Confessio Amantis
or
Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins
Incipit Liber Quartus: Part 2
Online Medieval and Classical Library Release
#4
1882 Bot he, which hadde his herte fyred
1883 Upon his wif, whan he this herde,
1884 Noght o word therayein ansuerde,
1885 Bot torneth hom halvinge aschamed,
1886 And hath withinne himself so tamed
1887 His herte, that al the sotie
1888 Of love for chivalerie
1889 He lefte, and be him lief or loth,
1890 To Troie forth with hem he goth,
1891 That he him mihte noght excuse.
1892 Thus stant it, if a knyht refuse
1893 The lust of armes to travaile,
1894 Ther mai no worldes ese availe,
1895 Bot if worschipe be with al.
1896 And that hath schewed overal;
1897 For it sit wel in alle wise
1898 A kniht to ben of hih emprise
1899 And puten alle drede aweie;
1900 For in this wise, I have herd seie,
1901 The worthi king Protheselai
1902 On his passage wher he lai
1903 Towardes Troie thilke Siege,
1904 Sche which was al his oghne liege,
1905 Laodomie his lusti wif,
1906 Which for his love was pensif,
1907 As he which al hire herte hadde,
1908 Upon a thing wherof sche dradde
1909 A lettre, forto make him duelle
1910 Fro Troie, sende him, thus to telle,
1911 Hou sche hath axed of the wyse
1912 Touchende of him in such a wise,
1913 That thei have don hire understonde,
1914 Towardes othre hou so it stonde,
1915 The destine it hath so schape
1916 That he schal noght the deth ascape
1917 In cas that he arryve at Troie.
1918 Forthi as to hir worldes joie
1919 With al hire herte sche him preide,
1920 And many an other cause alleide,
1921 That he with hire at home abide.
1922 Bot he hath cast hir lettre aside,
1923 As he which tho no maner hiede
1924 Tok of hire wommannysshe drede;
1925 And forth he goth, as noght ne were,
1926 To Troie, and was the ferste there
1927 Which londeth, and tok arryvaile:
1928 For him was levere in the bataille,
1929 He seith, to deien as a knyht,
1930 Than forto lyve in al his myht
1931 And be reproeved of his name.
1932 Lo, thus upon the worldes fame
1933 Knyhthode hath evere yit be set,
1934 Which with no couardie is let.
1935 Of king Sal also I finde,
1936 Whan Samuel out of his kinde,
1937 Thurgh that the Phitonesse hath lered,
1938 In Samarie was arered
1939 Long time after that he was ded,
1940 The king Sal him axeth red,
1941 If that he schal go fyhte or non.
1942 And Samuel him seide anon,
1943 "The ferste day of the bataille
1944 Thou schalt be slain withoute faile
1945 And Jonathas thi Sone also."
1946 Bot hou as evere it felle so,
1947 This worthi kniht of his corage
1948 Hath undertake the viage,
1949 And wol noght his knyhthode lette
1950 For no peril he couthe sette;
1951 Wherof that bothe his Sone and he
1952 Upon the Montz of Gelboe5
1953 Assemblen with here enemys:
1954 For thei knyhthode of such a pris
1955 Be olde daies thanne hielden,
1956 That thei non other thing behielden.
1957 And thus the fader for worschipe
1958 Forth with his Sone of felaschipe
1959 Thurgh lust of armes weren dede,
1960 As men mai in the bible rede;
1961 The whos knyhthode is yit in mende,
1962 And schal be to the worldes ende.
1963 And forto loken overmore,
1964 It hath and schal ben evermore
1965 That of knihthode the prouesse
1966 Is grounded upon hardinesse
1967 Of him that dar wel undertake.
1968 And who that wolde ensample take
1969 Upon the forme of knyhtes lawe,
1970 How that Achilles was forthdrawe
1971 With Chiro, which Centaurus hihte,
1972 Of many a wondre hiere he mihte.
1973 For it stod thilke time thus,
1974 That this Chiro, this Centaurus,
1975 Withinne a large wildernesse,
1976 Wher was Leon and Leonesse,
1977 The Lepard and the Tigre also,
1978 With Hert and Hynde, and buck and doo,
1979 Hadde his duellinge, as tho befell,
1980 Of Pileon upon the hel,
1981 Wherof was thanne mochel speche.
1982 Ther hath Chiro this Chyld to teche,
1983 What time he was of tuelve yer age;
1984 Wher forto maken his corage
1985 The more hardi be other weie,
1986 In the forest to hunte and pleie
1987 Whan that Achilles walke wolde,
1988 Centaurus bad that he ne scholde
1989 After no beste make his chace,
1990 Which wolde flen out of his place,
1991 As buck and doo and hert and hynde,
1992 With whiche he mai no werre finde;
1993 Bot tho that wolden him withstonde,
1994 Ther scholde he with his Dart on honde
1995 Upon the Tigre and the Leon
1996 Pourchace and take his veneison,
1997 As to a kniht is acordant.
1998 And therupon a covenant
1999 This Chiro with Achilles sette,
2000 That every day withoute lette
2001 He scholde such a cruel beste
2002 Or slen or wounden ate leste,
2003 So that he mihte a tokne bringe
2004 Of blod upon his hom cominge.
2005 And thus of that Chiro him tawhte
2006 Achilles such an herte cawhte,
2007 That he nomore a Leon dradde,
2008 Whan he his Dart on honde hadde,
2009 Thanne if a Leon were an asse:
2010 And that hath mad him forto passe
2011 Alle othre knihtes of his dede,
2012 Whan it cam to the grete nede,
2013 As it was afterward wel knowe.
2014 Lo, thus, my Sone, thou miht knowe
2015 That the corage of hardiesce
2016 Is of knyhthode the prouesce,
2017 Which is to love sufficant
2018 Aboven al the remenant
2019 That unto loves court poursuie.
2020 Bot who that wol no Slowthe eschuie,
2021 Upon knihthode and noght travaile,
2022 I not what love him scholde availe;
2023 Bot every labour axeth why
2024 Of som reward, wherof that I
2025 Ensamples couthe telle ynowe
2026 Of hem that toward love drowe
2027 Be olde daies, as thei scholde.
2028 Mi fader, therof hiere I wolde.
2029 Mi Sone, it is wel resonable,
2030 In place which is honorable
2031 If that a man his herte sette,
2032 That thanne he for no Slowthe lette
2033 To do what longeth to manhede.
2034 For if thou wolt the bokes rede
2035 Of Lancelot and othre mo,
2036 Ther miht thou sen hou it was tho
2037 Of armes, for thei wolde atteigne
2038 To love, which withoute peine
2039 Mai noght be gete of ydelnesse.
2040 And that I take to witnesse
2041 An old Cronique in special,
2042 The which into memorial
2043 Is write, for his loves sake
2044 Hou that a kniht schal undertake.
2045 Ther was a king, which Oe5nes
2046 Was hote, and he under his pes
2047 Hield Calidoyne in his Empire,
2048 And hadde a dowhter Deianire.
2049 Men wiste in thilke time non
2050 So fair a wiht as sche was on;
2051 And as sche was a lusti wiht,
2052 Riht so was thanne a noble kniht,
2053 To whom Mercurie fader was.
2054 This kniht the tuo pilers of bras,
2055 The whiche yit a man mai finde,
2056 Sette up in the desert of Ynde;
2057 That was the worthi Hercules,
2058 Whos name schal ben endeles
2059 For the merveilles whiche he wroghte.
2060 This Hercules the love soghte
2061 Of Deianire, and of this thing
2062 Unto hir fader, which was king,
2063 He spak touchende of Mariage.
2064 The king knowende his hih lignage,
2065 And dradde also hise mihtes sterne,
2066 To him ne dorste his dowhter werne;
2067 And natheles this he him seide,
2068 How Achelons er he ferst preide
2069 To wedden hire, and in accord
2070 Thei stode, as it was of record:
2071 Bot for al that this he him granteth,
2072 That which of hem that other daunteth
2073 In armes, him sche scholde take,
2074 And that the king hath undertake.
2075 This Achelons was a Geant,
2076 A soubtil man, a deceivant,
2077 Which thurgh magique and sorcerie
2078 Couthe al the world of tricherie:
2079 And whan that he this tale herde,
2080 Hou upon that the king ansuerde
2081 With Hercules he moste feighte,
2082 He tristeth noght upon his sleighte
2083 Al only, whan it comth to nede,
2084 Bot that which voydeth alle drede
2085 And every noble herte stereth,
2086 The love, that no lif forbereth,
2087 For his ladi, whom he desireth,
2088 With hardiesse his herte fyreth,
2089 And sende him word withoute faile
2090 That he wol take the bataille.
2091 Thei setten day, they chosen field,
2092 The knihtes coevered under Schield
2093 Togedre come at time set,
2094 And echon is with other met.
2095 It fell thei foghten bothe afote,
2096 Ther was no ston, ther was no rote,
2097 Which mihte letten hem the weie,
2098 But al was voide and take aweie.
2099 Thei smyten strokes bot a fewe,
2100 For Hercules, which wolde schewe
2101 His grete strengthe as for the nones,
