Confessio Amantis
or
Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins
Incipit Liber Quintus: Part 2
Online Medieval and Classical Library Release
#4
1988 Wher he pourposeth him to fare
1989 Upon his lucre and his beyete,
1990 The smale path, the large Strete,
1991 The furlong and the longe Mile,
1992 Al is bot on for thilke while:
1993 And for that he is such on holde,
1994 Dame Avarice him hath withholde,
1995 As he which is the principal
1996 Outward, for he is overal
1997 A pourveour and an aspie.
1998 For riht as of an hungri Pie
1999 The storve bestes ben awaited,
2000 Riht so is Covoitise afaited
2001 To loke where he mai pourchace,
2002 For be his wille he wolde embrace
2003 Al that this wyde world beclippeth;
2004 Bot evere he somwhat overhippeth,
2005 That he ne mai noght al fulfille
2006 The lustes of his gredi wille.
2007 Bot where it falleth in a lond,
2008 That Covoitise in myhti hond
2009 Is set, it is ful hard to fiede;
2010 For thanne he takth non other hiede,
2011 Bot that he mai pourchace and gete,
2012 His conscience hath al foryete,
2013 And not what thing it mai amonte
2014 That he schal afterward acompte.
2015 Bote as the Luce in his degre
2016 Of tho that lasse ben than he
2017 The fisshes griedeli devoureth,
2018 So that no water hem socoureth,
2019 Riht so no lawe mai rescowe
2020 Fro him that wol no riht allowe;
2021 For wher that such on is of myht,
2022 His will schal stonde in stede of riht.
2023 Thus be the men destruid fulofte,
2024 Til that the grete god alofte
2025 Ayein so gret a covoitise
2026 Redresce it in his oghne wise:
2027 And in ensample of alle tho
2028 I finde a tale write so,
2029 The which, for it is good to liere,
2030 Hierafterward thou schalt it hiere.
2031 Whan Rome stod in noble plit,
2032 Virgile, which was tho parfit,
2033 A Mirour made of his clergie
2034 And sette it in the tounes ije
2035 Of marbre on a piler withoute;
2036 That thei be thritty Mile aboute
2037 Be daie and ek also be nyhte
2038 In that Mirour beholde myhte
2039 Here enemys, if eny were,
2040 With al here ordinance there,
2041 Which thei ayein the Cite caste:
2042 So that, whil thilke Mirour laste,
2043 Ther was no lond which mihte achieve
2044 With werre Rome forto grieve;
2045 Wherof was gret envie tho.
2046 And fell that ilke time so,
2047 That Rome hadde werres stronge
2048 Ayein Cartage, and stoden longe
2049 The tuo Cites upon debat.
2050 Cartage sih the stronge astat
2051 Of Rome in thilke Mirour stonde,
2052 And thoghte al prively to fonde
2053 To overthrowe it be som wyle.
2054 And Hanybal was thilke while
2055 The Prince and ledere of Cartage,
2056 Which hadde set al his corage
2057 Upon knihthod in such a wise,
2058 That he be worthi and be wise
2059 And be non othre was conseiled,
2060 Wherof the world is yit merveiled
2061 Of the maistries that he wroghte
2062 Upon the marches whiche he soghte.
2063 And fell in thilke time also,
2064 The king of Puile, which was tho,
2065 Thoghte ayein Rome to rebelle,
2066 And thus was take the querele,
2067 Hou to destruie this Mirour.
2068 Of Rome tho was Emperour
2069 Crassus, which was so coveitous,
2070 That he was evere desirous
2071 Of gold to gete the pilage;
2072 Wherof that Puile and ek Cartage
2073 With Philosophres wise and grete
2074 Begunne of this matiere trete,
2075 And ate laste in this degre
2076 Ther weren Philosophres thre,
2077 To do this thing whiche undertoke,
2078 And therupon thei with hem toke
2079 A gret tresor of gold in cophres,
2080 To Rome and thus these philisophres
2081 Togedre in compainie wente,
2082 Bot noman wiste what thei mente.
2083 Whan thei to Rome come were,
2084 So prively thei duelte there,
2085 As thei that thoghten to deceive:
2086 Was non that mihte of hem perceive,
2087 Til thei in sondri stedes have
2088 Here gold under the ground begrave
2089 In tuo tresors, that to beholde
2090 Thei scholden seme as thei were olde.
2091 And so forth thanne upon a day
2092 Al openly in good arai
2093 To themperour thei hem presente,
2094 And tolden it was here entente
2095 To duellen under his servise.
2096 And he hem axeth in what wise;
2097 And thei him tolde in such a plit,
2098 That ech of hem hadde a spirit,
2099 The which slepende a nyht appiereth
2100 And hem be sondri dremes lereth
2101 After the world that hath betid.
2102 Under the ground if oght be hid
2103 Of old tresor at eny throwe,
2104 They schull it in here swevenes knowe;
2105 And upon this condicioun,
2106 Thei sein, what gold under the toun
2107 Of Rome is hid, thei wole it finde,
2108 Ther scholde noght be left behinde,
2109 Be so that he the halvendel
2110 Hem grante, and he assenteth wel;
2111 And thus cam sleighte forto duelle
2112 With Covoitise, as I thee telle.
2113 This Emperour bad redily
2114 That thei be logged faste by
2115 Where he his oghne body lay;
2116 And whan it was amorwe day,
2117 That on of hem seith that he mette
2118 Wher he a goldhord scholde fette:
2119 Wherof this Emperour was glad,
2120 And therupon anon he bad
2121 His Mynours forto go and myne,
2122 And he himself of that covine
2123 Goth forth withal, and at his hond
2124 The tresor redi there he fond,
2125 Where as thei seide it scholde be;
2126 And who was thanne glad bot he?
2127 Upon that other dai secounde
2128 Thei have an other goldhord founde,
2129 Which the seconde maister tok
2130 Upon his swevene and undertok.
2131 And thus the sothe experience
2132 To themperour yaf such credence,
2133 That al his trist and al his feith
2134 So sikerliche on hem he leith,
2135 Of that he fond him so relieved,
2136 That thei ben parfitli believed,
2137 As thogh thei were goddes thre.
2138 Nou herkne the soutilete.
2139 The thridde maister scholde mete,
2140 Which, as thei seiden, was unmete
2141 Above hem alle, and couthe most;
2142 And he withoute noise or bost
2143 Al priveli, so as he wolde,
2144 Upon the morwe his swevene tolde
2145 To themperour riht in his Ere,
2146 And seide him that he wiste where
2147 A tresor was so plentivous
2148 Of gold and ek so precious
2149 Of jeueals and of riche stones,
2150 That unto alle hise hors at ones
2151 It were a charge sufficant.
2152 This lord upon this covenant
2153 Was glad, and axeth where it was.
2154 The maister seide, under the glas,
2155 And tolde him eke, as for the Myn
2156 He wolde ordeigne such engin,
2157 That thei the werk schull undersette
2158 With Tymber, that withoute lette
2159 Men mai the tresor saufli delve,
2160 So that the Mirour be himselve
2161 Withoute empeirement schal stonde:
2162 And this the maister upon honde
2163 Hath undertake in alle weie.
2164 This lord, which hadde his wit aweie
2165 And was with Covoitise blent,
2166 Anon therto yaf his assent;
2167 And thus they myne forth withal,
2168 The timber set up overal,
2169 Wherof the Piler stod upriht;
2170 Til it befell upon a nyht
2171 These clerkes, whan thei were war
2172 Hou that the timber only bar
2173 The Piler, wher the Mirour stod,-
2174 Here sleihte noman understod,-
2175 Thei go be nyhte unto the Myne
2176 With pich, with soulphre and with rosine,
2177 And whan the Cite was a slepe,
2178 A wylde fyr into the depe
2179 They caste among the timberwerk,
2180 And so forth, whil the nyht was derk,
2181 Desguised in a povere arai
2182 Thei passeden the toun er dai.
2183 And whan thei come upon an hell,
2184 Thei sihen how the Mirour fell,
2185 Wherof thei maden joie ynowh,
2186 And ech of hem with other lowh,
2187 And seiden, "Lo, what coveitise
2188 Mai do with hem that be noght wise!"
2189 And that was proved afterward,
2190 For every lond, to Romeward
2191 Which hadde be soubgit tofore,
2192 Whan this Mirour was so forlore
2193 And thei the wonder herde seie,
2194 Anon begunne desobeie
2195 With werres upon every side;
2196 And thus hath Rome lost his pride
2197 And was defouled overal.
2198 For this I finde of Hanybal,
2199 That he of Romeins in a dai,
2200 Whan he hem fond out of arai,
2201 So gret a multitude slowh,
2202 That of goldringes, whiche he drowh
2203 Of gentil handes that ben dede,
2204 Buisshelles fulle thre, I rede,
2205 He felde, and made a bregge also,
2206 That he mihte over Tibre go
2207 Upon the corps that dede were
2208 Of the Romeins, whiche he slowh there.
2209 Bot now to speke of the juise,
2210 The which after the covoitise
2211 Was take upon this Emperour,
2212 For he destruide the Mirour;
2213 It is a wonder forto hiere.
2214 The Romeins maden a chaiere
2215 And sette here Emperour therinne,
2216 And seiden, for he wolde winne
2217 Of gold the superfluite,
2218 Of gold he scholde such plente
2219 Receive, til he seide Ho:
2220 And with gold, which thei hadden tho
2221 Buillende hot withinne a panne,
2222 Into his Mouth thei poure thanne.
2223 And thus the thurst of gold was queynt,
2224 With gold which hadde ben atteignt.
2225 Wherof, mi Sone, thou miht hiere,
2226 Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere
2227 Of resonable governance,
2228 Ther falleth ofte gret vengance.
2229 For ther mai be no worse thing
2230 Than Covoitise aboute a king:
2231 If it in his persone be,
2232 It doth the more adversite;
2233 And if it in his conseil stonde,
2234 It bringth alday meschief to honde
2235 Of commun harm; and if it growe
2236 Withinne his court, it wol be knowe,
2237 For thanne schal the king be piled.
2238 The man which hath hise londes tiled,
2239 Awaiteth noght more redily
2240 The Hervest, than thei gredily
2241 Ne maken thanne warde and wacche,
2242 Wher thei the profit mihten cacche:
2243 And yit fulofte it falleth so,
2244 As men mai sen among hem tho,
2245 That he which most coveiteth faste
2246 Hath lest avantage ate laste.
2247 For whan fortune is therayein,
2248 Thogh he coveite, it is in vein;
2249 The happes be noght alle liche,
2250 On is mad povere, an other riche,
2251 The court to some doth profit,
2252 And some ben evere in o plit;
2253 And yit thei bothe aliche sore
2254 Coveite, bot fortune is more
2255 Unto that o part favorable.
2256 And thogh it be noght resonable,
2257 This thing a man mai sen alday,
2258 Wherof that I thee telle may
2259 A fair ensample in remembrance,
2260 Hou every man mot take his chance
2261 Or of richesse or of poverte.
2262 Hou so it stonde of the decerte,
2263 Hier is noght every thing aquit,
2264 For ofte a man mai se this yit,
2265 That who best doth, lest thonk schal have;
2266 It helpeth noght the world to crave,
2267 Which out of reule and of mesure
2268 Hath evere stonde in aventure
2269 Als wel in Court as elles where:
2270 And hou in olde daies there
2271 It stod, so as the thinges felle,
2272 I thenke a tale forto telle.
2273 In a Cronique this I rede.
2274 Aboute a king, as moste nede,
2275 Ther was of knyhtes and squiers
2276 Gret route, and ek of Officers:
2277 Some of long time him hadden served,
2278 And thoghten that thei have deserved
2279 Avancement, and gon withoute;
2280 And some also ben of the route
2281 That comen bot a while agon,
2282 And thei avanced were anon.
2283 These olde men upon this thing,
2284 So as thei dorste, ayein the king
2285 Among hemself compleignen ofte:
2286 Bot ther is nothing seid so softe,
2287 That it ne comth out ate laste;
2288 The king it wiste, and als so faste,
2289 As he which was of hih Prudence,
2290 He schop therfore an evidence
2291 Of hem that pleignen in that cas,
2292 To knowe in whos defalte it was.
2293 And al withinne his oghne entente,
2294 That noman wiste what it mente,
2295 Anon he let tuo cofres make
2296 Of o semblance and of o make,
2297 So lich that no lif thilke throwe
2298 That on mai fro that other knowe:
2299 Thei were into his chambre broght,
2300 Bot noman wot why thei be wroght,
2301 And natheles the king hath bede
2302 That thei be set in prive stede.
2303 As he that was of wisdom slih,
2304 Whan he therto his time sih,
2305 Al prively, that non it wiste,
2306 Hise oghne hondes that o kiste
2307 Of fin gold and of fin perrie,
2308 The which out of his tresorie
2309 Was take, anon he felde full;
2310 That other cofre of straw and mull
2311 With Stones meind he felde also.
2312 Thus be thei fulle bothe tuo,
2313 So that erliche upon a day
2314 He bad withinne, ther he lay,
2315 Ther scholde be tofore his bed
2316 A bord upset and faire spred;
2317 And thanne he let the cofres fette,
2318 Upon the bord and dede hem sette.
2319 He knew the names wel of tho,
2320 The whiche ayein him grucche so,
2321 Bothe of his chambre and of his halle,
2322 Anon and sende for hem alle,
2323 And seide to hem in this wise:
2324 "Ther schal noman his happ despise;
