Confessio Amantis
or
Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins
Incipit Liber Octavus: Part 1
Online Medieval and Classical Library Release
#4
Que favet ad vicium vetus hec modo regula confert,
Nec novus e contra qui docet ordo placet.
Cecus amor dudum nondum sua lumina cepit,
Quo Venus impositum devia fallit iter.
1 The myhti god, which unbegunne
2 Stant of himself and hath begunne
3 Alle othre thinges at his wille,
4 The hevene him liste to fulfille
5 Of alle joie, where as he
6 Sit inthronized in his See,
7 And hath hise Angles him to serve,
8 Suche as him liketh to preserve,
9 So that thei mowe noght forsueie:
10 Bot Lucifer he putte aweie,
11 With al the route apostazied
12 Of hem that ben to him allied,
13 Whiche out of hevene into the helle
14 From Angles into fendes felle;
15 Wher that ther is no joie of lyht,
16 Bot more derk than eny nyht
17 The peine schal ben endeles;
18 And yit of fyres natheles
19 Ther is plente, bot thei ben blake,
20 Wherof no syhte mai be take.
21 Thus whan the thinges ben befalle,
22 That Luciferes court was falle
23 Wher dedly Pride hem hath conveied,
24 Anon forthwith it was pourveied
25 Thurgh him which alle thinges may;
26 He made Adam the sexte day
27 In Paradis, and to his make
28 Him liketh Eve also to make,
29 And bad hem cresce and multiplie.
30 For of the mannes Progenie,
31 Which of the womman schal be bore,
32 The nombre of Angles which was lore,
33 Whan thei out fro the blisse felle,
34 He thoghte to restore, and felle
35 In hevene thilke holy place
36 Which stod tho voide upon his grace.
37 Bot as it is wel wiste and knowe,
38 Adam and Eve bot a throwe,
39 So as it scholde of hem betyde,
40 In Paradis at thilke tyde
41 Ne duelten, and the cause why,
42 Write in the bok of Genesi,
43 As who seith, alle men have herd,
44 Hou Raphael the fyri swerd
45 In honde tok and drof hem oute,
46 To gete here lyves fode aboute
47 Upon this wofull Erthe hiere.
48 Metodre seith to this matiere,
49 As he be revelacion
50 It hadde upon avision,
51 Hou that Adam and Eve also
52 Virgines comen bothe tuo
53 Into the world and were aschamed,
54 Til that nature hem hath reclamed
55 To love, and tauht hem thilke lore,
56 That ferst thei keste, and overmore
57 Thei don that is to kinde due,
58 Wherof thei hadden fair issue.
59 A Sone was the ferste of alle,
60 And Chain be name thei him calle;
61 Abel was after the secounde,
62 And in the geste as it is founde,
63 Nature so the cause ladde,
64 Tuo douhtres ek Dame Eve hadde,
65 The ferste cleped Calmana
66 Was, and that other Delbora.
67 Thus was mankinde to beginne;
68 Forthi that time it was no Sinne
69 The Soster forto take hire brother,
70 Whan that ther was of chois non other:
71 To Chain was Calmana betake,
72 And Delboram hath Abel take,
73 In whom was gete natheles
74 Of worldes folk the ferste encres.
75 Men sein that nede hath no lawe,
76 And so it was be thilke dawe
77 And laste into the Secounde Age,
78 Til that the grete water rage,
79 Of Noeh which was seid the flod,
80 The world, which thanne in Senne stod,
81 Hath dreint, outake lyves Eyhte.
82 Tho was mankinde of litel weyhte;
83 Sem, Cham, Japhet, of these thre,
84 That ben the Sones of Noe5,
85 The world of mannes nacion
86 Into multiplicacion
87 Was tho restored newe ayein
88 So ferforth, as the bokes sein,
89 That of hem thre and here issue
90 Ther was so large a retenue,
91 Of naciouns seventy and tuo;
92 In sondri place ech on of tho
93 The wyde world have enhabited.
94 Bot as nature hem hath excited,
95 Thei token thanne litel hiede,
96 The brother of the Sosterhiede
97 To wedde wyves, til it cam
98 Into the time of Habraham.
99 Whan the thridde Age was begunne,
100 The nede tho was overrunne,
101 For ther was poeple ynouh in londe:
102 Thanne ate ferste it cam to honde,
103 That Sosterhode of mariage
104 Was torned into cousinage,
105 So that after the rihte lyne
106 The Cousin weddeth the cousine.
107 For Habraham, er that he deide,
108 This charge upon his servant leide,
109 To him and in this wise spak,
110 That he his Sone Isaa5c
111 Do wedde for no worldes good,
112 Bot only to his oghne blod:
113 Wherof this Servant, as he bad,
114 Whan he was ded, his Sone hath lad
115 To Bathuel, wher he Rebecke
116 Hath wedded with the whyte necke;
117 For sche, he wiste wel and syh,
118 Was to the child cousine nyh.
119 And thus as Habraham hath tawht,
120 Whan Isaa5c was god betawht,
121 His Sone Jacob dede also,
122 And of Laban the dowhtres tuo,
123 Which was his Em, he tok to wyve,
124 And gat upon hem in his lyve,
125 Of hire ferst which hihte Lie,
126 Sex Sones of his Progenie,
127 And of Rachel tuo Sones eke:
128 The remenant was forto seke,
129 That is to sein of foure mo,
130 Wherof he gat on Bala tuo,
131 And of Zelpha he hadde ek tweie.
132 And these tuelve, as I thee seie,
133 Thurgh providence of god himselve
134 Ben seid the Patriarkes tuelve;
135 Of whom, as afterward befell,
136 The tribes tuelve of Irahel
137 Engendred were, and ben the same
138 That of Hebreus tho hadden name,
139 Which of Sibrede in alliance
140 For evere kepten thilke usance
141 Most comunly, til Crist was bore.
142 Bot afterward it was forbore
143 Amonges ous that ben baptized;
144 For of the lawe canonized
145 The Pope hath bede to the men,
146 That non schal wedden of his ken
147 Ne the seconde ne the thridde.
148 Bot thogh that holy cherche it bidde,
149 So to restreigne Mariage,
150 Ther ben yit upon loves Rage
151 Full manye of suche nou aday
152 That taken wher thei take may.
153 For love, which is unbesein
154 Of alle reson, as men sein,
155 Thurgh sotie and thurgh nycete,
156 Of his voluptuosite
157 He spareth no condicion
158 Of ken ne yit religion,
159 Bot as a cock among the Hennes,
160 Or as a Stalon in the Fennes,
161 Which goth amonges al the Stod,
162 Riht so can he nomore good,
163 Bot takth what thing comth next to honde.
164 Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde,
165 That such delit is forto blame.
166 Forthi if thou hast be the same
167 To love in eny such manere,
168 Tell forth therof and schrif thee hiere.
169 Mi fader, nay, god wot the sothe,
170 Mi feire is noght of such a bothe,
171 So wylde a man yit was I nevere,
172 That of mi ken or lief or levere
173 Me liste love in such a wise:
174 And ek I not for what emprise
175 I scholde assote upon a Nonne,
176 For thogh I hadde hir love wonne,
177 It myhte into no pris amonte,
178 So therof sette I non acompte.
179 Ye mai wel axe of this and that,
180 Bot sothli forto telle plat,
181 In al this world ther is bot on
182 The which myn herte hath overgon;
183 I am toward alle othre fre.
184 Full wel, mi Sone, nou I see
185 Thi word stant evere upon o place,
186 Bot yit therof thou hast a grace,
187 That thou thee myht so wel excuse
188 Of love such as som men use,
189 So as I spak of now tofore.
190 For al such time of love is lore,
191 And lich unto the bitterswete;
192 For thogh it thenke a man ferst swete,
193 He schal wel fielen ate laste
194 That it is sour and may noght laste.
195 For as a morsell envenimed,
196 So hath such love his lust mistimed,
197 And grete ensamples manyon
198 A man mai finde therupon.
199 At Rome ferst if we beginne,
200 Ther schal I finde hou of this sinne
201 An Emperour was forto blame,
202 Gayus Caligula be name,
203 Which of his oghne Sostres thre
204 Berefte the virginite:
205 And whanne he hadde hem so forlein,
206 As he the which was al vilein,