2102 He sterte upon him al at ones
2103 And cawhte him in hise armes stronge.
2104 This Geant wot he mai noght longe
2105 Endure under so harde bondes,
2106 And thoghte he wolde out of hise hondes
2107 Be sleyhte in som manere ascape.
2108 And as he couthe himself forschape,
2109 In liknesse of an Eddre he slipte
2110 Out of his hond, and forth he skipte;
2111 And efte, as he that feighte wole,
2112 He torneth him into a Bole,
2113 And gan to belwe of such a soun,
2114 As thogh the world scholde al go doun:
2115 The ground he sporneth and he tranceth,
2116 Hise large hornes he avanceth
2117 And caste hem here and there aboute.
2118 Bot he, which stant of him no doute,
2119 Awaiteth wel whan that he cam,
2120 And him be bothe hornes nam
2121 And al at ones he him caste
2122 Unto the ground, and hield him faste,
2123 That he ne mihte with no sleighte
2124 Out of his hond gete upon heighte,
2125 Til he was overcome and yolde,
2126 And Hercules hath what he wolde.
2127 The king him granteth to fulfille
2128 His axinge at his oghne wille,
2129 And sche for whom he hadde served,
2130 Hire thoghte he hath hire wel deserved.
2131 And thus with gret decerte of Armes
2132 He wan him forto ligge in armes,
2133 As he which hath it dere aboght,
2134 For otherwise scholde he noght.
2135 And overthis if thou wolt hiere
2136 Upon knihthode of this matiere,
2137 Hou love and armes ben aqueinted,
2138 A man mai se bothe write and peinted
2139 So ferforth that Pantasilee,
2140 Which was the queene of Feminee,
2141 The love of Hector forto sieke
2142 And for thonour of armes eke,
2143 To Troie cam with Spere and Schield,
2144 And rod hirself into the field
2145 With Maidens armed al a route
2146 In rescouss of the toun aboute,
2147 Which with the Gregois was belein.
2148 Fro Pafagoine and as men sein,
2149 Which stant upon the worldes ende,
2150 That time it likede ek to wende
2151 To Philemenis, which was king,
2152 To Troie, and come upon this thing
2153 In helpe of thilke noble toun;
2154 And al was that for the renoun
2155 Of worschipe and of worldes fame,
2156 Of which he wolde bere a name:
2157 And so he dede, and forth withal
2158 He wan of love in special
2159 A fair tribut for everemo.
2160 For it fell thilke time so;
2161 Pirrus the Sone of Achilles
2162 This worthi queene among the press
2163 With dedli swerd soghte out and fond,
2164 And slowh hire with his oghne hond;
2165 Wherof this king of Pafagoine
2166 Pantasilee of Amazoine,
2167 Wher sche was queene, with him ladde,
2168 With suche Maidens as sche hadde
2169 Of hem that were left alyve,
2170 Forth in his Schip, til thei aryve;
2171 Wher that the body was begrave
2172 With worschipe, and the wommen save.
2173 And for the goodschipe of this dede
2174 Thei granten him a lusti mede,
2175 That every yeer as for truage
2176 To him and to his heritage
2177 Of Maidens faire he schal have thre.
2178 And in this wise spedde he,
2179 Which the fortune of armes soghte,
2180 With his travail his ese he boghte;
2181 For otherwise he scholde have failed,
2182 If that he hadde noght travailed.
2183 Eneas ek withinne Ytaile,
2184 Ne hadde he wonne the bataille
2185 And don his miht so besily
2186 Ayein king Turne his enemy,
2187 He hadde noght Lavine wonne;
2188 Bot for he hath him overronne
2189 And gete his pris, he gat hire love.
2190 Be these ensamples here above,
2191 Lo, now, mi Sone, as I have told,
2192 Thou miht wel se, who that is bold
2193 And dar travaile and undertake
2194 The cause of love, he schal be take
2195 The rathere unto loves grace;
2196 For comunliche in worthi place
2197 The wommen loven worthinesse
2198 Of manhode and of gentilesse,
2199 For the gentils ben most desired.
2200 Mi fader, bot I were enspired
2201 Thurgh lore of you, I wot no weie
2202 What gentilesce is forto seie,
2203 Wherof to telle I you beseche.
2204 The ground, Mi Sone, forto seche
2205 Upon this diffinicion,
2206 The worldes constitucion
2207 Hath set the name of gentilesse
2208 Upon the fortune of richesse
2209 Which of long time is falle in age.
2210 Thanne is a man of hih lignage
2211 After the forme, as thou miht hiere,
2212 Bot nothing after the matiere.
2213 For who that resoun understonde,
2214 Upon richesse it mai noght stonde,
2215 For that is thing which faileth ofte:
2216 For he that stant to day alofte
2217 And al the world hath in hise wones,
2218 Tomorwe he falleth al at ones
2219 Out of richesse into poverte,
2220 So that therof is no decerte,
2221 Which gentilesce makth abide.
2222 And forto loke on other side
2223 Hou that a gentil man is bore,
2224 Adam, which alle was tofore
2225 With Eve his wif, as of hem tuo,
2226 Al was aliche gentil tho;
2227 So that of generacion
2228 To make declaracion,
2229 Ther mai no gentilesce be.
2230 For to the reson if we se,
2231 Of mannes berthe the mesure,
2232 It is so comun to nature,
2233 That it yifth every man aliche,
2234 Als wel to povere as to the riche;
2235 For naked thei ben bore bothe,
2236 The lord nomore hath forto clothe
2237 As of himself that ilke throwe,
2238 Than hath the povereste of the rowe.
2239 And whan thei schulle both passe,
2240 I not of hem which hath the lasse
2241 Of worldes good, bot as of charge
2242 The lord is more forto charge,
2243 Whan god schal his accompte hiere,
2244 For he hath had hise lustes hiere.
2245 Bot of the bodi, which schal deie,
2246 Althogh ther be diverse weie
2247 To deth, yit is ther bot on ende,
2248 To which that every man schal wende,
2249 Als wel the beggere as the lord,
2250 Of o nature, of on acord:
2251 Sche which oure Eldemoder is,
2252 The Erthe, bothe that and this
2253 Receiveth and alich devoureth,
2254 That sche to nouther part favoureth.
2255 So wot I nothing after kinde
2256 Where I mai gentilesse finde.
2257 For lacke of vertu lacketh grace,
2258 Wherof richesse in many place,
2259 Whan men best wene forto stonde,
2260 Al sodeinly goth out of honde:
2261 Bot vertu set in the corage,
2262 Ther mai no world be so salvage,
2263 Which mihte it take and don aweie,
2264 Til whanne that the bodi deie;
2265 And thanne he schal be riched so,
2266 That it mai faile neveremo;
2267 So mai that wel be gentilesse,
2268 Which yifth so gret a sikernesse.
2269 For after the condicion
2270 Of resonable entencion,
2271 The which out of the Soule groweth
2272 And the vertu fro vice knoweth,
2273 Wherof a man the vice eschuieth,
2274 Withoute Slowthe and vertu suieth,
2275 That is a verrai gentil man,
2276 And nothing elles which he can,
2277 Ne which he hath, ne which he mai.
2278 Bot for al that yit nou aday,
2279 In loves court to taken hiede,
2280 The povere vertu schal noght spiede,
2281 Wher that the riche vice woweth;
2282 For sielde it is that love alloweth
2283 The gentil man withoute good,
2284 Thogh his condicion be good.
2285 Bot if a man of bothe tuo
2286 Be riche and vertuous also,
2287 Thanne is he wel the more worth:
2288 Bot yit to putte himselve forth
2289 He moste don his besinesse,
2290 For nowther good ne gentilesse
2291 Mai helpen him whiche ydel be.
2292 Bot who that wole in his degre
2293 Travaile so as it belongeth,
2294 It happeth ofte that he fongeth
2295 Worschipe and ese bothe tuo.
2296 For evere yit it hath be so,
2297 That love honeste in sondri weie
2298 Profiteth, for it doth aweie
2299 The vice, and as the bokes sein,
2300 It makth curteis of the vilein,
2301 And to the couard hardiesce
2302 It yifth, so that verrai prouesse
2303 Is caused upon loves reule
2304 To him that can manhode reule;
2305 And ek toward the wommanhiede,
2306 Who that therof wol taken hiede,
2307 For thei the betre affaited be
2308 In every thing, as men may se.
2309 For love hath evere hise lustes grene
2310 In gentil folk, as it is sene,
2311 Which thing ther mai no kinde areste:
2312 I trowe that ther is no beste,
2313 If he with love scholde aqueinte,
2314 That he ne wolde make it queinte
2315 As for the while that it laste.
2316 And thus I conclude ate laste,
2317 That thei ben ydel, as me semeth,
2318 Whiche unto thing that love demeth
2319 Forslowthen that thei scholden do.
2320 And overthis, mi Sone, also
2321 After the vertu moral eke
2322 To speke of love if I schal seke,
2323 Among the holi bokes wise
2324 I finde write in such a wise,
2325 "Who loveth noght is hier as ded";
