Confessio Amantis
or
Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins
Incipit Liber Secundus: Part 2
Online Medieval and Classical Library Release
#4
1772 Anon it was at Rome knowe,
1773 The pompe which that Perse ladde;
1774 And the Romeins that time hadde
1775 A Consul, which was cleped thus
1776 Be name, Paul Emilius,
1777 A noble, a worthi kniht withalle;
1778 And he, which chief was of hem alle,
1779 This werre on honde hath undertake.
1780 And whanne he scholde his leve take
1781 Of a yong dowhter which was his,
1782 Sche wepte, and he what cause it is
1783 Hire axeth, and sche him ansuerde
1784 That Perse is ded; and he it herde,
1785 And wondreth what sche meene wolde:
1786 And sche upon childhode him tolde
1787 That Perse hir litel hound is ded.
1788 With that he pulleth up his hed
1789 And made riht a glad visage,
1790 And seide how that was a presage
1791 Touchende unto that other Perse,
1792 Of that fortune him scholde adverse,
1793 He seith, for such a prenostik
1794 Most of an hound was to him lik:
1795 For as it is an houndes kinde
1796 To berke upon a man behinde,
1797 Riht so behinde his brother bak
1798 With false wordes whiche he spak
1799 He hath do slain, and that is rowthe.
1800 "Bot he which hateth alle untrowthe,
1801 The hihe god, it schal redresse;
1802 For so my dowhter prophetesse
1803 Forth with hir litel houndes deth
1804 Betokneth." And thus forth he geth
1805 Conforted of this evidence,
1806 With the Romeins in his defence
1807 Ayein the Greks that ben comende.
1808 This Perses, as noght seende
1809 This meschief which that him abod,
1810 With al his multitude rod,
1811 And prided him upon the thing,
1812 Of that he was become a king,
1813 And how he hadde his regne gete;
1814 Bot he hath al the riht foryete
1815 Which longeth unto governance.
1816 Wherof thurgh goddes ordinance
1817 It fell, upon the wynter tide
1818 That with his host he scholde ride
1819 Over Danubie thilke flod,
1820 Which al befrose thanne stod
1821 So harde, that he wende wel
1822 To passe: bot the blinde whiel,
1823 Which torneth ofte er men be war,
1824 Thilke ys which that the horsmen bar
1825 Tobrak, so that a gret partie
1826 Was dreint; of the chivalerie
1827 The rerewarde it tok aweie,
1828 Cam non of hem to londe dreie.
1829 Paulus the worthi kniht Romein
1830 Be his aspie it herde sein,
1831 And hasteth him al that he may,
1832 So that upon that other day
1833 He cam wher he this host beheld,
1834 And that was in a large feld,
1835 Wher the Baneres ben desplaied.
1836 He hath anon hise men arraied,
1837 And whan that he was embatailled,
1838 He goth and hath the feld assailed,
1839 And slowh and tok al that he fond;
1840 Wherof the Macedoyne lond,
1841 Which thurgh king Alisandre honoured
1842 Long time stod, was tho devoured.
1843 To Perse and al that infortune
1844 Thei wyte, so that the comune
1845 Of al the lond his heir exile;
1846 And he despeired for the while
1847 Desguised in a povere wede
1848 To Rome goth, and ther for nede
1849 The craft which thilke time was,
1850 To worche in latoun and in bras,
1851 He lerneth for his sustienance.
1852 Such was the Sones pourveance,
1853 And of his fader it is seid,
1854 In strong prisoun that he was leid
1855 In Albe, wher that he was ded
1856 For hunger and defalte of bred.
1857 The hound was tokne and prophecie
1858 That lich an hound he scholde die,
1859 Which lich was of condicioun,
1860 Whan he with his detraccioun
1861 Bark on his brother so behinde.
1862 Lo, what profit a man mai finde,
1863 Which hindre wole an other wiht.
1864 Forthi with al thin hole miht,
1865 Mi Sone, eschuie thilke vice.
1866 Mi fader, elles were I nyce:
1867 For ye therof so wel have spoke,
1868 That it is in myn herte loke
1869 And evere schal: bot of Envie,
1870 If ther be more in his baillie
1871 Towardes love, sai me what.
1872 Mi Sone, as guile under the hat
1873 With sleyhtes of a tregetour
1874 Is hidd, Envie of such colour
1875 Hath yit the ferthe deceivant,
1876 The which is cleped Falssemblant,
1877 Wherof the matiere and the forme
1878 Now herkne and I thee schal enforme.
1879 Of Falssemblant if I schal telle,
1880 Above alle othre it is the welle
1881 Out of the which deceipte floweth.
1882 Ther is noman so wys that knoweth
1883 Of thilke flod which is the tyde,
1884 Ne how he scholde himselven guide
1885 To take sauf passage there.
1886 And yit the wynd to mannes Ere
1887 Is softe, and as it semeth oute
1888 It makth clier weder al aboute;
1889 Bot thogh it seme, it is noght so.
1890 For Falssemblant hath everemo
1891 Of his conseil in compaignie
1892 The derke untrewe Ypocrisie,
1893 Whos word descordeth to his thoght:
1894 Forthi thei ben togedre broght
1895 Of o covine, of on houshold,
1896 As it schal after this be told.
1897 Of Falssemblant it nedeth noght
1898 To telle of olde ensamples oght;
1899 For al dai in experience
1900 A man mai se thilke evidence
1901 Of faire wordes whiche he hiereth;
1902 Bot yit the barge Envie stiereth
1903 And halt it evere fro the londe,
1904 Wher Falssemblant with Ore on honde
1905 It roweth, and wol noght arive,
1906 Bot let it on the wawes dryve
1907 In gret tempeste and gret debat,
1908 Wherof that love and his astat
1909 Empeireth. And therfore I rede,
1910 Mi Sone, that thou fle and drede
1911 This vice, and what that othre sein,
1912 Let thi Semblant be trewe and plein.
1913 For Falssemblant is thilke vice,
1914 Which nevere was withoute office:
1915 Wher that Envie thenkth to guile,
1916 He schal be for that ilke while
1917 Of prive conseil Messagier.
1918 For whan his semblant is most clier,
1919 Thanne is he most derk in his thoght,
1920 Thogh men him se, thei knowe him noght;
1921 Bot as it scheweth in the glas
1922 Thing which therinne nevere was,
1923 So scheweth it in his visage
1924 That nevere was in his corage:
1925 Thus doth he al his thing with sleyhte.
1926 Now ley thi conscience in weyhte,
1927 Mi goode Sone, and schrif the hier,
1928 If thou were evere Custummer
1929 To Falssemblant in eny wise.
1930 For ought I can me yit avise,
1931 Mi goode fader, certes no.
1932 If I for love have oght do so,
1933 Now asketh, I wol praie yow:
1934 For elles I wot nevere how
1935 Of Falssemblant that I have gilt.
1936 Mi Sone, and sithen that thou wilt
1937 That I schal axe, gabbe noght,
1938 Bot tell if evere was thi thoght
1939 With Falssemblant and coverture
1940 To wite of eny creature
1941 How that he was with love lad;
1942 So were he sori, were he glad,
1943 Whan that thou wistest how it were,
1944 Al that he rounede in thin Ere
1945 Thou toldest forth in other place,
1946 To setten him fro loves grace
1947 Of what womman that thee beste liste,
1948 Ther as noman his conseil wiste
1949 Bot thou, be whom he was deceived
1950 Of love, and from his pourpos weyved;
1951 And thoghtest that his destourbance
1952 Thin oghne cause scholde avance,
1953 As who saith, "I am so celee,
1954 Ther mai no mannes privete
