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31

SECULAR POEMS

Love Songs and Complaints

40. Alas, Alas, and Alas Why

[_]

Univ. Libr., Ff.1.6, fol. 137v, middle

Alas alas and alas why
hath fortune done so creweley
ffro me to take awey þe seyte
Of þat þat gewit my hert lyte
Of all þyng þat in erth yse
To me hyt was þe most blyse
Whan þat y was in presense
To wham my hert doth reuerense
And euer schal for well or woo
Or drede of frende or lyf all soo
Hit schal me neuer oþer a sterte
But ye to haue my hole hert
Saue whan I come to þe deth
That nedes oute mouste þe brethe
þat kepyth þe lyfe me with inne
And þan fro yow most I twyne
And tyll þe day hit me owre
Ryȝt feythfully I yow ensure
þat þer schal no erly þyng
On my part make departyng
Thus ame I sett. yn stable wyse
To lefe and dure in yowre seruyce
Wyt oute faynyng of my hert
Thow I fele neuer soo grete smert
32

41. Alas What Planet Was I Born Vndir

[_]

Univ. Coll., Ff.1.6, fol. 138v.

Alas what planet was y born vndir
My hert ys set thus veray feythfully
Thow y be heuy hit ys no wondir
That in youre grace y stand not perfetely
Than for to change yet had me leuer dy
Thes paynes stronge whiche y by force endure
As to loue long y wote y am not sure
And yeff′ my dethe come to me hasty
God cnowt hit ys by your cruelte
Hit lith in you al myght ye remedy
Of sorow y haue but to grete plente
I fayne no thyng as euer y sauid be
My ioy ys fled′ my wittes done apeire
I lyue as yet but only in dispeyre
Where for y pray as hertly as y can
In this grete nede that ye wil me comfort
And thencke y am your seruaunt & your man
Els most y for sake al my disport
Where to bicome or whethir to resort
Ther ys in me for wo no certaynte
ffor lacke of grace thes parties shal y flee

42. The Lover Wishes His Lady Recovery

[_]

Univ. Coll., Ff.1.6, fol. 28v.

As in yow resstyth my Ioy and comfort
Youre dissese ys my mortal payne
Sone god send me seche reporte
þat may comfort myn hert in every vayne
ho but ȝe may me sustayne
Ar of my gref be þe remedy
but ye sone amendement of youre maledy
33

Weche ys to me þe heviest remembraunce
þat euer can be þouth in any creature
Myne hert hanggyng þus in balaunce
Tyl I haue knowlege & verely sure
þat god in yow hath lyst done thys cure
Of yowre dyssese to haue allygaunce
And to be releuyd of all yowre grevaunce

43. Lament

[_]

Univ. Libr., Ff.1.6, fol. 20r, occupying whole page

I may well sygh for greuous ys my payne
Now to departe fram yow thys sodenly
My fayre swete hert ye cause me to compleyn
ffor lacke of yow y stande full pytously
Alle yn dyscomfort withowten remedy
Most yn my mynde my lady souerayn
Alas for woo departynge hath me slayn
ffare well my myrthe & chefe of my comfort
My Ioy ys turnyd ynto heuynesse
Tyll y agayn to yow may resort
As for the tyme y am but recules
lyke to a fygure wyche that ys hertlees
With yow hyt ys god wote y may not fayne
Alas for woo departynge hath me slayne
ȝyt not wythstondynge for all my greuaunce
Hyt shall be taken ryght pacyently
And thenke hit ys to me but a plesaunce
ffor yow to suffre a grete dele more truly
Wyll neuer change but kepe vnfeyny[n]gly
With alle my myght to be bothe true & playn
Alas for woo departynge hath me slayn
34

44. Without Variance

[_]

Univ. Coll., Ff.1.6, fol. 20v.

