1                5                    10                    15                    20                    25                    30                    35                    40                    45                    50                    55                    60                    65                    70                    75                    80                    85                    90                    95                    100                    105                    110                    115                    120                    125                    130                    135                    140                    145                    150                    155                    160                    165                    170                    175                    180                    185                    190                    195                    200                    205                    210                    215                    220                    225                    230                    235                    240                    245                    250                    255                    260                        265                    270                    275                    280                    285                    290                    295                    300                    305                    310                    315                    320                    325                    330                    335                    340                    345                    350                    355                    360                    365                    370                    375                    380                    385                    390                    395                    400                    405                    410                    415                    420                    425                    430                    435                    440                    445                    450                    455                    460                    465                    470                    475                    480                    485                    490                    495                    500                    505                    510                    515                    520                    525                    530                    535                    540                    545                    550                    555                    560                    565                    570                    575                    580                    585                    590                    595                    600                    605                    610                    615                    620                    625                    630                    635                    640                    645                    650                    655                    660                    665                    670                    675                    680                    685                    690                    695                    700                    705                    710                    715                    720                    725                    730                                735                    740                    745                    750                    755                    760                    765                    770                    775                    780                    785                    790                    795                    800                    805                    810                    815                    820                    825                    830                    835                    840                    845                    850                    855                    860                    865                    870                    875                    880                    885                    890                    895                    900                    905                    910                    915                    920                    925                    930                    935                    940                    945                    950                    955                    960                    965                    970                    975                    980                    985                    990                    995                    1000                    1005                    1010                    1015                    1020                    1025                    1030                    1035                    1040                    1045                    1050                    1055                    1060                    1065                    1070                    1075                    1080                    1085                    1090                    1095                    1100                    1105                    1110                    1115                    1120                    1125                    1130                    1135                    1140                    1145                    1150                    1155                    1160                    1165                    1170                    1175                    1180                    1185                    1190                    1195                    1200                    1205                    1210                    1215                    1220                    1225                    1230                    1235                    1240                    1245                    1250                    1255                    1260                    1265                    1270                    1275                    1280                    1285                    1290                    1295                    1300                    1305                    1310                    1315                    1320                    1325                    1330                    1335                    1340                    1345                    1350                    1355                    1360                    1365                    1370                    1375                    1380                    1385                    1390                    1395                    1400                    1405                    1410                    1415                    1420                    1425                    1430                    1435                    1440                    1445                    1450                    1455                    1460                    1465                    1470                    1475                    1480                    1485                    1490                    1495                    1500                    1505                    1510                    1515                    1520                    1525                    1530                    1535                    1540                    1545                    1550                    1555                    1560                    1565                    1570                    1575                    1580                    1585                    1590                    1595                    1600                    1605                    1610                    1615                    1620                    1625                    1630                    1635                    1640                    1645                    1650                    1655                    1660                    1665                    1670                    1675                    1680                    1685                    1690                    1695                    1700                    1705                    1710                    1715                    1720                    1725                    1730                    1735                    1740                    1745                    1750                    1755                    1760                    1765                    1770                    1775                    1780                    1785                    1790                    1795                    1800                    1805                    1810                    1815                    1820                    1825                    1830                    1835                    1840                    1845                    1850                    1855                    1860                    1865                    1870                    1875                    1880                    1885                    1890                    1895                    1900                    1905                    1910                    1915                    1920                    1925                    1930                    1935                    1940                    1945                    1950                    1955                    1960                    1965                    1970                    1975                    1980                    1985                    1990                    1995                    2000                    2005                    2010                    2015                    2020                    2025                    2030                    2035                    2040                    2045                    2050                    2055                    2060                    2065                    2070                    2075                    2080                    2085                    2090                    2095                    2100                    2105                    2110                    2115                    2120                    2125                    2130                    2135                    2140                    2145                    2150                    2155                    2160                    2165                    2170                    2175                    2180                    2185                    2190                    2195                    2200                    2205                    2210                    2215                    2220                    2225                    2230                    2235                    2240                    2245                    2250                    2255                    2260                    2265                    2270                    2275                    2280                    2285                    2290                    2295                    2300                    2305                    2310                    2315                    2320                    2325                    2330                    2335                    2340                    2345                    2350                    2355                    2360                    2365                    2370                    2375                    2380                    2385                    2390                    2395                    2400                    2405                    2410                    2415                    2420                    2425                    2430                    2435                    2440                    2445                    2450                    2455                    2460                    2465                    2470                    2475                    2480                    2485                    2490                    2495                    2500                    2505                    2510                    2515                    2520                    2525                    2530                    2535                    2540                    2545                    2550                    2555                    2560                    2565                    2570                    2575                    2580                    2585                    2590                    2595                    2600                    2605                    2610                    2615                    2620                    2625                    2630                    2635                    2640                    2645                    2650                    2655                    2660                    2665                    2670                    2675                    2680                    2685                    2690                    2695                    2700                    2705                    2710                    2715                    2720                    2725                    2730                    2735                    2740                    2745                    2750                    2755                    2760                    2765                    2770                    2775                    2780                    2785                    2790                    2795                    2800                    2805                    2810                    2815                    2820                    2825                    2830                    2835                    2840                    2845                    2850                    2855                    2860                    2865                    2870                    2875                    2880                    2885                    2890                    2895                    2900                    2905                    2910                    2915                    2920                    2925                    2930                    2935                    2940                    2945                    2950                    2955                    2960                    2965                    2970                    2975                    2980                    2985                    2990                    2995                    3000                    3005                    3010                    3015                    3020                    3025                    3030                    3035                    3040                    3045                    3050                    3055                    3060                    3065                    3070                    3075                    3080                    3085                    3090                    3095                    3100                    3105                    3110                    3115                    3120                    3125                    3130                    3135                    3140                    3145                    3150                    3155                    3160                    3165                    3170                    3175                    3180                    3185                    3190                    3195                    3200                    3205                    3210                    3215                    3220                    3225                    3230                    3235                    3240                    3245                    3250                    3255                    3260                    3265                    3270                    3275                    3280                    3285                    3290                    3295                    3300                    3305                    3310                    3315                    3320                    3325                    3330                    3335                    3340                    3345                    3350                    3355                    3360                    3365                    3370                    3375                    3380                    3385                    3390                    3395                    3400                    3405                    3410                    3415                    3420                    3425                    3430                    3435                    3440                    3445                    3450                    3455                    3460                    3465                    3470                    3475                    3480                    3485                    3490                    3495                    3500                    3505                    3510                    3515                    3520                    3525                    3530                    3535                    3540                    3545                    3550                    3555                    3560                    3565                    3570                    3575                    3580                    3585                    3590                    3595                    3600                    3605                    3610                    3615                    3620                    3625                    3630                    3635                    3640                    3645                    3650                    3655                    3660                    3665                    3670                    3675                    3680                    3685                    3690                    3695                    3700                    3705                    3710                    3715                    3720                    3725                    3730                    3735                    3740                    3745                    3750                    3755                    3760                    3765                    3770                    3775                    3780                    3785                    3790                    3795                    3800                    3805                    3810                    3815                    3820                    3825                    3830                    3835                    3840                    3845                    3850                    3855                    3860                    3865                    3870                    3875                    3880                    3885                    3890                    3895                    3900                    3905                    3910                    3915                    3920                    3925                    3930                    3935                    3940                    3945                    3950                    3955                    3960                    3965                    3970                    3975                    3980                    3985                    3990                    3995                    4000                    4005                    4010                    4015                    4020

When all this fressh feleship were com to Caunterbury, As ye have herd tofore, with tales glad and mery, Som of sotill centence, of vertu and of lore, And som of other myrthes for hem that hold no store Of wisdom, ne of holynes, ne of chivalry, Nether of vertuouse matere, but to foly Leyd wit and lustes all, to such japes As Hurlewaynes meyné in every hegg that capes Thurh unstabill mynde, ryght as the leves grene Stonden ageyn the weder, ryght so by hem I mene. Butt no more hereof nowe at this ilch tyme, In saving of my centence, my prolog and my ryme.    They toke hir in and logged hem at mydmorowe, I trowe, Atte Cheker of the Hope, that many a man doth knowe. Hir Hoost of Southwork that with hem went, as ye have herd tofore, That was rewler of hem al, of las and eke of more, Ordeyned hir dyner wisely or they to chirch went Such vitailles as he fond in town and for noon other sent.    The Pardonere beheld the besynes, howe states were i-served, Diskennyng hym al pryvely and asyde swerved. The hostelere was so halowed from o plase to another, He toke his staff to the tapstere. - "Welcom, myne owne brothere," Quod she with a frendly look, al redy for to kys. And he, as a man i-lerned of such kyndnes, Braced hir by the myddill and made hir gladly chere, As thoughe he had i-knowe hir al the rather yeer. She haled hym into the tapstry, there hir bed was maked.    "Lo, here I ligg," quod she, "myselff al nyght al naked, Without mannes company, syn my love was dede, Jenkyn Harpour, yf ye hym know. From fete to the hede, Was nat a lustier persone to daunce ne to lepe Then he was, thoughe I it sey." - And therewith she to wepe She made, and with hir napron feir and white i-wassh, She wyped sofft hir eyen, for teres that she out lassh As grete as eny mylstone, upward gon they stert For love of hir swetyng that sat so nyghe hir hert. She wept and wayled and wrong hir hondes, and made much to done, For they that loven so passyngly, such trowes they have echon. She snyffeth, sigheth, and shooke hire hede, and made rouful chere.    "Benedicite!" quod the Pardonere, and toke hir by the swere. "Ye make sorowe inowgh," quod he, "yeur lyff thoughe ye shuld lese."    "It is no wonder," quod she than, and therewith she gan to fnese.    "Aha! Al hole!" quod the Pardoner. "Yeur penaunce is somwhat passed."    "God forbede it els," quod she; "but it were somwhat lassed, I myght nat lyve els, thowe wotest, and it shuld long endure."    "Now blessed be God of mendement, of hele and eke of cure," Quod the Pardoner tho anoon and toke hir by the chynne, And seyd to hir these wordes tho: "Allas, that love ys syn! So kynde a lover as ye be oon, and so trew of hert, For by my trewe conscience, yit for yewe I smert And shall this month hereafter for yeur soden disese. Now wele were hym ye loved, so he coude yewe plese. I durst swere oppon a book that trewe he shuld yewe fynd, For he that is so yore dede is green in yeur mynde. Ye made me a sory man; I dred ye wold have sterved."    "Graunt mercy, gentil sir," quod she, "that ye unaserved. Ye be a nobill man, i-blessed mut ye be. Sit down, ye shul drynk." - "Nay, iwis!" quod he; "I am fastyng yit, myne own hertes rote."    "Fasting yit? Allas!" quod she. "Therof I can good bote." She stert into the town and fet a py al hote And set tofore the Pardoner. "Jenken, I ween? I note. Is that yeur name, I yow prey?" - "Yee, iwis, myne own suster, So was I enformed of hem that me did foster. And what is yeurs?" - "Kit, iwis, so cleped me my dame."    "And Goddes blessing have thow, Kit, now broke we thy name," And pryvelich unlased his both eyen-liddes And loked hir in the visage paramour amyddes, And sighed therewith a litil tyme, that she it here myghte, And gan to trown and feyn this song, "Now love, thu do me righte!"    "Ete and be mery," quod she. "Why breke ye nat yeur fast? To waite more feleshipp it were but work in wast. Why make ye so dull chere? For yeur love at home?"    "Nay forsoth, myne own hert, it is for yewe aloon."    "For me? Allas, what sey ye? That were a sympill prey."    "Trewlich yit," quod the Pardoner, "it is as I yewe sey."    "Ye eteth and beth mery. We woll speke thereof sone. Brenned cat dredeth feir; it is mery to be aloon. For, by Our Lady Mary that bare Ihesu on hir arm, I coud never love yit, but it did me harm, For ever my maner hath be to love over-much."    "Now, Cristes blessing," quod the Pardoner, "go with al such. Lo, howe the clowdes worchen eche man to mete his mach. For trewly, gentil Cristian, I use the same tach And have i-do many a yere. I may it nat forber, For Kynde woll have his cours, though men the contrary swer." And therwith he stert up smertly and cast down a grote.    "What shal this do, gentill sir? Nay, sir! For my cote, I nold ye payde a peny here and so sone pas."    The Pardoner swore his gretter othe; he wold pay no las.    "Iwis, sir, it is over-do. But sith it is yeur will, I woll put it in my purs, lest ye it take in ill To refuse yeur curtesy!" - and therewith she gan to bowe.    "Now trewly," quod the Pardoner, "yeur maners been too alowe. For had ye counted streytly and nothing lefft behynde, I myghte have wele i-demed that ye be unkynde And eke untrewe of hert and sonner me forgete, But ye list be my tresorer, for we shull offter mete."    "Now certen," quod the Tapster, "ye have ared ful even. As wold to God ye couth as wele undo my sweven, That I myselff did mete this nyght that is i-passed - How I was in a chirch when it was al i-massed And was in my devocioune tyl service was al doon, Tyll the preest and the clerk boystly bad me goon And put me out of the chirch with an eger mode."    "Now Seynt Danyel," quod the Pardoner, "yeur sweven turne to good! And I woll halsow it to the best, have it in yeur mynd, For comenly of these swevenes the contrary men shul fynde. Ye have be a lover glad, and litil joy i-had. Pluk up a lusty hert and be mery and glad, For ye shul have a husbond that shal yewe wed to wyve That shal love yewe as hertly as his own lyve. The preest that put yewe out of chirch shal lede yew in ageyn And help to yeur mariage with al his myghte and mayn. This is the sweven, al and som. Kit, how liketh thee?"    "By my trowth, wonder wele! Blessed mut thowe be!"    Then toke he leve at that tyme, tyll he com efftsone, And went to his feleshipp, as it was to doon.    Thoughe it be no grete holynes to prech this ilk matere And that som list nat to here it, yit sirs, ner-the-latter, Endureth for a while and suffreth hem that woll, And ye shull here howe the Tapster made the Pardoner pull Garlik al the long nyghte, til it was nerend day, For the more cher she made of love, the falsher was hir lay. But litil charge gaff she therof, thoughe she aquyt his while, For etheres thought and tent was other to begile, As ye shull here herafter, when tyme cometh and spase To meve such mater. But nowe a litill spase I woll retourn me ageyn to the company.    The Knyght and al the feleshipp, and nothing for to ly, When they were all i-logged, as skill wold and reson, Everich after his degre, to chirch then was seson To pas and to wend, to make hir offringes, Righte as hir devocioune was, of sylver broch and rynges. Then atte chirch dorr the curtesy gan to ryse, Tyl the Knyght of gentilnes that knewe righte wele the guyse Put forth the prelates, the Person and his fere. A monk that toke the spryngill with a manly cher And did as the maner is, moilled al hir pates, Everich after other, righte as they were of states. The Frere feynded fetously the spryngil for to hold To spryng oppon the remnaunt, that for his cope he nold Have lafft that occupacioune in that holy plase, So longed his holy conscience to se the Nonnes fase! The Knyghte went with his compers toward the holy shryne To do that they were com fore, and after for to dyne. The Pardoner and the Miller and other lewde sotes Sought hemselff in the chirch, right as lewd gotes, Pyred fast and poured highe oppon the glase, Counterfeting gentilmen, the armes for to blase, Diskyveryng fast the peyntour, and for the story mourned 1 And ared also - right as rammes horned!    "He bereth a balstaff," quod the toon, "and els a rakes ende."    "Thow faillest," quod the Miller, "thowe hast nat wel thy mynde. It is a spere, yf thowe canst se, with a prik tofore To bussh adown his enmy and thurh the sholder bore."    "Pese!" quod the Hoost of Southwork. "Let stond the wyndow glased. Goth up and doth yeur offerynge. Ye semeth half amased. Sith ye be in company of honest men and good, Worcheth somwhat after, and let the kynd of brode 2 Pas for a tyme. I hold it for the best, For who doth after company may lyve the bet in rest."    Then passed they forth boystly, goglyng with hir hedes, Kneled adown tofore the shryne, and hertlich hir bedes They preyd to Seynt Thomas, in such wise as they couth. And sith the holy relikes ech man with his mowth Kissed, as a goodly monke the names told and taught. And sith to other places of holynes they raughte And were in hir devocioun tyl service were al doon, And sith they drowgh to dynerward, as it drew to noon. Then, as manere and custom is, signes there they boughte, For men of contre shuld know whom they had soughte. Ech man set his sylver in such thing as they liked. And in the meenwhile, the Miller had i-piked His bosom ful of signes of Caunterbury broches, Huch the Pardoner and he pryvely in hir pouches They put hem afterward, that noon of hem it wist, Save the Sompnour seid somwhat and seyd to hem, "List, Halff part!" quod he pryvely, rownyng on hir ere.    "Hussht! Pees!" quod the Miller. "Seist thowe nat the Frere, Howe he lowreth under his hood with a doggissh ey? Hit shuld be a pryvy thing that he coude nat aspy. Of every crafft he can somwhat, Our Lady gyve hym sorowe!"    "Amen," tho quod the Sompnour, "on eve and eke on morowe! So cursed a tale he told of me, the devil of hell hym spede - And me! - but yf I pay hym wele and quyte wele his mede, Yf it hap homward that ech man tell his tale, As we did hiderward, thoughe I shuld set at sale Al the shrewdnes that I can, I wol hym nothing spare That I nol touch his taberd somwhat of his care."    They set hir signes oppon hir hedes, and som oppon hir capp, And sith to the dynerward they gan for to stapp. Every man in his degre wissh and toke his sete, As they were wont to doon at soper and at mete, And were in scilence for a tyme, till girdill gon arise. But then as Nature axeth, as these old wise Knowen wele, when veynes been somwhat replete, The spirites wol stere, and also metes swete Causen offt myrthes for to be i-meved. And eke it was no tyme tho for to be i-greved; Every man in his wise made hertly chere, Talyng his felowe of sportes and of chere, And of other myrthes that fyllen by the wey, As custom is of pilgryms - and hath been many a day.    The Hoost leyd to his ere, of Southwork as ye knowe, And thenked al the company, both highe and lowe, So wele kepeing the covenaunt in Southwork that was made, That every man shuld by the wey with a tale glade Al the hole company in shorting of the wey: "And al is wele perfourmed, but than nowe thus I sey That we must so homward, eche man tel another. Thus we were accorded, and I shuld be a rother, To set yewe in governaunce by rightful jugement."    "Trewly, Hoost," quod the Frere, "that was al our assent With a litill more that I shal sey thereto. Ye graunted of yeur curtesy that we shuld also, Al the hole company, sope with yewe at nyghte. Thus I trow that it was. What sey ye, Sir Knyght?"    "It shal nat nede," quod the Hoost, "to axe no witnes. Yeur record is good inowe, and of yeur gentilnes Yit I prey yewe efft ageyn, for by Seynt Thomas shryne, And ye woll hold covenaunt, I wol hold myne."    "Now trewly, Hoost," quod the Knyght, "ye have right wel i-sayd. And as towching my persone, I hold me payde, And so I trowe that al doth. Sirs, what sey ye?"    The Monke and eke the Marchaunte and al seid "Yee!"    "Then al this aftermete I hold it for the best To sport and pley us," quod the Hoost, "eche man as hym lest, And go bytyme to soper and to bed also, So mowe we erly rysen our journey for to do."    The Knyght arose therwithal and cast on a fressher gown, And his sone another, to walk in the town. And so did al the remnaunt that were of that aray That had hir chaunges with hem; they made hem fressh and gay, Sorted hem togider righte as hir lustes lay, As they were more used traveling by the wey.    The Knyght with his meyné went to se the wall And the wardes of the town, as to a knyght befall, Devising ententiflich the strengthes al about, And apoynted to his sone the perell and the dout For shot of arblast and of bowe, and eke for shot of gonne, Unto the wardes of the town, and howe it myght be wone. And al defence therageyn, after his entent, He declared compendiously. And al that ever he ment, His sone perseyved every poynt, as he was ful abill To armes and to travaill, and persone covenabill. He was of al factur after fourm of Kynde, And for to deme his governaunce, it semed that his mynde Was much in his lady that he loved best, That made hym offt to wake when he shuld have his rest.    The Clerk that was of Oxenforth onto the Sompnore seyd, "Me semeth of grete clerge that thow art a mayde, For thow puttest on the Frere in maner of repreff That he knoweth falshede, vice, and eke a theff. And I it hold vertuouse and right commendabill, To have verry knowlech of thinges reprovabill. For whoso hath may eschew it and let it pas by. And els he myghte fall thereon, unware and sodenly. And thoughe the Frere told a tale of a sompnour, Thowe oughtest for to take it for no dishonour, For of all crafftes and of eche degré They be nat al perfite, but som nyce be."    "Lo, what is worthy," seyd the Knyght, "for to be a clerk! To sommon among us hem, this mocioune was ful derk. 3   I comend his wittes and eke his clergé For of ether parte he saveth honesté."    