2325 I wot wel ye have longe served,
2326 And god wot what ye have deserved:
2327 Bot if it is along on me
2328 Of that ye unavanced be,
2329 Or elles it be long on you,
2330 The sothe schal be proved nou,
2331 To stoppe with youre evele word.
2332 Lo hier tuo cofres on the bord:
2333 Ches which you list of bothe tuo;
2334 And witeth wel that on of tho
2335 Is with tresor so full begon,
2336 That if ye happe therupon,
2337 Ye schull be riche men for evere.
2338 Now ches and tak which you is levere:
2339 Bot be wel war, er that ye take;
2340 For of that on I undertake
2341 Ther is no maner good therinne,
2342 Wherof ye mihten profit winne.
2343 Now goth togedre of on assent
2344 And taketh youre avisement,
2345 For bot I you this dai avance,
2346 It stant upon youre oghne chance
2347 Al only in defalte of grace:
2348 So schal be schewed in this place
2349 Upon you alle wel afyn,
2350 That no defalte schal be myn."
2351 Thei knelen alle and with o vois
2352 The king thei thonken of this chois:
2353 And after that thei up arise,
2354 And gon aside and hem avise,
2355 And ate laste thei acorde;
2356 Wherof her tale to recorde,
2357 To what issue thei be falle,
2358 A kniht schal speke for hem alle.
2359 He kneleth doun unto the king,
2360 And seith that thei upon this thing,
2361 Or forto winne or forto lese,
2362 Ben alle avised forto chese.
2363 Tho tok this kniht a yerde on honde,
2364 And goth there as the cofres stonde,
2365 And with assent of everichon
2366 He leith his yerde upon that on,
2367 And seith the king hou thilke same
2368 Thei chese in reguerdoun be name,
2369 And preith him that thei mote it have.
2370 The king, which wolde his honour save,
2371 Whan he hath herd the commun vois,
2372 Hath granted hem here oghne chois
2373 And tok hem therupon the keie.
2374 Bot for he wolde it were seie
2375 What good thei have, as thei suppose,
2376 He bad anon the cofre unclose,
2377 Which was fulfild with straw and stones:
2378 Thus be thei served al at ones.
2379 This king thanne in the same stede
2380 Anon that other cofre undede,
2381 Where as thei sihen gret richesse,
2382 Wel more than thei couthen gesse.
2383 "Lo," seith the king, "nou mai ye se
2384 That ther is no defalte in me;
2385 Forthi miself I wole aquyte,
2386 And bereth ye youre oghne wyte
2387 Of that fortune hath you refused."
2388 Thus was this wise king excused,
2389 And thei lefte of here evele speche
2390 And mercy of here king beseche.
2391 Somdiel to this matiere lik
2392 I finde a tale, hou Frederik,
2393 Of Rome that time Emperour,
2394 Herde, as he wente, a gret clamour
2395 Of tuo beggers upon the weie.
2396 That on of hem began to seie,
2397 "Ha lord, wel mai the man be riche
2398 Whom that a king list forto riche."
2399 That other saide nothing so,
2400 Bot, "He is riche and wel bego,
2401 To whom that god wole sende wele."
2402 And thus thei maden wordes fele,
2403 Wherof this lord hath hiede nome,
2404 And dede hem bothe forto come
2405 To the Paleis, wher he schal ete,
2406 And bad ordeine for here mete
2407 Tuo Pastes, whiche he let do make.
2408 A capoun in that on was bake,
2409 And in that other forto winne
2410 Of florins al that mai withinne
2411 He let do pute a gret richesse;
2412 And evene aliche, as man mai gesse,
2413 Outward thei were bothe tuo.
2414 This begger was comanded tho,
2415 He that which hield him to the king,
2416 That he ferst chese upon this thing:
2417 He sih hem, bot he felte hem noght,
2418 So that upon his oghne thoght
2419 He ches the Capoun and forsok
2420 That other, which his fela tok.
2421 Bot whanne he wiste hou that it ferde,
2422 He seide alowd, that men it herde,
2423 "Nou have I certeinly conceived
2424 That he mai lihtly be deceived,
2425 That tristeth unto mannes helpe;
2426 Bot wel is him whom god wol helpe,
2427 For he stant on the siker side,
2428 Which elles scholde go beside:
2429 I se my fela wel recovere,
2430 And I mot duelle stille povere."
2431 Thus spak this begger his entente,
2432 And povere he cam and povere he wente;
2433 Of that he hath richesse soght,
2434 His infortune it wolde noght.
2435 So mai it schewe in sondri wise,
2436 Betwen fortune and covoitise
2437 The chance is cast upon a Dee;
2438 Bot yit fulofte a man mai se
2439 Ynowe of suche natheles,
2440 Whiche evere pute hemself in press
2441 To gete hem good, and yit thei faile.
2442 And forto speke of this entaile
2443 Touchende of love in thi matiere,
2444 Mi goode Sone, as thou miht hiere,
2445 That riht as it with tho men stod
2446 Of infortune of worldes good,
2447 As thou hast herd me telle above,
2448 Riht so fulofte it stant be love:
2449 Thogh thou coveite it everemore,
2450 Thou schalt noght have o diel the more,
2451 Bot only that which thee is schape,
2452 The remenant is bot a jape.
2453 And natheles ynowe of tho
2454 Ther ben, that nou coveiten so,
2455 That where as thei a womman se,
2456 Ye ten or tuelve thogh ther be,
2457 The love is nou so unavised,
2458 That wher the beaute stant assised,
2459 The mannes herte anon is there,
2460 And rouneth tales in hire Ere,
2461 And seith hou that he loveth streite,
2462 And thus he set him to coveite,
2463 An hundred thogh he sihe aday.
2464 So wolde he more thanne he may;
2465 Bot for the grete covoitise
2466 Of sotie and of fol emprise
2467 In ech of hem he fint somwhat
2468 That pleseth him, or this or that;
2469 Som on, for sche is whit of skin,
2470 Som on, for sche is noble of kin,
2471 Som on, for sche hath rodi chieke,
2472 Som on, for that sche semeth mieke,
2473 Som on, for sche hath yhen greie,
2474 Som on, for sche can lawhe and pleie,
2475 Som on, for sche is long and smal,
2476 Som on, for sche is lyte and tall,
2477 Som on, for sche is pale and bleche,
2478 Som on, for sche is softe of speche,
2479 Som on, for that sche is camused,
2480 Som on, for sche hath noght ben used,
2481 Som on, for sche can daunce and singe;
2482 So that som thing to his likinge
2483 He fint, and thogh nomore he fiele,
2484 Bot that sche hath a litel hiele,
2485 It is ynow that he therfore
2486 Hire love, and thus an hundred score,
2487 Whil thei be newe, he wolde he hadde;
2488 Whom he forsakth, sche schal be badde.
2489 The blinde man no colour demeth,
2490 But al is on, riht as him semeth;
2491 So hath his lust no juggement,
2492 Whom covoitise of love blent.
2493 Him thenkth that to his covoitise
2494 Hou al the world ne mai suffise,
2495 For be his wille he wolde have alle,
2496 If that it mihte so befalle:
2497 Thus is he commun as the Strete,
2498 I sette noght of his beyete.
2499 Mi Sone, hast thou such covoitise?
2500 Nai, fader, such love I despise,
2501 And whil I live schal don evere,
2502 For in good feith yit hadde I levere,
2503 Than to coveite in such a weie,
2504 To ben for evere til I deie
2505 As povere as Job, and loveles,
2506 Outaken on, for haveles
2507 His thonkes is noman alyve.
2508 For that a man scholde al unthryve
2509 Ther oghte no wisman coveite,
2510 The lawe was noght set so streite:
2511 Forthi miself withal to save,
2512 Such on ther is I wolde have,
2513 And non of al these othre mo.
2514 Mi Sone, of that thou woldest so,
2515 I am noght wroth, bot over this
2516 I wol thee tellen hou it is.
2517 For ther be men, whiche otherwise,
2518 Riht only for the covoitise
2519 Of that thei sen a womman riche,
2520 Ther wol thei al here love affiche;
2521 Noght for the beaute of hire face,
2522 Ne yit for vertu ne for grace,
2523 Which sche hath elles riht ynowh,
2524 Bot for the Park and for the plowh,
2525 And other thing which therto longeth:
2526 For in non other wise hem longeth
2527 To love, bot thei profit finde;
2528 And if the profit be behinde,
2529 Here love is evere lesse and lesse,
2530 For after that sche hath richesse,
2531 Her love is of proporcion.
2532 If thou hast such condicion,
2533 Mi Sone, tell riht as it is.
2534 Min holi fader, nay ywiss,
2535 Condicion such have I non.
2536 For trewli, fader, I love oon
2537 So wel with al myn hertes thoght,
2538 That certes, thogh sche hadde noght,
2539 And were as povere as Medea,
2540 Which was exiled for Creusa,
2541 I wolde hir noght the lasse love;
2542 Ne thogh sche were at hire above,
2543 As was the riche qwen Candace,
2544 Which to deserve love and grace
2545 To Alisandre, that was king,
2546 Yaf many a worthi riche thing,
2547 Or elles as Pantasilee,
2548 Which was the quen of Feminee,
2549 And gret richesse with hir nam,
2550 Whan sche for love of Hector cam
2551 To Troie in rescousse of the toun,-
2552 I am of such condicion,
2553 That thogh mi ladi of hirselve
2554 Were also riche as suche tuelve,
2555 I couthe noght, thogh it wer so,
2556 No betre love hir than I do.
2557 For I love in so plein a wise,