207 He dede hem out of londe exile.
208 Bot afterward withinne a while
209 God hath beraft him in his ire
210 His lif and ek his large empire:
211 And thus for likinge of a throwe
212 For evere his lust was overthrowe.
213 Of this sotie also I finde,
214 Amon his Soster ayein kinde,
215 Which hihte Thamar, he forlay;
216 Bot he that lust an other day
217 Aboghte, whan that Absolon
218 His oghne brother therupon,
219 Of that he hadde his Soster schent,
220 Tok of that Senne vengement
221 And slowh him with his oghne hond:
222 And thus thunkinde unkinde fond.
223 And forto se more of this thing,
224 The bible makth a knowleching,
225 Wherof thou miht take evidence
226 Upon the sothe experience.
227 Whan Lothes wif was overgon
228 And schape into the salte Ston,
229 As it is spoke into this day,
230 Be bothe hise dowhtres thanne he lay,
231 With childe and made hem bothe grete,
232 Til that nature hem wolde lete,
233 And so the cause aboute ladde
234 That ech of hem a Sone hadde,
235 Moab the ferste, and the seconde
236 Amon, of whiche, as it is founde,
237 Cam afterward to gret encres
238 Tuo nacions: and natheles,
239 For that the stockes were ungoode,
240 The branches mihten noght be goode;
241 For of the false Moabites
242 Forth with the strengthe of Amonites,
243 Of that thei weren ferst misgete,
244 The poeple of god was ofte upsete
245 In Irahel and in Judee,
246 As in the bible a man mai se.
247 Lo thus, my Sone, as I thee seie,
248 Thou miht thiselve be beseie
249 Of that thou hast of othre herd:
250 For evere yit it hath so ferd,
251 Of loves lust if so befalle
252 That it in other place falle
253 Than it is of the lawe set,
254 He which his love hath so beset
255 Mote afterward repente him sore.
256 And every man is othres lore;
257 Of that befell in time er this
258 The present time which now is
259 May ben enformed hou it stod,
260 And take that him thenketh good,
261 And leve that which is noght so.
262 Bot forto loke of time go,
263 Hou lust of love excedeth lawe,
264 It oghte forto be withdrawe;
265 For every man it scholde drede,
266 And nameliche in his Sibrede,
267 Which torneth ofte to vengance:
268 Wherof a tale in remembrance,
269 Which is a long process to hiere,
270 I thenke forto tellen hiere.
271 Of a Cronique in daies gon,
272 The which is cleped Pantheon,
273 In loves cause I rede thus,
274 Hou that the grete Antiochus,
275 Of whom that Antioche tok
276 His ferste name, as seith the bok,
277 Was coupled to a noble queene,
278 And hadde a dowhter hem betwene:
279 Bot such fortune cam to honde,
280 That deth, which no king mai withstonde,
281 Bot every lif it mote obeie,
282 This worthi queene tok aweie.
283 The king, which made mochel mone,
284 Tho stod, as who seith, al him one
285 Withoute wif, bot natheles
286 His doghter, which was piereles
287 Of beaute, duelte aboute him stille.
288 Bot whanne a man hath welthe at wille,
289 The fleissh is frele and falleth ofte,
290 And that this maide tendre and softe,
291 Which in hire fadres chambres duelte,
292 Withinne a time wiste and felte:
293 For likinge and concupiscence
294 Withoute insihte of conscience
295 The fader so with lustes blente,
296 That he caste al his hole entente
297 His oghne doghter forto spille.
298 This king hath leisir at his wille
299 With strengthe, and whanne he time sih,
300 This yonge maiden he forlih:
301 And sche was tendre and full of drede,
302 Sche couthe noght hir Maidenhede
303 Defende, and thus sche hath forlore
304 The flour which she hath longe bore.
305 It helpeth noght althogh sche wepe,
306 For thei that scholde hir bodi kepe
307 Of wommen were absent as thanne;
308 And thus this maiden goth to manne,
309 The wylde fader thus devoureth
310 His oghne fleissh, which non socoureth,
311 And that was cause of mochel care.
312 Bot after this unkinde fare
313 Out of the chambre goth the king,
314 And sche lay stille, and of this thing,
315 Withinne hirself such sorghe made,
316 Ther was no wiht that mihte hir glade,
317 For feere of thilke horrible vice.
318 With that cam inne the Norrice
319 Which fro childhode hire hadde kept,
320 And axeth if sche hadde slept,
321 And why hire chiere was unglad.
322 Bot sche, which hath ben overlad
323 Of that sche myhte noght be wreke,
324 For schame couthe unethes speke;
325 And natheles mercy sche preide
326 With wepende yhe and thus sche seide:
327 "Helas, mi Soster, waileway,
328 That evere I sih this ilke day!
329 Thing which mi bodi ferst begat
330 Into this world, onliche that
331 Mi worldes worschipe hath bereft."
332 With that sche swouneth now and eft,
333 And evere wissheth after deth,
334 So that welnyh hire lacketh breth.
335 That other, which hire wordes herde,
336 In confortinge of hire ansuerde,
337 To lette hire fadres fol desir
338 Sche wiste no recoverir:
339 Whan thing is do, ther is no bote,
340 So suffren thei that suffre mote;
341 Ther was non other which it wiste.
342 Thus hath this king al that him liste
343 Of his likinge and his plesance,
344 And laste in such continuance,
345 And such delit he tok therinne,
346 Him thoghte that it was no Sinne;
347 And sche dorste him nothing withseie.
348 Bot fame, which goth every weie,
349 To sondry regnes al aboute
350 The grete beaute telleth oute
351 Of such a maide of hih parage:
352 So that for love of mariage
353 The worthi Princes come and sende,
354 As thei the whiche al honour wende,
355 And knewe nothing hou it stod.
356 The fader, whanne he understod,
357 That thei his dowhter thus besoghte,
358 With al his wit he caste and thoghte
359 Hou that he myhte finde a lette;
360 And such a Statut thanne he sette,
361 And in this wise his lawe he taxeth,
362 That what man that his doghter axeth,
363 Bot if he couthe his question
364 Assoile upon suggestion
365 Of certein thinges that befelle,
366 The whiche he wolde unto him telle,
367 He scholde in certein lese his hed.
368 And thus ther weren manye ded,
369 Here hevedes stondende on the gate,
370 Till ate laste longe and late,
371 For lacke of ansuere in the wise,
372 The remenant that weren wise
373 Eschuieden to make assay.
374 Til it befell upon a day
375 Appolinus the Prince of Tyr,
376 Which hath to love a gret desir,
377 As he which in his hihe mod
378 Was likende of his hote blod,
379 A yong, a freissh, a lusti knyht,
380 As he lai musende on a nyht
381 Of the tidinges whiche he herde,
382 He thoghte assaie hou that it ferde.
383 He was with worthi compainie
384 Arraied, and with good navie
385 To schipe he goth, the wynd him dryveth,
386 And seileth, til that he arryveth:
387 Sauf in the port of Antioche
388 He londeth, and goth to aproche
389 The kinges Court and his presence.
390 Of every naturel science,
391 Which eny clerk him couthe teche,
392 He couthe ynowh, and in his speche
393 Of wordes he was eloquent;
394 And whanne he sih the king present,
395 He preith he moste his dowhter have.
396 The king ayein began to crave,
397 And tolde him the condicion,
398 Hou ferst unto his question
399 He mote ansuere and faile noght,
400 Or with his heved it schal be boght:
401 And he him axeth what it was.
402 The king declareth him the cas
403 With sturne lok and sturdi chiere,
404 To him and seide in this manere:
405 "With felonie I am upbore,
406 I ete and have it noght forbore
407 Mi modres fleissh, whos housebonde
408 Mi fader forto seche I fonde,
409 Which is the Sone ek of my wif.
410 Hierof I am inquisitif;