The Monke toke the Person then and the Grey Frere, And preyd hem ful curteysly for to go in fere: "I have there a queyntaunce that al this yeres thre Hath preyd me by his lettres that I hym wold se, And ye, my brother in habit and in possessioune. And now I am here, me thinketh it is to doon To preve it in dede what cher he wold me make, And to yewe, my frendes, also for my sake."    They went forth togider, talking of holy matere, But woot ye wele in certeyn, they had no mynd on water To drynk at that tyme, when they were met in fere, For of the best that myght be found, and therwith mery cher They had, it is no doute, for spyces and eke wyne Went round about, the Gascoyn and eke the Ruyne.    The Wyff of Bath was so wery, she had no will to walk. She toke the Priores by the hond: "Madam, wol ye stalk Pryvely into the garden to se the herbes growe, And after with our hostes wyff in hir parlour rowe? I woll gyve yewe the wyne, and ye shull me also, For tyll we go to soper, we have naught elles to do."    The Priores, as womman taught of gentil blood and hend, Assented to hir counsell, and forth gon they wend, Passyng forth sofftly into the herbery, For many a herbe grewe for sew and surgery, And al the aleyes feir i-pared, i-rayled and i-maked, The sauge and the isope i-frethed and i-staked, And other beddes by and by fressh i-dight, For comers to the hoost righte a sportful sight.    The Marchaunt and the Mancipill, the Miller and the Reve, And the Clerk of Oxenforth to townward gon they meve, And al the other meyné, and lafft noon at home - Save the Pardoner that pryvelich, when al they were goon, Stalked into the tapstry, for nothing wold he leve To make his covenaunte in certen that same eve: He wold be logged with hir - that was his hole entencioun. But hap and eke fortune and al the constellacioune Was clene hym agayns, as ye shull after here. For hym had better be i-logged al nyght in a myere Then he was the same nyghte or the sonne was up. For such was his fortune, he drank without the cupp! But thereof wist he no dele, ne no man of us all May have that highe connyng to know what shal befall.    He stapped into the tapstry wonder pryvely, And fond hir liggyng lirylong, with half sclepy eye - Poured fellich under hir hood and saw al his comyng, And lay ay still, as naught she knewe, but feyned hir scleping. He put his hond to hir brest. "Awake," quod he, "Awake!"    "A, Benedicite! Sir, who wist yewe here? Out! Thus I myght be take Prisoner," quod the tapstere, "being al aloon!" - And therwith breyd up in a frighte and began to groon.    "Nowe sith ye be my prisoner, yeld yewe now," quod he.    "I must nedes," quod she. "I may nothing fle, And eke I have no strength and am but yong of age, And also it is no mastry to cach a mouse in a cage That may nowhere stert out, but closed wonder fast. And eke, sir, I tell yewe, though ye had grete hast, Ye shuld have coughed when ye com. Where lern ye curtesy? Now trewlich I must chide, for of righte pryvyté Wommen been som tyme of day when they be aloon. Where coud I, I yewe prey, when ye com efftsone?"    "Nowe mercy, dere sweting, I wol do so no more. I thank yew an hundred sithes, and also by yeur lore I woll do hereafter in what place that I com. But lovers, Kit, been evill avised ful offt and too lom. Wherfor, I prey yew hertlich, hold me excused. And I behote yew trewly, it shal no more be used. But nowe to our purpose: how have ye fare Sith I was with yew last? That is my most care, For yf ye eyled eny thing otherwise then good, Trewly it wold chaunge my cher and my blood."    "I have i-fared the wers for yewe," quod Kit. "Do ye no drede God that is above? And eke ye had no nede For to conger me, God woot, with yeur nygromancy That have no more to vaunce me but oonly my body; And yf it were disteyned, then were I ondo. Iwis I trowe, Jenken, ye be nat to trust to, For evermore ye clerkes con so much in book, Ye woll wyn a womman atte first look."    Thought the Pardoner, "This goth wele!" and made hir better cher And axed of hir sofftly, "Lord! Who shall ligg here This nyghte that is to comyng? I prey yewe tell me."    "Iwis, it is grete nede to tell yew," quod she; "Make it nat over queynt, thoughe ye be a clerk. Ye know wel inowgh iwis by loke, by word, by work."    "Shal I com then, Cristian, and fese awey the cat?"    "Shul ye com, sir? Benedicite! What question is that? Wherfore I prey yew hertly, do by my counsaill. Cometh somwhat late, and for nothing faill. The dorr shall stond char up. Put it from yew sofft, But be wel avised ye wake nat hem on lofft."    "Care ye nat," quod Jenken. "I can thereon atte best; Shall no man for my stering be waked of his rest."    Anoon they dronk the beverage and were of oon accord, As it semed by hir cher and also by hir word. And al ascaunce she loved hym wele, she toke hym by the swere, As thoughe she had lerned cury favel of som old frere. The Pardoner plukked out of his purs, I trow, the dowry And toke it Kit in hir hond, and bad hir pryvely To orden a rere soper for hem both to: "A cawdell i-made with swete wyne and with suger also; For trewly I have no talent to ete in yeur absence, So longeth my hert toward yewe to be in yeur presence."    He toke his leve and went his wey, as thoughe nothing were, And met with al the feleshipp. But in what plase ne where, He spak no word therof but held hym close and still, As he that hoped sikerlich to have had al his will, And thought many a mery thought by hymself aloon: "I am i-logged," thought he, "best, howesoever it gone! And thoughe it have costed me, yit wol I do my peyn For to pike hir purs tonyghte and wyn my cost ageyn."    Now leve I the Pardoner till that it be eve, And woll retourn me ageyn right there as I did leve.    When al were com togider in hir herbegage, The Hoost of Southwork, as ye knowe, that had no spice of rage But al thing wrought prudenciall, as sober man and wise: "Nowe woll we to the souper? Sir Knyght, seith yeur avyse," Quod the Hoost ful curteysly. And in the same wise The Knyght answerd hym ageyn, "Sir, as ye devise, I must obey, ye woot wele, but yf I faill witt."    "Then taketh these prelates to yewe and wassheth and go sit, For I woll be yeur marchall and serve yewe echone, And then the officers and I to soper shull we goon."    They wissh and sett righte as he bad, ech man with his fere, And begonne to talk of sportes and of chere That they had the aftermete whils they were out; For other occupacioun til they were served about, They had nat at that tyme, but eny man kitt a loff.    But the Pardoner kept hym close and told nothing of The myrth and hope that he had, but kept it for hymselff. And thoughe he did, it is no fors, for he had nede to solve Long or it were mydnyght, as ye shul here sone, For he met with his love in crokeing of the moon.    They were i-served honestly, and ech man held hym payde, For of o maner of service hir soper was araide, As skill wold and reson, sith the lest of all Payed ilich much, for growing of the gall. But yit as curtesy axeth, though it were somdele streyte, The states that were above had of the feyrest endreyte. Wherfor they did hir gentilnes ageyn to al the rout; They dronken wyne at hir cost ones round aboute.    Nowe pass I lightly over: When they souped had, Tho that were of governaunce, as wise men and sad, Went to hir rest and made no more to doon. Butte Miller and the Coke dronken by the moon Twyes to ech other in the repenyng, And when the Pardoner hem aspied, anoon he gan to syng "Doubil me this bourdon," chokelyng in his throte, For the tapster shuld here of his mery note. He cleped to hym the Sompnore, that was his own discipill, The Yeman and the Reve and the Mauncipill, And stoden so holowing, for nothing wold they leve Tyl the tyme that it was wel within eve. The Hoost of Southwork herd hem wele, and the Marchaunt both, As they were at acountes and wexen somwhat wroth, But yit they preyd hem curteysly to rest for to wend. And so they did, al the route, they dronk and made an ende, And eche man droughe to cusky to sclepe and take his rest - 4 Save the Pardoner that drewe apart and weyted hym a trest, For to hyde hymselff till the candill were out.    And in the meenwhile - have ye no doute - The tapster and hir paramour and the hosteler of the house Sit togider pryvelich, and of the best gouse That was i-found in town and i-set at sale They had thereof sufficiaunt, and dronk but litill ale, And sit and ete the cawdell for the Pardoner that was made With suger and with swete wyne, right as hymselff bade. So he that payd for all in feer had nat a twynt. For offt is more better i-merked then i-mynt, And so fared there, ful righte as ye have i-herd.    But who is that a womman coud nat make his berd And she were thereabout and set hir wit thereto? Ye woot wele I ly nat, and where I do or no, I woll nat here termyn it, lest ladies stond in plase, Or els gentil women, for lesing of my grace Of daliaunce and of sportes and of goodly chere. Therefor, anenst hir estates I woll in no manere Deme ne determyn, but of lewd Kittes As tapsters and other such that hath wyly wittes To pik mennes purses and eke to bler hir eye; So wele they make seme soth when they falssest ly.    Now of Kit Tapster and of hir paramour And the hosteler of the house that sit in Kittes bour, When they had ete and dronk, right in the same plase, Kit began to render out al thing as it was, The wowing of the Pardoner and his cost also, And howe he hoped for to lygg al nyght with hir also - But therof he shall be siker as of Goddes cope! - And sodenly kissed hir paramour and seyd, "We shul sclope Togider hul by hul as we have many a nyghte, And yf he com and make noyse, I prey yew dub hym knyght."    "Yis, dame," quod hir paramour, "be thow nat agast. This is his own staff, thow seyest; thereof he shal atast."    "Now trewly," quod the hosteler, "and he com by my lot, He shall drynk for Kittes love without cup or pot. And he be so hardy to wake eny gist, I make a vowe to the pecok, there shal wake a foul myst!" - And arose up therwithal and toke his leve anoon. It was a shrewed company; they had served so many oon. With such maner of feleshipp ne kepe I never to dele, 5 Ne no man that loveth his worshipp and his hele.    Quod Kit to hir paramour, "Ye must wake a while, For trewlich I am siker that within this myle The Pardoner wol be comyng, his hete to aswage. But loke ye pay hym redelich to kele his corage. And therfor, love, dischauce yewe nat til this chek be do."    "No, for God! Kit, that woll I no!"    Then Kit went to bed and blew out al the lighte, And by that tyme it was nerhond quarter nyght. When al was still, the Pardoner gan to walk, As glad as eny goldfynch that he herd no man talk, And drowghe to Kittes dorward to herken and to list, And went to have fond the dor up, but the hasp and eke the twist Held hym out a whils, and the lok also. Yit trowed he no gyle, but went nere to And scraped the dorr welplich and wyned with his mowth After a dogges lyden, as nere as he couth.    "Away, dogg, with evil deth!" quod he that was within, And made hym al redy the dorr to unpyn.    "A!" thought the Pardoner tho. "I trow my berd be made! The tapster hath a paramour and hath made him glade With the cawdell that I ordeyned for me, as I ges. Now the devill hir spede, such oon as she is! She said I had i-congered hir. Our Lady gyve hir sorow! Now wold to God she were in stokkes til I shuld hir borowe, For she is the falssest that ever yit I knewe, To pik the mony out of my purs! Lord, she made hir trew!"    And therwith he caught a cardiakill and a cold sot. For who hath love-longing and is of corage hote, He hath ful many a mery thought tofore his delyte, And right so had the Pardoner and was in evil plighte. For fayling of his purpose he was nothing in ese. Wherfor he fill sodenlich into a wood rese, Entryng wonder fast into a frensy For pure verry anger and for gelousy. For when he herd a man within, he was almost wood. And because the cost was his, no mervel though his mood Were turned into vengaunce, yf it myght be. But this was the myscheff: al so strong as he, Was he that was within, and lighter man also, As preved wel the batell betwene hem both to. The Pardoner scraped efft ageyn, for nothing wold he blyn, So feyn he wold have herd more of hym that was within.    "What dogg is that?" quod the paramour. "Kit, wost thou ere?"    "Have God my trowth," quod she, "it is the Pardoner."    "The Pardoner with myscheff, God gyve hym evil preff!"    "Sir," she seid, "by my trowth, he is the same theff."    "Thereof thow liest," quod the Pardoner, and myght nat long forbere. "A! Thy fals body!" quod he. "The devill of hell thee tere! For by my trowth, a falsher sawe I never noon!" - And nempned hir names, many mo then oon, Huch to rech here were noon honesté Among men of good, of worship and degré. But shortly to conclude, when he had chid inowe, He axed his staff spitouslich with wordes sharp and rowe.    "Go to bed," quod he within, "No more noyse thow make. Thy staff shall be redy tomorow, I undertake."    "In soth," quod he, "I woll nat fro the dorr wend Tyll I have my staff, thow bribour!" - "Then have the toder end!" Quod he that was within, and leyd it on his bak, Right in the same plase as chapmen bereth hir pak. And so he did too mo, as he coude arede, Graspyng after with the staff in length and eke in brede, And fond hym otherwhile redlich inowghe With the staffes ende highe oppon his browe.    The hosteler lay oppon his bedd and herd of this affray, And stert hym up lightlich and thought he wold asay. He toke a staff in his hond and highed wonder blyve, Tyll he were with the felesshipp that shuld never thryve.    "What be ye?" quod the hosteler, and knew hem both wele.    "Huyst! Pese!" quod the paramour. "Jak, thow must be fele. There is a theff, I tell thee, within this hall dorr."    "A theff!" quod Jak. "This is a nobill chere That thow hym hast i-found, yf we hym myghte cache."    "Yis, yis! Care thee naught! With hym we shul mache Wel inowghe or he be go, yf so we had lighte, For we too be strong inowgh with o man for to fighte."    "The devill of hell," quod Jak, "breke this theves bones! The key of the kychen, as it were for the nones, Is above with our dame, and she hath such usage And she be wake of hir sclepe, she falleth in such a rage That al the wook after there may no man hir plese, So she stereth aboute this house in a wood rese. But now I am avised bet how we shull have lyghte: I have too gistes aryn that this same nyghte Soped in the hall and had a litill feir. Go up," quod Jak, "and loke and in the asshes pire, And I woll kepe the dorr. He shal nat stert out!"    "Nay, for God, that wol I nat, lest I cach a cloute," Seid the toder to Jak. "For thow knowest better then I Al the estres of this house. Go up thyselff and spy."    "Nay, for soth!" quod Jak. "That were grete unryghte To aventur oppon a man that with hym did nat fighte. Sithens thow hast hym bete and with thy staff i-pilt, Me thinketh it were no reson that I shuld bere the gilt. For by the blysyng of the cole, he myght se myne hede And lightly leve me such a stroke nyhond to be dede."    "Then woll we do by comon assent sech hym al aboute. Who that meteth hym first, pay hym on the snoute. For me thought I herd hym here last among the pannes. Kepe thow the toder syde, but ware the water cannes! And yf he be herein, right sone we shul hym fynd, And we to be strong inowghe o theff for to bynd."    "Aha-ha!" thought the Pardoner; "beth there pannes aryn?" And droughe oppon that side and thought oppon a gynne. So atte last he fond oon and set it on his hede, For as the case was fall, thereto he had grete nede. But yit he grasped ferthermore to have somwhat in honde, And fond a grete ladill right as he was gonde, And thought for to stert out betwen hem both to; And wayted wele the paramour that had doon hym wo, And set hym with the ladill on the grustill on the nose That al the wook after he had such a pose That both his eyen watered erlich by the morowe. But she that cause was of al had therof no sorowe.    But nowe to the Pardoner: as he wold stert awey, The hosteler met with hym, but nothing to his pay. The Pardoner ran so swith, the pan fil hym fro, And Jak Hosteler after hym as blyve as he myght go, And stapped oppon a bronde, al unware, That hym had been better to have goon more asware, For the egge of the panne met with his shyn And karff a-too a veyn and the next syn. But whils that it was grene, he thought litil on, But when the oeptas was apast, the greff sat nere the boon. 6 Yet Jak leyd to his hond to grope where to sete, And when he fond he was i-hurt, the Pardoner he gan to thrett And swore by Seynt Amyas that he shuld abigg With strokes hard and sore even oppon the rigg; Yff he hym myghte fynde, he nothing wold hym spare. That herd the Pardoner wele and held hym better asquare And thought that he had strokes ryghte inowghe, Witnes on his armes, his bak, and his browe.    "Jak," then quod the paramour, "where is this theff ago?"    "I note," quod tho Jak, "right now he lept me fro. That Cristes curs go with hym, for I have harm and spite."    "By my trowth, and I also, and he goth nat al quyte! But and we myght hym fynd, we wold aray hym so, That he shuld have legg ne foot tomorow on to go!"    "But howe shull we hym fynd? The moon is adown."    As grace was for the Pardoner, and eke when they did roun, He herd hem ever wel inowghe and went the more aside, And droughe hym ever bakward and lete the strokes glyde.    "Jak," quod the paramour, "I hold it for the best, Sith the moon is down, for to go to rest And make the gates fast; he may nat then astert. And eke of his own staff he bereth a redy mark Whereby thow maist hym know among al the route, And thow bere a redy ey and weyt wele aboute Tomorowe when they shull wend. This is the best rede. Jak, what seyst thowe thereto? Is this wel i-seyd?"    "Thy wit is clere," quod Jak. "Thy wit mut nedes stonde." He made the gates fast. There is no more to doon.    The Pardoner stood asyde, his chekes ron on bleed, And was right evil at ese al nyght in his hede. He must of force lige lyke a Colyn swerd, Yit it greved hym wonder sore for makeing of his berd. He paid atte ful therefore thurh a womman art For wyne and eke for cawdill, and had therof no part. He therfor preyd Seynt Juliane, as ye mowe understonde, That the devill hir shuld spede on water and on londe, So to disseyve a traveling man of his herbegage, And coude nat els save curs, his anger to aswage, And was distract of his wit and in grete dispeyr. For after his hete, he caughte a cold thurh the nyghtes eyr That he was nere afounded and coude noon other help. But as he sought his logging, he apped oppon a whelp That lay under a steyir, a grete Walssh dogg That bare aboute his nek a grete huge clogg, Because that he was spetouse and wold sone bite. The clogg was honged about his nek for men shuld nat wite Nothing the dogges master yf he did eny harm; So for to excuse hem both, it was a wyly charm. The Pardoner wold have logged hym there and lay somwhat ny. The warrok was awaked and caught hym by the thy And bote hym wonder spetously, defendyng wele his couch, That the Pardoner myght nat nere hym nethere touch, But held hym asquare by that other syde As holsom was, at that tyme, for tereing of his hyde. He coude noon other help, but leyd adown his hede In the dogges litter, and wisshed after brede Many a tyme and offt, the dogg for to plese, To have i-ley more nere for his own ese. But wissh what he wold, his Fortune seyd nay. So trewly for the Pardoner, it was a dismol day. The dogg lay ever grownyng, redy for to snache; Wherfor the Pardoner durst nat with hym mache, But lay as styll as eny stone, remembryng his foly, That he wold trust a tapster of a comon hostry, For comenly for the most part, they been wyly echon.    But nowe to all the company: amorow when they shuld goon, Was noon of al the feleshipp half so sone i-dighte As was the gentil Pardoner, for al tyme of the nyghte He was aredy in his aray and had nothing to doon Saff shake a lite his eres, and trus and be goon. Yet or he cam in company, he wissh awey the blood, And bond the sores to his hede with the typet of his hood, And made lightsom chere for men shuld nat spy Nothing of his turment ne of his luxury. And the hosteler of the house, for nothing he coude pry, He coude nat knowe the Pardoner among the company Amorowe when they shuld wend, for aught that he coude pour, So wisely went the Pardoner out of the dogges bour, And blynched from the hosteler and turned offt aboute. And evermore he held hym amydward the route And was ever synging to make al thing good, But yit his notes were somwhat lowe, for akyng of his hede. So at that tyme he had no more grame,- But held hym to his harmes to scape shame.    The Knyght and al the felesship, forward gon they wende, Passing forth merely to the townes ende. And by that tyme they were there, the day began to rype, And the sonne merely upward gan she pipe, Pleying under the egge of the firmament.    "Now," quod the Hoost of Southwork, and to the feleshipp bent, "Who sawe ever so feir or so glad a day? And how sote this seson is entring into May! [ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ] The thrusteles and the thrusshes in this glad mornyng, The ruddok and the goldfynch, but the nyghtyngale His amerous notes, lo, how he twyneth smale! Lo, how the trees greneth that naked were and nothing Barre this month afore, but now hir somer clothing. Lo, how Nature maketh for hem everichone, And as many as there been, he forgeteth noon. Lo, howe the seson of the yere and Averell shoures Doth the busshes burgyn out blosoms and floures! Lo, the prymeroses, how fressh they been to seen! And many other floures among the grases green, Lo, howe they spryng and sprede of divers hewe! Beholdeth and seeth both rede, white and blewe, That lusty been and confortabill for mannes sighte, For I sey for myselff it maketh my hert to lighte.    Now sith Almyghty Sovereyn hath sent so feir a day, Let se nowe, as covenaunt is, in shorting of the way, Who shall be the first that shall unlace his male In confort of us all, and gyn som mery tale? For and we shuld now begyn to draw lott, Peraventur it myght fall there it ought not On som unlusty persone that were nat wele awaked, Or semy-bousy over eve, and had i-song and craked Somwhat over much. Howe shuld he than do? For who shuld tell a tale, he must have good will therto. And eke som men fasting beth nothing jocounde, And som hir tunges fasting beth glewed and i-bound To the palet of the mowth as offt as they mete. So yf the lott fell on such, no thonk shuld they gete. And som in the mornyng, hir mouthes beth adoun; Till that they be charmed, hir wordis woll nat soun. So this is my conclusyioun and my last knot: It were grete gentilnes to tell without lott."    "By the Rood of Bromholm," quod the Marchaunte tho, "As fer as I have sayled, riden and i-go, Sawe I never man yit tofore this ilch day So well coude rewle a company as our Hoost in fay. His wordes been so comfortabill and cometh so in seson That my wit is overcom to make eny reson Contrary to his counsaill at myne ymaginacioune. Wherefor I woll tell a tale to yeur consolacioune, In ensaumpill to yewe that when that I have do, Another be all redy then for to tell right so To fulfill our Hoostes will and his ordinaunce. There shall no fawte be found in me; good will shal be my chaunce. With this I be excused of my rudines, Allthoughe I cannat peynt my tale but tell as it is, Lepyng over no centence, as ferforth as I may, But tell yewe the yolke and put the white away."     The Tale of Beryn           Whilom, yeres passed in the old dawes, When rightfullich by reson governed were the lawes, And principally in the ceté of Rome that was so rich, And worthiest in his dayes and noon to hym ilich Of worshipp ne of wele, ne of governaunce, For all londes Cristened therof had dotaunce, And all other naciouns, of what feith they were. Whils the Emperour was hole and in his paleyse there, I-mayntened in honour and in popes se, Rome was then obeyed in all Cristienté. But it fareth thereby as it doth by other thinges, For burh nether ceté, regioune ne kynges Beth nat nowe so worthy as were by old tyme, As we fynde in romaunces, in gestes and in ryme. For all thing doth wast, and eke mannes lyffe Ys more shorter then it was, and our wittes fyve Mow nat comprehende nowe in our dietes As somtyme myghte these old wise poetes. But sith that terrene thinges been nat perdurabill, No mervell is thoughe Rome be somwhat variabill Fro honour and fro wele, sith his frendes passed, As many another town is payred and i-lassed Within these fewe yeres, as we mowe se at eye: Lo, sirs, here fast by Wynchelse and Ry. But yit the name is ever oon of Rome, as it was grounded After Romus and Romulus that first that ceté founded, That brithern weren both to, as old bookes writen. But of hir lyff and governaunce I wol nat nowe enditen, But of other mater that falleth to my mynde.    Wherfor, gentill sirs, ye that beth behynde, Draweth somwhat nere, thikker to a route, That my wordes mowe soune to ech man aboute.    After these too bretheren, Romulus and Romus, Julius Cezar was Emperour, that rightfull was of domus. This ceté he governed nobilich wele And conquerd many a regioune, as cronicul doth us tell. For shortly to conclude, al tho were adversaries To Rome in his dayes, he made hem tributories; So had he in subjeccioune both frende and foon, Of wich I tell yew trewly, Englond was oon.    Yet after Julius Cezar, and sith that Criste was bore, Rome was governed as wele as it was tofore, And namelich in that tyme and in tho same yeres When it was governed by the Doseperes. As semeth wele by reson, whoso can entende, That o mannes witt ne will may nat comprehend The boncheff and the myscheff as mowe many hedes. Therfor hir operaciouns, hir domes and hir deedes Were so egallich i-doon, for in al Cristen londes Was noon that they spared for to mend wronges. Then Constantyne the Third, after these Doseperes, Was Emperour of Rome and regned many yeres.    So shortly to pas over, after Constantynes dayes Philippus Augustinus, as songen is in layes, That Constantynes sone and of plener age Was emperour i-chose, as fil by heritage, In whose tyme sikerlich the Seven Sages were In Rome dwelling dessantly. And yf ye lust to lere Howe they were i-cleped or I ferther goon, I woll tell yewe the names of hem everychoon, And declare yewe the cause why they hir names bere.    The first was i-cleped Sother Legifeer: This is thus much for to sey as "man bereing the lawe"; And so he did trewly, for lever he had be sclawe Then do or sey enything that sowned out of reson, So cleen was his conscience i-set in trowth and reson. Marcus Stoycus, the second, so pepill him highte: That is to mene in our consceit "a keper of the righte"; And so he did ful trewe, for the record and the plees, He wrote hem ever trewly and took noon other fees, But such as was ordeyned to take by the yere. Now, Lord God, in Cristendon I wold it were so clere! The third, Crassus Asulus, among men cleped was "An hous of rest and ese and counsell in every case;" For to understond, that was his name ful righte, For evermore the counsalles he helped with all his myghte. Antonyus Judeus the ferth was i-cleped, That was as much to meen, as wele men might have cleped: As enything purposed of al the long yeer That myght have made hym sory or chonged ones chere, 7 But evermore rejoysing what-that-ever betid, For his hert was ever mery right as the somer bridd. Sumus Philopater was the fifftes name, That thoughe men wold sclee hym or do hym al the shame, Anger or disese, as evill as men couthe, Yit wold he love hem never the wers in hert ne in mowth. His will was cleen under his foot and nothing hym above; Therfor he was cleped "fader of perfite love." The sixt and the seveneth of these Seven Sages Was Scypio and Sichero, as the word "Astrolages" Was surname to hem both after hir sciences, For of astronomy sikerlich, the cours and al the fences, Both they knowe hit wele inowghe and were righte sotil of art.    But nowe to other purpose, for here I woll departe As lightly as I can and drawe to my matere.    In that same tyme that these sages were Dwellyng thus in Rome, a litill without the walles In the subbarbes of the town, of chambres and of halles And al other howsing that to a lord belonged Was noon within the ceté, ne noon so wele behonged With docers of highe pryse, ne walled so aboute As was a cenatours hous, within and eke without; Faunus was his name, a worthy man and riche, And for to sey shortlych, in Rome was noon hym lych. His sportes and his estres were ful evenaunte Of tresour and of lordshipp; also the most vaillant He was and eke i-com of highe lynage. And atte last he toke a wyff like to his parage, For noriture and connyng, bewté and parentyne Were tho counted more with then gold or sylver fyne. But nowe it is al other in many mannes thought, For muk is nowe i-maried and vertu set at nought.    Faunus and his worthy wyff were togider aloon Fiftene wynter fullich, and issu had they noon. Wherfor hir joyes were nat halff perfite, For utterlich to have a child was al hir delite, That myghte enjoy hir heritage and weld hir honour, And eke when they were febill, to be hir trew socoure. Hir fasting and hir preyer and al that ever they wroughte, As pilgremage and almes-ded, ever they besoughte That God wold of his goodnes som fruyte betwene hem send. For gynnyng of hir spousaill, the myddil and the ende, This was hir most besynes, and al other delites And eke this worldes riches they set at litil pris.    So atte last, as God wold, it fill oppon a day As this lady fro chirchward went in the way, A child gan stere in hir wombe, as Goddes will was, Wherof she gan to mervill and made shorter pas, With colour pale and eke wanne, and fyll in hevynes, For she had never tofore that day such manere seknes. The wymmen that with hir were gon to behold The lady and hir chere, but nothing they told, But feir and sofft with ese homward they hir led, For hir soden sekenes ful sore they were adred. For she was inlich gentil, kinde and amyabill, And eke trewe of hert and nothing variabill. She loved God above al thyng, and dred syn and shame - And Agea sikerly was hir rightful name.    And after, in breff tyme, when it was perseyved That she had done a wommans dede and had a child conseyved, The joy that she made, there may no tung tell. And also much or more, yf I ne ly shell, Faunus made in his behalf for this glad tyding, That I trow I leve the Emperour ne the Kyng Made no better chere to wyff ne no more myrth Then Faunus to Agea. And when the tyme of birth Nyghed nere and nere, after cours of kynde, Weteth wele in certen that al the wit and mynde Of Faunus was continuell of feir delyveraunce Betwene Agea and his child, and made grete ordenaunce Ageyn the tyme it shuld be bore, as it was for to doon.    So as God wold, when tyme cam, Agea had a son. Butte joy that Faunus made was dobil tho tofore, When that he knewe in certen she had a sone i-bore, And sent anoon for nursses, four and no les, To reule this child afterward as yeres did pas.    The child was kept so tenderly that it throff wel the bett, For what the norisshes axed, anoon it was i-fett. In his chamber it norisshed was; to town it mut nat go. Faunus loved it so cherely, hit myght nat part hym fro. It was so feir a creature as myght be on lyve Of lymes and of fetour, and growe wonder blyve. This child that I of tell - Berinus was his name - Was over-mych chersshed, wich turned hym into grame, As ye shull here after when tyme cometh and spase, For after swete the soure cometh ful offt in many a plase; For as sone as he coude go and also speke, All that he set his eye on or after list to keke, Anoon he shuld it have, for no man hym werned. But it had be wel better he had be wele i-lerned Noriture and gentilnes, and had i-had som hey, For it fill so after with what child he did pley, Yf the pley ne liked hym, he wold breke his hede Or with a knyff hym hurt, right nighehond to be dede. For there nas knyght ne squyer in his faders house That thought his own persone most coraiouse That did or seid enything Berinus to displese, That he nold spetously anoon oppon hym rese. Wherof his fader had joy and his moder also, Yit it semeth to many a man it was nat wisely do.    When Beryn passed was seven yeer and grewe in more age, He wrought ful many an evill chek, for such was his corage That there he wist or myghte do eny evill dede, He wold never sese for aught that men hym seyde. Wherfor many a pore man ful offt was agreved, But Faunus and Agea ful lite theron beleved. And thoughe men wold pleyne, ful short it shuld availl, For Faunus was so myghty and cheff of all counsaill With Augustyn the Emperour that al men hym dradd And lete pas over mischeff and harmes that they had.    