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 Taill of the Sext Maister. |
 | The seuin Seages |  |
The Taill of the Sext Maister.
Vpon ane time thair was in Romes toun
Ane Empreour of greit micht and Renoun,
Quha had greit Kingis into his companie,
Lordie, Barrounis, Knichts, of greit Nobilitie
Doing seruice as culd thame best effeir.
Sum for pastime, and sum to stuf his weir.
He had thre Knichts quhome he lude ouir ye laif
In all effairis mair credence to thame gaif.
Ane vther Knicht thair was in the Cietie,
That had weddit ane lustie gay Ladie,
As ȝe haue done, ȝour Princes and ȝour wife
Quhome he lufit asweill as his awin life.
This Lady culd mak mirrie sing and dance,
In companie scho culd mak gude pastance.
Wantoun ȝoung men euin for that samin caus,
To hir ludgeing all time of day scho drawis.
And at all times scho sang sa wonder sweit,
That euerie man that past vpon the streit:
Had greit plesure of hir dulce melodie,
And causit Ilk man couet hir companie.
Scho sang sa sweit, sa curious and cleir,
All had delite hir singing for to heir.
And sa come by ane of the Knichtis thre,
That the Empreour lufit sa Inwartlie.
And hard hir sing with voice sa curious,
Trowit weill scho was ane Lady amorous.
He blent about, and saw quhair that scho set,
Incontinent he was tane in the net:
Of lufis rage, and of the Lady fair
Euin still he stude, and past na farther mair,
Quhill time he gat into hir hous entrie,
And for ane time bure thair gude companie.
Sa at the last he fell in commoning
With this Lady, of lufe and sic talking.
Sa Inwartlie at hir he did Inquire,
Quhat scho wald haue and fulfill his desire,
And sleip with him bot the space of ane nicht.
Scho askit him ane hundreth Florens bricht.
He said Lady I will giue ȝow na les,
Schaw me the time quhen I thairto sall dres.
Scho said gude Schir at time conuenient,
Quhen I think time ȝe salbe efter sent.
Sa Instantlie that nicht he did depart,
And of his tryist was wonder blyith in hart.
Beleuing sure that scho suld for him send,
Bot small he knew how all wald cum to end.
Sa on the morne scho sang into hir bour,
Come the nixt Knicht pertenit the Empreour,
Saw this Lady, and hard hir voice sa sweit,
Tuik greit langour quhill he culd with hir meit
And sa he did, and schew to hir his minde,
Vnto the quhilk scho was richt weill Inclinde,
Quha promeist hir of gude Florens fyue scoir.
Scho said gude Schir of ȝow I ask no moir.
He said Lady quhen sall I traist heirto.
Ane gude dew time I sall prouyde (quod scho)
Sa he as than departit mirrelie,
Traisting his tryist in all thing weill suld be.
On the thrid day the thrid Knicht in like wise,
Come by hir hous, and the same Interprise:
He tuik on hand, and hecht to this Lady
Fyue scoir Florens of him suld haue reddy,
For to performe and satisfie his will,
Scho was content, and grantit weill thairtill.
Quhen sall I cum (quod he) I wald ȝe schew.
I sall send word (quod scho) as I am trew.
Sa all thir thre had gottin hir consent,
Bot nane of thame knew ȝit vtheris Intent.
Than this Lady of all malice repleit,
To hir husband scho said into secreit.
Secreit maters I haue to ȝow till schaw,
Bot ȝe alone na persoun sall it knaw.
And gif ȝe will the samin tak on hand,
For greit profeit to vs baith it will stand.
And will releif vs of all pouertie,
In time cūming, and leif in honestie.
He said gude dame I can weill keip counsell,
Of ony thing that ȝe will to me tell.
To keip counsell it pertenis to ane man.
Bot be contrair, thair is na woman can.
Of thair counsell I reid anis in ane taill,
It is comparit to butter into Caill.
Zit not the les the suith gif ȝe will schaw,
Quhat euer it be, thair is na man sall knaw.
Quod scho it is ane thing of veritie,
That may vs hald ay into honestie.
Schaw me (said he) and I sall keip counsell,
Of all secreitis that ȝe will to me tell.
At my power the same I sall fulfill:
Thairfoir schaw furth gif that it be ȝour will.
Quod scho gude schir yair hes bene Knichts thre
Heir diuers times desiring lufe of me,
And promeist me but dout ane gude propine,
Ilk ane of thame fyue scoir of Florens fine,
At sindrie times Ilk ane come quietlie,
Not ane knawing of vthers preuitie:
Culd we this gold vnknawin get in our hand,
Into greit steid but dout it suld vs stand.