411 And who that can mi tale save,
412 Al quyt he schal my doghter have;
413 Of his ansuere and if he faile,
414 He schal be ded withoute faile.
415 Forthi my Sone," quod the king,
416 "Be wel avised of this thing,
417 Which hath thi lif in jeupartie."
418 Appolinus for his partie,
419 Whan he this question hath herd,
420 Unto the king he hath ansuerd
421 And hath rehersed on and on
422 The pointz, and seide therupon:
423 "The question which thou hast spoke,
424 If thou wolt that it be unloke,
425 It toucheth al the privete
426 Betwen thin oghne child and thee,
427 And stant al hol upon you tuo."
428 The king was wonder sory tho,
429 And thoghte, if that he seide it oute,
430 Than were he schamed al aboute.
431 With slihe wordes and with felle
432 He seith, "Mi Sone, I schal thee telle,
433 Though that thou be of litel wit,
434 It is no gret merveile as yit,
435 Thin age mai it noght suffise:
436 Bot loke wel thou noght despise
437 Thin oghne lif, for of my grace
438 Of thretty daies fulle a space
439 I grante thee, to ben avised."
440 And thus with leve and time assised
441 This yonge Prince forth he wente,
442 And understod wel what it mente,
443 Withinne his herte as he was lered,
444 That forto maken him afered
445 The king his time hath so deslaied.
446 Wherof he dradde and was esmaied,
447 Of treson that he deie scholde,
448 For he the king his sothe tolde;
449 And sodeinly the nyhtes tyde,
450 That more wolde he noght abide,
451 Al prively his barge he hente
452 And hom ayein to Tyr he wente:
453 And in his oghne wit he seide
454 For drede, if he the king bewreide,
455 He knew so wel the kinges herte,
456 That deth ne scholde he noght asterte,
457 The king him wolde so poursuie.
458 Bot he, that wolde his deth eschuie,
459 And knew al this tofor the hond,
460 Forsake he thoghte his oghne lond,
461 That there wolde he noght abyde;
462 For wel he knew that on som syde
463 This tirant of his felonie
464 Be som manere of tricherie
465 To grieve his bodi wol noght leve.
466 Forthi withoute take leve,
467 Als priveliche as evere he myhte,
468 He goth him to the See be nyhte
469 In Schipes that be whete laden:
470 Here takel redy tho thei maden
471 And hale up Seil and forth thei fare.
472 Bot forto tellen of the care
473 That thei of Tyr begonne tho,
474 Whan that thei wiste he was ago,
475 It is a Pite forto hiere.
476 They losten lust, they losten chiere,
477 Thei toke upon hem such penaunce,
478 Ther was no song, ther was no daunce,
479 Bot every merthe and melodie
480 To hem was thanne a maladie;
481 For unlust of that aventure
482 Ther was noman which tok tonsure,
483 In doelful clothes thei hem clothe,
484 The bathes and the Stwes bothe
485 Thei schetten in be every weie;
486 There was no lif which leste pleie
487 Ne take of eny joie kepe,
488 Bot for here liege lord to wepe;
489 And every wyht seide as he couthe,
490 "Helas, the lusti flour of youthe,
491 Our Prince, oure heved, our governour,
492 Thurgh whom we stoden in honour,
493 Withoute the comun assent
494 Thus sodeinliche is fro ous went!"
495 Such was the clamour of hem alle.
496 Bot se we now what is befalle
497 Upon the ferste tale plein,
498 And torne we therto ayein.
499 Antiochus the grete Sire,
500 Which full of rancour and of ire
501 His herte berth, so as ye herde,
502 Of that this Prince of Tyr ansuerde,
503 He hadde a feloun bacheler,
504 Which was his prive consailer,
505 And Taliart be name he hihte:
506 The king a strong puison him dihte
507 Withinne a buiste and gold therto,
508 In alle haste and bad him go
509 Strawht unto Tyr, and for no cost
510 Ne spare he, til he hadde lost
511 The Prince which he wolde spille.
512 And whan the king hath seid his wille,
513 This Taliart in a Galeie
514 With alle haste he tok his weie:
515 The wynd was good, he saileth blyve,
516 Til he tok lond upon the ryve
517 Of Tyr, and forth with al anon
518 Into the Burgh he gan to gon,
519 And tok his In and bod a throwe.
520 Bot for he wolde noght be knowe,
521 Desguised thanne he goth him oute;
522 He sih the wepinge al aboute,
523 And axeth what the cause was,
524 And thei him tolden al the cas,
525 How sodeinli the Prince is go.
526 And whan he sih that it was so,
527 And that his labour was in vein,
528 Anon he torneth hom ayein,
529 And to the king, whan he cam nyh,
530 He tolde of that he herde and syh,
531 Hou that the Prince of Tyr is fled,
532 So was he come ayein unsped.
533 The king was sori for a while,
534 Bot whan he sih that with no wyle
535 He myhte achieve his crualte,
536 He stinte his wraththe and let him be.
537 Bot over this now forto telle
538 Of aventures that befelle
539 Unto this Prince of whom I tolde,
540 He hath his rihte cours forth holde
541 Be Ston and nedle, til he cam
542 To Tharse, and there his lond he nam.
543 A Burgeis riche of gold and fee
544 Was thilke time in that cite,
545 Which cleped was Strangulio,
546 His wif was Dionise also:
547 This yonge Prince, as seith the bok,
548 With hem his herbergage tok;
549 And it befell that Cite so
550 Before time and thanne also,
551 Thurgh strong famyne which hem ladde
552 Was non that eny whete hadde.
553 Appolinus, whan that he herde
554 The meschief, hou the cite ferde,
555 Al freliche of his oghne yifte
556 His whete, among hem forto schifte,
557 The which be Schipe he hadde broght,
558 He yaf, and tok of hem riht noght.
559 Bot sithen ferst this world began,
560 Was nevere yit to such a man
561 Mor joie mad than thei him made:
562 For thei were alle of him so glade,
563 That thei for evere in remembrance
564 Made a figure in resemblance
565 Of him, and in the comun place
566 Thei sette him up, so that his face
567 Mihte every maner man beholde,
568 So as the cite was beholde;
569 It was of latoun overgilt:
570 Thus hath he noght his yifte spilt.
571 Upon a time with his route
572 This lord to pleie goth him oute,
573 And in his weie of Tyr he mette
574 A man, the which on knees him grette,
575 And Hellican be name he hihte,
576 Which preide his lord to have insihte
577 Upon himself, and seide him thus,
578 Hou that the grete Antiochus
579 Awaiteth if he mihte him spille.
580 That other thoghte and hield him stille,
581 And thonked him of his warnynge,
582 And bad him telle no tidinge,
583 Whan he to Tyr cam hom ayein,
584 That he in Tharse him hadde sein.
585 Fortune hath evere be muable
586 And mai no while stonde stable:
587 For now it hiheth, now it loweth,
588 Now stant upriht, now overthroweth,
589 Now full of blisse and now of bale,
590 As in the tellinge of mi tale
591 Hierafterward a man mai liere,
592 Which is gret routhe forto hiere.
593 This lord, which wolde don his beste,
594 Withinne himself hath litel reste,
595 And thoghte he wolde his place change
596 And seche a contre more strange.
597 Of Tharsiens his leve anon
598 He tok, and is to Schipe gon:
599 His cours he nam with Seil updrawe,
600 Where as fortune doth the lawe,
601 And scheweth, as I schal reherse,
602 How sche was to this lord diverse,
603 The which upon the See sche ferketh.
604 The wynd aros, the weder derketh,
605 It blew and made such tempeste,
606 Non ancher mai the schip areste,
607 Which hath tobroken al his gere;
608 The Schipmen stode in such a feere,
609 Was non that myhte himself bestere,
610 Bot evere awaite upon the lere,
611 Whan that thei scholde drenche at ones.
612 Ther was ynowh withinne wones
613 Of wepinge and of sorghe tho;
614 This yonge king makth mochel wo