2326 For love above alle othre is hed,
2327 Which hath the vertus forto lede,
2328 Of al that unto mannes dede
2329 Belongeth: for of ydelschipe
2330 He hateth all the felaschipe.
2331 For Slowthe is evere to despise,
2332 Which in desdeign hath al apprise,
2333 And that acordeth noght to man:
2334 For he that wit and reson kan,
2335 It sit him wel that he travaile
2336 Upon som thing which mihte availe,
2337 For ydelschipe is noght comended,
2338 Bot every lawe it hath defended.
2339 And in ensample therupon
2340 The noble wise Salomon,
2341 Which hadde of every thing insihte,
2342 Seith, "As the briddes to the flihte
2343 Ben made, so the man is bore
2344 To labour," which is noght forbore
2345 To hem that thenken forto thryve.
2346 For we, whiche are now alyve,
2347 Of hem that besi whylom were,
2348 Als wel in Scole as elleswhere,
2349 Mowe every day ensample take,
2350 That if it were now to make
2351 Thing which that thei ferst founden oute,
2352 It scholde noght be broght aboute.
2353 Here lyves thanne were longe,
2354 Here wittes grete, here mihtes stronge,
2355 Here hertes ful of besinesse,
2356 Wherof the worldes redinesse
2357 In bodi bothe and in corage
2358 Stant evere upon his avantage.
2359 And forto drawe into memoire
2360 Here names bothe and here histoire,
2361 Upon the vertu of her dede
2362 In sondri bokes thou miht rede.
2363 Of every wisdom the parfit
2364 The hyhe god of his spirit
2365 Yaf to the men in Erthe hiere
2366 Upon the forme and the matiere
2367 Of that he wolde make hem wise:
2368 And thus cam in the ferste apprise
2369 Of bokes and of alle goode
2370 Thurgh hem that whilom understode
2371 The lore which to hem was yive,
2372 Wherof these othre, that now live,
2373 Ben every day to lerne newe.
2374 Bot er the time that men siewe,
2375 And that the labour forth it broghte,
2376 Ther was no corn, thogh men it soghte,
2377 In non of al the fieldes oute;
2378 And er the wisdom cam aboute
2379 Of hem that ferst the bokes write,
2380 This mai wel every wys man wite,
2381 Ther was gret labour ek also.
2382 Thus was non ydel of the tuo,
2383 That on the plogh hath undertake
2384 With labour which the hond hath take,
2385 That other tok to studie and muse,
2386 As he which wolde noght refuse
2387 The labour of hise wittes alle.
2388 And in this wise it is befalle,
2389 Of labour which that thei begunne
2390 We be now tawht of that we kunne:
2391 Here besinesse is yit so seene,
2392 That it stant evere alyche greene;
2393 Al be it so the bodi deie,
2394 The name of hem schal nevere aweie.
2395 In the Croniqes as I finde,
2396 Cham, whos labour is yit in minde,
2397 Was he which ferst the lettres fond
2398 And wrot in Hebreu with his hond:
2399 Of naturel Philosophie
2400 He fond ferst also the clergie.
2401 Cadmus the lettres of Gregois
2402 Ferst made upon his oghne chois.
2403 Theges of thing which schal befalle,
2404 He was the ferste Augurre of alle:
2405 And Philemon be the visage
2406 Fond to descrive the corage.
2407 Cladyns, Esdras and Sulpices,
2408 Termegis, Pandulf, Frigidilles,
2409 Menander, Ephiloquorus,
2410 Solins, Pandas and Josephus
2411 The ferste were of Enditours,
2412 Of old Cronique and ek auctours:
2413 And Heredot in his science
2414 Of metre, of rime and of cadence
2415 The ferste was of which men note.
2416 And of Musique also the note
2417 In mannes vois or softe or scharpe,
2418 That fond Jubal; and of the harpe
2419 The merie soun, which is to like,
2420 That fond Poulins forth with phisique.
2421 Zenzis fond ferst the pourtreture,
2422 And Promothes the Sculpture;
2423 After what forme that hem thoghte,
2424 The resemblance anon thei wroghte.
2425 Tubal in Iren and in Stel
2426 Fond ferst the forge and wroghte it wel:
2427 And Jadahel, as seith the bok,
2428 Ferst made Net and fisshes tok:
2429 Of huntynge ek he fond the chace,
2430 Which now is knowe in many place:
2431 A tente of cloth with corde and stake
2432 He sette up ferst and dede it make.
2433 Verconius of cokerie
2434 Ferst made the delicacie.
2435 The craft Minerve of wolle fond
2436 And made cloth hire oghne hond;
2437 And Delbora made it of lyn:
2438 Tho wommen were of great engyn.
2439 Bot thing which yifth ous mete and drinke
2440 And doth the labourer to swinke
2441 To tile lond and sette vines,
2442 Wherof the cornes and the wynes
2443 Ben sustenance to mankinde,
2444 In olde bokes as I finde,
2445 Saturnus of his oghne wit
2446 Hath founde ferst, and more yit
2447 Of Chapmanhode he fond the weie,
2448 And ek to coigne the moneie
2449 Of sondri metall, as it is,
2450 He was the ferste man of this.
2451 Bot hou that metall cam a place
2452 Thurgh mannes wit and goddes grace
2453 The route of Philosophres wise
2454 Controeveden be sondri wise,
2455 Ferst forto gete it out of Myne,
2456 And after forto trie and fyne.
2457 And also with gret diligence
2458 Thei founden thilke experience,
2459 Which cleped is Alconomie,
2460 Wherof the Selver multeplie
2461 Thei made and ek the gold also.
2462 And forto telle hou it is so,
2463 Of bodies sevene in special
2464 With foure spiritz joynt withal
2465 Stant the substance of this matiere.
2466 The bodies whiche I speke of hiere
2467 Of the Planetes ben begonne:
2468 The gold is titled to the Sonne,
2469 The mone of Selver hath his part,
2470 And Iren that stant upon Mart,
2471 The Led after Satorne groweth,
2472 And Jupiter the Bras bestoweth,
2473 The Coper set is to Venus,
2474 And to his part Mercurius
2475 Hath the quikselver, as it falleth,
2476 The which, after the bok it calleth,
2477 Is ferst of thilke fowre named
2478 Of Spiritz, whiche ben proclamed;
2479 And the spirit which is secounde
2480 In Sal Armoniak is founde:
2481 The thridde spirit Sulphur is;
2482 The ferthe suiende after this
2483 Arcennicum be name is hote.
2484 With blowinge and with fyres hote
2485 In these thinges, whiche I seie,
2486 Thei worchen be diverse weie.
2487 For as the philosophre tolde
2488 Of gold and selver, thei ben holde
2489 Tuo principal extremites,
2490 To whiche alle othre be degres
2491 Of the metalls ben acordant,
2492 And so thurgh kinde resemblant,
2493 That what man couthe aweie take
2494 The rust, of which thei waxen blake,
2495 And the savour and the hardnesse,
2496 Thei scholden take the liknesse
2497 Of gold or Selver parfitly.
2498 Bot forto worche it sikirly,
2499 Betwen the corps and the spirit,
2500 Er that the metall be parfit,
2501 In sevene formes it is set;
2502 Of alle and if that on be let,
2503 The remenant mai noght availe,
2504 Bot otherwise it mai noght faile.
2505 For thei be whom this art was founde
2506 To every point a certain bounde
2507 Ordeignen, that a man mai finde
2508 This craft is wroght be weie of kinde,
2509 So that ther is no fallas inne.
2510 Bot what man that this werk beginne,
2511 He mot awaite at every tyde,
2512 So that nothing be left aside,
2513 Ferst of the distillacion,
2514 Forth with the congelacion,
2515 Solucion, descencion,
2516 And kepe in his entencion
2517 The point of sublimacion,
2518 And forth with calcinacion
2519 Of veray approbacion
2520 Do that ther be fixacion
2521 With tempred hetes of the fyr,
2522 Til he the parfit Elixir
2523 Of thilke philosophres Ston
2524 Mai gete, of which that many on
2525 Of Philosophres whilom write.
2526 And if thou wolt the names wite
2527 Of thilke Ston with othre tuo,
2528 Whiche as the clerkes maden tho,
2529 So as the bokes it recorden,
2530 The kinde of hem I schal recorden.
2531 These olde Philosophres wyse
2532 Be weie of kinde in sondri wise
2533 Thre Stones maden thurgh clergie.
2534 The ferste, if I schal specefie,
2535 Was lapis vegetabilis,
2536 Of which the propre vertu is