1955 Be heled half so wel as myn."
1956 Art thou, mi Sone, of such engin?
1957 Tell on. Mi goode fader, nay
1958 As for the more part I say;
1959 Bot of somdiel I am beknowe,
1960 That I mai stonde in thilke rowe
1961 Amonges hem that Saundres use.
1962 I wol me noght therof excuse,
1963 That I with such colour ne steyne,
1964 Whan I my beste Semblant feigne
1965 To my felawh, til that I wot
1966 Al his conseil bothe cold and hot:
1967 For be that cause I make him chiere,
1968 Til I his love knowe and hiere;
1969 And if so be myn herte soucheth
1970 That oght unto my ladi toucheth
1971 Of love that he wol me telle,
1972 Anon I renne unto the welle
1973 And caste water in the fyr,
1974 So that his carte amidd the Myr,
1975 Be that I have his conseil knowe,
1976 Fulofte sithe I overthrowe,
1977 Whan that he weneth best to stonde.
1978 Bot this I do you understonde,
1979 If that a man love elles where,
1980 So that my ladi be noght there,
1981 And he me telle, I wole it hide,
1982 Ther schal no word ascape aside,
1983 For with deceipte of no semblant
1984 To him breke I no covenant;
1985 Me liketh noght in other place
1986 To lette noman of his grace,
1987 Ne forto ben inquisitif
1988 To knowe an other mannes lif:
1989 Wher that he love or love noght,
1990 That toucheth nothing to my thoght,
1991 Bot al it passeth thurgh myn Ere
1992 Riht as a thing that nevere were,
1993 And is foryete and leid beside.
1994 Bot if it touche on eny side
1995 Mi ladi, as I have er spoken,
1996 Myn Eres ben noght thanne loken;
1997 For certes, whanne that betitt,
1998 My will, myn herte and al my witt
1999 Ben fully set to herkne and spire
2000 What eny man wol speke of hire.
2001 Thus have I feigned compaignie
2002 Fulofte, for I wolde aspie
2003 What thing it is that eny man
2004 Telle of mi worthi lady can:
2005 And for tuo causes I do this,
2006 The ferste cause wherof is,-
2007 If that I myhte ofherkne and seke
2008 That eny man of hire mispeke,
2009 I wolde excuse hire so fully,
2010 That whan sche wist in inderly,
2011 Min hope scholde be the more
2012 To have hir thank for everemore.
2013 That other cause, I you assure,
2014 Is, why that I be coverture
2015 Have feigned semblant ofte time
2016 To hem that passen alday byme
2017 And ben lovers als wel as I,
2018 For this I weene trewely,
2019 That ther is of hem alle non,
2020 That thei ne loven everich on
2021 Mi ladi: for sothliche I lieve
2022 And durste setten it in prieve,
2023 Is non so wys that scholde asterte,
2024 Bot he were lustles in his herte,
2025 Forwhy and he my ladi sihe,
2026 Hir visage and hir goodlych yhe,
2027 Bot he hire lovede, er he wente.
2028 And for that such is myn entente,
2029 That is the cause of myn aspie,
2030 Why that I feigne compaignie
2031 And make felawe overal;
2032 For gladly wolde I knowen al
2033 And holde me covert alway,
2034 That I fulofte ye or nay
2035 Ne liste ansuere in eny wise,
2036 Bot feigne semblant as the wise
2037 And herkne tales, til I knowe
2038 Mi ladi lovers al arowe.
2039 And whanne I hiere how thei have wroght,
2040 I fare as thogh I herde it noght
2041 And as I no word understode;
2042 Bot that is nothing for here goode:
2043 For lieveth wel, the sothe is this,
2044 That whanne I knowe al how it is,
2045 I wol bot forthren hem a lite,
2046 Bot al the worste I can endite
2047 I telle it to my ladi plat
2048 In forthringe of myn oghne astat,
2049 And hindre hem al that evere I may.
2050 Bot for al that yit dar I say,
2051 I finde unto miself no bote,
2052 Althogh myn herte nedes mote
2053 Thurgh strengthe of love al that I hiere
2054 Discovere unto my ladi diere:
2055 For in good feith I have no miht
2056 To hele fro that swete wiht,
2057 If that it touche hire eny thing.
2058 Bot this wot wel the hevene king,
2059 That sithen ferst this world began,
2060 Unto non other strange man
2061 Ne feigned I semblant ne chiere,
2062 To wite or axe of his matiere,
2063 Thogh that he lovede ten or tuelve,
2064 Whanne it was noght my ladi selve:
2065 Bot if he wolde axe eny red
2066 Al onlich of his oghne hed,
2067 How he with other love ferde,
2068 His tales with myn Ere I herde,
2069 Bot to myn herte cam it noght
2070 Ne sank no deppere in my thoght,
2071 Bot hield conseil, as I was bede,
2072 And tolde it nevere in other stede,
2073 Bot let it passen as it com.
2074 Now, fader, say what is thi dom,
2075 And hou thou wolt that I be peined
2076 For such Semblant as I have feigned.
2077 Mi Sone, if reson be wel peised,
2078 Ther mai no vertu ben unpreised
2079 Ne vice non be set in pris.
2080 Forthi, my Sone, if thou be wys,
2081 Do no viser upon thi face,
2082 Which as wol noght thin herte embrace:
2083 For if thou do, withinne a throwe
2084 To othre men it schal be knowe,
2085 So miht thou lihtli falle in blame
2086 And lese a gret part of thi name.
2087 And natheles in this degree
2088 Fulofte time thou myht se
2089 Of suche men that now aday
2090 This vice setten in a say:
2091 I speke it for no mannes blame,
2092 Bot forto warne thee the same.
2093 Mi Sone, as I mai hiere talke
2094 In every place where I walke,
2095 I not if it be so or non,
2096 Bot it is manye daies gon
2097 That I ferst herde telle this,
2098 How Falssemblant hath ben and is
2099 Most comunly fro yer to yere
2100 With hem that duelle among ous here,
2101 Of suche as we Lombardes calle.
2102 For thei ben the slyeste of alle,
2103 So as men sein in toune aboute,
2104 To feigne and schewe thing withoute
2105 Which is revers to that withinne:
2106 Wherof that thei fulofte winne,
2107 Whan thei be reson scholden lese;
2108 Thei ben the laste and yit thei chese,
2109 And we the ferste, and yit behinde
2110 We gon, there as we scholden finde
2111 The profit of oure oghne lond:
2112 Thus gon thei fre withoute bond
2113 To don her profit al at large,
2114 And othre men bere al the charge.
2115 Of Lombardz unto this covine,
2116 Whiche alle londes conne engine,
2117 Mai Falssemblant in special
2118 Be likned, for thei overal,
2119 Wher as they thenken forto duelle,
2120 Among hemself, so as thei telle,
2121 Ferst ben enformed forto lere
2122 A craft which cleped is Fa crere:
2123 For if Fa crere come aboute,
2124 Thanne afterward hem stant no doute
2125 To voide with a soubtil hond
2126 The beste goodes of the lond
2127 And bringe chaf and take corn.
2128 Where as Fa crere goth toforn,
2129 In all his weie he fynt no lette;
2130 That Dore can non huissher schette
2131 In which him list to take entre:
2132 And thus the conseil most secre
2133 Of every thing Fa crere knoweth,
2134 Which into strange place he bloweth,
2135 Where as he wot it mai most grieve.
2136 And thus Fa crere makth believe,
2137 So that fulofte he hath deceived,
2138 Er that he mai ben aperceived.
2139 Thus is this vice forto drede;
2140 For who these olde bokes rede
2141 Of suche ensamples as were ar,
2142 Him oghte be the more war
2143 Of alle tho that feigne chiere,
2144 Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere.
