i. [Confessor] 5 L    10 15 20 Confessio Amantis 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 Confessor 75 79 L    85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 Confessor 140 145 150 L    155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 L    235 240 245 249 L    255 260 Confessor 265 269 Confessio Amantis 275 280 285 290 295 Confessor 300 305 310 ii. [Confessor] 315 L    320 325 330 335 339 Confessor 345 350 354 Amans 360 Confessor 365 370 L    375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 Confessor 440 445 450 L    455 460 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505 Confessor 510 515 Amans 520 525 529 Confessor 535 iii. [Confessor] 540 L    545 550 555 Confessio Amantis 560 565 570 575 580 585 590 595 600 605 610 615 620 625 630 635 640 645 650 655 660 665 670 675 680 685 690 695 700 705 709 Confessor 715 720 725 730 L    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 Confessor 880 885 iv. [Confessor] 890 L    895 900 905 910 915 Confessio Amantis 920 925 930 935 940 945 950 955 960 965 Confessor 970 975 980 L    985 990 995 1000 1005 1010 1015 1020 1025 1030 1035 L    1040 1045 1050 1055 1060 1065 1070 Amans 1074 Confessor 1080 v. [Confessor] 1085 L    1090 1095 1100 1105 1110 Confessor Amans 1115 Confessor    1120 Confessio Amantis 1125 1130 1135 1140 1145 1150 1155 1160 1165 1170 1175 1180 1185 1190 1195 1200 1205 1210 1215 1220 Confessor 1225 1230 1235 1240 1245; L    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 Confessor 1450 L    1455 1460 1465 1470 1475 1480 1485 1490 1495 1500 1505 L    1510 1515 1520 1525 1530 1535 1540 1545 1550 1555 1560 1565 1570 1575 1580 1585 1590 1595 Amans 1600 1605 Confessor 1610 vi. [Confessor] 1616 L    1620 1625 1630 1635 1640 Confessor 1646 Confessio Amantis 1650 1655 1660 1665 1670 1675 1680 1685 1690 L    1695 1700 1705 1710 1715 1720 1725 1730 1735 1740 1745 1750 1755 1760 1765 1770 Confessor 1775 1780 1785 1790 1795 1800 1805 1810 1815 L    1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855 1860 1865 1870 1875 1880 1885 1890 1895 1900 L    1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1934 L    1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 L    1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Confessor 2015 2020 2025 Amans Confessor 2030 2035 2040 2045 L    2050 2055 2060 2065 2070 2075 2080 2085 2090 2095 2100 2105 2110 2115 2120 2125 2130 2134 L    2140 2145 L    2150 2155 2160 2165 2170 2175 2180 L    2185 2190 2195 L    [Amans] 2201 [Confessor] 2205 2210 2215 2220 2225 2230 2235 2240 2244 L    2250 2255 2260 2265 2270 2275 2280 2285 2290 2295 2300 2305 2310 2315 2320 L    2325 2330 2335 2340 2345 L    2350 2355 2360 vii. 2364 2370 2375 L    2380 2385 2390 2395 2400 2405 2410 2415 2420 2425 2430 2435; 2440 2445 2450 2455 L    2460 2465 2470 2475 2480 2485 2490 2495 2500 2505 2510 2515 2520 2525 2530 L    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 Confessor 2674 Amans 2680 2685 Confessor 2690 2695 2700 viii. [Confessor] 2705 L    2710 2715 2720 2725 2730 2735 2740 2745 Confessio Amantis 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 Confessor 2920 2925 L    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 Confessor 3125 3130 Confessio Amantis 3135 3140 3145 3150 3155 3160 3165 3170 3175 Confessor 3180 3185 3189 L    3195 3200 3205 3210 3215 3220 3225 3230 3235 3240 3245 3250 Confessor 3255 3260 3265 3270 3275 Amans 3280 3285 3290 3295 3300 Confessor 3305 3310 3315 L    3320 3325 3330 3335 3340 3345 3350 3355 3360 Confessor 3364 Amans 3370 3375 Confessor 3380 3385 ix. [Confessor] L    3391 3395 3400 3405 3410 3415 3420 3425 3430 L    3435 3440 3445 Confessor 3450 3455 Confessio Amantis 3460 3465 3470 3475 3480 3485 3490 3495 3500 Confessor 3505 3510 3515 L    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 3684 Confessor 3690 Amans 3695 3700 Confessor 3705 3710

Incipit Liber Quartus Dicunt accidiam fore nutricem viciorum,    Torpet et in cunctis tarda que lenta bonis: Que fieri possent hodie transfert piger in cras,    Furatoque prius ostia claudit equo. Poscenti tardo negat emolumenta Cupido,    Set Venus in celeri ludit amore viri.1 "Upon the vices to procede After the cause of mannes dede, The ferste point of Slowthe I calle Lachesce, and is the chief of all, And hath this propreliche of kinde, To leven alle thing behinde. Of that he mihte do now hier He tarieth al the longe yer, And everemore he seith, 'Tomorwe'; And so he wol his time borwe, And wissheth after 'God me sende,' That whan he weneth have an ende, Thanne is he ferthest to beginne. Thus bringth he many a meschief inne Unwar, til that he be meschieved, And may noght thanne be relieved.    And riht so nowther mor ne lesse It stant of love and of lachesce. Somtime he slowtheth in a day That he nevere after gete mai. Now, sone, as of this ilke thing, If thou have eny knowleching That thou to love hast don er this, Tell on."        "Mi goode fader, yis. As of lachesce I am beknowe That I mai stonde upon his rowe, As I that am clad of his suite. For whanne I thoghte mi poursuite To make, and therto sette a day To speke unto the swete May, Lachesce bad abide yit And bar on hond it was no wit Ne time for to speke as tho. Thus with his tales to and fro Mi time in tariinge he drowh. Whan ther was time good ynowh, He seide, 'Another time is bettre; Thou schalt mowe senden hire a lettre, And per cas wryte more plein Than thou be mowthe durstest sein.' Thus have I lete time slyde For Slowthe, and kepte noght my tide, So that Lachesce with his vice Fulofte hath mad my wit so nyce, That what I thoghte speke or do With tariinge he hield me so, Til whanne I wolde and mihte noght. I not what thing was in my thoght, Or it was drede, or it was schame; Bot evere in ernest and in game I wot ther is long time passed. Bot yit is noght the love lassed Which I unto mi ladi have; For thogh my tunge is slowh to crave At alle time, as I have bede, Min herte stant evere in o stede And axeth besiliche grace, The which I mai noght yit embrace. And God wot that is malgré myn; For this I wot riht wel a fin, Mi grace comth so selde aboute, That is the Slowthe of which I doute Mor than of al the remenant Which is to love appourtenant. And thus as touchende of Lachesse, As I have told, I me confesse To you, mi fader, and beseche That furthermor ye wol me teche; And if ther be to this matiere Som goodly tale for to liere How I mai do Lachesce aweie, That ye it wolden telle I preie."     "To wisse thee, my sone, and rede, Among the tales whiche I rede, An old ensample therupon Now herkne, and I wol tellen on. [The Tale of Aeneas and Dido]    Agein Lachesce in loves cas I finde how whilom Eneas, Whom Anchises to sone hadde, With gret navie, which he ladde Fro Troie, aryveth at Cartage, Wher for a while his herbergage He tok; and it betidde so, With hire which was qweene tho Of the cité his aqueintance He wan, whos name in remembrance Is yit, and Dido sche was hote, Which loveth Eneas so hote Upon the wordes whiche he seide, That al hire herte on him sche leide And dede al holi what he wolde.    Bot after that, as it be scholde, Fro thenne he goth toward Ytaile Be schipe, and there his arivaile Hath take, and schop him for to ryde. Bot sche, which mai noght longe abide The hote peine of loves throwe, Anon withinne a litel throwe A lettre unto hir kniht hath write, And dede him pleinly for to wite, If he made eny tariinge, To drecche of his ageincomynge, That sche ne mihte him fiele and se, Sche scholde stonde in such degré As whilom stod a swan tofore, Of that sche hadde hire make lore; For sorwe a fethere into hire brain She schof and hath hireselve slain: As king Menander in a lay The sothe hath founde, wher sche lay Sprantlende with hire wynges tweie, As sche which scholde thanne deie For love of him which was hire make.     'And so schal I do for thi sake,' This qweene seide, 'wel I wot.' Lo, to Enee thus sche wrot With many another word of pleinte. Bot he, which hadde hise thoghtes feinte Towardes love and full of Slowthe, His time lette, and that was rowthe. For sche, which loveth him tofore, Desireth evere more and more, And whan sche sih him tarie so, Hire herte was so full of wo, That compleignende manyfold Sche hath hire oghne tale told Unto hirself, and thus sche spak: 'Ha, who fond evere such a lak Of Slowthe in eny worthi kniht? Now wot I wel my deth is diht Thurgh him which scholde have be mi lif.' Bot for to stinten al this strif, Thus whan sche sih non other bote, Riht evene unto hire herte rote A naked swerd anon sche threste, And thus sche gat hireselve reste In remembrance of alle slowe.    Wherof, my sone, thou mihte knowe How tariinge upon the nede In loves cause is for to drede; And that hath Dido sore aboght, Whos deth schal evere be bethoght. And overmore if I schal seche In this matiere another spieche, In a cronique I finde write A tale which is good to wite. [The Tale of Ulysses and Penelope]    At Troie whan king Ulixes Upon the siege among the pres Of hem that worthi knihtes were Abod long time stille there, In thilke time a man mai se How goodli that Penolope, Which was to him his trewe wif, Of his Lachesce was pleintif; Wherof to Troie sche him sende Hire will be lettre, thus spekende:     'Mi worthi love and lord also, It is and hath ben evere so, That wher a womman is alone, It makth a man in his persone The more hardi for to wowe, In hope that sche wolde bowe To such thing as his wille were, Whil that hire lord were elleswhere. And of miself I telle this: For it so longe passed is, Sithe ferst than ye fro home wente, That welnyh every man his wente To there I am, whil ye ben oute, Hath mad, and ech of hem aboute, Which love can, my love secheth, With gret preiere and me besecheth. And some maken gret manace, That if thei mihten come in place Wher that thei mihte here wille have, Ther is nothing me scholde save, That thei ne wolde werche thinges; And some tellen me tidynges That ye ben ded, and some sein That certeinly ye ben besein To love a newe and leve me. Bot hou as evere that it be, I thonke unto the goddes alle, As yit for oght that is befalle Mai no man do my chekes rede. Bot natheles it is to drede, That Lachesce in continuance Fortune mihte such a chance, Which no man after scholde amende.' Lo, thus this ladi compleignende A lettre unto hire lord hath write, And preyde him that he wolde wite And thenke hou that sche was al his, And that he tarie noght in this, Bot that he wolde his love aquite, To hire ageinward and noght wryte Bot come himself in alle haste, That he non other paper waste, So that he kepe and holde his trowthe Withoute lette of eny Slowthe.    Unto hire lord and love liege To Troie, wher the grete siege Was leid, this lettre was conveied. And he, which wisdom hath pourveied Of al that to reson belongeth, With gentil herte it underfongeth. And whan he hath it overrad, In part he was riht inly glad, And ek in part he was desesed. Bot love his herte hath so thorghsesed With pure ymaginacioun, That for non occupacioun Which he can take on other side, He mai noght flitt his herte aside Fro that his wif him hadde enformed; Wherof he hath himself conformed With al the wille of his corage To schape and take the viage Homward, what time that he mai, So that him thenketh of a day A thousand yer, til he mai se The visage of Penolope, Which he desireth most of alle. And whan the time is so befalle That Troie was destruid and brent, He made non delaiement, Bot goth him home in alle hihe, Wher that he fond tofore his yhe His worthi wif in good astat. And thus was cessed the debat Of love, and Slowthe was excused, Which doth gret harm, where it is used, And hindreth many a cause honeste.     [The Great Clerk Grosseteste]    For of the grete clerc Grossteste I rede how besy that he was Upon clergie an hed of bras To forge, and make it for to telle Of suche thinges as befelle. And sevene yeres besinesse He leyde, bot for the Lachesse, Of half a minut of an houre, Fro ferst that he began laboure He loste all that he hadde do.    And otherwhile it fareth so, In loves cause who is slow, That he withoute under the wow Be nyhte stant fulofte acold, Which mihte if that he hadde wold His time kept, have be withinne. [The Foolish Virgins]    Bot Slowthe mai no profit winne, Bot he mai singe in his karole How Latewar cam to the dole,2 Wher he no good receive mihte. And that was proved wel be nyhte Whilom of the maidenes fyve, Whan thilke lord cam for to wyve. For that here oyle was aweie To lihte here lampes in his weie, Here Slowthe broghte it so aboute, Fro him that thei ben schet withoute.    Wherof, my sone, be thou war, Als ferforth as I telle dar. For love moste ben awaited. And if thou be noght wel affaited In love to eschuie Slowthe, Mi sone, for to telle trowthe, Thou miht noght of thiself ben able To winne love or make it stable, Althogh thou mihtest love achieve."     "Mi fader, that I mai wel lieve. Bot me was nevere assigned place, Wher yit to geten eny grace, Ne me was non such time apointed; For thanne I wolde I were unjoynted Of every lime that I have, If I ne scholde kepe and save Min houre bothe and ek my stede, If my ladi it hadde bede. Bot sche is otherwise avised Than grante such a time assised; And natheles of mi lachesse Ther hath be no defalte I gesse Of time lost, if that I mihte. Bot yit hire liketh noght alyhte Upon no lure which I caste; For ay the more I crie faste, The lasse hire liketh for to hiere. So for to speke of this matiere, I seche that I mai noght finde, I haste, and evere I am behinde, And wot noght what it mai amounte. Bot, fader, upon myn acompte, Which ye be sett to examine Of schrifte after the discipline, Sey what your beste conseil is."     "Mi sone, my conseil is this: How so it stonde of time go, Do forth thi besinesse so, That no Lachesce in thee be founde. For Slowthe is mihti to confounde The spied of every mannes werk. For many a vice, as seith the clerk, Ther hongen upon Slowthes lappe Of suche as make a man mishappe, To pleigne and telle of 'hadde I wist.' And therupon if that thee list To knowe of Slowthes cause more, In special yit overmore Ther is a vice full grevable To him which is therof coupable, And stant of alle vertu bare, Hierafter as I schal declare." Qui nichil attemptat, nichil expedit, oreque muto    Munus Amicicie vir sibi raro capit. Est modus in verbis, set ei qui parcit amori    Verba referre sua, non fauet vllus amor.3 "Touchende of Slowthe in his degré, Ther is yit Pusillamité, Which is to seie in this langage, He that hath litel of corage And dar no mannes werk beginne. So mai he noght be resoun winne; For who that noght dar undertake, Be riht he schal no profit take. Bot of this vice the nature Dar nothing sette in aventure, Him lacketh bothe word and dede, Wherof he scholde his cause spede. He woll no manhed understonde, For evere he hath drede upon honde. Al is peril that he schal seie, Him thenkth the wolf is in the weie, And of ymaginacioun He makth his excusacioun And feigneth cause of pure drede, And evere he faileth ate nede, Til al be spilt that he with deleth. He hath the sor which no man heleth, The which is cleped lack of herte. Thogh every grace aboute him sterte, He wol noght ones stere his fot; So that be resoun lese he mot, That wol noght auntre for to winne.    And so forth, sone, if we beginne To speke of love and his servise, Ther ben truantz in such a wise That lacken herte, whan best were To speke of love, and riht for fere Thei wexen doumb and dar noght telle, Withoute soun as doth the belle Which hath no claper for to chyme. And riht so thei as for the tyme Ben herteles withoute speche, Of love and dar nothing beseche; And thus thei lese and winne noght. Forthi, my sone, if thou art oght Coupable as touchende of this Slowthe, Schrif thee therof and tell me trowthe."     "Mi fader, I am al beknowe That I have ben on of tho slowe, As for to telle in loves cas. Min herte is yit and evere was, As thogh the world scholde al tobreke, So ferful, that I dar noght speke Of what pourpos that I have nome, Whan I toward mi ladi come, Bot let it passe and overgo."     "Mi sone, do no more so! For after that a man poursuieth To love, so fortune suieth Fulofte and gifth hire happi chance To him which makth continuance To preie love and to beseche; As be ensample I schal thee teche. [Pygmalion and his Statue]    I finde hou whilom ther was on, Whos name was Pymaleon, Which was a lusti man of yowthe. The werkes of entaile he cowthe Above alle othre men as tho; And thurgh fortune it fell him so, As he whom love schal travaile, He made an ymage of entaile Lich to a womman in semblance Of feture and of contienance, So fair yit nevere was figure. Riht as a lyves creature Sche semeth, for of yvor whyt He hath hire wroght of such delit, That sche was rody on the cheke And red on bohe hire lippes eke; Wherof that he himself beguileth. For with a goodly lok sche smyleth, So that thurgh pure impression Of his ymaginacion With al the herte of his corage His love upon this faire ymage He sette, and hire of love preide; Bot sche no word ageinward seide. The longe day, what thing he dede, This ymage in the same stede Was evere bi, that ate mete He wolde hire serve and preide hire ete, And putte unto hire mowth the cuppe. And whan the bord was taken uppe, He hath hire into chambre nome, And after, whan the nyht was come, He leide hire in his bed al nakid. He was forwept, he was forwakid, He keste hire colde lippes ofte, And wissheth that thei weren softe, And ofte he rouneth in hire ere, And ofte his arm now hier now there He leide, as he hir wolde embrace, And evere among he axeth grace, As thogh sche wiste what he mente. And thus himself he gan tormente With such desese of loves peine, That no man mihte him more peine. Bot how it were, of his penance He made such continuance Fro dai to nyht, and preith so longe, That his preiere is underfonge, Which Venus of hire grace herde; By nyhte and whan that he worst ferde, And it lay in his nakede arm, The colde ymage he fieleth warm Of fleissh and bon and full of lif.    Lo, thus he wan a lusti wif, Which obeissant was at his wille; And if he wolde have holde him stille And nothing spoke, he scholde have failed. Bot for he hath his word travailed And dorste speke, his love he spedde, And hadde al that he wolde abedde. For er thei wente thanne atwo, A knave child betwen hem two Thei gete, which was after hote Paphus, of whom yit hath the note A certein yle, which Paphos Men clepe, and of his name it ros.    