Handlyng Synne :: :: University of Virginia Library

Now shul we speke of leccherye,
Þat foloweþ þe synne of glotonye;
Hyt ys þe laste of seuene,
And, fyrþest hyt ys fro heuene.
wharefore þan hyt ys so?
For hyt dampneþ euer two.
Þou mayst synne þy self yn wyl,

235

But with anoþer þou shalt fulfyl.
Forsoþe þey are to folehardy
Þat haunte þe synne of lecchery;
For why, to do alle ouþer synnes,
Þe lyghtlyer þe fende hem wynnes.

On seuene maners shal y shewe
How lecherye þan ys a shrewe.

Þe fyrst ys ‘fornycacyon,’
whan two vnweddyd haue mysdon,
As sengle knaue and sengle tarne,

[_]

wenche.

whan þey synne to-gedyr ȝerne;
Þe leste hyt ys of allë seuene,
Ȝyt hyt forbarreþ þe blys of heuene.

Þe touþer ys ‘awoutry,’
whan weddyd and weddyd to-gedyr lye,
As weddyd man takeþ anoþers wyfe,
Þat ys þe morë synful lyfe.
Ȝyf weddyd man, sengle woman takeþ,
Forsoþe spousebrechë þere he makyþ.
Ȝyf weddyd wyfe take sengle man,
Alle spousebreche tel y hyt þan;
For þey haue broke with-outë fayle
Þe chastë bondë of spousayle.

Þe þryddë synnë ys þe werst,
Þe clerk[es] calleþ hyt ‘yncest,’
whan men take kyn yn felawrede,
And wyþ hem doþ flesshëly dede;
Þe ner[ë] syb she ys hys kynde,
Þe morë plyȝt shal he þere fynde.
Or ȝyf he with a woman synne,
Þat sum of hys kyn haþ endyd ynne,
Þat ys to sey, haþ ley here by,

236

Þe more plyȝt ys þat lecchery;
Þus hyt seyþ yn þe decre,
He calleþ hyt an ‘affynyte’;
Affynyte hyt makeþ alle an ende,
hys blode þarto no more may wende.

Þe fourþe synne ys more perylous,
with man and womman relygyus;
Ȝyf þey haue made professyoun
Boþe vn-to relygyoun,
Moche ys to chargë þat folye
Ȝyf þey to-gedyr do leccherye.
Relygyous man also ys to blame,
Þat yn þe wurlde takeþ a foule fame,
For he may kepe hym weyl þerfro,
Alonë þar hym neuer go.

Þe fyfþe ys mochë for to drede,
To rauysh a womman here maydenhede,
Þat ys to say, a-ȝens here wylle,
But ȝyf she grauntë weyl þar-tylle;
And, þogh she to hym consente,
he ys holde to here auaunsement;
For ȝyf she ȝyue here to folye,
She kan nat leuë tyl she deye;
And he þat broght here to þat bysmere,
For here foly he shal answere.

Þe syxtë reyseþ gretë stryfe,
To rauys anouþer mannys wyfe;
For aȝens God hyt ys euyl dede,
And to þe worlde also mochyl drede.
Ȝyf hyt be aȝens here wyl,
Þe more he douþ hym seluen yl.
A clerk, ȝyf [þat] he ordred be,
hys synne ys more þan ouþer þre
For he douþ þat he shulde forbede,
And chastyse ouþer of swyche dede,

237

And þarto mochyl morë kan
Þan a-noþer lewed man.
Þou lewed man, knowest also
what ys to lete, what ys to do;
Þou knowyst as weyl, euery poynt,
As þe prest þat ys a-noynt,
And wost what peryl ys þerynne;
Þou mayst noȝt sey, to fende þy synne.

Also do þesë lordynges,
Þey trespas mochë yn twey þynges;
Þey rauys a mayden aȝens here wyl,
And mennys wyuys þey lede awey þertyl;
A grete vylanye þarto he dous
Ȝyf he make þerof hys rous;

[_]

boste

Þe dedë ys confusyun,
And more ys þe dyffamacyun.

Þe seuenest ys foulest leccherye—
Comoun wymmen to lyggë by—
Of al þe ouþer þat we haue seyde.
longyng of loue ys þerë nede,
For to louë one a-lone,
Þan here þat tak[e]þ euerychone.
Foul ys þat lust and þat peryl,
To loue here þat al men go tyl.
Ful foulë ys þat forreyne
Þat ys comon for al, certeyne;
Þerfore, what as euer be yn þy þoght,
Comun wymmen take þou noght,
For many kas þat may falle,
Þat pryuë ys to telle ȝow alle.

And somë toldë mow weyl be,
Þat are nat holde yn pryuyte;
One ys, she may take þy broþer,
Fadyr, or sybkynd, as wel as ouþer.
Anoþer, for cuntek and foule stryfe,
Þou mayst, þurgh here, lese þy lyfe.
Þe þred[dë] ys þe werstë wem;

238

Meseles, men seye, vsen hem;
And, who takeþ hem yn þat hete,
Clennesse of body he may sone lete.
Moche wo þan, ys swyche to take,
For þesë þre lakkës sake;
And moche may be þat wommans mone,
For she shal answere for hem echone
Þat haue ydo any synne wyþ hyre,
At domes day, þe day of Ire.

Þarefore, ȝe men, takeþ none,
Ne ȝe wymmen, takeþ but one.
Ȝyf man or womman may nat be chaste,
Take, and do no morë waste,
One of whom ȝoure loue wyl be,
And ȝyueþ nat ȝoure bodyys to alle ylych fre.

Seuene maner synnes y haue ȝow tolde,
Þe whych cumbren men on many folde,
And þe leste of alle þese seuene
Forbarreþ a man þe blys of heuene.
who-so wyl be clene of þyse,
Aȝens hys flessh behoueþ hym ryse,
And wyþ hyt fyȝt ful faste
Þat hyt be algate dowün kaste,
And elles may he neuer be clene,
hys flessh hys enmy wyl hym sone tene:
Of swych a fyȝt a sample y kan,
Of seynt Benet þat holy man.
Seynt Gregory telþ for þe nones
how seynt Benet was tempted onys.

[The Tale of St. Benet's Temptation, and how he freed himself by rolling in Thorns and Nettles.]

As seynt Benet sate yn hys celle,
To tempte hym com a fend of helle
Yn a lykenes of a bryd.

239

A ‘þrostyl’ ys þe namë kyd;
hyt come fleyng by seynt Benet,
And, mery synggyng, by hym hym set;
Noþeles, he hadde grete ferly

[_]

wundyr

Þat hyt flegh hym so ny.
Seynt Benet wende he myȝt hyt ha take,
For hyt sate by hym so spake.

