Confessio Amantis
or
Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins
Incipit Liber Sextus: Part 2
Online Medieval and Classical Library Release
#4
1228 For evere yit it hath so ferd,
1229 Delicacie in loves cas
1230 Withoute reson is and was;
1231 For wher that love his herte set,
1232 Him thenkth it myhte be no bet;
1233 And thogh it be noght fulli mete,
1234 The lust of love is evere swete.
1235 Lo, thus togedre of felaschipe
1236 Delicacie and drunkeschipe,
1237 Wherof reson stant out of herre,
1238 Have mad full many a wisman erre
1239 In loves cause most of alle:
1240 For thanne hou so that evere it falle,
1241 Wit can no reson understonde,
1242 Bot let the governance stonde
1243 To Will, which thanne wext so wylde,
1244 That he can noght himselve schylde
1245 Fro no peril, bot out of feere
1246 The weie he secheth hiere and there,
1247 Him recheth noght upon what syde:
1248 For oftetime he goth beside,
1249 And doth such thing withoute drede,
1250 Wherof him oghte wel to drede.
1251 Bot whan that love assoteth sore,
1252 It passeth alle mennes lore;
1253 What lust it is that he ordeigneth,
1254 Ther is no mannes miht restreigneth,
1255 And of the godd takth he non hiede:
1256 Bot laweles withoute drede,
1257 His pourpos for he wolde achieve
1258 Ayeins the pointz of the believe,
1259 He tempteth hevene and erthe and helle,
1260 Hierafterward as I schall telle.
1261 Who dar do thing which love ne dar?
1262 To love is every lawe unwar,
1263 Bot to the lawes of his heste
1264 The fissch, the foul, the man, the beste
1265 Of al the worldes kinde louteth.
1266 For love is he which nothing douteth:
1267 In mannes herte where he sit,
1268 He compteth noght toward his wit
1269 The wo nomore than the wele,
1270 No mor the hete than the chele,
1271 No mor the wete than the dreie,
1272 No mor to live than to deie,
1273 So that tofore ne behinde
1274 He seth nothing, bot as the blinde
1275 Withoute insyhte of his corage
1276 He doth merveilles in his rage.
1277 To what thing that he wole him drawe,
1278 Ther is no god, ther is no lawe,
1279 Of whom that he takth eny hiede;
1280 Bot as Baiard the blinde stede,
1281 Til he falle in the dich amidde,
1282 He goth ther noman wole him bidde;
1283 He stant so ferforth out of reule,
1284 Ther is no wit that mai him reule.
1285 And thus to telle of him in soth,
1286 Ful many a wonder thing he doth,
1287 That were betre to be laft,
1288 Among the whiche is wicchecraft,
1289 That som men clepen Sorcerie,
1290 Which forto winne his druerie
1291 With many a circumstance he useth,
1292 Ther is no point which he refuseth.
1293 The craft which that Saturnus fond,
1294 To make prickes in the Sond,
1295 That Geomance cleped is,
1296 Fulofte he useth it amis;
1297 And of the flod his Ydromance,
1298 And of the fyr the Piromance,
1299 With questions echon of tho
1300 He tempteth ofte, and ek also
1301 Ae5remance in juggement
1302 To love he bringth of his assent:
1303 For these craftes, as I finde,
1304 A man mai do be weie of kinde,
1305 Be so it be to good entente.
1306 Bot he goth al an other wente;
1307 For rathere er he scholde faile,
1308 With Nigromance he wole assaile
1309 To make his incantacioun
1310 With hot subfumigacioun.
1311 Thilke art which Spatula is hote,
1312 And used is of comun rote
1313 Among Paiens, with that craft ek
1314 Of which is Auctor Thosz the Grek,
1315 He worcheth on and on be rowe:
1316 Razel is noght to him unknowe,
1317 Ne Salomones Candarie,
1318 His Ydeac, his Eutonye;
1319 The figure and the bok withal
1320 Of Balamuz, and of Ghenbal
1321 The Seal, and therupon thymage
1322 Of Thebith, for his avantage
1323 He takth, and somwhat of Gibiere,
1324 Which helplich is to this matiere.
1325 Babilla with hire Sones sevene,
1326 Which hath renonced to the hevene,
1327 With Cernes bothe square and rounde,
1328 He traceth ofte upon the grounde,
1329 Makende his invocacioun;
1330 And for full enformacioun
1331 The Scole which Honorius
1332 Wrot, he poursuieth: and lo, thus
1333 Magique he useth forto winne
1334 His love, and spareth for no Sinne.
1335 And over that of his Sotie,
1336 Riht as he secheth Sorcerie
1337 Of hem that ben Magiciens,
1338 Riht so of the Naturiens
1339 Upon the Sterres from above
1340 His weie he secheth unto love,
1341 Als fer as he hem understondeth.
1342 In many a sondry wise he fondeth:
1343 He makth ymage, he makth sculpture,
1344 He makth writinge, he makth figure,
1345 He makth his calculacions,
1346 He makth his demonstracions;
1347 His houres of Astronomie
1348 He kepeth as for that partie
1349 Which longeth to thinspeccion
1350 Of love and his affeccion;
1351 He wolde into the helle seche
1352 The devel himselve to beseche,
1353 If that he wiste forto spede,
1354 To gete of love his lusti mede:
1355 Wher that he hath his herte set,
1356 He bede nevere fare bet
1357 Ne wite of other hevene more.
1358 Mi Sone, if thou of such a lore
1359 Hast ben er this, I red thee leve.
1360 Min holi fader, be youre leve
1361 Of al that ye have spoken hiere
1362 Which toucheth unto this matiere,
1363 To telle soth riht as I wene,
1364 I wot noght o word what ye mene.
1365 I wol noght seie, if that I couthe,
1366 That I nolde in mi lusti youthe
1367 Benethe in helle and ek above
1368 To winne with mi ladi love