2537 To mannes hele forto serve,
2538 As forto kepe and to preserve
2539 The bodi fro siknesses alle,
2540 Til deth of kinde upon him falle.
2541 The Ston seconde I thee behote
2542 Is lapis animalis hote,
2543 The whos vertu is propre and cowth
2544 For Ere and yhe and nase and mouth,
2545 Wherof a man mai hiere and se
2546 And smelle and taste in his degre,
2547 And forto fiele and forto go
2548 It helpeth man of bothe tuo:
2549 The wittes fyve he underfongeth
2550 To kepe, as it to him belongeth.
2551 The thridde Ston in special
2552 Be name is cleped Minerall,
2553 Which the metalls of every Mine
2554 Attempreth, til that thei ben fyne,
2555 And pureth hem be such a weie,
2556 That al the vice goth aweie
2557 Of rust, of stink and of hardnesse:
2558 And whan thei ben of such clennesse,
2559 This Mineral, so as I finde,
2560 Transformeth al the ferste kynde
2561 And makth hem able to conceive
2562 Thurgh his vertu, and to receive
2563 Bothe in substance and in figure
2564 Of gold and selver the nature.
2565 For thei tuo ben thextremetes,
2566 To whiche after the propretes
2567 Hath every metal his desir,
2568 With help and confort of the fyr
2569 Forth with this Ston, as it is seid,
2570 Which to the Sonne and Mone is leid;
2571 For to the rede and to the whyte
2572 This Ston hath pouer to profite.
2573 It makth mulptiplicacioun
2574 Of gold, and the fixacioun
2575 It causeth, and of his habit
2576 He doth the werk to be parfit
2577 Of thilke Elixer which men calle
2578 Alconomie, as is befalle
2579 To hem that whilom weren wise.
2580 Bot now it stant al otherwise;
2581 Thei speken faste of thilke Ston,
2582 Bot hou to make it, nou wot non
2583 After the sothe experience.
2584 And natheles gret diligence
2585 Thei setten upon thilke dede,
2586 And spille more than thei spede;
2587 For allewey thei finde a lette,
2588 Which bringeth in poverte and dette
2589 To hem that riche were afore:
2590 The lost is had, the lucre is lore,
2591 To gete a pound thei spenden fyve;
2592 I not hou such a craft schal thryve
2593 In the manere as it is used:
2594 It were betre be refused
2595 Than forto worchen upon weene
2596 In thing which stant noght as thei weene.
2597 Bot noght forthi, who that it knewe,
2598 The science of himself is trewe
2599 Upon the forme as it was founded,
2600 Wherof the names yit ben grounded
2601 Of hem that ferste it founden oute;
2602 And thus the fame goth aboute
2603 To suche as soghten besinesse
2604 Of vertu and of worthinesse.
2605 Of whom if I the names calle,
2606 Hermes was on the ferste of alle,
2607 To whom this art is most applied;
2608 Geber therof was magnefied,
2609 And Ortolan and Morien,
2610 Among the whiche is Avicen,
2611 Which fond and wrot a gret partie
2612 The practique of Alconomie;
2613 Whos bokes, pleinli as thei stonde
2614 Upon this craft, fewe understonde;
2615 Bot yit to put hem in assai
2616 Ther ben full manye now aday,
2617 That knowen litel what thei meene.
2618 It is noght on to wite and weene;
2619 In forme of wordes thei it trete,
2620 Bot yit they failen of beyete,
2621 For of tomoche or of tolyte
2622 Ther is algate founde a wyte,
2623 So that thei folwe noght the lyne
2624 Of the parfite medicine,
2625 Which grounded is upon nature.
2626 Bot thei that writen the scripture
2627 Of Grek, Arabe and of Caldee,
2628 Thei were of such Auctorite
2629 That thei ferst founden out the weie
2630 Of al that thou hast herd me seie;
2631 Wherof the Cronique of her lore
2632 Schal stonde in pris for everemore.
2633 Bot toward oure Marches hiere,
2634 Of the Latins if thou wolt hiere,
2635 Of hem that whilom vertuous
2636 Were and therto laborious,
2637 Carmente made of hire engin
2638 The ferste lettres of Latin,
2639 Of which the tunge Romein cam,
2640 Wherof that Aristarchus nam
2641 Forth with Donat and Dindimus
2642 The ferste reule of Scole, as thus,
2643 How that Latin schal be componed
2644 And in what wise it schal be soned,
2645 That every word in his degre
2646 Schal stonde upon congruite.
2647 And thilke time at Rome also
2648 Was Tullius with Cithero,
2649 That writen upon Rethorike,
2650 Hou that men schal the wordes pike
2651 After the forme of eloquence,
2652 Which is, men sein, a gret prudence:
2653 And after that out of Hebreu
2654 Jerom, which the langage kneu,
2655 The Bible, in which the lawe is closed,
2656 Into Latin he hath transposed;
2657 And many an other writere ek
2658 Out of Caldee, Arabe and Grek
2659 With gret labour the bokes wise
2660 Translateden. And otherwise
2661 The Latins of hemself also
2662 Here studie at thilke time so
2663 With gret travaile of Scole toke
2664 In sondri forme forto boke,
2665 That we mai take here evidences
2666 Upon the lore of the Sciences,
2667 Of craftes bothe and of clergie;
2668 Among the whiche in Poesie
2669 To the lovers Ovide wrot
2670 And tawhte, if love be to hot,
2671 In what manere it scholde akiele.
2672 Forthi, mi Sone, if that thou fiele
2673 That love wringe thee to sore,
2674 Behold Ovide and take his lore.
2675 My fader, if thei mihte spede
2676 Mi love, I wolde his bokes rede;
2677 And if thei techen to restreigne
2678 Mi love, it were an ydel peine
2679 To lerne a thing which mai noght be.
2680 For lich unto the greene tree,
2681 If that men toke his rote aweie,
2682 Riht so myn herte scholde deie,
2683 If that mi love be withdrawe.
2684 Wherof touchende unto this sawe
2685 There is bot only to poursuie
2686 Mi love, and ydelschipe eschuie.
2687 Mi goode Sone, soth to seie,
2688 If ther be siker eny weie
2689 To love, thou hast seid the beste:
2690 For who that wolde have al his reste
2691 And do no travail at the nede,
2692 It is no resoun that he spede
2693 In loves cause forto winne;
2694 For he which dar nothing beginne,
2695 I not what thing he scholde achieve.
2696 Bot overthis thou schalt believe,
2697 So as it sit thee wel to knowe,
2698 That ther ben othre vices slowe,
2699 Whiche unto love don gret lette,
2700 If thou thin herte upon hem sette.
2701 Toward the Slowe progenie
2702 Ther is yit on of compaignie,
2703 And he is cleped Sompnolence,
2704 Which doth to Slouthe his reverence,
2705 As he which is his Chamberlein,
2706 That many an hundrid time hath lein
2707 To slepe, whan he scholde wake.
2708 He hath with love trewes take,
2709 That wake who so wake wile,
2710 If he mai couche a doun his bile,
2711 He hath al wowed what him list;
2712 That ofte he goth to bedde unkist,
2713 And seith that for no Druerie
2714 He wol noght leve his sluggardie.
2715 For thogh noman it wole allowe,
2716 To slepe levere than to wowe
2717 Is his manere, and thus on nyhtes,
2718 Whan that he seth the lusti knyhtes
2719 Revelen, wher these wommen are,
2720 Awey he skulketh as an hare,
2721 And goth to bedde and leith him softe,
2722 And of his Slouthe he dremeth ofte
2723 Hou that he stiketh in the Myr,
2724 And hou he sitteth be the fyr
2725 And claweth on his bare schanckes,
2726 And hou he clymbeth up the banckes
2727 And falleth into Slades depe.
2728 Bot thanne who so toke kepe,
2729 Whanne he is falle in such a drem,
2730 Riht as a Schip ayein the Strem,
2731 He routeth with a slepi noise,
2732 And brustleth as a monkes froise,
2733 Whanne it is throwe into the Panne.
2734 And otherwhile sielde whanne
2735 That he mai dreme a lusti swevene,
2736 Him thenkth as thogh he were in hevene
2737 And as the world were holi his:
2738 And thanne he spekth of that and this,
2739 And makth his exposicion
2740 After the disposicion
2741 Of that he wolde, and in such wise
2742 He doth to love all his service;
2743 I not what thonk he schal deserve.
2744 Bot, Sone, if thou wolt love serve,
2745 I rede that thou do noght so.