615 So forto se the Schip travaile:
616 Bot al that myhte him noght availe;
617 The mast tobrak, the Seil torof,
618 The Schip upon the wawes drof,
619 Til that thei sihe a londes cooste.
620 Tho made avou the leste and moste,
621 Be so thei myhten come alonde;
622 Bot he which hath the See on honde,
623 Neptunus, wolde noght acorde,
624 Bot altobroke cable and corde,
625 Er thei to londe myhte aproche,
626 The Schip toclef upon a roche,
627 And al goth doun into the depe.
628 Bot he that alle thing mai kepe
629 Unto this lord was merciable,
630 And broghte him sauf upon a table,
631 Which to the lond him hath upbore;
632 The remenant was al forlore,
633 Wherof he made mochel mone.
634 Thus was this yonge lord him one,
635 Al naked in a povere plit:
636 His colour, which whilom was whyt,
637 Was thanne of water fade and pale,
638 And ek he was so sore acale
639 That he wiste of himself no bote,
640 It halp him nothing forto mote
641 To gete ayein that he hath lore.
642 Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,
643 Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,
644 Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe,
645 Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie;
646 Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie,
647 And sih a man ther naked stonde,
648 And whan that he hath understonde
649 The cause, he hath of him gret routhe,
650 And onliche of his povere trouthe
651 Of suche clothes as he hadde
652 With gret Pite this lord he cladde.
653 And he him thonketh as he scholde,
654 And seith him that it schal be yolde,
655 If evere he gete his stat ayein,
656 And preide that he wolde him sein
657 If nyh were eny toun for him.
658 He seide, "Yee, Pentapolim,
659 Wher bothe king and queene duellen."
660 Whanne he this tale herde tellen,
661 He gladeth him and gan beseche
662 That he the weie him wolde teche:
663 And he him taghte; and forth he wente
664 And preide god with good entente
665 To sende him joie after his sorwe.
666 It was noght passed yit Midmorwe,
667 Whan thiderward his weie he nam,
668 Wher sone upon the Non he cam.
669 He eet such as he myhte gete,
670 And forth anon, whan he hadde ete,
671 He goth to se the toun aboute,
672 And cam ther as he fond a route
673 Of yonge lusti men withalle;
674 And as it scholde tho befalle,
675 That day was set of such assisse,
676 That thei scholde in the londes guise,
677 As he herde of the poeple seie,
678 Here comun game thanne pleie;
679 And crid was that thei scholden come
680 Unto the gamen alle and some
681 Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte,
682 To do such maistrie as thei myhte.
683 Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,
684 For so that ilke game wolde,
685 As it was tho custume and us,
686 Amonges hem was no refus:
687 The flour of al the toun was there
688 And of the court also ther were,
689 And that was in a large place
690 Riht evene afore the kinges face,
691 Which Artestrathes thanne hihte.
692 The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,
693 And who most worthi was of dede
694 Receive he scholde a certein mede
695 And in the cite bere a pris.
696 Appolinus, which war and wys
697 Of every game couthe an ende,
698 He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende,
699 And fell among hem into game:
700 And there he wan him such a name,
701 So as the king himself acompteth
702 That he alle othre men surmonteth,
703 And bar the pris above hem alle.
704 The king bad that into his halle
705 At Souper time he schal be broght;
706 And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,
707 Withoute compaignie al one:
708 Was non so semlich of persone,
709 Of visage and of limes bothe,
710 If that he hadde what to clothe.
711 At Soupertime natheles
712 The king amiddes al the pres
713 Let clepe him up among hem alle,
714 And bad his Mareschall of halle
715 To setten him in such degre
716 That he upon him myhte se.
717 The king was sone set and served,
718 And he, which hath his pris deserved
719 After the kinges oghne word,
720 Was mad beginne a Middel bord,
721 That bothe king and queene him sihe.
722 He sat and caste aboute his yhe
723 And sih the lordes in astat,
724 And with himself wax in debat
725 Thenkende what he hadde lore,
726 And such a sorwe he tok therfore,
727 That he sat evere stille and thoghte,
728 As he which of no mete roghte.
729 The king behield his hevynesse,
730 And of his grete gentillesse
731 His doghter, which was fair and good
732 And ate bord before him stod,
733 As it was thilke time usage,
734 He bad to gon on his message
735 And fonde forto make him glad.
736 And sche dede as hire fader bad,
737 And goth to him the softe pas
738 And axeth whenne and what he was,
739 And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.
740 He seith, "Ma Dame, be your leve
741 Mi name is hote Appolinus,
742 And of mi richesse it is thus,
743 Upon the See I have it lore.
744 The contre wher as I was bore,
745 Wher that my lond is and mi rente,
746 I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente:
747 The worschipe of this worldes aghte,
748 Unto the god ther I betaghte."
749 And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,
750 The teres runne be his cheeke.
751 The king, which therof tok good kepe,
752 Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe,
753 And for his doghter sende ayein,
754 And preide hir faire and gan to sein
755 That sche no lengere wolde drecche,
756 Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche
757 Hire harpe and don al that sche can
758 To glade with that sory man.
759 And sche to don hir fader heste
760 Hir harpe fette, and in the feste
761 Upon a Chaier which thei fette
762 Hirself next to this man sche sette:
763 With harpe bothe and ek with mouthe
764 To him sche dede al that sche couthe
765 To make him chiere, and evere he siketh,
766 And sche him axeth hou him liketh.
767 "Ma dame, certes wel," he seide,
768 "Bot if ye the mesure pleide
769 Which, if you list, I schal you liere,
770 It were a glad thing forto hiere."
771 "Ha, lieve sire," tho quod sche,
772 "Now tak the harpe and let me se
773 Of what mesure that ye mene."
774 Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene,
775 Forth with the lordes alle arewe,
776 That he som merthe wolde schewe;
777 He takth the Harpe and in his wise
778 He tempreth, and of such assise
779 Singende he harpeth forth withal,
780 That as a vois celestial
781 Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere,
782 As thogh that he an Angel were.
783 Thei gladen of his melodie,
784 Bot most of alle the compainie
785 The kinges doghter, which it herde,
786 And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde,
787 Whan that he was of hire opposed,
788 Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed
789 That he is of gret gentilesse.
790 Hise dedes ben therof witnesse
791 Forth with the wisdom of his lore;
792 It nedeth noght to seche more,
793 He myhte noght have such manere,
794 Of gentil blod bot if he were.
795 Whanne he hath harped al his fille,
796 The kinges heste to fulfille,
797 Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,
798 Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,
799 Thei risen and gon out of halle.
800 The king his chamberlein let calle,
801 And bad that he be alle weie
802 A chambre for this man pourveie,
803 Which nyh his oghne chambre be.
804 "It schal be do, mi lord," quod he.