1369 Don al that evere that I mihte;
1370 For therof have I non insihte
1371 Wher afterward that I become,
1372 To that I wonne and overcome
1373 Hire love, which I most coveite.
1374 Mi Sone, that goth wonder streite:
1375 For this I mai wel telle soth,
1376 Ther is noman the which so doth,
1377 For al the craft that he can caste,
1378 That he nabeith it ate laste.
1379 For often he that wol beguile
1380 Is guiled with the same guile,
1381 And thus the guilour is beguiled;
1382 As I finde in a bok compiled
1383 To this matiere an old histoire,
1384 The which comth nou to mi memoire,
1385 And is of gret essamplerie
1386 Ayein the vice of Sorcerie,
1387 Wherof non ende mai be good.
1388 Bot hou whilom therof it stod,
1389 A tale which is good to knowe
1390 To thee, mi Sone, I schal beknowe.
1391 Among hem whiche at Troie were,
1392 Uluxes ate Siege there
1393 Was on be name in special;
1394 Of whom yit the memorial
1395 Abit, for whyl ther is a mouth,
1396 For evere his name schal be couth.
1397 He was a worthi knyht and king
1398 And clerk knowende of every thing;
1399 He was a gret rethorien,
1400 He was a gret magicien;
1401 Of Tullius the rethorique,
1402 Of king Zorastes the magique,
1403 Of Tholome thastronomie,
1404 Of Plato the Philosophie,
1405 Of Daniel the slepi dremes,
1406 Of Neptune ek the water stremes,
1407 Of Salomon and the proverbes,
1408 Of Macer al the strengthe of herbes,
1409 And the Phisique of Ypocras,
1410 And lich unto Pictagoras
1411 Of Surgerie he knew the cures.
1412 Bot somwhat of his aventures,
1413 Which schal to mi matiere acorde,
1414 To thee, mi Sone, I wol recorde.
1415 This king, of which thou hast herd sein,
1416 Fro Troie as he goth hom ayein
1417 Be Schipe, he fond the See divers,
1418 With many a wyndi storm revers.
1419 Bot he thurgh wisdom that he schapeth
1420 Ful many a gret peril ascapeth,
1421 Of whiche I thenke tellen on,
1422 Hou that malgre the nedle and ston
1423 Wynddrive he was al soudeinly
1424 Upon the strondes of Cilly,
1425 Wher that he moste abyde a whyle.
1426 Tuo queenes weren in that yle
1427 Calipsa named and Circes;
1428 And whan they herde hou Uluxes
1429 Is londed ther upon the ryve,
1430 For him thei senden als so blive.
1431 With him suche as he wolde he nam
1432 And to the court to hem he cam.
1433 Thes queenes were as tuo goddesses
1434 Of Art magique Sorceresses,
1435 That what lord comth to that rivage,
1436 Thei make him love in such a rage
1437 And upon hem assote so,
1438 That thei wol have, er that he go,
1439 Al that he hath of worldes good.
1440 Uluxes wel this understod,
1441 Thei couthe moche, he couthe more;
1442 Thei schape and caste ayein him sore
1443 And wroghte many a soutil wyle,
1444 Bot yit thei mihte him noght beguile.
1445 Bot of the men of his navie
1446 Thei tuo forschope a gret partie,
1447 Mai non of hem withstonde here hestes;
1448 Som part thei schopen into bestes,
1449 Som part thei schopen into foules,
1450 To beres, tigres, Apes, oules,
1451 Or elles be som other weie;
1452 Ther myhte hem nothing desobeie,
1453 Such craft thei hadde above kinde.
1454 Bot that Art couthe thei noght finde,
1455 Of which Uluxes was deceived,
1456 That he ne hath hem alle weyved,
1457 And broght hem into such a rote,
1458 That upon him thei bothe assote;
1459 And thurgh the science of his art
1460 He tok of hem so wel his part,
1461 That he begat Circes with childe.
1462 He kepte him sobre and made hem wilde,
1463 He sette himselve so above,
1464 That with here good and with here love,
1465 Who that therof be lief or loth,
1466 Al quit into his Schip he goth.
1467 Circes toswolle bothe sides
1468 He lefte, and waiteth on the tydes,
1469 And straght thurghout the salte fom
1470 He takth his cours and comth him hom,
1471 Where as he fond Penolope;
1472 A betre wif ther mai non be,
1473 And yit ther ben ynowhe of goode.
1474 Bot who hir goodschipe understode
1475 Fro ferst that sche wifhode tok,
1476 Hou many loves sche forsok
1477 And hou sche bar hire al aboute,
1478 Ther whiles that hire lord was oute,
1479 He mihte make a gret avant
1480 Amonges al the remenant
1481 That sche was on of al the beste.
1482 Wel myhte he sette his herte in reste,
1483 This king, whan he hir fond in hele;
1484 For as he couthe in wisdom dele,
1485 So couthe sche in wommanhiede:
1486 And whan sche syh withoute drede
1487 Hire lord upon his oghne ground,
1488 That he was come sauf and sound,
1489 In al this world ne mihte be
1490 A gladdere womman than was sche.
1491 The fame, which mai noght ben hidd,
1492 Thurghout the lond is sone kidd,
1493 Here king is come hom ayein:
1494 Ther mai noman the fulle sein,
1495 Hou that thei weren alle glade,
1496 So mochel joie of him thei made.
1497 The presens every day be newed,
1498 He was with yiftes al besnewed;
1499 The poeple was of him so glad,
1500 That thogh non other man hem bad,
1501 Taillage upon hemself thei sette,
1502 And as it were of pure dette
1503 Thei yeve here goodes to the king:
1504 This was a glad hom welcomyng.
1505 Thus hath Uluxes what he wolde,
1506 His wif was such as sche be scholde,
1507 His poeple was to him sougit,
1508 Him lacketh nothing of delit.
1509 Bot fortune is of such a sleyhte,
1510 That whan a man is most on heyhte,
1511 Sche makth him rathest forto falle:
1512 Ther wot noman what schal befalle,
1513 The happes over mannes hed
1514 Ben honged with a tendre thred.
1515 That proved was on Uluxes;
1516 For whan he was most in his pes,
1517 Fortune gan to make him werre
1518 And sette his welthe al out of herre.
1519 Upon a dai as he was merie,
1520 As thogh ther mihte him nothing derie,
1521 Whan nyht was come, he goth to bedde,
1522 With slep and bothe his yhen fedde.
1523 And while he slepte, he mette a swevene:
1524 Him thoghte he syh a stature evene,
1525 Which brihtere than the sonne schon;
1526 A man it semeth was it non,
1527 Bot yit it was as in figure
1528 Most lich to mannyssh creature,
1529 Bot as of beaute hevenelich
1530 It was most to an Angel lich:
1531 And thus betwen angel and man
1532 Beholden it this king began,
1533 And such a lust tok of the sihte,
1534 That fain he wolde, if that he mihte,
1535 The forme of that figure embrace;
1536 And goth him forth toward the place,
1537 Wher he sih that ymage tho,
1538 And takth it in his Armes tuo,
1539 And it embraceth him ayein
1540 And to the king thus gan it sein:
1541 "Uluxes, understond wel this,
1542 The tokne of oure aqueintance is
1543 Hierafterward to mochel tene:
1544 The love that is ous betuene,
1545 Of that we nou such joie make,
1546 That on of ous the deth schal take,
1547 Whan time comth of destine;
1548 It may non other wise be."
1549 Uluxes tho began to preie
1550 That this figure wolde him seie
1551 What wyht he is that seith him so.
1552 This wyht upon a spere tho
1553 A pensel which was wel begon,
1554 Embrouded, scheweth him anon:
1555 Thre fisshes alle of o colour
1556 In manere as it were a tour
1557 Upon the pensel were wroght.
1558 Uluxes kneu this tokne noght,
1559 And preith to wite in som partie
1560 What thing it myhte signefie,
1561 "A signe it is," the wyht ansuerde,
1562 "Of an Empire:" and forth he ferde
1563 Al sodeinly, whan he that seide.
1564 Uluxes out of slep abreide,
1565 And that was riht ayein the day,
1566 That lengere slepen he ne may.
1567 Men sein, a man hath knowleching
1568 Save of himself of alle thing;
1569 His oghne chance noman knoweth,
1570 Bot as fortune it on him throweth:
1571 Was nevere yit so wys a clerk,
1572 Which mihte knowe al goddes werk,
1573 Ne the secret which god hath set
1574 Ayein a man mai noght be let.
1575 Uluxes, thogh that he be wys,
1576 With al his wit in his avis,
1577 The mor that he his swevene acompteth,
1578 The lasse he wot what it amonteth:
1579 For al his calculacion,
1580 He seth no demonstracion
1581 Al pleinly forto knowe an ende;
1582 Bot natheles hou so it wende,
1583 He dradde him of his oghne Sone.
1584 That makth him wel the more astone,
1585 And schop therfore anon withal,
1586 So that withinne castel wall
1587 Thelamachum his Sone he schette,
1588 And upon him strong warde he sette.
1589 The sothe furthere he ne knew,
1590 Til that fortune him overthreu;
1591 Bot natheles for sikernesse,
1592 Wher that he mihte wite and gesse
1593 A place strengest in his lond,
1594 Ther let he make of lym and sond
1595 A strengthe where he wolde duelle;
1596 Was nevere man yit herde telle
1597 Of such an other as it was.
1598 And forto strengthe him in that cas,
1599 Of al his lond the sekereste
1600 Of servantz and the worthieste,
1601 To kepen him withinne warde,
1602 He sette his bodi forto warde;
1603 And made such an ordinance,
1604 For love ne for aqueintance,
1605 That were it erly, were it late,
1606 Thei scholde lete in ate gate
1607 No maner man, what so betydde,
1608 Bot if so were himself it bidde.
1609 Bot al that myhte him noght availe,
1610 For whom fortune wole assaile,
1611 Ther mai be non such resistence,
1612 Which mihte make a man defence;
1613 Al that schal be mot falle algate.
1614 This Circes, which I spak of late,
1615 On whom Uluxes hath begete
1616 A child, thogh he it have foryete,
1617 Whan time com, as it was wone,
1618 Sche was delivered of a Sone,
1619 Which cleped is Thelogonus.
1620 This child, whan he was bore thus,
1621 Aboute his moder to ful age,
1622 That he can reson and langage,
1623 In good astat was drawe forth:
1624 And whan he was so mochel worth
1625 To stonden in a mannes stede,
1626 Circes his moder hath him bede
1627 That he schal to his fader go,
1628 And tolde him al togedre tho
1629 What man he was that him begat.
1630 And whan Thelogonus of that
1631 Was war and hath ful knowleching
1632 Hou that his fader was a king,
1633 He preith his moder faire this,
1634 To go wher that his fader is;
1635 And sche him granteth that he schal,
1636 And made him redi forth withal.
1637 It was that time such usance,
1638 That every man the conoiscance
1639 Of his contre bar in his hond,
1640 Whan he wente into strange lond;
1641 And thus was every man therfore
1642 Wel knowe, wher that he was bore:
1643 For espiaile and mistrowinges
1644 They dede thanne suche thinges,
1645 That every man mai other knowe.
1646 So it befell that ilke throwe
1647 Thelogonus as in this cas;
1648 Of his contre the signe was
1649 Thre fisshes, whiche he scholde bere
1650 Upon the penon of a spere:
1651 And whan that he was thus arraied
1652 And hath his harneis al assaied,
1653 That he was redy everydel,
1654 His moder bad him farewel,
1655 And seide him that he scholde swithe