Than said the Knicht dame ȝe say veritie,
Bot of gude ȝeill tell on how can that be.
Scho said gude Schir my counsall ȝe sall heir,
How ȝe sall do, the way I sall ȝow leir.
I promeist thame euerie man be him sell,
Quhen thay sall cum, the time I suld thame tell,
In the same time at the ȝet ȝe sall stand,
Richt quietlie with ȝour drawin sword in hand
And quhen thay cum into thair ordour sa,
Ze sall not faill all thre thame for to sla.
Sa thre hunder Florens we sall obtene,
And nane sall knaw, nor ȝit the Knichts be sene.
Quhome to he said, O my belouit wife,
Suld I for gold reif ony man his life?
To do sic thing of God I stand sic aw,
And als it is contrair the Kingis Law.
And I dout not gif sic ane thing war done,
Withouttin dout it suld be knawin sone.
Quod scho feir not, the deid I tak on hand,
To end it furth peirtlie thair at sall stand.
And quhen he hard the taill than that scho tald,
It maid the man mair hardie and bald.
Sa be counsall of this Ill wifes Intent,
Scho causit this Knicht to that slauchter consēt
This Ill woman quhen cūmin was the nicht,
Incontinent scho send for the first Knicht.
But mair abaid vnto the ȝet come he,
As he thocht best, knokit richt quyetlie.
Than answerit scho, and at him can scho speir,
Haue ȝe not brocht the hundreth Florens heir?
But dout (said he) I haue thame heir present,
Than scho vndid the ȝet Incontinent.
As he come in, and enterit at the ȝet,
Than hir husband sic ane straik on him set,
Without mair talk, bot schortlie with his sword
Gaue him sic wappis that he spak neuer word.
With the secund he did the samin gise,
And with the thrid he plaid on the same wise.
To ane secreit Chalmer thair bodeis drew,
That nane suld knaw that he ony man slew.
Than said he dame gif thair bodeis be found
Within this place, or ȝit within this ground.
It sall not faill bot we thairfoir sall die
The maist vyle deid that can Imaginit be.
Thay will be mist into the Court but dout,
And will be socht in all thir partis about.
Scho said gude Schir, this wark first I began
To end that Ilk richt wonder weill I can.
My Ioy feir not, as I said ȝow befoir,
For I can dres sic thing and it war moir.
This Lady had into the same Cietie,
Ane gentill man, and hir brother was he:
Quhilk in the toun the gyding had to keip,
Ouir all the watche, that thay na way suld sleip
Sa on ane nicht as he past throw the streit,
At hir awin ȝet hir brother culd scho meit.
Ane secreit thing (quod scho) my deir brother,
I mon ȝow schaw, as now to nane vther.
Than enterit he and the Knicht hir husband,
Welcūmit him weill, and tuik him be the hand
Talkit at lenth and mirrelie drank the wine,
And than the Knicht said to hir brother sine,
Brother (said he) richt hartlie I Inquire,
Of ȝour counsall richt greitlie I desire
To haue the same, for thairof I haue neid.
Hir brother said, trewlie sa God me speid,
At my power, my counsall and gude thocht,
Ze sall not want, and thairin dout ȝe nocht.
Scho said brother this is the verray cace,
Zisterday last thair come vnto our place,
Vnkend to vs, ane honest nobill Knicht.
Quhome we Intreitit the best maner we micht,
And sa be chance he fell in argument
Quhairat my husband stude nathing content.
At last he ran sa heich in vilanie,
Quhat wald ȝe mair my husband gart him die.
And still he lyis into ane Chalmer hid,
To na persoun as ȝit is knawin nor kid.
And we haue nane to do for vs as now
This greit mater for to conuoy bot ȝow.
Gif he be found with vs as chance may be,
It will not faill, but dout we will baith die.
And sa scho maid bot mentioun of ane Knicht,
Not schawing him the veritie nor richt,
Hir brother said deliuer him to me,
I sall him beir in ane sek to the se.
Scho heiring that was wōder blyith and glaid
Deliuerit him the deid Knicht as scho said.
And the hie gait to the sey he is past
With the deid Knicht, and thairin did him cast.
This being done, to his sister he said,
Ze ar now quyte of ȝone thairfoir be glaid.
As ȝe desirit this mater now is drest,
Now fill the wine let vs drink of the best.
That sall ȝe haue (quod scho) with mirrie cheir,
With all our hartis the best that we haue heir.