805 Appolinus of whom I mene
806 Tho tok his leve of king and queene
807 And of the worthi Maide also,
808 Which preide unto hir fader tho,
809 That sche myhte of that yonge man
810 Of tho sciences whiche he can
811 His lore have; and in this wise
812 The king hir granteth his aprise,
813 So that himself therto assente.
814 Thus was acorded er thei wente,
815 That he with al that evere he may
816 This yonge faire freisshe May
817 Of that he couthe scholde enforme;
818 And full assented in this forme
819 Thei token leve as for that nyht.
820 And whanne it was amorwe lyht,
821 Unto this yonge man of Tyr
822 Of clothes and of good atir
823 With gold and Selver to despende
824 This worthi yonge lady sende:
825 And thus sche made him wel at ese,
826 And he with al that he can plese
827 Hire serveth wel and faire ayein.
828 He tawhte hir til sche was certein
829 Of Harpe, of Citole and of Rote,
830 With many a tun and many a note
831 Upon Musique, upon mesure,
832 And of hire Harpe the temprure
833 He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.
834 Bot as men sein that frele is youthe,
835 With leisir and continuance
836 This Mayde fell upon a chance,
837 That love hath mad him a querele
838 Ayein hire youthe freissh and frele,
839 That malgre wher sche wole or noght,
840 Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght
841 To love and to his lawe obeie;
842 And that sche schal ful sore abeie.
843 For sche wot nevere what it is,
844 Bot evere among sche fieleth this:
845 Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,
846 Hire herte is hot as eny fyr,
847 And otherwhile it is acale;
848 Now is sche red, nou is sche pale
849 Riht after the condicion
850 Of hire ymaginacion;
851 Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle,
852 Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,
853 Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe,
854 Sche wolde hire goode name kepe
855 For feere of wommanysshe schame.
856 Bot what in ernest and in game,
857 Sche stant for love in such a plit,
858 That sche hath lost al appetit
859 Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,
860 As sche that not what is the beste;
861 Bot forto thenken al hir fille
862 Sche hield hire ofte times stille
863 Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute:
864 The king was of hire lif in doute,
865 Which wiste nothing what it mente.
866 Bot fell a time, as he out wente
867 To walke, of Princes Sones thre
868 Ther come and felle to his kne;
869 And ech of hem in sondri wise
870 Besoghte and profreth his servise,
871 So that he myhte his doghter have.
872 The king, which wolde his honour save,
873 Seith sche is siek, and of that speche
874 Tho was no time to beseche;
875 Bot ech of hem do make a bille
876 He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,
877 His name, his fader and his good;
878 And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,
879 And hadde here billes oversein,
880 Thei scholden have ansuere ayein.
881 Of this conseil thei weren glad,
882 And writen as the king hem bad,
883 And every man his oghne bok
884 Into the kinges hond betok,
885 And he it to his dowhter sende,
886 And preide hir forto make an ende
887 And wryte ayein hire oghne hond,
888 Riht as sche in hire herte fond.
889 The billes weren wel received,
890 Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,
891 And thoghte tho was time and space
892 To put hire in hir fader grace,
893 And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:
894 "The schame which is in a Maide
895 With speche dar noght ben unloke,
896 Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;
897 So wryte I to you, fader, thus:
898 Bot if I have Appolinus,
899 Of al this world, what so betyde,
900 I wol non other man abide.
901 And certes if I of him faile,
902 I wot riht wel withoute faile
903 Ye schull for me be dowhterles."
904 This lettre cam, and ther was press
905 Tofore the king, ther as he stod;
906 And whan that he it understod,
907 He yaf hem ansuer by and by,
908 Bot that was do so prively,
909 That non of othres conseil wiste.
910 Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste
911 Thei wente forth upon here weie.
912 The king ne wolde noght bewreie
913 The conseil for no maner hihe,
914 Bot soffreth til he time sihe:
915 And whan that he to chambre is come,
916 He hath unto his conseil nome
917 This man of Tyr, and let him se
918 The lettre and al the privete,
919 The which his dowhter to him sente:
920 And he his kne to grounde bente
921 And thonketh him and hire also,
922 And er thei wenten thanne atuo,
923 With good herte and with good corage
924 Of full Love and full mariage
925 The king and he ben hol acorded.
926 And after, whanne it was recorded
927 Unto the dowhter hou it stod,
928 The yifte of al this worldes good
929 Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe:
930 And forth withal the king als swithe,
931 For he wol have hire good assent,
932 Hath for the queene hir moder sent.
933 The queene is come, and whan sche herde
934 Of this matiere hou that it ferde,
935 Sche syh debat, sche syh desese,
936 Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese,
937 And is therto assented full.
938 Which is a dede wonderfull,
939 For noman knew the sothe cas
940 Bot he himself, what man he was;
941 And natheles, so as hem thoghte,
942 Hise dedes to the sothe wroghte
943 That he was come of gentil blod:
944 Him lacketh noght bot worldes good,
945 And as therof is no despeir,
946 For sche schal ben hire fader heir,
947 And he was able to governe.
948 Thus wol thei noght the love werne
949 Of him and hire in none wise,
950 Bot ther acorded thei divise
951 The day and time of Mariage.
952 Wher love is lord of the corage,
953 Him thenketh longe er that he spede;
954 Bot ate laste unto the dede
955 The time is come, and in her wise
956 With gret offrende and sacrifise
957 Thei wedde and make a riche feste,
958 And every thing which was honeste
959 Withinnen house and ek withoute
960 It was so don, that al aboute
961 Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse
962 Ther cride many a man largesse
963 Unto the lordes hihe and loude;
964 The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude,
965 Thei jouste ferst and after daunce.
966 The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce
967 Hath derked al the bryhte Sonne;
968 This lord, which hath his love wonne,
969 Is go to bedde with his wif,
970 Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,
971 And that was after somdel sene,
972 For as thei pleiden hem betwene,
973 Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,
974 To whom fell after mochel wo.
975 Now have I told of the spousailes.
976 Bot forto speke of the mervailes
977 Whiche afterward to hem befelle,
978 It is a wonder forto telle.
979 It fell adai thei riden oute,
980 The king and queene and al the route,
981 To pleien hem upon the stronde,
982 Wher as thei sen toward the londe
983 A Schip sailende of gret array.
984 To knowe what it mene may,
985 Til it be come thei abide;
986 Than sen thei stonde on every side,
987 Endlong the schipes bord to schewe,
988 Of Penonceals a riche rewe.
989 Thei axen when the ship is come:
990 Fro Tyr, anon ansuerde some,
991 And over this thei seiden more
992 The cause why thei comen fore
993 Was forto seche and forto finde
994 Appolinus, which was of kinde
995 Her liege lord: and he appiereth,
996 And of the tale which he hiereth
997 He was riht glad; for thei him tolde,
998 That for vengance, as god it wolde,
999 Antiochus, as men mai wite,
1000 With thondre and lyhthnynge is forsmite;
1001 His doghter hath the same chaunce,
1002 So be thei bothe in o balance.
1003 "Forthi, oure liege lord, we seie
1004 In name of al the lond, and preie,
1005 That left al other thing to done,
1006 It like you to come sone
1007 And se youre oghne liege men
1008 With othre that ben of youre ken,
1009 That live in longinge and desir
1010 Til ye be come ayein to Tyr."
1011 This tale after the king it hadde
1012 Pentapolim al overspradde,
1013 Ther was no joie forto seche;
1014 For every man it hadde in speche
1015 And seiden alle of on acord,
1016 "A worthi king schal ben oure lord:
1017 That thoghte ous ferst an hevinesse
1018 Is schape ous now to gret gladnesse."
1019 Thus goth the tidinge overal.
1020 Bot nede he mot, that nede schal:
1021 Appolinus his leve tok,
1022 To god and al the lond betok
1023 With al the poeple long and brod,
1024 That he no lenger there abod.
1025 The king and queene sorwe made,
1026 Bot yit somdiel thei weren glade
1027 Of such thing as thei herden tho:
1028 And thus betwen the wel and wo
1029 To schip he goth, his wif with childe,
1030 The which was evere meke and mylde
1031 And wolde noght departe him fro,
1032 Such love was betwen hem tuo.
1033 Lichorida for hire office
1034 Was take, which was a Norrice,
1035 To wende with this yonge wif,
1036 To whom was schape a woful lif.
1037 Withinne a time, as it betidde,
1038 Whan thei were in the See amidde,
1039 Out of the North they sihe a cloude;
1040 The storm aros, the wyndes loude
1041 Thei blewen many a dredful blast,
1042 The welkne was al overcast,
1043 The derke nyht the Sonne hath under,
1044 Ther was a gret tempeste of thunder:
1045 The Mone and ek the Sterres bothe
1046 In blake cloudes thei hem clothe,
1047 Wherof here brihte lok thei hyde.
1048 This yonge ladi wepte and cride,
1049 To whom no confort myhte availe;
1050 Of childe sche began travaile,
1051 Wher sche lay in a Caban clos:
1052 Hire woful lord fro hire aros,
1053 And that was longe er eny morwe,
1054 So that in anguisse and in sorwe
1055 Sche was delivered al be nyhte
1056 And ded in every mannes syhte;
1057 Bot natheles for al this wo
1058 A maide child was bore tho.
1059 Appolinus whan he this knew,
1060 For sorwe a swoune he overthrew,
1061 That noman wiste in him no lif.
1062 And whanne he wok, he seide, "Ha, wif,
1063 Mi lust, mi joie, my desir,
1064 Mi welthe and my recoverir,
1065 Why schal I live, and thou schalt dye?
1066 Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie,
1067 Nou hast thou do to me thi werste.
1068 Ha, herte, why ne wolt thou berste,
1069 That forth with hire I myhte passe?
1070 Mi peines weren wel the lasse."
1071 In such wepinge and in such cry
1072 His dede wif, which lay him by,
1073 A thousend sithes he hire kiste;
1074 Was nevere man that sih ne wiste
1075 A sorwe unto his sorwe lich;
1076 For evere among upon the lich
1077 He fell swounende, as he that soghte
1078 His oghne deth, which he besoghte
1079 Unto the goddes alle above
1080 With many a pitous word of love;
1081 Bot suche wordes as tho were
1082 Yit herde nevere mannes Ere,
1083 Bot only thilke whiche he seide.
1084 The Maister Schipman cam and preide
1085 With othre suche as be therinne,
1086 And sein that he mai nothing winne
1087 Ayein the deth, bot thei him rede,
1088 He be wel war and tak hiede,
1089 The See be weie of his nature
1090 Receive mai no creature
1091 Withinne himself as forto holde,
1092 The which is ded: forthi thei wolde,
1093 As thei conseilen al aboute,
1094 The dede body casten oute.
1095 For betre it is, thei seiden alle,
1096 That it of hire so befalle,
1097 Than if thei scholden alle spille.
1098 The king, which understod here wille
1099 And knew here conseil that was trewe,
1100 Began ayein his sorwe newe
1101 With pitous herte, and thus to seie:
1102 "It is al reson that ye preie.