Margery Hungerford With owte variance
Where y haue chosyn stedefast woll y be
Newyre to repente in wyll thowth ne dede
Yow to serue watt ȝe commaund′ me
neuer hyt withdrawe for no maner drede
Thus am y bownd by yowre godelyhede
Wych haþ me causyd and þat in euery wyse
Wyle I in lyfe endure to do yow my seruyse
Yowre desertt can none odere deserue
Wych ys in my remembrauns both day & nyȝt
Afore al creaturus I yow loue & serue
Wyle in thys world I haue strength and mytt
Wych ys in dewte of very dewe ryȝt
By promes made with feythful assuraunce
Euer yow to sarue with owtyn varyaunce
Ye are to blame to sett yowre hert so sore
Seþyn þat ye wote that hyt [ys] rekeurles
To encrece yowre payne more & more
Syn þat ye wote þat sche ys merceles

45. A Troubled Lover's Apostrophe to Death

[_]

Pembroke Coll. 307, fol. 198v.

O Dethe whylum dysplesant to nature
Where duellyst þow wylte thou þin man forsake
Com on and se thow wofull creature
That haþe his herte vnto a lady take
That woll his deþe & lyst no pese to make
Cum & helpe the petuys man to ende
In the lythe all here ys non odere ffrende
35

46. A Compleint vn to Dame Fortune Capitulo xxviii

[_]

Univ. Libr., Ff.1.6, fol. 159v.

O þou fortune why art þou so inconstaunt
To make þis land so to meeve
Thou hast a dominacioun traversaunt
Wyth owte numbre doyst þou greeue
Vnstedefast art þou for to be leve
He þat yn þe settyth hys confidence
He holdyth ryght naught of clene consciennce

Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas

I whoot weel what causyth oure necligennce
fful fewe now þer be content of sufficisaunce
Wherfore þe coveytous doth greet offennce
Heygh to surmounte þe worldis bobaunce
Wordely men often tymes hem a vaunce
Be fortune and þat ys here confidennce
he holdyth ryght nawt of clene consciennce

Qui cupiunt diuites fieri incidunt in laqueos diaboli

Many men byn brought from poverte
On to rychesse and þat in dyvers wyse
Whanne þey haue y nough þey cannot se
Poverte þanne doun þey dyspyse
Resoun with hem may not aryse
He þat yn fortune settyth his confidence
He kepyth ryght naught of clene conscience

Multis mortem generauerunt diuitie

Mysure ys tresour as men doon seye
Therto euery man schold take heed
And yn alle his warkes to god obeye
Hym ful hertely loue and dreed
And ellys fortune so hym may leed
Puttynge in here al his confidence
A doun to falle in here presence
36

Si diuitie vobis affluant nolite cor apponere

ffor whanne rychesse doth a bounde

Propheta


In greet mesure þat ys ful casual
fful often tymes yt ys weel founde
þat ful lyghtely . he getyth . a . fal .
Hys wynnyng at þe last may be smal
In fortune was set hys confidence
He kepte ryght nawȝt of clene conscience
Manhood in þys reame hath regnyd lange
But now þerfayleth ordynaunce
Covetyse and meede ben had in hand
Sustrys þey be of oon a lyaunce
Euery day to gedere þey do daunce
ȝyf men wolde sette in god here confidence
ffare weel þanne large conscience
Coveytyse spredyth now ful wyde
Wherfore worschepe ys set be hynd
Dyscrecioun faylyth now in many a syde
Cawsyng rychemen to be blynde
Nyghtes reste can þey noon fynde
In wordely muk ys al here confidence
Therfore absentyth ys clene conscience
ffalseheed ys suster vn to meede
Euere þey ben of oon acordaunce
Manye to hem taken good heed
Al þat cawsyth a greet variaunce
Large conscience makyth a dysturbelaunce
In wordely muk ys here confidence
ffor þey sette at nawt clene consciennce
That ynfortunat false coveytyse
of gold and syluer falsely gote
37

Wher þrough many men doon aryse
And kepyn gold in coferys stoke
Day houre and tyme þey ne wote
How long schal endure here confidence
ffor þey sette at nawȝt clene conscience
fful often tymes yt ys y seye
That vntrowthe supportyth tresoun
Wher þrought a man may lyghtely deye
ffor falseheed and tresoun ben the enchesoun
In thys land þys mateyr ys not gesoun
Inworldely muk ys his confidence
And al þat causyth . large conscience
Holy doctouris thus doon þey seye
That worldely . good gotyn wyth wrong
To resoun þei moste nedys a beye
In helle pette ellys schall þey hong
But restitucioun be mayd among
And trewe repentaunce here defennce
ffor þat wele charyte & clene conscience