[_]

tame

he blessed hym fyrst, and bedde hys hande
To take þe brydde þat was syttande;
As sone as he hadde made þe croyce,
Þe bryde flegh furþ, and left hys voys.
Þat þrostel sagh he no more;
hyt become, he ne wyst whore.

Þan come on hym so sodenly
So grete temptyng of lecchery,
Þat neuer er, syn he was bore,
So grete temptyng was hym byfore;
Þe fendë þan put yn hys þoght
Þat he hadde, or seye, or wroght.

Onës he sagh a feyre womman,
And al day yn hys þoght she ran;
Swych þoght so hadde hym ouercome,
Þat þe þoght of God, hyt had ny fornome;
And foule longyng had hym so take
Þat hys ermytage he hadde nygh forsake;
But Ihesu, þat seeþ al þyng,
he sagh weyl hys grete temptyng;
Þogh he suffred hym weyl be to-blaste,
he suffred hym nat be dowün kaste;
Þe fende may nat but tempte þy wyl,
Þe selfe behoueþ þe dede fulfyl;
And for he stode so stalwrþly,
Þe holy goste was to hym redy.

with-oute hys cellë, þornës wore,

240

And netles grewe, þat byten sore;
So haddë grace made hym stedfaste,
Þat al hys cloþys of he kast,
And alle naked hym-self he wrappe
Among þe þornës þat were sharpe,
And among þe netles echone,
Tyl hys temptacyun was al gone.

Þe þornes prykked, þe netles dyd byte,
Of flesshly temptacyun þey made hym quyte,
So clene, þat neuer aftyrward
was he tempted more so hard
Of hys flessh, þat was hys fo,
he dyde hyt þere so mochë wo.
Seþþen, loued he Ihesu cryst wel more
Þan he dede, euer byfore,
And hadde to hym more loue longyng
Þan byfore hys hard temptyng.

Þys tale y tolde for þat enchesun,
To stand aȝens temptacyun;
For who-so wyl hys soulë saue,
Many a fyȝt behoueþ hym haue
Aȝens þe spyces of lecchery,
Ar he wynne of hym þe maystry.

Seynt Poule techyþ vs for þat batayle
A sykyr fyght þat wyl nat fayle;
He seyþ, “y forbede ȝow echoun,
with womman for to go alone.”
For who-so douþ hyt, sone and lyȝtly
He consentyþ to lecchery;
Þou alone, alone with hyre,
þy þoght, by herte, cumþ sone on fyre;
Be þou neuer so chaste ne straunge,
Be ȝe alone, þyn herte wyl chaunge;
And God commaundeþ boþe þe and me,
Oure herte to stable yn chastyte.

241

He seyþ nat, to whom he wyl kalle,
But spekeþ comunly to vs alle;
And þogh he calle alle comunly,
Sum are called more specyally;
For specyaly þat comandeþ he
To men þat are of hygh degre,
As to bysshopes, and persones,
To prestys, and ouþer relygyons;
To þese ys specyal comaundement;
Þurgh þese to ouþer hyt shal be sent.
Þarefore he byddeþ, with wurdës smarte,
Þat þey be allë chaste of herte.

what ys hyt wurþ to be, with-outen, clene,
whan fylþë ys withynne þe sene?
For many one, whan þey to bedde are broȝt,
Delyten hem yn fylþys of þoght.
Swych þoghtës are synnës greue,
Ȝyf þey þè pay, or be þè leue;
And ȝyf hyt pay þè so, swych foule þoȝt,
Þat þe dede were do, ȝyf þou moght,
Certes hyt ys nat to drede
Þat þy wyl ne shal answere for þe dede.
For ȝyf þou myȝtyst, þou wuldest, do,
Þy wyl consenteþ weyl þarto;
Þou art a lechoure yn þat kas,
Þyn hertëwyl ys grete trespas.

Anoþer spyce, more synne hyt ys,
whan þou sekest þy wyl of flesshe,
To þe lust of lecchery,
Yn handlyng, or dremyng of foly,
Þurgh þoghtes or syghtës þat þou sees,
And yn alle ouþer pryuytes;
God hym-self forbedeþ alle þys;
Þey gete no parte of heuene blys:
Yn shryfte forgetë noght of þyse;
How ofte þou dedyst, and on what wyse.

242

Ȝyt þyr ys a-noþer spyce
Þat cumþ of þe fendes malyce,
Þat he douþ vs alle falle ynne,
yn dreme slepyng þat we are ynne.
And þat yche temptacyun
May be twey maner of enchesun;
Þe fyrste ys syghte, þe touþer ys þoght,
with-outë þese, dremest þou noght;
For swyche þyng þou mayst se with ye,
Þat hyt turneþ to þoght of felonye.

Ȝyf þou þenkest ofte of þat syght,
Þat wey of þoght gadreþ myȝt,
And knyttyþ harde ryȝt as a seme,
And sheweþ on þe nyȝt yn dreme.
Yn þat dreme, ȝyf þou do lecherye,
hyt makeþ þe þoght of vylayné;
Ȝyf any do hyt ones þurgh chaunce,
Þan ys þerfore but lyȝt penaunce;
Ȝyf hyt be donë þurgh custome,
Þan falleþ þarfore harder dome;
For euery tyme, at alþer leste,
Behoueþ þe shewe to þe preste:
Hyt ys a wysdom to shewe hyt alle;
Hyt may be moche, þat þe þenkeþ smalle.
Þe prestë, he can euene charge,
For whyche he shal ȝyue penaunce large.

lecchery ys also grete ȝernyng
To be desyred þurgh feyre cloþyng,
what wymmen hem tyfe with ownë wyl,
To foly loue, ouþer men to tylle.
Ȝyf men, þurgh here feyre atyre,
wyþ hem to do foly, haue desyre,
Þey shul answere for here synne,
For þey are rote, and fyrst bygynne;
Noþeles, þe cónsentour

243

Shal be holde for a lechour;
Euene peynë shul þey bere,
Þe toon þe touþer shal answere.

Ȝyt sey men yn þe oldë lawe,
Þat, of a þefe and hys felawe,
O dome shul þey boþë haue,
Þe toon ne toþer shul men nat saue;
And ȝyt men sey, as men gos,
As foule ys he þat halt, as he þat fos.

Anoþer spyce eke he forbedeþ,
Þat many one ful lytyl dredeþ:
To suffre a lechour or lechours
To hauntë foly yn here hous.
Þe prophete spekeþ ful euyl of þo;
Þey shul haue part of peyne and wo;
And þus seyþ þe prophete Osee,
As moche defouled as hordam shal be.

