis it chancit into this same Cietie,
Ane Empreour and seuin Maisteris had he:
Quhome to he gaue credence baith day & nicht,
Thay him begyld with thair fals fraud & slicht.
The Empreour said, that taill I pray ȝow tell
With the Maisters and Empreour how it fell.
Scho said quhairto, or to quhat fect suld I
Tell ony taill, quhen it is not set by,
For ȝisterday ane taill to ȝow I schew,
Quhilk in the self was verray Iust and trew
For ȝour honour and profite I it tald,
Thairon to think, ȝit on na wyse ȝe wald.
For ȝour honour and profite quhat I will say,
Vpon the morne the Maisters dois away,
And with thair taillis daylie turnis vp side doū
Quhilk is but dout for ȝour distructioun.
As in this taill that I sall tell to ȝow,
And pleis ȝour grace, for treuth ȝe sall it trow.
He said Madame hartlie I ȝow require,
I pray ȝow tell, for it is my desire.
That be the same I may the warrar be,
And to eschew falset and subteltie.
Thocht I delay my Sonis saik for ane day,
It not anserris nor clenelie takis away.
I sall it schaw (quod scho) be it ȝour will,
Sa ȝe will giue gude thocht and minde thairtil.
Quod he tell on, and I sall heir it than,
And sa at schort hir taill thus gaitis began.
118
Vpon a time I red intill ane Quair,
In this Citie sum time seuin Maisters wair
Throw quhais science, greit wisdome & leirning
All the Impire was rewlit be thair gyding.
The Empreour quhilk at that time did ring,
But thair counsall, he tuik in hand na thing.
Sa he thame held in sic eis and daintie,
That he culd not weill want thair companie.
Thay persauing his hart to thame sa kinde,
His gudelie will, his daylie thocht and minde,
That he culd do nathing but thair auise,
Thay war all seuin haldin sa wonder wise.
Thay kest in minde ane wonder subtell thing,
Be sorcerie, Inchantment and cunning.
That how lang time the Empreour he baid
In his Palice, nouther past furth nor raid,
Bot thairin still held him in companie,
He saw als weill as ony man culd se.
Fra his Palice gif he past ony time,
Throw thair slicht craft he suld not se a stime.
And this thay did to the samin Intent,
That thay micht mair thair libertie frequent,
And Intromet and vse the samin thingis
That appertenit to Empreours and Kingis.
And to dispone at thair will all his rent,
This was thair minde, thair thocht & als Intēt
Be the quhilk thing thir Maisters did purches
Vnto thame self gold geir and greit riches.
And ȝit howbeit throw thair greit sorcerie,
Thay maid this King a stime he micht not se
Of his Palice, quhen he past ay was blind,
Amang thame all the way thay culd not find.
With all thair craft againe to gar him se,
Out of his Palice, bot euer blind was he.
Abone all this, thir Maisters fand sic craft,
All the Impire almaist thay maid clene daft.
Gif ony man had dreamit ane vncouth dreme,
The haill knawledge thairof thay suld expreme
And mak thairof Interpretatioun,
For ane Ducat or ȝit ane Frenche Croun.
Quhairby thay gat mair gold and greit tresour
Almaist als muche as fra the Empreour.
Sa be this way, and vthers fals and slie,
Thay conqueist gold greit riches in plentie,
Mair in respect nor had the Empreour,
And to thame seuin geuin daylie mair honour.
Sa on ane day quhen that the Empreour,
With his Emprice togidder with honour
At thair Tabill, to sich in hart began,
The Emprice saw, persauit and said than
Quhat is the caus schaw me of ȝour dolour,
Quhy sich ȝe so, or takis ȝow displeasour?
The Empreour said to his Emprice agane,
Haue I not caus of sorow and greit pane,
That I sa lang in sic sort suld be blind,
And can thairof na gude remedie find.
My Lord (quod scho) will ȝe tent to my Taill,
On honestie it sall help and preuaill
Gif ȝe will do efter as I ȝow say,
Ze sall allow my Taill ane vther day.