Duplex est restitucio scire actualis et mentalis

Restitucion ys weel to vndyrstande
In two wyses as thenkyth me
On . ys þe good þat he hath in hande
To ȝeelde yt ageyn to hys powste
That other ys þe good spendyd in vanyte
Good wyl to ȝeelde yt with owte vyolence
ffor þat wele charyte and conscience
Coveytyse dooth often ful greet schame
Vnto manhood and þat ys greet pyte
ffalseheed þerof beryth þe name
And þat ys for lak of charyte
Thus many men faren of euery degre
38

In worldely muk lyeth here confidence
And al þis causyth large conscience

Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire contrarijs

He þat ys servaunt vn to greet rychesse
And wyl not governe yt to goddys intent
That may lette hym from goddys presence
And so par aventure he may be schent

47. A Pure Balade of Love

[_]

Caius Coll. 176, fol. 23r, top

Knyȝtes in travayle for to serve
Wherof the may thanke deserve
Where as thes men of Armes be
Some most ouer the gret see
So that by lande and by ship
The most travayle for wurship
And make many hasty rodes
Somtyme Vnto ynde sumtyme to þe Rodes
And somtyme in to tartary
So that the herialte on theym crye
Viallant viallant Lo where he goith
And then he gyvith hym gold & cloth

Satirical Pieces

48. The Dyscryuyng of a Fayre Lady
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[_]

Trin. Coll., R.3.19, fol. 205r.

by Chaucer.
I HAUE a Lady where so she be
That seldom ys the souerayn of my thought
On whos beawte when I beholde and se
Remembryng me how well she ys wrought
I thanke fortune that to hyr grace me brought
39

So fayre ys she but nothyng angelyke
Hyr bewty ys to none other lyke.
ffor hardely and she were made of brasse
fface and all she hath y nowgh fayrenesse
hyr eyen byn holow and grene as any grasse
And rauynnysshe yelow ys hyr sonny tresse
Therto she hath of euery comlynesse
Suche quantyte yeuyn hyr by nature
That with the leest she ys of hyr stature
And as a bolt hyr browes byn y bent
And byttyll browyd she ys also with all
And of hir wytte as sympyll and innocent
As ys a chylde that can no good at all
She ys nat thyk hyr stature ys but small
Hyr fyngers byn lytyll and nothyng long
Hyr skyn ys smothe as any oxys tong
Therto she ys so wyse in dalyaunce
And besette hyr wordes so womanly
That hyr to here hit doth me dysplesaunce
ffor that she seyth ys sayde so connyngly
Then when that ther′ be mo then she & I
I had leuer she were of talkyng styll
Then that she shuld so goodly speche spyll
And slowth noone shall haue in her′ entresse
So dylygent ys she and virtulesse
And so besy ay all good to vndresse
That as a she ape she ys harmelesse
And as an hornet meke and pytelesse
With that she ys so wyse and circumspecte
That prudent noon hyr foly can infecte
Ys hit nat ioy that suche oone of hyr age
Withyn the boundys of so gret tendyrnesse
Shuld in her werke be so sad and sage
40

That of the weddyng sawe all the noblesse
Of quene Jane and was tho as I gesse
But of the age of yeres X and fyue
I trow ther ar nat many suche alyue
ffor as Jhesu my synfull sowle saue
There nys creature in all thys world lyuyng
Lyke vnto hyr that I wold gladly haue
So pleseth myn hert that goodly swete thyng
Whos sowle in haste vnto hys blysse bryng
That furst hyr formyd to be a creature
ffor were she wele of me I dyd no cure
Explicit the Dyscryuyng of a fayre lady

49. O Mosy Quince
[_]

The attribution of this poem is questionable.

[_]

Trin. Coll., R.3.19, fol. 205v.