1656 His fader griete a thousand sithe.
1657 Thelogonus his moder kiste
1658 And tok his leve, and wher he wiste
1659 His fader was, the weie nam,
1660 Til he unto Nachaie cam,
1661 Which of that lond the chief Cite
1662 Was cleped, and ther axeth he
1663 Wher was the king and hou he ferde.
1664 And whan that he the sothe herde,
1665 Wher that the king Uluxes was,
1666 Al one upon his hors gret pas
1667 He rod him forth, and in his hond
1668 He bar the signal of his lond
1669 With fisshes thre, as I have told;
1670 And thus he wente unto that hold,
1671 Wher that his oghne fader duelleth.
1672 The cause why he comth he telleth
1673 Unto the kepers of the gate,
1674 And wolde have comen in therate,
1675 Bot schortli thei him seide nay:
1676 And he als faire as evere he may
1677 Besoghte and tolde hem ofte this,
1678 Hou that the king his fader is;
1679 Bot they with proude wordes grete
1680 Begunne to manace and threte,
1681 Bot he go fro the gate faste,
1682 Thei wolde him take and sette faste.
1683 Fro wordes unto strokes thus
1684 Thei felle, and so Thelogonus
1685 Was sore hurt and welnyh ded;
1686 Bot with his scharpe speres hed
1687 He makth defence, hou so it falle,
1688 And wan the gate upon hem alle,
1689 And hath slain of the beste fyve;
1690 And thei ascriden als so blyve
1691 Thurghout the castell al aboute.
1692 On every syde men come oute,
1693 Wherof the kinges herte afflihte,
1694 And he with al the haste he mihte
1695 A spere cauhte and out he goth,
1696 As he that was nyh wod for wroth.
1697 He sih the gates ful of blod,
1698 Thelogonus and wher he stod
1699 He sih also, bot he ne knew
1700 What man it was, and to him threw
1701 His Spere, and he sterte out asyde.
1702 Bot destine, which schal betide,
1703 Befell that ilke time so,
1704 Thelogonus knew nothing tho
1705 What man it was that to him caste,
1706 And while his oghne spere laste,
1707 With al the signe therupon
1708 He caste unto the king anon,
1709 And smot him with a dedly wounde.
1710 Uluxes fell anon to grounde;
1711 Tho every man, "The king! the king!"
1712 Began to crie, and of this thing
1713 Thelogonus, which sih the cas,
1714 On knes he fell and seide, "Helas!
1715 I have min oghne fader slain:
1716 Nou wolde I deie wonder fain,
1717 Nou sle me who that evere wile,
1718 For certes it is right good skile."
1719 He crith, he wepth, he seith therfore,
1720 "Helas, that evere was I bore,
1721 That this unhappi destine
1722 So wofulli comth in be me!"
1723 This king, which yit hath lif ynouh,
1724 His herte ayein to him he drouh,
1725 And to that vois an Ere he leide
1726 And understod al that he seide,
1727 And gan to speke, and seide on hih,
1728 "Bring me this man." And whan he sih
1729 Thelogonus, his thoght he sette
1730 Upon the swevene which he mette,
1731 And axeth that he myhte se
1732 His spere, on which the fisshes thre
1733 He sih upon a pensel wroght.
1734 Tho wiste he wel it faileth noght,
1735 And badd him that he telle scholde
1736 Fro whenne he cam and what he wolde.
1737 Thelogonus in sorghe and wo
1738 So as he mihte tolde tho
1739 Unto Uluxes al the cas,
1740 Hou that Circes his moder was,
1741 And so forth seide him everydel,
1742 Hou that his moder gret him wel,
1743 And in what wise sche him sente.
1744 Tho wiste Uluxes what it mente,
1745 And tok him in hise Armes softe,
1746 And al bledende he kest him ofte,
1747 And seide, "Sone, whil I live,
1748 This infortune I thee foryive."
1749 After his other Sone in haste
1750 He sende, and he began him haste
1751 And cam unto his fader tyt.
1752 Bot whan he sih him in such plit,
1753 He wolde have ronne upon that other
1754 Anon, and slain his oghne brother,
1755 Ne hadde be that Uluxes
1756 Betwen hem made acord and pes,
1757 And to his heir Thelamachus
1758 He bad that he Thelogonus
1759 With al his pouer scholde kepe,
1760 Til he were of his woundes depe
1761 Al hol, and thanne he scholde him yive
1762 Lond wher upon he mihte live.
1763 Thelamachus, whan he this herde,
1764 Unto his fader he ansuerde
1765 And seide he wolde don his wille.
1766 So duelle thei togedre stille,
1767 These brethren, and the fader sterveth.
1768 Lo, wherof Sorcerie serveth.
1769 Thurgh Sorcerie his lust he wan,
1770 Thurgh Sorcerie his wo began,
1771 Thurgh Sorcerie his love he ches,
1772 Thurgh Sorcerie his lif he les;
1773 The child was gete in Sorcerie,
1774 The which dede al this felonie:
1775 Thing which was ayein kynde wroght
1776 Unkindeliche it was aboght;
1777 The child his oghne fader slowh,
1778 That was unkindeschipe ynowh.
1779 Forthi tak hiede hou that it is,
1780 So forto winne love amis,
1781 Which endeth al his joie in wo:
1782 For of this Art I finde also,
1783 That hath be do for loves sake,
1784 Wherof thou miht ensample take,
1785 A gret Cronique imperial,
1786 Which evere into memorial
1787 Among the men, hou so it wende,
1788 Schal duelle to the worldes ende.
1789 The hihe creatour of thinges,
1790 Which is the king of alle kinges,
1791 Ful many a wonder worldes chance
1792 Let slyden under his suffrance;
1793 Ther wot noman the cause why,
1794 Bot he the which is almyhty.
1795 And that was proved whilom thus,
1796 Whan that the king Nectanabus,
1797 Which hadde Egipte forto lede,-
1798 Bot for he sih tofor the dede
1799 Thurgh magique of his Sorcerie,