In ȝour Impire seuin greit Maisters ȝe haue,
And I beleue thay seuin dois ȝow dissaue,
And ar the caus of all ȝour greit diseis,
And all ȝour rowmes yai gide euin as yai pleis
And to thame selfis appropriatis ȝour rentis,
Throw thair fals wayis & subtel Inchātmētis
Gif it be so that thay ar found gyltie
Ane schamefull deid doutles thay serue to die.
Thairfoir my Lord for all thir seuin ȝe send.
And speir at thame gif thay can help to mend
Zour greit diseis, and sair Infirmitie
Quhair ȝour sicht faillis, againe to gar ȝow se,
Gif thay say nay, and can find na remeid,
Charge thame schairplie vnder the pane of deid
And sa ȝe may consider weill and se,
Gif thay be caus of ȝour greit Maladie.
The Empreour allowit weill this taill,
And thocht richt weill it was for his auaill.
Incontinent was send to thame Message,
For to compeir anone thay tuik veyage,
And come kneilling befoir the Empreour,
Quha thame ressauit in fredome and fauour:
And schew to thame his greit Infirmitie,
How he was blind, and had sic Maladie.
And how sum time that he saw wonder weill
And vther tymes how he saw neuer ane deill.
Thā chargeit he them schairplie on pane of deid
Incontinent thay seuin suld seik remeid.
For it was schawin to him for veritie,
Thay war the caus of his Infirmitie.
And gat thay not remeid Incontinent
Vnto the deith thay suld be all torment,
Vnto thir seuin thus said the Empreour,
Quhairof thay stude in greit feir and dredour.
Than said thir seuin agane with ane consent,
Ze charge vs seuin with Inconuenient.
With siclike charge ȝour grace now putis vs to
It passis far our power for to do.
It is sa hard and difficill ane thing,
That we can not to gude purpois it bring,
Into schort time, bot gif it pleis ȝour grace
For to grant vs respet for ten dayis space,
We sall ȝow gif answer conuenient.
Quhairof we traist, ȝour grace sall stand contēt,
Of thair answer the Empreour was appleisit,
Beleuing weill of seiknes to be eisit.
Sa thir Maisters vnto thair counsell past,
To se gif thay culd find the way or cast,
Fassoun, Ingine, supplie, meane or remeid,
Or ony help to saue thame self fra deid.
And for to haill the Kingis Infirmitie,
Thay kest the way, for thame it wald not be.
Quhairfoir thay war all seuin richt sorrofow
And said get we na help nor remeid now
To help this charge, as we Ilk ane dois ken
Without remeid we ar all bot deid men.
Thairfoir let vs mak trauell all fra hand,
Seirche and seik furth Ilk ane in sindrie land
Gif that we can in ony countrie find
In time cūming the Empreour be not blind,
And sa thay socht in mony sindrie toun,
Be eist, be west, south, north, baith vp and doun
It hapnit thame to ryde vpon ane day
Throw ane citie, quhair barnis was at the play
In the meane time come to thame ane auld man
And said Maisters, I pray ȝow gif ȝe can
Of my nichtis dreame to mak Interpretatioun
And for ȝour wage I sall ȝow gif ane Croun.
Ane of the barnis that was than at the play,
To the Maisters hard that man siclike say.
And said gude man ȝeis gif ane Croun to me,
Quhat menis ȝour dreame I sall ȝow tel trewlie
The auld man said I dreamit this hinder nicht
That in my ȝaird of watter sprang vp richt,
A fresch spring wel, quhairfra come mony sprīgs
Throw all ye eird now tel quhat menis sic things.
Than said the barne tak ȝe ane spaid gude man
In the same place, pas and delf gif ȝe can,
Quhair that ȝe thocht the water first vpsprang:
Thair ȝe sall find within ane space not lang
Ane hurde of gold that samin hoill within,
Sall mak ȝow riche for ay and all ȝour kin.
Sa did this man as the ȝoung barne cōmandit
And as he said, this man richt sa he fand it.
Than past this man to this ȝoung Child agane
And thocht he wald rewaird him for his pane.
And offerit him ane pund of reddy gold,
Quhilk be na way ressaue fra him he wold.
And said gude man, na gold I will ressaif
Bot pray for me, at ȝow na mair I craif.