2558 That forto speke of coveitise,
2559 As for poverte or for richesse
2560 Mi love is nouther mor ne lesse.
2561 For in good feith I trowe this,
2562 So coveitous noman ther is,
2563 Forwhy and he mi ladi sihe,
2564 That he thurgh lokinge of his yhe
2565 Ne scholde have such a strok withinne,
2566 That for no gold he mihte winne
2567 He scholde noght hire love asterte,
2568 Bot if he lefte there his herte;
2569 Be so it were such a man,
2570 That couthe Skile of a womman.
2571 For ther be men so ruide some,
2572 Whan thei among the wommen come,
2573 Thei gon under proteccioun,
2574 That love and his affeccioun
2575 Ne schal noght take hem be the slieve;
2576 For thei ben out of that believe,
2577 Hem lusteth of no ladi chiere,
2578 Bot evere thenken there and hiere
2579 Wher that here gold is in the cofre,
2580 And wol non other love profre:
2581 Bot who so wot what love amounteth
2582 And be resoun trewliche acompteth,
2583 Than mai he knowe and taken hiede
2584 That al the lust of wommanhiede,
2585 Which mai ben in a ladi face,
2586 Mi ladi hath, and ek of grace
2587 If men schull yiven hire a pris,
2588 Thei mai wel seie hou sche is wys
2589 And sobre and simple of contenance,
2590 And al that to good governance
2591 Belongeth of a worthi wiht
2592 Sche hath pleinli: for thilke nyht
2593 That sche was bore, as for the nones
2594 Nature sette in hire at ones
2595 Beaute with bounte so besein,
2596 That I mai wel afferme and sein,
2597 I sawh yit nevere creature
2598 Of comlihied and of feture
2599 In eny kinges regioun
2600 Be lich hire in comparisoun:
2601 And therto, as I have you told,
2602 Yit hath sche more a thousendfold
2603 Of bounte, and schortli to telle,
2604 Sche is the pure hed and welle
2605 And Mirour and ensample of goode.
2606 Who so hir vertus understode,
2607 Me thenkth it oughte ynow suffise
2608 Withouten other covoitise
2609 To love such on and to serve,
2610 Which with hire chiere can deserve
2611 To be beloved betre ywiss
2612 Than sche per cas that richest is
2613 And hath of gold a Milion.
2614 Such hath be myn opinion
2615 And evere schal: bot natheles
2616 I seie noght sche is haveles,
2617 That sche nys riche and wel at ese,
2618 And hath ynow wherwith to plese
2619 Of worldes good whom that hire liste;
2620 Bot o thing wolde I wel ye wiste,
2621 That nevere for no worldes good
2622 Min herte untoward hire stod,
2623 Bot only riht for pure love;
2624 That wot the hihe god above.
2625 Nou, fader, what seie ye therto?
2626 Mi Sone, I seie it is wel do.
2627 For tak of this riht good believe,
2628 What man that wole himself relieve
2629 To love in eny other wise,
2630 He schal wel finde his coveitise
2631 Schal sore grieve him ate laste,
2632 For such a love mai noght laste.
2633 Bot nou, men sein, in oure daies
2634 Men maken bot a fewe assaies,
2635 Bot if the cause be richesse;
2636 Forthi the love is wel the lesse.
2637 And who that wolde ensamples telle,
2638 Be olde daies as thei felle,
2639 Than mihte a man wel understonde
2640 Such love mai noght longe stonde.
2641 Now herkne, Sone, and thou schalt hiere
2642 A gret ensample of this matiere.
2643 To trete upon the cas of love,
2644 So as we tolden hiere above,
2645 I finde write a wonder thing.
2646 Of Puile whilom was a king,
2647 A man of hih complexioun
2648 And yong, bot his affeccioun
2649 After the nature of his age
2650 Was yit noght falle in his corage
2651 The lust of wommen forto knowe.
2652 So it betidde upon a throwe
2653 This lord fell into gret seknesse:
2654 Phisique hath don the besinesse
2655 Of sondri cures manyon
2656 To make him hol; and therupon
2657 A worthi maister which ther was
2658 Yaf him conseil upon this cas,
2659 That if he wolde have parfit hele,
2660 He scholde with a womman dele,
2661 A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht,
2662 To don him compaignie a nyht:
2663 For thanne he seide him redily,
2664 That he schal be al hol therby,
2665 And otherwise he kneu no cure.
2666 This king, which stod in aventure
2667 Of lif and deth, for medicine
2668 Assented was, and of covine
2669 His Steward, whom he tristeth wel,
2670 He tok, and tolde him everydel,
2671 Hou that this maister hadde seid:
2672 And therupon he hath him preid
2673 And charged upon his ligance,
2674 That he do make porveance
2675 Of such on as be covenable
2676 For his plesance and delitable;
2677 And bad him, hou that evere it stod,
2678 That he schal spare for no good,
2679 For his will is riht wel to paie.
2680 The Steward seide he wolde assaie:
2681 Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite,
2682 As I finde in the bokes write,
2683 What coveitise in love doth.
2684 This Steward, forto telle soth,
2685 Amonges al the men alyve
2686 A lusti ladi hath to wyve,
2687 Which natheles for gold he tok
2688 And noght for love, as seith the bok.
2689 A riche Marchant of the lond
2690 Hir fader was, and hire fond
2691 So worthily, and such richesse
2692 Of worldes good and such largesse
2693 With hire he yaf in mariage,
2694 That only for thilke avantage
2695 Of good this Steward hath hire take,
2696 For lucre and noght for loves sake,
2697 And that was afterward wel seene;
2698 Nou herkne what it wolde meene.
2699 This Steward in his oghne herte
2700 Sih that his lord mai noght asterte
2701 His maladie, bot he have
2702 A lusti womman him to save,
2703 And thoghte he wolde yive ynowh
2704 Of his tresor; wherof he drowh
2705 Gret coveitise into his mynde,
2706 And sette his honour fer behynde.
2707 Thus he, whom gold hath overset,
2708 Was trapped in his oghne net;
2709 The gold hath mad hise wittes lame,
2710 So that sechende his oghne schame
2711 He rouneth in the kinges Ere,
2712 And seide him that he wiste where
2713 A gentile and a lusti on
2714 Tho was, and thider wolde he gon:
2715 Bot he mot yive yiftes grete;
2716 For bot it be thurgh grete beyete
2717 Of gold, he seith, he schal noght spede.
2718 The king him bad upon the nede
2719 That take an hundred pound he scholde,
2720 And yive it where that he wolde,
2721 Be so it were in worthi place:
2722 And thus to stonde in loves grace
2723 This king his gold hath abandouned.
2724 And whan this tale was full rouned,
2725 The Steward tok the gold and wente,
2726 Withinne his herte and many a wente
2727 Of coveitise thanne he caste,
2728 Wherof a pourpos ate laste
2729 Ayein love and ayein his riht
2730 He tok, and seide hou thilke nyht
2731 His wif schal ligge be the king;
2732 And goth thenkende upon this thing
2733 Toward his In, til he cam hom
2734 Into the chambre, and thanne he nom
2735 His wif, and tolde hire al the cas.
2736 And sche, which red for schame was,
2737 With bothe hire handes hath him preid
2738 Knelende and in this wise seid,
2739 That sche to reson and to skile
2740 In what thing that he bidde wile
2741 Is redy forto don his heste,
2742 Bot this thing were noght honeste,
2743 That he for gold hire scholde selle.
2744 And he tho with hise wordes felle
2745 Forth with his gastly contienance
2746 Seith that sche schal don obeissance
2747 And folwe his will in every place;
2748 And thus thurgh strengthe of his manace
2749 Hir innocence is overlad,
2750 Wherof sche was so sore adrad
2751 That sche his will mot nede obeie.
2752 And therupon was schape a weie,
2753 That he his oghne wif be nyhte
2754 Hath out of alle mennes sihte
2755 So prively that non it wiste
2756 Broght to the king, which as him liste
2757 Mai do with hire what he wolde.
2758 For whan sche was ther as sche scholde,
2759 With him abedde under the cloth,
2760 The Steward tok his leve and goth
2761 Into a chambre faste by;
2762 Bot hou he slep, that wot noght I,
2763 For he sih cause of jelousie.
2764 Bot he, which hath the compainie
2765 Of such a lusti on as sche,
2766 Him thoghte that of his degre
2767 Ther was noman so wel at ese:
2768 Sche doth al that sche mai to plese,
2769 So that his herte al hol sche hadde;
2770 And thus this king his joie ladde,
2771 Til it was nyh upon the day.
2772 The Steward thanne wher sche lay
2773 Cam to the bedd, and in his wise
2774 Hath bede that sche scholde arise.
2775 The king seith, "Nay, sche schal noght go."
2776 His Steward seide ayein, "Noght so;
2777 For sche mot gon er it be knowe,
2778 And so I swor at thilke throwe,
2779 Whan I hire fette to you hiere."
2780 The king his tale wol noght hiere,
2781 And seith hou that he hath hire boght,
2782 Forthi sche schal departe noght,
2783 Til he the brighte dai beholde.
2784 And cawhte hire in hise armes folde,
2785 As he which liste forto pleie,
2786 And bad his Steward gon his weie,
2787 And so he dede ayein his wille.
2788 And thus his wif abedde stille
2789 Lay with the king the longe nyht,