Berinus ferthermore loved wele the dise And for to pley at hazard, and held therof grete pryse, And al other games that losery was in, And evermore he lost and never myghte wyn. Berinus atte hazard many a nyghte he waked, And offt tyme it fill so that he cam home al naked. And that was al his joy, for ryghte wele he knewe That Agea his moder wold cloth hym newe.    Thus Berinus lyved, as I have told tofore, Tyll he was of the age of eightene yeer or more. But other whils amonges for pleyntes that were grete, Faunus made amendes and put hem in quyete. So was the fader cause the sone was so wild, And so have many mo such of his own child Because of his undoyng, as we mowe se al day. For thing i-take in is hard to put away. As hors that ever trotted, trewlich I yew tell, It were hard to make hym after to ambill well; Right so by Beryn when he had his lust and will when he was lite, It shuld be hevy afterward to reve his old delite, Save the whele of Fortune that no man may withstonde, For every man on lyve thereon he is gond; O spoke she turned bakward right atte highe noon All ageyn Berinus, as ye shull here sone.    Agea his moder fil in grete sekenes And sent after husbond with wordes hir to lis, And for she wold tell hym hir hole hertes will, Er she out of the world parted, as it was righte and skill. When Faunus was i-come and sawe so rodylese His wyff that was so dere, that for love he chese, No mervell thoughe his hert were in grete mournyng, For he perseyved fullich she drewe to hir ending. Yit made he other chere then in his hert was, To put awey discomforte, dissimilyng with his fase The hevynes of his hert, with chere he did it close. For such a maner crafft there is with hem can glose, Save that tourneth al to cautele - but Faunus did nat so, For weteth wele in certeyn, his hert was ful of woo For his wyff, Agea, and yit for crafft he couthe, The teres fro his eyen ran down by his mowth; When he sawe the panges of deth comyng so fast Oppon his wyff, Agea, almost his hert tobrast.    Agea lyfft up hir eyen and beheld the chere Of hir husbond, Faunus, that was so trewe a fere, And seyd, "Sir, why do ye thus? This is an elyng fare. In comfort of us both, yf ye myghte spare And put awey this hevenes whils that ye and I Myghte speke of other thinges, for Deth me nygheth nyghe. For to body ne to soule, this vayleth nat a krase."    "Now telleth on," quod Faunus, "and I wol lete it pase For the tyme of talkyng, as wele as I may. But out of my remembraunce onto my endyng day Yeur deth wol never, I woot it wele, but ever be in mynde."    "Then, good sir," quod Agea, "beth to my soule kynde, When my body is out of sighte, for therto have I nede, For truer make then ye be, in word ne in dede, Had never womman, ne more kyndnes Hath shewed onto his make, I knowe right wele iwis. Now wold ye so hereafter in hert be as trewe To lyve without make and on yeur sone rewe That litill hath i-lerned sithens he was bore. Let hym have no stepmoder, for children had tofore Comelich they loveth nat. Wherfore with hert I prey, Have chere onto yeur sone after my endyng day. For so God me help, and yew lafft me behynde, Shuld never man on lyve bryng it in my mynde, To be no more i-wedded but lyve soule aloon. Nowe ye knowe al my will. Good sir, think thereon."    "Certes," quod Faunus, "whils I have wittes fyve, I thynk never after yewe to have another wyff."    The preest was com therwithal for to do hir rightes. Faunus toke his leve, and all the other knyghtes; Hir kyn and all hir frendes kissed hir echone. It is no nede to axe where there was dole or noon. Agea cast hir eye up and loked al aboute, And wold have kissed Beryn, but then was he withoute, Pleying to the hazard as he was wont to doon, For as sone as he had ete, he wold ren out anoon. And when she sawe he was nat there, that she thought most on, Hire sekenes and hir mournyng berst hir hert anoon.    A damesell tofore that was ronne into the town For to seche Beryn, that pleyd for his gown And had almost i-lost it right as the damesel cam, And swore and stared as he was wood, as longed to the game. The damesell seyd to Beryn, "Sir, ye must com home, For but ye highe blyve that ye were i-come, Yeur moder woll be dede. She is yit on live; Yf ye woll speke with hir, ye must highe blyve!"    "Who bad so, lewd Kit?" - "Yeur fader, sir," quod she.    "Go home, lewde vise-nag, that evil mut thowe the!" Quod Beryn to the damesell and gan hir fray and feer, And bad the devill of Hell hir shuld totere. "Hast thowe ought els to do but let me of my game? Now, by God in heven, by Peter and by Jame!" Quod Beryn in grete anger and swore by book and bell, Rehersing many names mo then me list to tell. "Nere thow my faders messenger, thow shuldest never ete brede! I had lever my moder and also thowe were dede Then I shuld lese the game that I am now in!" - And smote the damesell under the ere; the weet gon upward spyn. The deth of Agea he set at litil prise.    So in that wrath frelich Beryn threwe the dise And lost with that same cast al was leyde adown, And stert up in a wood rage and balled on his crown, And so he did the remnaunte, as many as wold abide. But for drede of Faunus, his felawes gan to hide And never had will ne lust with Beryn for to fighte, But ever redy to pley and wyn what they myghte.    The deth of Agea sprang about the town, And every man that herd the bell for hir sown Bemened hir ful sore, saff Beryn toke noon hede, But sought another feleshipp and quyklich to hem yede, To such maner company as shuld never thryve, For such he loved better then his moders lyve. And evermore it shuld be nyghte or he wold home drawe, For of his fader in certen he had no maner awe. For ever in his yowthe he had al his will And was i-passed chastising, but men wold hym kill.    Faunus for Agea, as it was wele sitting, Made grete ordenaunce for hir burying, Of prelates and of prestes and of al other thing, As thoughe she had be a wyff of a worthy kyng. It myght nat have be mended, such was his gentilnes, For at hir enteryng was many a worthy messe. For four wookes full, or he did hir entere, She lay in lede within his house. But Beryn cam nat there, Namelich onto the place there his moder lay, Ne ones wold he a pater-noster for hir soule say. His thought was al in unthryfft, lechery and dyse, And drawing al to foly, for yowth is recheles But there it is refreyned and hath som maner eye.    And therfor me thinketh that I may wele sey: A man i-passed yowth and is without lore May be wele i-likened to a tre without more That may nat bowe ne bere fruyte, but root and ever wast; Right so every youthe fareth that no man list to chast. This mowe we know verely by experience That yerd maketh vertu and benevolence In childhode for to growe, as preveth imaginacioun; A plant whils it is grene, or it have dominacioun, A man may with his fyngers ply it where hym list And make thereof a shakill, a withey or a twist, But let the plant stond, and yeres overgrowe, Men shall nat with both his hondes unnethes make it bowe. No more myght Faunus make his sone Beryn, When he growe in age, to his lore enclyne. For every day when Beryn rose, unwassh he wold dyne And drawe hym to his feleshipp as even as a lyne, And then com home, and ete and soop, and sclepe at nyghte. This was al his besynes, but yf that he did fighte. Wherfor his faders hert, Faunus, gan for to blede, That of his moder that lay at home he took no more hede. And so did all the pepill that dwelled in the town Of Beryns wildnes gon speke and eke roune.    Faunus oppon a day, when Beryn cam at eve, Was set oppon a purpose to make his sone leve All his shrewd tacches, with goodnes yf he myghte, And taughte hym feir and sofft. But Beryn toke it light And counted at litill price al his faders tale. Faunus saw it wold nat; with colour wan and pale He parted from his sone, and with a sorowful hert. I can ne write halffyndele howe sore he did smert The disobeying of his sone and his wyffes deth, That, as the book telleth, he wisshed that his breth Had i-been above the serkill celestyne, So fervent was his sorowe, his anger and his pyne.    So, shortly to conclude, Agea was entered, And Faunus lyved wyfles - thre yeer were wered - Wherof there was grete spech for his highe honour, Tyll atte last, word cam onto the Emperour That Faunus was without wyff, and seld was jocounde, But mournyng for Agea that he was to i-bounde, And lyved as an hermyte, soule and destitute, Without consolacioune, pensyff offt and mut. Wherfor Augustinus, of Rome the Emperour, Was inwardlich sory and in grete dolour. When the Seven Sages and Senatoures all Were assembled to discryve what shuld therof fall, The wich seyd shortly: for a molestacioune, There was noon other remedy but a consolacioune, For whoso were in enything displesed or agreved Must by a like thing egall be remeved. And when the Emperour knewe al hir determinacioune, Quiklich in his mynde he had imaginacioun That Faunus for Agea was in highe distres And must be i-cured with passing gentilnes Of som lusty lady that of pulcritude Were excellent al other. So, shortly to conclude, The Emperour had a love tofore he had a wyff That he loved as hertlich as his own lyff, As was as feir a creature as sone myghte beshyne, So excellent of bewté that she myght be shryne To all other wymmen that were tho livand. But for the Emperour had a wyff, ye shul wele understond, He cam nat in hir company to have his delite, For Cristendom and conscience was tho more perfite Then it is nowe-a-dayes, yf I durst tell. But I woll leve at this tyme. Than Faunus also snell Was after sent in hast of sekenes to be cured. So, what for drede and elles, they were both ensured In presence of the Emperour, so Faunus myght nat flee. It was the Emperours will; it myght noon other be.    So within a tyme Agea was forgete, For Faunus thought litill on that he hir behighte. For as the Seven Sages had afore declared, It cam al to purpos, for Faunus litill cared For enything at all save his wyff to plese, That Rame was i-cleped. For rest nether ese Faunus never had out of hir presence, So was his hert on hir i-set that he coude no defence, Save evermore be with hir and stare on hir visage, That the most parte of Rome held it for dotage, And had much mervell of his variaunce. But what is that Fortune cannat put in chaunce? For there nas man on lyve on womman more bedoted Then Faunus was in Rame, ne halff so much i-soted.    When that Rame had knowlech that Faunus was i-smyt With the dart of Love, ye mowe right wele it wyt That all that ever she coude cast or bythynch Was al ageyn Berinus. For many a sotill wrench She thought and wrought day by day, as meny wommen doon Tyll they have of hir desire the full conclusyoune. For the more that Faunus of Rame made, The more daungerous was Rame and of chere sade, And kept well hir purpose under coverture. She was the las to blame - it grew of Nature - But thoughe that Rame wrought so, God forbede that all Were of that condicioune! Yet touch no man the gall, It is my pleyn counsell, but doth as other doth: Take yeur part as it cometh, of roughe and eke of smoth. Yit noritur, wit and gentilnes, reson and perfite mynde, Doth al thes worthy wommen to worch ageyns kynde, That thoughe they be agreved, they suffer and endure And passeth over, for the best, and foloweth nothing nature.    But nowe to Rames purpose and what was hir desire: Shortly to conclude, to make debate and ire Betwene the fader and the sone, as it was likly tho. What for his condicioune and what for love also That Faunus owt to his wyff, the rather he must hir leve And graunt for to mend, yf ought hir did greve.    Berinus ever wrought ryght as he did tofore, And Rame made hym chere of love, there myght no womman more, And gaff hym gold and clothing ever as he did lese, Of the best that he couthe oughwhere in town chese, And spak ful feir with hym to make al thing dede. Yit wold she have i-ete his hert without salt or brede! She hid so hir felony and spak so in covert That Beryn myght nat spy it but lite of Rames hert.    So, shortly to pas over, it fill oppon a nyghte When Faunus and his fressh wyff were to bedd i-dighte, He toke hir on his armes and made hir hertly chere, There myght no man better make to his fere, And seyd, "Myne erthly joy, myne hertes ful plesaunce, My wele, my woo, my paradise, my lyves sustenaunce, Why ne be ye mery? Why be ye so dull, Sith ye knowe I am yeur own, right as yeur hert woll? Now tell on, love, myne own hert, yf ye eyleth ought. For and it be in my power, anoon it shal be wrought."    Rame with that gan sighe, and with a wepeing chere Undid the bagg of trechery, and seid in this manere: "No mervell thoughe myne hert be sore and full of dele, For when that I to yew wedded was, wrong went my whele. But who may be ageyns hap and aventure? Therefor, as wele as I may, myne I mut endure."    With many sharp wordes, she set his hert on feir To purchase with hir practik that she did desire. But hoolich al hir wordes I cannat wele reherce, Ne write ne endite howe she did perce Thurh Faunes hert and his scull also. For more petouse compleynt of sorow and of woo, Made never woman, ne more petously, Then Rame made to Faunus; she smote ful bitterly Into the veyn and thurh his hert blood. She blodered so and wept, and was so highe and mode, That unneth she myghte speke but otherwhile among Wordes of discomfort, and hir hondes wrong. For "Alas!" - and woo the tyme that she wedded was! - Was evermore the refreit when she myght have spase: "I am i-wedded (yee, God woot best) in what maner and howe! For if it were so fall I had a child by yewe, Lord, how shuld he lyve? Howe shuld he com away? - Sith Beryn is yeur first sone and heir after yeur day, But yf that he had grace to scole for to goo, To have som maner connyng that he myghte trust to. For as it now stondeth, it were the best rede, For (so God me help) I had lever he were dede Than were of such condicioune or of such lore As Beryn yeur sone is. It were better he were unbore! For he doth nat elles save atte hazard pley And cometh home al naked ech other day. For within this month that I have with yew be, Fifftene sithes, for verry grete peté, I have i-clothed hym al newe when he was totore, For evermore he seyde the old were i-lore. Now and he were my sone, I had lever he were i-sod. For and he pley so long, halff our lyvlode Wold scarsly suffise hymselff oon. And nere ye wold be greved, I swere by Seynt John!"    "He shuld after this day be clothed no more for me, But he wold kepe hem better and drawe fro nyceté. Nowe, gentill wyff, gromercy of yeur wise tale!"    "I thynk wel the more that I sey no fale, For towching my grevaunce, that Beryn goth al naked, Treulich that grevaunce is somwhat asclaked."    "Let hym aloon, I prey yew, and I wol con yew thanke, For in such losery he hath lost many a frank. The devill hym spede that reche yf he be totore, And he use it hereaffter as he hath doon tofore!"    Beryn arose amorowe and cried wonder fast, And axed after clothes, but it was al in wast. There was no man-tendant for hym in al the house. The whele was i-chaunged into another cours. Faunus herd his sone wele, how he began to cry, And rose up anoon and to hym did highe, And had forgete nothing that Rame had i-seyde, For he boilled so his hert, he was nat wel apayde. He went onto the chamber there his sone lay And set hym doun in a chair, and thus he gan to sey:    "My gentil sone, Beryn, now feir I woll thee tech. Rew oppon thyselff and be thyn own leche. Manhode is i-com nowe, myne own dere sone. It is tyme thow be aweyned of thyne old wone, And thow art twenty wynter and naught hast of doctryne. Yit woldest thowe drawe to profite, the worshipp wold be thyne, To noritur and goodshipp and al honest thing; There myght com to myne hert no more glad tyding. Leve now al thy foly and thy rebawdry, As tables and merelles and the hazardry, And draw thee to the company of honest men and good. Els leve thewe me, as wele as Criste died on the rode And for al menkynde His gost pas lete, Thow shalt for me hereafter stond on thyn own fete! For I woll no longer suffer this aray To clothe thee al new ech other day. Yff thow wolt drawe thee to wit and rebawdry withdrawe, Of such good as God have sent, thy part shalt thow have. And yf thow wolt nat, my sone, do as I thee tell, Of me shalt thow naught have. Trust me right well! Wenest thow with thy dise-pleying hold mine honoure After my deth-day?" - Then Beryn gan to loure And seid, "Is this a sermon or a prechement? Ye were nat wont hereto. How is this i-went? Sendeth for som clothing that I were a-go. My felawes loketh after me; I woot wele they do so. I woll nat leve my feleshipp ne my rekelages, Ne my dise-pleying for all yeur hostages. Doth yeur best with hem by yeur lyff-day, For when they fall to me, I wol do as I may. Benedicite, Fader! Who hath enfourmed yewe And set yewe into ire to make me chere rowe? But I know well inowgh whens this counsaill cam, Trewlich of yeur own wyfe, that evil dame. Curs com oppon hir body, that fals putaigne! For trewlich, Fader, ye dote on hir, and so al men seyn. Allas that ever a man shuld, that is of highe counsaill, Set al his wisdom on his wyves tayll! Ye loveth hir so much, she hath benome yeur witt, And I may curs the tyme that ever ye were i-knyt. For now I am in certen I have a stepmoder. They been shrewes som - there been but few other - Wel fikil flaptaill, such oon as she ys. For al my pleying atte dise, yit do ye more amys: Ye have i-lost yeur name, yeur worshipp and yeur feith, So dote ye on hir and leveth al she sayeth!"    Faunus with the same word gaff the chayir a but, And lepe out of the chamber, as who seyd "Cut!" And swore in verry woodnes, by God omnipotent, That Beryn of his wordes shuld sore repent.    Beryn set nought thereof with a proude hert, Answerd his fader, and axed a new shert. He groped al aboute to have found oon, As he was wont tofore, but there was noon. Then toke he such willokes as he fond there And beheld hymselff, what man he were. For when he was arayde, then gan he first be wrothe, For his wombe loked and his rigg both. He stert after his fader and began to cry: "For seeth myne aray! For thys vilany Ys as wele yeurs as it is myne!"    Faunus lete hym clater, and cry wel and fyne, And passed forth still and spak nat a word. Then Beryn gan to think it was nat al bord That his fader seyde when he with hym was, And gan to think al about, and therwith seyd "Allas! Now know I wele forsoth that my moder is dede!" For tho gan he to glow first a sory mannes hede.    Now kepe thy cut, Beryn, for thow shalt have a fit Somwhat of the world to lern better witt. For and thow wist sikerly what is for to com, Thow woldest wissh after thy deth ful offt and ilome. For there nys beting half so sore with staff nether swerd As man to be bete with his own yerd. The pyry is i-blowe - hop, Beryn, hop! - That ripe wol hereafter and on thyn hede dropp. Thow tokest noon hede whils it shoon hoot; Therfor wynter thee nygheth. Asay by thy cote!    Beryn for shame to town durst he nat go. He toke his way to chirchward; his frend was made his foo. For anger, sorow and shame, and hevynes that he had, Unneth he myghte speke, but stode halff as mad.    "O, allas!" quod Beryn, "what wit had I That coude nat, tofore this day, knowe sikerly, That my moder dede was? But nowe I knowe to sore And drede more that eche day herafter, more and more, I shall knowe and fele that my moder is dede. Allas, I smote the messangere and toke of hir noon hede! Allas, I am right pore! Allas, that I am naked! Allas, I sclept to fast till sorowe nowe hath me waked! Allas, I hunger sore! Allas, for dole and peyn! For eche man me seeth hath me in disdeyn!"    This was al his myrth to the chirchward, That of his moder, Agea, he toke so litill reward. When Beryn was within the chirch, then gan he wers fray; As sone he sawe the tombe where his moder lay, His coloure gan to chaunge into a dedely hewe.    "Allas, gentill Moder, so kynd thow were and trewe! It is no mervell for thy deth, thoughe, I sore smert!"    And therewithall the sorowe so fervent smote in his hert That sodenly he fil down stan-dede in swowe. That he had part of sorowe, me thinketh that myght avowe. Beryn lay so longe or he myghte awake, For al his fyve wittes had clene hym forsake. Wel myghte he by hymselff, when reson i-com were, Understond that Fortune had a sharp spere And eke grete power among highe and lowe, Som to avaunce and som to overthrowe. So atte last, when Beryn a litill waked were, He trampeled fast with his feet, and al totare his ere And his visage both, ryght as a wood man, With many a bitter tere that from his eyen ran, And sighed many a sore sigh and had much hevynes. And evermore he cursed his grete unkyndnes To foregit his moder whils she was alyve, And lened to hir tombe opon his tore sclyv, And wisshed a thowsand sithes he had i-be hir by, And beheld hir tombe with a petouse eye.    "Now, glorious God," quod Beryn, "that al thing madest of nought, Heven and erth, man and best, sith I am myswrought, Of yewe I axe mercy, socour and help and grace, For my mysdede and foly, unthryfft and trespase. Set my sorowe and peyn somwhat in mesure Fro dispeir and myscheff, as I may endure. Lord of all lordes, thoughe Fortune be my foo, Yit is thy myghte above to turn hym to and fro. First my moders lyff Fortune hath me bereved, And sith my faders love, and naked also me leved. What may he do more? Yis, take awey my lyff! But for that were myne ese and end of al stryff, Therfor he doth me lyve for my wers, I sey, That I shuld evermore lyve and never for to dey."    Now leve I Beryn with his moder tyl I com aye, And wol retourne me to Rame that of hir sotilté Bethought hir al aboute, when Beryn was agoon, That it shuld be witted hir. Wherfor she anoon In this wise seyd to Faunus, "Sir, what have ye do? Althoughe I speke a mery word to suffer yeur sone go Naked into the town, it was nat my counsaill. What wol be seyd therof? Siker without faill, For I am his stepmoder, that I am cause of all; The violence, the wrath, the anger and the gall That is betwene yewe both, it wol be witted me. Wherfor I prey yew hertly, doth hym com home aye."    "Nay, by my trowth!" quod Faunus, "for me cometh he nat yit. Sith he of my wordes so litil prise set, As litill shall I charge his estate also. Sorowe have that reccheth, thoughe he naked go! For every man knoweth that he is nat wise; Wherfor may be supposed his pleying atte dise Is cause of his aray, and nothing ye, my wyff."    "Yis, iwis," quod Rame, "the tale wol be ryff Of me and of noon other, I knowe righte wel a fyne. Wherfor I prey yewe, gentil sir, and for love myne, That he were i-fet home, and that in grete hast, And let asay efft ageyn with feirnes hym to chast, And send Beryn clothes and a newe shert." - And made al wele in eche side, and kept close hir hert.    "Now sith it is yeur will," quod Faunus tho anoon, "That Beryn shall home come, for yeur sake aloon I woll be the message, to put yeur hert in ese. And els, so God me help, were it nat yewe to plese, The gras shuld growe on pament or I hym home bryng!    Yit, netherles, forth he went with too or thre ryding From o strete to another, enqueryng to and fro, After Beryn in every plase where he was wont to go, Sheching every halk, howres to or thre, With hazardours and other such, there as he was wont to be, And fond hym nat there. But to chirch went echone, And atte dorr they stode awhile and herd Beryn made his moon; They herd all his compleynt, that petouse was to here.    Faunus into the chirch pryvelych gan pire, But also sone as he beheld where Agea lay, His teres ran down by his chekes, and thus he gan to say: "A, Agea, myne old love, and my newe also! Allas, that ever our hertes shuld depart a-too, For in yeur graciouse dayes, of hertes trobilnes I had never knowlech, but of al gladnes!" - Remembryng in his hert, and ever gan renewe The goodnes betwene hem both and hir hert trewe, And drewe hym nere to Beryn with an hevy mode.    But as sone as Beryn knew and understode That it was his fader, he wold no lenger abide, But anoon he voided by the toder syde.    And Faunus hym encountred and seyd, "We have thee soughte Thurh the town, my gentill sone, and therfor void thee noughte. Thoughe I seyd a word or to, as me thought for the best For thyne erudicioune to drawe thee to lyff honest, Thow shuldest nat so fervently have take it to thyn hert. But sith I knowe my wordes doth thee so sore smert, I shall no more hereafter, and ech day our diete Shall be mery and solase, and this shal be forgete. For wel I woot that for thy moder thow art totore; Also thow hast grete sorow, but ones nedeth and no more. And therefor, sone, on my blessing to put sorow awey, Drawe thee nowe herafter to honest myrth and pley. Lo, there is clothing for yewe, and yeur hors i-dighte With harneyse al fressh newe. And yf ye list be knyght, I shall yit or eve that bergeyn undertake That the Emperour for my love a knyght shall yew make. And what-that-ever ye nede, anoon it shall be bought, For whils that I have enything, ye shall lak naughte."    "Graunte mercy," quod Beryn with an hevy chere, "Of yeur worshipful profer that ye have profered me here, But order of knyghthode to take is nat my likeing. And sith yeur will is for to do somwhat my plesing, Ye have a wyff ye love wele and so tenderlich That, and she have children, I knowe right sikerlich Al that she can devise, both by nyghte and day, Shall be to make hir childryn heirs, yf that she may, And eke sowe sedes of infelicité Wherof wold growe devisioun betwene yewe and me. For yf ye spend on me yeur good, and thus riallich, Leveth well in certen, yeur wyff woll sikerliche Eche day for anger hir tuskes whet, And to smyte with hir tunge yeur hert in wrath to set Toward me from day to day. But ye wold aply Somwhat to hir purpose and after hir yewe guy, She wold wexe so overtwart and of so lither tach, And ever lour under hir hood aredy for to snache; She wold be shortyng of yeur lyff, and that desire I naught. Wherfor to plese al aboute, my purpose and my thought Is for to be a marchaunte and leve myne heritage, And relese it forever, for shippes fyve of stage Ful of marchandise, the best of al this londe. And yff ye wol so, Fader, quyk let make the bonde."    Faunus was ryghte wele apayde that ilk word outstert, But yit he seid to Beryn, "I mervell in myne hert Where haddest thow this counsell to leve thyne honoure And lyve in grete aventur and in grete labour?" - And rid so forth talking a sofft esy pase Homward to his plase, there that Rame was. And as sone as Faunus was i-lighte adown And highed fast to his wyff, and with hir gan to rown And told hir al the purpose, she made Faunus chere. She did hym nat halff so much the tyme she was his fere: She hulled hym and molled hym and toke hym aboute the nekk, And went lowe for the kite and made many a bekk, And seyd, "Sir, by yeur spech, nowe right wel I here That yf ye list, ye mowe do thing that I most desire, And that is this: yeur heritage, there yewe best liked, That ye myght gyve." And ever among the brussh awey she piked From hir clothes, here and there, and sighed therewithall.    Faunus, of his gentilnes, by hir myddil small Hertlich hir braced and seyd, "I wol nat leve, I suyr yew my trowth, that ones or it be eve That I shall do my devoir without fentyse For to plese yeur hert fullich in al wise."    "Graunt mercy, myne own soverene," quod Rame tho mekerly, And made protestacioune that she wold sikerly All the dayes of hir lyff be to hym as ende As ever woman was to man, as ferforth as hir mynde And wit hir wold serve, and made grete othe. Faunus bood no lenger, but forth therewith he goth.    A, precius God in heven, Kyng of magesté, So plentivouse this world is of iniquité! Why is it i-suffred that trowth is brought adown With trechery and falshede, in feld and eke in town?    But now to Faunus and his entent. When he his sone met, He toke hym sofft by the hond; his tung he gan to whet. Sotilly to engyne hym, first he gan to preche: "Leve thy foly, my dere sone, and do as I thee teche. Sith thow hast wit and reson, and art of mannes age, What nedeth thee be marchant and shal have heritage? For and thy good were i-lost, the sorow wold be myne, To tell the soth, right nyghe peregall to thyne. And yf that I were dede whils thow were oute, Lond and rent and all my good, have thow no doute, It wold be plukked from thee; thy parte wold be lest. And also, ferthermore, I make oon beheest, That I trowe my mobles wol nat suffice To charge fyve shippes ful of marchandise, But yf I leyde in morgage my lond and eke my rent, And that, I leve, be nat thy will ne thyne entent. Yit netherles, yf thy hert be so inly set For to be a marchant, for nothing woll I let That I nyl do thy plesaunce, as ferforth as I may, To go ryghte nyghe myne own estate. But lever I had nay!"    Hir wordes ne hir redes, ne maters hem betwene, I wol nat tary now thereon my parchemen to spene. But fynallich, to the ende of hir acordement, Faunus had so goon about, i-turned and i-went, That he had brought his sone tofore the Emperour To relese his heritage and al his honour That he shuld have, after his day, for shippes fyve and full I-led of marchaundise, of lynnyn and of woll, And of other thinges that were i-used tho. Engrosed was the covenaunte betwen hem to, In presence of the Emperour, in opyn and no roun, Tofore the grettest senatours and eldest of the town. So when the relese seled was with a syde bonde, They were i-leyde both in a meen honde Into the tyme that Beryn fullich sesed were In the five shippes, that I yew tolde ere.    But who was glad but Faunus, and to his wyff went And seyd, "Nowe, my hertes swete, al thyn hole entent Is utterlich perfourmed. Us lakketh nowe no more But marchandise and shippes, as I told tofore."    "That shall nat faill," quod Rame, and began to daunce; And afterward they speken of the purveaunce.    Allas, this fals world, so ful of trechery! In whom shuld the sone have trust and feith sikerly If his fader fayled hym? Whether myght he go For to fynde a siker frend that he myght trist to?    So when these fyve shippes were rayed and dighte, Faunus and his sone to the Emperour ful righte They went, and many a grete man for the same case, To see both in possessioune as hir covenaunte was: Beryn first was sesed in the shippes fyve, And Faunus had the relese and bare it to his wyff. And eche held hem payde, and Rame best of all, For she had conquerd thing that caused most hir gall.    Now leve I Faunus and his wyff, and of the governaunce Of Beryn I woll speke, and also of his chaunce. When lodesmen and maryneres in al thing redy was, This Beryn into Alisaunder, yf God wold send hym grace That wynde hym wold serve. He wold so on a day The wynde was good, and they seyled on hir wey, Too dayes fullich and a nyght therewithall And had weder at will, till atte last gan fall Such a myst among hem that no man myght se other, That wele was hym that had there the blessing of his moder. For thre dayes dessantly the derknes among hem was That no shipp myghte se other; wherfor ful offt "Alas!" They seyd, and to the highe God they made hir preyere That He wold of His grace hem govern and stere, So that hir lyves myghte i-saved be. For they were cleen in dispeyr because they myght nat se The loder, wherby these shipmen her cours toke echon.    So atte last, the ferth day, makeing thus hir moon, The day gan clere, and then such wynde arose That blew hir shippes elswhere then was hir first purpose. The tempest was so huge and so strong also That wel was hym that coude bynd or ondo Any rope within the shipp that longed to the crafft. Every man shewed his connyng tofore the shipp and bafft. The wynd awook, the see tobrast, it blew so gresly sore That Beryn and all his company, of synnes las and more, Eche man round aboute shroff hymselff to other, And put in Goddes governaunce lyff, shipp and strother. For there nas shippes meyné, for aught they coude hale, That myghte abate of the shipp the thiknes of a skale. The weder was so fervent, of wynd and eke of thunder, That every shipp from other was blowe of sighte asonder, And dured so al day and nyghte tyl on the morowe. I trow it was no questioune whether they had joy or sorowe. So afterward, as God wold, the wynd was somwhat sofft.    Beryn cleped a maryner and bad hym, "Sty on lofft, And weyte after our four shippes that after us doth dryve, For it is butte grace of God yf they be alyve."    