A-noþer spyce, þat mochë dereþ,
hauntë þey þat erandes bereþ
To do a lechour for to spede,
Or ȝyuen conseyl to do þe dede,
Or susteyne one with maystry:
Swych men are castel of lechery.
Þus seyþ þe prophete seynt Danyel;
And holy wryt wytnesseþ hyt wel.

what sey ȝe of þese lordynges
Þat a-vowe here men to do swych þyngys?
Þat men dur nat hem chastyse
with holy cherche, ne oþer wyse.
Swych men areysen baner
Aȝens holy cherches power,
And hem self are castel and toure
For to manteynë þe lechoure.
who so a-voweþ a man to do euyl,
he ys no sybber þan þe deuyl;

244

For þe fende wulde þat al shulde be
Dampned, as weyl as ys he.

Ȝyt of ȝouþe men shulde haue drede,
Of þat men donë yn chyldhede;
Þat may be turned to lechery,
For chyldryn ofte to-gedyr ly.

Ȝyf þou oght dedyst and hopest, hyt ys
Yn þy wyt, synne of foule flessh:
Y cunseyl þe to telle þe prest,
For peryl may fallë, weyl þou seest;
Þyn ynwyt telleþ þe þat skyl
Of what þou dest þat ys peryl,
For comunly, þat men done yn ȝenkþe,
Yn agë haunte þey hyt on lenkþe;
And mowe nat leue þat foule vsage
Þat þey toke yn ȝouþe yn rage.
yn a prouerbe of olde Englys
Tellë men, and soþe hyt ys,
“Þat ȝougþë wones, yn agë mones;”
Þat þou dedyst ones, þou dedyst eftsones.
Þarefore loke what þy ȝouþë was,
And yn þy age amende þy trespas.

A-noþer spyce, ware þe fro þys
Foly, a womman for to kys;
For seldë kys[eth] any frende,
Þat lechery ne ys þoght or neuende.
kyssyng ys, for loue to wynne,
And ys erand for flesshly synne;
Man or womman, loke for-þy,
wharefore þou kyssest, whom, & why.

Ȝyt ys þer a spyce to mene
For hem þat shuld be chaste and clene,
As þo men þat are of hygh degree,
Of holy cherches owne meyne;
Þesë men shuld for no þyng

245

Come yn wymmens handëlyng;
Ne womman, þat godë couþe,
Shuld kyssë any prestys mouþe;
For þere may nat but synne aryse;
hys mouþ ys halewed to Goddys seruyse.

Ne prest oghte no woman touche,
For, of foule touchyng, synne men souche.
Seynt Ierom seyþ ‘he shuld noȝt
haue any woman yn hys þoght;’
For swych þoght, shal neuer weyl werche,
with man þat ys of holy cherche.
lestene now what Ierom seyde
To hys suster þat hym preyde;
She besoghte hym on alle maners
Þat he wulde haue here yn hys preyers;
Seynt Ierom spake aȝen to hyre,
Haluyndele as hyt were yn Ire,
“Y prey God, þat mynde of þe,
Yn my þoghtë, neuer be.”

wenest þou nat he dred hym nede,
whan he to hys suster þus seyde?
he dredde hym of sum wykked wrenche
whan he ne durstë on here þenche.
For soþe þan shulde þey mochë drede
Þat are alday with hem yn dede.

Þe fende whan he may any tyce—
Þat ys, yn handlyng of sum vyce—
Þat ychë cumþ hym wel to pay,
Þan þynkeþ he, he haþ wonne a pray;
And namely of þese holy men,
Þat were hym leuer þan ouþer ten,
And a holy man were hym leuer tylle
To flesshly lust or wykked wylle
Þan an hundred ouþer mo
Þat rekkë neuer whedyr þey go.

246

[The Tale of the Jew who heard some Devils' Reports of their Deeds to Satan; and how the Devil who got a Bishop to pat a Nun on the Back was most praisd.]

Seynt Gregory telleþ, for gode mennys prew,
Þat sum tyme was onës a Iew,
And trauayled o tyme by þe cuntre,
By iurnes þydyr þat he wulde be.
Fyl so, he nyghtede yn a wasteyne,
Þere he sagh no stede certeyne;
he sagh no stede where wast best
To lygge a nyght and take hys rest.
But an olde temple he sagh stondyng,
þat, sum tyme, folke mysbeleuyng
Made here sacrifyse þer-ynne
To here god, þat hyght Apolyne;
Þys Iew restede þere þat nyȝt,
And toke hys esë as he myȝt.

As þe Iew lay þere alone,
To hym-self he made hys mone,
Þat he beleued on swych a lawe
Þat myȝt nat saue hym on no sawe.

247

Of Ihesu Cryst, he hadde herd speke,
How Iewes dyd hym on þe rodë steke.
Þurgh grete þan ynspyracyun,
He þoght so on hys passyun
Þat oure feyþ yn hys hertë ran,
Al be hyt he were no crysten man;
So, what for trouþe, and what for doute,
He made þe croys hym al a-boute,
And seþþen leyd hym downe to slepe;
Of ouþer, ȝaf he no more kepe.

Sone at þe mydnyȝt he gan to wake
Þurgh grete noyse and cry, & sore to quake;
He lokèd vp, and sagh þere sytte
Fendës fele þat fouly flytte;

[_]

chydde

he sagh one syttë yn a cheyre,
Þat foule lokèd, and foule gan bere;
He bad hem allë ȝelde a-counte,
Here dedës what þey wulde amounte;
what þey hadde do many ȝeres,
He aresoned hem on hys maners;
To oon he cast enchesoun,
“Sey þou, felaw, what þou hast doun!”
“At a weddyng,” he seyde, “y was,
And, þere y dyd grete trespas;
Y slogh, þurgh myȝt of honde,
Boþe þe wyfe and þe husbonde;
And y dyd ȝyt a-noþer chek,
Alle þe ouþer y broght on cuntek,
And euery, y made ouþres foo,
Þat euery man gan ouþer slo.”

Þe mayster fend gan hym beholde,
And sette at noȝt þat he hadde tolde.
“For þat, how long hast þou be þore?”
“A twelue monþe,” he seyd, “and no more.”

248

“For þy dede þou getyst maugre,
And þarto ȝyt shalt þou bete be.”

with hym wulde he no more stryue;
He called an-ouþer furthe belyue;
Felunlyche, with yȝen grym,
“where hast þou be?” seyd he to hym.
“Yn þe seë, haue y bene,
And moche sorow made men betwene;
Y haue broght to grete encumbre
Shyppes and men with-outë noumbre,
what yn cuntek, and yn tempest,
Twenty þousand at þe lest.”
Þe deuyl seyd, “þat ys no doute;
how long hast þou be þere-aboute?”
“Seuene wyntyr, al to-gydyr,
hauë y be haunted þedyr.”
Satan comaunded, for hys seruyse
He shuld be put to hys Iuwyse.