1103 I am," quod he, "bot on al one,
1104 So wolde I noght for mi persone
1105 Ther felle such adversite.
1106 Bot whan it mai no betre be,
1107 Doth thanne thus upon my word,
1108 Let make a cofre strong of bord,
1109 That it be ferm with led and pich."
1110 Anon was mad a cofre sich,
1111 Al redy broght unto his hond;
1112 And whanne he sih and redy fond
1113 This cofre mad and wel enclowed,
1114 The dede bodi was besowed
1115 In cloth of gold and leid therinne.
1116 And for he wolde unto hire winne
1117 Upon som cooste a Sepulture,
1118 Under hire heved in aventure
1119 Of gold he leide Sommes grete
1120 And of jeueals a strong beyete
1121 Forth with a lettre, and seide thus:
1122 "I, king of Tyr Appollinus,
1123 Do alle maner men to wite,
1124 That hiere and se this lettre write,
1125 That helpeles withoute red
1126 Hier lith a kinges doghter ded:
1127 And who that happeth hir to finde,
1128 For charite tak in his mynde,
1129 And do so that sche be begrave
1130 With this tresor, which he schal have."
1131 Thus whan the lettre was full spoke,
1132 Thei haue anon the cofre stoke,
1133 And bounden it with yren faste,
1134 That it may with the wawes laste,
1135 And stoppen it be such a weie,
1136 That it schal be withinne dreie,
1137 So that no water myhte it grieve.
1138 And thus in hope and good believe
1139 Of that the corps schal wel aryve,
1140 Thei caste it over bord als blyve.
1141 The Schip forth on the wawes wente;
1142 The prince hath changed his entente,
1143 And seith he wol noght come at Tyr
1144 As thanne, bot al his desir
1145 Is ferst to seilen unto Tharse.
1146 The wyndy Storm began to skarse,
1147 The Sonne arist, the weder cliereth,
1148 The Schipman which behinde stiereth,
1149 Whan that he sih the wyndes saghte,
1150 Towardes Tharse his cours he straghte.
1151 Bot now to mi matiere ayein,
1152 To telle as olde bokes sein,
1153 This dede corps of which ye knowe
1154 With wynd and water was forthrowe
1155 Now hier, now ther, til ate laste
1156 At Ephesim the See upcaste
1157 The cofre and al that was therinne.
1158 Of gret merveile now beginne
1159 Mai hiere who that sitteth stille;
1160 That god wol save mai noght spille.
1161 Riht as the corps was throwe alonde,
1162 Ther cam walkende upon the stronde
1163 A worthi clerc, a Surgien,
1164 And ek a gret Phisicien,
1165 Of al that lond the wisest on,
1166 Which hihte Maister Cerymon;
1167 Ther were of his disciples some.
1168 This Maister to the Cofre is come,
1169 He peiseth ther was somwhat in,
1170 And bad hem bere it to his In,
1171 And goth himselve forth withal.
1172 Al that schal falle, falle schal;
1173 Thei comen hom and tarie noght;
1174 This Cofre is into chambre broght,
1175 Which that thei finde faste stoke,
1176 Bot thei with craft it have unloke.
1177 Thei loken in, where as thei founde
1178 A bodi ded, which was bewounde
1179 In cloth of gold, as I seide er,
1180 The tresor ek thei founden ther
1181 Forth with the lettre, which thei rede.
1182 And tho thei token betre hiede;
1183 Unsowed was the bodi sone,
1184 And he, which knew what is to done,
1185 This noble clerk, with alle haste
1186 Began the veines forto taste,
1187 And sih hire Age was of youthe,
1188 And with the craftes whiche he couthe
1189 He soghte and fond a signe of lif.
1190 With that this worthi kinges wif
1191 Honestely thei token oute,
1192 And maden fyres al aboute;
1193 Thei leide hire on a couche softe,
1194 And with a scheete warmed ofte
1195 Hire colde brest began to hete,
1196 Hire herte also to flacke and bete.
1197 This Maister hath hire every joignt
1198 With certein oile and balsme enoignt,
1199 And putte a liquour in hire mouth,
1200 Which is to fewe clerkes couth,
1201 So that sche coevereth ate laste;
1202 And ferst hire yhen up sche caste,
1203 And whan sche more of strengthe cawhte,
1204 Hire Armes bothe forth sche strawhte,
1205 Hield up hire hond and pitously
1206 Sche spak and seide, "Ha, wher am I?
1207 Where is my lord, what world is this?"
1208 As sche that wot noght hou it is.
1209 Bot Cerymon the worthi leche
1210 Ansuerde anon upon hire speche
1211 And seith, "Ma dame, yee ben hiere,
1212 Where yee be sauf, as yee schal hiere
1213 Hierafterward; forthi as nou
1214 Mi conseil is, conforteth you:
1215 For trusteth wel withoute faile,
1216 Ther is nothing which schal you faile,
1217 That oghte of reson to be do."
1218 Thus passen thei a day or tuo;
1219 Thei speke of noght as for an ende,
1220 Til sche began somdiel amende,
1221 And wiste hireselven what sche mente.
1222 Tho forto knowe hire hol entente,
1223 This Maister axeth al the cas,
1224 Hou sche cam there and what sche was.
1225 "Hou I cam hiere wot I noght,"
1226 Quod sche, "bot wel I am bethoght
1227 Of othre thinges al aboute":
1228 Fro point to point and tolde him oute
1229 Als ferforthli as sche it wiste.
1230 And he hire tolde hou in a kiste
1231 The See hire threw upon the lond,
1232 And what tresor with hire he fond,
1233 Which was al redy at hire wille,
1234 As he that schop him to fulfille
1235 With al his myht what thing he scholde.
1236 Sche thonketh him that he so wolde,
1237 And al hire herte sche discloseth,
1238 And seith him wel that sche supposeth
1239 Hire lord be dreint, hir child also;
1240 So sih sche noght bot alle wo.
1241 Wherof as to the world nomore
1242 Ne wol sche torne, and preith therfore
1243 That in som temple of the Cite,
1244 To kepe and holde hir chastete,
1245 Sche mihte among the wommen duelle.
1246 Whan he this tale hir herde telle,
1247 He was riht glad, and made hire knowen
1248 That he a dowhter of his owen
1249 Hath, which he wol unto hir yive
1250 To serve, whil thei bothe live,
1251 In stede of that which sche hath lost;
1252 Al only at his oghne cost
1253 Sche schal be rendred forth with hire.
1254 She seith, "Grant mercy, lieve sire,
1255 God quite it you, ther I ne may."
1256 And thus thei drive forth the day,
1257 Til time com that sche was hol;
1258 And tho thei take her conseil hol,
1259 To schape upon good ordinance
1260 And make a worthi pourveance
1261 Ayein the day whan thei be veiled.
1262 And thus, whan that thei be conseiled,
1263 In blake clothes thei hem clothe,
1264 This lady and the dowhter bothe,
1265 And yolde hem to religion.
1266 The feste and the profession
1267 After the reule of that degre
1268 Was mad with gret solempnete,
1269 Where as Diane is seintefied;
1270 Thus stant this lady justefied
1271 In ordre wher sche thenkth to duelle.
1272 Bot now ayeinward forto telle
1273 In what plit that hire lord stod inne:
1274 He seileth, til that he may winne
1275 The havene of Tharse, as I seide er;
1276 And whanne he was aryved ther,
1277 And it was thurgh the Cite knowe,
1278 Men myhte se withinne a throwe,
1279 As who seith, al the toun at ones,
1280 That come ayein him for the nones,
1281 To yiven him the reverence,
1282 So glad thei were of his presence:
1283 And thogh he were in his corage
1284 Desesed, yit with glad visage
1285 He made hem chiere, and to his In,
1286 Wher he whilom sojourned in,
1287 He goth him straght and was resceived.
1288 And whan the presse of poeple is weived,
1289 He takth his hoste unto him tho,
1290 And seith, "Mi frend Strangulio,
1291 Lo, thus and thus it is befalle,
1292 And thou thiself art on of alle,
1293 Forth with thi wif, whiche I most triste.
1294 Forthi, if it you bothe liste,
1295 My doghter Thaise be youre leve
1296 I thenke schal with you beleve
1297 As for a time; and thus I preie,
1298 That sche be kept be alle weie,
1299 And whan sche hath of age more,
1300 That sche be set to bokes lore.
1301 And this avou to god I make,
1302 That I schal nevere for hir sake
1303 Mi berd for no likinge schave,
1304 Til it befalle that I have
1305 In covenable time of age
1306 Beset hire unto mariage."
1307 Thus thei acorde, and al is wel,
1308 And forto resten him somdel,
1309 As for a while he ther sojorneth,
1310 And thanne he takth his leve and torneth
1311 To Schipe, and goth him hom to Tyr,
1312 Wher every man with gret desir
1313 Awaiteth upon his comynge.
1314 Bot whan the Schip com in seilinge,
1315 And thei perceiven it is he,
1316 Was nevere yit in no cite
1317 Such joie mad as thei tho made;
1318 His herte also began to glade
1319 Of that he sih the poeple glad.
1320 Lo, thus fortune his hap hath lad;
1321 In sondri wise he was travailed,
1322 Bot hou so evere he be assailed,
1323 His latere ende schal be good.
1324 And forto speke hou that it stod
1325 Of Thaise his doghter, wher sche duelleth,
1326 In Tharse, as the Cronique telleth,
1327 Sche was wel kept, sche was wel loked,
1328 Sche was wel tawht, sche was wel boked,
1329 So wel sche spedde hir in hire youthe
1330 That sche of every wisdom couthe,
1331 That forto seche in every lond
1332 So wys an other noman fond,
1333 Ne so wel tawht at mannes yhe.
1334 Bot wo worthe evere fals envie!
1335 For it befell that time so,
1336 A dowhter hath Strangulio,
1337 The which was cleped Philotenne:
1338 Bot fame, which wole evere renne,
1339 Cam al day to hir moder Ere,
1340 And seith, wher evere hir doghter were
1341 With Thayse set in eny place,
1342 The comun vois, the comun grace
1343 Was al upon that other Maide,
1344 And of hir doghter noman saide.
1345 Who wroth but Dionise thanne?
1346 Hire thoghte a thousend yer til whanne
1347 Sche myhte ben of Thaise wreke
1348 Of that sche herde folk so speke.
1349 And fell that ilke same tyde,
1350 That ded was trewe Lychoride,
1351 Which hadde be servant to Thaise,
1352 So that sche was the worse at aise,
1353 For sche hath thanne no servise
1354 Bot only thurgh this Dionise,
1355 Which was hire dedlich Anemie
1356 Thurgh pure treson and envie.
1357 Sche, that of alle sorwe can,
1358 Tho spak unto hire bondeman,
1359 Which cleped was Theophilus,
1360 And made him swere in conseil thus,
1361 That he such time as sche him sette
1362 Schal come Thaise forto fette,
1363 And lede hire oute of alle sihte,
1364 Wher as noman hire helpe myhte,
1365 Upon the Stronde nyh the See,
1366 And there he schal this maiden sle.
1367 This cherles herte is in a traunce,
1368 As he which drad him of vengance
1369 Whan time comth an other day;
1370 Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay,
1371 Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille
1372 Hire hestes at hire oghne wille.
1373 The treson and the time is schape,
1374 So fell it that this cherles knape
1375 Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde
1376 Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholde
1377 Sche was adrad; and he out breide
1378 A rusti swerd and to hir seide,
1379 "Thou schalt be ded." "Helas!" quod sche,
1380 "Why schal I so?" "Lo thus," quod he,
1381 "Mi ladi Dionise hath bede,
1382 Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede."
1383 This Maiden tho for feere schryhte,
1384 And for the love of god almyhte
1385 Sche preith that for a litel stounde
1386 Sche myhte knele upon the grounde,
1387 Toward the hevene forto crave,
1388 Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save:
1389 And with this noise and with this cry,
1390 Out of a barge faste by,
1391 Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare,
1392 Men sterten out and weren ware
1393 Of this feloun,and he to go,
1394 And sche began to crie tho,
1395 "Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake!