A marynere anoon with that, ryght as Beryn bad, Styed into the topcastell and brought hym tydinges glad: "Sir," he seith, "beth mery! Yeur shippes cometh echone, Saff and sound, sayling as ye shul se anoon. And eke, sir, ferthermore, lond also I sigh! Let draw our corse estward. This tyde wol bryng us ny."    "Blessed be God!" quod Beryn, "Then were our shippes com. [ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ] We have no nede to dout werr ne molestacioun, For there nys within our shippes nothing of spoliacioun, But all trewe marchaundise. Wherfor, sir lodesman, Stere ones into the costes as wel as thowe can. When our shippes been i-com, that we mow pas in fere, Lace on a bonet or tweyn, that we mowe saill nere."    And when they were the costes nyghe, was noon of hem all That wist what lond it was. Then Beryn gan to call Out of every shipp anoon a marynere or tweyne For to take counsell, and thus he gan to seyne:    "The frountes of this ilch toun been wonder feir withall. Me thinketh it is the best rede, what that ever befall, That I myselff aloon walk into the toun And here and se both here and there, upward and doun, And enquere fullich of hir governaunce. What sey ye, sirs? Wol ye sent to this ordenaunce?"    All they accorded wel thereto and held it for the best: "For thus yf it be profitabill, we mowe abide and rest; And yf it be otherwise, the rather shall we go. For after that ye spede, we wol worch and do."    But nowe mowe ye here right a wonder thing - In al the world wyde, so fals of hir lyving Was no pepill under sonne, ne noon so desseyvabill As was the pepill of this town, ne more unstabill, And had a cursed usage of sotill ymaginacioune: That yff so were the shippes of any straunge nacioun Were come into the porte, anoon they wold hem hyde Within hir own howses, and no man go ne ryde In no strete of al the town, ascaunce that they were lewde And coude no skill of marchandise. A skill it was, a shrewde, As ye shull here after of hir wrong and falshede. But yit it fill, as worthy was, oppon hir own hede.    Beryn arayd hym fresshly, as to a marchand longed, And set hym on a palfrey wel besey and honged; And a page rennyng by his hors feet, He rode endlong the town, but no man coud he mete. The dorres were i-closed in both too sides, Wherof he had mervell, yit ferthermore he rides And wayted on his ryght-hond a mancipiles plase, All fressh and newe, and thider gan he pase. The gates were wyde up, and thider gan he go, For thurhout the long town he fond so no mo.    Therein dwelled a Burgeyse, the most scliper man Of al the town thurhout, and what so he wan With trechery and gile - as doth som freres - Right so must he part with his comperes. Beryn light down on his hors, and inward gan he dres, And fond the good man of the house pleying atte ches With his neyghbour, as trewe as he, that dwelled hym fast by. But as sone as this Burgeyse on Beryn cast his eye, Sodenly he stert up and put the ches hym fro, And toke Beryn by the hond and seyd these wordes tho:    "Benedicite! What manere wynd hath i-brought yewe here? Now wold to God I had wherof I coude make yew chere, But ye shall lowe my good will, and take such as there is, And of yeur gentill paciens suffer that is amys."    For well he wist, by his aray and by his contenaunce, That of the shippes that were i-com he had som governaunce. Wherfor he made hym chere, semeyng amyabill, I-colered all with cawteles, and wonder desseyvabill. He braced hym by the middil and preyd hym sit adown, And lowly with much worshipp dressed his cosshoun.    "Lord God," seyd this Burgeyse, "I thank this ilk day That I shuld see yewe hole and sounde here in my contray. And yff ye list to tell the cause of yeur comyng, And yff ye have nede to eny maner thing, And it be in my power, and thoughe I shuld it seche, It shuld go right wonder streyte, I sey yew sikerlich, But ye it had in hast, therewith yewe to plese. For nowe I se yewe in my house, my hert is in grete ese."    The toder burgeyse rose hym up for to make rouse, And axed of his felawe, that lord was of the house: "Whens is this worshipful man?" - with wordes end and lowe - "For it semeth by the manere that ye hym shuld knowe And have sey hym tofore this tyme." "I have seen hym," quod the toder, "Yee, iwis, an hundred sithes! And right as to my brother I wold do hym plesaunce in al that ever I can, For trewlich in his contray he is a worshipful man."    "Forsoth, sir, and for yeur love, a thousand in this town Wold do hym worshipp and be righte feyne and bown To plese hym and availl, to have thonk of yewe. I woot wele, God hem yeld, so have they offt or nowe!" And arose up therewithall and with his felaw spak Of such maner mater that fayled never of lakk.    So when hir counsell was i-do, this Burgeyse preyd his fere To sit adown by Beryn and do hym sporte and chere: "And in the while, I woll se to his hors; For every gentill hert, afore his own cors, Desireth that his ryding best be served and i-dighte Rather then hymselff. Wherfor with al my myghte I woll have an ey therto, and sith perce wyne, Wich tonne or pipe is best and most fyne."    Beryn was al abasshed of his soden chere. But netherles the Burgeyse sat hym somwhat nere And preyd hym, of his gentilnes, his name for to tell, His contrey and his lynage. And he answerd snell:    "Berinus I am i-named, and in Rome i-bore, And have fyve shippes of myne own, las and more, Ful of marchaundise, ligging tofore the town. But much mervaill have I the goodman is so boune To serve me and plese, and how it myghte be."    "Sir," seyd the burgeyse, "no mervell it is to me, For many a tyme and offt - I cannat sey how lome - He hath be in yeur marches, and as I trowe, in Rome Also he was i-bore, yf I ne ly shall."    "Yf it be so," quod Beryn, "no mervell it is at all Thoughe he me have i-sey, and eke his gentill chere Preveth it al opynly. But by Hym that bought me dere, I have thereof no knowlech, as I am nowe avised."    With that cam in the goodman with contenaunce disguised, And had enquered of the child that with Beryn cam, From gynnyng to the ending, and told his mastres name And of Agea, his moder, and al thing as it was, Wherethurh he was ful perfite to answere to every cas. So entryng into the hall, the Burgeyse spak anoon:    "A, my gentill Beryn! Allas, that under stone Myne own hert, Agea, thy moder leff and dere! Now God assoyll hir soule, for never better chere Had I of fremd womman, ne never halff so good. Benedicite, a marchaunt comyng over flood! Who brought yewe in this purpose, and beth yeur faders heir? Now, by my trewe conscience, ryght nyghe in dispeyr I waxe for yeur sake, for now frendlese Ye mowe wel sey that ye been. But yit, sir, netherles, Ye mut endure Fortune and hevynes put awey. There is noon other wisdom. Also, yeur shippes gay That been i-com in saveté ought to amend yeur mode, The wich when we have dyned, I swere, sir, by the rood, We woll se hem trewly, within and eke withoute, And have wyne with us and drynk al aboute."    They set and wissh and fedd hem, and had wherof plenté. The Burgeyse was a stuffed man; there lakked noon deynté. So when they had i-dyned, the cloth was up i-take. A ches there was i-brought forth - but tho gan sorow to wake! The ches was al of yvery, the meyné fressh and newe, I-pulsshed and i-piked of white, asure and blewe. Beryn beheld the chekker; it semed passing feir.    "Sir," quod the Bergeyse, "ye shull fynd here a peyr That woll mate yew trewly in las then half a myle!" - And was i-sayd of sotilté, Beryn to begile.    "Now in soth," quod Beryn, "it myghte wel hap nay, And nere I must my shippes se, else I wold assay."    "What nedeth that?" quod the Burgeyse. "Trewlich, I wol nat glose. They been nat yit i-seteled ne fixed in the wose, For I have sent thries, sith ye hider cam, To waite oppon hir governaunce. Wherfor lete set o game, And I shall be the first that shall yewe atast."    The meyné were i-set up, and gon to pley fast. Beryn wan the first, the second, and the third, And atte fourth game in the ches amyd, The Burgeyse was i-mated - but that lust hym wele. And al was doon to bryng hym in, as ye shul here snel.    "Sir," then seyd Beryn, "ye woot wele howe it is. Me list no more to pley, for ye know this: Where is noon comparisoun, of what thing so it be, Lust and likeing faileth there, as it semeth me; Ne myrth is nat commendabill that ay is by o syde, But it rebound to the toder. Wherfor tyme is to ryde, And as many thonkes as I can or may Of my sport and chere, and also of yeur play."    "Nay, iwis, gentill Beryn, I woot ye wol nat go. For noritur wol it nat for to part so. And eke my condicioune, but I ley somthing, Is no more to pley then whoso shoke a rynge There no man is within, the rynging to answere. To shete a fetherles bolt, almost as good me were. But and ye wold this next game som manere wager legg, And let the trowth on both sides be morgage and i-plegg That whoso be i-mated graunt and assent To do the toders bidding; and whoso do repent, Drink al the water that salt is of the see."    Beryn beleved that he coude pley better then he, And sodenly assented with hond in hond assured. Men that stode besides, i-capped and i-hured, Wist wele that Beryn shuld have the wers mes, For the Burgeyse was the best pleyer atte ches Of all the wyde marches or many a myle aboute. But that ne wist Beryn of, ne cast thereof no doute. He set the meyné efft ageyn, and toke better hede Then he did tofore, and so he had nede.    The Burgeyse toke avisement long on every draughte, So with an houre or to, Beryn he had i-caughte Somwhat oppon the hipp, that Beryn had the wers. And albeit his mynde and will was for to curs, Yit must he dure his fortune when he was so fer i-go. For who is that that Fortune may alwey undo? And namelich stont even in eche side Of pro and contra, but God help, down wol he glide. But nowe a word of Philosophy that falleth to my mynde: Who take hede of the begynnyng what fal shal of the end, He leyeth a bussh tofore the gap ther Fortune wold in ryde; But comynlich yowth forgeteth that, thurhout the world wide. Right so be Beryn, I may wele sey, that counsailles in raked, Likly to lese his marchandise and go hymselff al naked.    Beryn studied on the ches, althoughe it naught availed. The Burgeyse, in the menewhile, with other men counsailled To fech the sergauntes in the town for thing he had ado. So when they com were, they walked to and fro, Up and down in the hall as skaunce they knewe naughte, And yit of all the purpose, wit and mynde and thought Of this untrew Burgeyse, by his messengeres They were ful enfourmed. Wherfor with ey and eres, They lay awaite ful doggedly Beryn to arest, For therefor they were affter sent, and was hir charge and hest.    Lord, howe shuld o sely lombe among wolves weld And scape un-i-harmed? It hath be seyn seld. Kepe thy cut nowe, Beryn, for thow art in the case!    The hall was ful of pepill; the serjauntes shewed hir mase. Beryn kast up his hede and was ful sore amayed, For then he was in certen the Burgeyse had hym betrayde.    "Draw on," seyd the Burgeyse, "Beryn, ye have the wers!"    And every man to other the covenaunt gan rehers. The Burgeyse, whils that Beryn was in hevy thought, The next draught after, he toke a roke for naughte. Beryn swat for anger and was in hevy plyghte, And dred ful sore in hert, for wele he wist al quyte, He shuld nat escape, and was in highe distres. And pryvylich in his hert, that ever he saw the ches, He cursed the day and tyme. But what avayled that? For wele he wist then that he shuld be mate. He gan to chaunge his coloure both pale and wan.    The Burgeyse seid, "Cometh nere. Ye shul se this man, How he shall be mated with what man me list." He droughe and seyd, "Chek mate!" The sergauntes were ful prest And sesed Beryn by the scleve. - "Sirs, what thynk ye for to do," Quod Beryn to the serjauntes, "that ye me handeth so? Or what have I offended? Or what have I seyde?"    "Trewlich," quod the serjauntes, "it vayleth nat to breyde. With us ye must a while, where ye woll or no, Tofore the Steward of this town. Arise and trus and go! And there it shall be opened howe wisely thow hast wroughte. This is the ende of our tale. Make it never so toughte."    "Sirs, fareth feir! Ye have no nede to hale!"    "Pas forth!" quod the serjauntes. "We woll nat here thy tale."    "Yis, sirs, of yeur curtesy, I prey yewe of o word. Althoughe my gentil hoost hath pleyd with me in borde And i-wonne a wager, ye have naught to doon. That is betwene hym and me. Ye have nothing to doon!"    The hoost made an hidouse cry in gesolreut the haut And set his hond in kenebowe. He lakked never a faute: "Wenest thowe," seid he to Beryn, "for to scorn me? Whatever thow speke or stroute, certes it wol nat be. Of me shalt thow have no wrong. Pas forth a better pase. In presence of our Steward I wol tell my case."    "Why, hoost, sey ye this in ernest or in game? Ye know my contray and my moder, my lynage and my name, And thus ye have i-seyd me ten sith on this day."    "Yee, what thoughe I seyd so? I know wele it is nay. There lieth no more thereto, but another tyme, Leve me so much the les when thow comest by me. For al that ever I seyd was to bryng thee in care, And now I have my purpose, I wol nothyng thee spare."    Thus jangelyng to ech other, endenting every pase, They entred both into the hall there the Steward was. Evander was his name, that sotill was, and so fell He must be wel avised tofore hym shuld tell. 8 Another burgeyse with hym was, provost of the cité, That Hanybald was i-cleped, but of sotilté He passed many another, as ye shul here sone. Beryns hoost gan to tell al thing as it was doon, Fro gynnyng to the ending, the wordes with the dede, And howe they made hir covenaunte, and wager howe they leyde.    "Now, Beryn," quod the Steward, "thow hast i-herd this tale, How and in what maner thow art i-brought in bale. Thow must do his bidding - thow maist in no wise flee - Or drynke al the water that salt is in the see. Of these too thinges, thow must chese the toon. Now be wel avised, and sey thy will anoon. To do ye both lawe, I may no better sey, For thow shalt have no wrong, as ferforth as I may. Chese thyselff righte as thee list, and wit thow nothing me, Thoughe thowe chese the wers and let the better be."    Beryn stood astoned, and no mervaill was, And preyd the Steward of a day to answere to the case: "For I myght lightlich in som word be i-caughte, And eke it is righte hard to chese of to that beth righte naught. But and it were yeur likyng to graunt me day til tomorow, I wold answere thurh Goddes help." - "Then must thow fynde a borow," Seyd the Steward to Beryn, "and yit it is of grace."    "Now hereth me," quod Hanybald, "I prey a litil space. He hath fyve shippes under the town, liggyng on the strond, The wich been sufficiant, i-sesed in our honde, By me that am yeur provost, to execute the lawe."    "He must assent," quod Evander; "let us ones here his saw."    "I graunt wele," quod Beryn, "sith it may be noon other."    Then Hanybald arose hym up to sese both shipp and stroder, And toke Beryn with hym, so talking on the wey:    "Beryn," quod Hanybald, "I suyr thee, by my fey, That thow art much i-bound to me this ilk day. So is thy plé amended by me, and eke of such a way I am avised in thy cause, yf thow wolt do by rede, That lite or naught, by my counsaill, ought thee to drede. Ye knowe wele tomorowe the day of plee is set That ye mut nedes answer, or els without lett I must yeld hem yeur shippes. I may in no wise blyn, So have I undertake; but the marchandise within Is nat in my charge - ye know as wele as I - To make therof no lyvery. Wherfor now wisely Worch and do after rede: let al yeur marchandise Be voided of yeur shippes, and atte hiest prise I wol have it everydele in covenant, yf ye list. To se myne house here ones tofore, I hold it for the best, Wher ye shul se, of divers londes, houses to or thre Ful of marchandise, that thurh this grete ceté, Is no such in preve, I may right wel avowe. [ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ] So when ye have all seyn, and I have yeur vowe also, Let som bargen be i-made betwen us both to."    "Graunt mercy, sir," quod Beryn. "Yeur profer is feir and good. Feyn wold I do therafter, yf I understood I myght without blame of breking of arest."    "Yis," quod Hanybald, "at my perell me trest!"    So to Hanybaldes house togider both they rode And fonde as Hanybald had i-seyd: an houge house, long and brode, Ful of marchandise as riche as it may be, Passing al the marchantes that dwelled in that ceté. Thus when al was shewed, they dronk and toke hir leve. To see Beryns shippes in hast they gon to meve. And when that Hanybald was avised what charg the shippes bere, He gan to speke in high voise, ascaunce he rought nere Whether he bargeyned or no, and seyd thus: "Beryn, frend, Yeur marchandise is feir and good. Now let us make an ende. If ye list, I can no more. Ye knoweth how it is. Com of short, let tuk le meyn; me thinketh I sey nat mys, 9 And then yeur meyné and ye and I, to my house shall we go. And of the marchandise ye saw - I wol nat part therfro - Chese of the best of that ye fynd there, Thurhout the long house, there shal no man yew dere, And therwith shall yeur shippes be filled al fyve. I can sey no better. If ye list to dryve This bargeyn to the ende, counselleth with yeur men. I may nat long tary. I must nedes hen."    Beryn cleped his meyné, counsell for to take, But his first mocioun was of the woo and wrake, And al the tribulacioune for pleying atte ches, That he had everydele his shame and his dures. Fro poynt to poynt, and how it stode, he told how it was. And then he axed counsell, what best was in the cas, To chaunge with the Burgeyse or els for to leve.    Ech man seyd his avise, but al that they did meve, It were to long a tale for to tell it here. But fynally atte end, they corded al in fere That the chaunge shuld stond; for as the case was fall, They held it clerly for the best, and went forth withall The next wey that they couth to Hanybaldes plase.    But nowe shull ye here the most sotil fallace That ever man wrought till other, and highest trechery, Wich Hanybald had wrought hymselff to this company: "Go in," quod Hanybald, "and chese as thy covenaunt is."    In goon these Romeyns echoon, and fond amys, For there was nothing that eny man myghte se Saff the wall and tyle-stones and tymber made of tre, For Hanybald had do void it of al thing that was ther; Whils he was atte shippes, his men awey it bere.    When Beryn saw the house lere, that ful was thertofore Of riche marchandise, "Alas," thought he, "I am lore! I am in this world!" - and witeth wel his hert Was nat al in likeing, and outward gan he stert Like half a wood man, and bote both his lippes, And gan to hast fast toward his own shippes To kepe his good within, with al that ever he myghte, That it were nat discharged, as hym thought verry ryghte. But al for naught was his hast, for thre hundred men, As fast as they myghte the, bere the good then, Thurh ordenaunce of Hanybald that privelich tofore Had purposed and i-cast shuld be out i-bore. Beryn made a swyff pase, there myght no man hym let.    But Hanybald was ware inowgh and with Beryn met: "Al for nought, Beryn, thow knowest wel and fyne Thy shippes been arested and the good is myne. What woldest thow do there? Thow hast there naught to do. I wol hold thy covenaunte, and thow shalt myne also. For yit sawe I never man that was of thy manere: Sometyme thowe wolt avaunte, and somtyme arere; Now thow wolt, and now thow nolt. Where shull men thee fynde? Now sey oon and sith another, so variant of mynde; Saw I never tofore this day man so variabill. Sith I thee fynde in suche plyte, our bargen for to stabill, We woll tofore the Steward, there we both shull have righte."    "Nay, forsoth!" quod Beryn. - "Yis, trulich thee tite," Quod Hanybald, "where thowe wolt or no, and so I thee charge As provost. Knowe that yff me list, my warant is so large, And thowe make eny diffence, to bynym thy lyff. Take thyn hors! It gayneth nat for to make stryffe."    So with sorowfull hert, Beryn toke his hors And sofftly seyd to his men, "Of me," quod he, "no fors; But wend to yeur shippes. I wol com when I may. Ye seth wele, everichone, I may no bet awey."    Now here by this same tale, both fre and bonde Mow fele in hir wittes and eke understonde That litil vaileth wisdom or els governaunce There Fortune ever werreth, and eke hap and chaunce. Of what availeth bounté, beuté or riches? Frendship or sotilté, or els hardines? Gold, good or catell, wit or hy lynage? Lond or lordes service, or els highe parage? What may al this availl, there Fortune is a foo? Iwis, righte litill or never a dele, ful offt it falleth so.    So shortly to pas over, they fill to such an end That Beryn shuld have day ageyn amorow, and so to wend, He set hym in ful purpose to his shippes ward. But yit or he cam there, he fond the passage hard. For how he was begiled, thurhout al the town, Here and ther a coupill gon to speke and to roune, And every man his purpose was to have parte With falsnes and with soteltees; they coud noon other art.    Beryn rode forth in his wey, his page ran hym by, Ful sore adred in hert, and cast about his eye, Up and down even long the strete, and for anger swet. And er he had riden a stones cast, a blynd man with hym met And spak no word, but sesed hym fast by the lap, And cried "Out!" and "Harowe!" and nere hym gan to stap. "Al for nought!" quod this Blynd. "What, wenest thow for to skape?"    Beryn had thought to prik forth and thought it had be jape.    The Blynd Man cast awey his staff and set on both his hondes: "Nay, thow shalt nat void," quod he, "for al thy rich londes, Tyll I of thee have reson, lawe and eke righte. For trewlich I may wit it thee that I have lost my sighte!"    So for aught that Beryn coude other speke or prey, He myght in no wise pas. Ful sore he gan to may, And namelich for the pepill throng hym so aboute, And ech man gan hym hond, and seyd without doute: "Ye must nedes stond and rest and bide the lawe, Be ye never so grete a man!" - "So wold I wonder fawe," Quod Beryn, "yf ye had cause, but I know noon."    "No? Thow shalt knowe or thow go! Thow hast nat al i-doon," The Blynd Man seyd to Beryn. "Tel on, then," quod he.    "Here is no place to plete," the Blynd Man seid aye. "Also, we have no juge here of autorité, But Evander the Steward shall deme both thee and me. When I my tale have told, and thow hast made answere, By that tyme men shal know how thow canst thee clere. Nowe, soveren God, I thank Thee of this ilk day! Then I may preve thee, by my lyve, of word and eke of fay, Fals and eke untrew of covenaunt thowe hast i-maked. But litill is thy charge now, though that I go naked, That somtyme were partinere and rekenedest never yit. But thow shalt here, or we depart, therof a litill witt, For after comyn seying, `Ever atte ende The trowth woll be preved, how so men ever trend'."    Thus they talked to ech other till they com into the plase And were i-entred in the hall there the Steward was.    The Blynd Man first gan to speke: "Sir Steward, for Goddes sake, Hereth me a litill while, for here I have i-take He that hath do me wrong, most of man of mold. Be my help, as law woll, for Hym that Judas sold. Ye know wele that offt-tyme I have to yew i-pleyned How I was betrayed and how I was i-peyned, And how a man somtyme and I our yen did chaunge. This is the same persone, though that he make it straunge. I toke hem hym but for a tyme and leved trewly, Myne to have i-had ageyn, and so both he and I Were ensured utterlich, and was our both will. But for myne the better were, wrongfullich and ill He hath hem kept hiderto, with much sorow and pyne To me, as ye wele knoweth. Because I have nat myne, I may nat se with his; wherfor me is ful woo. And evermore ye seyde that ye myght nothing do Without presence of the man that wrought me this unquert. Nowe sith he is tofore yew, now let hym nat astert, For many tyme and offt ye behete me, And he myght be take, he shuld do me gre. Sith ye of hym be sesed, however so ye tave, Let hym never pas til I myne eyen have."    "Beryn," quod Evander, "herest thow nat thyselve How sotilly he pleteth?" - And ware by eche halve, Beryn stood al muet, and no word he spak.    And that was tho his grace: ful sone he had be take And he had misseyd ones or els i-seyd nay, For then he had been negatyff and undo for ay. For they were grete seviliouns and used probat law, Wher evermore affirmatyff shuld preve his own sawe. Wherfor they were so querelouse of al myght com in mynde; Thoughe it were never in dede i-do, such mater they wold fynde To benym a man his good thurh som maner gile. For the Blynd Man wist right wele he shuld have lost his while To make his pleynt on Beryn and sued oppon his good, For shippes and eke marchandise in a balaunce stode. Therfor he made his chalenge his eyen for to have, Or els he shuld for hem fyne, yf he wold hem have, And ligg for hem in hostage til the fynaunce cam. This was al the sotilté of the Blynd Man. Beryn stood al mewet, and no word he spak.    "Beryn," quod Evander, "lest thow be i-take In defaute of answere, thow myghtest be condempned. Be right wele avised, sith thow art examened."    "Sir," seyd Beryn, "it wold litill availl To answere thus aloon without good consaill. And also, fethermore, ful litill I shuld be leved, Whatever I answerd, thus stoned and repreved. And eke my wit doth faill, and no wonder is. Wherfor I wold prey yew of yeur gentilnes To graunte me day til tomorow. I myght be avised To answere forth with other that on me been surmysed."    "Depardeux," quod the Steward, "I graunt wel it be so."    Beryn toke his leve and hoped to pas and go. But as sone as Beryn was on his hors rydyng, He met a womman and a child with sad chere comyng, That toke hym by the reyn and held hym wonder fast, And seyd, "Sir, voideth nat! Hit vailleth nat to hast. Ye mow in no wise scape; ye must nedes abide. For thoughe ye list to knowe me nat, yit lien by yeur side I have ful many a tyme, I cannat tell yewe howe lome. Come tofore the Steward, there shull ye here yeur dome Of thing that I shal put on yew, and no word for to ly; To leve me thus aloon, it is yeur vylany. Alas, the day and tyme that ever I was yeur make! Much have I endured this too yeer for yeur sake, But now it shall be know who is in the wronge."    Beryn was al abasshed. The pepil so thik thronge Aboute hym in eche syde; for ought that he couth peyn, He must to the Steward of fyne force ageyn.    Now shull ye here how sotillich this Womman gan hir tale In presence of the Steward. With colour wan and pale, Petously she gan to tell and seyd, "Sir, to yewe Ful offt I have compleyned in what manere and howe My childes fader lefft me by myselff aloon, Without help or comforte, as grete as I myght goon, With my sone here and his, that shame it is to tell The penury that I have i-had, that aforce sell I must nedes myne aray, where me list or lothe, Or els I must have begged for to fynd us both. For there was never woman i-leve, as I ges, For lak of hede of lyvlode that lyved in more distres Then I myselff, for offt-time for lak of mete and drynk. And yit I trow no creatur was feyner for to swynke My lyff to sustene, but as I mut nede, Above al other thinges to his child take hede, That wonder is and mervail that I am alyve. For the sokeyng of his child, ryght as it were a knyve, It ran into my hert, so lowe I was of mode; That wel I woot in certen, with parcell of my blood His child I have i-norisshed, and that is by me seen, For my rede colour is turned into grene. And he that cause is of all, here he stondeth by me. To pay for the fosteryng, me thinketh it is tyme. And sith he is my husbond and hath on me no rowth, Let hym make amendes in saving of his trowth. And yf he to any word ones can sey nay, Lo, here my gage al redy to preve al that I say."    The Steward toke the gage and spak in sofft wise: "Of this petouse compleynt a mannes hert may grise, For I know in parcell hir tale is nat al lese, For many a tyme and offt this Womman that here is Hath i-be tofore me and pleyned of hir greffe, But without a party, hir cause myght nat preff. Now thow art here present that she pleyneth on. Make thy defence now, Beryn, as wele as thowe can."    Beryn stood al mwet, and no word he spak.    "Beryn," quod the Steward, "doest thow sclepe or wake? Sey ones oon or other: ys it soth or nay As she hath declareth? Tell on saunce delay!"    "Lord God!" quod Beryn. "What shuld it me availe Among so many wise, without right good counsaill, To tell eny tale? Ful litill, as I ges! Wherfor, I wold prey yew of yeur gentilnes, Graunt me day till tomorow to answer forth with other."    "I graunt wele," quod the Steward, "but for fader and moder, Thow getest no lenger term, pleynly I thee tell."    Beryn toke his leve. His hert gan to swell For pure verry anguyssh, and no mervel was. And who is that that nold and he were in such case? For al his trist and hope in eny worldlich thing Was cleen from hym passed, save sorow and myslikyng. For body, good and catell and lyff, he set at nought, So was his hert i-wounded for anger and for thought.    Beryn passed sofftly and to his hors gan go, And when he was without the gates, he loked to and fro And coude noon other contenaunce, but to his page he seyd: "Preciouse God in heven, howe falsly am I betrayde! I trowe no man alyve stont in wors plighte, And all is for my synne and for my yong delite, And pryncipally, above al thing, for grete unkyndnes That I did to my moder, for litill hede iwis I toke of hir - this know I wele - whils she was alyve. Therfor, al this turment is sent to me so ryve. For there was never womman kynder to hir child Then she was, and thereageyns never thing so wild Ne so evill-thewed as I was myselff. Therfor, sorow and happous environ me by eche helve That I note whider ryde nether up ne down. There been so many devilles dwelling in this town, And so ful of gile and trechery also, That wele I woot in certeyn they woll me ondo. Now wold to God in heven what is my best rede!"    He took his hors to his page, and thus to hym he seyde: "Lede my hors to shipward, and take it to som man, And I woll go on foot as pryvyly as I can, And assay yf I may in eny maner wise Ascape unarested more in such maner wise."    The child toke his mastres hors and lafft hym there alone, Walking forth on foot, makeing offt his moon. And in his most musing - I cannat sey how lome - He wosshed naked as he was bore he had be in Rome. And no mervaill was it, as the case stode, For he drad more to lese his eyen than he did his shippes or his good.    Now ye that listeth to dwell and here of aventure, How petously Dame Fortune, Beryn to amure, Turneth hir whele about in the wers syde, With hap of sorow and anguyssh she gynneth for to ride. Beryn passed toward the stronde there his shippes were, But ye mow understond his hert was ful of fere, Yit netherles he sat hym down sofftly on a stall, Semy-vif for sorow, and lened to the wall. For turment that he had, so wery he was and feynt, And to God above thus he made his pleynt:    "Glorious God in heven, that al thing madest of nought, Why sufferest thow these cursed men to stroy me for nought, And knowest wel myne innocent, that I have no gilt Of al that they pursu me or on me is pilt?"    And in the meenwhils that Beryn thus gan pleyn, A cachepoll stode besides - his name was Macaign - And herd all the wordes and knew also tofore How Beryn was turmented, both with las and more; It was i-sprong thurh the toun. So was he ful ensensed How he hym wold engyne, as he had purpensed, And had araid hym sotillich as man of contemplacioun, In a mantell with the lyste, with fals dissimilacioune, And a staff in his hond, as though he febill were, And drow hym toward Beryn and seid in this manere:    "The highe God of heven, that al thing made of nought, Bles yew, gentil sir, for many an hevy thought, Me thinketh that ye have, and no wonder is. But, good sir, dismay yew nat, but leveth yeur hevynes. And yff ye list to tell me somwhat of yeur distres, I hope to God almyghty in party it redres Thurh my pore counsaill, and so I have many oon. For I have peté on yew, by God and by Seynt Jon, And eke pryvy hevynes doth eche man appeir, Sodenly or he be ware, and fall in dispeir. And who be in that plage, that man is incurabill, For consequent cometh after sekenes abominabill. And therfor, sir, diskevereth yewe and be nothing adrad."    "Graunt mercy, sir," quod Beryn. "Ye seme trewe and sad, But o thing lieth in my hert: I note to whom to trust, For tho that dyned me today ordeyned me to arest."    "A, sir, be ye that man? Of yew I have i-herd. Gentil sir, douteth nat, ne be nothing aferd Of me, for I shall counsell yewe as wel as I can, For trulich in the ceté dwelleth many a fals man, And usen litill els but falshode, wrong and while, And how they myght straungours with trechery begile. But ye shull do ryght wisely somwhat by my counsayll. Speke with the Steward, that may yewe most availl, For there is a comyn byword, yf ye it herd haveth, `Wele setteth he his peny that the pound saveth.' The Steward is a covetouse man that long hath desired A knyff I have in kepeing, wherewith his hert I wired, Shall be yewe to help, in covenaunte that ye Shall gyve me fyv mark yeur trew frend to be. The knyff is feir, I tell yew, yit never tofore this day Myght the Steward have it, for aught he coud prey. The wich ye shull gyve hym, the better for to spede, And behote hym twenty pounds to help yewe in yeur nede. And yf he graunteth, trusteth wele, ye stond in good plighte, For better is then lese all, the las the more quyt. And I woll go with yewe streyte to his plase, And knele doun and speke first to amend yeur case, And sey ye be my cosyn, the better shull ye spede. And when that I have all i-told, the knyff to hym ye bede."    Beryn thanked hym hertlich and on hym gan trust, With hond in hond ensured, and al for the best. Beryn thought noon other, al that it other was. Macaign hym comforted, talking of hir case; And passed forth stylly toward the Steward blyve Beryn and Macaign. But Beryn bare the knyff, And trust much in his felaw to have som help.    But or they departed were, he had no cause to yelp Of no maner comfort, as ye shull here anoon. For as sone as Macaign tofore the Steward come, He fill plat to the erth; a grevous pleynt and an huge He made, and seyd, "Sir Steward, nowe be a trew juge Ageyns this fals treytour that stondeth me besyde. Let take of hym good hede, els he wol nat abyde. Now mercy, good Steward, for ye have herd me yore For my fader, Melan, pleyn to yew ful sore That with seven dromodaries, as I have told yewe lome, With marchandise charged went toward Rome. And it is seven yeer ago, and a litil more, Of hym or of his goodes that I herd les or more. And yit I have enquered as bysely as I couthe, And met never man yit that me coude tell with mouth Any tyding of hym, onto this same day. But now I know to much, allas! I may wel say!"    When Beryn herd these wordes, he kist doun his hede. "Allas!" he thought in hert; "allas, what is my rede?" - And wold feyn have voided and outward gan to stapp.    But Macaign arose and sesed hym by the lapp: "Nay, thow shalt nat void," he seid. "My tale is nat i-do. For by trowth of my body, yf thow scapedest so, I shuld never have mery whils I were on lyve!" - And set hond fast on Beryns other scleve, And seyd, "Good Sir Steward, my tale to the ende I prey ye wold here, for wend how men wend, There may no man hele murder that it woll out atte last. The same knyff my fader bere when he of contré past, Let serch wele this felon, and here ye shull hym fynde. I know the knyff wel inowgh; it is nat out of my mynde. The cotelere dwelleth in this town that made the same knyff, And for to preve the trowth, he shall be here as blyve."    Beryn swat for anger; his hert was ful of fere. He toke the knyff to the Steward or he serched were.    The Steward onto Beryn: "My frend, lo!" quod he. "And thow think thee wel about, this is a foule plee. I can know noon other but thow must, or thow go, Yeld the body of Melan and his good also. Now be wel avised ageyn tomorow day; Then shalt thow have thy jugement. There is no more to say."    When Beryn fro the Steward thus departed was And was without the gate, he loked oppon the plase, And cursed it wonder bitterly in a fervent ire, And wisshed many tymes it had been afeir.    "For I trow that man of lyve was never wors betrayed Then I am, and therewithall my hert is cleen dismayed, For here I have no frendship, but am al counselles, And they been falsher then Judas, and eke mercyles. A, Lord God in hevyn, that my hert is woo! And yit suyrly I mervell nat, though that it be so, For yit in al my lyve sith I ought understode, Had I never will for to lern good. Foly - I haunted it ever, there myght no man me let; And now he hath i-paid me; he is cleen out of my dett. For whils I had tyme, wisdom I myght have lerned, But I drowgh me to Foly and wold nat be governed, But had al myne own will and of no man a-ferd. For I was never chastised, but nowe myne own yerd Beteth me to sore, the strokes been to hard. For these devilles of this town taketh but litill reward To sclee my body to have my good; the day is set tomorowe. Now wold to God I were in grave, for it were end of sorow! I was iwis to much a fole, for hate I had to Rame, I wold forsake myne heritage; therfor sorow and shame Is oppon me fall, and right wele deserved, For I tooke noon maner hede when my moder sterved, And disobeyed my fader and set hym at naught also. What wonder is it than though that I have woo? Fortune and eke Wisdom have werred with me ever, And I with hem in al my lyff, for Fortune was me lever Then eny Wit or Governaunce, for hem too I did hate. And thoughe I wold be at oon, now it is to late. O myghtfull God in heven, where was ever man That wrought hymselff more foly then I myselff did than? Acursed be the tyme that I out of Rome went, That was my faders righte heir of lyvlode and of rent, And al the riall lordshipp that he hath in the town. Had I had wit and grace, and hold me lowe and boune, It were my kynd now among my baronage To hauke and to hunt, and eke to pley and rage With feir fressh ladies, and daunce when me lyst. But nowe it is to late to speke of `Had I wist!' But I fare like the man that for to swele his vlyes, He stert into the bern and after stre he hies, And goth about the walles with a brennyng wase, Tyll it was, atte last, that the leem and blase Entred into the chynes where the whete was, And kissed so the evese that brent was al the plase; But first in the begynnyng, til feer smote in the raftres, He toke no maner kepe and thought of nothing after, What perell there myghte fall - ne more did I, iwis, That wold forsake myne honour for the unkyndnes Of Rame that was my stepmoder, for yf I shal nat ly, They beth soure. Wherfor, the more wisely I shuld have wrought, had I had wit and suffred for a tyme, And after com to purpose wel inowghe of myne. But evil avenged he his deol that, for a litill mode And anger, to his neyghbour selleth awey his good And goth hymselff abegging after in breff tyme. He mut be counted a lewd man in al maner ryme. So have I wrought, and wers, for I dout of my lyve How that it shall stond, for plukking of my scleve, The knyffe that was me take!" - as ye have herd tofore - "And yit it greveth myne hert also much more Of myne own pepill that no disese aserved. I wote wele after pleding right nought wol be reserved To sustene hir lyves; I trow ryght nought or lyte, And paraventur lightly stond in wors plyghte. Of me it is no force, thoughe I be thus arayed, But it is dole and peté that they shul be betrayed That hath nought aserved, but for my gilt aloon."    And when that Beryn in this wise had i-made his mone, A crepill he saw comyng with grete spede and hast, Oppon a stilt under his kne bound wonder fast, And a crouch under his armes, with hondes al forskramed.    "Allas!" quod this Beryn, "shall I be more examened?" - And gan to turn aside onto the see-stronde, And the Cripill after, and wan oppon hym londe. Tho began Beryn to drede inwardlich sore, And thought thus in his hert: "Shal I be combered more? And it were Goddes will my sorowe for to cese, Me thinketh I have inowe." The Cripill began to prece And had i-raught nerehond Beryn by the scleve.    Beryn turned as an hare and gan to ren blyve, But the Cripill knew better the pathes smale and grete Then Beryn, so tofore hym he was and gan hym mete. When Beryn saw it vayled nought to renne ne to lepe, What for dole and anguyssh no word myght he speke, But stode still amased and stared fast aboute.    The Cripill began to speke: "Sir, to drede or to dout Of me wold ye righte light, and ye knewe myne hert. So where ye like evil or il, fro me shull ye nat parte Tyll I have treted with yew, and ye with me also, Of all yeur soden happes, yeur myscheff and yeur woo. For by the tyme that I have knowlech of yeur case, Yeur rennyng and yeur trotting into any esy pase I shall turn, or that we twyn, so ye after my scole Wol do, and as I rede yew. For ye were a fole When ye cam first a londe. Wolde ye had met with me, For I wold have ensensed yewe al the iniquité Of these fals marchandes that dwellen in this town, And outed all yeur chaffare without gruch or groun. For had ye dwelled within yeur shippes and nat go hem among, Then had ye been undaungered and quyt of al hir wrong On yewe that been surmysed thurh fals suggestioune."    Beryn gan to sigh; unneth he myght soune Saff o word or tweyn, and "Mercy!" was the first, Preying with all his hert that he myght have his rest And be no more enpleded, but pas from hym quyte.    "Good sir," quod Beryn, "doth me no more dispite, And suffer me to pas, and have on me routhe, And I suyr yew feithfully, have here my trowth, Tomorowe when I have pleded, and anything be lafft Of shipp or marchandise, afore the ship or bafft, I woll shewe yew al i-fere and opyn every chest, And put it in yeur grace to do what ye lest."    And in the meenwhile that Beryn gan to clapp, The Cripill nyghed hym nere and nere, and hent hym by the lap, And as sone as Beryn knew that he was in honde, He unlaced his mantell for drede of som comand, And pryveliche over his shuldres lete hym down glyde, And had lever lese his mantell then abyde. The Cripill all perceyved and hent hym by the scleve Of his nether surcote. - "Alas, nowe mut Y stryve," Thoughte Beryn by hymselff; "nowe I am i-hent, There helpeth naughte save strength!" - Therewith the scleve torent; Beryn gan to scappe, he spared for no cost.    "Alas!" thought this Cripill. "This man woll be lost And be undo forever, but he counsell have. Iwis, thoughe he be lewde, my contreman to save Yit will my besynes do and peyn that I may Sith he is of Rome, for that is my contray."    This Cripill was an hundred yere ful of age With a long thik berd, and a trewe visage He had and a manly, and july was he - And Geffrey was his name i-knowe in that contré.    "Allas!" thought this Geffrey, "this man hath grete drede Of me that by my power wold help hym in his nede. Iwis, thoughe he be nyce, untaught and unwise, I woll nat for his foly leve myne enpryse!" And lept after Beryn, and that in right good spede.    Beryn was so sore agast, he toke no maner hede To look ones bakward till he to the water cam; Then loked he behynd and saw Sir Clekam Comannd wonder fast with staff and with his stilt.    "Alas!" thought Beryn, "I nowe am i-spilt, For I may no ferther without I wold me droune - I note wich were the better! - or go ageyn to toune."    Geffrey was so ny com that Beryn myght nat fle. "Good sir," quod this Geffrey, "why do ye void me? For, by Heven Quene that bare Criste in hir barme, But righte as to myselff I woll yewe no more harm. Sitteth down here by me oppon this see-stronde, And yff ye drede anything, clepe yeur men to londe And let hem be here with us all our speche-tyme, For I woll nat feyn oon woord, as makers doon to ryme, But counsell yewe as prudently as God woll send me grace. Take comforte to yewe, and herk a litill spase."    And when that Beryn had i-herd his tale to the ende, And how goodly Geffrey spak as he were his frende, Nonobstant his drede, yet part of sapience Stremed into his hert for his eloquence, And seyd, "God me counsayll for His highe mercy! For I have herd, this same day, men as sotilly Speke, and of yeur semblant and in such manere, And byhete me frendshipp outward by hir chere, But inward it was contrary hir intelleccioune. Wherfor the blame is les, thoughe I suspecioune Have of yeur wordes, lest other be yeur entent. For I note in whom to trust, by God omnipotent! Yit netherles, yf yeur will is to come into the shipp with me, I woll somwhat do by yeur rede, how so it ever be."    Then quod Geffrey: "yf it be so that I in yeur power Enter into yeur shippes, and yewe help in yeur mystere, That ye ageyn yeur adversaries shull have the better syde, And gyve yewe such counsell to bate down hir pride, And that ye wyn in every pleynt, also much or more As they purpose to have of yewe; yf they be doun i-bore And ye have amendes for hir iniquité - And I yewe bryng to this end - what shall my guerdon be?"    "In verry soth," quod Beryn, "yf I yewe may trust, I woll quyte yewe trewly, I make yewe behest."    "In feith then," quod Geffrey, "I woll with yewe wende."    "What is yeur name," seid Beryn tho, "my frend?"    "Geffrey," he seyd; "but in this marches I was nat bore, But I have dwelled in this ceté yeeres heretofore Ful many, and turmented wors then were ye, And endured for my trowth much adversité, For I wold in no wise suffer hir falshedes. For in all the world, so corrupt of hir dedes Been noon men alyve, I may ryghte wele avowe, For they set all hir wittes in wrong, al that they mowe. Wherfor ful many a tyme, the grettest of hem and I Have stonden in altercacioune for hir trechery, For I had in valowe in trewe marchandise A thousand pound - al have they take in such maner wise. So ferforth to save my blood, no longer myght I dure. For drede of wors, thus thought I myselff to disfigure, And have amonge hem twelve yeer go right in this plighte, And ever have had in memory howe I myght hem quyte. And so I hope nowghe, as sotill as they be, With my wit engyne hem and help yewe and me. My lymes been both hole and sound; me nedeth stilt ne crouch."    He cast asyde hem both and lepe oppon an huche, And adown ageynes, and walked too and fro, Up and down within the shipp, and shewed his hondes tho, Strecching forth his fyngers in sight over al aboute, Without knot or knor or eny signe of goute, And clyghte hem efft ageyns right disfeterly, Som to ride eche other and som aweyward wry. Geffrey was right myghty and wele his age did bere, For natur was more substancial when tho dayes were Then nowe in our tyme, for al thing doth wast Saffe vise and cursed lyving, that groweth al to wast. What shuld I tell more? But Geffrey sat hym down And Beryn hym besydes. The Romeyns gan to rown And mervelled much in Geffrey of his disgisenes. And Beryn had another thought and spak of his distres:    "Now, Geffrey," seid this Beryn, "and I durst trust in yewe, That and ye knewe eny man that is alyve anowe That had of discrecioune so much influence To make my party good tomorowe in my defence And delyver me of sorowe, as ye behote have, I wold becom his legeman - as God my soule save!"    "That were to much," quod Geffrey; "that woll I yew relese, But I desire of other thing to have yeur promes: That and I bryng yeur enmyes into such a traunce To make for yeur wronges to yew righte highe fenaunce, And so declare for yewe that with yew pas such dome, That ye oppon yeur feith bryng me at Rome, Yf God woll send yew weder and grace to repase."    Quod Beryn: "But I graunt yewe, I were lewder then an asse! But or I fullich trust yewe, holdeth me excused; I woll go counsell with my men, lest they it refused."    Beryn drewe asyde and spak with his meyné, And expressed every word in what plight and degré That he stood, from poynt to poynt, and of his fals arestes. His meyné were astoned and stared forth as bestes.    "Speketh som word," quod Beryn, "sith I am betrayd; Ye have i-herd what Geffrey to me hath sayd."    These Romeyns stood all still; o word ne cowd they meve, And eke it passed hir wittes. Then Beryn gan releve, And to Geffrey efft ageyn and mercy hym besought.    "Help me, sir," quod Beryn, "for His love that us bought, Dying on the rood!" - and wept ful tenderly. "For but ye help," quod Beryn, "there is no remedy, For comfort nether counsaill of my men have I noon. Help me, as God yew help, and els I am undoon!"    When Geffrey sawe this Beryn so distract and wept, Pité into eche veyn of his hert crept.    "Alas," quod Geffrey, "I myght nat do a more synfull dede, I leve by my trowth, then fayll yew in this nede. Faill me, God in heven, yf that I yewe faill That I shall do my besines, my peyn and my travaill To help yew by my power. I may no ferther goo!"    "Yis, ye behete me more," seyd Beryn tho, "That ye wold help me at all, that I shuld stond clere." Beryn gan to wepe and make wers chere.    "Stilleth yewe," quod Geffrey, "for howesoever ye tire, More then my power ye ought nat desire. For thurh the grace of God, ye shull be holp wele, I have thereof no doute. But trewlich I yewe tell That ye woll hold me covenaunte, and I woll yew also, To bryng me at Rome when it is al i-do. In signe of trowth of both sides of our acordement, Ech of us kis other of our comyn assent."    And all was do, and afterward Beryn comaunded wyne. They dronk, and then Geffrey seyd: "Sir Beryn, Ye mut declare yeur maters to myne intelligence That I may the bet perseyve al inconvenience, Dout, pro, contra and anbiguité Thurh yeur declaracioune, and enfourmed be. And with the help of our soveren Lord celestiall, They shull be behynd, and we shul have the ball! For nowe the tyme approcheth for hir cursednes, To be somwhat rewarded, and cause of yeur distres Hath my hert i-secled and fixed hem anye, As trowth woll and reson, for hir trechery. For many a man, tofore this day, they have do out of daw, Distroid and turmented thurh hir fals lawe. For they think litill elles, and all hir wittes fyve, Save to have a mannes good and to benym his lyve, And hath a cursed custom, al ageyns reson, That what man they enpeche, they have noon encheson, Thoughe it be as fals a thing as God hymselff is trewe. And it touch a straunger that is com of newe, Atte first mocioune that he begynneth to meve, There stondeth up an hundred hym to repreve. The lawes of the ceté stont in probacy; They usen noon enquestes the wronges for to try, And yf thow haddest eny wrong and woldest pleyn thee, And were as trewe a cause as eny myghte be, Thow shuldest nat fynd o man to bere thee witnes, Though every man in the town knew it, more or les. So burreth they togider and holdeth with ech other That as to counterplede hem, though ye were my brothere, I wold gyve yewe no counsell ne hir enpechement In no word to deny, for that were comberment. For then were they in the affirmatyff and wold preve anoon, And to yew that were negatyff the lawe woll graunte noon. So for to plede ageyn hem, it woll litill availe. And yit to every mannes wit it ought be grete mervaill, For hir lawes been so streyt, and peynous ordinaunce Is stalled for hir falshede; for this is hir fynaunce, To lese hir lyff for lesing, and Isope it may knowe, That lord is riall of the town and holdeth hem so lowe. Wherfor they have a custom, a shrewed for the nones, If eny of hem sey a thing, they cry all attones And ferm it for a soth, and it bere any charge. Thus of the daunger of Isope, they kepe hem ever at large. And therfore wisdom were, whoso myght eschewe, Never to dele with hem, for were it wrong or trewe, It shuld litill availl ageyns hir falshedes, For they been accursed and so been hir dedes. Wherfor we must with al our wit sensibill Such answers us purvey that they been insolibil, Tomorow at our apparaunce, and shull be responsaill. For of wele and elles, it is thy day fynall!"    "Nowe, soveren Lord celestiall!" with many sorowful sighes Seyd Beryn to Geffrey, ymmemorat of lyes, "Graunt me grace tomorowe, so that God be plesed, Make so myne answere and I somwhat i-esed By thee that art my counsaill, for other help is noon."    "Reherce me then," quod Geffrey, "the causes of thy foon, Fro poynt to poynt, al in fere on thee is surmysed, Wherthurh I myght tomorowe the better be avised."    "Now in soth," quod Beryn, "thoughe I shuld dy, I cannat tell the tenth part of hir trechery, What for sorow and anger that they to me have wrought. So stond I clene desperat, but ye con help ought."    "Deupardeux," seid Geffrey, "and I thee wol nat faill, Sith I have ensured thee to be of thy counsaill, And so much the more that thow art nat wise And canst nat me enfourm of no maner avise. Here therfor a while, and tend wel to my lore: The lord that dwelleth in this town, whose name I told tofore, Isope efft rehersed, is so inly wise That no man alyve can pas his devise, And is so grow in yeres that sixty yeer ago He saw nat for age, and yit it stondeth so That thurh his witt and wisdom and his governaunce, Who maketh a fray or striveth aught or mel to much or praunce 10 Within the same cyté, that he nys take anoon And hath his penaunce forthwith, for pardon useth he noon. For there nys pore ne riche, ne what state he be, That he nys underfote for his iniquité. And it be preved on hym, there shal no gold hym quyte, Right as the forfete axeth, moch or lite. For geyns his comaundement is noon so hardy quek, So hard setteth he his fote in every mannes nek. For under sky and sterres, this day is noon alyve That coude amend hym in o poynt, al thing to discryve. The Seven Sages of Rome, though al ageyn hym were, They shuld be insufficient to make his answere. For he can al langages: Grew, Ebrewe and Latyne, Caldey, Frenssh and Lombard, ye knowe wel fyne, And all maner that men in bokes write. In poysé and philosophé also he can endite, Sevile and canoun and al maner lawes, Seneca and Sydrak and Salamones sawes, And the seven sciences and eke lawe of armes, Experimentes and pompery and al maner charmes, As ye shull here after, er that I depart, Of his imaginaciouns and of his sotill art. For he is of age thre hundred yeer and more; Wherfor of all sciences he hath the more lore. In Denmark he was goten and i-bore also, And in Grece i-norisshed til he coud speke and go. There was he put to scole and lerned wonder fast, For such was his grace that al other he past. But first in his begynnyng, litil good he had, But lerned ever passyngly and was wise and sad. Of stature and of feture, there was noon hym like Thurh the londe of Grece, though men wold hym seke. A kyng there was in tho yeres that had noon heir male, Saff a doughter that he loved as his own saal. Isope was his servaunt and did hym such plesaunce That he made hym his heir, and did hym so avaunce To wedd his doughter and after hym to bere crown, Thurh prowes and his port, so low he was and boun. So as Fortune wold, that was Isopes frend, This worthy kyng that same yere made his carnel ende. That seven score yeer is passed that Isope thus hath regned, And yit was there never for wrong on hym compleyned For no jugement that he gaff. Yit som ageyn hym wyled, A grete part of his pepill, and wold have hym exiled, But his grete wisdom and his manfulnes, His governaunce, with his bounté and his rightfulnes, Hath ever yit meyntened hym unto this ilch day - And woll whils that he lyveth, for aught that men can say. For who hath eny quarell or cause for to wonde, Within this same ceté quiklich woll he fonde, And it be sotil mater, to Isope for to fare, Fro gynnyng to the end his quarel to declare. And eve afore, as custom is, the plee shal be on the morowe. But whoso ly, he scapeth nat without shame or sorow. Beryn, thow must go thider where thyn enpechement Shull be i-meved, and therfor pas nat thens Tyll thow have herd hem all, and report hem wele To me that am thy counsell, and repeir snele.    But so riall mancioune as Isope dwelleth in, There is noon in the world, ne so queynt of gyn. Wherfor, be wel avised how I enfourm thee Of the wonder weyes, and of the pryvyté That been within his paleyse, that thow must pas by. And when thow approchest and art the castell nygh, Blench fro the brode gate and enter thow nat there, For there been men to kepe it. Yit have thow no fere. Pas doun on the right hond by the castell wall Tyll thow fynd a wyndowe, and whatso thee byfall, Enter there, yf thow may, and be nothing agast, But walk forth in that entré. Then shalt thow see in hast A port-colyse thee tofore. Pas in boldly Tyll thow com to an hall, the feyrest under sky. The walles been of marbill i-joyned and i-closed, And the pilours cristall, grete and wele purposed. The keveryng above is of selondyn, And the pament beneth of gold and asure fyne.    But whoso passeth thurh this hall hath nede to ren blyve, Or els he myght be disware of his own lyve, For there within lieth a stoon that is so hote of kynde That what thing com forby, anoon it woll atend, As bryght as any candel leem, and consume anoon. And so wold the hall also, nere coldnes of a stoon That is i-cleped dyonyse, that set is hym ageyn. So and thow lepe lightly, thow shalt have no peyn, For ether stone in kynde proporciouned they be Of hete and eke of coldnes, of oon equalité. Thow must pas thurh the hall, but tary nat, I rede, For thow shalt fynd a dur up right afore thyn hede.    When thow art entred there and the dor apast, Whatso thow se ligg or stond, be thow nat agast, And yf thow drede anything, do no more save blowe, But yit I rede thee beware that it be somwhat lowe. There been to libardes loos and untyed. If that thy blowing of that other in enything be spyed, Anoon he raketh on thee to sese thee by thy pate, For there nys thing in erth that he so much doth hate As breth of mannes mowth. Wherfor refreyn thee, And blowe but fair and sofft, and when that nede be.    When thow art passed this hall, anoon then shalt thowe com Into the fayrest gardyn that is in Cristendom, The wich thurh his clergy is made of such devise That a man shall ween he is in paradise At his first comyng in, for melody and song And other glorious thinges and delectabill among, The wich Tholomeus, that somtyme paynym was, That of astronomy knew every poynt and case, Did it so devise thurh his highe connyng That there nys best in erth ne bird that doth syng That he nys there in figur, in gold and sylver fyne, And move as they were quyk. Knawe the sotil engyne! 11 In mydward of this gardyn stant a feir tre, Of all maner leves that under sky be I-forged and i-fourmed, eche in his degré, Of sylver and of gold fyne, that lusty been to see. This gardeyn is ever green and ful of May floures Of rede, white and blewe, and other fressh coloures, The wich been so redolent and sentyn so aboute, That he must be ryghte lewd therin shuld route. These monstrefull thinges I devise to thee Because thow shuldest nat of hem abasshed be; When that thowe comest there, so thow be strong in thought And do by my counsell, drede thee right nought. For there beth eight tregetours that this gardyn kepeth - Four of hem doth waak whils the four sclepeth - The wich been so perfite of nygramancé, And the arte of apparence and of tregetrie, That they make semen as to a mannes sight Abominabill wormes, that sore ought be afrighte The hertiest man on erth, but he warned were Of the grisly sightes that he shuld see there. Among al other ther is a lyon white, That and he se a straunger, he raumpeth for to bite And hath, tofore this tyme, five hundred men and mo Devoured and i-ete, that therforth have i-goo. Yit shalt thowe pas suyrly, so thow do as I tell. The tre I told tofore, that round as any bell, Bereth bowe and braunce traylyng to the ground; And thow touch oon of hem, thow art saff and sound. The tre hath such vertu, there shall nothing thee dere. Loke that be the first when thow comest there. Then shalt thowe se an entré by the ferther syde; Thoughe it be streyt tofore, inner large and wyde It groweth more and more, and as a dentour wrieth, Yit woll that wey thee bryng there that Isope lieth, Into the feyrest chamber that ever man sawe with eye. When thow art therewithin, govern thee wisely, For there shalt thow here al thyn enpechement Opynly declared in Isopes present. Report hem wele, and kepe hem in thy mynde, And after thy relacioune, we shall so turn and wend, Thurh help of God above, such help for to make That they shull be acombred, and we ryght wel to scape."    "Now in soth," quod Beryn, "a mannes herte may grise Of such wonder weyes! For al my marchandise I had lever lese then oppon me take Such a wey to pas!" - "Then, sir, for yeur sake I woll myselff," quod Geffrey; "sith I am ensured To help thee with my power, thowe shalt be amyred As ferforth as I may, that I woll do my peyn To bryng yewe plesaunt tyding and retourn ageyn Yit or the cok crowe. And therfor let me se, Whils I am out, how mery ye can be."    Geffrey tok his leve. But who was sory tho But Beryn and his company? For when he was go, They had no maner joy, but dout and hevynes, For of his repeyryng they had no sikernes. So every man to other made his compleynt And wisshed that of felony they had been atteynt, And so hem thought better to end hevynes Then every day to lak brede atte first mes: "For when our good is go, what shall fal of us? Ever to be hir thralles, and paraventure wers - To lese our lyff after, yf we displese hem ought!"    After Geffrey went, this was al hir thought Thurhout all the long nyghte, till cokkes gan to syng. But then encresed anguyssh, hir hondes gan to wryng, And cursed wynd and water that hem brought there, And wisshed many tymes that they had been in bere, And were apassed hope and entred into dispeyr. In as much as Geffrey did nat repeir, Eche man seyd to other, it myght nat be i-nayed But Geffrey had utterlich falsly hem betrayd.    Tho went they to counsell a litill tofore the day And were all accorded for to sayll away, And so hem thought better, and leve hir good there Then abyde thereoppon and have more fere. They made hir takelyng redy and wend the saill acros For to save hir lyves, and set nat of hir los, So sore they were adrad to be in servitute, And hoped God above wold send hem som refute By som other costes, there wynd hem wold bryng.    And therewithall cam Geffrey on his stilt lepeing And cried wonder fast by the water-syde. When Beryn herd Geffrey, he bad his men abyde, And to launch out a bote and bryng Geffrey in: "For he may more availl me now then al my kyn, And he be trewe and trusty, as myne hope is."    But yit thereof had Beryn no ful sikernes. These Romeyns fet in Geffrey with an hevy chere, For they had lever saill forth then put hem in were, Both lyve and goodes. And evill suspecioune They had of this Geffery, wherfor they gon roune, Talking to eche other, "This man woll us betray!"    Geffrey wist wel inowghe he was nat to hir pay, And for verry anger he threw into the see Both stilt and eke his cruch, that made were of tre, And gan hem to comfort and seid in this manere:    "Benedicite, Beryn! Why make ye such chere? For and ye wexe hevy, what shull yeur men do But take ensaumpill of yewe, and have no cause to? For yit or it be eve, yeur adversaries all I shall make hem spurn and have a sore fall, And ye go quyte and al yeur good, and have of hirs too, And they to be ryght feyn for to scape so, Without more daunger, and yeur will be. For of the lawes here, such is the equyté That who pursu other and his pleynt be wrong, He shall make amendes, be he never so strong, Right as shuld the toder yf he condempned were; Right so shall the pleyntyff, right as I yew lere. And that shall preve by hem, have ye no doute, Yit or it be eve, right low to yew to loute And submit hem to yew and put hem in yeur grace, By that tyme I have i-made al my wanlase. And in hope to spede wele, let shape us for to dyne."    Geffrey axed water, and sith brede and wyne, And seid, "It is holsom to breke our fast betyme, For the Steward wol to the court atte hour of pryme."    The sonne gan to shyne and shope a feir day, But for aught that Geffrey coud do or say, These Romeyns speken fast al the dyner while That Geffrey with his sotill wordes wold hem begile. So when they had i-dyned, they rysen up echoon And drew hem to counsell what was best to doon. Som seyd, "The best rede that we do may, To throwe Geffrey over the bord and seyll forth our way." But for drede of Beryn, som wold nat so, Yit the more party assented wele thereto.    Geffrey and Beryn and worthy Romeyns tweyn Stood apart within the shipp, tyll Geffrey gan to seyn: "Beryn, beth avised! Yeur men beth in distaunce. Sith ye been her soveren, put hem in governaunce. For me thinketh they holdeth contrary opynyoun, And grace fayleth comynlych where is dyvisioun."    In the meenwhile that they gan thus to stryve, Hanybald was up and i-com as blyve To the brigg of the town, there the shippes rood, And herd much noyse. But litil while he bood, For when he sawe the sayles stond al acros, "Alas!" quod Hanybald, "here groweth a smert los To me that am provost, and have in charge and hest All these fyve shippes under myne arest!" - And ran into the toun and made an hidouse cry, And charged al the cetezins to armes for to hy, From o strete till another, and rered up al the town, And made the trompes blowe up and the belles soun, And seyd that the Romeyns were in poynt to pas, Til there were a thowsand, rather mo then les, Men i-armed cleen, walking to the strond.    