2145 Of Falssemblant which is believed
2146 Ful many a worthi wiht is grieved,
2147 And was long time er we wer bore.
2148 To thee, my Sone, I wol therfore
2149 A tale telle of Falssemblant,
2150 Which falseth many a covenant,
2151 And many a fraude of fals conseil
2152 Ther ben hangende upon his Seil:
2153 And that aboghten gulteles
2154 Bothe Deianire and Hercules,
2155 The whiche in gret desese felle
2156 Thurgh Falssemblant, as I schal telle.
2157 Whan Hercules withinne a throwe
2158 Al only hath his herte throwe
2159 Upon this faire Deianire,
2160 It fell him on a dai desire,
2161 Upon a Rivere as he stod,
2162 That passe he wolde over the flod
2163 Withoute bot, and with him lede
2164 His love, bot he was in drede
2165 For tendresce of that swete wiht,
2166 For he knew noght the forde ariht.
2167 Ther was a Geant thanne nyh,
2168 Which Nessus hihte, and whanne he sih
2169 This Hercules and Deianyre,
2170 Withinne his herte he gan conspire,
2171 As he which thurgh his tricherie
2172 Hath Hercules in gret envie,
2173 Which he bar in his herte loke,
2174 And thanne he thoghte it schal be wroke.
2175 Bot he ne dorste natheles
2176 Ayein this worthi Hercules
2177 Falle in debat as forto feihte;
2178 Bot feigneth Semblant al be sleihte
2179 Of frendschipe and of alle goode,
2180 And comth where as thei bothe stode,
2181 And makth hem al the chiere he can,
2182 And seith that as here oghne man
2183 He is al redy forto do
2184 What thing he mai; and it fell so
2185 That thei upon his Semblant triste,
2186 And axen him if that he wiste
2187 What thing hem were best to done,
2188 So that thei mihten sauf and sone
2189 The water passe, he and sche.
2190 And whan Nessus the privete
2191 Knew of here herte what it mente,
2192 As he that was of double entente,
2193 He made hem riht a glad visage;
2194 And whanne he herde of the passage
2195 Of him and hire, he thoghte guile,
2196 And feigneth Semblant for a while
2197 To don hem plesance and servise,
2198 Bot he thoghte al an other wise.
2199 This Nessus with hise wordes slyhe
2200 Yaf such conseil tofore here yhe
2201 Which semeth outward profitable
2202 And was withinne deceivable.
2203 He bad hem of the Stremes depe
2204 That thei be war and take kepe,
2205 So as thei knowe noght the pas;
2206 Bot forto helpe in such a cas,
2207 He seith himself that for here ese
2208 He wolde, if that it mihte hem plese,
2209 The passage of the water take,
2210 And for this ladi undertake
2211 To bere unto that other stronde
2212 And sauf to sette hire up alonde,
2213 And Hercules may thanne also
2214 The weie knowe how he schal go:
2215 And herto thei acorden alle.
2216 Bot what as after schal befalle,
2217 Wel payd was Hercules of this,
2218 And this Geant also glad is,
2219 And tok this ladi up alofte
2220 And set hire on his schuldre softe,
2221 And in the flod began to wade,
2222 As he which no grucchinge made,
2223 And bar hire over sauf and sound.
2224 Bot whanne he stod on dreie ground
2225 And Hercules was fer behinde,
2226 He sette his trowthe al out of mynde,
2227 Who so therof be lief or loth,
2228 With Deianyre and forth he goth,
2229 As he that thoghte to dissevere
2230 The compaignie of hem for evere.
2231 Whan Hercules therof tok hiede,
2232 Als faste as evere he mihte him spiede
2233 He hyeth after in a throwe;
2234 And hapneth that he hadde a bowe,
2235 The which in alle haste he bende,
2236 As he that wolde an Arwe sende,
2237 Which he tofore hadde envenimed.
2238 He hath so wel his schote timed,
2239 That he him thurgh the bodi smette,
2240 And thus the false wiht he lette.
2241 Bot lest now such a felonie:
2242 Whan Nessus wiste he scholde die,
2243 He tok to Deianyre his scherte,
2244 Which with the blod was of his herte
2245 Thurghout desteigned overal,
2246 And tolde how sche it kepe schal
2247 Al prively to this entente,
2248 That if hire lord his herte wente
2249 To love in eny other place,
2250 The scherte, he seith, hath such a grace,
2251 That if sche mai so mochel make
2252 That he the scherte upon him take,
2253 He schal alle othre lete in vein
2254 And torne unto hire love ayein.
2255 Who was tho glad bot Deianyre?
2256 Hire thoghte hire herte was afyre
2257 Til it was in hire cofre loke,
2258 So that no word therof was spoke.
2259 The daies gon, the yeres passe,
2260 The hertes waxen lasse and lasse
2261 Of hem that ben to love untrewe:
2262 This Hercules with herte newe
2263 His love hath set on Eolen,
2264 And therof spieken alle men.
2265 This Eolen, this faire maide,
2266 Was, as men thilke time saide,
2267 The kinges dowhter of Eurice;
2268 And sche made Hercules so nyce
2269 Upon hir Love and so assote,
2270 That he him clotheth in hire cote,
2271 And sche in his was clothed ofte;
2272 And thus fieblesce is set alofte,
2273 And strengthe was put under fote,
2274 Ther can noman therof do bote.
2275 Whan Deianyre hath herd this speche,
2276 Ther was no sorwe forto seche:
2277 Of other helpe wot sche non,
2278 Bot goth unto hire cofre anon;
2279 With wepende yhe and woful herte
2280 Sche tok out thilke unhappi scherte,
2281 As sche that wende wel to do,
2282 And broghte hire werk aboute so
2283 That Hercules this scherte on dede,
2284 To such entente as she was bede
2285 Of Nessus, so as I seide er.
2286 Bot therof was sche noght the ner,
2287 As no fortune may be weyved;
2288 With Falssemblant sche was deceived,
2289 That whan sche wende best have wonne,
2290 Sche lost al that sche hath begonne.
2291 For thilke scherte unto the bon
2292 His body sette afyre anon,
2293 And cleveth so, it mai noght twinne,
2294 For the venym that was therinne.
2295 And he thanne as a wilde man
2296 Unto the hihe wode he ran,
2297 And as the Clerk Ovide telleth,
2298 The grete tres to grounde he felleth
2299 With strengthe al of his oghne myght,
2300 And made an huge fyr upriht,
2301 And lepte himself therinne at ones
2302 And brende him bothe fleissh and bones.
2303 Which thing cam al thurgh Falssemblant,
2304 That false Nessus the Geant
2305 Made unto him and to his wif;
2306 Wherof that he hath lost his lif,
2307 And sche sori for everemo.
2308 Forthi, my Sone, er thee be wo,
2309 I rede, be wel war therfore;
2310 For whan so gret a man was lore,
2311 It oghte yive a gret conceipte
2312 To warne alle othre of such deceipte.
2313 Grant mercy, fader, I am war
2314 So fer that I nomore dar
2315 Of Falssemblant take aqueintance;
2316 Bot rathere I wol do penance
2317 That I have feigned chiere er this.
2318 Now axeth forth, what so ther is
2319 Of that belongeth to my schrifte.
2320 Mi Sone, yit ther is the fifte
2321 Which is conceived of Envie,
2322 And cleped is Supplantarie,
2323 Thurgh whos compassement and guile
2324 Ful many a man hath lost his while
2325 In love als wel as otherwise,
2326 Hierafter as I schal devise.
2327 The vice of Supplantacioun
2328 With many a fals collacioun,
2329 Which he conspireth al unknowe,
2330 Full ofte time hath overthrowe
2331 The worschipe of an other man.
2332 So wel no lif awayte can
2333 Ayein his sleyhte forto caste,
2334 That he his pourpos ate laste
2335 Ne hath, er that it be withset.
2336 Bot most of alle his herte is set
2337 In court upon these grete Offices
2338 Of dignitees and benefices:
2339 Thus goth he with his sleyhte aboute
2340 To hindre and schowve an other oute
2341 And stonden with his slyh compas
2342 In stede there an other was;
2343 And so to sette himselven inne,
2344 He reccheth noght, be so he winne,
2345 Of that an other man schal lese,
2346 And thus fulofte chalk for chese
2347 He changeth with ful litel cost,
2348 Wherof an other hath the lost
2349 And he the profit schal receive.
2350 For his fortune is to deceive
2351 And forto change upon the whel
2352 His wo with othre mennes wel:
2353 Of that an other man avaleth,
2354 His oghne astat thus up he haleth,
2355 And takth the bridd to his beyete,
2356 Wher othre men the buisshes bete.
2357 Mi Sone, and in the same wise
2358 Ther ben lovers of such emprise,
2359 That schapen hem to be relieved
2360 Where it is wrong to ben achieved:
2361 For it is other mannes riht,
2362 Which he hath taken dai and niht
2363 To kepe for his oghne Stor
2364 Toward himself for everemor,
2365 And is his propre be the lawe,
2366 Which thing that axeth no felawe,
2367 If love holde his covenant.
2368 Bot thei that worchen be supplaunt,
2369 Yit wolden thei a man supplaunte,
2370 And take a part of thilke plaunte
2371 Which he hath for himselve set:
2372 And so fulofte is al unknet,
2373 That som man weneth be riht fast.