2790 Til that it was hih Sonne lyht;
2791 Bot who sche was he knew nothing.
2792 Tho cam the Steward to the king
2793 And preide him that withoute schame
2794 In savinge of hire goode name
2795 He myhte leden hom ayein
2796 This lady, and hath told him plein
2797 Hou that it was his oghne wif.
2798 The king his Ere unto this strif
2799 Hath leid, and whan that he it herde,
2800 Welnyh out of his wit he ferde,
2801 And seide, "Ha, caitif most of alle,
2802 Wher was it evere er this befalle,
2803 That eny cokard in this wise
2804 Betok his wif for coveitise?
2805 Thou hast bothe hire and me beguiled
2806 And ek thin oghne astat reviled,
2807 Wherof that buxom unto thee
2808 Hierafter schal sche nevere be.
2809 For this avou to god I make,
2810 After this day if I thee take,
2811 Thou schalt ben honged and todrawe.
2812 Nou loke anon thou be withdrawe,
2813 So that I se thee neveremore."
2814 This Steward thanne dradde him sore,
2815 With al the haste that he mai
2816 And fledde awei that same dai,
2817 And was exiled out of londe.
2818 Lo, there a nyce housebonde,
2819 Which thus hath lost his wif for evere!
2820 Bot natheles sche hadde a levere;
2821 The king hire weddeth and honoureth,
2822 Wherof hire name sche socoureth,
2823 Which erst was lost thurgh coveitise
2824 Of him, that ladde hire other wise,
2825 And hath himself also forlore.
2826 Mi Sone, be thou war therfore,
2827 Wher thou schalt love in eny place,
2828 That thou no covoitise embrace,
2829 The which is noght of loves kinde.
2830 Bot for al that a man mai finde
2831 Nou in this time of thilke rage
2832 Ful gret desese in mariage,
2833 Whan venym melleth with the Sucre
2834 And mariage is mad for lucre,
2835 Or for the lust or for the hele:
2836 What man that schal with outher dele,
2837 He mai noght faile to repente.
2838 Mi fader, such is myn entente:
2839 Bot natheles good is to have,
2840 For good mai ofte time save
2841 The love which scholde elles spille.
2842 Bot god, which wot myn hertes wille,
2843 I dar wel take to witnesse,
2844 Yit was I nevere for richesse
2845 Beset with mariage non;
2846 For al myn herte is upon on
2847 So frely, that in the persone
2848 Stant al my worldes joie al one:
2849 I axe nouther Park ne Plowh,
2850 If I hire hadde, it were ynowh,
2851 Hir love scholde me suffise
2852 Withouten other coveitise.
2853 Lo now, mi fader, as of this,
2854 Touchende of me riht as it is,
2855 Mi schrifte I am beknowe plein;
2856 And if ye wole oght elles sein,
2857 Of covoitise if ther be more
2858 In love, agropeth out the sore.
2859 Mi Sone, thou schalt understonde
2860 Hou Coveitise hath yit on honde
2861 In special tuo conseilours,
2862 That ben also hise procurours.
2863 The ferst of hem is Falswitnesse,
2864 Which evere is redi to witnesse
2865 What thing his maister wol him hote:
2866 Perjurie is the secounde hote,
2867 Which spareth noght to swere an oth,
2868 Thogh it be fals and god be wroth.
2869 That on schal falswitnesse bere,
2870 That other schal the thing forswere,
2871 Whan he is charged on the bok.
2872 So what with hepe and what with crok
2873 Thei make here maister ofte winne
2874 And wol noght knowe what is sinne
2875 For coveitise, and thus, men sain,
2876 Thei maken many a fals bargain.
2877 Ther mai no trewe querele arise
2878 In thilke queste and thilke assise,
2879 Where as thei tuo the poeple enforme;
2880 For thei kepe evere o maner forme,
2881 That upon gold here conscience
2882 Thei founde, and take here evidence;
2883 And thus with falswitnesse and othes
2884 Thei winne hem mete and drinke and clothes.
2885 Riht so ther be, who that hem knewe,
2886 Of thes lovers ful many untrewe:
2887 Nou mai a womman finde ynowe,
2888 That ech of hem, whan he schal wowe,
2889 Anon he wole his hand doun lein
2890 Upon a bok, and swere and sein
2891 That he wole feith and trouthe bere;
2892 And thus he profreth him to swere
2893 To serven evere til he die,
2894 And al is verai tricherie.
2895 For whan the sothe himselven trieth,
2896 The more he swerth, the more he lieth;
2897 Whan he his feith makth althermest,
2898 Than mai a womman truste him lest;
2899 For til he mai his will achieve,
2900 He is no lengere forto lieve.
2901 Thus is the trouthe of love exiled,
2902 And many a good womman beguiled.
2903 And ek to speke of Falswitnesse,
2904 There be nou many suche, I gesse,
2905 That lich unto the provisours
2906 Thei make here prive procurours,
2907 To telle hou ther is such a man,
2908 Which is worthi to love and can
2909 Al that a good man scholde kunne;
2910 So that with lesinge is begunne
2911 The cause in which thei wole procede,
2912 And also siker as the crede
2913 Thei make of that thei knowen fals.
2914 And thus fulofte aboute the hals
2915 Love is of false men embraced;
2916 Bot love which is so pourchaced
2917 Comth afterward to litel pris.
2918 Forthi, mi Sone, if thou be wis,
2919 Nou thou hast herd this evidence,
2920 Thou miht thin oghne conscience
2921 Oppose, if thou hast ben such on.
2922 Nai, god wot, fader I am non,
2923 Ne nevere was; for as men seith,
2924 Whan that a man schal make his feith,
2925 His herte and tunge moste acorde;
2926 For if so be that thei discorde,
2927 Thanne is he fals and elles noght:
2928 And I dar seie, as of my thoght,
2929 In love it is noght descordable
2930 Unto mi word, bot acordable.
2931 And in this wise, fader, I
2932 Mai riht wel swere and salvely,
2933 That I mi ladi love wel,
2934 For that acordeth everydel.
2935 It nedeth noght to mi sothsawe
2936 That I witnesse scholde drawe,
2937 Into this dai for nevere yit
2938 Ne mihte it sinke into mi wit,
2939 That I my conseil scholde seie
2940 To eny wiht, or me bewreie
2941 To sechen help in such manere,
2942 Bot only of mi ladi diere.
2943 And thogh a thousend men it wiste,
2944 That I hire love, and thanne hem liste
2945 With me to swere and to witnesse,
2946 Yit were that no falswitnesse;
2947 For I dar on this trouthe duelle,
2948 I love hire mor than I can telle.
2949 Thus am I, fader, gulteles,
2950 As ye have herd, and natheles
2951 In youre dom I put it al.
2952 Mi Sone, wite in special,
2953 It schal noght comunliche faile,
2954 Al thogh it for a time availe
2955 That Falswitnesse his cause spede,
2956 Upon the point of his falshiede
2957 It schal wel afterward be kid;
2958 Wherof, so as it is betid,
2959 Ensample of suche thinges blinde
2960 In a Cronique write I finde.
2961 The Goddesse of the See Thetis,
2962 Sche hadde a Sone, and his name is
2963 Achilles, whom to kepe and warde,
2964 Whil he was yong, as into warde
2965 Sche thoghte him salfly to betake,
2966 As sche which dradde for his sake
2967 Of that was seid in prophecie,
2968 That he at Troie scholde die,
2969 Whan that the Cite was belein.
2970 Forthi, so as the bokes sein,
2971 Sche caste hire wit in sondri wise,
2972 Hou sche him mihte so desguise
2973 That noman scholde his bodi knowe:
2974 And so befell that ilke throwe,
2975 Whil that sche thoghte upon this dede,
2976 Ther was a king, which Lichomede
2977 Was hote, and he was wel begon
2978 With faire dowhtres manyon,
2979 And duelte fer out in an yle.
2980 Nou schalt thou hiere a wonder wyle:
2981 This queene, which the moder was
2982 Of Achilles, upon this cas
2983 Hire Sone, as he a Maiden were,
2984 Let clothen in the same gere
2985 Which longeth unto wommanhiede:
2986 And he was yong and tok non hiede,
2987 Bot soffreth al that sche him dede.
2988 Wherof sche hath hire wommen bede
2989 And charged be here othes alle,
2990 Hou so it afterward befalle,
2991 That thei discovere noght this thing,
2992 Bot feigne and make a knowleching,
2993 Upon the conseil which was nome,
2994 In every place wher thei come
2995 To telle and to witnesse this,
2996 Hou he here ladi dowhter is.
2997 And riht in such a maner wise
2998 Sche bad thei scholde hire don servise,
2999 So that Achilles underfongeth
3000 As to a yong ladi belongeth
3001 Honour, servise and reverence.
3002 For Thetis with gret diligence
3003 Him hath so tawht and so afaited,
3004 That, hou so that it were awaited,
3005 With sobre and goodli contenance
3006 He scholde his wommanhiede avance,
3007 That non the sothe knowe myhte,
3008 Bot that in every mannes syhte
3009 He scholde seme a pure Maide.
3010 And in such wise as sche him saide,
3011 Achilles, which that ilke while
3012 Was yong, upon himself to smyle
3013 Began, whan he was so besein.
3014 And thus, after the bokes sein,
3015 With frette of Perle upon his hed,
3016 Al freissh betwen the whyt and red,
3017 As he which tho was tendre of Age,
3018 Stod the colour in his visage,
3019 That forto loke upon his cheke
3020 And sen his childly manere eke,
3021 He was a womman to beholde.