Þe þred deuyl was forþë fette
Byfore Satan, þer he was sette;
Satan seyd, “where ware þou?
How þou hast sped, sey me now.”
“A-boute a bysshope y haue be long,
Ȝyf y myȝt hym yn synnë fong;
But yn hym ys so grete bounte
Þat y myȝt neuer turne hym to þe.
But, þys nyȝt y haue so sped,
Þat hym with temptyng so fer haue led,
Þat y hope, y haue hys þoght
A party to my wyllë broght.
Þyr com to hym, for hys godenesse,
A nunne, y wene a pryores,
Sum þyng of hym for to here
Þat she perauenture myȝt of lere;
Algate, y broght hyt so to an ende,

249

Þat, what tyme þat she shul wende,
He smote here a lytyl on þe bak
Yn pleyyng, whan he to here spak.
God wyst what was yn hys þoȝt
And yn hys herte, for y wyst hyt noȝt.”

Satan asked ‘how long whyle
he hadde be aboute, hym to gyle.’
“Fourty wyntyr, and alle yn drede,
Ȝyt myȝt y neuer so moche spede,
Ne neuer er bryng hym to plyght
But þat y ded þys samë nyȝt.”

Ful weyl payd was Satanas
Þat he hadde broght hym to þat cas:
He ros aȝens hym, and made hym blysse,
And profred hym hys mouþe to kysse,
And seyd, ‘he was weyl wurþy
For to come and sytte hym by.’

Before hem alle, þat ychë tyde,
he sette hym by hym, syde be syde,
And seyd, “ende þat þou hast bygunne;
For þat þou hast do, my loue þou hast wunne.”

Þys ychë Iew þat þerë lay,
In þe temple with grete affray,
Y trowe for soþe he slept ful lytyl,
whan he herde þat grete chapytyl;
Ȝyf he hadde slept, hym neded awake,
Ȝyf he were wakyng, he shulde a quake,
For Satan asked þere he sat,
“who lyþ þere, and what ys þat?
who durst so hardy be
To lye þere with-oute leue of me?
Goþe swyþe, one or two to-gedyr,
And, what he be, bryngeþ hym hedyr.”

Þe deuylys come un-to hys bedde,

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And styrte aȝen, þey were so dredde;
Þe bedde, ne hym, ne durst þey touche,
So had he marked hym with þe crouche.

Þey turned aȝen to syre Satan,
And seyd, þey durst nat brynge þat man.
He asked ‘why þat chaunce byfel;’
Þey seyd, hyt was “a lore vessel,
An empty vessel þat marked was
From þe and þyne, syre Satanas;
Þe vessel, whan hyt þere was leyde,
Vn-to vs hyt longed nede.
Alas þe whyle þey gunne to reme!
He haþ hys mark þat wyl hym ȝeme.”

Þe Iew þey called ‘a voyde vessel,’
And forsoþë, so hyt fel;
Voydë he was of hys lawe,
For he forsoke hyt for fyne awe;
‘Lore,’ for he hadde nat oure lawe take
Seþþe he hadde hys owne forsake.
For þys þyng, y hope þey seyd,
And called þe Iew a vessel voyd.
But þey myȝt nat do hym no dere,
Noþer to Satanas lede ne bere;
So hadde he hym with þe croyce blessed,
Þat of hym algate þey myssed.
Þe fendës and syre Satanas
Þan wente awey, cryying ‘alas!’

Þe Iewë þo asswyþe a-ros,—
hyt was no wundyr þoȝ hym gros,—

[_]

dred

Vn-to þe bysshope sone he ȝede
And tolde hym what he sagh yn dede;
Þe crystendome at hym he toke,
And, hys fals[ë] lawe forsoke,
And beleued oure lawe echedeyl,
And þe bysshope amended hym weyl.

251

Þys talë to ȝow haue y tolde,
how þe fendë halt hym bolde
whan he haþ tyced an holy man
with any temptacyun þat he kan,
hym þenkeþ he haþ do a grete chaffare;
And namely þo þat ordred are,
whedyr hyt be yn a womman handlyng,
Or yn any oþer lusty þyng;
Þarefore lordynges þat kun wel se,
Amendeþ ȝow, pur charyte,
And makeþ nat a-mys þe toye,
Þat þe fende of ȝou haue Ioye.

Prest wel y-lettred ys to blame,
Þat letteþ nat, for drede ne shame,
To pley with wommen, and to rage;
For, aftyr pleyyng, cumþ outrage.
Ofte men se, and haue herd seye,
Þat swyche men go an euyl weye.

Ȝyue þou a-mong hem mayst na lyue,
But some algatë on þe clyue,
Take þou ensample at seynt Ierom;
Do as he dyd, and go fro hom.

Seynt Ierom wente yn-to deserte,
For drede of synne and foly grete.
Men asked hym why he þedyr ȝede,
Syn he was an holy man yn dede;
“y wentë þedyr, synne to fle,
Y dredde hyt wlde ha maystred me;
Synne of womman wyl with me fyȝt,
And y fele me yn moche vnmyȝt.
For ȝyf y a-bydë þat batayle,
Y drede þat y shal falle or fayle;
And ȝyf y fle þat ychë bekyr,
Y hopë þan y may be sekyr:”
Þarfore me þenkeþ, foles are þo
Þat fyȝt, and mow[ë] be þar-fro,
Þat fyȝt[ë] so þe deþ to haue
whan þey mow fle, hem self to saue.

Þarefore, ȝe prestes þat dwel at hom,

252

Þenkeþ on þe drede of seynt Ierom,
And wommans felawshepe for to fle
For doute of synne, for so ded he.

But of wymmen hyt ys grete wundyr,
hyt fareþ with hem as fyre and tundyr;
Comunly forsake þey none
Þat euer ys made of flessh and bone.
Ȝyf she wulde to foly here take,
Þe prest algate she myȝt forsake;
For þer ys none, þat she ne may
Haue a sengle man to here pay.
And ȝyf she wulde algate mysdo,
A knaue myȝt best beseme here to,
Þan hyt were to take a prest,
For synne and sclaunder were þere lest.
But how as euer men preche or spelle,
Of prestës wyues men here euer telle.

Of ouþer wyues y wyl naght say,
Þey do nat wrong, but al day;
But y dare sey, as y haue herde,
On Englys toung to alle þe werlde.

Ȝyf þyr be oþer mayden or wyfe
Þat dysturbleþ þe holy lyfe
Of þe prest, þurgh lecchery,
Aȝens here shal kalle and crye
Alle þat are yn paradys,
And alle þat yn purgatory lys;
And allë þat are yn þys lyue
Aȝens here shul aryse and stryue;
For euery prest, aftyr þe sacré,
He parteþ þere Goddys body yn þre,
And offreþ hem to þe fadyr yn heuene
On þys wyse, as y shal neuene;
The fyrst he offreþ hem to blys,
To hem þat yn heuene ys;
Þe toþer he offreþ for vs alle here,
Þat we to hym be boþe lefe and dere;

253

Þe þryde he offreþ to haue memóry
For soules þat are yn purgatóry,
Þat God bryng hem oute of peyne
And brynge to þe ioye þat ys certeyne.