The seuin Maisteris persauing all this thing,
How ane ȝoung Childe of ȝeiris being sa ȝing
With sic wisdome the māns dreame did expone,
Said to thame selfis we meruell quhilk is ȝone,
Of sa ȝoung ȝeiris makis sic Interpretatioun
And sine thairfoir takis nouther golde nor croun
Sa at this childe thir seuin Inquyrit the Name
He said Merling, quhairof I think na schame.
Quod thay ȝour name bruik weill wt all weilfair
We persaue weill, ȝe haue wisdome and lair.
Ane greit mater we haue to ȝow to schaw,
Of the quhilk few or nane bot we dois knaw.
Than said the Childe schaw me furth ȝour intēt
And ȝe sall haue answer Incontinent.
Quod thay ȝoung Childe this is the verray cace
Ane Maladie haldis the Empreouris grace.
Sa lang as he in his Palice will byde,
And not thairout nouther to gang nor ryde,
He seis als weill as ane that euer was,
Bot als sone as he fra his Palice pas
Thair takis him than sa greit ane Maladie,
That all about a stime he may nocht se.
And gif ȝe can the caus heirof discus,
First ȝe sall haue ane gude rewaird of vs,
And secundlie, remeid gif ȝe can find
In time cūming the Empreour be not blind:
Out of Palice quhen he plesis to pas,
He will ȝow gif rewaird quhat ȝe will as.
Than said the Childe his Maladie I knaw,
Als the remeid thairof I can him schaw.
The Maisteris said we pray ȝow richt hartlie
Pas with vs seuin and beir vs companie,
Quhill we cum to the Empreouris presence,
Quhair ȝe sall haue rewaird and reuerence.
Than said the Childe Schirs I am reddy now
Pas quhen ȝe pleis, and I sall gang with ȝow.
And sa all aucht Incontinent past hence,
Quhill thay come to the Empreouris presence.
And quhen thay come befoir the Empreour,
Thay hailsit him with reuerence and honour.
And said gude Lord, sindrie lands haif we socht
To get ȝow health and heir we haif ȝow brocht
Ane gude ȝoung Child yt knawis ȝour Maladie
At ȝour plesure will find help and supplie.
In time cūming, that ȝe sall weill persaue,
Zour daylie health, and na seiknes to haue.
Nouther in ane, nor in nane vther pairt,
He hes sic wit in gude cunning and Airt.
The Empreour vnto thir Maisters said,
Of ȝour tythance I am richt wonder glaid.
All that he sayis will ȝe seuin tak on hand,
Ze Schir said thay at that same we will stand.
For we haue sene be gude experience,
His greit wisdome, craft and Intelligence.
The Empreour than vnto the barne he said,
Sen sic a thing gude Childe is to ȝow laid:
The caus thairof at ȝow I wald Inquire,
And sine my helth than hartlie I desire.
Than said the Child and pleis ȝour nobil grace
We twa alone mon talk ane lytill space,
In ȝour Chalmer I sall ȝow schaw trewlie,
The caus of all ȝour greit Infirmitie.
And quhen he was into the Chalmer led,
He causit cast of all the clais of the bed,
Quhilk into haist the Empreour causit be done
My Lord he said now heir ȝe sall se sone
Ane meruellous thing, quhilk ȝe hard neuer tell
Vnder the bed thair was ane mekill well,
Of quhilk thair rais ane foull smuke and a reik
That wald haue maid a man baith blind & seik
Out of this well thair springs seuin greit sprīgs
The Empreour than he meruellit of sic things
Vnder his bed to be and he not wist,
Sa greit a well sa foull ane reik and mist.
He said my Lord, heir planelie ȝe may se
The verray caus of ȝour Infirmitie.
Without ȝe put thir springis and well away,
To get ȝour sicht agane na wise ȝe may.
The Empreour said I pray ȝow to me tell,
The nerrest way for to vndo this well.
Than said the Chylde thair is na way bot ane
Gif it pleis ȝow, on force it mon be tane.
The Empreour said I pray ȝow richt hartlie
Schaw me the way, gif sic ane thing may be
Gold nor gudis on na way will I spair
Sa that the treuth to me ȝe will declair,
Gif mannis craft, his naturall wit or micht,
Perfite cunning with gude science or slicht,
Subtell Ingine, Airt or experience,
Micht help my sicht, or thairfoir find defence,
I wald not cure for to gif gold plentie,
Spair for na coist sa that ȝe gar me se
Without my place als weill as I do in,
Sa ȝour rewaird fra me weill sall ȝe win.