3022 And thanne his moder to him tolde,
3023 That sche him hadde so begon
3024 Be cause that sche thoghte gon
3025 To Lichomede at thilke tyde,
3026 Wher that sche seide he scholde abyde
3027 Among hise dowhtres forto duelle.
3028 Achilles herde his moder telle,
3029 And wiste noght the cause why;
3030 And natheles ful buxomly
3031 He was redy to that sche bad,
3032 Wherof his moder was riht glad,
3033 To Lichomede and forth thei wente.
3034 And whan the king knew hire entente,
3035 And sih this yonge dowhter there,
3036 And that it cam unto his Ere
3037 Of such record, of such witnesse,
3038 He hadde riht a gret gladnesse
3039 Of that he bothe syh and herde,
3040 As he that wot noght hou it ferde
3041 Upon the conseil of the nede.
3042 Bot for al that king Lichomede
3043 Hath toward him this dowhter take,
3044 And for Thetis his moder sake
3045 He put hire into compainie
3046 To duelle with Dei5damie,
3047 His oghne dowhter, the eldeste,
3048 The faireste and the comelieste
3049 Of alle hise doghtres whiche he hadde.
3050 Lo, thus Thetis the cause ladde,
3051 And lefte there Achilles feigned,
3052 As he which hath himself restreigned
3053 In al that evere he mai and can
3054 Out of the manere of a man,
3055 And tok his wommannysshe chiere,
3056 Wherof unto his beddefere
3057 Dei5damie he hath be nyhte.
3058 Wher kinde wole himselve rihte,
3059 After the Philosophres sein,
3060 Ther mai no wiht be therayein:
3061 And that was thilke time seene.
3062 The longe nyhtes hem betuene
3063 Nature, which mai noght forbere,
3064 Hath mad hem bothe forto stere:
3065 Thei kessen ferst, and overmore
3066 The hihe weie of loves lore
3067 Thei gon, and al was don in dede,
3068 Wherof lost is the maydenhede;
3069 And that was afterward wel knowe.
3070 For it befell that ilke throwe
3071 At Troie, wher the Siege lay
3072 Upon the cause of Menelay
3073 And of his queene dame Heleine,
3074 The Gregois hadden mochel peine
3075 Alday to fihte and to assaile.
3076 Bot for thei mihten noght availe
3077 So noble a Cite forto winne,
3078 A prive conseil thei beginne,
3079 In sondri wise wher thei trete;
3080 And ate laste among the grete
3081 Thei fellen unto this acord,
3082 That Prothes, of his record
3083 Which was an Astronomien
3084 And ek a gret Magicien,
3085 Scholde of his calculacion
3086 Seche after constellacion,
3087 Hou thei the Cite mihten gete:
3088 And he, which hadde noght foryete
3089 Of that belongeth to a clerk,
3090 His studie sette upon this werk.
3091 So longe his wit aboute he caste,
3092 Til that he fond out ate laste,
3093 Bot if they hadden Achilles
3094 Here werre schal ben endeles.
3095 And over that he tolde hem plein
3096 In what manere he was besein,
3097 And in what place he schal be founde;
3098 So that withinne a litel stounde
3099 Ulixes forth with Diomede
3100 Upon this point to Lichomede
3101 Agamenon togedre sente.
3102 Bot Ulixes, er he forth wente,
3103 Which was on of the moste wise,
3104 Ordeigned hath in such a wise,
3105 That he the moste riche aray,
3106 Wherof a womman mai be gay,
3107 With him hath take manyfold,
3108 And overmore, as it is told,
3109 An harneis for a lusti kniht,
3110 Which burned was as Selver bryht,
3111 Of swerd, of plate and ek of maile,
3112 As thogh he scholde to bataille,
3113 He tok also with him be Schipe.
3114 And thus togedre in felaschipe
3115 Forth gon this Diomede and he
3116 In hope til thei mihten se
3117 The place where Achilles is.
3118 The wynd stod thanne noght amis,
3119 Bot evene topseilcole it blew,
3120 Til Ulixes the Marche knew,
3121 Wher Lichomede his Regne hadde.
3122 The Stieresman so wel hem ladde,
3123 That thei ben comen sauf to londe,
3124 Wher thei gon out upon the stronde
3125 Into the Burgh, wher that thei founde
3126 The king, and he which hath facounde,
3127 Ulixes, dede the message.
3128 Bot the conseil of his corage,
3129 Why that he cam, he tolde noght,
3130 Bot undernethe he was bethoght
3131 In what manere he mihte aspie
3132 Achilles fro Dei5damie
3133 And fro these othre that ther were,
3134 Full many a lusti ladi there.
3135 Thei pleide hem there a day or tuo,
3136 And as it was fortuned so,
3137 It fell that time in such a wise,
3138 To Bachus that a sacrifise
3139 Thes yonge ladys scholden make;
3140 And for the strange mennes sake,
3141 That comen fro the Siege of Troie,
3142 Thei maden wel the more joie.
3143 Ther was Revel, ther was daunsinge,
3144 And every lif which coude singe
3145 Of lusti wommen in the route
3146 A freissh carole hath sunge aboute;
3147 Bot for al this yit natheles
3148 The Greks unknowe of Achilles
3149 So weren, that in no degre
3150 Thei couden wite which was he,
3151 Ne be his vois, ne be his pas.
3152 Ulixes thanne upon this cas
3153 A thing of hih Prudence hath wroght:
3154 For thilke aray, which he hath broght
3155 To yive among the wommen there,
3156 He let do fetten al the gere
3157 Forth with a knihtes harneis eke,-
3158 In al a contre forto seke
3159 Men scholden noght a fairer se,-
3160 And every thing in his degre
3161 Endlong upon a bord he leide.
3162 To Lichomede and thanne he preide
3163 That every ladi chese scholde
3164 What thing of alle that sche wolde,
3165 And take it as be weie of yifte;
3166 For thei hemself it scholde schifte,
3167 He seide, after here oghne wille.
3168 Achilles thanne stod noght stille:
3169 Whan he the bryhte helm behield,
3170 The swerd, the hauberk and the Schield,
3171 His herte fell therto anon;
3172 Of all that othre wolde he non,
3173 The knihtes gere he underfongeth,
3174 And thilke aray which that belongeth
3175 Unto the wommen he forsok.
3176 And in this wise, as seith the bok,
3177 Thei knowen thanne which he was:
3178 For he goth forth the grete pas
3179 Into the chambre where he lay;
3180 Anon, and made no delay,
3181 He armeth him in knyhtli wise,
3182 That bettre can noman devise,
3183 And as fortune scholde falle,
3184 He cam so forth tofore hem alle,
3185 As he which tho was glad ynowh.
3186 But Lichomede nothing lowh,
3187 Whan that he syh hou that it ferde,
3188 For thanne he wiste wel and herde,
3189 His dowhter hadde be forlein;
3190 Bot that he was so oversein,
3191 The wonder overgoth his wit.
3192 For in Cronique is write yit
3193 Thing which schal nevere be foryete,
3194 Hou that Achilles hath begete
3195 Pirrus upon Dei5damie,
3196 Wherof cam out the tricherie
3197 Of Falswitnesse, whan thei saide
3198 Hou that Achilles was a Maide.
3199 Bot that was nothing sene tho,
3200 For he is to the Siege go
3201 Forth with Ulixe and Diomede.
3202 Lo, thus was proved in the dede
3203 And fulli spoke at thilke while:
3204 If o womman an other guile,
3205 Wher is ther eny sikernesse?
3206 Whan Thetis, which was the goddesse,
3207 Dei5damie hath so bejaped,
3208 I not hou it schal ben ascaped
3209 With tho wommen whos innocence
3210 Is nou alday thurgh such credence
3211 Deceived ofte, as it is seene,
3212 With men that such untrouthe meene.
3213 For thei ben slyhe in such a wise,
3214 That thei be sleihte and be queintise
3215 Of Falswitnesse bringen inne
3216 That doth hem ofte forto winne,
3217 Wher thei ben noght worthi therto.
3218 Forthi, my Sone, do noght so.
3219 Mi fader, as of Falswitnesse
3220 The trouthe and the matiere expresse,
3221 Touchende of love hou it hath ferd,
3222 As ye have told, I have wel herd.
3223 Bot for ye seiden otherwise,
3224 Hou thilke vice of Covoitise
3225 Hath yit Perjurie of his acord,
3226 If that you list of som record
3227 To telle an other tale also
3228 In loves cause of time ago,
3229 What thing it is to be forswore,
3230 I wolde preie you therfore,
3231 Wherof I mihte ensample take.
3232 Mi goode Sone, and for thi sake
3233 Touchende of this I schall fulfille
3234 Thin axinge at thin oghne wille,
3235 And the matiere I schal declare,
3236 Hou the wommen deceived are,
3237 Whan thei so tendre herte bere,
3238 Of that thei hieren men so swere;
3239 Bot whan it comth unto thassay,
3240 Thei finde it fals an other day:
3241 As Jason dede to Medee,
3242 Which stant yet of Auctorite
3243 In tokne and in memorial;
3244 Wherof the tale in special
3245 Is in the bok of Troie write,
3246 Which I schal do thee forto wite.
3247 In Grece whilom was a king,
3248 Of whom the fame and knowleching
3249 Beleveth yit, and Peles
3250 He hihte; bot it fell him thus,
3251 That his fortune hir whiel so ladde
3252 That he no child his oghne hadde
3253 To regnen after his decess.
3254 He hadde a brother natheles,
3255 Whos rihte name was Eson,
3256 And he the worthi kniht Jason
3257 Begat, the which in every lond
3258 Alle othre passede of his hond
3259 In Armes, so that he the beste
3260 Was named and the worthieste,
3261 He soghte worschipe overal.