Certys, she douþ ful moche a-mys,
Þe womman þat dysturbleþ alle þys.
For, þo soulës are no þyng
wurscheped with þat offryng,
Noþer vs to cunseyl, or to rede,
Ne hyt helpeþ nat þe dede;
Allë þarefore þat now are,
And þat shul be, and now are fare,

[_]

Shul dampne þat womman to be lore,
And curse þe tyme þat she was bore;
And þarwith-alle, ne shal she be quyt,
Ȝyt shal hyre dampne hyre owne ynwyt
Þat ychë day þat alle shal ryse
Before Ihesu, þat hygh Iustyse.

lokeþ, ȝe wymmen, what ȝe do!
Ȝyf ȝe dyd oght, doþe no more so,
Or harder penaunce, with bytter teres,
Shul ȝe do here, or ellës wheres.
And shame hyt ys euer aywhare
To be kalled ‘a prestës mare.’

Of swych one, y shal ȝow telle
Þat þe fendë bare to helle;
Þys chauncë fyl, þat ys so hard,
Yn þe tyme of gode Edward,—
Edward, syre Henryës sone,—
And þe tale ys weyl to mone.

[The Tale of the Priest's Concubine, and how Fiends carried off her Dead Body.]

Þyr was a prest ryȝt amerous,—
And amerous men are lechours;—

254

Þys prest, þe moste part of hys lyfe,
Helde a womman as hys wyfe,
Þat no tymë he hare lete,
Só þoght hym þe synnë swete.
Yn synne, and yn foly desyre,
Foure chyldryn he gate on hyre.
Þese chyldryn, as þey wox more,
He sette hem vn-to scole to lore;
So þey lernede, þat þe þre
were ordeyned, prestes to be;
Þe fourþë sone was a scoler,
To lernë more he dyde hys power.
when þey were prestys, here fadyr deyde,—
Þe prest þat y er of seyde,—
Þys ychë womman lefte a-lyue
Aftyr hym foure ȝere or fyue.
Þese foure chyldryn had grete þoght
How þey were yn synne furþe broght,
And how here modyr leued ynne,
Alle here lyfe, yn dedly synne;
Þey preyde here, for allë chaunce,
To be of godë répentaunce,
And forþynkë here mysdede
with sorow of hert, and wyþ drede.

But þus answered she to hem alle,
“For no þyng þat may befalle,
Shal y neuer repentë me
whyle y haue ȝow prestës þre
Þat for me mow rede and synge,
And, ful weyl, me to blys brynge;
So may my soule to God be broght
For any synne þat I haue wroght;
But wylle ȝe allë fourë do
A þyng þat y prey ȝow to?
kepyþ my body, at ȝoure myȝt,
Þre dayys, and þre nyȝt,

255

Yn þys hous whan y am dede,
And y hope be saued fro þe quede,
Þogh y haue lyued a synful lyfe,
And haue be called a prestës wyfe.”

Þat graunted þey euery deyl,
For þey wende ha do hyt wele.
Sone aftyrward she euyld,
And deyd sunner þan she wylde.

here chyldryn, as þey hadde here het,
To wake here body were þey set:
Þe fyrst nyght þat þey shulde here wake,
At mydnyȝt þe berë gan to quake;
Here fourë sonys þat saye hyt stere,
leyd on hond, and helde þe bere;
Þe ouþer men hadde swychë drede
Þat euery man hys wëy ȝede;
with mochë drede and hydous syght
Askaped þey on þe fyrst nyȝt.

Þe toþer nyȝt þat þe chyldryn woke,
At þe mydnyȝt þe berë quoke,
And alle þat sate or þerby stode,
For dredë wendë ha wox wode:
Þat nyȝt shewed he more hys ire,
Þat hys power was moche yn hyre.
with sorowful syȝt and grete affray
He drogh þe body þere hyt lay,
And to þe dore þe fende hyt broght;
Þat tymë fyrþer myȝt he noght.
Here fourë sones, with mochë peyne,
Efte hadde þe body yn aȝeyne;
Aboute þe body a rope þey wonde,
And to þe berë fast þey bonde;
So algate þe body with hem lefte;
At þat nyȝt was hyt nat refte.

Þe þred nyȝt, moste sorow gan falle;

256

At þe mydnyȝt, as þey woke alle,
Come fendës fele, with loþely brous,
And fylden allë ful þe hous,
Þey toke þe body and þe bere
wyþ lothly cry, þat alle myȝt here;
And bare hyt furþe þat none wyst whore,
with-outen ende for euermore.
here sones hyt seyd, and hoped wel,
Þat body and soule was lore eche deyl.

Þe ȝongest sone þat was a scolere,
He preched þys yn stedys here;
Þurgh Ingland, yn euery cuntre,
he tolde þys tale of grete pyte,
Oueral as he went a-boute,
(He spared noþer for shame ne doute)
Aȝens wymmen þat prestës take,
For hys ownë modyr sake;
For to dampne and stroye þat synne,
Þat no womman falle þer-ynne.

Ȝe wommen, þenkeþ on þys tale,
And takeþ hyt for no troteuale!
Goddes veniaunce was hyt, and hys Ire,
To amende vs alle for loue of hyre.

Yn a prouerbe, telle men þys,
“He wyys ys, þat ware ys,”
And wysdom es, and feyre maystrye,
To chastyse vs wyþ ouþres folye.

Of prestës kan y sey no þyng,—
So seyd y at þe bygynnyng,—
Noþer of clerkys neuer a deyl,
Þéy wote what ys ylle and weyl;
But þus haue y herde for certeyn,
Yn þe worlde ys none so gode skryueyne—
Þogh he were wyser þan Salamon
And bettyr langaged þat was Mercyon

257

And leued yn age a þousend ȝere—
Ne myȝt telle þe sorow and were,

[_]

dysese

Ne þe peyne, þat þe preste shal drye,

[_]

suffre

Þat haunteþ þat synne of lecchery.
Þey are wroth whan any þus precheþ,
But holy wryt þus vs telleþ and techeþ.

Now turne we aȝen þere we spak
Of handlyng synnë, þat yche lak;
Y tolde of handlyng synne as y kouþe,
And now wyþ foly kyssyng with mouþe.

kyssyng doþe moche more euyl
whan handlyng cumþ of þe deuyl;
Some wene þat kyssyng ys no synne,
But grete peryl falleþ þer-ynne.
Be þou neuer so chaste and straunge,
kyssyng wyl þyn hertë chaunge;
Hyt ys forbode, be þou weyl ware,
But ȝyf hyt be here, þat furþe þe bare;
Þy wyfë þou mayst kysse with ryȝt,
Ȝyt yn sum poynt mayst þou falle yn plyȝt.
Seynt Ierom, he spekeþ of þys,
Ouer moche for to daunte and kysse;
Daunte a womman oute of skylle,
when no tyme were, she wyl þer-tyl.