2746 Ha, goode fader, certes no.
2747 I hadde levere be mi trowthe,
2748 Er I were set on such a slouthe
2749 And beere such a slepi snoute,
2750 Bothe yhen of myn hed were oute.
2751 For me were betre fulli die,
2752 Thanne I of such a slugardie
2753 Hadde eny name, god me schilde;
2754 For whan mi moder was with childe,
2755 And I lay in hire wombe clos,
2756 I wolde rathere Atropos,
2757 Which is goddesse of alle deth,
2758 Anon as I hadde eny breth,
2759 Me hadde fro mi Moder cast.
2760 Bot now I am nothing agast,
2761 I thonke godd; for Lachesis,
2762 Ne Cloto, which hire felawe is,
2763 Me schopen no such destine,
2764 Whan thei at mi nativite
2765 My weerdes setten as thei wolde;
2766 Bot thei me schopen that I scholde
2767 Eschuie of slep the truandise,
2768 So that I hope in such a wise
2769 To love forto ben excused,
2770 That I no Sompnolence have used.
2771 For certes, fader Genius,
2772 Yit into nou it hath be thus,
2773 At alle time if it befelle
2774 So that I mihte come and duelle
2775 In place ther my ladi were,
2776 I was noght slow ne slepi there:
2777 For thanne I dar wel undertake,
2778 That whanne hir list on nyhtes wake
2779 In chambre as to carole and daunce,
2780 Me thenkth I mai me more avaunce,
2781 If I mai gon upon hir hond,
2782 Thanne if I wonne a kinges lond.
2783 For whanne I mai hire hand beclippe,
2784 With such gladnesse I daunce and skippe,
2785 Me thenkth I touche noght the flor;
2786 The Ro, which renneth on the Mor,
2787 Is thanne noght so lyht as I:
2788 So mow ye witen wel forthi,
2789 That for the time slep I hate.
2790 And whanne it falleth othergate,
2791 So that hire like noght to daunce,
2792 Bot on the Dees to caste chaunce
2793 Or axe of love som demande,
2794 Or elles that hir list comaunde
2795 To rede and here of Troilus,
2796 Riht as sche wole or so or thus,
2797 I am al redi to consente.
2798 And if so is that I mai hente
2799 Somtime among a good leisir,
2800 So as I dar of mi desir
2801 I telle a part; bot whanne I preie,
2802 Anon sche bidt me go mi weie
2803 And seith it is ferr in the nyht;
2804 And I swere it is even liht.
2805 Bot as it falleth ate laste,
2806 Ther mai no worldes joie laste,
2807 So mot I nedes fro hire wende
2808 And of my wachche make an ende:
2809 And if sche thanne hiede toke,
2810 Hou pitousliche on hire I loke,
2811 Whan that I schal my leve take,
2812 Hire oghte of mercy forto slake
2813 Hire daunger, which seith evere nay.
2814 Bot he seith often, "Have good day,"
2815 That loth is forto take his leve:
2816 Therfore, while I mai beleve,
2817 I tarie forth the nyht along,
2818 For it is noght on me along
2819 To slep that I so sone go,
2820 Til that I mot algate so;
2821 And thanne I bidde godd hire se,
2822 And so doun knelende on mi kne
2823 I take leve, and if I schal,
2824 I kisse hire, and go forth withal.
2825 And otherwhile, if that I dore,
2826 Er I come fulli to the Dore,
2827 I torne ayein and feigne a thing,
2828 As thogh I hadde lost a Ring
2829 Or somwhat elles, for I wolde
2830 Kisse hire eftsones, if I scholde,
2831 Bot selden is that I so spede.
2832 And whanne I se that I mot nede
2833 Departen, I departe, and thanne
2834 With al myn herte I curse and banne
2835 That evere slep was mad for yhe;
2836 For, as me thenkth, I mihte dryhe
2837 Withoute slep to waken evere,
2838 So that I scholde noght dissevere
2839 Fro hire, in whom is al my liht:
2840 And thanne I curse also the nyht
2841 With al the will of mi corage,
2842 And seie, "Awey, thou blake ymage,
2843 Which of thi derke cloudy face
2844 Makst al the worldes lyht deface,
2845 And causest unto slep a weie,
2846 Be which I mot nou gon aweie
2847 Out of mi ladi compaignie.
2848 O slepi nyht, I thee defie,
2849 And wolde that thou leye in presse
2850 With Proserpine the goddesse
2851 And with Pluto the helle king:
2852 For til I se the daies spring,
2853 I sette slep noght at a risshe."
2854 And with that word I sike and wisshe,
2855 And seie, "Ha, whi ne were it day?
2856 For yit mi ladi thanne I may
2857 Beholde, thogh I do nomore."
2858 And efte I thenke forthermore,
2859 To som man hou the niht doth ese,
2860 Whan he hath thing that mai him plese
2861 The longe nyhtes be his side,
2862 Where as I faile and go beside.
2863 Bot slep, I not wherof it serveth,
2864 Of which noman his thonk deserveth
2865 To gete him love in eny place,
2866 Bot is an hindrere of his grace
2867 And makth him ded as for a throwe,
2868 Riht as a Stok were overthrowe.
2869 And so, mi fader, in this wise
2870 The slepi nyhtes I despise,
2871 And evere amiddes of mi tale
2872 I thenke upon the nyhtingale,
2873 Which slepeth noght be weie of kinde
2874 For love, in bokes as I finde.
2875 Thus ate laste I go to bedde,
2876 And yit min herte lith to wedde
2877 With hire, wher as I cam fro;
2878 Thogh I departe, he wol noght so,
2879 Ther is no lock mai schette him oute,
2880 Him nedeth noght to gon aboute,
2881 That perce mai the harde wall;
2882 Thus is he with hire overall,
2883 That be hire lief, or be hire loth,
2884 Into hire bedd myn herte goth,
2885 And softly takth hire in his arm
2886 And fieleth hou that sche is warm,
2887 And wissheth that his body were
2888 To fiele that he fieleth there.
2889 And thus miselven I tormente,
2890 Til that the dede slep me hente:
2891 Bot thanne be a thousand score
2892 Welmore than I was tofore
2893 I am tormented in mi slep,
2894 Bot that I dreme is noght of schep;
2895 For I ne thenke noght on wulle,
2896 Bot I am drecched to the fulle
2897 Of love, that I have to kepe,
2898 That nou I lawhe and nou I wepe,
2899 And nou I lese and nou I winne,
2900 And nou I ende and nou beginne.
2901 And otherwhile I dreme and mete
2902 That I al one with hire mete
2903 And that Danger is left behinde;
2904 And thanne in slep such joie I finde,
2905 That I ne bede nevere awake.
2906 Bot after, whanne I hiede take,
2907 And schal arise upon the morwe,
2908 Thanne is al torned into sorwe,
2909 Noght for the cause I schal arise,
2910 Bot for I mette in such a wise,
2911 And ate laste I am bethoght
2912 That al is vein and helpeth noght:
2913 Bot yit me thenketh be my wille
2914 I wolde have leie and slepe stille,
2915 To meten evere of such a swevene,
2916 For thanne I hadde a slepi hevene.
2917 Mi Sone, and for thou tellest so,
2918 A man mai finde of time ago
2919 That many a swevene hath be certein,
2920 Al be it so, that som men sein
2921 That swevenes ben of no credence.
2922 Bot forto schewe in evidence
2923 That thei fulofte sothe thinges
2924 Betokne, I thenke in my wrytinges
2925 To telle a tale therupon,
2926 Which fell be olde daies gon.
2927 This finde I write in Poesie:
2928 Cei5x the king of Trocinie
2929 Hadde Alceone to his wif,
2930 Which as hire oghne hertes lif
2931 Him loveth; and he hadde also
2932 A brother, which was cleped tho
2933 Dedalion, and he per cas
2934 Fro kinde of man forschape was
2935 Into a Goshauk of liknesse;
2936 Wherof the king gret hevynesse
2937 Hath take, and thoghte in his corage
2938 To gon upon a pelrinage
2939 Into a strange regioun,
2940 Wher he hath his devocioun
2941 To don his sacrifice and preie,
2942 If that he mihte in eny weie
2943 Toward the goddes finde grace
2944 His brother hele to pourchace,
2945 So that he mihte be reformed
2946 Of that he hadde be transformed.
2947 To this pourpos and to this ende
2948 This king is redy forto wende,
2949 As he which wolde go be Schipe;
2950 And forto don him felaschipe
2951 His wif unto the See him broghte,
2952 With al hire herte and him besoghte,
2953 That he the time hire wolde sein,
2954 Whan that he thoghte come ayein:
2955 "Withinne," he seith, "tuo Monthe day."