Now sen ȝour grace to me hes geuin credence,
I sall ȝow schaw be gude experience,
The verray treuth thir seuin springis ȝe se spring
Out of this well, thay ar na vther thing,
Bot the same seuin Maisters be thair science,
Quhome to ȝe gif sa firme and greit credence,
Quhilk be thair craft cūning and Inchantmēt
Zow to mak blinde, this well thay did Inuēt.
That hiddertillis, baith ȝow and ȝour Impire
Lang time bygane hes reulit at thair desire.
About ȝour place euer hes maid ȝow blind,
To that effect that na fault ȝe suld find
Done ony way be thame or thair consent,
That thair greit gyle suld not be maid patent,
Nor heir cōplaintis of ȝour Barroūis & Lordis
Bot thay allone to aggre sic discordis:
Nor that Iustice suld ring into ȝour land,
Bot all sic things suld ly into thair hand.
And ȝour subiectis to spuilȝe euerie day,
All that was grene, to ȝow it suld seme gray,
Ze not seing now suld thay all be deid,
For ȝour kyndnes, thay can find na remeid.
The Empreour said, now ȝe haue to me schawin
Of my blindnes, the caus and maid it knawin
Now the remeid thairof I wald ȝe fand,
Ze sall not want baith gold, Lordschip & land.
And pleis ȝour grace now to ȝow sall I tell,
The verray treuth, will ȝe do my counsell.
Of ȝour blindes gif se desire remeid,
The first Maister, tak and stryke of his heid,
Than ȝe sall se the first spring of the well
Be quyte away, this is the treuth I tell.
Sa ordourlie, quhill thay be Ilk ane slane,
And sa ȝe sall recure ȝour sicht agane.
This being done, the well away sall went,
And sa at eis ȝe sall get ȝour Intent.
Quhilk in gude haist was done as thay thocht richt
And sa agane the Empreour gat his sicht.
And this ȝoung Childe rewardit richt richelie
Maid him ane Lord and Air of ane countrie.
Than said scho Lord, haue ȝe persauit this taill
That I haue schawin, for ȝour gude and auail
He said richt weill, and thankis ȝow hartfullie,
For that gude Taill that ȝe haue tauld to me.
In the same sort thir seuin Maisteris said scho
Vnto ȝour grace thay purpois for to do.
Be thair fals Taillis, and siclike fenȝeing,
That ȝour curst Sone may ay abone ȝow ring
Quhilk God defend, ay quhill the hour I die,
That I neuer ane vther Empreour se.
This Taill (quod scho) I sall mak to ȝow cleir,
Quhat that it menis, & pleis ȝour grace to heir.
He said say furth, ȝe sall haue audience,
And commandit Ilk ane to keip silence.
In this Citie sum time seuin Maisters wair
Throw quhais science, greit wisdome & leirning
All the Impire was rewlit be thair gyding.
The Empreour quhilk at that time did ring,
But thair counsall, he tuik in hand na thing.
Sa he thame held in sic eis and daintie,
That he culd not weill want thair companie.
Thay persauing his hart to thame sa kinde,
His gudelie will, his daylie thocht and minde,
That he culd do nathing but thair auise,
Thay war all seuin haldin sa wonder wise.
Thay kest in minde ane wonder subtell thing,
Be sorcerie, Inchantment and cunning.
That how lang time the Empreour he baid
In his Palice, nouther past furth nor raid,
Bot thairin still held him in companie,
He saw als weill as ony man culd se.
Fra his Palice gif he past ony time,
Throw thair slicht craft he suld not se a stime.
And this thay did to the samin Intent,
That thay micht mair thair libertie frequent,
And Intromet and vse the samin thingis
That appertenit to Empreours and Kingis.
And to dispone at thair will all his rent,
This was thair minde, thair thocht & als Intēt
Be the quhilk thing thir Maisters did purches
Vnto thame self gold geir and greit riches.