3262 Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal
3263 An aventure that he soghte,
3264 Which afterward ful dere he boghte.
3265 Ther was an yle, which Colchos
3266 Was cleped, and therof aros
3267 Gret speche in every lond aboute,
3268 That such merveile was non oute
3269 In al the wyde world nawhere,
3270 As tho was in that yle there.
3271 Ther was a Schiep, as it was told,
3272 The which his flees bar al of gold,
3273 And so the goddes hadde it set,
3274 That it ne mihte awei be fet
3275 Be pouer of no worldes wiht:
3276 And yit ful many a worthi kniht
3277 It hadde assaied, as thei dorste,
3278 And evere it fell hem to the worste.
3279 Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake,
3280 Bot of his knyhthod undertake
3281 To do what thing therto belongeth,
3282 This worthi Jason, sore alongeth
3283 To se the strange regiouns
3284 And knowe the condiciouns
3285 Of othre Marches, where he wente;
3286 And for that cause his hole entente
3287 He sette Colchos forto seche,
3288 And therupon he made a speche
3289 To Peles his Em the king.
3290 And he wel paid was of that thing;
3291 And schop anon for his passage,
3292 And suche as were of his lignage,
3293 With othre knihtes whiche he ches,
3294 With him he tok, and Hercules,
3295 Which full was of chivalerie,
3296 With Jason wente in compaignie;
3297 And that was in the Monthe of Maii,
3298 Whan colde stormes were away.
3299 The wynd was good, the Schip was yare,
3300 Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare
3301 Toward Colchos: bot on the weie
3302 What hem befell is long to seie;
3303 Hou Lamedon the king of Troie,
3304 Which oghte wel have mad hem joie.
3305 Whan thei to reste a while him preide,
3306 Out of his lond he hem congeide;
3307 And so fell the dissencion,
3308 Which after was destruccion
3309 Of that Cite, as men mai hiere:
3310 Bot that is noght to mi matiere.
3311 Bot thus this worthi folk Gregeis
3312 Fro that king, which was noght curteis,
3313 And fro his lond with Sail updrawe
3314 Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe
3315 Thei made and many a gret manace,
3316 Til ate laste into that place
3317 Which as thei soghte thei aryve,
3318 And striken Sail, and forth as blyve
3319 Thei sente unto the king and tolden
3320 Who weren ther and what thei wolden.
3321 Oe5tes, which was thanne king,
3322 Whan that he herde this tyding
3323 Of Jason, which was comen there,
3324 And of these othre, what thei were,
3325 He thoghte don hem gret worschipe:
3326 For thei anon come out of Schipe,
3327 And strawht unto the king thei wente,
3328 And be the hond Jason he hente,
3329 And that was ate paleis gate,
3330 So fer the king cam on his gate
3331 Toward Jason to don him chiere;
3332 And he, whom lacketh no manere,
3333 Whan he the king sih in presence,
3334 Yaf him ayein such reverence
3335 As to a kinges stat belongeth.
3336 And thus the king him underfongeth,
3337 And Jason in his arm he cawhte,
3338 And forth into the halle he strawhte,
3339 And ther they siete and spieke of thinges,
3340 And Jason tolde him tho tidinges,
3341 Why he was come, and faire him preide
3342 To haste his time, and the kyng seide,
3343 "Jason, thou art a worthi kniht,
3344 Bot it lith in no mannes myht
3345 To don that thou art come fore:
3346 Ther hath be many a kniht forlore
3347 Of that thei wolden it assaie."
3348 Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie,
3349 And seide, "Of every worldes cure
3350 Fortune stant in aventure,
3351 Per aunter wel, per aunter wo:
3352 Bot hou as evere that it go,
3353 It schal be with myn hond assaied."
3354 The king tho hield him noght wel paied,
3355 For he the Grekes sore dredde,
3356 In aunter, if Jason ne spedde,
3357 He mihte therof bere a blame;
3358 For tho was al the worldes fame
3359 In Grece, as forto speke of Armes.
3360 Forthi he dredde him of his harmes,
3361 And gan to preche him and to preie;
3362 Bot Jason wolde noght obeie,
3363 Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde
3364 For ought that eny man him tolde.
3365 The king, whan he thes wordes herde,
3366 And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde,
3367 Yit for he wolde make him glad,
3368 After Medea gon he bad,
3369 Which was his dowhter, and sche cam.
3370 And Jason, which good hiede nam,
3371 Whan he hire sih, ayein hire goth;
3372 And sche, which was him nothing loth,
3373 Welcomede him into that lond,
3374 And softe tok him be the hond,
3375 And doun thei seten bothe same.
3376 Sche hadde herd spoke of his name
3377 And of his grete worthinesse;
3378 Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse
3379 Upon his face and his stature,
3380 And thoghte hou nevere creature
3381 Was so wel farende as was he.
3382 And Jason riht in such degre
3383 Ne mihte noght withholde his lok,
3384 Bot so good hiede on hire he tok,
3385 That him ne thoghte under the hevene
3386 Of beaute sawh he nevere hir evene,
3387 With al that fell to wommanhiede.
3388 Thus ech of other token hiede,
3389 Thogh ther no word was of record;
3390 Here hertes bothe of on acord
3391 Ben set to love, bot as tho
3392 Ther mihten be no wordes mo.
3393 The king made him gret joie and feste,
3394 To alle his men he yaf an heste,
3395 So as thei wolde his thonk deserve,
3396 That thei scholde alle Jason serve,
3397 Whil that he wolde there duelle.
3398 And thus the dai, schortly to telle,
3399 With manye merthes thei despente,
3400 Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente,
3401 Echon of other tok his leve,
3402 Whan thei no lengere myhten leve.
3403 I not hou Jason that nyht slep,
3404 Bot wel I wot that of the Schep,
3405 For which he cam into that yle,
3406 He thoghte bot a litel whyle;
3407 Al was Medea that he thoghte,
3408 So that in many a wise he soghte
3409 His witt wakende er it was day,
3410 Som time yee, som time nay,
3411 Som time thus, som time so,
3412 As he was stered to and fro
3413 Of love, and ek of his conqueste
3414 As he was holde of his beheste.
3415 And thus he ros up be the morwe
3416 And tok himself seint John to borwe,
3417 And seide he wolde ferst beginne
3418 At love, and after forto winne
3419 The flees of gold, for which he com,
3420 And thus to him good herte he nom.
3421 Medea riht the same wise,
3422 Til dai cam that sche moste arise,
3423 Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht,
3424 Hou sche that noble worthi kniht
3425 Be eny weie mihte wedde:
3426 And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde
3427 Of thing which he hadde undertake,
3428 Sche mihte hirself no porpos take;
3429 For if he deide of his bataile,
3430 Sche moste thanne algate faile
3431 To geten him, whan he were ded.
3432 Thus sche began to sette red
3433 And torne aboute hir wittes alle,
3434 To loke hou that it mihte falle
3435 That sche with him hadde a leisir
3436 To speke and telle of hir desir.
3437 And so it fell that same day
3438 That Jason with that suete may
3439 Togedre sete and hadden space
3440 To speke, and he besoughte hir grace.
3441 And sche his tale goodli herde,
3442 And afterward sche him ansuerde
3443 And seide, "Jason, as thou wilt,
3444 Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt;
3445 For wite wel that nevere man,
3446 Bot if he couthe that I can,
3447 Ne mihte that fortune achieve
3448 For which thou comst: bot as I lieve,
3449 If thou wolt holde covenant
3450 To love, of al the remenant
3451 I schal thi lif and honour save,
3452 That thou the flees of gold schalt have."
3453 He seide, "Al at youre oghne wille,
3454 Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille
3455 Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste."
3456 Thus longe he preide, and ate laste
3457 Sche granteth, and behihte him this,
3458 That whan nyht comth and it time is,
3459 Sche wolde him sende certeinly
3460 Such on that scholde him prively
3461 Al one into hire chambre bringe.
3462 He thonketh hire of that tidinge,
3463 For of that grace him is begonne
3464 Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne.
3465 The dai made ende and lost his lyht,
3466 And comen was the derke nyht,
3467 Which al the daies yhe blente.
3468 Jason tok leve and forth he wente,
3469 And whan he cam out of the pres,
3470 He tok to conseil Hercules,
3471 And tolde him hou it was betid,
3472 And preide it scholde wel ben hid,
3473 And that he wolde loke aboute,
3474 Therwhiles that he schal ben oute.
3475 Thus as he stod and hiede nam,
3476 A Mayden fro Medea cam
3477 And to hir chambre Jason ledde,
3478 Wher that he fond redi to bedde
3479 The faireste and the wiseste eke;
3480 And sche with simple chiere and meke,
3481 Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed.