When Beryn hem aspied, "Now, Geffrey, in thy honde Stont lyff and goodes! Doth with us what thee list, For all our hope is on thee, comfort, help and trist. For we must bide aventur such as God woll shape, For nowe I am in certen we mow no wise scape."    "Have no dout," quod Geffrey; "beth mery; let me aloon. Geteth a peir sisours, shereth my berd anoon, And afterward lete top my hede hastlych and blyve."    Som went to with sesours, som with a knyfe, So what for sorowe and hast, and for lewd tole, There was no man alyve bet like to a fole Then Geffrey was, by that tyme they had al i-do.    Hanybald cleped out Beryn to motehall for to go, And stood oppon the brigg with an huge route.    Geffrey was the first to Hanybald gan to loute, And loked out aforeshipp: "God bles yew, sir," quod he. "Where art thow now, Beryn? Com nere, behold and se! Here is an huge pepill i-rayd and i-dight. All these been my children that been in armes bryghte. Yisterday I gate hem! Is nat mervaill That they been hider i-com to be of our counsaill And to stond by us and help us in our plé? Al myne own childryn, blessed mut ye be!" Quod Geffrey with an highe voise, and had a nyce visage, And gan to daunce for joy in the forestage.    Hanybald loked on Geffrey as he were amased, And beheld his contenaunce and howe he was i-rased, But evermore he thought that he was a fole, Naturell of kynde, and had noon other tool, As semed by his wordes and his visage both, And thought it had been foly to wex with hym wroth, And gan to bord ageyn and axed hym in game: "Sith thow art our fader, who is then our dame? And howe and in what plase were we begete?"    "Yisterday," quod Geffrey, "pleying in the strete Atte gentill game that cleped is the quek, A long peny-halter was cast about my nekk And i-knet fast with a ryding knot And cast over a perche and haled along my throte."    "Was that a game," quod Hanybald, "for to hang thyselve?"    "So they seyd about me, a thousand ech by hymselff."    "How scapeddest thow," quod Hanybald, "that thow were nat dede?"    "Thereto can I answere without eny rede. I bare thre dise in myne own purs, For I go never without, fare I better or wors. I kist hem forth al thre and too fil amys-ase. But here now what fill after, right a mervolouse case! There cam a mows lepe forth and ete the third boon, That puffed out hir skyn as grete as she myght goon, And in this maner wise, of the mouse and me, All ye be i-com my children fair and fre. And yit, or it be eve, fall wol such a chaunce, To stond in my power yew all to avaunce, For and we plede wele today, we shull be riche inowghe!"    Hanybald of his wordes hertlich loughe, And so did al that herd hym, as they myghte wele, And had grete joy with hym for to tell, For they knewe hym noon other but a fole of kynde. And al was his discrecioune, and that preved the ende!    Thus whils Geffrey japed to make hir hertes lighte, Beryn and his company were rayed and i-dighte, And londed hem in botes, ferefull how to spede, For all hir thoughtes in balance stode betwene hope and drede. But yit they did hir peyn to make lightsom chere, As Geffrey hem had enfourmed, of port and al manere Of hir governaunce, al the long day Tyll hir plee were ended. So went they forth hir wey To the court with Hanybald. Then Beryn gan to sey, "What nedeth this, Sir Hanybald, to make such aray, Sith we been pese-marchantes and use no spoliacioune?"    "Forsoth, sir," quod Hanybald, "to me was made relacioun Ye were in poynt to void, and yf ye had do so, Ye had lost yeur lyves without wordes mo."    Beryn held hym still. Geffrey spak anoon: "No les wed then lyves? Why so, good Sir John? That were somwhat to much, as it semeth me! But ye be over-wise that dwell in this ceté. For ye have begonne a thing maketh yewe righte bold, And yit, or it be eve, as foles shul ye be hold. And eke ye devyne sor in shipmannes craft And woteth litill what longeth to afore the shipp and bafft, And namelich in the dawnyng, when shipmen first arise."    "My good frend," quod Hanybald in a scornyng wise, "Ye must ones enfourm me thurh yeur discrecioun, But first ye must answer to a questioun: Why make men cros-saill in myddes of the mast?"    "For to talowe the shipp and fech more last."    "Why goon the yemen to bote - ankers to hale?"    "For to make hem redy to walk to the ale."    "Why hale they up stones by the crane-lyne?"    "To make the tempest sese and the sonne shyne."    "Why close they the port with the see bord?"    "For the master shuld awake atte first word."    "Thow art a redy reve," quod Hanybald, "in fay!"    "Yee, sir, trewly, for sothe is that ye sey!"    Geffrey ever clapped as doth a watermyll, And made Hanybald to laughe al his hert fell.    "Beryn," quod this Geffrey, "retourn thy men ageyn. What shull they do with thee at court? No man on hem pleyn. Plede thy case thyselve, ryght as thow hast i-wrought. To bide with the shippes, my purpos is and thought."    "Nay, forsoth," quod Hanybald, "thow shalt abyde on lond. We have no foles but thee!" - and toke hym by the hond - "For thow art wise in lawe to plede al the case."    "That can I better," quod Geffrey, "then eny man in this plase. What seyst thow therto, Beryn? Shall I tell thy tale?"    Hanybald liked his wordes wele and forward gan hym hale. Beryn made hym angry, and sighed wonder sore, For Geffrey hym had enfourmed of every poynt tofore How he hym shuld govern all the long day. Geffrey chasted hym ageyn: "Sey me yee or nay! Maystowe nat i-here speke som maner word?"    "Leve thy blab, lewd fole! Me liketh nat thy bord! I have another thought," quod Beryn, "wherof thowe carest lite."    "Clepest thow me a fole?" quod Geffrey. "Al that I may thee wite! But first, when we out of Rome sailled both in fere, Tho I was thy felawe and thy partynere; For tho the marchandise was more then halff myne, And sith that thowe com hider, thowe takest al for thyne. But yit or it be eve, I woll make oon behest: But thowe have my help, thy part shal be lest."    "Thyn help!" quod Beryn. "Lewde fole, thow art more then mased! Dres thee to the shippesward with thy crown i-rased, For I myght never spare thee bet! Trus, and be ago!"    "I wol go with thee," quod Geffrey, "where thow wolt or no, And lern to plede lawe to wyn both house and londe."    "So thow shalt!" quod Hanybald, and led hym by the honde, And leyd his hond oppon his nek. But and he had i-knowe Whom he had led, in sikernes he had wel lever in snowe Have walked forty myle, and rather then faill more, For he wisshed that Geffrey had i-be unbore Ful offt-tyme in that day or the plé were do, And so did al that wrought Beryn shame and woo.    Now ye that list abide and here of sotilté, Mow knowe how that Beryn sped in his plé, And in what aray to the court he went, And howe Hanybald led Geffrey, disware of his entent. But yit he axed of Geffrey, "What is thy name, I prey?"    "Gilhochet," quod Geffrey, "men cleped me yisterday."    "And where weer thow i-bore?" - "I note, I make avowe," Seyd Geffrey to this Hanybald; "I axe that of yewe, For I can tell no more but here I stond nowe."    Hanybald of his wordes hertlich lowghe And held hym for a passing fole to serve eny lord. Thus they romed janglyng into the court ward.    But or they com there, the Steward was i-set And the grettest of the town in company i-met, And gon to stryve fast who shuld have the good, That com was with Beryn over the salt flood. Som seyd oon, and som seyde another; Som wold have the shippes, the parell and the rother; Som his eyen, som his lyff wold have, and no les, Or els he shuld for hem fyne or he did pas. And in the menewhils they were in this afray, Beryn and these Romeyns were com in good aray, As myght be made of woll and of colour greyned. They toke a syde bench that for hem was ordeyned.    When all was husst and still, Beryn rose anoon And stode in the myddes of the hal tofore hem everychon, And seyd, "Sir Steward, in me shall be no let. I am i-com to answer as my day is set. Do me ryghte and reson - I axe yewe no more!"    "So shall I," quod the Steward, "for therto I am swore."    "He shall have ryght," quod Geffrey, "where thow wolt or no, For and thow mys ones thy jugement ondo, I woll to the Emperour of Rome, my cosyn. For of o cup he and I ful offt have dronk the wyne, And yit we shull hereafter, as offt as we mete, For he is long the gladder when I send hym to grete."    Thus Geffrey stode oppon a fourm, for he wold be sey Above all other, the shuldres and the cry, And stared al aboute, with his lewd berd, And was i-hold a verry fole of ech man hym herd.    The Steward and the officers and the burgeysses all Laughed at hym hertlich. The criour gan to call The Burgeyse that had pleyd with Beryn atte ches, And he aros quiklich and gan hym for to dres Afore the Steward atte barr, as the maner is. He gan to tell his tale with grete redynes:    "Here me, Sir Steward! This day is me set, To have ryght and reson - I ax yewe no bet - Of Beryn that here stondeth, that with me yisterday Made a certen covenaunt, and atte ches we did pley, That whoso were i-mated of us both too Shuld do the toders byddyng; and yf he wold nat so, He must drynke al the water that salt were in the se. Thus I to hym sured, and he also to me. To preve my tale trewe, I am nat al aloon."    Up rose ten burgeyses quyklich anoon, And affermed every word of his tale soth, And made hem al redy for to do hir othe.    Evander the Steward: "Beryn, now," quod he, "Thow must answere nede, it wol noon other be. Take thy counsell to thee. Spede on! Have i-doon!"    Beryn held hym still. Geffrey spak anoon: "Now, by my trowth," quod Geffrey, "I mervell much of yewe, To bid us go to counsell and knoweth me wise inowgh And ever ful avised, in twynkelyng of an eye, To make a short answer, but yf my mowth be dry. Shuld we go to counsell for o word or tweyn? By my trowth we nyl! Let se mo that pleyn! And but he be i-answerd, and that right anoon, I geve yewe leve to rise and walk out, everychoon, And aspy redely yf ye fynd me there. In the meenwhils, I wol abide here. Nay, I tell trewly, I am wiser then ye ween. For there nys noon of yewe woot redely what I meen."    Every man gan lawghe al his hert fill Of Geffrey and his wordes, but Beryn held hym still And was cleen astoned. But yit nere-the-latter He held it nat al foly that Geffrey did clater, But wisely hym governed, as Geffrey hym taughte, For parcell of his wisdom tofore he had smaught.    "Sir Steward," quod Beryn, "I understond wele The tale of this Burgeyse. Now let another tel That I may take counsell and answer al attones."    "I graunt," quod the Steward, "thyn axing, for the nones, Sith thow wolt be rewled by thy foles rede, For he is ryghte a wise man to help thee in thy nede."    Up arose the accusours queyntlich anoon. Hanybald was the first of hem everichon, And gan to tell his tale with a proud chere:    "Yisterday, soverens, when I was here, Beryn and this Burgeyse gon to plede fast For pleying atte ches. So ferforth atte last, Thurh vertu of myne office, that I had in charge Beryns fyve shippes, for to go at large And to be in answere here this same day. So walkyng to the strondward, we bargeyned by the wey That I shuld have the marchaundise that Beryn with hym broughte, Wherof I am sesed as ful sold and boughte, In covenaunt that I shuld his shippes fill ageyn Of my marchandise, such as he tofore had seyn In myne own plase, howses to or thre, Ful of marchandise as they myght be. And I am ever redy, whensoever he woll, Let hym go or sende, and charge his shippes full Of such marchandise as he fyndeth there. For in such wordes, we accorded were."    Up rose ten burgeyses - not tho that rose tofore, But other - and made hem redy to have swore That every word of Hanybald, from the begynnyng to the ende, Was soth and eke trewe, and with all hir mende, Ful prest they were to preve, and seyd they were present Atte covenaunte makeing, by God omnipotent.    "It shall nat nede," quod Geffrey, "whils that I here stonde, For I woll preve it myself with my right honde. For I have been in four batelles heretofore, And this shall be the fifft, and therfor I am swore. Beholdeth and seeth!" - and turned hym aboute.    The Steward and the Burgeyse gamed al aboute. The Romeyns held hem still and lawghed but a lite.    With that cam the Blynd Man, his tale to endite, That God hym graunte wynnyng, righte as he hath aserved. Beryn and his company stood al astryved Betwene hope and drede, righte in highe distres, For of wele or of woo they had no sikernes.    "Beryn," quod the Blynd, "thoughe I may nat se, Stond nere yit the barr. My comyng is for thee, That wrongfullich thowe witholdest my both to eyen, The wich I toke thee for a tyme, and quyklich to me hyen And take hem me ageyn, as our covenant was. Beryn, I take no reward of other mennes case But oonlich of myne own, that stont me most on hond. Nowe blessed be God in heven that brought thee to this lond, For sith our last parting, many bitter teres Have I lete for thy love, that somtyme partineres Of wynnyng and of lesing were, yeres fele. And ever I fond thee trewe, til at the last thow didest stele Awey with my too eyen that I toke to thee To se the tregitours pley, and hir sotilté, As yisterday here in this same plase Tofore yewe, Sir Steward, rehersed as it was. Ful trewe is that byword, `a man to servesabill Ledeth offt Beyard from his own stabill.' Beryn, by thee I meen, thoughe thowe make it straunge. For thow knowest trewly that I made no chaunge, Of my good eyen for thyne that badder were."    Therewith stood up bergeys four, witnes to bere. Beryn held hym still, and Geffrey spak anoon:    "Nowe of thy lewde compleynt and thy mased moon, By my trowth," quod Geffrey, "I have grete mervaill. For thoughe thow haddest eyen-sight, yit shuld it litil availl. Thow shuldest never fare the bet, but the wors in fay, For al thing may be stil nowe for thee in house and way, And yf thow haddest thyn eyen, thowe woldest no counsell hele. I knowe wele by thy fisnamy thy kynd were to stele. And eke it is thy profite and thyne ese als To be blynd as thowe art, for nowe whereso thow go, Thow hast thy lyvlode whils thow art alyve, And yf thowe myghtest see, thow shuldest never thryve."    Al the house thurhout, save Beryn and his feres, Lawghed of Geffrey that water on hir leres Ran down from hir eyen for his mased wit.    With that cam the Womman - hir tung was nat sclytt - With fiftene burgeyses and wommen also fele, Hir querell for to preve and Beryn to apele, With a feir knave child i-loke within hir armes, And gan to tell hir tale of wronges and of harmes And eke of unkyndnes, untrowth and falshede, That Beryn had i-wrought to hir, that queyntlich from hir yede Anoon oppon hir wedding, when he his will had doon And brought hir with child, and lete hir sit aloon Without help and comfort from that day: "And nowegh He profered me nat to kis ones with his mowth! As yisterday, Sir Steward, afore yewe eche word Was rehersed here, my pleynt is of record, And this day is me set for to have reson. Let hym make amendes, or els tell encheson Why hym ought nat fynd me as man ought his wyffe."    These fifftene burgeyses quyklich also blyve, And as fele wymmen as stode by hir there, Seyd that they were present when they wedded were And that every word that the Womman seyde Was trewe, and eke Beryn had hir so betrayd.    "Benedicite!" quod Geffrey, "Beryn, hast thowe a wyff? Now, have God my trowth, the dayes of my lyff I shall trust thee the las! Thow toldest me nat tofore As wele of thy wedding and of thy sone i-bore. Go to and kis hem both, thy wyff and eke thyn heir. Be thow nat ashamed, for they both be feyr. This wedding was right pryvy, but I shal make it couthe. Behold, thy sone (it semeth) crope out of thy mowth, And eke of thy condicioune both sofft and some. Now am I glad thyne heir shall with us to Rome, And I shall tech hym as I can, whils that he is yong, Every day by the strete to gader houndes doung, Tyll it be abill of prentyse to crafft of tanry, And after I shall teche hym for to cache a fly, And to mend mytens when they been totore And after to cloute shoon, when he is elder more. Yit for his parentyne, to pipe as doth a mowse I woll hym tech, and for to pike a snayll out of his house, And to berk as doth an hound and sey `Baw-bawe!' And turn round about as a cat doth with a strawe, And to blete as doth a shepe, and ney as doth an hors, And to lowe as doth a cowe. And as myne own corps I woll cherissh hym every day, for his moders sake!" - And gan to stapp nere the child to have i-take, As semed by his contenaunce, althoughe he thought nat so.    Butte moder was ever ware, and blenched to and fro, And leyd hir hond betwene and loked somwhat wroth.    And Geffrey in pure wrath beshrewed hem al bothe: "For by my trowth," quod Geffrey, "wel mased is thy pan. For I woll teche thy sone the craftes that I can That he in tyme to com myght wyn his lyvlood. To wex therfor angry, thow art verry wood! Of husbond, wyff and sone - by the Trynyté - I note wich is the wisest of hem al thre!"    "No, sothly," quod the Steward, "it lieth al in thy noll, Both wit and wisdom, and preveth by thy poll!"    For al be that Geffrey worded sotilly, The Steward and the burgeyses held it for foly Al that ever he seyd, and toke it for good game, And had ful litill knowlech he was Geffrey the lame. Beryn and his company stode still as stone, Betwene hope and drede, disware how it shuld goon, Saff Beryn trist in party that Geffrey wold hym help, But yit into that hour he had no cause to yelpe. Wherfor they made much sorow, that dole was and peté.    Geffrey herd hym sighe sore. "What devill is yewe?" quod he. "What nede yew be sory whils I stonde here? Have I nat enfourmed yewe how and in what manere That I yew wold help and bryng hem in the snare? Yf ye coude plede as wele as I, ful litill wold ye care. Pluke up thy hert," quod Geffrey. "Beryn, I speke to thee!"    "Leve thy blab leude!" quod Beryn to hym aye. "It doth nothing availl that sorowe com on thy hede. It is nat worth a fly, al that thowe hast seyde. Have we nat els nowe for to thynk oppon Saff here to jangill?" Macaign rose anoon, And went to the barr and gan to tell his tale. He was as fals as Judas, that set Criste at sale.    "Sir Steward," quod this Macaign, "and the burgeyses all, Knoweth wele how Melan, with purpill and with pall And other marchandise, seven yere ago Went toward Rome, and howe that I also Have enquered sith, as reson woll and kynde, Syth he was my fader, to knowe of his ende. For yit sith his departyng til it was yisterday, Met I never creature that me coude wissh or say Reedynes of my fader, dede other alyve. But blessed be God in heven, in this theves sclyve The knyff I gaff my fader was yisterday i-found. Sith I hym apele, let hym be fast i-bound. The knyff I knowe wel inowe; also the man stont here And dwelleth in this town and is a cotelere, That made the same knyff with his too hondes, That wele I woot there is noon like, to sech al Cristen londes. For thre preciouse stones been within the hafft Perfitlych i-couched and sotillich by crafft Endended in the hafft, and that right coriously: A saphir and a salidone and a rich ruby."    The coteler cam lepeing forth with a bold chere, And seyd to the Steward, "That Macaign told now here, Every word is trew; so beth the stones sett. I made the knyff myselff - who myght know it bet? - And toke the knyff to Macaign, and he me payd wele. So is this felon gilty. There is no more to tell."    Up arose burgeyses by too, by thre, by four, And seyd they were present the same tyme and hour When Macaign wept sore and brought his faders gownd And gaff hym the same knyff oppon the see-stronde.    "Bethe there eny mo pleyntes of record?" Quod Geffrey to the Steward. And he ageynward, "How semeth thee, Gilhochet? Beth there nat inowghe? Make thyne answer, Beryn, case that thow mowe. For oon or other thow must sey, althoughe it nat availl. And but thowe lese or thowe go, me thinketh grete mervaill."    Beryn goth to counsell and his company, And Geffrey bode behynde to here more and se, And to shewe the Burgeyse somwhat of his hert, And seyd, "But I make the pleyntyfs for to smert, And al that hem meynteneth for aught that is i-seyd, I woll graunte yewe to kut the eres fro my hede. My master is at counsell, but counsell hath he noon, For but I hym help, he is cleen undoon. But I woll help hym al that I can, and meynten hym also By my power and connyng, so I am bound thereto. For I durst wage batell with yewe, thoughe ye be stronge, That my master is in the trowth and ye be in the wrong. For and we have lawe, I ne hold yew but distroyed In yeur own falshede, so be ye now aspied. Wherfor, yit or eve, I shall abate yeur pride That som of yew shall be right feyn to sclynk awey and hyde."    The burgeyses gon to lawghe and scorned hym thereto.    "Gilhochet," quod Evander, "and thow cowdest so Bryng it thus about, it were a redy way!"    "He is a good fool," quod Hanybald, "in fay, To put hymselff aloon in strength and eke in witt Ageyns al the burgeyses that on this bench sit."    "What clater is this," quod Macaign, "al day with a fole? Tyme is nowe to worch with som other tole, For I am certeyn of hir answer that they woll faill. And lyf for lyf of my fader, what may that availl? Wherfor beth avised, for I am in no doute, The goodes been sufficient to part al aboute, So may every party pleyntyff have his part."    "That is reason," quod the Blynd; "a trew man thow art! And eke it were untrowth, and eke grete syn, But ech of us that pleyneth myght somwhat wyn."    Hanybald bote his lyppes and herd hem both wele: "Towching the marchandise, o tale I shall yew tell, And eke make a vowe and hold my behest, That of the marchandise yeur part shall be lest. For I have made a bargeyn that may nat be undo. I woll hold his covenaunt, and he shall myne also."    Up roos quyklich the burgeyse Syrophanes "Hanybald," quod he, "the lawe goth by no lanes But hold forth the streyt wey, even as doth a lyne. For yisterday, when Beryn with me did dyne, I was the first persone that put hym in arest. And for he wold go large, thow haddest in charge and hest To sese both shipp and goodes til I were answered. Then must I first be served. This knoweth al men i-lered."    The Womman stode besides and cried wonder fast: "Ful soth is that byword, `to pot who cometh last, He worst is served!' And so it fareth by me. Yit netherles, Sir Steward, I trist to yeur leuté, That knoweth best my cause and my trew entent. I ax yewe no more but rightfull jugement. Let me have part with other, sith he my husbond is. Good sirs, beth avised, I axe yew nat amys."    Thus they gon to stryve and were of highe mode For to depart among hem other mennes good, Where they tofore had never properté Ne never shuld thereafter, by doom of equyté; But they had other cause then they had tho.    Beryn was at counsell, his hert was ful woo, And his meyny sory, distrakt and al amayede, For tho they leved noon other but Geffrey had hem trayde, Because he was so long, they coude no manere rede - But everich by hymselff wisshed he had be dede.    "O myghtfull God!" they seyd, "we trow tofore this day Was never gretter treson, fere ne affray I-wrought onto mankynde then now is to us here, And namelich by this Geffrey with his sotil chere. So feithfull he made it he wold us help echone, And nowe we be i-myred. He leteth us sit aloon!"    "Of Geffrey," quod Beryn, "be as it be may; We mut answer nede, there is noon other way. And therfor let me know yeur wit and yeur counsaill."    They wept and wrong hir hondes, and gan to waill The tyme that they were bore, and shortly of the lyve They wisshed that they were. With that cam Geffrey blyve, Passing hem towardes, and began to smyle.    Beryn axed Geffrey where he had be al the while: "Have mercy oppon us, and help us as thowe highte!"    "I woll help yew right wele thurh grace of Goddes myghte, And I can tell yew tyding of hir governaunce. They stond in altercacioune and stryff, in poynt to praunce, To depart yeur goodes, and leveth verryly That it were impossibill yewe to remedy. But hir highe pryde and hir presumpcioune Shal be, yit or eve, hir confusioune, And to make amendes ech man for his pleynt. Let se, therfor, yeur good avise howe they myght be ateynt."    The Romeyns stode still, as who had shore hir hed.    "In feith," quod Beryn, "we con no manere rede, But in God and yewe we submit us all, Body, lyffe and goodes, to stond or to fall, And never for to travers o word that thow seyst. Help us, good Geffrey, as wele as thow maist!"    "Depardeux," quod Geffrey, "and I wol do me peyn To help yewe, as my connyng wol strech and ateyn."    The Romeyns went to barr, and Geffrey al tofore With a nyce contenaunce, bare-fote and totore, Pleyng with a yerd he bare in his honde And was ever wistlyng att every pase comand. The Steward and the burgeyses had game inowghe Of Geffreyes nyce comyng, and hertlich lowghe, And eche man seyd, "Gilhochet, com nere. Thowe art ryght welcom, for thowe makest us chere."    "The same welcom," quod Geffrey, "that ye wol us, Fall oppon yeur hedes, I prey to God - and wers!"    They held hym for a verry fole, but he held hem wel more, And so he made hem in breff tyme, although they were nat shore.    "Stynteth nowe," quod Geffrey, "and let make pese. Of myrthes and of japes, tyme is now to cese And speke of other mater that we have to doon. For and we hewe amys eny maner spone, We knowe wele in certeyn what pardon we shull have; The more is our nede us to defend and save. My master hath bee at counsell and ful avised is That I shall have the wordes, speke I wele or mys. Wherfor, Sir Steward, and ye burgeyses all, Sitteth upryght and wrieth nat for auntres that may fall. For and ye deme untrewly or do us eny wrong, Ye shull be refourmed, be ye never so strong, Of every poynt and injury, and that in grete hast, For he is nat unknowe to us that may yewe chast. Hold forthe the right wey and by no side lanes! And as towching the first pleyntyfe, Syrophanes, That pleyde with my master yisterday atte ches And made a certen covenaunte, who that had the wers In the last game (althoughe I were nat there) Shuld do the toders bidding, whatsoever it were, Or drynk al the water that salt were in the see; Thus I trowe, Sir Steward, ye woll record the plé, And yf I have i-myssed in letter or in word The lawe, wol I be rewled after yeur record. For we be ful avised in this wise to answer."    Evander the Steward and al men that were there Had mervill much of Geffrey that spak so redely, Whose wordes thertofor semed al foly, And were astonyed cleen and gan for to drede. And every man til other lened with his hede And seyd, "He reported the tale right formally. He was no fool in certen, but wise, ware and scly, For he hath but i-japed us and scorned heretofore, And we have hold hym a fole, but we be wel more!"    Thus they stodied on Geffrey and laughed tho right naught. When Geffrey had aspied they were in such thought And hir hertes trobeled, pensyff and anoyed, Hym list to dryv in bet the nayll til they were fully cloyed.    "Soveren sirs," he seyd, "sith that it so is That in reportyng of our plé ye fynd nothing amys, As preveth wele yeur scilence, eke ye withseyeth not O word of our tale, but fynde it clene without spot, Then to our answer I prey yewe take hede, For we wol sey al the trowth, right as it is in dede. For this is soth and certeyn, it may nat be withseyd, That Beryn that here stondeth was thus overpleid In the last game when wager was opon. But that was his sufferaunce, as ye shul here anoon, For in al this ceté there nys no maner man Can pley better atte ches then my master can; Ne bet then I, thoughe I it sey, cannat half so much. Nowe how he lost it by his will, the cause I wol teche, For ye went - and ween - that ye had hym engyned, But ye shul fele in every veyn that ye be undermyned And i-brought at ground and eke overmused. And agenst the first that Beryn is acused, Hereth nowe entyntyflich. When we were on the see, Such a tempest on us fill that noon myght other se. Of thunder, wynd and lightenyng, and stormes there among, Fiftene dayes duryng, the tempest was so strong That ech man til other began hym for to shryve, And made hir avowes yf they myghte have the lyve - Som to seche the Sepulker, and som to other plase To sech holy seyntes for help and for grace, Som to fast and do penaunce, and som do almes-dede - Tyl atte last, as God wold, a voise to us seyde In our most turment, and desperate of mynde, That yf we wold be saved, my master must hym bynde By feith and eke by vowe, when he cam to londe, To drynke al the salt water within the se-stronde Without drynkyng any sope of the fressh water; And taught hym al the sotilté, how and in what manere That he shuld wirch by engyne and by a sotill charm To drynk al the salt water and have hymselff no harm, But stop the fressh ryvers by every cost-side, That they enter nat in the se thurh the world wyde. The voyse we herd, but naught we sawe, so were our wittes raved. For this was the end fynally, yf we lust be saved. Wherfor my master Beryn, when he cam to this port, To his avowe and promys he made his first resort, Ere that he wold bergeyn any marchandise. And right so doth these marchandes in the same wise That maken hir avowes in saving of hir lyves; They completen hir pilgremages or they se hir wyves. So mowe ye understond that my master Beryn Of fre will was i-mated, as he that was a pilgrym, And myght nat perfourm by many thowsand part His avowe and his hest without right sotil art, Without help and strength of many mennes myghte. Sir Steward and Sir Burgeyse, yf we shul have righte, Syrophanes must do cost and aventure To stopp al the fressh ryvers into the see that enter. For Beryn is redy in al thing hym to quyte, So ho be in defaute must pay for the wite. Sith ye been wise all, what nede is much clater? There was no covenaunte hem betwen to drynk fressh water."    When Syrophanes had i-herd al Geffreyes tale, He stode al abasshed with colour wan and pale, And loked oppon the Steward with a rewful chere And on other frendshipp and neyghbours he had there, And preyd hem of counsell the answere to reply.    "These Romeyns," quod the Steward, "been wonder scly, And eke right ynmagytyff and of sotill art, That I am in grete dowte howe ye shull depart Without harm in oon side. Our lawes - wel thowe wost - Is to pay damages and eke also the cost Of every party plentyff that failleth in his pleynt. Let hym go quyte, I counsell, yf it may so be queynt."    "I merveill," quod Syrophanes, "of hir sotilté, But sith that it so stondeth and may noon other be, I do woll by counsell!" - and graunted Beryn quyte.    But Geffrey thought another, and without respite: "Sirs," he seyd, "we weteth wele that ye wol do us righte. And so ye must nedes, and so ye have us highte. And therfor, Sir Steward, ye occupy our plase, And ye knowe wele what law woll in this case. My master is redy to perfourm his avowe."    "Geffrey," quod the Steward, "I cannat wete howe To stop all the fressh water were possibilité."    "Yis, in soth," quod Geffrey, "who had of gold plenté As man coude wissh, and it myght wel be do. But that is nat our defaute he hath no tresour to. Let hym go to in hast, or fynd us suerté To make amendes to Beryn for his iniquité: Wrong and harm and trespas and undewe vexacioun, Lost of sale of marchandise, disese and tribulacioun, That we have sustened thurh his iniquité. What vayleth it to tary us? For though ye sotil pry, We shull have reson, where ye woll or no. So wol we that ye knowe what that we wol do: In certen, ful avised, to Isope for to pase And declare every poynt, the more and eke the lase, That of yeur opyn errours hath pleyn correccioune, And ageyns his jugement is noon proteccioune. He is yeur lord riall, and soveren jugg and lele, That and ye work in eny poynt, to hym lieth our apele."    So when the Steward had i-herd, and the burgeyses all, Howe Geffrey had i-stered that went so nyghe the gall, What for shame and drede of more harm and repreff, They made Syrophanes - weer hym looth or leffe - To take Beryn gage and plegg fynd also, To byde the ward and jugement of that he had mysdo.    "Nowe ferthermore," quod Geffrey, "sith that it so is That of the first pleyntyff we have sikernes, Nowe to the marchant we must nedes answere, That bargayned with Beryn al that his shippes bere, In covenaunte that he shuld his shippes fill ageyn Of other marchandise that he tofore had seyn In Hanybaldes plase, howses too or thre, Ful of marchandise as they myght be. Let us pas thider yf enything be there At our lust and likeing, as they accorded were."    "I graunt wele," quod Hanybald; "thow axest but righte."    Up arose these burgeyses: "Thowe axest but righte."    