And ȝit howbeit throw thair greit sorcerie,
Thay maid this King a stime he micht not se
Of his Palice, quhen he past ay was blind,
Amang thame all the way thay culd not find.
With all thair craft againe to gar him se,
Out of his Palice, bot euer blind was he.
Abone all this, thir Maisters fand sic craft,
All the Impire almaist thay maid clene daft.
119
The haill knawledge thairof thay suld expreme
And mak thairof Interpretatioun,
For ane Ducat or ȝit ane Frenche Croun.
Quhairby thay gat mair gold and greit tresour
Almaist als muche as fra the Empreour.
Sa be this way, and vthers fals and slie,
Thay conqueist gold greit riches in plentie,
Mair in respect nor had the Empreour,
And to thame seuin geuin daylie mair honour.
Sa on ane day quhen that the Empreour,
With his Emprice togidder with honour
At thair Tabill, to sich in hart began,
The Emprice saw, persauit and said than
Quhat is the caus schaw me of ȝour dolour,
Quhy sich ȝe so, or takis ȝow displeasour?
The Empreour said to his Emprice agane,
Haue I not caus of sorow and greit pane,
That I sa lang in sic sort suld be blind,
And can thairof na gude remedie find.
My Lord (quod scho) will ȝe tent to my Taill,
On honestie it sall help and preuaill
Gif ȝe will do efter as I ȝow say,
Ze sall allow my Taill ane vther day.
In ȝour Impire seuin greit Maisters ȝe haue,
And I beleue thay seuin dois ȝow dissaue,
And ar the caus of all ȝour greit diseis,
And all ȝour rowmes yai gide euin as yai pleis
And to thame selfis appropriatis ȝour rentis,
Throw thair fals wayis & subtel Inchātmētis
Gif it be so that thay ar found gyltie
Ane schamefull deid doutles thay serue to die.
Thairfoir my Lord for all thir seuin ȝe send.
And speir at thame gif thay can help to mend
Zour greit diseis, and sair Infirmitie
Quhair ȝour sicht faillis, againe to gar ȝow se,
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Charge thame schairplie vnder the pane of deid
And sa ȝe may consider weill and se,
Gif thay be caus of ȝour greit Maladie.
The Empreour allowit weill this taill,
And thocht richt weill it was for his auaill.
Incontinent was send to thame Message,
For to compeir anone thay tuik veyage,
And come kneilling befoir the Empreour,
Quha thame ressauit in fredome and fauour:
And schew to thame his greit Infirmitie,
How he was blind, and had sic Maladie.
And how sum time that he saw wonder weill
And vther tymes how he saw neuer ane deill.
Thā chargeit he them schairplie on pane of deid
Incontinent thay seuin suld seik remeid.
For it was schawin to him for veritie,
Thay war the caus of his Infirmitie.
And gat thay not remeid Incontinent
Vnto the deith thay suld be all torment,
Vnto thir seuin thus said the Empreour,
Quhairof thay stude in greit feir and dredour.
Than said thir seuin agane with ane consent,
Ze charge vs seuin with Inconuenient.
With siclike charge ȝour grace now putis vs to
It passis far our power for to do.
It is sa hard and difficill ane thing,
That we can not to gude purpois it bring,
Into schort time, bot gif it pleis ȝour grace
For to grant vs respet for ten dayis space,
We sall ȝow gif answer conuenient.
Quhairof we traist, ȝour grace sall stand contēt,
Of thair answer the Empreour was appleisit,
Beleuing weill of seiknes to be eisit.
Sa thir Maisters vnto thair counsell past,
To se gif thay culd find the way or cast,
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Or ony help to saue thame self fra deid.
And for to haill the Kingis Infirmitie,
Thay kest the way, for thame it wald not be.
Quhairfoir thay war all seuin richt sorrofow
And said get we na help nor remeid now
To help this charge, as we Ilk ane dois ken
Without remeid we ar all bot deid men.
Thairfoir let vs mak trauell all fra hand,
Seirche and seik furth Ilk ane in sindrie land
Gif that we can in ony countrie find
In time cūming the Empreour be not blind,
And sa thay socht in mony sindrie toun,
Be eist, be west, south, north, baith vp and doun
It hapnit thame to ryde vpon ane day
Throw ane citie, quhair barnis was at the play
In the meane time come to thame ane auld man
And said Maisters, I pray ȝow gif ȝe can
Of my nichtis dreame to mak Interpretatioun
And for ȝour wage I sall ȝow gif ane Croun.