3482 Tho was here tale newe entamed;
3483 For sikernesse of Mariage
3484 Sche fette forth a riche ymage,
3485 Which was figure of Jupiter,
3486 And Jason swor and seide ther,
3487 That also wiss god scholde him helpe,
3488 That if Medea dede him helpe,
3489 That he his pourpos myhte winne,
3490 Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne,
3491 Bot evere whil him lasteth lif,
3492 He wolde hire holde for his wif.
3493 And with that word thei kisten bothe;
3494 And for thei scholden hem unclothe,
3495 Ther cam a Maide, and in hir wise
3496 Sche dede hem bothe full servise,
3497 Til that thei were in bedde naked:
3498 I wot that nyht was wel bewaked,
3499 Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde.
3500 And thanne of leisir sche him tolde,
3501 And gan fro point to point enforme
3502 Of his bataile and al the forme,
3503 Which as he scholde finde there,
3504 Whan he to thyle come were.
3505 Sche seide, at entre of the pas
3506 Hou Mars, which god of Armes was,
3507 Hath set tuo Oxen sterne and stoute,
3508 That caste fyr and flamme aboute
3509 Bothe at the mouth and ate nase,
3510 So that thei setten al on blase
3511 What thing that passeth hem betwene:
3512 And forthermore upon the grene
3513 Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe
3514 A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe.
3515 Thus who that evere scholde it winne,
3516 The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne,
3517 Which that the fierce bestes caste,
3518 And daunte he mot hem ate laste,
3519 So that he mai hem yoke and dryve;
3520 And therupon he mot as blyve
3521 The Serpent with such strengthe assaile,
3522 That he mai slen him be bataile;
3523 Of which he mot the teth outdrawe,
3524 As it belongeth to that lawe,
3525 And thanne he mot tho Oxen yoke,
3526 Til thei have with a plowh tobroke
3527 A furgh of lond, in which arowe
3528 The teth of thaddre he moste sowe,
3529 And therof schule arise knihtes
3530 Wel armed up at alle rihtes.
3531 Of hem is noght to taken hiede,
3532 For ech of hem in hastihiede
3533 Schal other slen with dethes wounde:
3534 And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde,
3535 Than mot he to the goddes preie,
3536 And go so forth and take his preie.
3537 Bot if he faile in eny wise
3538 Of that ye hiere me devise,
3539 Ther mai be set non other weie,
3540 That he ne moste algates deie.
3541 "Nou have I told the peril al:
3542 I woll you tellen forth withal,"
3543 Quod Medea to Jason tho,
3544 "That ye schul knowen er ye go,
3545 Ayein the venym and the fyr
3546 What schal ben the recoverir.
3547 Bot, Sire, for it is nyh day,
3548 Ariseth up, so that I may
3549 Delivere you what thing I have,
3550 That mai youre lif and honour save."
3551 Thei weren bothe loth to rise,
3552 Bot for thei weren bothe wise,
3553 Up thei arisen ate laste:
3554 Jason his clothes on him caste
3555 And made him redi riht anon,
3556 And sche hir scherte dede upon
3557 And caste on hire a mantel clos,
3558 Withoute more and thanne aros.
3559 Tho tok sche forth a riche Tye
3560 Mad al of gold and of Perrie,
3561 Out of the which sche nam a Ring,
3562 The Ston was worth al other thing.
3563 Sche seide, whil he wolde it were,
3564 Ther myhte no peril him dere,
3565 In water mai it noght be dreynt,
3566 Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt,
3567 It daunteth ek the cruel beste,
3568 Ther may no qued that man areste,
3569 Wher so he be on See or lond,
3570 Which hath that ring upon his hond:
3571 And over that sche gan to sein,
3572 That if a man wol ben unsein,
3573 Withinne his hond hold clos the Ston,
3574 And he mai invisible gon.
3575 The Ring to Jason sche betauhte,
3576 And so forth after sche him tauhte
3577 What sacrifise he scholde make;
3578 And gan out of hire cofre take
3579 Him thoughte an hevenely figure,
3580 Which al be charme and be conjure
3581 Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write
3582 With names, which he scholde wite,
3583 As sche him tauhte tho to rede;
3584 And bad him, as he wolde spede,
3585 Withoute reste of eny while,
3586 Whan he were londed in that yle,
3587 He scholde make his sacrifise
3588 And rede his carecte in the wise
3589 As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent,
3590 Thre sithes toward orient;
3591 For so scholde he the goddes plese
3592 And winne himselven mochel ese.
3593 And whanne he hadde it thries rad,
3594 To opne a buiste sche him bad,
3595 Which sche ther tok him in present,
3596 And was full of such oignement,
3597 That ther was fyr ne venym non
3598 That scholde fastnen him upon,
3599 Whan that he were enoynt withal.
3600 Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal
3601 Enoignte his armes al aboute,
3602 And for he scholde nothing doute,
3603 Sche tok him thanne a maner glu,
3604 The which was of so gret vertu,
3605 That where a man it wolde caste,
3606 It scholde binde anon so faste
3607 That noman mihte it don aweie.
3608 And that sche bad be alle weie
3609 He scholde into the mouthes throwen
3610 Of tho tweie Oxen that fyr blowen,
3611 Therof to stoppen the malice;
3612 The glu schal serve of that office.
3613 And over that hir oignement,
3614 Hir Ring and hir enchantement
3615 Ayein the Serpent scholde him were,
3616 Til he him sle with swerd or spere:
3617 And thanne he may saufliche ynowh
3618 His Oxen yoke into the plowh
3619 And the teth sowe in such a wise,
3620 Til he the knyhtes se arise,
3621 And ech of other doun be leid
3622 In such manere as I have seid.
3623 Lo, thus Medea for Jason
3624 Ordeigneth, and preith therupon
3625 That he nothing foryete scholde,
3626 And ek sche preith him that he wolde,
3627 Whan he hath alle his Armes don,
3628 To grounde knele and thonke anon
3629 The goddes, and so forth be ese
3630 The flees of gold he scholde sese.
3631 And whanne he hadde it sesed so,
3632 That thanne he were sone ago
3633 Withouten eny tariynge.
3634 Whan this was seid, into wepinge
3635 Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome
3636 With love, and so fer overcome,
3637 That al hir world on him sche sette.
3638 Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette,
3639 That he mot nedes parte hire fro,
3640 Sche tok him in hire armes tuo,
3641 An hundred time and gan him kisse,
3642 And seide, "O, al mi worldes blisse,
3643 Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele,
3644 To be thin helpe in this querele
3645 I preie unto the goddes alle."
3646 And with that word sche gan doun falle
3647 On swoune, and he hire uppe nam,
3648 And forth with that the Maiden cam,
3649 And thei to bedde anon hir broghte,
3650 And thanne Jason hire besoghte,
3651 And to hire seide in this manere:
3652 "Mi worthi lusti ladi dere,
3653 Conforteth you, for be my trouthe
3654 It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe
3655 That I ne wol thurghout fulfille
3656 Youre hestes at youre oghne wille.
3657 And yit I hope to you bringe
3658 Withinne a while such tidinge,
3659 The which schal make ous bothe game."
3660 Bot for he wolde kepe hir name,
3661 Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai,
3662 He seide, "A dieu, mi swete mai."
3663 And forth with him he nam his gere,
3664 Which as sche hadde take him there,
3665 And strauht unto his chambre he wente,
3666 And goth to bedde and slep him hente,
3667 And lay, that noman him awok,
3668 For Hercules hiede of him tok,
3669 Til it was undren hih and more.
3670 And thanne he gan to sighe sore
3671 And sodeinliche abreide of slep;
3672 And thei that token of him kep,
3673 His chamberleins, be sone there,
3674 And maden redi al his gere,
3675 And he aros and to the king
3676 He wente, and seide hou to that thing
3677 For which he cam he wolde go.
3678 The king therof was wonder wo,
3679 And for he wolde him fain withdrawe,
3680 He tolde him many a dredful sawe,
3681 Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde,
3682 And ate laste thei acorde.
3683 Whan that he wolde noght abide,
3684 A Bot was redy ate tyde,
3685 In which this worthi kniht of Grece
3686 Ful armed up at every piece,
3687 To his bataile which belongeth,
3688 Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth,
3689 Til he the water passed were.
3690 Whan he cam to that yle there,
3691 He set him on his knes doun strauht,
3692 And his carecte, as he was tawht,
3693 He radde, and made his sacrifise,
3694 And siththe enoignte him in that wise,
3695 As Medea him hadde bede;
3696 And thanne aros up fro that stede,
3697 And with the glu the fyr he queynte,
3698 And anon after he atteinte
3699 The grete Serpent and him slowh.
3700 Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh,
3701 For that Serpent made him travaile
3702 So harde and sore of his bataile,
3703 That nou he stod and nou he fell:
3704 For longe time it so befell,
3705 That with his swerd ne with his spere
3706 He mihte noght that Serpent dere.
3707 He was so scherded al aboute,
3708 It hield all eggetol withoute,
3709 He was so ruide and hard of skin,
3710 Ther mihte nothing go therin;
3711 Venym and fyr togedre he caste,
3712 That he Jason so sore ablaste,
3713 That if ne were his oignement,
3714 His Ring and his enchantement,
3715 Which Medea tok him tofore,
3716 He hadde with that worm be lore;
3717 Bot of vertu which therof cam
3718 Jason the Dragon overcam.
3719 And he anon the teth outdrouh,
3720 And sette his Oxen in a plouh,
3721 With which he brak a piece of lond
3722 And sieu hem with his oghne hond.
3723 Tho mihte he gret merveile se:
3724 Of every toth in his degre
3725 Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield,
3726 Of whiche anon riht in the field
3727 Echon slow other; and with that
3728 Jason Medea noght foryat,
3729 On bothe his knes he gan doun falle,
3730 And yaf thonk to the goddes alle.
3731 The Flees he tok and goth to Bote,
3732 The Sonne schyneth bryhte and hote,
3733 The Flees of gold schon forth withal,
3734 The water glistreth overal.
3735 Medea wepte and sigheth ofte,
3736 And stod upon a Tour alofte:
3737 Al prively withinne hirselve,
3738 Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve,
3739 Sche preide, and seide, "O, god him spede,
3740 The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede!"
3741 And ay sche loketh toward thyle.
3742 Bot whan sche sih withinne a while
3743 The Flees glistrende ayein the Sonne,
3744 Sche saide, "Ha, lord, now al is wonne,
3745 Mi kniht the field hath overcome:
3746 Nou wolde god he were come;
3747 Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!"