1396 Into the barge thei hire take,
1397 As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente.
1398 Upon the See the wynd hem hente,
1399 And malgre wher thei wolde or non,
1400 Tofor the weder forth thei gon,
1401 Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore,
1402 Forstormed and forblowen sore
1403 In gret peril so forth thei dryve,
1404 Til ate laste thei aryve
1405 At Mitelene the Cite.
1406 In havene sauf and whan thei be,
1407 The Maister Schipman made him boun,
1408 And goth him out into the toun,
1409 And profreth Thaise forto selle.
1410 On Leonin it herde telle,
1411 Which Maister of the bordel was,
1412 And bad him gon a redy pas
1413 To fetten hire, and forth he wente,
1414 And Thaise out of his barge he hente,
1415 And to this bordeller hir solde.
1416 And he, that be hire body wolde
1417 Take avantage, let do crye,
1418 That what man wolde his lecherie
1419 Attempte upon hire maidenhede,
1420 Lei doun the gold and he schal spede.
1421 And thus whan he hath crid it oute
1422 In syhte of al the poeple aboute,
1423 He ladde hire to the bordel tho.
1424 No wonder is thogh sche be wo:
1425 Clos in a chambre be hireselve,
1426 Ech after other ten or tuelve
1427 Of yonge men to hire in wente;
1428 Bot such a grace god hire sente,
1429 That for the sorwe which sche made
1430 Was non of hem which pouer hade
1431 To don hire eny vileinie.
1432 This Leonin let evere aspie,
1433 And waiteth after gret beyete;
1434 Bot al for noght, sche was forlete,
1435 That mo men wolde ther noght come.
1436 Whan he therof hath hiede nome,
1437 And knew that sche was yit a maide,
1438 Unto his oghne man he saide,
1439 That he with strengthe ayein hire leve
1440 Tho scholde hir maidenhod bereve.
1441 This man goth in, bot so it ferde,
1442 Whan he hire wofull pleintes herde
1443 And he therof hath take kepe,
1444 Him liste betre forto wepe
1445 Than don oght elles to the game.
1446 And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame,
1447 And kneleth doun to therthe and preide
1448 Unto this man, and thus sche seide:
1449 "If so be that thi maister wolde
1450 That I his gold encresce scholde,
1451 It mai noght falle be this weie:
1452 Bot soffre me to go mi weie
1453 Out of this hous wher I am inne,
1454 And I schal make him forto winne
1455 In som place elles of the toun,
1456 Be so it be religioun,
1457 Wher that honeste wommen duelle.
1458 And thus thou myht thi maister telle,
1459 That whanne I have a chambre there,
1460 Let him do crie ay wyde where,
1461 What lord that hath his doghter diere,
1462 And is in will that sche schal liere
1463 Of such a Scole that is trewe,
1464 I schal hire teche of thinges newe,
1465 Which as non other womman can
1466 In al this lond." And tho this man
1467 Hire tale hath herd, he goth ayein,
1468 And tolde unto his maister plein
1469 That sche hath seid; and therupon,
1470 Whan than he sih beyete non
1471 At the bordel be cause of hire,
1472 He bad his man to gon and spire
1473 A place wher sche myhte abyde,
1474 That he mai winne upon som side
1475 Be that sche can: bot ate leste
1476 Thus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.
1477 He hath hire fro the bordel take,
1478 Bot that was noght for goddes sake,
1479 Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde.
1480 Now comen tho that comen wolde
1481 Of wommen in her lusty youthe,
1482 To hiere and se what thing sche couthe:
1483 Sche can the wisdom of a clerk,
1484 Sche can of every lusti werk
1485 Which to a gentil womman longeth,
1486 And some of hem sche underfongeth
1487 To the Citole and to the Harpe,
1488 And whom it liketh forto carpe
1489 Proverbes and demandes slyhe,
1490 An other such thei nevere syhe,
1491 Which that science so wel tawhte:
1492 Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte,
1493 That sche to Leonin hath wonne;
1494 And thus hire name is so begonne
1495 Of sondri thinges that sche techeth,
1496 That al the lond unto hir secheth
1497 Of yonge wommen forto liere.
1498 Nou lete we this maiden hiere,
1499 And speke of Dionise ayein
1500 And of Theophile the vilein,
1501 Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.
1502 Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,
1503 This false cherl to his lady
1504 Whan he cam hom, al prively
1505 He seith, "Ma Dame, slain I have
1506 This maide Thaise, and is begrave
1507 In prive place, as ye me biede.
1508 Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede
1509 And kep conseil, hou so it stonde."
1510 This fend, which this hath understonde,
1511 Was glad, and weneth it be soth:
1512 Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.
1513 Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth,
1514 And of sieknesse which sche feigneth
1515 Sche seith that Taise sodeinly
1516 Be nyhte is ded, "as sche and I
1517 Togedre lyhen nyh my lord."
1518 Sche was a womman of record,
1519 And al is lieved that sche seith;
1520 And forto yive a more feith,
1521 Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe
1522 In blake clothes thei hem clothe,
1523 And made a gret enterrement;
1524 And for the poeple schal be blent,
1525 Of Thaise as for the remembrance,
1526 After the real olde usance
1527 A tumbe of latoun noble and riche
1528 With an ymage unto hir liche
1529 Liggende above therupon
1530 Thei made and sette it up anon.
1531 Hire Epitaffe of good assisse
1532 Was write aboute, and in this wise
1533 It spak: "O yee that this beholde,
1534 Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde
1535 The faireste and the flour of alle,
1536 Whos name Thai5sis men calle.
1537 The king of Tyr Appolinus
1538 Hire fader was: now lith sche thus.
1539 Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,
1540 Whan deth hir tok to his viage."
1541 Thus was this false treson hidd,
1542 Which afterward was wyde kidd,
1543 As be the tale a man schal hiere.
1544 Bot forto clare mi matiere,
1545 To Tyr I thenke torne ayein,
1546 And telle as the Croniqes sein.
1547 Whan that the king was comen hom,
1548 And hath left in the salte fom
1549 His wif, which he mai noght foryete,
1550 For he som confort wolde gete,
1551 He let somoune a parlement,
1552 To which the lordes were asent;
1553 And of the time he hath ben oute,
1554 He seth the thinges al aboute,
1555 And told hem ek hou he hath fare,
1556 Whil he was out of londe fare;
1557 And preide hem alle to abyde,
1558 For he wolde at the same tyde
1559 Do schape for his wyves mynde,
1560 As he that wol noght ben unkinde.
1561 Solempne was that ilke office,
1562 And riche was the sacrifice,
1563 The feste reali was holde:
1564 And therto was he wel beholde;
1565 For such a wif as he hadde on
1566 In thilke daies was ther non.
1567 Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghte
1568 Upon his doghter, and besoghte
1569 Suche of his lordes as he wolde,
1570 That thei with him to Tharse scholde,
1571 To fette his doghter Taise there:
1572 And thei anon al redy were,
1573 To schip they gon and forth thei wente,
1574 Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.
1575 They londe and faile of that thei seche
1576 Be coverture and sleyhte of speche:
1577 This false man Strangulio,
1578 And Dionise his wif also,
1579 That he the betre trowe myhte,
1580 Thei ladden him to have a sihte
1581 Wher that hir tombe was arraied.
1582 The lasse yit he was mispaied,
1583 And natheles, so as he dorste,
1584 He curseth and seith al the worste
1585 Unto fortune, as to the blinde,
1586 Which can no seker weie finde;
1587 For sche him neweth evere among,
1588 And medleth sorwe with his song.
1589 Bot sithe it mai no betre be,
1590 He thonketh god and forth goth he
1591 Seilende toward Tyr ayein.
1592 Bot sodeinly the wynd and reyn
1593 Begonne upon the See debate,
1594 So that he soffre mot algate
1595 The lawe which Neptune ordeigneth;
1596 Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth,
1597 And hield him wel the more esmaied
1598 Of that he hath tofore assaied.
1599 So that for pure sorwe and care,
1600 Of that he seth his world so fare,
1601 The reste he lefte of his Caban,
1602 That for the conseil of noman
1603 Ayein therinne he nolde come,
1604 Bot hath benethe his place nome,
1605 Wher he wepende al one lay,
1606 Ther as he sih no lyht of day.
1607 And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve,
1608 Til longe and late thei aryve
1609 With gret distresce, as it was sene,
1610 Upon this toun of Mitelene,
1611 Which was a noble cite tho.