Ane of the barnis that was than at the play,
To the Maisters hard that man siclike say.
And said gude man ȝeis gif ane Croun to me,
Quhat menis ȝour dreame I sall ȝow tel trewlie
The auld man said I dreamit this hinder nicht
That in my ȝaird of watter sprang vp richt,
A fresch spring wel, quhairfra come mony sprīgs
Throw all ye eird now tel quhat menis sic things.
Than said the barne tak ȝe ane spaid gude man
In the same place, pas and delf gif ȝe can,
Quhair that ȝe thocht the water first vpsprang:
Thair ȝe sall find within ane space not lang
Ane hurde of gold that samin hoill within,
Sall mak ȝow riche for ay and all ȝour kin.
Sa did this man as the ȝoung barne cōmandit
And as he said, this man richt sa he fand it.
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And thocht he wald rewaird him for his pane.
And offerit him ane pund of reddy gold,
Quhilk be na way ressaue fra him he wold.
And said gude man, na gold I will ressaif
Bot pray for me, at ȝow na mair I craif.
The seuin Maisteris persauing all this thing,
How ane ȝoung Childe of ȝeiris being sa ȝing
With sic wisdome the māns dreame did expone,
Said to thame selfis we meruell quhilk is ȝone,
Of sa ȝoung ȝeiris makis sic Interpretatioun
And sine thairfoir takis nouther golde nor croun
Sa at this childe thir seuin Inquyrit the Name
He said Merling, quhairof I think na schame.
Quod thay ȝour name bruik weill wt all weilfair
We persaue weill, ȝe haue wisdome and lair.
Ane greit mater we haue to ȝow to schaw,
Of the quhilk few or nane bot we dois knaw.
Than said the Childe schaw me furth ȝour intēt
And ȝe sall haue answer Incontinent.
Quod thay ȝoung Childe this is the verray cace
Ane Maladie haldis the Empreouris grace.
Sa lang as he in his Palice will byde,
And not thairout nouther to gang nor ryde,
He seis als weill as ane that euer was,
Bot als sone as he fra his Palice pas
Thair takis him than sa greit ane Maladie,
That all about a stime he may nocht se.
And gif ȝe can the caus heirof discus,
First ȝe sall haue ane gude rewaird of vs,
And secundlie, remeid gif ȝe can find
In time cūming the Empreour be not blind:
Out of Palice quhen he plesis to pas,
He will ȝow gif rewaird quhat ȝe will as.
Than said the Childe his Maladie I knaw,
Als the remeid thairof I can him schaw.
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Pas with vs seuin and beir vs companie,
Quhill we cum to the Empreouris presence,
Quhair ȝe sall haue rewaird and reuerence.
Than said the Childe Schirs I am reddy now
Pas quhen ȝe pleis, and I sall gang with ȝow.
And sa all aucht Incontinent past hence,
Quhill thay come to the Empreouris presence.
And quhen thay come befoir the Empreour,
Thay hailsit him with reuerence and honour.
And said gude Lord, sindrie lands haif we socht
To get ȝow health and heir we haif ȝow brocht
Ane gude ȝoung Child yt knawis ȝour Maladie
At ȝour plesure will find help and supplie.
In time cūming, that ȝe sall weill persaue,
Zour daylie health, and na seiknes to haue.
Nouther in ane, nor in nane vther pairt,
He hes sic wit in gude cunning and Airt.
The Empreour vnto thir Maisters said,
Of ȝour tythance I am richt wonder glaid.
All that he sayis will ȝe seuin tak on hand,
Ze Schir said thay at that same we will stand.
For we haue sene be gude experience,
His greit wisdome, craft and Intelligence.
The Empreour than vnto the barne he said,
Sen sic a thing gude Childe is to ȝow laid:
The caus thairof at ȝow I wald Inquire,
And sine my helth than hartlie I desire.