2374 For Supplant with his slyhe cast
2375 Fulofte happneth forto mowe
2376 Thing which an other man hath sowe,
2377 And makth comun of proprete
2378 With sleihte and with soubtilite,
2379 As men mai se fro yer to yere.
2380 Thus cleymeth he the bot to stiere,
2381 Of which an other maister is.
2382 Forthi, my Sone, if thou er this
2383 Hast ben of such professioun,
2384 Discovere thi confessioun:
2385 Hast thou supplanted eny man?
2386 For oght that I you telle can,
2387 Min holi fader, as of the dede
2388 I am withouten eny drede
2389 Al gulteles; bot of my thoght
2390 Mi conscience excuse I noght.
2391 For were it wrong or were it riht,
2392 Me lakketh nothing bote myht,
2393 That I ne wolde longe er this
2394 Of other mannes love ywiss
2395 Be weie of Supplantacioun
2396 Have mad apropriacioun
2397 And holde that I nevere boghte,
2398 Thogh it an other man forthoghte.
2399 And al this speke I bot of on,
2400 For whom I lete alle othre gon;
2401 Bot hire I mai noght overpasse,
2402 That I ne mot alwey compasse,
2403 Me roghte noght be what queintise,
2404 So that I mihte in eny wise
2405 Fro suche that mi ladi serve
2406 Hire herte make forto swerve
2407 Withouten eny part of love.
2408 For be the goddes alle above
2409 I wolde it mihte so befalle,
2410 That I al one scholde hem alle
2411 Supplante, and welde hire at mi wille.
2412 And that thing mai I noght fulfille,
2413 Bot if I scholde strengthe make;
2414 And that I dar noght undertake,
2415 Thogh I were as was Alisaundre,
2416 For therof mihte arise sklaundre;
2417 And certes that schal I do nevere,
2418 For in good feith yit hadde I levere
2419 In my simplesce forto die,
2420 Than worche such Supplantarie.
2421 Of otherwise I wol noght seie
2422 That if I founde a seker weie,
2423 I wolde as for conclusioun
2424 Worche after Supplantacioun,
2425 So hihe a love forto winne.
2426 Now, fader, if that this be Sinne,
2427 I am al redy to redresce
2428 The gilt of which I me confesse.
2429 Mi goode Sone, as of Supplant
2430 Thee thar noght drede tant ne quant,
2431 As for nothing that I have herd,
2432 Bot only that thou hast misferd
2433 Thenkende, and that me liketh noght,
2434 For godd beholt a mannes thoght.
2435 And if thou understode in soth
2436 In loves cause what it doth,
2437 A man to ben a Supplantour,
2438 Thou woldest for thin oghne honour
2439 Be double weie take kepe:
2440 Ferst for thin oghne astat to kepe,
2441 To be thiself so wel bethoght
2442 That thou supplanted were noght,
2443 And ek for worschipe of thi name
2444 Towardes othre do the same,
2445 And soffren every man have his.
2446 Bot natheles it was and is,
2447 That in a wayt at alle assaies
2448 Supplant of love in oure daies
2449 The lief fulofte for the levere
2450 Forsakth, and so it hath don evere.
2451 Ensample I finde therupon,
2452 At Troie how that Agamenon
2453 Supplantede the worthi knyht
2454 Achilles of that swete wiht,
2455 Which named was Brexei5da;
2456 And also of Crisei5da,
2457 Whom Troilus to love ches,
2458 Supplanted hath Diomedes.
2459 Of Geta and Amphitrion,
2460 That whilom weren bothe as on
2461 Of frendschipe and of compaignie,
2462 I rede how that Supplantarie
2463 In love, as it betidde tho,
2464 Beguiled hath on of hem tuo.
2465 For this Geta that I of meene,
2466 To whom the lusti faire Almeene
2467 Assured was be weie of love,
2468 Whan he best wende have ben above
2469 And sikerest of that he hadde,
2470 Cupido so the cause ladde,
2471 That whil he was out of the weie,
2472 Amphitrion hire love aweie
2473 Hath take, and in this forme he wroghte.
2474 Be nyhte unto the chambre he soghte,
2475 Wher that sche lay, and with a wyle
2476 He contrefeteth for the whyle
2477 The vois of Gete in such a wise,
2478 That made hire of hire bedd arise,
2479 Wenende that it were he,
2480 And let him in, and whan thei be
2481 Togedre abedde in armes faste,
2482 This Geta cam thanne ate laste
2483 Unto the Dore and seide, "Undo."
2484 And sche ansuerde and bad him go,
2485 And seide how that abedde al warm
2486 Hir lief lay naked in hir arm;
2487 Sche wende that it were soth.
2488 Lo, what Supplant of love doth:
2489 This Geta forth bejaped wente,
2490 And yit ne wiste he what it mente;
2491 Amphitrion him hath supplanted
2492 With sleyhte of love and hire enchaunted:
2493 And thus put every man out other,
2494 The Schip of love hath lost his Rother,
2495 So that he can no reson stiere.
2496 And forto speke of this matiere
2497 Touchende love and his Supplant,
2498 A tale which is acordant
2499 Unto thin Ere I thenke enforme.
2500 Now herkne, for this is the forme.
2501 Of thilke Cite chief of alle
2502 Which men the noble Rome calle,
2503 Er it was set to Cristes feith,
2504 Ther was, as the Cronique seith,
2505 An Emperour, the which it ladde
2506 In pes, that he no werres hadde:
2507 Ther was nothing desobeissant
2508 Which was to Rome appourtenant,
2509 Bot al was torned into reste.
2510 To some it thoghte for the beste,
2511 To some it thoghte nothing so,
2512 And that was only unto tho
2513 Whos herte stod upon knyhthode:
2514 Bot most of alle of his manhode
2515 The worthi Sone of themperour,
2516 Which wolde ben a werreiour,
2517 As he that was chivalerous
2518 Of worldes fame and desirous,
2519 Began his fadre to beseche
2520 That he the werres mihte seche,
2521 In strange Marches forto ride.
2522 His fader seide he scholde abide,
2523 And wolde granten him no leve:
2524 Bot he, which wolde noght beleve,
2525 A kniht of his to whom he triste,
2526 So that his fader nothing wiste,
2527 He tok and tolde him his corage,
2528 That he pourposeth a viage.
2529 If that fortune with him stonde,
2530 He seide how that he wolde fonde
2531 The grete See to passe unknowe,
2532 And there abyde for a throwe
2533 Upon the werres to travaile.
2534 And to this point withoute faile
2535 This kniht, whan he hath herd his lord,
2536 Is swore, and stant of his acord,
2537 As thei that bothe yonge were;
2538 So that in prive conseil there
2539 Thei ben assented forto wende.
2540 And therupon to make an ende,
2541 Tresor ynowh with hem thei token,
2542 And whan the time is best thei loken,
2543 That sodeinliche in a Galeie
2544 Fro Romelond thei wente here weie
2545 And londe upon that other side.
2546 The world fell so that ilke tide,
2547 Which evere hise happes hath diverse,
2548 The grete Soldan thanne of Perse
2549 Ayein the Caliphe of Egipte
2550 A werre, which that him beclipte,
2551 Hath in a Marche costeiant.
2552 And he, which was a poursuiant
2553 Worschipe of armes to atteigne,
2554 This Romein, let anon ordeigne,
2555 That he was redi everydel:
2556 And whan he was arraied wel
2557 Of every thing which him belongeth,
2558 Straght unto Kaire his weie he fongeth,
2559 Wher he the Soldan thanne fond,
2560 And axeth that withinne his lond
2561 He mihte him for the werre serve,
2562 As he which wolde his thonk deserve.
2563 The Soldan was riht glad with al,
2564 And wel the more in special
2565 Whan that he wiste he was Romein;
2566 Bot what was elles in certein,
2567 That mihte he wite be no weie.
2568 And thus the kniht of whom I seie
2569 Toward the Soldan is beleft,
2570 And in the Marches now and eft,
2571 Wher that the dedli werres were,
2572 He wroghte such knihthode there,
2573 That every man spak of him good.
2574 And thilke time so it stod,
2575 This mihti Soldan be his wif
2576 A Dowhter hath, that in this lif
2577 Men seiden ther was non so fair.
2578 Sche scholde ben hir fader hair,
2579 And was of yeres ripe ynowh:
2580 Hire beaute many an herte drowh
2581 To bowe unto that ilke lawe
2582 Fro which no lif mai be withdrawe,
2583 And that is love, whos nature
2584 Set lif and deth in aventure
2585 Of hem that knyhthode undertake.
2586 This lusti peine hath overtake
2587 The herte of this Romein so sore,
2588 That to knihthode more and more
2589 Prouesce avanceth his corage.
2590 Lich to the Leoun in his rage,
2591 Fro whom that alle bestes fle,
2592 Such was the knyht in his degre:
2593 Wher he was armed in the feld,
2594 Ther dorste non abide his scheld;
2595 Gret pris upon the werre he hadde.
2596 Bot sche which al the chance ladde,
2597 Fortune, schop the Marches so,
2598 That be thassent of bothe tuo,
2599 The Soldan and the Caliphe eke,
2600 Bataille upon a dai thei seke,
2601 Which was in such a wise set
2602 That lengere scholde it noght be let.
2603 Thei made hem stronge on every side,
2604 And whan it drowh toward the tide
2605 That the bataille scholde be,
2606 The Soldan in gret privete