2956 And thus in al the haste he may
2957 He tok his leve, and forth he seileth
2958 Wepende, and sche hirself beweileth,
2959 And torneth hom, ther sche cam fro.
2960 Bot whan the Monthes were ago,
2961 The whiche he sette of his comynge,
2962 And that sche herde no tydinge,
2963 Ther was no care forto seche:
2964 Wherof the goddes to beseche
2965 Tho sche began in many wise,
2966 And to Juno hire sacrifise
2967 Above alle othre most sche dede,
2968 And for hir lord sche hath so bede
2969 To wite and knowe hou that he ferde,
2970 That Juno the goddesse hire herde,
2971 Anon and upon this matiere
2972 Sche bad Yris hir Messagere
2973 To Slepes hous that sche schal wende,
2974 And bidde him that he make an ende
2975 Be swevene and schewen al the cas
2976 Unto this ladi, hou it was.
2977 This Yris, fro the hihe stage
2978 Which undertake hath the Message,
2979 Hire reyny Cope dede upon,
2980 The which was wonderli begon
2981 With colours of diverse hewe,
2982 An hundred mo than men it knewe;
2983 The hevene lich into a bowe
2984 Sche bende, and so she cam doun lowe,
2985 The god of Slep wher that sche fond.
2986 And that was in a strange lond,
2987 Which marcheth upon Chymerie:
2988 For ther, as seith the Poesie,
2989 The god of Slep hath mad his hous,
2990 Which of entaille is merveilous.
2991 Under an hell ther is a Cave,
2992 Which of the Sonne mai noght have,
2993 So that noman mai knowe ariht
2994 The point betwen the dai and nyht:
2995 Ther is no fyr, ther is no sparke,
2996 Ther is no dore, which mai charke,
2997 Wherof an yhe scholde unschette,
2998 So that inward ther is no lette.
2999 And forto speke of that withoute,
3000 Ther stant no gret Tree nyh aboute
3001 Wher on ther myhte crowe or pie
3002 Alihte, forto clepe or crie:
3003 Ther is no cok to crowe day,
3004 Ne beste non which noise may
3005 The hell, bot al aboute round
3006 Ther is growende upon the ground
3007 Popi, which berth the sed of slep,
3008 With othre herbes suche an hep.
3009 A stille water for the nones
3010 Rennende upon the smale stones,
3011 Which hihte of Lethes the rivere,
3012 Under that hell in such manere
3013 Ther is, which yifth gret appetit
3014 To slepe. And thus full of delit
3015 Slep hath his hous; and of his couche
3016 Withinne his chambre if I schal touche,
3017 Of hebenus that slepi Tree
3018 The bordes al aboute be,
3019 And for he scholde slepe softe,
3020 Upon a fethrebed alofte
3021 He lith with many a pilwe of doun:
3022 The chambre is strowed up and doun
3023 With swevenes many thousendfold.
3024 Thus cam Yris into this hold,
3025 And to the bedd, which is al blak,
3026 Sche goth, and ther with Slep sche spak,
3027 And in the wise as sche was bede
3028 The Message of Juno sche dede.
3029 Fulofte hir wordes sche reherceth,
3030 Er sche his slepi Eres perceth;
3031 With mochel wo bot ate laste
3032 His slombrende yhen he upcaste
3033 And seide hir that it schal be do.
3034 Wherof among a thousend tho,
3035 Withinne his hous that slepi were,
3036 In special he ches out there
3037 Thre, whiche scholden do this dede:
3038 The ferste of hem, so as I rede,
3039 Was Morphes, the whos nature
3040 Is forto take the figure
3041 Of what persone that him liketh,
3042 Wherof that he fulofte entriketh
3043 The lif which slepe schal be nyhte;
3044 And Ithecus that other hihte,
3045 Which hath the vois of every soun,
3046 The chiere and the condicioun
3047 Of every lif, what so it is:
3048 The thridde suiende after this
3049 Is Panthasas, which may transforme
3050 Of every thing the rihte forme,
3051 And change it in an other kinde.
3052 Upon hem thre, so as I finde,
3053 Of swevenes stant al thapparence,
3054 Which otherwhile is evidence
3055 And otherwhile bot a jape.
3056 Bot natheles it is so schape,
3057 That Morphes be nyht al one
3058 Appiereth until Alceone
3059 In liknesse of hir housebonde
3060 Al naked ded upon the stronde,
3061 And hou he dreynte in special
3062 These othre tuo it schewen al.
3063 The tempeste of the blake cloude,
3064 The wode See, the wyndes loude,
3065 Al this sche mette, and sih him dyen;
3066 Wherof that sche began to crien,
3067 Slepende abedde ther sche lay,
3068 And with that noise of hire affray
3069 Hir wommen sterten up aboute,
3070 Whiche of here ladi were in doute,
3071 And axen hire hou that sche ferde;
3072 And sche, riht as sche syh and herde,
3073 Hir swevene hath told hem everydel.
3074 And thei it halsen alle wel
3075 And sein it is a tokne of goode;
3076 Bot til sche wiste hou that it stode,
3077 Sche hath no confort in hire herte,
3078 Upon the morwe and up sche sterte,
3079 And to the See, wher that sche mette
3080 The bodi lay, withoute lette
3081 Sche drowh, and whan that sche cam nyh,
3082 Stark ded, hise harmes sprad, sche syh
3083 Hire lord flietende upon the wawe.
3084 Wherof hire wittes ben withdrawe,
3085 And sche, which tok of deth no kepe,
3086 Anon forth lepte into the depe
3087 And wolde have cawht him in hire arm.
3088 This infortune of double harm
3089 The goddes fro the hevene above
3090 Behielde, and for the trowthe of love,
3091 Which in this worthi ladi stod,
3092 Thei have upon the salte flod
3093 Hire dreinte lord and hire also
3094 Fro deth to lyve torned so,
3095 That thei ben schapen into briddes
3096 Swimmende upon the wawe amiddes.
3097 And whan sche sih hire lord livende
3098 In liknesse of a bridd swimmende,
3099 And sche was of the same sort,
3100 So as sche mihte do desport,
3101 Upon the joie which sche hadde
3102 Hire wynges bothe abrod sche spradde,
3103 And him, so as sche mai suffise,
3104 Beclipte and keste in such a wise,
3105 As sche was whilom wont to do:
3106 Hire wynges for hire armes tuo
3107 Sche tok, and for hire lippes softe
3108 Hire harde bile, and so fulofte
3109 Sche fondeth in hire briddes forme,
3110 If that sche mihte hirself conforme
3111 To do the plesance of a wif,
3112 As sche dede in that other lif:
3113 For thogh sche hadde hir pouer lore,
3114 Hir will stod as it was tofore,
3115 And serveth him so as sche mai.
3116 Wherof into this ilke day
3117 Togedre upon the See thei wone,
3118 Wher many a dowhter and a Sone
3119 Thei bringen forth of briddes kinde;
3120 And for men scholden take in mynde
3121 This Alceoun the trewe queene,
3122 Hire briddes yit, as it is seene,
3123 Of Alceoun the name bere.
3124 Lo thus, mi Sone, it mai thee stere
3125 Of swevenes forto take kepe,
3126 For ofte time a man aslepe
3127 Mai se what after schal betide.
3128 Forthi it helpeth at som tyde
3129 A man to slepe, as it belongeth,
3130 Bot slowthe no lif underfongeth
3131 Which is to love appourtenant.
3132 Mi fader, upon covenant
3133 I dar wel make this avou,
3134 Of all mi lif that into nou,
3135 Als fer as I can understonde,
3136 Yit tok I nevere Slep on honde,
3137 Whan it was time forto wake;
3138 For thogh myn yhe it wolde take,
3139 Min herte is evere therayein.
3140 Bot natheles to speke it plein,
3141 Al this that I have seid you hiere
3142 Of my wakinge, as ye mai hiere,
3143 It toucheth to mi lady swete;
3144 For otherwise, I you behiete,
3145 In strange place whanne I go,
3146 Me list nothing to wake so.
3147 For whan the wommen listen pleie,
3148 And I hir se noght in the weie,
3149 Of whom I scholde merthe take,
3150 Me list noght longe forto wake,
3151 Bot if it be for pure schame,
3152 Of that I wolde eschuie a name,
3153 That thei ne scholde have cause non
3154 To seie, "Ha, lo, wher goth such on,
3155 That hath forlore his contenaunce]"
3156 And thus among I singe and daunce,
3157 And feigne lust ther as non is.
3158 For ofte sithe I fiele this;
3159 Of thoght, which in mi herte falleth
3160 Whanne it is nyht, myn hed appalleth,
3161 And that is for I se hire noght,
3162 Which is the wakere of mi thoght:
3163 And thus as tymliche as I may,
3164 Fulofte whanne it is brod day,
3165 I take of all these othre leve
3166 And go my weie, and thei beleve,
3167 That sen per cas here loves there;
3168 And I go forth as noght ne were
3169 Unto mi bedd, so that al one
3170 I mai ther ligge and sighe and grone
3171 And wisshen al the longe nyht,
3172 Til that I se the daies lyht.
3173 I not if that be Sompnolence,
3174 Bot upon youre conscience,
3175 Min holi fader, demeth ye.
3176 My Sone, I am wel paid with thee,
3177 Of Slep that thou the Sluggardie
3178 Be nyhte in loves compaignie
3179 Eschuied hast, and do thi peine
3180 So that thi love thar noght pleine:
3181 For love upon his lust wakende
3182 Is evere, and wolde that non ende
3183 Were of the longe nyhtes set.
3184 Wherof that thou be war the bet,
3185 To telle a tale I am bethoght,
3186 Hou love and Slep acorden noght.
3187 For love who that list to wake
3188 Be nyhte, he mai ensample take
3189 Of Cephalus, whan that he lay
3190 With Aurora that swete may
3191 In armes all the longe nyht.
3192 Bot whanne it drogh toward the liht,
3193 That he withinne his herte sih
3194 The dai which was amorwe nyh,
3195 Anon unto the Sonne he preide
3196 For lust of love, and thus he seide:
3197 "O Phebus, which the daies liht
3198 Governest, til that it be nyht,
3199 And gladest every creature
3200 After the lawe of thi nature,-
3201 Bot natheles ther is a thing,
3202 Which onli to the knouleching
3203 Belongeth as in privete
3204 To love and to his duete,
3205 Which asketh noght to ben apert,
3206 Bot in cilence and in covert
3207 Desireth forto be beschaded:
3208 And thus whan that thi liht is faded
3209 And Vesper scheweth him alofte,
3210 And that the nyht is long and softe,
3211 Under the cloudes derke and stille
3212 Thanne hath this thing most of his wille.
3213 Forthi unto thi myhtes hyhe,
3214 As thou which art the daies yhe,
3215 Of love and myht no conseil hyde,
3216 Upon this derke nyhtes tyde
3217 With al myn herte I thee beseche
3218 That I plesance myhte seche
3219 With hire which lith in min armes.
3220 Withdrawgh the Banere of thin Armes,
3221 And let thi lyhtes ben unborn,
3222 And in the Signe of Capricorn,
3223 The hous appropred to Satorne,
3224 I preie that thou wolt sojorne,
3225 Wher ben the nihtes derke and longe:
3226 For I mi love have underfonge,
3227 Which lith hier be mi syde naked,
3228 As sche which wolde ben awaked,
3229 And me lest nothing forto slepe.
3230 So were it good to take kepe
3231 Nou at this nede of mi preiere,
3232 And that the like forto stiere
3233 Thi fyri Carte, and so ordeigne,
3234 That thou thi swifte hors restreigne
3235 Lowe under Erthe in Occident,
3236 That thei towardes Orient
3237 Be Cercle go the longe weie.
3238 And ek to thee, Diane, I preie,
3239 Which cleped art of thi noblesse
3240 The nyhtes Mone and the goddesse,
3241 That thou to me be gracious:
3242 And in Cancro thin oghne hous
3243 Ayein Phebus in opposit
3244 Stond al this time, and of delit
3245 Behold Venus with a glad yhe.
3246 For thanne upon Astronomie
3247 Of due constellacion
3248 Thou makst prolificacion,
3249 And dost that children ben begete:
3250 Which grace if that I mihte gete,
3251 With al myn herte I wolde serve
3252 Be nyhte, and thi vigile observe."
3253 Lo, thus this lusti Cephalus
3254 Preide unto Phebe and to Phebus
3255 The nyht in lengthe forto drawe,
3256 So that he mihte do the lawe
3257 In thilke point of loves heste,
3258 Which cleped is the nyhtes feste,
3259 Withoute Slep of sluggardie;
3260 Which Venus out of compaignie
3261 Hath put awey, as thilke same,
3262 Which lustles ferr from alle game
3263 In chambre doth fulofte wo
3264 Abedde, whanne it falleth so
3265 That love scholde ben awaited.
3266 But Slowthe, which is evele affaited,
3267 With Slep hath mad his retenue,
3268 That what thing is to love due,
3269 Of all his dette he paieth non:
3270 He wot noght how the nyht is gon
3271 Ne hou the day is come aboute,
3272 Bot onli forto slepe and route
3273 Til hyh midday, that he arise.
3274 Bot Cephalus dede otherwise,
3275 As thou, my Sone, hast herd above.
3276 Mi fader, who that hath his love
3277 Abedde naked be his syde,
3278 And wolde thanne hise yhen hyde
3279 With Slep, I not what man is he:
3280 Bot certes as touchende of me,
3281 That fell me nevere yit er this.
3282 Bot otherwhile, whan so is
3283 That I mai cacche Slep on honde
3284 Liggende al one, thanne I fonde
3285 To dreme a merie swevene er day;
3286 And if so falle that I may
3287 Mi thought with such a swevene plese,
3288 Me thenkth I am somdiel in ese,
3289 For I non other confort have.
3290 So nedeth noght that I schal crave
3291 The Sonnes Carte forto tarie,
3292 Ne yit the Mone, that sche carie
3293 Hire cours along upon the hevene,
3294 For I am noght the more in evene
3295 Towardes love in no degree:
3296 Bot in mi slep yit thanne I se
3297 Somwhat in swevene of that me liketh,
3298 Which afterward min herte entriketh,
3299 Whan that I finde it otherwise.
3300 So wot I noght of what servise
3301 That Slep to mannes ese doth.
3302 Mi Sone, certes thou seist soth,
3303 Bot only that it helpeth kinde
3304 Somtyme, in Phisique as I finde,
3305 Whan it is take be mesure:
3306 Bot he which can no Slep mesure
3307 Upon the reule as it belongeth,
3308 Fulofte of sodein chance he fongeth
3309 Such infortune that him grieveth.
3310 Bot who these olde bokes lieveth,
3311 Of Sompnolence hou it is write,
3312 Ther may a man the sothe wite,
3313 If that he wolde ensample take,
3314 That otherwhile is good to wake:
3315 Wherof a tale in Poesie
3316 I thenke forto specefie.
3317 Ovide telleth in his sawes,
3318 How Jupiter be olde dawes
3319 Lay be a Mayde, which Yo
3320 Was cleped, wherof that Juno
3321 His wif was wroth, and the goddesse
3322 Of Yo torneth the liknesse
3323 Into a cow, to gon theroute
3324 The large fieldes al aboute
3325 And gete hire mete upon the griene.
3326 And therupon this hyhe queene
3327 Betok hire Argus forto kepe,
3328 For he was selden wont to slepe,
3329 And yit he hadde an hundred yhen,
3330 And alle alyche wel thei syhen.
3331 Now herkne hou that he was beguiled.
3332 Mercurie, which was al affiled
3333 This Cow to stele, he cam desguised,
3334 And hadde a Pipe wel devised
3335 Upon the notes of Musiqe,
3336 Wherof he mihte hise Eres like.
3337 And over that he hadde affaited
3338 Hise lusti tales, and awaited
3339 His time; and thus into the field
3340 He cam, where Argus he behield
3341 With Yo, which beside him wente.
3342 With that his Pype on honde he hente,
3343 And gan to pipe in his manere
3344 Thing which was slepi forto hiere;
3345 And in his pipinge evere among
3346 He tolde him such a lusti song,
3347 That he the fol hath broght aslepe.
3348 Ther was non yhe mihte kepe
3349 His hed, the which Mercurie of smot,
3350 And forth withal anon fot hot
3351 He stal the Cow which Argus kepte,
3352 And al this fell for that he slepte.
3353 Ensample it was to manye mo,
3354 That mochel Slep doth ofte wo,
3355 Whan it is time forto wake:
3356 For if a man this vice take,
3357 In Sompnolence and him delite,
3358 Men scholde upon his Dore wryte
3359 His epitaphe, as on his grave;
3360 For he to spille and noght to save
3361 Is schape, as thogh he were ded.
3362 Forthi, mi Sone, hold up thin hed,
3363 And let no Slep thin yhe englue,
3364 Bot whanne it is to resoun due.
3365 Mi fader, as touchende of this,
3366 Riht so as I you tolde it is,
3367 That ofte abedde, whanne I scholde,
3368 I mai noght slepe, thogh I wolde;
3369 For love is evere faste byme,
3370 Which takth no hiede of due time.
3371 For whanne I schal myn yhen close,
3372 Anon min herte he wole oppose
3373 And holde his Scole in such a wise,
3374 Til it be day that I arise,
3375 That selde it is whan that I slepe.
3376 And thus fro Sompnolence I kepe
3377 Min yhe: and forthi if ther be
3378 Oght elles more in this degre,
3379 Now axeth forth. Mi Sone, yis:
3380 For Slowthe, which as Moder is
3381 The forthdrawere and the Norrice
3382 To man of many a dredful vice,
3383 Hath yit an other laste of alle,
3384 Which many a man hath mad to falle,
3385 Wher that he mihte nevere arise;
3386 Wherof for thou thee schalt avise,
3387 Er thou so with thiself misfare,
3388 What vice it is I wol declare.
3389 Whan Slowthe hath don al that he may
3390 To dryve forth the longe day,
3391 Til it be come to the nede,
3392 Thanne ate laste upon the dede
3393 He loketh hou his time is lore,
3394 And is so wo begon therfore,
3395 That he withinne his thoght conceiveth
3396 Tristesce, and so himself deceiveth,
3397 That he wanhope bringeth inne,
3398 Wher is no confort to beginne,
3399 Bot every joie him is deslaied:
3400 So that withinne his herte affraied
3401 A thousend time with o breth
3402 Wepende he wissheth after deth,
3403 Whan he fortune fint adverse.
3404 For thanne he wole his hap reherce,
3405 As thogh his world were al forlore,
3406 And seith, "Helas, that I was bore]
3407 Hou schal I live? hou schal I do?
3408 For nou fortune is thus mi fo,
3409 I wot wel god me wol noght helpe.
3410 What scholde I thanne of joies yelpe,
3411 Whan ther no bote is of mi care?
3412 So overcast is my welfare,
3413 That I am schapen al to strif.
3414 Helas, that I nere of this lif,
3415 Er I be fulliche overtake]"
3416 And thus he wol his sorwe make,
3417 As god him mihte noght availe:
3418 Bot yit ne wol he noght travaile
3419 To helpe himself at such a nede,
3420 Bot slowtheth under such a drede,
3421 Which is affermed in his herte,
3422 Riht as he mihte noght asterte
3423 The worldes wo which he is inne.
3424 Also whan he is falle in Sinne,
3425 Him thenkth he is so ferr coupable,
3426 That god wol noght be merciable
3427 So gret a Sinne to foryive;
3428 And thus he leeveth to be schrive.
3429 And if a man in thilke throwe
3430 Wolde him consaile, he wol noght knowe
3431 The sothe, thogh a man it finde:
3432 For Tristesce is of such a kinde,
3433 That forto meintiene his folie,
3434 He hath with him Obstinacie,
3435 Which is withinne of such a Slouthe,
3436 That he forsaketh alle trouthe,
3437 And wole unto no reson bowe;
3438 And yit ne can he noght avowe
3439 His oghne skile bot of hed:
3440 Thus dwyneth he, til he be ded,
3441 In hindringe of his oghne astat.
3442 For where a man is obstinat,
3443 Wanhope folweth ate laste,
3444 Which mai noght after longe laste,
3445 Till Slouthe make of him an ende.
3446 Bot god wot whider he schal wende.
3447 Mi Sone, and riht in such manere
3448 Ther be lovers of hevy chiere,
3449 That sorwen mor than it is ned,
3450 Whan thei be taried of here sped
3451 And conne noght hemselven rede,
3452 Bot lesen hope forto spede
3453 And stinten love to poursewe;
3454 And thus thei faden hyde and hewe,
3455 And lustles in here hertes waxe.
3456 Hierof it is that I wolde axe,
3457 If thou, mi Sone, art on of tho.
3458 Ha, goode fader, it is so,
3459 Outake a point, I am beknowe;
3460 For elles I am overthrowe
3461 In al that evere ye have seid.