Be this ensample thou miht finde That word mai worche above kinde. Forthi, my sone, if that thou spare To speke, lost is al thi fare, For Slowthe bringth in alle wo. And over this to loke also, The god of love is favorable To hem that ben of love stable, And many a wonder hath befalle. Wherof to speke amonges alle, If that thee list to taken hede, Therof a solein tale I rede, Which I schal telle in remembraunce Upon the sort of loves chaunce. [The Tale of Iphis and Iante] The king Ligdus upon a strif Spak unto Thelacuse his wif, Which thanne was with childe grete; He swor it scholde noght be lete That if sche have a dowhter bore That it ne scholde be forlore And slain, wherof sche sory was. So it befell upon this cas, Whan sche delivered scholde be, Isis be nyhte in priveté, Which of childinge is the goddesse, Cam for to helpe in that destresse, Til that this lady was al smal, And hadde a dowhter forthwithal; Which the goddesse in alle weie Bad kepe, and that thei scholden seie It were a sone: and thus Iphis Thei namede him, and upon this The fader was mad so to wene. And thus in chambre with the qweene This Iphis was forthdrawe tho, And clothed and arraied so Riht as a kinges sone scholde. Til after, as fortune it wolde, Whan it was of a ten yer age, Him was betake in mariage A duckes dowhter for to wedde, Which Iante hihte, and ofte abedde These children leien, sche and sche, Which of on age bothe be. So that withinne time of yeeres, Togedre as thei ben pleiefieres, Liggende abedde upon a nyht, Nature, which doth every wiht Upon hire lawe for to muse, Constreigneth hem, so that thei use Thing which to hem was al unknowe; Wherof Cupide thilke throwe Tok pité for the grete love, And let do sette kinde above, So that hir lawe mai ben used, And thei upon here lust excused. For love hateth nothing more Than thing which stant agein the lore Of that nature in kinde hath sett. Forthi Cupide hath so besett His grace upon this aventure, That he acordant to nature, Whan that he syh the time best, That ech of hem hath other kest, Transformeth Iphe into a man, Wherof the kinde love he wan Of lusti yonge Iante his wif; And tho thei ladde a merie lif, Which was to kinde non offence.    And thus to take an evidence, It semeth love is welwillende To hem that ben continuende With besy herte to poursuie Thing which that is to love due. Wherof, my sone, in this matiere Thou miht ensample taken hiere, That with thi grete besinesse Thou mihte atteigne the richesse Of love, if that ther be no Slowthe."     "I dar wel seie be mi trowthe, Als fer as I my witt can seche, Mi fader, as for lacke of speche, Bot so as I me schrof tofore, Ther is non other time lore, Wherof ther mihte ben obstacle To lette love of his miracle, Which I beseche day and nyht. Bot, fader, so as it is riht In forme of schrifte to beknowe What thing belongeth to the slowe, Your faderhode I wolde preie, If ther be forthere eny weie Touchende unto this ilke vice."     "Mi sone, ye, of this office Ther serveth on in special, Which lost hath his memorial, So that he can no wit withholde In thing which he to kepe is holde, Wherof fulofte himself he grieveth: And who that most upon him lieveth, Whan that hise wittes ben so weyved, He mai full lihtly be deceived." Mentibus oblitus alienis labitur ille,    Quem probat accidia non meminisse sui. Sic amor incautus, qui non memoratur ad horas,    Perdit et offendit, quod cuperare nequit.4 "To serve Accidie in his office, Ther is of Slowthe an other vice, Which cleped is Forgetelnesse; That noght mai in his herte impresse Of vertu which reson hath sett, So clene his wittes he forget. For in the tellinge of his tale No more his herte thanne his male Hath remembrance of thilke forme Wherof he scholde his wit enforme As thanne, and yit ne wot he why. Thus is his pourpos noght forthi Forlore of that he wolde bidde, And skarsly if he seith the thridde To love of that he hadde ment. Thus many a lovere hath be schent. Tell on therfore, hast thou be oon Of hem that Slowthe hath so begon?"     "Ye, fader, ofte it hath be so, That whanne I am mi ladi fro And thenke untoward hire drawe, Than cast I many a newe lawe And al the world torne up so doun, And so recorde I mi lecoun And wryte in my memorial What I to hire telle schal, Riht al the matiere of mi tale. Bot al nys worth a note schale; For whanne I come ther sche is, I have it al forgete ywiss; Of that I thoghte for to telle I can noght thanne unethes spelle That I wende altherbest have rad, So sore I am of hire adrad. For as a man that sodeinli A gost behelde, so fare I; So that for feere I can noght gete Mi witt, bot I miself forgete, That I wot nevere what I am, Ne whider I schal, ne whenne I cam, Bot muse as he that were amased. Lich to the bok in which is rased The lettre, and mai nothing be rad, So ben my wittes overlad, That what as evere I thoghte have spoken, It is out fro myn herte stoken, And stonde, as who seith, doumb and def, That al nys worth an yvy lef, Of that I wende wel have seid. And ate laste I make abreid, Caste up myn hed and loke aboute, Riht as a man that were in doute And wot noght wher he schal become. Thus am I ofte al overcome, Ther as I wende best to stonde. Bot after, whanne I understonde, And am in other place alone, I make many a wofull mone Unto miself, and speke so: 'Ha fol, wher was thin herte tho, Whan thou thi worthi ladi syhe? Were thou afered of hire yhe? For of hire hand ther is no drede. So wel I knowe hir wommanhede, That in hire is no more oultrage Than in a child of thre yeer age. Whi hast thou drede of so good on, Whom alle vertu hath begon, That in hire is no violence Bot goodlihiede and innocence Withouten spot of eny blame? Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame! Ha, couard herte of love unlered, Wherof art thou so sore afered, That thou thi tunge soffrest frese, And wolt thi goode wordes lese, Whan thou hast founde time and space? How scholdest thou deserve grace, Whan thou thiself darst axe non, Bot al thou hast forgete anon?' And thus despute I loves lore, Bot help ne finde I noght the more, Bot stomble upon myn oghne treine And make an ekinge of my peine. For evere whan I thenke among How al is on miself along, I seie, 'O fol of alle foles, Thou farst as he betwen tuo stoles That wolde sitte and goth to grounde. It was ne nevere schal be founde, Betwen forgetelnesse and drede That man scholde any cause spede.' And thus, myn holi fader diere, Toward miself, as ye mai hiere, I pleigne of my forgetelnesse. Bot elles al the besinesse That mai be take of mannes thoght, Min herte takth, and is thorghsoght To thenken evere upon that swete Withoute Slowthe, I you behete. For what so falle, or wel or wo, That thoght forgete I neveremo, Wher so I lawhe or so I loure, Noght half the minut of an houre Ne mihte I lete out of my mende, Bot if I thoghte upon that hende. Therof me schal no Slowthe lette Til deth out of this world me fette, Althogh I hadde on such a ring As Moises thurgh his enchanting Somtime in Ethiope made, Whan that he Tharbis weddid hade. Which ring bar of Oblivion The name, and that was be resoun That where it on a finger sat, Anon his love he so forgat, As thogh he hadde it nevere knowe. And so it fell that ilke throwe, Whan Tharbis hadde it on hire hond, No knowlechinge of him sche fond, Bot al was clene out of memoire, As men mai rede in his histoire. And thus he wente quit away, That nevere after that ilke day Sche thoghte that ther was such on; Al was forgete and overgon. Bot in good feith so mai noght I, For sche is evere faste by, So nyh that sche myn herte toucheth, That for nothing that Slowthe voucheth I mai forgete hire, lief ne loth. For overal, where as sche goth, Min herte folwith hire aboute. Thus mai I seie withoute doute, For bet for wers, for oght for noght, Sche passeth nevere fro my thoght. Bot whanne I am ther as sche is, Min herte, as I you saide er this, Somtime of hire is sore adrad, And somtime it is overglad, Al out of reule and out of space. For whan I se hire goodli face And thenke upon hire hihe pris, As thogh I were in Paradis, I am so ravisht of the syhte, To speke unto hire I ne myhte As for the time, thogh I wolde. For I ne mai my wit unfolde To finde o word of that I mene, Bot al it is forgete clene; And thogh I stonde there a myle, Al is forgete for the while: A tunge I have and wordes none. And thus I stonde and thenke alone Of thing that helpeth ofte noght; Bot what I hadde afore thoght To speke, whanne I come there It is forgete, as noght ne were, And stonde amased and assoted, That of nothing which I have noted I can noght thanne a note singe, Bot al is out of knowlechinge. Thus, what for joie and what for drede, Al is forgeten ate nede. So that, mi fader, of this Slowthe I have you said the pleine trowthe; Ye mai it as you list redresce. For thus stant my forgetelnesse And ek my pusillamité. Sey now forth what you list to me, For I wol only do be you."     "Mi sone, I have wel herd how thou Hast seid, and that thou most amende: For love his grace wol noght sende To that man which dar axe non. For this we knowen everichon, A mannes thoght withoute speche God wot, and yit that men beseche His will is; for withoute bedes He doth His grace in fewe stedes: And what man that forget himselve, Among a thousand be noght tuelve That wol Him take in remembraunce, Bot lete him falle and take his chaunce. Forthi pull up a besi herte, Mi sone, and let nothing asterte Of love fro thi besinesse. For touchinge of Forgetelnesse, Which many a love hath set behinde, A tale of gret ensample I finde, Wherof it is pité to wite In the manere as it is write. [Tale of Demophon and Phyllis]    King Demephon, whan he be schipe To Troieward with felaschipe Sailende goth, upon his weie It hapneth him at Rodopeie, As Eolus him hadde blowe, To londe, and rested for a throwe. And fell that ilke time thus, The dowhter of Ligurgius, Which qweene was of the contré, Was sojournende in that cité Withinne a castell nyh the stronde, Wher Demephon cam up to londe. Phillis sche hihte, and of yong age And of stature and of visage Sche hadde al that hire best besemeth. Of Demephon riht wel hire qwemeth, Whan he was come, and made him chiere; And he, that was of his manere A lusti knyht, ne myhte asterte That he ne sette on hire his herte; So that withinne a day or tuo He thoghte, howevere that it go, He wolde assaie the fortune, And gan his herte to commune With goodly wordes in hire ere; And for to put hire out of fere, He swor and hath his trowthe pliht To be forevere hire oghne knyht. And thus with hire he stille abod, Ther while his schip on anker rod, And hadde ynowh of time and space To speke of love and seche grace.    This ladi herde al that he seide, And hou he swor and hou he preide, Which was as an enchantement To hire, that was innocent. As thogh it were trowthe and feith Sche lieveth al that evere he seith, And as hire infortune scholde, Sche granteth him al that he wolde. Thus was he for the time in joie, Til that he scholde go to Troie. Bot tho sche made mochel sorwe, And he his trowthe leith to borwe To come, if that he live may, Agein withinne a monthe day, And therupon thei kisten bothe. Bot were hem lieve or were hem lothe, To schipe he goth and forth he wente To Troie, as was his ferste entente.    The daies gon, the monthe passeth, Hire love encresceth and his lasseth, For him sche lefte slep and mete. And he his time hath al forgete, So that this wofull yonge qweene, Which wot noght what it mihte meene, A lettre sende and preide him come, And seith how sche is overcome With strengthe of love in such a wise That sche noght longe mai suffise To liven out of his presence; And putte upon his conscience The trowthe which he hath behote, Wherof sche loveth him so hote, Sche seith, that if he lengere lette Of such a day as sche him sette, Sche scholde sterven in his Slowthe, Which were a schame unto his trowthe. This lettre is forth upon hire sonde, Wherof somdiel confort on honde Sche tok, as sche that wolde abide And waite upon that ilke tyde Which sche hath in hire lettre write.    Bot now is pité for to wite, As he dede erst, so he forgat His time eftsone and oversat. Bot sche, which mihte noght do so, The tyde awayteth everemo, And caste hire yhe upon the see. Somtime nay, somtime yee, Somtime he cam, somtime noght, Thus sche desputeth in hire thoght And wot noght what sche thenke mai. Bot fastende al the longe day Sche was into the derke nyht, And tho sche hath do set up lyht In a lanterne on hih alofte Upon a tour, wher sche goth ofte, In hope that in his cominge He scholde se the liht brenninge, Wherof he mihte his weies rihte To come wher sche was be nyhte. Bot al for noght, sche was deceived, For Venus hath hire hope weyved, And schewede hire upon the sky How that the day was faste by, So that withinne a litel throwe The daies lyht sche mihte knowe. Tho sche behield the see at large, And whan sche sih ther was no barge Ne schip, als ferr as sche may kenne, Doun fro the tour sche gan to renne Into an herber al hire one, Wher many a wonder woful mone Sche made, that no lif it wiste, As sche which al hire joie miste, That now sche swouneth, now sche pleigneth, And al hire face sche desteigneth With teres, whiche, as of a welle The stremes from hire yhen felle; So as sche mihte and evere in on Sche clepede upon Demephon, And seide, 'Helas, thou slowe wiht, Wher was ther evere such a knyht, That so thurgh his ungentilesce Of Slowthe and of Forgetelnesce Agein his trowthe brak his stevene?' And tho hire yhe up to the hevene Sche caste, and seide, 'O thou unkinde, Hier schalt thou thurgh thi Slowthe finde, If that thee list to come and se, A ladi ded for love of thee, So as I schal myselve spille; Whom, if it hadde be thi wille, Thou mihtest save wel ynowh.' With that upon a grene bowh A ceinte of selk, which sche ther hadde, Sche knette, and so hireself sche ladde, That sche aboute hire whyte swere It dede, and hyng hirselven there. Wherof the goddes were amoeved, And Demephon was so reproeved, That of the goddes providence Was schape such an evidence Evere afterward agein the slowe, That Phillis in the same throwe Was schape into a notetre, That alle men it mihte se, And after Phillis philliberd This tre was cleped in the yerd, And yit for Demephon to schame Into this dai it berth the name. This wofull chance how that it ferde Anon as Demephon it herde, And every man it hadde in speche, His sorwe was noght tho to seche; He gan his Slowthe for to banne, Bot it was al to late thanne.    Lo thus, my sone, miht thou wite Agein this vice how it is write; For no man mai the harmes gesse, That fallen thurgh Forgetelnesse, Wherof that I thi schrifte have herd. Bot yit of Slowthe hou it hath ferd In other wise I thenke oppose, If thou have gult, as I suppose." Dum plantare licet, cultor qui necgligit ortum,    Si desint fructus, imputet ipse sibi. Preterit ista dies bona, nec valet illa secunda,    Hoc caret exemplo lentus amore suo.5 "Fulfild of Slowthes essamplaire Ther is yit on, his secretaire, And he is cleped Negligence, Which wol noght loke his evidence, Wherof he mai be war tofore; Bot whanne he hath his cause lore, Thanne is he wys after the hond, Whanne helpe may no maner bond. Thanne ate ferste wolde he binde: Thus everemore he stant behinde. Whanne he the thing mai noght amende, Thanne is he war, and seith at ende, 'Ha, wolde God I hadde knowe!' Wherof bejaped with a mowe He goth, for whan the grete stiede Is stole, thanne he taketh hiede, And makth the stable dore fast. Thus evere he pleith an aftercast Of al that he schal seie or do. He hath a manere eke also, Him list noght lerne to be wys, For he set of no vertu pris Bot as him liketh for the while; So fieleth he fulofte guile, Whan that he weneth siker stonde. And thus thou miht wel understonde, Mi sone, if thou art such in love, Thou miht noght come at thin above Of that thou woldest wel achieve."     "Mi holi fader, as I lieve, I mai wel with sauf conscience Excuse me of necgligence Towardes love in alle wise. For thogh I be non of the wise, I am so trewly amerous, That I am evere curious Of hem that conne best enforme To knowe and witen al the forme What falleth unto loves craft. Bot yit ne fond I noght the haft Which mihte unto that bladd acorde; For nevere herde I man recorde What thing it is that myhte availe To winne love withoute faile. Yit so fer cowthe I nevere finde Man that be resoun ne be kinde Me cowthe teche such an art, That he ne failede of a part; And as toward myn oghne wit, Controeve cowthe I nevere yit To finden eny sikernesse That me myhte outher more or lesse Of love make for to spede. For lieveth wel withoute drede, If that ther were such a weie, As certeinliche as I schal deie I hadde it lerned longe ago. Bot I wot wel ther is non so. And natheles it may wel be, I am so rude in my degree And ek mi wittes ben so dulle, That I ne mai noght to the fulle Atteigne to so hih a lore. Bot this I dar seie overmore, Althogh mi Wit ne be noght strong, It is noght on mi Will along, For that is besi nyht and day To lerne al that he lerne may How that I mihte love winne. Bot yit I am as to beginne Of that I wolde make an ende, And for I not how it schal wende, That is to me mi moste sorwe. Bot I dar take God to borwe, As after min entendement, Non other wise necgligent Thanne I yow seie have I noght be. Forthi, per seinte charité, Tell me, mi fader, what you semeth."     "In good feith, sone, wel me qwemeth, That thou thiself hast thus aquit Toward this vice, in which no wit Abide mai, for in an houre He lest al that he mai laboure The longe yer, so that men sein, Whatevere he doth it is in vein. For thurgh the Slowthe of Negligence Ther was yit nevere such science Ne vertu, which was bodely, That nys destruid and lost therby. Ensample that it hath be so In boke I finde write also. [The Tale of Phaeton] Phebus, which is the sonne hote, That schyneth upon erthe hote And causeth every lyves helthe, He hadde a sone in al his welthe, Which Pheton hihte, and he desireth And with his moder he conspireth, The which was cleped Clemenee, For help and conseil, so that he His fader carte lede myhte Upon the faire daies brihte. And for this thing thei bothe preide Unto the fader, and he seide He wolde wel, bot forth withal Thre pointz he bad in special Unto his sone in alle wise, That he him scholde wel avise And take it as be weie of lore. Ferst was, that he his hors to sore Ne prike, and over that he tolde That he the renes faste holde; And also that he be riht war In what manere he lede his charr, That he mistake noght his gate, Bot up avisement algate He scholde bere a siker yhe That he to lowe ne to hyhe His carte dryve at eny throwe, Wherof that he mihte overthrowe. And thus be Phebus ordinance Tok Pheton into governance The sonnes carte, which he ladde. Bot he such veine gloire hadde Of that he was set upon hyh, That he his oghne astat ne syh Thurgh negligence and tok non hiede; So mihte he wel noght longe spede. For he the hors withoute lawe The carte let aboute drawe Wher as hem liketh wantounly. That ate laste sodeinly, For he no reson wolde knowe, This fyri carte he drof to lowe, And fyreth al the world aboute; Wherof thei weren alle in doubte, And to the god for helpe criden Of suche unhappes as betyden. Phebus, which syh the necgligence, How Pheton agein his defence His charr hath drive out of the weie, Ordeigneth that he fell aweie Out of the carte into a flod And dreynte. Lo now, hou it stod With him that was so necligent, That fro the hyhe firmament, For that he wolde go to lowe, He was anon doun overthrowe. [The Tale of Icarus]    In hih astat it is a vice To go to lowe, and in service It grieveth for to go to hye, Wherof a tale in poesie I finde, how whilom Dedalus, Which hadde a sone, and Icharus He hihte, and thogh hem thoghte lothe, In such prison thei weren bothe With Minotaurus, that aboute Thei mihten nawher wenden oute; So thei begonne for to schape How thei the prison mihte ascape. This Dedalus, which fro his yowthe Was tawht and manye craftes cowthe, Of fetheres and of othre thinges Hath mad to fle diverse wynges For him and for his sone also; To whom he gaf in charge tho And bad him thenke therupon, How that his wynges ben set on With wex, and if he toke his flyhte To hyhe, al sodeinliche he mihte Make it to melte with the sonne. And thus thei have her flyht begonne Out of the prison faire and softe; And whan thei weren bothe alofte, This Icharus began to monte, And of the conseil non accompte He sette, which his fader tawhte, Til that the sonne his wynges cawhte, Wherof it malt, and fro the heihte Withouten help of eny sleihte He fell to his destruccion. And lich to that condicion Ther fallen ofte times fele For lacke of governance in wele, Als wel in love as other weie."     "Now goode fader, I you preie, If ther be more in the matiere Of Slowthe, that I mihte it hiere."     "Mi sone, and for thi diligence, Which every mannes conscience Be resoun scholde reule and kepe, If that thee list to taken kepe, I wol thee telle, aboven alle In whom no vertu mai befalle, Which gifth unto the vices reste And is of slowe the sloweste." Absque labore vagus vir inutilis ocia plectens,    Nescio quid presens vita valebit ei. Non amor in tali misero viget, immo valoris    Qui faciunt opera clamat habere suos.6 "Among these othre of Slowthes kinde, Which alle labour set behinde, And hateth alle besinesse, Ther is yit on, which Ydelnesse Is cleped, and is the norrice In mannes kinde of every vice, Which secheth eases manyfold. In wynter doth he noght for cold, In somer mai he noght for hete; So whether that he frese or swete, Or he be inne, or he be oute, He wol ben ydel al aboute, Bot if he pleie oght ate dees. For who as evere take fees And thenkth worschipe to deserve, Ther is no lord whom he wol serve, As for to duelle in his servise, Bot if it were in such a wise, Of that he seth per aventure That be lordschipe and coverture He mai the more stonde stille, And use his ydelnesse at wille. For he ne wol no travail take To ryde for his ladi sake, Bot liveth al upon his wisshes; And as a cat wolde ete fisshes Withoute wetinge of his cles, So wolde he do, bot natheles He faileth ofte of that he wolde.    Mi sone, if thou of such a molde Art mad, now tell me plein thi schrifte."     "Nay, fader, God I give a gifte, That toward love, as be mi wit, Al ydel was I nevere yit, Ne nevere schal, whil I mai go."     "Now, sone, tell me thanne so, What hast thou don of besischipe To love and to the ladischipe Of hire which thi ladi is?"     "Mi fader, evere yit er this In every place, in every stede, What so mi lady hath me bede, With al myn herte obedient I have therto be diligent. And if so is sche bidde noght, What thing that thanne into my thoght Comth ferst of that I mai suffise, I bowe and profre my servise, Somtime in chambre, somtime in halle, Riht as I se the times falle. And whan sche goth to hiere masse, That time schal noght overpasse, That I naproche hir ladihede, In aunter if I mai hire lede Unto the chapelle and agein. Thanne is noght al mi weie in vein: Somdiel I mai the betre fare, Whan I, that mai noght fiele hir bare, Mai lede hire clothed in myn arm. Bot afterward it doth me harm Of pure ymaginacioun; For thanne this collacioun I make unto miselven ofte, And seie, 'Ha lord, hou sche is softe, How sche is round, hou sche is smal! Now wolde God I hadde hire al Withoute danger at mi wille!' And thanne I sike and sitte stille, Of that I se mi besi thoght Is torned ydel into noght. Bot for al that lete I ne mai, Whanne I se time another dai, That I ne do my besinesse Unto mi ladi worthinesse. For I therto mi wit afaite To se the times and awaite What is to done and what to leve. And so, whan time is, be hir leve, What thing sche bit me don, I do, And wher sche bidt me gon, I go, And whanne hir list to clepe, I come. Thus hath sche fulliche overcome Min ydelnesse til I sterve, So that I mot hire nedes serve, For as men sein, nede hath no lawe. Thus mot I nedly to hire drawe, I serve, I bowe, I loke, I loute, Min yhe folweth hire aboute, What so sche wole so wol I, Whan sche wol sitte, I knele by, And whan sche stant, than wol I stonde. Bot whan sche takth hir werk on honde Of wevinge or enbrouderie, Than can I noght bot muse and prie Upon hir fingres longe and smale, And now I thenke, and now I tale, And now I singe, and now I sike, And thus mi contienance I pike. And if it falle, as for a time Hir liketh noght abide bi me, Bot besien hire on other thinges, Than make I othre tariinges To dreche forth the longe dai, For me is loth departe away. And thanne I am so simple of port, That for to feigne som desport I pleie with hire litel hound Now on the bedd, now on the ground, Now with hir briddes in the cage; For ther is non so litel page, Ne yit so simple a chamberere, That I ne make hem alle chere, Al for thei scholde speke wel. Thus mow ye sen mi besi whiel, That goth noght ydeliche aboute. And if hir list to riden oute On pelrinage or other stede, I come, thogh I be noght bede, And take hire in min arm alofte And sette hire in hire sadel softe, And so forth lede hire be the bridel, For that I wolde noght ben ydel. And if hire list to ride in char, And thanne I mai therof be war, Anon I schape me to ryde Riht evene be the chares side; And as I mai, I speke among, And otherwhile I singe a song, Which Ovide in his bokes made, And seide, 'O whiche sorwes glade, O which wofull prosperité Belongeth to the propreté Of love, whoso wole him serve! And yit therfro mai no man swerve, That he ne mot his lawe obeie.' And thus I ryde forth mi weie, And am riht besi overal With herte and with mi body al, As I have said you hiertofore. Mi goode fader, tell therfore, Of Ydelnesse if I have gilt."     "Mi sone, bot thou telle wilt Oght elles than I mai now hiere, Thou schalt have no penance hiere. And natheles a man mai se, How now adayes that ther be Ful manye of suche hertes slowe, That wol noght besien hem to knowe What thing love is til, ate laste, That he with strengthe hem overcaste, That malgré hem thei mote obeie And don al ydelschipe aweie, To serve wel and besiliche. Bot, sone, thou art non of swiche, For love schal thee wel excuse. Bot otherwise, if thou refuse To love, thou miht so per cas Ben ydel, as somtime was A kinges dowhter unavised, Til that Cupide hire hath chastised, Wherof thou schalt a tale hiere Acordant unto this matiere. [The Tale of Rosiphelee]    Of Armenye, I rede thus, Ther was a king, which Herupus Was hote, and he a lusti maide To dowhter hadde and, as men saide, Hire name was Rosiphelee, Which tho was of gret renomee, For sche was bothe wys and fair And scholde ben hire fader hair. Bot sche hadde o defalte of Slowthe Towardes love, and that was rowthe; For so wel cowde no man seie, Which mihte sette hire in the weie Of loves occupacion Thurgh non ymaginacion; That scole wolde sche noght knowe. And thus sche was on of the slowe As of such hertes besinesse, Til whanne Venus the goddesse, Which loves court hath for to reule, Hath broght hire into betre reule Forth, with Cupide and with his miht. For thei merveille how such a wiht, Which tho was in hir lusti age, Desireth nother mariage Ne yit the love of paramours, Which evere hath be the comun cours Amonges hem that lusti were. So was it schewed after there, For he that hihe hertes loweth With fyri dartes whiche he throweth, Cupide, which of love is godd, In chastisinge hath mad a rodd To dryve awei hir wantounesse; So that withinne a while, I gesse, Sche hadde on such a chance sporned, That al hire mod was overtorned, Which ferst sche hadde of slow manere. For thus it fell, as thou schalt hiere, Whan come was the monthe of Maii, Sche wolde walke upon a dai, And that was er the sonne ariste; Of wommen bot a fewe it wiste, And forth sche wente prively Unto the park was faste by, Al softe walkende on the gras, Til sche cam ther the launde was Thurgh which ther ran a gret rivere. It thoghte hir fair, and seide, 'Here I wole abide under the schawe,' And bad hire wommen to withdrawe, And ther sche stod alone stille, To thenke what was in hir wille. Sche sih the swote floures springe, Sche herde glade foules singe, Sche sih the bestes in her kinde, The buck, the do, the hert, the hinde, The madle go with the femele. And so began ther a querele Betwen love and hir oghne herte, Fro which sche couthe noght asterte. And as sche caste hire yhe aboute, Sche syh clad in o suite a route Of ladis, wher thei comen ryde Along under the wodes syde. On faire amblende hors thei sete, That were al whyte, fatte, and grete, And everichon thei ride on side. The sadles were of such a pride, With perle and gold so wel begon, So riche syh sche nevere non; In kertles and in copes riche Thei weren clothed, alle liche, Departed evene of whyt and blew; With alle lustes that sche knew Thei were enbrouded overal. Here bodies weren long and smal, The beauté faye upon her face Non erthly thing it may desface; Corones on here hed thei beere, As ech of hem a qweene weere, That al the gold of Cresus halle The leste coronal of alle Ne mihte have boght after the worth. Thus come thei ridende forth.    The kinges dowhter, which this syh, For pure abaissht drowh hire adryh And hield hire clos under the bowh, And let hem passen stille ynowh. For as hire thoghte in hire avis, To hem that were of such a pris Sche was noght worthi axen there, Fro when thei come or what thei were. Bot levere than this worldes good Sche wolde have wist hou that it stod, And putte hire hed a litel oute. And as sche lokede hire aboute, Sche syh comende under the linde A womman up an hors behinde. The hors on which sche rod was blak, Al lene and galled on the back, And haltede, as he were encluyed, Wherof the womman was annuied. Thus was the hors in sori plit, Bot for al that a sterre whit Amiddes in the front he hadde. Hir sadel ek was wonder badde, In which the wofull womman sat, And natheles ther was with that A riche bridel for the nones Of gold and preciouse stones. Hire cote was somdiel totore; Aboute hir middel twenty score Of horse haltres and wel mo Ther hyngen ate time tho.    Thus whan sche cam the ladi nyh, Than tok sche betre hiede and syh This womman fair was of visage, Freyssh, lusti, yong, and of tendre age. And so this ladi, ther sche stod, Bethoghte hire wel and understod That this, which com ridende tho, Tidinges couthe telle of tho Which as sche sih tofore ryde; And putte hir forth and preide 'Abide!' And seide, 'Ha, suster, let me hiere, What ben thei that now riden hiere, And ben so richeliche arraied?'    This womman, which com so esmaied, Ansuerde with ful softe speche, And seith, 'Ma dame, I schal you teche. These ar of tho that whilom were Servantz to love, and trowthe beere, Ther as thei hadde here herte set. Farewel, for I mai noght be let. Ma dame, I go to mi servise, So moste I haste in alle wise; Forthi, ma dame, gif me leve, I mai noght longe with you leve.'     'Ha, goode soster, yit I preie, Tell me whi ye ben so beseie And with these haltres thus begon."     "Ma dame, whilom I was on That to mi fader hadde a king; Bot I was slow, and for nothing Me liste noght to love obeie, And that I now ful sore abeie. For I whilom no love hadde, Min hors is now so fieble and badde, And al totore is myn arai, And every yeer this freisshe Maii These lusti ladis ryde aboute, And I mot nedes suie here route In this manere as ye now se, And trusse here haltres forth with me, And am bot as here horse knave. Non other office I ne have, Hem thenkth I am worthi no more, For I was slow in loves lore, Whan I was able for to lere, And wolde noght the tales hiere Of hem that couthen love teche.'     'Now tell me thanne, I you beseche, Wherof that riche bridel serveth.'    With that hire chere awei sche swerveth, And gan to wepe, and thus sche tolde: 'This bridel, which ye nou beholde So riche upon myn horse hed, Ma dame, afore, er I was ded, Whan I was in mi lusti lif, Ther fel into myn herte a strif Of love, which me overcom, So that therafter hiede I nom And thoghte I wolde love a kniht. That laste wel a fourtenyht, For it no lengere mihte laste, So nyh my lif was ate laste. Bot now, allas, to late war That I ne hadde him loved ar. For deth cam so in haste bi me, Er I therto hadde eny time, That it ne mihte ben achieved. Bot for al that I am relieved, Of that mi will was good therto, That love soffreth it be so That I schal swiche a bridel were. Now have ye herd al myn ansuere. To Godd, ma dame, I you betake, And warneth alle, for mi sake, Of love that thei ben noght ydel, And bidd hem thenke upon mi brydel.' And with that word al sodeinly Sche passeth, as it were a sky, Al clene out of this ladi sihte. And tho for fere hire herte afflihte, And seide to hirself, 'Helas! I am riht in the same cas. Bot if I live after this day, I schal amende it, if I may.' And thus homward this lady wente, And changede al hire ferste entente, Withinne hire herte and gan to swere That sche none haltres wolde bere.    Lo, sone, hier miht thou taken hiede, How ydelnesse is for to drede, Namliche of love, as I have write. For thou miht understonde and wite, Among the gentil nacion Love is an occupacion Which for to kepe hise lustes save Scholde every gentil herte have. For as the ladi was chastised, Riht so the knyht mai ben avised, Which ydel is and wol noght serve To love, he mai per cas deserve A grettere peine than sche hadde, Whan sche aboute with hire ladde The horse haltres; and forthi Good is to be wel war therbi. Bot for to loke aboven alle, These maidens, hou so that it falle, Thei scholden take ensample of this Which I have told, for soth it is.    Mi ladi Venus, whom I serve, What womman wole hire thonk deserve, Sche mai noght thilke love eschuie Of paramours, bot sche mot suie Cupides lawe; and natheles Men sen such love sielde in pes, That it nys evere upon aspie Of janglinge and of fals envie, Fulofte medlid with disese. Bot thilke love is wel at ese, Which set is upon mariage; For that dar schewen the visage In alle places openly. A gret mervaile it is forthi How that a maiden wolde lette, That sche hir time ne besette To haste unto that ilke feste, Wherof the love is al honeste. Men mai recovere lost of good, Bot so wys man yit nevere stod Which mai recovere time lore. So mai a maiden wel therfore Ensample take, of that sche strangeth Hir love, and longe er that sche changeth Hir herte upon hir lustes greene To mariage, as it is seene. For thus a yer or tuo or thre Sche lest, er that sche wedded be, Whyl sche the charge myhte bere Of children, whiche the world forbere Ne mai, bot if it scholde faile. Bot what maiden hire esposaile Wol tarie, whan sche take mai, Sche schal per chance another dai Be let, whan that hire lievest were. Wherof a tale unto hire ere, Which is coupable upon this dede I thenke telle of that I rede. [The Tale of Jephthah's Daughter]    Among the Jewes, as men tolde Ther was whilom be daies olde A noble duck, which Jepté hihte. And fell, he scholde go to fyhte Agein Amon, the cruel king. And for to speke upon this thing, Withinne his herte he made avou To God and seide, 'Ha Lord, if Thou Wolt grante unto Thi man victoire, I schal in tokne of Thi memoire The ferste lif that I mai se, Of man or womman wher it be, Anon as I come hom agein, To Thee, which art God sovereign, Slen in Thi name and sacrifie.' And thus with his chivalerie He goth him forth, wher that he scholde, And wan al that he winne wolde And overcam his fomen alle.    Mai no man lette that schal falle. This duc a lusti dowhter hadde, And fame, which the wordes spradde, Hath broght unto this ladi ere How that hire fader hath do there. Sche waiteth upon his cominge With dansinge and with carolinge, As sche that wolde be tofore Al othre, and so sche was therfore In Masphat at hir fader gate The ferste; and whan he com therate, And sih his douhter, he tobreide Hise clothes, and wepende he seide:     'O mihti God among ous hiere, Nou wot I that in no manere This worldes joie mai be plein. I hadde al that I coude sein Agein mi fomen be Thi grace, So whan I cam toward this place Ther was non gladdere man than I. But now, mi Lord, al sodeinli Mi joie is torned into sorwe, For I mi dowhter schal tomorwe Tohewe and brenne in Thi servise To loenge of Thi sacrifise Thurgh min avou, so as it is.'    