2607 A goldring of his dowhter tok,
2608 And made hire swere upon a bok
2609 And ek upon the goddes alle,
2610 That if fortune so befalle
2611 In the bataille that he deie,
2612 That sche schal thilke man obeie
2613 And take him to hire housebonde,
2614 Which thilke same Ring to honde
2615 Hire scholde bringe after his deth.
2616 This hath sche swore, and forth he geth
2617 With al the pouer of his lond
2618 Unto the Marche, where he fond
2619 His enemy full embatailled.
2620 The Soldan hath the feld assailed:
2621 Thei that ben hardy sone assemblen,
2622 Wherof the dredfull hertes tremblen:
2623 That on sleth, and that other sterveth,
2624 Bot above all his pris deserveth
2625 This knihtly Romein; where he rod,
2626 His dedly swerd noman abod,
2627 Ayein the which was no defence;
2628 Egipte fledde in his presence,
2629 And thei of Perse upon the chace
2630 Poursuien: bot I not what grace
2631 Befell, an Arwe out of a bowe
2632 Al sodeinly that ilke throwe
2633 The Soldan smot, and ther he lay:
2634 The chace is left for thilke day,
2635 And he was bore into a tente.
2636 The Soldan sih how that it wente,
2637 And that he scholde algate die;
2638 And to this knyht of Romanie,
2639 As unto him whom he most triste,
2640 His Dowhter Ring, that non it wiste,
2641 He tok, and tolde him al the cas,
2642 Upon hire oth what tokne it was
2643 Of that sche scholde ben his wif.
2644 Whan this was seid, the hertes lif
2645 Of this Soldan departeth sone;
2646 And therupon, as was to done,
2647 The dede body wel and faire
2648 Thei carie til thei come at Kaire,
2649 Wher he was worthily begrave.
2650 The lordes, whiche as wolden save
2651 The Regne which was desolat,
2652 To bringe it into good astat
2653 A parlement thei sette anon.
2654 Now herkne what fell therupon:
2655 This yonge lord, this worthi kniht
2656 Of Rome, upon the same niht
2657 That thei amorwe trete scholde,
2658 Unto his Bacheler he tolde
2659 His conseil, and the Ring with al
2660 He scheweth, thurgh which that he schal,
2661 He seith, the kinges Dowhter wedde,
2662 For so the Ring was leid to wedde,
2663 He tolde, into hir fader hond,
2664 That with what man that sche it fond
2665 Sche scholde him take to hire lord.
2666 And this, he seith, stant of record,
2667 Bot noman wot who hath this Ring.
2668 This Bacheler upon this thing
2669 His Ere and his entente leide,
2670 And thoghte more thanne he seide,
2671 And feigneth with a fals visage
2672 That he was glad, bot his corage
2673 Was al set in an other wise.
2674 These olde Philosophres wise
2675 Thei writen upon thilke while,
2676 That he mai best a man beguile
2677 In whom the man hath most credence;
2678 And this befell in evidence
2679 Toward this yonge lord of Rome.
2680 His Bacheler, which hadde tome,
2681 Whan that his lord be nihte slepte,
2682 This Ring, the which his maister kepte,
2683 Out of his Pours awey he dede,
2684 And putte an other in the stede.
2685 Amorwe, whan the Court is set,
2686 The yonge ladi was forth fet,
2687 To whom the lordes don homage,
2688 And after that of Mariage
2689 Thei trete and axen of hir wille.
2690 Bot sche, which thoghte to fulfille
2691 Hire fader heste in this matiere,
2692 Seide openly, that men mai hiere,
2693 The charge which hire fader bad.
2694 Tho was this Lord of Rome glad
2695 And drowh toward his Pours anon,
2696 Bot al for noght, it was agon:
2697 His Bacheler it hath forthdrawe,
2698 And axeth ther upon the lawe
2699 That sche him holde covenant.
2700 The tokne was so sufficant
2701 That it ne mihte be forsake,
2702 And natheles his lord hath take
2703 Querelle ayein his oghne man;
2704 Bot for nothing that evere he can
2705 He mihte as thanne noght ben herd,
2706 So that his cleym is unansuerd,
2707 And he hath of his pourpos failed.
2708 This Bacheler was tho consailed
2709 And wedded, and of thilke Empire
2710 He was coroned Lord and Sire,
2711 And al the lond him hath received;
2712 Wherof his lord, which was deceived,
2713 A seknesse er the thridde morwe
2714 Conceived hath of dedly sorwe:
2715 And as he lay upon his deth,
2716 Therwhile him lasteth speche and breth,
2717 He sende for the worthieste
2718 Of al the lond and ek the beste,
2719 And tolde hem al the sothe tho,
2720 That he was Sone and Heir also
2721 Of themperour of grete Rome,
2722 And how that thei togedre come,
2723 This kniht and he; riht as it was,
2724 He tolde hem al the pleine cas,
2725 And for that he his conseil tolde,
2726 That other hath al that he wolde,
2727 And he hath failed of his mede:
2728 As for the good he takth non hiede,
2729 He seith, bot only of the love,
2730 Of which he wende have ben above.
2731 And therupon be lettre write
2732 He doth his fader forto wite
2733 Of al this matiere as it stod;
2734 And thanne with an hertly mod
2735 Unto the lordes he besoghte
2736 To telle his ladi how he boghte
2737 Hire love, of which an other gladeth;
2738 And with that word his hewe fadeth,
2739 And seide, "A dieu, my ladi swete."
2740 The lif hath lost his kindly hete,
2741 And he lay ded as eny ston;
2742 Wherof was sory manyon,
2743 Bot non of alle so as sche.
2744 This false knyht in his degree
2745 Arested was and put in hold:
2746 For openly whan it was told
2747 Of the tresoun which is befalle,
2748 Thurghout the lond thei seiden alle,
2749 If it be soth that men suppose,
2750 His oghne untrowthe him schal depose.
2751 And forto seche an evidence,
2752 With honour and gret reverence,
2753 Wherof they mihten knowe an ende,
2754 To themperour anon thei sende
2755 The lettre which his Sone wrot.
2756 And whan that he the sothe wot,
2757 To telle his sorwe is endeles,
2758 Bot yit in haste natheles
2759 Upon the tale which he herde
2760 His Stieward into Perse ferde
2761 With many a worthi Romein eke,
2762 His liege tretour forto seke;
2763 And whan thei thider come were,
2764 This kniht him hath confessed there
2765 How falsly that he hath him bore,
2766 Wherof his worthi lord was lore.
2767 Tho seiden some he scholde deie,
2768 Bot yit thei founden such a weie
2769 That he schal noght be ded in Perse;
2770 And thus the skiles ben diverse.
2771 Be cause that he was coroned,
2772 And that the lond was abandoned
2773 To him, althogh it were unriht,
2774 Ther is no peine for him diht;
2775 Bot to this point and to this ende
2776 Thei granten wel that he schal wende
2777 With the Romeins to Rome ayein.
2778 And thus acorded ful and plein,
2779 The qwike body with the dede
2780 With leve take forth thei lede,
2781 Wher that Supplant hath his juise.
2782 Wherof that thou thee miht avise
2783 Upon this enformacioun
2784 Touchende of Supplantacioun,
2785 That thou, my Sone, do noght so:
2786 And forto take hiede also
2787 What Supplant doth in other halve,
2788 Ther is noman can finde a salve
2789 Pleinly to helen such a Sor;
2790 It hath and schal ben everemor,
2791 Whan Pride is with Envie joint,
2792 He soffreth noman in good point,
2793 Wher that he mai his honour lette.
2794 And therupon if I schal sette
2795 Ensample, in holy cherche I finde
2796 How that Supplant is noght behinde;
2797 God wot if that it now be so:
2798 For in Cronique of time ago
2799 I finde a tale concordable
2800 Of Supplant, which that is no fable,
2801 In the manere as I schal telle,
2802 So as whilom the thinges felle.
2803 At Rome, as it hath ofte falle,
2804 The vicair general of alle
2805 Of hem that lieven Cristes feith
2806 His laste day, which non withseith,
2807 Hath schet as to the worldes ije,
2808 Whos name if I schal specefie,
2809 He hihte Pope Nicolas.
2810 And thus whan that he passed was,
2811 The Cardinals, that wolden save
2812 The forme of lawe, in the conclave
2813 Gon forto chese a newe Pope,
2814 And after that thei cowthe agrope
2815 Hath ech of hem seid his entente:
2816 Til ate laste thei assente
2817 Upon an holy clerk reclus,
2818 Which full was of gostli vertus;
2819 His pacience and his simplesse
2820 Hath set him into hih noblesse.
2821 Thus was he Pope canonized,
2822 With gret honour and intronized,
2823 And upon chance as it is falle,
2824 His name Celestin men calle;
2825 Which notefied was be bulle
2826 To holi cherche and to the fulle
2827 In alle londes magnified.
2828 Bot every worschipe is envied,
2829 And that was thilke time sene:
2830 For whan this Pope of whom I meene
2831 Was chose, and othre set beside,
2832 A Cardinal was thilke tide
2833 Which the papat longe hath desired
2834 And therupon gretli conspired;
2835 Bot whan he sih fortune is failed,
2836 For which long time he hath travailed,