Chaucer.
O mosy Quince hangyng by your′ stalke
The whyche noman dar′ pluk away ner take
Of all the folk that passe forby or walke
Your′ flowres fresshe be fallyn away and shake
I am ryght sory masteras for your sake
Ye seme a thyng that all men haue forgotyn
Ye be so rype ye wex almost rotyn
Wyne women worshyp vnweldy age
Make men to fonne for lak in theyr′ resons
Elde causeth dulnesse and dotage
And worshyp chaunge of condicions
Excesse of wyne blyndeth theyr′ dyscrecions
And all bookes that poetes made & radde
Seyen women most make men madde
Your′ vgly chere deynous & froward
Your′ grene eyen frownyng and nat glad
Yowre chekes enbonyd lyke a melow costard
Colour of Orenge your brestys satournad
Gylt opon warantyse the colour wyll nat fade
41

Bawsyn buttockyd belyed lyke a toune
Men cry seynt Barbara at lowsyng of your goune
My louely lewde masterasse take consideracion
I am so sorowfull there as ye be absent
The flowre of the barkfate þe fowlyst of all the nacion
To loue yow but a lytyll hit myne entent
The swert hath y swent yow the smoke hath yow shent
I trowe ye haue be layde opon som kylne to dry
Ye do me so moche worshyp there as ye be present
Of all wemen I loue yow best . a thowsand tymes fy.
Explicit

50. When Women Will Reform

[_]

Camb. Univ., Gg.4.12, last flylea

Didiscere flere feminam mendacium est
When fishes in the water leve their swymmyng
And the byrdes in the woodes their syngyng
Then the craftie women desist their wepyng
Deludyng their sely husbandes by fals lying
43

52. Punctuation Poem

[_]

Pembroke Coll. 307, fol. 197v.

Trvsty . seldom/ to their ffrendys vniust . /
Gladd for to helpp . no Crysten creator/
Wyllyng to greve . settyng all þeir ioy & lust
Only in þe pleasour of god . Havyng no cure/
Who is most ryche . With them þey wylbe sewer/
Wher nede is . gevyng neyther reward ne ffee/
Vnresonably . Thus lyve prestys . parde . /
Trusty . seldom / to ther ffrendys vniust .
Glade for to helpe . no Cristen creator
Willyng to greue . settyng all ther ioy & lust

Johan Mundy


Only in þe pleasour of gode . Havyng no cure
Who is most ryche . with them þei wilbe sure
Wher nede is . gewyng nether rewarde ne ffee
Vnresonably . Thus leve prestys parde
44

53. Alas, quid eligam ignoro

[_]

Univ. Libr., Hh.4.12, fol. 91r.

Consideryng effectually the gret diuersite
Of sectys conteynyd in the church present
How eche of hem lyve in a dew degre
Presthode and religion euer to be continent
The layfee in sposayll/ the solitary doth consent
Euer to be contemplatyf/ we se well it is so
Wherefore thus I said verayly as I ment
Alas/Quid eligam ignoro
Thre thyngges quod Salamon ben vnknowyn to me
And to know the fowrth I can not vtterly
The way of shypp saylyng in the see
The way of an heddyr glydyng sodayly
Of the egle in the ayere the way is full slye
The worst of all to know is of a yong man loo
Wherefore thus I said sore syghyng inwarly
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
ffor whan I was determined fyrst to go to scole
It was to me ryght lothe by cause of castigacion
ȝit me thowght ageynward elles shuld I be a fole
Wich to all my frendes shuld be diffamacion
Thus toward and froward I had persuasion
Vtterly vnknowyng the best for me to do
Wherefore thus I said havyng noo consolacion
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
Yit as my fortune wold I was set to lore
And growndly in gramer had congrue vndirstondyng
ffurther to procede than set I lityll store
Thynkkyng myself able to purchase my lyvyng
Yit in my consaite I was ymaginyng
If I forth procede muche better shuld I doo
Wherefore thus I said of thys mater musyng
Alas / Quid eligam ignoro
45