1800 Wherof he couthe a gret partie,
1801 Hise enemys to him comende,
1802 Fro whom he mihte him noght defende,
1803 Out of his oghne lond he fledde;
1804 And in the wise as he him dredde
1805 It fell, for al his wicchecraft,
1806 So that Egipte him was beraft,
1807 And he desguised fledde aweie
1808 Be schipe, and hield the rihte weie
1809 To Macedoine, wher that he
1810 Aryveth ate chief Cite.
1811 Thre yomen of his chambre there
1812 Al only forto serve him were,
1813 The whiche he trusteth wonder wel,
1814 For thei were trewe as eny stiel;
1815 And hapneth that thei with him ladde
1816 Part of the beste good he hadde.
1817 Thei take logginge in the toun
1818 After the disposicion
1819 Wher as him thoghte best to duelle:
1820 He axeth thanne and herde telle
1821 Hou that the king was oute go.
1822 Upon a werre he hadde tho;
1823 But in that Cite thanne was
1824 The queene, which Olimpias
1825 Was hote, and with sollempnete
1826 The feste of hir nativite,
1827 As it befell, was thanne holde;
1828 And for hire list to be beholde
1829 And preised of the poeple aboute,
1830 Sche schop hir forto riden oute
1831 At after mete al openly.
1832 Anon were alle men redy,
1833 And that was in the monthe of Maii,
1834 This lusti queene in good arrai
1835 Was set upon a Mule whyt:
1836 To sen it was a gret delit
1837 The joie that the cite made;
1838 With freisshe thinges and with glade
1839 The noble toun was al behonged,
1840 And every wiht was sore alonged
1841 To se this lusti ladi ryde.
1842 Ther was gret merthe on alle syde;
1843 Wher as sche passeth be the strete,
1844 Ther was ful many a tymber bete
1845 And many a maide carolende:
1846 And thus thurghout the toun pleiende
1847 This queene unto a pleine rod,
1848 Wher that sche hoved and abod
1849 To se diverse game pleie,
1850 The lusti folk jouste and tourneie;
1851 And so forth every other man,
1852 Which pleie couthe, his pley began,
1853 To plese with this noble queene.
1854 Nectanabus cam to the grene
1855 Amonges othre and drouh him nyh.
1856 Bot whan that he this ladi sih
1857 And of hir beaute hiede tok,
1858 He couthe noght withdrawe his lok
1859 To se noght elles in the field,
1860 Bot stod and only hire behield.
1861 Of his clothinge and of his gere
1862 He was unlich alle othre there,
1863 So that it hapneth ate laste,
1864 The queene on him hire yhe caste,
1865 And knew that he was strange anon:
1866 Bot he behield hire evere in on
1867 Withoute blenchinge of his chere.
1868 Sche tok good hiede of his manere,
1869 And wondreth why he dede so,
1870 And bad men scholde for him go.
1871 He cam and dede hire reverence,
1872 And sche him axeth in cilence
1873 For whenne he cam and what he wolde.
1874 And he with sobre wordes tolde,
1875 And seith, "Ma dame, a clerk I am,
1876 To you and in message I cam,
1877 The which I mai noght tellen hiere;
1878 Bot if it liketh you to hiere,
1879 It mot be seid al prively,
1880 Wher non schal be bot ye and I."
1881 Thus for the time he tok his leve.
1882 The dai goth forth til it was eve,
1883 That every man mot lete his werk;
1884 And sche thoghte evere upon this clerk,
1885 What thing it is he wolde mene:
1886 And in this wise abod the queene,
1887 And passeth over thilke nyht,
1888 Til it was on the morwe liht.
1889 Sche sende for him, and he com,
1890 With him his Astellabre he nom,
1891 Which was of fin gold precious
1892 With pointz and cercles merveilous;
1893 And ek the hevenely figures
1894 Wroght in a bok ful of peintures
1895 He tok this ladi forto schewe,
1896 And tolde of ech of hem be rewe
1897 The cours and the condicion.
1898 And sche with gret affeccion
1899 Sat stille and herde what he wolde:
1900 And thus whan he sih time, he tolde,
1901 And feigneth with hise wordes wise
1902 A tale, and seith in such a wise:
1903 "Ma dame, bot a while ago,
1904 Wher I was in Egipte tho,
1905 And radde in scole of this science,
1906 It fell into mi conscience
1907 That I unto the temple wente,
1908 And ther with al myn hole entente
1909 As I mi sacrifice dede,
1910 On of the goddes hath me bede
1911 That I you warne prively,
1912 So that ye make you redy,
1913 And that ye be nothing agast;
1914 For he such love hath to you cast,
1915 That ye schul ben his oghne diere,
1916 And he schal be your beddefiere,
1917 Til ye conceive and be with childe."
1918 And with that word sche wax al mylde,
1919 And somdel red becam for schame,
1920 And axeth him that goddes name,
1921 Which so wol don hire compainie.
1922 And he seide, "Amos of Lubie."
1923 And sche seith, "That mai I noght lieve,
1924 Bot if I sihe a betre prieve."
1925 "Ma dame," quod Nectanabus,
1926 "In tokne that it schal be thus,
1927 This nyht for enformacion
1928 Ye schul have an avision:
1929 That Amos schal to you appiere,
1930 To schewe and teche in what manere
1931 The thing schal afterward befalle.
1932 Ye oghten wel above alle
1933 To make joie of such a lord;
1934 For whan ye ben of on acord,
1935 He schal a Sone of you begete,
1936 Which with his swerd schal winne and gete
1937 The wyde world in lengthe and brede;
1938 Alle erthli kinges schull him drede,
1939 And in such wise, I you behote,
1940 The god of erthe he schal be hote."
1941 "If this be soth," tho quod the queene,
1942 "This nyht, thou seist, it schal be sene.