3748 Bot I dar take this on honde,
3749 If that sche hadde wynges tuo,
3750 Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho
3751 Strawht ther he was into the Bot.
3752 The dai was clier, the Sonne hot,
3753 The Gregeis weren in gret doute,
3754 The whyle that here lord was oute:
3755 Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde,
3756 Bot waiten evere upon the tyde,
3757 To se what ende scholde falle.
3758 Ther stoden ek the nobles alle
3759 Forth with the comun of the toun;
3760 And as thei loken up and doun,
3761 Thei weren war withinne a throwe,
3762 Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe,
3763 And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie.
3764 And tho thei gonnen alle seie,
3765 And criden alle with o stevene,
3766 "Ha, wher was evere under the hevene
3767 So noble a knyht as Jason is?"
3768 And welnyh alle seiden this,
3769 That Jason was a faie kniht,
3770 For it was nevere of mannes miht
3771 The Flees of gold so forto winne;
3772 And thus to talen thei beginne.
3773 With that the king com forth anon,
3774 And sih the Flees, hou that it schon;
3775 And whan Jason cam to the lond,
3776 The king himselve tok his hond
3777 And kist him, and gret joie him made.
3778 The Gregeis weren wonder glade,
3779 And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte,
3780 And forth with hem the Flees thei broghte,
3781 And ech on other gan to leyhe;
3782 Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe,
3783 To se therof the proprete.
3784 And thus thei passen the cite
3785 And gon unto the Paleis straght.
3786 Medea, which foryat him naght,
3787 Was redy there, and seide anon,
3788 "Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason."
3789 Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn,
3790 Bot schame tornede hire agayn;
3791 It was noght the manere as tho,
3792 Forthi sche dorste noght do so.
3793 Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente
3794 Into his chambre, and sche him sente
3795 Hire Maide to sen hou he ferde;
3796 The which whan that sche sih and herde,
3797 Hou that he hadde faren oute
3798 And that it stod wel al aboute,
3799 Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste,
3800 And sche for joie hire Maide kiste.
3801 The bathes weren thanne araied,
3802 With herbes tempred and assaied,
3803 And Jason was unarmed sone
3804 And dede as it befell to done:
3805 Into his bath he wente anon
3806 And wyssh him clene as eny bon;
3807 He tok a sopp, and oute he cam,
3808 And on his beste aray he nam,
3809 And kempde his hed, whan he was clad,
3810 And goth him forth al merie and glad
3811 Riht strawht into the kinges halle.
3812 The king cam with his knihtes alle
3813 And maden him glad welcominge;
3814 And he hem tolde the tidinge
3815 Of this and that, hou it befell,
3816 Whan that he wan the schepes fell.
3817 Medea, whan sche was asent,
3818 Com sone to that parlement,
3819 And whan sche mihte Jason se,
3820 Was non so glad of alle as sche.
3821 Ther was no joie forto seche,
3822 Of him mad every man a speche,
3823 Som man seide on, som man seide other;
3824 Bot thogh he were goddes brother
3825 And mihte make fyr and thonder,
3826 Ther mihte be nomore wonder
3827 Than was of him in that cite.
3828 Echon tauhte other, "This is he,
3829 Which hath in his pouer withinne
3830 That al the world ne mihte winne:
3831 Lo, hier the beste of alle goode."
3832 Thus saiden thei that there stode,
3833 And ek that walkede up and doun,
3834 Bothe of the Court and of the toun.
3835 The time of Souper cam anon,
3836 Thei wisshen and therto thei gon,
3837 Medea was with Jason set:
3838 Tho was ther many a deynte fet
3839 And set tofore hem on the bord,
3840 Bot non so likinge as the word
3841 Which was ther spoke among hem tuo,
3842 So as thei dorste speke tho.
3843 Bot thogh thei hadden litel space,
3844 Yit thei acorden in that place
3845 Hou Jason scholde come at nyht,
3846 Whan every torche and every liht
3847 Were oute, and thanne of other thinges
3848 Thei spieke aloud for supposinges
3849 Of hem that stoden there aboute:
3850 For love is everemore in doute,
3851 If that it be wisly governed
3852 Of hem that ben of love lerned.
3853 Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe
3854 And cloth and bord and al was uppe,
3855 Thei waken whil hem lest to wake,
3856 And after that thei leve take
3857 And gon to bedde forto reste.
3858 And whan him thoghte for the beste,
3859 That every man was faste aslepe,
3860 Jason, that wolde his time kepe,
3861 Goth forth stalkende al prively
3862 Unto the chambre, and redely
3863 Ther was a Maide, which him kepte.
3864 Medea wok and nothing slepte,
3865 Bot natheles sche was abedde,
3866 And he with alle haste him spedde
3867 And made him naked and al warm.
3868 Anon he tok hire in his arm:
3869 What nede is forto speke of ese?
3870 Hem list ech other forto plese,
3871 So that thei hadden joie ynow:
3872 And tho thei setten whanne and how
3873 That sche with him awey schal stele.
3874 With wordes suche and othre fele
3875 Whan al was treted to an ende,
3876 Jason tok leve and gan forth wende
3877 Unto his oughne chambre in pes;
3878 Ther wiste it non bot Hercules.
3879 He slepte and ros whan it was time,
3880 And whanne it fell towardes prime,
3881 He tok to him suche as he triste
3882 In secre, that non other wiste,
3883 And told hem of his conseil there,
3884 And seide that his wille were
3885 That thei to Schipe hadde alle thinge
3886 So priveliche in thevenynge,
3887 That noman mihte here dede aspie
3888 Bot tho that were of compaignie:
3889 For he woll go withoute leve,
3890 And lengere woll he noght beleve;
3891 Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe
3892 The king or queene scholde it knowe.
3893 Thei saide, "Al this schal wel be do:"
3894 And Jason truste wel therto.
3895 Medea in the mene while,
3896 Which thoghte hir fader to beguile,
3897 The Tresor which hir fader hadde
3898 With hire al priveli sche ladde,
3899 And with Jason at time set
3900 Awey sche stal and fond no let,
3901 And straght sche goth hire unto schipe
3902 Of Grece with that felaschipe,
3903 And thei anon drowe up the Seil.
3904 And al that nyht this was conseil,
3905 Bot erly, whan the Sonne schon,
3906 Men syhe hou that thei were agon,
3907 And come unto the king and tolde:
3908 And he the sothe knowe wolde,
3909 And axeth where his dowhter was.
3910 Ther was no word bot Out, Allas!
3911 Sche was ago. The moder wepte,
3912 The fader as a wod man lepte,
3913 And gan the time forto warie,
3914 And swor his oth he wol noght tarie,
3915 That with Caliphe and with galeie
3916 The same cours, the same weie,
3917 Which Jason tok, he wolde take,
3918 If that he mihte him overtake.
3919 To this thei seiden alle yee:
3920 Anon thei weren ate See,
3921 And alle, as who seith, at a word
3922 Thei gon withinne schipes bord,
3923 The Sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte.
3924 Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte,
3925 And so thei tornen hom ayein,
3926 For al that labour was in vein.
3927 Jason to Grece with his preie
3928 Goth thurgh the See the rihte weie:
3929 Whan he ther com and men it tolde,
3930 Thei maden joie yonge and olde.
3931 Eson, whan that he wiste of this,
3932 Hou that his Sone comen is,
3933 And hath achieved that he soughte
3934 And hom with him Medea broughte,
3935 In al the wyde world was non
3936 So glad a man as he was on.
3937 Togedre ben these lovers tho,
3938 Til that thei hadden sones tuo,
3939 Wherof thei weren bothe glade,
3940 And olde Eson gret joie made
3941 To sen thencress of his lignage;
3942 For he was of so gret an Age,
3943 That men awaiten every day,
3944 Whan that he scholde gon away.
3945 Jason, which sih his fader old,
3946 Upon Medea made him bold,
3947 Of art magique, which sche couthe,
3948 And preith hire that his fader youthe
3949 Sche wolde make ayeinward newe:
3950 And sche, that was toward him trewe,
3951 Behihte him that sche wolde it do,
3952 Whan that sche time sawh therto.
3953 Bot what sche dede in that matiere
3954 It is a wonder thing to hiere,
3955 Bot yit for the novellerie
3956 I thenke tellen a partie.
3957 Thus it befell upon a nyht,
3958 Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht,
3959 Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,
3960 That no wyht bot hirself it wiste,
3961 And that was ate mydnyht tyde.
3962 The world was stille on every side;
3963 With open hed and fot al bare,
3964 Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare,
3965 Upon hir clothes gert sche was,
3966 Al specheles and on the gras
3967 Sche glod forth as an Addre doth:
3968 Non otherwise sche ne goth,
3969 Til sche cam to the freisshe flod,
3970 And there a while sche withstod.
3971 Thries sche torned hire aboute,
3972 And thries ek sche gan doun loute
3973 And in the flod sche wette hir her,
3974 And thries on the water ther
3975 Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde,
3976 And tho sche tok hir speche on honde.
3977 Ferst sche began to clepe and calle
3978 Upward unto the sterres alle,
3979 To Wynd, to Air, to See, to lond
3980 Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond
3981 To Echates, and gan to crie,
3982 Which is goddesse of Sorcerie.