To the Chalmer in all haist past scho sine,
As it had bene for to haue brocht him wine.
And than begouth with ane loud voice to cry,
O deir brother richt wonder frayit am I
The same Ilk Knicht that ȝe kest in the se,
In our Chalmer agane is cum to me.
Than hir brother thairof had greit meruell,
Quhen that he hard his sister sa him tell.
And I traist that thair can not be sic thing,
Zit not the les agane to me him bring.
I sall him put he sall not cum agane,
Bot still for ay I wait he sall remane.
He band him fast vnto ane vther sek,
With ane greit stane hingand about his nek.
The next Knicht tuik, beleuing that it was
The first deid Knicht and to the sey can pas,
Vpon his bak, the hie gait makis richt.
And thair but mair castis in the secund Knicht.
Than come he hame to his sister and said,
Na mair ȝe sall with ȝone Knicht be affraid;
For he is cast into the sey sa far,
That weill I wait he sall neuer cum nar,
Thairfoir fill wine, and let vs drink about,
For of ȝone Knicht I put ȝow out of dout.
To hir Chalmer to fetche wine scho did fane,
With ane loud voice scho cryit frayitlie agane,
O my brother the Knicht I say ȝow sure,
Quhome ȝe did drowne, is in my Chalmer flure
Wo be to me, I wait not quhat to say,
For be na meane he will not byde away.
The brother hard, and said quhat deuill is this
That verray Knicht he is sum witche I wis
I haue him drownit twa sindrie times but dout
And ay agane of the sey cūmis out.
Zit the thrid time deliuer him to me,
And I na mair sall cast him in the se:
Bot I sall burne his banis into ane fire.
Brother (said scho) that same thing I desire.
Than scho deliuerit the last Knicht of the thre,
And he beleuit it was the first trewlie,
Sa the thrid Knicht away with him hes tane
Knawing nathing bot all thre had bene ane.
Without the toun ane myle fra the Cietie,
In ane Forest a greit fire biggit he,
And the thrid Knicht thairin he kest to burne,
Beleuing weill he had done ane gude turne
That put away the verray Instrument
That was abill his sister to haue schent.
This deid knicht brint, that vther did him speid
As becūmis all, to do his naturall deid.
Vp fra the fire he past ane bowschot space
Into the wod to do sic besines.
And sa it chancit that samin verray nicht,
Come throw the wod rydand ane vther Knicht,
Quhilk had ane tryist the morne in the Cietie,
At ane Iusting thair him behude to be.
For werynes was baith houngrie and cald,
He blent about, and the fire culd behald.
Him to refresche hidder he raid thairto,
Bot he wist not quhat had bene thair ado.
He lichtit doun, knit his hors to ane tre,
And to the fire Incontinent past he,
To warme his hands, and to comfort his cors,
And for ane quhile to rest his tyrit hors.
Than the same knicht that was ye womans brother
Come to the fire agane and saw ane vther
Stand at the fire, quhome to he said in hy,
Quhat may thow be, he said ane Knicht am I.
Quod he agane I wait thow art na Knicht,
Thow art ane deuill, that weill I wait full richt
Twise I the drownit, the first time in ane sek,
The secund time ane greit stane at thy nek.
And now thridlie, I brint the in this fire,
And ȝit to leif me think thow will not tire.
War thow the deuill, and als the deuillis dam
Or I war cūmerit with the sa as I am,
I rather burne the ten times in ane fire,
Thy hors thy self, baith bowk banis and lire.
As he sa said, in his armes he him tuik,
In middis the fire he kest him in the smuik.
And sine his hors abone him also kest,
Sa brint thame baith or euer he tuik rest.
To his sister than come he hame agane,
Quhat him betid he tald to hir in plane.
Fill the best wine (quod he) and spair it nocht
For without dout richt deir I haue it bocht.
Efter in the fire that I had brint him anis,
Incontinent he standis vp bowk and banis,
Befoir the fire, and his hors him beside,
Quhat deuil (said I) me think thow schaipis to ride
Sa in the fire I kest him hors and all,
All this sister said he chancit me befall.
Than in hir minde scho knew Incontinent,
That he had brint ane Knicht of tornament.
Zit not the les scho brocht him the best wine,
Drank mirrelie, and sa past his way sine.
Not lang efter this wife and hir awin Knicht
Fell in debait, bechance vpon ane nicht.
And scho him gaue sum wordis outrageous,
Hie and haltand, and verray dispittous.