The Steward and his comperes entred first the house And sawe nothing within, strawe ne leffe ne mowse, Save tymber and the tyle-stones and the walles white.    "I trowe," quod the Steward, "the wynnyng woll be but lite That Beryn wol nowe gete in Hanybaldes pleynte, For I can se noon other but he wol be atteynt!" - And cleped hem in, echone, and went out hymselve.    As soon as they were entred, they sawe no maner selve For sores of hir hert, but as tofore is seyd, The house was cleen i-swept. Then Geffrey feir they preyde To help yf he coude. - "Let me aloon," quod he; "Yit shull they have the wors, as sotill as they bee!"    Evander the Steward in the menewhile Spak to the burgeyse and began to smyle: "Thoughe Syrophanes be i-hold these Romeyns for to curs, Yit I trow that Hanybald woll put hem to the wers. For I am suyr and certeyn within they shul nat fynde."    "What sey ye by my pleynt, sirs?" quod the Blynd. "For I make a vowe I wol never cese, Tyl Syrophanes have of Beryn a pleyn relese And to make hym quyte of his submyssioune; Els woll I have ne peté of his contricioune But folow hym also fersly as I can or may, Tyl I have his eyen both to away."    "Now in feith," quod Macaign, "and I wol have his lyffe. For thoughe he scape yewe all, with me wol he nat stryffe, But be right feyn in hert al his good forsake, For to scape with his lyff and to me it take."    Beryn and his feleshipp were within the house, And speken of hir answer and made but litill rouse, But ever preyd Geffrey to help yf he coude ought.    "I woll nat faill," quod Geffrey, and was tofore bethought Of too boterflies as white as eny snowe. He lete hem flee within the house, that after on the wowe They cleved wonder fast, as hir kynde woll, After they had flowe to rest another pull.    When Geffrey sawe the boterflies cleving on the wall, The Steward and the Burgeyse in he gan call: "Lo, sirs!" he seyde, "whosoever repent, We have chose marchandise most to our talent, That we fynd herein. Behold, Sir Hanyball, The yonder botterflyes that cleveth on the wall. Of such ye must fill our shippes al fyve! Pluk up thy hert, Beryn, for thow must nedes thryve, For when we out of Rome in marchant-fare went, To purchase butterflyes was our most entent. Yit woll I tell the cause especial and why: There is a leche in Rome that hath i-made a cry, To make an oyntement to cure al tho been blynde And all maner infirmytees that groweth in mankynde. The day is short, the work is long - Sir Hanyball, ye mut hy!"    When Hanybald herd this tale, he seyd pryvely In counsell to the Steward: "In soth I have the wors, For I am siker by this pleynt that I shal litil purs."    "So me semeth," quod the Steward, "for in the world rounde So many boterflyes wold nat be founde, I trowe, o ship to charge. Wherfor me thinketh best, Lete hym have his good ageyn, and be in pese and rest. And yit it is an aunter and thowe scape so, Thy covenaunt to relese without more ado."    The burgeyses, everichon that were of that ceté, Were anoyed sore when they herd of this plee. Geffrey with his wisdom held hem hard and streyte That they were accombred in hir own disceyte.    When Hanybald with his frendes had spoke of this mater, They drowe hem toward Beryn and seid in this maner: "Oonly for boterflyes ye com fro yeur contrey; And we yewe tell, in sikernes and opon our fey, That so many boterflyes we shul never gete. Wherfor we be avised otherwise to trete: That Hanybald shall relese his covenaunt that is maked, And delyver the good ageyn that from yewe was ransaked, And vexe yewe no more, but let yew go in pese."    "Nay, forsoth," quod Geffrey; `ùs nedeth no relese! Ye shull hold our covenaunt and we shul yeurs also. For we shull have reson, where ye wol or no. Whils Isope is alyve, I am nothing aferd, For I can wipe al this plé cleen from yeur berd, And ye blench ones out of the hy wey."    They profered hym plegg and gage without more deley.    "Now ferthermore," quod Geffrey, `ùs ought to procede. For to the Blynd Mannes poynt we must answer nede, That for to tel trowth, he lyveth al to long. For his own fawte and his own wrong On Beryn he hath surmysed, as preveth by his plé, And that ye shull opynlich knowe wele and se. For as I understod hym, he seyd that fele yeres Beryn, that here stondeth, and he were pertyneres Of wynnyng and of lesyng, as men it use and doth, And that they chaunged eyen - and yit this is sothe. But the cause of chaunging yit is to yewe onknow; Wherfor I wol declare it both to highe and lowe. In that same tyme that this burgeyse blynde And my master Beryn, as fast as feith myght bynde, Were marchaundes in comyn of al that they myght wyn, Saff of lyffe and lym and of dedely synne, There fill in tho marches of al thing such a derth That joy, comfort and solas, and al maner myrth Was exiled cleen, saff oonly molestacioune That abood contenuell, and also dispiracioune. So when that the pepill were in most myscheff, God that is above, that al thing doth releve, Sent hem such plenté of mony, fruyte and corn, Wich turned al to joy hir mournyng al toforn. Then gaff they hem to myrth, revel, pley and song, And thanked God above evermore among Of hir relevacioun from woo into gladnes. For after sour, when swete is com, it is a plesant mes. So in the meenwhile of this prosperité, There cam such a pleyer into the same contré That never theretofore was seyn such another, That wele was the creature that born was of his moder That myght se the mirthes of this jogelour. For of the world wyde tho dayes he bare the floure. For there nas man ne womman in that regioune That set of hymselff the store of a boton Yf he had nat sey his myrthes and his game. So oppon a tyme, this pleyer did proclame That all maner of pepill his pleyes wold se Shuld com oppon a certen day to the gret ceté. Then among other my master here, Beryn, And this same Blynd that pledeth now with hym Made a certen covenaunt, that they wold see The mervelles of this pleyer and his sotilté. So what for hete of somer, age and febilnes, And eke also the long way, this Blynd for werynes Fil flat adown to the erth, o foot ne myght ne go. Wherfor my master Beryn in hert was ful woo, And seyd, `My frend, how nowe? Mowe ye no ferther pas?' `No,' he seyd, `by Hym that first made mas! And yit I had lever, as God my soule save, Se these wonder pleyes then al the good I have.' `I cannat els,' quod Beryn, `but yf it may nat be, But that ye and I mut retourn aye Affter ye be refresshed of yeur werynes. For to leve yewe in this plyte, it were no gentilnes.' Then seyd this Blynd, `I am avised bet. Beryn, ye shull wend thider without eny let, And have myne eyen with yewe that they the pley mowe se, And I woll have yeurs tyll ye com aye.' Thus was hir covenaunt made, as I to yewe report, For ese of this Blynd and most for his comfort. But woteth wele, the hole science of al surgery Was uned or the chaunge was made of both eye, With many sotill enchauntours and eke nygramancers, That sent were for the nones, mastres and scoleres. So when al was complete, my master went his way With this mannes eyen and sawe al the pley, And hastly retourned into that plase aye, And fond this Blynd seching on hondes and on kne, Grasping al aboute to fynd that he had lore: Beryn his both eyen that he had tofore! But as sone as Beryn had pleyn knowleche That his eyen were i-lost, unneth he myght areche O word for pure anguyssh that he toke sodenly. And from that day till nowghe, ne myght he never spy This man in no plase there lawe was i-meved; But nowe in his presence the soth is ful i-preved, That he shall make amendes or he hens pas, Righte as the lawe wol deme, ether more or les. For my mastres eyen were better and more clere Then these that he hath nowe, to se both fer and nere. So wold he have his own, that proper were of kynde, For he is ever redy to take to the Blynd The eyen that he had of hym, as covenaunt was, So he woll do the same. Nowe, soverens, in this cas Ye mut take hede for to deme righte, For it were no reson my master shuld lese his sighte For his trew hert and his gentilnes."    "Beryn," quod the Blynd tho, "I woll thee relese, My quarell and my cause, and fal fro my pleynt."    "Thow mut nede," quod Geffrey, "for thow art atteynt. So mut thow profer gage, and borowes fynd also, For to make amendes, as other have i-do. Sir Steward, do us lawe, sith we desire but righte. As we been pese-marchandes, us longeth nat to fighte, But pleyn us to the lawe yf so we be agreved."    Anoon oppon that Geffrey these wordes had i-meved, The Blynd Man fond borowes for al his maletalent, And were i-entred in the court to byde the jugement. For thoughe that he blynd were, yit had he good plenté - And more wold have wonne thurh his iniquité!    "Nowe hereth, sirs," quod Geffrey, "thre pleyntyfs been assured. And as anenst the ferth, this Womman hath arered That pleyneth her on Beryn and seyeth she is his wyff, And that she hath many a day led peynous lyff And much sorowe endured, his child to sustene; And al is soth and trewe. Nowe rightfullich to deme Whether of hem both shal other obey, And folow wil and lustes, Sir Steward, ye mut sey."    And therewith Geffrey loked asyde on this Woman, Howe she chaunged colours, pale and eke wan.    "Al for nought!" quod Geffrey; "for ye mut with us go, And endur with yeur husbond both wele and woo!" - And wold have take hir by the hond, but she awey did breyde, And with a grete sighing these wordes she seyd, That ageyns Beryn she wold plede no more, But gaged with too borowes, as other had do tofore.    The Steward sat as still as who had shore his hede, And specially the pleyntifs were in much drede. Geffrey set his wordes in such manere wise That wele they wist they myght nat scape in no wise, Without los of goodes for damage and for cost. For such were hir lawes where pleyntes were i-lost.    Geffrey had ful perseyte of hir encomberment, And eke he was in certen that the jugement Shuld pas with his master; wherfor he anoon: "Soveren sirs," he seyd, "yit must we ferther goon, And answere to this Macaign that seith the knyff is his That found was on Beryn. Thereof he seith nat amys. And for more pryvy, he seith in this manere That here stondeth present the same cotelere That the knyffe made; and the precious stones thre Within the hafft been couched that in Christyanyté, Thoughe men wold of purpose make serch and siche, Men shuld nat fynd in al thing a knyff that were it lich. And more opyn pryve than mannes own knowlech, Men of lawe ne clerkes con nat tell ne teche. Now sith we be in this manere thus ferforth ago, Then were spedful for to knowe howe Beryn cam first tho To have possessioune of the knyff that Macaign seith is his. To yewe unknowe, I shall enfourm the trowth as it is. Nowe seven yeer i-passed oppon a Tuesday In the Passion Woke, when men leven pley And use more devosioune, fastyng and preyer Then in other tyme or seson of the yeer, This Beryns fader erlich wold arise And barefote go to chirch to Goddes service, And lay hymselff aloon from his own wyff In reverence of the tyme and mending of his lyff. So on the same Tuesday that I tofore nempt, This Beryn rose and rayd hym and to the chirch went, And merveled in his hert his fader was nat there, And homward went ageyn with drede and eke fere. Into his faders chamber sodenlich he raked, And fond hym ligg stan-dede oppon the strawe, al naked, And the clothes haled from the bed away. `Out! Alas,' quod Beryn, `that ever I sawe this day!' The meyné herd the noyse, how Beryn cried `Allas!' And cam into the chamber, al that therein was, But the dole and the sorowe and anguyssh that was there, It vayleth nat at this tyme to declare it here. But Beryn had most of all, have ye no doute. And anoon they serched the body al aboute, And fond this same knyff, the poynt right at his hert Of Beryns fader, whose teres gan outstert When he drowgh out the knyff of his faders wound. Then stan-dede I sawe hym fal doun to the ground In sighte of the most part that beth with hym nowe here."    And they affermed it for sothe, as Geffrey did hem lere.    "And yit had I never suspecioune from that day til nowth Who did that cursed dede, till Macaign with his mowth Afore yewe hath knowleched that the knyff is his. So mut he nedes answer for his deth, iwis."    When Macaign had i-herd al Geffreyes tale, He rose of bench sodynly with colour wan and pale, And seyd onto Beryn, "Sir, ageyn thee I woll plete no more, for it were gret peté To comber yewe with accions, that beth of nobill kynde."    "Graunte mercy, sir," quod Geffrey, "but yit ye shull fynde Borowes or ye pas, amendes for to make For our undewe vexacioun, and gage also us take In signe of submissioun for yeur injury, As lawe woll and reson. For we woll utterly Procede tyll we have jugement finall. And therfor, Sir Steward, what that ever fall, Delay us no lenger, but gyve us jugement. For tristeth ye noon other, but we be fullich bent To Isope for to wend and in his highe presence Reherce all our plees and have his sentence. Then shul ye make fynes and highlich be agreved."    And as sone as the Steward herd these wordes meved, "Reson, ryghte and lawe," seyd the Steward tho, "Ye mut nedes have, where I woll or no, And to preve my full will or we ferther goon."    Quiklich he comaunded, and spared never oon, Twenty-four burgeyses in lawe best i-lered, Rehersyng hem the plees and how Geffrey answered, And on lyffe and lym and forfetur of good - And as they wold nat lese the ball within hir hood - To drawe apart togider and by hir al assent, Spare no man on lyve to gyve trewe jugement. And when these twenty-four burgeyses had i-herd The charge of the Steward, right sore they were aferd To lese hir own lyves, but they demed trowth. And eke of hir neyghbours they had grete rowth, For they perseyved clerelich in the plé thurhoute Hir frendes had the wors side - therof they had no doute!    "And yff we deme trewly, they wol be sore anoyed; Yit it is better then we be shamed and distroyed."    And anoon they were accorded, and seyd with Beryn, And demed every pleyntyff to make a grete fyne With Beryn, and hym submyt hoolich to his grace - Body, good and catell - for wrong and hir trespase, So ferforth till atte last it was so boute i-bore That Beryn had the dobill good that he had tofore. And with joy and myrth, with al his company, He droughe hym to his shippesward with song and melody.    The Steward and the Burgeyse from the court bent Into hir own places, and ever as they went, They talked of the Romeyns, howe sotil they were, To aray hym like a fole that for hem shuld answer.    "What vayleth it," quod Hanybald, "to anger or to curs? And yit I am in certen I shall fare the wers All the dayes of my lyff, for this dayes pleding; And so shall al the remnaunt, and hir hondes wryng, Both Syrophanes and the Blynd, the Womman and Macaign, And be bet avised er they efftsones pleyn; And all other persones within this ceté Mell the les with Romeyns whils they here be. For such another fole was never yit i-born, For he did naught elles but ever with us scorn, Tyl he had us caught even by the shyn With his sotill wittes in our own gren."    Nowe woll I retourn to Beryn ageyn, That of his grete luker in hert was righte feyn, And so was all his meyné, as hem oughte wele, That they were so delyvered from turment like to hell, And graciusly releved out of hir grete myscheff, And i-set above in comforte and boncheff.    "Now in soth," quod Beryn, "it may nat be denyed, Nad Geffrey and his wit be, we had be distroyed. I-thanked be almyghty God omnipotent That for our consolacioune Geffrey to us sent! And in protest opynly here among yewe all, Halff my good whils that I lyve, whatever me befall, I graunt it here to Geffrey to gyve or to sell, And never to part from me, yf it were his will, And fare as wele as I, amorowe and eke on eve, And never for man on lyve his company for to leve."    "Graunt mercy, sir," quod Geffrey; "yeur profer is feir and grete. But I desir no more but as ye me behete - To bryng me at Rome - for this is covenaunte."    "It shall be do," quod Beryn, "and al the remnaunte."    "Depardeux," quod Geffrey, "therof we shull wele do!"    He rayed hym otherwise, and without wordes mo They went to the dyner, the hole company, With pipes and with trompes and other melody.    And in the myddes of hir mete, gentil wommen fyve, Maydyns fressh atired as myght be on lyve, Com from the Duke Isope, lord of that regioune, Everich with a present and that of grete renown. The first bare a cup of gold and of asure fyne, So corouse and so nobill that I cannat devyne. The second brought a swerd i-shethed with seynture, I-freted all with pereles, orient and pure. The third had a mantell of lusty fressh coloure, The utter part of purpill, i-furred with pelour. The ferth a cloth of gold, a worthy and a riche, That never man tofore sawe cloth it liche. The fifft bare a palme that stode tofore the deyse In tokyn and of signe of trowth and pese, For that was the custom thurh al the contray. The message was the lever and more plesant to pay: The cup was uncovered, the swerd was out i-brayed, The mantell was unfold, the cloth along aleyded. They kneled adown eche oon, right tofore Beryn.    The first did the message that taught was wel afyne: "Isope," she seyd, "Sir Beryn, that is our lord riall, And greteth yewe and sendeth yewe these presentes all, And joy hath of yeur wisdom and of yeur governaunce, And preyd yewe to com and have with hym plesaunce Tomorowe, and se his palyse and to sport yewe there, Ye and all yeur company." Beryn made noon answer, But sat still and beheld the wommen and the sondes. And afterward avisely the swerd first he hondes, And comaunded therewithall the wymmen wassh and sitt And pryvelich charged officers that with al hir witt To serve hem of the best and make hem hertly chere, Resseyving al the presentes in worshipfull manere.    I cannat wele expres the joy that they had, But I suppose tofore that day that they were nat so glad That they were so ascaped Fortune and myscheff; And thonked God above, that al thing doth releff. For after mysty cloudes, there cometh a clere sonne, So after bale cometh bote, whoso byde conne. The joy and nobley that they had whils they were at mete, It vayleth nat at this tyme thereof long to trete. But Geffrey sat with Beryn, as he had served wele. Hir hedes they leyd togider and begon to tell In what maner the wymmen shuld be answered. Geffrey ever avised Beryn thereof he lered, And of other thinges, howe he hym shuld govern. Beryn savered wele thereon, and fast he gan to lern.    When all were up, the wymmen cam to take hir leve. Beryn, as sat hym wele of blode, hem toward gan releve And preyd hem hertly hym to recomende: `ùnto the worthy lordshipp of Isope, that yewe sende To me that am unworthy, save of his grete nobley; And thank hym of his gyfftes, as ye can best, and sey Tomorow I woll be redy his hest to fulfill. With this I have save-condit I may com hym till, For me and al my feleshipp saff to com and go, Trustyng in his discrecioune that thoughe I ax so, He wol nat be displesed. For in my contray It hath ever be the custom, and is into this day, That yf a lord riall desireth for to see Eny maner persone that is of las degré, Ere he approche his presence, he woll have in his honde A saff-condit enseled, or els som other bonde That he may com and pas without disturbaunce. Thurhoute all our marches, it is the observaunce."    Thes wymmen toke hir leve without wordes mo, Repeyring onto Isope, and al as it was do, They rehersed redely and fayled never a word To Isope with his baronage, there he sat at his borde, Talkyng fast of Romayns and of hir highe prudence, That in so many daungers made so wise defence. But as sone as Isope had pleynlich i-herd Of Beryns governaunce, that first sesed the swerd Afore all other presentes, he demed in his mynde That Beryn was i-com of som nobill kynde.    The nyght was past, the morowe cam, Isope had nat forgete; He charged barons twelff with Beryn for to mete, To cond him saff, and his meyné - and al performed was.    Thre dayes there they sported hym in myrth and solas, That thurh the wise instruccioune of Geffrey nyght and day, Beryn plesed Isope with wordes al to pay, And had hym so in port and in governaunce Of all honest myrthes and witty daliaunce That Isope cast his chere to Beryn so groundly That atte last there was no man with Isope so pryvy. Resorting to his shippes, comyng to and fro, Thurh the wit of Geffrey, it fil so That Isope coude no chere when Beryn was absent. So Beryn must nedes ech day be after sent, And chefe he was of counsell within the first yere - Thurh the wit of Geffrey, that ech day did hym lere.    This Isope had a doughter betwen hym and his wyffe, That was as feir a creature as myght bere lyff, Wise and eke bountevouse and benyng withall, That heir shuld be after his day of his lordshippes all. So shortly to conclude, the mariage was made Betwene hir and Beryn, many a man to glade - Saff the burgeyses of the town, of falshede that were rote. But they were ever hold so lowe under foot That they myghte nat regne, but atte last were fawe To leve hir condicioune and hir fals lawe. Beryn and Geffrey made hem so tame That they amended ech day and gate a better name.    Thus Geffrey made Beryn his enmyes to overcom, And brought hym to worshipp thurh his wisdom. Now God us graunt grace to fynde such a frende When we have nede - and thus I make an ende.     Nomen Autoris presentis Cronica Rome Et translatoris Filius ecclesie Thome

lively before lofty meaning them; put no stock in   Nor; (see note) Applied; tricks company; gapes   weather; them same In keeping with my theme their inn; mid-morning (see note) Their; (see note) ruler; less Ordered; lunch; before food (see note) Withdrawing; secretly innkeeper; shouted at; one  (see note) Said   Embraced; waist; expression previous hauled; taproom; where lie since; lover feet; (see note) livelier; leap Than started; apron eyes; poured millstone sweetheart; near ado  (see note) sad expression Bless us; neck enough; lose sneeze (see note) unless; lessened otherwise; know, if recovery; health then then faithful feel pain acute distress   Bible long dead; fresh sorrowful; died  (see note) must surely root; (see note) know; remedy hurried; fetched; pie guess; don't know indeed by them called; mother; (see note) do credit to; (see note) furtively opened; eyelids face amorously direct hear croon; sing (see note) await; vain sad looks   say; trick   soon Burned; dreads fire; (see note) who bore unless excessively do away heavens cause; match well-born; practice; habit done; resist Nature; swear groat (coin) surcoat would not; soon leave oath; less excessive; since     humble strictly judged unfaithful; sooner wish; more often; (see note) explained completely; (see note) could; interpret; dream dream mass was said   rudely ordered angrily dream; (see note) explain often; dreams been; eager cheerful as wife heartily; life   power sum; does it please you? may returned again   particular event nevertheless; (see note) allow; want to peel; (see note) Garlic; nearly look; falser; talk gave; repaid; efforts each one's; intention hear; opportunity To bring up   lie lodged social rank; time go; (see note) broaches at the; social custom who; proper form clergymen; companion (Plowman) sprinkler; (see note) wetted all their heads Every; ranks acted winsomely; (see note) sprinkle; cloak; wouldn't left face companions; (see note) what low-born fools; (see note) Placed; goats Looked intently; peered; stained-glass Posing as; heraldic arms; identify   interpreted; straight   are wrong point on top push; enemy; pierce glassed dazed; (see note) Since     does so in public boisterously; oggling devoutly; rosaries manner; knew how then; mouth while then; reached; (see note)   then; went to lunch souvenir tokens; (see note) So that neighbors purchased with his money stuffed tokens Which; secretly; pockets them; knew Except; saw; Listen Give half; whispering in Don't you see lowers; greedy eye It trick; knows (see note) treat me too; repay; fee   on display; (see note) knavery wouldn't; garment; sorrow their badges then; walk washed; seat do; meal silence; waist-sash; (see note) wise men; (see note) veins; full stir; foods amusements; motivated also; gloomy manner Telling; jolliness befell   listened carefully thanked agreement; (see note) gladden whole; shortening; journey     agreed; rudder proper (see note)     dine believe be necessary; ask recollection; good manners once again If; your agreement spoken pertaining to; satisfied believe also afternoon pleases promptly may put; (see note)   company extra clothes Grouped; pleasures accustomed to company; (see note) defenses Describing attentively pointed out; peril; risk crossbow; gun fortifications; won against that exhaustively; meant (see note) struggle; accomplished feature; Nature judge; composure whom   Oxford; unto; (see note) education; innocent accuse; reproof     true avoid; (see note) Otherwise; unaware   Thou professions; social rank perfect; foolish       intelligence; learning preserves reputation   begged; together; (see note) acquaintance; these implored; (see note) attire; endowment; (see note) fitting test; welcome (see note) subjects know; for certain together entertainment   Gascon (red); Rhine (white) desire; (see note) stroll plants afterwards; innkeeper's; rest   supper; nothing nurtured; courteous; (see note) plan; depart herb-garden soup; medicine paths; trimmed; fenced; made sage; hyssop enclosed; staked side by side newly cultivated visitors; hostelry; entertaining   toward town; move company; left Except; who secretly Crept; taproom agreement lodged; whole chance; astrological forces hear swamp Than; before i.e., had difficulty; (see note) knew; part knowledge stepped; taproom lying full-length; sleepy [She] peered slyly as if; sleeping   knows alone [she] started since; surrender     victory enclosed (see note)       return so soon; (see note) sweetheart times; instruction whatever poorly advised; frequently Therefore promise   Since; prime concern suffered complexion on account of   conjure; necromancy Who (Kit); advance dishonored; undone Surely I believe know at the   asked; lie     overly subtle enough surely drive   Therefore; follow my advice   ajar; Push careful; them upstairs Don't worry; know stirring agreement expression all as if; neck [to] curry favor; (see note) funds gave late supper; two hot toddy inclination     i.e., where he'd been; (see note) silent certainly; desire   lodged take pains steal     their lodgings speck of rashness   speak; advice manner in reply; decide know; unless I lack clergymen; (see note) master of ceremonies   washed games; entertainment afternoon   unless; cut a loaf quiet to sing a different tune; (see note) before; hear soon crescent (i.e., unlucky phase) felt satisfied one; their; presented since; least equally; to avert ill-humor requires; somewhat narrow estates; seating at table Therefore; in return; company their; once quickly; dined Those; regular habits; sober   But the; Cook; drank; (see note) Twice; still of the night them; at once; (see note) Accompany; duet; yodeling So that; hear; tune called; Summoner, who Yeoman stood; hollering; stop     record-keeping; grew; angry travel group; (see note)   Except; spotted; nook     lover; innkeeper goose     hot toddy ordered all together; bit stamped than minted; (see note) heard i.e., cheat him If; mind know; lie; whether determine; be present losing; privilege sociability; entertainment against their Judge; uncouth barmaids i.e., deceive them seem truth   innkeeper; bedroom   explain wooing; payment lie as certain; garment; (see note) sleep side by side i.e., beat him afraid you say; taste if; way i.e., have trouble If; rash; guest be made a stink; (see note)   nasty; treated   honor; health stay awake i.e., time it takes to go a mile passion to quench immediately; cool; ardor disrobe; feat is done; (see note) not   nearly 9:00 p.m.; (see note)   (see note) drew; to the door; listen (see note) lock believed; near; (see note) dog-like; whined Like; manner   unlock i.e., I am tricked   toddy; ordered; guess help; a one enchanted stocks; make bail   acted as if she were heart-ache; sweat whoever; passion before situation ease Therefore; insane rage frenzy true; jealousy insane (see note)   difficulty; just as quicker proved; two knocked; cease eagerly hear   misfortune; outcome thief hold back treacherous; tear falser [he] called; more than Which; tell; decency; (see note) substance; rank chided enough asked for; spitefully; rough; (see note)   declare go thief; the other; (see note) applied salesmen; their two more; reckon Reaching; breadth sometimes ready enough   disturbance quickly; investigate hurried; fast   them; well Hush; careful; (see note)   lucky break; (see note) capture Don't worry; contend enough before; gone two; one thief's so happens tendency; (see note) If week stirs; mad rage have a better idea two guests herein Dined; fire search escape blow other rooms; look mistake happen Since; hit guilt glowing swiftly; nearly act; seek; (see note) Whoever; strike   watch out for   two; one herein scheme       ladle; going bolt out; two But [he] spied gristle (i.e., bridge) week; nasal problem eyes; early; morning who; (see note) escape profit swiftly; fell fast stepped; cinder aside edge cut in two; nearest sinew fresh   sit threaten pay for it; (see note) back If aside enough   gone don't know; then injury if; repaid if; treat walk   luck; whisper   withdrew; miss   Since secure; escape   group If; eye; look leave; plan spoken must necessarily   ran with blood   perforce lie; Cologne sword; (see note) i.e., being tricked; (see note) in full; woman's hot toddy (see note)   deceive; lodging except to curse; lessen despair heated exertion; air nearly exhausted; knew happened stairs; Welsh wood-block ferocious blame In no way them; clever device close monster; thigh; (see note) bit; fiercely approach; nor; (see note) stayed away healthy; to avert; skin knew; remedy bread     whatever unlucky growling; bite Therefore; struggle   public inn usually; each one in the morning prepared   already Except; little; pack; (see note) before; washed bound; wounds; tippet merry suffering; lust innkeeper; search   Next day; peer; (see note) cleverly; bed avoided amidst the group   soft; aching grief kept to himself; avoid depart; (see note) merrily dawn cheerfully; peep; (see note) horizon inclined; (see note)   sweet; (see note) (see note) song-thrushes robin; (see note) spins gracefully; (see note)   Bore; before; their provides; (see note) she April burgeon with primroses   colors   pleasant to quicken   prior agreement bag begin For if; lots; (see note) Perhaps; where cranky; wide awake half-drunk last night; croaked then   (without breakfast?); jolly stuck roof; meet gratitude frowning enchanted; sound point discretion; drawing lots Cross; then; (see note) walked same faith proper time argument     As an example; done; (see note)   plan fault; occasion ignorance; (see note) embroider essential point, to the extent [of an egg]           Once; days   city like honor; wealth reverence whatever healthy territory     town nor city   heroic tales decay five senses Might; lifestyles   earthly; permanent altered wealth; its supporters ruined; degraded   (see note) singular Remus; city; (see note) brothers; two relate   i.e., other pilgrims; (see note) closer in a group sound two Caesar; judgment city history those who   foes (see note) since   particularly; those Twelve Peers; (see note) understand   good fortune judgments justly   (see note)       Who [as]; maturer fell by inheritance certainly; (see note) permanently; desire called before   bore     rather; slain sounded   called interpretation legal actions i.e., bribes   clean       defenseless fourth (see note)   (see note) happened bird fifth man's Who; slay; dishonor sorrow speech completely under control     (see note)   certainly; orbits; limits it; cunning   speedily; subject   outside suburbs buildings city; draped wall-hangings; value senator's   in brief; like chambers; adorned; (see note) valorous lineage at the; parentage upbringing; education; ancestry then; than   trash; wedded; zero   offspring nearly complete truly their; possess elderly; steady aid; (see note)   charity offspring beginning; wedlock chief concern; delights value fell   stir took smaller steps fell; illness   who; began expression; said   afraid thoroughly in no way fickle feared Agatha, "the Good" afterwards conceived tongue Just as; shall not lie news believe treatment Than Drew nearer; nature Know delivery preparation In advance of   double than     nurture thrived; better whatever; nurses; fetched he dearly; it (the baby) alive limbs; figure; quickly   pampered; grief later sweet