Thys yit not withstondyng with a good avise
My frendes me told it is thy furtheraunce
To lerne the .Vij. science replenyschyd with delite
Yit me thowght to lucre they shuld me nowt avance
And to be a Ciuilistre is a full hard chaunce
Bokes be so dere I know well it is so
Wherefore sore complaynyng thys was my daliance
Alas / Quid eligam ignoro
Than happyd that in arte I had the magistery
My Regency finischyd I had habilite
ffurther to procede I wold no lenger tary
to ffysyk or to Ciuille was my felicite
But wheder of them both had more affinite
To iust adquisicion I cowde not chese thoo
Wherefore thus I said in that aduersite
Alas / Quid eligam ignoro/
Than thowght I forto be in spirituall lawe
An officiall / aduocat / proctour / or notary
Anone I was counsellyd thens me to withdraw
Lest I shuld misuse the law / wich wold not varye
Thus mouyd vnwarly I gan both banne and wary
Like vnto a Reede wavyng too and fro
Wherefore thus I said I cowd no lenger tarye
Alas / Quid eligam ignoro.
Wel I wote thatt Canon and holy theologie
Ben best of all other mannys sowle to conuay
All heresy confoundyng and fals Ipocrisye
Them wold I haf lernyd the soth for to sey
My fraylte me commandyd not for clymme so hye
Lest I beyng there sodaynly fall hem fro
Wherefor thus I said seyng non othyr way
Alas Quid eligam ignoro/
Thus mortally bewavyd with stormys procellows
I nyst where to fynd the porte of stedfastnesse
46

To which I myght well guye my lyfe thus trobelows
ffor if I were a prest sum men wold than gesse
That I so dyd for couetyse of ease and sikyrnesse
Agayneward if I weddyd war than shuld I lefe in woo
Wherfor thus I said havyng gret heuynesse
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
The mownte of contemplacion strong it is to stey
Inhabited with possessioner and with mendinant
If I be a frere I may begge alway
Many diuerse townys frely for to hawnt
Yf I be possessioner I haf noo such grawnt
ffor I must lyffe in cloystre wheder I wyl or noo
Wherfor thus I sayd in wytte a yong enfawnt
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
Whan I had thus complaynyd expressyng myn entent
A yong man herd my processe disposyd worldly
O mercy god quod he now am I but shent
Sith thys wyse clerk complaynyth so vttirly
what is best to doo / not knowyng verayly
And in worldly besinesse is most trobles woo
Wherfor thus I say gretter cause haf I
Alas / Quid eligam ignoro/
A man to be a marchaunt he said was aventure
Of body and goodes hit is trowth in dede
Of shipwrak and piratys hard is the recure
To dyeke or to delue he wold for no nede
To begge hym thowght shame so god hym spede
Of theys to chese the lest was payne and woo
Wherfore thus he said I toke to hym good hede
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
In cowrt to be bownde to dew attendaunce
Or to be in office myght torne to hys avayle
Yit hym thowght agayneward ther myght hap a chaunce
That as an vngiltles innocent he shuld be put in gayle
As Ioseph was and daniell that is with owt faile
47

And for to gete hys lyvyng sumwhat must he do
Wherfor thus he said and gan both wepe and waile
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
To lerne the lawe temporall grete goodes myght he gete
As to be in the chauncery or theschequire
Aftyr to be sargeant causys for to plete
Which gettyng as hym thowght was not inly clere
Accordyng with hys conscience which shuld be the stere
Of thys wrechyd lyvyng yf we shall well doo
Wherfor he said with ryght a piteuowse chere
Alas / Quid eligam ignoro
To be an hand crafty man must hafe gret besinesse
As to be a tailyour wryghte / or coteler
And dayly now in craftys is falshode and dowblenesse
Therfor to þis yong man in noo wyse they were dere
And vttyrly he forsoke to be a laborere
As to dawbe or dyke he myght not swynk soo
Wherfor thus he said standyng in grete dwere
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
In any wyse he said I will haf a wyfe
Shall I wed the bewteuose nay quod jelosye
I wyll not wed the fowle for irkyng of my lyfe
The ryche be passyng strawnge the good ryght rare to spie
To parell with the jentyll I may not clymbe soo hye
And if I wed a chrewe my good days than be doo
Wherfor thus he said as lowde as he myght crye
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
Thys piteuows gret complaynt of thys yong persone
Vggyd so myn erys my tounge cowd not refrayne
To say on thys wyse yong man leve thy mone
The mater that thow waylist towchith both us twayne
And thow we be now lokkyd with one woful chayne
Yit we may haf remedy expellyng all owre woo
Neuer sayng aftyr / as we wer wont to sayne
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
48