2837 That ilke fyr which Ethna brenneth
2838 Thurghout his wofull herte renneth,
2839 Which is resembled to Envie,
2840 Wherof Supplant and tricherie
2841 Engendred is; and natheles
2842 He feigneth love, he feigneth pes,
2843 Outward he doth the reverence,
2844 Bot al withinne his conscience
2845 Thurgh fals ymaginacioun
2846 He thoghte Supplantacioun.
2847 And therupon a wonder wyle
2848 He wroghte: for at thilke whyle
2849 It fell so that of his lignage
2850 He hadde a clergoun of yong age,
2851 Whom he hath in his chambre affaited.
2852 This Cardinal his time hath waited,
2853 And with his wordes slyhe and queinte,
2854 The whiche he cowthe wysly peinte,
2855 He schop this clerk of which I telle
2856 Toward the Pope forto duelle,
2857 So that withinne his chambre anyht
2858 He lai, and was a prive wyht
2859 Toward the Pope on nyhtes tide.
2860 Mai noman fle that schal betide.
2861 This Cardinal, which thoghte guile,
2862 Upon a day whan he hath while
2863 This yonge clerc unto him tok,
2864 And made him swere upon a bok,
2865 And told him what his wille was.
2866 And forth withal a Trompe of bras
2867 He hath him take, and bad him this:
2868 "Thou schalt," he seide, "whan time is
2869 Awaite, and take riht good kepe,
2870 Whan that the Pope is fast aslepe
2871 And that non other man by nyh;
2872 And thanne that thou be so slyh
2873 Thurghout the Trompe into his Ere,
2874 Fro hevene as thogh a vois it were,
2875 To soune of such prolacioun
2876 That he his meditacioun
2877 Therof mai take and understonde,
2878 As thogh it were of goddes sonde.
2879 And in this wise thou schalt seie,
2880 That he do thilke astat aweie
2881 Of Pope, in which he stant honoured,
2882 So schal his Soule be socoured
2883 Of thilke worschipe ate laste
2884 In hevene which schal evere laste."
2885 This clerc, whan he hath herd the forme
2886 How he the Pope scholde enforme,
2887 Tok of the Cardinal his leve,
2888 And goth him hom, til it was Eve,
2889 And prively the trompe he hedde,
2890 Til that the Pope was abedde.
2891 And at the Midnyht, whan he knewh
2892 The Pope slepte, thanne he blewh
2893 Withinne his trompe thurgh the wal,
2894 And tolde in what manere he schal
2895 His Papacie leve, and take
2896 His ferste astat: and thus awake
2897 This holi Pope he made thries,
2898 Wherof diverse fantasies
2899 Upon his grete holinesse
2900 Withinne his herte he gan impresse.
2901 The Pope ful of innocence
2902 Conceiveth in his conscience
2903 That it is goddes wille he cesse;
2904 Bot in what wise he may relesse
2905 His hihe astat, that wot he noght.
2906 And thus withinne himself bethoght,
2907 He bar it stille in his memoire,
2908 Til he cam to the Consistoire;
2909 And there in presence of hem alle
2910 He axeth, if it so befalle
2911 That eny Pope cesse wolde,
2912 How that the lawe it soffre scholde.
2913 Thei seten alle stille and herde,
2914 Was non which to the point ansuerde,
2915 For to what pourpos that it mente
2916 Ther was noman knew his entente,
2917 Bot only he which schop the guile.
2918 This Cardinal the same while
2919 Al openly with wordes pleine
2920 Seith, if the Pope wolde ordeigne
2921 That ther be such a lawe wroght,
2922 Than mihte he cesse, and elles noght.
2923 And as he seide, don it was;
2924 The Pope anon upon the cas
2925 Of his Papal Autorite
2926 Hath mad and yove the decre:
2927 And whan that lawe was confermed
2928 In due forme and al affermed,
2929 This innocent, which was deceived,
2930 His Papacie anon hath weyved,
2931 Renounced and resigned eke.
2932 That other was nothing to seke,
2933 Bot undernethe such a jape
2934 He hath so for himselve schape,
2935 That how as evere it him beseme,
2936 The Mitre with the Diademe
2937 He hath thurgh Supplantacion:
2938 And in his confirmacion
2939 Upon the fortune of his grace
2940 His name is cleped Boneface.
2941 Under the viser of Envie,
2942 Lo, thus was hid the tricherie,
2943 Which hath beguiled manyon.
2944 Bot such conseil ther mai be non,
2945 With treson whan it is conspired,
2946 That it nys lich the Sparke fyred
2947 Up in the Rof, which for a throwe
2948 Lith hidd, til whan the wyndes blowe
2949 It blaseth out on every side.
2950 This Bonefas, which can noght hyde
2951 The tricherie of his Supplant,
2952 Hath openly mad his avant
2953 How he the Papacie hath wonne.
2954 Bot thing which is with wrong begonne
2955 Mai nevere stonde wel at ende;
2956 Wher Pride schal the bowe bende,
2957 He schet fulofte out of the weie:
2958 And thus the Pope of whom I seie,
2959 Whan that he stod on hih the whiel,
2960 He can noght soffre himself be wel.
2961 Envie, which is loveles,
2962 And Pride, which is laweles,
2963 With such tempeste made him erre,
2964 That charite goth out of herre:
2965 So that upon misgovernance
2966 Ayein Lowyz the king of France
2967 He tok querelle of his oultrage,
2968 And seide he scholde don hommage
2969 Unto the cherche bodily.
2970 Bot he, that wiste nothing why
2971 He scholde do so gret servise
2972 After the world in such a wise,
2973 Withstod the wrong of that demande;
2974 For noght the Pope mai comande
2975 The king wol noght the Pope obeie.
2976 This Pope tho be alle weie
2977 That he mai worche of violence
2978 Hath sent the bulle of his sentence
2979 With cursinge and with enterdit.
2980 The king upon this wrongful plyt,
2981 To kepe his regne fro servage,
2982 Conseiled was of his Barnage
2983 That miht with miht schal be withstonde.
2984 Thus was the cause take on honde,
2985 And seiden that the Papacie
2986 Thei wolde honoure and magnefie
2987 In al that evere is spirital;
2988 Bot thilke Pride temporal
2989 Of Boneface in his persone,
2990 Ayein that ilke wrong al one
2991 Thei wolde stonden in debat:
2992 And thus the man and noght the stat
2993 The Frensche schopen be her miht
2994 To grieve. And fell ther was a kniht,
2995 Sire Guilliam de Langharet,
2996 Which was upon this cause set;
2997 And therupon he tok a route
2998 Of men of Armes and rod oute,
2999 So longe and in a wayt he lay,
3000 That he aspide upon a day
3001 The Pope was at Avinoun,
3002 And scholde ryde out of the toun
3003 Unto Pontsorge, the which is
3004 A Castell in Provence of his.
3005 Upon the weie and as he rod,
3006 This kniht, which hoved and abod
3007 Embuisshed upon horse bak,
3008 Al sodeinliche upon him brak
3009 And hath him be the bridel sesed,
3010 And seide: "O thou, which hast desesed
3011 The Court of France be thi wrong,
3012 Now schalt thou singe an other song:
3013 Thin enterdit and thi sentence
3014 Ayein thin oghne conscience
3015 Hierafter thou schalt fiele and grope.
3016 We pleigne noght ayein the Pope,
3017 For thilke name is honourable,
3018 Bot thou, which hast be deceivable
3019 And tricherous in al thi werk,
3020 Thou Bonefas, thou proude clerk,
3021 Misledere of the Papacie,
3022 Thi false bodi schal abye
3023 And soffre that it hath deserved."
3024 Lo, thus the Supplantour was served;
3025 For thei him ladden into France
3026 And setten him to his penance
3027 Withinne a tour in harde bondes,
3028 Wher he for hunger bothe hise hondes
3029 Eet of and deide, god wot how:
3030 Of whom the wrytinge is yit now
3031 Registred, as a man mai hiere,
3032 Which spekth and seith in this manere:
3033 Thin entre lich the fox was slyh,
3034 Thi regne also with pride on hih
3035 Was lich the Leon in his rage;
3036 Bot ate laste of thi passage
3037 Thi deth was to the houndes like.
3038 Such is the lettre of his Cronique
3039 Proclamed in the Court of Rome,
3040 Wherof the wise ensample nome.
3041 And yit, als ferforth as I dar,
3042 I rede alle othre men be war,
3043 And that thei loke wel algate
3044 That non his oghne astat translate
3045 Of holi cherche in no degree
3046 Be fraude ne soubtilite:
3047 For thilke honour which Aaron tok
3048 Schal non receive, as seith the bok,
3049 Bot he be cleped as he was.
3050 What I schal thenken in this cas
3051 Of that I hiere now aday,
3052 I not: bot he which can and may,
3053 Be reson bothe and be nature
3054 The help of every mannes cure,
3055 He kepe Simon fro the folde.
3056 For Joachim thilke Abbot tolde
3057 How suche daies scholden falle,
3058 That comunliche in places alle
3059 The Chapmen of such mercerie
3060 With fraude and with Supplantarie
3061 So manye scholden beie and selle,
3062 That he ne may for schame telle
3063 So foul a Senne in mannes Ere.
3064 Bot god forbiede that it were
3065 In oure daies that he seith:
3066 For if the Clerc beware his feith
3067 In chapmanhod at such a feire,
3068 The remenant mot nede empeire