Maner þer ys of foule kyssyng,
As ys of dede and of handlyng,
Þat falleþ ofte yn pryuyte,
But þat shal nat be tolde for me;
Noþeles, hyt mote be tolde
Yn shryftë, boþe with ȝunge and olde.

Sum maner kyssyng ys ful grete vyce,
And wommens hertys to synne wyl tyse;
And who so delyteþ hym þer-ynne,
wommen to foly for to wynne,
Y do hym weyl to vndyrstande,

258

So may he go yn deuyl hande.

Ȝyt mayst þou synne yn lecherye
Yn þe lokyng of þyn yȝe;
Beholde nat wymmen ouer mochyl;
Here syȝte makeþ mennys þoghtes fykyl;
And who-so haþ a feble herte,
hys ye ys euer ouerthuerte.
Þyn ye ys þyn messager
To brynge þy dedë yn powere;
Yn swychë syȝt ys mochë gylte;
Shryue þe þerof ȝyf þou wylt.

Ȝyt ys þer more of lecherye
Þat ys do with sorsorye,
Sorsorye þat ys wycchëcrafte;
He þat ys with þe fendë lafte
Grete synne hyt ys, y ȝeue þe a ȝyfte;
Þenk þer-on yn þy shryfte.
To man þat ys yn gode beleue,
wycchecrafte shal hym neuer greue;
Be þou yn gode lyfe, and byleue ryȝt,
And alle þe wecches wyþ alle here myȝt
Shul neuer drecche þe where-so þou art
with no queyntysë of here artt:
Þat sheweþ weyl seynt Cypryene,
he was a nygromancyene,
how he myȝt neuer a mayden wynne
with wycchëcrafte here þoghte to synne:
why? For here lyfe was gode and clene,
And stedfaste byleue yn here was sene.

[The Tale of St. Justyne, and how the Sign of the Cross protected her from Devils.]

Yn Antyoche, þat noble cyte,
wonede þys mayden of grete bounte;
here name men callë seynt Iustyne,
For Ihesu Cryst she suffred pyne.

259

whan she had takë crystendam
Euery day to scole she nam,

[_]

ȝede

To þe scolë, for to lere
Þe loue of God, and haue hyt dere.

And as she went to þe scole hous,
A lorde þat hyghte ‘Agladyus’—
A gretë mayster and a syre—
was a-namourd so on hyre
Þat he ne wyst what do he myȝt,
She was so semëly by syȝt.
He comë vn-to Cypryene,
Þys clerk, þys nygromancyene,
And tolde hym al þe enchesun
Of hys grete temptacyun.

Fast he preyde, and hette hym mede
Ȝyf þat he coudë do sum dede,
were hyt godë, were hyt ylle,
Þat he myȝt haue of here hys wylle.
“Iustyne,” he seyd þan, “hattë she
Þe feyre mayden þat marreþ me.”
And Cypryene hette hym for of hys
Þat þe mayden shulde be hys.

Cypryene made þan hys queyntyse,
And ded þe fendys many one vpryse,
And comaunded þat Iustyne were lede
Vn-to syre Agladyous bed.
Þe forme of here fadyr and modyr þey nam,

[_]

toke

And yn here lykenes to Iustyne cam,
And badde, here wyl shuldë be went
To Agladyous comaundement.

Iustyne hadde grete wundyr of þys,
And wyþ þe croys she gan here blys,
Þan þey vanysshed aweye asswyþe;
She þanked God and was ful blyþe.
Þryys þey come, on þre manere,
Beforë Iustyne to apere;

260

And here cunseyl was euer þus
“we rede ȝow take Agladyus.”
At euery tyme þat þus þey here besoght,
Þe croys was euer yn here þoght,
And made hyt euer hem betwene,
And alle here cunseyl was no more sene;
hadde none of hem lenger powere
with here to speke, or come here nere.
Þryys ouercomë hadde þey bene,
And þus þey tolde to Cypryene.

Cypryene haddë grete ferly,

[_]

wundyr

And asked ‘for whom hyt was, and why
Þat þey ne myȝtë of here spede,
But euer ouercome awey þey ȝede.’
Þan spak to hym a fende of helle,
“Syker me here with me to dwelle,
And þat þou ne shalt, for loue ne eye,
Beleue on þat y shal þe seye.”

whan he hadde seyde hym hys certeynte,
“Now,” seyd þe fende, “y shal telle þe:
She beleueþ on one men calle Ihesus,
He þat confoundeþ euermore vs;
She ouercomeþ vs with a croys;
when we se hyt, we haue no voys;
Þe sygne þerof euer we fle,
And drede we haue when we hyt se;
Oure myȝt ys noght, no neuer shal,
Ouer any þat blesseþ hym with-al.
Iustyne þerwyþ defendeþ here so
Þat we ne may haue with here to do;
And, for here lyfe ys gode and clene,
Oure maystry may ryȝt noȝt be sene;
For ȝyf she lyued yn wykkednes,
Þan myȝte we do to here sum stres.”

Cypryen seyd vnto þat fende,
“Ihesus ys nat þan ȝoure frende,

261

Hyt may weyl be hym-self haþ myȝt
Syn ȝe drede hys croys be syght;
And ys nat ȝyt þe samë tre,
Haþ þat tokene more myȝt þan ȝe?”
“Ȝee,” seyde the fendë, “certaynly,
Ouer vs alle he haþ maystry;
And euermore so shal be doun
For hyt was hys owne passyoun;
No þyng þat man may of hym sey,
Doþe oure powere so moche a-weye
As nemne þat passyun and þat rode
Þat he shedde on, hys swetë blode;
Heuene and helle þat passyun douten,
And creatures allë þarto louten,
And specyaly ‘Ihesus,’ þat name
Ys our shenshyp and oure shame.”

when Cypryen þys vndyrstode,
He forsoke hem, and bycom gode,
And alle þe crafte þat he hadde haunted,
And Crystendome to take he graunted;
He dyd breke his maumetrye,
And dyd hyt brenne byfore hys ye;
Seþþen at þe bysshope of þe cyte
He dyd hym crysten man to be,
Seþþen he was so stedfast
Yn þe beleue, þurgh þe holy gast,
Þat he was ordeyned dekene hye,
And seþþen bysshope he was wurþy;
Seþen made he Iustyne, abbas
Of alle þe ladyes, as wurþy was.

Swyche grace fel seþþen on hom,
Þat boþe þey suffred martyrdom;
And now ys Cypryen with God so herd
Þat he ys wurschypde yn alle þe werlde;

262

And she ys callede Seynt Iustyne,
A martyr and an holy vyrgyne.