The maiden, whan sche wiste of this, And sih the sorwe hir fader made, So as sche mai with wordes glade Conforteth him, and bad him holde The covenant which he is holde Towardes God, as he behihte. Bot natheles hire herte aflihte Of that sche sih hire deth comende; And thanne unto the ground knelende Tofore hir fader sche is falle, And seith, so as it is befalle Upon this point that sche schal deie, Of o thing ferst sche wolde him preie, That fourty daies of respit He wolde hir grante upon this plit, That sche the whyle mai bewepe Hir maidenhod, which sche to kepe So longe hath had and noght beset; Wherof hir lusti youthe is let, That sche no children hath forthdrawe In mariage after the lawe, So that the poeple is noght encressed. Bot that it mihte be relessed, That sche hir time hath lore so, Sche wolde be his leve go With othre maidens to compleigne, And afterward unto the peine Of deth sche wolde come agein.    The fader herde his douhter sein, And therupon of on assent The maidens were anon asent, That scholden with this maiden wende. So for to speke unto this ende, Thei gon the dounes and the dales With wepinge and with wofull tales, And every wyht hire maidenhiede Compleigneth upon thilke nede, That sche no children hadde bore, Wherof sche hath hir youthe lore, Which nevere sche recovere mai. For so fell that hir laste dai Was come, in which sche scholde take Hir deth, which sche mai noght forsake. Lo, thus sche deiede a wofull maide For thilke cause which I saide, As thou hast understonde above."     "Mi fader, as toward the love Of maidens for to telle trowthe, Ye have thilke vice of Slowthe, Me thenkth, riht wonder wel declared, That ye the wommen have noght spared Of hem that tarien so behinde. Bot yit it falleth in my minde, Toward the men hou that ye spieke Of hem that wole no travail sieke In cause of love upon decerte. To speke in wordes so coverte, I not what travaill that ye mente."     "Mi sone, and after min entente I woll thee telle what I thoghte, Hou whilom men here loves boghte Thurgh gret travaill in strange londes, Wher that thei wroghten with here hondes Of armes many a worthi dede, In sondri place, as men mai rede." Quem probat armorum probitas Venus approbat, et quem    Torpor habet reprobum reprobat illa virum. Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris,    Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse venit.7 "That every love of pure kinde Is ferst forthdrawe, wel I finde. Bot natheles yit overthis Decerte doth so that it is The rather had in mani place. Forthi who secheth loves grace, Wher that these worthi wommen are, He mai noght thanne himselve spare Upon his travail for to serve, Wherof that he mai thonk deserve, There as these men of armes be, Somtime over the grete se. So that be londe and ek be schipe He mot travaile for worschipe And make manye hastyf rodes, Somtime in Prus, somtime in Rodes, And somtime into Tartarie; So that these heraldz on him crie, 'Vailant, vailant, lo, wher he goth!' And thanne he gifth hem gold and cloth, So that his fame mihte springe, And to his ladi ere bringe Som tidinge of his worthinesse So that sche mihte of his prouesce Of that sche herde men recorde, The betre unto his love acorde And danger pute out of hire mod. Whanne alle men recorden good, And that sche wot wel, for hir sake That he no travail wol forsake.    Mi sone, of this travail I meene. Nou schrif thee, for it schal be sene If thou art ydel in this cas."     "My fader, ye, and evere was. For as me thenketh trewely That every man doth mor than I As of this point, and if so is That I have oght so don er this, It is so litel of acompte, As who seith, it mai noght amonte To winne of love his lusti gifte. For this I telle you in schrifte, That me were levere hir love winne Than Kaire and al that is therinne. And for to slen the hethen alle, I not what good ther mihte falle, So mochel blod thogh ther be schad. This finde I writen, hou Crist bad That no man other scholde sle. What scholde I winne over the se, If I mi ladi loste at hom? Bot passe thei the salte fom, To whom Crist bad thei scholden preche To al the world and his feith teche. Bot now thei rucken in here nest And resten as hem liketh best In all the swetnesse of delices. Thus thei defenden ous the vices, And sitte hemselven al amidde; To slen and feihten thei ous bidde Hem whom thei scholde, as the bok seith, Converten unto Cristes feith. Bot hierof have I gret mervaile, Hou thei wol bidde me travaile: A Sarazin if I sle schal, I sle the soule forth withal, And that was nevere Cristes lore. Bot nou ho ther, I seie no more.    Bot I wol speke upon mi schrifte; And to Cupide I make a gifte, That who as evere pris deserve Of armes, I wol love serve; And thogh I scholde hem bothe kepe, Als wel yit wolde I take kepe Whan it were time to abide, As for to travaile and to ryde: For how as evere a man laboure, Cupide appointed hath his houre.    For I have herd it telle also, Achilles lefte hise armes so Bothe of himself and of his men At Troie for Polixenen, Upon hire love whanne he fell, That for no chance that befell Among the Grecs or up or doun, He wolde noght agein the toun Ben armed, for the love of hire. And so me thenketh, lieve sire, A man of armes mai him reste Somtime in hope for the beste, If he mai finde a weie nerr. What scholde I thanne go so ferr In strange londes many a mile To ryde, and lese at hom therwhile Mi love? It were a schort begete To winne chaf and lese whete. Bot if mi ladi bidde wolde, That I for hire love scholde Travaile, me thenkth trewely I mihte fle thurghout the sky, And go thurghout the depe se, For al ne sette I at a stre What thonk that I mihte elles gete. What helpeth it a man have mete, Wher drinke lacketh on the bord? What helpeth eny mannes word To seie hou I travaile faste, Wheras me faileth ate laste That thing which I travaile fore? O in good time were he bore, That mihte atteigne such a mede. Bot certes if I mihte spede With eny maner besinesse Of worldes travail, thane I gesse, Ther scholde me non ydelschipe Departen fro hir ladischipe. Bot this I se, on daies nou The blinde god, I wot noght hou, Cupido, which of love is lord, He set the thinges in discord, That thei that lest to love entende Fulofte he wole hem give and sende Most of his grace; and thus I finde That he that scholde go behinde, Goth many a time ferr tofore. So wot I noght riht wel therfore, On whether bord that I schal seile. Thus can I noght miself conseile, Bot al I sette on aventure, And am, as who seith, out of cure For ought that I can seie or do. Foreveremore I finde it so, The more besinesse I leie - The more that I knele and preie With goode wordes and with softe - The more I am refused ofte, With besinesse and mai noght winne. And in good feith that is gret sinne; For I mai seie, of dede and thoght That ydel man have I be noght. For hou as evere I be deslaied, Yit evermore I have assaied. Bot thogh my besinesse laste, Al is bot ydel ate laste, For whan th'effect is ydelnesse, I not what thing is besinesse. Sei, what availeth al the dede, Which nothing helpeth ate nede? For the fortune of every fame Schal of his ende bere a name. And thus for oght is yit befalle, An ydel man I wol me calle As after myn entendement. Bot upon youre amendement, Min holi fader, as you semeth, Mi reson and my cause demeth."     "Mi sone, I have herd thi matiere, Of that thou hast thee schriven hiere. And for to speke of ydel fare, Me semeth that thou tharst noght care, Bot only that thou miht noght spede. And therof, sone, I wol thee rede, Abyd, and haste noght to faste; Thi dees ben every dai to caste, Thou nost what chance schal betyde. Betre is to wayte upon the tyde Than rowe agein the stremes stronge. For thogh so be thee thenketh longe, Per cas the revolucion Of hevene and thi condicion Ne be noght yit of on acord. Bot I dar make this record To Venus, whos prest that I am, That sithen that I hidir cam To hiere, as sche me bad, thi lif, Wherof thou elles be gultif, Thou miht hierof thi conscience Excuse, and of gret diligence, Which thou to love hast so despended, Thou oghtest wel to be comended. Bot if so be that ther oght faile, Of that thou slowthest to travaile In armes for to ben absent, And for thou makst an argument Of that thou seidest hiere above, Hou Achilles thurgh strengthe of love Hise armes lefte for a throwe, Thou schalt another tale knowe, Which is contraire, as thou schalt wite. For this a man mai finde write, Whan that knyhthode schal be werred, Lust mai noght thanne be preferred; The bedd mot thanne be forsake And schield and spere on honde take, Which thing schal make hem after glade, Whan thei ben worthi knihtes made. Wherof, so as it comth to honde, A tale thou schalt understonde, Hou that a kniht schal armes suie, And for the while his ese eschuie. [The Tale of Nauplus and Ulysses]    Upon knyhthode I rede thus: How whilom whan the king Nauplus, The fader of Palamades, Cam for to preien Ulixes With othre Gregois ek also, That he with hem to Troie go, Wher that the siege scholde be, Anon upon Penolope His wif, whom that he loveth hote, Thenkende, wolde hem noght behote. Bot he schop thanne a wonder wyle, How that he scholde hem best beguile, So that he mihte duelle stille At home and welde his love at wille. Wherof erli the morwe day Out of his bedd, wher that he lay, Whan he was uppe, he gan to fare Into the field and loke and stare, As he which feigneth to be wod. He tok a plowh, wher that it stod, Wherinne anon in stede of oxes He let do yoken grete foxes, And with gret salt the lond he siew. Bot Nauplus, which the cause kniew, Agein the sleihte which he feigneth Another sleihte anon ordeigneth. And fell that time Ulixes hadde A chyld to sone, and Nauplus radde How men that sone taken scholde And setten him upon the molde Wher that his fader hield the plowh In thilke furgh which he tho drowh. For in such wise he thoghte assaie Hou it Ulixes scholde paie, If that he were wod or non.    The knihtes for this child forthgon; Thelamacus anon was fett, Tofore the plowh and evene sett, Wher that his fader scholde dryve. Bot whan he sih his child, als blyve He drof the plowh out of the weie, And Nauplus tho began to seie, And hath half in a jape cryd: 'O Ulixes, thou art aspyd; What is al this thou woldest meene? For openliche it is now seene That thou hast feigned al this thing, Which is gret schame to a king, Whan that for lust of eny slowthe Thou wolt in a querele of trowthe Of armes thilke honour forsake, And duelle at hom for loves sake. For betre it were honour to winne Than love, which likinge is inne. Forthi tak worschipe upon honde, And elles thou schalt understonde These othre worthi kinges alle Of Grece, which unto thee calle, Towardes thee wol be riht wrothe, And grieve thee per chance bothe. Which schal be to thee double schame Most for the hindrynge of thi name, That thou for Slouthe of eny love Schalt so thi lustes sette above And leve of armes the knyhthode, Which is the pris of thi manhode And oghte ferst to be desired.' Bot he, which hadde his herte fyred Upon his wif, whan he this herde, Noght o word theragein ansuerde, Bot torneth hom halvinge aschamed, And hath withinne himself so tamed His herte, that al the sotie Of love for chivalerie He lefte, and be him lief or loth, To Troie forth with hem he goth, That he him mihte noght excuse. Thus stant it, if a knyht refuse The lust of armes to travaile, Ther mai no worldes ese availe, Bot if worschipe be withal. And that hath schewed overal; For it sit wel in alle wise A kniht to ben of hih emprise And puten alle drede aweie. For in this wise, I have herd seie:     [Examples of Prowess: Protesilaus]    The worthi king Protheselai On his passage wher he lai Towardes Troie thilke siege, Sche which was al his oghne liege, Laodomie his lusti wif, Which for his love was pensif, As he which al hire herte hadde, Upon a thing wherof sche dradde A lettre, for to make him duelle Fro Troie, sende him, thus to telle, Hou sche hath axed of the wyse, Touchende of him in such a wise, That thei have don hire understonde, Towardes othre hou so it stonde, The destiné it hath so schape That he schal noght the deth ascape In cas that he arryve at Troie. Forthi as to hir worldes joie With al hire herte sche him preide, And many another cause alleide, That he with hire at home abide. Bot he hath cast hir lettre aside, As he which tho no maner hiede Tok of hire wommannysshe drede; And forth he goth, as noght ne were, To Troie, and was the ferste there Which londeth, and tok arryvaile. For him was levere in the bataille, He seith, to deien as a knyht, Than for to lyve in al his myht And be reproeved of his name. Lo, thus upon the worldes fame Knyhthode hath evere yit be set, Which with no couardie is let.     [Saul]    Of king Saul also I finde, Whan Samuel out of his kinde, Thurgh that the Phitonesse hath lered In Samarie was arered Long time after that he was ded, The king Saul him axeth red, If that he schal go fyhte or non. And Samuel him seide anon, 'The ferste day of the bataille Thou schalt be slain withoute faile And Jonathas thi sone also.' Bot hou as evere it felle so, This worthi kniht of his corage Hath undertake the viage, And wol noght his knyhthode lette For no peril he couthe sette; Wherof that bothe his sone and he Upon the Montz of Gelboe Assemblen with here enemys. For thei knyhthode of such a pris Be olde daies thanne hielden, That thei non other thing behielden. And thus the fader for worschipe Forth with his sone of felaschipe Thurgh lust of armes weren dede, As men mai in the Bible rede, The whos knyhthode is yit in mende, And schal be to the worldes ende. [The Education of Achilles]    And for to loken overmore, It hath and schal ben evermore That of knihthode the prouesse Is grounded upon hardinesse Of him that dar wel undertake. And who that wolde ensample take Upon the forme of knyhtes lawe, How that Achilles was forthdrawe With Chiro, which Centaurus hihte, Of many a wondre hiere he mihte. For it stod thilke time thus, That this Chiro, this Centaurus, Withinne a large wildernesse, Wher was leon and leonesse, The lepard and the tigre also, With hert and hynde, and buck and doo, Hadde his duellinge, as tho befell, Of Pileon upon the hel, Wherof was thanne mochel speche. Ther hath Chiro this chyld to teche, What time he was of tuelve yer age; Wher for to maken his corage The more hardi be other weie, In the forest to hunte and pleie Whan that Achilles walke wolde, Centaurus bad that he ne scholde After no beste make his chace, Which wolde flen out of his place, As buck and doo, and hert and hynde, With whiche he mai no werre finde; Bot tho that wolden him withstonde, Ther scholde he with his dart on honde Upon the tigre and the leon Pourchace and take his veneison, As to a kniht is acordant. And therupon a covenant This Chiro with Achilles sette, That every day withoute lette He scholde such a cruel beste Or slen or wounden ate leste, So that he mihte a tokne bringe Of blod upon his hom cominge. And thus of that Chiro him tawhte Achilles such an herte cawhte, That he no more a leon dradde Whan he his dart on honde hadde Thanne if a leon were an asse. And that hath made him for to passe Alle othre knihtes of his dede Whan it cam to the grete nede, As it was afterward wel knowe.    Lo, thus, my sone, thou miht knowe That the corage of hardiesce Is of knyhthode the prouesce, Which is to love sufficant Aboven al the remenant That unto loves court poursuie. Bot who that wol no Slowthe eschuie, Upon knihthode and noght travaile, I not what love him scholde availe; Bot every labour axeth why Of som reward, wherof that I Ensamples couthe telle ynowe Of hem that toward love drowe Be olde daies, as thei scholde."     "Mi fader, therof hiere I wolde."     "Mi sone, it is wel resonable, In place which is honorable If that a man his herte sette, That thanne he for no Slowthe lette To do what longeth to manhede. For if thou wolt the bokes rede Of Lancelot and othre mo, Ther miht thou sen hou it was tho Of armes, for thei wolde atteigne To love, which withoute peine Mai noght be gete of ydelnesse. And that I take to witnesse An old cronique in special, The which into memorial Is write, for his loves sake, Hou that a kniht schal undertake. [The Tale of Hercules and Achelons]    Ther was a king, which Oenes Was hote, and he under his pes Hield Calidoyne in his empire, And hadde a dowhter Deianire. Men wiste in thilke time non So fair a wiht as sche was on; And as sche was a lusti wiht, Riht so was thanne a noble kniht, To whom Mercurie fader was. This kniht the tuo pilers of bras, The whiche yit a man mai finde, Sette up in the desert of Ynde; That was the worthi Hercules, Whos name schal ben endeles For the merveilles whiche he wroghte. This Hercules the love soghte Of Deianire, and of this thing Unto hir fader, which was king, He spak touchende of mariage. The king knowende his hih lignage, And dradde also hise mihtes sterne, To him ne dorste his dowhter werne; And natheles this he him seide, How Achelons er he ferst preide To wedden hire, and in accord Thei stode, as it was of record. Bot for al that this he him granteth, That which of hem that other daunteth In armes, him sche scholde take, And that the king hath undertake. This Achelons was a geant, A soubtil man, a deceivant, Which thurgh magique and sorcerie Couthe al the world of tricherie. And whan that he this tale herde, Hou upon that the king ansuerde With Hercules he moste feighte, He tristeth noght upon his sleighte Al only, whan it comth to nede, Bot that which voydeth alle drede And every noble herte stereth, The love, that no lif forbereth, For his ladi, whom he desireth, With hardiesse his herte fyreth, And sende him word withoute faile That he wol take the bataille. Thei setten day, thei chosen field, The knihtes coevered under schield Togedre come at time set, And echon is with other met. It fell thei foghten bothe afote, Ther was no ston, ther was no rote, Which mihte letten hem the weie, But al was voide and take aweie. Thei smyten strokes bot a fewe, For Hercules, which wolde schewe His grete strengthe as for the nones, He sterte upon him al at ones And cawhte him in hise armes stronge. This geant wot he mai noght longe Endure under so harde bondes, And thoghte he wolde out of hise hondes Be sleyhte in som manere ascape. And as he couthe himself forschape, In liknesse of an eddre he slipte Out of his hond, and forth he skipte; And efte, as he that feighte wole, He torneth him into a bole, And gan to belwe of such a soun, As thogh the world scholde al go doun. The ground he sporneth and he tranceth, Hise large hornes he avanceth And caste hem here and there aboute. Bot he, which stant of him no doute, Awaiteth wel whan that he cam, And him be bothe hornes nam And al at ones he him caste Unto the ground, and hield him faste, That he ne mihte with no sleighte Out of his hond gete upon heighte, Til he was overcome and yolde, And Hercules hath what he wolde. The king him granteth to fulfille His axinge at his oghne wille, And sche for whom he hadde served, Hire thoghte he hath hire wel deserved. And thus with gret decerte of armes He wan him for to ligge in armes, As he which hath it dere aboght, For otherwise scholde he noght.     [Penthesilea, Philemenis, Aeneas]    And overthis if thou wolt hiere Upon knihthode of this matiere, Hou love and armes ben aqueinted, A man mai se bothe write and peinted So ferforth that Pantasilee, Which was the queene of Feminee, The love of Hector for to sieke And for th'onour of armes eke, To Troie cam with spere and schield, And rod hirself into the field With maidens armed al a route In rescouss of the toun aboute, Which with the Gregois was belein.    Fro Pafagoine and as men sein, Which stant upon the worldes ende, That time it likede ek to wende To Philemenis, which was king, To Troie, and come upon this thing In helpe of thilke noble toun; And al was that for the renoun Of worschipe and of worldes fame, Of which he wolde bere a name. And so he dede, and forthwithal He wan of love in special A fair tribut foreveremo. For it fell thilke time so, Pirrus the sone of Achilles This worthi queene among the press With dedli swerd soghte out and fond, And slowh hire with his oghne hond; Wherof this king of Pafagoine Pantasilee of Amazoine, Wher sche was queene, with him ladde, With suche maidens as sche hadde Of hem that were left alyve, Forth in his schip, til thei aryve; Wher that the body was begrave With worschipe, and the wommen save. And for the goodschipe of this dede Thei granten him a lusti mede That every yeer as for truage To him and to his heritage Of maidens faire he schal have thre. And in this wise spedde he, Which the fortune of armes soghte, With his travail his ese he boghte; For otherwise he scholde have failed, If that he hadde noght travailed.    Eneas ek withinne Ytaile, Ne hadde he wonne the bataille And don his miht so besily Agein king Turne his enemy, He hadde noght Lavine wonne; Bot for he hath him overronne And gete his pris, he gat hire love.     [Gentilesse]    Be these ensamples here above, Lo, now, mi sone, as I have told, Thou miht wel se, who that is bold And dar travaile and undertake The cause of love, he schal be take The rathere unto loves grace; For comunliche in worthi place The wommen loven worthinesse Of manhode and of gentilesse, For the gentils ben most desired."     "Mi fader, bot I were enspired Thurgh lore of you, I wot no weie What gentilesce is for to seie, Wherof to telle I you beseche." "The ground, mi sone, for to seche Upon this diffinicion, The worldes constitucion Hath set the name of gentilesse Upon the fortune of richesse Which of long time is falle in age. Thanne is a man of hih lignage After the forme, as thou miht hiere, Bot nothing after the matiere. For who that resoun understonde, Upon richesse it mai noght stonde, For that is thing which faileth ofte. For he that stant today alofte And al the world hath in hise wones, Tomorwe he falleth al at ones Out of richesse into poverte, So that therof is no decerte Which gentilesce makth abide. And for to loke on other side Hou that a gentil man is bore, Adam, which alle was tofore With Eve his wif, as of hem tuo, Al was aliche gentil tho; So that of generacion To make declaracion, Ther mai no gentilesce be. For to the reson if we se, Of mannes berthe the mesure, It is so comun to nature, That it gifth every man aliche, Als wel to povere as to the riche; For naked thei ben bore bothe, The lord no more hath for to clothe As of himself that ilke throwe, Than hath the povereste of the rowe. And whan thei schulle bothe passe, I not of hem which hath the lasse Of worldes good, bot as of charge The lord is more for to charge, Whan God schal his accompte hiere, For he hath had hise lustes hiere. Bot of the bodi, which schal deie, Althogh ther be diverse weie To deth, yit is ther bot on ende, To which that every man schal wende, Als wel the beggere as the lord, Of o nature, of on acord. Sche which oure eldemoder is, The erthe, bothe that and this Receiveth and alich devoureth, That sche to nouther part favoureth. So wot I nothing after kinde Where I mai gentilesse finde.    For lacke of vertu lacketh grace, Wherof richesse in many place, Whan men best wene for to stonde, Al sodeinly goth out of honde. Bot vertu set in the corage, Ther mai no world be so salvage, Which mihte it take and don aweie, Til whanne that the bodi deie; And thanne he schal be riched so, That it mai faile neveremo. So mai that wel be gentilesse, Which gifth so gret a sikernesse: For after the condicion Of resonable entencion, The which out of the soule groweth And the vertu fro vice knoweth, Wherof a man the vice eschuieth, Withoute Slowthe and vertu suieth, That is a verrai gentil man, And nothing elles which he can, Ne which he hath, ne which he mai. Bot for al that yit nou aday, In loves court to taken hiede, The povere vertu schal noght spiede, Wher that the riche vice woweth; For sielde it is that love alloweth The gentil man withoute good, Thogh his condicion be good. Bot if a man of bothe tuo Be riche and vertuous also, Thanne is he wel the more worth. Bot yit to putte himselve forth He moste don his besinesse, For nowther good ne gentilesse Mai helpen hem whiche ydel be.    Bot who that wole in his degré Travaile so as it belongeth, It happeth ofte that he fongeth Worschipe and ese bothe tuo. For evere yit it hath be so, That love honeste in sondri weie Profiteth, for it doth aweie The vice, and as the bokes sein, It makth curteis of the vilein, And to the couard hardiesce It gifth, so that verrai prouesse Is caused upon loves reule To him that can manhode reule; And ek toward the wommanhiede, Who that therof wol taken hiede, For thei the betre affaited be In everything, as men mai se. For love hath evere hise lustes grene In gentil folk, as it is sene, Which thing ther mai no kinde areste. I trowe that ther is no beste, If he with love scholde aqueinte, That he ne wolde make it queinte As for the while that it laste. And thus I conclude ate laste, That thei ben ydel, as me semeth, Whiche unto thing that love demeth Forslowthen that thei scholden do.    And overthis, mi sone, also After the vertu moral eke To speke of love if I schal seke, Among the holi bokes wise I finde write in such a wise, 'Who loveth noght is hier as ded'; For love above alle othre is hed, Which hath the vertus for to lede, Of al that unto mannes dede Belongeth: for of ydelschipe He hateth all the felaschipe. For Slowthe is evere to despise, Which in desdeign hath al apprise, And that acordeth noght to man. For he that wit and reson kan, It sit him wel that he travaile Upon somthing which mihte availe, For ydelschipe is noght comended, Bot every lawe it hath defended.    And in ensample therupon The noble wise Salomon, Which hadde of everything insihte, Seith, 'As the briddes to the flihte Ben made, so the man is bore To labour,' which is noght forbore To hem that thenken for to thryve. For we, whiche are now alyve, Of hem that besi whylom were, Als wel in scole as elleswhere, Mowe every day ensample take, That if it were now to make Thing which that thei ferst founden oute, It scholde noght be broght aboute. Here lyves thanne were longe, Here wittes grete, here mihtes stronge, Here hertes ful of besinesse, Wherof the worldes redinesse In bodi bothe and in corage Stant evere upon his avantage. And for to drawe into memoire Here names bothe and here histoire, Upon the vertu of her dede In sondri bokes thou miht rede. Expedit in manibus labor, vt de cotidianis    Actibus ac vita viuere possit homo. Set qui doctrine causa fert mente labores,    Preualet et merita perpetuata parat.8 [On the Uses of Labor]    Of every wisdom the parfit The hyhe God of His spirit Gaf to the men in erthe hiere Upon the forme and the matiere Of that he wolde make hem wise. And thus cam in the ferste apprise Of bokes and of alle goode Thurgh hem that whilom understode The lore which to hem was give, Wherof these othre, that now live, Ben every day to lerne newe. Bot er the time that men siewe, And that the labour forth it broghte, Ther was no corn, thogh men it soghte, In non of al the fieldes oute; And er the wisdom cam aboute Of hem that ferst the bokes write, This mai wel every wys man wite, Ther was gret labour ek also. Thus was non ydel of the tuo, That on the plogh hath undertake With labour which the hond hath take, That other tok to studie and muse, As he which wolde noght refuse The labour of hise wittes alle. And in this wise it is befalle, Of labour which that thei begunne We be now tawht of that we kunne. Here besinesse is yit so seene, That it stant evere alyche greene; Al be it so the bodi deie, The name of hem schal nevere aweie. In the croniqes as I finde. [Discoverers and Inventors]    Cham, whos labour is yit in minde, Was he which ferst the lettres fond And wrote in Hebreu with his hond. Of naturel philosophie He fond ferst also the clergie.    Cadmus the lettres of Gregois Ferst made upon his oghne chois.    Theges of thing which schal befalle, He was the ferste augurre of alle.    And Philemon be the visage Fond to descrive the corage.    Cladyns, Esdras, and Sulpices, Termegis, Pandulf, Frigidilles, Menander, Ephiloquorus, Solins, Pandas, and Josephus The ferste were of enditours, Of old cronique and ek auctours:    And Heredot in his science Of metre, of rime, and of cadence, The ferste was of which men note.    And of musique also the note In mannes vois, or softe or scharpe, That fond Jubal; and of the harpe The merie soun, which is to like, That fond Poulins forth with phisique.    Zenzis fond ferst the pourtreture, And Promotheus the sculpture; After what forme that hem thoghte, The resemblance anon thei wroghte.    Tubal in iren and in stel Fond ferst the forge and wroghte it wel.    And Jadahel, as seith the bok, Ferst made net and fisshes tok. Of huntynge ek he fond the chace, Which now is knowe in many place. A tente of cloth with corde and stake He sette up ferst and dede it make.    Verconius of cokerie Ferst made the delicacie.    The craft Minerve of wolle fond And made cloth hire oghne hond, And Delbora made it of lyn: Tho wommen were of great engyn.    Bot thing which gifth ous mete and drinke And doth the labourer to swinke To tile lond and sette vines, Wherof the cornes and the wynes Ben sustenance to mankinde, In olde bokes as I finde, Saturnus of his oghne wit Hath founde ferst, and more yit Of chapmanhode he fond the weie, And ek to coigne the moneie Of sondri metall, as it is, He was the ferste man of this.    Bot hou that metall cam a place Thurgh mannes wit and Goddes grace The route of philosophres wise Controeveden be sondri wise, Ferst for to gete it out of myne, And after for to trie and fyne. [Alchemy]    And also with gret diligence Thei founden thilke experience, Which cleped is alconomie, Wherof the selver multeplie Thei made and ek the gold also. And for to telle hou it is so, Of bodies sevene in special With foure spiritz joynt withal Stant the substance of this matiere. The bodies whiche I speke of hiere Of the planetes ben begonne. The gold is titled to the sonne, The mone of selver hath his part, And iren that stant upon Mart, The led after Satorne groweth, And Jupiter the bras bestoweth, The coper set is to Venus, And to his part Mercurius Hath the quikselver, as it falleth, The which, after the bok it calleth, Is ferst of thilke fowre named Of spiritz, whiche ben proclamed; And the spirit which is secounde In sal armoniak is founde. The thridde spirit sulphur is; The ferthe suiende after this Arcennicum be name is hote. With blowinge and with fyres hote In these thinges whiche I seie, Thei worchen be diverse weie. For as the philosophre tolde Of gold and selver, thei ben holde Tuo principal extremites, To whiche alle othre be degres Of the metalls ben acordant, And so thurgh kinde resemblant, That what man couthe aweie take The rust, of which thei waxen blake, And the savour and the hardnesse, Thei scholden take the liknesse Of gold or selver parfitly.    Bot for to worche it sikirly, Betwen the corps and the spirit, Er that the metall be parfit, In sevene formes it is set; Of alle and if that on be let, The remenant mai noght availe, Bot otherwise it mai noght faile. For thei be whom this art was founde To every point a certain bounde Ordeignen, that a man mai finde This craft is wroght be weie of kinde, So that ther is no fallas inne. Bot what man that this werk beginne, He mot awaite at every tyde, So that nothing be left aside, Ferst of the distillacion, Forth with the congelacion, Solucion, descencion, And kepe in his entencion The point of sublimacion, And forth with calcinacion Of veray approbacion Do that ther be fixacion With tempred hetes of the fyr, Til he the parfit elixir Of thilke philosophres ston Mai gete, of which that many on Of philosophres whilom write. And if thou wolt the names wite Of thilke ston with othre tuo, Whiche as the clerkes maden tho, So as the bokes it recorden, The kinde of hem I schal recorden. [The Three Philosopher's Stones]    These olde Philosophres wyse Be weie of kinde in sondri wise Thre stones maden thurgh clergie. The ferst, if I schal specefie, Was lapis vegetabilis, Of which the propre vertu is To mannes hele for to serve, As for to kepe and to preserve The bodi fro siknesses alle, Til deth of kinde upon him falle.    The ston seconde I thee behote Is lapis animalis hote, The whos vertu is propre and cowth For ere and yhe and nase and mouth, Wherof a man mai hiere and se And smelle and taste in his degré, And for to fiele and for to go It helpeth man of bothe tuo. The wittes fyve he underfongeth To kepe, as it to him belongeth.    The thridde ston in special Be name is cleped minerall, Which the metalls of every mine Attempreth, til that thei ben fyne, And pureth hem be such a weie, That al the vice goth aweie Of rust, of stink, and of hardnesse. And whan thei ben of such clennesse, This mineral, so as I finde, Transformeth al the ferste kynde And makth hem able to conceive Thurgh his vertu, and to receive Bothe in substance and in figure Of gold and selver the nature. For thei tuo ben th'extremetes, To whiche after the propretes Hath every metal his desir, With help and confort of the fyr Forth with this ston, as it is seid, Which to the sonne and mone is leid; For to the rede and to the whyte This ston hath pouer to profite. It makth multiplicacioun Of gold, and the fixacioun It causeth, and of his habit He doth the werk to be parfit Of thilke elixer which men calle Alconomie, as is befalle To hem that whilom weren wise. Bot now it stant al otherwise; Thei speken faste of thilke ston, Bot hou to make it, nou wot non After the sothe experience. And natheles gret diligence Thei setten upon thilke dede, And spille more than thei spede; For allewey thei finde a lette, Which bringeth in poverte and dette To hem that riche were afore. The lost is had, the lucre is lore, To gete a pound thei spenden fyve; I not hou such a craft schal thryve In the manere as it is used: It were betre be refused Than for to worchen upon weene In thing which stant noght as thei weene. Bot noght forthi, who that it knewe, The science of himself is trewe Upon the forme as it was founded, Wherof the names yit ben grounded Of hem that ferste it founden oute; And thus the fame goth aboute To suche as soghten besinesse Of vertu and of worthinesse. Of whom if I the names calle, [The First Alchemists]    Hermes was on the ferste of alle, To whom this art is most applied; Geber therof was magnefied, And Ortolan and Morien, Among the whiche is Avicen, Which fond and wrot a gret partie The practique of Alconomie; Whos bokes, pleinli as thei stonde Upon this craft, fewe understonde; Bot yit to put hem in assai Ther ben full manye now aday, That knowen litel what thei meene. It is noght on to wite and weene; In forme of wordes thei it trete, Bot yit they failen of begete, For of to moche or of to lyte Ther is algate founde a wyte, So that thei folwe noght the lyne Of the parfite medicine, Which grounded is upon nature. Bot thei that writen the scripture Of Grek, Arabe, and of Caldee, Thei were of such auctorité That thei ferst founden out the weie Of al that thou hast herd me seie; Wherof the cronique of her lore Schal stonde in pris foreveremore.     [Letters and Language]    Bot toward oure marches hiere, Of the Latins if thou wolt hiere, Of hem that whilom vertuous Were and therto laborious, Carmente made of hire engin The ferste lettres of Latin, Of which the tunge Romein cam, Wherof that Aristarchus nam Forth with Donat and Dindimus The ferste reule of scole, and thus, How that Latin schal be componed And in what wise it schal be soned, That every word in his degré Schal stonde upon congruité. And thilke time at Rome also Was Tullius with Cithero, That writen upon Rethorike, Hou that men schal the wordes pike After the forme of eloquence, Which is, men sein, a gret prudence. And after that out of Hebreu Jerom, which the langage kneu, The Bible, in which the Lawe is closed, Into Latin he hath transposed; And many an other writere ek Out of Caldee, Arabe, and Grek With gret labour the bokes wise Translateden. And otherwise The Latins of hemself also Here studie at thilke time so With gret travaile of scole toke In sondri forme for to boke, That we mai take here evidences Upon the lore of the sciences, Of craftes bothe and of clergie; Among the whiche in poesie To the lovers Ovide wrot And tawhte, if love be to hot, In what manere it scholde akiele.    Forthi, mi sone, if that thou fiele That love wringe thee to sore, Behold Ovide and take his lore."     "Mi fader, if thei mihte spede Mi love, I wolde his bokes rede; And if thei techen to restreigne Mi love, it were an ydel peine To lerne a thing which mai noght be. For lich unto the greene tree, If that men toke his rote aweie, Riht so myn herte scholde deie, If that mi love be withdrawe. Wherof touchende unto this sawe There is bot only to poursuie Mi love, and ydelschipe eschuie."     "Mi goode sone, soth to seie, If ther be siker eny weie To love, thou hast seid the beste. For who that wolde have al his reste And do no travail at the nede, It is no resoun that he spede In loves cause for to winne; For he which dar nothing beginne, I not what thing he scholde achieve. Bot overthis thou schalt believe, So as it sit thee wel to knowe, That ther ben othre vices slowe, Whiche unto love don gret lette, If thou thin herte upon hem sette." Perdit homo causam linquens sua iura sopori,    Et quasi dimidium pars sua mortis habet. Est in amore vigil Venus, et quod habet vigilanti    Obsequium thalamis fert vigilata suis.9 "Toward the slowe progenie Ther is yit on of compaignie, And he is cleped Sompnolence, Which doth to Slouthe his reverence, As he which is his chamberlein, That many an hundrid time hath lein To slepe, whan he scholde wake. He hath with love trewes take, That wake whoso wake wile, If he mai couche a doun his bile, He hath al wowed what him list; That ofte he goth to bedde unkist, And seith that for no druerie He wol noght leve his sluggardie. For thogh no man it wole allowe, To slepe levere than to wowe Is his manere, and thus on nyhtes, Whan that he seth the lusti knyhtes Revelen, wher these wommen are, Awey he skulketh as an hare, And goth to bedde and leith him softe, And of his Slouthe he dremeth ofte Hou that he stiketh in the myr, And hou he sitteth be the fyr And claweth on his bare schanckes, And hou he clymbeth up the banckes And falleth into slades depe. Bot thanne whoso toke kepe, Whanne he is falle in such a drem, Riht as a schip agein the strem, He routeth with a slepi noise, And brustleth as a monkes froise, Whanne it is throwe into the panne. And otherwhile sielde whanne That he mai dreme a lusti swevene, Him thenkth as thogh he were in hevene And as the world were holi his. And thanne he spekth of that and this, And makth his exposicion After the disposicion Of that he wolde, and in such wise He doth to love all his service. I not what thonk he schal deserve. Bot, sone, if thou wolt love serve, I rede that thou do noght so."     "Ha, goode fader, certes no. I hadde levere, be mi trowthe, Er I were set on such a slouthe And beere such a slepi snoute, Bothe yhen of myn hed were oute. For me were betre fulli die Thanne I of such a slugardie Hadde eny name, God me schilde; For whan mi moder was with childe, And I lay in hire wombe clos, I wolde rathere Atropos, Which is goddesse of alle deth, Anon as I hadde eny breth, Me hadde fro mi moder cast. Bot now I am nothing agast, I thonke Godd; for Lachesis, Ne Cloto, which hire felawe is, Me schopen no such destiné, Whan thei at mi nativité My weerdes setten as thei wolde; Bot thei me schopen that I scholde Eschuie of slep the truandise, So that I hope in such a wise To love for to ben excused, That I no Sompnolence have used. For certes, fader Genius, Yit into nou it hath be thus, At alle time if it befelle So that I mihte come and duelle In place ther my ladi were, I was noght slow ne slepi there. For thanne I dar wel undertake, That whanne hir list on nyhtes wake In chambre as to carole and daunce, Me thenkth I mai me more avaunce, If I mai gon upon hir hond, Thanne if I wonne a kinges lond. For whanne I mai hire hand beclippe, With such gladnesse I daunce and skippe Me thenkth I touche noght the flor. The ro, which renneth on the mor, Is thanne noght so lyht as I. So mow ye witen wel forthi, That for the time slep I hate. And whanne it falleth othergate, So that hire like noght to daunce, Bot on the dees to caste chaunce Or axe of love som demande, Or elles that hir list comaunde To rede and here of Troilus, Riht as sche wole or so or thus, I am al redi to consente. And if so is that I mai hente Somtime among a good leisir, So as I dar of mi desir I telle a part; bot whanne I preie, Anon sche bidt me go mi weie And seith it is ferr in the nyht; And I swere it is even liht. Bot as it falleth ate laste, Ther mai no worldes joie laste, So mot I nedes fro hire wende And of my wachche make an ende. And if sche thanne hiede toke, Hou pitousliche on hire I loke, Whan that I schal my leve take, Hire oghte of mercy for to slake Hire daunger, which seith evere 'nay.'    Bot he seith often, 'Have good day,' That loth is for to take his leve: Therfore, while I mai beleve, I tarie forth the nyht along, For it is noght on me along To slep that I so sone go, Til that I mot algate so; And thanne I bidde Godd hire se, And so doun knelende on mi kne I take leve, and if I schal, I kisse hire, and go forthwithal. And otherwhile, if that I dore, Er I come fulli to the dore, I torne agein and feigne a thing, As thogh I hadde lost a ring Or somwhat elles, for I wolde Kisse hire eftsones, if I scholde, Bot selden is that I so spede. And whanne I se that I mot nede Departen, I departe, and thanne With al myn herte I curse and banne That evere slep was mad for yhe; For, as me thenkth, I mihte dryhe Withoute slep to waken evere, So that I scholde noght dissevere Fro hire, in whom is al my liht. And thanne I curse also the nyht With al the will of mi corage, And seie, 'Awey, thou blake ymage, Which of thi derke cloudy face Makst al the worldes lyht deface, And causest unto slep a weie, Be which I mot nou gon aweie Out of mi ladi compaignie. O slepi nyht, I thee defie, And wolde that thou leye in presse With Proserpine the goddesse And with Pluto the helle king. For til I se the daies spring, I sette slep noght at a risshe.' And with that word I sike and wisshe, And seie, 'Ha, whi ne were it day? For yit mi ladi thanne I may Beholde, thogh I do nomore.' And efte I thenke forthermore, To som man hou the niht doth ese, Whan he hath thing that mai him plese The longe nyhtes be his side, Where as I faile and go beside. Bot slep, I not wherof it serveth, Of which no man his thonk deserveth To gete him love in eny place, Bot is an hindrere of his grace And makth him ded as for a throwe, Riht as a stok were overthrowe. And so, mi fader, in this wise The slepi nyhtes I despise, And evere amiddes of mi tale I thenke upon the nyhtingale, Which slepeth noght be weie of kinde For love, in bokes as I finde. Thus ate laste I go to bedde, And yit min herte lith to wedde With hire, wher as I cam fro; Thogh I departe, he wol noght so, Ther is no lock mai schette him oute, Him nedeth noght to gon aboute, That perce mai the harde wall; Thus is he with hire overall, That be hire lief, or be hire loth Into hire bedd myn herte goth, And softly takth hire in his arm And fieleth hou that sche is warm, And wissheth that his body were To fiele that he fieleth there. And thus miselven I tormente, Til that the dede slep me hente. [On Dreams]    Bot thanne be a thousand score Welmore than I was tofore I am tormented in mi slep, Bot that I dreme is noght of schep; For I ne thenke noght on wulle, Bot I am drecched to the fulle Of love, that I have to kepe, That nou I lawhe and nou I wepe, And nou I lese and nou I winne, And nou I ende and nou beginne. And otherwhile I dreme and mete That I alone with hire mete And that Danger is left behinde; And thanne in slep such joie I finde, That I ne bede nevere awake. Bot after, whanne I hiede take, And schal arise upon the morwe, Thanne is al torned into sorwe, Noght for the cause I schal arise, Bot for I mette in such a wise, And ate laste I am bethoght That al is vein and helpeth noght. Bot yit me thenketh be my wille I wolde have leie and slepe stille, To meten evere of such a swevene, For thanne I hadde a slepi hevene."     "Mi sone, and for thou tellest so, A man mai finde of time ago That many a swevene hath be certein, Al be it so, that som men sein That swevenes ben of no credence. Bot for to schewe in evidence That thei fulofte sothe thinges Betokne, I thenke in my wrytinges To telle a tale therupon, Which fell be olde daies gon. [The Tale of Ceix and Alceone]    This finde I write in poesie: Ceix the king of Trocinie Hadde Alceone to his wif, Which as hire oghne hertes lif Him loveth; and he hadde also A brother, which was cleped tho Dedalion, and he per cas Fro kinde of man forschape was Into a goshauk of liknesse; Wherof the king gret hevynesse Hath take, and thoghte in his corage To gon upon a pelrinage Into a strange regioun, Wher he hath his devocioun To don his sacrifice and preie, If that he mihte in eny weie Toward the goddes finde grace His brother hele to pourchace, So that he mihte be reformed Of that he hadde be transformed. To this pourpos and to this ende This king is redy for to wende, As he which wolde go be schipe; And for to don him felaschipe His wif unto the see him broghte, With al hire herte and him besoghte, That he the time hire wolde sein, Whan that he thoghte come agein. 'Withinne,' he seith, 'tuo monthe day.' And thus in al the haste he may He tok his leve, and forth he seileth Wepende, and sche hirself beweileth, And torneth hom, ther sche cam fro. Bot whan the monthes were ago, The whiche he sette of his comynge, And that sche herde no tydinge, Ther was no care for to seche. Wherof the goddes to beseche Tho sche began in many wise, And to Juno hire sacrifise Above alle othre most sche dede, And for hir lord sche hath so bede To wite and knowe hou that he ferde, That Juno the goddesse hire herde, Anon and upon this matiere Sche bad Yris hir messagere To slepes hous that sche schal wende, And bidde him that he make an ende Be swevene and schewen al the cas Unto this ladi, hou it was.    This Yris, fro the hihe stage, Which undertake hath the message, Hire reyny cope dede upon, The which was wonderli begon With colours of diverse hewe, An hundred mo than men it knewe; The hevene lich unto a bowe Sche bende, and so she cam doun lowe, The god of slep wher that sche fond. And that was in a strange lond, Which marcheth upon Chymerie. For ther, as seith the poesie, The god of Slep hath mad his hous, Which of entaille is merveilous. Under an hell ther is a cave, Which of the sonne mai noght have, So that no man mai knowe ariht The point betwen the dai and nyht. Ther is no fyr, ther is no sparke, Ther is no dore which mai charke, Wherof an yhe scholde unschette, So that inward ther is no lette. And for to speke of that withoute, Ther stant no gret tree nyh aboute Wheron ther myhte crowe or pie Alihte, for to clepe or crie. Ther is no cok to crowe day, Ne beste non which noise may The hell, bot al aboute round Ther is growende upon the ground Popi, which berth the sed of slep, With othre herbes suche an hep. A stille water for the nones Rennende upon the smale stones, Which hihte of Lethes the rivere, Under that hell in such manere Ther is, which gifth gret appetit To slepe. And thus full of delit Slep hath his hous; and of his couche Withinne his chambre if I schal touche, Of hebenus that slepi tree The bordes al aboute be, And for he scholde slepe softe, Upon a fethrebed alofte He lith with many a pilwe of doun: The chambre is strowed up and doun With swevenes many thousendfold. Thus cam Yris into this hold, And to the bedd, which is al blak, Sche goth, and ther with Slep sche spak, And in the wise as sche was bede The message of Juno sche dede. Fulofte hir wordes sche reherceth, Er sche his slepi eres perceth; With mochel wo bot ate laste His slombrende yhen he upcaste And seide hir that it schal be do. Wherof among a thousend tho, Withinne his hous that slepi were, In special he ches out there Thre, whiche scholden do this dede: The ferste of hem, so as I rede, Was Morpheus, the whos nature Is for to take the figure Of what persone that him liketh, Wherof that he fulofte entriketh The lif which slepe schal be nyhte; And Ithecus that other hihte, Which hath the vois of every soun, The chiere and the condicioun Of every lif, what so it is; The thridde suiende after this Is Panthasas, which may transforme Of everything the rihte forme, And change it in another kinde. Upon hem thre, so as I finde, Of swevenes stant al th'apparence, Which otherwhile is evidence And otherwhile bot a jape. Bot natheles it is so schape, That Morpheus be nyht alone Appiereth until Alceone In liknesse of hir housebonde Al naked ded upon the stronde, And hou he dreynte in special These othre tuo it schewen al. The tempeste of the blake cloude, The wode see, the wyndes loude, Al this sche mette, and sih him dyen; Wherof that sche began to crien, Slepende abedde ther sche lay, And with that noise of hire affray Hir wommen sterten up aboute, Whiche of here ladi were in doute, And axen hire hou that sche ferde; And sche, riht as sche syh and herde, Hir swevene hath told hem everydel. And thei it halsen alle wel And sein it is a tokne of goode; Bot til sche wiste hou that it stode, Sche hath no confort in hire herte, Upon the morwe and up sche sterte, And to the see, wher that sche mette The bodi lay, withoute lette Sche drowh, and whan that sche cam nyh, Stark ded, hise armes sprad, sche syh Hire lord flietende upon the wawe. Wherof hire wittes ben withdrawe, And sche, which tok of deth no kepe, Anon forth lepte into the depe And wolde have cawht him in hire arm.    This infortune of double harm The goddes fro the hevene above Behielde, and for the trowthe of love, Which in this worthi ladi stod, Thei have upon the salte flod Hire dreinte lord and hire also Fro deth to lyve torned so, That thei ben schapen into briddes Swimmende upon the wawe amiddes. And whan sche sih hire lord livende In liknesse of a bridd swimmende, And sche was of the same sort, So as sche mihte do desport, Upon the joie which sche hadde Hire wynges bothe abrod sche spradde, And him, so as sche mai suffise, Beclipte and keste in such a wise As sche was whilom wont to do. Hire wynges for hire armes tuo Sche tok, and for hire lippes softe Hire harde bile, and so fulofte Sche fondeth in hire briddes forme, If that sche mihte hirself conforme To do the plesance of a wif, As sche dede in that other lif. For thogh sche hadde hir pouer lore, Hir will stod as it was tofore, And serveth him so as sche mai. Wherof into this ilke day Togedre upon the see thei wone, Wher many a dowhter and a sone Thei bringen forth of briddes kinde; And for men scholden take in mynde This Alceoun the trewe queene, Hire briddes yit, as it is seene, Of Alceoun the name bere.    Lo, thus, mi sone, it mai thee stere Of swevenes for to take kepe, For ofte time a man aslepe Mai se what after schal betide. Forthi it helpeth at som tyde A man to slepe, as it belongeth, Bot slowthe no lif underfongeth Which is to love appourtenant."     "Mi fader, upon covenant I dar wel make this avou, Of all mi lif that into nou, Als fer as I can understonde, Yit tok I nevere slep on honde, Whan it was time for to wake; For thogh myn yhe it wolde take, Min herte is evere theragein. Bot natheles to speke it plein, Al this that I have seid you hiere Of my wakinge, as ye mai hiere, It toucheth to mi lady swete. For otherwise, I you behiete, In strange place whanne I go, Me list nothing to wake so. For whan the wommen listen pleie, And I hir se noght in the weie Of whom I scholde merthe take, Me list noght longe for to wake, Bot if it be for pure schame, Of that I wolde eschuie a name, That thei ne scholde have cause non To seie, 'Ha, lo, wher goth such on, That hath forlore his contenaunce!' And thus among I singe and daunce, And feigne lust ther as non is. For ofte sithe I fiele this: Of thoght, which in mi herte falleth Whanne it is nyht, myn hed appalleth, And that is for I se hire noght Which is the wakere of mi thoght. And thus as tymliche as I may, Fulofte whanne it is brod day, I take of all these othre leve And go my weie, and thei beleve, That sen per cas here loves there. And I go forth as noght ne were Unto mi bedd, so that alone I mai ther ligge and sighe and grone And wisshen al the longe nyht, Til that I se the daies lyht. I not if that be Sompnolence, Bot upon youre conscience, Min holi fader, demeth ye."     "Mi sone, I am wel paid with thee, Of slep that thou the sluggardie Be nyhte in loves compaignie Eschuied hast, and do thi peine So that thi love thar noght pleine. For love upon his lust wakende Is evere, and wolde that non ende Were of the longe nyhtes set. Wherof that thou be war the bet, To telle a tale I am bethoght, Hou love and slep acorden noght. [The Prayer of Cephalus]    For love who that list to wake Be nyhte, he mai ensample take Of Cephalus, whan that he lay With Aurora that swete may In armes all the longe nyht. Bot whanne it drogh toward the liht, That he withinne his herte sih The dai which was amorwe nyh, Anon unto the sonne he preide, For lust of love, and thus he seide:     'O Phebus, which the daies liht Governest til that it be nyht, And gladest every creature After the lawe of thi nature, Bot natheles ther is a thing, Which onli to the knouleching Belongeth as in priveté To love and to his dueté, Which asketh noght to ben apert, Bot in cilence and in covert Desireth for to be beschaded. And thus whan that thi liht is faded And Vesper scheweth him alofte, And that the nyht is long and softe, Under the cloudes derke and stille Thanne hath this thing most of his wille. Forthi unto thi myhtes hyhe, As thou which art the daies yhe, Of love and myht no conseil hyde, Upon this derke nyhtes tyde With al myn herte I thee beseche That I plesance myhte seche With hire which lith in min armes. Withdrawgh the banere of thin armes, And let thi lyhtes ben unborn, And in the signe of Capricorn, The hous appropred to Satorne, I preie that thou wolt sojorne, Wher ben the nihtes derke and longe. For I mi love have underfonge, Which lith hier be mi syde naked, As sche which wolde ben awaked, And me lest nothing for to slepe. So were it good to take kepe Nou at this nede of mi preiere, And that thee like for to stiere Thi fyri carte, and so ordeigne, That thou thi swifte hors restreigne Lowe under erthe in Occident, That thei towardes Orient Be cercle go the longe weie.    And ek to thee, Diane, I preie, Which cleped art of thi noblesse The nyhtes mone and the goddesse, That thou to me be gracious. And in Cancro thin oghne hous Agein Phebus in opposit Stond al this time, and of delit Behold Venus with a glad yhe. For thanne upon astronomie Of due constellacion Thou makst prolificacion, And dost that children ben begete: Which grace if that I mihte gete, With al myn herte I wolde serve Be nyhte, and thi vigile observe.'    