Quhairthrow he grew at hir in matalent,
Twa stripis or thre, till hir sa hes he lent.
Than said this wife theif wil thow murther me
As thow hes done the Empreouris Knichts thre
Thow seruis weill to be hangit and drawin,
Gif sic thing war vnto our nichtbouris knawin.
Nichtbouris about thir cruell wordis did heir
The rumour rais, the folkis grew all in feir.
Word went fra hand vnto the Empreour,
Thay war send for but ony delatour.
Quha was accusit for sic ane cruell crime,
Sone scho confest the deid, the hour and time.
How he murdreist the Empreour Knichts thre
Within the nicht, into greit crueltie
And how that thay spuilȝeit fra euerie Knicht,
Fyue scoir Florens of gold that was sa bricht.
And how that scho the mater first Inuentit,
And how that he thairto first disassentit.
Sa thay war baith condampnit be the Law,
That officers at hors taillis suld thame draw:
To the Gallous, out throw the haill Cietie,
To thair greit schame, that ilk man micht it se.
On the Gallous thay war baith put to deid,
As thay deseruit, but mercie or remeid.
The Maister said vnto the Empreour
Seruit thay not deid, yt maid sa greit murthour
The Empreour said that wife was wonder euil
Be apperance was temptit with the deuill.
Scho was the first the mater mufit and bred,
Siclike the first the samin gart out spred.
The Maister said war sall cum to ȝour sell,
Sla ȝe ȝour sone for ȝour Ill wifes counsell.
My sone (said he) for that now ȝe haue said,
Thair sall na charge of deid be to him laid
As for this day, thairfoir pas to ȝour place.
The Maister said God saue ȝour nobill grace,
Sa tuik his leif, and with ane mirrie hart,
To his awin hous, fra the Court did depart:
Ane Empreour of greit micht and Renoun,
Quha had greit Kingis into his companie,
Lordie, Barrounis, Knichts, of greit Nobilitie
Doing seruice as culd thame best effeir.
200
He had thre Knichts quhome he lude ouir ye laif
In all effairis mair credence to thame gaif.
Ane vther Knicht thair was in the Cietie,
That had weddit ane lustie gay Ladie,
As ȝe haue done, ȝour Princes and ȝour wife
Quhome he lufit asweill as his awin life.
This Lady culd mak mirrie sing and dance,
In companie scho culd mak gude pastance.
Wantoun ȝoung men euin for that samin caus,
To hir ludgeing all time of day scho drawis.
And at all times scho sang sa wonder sweit,
That euerie man that past vpon the streit:
Had greit plesure of hir dulce melodie,
And causit Ilk man couet hir companie.
Scho sang sa sweit, sa curious and cleir,
All had delite hir singing for to heir.
And sa come by ane of the Knichtis thre,
That the Empreour lufit sa Inwartlie.
And hard hir sing with voice sa curious,
Trowit weill scho was ane Lady amorous.
He blent about, and saw quhair that scho set,
Incontinent he was tane in the net:
Of lufis rage, and of the Lady fair
Euin still he stude, and past na farther mair,
Quhill time he gat into hir hous entrie,
And for ane time bure thair gude companie.
Sa at the last he fell in commoning
With this Lady, of lufe and sic talking.
Sa Inwartlie at hir he did Inquire,
Quhat scho wald haue and fulfill his desire,
And sleip with him bot the space of ane nicht.
Scho askit him ane hundreth Florens bricht.
He said Lady I will giue ȝow na les,
Schaw me the time quhen I thairto sall dres.
201
Quhen I think time ȝe salbe efter sent.
Sa Instantlie that nicht he did depart,
And of his tryist was wonder blyith in hart.
Beleuing sure that scho suld for him send,
Bot small he knew how all wald cum to end.
Sa on the morne scho sang into hir bour,
Come the nixt Knicht pertenit the Empreour,
Saw this Lady, and hard hir voice sa sweit,
Tuik greit langour quhill he culd with hir meit
And sa he did, and schew to hir his minde,
Vnto the quhilk scho was richt weill Inclinde,
Quha promeist hir of gude Florens fyue scoir.
Scho said gude Schir of ȝow I ask no moir.
He said Lady quhen sall I traist heirto.
Ane gude dew time I sall prouyde (quod scho)
Sa he as than departit mirrelie,
Traisting his tryist in all thing weill suld be.
On the thrid day the thrid Knicht in like wise,
Come by hir hous, and the same Interprise:
He tuik on hand, and hecht to this Lady
Fyue scoir Florens of him suld haue reddy,
For to performe and satisfie his will,
Scho was content, and grantit weill thairtill.