1943 And if it falle into mi grace,
1944 Of god Amos, that I pourchace
1945 To take of him so gret worschipe,
1946 I wol do thee such ladischipe,
1947 Wherof thou schalt for everemo
1948 Be riche." And he hir thonketh tho,
1949 And tok his leve and forth he wente.
1950 Sche wiste litel what he mente,
1951 For it was guile and Sorcerie,
1952 Al that sche tok for Prophecie.
1953 Nectanabus thurghout the day,
1954 Whan he cam hom wher as he lay,
1955 His chambre be himselve tok,
1956 And overtorneth many a bok,
1957 And thurgh the craft of Artemage
1958 Of wex he forgeth an ymage.
1959 He loketh his equacions
1960 And ek the constellacions,
1961 He loketh the conjunccions,
1962 He loketh the recepcions,
1963 His signe, his houre, his ascendent,
1964 And drawth fortune of his assent:
1965 The name of queene Olimpias
1966 In thilke ymage write was
1967 Amiddes in the front above.
1968 And thus to winne his lust of love
1969 Nectanabus this werk hath diht;
1970 And whan it cam withinne nyht,
1971 That every wyht is falle aslepe,
1972 He thoghte he wolde his time kepe,
1973 As he which hath his houre apointed.
1974 And thanne ferst he hath enoignted
1975 With sondri herbes that figure,
1976 And therupon he gan conjure,
1977 So that thurgh his enchantement
1978 This ladi, which was innocent
1979 And wiste nothing of this guile,
1980 Mette, as sche slepte thilke while,
1981 Hou fro the hevene cam a lyht,
1982 Which al hir chambre made lyht;
1983 And as sche loketh to and fro,
1984 Sche sih, hir thoghte, a dragoun tho,
1985 Whos scherdes schynen as the Sonne,
1986 And hath his softe pas begonne
1987 With al the chiere that he may
1988 Toward the bedd ther as sche lay,
1989 Til he cam to the beddes side.
1990 And sche lai stille and nothing cride,
1991 For he dede alle his thinges faire
1992 And was courteis and debonaire:
1993 And as he stod hire fasteby,
1994 His forme he changeth sodeinly,
1995 And the figure of man he nom,
1996 To hire and into bedde he com,
1997 And such thing there of love he wroghte,
1998 Wherof, so as hire thanne thoghte,
1999 Thurgh likinge of this god Amos
2000 With childe anon hire wombe aros,
2001 And sche was wonder glad withal.
2002 Nectanabus, which causeth al
2003 Of this metrede the substance,
2004 Whan he sih time, his nigromance
2005 He stinte and nothing more seide
2006 Of his carecte, and sche abreide
2007 Out of hir slep, and lieveth wel
2008 That it is soth thanne everydel
2009 Of that this clerk hire hadde told,
2010 And was the gladdere manyfold
2011 In hope of such a glad metrede,
2012 Which after schal befalle in dede.
2013 Sche longeth sore after the dai,
2014 That sche hir swevene telle mai
2015 To this guilour in privete,
2016 Which kneu it als so wel as sche:
2017 And natheles on morwe sone
2018 Sche lefte alle other thing to done,
2019 And for him sende, and al the cas
2020 Sche tolde him pleinly as it was,
2021 And seide hou thanne wel sche wiste
2022 That sche his wordes mihte triste,
2023 For sche fond hire Avisioun
2024 Riht after the condicion
2025 Which he hire hadde told tofore;
2026 And preide him hertely therfore
2027 That he hire holde covenant
2028 So forth of al the remenant,
2029 That sche may thurgh his ordinance
2030 Toward the god do such plesance,
2031 That sche wakende myhte him kepe
2032 In such wise as sche mette aslepe.
2033 And he, that couthe of guile ynouh,
2034 Whan he this herde, of joie he louh,
2035 And seith, "Ma dame, it schal be do.
2036 Bot this I warne you therto:
2037 This nyht, whan that he comth to pleie,
2038 That ther be no lif in the weie
2039 Bot I, that schal at his likinge
2040 Ordeine so for his cominge,
2041 That ye ne schull noght of him faile.
2042 For this, ma dame, I you consaile,
2043 That ye it kepe so prive,
2044 That no wiht elles bot we thre
2045 Have knowlechinge hou that it is;
2046 For elles mihte it fare amis,
2047 If ye dede oght that scholde him grieve."
2048 And thus he makth hire to believe,
2049 And feigneth under guile feith:
2050 Bot natheles al that he seith
2051 Sche troweth; and ayein the nyht
2052 Sche hath withinne hire chambre dyht,
2053 Wher as this guilour faste by
2054 Upon this god schal prively
2055 Awaite, as he makth hire to wene:
2056 And thus this noble gentil queene,
2057 Whan sche most trusteth, was deceived.
2058 The nyht com, and the chambre is weyved,
2059 Nectanabus hath take his place,
2060 And whan he sih the time and space,
2061 Thurgh the deceipte of his magique
2062 He putte him out of mannes like,
2063 And of a dragoun tok the forme,
2064 As he which wolde him al conforme
2065 To that sche sih in swevene er this;
2066 And thus to chambre come he is.
2067 The queene lay abedde and sih,
2068 And hopeth evere, as he com nyh,
2069 That he god of Lubye were,
2070 So hath sche wel the lasse fere.
2071 Bot for he wolde hire more assure,
2072 Yit eft he changeth his figure,
2073 And of a wether the liknesse
2074 He tok, in signe of his noblesse
2075 With large hornes for the nones:
2076 Of fin gold and of riche stones
2077 A corone on his hed he bar,
2078 And soudeinly, er sche was war,
2079 As he which alle guile can,
2080 His forme he torneth into man,
2081 And cam to bedde, and sche lai stille,
2082 Wher as sche soffreth al his wille,
2083 As sche which wende noght misdo.
2084 Bot natheles it hapneth so,
2085 Althogh sche were in part deceived,
2086 Yit for al that sche hath conceived
2087 The worthieste of alle kiththe,
2088 Which evere was tofore or siththe
2089 Of conqueste and chivalerie;
2090 So that thurgh guile and Sorcerie
2091 Ther was that noble knyht begunne,
2092 Which al the world hath after wunne.
2093 Thus fell the thing which falle scholde,
2094 Nectanabus hath that he wolde;
2095 With guile he hath his love sped,
2096 With guile he cam into the bed,
2097 With guile he goth him out ayein:
2098 He was a schrewed chamberlein,
2099 So to beguile a worthi queene,
2100 And that on him was after seene.
2101 Bot natheles the thing is do;
2102 This false god was sone go,
2103 With his deceipte and hield him clos,
2104 Til morwe cam, that he aros.
2105 And tho, whan time and leisir was,
2106 The queene tolde him al the cas,
2107 As sche that guile non supposeth;
2108 And of tuo pointz sche him opposeth.
2109 On was, if that this god nomore
2110 Wol come ayein, and overmore,
2111 Hou sche schal stonden in acord
2112 With king Philippe hire oghne lord,
2113 Whan he comth hom and seth hire grone.
2114 "Ma dame," he seith, "let me alone:
2115 As for the god I undertake
2116 That whan it liketh you to take
2117 His compaignie at eny throwe,
2118 If I a day tofore it knowe,
2119 He schal be with you on the nyht;
2120 And he is wel of such a myht
2121 To kepe you from alle blame.
2122 Forthi conforte you, ma dame,
2123 Ther schal non other cause be."
2124 Thus tok he leve and forth goth he,
2125 And tho began he forto muse
2126 Hou he the queene mihte excuse
2127 Toward the king of that is falle;
2128 And fond a craft amonges alle,
2129 Thurgh which he hath a See foul daunted,
2130 With his magique and so enchaunted,
2131 That he flyh forth, whan it was nyht,
2132 Unto the kinges tente riht,
2133 Wher that he lay amidde his host:
2134 And whanne he was aslepe most,
2135 With that the See foul to him broghte
2136 And othre charmes, whiche he wroghte
2137 At hom withinne his chambre stille,
2138 The king he torneth at his wille,
2139 And makth him forto dreme and se
2140 The dragoun and the privete
2141 Which was betuen him and the queene.
2142 And over that he made him wene
2143 In swevene, hou that the god Amos,
2144 Whan he up fro the queene aros,
2145 Tok forth a ring, wherinne a ston
2146 Was set, and grave therupon
2147 A Sonne, in which, whan he cam nyh,
2148 A leoun with a swerd he sih;
2149 And with that priente, as he tho mette,
2150 Upon the queenes wombe he sette
2151 A Seal, and goth him forth his weie.
2152 With that the swevene wente aweie,
2153 And tho began the king awake
2154 And sigheth for his wyves sake,
2155 Wher as he lay withinne his tente,
2156 And hath gret wonder what it mente.
2157 With that he hasteth him to ryse
2158 Anon, and sende after the wise,
2159 Among the whiche ther was on,
2160 A clerc, his name is Amphion:
2161 Whan he the kinges swevene herde,
2162 What it betokneth he ansuerde,
2163 And seith, "So siker as the lif,
2164 A god hath leie be thi wif,
2165 And gete a Sone, which schal winne
2166 The world and al that is withinne.
2167 As leon is the king of bestes,
2168 So schal the world obeie his hestes,
2169 Which with his swerd schal al be wonne,
2170 Als ferr as schyneth eny Sonne."
2171 The king was doubtif of this dom;
2172 Bot natheles, whan that he com
2173 Ayein into his oghne lond,
2174 His wif with childe gret he fond.
2175 He mihte noght himselve stiere,
2176 That he ne made hire hevy chiere;
2177 Bot he which couthe of alle sorwe,
2178 Nectanabus, upon the morwe
2179 Thurgh the deceipte and nigromance
2180 Tok of a dragoun the semblance,
2181 And wher the king sat in his halle,
2182 Com in rampende among hem alle
2183 With such a noise and such a rore,
2184 That thei agast were also sore
2185 As thogh thei scholde deie anon.
2186 And natheles he grieveth non,
2187 Bot goth toward the deyss on hih;
2188 And whan he cam the queene nyh,
2189 He stinte his noise, and in his wise
2190 To hire he profreth his servise,
2191 And leith his hed upon hire barm;
2192 And sche with goodly chiere hire arm
2193 Aboute his necke ayeinward leide,
2194 And thus the queene with him pleide
2195 In sihte of alle men aboute.
2196 And ate laste he gan to loute
2197 And obeissance unto hire make,
2198 As he that wolde his leve take;
2199 And sodeinly his lothly forme
2200 Into an Egle he gan transforme,
2201 And flyh and sette him on a raile;
2202 Wherof the king hath gret mervaile,
2203 For there he pruneth him and piketh,
2204 As doth an hauk whan him wel liketh,
2205 And after that himself he schok,
2206 Wherof that al the halle quok,
2207 As it a terremote were;
2208 Thei seiden alle, god was there:
2209 In such a res and forth he flyh.
2210 The king, which al this wonder syh,
2211 Whan he cam to his chambre alone,
2212 Unto the queene he made his mone
2213 And of foryivenesse hir preide;
2214 For thanne he knew wel, as he seide,
2215 Sche was with childe with a godd.
2216 Thus was the king withoute rodd
2217 Chastised, and the queene excused
2218 Of that sche hadde ben accused.
2219 And for the gretere evidence,
2220 Yit after that in the presence
2221 Of king Philipp and othre mo,
2222 Whan thei ride in the fieldes tho,
2223 A Phesant cam before here yhe,
2224 The which anon as thei hire syhe,
2225 Fleende let an ey doun falle,
2226 And it tobrak tofore hem alle:
2227 And as thei token therof kepe,
2228 Thei syhe out of the schelle crepe
2229 A litel Serpent on the ground,
2230 Which rampeth al aboute round,
2231 And in ayein it wolde have wonne,
2232 Bot for the brennynge of the Sonne
2233 It mihte noght, and so it deide.
2234 And therupon the clerkes seide,
2235 "As the Serpent, whan it was oute,
2236 Went enviroun the schelle aboute
2237 And mihte noght torne in ayein,
2238 So schal it fallen in certein:
2239 This child the world schal environe,
2240 And above alle the corone
2241 Him schal befalle, and in yong Age
2242 He schal desire in his corage,
2243 Whan al the world is in his hond,
2244 To torn ayein into the lond
2245 Wher he was bore, and in his weie
2246 Homward he schal with puison deie."
2247 The king, which al this sih and herde,
2248 Fro that dai forth, hou so it ferde,
2249 His jalousie hath al foryete.
2250 Bot he which hath the child begete,
2251 Nectanabus, in privete
2252 The time of his nativite
2253 Upon the constellacioun
2254 Awaiteth, and relacion
2255 Makth to the queene hou sche schal do,
2256 And every houre apointeth so,
2257 That no mynut therof was lore.
2258 So that in due time is bore
2259 This child, and forth with therupon
2260 Ther felle wondres many on
2261 Of terremote universiel:
2262 The Sonne tok colour of stiel
2263 And loste his lyht, the wyndes blewe,
2264 And manye strengthes overthrewe;
2265 The See his propre kinde changeth,
2266 And al the world his forme strangeth;
2267 The thonder with his fyri levene
2268 So cruel was upon the hevene,
2269 That every erthli creature
2270 Tho thoghte his lif in aventure.
2271 The tempeste ate laste cesseth,
2272 The child is kept, his age encresseth,
2273 And Alisandre his name is hote,
2274 To whom Calistre and Aristote
2275 To techen him Philosophie
2276 Entenden, and Astronomie,
2277 With othre thinges whiche he couthe