Lat us take ensample of wofull susanne
By duresse put to dye / orto consent to synne
Synne yit she ne wyll / for noo powere of man
But rather chese to dye by fore all hyr kynne
The peple sorowyd sore both more and mynne
Yit god thorow hys grace deliuerd hyr fro woo
So may he do us to say than may we blynne
Alas Quid Eligam ignoro
Beseche we now for grace the lord omnipotent
That we may chese the way most to hys plesaunce
Whos grace to saint powle was so sufficient
That of hys gostly enmys he had no noyance
What nedith rehersall of Grisild or Custaunce
Preseruyd thorow grace and othyr many moo
We shall trust in god voydyng thys daliaunce
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
Who made the so hardy thow simple balad
The presence to approche of poetys lawreate
With robys of rethoryk sith thow art not clad
But with rusty roset like to thyn astate
Of homly boystyrs langage most rude and desolate
Make therfor thys excuse in place which thow commyst
I wyll neuer reherse thys clause disconsolate
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
Eke say to thyn excuse I were upon my bake
The first mysshape cote of vnpullischyd speche
That euer my maister made whos colour is ryght blak
To dye with tungges purpurat wold god ȝe wold hym teche
Which hygh a bofe the sterrys in rethoryk doun a reche
That I myght ben arayed like the gloriose poo
Than durst I be ryght bold thys refreyt for to preche
Alas Quid eligam ignoro
Explicit
49

54. The Poor Widow and the Rich Man

[_]

Trin. Coll., B.14.39, fol. 28r.

A vidue pouere was. & freo
& luttel lond held heo.
A riche hurede tre false widnesse
Of sale to tellen sikyrnesse
So ic mote to day auederes
& firbernen Wid al mine wederes
þe riche boute enne aker of lond:
& payede þe widue hond of hond.
þe oþer þer fel in parlesie.
þe þirde firbraid ful witerlie.

Wise Sayings

55. Exhortation to Study

[_]

Trin. Coll., O.2.53, fol. 60r.

Enforce thy wyttes for to lere
Aquaynt the wyth connyng for it is sure
yf fortune chaunge and pouerte a pere
He that ys connyng ys lyke to recure

56. The Vanity of Worldly Lusts

[_]

Trin. Coll., O.2.53, fol. 73v.

What helpith it man to be vnstable
To sett his present lust on worldly vanyte
Syth all the Joy þerof is transmutable
Beaute rychesse strength and prosperyte
Trust ryght well all these shalle from þe fle
Save dedys good & badd payn or blysse
It shall not noy þe ofte to thynk on this
50

57. The Transitoriness of Worldly Prosperity

[_]

Trin. Coll., R.3.19, fol. 67r.

The vnware woo that commeth on gladnesse
Ys vnto hertys passyng encomberouse
And who hathe felte hys part of wylfulnesse
Sorow sewyng on ys to hym odiouse
And worst of all and most contrariouse
Ys when the statys hyghest of renowne
Byn from theyre noblesse sodenly brought downe
Bettyr ys to dy then euer to lyue in peyne

Vacat


Bettyr ys an ende then dedely heuynesse
Bettyr ys to dy then euer in woo compleyne
Bettyr ys to dy then lyue in wrechydnesse
And where as myschyef doth at folk dysdeyne
By wofull constreynte of long contynuaunce
Bettyr ys to dy then lyue in suche penaunce

58. Of the iiij Complexions

[_]

Trin. Coll., R.3.19, fol. 52v.

Sanguineus

Natura pingues isti sunt atque forantes
Atque rumores cupiunt audire frequenter
Hos venis & brachijs delectant fercula risus
Et facit hos hillares et dulcea verba loquentes
Omnibus hij studiis habiles sunt ac magis apti
Qualibet ex causa nec hos leuiter mouet Ira
Largus amans hillaris ridens Rubri que coloris
Cantans carnosus satis audax atque benignus
Of yiftis large in love hathe gret delite
Jocond and glad ay of lawyng chere
Of Ruddy coloure meynt somdel with whight
Disposud be kynd to be a chauntere
Hardy I nowe manly and bold of chere
Of the Sanguine also it is a signe
To be demur Riche curteys and benigne
51