walk wanted; look upon admonished been; [if] he; taught restraint later; whatever   nearly wasn't courageous   wouldn't angrily; attack   done (see note) deed; inclination wherever he knew cease; said to him     complain; little chief dreaded injuries; (see note) dice gambling; esteem risk of loss     befell; i.e., lost his shirt   anew     over and over again   the cause [that] more every day internalized; (see note)   afterwards little deprive Except that; (see note) alive; going One spoke [of the wheel] against fell; sickness comfort whole Before; reasonable colorless whom; chose     expression than disguising conceal [who] can cover over deception know; woe despite the skill     Upon; burst lifted; eyes who; companion ailing manner   gloom approaches near matters; cress-leaf; (see note)       know     mate than   shown; mate   spouse; take pity Who; since i.e., from a previous marriage; (see note) Usually; i.e., stepmothers Be kind if you left; (see note) alive i.e., unmarried       last rites   family; each one ask whether; sorrow   away; (see note) Gambling run whom broke maid-servant earlier seek; who just as mad; was befitting   unless; hurry fast alive make haste low-born; (see note) vice-scolder; thrive frighten; scare tear apart prevent; (see note)   (see note) Repeating Were not; (see note) I'd prefer Than; lose; (see note)  (see note) value boldly roll all [that] mad frenzy; hammered did [strike]       spread [as news] toll Lamented; except went   life before respect   unless befitting preparation     improved interring; mass weeks; before; bury lead [coffin] where once; Lord's Prayer extravagance; dice reckless Except where; i.e., supervision what instruction roots grow branches; rot desires to discipline; (see note) truly beating-rod proves before; strength bend; pleases shackle; wreath; hinge; (see note) grow thicker; (see note) hardly; bend; (see note)   advice unbathed directly sup; sleep occupation; unless   who   whisper   forsake wicked habits slightingly words wouldn't [succeed]   half-part; suffer from; (see note) (see note) spirit heavenly circle (primum mobile) pain interred wifeless; elapsed; (see note) report   seldom to whom; wedded unmarried; desolate mute     (see note) set forth; befall in short; annoyance     equal; removed their advice understanding     delightful; beauty surpassing   Whom; whole-heartedly creation; sun beauty; (see note) then living because   then; correct Than Then; quickly; (see note) sickness so forth; betrothed     forgotten what; promised to her     except Who; was called; nor ease   knew Except; face considered; infatuation fickleness at risk wasn't; alive; obsessed; (see note) Than; stupefied smitten; (see note) understand; (see note) plot; devise against; scheme     (see note) aloof; sad expression secrecy less; (see note)   sore spot; (see note)     Yet; correct work; nature annoyed in no way   conflict then   owed; more readily; believe remedy; anything behaved exactly semblance gave; lose anywhere; chose spoke; secret; (see note) eaten stealth little befell new; prepared   companion (see note) good fortune   Since anything troubles you; (see note) For if; performed     sorrow wheel [of Fortune] happenstance; fate   fire cunning what wholly; repeat express; pierce Faunus's pitiful; woe   Than; struck   blubbered; shrill; distraught hardly; except wrung   refrain; opportunity; (see note) yes; knows to befall that     Unless; school education plan would prefer training never born i.e., Beryn; gambling   been times; truly; compassion ripped to shreds old [clothes]; lost if; buried if; livelihood alone never (see note) Unless; folly thank-you; words not many [words] considering decreased be grateful to you gambling; franc who cares; torn apart; (see note) If; behaves in the morning; immediately in vain man-servant wheel [of Fortune]   hurry forgotten toughened; (Beryn); contented where     Have pity; physician   weaned; habits education honor virtue   vice; (see note) backgammon; morris; dice; (see note)   believe you; cross spirit let pass feet conduct   reason   won't nothing Expect; social station scowl   accustomed; come about gone expect; know quit; wild ways properties during your lifetime     rough whence   Damnation; whore; (see note)   who fanny destroyed your reason wedded     Very; slut mistakenly reputation believe gave; shove rushed real fury     demanded searched accustomed previously rag-clothes   angry belly showed; backside hurried dishonor; (see note)   chatter; fully exited silently a joke What   indeed then; claw; (see note) lot; bout wisdom if; i.e., future events frequently isn't beating; nor rod pear-tree is in bloom ripen paid no attention; (the sun) approaches; You can tell; (see note)   foe   Hardly; almost   Who; certainly too sorely   realize struck; no   too soundly sorrow [who] sees me holds [as he went] regard shudder As soon as     then; suffer (see note) fell; stone-dead; swoon his share; affirm; (see note) before senses   spear; (see note)       stamped; tore; hair; (see note) face; insane eyes   unnaturalness neglect torn sleeve times; been pitiful   beast, since; guilty   misconduct     foe; (see note) (a man) deprived then; left she (Fortune)   she; worse [fate] die again craftiness gone blamed on done facetious; allow   Surely Because pain blamed on; (see note) make; again because of Since; value increase take the troubled one     [ragged] attire widespread in full   fetched try; to correct shirt [she]; secret since; then   messenger   pavement before two one   Searching; corner, hours two gamblers; where found; each one at the; moan pitiful; hear discreetly; peer just as soon   Ah in two disturbance       sad heart (see note) longer; (see note) left; other intercepted; (see note) don't leave two education; decent     lifestyle; (see note) pleasant torn apart; (see note) once [it is] required   decent arrayed want to before nightfall; bargain       Thank you offer       if     seeds   substance; royally Believe; surely fangs sharpen   Unless; comply conduct yourself perverse; wicked intent scowl; ever-ready i.e., plotting your death Therefore inheritance; (see note) renounce; with decks land let [us]; contract pleased; came forth   social position uncertainty [he] rode household; where dismounted hurried; whisper (see note) [during] the time; mate hugged; caressed his belly; bow; (see note) hear wish legacy, wherever lint; picked     embraced pledge; once before duty; deceit   more meekly; (see note)   gracious fully oath stayed Ah; majesty abundant     plan sharpen Craftily; manipulate     if [you] shall; inheritance For if; merchandise truth; nearly equal away   lost one request personal property load Unless believe; intention thoroughly hinder won't; fully rather; not Their; advice parchment to use up finally; agreement     social position   Laden; linen; wool then Concluded; contract; two i.e., no secrecy In front of sealed; (see note) intermediary's custody Until; in possession previously except         supplies     To whom steadfast; trust in outfitted; readied       took possession of   himself paid (pleased) irritation   adventure pilots; navigators; (see note) unto Alexandria (Egypt) (God) willed favorable Two weather to their liking fog; see   constantly;     (see note) guide   entirely loadstar; their their moan   than   untie belonged in front of; astern burst forth; horribly less confessed; one another steering-rudder wasn't; crew; haul; (see note) strike sail; scale; (see note) violent out of lasted; next morning     Climb aloft look for; (see note) only by the grace ordered Climbed; crow's nest each one see sight direct; near   (see note) suspect war isn't; plunder legitimate; helmsman at once unto the coast as a company auxiliary sail or two   Who knew   say appearances; same plan   hear and see enquire consent; plan agreed may   succeed; work hear treacherous; their deceptive untrustworthy custom; crafty scheming foreign   walk as if; ignorant trick; wicked one hear later fell; deserving was befitting; (see note) equipped; adorned running; horse's end to end on both two farther observed; manciple's home; (see note) thither   found devious; (see note) won friars; (see note) divide; accomplices alighted from; move found; chess; (see note) honest; who soon chessboard     anything; (see note) allow accept what knew; (Beryn's)     deceptions; treacherous embraced prepared his cushion   whole wish   If; seek strict; assuredly Unless   other; mirth who pleasant; humble   seen; other Yes; times       glad; obedient assist know; pay; before [he]; spoke defect companion   meantime well-born; body beast; tended   then purple wine cask amazed by; unexpected   i.e., for sake of manners immediately born less anchored householder; ready   i.e., the neighbor often; frequently territories; believe lie   seen i.e., Christ; dearly aware householder i.e., the pageboy [the page] told   expert   gravestone beloved absolve foreign; (see note) God bless [you who] be   friendless       safety; attitude cross     sat; washed; plenty prosperous; delicacy tablecloth chess-set ivory; pieces polished; carved; azure chessboard opponent checkmate; less; (see note) [it] was; trickery happen otherwise never; unless; try waste words sunk; stuck; mud hither   test chess-pieces; [they] began won at the; in mid-board pleased i.e., Beryn; hear at once   I prefer competition Pleasure; (see note) one-sided Unless; other       good breeding; depart unless I lie somewhat door-bell Where shoot; arrow without a quill But if; place; (see note) security; pledged   other's; renege sea   immediately; pledged wearing caps and head-gear Knew; portion   territories   chess-set; care Than deliberation; move within; two i.e., had the upper hand (Beryn's) endure; far gone whom; eventually [he who] stands unless; down [the wheel] (see note) [He] who; at the end i.e., sets a trap (see note) ill-advised rushed in lose   conspired law officers; (see note)   as if   deceitful ears   command one innocent; fare escape; seldom seen position staff of authority afraid   Go agreement; repeat deep concentration move; rook sweated; serious condition knew; repaid       checkmated     whatever chesspiece moved; eager seized; sleeve; (see note) arrest   avails; resist whether; will get ready disclosed difficult pull hear; excuse   on the chessboard     at the top of his voice; (see note) akimbo; didn't miss a beat Expect; defraud quarrel, certainly     (see note)   to me ten times Yes; otherwise next time Believe; less crisis now [that] bickering; zigzagging; (see note) where     city deceitfulness surpassed; hear (see note)   placed report misfortune   sea two; one speak render; justice insofar Choose; please; blame   stupefied for carelessly; (see note) two But if security; (see note) leniency time anchored; shore seized (see note) at once; story since; other [way] seize; rudder; (see note) thus assure; faith very remedied   little (see note) delay desist     delivery Work; advice; (see note) unloaded off; at the   once two city proof (see note) (see note) bargain; two Thanks; offer Gladly [That]; (see note) risk; trust   huge   city i.e., sealed the agreement move cargo; bore loud; as if; cared nothing; (see note)         crew deviate; (see note) Choose where; injure     consult go hence summoned; crew woe; injury   entirely; suffering   situation exchange advice; recommend too; account agreed unanimously exchange   most direct; household hear; fraud to another   contract stipulates Romans   Except for emptied bore empty lost [he] knew rush insane man; bit hasten cargo truly just   thrive; cargo thence command; who plotted; determined [what] swift trip; prevent aware fully impounded; cargo       advance; retreat will; won't [you] say; then; unstable   condition; confirm where; justice you are obliged whether authority; extensive If; resistance; destroy     no matter go see; better hear; bondsmen Might; senses   Where; opposes; accident   cleverness; courage possessions birth where; enemy not a bit fell; conclusion his day [in court]; go toward his ships before; found   couple; whisper; (see note) man's; a share knew; profession   afraid straight along; sweated throw seized; garment-flap nearer to him stepped; (see note) escape spur [his horse]   leave justice blame either escape; be dismayed particularly because grab; hesitation endure gladly   before   plead; in reply authority judge   clear yourself [of blame]   life; good faith unfaithful; [which] thou concern partner; reckoned; (see note) hear, before; bit of wisdom common proverb turn i.e., courthouse where   apprehended mortal men i.e., Christ   injured eyes; exchange denies it gave them; believed   pledged because misery   woeful said annoyance escape promised If; arrested; favor in custody; strain leave until; eyes (see note) pleads; wary on all sides mute; (see note) good luck; arrested If; misspoken the defendant; ruined civil-law experts plaintiff; case litigious; all [who] evidence deprive; possessions; guile wasted his time     allegation; eyes pay a fine security; settlement   mute   (see note)     i.e., legal counsel believed astonished   Therefore advised [how] what; charged By God     expression Who; securely depart; It; hasten; (see note) escape lain often; (see note) where; judgment   abandon spouse these two known densely crowded on each; endeavor sheer necessity hear; craftily   Pitifully     great [with child] his [son] perforce wardrobe, whether to provide for deserted; guess provision for Than; food believe; more eager; work       nursing; knife; (see note) spirit (see note)     beside   pity; (see note) bond once pledge; prove mild manner; (see note) pathetic; be horrified part; falsehood   complained; grief litigant; prove whom   mute sleep at once; true without   clever [people] guess     for [the sake of]     sheer authentic anguish that who wouldn't if trust; (see note) except property   walk outside     believe; stands youthful unnaturalness     abundantly   in return ill-mannered mishaps surround; side don't know whither [to]; (see note)   deceit destroy; (see note) [I knew] what; plan gave give inconspicuously endeavor Escape page; left moan often wished; been   dreaded; (see note) wish; hear pitifully; ruin wheel; worse   shore where   bench Half-dead     who permit; destroy innocence pushed; (see note) complain (see note)   less fully informed con; prepared disguised himself border   approached who     sadness choose partially   pity inward sorrow; impair; (see note) before plague effects disclose yourself Thank you; sober don't know those who hosted Ah afraid   city [Who]; guile foreigners   who common invests; penny (i.e., a bribe) who knife; worried [Which]; agreement five     profit promise   lose; less; repays household   prosper offer heartily (see note) although   quietly; at once     But before; boast; (see note) hear   fell face-down; complaint   who   long ago; (see note) complain cargo ships; often; (see note)       diligently     too cast plan [he]; departed; step grabbed; garment-flap; (see note) leave; done escaped enjoyment; alive [he]   hear; fare conceal; (see note) bore; from; passed it memory cutler; who immediately sweated gave; before; (see note)   If; accusation before property in anticipation of     outside   on fire believe; alive entirely without legal advice falser Ah; woeful surely     practiced she (Folly)   drew was respectful stick too regard kill; possessions   too; fool; (his stepmother)   befallen died valued then fought; (see note) to me preferable Discipline; those two in harmony; too   than; then; (see note)   Who; rightful; income royal obedient custom; peers flirt it pleased me too late; known exterminate; flies rushes; straw; hurries burning torch flame chinks eaves; burned fire   befall; indeed; (see note) because of who i.e., stepmothers; bitter endured later; an outcome sorrow who; petty outburst; (see note) property afterwards; brief i.e., satiric verses   tugging at given   crew; adversity deserved being sued; left over their; little or nothing perhaps quickly no matter; treated sorrow; pity Who; deserved manner; complaint crippled man peg-leg; tightly crutch; contorted   [he]; seashore gained distance upon him Then encumbered; (see note) If; cease enough; press; (see note) seized nearly run fast   Than; intercept availed; run (see note)     little, if you whether negotiated recent mishaps   running before; separate; school advise on shore; (see note) informed   displayed; wares; complaint; (see note) among them safe from charged; allegations hardly; speak Except one   sued; i.e., the Cripple resistance permit; pity assure; pledge if; left in front of; astern together; open power; please shout approached; caught   something coming stealthily; it rather lose grabbed outer-coat; struggle caught tore escape   ruined; unless unschooled; compatriot; (see note) diligence; action Since   honest face gallant       foolish enterprise [he] frightened   i.e., Sir Crampleg; (see note) Coming doomed unless; drown don't know   flee i.e., Virgin Mary; womb   seashore call; (see note)   poets   listen   as if; (see note) Notwithstanding on account of   cleverly appearance promised; expression intention For which reason otherwise don't know; (see note)   advice   profession against beat; their suit, just as much overthrown   reward   repay; promise; (see note) go then these territories; born city than honesty endorse their crimes         because of value taken To such an extent; endure; (see note) i.e., pose as cripple   repay now; crafty outsmart limbs; healthy chest again then   swelling clinched; misshapenly knot; twist strong sturdy; (see note) decay Except vice; to destroy all   whisper disguise   if; dare That if sound judgment suit successful promised follower; (see note) too promise That if; confusion reparation judgment   weather; return (see note) But before consult crew situation   beasts since     overwhelmed; arise favor i.e., Christ's cross; [he] unless nor   reduced to weeping Pity       effort   promise clear [of all charges]   Quiet yourself; strain   helped   in agreement; (see note) completed contract mutual done   affairs better; obstacles questions; uncertainties testimony   i.e., be on the offensive their redressed sickened; harm on them; (see note)   put to death     Except; take away   whatever; accuse; grounds   If; foreigner; recently   condemn affirmative proof; (see note) official investigation file a complaint       cling; (see note) argue against them; (see note) accusation; (see note) disaster i.e., the plaintiff; (see note) i.e., the defendant against   strict; severe decree fixed; punishment forfeit; perjury, if royal; subordinate wicked one unanimously affirm; truth; sustains threat; free; (see note) escape         irrefutable responsible or otherwise; decisive   unmindful   helped   Repeat for; foes in sum; charged Through which; informed       hopeless, unless By God contracted with   advice Listen; attend; instructions   mentioned; thoroughly surpass; judgment (see note) i.e., went blind     isn't arrested penalty isn't; whatever isn't subdued If; absolve penalty demands; little against; courageous alive on   correct; discover   (see note) knows; Greek; Hebrew Chaldean; fully all manner [of things] poetry; expound Civil; canon proverbs; (see note) (see note) display; magic spells later, before     knowledge conceived; born; (see note) nurtured; walk   talent; surpassed few possessions surpassingly; sober feature Throughout those Except; soul   advance [in rank]   ability; manner; obedient who bodily i.e., 140; (see note)   gave; against; plotted     benevolence same; (see note)   fear city; disclose If; complicated   If the night; morning (see note) (see note) moved i.e., the charges return quickly royal a palace ingenious of design   wondrous; secrets     Turn guard; fear   happens afraid passage; at once drop-grate   constructed; enclosed designed ceiling; celidony; (see note) pavement; lapis lazuli run fast careless; life by nature nearby; catch fire flame were it not [for the] in opposition; (see note) if; quickly by nature   linger; advise door open   lie; afraid except breathe quietly two leopards; unleashed; (see note) breathing; detected rushes; seize; head isn't anything   breathe     learnedness think     Ptolemy; pagan; (see note)   intelligence isn't beast it; replica; refined (see note) the midst; stands   shaped delightful     scented low-born; misbehave marvelous; describe astonished so that act conjurers; (see note) stay awake expert; necromancy illusion; magic; (see note)   serpents; afraid bravest; unless apparitions   Which if; rears up   eaten; who safely, if mentioned branches If power; injure your priority doorway narrow up front, on the inside indenture zigzags; (see note) where     hear; accusation presence i.e., the charges account; go   defeated; escape be terrified; (see note)   rather lose than   will [go]; pledged cheered so far as   before cheerful then i.e., Geffrey was gone (see note) return; certainty (see note) convicted i.e., be executed meal cargo; happen to slaves later   crow; (see note)   [they]; (see note) coffin; (see note) (see note) return denied   Then; daybreak agreed merchandise Than wait; fear equipment; deployed cared slavery refuge wherever crutch   remain boat   If certainty fetched rather; jeopardy life murmur   their satisfaction real; sea wood     if; grow sad example; reason before; nightfall stumble free; theirs glad if justice false   other; convicted instruct [I] shall prove bow at your mercy strategy; (see note) prepare ourselves ordered; then beneficial; early 6:00 a.m. provided   spoke intently crafty   decide advice we may do [is] overboard respect majority two (see note) quarrel Since   usually argue quickly pier; rode [at anchor] Only; hesitated deployed painful command custody [he]; terrible hasten to; rallied trumpets; sound ready   completely; shore   Stands; it pleases trust fortune in no way escape   pair of scissors, clip crop; quickly razor crude instruments more; lunatic   summoned; courthouse pier; mob bow     outfitted; (see note)   fathered hither i.e., as compurgators   idiotic expression forecastle insane shaved lunatic Simpleton by birth; means   useless; angry   mother begotten   upper-class; (see note) noose tied tightly peg; hauled; (see note)       prompting carry; dice   cast; two; "snake eyes" hear; befell mouse; bone (die)       before profit if laughed   chat from birth shrewdness; outcome jested dressed; prepared anxious; succeed equally   instructed; behavior   their plea     peaceful traders; plunder; (see note) report on the verge; depart; (see note)     pledge than lives; (see note) too who; city begun; [that] makes before; considered perceive poorly; (see note) know; pertains; astern particularly manner at once instruct; expertise   the middle grease the bottom of; ballast yeomen; anchors; haul up themselves; ale-house hoist cease porthole; cover   bailiff; faith Yes; the truth; say chattered; (see note) heart's fill       [For the men] to stay   jesters; him (Geffrey)       lead pretended to be sad instructed he himself reproved; Tell; yea; (see note) Maybe you didn't hear me jest   Call; blame together Then   since before; promise Unless; least crazed Return; shaved head better; Get ready whether     But if certainty; preferred   never been born before; done who; woe wish to; hear; craftiness Might   unaware   (see note) were; don't know   except here laughed excellent jester   But before; seated assembled; (see note) cargo sea   rigging; rudder eyes pay a fine before commotion wardrobe wool; dyed designated hushed midst delay   justice (see note) whether For if; badly   from one cup; (see note)   greet bench; seen tumult vulgar real lunatic; [who] heard   crier   approach custom   Hear me justice; better Beryn who as at chess two other's   pledged testimony (see note) as truth; (see note) their oath       himself silent     fully advised unless two we won't; complaint And unless     will remain think isn't; [who] knows precisely heart's fill himself silent totally stunned chatter   part; tasted   testimony So that; at once   guided; fool's advice   disdainfully   expression   (see note) So much so power; custody for [him] to go freely   shoreline   I am in possession   seen houses two         agreed those who     mind Fully concentrated   be unnecessary; (see note) (see note)     [he] twirled himself made merry   declare deserved torn   certainty     two eyes lent; hurry give   But only; (see note)   For since expended; who for many years trustworthy; (see note) two; lent conjurers; illusions; (see note)     too accommodating (see note) feign ignorance exchange worse     foolish; bewildered moan   (see note) faith the same now conceal physiognomy; nature leisure   livelihood   except; companions so that tears; cheeks because of his crazy not slit; (see note) just as many accuse boy; clutched (see note)   who cruelly; left lust   now once     justice grounds provide for immediately; eagerly many women   (see note)   Blessings!   less; previously     handsome secret; known; (see note) crept; (see note) placid shall [go]   gather dogs' shit he; apprentice; (see note) later gloves; torn mend shoes parentage; squeak; (see note) pick; i.e., his shell bark; bow-wow     body   [he] started to approach (see note) But the; wary; dodged angry sheer anger cursed dazed; skull   earn; livelihood truly mad Holy Trinity don't know skull [shaved] head albeit; cleverly         uncertain trusted partially boast pity   sorrowful instructed trap worry   silly babble; in reply   said   chatter   who set   robes     ever since; nature Since (see note)   Knowledge; or thief's sleeve gave accuse enough; stands cutler Who made; two hands search hilt inlaid Mounted; skillfully celidony; (see note) expression What Macaign   better gave   by two   gown gave; seashore complaints he (Evander) in reply does [it] seem to you [whatever] case   But unless; lose   remained; hear   Unless; suffer said cut the ears   unless; totally   cleverness judicial duel; (see note) right For if; justice discovered before; shatter glad to sneak   if thou   jester; faith     chatter work; device     advised cargo; divide his share reasonable   Unless bit Regarding; one account; (see note) promise least undone     byways       free; command To take custody of educated   (see note)   trust; good faith Who     amiss i.e., emotions ran high divide; possessions   judgment than they had then woeful crew sad; afraid believed; betrayed   been dead believe; (see note) uproar Enacted; than now crafty appearance pretended [that] he bogged down   must answer reason wrung; bewail soon dead suddenly; (see note)     promised     on the verge divide; believe truly   their before nightfall accusation brought to justice like [men]; shaved know; strategy     contradict one word   By God; exert myself skill; achieve the courtroom idiotic; ragged Playing; staff [which] whistling; successive step; (see note) entertainment foolish; laughed nearer       true madman; (see note) brief; shorn Stop; (see note) jokes; cease   For if; cut; splinter     i.e., Beryn badly   turn; events; befall For if; judge corrected   i.e., Isope; chastise   regarding       other's sea believe; write down misstated guided; transcript manner   wisely silliness; (see note) [the men] were stunned; worry to other inclined   astute; sly jested with rated then [that] they troubled pinned; (see note) since mistaken contradict (see note)     denied who; defeated   acquiescence; hear city; isn't   (see note) intentionally; (see note) thought; think; tricked; (see note) feel outwitted   carefully; sea fell   lasting to other; make confession vows; survive seek; Holy Sepulcher; (see note)     spoke   commit himself   seashore sip [the voice] work; trickery   Providing he; coastline throughout ravished conclusion; wished to; (see note)   recourse Before; negotiate     before might checkmated i.e., by the smallest fraction     justice undertake   repay whoever; at fault; guilt Since; chatter       pitiful expression     sly inventive   know   law suit; (see note) free; concluded their cleverness since; otherwise [he]; acquitted pause know; justice summoned       understand   Yes; whoever done fault; to [do it] security bond     Loss; discomfort   avails; search; (see note) justice; whether   proceed less Who; obvious appeal royal; just if; belabor   steered; sore spot reproof if he liked it or not give; guarantee; (see note) endure; award; injured   security   Who   seen two   proceed thither [to see] if pleasure     colleagues leaf Except believe; little suit convicted; (see note) [he] summoned remedy their hearts           committed (see note) sure   desist complete free; claim pity just as fiercely as two   escape; contend [to] renounce give   mirth   observant two butterflies wall clung; firmly; nature flown; period     regret desire   cling     on business prime objective   physician; announcement those [who]   must hurry; (see note)   Truly profit     believe; load cargo miracle if; (see note) commotion       defeated; deception   approached   certainty; faith   bargain contract; made cargo; plundered       justice; whether   i.e., win my case; (see note) If; turn once guarantees; (see note)     entirely too long crime charged   for many years who; partners profit and loss exchanged; true unknown     securely earn Except; limb those territories; famine   violence remained; despair misfortune who     they gave themselves repeatedly their relief meal   performer seen   Who; entertainer [in] those; i.e., was supreme wasn't value; button seen   people [who]         craftiness heat fatigue Fell woeful Might Eucharistic Mass   possessions   again fatigue good breeding have a better idea delay   come again     know; whole united before; exchange necromancers; (see note) occasion; students     again searching what; lost Beryn's full hardly; utter sheer; suffered until now where; pleaded   before; hence judge   Than; far correct; by nature give from him lords must take; to judge not just [that]; lose Because of; courtesy then desist convicted offer surety; guarantees; (see note) done justice, since peaceful traders injured As soon as sureties; malevolence endure; verdict abundance   pledged; (see note) regards; fourth; risen Who painful         to the side; (see note)   you must   [he] would; jump     two sureties as if someone shaved; (see note)     (see note)   when perception; penalties   in favor of proceed     proof cutler   hilt seek like i.e., proof; confession; (see note) know so far gone profitable; then; (see note)   unknown years ago; (see note) Week   Than early   i.e., abstain from sex amending mentioned dressed himself   fear instantly; rushed lying stone-dead covers pulled (see note) household staff           found [Beryn's] tears drew; from [Beryn] as if stone-dead majority instruct now (see note) acknowledged [Beryn's father's] death   from the against plead; pity encumber; lawsuits Thank you Sureties before pledge; give token vigorously   happens render trust; resolved to go verdict greatly moved justice; then whether before   educated; (see note) Reviewing limb; merchandise i.e., not lose advantage unanimous alive     unless pity   (see note)   than agreed; sided decided wholly; mercy property So much so; concluded twice as much   toward his ships hastened   crafty; (see note) i.e., Geffrey avails it   on account of     before; afterwards   Mingle i.e., Geffrey   i.e., tripped us up scheme   profit; glad crew   misfortune good fortune   Had not     proclamation publically possessions     in the morning alive Thank you promised the contract the rest; (see note) God bless changed clothes dinner trumpets midst of their meal Maidens; alive   Every one lapis lazuli exquisite; describe belt Ornamented; pearls gay outward; pelts fourth [bore] like; (see note) dais (see note)   embassy; more precious drawn laid   delivered; perfectly royal     invited entertain   gifts carefully; seizes   ingenuity   Receiving     escaped [they] thanked; relieve   harm; relief; endure pomp; at the banquet describe (see note) discuss   taught   understood   breeding; arise requested; commend who sends you except; nobility for his gifts command safe-conduct; to him secure judgment; ask       lower rank Before safe-conduct officially sealed   territories; custom (see note) Returning unto; (see note) repeated wisely; omitted where; table intently   completely; (see note) conduct; who seized first Before; decided       conduct; followers; (see note) entertained; comfort So that satisfaction behavior respectable favor; so completely intimate   wisdom; befell; (see note) happiness summoned head who; instruct   Who virtuous; goodly Who   please Except; who were root; (see note)   glad; (see note)     earned; reputation   honor