Quhen sall I cum (quod he) I wald ȝe schew.
I sall send word (quod scho) as I am trew.
Sa all thir thre had gottin hir consent,
Bot nane of thame knew ȝit vtheris Intent.
Than this Lady of all malice repleit,
To hir husband scho said into secreit.
Secreit maters I haue to ȝow till schaw,
Bot ȝe alone na persoun sall it knaw.
And gif ȝe will the samin tak on hand,
For greit profeit to vs baith it will stand.
And will releif vs of all pouertie,
In time cūming, and leif in honestie.
202
Of ony thing that ȝe will to me tell.
To keip counsell it pertenis to ane man.
Bot be contrair, thair is na woman can.
Of thair counsell I reid anis in ane taill,
It is comparit to butter into Caill.
Zit not the les the suith gif ȝe will schaw,
Quhat euer it be, thair is na man sall knaw.
Quod scho it is ane thing of veritie,
That may vs hald ay into honestie.
Schaw me (said he) and I sall keip counsell,
Of all secreitis that ȝe will to me tell.
At my power the same I sall fulfill:
Thairfoir schaw furth gif that it be ȝour will.
Quod scho gude schir yair hes bene Knichts thre
Heir diuers times desiring lufe of me,
And promeist me but dout ane gude propine,
Ilk ane of thame fyue scoir of Florens fine,
At sindrie times Ilk ane come quietlie,
Not ane knawing of vthers preuitie:
Culd we this gold vnknawin get in our hand,
Into greit steid but dout it suld vs stand.
Than said the Knicht dame ȝe say veritie,
Bot of gude ȝeill tell on how can that be.
Scho said gude Schir my counsall ȝe sall heir,
How ȝe sall do, the way I sall ȝow leir.
I promeist thame euerie man be him sell,
Quhen thay sall cum, the time I suld thame tell,
In the same time at the ȝet ȝe sall stand,
Richt quietlie with ȝour drawin sword in hand
And quhen thay cum into thair ordour sa,
Ze sall not faill all thre thame for to sla.
Sa thre hunder Florens we sall obtene,
And nane sall knaw, nor ȝit the Knichts be sene.
Quhome to he said, O my belouit wife,
Suld I for gold reif ony man his life?
203
And als it is contrair the Kingis Law.
And I dout not gif sic ane thing war done,
Withouttin dout it suld be knawin sone.
Quod scho feir not, the deid I tak on hand,
To end it furth peirtlie thair at sall stand.
And quhen he hard the taill than that scho tald,
It maid the man mair hardie and bald.
Sa be counsall of this Ill wifes Intent,
Scho causit this Knicht to that slauchter consēt
This Ill woman quhen cūmin was the nicht,
Incontinent scho send for the first Knicht.
But mair abaid vnto the ȝet come he,
As he thocht best, knokit richt quyetlie.
Than answerit scho, and at him can scho speir,
Haue ȝe not brocht the hundreth Florens heir?
But dout (said he) I haue thame heir present,
Than scho vndid the ȝet Incontinent.
As he come in, and enterit at the ȝet,
Than hir husband sic ane straik on him set,
Without mair talk, bot schortlie with his sword
Gaue him sic wappis that he spak neuer word.
With the secund he did the samin gise,
And with the thrid he plaid on the same wise.
To ane secreit Chalmer thair bodeis drew,
That nane suld knaw that he ony man slew.
Than said he dame gif thair bodeis be found
Within this place, or ȝit within this ground.
It sall not faill bot we thairfoir sall die
The maist vyle deid that can Imaginit be.
Thay will be mist into the Court but dout,
And will be socht in all thir partis about.
Scho said gude Schir, this wark first I began
To end that Ilk richt wonder weill I can.
My Ioy feir not, as I said ȝow befoir,
For I can dres sic thing and it war moir.
204
Ane gentill man, and hir brother was he:
Quhilk in the toun the gyding had to keip,
Ouir all the watche, that thay na way suld sleip
Sa on ane nicht as he past throw the streit,
At hir awin ȝet hir brother culd scho meit.
Ane secreit thing (quod scho) my deir brother,
I mon ȝow schaw, as now to nane vther.
Than enterit he and the Knicht hir husband,
Welcūmit him weill, and tuik him be the hand
Talkit at lenth and mirrelie drank the wine,
And than the Knicht said to hir brother sine,
Brother (said he) richt hartlie I Inquire,
Of ȝour counsall richt greitlie I desire
To haue the same, for thairof I haue neid.