Colericus

Est humor colere qui conuenit impetuoso
Nam genus hominum cupiunt percellere cunctos
Hij leuiter discunt multum comedunt cito crescunt
Ideo magnanimi sunt magni summa petentes
Hircutus fallax Irascens perditus audax
The coleric froward and full of disceyt
Irous in hert prodiggall in expence
Hardy also and werchithe ay be sleight
Slender and smal full light in existens
Right drye of nature for the gret fervens
of het and the Coleric hathe this signe
He is comonly of coloure Citryne

fflegmaticus

fflegma viros modicos latos faciet quoque breves
fflegma facit pingues sanguis reddit mediocres
Otio non studio tradunt se corpora sompno
Sensus eves terdus motus pigrina sompnus
Hic sompnolentus piger in sputamine multus
The flewmatique is sompnolent and slowe
With humores grosse replete ay habundaunt
To spitte Inuenons the fleumatic is knowe
By dull conseyt and voide vnsuffisaunt
The suptill art to accomplissh or haunt
ffat of kynd the flewmous men may trace
And know them best be fatnes of ther face

Malencolicus

Restat ad huc tristis colore substancia nigro
Que reddit tristes paruos que pauca loquentes
Hii vigilant studio nec mens est dedita sompno
Servant propositum sibi nil reputant fore tutum
Inuidus et cupidus tristis dextre que tenacis
The malancolius thus men aspie
He is thoughtful and set in coviteys
52

Replenysshed full of fretyng Envie
Hes hert servithe hym to spend in no wise
Treason Envious fraude can he well devise
Coward of kynd when he shuld be a man
Thou shalt hym knowe be visage pale & wan
Explicit iiij complexions

59. Proverbs in Rimed Couplets

[_]

Trin. Coll., O.9.38, fol. 70r.

Salamon seyth ther is none accorde
Ther euery man wuld be a lord
Wher euery man is plesyd with his degre
Ther is both pece and vnyte
Whos consciens is combred and is not clene
Of other men dedis the wursse wull deme
Deme not my dedys thowgh thyne be nowght
deme what þou wult . þou knowist not my thowghte
Demyng′ and mvsyng′ over ferre
Meny mennys wyttys it settisse yn erre
Power possessyon and rychesse
No man may sette yn sykernesse
The ende of lust is sorow and schame
Travell and parell and lost of name
loue to amende . and feyne to please
lothe to defende sufferaunce doth ease
In euery place wher y gan fare
lacke of forwytte is cause of care
Thow hast noo charter of thy lyfe
Cause þou neuer bate nother stryfe
Be neuer thrall vn to synne
And thynke on þe ende or þou be gynne
Ouer thy hed loke þou neuer hew
Pouerte hath but frendys few
Who so of welth takith no hede
He schall fynde fawte yn tyme of nede
53

Thys worlde is mvtabyll so seyth sage
Therfor gedyr yn tyme . or thow fall yn age
Grace passyth golde and precyous stone
God schall be god when golde is gone

60. Praise of Contentment with Little

[_]

Univ. Libr., Gg.4.12, last flyleaf

Tuta paupertas
Hiegh Towers by strong wyndes full lowe be cast
When the lowe Cotages stand sure & fast
Therfor with surenes yt is better in povertie tabide
Then hastily to be Riche and sodaynly to slyde

Riddles / Aenigmata

[_]

Univ. Libr., Dd.5.76, flyleaf opposite p. 1

61

[Ther was a ladie leaned her backe to a wall]

Ther was a ladie leaned her backe to a wall
He tokke vppe peticote smokke & all
He laid her legges vppon his knee

A shoon


It was a[s] white as white might bee
He took a thing that stiffe did stand
& hunched her & punched her & made great game
O godes bodie says she fie for shame
Yet he would not leave her so
But he did ease her & please her befor he would goo

62

[Two stones hathe yt or els yt is wrong]

Two stones hathe yt or els yt is wrong
with a bald hed & a tag somwhat long
54

& in the night when women lie awake

A clocke


wit ther conscience they doe yt take

63

[I haue a hole aboue my knee]

I haue a hole aboue my knee
& pricked yt was & pricked shalbe
& yet yt is not sore

sheath


& yet yt shalbe pricked more

64

[I haue a thing and roughe yt is]

I haue a thing and roughe yt is
& in th[e] middest a hole ther is
Ther cam a ȝong man with his gin

a gloue


& thrust yt even a handfull in

65

[Backe bent smocke rent]

Backe bent smocke rent
Slipperie yt was & in yt went
Thrust in stiffe standing

a test [?]