Than said the Child and pleis ȝour nobil grace
We twa alone mon talk ane lytill space,
In ȝour Chalmer I sall ȝow schaw trewlie,
The caus of all ȝour greit Infirmitie.
And quhen he was into the Chalmer led,
He causit cast of all the clais of the bed,
Quhilk into haist the Empreour causit be done
My Lord he said now heir ȝe sall se sone
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Vnder the bed thair was ane mekill well,
Of quhilk thair rais ane foull smuke and a reik
That wald haue maid a man baith blind & seik
Out of this well thair springs seuin greit sprīgs
The Empreour than he meruellit of sic things
Vnder his bed to be and he not wist,
Sa greit a well sa foull ane reik and mist.
He said my Lord, heir planelie ȝe may se
The verray caus of ȝour Infirmitie.
Without ȝe put thir springis and well away,
To get ȝour sicht agane na wise ȝe may.
The Empreour said I pray ȝow to me tell,
The nerrest way for to vndo this well.
Than said the Chylde thair is na way bot ane
Gif it pleis ȝow, on force it mon be tane.
The Empreour said I pray ȝow richt hartlie
Schaw me the way, gif sic ane thing may be
Gold nor gudis on na way will I spair
Sa that the treuth to me ȝe will declair,
Gif mannis craft, his naturall wit or micht,
Perfite cunning with gude science or slicht,
Subtell Ingine, Airt or experience,
Micht help my sicht, or thairfoir find defence,
I wald not cure for to gif gold plentie,
Spair for na coist sa that ȝe gar me se
Without my place als weill as I do in,
Sa ȝour rewaird fra me weill sall ȝe win.
Now sen ȝour grace to me hes geuin credence,
I sall ȝow schaw be gude experience,
The verray treuth thir seuin springis ȝe se spring
Out of this well, thay ar na vther thing,
Bot the same seuin Maisters be thair science,
Quhome to ȝe gif sa firme and greit credence,
Quhilk be thair craft cūning and Inchantmēt
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That hiddertillis, baith ȝow and ȝour Impire
Lang time bygane hes reulit at thair desire.
About ȝour place euer hes maid ȝow blind,
To that effect that na fault ȝe suld find
Done ony way be thame or thair consent,
That thair greit gyle suld not be maid patent,
Nor heir cōplaintis of ȝour Barroūis & Lordis
Bot thay allone to aggre sic discordis:
Nor that Iustice suld ring into ȝour land,
Bot all sic things suld ly into thair hand.
And ȝour subiectis to spuilȝe euerie day,
All that was grene, to ȝow it suld seme gray,
Ze not seing now suld thay all be deid,
For ȝour kyndnes, thay can find na remeid.
The Empreour said, now ȝe haue to me schawin
Of my blindnes, the caus and maid it knawin
Now the remeid thairof I wald ȝe fand,
Ze sall not want baith gold, Lordschip & land.
And pleis ȝour grace now to ȝow sall I tell,
The verray treuth, will ȝe do my counsell.
Of ȝour blindes gif se desire remeid,
The first Maister, tak and stryke of his heid,
Than ȝe sall se the first spring of the well
Be quyte away, this is the treuth I tell.
Sa ordourlie, quhill thay be Ilk ane slane,
And sa ȝe sall recure ȝour sicht agane.
This being done, the well away sall went,
And sa at eis ȝe sall get ȝour Intent.
Quhilk in gude haist was done as thay thocht richt
And sa agane the Empreour gat his sicht.
And this ȝoung Childe rewardit richt richelie
Maid him ane Lord and Air of ane countrie.
Than said scho Lord, haue ȝe persauit this taill
That I haue schawin, for ȝour gude and auail
He said richt weill, and thankis ȝow hartfullie,
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In the same sort thir seuin Maisteris said scho
Vnto ȝour grace thay purpois for to do.
Be thair fals Taillis, and siclike fenȝeing,
That ȝour curst Sone may ay abone ȝow ring
Quhilk God defend, ay quhill the hour I die,
That I neuer ane vther Empreour se.
This Taill (quod scho) I sall mak to ȝow cleir,
Quhat that it menis, & pleis ȝour grace to heir.
He said say furth, ȝe sall haue audience,
And commandit Ilk ane to keip silence.
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