Þys tale y tolde to ȝow aboute,
Þat ȝe ne dur no wycchecrafte doute,
Ȝyf þou be—þat ys to mene—
Yn beleuë gode, and lyfë clene.
who-so þurgh wycchëcrafte haþ tene,
Prey to God and seynt Cypryene
And to þe mayden Seynt Iustyne,
Þat þey delyuer hem fro þat pyne.

Þarefore, þou man and þou wyfe,
Ȝyf þou be of clenë lyfe,
Þar þe noght drede no wycchëcrafte
Noþer temptyng of þe deuylys shafte;
And ȝyf þou be yn dedly synne,
To hys temptyng he may þe wynne.

Ȝyt þer ys spekyng of vylaynye
Þat longeþ vnto lecherye,
And oftë tyme of foulë speche
Falleþ þarfor hard[ë] wreche;
Of foulë herte cumþ foulë þoȝt;
Of foulë þoȝt, foule wurdys are broȝt.
Þe foulë wurde, þe speker dereþ,
And þat hyt hereþ and furþ bereþ;
Y hauë toldë of þys lak
Yn þe fyfþe comaundement, þer y spak,
whan y of a nunnë tolde,
Þat coudë nat here tungë holde.

Ȝyt ys þyr a spyce of leccherye,
Auauntëment of olde folye:
A kaynard and an oldë folte,
Þat þryfte haþ loste, and boghte a bolte,
he shal become[n] a dyssour,
And telleþ how he was a lecchour;
Ioye he haþ, hym-self to dyffame
Of alle hys synnes þat he kan name,
And auante hym alle an hye,

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And make men lagh at hys foly;
And þat ys nat þe synnë leste,
Auaunte þy synne to hym þat þou sest.

Sodom sank, and Gomore,
For þey kryed here synne aywhore;
Þese twey cytees, boþe þey sank,
For þey hadde ioye at synne þat stank.
Feyrer hyt were, oure synne forhele,
Þan make auauntement þer-of to fele;
Þe apostle seyþ þys autoryte,
“Ȝyf þou be nat chaste, be þou pryue;”
Telle hyt þy prest, and to no mo;
For oþer tellyng, ys boþe synne and wo.

Ȝyt ys þyr a specyal spece
Þat doþ leccherye klymbe by a grece:
who so wyllë ȝyftës ȝyue,
On lecheryë he may cleue;
For synne, no ȝyftys þou receyue;
For doute of gyle þou shalt hem weyue;

[_]

forsake

For whan a lechour haþ ȝyue hys mede,
Þan hopeþ he weyl þat he shal spede.
Y rede, ȝe wommen, ȝyueþ gode entent,
For medë ȝe wyl sone consent;
Many one for mede doþ ful euyl,
Men sey ofte ‘mede ys þe deuyl.’

Ȝyt spekeþ he of a more tresun
Þat for lechery ys doun;
Ȝyf men or womman be so wylde
To fordo a getyng of a chylde
wyþ wurde or dede, syn hyt ys gete,
with mete or drynk þat þey do ȝete,
Or oþer strenkþë, þat hyt dye,
Þan þey doun ful grete folye;
with slaghter hast þou þere hyd,
Þat þy lecherye ys nat kyd;
Gretly yn euyl þou art coupáble
Yn twey synnës, and dampnáble.

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A-noþer vyleynye þyr ys,
To do a womman synne þurgh stres:
Ȝyf a womman mete paráuenture
Yn pryuë stedë, a lechour,
Ȝyf he wyl do with here synne,
And she ne may a-weyë wynne
But she swerë oþys grym
A-noþer tyme to come to hym,
Or he makeþ here trouth-plyght
Anoþer tymë when she myȝt,
For þat trouþë, y answere
Þat no perel shal she bere;
She nat synneþ nat dedly,
Hyt ys nó wyl, but maystry;
Better ys to skape with an oþe,
Þan synne dedly, and God be wrothe.
Here-of myȝt men mochë speke,
Of trouþë þat men alle day breke,
For, fals trouþës, and fykyl,
For lechery, are ȝyue mechyl.

Ȝyf þou a womman trouþë plyght
Out of holy cherchës syȝt;
Men oght nat so for to do
Þogh þat frendes consente þarto;
For holy cherche oght fyrst for to wyte
Of here gederyng, ȝyf hyt may sytte

Of allë folës are þey fyles,
Þat gentyl wymmen begylys
with a trouþë of tresun
To reuë here, here warysun,
But she do by here ordynaunce
Of hem þat shuldë here auaunce.

And a womman loueþ ofte yn pryuyte
Þat for here falleþ nat weyl to be;
Ȝyf she to þat ȝeueþ here treuþe,
Þat ys here ful mochë reuþe;

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Þat trewþe dar she nat be a-knowe,
For drede þat she haþ loued so lowe.
Þurgh cunseyl of here frendys wylle,
She ys þan ȝyue a-noþer vntyl;
Y dar sey hyt hardyly,
‘Þat womman leueþ yn lechery;
And þat ychë man also
To whom she ȝaf fyrst trouþë to,
Ȝyf he any ouþer wedde,
Or with any go to bedde,
Ȝyf þey boþe wulde haue do þat
Þat here mouþes to-gedyr spak,
And haue fulfylled, at here myȝt,
Here pryue trouþë þat þey plyȝt.’

A wers[ë] spycë ȝyt men holdes,
To begyle a womman with wordys;
To ȝyue here trouþë but lyghtly
For no þyng but for lygge here by;
with þat gyle þou makest here asent,
And bryngest ȝow boþe to cumbrement.

Þarfore now y warne ȝow alle,
Man and woman, for þyng may falle,
Þat ȝe be neuer so fole-hardy
To ȝyue ȝoure trouþe so pryuyly,
Ne wommans trouþë for to take,
Ne trouþë ȝyue for weddyng sake,
Tyl holy cherche haue demyd ryȝt
wyþ lokyng of frendes syght.

Pryuytes manye falle þer-ynne;
Þyn ynwyt þe telleþ whych ys synne;
Sum pryuytes of lechery
Yn opun speche are vyleynye;
Þarfor wyl y nat hem alle descryue,
But alle behoueþ vs þer-of shryue;

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Þyn ynwyt wote what þou hast wroght,
And whych ys synne, and whych ys noȝt;
Alle þese spyces þat y haue tolde,
On dyuers maners are synnës folde.