Lo, thus this lusti Cephalus Preide unto Phebe and to Phebus The nyhte in lengthe for to drawe, So that he mihte do the lawe In thilke point of loves heste, Which cleped is the nyhtes feste, Withoute slep of sluggardie, Which Venus out of compaignie Hath put awey, as thilke same, Which lustles, ferr from alle game In chambre doth fulofte wo Abedde, whanne it falleth so That love scholde ben awaited.10 Bot Slowthe, which is evele affaited, With slep hath mad his retenue, That what thing is to love due, Of all his dette he paieth non. He wot noght how the nyht is gon Ne hou the day is come aboute, Bot onli for to slepe and route Til hyh midday, that he arise. Bot Cephalus dede otherwise, As thou, my sone, hast herd above."     "Mi fader, who that hath his love Abedde naked be his syde, And wolde thanne hise yhen hyde With slep, I not what man is he: Bot certes as touchende of me, That fell me nevere yit er this. Bot otherwhile, whan so is That I mai cacche slep on honde Liggende alone, thanne I fonde To dreme a merie swevene er day; And if so falle that I may Mi thought with such a swevene plese, Me thenkth I am somdiel in ese, For I non other confort have. So nedeth noght that I schal crave The sonnes carte for to tarie, Ne yit the mone, that sche carie Hire cours along upon the hevene, For I am noght the more in evene Towardes love in no degree. Bot in mi slep yit thanne I se Somwhat in swevene of that me liketh, Which afterward min herte entriketh, Whan that I finde it otherwise. So wot I noght of what servise That slep to mannes ese doth."     "Mi sone, certes thou seist soth, Bot only that it helpeth kinde Somtyme, in Phisique as I finde, Whan it is take be mesure. Bot he which can no slep mesure Upon the reule as it belongeth, Fulofte of sodein chance he fongeth Such infortune that him grieveth. Bot who these olde bokes lieveth, Of Sompnolence hou it is write, Ther may a man the sothe wite, If that he wolde ensample take, That otherwhile is good to wake: Wherof a tale in poesie I thenke for to specefie. [The Tale of Argus and Mercury]    Ovide telleth in his sawes How Jupiter be olde dawes Lay be a mayde, which Yo Was cleped, wherof that Juno His wif was wroth, and the goddesse Of Yo torneth the liknesse Into a cow, to gon theroute The large fieldes al aboute And gete hire mete upon the griene. And therupon this hyhe queene Betok hire Argus for to kepe, For he was selden wont to slepe, And yit he hadde an hundred yhen, And alle alyche wel thei syhen. Now herkne hou that he was beguiled. Mercurie, which was al affiled This cow to stele, he cam desguised, And hadde a pipe wel devised Upon the notes of musiqe, Wherof he mihte hise eres like. And over that he hadde affaited Hise lusti tales, and awaited His time; and thus into the field He cam, where Argus he behield With Yo, which beside him wente. With that his pype on honde he hente, And gan to pipe in his manere Thing which was slepi for to hiere. And in his pipinge evere among He tolde him such a lusti song, That he the fol hath broght aslepe. Ther was non yhe mihte kepe His hed, the which Mercurie of smot, And forthwithal anon fot hot He stal the cow which Argus kepte, And al this fell for that he slepte. Ensample it was to manye mo, That mochel Slep doth ofte wo, Whan it is time for to wake: For if a man this vice take, In Sompnolence and him delite, Men scholde upon his dore wryte His epitaphe, as on his grave; For he to spille and noght to save Is schape, as thogh he were ded.    Forthi, mi sone, hold up thin hed, And let no slep thin yhe englue, Bot whanne it is to resoun due."     "Mi fader, as touchende of this, Riht so as I you tolde it is, That ofte abedde, whanne I scholde, I mai noght slepe, thogh I wolde; For love is evere faste by me, Which takth no hiede of due time. For whanne I schal myn yhen close, Anon min herte he wole oppose And holde his scole in such a wise, Til it be day that I arise, That selde it is whan that I slepe. And thus fro Sompnolence I kepe Min yhe: and forthi if ther be Oght elles more in this degré, Now axeth forth."        "Mi sone, yis; For Slowthe, which as moder is The forthdrawere and the norrice To man of many a dredful vice, Hath yit another laste of alle, Which many a man hath mad to falle, Wher that he mihte nevere arise; Wherof for thou thee schalt avise, Er thou so with thiself misfare, What vice it is I wol declare." Nil fortuna iuuat, vbi desperacio ledit;    Quo desiccat humor, non viridescit humus. Magnanimus set amor spem ponit et inde salutem    Consequitur, quod ei prospera fata fauent.11 "Whan Slowthe hath don al that he may To dryve forth the longe day, Til it be come to the nede, Thanne ate laste upon the dede He loketh hou his time is lore, And is so wo begon therfore, That he withinne his thoght conceiveth Tristesce, and so himself deceiveth, That he wanhope bringeth inne, Wher is no confort to beginne, Bot every joie him is deslaied. So that withinne his herte affraied A thousend time with o breth Wepende he wissheth after deth, Whan he fortune fint adverse. For thanne he wole his hap reherce, As thogh his world were al forlore, And seith, 'Helas, that I was bore! Hou schal I live? Hou schal I do? For nou fortune is thus mi fo, I wot wel God me wol noght helpe. What scholde I thanne of joies yelpe, Whan ther no bote is of mi care? So overcast is my welfare, That I am schapen al to strif. Helas, that I nere of this lif, Er I be fulliche overtake!' And thus he wol his sorwe make, As God him mihte noght availe. Bot yit ne wol he noght travaile To helpe himself at such a nede, Bot slowtheth under such a drede, Which is affermed in his herte, Riht as he mihte noght asterte The worldes wo which he is inne.    Also whan he is falle in sinne, Him thenkth he is so ferr coupable, That God wol noght be merciable So grete a sinne to forgive; And thus he leeveth to be schrive. And if a man in thilke throwe Wolde him consaile, he wol noght knowe The sothe, thogh a man it finde. For Tristesce is of such a kinde, That for to meintiene his folie, He hath with him Obstinacie, Which is withinne of such a Slouthe, That he forsaketh alle trouthe And wole unto no resoun bowe. And yit ne can he noght avowe His oghne skile bot of hed. Thus dwyneth he, til he be ded, In hindringe of his oghne astat. For where a man is obstinat, Wanhope folweth ate laste, Which mai noght after longe laste, Til Slouthe make of him an ende. Bot God wot whider he schal wende.    Mi sone, and riht in such manere Ther be lovers of hevy chiere, That sorwen mor than it is ned, Whan thei be taried of here sped And conne noght hemselven rede, Bot lesen hope for to spede And stinten love to poursewe. And thus thei faden hyde and hewe, And lustles in here hertes waxe. Hierof it is that I wolde axe, If thou, mi sone, art on of tho."     "Ha, goode fader, it is so, Outake a point, I am beknowe; For elles I am overthrowe In al that evere ye have seid. Mi sorwe is everemore unteid, And secheth overal my veines; Bot for to conseile of mi peines, I can no bote do therto; And thus withouten hope I go, So that mi wittes ben empeired, And I, as who seith, am despeired To winne love of thilke swete, Withoute whom, I you behiete, Min herte, that is so bestad, Riht inly nevere mai be glad. For be my trouthe I schal noght lie, Of pure sorwe, which I drye For that sche seith sche wol me noght, With drecchinge of myn oghne thoght In such a wanhope I am falle, That I ne can unethes calle, As for to speke of eny grace, Mi ladi merci to pourchace. Bot yit I seie noght for this That al in mi defalte it is; For I cam nevere yit in stede, Whan time was, that I my bede Ne seide and, as I dorste, tolde. Bot nevere fond I that sche wolde, For oght sche knew of min entente, To speke a goodly word assente. And natheles this dar I seie, That if a sinful wolde preie To God of his forgivenesse With half so gret a besinesse As I have do to my ladi, In lacke of askinge of merci He scholde nevere come in helle. And thus I mai you sothli telle, Save only that I crie and bidde, I am in Tristesce al amidde And fulfild of Desesperance. And therof gif me mi penance, Min holi fader, as you liketh."    "Mi sone, of that thin herte siketh With sorwe, miht thou noght amende, Til love his grace wol thee sende, For thou thin oghne cause empeirest What time as thou thiself despeirest. I not what other thing availeth, Of hope whan the herte faileth, For such a sor is incurable, And ek the goddes ben vengable. And that a man mai riht wel frede, These olde bokes whoso rede, Of thing which hath befalle er this. Now hier of what ensample it is. [The Tale of Iphis and Araxarathen]    Whilom be olde daies fer Of Mese was the king Theucer, Which hadde a kniht to sone, Iphis. Of love and he so maistred is, That he hath set al his corage As to reguard of his lignage Upon a maide of lou astat. Bot thogh he were a potestat Of worldes good, he was soubgit To love, and put in such a plit, That he excedeth the mesure Of reson, that himself assure He can noght; for the more he preide, The lasse love on him sche leide. He was with love unwys constreigned, And sche with resoun was restreigned. The lustes of his herte he suieth, And sche for drede schame eschuieth, And as sche scholde, tok good hiede To save and kepe hir wommanhiede. And thus the thing stod in debat Betwen his lust and hire astat. He gaf, he sende, he spak be mouthe, Bot yit for oght that evere he couthe Unto his sped he fond no weie, So that he caste his hope aweie, Withinne his herte and gan despeire Fro dai to dai, and so empeire, That he hath lost al his delit Of lust, of slep, of appetit, That he thurgh strengthe of love lasseth His wit, and resoun overpasseth. As he which of his lif ne rowhte, His deth upon himself he sowhte, So that be nyhte his weie he nam, Ther wiste non wher he becam; The nyht was derk, ther schon no mone, Tofore the gates he cam sone, Wher that this yonge maiden was, And with this wofull word, 'Helas!' Hise dedli pleintes he began So stille that ther was no man It herde, and thanne he seide thus: 'O thou Cupide, o thou Venus, Fortuned be whos ordinaunce Of love is every mannes chaunce, Ye knowen al min hole herte, That I ne mai your hond asterte; On you is evere that I crie, And yit you deigneth noght to plie, Ne toward me youre ere encline. Thus for I se no medicine To make an ende of mi querele, My deth schal be in stede of hele.    Ha, thou mi wofull ladi diere, Which duellest with thi fader hiere And slepest in thi bedd at ese, Thou wost nothing of my desese, Hou thou and I be now unmete. Ha lord, what swevene schalt thou mete, What dremes hast thou nou on honde? Thou slepest there, and I hier stonde. Thogh I no deth to thee deserve, Hier schal I for thi love sterve, Hier schal a kinges sone dye For love and for no felonie; Wher thou therof have joie or sorwe, Hier schalt thou se me ded tomorwe. O herte hard aboven alle, This deth, which schal to me befalle For that thou wolt noght do me grace, Yit schal be told in many a place, Hou I am ded for love and trouthe In thi defalte and in thi slouthe. Thi Daunger schal to manye mo Ensample be for everemo, Whan thei my wofull deth recorde.' And with that word he tok a corde, With which upon the gate tre He hyng himself, that was pité.    The morwe cam, the nyht is gon, Men comen out and syh anon Wher that this yonge lord was ded. Ther was an hous withoute red, For no man knew the cause why. Ther was wepinge and ther was cry: This maiden, whan that sche it herde, And sih this thing hou it misferde, Anon sche wiste what it mente, And al the cause hou it wente To al the world sche tolde it oute, And preith to hem that were aboute To take of hire the vengance, For sche was cause of thilke chance, Why that this kinges sone is spilt. Sche takth upon hirself the gilt, And is al redi to the peine Which eny man hir wole ordeigne. And bot if eny other wolde, Sche seith that sche hirselve scholde Do wreche with hire oghne hond, Thurghout the world in every lond That every lif therof schal speke, Hou sche hirself it scholde wreke. Sche wepth, sche crith, sche swouneth ofte, Sche caste hire yhen up alofte And seide among ful pitously: 'A, Godd, Thou wost wel it am I, For whom Iphis is thus besein. Ordeine so, that men mai sein A thousend wynter after this, Hou such a maiden dede amis, And as I dede, do to me. For I ne dede no pité To him which for mi love is lore, Do no pité to me therfore.' And with this word sche fell to grounde Aswoune, and ther sche lay a stounde. The goddes, whiche hir pleigntes herde And syhe hou wofully sche ferde, Hire lif thei toke awey anon, And schopen hire into a ston After the forme of hire ymage Of bodi bothe and of visage. And for the merveile of this thing Unto the place cam the king And ek the queene and manye mo; And whan thei wisten it was so, As I have told it hier above, Hou that Iphis was ded for love, Of that he hadde be refused, Thei hielden alle men excused And wondren upon the vengance. And for to kepe in remembrance, This faire ymage mayden liche With compaignie noble and riche With torche and gret sollempnité To Salamyne the cité Thei lede, and carie forth withal The dede corps, and sein it schal Beside thilke ymage have His sepulture and be begrave: This corps and this ymage thus Into the cité to Venus, Wher that goddesse hire temple hadde, Togedre bothe tuo thei ladde. This ilke ymage as for miracle Was set upon an hyh pinacle, That alle men it mihte knowe, And under that thei maden lowe A tumbe riche for the nones Of marbre and ek of jaspre stones, Wherin this Iphis was beloken, That evermor it schal be spoken. And for men schal the sothe wite, Thei have here epitaphe write, As thing which scholde abide stable. The lettres graven in a table Of marbre were and seiden this: 'Hier lith, which slowh himself, Iphis, For love of Araxarathen: And in ensample of tho wommen, That soffren men to deie so, Hire forme a man mai sen also, Hou it is torned fleissh and bon Into the figure of a ston. He was to neysshe and sche to hard. Be war forthi hierafterward; Ye men and wommen bothe tuo, Ensampleth you of that was tho.'    Lo thus, mi sone, as I thee seie, It grieveth be diverse weie In desespeir a man to falle, Which is the laste branche of alle Of Slouthe, as thou hast herd devise. Wherof that thou thiself avise Good is, er that thou be deceived, Wher that the grace of hope is weyved."     "Mi fader, hou so that it stonde, Now have I pleinly understonde Of Slouthes court the propreté, Wherof touchende in my degré Forevere I thenke to be war. Bot over this, so as I dar, With al min herte I you beseche, That ye me wolde enforme and teche What ther is more of youre aprise In love als wel as otherwise, So that I mai me clene schryve."     "Mi sone, whyl thou art alyve And hast also thi fulle mynde, Among the vices whiche I finde Ther is yit on such of the sevene, Which al this world hath set unevene And causeth manye thinges wronge, Where he the cause hath underfonge. Wherof hierafter thou schalt hiere The forme bothe and the matiere." Explicit Liber Quartus

behavior Procrastination (see note) property of nature leave here and now (see note) (see note) thinks harmed (jeopardized) neither behaves slothfully same done before yes I admit i.e., in his livery [as a retainer] bade [me] abide yet declared [that]; neither intelligent Nor timely; then spent might just as well send by chance; clearly dare say time foolish planned to speak know not Whether; fear know diminished beg (ask) prayed one place continuously [for] yet in spite of my [will] know well in the end seldom fear all the rest pertaining Procrastination; (t-note) cause; [to go] away guide; counsel one Against; (see note) once as a son fleet of ships; led; (see note) lodging then (t-note) yet; called Who; passionately laid did entirely; desired Italy By; place of disembarkation chosen; prepared; depart perturbation while (see note) caused him; know delay; returning [to her] [Such] that (see note) once; in a prior time mate lost (the swan) thrust poem truth Sprawling (Writhing); two mate lament delayed; a pity saw fault determined way out heart's root thrust (t-note) to be feared pondered a second example (see note) crowd (see note) (see note) woo yield Since first; departed way where made; (t-note) knows; seeks threat their carnal desire accomplish [their] deeds endowed with beauty make me blush (t-note) might [bring about] And [should] remember And that he [should] not delay set free [So] that might keep (see note) accepts read over carefully made anxious thoroughly seized what desire; heart prepare; voyage a day seems to him face burnt haste (see note) learning; head but because of wall (see note) their oil; unavailable shut trained (t-note) believe (see note) limb place requested minded arranged hear seek what hasten account progress (success) 'had I known' wish to blame barren Cowardice (see note); (t-note) begin something carry out [because] of fantasy destroyed; undertakes [can] heal abounds once move by; lose he must venture in order to win Who lack courage speak sound timid And dare ask nothing concerning love lose; nothing I fully acknowledge one; those [who are] slothful break apart taken slip away according to what; (see note) follows who perseveres (see note) craft of sculpture he mastered then belabor sculpture Like feature; outward appearance living white ivory ruddy also beguiles himself in return at dinner eat taken full of tears; sleepless kissed whispers; ear continually cause him more pain persistence accepted was most miserable dared to speak; won desired in bed called designation island call beyond nature woe those who lonely (strange); (see note) quarrel; (see note) it would not be prevented if she should bear a daughter be nothing but destroyed Who; childbearing; (see note) distressful circumstance normal-sized again Ordered to be kept understand taken away then (see note) [To] him was delivered duke's Who; in bed; (see note) playmates (see note) And caused [the love] to be put above nature their desire teaching what nature naturally situation kissed (see note) natural then benevolent continue diligence (t-note) confessed before lost hinder confession; acknowledge same yes bound addled Sloth (see note) wallet he knows not nonetheless Deprived; plead for a third part intended destroyed overwhelmed toward (unto) is not worth a nutshell truly what I planned to say scarcely speak entirely intended [to] have declared sorely; afraid ghost know; who wither I will [go]; whence I came erased overwhelmed out of; thrust; (t-note) [I] stand; deaf ivy leaf; (t-note) thought well [to] have start [as if from sleep] fear lament fool; then saw eyes outrage fear; so good a person endowed foolish heart cowardly heart; untutored allow to freeze lose dare to ask none cloak ends increase dependent (see note) (see note) dear solicitude assure laugh; scowl gracious [lady] prevent fetches (see note) such a person like it or not (willy-nilly) where before sorely afraid too cheerful great excellence (t-note) [even] though I wanted [to] thought reveal what I intend i.e., about twenty minutes time that is often useless before planned as if it had never been [I] stand bewildered; befuddled written music for beyond comprehension cowardice wish; (t-note) act according to you (i.e., to your advice) dares not ask knows; that men [should] make requests prayers bestows; places That [God] will take thought for escape from your diligence know by; (see note) Sailing; (see note) blown him Who was called most becomes her [she] pleases herself [she] welcomed him escape try began troth pledged remained seek believed [it] should (mis)happen to her desired pledges as surety return month's time kissed whether it were pleasing or not lessens food But sent power promised passionately [should] delay die because of fidelity same time previously delayed too long time (tide) sea knows not abstaining from food then tower burning by night (see note) ignored while perceive tower; run garden by herself alone; (t-note) lament knew lost [So] that; faints stains eyes continuously called creature fidelity; word destroy bough girdle of silk tied; induced neck against the slothful [Such] that; instant nut tree filbert called; courtyard not missing then curse ask one; secretary called keep watch over his documents (see note) after the fact deceived; grimace horse; (see note) plays; plan made after the event excellence he often suffers guile believes he stands on solid ground untroubled conscience myself not one of the learned aspects That pertain to handle of the tool blade be fitting nature Could teach me [Such] that Devise assurance either succeed trust well means would have learned it Attain; lofty an erudition It is not my Will's fault still a beginner since I know not; turn out as surety understanding how it seems to you pleases absolved loses say corporeal is not destroyed sun called; (see note) earth warmly (see note) was called was called father's chariot instruction sorely reins very careful [should] steer; chariot [So] that; pathway with good attention always keep a sharp eye [neither] too low nor too high any moment Because of which; tumble over by Phebus' permission his own control drove Because he was own situation saw not succeed it pleased them [So] that scorched fear misfortunes; happened who saw despite; prohibition path ocean drowned (t-note) (see note) too high (see note) was called; it seemed wretched to them prepare knew fly Too high sun their climb no account craft many prosperity hates; industry one nurse; (see note) pleasures nothing because of heat freeze or sweat indoors; outside Unless; dice [retainer's] fees honor Unless sees by fortune aristocratic privilege and its legal protection according to his desires claws frame effort (exertion) location commanded [it] is so [that] she asks nothing Just as hear slip by fail to approach On [the] chance that I might back embrace her naked reflection female aloofness sigh despite; I cannot cease (see note) prepare leave by her permission bids bids it pleases her to call die must (see note) must I of necessity bend eye gaze reflect; talk sigh composure; select [as agreeable]; (see note) It does not please her [to] be with me to occupy herself with draw out bearing birds So that; speak well [of me] wheel; (see note) it pleases her pilgrimage; place bidden gently carriage be aware of that prepare myself speak from time to time sometimes (t-note) unless; (t-note) slothful exert themselves despite themselves; must diligently Armenia; (see note) called (see note) Who then; renown father's heir one deficiency [in her] [a] pity Who (What) school [of love] one of the slothful [Will] have brought her up (i.e., have educated her) by means of Cupid; power person Who then; youthfully sensual who humbles proud hearts made an instrument of punishment stumbled disposition before; sun arose knew discreetly [that was] near by seemed lovely to her grove of trees contemplate saw; sweet birds animals; their doe; hart male; (see note) could not escape eye matching colors; company wood's edge each rode sidesaddle opulence well equipped gowns; expensive cloaks all the same Equally mixed charming things lithe enchanting beauty; their; (see note); (t-note) Crowns; their heads; bear As [if] each of them [So] that smallest crown saw For sheer wonder; herself aside kept herself hidden; bough elegance to ask (t-note) rather known linden tree limped; ill-shod (hurt by a nail) vexed white star On his forehead torn at that particular time near saw then those [she] came forward; 'Wait!' hear here splendidly disconcerted My lady kept their love pledges their hearts delayed remain thus furnished covered once; one slothful sorely pay clothing follow their path (see note) pack their their stable boy stories hear face; turns previously, before; dead overwhelmed me took So close my life was to its end it was earlier upon me Before [So] that it (love) In that my intention; to that extent bridle wear commend you And may you admonish passing cloud was startled Alas situation know (see note) desires healthy (unharmed) (see note) by chance forewarned (see note) follow seldom; peace is not; set upon with snares dares to show its face delay [So] that; would not occupy In hurrying lost possessions so wise a person Who; lost of what happens if; suppresses [it is] long before youthful desires loses burden; (see note) fail to impose unless [offspring] should be lacking marriage when she may enter into it perhaps obstructed; most dear to her blameworthy (see note) duke; was called [it] so happened; fight; (see note) Against vowed whether it [might] be As soon as Slay band of knights enemies hinder that [which] must be; (see note) duke; lively go before father's ripped apart complete foes by Cut to pieces; burn In praise knew keep [to] which; beholden promised trembled coming (see note) assailed wasted; (t-note) according to population lost with his permission virgins pain sent for go lost (t-note) who tarry labor seek according to its merit know not once men earned their love carried out; their hands moreover Meritoriousness more quickly; (see note); (t-note) ocean military forays Prussia; Rhodes (see note) remove standoffishness from her attitude labor to this labor I refer confess (see note) it would be preferable to me Cairo do not know spilled commanded kill across the sea [let] those cross over; foam cower; their forbid us But place themselves in the midst command Those who teaching stop; (see note) whoever [might] deserve renown I shall serve love (i.e., love and arms) sit tight (see note) Polyxena dear lose poor bargain lose; (see note) straw thanks; otherwise get food is missing; table attain; boon succeed Separate me from least far ahead which ship-side; sail (i.e., on whatever tack) commit to chance beyond help apply put off continued to try is persistent; (see note) know not intention judge confessed here ought not Except in how; succeed advise Wait; too dice know not powerful currents though it seems a long time to you By chance neglect sent to war; (t-note) pursue forsake (see note) once (see note) His (Ulysses') wife; passionately [he] would not promise them [that he would go] he (Ulysses) devised; clever deceit possess pretended; insane plow oxen sowed (t-note) deceit; feigns A son as his child; advised earth the same furrow; then plowed to test (investigate) please insane fetched And set directly before the plow swiftly jest discovered honor harm (t-note) excellence returns home half foolishness whether it pleased him or not not excuse himself (t-note) as well lofty chivalric deed manner (see note) own loyal subject Who; melancholic [Apart] from Troy made determined presented (alleged) [So] that; [would] remain anxiety as if it were nothing it was preferable to him in his reputation cowardice; hindered (see note) unnaturally what; prophesied called back from the dead advice (t-note) military expedition hinder knew [to be] determined Join [in battle]; their value would consider honor love; slain Whose; memory (see note) educated By Chiro; was called (i.e., the listener) hart; doe its hill youth heartiness In whom he would find no fight spear Pursue; game animal fitting without fail Either; or from what courageousness developed feared surpass; (t-note) feats of strength (see note) excellence pursue avoid labor honorably know not what use love would be to him demands an inducement [should] delay And [as to] that (see note) called; in his dominion (see note) lively person India fame carried out dared; refuse to give earlier; [had] prayed agreement defeats affirmed deceiver Who Understood what the king [had] answered removes all fears inspires that leaves no living thing untouched inflames agree upon on foot hinder their arena removed show rushed seized powerful a clutch change shape adder; slipped turns himself; bull bellow; sound collapse paws; tramples tosses them here possesses no fear of him took [So] that; trickery upright yielded desired It seemed to her He gained for himself to lie in arms have nothing moreover; (see note) written and portrayed rescue besieged (see note) it was also pleasing To Philemenis [to travel] possess the renown (i.e., Penthesilea); multitude buried honor; saved reward a pledge of tribute manner he prospered labored (see note); (t-note) energetically Turnus would not have conquered (Turnus) victory By (see note) edification How nobility is to be described (see note) has become vulnerable; (see note) possession before all other then; (see note) gifts at that time lineup know not be held responsible hear pleasures here (see note) journey ancient mother; (t-note) earth [Such] that according to nature think heart worldly circumstances; violent made so wealthy certainty (see note) follows truly noble nothing else [produces it] i.e., the virtue not based on wealth; achieve presses its case [moral] condition receives Honor honorable love a courtier out of a peasant produced by are fashioned creature; (see note) behave graciously Behave slothfully with regard to what moreover (see note) (t-note) dead; (see note) to be scorned holds all instruction that (such scorn) is capable of engage himself yield something worthwhile prohibited birds; (see note) avoided From those who formerly were industrious (see note) if it were [necessary] now to create invented Their worthwhile occupation spirit their actions the perfection; (see note) teaching before; scattered seed on the ground (see note) know what we understand disappear (see note) (see note) invented; learning (see note) (see note) soothsayer physiognomy; (see note) heart (seat of the emotions) (see note) (see note) (see note) (see note) composers (writers) (see note) whether (see note) pleasing medicine; (see note) Zeuxis; portrait painting; (see note) (see note) they conceived shaped (see note) (see note) (see note) woolen goods invented; (see note) [by] her own hand linen; (see note) Those; ingenuity (see note) causes; toil mercantilism into place company separate metal from ore; refine (see note) that experienced science alchemy assigned; sun; (see note) moon; silver; its pertains to Mars (see note) its gum ammoniac is called similar natures body Before (see note) obstructed (t-note) by; invented nature falseness must (t-note) reduction [to a nontransferable substance] once wrote know relate nature; them; commit to memory learned procedures; (see note) (see note); (t-note) health assure called perceive and be animate undertakes pertains refined [it] purifies stench; lack of fusibility refinement initial nature laid i.e., gold and silver; (see note) now knows none lose; succeed [in making] hindrance before money is lost know not expectation suppose nonetheless the first one of all; (see note) (see note) (see note) (see note) try them out know; interrogate possession too much; too little always; blame (see note) Arabic praise regions here [own] cleverness; (see note) From took; (see note) (see note) institutional instruction; (t-note) constructed pronounced its (see note) choose (see note) translated Their higher learning [So] that; written results learning (see note) (see note) too heated be cooled wisdom facilitate; (see note) (see note) taken away matter avoid fare well know not slothful harm them slothful a particular one Somnolence (see note) accommodation made lay down his beak (i.e., go to sleep) has done all the wooing he wants [Such] that; unkissed love matter leave rather; woo sees Making revel lays himself down softly mud scratches; legs grassy glades snores sizzles; pancake rarely dream; erotic dream wholly know not; reward; (t-note) advise rather, by Before carry eyes [it] would be better utterly to reputation, [may] God protect me enclosed Death As soon as from my mother abandoned me (one of the fateful sisters) companion Shaped for me fate determined Avoid the truancy of sleep it pleases her grasp It seems to me; floor roebuck; moor know otherwise dice ask some question about love what [it] pleases her to order hear; (see note) (i.e., or whatever else she wants) seize at some point in the course of things bids too late at night must; depart vigil diminish aloofness he (her "daunger") dependent (i.e., because of my wish) pray God watch over her kneeling [might] dare door soon after succeed must necessarily swear and curse made; eye endure separate potent desire By be put away rush (straw) sigh (see note) next I think i.e., affords sensual gratification know not for a time; (t-note) Just as if a tree trunk stands as a pledge; (see note) he (my heart) whether she likes it or not [should] seize me what I dream of is not sheep wool tormented With love; watch over [Such] that now; laugh lose dream; dream meet (see note) pray [that I might] never dreamed mindful vain lain; continued sleeping dream; dream dreams true matters Signify (see note) (see note) then named by chance transformed heart pilgrimage foreign land brother's health go sea accompanied him And with two month's time home, where gone distress to seek (i.e., none lacking) prayed fared And at once go By dream vision; show rainy cloak (rainbow) put on; (see note) wonderfully ornamented borders on Chimerea decor hill creak eye; open (unshut) impediment [to sleep] nearby magpie call cock animal; make noises [On] the hill Poppies; bear huge quantity (see note) is called hill gives (see note) ebony softly (see note) pillow; down strewn dreams commanded conveyed ears pierces reluctance (expression of woe) eyes done then whatever; pleases him deceives Someone who; at night Icelos; second was called following Phantasos sometimes is true testimony other times but a joke things are thus arranged unto (see note) dead; beach drowned angry sea dreamed; saw him die where fearful outcry for their; fear ask every bit interpret knew And in the morning sea; dreamed hesitation near saw floating; waves (see note) faithfulness birds living bird Embraced; kissed once tries human ability lost before; (see note) dwell hold in memory i.e., Halcyon stir heed happen time But no one accepts sloth [No one, that is] who up to the present it (sleep) opposed here hear assure foreign It does not please me at all wish to play the reputation [So] that lost his composure continually often times grows faint because Who early remain Who see by chance their as if there were nothing [wrong] fantasize know not judge pleased your love ought not complain I have in mind (see note) maiden; (see note) saw sun Because of desire exposed (made public) silence obscured lofty powers eye who lies banner of your heraldic sign (i.e., sunrise) embraced (received) by guide (t-note) West East By circle called are moon; (see note) cause; born carry out that climax of love's command is called; feast by herself ill-prepared pays nothing; (see note) snore did Lying; contrive dream before tricks my heart taken in moderation believe a man may know the truth tales; (see note) in olden days called furious; (see note) throughout food; grassy field Employed eyes prepared steal ears please moreover; invented protect cut off speedily happened because often causes harm; (see note) For dying; not for being safe [He] is fashioned stick shut Except; appropriate to reason with me (i.e., so has me in its grasp) the appropriate time give his lectures [So] that yes breeder; nurse (see note) has reached a crisis lost (see note) withheld from him affrighted a single breath hopes for death lost Alas; born boast reward Alas; were not deceased Before escape far guilty (t-note) neglects to be absolved discovers nature (see note) (t-note) reason except rashly (unadvisedly) languishes (pines away); dead Despair (t-note) go gloomy demeanor Who delayed; their intention know not how to counsel themselves lose; of success stop pursuing love skin; complexion listless; their hearts grow one of those Except for; I confess demolished remedy weakened assure afflicted endure tormenting despair scarcely place prayer dared, said [it] (see note) sinful [person] For insufficient requests for mercy hell (see note) Hopelessness sighs impair know not sorrow feel Once; far gone; (see note); (t-note) Mysia as a son (see note) In comparison to his lineage low potentate by reason follows gave [gifts]; sent [messages] success [to] become worse lessens exceeds his reason had no pity took knew; where he went shone no moon complaints (t-note) escape comply ear because place of health distress incompatible (at odds) dream; dream (t-note) (see note) die crime Aloofness remember saw; (t-note) counsel Immediately; knew (t-note) killed unless some other would wreak vengeance avenge continually troubled did did; (see note) lost for a time transformed her more knew (see note) declare it must sepulcher; buried [So] that know the truth their (t-note) too soft; too eradicated fully absolve myself therefore rocked the whole world When he (i.e., that sin) has taken up the case