Hir brother said, trewlie sa God me speid,
At my power, my counsall and gude thocht,
Ze sall not want, and thairin dout ȝe nocht.
Scho said brother this is the verray cace,
Zisterday last thair come vnto our place,
Vnkend to vs, ane honest nobill Knicht.
Quhome we Intreitit the best maner we micht,
And sa be chance he fell in argument
Quhairat my husband stude nathing content.
At last he ran sa heich in vilanie,
Quhat wald ȝe mair my husband gart him die.
And still he lyis into ane Chalmer hid,
To na persoun as ȝit is knawin nor kid.
And we haue nane to do for vs as now
This greit mater for to conuoy bot ȝow.
Gif he be found with vs as chance may be,
It will not faill, but dout we will baith die.
And sa scho maid bot mentioun of ane Knicht,
Not schawing him the veritie nor richt,
Hir brother said deliuer him to me,
I sall him beir in ane sek to the se.
205
Deliuerit him the deid Knicht as scho said.
And the hie gait to the sey he is past
With the deid Knicht, and thairin did him cast.
This being done, to his sister he said,
Ze ar now quyte of ȝone thairfoir be glaid.
As ȝe desirit this mater now is drest,
Now fill the wine let vs drink of the best.
That sall ȝe haue (quod scho) with mirrie cheir,
With all our hartis the best that we haue heir.
To the Chalmer in all haist past scho sine,
As it had bene for to haue brocht him wine.
And than begouth with ane loud voice to cry,
O deir brother richt wonder frayit am I
The same Ilk Knicht that ȝe kest in the se,
In our Chalmer agane is cum to me.
Than hir brother thairof had greit meruell,
Quhen that he hard his sister sa him tell.
And I traist that thair can not be sic thing,
Zit not the les agane to me him bring.
I sall him put he sall not cum agane,
Bot still for ay I wait he sall remane.
He band him fast vnto ane vther sek,
With ane greit stane hingand about his nek.
The next Knicht tuik, beleuing that it was
The first deid Knicht and to the sey can pas,
Vpon his bak, the hie gait makis richt.
And thair but mair castis in the secund Knicht.
Than come he hame to his sister and said,
Na mair ȝe sall with ȝone Knicht be affraid;
For he is cast into the sey sa far,
That weill I wait he sall neuer cum nar,
Thairfoir fill wine, and let vs drink about,
For of ȝone Knicht I put ȝow out of dout.
To hir Chalmer to fetche wine scho did fane,
With ane loud voice scho cryit frayitlie agane,
206
Quhome ȝe did drowne, is in my Chalmer flure
Wo be to me, I wait not quhat to say,
For be na meane he will not byde away.
The brother hard, and said quhat deuill is this
That verray Knicht he is sum witche I wis
I haue him drownit twa sindrie times but dout
And ay agane of the sey cūmis out.
Zit the thrid time deliuer him to me,
And I na mair sall cast him in the se:
Bot I sall burne his banis into ane fire.
Brother (said scho) that same thing I desire.
Than scho deliuerit the last Knicht of the thre,
And he beleuit it was the first trewlie,
Sa the thrid Knicht away with him hes tane
Knawing nathing bot all thre had bene ane.
Without the toun ane myle fra the Cietie,
In ane Forest a greit fire biggit he,
And the thrid Knicht thairin he kest to burne,
Beleuing weill he had done ane gude turne
That put away the verray Instrument
That was abill his sister to haue schent.
This deid knicht brint, that vther did him speid
As becūmis all, to do his naturall deid.
Vp fra the fire he past ane bowschot space
Into the wod to do sic besines.
And sa it chancit that samin verray nicht,
Come throw the wod rydand ane vther Knicht,
Quhilk had ane tryist the morne in the Cietie,
At ane Iusting thair him behude to be.
For werynes was baith houngrie and cald,
He blent about, and the fire culd behald.
Him to refresche hidder he raid thairto,
Bot he wist not quhat had bene thair ado.
He lichtit doun, knit his hors to ane tre,
And to the fire Incontinent past he,
207
And for ane quhile to rest his tyrit hors.
Than the same knicht that was ye womans brother
Come to the fire agane and saw ane vther
Stand at the fire, quhome to he said in hy,
Quhat may thow be, he said ane Knicht am I.
Quod he agane I wait thow art na Knicht,
Thow art ane deuill, that weill I wait full richt
Twise I the drownit, the first time in ane sek,
The secund time ane greit stane at thy nek.