2278 Also, to teche him in his youthe
2279 Nectanabus tok upon honde.
2280 Bot every man mai understonde,
2281 Of Sorcerie hou that it wende,
2282 It wole himselve prove at ende,
2283 And namely forto beguile
2284 A lady, which withoute guile
2285 Supposeth trouthe al that sche hiereth:
2286 Bot often he that evele stiereth
2287 His Schip is dreynt therinne amidde;
2288 And in this cas riht so betidde.
2289 Nectanabus upon a nyht,
2290 Whan it was fair and sterre lyht,
2291 This yonge lord ladde up on hih
2292 Above a tour, wher as he sih
2293 Thee sterres such as he acompteth,
2294 And seith what ech of hem amonteth,
2295 As thogh he knewe of alle thing;
2296 Bot yit hath he no knowleching
2297 What schal unto himself befalle.
2298 Whan he hath told his wordes alle,
2299 This yonge lord thanne him opposeth,
2300 And axeth if that he supposeth
2301 What deth he schal himselve deie.
2302 He seith, "Or fortune is aweie
2303 And every sterre hath lost his wone,
2304 Or elles of myn oghne Sone
2305 I schal be slain, I mai noght fle."
2306 Thoghte Alisandre in privete,
2307 "Hierof this olde dotard lieth":
2308 And er that other oght aspieth,
2309 Al sodeinliche his olde bones
2310 He schof over the wal at ones,
2311 And seith him, "Ly doun there apart:
2312 Wherof nou serveth al thin art?
2313 Thou knewe alle othre mennes chance
2314 And of thiself hast ignorance:
2315 That thou hast seid amonges alle
2316 Of thi persone, is noght befalle."
2317 Nectanabus, which hath his deth,
2318 Yit while him lasteth lif and breth,
2319 To Alisandre he spak and seide
2320 That he with wrong blame on him leide
2321 Fro point to point and al the cas
2322 He tolde, hou he his Sone was.
2323 Tho he, which sory was ynowh,
2324 Out of the dich his fader drouh,
2325 And tolde his moder hou it ferde
2326 In conseil; and whan sche it herde
2327 And kneu the toknes whiche he tolde,
2328 Sche nyste what sche seie scholde,
2329 Bot stod abayssht as for the while
2330 Of his magique and al the guile.
2331 Sche thoghte hou that sche was deceived,
2332 That sche hath of a man conceived,
2333 And wende a god it hadde be.
2334 Bot natheles in such degre,
2335 So as sche mihte hire honour save,
2336 Sche schop the body was begrave.
2337 And thus Nectanabus aboghte
2338 The Sorcerie which he wroghte:
2339 Thogh he upon the creatures
2340 Thurgh his carectes and figures
2341 The maistrie and the pouer hadde,
2342 His creatour to noght him ladde,
2343 Ayein whos lawe his craft he useth,
2344 Whan he for lust his god refuseth,
2345 And tok him to the dieules craft.
2346 Lo, what profit him is belaft:
2347 That thing thurgh which he wende have stonde,
2348 Ferst him exilede out of londe
2349 Which was his oghne, and from a king
2350 Made him to ben an underling;
2351 And siththen to deceive a queene,
2352 That torneth him to mochel teene;
2353 Thurgh lust of love he gat him hate,
2354 That ende couthe he noght abate.
2355 His olde sleyhtes whiche he caste,
2356 Yonge Alisaundre hem overcaste,
2357 His fader, which him misbegat,
2358 He slouh, a gret mishap was that;
2359 Bot for o mis an other mys
2360 Was yolde, and so fulofte it is;
2361 Nectanabus his craft miswente,
2362 So it misfell him er he wente.
2363 I not what helpeth that clergie
2364 Which makth a man to do folie,
2365 And nameliche of nigromance,
2366 Which stant upon the mescreance.
2367 And forto se more evidence,
2368 Zorastes, which thexperience
2369 Of Art magique ferst forth drouh,
2370 Anon as he was bore, he louh,
2371 Which tokne was of wo suinge:
2372 For of his oghne controvinge
2373 He fond magique and tauhte it forth;
2374 Bot al that was him litel worth,
2375 For of Surrie a worthi king
2376 Him slou, and that was his endyng.
2377 Bot yit thurgh him this craft is used,
2378 And he thurgh al the world accused,
2379 For it schal nevere wel achieve
2380 That stant noght riht with the believe:
2381 Bot lich to wolle is evele sponne,
2382 Who lest himself hath litel wonne,
2383 An ende proveth every thing.
2384 Sal, which was of Juys king,
2385 Up peine of deth forbad this art,
2386 And yit he tok therof his part.
2387 The Phitonesse in Samarie
2388 Yaf him conseil be Sorcerie,
2389 Which after fell to mochel sorwe,
2390 For he was slain upon the morwe.
2391 To conne moche thing it helpeth,
2392 Bot of to mochel noman yelpeth:
2393 So forto loke on every side,
2394 Magique mai noght wel betyde.
2395 Forthi, my Sone, I wolde rede
2396 That thou of these ensamples drede,
2397 That for no lust of erthli love
2398 Thou seche so to come above,
2399 Wherof as in the worldes wonder
2400 Thou schalt for evere be put under.
2401 Mi goode fader, grant mercy,
2402 For evere I schal be war therby:
2403 Of love what me so befalle,
2404 Such Sorcerie aboven alle
2405 Fro this dai forth I schal eschuie,
2406 That so ne wol I noght poursuie
2407 Mi lust of love forto seche.
2408 Bot this I wolde you beseche,
2409 Beside that me stant of love,
2410 As I you herde speke above
2411 Hou Alisandre was betawht
2412 To Aristotle, and so wel tawht
2413 Of al that to a king belongeth,
2414 Wherof min herte sore longeth
2415 To wite what it wolde mene.
2416 For be reson I wolde wene
2417 That if I herde of thinges strange,
2418 Yit for a time it scholde change
2419 Mi peine, and lisse me somdiel.
2420 Mi goode Sone, thou seist wel.
2421 For wisdom, hou that evere it stonde,
2422 To him that can it understonde
2423 Doth gret profit in sondri wise;
2424 Bot touchende of so hih aprise,
2425 Which is noght unto Venus knowe,
2426 I mai it noght miselve knowe,
2427 Which of hir court am al forthdrawe
2428 And can nothing bot of hir lawe.
2429 Bot natheles to knowe more
2430 Als wel as thou me longeth sore;
2431 And for it helpeth to comune,
2432 Al ben thei noght to me comune,
2433 The scoles of Philosophie,
2434 Yit thenke I forto specefie,
2435 In boke as it is comprehended,
2436 Wherof thou mihtest ben amended.
2437 For thogh I be noght al cunnynge
2438 Upon the forme of this wrytynge,
2439 Som part therof yit have I herd,
2440 In this matiere hou it hath ferd.
Explicit Liber Sextus