3462 Mi sorwe is everemore unteid,
3463 And secheth overal my veines;
3464 Bot forto conseile of mi peines,
3465 I can no bote do therto;
3466 And thus withouten hope I go,
3467 So that mi wittes ben empeired,
3468 And I, as who seith, am despeired
3469 To winne love of thilke swete,
3470 Withoute whom, I you behiete,
3471 Min herte, that is so bestad,
3472 Riht inly nevere mai be glad.
3473 For be my trouthe I schal noght lie,
3474 Of pure sorwe, which I drye
3475 For that sche seith sche wol me noght,
3476 With drecchinge of myn oghne thoght
3477 In such a wanhope I am falle,
3478 That I ne can unethes calle,
3479 As forto speke of eny grace,
3480 Mi ladi merci to pourchace.
3481 Bot yit I seie noght for this
3482 That al in mi defalte it is;
3483 For I cam nevere yit in stede,
3484 Whan time was, that I my bede
3485 Ne seide, and as I dorste tolde:
3486 Bot nevere fond I that sche wolde,
3487 For oght sche knew of min entente,
3488 To speke a goodly word assente.
3489 And natheles this dar I seie,
3490 That if a sinful wolde preie
3491 To god of his foryivenesse
3492 With half so gret a besinesse
3493 As I have do to my ladi,
3494 In lacke of askinge of merci
3495 He scholde nevere come in Helle.
3496 And thus I mai you sothli telle,
3497 Save only that I crie and bidde,
3498 I am in Tristesce al amidde
3499 And fulfild of Desesperance:
3500 And therof yif me mi penance,
3501 Min holi fader, as you liketh.
3502 Mi Sone, of that thin herte siketh
3503 With sorwe, miht thou noght amende,
3504 Til love his grace wol thee sende,
3505 For thou thin oghne cause empeirest
3506 What time as thou thiself despeirest.
3507 I not what other thing availeth,
3508 Of hope whan the herte faileth,
3509 For such a Sor is incurable,
3510 And ek the goddes ben vengable:
3511 And that a man mai riht wel frede,
3512 These olde bokes who so rede,
3513 Of thing which hath befalle er this:
3514 Now hier of what ensample it is.
3515 Whilom be olde daies fer
3516 Of Mese was the king Theucer,
3517 Which hadde a kniht to Sone, Iphis:
3518 Of love and he so maistred is,
3519 That he hath set al his corage,
3520 As to reguard of his lignage,
3521 Upon a Maide of lou astat.
3522 Bot thogh he were a potestat
3523 Of worldes good, he was soubgit
3524 To love, and put in such a plit,
3525 That he excedeth the mesure
3526 Of reson, that himself assure
3527 He can noght; for the more he preide,
3528 The lass love on him sche leide.
3529 He was with love unwys constreigned,
3530 And sche with resoun was restreigned:
3531 The lustes of his herte he suieth,
3532 And sche for dred schame eschuieth,
3533 And as sche scholde, tok good hiede
3534 To save and kepe hir wommanhiede.
3535 And thus the thing stod in debat
3536 Betwen his lust and hire astat:
3537 He yaf, he sende, he spak be mouthe,
3538 Bot yit for oght that evere he couthe
3539 Unto his sped he fond no weie,
3540 So that he caste his hope aweie,
3541 Withinne his herte and gan despeire
3542 Fro dai to dai, and so empeire,
3543 That he hath lost al his delit
3544 Of lust, of Slep, of Appetit,
3545 That he thurgh strengthe of love lasseth
3546 His wit, and resoun overpasseth.
3547 As he which of his lif ne rowhte,
3548 His deth upon himself he sowhte,
3549 So that be nyhte his weie he nam,
3550 Ther wiste non wher he becam;
3551 The nyht was derk, ther schon no Mone,
3552 Tofore the gates he cam sone,
3553 Wher that this yonge Maiden was
3554 And with this wofull word, "Helas!"
3555 Hise dedli pleintes he began
3556 So stille that ther was noman
3557 It herde, and thanne he seide thus:
3558 "O thou Cupide, o thou Venus,
3559 Fortuned be whos ordinaunce
3560 Of love is every mannes chaunce,
3561 Ye knowen al min hole herte,
3562 That I ne mai your hond asterte;
3563 On you is evere that I crie,
3564 And yit you deigneth noght to plie,
3565 Ne toward me youre Ere encline.
3566 Thus for I se no medicine
3567 To make an ende of mi querele,
3568 My deth schal be in stede of hele.
3569 Ha, thou mi wofull ladi diere,
3570 Which duellest with thi fader hiere
3571 And slepest in thi bedd at ese,
3572 Thou wost nothing of my desese.
3573 Hou thou and I be now unmete.
3574 Ha lord, what swevene schalt thou mete,
3575 What dremes hast thou nou on honde?
3576 Thou slepest there, and I hier stonde.
3577 Thogh I no deth to the deserve,
3578 Hier schal I for thi love sterve,
3579 Hier schal a kinges Sone dye
3580 For love and for no felonie;
3581 Wher thou therof have joie or sorwe,
3582 Hier schalt thou se me ded tomorwe.
3583 O herte hard aboven alle,
3584 This deth, which schal to me befalle
3585 For that thou wolt noght do me grace,
3586 Yit schal be told in many a place,
3587 Hou I am ded for love and trouthe
3588 In thi defalte and in thi slouthe:
3589 Thi Daunger schal to manye mo
3590 Ensample be for everemo,
3591 Whan thei my wofull deth recorde."
3592 And with that word he tok a Corde,
3593 With which upon the gate tre
3594 He hyng himself, that was pite.
3595 The morwe cam, the nyht is gon,
3596 Men comen out and syhe anon
3597 Wher that this yonge lord was ded:
3598 Ther was an hous withoute red,
3599 For noman knew the cause why;
3600 Ther was wepinge and ther was cry.
3601 This Maiden, whan that sche it herde,
3602 And sih this thing hou it misferde,
3603 Anon sche wiste what it mente,
3604 And al the cause hou it wente
3605 To al the world sche tolde it oute,
3606 And preith to hem that were aboute
3607 To take of hire the vengance,
3608 For sche was cause of thilke chaunce,
3609 Why that this kinges Sone is split.
3610 Sche takth upon hirself the gilt,
3611 And is al redi to the peine
3612 Which eny man hir wole ordeigne:
3613 And bot if eny other wolde,
3614 Sche seith that sche hirselve scholde
3615 Do wreche with hire oghne hond,
3616 Thurghout the world in every lond
3617 That every lif therof schal speke,
3618 Hou sche hirself i scholde wreke.
3619 Sche wepth, sche crith, sche swouneth ofte,
3620 Sche caste hire yhen up alofte
3621 And seide among ful pitously:
3622 "A godd, thou wost wel it am I,
3623 For whom Iphis is thus besein:
3624 Ordeine so, that men mai sein
3625 A thousend wynter after this,
3626 Hou such a Maiden dede amis,
3627 And as I dede, do to me:
3628 For I ne dede no pite
3629 To him, which for mi love is lore,
3630 Do no pite to me therfore."
3631 And with this word sche fell to grounde
3632 Aswoune, and ther sche lay a stounde.
3633 The goddes, whiche hir pleigntes herde
3634 And syhe hou wofully sche ferde,
3635 Hire lif thei toke awey anon,
3636 And schopen hire into a Ston
3637 After the forme of hire ymage
3638 Of bodi bothe and of visage.
3639 And for the merveile of this thing
3640 Unto the place cam the king
3641 And ek the queene and manye mo;
3642 And whan thei wisten it was so,
3643 As I have told it heir above,
3644 Hou that Iphis was ded for love,
3645 Of that he hadde be refused,
3646 Thei hielden alle men excused
3647 And wondren upon the vengance.
3648 And forto kepe in remembrance,
3649 This faire ymage mayden liche
3650 With compaignie noble and riche
3651 With torche and gret sollempnite.
3652 To Salamyne the Cite
3653 Thei lede, and carie forth withal
3654 The dede corps, and sein it schal
3655 Beside thilke ymage have
3656 His sepulture and be begrave:
3657 This corps and this ymage thus
3658 Into the Cite to Venus,
3659 Wher that goddesse hire temple hadde,
3660 Togedre bothe tuo thei ladde.
3661 This ilke ymage as for miracle
3662 Was set upon an hyh pinacle,
3663 That alle men it mihte knowe,
3664 And under tht thei maden lowe
3665 A tumbe riche for the nones
3666 Of marbre and ek of jaspre stones,
3667 Wherin this Iphis was beloken,
3668 That evermor it schal be spoken.
3669 And for men schal the sothe wite,
3670 Thei have here epitaphe write,
3671 As thing which scholde abide stable:
3672 The lettres graven in a table
3673 Of marbre were and seiden this:
3674 "Hier lith, which slowh himself, Iphis,
3675 For love of Araxarathen:
3676 And in ensample of tho wommen,
3677 That soffren men to deie so,
3678 Hire forme a man mai sen also,
3679 Hou it is torned fleissh and bon
3680 Into the figure of a Ston:
3681 He was to neysshe and sche to hard.
3682 Be war forthi hierafterward;
3683 Ye men and wommen bothe tuo,
3684 Ensampleth you of that was tho:
3685 Lo thus, mi Sone, as I thee seie,
3686 It grieveth be diverse weie
3687 In desepeir a man to falle,
3688 Which is the laste branche of alle
3689 Of Slouthe, as thou hast herd devise.
3690 Wherof that thou thiself avise
3691 Good is, er that thou be deceived,
3692 Wher that the grace of hope is weyved.
3693 Mi fader, hou so that it stonde,
3694 Now have I pleinly understonde
3695 Of Slouthes court the proprete,
3696 Wherof touchende in my degre
3697 For evere I thenke to be war.
3698 Bot overthis, so as I dar,
3699 With al min herte I you beseche,
3700 That ye me wolde enforme and teche
3701 What ther is more of youre aprise
3702 In love als wel as otherwise,
3703 So that I mai me clene schryve.
3704 Mi Sone, whyl thou art alyve
3705 And hast also thi fulle mynde,
3706 Among the vices whiche I finde
3707 Ther is yit on such of the sevene,
3708 Which al this world hath set unevene
3709 And causeth manye thinges wronge,
3710 Where he the cause hath underfonge:
3711 Wherof hierafter thou schalt hiere
3712 The forme bothe and the matiere.
Explicit Liber Quartus.