Ȝyf þy flesshë ofte aryse
Yn wyl or dede to many of þyse,
Þat þou mayst nat þy flesshë daunte,
Þat sum algate behoueþ þe haunte,
Be nat þarfor yn wanhope;
Alle may be quenchyde with a drope,
Ȝyf þou mayst for þy synnë grete,
And be yn wyl hyt for to lete.
For many a gode man, olde and ȝonge,
haþ be yn flesshëly temptyng;
So was seynt Poule, þe holy man,
Hys flesshe was temptyde with Satan;
Seynt Benet was so, ȝe herde me telle,
He was yn poynt to leue hys celle;
And ouþer men mo of relygyun
Haue be yn hard temptacyun;
But man behoueþ pryue hys myȝt,
Aȝens hys ownë flesshe to fyȝt;
For ȝyf þou late hyt haue hys wyl,
wyltou, neltou, hyt wyl þe spylle.

And y shal telle here, ȝyf ȝe wyl,
A talë for þe samë skylle,
Þat a man myshopë noght
Þogh he haue grete temptyng of þoght.

[The Tale of the tempted Hermit, or How we should never Despair.]

Seynt Gregory telleþ, for oure profyte,
How þyr was onys an ermyte:
Þys ermyte had grete temptyng
yn hys þoght, ouer alle þyng;
And as þys temptyng on hym ran,

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He ȝede vnto an oldë man
And tolde hym allë, vp an downe,
Of hys grete temptacyun.
Þat olde man seyd to hym astyte
‘He was nat wurþy to be an Ermyte,
Þat swychë þoghtës shuldë þynke,
And þoght of womman wulde hym synke.’

Þys oldë man gan hym so stoute,
Þat hys gode hope was alle yn doute;
For þe wurdes þat þe olde man gan seye,
Yn-to þe wurlde he toke þe weye.
As he cam goyng yn þe strete,
An holy abbot gan he mete;
Þe abbotys name was Apollo,
And sone he spake þe ermyte to;
Þe ermyte hadde so sory þoght,
Aȝen to þe abbote spake he noght.

Þys abbot was a ful wys man,
And yn hys þoȝt ful sone hyt ran,
And be þe semlant of þe ermyte,
Þat he was yn grete sorowe and syte;
Þe abbot asked hym ones or twyys;
At þe laste þe ermyte seyd hys auys.
“Y am,” he seyd, “broȝt allë down
with flesshly temptacyun;
And at an oldë man y was,
And tolde hym alle my hardë kas;
And he seyd, y was nat wurþy,
Þe ermytagë to com ny,
Ne was yn wey me to saue,
whyl y shulde swych þoȝtës haue;
And, for he comforted me so yl,
Yn-to þe worlde now ys my wyl,

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And lyue þere best wyse þat y may,
Syn y serue nat God to pay.”

Þan seyde þe abbot syre Apollo,
“Þe olde man wyst nat what was to do;
Þou mayst se now, by my vysage,
Þat y am olde, and weyl yn age,
And y fele a ful hard prykyl
Þat my flesshe tempteþ me mykyl,
Vnneþë ys hyt day ne oure
Þat y ne am þar-with tempted soure;
But þogh my þoght be oute of skyl,
To do ȝyt wers[ë], y ne wyl;
Ne more shalt þou þy self mysdo,
Þogh þou be tempted neuer so.
Y rede, þat yn godenes þat þou dwelle,
And turne aȝen vnto þy celle,
And fonde aȝens þy flesshe to fyȝt,
And late hyt nat haue alle þe myȝt.”
He broȝte þys ermyte to swyche certeyne,
Þat to hys celle he turned aȝeyne.

Þe abbot knew [wel] alle þe pas
where þe olde man wonyng was;
Þedyrwarde þe wey he nam.
And when he a lytyl besydë cam,
He sette hym dowun, and preyd Ihesu
Ful of myȝt and [of] vertu,
Þat þe olde man myȝt fele sum þyng
Of þe ermytes flesshely temptyng,
To chastyse hym for hys broþer,
Þat he myscumfort eft noun oþer.

when he hadde leye yn orysun
long with grete deuocyun,
He ros vp, and byhelde,
And sagh a blak man stonde yn þe felde,
And to þe olde man arwes ded shete

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Ryȝt many, and sum wel grete.
So many arwes to hym he drogh,
Þat þe olde man felt temptyng ynogh;
Þe arwes were temptacyons,
And sharpë sterynges, and felons;
So many and smart, he hem hadde,
Þat he sate as he hadde be madde,
Þat wytte hadde lorë, as he sat,
Or was yn a were to do sum-what.
Ar he aght seyd, ar dyd any dede,
Þe same weye þat þe ermyte ȝede,
Þat yche wey þe ermyte ȝede ynne
To þe worlde, to do hys synne.

Þe abbot Appollo say euerydeyl;
And how he was temptede, he wyst hyt weyl,
And fonded for to take þe strete,
with þat olde man for to mete:
he seyd, “olde man! what dost þou here,
And why hast þou so mornyng chere?
whydyr hast þou þoght to go?
Be syȝt hyt semeþ þat þe were wo.”

Þe oldë man seyd ryȝt noȝt,
But hyt ran hym weyl yn þoȝt
Þat þe abbot had inspyracyun,
And wyst hys grete temptacyun;
For shame he myȝt nat telle how smart
Þe temptyng þat come to hys hert;
But þe abbot wyst for certeyn,
And bad hym to turne aȝeyn;
And shewed hym weyl for two þynges,
why þat he hadde no temptynges;
He seyd, ‘þe fende of hym ne roȝte,
Ne hym to tempte aboutë soȝte,
Ne þoght hys lyfe so moche wurþy,

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For he helde hym self so holy,
And blamed oþer for here fallyng,’
“Þy lyfe hym þynkeþ ys wurþ no þyng;
To gode men ys hyt grete passyun
To fele þe fendes temptacyun;
And for he tempted þe noȝt here,
Yn ouþer stede þou shalt by hyt dere;
Ne late þou nat lyȝtly by þo
Þat are tempted of flesshly wo,
But, þenk weyl þat þey are gode,
Ȝyf þey þat temptyng with-stode,
And are sykerer aftyr temptynges,
And kepe hem better with many þynges;
And ȝyt men sey God loueþ hem noȝt,
Þat haue no temptyng yn dede ne þoght.
Þys temptyng was for þy despyte
Þat þou haddest of þe gode ermyte
whan he hys temptyng to þe shrofe,
And þy cumforte awey hym drofe.”

At þys pas þys tale tolde ys
For temptacyons of mannys flesshe,
Þat none ne myscumforte hym
Þogh þat hys flesshe be bryst and brym.
So holy man was neuer none
Þat temptacyun ne hat hym ouergone,
were hyt lytyl, or were hyt mykyl,
Þat of hys flesshe ne haþ hadde sum prykyl;
And þo þat wyl be ryȝt certeyne,
Cumforte hem weyl to fyȝt aȝeyn,
For no man may yn certeyn be,
But he fyȝt flesshly lustys to fle.

God graunte vs allë now fro heþen
Oure flesshë so to holde be-neþen,
And oure soules so to save aboue,
Þat God of heuene vs allë loue.