3069 Of al that to the world belongeth;
3070 For whan that holi cherche wrongeth,
3071 I not what other thing schal rihte.
3072 And natheles at mannes sihte
3073 Envie forto be preferred
3074 Hath conscience so differred,
3075 That noman loketh to the vice
3076 Which is the Moder of malice,
3077 And that is thilke false Envie,
3078 Which causeth many a tricherie;
3079 For wher he may an other se
3080 That is mor gracious than he,
3081 It schal noght stonden in his miht
3082 Bot if he hindre such a wiht:
3083 And that is welnyh overal,
3084 This vice is now so general.
3085 Envie thilke unhapp indrowh,
3086 Whan Joab be deceipte slowh
3087 Abner, for drede he scholde be
3088 With king David such as was he.
3089 And thurgh Envie also it fell
3090 Of thilke false Achitofell,
3091 For his conseil was noght achieved,
3092 Bot that he sih Cusy believed
3093 With Absolon and him forsake,
3094 He heng himself upon a stake.
3095 Senec witnesseth openly
3096 How that Envie proprely
3097 Is of the Court the comun wenche,
3098 And halt taverne forto schenche
3099 That drink which makth the herte brenne,
3100 And doth the wit aboute renne,
3101 Be every weie to compasse
3102 How that he mihte alle othre passe,
3103 As he which thurgh unkindeschipe
3104 Envieth every felaschipe;
3105 So that thou miht wel knowe and se,
3106 Ther is no vice such as he,
3107 Ferst toward godd abhominable,
3108 And to mankinde unprofitable:
3109 And that be wordes bot a fewe
3110 I schal be reson prove and schewe.
3111 Envie if that I schal descrive,
3112 He is noght schaply forto wyve
3113 In Erthe among the wommen hiere;
3114 For ther is in him no matiere
3115 Wherof he mihte do plesance.
3116 Ferst for his hevy continance
3117 Of that he semeth evere unglad,
3118 He is noght able to ben had;
3119 And ek he brenneth so withinne,
3120 That kinde mai no profit winne,
3121 Wherof he scholde his love plese:
3122 For thilke blod which scholde have ese
3123 To regne among the moiste veines,
3124 Is drye of thilke unkendeli peines
3125 Thurgh whiche Envie is fyred ay.
3126 And thus be reson prove I may
3127 That toward love Envie is noght;
3128 And otherwise if it be soght,
3129 Upon what side as evere it falle,
3130 It is the werste vice of alle,
3131 Which of himself hath most malice.
3132 For understond that every vice
3133 Som cause hath, wherof it groweth,
3134 Bot of Envie noman knoweth
3135 Fro whenne he cam bot out of helle.
3136 For thus the wise clerkes telle,
3137 That no spirit bot of malice
3138 Be weie of kinde upon a vice
3139 Is tempted, and be such a weie
3140 Envie hath kinde put aweie
3141 And of malice hath his steringe,
3142 Wherof he makth his bakbitinge,
3143 And is himself therof desesed.
3144 So mai ther be no kinde plesed;
3145 For ay the mor that he envieth,
3146 The more ayein himself he plieth.
3147 Thus stant Envie in good espeir
3148 To ben himself the develes heir,
3149 As he which is his nexte liche
3150 And forthest fro the heveneriche,
3151 For there mai he nevere wone.
3152 Forthi, my goode diere Sone,
3153 If thou wolt finde a siker weie
3154 To love, put Envie aweie.
3155 Min holy fader, reson wolde
3156 That I this vice eschuie scholde:
3157 Bot yit to strengthe mi corage,
3158 If that ye wolde in avantage
3159 Therof sette a recoverir,
3160 It were tome a gret desir,
3161 That I this vice mihte flee.
3162 Nou understond, my Sone, and se,
3163 Ther is phisique for the seke,
3164 And vertus for the vices eke.
3165 Who that the vices wolde eschuie,
3166 He mot be resoun thanne suie
3167 The vertus; for be thilke weie
3168 He mai the vices don aweie,
3169 For thei togedre mai noght duelle:
3170 For as the water of a welle
3171 Of fyr abateth the malice,
3172 Riht so vertu fordoth the vice.
3173 Ayein Envie is Charite,
3174 Which is the Moder of Pite,
3175 That makth a mannes herte tendre,
3176 That it mai no malice engendre
3177 In him that is enclin therto.
3178 For his corage is tempred so,
3179 That thogh he mihte himself relieve,
3180 Yit wolde he noght an other grieve,
3181 Bot rather forto do plesance
3182 He berth himselven the grevance,
3183 So fain he wolde an other ese.
3184 Wherof, mi Sone, for thin ese
3185 Now herkne a tale which I rede,
3186 And understond it wel, I rede.
3187 Among the bokes of latin
3188 I finde write of Constantin
3189 The worthi Emperour of Rome,
3190 Suche infortunes to him come,
3191 Whan he was in his lusti age,
3192 The lepre cawhte in his visage
3193 And so forth overal aboute,
3194 That he ne mihte ryden oute:
3195 So lefte he bothe Schield and spere,
3196 As he that mihte him noght bestere,
3197 And hield him in his chambre clos.
3198 Thurgh al the world the fame aros,
3199 The grete clerkes ben asent
3200 And come at his comandement
3201 To trete upon this lordes hele.
3202 So longe thei togedre dele,
3203 That thei upon this medicine
3204 Apointen hem, and determine
3205 That in the maner as it stod
3206 Thei wolde him bathe in childes blod
3207 Withinne sevene wynter age:
3208 For, as thei sein, that scholde assuage
3209 The lepre and al the violence,
3210 Which that thei knewe of Accidence
3211 And noght be weie of kinde is falle.
3212 And therto thei acorden alle
3213 As for final conclusioun,
3214 And tolden here opinioun
3215 To themperour: and he anon
3216 His conseil tok, and therupon
3217 With lettres and with seales oute
3218 Thei sende in every lond aboute
3219 The yonge children forto seche,
3220 Whos blod, thei seiden, schal be leche
3221 For themperoures maladie.
3222 Ther was ynowh to wepe and crie
3223 Among the Modres, whan thei herde
3224 Hou wofully this cause ferde,
3225 Bot natheles thei moten bowe;
3226 And thus wommen ther come ynowhe
3227 With children soukende on the Tete.
3228 Tho was ther manye teres lete,
3229 Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe,
3230 The wommen and the children bothe
3231 Into the Paleis forth be broght
3232 With many a sory hertes thoght
3233 Of hem whiche of here bodi bore
3234 The children hadde, and so forlore
3235 Withinne a while scholden se.
3236 The Modres wepe in here degre,
3237 And manye of hem aswoune falle,
3238 The yonge babes criden alle:
3239 This noyse aros, the lord it herde,
3240 And loked out, and how it ferde
3241 He sih, and as who seith abreide
3242 Out of his slep, and thus he seide:
3243 "O thou divine pourveance,
3244 Which every man in the balance
3245 Of kinde hast formed to be liche,
3246 The povere is bore as is the riche
3247 And deieth in the same wise,
3248 Upon the fol, upon the wise
3249 Siknesse and hele entrecomune;
3250 Mai non eschuie that fortune
3251 Which kinde hath in hire lawe set;
3252 Hire strengthe and beaute ben beset
3253 To every man aliche fre,
3254 That sche preferreth no degre
3255 As in the disposicioun
3256 Of bodili complexioun:
3257 And ek of Soule resonable
3258 The povere child is bore als able
3259 To vertu as the kinges Sone;
3260 For every man his oghne wone
3261 After the lust of his assay
3262 The vice or vertu chese may.
3263 Thus stonden alle men franchised,
3264 Bot in astat thei ben divised;
3265 To some worschipe and richesse,
3266 To some poverte and distresse,
3267 On lordeth and an other serveth;
3268 Bot yit as every man deserveth
3269 The world yifth noght his yiftes hiere.
3270 Bot certes he hath gret matiere
3271 To ben of good condicioun,
3272 Which hath in his subjeccioun
3273 The men that ben of his semblance."
3274 And ek he tok a remembrance
3275 How he that made lawe of kinde
3276 Wolde every man to lawe binde,
3277 And bad a man, such as he wolde
3278 Toward himself, riht such he scholde
3279 Toward an other don also.
3280 And thus this worthi lord as tho
3281 Sette in balance his oghne astat
3282 And with himself stod in debat,
3283 And thoghte hou that it was noght good
3284 To se so mochel mannes blod
3285 Be spilt for cause of him alone.
3286 He sih also the grete mone,
3287 Of that the Modres were unglade,
3288 And of the wo the children made,
3289 Wherof that al his herte tendreth,
3290 And such pite withinne engendreth,
3291 That him was levere forto chese
3292 His oghne bodi forto lese,
3293 Than se so gret a moerdre wroght
3294 Upon the blod which gulteth noght.
3295 Thus for the pite which he tok
3296 Alle othre leches he forsok,
3297 And put him out of aventure
3298 Al only into goddes cure;
3299 And seith, "Who that woll maister be,
3300 He mot be servant to pite."
3301 So ferforth he was overcome
3302 With charite, that he hath nome
3303 His conseil and hise officers,