But comes out lither dropping
Stiff standing roughe handling
Between a womans legges in a morning

66

[Ther ys a thyng as I suppose]

Ther ys a thyng as I suppose
Which hath a face but never a nose
hath a mouthe but no toth therin

a placht


hath a bearde but never a chin
55

67. And′ Y com[pleyne]

[_]

Trin. Coll., B.2.18, fol. 100r.

Whane I compley[n]e ther is no Resone
yet incertayne all owte of seasone
to make my mone . ther is my most comforte
to lyue alone . ther I resorte
to rufullnes . for my solas
then may ye gesse wher euer I pas
no worly myrth . to my pore hart
for in my birth . ther is my smirte
for sumtyme I . with Jokone spryte
how can deny . truly ded sytte
euer as I wold in myrth & playe
as thowght ho shold then saye me naye
but on a tyme . Resone me abassyd′
as a deuyne my corage dassyd′
my byrth holy when he declaryd′
to leue foly on me he daryd′
with countenance of rufull chere
makyng semblance soberly dyd apere
& said my frende quyckly I the adwyse
marke the end for so do men wise
that loue gostly after the sely sole
& not bostly to turne ther the bole
the bredare ay of gloteny in dede
when dethrepaye then ther is no spede
of my felowe that callyd is grace
but to lowt low with avhan & dedly face
& passith ye sprite to his lyke vsage
for ther no wyt the nowghty abvsage
may then excuse in that strange passage
thowghe he refuse what that grete outrage
56

a byrth truly that very departing
coniecture I as thowght a martyng
spryte & body then departe in twene
as I dyd aspy admyxid with sore payne
with dofull face in maner of couert wise
tryppyd in trace of a late devyse
as thinges in smert only for that deceuer
o pore then hart truly ther is no leuer
to spend pondes frendes other ther to make
for so redondes the sowne of dedly lake
of mysery in this wrechyd lyffe
thyne enemy then is ther all ryfe
the folle couey will he to derknes
for abvsiggayne sey of thy gret goodnes
whyche very god hath well showyd the Set heyer at on lyl
by example hangyng on ye tre
saing a man what alith the nowe
the tell howe can mekely how I ded bowe
to ye plesure of god my father
wher no tresure then had me rather
in custody but euer dyd apply
how ca[n] deny my hole will truly
to his euer in all maner of poyntes
aye reuers of my tender Joyntes
in blasfemyng by this cursyd othis

68. For to Pente

[_]

Univ. Libr., Ff.1.6, foll. 143v–144r.

ffor to pente
And after rep[e]nte
hyt were ffoly
57

Other wass then troyth
me wer ffull loyth
trewly
I sweyte ffor ffente
leste I be schent
To a pere
The rememberauns
Off my plesauns
Compyled here
Off a starre
Wyth owte comparre
Be lykenesse
In the beyme
That hyt ys En
most off swettnesse
And more orryaund
And pwere gloryaund
In bewte
Off all othere
hyt ys the modere
In my nee
In a cloud off blewe
hyt Dyd never remewe
The spere
But euere in on
bryght hyt Shon
Stremeyn clere
But Euere me mente
On me hyt blentte
wyth laughyng′ chere
hyt to be hold′
Was I never′ a cold′
The lonsom lere
Eke stremes ther off
A way Droffe
Euere the rake
A wykyd wynde
rosse be hende
At my bake
hyt was so lowde
hyt blew a clowd
vp ryght
hyt was so blake
hyt dyd over lape
my seght
But Euer I pray
Boyth nygh and day
Whell I mey speke
The Clowd sso dem
A way to Swym
In pesyss breke
58

That I mey se
The starre so ffre
shynyng′ brygh[t]
In the weste
That goyth to reste
Euerry nyght
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