And now thridlie, I brint the in this fire,
And ȝit to leif me think thow will not tire.
War thow the deuill, and als the deuillis dam
Or I war cūmerit with the sa as I am,
I rather burne the ten times in ane fire,
Thy hors thy self, baith bowk banis and lire.
As he sa said, in his armes he him tuik,
In middis the fire he kest him in the smuik.
And sine his hors abone him also kest,
Sa brint thame baith or euer he tuik rest.
To his sister than come he hame agane,
Quhat him betid he tald to hir in plane.
Fill the best wine (quod he) and spair it nocht
For without dout richt deir I haue it bocht.
Efter in the fire that I had brint him anis,
Incontinent he standis vp bowk and banis,
Befoir the fire, and his hors him beside,
Quhat deuil (said I) me think thow schaipis to ride
Sa in the fire I kest him hors and all,
All this sister said he chancit me befall.
Than in hir minde scho knew Incontinent,
That he had brint ane Knicht of tornament.
Zit not the les scho brocht him the best wine,
Drank mirrelie, and sa past his way sine.
Not lang efter this wife and hir awin Knicht
Fell in debait, bechance vpon ane nicht.
208
Hie and haltand, and verray dispittous.
Quhairthrow he grew at hir in matalent,
Twa stripis or thre, till hir sa hes he lent.
Than said this wife theif wil thow murther me
As thow hes done the Empreouris Knichts thre
Thow seruis weill to be hangit and drawin,
Gif sic thing war vnto our nichtbouris knawin.
Nichtbouris about thir cruell wordis did heir
The rumour rais, the folkis grew all in feir.
Word went fra hand vnto the Empreour,
Thay war send for but ony delatour.
Quha was accusit for sic ane cruell crime,
Sone scho confest the deid, the hour and time.
How he murdreist the Empreour Knichts thre
Within the nicht, into greit crueltie
And how that thay spuilȝeit fra euerie Knicht,
Fyue scoir Florens of gold that was sa bricht.
And how that scho the mater first Inuentit,
And how that he thairto first disassentit.
Sa thay war baith condampnit be the Law,
That officers at hors taillis suld thame draw:
To the Gallous, out throw the haill Cietie,
To thair greit schame, that ilk man micht it se.
On the Gallous thay war baith put to deid,
As thay deseruit, but mercie or remeid.
The Maister said vnto the Empreour
Seruit thay not deid, yt maid sa greit murthour
The Empreour said that wife was wonder euil
Be apperance was temptit with the deuill.
Scho was the first the mater mufit and bred,
Siclike the first the samin gart out spred.
The Maister said war sall cum to ȝour sell,
Sla ȝe ȝour sone for ȝour Ill wifes counsell.
My sone (said he) for that now ȝe haue said,
Thair sall na charge of deid be to him laid
209
The Maister said God saue ȝour nobill grace,
Sa tuik his leif, and with ane mirrie hart,
To his awin hous, fra the Court did depart:
Quhen the Emprice of thir tythance hard tell
Scho was maist like for to haue slane hir sell.
As ane wod wife come to the Empreour,
Behald (said scho) ane woman of dolour.
Except that ȝe get me soner remeid,
I sall but dout my awin self put to deid.
I am sa schamit with the countrie about,
That I think schame of my Chalmer cum out
And na remeid quhat euer I do or say,
Bot with the fals Taillis put of fra day to day,
Fy vpon ȝow that sufferis sic ane thing,
Ze ar not worth to be Empreour or King.
Ze cure na schame, ȝe cure na warldis wonder
To haue me schamit, and ȝour self put to vnder
And to be schamit & callit ane Empreours wife
I sall rather my self fall on my knife.
The pane of deid Induris bot half ane hour,
Bot euer mair schame sall degraid honour.
The Empreour said I pray God ȝow defend,
That ȝe tak not sic ane vnhappie end.
To tak in thocht ȝour awin self for to sla,
Quhat euer ȝe do, I pray ȝow do not sa.
And I pray God that I not causer be
Of sic mischance, nor sic aduersitie.
Bot will ȝe thoill and suffer ane schort quhile,
Zour caus will cum to ane far better stile,
And ȝour complaint will haue the better end
Zour Iust querrell euer I sall defend.
Quod scho agane, the end sall not be gude,
Baith ȝow and me it sall vs baith exclude
Of this Impire, and put vs to confusioun,
Zone seuin Maisters leidis ȝow in sic abusioun.
That it sall chance to ȝow heir efterwart,
As it come to ane King and his Stewart.