3304 And bad unto hise tresorers
3305 That thei his tresour al aboute
3306 Departe among the povere route
3307 Of wommen and of children bothe,
3308 Wherof thei mihte hem fede and clothe
3309 And saufli tornen hom ayein
3310 Withoute lost of eny grein.
3311 Thurgh charite thus he despendeth
3312 His good, wherof that he amendeth
3313 The povere poeple, and contrevaileth
3314 The harm, that he hem so travaileth:
3315 And thus the woful nyhtes sorwe
3316 To joie is torned on the morwe;
3317 Al was thonkinge, al was blessinge,
3318 Which erst was wepinge and cursinge;
3319 Thes wommen gon hom glade ynowh,
3320 Echon for joie on other lowh,
3321 And preiden for this lordes hele,
3322 Which hath relessed the querele,
3323 And hath his oghne will forsake
3324 In charite for goddes sake.
3325 Bot now hierafter thou schalt hiere
3326 What god hath wroght in this matiere,
3327 As he which doth al equite.
3328 To him that wroghte charite
3329 He was ayeinward charitous,
3330 And to pite he was pitous:
3331 For it was nevere knowe yit
3332 That charite goth unaquit.
3333 The nyht, whan he was leid to slepe,
3334 The hihe god, which wolde him kepe,
3335 Seint Peter and seint Poul him sende,
3336 Be whom he wolde his lepre amende.
3337 Thei tuo to him slepende appiere
3338 Fro god, and seide in this manere:
3339 "O Constantin, for thou hast served
3340 Pite, thou hast pite deserved:
3341 Forthi thou schalt such pite have
3342 That god thurgh pite woll thee save.
3343 So schalt thou double hele finde,
3344 Ferst for thi bodiliche kinde,
3345 And for thi wofull Soule also,
3346 Thou schalt ben hol of bothe tuo.
3347 And for thou schalt thee noght despeire,
3348 Thi lepre schal nomore empeire
3349 Til thou wolt sende therupon
3350 Unto the Mont of Celion,
3351 Wher that Silvestre and his clergie
3352 Togedre duelle in compaignie
3353 For drede of thee, which many day
3354 Hast ben a fo to Cristes lay,
3355 And hast destruid to mochel schame
3356 The prechours of his holy name.
3357 Bot now thou hast somdiel appesed
3358 Thi god, and with good dede plesed,
3359 That thou thi pite hast bewared
3360 Upon the blod which thou hast spared.
3361 Forthi to thi salvacion
3362 Thou schalt have enformacioun,
3363 Such as Silvestre schal the teche:
3364 The nedeth of non other leche."
3365 This Emperour, which al this herde,
3366 "Grant merci lordes," he ansuerde,
3367 "I wol do so as ye me seie.
3368 Bot of o thing I wolde preie:
3369 What schal I telle unto Silvestre
3370 Or of youre name or of youre estre?"
3371 And thei him tolden what thei hihte,
3372 And forth withal out of his sihte
3373 Thei passen up into the hevene.
3374 And he awok out of his swevene,
3375 And clepeth, and men come anon:
3376 He tolde his drem, and therupon
3377 In such a wise as he hem telleth
3378 The Mont wher that Silvestre duelleth
3379 Thei have in alle haste soght,
3380 And founde he was and with hem broght
3381 To themperour, which to him tolde
3382 His swevene and elles what he wolde.
3383 And whan Silvestre hath herd the king,
3384 He was riht joiful of this thing,
3385 And him began with al his wit
3386 To techen upon holi writ
3387 Ferst how mankinde was forlore,
3388 And how the hihe god therfore
3389 His Sone sende from above,
3390 Which bore was for mannes love,
3391 And after of his oghne chois
3392 He tok his deth upon the crois;
3393 And how in grave he was beloke,
3394 And how that he hath helle broke,
3395 And tok hem out that were him lieve;
3396 And forto make ous full believe
3397 That he was verrai goddes Sone,
3398 Ayein the kinde of mannes wone
3399 Fro dethe he ros the thridde day,
3400 And whanne he wolde, as he wel may,
3401 He styh up to his fader evene
3402 With fleissh and blod into the hevene;
3403 And riht so in the same forme
3404 In fleissh and blod he schal reforme,
3405 Whan time comth, the qwike and dede
3406 At thilke woful dai of drede,
3407 Where every man schal take his dom,
3408 Als wel the Maister as the grom.
3409 The mihti kinges retenue
3410 That dai may stonde of no value
3411 With worldes strengthe to defende;
3412 For every man mot thanne entende
3413 To stonde upon his oghne dedes
3414 And leve alle othre mennes nedes.
3415 That dai mai no consail availe,
3416 The pledour and the plee schal faile,
3417 The sentence of that ilke day
3418 Mai non appell sette in delay;
3419 Ther mai no gold the Jugge plie,
3420 That he ne schal the sothe trie
3421 And setten every man upriht,
3422 Als wel the plowman as the kniht:
3423 The lewed man, the grete clerk
3424 Schal stonde upon his oghne werk,
3425 And such as he is founde tho,
3426 Such schal he be for everemo.
3427 Ther mai no peine be relessed,
3428 Ther mai no joie ben encressed,
3429 Bot endeles, as thei have do,
3430 He schal receive on of the tuo.
3431 And thus Silvestre with his sawe
3432 The ground of al the newe lawe
3433 With gret devocion he precheth,
3434 Fro point to point and pleinly techeth
3435 Unto this hethen Emperour;
3436 And seith, the hihe creatour
3437 Hath underfonge his charite,
3438 Of that he wroghte such pite,
3439 Whan he the children hadde on honde.
3440 Thus whan this lord hath understonde
3441 Of al this thing how that it ferde,
3442 Unto Silvestre he thanne ansuerde,
3443 With al his hole herte and seith
3444 That he is redi to the feith.
3445 And so the vessel which for blod
3446 Was mad, Silvestre, ther it stod,
3447 With clene water of the welle
3448 In alle haste he let do felle,
3449 And sette Constantin therinne
3450 Al naked up unto the chinne.
3451 And in the while it was begunne,
3452 A liht, as thogh it were a Sunne,
3453 Fro hevene into the place com
3454 Wher that he tok his cristendom;
3455 And evere among the holi tales
3456 Lich as thei weren fisshes skales
3457 Ther fellen from him now and eft,
3458 Til that ther was nothing beleft
3459 Of al his grete maladie.
3460 For he that wolde him purefie,
3461 The hihe god hath mad him clene,
3462 So that ther lefte nothing sene;
3463 He hath him clensed bothe tuo,
3464 The bodi and the Soule also.
3465 Tho knew this Emperour in dede
3466 That Cristes feith was forto drede,
3467 And sende anon hise lettres oute
3468 And let do crien al aboute,
3469 Up peine of deth that noman weyve
3470 That he baptesme ne receive:
3471 After his Moder qweene Heleine
3472 He sende, and so betwen hem tweine
3473 Thei treten, that the Cite all
3474 Was cristned, and sche forth withall.
3475 This Emperour, which hele hath founde,
3476 Withinne Rome anon let founde
3477 Tuo cherches, which he dede make
3478 For Peter and for Poules sake,
3479 Of whom he hadde avisioun;
3480 And yaf therto possessioun
3481 Of lordschipe and of worldes good.
3482 Bot how so that his will was good
3483 Toward the Pope and his Franchise,
3484 Yit hath it proved other wise,
3485 To se the worchinge of the dede:
3486 For in Cronique this I rede;
3487 Anon as he hath mad the yifte,
3488 A vois was herd on hih the lifte,
3489 Of which al Rome was adrad,
3490 And seith: "To day is venym schad
3491 In holi cherche of temporal,
3492 Which medleth with the spirital."
3493 And hou it stant of that degree
3494 Yit mai a man the sothe se:
3495 God mai amende it, whan he wile,
3496 I can ther to non other skile.
3497 Bot forto go ther I began,
3498 How charite mai helpe a man
3499 To bothe worldes, I have seid:
3500 And if thou have an Ere leid,
3501 Mi Sone, thou miht understonde,
3502 If charite be take on honde,
3503 Ther folweth after mochel grace.
3504 Forthi, if that thou wolt pourchace
3505 How that thou miht Envie flee,
3506 Aqueinte thee with charite,
3507 Which is the vertu sovereine.
3508 Mi fader, I schal do my peine:
3509 For this ensample which ye tolde
3510 With al myn herte I have withholde,
3511 So that I schal for everemore
3512 Eschuie Envie wel the more:
3513 And that I have er this misdo,
3514 Yif me my penance er I go.
3515 And over that to mi matiere
3516 Of schrifte, why we sitten hiere
3517 In privete betwen ous tweie,
3518 Now axeth what ther is, I preie.
3519 Mi goode Sone, and for thi lore
3520 I woll thee telle what is more,
3521 So that thou schalt the vices knowe:
3522 For whan thei be to thee full knowe,
3523 Thou miht hem wel the betre eschuie.
3524 And for this cause I thenke suie
3525 The forme bothe and the matiere,
3526 As now suiende thou schalt hiere
3527 Which vice stant next after this:
3528 And whan thou wost how that it is,
3529 As thou schalt hiere me devise,
3530 Thow miht thiself the betre avise.
Explicit Liber Secundus