The Empreour said, I pray ȝow now but faill
Of ȝour gudnes to tell me furth that taill,
Scho said my Lord to tell ane taill agane,
Weill I persaue it will be bot in vane:
For the nixt day the seuint Maister will cum,
And tell ane taill to saif ȝour sone thats dum,
And help him as his fellowis did befoir,
Fra thay haue done, ȝe will heir me no moir.
On the aucht day than sall ȝour awin sone cum
And tell his taill quhilk this lang time was dū
To quhais talking ȝe sall giue sic plesour,
That I salbe put furth of ȝour memour.
And the greit lufe betuix vs twa hes bene,
In time cūming now salbe forȝet clene.
The Empreour said sic ane thing can not be,
Without ȝe serue the same vnwittand me.
Quhilk I beleue was neuer in ȝour thocht,
Thairfoir as ȝit sic thing trow will I nocht.
The Emprice said, than I sall tell my taill,
Quhilk to ȝour grace it sall greitlie auaill.
And caus ȝow fra greit perrellis eschew
Quhilk I persaue is ellis prepairit for ȝow.
Be ȝour curst sone, and his seuin Maisters all
Quhilk efter this richt weill persaue ȝe sall.
The Empreour said, now I pray ȝour gudnes,
Tell furth that taill, and leif ȝour besines.
Sa scho began hir taill with fenȝeit cheir,
Not blyith at hart, as he sall after heir.
Bot or scho tell hir taill furth to the King,
Of the last taill now let vs say sum thing.
Scho was maist like for to haue slane hir sell.
As ane wod wife come to the Empreour,
Behald (said scho) ane woman of dolour.
Except that ȝe get me soner remeid,
I sall but dout my awin self put to deid.
I am sa schamit with the countrie about,
That I think schame of my Chalmer cum out
And na remeid quhat euer I do or say,
Bot with the fals Taillis put of fra day to day,
Fy vpon ȝow that sufferis sic ane thing,
Ze ar not worth to be Empreour or King.
Ze cure na schame, ȝe cure na warldis wonder
To haue me schamit, and ȝour self put to vnder
And to be schamit & callit ane Empreours wife
I sall rather my self fall on my knife.
The pane of deid Induris bot half ane hour,
Bot euer mair schame sall degraid honour.
The Empreour said I pray God ȝow defend,
That ȝe tak not sic ane vnhappie end.
To tak in thocht ȝour awin self for to sla,
Quhat euer ȝe do, I pray ȝow do not sa.
And I pray God that I not causer be
Of sic mischance, nor sic aduersitie.
Bot will ȝe thoill and suffer ane schort quhile,
Zour caus will cum to ane far better stile,
And ȝour complaint will haue the better end
Zour Iust querrell euer I sall defend.
Quod scho agane, the end sall not be gude,
Baith ȝow and me it sall vs baith exclude
Of this Impire, and put vs to confusioun,
Zone seuin Maisters leidis ȝow in sic abusioun.
210
As it come to ane King and his Stewart.
The Empreour said, I pray ȝow now but faill
Of ȝour gudnes to tell me furth that taill,
Scho said my Lord to tell ane taill agane,
Weill I persaue it will be bot in vane:
For the nixt day the seuint Maister will cum,
And tell ane taill to saif ȝour sone thats dum,
And help him as his fellowis did befoir,
Fra thay haue done, ȝe will heir me no moir.
On the aucht day than sall ȝour awin sone cum
And tell his taill quhilk this lang time was dū
To quhais talking ȝe sall giue sic plesour,
That I salbe put furth of ȝour memour.
And the greit lufe betuix vs twa hes bene,
In time cūming now salbe forȝet clene.
The Empreour said sic ane thing can not be,
Without ȝe serue the same vnwittand me.
Quhilk I beleue was neuer in ȝour thocht,
Thairfoir as ȝit sic thing trow will I nocht.
The Emprice said, than I sall tell my taill,
Quhilk to ȝour grace it sall greitlie auaill.
And caus ȝow fra greit perrellis eschew
Quhilk I persaue is ellis prepairit for ȝow.
Be ȝour curst sone, and his seuin Maisters all
Quhilk efter this richt weill persaue ȝe sall.
The Empreour said, now I pray ȝour gudnes,
Tell furth that taill, and leif ȝour besines.
Sa scho began hir taill with fenȝeit cheir,
Not blyith at hart, as he sall after heir.
Bot or scho tell hir taill furth to the King,
Of the last taill now let vs say sum thing.
| The seuin Seages | |